Armybarmy Blog

More on the New Monasticism...

The fourth "mark" under discussion is:

"Lament for racial divisions within the church and our communities
combined with the active pursuit of a just reconciliation."

Many people in Canada might fall under the assumption that this is not our issue. Canada, under the British Empire, abolished slavery over a hundred year before they did in the States, so we're good, right?

But what of our treatment of First Nations people? Or Chinese workers? Or the Japanese Canadians during WWII?

I only mention those three groups because there is a significant population of First Nations, Chinese, and Japanese in and around our neighbourhood.

I'm not sure we do the best job at "actively pursuing just reconciliation." Our community at X-Culture is very diverse and, I believe, healthy. I think we do a good job there honouring the different heritages involved, while still holding on to what we all can share, the redemptive gospel of Jesus Christ. I've seen this modeled in at 614 Toronto in particular, and it is a beautiful thing. I think there are 17 different languages spoken in that congregation, many of which have translators during the Sunday services. There is a real intentionality for bridging cultural gaps there, and it is a good reminder of the potential of Church to break down linguistic and ethnic walls.

I think downtown we can and should be more involved in cross cultural community building and reconciliation work. It is something I'm hoping to take on personally, partly by starting to learn Mandarin.

In case anyone is curious, Mandarin is pretty brutally hard to learn.

Grace,

Aaron

January 30, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
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“We cannot bow, or notice, or persuade the devil out of his favourite citadel or stronghold... there is only one way to drive him out and that is by actual, self-sacrificing warfare. There is nothing for it but to fight and to fight to the death. Who is willing for this?” (William Booth)
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www.myspace.com/songforafricamlgc has a new song "We Believe", proceeds from which go to helps Africa AIDS orphans through HOPEHIV. "ALL PROCEEDS from the sale of this powerful song of hope, recorded by a massive 400 voice gospel choir, will go directly to support the work of HOPEHIV as they help rebuild young lives devastated by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa."
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Just two more days remain until the new issue of JAC. That means you can quickly catch up on the current issue before it heads to the archives. And slot out some time to read writers from Australia, Canada, USA, England in the new JAC, which features two prophetic words, three preview book excerpts, and the first JAC 100 Most Influential Salvationist List!
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"The institutional Church has killed only two kinds of people: those who do not believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and those who do" (Will Durant).
-- stupid quote, but cute.
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Serious news- an officers' kid in South America has been kidnapped. Please pray for supernatural intervention to the glory of God! (I'll update as possible- I'm leaving some details alone, though, intentionally).
SA daily reading: Exodus 25-27; Acts 6.
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God is here. Much grace,
Stephen Court

January 29, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

For those interested in the WHY? Campaign in which we're now engaged, please visit whyencounter.com (nice photo of DTES legend Major Sam Fame there, too!). The basis is going to everyone's door with a colour/glossy coffee table book thick with evangelistic stories. We're asking our neighbours what they think is needed spiritually around here and how we can help. We'll continue visiting those who let us, and go from there.
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The USE Ambassadors for Holiness gave a discussion group in which you can participate at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Holiness4Salvationists/
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I've read some Gene Edwards books over the years (the most famous being A Tale of Three Kings) but only recently learned that this guy is a hardcore house church proponent (http://www.geneedwards.com/books.htm#churchlife). Interesting.
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PrimitiveSalvationist Blog (top right), January 22, has an interesting comparison of officer to soldier ratios in West and East SA. This is worth a little thought and discussion.
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Danielle is on a roll over at the armybarmy remix blog (top tight - Danielle).
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SA daily reading: Exodus 23-24;Psalm 14; Acts 5.
God is here.
much grace,
Stephen Court

New Monasticism Cont'd...

The third "mark" of this New Monasticism, as identified by the Schools of Conversion, is:

"Hospitality to the stranger."

I like the verse in Isaiah 58 that identifies true fasting:

"Is this not the fast I choose?....To share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your house, when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh."

I was speaking on this recently, and got quite a reaction (ooohhhhs) when I pointed out the verse did not say, "To share Family Services bread with the hungry, to send the homeless poor to the nearest shelter, when you see the naked, to give them a voucher for the Thrift Store, etc..."

We are called to give of our own resources. If we have bread in our cupboards, why offer a hungry person bread from "The Salvation Army"? We ARE the Salvation Army.

Justice and mercy require a personal touch, a personal responsibility. One early Christian writer suggested that if a child dies of starvation, and a Christian has extra food in his house, that Christian is guilty of murder. That's heavy. If that's true, we're probably all guilty of murder.

But this should not be a guilt-fest. Hospitality is a gift, both to the recepient and the giver. Yeah, it can be hard, but it is particularily hard when we look at things from the wrong perspective - ie., all this stuff is mine to do what I want with. We ought to be dedicating all of ourselves and things unto the Lord, and then sharing them becomes far more natural, not a sacrifice, just the obvious and proper thing to do with the stuff we've been entrusted with.

We do ok at this here at 614. Most people with any room at all in their homes usually have it filled with visitors and guests. Our homes are pretty open. It can be a struggle, of course, but I think we are recognizing the blessings of it.

Grace,

Aaron

January 28, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
Happy fourth birthday to the Armybarmy Blog! Hallelujah! (we don't have the exact blog total but we're somewhere close to 3,000 posts).

The Revolution Session of The War College had a neat month that included the Why? Campaign (evangelism), Secret Place conference (charismatic), Major Doug Burr (prayer ministry), and Missions Fest (big evangelical conference). Good times.

Here's a post from the very first week of armybarmy (you can read every single one of the nearly 3,000 posts in the 'previous blogs' link at top right):
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January 29, 2003

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

In my last post I was on about Wigglesworth, among other things. As a great man of faith, he was often asked how to get faith. He generally referred to Mark 4:28. In the NLT, that reads, "First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of the wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens." It doesn't just come with a snap of the finger. It grows. I am one who is always on the lookout for a good turn-of-phrase. This is how Wigglesworth turns it: "Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs come only out of great trials. Every stumbling block must become a stepping stone, and every opposition must become an opportunity."

And listen to this: "There is no other way into the deep things of God but a broken spirit."

And finally: "The best thing you can ever have is a great trial. It is your robing time. It is your coming into inheritance. Voice your position in God, and you will be surrounded by all the resources of God in the time of trial."

Our Western society gags on these words! Never are we to enjoy trial. We're to seek ease. But Wigglesworth correctly points out that the only way we're going to get deep with God is a broken spirit. This is the Gospel turning the world upside down, turning human reason on its head. I want to encourage you, if you are going through trials, don't waste them. Colonel Bill Speck assured me once, "God wastes nothing." God wants to use it. Let it be your robing time, your time of coming into inheritance.

Posted by Stephen Court, January 29, 2003
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SA daily reading: Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court
(PS disregard the automatically generated signature of this blog, as always- Aaron and I usually sign our names - always, I think)

New Monasticism Part Trois...

Here is the second "mark" of New Monasticism:

"Sharing economic resources with fellow community members and the needy among us."

We're veering towards this. As a community we do a pretty good job of sharing. Some folk make more money than others and help take care of those without work, others have vehicles or extra rooms or internet connections that others can make use of (hopefully without damaging), and I know I personally have several DVD's that I haven't seen for awhile :).

Over at X-Culture they are living on a common purse, and I heard they are trying the same thing down in Adelaide, Australia (Gen One with the incomparable Fleur Hodge).

People do a pretty good job sharing with the needy among us as well. We can always do better, be more intentional perhaps, but this does seem to be built into our DNA.

Sharing is such a privilege, even when it is inconvenient and annoying. Having people at our dinner table is one of my most dreaded and wonderful experiences. Dreaded in advance because I am not naturally a good host, but wonderful because we are always so blessed when people come and share our family time with us, play with our kids, even use our shower. I do believe we have only been blessed with things so that we can have the opportunity to share them.

Lord, take away all our things for our own good if we forget how to share.

Grace,

Aaron

Tutu's Musings...

Here is a report of Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu's statements today in Kenya regarding peace and love. (Tutu is one of the Revolutionaries featured in our book "Revolution").

"Tutu says that the war against terror cannot be won by force -24/01/07

The war against terror in the world will "never" be won by force and injustice, and will remain a problem "as long as there are conditions in the world that make people desperate," like dehumanizing poverty, disease and ignorance, Nobel laureate and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has told participants at the 2007 World Social Forum (WSF) in Nairobi, Kenya.

"God is weeping," Tutu told the ecumenical gathering at Nairobi's Holy Family Roman Catholic Basilica, at the sight of the awful things happening in the world today.

He declared: "God weeps and says, 'Who will help me so we can have a different kind of world, one in which the rich know they have been given much so they can share and help others?'" A creation that was very good has "turned into a nightmare".

Presiding at the event along with Tutu were His Holiness Abune Paulos, patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and Archbishop Zaccheaus Okoth, president of the East Region of Caritas Africa. Kenyan Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai also participated in the ceremony.

Archbishop Tutu emphasized that the "fundamental law of our being" is that "we are bound to one another". Because of that, "the only way we can make it is together, all of us". Only together can we be free, safe and secure. According to Tutu, this rule applies also to politics. "Not even the only superpower can be totally self-sufficient; it needs other nations."

As the grassroots World Social Forum takes place for the first time in Africa, Tutu called Africans to be proud of their legacy. "We are not God's stepchildren," he said, recalling that it was an African who helped Jesus to carry his cross, and as Africans were also the first doctors of the early church. He mentioned overcoming slavery, colonialism and apartheid among African accomplishments."

I think I might agree with this Nobel Peace Laureate on this matter. Especially on how terror and war are intrinsically interconnected with poverty.

Grace,

Aaron

New Monasticism Part Deux...

So the first mark of this New Monasticism, according to the Rutba Community and the Schools of Conversion, is:

"Relocation to the abandoned places of empire."

My understanding of Church is "a people called out together for God." We are called away from the values and practices of the kingdom of the world, be it the Roman Empire, the Soviet Union, or North American materialism, and called into the Kingdom of God.

Quite often this relocation has taken form physically. Sometimes people retreated into caves in the desert. Other times people have moved into slums. I think the call here is to move into those places that have been ignored and abandoned by our culture, places like the barrios, the favelas, the ghettos, etc.. All the places where our cultural system doesn't really work, or where the true results of our cultural system can be seen in all their oppressive glory.

This clearly is a mark of our community. We have been called to an abandoned place, and not just called to work or minister, but to live and worship and pray and build families. But I try to keep reminding myself and others that you can very easily live somewhere without actually living there. We can still create our little ghetto of salvationism and safety, thus defeating the purpose of being here at all. Just something we always have to guard against.

More later...

Grace,

Aaron

January 27, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2ch)
This continues the fourth birthday weekend celebration of the armybarmy blog with our second-ever blog:
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January 28, 2003

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I just read Paul's admonition, "Do not scoff at prophecies" (1 Thessalonians 5:20). And this hasn't generally been a problem for me. I have my own small and growing collection of prophecies that have been spoken over me over the years. It includes tapes and notes and emails. It is an excellent reference for the days when I need to settle in with God for clarity on His purposes for me and mine.

Well, I have to confess that I needed to repent for an exception to my general attitude toward prophecy. As I was recently listening to taped prophecies for me, I came across an exhortation from Pat Cocking to read a couple of books, as part of my preparation for God's purposes for me. She gave me this word maybe 5 years ago.

To my chagrin, I realized I had not read either of the books! Now, real repentance includes a change in action so I quickly got a hold of both of them. One was a biography of John G. Lake and some of his sermons. Lake had a very powerful healing ministry as a missionary in South Africa before starting the famous healing rooms in Spokane. The other was on Smith Wigglesworth, a larger-than-life character from the turn of the last century. He was known as the apostle of faith for God's great acts performed through him. Among other things, he raised 14 people back to life. Hallelujah.

Wigglesworth is a huge challenge to me. Instead of stimulation, I tend towards frustration. The reasoning goes like this: God, if You can do it through Wigglesworth, why don't You do it through me? And so I am motivated to follow that other apostolic injunction, 'imitate me, as I imitate Christ.'

So learn from my mistake: do not scoff at prophecy, and imitate greathearts as they imitate Christ.

posted by Stephen Court, January 28, 2003
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SA daily reading: Exodus 17-20; Acts 3.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Marks of the New Monasticism...

Spent some time with Shane Claiborne, author of "The Irresistible Revolution", down in Atlanta. His community, as well as a number of others in N America and around the world, have been working out the principles of what is being called a "New Monasticism." There are 12 characteristics they have defined, and as he was speaking them out it seemed to me as if we here are at least stumbling towards most of them (24-7 prayer is certainly heading in this direction as well.)

I thought I'd put up the twelve characteristics, and then in a few future blogs go through how we are living them out, or possibly how I think we could be doing a better job.

"Moved by God’s Spirit in this time called America to assemble at St. Johns Baptist Church in Durham, NC, we wish to acknowledge a movement of radical rebirth, grounded in God’s love and drawing on the rich tradition of Christian practices that have long formed disciples in the simple Way of Christ. This contemporary school for conversion which we have called a “new monasticism,” is producing a grassroots ecumenism and a prophetic witness within the North American church which is diverse in form, but characterized by the following marks:

1) Relocation to the abandoned places of Empire.

2) Sharing economic resources with fellow community members and the needy among us.

3) Hospitality to the stranger

4) Lament for racial divisions within the church and our communities
combined with the active pursuit of a just reconciliation.

5) Humble submission to Christ’s body, the church.

6) Intentional formation in the way of Christ and the rule of the
community along the lines of the old novitiate.

7) Nurturing common life among members of intentional community.

8) Support for celibate singles alongside monogamous married couples and their children.

9) Geographical proximity to community members who share a common rule of life.

10) Care for the plot of God’s earth given to us along with support of our local economies.

11) Peacemaking in the midst of violence and conflict resolution within communities along the lines of Matthew 18.

12) Commitment to a disciplined contemplative life.

May God give us grace by the power of the Holy Spirit to discern rules for living that will help us embody these marks in our local contexts as signs of Christ’s kingdom for the sake of God’s world."

Found at www.newmonasticism.org

Grace,

Aaron

January 26, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
I know it is a bit late, but here is a blog about a very different kind of Christmas experience, by Joel, a 614 Vancouver cellmate:
http://radicalreversal.org/weblog/?p=193
This is the armybarmy blog 4th birthday weekend. To celebrate, we're going to include a few of the early blogs. This is number one of all time, by Danielle, about seven months into starting 614 Vancouver:
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January 28th, 2003

So it goes that we are trying to establish 'authentic christian community' in the downtown eastside of Vancouver. This desire is probably out of frustration as much as ideal. It is a gnawing sense that what we have deemed 'church' is lacking something. It isn't a slam on churches I've been to - just a sense that the whole 'church' culture isn't complete.
What I read about the growing church (pretty much everywhere that isn't the western world) seems full of stories of comraderie that makes our Sunday 'how's it going?' fade into meaninglessness - not that it was much more than that to start. I've started Bonhoeffer's classic 'Living Together' to get a glimpse at his theology of community. It has really challenged me.
For starters he says that the biggest killer of authentic Christian community are 'pipe dreams' of some social gathering that meets all emotional needs. Bonhoeffer says Christian community is in Christ, through Christ and for Christ. Jesus in us is what makes us a community and what makes community us. Living anything less than that is empty but demanding more than that is the death of the church. Hmmmm. We are satisfied with each other as we are satisfied with Christ. It's Jesus in me that my brother needs and it's Jesus in my sister that I need. That's what makes us 'one' - in Christ.

I wonder how much we've let the world squeeze us into it's mold (Romans 12:2 - the message) when it comes to thinking about church and being the church. Perhaps trying to figure it out is like explaining the trinity or the virgin birth - maybe the beauty of church is the mystery of church?

mystified but thankful, posted by Danielle Strickland, January 28, 2003
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SA daily reading: Exodus 14-16; Acts 2.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 25, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus; name, friends.
He is risen!
Happy Australia Day.
Stallone a Christian?
http://www.infuzemag.com/peeks/archives/2006/12/rocky_balboas_s.html
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Andrew Bale's word for the western territoies includes this bit:
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I have left for myself a remnant and if they will humble themselves and identify themselves in repentance and sorrow then I will unblock my ears and clear my eyes and let the ‘revolution now begin’.

The cost is repentance.
The cost is a full renunciation of the values and standards of this world.
The cost is a new and brave exposure to total dependence upon me.
The cost is a full consecration of all you have and are to me (all I have ever asked is that you love me with all your heart, soul, body and mind – I am a jealous God and will not share your love with another!)
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And ends with this:
"The future of the Salvation Army will be settled in the next 10 years – it is a clear choice – repent and live or rebel and die.”
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This is one of the more hardcore words you might come across, when taken in its entirety. But praise God that there is a way out. The ten yeas thing is pretty staggering. How old will you be in ten years? What do you want to have accomplished by then? That is just past the halfway mark of mmccxx. And, yet, we can include ourselves among the remnant and humble ourselves and repent. Are you up for it?

I've said many times that Catherine Booth's foundational prophecy of The Salvation Army, given at the farewell meeting for the Hallelujah Lasses and GSR (the cusp of the Acts 1:8 Samaria step) means that either CB is out to lunch or God can do something unprecedented- return us to our first love and calling. Here is her word:
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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 rivers to the ends of the earth. We shall win. It is only a question of time. I believe that this Movement is to inaugurate the final conquest of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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SA daily reading: Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 24, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
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Captain Geoff Webb has a piece in the next JAC (February 1) called TIME TO GROW UP? In he suggestings elements basic to the essence of Salvationism:

"Salvation of the whole person. A renewed holiness emphasis. The centrality of our soldiers’ covenant. Our military metaphor as a vital expression of our apostolic ministry."
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Now, what do you think of that? He explains the 'whole person' bit as including justice. He's good to go on holiness (as we are). He emphasizes soldier's covenant, which I think is the best (only?) hope, humanly speaking for the future of The Army. And he ties our military expression to our aposstolic ministry. Interesting take. You'll want to read the whole thing next week in JAC.
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Also, Greetings in Jesus' name, comrades. I trust the battle progresses well on your front.

The massive evangelical Missions Fest Conference happens this weekend in Vancouver. For those in the vicinity or coming from afar, please let me highlight a few Salvation Army flavours:

- Captain Danielle Strickland is preaching in room 19 at Canada Place at 1:30 on Friday about lessons on urban mission.

- 614 Vancouver CSM Aaron White is leading a workshop on Saturday 1:45 in room 10 on non-stop prayer (specifically, The War Room, which celebrates its third birthday February 28).

- The War College leader Jonathan Evans is speaking in Room 09 Saturday 1:45 about Youth Discipleship and Incarnational Mission.

The website is missionsfestvancouver.ca. They had good child activities last year (for those with kids- it cost $2 / session last year).
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SA daily reading: Exodus 9-11; Luke 24.
God is here.
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

January 23, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
For those who still don't get it on women preachers and leaders, here is a fun interview with Tony Campolo (hat tip RM):
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/201/story_20177_1.html
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Yes, The Army gets some air time, as you might expect. Let's live up to what we've already attained...

And here's a stab at those atheists (hat tip GR) in National Post (which seems to be taking on opponents of Christianity this week!):
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/201/story_20177_1.html
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Brengle on his delieverance:
For weeks I walked in agony of mental and spiritual suffering that is hard to describe, if not impossible... Then I saw that these must be the devil, and instantly it was as though an octopus loosened his long arms from around my mind and flew away. (Samuel Logan Brengle)
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Booth on Spirit and mission (city-winning):
“How much more might be done if you had all received this Pentecostal baptism in all its fullness? If every soul were inflamed, and every lip touched and every mind illuminated, and every heart purified with hallowed flame? The whole city would feel it!

“God’s people in every direction would catch fire, and the sinner would fly on every side. Difficulties would vanish, devils be conquered, infidels believe, and the glory of God be displayed. As it is written, every valley would be filled, and every mountain would be brought low, and the crooked path would be made straight, and the rough ways would be made smooth, and all flesh would see the salvation of God. (William Booth)
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Let's see you read that one out loud with passion and not come on the verge of a glory fit! Yahoo!
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Sign up for BTI this June (thewarcollege.com).
SA daily reading: Exodus 6-8; Luke 23.
God is here.
Much grace,
stephenC
posted by Stephen Court

January 22, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

I've heard that the University of Wales released a study indicating that January 22 (today) is the most miserable day of the year (apparently it has to do with weather, proximity to Christmas and vacation, and bills coming due). Anyway, if you've slidden into the world's mold on this one, yank yourself out and celebrate your salvation, Jesus' sacrifice, and count your blessings. I know a couple of you inclined to make a cake to extend the festivities...

With some down-in-the-dumps on the state of Christianity in the early 21st century, Conrad Black has a rousing counter-argument here (hat tip GR):
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/issuesideas/story.html?id=e710294d-29cd-49ea-b92a-2a4044a6ed50&k=15189
I doesn't address the explosive Charismatic stream of Christianity and it still sounds encouraging.

SA daily reading: Exodus 3-5; Luke 22.
God is here.
Muchgrace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

"Owner of Ritzy NY Shop Sues Homeless for $1 Million."

Check out the story here:
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=iol1169302632986O561

What do you do when unwanted people hang around your shop and scare away customers? Sue them. Seems like he just wants a restraining order, not actually a million bucks from homeless people.

Still, it does not really seem like a rational response. But I guess it stems from not actually knowing people, just viewing people as irritants or obstacles. Don't actually have a place to go? Not my problem. I got a store to run. Don't actually have a place to go to the bathroom? (Big problem in the DTES. People get arrested for peeing, but where are you supposed to go?) Don't care. Not where we can see it or smell it. Too cold for you at night? Don't care. Don't hang out near my heat vents.

When I was working Kettles, there was a guy begging for money right beside me. It was awkward, because part of me was worried I was taking money from him, and another part of me was annoyed that he was taking money from us. So I went and talked to him, asked how he was doing. He told me he really liked my singing, and we chatted. When he got up to leave, he dropped a buck he had been given into the Kettle, and thanked me for what I was doing.

Not every interaction with folks went that well, obviously, but it showed me the power of getting to know someone. Also showed the problems of not knowing someone - anger and fear. And, apparently, lawsuits.

Grace,

Aaron

January 21, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

I stumbled on an old JAC interveiw with General Arnold Brown (PtG) here:
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:5WjtF_uxL1wJ:www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_005.pdf+%22General+Arnold+Brown%22+%22Order+of+the+Founder%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=safari
If this link doesn't work for you, just go to issue #5. It is amazing, the juicy stuff in the JAC archives.
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Short note on expansion

Historically The Army is a youth movement. Some might laugh at that. But at the end of the first generation, all those 20-somethings that were tearing up the world turned 60. Should we have kicked them out of leadership because we had more 20-somethings? No. They were the pioneer greathearts, battle-proven, heroic warriors. But we remained a youth movement for one reason:

Expansion.

We will only be a youth movement where we are expanding, otherwise there is nowhere for the young leaders to go. As long as we're invading new countries (still about 88 to go), opening new cities, and starting new corps there is unlimited room for youth to lead and succeed.

So, youth and younger types: No complaining any more. If you want to lead, expand.

By the way, we've part of a little network but pretty large vision to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years, called mmccxx. And, so far, it has been a youth movement (not exclusively, but largely).
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SA daily reading: Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke 21.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court
PS (colts/saints)

Zeus Worshippers Demand Access to Temple...

This is a great news headline from Yahoo. There are apparently a couple hundred Zeus worshippers in Greece trying to resurrect interest in worshipping Zeus and 11 other ancient gods. They say they want to get into the Temple to worship Zeus and declare a message of peace, because as we all know, Zeus was a god of peace.

The best line in the story is this:

Those who seek to revive the ancient Greek religion are split into rival organizations which trade insults over the Internet.

Well, of course. That is how it was done before. I recall some parts in the Iliad when Zeus, furious with his wife Hera for trying to thwart his plans and help the Greeks overcome the city of Troy, fired off a really nasty email to her (with a bcc to all the minor gods), and then went on the godsofolympos.com message board and typed in some really nasty stuff. Hera got pwned.

Seriously, if you are a follower of Zeus, you should not have to demand anything from any Greek cultural authority. You send some thunderbolts down and be done with it.

It is interesting how with only a hundred or so followers, there is still room for factions and name-calling. That would never happen to us, of course.

Grace,

Aaron

January 20, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Big news from the American front (hat tip Richard Munn):
1. Commissioner Todd Bassett (on reserve but most recently the US National Commander) has been named the National Association of Evangelicals Executive Director, replacing Ted Haggard.

2. In a list of the best communicators of 2006 (in USA), current National Commander, Commissioner Israel Gaither was placed #4. He is joined by people such as Barak Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Rick Warren, and Jon Stewart. The reasoning behind his selection is as follows:
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Newly elected national commander of the Salvation Army in the United States, Israel Gaither has absolute conviction and high-level communication skills. Thus, he overcame the odds. The first African-American commander, Gaither is a superb preacher and speaker. He would say it’s the power of God, and if you met him you would not argue. Nor would you argue about his skill as a communicator playing a strong role in his rise to leadership. Strong of voice, well prepared, always focused, and with movement, energetic gestures and expressive language and word pictures, he commands an audience whether it’s a small group of civic leaders or thousands of the members of his army. (Which, by the way, is the largest army in the world with more than 3 million officers, employees and volunteers and a $2.6 billion budget.) Gaither’s biography is titled “Man with a Mission,” so it’s likely you’ll be hearing a lot more from him.
----
You can read the report here:
http://www.examiner.com/a-484578~Acknowledging_the_10_best_communicators_of_2006.html
----
God is here.
SA Daily reading: Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 19, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

This Soldier's Covenant undertaking is pretty hardcore, and worthy of a refresher:
----
“I will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, and I will show the spirit of salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution.”
----
Of course, most of you reading this today find yourselves in a time of popularity. Praise God. But there is no guarantee of that carrying on forever. We decide now how we will act when things get tougher.
----
Andrew Bale (his blog is at right) throws a very heavy word out today in his blog. We'll unpack it more in the days to come...

General Gowans also says this in his foreword to ARTICLES OF WAR:
"One of His qualities, which we should duplicate, is the divine persistence. It is a fruit of The Spirit."

This is a good trait to apply in humble response to the Bale blog.

SA daily reading: Genesis 47-48;Psalm 10; Luke 19.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Risky Business...

I suggested this at Roots South, and it got something of a reaction (not Amens!, but ohhhhhhs)

Caring for the orphan and the widow in their distress does not get you saved. Only Christ can do that. But NOT caring for the orphan and the widow in their distress (etc...) might be a good indication that you are not saved.

I do not think Jesus could be more clear in his connection of the two things.

Rev James Forbes put it this way:

No one gets into heaven without a letter of reference from the poor.

Grace,

Aaron

Gowans in Foreword to Articles of War: a revolutionary midrash

Yes, we're psyched that General Gowans offers the Foreword to the forthcoming book, ARTICLES OF WAR: a revolutionary midrash, by William Booth and me. It is Booth's first new title in a century and the Gowans foreword is icing on top. In it he makes a prophecy:

"I don’t need to be a prophet to say that on the day when all Salvationists everywhere are well saved and all of us are enthusiastically winning others for Christ, His kingdom will come in worldwide revival."

Let's do it! (and stay tuned for news of the release of the book...)
grace
stephenC

Deeper and Wider

I stumbled across a challenge from Commissioners Carolyn and Jim Knaggs that I deflect to you (while I receive it myself!):

Our challenge to you is:
To go deeper in your relationship with God and wider in your influence in the community
To demonstrate God’s love in and by your everyday living
To love God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence
To love your neighbour as yourself.
He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbour as well as you do yourself.” Luke 10:27 (The Message)
• • • •
God help us.
grace
sec

Commish Max Feener...

Probably had the best line from the recent Roots South event:

Let us not water Jesus down. We need to drink him straight!

Huge reaction.

Grace,

Aaron

January 18, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
Around the blogosphere...
SalvoKat has a great quote from Catherine Booth Jr. on the secret to her power:
"First, it is love; second, love; third, love. And if you ask me how to get it, I answer first, by sacrifice; second, by sacrifice; third, by sacrifice."

Matthew Champ regains his passion by doing cold call evangelism.

Darren Hailes has a bit on William Booth and his cowardly set of soldiers.

Rose Mawhorter mocks personalized communion.

Danielle Strickland is on about Children of Men.

Olivia Munn tackles personal holiness from the same angle as this blog did a few days ago.

Knaggs brags on the 65 or so Lieutenants in the kicking Australia Southern Territory. Cheers.

Mike Coleman does a Bible study on the prophetic.

Burne-Jones accompanies some beautiful photos with her take on the questions this blog tackled early this week.

Andrew Clark (ArmyRenewal) and Chris Hinton are getting heaps of podcast downloads.

The War College is still recruting for the INCENDIARY Session (September 07). RAW runs in Vancouver March 18-21. Battle School (teens) is in July (revolution @ mm cc xx .net)

FULLNESS (prayer and fasting) is confirmed for May 11-13 in Campbell River (Vancouver Island) with Major Janet Munn from USE (Ambassador of Prayer and Spiritual Life Development and apostle of fullness!). Many of you will want to attend this event (revolution @ mm cc xx . net).
SA Daily reading: Genesis 44-46; Luke 18.
God is here.
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

The First XI

Booz Allen Hamilton ranked The Salvation Army as one of the ten enduring institutions in a famous study recently. A recent SA year book (02?) notes a Monash University study called The First XI (cricket term): Winning Organisations that includes The Army as the only non-profit.

Yahoo! Praise God for what the world sees as effectiveness in system and mission.

The Globe and Mail (Canadian newspaper) recently expressed some misgivings at the increasing influence of The Salvation Army in Canada, commenting it is, "a well-known philanthropic organization to be sure, but also part of the mainstream Christian Church (December 27, 2006)."

The secret is out! What now? :-)

grace
stephenc

January 17, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

I'm collecting names for the Influential Salvationists list that is scheduled to appear in the next JAC in a fortnight (that leaves you two weeks to read the current issue- top right) and came across Commissioner Albin Peyron. This guy appears to have been a classic. Here are some takes from him:

- on holiness:
“I can fix precisely the day when, kneeling beside a Salvationist who for years had traveled the way of holiness, I had the distinct impression that the Lord had taken from my soul the roots of sin, that He had purified me from all stains, all my idolatries. I besought Him for this blessing of entire deliverance, as I had prayed long for the grace of forgiveness. The sister who knelt beside me interrupted with, ‘Bless the Lord because He has granted your prayer.’

“ ‘But ought I not to wait until I realize it before thanking Him for it?’

“ ‘No,’ came the answer; ‘believe that He has given it. This mercy is obtained by faith.’

“ ‘Well, then,’ I cried, ‘I bless Thee, my Savior, because Thou hast taken sin out of my heart and hast given me a new heart and a pure heart.’

“And He did it. He freed me from evil. He made me literally free. That was nine years ago and I can say here to the glory of God that the sin which He took out of my heart has never returned. I do not mean to say that since that time I have never been tempted. On the contrary, I have been the mark of the adversary and attacked far more than before and at times these attacks have been terrible. But if Satan has come, and he has, he has had nothing in me. The Savior has removed all that inner correspondence with him which formerly existed, that traitor hidden within who opened the gate to the enemy. Satan still prowls around. I must watch. But, thanks to God, he prowls around and not within. Jesus guards the gates.”
----
sc- Vintage stuff. "satan... had nothing in me... The Savious has removed all inner correspondence with (satan)... Jesus guards the gates." Beautiful.
----
- on The Salvation Army:
"The path of the Salvationist is hard for the flesh. M. Peyron felt that the Lord had called the Army into being as an agency for crucifying the “I” as quickly as possible, for making the will supple and plastic to Christ’s purposes."
----
sc- as good an explanation as I've heard in a long time as to our purpose.
----
on holiness testimony:
“As I learned better Christ and the power of His resurrection, I found that what I had been promised was not half what I received from the divine contact. I beg those who read these lines to understand that this testimony does not come from a young enthusiast whose imagination has been fired by the reading of some book or by the story of another’s experience. It comes from one of ripe age who has been at grips with realities during a long life, one possessing some knowledge of men and the ideas of his time…Ah, well, I can say that the person of Christ has grown daily before my gaze, that His tenderness, His patience, have made themselves felt to me ever more and more; that the reality of God’s love and the communion of the Spirit have come to me with evidence which is simply irrefragable.”
----
sc- "what I have been promised was not half what I received." Hallelujah!
----
You can read more about this great heart at
http://www.pawcreek.org/articles/testimonials/AlbinPeyronASalvationArmyGreat.htm
----
God is here.
SA daily reading: Genesis 41-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17.
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

January 16, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

(hb2RM)

“The sanctified soul has no enemies within, but has a fierce conflict without” (S.A. HANDBOOK OF DOCTRINE, 1940).

They say there are three enemies: the world, the devil, the sinful nature.

So, if your sinful nature is neutralized, you only have two enemies, left. And they attack from the outside. But, the enemy ratchets up his attack on the holies, because, well, they're holy.

The way to distinguish which enemy is the source - if you get tempted to do something that is not like you, then you can guess that the devil is behind it.
----
Here is a site from an Indian Salvo I stumbled across:
www.salvos.com/geejoonline

And here is one some friends are conspiring for me to plug:
http://mercypeacegrace.blogspot.com/
(for fans of gold dust and poetry)

And, hat tip Phil, here is something ridiculous:
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/01/16/070116173159.3yvt2yr3.html
----
God is here.
SA daily reading: Genesis 39-41; Luke 16.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 15, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

With 2006 wrapped up the mmccxx vision has completed two full years. The status is encouraging. The vision is for new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years. We're at 19. That extrapolates to 190. But, that will grow exponentially as these 19 get established and start multiplying (and as other new ones in the years to come also start multiplying). It is not too late (at all!) for you to join up. If you are interested, fire us an email at revolution @ mm cc xx . net.

Here's a line from SALVATIONISM 101 from Railton that might offend a few people:
“This cold, cold world is never likely to be moved by people who never jerk, or shake, or dance, or jump, or run in connection with their religion” (Commissioner George Scott Railton, in PETER CARTWRIGHT, p20). In The Army, some of this behavious is known as glory fits. Hallelujah!

Our crew is starting the WHY? Campaign. I know it isn't the newest thing on the block but it could be effective. Thousands of peopl ewill be introduced to the Gospel, with the intent of introducing them to Jesus. We'll spin off League of Mercy from the initiative. Good times.

SA daily reading: Genesis 37,38; Psalm 7; Luke 15.
God is here.
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

January 14, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

For those who are relatively new around here, let me point out some neat aspects of armybarmy.com:
library;
archives;
preaching;
worship demo of the week;
eStore;
JAC;
blog;
etc.

We see The Army as a revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus. Our corps mission is to win the world for Jesus, starting in Vancouver's downtown eastside. Our modus operandi is capture, train, deploy. We figure that Holiness is the solution to every problem. We're interested in seeing people get saved and sanctified, healed and delivered, anointed and commissioned...

Well, the stats are in for 2006 at our corps and it seems that our weekly attendance grew at a slower rate than last year. But praise God that He has grown the corps and that some people got saved over the year (it grew a fair bit and a fair number of people got saved). Glory to God. More later, maybe.

SA daily reading: Genesis 34-36; Luke 14.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

assorted...

-- I know we (the armybarmy bloggers) missed Kwanzaa again this year (though Aaron likes to mock it in real life). So, for those who missed out, here's an illuminating, short piece:
http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/article.cgi?article=163

-- we're in the midst of strategic planning out our way (not our corps) and I was asked three questions (along with hundreds of others, I believe, maybe thousands):
----
1. Tell me briefly about your beginnings with The Salvation Army. What is it that attracted you, and attracts you, and excites you about worshipping and/or working with us?

sc- I'm a fetal salvationist. What excites me about worshipping with The Army is the free, abandoned, reckless passion for God that overflows into mission as our DNA. What excites me about 'working' is standing on the shoulders of giants, shoulder-to-shoulder with covenanted warriors as we engage an over-matched enemy with holy fury in a war that we shall win as we fight in the strength of the Lord.

2. We’ve all had our ups and downs… could you tell me about one of your ups – a high point experience you have had, while serving ____________, a time when you were most involved, engaged and alive. Briefly describe the situation.

sc- ___________ is a good division.... These times are manifold. One was the recent War College graduation meeting, which was a multi-hour sweat-fest of worship and warfare.

3. What are your best three ideas for how we can continue to build positive momentum in BC Division, moving forward?

sc- 1. Re-emphasize soldiership, recognizing it to be the only human glue to hold The Army together beyond this generation;
2. agree on identity, The Salvation Army being a revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus; and,
3. preach traditional process/crisis/process holiness at every opportunity.
----
grace
stephenC

January 13, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
Daily reading: Genesis 31-33; Luke 13.

assorted:
1. SALVATIONIST gives us a year in review over here:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/37717887ABF950EB8025725D00566B9D?opendocument&id=D7D8BACB83FEE6688025725D005068D1

2. The Economist has a positive review of "Christianity Reborn" here:
http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8401206
It reports that 'renewal movement' (including Pentecostals and charismatics of all stripes) is the fastest growing religion in the world.

Here's a great line: "LA's most successful export is not Hollywood by Pentecostalism."

And it considers this success from the perspective of the 'four founders of social science': Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Adam Smith, and Max Weber. Marx called religion the opium of the masses. The writer figures that the growing middle class and elite attraction to charismata and its tendency to send followers on a mission to fix things (rather than being reconciled to life's miseries) indicates that Marx was wrong on this movement. Durkheim figured religion solved 'anomie' (normlessness). Certainly solid Christian community and spiritual discipline do that effectively. Smith might conclude that it succeeds because of competition. The writer teases this out by suggesting that competition forces the use of everyone's talents, in this case, most notably women's (and also notes incredible sense of innovation). FInally, Weber would see Pentecostalism as an instrument of modernisation. The writer sees some of this, but contrasts Weber's aloof God with Pentecostalism's very involved God. In all, an interesting and encouraging article from such a news source.

3. We've got Gowans on the front page of armybarmy preaching the last session of ACC in San Francisco. Tune in.

4. "The Army is expanding!"

Here is another gem from SALVATIONIST, reviewing the new YEAR BOOK, but also noting international growth:

"Little by little, or sometimes by leaps and bounds, the Army is advancing into further lands, and into new areas of service. That positive message springs out of the pages of The Salvation Army Year Book 2007. The many and varied ways in which advances occur are described by Commissioner Paul du Plessis in an article which ranges from Salvation Army yoghurt in North Korea to a young man from Mali, converted in Sierra Leone, then - following a vision - enrolling at The Salvation Army's War College in Vancouver, Canada. However, while many doors open, others close and the Spirit directs us in different and unexpected directions.
• The Salvation Army Year Book 2007 is priced £6.50 (plus £2.95 postage and packing) from SP&S Ltd (020 7367 6580).

5. ON FIRE has a great take on The Salvation Army called "TIME TO GROW UP?" by Major Geoff Webb (hat tip WH). He suggests that we need to move beyond adolescence on to adulthood. Since it is tragically unavailable online, we're hoping to scoop it up for you in the next issue of JAC (have you finished the current issue, yet?).
----
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

An interesting thought.
I'm reading a book - Our Father Abraham - Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith. It's good stuff.
Here's a little snipet.
" As King and Creator of the universe, God's presence is acknowledged at all times and in every sphere of activity within his world. Moses commanded the Israelites to bless the Lord for his goodness (Deut. 8:10). Building on this and other texts, the rabbis taught, "It is forbidden to a man to enjoy anything of this world without a benediction, and if anyone enjoys anything of this world without a benediction, he commits sacrilege." (Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 35a). Hence a Jew recites a prayer upon hearing bad news and good news, when smelling fragrant plants, and when eating food or drinking wine. A Jew offers a prayer in the presence of thunder, lightning , rainbows, and comets... This is the way one stays in touch with the Almighty and keeps a divine perspective on life. It means constantly praising God for all things, with sentence prayers, throughout the day."
Perhaps that's what Paul means when he says, "Pray without ceasing," or "Pray continually".
This is a great spiritual discipline to practice. Try it for a day. Continual praise of the LORD for whatever transpires. Let His praise continually be upon your lips.
Shalom
Elaine
Daily readings: Gen. 29,30; Luke 12.

todays daily readings:
Genesis 27,28; Psalm 4; Luke 11

Preach it Brother!

Got to speak at a Black Gospel Church for the first time today.

We're down in Atlanta for the Urban Forum, and I was leading a prayer walk group into the neighbourhood surrounding the Training College. The neighbourhood is pretty ghettoized, and we were going to prayer over a local market and a small Church that was attempting outreach and justice.

When we got to the Church, two things were happening. A man was getting arrested outside, and the Church was just about to start its Hour of Power prayer service held every week at that time. So we went in and started praying with them.

They were incredibly welcoming to us, though their surprise was evident. One man said he would have brought a camera with him had he known we were going to show up, so unlikely is it that white people would come into their Church.

The preacher preached and we all prayed together, and then the Reverend asked for the Salvation Army rep to come up to the mic. So I did, and got to speak a bit and pray for the congregation. I don't know that I've ever had so many 'Amens' and 'Hallelujahs' before.

We had a great time during the service and afterwards talking with the people. They told us how the community used to function, and the pride of their parents and grandparents who owned their own homes and businesses. Now it was overrun with poverty, , and violence, and a new development: gentrification. "No offense," said one man, "but the whites are starting to move in." People are buying up under-valued property, becoming absentee landlords, and driving up the price of land and property tax. Pretty soon poor black folk will not be able to afford to live in the community their parents and grandparents helped settle.

So it was a beautiful time of rejoicing, unity, and prayer, but also a time a recognising the hurt in a community.

Grace,

Aaron

SPEAKING FOR PROFIT:
I was reading a portion of 1 Corinthians today and a segment jumped out at me. "...what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?" (I Cor. 14:6)
I was impacted by the forms of speech that we can be engaged in - revelation, knowledge, prophecy, teaching.
When Jesus spoke the people were amazed because He spoke as one with authority. His words were not empty, lifeless or powerless but they were filled with life.
Of what profit are our words? As we engage with people in the work place, on the streets, in school, at home - how do our words benefit the listener?
I love the thought of my words being infused with kingdom power. I envision my words being streams of living water that bring forth revelation, knowledge, prophecy and teaching. I thirst to be around a people whose words flow forth like a spontaneous open well bringing me revelation, knowledge, prophecy and teaching. What an edified - built up people we would be if we could learn to constantly speak for PROFIT!
Where ever you are, may your words bring forth profit to those around you!
Shalom
Elaine
PS SA daily reading: Genesis 26; Psalm 6; Luke 10.

January 9, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
So, no arguments on the college ranking. Good.

There was a good bit by Colonel Andre Sterkx in The Officer this month. He says,
"I have learnt to be merciful regarding The Army and its organizational systems, which sometimes require forgiveness from me. How do I manage that? I give my flag a solemn look and say, 'I forgive!'(thus heaping coals of fire on one or two unknowing heads!). I return, I hope to be forgiven too."

And on and on...

Roots South is this weekend in Atlanta - if you can't be there, you can still intercede - loads of HOly Spirit promise with the Munns, Dolbys, Whites, TransMission, and heaps more - all in the context of Munn's latest word about The Army entering our finest hour...

SA daily reading: Genesis 23-24; Luke 9.
God is here.
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

armybarmy post-season college footbal rankings

We'd like to be the first up with the final rankings (the final BCS game just ended). We can guarantee that these rankings will differ from the official BCS. Here goes (with bowl-and-record-based reasoning):
1- Boise State (only undefeated team, finally getting respect they deserve)
2- Florida (defeated the #1 ranked team OSU; wait, crushed them)
3- USC (squashed the former #2, Michigan)
4- Wisconsin (one loss, big bowl victory)
5- Lousville (see above; their coach, though, just quit to coach Falcons after re-upping for a decade and promising he'd stay)
6- LSU (convincing win in bowl)
7- Ohio State (lost huge to Florida)
8- Michigan (embarassed by USC; Big Ten must be a little sheepish, though they do have three in this top ten)
9- West Virginia (won out; pretty psyched to keep RR in a year that hearkens back to Major Harris days)
10- Rutgers (Rutgers! Come on! They won their bowl; look for lots of NJ/NY recruits in coming years)
grace
sec

January 8, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Mike Coleman (Oceania - at right) has a list of SA prophecies for 2006 (see his December 31 post). You'll want to climax those with Janet Munn's prophecy in the last blog (JM's word is a classic- mark it and pray it in).

Kathleen Pearce (Oceania - at right) has a great quote from Kate Booth on love and sacrifice. Read it.
Can anyone find me a link to the GIVING HOPE TODAY Manifesto of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda? If so, please send to revolution @ mm cc xx . net).

SA daily reading: Genesis 21-22; Psalm 3; Luke 8. Jesus says 'stop wailing' to the mourners of Jairus's daughter. I'd love to know His tone of voice.
God is here (Can you feel Him moving through this place? Let us cheer, give Him glory. He alone is worthy of our praise! hat tip Mark Hood from his classic SA song).
Much grace,
Stephen Court

"the Salvation Army is coming into its finest hour."

- a word from the Lord, through Janet Munn (from Olivia Munn's blog - BC blogs, at right).

Bring it on, Lord Jesus.

How, then, shall we live? No reserves- that is, holding nothing back, in case it doesn't quite work out the way we'd hoped; no regrets- that is, not compromising in any way so that a year from now or 521 years from now we don't look back with a cringe; no retreat- steadily forward march, pressing in and pressing on in the strength of the King. All glory to King Jesus!

much grace
stephenC

January 7, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
We're excited to confirm that Ian Gillingham will be chaplain at the next BTI in June. He's been an integral part of the spiritual dynamics at BTI that God has blessed so wonderfully, so we're thrilled that he is able to come again.
----
We're also pretty stoked to let you know that Ocean Crest (on Vancouver Island) is hosting the fourth annual FULLNESS prayer and fasting weekend out in BC, May 11-13. We're involved in this event, too, and we'll be able to announce the leader very shortly. Stay tuned (and start saving up for this powerful event).
----
Mark Steyn has yet another interesting article in the Chicago Sun-Times today:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/steyn/200050,CST-EDT-STEYN07.article
----
More, likely, later... Let's all try to get someone saved, in the meantime!
SA daily reading: Genesis 18-20; Psalm 1; Luke 7.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Laeger sees Vancouver

http://www.flickr.com/photos/surrendered/sets/72157594462537184/

grace
sec

January 6, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(this blog was updated January 6)

This year we celebrate 125 years of warfare in Canada as The Salvation Army. We're calling it 'Celebration OneTwoFive' and different events will be held, punctuated by a congress in June in Winnipeg. We praise God for all of the victories won over this period. Hallelujah! I know that it is time to gear up and finish the mission to win Canada and Bermuda for Jesus, standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before and relying with every breath on supernatural purity, provision, and power of Holy Spirit. Are you in? (you Canadians)
----
From Mark Steyn's perspective, the Church in Canada is in very rough shape:
http://www.westernstandard.ca/website/index.cfm?page=article&article_id=2176&pagenumber=1
He's talking primarily about the Anglicans, who are having a tough time in many parts of the country.
----
New Frontier (bottom right) features our friends down at REVOLUTION HAWAII in this article:
http://www.salvationarmy.usawest.org/usw/www_newfrontierpub.nsf/vw_home2/058997ED7E1391058825724A00036469?opendocument
----
A new edition of THE OFFICER arrived yesterday chock full of juicy stuff (and a positive review of GENERAL'S CHOICE CD, available at our eStore!). Here's a taste:

"It is perhaps a little difficult for us, in our day, to appreciate how strange must have seemed the methods of the Founder, and the spontaneous outbursts of his followers as they often broke even the bounds of seeming decency and refused to be curbed by custom, creed, or convention. They refused to be 'buttoned up' and now one has to pause and wonder if at times we are not in danger of losing the very freedom which was our dominant expression. Are we an Army buttoned up in our platform methods? Is it not a fact that in many corps the congregations know the 'order of service' for every meeting? No surprise is every thrust upon them.... To command and lead a meeting in such a manner that people are taken off their guard is to provide an opportunity for thrusts that will frustrate the wit of the enemy." General Wilfred Kitching.
----
A few observations:
- look at the loopholes: pause/wonder/if/at time/in danger. Plus, it is expressed in the negative. He is very polite with the insult.
- I wonder if this reads like a different language to most Salvationists today? I mean, "aren't we supposed to have an order of 'service' (should be meeting, and I suspect th General was mocking the term)?"
- Freedom is our dominant expression? Nice. Love is another option, too...
- I love his understanding of the meeting being under a leader who is engaged in combat against the enemy. This is a good refresher for all of us who command meetings (and participate in and attend them).
----
Now, you haven't applied for BTI yet, for Battle School yet, for RAW yet, or for The War Colllege yet (this statement isn't true of all of you, but of thousands of you regulars in the Barmy Army, so...). How about it? (see The War College blog on left for RAW and BS, and thewarcollege.com for BTI and TWC).
----
And, for those so inclined, the professor v. the punk rocker on 'God':
http://www.anglicanjournal.com/culture/books/041/article/the-punk-and-the-professor-and-what-they-say-about-god
----
SA daily reading: Genesis 15-17; Luke 6 (are you detecting a trend?)
God is here,
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

2007 Focus
----
Message from General Shaw Clifton and the World President of Women's Ministries, Commissioner Helen Clifton:

William Booth, Founder of The Salvation Army, had a big heart of compassion. He was known to shed tears over the suffering of humanity. The women in his life shared this vision. Catherine, his wife, along with her daughters and daughters-in-law, longed for women to be empowered and offered inclusion by The Salvation Army.

The Army is a place where they can shed their tears of spiritual longing, repentance, sorrow and joy - and find acceptance, faith for the future and opportunities for Christian service. It is in this spirit that one hundred years of women's ministries will be celebrated and a logo for the year 2007 is offered.

The teardrop represents a softened heart. The phrase 'while women weep...'has been translated into many languages. In English, the international language of the internet, the initials are www. This is a challenge to us all, that even in modern days, women need the network - the world wide web - of The Salvation Army.

Women's Ministries has been an area of vibrant activity and witness for the Gospel since its launch in 1907. The most recent surveys show more than 500,000 members in the various groups. The Home League, which is the basis of Women's Ministries, peaked at 431,000 in 1995.

It is our prayer that on the eve of the centenary year there will be more tears of joy than tears of sorrow; that there will be tears of laughter as well as tears of pain; but most of all, that joys and griefs alike will be shared in the many fellowships around the world. May the Founder's fighting spirit - to work and pray for a better life for all - continue to be a hallmark of Women's Ministries in every land.
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grace
sec

January 5, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
Last night we enjoyed a knee drill with Phil Laeger leading worship. As seems to happen when we have 'special' things happening, there were three hindrances to our visuals that led to no words on any walls. This would have thrown me years ago when I used to believe that no words should be sung that were not on a wall for people to see. That view changed when I visited Pensacola's Brownsville Assembly of God (home of the 'outpouring') and learned to my shock that they never put up words on any walls (or even in books or bulletins!). They sang songs that night for an hour and a half or something and there were no words! I figured that if God could save a quarter of a million people with no words on a wall in Florida, He might want to try something similar up north. So, now, though we try to have words, we don't have a heart attack if we don't. Those latter times just seem to happen at strange times.

Phil broke out a gripping and at points haunting version of BURNING BURNING that I suspect will be a large hit once the new TransMission album comes out in a fortnight. So save up for it.
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The interest expressed in the two forthcoming books leads to this:
THE UPRISING: a holy revolution, is a holiness book aimed at youth. It is written by Olivia Munn (herself a 'youth' by most standards, a teenager) and me. And it will be out soon (in time for youth councils, all of you DYSs and TYSs). We're hoping that it stirs heaps of younger people to get sanctified. And the effects of that phenomenon are exciting to imagine... Stay tuned for this one!

ARTICLES OF WAR: a revolutionary midrash, is a book by William Booth and me. It is his first new title in a century. The book tackles, in two parts, the two parts of the Soldier's Covenant, the Articles of War, in a catechistic format. So, the first part of the book is an updated version of an old book by Booth on doctrines, and the second half is a midrash on the undertakings. We're hoping that this book can ratchet up the commitment and experience of a million Sr. Soldiers and nearly half a million Jr. Soldiers and unleash a holy Salvation Army on an unsuspecting world. Stay tuned.
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General's Choice CDs keep flying off the shelves at the eStore (scores sold this week). You can pick up your copy at our eStore (above).

SA daily reading: Genesis 12-14; Luke 5.
God is here.
Much grace
stephenC
posted by Stephen Court

January 4, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Whew! God is good! My old comrade from Williams Lake called me up first thing this morning and asked if anyone's been saved yet today! That keeps first things first.

Then Cory Harrison called. They've got a new School of Justice down in their new outpost with a dozen warriors, all of whom were out on the streets a few months ago. They are going hard at it. Hallelujah!
God is on the move.

Before both of these calls a 93 year-old lady called and asked about details of knee drill tonight. She said, "that Phil Laeger, he's quite a famous person, isn't he?" I suggested that he isn't that famous, but he has a good spirit. :-)

Then I opened Gordon Cotterill's new blog email (I get them sent directly). He's back with a vengeance. He fired us a list of books he's read in 2006. Wow. You can see for yourself at Urban Army (British Isles Blogs at right).

Booth-Tucker Institute is a hit with those who have been to it. It runs this year June 8-15 and promises more of the same. It is a week-long leaders' incarnational refresher. Come live in a slum for a week and brainstorm and evangelise, network and prayer, and basically have a memorable and possibly transformational experience. Details at thewarcollege.com.

The new Canadian SALVATIONNIST (January) slipped in a photo that includes one of our cadets, Michael Ramsay, serving some kids in Winnnipeg. It also has a pretty hardcore article by Captain Doug Hammond spinning off a dizzying experience he had a couple of appointments ago in Johannesburg (if you can't get it online contact me - revolution @ mm cc xx . net).

SA daily reading: Genesis 9-11; Luke 4.
God is here.
Much grace,
SeC
posted by Stephen Court

a few...

The War College gets a plug on the THQ site today:
http://www.salvationist.ca/2007/war-college-board-of-reference-adds-brass/
This is a good time to think about appling to The War College for the Incendiary Session, starting in September of 2007. Apply online at thewarcollege.com.

SOUNDS OF THE REVOLUTION CDs are flying off the eStore shelves (we THINK it has something to do with a territorial competition somewhere on our continent!). This is a good time to suggest that you peruse the titles there. And save up for ARTICLES OF WAR: a revolutionary midrash, coming out pretty soon (along with THE UPRISING I mentioned in the last blog).

Cory Harrison weighs in on some of last week's blogs:
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SPIRITUAL MOMENTS--

Worst: Haggard. Pride comes before the fall. God help me not to be next. Is Holiness the key?
(sc- holiness is the solution to every problem)

Best: Rob Bell's (Mars Hill Grand Rapids, MI) continued influence on the Christian Community in America. From Velvet Elvis to the Everything is Spiritual, to the release of his new book Sex God, Bell's teaching has helped shape and bring into the perspective the extremes of traditionalism and post-modernism.
(sc- Danielle says that RB has made expository preaching cool)

BOOKS--

Best: The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan (Restoring your soul by restoring the sabbath) Life Changing.
(sc- isn't this the eighth day?)

NEW TO ME WEBSITE--

Best: Follow the Rabbi.com
Worst: Cory Harrison's Blogging Attempts
(sc- it IS resolution season!)

Predictions for 2007:
1) Huge breakthoughs for the One Campaign, RED products, and other attempts at dealing with poverty through conservation and consumerism.
(sc- here, here)
2) Barak Oboma flies through all presidental debates and attacks to become the representative for the Dems and eventally the first black president.
(sc- Cory, we like to stay away from party politics on this blog!)
3) MMCCXX continues the strong advance towards the world for God.
(sc- God grant it!)
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grace
stephenC

January 3, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
(hb2CY/JE/SL)
He is risen!

So...

Five important books to understand Christianity:
(John McAllister)

Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster
Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Violence of Love, Oscar Romero
Community and Growth, Jean Vanier
Beginning to Pray, Anthony Bloom
Ahh, well six: The Impact of God, Iain Matthew.
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From George Barna (on the significant findings of 2006 surveys - hat tip Harold Hill):

The notion of personal holiness has slipped out of the consciousness of the vast majority of Christians. While just 21% of adults consider themselves to be holy, by their own admission large numbers have no idea what “holiness” means and only one out of every three (35%) believe that God expects people to become holy.
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Yikes. We've got a book coming out shortly, aimed at youth (but you can overhear it if you're older) called THE UPRISING: a holy revolution? Stay tuned. And tell your DYSs and TYSs to order thousands.

SA daily reading: Genesis 6-8; Luke 3.
God is here.
much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 2, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
Hat tip to Boise State for winning one of the most exciting football games ever and setting the tone for underdogs everwhere in 2007.
----
I had opportunity to preach a couple of days ago. Usually people are pretty polite/nice/friendly afterwards. One little guy (maybe six years old) came up to me and said, "I really liked your act." :-)
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Have you finished reading JAC yet? (top right)
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This Thursday night Phil Laeger is booked to lead knee drill, so if you are in Vancouver and available, you'll likely want to be there (Cross Walk building at Abbott and Hastings).
SA daily reading: Genesis 3-5; Luke 2.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 1, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Holy New Year!

He is risen!

May God bless you with an abundant, intimate, effective 2007.

(hat tip JK): The growing disinterest in SA watchnight meetings is symptomatic of a decline from revolutionary movement to church. It seems like people want to spend the last night of the year at parties or restaurants, watching tv or movies, or doing a lot other than praying in the new year with a celebration of God's faithfulness and anticipation of His coming blessing along with comrade soldiers. It seems like we have less in common with each other than we once did. Of course, in some places...
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If you have extra time today you can surf around on our blog roll to keep up to speed on things.
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Our first January 1 was 2004 (armybarmy blog kicked off in February of 2003) and Heather Dolby blogged it. It is a bit too long to replicate here but if you click on previous blogs (top right) just choose January 04 and enjoy.
SA daily reading: Genesis 1-2; Luke 1.
God is here.
Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 31, 2006.
Greetings in Jesus’ name, friends.
He is risen!
Well, God has been faithful through 2006. Hallelujah. I know that He will be through 2007. For those into resolutions, let me point you to some of Jonathan Edwards’s resolutions (search that on our engine – top right).

Thanks for visiting through the year. Please come again, regularly and often, through 2007.

SA daily reading: Revelation 19-22. For those who didn’t want to jump into this exercise midstream, you can join us tomorrow and work your way through the whole Bible again in 2007. DOing it with community might be a refreshing change...
God is here.
Much grace,
stephenC