Armybarmy Blog

July 30, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

I just noticed that Matt Clifton is hanging it up for awhile in the blogosphere (UK blogs at right - for a limited time). Thanks, Matt. You've been an edifying influence out here. We look forward to your return.

His imminent absence will leave some of you searching for stuff to read. Never fear- your global salvo content provider is here. Check out our blog archives for a few years. Check out forty-something 60-or-so paged back issues of Journal of Aggressive Christianity (JAC top right). And bookmark yourself to the upcoming issue of JAC called WOMEN IN THE WAR, due August 1. This promises to flesh out Danielle Strickland's Married Woman Officer Ghetto Rant. We've got a whole line-up of mostly new contributors for this issue, guest-editored by Major JoAnn Shade. Everyone from Soldier to (active) Commissioner is represented. This is an issue you may want to email to all of your friends. So, be the first on your block to read it- set your alarm for early on Tuesday (or later if you live in distant time zones to PST).

May God use it to shake faulty foundations and help establish solid ones.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

Radio Interview

If you want to hear my radio interview on the Drew Marshall show, you can check it out online at www.drewmarshall.ca

Check out the July 22nd show, and you can download the interview.

Grace,

Aaron

Another reader weighs in on doctrine...
____
"We shouldn't oppose doctrine and preaching the gospel. Doctrine and theology are meant to serve the preaching of the gospel.  I subscribe to the perspective that theology is just "God-talk"; discourse about God. We all talk about God - you can't preach the gospel without talking about God. Preaching is always theological. So doctrine is on a continuum with regular everyday God-talk. Our doctrines then are just more in-depth and critical reflections on the way we talk about God when we preach, pray, worship, etc. And doctrine should be there to keep our routine God-talk in line. It should (although theological debates can at times go off the rails) help us to understand the gospel, and of course new converts should be exposed to it. Even if they are not preachers, they are "God-talkers", and so it can only help.

"Most of the major theological developments in church history took place because people were preaching the gospel wrong; the pseudo-apostles, the gnostics, the monophysites, the Arians, and so on...these weren't armchair academic debates, they were about the front lines of preaching the gospel.  ie. against the gnostics, if Christ is not fully human, then we our humanity has not really been redeemed. Or, against the Arians, if Christ is not equal with God the Father, we are worshipping a creature of some sort, which is idolatry. What may seem like an arid theological concept to many contemporary evangelicals most likely developed out of an important grassroots problem in the church. Hopefully learn from the mistakes of the past and preserve the preaching of the true gospel.
---
grace
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More on Doctrine (from a pomo salvo)

I am not a huge proponent of systematic theology or systems thinking in general. I think most of my generation (the one that is significantly younger than Steve's generation) has largely rejected the modernist quest for formula and standardized expressions of faith.

Having said that, I do think the doctrines are important. I have taught them to our kids cell in Oppenheimer Park (a kids version), we are having our first Jr. Soldier memorize them, and I will be teaching them to our teen cell at their school this year.

Why?

We have a bunch of kids who want to be Christians, who have fallen in love with community, and believe in God. But in their culture and generation, there is no filtered-down information on Christianity. Not even the basics, not even what Christmas (or the "Holiday Season") is about. They really have no idea who Jesus is.

It is well and good to let them "catch Jesus" from us in relationship and community, but there is also basic information that they simply have had no access too, and it is vital. There is no - and I mean no - understanding of who Jesus was historically, what the resurrection means, how it got to that point through the OT etc... The doctrines give you a step by step, basic understanding of our theology. In that sense, they are very useful, and can help give people tools to answering for their belief. There is a lot more to belief than intellectually assenting to the doctrines, of course. But they ought to be part of the package in the SA.

It is also important to be able to say, along with other people, we believe in this, not that. Belief does matter. Part of post-modernism has been the distrust of any meta-narratives, and the ability to practically hold a number of contrasting ideas together as conditional "truths". But I believe that notion is starting to fall apart, with the recognition that saying "there are no meta-narratives" is in fact affirming a meta-narrative, albeit a negative one.

So we are again in a place of choosing the boundaries of our belief. These do not have to be narrow, and we can think a good deal beyond the doctrines - and have healthy disagreements - in that process. But we don't want to get ourselves into the place of saying that actual belief does not matter when it comes to Christianity, or to Salvationism. That kind of thinking kills our unity, our voice and our mission, and does not strike me as biblical.

There is an over-used phrase that may well be helpful here: "In essentials unity; in non-essentials, freedom; and in everything, grace." I would suggest that the doctrines (along with a few other things), for the SA should be considered essentials.

Grace,

Aaron

July 29, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

I just read this:
____
"I have brought the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I lived before them. I have won them over by the miracles done through me as signs from God--all by the power of God's Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ." (Roman 15:18,19 NLT)
____
So, to fully present the Good News involves three things:
1. the message;
2. the way you live before them;
3. miracles you do.

Look at that!

Big stuff will be happening as comrades fully present the Good News on the beach at Old Orchard (Maine, USA) and on the streets at FLOOD in Sacramento (USA). You can get in on the blessings if you intercede...

Much grace
stephenC
posted by Stephen Court

More on the Comm's Strong Doctrine.

Boy, I didn't expect the quote yesterday to stir up this discussion. But here is another side:
____
A new study shows that you have a 10% better convert retention if you clearly explain doctrine up front. Anything from a 10-week course to a sheet outlining the belief system makes a difference. We've got the big 11 in every song book and easily up on a screen. One courps reads the doctrines out loud corporately. Another uses the summary statements from SALVATION STORY as a framework for teaching doctrine. Some good corps require memorization of the doctrines...
The bottom line is that research shows that new believers will want doctrine sooner rather than later and if we're fighting to make disciples, we'd best be on top of it.
____
I guess we've timed our forthcoming project well, then. ARTICLES OF WAR: A Midrash (working title) teams up a legend with a blogger to tackle The Army's doctrines and undertakings from that heroic covenant called the Articles of War. Stay tuned (we're thikning some time in 07).

Comments from the other side are coming soon...

Much grace
stephenC

July 28, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Yesterday I quoted the Commissioner on doctrine. I received this comment:
____
Is strong doctrine necessary to share the message of salvation?  One of the things that we say about traditional church sacraments is that the people we work with and are trying to reach don't care.  In fact it is basically only church-religious people who do.  I am finding the same to be true with doctrine.  Which I guess is why I was wondering what is "strong doctrine" and is it really necessary ...for the preaching of salvation and the kingdom that is.  I am finding the most people want less doctrine not more.  Not to get all emergent or relevant on you...  
____
(sc again) My guess is that the new Territorial President of Women's Ministries is letting the liberals know that she finds doctrine important so that our converts don't go antinomian on us and then apostate. Whether the doctrine is important to the independent person about to start depending on Jesus, it is important for her growth and health and effective warfare.

Much grace
stephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Be a hero?

I just received a request for some practical helps for the BE A HERO Campaign (to raise up 10,000 heroes in the lives of children-at-risk). I responded with a blank.

Then the lady wrote back with a suggestion that I check out http://www.armybarmy.com/be-a-hero.html

Nice advice- go to our site for practical helps on a book we wrote. Hmm. If the advice helped me, maybe it can help someone else out there.

grace
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SA Mandate

Commissioner Betty Matear (UK Territory) asserted this in a recent interview (hat tip to Andrew Bale) in SALVATIONIST with Capatin Dean Pallant:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/68C61D389AAB19CF802571B6002F16D3?opendocument&id=9F9CEB076EC25733802571B6002BFF7E
____
"We need to be credible and relevant to the present age. We have a challenge not just to win people but also to teach them sound doctrine. New Christians can easily be blown away unless we bed them into sound beliefs - that means hard work. We need to apply ourselves and do that together, to be The Salvation Army. I believe God called us into being for a very specific purpose - to minister and share the message of salvation and holiness with a bias to poor and marginalised people. Now that takes a lot of courage but I don't believe God has withdrawn that mandate. I believe that if we don't fulfil our purpose he will give it to someone else. So, my passion for us is to be what God has called us to be from our beginning - The Salvation Army."
____
grace
stephenC

July 27, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

The Army's Audacious Aim?

Hat tip to Jonathan Evans for this article lifted from Christianity Today
(http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2006/07/):
____
Spiritual Formation: we've already got a proven model, but do we want it?

Recently friends from a major publisher of Sunday school curriculum called me. They were researching trends in spiritual formation, they said, and they thought I might help them.

After a few warm-up questions, they got to the heart of the matter: "What would you recommend for spiritual formation in our time?"

"The monastery," I said.

(sc- I'm skipping a lot of it here...)

"But not everyone can move into a monastery," they said. True, but we already have the solution: they're called oblates or tertiaries, people who live outside the monastery but who in their daily lives follow the same ideals of sacrifice, simplicity, and service.

In fact, to the extent that our local churches are changing people's lives, they're usually approximating this monastic ideal, recreating it on a smaller scale and adapting it for, say, married people who live in subdivisions.

"Okay, but what about the children?" they asked. "What do you do with the children?"

"Actually, monasteries were full of children," I said, "though usually starting at the age of elementary school. From the years 600 to 1000, a period that's been called 'the Benedictine centuries,' the monasteries provided much of the education in Western Europe. And any other questions about what to do with children have already been worked on by the cell-church and house-church movements."

My friendly questioners had a third and final concern: "But you're making it seem as if the culture is something Christians should retreat from, while the emerging church is interested in engaging that culture."

This took some explanation. I do think that as evangelicals we consistently underestimate the power of culture, and our attempts to "be relevant" usually end up as our weakness rather than our strength. But I believe in a certain type of counterculture—in Tim Keller's immortal phrase, "A counterculture for the common good." We create alternate communities that not only pray for the wider world, but also serve that wider world in acts of mercy and justice. Take The Salvation Army--an evangelical approximation of monastic counterculture and discipline, complete with distinctive clothing. In the mid-1880s The Salvation Army took on the audacious goal to end unemployment in Britain. They didn't succeed, but their experiment led to thousands of urban ministries today.

So I return to my original question: What would happen to your life if you lived in close geographical community and relationship with other people; if you lived in submission to authority; if you practiced silence and simplicity and discipline; if you regularly read the Bible and prayed and meditated on what you read; if you made study part of your life; and if you worked hard in some daily occupation, seeing your labor as full of dignity and offering it to God?
____
Wow. Well, I agree it is an audacious goal we've thrown away our lives for- imagine winning the world for Jesus! Whew! But, look at the elements: community/relationship; submission to authority; silence and simplicity and discipline; regular Bible reading, prayer, and meditation; study; hard work. We'd want to add evangelism and discipleship, of course. That sounds like a plan.

Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

July 26, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

"Preach Christ. He's preachable!" (E.V. Hill)

"The way to Jesus is not by Cambridge, Oxford, Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Socrates, Plato, Shakespeare or the poets- it is over an old-fashioned hill called Calvary." (Gypsy Smith)

Here is an old-fashioned, proven way to preach Christ and help others find the way to Him:
http://navscanada.gospelcom.net/resources/bridge-to-life/index.html
(but do camp out on repentance).

Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

Senior Ranking Blogger...

Hat Tip Doug Burr (right USA):

We're thrilled to welcome the first Commissioner of which we know into the Salvo Blogosphere, and all the more because we're pretty guaranteed to get some uncomfortable, fresh thinking.

Consider this a post-grad course in salvo leadership. The blog is called Slightly Irregular. And the blogger made my list many blogs ago of best generals that almost were (or never were- I can't quite recall- but you can search it top right). That commendation probably doesn't crack his current resume, that boasts in the Cross of Christ and Jesus' victories into new territories, into new models, into fresh wind, into books, into new media, into some serious pot-stirring at a territorial level (with waves that splashed most of the rest of us).

Please enjoy http://www.joenoland.blogspot.com/ (we'll get it on our USA blogroll on right soon).

Welcome, Commissioner.
Much grace,
stephenC

July 25, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

hat tip to Andrew Bale (blog on right):
____
“Our Cathedral is the open air, our college is the prayer room, our library the bible, our sanctuary the theatre, our diplomas the blackguards turned into preachers at our services. We have only to drill suitable men and women to use daringly and persistently the Sword of the Spirit in the way it has been used by The Army all along, and then send them off to conquer wherever they go, and this they will do as long as they put their trust in the whole armour of God.” (GSR in Heathen England)
____
He suggests that this quote may be the best explanation for The War College...

SALVATIONIST (bottom right) has this 'did you know' tidbit:
____
THE 1956 Salvation Army Year Book reveals there were then 32,340 corps cadets around the world. It is encouraging to note The Salvation Army now has more corps cadets than ever before - 42,414 according to the current Year Book."
____

grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

numbers...

103: number of teens saved last week at a SA camp;
4,000: number of people served at Fish on Friday at Oppenheimer Park last week;
12: number of bed bug bites received on our last list.
grace
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Hi- there is a new version of the site- thewarcollege.com. It is quite different now, and there are some more changes planned as well.
Much grace
stephenC

July 24, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Our students have all been reading LIGHT BELONGS IN THE DARKNESS by Patricia King (you can pick up your copy at extremeprophetic.com). One commented to me that when he moved to Vancouver nearly a year ago he believed that prophecy was over- no more prophecy. Now he gets prophetic words for people. Praise the Lord (nothing to do with the book specifically, but it was an occasion to make the remark- good book, though!).

More importantly, I heard a report from a student off in another country and more than 100 teens got saved last week! Hallelujah! Yahoo! And, I'm led to believe that this was a hardcore call to repentance and faith, too. All glory to God!

It is very exciting to follow Jesus. I hope you are submerged in the thrills.

Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

Battle School

You may have caught up that we're running a thing called Battle School this summer (hints of Williams Lake). Anyway, it is proving a great concept and we've got some keen teenaged-Christians here. One, Jordan, started a blog. Here it is: http://descendant.lifewithchrist.org/
Enjoy. Grace
stephenC

July 23, 2006.
Greeting in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Here is a reminder of the James Ryle dream of the early 90s (http://www.hispraise.com/MorningStar/sonsof.htm). In it is this little bit:
____
"Immediately the dream changed. I had these two photographs in my left hand and a parchment scroll in my right hand. I looked at that scroll and it was a letter written by an unknown soldier of the Salvation Army forty years ago. It was signed Unknown Soldier. I read this letter and it was a prophecy. It said that the time would come when the Lord God will release into the streets an army of worshipping warriors known as the 'Sons of Thunder'. They will bring forth praise into the streets that will birth evangelism and praise and give many children to God."

(sc's comment): Wouldn't it be interesting to know who the unknown soldier is. The timing was about 1950. If it is you or someone you know, and you feel freely inclined, please let us know: revolution @ mmccxx.net
____
You can now download for free the newest RevoDevos (thirty days of revolutionary devotionals based on the book of Acts). These are aimed at teens/youth and are useful to follow up youth councils, youth retreats, camps, and so on. The Exodus RevoDevos are also available for free download (currently featured on front page of armybarmy.com).

Speaking of downloads, you can also buy the book REVOLUTION and various stitched insignia from the eStore.
____

Derek Prince has some meaty teaching for us from a chapter on signs and wonders:
____
"Any spirit that focuses on the Holy Spirit and glorifies the Holy Spirit is not the Holy Spirit."

"Witchcraft is the attempt to control people and get them to do what you want by the use of any spirit that is not the Holy Spirit... And if anyone has a spirit that he can use, it is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, and no one uses God.."

"To cut down the tree requires that the leaders responsible identify the problem, confess it as sin and repent of it. Nowhere in the Bible is there any ground to suppose that God will forgive sins that we are not willing to confess. Somebody has said, "The confession must be as wide as the transgression." If leaders have tolerated these things in the presence of their people, then in the presence of their people they need to confess it as a sin and cancel it. Otherwise, if the bad tree is not cut down, it will go on producing bad fruit."

"Holiness is not optional."
(all from http://65.108.220.179/dprince.html)
____
We received some notes from a preach Sunday called, "A Sword in our hands and Glory in our Hearts." It reads like a powerful word from the Lord, and even the title is enough to stir us up for the warfare of the day!

Much grace,
stephenC

July 22, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Doug Burr (right side- USA blogs) has another guest blogger (thanks, Mary) - recounting the BTI experience. Please enjoy (and if you are interested in next year's week-long leaders' incarnational refresher in Canada's poorest postal code, check out the page at thewarcollege.com).

Dates are June 8-15, 2007.
Much grace,
stephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Drew Marshall Show

Just to be clear, the radio show Steve mentioned yesterday is not on today. It doesn't get streamed live, apparently, but will be on next week. Next Saturday I believe.

Do check out the site though. It's pretty cool, and hilarious to see my digi-camera head shot (next to William Booth, and thanks to Becs) near to some professional shots of Amy Grant, Don Cherry, B.B. King, James Brown, et al.

Grace,

Aaron

Conventional, Revolutionary, and Cultic.

Conventional forces tend to misunderstand the revolutionary. They interpret revolutionary actions as cultic. That delusion ('cult') is the only thing in their grid, their vocabulary, to descibe what is often more Biblical Christian living.

A few examples:
- simplicity instead of the American dream;
- discipline instead of cheap grace;
- covenantal standards instead of worldly standards;
- front-ending cartridges instead of RRSPing your stewardship;
- prophetic instead of relevant;
- process/crisis/process instead of process holiness;
- aggressive instead of charming (no offence SP- I hope you'll still write for JAC!) :-)

The primitive salvationists naturally end up living revolutionary lives that tend to be mistaken for cultic by the conventionals.

What do you think? (revolution @ mmccxx.net)

grace
stephenC

Bridge

This is not the trendiest thing in the world, but the Bridge to Life by Navigators is a proven means of leading someone to repentance and faith. You can download it here:
http://www.navigators.org/resources/shared/tools/bridge.pdf

You'd be surprised by how many Christians are lost when it comes to the basics of introducing smoeone to Jesus. It may be that you are rusty, yourself. Bone up. Or, possibly you don't know Jesus yet. Please read it. If you have questions, please let us know (revolution @ mmccxx.net).

Much grace
stephenC

Saturday radio show

An old friend of mine- Drew Marshall- hosts Canada's most listened to spiritual talkback radio show, and tomorrow he is interviewing one of our esteemed armybarmy bloggers, Aaron White. Also booked on the show are Kay Arthur and Brad Jersak (both recommended).

Here's the site:
http://www.drewmarshall.ca/weeklyupdate.html

Here are the details:
Saturday, July 22, 2006; CJYE AM 1250; Listen This Saturday - 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. (EST); Call In During The Show - 905-338-1250

grace
sec

July 21, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!
hb2WC

IN THE FIRING LINE is finally available at our eStore (armybarmy.com) right here:
http://www.armybarmy.com/estore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=29&zenid=b2e067756e9f4a2f25f4cc0c3e12e258

The name of Yahweh in the War Room today is the LORD of Hosts. NIV renders it LORD Almighty. Yahweh, the God of Armies, divisions, heavenly armies, troops, soldiers, commanders, starry hosts, warfare, war, battle, and God in command' (I like this last one!).

It turns up hundreds of times in Scripture. I note this for those tempted to suggest that Army is just another metaphor (of course, it isn't). I don't run into too many in which God is God of Vineyards, God of Gardens, God of Community, God of Family, God of Field, God of Building, God of Body, God of Kingdom, God of Church, God of Flock, or any of the other metaphors of the people of God.

And yet, Yahweh Sabbaoth - God of Armies (Lord of Hosts/Lord Almighty) seems to be His favourite, most popular name. God of war. So, us being called an Army isn't just a good/bad idea, depending on your perspective. It is an accurate designation of the, "mass of people organized, especially for war" (Strong's).

Much grace
stephenC
posted by Stephen Court

a couple of late hits...
____
On the growing rift in the USA Episcopalian Church: "The end result may be that much of Virginia Episcopalianism will end up looking to Nigeria, rather than Richmond, for leadership. The slave-owning Episcopal gentry of 18th century Virginia would be shocked. But the irony is an enjoyable one."
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/461wmgyl.asp?pg=2
____

The Army's world evangelisation goal?
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-sublinks/685DF03B3DACEFF480256E55004D0E10?openDocument
____

Credo Books is two years old this month and has sold more than 15,000 books. Praise the Lord. Maybe you don't have the set (see July 11 blog for the list). The latest release is IN THE FIRING LINE, the biography of Colonel Bramwell Coles (available at wlcemc @ pathcom.com). Neat points I've picked up on Coles: six of his seven children became officers. You've got to like that (well, maybe you don't, but we do); although he was nicknamed 'The Army's Sousa' by non-salvo press, he was muc more than that. I mean, check out his last song still in the SASB:
____
1.
How can I better serve thee, Lord,
Thou who hast done so much for me?
Faltering and weak my labor has been;
O that my life may tell for thee!

Chorus
Here at the cross in this sacred hour,
Here at the source of reviving power,
Helpless indeed, I come with my need;
Lord, for thy service, fit me I plead.

2.
Dull are my ears to hear thy voice,
Slow are my hands to work for thee,
Loath are my feet to conquer the steeps
That lead me to my Calvary.

3.
Strength for my weakness, Lord, impart;
Sight for my blindness give to me;
Faith for my doubtings, Lord, I would crave,
That I may serve thee worthily.
____
And the book comes with a CD sampler of some of his pieces. They go way back and feature some tinny recording and wild vibrato of the olden days.

So you get some banding here at armybarmy.com. But we won't leave you without some songsters- General's Choice: Songs That Move Me, are moving from the eStore. Why not step into General Eva Burrows's head and heart to hear from her spiritually defining moments and the songs that accompanied them? What a unique privilege! See the eStore for your copies.

Much grace
stephenC

July 20, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Some more lines from 93:
____
"The front line of The Salvation Army must always run through the agony of the world." (Arnold Brown)

"Christ has died for us. But He has not obeyed for us. The new heart is by faith in Him - but the new life can only be lived by watchful and often painful obedience to the law of love." (Bramwell Booth)

"Leave alone what you leave behind." (sin- guess)

"Miracles are needed. But what will they cost?" (Arthur Pitcher)

persecution: "A Russian Commissar said that Christianity was like a nail, the harder you hit it, the deeper you drive it in." (Allister Smith)

"Lord, I owe You everything. Am I up on my payments?" (guess)
____
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Apology

I am sorry. I know that a few people read this blog and I'm afraid that when I go astray I might lead others astray. The burden weighs heavily on me. And, I think I messed up.

I know the best way forward is to come clean. I will say, up front, that this is uncharacteristic of me, something unlike my record of consistency.

Well, here goes...

Veteran members of the Barmy Army read fairly recently (I'm guessing the June 9 or so blog but I will not go back) that I called The Singing Company the best SA worship combo name.

How could I have forgotten SanctiFunk? I'm sorry SanctiFunkologists down in Melbourne and environs. It was a momentary lapse in judgement. I will do my best to refrain from doing that again.

Now, I've nothing at all against The Singing Company name. In fact, it is the second best name...

grace
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July 19, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Warsaw has formally approved the registration of The Salvation Army in Poland. Hallelujah.

Next...

So most people measure financial well-being by your income. But I suspect that the Primitive Salvo measure is your 'outgo'- your cartridge. Who cares who much you make? I care how much you give.

Speaking of cash, we wer reflecting on The War College experience for students who drop several thousands dollars for a year. Now, comapred to unviersity, it is cheap (it includes room and board). But forget university, compared to living and breathing anywhere it is cheap. Besides the training, the room, and the board; most students do brigade specialling weekends, some in another other country and on long plane flights; and most also go somewhere for their summer placement, often far away. Even from a financial standpoint, The War College is the best deal going for spiritual training.

Oh, and we're strategizing for MMCCXX, the plan to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years. Exciting stuff. I just encouraged one of the leaders in her recruiting to dream out loud. And it was catchy enough that I'm passing it on to you. I could go on, dreaming out loud, but read up in JAC on MMCCXX (just search MMCCXX at the JAC site, or even top right on this page) or even in this blog (search top right).

I've been reading up on Colonel Bramwell Coles (see earlier blog this week on his new biography and how to get it). He published his first piece, a competition winner, at 19 (3rd place). And a few years later he apparently changed the course of Salvation Army music with a piece called ATONEMENT. And for decades to follow, the name Coles was married to the word Atonement. Beautiful. Why? One- that this guy change the future of SA music; 2. that a cadet had it in him to write with spirtual depth on the atonement; and, 3. the biggest reason, can you imagine having your name wed to the Atonement? Wow. You can order your book (comes with CD sampler) at wlcemc @ pathcom.com.

Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Aggressive Christianity Conference

There have been a few of these floating around since Catherine Booth preached at the first one (ACC has sometimes stood for Aggressive Christianity Councils). New Zealand's caused the big stir in the modern era. Williams Lake ran a bunch. The Melbourne ACC has been a growing territorial influence. Last year Vancouver hosted one. And San Francisco is joining this fall - check it out at http://sayconnect.com/AggressiveChristianity.html (and even though it says ACtv coming soon- you might still want to click on it- it is the famous REVOLUTION video).

grace
stephenc

A little Teddy R.

For those having a struggle (hat tip Heather Wrighteous):
____
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena;
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs and comes short again and again;
who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievements;

and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls
who know neither victory nor defeat."
Teddy Roosevelt
____
grace
sec

July 18, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Two things none of us should normally take: privilege and offence.

More juice from 1993 (note that I was in training college then...):

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." (Augustine)

"When you lose the love of what you are for, you are compelled by hate for what you are against." (Roy Calvert)

Training College: "It is a place where we weave the stuff of which good officers are made; it is a manufactory for the making of men." (Bramwell Booth, Servants of All)

"You never break a spiritual law. You break yourself on a spiritual law." (Roy Calvert)

Training College: "It was never sought to make these places of intellectual instruction, but rather of soul culture, where those who did not seek only God's glory and the salvation of souls might be separated from rest of the candidates by trial... and where the truly devoid might be taught how to obtain victory over every possible difficulty." (George Scott Railton)

Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 17, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

(hat tip KDub) Overheard at one of our cells this week:
____
Person A- “'Been smoking dope, cigarettes, crack and injecting crystal meth, how do you think my week's been?”
Person B- “Well praise the Lord you didn’t drink!”
----
General John Larsson said, "Bramwell Coles was one of my musical heroes as I began in my youth to explore the world of Salvation Army music. He deserves to be honoured and I am delighted that the life of Bramwell Coles is going to be honoured in this way."

What's he on about? The brand new biography, IN THE FIRING LINE (named after Coles's famous piece). You can read about the book PLUS the band CD of his compositions and arrangements at http://www.brasslink.nl/ (From North America you can order from wlcemc @ pathcom.com).

Much grace,
StephenC

July 16, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

We have dates for 2007 editions of Booth-Tucker Institute and Battle School:
BTI: June 8- June 15, 2007
Battle School- July 3-August 10, 2007.

Information is available at thewarcollege.com. We're very excited about both of these events and invite you to prayerfully consider participating. BTI is a leaders incarnational refresher week for LOs and Officers. Battle School is an incarnational training course for teens.

For those looking for something a little longer, please consider The War College. The REVOLUTION Session starts September 10, 2006. It runs a year. You can apply online at thewarcollege.com.

Last week we threw up a little controversy from General Higgins. This week, we'll try General Orsborn:
____
"'First the servants of God' is a grand guiding principle in an officer's life. He will then be a completely dedicated man, and he will not require a lot of rules to keep him true to his vocation. Nor will such an officer divide his life into separate compartments, in some of which he is serious and vocational whilst in others he is careless and worldly, giving himself time off from his high calling. This may sound exclusive. It is intended to be so. Officership leaves no room for dalliance with divisive interests. Let no man pity such single-minded officers and call them 'narrow'. They, and only they, are the Kingdom-makers and Army-builders. In this they are supremely happy. Within such a consecration there is a scope for personality, space for lawful ambition, high and holy and great rewarding service, and the greatest fun in the world." (cited in the current THE OFFICER)
____
Comments are welcome to revolution @ mmccxx.net .

First warning: We received the contributions for the imminent issue of Journal of Aggressive Christianity yesterday. It is a special theme issue on Women In The War, complete with a guest editor, Major JoAnn Shade. God is going to use it in many ways. Writers run the gamut from colonel and soldier to commissioner and major. It builds on a continuing discussion that kicked off in the January issue of JAC (top right). So, if you're a bit rusty on the details, why not check out that issue (41) along with 43, and the current one, to bring you up to speed? The August issue is due out in two weeks.

Grace
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

MPAA Against Christianity?

Here's an interesting little article speculating on how MPAA might have rated some classic movies:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/419mfmbq.asp
grace
sec

Some one-liners from early 1993.

"Oh what folly to talk against new measures. Soldiers, rack your brains! (William Booth).

"I hope I am, in fact, a persistent seeker of souls and a resolute opponent of satan." (William Booth)

"The passion was on us and in us. We had to go, to do, to dare. It was for our Christ, who had inspired us with this passion to see to the consequences." (William Booth)

"Do you care most for what sinners think of you or for what you make them think about themselves and their God?" (George Scott Railton)

"Get a barracks on the corner of every street." (William Booth)

"Others are quietly digging their graves down to hell while many of us sit idly by with our noses in theology books." (John Norton Jr.)

"The paradox of faith- so little is required but so much is demanded." (Major Bill Brown)

"What too many orators lack in depth they make up in length." (Montesquieu)

much grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

July 14, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Tomorrow is the start of The Cry 2 at Parliament Hill in Ottawa (this is a national youth prayer gathering in Canada). For details see 4mycanada.ca. If you are in Ontario or Quebec, or even northeastern States, you might want to jump in a car or bus and make the trek.

Some people don't like when I suggest that God loves some people more than others (say Mother T more than A Hitler). I almost got in a little trouble at a SA conference recently with this point and was challenged on it. It would have been handy to have had John 15:10 on deck: If you obey my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love. (the flipside being, of course, that if you don't obey you don't stay...)

(playing: Just Your Touch- TELL THE WORLD by Soteria).

Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Great bit from William Booth on origins of sin and creation and such
____
24. Is not this subject a great mystery?

Yes. It has puzzled the most profound minds from the beginning, and many have got out of their depth and have been led astray by it. Our wisest course is to leave these speculations, and make the utmost profit of what God has revealed. We know He hates sin, and we believe that He is doing His utmost to get people saved from committing it; and we know also that He fails because He has such a wretched, cowardly set of Soldiers to fight for Him. With true Soldiers, and plenty of them, we have every reason to conclude that He would soon drive sin and the devil out of the world. Let us help Him. (from forthcoming book called ARTICLES OF WAR)
____
Lots to comment on:
- God fails!?
- wretched, cowardly set of Soldiers... imagine fighting at close quarters alongside WB;
- key to winning the world- plenty of true soldiers.
- conditions of winning the world- drive sin and the devil out of this world!
- method- helping Him.

You're welcome to comment on this one, too, if you like (revolution @ mmccxx.net).
grace
stephenC

Yahweh

Here's a formulation from the new SA101 that I just used to comment on Joe West's blog:
____
YHWH=I AM (Exodus 3:14,15;John 8:59…)
Jesus is associated with/identified as I AM (John 6:35;8:12,58;9:5;10:11,14;11:25;14:6;15:15)
Therefore, Jesus is associated with/identified as YHWH
YHWH is associated with/identified as Holy Spirit (Judges 3:10;1 Samuel 10:6; etc.)
YHWH is associated with/identified as Father (Psalm 2:2,7;Deuteronomy 32:6; etc.)
Therefore, YHWH in not properly and accurately Jesus, nor Holy Spirit, nor Father
YHWH= Trinity
Yahweh is the proper name of the Trinity. This is not character. This is identity. This is a mystery. We’ve grown to know Jesus through the Evangelical Movement.
We’ve grown to know Holy Spirit through the Pentecostal Movement.
We’ve grown to know Father through the Father’s Blessing.
We are growing, locally, to know YHWH (starting in 614 Vancouver) in the War Room movement (As a side light, the War Room movement is an adventure in exploring the character of YHWH / Trinity to unleash Fullness on the world).
We know Jesus primarily for Salvation.
We know Holy Spirit primarily for Sanctification.
We know Father primarily for the Kingdom (Luke 12:32).
We know Yahweh primarily for Fullness (the complete package, as propagated by Major Janet Munn in the burgeoning Fullness Movement).
____
grace
stephenC

July 13, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Cheers to Cory Harrison who is the first winner of the free GENERAL'S CHOICE CD for owning both catalogues I blogged earlier this week. The rest of you will have to buy the CD, now available at our eStore (top right).

Speaking of eStore, the second edition of REVOLUTION is now available FOR DOWNLOAD at the eStore. The first edition is still in stock in hard copy, but if you want the cheap option and the updates, you can now download (hat tip CC).

Joe West, who blogs at http://joewest.blogspot.com/ , weighs in on the Higgins quote (check earlier blgs below for context):
____
I like to think of denominations as platoons, or brigades. For example, you wouldn't go into war with a paratrooping brigade, if you're fighting in the jungle. And you wouldn't expect to come against an enemy force with all of your resources in one big firing line either. You'd just plain get smoked. That's all.
____
And armybarmy.com is updated last night so there are a bunch of new things to see. On the main menu page you can check out the two featured events coming up, one in Toronto and one in Melbourne. And, for example, did you know you can download REVODEVOS for free (at the download centre- see the resources drop menu)? We're tackling human trafficking as The Salvation Army, and you can contribute (see the main menu page and read about Freedom Fridays, for startes). And so on, and so on.

Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Bales Clarifies

Higgins continues to stir the pot. Andrew Bales writes this clarification to James Pedlar (with my interruptions):
____
AB- I believe that denominations are the ‘parts’ of the body referred to by Paul in Corinthians. Corinth was a fragmented church, split along lines of loyalty (I belong to Paul etc). To say that denominations are the result of sin fails to recognise the need to address different cultures in appropriate ways. The fact that I go to St Mary Cray Corps rather than any other Corps (Corps are quite different in size, worship style and evangelical expression) is not the result of sin but of preference. I am an active ecumenical Salvationist and am therefore quite distinctive when I practice my unity. One last thing, sacraments;  like band pieces or songster brigades or worship bands do not deliver grace – grace is the result of faith in Christ and is received by a heart that is properly prepared to receive it. Active sinners and hypocrites who sip wine and chew bread on a Sunday once a month do not receive grace.

(SC- John Wesley was big on 'means of grace'. The holiness meeting can be a means of grace, as can as certain songster selection or ritual or... Availing ourselves of the means of grace is helpful, though no guarantee. We thought 'deliver' might be a sticky verb in this exchange and it has proven so. If we can trade 'delivers' for 'means of' I suspect we're in agreement.).

AB- This was the main reason that TSA initially rejected the sacraments because they were believed, by some, to be a direct means of grace regardless of the heart-attitude of the recipient.

(SC- By 'means of grace' we intend that it is a vehicle by or through which someone might experience grace. It isn't a guaranteed proposition.).

AB- I love all Christians and often enjoy worship with non Salvationist believers and have never encountered any problems with this. That said – I am (with a great deal of humility and no sense of triumphalism) a Salvationist because I believe that TSA is still God’s chosen method for saving the maximum number of people in the minimum amount of time – at least it will be once we rediscover personal holiness! I have no desire to be a Catholic or an Anglican – that is not because I consider myself right and them wrong – it is a simple matter of calling.

(SC- Andrew, you might have started a whole new discussion, in North America anyway, with this last bit!).

AB- I would not object if they tried to encourage me to join their churches and if given the opportunity I would certainly attempt to recruit them as soldiers in the Salvation War.
____
Whew!
grace
stephenC

July 12, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

More on Higgins

I'm guessing General Higgins didn't intend to be controversial, but rather, just to exhort the troops. However, generations later, his quote (from a couple of days ago, below), has stirred up some comment. Yesterday we ran Andrew Bale's comment (see below). Now here is James Pedlar responding to Bale's comments (with a few of my interruptions interspersed):
____
JP- 1. Denominations don't exist to "bring something to the pot." They exist because we are fallen people and can't realize the unity that God intends for his people. Denominations are here because of sin. Not to say we can get rid of them at this point; but we only have them because we are compelled by significant disagreements (ie. doctrine) with other believers, and we feel we have no other option but to maintain some distance. God uses denominations, but I think that it is a providential compromise, ie., in spite of our continued dividedness, he finds a way to redeem the situation and use our varied expressions for the spread of the gospel.  

(SC- That is one perspective, of course. The other is that denominations help to accomplish the great commission, fleshing out Paul's example of becoming all things to all men so that by all possible means he might save some - 1 Corinthians 9:22. The precedent in Acts of denominational multiplication based on language and culture in Jerusalem - Acts 6 - and Antioch - Acts 11;19-20 - could support either position.).

JP- The "distinctives" that separate us should not by triumpantly celebrated; rather, we should celebrate the commonalities, and, while we state the distinctives with conviction, believing them to be necessary, this should be done with humility and a hint of sadness that the church remains divided along such lines. For example, while we can celebrate the success of the early Salvos, it is sad in a way that this all came about because the other denominations weren't doing their job, and Booth felt the need to start something new. So, it was the sinful failure of other denominations to reach out to the poor in London that created the initial need for TSA.

(SC- another two cents' worth- again, this is a legit perspective, increasingly important as the days increase opposition to th Gospel. It can also be seen from God's side, that He started up The Army because there wasn't a wineskin around able to contain the new wine He was about to pour out. The wineskin view of Christian history covers the important births of movements through to today.).

JP- 2. Our effectiveness is not rooted in our being different from other believers. Our effectiveness comes from the power of the gospel and the Spirit that accompanies its proclamation. We have no exclusive claim on these things.

(SC- At one level I agree. At another I quote Rob Dolby- we can't earn God's love but we can earn His trust- covenant being a key to that. Insofar as we're covenanted and someone else isn't, we might have an expectation of higher effectiveness, however that is measured - not that we covenant solely to increase effectiveness!).

JP- 3. "..the fact that sacramental living (i.e. living that brings grace to others) does away with the need for sacramental rites (which can never deliver grace)": Ouch! I don't think it has ever been our position that sacramental "rites" can never deliver grace. That flies in the face of what millions of Christians experience every Sunday at worship. We maintain they are not necessary, but to say they never deliver grace is another claim altogether, and a big slap in the face to 95% of the Christian world. Communion certainly can be a means of grace, but our position is that it is not a necessary one, and does not have an exclusive status in relation to, for example, feeding the hungry.
____
(SC again)
The sticking point in the Higgins quote is this bit: "incapable of being blended with any other people. Any attempt to harmonize it with methods employed by other religious bodies destroys its effectiveness and renders it incapable of achieving its purpose or continuing to develop its special characteristics."

- we don't know the context and so we're not sure what he means by 'blended'. I suspect that Bales and Pedlar might find themselves on the same side depending on how 'blended' was unpacked. As for the final sentence, it comes down, for us, to 'harmonize'. Does that means our use of ALPHA or piggybacking on a Billy Graham Crusade renders us incapable of achieving our purpose? Or maybe it means our use of church-stereotype practices (could some be terms like pastor and church and congregation and boards, and programmes aiming at attracting people into buildings or converting people to styoles of music and styles of literature as well as Jesus?) renders us incapable of achieving our purpose. We agree with the latter and disagree with the former interpretation.

Thanks, gentlemen, for your comments. Anyone else (revolution @ mmccxx . net)?

Much grace
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

blogosphere update

Doug Burr's Blog (USA blogs on right) has a guest blogger, Colonel Howie Burr, recounting his experience at Booth-Tucker Institute last month. Please read it to get an idea of what next year's BTI might look like for you.

Primitive Salvationist Blog (USA blogs on right) has the first set of chapter 1 questions for those involved in their new book club (reading CHAOTIC ORder).

SlavoKat (Aussie blogs on right) has been offering a fresh look at our neighbourhood.

grace
sec

Longer Blogroll

If you check down to the news and comment category of our blogroll you will see some exciting new resources available. These include The Salvation Army publications ON FIRE, PIPELINE, and NEW FRONTIER. They are worth a regular visit.

Much grace
sec

Golden Bull?

Here is the best commentary I've read on Sunday's infamous red card. Notice the religious overtones. It is translated from the French:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110008636
grace
sec

CREDO PRESS catalogue

There are two forthcoming titles that add to the growing list of the Credo Press catalogue:

- The Siren Call of a Dangerous God
- Proverbial Leadership
- Stand on Guard
- Aggressive Christianity
- Revolution
- Chaotic Order
- In The Firing Line (forthcoming)
- Broken Church Restored (forthcoming)

Its catching up on the SALVO SONGS list:
- Live From The Cariboo
- Awaken The Giant
- SALVO P.O.P.
- SoZo
- Soul Candy
- The Army of the Lord
- And Can It Be?
- Boundless volume 1
- Sounds of the Revolution
- General's Choice

I think I'll send a free General's Choice to anyone who owns both catalogues and contacts me this week (revolution @ mmccxx.net).

Much grace
stephenC

July 11, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

I quoted General Higgins yesterday and invited response. The most thoughtful comes from Andrew Bale:
____
I believe that any denomination’s right to remain a separate member within the body of Christ is the effectiveness of its distinctive witness to that body. Unless TSA adds something to the pot that the Baptists, Anglican, charismatics, assemblies of God etc. aren’t adding then what is our purpose. We must have a distinct denominational witness. The Salvation Army’s denominational witness is complex and involves many things (fighting for social justice, loving the marginalised, churching the un-churched, militantly attacking evil etc.) However, I believe that the one distinctive that sets us apart more than any other is our belief in personal holiness and the fact that sacramental living (i.e. living that brings grace to others) does away with the need for sacramental rites (which can never deliver grace). True Salvationists will always renounce everything that is sinful and doubtful, consecrate everything to God and lead a life of ‘continued obedient faith in Christ’. This is our witness and it enables us to remain a distinct ‘member’ within the body. Without this witness we will indeed become ineffective and redundant.

(Andrew Bale continues:)
A quote from SLB (Love Slaves) lifted from Matt Clifton’s Blog

“And it is this Holiness – the doctrine, the experience, the action – that we Salvationists must maintain, otherwise we shall betray our trust; we shall lose our birthright; we shall cease to be a spiritual power in the earth; we shall have a name to live, and yet be dead; our glory will depart; and we, like Samson shorn of his locks, shall become as other men; the souls with whom we are entrusted will grope in darkness or go elsewhere for soul-nourishment and guidance; and while we may still have titles and ranks, which will have become vainglorious, to bestow upon our children, we shall have no heritage to bequeath them of martyr-like sacrifice, or spiritual power, or dare-devil faith, of pure, deep joy, of burning love, of holy triumph.”
____
Many might want to comment on this (revolution @ mmccxx.net). It is the anti-ecumenical vibe that seems to throw a little...

Hallelujah on today's PtG of BM.

hb2EB
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Applying for Officership?

Some note that the application for officership is a long process. Maybe you'd prefer the 1890 application, halfway down this website page here:

http://aleph0.clarku.edu/huxley/CE9/War.html

Some noteworthy questions:

2. What is your height? ...............
15. Have you ever been an open BACKSLIDER?................... If so, how long? ...................
16. Why?................... Date of your Restoration?...................
19. Did you ever use Intoxicating Drink?................... If so, how long is it since you entirely gave up its use?...................
20. Did you ever use Tobacco or Snuff?................... If so, how long is it since you gave up using either?...................
31. Can you start the SINGING?...................
43. Do you pledge yourself to spend not less than nine hours every day in the active service of the Army, of which not less than three hours of each week-day shall be spent in VISITATION?...................
55. Are you willing to come into TRAINING that we may see whether you have the necessary goodness and ability for an Officer in the Salvation Army, and should we conclude that you have not the necessary qualifications, do you pledge yourself to return home and work in your Corps without creating any dissatisfaction?...................
1. All Candidates are expected to fill up and sign this form themselves, if they can write at all.
____
I'm not making fun of any of it (well, maybe the height question). Three are reasons they were so successful back in the day.
grace
sec

What do you think?

I lifted this from the IHQ Heritage Centre treasure chest:
____
General Edward Higgins in 1928, when Chief of the Staff wrote: Salvationism is a clear and well-defined quality that represents distinctive features of doctrine and service which distinguish it from all other organizations and makes of it an entity entirely apart, incapable of being blended with any other people. Any attempt to harmonize it with methods employed by other religious bodies destroys its effectiveness and renders it incapable of achieving its purpose or continuing to develop its special characteristics.
____
What do you think? (revolution @ mmccxx. net)
grace
stephenC

July 10, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Here's some JC Ryle (HOLINESS) for you:

"Tell me not of your justification unless you have also some marks of sanctification. Boast not of Christ's works in you unless you can show us the Spirit's work in you. Think not that Christ and the Spirit can ever be divided." (p46)

"Remember the maxim of the wisest general that ever lived in England: 'In time of war it is the worst mistake to underrate your enemy, and try to make a little war.' This Christian warfare is no light matter." (p53)

"There is no holiness without a warfare." (p54)

hb2JK

Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

July 9, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Big day today. We welcomed the new divisional leaders! (you thought I was going to say Italy won the World Cup!) Good times. God anoint them for their appointment.

I received this note that I respectfully pass on for you, regarding a nurse ministering to those who are deathly ill. "We're very close. Now talk him into the Kingdom." (hat tip IG)

Not to get all preachy, but this is probably pretty good advice for us with our converts, disciples, and even independents (those who don't yet depend on Jesus). Remember that were close. And talk them in.

As Fleur Hodge once preached in Victoria- "It's better on the inside."

By the way- we're into Battle School right now with teens here for 5-6 weeks from as far away as Eastern Europe. What a good idea! (Thanks God and JE) There are some foundations being laid in this short time. Plus, the teens are keen. And they're going to be intermingling with our homegrown teens (five of whom got saved at teen camp last week- Hallelujah!). Good stuff. You might have some teens in your circle of influence who might love a month or so of incarnational warfare training- write us about Battle School next July (revolution @ mmccxx.net). Of course they might also want to sign up for the year at The War College (Charlotte and Vancouver- thewarcollege.com).

Much grace,
Stephen C
posted by Stephen Court

July 8, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

"The man who takes up religion for the world will throw away religion for the world" (John Bunyan).

A good phrase by William Metcalf: "living outside the gifts" (from ANOTHER PENTECOST, p34). Too often characteristic of Christians.

"I have a theology. I have a testimony. What is my theology? My theology is that Christ cannot fail. If I am submitted to Him, obedient to Him, definitely fighting under His direction. I cannot fail. This is my theology. What is my testimony? I know how I have failed, and still do fail, but I know this, that when I was beaten it was my own fault; when I should have been surrendered I have kept back part of the price; I have grown weary of the discipline and the training for the conflict. I have never failed since I gave myself to Christ, except when I have been to blame. That is my testimony" (Commissioner Heidong (Peter) Chang, in SALVATIONIST PULPIT, compiled by Commissioner Walkdron).

"A Salvation Army Officer is an idealist without illusion" (General Clarence Wiseman).

Enough gold for today. Enjoy these clippings from an old 1993 daytimer...
grace
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posted by Stephen Court

July 7. 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Happy anniversary- M.D

Our cell uses the great curriculum that The Army produces with ALOVE (UK Territory). Last month we were exhorted to tell different parts of creation to praise the Lord. Well, this week at our cell, we reported back. B said, "our lives have changed! Everywhere we go, my children (also cellmates) are telling everyone and everything- Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, you spiders! Praise the Lord, you trees..." Hallelujah!

Hat tip Wall Street Journal (opinionjournal.com) for this:
____BETROTHAL BETRAYAL: A Massachusetts Hindu family has filed suit after determining that their son's future Indian wife wasn't aisle-worthy. Because of her protruded teeth, bad complexion and poor English, the father of the groom, Vijai B. Pandey, is seeking $200,000 in damages from the uncle of the bride, according to WorldNetDaily. The Pandeys called off the wedding when they saw the bride during a visit to India to finalize plans. Stating that they were told she was "equally beautiful [as their son]," the Pandeys accuse the bride's family of "fraud, conspiracy and violation of civil rights resulting in emotional distress." Perhaps less distress, though, than one might experience marrying into this family.
____

Mark Noll has an interesting little article on the impact of the Authorized Version of the Bible (King James):
http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110008620

And here is a word about Vancouver from a friend of this site (not that we know him at all- and, despite what you might think from an earlier blogging exchange):
____
by Rick Joyner

VANCOUVER: I saw the city of Vancouver become a major port for hospital ships. These were sailing all over the world, but primarily to Asia, and South and Central America. This region of Southwestern Canada will soon become one of the great missionary bases in North America, particularly for reaching China and the strategic nations of Asia. Many great healing ministries will rise up there, and some will move there to make it their base. Another bridge for missionaries to cross over into these Pacific rim nations will be Western Canadian businesses, which will rise up and establish strong business links to these nations. The future of Southwestern Canada is strongly linked to Asia.
____

grace
seec
posted by Stephen Court

A Run On The eStore

We're having a little run on the eStore. People are digging the new choices.

So, RED BOOK SESSIONS CD by The Singing Company is moving.
CHAOTIC ORDER book is selling.
GenEva's GENERAL'S CHOICE CD (mostly Songster music but not entirely) is being snapped up.
Of course, SA101, etc. are being downloaded (our most popular resource).
We've even had to order more copies of BE A HERO and PROVERBIAL LEADERSHIP to keep up with the demands on stock.

These are good challenges. Keep buying.
grace
stephenC

Cheers to ChiefSpeak.

When Colonel Knaggs was transferred from USE to AUS I slid him from the American Blogroll to the Australasian blogroll in anticipation of his physical move. Alas, I jumped the gun and have noted, along with all of you who read ChiefSpeak, that the blog is closing up shop in its current form. All the best to the newly minted Commissioner on his next appointment.

Also, I ran an article about how the anticipated explosion of prostitution at the World Cup failed to materialize. Here's another confirmation from a sports source:
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5762422

Much grace
StephenC

SA Filmography

hat tip to Darrell Pilgrim for setting us off on some more wikipedia SA information.

Of some interest, in a list of SA films:
____
"ON THE BEACH (1959) A post-World War III film where Australia has survived the nuclear holocaust temporarily. John Carson plays a Salvation Army preacher. The New York Staff Band Chorus also sing “There’s Still Time Brother”, which made no 1 in the pop charts briefly in some American cities."
____
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvation_Army_Filmography

JoyStrings weren't the first!

"A number of films were produced by the Salvation Army's Limelight Department in Australia, but do not show Salvation Army activity, including:
Boer War Troops (1900)
Bushranging in North Queensland (1904)
Federation (1901)
Heroes of the Cross (1908)
The Opening of Federal Parliament and Royal Visit (1901)
The Scottish Covenanters (1909)
Swallow and Ariell’s Employees (1905)
Under Southern Skies (1902)

And see...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limelight_Department
for a history of this SA fim unit and a good argument that it produced the world's first movie.

grace
sec

July 6, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

More later, but I just noticed that there is a Wikipedia article on our neighbourhood that includes a shot of The Empress hotel (where The War Room is, visible on the left side of the building, two floors from the top and a few windows in):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Eastside
Don't beleve everything you read in the article (e.g. apparent positive impact of the 'so-called safe injection site').

Graec
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posted y Stephen Court

July 5, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

(playing- TELL THE WORLD by Soteria- buy at illfight.com).

He is risen!

I just heard about a cool answer to prayer- a miracle in Mongolia - a storm being rebuked and the skies going clear, over at extremeprophetic.com.

And this from Booth-Tucker, on marriage:
____
"We say eye-to-eye; we walked hand-in-hand; we fought side-by-side; we had no divided interests. At home and on the battlefield we were one, absolutely one, in spirit, in plan, in purpose. God helped me not to hold her brim spirit back. Shw was a wonderful piece of God's ownn handiwork."
____
That's for all you married folk in the barmy army.

One more for today, from Minnie Carpenter:
____
"The essential qualities of the Staff Officer of that period were those of a Crusader- entire self-sacrifice, courage, decision, action, mobility, and the determination to win through or die. Men and women of such spirit responded to the ... call to arms, and rallied to (the) standard, and prepared for poverty, weariness, and early death if they might share in setting up the kingdom of righteousness."
____
My session was Crusaders For Christ (we liked to bounce that quote about back in the day- 92-94).

Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 4, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Isn't THE SINGING COMPANY the absolute best name you can imagine for a Salvation Army worship group? Classic. I sang in the noted (!) Earlscourt Citadel Singing Company under legendary SCL Donna Colley back before my voice changed (I also did a very short stint after our transfer in the Etobicoke Temple Singing Company, I think, but it was against my protests).

None of that has anything to do, beyond the title, with my point, which is that THE SINGING COMPANY'S first CD, THE RED BOOK SESSIONS, is now available at our eStore:

http://www.armybarmy.com/estore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=27

It is featured, along with GENERAL'S CHOICE: Songs That Move Me. Knock yourselves out. And, you Americans who haven't picked up your J4 presents for friends and family yet, shop like crazy on these items.

We added ON FIRE to the news and comments on the right column of this blog. It is The Salvation Army's news magazine in Australia Southern Territory. It is the source of some good thinking and worth a regular visit.

Oh, do you know anyone who wants to be in the REVOLUTION Session of The War College? Spots are filling up. It will definitely, if past results continue, change your life (thewarcollege.com).
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

July 3, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

What amazes people about Jesus?
- Throughout the Gospels what amazes people about Jesus are His teaching and His miracles, His words and His deeds, His talk and His walk, His orthodoxy and His orthopraxy (right thinking and right doing).

talk: Mt 7:28; 13:54; 22:22; Mk 1:22; 1:27; 6:2; 10:24; 10:26; 11:18; 12:17; Lk 2:47; 4:22; 4:32; 4:36; Jn 7:15 - 15 times.
walk: Mt 8:27; 9:33; 13:54; 15:31; 21:20; Mk 1:27; 2:12; 5:20; 6:51; Lk 4:36; 5:26; 9:43; 11:14 - 13 times (NIV). So people are more often amazed by what Jesus says than by what He does. Amazing.

What amazes Jesus about people?
- The only thing that amazes Jesus about people is faith, whether it be a lack of it in His hometown (Mark 6:6), or surplus of it in the centurion (Luke 7:9).

It seems that if we amaze Jesus by our faith He might amaze people through our words and actions.

Grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Self Denial

I visited a local corps this morning for the holiness meeting and was interested that their Self Denial target was $49,815. It is noteworthy both because it is the highest target I've seen for a corps and because it is 49,815 (as opposed to, say, 50,000).

The more interesting number was the total raised- $49,880. Hallelujah!

I'd be interested if you know of a higher corps total (revolution @mmccxx.net).
Much grace
StephenC

July 2, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Holy Founder's Day!

Grace
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

assorted

First- commentary comparing the new Superman movie more to Nietzsche than with Jesus:
http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/comment/article.php?id=330

Second- great looking resource of audio preaching by Salvos:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/sermons.htmgrace

Third- have you finished reading the current JAC yet (top right)? The long weekend (for many) is a great time to kick back for some incediary and edifying writing.

Fourth- Holy Founder's Day (July 2) for the barmy army that is a day ahead (mostly down under).
grace
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Future of The Army

Colonel Durston's article that stirred up much discussion related six streams of The Army.

In THIS article, he predicts potential futures if various voices win the debate, AND he offers his own opinion:
http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/onfire/2006Mar18/default.asp?page=2

His desired future: "We need the consistency and faith of the traditionalist, the fervency of the Pentecostal, the evangelical zeal and expertise of the seeker-sensitive, the deep concern to relate to our present age of the radical voice, and the dedication to the service of the poor of the neo-Salvationist."

Thanks to ON FIRE for running this series (more to come).
grace
stephenC

614 Vancouver

We've been getting questions about our corps this week from various parts of the world. The easiest way to get a half-decent idea of the 614 War in Vancouver is to check out the Wheel and the Growth Chart at http://armybarmy.com/614.html and the summary at http://614network.com/vancouver/index.html (for some reason the growth chart doesn't appear right on safari- sorry. It does look cool in real life). revolution @ mmccxx.net.

It is part of mmccxx- a vision to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years. God grant it.
grace
stephenC

July 1, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

He is risen!

Dominion Day

This is a big day on the Canadian calendar- Dominion Day. Canada is properly called the Dominion of Canada, based on Psalm 72:8:

"He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."

Hallelujah! Bring it on, Lord Jesus.

It is even more exciting for Salvos because that verse also figures in Catherine Booth's bedrock prophecy for The Salvation Army's role in the great commission:

"The decree has gone forth that the Kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and that He shall reign, whose right it is, from the river to the ends of the earth. We shall win. It is only a matter of time. I believe that this Movement shall inaugurate the final conquest of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Amen. God help us.
Holy Dominion Day to you.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

GENERAL'S CHOICE: Songs That Move Me.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of General Eva Burrow's High Council election, we're pleased to announce the release of the 10th Salvo Songs project, a compilation of songs that move General Burrows, along with her unique, concise, audio explanations.

You can pick up this brand new resource here at armybarmy.com, precisely:
http://www.armybarmy.com/estore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=26

Enjoy this collection of SA music.
Much grace
StephenC

Update

SALVATIONIST has updated and that reference I made awhile ago to Colonel Edna Williams can be referenced here:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki%5Cwww_uki.nsf/vw-issue/1064813BBB255B4E8025719600374DA6?opendocument&id=8B4F05D8DCC58EE2802571960032C789

She's the one who was undre attack in Congo and sallied up so they'd know who they were killing.
grace
stephenC

Combat Songs of The Salvation Army

I'm the blessed recipient of heaps of older books (including some SA gems) from an officer transferred (hat tip DL).

There is a classic song in COMBAT SONGS OF THE SALVATION ARMY (well, there are many) but here is one to the tune of Old McDonald Had A Farm;

The General's Plan

On Mile End Waste there stood a man
And a very good man was he
He said he'd plan and plan and plan
To set the people free.

chorus: So the General planned and planned
And a very good plan made he
That from this world sin should be hurled
And the people be set free.

v2
Now the Gen-Er-Al, he had a wife
And a very good wife was she
She said she'd help the Gen-Er-Al
To set the people free
So Mrs. Booth talked with the tongue she had etc.
(that is the repeat of the line from each line with a cluck cluck here and a bark bark there...)

v3
Now the Gen-Er-Al, he had a son...
...

v4
Then up there arose another man
And a writing man was he
He said he'd write and write and write
To set eh people free.
So Railton wrote and wrote and wrote (etc.)

v5
Now the General said 'we must have a flag
And a good one it must be
That from this world
Sin should be hurled
And the people be set free
So the flag did wave and wave and wave (etc.)

etc.
So the box went 'round and 'round and 'round
And the printers printed and printed and printed
And the band did play and play and play
And the drum did beat and beat and beat
And the flag did wave and wave and wave
And Railton wrote and wrote and wrote
And the Chief did rise and organise
and Mrs. Booth talked with tongue she had
And the General planned and planned and planned
And a very good plan made he
That from this world sin should be hurled
AND THE PEOPLE BE SET FREE.
____
Enough for now.
Grace
stephenC

Savationist Men?

Here is a new blog: http://salvomen.blogspot.com/

Much grace
StephenC

June 30, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

BTI has ended- great times, sacred at times. Start saving up for next year'.

I blogged those War Room book on-liners yesterday because it was the 28th month of prayer there.

Some other come up:
- ____ showed me that we can access grace through faith (Ro 5:2);
- (from Deut 4:9) every time we need a remedial we sate God's time and our's... live up to what we have already attained.
- chesed as covenant mercy or covenant love. Try out these popular verses by inserting covenant love or covenant mercy where chesed shows up: Ho 6:6; Mi 6:8; P51:1;P23:6;P136...;
- we will be known for our fruit, not our works.

These are just a taste. Imagine the reams of edification emerging from 28 months of eight 3-hour shifts every day.

Praise the Lord.
____
Giving USA 2006!

Total estimated charitable giving in 2005 reached $260 billion, an increase of 6% from last year.
Disaster relief topped all records and totaled 3% of total giving.
Giving to human services organizations increased 32%.
Charitable giving equals 2% of the Gross Domestic Product. (hat tip- John Murray)
____
I'm glad for the increase. The perople of God ought to be leading the way (giving to our corps).

Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court