Armybarmy Blog

tired of debate?

I was on the territorial symposium discussion board but they have run out of patience. Yet, I want to clarify a few points from the last position in response to one of my posts.

I know some of these points will be out of context, but here goes:

a. only Scripture and Holy Spirit. This sounds good but ignores the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, by which Salvos make decisions.

b. tithing isn't mandatory for soldiers. This is sort of true. We're actually expected to give more (I did quote WB on 10% being the base from which to increase, but you can read AofW - as large a proportion of my income as possible - which, at our corps ranges from 10-90%.

c. tithing is OT law. This isn't true, of course, in that Melchizedek predates the Law. And so tithing persists beyond any New convenant-caused obsolescence of OT law.

d. Jesus doesn't mention tithing. Well, actually He endorses it in Matthew 23:23.

e. it is all about grace and growth. This was a response to my suggested standard (as part of covenant) that soldiers have to have read the whole Bible and be consistent tithers. I expect that people who don't tithe and haven't read the whole Bible are either new Christians, poorly taught, or slackers.

Grace
stephenc

doctrines

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.

We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.

We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead-the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.

We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.

We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.

We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.

We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
____
grace
stephenc

November 29, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Did you see RANSOM with Mel Gibson? Cool movie but wrecked by the advanced avertising, which gave away the BIG plot twist when Mel converted from victim to hunter. It made it so that the first half an hour was obsolete.

It's similar to water baptism. Matthew 3 and Acts 1 indicate that it is a bit of a promise of the coming of Holy Spirit to all (saved) flesh. BUT (and both use BUT) once Holy Spirit came (that would be Acts 2) the water is obsolete (and, some might think, an insult to Holy Spirit, but that is another argument).

Grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

the neighbourhood...

Andrew Stringer (top right) has some shots of the neighbourhood.
grace
stephenc

A Good Way to Buy a Goat...

Last year we went big on telling people to ask for goats and pigs etc.. for impoversihed families in Haiti for Christmas. This is instead of asking for big ticket items for yourself to honour the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour.

The problem last year was that it proved ludicrously difficult to actually purchase said goat or pig. So this year, I have found a site which makes it all very easy. And there are a whole load of things you can buy to make a lasting difference for families and communities in severely poor areas. These make GREAT Christmas gifts.

Check them out at www.partnersinternational.ca

Grace,

Aaron

Leadership Next –

This is from my friend RM, by Eddie Gibbs:
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By definition, movements “move” and therefore require leaders who are not stuck and insecure when it comes to change and adaptation.

Harland Cleveland – Nobody In Charge – provides a list of eight attitudes that he believes are indispensable to the management of complexity.  They apply equally well to leadership among the people of God.

〈 ⊇A lively intellectual curiosity; an interest in everything – because everything really is related to everything else and therefore to what we are trying to do, whatever it is.
〈 ⊇A genuine interest in what other people think and why they think that way – which means you have to be at peace with yourself for a start.
〈 ⊇A feeling of special responsibility for envisioning a future that’s different from a straight-line projection of the present.  Trends are not destiny.
〈 ⊇A hunch that most risks are there not to be avoided but to be taken.
〈 ⊇A mindset that crises are normal, tensions can be promising and complexity is fun.
〈 ⊇A realization that paranoia and self-pity are reserved for people who don’t want to be leaders.
〈 ⊇A sense of personal responsibility for the general outcome of your efforts.
〈 ⊇A quality I call “unwarranted optimism” – the conviction that there must be some more upbeat outcome than would result from adding up all the available expert advice.

The church needs navigators tuned to the voice of God, not map readers.  Navigational skills have to be learned on the high seas and in the midst of varying conditions produced by the wind, waves, currents, fogbanks, darkness, storm clouds and perilous rocks.
____
grace
stephenc

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

This just came in on The Army's human trafficking front (the fight against, that is):
"the federal government's anti-trafficking legislation passed through (Canadian) Parliament on Friday and was awaiting Royal Assent. According to the parliamentary website, the Bill received Royal Assent on Friday. This is the Bill that I mentioned previously. It was in the Senate at the time.

According to the Department of Justice press release:

"The Criminal Code amendments create three new indictable offences that specifically address human trafficking. The main offence prohibits the recruitment, transportation, harbouring or controlling of the movements of another for the purpose of exploiting or facilitating the exploitation of that person. This offence is punishable by life imprisonment where it involves the kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault or death of the victim and is punishable by a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment in all other cases.

"The second offence prohibits anyone from receiving a financial or other material benefit, knowing that it results from the trafficking of a person. This offence carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment.

"The third offence prohibits the withholding or destruction of documents - such as a victim’s identification, immigration or travel documents – for the purpose of trafficking or facilitating the trafficking of that person. This offence carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
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Nice.
grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Press Release
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Sunday November 27, 2005 – The Salvation Army’s national advertising campaign, which launches on November 28, reveals that not all Christmas wish lists are the same. While some children hope Santa will bring new toys, others face a much harsher reality.

“I wish my Dad would stop putting needles in his arm.”

“I wish my Mommy would stop punching me.”

These aren’t the sort of things you expect to hear in a Christmas ad. But they reflect real life for many. Beginning on Monday November 28, 2005, the four-week fundraising ad campaign created by ACLC highlights how, for these children as well as for many adults, Christmas can fall painfully short of the idyllic image of the season.

The Salvation Army’s Christmas Advertising for 2005 may seem shocking to some. “It is not our intention to offend the public”, says Graham Moore, Territorial Secretary for Public Relations and Development. “Rather, we want people to know that it doesn’t have to be this way. There is hope, but it requires the involvement of all of us.”

The Salvation Army offers practical help and hope to people who face these harsh realities every day. “We are thankful for the generous support of our donors and the public at large,” says Graham Moore. “We hope that the public will reflect on the realities presented and will help make a difference by supporting the work of The Salvation Army.”

For more information about the issues mentioned in the television and radio spots, please visit www.SalvationArmy.ca

The Salvation Army serves in 111 countries throughout the world. It began its work in Canada in 1882 as a Christian movement with an acute social conscience. With more than 120 years experience, The Salvation Army continues to provide professional services that are relevant to the diverse needs of vulnerable people and their communities.
____
God help us.
grace,
stephenc

November 27, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
There's a nice shot of a great preacher at leadingwomen.ca (under speakers, second one from the top).
grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

From the Rule of St. Benedict...

CHAPTER IV
The Instruments of Good Works

(1) In the first place to love the Lord God with the whole heart, the whole soul, the whole strength...
(2) Then, one's neighbor as one's self (cf Mt 22:37-39; Mk 12:30-31; Lk 10:27).
(3) Then, not to kill...
(4) Not to commit adultery...
(5) Not to steal...
(6) Not to covet (cf Rom 13:9).
(7) Not to bear false witness (cf Mt 19:18; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20).
(8) To honor all men (cf 1 Pt 2:17).
(9) And what one would not have done to himself, not to do to another (cf Tob 4:16; Mt 7:12; Lk 6:31).
(10) To deny one's self in order to follow Christ (cf Mt 16:24; Lk 9:23).
(11) To chastise the body (cf 1 Cor 9:27).
(12) Not to seek after pleasures.
(13) To love fasting.
(14) To relieve the poor.
(15) To clothe the naked...
(16) To visit the sick (cf Mt 25:36).
(17) To bury the dead.
(18) To help in trouble.
(19) To console the sorrowing.
(20) To hold one's self aloof from worldly ways.
(21) To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.
(22) Not to give way to anger.
(23) Not to foster a desire for revenge.
(24) Not to entertain deceit in the heart.
(25) Not to make a false peace.
(26) Not to forsake charity.
(27) Not to swear, lest perchance one swear falsely.
(28) To speak the truth with heart and tongue.
(29) Not to return evil for evil (cf 1 Thes 5:15; 1 Pt 3:9).
(30) To do no injury, yea, even patiently to bear the injury done us.
(31) To love one's enemies (cf Mt 5:44; Lk 6:27).
(32) Not to curse them that curse us, but rather to bless them.
(33) To bear persecution for justice sake (cf Mt 5:10).
(34) Not to be proud...
(35) Not to be given to wine (cf Ti 1:7; 1 Tm 3:3).
(36) Not to be a great eater.
(37) Not to be drowsy.
(38) Not to be slothful (cf Rom 12:11).
(39) Not to be a murmurer.
(40) Not to be a detractor.
(41) To put one's trust in God.
(42) To refer what good one sees in himself, not to self, but to God.
(43) But as to any evil in himself, let him be convinced that it is his own and charge it to himself.
(44) To fear the day of judgment.
(45) To be in dread of hell.
(46) To desire eternal life with all spiritual longing.
(47) To keep death before one's eyes daily.
(48) To keep a constant watch over the actions of our life.
(49) To hold as certain that God sees us everywhere.
(50) To dash at once against Christ the evil thoughts which rise in one's heart.
(51) And to disclose them to our spiritual father.
(52) To guard one's tongue against bad and wicked speech.
(53) Not to love much speaking.
(54) Not to speak useless words and such as provoke laughter.
(55) Not to love much or boisterous laughter.
(56) To listen willingly to holy reading.
(57) To apply one's self often to prayer.
(58) To confess one's past sins to God daily in prayer with sighs and tears, and to amend them for the future.
(59) Not to fulfil the desires of the flesh (cf Gal 5:16).
(60) To hate one's own will.
(61) To obey the commands of the Abbot in all things, even though he himself (which Heaven forbid) act otherwise, mindful of that precept of the Lord: "What they say, do ye; what they do, do ye not" (Mt 23:3).
(62) Not to desire to be called holy before one is; but to be holy first, that one may be truly so called.
(63) To fulfil daily the commandments of God by works.
(64) To love chastity.
(65) To hate no one.
(66) Not to be jealous; not to entertain envy.
(67) Not to love strife.
(68) Not to love pride.
(69) To honor the aged.
(70) To love the younger.
(71) To pray for one's enemies in the love of Christ.
(72) To make peace with an adversary before the setting of the sun.
(73) And never to despair of God's mercy.
____
grace
stephenc

dose of ancient/future(?) culture

My friend Jim suggests that Telegraph is one of the top two newspapers in the world (the other being WSJ). So, here is a link to a bit of culture for this armybarmy crew- 'Sacred mysteries', on Chinese evangelism through Iraq (sort of): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/11/26/do2607.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2005/11/26/ixop.html

Much grace
StephenC

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

A friend called me a netocrat yesterday. I had to look it up to find out if it was nice or not.

I did (at amazon.com- it is from a book called netocracy):

netocrat ne·to-krat n. The netocrat has created and not inherited his social identity. He/she is self-made in the most fundamental meaning of the word. The netocrat has money but it is a means and not an end goal. He/she outsmarts the capitalist by ruling the networks that now rule the world. The netocrat is an artistic and political manipulator who has turned networking into an artform.
____
What can I say? I've been found out. I may have to change my addresses and sites before 'they' find me. All of it is intended to help finish the revolution, you know (maybe I should read the book). Complaints to revolution@mmccxx.net (now THERE is a network- mmccxx...).

grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

The state of things...

From First Things (While We're At It- November 2005 issue):
“Where orthodoxy is optional . . . ” The Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church placed the Rev. Edward Johnson on involuntary leave of absence without pay for refusing church membership to a man who was unrepentant about living in a sexual relationship with another man. The man, said Johnson, was living in violation of both Scripture and the Methodist Book of Discipline. Bishop Charlene Kammerer of Virginia explained to a local newspaper that no Methodist minister “has the authority to exclude anyone from joining the church.” This is an inclusive church, and those who don’t like it can go elsewhere.
____
Indeed.
grace
stephenc

Mat Badger identifies six issues SLB argued were necessary for us to manifest if we are to succeed:

"Brengle has laid out in his writings at least six conditions that will ensure continuing effective mission from within the institution of the Salvation Army. Firstly, the continuing power of the Holy Spirit; Secondly, the spirit of self-sacrifice; thirdly, love; fourthly, personal holiness; fifthly, being separate from the world and sixthly, living the experience of truth."

1. HS power. We need His power.
2. self-sacrifice. We need it in the developed world Army.
3. love. Spotty.
4. personal holiness. Spotty.
5. separation from world. We need it in the developed world Army.
6. experience of truth. Yes, we need it.

So, it looks fairly desperate. That isn't a bad thing, in that it might stir us to radical repentance, and, then, on to revolution.

grace
stephenc

SLB prophesying our slide from holiness movement:

"The greatest danger to any religious organization is that a body of men should arise in its ranks, and hold positions of trust, who have learnt its great fundamental doctrines by rote out of a catechism, but have no experiential knowledge of their truth… (hat tip Mat B)

grace
stephenc

SLB on war:

“It will not be by programs but by Pentecost that the battle will be won.” (hat tip Mat B).
grace
stephenc

from movement to organization...

Mat Badger explains the decline (my description) of The Army from movement to institution that also experienced a tranformation from vilified to virtuous this way (in his thesis, The Changing Nature of Salvation Army Officership: An Examination of the Impact of Institutionalization on the Mission of the Salvation Army):

"the movement that once had rocks thrown at it is now the organization that has cash thrown at it. "

NIce
grace
stephenc

clergy /laity (evil)

Badger has more for us...
From Servants Together, he quotes,
____
While we speak of officers and soldiers as a convenient distinction in terminology, it is fully recognized that all officers are soldiers (laity) first and foremost.
____
Now, everything comes down to the lowest common denominator, by this reckoning.

I prefer to raise everything up to ordination.

And I do.
grace,
stephenc

NZ heroics

Cadet Mat Badger has a great piece in JAC (next week) and in it he traces the impact of a couple of your warriors in New Zealand:
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"after a three week training period William Booth dispatched two young men, Captain George Arthur Pollard (age 20) and Lieutenant Edward Wright (age 19), as the invasion force to New Zealand in 1882. Upon arrival in Invercargill in 1883, Pollard had thirty shillings to his name and Wright did not have any money whatsoever. Pollard then used some of his money to send Wright north to Auckland. The invasion plan was simple. Wright would start in the north and preach his way south. Pollard would work his way north from Invercargill and meet Wright in Wellington. By the end of 1883, after only nine months in the field, eleven corps had been firmly established; and more than thirty officers were giving leadership to several hundred soldiers. By 1893, ten years later, there were 82 corps with more than 100 outposts. There were over 300 full time officers, close to half of them women, and the 1891 census recorded 9383 people registering themselves as Salvationists in
a population of just over 600,000.
____
Hallelujah
grace,
stephenc

mmccxx...
Some of you know of the vision to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 coutnries in 20 years (most will be bi-vocational, cell-based- free on personnel and property).

Anyway, The Christian Mission had 54 mission stations 13 years into its campaign.

Of course, shortly thereafter, a revival exploded everything off the map.

To those not convinced on mmccxx yet, realise that the first 13 years might get you to 54 or so... But look out for the last 7!

Hallelujah.
grace
stephenc

November 25, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Look forward with me to the upcoming December issue of JAC. It is going to be juicy. I'm proofing one of the submissions now, and here is a taste:
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“What are you living for? What is the deep secret purpose that controls and fashions your existence? What do you eat and drink for? What is the end of your marrying and giving in marriage – your money making and toilings and plannings? Is it the salvation of souls, the overthrow of the kingdom of evil and the setting up of the Kingdom of God? Have you the assurance that the ruling passion of your life is the same as that which brought Christ to the manger, led Him to fight the foul fiend of Hell in the wilderness, bore Him onward on the back of suffering and tears and ignominy and shame, sustained Him in drinking the cup of anguish and entering the baptism of blood, bore him through Gethsemane, nailed Him to the cross of Calvary and enabled Him in triumph to open the gate of the kingdom? Is this what you are living for? If not, you may be religious – a very proper person amongst religionists – but I don’t see how you can be a Christian.” (William Booth)
____
Block out some time next week to tackle the feast that is coming your way...
grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

incendiary (another oldie- sorry, but I'm searching for something and ran over these... -they're good!)
____
March 11, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus’ name, friends.

A few of my friends attended a women’s conference at which they were taught exciting ways to make up a mission statement. They had to pick from a few words to describe themselves and then fire off ten descriptors to characterize the word they chose.

‘Fire’ is the word I chose afterwards, as they practised what they learned on me. One of the first descriptors I chose was ‘incendiary’.

The dictionary defines ‘incendiary’ as follows:
1. used or adapted for setting property on fire;
2. of arson;
3. tending to arouse strife, sedition;
4. a person who commits arson;
5. a device that burns with an intense heat;
6. a person who stirs up strife.

That defines what I want to be, fairly well. I want to be used to set territory on fire (1), to start and spread fires (2,4). I want to arouse sedition, or, rebellion against the government of satan (3,6). I want to burn with an intense heat (5).
How about you?
____
nice. I suspect there will be a book or CD coming out of here sometime fairly soon with this name on it I write it here to 'call' it- no stealing!
grace
stephenc

old blog (03):

John Wesley once proclaimed: "Give me one hundred men who love only God with all their heart and hate only sin with all their heart and we will shake the gates of hell and bring in the kingdom of God in one generation."
____
wow. And I figured we could use 5,000 outlandishly sold-out, extravagently anointed, wonderful sign-performing, divinely creative, super-humanly tireless, spiritually authoritative, offensively bold, ankle-rubbingly humble, over-size-hearted compassionate, devil-daring, shockingly fearless, holy, passionate, zealous, covenanted, apostolic, prophetic end-time warriors to win the world.
Are you in?
____
the zeal of youth! :- )
grace,
stephenc

ID

Intelligent Design is both a scientific and political newsmaker these days and those wanting to catch up to speed quickly should check out William Dembski's article, "Science and Design" (http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?program=CSC&command=view&id=62) as well as the Discovery Institute's website (discovery.org).

Why does it matter to us? In North America, at least, evollution is taught as fact/religion. ID is a rigorous alternative suggesting a role for our Creator. It is a matter of engaging the public debate.

Much grace
sec

real martyrs (popping skulls)

This is from firstthings.com, one of the best bogs (and a great journal) I've seen:
____
Richard John Neuhaus writes:

As Allen Hertzke spelled out recently in FIRST THINGS (see “The Shame of Darfur,” October), one of the great changes of recent years has been the determination of evangelical Protestants in this country to get serious about human rights, and about religious freedom in particular. Michael Cromartie, who also heads up evangelical studies at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, is chairman of the Commission on International Religious Freedom. This week, the commission, which operates out of the State Department, issued a blistering report on religious persecution in North Korea.

Based on eyewitness accounts of those who have fled the North Korean dictatorship, the stories curdle the blood. For instance, in the building of a highway near Pyongyang, a house was demolished and a Bible was discovered hidden between bricks. Along with it was a list identifying a Christian pastor, two assistant pastors, two elders, and 20 members of the congregation.

All were rounded up and the five Christian leaders were told they could avoid death if they denied their faith and swore to serve only Kim Jong Il and his father, Kim Il Sung, the founder of the communist dictatorship. Refusing to do so, they were forced to lie down and a steamroller used in the highway construction was driven over them. The report continues, “Fellow parishioners who had been assembled to watch the execution cried, screamed out, or fainted when the skulls made a popping sound as they were crushed beneath the steamroller.”

The persecution, imprisonment, and killings of Christians in North Korea involve hundreds of thousands. President Bush this week spoke out forcefully on human rights and religious freedom in North Korea, as well as China, in his visit to Asia. Many of the details on concentration camps and other horrors in North Korea were collected by the intrepid human rights activist David Hawk.
____
grace
stephenc

battle school intel
Battle School
Overview:
Since the mid-1990s The Salvation Army in British Columbia has offered intense training in spiritual discipline and warfare for young Salvos. Williams Lake’s Battle School morphed into The War College a few years ago. Well, Battle School is back, in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

The War College’s leaders are leading this new incarnation of Battle School to download primitive salvo DNA in keen young warriors from around the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Why:

The great Salvation War is accelerating and we can’t wait until you have a bachelor degree or years of employment before you are prepared to lead the fighting on your front (or that to which God sends you). You need to get trained up now.

The demands of the war dictate that you know from experience how to fast and pray and read the Bible, how to witness and engage demons and listen to God. This fast-forward ride will rush you through these imperatives in the context of simplicity, poverty, and injustice.

Where:

Battle School is headquartered in the poorest postal code in Canada: V6A. This neighbourhood is stricken with open drug use and the injustice of prostitution. Herein lie souls suffering from loneliness, guilt, and rampant sin. Incarnational warfare, including meals and accommodations, is the fundamental distinctive of Battle School. You will be placed in a hotel room with another student providing a home base.

Who:

Battle School is connected spiritually with The Salvation Army’s 614 Vancouver Corps, and is led by Carla and Jonathan Evans, along with Cherie and Aaron White and Captains Danielle Strickland and Stephen Court. A War College brigade will also be deployed to help the training.

What:

We’re talking about mission trip experience without the price tag. We’re offering an introduction to discipleship training without the time commitment.

Training is highly experiential accentuated with on-site theory modules on:
♣ Children’s Ministries (Be a hero to inner city children)
♣ Spiritual Disciplines (grow your roots deep into God’s love)
♣ Christian Leadership (influence others to take hold of God and his world-saving mission)
♣ Evangelism (introducing people from all walks of life to Jesus)

Responsibilities and ministries will be:
♣ Street Combat (supervised street encounters sharing Jesus’ love)
♣ War Room shifts (24/7 prayer fuels our existence)
♣ Re:cre8 (our street-based café)
♣ Children’s ministries (reach out to inner city kids on their own turf)

What are you waiting for? (besides time and cost?) For more information, contact us at revolution@mmccxx.net.

grace,
sec

BTI Intensive

The wonderful Booth-Tucker Institute (one week leaders incarnational refresher in Vancouver) is still many months away, but it is not too early to plan and save up air miles and invite your friends to join you. Last year we had a dozen or so from coast to coast and it was a big blessing all around.

There is a new wrinkle for next year's BTI: BTI Intensive.

BTI Intensive is a longer-term experience that spins out of BTI with a customised regimen for a small number of leaders who can't scare up a year (for TWC or something) and are looking especially to replicate or spawn new things from here.

We're hoping for maybe half a dozen leaders who can spare 4-6 weeks for this stirring experience next summer (northern hemi summer).

For more information, stay tunned, or contact us at revolution@mmccxx.net.

Much grace,
StephenC

battle school

This is the unofficial heads-up for next summer's first Battle School (aimed at teens). It will be 6 weeks (or so) of hardcore training in spiritual warfare and incarnational ministry in Vancouver.

Stay tuned for more details, but begin praying and planning (tell your younger friends).

Much grace,
StephenC

JAC...

The new issue of JAC goes up in one week. That means you have only one more week to read the current issue articles in JAC without having to search the archives.

Dig in (and, when you're done, go to the archives for dessert).
grace,
stephenc

War College applications ...

The War College started this September's session with 36 first year and 14 second year students. Praise the Lord.

The good news is that there is room for more next year. You can apply online at thewarcollege.com 9for Vancouver or Charlotte).

There is even an early-bird discount (I think).

Much grace,
StephenC

November 24, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

SA Resources on our international initiative against human trafficking are a little difficult to come by, but I found this:
http://www.rootsonline.org/humantrafficking/default.asp

I hope this helps.
Grace
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

race of religions: orthodox and modern

Here is an interesting article from teh Telegraph: http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/10/13/do1302.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2005/10/13/ixopinion.html

According to research expert Peter "Brierley, the Churches that are growing are the ones which are orthodox but experimental: the Pentecostals and evangelicals, relaxed in style but strict in substance, liberal in all but doctrine and appealing not to liturgy but to grace."

Man o man. I think he's on to something. How about that? How do you and your comrades fit that description?
grace
StephenC

November 23, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Saskatchewan is trying to follow Alberta in forcing addicted teens into detox: http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/22/saskatchewan-detox-051122
Nice.
Meanwhile, my province is handing out free heroin, supervising safe injection, and distributing clean needles (in case I don't explain clearly- I am against these practices).
God bless the Prairies.
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

November 22, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I've not pumped up Rich Swingle nearly enough, so please give him a visit at RichDrama.com/quotes.

And if you see Christian Week, you'll catch up on the War Room: http://www.christianweek.org/stories/vol19/no17/story3.html .

grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Y'know, we always say that we're all about building this authentic Christian community, but I won't lie, it's a pretty vague phrase, eh?

Let me paint a different picture of it all...let's just say, we're a strange brew...an odd collection of folks drawn together by the finger of God from here and there each with our own unique giftings and strengths, failings and foibles.
So we end up as a combined aroma, infused and intermingled.

Truth be told , sometimes we smell like a colourful spring field, a Scottish moor fresh with lovely fragrant flowers, abuzz with bumblebees and lazy drifting butterflies,

Just as often though, we come out smellin' like a 3rd grade lunchroom (pew!)

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

great blog Aaron, but you were a little off on one thing - your wife Cherie is totally fearless, and it's not because she's reckless, but because she knows The One who's got her back.

grace,
Heather

Do Not Watch the News...

There are a number of people who are concerned for my wife and I and our family, because we live in the DTES. I appreciate that concern, because it is a dangerous place, and it shows that they love us.

Still, the concern sometimes manifests itself in, shall we say, humorous ways.

One person was explaining to my wife that it was unsafe for her to walk out on the streets by herself, or really at all. My wife is pretty fearless, but also knows the community and has her head on straight. So she was explaining that it was ok, she went outside a lot and even sometimes talked to people on the street (gasp!).

The person responded by saying, 'Well, you never watch the news, so you do not really know what goes on!'

Yes. People who watch the news have a much better perspective on our community than we do. :)

The reality is that anything you see on the news is sensationalist. So if there is a big fire or gun fight, you will see that. BUt you will not see the people dying in the backstreets to drugs and illness on a regular basis. The DTES is lifted up as an example of everything that is wrong with Vancouver, but there is actually no real understanding of what is going on down here. Nor is there an appreciation for all the good things that are happening, little things that will never make the news.

Grace,

Aaron

Hay responds to Durston

SALVATIONIST carries a great reflection on Colonel Durston's article on five types of salvationism by Colonel Hay (http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/1889B17A18A153B5802570A8004D979E?opendocument&id=9099B0B4F055AEC5802570A8004AB06F) from the perspective of George Scott Railton.

As a primitive salvo, I feel very confident claiming Railton as a father of our stream (confusingly combined by Durston in the initial article - see SALVATIONIST Oct 22 online with dissimilar streams).

Two highlights:
1. Railton's rebuke of Booth-Clibborn (a piece of work worthy of a blog in days to come- actually I think I blogged him in the early days- search the archives- top right - short form is that I imagine CB Jr. lived with a lot of regrets, re. desertion, Zion, etc.- I will say the he wrote some solid lyrics) is fun: "Seeker-sensitive comrades may have some reservations about Railton, reading his response when refusing to publish Booth-Clibborn’s carefully crafted descriptions of a Swiss Sunday in the 1890s: ‘Do make a salvation report in a Salvationist way about a warlike Sunday, and hang those wretched newspapers and the local bigwigs.’"

2. "advocates of radical change, might find surprising resonance in the searing honesty of a letter written to his wife from Tokyo on 27 September 1905 as Railton pondered how, in John Coutts’s phrase, the hot metal had congealed in a cold mould. ‘ When I try to think of any plan apart from the Army I am so impressed with the harm that can be done to all who now belong to it, and with the hopelessness of keeping any new organisation right, that I turn back to it ... Therefore, I am bound up in all my thoughts for our future to it, and surely we have a right to demand of God that He justify all our hopes connected with it, founded as they were on concern for His Kingdom.’"

One century ago, GSR had considered throwing in the towel and starting anew (and, as much as I love him, he counselled his kids to desert instead of fighting). Because he couldn't complete his mission (not entirely his fault after his de facto ex-communication) we're stuck with the same challenge today. We will not throw in the towel, nor counsel our spiritual kids to desert. We will fight for global revolution.

grace
stephenc

November 21, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Thanks to Geoff M. for the heads up on different views of heaven (in the Toronto Star?). The Vikings used to think that it was die in battle or die in your bed. If you die in battle you get Valhalla. If you die in your bed, you're toast.

Nice. The Revolutionists aim to die in battle...
grace
stephenc

regional disparity

I edited a post from the weekend on genetic code stuff. I want to clarify the opening of the tent- it isn't TOO big. But I think it is big enough.

On this weekend, there were some inter-regional tensions, so I want to repeat these comments from a note to symposium participants for other Canadians who might pass by this blog:

I want to say that I appreciate you- I appreciate the numeric strength, the cultural insinuation, and the passion of the East; the struggle in Quebec; the commitment and tradition in Central Canada; the challenges and freedom in the West. I know of some hurt in various parts of the country from other parts. This isn't to be, brothers and sisters. As an old school Toronto guy now living and fighting in western Canada, I can vouch confidently for the Salvationist strength of the western Army. I can humbly suggest that the other parts of the country have some important lessons to learn from the West (and, yes, the West can learn some things from the other parts- that's the whole point). And I think I can safely say that we want to bless everything in the other parts that is from God.

In that vein, I want to suggest that tradition is a vague term. And the 1950s big banding tradition is a lot different from the 1880s revival tradition. So let's be careful in judging what doesn't appear to be traditional, please.
____
There is now an official symposium site open to all, and you can find it at http://salvationist.ca/symposium/

grace
stephenc

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

This was it. We mentioned it a bit, and prayed a bit. I hesitate to even mention it, because it doesn't nearly do justice (!) to our brothers and sisters who form the persecuted church (actually, we're part of it since there happens to be one church- we're just not persecuted yet - but that's another blog).

God, bless them. Relieve them. Rescue them, please.

Anyway, here is a veiwpoint you probably haven't read on it: http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110007564

Much grace
Stephen Court

just to be a little cultured and culturally relevant (for a change)...

This, just in from opinionjournal.com:

"Milton's Paradise Lost, one of the most sublime works of Western literature, was reduced to a four-line text message (txtmsg) yesterday with the blessing of the Lord Northcliffe professor emeritus of modern English literature at University College, London (fule)," reports London's Daily Telegraph:

It read: "Devl kikd outa hevn coz jelus of jesus&strts war.pd'off wiv god so corupts man(md by god) wiv apel.devl stays serpnt 4hole life&man ruind. Woe un2mnkind."
___
I just saved you many hours. You're welcome.
Much grace
StephenC

sacraments

I know, I know, we're all sick of talking about it (I am). Well read salvos point out that WB mentioned our position wasn't set in stone but that should be reconsidered in the future. I doubt he meant that we should reconsider it at every single soldiers or/and officers gathering.

Man.

I had an interesting experience with this issue this past weekend. I went a bit overboard (Me? come on!) in my defence of our position (and actually contradicted myself in my presentation- sorry- I can clarify, if you are messed up by it (hat tip GM) - revolution@mmccxx.net). But some pro-sacs actually changed their mind in the face of a reasonable argument supporting our stance.

We don't lack a good stance. We seem to lack the communication of that to all of our people. It seems not enough people have taken SALVATIONISM 201 yet (online at the eStore but I would wait until the new and improved versions of 101, 201, and 301 come out in the new year). So, in the near future I will offer it up again (either on blog or in the upcoming edition of JAC- December 1).
Much grace
StephenC

Beard on Cash

Steve Beard (author fo John Wesley and the Toronto Blessing and host of thurderstruck.org) reviews the Walk the Line movie on Johnny Cash here:
http://nationalreview.com/comment/beard200511180834.asp
This gives you the rest of the story- useful for evangelistic conversations off the movie (engaging your friends through cultural windows).
Grace,
StephenC

November 20, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I heard this weekend for the first time, the phrase 'theology of guilt' (yes, I live a sheltered life). It was aimed at me in a negative way.

It is partly my fault (is that this guilt thing cropping up?), as I had only a short time to present a large point. My mention of covenant was thumb nail and Bible reference.

The issue is that people have confused our embrace of covenant as a theology of guilt. There is a world (that we aim to win) of difference. An embrace of (soldier's) covenant is what can free God up to trust us with His power and blessing, as He has consistently through history (whether with the Nazirites, the Israelites, the Rechabites, the Jesuits, the Franciscans, and so on).

Covenant is The Army's distinctive (it is more hard core than the covenants of those blessed peoples I mention above). It is our only hope of lasting through this next twenty years. But beyond these, it is our best hope of accomplishing our world-winning mission.

Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Edited Sunday night...

Genetic Generics

So, who was praying? Good stuff happened today. Praise God.

Nice.

Anyway, soime clarification on genetic codes is necessary. I dropped our soldiership thing on some people today and it came across as legalistic and narrow (al quada was one description).

That isn't the intention. Let me explain. We in The Army are soldiers and officers and we fight from corps. But we all fight on different fronts. Sometimes it is advantageous and strategic to use different terms and vocabularity and fight undercover or subversively. That requires flexibility.

So, in my perception, this is a posible reality: my friend fought on a front where there was a set SA presence for years but it was an Army of occupation. He found it too difficult to gain ground based on the local strength of the enemy. The exigencies of the war dicatated a radical transformation of his fighting forces. He isn't usually known as the CO anymore. Now they call leaders there Chief Story Tellers and Journey Guides and Cultural Architects and Spiritual Entrepreneurs.

Generically he is an officer. His corps is a corps (though it is called some kind of spiritual community now, different from the generic unit name of corps as temple, citadel, garrison, barracks, community church, mission team and congress hall are different). The genetic codes remain the same, ideally, across the territory.

But the realities of the war on each front demand different approaches.

I want to celebrate each of those things. Each is valid in a revolution. As long as we are committed to the revolutionary premise (that The Salvation Army is a revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus), we're good to go. The soldiers standards (which I will post again when I get a break) are flexible enough for each of these fronts, if we sell out to the shared cause.

Just because you call yourself pastor (or church) or some such thing doesn't mean I'm buying into your philosophy (I have large issues with it for Biblical reasons- e.g. pastor is really shepherd (I've dealt with the false hierarchy for church in an earlier blog); culturally- e.g. the name lacks an archtypical meaning in our society; and practically- e.g. in my country 80% of the people don't like it (or church) as evidenced by their absence from Christian meetings of any kind - that number rises to 93% in my city). The challenge to everyone is to prayerfully consider the foundational premise, the revolution and the revolutionary identity of The Salvation Army. If you can commit to that, then we can partner inincting the revolution.

Much grace
StephenC

virulent strains

I'm in an environment this week where I am the small minority (some will say that is normal for me). I'm trying to sway a crowd of people who have set positions on things.
It isn't working that well yet.
The upside is that I'm pushing the most virulent strain of Salvationism- the primitive kind. Why is that good? Because, whether I can sway these people this weekend or not, our strain will multiply and replicate and spread the fastest anyway. So, inside a generation, if we're faithful, I suspect we'll be the majority point-of-view (whether they buy in or not here).
God grant it.
grace
stephenc

no fall back.

There is no fall back when you plunge in for revolution. There is no plan B for us. Either God works miraculously, or we look stupid.

If, a decade or two from now things are roughly the same or worse, sheepishness and shame are the best scenarios for us.

Of course, if God takes the death we offer, and fulfills the dreams He has downloaded in us, then the future is going to be amazing.

If you haven't taken the plunge yet, pray it through. Once you put your hand to the plough you can't turn back.
grace
stephenc

classic line

I should remember this but might muff it. Isaac Watts penned a couple of lines we sang yesterday:
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to Your blood
(I think I might have switched to Your from His).
Excellent prayer, though.
grace
stephenc

famous sons of Nottingham

I heasrd yesterday that William Booth and Robin Hood are the most famous sons of Notthingham (by vote).

Some think they had similar missions. Tactics, yes, but RH has a better movie (although word is out that Mel G is thinking about a WB flick... and MG beats KC, despite what DWC thinks).
grace
sec

November 19, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

There is a territorial symposium for Canada and Bermuda happening right now. I hope to offer some reflection on it in the upcoming JAC (December 1- read the current issue now before it hits the archives! top right). In the meantime, you can get the official scoop at www.symposium2005.org, updated daily through the weekend (and afterward, apparently).
Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Here's some more from BONO:

"Religion can be the enemy of God. It's often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. [laughs] A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship."

look familiar?
God save us from cold hearted religion with red hot relationship.
Great Grace.
Danielle

let's try this again - the chicago team!
Danielle

AND just in case the picture doesn't work again here is some food for thought from a book I'm reading right now called BONO in conversation with MICHKA ASSAYAS...

"My understanding of the Scriptures has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean? What it means for me: a study of the life of Christ. Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honor. I don't let my religious world get too complicated. I just kind of go: Well, I think I know what God is. God is love, and as much as I respond [sighs] in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that's my religion. Where things get complicated for me, is when I try to live this love. Now, that's not so easy.

hmmm. that's not a bad religion.

God in covenant.

Michael, my comrade at CFOT, dropped the nugget from class this week (I've removed marks that were probably quotations, but our programmes were sufficiently different to turn them to gobblygook):
on pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus:

-- At the conclusion of the giving of the law, the LORD states that He is going to send an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared (Ex. 23:20). Israel is not to rebel against him because he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him (Ex. 23:21).

John Sailhamer suggests that this must be the Angel of the Covenant (cf. Isa. 63:9; Mal. 3:1), the Second Person of the
Trinity in that this Angel with the authority and prestige of the name of God was evidence enough that God himself was present in his Son. This does add a new dimension to the covenant, if indeed Sailhamer is correct, to have him physically represented in both covenants - put another way, at the issuing of the law (the alpha) and the fulfilment of it (the omega).
____
Nice
grace
stephenc

Sponsor Children

Yes, do it. Did you know The Army has the best sponsorship programme going, for Salvos, in that all the cash goes there and it strengthens The Army's mission.

And did you know that the small Hong Kong Command has 2,305 such children? Wow. I don't know the numbers for the big Western territories, but I suspect they can't match up.

And did you know that only 1,702 of those kids is currently sponsored? (still, probably more than the big territories)

And did you know that for only $100/month (HK$) you can help cut that deficit down to 0 (that is only $15-20 or so)?

And did you know that all it takes is a credit card and an internet connection (specifically a visit to http://www.salvation.org.hk/China/index_c.htm)?

Have at it.
grace
stephenc

November 16, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

assorted...

Peter Lublink sent me this update on a new Canadian SA book:
"Unearthing the Hidden God" by Claudia Davison. Very powerful book and well worth the read. Its available on Amazon, but if you want more info on it I would suggest checking www.lublink.net, the book is only $15.50 and worth every penny.
____
I received a word from a homeless guy in my cell last night. Good word. Anyway, part of it mentioned the mere men bit in 1 Corinthians. It shot me over to Hebrews 11 and those of whom the world was not worthy. Two extremes - mere men or those of whom the world is not worthy. Our revolutionists must be among the latter.
____
Unity. I'm all for unity in the body. I celebrate my cousin's corps in the suburbs fighting undercover (that means they play down the 'brand') which is growing and saving people and discipling them. I celebrate the traditional large corps like my home corps with their commitment in time and honour of the past. I celebrate the small town corps (I lived in them all of my officership before moving here) with their small town opportunities and small town challenges. I celebrate the developing world corps where sacrifice is both mundane and heroic. I celebrate the pomo initiatives to engage the coming generation with the timeless Gospel. I celebrate the programme-based stuff. I celebrate the cell-based stuff. I celebrate the meditative and mystical and the festive and fun. I celebrate the ecumenical types within The Army. I celebrate the warfare zealots. I celebrate the covenanters. I celebrate the evangelists, the prophets, the apostles, the teachers and shepherds. I celebrate those fighting for prophetic and social justice. I celebrate the numbers salvos (from Gen1 to 614 and any higher ones out there). I celebrate the citadels and the temples, the barracks and the garrisons. And I celebrate the soldier's covenant that unites us all.

much grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Posted by: armybarmy / 11:28 AM

check out this team of warriors who reunited to bust up the enemy on the chicago flight
/Users/danbrosseuk/Desktop/DSC_0258.JPG

revival in DTES?

We have a municpal election in a few days and our neighbourhood is getting lots of attention. One of the mayoral candidates, known for his long commitment to the downtown eastside, predicted a revival here within three years.

Amen. Bring it on, Lord Jesus.
grace
stephenc

The Army in USA started in Cleveland!

I imagine you didn't know: http://stanfield.und.ac.za/salarm00.html

grace
stephenc

How about some love for Andrew Stringer's juicy blogs at Andrew Stringer http://theworldforgod.blogspot.com/ ?
grace
stephenc

loyal radicals.

Phil Leager (top right) pointed me to a term coined (we think) by Bob Hoskins, 'loyal radical'. It describes people who don't bolt their denominations but stck around and try to effect change from the inside. Phil notes that it is easier to be one or the other than both together.

However, you do get double glory pay.

?
grace
stephenc

TWC shots

Denise Knee has a load of shots on The War College... http://www.un-compromising.blogspot.com/
grace
stephenc

art of the neighbourhood

Kirsten Ivany has some nice shots of the neighbourhood at http://k-thoughts.blogspot.com/ .
grace
stephenc

November 15, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I've just heard of a new songsheet generator, free, which includes the SASB, Happiness and Harmony, and other SA song books. Check it out at http://www.zionworx.org.uk/ (hat tip- Morvyn Finch).

Much grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Direct quote on WalMart (from earlier this week)

"A woman complained to Wal-Mart about the store’s replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays.” The Catholic League has circulated the response from Wal-Mart’s Customer Service: “Walmart is a worldwide organization and must remain conscious of this. The majority of the world still has different practices other than ‘christmas’ which is an ancient tradition that has its roots in Siberian shamanism. The colors associated with ‘christmas’ red and white are actually a representation of the aminita mascera mushroom. Santa is also borrowed from the Caucuses, mistletoe from the Celts, yule log from the Goths, the time from the Visigoths and the tree from the worship of Baal. It is a wide wide world.”

"So now you know the true meaning of Christmas. (hat tip to firstthings/com blog).
grace
sec

November 14, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

We had a black-out last night and had to break our street combat down into grid-coverage. There were a couple of fights. Addressing one, I asked my partner for advice (he is a police officer in another country). "usually I'd be good to plunge in, but usually I'd be geared up" (rough quote- have a weapon, that is). :- ) Plunge we did.

Anyway, during the black-put one of our people was wandering the street. I consoled her that at least it happened at a good time- bed time (hint hint). 'Yah, but I miss the comfort of the neon sign shining in my window' was here sincere response!
:- )

I preached some Brengle last week to a Coutts crowd. It went over like Pepsi at a Coke convention. Someone told me once that I was born 100 years too late. I think I was born at just the right time, but on this issue, it is more like about 50 years too late, too late to nip that holiness theology in the bud. :- )

I've had complaints about the blog yesterday. Yes, He judges everyone. The General meant, in context, He'd judge us guilty and stuck in hell if He had to. It goes to my free choice line- free choice boils down to this: discipline now or punishment later.

Today is FREEDOM Day for the Holys. Hallelujah!

There is a lot going on these days. As Michael Collins says, 'keep your chin tucked'.

grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

November 13, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

'God will save us if He can, He will judge us if He must." (General Albert Orsborn).

Much grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Looking for a website to inspire your spirit?

wander around www.irismin.org and see if that doesn't do the trick...

grace,
HLD

"Isn't it supposed to be Blood and Fire?"

I'm heading to Hogtown tomorrow for an Army think tank on Church planting and a Mosaic conference on..church planting. Should be fun, and a chance to meet up with old friends.

We are friends with a community of people who have been living opposite Oppenheimer Park for over 10 years. A few couples decided to move into the neighbourhood and try to be an authentic Christian commmunity. Sound familiar?

Their kids are now involved in a lot of our youth stuff, and one of the moms asked me if I knew any good Christian kids for her daughters to hang out with. All their friends come from seriously broken homes full of addiction and abuse. And no Christian kids from good families are allowed to visit this family in the downtown eastside.

This mom wondered if maybe some Salvation Army families might be more willing to let their kids come down. I told her that, unfortunately, we face the same difficulties. Kids are allowed down for supervised "mission" activity, but few Sally Army families would be happy for their kids to come a-visiting.

She just couldn't understand this. They had been living incarnationally for 10 years, and had expected the Salvation Army at least to understand. "What's wrong with people?" she wondered. "Isn't it supposed to be Blood and Fire? Come on!"

I sympathise. I wonder if any of my kids' friends will be allowed to come over for sleep-overs.

But this is a reality of Church planting in the "inner city". You do have to give stuff up, and its tough when the stuff you give up affects your kids.

Grace,


Aaron

Here we go...round 2.
For all who are hounded by the hordes of hell to turn away when young people need to hear their wisdom gained by experience, to sit still and take the punches when it's time to stand up and fight; for those who selfishly squander their time on themselves instead of pouring into the lives of others who need it or who think they already know it all...

I am a Soldier

...I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience,
Tried by adversity, and tested by fire.
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable.

If my Lord needs me in the Sunday school, or to work with the youth,
Or to help adults, or to just sit and learn: He can use me because I am there!
I am a soldier...

Here I stand…a soldier.

posted by:
Heather Dolby
for the glory of God

from the South China Post...

Two stories of note for armybarmy bloggers:
1. WalMart, noted supporter of the Salvos in USA, is greeting people for the next month or so with Happy Holidays (I know, I start this every year). Well, apparently, a customer service rep responded to an email complain about this by explaining that Christmas was just a combination of other festivals from Siberian shamanism to Visigoth holy days. And, I'm going by memory, wishing I could give you the exact quote (you have to subscribe to the online version), it goes on to break down the colours and santa and everything, tying them to other world religions. The Catholics are protesting. It is utterly hilarious.
2. An Islamo-terrorist plot in Australia was foiled and they are interviewing the religious leader who influenced the bad guys. He argued that the first drop of martyr's blood ensures that all of his sins will be forgiven. You'd think he read some garbled version of Hebrews, in which it explains that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. It's just the wrong guys' blood.
grace
stephenc

Community is fun .... The other day my little friend Kaitland had a school assignment, which asked her to draw a picture of everybody that lived at her house. All the names were written across the top, left to right saying Josh, Jenn, Jacob, Hannah, Derek, Mom, Dad, Jeremiah, Jaime, Rob and Heather and myself. Authentic Christian Community.

My husband and I have been married for 6 months as of this past Monday. I know...it sounds like small beans to some of you all who've enjoyed marriage for years, but for us it feels pretty amazing because we can look back and see how much fine tuning (and sandblasting) the Lord has done in that amount of time.

One of the greatest measures of this process, is a walk we took together Monday afternoon. There we were, strolling along Rob's arm about my waist, mine about his just agreeable as you please.

What's the point? It's the yoke. When we got married, we chose to be yoked together -partners bound for life. It doesn't come easily. In the beginning we didn't adjust so well. We'd head out for a walk and Rob would launch into slow canter (which is defined as being slower than a gallop but faster than a trot) and I would still be(resistantly) holding his hand but aiming for more of a progressive dawdle...you guessed it, we both wanted to go at our own pace. We were both heading in the same direction, with the same destination in mind but we both wanted to get there our own way and expected the other to catch on.

Oh man. (!)

We had so much difficulty walking alongside one another. There was pushing. There was pulling and there was more jostling than I care to remember.

It's an analogy for our spiritual walk. Until we began to treat one another biblically. So as for today, when we can walk side by side at an agreeable pace, share conversation, and occasionally hold hands, you can believe that I'm really lovin' where we're at. Here's how it happened:

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesians 4:2

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
Ephesians 5:12

I know, I know, it's a journey...don't get me wrong, but I'm really savouring the taste of this fruit - being able to walk with in stride with my husband and enjoying every step.
More please, Lord.


posted by:
Mrs. Heather Dolby

from the South China Post...

Two stories of note for armybarmy bloggers:
1. WalMart, noted supporter of the Salvos in USA, is greeting people for the next month or so with Happy Holidays (I know, I start this every year). Well, apparently, a customer service rep responded to an email complain about this by explaining that Christmas was just a combination of other festivals from Siberian shaminism to Visigoth holy days. And, I'm going by memory, wishing I could give you the exact quote (you have to subscribe to the online version), it goes on to break down the colours and santa and everything, tying them to other world religions. The Catholics are protesting. It is utterly hilarious.
2. An Islamo-terrorist plot in Australia was foiled and they are interviewing the religious leader who influenced the bad guys. He argued that the first drop of martyr's blood ensures that all of his sins will be forgiven. You'd think he read some garbled version of Hebrews, in which it explains that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. It's just the wrong guys' blood.
grace
stephenc

from the South China Post...

Two stories of note for armybarmy bloggers:
1. WalMart, noted supporter of the Salvos in USA, is greeting people for the next month or so with Happy Holidays (I know, I start this every year). Well, apparently, a customer service rep responded to an email complain about this by explaining that Christmas was just a combination of other festivals from Siberian shaminism to Visigoth holy days. And, I'm going by memory, wishing I could give you the exact quote (you have to subscribe to the online version), it goes on to break down the colours and santa and everything, tying them to other world religions. The Catholics are protesting. It is utterly hilarious.
2. An Islamo-terrorist plot in Australia was foiled and they are interviewing the religious leader who influenced the bad guys. He argued that the first drop of martyr's blood ensures that all of his sins will be forgiven. You'd think he read some garbled version of Hebrews, in which it explains that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. It's just the wrong guys' blood.
grace
stephenc

from the South China Post...

Two stories of note for armybarmy bloggers:
1. WalMart, noted supporter of the Salvos in USA, is greeting people for the next month or so with Happy Holidays (I know, I start this every year). Well, apparently, a customer service rep responded to an email complain about this by explaining that Christmas was just a combination of other festivals from Siberian shaminism to Visigoth holy days. And, I'm going by memory, wishing I could give you the exact quote (you have to subscribe to the online version), it goes on to break down the colours and santa and everything, tying them to other world religions. The Catholics are protesting. It is utterly hilarious.
2. An Islamo-terrorist plot in Australia was foiled and they are interviewing the religious leader who influenced the bad guys. He argued that the first drop of martyr's blood ensures that all of his sins will be forgiven. You'd think he read some garbled version of Hebrews, in which it explains that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. It's just the wrong guys' blood.
grace
stephenc

Seal it with your life...

Read a cool phrase in the War Room the other day.

Describing Guido de Pres, a Beligian martyr from the 16th century, a book says that he, like many other thousands, in the end 'sealed his faith with his life.'

That is so cool. By his martydom he sealed his faith. Nothing more could be done to him, his faith was complete in death. It was sealed.

I pray that we would all have our faith sealed by our lives, through a daily martyrdom.

Grace,

Aaron

I Got Hugged Today...

I am one of the lucky people who pretty much gets hugged every day. My kids and my wife are very reliable huggers, and I also have friends who are big into the hug thing. (Regan Lipsett is very much a hugger. I do not know if I am aware of anyone with more humility, teachability, and outright enthusiasm than Regan. And every time he meets you, he encourages you and hugs you. Great friend.)

But today I got hugged by someone new. I was at a committee meeting for Oppenheimer Park (aka Needle Park), the place we take a bunch of kids for cell every week.

The park is run by the Parks board (government) and the Carnegie Centre (local agency who in the past have not liked us very much), and is certainly not by nature Christian-friendly. There is a great distrust of religious people, and this is in some respects for good reason. But over the last couple of years there has been a shift in how they view our little community, to the point where we now have keys to the park and a room set aside for us every week to run our cell. We will also be involved in helping to redesign the park to deal with the drug problem and set up new kids areas.

So at the end of this meeting (a yawner, but no big deal), the person who runs the day to day ops at the park came over to talk to me. Out of nowhere, she reached over and gave me a big hug (not creepy or anything, but genuine). She said she just felt she had to do that.

It seems we have gone in their eyes from a group they would try and repel to a group they want to embrace. It really is huge favour, and it is the result of consistency. Praise God.

Grace,

Aaron

three responses to the wolf at the door...

Daniel Henninger (http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110007530) offers three possible responses to the wolf at the door- the latest historic manifestation of modernity:
(read the article, but here are the main options) Gates model- get a grip on change;
Young French Muslim model- burn down the house and rule the embers; and,
French Elites model- do nothing.

Similarly, The Salvation Army has a smorgasbord of challenges that includes the imminent clash of religions, the acceleration of change (and thus the obsolescence of some of our methods and systems), the philosophical and geographic fragmentation of The Army, and globalization/tribalization.

There is a temptation to do nothing, to conclude that these are passing fads or to resign ourselves with the escape from responsibility because there is nothing WE can do about (maybe THEY can address it effectively at IHQ or THQ, is the reasoning here). I'm all for prophetic relevance and so I suspect that this approach will leave us utterly irrelevant and 'uninfluential'. We'll continue to fight battles that were lost a generation ago, argue positions lost further back, and maintain habits that lost effectiveness before I can remember.

Or we can burn down the house and rule the embers. This is to tear down the change that is happening, and settle to leading and influencing a rump Army, a shadow (to mix metaphors) of our former greatness. This is a distinct possibility. I just read at Army Renewal (top right) that one year in the 60s a session of 200 cadets was cut in half because The Army wasn't buying into charismata (by the way, God have mercy on our souls for such sin, if the story has been conveyed to me accurately). We've been shedding the charis consistently since at least then, as we burn down the Holy Spirit renovations to The Army. And we're left with the rump and shadow show. Remember that primitive salvationism (the only kind proven to work) is mission-focused CHARISMATIC-flavoured heroism.

Or, we can get a grip on the change. Now, while it is sometimes true that our leaders seem to have missed the boat on things, it is also true that sometimes they are far ahead of us in addressing the wolf at the door. Praise God on the latter truth. Without any inside knowledge, here is a stab at the Gates response to the wolf:

- clash of religions. Backed up by some hardcore international intercession (mobilizing the world Army to cover it in prayer), we can confront the enemy. The enemy is not people who embrace certain false religions, but the spirits behind them. The Berlin Wall fell, and so can global religious deceptions. We need to care for and evangelize the adherents of this (these) religion(s). We cannot retreat and chicken out.

- accelerated change. While I'm all for different tactics on different fronts, I'm convinced we need to be united by covenant in belief and praxis. I don't know the history of Happiness and Harmony (UK SA song book), but I will guess, for this blog, anyway, that these songs were chosen, included in the book, and became popular. That is, they did not all become popular and THEN were included in the book (though this might be the ideal hope for things such as this). If this is true, it was a prescription for the singing of worship and theology. We need a similar approach to our strategy and covenant. We need our leaders to prescribe it to us (I'm taking a big risk here because they might not pick ours - and, that raises the likelihood that others, if theirs were not chosen, might not stick around to see how things play out).

- fragmentation. COVENANT.

- globalize/tribalize. The previous two wolves have suggested this last one. Embracing covenant globally will help us address the first bit. Facilitating the flexibility demanded by local uniqueness will help with the second. MMCCXX is fitted for this big bad wolf (which, of course, can be seen as a great opportunity if we're fast of foot).

The High Council comes up in January. The decision can be crafted as one of choosing which approach The Army will take in dealing with the wolves at the door. All of you faithfully consistent armybarmy blog-reading Commissioners, take note.

Whew! Longer than I planned. Probably pretty awkward, too. But that is the blog format for you.
Much grace,
StephenC

The War College Charlotte

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends. I hope you saw the post earlier this week from Heather Dolby. The Charlotte campus starts in September 2006. Praise the Lord.

This is exciting news, marking the multiplication of the multiplier (TWC).

The Charlotte campus allows primitive salvationists to extend influence and impact through the southern United States and beyond, offering hard core warfare training with incarnational context toward winning the world for Jesus. thewarcollege.com is being updated these days and you can apply directly to Charlotte campus (or Vancouver campus) from the admissions page of the site. In time it will become more balanced (removing emphasis on Vancouver).

I commend to you potential students and scholarship donors Heather Dolby, Rob Dolby, and Cory Harrison, zealots, all. God has done many notable things in and through these warriors already, but this is merely a taste of what's in store. These are soldiers who will impact individual lives and nations, who will do great exploits for their God because they know Him intimately. They may or may not make history. But they will definitely make eternity. They are amongst the leaders of the revolution.

God is calling many people (including you, perhaps?) to train in Charlotte at The War College. Pray it up. Invite ten friends. And transform the city, AND yourself, while you're at it.

The Death and Glory session mates know the special bond of being the pioneers, the first warriors at the Vancouver campus. This is YOUR chance to be among the pioneers at the Charlotte campus. Sign up before Christmas for a bigger blessing...

And there is more expansion to come (those who might be third, take note! Don't wait too long or you might be fourth!). Stay tuned to this website.

Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

ok, take a look at this everybody...I'm gonna blog it slow, bit by bit so that all the goodstuff it has to say doesn't get glazed over. I love this discourse because it deals a death blow to every excuse the enemy wants to throw your way to diminish your devotion to your Father, and to His Bride, the Church.
Let's have at it.

I Am A Soldier - part 1 -
(with a focus on those struggling with sticking it out, coming under earthly authority or where they belong in the Kingdom of God)

I am a Soldier

I am a soldier in the army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I am in this army by choice, and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army,
But I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or be pushed out...

Here I stand, a soldier.

Stay tuned...

posted by:
Heather Dolby
for the glory of God

update redux.
I forgot to point you to Phil Marriott's blog (still not top right but at philmarriott.blogspot.com) and his recounting of the classic Rowan Castle collection preach this week. The drag is that it will now be more difficult to steal. But, as the young guys like to say, it's money.
grace
stephenc

Bibles:
two notes...

1. I met a guy who smuggles Bible and has some cool stories to go with it. Very cool.

2. I met a guy who just got back from mainland China and told news of a Bible printing press that pumps out a Bible a second. But because it is too slow it is being expanded to multiply its output.

'gotta get the Word out...
grace
stephenc

1 Peter 4:10-12 (New Living Translation)

"God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you. Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen."

My husband is the first to admit that he is rotten at preaching (he's not exactly one who spends time pouring over commentaries and lexicons, laptop at the ready to record every word in advance in preparation for that pivotal pulpit moment) - but you know what? He can really bring it when it comes time to speak out the Word of God, and the reason is, is that it's something he does with all the strength and energy that God supplies. God gets glory from that.

Here's the point. You might not have been bestowed with the gift of evangelism or a flair for worship by 'the people that figure those things out', but when it's time for you to step out for the Lord and you do it with ALL of the strength and energy that He supplies you with at that moment, He gets the glory, and you know what? We're all about that in the Kingdom...

posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

I'm a big believer in the meaning of names. For example - Abram to Abraham was a big deal. The fact that Jacob means 'he deceives' and who was it that conned his unassuming brother out of his father's blessing AND his birthright? The Salvation Army vs. The Volunteer Army...I think you get my point.

God brings about names for a reason. I came across this quote in the back of my quote drawer (truetrue...I have a special place for my favourite quote)and I thought of the 2004 session of The War College, who are named 'Martyrs':

"True martyrdom comes in living each day in faithful obedience to the Lord no matter what saying no to sin and compromise and yes to God and holiness."
Lou Engle - Elijah's Revolution p125

There's a running joke that the gift of martyrdom is a gift you can only give once, but it sounds to me like a daily death:

"Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. 24If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life." Luke 9:23-24

Bring it on Lord Jesus.

posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

The War College - update

We're pleased to announce expansion to a second campus, in Charlotte, North Carolina. It will be led by Heather and Rob Dolby and Cory Harrison. The Dolbys have been through training in Vancouver and have helped lead things on this front. Cory shares our heart and vision from his burgeoning ministry in the southern United States.

The Charlotte campus will accept students in September 2006.

This expansion is the multiplying of the multipliers, with the intention of accelerating the accomplishment of mission to train this generation's warriors to win the world for Jesus.

To apply, click on www.thewarcollege.com/admissions

posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

The Much Anticipated Return of....THINGS YOU WOULD NEVER SEE IN ORANGEVILLE!

So, the other day we were having our SWAT (Spiritual warfare and training) at the Command Centre on Cordova. I got there a little late with my kids, and was effectively locked out of the building.

As I am waiting at the door for someone to come down and let me in, I notice a guy sneaking aorund inside the building, and finally skulk out the side door. He is carrying what looks like a guitar and an amp. amd he books off into a back alley.

Now, I am pretty sure this guy has just jacked the stuff, but I cannot do the hero thing and race off after him, leaving my kids at th door. So I wait till someone comes down, lets me in, and I ask around if anyone had left a guitar downstairs.

Philip said, yup, his guitar was downstairs. Not anymore it's not.

So we call the police, give a description, and hang around outside waiting for them to come. After about 15 minutes, we see 2 guys walking on the other side of the street, carrying some stuff. Someone asks Phil if that's his guitar. Phil says, yup, that's his guitar.

So he and I race over there and take the guitar and amp back from some pretty surprised dudes. They say they just bought the stuff for 100 bucks in a back alley. (Too bad, so sad, you gotta know any guitar and amp being sold back there is hot).

So we get the stuff back within 20 minutes of it being stolen. Redemption and justice, maybe. I have never seen that happen before, and certainly would never see it in ..... ORANGEVILLE!

Grace,

Aaron

always enough

There is a salvo down here that God uses in healing and deliverance. Great stories. But on his first healing experience (tense) he poured some olive oil in a valve oil bottle. In 30 years and having anointed thousands of people with oil from that valve oil container he has never run out.

Praise the Lord.
grace
stephenc

always enough

There is a salvo down here that God uses in healing and deliverance. Great stories. But on his first healing experience (tense) he poured some olive oil in a valve oil bottle. In 30 years and having anointed thousands of people with oil from that valve oil container he has never run out.

Praise the Lord.
grace
stephenc

Vintage Armybarmy - AUG/04

Some thoughts on ministry style from Mark 6.

The disciples though that their job was to walk and be taught by Jesus. They gave up their previous occupations because He summoned them. Yet in Mark 6 in the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand we see a minsterial pattern that continues to this very day. The apostles had been out doing visitation and holding open airs in different villages, preaching and giving altar calls and doing deliverance ministry and healing sick people.
So they all gather back up to where Jesus is to debrief and have a fellowship meal. But, as often happens when people get a taste of Holy Spirit and a revelation of Jesus, they SEE that the Lord is good and they want more. So the people, hungry for more of the Word of God and the signs and miracles and wonders, followed the disciples. I envision it sort of like the Deadheads that used to follow around the rock band the Grateful Dead, except in a righteous way, but with the same compulsion.

Now the polite thing for these people, (we'll call them 'seekers') to do would be to call first and make an appointiment to see the Apostle Peter in his corps office on Monday to discuss their miraculous healing of leprosy and how they want to know more about this Jesus guy - oh wait, it'll have to be Tuesday, Monday is his day off- and then to only presume to stay for 20-25 minutes because the Apostle Peter is a very busy man, in charge of a small but growing corps that has a such a shortage of willing leadership that he is forced to do everything himself and what with all the paperwork and numbers that need to be turned in to the Council at Jerusalem, how can you blame him if the relational style of investing time and sowing energy into individuals that Jesus modelled goes by the wayside?

In this Scripture, the disciples' response to the 'seekers' is: "look Jesus, it's late." Right off the bat, it seems as though they are setting some definite boundaries: "this is outside of my 'ministry time' or 'what's wrong with you people, can't you respect that I can't always be available to pray for healing or to cast out the demonic? Seriously, when do I get MY solitude time with Jesus? ME ME ME."

Ahem.

One thing that I noted here, is that when the disciples wouldn't meet with the people, Jesus bypasses them altogether. He has compassion. He has eyes to see that they are more than just Bob complaining about the sermon again this week, or Gladys putting in her two cents on the girth of the Apostle Peter's wife and how if she could just cut back at the pot luck luncheons, maybe she wouldn't look so dreadful in her uniform and Tom with his book of morman in hand ready for some proselytizing. No - He sees them as simply sheep without a shepherd. So He does a work in their hearts and begins to teach them many things.

At this point, the disciples approach Jesus and having pulled out their day planners and consulted with their weekly schedule, of 25% sermon prep, 10-15% visitation, 25% fundraising, 25% administration and then 10% community endeavours and counselling they were satisfied to note that they had adequately served out the 40 hour ministerial work week. (for basis of these numbers, please refer to The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territorial Small Corps Taskforce, October 2002, Appendix D, page 4) Seeing as it was late in the day and if they didn't leave now they were all in danger of missing their favourite TV shows, they came to Jesus and said, "Hey, it's getting late and we haven't even had our dinner yet, so sing the closing song and pronounce the benediction so that we can get home to our dinners. But Jesus says: "You feed them."

At this point, the corps treasurers begin to wring their hands nervously, "it would take a fortune to buy food for all this crowd."
"What are your resources?"
Jesus took what was offered and made more. He creates something where there was none before. Imagine if Simon had given the granola bar that was in his pocket and Thomas that stick of gum...if they'd absolutely given ALL until there was not one thing left. Christ creates more. The people are fed. The disciples are stretched and they learn. Imagine if we took every last ounce of energy and handed it to Christ if instead of dividing the hours of the week into 'work' time and 'self' time and made it ALL Jesus time. Our ministry would feel less "workish" and be less "selfish". A scary thought.

Just when you want to put up a boundary and say this is my home, please don't come here, or I need solitude with Jesus, go find your own shepherd. Jesus says what are your resources? Or,realistically, because He already knows, what do you think your resources are? And when we offer it to Him, He creates more. He promises it in fact in Isaiah 58.

"I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor and destitute...(do this) and the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy, too and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." Isaiah 58:7,11, TLB

Even though it's difficult, every day when you just want to shut your door and keep them all away, hear Jesus saying "what are your resources?" He'll surprise you every time, especially especially when you pour out every ounce of your energy into the Kingdom. Don't hold back. Remember:


Jesus, said "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

So don't shut your front door. Don't close your office door, instead:

"open wide the gates and let the King of Glory in." Psalm 24:9 TLB

posted by:
Heather Dolby
614 London

Things are getting hot and heavy at Cory's blog (242- top right).
grace
sec

the road to revolution runs through covenant.
grace
sec

a good meeting

I went to a good meeting last night. It was a youth rally, with probably around 300 people anticipating God's transforming presence. We were blessed to worship under Soteria (fresh off their new album- TELL THE WORLD) and Nathan Rowe (the lion behind the Mike), who pressed us on into God's presence. Special nod to Craig Turner (excellent drummer) and Adam Mackenroth (tasty bassist), who played through the preach and nearly all of the prayer meeting that followed.

Then we heard God's word and responded.

In The Army, the prayer meeting, or pitch, or appeal, or whatever you call it, is the most important part of the meeting. We transact with God here. And that we did.

I don't exaggerate when I say that people got saved, and sanctified, and healed, and delivered, and gifted, and called, and commissioned, and anointed, and released. Hallelujah! There was great freedom during the meeting, which ended more than 4 1/4 hours after it began. Chris Footer and Daniel Gibbs and Grant Whitehead (visual and audio) kept the whole thing seamless. People were released to fish (and fish they did- some cool stories of it through the meeting). Those who broke through to freedom and salvation and calling and so on testified. The warfighters were going after it with all of God's power manifesting through them.

The call was to revolution. It wasn't an easy appeal. It was to throw your life away for the revolution. And yet some people had the guts to do it. There were practical challenges. Maybe you want to consider them. They included things like downsizing for the Gospel (sell your comfortable home and get something simpler; sell your fancy car... etc.), working less so that you can fight more, moving into community, living with the poor, throwing all of your cash into the kingdom now (and one person who scored a BIG settlement for an accident testified that all the cash was going into the Kingdom!), as well as trashing idols and breaking up ungodly relationships and smashing the fangs of the wicked, and so many other things that will please God and potentially change society.

This is one pocket of revolution. But there are other pockets around the world. You are not alone. Don't settle. Don't compromise. Don't be comfortable.

If you need some helps for your role in the revolution, you can email me (I won't be home until the weekend) at revolution@mmccxx.net for some ideas. In the meantime, you can pick up REVOLUTION (the book) and SOUNDS OF THE REVOLUTION (the CD) at the eStore (armybarmy.com).

Look, we need to go for it. Let's see if we can turn the world upside down, under the Holy Spirit's power, before we die. All glory to God.

Much grace
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

assorted...

We were blessed this weekend to hear the Chief of the Staff preach several times. As this last meeting led to his last kick at the can and he flipped on his lapel mike and approached the eager crowd of officers, he admitted, "I live for this... I live for this."

The Chief loves to fight.

Major Allan Laurens wrote MOVE HOLY SPIRIT, MOVE IN MY LIFE. It is a classic prayer meeting song that we've all sung heaps, I suspect- well, most of us. Anyway, he is a prophetic giant in The Salvation Army. He's the kind of guy who can pick people out of a crowd while preaching and read their mail. So at this conference I instructed all the young guns with whom I connected to get him to pray over them. We were in the upper deck on the last meeting and we were eyeing him, preparing to chase him down. He disappeared right near the end, and we grew quickly concerned. A few minutes later he showed up on our balcony coming to pray for us! Legendary. He prayed over us all before clearing out. Hallelujah.

Australian Trade:

I've been blessed to visit the famous Ingle Farm Corps, which, among many other amazing warfare on many fronts, operates the Trade store in the division. Here is the substance of the current advertising for this season:

"Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat,
______ has stocks in from the non-alcoholic vat."

750 ml Bottles- Sparkling
Pattriti- $4 each
White Grape
Golden Muscatel
Dark Grape
Apple

Robinvale Organic- $5.50
Lambruscco
Ginger
Cooler
Pasion
Strawberry
Premier Muscat
Mango Tango

(etc.)

These are the best non-alcoholic beverages on the market...
____

grace,
stephenc

recently I rode a bus across America, God Bless America, and had the honor of riding with many military soldiers being deployed. Who knew the U.S. Army used Greyhound to deploy their forces. Anyway I sat with a Special Forces medic who was on his way to finish his final exams. This is his exam ... first they will shoot a goat in the abdoman and if the goat lives for 24 hours he will pass. That's hardcore.
I thought we could use this model at The War College, we could pair up every student with a demonically possesed person and give them 24 hours, if at the end of the 24 hours the demon is cast out then they pass.
I know this sounds crazy to many but if you