Armybarmy Blog

September 30, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Wall Street Journal is pumping up The Army today for its service. Praise God for our effectiveness. Next time you think to criticise The Army (if any readers dare such a thing) remember that we do SO MANY AMAZING THINGS all around the world.

This is really a phenomenal movement. Hallelujah!

Now, in the summer I introduced you to release the grease, and slather the lather. Well, General Burrows was teaching today and mentioned that John the Revelator was intended to be martyred by boiling oil. That one is too easy- boil the oil.

ACC starts tomorrow in Vancouver and ends tonight in Melbourne. Maybe one day soon it will be a never ending exercise - the sun never sets on ACC...

Grace
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

"Treasure each other in the recognition that we do not know how long we shall have each other." -RABBI JOSHUA L. LIEBMAN

Good day friends.

I found this quote in my inbox this week, and it struck a nerve with me, and I'd like to tell you about it.

My young cousin's new husband (they were married July 30 of this year) was diagnosed with chronic myloid leukemia last week. It has been traumatizing for them and has sent shockwaves through our family. Although it's only been a week, the difference I see in their relationship is astonishing. Gone are the typical marital petty arguments and bickering. Instead they revel in every moment because their future is no longer promised to them. They've realized that there just isn't time to waste, so they are CHOOSING to enjoy one another and appreciate the moments they have now, because they don't know how long they'll have each other.

This is KEY, my brothers and sisters. I should think that I would not wish disease on anyone, and yet, if it forces us to consider the limited time allotted to us in this world, I would consider that revelation a gift in itself.

Psalm 90:12 has the psalmist asking God to "teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." (KJV)

If you knew that your time was short, you can't tell me that wouldn't go and make peace with estranged siblings, work harder at showing love towards difficult people, giving away 'cherished' possessions to those who would appreciate them, or could use them more than you've ever been able to. You'd randomly tell people how much they mean to you (even if you're not the type to "share feelings"), sit and REALLY listen to those around you share about their day (instead of being selfishly irritated that you can't just sit and watch TV and tune out). You wouldn't get all upset when you didn't get your own way, or if someone wasn't as nice to you as they could have been, because you'd GET that there isn't TIME for that sort of FOOLISHNESS.

WELL...In Luke 12:19-21, there's a perfect example of this way of foolish thinking.

"(So I'll) say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

What do you focus on building? Your own private storehouse of money and possessions? Or cars and unforgiveness? Or resentments towards a whole stack of people that "you wouldn't dream of giving the time of day after the ways they've treated me..."? OR have you caught the reality that that stuff isn't worth your time and effort?

Friend, DON'T BE MISLED. If you've got all sorts of worldly garbage in your heart (or your garage) and feel content to leave it there, then you are hoarding without giving a thought to the One who allowed all the material stuff to come to you and the same One who desperately wants to take all the bitterness and hardness in your heart towards others FROM you.

Deal with it now!
Get RID of it!
DON'T think you've got time to make it right tomorrow, "but understand this: If the owner of the house had KNOWN at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not EXPECT him." (Luke 12:39-40)
This is not a threat, brothers and sisters, this is a reality. It's a reality for my cousin's husband, for you and for me.

You can start right now. Turn away from the screen and ask the Lord to forgive you for hoarding here on earth, for holding grudges against people - past or present. For wasting time maintaing self-righteous offenses and unforgiveness towards others. Allow Him to gently remove all that garbage from your heart.

Don't put it off. Treasure one another friends, because we do not know how long we shall have one another.

posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

Katrina frontline
For a frontline blog on SA Katrina fighting, check here:
http://www.jrogue.com/disaster/
grace
stephenc

September 28, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

General Burrows is here, in vintage form. One line was this: Let The Army be The Army.

Amen.

Bram Roberts (http://www.xanga.com/broberts77) and Eric Himes (top right) have some photos of I'll Fight Fest. Check them out.

ACC start Friday night in Vancouver (already started in Melbourne!).
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Nice Mockery

I guess a Christian guy gave a speech to some Dartmouth students that included the Gospel in a nutshell, and people all over campus had a stroke venting their horror.
This article nicely mocks the critics: http://nationalreview.com/comment/beck200509270812.asp
Props to the preacher (oh, and to all of you students and teachers who wiggle out of evangelism because you're chicken, oops, I mean, because you're not allowed to preach on campus or in class, read closely).
grace
stephenc

ACC SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER
7.30 p.m. EVENING RALLY - FREE ENTRY
Michael Collins (Vancouver, B.C.)
SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER
9.00 a.m. MORNING RALLY
Major Ross Hailes (Seattle, WA.)
11.00 a.m. AGGRESSION SESSION
General Eva Burrows (Melbourne, Australia)
12 noon STREAMS
COVENANT - Captain Dave Allen (Ocean Crest, B.C.)
HOLINESS - Captain Amy Reardon (Seattle, WA.)
THE POOR - Aaron White (Vancouver, B.C.)
2.30 p.m. OUTREACH & EVANGELISM
7.30 p.m. EVENING RALLY - FREE ENTRY
Major Eddie Hobgood (Atlanta, GA.)
presents JOE THE TURK
SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER
9.00 a.m. MORNING RALLY
Major Eddie Hobgood (Atlanta, GA.)
11.00 a.m. AGGRESSION SESSION
Captain Danielle Strickland (Vancouver B.C.)
12 noon STREAMS (repeated from Saturday)
2.30 p.m. FINALY RALLY - FREE ENTRY
General Eva Burrows (Melbourne, Australia)
____
for your intercession and/or attendance.
grace
stephenc

new blogger...

My friend Bram Roberts started blogging at www.xanga.com/broberts77 and you can get reports on I'LL FIGHT FEST from him (and suggest baby names- how about everyone suggesting Macabbeas to him?- hammer of God!) and other interesting stuff.
grace
stephenc

September 27, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

One of our students is descendant of one of the sensationalist SA pioneers, Adjutant Harry Munn. He was populary known as Mad Munn. I first read about him in the old EDGE magazine (hat tip GR).

He was used grandly as a soul-winner, and here is the secret to his success:

“How do I get hold of the crowds? I go down to the places where they are. I see them in their darkness and drunkenness and immorality – vast crowds of humanity rotting and dying in their sinful abominations. I hear their oaths and curses, and their filthy conversations one with another, until sometimes I almost imagine myself in Hell. I see the poverty of their homes and the tears of their families, until my heart is moved and melted with compassion, and saturated with desire to lift these poor half-damned souls out of their sin and misery – to salve them from the flames of the bottomless pit; for I see and feel that they are hastening there, and that, too, right over the bleeding body of the crucified Christ."
"I come away and go to my room. I throw myself on my face before God and promise Him that, live or die by His help and grace, the town shall be shaken, and some at least of the worst characters of the place shall be brought to the Blood. Then, with my heart overwhelmed with the thought of the sights I have seen, and with the cries of the perishing in my ears, I wait on God for an inspiration as to what I am to do. I expect Him to suggest the best plan for me to use in getting the attention of this people. Sometimes it is to preach in my coffin, or preach in sackcloth; or go through the streets in rags, or some other extraordinary methods to make people think. Whatever it is, I settle with my Christ that I will do it."
____
I am guessing that there is nothing here not available to any of us willing to imitate the passion and faith... (see John McAlister's article in the forthcoming JAC- October 1).

grace,
StephenC

Gott ist Wunderbar!

I was talking for a few hours with three semi-drunk Germans in a pub in Dresden the other night, and had this interesting exchange:

Germans: Do you love your God? (imagine a German accent here)

Me: Yup.

Germans: We have gods ourselves. They are beer and cigarettes. And we love them. But we also hate them. But you really love God?

Me: Yup.

Germans: Why? How can you love God?

Me: I can only love God because God first loves me. There is no other way. There is no other way for me to truly love anybody or anything unless God first loved me.

Germans: Cool.

It was a very surreal conversation, but I was amazed by their sincere desire for the things of God. At several times they expressed the possibility that maybe God was calling out for them, even though they were not sure God even existed. These were three university aged guys who had grown up in a very atheistic culture. But they were still hungry. We got them hooked up with the Jesus Freak guys in Germany, so hopefully they will have their desires met in the one true God.

Grace,

Aaron

September 26, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Jenea Gomez started blogging recently and her 25th blog describes our neighbour hood through a fresh set of eyes: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=jenea_gomez
Danielle and I were at I'LL FIGHT FEST on the weekend. Good times. I've never seen musical groups like The INsyderz, Supertones, and John Ruben live. So that wa a blast. It is defintely an event you'll want to carve out for next year on your calendar (people travelled from Texas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, NY, Canada, and so on to be there). Hallelujah.

grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Friends...

I sat under the teaching of a very wise woman recently, who had this gem to pass along: 'Jesus was described as being a friend OF the poor, not a friend TO the poor.'

I want people to be friends of mine, not friends to me. The one implies walking together and sharing burdens, the other implies a kind of paternalistic power dynamic wherein someone condescends to be friendly to me.

Some may say that Jesus did of course descend from heaven to be friends to us, but I believe part of that descent involved a radical and complete identification with humanity (fully and properly man), and particularly with the poor and oppressed. So he could be a friend of, and not just a friend to, the poor.

How often do we truly allow ourselves to be friends of and not just friends to?

More discussion of stuff like that at the upcoming ACC in Vancouver.

Grace,

Aaron

I was developing an MMCCXX battle plan ... lets send 4 white people to go live with 1000 black people to all fall in love with one jewish guy. I think its gonna work.

SASB # 845 -
Saviour, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

The word 'door' here in greek is "thura" (strong's #2374) and when used in a parable, it refers to the Name of Him who brings salvation to those who follow his guidance.  So the gate is the Name of Jesus (after all, He is the Way, and no one can enter into the Father except through the Door of Jesus - John 14:6) All who come to the sheep in the Name of Jesus are shepherds of the sheep. The watchmen, those who have been appointed to watch over the flock see the Shepherd coming and open the door to Him.  The Shepherd calls each sheep out by name - He knows each of them right down to the last detail and cares enough for each to leave 100 of them just to search for one lost sheep who has been drawn from the fold by the Thief.
Once He has called each one, and reassured them that it is Him whom they love (by calling their name, having the recognition of the watchman and speaking tenderly and lovingly to the sheep) He goes on ahead of them and leads them so they know what direction to take.  They know to follow Him (even out of the safety of the pen) because they can hear His voice and they trust Him.
BUT BEWARE
"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber."
Why is he a thief and a robber? Because he does not enter through the gate - which is by the Name of Jesus Christ.  He does not have the approval of the watchman who protects the sheep and he can't call any sheep out by its name because he doesn't know them like the Shepherd knows them and doesn't care to anyways...ANY path that is offered to you OTHER than the Way of Jesus is dangerous and evil.
The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and he'll climb into that pen ANY WHICH WAY he can and whisper anything and everything enticing into your little sheeply ear to get you to exit his way - what happens then? You agree with the killer - you fall into temptation and sin by turning against God and His care, choosing the devil's ways as what's 'best' for you.  What happens in the end? You are outside of the fold - no longer under the careful eye of the watchmen and not where Jesus left you. You have removed yourself from that covering of protection.
The Shepherd says though, that His sheep will never follow a stranger, because they don't recognize his voice.  So what do you do know? You're a sheep standing outside the fold (where you shouldn't be) now exposed to all sorts of danger lurking in the wilderness, ghastly lions prowling about just waiting for a wee, weakly sheep like you to come along, so that they can devour you.  You may, like Christ said, not follow the voice of a stranger - so though you were drawn in once by the thief, once is all it took and you won't follow him a step farther into the dark forest of desolation and despair.  You'll do everything you can to get back inside the fold, where you should've stayed. OR...perhaps the thief's voice isn't a stranger's voice.  Perhaps you've been listening to that voice increasingly until it's hard to recognize the Shepherd.  In that case, you will be led by the Destroyer, he has you under his spell and who knows where you'll go - well I guess we know - to death and destruction. Even so, the truth is that the Shepherd will leave that entire flock of sheep to find you.
He loves you that much.

We are thine; do thou befriend us;
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray!
SASB 845.2


posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

"He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love." Song of Songs 2:4

You know His banner over you, but what banner do you extend over others?

“There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer, no disease that enough love will not heal, no door that enough love will not open, no gulf that enough love will not bridge, no wall that enough love will not throw down, no sin that enough love will not redeem. . . .” —WRITER/LECTURER EMMET FOX

We know that love in Jesus Christ our Saviour, Yahushua HaMaschiach and that He IS Love.


1 Corinthians 13:7 "Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]." (Amplified Bible)

Colossians 3:14 "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (NIV)

1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (NIV)

and seriously, stop wacking folks in the head with banners of sarcasm and criticism and religiosity and condemnation and start waving the King's banner over them instead and THEN invite THEM to the feast!

posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

signature of the week

from Matt A:

Nobody's Perfect: There was this one guy, But we killed him.

nice (oh, hat tips to HH and JE on stuff this week).
grace
stephenc

ACC (Vancouver)
Yes, there was first ACC in New Zealand, and then Williams Lake, and then Melbourne (again this weekend), but the one for which I'm giving you the schedule is the first joint Northwest Division (USW) and BC DIvision (C+B) ACC in Vancouver. Join the celebration, if you can make any of the meetings next weekend (September 30-October 2).

ACC SHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

7.30 p.m. EVENING RALLY - FREE ENTRY

Michael Collins (Vancouver, B.C.)

SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER

9.00 a.m. MORNING RALLY

Major Ross Hailes (Seattle, WA.)

11.00 a.m. AGGRESSION SESSION

General Eva Burrows (Melbourne, Australia)

12 noon STREAMS

COVENANT - Captain Dave Allen (Ocean Crest, B.C.)

HOLINESS - Captain Amy Reardon (Seattle, WA.)

THE POOR - Aaron White (Vancouver, B.C.)

2.30 p.m. OUTREACH & EVANGELISM

7.30 p.m. EVENING RALLY - FREE ENTRY

Major Eddie Hobgood (Atlanta, GA.)

presents JOE THE TURK

SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER

9.00 a.m. MORNING RALLY

Major Eddie Hobgood (Atlanta, GA.)

11.00 a.m. AGGRESSION SESSION

Captain Danielle Strickland (Vancouver B.C.)

12 noon STREAMS (repeated from Saturday)

2.30 p.m. FINALY RALLY - FREE ENTRY

General Eva Burrows (Melbourne, Australia)

___________________________________________
It is pretty much guaranteed to be an excellent investment of your weekend. We look forward to what God has in mind.
Much grace,
StephenC

September 22, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I'LL FIGHT FEST is a big music event on Saturday in Michigan (I like writing Detroit City but it isn't really IN the city). I blogged it earlier and we've been plugging it on the front armybarmy.com page but here ar esome props to the USA Central Territory. How about lining up a line-up of big name bands and artists for a one day festival event? They've done it. You're looking at a crowd solidly in four digits. Praise God.
And they'll hear the Gospel. They'll be challenged to pick a fight. And they'll have a blast. All for $10. Man o man.
I know that some people read this in southwestern Ontario and in Michigan. Why not make the commute over to the event?
Good times...

grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Biblical Equality.

I've blogged this over and over again over the lifespan of armybarmy blog, but it is so important I'll riff again.

Major Richard Munn, a champion of Biblical Equality, taught at The War College yesterday and left some of our number reeling.

Male dominance was exposed as result of the curse. Helpmeet was unpacked as possibly superior (used of God elsewhere in OT). Headship was explained as source. Learning in reverence and submission was revealed to be the privileged position of disciple (student to rabbi- enormous promotion to women of the day). And the lack of a married woman general was blamed as sin.

There was much, much more, and I agree with all of these positions (well, the last in potential if not in historical accuracy). It was a joy to sit under a confident, passionate expositor in red trim who lives with integrity the convictions he expressed.

But now it is time to fight. If you're a guy who thinks it your role to lead the family or lead in the Body and to dominate and to keep women from preaching and leading, you're not alone. But I'm convinced you've missed the Biblical boat on this massively important issue. It is likely because we've not taught nor lived, widely, Biblical equality, even though it is in our DNA. We unthinkingly accept what the broader church assumes.

But it is time to move on. First up, read. Check out cbeinternational.org to get the ball rolling. You might want to graduate to FEMALE MINISTRY: Women's Right to Preach the Gospel, by Catherine Booth (http://www.indiana.edu/~letrs/vwwp/booth/ministry.html for the whole text or SA201). Then you could move into something a little more recent, like BEYOND THE CURSE by Aida Besancon Spencer, or WHY NOT WOMEN? by Loren Cunningham and David Hamilton. You may even work up the courage to tackly Gilbert Bilezikian (e.g. in the Priscilla Papers at http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:xRyrAf5HoYkJ:www.cbeinternational.org/new/publications/ppindex6.pdf+bilezikian+women+theology&hl=en&client=safari).

Next act. It may be that some women need to step up to the plate and walk out their callings and commissioning and appointings and anointings. It is likely that most of us men need to drastically modify worldviews, behaviours, attitudes, strategies, and tactics.

From there, who knows? I suspect that Munn's suggestive allusions about widow and orphan, fetus and other oppressed human beings, marriages and church leadership might all be re-aligned under this universal theory of Biblical Equality and prove a means of God bringing about an answer to our famous request, 'Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!'

Amen.
grace
stephen court

Week one of The War College

Those who decide on scholarships and study permits should catch this line from one the Holy's blogs this week: "I've been challenged more here than in any University classroom."
Nice.
And there is a lot more to come (did I mention that we're receiving applications for next year starting in October?).
grace
stephenc

100 minute Bible
So a priest has produced a short version of the Bible that you can chew in 100 minutes. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050921/od_afp/britainreligionbibleoffbeat_050921112127
Great idea.

I suspect it is like the whole version, though, in that it takes your whole life to digest.
grace
stephenc

doctrine class
We've got friends who are cadets and have passed on this assignment, hoping for some input from you, the armybarmy faithful. You can respond directly to ramsay@havelock-viha.com:
____
"Our classes at training college have begun here. We were susposed to find out how different people of different ages, cultures, faiths, and geographic locations might react to the following statement:

"We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice."

"Would you be able to help me by telling me whether you agree, disagree or other and telling me why?
____
grace
stephenc

The Irresistable Revolution.

Now, now, any of you pomo peacenicks (and I use the term in the most endearing manner) reading this, don't get mad at me. This is the title of a forthcoming book by extremist publishing house Zondervan (forthcoming in 2006) from an article by that raving, radical magazine, Christianity Today, that you can read, right here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/009/16.38.html

Interestingly, it is about communities of young adults springing up amongst the poor, living in simplicity. They call it the new monasticism (although that might be a little presumptious). In the energizing article they discuss 12 distinctives that mark these communities, including: submission to the larger church, living with the poor and outcast, living near community members, hospitality, nurturing a common community life and a shared economy, peacemaking, reconciliation, care for creation, celibacy or monogamous marriage, formation of new members along the lines of the old novitiate, and contemplation.

So, here's the 614 Vancouver looking-in-the-mirror midrash (and 1-5 score!):
- submission to the Church- praise the Lord for the DC (who sent me the article); the TC (who sees fit not to transfer us); and the General (who probably doesn't read this blog too often, but we pray for him daily, anyway-- not to read the blog, but for other things)-4;
- living with the poor- yah, we're in a pretty poor neighbourhood. My friends live in the dumps-4;
- living near community members- that is one huge blessing with us- we see people in our community all the time (good thing, too, since our phone network is very patchy- only a few phones in the community)-4;
- hospitality- some of our members are great and gifted at it. There was a good foundation laid for this-3;
- nurturing common... economy- I regularly bring up the topic of common purse. We've not reached that point yet. But it is a challenge out there. Those who fire a cartridge use lots of gunpowder-2;
- peacemaking- I'm not sure what they mean here- 2?;
- reconciliation- again (as above). We've had excellent reconciliation stories at a family level- hallelujah. But I suspect they're talking about something more, here-2?;
- care for creation- how do we do that in our little neighbourhood?-2;
- celibacy or monogamous marriage- we're all for it, and are trying to get buy-in from those on the margins-2;
- spiritual formation- discipleship is tough-2;
- contemplation- I think that a few of our guys might be into this, but it isn't a strong characteristic of our community-2.

So, revolution as simple, poor, community. Great idea.
grace,
sec

new thesis on The Army

Dennis Garland in Sydney has written a thesis on The Army and the state of welfare. You can read it at
http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20040723.130012/
Here are the details:
Australian Digital Theses Program

"Thesis Details Title The Salvation Army and the state of welfare : an analysis of text and narrative : an analysis of the discourses influencing the development of Salvation Army policy. Author Garland, Dennis Institution University of Western Sydney Date 2004 Abstract This research arose out of the author's concern that the Salvation Army and its social services in Australia were being influenced by government and society at the expense of its own Christian beliefs and internal rhetoric. The Army's rhetoric is explored through an analysis of Salvation Army's texts. The study findings verify the proposition of Kress (1985) and others, that institutions transform and are transformed through their use of discourse. It is confirmed that William and Catherine Booth (the Army's founders) were not independent from the state and from external influence as required by Booth. It was found that just as William and Catherine Booth reworked the discourses of their time, they were influenced in turn by these discourses and the organization they created , namely, The Salvation Army was transformed through the use of discourse. The research found that modern texts produced in the Army in Australia, are influenced by the dominant discourses of the modern Australian welfare state, and that as a consequence the Army, in transforming these discourses for their own purposes, is also being transformed and in the process becoming increasingly colonised by governments in Austraila.
____
All that is to contexualise the following blog I am crafting from a quote there (ch3):
Catherine’s influence can be found in articles in The Social Gazette relating to such topics as prostitution:
“our midnight crusade is making itself felt at last. The systematic efforts of our women rescuers are having a thorough effect. They are creating the fear of exposure on the part of offenders – the men (Original emphasis)…The second effect is the hustling and assaulting of our officers by the drunken and immoral “gentlemen” (Original emphasis) who nightly make a rendezvous of these thoroughfares [Piccadilly]” (Unstated 1893, p. 6.).

I thought it interesting in light of the warfare of many of us, and of The Salvation Army's global emphasis (against human trafficking).
I suspect there will be more to come from this source...
grace
stephenc

on we march with the Blood and the Fire
to the ends of the earth we will go...

September 22, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
We praise God for expansion:

"With the official launch week-end of ‘Project Warsaw’ on 23-25 September, when the first Polish soldiers will be enrolled, the Army's work in Poland officially commences. The work is oversighted from International Headquarters, the Team Leader is Colonel Vibeke Krommenhoek (France), and during the week-end Captains Andrei and Olga Iniutochkin, who are Moldovan officers, will be installed as the resident Coordinating Officers.

"In the neighbouring country of Lithuania, the Army has been at work since 1998. This work has been supervised by the Germany Territory. It is now timely to give our presence in that country greater official recognition. The Germany Territory will therefore be known as the Germany and Lithuania Territory.

"These developments take the number of countries where The Salvation Army is officially at work from 109 to 111.
____
hallelujah
grace,
Stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

No Sex Please, We're Teenagers...

Saw a 'brilliant' show here last night in England called 'No sex please, we're teenagers'.

It was a documentary on two Christian youth workers who managed to convince 12 teenagers to vow not to have any kind of sexual relations for 5 months. During this time they would meet regularly for group support and to learn new ways of viewing themselves and the people around them.

The results were stunning. The attitudes of these teens completely changed around, and it was clear the producers of the show were unbelievably impressed with the non-judgmental attitude, patience, and grace the youth workers displayed even when the teenagers messed up. (Some of them did mess up, but they trusted the group enough to confess and be forgiven.)

By the end of it, something like 75 more teens had signed up for the vow, and two of the original teens were running the second group. It was fascinating to see them actually waking up to what their world was saying to them about appropriate sexual conduct, and witnessing that to their peer group.

I'm going to contact these guys to see what ideas may be transferable over here. No promises, but be on the lookout for 'No sex please, we're canadian teenagers.'

Grace,

Aaron

officer respect

I learned today that in one country where many of the world's savlationists fight the measure for respect of an officer has nothing to do with appointment and almost everything to do with holiness.

Beautiful.

grace,
stephenc

Live From England...

I'm on a computer here in London, England (at the ALOVE offices) which, due to a content filter, will not allow me to view the armybarmy blog. Apparently, it contains adult content.

I guess the blog started going downhill and dodgy since we all became New Age liberals (one of the funnier things I've heard in a while.)

I actually have heard rumours that I am considered the liberal member of the armybarmy blog. To this, I always respond (much to Steve's mirth), that I am neither liberal, nor conservative. I choose not to identify myself under those labels, not least because I consider them wholly unimportant and irrelevant.

If there is a label to which I would be happy to fall under, it is 'Trinitarian'. That is my politics, philosophy, and theology.

Grace,

Aaron

September 20, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I know this doesn't make sense in some countries but where I live most officers don't like to be called captain or major. They are somewhat sheepish about it all, feeling that, among other things, people don't get it.
And yet, almost whenever I walk down an alley (especially with my buddy Peter- clean-cut guy) most of the people look up from their drug selling and using and greet me as 'officer', even when I'm in civvies.
--do you think they think I'm a cop? :- )
grace,
StephenC

September 19, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Here is an article on the subject The Army is tackling internationally:
____
Sexual slavery seen as world's greatest crime
Thomas S. Axworthy says Canada can do much more to stop human trafficking
Sep. 18, 2005. 01:00 AM
The Toronto Star

If Canadians believed that hundreds of thousands of women and children were
being turned into slaves they would do something about it. In the 19th
century, as the United States convulsed itself over the moral calamity of
slavery, Canada became the final destination for thousands of blacks who
found freedom through the Underground Railway.

Yet today, the evil of de facto slavery has returned with a vengeance, but,
by and large, outrage is mute, action underwhelming. Sexual slavery is now
the world's fastest growing, but most hidden crime.

The U.S. State Department released in the summer its 2005 Trafficking in
Persons Report. It makes shocking reading. Every year 600,000 to 800,000
people, 80 per cent of them female and 50 per cent of them children, are
trafficked across borders, most for the sex trade, others for labour
exploitation or for use as child soldiers. Human trafficking is a $10
billion criminal industry, the world's fastest growing international crime.


The State Department estimates more than 15,000 modern-day slaves were
shipped to North America. "Amazing Grace," the great anti-slavery hymn,
needs to sound in every church in the land to remind us that evil once
again is being exported to our shores.

My eyes were opened to this crime through the partnership of my Queen's
University think tank with the International Organization for Migration's
office in Bosnia.

We collaborated on a study of Bosnian refugee policy and through this work
I was able to see first-hand the misery of the sex trade in Bosnia and the
efforts of NGOs like the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to
do something about it.

Thousands of women in Moldova, Romania and Ukraine are defrauded or coerced
into leaving their homes for the supposed opportunity to become waitresses
or models in western Europe or North America. Their passports are then
taken, they are beaten, raped and forced to become prostitutes. Gangs of
criminals ship them from country to country. Even worse, these groups are
now concentrating on children.

Bosnia is a transit juncture for east and central Europe to the west and
has become a major destination itself. The IOM researches the problem,
publicizes abuses, and when it finds victims it gives direct assistance for
the exploited to return to their homes. It is dangerous work: criminal
gangs threaten the families of IOM staff.

To put today's human trafficking numbers in perspective, in the great
anti-slavery campaign of the 19th century reformers like William
Wilberforce put an end to the British slave trade, which shipped 50,000
slaves annually to the Americas. Today, the worldwide trade in trafficked
human beings is 10 to 15 times greater. After abolishing the slave trade in
1808, in the first example of the "responsibility to protect," Britain
organized an international West African squadron of more than 30 ships to
prevent the traffic. By the end of the 19th century, legal slavery was
abolished.

Today, Canada should join with the United States and others in forming a
new international coalition to wipe out human trafficking.

In May 2005, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler tabled amendments to the
criminal code prohibiting the trafficking of persons. This is good, but we
should do much more. The U.S. spends $96 million of its aid budget to help
countries fight human trafficking. Canada should equal this amount and make
the prohibition of trafficking a central purpose of our foreign policy.

CIDA Minister Aileen Carroll worked hard to find $100 million to fight
AIDS: She needs to do the same to fight slavery. Making human trafficking a
centrepiece of policy rather than an afterthought will put human rights,
gender equality and above all the protection of children as one of Canada's
missions in the world.

What better reflects our values? And with so few countries active on this
file, $100 million can make us a moral leader.

In 1444, the Portuguese landed 235 African slaves in Europe. It was the
beginning of hideous exploitation. "What heart could be so hard as not to
be pierced by piteous feeling to see that company?" wrote Eannes de Zurata,
a member of Prince Henry's court.

Today, what heart could be so hard as to ignore the bondage of hundreds of
thousands of women and children?
--
Thomas S. Axworthy is chairman of the Centre for the Study of Democracy,
Queen's University, Kingston.
____
grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

September 18, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
People often complain (ignorantly) that Christianity is white man's religion. This complaint is usually followed up with a weak argument that they belong to a group that is marginalized by Christianity and the Bible (e.g. First Nations, Arab, African, etc.).

Those who have prayed along with AND CAN IT BE? (see eStore) will know and love the Four Winds prayer. And Fleur and I just discovered that this Biblical winds thing is actually like most people falsely complain. Fleur lives in the southern hemisphere (starting again tomorrow) and of course the north wind is the opposite down there than up here. So it turns out that Christianity and the Bible are climatically-marinalising, or, at least, hemispherically-marginalising.

But that doesn't stop millions down there from following Jesus.

Praise God.
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

September 17, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I know a guy (from my old corps) who is always on about people getting saved. He's praying like we need to get someone saved. He's asking how ou day went- did anyone get saved? He's asking how our preaching went- did anyone get saved? One-track mind.

It's a challenge. It's good. I appreciate it.

Those of us reading this- let's try to get someone saved tonight- it's been awhile (for most of us, I'm guessing). We need to see some converts...

God help us.

grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

I have been in North Carolina for a week now and as devistating as the media images are, the spiritual brokeness of the survivors from hurricaine Katrina is much more devisating and gruesome. It was the poor, orphan, widow, and alien who were left behind. Some of our guests who were at temporary shelters in New Orleans said they only saw one police officer who drove by and threw one case of water out the window. There have been approxamitly 40 bodies found in the New Orleans Convention Centre, all homicides after the storm, many women and children who were raped and killed, some as young as six and seven years old, died from the physical trauma to their bodies. I dont have many answers for the survivors other than showing the tangable love of Christ. My words have very little value among the 140 survivors I am living with, but driving someone to the clinic is pretty Good News, a pair of clean socks is truley divine. And a hug is worth a thousand sermons.
God Bless The Salvation Army

Aaron White fan club?

Who knew our own Aaron was so popular?

http://www.johnandrochelle.blogspot.com/

grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

 Revival Declaration

(from our friends at jesusfeast.ca)

We believe God the Father is a consuming fire, the Father of lights and the source of all true revival.

We believe Christ is the ressurection and the life. He revives all He touches. He came to set fire to the earth in a great kingdom revival. He bore our sins, died our death, and rose again with a fire stronger than the grave. He ascended to the Father's glory, from where He now rules and reigns over all.

We believe the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of revival. He is the sacred flame that ignites, the divine river that renews, the holy wine that intoxicates, the sovereign wind that blows where it pleases. He is the Spirit that regenerates, sanctifies, illuminates, and revives. He is the Spirit of Divinity, pure, powerful, and miraculous. Where He is there is freedom, there is life.

We believe the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is the divine revelation, the holy wisdom. It wounds and heals, kills and makes alive. It revives us causing our hearts to burn. It instructs us with the fire of wisdom, giving us the mind of Christ. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

We believe prayer is the language of the heart that longs for revival. It is the incense of adoration, the cry of desperation, the shout of faith. It is effectual and powerful to bring heavens fire to earth.

We believe the church is the community of Christ. It is the fireplace in which His fire burns, the keeper of the flame. It is the lampstand that shines. It is the light of the world. The church was birthed with fire on the day of Pentecost. That fire must never die but burn ever brighter until the coming of that great and glorious day. It cannot be contained. It must be spread until all the world is aflame for Christ.
____
Do you want a revolution?
grace
sec

new blog- There is a new one out there- Street War- and I invite you to check it out: http://streetwar.blogspot.com/
grace
stephenc

territorial symposium
Peter Lublink writes a public letter to our TC in preparation for the territorial symposium in a couple of months. You can read his suggestions at http://lublink.blogspot.com/2005/09/army-where-do-we-go-from-here.html
Comments to revolution@mmccxx.net as always. There is much to discuss.
graec
stephenc

I saw this surfing...

"Certainly, in my history of 41 years as a Salvation Army officer, this is the greatest mobilization of churches in general, but definitely the Christian churches, who in my mind have come to truly realize what Jesus said in Matthew in the 25th chapter: `Inasmuch as you do unto the least of me, you do unto me.'"

-- Commissioner W. Todd Bassett, The Salvation Army's national commander, USA
____
grace
stephenc

Athiesm v. Christianity.

Hattersley wrote a celebrated book on the Booths...
____
Faith Does Breed Charity                                                                                                           We atheists have to accept that most believers are better human beings. Roy Hattersley By Guardian Newspapers, 9/12/2005


Hurricane Katrina did not stay on the front pages for long. Yesterday's Red Cross appeal for an extra 40,000 volunteer workers was virtually ignored. The disaster will return to the headlines when one sort of newspaper reports a particularly gruesome discovery or another finds additional evidence of President Bush's negligence. But month after month of unremitting suffering is not news. Nor is the monotonous performance of the unpleasant tasks that relieve the pain and anguish of the old, the sick and the homeless - the tasks in which the Salvation Army specialise. The Salvation Army has been given a special status as provider-in-chief of American disaster relief. But its work is being augmented by all sorts of other groups. Almost all of them have a religious origin and character. Notable by their absence are teams from rationalist societies, free thinkers' clubs and atheists' associations - the sort of people who not only scoff at religion's intellectual absurdity but also regard it as a positive force for evil. The arguments against religion are well known and persuasive. Faith schools, as they are now called, have left sectarian scars on Northern Ireland. Stem-cell research is forbidden because an imaginary God - who is not enough of a philosopher to realise that the ingenuity of a scientist is just as natural as the instinct of Rousseau's noble savage - condemns what he does not understand and the churches that follow his teaching forbid their members to pursue cures for lethal diseases. Yet men and women who believe that the Pope is the devil incarnate, or (conversely) regard his ex cathedra pronouncements as holy writ, are the people most likely to take the risks and make the sacrifices involved in helping others. Last week a middle-ranking officer of the Salvation Army, who gave up a well-paid job to devote his life to the poor, attempted to convince me that homosexuality is a mortal sin. Late at night, on the streets of one of our great cities, that man offers friendship as well as help to the most degraded and (to those of a censorious turn of mind) degenerate human beings who exist just outside the boundaries of our society. And he does what he believes to be his Christian duty without the slightest suggestion of disapproval. Yet, for much of his time, he is meeting needs that result from conduct he regards as intrinsically wicked. Civilised people do not believe that drug addiction and male prostitution offend against divine ordinance. But those who do are the men and women most willing to change the fetid bandages, replace the sodden sleeping bags and - probably most difficult of all - argue, without a trace of impatience, that the time has come for some serious medical treatment. Good works, John Wesley insisted, are no guarantee of a place in heaven. But they are most likely to be performed by people who believe that heaven exists. The correlation is so clear that it is impossible to doubt that faith and charity go hand in hand. The close relationship may have something to do with the belief that we are all God's children, or it may be the result of a primitive conviction that, although helping others is no guarantee of salvation, it is prudent to be recorded in a book of gold, like James Leigh Hunt's Abu Ben Adam, as "one who loves his fellow men". Whatever the reason, believers answer the call, and not just the Salvation Army. When I was a local councillor, the Little Sisters of the Poor - right at the other end of the theological spectrum - did the weekly washing for women in back-to-back houses who were too ill to scrub for themselves. It ought to be possible to live a Christian life without being a Christian or, better still, to take Christianity à la carte. The Bible is so full of contradictions that we can accept or reject its moral advice according to taste. Yet men and women who, like me, cannot accept the mysteries and the miracles do not go out with the Salvation Army at night. The only possible conclusion is that faith comes with a packet of moral imperatives that, while they do not condition the attitude of all believers, influence enough of them to make them morally superior to atheists like me. The truth may make us free. But it has not made us as admirable as the average captain in the Salvation Army. © Guardian Newspapers Limited
____
Wow. Great writing. Greater truth. Glory to the God who Hattersley ignores.
grace,
sec

To say I love quotes would be an understatement.
Here's some of my favourites, in a series I shall entitle:

"Words from people who aren't dead"

or

"Quotes from Comrades"

"Creation stirs my spirit to praise." Narelle Unicomb, 2004

"Look, I just want to spread the revolution." Stephen Court, 2004

"He chose this for us, we didn't choose this for ourselves." Rob Dolby, 2004

"Be humble? Yes. Apologetic? No." General Eva Burrows, 2003

"If you have passion for the Lord, you're prepared to do anything." Commissioner Wesley Harris, 2004

"I have to admire leadership who say "we don't have to wait till we get a big fat salary to start all this..." Shimei Hewitt, 2004

"Fire power is the key to battle plans." Danielle Strickland, 2004

posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

SA update on USA Flood
____
Re: ACROSS THE NATION THE SALVATION ARMY IS PROVIDING AID TO
SURVIVORS OF HURRICANE KATRINA

September 13, 2005 - Since Katrina roared ashore along the Gulf Coast, The Salvation Army has been meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of over 500,000 disaster survivors. The Salvation Army has served over 1 million meals in response to Katrina and is providing direct aid to survivors in more than 30 states across the country. Salvation Army emergency disaster services vehicles (canteens) remain on the front lines of the disaster relief offering aid, hope and comfort to those in impacted areas across the Gulf Coast and beyond.

In addition to canteen service, The Salvation Army has opened many operations centers in immediately impacted areas where residents may come for assistance. In Alexandria, La., The Salvation Army has been caring for survivors since the beginning of the relief effort.

“The Salvation Army doesn’t just give someone help and then treat them like a number. . . I don’t think there is another organization that cares as much as The Salvation Army,” said Captain Todd Brewer, in charge of The Salvation Army’s work in Alexandria.

Currently, more than 31,000 people are being sheltered in Salvation Army facilities in seven states. In Midlothain, Texas, The Salvation Army is assisting 120 Hurricane survivors at its Camp Hoblitzelle. In addition to providing for basic needs, The Salvation Army has partnered with local businesses to provide free prescription refills, dental treatment and optical care. The Salvation Army is helping get children enrolled at local schools, has opened a child-care center so parents with small children can look for work and a place to relocate, and is providing family-focused activities for the people staying there.

“I have seen things that no one should ever see,” said Patrick, a 19-year-old who slept on a bridge and in the Superdome before being evacuated. “Since I have been here in Texas nobody has treated us as well as The Salvation Army. They feed us, clothe us and give us what we need to get our lives back together.”

Other survivors, who are not directly housed at Salvation Army facilities, are still receiving aid from the organization as Salvation Army personnel provide nutrition, clothes, hygiene items, counseling and other social service assistance in other shelters in local communities. The Salvation Army also is playing a major role at intake centers in cities throughout the nation where survivors who have been evacuated are coming for aid.

Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) continues to help reunite family and loved ones. For over two weeks, SATERN has been activated 24-hours-a-day. They have received more than 60,000 health and welfare inquiries and working with Computer Science Corporation have been able to locate 4,700 people. Health and Welfare inquiry forms can be found at www.salvationarmyusa.org

Numerous people and organizations have contributed both their time and money to assist The Salvation Army, including UPS which is helping The Salvation Army in Georgia to organize their warehouse operation.

“We are the recipients of the public’s tremendous generosity, and we want to make sure the people in need receive this outpouring as soon as possible,” said Major Paul Fuller, in charge of Salvation Army emergency disaster services in Georgia. “Because of that, efficiency and organization are vital. We need the expertise that UPS has to offer.”

Monetary donations may be sent your local Salvation Army earmarked “Disaster Relief,” made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
____
grace
stephenc

September 14, 2005.

We were at Territorial a couple of weeks ago and it kicked. Two hits of the week were BLESS OUT ARMY (on SOUNDS OF THE REVOLUTION, available at our armybarmy eStore) and Starfield's REVOLUTION (we changed a couple of words so that it goes 'I want fire, I want blood, I want revolution...). And I received an email this morning on that latter song...

"My daughters and I came to the Saturday program... and were completely turned on to to the music of the last five minutes! Since then we have heard "REVOLUTION" blaring out of bedroom windows, computers, mp3 players you name it it's rocking!  Music has always been a huge part of their lives . . . but I could never understand why they couldn't quite get into christian contemporary music. . . . It wasn't until Saturday evening that I saw the light. . . . my contemporary music, I now realize, is not contemporary . . . it's vintage! I am officially an old foggie. . .  I now know why shout to the Lord wasn't cutting the mustard, why they were never too enthusiastic when I put on my "As the Deer". I have discovered that they like a certain sound and my efforts to expose them to what I thought was contemporary music, I must admit, was missing the mark."

:- ) IT was a pretty loud song (complete with moshing and crowd surfing...)
Hallelujah
grace
stephenc

Armour of God.
Brad T. who discipled me, fired me this handy illustration he used at a staff traning conference recently:

"Remember to be Spirit Filled, and in God's armour for the battle we wage is NOT against flesh and blood. Remind (or in some cause Teach) your troups, it is ONLY by God's Spirit that we minister, glorify and honour HIM.
A neat illustration for this (Sylvia helped develop this image with me):
When the Canadian Army goes out on patrol in Afganistan, what are they wearing? The Flack Jackets, their boots, helmets, etc. Have you seen any on patrol just in underwear? Of course not, because they know that there are enemy who wish to attack them! So they are fully armed and ready when they step outside of their compound.
Yet, how many times have we stepped on campus (the field of any sorts) to do battle, wearing only our underwear, leaving the spiritual armour behind. When we do, we are saying the battle is won by us (NOT God), won by our flesh (NOT by His HOLY SPIRIT). How foolish we must look, strutting in our underwear!"

Yikes. I've done it far too often. Our moms always told us to wear clean underwear...
grace
stephenc

September 13, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Something new, today. We received a letter calling us new age liberals.
Imagine. We usually get called right-wing fundamentalists.
The criticism arose from a couple of posters (1,2) on armybarmy.com (the 614 page).
I was told that the desire for God to damn injustice and for poverty to go to hell was unbiblical and against SA teaching and unacceptable.
Of course, I think it thoroughly Biblical that poverty can go to hell and God should (He will!) damn injustice. And, not coincidently, it is thoroughly Salvo to want that, as well.
May He speed it on.
Much grace,
StephenC (closet new age liberal?)

September 12, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Well, the third year of The War College kicked off today with The Holy Session, 36 strong (if the two Americans can get across the border tomorrow), ratcheted up for some primitive salvationist war-training and war-fighting.

I'm psyched. Jonathan Evans (top right) taught praying the Bible this morning with two great twists: 1. he taught on ruminating (I hear Tara Ayer explained it- top right- not been able to read any blogs today- sorry); and he positioned PTB so strategically, and built anticipation so dramatically that we practically burst out of the chutes when he finally let us go.

It all augurs well for a supernatural year. Praise God! (it is too early to apply for next year but you can line up for next year starting in October)
Much grace,
StephenC

September 12, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

There is an exciting conference coming up September 30-October 2. Prachers including the inimitable Michael Collins, the legendary General Eva Burrows, the beautiful Danielle Strickland, the hilarious Major Ross Hailes, and the teachers include the popular Captain Amy Reardon, the wonderful Captain Dave Allen, and our own author and post-modern guru Aaron White.

Doesn't that sound like a conference you'd love to attend?

http://armybarmy.com/acc/index.html
Do it.
grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

You think you've got it bad with the cost of living in Canada? Let's get some heavenly perspective on that.
Check this out:

~Are you right ticked off about paying over a dollar a litre for fuel?

If you lived in Zimbabwe if you even WANT fuel you have to buy foreign currency on the black market (which is illegal) drive 120 kms, smuggle your cash through an international border, and fill a container. �On return you have to pay duty in Zim $ on the fuel you have purchased but you are not allowed to take out sufficient Zim $ to pay the duty anyway.
Oh and by the way, the fuel price has increased by 59,000% in the last 18 months.

~Are you sick of the price of stamps these days? (50 cents to mail within Canada)

If you lived in Zimbabwe, it would be cheaper to hand deliver mail than to use the postal system.

~Can't believe you're paying $1.59 for a 500ml bottle of Coca Cola?

If you lived in Zimbabwe, a monthly government pension of $135 00 would buy only one small sip of Coke. �But realistically, this is a non issue because who are we kidding, you can't buy Coke anyway. �

~Are you choked at the value of our Canadian dollar compared to the might US dollar?

If you lived in Zimbabwe, your $10 note would be worth 0,05 of one US cent. Not only that, but a $10 note costs over $3,000 to print.
Which leads me to toilet paper, which costs more than $10 a sheet - so it's cheaper just to wipe with the notes...

Kingdom compatriots, this week as you are tempted to complain about all the things that you have, don't have and what it's all gonna cost you, I admonish you to pause and consider why you spend so much time obsessing about what you're gathering and heapin' up here on earth. The truth is, where your treasure is, your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

And let's be serious, who wants their heart to be stuck in a 4 car garage or in a changeroom at the mall?

"Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things." Matthew Henry, Commentary on Romans 12:2


Posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

September 11, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

My son broke his first record at age 3.

It is a RCA Victor record, part 4 of PEE WEE THE PICCOLO, featuring Paul Wing- Narrator, and Russ Case and his Orchestra. It was very old (I want to guess, based on the information, 1945- it isn't even vinyl, it's heavier and more brittle).

On to bigger and better things.
grace
stephenc

September 10, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

One of the newest War College students, James Young, started blogging, and has a great perspective on college and career and Jesus and our neighbourhood. It is a bit rough for those who have tender eyes, but those people should read Cory Harrison's blog from last week on the drunken warrior (top right). Here is James's blog: http://www.truerevolution.blogspot.com//

grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

In my rations today (rations are daily devotions, but like food for soldiers in times of warfare I couldn't survive for long without them) I was meditating on Luke 1:57-80. One of the questions asked of the text was "What, according to Zechariah's song is the purpose of salvation? " I centred in on verses 74 and 75 as my answer:

"so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness forever."

Obviously, this is backed up by His redemption in v68, His deliverance in v71 and His Covenant to His people in vs72-73.
Feeling satisfied with that answer, I toddled on to the next question:

"Is this your experience?"

Well my word if that didn't catch me unawares and downshift me into discomfort and introspection...

Allow me to catapult you in the same direction, and break off a piece of my rations to share with you, comrades:

As a follower of Christ, are you currently experiencing a salvation that allows you to serve God without fear?

"Because of God's tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us.." Luke 1:78 NLT

He's coming soon to collect us - who among us will be able to stand before the Throne and offer up our lives of service motivated by our love for Him, not hindered by our human fears and what our eyes perceive?

only by God's grace.
Heather Dolby

new blog

My friend Melinda has started blogging at http://melindap614.blogspot.com/. It's time to check it out.
grace
stephenc

new names...
Props to Uganda and Tanzania for becoming a separate SA command. That leaves the largest Salvation Army, Kenya, as its own territory (formerly East Africa).
I'm just trying to keep you up to date...
grace
stephenc

My attention was recently drawn to a DTES newsletter(www.vcn.bc.ca/dera)by the words "Hope Village". I read on because the name struck me as being akin to our Army Centres of Hope. Basically, the project focuses on creating a tent city community within the neighbourhood to meet the housing needs of the homeless in the DTES.
Now, although I snagged some interesting info that I've posted below, what impresses me most about it all, is how many people at a non-corporate level are on board and providing input into the project at the proposal level as well as demonstrating outright support by either appearing in public at rallies or information sessions. Neither are they reluctant to approach the community trumpeting their enterprise, educating on their cause and drawing public awareness to their mission.

I like that.

In your city, are you involved with the projects the Salvation Army is implementing? Have you a clue what they are?

Are you co-labouring for Kingdom advance, or merely standing alongside and idly watching it all march past you?

It's not my aim to condemn, however, there are still areas (like mutual effort and participation) where the pagans are kickin' our butts...so seek the Lord and then, let's kick it into high gear and participate in our communal acts of God!

posted by:
Heather Dolby
by the grace of God

varsity blues...

My old team at UofT is in the throes of a terrible slump, but I just found their new site at varsitybluesfootball.com. It is worth going to the opening sequence with the Old Toronto Fight Song and photo collage... (turn volume up and sing along).
grace
stephenc

another site...
Chicago is the locus of some exciting Holy Spirit stuff these days and a prayer movement is birthing...
http://metroyouthnetwork.com/ is the place to see some SA content with primitive attitude. Check out the worship resources and the blog on Joe the Turk (the play Joe the Turk is comign to Vancouver in two weeks...).
Much grace
sec

resources for cells.

Our own Aaron White is responsible for cell content for hundreds of cells around the world. You can add to that number at this address: http://web.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove/resources_cell.asp
People have been asking me for the stuff, and this is where you get it.
Much grace
StephenC

sites...
Here are two new ones:

www.unsite.org - all images are offered with explicit permission to use, modify, distribute, etc., and all are free to use (we only use royalty-free photos, etc.).

Council of War, http://www.councilofwar.co.uk/ is getting heaps of hits in its first week of existence. It is worth a look...

Much grace
stephenc

Posted by: armybarmy / 4:37 AM

September 9, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I'm back in town and we'll be going daily again. Come back often.

I just received this email for release:

• Salvation Army is meeting the immediate needs of at least 500,000 Hurricane Katrina survivors by providing food, shelter, water and ice.

• The Salvation Army is working with federal, state and local governments, as well as other faith-based and non-faith based organizations, to determine the needs of disaster survivors in communities immediately impacted by the storm and communities in which many survivors have been relocated

• 09/05/2005 statistics for Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma:
o Meals served: 627,668
o Canteens: 86 and 2 kitchen units
o Shelter Facilities: 20
o Shelter populations in SA facilities: 31,297
o Army personnel in field: 597

Canteens:
• 86 canteens already responding throughout Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma (additional canteens are serving but we don’t have those stats yet)

o By Thursday 18 canteens from every division in the Central Territory will be serving in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi
o Each canteen can serve up to 5,000 meals a day
o 4 mobile kitchens have been deployed
o Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma have received the greatest amount of storm survivors who’ve evacuated their homes throughout the Gulf Coast. Canteens are providing food service at shelters (both Army and non-Army) throughout those states

Sheltering:
o 31,297 people being provided shelter at SA facilities in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma

o In addition, The Salvation Army is providing food service at non-Army shelters including the Houston Astrodome
♣ Salvation Army also providing pastoral care at Astrodome
____
grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

quik catch-up...
Obviously I am away. But armybarmy blog continues strong.

Here are a few quick ones...

The general in charge of New Orleans called the USA military one of the best in the world. I realise he'd probably been working 20 hour days for a few in a row, but it was a large slip-up (for those not paying attention, it is alright to call your football team on of the best in the world, but when it comes to war, second best isn't much help).

We had a great time at two camps this past fortnight- Sunrise Senior Music Camp was a big blessing all around. I was psyched to see the response of teens to the hero challenege. Territorial was intense. There was slam dancing and body surfing in SA worship...

At the Territorial School final programme a Ukrainian soldier was at the mike, and lauded the return of The Salvation Army as a charismatic church. The cringe factor was palpable. Hilarious.

HORIZONS is out with some good stuff to blog. I will get to it by the weekend when I will be steady again. They nailed the five questions to be considered by the upcoming territorial symposium- natural blog fodder for the coming days...

SOUNDS OF THE REVOLUTION is now out- more later- but a bunch were sold on the weekend. You can buy yours shortly at our eStore - top right. $15 gets you a load of new SA songs to provide a sound track to incite revolution.

Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

GO ! Has been a defining word for me in my Christian experience. Matthew 10 sets the stage for the Go Ye ! call. I have taught, preached, persuaded and reasoned this word, and what it means, all over the contenent and God has called me on my words. Are they merely idealism ? Are they void of praxy ? I pray they are not! While watching the news, seeing biblical devistation and Gods children suffering a flash of passion raced through my spirit, then God in his special way of speaking asked me, what will you do ? So I am leaving tomorrow for New Orleans, and I dont know what I can do, but I know that I can do something ! Pray that God will set up devine appointments and many would be saved !

September 2, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Faithful readers of JAC (top right) know that The Edge is dead, from an editorial in a recent issue. It has been replaced with BOUNDLESS (boundlessmagazine.com), which combines the great design and sharp articles aimed youth with internet interaction. Let teens and early twenties know about it.
grace
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hb2IG
posted by Stephen Court

Aaron vs. The COUCH

I had a very physical day today, which is great after a period of prolonged sickness (sniffles and tummy troubles. I'm a complete baby when I'm sick).

I took a prayer walk to hallelujah point in Stanley Park, where I believe the Army opened fire in Vancouver in 1882. To get there I walked through areas where needles were strewn on the ground, heavy construction, a mall, Vancouver's commercial district, and a yacht club with a private boat so big it actually had a helicopter on the back. Very diverse set of circumstances all within an hour's walk.

Then tonight a few friends and I had to move a huge couch and slightly less huge love seat from our command centre to a friend's house. To get the couch into the command centre originally, some of the War College students had put a massive hole in the wall, which had only just been fixed. It took us roughly an hour just to get the beast out the door.

Then we walked the couch down the street, as it was only a couple of blocks to the new house. This miht be strange anywhere else, but only tourists stopped to stare. One guy off the street came up and just started helping us.

All in all I would call both the walk and the couch move very satisfying worship experiences.

Grace,

Aaron

I'm No Trad.

Took the test Steve was referring to, and I came in at, surprise surprise, 100% primitive Salvo, though I'm not sure the factors in that test are the best indicators for what that means!

Had an incredible War Room shift last night. It was demonstrated tome through a couple of experiences and visitors coming in just how powerful the Word of God is. Not my explanation of the Word, just the Word itself, read out. In one case a potentially volatile situation full of hyperactivity was reduced to silence and sober thought simply by reading out a short passage.

How often do we get together and just read the Word of God to each other? I know it is part of the curriculum this year for the War College, which is great. They get to pray the Bible in the mornings (dance with the Word) and then read it to each other some afternoons (speak with the Word) and then use it to intercede during War Room shifts (fight with the Word as a weapon). And all in community. Very cool.

Grace,

Aaron

September 1, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
First up, welcome to this world, Jeremiah. It is waiting for you.

Second, that Wesleyan/Holiness quiz wasn't enough for some so now they have a SALVATIONIST quiz to find out what kind of salvo you are: http://www.quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=68527 (Disclaimer- I did not write it but I'd like to know who did).

I scored 100% primitive Salvationist- whew!

How about you? (revolution@mmccxx.net)
Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

August 31, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
There are a lot of names for the people of God in Scripture. One is Army. Another is church. For some reason we People have bought into church as the generic term. It isn't clear from Scripture why that is.
As a result, many uncertain salvos keep asserting that we are a church, even though, in my country at least, that has strong negative connotations. Why do we have to claim we are another metaphor for the people of God? Who made 'church' normative? I don't hear people running around passionately declaring that we are the Body of Christ (though we are, of course, part of it- the fist). I don't see leaders sticking 'shepherd' on their business cards that identify the People as the Flock. Other terms like building and kingdom and family and so on get similarly ignored.
Shouldn't the assertion be as reasonably put by those in churches, 'we're the army!'?
I suspect that in many or most cases, the most effective way forward (in our theatre of war) is to leave that tired old church metaphor in the rubbish heap of history and move on as an Army to win the world for Jesus.
Grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court