Armybarmy Blog

source: Greece is officially #112 (hat tip Michael R.)

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

I heard some pretty great news of one of the salvo mmccxx outposts that started near the beginning of mmccxx (base year 2005) having grown to more than 300 people in their authentic Christian community. Hallelujah. Of course, much more to come, al around, but praise God for The Salvation Army and hardcore salvo warriors who are being blessed so manifestly in their obedience to Him.
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"Breathe of me Breath of God
Until I am wholly Thine
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with the fire divine."
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Beautiful. We sang that song this past week.
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I haven't seen any comment on the blogosphere about Commissioner Clifton's Revelation 7 prediction (prophecy?) of The Salvation Army in ten years. It is staggering. Your thoughts? (you'll have to weigh in on some blogs on the blog roll at right because, for some reason, people can't comment on this blog!). :-)
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God is here.
SA daily reading: 2 Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16 (strange this. Peter receives teh keys to the Kingdom (that is, he is adopted into God's family - see our Christomorphosis article via google) and then he becomes a stumbling block - within six verses! This is evidence that holy people can still mess up - Jesus as the Messiah, suffering and dying was too far out of Peter's worldview, freshly sanctified though it was, for him to grasp).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

GSR on giving...
(from GSR, compiled by Waldron)
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... But how does it grieve us to reflect that this work might be increased a thousand fold if we had funds sufficient...

We can no longer sit still with this fact staring us in the face. The voice of God calls us to rise, and use every means in our power to meet Him in His glorious readiness to help us. To rest hopelessly amidst our painfully limited opportunities would be to show the basest ingratitude to Him, who appears so powerfully amongst us in our weakness.

The cry of thousands of precious souls going downward to destruction comes up with a mighty wail, which ought to pierce all our hearts. We cannot, we must not, we dare not, we will not allow the work of God to stand still, for want of funds...

We must give liberally. We rejoice as we reflect that the very poorest of those who have been brought to God in the Mission have been disposed to contribute largely out of their poverty to sustain and extend the work; but can we not exercise still more self-denial, and do still more to help ourselves?

We believe that many persons who now think they are giving liberally would be surprised at the amount of money they could give if they began to plan and calculate. Some little indulgence which seems to be unworthy of notice might be given up and the money spent in this way devoted to God. The apostolic plan of laying by in store on the first day of every week, followed regularly by even the poorest of working people, would secure an astonishing total of revenue to the kingdom of God.
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grace
sec

April 28, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2KI/J-CC)

Cliftons in Canada...
Commissioner Clifton quoted an older Articles of War undertaking that emphasizes our anti-human-trafficking responsibility:
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I do here declare that I will never treat any woman, child or other person, whose life, comfort or happiness may be placed within my power, in an oppressive, cruel or cowardly manner; but that I will protect such from evil and danger so far as I can, and promote, to the utmost of my ability, their present welfare and eternal Salvation.
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General Clifton quoted from the Junior Soldier pledge to define holiness:
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... to live a life that is clean in thought, word, and deed.
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While we're on holiness, Andrew Bale has a nice blog on it (see British Isles blogs at right).
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God is here.
SA daily reading: 2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12 (how about those Gadites!?); Matthew 15.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

wisdom from GSR to generals (and the rest of us)
(hat tip Commish Waldron, who compiled GSR)

-- Watchman of the House of Israel
-- to CB- "We shall survive, and have ages to laugh over all this combination of sadnesses and trials." That is what they are doing now, maybe. Interesting definition of The Army - this combination of sadnesses and trials.
-- to BB on reconciliation- "'David recovered all' is still my hope as to all the family." He had the M, EB, and Bal, all in the mix (and maybe HB...).
-- to BB- "I think I prefer, on the whole, that not only the world, but even The S.A. should remain, for a while yet, blind to the greatness of your calling. That may be needed in God's plan to make of 1914 all God intends. But I Want, all I can, to encourage in your own heart's aspirations and faiths as great as God may now be beginning to give you. I hate for you to let anything in the past limit your expectations. I do feel so much 'It is time for THEE, Lord to work', with a dim hope that He is really at last beginning, and that we must enlarge our own faith."
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grace
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Cadet Extraordinaire...

Cadet Extraordinaire Michael Ramsay and his ministry at Weetamah is being featured in a video on cfot.ca. Definitely worth checking out.

Grace,

Aaron

April 27, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus'name, friends.
He is risen!

Cliftons are in Canada! Lots to blog (stay tuned).

First up, cheers to Will C. who testified to a four-digit crowd that he loses bodily fluids whenever talking about family members who don't know Jesus yet. That lines up with a famous piece of advice by William Booth- try tears.
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Next, a shocker from Commissioner Clifton, recounting a conversation with a person asking her how she sees The Salvation Army looking in ten years... Her response: "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb" (you'll know this from Rev 7:9). A stunning, prophetic response - bloggers, gear up your comments...
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Next, the C+B TC nicknamed Clifton, dubbing him the 'For God So Loved The World General'. Will it catch on? I'm doing my part. Hat tip - CMac.
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Oh, and the corker (don't worry, we've got more to come in following blogs) - another scoop (if you don't believe me, check Noland's blog to see if it is there): The Army is invading two new countries this year. This if from the General's mouth. One starts with the seventh letter of the alphabit and the other with the 14th letter (if you want to guess - revolution @ mm cc xx . net). Hallelujah! Pray for this expansion.
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God is here.
SA daily reading: 2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11 (how about that Hacmonite, Jashobeam? Legend - as were all of the 30, the mighty men); Psalm 142; Matthew 14.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

April 26, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Salvo preachers are famous, historically, for whacked-put, novel techniques to attract attention. Preachers have climbed out of caskets, driven collapsable carts, tight-rope walked, and all. My buddy added to the history by walking on his hands across the platform this past month. You have to be in good shape to do that.

For those who haven't heard of MMCCXX: there is a vision born in the War Room to see new outposts established in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years (2005 is the base year). Many of these new communities will be incarnational, bi-vocational. That is, people will live in the neighbourhoods and leaders will pay as they go by working on the side. If you are interested in partnering or participating, fire an email to revolution @ mm cc xx. net).

BTI is mid June- leaders incarnational refresher. It has kicked in the past. If you are interested, visit thewarcollege.com and follow the links. Battle school starts in July in Vancouver. If you are interested, follow the links at thewarcollege.com.

God is here.
SA daily reading: 2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13 (2S1:20- Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

Sacrament of the Good Samaritan

General William Booth recommended it. Lieutenant Jason Davies-Kildea writes about it in On Fire:
http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV.655556:ONFIRE:389063:pc=PC_61736

grace
sec

April 25, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

From Authentic holiness for ordinary Christians by Geoff Webb with Kalie Webb:
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Albert Outler notes that “the ancient and Eastern tradition of holiness as disciplined love became fused in Wesley's mind with his own Anglican tradition of holiness as aspiring love, and thereafter was developed in what he regarded to the end as his own most distinctive doctrinal contribution."
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After addressing the differences between Calvinists and Arminians concerning absolute predestination, irresistible grace, and the affirmation by the Arminians that a believer can fall from grace, Wesley summarises: “in effect, the three questions come into one, “Is predestination absolute or conditional?” The Arminians believe, it is conditional; the Calvinists, that it is absolute.”
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God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 30-31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

soldership

The UK TC is pushing to sign up soldiers. I agree. If you aren't a soldier, pray about it. http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/891957DEE8CF816B802572C200511910?opendocument&id=09D092BF41D584C4802572C0002D276A

The universal embrace of soldier's covenant (articles of war) is the only thing to hold us together as a movement. So if you aren't embracing yours, I guess there are two options: 1. embrace; 2. let it go (and let your CO know). We prefer you try #1. Actually, we urge you that way, exhort you, even. Embrace it!
grace
stephenC

April 24, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

So, that Webb book is a treasure chest of classic thoughts and lines. I just finished reading it. I'll be slipping you some of the stuff, I'm sure, over the next little while, to whet your appetite for the published version that comes out soon.
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For example, Wesley had three meetings in his system: class meeting (open for everyone); band meeting (for self-examination and confession leading to spiritual growth); and select societies for those pursuing Christian perfection. It sounds like Salvation meetings, discipleship groups (what we have called soldiers companies), and holiness meetings. There is nothing new under the sun. But if we're going to see farther than the giants, we actually have to climb up on their shoulders first.
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Or this: Wesley was involved with a joint Moravian/Methodist society from 1939-1740 at Fetter Lane. But he rejected the quietism manifest in a Moravian argument against means of grace and bailed from the partnering experiment. His experience could have saved the founding components of the United Church (in Canada) a lot of suffering and spiritual compromise.
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Remember, it was the experienced blessing of a clean heart, or perfect love, and of eradicated inclination to sin that powered the early Salvation Army movement. As Booth urged, "Be ye holy, but be ye holy now!"
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Roger Green identifies millennial distinctives that William Booth taught us to anticipate (and hasten): The first characteristic would be the presence of God among the people, and that people in return would gratefully acknowledge that presence. The second would be personal holiness practiced in every aspect of life… The natural result of personal holiness would be corporate righteousness: a righteous government administering just laws; a righteous business world conducting fair business practices; and righteous family relationships… The third characteristic of the millennium would be the prevailing of self-sacrificing love, people would love God, love their neighbors, and love themselves. Fourthly, human happiness would be experienced in the millennium… Fifth, the millennium would mean the literal, physical transformation of the world… Finally, the complete conquest of godliness over evil would be ushered in by the personal reign of Christ. (hat tip again, Majors Webb).
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God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 28-29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

April 23, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

I'm reading a book that is coming out soon by Major Geoff Webb (good, meaty, engaging reading). There are some classic bits. Here are a couple:
1. He tried to disprove the second blessing, but once he did the SCriptural research, he couldn't.
2. The Christian Mission Magazine (June 1871), titled “Questions for help in self-examination.” They read as follows:

Did I rise this morning with a grateful sense of the goodness of God?
Did I offer myself anew to Him in consecration?
Do I deny myself at all times, and take up my cross, as the Spirit of the Lord leads me?
Is the life I live by the faith of the Son of God, so that Christ dwelleth in me?
Do I feel any pride? Or am I partaker of the meek and lowly mind that was in Jesus?
Am I firm and resolute in duty? And does any part of my time run to waste?
Have I always the presence of God? And am I saved from the fear of man?
Am I improving all my opportunities for doing or getting good?
Am I just, – doing in all things as I would others should do unto me?
Do I indulge in evil speaking to any extent? Do I mention the faults of any in their absence?
Am I becoming more scrupulous? And do I faithfully listen to the whispers of conscience?
Do I love the searching means of grace? Does plain dealing in the pulpit find sympathy in my heart?
Have I meekness? Am I poor in spirit? Am I temperate in all things?
Do I daily search the Scriptures? And has the reading of the Scriptures profited me?
Am I now fully consecrated to God? And now trusting Him for a present and full salvation?
Have I the witness of the Spirit, testifying to the sanctification of my soul?
Have I the fruits (sic) of the Spirit without alloy? And am I now breathing out love, and gratitude and praise?
Have I sweet, sensible communion with God now? And is my soul resting in Jesus?
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(for those who don't know, The Christian Mission changed its name to The Salvation Army in 1878). Hat tip to Major Webb. And, if I may, try addressing those questions to God. Start saving up for the book - Authentic, Fair-Dinkum Holiness for Ordinary Christians.

SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 27; 1 Chronicles 9; Psalm 141; Matthew 10.
Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

Pray for Mexico...

Here is some news about Mexico's government trying to push through anti-life laws (notice how pro-life is now labeled "anti-abortion" in most media? Would it be fair to label the pro-choice camp "pro-death"?). They are wanting to legalise abortion for the first three months of pregnancy. Mexican Catholics are opposing this, and the Church is threatening to excommunicate members of parliament who vote in favour of the law. A good quote and exhortation in there from Pope Benedict.

Let's pray for life to win out in Mexico.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070422/
wl_nm/mexico_abortion_dc

Grace,

Aaron

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

Church sign we read today: Our youth are keenagers for Jesus.
Can you imagine being a fifteen year-old at this church?

Firecrest blog has a nice bit on Tutu (top right). Doug Burr breaks down the Wesleyan Quadrilateral (top right). Aurora A asks and answers some interesting questions in a preaching outline over at her blog (top right). Army Renewal (April 18) has a cool shot of bonnetted prayers. Andrew Bale (A16) throws down a challenge in light of Indian statistics. Carol Young quotes General George Carpenter:

"Defensive warfare has less to recommend it to the Salvation Army than anyone. We were raised up to fight on enemy territory. Our organization is built upon the commando system, mobile, quick in action, suitable for small groups without dependence upon elaborate equipment."

She adds some great commentary (right side -British Isles).

Michael Ramsay has a nice Catholic thing (right side). And so on... Enjoy.
God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

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

It isn't enough to get people saved. We need to see them discipled, sanctified, and enrolled as soldiers (some of them, anyway). If we're merely getting converts were in trouble. I suspect most will agree. If we're only discipling them we're limiting potential impact. If we help them get sanctified and sign some of them up as soldiers we're optimising potential impact (aside from the David Yonggi Cho outliers - I've heard it said that Cho was rejected by CFOT back in the day) in a world-wide, great commission, global-transformative movement.

Now, I hope you've been running through the armybarmy site regularly. There are some interesting resources here: Marty Mikles and Phil Laeger accompany a prayer for new thirst by Elaine Gillingham (front page). Russell Rook preaches a legendary aggression session at ACC in Melbourne's Box Hill (front page). WIlliam Booth's body is carted through London on video (front page). There is a preacher and worship leader resource (i.e. if you need one for your conference, check here - North America only at this time) called Free-Shooters. There is a store with lots of resources. And heaps more. Enjoy the search.

God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 8; Psalm 57,58; Matthew 8.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

A Little Dag Hammarskjold...

Here's a little quote I read today from the former UN Sec-Gen, and it seemed good to me:

"Success - for the glory of God or for your own, for the peace of mankind or for your own? Upon the answer to this question depends the result of your actions."

Grace,

Aaron

Word for the Community...

Noticed this passage coming up a lot recentlyn in discussions, emails, on War Room walls, etc...

Psalm 112 (especially verse 7)

"Praise the Lord! (ok!)
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. (we want our physical and spiritual offspring to be mighty in the land)
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. (reminiscent of Isa 58...)
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts hs affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.
*He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.* (we've had bits and pieces of bad news lately)
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exulted in honour.
The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish." (May it be so God!)

Grace,

Aaron

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

"This Revolutionary Age" shouted the editorial headline of The War Cry (Canadian) as it took on th econtroversial dynamics and conflicts of the era. The issue was August 13, 1966. The pages of that year's War Cry see the Joy Strings facing off against the Beatles - JS seeing people saved by Jesus at events her and there, and the Beatles boasting that they were more popular that Jesus.

Anyway, the revolution has sputtered many times over the years. We've got to lock in - let's all try to get someone saved this weekend.

God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 23; Pslam 31,54; Matthew 7 (Jesus is provocatively entertaining).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

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

Holy Spirit Baptism
(Chief of the Staff - Commissioner William Dray - 1959 - USS War Cry, June 27).

"The baptism of the Holy Spirit is much more than an experience of religious emotionalism."

"The result of that fellowship brings strength for our living and witness, and guidance in our thinking, as well as truth and righteousness to our judgements in our varying situations."

"The Holy Spirit is not abstract. He is not remote. He is not a religious phantasy. He is alive and present in enabling power in countless lives today. Hallelujah!"
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Amen. So, let's stop being afraid of Holy Spirit! Add your name to the list of countless lives who have surrendered completely and are entirely filled and animated by Him.

God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 22; Psalm 17,35; Matthew 6.
grace
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Torch

"The torch has been handed down to us, but is it aflame?"
Kitching

Kitching on "The Salvationist and His Traditions"
(May 16, 1959. The War Cry, USS. excerpt)
"When the Salvationist looks back to the early days of our movement he begins to wonder if any group of Christians showed a greater expression of originality in the first years of their history. He is thereby challenged to preserve such activities as are still effective in a much-changing world.

"Outward expressions of religion, however, must change with changes in the material, social, and intellectual environment. If not, they can easily tend to become petrified, stereotyped and fit only for records in a history book. A dead body is not made alive by painting its cheeks with rouge.

"As I have suggested, it if wise to look back sometimes and I could wish that all Salvationists, and particularly the young in our ranks, were more knowledgeable regarding our past - concerning, for example, our own heroes, of the faith, their exploits, darings, and persecutions, and their zeal and sacrifice. We would better appreciate our privilege as Salvationists were we to recall more often at what price they were won."
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grace
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Slander...

I love that in one of Mother Teresa's more famous prayers (it's cool that her prayers are famous) she prays that God would protect her from the fear of being slandered.

Note that she does not ask that God protect her from slander, just from the fear of it. She was acknowledging that slander and lies would be spoken about her, that rumours and misinformation would fly, that people would poison her name in private and sometimes in public, and that her reputation could easily be sullied by people who used their tongues to curse her behind her back.

She wasn't asking that this reality be changed (though we should work for this), but that she would lose any and all fear of it. She wanted to be wholly unconcerned with her own reputation, and wholly concerned with honouring Christ.

I don't suppose that slander and rumour and backstabbing will ever stop hurting, but it will probably also never be completely absent this side of heaven. So it is a good prayer to ask to be free of the paralysing fear of having your reputation ruined, your good name dragged through the mud, your character besmirched in oily whispers.

I want to be able to say, "So what? It's just my name. The only name I care about is Christ."

I think I still may have some way to go.

Grace,

Aaron

Prayer

"Anxieties continue, nations are moved, governments are concerned, and peoples are troubled. Public opinion is certainly changing, preparations for the wholesale destruction of human beings are hurried forward, and there is a strong undercurrent of feeling that events of the greater moment, having the most intimate connection with the well-being of the world, are at hand."

This could apply to many crises in the world. You can apply it to the next one. General William Booth said it (hat tip USS War Cry, January 3, 1959).

General Kitching said this (same source):
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I could call upon The Salvation Army world to pray for innumerable things, but, sure it is, if our prayers are expressed in Christ's name, they MUST find a place in the great scheme of things relative to His kingdom.
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In corps that are spiritually impoverished, prayer will bring in the riches of God's grace. The empty Mercy Seat, the indifference of the multitudes that pass our doors - I could with that our doors were more often open; the backslidings of Christ's professed followers; our petty jealousies and the inroads of worldliness can only be remedied by prayer.
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Oh, for a new wave of prayer! Let not prayer be the last thing of which we think when confronted with perplexities. Let it be the first thing. Prayer is a power greater than any nuclear weapons, and it is God's pleaure to hear us in supplication. It is grievous to His Spirit when we neglect to approach His Throne.
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Whatever the covenant you make with God, as He spares you to see another year, promise Him that the spirit of prayer shall be cultivated in your life. Of all the people He loves, He loves most the interceders.
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Great stuff (THe War Cry USS, January 3, 1959). And, (last line) it is nice to find someone who agrees that God loves some people more than others.
grace
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April 18, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2JH+KH)

You probably know the sessional names of upcoming training sessions:
Witnesses for Christ (2007-2009)
2008-2010 Prayer Warriors
2009-2011 Ambassadors of Holiness
2010-2012 Friends of Christ
2011-2013 Proclaimers of the Resurrection
2012-2014 Disciples of the Cross.
The General explains the thinking behind them here:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_ihq_general.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/B135E9680F31023A80257226005591AF?Opendocument

This is not new. But what is emerging is the possibility that the name affects the size of the session. We've not done the research but anecdotal evidence suggests that the cool names back in the day were accompanied by massive sessions. Some of the weaker names in recent years had weaker turnouts. These are good names, for the next few years. That augers well for the size of sessions. I will warn leaders that there is talk of holding off until 2009 so that candidates can be Ambassadors of Holiness.
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God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 20-21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5. Did you notice that Jesus warns us that unless our righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law we can't enter the kingdom of heaven. Hmm.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

April 17, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus’ name, friends.
He is risen!
Here is Wikipedia's list of 'most Christian countries' in the world:
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Vatican City, 100% (Roman Catholic 100%)
San Marino, 99% (Roman Catholic 99%)
Armenia, 98.7% Orthodox
Greece, 98% (Orthodox 97.0%, Roman Catholic 1.0%, Muslim 1.3%)
Romania, 97.5% (Orthodox 86.8%, Roman Catholic 5.4%, Other Christian 5.2%)
Poland, 97.2% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Portugal, 97% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Mexico, 95% (Roman Catholic 90%, other Christian 5%)
Tuvalu, 94.5% (Church of Tuvalu 93%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.5%)
Argentina, 94% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jewish 2%)
East Timor, 93% (Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 3%)
Croatia, 92.6% (Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.3%)
Ireland, 92.5% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Costa Rica, 92% (Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other Protestant 2%)
Ukraine, 92% (mostly Orthodox)
Philippines, 92% (Roman Catholic 90%, other Christian 2%, Muslim 3%)
Italy, 91.1% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Brazil, 89% (mostly Roman Catholic)
France, 81% (Roman Catholic 51%, Muslim 8%, Jewish 1%)
Spain, 80.4% (mainly Roman Catholic) ----
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The Army is in most of them.
God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 19; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalm 59; Matthew 4.
Much grace,
Sec
Posted by Stephen Court

National Commander's vision for The Army

http://nhqmomentum.org/NC/February07.html
grace
sec

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

Word is spreading that The Army internationally might be going old-school in uniform standards. This will sharpen things up. I'm waiting for the high collar to come back globally. And, we've got access to some bonnets and bonnet boxes, should the decision be made that we need to go back. Stay tuned to the eStore (top right - where you can pick up books and CDs and downloads to help in the Salvation War).

While we're speculating on changes for The Army, it might be nice to bump back the promotion to Major to 20 years service again, as it was when we had aux-caps.
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I heard a good thing yesterday about Jesus and the resurrection. The move from Saturday to Sunday was definitely not made by the marketing group of the disciples. Can you imagine showing up to worship at 6am or so on Monday morning, before work? Because Monday morning is the first century AD Sunday morning. They were all off to work Sunday morning and woke up a couple of hours early to meet before work. This was a move made without the interests of attraction in mind.
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JAC alert: have you read Commissioner duPlessis on world evangelisation? He was the International Secretary for that very thing until last year and he is an expert on it. You've got the inside scoop on The Army system and the global mission right over there at JAC (top right).
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God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 18; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

April 15, 2007. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

(h/a2Judah'sfolks)

Have you read all of JAC yet? Dig away.

Do you ever wonder what happened to Goliath's shield bearer? He's there right in v41, approaching David. And that is the last you hear from him. It's preachable.

Hat tip to Fleur H for seven practices of effective ministry (lifted from a book):
So the 7 practices are:
1. Clarify the win
2. Think steps, not programs
3. Narrow the focus
4. Teach less for more
5. Listen to outsiders
6. Replace yourself
7. Work on it
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Apply to your own front.

It was interesting to see that only when General Rader took leadership of The Army did we start reporting in the year book the senior soldier statistics. We were under 800,000 in the mid 90s and are not a shade over a million. That 25% is significant growth. It is especially noteworthy when you note that several western territories have been staggered by losses during this period. Praise God for the developing world (and the territories that bankroll them -- that said, in the developing countries, I'm led to believe that those denominations that pay as they go have exploded while we, relying on USA, for the most part, to fund the salvation war, have grown incrementally, though substantially). Which general will be the first to run conversion statistics? Here's hoping it is one with the initials SC.

God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2.
Much grace,
stephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Answering Andrew Stringer.

Those who read Andrew Stringer (Oceania Blogs at right) know that he has expanded on our statistical comparision of 1960 with 2006. He would like to see similar stats for developing territories.

Ask and you shall receive (I read that somewhere):
Nigeria and Ghana were one territory back then and are now two:
1960 v 2006
officers: 183 v. N413, G257
cadets: 17 v. N18; G6
Corps: 143 v. N167; G100
outposts/societies: 182 v. N169; G144
schools: 125 v. N37, G129

(I wish the 1960 year book ran soldier and conversion stats. I wish the current year books ran conversion stats - anyone from IHQ reading this?)

Rhodesia v. Zimbabwe
Officers: 384 v. 578
Corps: 194 v. 401
outposts: 83 v. 179
schools: 190 v. 106

East Africa v. Kenya and Uganda (U is a command now)
Officers: 383 v. K987, U50
Corps: 171 v. K506, U22
Outposts: 380 v. K1,208
Schools: 89 v. K794, U11

India (adding territorial numbers)
Officers: 2,539 v. 3,245
Corps: 1,405 v. 1,424
Outposts: 3,093 v. 2,462

So, a mixed bag. India isn't flourishing (though that country has the most soldiers in the world when you combine all six territories). The African comparisons are encouraging, showing substantial growth - praise the Lord. Have at it, Andrew (and barmy army).
grace
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Reading JAC

I'm sure most of you have checked out the new/current issue of JAC and are being stirred, challenged, provoked, and inspired.

Andrew Bale (British Isles blogs at right) has a good explanation of his last two prophetic contributions that will be helpful in clarifying. I encourage those with questions to read it.

The rest of you? JAC JAC JAC (top right). Enjoy.
grace
sec

April 14, 2007. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

I'm blessed to be a friend of a mighty warrior with whom I connected yesterday. In describing the Salvation War on his front he said,

"I have a sense of urgency bordering on panic."

There are heaps of people going to hell. There are unreached people groups in major North American cities (well, almost - apparently there are three conditions to be an unreached people group: 10,000 people without a Bible translation in their language, without a church, and without a Christian worker. The first one doesn't apply but the latter two do). And I thank God that He is giving some people a sense of urgency bordering on panic to see them saved.

Of course, those who don't buy that hell is very bad won't even understand what my friend is talking about. One reader had this response to yesterday's blog on hell:
----
"I was shocked by the eternal punishment controversy.
Reminds me of 1 Tim. 4: "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own consciences as with a branding iron...."

"We are instructed: "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these teachings, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."
----
I couldn't have said it better myself.
----
Xander Coleman (right side) has a classic post April 13 on authority.
God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 15-16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Salvationist and Hell

Nigel Pugh has taken Major Howard Webber to task in a battle of the letters in SALVATIONIST (bottom right link). This is apparently a big issue for UK Salvos, whether or not to buy doctrine 11 (lightly known as the Stott heresy). Here goes:

March 17 (letters):
I WAS SADDENED by Margaret Parsons's letter (Salvationist 3 March) and feel forced to respond. What she wrote has such serious and possibly damaging implications for those who read it. What she stated is tenuous and is not a Christian belief.

Obviously there are things that are impossible to God. The words ‘with God all things are possible' need to be read in context.

It is impossible for God to sin. (See Deuteronomy 32:4.)

It is impossible for him to deny himself. (See 2 Timothy 2:13.)

It is impossible for him to lie. (See Titus 1:2.)

To tenuously ‘hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly' is to call God a liar. For there is such a huge body of teaching on the subject of the eternal punishment of the ungodly, from the lips of God himself, which he gave when he walked the earth. I only referred to some of it in my recent series.

To dilute or reject what Jesus says because it appears distasteful or it makes us uncomfortable or it doesn't fit our preferred picture of God isn't an option for a Christian. Jesus made this message especially clear by telling it so many times in so many different ways that we cannot misinterpret what he has to say on the subject, and we put alternative proposals forward at our eternal peril and the eternal peril of those lost around us.

Nowhere in the Bible is it suggested that the work of salvation continues in Heaven after death. My concern is not so much a disbelief in the eleventh doctrine as disbelief in the first. The unsaved cannot enter Heaven with their sin. It is not a place of repentance. We cannot remove biblical truth and replace it with what we would prefer it to say.

Christ's words regarding there being many mansions in his Father's house were an assurance to everyone that God has provided room in Heaven for everyone. Through Christ's wonderful sacrifice everyone has been allocated a place in Heaven, the work of Christ was that big. What is required of us to claim our room is so simple, so easy and, mercifully, he gives us more than enough time to respond here and now on earth. Sadly though, many of those places will be vacant, because few take up the offer.

The decline of the Church in this country began in the 1880s when so many within it began to reject Christ's own teaching on eternal punishment, and universalism began to take hold. We were called to be an army of salvation, a tool to be used by God to rescue those doomed to eternal punishment. May God reconvict us of our calling and of the truth in his word.

Howard Webber, Major, Ilford
----
And this is the March 31 response:
Damnation theology is embarrassing
MAJOR WEBBER (Letters, 17 March) made me laugh out loud, given just how out of touch he is with recent theological discussion of ‘eternal punishment'. For if we follow Major Webber's old-fashioned theology of damnation, we're saying we believe that God literally condemns the two thirds of people on our planet who are not Christians, to ‘Hell'. Most theologians recognise that this ridiculous waste of human life is at least as big a challenge in our thinking as is the disturbing problem of how to reconcile the depth and breadth of pain and suffering that goes on in our world with belief in an all-powerful God of love.

We'd do well to remember that God is ultimately responsible for the state of our world; if people don't know what to believe in this life (religiously speaking) it's because it's not obvious and God has allowed it to be that way. We can say the Devil has blinded everyone, but God created the Devil and knew he would fall. He not only acts to save us but also wants all to be saved. The buck stops there - for it can stop nowhere else. God has all eternity to complete his tasks as Margaret Parsons (Letters, 3 March) clearly appreciates.

Our freedom to choose to respond seems central to God's will. We are far too bogged down in archaic notions of justice and wrath and penalties, which may have been useful in the past but which can at times seem like embarrassingly primitive theology.

Even the Roman Catholics have had the moral and intellectual good sense to admit that no God worth believing in could be assumed to wish to condemn so many people who had little, no or only poor exposure to the Christian message to a literal eternal punishment of any kind - it would be morally grotesque in the extreme.

Like C. S. Lewis in The Great Divorce, I'm not saying there is no Hell - but the outdated and theologically very weak threats of the eternal punishment of ‘the ungodly' rightly seem an intellectual and moral embarrassment today. We do God a great disservice when we hark back to it as the major does.

Nigel Pugh, Nottingham
----
I'm a little shocked that SALVATIONIST ran this latter letter. I'm more disturbed that some UK Salvos actually buy it. I'm solidly with Jesus, John, Paul, orthodox Christianity, Salvationist doctrine on this one. As a corrective, I suggest reading New Testament as well as our classic Handbook of Doctrine.
grace
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April 13, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Hat tip to Joanna T on the idle chatter stuff - one point is that prayer without complementary action is idle chatter. I was checking on the 10 commandments and taking God's name in vain, according to one commentator, anyway, including mentioning Him to no purpose. These points raise the stakes for those of us who feel pretty good about not swearing.

While we're in the 10 commandments, how about Sabbath? I've blogged on it before, but a current discussion on communion drew me back to Colonel Pigford's argument on Biblical practices that grew obsolete while the spiritual realities continue to apply. The examples include the bronze snake, the ark, circumcision, devotion, communion, and so on. Hebrews 4 suggests that sabbath can be added to the list. For those offended, here are some older points:
- Colossians 2:16 (NLT): "So don't let anyone condemn you for... not celebrating... Sabbaths."
- John 5:17: "My Father never stops working, so why should I?"
- Romans 14:5: "In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. Each person should have a personal conviction about this matter."

God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 14 (Jonathan and armour-bearer pick a fight); 1 Chronicles 4 (famous Jabez prayer); 2 Corinthians 13 (aim for perfection).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Armybarmy Blog right again!

As we guessed, Noland looks sharp in a high collar! See the evidence over at his blog.
Much grace,
stephenC

April 12, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

General Orsborn quoted William Booth - "Nobody can have bigger hopes than I have with regard to the future (of The Army) in Canada" (Canadian War Cry. January 5, 1952, p3). That puts the pressure on.

In that same War Cry issue, the TC, Commissioner William Dalziel, issued a manifesto called "These Seventy Years". After recounting the heroic history of The Army in Canada, he notes, "as Canada inspired world expansion of The Army in those far-off days, it is equally certain that TODAY, CANADA MUST STILL BE IN THE VANGUARD OF PROGRESS."

What are the key elements, according to the Commissioner?
- fresh spirit
- moral zeal
- belief that we are agents of the Most High God
- being guided and animated by the power of the Holy Spirit
- not our own; bought with a price
- puritan temper/ moral force renouncing frivilous and sinful indulgences
- white fires of holiness burning up shams and moral corruption
- vivid and overwhelming sense of God at the very nerve centre of their comative faith.
Ultimately, "They were THE CHAMPIONS OF HOLINESS (hey- good potential sessional name!)! THEY BELIEVED THE PROMISES OF GOD!" (caps in original, p9)
Here were the goals for the seventieth year (1952):
70 new corps and outposts;
700 new Junior Soldiers every Quarter;
700 new Corps Cadets;
70 new Home Leagues;
70 Cadets in Training College;
70 new Youth and YP formations;
7,000 new Senior Soldiers;
7,000 new children on the YP attendance record;
7 new social institutions.
(Whew! mmccxx looks like hobby play in comparison)
The motto? "EVERY SOLDIER A RECRUITING SERGEANT.
The need? "The day CALLS FOR PIONEERING HEROISM." "CANADA NEEDS CHRISTIAN COMMANDOS."
The means? "an intensive offensive against current evils."
The promise? "No witness, however feeble, to the converting power of Christ IS EVER A FAILURE. The redemptive power of God is waiting for A GRAND RELEASE THROUGH SALVATION ARMY SOLDIERS DURING THIS YEAR OF GRACE."
----
Amen.
God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 13; 1 Chronicles 2-3; 2 Corinthians 12.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

sanctification

I found an old War Cry Cadet Profile that dates my sanctification as August 3, 1991.

Wow.
Hallelujah. Tragically, I've gone off more often than Fletcher since then, but the same God that kept him can keep me. And you.
grace
stephenC

Golden Gowans
(SASB 274):
He came to give us life in all its fullness
He came to make the blind to see
He came to banish death and doubt and darkness
He came to set the people free.
----
Hallelujah!
grace
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April 11, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Alright- here is a little something I dusted off from back in the day (originally in The Edge), after Matthew 5:3-12:
----
When you recognize that you don't have it together spiritually, when you see that you are a poor, snivelling, spiritual beggar, you're moving in the right direction. You should be pumped because it is a precondition for receiving the Kingdom of Heaven.
When that recognition settles, and makes you so sad that you're grieved and mourning, be encouraged, you'll be consoled.
ALl this is bound to make you humble. That's great because you need to be humble to received what God has promised. You're halfway there.
The natural response to these experiences is to look for some kind of satisfaction. "Look" might be understating it. If you're chasing righteousness like a starving person chases downa a Big Mac, if your longing to be holy is like the longing of a marathon runner for some gatorade, take heart, you'll be satisfied.
When you are righteous and holy you will show compassion and mercy to people. You are in a blessed position, because you will also receive compassion and mercy.
How psyched you must be when you have a pure heart! That's what is takes to see God!
Good on you when you put that purity into distribution mode and try to bring peace to those relationships around you. People will start calling you God's child.
Of course, not everyone's going to hop on the bandwagon. Some won't call you God's child, but they'll call you every other name in the book. They'll make life very difficult for you because you are holy. That just demonstrates that you are on the right track, that you'll possess the Kingdom of Heaven.
And if that's not enough, be forewarned that these guys will slash you, say nasty things about you and about your mother, and try to mess you up, just because you and I are tight. Start praising God when that happens. You are heavily blessed.
You should be totally psyched because you have no idea about the intense reward waiting for you in heaven.
----
God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 11-12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

April 10, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
William Booth was born on this day - happy birthday.
(also, hb2AC/DC) - mighty warriors, all three.

Hat tip to Michael Ramsay (rightside blogs) for this line from the Founder:
"I have no intention to depart in the smallest degree from the main principles on which I have acted in the past. My only hope for the permanent deliverance of mankind from misery, either in this world or the next, is the regeneration or remaking of the individual by the power of the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ. But in providing for the relief of temporal misery I reckon that I am only making it easy where it is now difficult, and possible where it is now all but impossible, for men and women to find their way to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (William Booth, In Darkest England and the Way Out, preface).
----
God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 8-10; 2 Corinthians 10 (some great verses here, including Spirit of Yahweh coming on us and changing us into a different people, and then the Israelite history being an example and warning to us...).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

April 9, 2007. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
I know that most Christians are really big on not comparing ourselves with others (and there is some NT justification for it). But yesterday's reading suggests that Paul wasn't too uptight about it:
"I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others" (2C8:8).
It reminds me of Colonel Arnolis Weerasooriya - the first Indian Colonel (acting TC while B-T was off in England - google him for more details). He'd look around town to find the holiest people and set off to become more holy. Then he'd read biographies of holy people and do the same.
God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 6-7; Psalm 72,88; 2 Corinthians 9.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Video from Homeless Nation...

Here is a link for a video on homelessnation.org, a grassroots group looking to help end homelessness in Canada. The video features Victoria and Vancouver, and interviews people we know and love. (Warning, one swear word).

http://homelessnation.org/en/node/4789?#

Grace,

Aaron

April 8, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
HE IS RISEN!
Hallelujah.
(hb2HD/GE).
Pray for revolution in Western Canada - there was a word about something big happening April 8...
God is here.
SA daily reading: 1 Samuel 3-5; Psalm 68; 2 Corinthians 8.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

From the Lips of Children and Infants...

Happy Resurrection Day!

We took our kids to a special Walk through the Stations of the Cross at our local Anglican Church on Good Friday. They walked around the church, looking at some engravings of Jesus' Passion, and the Rector offered a brief meditation on each one for the children.

At the end we all knelt before the cross. I was kneeling beside Joshua, my 6 year old son. He looked up and saw a locked box on the wall near the cross, and asked what was in it. I said it was plates and cups for bread and wine. He said:

"Oh, I thought it was for the last picture."

"Which last picture?" I replied.

"Well, there has to be another picture. It doesn't end with Jesus in the grave!"

"So how does it end?" I inquired.

"With the stone rolled away and Jesus alive!"

He then thought for a moment, and said, "Oh, they probably show that picture on Sunday."

Hallelujah.

Grace,

Aaron

Touche, Commissioner.

Check out the Joe Noland blog (at right) to get the straight goods on expansion. He fills in the blanks of the New Frontier report and our earlier blog. There aren't too many people alive who have opened countries for The Army, of course, and so, like the elders at the city gate when Job showed up (chapter 29) I sit silent with my mouth covered!

Kudos to Major Hudson and the soldiers of a division (Hawaiian and Pacific Islands) that encompasses four countries! Praise God for the expansion, regardless of what it is called. And may God help us all cultivate a 'culture for the future'.

By the way, I think Noland would look sharp in a high collar...
much grace,
StephenC

April 7, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Here is the General's message for tomorrow:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/20B1756FABB0B975802572AC0049AC72?openDocument

Here is the USA National Commander's message for tomorrow:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/6AEF280609A063E4802572B10068B34F?Opendocument

Here is the USA South TC's message for tomorrow:
http://www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss.nsf/0/A7D97925BDBF7DE38025729E006B0409/$file/ss-pages-2-3.pdf

Here is the Australia Southern TC's message for tomorrow:
http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV.131368:ONFIRE:609053:pc=PC_61700

This is all good preparation.

By the way, here is a handy link for THQ sites all over (from which, if you have the time, you can probably find more messages for tomorrow):
http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/links

God is here.
SA Daily reading: 1 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 66; 2 Corinthians 7.
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Scooped by Noland!

Of course, the Commish is right - he scooped me clean on this one. Feel free to jump straight over to his blog to watch a video called “The World Congress on How to Not Mess Up the Great Commission Too Much.”

Check out the youtube video on Linsey New's blog (BC Blogs at right) of the World's Most Liveably City (hint - there's been some non-stop SA prayer there for a few years).

And while we're at it, Michael Ramsay (Canadian blogs at right) has an interesting take on one component of Canadian SA identity: 'are we a church' debates.

Anthony Castle notes an encouraging development at Ingle Farm Corps - blasphemous defecation (see Oceania blogs).

SalvoKAt has been dropping some nice quotes out there for us, too...

Knaggsie (can I say that?) has a great blog on April 2 called the Opal Group. All of you who know salvos who make good money will want to check it out and then pass it on to those friends.

Much grace,
stephenC

April 6, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Good Friday.

Two songs - Were you there when they crucified my Lord? and The Old Rugged Cross were tear-jerkers this morning at the Good Friday meeting.

Try reading through the crucifixion account or some of the SASB classics on the cross and Calvary and let it sink in.

And my father doesn't believe in reincarnation but he has said in the past that if it were true he didn't want to come back as the third verse of a Salvation Army Song. We skipped a few third verses this morning, supporting his position.

God is here.
SA daily reading: Ruth 3-4; Psalm 64,65; 2 Corinthians 6 (v7b in nkjv was our sessional verse we picked - in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness - Holy Spirit power and Holy Spirit purity).
Much grace
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Why this scientist believes in GOd

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/03/collins.commentary/index.html
hat tip - Jimmy Man.

grace
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April 5, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
Steve Sjogren has planted several churches in his day in the States. He makes some interesting questions for all of us looking to multiply outposts:
- Are you called to this place? Not all calls are geographic. None of his have been.
- Do you have the gifts necessary?
- Do you have the necessary visibility in your city? This sounds Boothian (we wrote about it in BE A HERO). He has started with a dozen people and 'reached' 12,000 in 90 minutes (water bottle give-away). "You can easily touch several hundred thousand people a year."
- Do you know what your distinctives are? Good question for the salvos.
- Do you communicate a 'safe' sense at your gatherings?
- Are you helping people discover and plug into their area(s) of giftedness?
(hat tip Cutting Edge Magazine - and you can score it online).
----
God is here.
SA daily readings; Ruth 1-2; Psalm 53,61; 2 Corinthians 5.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Vigil For the Silenced...

Today at noon a number of warriors from our community made our way down to the steps of the Art Museum to stand in solidarity for those who have been silenced in our world - the homeless, the oppressed, the unborn, the trafficked, the abused.

We wore red duct tape on our mouths (which later pulled off significant facial hair from yours truly), and two ladies handed out pamphlets explaining our stand and linking it to Christ's sacrifice on the cross. (One of these ladies is the incredible Sister Elisabeth, leader of the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement in the DTES and former compatriot of none other than Dorothy Day. She is 90!)

It is essential for us to remember that when Christ says "whatever you do to the least of these my brothers, you do also unto me", he first said it, then he lived it. They did unto Christ what is always done unto the least of our brothers and sisters - they gave him rejection, oppression, persecution, accusation, torture, and death. And they are still giving it to the least of his brothers and sisters - and to him - to this day. If we want to stand in solidarity with Christ (which we do) then we must stand in solidarity with those who suffer.

Grace,

Aaron

1960 Yearbook

I know, I know - where do they come up with these blog titles? Anyway, the '60 Yearbook is a good one. An article therein describes The Army's position on sacraments. In it there is a basic argument for the prophetic stance of The Army on this point (from Bramwell's Echose and Memories). And here is a classic bit from WB:
----
"If I believed that my Lord Jesus Christ required of me that I should take so many pieces of bread and so much wine every day of my life, I should unhesitatingly carry out His commands. There is nothing that I am conscious of that He requires of me to do that I leave undone."
----
Nice last sentence.

And for those keeping score:
86 countries (112 now)
17,126 corps and outposts (now about 15,000)
26,832 officers and cadets (about the same now)
----
AUS - 1,094 officers (820 active) - similar total but only 534 active now
26 cadets (28 now)
222 corps (165 now)
273 outposts (5 now!!!!)
4 slum posts (!)
----
AUE
982 officers (752 active)- similar now but only 557 active - using 06 yearbook)
202 corps (175 now)
204 outposts (32 now)
1 slum post
----
Canada and Bermuda
1,687 officers (1,323 active)- about 1,000 active now
88 cadets - 37 now (06 yearbook)
384 corps - 330 now
920 outposts (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) - 10 now
85 schools - 1 bible college now
----
Much could be said. Blog away.
grace
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April 4, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
I was reading up on 1 John again. I'm struck by how hardcore John is in both his epistle and his gospel in tying love to obedience. I know historically people have given James a hard time for his faith/works shtick but he is no harder on that than John on this. It is fair to say that faith without works lies in a grave beside love without obedience. And I have.
----
Now, close readers in the Barmy Army who are longer-term Canadian salvos will possibly recognize from the style and prose that Aaron White and I, the two 'active' armybarmy bloggers, were actually colleagues of a sort as ocasional contributors, back in the day, to THE EDGE. In that era you weren't to identify yourself, so we wrote under the following names - Moses Black and Combat Steve. Guess which was who!
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God is here.
SA daily reading: A3 - Judges 17-18; Psalm 89; 2 Corinthians 3; A4 - Judges 19-21; 2 Corinthians 4.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

This month in cells we are looking at God and Art, specifically, God as Artist.

Yesterday in my cell we were meditating on the passage from Revelation 4, which contains some very creative imagery and symbols, along with the truth that God has created everything, and all things were created for his pleasure (other translations say "by his will", but I like "for his pleasure" better.)

Imagine how differently we might live our lives if we were always cognisant of the fact that we were specifically designed to give pleasure to God? We would probably be slightly more focused on the fullness of life, on making every moment count for Christ, on not wanting to mar God's creation in any way. Holiness might matter to us.

And the pleasure we bring God is unique to us. Spurgeon said this:

“There is a throne in heaven that no one can occupy but you, and there is a crown in heaven that no other head can wear but yours, and there is a part in the eternal song that no voice can ever compass but yours, and there is a glory to God that would be wanting if you did not come to render it, and there is a part of infinite majesty and glory that would never be reflected unless you should be there to reflect it!”

I love the picture of God giving us glory and authority (crowns) and our proper act of worship is to give it back by laying it down at his feet.

Grace,

Aaron

April 2, 2007. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
So, are you loving the new JAC?

http://video.canada.com/VideoContent.aspx?&popup=1 is a video of Vancouver's downtown eastside by the National Post. It gives you a realistic picture of the notorious side of our neighbourhood. It is 3 minutes 28 seconds. The redemptive side of a bunch of heroes I know living there would take hours.

hat tip to Cadet Michael R for these Catherine Booth quotes:
----
"Friends, are you more concerned about relieving temporal distress than you are about feeding famished souls? If you are, you may know where you Charity comes from - hell" (Papers on Godliness, p 27-28).

"All other objects and aims of life [are] subservient to the one grand purpose of preaching the Gospel to every creature and striving to win every soul with whom they come in contact to its salvation" (The Salvation Army in Relation to the Churches, pp 31-32).
----
There is a good buzz around these days (from BTI to the RAW grad who praise God this week, saying, "I haven't sinned since RAW!" to April 8 -- stay tuned for April 8 and feedback from it) - God is doing a new thing. Here's an old-time take on it:

What a work the Lord has done
By his saving grace;
Let us praise him, every one,
In his holy place.
He has saved us gloriously,
Led us onward faithfully,
Yet he promised we should see
Even greater things.

Chorus
Greater things! Greater things!
Give us faith, O Lord, we pray,
Faith for greater things.

Sanctify thy name, O Lord,
By thy people here,
For the altar or the sword!
Save us from our fear
When the battle rages fast;
Help us in the fiery blast,
Let us not be overcast,
Prove thy greater things.

Every comrade, Lord, we pray,
Thou wilt richly bless;
Lead us forth into the fray,
One in holiness,
One in faith and harmony,
One in perfect charity;
Then we know that we shall see
Even greater things.

Albert Orsborn (SASB 769)
----
God is here.
SA daily reading: Joshua 13-16; 2 Corinthians 2.
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Newsweek Poll

91% of Americans believe in God.
82% identify themselves as Christian.
48% reject the theory of evolution.

Know your front...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17879317/site/newsweek/page/2/ (hat tip Peter T)
grace
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April 1, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

The new issues of JAC is now out (#48). You can visit for free at the top right - Journal of Aggressive Christianity.

There are some important articles here, grounds for much discussion in reading groups, home groups, cell groups, and, of course, in the blogosphere. Let's talk about these ideas. Let's pray about their application.

We kick things off with a teaser for the forthcoming SALVATIONISM 501: MMCCXX. If you're not up to speed on mmccxx, a vision to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years, Google JAC mmccxx or armybarmy mmccxx and you should be set up. Commissioner Paul du Plessis, until recently the International Secretary for World Evangelisation (how many better appointments are there than that?!), is one of many great Salvationists who have contributed chapters. We're giving you a taste with nearly half of his chapter called The Salvation Army System and World Evangelisation. We've got the expert on it. Stay tuned for the rest in SA 501.

Captain Andrew Bale argues that Without Holiness None Shall See Revival, and suggests that holiness provides four critical elements for revival: love, sacrifice, resources, and righteousness. Commissioner Thomas McKie's paper, Revivalism: How it may be effectively and profitably utilised for the advancement of The Salvation Army, was presented in 1904 at the International Staff Council during the 04 Congress. It is incredible. Read du Plessis and Bale and McKie together to flesh out your warfare strategy.

And we've got another JAC exclusive with an excerpt to Captain Geoff Webb's forthcoming book, an Introduction to "Authentic Holiness for Ordinary Christians." This introduction presents a real-life image of John Wesley to contextualise theological discussion to follow. This will get you ready for the whole book!

Cadet Andrew Miller offers The Theology of Welcome that spins off Miroslav Volf's Exclusion and Embrace and includes a short section for Salvationists.

Commissioner Wesley Harris, a one-man global SA periodical content provider, gives us Not Bored to Death! You'll love the 19th Century newspaper account of a SA meeting in Adelaide, Australia.

Major Frank Daniels contributes seven daily meditations for the forthcoming SALVATIONISM 401: Fullness. We're giving you a taste of them with Meditations 1-3. This will provide a great devotional exercise for you, and, I suspect, that will whet the appetite for many more.

Aaron White tells us a story about a Nice Young Couple that you might recognize. And G.J.Aszmies tells us ‘A Salvation Army Parable’.

And Captain Andrew Bale gives a prophecy for The Salvation Army in the west.

Read it, criticize it, discuss it, promote it, share it, blog it, apply it. And when you're done, mine the archives (47 issues!).
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SA daily readings: Judges 11-12; Psalm 50; 2 Corinthians 1.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

March 31, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

So, a few days ago we were raving about the SASB Concordance. If you don't have a concordance handy, you can go to
http://www.salvationist.org and search the Song Book (a heavily under-rated spiritual aid) for yourself.

And, to save your first search, this is what 'fulness' turns up:
1. Jesus, thy fulness give
section: The life of holiness
2. Gone is my burden, he rolled it away
section: Chorus Section
3. O Father and Creator
section: The Trinity
4. O the deep, deep love of Jesus
section: The Lord Jesus Christ
5. O the deep, deep love of Jesus
section: The Lord Jesus Christ
6. Are you seeking joys that will not fade
section: The gospel
7. O Lord, I will delight in thee
section: God the Father
8. Come in, my Lord, come in
section: Means of grace
9. I'll go in the strength of the Lord
section: The salvation soldier
10. O boundless salvation! deep ocean of love
section: The gospel
11. When Christ drew near to dwell with men
section: The Lord Jesus Christ
12. God loved the world of sinners lost
section: God the Father
13. Sing to the Lord of harvest
section: Special occasions
14. Who, who are these beside the chilly wave
section: The life to come
15. The sands of time are sinking
section: The life to come
16. Blest be the dear uniting love
section: Means of grace
17. O to be like thee! blessed Redeemer
section: Means of grace
18. All glory to Jesus be given
section: The life of holiness
19. Let me hear thy voice now speaking
section: The life of holiness
20. My God, I am thine
section: The gospel
21. Send out thy light and thy truth, Lord
section: The life of holiness
22. Come, with me visit Calvary
section: The life of holiness
23. Lord Jesus, thou dost keep thy child
section: The salvation soldier
24. Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
section: Means of grace
25. Hark! the gospel news is sounding
section: The gospel
26. I want the gift of power within
section: The Holy Spirit
And, 'fullness':
1. We wonder why Christ came into the world
section: The gospel
2. Songs of salvation are sounding
section: The gospel
God is here.
SA daily reading: Judges 9-10; Psalm 49; 1 Corinthians 16.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court