Armybarmy Blog

prayer follow-up blog...

Maybe we're on to something with the call to prayer. It turns out that General is calling us to more prayer:
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GENERAL Shaw Clifton has issued the following calls to prayer:

GREETINGS in the name of Jesus.

I am full of gratitude for warm and positive responses to past calls to prayer made from the Office of the General. God honours our praying and the result is changed people and changed situations.

Now I am asking for the whole of The Salvation Army to be in prayer during the month of September 2007 for two special purposes:

International Day of Prayer for Peace

This is going to be marked on Sunday 23 September 2007. It is an opportunity for the people of Christ in all places to pray and act together to nurture lasting peace in the hearts of people, in their families, in communities, and in international relations.

We can also bring to God in prayer those caught up in conflict, those working for peace, and political and military leaders who make decisions impacting the lives of millions.

Our Lord is the Prince of Peace who gives peace to our hearts such as the world cannot give. Therefore I call the Army to prayer for peace in the world. We can begin by shunning strife in our own personal lives and praying that God will grant us grace for this day by day.

Victims of Sex-Trade Trafficking

Sunday 30 September 2007 is the day set aside for a focus on this key matter.

I am calling the Army to prayer once again this year for those exploited and irreparably damaged as victims of this dreadfully evil trade. The matter is a core issue for the Army today just as much as it was in our early days. The holy instinct for addressing it can be said to be part of our DNA.

Prayer, education, fund-raising and protection for the vulnerable, including children, are four powerful tools we are using.

We can pray for the victims, for their families, for the relief agencies, for all working to reduce and to frustrate the evildoers,and for the forces of law and order. Let us pray also for political leaders to have the will and wisdom to enact laws that will tackle this menace.

Thank you for your prayers. God will hear us. Then he will use us.

Yours in Christ,

Shaw Clifton
General
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grace
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more non-stop salvo praying

It looks like Australia Southern Territory is jumping on the bandwagon, with a year of non-stop prayer kicking off in a few weeks:

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV:STANDARD::pc=PC_61783

If you fight in this territory, take note of how you can participate. If you fight in another territory (one that might not be praying non-stop) then consider the challenge.

How might it look if every territory in the world was praying non-stop? How about every division? How about every corps? It staggers me to consider the ramifications. But we could start with each territory. It can't be hard. But 43 Territories going non-stop would be significant (I'm not counting commands and regions in the 43).

How hard could it be?
Grace,
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Revolution Hawaii

(hat tip Joe Noland). About the only thing wrong with the Revolution Hawaii blog is lack of consistency. That problem seems to have been solved and there is some interesting stuff there at http://www.revolutionhawaii.com/blog.html .

Of note is the 3rd world training option for Revolution Hawaii students in Micronesia. One of the students has written that living in Micronesia is more difficult than living homeless on the beach. This might be an option to which God is prodding you.

grace
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June 30, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

You might not have heard that Aaron White's updated version of FUTURIZE that he wrote with Russell Rook has now been published, as HITCH-HICKER'S GUIDE TO THE KINGDOM, by Spring Harvest and you can likely pick it up online.

We're still interested in receiving your nominations for articles for the JAC@50 issue in August (deadline July 20). We're looking for you to pick and submit titles (with issue #) of your favourite JAC articles between issues 11-40. The 50th issue will not be a faves issue but we're looking for some of the more important and useful articles.

God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Amos 7-9; Psalm 104; Titus 2 (if you missed the readings for the last couple of days try the rest of Amos, Psalm 80,86, and T1).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

On Contemplation...

"Without contemplation, without the intimate, silent, secret pursuit of truth through love, our action loses itself in the world and becomes dangerous."
- Thomas Merton

"Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."
- David Crowder

"The theologian knows how to pray and the person who really prays is a true theologian."
- Evagrius of Pontus, 4th c

But prayer is not sufficient - and in truth, is not prayer at all - if we finish our intercessions and supplications with the sentiment, "only don't use me, Lord." If we will not be prepared with all our body, soul, mind and strength to be the answer to our prayers, then perhaps we are not really praying after all?

Grace,

Aaron

Death...

We've been meditating recently out here on what it means to die. Have we truly died to ourselves, or are we still holding on? It is far too easy to accept the praise and admiration of others for living it rough, without actually really doing much.

So anyways, a lot of us are thinking about death, primarily in the War Room, and the other day I walked up the stairs and heard one of our guys singing this song he wrote:

I'm broken down, my heart's poured out
I've left all I've once known.
The cross is before me, the world is behind
and all my sin is gone.

Yes, I've said goodbye, and it hurt for a while
but I was healed by the excessive gain
To Him be the glory, the honor, the praise
the power, the wisdom and fame

I die, I die, I die, I die, I die to all that I am
I live, I live, I live, I live, I live to all that You are

I've died, I've died, I'm crucified, on the tree with Him
And this life I live, I live to God, and all that I am must be His.

Death is swallowed up in victory,
And has lost it's sting
So jump into it, It'll hurt quite a bit
but what have you got to lose

Yeah, I'll say goodbye, to anything and everything!
whatever it takes to gain Him
My beauty, and power, my mother and father
what's all that to Him

I die, I die, I die, I die, I die to all that I am
I live, I live, I live, I live, I live to all that you are

I've died, I've died, I'm crucified, on the tree with Him
And this life I live, I live to God, and all that I am must be His.


Great stuff, but I don't want to romanticize the death part either. Death hurts.

Grace,

Aaron

June 28, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

There is some good blogging going on out there. Charles Roberts has a refreshing take on an ordinary day. Danielle Strickland is on about living in the light. Doug Burr is moving (his address, not his blog). Noland sets the the branding process in order. The War College blogs on why RE:cre8 started charging for coffee (good reason). Ricardo Walters has some nice shots. Olivia Munn has some good posts, including a hat tip to a convert promoted to Glory. Larry Ashcraft hosts another discussion on a popular topic in The Army.

Part of the Ashcraft stuff is on the place of youth and the place of soldiers and officers. Youth doesn't get a say, is disenfranchised, and leaves - so goes the argument. Soldiers are treated as somehow less valuable than officers.

Both points are true in practice in some places. Here's a quick take on them:

- power/authority often relates to commitment. For example, you can't be a corps council member in corps I have led unless you are a local officer. You've made a bigger commitment. You get a bigger say. And you definitely can't be on if you are not a soldier (that shouldn't be a shock, but apparently in some places people other than soldiers can be found there). The more you are in, the more you are in. So, if you are a soldier, you have more say than a civilian...

- The soldier / officer divide is tragic. Theoretically, there isn't one, as all officers are soldiers, just soldiers with more availability. In theory, the argument that this is a officers army is really stating that the soldiers with more availability are in the centre of things. I recognize that in practice things can get skewed. And that is bad. But we can improve things by applying the theory. Entitlement is the enemy here, I believe. It is subtle and insidious. The officer get paid to care; the soldiers just care.

- I've seen places where teenagers lead new outposts, teach classes to adults in training schools, organize important initiatives, lead and fight and disciple and train and pray and cry and win. It is possible (and it is beautiful. And it is Army). For any 'young' people feeling disenfranchised and ready to bolt, here's a suggestion (just a suggestion) - pray it out, covenant up (soldiership), out-commit anyone who appears to be holding you back, tuck you chin, and give all the glory to God. This might be a good time to say that Battle School starts next week (teen training for the northern hemisphere summer) in Vancouver, and The War College's INCENDIARY Session in Vancouver and Charlotte is ready for people like you (average age has been about 23 over the years) who want to see some things that are possible in The Army (see thewarcollege.com).
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God is here.
SA daily reading: Amos 1-3; Psalm 80; 2 Timothy 4.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

historic armybarmy blog news update

With this blog, Peter Frampton has officially caught up to and tied that other guy (who I cannot mention by name or else he'd pass PF).

God help us all.
grace
stephenC

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

Aaron is nearly right in his last blog, directly below. You have to go back to July 1 of 2006 (which you can in the archives - previous blogs - above right) to get another reference in our blog to Nietzsche. But with yesterday's mention he is probably two up on Peter Frampton (and others), but still 41 behind Booth (accordin gto the search tool).
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Here are some links on the chocolate blog (a couple of days ago) argument (change the definiton of chocolate so that we don't have to enslave kids on the Ivory Coast):
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chocolate14apr14,0,4722074.story?coll=la-home-headlines

http://www.iwanttobe60.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=12

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6575713.stm

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-a-global-faith,1,1314618.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 2 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

And the Award for the Least Likely Person to be Quoted on Armybarmy Goes to......

Friedrich Nietzsche.

Nietzsche was not a Christian, in fact found Christianity to be contemptible. His philosophy of "will to power" is said to have been one of the underpinnings of national socialism in Germany, (though he most likely would have found that contemptible as well). He eventually went insane, and even in his lucid moments wrote many things that smack of insanity.

But he was not stupid, and he certainly did have a sharp, if warped, perspective on life. I found this in his book "The Antichrist":

"...only Christian practice, a life such as he [Jesus] lived who died on the cross, is Christian.

'Such a life is still possible today, for certain people even necessary: genuine, original Christianity will be possible at times.

'Not a faith, but a doing; above all, a not doing of many things, another state of being....To reduce being a Christian, Christianism, to a matter of considering something true, to a mere phenomenon of consciousness, is to negate Christianism."

I think there is something very true in that. It rings of "faith without works is dead", and "even the demons believe in God, and shudder." He contrasts genuine, original Christianity with a type of false Christianity which is eerily familiar:

"Where has the last feeling of decency and self-respect gone when even our statesmen, an otherwise quite unembarrassed type of man, anti-Christian through and through in their deeds, still call themselves Christians today and attend communion? A young prince at the head of his regiments, magnificent as an expression of the selfishness and conceit of his people - but without any shame confessing himself a Christian? Whom then does Christianity negate? What does it call the 'world'? That one is a soldier, that one is a judge, that one is a patriot; that one resists; that one sees to his own honour; that one seeks one's advantage; that one is proud. Every practice at every moment, every instinct, every valuation that is translated into action is today anti-Christian: what a miscarriage of falseness must modern man be, that he is not ashamed to be called a Christian in spite of all of this."


There are some great questions in there, and some stinging criticism, all the more painful because they ring true. What we do matters, it is not merely about intellectually ascribing to the right set of beliefs. Christian faith leads to Christian practice, or else perhaps it is not Christian faith at all.

Grace,

Aaron

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

So, I've slammed back a couple of General autobiographies recently, as you know, if you read this regularly. My friend Fleur suggests that we should all know more about the generals and that we could take a page out of the American school system by having everyone learn all of the generals in order and their legacy. She actually thinks cadets need to learn that. But I think that all of us need to learn it. It is certainly a more interesting way to learn history and learn from history to learn about personalities and get to know people.
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We could do a lot better of communicating all around in The Army, I think. It isn't just history, as weak as we are on that. It is
doctrine (we're trying to straighten that out with a blockbuster best seller ARTICLES OF WAR by William Booth and me that might come out this year!),
holiness (the Webbs's book on holiness is now out! And there might be another, aimed at teens, coming soon!),
prayer (did you know that 3 out of 4 USA Territories are currently praying non-stop for the year?),
missions (did you know the names of the countries we're on the brink of invading?),
mission (have you heard the latest, greatest victories on fronts around the world?),
resources (I just read in JL's autobiography of a big youth resource IHQ made called DISCOVERY. I'd never heard of it. And I'm a fairly well connected guy),
and so on.

What is the solution? I don't have a comprehensive solution right now but if you get all of your friends and comrade soldiers to visit armybarmy.com every day I'm sure we'll rectify many of the problems! :-)

God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Jonah; 2 Timothy 2 (featuring v2 - classic great commission verse).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

June 25, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2tgt)

I just heard that 'they' are trying to change the definition of chocolate so that it can include vegetable oil instead of cocoa (I'm not a cook, so give me a break on that detail). This is an unexpected attempt to avoid enslaving people - remove the whole use of cocoa in making chocolate.

Now, I'm not a chocolate snob and if it tastes good and doesn't cause any slaves to bleed, I'll enjoy it. Of course, we don't have to wait for the definition change (we went on about this subject in BE A HERO, which you can still pick up at the eStore). This justice issue - slavery is not acceptable - can be fought in various ways, including a de facto boycott. You can google fair trade chocolate for some slave-free options (hat tip Jenea Gomez).
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Paul, in 2 Timothy 1, is on about holiness again. Have you noticed that the epistles seem to be mostly about keeping saved and geteting sanctified? It is all about it.

God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Joel, 2 Timothy 1.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

June 24, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(ha2Ns+L/C)

Captain Curtis Cartmell, who, by the way, is preaching at Roots.ca this weekend at Jacksons Point camp north of Toronto, has a thing about marriage. I believe in God's plan A for everyone. I'm not sure we agree on this one, but Curtis's thing is this: instead of trying to finding a soulmate, commit to becoming a soulmate. It is as useful as it is catchy.

And back to Larsson's autobiography, he explains that in the old days (not that old) there was a Slum Department in the UK SA. It was part of the 'Field' territory (in those days - pre-1990) Britain SA was broken into territories (field, men's social, women's social, etc.). It is now the Goodwill deparmtment and operates the thrift stores. I think it noteworthy.

Read JAC.

Evangelize.
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 2 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

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

One of the JAC exclusive interviews is with General Brown. In General Larsson's SAYING YES TO LIFE, he has this intriguing bit:
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"Erik Wickberg showed administrative courage in the appointment of his Chief of the Staff. He selected an offiecr who only six years previously, at the age of 50, had been a teritorial youth secretary... had never been a (DC), nor a (CS), nor a (TC). He chose Arnold Brown, secretary for public relations at (IHQ)...
"There must have been astonished gasps somewhere along the line. From being one of the boys Arnold Brown had been catapulted past all the commissioners at (IHQ). But the General's choice was not only brave, it was inspired. For far too long this outstanding officer had been held back at (THQ) in Canada, despite repeated requests from (IHQ) for him to be released for wider service.
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Wow.
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 2 Kings 10 (Jehu rides); 2 Chronciles 22; 1 Timothy 5.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

June 22, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
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Orsborn, in his autobiography, mentions, positively, meetings in some areas of The Army world with multiple collections. This is interesting to me in that often these days salvos look down on multiple collections in meetings.

Money is an issue in The Army. There is a sense of entitlement in the west due partly to our historic relation to Red Shield. Noland's blog notes that The Army in the USA scored more than twice as much cash than the second and third largest charities added together last year. It is an issue.

Booth taught that 10% was the starting minimum for soldiers. As you grow in Jesus your cartridge grows (I'm guessing that there is a limit there somewhere!).

There are some solid blogs this week on the blog roll. So as not to miss any, I'll suggest that you do a quick scan when you get a break in the action (and to mix it up with your regular JAC reading).
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 2 Kings 8-9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

I think maybe I under-rated Larsson. I thought - musicals. But as National Youth Secretary he exploded Corps Cadets in UK, moving the annual gig from 1,000 seat halls to 2,500 seaters, and then to 5,000 seater (how about a renewed emphasis o Junior Soldiers and Corps Cadets?). And he did speak all of those languages and serve in all of those countries. And he did create the UK Territory (a story he tells very well in his autobiography SAYING YES TO LIFE). And he did rewrite the articles of war and rename them the Soldiers Covenant (about which we write in a forthcoming book - ARTICLES OF WAR: a revolutionary midrash, which, I hope, won't experience the nine-year Lit Board review of JL's SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH - blogged yesterday). I have an issue with Soldiers Covenant change in that they dropped 'til I die'. Of course, it is still in the O+R, but it would have been nice to have left it in. Even his books seem to trace the issues of the day:
- DOCTRINE WITHOUT TEARS - written during the liberal UK 60s when orthodoxy was under attack;
- SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH - his SA take on the Holy Spirit wave of the 70s;
- HOW YOUR CORPS CAN GROW - his summary of the Church Growth teaching for The Army in the 80s.
- and now his autobiography, shortly following his retirement as General. Praise God for his life and warfare.
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2 Chronicles 20:20, after hearing Jahaziel's prophecy to the people of Judah, King Jehosphaphat bows to the ground, followed by all of the people of Judah, worships and praises God with very loud voice, and then declares to his people: "Have faith in the Yahweh your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful."
How are we obeying that instruction? How are you obeying it today?
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Don't forget the JAC@50 submission contest (pick an article from issue 11-40 and submit title and issue to revolution @ mm cc xx . net).
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 2 Kings 6-7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 TImothy 3.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

Christian and Muslim
(from 'the corner' blog at nationalreview.com)
The appropriate background posts for the main comment here are:
1. the first Anglican priest who is Muslim (not joking) -
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MjZmMzU4YTBjZDAzNjRhMjg2YTExNTg4NjAwOGIyYWU=
2. a convert to Jesus not allowed legally to convert - http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2007/06/oh-joy.html
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Joys for Jesus [Mark Steyn]

The Belmont Club has found the perfect contrast to my recent item about the Reverend Ann Holmes Redding, the Episcopal priest who claims to be both Christian and Muslim. Malaysia's highest court has denied Christian convert Lina Joy's application to have the word "Islam" removed from her identity card:

"You can't at whim and fancy convert from one religion to another," Federal Court Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim said in delivering judgment in the case, which has stirred religious tensions in the mainly Muslim nation.

He said the civil court had no jurisdiction in the case and that it should be dealt with by the country's Islamic courts. "The issue of apostasy is related to Islamic law, so it's under the sharia court. The civil court cannot intervene."

Actually, "mainly Muslim" boils down to just over 50 per cent. In other words, Malaysia ought to be a pretty good test case of Islam's ability to rub along with other religions. Instead - and unhappily for those of us who regard it as one of the least worst Muslim countries - its disdain for pluralism is hardening. As the Belmont Club post concludes:

We live in two worlds: that of Lina Joy and that of Ann Holmes Redding.
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! grace
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June 20, 2007. (updated 11:25 EST)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
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(new) Captain Michael Ramsay has a final Commissioning blog (over at the link list).
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Commissioner Karl Larsson (opened Russia) was TC for 30 years! Whew! (hat tip General Larsson's autobiography from which we'll likely see more here in the coming days)
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Follow-up from yesterday's blog on th Noland Effect: Of course, Noland had mentors, too, one of whom was General Paul Rader, famous for, among other things, Mission 2000, a scheme to double corps (and, if memory serves, just about everything else) in USW in the 90s. It didn't work either, but USW grew from 197 corps "including Harbour Lights" in 1990 (1991 SA Year Book) to 312 in 2000 (the 2001 Year Book - if you do the math you'll note that USE jacked up the pace a fair bit with Vision 7007 - a case of having climbed up on the shoulders?). I think Noland would say that discipleship and the accompanying relay of the vision to others is a key to the whole process. To apply it to mmccxx, one mighty man of God told me that we can count on him to start 100 outposts. Hallelujah.
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Okay, I won't wait to get back to Larsson. Fairly early on in the book he admits he never got anyone saved until he reached training college. That is a sad fact. How did he get in to training college with that record (other than the fact that his whole family line is commissioners)? No offence at all to him, as the musicals alone have resulted in (tens of?) thousands of conversions - glory to God. But it speaks to our entry profile for cadets (he was a bandmaster from South America). Major Morgan (Melbourne) had a good piece in THE OFFICER last year about what we're looking for in candidates. It is worth another visit.
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Larsson also admits to hitting a depression midstream of creating Take-Over Bid. Ironically TOB includes his brightest music. This is a refreshingly clear story. In other words, you don't have to read between the lines on the depression bit like you might have to for some early salvos (many of whom seemed regularly to be off at some spa somewhere). And he testifies that it was an important season for him to grow closer to God. The book is a Crest Books 2007 release and has been a smooth read.
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Finally, on Larsson, for today, Knaggsie blogged on his territory being in the publishing business again. Larsson recounts the nine-year story of SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH from completion to publication (General Brown sat on it for his tenure and that dragged it out). I can smell what JL's stepping in. And I hope that no authors have a similar experience with the rejuvenated AUS publishing arm.
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Don't forget that we're accepting suggestions of old articles (issues 11-40) for the JAC@50 issue in August (deadline July 20) - email title and issue to revolution @ mm cc xx . net. You can find them all at JAC (top right on the link list).
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(if you aren't following Jesus, follow Jesus!)
God is here.
SA Daily reading: 2 Kings 4-5; Psalm 83; 1 Timothy 2.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Newton on Second Coming
(from AP, hat tip Best of the Web - opinion journal - link list below right)
Associated Press:
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Three-century-old manuscripts by Isaac Newton calculating the exact date of the apocalypse, detailing the precise dimensions of the ancient temple in Jerusalem and interpreting passages of the Bible--exhibited this week for the first time--lay bare the little-known religious intensity of a man many consider history's greatest scientist.

Newton, who died 280 years ago, is known for laying much of the groundwork for modern physics, astronomy, math and optics. But in a new Jerusalem exhibit, he appears as a scholar of deep faith who also found time to write on Jewish law--even penning a few phrases in careful Hebrew letters--and combing the Old Testament's Book of Daniel for clues about the world's end. . . .

In one manuscript from the early 1700s, Newton used the cryptic Book of Daniel to calculate the date for the Apocalypse, reaching the conclusion that the world would end no earlier than 2060.

"It may end later, but I see no reason for its ending sooner," Newton wrote. However, he added, "This I mention not to assert when the time of the end shall be, but to put a stop to the rash conjectures of fanciful men who are frequently predicting the time of the end, and by doing so bring the sacred prophesies into discredit as often as their predictions fail."
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grace
sec

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

I was on about Noland yesteday (his new book that joins A LITTLE GREATNESS, Flight Manual for Prospective Angels, Vision 7007... - see joenoland.com for details) and it got me thinking a bit about the Noland Effect. USE is a strong territory (praise God) and Commissioner Noland made a significant impact in strengthening it.

How? Leaders, Programmes, and Cash.
Leaders: His three CSs went on to become CoS, NC, and IS (soon to be TC in C+B). He also jumped one guy into the year book as DC in one year, and then the next year to personnel secretary. That officer is now TC in a kicking territory. Then there were a few captains that took staff leadership appointments who are now in the cabinet and poised for territorial leadership. And so on.

Programmes: There are tonnes of these but here are a few: HopeShare; Sonday'sCool; Project 117 (now called Railton School for Youth Worker Training); Vision 7007.

Cash: Stories abound of the programme investment in each corps each year in Noland's term. But I noted from the year book that overseas service fund contribution by USE more than doubled in his tenure.

Oh, and you didn't think I'd leave off the stats, did you? After four years, there were 105 more officers, 830 more senior soldiers, and, most notably, 63 more corps. What is the Noland Effect? Glory to God.
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Have you read the current JAC yet? (top right)
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 2 Kings 1-3; Psalm 82; 1 Timothy 1.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 18, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Three things:
1. Big hit by the police against 700 pedophiles involved in a ring that touched 35 countries. Praise God. More intel - all over the net - google Britain and pedophile.

2. I can recommend Commissioner Joe Noland's new book, LEAN RIGHT, LOVE LEFT. If you've had enough officially-approved-sounding reports and reviews, then this will be a fresh perspective on relevant issues. You can get it at joenoland.com and th3e price is literally impossible to beat.

3. Kudos to New Frontier and the HOME PAGE, which, in the June issue (not yet available online) has a great lead - "West Plans Summer Troop Surge" complete with 'bold anti-insurgent maneuver against the arch enemy' and so on - and great content (includes classifieds for Sunday School Teachers, Incarnational Urban Missionary, and Corps Officers -- 'if you dream of a job that follows you home, this is it! The following experience recommended, not required: MDIv or MA in theology; CPA or 10 years accounting experience, MBA or managerial training... must love people.). http://www.salvationarmy.usawest.org/usw/www_newfrontierpub.nsf/vw_web_current_index?OpenView
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18-19; Colossians 4.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

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

In case you missed it, we're taking nominations for the JAC@50 issue coming up in August. If you want to peruse issues 11-40 for your favourite articles and submit the titles and issue #s to revolution @ mm cc xx . net we'll work out an excellent mix to go along with a few fresh articles for JAC@50.
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Commissioner Noland has a nice tribute to Ruth Graham at his blog (on the right on the links list).
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I saw hundreds of converts sitting in a place of honour the other day, representative of hundreds of thousands of converts from the last year through The Salvation Army. We give glory to God for all of the fruit and I'm grateful for a glimpse into the massive harvest. Hallelujah. Jesus is mighty to save.

Let's all try to get a lot more people saved. Let's optimize every opportunity. Let's represent our King humbly, boldly, compassionately, accurately. Let's exhort, persuade, coax, compel. Let's speak the truth forcefully and lovingly. Let's not compromise. Let's not water things down. Let's not chicken out. Let's not procrastinate. Let's evangelize.
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And if, for some reason, you need to get saved, then how about it, right now? The brief explanation is from Jesus in Mark 1. He said two things: 1. repent and believe; and, 2. Come, follow Me. There you are. Fire me a note at revolution @ mm cc xx . net if you decide to do that or if you have questions surrounding it.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 1 Kings 20-21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3 (let the word of Christ dwell in you richly!).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

Celebration 125 continues and tonight the meeting is webcast at salvationist.ca (probably the weekend's meetings):
Saturday, June 16, 7:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time) 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, 6:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and 8:30 p.m. Newfoundland Standard Time. This will include the commissioning and ordination of The Heralds of the Good News session.
----
Cadet Michael Ramsay (link list at right) is blogging on the weekend's festivities. He talks about one cadet who, less than a week of after the covenant service (Sunday), already broke his covenant (and, apparently, the mess with glass and frame was a drag).
----
We broke the story about the promotion to Glory of Commissioner Krupa Das. This is related news for the Salvation War in India Western Territory: "COMMISSIONER P. MARY RAJAKUMARI, an officer of the India Central Territory currently serving as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries in the India Western Territory, is appointed as Territorial Commander, India Western Territory, in succession to her husband, Commissioner P. D. Krupa Das, who was promoted to Glory last week."
----
God bless The Commissioner and the India Western Territory.
----
Some will be interested in this move as well, in Canada, of a married woman to DC (very rare in these parts, still):
http://www.salvationist.ca/2007/announcement-officer-appointment/
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 1 Kings 17-19; Colossians 2.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

Three items this morning:
----
The 125th anniversary congress in Winnipeg started last night and Michael Ramsay (Canadian blogs on the link list) is keeping us up-to-date.
----
We're looking for nominations of old articles for the JAC@50 issue (August). The current issue has highlight articles from issues 1-10. We're looking for you to nominate favourite articles from issues 11-40 (41-49 are a little too fresh in everyone's mind!). So, if you want to google your favourites, search for them here on armybarmy.com, or just peruse all of the archived issues right at JAC (top right at the links list), just fire a nomination or three over to revolution @ mm cc xx . net and we'll tally them all up for the anniversary issue.
----
I prayed with a youngster yesterday for an opportunity to tell his classmates about Jesus. After school he mentioned that he told the whole class and teacher the parts of the Jr. Soldier Pledge that he has memorized (he as a couple of years still before being old enough to be a Jr. Soldier and one of his parents isn't having him memorize the middle section yet). This is what he has memorized (so far):

"Having asked God for forgiveness, I will trust Him to keep me good. Because Jesus is my Saviour from sin, I will be His loving and obedient child and will try to help others to follow Him...
I promise to pray, to read my Bible, and by His help to lead a life that is clean in thought, word, and deed."
----
Praise God.
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15-16; Colossians 1 (some juicy verses in there - especially 2C16:9;C1:29.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

assorted...

Hat tip to J Pope for the 1893 article by General William Booth called A SMALL REVOLUTION that I will likely be quoting in upcoming blogs and, barring an act of God, will definitely be including in the August issue of Journal of Aggressive Christianity (along with Heralds of the Good News valedictory address by Captain Pamela Maynor). What does that mean to you? Well, you need to read those JAC exclusive interviews as well as Harris and Wall and all in the current issue so that you are up to speed for the big 50th!
----
I blogged this elsewhere on the legitimacy of the cost of congresses:
----
I was just reading International Congress Addresses by the Founder (1904) and the reasons he gives for coming together run like this:
- to look once more into each other's faces;
- greet the General;
- a great united thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father;
- to seek a great spiritual blessing to our own souls;
- reconsecrate ourselves to the great task of filling the world with the knowledge and joy of the Salvation of God.
That plus Deuteronomy 14 (especially in light of the 12.5mil announced to world services) justifies a congress.
----
Over at Knaggsie's blog Colonel Gariepy comments directly on the TC's order of the Founder blog - nice touch, one you'll want to check, rare as that is.
Much grace,
StephenC

June 14, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2CGH!)

Don't worry. I won't make you read a whole list of 'did you knows' again today. But here is one: did you know that General Clifton was rejected the first time he applied for officership?
----
This weekend in Winnipeg the Ramsays, out of 614 Vancouver, the Pearces (BTI06), and the rest of the Heralds of the Good News (C+B Territory) will be commissioned as part of the CelebrationoneTwofive (125th anniversary of The Army in Canada). Hallelujah! Enjoy the celebration, comrades.
----
As Commissioner Noland says in his blog of the 12th, this is territorial events season for The Army north of the equator. I suspect that this is more the case in the USA than outside, as up in Canada it seems that 'summer' begins right after Mother's Day and continues through September, at least on the 'church' calendar (i.e. crowds are very tough to come by on Sundays and events). In any case, as usual, I bow to the Comm, and here include General Booth's closing remarks to officers at the 1904 International Congress, words that might effectively close each of the 'territorial events' of this season:
----
"The Salvation Army has lagged behind. It has not been half in earnest: God forgive us. You Officers have lagged behind: God forgive you. I have lagged behind: God forgive me. And now what is there left for us to do with the little time that yet is ours, but to be up and in earnest, and to make haste? Make haste! Make haste!"
----
(he doesn't rebuke the soldiers! But apply as appropriate). Make haste!
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 1 Kings 15 (intriguing story); 2 Chronicles 13-14; Philippians 4 (how about v8?!).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

assorted...

Here is a perspective on Billy Graham's impact on religion in America:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/729qqrjb.asp

Here is the UK TC's one year report that climaxes with covenant and grace:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/D5E0489768A23926802572F00048C6FE?opendocument&id=FF07AAE2D0E08F18802572F0004802ED

JAC interview with (now)General Clifton in the current issue.
grace
sec

June 13, 2007. (updated 4:38pm est)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Did you know that Fakir Singh and Weerasooriya were forced out of a village they were trying to reach for Jesus so they left the outskirts and moved into a cave? Man oh man.
----
Did you know that Charles Roberts is praying on the front page of armybarmy.com accompanied by Marty Mikles and Phil Laeger?
----
Did you know that you can pick up Danielle Strickland's CHAOTIC ORDER book at the armybarmy eStore for a reasonable price (profits, as always, to missions)?
----
Did you know that you can find good SA preachers and worship leaders for your events at
http://www.armybarmy.com/freeshooters.html ?
----
Did you know that three of the four USA SA Territories have just kicked off a year of non-stop prayer? Cheers to USW, USS, and USE (embarking on year two). Maybe your territory will take up the challenge? Or your division? Or your corps?
----
Did you know that The Army is on the verge of expansion into a handful of countries and that we're looking for a few good warriors to lead the charge?
----
Did you know that SLB's sanctification day was in the cold of January Boston winter and not the colourful spring gaiety we might imagine from his testimony? (hat tip RM)
----
DId you know that thewarcollege blog (right, on the blog roll) has an update on BTI and the Canadian initiative to influence government officials for Jesus (from the local Vancouver perspective)?
----
Did you know that for many years Commissioner Joe Noland had a sign on his desk that read, "God doesn’t mind if you mix in a little show-biz so long as you get the message across." (from today's blog at Noland - rightside blog roll) This relates to big events.
----
Did you know that the current JAC (top right) has an interview with Noland in which he weighs in on formal education: "Some of the finest officers I know have no formal education but their practical experience has educated them beyond the most highly held Ph.D. I have come to believe that the best education is found in the trenches."
----
Did you know that none of the Generals preceding Burrows had a post secondary education (that I can tell from Year Book and bios)?
----
Did you know that Noland goes on about his intriguing 7007 vision in that exclusive JAC interview. And, finally, did you know that 2007 is the final year of that 7007 vision (the goal was for 700 prayer circles and 700 corps of 70 soldiers by 2007 with the whole initiative book-ended by holiness. If there are any leaders involved with 7007 - either its conception and birthing or its growth - we'd like to hear a report on it...)?

God is here.
SA Daily reading: 1 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 12; Philippians 2.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

from the General's pastoral letter...

Here is a bit from it (you should sign up for the whole thing):
----
"From time to time it is a good thing to look inward upon our own souls and to ask before the mirror that is Christ if we are indeed pure for his sake. I do not recommend that we become obsessive with introspection, but there is a healthy way to examine our lives before God to see if we are pleasing him as we should. We can place before him our bodies, our minds and our spirits asking him to reveal anything there that holds us back from deeper holiness, from enhanced purity."
----
Amen. And, of course, Soldiers have a classic aid for this in our Orders and Regulations, the Test For Self-Examination (which some use daily):
1. Am I habitually guilty of any known sin? Do I practise or allow myself in any
thought, word, or deed which I know to be wrong?
2. Am I so the master of my bodily appetites as to have no condemnation? Do I
allow myself in any indulgence that is injurious to my holiness, growth in
knowledge, obedience, and usefulness?
3. Are my thoughts and feelings such that I should not be ashamed to hear them
published before God?
4. Does the influence of the world cause me to act, feel, or say things that are
unlike Christ?
5. Do my tempers cause me to act, or feel or say things that I see afterward are
contrary to that love which I ought to bear always to those about me?
6. Am I doing all in my power for the salvation of sinners? Do I feel concern about
their danger and pray and work for their salvation as if they were my children?
7. Am I fulfilling the vows I have made to God in my acts of consecration or at the
Penitent Form?
8. Is my example in harmony with my profession?
9. Am I conscious of any pride or haughtiness in my manner or bearing?
10. Do I conform to the fashions and customs of this world or do I show that I
despise them?
11. Am I in danger of being carried away with worldly desires to be rich or
admired?
----
grace
sec

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

General Clifton's second pastoral letter is now out. The subject is purity. You can subscribe at the IHQ site.
----
This morning the local Salvation Army officer was interviewing applicants for camp counsellor. It came down to two. One is a keen evangelical Christian headed to Bible College. The other, when asked what her favourite Bible story was, answered, "all the ones about our Lady of Fatima." I wonder which person will get the job. hmm.
----
More from General Orsborn's autobiography:
- he mentioned he was the second non-Catholic - "we do not call ourselves Protestant" (E Stanley Jones was first) invited to speak at the "oldest university in the Western Hemisphere" in San Marcos, Peru. This is just a reminder on Salvationism (we do not call ourselves protestant - exception Clifton's convincing argument in Who Are These Salvationists that we have addressed in the armybarmy blog archives). And, while I'm at it, hat tip to Xander Coleman (who is stirring up much discussion on holiness over at his blog - see our blog roll) for the reminder on SA benedictions that are about 'us' and not 'you' as a reflection of our theology on the priesthood of all believers (which, tangentially, hat tip Danielle Strickland, is also an argument against having to have non-officer soldiers at High Council. All the officers are soldiers (not that I'm against - or, really, for, at this point - the idea of having all the TSMs attend)).

- Soldiership is huge. I don't insult officership by saying that. But I think there is room for us elevating soldiership to where it belongs. That said, Orsborn writes this (165): "I regard the officer as the mind and soul of our work. He is also the main target for satan's attack. It may be noted that our Founder was aware of changing values in the minds of officers: 'I see our principle danger is in our very best agents settling down... They constantly need stirring up and setting on fresh tracks. Lord help us!' Even more emphatic was Bramwell Booth: 'is The Army going to be ruined like everything else, by its priests? No! Not if we can help it!'"

- and, a hard one, on Sweden. Orsborn suggests that the key to Sweden Territory's strength was its missionary work. Apparently there was a danger that the door to India would close to Swedish Salvos. AO said, "I hope and pray the Swedish Salvationists will go to other fields. Only so will Sweden continue to be what it has been through glorious years, the strongest Salvation Army in proportion to population in the whole world" (165). Ouch. I don't have the stats handy but I wonder if there was a decline in missionary initiatives that may have led to where we stand in Sweden today. God, raise up reinforcement salvos there, today, please (one way is SAVED2SAVE, a new training initiative we've promoted in this space and on the front armybarmy page).
----
There were two non-stop prayer rooms at the Kaleidoscope Congress. In the Giant Center one, an erstwhile private box overlooking the meeting, on the white board a youngster has penned '_______ + Jesus' (his name filling the blank). Lovely.
----
Look, I started a small wedding weight gang of those interested in getting back to their wedding weight. I've met a lot of people who, like me, could lose some weight. We don't like to talk about it too much. But accountability might help. Join the WWG and pick a date to aim for. Tell a couple of friends and maybe your spouse, and then start shedding the pounds (share this blog with prospective gang members). Do it - it will help credibility, health, finances, power...
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 1 Kings 12; 2 Corinthians 10-11; Philippians 2.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 11, 2007. (updated June 12, based on the Knaggs blog numbers)
Greetings in Jesus' name. I trust the battle progresses well on your front.
He is risen!

I was taking a youngster to a great Kaleidoscope Kids Congress event yesterday (kudos to all who made that happen). The previous meeting was interrupted by a visit from Batman. He bandied about possibilities for this meeting (green lantern, wolverine...) and I added Salvation Soldier. He quickly corrected me. Salvation Soldier wasn't coming. It would be one of the others. Why? Because they aren't real (and Salvation Soldier is - hallelujah!).

The McAlister blog continues to smash us in the face (blog roll at right). Danielle Strickland and Jim Knaggs (both at right) give you both good takes on the Kaleidoscope Congress.

Kaleidoscope Congress was fabulous. It was a good example of the Deuteronomy 14 directions for celebration. Plus, around 140 answered the General's pitch for officership. Praise God.

God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Song of Songs 5-8; Philippians 1.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Two honours!

Colonel Henry Gariepy joined the Order of the Founder today in Hershey Pennsylvania. Gariepy has published heaps of books (29?) and left his imprint on SA literature.

And Majors Hilton and Joyce Harmer received the Medal of the Order of Australia today for 47 years of court and rehab ministry: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21884583-1702,00.html

Praise the Lord.
grace
sec

June 10, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Clifton preached on becoming like Christ in His death. His take was that Jesus forgave others at His death. So we need to forgive others. Great take (I'll say that the prayer room here, in the 'what are we hearing' book, went even further with the comparison, breaking down Jesus' last hours and applying them to our lives). Here is the text - Phil 3:10...

"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like Him in His death."
----
Jim Cymbala, Brooklyn Tabernacle, had a word for The Salvation Army from Isaiah 51:1:
"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn." He said that for The Army our Rock is the Power of the Holy Spirit. As Danielle summarizes, the thing that defined us is that there is no way we could have done what we did. Hallelujah!

Look to the Rock.

But (and I'm adding my take) watch the preconditions:
1. seek righteousness (Hebrew 12:14?);
2. seek Yahweh (Psalm 27:4).
So the order seems to be:
- get holy
- get intimate
- get power.
----
Hmm.
----
I was in the back of a huge officers councils yesterday and a youngster whispered that he wanted to get his mother. After scanning the masses of uniforms ahead, he whispered again, 'it is hard to tell which one is mom'.
----
By the way, praise God for The Salvation Army. The USE Territory kicks.
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Song of Songs 1-4; Ephesians 6.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

PtG

Commissioners P. D. Krupa Das of the India Western Territory was promoted to Glory this week. Hallelujah.

Pray for the comrades of that territory.
grace
sec

The Janet Munn Blog (updated 22:00)

No, no, no. The Emperor of Prayer, the Ambassador of Spiritual Life Development (part of actual appointment title), the Apostle of Fullness (spiritual title), Janet Munn hasn't starting blog (that I know of... yet). But as one of the biggest boosters in her fan club, here is a trio of comments (following the last blog...):
1. did you read JM on holiness in the new JAC (top right of the list)?;
2. 9,000 people watched her on 14 very large screens last night at a congress meeting! It was a celebration of one year of non-stop prayer in the USE Territory. Hallelujah! I think I read that there were 220 prayer rooms there, and plans to continue;
3. this morning on the way to the meeting, an accident made it very tight for us to get there on time. The programme had her on to prayer after the opening song. We sped. Have you heard her pray? Angels lean in. Demons flee. The meeting was delayed for 15 minutes or so and we caught the prayer.
----
grace
sec

June 9, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Clifton on SLB

He said, "Samuel Logan Brengle was the first American born Salvationist to have the rank of commissioner conferred on him and he couldn't organize a booze-up in a brewery."
More important, to the General, is passion for sanctification. He can appoint tidy people to tidy up after untidy sanctifieds.

Another priority from the General - women leadership, on which he called out The Army for institutional hypocrisy. Fair point. And we'll be innocent of it when we see a few married women TCs (as well as married women at other levels of leadership). Clifton is on the clock, though (watch this space!).

Speaking of which, stay tuned to the next blog to follow immediately.

God is here.
SA Daily reading: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

Clifton at Kaleidoscope.

The General was on about priorities for The Salvation Army these days. One of them is social justice (see stophumantraffic.com for one stab at it). Another is literature - it turns out he wants books on holiness by young women! Wow! I happen to know of a book on holiness by a young woman named Olivia Munn called THE UPRISING: a holy revolution? that is due out pretty soon. I wonder if he knows about it? Maybe you can let him know? Another priority is expansion. It looks like we're heading into four new countries in 2007 alone. Hallelujah!

There are more priorities that we'll break down very soon.

God is here.
SA Daily reading: Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 7, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Big congress this weekend in USE (9,000): If you're not there you can pray that God kicks off a tsunami of the Spirit (to rip off General Rader's prayer from the start of his term as general) through that territory that spreads across the entire globe.

You can pray the same thing for BTI!

Yes, we're often (usually?) on about holiness at this blog. Well, here's a great exchange from the exclusive JAC interview with Colonel Dennis Phillips from the current issue (link list - top right) on this important subject:
----
JAC: Please tell us a little about your sanctification.

DP: It is ironic that I preached holiness years before I actually experienced it. I knew what our Doctrine Book said, and I read most of Brengle's great titles on Holiness, but I just could not seem to get my own arms around the experience. Finally, at age 37 and serving as corps officer in Kansas City, Missouri "the light went on." It did not occur in a public meeting; rather it was in the quietness of my own humble study at the corps when the plain yet profound truth became clear to me and "His spirit bore witness with my spirit" that we were one. I remembered the simple question on a corps cadet lesson from many years earlier: "What is sanctification?" And the answer, equally simple, "Separation from the world and dedication to God." That was it. And my soul was at rest.
----
Why wait until you're 37? (if you're under 37!) Why wait for a public meeting? Why not set aside some quietness; dig out your old corps cadet lessons (!); dedicate your whole life to God; allow Holy Spirit to sanctify you?
----
Corps Cadets - under-rated. In 1965 in Canada, fully 85% of officers had been corps cadets. Now, corps cadets are largely fortgotten (in that territory) and the officer ranks are depleted 30-40%. Is there a correlation?
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

PDL...

I don't want a Purpose-Driven Life (or Church, for that matter). I want a prayer-centred one.

Grace,

Aaron

June 6, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Celebration oneTWofive is in Winnipeg next weekend (as blogged here months ago) - celebrating 125 years of The Salvation Army in Canada. If you're in the vicinity, drop in for the fesitivities and cheer on our cadets getting commissioned!

Burrows on Primitive Salvationism (from the exclusive JAC interview - top right on the links list):
----
JAC: Please comment on the state of aggressive Christianity in the 21st century.
How relevant is primitive Salvationism?

EB: I respond positively to the term 'primitive Salvationism'. To me that refers to the original, elemental, pristine qualities of our early Salvation Army --- the spontaneous joy in the faith, the zeal for soul-saving, the willingness to risk everything for Christ, the audacious attacks on the strongholds of Satan, the readiness to adapt, the relevance of the message, the strong social conscience. These are qualities for all centuries from the first to the twenty-first. Through the
Holy Spirit we must reclaim them as we enter the twenty-first century.
----
Good description. God help us restore it through the ranks around the world for the fulfillment of mission.

You may have noticed a few new blogs on teh BC roll- welcome to a few more War College REVOLUTION Session warriors (Dawn, Stephanie, and Matthew). It isn't to late to apply for a spot in any of The War College campuses for September (thewarcollege.com).

God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Psalm 45; Ecclesiastes 1-3; Ephesians 2.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 5, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Hat tip to salvationarmy-usaeast.org\music for plugging a couple of SALVO SONGS CDs in the current issue of the USE East glossy periodical GOOD NEWS! There are heaps of resources available there.
----
Yesterday's blog alluded to a hit:
"Hark, hark my soul, what warlike songs are swelling,
Through Britain's streets and on from door to door;
How great the truths those burning strains are telling
of that great war till sin shall be no more!
Salvation Army, Army of God!
Onward to conquer the world with Fire and Blood.
----
The original words appeared in Faber's Oratory Hymns (1854). As the Companion to the Song Book of The Salvation Army (1962) comments on George Scott Railton's transformation of the words: "One can hardly imagine as greater contrast between the two sets of words - from being a soothing and comforting hymn, it has been transformed into a virile, warlike song, challenging the soul to heroic endeavour in the battles of the Lord."
----
Nice.
Cliftons at Kaleidoscope this weekend.
BTI next week in Vancouver.
The brand new issue of JAC now up (top right). One of the exculsive JAC interviews, with General Brown (PtG) anticipates John McAlister's dreaming (see earlier blog this week):
----
J.A.C.: What are your dreams for The Salvation Army?

A.B.: That it remains a militant expression of the universal church of Christ in the
world; that it will have a stronger voice on behalf of the suffering and the needy in
the upper councils of legislation; that it will be acutely aware of societal changes
as they are happening, and be imaginatively proactive. I dream of an Army that is
rooted in tradition and flowering in contemporary relevance. I dream of an Army
that increasingly makes an effective two-pronged thrust into humanity; on the one
hand an unstoppable, vital, evangelical force, and on the other a compassionate
movement dedicated to binding up the wounds of the world. I don't dream of
"countless serried ranks" of Salvationists. A Gideon-Army can be victorious!
----
God is here.
SA daily reading: Psalm 33; Proverbs 30-31; Ephesians 1.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

a few...

Good definition of The Army by General Orsborn in the last blog: the stormiest wind that ever blew through the halls of orthodoxy.

And this, from the Saturday Review:
"There was some peculiar quality in these last words which a stranger could not catch. The phrase, 'with Fire and Blood' was sung, or rather roared, again and again, until the perspirtation ran down the faces of the soldiery as they clasped one another's hands and beamed. Public attention was particularly drwan to one Captain on the lower platform, who vociferated with such zeal as almost to lose the semblance of humanity." (July 1879 - Hat Tip Major Betty McCaughey, WILLIAM AND CATHERINE, WITH LOVE).
----
So, that was a typical order of meeting for the Salvos? A song and a preach - sweat, sweat, and sweat.
grace
sec

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

Booth's last words to Orsborn (from his autobio -- context - nearly blind, just having preached to a great crowd, which Orsborn obediently and accurately described as mostly church people):
----
"His hands tightened upon my shoulders, I could feel the force and fire of this old man coursing through me. His voice wavered and almost broke. There was no harshness, no impatience, only a tone of infinite sorrow and yearning. "I know, Orsborn, I know. But listen to me. If you can devise a patent for keeping religious people out of my meetings, and filling them up with the worst of sinners, I'll reward you!"

It was said of (Booth), "he hungered for hell." He left the church because he had a call to the churchless. He did not want a respectable, settled congregation. "Go for souls, and go for the worst!" he told his people. This is not to denigrate the churches; far from it. Although most of the churches were are first critical of this Army, the stormiest wind that ever blew through the halls of orthodoxy, they ultimately came to respect the Movement. Nevertheless, God did not want another church when He created THe Salvation Army amid the soot and slime of London's East End. The sky-line was already crowded with steeples when GOd raise this people, to be a mobile fighting, marching, singing, shouting, praying host, operating with new soul-winning methods outside the church's orbit. Our Founder, therefore, kept alive within his own bosom this authentic purposes and passion. He was apt to snarl and certainly was not at his best, if the thought he was on show as a popular preacher and there were too many of the folk he called 'sermon-tasters' in his meetings!
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Proverbs 28-29; Psalm 60; Romans 16.
Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Where is the Christ?

Had a deep chat today with an old friend of mine. We were talking about why in some places, Corps in particular, they have failed to retain even one young person in the faith. Not in TSA, in the faith. There are various possible reasons surrounding strategies, communication, relevancy, etc..., but what if it is because they have never encountered Christ there?

Please understand, I am not for a moment suggesting that Christ cannot be experienced through Corps or Church life. But I think we have to ask if that has really been a purpose of our communal Corps or Church lives. It ought to be, of course, but the reality may be that our Corps / Churches could do what they do without any serious consideration of where Christ is.

This could be a particular danger, and opportunity, for TSA. In the Eucharist at least there is a rememberance, sometimes weekly, of the imminent and very real presence of Christ in the midst of his people. We obviously don't engage in sacraments, taking instead a wholistic sacramental approach (Christ is potentially really present in all matter, he can relate grace to us through all matter. No need then for ritual).

I think this is good, unless by it we actually forget to recognise the presence of Christ, the whole purpose of our existence. It's all well and good, and right, to say that Christ is present in the poor, in a given cup of tea, in a blanket, in a shelter bed, in a shared meal, in our neighbour, but do we actually believe it and practice that recognition, with the same seriousness that other Christians see Christ in the bread and wine? If we do not, if we kind of recognise occasionally that he is with us "in spirit" when we gather and sing certain songs, it seems we are edging towards serious dualism, even magical incantation, as strange as that may sound.

Our wholistic approach to Christ's presence ought to take us to a place where we are encountering the real and present Christ at every moment of every day, which to me seems like the only "strategy" worthy of our time and energy. To see Christ, to seek Christ, and to make Christ better known. I worry that we have for too long been engaged in ministry that does not require us to seek out Christ and does not bear the expectation that Christ will be seen. Which is exactly the kind of ministry that people should leave, or help to change.

Grace,

Aaron

June3, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

In 1989 C+B Territory publiched a book compiled by Major Betty McCaughey called WILLIAM AND CATHERINE, WITH LOVE (A year's daily readings). You can possibly pick it up at your Trade (it includes daily Scripture readings). Today's entry goes a bit like this:
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May God help us to be faithful! To be 'faithful even unto death'.

Ah, to be faithful unto death means a great deal. It means to be faithful when friends 'forsake us and flee', when 'no man sstands by us'. 'In perils from false brethren'. 'In perils by land and sea', when 'suffering hunger', as well as when we abound. 'Through evil as well as good report', when men misrepresent and slander us, and smite us with the palms 'of their hands and spit upon us!' Faithful at Pilate's bar before magistrates, and rulers, and before mobs of bullies, and blackguards. Faithful to conscience, to principles, to man, and to GOd. Oh, that everyone of us may faithfully follow our Lors right on to dark Gethsemane's garden, sweating under a sense of a world's guilt and misery, and offering strong crying and tears for its deliverance. Yes, and right on to the Cross! We cannot get further than that; but, bless Him, we can get as far. I know that you, my brethren and sisters, offiers in this Army, have trials and hardships and sorrows and conflictswhich nobody knows anything about save your great Captain in Heaven, but He knows it all, and He says, "Be though faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life!" Oh, Hallelujah! (Catherine Booth)
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Be encouraged. Be challenged. Read the new issue of JAC (featuring exclusive interviews with such world-beaters as Chang, Clifton, Phillips, Noland, Brown, and Burrows!).

God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15.
Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

Quiting

Salvos are the most covenanted people I know. Soldiers and officers make ridiculous promises to God. And the enemy uses them regularly for temptations to sin and disqualify ourselves from the fight. Here is a great testimony:
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"The greatest service he rendered me, at a crisis in my life, in my tenth year as an officer. I did not actually resign, but I was tempted to do so. All my people were in Canada; my circumstances as an officer were clouded with misunderstanding. There fares of my family to Canada would be paid, and there was a church appointment waiting for me, where I would be near my parents and brothers. I could make out a convincing case for resigning. Twelve good men and true would undoubtedly have given me the same verdict. I was mentally tortured and spiritually confused. I quoted against myself those songs of faith, love, courage, obedience, which I had written for others. All in vain. It seemed I had lost sight of the ideals which were usually my inspiration. But while I was still undecided, I visited my friend, Dalziel. He did me the great service of listening. Then he said, "I can't answer your arguments; but I know you have changed! You do not talk like the man I have known. You seem to have got harder, more critical." How right he was! "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." God used him. I rediscovered my real incentives. I saw again my lost horizon. And then the song returned to my heart. I think most of our officers have this stsruggle, at least once."
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You guessed it - Orsborn, again (p137). He lost his song, similarly to Herbert Booth when he resigned. Anyway, feel free to substitute 'soldier' for 'officer'. And notice how the decision was hard. For those who leave soldiership and officership the decision should be hard. God help you if it isn't. And, may God bless you in your crises with a faithful Dalziel.
much grace
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June 2, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

The new Canadian SALVATIONIST is out. There are some nice connections to appointments: the Mitchells look great getting commissioned (though the photo is a bit old); the Ramsays look great getting commissioned (this coming month!); Kirsten Ivany looks great getting enrolled as a soldier; RAW looks great in its full-page report. And John McAlister gets dreamy in his article, "A Fine Balance" (on Zimbabwe Salvos):

1. "This was the Army I dreamed of when I was a child- the biggest church on the block that everyone wants to belong to and where it's cool to wear the uniform;" and,

2. "My dream is that more Salvationists around the world will be able to say, "Yes, we are a big, exciting church. But let me tell you how we are reaching out to the hurting people in our community.""
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Here's one for cadets and training officers:
"We are not able to give our officers extensive training. They have in the main to learn their work by doing it. Nevertheless, this involves great risk to the Organization." (Orsborn, THE HOUSE OF MY PILGRIMMAGE. p140). This is still true. God bless all of the cadets hitting the field over the next short period. You'll have to learn much of it on the fly. Get anointed, pray hard, keep your chin tucked, love people, evangelize (how else will anyone get saved?), train your people. You learn by 'doing it'.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Proverbs 20-22; Romans 14.
Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

JAC IS OUT!

The new issue of JAC (top right), #49, is now out (hat tip Don Grad!).

It is the first of back-to-back birthday festive issues (49 and 50) celebrating God's faithfhulness over 50 issues.

These two issues take a different approach. New articles by the likes of Major Janet Munn and Commissioner Wesley Harris are accompanied by primary source SA periodical pieces - one a an invasion report and the other a famous vision and exhortation by General William Booth.

But the kicker is a a highlight article from each of the first ten issues. So, names like John Norton, Graham Harris, Robert Marshall, and Phil Wall are joined by exclusive interviews with senior leaders from six different territories. You'll love it.

Tell your friends. Start discussions. Compare interview answers. Get holy. Do something to honour God! :-)
Much grace,
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June 1, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
RAW (Vancouver-style)

The War College blog (right side) has a cool video on RAW (ready and willing), a youth urban missions experience in Vancouver. Check it out.

While you're at it, you might want to try and squeeze in to the upcoming BATTLE SCHOOL Session that starts July 4 (if you're a teen and want to experience something between the four days of RAW and the 12 months of The War College).
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Danielle Strickland's blog is attracting all comers with videos like the Terminator v. Jesus (top right). Enjoy (it is preachable).
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

May 31, 2007. (updated 1:57 pm est)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

The growing SA podcast movement is advanced by the Council of War Site:
http://www.councilofwar.co.uk/podcasts/Site/Welcome.html
If you're corps is podcasting, let us know so that we can plug it (revolution@mmccxx.net).

Here are two bits from today's reading:
Proverbs 17:5 - He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker.
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Romans 12:6-8 (The Message) - If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
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God is here.
SA Daily reading: Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court