Armybarmy Blog

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

Today is the day for the Call to Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking. "'Sunday 30 September 2007 is the day set aside for a focus on sex-trade trafficking and other social justice issues. I am calling the Army to prayer once again 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.'"
– General Shaw Clifton
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CONNECTED with this day of prayer, please read this news bulletin:
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The General Requests Prayer for Myanmar (Burma)

GENERAL Shaw Clifton has called for Salvationists and friends around the world to pray for the situation in Myanmar (Burma). In a statement sent to territorial and command leaders he writes:

'YOU will be aware of civil unrest in Myanmar (Burma). The public protests are taking place mainly in the cities of Yangon (Rangoon) and Mandalay. The Salvation Army in Myanmar is a positive example of growth and progress in recent years in the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory. We have Salvationists in Yangon. The work throughout Myanmar is led by Regional Officer Major James Aaron. The majority of Salvationists are located in upper Myanmar and toward the north-west border with the Indian Eastern Territory and Mizoram. We do not have any Army work in the city of Mandalay.

'The government authorities in Myanmar have now reacted to the public protests. A ban has been imposed on more than five people gathering together and this will apply for 60 days. At present it is unclear whether or not this ban will affect Christian places of worship. We have no reports to date of any Salvationists being hurt or arrested.

'On behalf of the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory, under the good leadership of Colonels David and Grace Bringans, I ask for your prayers for the nation of Myanmar as a whole, for the Christians in that land and for the country's Salvationists. Please pray for their safety, for wisdom and for courage. Also, please remember in prayer Major Aaron, Regional Officer, and all working with him in Yangon.'

The General has asked Salvation Army leaders around the world to circulate this prayer request as widely as possible, suggesting that it would be appropriate to link it with this coming weekend's Call to Prayer with regard to the evils of human trafficking.
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Back to Bolton (see previous posts this week):

Now, I know of a territory that runs monthly stats on largest and fastest growing corps and corps units (hard numbers and percentage growth). I'm all for it. And I know that in past days Red Shield, Self Denial, Christmas kettle, and War Cry sales were also posted. But this note from Booth's Drum of early Australia War Cry practices might be taking it a little too far:
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"It printed the names of the top sellers and black-bordered lists of those corps which had demeaned themselves by decreasing their weekly orders. For the future of offcers who decreased their orders the editorial staff entertained the darkest fears; on one occasion they printed a picture of a tmobstone bearing the name of a Divisional Officer whom they regarded as being particularly neglectful."
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And one more rom Bolton today. Some will know that we're interested in Collingwood Salvos and in Salvo Weddings. These two topics come together in this bit from the book:
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November 28, 1883 Collingwood Salvos hosted one of the earliest Aussie SA weddings, featuring two couples. "It was a colourful event. The brass band clared away. the masses waved hankerchiefs in time with the music, and a shower of flowers met the happy couples when they were pronounced man and wife. Unfortunately, as they left the hall a shower of mud from the larrikans also met them. But it had been a most successful wedding and, to the satisfaction of The Army, 1,600 people had paid sixpence admission. The proceeds went, of course, to meet the needs of the Movement." (p62)
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There is another classic account of a Salvo wedding in Sydney (a little long for me to type right now) full of testimonnies by "converted larrikans, drunkards, fighters, wife beaters, and respectable sinners..." with "the power of the Holy Spirit being manifestly felt in the meeting." And the march (!) includes barss band, tin whistles, fifes, tambourines, banjo and fiddle "all making a joyful noise unto the Lord." The wedding that this War Cry reporter was reporting was his own.
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Keep praying for The Salvation Army in Pakistan.
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Our eStore (armybarmy.com) has BOUNDLESS volume 2 now available. As we've suggested before, it is a very strong line-up and a blessed worship set. You'll dig it. There are many other warfare resources available there.
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Xander Coleman has some good blogs recently. Check the one on the divine appointments and his public transit intercession (he also broke yesterday's story).
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JUSTLive started this weekend - it is a grassroots network of salvo incarnational communities in the territory. Hat tip to the crew that made the trip in from many hours away. Justice is on God's heart and JUSTLive will provide mutual support, brainstorming, prayer coverage, ideas, and strength to what is happening here and there on various fronts in the Salvation War. It could be that you are involved locally in such a community or that you are looking to start one. Maybe JUSTLive is a way forward for you...
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While we're on our justsalvos.com kick, JUSTLose is in its early days and they are still signing up teams of ten. You can register at the site and plunge into the challenge. Good will come from it.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

September 29, 2007. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
News Report from IHQ:
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Leader of The Salvation Army in Pakistan murdered

Colonel Bo Brekke

Colonel Bo Brekke, Territorial Commander of the Pakistan Territory, was shot and killed yesterday, Thursday 27 September. The incident occurred in the THQ compound in Lahore in the early hours of the evening. Information to date points to an individual act of criminality. There is nothing to suggest that this is related in any way to terrorism. It is reported that a man has been arrested on possibly related charges.

The incident occurred at about 6.30 pm local time while Colonel Brekke was working alone in his office. The colonel’s wife, Colonel Birgitte Brekke, was in London at the time, attending meetings at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters.

A Norwegian by birth, Bo Brekke, who was 50, was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer in May 1980 and appointed in charge of the Army’s work in Brevik, Norway. The following year he transferred to local Salvation Army leadership in Denmark, the homeland of his wife. After two years in Denmark, Bo and Birgitte returned to Norway and served there until transfer to Sri Lanka at the beginning of 1987. They returned to Norway in 1993, serving there for the next two years.

Having developed a deep love for South Asia and its people, Bo and Birgitte Brekke in August 1995 were appointed as regional leaders to Bangladesh. Under their leadership the work of The Salvation Army flourished there and in 1997 the then Major Bo Brekke was appointed as Officer Commanding, with Birgitte serving alongside him as Command President of Women's Ministries and Command Youth Officer.

The late summer of 2002 saw a further change of culture and working environment as Bo and Birgitte were appointed as divisional leaders of the North Scotland Division in the United Kingdom Territory, followed by service respectively as Chief Secretary and Secretary for Mission Development in the Eastern Europe Territory. It was from there that, almost exactly one year ago (15 September 2006) Colonel Bo Brekke was appointed as Territorial Commander of the Pakistan Territory.

At the time of her husband's death, Colonel Birgitte Brekke was attending meetings at International Headquarters. She immediately flew to Norway to be with her two sons, Benjamin and Bo Christoffer, and other family members. She was accompanied by her sister who had come to London to see Birgitte while she was visiting IHQ.

General Shaw Clifton, world leader of The Salvation Army, said: ‘Colonel Bo Brekke was a Salvation Army leader of unusual and distinctive talents. Both he and his wife, Colonel Birgitte Brekke, were known for their hearts of compassion towards the marginalised. Their service together in many lands has been marked by creativity and imagination in order to reach out to the poor, giving them dignity, and also to share their personal faith as Salvationists in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. I have known the Brekkes for many years and have always admired them greatly. Bo Brekke was my friend. I feel blessed to have known him and to have witnessed first hand how he and Birgitte have faithfully served the needs of others.’

General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton, World President of Women’s Ministries, will in due course conduct the colonel’s funeral in Oslo, Norway.
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Pray for the family. Pray for the territory. Pray for justice. Pray for the General.

Major Geoff Webb has a more detailed account from his facebook page.
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12.
Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

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

Yesterday's post requires a couple of explanations. There was some confusion as to what is a glory fit. Here is Commisioner Elijah Cadman's definition:
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"The soul it self has nothing to do with the body. It is wholly superior to the body. When the soul is not the first concern, it can be hindered by the body. The soul of the saved man or woman cannot be controlled by the body. A 'Glory Fit' is nothing more than the complete conquering of the body by the soul in its reach upward to its Creator and Redeemer. It is the condescension of Infinite Love in Christ to so uplift itself to Himself for a foretaste of joy with Him in heaven. Doctors often examined people in this state but could not explain it. The fact is, I believe, the soldiers were 'absent from the body and present with the Lord'. These 'Fits' and bodily cures were nothing to do with any of us. They were manifestations of the power of God... we only saw them as signs of His presence".
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Some people talk about being slain in the spirit. That is a similar manifestation that seems to be have been born in the Pentecostal revival. Glory Fits started earlier, in The Army revival.
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You can read more about the subject in this old JAC article:
http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article3-49.html
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TSM = Territorial Sergeant-Major. And I'm not joking (see yesterday's blog). It is a classic solution. Pass on the idea to the TCs...
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11 (v20 - Kingdom of God has arrived when we kick demons; v27,28 - yes, Mary is blessed (as Luke 1 asserts). I don't dispute it. But let's dial it down. Every Christian is more blessed than her, according to Jesus (in a similar way that every Christian is greater than John the Baptist, according to Jesus, in Luke 7:28).
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I was blessed to participate in some intercessory prayer during THE HOUR OF POWER (said with wrestling ring announcer tone and intensity) in the non-stop prayer room at a large corps in town for backsliders. They slammed back an hour of praying the Bible (out loud, to God) that got pretty loud and emotional. It was all Scripture and built urgency and faith for the war. If you're getting blase about your lst/losing friends, give it a shot.
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Let's each try to get someone saved today.
JUSTLose (justsalvos.com).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

September 27, 2007. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

You may catch the Canada and Bermuda TC/CS podcast over the last couple of years (see that site in 'News and Opinion' on the blog roll). There is a new TC there now and a new podcast:

http://www.salvationarmy.ca/2007/08/01/commissioners-william-and-
marilyn-francis-audio-interview/

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At a conference last year I heard the great Phil Wall suggest that this is an officers' army (not a new idea). His biggest piece of evidence was the lack of non-officer soldiery representation at the High Council. I have the solution. Every TSM should attend the High Council. Now, I've only heard of one TSM in existence (hat tip USS). But it is a great idea (more military, no offence, than ACSAL and similar bodies). If every territory makes DSMs and a TSM the TSM could attend the High Council and provide the soldiers representation that Phil Wall figures is necessary (hat tip PW).
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On youth in leadership. "William Booth looked the boys up and down. "You are very young," he said slowly. They held their breath, wondering if he was going to change his mind about the appointment. "But," said Booth briskly, "you will grow out of that." And he appointed them to Australia! (Bolton, p58).
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Check out justsalvos.com and join the JUSTLose campaign against human trafficking. Our cell did our official weigh-in last night and we're off ot he races. Compete against us and teams around the world for this good cause.
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This is the last week for the current issue of JAC (the JAC@50 edition). Of course, you CAN download all 50 issues in one file, courtesy of Major Don Grad. But, catch up on your reading because we've got lots more coming at you October 1 (#51).
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

We've stumbled on to some great stuff in BOOTH'S DRUM by Barbara Bolton.

Have you heard of a "Hallelujah Gallop"? Well, they used to have them in Australia. Here is an account of one: "and gallop the soldiers did, up and down the hall, shouting, clapping, and dancing intoxicated with the exuberance of their joy over sinners coming home to God" (p55).
Great phrase, that (intoxicated...).
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And the idea was that the hall be "packed on Saturday nights, like herrings in a barrel... Oh, we must have the people!" (p56).
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Bolton describes the Salvos as 'pentecostalsim with practicality" (p55).
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"The training staff... took care that their programme was geared to the practical rather than the academic. A typical day's programme included a long march to knee drill at five am, street-meetings, War Cry selling, housework, and a public meeting at night" (p49).
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Cadets were under a three-fold rule: love, obedience and work:
"The first great law of the garrison is love, therefore in all garrison relationships each cadet seeks not her own gratification but the comfort and well-being of her comrades, remembering that not even Christ pleased Himself. Every cadet... carries out the instructions given to her by those who are over her in the Lord. Such a thing as rebellion is not even heard of... 'Redeeming the time' is one of the mottos of the garrison... each cadet cheerfully takes her share..." (p49).
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Or how about these tactics?
"We... used to head the march, and we looked gay in our red jerseys. I used to wear a red felt hat, Colonel Harris a yellow one, and Will Brown blue. The folk called THE ARMY LOBSTERS... We hadn't been getting much of a crowd to the meetings and one night the officer said to us chaps in the hall, "Are you ready for anything?" We all agreed. "Then take you caps and coats off and follow me. When I say 'run' then run." Presently we had a crowd chasing us, also two or three policement. We ran till we arrived at the hall and lots of people ran inside to see what was going to happen. We had a glorious meeting and MANY were saved that night" (emphasis mine, p56).
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Meanwhile, therubicon.org has started a rubi-blog that will run three times a week with three bloggers. It is not clear who the three are, though those who read Gordon Cotterill's blog (on blogroll at right) will know that he is one of the three.
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Glory to God.
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezra 4; Psalm 113; 127; Luke 9.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

Big news: a test version of justsalvos.com is up and running. This new site will be a go-to spot for salvos interested in justice issues. The first one that is up is a campaign called JUSTLose - an entry-level justice initiative for you and nine friends to sign up (at justsalvos.com) for a five-month loss odyssey.

"Our excessive pleasures (chocolate, coffee and sex) are what enslave millions of people (mostly children) in the world’s largest slave trade ever. Our excessive behaviour also enslaves us through obesity and desire. This progression of oppression needs to be confronted." So - teams of ten - $5 each a week (that's $1,000/team) and a competition to lose. And all the money goes to an anti-human-trafficking initiative. So, bookmark the site AND sign up a team for JUSTLose (you can challenge the Collingwood Salvos!). It is currently blog rolled under News and Comment.
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There is also a new Growing Healthy Corps resources website for those so interested:
www.salvationarmy.org.au/ghc
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Lieutenant Steve Bussey is crafting two timelines as part of a project he's working on: 1. a timeline of SA youth work; 2. a timeline of Christian youth work. They are here:

http://stevebussey.blogspot.com/2007/09/history-of-youth-work-in-salvation-army.html

AND...

http://stevebussey.blogspot.com/2007/08/history-of-youth-work-timeline.html

Two points: 1. It will be of interest to many of you; and, 2. some of you might be able to help fill in the blanks.
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2Love produced candies/lollies with four colours and four inscriptions that match the AUS mission intentions:
- Transforming Lives
- Caring for People
- Making Disciples
- Reforming Society
One youngster I know thought that if he are the yellow ones that would mean that he cared for people (and so on).
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We were right in our blog recently about that married woman Secretary for Personnel appointment. Major Marsha-Jean Bowles, has been appointed by the General to this important position in Germany and Lithuania Territory.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezra 2-3; Luke 8 (see v 24,28 - shouting, skrieking, and screaming - People are emotionally affected by Jesus).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

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

NO LIMITS TOGETHER was a motto of USE Territory for a bright season and there was a book by Commissioner Joe Noland with that title explaining the vision from God for that territory captured in this mandate. I've taken the liberty of commenting within, after 'sc':
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God Has Given Us a Mandate!

God has given us a mandate …
to reclaim the Army value of participatory prayer.

sc - We have done that in many places in the world. Since this vision was given The Army has plunged into the 24-7 prayer movement like no one else. There are places around the world that are going non-stop (hat tip to Noarlunga Corps in Adelaide that started a couple of months ago and is still going strong). Last night, for example, maybe a couple of hundred people joined for prayer for peace in one corps hall and marched to the Parliament building carrying candles (it was The Army's Internatioanl Day of Prayer for Peace). That scene was replicated around the world. Praise God.

God has given us a mandate …
to call Salvationists back to a life of holiness.

sc - that is happening, too. Slip over to Doug Burr's blog and see that he is celebrating someone's sanctification. I received an email yesterday from someone who got sanctified. AUS just published a book called AUTHENTIC HOLINESS. It is publishing another book on holiness (this one, for teens) called THE UPRISING. I know several candidates who are holding out for the Ambassadors of Holiness Session in 2009. Recently 20-something War College students of the Holy Session graduated. No, it isn't your 'Couttsian' (though he might not recognise 'Couttsian') holiness, either. This is Brengle - like it or not.

God has given us a mandate …
to reaffirm the Army value of aggressive and adaptive evangelism.

sc - happening. The next three conferences in which I'm participating are AGGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY CONFERENCE (Oct2-5 see armybarmy front page for more details), GO FOR SOULS (Oct 12-13 - see James Thompson's blog for more details), and CONNECTIONS 07 (Nov 23-25 - see armybarmy front page - BUT, for our purposes here, know that employees, clients, donors, and everyone connected at all with The Army is being targetted and invited to this event - adaptive evangelism).

God has given us a mandate …
to aggressively and flexibly plant new corps, with a focus on the fellowship of believers.

sc - Amen. Since this vision came out, God gave a vision for new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years (MMCCXX). These will mostly be bi-vocational, incarnational cell-based communities that fit this mandate perfectly.

God has given us a mandate …
to reach out with new Army expressions to those living on the edge.

sc - There are people working on this one. More, Lord. There are house churches, multiple congregation corps, cell-based corps, a corps on the beach (in Hawaii), corps amongst poor people, 'emergent' corps, etc.

God has given us a mandate …
to reach out evangelistically to the recovering community.

sc - Well, so far as I can tell, this is where the plurality of conversions in The Army take place. Praise God.

God has given us a mandate …
to reach out to teens and young adults.

sc - Always a challenge. 2Love (see David Collinson's blog yesterday) tackles this well. There are also trainings school springing up in various parts of the world. The high collar is coming back as a prophetic fashion statement about Salvationism. There are some good signs. Praise God.

God has given us a mandate …
to corps revitalization.

sc - Tough challenge to change the culture and direction. But God has given us that mandate. And He is equipping people to realise it. God, help us.

God has given us a mandate …
to recruit and cultivate candidates.

sc - Amen. Sign up. What are the alternatives? 9-5 drudgery to protect your 'autonomy'? Rat race? Look, obviously God calls heaps of people to do things other than officership. But that's the point. He needs to call you to do something else for you to do something else other than apply for officership. If He doesn't, improve yourself, prepare, train up, and apply.

God has given us a mandate …
to provide greater opportunities for midlife ministry.

sc - Bigtime. The lieutenant system and its auxiliary-captain and envoy predecessors have always provided opportunities. There are a few wrinkles in the current system that can be ironed out to provide even greater opportunities. Praise God.

God has given us a mandate …
to make appointments based on congruence with core values and performance, not protocol.

sc - Amen. God saw this happen in that territory during that season. It was intriguing for soldiers elsewhere to peek in on the officer moves to see the next surprise. Praise God for those who hear His voice clearly on this issue and have the guts to obey.

God has given us a mandate …
to create channels and opportunities for ideas and information to move freely throughout the territory.

sc - Nice. I'm not sure if this happened in USE. However, Major Larry Ashcraft, from USE, has a blog (see blog roll at right) on this issue right now. You may want to weigh in. In Canada and Bermuda, the TC and CS had a podcast. In AUS the TC has a daily blog. I'm not sure about movement the other way, though. USS has a TSM. That is a help, but not sufficient (for 20,000 soldiers!). :-)
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85 (beautiful); Luke 7.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

Sunday supplemental (updated)

Our family in Charlotte has a new site for their community. Take a peek at
lifetogether614.com/
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The McAlisters have a post on the 20th you might want to read - give us this day our daily Cauliflower.
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And, unconfirmed, but we hear that a married woman has been appointed personnel secretary in a European Territory. It is good to be unleashing all of our officers, regardless of marital status.
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"The United Nations Children's Fund just announced that deaths of young children worldwide hit an all-time low, falling beneath 10 million annually. Better practices to protect against disease and to enhance nutrition - more vaccinations and mosquito nets, more breast-feeding and vitamin A drops - played a role, but the most important factor in this global good-news story is economic growth." The report is here:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/09/to_save_the_children_capitalis.html
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Read more below.
grace
sec

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

Here is another scoop, from a new book by Rory Stewart, who was governnor of the Maysan province in Iraq starting in 2003, called PRINCE OF THE MARSHES (p91):
Prince of the Marshes by Rory Stewart:
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"Iraq was not Kosovo with traffic jams of (NGO) white Land Cruisers...This war was dangerous and unpopular and few agencies came. During the time I was in Iraq, Tanzania was visited by a thousand donor missions, Maysan (the province were he was a Governor on the border of Iran) by a dozen. (skip)

"The reed huts for refugees were being built by the Salvation Army. Many of its staff were priests at home. They received no salary and they did not participate in our brass band. One might have predicted a disaster for a Christian missionary organization that called itself an army, operating in the Shia south. Yet the Salvation Army were probably the most successful and popular NGO in the province. Ur local office funded many of their programs, from computer training to playgrounds. They had opened a dressmaking school, which was run by a very reserved young woman named Muna. Her father had died and she was the only breadwinner for 5 brothers and 5 sisters... Even conservative fathers seemed happy to send their daughters to her classes. When Muna talked about her work she lost her solemnity and smiled like her younger sisters saying:”I am so grateful, more than words can say, that the Salvation Army has given me this chance, this hope, when before I had no hope.”
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(hat tip Jim Mancuso)
You've got to love The Salvation Army. How about those 'priests'? (Major Harold Hill will have something to say about that in the next issue of JAC - #51, October 1).
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Today is the Salvos International Day of Prayer for Peace. God, answer prayer.
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I am told that in Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings - the one with all of the retired generals - two young men were successful in their little campaigns. One went for all five generals' autographs. The other went for all five generals' anointings.
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Danielle Strickland's blog has broken (in the salvosphere) the story of a micro-credit plan by The Army in Adelaide Australia. While this is apparently widespread in some developing countries it is notable in Australia.

She also unwittingly hosted a lengthy debate on her comment board from a post on July 29 on the subject of war, by my partner blogger, Aaron White, and 'J'. If you are interested in just war and the Christian take, you may enjoy running through the 18 comments there.
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Check out Jo Brookshaw's blog at www.revolutionarmy.blogspot.com on the elephant and the ant.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Daniel 11-12; Luke 6 (v35 - Love your enemies. Do good to them. Lend to them).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

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

You may have noticed some shuffling in the blog roll at right (hat tip Don Grad). There are some fresh blogs there to keep you coming back. Check them out when you have a break in the action. We hope they serve to stir us on to love and good deeds.
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American officer Major Darvin Carpenter can be heard on Light FM 89.9 this Sunday, 23rd September at 8am and again at 7pm in Melbourne Australia. He is preaching "What is success? How do we really measure success in life?"
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A fellow warrior passed on this a helpful teaching by Mike Bickle (http://mikebickleteachings.blogspot.com/) on disciplined warfare. To read it, scroll down the blog to "the power of a focused life" (hat tip HD).
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AUS Territory Stats
1996 senior soldiers: 12,129
2006 senior soldiers: 10,978 (9,318 in 2007 year book, reflecting stats for 2005)
1996 junior soldiers: 2,402
2006 junior soldiers: 1,158
1996 active officer strength: 650
2006 active officer strength: 534
1996 number of corps: 186
2006 number of corps: 165
1996 number of outposts: 33
2006 number of outposts: 5
(hat tip CC)

Now, I've asked around to find out why things started declining around 1994 (Year Book stats are two years older than the Year Book edition) and are led to believe that we stopped intentionally opening fire on new fronts around then. You may or may not know that research indicates that opening fire on new fronts is apparently the most effective way to reach new people and build the kingdom. So, if we're not advancing, we're splipping, as these stats so relentlessly emphasise.

Commissioner Norman Howe hammered at his soldiers in Canada to start new congregations, even new congregations in the same buildings, to reach new people and build the kingdom. In obedience to his command, the corps where I soldiered started several cell-based congregations.

If you are reading this and are an able-minded, keen and committed soldier at a relatively blessed corps, why not pray about starting a new congregation? Even better, from our perspective, why not pray about starting a new cell-based outpost? (One of) The way(s) forward is to go bi-vocational (so, keep your job that you have) and incarnational (reach the people who live with and around you in a multiplying cell - we can resource you with training courses soon and with cell curriculum now). We are looking to network with several thousand people to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years - mmccxx. Most of them will be bi-vocational, incarnational, we expect (though, we are game for attractional model types, of course, too).

So, with the stats for that territory above, it has lost 21 corps and 28 outposts in a decade. If AUS starts a modest five a year, it returns to the 1996 total. BUT, if it engages in the 'century' target (for those cricket types amongst the barmy army) and goes for 100 in the coming decade, we're looking at 279 or so corps by 2017. I'm just saying...
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There are stark contrasts in these photos between wealth and poverty in various cities of the world. This is well worth clicking on here: http://deputy-dog.com/2007/09/19/extreme-rich-poor-divides/?/ (hat tip Phil Laeger)
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And The War College blog features a photo with the classic high collar tunic on it - the legendary Earlscourt Citadel Band red with black piping 'lion-tamer' tunic that most of us would love to wear (!) included, not coincidentally, in a recruiting advert for the 2008/2009 Conquerors Session of The War College (all campuses - hat tip PM on the high collar). Enjoy it here: http://thewarcollege.blogspot.com/
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Psalm 123; Daniel 9-10 (intriguing peek behind the veil on the angelic/demonic here that provides back story for your daily warfare AND Angel Wars (see angelwars.com); Luke 5 (how about 17b?!).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

September 21, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2SC/AW)

Danielle Strickland's blog is lighting it up these days and is on the verge of unleasing a great new website (stay tuned for details).
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I was asked this morning to recommend three books that a person must read (hat tip RL). I shy away from that kind of prescription but I did offer a few titles. The context is that I've already had this War College grad read some classics like Brengle's holiness books and Wesley's A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. So, with that in mind, here is the list suggested this morning:

AGGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY - Catherine Booth;
HEATHEN ENGLAND - George Scott Railton;
SERGEANT-MAJOR DO-YOUR-BEST - William Booth.

Many will quarrel, especially with the last two. But HE is enlightening, inspiring, revolutionary history that will motivate and mobilise (stay tuned for an updated version of this book coming soon) and SMDYB is community living salvo style (?. There is fellowship in the fight).

The good news is that these classic SA titles are growing less lonely by the month. IHQ is aggressively publishing again and AUS Territory is going to give IHQ a run for their money with an aggressive project under SALVO Publishing. Stay tuned - Authentic Holiness For Ordinary Christians by the Webbs was only the first of many.

Why are SALVO books important? They transmit DNA. Without influential SA books the DNA is watered down (to mess with metaphors). If we produce good books that Salvos read, we will tighten the bonds that unite us as we fight to win the world for Jesus. So, encourage and read SA authors.
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Andrew Bale (right side UK blog) has a nice blog on uniform. My take on that is if you are wearing your uniform cap it is more difficult for people to mistake you for a pilot (or...) since it says THE SALVATION ARMY right across the front.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Psalm 137; Daniel 7-8; Luke 4.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

A German politician is advocating 7-year marriage contracts. She's been divorced twice and is aged 50. Make your spiritual application. Read about it here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/20/2038287.htm
----
More from William Booth in 1905 (from The War Cry, hat tip Peter Collins - see details yesterday):
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"God-inspired men and women have gone out in midnight marches, personal encounters, or in some extraordinary fashion to wrestle with the coldest and wickedest and wretchedest of their neighbours, won them to Christ and convulsed whole populations with the news of their reclamation."
----
"Is not the majority of the population around you crowding the road to ruin? Oh, my God! How will you meet them at the Day of Judgement?"
----
to officers: "Make direct efforts for the Salvation of Souls, daily visitation from house to house..."
----
In 1904 (hat tip Collins) General Booth addressed 570 cadets on the training system, teaching that provided instruction in doctrine, the Bible, history, and "how to rescue their fallen brothers and sisters, how to get sinners saved, how to get people to the penitent form, how to resist temptation themselves, how to maintain their faith in God, and how to fight their way to heaven."
----
In 1905 (hat tip Collins), Comissioner McKie told the cadets, "You may be dubbed a crank, never mind: the crank is a vital part of the steam engine that connects steam power with the driving wheel..." He continued, "Go out and bombard people on the street corners to return accompanied by atleast one person..." And, regarding candidates for officership: "unless cadets are willing to accept the discipline... it is better for them not to enter the Training Home."
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3 (In Daniel see the envious administrators describe Daniel as 'that man', 'taken captive from Judah' -- he was governor, and the captivity happened many years and a couple of regimes previous).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Here is an article sent to me by a Salvationist engaged in the international fight against the evil of human trafficking. It is particularly relevant to us, as many advocates in the DTES are pushing for legal brothels etc...believing this will help the women trapped in prostitution.
----
"Legalised prostitution: what sex workers say
By Troy Martens and Vivian Attwood

Durban sex workers have urged the authorities not to legalise prostitution in the lead up to the 2010 World Cup Soccer tournament in South Africa.

Making their feelings known to The Daily News this week, a group of women earning their living through sex work claimed that National Police commissioner Jackie Selebi "has got it all wrong".

The sex workers were responding to Selebi's idea of legalising the sex trade during the world soccer event, a suggestion that has angered many.

'You will still be raped, abused and violated'

"Those advocating legalisation think prostitutes' lives will improve," said Sindy a former Durban prostitute.

"It won't happen, because of the nature of the work. You will still be raped, abused and violated. The emphasis should be on encouraging women away from this profession by giving them better options."

She said that legalisation would not mean protection from the law, or improved working conditions.

This week the Daily News will run a series of articles looking at issues surrounding sex in the city, dispelling many of the current perceptions about sex work, hearing the real life experiences of the city's prostitutes, some frank, some shocking, some poignant, others hopeful.

The South African Law Reform Commission says it is looking at the experiences of other countries like Germany, the Netherlands and Australia who have all legalised prostitution, as well as countries who have criminalised sex work.

'Policing is expensive and a waste of manpower'
Some sex workers believe that legalisation is the way to go.

Vicki, a sex worker at an upper-class massage parlour, said: "I think it should be legalised or at least decriminalised. It is never going to go away; policing is expensive and a waste of manpower.

"No little girl sits on her mother's knee, dreaming of her future, and says, 'When I grow up I want to be a prostitute'. We all have big hopes and dreams."

Debbie Toughey is a 46-year-old former prostitute who was once the madam at
a highly successful Durban brothel.

Having spent most of her adult life in degradation, fear and isolation as a worker in the sex industry, she is passionately anti legalisation.

"There's been a lot of discussion regarding the subject. 'Let's dignify the trade', the pro lobby says. 'Let's call them sex workers, not prostitutes'.

"The bottom line is, it's not a job like any other," she said. "It is an occupation that dehumanises you and robs you of your womanhood."

Debbie asserted that low self esteem, coupled with lack of a supportive family structure and financial need, are key reasons why many women become prostitutes.

"If you had to fill in a CV to apply for a job as a prostitute, the one vital criterion would be poor self-worth," she said.

Why did an obviously intelligent, attractive woman stay in prostitution for so long?

"I only have a Standard 9, and work wasn't easy to find. I started out trying to earn enough to look after my baby, and then I got sucked in by a prominent businessman who promised to look after us.

"He had links with organised crime, although his public front was squeaky clean. He made me the front for a brothel, and gradually and systematically broke me down until I had no will of my own, and was absolutely terrified for my own and my son's life.

I suffered daily torture, both physical and emotional, to the point where I
had no future, and didn't dare dream of one.

"My entire being was focused on staying alive that day."

Because her pimp controlled members of the police force, Debbie was too terrified to seek help from the law.

"I knew they couldn't protect me, and he had eyes everywhere," she said.

"I started to think that suicide would be my only way out."

Debbie was finally released from the cycle of torment when her abuser was shot and killed. However, she was so traumatised by her experiences that she temporarily lost her memory and the power of speech.

These symptoms are common in severe cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, with which she was diagnosed.

It has taken her 11 years to claw her way back from the darkness. Today, Debbie is dedicated to improving the lot of women who are still in prostitution, and raising awareness of the frequently abusive and exploitative dynamics at play in the sex industry.

She is a spokesperson for Doctors for Life International, and has been featured on television and radio.

"Don't think for a moment that my story is unique," she said. It is happening all over the world, every day. The public is entitled to all the facts about prostitution before a decision of this magnitude [legalisation]
is made."

Doctors for Life International is a non-profit organisation championing the
sanctity of life. They operate 'Life Place', a care centre for prostitutes
and abused women in Durban.
----
This article was originally published on page 1 of The Daily News on Sept.17, 2007.
----
Grace,
Aaron

September 19, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2dc/CK)

Salvotopia blog has some challenging stuff here:
http://salvotopia.blogspot.com/
----
Here is a captivating story for you on Salvationism (brand new, names are changed -- hat tip EB):
----
"The highlight of my week was a story told to us by Captain Joe about his work in a village infected with HIV/AIDS.   It’s a story worth re-telling. 

"Captain Joe is a counselor instructor who travels around teaching and educating people for the government.  He uses his earnings to pay for the building supplies for his corps in his region.  Just the month before he had heard about an infected woman in a village who was being mis-treated, and went to investigate.  His trip involved a six day walk after an eight hour trip by car and canoe.  When he arrived in the village after dark, he discovered that the woman was being treated like a pariah.  She was literally living with the pigs.  She had been tied up in the pig sty, and was forced to live there all because it had been discovered that she had AIDS.  No one would touch her. 

"He promised that he would return in the morning after he had rested from his long journey. In the early morning hours, Joe rang the village bell and gathered the town elders together and then walked them all out to the woman.  She was filthy and covered in her own feces. 

"Joe picked her up, untied her, took off her clothes, gently bathed her, redressed her and prepared a pot of tea to drink all in the presence of the stunned town elders.  After he gave her a sip of the drink, he then took her cup and finished it himself– using the opportunity to teach the people that they could only contact the disease through sexual contact – nothing else. 

"He took her clothes, burned them and then escorted the woman back into the village. Captain Joe is a simple man – in his words he is just a “humble servant,” but that night as we sat in the dark on his porch he became a giant of a man – one I will long remember even if I never have the opportunity to see him again except in eternity, where I know his Savior has a cup of tea waiting for him."
----
Let us go and try to do likewise.
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2 (I have seen the Saviour, says Simeon).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

In 1901, the year of Federation of Australia, The Army was represented as 0.81% of the population (hat tip Peter Collins, 'A Critique of the evangelistic methods of The Salvation Army in Australia: 1905-2005'.2007).
----
In 1905 General William Booth issued a Manifesto declaring that the year must be "the most successful year in our history for increasing the glory of God... I hereby engage in the strength of God to pray more earnestly, believe more perseveringly, and fight more desperately than I have ever done before" (The War Cry. February 18, 1905 - hat tip Collins).
----
How about it, friends?
----
Check out James Thompson's August 11 email on alcohol (over at the blog roll at right). I am led to believe that some people don't covenant as soldiers because they want to drink...
----
What are they thinking? The sophisticated will say they are being incarnational and relational. But I suspect that they are bound by fear of man and spiritual myopia.
----
Soldier up! (it is crazy to say you have to drink to be incarnational and relational as today lots of people don't drink for socially acceptable and admirable reasons, and we, being in the greatest teetotaller organisation in the world, are among them).
----
For those who want another Steyn fix, here is a piece on Labour Day that gets into politics and environment:
http://www.steynonline.com/content/view/511/
----
Mother T gets slammed here:
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/daniel_c_dennett/2007/08/the_agony_of_misplaced_ecstasy/all_comments.html

The outworking of MT's 'doubt' in God (I'll clarify that MT 'doubted' in the God of the Bible manifest in Jesus who died on the Cross and then rose again and calls all of us to repent and believe for forgiveness of sins and salvation - you and me, too) is one the most beautifully lived, noble lives in our history.

This life of 'doubt' continues to elicit more faith in the object of her 'doubt' (this moral God of the Bible) than one might expect the outworkings of faith in awareness, pragmatism, and consideration as bases for morality to elicit in 'God-free' moral standards.

MT is deeper than we get, I suspect. Her God is deeper, too.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1 (19 - Gabriel - I stand in the very presence of God).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

September 17, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2TB)

I heard a solid preach last night exhorting us to evangelise and pitching as a very reasonable aim once convert a year for every Christian (the preacher actually suggested that one a week might be more reasonable, but was trying to keep us all with him). Anyway, as these extrapolations go, the whole of the country gets saved in 18 years. God grant it. There was at least one BIG conversion last night (after the meeting) - Hallelujah.
----
One throwaway line that I thought was a keeper was the suggestion that we wear T-shirts that say 'ask me about Jesus'.
----
earlychristianwritings.com has some classic stuff from our early Christian leaders such as Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, and Iranaeus (hat tip John D'Alton, blogging at healthyemergingchurch.blogspot.com).
----
Do you sponsor a child? We have friends whose son calls theirs his sponsor brother (hat tip NC). He is part of the family, in a sense. This is a good way to expand horizons and worldviews. I remember as a kid praying all the time for Soo Jung____, who played that role in our family. Salvation Army sponsorships get 100% of your money to the children in developing countries. It is a great deal. The armybarmy front page leads you to it.
----
The updated armyonitsknees.org has a prayer calendar that features some of the big dates on The Army calendar. It might prove a great resource for your intercession.
----
This weekend is the international Day of Prayer for Peace, called by General Shaw Clifton. We've blogged on this before but we're just reminding you that this Sunday there are going to be hundreds of thousands of Salvos praying for peace. Read the headlines next week to see how God is answering our prayers. For more details see:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-sublinks/EC9E1A27A3331F2980257323006741E3?openDocument
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezekiel 42-44 (43:12 - "the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness"); Revelation 22.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

September 16, 2007. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2bww/jt)

As the unofficial salvo blog of record, you'll read here first (the vast majority of you, I expect) that both General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Robin Dunster received the Freedom of the City of London this week and are now Freemen of the City.

Benefits "include the right to herd sheep over London bridge, to go about the City with a drawn sword, and if convicted of a capital offence, to be hung with a silken rope. Other advantages are said to have included the right to avoid being press-ganged, to be married in St Paul's Cathedral, buried in the City and to be drunk and disorderly without fear of arrest."
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/leisure_heritage/freedom_of_city/priveleges.htm )

And see this site for the press release:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_ihq_general.nsf/vw-news/B37835B94820773A8025735500586207?opendocument
----
Here is General Shaw Clifton's testimony of his call to officership. Note God's working through the prophetic ('God's voice'), supernatural healing ('the doctors could not explain it'), refining ('addressing a rather stubborn person with a large ego'), and Holy Spirit/SA partnership - all dynamics of primitive salvationism that continue to stir the hardcore amongst us:
----
‘Already as a 12-year old God's voice spoke to me. I lived in Glasgow and was on my way home from school. Suddenly I knew that I would be an officer when I grew up. I didn't know too much about what it involved, apart from what I could detect from the lives of my parents, who were officers. But after this experience on the way from school I realised that everything I did afterwards, the education I took and the work experience I gained, was in preparation for officer service.' So says Shaw Clifton, who holds both theological and legal degrees.

‘Then I applied for training - and was turned down! They felt my health was not up to it. I'd had cancer. Medical experts thought I would not survive, but I did. The doctors could not explain it, but I was cured! But then Helen and I were turned down by The Salvation Army when we applied for officership.

‘It was painful for my self-esteem. With hindsight I can see that in his own gentle way God was addressing a rather stubborn person with a large ego. If he had not done something about it then, things might have gone terribly wrong. During the period following the refusal I discovered that I needed the call more than the call needed me.

‘But the Holy Spirit would not give us peace. We applied again. And the Army said: "We'll take the risk." I am very grateful for that decision.'
----
Source: 'The World Leader' interview: http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_ihq_general.nsf/vw-sublinks/E97396CDE588190A80257226005ADB03?openDocument
----
Simple decisions can have major repercussions. Thank God that He still works with children and through the prophetic and supernatural and character refinement and Holy Spirit partnership in our lives.
----
Did you read Aaron's post below? He's funny.
----
May today be a day of salvation, deliverance, sanctification, healing, restoration, and revival in and through your life today.

God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Psalm 128; Ezekiel 40-41; Revelation 21 (v4 - no more death, sorrow, crying or pain in heaven).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

The Positive Side of Global Warming...

Turns out the Northwest Passage ice levels have reached record lows. This means, happily, that ships can start navigating through the passage, drastically cutting the amount of time it takes huge freighters to get places. Another victory for humanity!!!!

Apparently it's also potentially an oil-rich region, which means it's worth a lot of money. So various nations have begun squabbling over rights to the area (US and Canada among them), and pretty soon we can expect drilling for oil, so that we can continue burning fossil fuels at comfortable rates. Yeeehaawww!!! (shoots guns in the air)

The obvious benefit of this is that by burning more oil, we can confidently expect more ice-covered regions to melt, thus exposing even quicker routes to places and possibly even more oil-rich areas that we can fight over. Can you say "win win"?

Scientists have apparently also discovered a new way to burn salt water, meaning it could possibly become a new energy source. Which is good, because there is going to be so much more salt water around once we've drowned the coastal regions by melting all the arctic and antarctic ice as a result of burning oil (which we could burn more of because we melted all that pesky ice). This will also enable a whole new group of people to have homes on the beach, like, say, people currently living in the interior of BC.

This is my Father's world....

Grace,

Aaron

September 15, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2dm;db;js;eb)

Here's something you might enjoy, an interview with Commissioner Catherine Bramwell Booth on the BBC with Michael Parkinson in the early 70's (hat tip Richard M):
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8l0Ye63_tE&mode=related&search= (Starts half way through)

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93AmJhvbBG4&mode=related&search=

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfEm4G9N_Bc&mode=related&search=
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Aaron White, in the blog post below here, has the right take on my friend's concern that social justice might become the next distraction for the Church. Yes, justice is important for God. But justice as an end instead of as a means or natural overflow of compassion is a red herring. In some situations it already smells fishy.

And it is understandable. Just as for Salvos it is easier to sleep at night when we can point to something accomplished (and it is easier to feed, clothe, and house people than it is to save, disciple, and sanctify them), so it is easier for all Christians to sleep at night if we have purchased goats and chickens for our friends at Christmas or eaten fair trade chocolate or sipped free trade coffee or changed our lightbulbs or taken public transit or fired off a form email to our local government representative or prayed against AIDS (not having been as successful at the more difficult things such as seeing people saved, delivered, discipled, and sanctified).

I understand the tension. We have a book on it called BE A HERO: The Battle for Mercy and Social Justice (complete with a plan to fight against it) with the premise that the face of the earth changes as the hearts of its people are transformed.
----
Major Perry, the hero of the Aussie Limelight Department (movie pioneers - see Collinson's blog today for more details), was saved at the Collingwood Salvos (hat tip SJ)! Hallelujah (and, at best, only tangentially related, Collingwood Magpies mounted an unlikely second half comeback last night to defeat the two-time defending Eagles in overtime of the finals (not grand final) - and most of you who read this don't know anything about it. By the way, the Mapgies were born in Collingwood in 1892 while the Salvos, as our blog two days ago noted, were born there 1883).
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Psalm 145; Ezekiel 38-39; Revelation 20.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

The Great Distractor...

So, justice is a distraction to the Church now? (According to Steve's friend).

Hmmmmm....

It actually seems like something of a precoccupation to Yahweh and his prophets in Scripture. Seems rather, I don't know, central. It seems that God won't even listen to our prayers, actually hates our "worship", if we have no concern with justice.

Justice is central to Jesus' missional statement (The Spirit of the Soverign Lord is upon me, because he has annointed me to bring good news to the poor, etc...). It is inseperable from the issue of judgment and salvation (sheep and goats, etc...), and it seems rather the point of true religion, according to James (visiting orphans and widows, keeping oneself unspotted, etc...).

Perhaps Steve's friend is merely suggesting that we cannot stop at offering social justice. I agree. Anyone can do that. the Church is given the ministry of reconciliation, and I think that requires prophetic justice. This doesn't just fight for social justice (though it doesn't fight for LESS than social justice) but it calls people to covenant relationship with Christ as well, as an integral part of true justice. We are fighting for the coming of the Kingdom of God here and now, but that Kingdom comes with its King. Can't have a Kingdom with a King.

Grace,

Aaron

September 14, 2007 (updated).
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2DJS)
(boxing day on Piedmont)

Justice issues are popular these days in the Church. My friend is concerned that the environment and justice will become distractions to the Church in the coming years.

Justice is important, of course, and it was refreshing to see Danielle Strickland's new blog (top right) of a testimony of a woman who just aborted her baby, in the context of justice. The Pro-Life cause is one of the biggest justice issues going, one that sometime gets overlooked by the activists. Kudos Danielle and Phil L.
----
And there is a new blog in the Salvosphere (hey, that term just mysteriously appeared - it is bloggable, and yet, here, I've already blogged it! You can quote the armybarmy blog on it!) by Captains Jeff Vale and Craig Exon called Salvotopia. You can get into their head at salvotopia.blogspot.com.
----
Commissioner Wesley Harris has been dipping a toe into the Salvosphere (!) with his blog (right side) and has been getting lots of exposure from David Collinson's blog (right side) which is featuring his leadership thoughts from Proverbial Leadership. Well, we heard him teach on leadership yesterday and here is a bit more grist for the mill:
- competence inspires confidence;
- apostolic optimism;
- Find the people who can change events and put them in touch with God;
- in a panel discussion the question was asked, 'What would William Booth do' Eric Ball, one of the panelists, responded, 'do you mean William Booth as a frail old man, or William Booth as he is now?'
- It is difficult to be optimistic when it seems that 'all the angels are flying in the opposite direction' (General Albert Orsborn);
- where you stand depends on where you sit;
- It's not what you do each day that matters, it's what you get done;
- delegation is not the same thing as abdication;
- Grace there is my every debt to pay (H. Booth).
----
Those still wrestling with sacramental stuff can find our take in the current Journal of Aggressive Christianity (JAC - top right).
----
Collinson has a good explanation of the crest in his blog. James Thompson is on about glory fits and system streamlining at his blog.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Psalm 110; Ezekiel 36-37; Revelation 19 (v11 - He judges fairly and then goes to war).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

September 13, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2KW;JG;RL)

Major James Barker opened the first corps in Victoria (Australia) on December 23, 1882 in Hotham. He started the second such corps on January 1, 1883 in Collingwood with an open air in the Flats. "Much to the horror of his supporters, he took up a collection. Collingwood was the recipient of the charity of the generous, and not a place from which anything was expected in return. But Barker did expect something in return and a vigorous home-grown corps was soon in operation."

The Army soon needed a second hall in Collingwood to supplement the first bulding, for crowds "were so great that those unable to get in had broken down the fence and torn the door from its hinges in their frustration" (both quotes from Booth's Drum by Barbara Bolton, p18,19).

The new 'Hallelujah' magazine continues the story (hat tip Peter L):

"Barker was issued with a commission that indicated he was appointed to "...Form, divide and disband corps..." pg 43

There was a strategic aspect of the mission. The second hall didn't last. And the first didn't last either. Maybe we should be more ruthless on that front.

The DC there has directed a small brigade to open fire there again. And it seems reasonable to follow some of the principles implicit in those accounts:
- open air - be among the people;
- expect something in return (not a hand-out mentality);
- vigorous;
- homegrown;
- great crowds;
- aggressive spirit (evident in the frustraion).
This brigade is going to piggyback on the 614 Vancouver intercessors list. If you're up to praying for this re-invasion, please email revolution @ mmccxx.net. Thanks.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezekiel 33-35 (34:16 - I will shepherd the flock with justice); Revelation 18.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Too Good Not to Share...

This is a "What Are We Hearing?" entry from last night in our new War Room blog (warroom614.blogspot.com).

The new Incendiary session, along with 614 community members, were heading out on their first "street combat", some street visitation and evangelism that is something of a hallmark of our Corps. Someone was left behind in the War Room to intercede, and came up with this gem:

"Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Travail for Souls
Our Street Combat troop just hit the streets eminating from The War Room. I'm left to provide prayer coverage for the advance. I'm really understanding that prayer coverage is needed and will show fruit while we are out on the streets. I'm rushing to log this so I can get into interceeding. Comm Leslie Pindred shares in his book, "In Constant Pursuit" this wisdom:

There is something heart rendering and pathetic about God's continual search for an intercessor. There were people who said praers, believers in God, priests, prophets, and preachers in Israel, but in a growing apostasy and moral decline when intercessors were needed to save the day, "God saw... and wondered that there was no intercessor..." Is it not arresting to notice that God speaks in the singular? The intercessors of the Christian Church have been few; they have been mighty men and women in the economy of grace.

May God find us as intercessors and not have to singularise his search. May He show his power through The Holy Spirit and prevailing prayer. May my intercession tonight prove fruitful for those on the streets where we find the lost found.

Amen."

AMEN!!!

Grace,

Aaron

September 12, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2dc)

I heard of a cadet brigade that led an afternoon prayer meeting at a certain corps and each of the cadets fell asleep (and the sectional officer started snoring).
----
I also heared about Junior Soldier hazing at one corps that consists of 'booger attacks'.
----
There is a corps in USE that marches around the _______ hall of a certain cult every week waving the Blood and Fire flag and beating the bass drum ("I hear the big drum beating...").
----
My wife and I have been called stunt preachers.
----
Word is Maryborough Corps has grown from 60 to well into the 200s in the last year. Hallelujah!
----
Word is that Ringwood raises $140,000 for Self Denial annually. That is the highest total of which I've heard. Is there a higher? If so, tell me (revolution @ mmccxx . net). If not, there's the challenge. Go for it.
----
John's great commission text is 20:21 (hat tip John D'Alton, blogging at
http://healthyemergingchurch.blogspot.com/ ) - Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you. And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
How was Jesus sent? Incarnationally. One 'Orthodox' heresy is Phyletism - imposing your culture in evangelism. John's commission is a peace-filled incarnational mission empowered by Holy Spirit.
----
General Gowans drops this bomb: "They started taking care of the corps instead of taking care of the lost and the Lord took their candlestick from its place. The glory has departed."
----
Look, I've blogged this before, but it bears repeating (and there is a nice summary afterward): La Marechale is asked the secret of her success: There are three. The first is love; the second is love; the third is love. And you get them by sacrifice, then by sacrifice, and then by sacrifice." "The proof of passion seems to be sacrifice" (General Gowans).
----
Heard this week at an officer development conference: "The best officers are those who kiss their careers good-bye on their way out of the training college" (Chick Yuill).
----
How's your soul? This is a good question for you and for those you meet today.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Pslam 81; Daniel 3-4 (4:34 - Neb raises his eyes to heaven and his sanity is restored; then he praises the Most High God); Revelation 17.
Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

September 11, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2rb/RB)

GO FOR SOULS is a conference in Melbourne happening in a month's time. They've just confirmed that Lieutenant Rowan Castle will be preaching and that the Revolution Project band from Adelaide will be there for worship. Check out http://www.goforsouls.blogspot.com/ and James Thompson's blog for information.
----
Commissioner Joe Noland is excerpting classic bits from his books over at hi blog. You hould read the books, but this is a good first taste.
----
Connections 07 is coming up at the end of November. There is more information available at Connections 07 headquarters:
http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV:STANDARD::pc=PC_61776
----
I've picked up Conversational Prayers for Salvationists by Commissioner William Cairns (morning and evening prayers for 30 days).
----
I heard recently that in one territory 98% of officer moves one year were instigated by corps officers.
----
If you don't buy SLB holiness, to what do you call people in the appeal on Sunday? Giving more of you. But at some point, if you keep giving more of you, you will have given all of you. That is the point of sanctification/second blessing/eradication/neutralisation/'done away with'/death/filling of Holy Spirit. Long live Brengle.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16 (He comes like a thief - we're to be awake and clothes-ready - for a good wardrobe see Colossians 3:12).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Seeing the Face of Christ in the Crowd...

A friend of mine from 24-7 prayer has been visiting this week, and he had an interesting observation. The first few days in the DTES he was overwhelmed by the need and pain. Everything was a blur.

But after a little while the blur faded and he started seeing faces. Individuals. People. This was overwhelming in its own right, but allowed him to be present with the one rather than be overcome by the ten thousand.

The danger is that when you are here long term, you can start to allow the individuals to become blurred again, to be subsumed into the great unceasing wave of desperation and pain. So we can begin to not notice the face of Christ in the midst of the crowd.

LORD, help us to notice you, to name you, and to love you. Help us not to be overcome, except by you. Overcome through us!

Grace,

Aaron

September 10, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2rc)

I know an officer who for thirty years every Friday went out with his wife to do pubs. Date night.
----
There is an interesting discussion on loyalty v. faithfulness at Eleanor Burne-Jones's blog (right side).
----
And since we're on Jones, here is an interesting piece from the Sunday Observer on the Creed from Bunyan to Bridget Jones (hat tip RM):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,2165302,00.html#article_continue
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Meanwhile, people are getting saved and sanctified. Hallelujah. This is what it is all about. Everything else is aimed at helping us get everyone saved. Otherwise it is not part of mission (it might still be legit, such as expression of compassion...).
----
Let me reiterate my commendation of the new War Room blog - check it out.
----
We're recruiting Conquerors for the 08-09 War College Session. Why not try to raise up 5 students?
----
Don't forget to pray for the General at lunchtime, and our comrades around the world.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

Acacia Walters-Wulfing (blog at right) is in the band KUMI and they are getting lots of opportunity to spread the Gospel - you can check in on them at http://www.myspace.com/bandkumi
----
For those looking for SA application of military happenings, here is an article by Mark Steyn on rebranding the war:
http://newcriterion.com:81/archives/26/09/whats-in-a-name/
----
I heard it said of a well-known, long-retired Salvationist recently that we'll be discovering the extent of his impact over the next century (hat tip M). Praise the Lord. Benediction. Example.
----
Gore and Saunders started The Army in Australia and Majors 'Glory Tom' and 'Hot Milner' Sutherland were the first officers appointed. Of 'Hot Milner (Adelaide's maiden name was Milner): "Nobody who saw her clamber over the seats... to seize some penitent by the head or neck, and order him to the penitent form for salvation, can forget the emotion of admiration for her fervour, her unhesitating common sense,for her straight-forward dealing with souls" (The War Cry, hat tip Booth's Drum).
----
According to Barbara Bolton (who wrote Booth's Drum), the same William Booth who declared himself willing to stand on his head and play a tamourine with his feet if it would bring people to God once suggested to Adelaide that she might "mix a little sugar with your pills - they'll go down better."
----
Let's see how many people we see saved and sanctified today (God helping).
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

Anthony Castle's blog celebrates the anniversary of the pioneer SA meeting in Australia a few days ago. Check it out.
----
I heard a great testimony (hat tip AL) of a guy who started volunteering for the thrift stores (Salvo Stores) while in college and then got saved, became a soldier, and is now headed to a dangerous developing world country to serve at THQ as a soldier. Beautiful. Praise the Lord.
----
Years ago we were privileged to preach at a Youth Brengle Institute (YBI). This is a great idea that other territories might want to snatch up (especially in an era in which some places are changing the name of the Brengle Institute because, it appears, they are squeamish about Salvo holiness.
----
I got to hear a few great prayers from a few people I wasn't counting on recently in a blessing session in a little community of which I'm a part. Praise God. If you're not a 'big pray-er' don't worry - step out and go for it.
----
Danielle Strickland's blog is hot and heavy these days with several advances and chalenges to consider. Check it out.
----
David Collinson has a good blog today on blogging as a spiritual discipline. All the bloggers ought to read it to be encouraged (and challenged).
----
Over at another blog some time ago, I commented something intended to be funny and to draw people to this site. It was taken the wrong way by someone, and so I apologise the reader (the blog host took it the way it was intended), who is anonymous, here. I asked the host to remove the comment.
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Olivia Munn blogs that The War Room in Vancouver, which has been praying non-stop for more than 3 1/2 years, has gone digitial with its 'What Are We Hearing Book'. This book records what people are hearing (!) and has been the source of guidance, challenge, encouragement, and support over the years. Check out Olivia's blog (right side) for details and to participate.
----
Actually, also go directly the site - there is some gold there already - try out, for example, Jonathan Evans's blog on the Jesus Bed. Wow. http://warroom614.blogspot.com/
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Psalm 48; Jeremiah 42-44; Revelation 13.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

General Coutts is reported to have counselled one senior leader about his leadership team (this is pre-cabinet era): You have to play the team you've got.

This is not the most encouraging advice, but stiffening, in a positive way.
----
I attended a divisional meeting last night (what a great idea! (sic) a divisional meeting). Anyway, they were speaking my dialect, on about stats and goals and all. Here are some goals they have for the coming year to challenge some of you: 20% increase in congregational attendance; double the number of souls saved; 125% increase in the number of senior soldiers made; 200% increase in the number of junior soldiers made (context: this is not the Kenya Territory, with 175,445 Junior Soldiers; this is in a territory that I'm guessing would have fewer Junior Soldiers than many corps in Kenya - just for perspective on the 200% increase).
----
Commissioner Wesley Harris (blogs at right) said this about training up senior leaders: anyone can see the pit in the apple; the key is to see the apple in the pit.
----
We promised awhile ago to blog some more on Wolfgang Simpson's book HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD (you can search the archives, top right, for early posts). Here are his 15 theses toward a re-incarnation of the Church (followed by our comments):
1. Christianity is a way of life; not a series of religious meetings.
sc- of course. Amen. But there has to be some way to keep the stats! :-)
2. Time to change the 'catheologue system' (that Church is based on OT Temple (or 'cathedral') and a worship pattern styled after the Jewish synagogue)
sc- so the idea is that we need to change the whole system to make it Christian. I'm game for changing the system, leading outposts and corps that are cell-based (some would say 'extremely cell-based' as there are no public Sunday meetings), incarnational and, on our best days, bi-vocational. More corps are changing. We'll see.
3. The Third Reformation (he says first was theological (Luther); second was spiritual (Wesley); third is structure.
sc- we'll see. That shoots the pulse up. The Army is well-positioned for this change, being an Army and all (think quickly of the different types of war-fighting being carried on in the world today and apply that adaptability and flexibility spiritually to our salvation war).
4. From Church Houses to House Churches.
sc- we've blogged on this a lot and can point you above to #2.
5. The Church has to become small in order to grow large.
sc- The largest churches in the world are all cell-based. The largest corps in the western world was, until recently, a cell-based corps. There is no ceiling to growth with that model. You draw your own conclusions.
6. No Church is led by a 'pastor' alone.
sc- sure. Our Growth Chart is based on the Ephesians 4 offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and shepherd/teacher. This is the way forward.
7. The right pieces - fitted together in the wrong way (more about the Ephesians 4 stuff)
sc- the challenge for us in The Army is to free our minds and appointments from seniority and rank to giftings and callings (not that we're not into the right pieces fitted together the right way to some extent already).
8. Out of the hands of the bureaucratic clergy and on towards the priesthood of all believers. 'Clergy' is a dirty word on this blog, as is the common understanding of 'laity')- these words should never be used in The Army (except in critique). When our vocabulary changes, maybe our thinking will change and when our thinking changes, maybe our actions will change (we've blogged heaps on this subject over the years).
9. Return from organised to organic forms of Christianity.
sc- I'm not sold on this one. It all sounds nice and warm and fuzzy, but we have a mission to win the world for Jesus and there has to be coordination and organisation. This is the genius of The Salvation Army - well, one aspect of it.
10. From worshipping our worship to worshipping God.
sc- he thinks the latter has led to denomionationalism, confessionalism, and nominalism. I don't know.
11. Stop bringing people to church, and start bringing the church to the people.
sc- cute way of rehashing #3,4,5.
12. Rediscovering the Lord's Supper as a real supper with real food.
sc- It is Passover only and he, not surprisingly, missing the point (see current JAC for our take on the subject).
13. From denominations to city-wide celebrations.
sc- the two are not mutually exclusive.
14. Developing a persecution-proof spirit.
sc- The argument is that Biblical Christianity is a major threat to the evils of trhis age. Amen. In this way, I suspect that the pre-Constantine Church is more similar to the 10/40 Window Church than anything else today. And as we intensify our expression of Biblical Christianity, we need a persecution-proof spirit. That is a tough one. Amen.
15. The Church comes home.
sc- this is partly an argument for integrity and partly a rehash of #3,4,5,11. So, his 15 theses might more simply be 10 theses. But they are challenging, for sure.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36 (see 21 for the reason for the seventy year exile); Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12.
Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Eco-Slavery?

Times of London ran this piece on carbon off-setting:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2337485.ece

Brendan O'Neill of the online magazine Spiked made these comments, picked up by Wall Street Journal (hat tip Best of the Web):

"In [the Times article] it was revealed that the leader of the UK Conservative Party, David Cameron, offsets his carbon emissions by effectively keeping brown people in a state of bondage. Whenever he takes a flight to some foreign destination, Cameron donates to a carbon-offsetting company that encourages people in the developing world to ditch modern methods of farming in favour of using their more eco-friendly manpower to plough the land. So Cameron can fly around the world with a guilt-free conscience on the basis that, thousands of miles away, Indian villagers, bent over double, are working by hand rather than using machines that emit carbon.

"Welcome to the era of eco-enslavement.

"The details of this carbon-offsetting scheme are disturbing. Cameron offsets his flights by donating to Climate Care. The latest wheeze of this carbon-offsetting company is to provide "treadle pumps" to poor rural families in India so that they can get water on to their land without having to use polluting diesel power. Made from bamboo, plastic and steel, the treadle pumps work like "step machines in a gym," according to some reports, where poor family members step on the pedals for hours in order to draw up groundwater which is used to irrigate farmland. These pumps were abolished in British prisons a century ago. It seems that what was considered an unacceptable form of punishment for British criminals in the past is looked upon as a positive eco-alternative to machinery for Indian peasants today."

What might once have been referred to as "back-breaking labour" is now spun as "human energy."
----
grace
sec

September 6, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
Praise God for Aaron's post directly below this post.
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Aaron White and Jonathan Evans in Vancouver team up to craft a great SA celltalk that we've just started using in our new thing. If you are looking for hardcore, Salvo, justice-tinged, incarnationally-worldviewed, primitive salvationist cell material (for free) this is an excellent source (I can hook you up - revolution @ mmccxx.net).
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The most effective evangelistic tool in history (ahead of the #2 tool, the Four Spiritual Laws - notably, both are created by Campus Crusade for Christ) - The JESUS film - has been translated into its 1,000 language, Lanka Kol (over a million people speak that language) - hat tip The War Cry (AUS) and props to Campus Crusade for Christ. Maybe many who speak Lanak Kol be saved through this tool! Hallelujah.
----
Major Daryl Crowden (blog on right side) has a great missional take on what he calls an alongsider. You might appreciate it, too.
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Service Announcement (re. International SA Day of Prayer for Peace): "Sunday, Sept. 23rd, at 7:30pm Salvationists in Melbourne will gather together to pray for peace.

"We will meet at 614 Corps at 69 Bourke St. and then do a candle light procession to the Parliament steps with a closing prayer.

What are you folk planning on your front?
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October 2-5 is the Aggressive Christianity Conference in Melbourne (details on the front page of armybarmy.com).
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October 12/13 is the Go For Souls Conference in Melbourne. Stay tuned for more details.
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In blogs this week Commissioner Harris posts about the minister and comedian and Lieutenant David Collinson is on about rock star church leaders. They both blog at right.
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Here is the SA position on healing:
http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV:STANDARD::pc=PC_60045
And this is the SA guideline on healing:
http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV:STANDARD::pc=PC_60035
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You folk in the barmy army were called 'retro' this morning. Don't worry. If it means a reversion to signs and wonders, healing and deliverance, salvation and sanctification, blood anf fire, and death and glory, then it is a sobriquet workth wearing.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11 (11:15 plays a part on C.Booth's foundational prophecy for The Salvation Army).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Postcard from Vancouver...

24-7 Prayer is putting together a resource designed to help prayer communities link their prayer with mission and justice. They are going to put together postcards from a few communities they think are trying to do this, and we'll be one of them. Here is what ours will say:


The Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, Canada is an area most of the rest of Vancouver would like to forget about. It is rife with poverty, violence, open drug use and prostitution. But it is also a place of community, grace, and great love. As we in 614 Vancouver have moved into the area over the last five years we have been privileged to discover the oft-overlooked expressions of the Kingdom of God in these unexpected places and people.

614 Vancouver, a cell-based, incarnational expression of The Salvation Army, has been praying non-stop in the DTES for over three years now. The “War Room”, as we call it, was first located in a slum hotel, and now shares space with a homeless shelter, a community café we run, and a safe place for women.

The War Room is the hub of everything we do. As we pray Christ directs our gaze away from ourselves and towards those who are hurting and afflicted in our neighbourhood and in our world. This gives us the vision and the motivation to live out God’s justice and grace for those we live amongst and identify with. Praying has taught us to see the face of Christ in the hurting, the dirty, and the dying. Mission means going out and finding Christ, and then loving him.

Our community’s investment in non-stop prayer has given birth to a dream for planting prayer-centered cell-churches around the world; it has fuelled our advocacy fight against the evil of human trafficking; it has inspired us to get out on the streets and into the slum hotels to share the life of the Spirit and the love of Christ; it has driven us to fight for our community and to declare it full of God’s worth; and it allows us to be in constant intercession for each other and for the lost, the last, and the least in our world.

Grace,

Aaron

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

Commissioner Knaggs (right side blogs) is on about recruiting. Amen. We need to recruit.

We need to recruit followers of Jesus - We live to win souls. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade all kinds of people in all kinds of ways in order to save some. We pray, make opportunities, take opportunities, live by example, and woo people into the Kingdom. That is what it is all about.

We need to recruit junior soldiers - young warriors who love Jesus and surrender their lives completely so that they can help others to follow Him. This is an area for explosive growth almost everywhere in the world as we struggle to catch up to Kenya and Zimbabwe. Please, if you're a parent, don't hold your child back because of your lack of faith. Train your children in the fear and friendship of the Lord. Raise up Warriors.

We need to recruit senior soldiers - warriors who are game to throw away their lives at this longshot, heroic endeavor to win the world for Jesus covenanted as Salvation Army soldiers. It is a tough one. At our corps, you have to be saved for a year, clean for a year, have read the Bible/HoD/O+R, memorised the doctrines, be in formal discipling relationship, be in a cell and a brigade activity, tithe, run through SALVATIONISM 101, be prepared to wear uniform and sign up for life. Oh, and you need to be 18.

We need to recruit officers - this select corps of highly covenanted leaders who are set apart to help lead God's Army to win the world for Jesus. I have a friend who many years ago determined that he was going to raise up 100 such leaders. I know some veteran officers who have 'sent into the work' about one person a year of their active officership. This should be a key for all Salvationists - raise up officers.

We need to recruit incarnational/bivocational warriors - in the western world these are some of the most hardcore Christians you'll meet. They are the historic slum sisters (and brothers) who sacrifice (difficult to do in the west). And we ned thousands of them (look, just for mmccxx we need several thousand of them. If you are one of those or would like to be one of those, contact us at revolution @ mmccxx.net or pray about thewarcollege.com or Battle School or Revolution Hawaii or Saved2Save or Railton School or School for Youth Leadership or - lots of options ...).
----
Not coincidently, the General has just issued his pastoral letter on covenant. For The Army , it all comes down to covenant. Covenant is that which will hold us together over this next generation (if we embrace it). You can sign up for it here:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_ihq_general.nsf/fm-contact

Final word to the General (wrapping up his missive):
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"Dear Fellow Salvationists, we are a covenanting people in the Army. As I write to you I am pleading with the Father to help me keep my sacred covenants. I am pleading also for you, that you will know that grace from above which helps us each to be faithful. Let us kneel together, you and I. Let us find our way to the mercy seat in our hearts, though separated by many miles, to give thanks for our gracious, covenanting Father in Heaven, and to receive from his generous, gracious hand all that we need to help us press on until he calls us home."
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

John D'Alton has started blogging. John is a genuine rennaissance man who has more fingers in more pies than you can shake a stick at. He is all about incarnational ministry and I know that a bunch of the barmy army faithful will really dig what he has to say. Among other things he is an established techno DJ, 'Dream Facilitator', and orthodox priest. You can find him here:
http://healthyemergingchurch.blogspot.com/
and in Facebook networks under 'healthy emerging church'.
----
Danielle Strickland's blog is informing has well as provoking us all these days - catch up (top right). Stay tuned to her blog for exciting Justice developments.
----
Joel Clifford has a blog that has been dabbling in 'Offensive Christianity" that might interest some of you:
http://www.1servantsoldier.blogspot.com/
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Some of you will enjoy reading up on The Army's media dominance in Australia here:
http://www.superbrands-brands.com/volII/brand_salvation_army.htm
In a related note, The Army seems to own Australia - the newscast even has The Salvation Army weighing in on issues like the 'drug scandal' (I guess one rugby player got arrested for having ecstasy in his pocket) in sport by calling for comprehensive testing. We're everywhere.
----
On August 31 blog we mentioned three issues the New York Times Mag raised about military issues: thenature of officership, future warfare, and the future of The Army. Here is a leading stab at each issue:

1. officership. Theoretically, officership is great. It is a highly covenanted band of committed warriors. Hallelujah. Practically, in some places in the west, there have been comforting accretions to what in other places is still a sacrificial vocation such that some people have written it off as 'the soft option'. We're doing what we can to make it the heroically sacrificial option again (as it still is in some developing world situations) as officership has not reached it 'use-by' date.

2. future warfare. I'm all for cell-based, incarnational/bi-vocational warfare. Its flexibility lends itself to reaching the tribes and the villages of various mil3 societies. It is cheaper. It rips the ceiling off of potential growth. As for what we'll be fighting - sin. The flesh, the world, and the devil remain the same. Sometimes tactics of the enemy change, but if we're solid on the basics (ie Bible, HoD, and O+R) we're equipped to handle the changes. We're dreaming of new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years (network with us - revolution @ mmccxx.net).*

3. future of The Army. Well, this has been prophesied already, so I defer to General Catherine Booth: "The decree has gone forth that the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and that He shall reign whose right it is from the River to the ends of the earth. We shall win. It is only a question of time. I believe that this Movement shall inaugurate the final conquest of our Lord Jesus Christ."

* there are lots of other wrinkles besides mmccxx. Here are a few:
- I saw a classic design for soldiers and officers uniform T shirts by Peter Lublink - stay tuned for the finished product that could easily go global for future;
- I suspect the could (should? more prayer needed) be a married woman general in 2022;
- I foresee justice issues renewing our prophetic voice in society while at the same time tempting us to water down the gospel (we're not unaware of the devil's schemes);
- I suspect we'll have a battle on orthodoxy in the next decade-plus and I'll be siding with the African conservatives (they will win the battle). (but note that the context is C. Booth's prophecy)
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

August 3, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2PMC)

George Bernard Shaw, asked to attend and critique a SA music festival, commented, "The Salvation Army has discovered the soul of music" (AGRESSIVE SALVATIONISM, James Hay, p156). We celebrate that discovery in Boundless volume 2, a compilation of various SA worship leaders from around the English-speaking world. Happy owners of Bv1 will find it difficult to believe that Bv2 is even better than their prized possession (Bv1). But you know that armybarmy blog does not lie. Buy the contibutors's albums. And, back more directly to the quote, let's fan into flame the gifts such as music that God has given The Army.
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And Hay's conclusion:
----
"Our modern Salvaitonist will win his victories by training the young, and well we know that some of such are delightful in their unquestioning faith and willing service. But he must win more and more by such presentation of the attractive Christ as will register here and there real captures, and even now and then bring in a company of godless souls whose yielding to Christ is a reward for patient and persistent seeking. Nor shall we exclude an out-and-out revival proving itself a fit descendant of the Pentecostal days. I am convinced that every Field Officer, and many others, may confidently live and work and pray, and even weep, for this. As I see it as I arrive at old age, man are more and more giving tremendously to attain their objectives - nothing comes easily. Why sorrow that Army Corps take such toll of love, of devotion, of preparation of patience, of spiritual discipline of one's self and all committed to us?

"The ennoblement of Salvationism may be delayed in our grand Temples, may be slow to register in our numerical strength, may be often thwarted in our material inheritances, but it will come, even to some comparatively weak Corps, by the ceaseless pursuit of souls with the loving heart of our Master and a passion like unto His. Every fight and every abasement to attain this is infinitely worth it...

"The supreme joy of Salvationists is the eternal quest for the souls of men. To make so-called progress in our work without that is poor indeed; such progress may, indeed, be in His eyes no attainment at all."
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Evelyn and Tim Clark's blog (right side) has a quote from The Officer Magazine that goes like this:
----
"There are going to be times when an officer-mother ... has to be granted time and space to be a full-time mother. This can be done if leadership is willing to take a modern and enlightened view of the situation ... [giving the] opportunity to minister to her small children for a few years.... We cannot fall into the trap of allowing systems (separate appointments, separate payment of allowances, etc.) to become anti-family. I hope that ... officer-mothers feeling the need for understanding will be met with tenderness, imagination and flexibility, and will never be deprived of an allowance. In the Officer Undertakings that we have all signed it says that our cash allowance 'is not a wage, salary, reward or payment for services rendered.' We are not paid for what we do. Officership is more about
being than doing."
----
Here is one reasoned response:
----
"(The) comments can be taken as assuming that the wife's calling to officership and ministry is more appropriately set aside for family reasons than is the husband's, whereas I think if the Army's stand on equality is to be taken seriously, both parents ought to be sharing the family responsibilities, and the husband ought to be doing all he can to support and promote his wife's ministry.

"I wonder how (The Army) would feel about the father taking time out to be a full-time father, while the wife carried on the ministry?"
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The other bit worth noting is "Officership is more about being than about doing." Articles have been written on this subject and it is difficult to assert a development of official SA belief based on an argument on parenting inside an article on stress. So, for discussion directly on that subject, I suggest that you look up Major Harold Hill's book, LEADERSHIP IN THE SALVATION ARMY, or google articles by him online and in JAC (try his name plus leadership and/or "Salvation Army"), and start the conversation with comments on the Clarks's blog.
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God bless The General (don't forget to pray for him and our comrades around the world today at lunchtime).
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezekiel 20-21; Revelation 8; Psalm 111 (it is good to be reminded of 111 after having read the other texts).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

How to Move Mountains, for Dummies...

We do not need great faith; we need faith in a great God. It is not about the amount of raw muscular faith we can set to bear upon that stubborn mountain, that is merely faith in our own ability to wield faith, which is not faith at all. Rather, it is about having faith in a God for whom mountains are a mere plaything, something that melts whenever he comes around. The issue is not our effort of faith, it is our object of faith. We only need a mustard seed's worth, but it has to be pointed in the right direction.

Lord, we believe. Help us in our disbelief!

Grace,

Aaron
(and hat tip to N.T. Wright for the inspiration of the first line)

September 2, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2IG/JP) and Happy Father's Day (Oceania) and cheers to Appalachian State.

Lots today:
----
Here is a classic potential sessional song for the Conquerors Session:
1.
God is keeping his soldiers fighting,
Evermore we shall conquerors be;
All the hosts of Hell are uniting,
But we're sure to have victory.
Though to beat us they've been trying,
Our colors still are flying,
And our flag shall wave forever,
For we never will give in.
Chorus
No, we never, never, never will give in,
No we won't! No we won't!
No, we never, never, never will give in,
For we mean to have the victory for ever.

2.
We will follow our conquering Saviour,
From before him Hell's legions shall fly;
Our battalions never shall waver,
They're determined to conquer or die.
From holiness and Heaven
We never will be driven;
We will stand our ground forever,
For we never will give in.

3.
With salvation for every nation,
To the ends of the earth we will go,
With a free and full salvation,
All the power of the cross we'll show.
Well tear Hell's throne to pieces,
And win the world for Jesus,
We'll be conquerors forever,
For we never will give in.
William James Pearson (1832-92)
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November 23-25 is CONNECTIONS 07 in Melbourne. This is an ambitious event aimed at connecting employees, volunteers, donors, clients, and interested public with the God of The Salvation Army, and connecting salvos with the wider public. As the website describes ( http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV:STANDARD::pc=PC_61776 ) there will be heaps of connetion points, including a mass social justice parade that cuminates at Federation Square with the General addressing the nation. If you are in Oceania you'll want to block that weekend off in your calendar.
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SA Collectables has a great source of SA books for free online:
http://www.sacollectables.com/ebook.html
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Here is an important article by a couple of Raders (Herbert and Fran) that you will want to read (you don't have to agree with it all to learn a lot from it):
http://www.salvationist.org/poverty.nsf/09a1dc2154b8115380256af000467ae0/bc3f3a88a45a0a6180256b370032ffd2?OpenDocument
Here are a couple of classic takes from it:
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"As interest grew in serving in India, Tucker prepared a memorandum of instruction to all new candidates for service in India (they came by the hundreds), and St.John Ervine considers it one of the most heroic documents of mankind: Service will be a matter not merely of being willing to go anywhere, but of wishing to live and die for the particular race to which you are sent. You will be absolutely alone and under close scrutiny. It will be essential to learn at least one Indian language. You must leave entirely and forever behind you all your English dress and habits. Officers will be barefoot. You will avoid the English quarter, but will always live among natives – sometimes in a cave, a shady tree, or someone’s veranda – or in a mud hut 16 by 10 feet. You will cook as they do, and wash your clothes in the stream with them. You have nothing to fear from the climate. The people are different and intensely religious. . Find out what their thoughts are before you share yours. And if you are planning to return, don’t go. We would not think of sending anyone out who did not plan to make it a life work (Ervine, God’s Soldier, Vol I, page 576).
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And for those who argue about whether or not The Army is to aim for the poor, here is a tidy historical summary by the Raders: "Booth called both rich and poor to repentance, but in reaching out to the world, he found many more poor than rich."
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And here was the tension:
Booth confessed: “I have been trying all my life to stretch out my arms so as to reach with one hand the poor and at the same time keep the other in touch with the rich. But my arms are not long enough. I find that when I am in touch with the poor I lose my hold upon the rich, and when I reach up to the rich I let go of the poor.”
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Innovation trumped coordinated strategy:
"Later work among the criminal tribes of South India is an example of how extraordinary successes were achieved without “central planning.” After futile attempts by the government to reform the uncontrollable criminal tribesmen who plundered local villages from their mountain retreats, Major Frank Maxwell and his family, with extraordinary courage, entered the area to provide an alternate means of making a living. With a loom of his own design, and with the support of a Tata silk factory, Maxwell taught the “Crims” to make textiles that sold well on the English market."
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And so on.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Ezekiel 17-19 (19:23 perspective); Revelation 7 (great endtimes harvest).
Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

September 1, 2007.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

Lots of stuff to blog today but it will have to wait as we announce the name of the 2008-2009 session of The War College - Conquerors.

The Conquerors Session in The War College follows a noble history that includes:
Death and Glory (03-04)
Martyrs (04-05)
Holy ____ (05-06)
Revolution (06-07)
Incendiary (07-08)
and Training College Sessions such as
Conquerors Ever (1910)
Conquerors (1926)
Hallelujah.

It is based in two texts:
Romans 8:36-38 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us;

Romans 6:2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

(or, in the AV): And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer (coincidentally, this is part of the SA Daily Reading today; AND this is the text Commissioner Eliasen preached at my sessional welcome meeting).

Note that we are conquerors in Romans and another is conqueror in Revelation.

And there are many SASB songs to back it up - the sessional song is found in one of those. And maybe reflecting back to you from your computer screen is a potential Conqueror. You can apply at thewarcollege.com.

God bless the Conquerors Session.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Psalm 70; Ezekiel 15-16; Revelation 6 (wow).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court