Armybarmy Blog

February 9: Hot-Shot At The Foot Of The Cross.

2012-02-09T10:46:00.005Z

February 9, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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Are the roots of bitterness gone?
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Have you been to Boston Common?
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SASB286
1.
Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God his wrath forbear?
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
Chorus
God is love, I know, I feel,
Jesus lives and loves me still.
Jesus lives, he lives and loves me still.

2.
I have long withstood his grace,
Long provoked him to his face,
Would not hearken to his calls,
Grieved him by a thousand falls.

3.
Whence to me this waste of love?
Ask my advocate above;
See the cause in Jesus' face,
Now before the throne of grace.
4.
There for me the Saviour stands,
Shows his wounds, and spreads his hands.
God is love, I know, I feel,
Jesus lives and loves me still.

Charles Wesley (1707-88) (verses), alt
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Since we're in ninth birthday celebration mode, here is a comment from six years ago, with updates:

The Salvation Army definition: revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus.
'12- amen. We have reason to hope that this understanding of The Salvation Army is spreading - hallelujah.

Prophecy: He shall reign, whose right it is, from the River to the ends of the earth. We shall win. It is only a matter of time. I believe that this Movement shall inaugurate the great final conquest of our Lord Jesus Christ (Catherine Booth).
'12- amen. God help us position ourselves such that God can use us to fulfil this prophecy.

Primitive Salvationism: mission-focused, charistmatic-flavoured heroism.
'12- that's it. Have we laid off a bit on it? Sorry, if so. It is the only proven strain of salvationism for world conquest.

Modus Operandi: capture, train, deploy.
'12- we capture sinners from satan through the power of the Gospel and their repentance and trust in Jesus; we train and disciple them; we deploy them on fronts to advance the salvation war.

MMCCXX- vision to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years. (most will be bi-vocational, cell-based).
'12- We're about seven years and 17 countries in. Hallelujah.

BE A HERO- campaign, championed by General Eva Burrows, to raise up 10,000 heroes who commit to five disciplines intended to transform the lives of children-at-risk.
'12- It's from the book BE A HERO. And it worked. Hallelujah.

Warrior Academy: a growing group of children's daily spiritual warfare training.
'12- this one worked great locally but has not to date multiplied trans-locally, to our knowledge. It is a great model, though, of group home-schooling for the salvation war.

The War Room: a growing group of 24-7 prayer rooms aimed at declaring the names of God to the nations as intercession for the salvation war pours out.
'12- well, the Global Call to 24-7 prayer multiplied this like crazy in the last 13 months - hallelujah. We can testify that the rooms work locally.

The War College: a growing group of campuses dedicated to incarnational warfare training among the poor.
'12- Since this was written, campuses started in Charlotte, Chicago, Bamako, and Kambuzuma. Hallelujah. Just this week on Facebook we saw this quote from Commissioner Jim Knaggs:

"The War College is approved by its fruit. Its influence is not limited to my range of service, though War College graduates have advanced in each of those territories through officer training into notable vocational Christian leadership. I've not met a graduate that wasn't on fire by the Holy Spirit with a compassionate, aggressive witness and a hope filled heart. It is accurate to affirm that The War College in its people, its philosophy, and its example is influencing the whole Salvation Army world. "

RE:cre8: free coffee bar on our home front.
'12- I hear on the grapevine that it prospers (haven't been to the front for five years).

CrossCulture: home of some powerful children's and youth cells called re:genR8.
'12- it became a corps (again, haven't been there in five years so I can't confirm).

The Journey: a retreat for women in our neighbourhood.
'12- this model has multiplied to other fronts effectively.

Credo Press: salvo publishing label for struggling salvo writers.
'12- the latest CREDO title is Michael Ramsay's PRAISE THE LORD FOR COVENANTS. Have you read it, yet?

Salvo Songs: salvo music label (9 titles to date with more in the works)
'12- this has been inactive for a number of years, now...

Warriors Library: source of training courses such as SALVATIONISM 101, 201, 301 (and 401 and 501 forthcoming).
'12- just this week the new version of SA101 is being transferred to interactive format - it looks terrific - stay tuned for details.

armybarmy battlegear: purveyor of all kidns of useful battlegear (see eStore for logo downloads).
'12- wow - this is pre-Wardrobe, of course. It served its day well...

614 Vancouver: our home corps.
'12- that's a couple of cities ago, now.

ASALTS: The Association of Salvation Army Leader Training Schools.
'12- this may one day morph into ASAMS (Mission Schools).
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Holy. now.
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Some things serve their time and locality; others are transferable. Still others just plain fail! God help us to hold all of these loosely and know which is which!
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Hat tip Eric Himes for finding this old classic salvo song:

I’m A Blood And Fire Soldier

I’m a salvation soldier converted I know,
I am known as a soldier above and below;
For I get of heaven’s fire as forward I go,
To fight in the salvation war.
I delight in the din of the battle;
I glory in sanctified noise;
I was born in the run and the rattle,
Of those jolly salvation boys.

I’m a Blood-and-Fire soldier, from top to toe;
I lick the old devil wherever I go;
I recruit for my Savior; my colors I show,
I fight in the salvation war.

I am clad in full uniform, inside and out,
I am always at home when the devil’s about;
To meet the old dude I ne’er need to scout,
He’s so close on my track in the war.
But with shield and with sword I encounter,
The skeleton captain of hell;
Though he besets and may bully and banter,
I’m a salvation antagonist well.

I get my hot-shot at the foot of the Cross,
From Calvary’s furnace, they come without dross;
And the glory comes down and gives them a gloss,
Just right for the salvation war.
Though the foes in their boasting may revel,
And assail me with fiery darts,
The faith shield is proof to the battle,
It has shielded many glorified hearts.

Now, old men and maidens and mothers agree;
And all you brave fellows do come along with me;
If something heroic and great you would be,
Enlist for the salvation war.
Salvation—immortality—glory!
Are inscribed on our flags in the fray,
And Heaven will re-echo the story
Of the victories we’re gaining today.
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Remember the poor.
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So Lieutenant-Colonel Janet Munn has a brand new book coming out shorty called ARMY ON ITS KNEES: Dynamics of great commission prayer. I've read it. She has some juicy stuff in there about a homeless God and how He relates to us (and much more!). The Raders write the foreword. It is going to be one handy prayer resource for the thousands engaged in the Global Call, and we hope, countless others outside The Salvation Army. We'll provide purchasing information when it comes available (but look for it in coming days at amazon.co.uk).
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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Until next time... let's evangelise everything that moves.
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

February 8: Bring Heaven To Earth.

2012-02-08T11:27:00.002Z

February 8, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB568

1.
Equip me for the war
And teach my hands to fight,
My simple, upright heart prepare,
And guide my words aright;
Control my every thought,
The whole of sin remove;
Let all my works in thee be wrought,
Let all be wrought in love.

2.
O arm me with the mind,
Meek Lamb, which was in thee,
And let my earnest zeal be found
With perfect charity!
With calm and tempered zeal,
Let me enforce thy call,
And vindicate thy gracious will
Which offers life to all.

3.
O may I love like thee,
In all thy footsteps tread!
Thou hatest all iniquity,
But nothing thou hast made.
O may I learn the art
With meekness to reprove,
To hate the sin with all my heart,
But still the sinner love!

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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An Indian reporting The Army's invasion noted, "Never for a moment (do they) lay aside their consiciousness that they are in the immediate presence of the Deity. They never quit it. They are as close to His feet while singing a song, beating a drum, or talking to a crowd, as when they prostrate in prayer" (The Sacraments, A SALVATIONIST VIEWPOINT (1960) p76).

Now, a lot of things could be said about this (not the least being the throw-away reference to prostrate prayer), but the standard defeats most of us today.

Or how about this bit from Dr. Laura Petri: "Sacrifice is the kernel of Christianity, it's Alpha and Omega. The Alpha of Christianity is a sacrificed God, its Omega a sacrificed self. The Salvation Army possesses both these sacrifices. It rejoices in the former, 'offered once for all', but does not find its salvation in it reiteration. The only real act of worship of THe Salvation Army is the offering up of the own self" (p76,77).
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Holy. now.
----
"What did Brengle see in The Army to hold him all these years?"

answer: "I saw hardship, poverty, brickbats, abuse, the scorn of the proud, the ridicule of the thoughtless, the contempt of many professing Christians awaiting me. These things I saw and found. But also I saw the Cross of Jesus 'going on before'.

I saw the lost sheep for whom the Saviour died, the sinners unreached and unsought by the Churches. I saw Salvationists struggling and suffering to win these, and so I became a Salvationist. Later, I saw how ill-equipped were many officers and soldiers for the great task. I saw the Founder and our leaders burdened with overwhelming administrative duties and unable to reach our poor people and struggling officers on the farflung battlelines, and so I prayed and preached and wrote and set myself with full purpose of heart to feed the lambs and sheep of Jesus.

Evermore when at secret prayer and in communion with my Lord I heard His question, 'Lovest thou Me? and I answered, "Yea, Lord. Thou knowest I love Thee." His words would ring in my heart, "Feed My lambs- feed My sheep." And when sore tempted to leave The Army and seek an easier way and preach to a larger audience and more cultured than the few poor people who came to our little halls, I would reply to the tempter, "Who then will feed these sheep if I forsake them?" And I felt I could die for them rather than leave them. Little did I then see the world-wide ministry awaiting me. All I wanted was to be a servant of the servants of Jesus." (Samuel Logan Brengle, in Sallie Chesham, PEACE LIKE A RIVER. p172).
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Remember the poor.
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Ezekiel 33

I was refreshing myself on the 1936 O+R for Officers and noted that salvationsts are to read Ezekiel 33 often, since we are the watchmen.
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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June 1924 Success Magazine did a national poll to determine the greatest American woman.

winner? Evangeline Booth.
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General Brown had this to say upon his election, when asked what he wanted Salvationists to do:

'Everything they can to make better known Jesus Christ and his saving power as the only hope for a sinning, suffering world; everything they can to demonstrate indisputably in what they say and do that the grace of God enables men and women to live clean and holy lives filled with the joy of service to God and their fellows; in short, everything they can to bring Heaven to earth.'

God help us.
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

February 6: Sacrifice Them To Your Blood.

2012-02-06T10:11:00.003Z

February 6, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB079

1.
Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Chorus
Sweet chiming bells, O how they ring
To welcome Christ, the new-born King;
Sweet chiming bells, O how they ring
To welcome Christ, the King.

2.
All thy people's consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

3.
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious Kingdom bring.

4.
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

Charles Wesley (1707-88) (verses)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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"Whoever spends the most time wins" (Nathan Casey)- on how to effectively disciple teens (and you could probably expand the years).
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Have you read the brand new JAC77? Here's an article by Danielle Strickland called FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED:

http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article6-77.html

Read the whole issue, here: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
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Holy. now.
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official definition:

The official definition of The Salvation Army is that it is ‘a fellowship of people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal saviour and lord and whose common aim is to induce others to subject themselves to the lordship of Christ’.

SO, God help us to induce others to subject themselves to the lordship of Christ today!
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Remember the poor.
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Isaac Watts penned a couple of lines we sang the other day:
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to Your blood
(I think I might have switched to Your from His).
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

February 4: Holy 9TH BIRTHDAY!

2012-02-04T16:00:00.005Z

February 4, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
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Holy birthday to Armybarmy Blog - can you believe that this blog is nine years old? Nine years it has been running - almost every single day- way more than a million words- all towards the glory of God and the salvation of the world. And you can read every single post over the decade in our archives (with search engine!). Enjoy.

Thanks to God for His blessing of the past decade - here's to the next one!
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Have you been to Boston Common?
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SASB064
1.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise;
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!

2.
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of thy name.

3.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears;
'Tis life and health and peace.

4.
He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood avails for me.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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So you know that 2012 is The Year Of DISCO and we're looking to see these discipleship covenant groups spread around the globe. We're asking everyone, Can DisCo save the world? (read and find out) http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article2-77.html (then start one and see)

The short article explains the concept and how you can participate. There are groups in 21 cities on four continents since January 1. And God only know where all this will stop. Let us know how you are participating (revolution @mmccxx.net)
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Holy. now.
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There is a salvo down here that God uses in healing and deliverance. Great stories. But on his first healing experience (tense) he poured some olive oil in a valve oil bottle. In 30 years and having anointed thousands of people with oil from that valve oil container he has never run out.
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Remember the poor.
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A little vintage armybarmy blog - a great meeting I attended back in 2005:

a good meeting

I went to a good meeting last night. It was a youth rally, with probably around 300 people anticipating God's transforming presence. We were blessed to worship under Soteria (fresh off their new album- TELL THE WORLD) and Nathan Rowe (the lion behind the Mike), who pressed us on into God's presence. Special nod to Craig Turner (excellent drummer) and Adam Mackenroth (tasty bassist), who played through the preach and nearly all of the prayer meeting that followed.

Then we heard God's word and responded.

In The Army, the prayer meeting, or pitch, or appeal, or whatever you call it, is the most important part of the meeting. We transact with God here. And that we did.

I don't exaggerate when I say that people got saved, and sanctified, and healed, and delivered, and gifted, and called, and commissioned, and anointed, and released. Hallelujah! There was great freedom during the meeting, which ended more than 4 1/4 hours after it began. Chris Footer and Daniel Gibbs and Grant Whitehead (visual and audio) kept the whole thing seamless. People were released to fish (and fish they did- some cool stories of it through the meeting). Those who broke through to freedom and salvation and calling and so on testified. The warfighters were going after it with all of God's power manifesting through them.

The call was to revolution. It wasn't an easy appeal. It was to throw your life away for the revolution. And yet some people had the guts to do it. There were practical challenges. Maybe you want to consider them. They included things like downsizing for the Gospel (sell your comfortable home and get something simpler; sell your fancy car... etc.), working less so that you can fight more, moving into community, living with the poor, throwing all of your cash into the kingdom now (and one person who scored a BIG settlement for an accident testified that all the cash was going into the Kingdom!), as well as trashing idols and breaking up ungodly relationships and smashing the fangs of the wicked, and so many other things that will please God and potentially change society.

This is one pocket of revolution. But there are other pockets around the world. You are not alone. Don't settle. Don't compromise. Don't be comfortable.

If you need some helps for your role in the revolution, you can email me (I won't be home until the weekend) at revolution@mmccxx.net for some ideas. In the meantime, you can pick up REVOLUTION (the book) and SOUNDS OF THE REVOLUTION (the CD) at the eStore (armybarmy.com).

Look, we need to go for it. Let's see if we can turn the world upside down, under the Holy Spirit's power, before we die. All glory to God.
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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People are headed to hell. Let's change their direction. Only Jesus saves.
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

February 3: General Burrows Retires!

2012-02-03T12:08:00.002Z

February 3, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB216
1.
Lord, we believe to us and ours
Thy precious promises were given;
We wait the pentecostal powers,
The Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven.

2.
Assembled here with one accord,
Calmly we wait the promised grace,
The purchase of our dying Lord;
Come, Holy Ghost, and fill the place.

3.
If every one that asks may find,
If still thou dost on sinners fall,
Come as a mighty rushing wind;
Great grace be now upon us all.

4.
Behold, to thee our souls aspire,
And languish thy descent to meet;
Kindle in each the living fire,
And fix in every heart thy seat.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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General Burrows Retires!

I write today to formally announce the retirement of General Eva Burrows from The War College Global Reference Group. She has served that body and its predecessor - the Board of Reference - from its inception. Her prayers, advice, support, counsel, and visits helped establish The War College. We give glory to God for her investment in this mission.

We are very grateful to General Burrows for her ongoing partnership in the Gospel and want to bless her with all the health and abundance and joy that God's fullness supplies. Thank you, General!
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Holy. now.
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Lieut-Colonel Janet Munn provides A Short History Of Fasting in the brand new Journal of Aggressive Christianity (JAC77). You can read it, here:

http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article3-77.html
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Unity. I'm all for unity in the body. I celebrate my cousin's corps in the suburbs fighting undercover (that means they play down the 'brand') which is growing and saving people and discipling them. I celebrate the traditional large corps like my home corps with their commitment in time and honour of the past. I celebrate the small town corps (I lived in them for a lot of my officership) with their small town opportunities and small town challenges. I celebrate the developing world corps where sacrifice is both mundane and heroic. I celebrate the emerging initiatives to engage the coming generation with the timeless Gospel. I celebrate the programme-based stuff. I celebrate the cell-based stuff. I celebrate the meditative and mystical and the festive and fun. I celebrate the ecumenical types within The Army. I celebrate the warfare zealots. I celebrate the covenanters. I celebrate the evangelists, the prophets, the apostles, the teachers and shepherds. I celebrate those fighting for prophetic and social justice. I celebrate the numbers salvos. I celebrate the citadels and the temples, the barracks and the garrisons. And I celebrate the soldier's covenant that unites us all.
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Remember the poor.
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“What are you living for? What is the deep secret purpose that controls and fashions your existence? What do you eat and drink for? What is the end of your marrying and giving in marriage – your money making and toilings and plannings? Is it the salvation of souls, the overthrow of the kingdom of evil and the setting up of the Kingdom of God? Have you the assurance that the ruling passion of your life is the same as that which brought Christ to the manger, led Him to fight the foul fiend of Hell in the wilderness, bore Him onward on the back of suffering and tears and ignominy and shame, sustained Him in drinking the cup of anguish and entering the baptism of blood, bore him through Gethsemane, nailed Him to the cross of Calvary and enabled Him in triumph to open the gate of the kingdom? Is this what you are living for? If not, you may be religious – a very proper person amongst religionists – but I don’t see how you can be a Christian.” (William Booth)

Wow! There might be a few armybarmy readers who feel a little convicted this that. Add that's good. Repent and believe. If you're not convicted, how about sharing it with some of your friends who might be convicted?
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

February 2: No Fall Back...

2012-02-02T12:57:00.005Z

February 2, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
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Today's blog will have a revolution theme...

no fall back.

There is no fall back when you plunge in for revolution. There is no plan B for us. Either God works miraculously, or we look stupid.

If, a decade or two from now things are roughly the same or worse, sheepishness and shame are the best scenarios for us.

Of course, if God takes the death we offer, and fulfills the dreams He has downloaded in us, then the future is going to be amazing.

If you haven't taken the plunge yet, pray it through. Once you put your hand to the plough you can't turn back.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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"How would it be possible to bring about a revolution - a true revival - a grand aggressive movement of Christianity - without giving new light and calling somebody to some path in advance of all that has gone before? And what does it matter who - whether it is Peter, or John, or Luther, or Fox, or Wesley, or Booth - what does it matter, so that God does it?" - Catherine Booth, 1872 (Booth-Tucker, 1890, 2:50)

Notable on a few fronts:
- We're about revolution as was Catherine;
- That is, it is more than a flashy logo by Fulton Hawk and the theme of some youth councils a generation ago;
- She includes Booth in there back in '72 when the Christian Mission's success was modest and more than half a decade before the big revival started (coincidental with the name change);
- Because of this last point we can accept it as prophetic.
hat tip Steve Bussey for the quote.
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So, Some of you know of the vision to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 coutnries in 20 years (most will be bi-vocational, cell-based- free on personnel and property) - mmccxx

Anyway, The Christian Mission had 54 mission stations 13 years into its campaign. That's a year after Catherine's quote above.

Of course, the 1878-1888 revival exploded everything off the map.

To those not convinced on mmccxx yet, realise that the first 13 years might get you to 54 or so... But look out for the last 7! (for those who care, we're seven years and 17 countries in).
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Holy. now.
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Here's one of my favourites of all time:

"We are revolutionists. We know that we have passed from death to life, and we insist on the necessity of the same sweeping change in every human being. With the cries of “Death unto sin,” and “Life unto righteousness,” we go on, determined to turn the world upside down. We are not the philosophers or theorists of revolution, but its agents. Merely to recommend revolution is contemptible. We must make it." - George Scott Railton, "The Revolution: A New Year's Address" Christian Mission Magazine, January, 1873

Merely to recommend revolution is contemptible. Now, you may not use that word often so here are some synonyms (from Websters online): cheap, cruddy, deplorable, despicable, dirty, grubby, lame, lousy, mean, nasty, paltry, pitiable, pitiful, ratty, scabby, scummy, scurvy, sneaking, sorry, wretched.

Let's avoid contempt and make revolution.
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Remember the poor.
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We hear that some cadets read this. So here is a bit from another cadet in an old JAC about still other cadets...

"after a three week training period William Booth dispatched two young men, Captain George Arthur Pollard (age 20) and Lieutenant Edward Wright (age 19), as the invasion force to New Zealand in 1882. Upon arrival in Invercargill in 1883, Pollard had thirty shillings to his name and Wright did not have any money whatsoever. Pollard then used some of his money to send Wright north to Auckland. The invasion plan was simple. Wright would start in the north and preach his way south. Pollard would work his way north from Invercargill and meet Wright in Wellington. By the end of 1883, after only nine months in the field, eleven corps had been firmly established; and more than thirty officers were giving leadership to several hundred soldiers. By 1893, ten years later, there were 82 corps with more than 100 outposts. There were over 300 full time officers, close to half of them women, and the 1891 census recorded 9383 people registering themselves as Salvationists in a population of just over 600,000." Mat Badger
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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'God will save us if He can, He will judge us if He must." (General Albert Orsborn)

Help some people position themselves for saving instead of judging today through repentance and faith.
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

February 1: The Gospel Feast (and JAC77 and more).

2012-02-01T13:01:00.004Z

February 1, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB234

1.
Come, sinners, to the gospel feast,
Let every soul be Jesus' guest;
Ye need not one be left behind,
For God hath bidden all mankind.

2.
Sent by my Lord, on you I call;
The invitation is to all;
Come, all the world; come, sinner, thou!
All things in Christ are ready now.

3.
This message as from God receive,
Ye all may come to Christ, and live;
O let his love your hearts constrain,
Nor suffer him to die in vain.

4.
His love is mighty to compel;
His conquering love consent to feel;
Yield to his love's constraining power,
And fight against your God no more.

Charles Wesley (1797-88)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
JAC77. It sounds a bit like a sport car. And it reads a bit like one, too. It hugs a few crazy turns in topics, looks sharp as people peek over your shoulder in the café, and goes from 0 to 60 in no time flat.

And its exotic. Where else can you find features on Xander, Ezra, and Omri, topics like extraordinary prayer, evangelism, and disco, and exhortations to be a finisher, to be exceptional (in a certain kind of way), and to turn the world upside down?

Some are saying that 2012 is The Year Of DISCO. So we start by asking the question on the tip of everyone’s tongues, “Can DisCo Save The World?”

And then, moving from the ridiculous to the sublime, Lieut-Colonel Janet Munn gives us “A Short History of Fasting.”

SA Global 24/7 Prayer interviews Lieutenant Xander Coleman in Prayer Beacon in the Community.

Just as evangelizing should be preceded by prayer, Lieutenant James Thompson’s article “The Motivating Disaster” follows Coleman’s article.

Major Danielle Strickland dips into her marathon experience to exhort, “Finish What You Started.”

When is the last time you read an article on King Omri? Lieutenant Rachel Sheils fills this gap and asks the question, “How Did You Make God Laugh?”

Then we end with a trio of articles: There are two ways to be spiritually exceptional; then we wonder, “Where’s Ezra?”; and finally we look at the apostle Paul and how he shaped “A World Turned Upside Down.”

Read it like a sports car. Test out its power. See how it handles the issues. And then show it off to your friends.

Read it here: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article1-77.html
----
Holy. now.
----
doctrines

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.

We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.

We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead-the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.

We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.

We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.

We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.

We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
----
Remember the poor.
----
"The greatest danger to any religious organization is that a body of men should arise in its ranks, and hold positions of trust, who have learnt its great fundamental doctrines by rote out of a catechism, but have no experiential knowledge of their truth…" Samuel Logan Brengle
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Here's a salvo site to help you find God, or to help you help others to find God: http://sacrossroads.com/sacrossroads.com/how_to_find_God.html
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 31: Wring Its Neck (and more).

2012-01-31T12:30:00.003Z

January 31, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB307
1.
When shall thy love constrain
And force me to thy breast?
When shall my soul return again
To her eternal rest?

2.
Thy condescending grace
To me did freely move;
It calls me still to seek thy face,
And stoops to ask my love.

3.
Lord, at thy feet I fall,
I long to be set free,
I fain would now obey the call
And give up all to thee.

4.
Nay, but I yield, I yield!
I can hold out no more,
I sink, by dying love compelled,
And own thee conqueror.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
"Religion on fire - is, humanly speaking, the vital force of The Salvation Army; ... [that] without it the Movement must - and no one could tell how soon - become 'a dried-up fountain', and 'extinct volcano', like so many of the sect around us.

"I do not say that The Army in such a case would break up and cease to be; it is too well organised to pass at once out of being, even though the spirit should depart from it. But in such a case it would most certainly lose its main and most active force for good.

"And you have also heard me assert, over and over again, that with the burning reality of such a 'religion of fire', The Army must prove an irresistible, overwhelming, conquering agency for helping forward the salvation of the human race."
WB p34 Addresses to Staff Officers, 1906.
----
Holy. now.
----
"So with the Holy Spirit; so let us honour Him by the due recognition of His Personality.
Do we regard the Holy Spirit after this fashion?
Do we greet Him in the morning when we wake?
Do we turn to Him in our weakness and trials during the day? Do we welcome Him to our hearts and homes and circle as a real living Person? What do you say?
The Holy Spirit is God."
WB p50.
----
Remember the poor.
----
My friend likes to see holiness as 'habitual submission'.

Respectfully, I don't buy it (now, I might have heard it wrong...). It seems like a new angle on the old Allister Smith two-canary illustration (Major Smith was a bigtime evangelist/holiness teacher in the last century). He talks about people who say each of us is like a bird cage with two canaries in it- a good canary and a bad canary. The process of sanctification is merely an exercise in starving the one and feeding the other. Smith, (with the apostle Paul) figures you'd be better just to wring the bad canary's neck and throw it out of the cage. :- )

It seems like habitual submission, instead of starving the bad canary, is all about training it. Like a wild animal, if we can domesticate it, then it will behave correctly.

I might have heard wrong, but disciplining the bad canary is a bit less than Paul is on about in Romans 6:6 and Galatians 2:20 (for example).

Let's wring its neck!
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Meanwhile - lots of people are wandering around aimlessly, meandering spiritually toward hell. Let's engage them with prayed-up, empowered, loving evangelism. God help us.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 30: Stomachs (and more).

2012-01-30T13:01:00.005Z

January 30, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB603
1.
Jesus, we look to thee,
Thy promised presence claim;
Thou in the midst of us shalt be,
Assembled in thy name.

2.
Thy name salvation is,
Which here we come to prove;
Thy name is life and health and peace
And everlasting love.

3.
We meet, the grace to take
Which thou hast freely given;
We meet on earth for thy dear sake
That we may meet in Heaven.

4.
Present we know thou art;
But, O thyself reveal!
Now, Lord, let every waiting heart
Thy mighty comfort feel!

5.
O may thy quickening voice
The death of sin remove,
And bid our inmost souls rejoice
In hope of perfect love!

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
My friends have a DC who challenged them when assigning them to draw up a dream proposal: "Make me say 'no'." I love it. And I'm sure they love fighting under him.

I was a part of an audit once that went pretty well. There were some instructions for improvement. The final line was, 'at least some people are getting saved.'

Hallelujah.
----
MASSIVE

We lifted this from Xander Coleman:

I was visiting the historical society at DHQ with my brother Shaw and we found something interesting pertaining to the clergy laity split.

In 1905 the officership commission read,

"By virtue of this commission the said will be appointed from time to time to the command of Corps, and upon recieving Marching Orders will be required to proceed to the appointment given, there to lead and train the Soldiers and Recruits in the devotion of their bodies and souls to the Service of God, and for the salvation of the people."

By 1958 the commission read,

"By virtue of this commission the said will be appointed from time to time to the command of Corps, and upon recieving Marching Orders will be required to proceed to the appointment given and there to devotedly and faithfully labour to the glory of God and for the salvation of the people."

We see that somewhere between these years the role of officership changed from leading and training the Soldiery to doing it all themselves.
----
Holy. now.
----
Stomachs

In The Army, it is a truism that no one ever got saved on an empty stomach (true usually only in wealthy western countries). In a book on fasting I read Franklin Hall say that, "Moses never would have gotten that close to God on a full stomach."

While neither is likely absolutely true, they are certainly suggestive:

You might not get saved on an empty stomach, but you might not get sanctified on a full one.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Has another day gone by in your life without a conversion? Are you comfortable with that?

God, please stir our hearts to settle with nothing less than Your all.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 29: Ape The Parson (and more).

2012-01-29T16:13:00.003Z

January 29, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB667

1.
Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go
My daily labor to pursue,
Thee, only thee, resolved to know
In all I think, or speak, or do.

2.
Thee may I set at my right hand,
Whose eyes my inmost purpose see;
And labor on at thy command,
And offer all my works to thee.

3.
Give me to bear thy easy yoke,
And every moment watch and pray,
And still to things eternal look,
And hasten to thy glorious day.

4.
For thee delightfully employ
Whate'er thy bounteous grace hath given,
And run my course with even joy,
And closely walk with thee to Heaven.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Stuff you might not know...

How about this little tidbit about leading egalitarian thinker (and theological founder of Willow Creek, Gilbert Bilezikian:

"As a young man, he had a promising future in Paris in an unlikely field: pugilism. But he was converted at a Salvation Army meeting, and Bilezikian traded in his boxing gloves for the Bible. (from christianitytoday.com)

Cool, eh? for a couple of reasons: 1. another pugilist who got saved with The Army; 2. one of women's champions got saved at The Army; one of the founders of one of the biggest churches in North America got saved at The Army (to go along with founders of biggest churches in a couple of other countries I know, and 9 of the 11 leaders of the churches in the town of my first appointment...).
----
Holy. now.
----
A classic by my old territorial commander:

"Many people are claiming burnout as of late, however to my knowledge no one ever noticed that they were never on fire."
Commisioner Wesley Harris
----
Remember the poor.
----
"There is a danger of the old clergy and laity idea creeping in amongst us. The common church idea is that of a minister doing all the fighting and feeding, while his congregation does all the looking on and swallowing. We are an Army. Every soldier is expected to fight." Booth-Tucker.

Amen. And then, with my comments in brackets (from Florence Booth)...

"The kingdom of satan and sin will never be overthrown by a body of officers, as officers only.

(amen).

Our founders

(I suspect she means her husband and father-in-law in stead of her in-laws. Of course, if she includes husband, which the Year Book has accepted but I reject, then she and the YB should feel obliged to include GSR)

raised The Salvation Army because they saw clearly there should be an army of fighting men and women. The churches have erred by shutting out the laity and making God's work depend on the leaders only;

(and, of course, this is now also a pervasive problem with us, too)

and The Army was raised up as a protest against this very mistake

(this is a take on our foundations that you might not have heard. The Army started to mobilize everybody. Major Harold Hill's thesis remains the go-to source on this whole subject).

Do not ape the parson

(hahahahahahahahahaha- of course, our readership is limited, so... what is the modern dynamic equivalent of parson? pastor, preacher, minister, etc.).

Do not imitate the church

(Why is 'church' generic? Why not building or temple or family or bride or flock or kingdom or body or army? Each of these has the benefit of being understood by our culture. What is a church anyway? Then you crack open your biblegateway greek and drop ecclesia and start explaining. No one has to ask 'what is a flock anyway?' or, 'what is a bride anyway?' So let's stop slavishly wringing our emotional necks about being like and smelling like and looking like and acting like churches, which in western countries are very unpopular, and start playing up a fresh, underutilized Biblical descriptor, like, for example. army!).

Let your aim be to raise up an Army that shall glorify God by fighting. (FloBo).
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
formula for evangelism:
- find sinners;
- explain the Gospel to them;
- give them opportunity to repent and believe.
Test it out...
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 28: Wrong Motivations (and much more!).

2012-01-28T14:37:00.004Z

January 28, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common? (that is, have you experienced what Brengle experienced at his sanctification as described in his testimony at Boston Common? - you can read it in his wikipedia page)
----
SASB629
1.
Saviour, we know thou art
In every age the same;
Now, Lord, in ours exert
The virtue of thy name;
And daily, through thy word, increase
Thy blood-besprinkled witnesses.

2.
Thy people, saved below
From every sinful stain,
Shall multiply and grow
If thy command ordain;
And one into a thousand rise,
And spread thy praise through earth and skies.

3.
In many a soul. and mine,
Thou hast displayed thy power;
But to thy people join
Ten thousand thousand more,
Saved from the guilt and strength of sin,
In life and heart entirely clean.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
My buddy Peter made a great observation during some busy street combat. A generation ago drunk driving was a huge problem that was winked at by western society. A generation ago smoking was pervasive and few bothered to complain. In the interim, a small group of vocal zealots (MADD- Mothers Against Drunk Driving, in the former case) raised a ruckus and now drunk driving AND public smoking is very rare. How did they do it? Well, there are some serious penalties and enormous social stigma attached to drunk driving, and there is pervasive legislation against smoking in public places.

It makes you wonder, if we can tackle and rid ourselves of two massive social problems by stigmatizing and penalizing and outlawing them, why do we continue massaging and aiding and abetting other social ills like prostitution and gambling? We can as easily rid ourselves of these problems if we stigmatize, penalise, and outlaw this behaviour.

Where are the vocal zealots like MADD to tackle these evils? Let's pray. Let's fight.
----
Holy. now.
----
Wrong Motivations:

1. officership.
Several years ago my buddy Rob spent the day with some officers who lead a Corps in one of Americas worst neighbourhoods, they live in the rich neighbourhood and have a burden to live within the communtiy they minister in (incarnationally). Over and over their leaders have said 'no'. Their reason? 'To attract people to officership, officers must be seen to live an attractive lifestyle. If they lived with the poor it might give the impression that other officers might have to live sacrificially, too.'

This is scandalous. This is not The Salvation Army. Some need to repent. Others need to move. God have mercy.

2. soldiership.
I was at a thing in which we were asked our preparation and motivation for soldiership. One of the soldiers, from another town, pestered to become a senior soldier by people in his corps, indicated that he, "signed the stupid paper to make them shut up."

This is scandalous. This is not The Salvation Army. Some need to repent. God have mercy.
----
Remember the poor.
----
"What IS woman for if not to preach? The devil made her the first preacher on earth, and the result of her first sermon was the ruin of us all. And now she must not preach anymore? Of course not! Devil! - how clever a deceiver you are.

"Woman's first wrong step was looking too much after food and too little after divine things, and the devil and the churches he has so largely mastered would fain point women in the same direction still. "Cook! Cook! Cook! Oh noble woman, behold the object of thine existence!"

"Woman of God, make thy choice! There is the stage - the open-air stand. The multitude will crowd to hear thee - no matter what thy name, the position, thy abilities - simply because thou art woman. If thou, by the power of God, no matter whether with finished oratory, or with faltering disconnected phrases, shalt move their hearts, they will come, and come again, and thou wilt see many of them fall at the feet of Jesus, if thou wilt but got forth and speak to them."
George Scott Railton, in Turning Points. p11, from Heathen England.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Hey - don't forget to evangelise today! Be 'fessed up, get filled up and fired up and go for souls. God be with you.
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 27: the Matthew 10:6-7 Benediction (and more).

2012-01-27T12:03:00.002Z

January , 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB651
1.
Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire,
Let us thine influence prove,
Source of the old prophetic fire,
Fountain of light and love.

2.
Come, Holy Ghost, for moved by thee
The prophets wrote and spoke;
Unlock the truth, thyself the key,
Unseal the sacred book.

3.
Expand thy wings, celestial Dove,
Brood o'er our nature's night;
On our disordered spirits move,
And let there now be light.

4.
God, through himself, we then shall know,
If thou within us shine,
And sound, with all thy saints below,
The depths of love divine.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
"I do not believe that there can be a Corps of The Salvation Army, at home or abroad, in which some such signs and wonders have not been wrought."

William Booth
----
I know it isn't in our tradition to offer benedictions, necessarily, but I heard about a classic benediction offered in a meeting peopled by many who might be considered practical dispensationalists (no more gifts):

Matthew 10:6,7.

I laugh out loud even typing it again. It would have been lovely to have been there.
----
Holy. now.
----
Moving on From Milk...

Unpopular blog topics have included:

1. primitive salvationism (chari-flavoured, missioner-focused heroism) to some disagreement (I hear that 42% of readers of one Salvo site want to ditch everything militant about The Army. This is a battle that was won 132 years ago with a resounding, unprecendented revival, one unmatched by all of our well-devised plans and church growth strategies and unthinking adoption of the latest trends and slavish imitation of the popular churches and anything else you can shake a stick at. Why are we fighting this battle again? The principles that pleased God then still please Him).

2. women, to much disagreement. Practically speaking, with only a few exceptions, this Army believes in female subordination. In so doing it defies Catherine and the Army of married women warriors (Psalm 68) and slaps Jesus in the face (the crucifixion was meant to turn the world upside down a la Silas and Paul, not just change the religious symbols hanging around men's necks). It is one thing to have to present positions to non-salvos but to have to convince adult salvos is a disgrace. Read THE LIBERATING TRUTH. Then apply it.

3. covenant, to widespread disageement. I attribute the wild reaction against covenant to the tragically superior influence of the non-salvo Body of Christ on us (superior to salvo influence on the salvos. Was it the Trade Departments of the 30s and 40s that let us down? If so, the demands of the depression and the exigencies of the war slip them off the hook. But the consequences remain today). (Brian) McLaren and (Rick) Warren speak their theology into salvos who don't know our own (I'm not here analysing their theologies, but merely intimating that they aren't exactly ours in every respect).

There are real battles to fight out there. We've got AIDs, abortion, poverty (the whole seven deadly sins of BE A HERO), and communism, other world religions, other worldviews, assorted 'isms', the world, and the devil.

We should really spare our energy for those outside battles. I'd appreciate it if we - the salvos - could agree on these basics (let's move on from milk...). (revolution@ mmccxx.net)
----
Remember the poor.
----
I received a letter from someone trying to trace a quote from William Booth to the effect that William Booth envisaged that "The Salvation Army might disappear from the face of the earth… Clearly this was not his biggest concern. If it had lost its vision, it was really better than continuing to exist…"

My response:
"You want a real, living embodiment of Christianity over again, and if The Salvation Army is not going to be that, may God put it out! I would certainly be willing to pronounce the funeral oration of the Army if I did not believe it was going to be that. The world is dying for this." (Catherine Booth)

"I do not want another ecclesiastical corps cumbering the earth. When The Salvation Army ceases to be a militant body of red hot men and women whose supreme business is the saving of souls, I hope it will vanish utterly" (William Booth).

These comments need to be balanced by Catherine Booth's prophecy:

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

If she was accurate then we have the obligation to call on God to do something unprecedented in history (to my knowledge): take a movement that has suffered the fate suggested the first two quotes and restore it such that the promise of the third can wonderfully be fulfilled.

I don't know if you are advocating the disintegration of The Army (the fragmentation is already in full swing), but I'm pulling for the reintegration of The Army through the universal embrace of covenant.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
James Thompson does a riff on the old Salvation Army testimony - I'm happy, saved, and free - from an evangelistic perspective: http://lovedwithoutcause.com/happy-saved-free It might help you in your evangelising, today.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 26: "Shame-faced, Sneaking Way" into heaven? and more.

2012-01-26T12:09:00.002Z

January 26, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
Sometimes CFOT gets a hard time from some of us. I'm psyched to report this news from The War Cry, an article entitled, 'DRUMHEAD HARVEST':

'Cadets... are enjoying a "drumhead" harvest. By the middle of... they had seen 192 people kneel at the drumhead in their open-air meetings in the city and 229 seekers in other meetings. During recent out-of-town weekend campaigns another 121 decisions were secured. On one occasion there were 22 seekers kneeling at three drums. "It was one of the most powerful meetings I have ever seen at a street corner," states Brigadier R. B. Fitton, the training principal.' "

Hallelujah! God, please multiply these results in every officer training school around the world.
----
A comrade officer fired me a note that included this line, in response to my request for an update on a prayer item:

"You gotta love this calling! What fun to boost the kingdom and bring glory to God. We're very thankful to the Lord for watching over us through this process and blessing our efforts."

If you have the guts, and are cut out for it, you should email your candidates secretary today.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
"If I cannot keep my father and mother and be faithful to God, then I must forsake my father and mother. If I cannot keep my husband or wife, and be faithful to Him, then I must forsake husband or wife. If I cannot keep my children and be faithful to Him, then, Jesus Christ says, forsake them. And if I cannot keep my houses and lands and be faithful to Him, then I must forsake them. If I cannot keep my business and be faithful to Him, then I must sacrifice my business, and if I cannot keep my health and be faithful to Him, then I must sacrifice it, and, last of all, if I cannot keep my life and be faithful to Him, then I must be prepared to lose it, and lay my neck on the block, if need be. That is my religion, and I do not know any other. I do not believe any other will stand on the right hand of the throne; and, if that be so, why, all other sorts must stand on the left. If this be not true, I am utterly and thoroughly mistaken in the first principles of Christianity, and I will come and sit down at anybody's feet who can convince me that I am wrong. So, pray, do not attach that idea to me that I think that any person can sit down, providing he has light, or with opportunities of getting light, without embracing this higher-life religion, and then get into Heaven in this shame-faced, sneaking way. No, no! God will have you, or He will not have you. He will know you, or will say, "Depart from Me, I know you not." The Lord help you every one."

Catherine Booth.
----
Holy. now.
----
Sabbath has a holy place in Church tradition. Often Christians take some liberty on it and enjoy it on Sunday, but, well, it is still SORT OF sabbath (at least Biblical obedience on THEIR terms, at their convenience).

But here is a position, most don't consider:

John 5:17
"My Father never stops working, so why should I?"

Romans 14:5
In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. Each person should have a personal conviction about this matter.

So, it seems that Sabbath rest might, in the new covenant era, be more a spiritual rest (it seems akin to holiness) than physical 'day off'.

Colossians 2:16 (NLT):

"So don't let anyone condemn you for... not celebrating... Sabbaths."

So, it seems that Sabbath rest might, in the new covenant era, be more a spiritual rest (it seems akin to holiness) than physical 'day off'. Certainly that is the lesson from Hebrews 4. So, let's press in for the Sabbath Rest available through holiness:

v11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
----
4P Open Airs

I wrote this note to some friends one day:

Open airs are a traditional means of disseminating the Gospel to those who wouldn't normally go somewhere to hear it. We're blessed to have the numbers and parks to engage in this potentially transformative mode of evangelism.

It is a good opportunity to be a visible presence in the neighbourhood. It also establishes things in the heavenlies. And it is an opportunity to overcome fear of man and laziness.

So, it is an important exercise and mode of combat.

All of that said, we need to bring our A game to open airs. That includes the following:

1. planning. You can pray, plan, brainstorm, delegate fun things like choreodrama, songsters, gospel shots, dramatic evangelism, etc.

2. practice. With the planning done, you can actually practise. That will make your contributions, whether song or dance or acting or preaching, better.

3. punctuality. You need to be able to advertise with the rest of the corps the time and location of the open air. And during the open air, dead air is not desired. So it is important and effective to go quickly from person to person who is participating. Bang bang bang.

3. passion. When you're out there, people are looking at you. Let Jesus' love shine out of your faces. Make the most of every opportunity. Don't fear what people think of you- you're supposed to be dead anyway. Represent Jesus well to them. Remember that they are dying without a Saviour, most likely, right now.

4. persuasion. Those not 'at the mic' are actually an important part of every open air. It is this group that engages people in conversation, prays with and for them, evangelises them, witnesses to them, and persuades them to submit to Jesus.

If we apply these four Ps our open airs can be more effective.

Remember that we are engaging a powerful enemy with superior power. Let's fight like maniacs to free souls from bondage.
----
Remember the poor.
----
"The columns of our different War Crys have recorded, from time to time, hundreds, nay, thousands of instances, showing that God has been graciously pleased, in answer to Believing Prayer, to go out of His usual way in order to work marvels on behalf of our people."

William Booth, in FAITH HEALING, on occasions of healing reported in the pages of The War Cry.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Jesus has shown mind-boggling mercy to us - we deserve nothing but punishment and yet while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He died for your family and friends, workmates and classmates, leaders and followers, the person that sat across from you on the bus, the person that served you a coffee, the person that walked by you on the way to the meeting... Let's share the good news with these people in the power of the Holy Spirit.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 25: New Age Liberals! and more

2012-01-25T12:02:00.002Z

January , 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB784
1.
Come, let us use the grace divine,
And all, with one accord,
In a perpetual covenant join
Ourselves to Christ the Lord;

2.
Give up ourselves, through Jesus' power,
His name to glorify;
And promise in this sacred hour
For God to live and die.

3.
The covenant we this moment make
Be ever kept in mind:
We will no more our God forsake,
Or cast his words behind.

4.
We never will throw off his fear
Who hears our solemn vow;
And if thou art well pleased to hear,
Come down and meet us now.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
New Age Liberals!

We received a letter awhile ago calling us new age liberals.

Imagine. We usually get called right-wing fundamentalists.

The criticism arose from a couple of posters and t-shirts we made.

I was told that the desire for God to damn injustice and for poverty to go to hell was unbiblical and against SA teaching and unacceptable.

Of course, I think it thoroughly Biblical that poverty can go to hell and God should (He will!) damn injustice. And, not coincidently, it is thoroughly Salvo to want that, as well.

May He speed it on.
----
General Higgins:

"I am afraid the idea has sometimes got abroad that officers are intended to be like parsons and preach sermons, to monopolise all the time of a meeting while the people they are supposed to lead in fighting do nothing." (Stewards of God)
----
Are you in a DISCO yet? Discipleship Covenant groups can transform your world. Check the December 31 armybarmy blog post for details or write revolution@ mmccxx.net
----
Holy. now.
----
Armour of God.
Brad T. who discipled me, fired me this handy illustration he used at a staff traning conference:

"Remember to be Spirit Filled, and in God's armour for the battle we wage is NOT against flesh and blood. Remind (or in some cause Teach) your troups, it is ONLY by God's Spirit that we minister, glorify and honour HIM.
A neat illustration for this (Sylvia helped develop this image with me):
When the Canadian Army goes out on patrol in Afganistan, what are they wearing? The Flack Jackets, their boots, helmets, etc. Have you seen any on patrol just in underwear? Of course not, because they know that there are enemy who wish to attack them! So they are fully armed and ready when they step outside of their compound.
Yet, how many times have we stepped on campus (the field of any sorts) to do battle, wearing only our underwear, leaving the spiritual armour behind. When we do, we are saying the battle is won by us (NOT God), won by our flesh (NOT by His HOLY SPIRIT). How foolish we must look, strutting in our underwear!"
----
Remember the poor.
----
lovedwithoutcause.com is a handy salvo evangelistic website you might want to share with all of your friends and use in today's evangelising.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 24: Next Session of The War College Announced! and more

2012-01-24T18:20:00.003Z

January , 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB425
1.
I want a principle within
Of jealous, godly fear,
A sensibility of sin,
A pain to feel it near.

2.
I want the first approach to feel
Of pride or fond desire,
To catch the wandering of my will,
And quench the kindling fire.

3.
Quick as the apple of an eye,
O God, my conscience make
Awake my soul when sin is nigh,
And keep it still awake.

4.
O may the least omission pain
My well-instructed soul,
And drive me to the blood again
Which makes the wounded whole.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Aaron White had this treasure in an old armybarmy blog:

I sat under the teaching of a very wise woman who had this gem to pass along: 'Jesus was described as being a friend OF the poor, not a friend TO the poor.'

I want people to be friends of mine, not friends to me. The one implies walking together and sharing burdens, the other implies a kind of paternalistic power dynamic wherein someone condescends to be friendly to me.

Some may say that Jesus did of course descend from heaven to be friends to us, but I believe part of that descent involved a radical and complete identification with humanity (fully and properly man), and particularly with the poor and oppressed. So he could be a friend of, and not just a friend to, the poor.

How often do we truly allow ourselves to be friends of and not just friends to?
----
Holy. now.
----
Salvospheric Scoop:

The War College has announced the name of the 2012-2013 session - BOND SERVANTS. Praise the Lord. God bless The Bond Servants, who will follow hot on the heels of the Dragon Slayers and represent the tenth session of The War College. You can apply for the Vancouver session that starts in September 2012 at thewarcollege.com.

Sessions of THE WAR COLLEGE
Death and Glory
Martyrs
Holy_____
Revolution
Incendiary
Conquerors
War Cry
Blood and Fire
Dragon Slayers
Bond Servants
----
The Year Of DisCo update:

So we're three and a half weeks into the Year of Disco and so far more than a dozen cities are involved. We have faith for 20 by the end of January. If you want to participate in a DIScipleship COvenant group check out our December 31 blog below or contact us directly at revolution @mmccxx.net. It could transform your world.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Early Salvo Justice fighting:

Catherine’s influence can be found in articles in The Social Gazette relating to such topics as prostitution:
“our midnight crusade is making itself felt at last. The systematic efforts of our women rescuers are having a thorough effect. They are creating the fear of exposure on the part of offenders – the men (Original emphasis)…The second effect is the hustling and assaulting of our officers by the drunken and immoral “gentlemen” (Original emphasis) who nightly make a rendezvous of these thoroughfares [Piccadilly]” (Unstated 1893, p. 6.).

I thought it interesting in light of the warfare of many of us, and of The Salvation Army's global emphasis (against human trafficking).
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
How many conversions have you seen in 2012? I'm 0 for 2012 (tragically - God have mercy). I hope you are proving more victorious than I am. If not, press in, pray, believe, and evangelise. God help us.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 23: Mad Munn and more!

2012-01-23T10:19:00.006Z

January 23, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB597
1.
Jesus, my truth, my way,
My sure, unerring light,
On thee my feeble steps I stay,
Which thou wilt guide aright.

2.
My wisdom and my guide,
My Counselor thou art;
O never let me leave thy side,
Or from thy paths depart!

3.
Teach me the happy art
In all things to depend
On thee; O never, Lord, depart,
But love me to the end!
4.
Let me thy witness live,
When sin is all destroyed;
And then my spotless soul receive,
And take me home to God.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
One of the sensationalist SA pioneers, Adjutant Harry Munn, populary known as Mad Munn, shared the secret to his success:

“How do I get hold of the crowds? I go down to the places where they are. I see them in their darkness and drunkenness and immorality – vast crowds of humanity rotting and dying in their sinful abominations. I hear their oaths and curses, and their filthy conversations one with another, until sometimes I almost imagine myself in Hell. I see the poverty of their homes and the tears of their families, until my heart is moved and melted with compassion, and saturated with desire to lift these poor half-damned souls out of their sin and misery – to save them from the flames of the bottomless pit; for I see and feel that they are hastening there, and that, too, right over the bleeding body of the crucified Christ."

"I come away and go to my room. I throw myself on my face before God and promise Him that, live or die by His help and grace, the town shall be shaken, and some at least of the worst characters of the place shall be brought to the Blood. Then, with my heart overwhelmed with the thought of the sights I have seen, and with the cries of the perishing in my ears, I wait on God for an inspiration as to what I am to do. I expect Him to suggest the best plan for me to use in getting the attention of this people. Sometimes it is to preach in my coffin, or preach in sackcloth; or go through the streets in rags, or some other extraordinary methods to make people think. Whatever it is, I settle with my Christ that I will do it."
----
Holy. now.
----
General Tillsley says, "If you want to find a person's character, find out what makes him laugh and what makes him weep. We need to weep over the sins of the world."

There is a book by a monk-type who describes an evening conversation between some brothers about the ungrateful, hypocritical, slacker catholics who were benefitng from their service. One brother was silent until the end of the discussion (which, not coincidently, coincided with this comment) when he observed, "They don't understand."

His reponse was sadness and compassion instead of rebuke and ridicule. Tillsley would have found character in that character.

As for me, I don't know. It is difficult to do the self-examination (as those of you who regularly work through the Soldiers O+R self-examination can attest). It is a good thing I've got some faithful comrades who hold up the mirror, and sometimes the (water)gun. Have you?
----
If not, now is the time to DISCO!

Discipleship Covenant groups are spreading around the world. They can be at your corps as soon as you find one or a few people (same gender, normally) and commit to hold each other accountable for those things each person wants (i.e. you choose what you want to be accountable for, and so do I, and these lists are usually different). Covenant for a period of time (1-3 months, normally), and pray for and support each other, meeting regularly to check in...
----
Remember the poor.
----
My friend bought a book called THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING FOOLISH (Okay, good name). Anyway, on page 28, it mentions how true to the Gospel message is 'The Salvation Army slogan, 'Jesus Saves''.

I never knew. We made THAT up!?

Wow. My appreciation of The Salvation Army grows by the week.
Hallelujah.
----
Why not let all your friends who don't follow Jesus know, today, that time-honoured Salvation Army slogan, 'JESUS SAVES!'?

Or, even, copy a little of Mad Munn (above)!
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 22: Wesley, Brown, and Carpenter, (and more)

2012-01-22T18:06:00.002Z

January 22, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB497

1.
Jesus, all-atoning Lamb,
Thine, and only thine, I am;
Take my body, spirit, soul;
Only thou possess the whole.

2.
Thou my one thing needful be;
Let me ever cleave to thee;
Let me choose the better part;
Let me give thee all my heart.

3.
Fairer than the sons of men,
Do not let me turn again,
Leave the fountain-head of bliss,
Stoop to worldly happiness.

4.
All my treasure is above,
All my riches is thy love;
Who the worth of love can tell?
Infinite, unsearchable.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
General Arnold Brown said this:

"The spiritual and material needs of man are linked in every aspect of his existence, and the Salvationist, under God, must minister to both."

I'm a Brown fan, but I'm not sold.
----
Holy. now.
----
General George Carpenter advises: "In the matter of revitalising the general spirit of prayer, many of us would be helped if we sought out a few choice spirits in our corps and secured their more active cooperation."

How does that look? Different on every front. But Carpenter makes these specific suggestions:
"Talk to these key people individually.
"Carry their judgement.
"Get them to admit the need for as much attention to be given to the prayer meeting as to polishing off the band selection" (feel free to substitute any other activity or programme for band selection).
"Secure their active interest.
"Make them strategic points in your field of battle on a Sunday night." (the traditional time of salvation meeting prayer wars)

There you go. I love that the General talks like he does in the last line. There is no sheepishness about the war lingo. He was in a war. And he knew how valuable key intercessors and fishers were in those Salvation battles. You need some comrades like that, too. Praise God we have some here.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Don't let your zeal flag. Even if it seems like nothing is happening, evangelise as if you're in the thick of a revival. Expect God to act.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 21: All My Actions Sanctify (and more).

2012-01-21T14:53:00.003Z

January 21, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB492
1.
If so poor a soul as I
May to thy great glory live,
All my actions sanctify,
All my words and thoughts receive;
Claim me for thy service, claim
All I have and all I am.

2.
Take my soul and body's powers,
Take my memory, mind and will,
All my goods and all my hours,
All I know and all I feel,
All I think or speak or do;
Take my heart, but make it new!

3.
Now, O God, thine own I am,
Now I give thee back thine own;
Freedom, friends and health and fame
Consecrate to thee alone;
Thine I live, thrice happy I,
Happier still if thine I die.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
General Wickberg wrote, probably 40+ years ago:

"As I consider the problems which we are facing today I confess that I stand in need of a greater grace than ever before. I need not speak of the permissive society- of the excesses of pornography and sexual license, of the oppression of nations and races, of the curse of drug-taking and the victims of acoholism. The Salvation Army cannot and will not stand aside. We are involved in this society, we suffer with the sufferers, we protest with our uniform, our songs, our lives. Nevertheless, we stand in need of all the grace that God can give to keep a stout heart and goodly proportion of that apostolic optimism that is so badly needed today. But that grace is available."

Nice. Alright, some comments.

- 'Greater grace'. Amen. And, so, today, a generation and more later, as well.
- the problems are about the same as back then. Not to criticise the efforts of our parents, but it seems that the protest of uniform and song and lives wasn't enough to stem the flood of sin, let alone reverse the flow. Again, that is not criticism, just observation. We need something more than uniform and song and lives in protest. No shame in that. William and Catherine needed those three plus 393,000 signatures (and an elaborate demonstration) to effectively protest against child prostitution.
- But our response must be as bold as it was then. We cannot and will not stand aside. The problem now is that we've been marginalized even more than we were then. So even to stand up is to stand on the sidelines. Our response must be to stand and plunge into the thick of it.
- We must still suffer with the sufferers.
- 'apostolic optimism' is another keeper. We shall win if we fight in the strength of the King. Or, as Phil Wall continuously reminds us, 'the best days of The Salvation Army are still to come'.

So God, please pour out greater grace and apostolic optimism.
----
Holy. now.
----
keys to wisdom

In Proverbs 3:3 loyalty and kindness are keys. Praise God. We want to be known as both loyal and kind. We're to wear them like necklaces and write them deep on our hearts.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Was it really a year ago that the high council started? Since then, General Clifton retired, General Bond was elected, heaps of thousands of people have been saved, a few countries have been invaded, The Salvation Army has prayed non-stop, and the salvation war advances. Who knows what the next year will hold? Stay close to Jesus.
----
thewarcollege.com
----
Here's an interesting post by former armybarmy blogger Rob Dolby on evangelism:

http://radicaldisciples.blogspot.com/2012/01/another-ism.html
----
To save men is a desperate, agonizing, wounding business.
William Booth

Let's get at it.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 20: Death And Glory (and more),

2012-01-20T21:30:00.002Z

January 20, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB472
1.
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

2.
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfil,
O may it all my powers engage,
To do my Master's will!

3.
Arm me with jealous care,
As in thy sight to live;
And O thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!

4.
Help me to watch and pray,
And on thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
movement to church?

"A key question for us is how we make the transition from a movement to a church in such a way that we do not lose the original dynamic that brought the Army into being. Or if we have lost something of that dynamic, how do we regain it?"
General John Larsson, addressing a 2001 International Theology and Ethics Symposium in Winnipeg, Canada.

A few remarks...
- A key question is WHY we make the transition from a movement to a church. What is there to gain in being a church? Other than in the States and in some African countries, most places are not friendly to church. It therefore helps us not a bit in our mission of winning the world to identify with this unpopular institution.

- We've already lost the original dynamic (thus making the first comments, for many places, hypothetical).

- We regain it not by becoming a church or by acting church-like. That we know for sure. We do not regain it by calling every new corps a community church (as one territory insists). We do not regain it by calling our officers 'pastors' (see many CO 'business' cards). We do not regain it by running traditional church programmes or traditional church meetings. We do not regain it by envying and imitating the church sacraments.

- Could it be that we regain it by returning to the principles and passions and covenant of our primitive forefathers?
----
Holy. now.
----
I had occasion to help with a deliverance session of a house with a bad past. We were led by a senior leader in the Body of Christ. I asked a couple of factual questions to ascertain the authority we had in this situation. He responded, 'we have all the authority we need'.

It wasn't arrogant. It was confident. I loved it.

Now, that is not a carte blanche endorsement for you to confront the enemy. But neither is it bowing at his stature in the body (not totally, anyway). It has to do with holiness, though.
----
Remember the poor.
----
A friend who is pretty early on in the journey on the Way, who has fought relatively few battles in the War, asked me what to expect next. Here's a suggestion:

repentance and faith

joy and pain

consecration and sanctification

suffering and persecution

covenant and power

blood and fire

signs and wonders

death and glory

Hallelujah.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
People are going to hell. I heard of someone who went there recently. The gospel is powerful. But we need to get the gospel to the people who need to hear it. Do what you can.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 19: Time Magazine Supports The Salvation Army against Paganism and False Religion; (and more).

2012-01-19T19:49:00.004Z

January 19, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB988
1.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise;
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!

2.
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of thy name.

3.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears;
'Tis life and health and peace.

4.
He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood avails for me.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
WB incendiary

“You must have a leader, and you must have a band of men who are ‘alive.’ Let us pour contempt on our ‘ministerial helpers’ and end them or mend them… Give me godly, go-ahead daredevils and anybody may have the preachers!”

I've always figured preaching is over-rated.
----
Holy. now.
----
One of the issues on which our people have lost their way (not everyone) is married women in leadership. Catherine had it down. In the early days we had it going on, but I am guessing the deceleration of the movement made it more susceptible to institutional church doctrine and praxis (for example, we replaced titles by Booth and the great hearts with titles by the cross-denominational best-sellers and tv programmes and radio and so on).

So here we are now with a presumed headship theology that is crippling God's Salvation Army. It is brutal. Weak.

So, look - it is good that we have a female general. She's single. And it is good that we have a smattering of reserve/senior reserve appointments now held by married women. It's a start.

But mindsets are also slow to change. We've got to tighten up in a big way. Why not read THE LIBERATING TRUTH (by Strickland) or WHY NOT WOMEN? or BEYOND THE CURSE or some such book that might provide you with a new angle (new to you)?

Positions that push down women are sinful. And it is no excuse to say you didn't know, for two reasons: 1. You're a Salvationist, for God's sake!, and 2. you have a responsibility to look.

So, align your position with God's. Stop crippling The Army. Submit (men), co-labour (men), exercise your freedom (women) and calling (women) and gifts (women).

This is not a peace-time issue.
----
Remember the poor.
----
TIME Magazine comes out alongside the Salvos against false religion and paganism!

TIME Magazine in 1930...

How many magazines these days might run this challenge from Evangeline Booth:

"March on until Paganism has burned its last idol and Mohammedanism has renounced its false prophet and Christianity prevails everywhere."
----
I meet many people who want to throw their lives away for the cause. But they are not sure how. Here are a few suggestions: 1. Evangelise everything that moves. Be prayed up and trained up and filled up and ready to go - guaranteed that will throw away your life; 2. pioneer some bi-vocational, cell-based outposts. Change the world for very little money and very big risk. Live simply in community, charismatically spreading the Gospel from house to house (or room to room); 3. sign up as an officer. This option is more realistic in some countries than in others, because, as this blog has noted, in some places, there remains little extreme about this vocation. However, the romantic element hangs around like the smell of mothballs at your great grandparents's place, and you can plunge in from there.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 18: MMCCXX update (and more).

2012-01-18T20:48:00.006Z

January , 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB024
1.
Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,
And publish abroad his wonderful name;
The name all-victorious of Jesus extol;
His Kingdom is glorious and rules over all.

2.
God ruleth on high, almighty to save;
And still he is nigh, his presence we have;
The great congregation his triumphs shall sing,
Ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.

3.
Then let us adore and give him his right,
All glory and power, all wisdom and might;
All honor and blessing, with angels above,
And thanks never-ceasing and infinite love!

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
MMCCXX is a dream to see new outposts in 2000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years. We're nearly seven years into it. Here's a refresher.

DNA
The stronger the shared DNA of this venture the more effective the efforts will be. If, at the minimum, we all agree in the great commission, God can use us to accomplish these plans. But if we agree on more, the process accelerates.

What we’re looking to share is the most virulent (‘dangerous and potent’) strain of the Revolutionist virus that will spread the fastest around the world.

These seem to be vital components:

1. Primitive Salvationism- mission-focused, charismatic-flavoured heroism.

This phrase conveys a sense of the essential elements of the first generation Salvation Army. Many will agree on ‘mission-focused’ and ‘heroism’ (the latter definitely required for many of the cities we are destined to invade). The other term requires quick unpacking. By ‘charismatic-flavoured’ we are recognizing the Spirit-generated freedom and power exuding from early Salvationists and from their contemporary heirs in various denominational attire around the world. Most of the largest, fastest-growing, mission-oriented churches in the world are charismatic.

2. Poor- We’re called to the poor. Don’t worry- this is actually a massive target group, since, according to www.globalrichlist.com, there are more than 5.1 billion people who live on less than what Canadians get on welfare. We’re convinced that we need to share Jesus’ bias for the poor on whatever front we fight. This demands some incarnational simplicity in our efforts, identifying with the poor whom we serve.

Global and local interests demand our integrity with this issue. Some of the benefits of such a posture include: intimacy with a God who has a bias toward the poor; identification with the people; good stewardship of God-lent resources; integrity; cost-effectiveness; and the ability to sleep at night.

3. Community- One of our catch phrases has been ‘authentic Christian community’. We believe that when we pervasively tap into this it will be contagious. “See how they love one another” will be the startled observation.

We replace bald-spot Christianity (staring at the back of someone’s head for an hour every week) with face-to-face Christianity, in which we actually get into each other’s lives, carrying one another’s burdens, sharpening one another, spurring one another on to love and good deeds, caring, supporting, holding accountable. It is a much more rigorous Christianity than most of us ever experience.

Not only that, but God has designed us to desire community. We long to belong. Most in the West don’t ever sense the reality in its pure forms but we craft some human version (clubs, teams, etc.) or get caught up in a demonic counterfeit (cult, secret society, etc.). The real thing is attractive at a soul-level for people with whom we live and interact.

4. Bi-Vocational- We’re training our people locally to prepare to go and get jobs in other cities and to start cells. Paul did the same thing, and we called it tent-making. This offers contacts, sustainable income, and flexibility, while facilitating incarnation. It gives us freedom to experiment without financial restraint. It will provide us with creative access to some countries in which we will need to adapt story to existing culture and history.

5. Prophetic Relevance- We coined this term to cover both cultural relevance on each front and the protection of a prophetic stance (our calling, individually and corporately, to speak God’s message to the world and to the Church). We do well not to abdicate one for the other, although off forced, prophetic trumps relevant. Paul was Jewish when it helped and he was Roman when it helped. There is definitely a social justice component as well, our people learning to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so they will not be unfruitful (Titus 3:14).

On fronts less free to the Gospel, relevance will be emphasised above prophetic stance. In free countries relevance becomes a tactic we choose to use as deemed circumstantially efficacious.

We’re relevant as it serves prophetic purposes.

6. Prayer
Prayer is more important than we realize. Those of us who buy in to MMCCXX will be pressed to mobilize our prayer networks for committed coverage of the warriors, softening of the fronts, blessing to the apostolic leadership for the next 20 years who will help drive us into new countries and deploy leaders, raising and training warriors, finances, etc. We will want to recruit intercessory networks, 24-7 Prayer rooms, corps lists, and so on. In Vancouver, salvos went non-stop 3 1/2 years in The War Room (this is a room dedicated to non-stop prayer in which people, signed up for three-hour shifts, intercede and worship as directed by God and guided by prayer-aids). MMCCXX was birthed there. In Edmonton, salvos took the first year of the Global Call to non-stop prayer literally, also in The War Room.

7. Recruitment
We’ll need to identify and recruit leaders. We’ll need thousands of them to invade 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years. General William Booth declared,

"We want soldiers who understand the hearts of men, who are acquainted with the devices of Satan and the delusions and excuses and hiding-places of sinners, and who know how to pour in volley after volley of red-hot truth upon rebels, until they run, or yield, or fall at the feet of the conquering Saviour."

Who will participate? It is a big tent. It includes all those captivated by the vision and the radical mission-drenched exploits of the children of the revolution. But we need people of proven character and ability who share the DNA. These people will be in relationship with us- discipling/ mentoring/ directing.

Paul seems to have had criteria for those being sent:
Fellow travellers with Paul;
Spiritual sons, or brothers;
Kindred spirits (Phil 2:9);
Genuine concern for the welfare of the local church;
Demonstration by their lives of what a disciple looks like (1 Cor.4:17).

8. Training
The training will be tailored to the specific front to be invaded. I don’t need to learn Kazakh to invade the heavily Chinese Vancouver suburb of Richmond. But I could probably use it in Kazakhstan.

We don’t need to re-invent the wheel and will do well to catch up on the tactics of Christian agencies hitting many of the currently closed countries in imaginative ways. Study of the religions and cultures we will encounter will be essential.

9. Deployment
Biblical expansion is guided by God and connected though relationship. God has identified some leaders (and will identify more) responsible for regions who can coordinate plans of attack.

Paul’s model was to send out leaders with his expressed endorsement.

System

Global: We’re not re-inventing the Biblical Church. MMCCXX is based on relationships. The apostles build the foundation and raise up and bless local leaders.

The Ephesian model of Paul is instructive (Acts 19). After evangelising in the synagogues for three months (v8), Paul established a war college at the lecture hall of Tyrannus attended daily by the disciples for two years (v9,10). The curriculum included:
· service to the Lord (20:19);
· modeling of humility and hard work (20:19, 35);
· large crowd and cell preaching and teaching (20:20);
· the whole will of God (20:27);
· night and day fighting, with tears (20:31);
· major miracles, healing, and deliverance tactics (including handkerchief healing!- 19:11,12);
· power confrontations (such that Artemis was discredited- 19:27);
· and mass population evangelism (“all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord”- 19:10).

Peter Wagner says that “Paul was… taking gifted believers whoever they might be, with whatever education they might have, providing for them the conceptual and practical tools they need, and sending them out to extend the kingdom of God.” Wagner believes that many of the Churches that began around Asia in the first century were actually planted by these disciples of Paul.

This movement will need to remain decentralised, with each of us having autonomy to do what God leads us to do on our own fronts. We can voluntarily submit to one another and we can voluntarily speak into each other’s local situation. Accountability will be covenantal.

Local: By ‘outposts’ we’re thinking mission-focused local expressions of the Body of Christ. We’re strong believers in cell-based Christian community. The largest churches in the world are, without exception, cell-based. It is Biblical, community-enhancing, accountable, honest, intimate, contagious, and simple (in that you don’t need buildings and big budgets).

We’re also very committed to having a War Room (24-7 prayer). Obviously many new starts will be very hard-pressed to get it going non-stop but the War Room ought to be the hub of all activity, especially for pioneering types who are inclined to be very active.

General William Booth said, “Pay 10,000 more times attention to the children, but don’t neglect the adults.” We’d love to see a commitment to training the children so that the army is complete and the invasion is sustainable. We started the Warrior Academy with that purpose in mind (and with the intention of replicating in scores of cities). This is one model that can be used effectively.

Action

Pray.
- See if God has been dreaming about this for you. If so, find out when and where. This should help us get our heads around something our hearts are embracing. If your heart is telling you that you could be a part of one of these 2000 outposts in 200 countries in 20 years, then move on to…

Train
- Get yourself discipled by a solid Christian. Be accountable in the local Body.

Recruit
- Pull together a team of like-hearted individuals. This process will involve starting back at ‘pray’ and ‘train’.

Connect
- Keep us in the loop. The network and resources can help coordinate, support, train, pray, deploy, fellowship, and so on. Contact us at revolution @mmccxx.net.

Notes:
There are 191 UN member states. Add the Vatican and Taiwan and you get the common total, 193. But if you add the following places- Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Greenland, Western Sahara, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England- you get 201 (subtract UK and you have 200. Don’t let the number throw you off. We're in 17 so far. Praise God.
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Holy. now.
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Tomorrow is our deadline for JAC submissions - if you have something orthodox, provocative, and edifying, why not fire it off to revolution @mmccxx.net to be considered for publication?
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Remember the poor.
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Jesus is coming soon. Most people don't know it. Most don't care. Even many Christians live as if it isn't happening. But we know it is true. So, let's evangelise like it's going out of style.
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 17: Make His glory your joy... (and much more).

2012-01-17T12:00:00.002Z

January 17, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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Are the roots of bitterness gone?
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Have you been to Boston Common?
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SASB191
1.
Come, thou everlasting Spirit,
Bring to every thankful mind
All the Saviour's dying merit,
All his sufferings for mankind.

2.
True Recorder of his passion,
Now the living faith impart;
Now reveal his great salvation;
Preach his gospel to my heart.

3.
Come, thou Witness of his dying;
Come, remembrancer divine!
Let us feel thy power, applying
Christ to every soul, and mine.

4.
Let us groan thine inward groaning,
Look on him we pierced, and grieve;
All receive the grace atoning,
All the sprinkled blood receive.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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No one likes to talk about cartridges. Its similar to fasting in that regard. We don't want to brag and end up sinning about something spiritual. But that is an entanglement of the devil. I mean, get over it. We have to teach our people. Someone told me this week of a Corps where they post last week's cartridge totals by name on the wall in the hall! :- )

Because it doesn't get taught well, God gets ripped off by people, and people get ripped off by ripping God off.

Soldiers have high expectations. General William Booth instructed: “You might work out this rule on a graduated scale, beginning at the bottom with a tenth, and going on increasing as God increases… From a tenth you can rise to an eighth, and then to a fifth, and a fourth, and even further. Make His glory your joy, your conscience, your guide, and the Salvation of men, for time and eternity, the supreme object for which you live and trade and do everything else, and you will not go astray on this subject.”

In other words, a tenth of your income is the bare minimum expected. If you aren't there yet, get there. If you are only there, move on into increase.

10% is probably acceptable for a soldier of a year or so. After that, go for 20%. That might sell for the next few years but after five years of soldiership you're probably wanting to up it to __%. And so on.

If 80 adults on welfare tithe (for discussion's sake, say roughly $50/month or $600/year) we're looking at $48,000, which, by the way, is more than many corps.

If there are 20,000 soldiers in Canada, for example, and they were all on welfare (not that many are), and they all fire a tenth, we're looking at $12 million a year. That's in the neighbourhood of $34,000/corps. It's nothing to sneeze at (recognizing that most make more than welfare and so we can get way more).

Our stinginess might be the thing keeping back the advance of the great salvation war
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Holy. now.
----
My pal Peter and I were doing street combat one night and evangelising Gary on a perch in an alley in our neighbourhood. Within a yard of our conversation were two people. The lady was lying down exposing her neck for the young man to jam with a needle. He was complaining about having to do it (he was pretty shaky himself) so I interrupted that he shouldn't do it.

It turns out he is her son and he always does it.

Nice family relations.

They heard the Gospel, asked about our corps, and blessed us when we departed.

God is in the business of restoration. The Bible even talks about turning hearts of children to fathers and fathers to children. I am pretty sure that goes for mothers too. God grant it.
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JAC deadline is the 19th - contributions to revolution @mmccxx.net
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Remember the poor.
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I have it on good authority that people get saved off of this salvo site: http://www.followtheblackcat.com/

So why not add to the number? Why not share it with all the teens you know, today?
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 16: Religion on Fire... and much more.

2012-01-16T11:31:00.002Z

January 16, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
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SASB662
1.
Help us to help each other, Lord,
Each other's cross to bear;
Let each his friendly aid afford,
And feel his brother's care.

2.
Help us to build each other up,
Our little stock improve;
Increase our faith, confirm our hope,
And perfect us in love.

3.
Up into thee, our living head,
Let us in all things grow,
Till thou hast made us free indeed
And spotless here below.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Holy. now.
----
Here's some William Booth you probably haven't read...

"Religion on fire - is, humanly speaking, the vital force of The Salvation Army; ... [that] without it the Movement must - and no one could tell how soon - become 'a dried-up fountain', and 'extinct volcano', like so many of the sect around us.

"I do not say that The Army in such a case would break up and cease to be; it is too well organised to pass at once out of being, even though the spirit should depart from it. But in such a case it would most certainly lose its main and most active force for good.

"And you have also heard me assert, over and over again, that with the burning reality of such a 'religion of fire', The Army must prove an irresistible, overwhelming, conquering agency for helping forward the salvation of the human race."
WB p34 Addresses to Staff Officers, 1906.

"Take the Mosaic law, for instance. It contains the root principles of all law as approved and accepted by the best and most intelligent races who have ever lived on the earth. Where did all this wisdom come from?

"Out of the brain of the creature who was an improved baboon, or from the mind of the Creator?" p45.

"So with the Holy Spirit; so let us honour Him by the due recognition of His Personality.
Do we regard the Holy Spirit after this fashion?
Do we greet Him in the morning when we wake?
Do we turn to Him in our weakness and trials during the day? Do we welcome Him to our hearts and homes and circle as a real living Person? What do you say?
The Holy Spirit is God." p50.

The last bit suggests that William Booth beat Benny Hinn to his most famous book title - Good Morning Holy Spirit.
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Remember the poor.
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Submissions for Journal of Aggressive Christianity go here - revolution@ mmccxx.net To catch up on the first 76 issues, go here: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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Some of you might be independents. Independents are what we call those who don't yet depend on God. If you're not an indie, I am sure you know some. This is for the indie crew.

I can't over-emphasize this. You need to repent. You need to become dependent on Jesus Christ.

Yes, there is a time to say, "God's not mad at you." or, "He loves you with an everlasting love." Two of the better evangelists I know use those lines.

There is a time for Jesus films, and four spiritual laws, and roman roads, and hand stories, and friendship evangelism, and so on. Yes, yes, yes.

But the bottom line is this: It is Jesus or hell.

As God He requires and demands your submission now (today is the day) and for the rest of your life.

As Savious He deserves it. He died because of your rebellion, selfishness, pride and every other filthy sin. But it is only one sin that is going to keep you out of heaven.

He invited (and commanded) 'Repent and believe... come follow Me'. It is your rejection of this command (invitation) that keeps you independent, keeps you unforgiven, keeps you cut off from divine community and acceptance and love and mercy and purpose and satisfaction, keeps you condemned and cursed, and keeps you bound for an eternity in hell.

There is no other way around it.

Submit to Him today. Check out some solid Dependents near where you live and work (or contact us at irresolution @mmccxx.net) for encouragement and discipling.

This is what it is all about. All of these little blogs and sites, and events, and projects, and ideas, and efforts, and initiatives- that's it, to convince indies to depend on Jesus.
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 15: Have We Got The Guts To Respond? and more.

2012-01-15T18:41:00.002Z

January 15, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB594
1.
Jesus, I fain would find
Thy zeal for God in me,
Thy yearning pity for mankind,
Thy burning charity.

2.
In me thy Spirit dwell,
In me thy mercies move,
So shall the fervor of my zeal
Be the pure flame of love.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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A.
I recently listened to a well-travelled preacher indicate that there were two reasons that an effective evangelist (who, though pretty young, has seen hundreds of thousands of people indicate decisions to repent and believe) was so effective:
1. he is hungrier for Jesus that anyone this person has met; and,
2. he is committed to evangelism, not only before big crowds, but, even in the early days, on the streets, day after day after day.

It sounds simple. I guess is all comes down to response. Have we got the guts to respond?

B.
I spoke with a friend who invested a mission trip with one of the most die-hard groups of evangelists I've ever encountered. They are a very difficult front, are highly disciplined, and fight all the time. My friend struggled to keep up. Their commitment played out in their families (all disciplined, with family rations every morning before breakfast), their finances (they have to raise their own funds), their fitness (because of the terrain of their front and their hard schedule, my friends says that they are all 'cut like cougers'), and their fruitfulness (they'll travel all day to get one person saved, if that is what it takes).

It sounds simple. I guess it all comes down to response. Have we got the guts to respond?
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Holy. now.
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Remember the poor.
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To all you young single warriors, I pass on the following advice:

I used to tell my kids as a counsellor this at camp: chicks are out; also, left hand to your mouth, index finger tip touching thumb tip with left hand and the right index finger bottom right to top left over the left hand. Then pucker up. It makes a no-kissing sign. Hold that pose until engagement and you might be safe.
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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call centre evangelism

I spoke with Andy Williams at length on the phone. I am confident that Andy Williams is not his real name. He has a strong Indian accent and I am guessing he was calling me from there.

Anyway, during the conversation I worked up a couple of evangelistic approaches. Andy didn't get saved, but maybe your next caller will.

Here's the thing: they usually kick it off with 'here's a special offer for you'. I listen. And then I give them a special offer (insert Gospel here).

Or, they indicate that they have 4 questions for me to answer. I do. Then I indicate that I have 2 questions for them to answer (Evangelism Explosion- 1. if you died tonight, would you go to heaven or hell? 2. Why should God let you into heaven?).

Now, I recognize the approach is old school but how else are you going to evangelise Andy?

So, why not try it out next time you catch the call centre?
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 14: Twiddling His Thumbs?... and much more.

2012-01-14T15:35:00.004Z

January 14, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
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SASB505

1.
Lord, in the strength of grace,
With a glad heart and free,
Myself, my residue of days,
I consecrate to thee.

2.
Thy ransomed servant, I
Restore to thee thy own,
And from this moment, live or die
To serve my God alone.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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RevoDevos reprint

read Exodus 1

These are the conditions for revolution. In Egypt, in that day, the people of God were enslaved. God was marginalized (the king didn’t even know Joseph!). And there was a culture of death. Pharaoh commanded the people to kill every Hebrew baby born. Every unwanted baby was ordered killed.

It sounds a lot like the situation in the West today. While Christians are not enslaved today, at least in the Western countries, God is marginalized. He’s not allowed in classrooms. He’s being booted out of courtrooms. He is legislated out of the public square. He is muscled out of politics. He is forced to play on the margins.

But that isn’t so bad. Because the children of the revolution are born out of despair. And despair is the language of the margins. The poor live there. Those discriminated against. The different. In Biblical terms, the widow, the orphan, the alien. In our chapter, the Hebrews. God has a bias toward the marginalized.

And God raises revolutionary armies from the margins. Just look at David. He was in exile, on the run from the powerful king. And here and there, defectors from various tribes gathered to David until he found himself in charge of a mighty army (1 Ch.12). As people grow more and more dissatisfied with the status quo, they will look for something better.

Let me put that another way: as you grow more and more dissatisfied with the status quo, you will look for something better. As you grow more and more dissatisfied with a lack of compelling purpose in life, with a daily and possibly meaningless grind, with video games and slushies, with half-decent grades (or even excellent grades) and a part-time job at the gas station, with re-runs and fumbling dates, you will look for something better.

Not only that, but we’re also a lot like this chapter in that we live in a society that has cultivated a culture of death. Kill the babies you don’t want, the babies who might be deformed or diseased, the babies of the wrong gender, the babies that are just plain inconvenient. Kill them.

And you know God hears what is going on, and hates it. You know that He is not sitting by twiddling His thumbs. He is looking to ignite a revolution from the margins. So what should you do? Get on the margins, if you aren’t already there. Identify with the marginalized- incarnate. Then catch God’s heart against the sin that is rampant and for the people He created for something much better. Then fight.

Q: How can you identify with the marginalized in your current living situation?
How can you stand up for the unborn? (try abortionno.org – the GAP page)
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Holy. now.
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Worship option - find a nice chordal progression and then ad lib melody of some of your favourite SASB choruses. Here are some examples:

Consecration: 473c; 475c; 488c; 503c; 527c; 534c
Holiness: 448c; 461c; 463c
Warfare: 686c; 687c; 690c; 693c; 696c; 698c; 700c; 701c; 702c; 724c; 800c; 803c; 809c; 813c; 810c; 815c; 819c; 820c; etc.
from chorus section:
Holiness: 32, 34, 35, 40, 53
Service: 71
Purity: 72
Prayer: 76
Renewal: 78, 80
Prayer: 81
Classic: 97
Testimony: 169
War: 224, 238, 239, 243.
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Remember the poor.
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articles of marriage- 1947.
These are now no longer the official Salvation Army articles of marriage (soldiers in The Army marry in uniform and commit to this covenant, or one pretty similar now) but we were married under them, as were our friends:

a. We do solemnly declare that we have not sought this marriage for the sake of our own happiness and interests only, although we hope that these will be furthered thereby; but because we believe that the union will enable us better to please and serve God, and more earnestly and successfully to fight and work in The Salvation Army.
b. We here promise that we will not allow our marriage in any way to lesson our devotion to God, our affection for our comrades, or our faithfulness in The Army.
c. We each individually promise that we will never do anything likely to prevent the other's doing, or giving, or suffering, anything that is in his or her power to do, give, or suffer, in order to assist The Army; believing that in so doing we shall best promote the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
d. We promise that we will use all our influence with each other to promote our constant and entire self-sacrifice in fighting in the ranks of The Army for the salvation of the world.
e. We promise always to regard our home in every way as a Salvation Army Soldier's Quarters, and to arrange it accordingly, and to train all in it who may be under our influence and authroity for faithful and efficient service in The Army.
f. We promise, whether together or apart, always to do our utmost as true Soldiers of Jesus Christ to carry on and sustain the Salvation War, and never to allow The Army to be injured or hindered in any of its interests, without doing our utmost to prevent it.
g. Should either of us from sickness, death, or any other cause cease to be an efficient Soldier, we engage that the remaining one shall continue to the best of his or her ability to fulfil all these promises.
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
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Are you looking to find God (or to help others find Him)? Try this: http://sacrossroads.com/sacrossroads.com/how_to_find_God.html
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 13: Buddy / Buddy... and more

2012-01-13T11:55:00.002Z

January 13, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB915
1.
And are we yet alive,
And see each other's face?
Glory and praise to Jesus give
For his redeeming grace!
Preserved by power divine
To full salvation here,
Again in Jesus' praise we join,
And in his sight appear.

2.
What troubles we have seen,
What conflicts we have passed,
Fightings without and fears within,
Since we assembled last
But out of all the Lord
Has brought us by his love;
And still he doth his help afford,
And hides our life above.

3.
Then let us make our boast
Of his redeeming power,
Which saves us to the uttermost,
Till we shall sin no more.
Let us take up the cross,
Till we the crown obtain,
And gladly reckon all things loss,
So we may Jesus gain.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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2 Corinthians 5:11- Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

This is a powerful verse. Most translations make it, 'knowing the fear of the Lord'. But we've watered down that concept so much that a solid father who doesn't commit crimes and thanks 'the good Lord' can call himself a God-fearing man.

That's why I like the AV here- the terror of the Lord obviously suggests something extremely more dangerous than that. Traditionally, in the Bible, to know something is to become intimate- even one- with it (I know I am hopping from one language to another here, but don't worry). Once we're dead, once we're humble, the terror of the Lord can seize and saturate us. Well, then, everywhere we go, we end up oozing this holy terror. Others with whom we interact begin to catch on that our relationship with God is more than buddy-buddy. It is Creator-created/King-subject/Ruler-slave/Everything-nothing.

And I am guessing that this oozing holy terror is the best means of 'persuad(ing) men'.
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Holy. now.
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The Year of DISCO

FAMILY DISCO

God keeps stirring up great new ideas. One of our Disco partners just started a disco with his family. Each member (down to the 4 year old!) has contributed his/her own list of 'accountables'. Classic.

You'll likely want to disco as well. Remember that DIScipleship COvenant groups are confidential, and for a set time period. We explain them at length in the December 30 post below.
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Remember the poor.
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Crossroads Corps (sacrossroads.com) is inviting gifted and called intercessors to join the salvation war for Edmonton from your very own front. We might check for CO endorsements but if you fit the profile and get a green light from the Lord, contact us at revolution @mmccxx.net. The plan is to email updates for your attention.
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Journal of Aggressive Christianity is accepting contributions at revolution @mmccxx.net To read 76 issues, go to http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
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The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
If you were standing on a land mine and any movement was sure to set off the explosion, what would you do? Would you use all the battery in your handheld device to tweet or text evangelistic exhortations to as many people in as many ways possible? What would you pray? Would you repent and consecrate and intercede with the zeal of a dying man/woman?

Why not try some of that kind of evangelising and praying, today?
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 12: Hasidic Salvos! (and much more)

2012-01-12T12:27:00.003Z

January 12, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
We finished up Will Brand's SASB contributions yesterday. Dare we start Charles Wesley? We can't guarantee we'll run all 68 but, you'll get a good dose, starting with this one:

SASB 419
1.
He wills that I should holy be;
That holiness I long to feel,
That full divine conformity
To all my Saviour's righteous will.

2.
On thee, O God, my soul is stayed.
And waits to prove thine utmost will;
The promise, by thy mercy made,
Thou canst, thou wilt in me fulfill.

3.
Thy loving Spirit, Christ, alone
Can lead me forth and make me free,
Burst every bond through which I groan
And set my heart at liberty.

4.
Now let thy Spirit bring me in,
And give thy servant to possess
The land of rest from inbred sin,
The land of perfect holiness.

5.
Lord, I believe thy power the same,
The same thy grace and truth endure;
And in thy blessed hands I am,
And trust thee for a perfect cure.

6.
Come, Saviour, come and make me whole,
Entirely all my sins remove;
To perfect health restore my soul,
To perfect holiness and love.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
We've picked up a few nicknames over the years, things like the 'retros', lunatic fringe, militant wing (of The Salvation Army), primitive salvationists, and so on. More recently we were called a new one: Hasidic Salvos.

This is what the adjective means:

Hasidic Judaism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Hasidic Judaism (Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות, meaning "pious" from the Hebrew root word chesed חסד meaning "loving kindness") is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. It is also known as Hasidism, and the adjective Chasidic/Hasidic (or in Yiddish Chasidish חסידיש) is applied. It originated in Eastern Europe (Belarus and Ukraine) in the 18th century.

The movement was founded by Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (1700-1760), also known as the Baal Shem Tov (abbreviated as Besht). It was formed in a time of persecution of the Jewish people, when European Jews had turned inward to Talmud study; many felt that most expressions of Jewish life had become too "academic", and that they no longer had any emphasis on spirituality or joy. The Ba'al Shem Tov set out to improve the situation. In its initial stages, Hasidism received opposition from several contemporary leaders, most notably the Vilna Gaon of Lithuania, united as the mitnagdim (Hebrew: "opposers").
_____
I'll take it. The root, chesed, has to do with covenant love, I am told. So it totally fits The Army.

Here's further commentary from someone on the inside:

"... passion, and the abandon... The Chassidim's beauty though, is their gentleness, and their humility, which was what I loved so much about them. They usually avoid using a strident voice. In the Jewish orthodox picture they lack the authoritarian hierarchy, and are better at relating horizontally. They can (but don't always) have a refreshing lack of social prejudice."

Wow. Humility, gentleness, relational, lack of social prejudice... Nice. A good target.
----
Holy. now.
----
I've been doing something in recent days that might end up being contemptible. No, I've not been beating my wife, or cheating on my wife, or raping children.

I've been recommending revolution (no contemptible in itself, but read on).

Railton declares:

"We are revolutionists. We know that we have passed from death unto life, and we insist on the necessity of the same sweeping change in every human being. With cries of 'Death unto sin' and 'Life unto righteousness,' we go on, determined to turn the world upside down. We are not philosophers or the theorists of revolution; but its agents. Merely to recommend revolution is contemptible. We must make it. Glad indeed would we be if any word of ours could go forth to slumbering Christians and slumbering churches, and awake them to the fight; but it is only what is done by direct personal effort that can be called sure work, in a revolution."

If we stop at the recommendation, and merely recommend revolution, we're as contemptible as wife beaters and child rapists.

On with the revolution.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Werner Stark quotes Bramwell Booth writing to Railton, "I am convinced that we must stick to our concern, and that we must also keep up its so-called extravagances. They, and they only will save it from drooping down into a sectarian nothing." (Letter of 6 October 1874, quoted from Th.F.G.Coates, Prophet of the Poor, p.98.) Stark comments "What Booth wanted was precisely what Trotsky wanted: a permanent revolution." ( Werner Stark, Sectarian Religion, pp.284-5) (Hat tip H Hill)
____
For those of us so inclined this is great advice. We can't let up on the so-called extravagances.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
When's the last time you replicated yourself in a disciple?
When's the last time you made a disciple?
When's the last time you made a convert?
When's the last time you evangelised someone?
It's time for an update - God help us.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 11: Unsolicited Advice On Moves Day (and much more).

2012-01-11T12:44:00.003Z

January 11, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB553

1.
When Jesus from Calvary called me,
Unfolding its meaning to me,
The life which he offered enthralled me,
Abundant, enduring and free.
I hungered to make a beginning
My meeting with Jesus to show,
And, ceasing that moment from sinning,
Salvation's full measure to know.

2.
But oh, as the journey grew longer,
Temptations my pathway beset;
When I, self-deceiving, felt stronger,
Then only with failure I met.
But troubled with much condemnation,
And weakened by many a wound,
In seeking for God's full salvation
The secret of victory I found.

3.
For, held by my halting behavior,
No progress I truly had gained;
How greatly I needed the Saviour,
How rooted my weakness remained.
And so, my unworthiness pressing,
I yielded, my will to resign,
And as I reached out for the blessing,
That moment the blessing was mine.

4.
Now daily the Saviour is showing
How gracious his presence can be;
The life which he promised is growing
And finding fulfilment in me.
Engaged in his sacred employment
And furnished with all that I need,
In him I have fullest enjoyment,
In him perfect friendship indeed.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
This is moves day in some parts of the world. And a bunch of new officers are heading to their first appointments. So, without further ado, and without solicitation, here are some words to start you off:

May God empower you mightily in the great Salvation War.

Listen to God. Pray and hide in the Word so that you can hear.

Be accountable. Stay connected with your disciplers and mentors and accountability partners from training. Make some more along the way. DISCO is a great way to do that (discipleship covenants - see our Dec. 30 post on it below).

What counts in training might not matter on the field. Following orders and being on time is nice. But you've got to lead.

Don't cheat yourself. Keep an eternal perspective and make decisions based on that, not on pleasing an unhappy pew-warmer or on a possible 'promotion'.

Live simply. It is hard in The Army of the West, but try to shed the excess baggage we get foisted on us. If you're stuck with a big quarters then fill it with indigents or parachuted co-labourers. I heard of an officer couple that fires more than $20,000/year in cartridge. There's a target for you (and me).

Remember your appointment. You are appointed to win your county or town or district, not to coddle the saints (to steal from Comm. Cadman). I know an officer in an appointment with a million people but who has 100 of the million on a Sunday (don't let the 100 distract you from the millions - train the 100 to reach the million).

Zero-budget strategy. If you were starting from scratch would you really start that programme that has been running for 121 years? Would you really be pouring $58,000 into that programme which the government sort of helps out?

Keep high standards. Soldiers ought to be signed up for life, be uniformed, fire at least a tenth on their cartridge, pray and read every day, be in discipleship, have been trained by your leaders, read the whole Bible (!), know the doctrines, have read O+R and HoD, be in a brigade activity, and so on. Cut those who don't (if they don't repent).

Don't take privilege. Entitlement is usually a dirty word. Don't sit on protocol or 'Captain this' or the front seats or... Serve. Pump your people (give them the Mike on Sundays as much as you take it - at least).

Maintain a battle posture. It is a real War. And if we're not fighting, we're not helping win it.

Holiness is the solution to every problem. If you don't understand it- fullness. There you go.
----
Holy. now.
----
There is something of omnipresence and something of 'uni-presence' that Paul and Luke imply in their different uses of 'fill'. Paul, in his famous Ephesians 5:18 passage, refers to character and holiness filling and the verb is continuous. Thus, in Paul's use of 'fill', I agree that it might be redundant for HOLY believers to ask that Holy Spirit fills (we say 'might be' because, since the verb is continuous, we can infer that the need is also continuous). But Luke's use of the term is different. On the battle front, when engaging the enemy, Luke refers to Holy Spirit filling people. That phenomenon had nothing to do (from what we read) with character, but with power and with effect.

And so, it is not contradictory for a holy person, filled with the Spirit (in Paul's terms) to ask Holy Spirit to come and fill her (in Luke's terms).
----
Remember the poor.
----
A classic Phil Laeger song you might not know:

I got nothin' I can bring to You
Just a borrowed tune I sing to You
And if I'm honest and tell everything to You
I just don't feel like I used to
But I know You already knew
Everything I'd be going through
Because You walked where I'm walking now
And You didn't throw in the towel
So I won't...

I won't go back on my covenant
My heart is heaven bent
Yeah, I'm on the right track
His hand of grace is upon me now
My hand is on the plow
And I'm not turning back
Carry my cross to where Jesus went
All that I said I meant
I won't go back on my covenant

So get a grip with your tired hands
And with your shaky legs take a stand
Mark out a straight path before Your feet
So those who follow you won't stay weak
Cause He who first made you new
Is gonna finish His perfect work in you
So fix your eyes on the Glorious King
And sing this sweet song of victory
With me...

I won't go back on my covenant
My heart is heaven bent
Yeah, I'm on the right track
His hand of grace is upon me now
My hand is on the plow
And I'm not turning back
Carry my cross to where Jesus went
All that I said I meant
I won't go back on my covenant

I won't obey just when I feel like it
Or when it's convenient
No, no, no, no...
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
How to win the world? The multiplication mandate of 2 Timothy 2:2. But you can't multiply disciples until you have disciples. And you can't make disciples until you have converts. And you don't get converts without evangelising. So, holy evangelising to you, today.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 10: I renew my covenant with Thee. (and much more)

2012-01-10T12:49:00.003Z

January 10, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB534
1.
When from sin's dark hold thy love had won me,
And its wounds thy tender hands had healed,
As thy blest commands were laid upon me,
Growing light my growing need revealed.
Thus I sought the path of consecration
When to thee, dear Lord, my vows were given;
And the joy which came with full salvation
Winged my feet and filled my heart with Heaven.

Chorus
By the love that never ceased to hold me,
By the blood which thou didst shed for me,
While thy presence and thy power enfold me,
I renew my covenant with thee.

2.
But my heart at times with care is crowded,
Oft I serve with weak, o'erladen hands,
And that early joy grows dim and clouded
As each day its heavy toll demands.
Have I ceased from walking close beside thee?
Have I grieved thee with an ill-kept vow?
In my heart of hearts have I denied thee?
Speak, dear Lord, O speak and tell me now.

3.
By the love that never ceased to hold me
In a bond nor life nor death shall break,
As thy presence and thy power enfold me,
I would plead fresh covenant to make.
From before thy face, each vow renewing,
Strong in heart, with purpose pure and deep,
I will go henceforth thy will pursuing,
With my Lord unbroken faith to keep.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
William Booth - THE TRAINING OF CHILDREN:

Q. May not children grow up into Salvation without knowing the exact moment of conversion?
A. Yes, it may be so; and in the future we trust this will be the usual way in which children will be brought into the Kingdom.
When the conditions named in the first pages of this volume are complied with – when the parents are godly, and the children are surrounded by holy influences and examples from their birth – and trained up in the spirit of their early dedication – they will doubtless come to know and love and trust their Savior in the ordinary course of things.
The Holy Ghost will take possession of them from the first. Mothers and fathers will, as it were, put them into the Savior’s arms in their swaddling clothes, and He will take them, and bless them, and sanctify them from the very womb, and make them His own, without their knowing the hour or the place when they pass from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light. In fact with such little ones it shall never be very dark, for their natural birth shall be, as it were, in the spiritual twilight, which begins with the dim dawn, and increases gradually until the noonday brightness is reached; so answering to the prophetic description, " The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov. iv. 18).
----
Holy. now.
----
We'll never let the old flag fall
for we love it the best of all
we've taken the field for God and right
we're in this War to fight fight fight

We'll march to victory as we sing
the praise of our God and King
to the ends of the world our flag's unfurled
we'll never let the old flag fall!

(God bless the Blood and Fire).
----
Remember the poor.
----
The Marechale once wrote: "Nothing fills all Hell with dismay like a reckless, dare-devil shouting faith."
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Why not share Brand's classic words in your evangelising?
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 9: Holy Sanctification Day! (and much more)

2012-01-09T10:52:00.003Z

January 9, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Holy Sanctification Day! This is The Salvation Army holiday that we celebrate the Sanctification to which God calls and for which God enables us. The day is fitting in that it is the day - January 9, 1885 - that Samuel Logan Brengle testified to his sanctification so famously:

"I walked out over Boston Common before breakfast, weeping for joy and praising God. Oh, how I loved! In that hour I knew Jesus, and I loved Him till it seemed my heart would break with love. I was filled with love for all His creatures. I heard the little sparrows chattering; I loved them. I saw a little worm wriggling across my path; I stepped over it; I didn’t want to hurt any living thing. I loved the dogs, I loved the horses, I loved the little urchins on the street, I loved the strangers who hurried past me, I loved the heathen, I loved the whole world."

The best way to celebrate is to get sanctified. Are you sanctified? If not, repent of sins, consecrate every area of life, believe that God wants to sanctify, and ask Him to do it.

You may want to check out resources like William Booth's Ladder To Holiness and Samuel Logan Brengle's teaching on holiness (and heaps more) here: http://sacrossroads.com/sacrossroads.com/Holiness.html

Have you been to Boston Common?
----
(no, it isn't an official SA holiday yet)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
SASB198
1.
O Holy Ghost, on thee we wait;
This day in faith we celebrate
Thy coming from on high;
No rushing, mighty wind we hear,
No cloven tongues of fire appear,
Yet we believe thee nigh.

2.
Though of a day long past we speak,
We know thou art not far to seek
When faith presents her claim;
We rest on the unbroken word
Of Jesus, our ascended Lord,
From whom the promise came.

3.
For not at Pentecost alone
Thy presence and thy power were shown
And many souls were won;
Thou Spirit of the living God,
Thy work through all the earth abroad
From age to age goes on.

4.
The works of darkness fail and cease;
The fruits of love and joy and peace,
These flourish and remain;
The meek their heritage possess,
And strength belongs to gentleness
Wherever thou dost reign.

5.
We bring the need that makes us bold,
The faith that will not loose its hold
In this most vital hour;
Draw near, O promised Comforter,
And on each waiting soul confer
Thy pentecostal power.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
Holy. now.
----
SA fashion...
From Coutts (Time 1963):
The new General aims "to do the job we've always done, but better and more efficiently." He has no intention of dispersing the Army's hard-puffing brass bands, or of pleasing younger officers by adopting a slightly more chic uniform: "I think the lassies never look prettier than when they're wearing their bonnets."
----
Remember the poor.
----
Time in 1924 records that The Army saw between 225,000 and 275,000 conversions annually.
----
(again, from TIME):

Dec. 17, 1934
Later when 10,000 Salvationists gathered to greet their General (EB) in London's Albert Hall, not only were Niece Catherine and Sister-in-law Florence on the platform but also Commissioner Henry Mapp, who had been Evangeline Booth's chief rival for the generalship. Frail and well-meaning U. S. Ambassador Robert Worth Bingham, who saves his strength for just such an occasion, throbbed at Miss Booth: "She, her father and her family come from that rare and precious stuff of which saints and martyrs have been made. England has given much to my country. . . . But I doubt if they've ever given us a greater gift than in giving us this great woman, this great leader. Now with gratitude we give her back to you." Replied Miss Booth: "He gave me away in a masterly manner. That was the nearest thing to a wedding ceremony I've ever heard—or ever will. I'm coming back home the same girl I was when I left. I've even kept the same name, and I hope you appreciate it."
____
wow. The greatest gift of England to USA was EB?
----
Too late for resolutions?

(from a former TC, sent to every soldier)

My Dear Salvationist-Comrade:

My heart is burdened with the sins and the needs of the people, and my spirit is troubled because of the evident inability in so many Corps to bring men and women to Christ.

What is the great need of The Salvation Army in Canada?... I am convinced that the one need indispensible for this hour is A BURNING PASSION FOR THE SOULS OF MEN. Where is the concern for souls, the heart-break over the LOST, the soul-burden, the enterprise and zeal for soul-hunting that characterized the Soul-winning Salvationist of earlier days? Where is our DRIVE to reach the masses of unsaved with the Gospel?...

My comrades... I (was) BORN IN THE FIRE, and cannot be content with a few smouldering ashes! We are burdened for REVIVAL. We are jealous for The Army, and we are DESPERATE to save the souls of men...

Saturate your mind and soul with the whole. Give yourself completely to the task before us... Yours with a burning passion...
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
"The question is not, shall I repent? For that is beyond a doubt. But the question is shall I repent now, when it may reform and save me; or shall I put it off to the eternal world when my repentance will be my punishment, and can answer no end but to torment me ?" Samuel Davies 1750 A.D.

How about preaching THAT, today, in your evangelising?
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 8: Regulated Luxury. and more.

2012-01-08T12:22:00.004Z

January 8, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB656

1.
Set forth within the sacred word
The path of life is plainly shown;
The ways of God its lines record,
For every soul of man made known.
The truth, of all our hopes the ground,
Is here within its pages found.

2.
God's ample grace for fallen man,
His care for our eternal good,
The depth of his salvation plan,
The doctrine of atoning blood,
The Scriptures' living words express
And point the way to holiness.

3.
But how shall we that truth declare,
Thy grace, thy love, thy beauty show?
Only as we thy nature wear
Shall men that nature truly know;
And as we walk with thee abroad
They shall perceive the mind of God.

4.
So teach us, Lord, to use each power
As we the doctrine shall adorn,
That truth and grace shall spring to flower
In lives renewed and souls reborn;
As we to all the world unfold
The glory of the faith we hold.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Railton to Booth:
"We want to train men to be like us, without time for self, always at it, and yet always being stoked and fed up as they fly." (Harold Hill, LEADERSHIP IN THE SALVATION ARMY. p86).
----
Holy. now.
----
We've heard cricitisms that this is an officers' army. When we recently reported this opinion, a friend corrected it, "It is an employees' army."

If you check the year book you'll find he's got the facts behind him. One large territory has five times as many employees as officers. If you think that is noteworthy, one country has 10 times as many employees as officers.

One opionion no one seems to be offering is that it is a soldiers' army.

And yet that is how we are going to win the war, with millions of zealous, passionate, covenanted, end-time warriors, strong in signs and wonder and miracles and healing and prophetic and salvation, exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus.

(quick solution? go easy on the employees, universally embrace soldiers covenant)
----
Remember the poor.
----
So, you've read us assert that the difference between soldiers and officers is 'two weeks' notice' (see post with that title below).

We're not against officership. We are FOR soldiership. We try to raise up as many officers as we can. We propagandize about the subject (wrote something that stirred up a little controversy once called THE DEFAULT CALL).

My friend, a proven warrior, challenged us. He's concluding that, "signing up for officership almost takes one away from the action."

Ouch! We've always sold officership as throwing your life away in the best possible way.

He continues: "radical tent-making sacrificial discipleship is hard amidst the regulated luxury."

How can we argue? What happened? When did it go from selling war crys to scare up enough cash for food and not getting your weekly allowance because the bills weren't paid (we experienced that in our earliest days) to kicking in back in a lifestyle beyond what most of us could afford if we had to earn it in the world, enjoying the world's ease and convenience in what one senior officer calls 'a ridiculous luxury'?

And so my friend has concluded that he can't really preach officership anymore. And how can you blame him? He's trying to raise up and deploy fiery zealots. How could fiery zealots settle for ridiculous luxury? It cannot replace the romantic lifestyle.

We need to raise the stakes. In the 'West', maybe it means closing the training colleges (don't worry - we'd still train - we'd do it better, with incarnational apprenticeship), lower the allowances like crazy (not necessarily starving and begging, like W Booth dreamed and Booth-Tucker modelled), make them all captains (in the field), make it rougher, tithe every officer corps to missions (including a mission term for every officer), go bi-vo when helpful, and aim for the REVOLUTION!

Or is that just a conventional response? (trying to fix furniture on the sinking ship)? (we reckon it is not just a conventional response)
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
If you know any teenagers who don't know Jesus, why not share this salvo evangelistic presentation with them today?

http://www.followtheblackcat.com/
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 7: Spell faith R-I-S-K, and much more.

2012-01-07T14:19:00.002Z

January 7, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB774
1.
Above the world-wide battlefield
through long and warring years,
A flag of many victories triumphantly appears;
And as we fight beneath its folds
for all that most we prize,
O God of battles, in thy name our flag unhindered flies.

Chorus
'Neath our colors, waving, we will fight, nor will we tire
While our God is saving the world by blood and fire.

2.
O flag of hallowed memories a thousand times retold,
The chronicles of twice-born men beneath thy shade enrolled;
Glad trophies won from Satan's power
who fight nor count the odds,
Contented that the wounds be theirs,
they claim the victory God's.

3.
And when, in solemn covenant, its folds hung over me,
I promised God most earnestly his soldier I would be;
I pray that when the trumpet calls, my last great battle won,
The Army flag shall cover all that death can seize upon.

4.
A standard for the multitude uplifted everywhere;
For this and nothing less than this, thine Army, Lord, prepare;
'Gainst sin and darkness still to fight to bring that day to
birth
When folded lies the blood and fire, thy Kingdom come on earth.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
My buddy Rob D and I were going to preach this one time but never got around to spouting it at the event:

community without mission is mastubration.
mission without community is fornication.

Let's keep things pure.
----
Holy. now.
----
Contributions to the next issue of Journal of Aggressive Christianity can be submitted to revolution @mmcccxx.net by January 19. Read the first 76 issues, here: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
Remember the poor.
----
mmccxx is a vision to see new outposts started in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years. So we all need as much help as God can line up. Maybe He is talking to you. The transferable concept is primitive salvationist, bi-vocational, cell-based community (primitive salvationism being mission-focused, charismatic-flavoured heroism).

I guess mmccxx leans out there as a diehard option. All we can promise is hard work and much sacrifice. There are no human benefits. You have to get a job. You have to assume all of the risk (although we spell faith r-i-s-k). You may have to leave friends and family and support system and familiarity and comfort and maybe your favourite football team. (we should say to all you DCs and TCs out there that we are not averse to receiving jobs or money or support).

We're several years and many countries in, but there is heaps more to do...

How's that?
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
People are rushing toward hell. Let's rush to stop them. Jesus saves. God help you.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 6: Marching Forth To Grand Emprise. (and more)

2012-01-06T11:31:00.002Z

January 6, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB799

1.
Earthly kingdoms rise and fall,
Kings and nations come and go,
Thou, O God, art over all,
None thine empire shall o'erthrow.
Of thy grace are we enrolled
In the train of thy dear Son,
Pledged our faith undimmed to hold
Until victory is won.

2.
High o'er rampart, tower and wall,
Faith her standard proudly flies;
Youth obeys her trumpet call,
Marching forth to grand emprise.
In each hand uplifted high
Gleams a consecrated sword;
Hark! they shout their battle cry:
Rise and fight for Christ, our Lord.

3.
Seasoned in a hundred fights,
Warriors lend their strength and skill;
Time but deepens their delights
In the conquest over ill.
With unceasing war grown wise,
None will on himself depend;
Each upon his Lord relies,
Now, and till the war shall end.

4.
Thine, O faith, the victory!
Thou shalt overcome the world;
In that day thy foes shall be
Down to final darkness hurled.
Thine it is our hearts to cheer,
Thine to make us brave and strong;
Ours to press the battle here,
Then to swell the triumph song.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. Exodus 24
Amazing. Dinner with God.

So, two of the dinner party members take things into their own hands... Leviticus 10:1-2 "That same day Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, took their censers, put hot coals and incense in them, and offered "strange" fire to God—something God had not commanded. Fire blazed out from God and consumed them—they died in God's presence."
Lots to take away, including:
- just because you experience a manifestation or warm fuzzy doesn't mean that you are forever transformed;
- neither does it mean you are better or positioned to presume upon God's purposes and processes;
- God's commands are just that - commands...

Were they drunk? Just a few verses later... 8-11 "God instructed Aaron: "When you enter the Tent of Meeting, don't drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons, lest you die."

Imagine being in God's presence and hankering after slavery. Numbers 11:20 - "you have rejected God who is right here among you, whining to his face, 'Oh, why did we ever have to leave Egypt?'"
----
Holy. now.
----
An Army leader advised me not to concentrate on saving the Army but on building the Kingdom.

Good advice.

The only thing is, to establish the Kingdom globally, I believe that we've got to get The Army on track. I am a true believer, with Catherine and her prophecy:

"The decree has gone forth that the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God 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 will inaugurate the great final conquest of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

So, in this instance, the two are consistent with one another.
----
Remember the poor.
----
The brand new GO FOR SOULS Evangelism Manual is now out, here: http://networkedblogs.com/smE1J

It'll help your evangelising, today and in many days to follow.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 5: "The blood only covers what we uncover." and more

2012-01-05T11:48:00.003Z

January 5, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB869

1.
We find pleasure in the Army;
Gladly we our tuneful tribute pay;
Launched upon a high adventure,
Learning both to work and pray,
Youth is learning how to pray,
How to work and fight and pray,
Turning leisure into treasure
That shall time itself outstay.

2.
In the Army there is service;
Youth is called upon its part to play;
We may build a grand tomorrow
If we heed the call today,
Yes, 'tis ours, this call today,
Youth's most urgent call today;
Full employment brings enjoyment;
Join us then without delay.

3.
There is witness in the Army,
Like a lamp of clear and living flame
That is fed by saints unnumbered
Telling of the Saviour's name,
Of the wonder of his name,
Of salvation in his name;
Living, dying, testifying,
They his saving grace proclaim.

4.
There's a future for the Army
Till this great and glorious war is won;
Girding on salvation armor,
Youth proclaims its fight begun;
Yes, we truly have begun;
And our warfare once begun,
God reliant, Hell defiant,
We will earn the King's: Well done.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.
Jeremiah.
----
Holy. now.
----
JAC77 is going to kick. If you want to contribute, fire your submission, here by January 19:

revolution @mmccxx.net

and to read up on the first 76 issues, go here: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
The Year of DISCO

Yes, the year of discipleship covenants has kicked off and countries are plunging in. Is your corps in? Check out the December 30 post (below) on details of how you can participate. One thing that has come up as to do with shame. These groups are closed groups with mutual commitment and accountability. They provide an environment of vulnerability. If you mess up on one of your 'accountables', don't bail - confess. The inclination for some in the 'recovery' subculture is to fall off the radar when you crash. DISCO is exactly the opposite of that. We confess our sins to each other and our comrades can gently restore us. No condemnation. Mercy and grace. Try it out, today!
----
Related, Major Allister Smith said this: "We must never excuse or cover up our sin. The blood only covers what we uncover. And the blood will never cover excuse."
----
Remember the poor.
----
Follow us on twitter at StephenCourt
----
The corps at which we soldier is launching the Rations Guide on Sunday. You might want to check it out (message on Facebook).
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Here is a useful resource page for evangelising: http://sacrossroads.com/sacrossroads.com/how_to_find_God.html
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 4: A Denouncer of Iniquity. (and more)

2012-01-04T12:19:00.002Z

January , 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB868
1.
There's a road of high adventure,
There's a Kingdom fair to gain,
There's a cross to follow bravely,
And a warfare to maintain.
For the splendor of his service
To the youth of every land,
God's own trumpeters are sounding;
Who will heed the great command?
Chorus
By the pathway of duty
Flows the river of God's grace;
By the pathway of duty
Flows the river of God's grace.

2.
There's a city of the future
Which the Lord will surely build,
Where the hopes of all the ages
Shall with glory stand fulfilled;
And the master builder calleth;
Hands are wanted, hear him say,
Youthful hands to build my city;
Who will offer them today?

3.
There are multitudes in darkness,
Where the light may never shine
Till the torch of youth, uplifted,
Beams with radiance divine;
There's a world at random drifting,
Which belongs to Christ the Lord:
He is claiming youth's allegiance
Till his Kingdom is restored.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977) (verses),
Sidney Edward Cox (1887-1975) (chorus)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
"A denouncer of iniquity ... Thank God I have been that ! That is what is wanted in the world today, denouncers; denouncers of iniquity."

Catherine Booth, at her promotion to Glory.
----
Holy. now.
----
After yesterday's blog on Two Weeks' Notice some wonder where we stand on officership. I'm still in favour of officership. I just want it to be primitive officership (I want to see William Booth's vision of 100,000 officers realised in the next 20 years). But I hear that we're even privileged in some developing world situations (for example, I was told that in some villages, the officer is the only person with a job). So, the comparative position of developing world officers in their contexts doesn't even work for us.

That said, my friend asked me to put my money where his mouth is. She asked what the exit profile for an officer should be. Quick answer: go back to your corps, get a job, and be a good local officer.

Danielle made up three guidelines for hiring people in our experience: 1. they love God; 2. they love people; 3. they can get things done.

Taking into account that our soldiers here are strong (high standards to get in- life-long covenant, tithing, discipled, in cell, hrough training, in brigade, read Bible, O+R, and HoD, uniformed, etc.- basically enough to get you out into training college in many cases already), I think I'd adapt our three simple guidelines for making people officers.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Mark 16:15

“Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to everyone everywhere.”

If this isn’t a call to revolution, I don’t know what is.

I wonder how it went down with the disciples. I mean, imagine that this last bit of the Gospels was all you had – you lacked access to Acts and the Epistles. Here you have the risen, victorious Jesus commanding His followers to transform the planet. Now, by this point in the story, we know enough about Jesus to be sure that He is God. And the divine principle is at work here- what God commands, God enables. So we’re pretty sure that Jesus’ command of global saturation is one that He wills and will resource.

I expect you’d write a different ending to the story. I figure you’d write about the glorious evangelisation of every people group, of billions repenting of their sins and accepting Jesus’ invitation to come into His life, of mercy and justice teaming up to bless the world’s population.

And yet, that manifestly hasn’t happened. Instead, we’ve got a largely impotent Church preaching an often compromised Gospel supported by occasionally hypocritical lifestyles to a usually cynical audience.

Why?

We screwed up. That’s the short answer and the bad news.

The good news is that we can change the ultimate ending. We can take our places in line with our ancient comrades and receive Jesus’ command to, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to everyone everywhere.” And we can actually obey it!

Imagine that!

We can get off of our padded couches, get out of our narrow, comfortable lives, and lose ourselves in a great, revolutionary adventure that ends when Jesus comes back.

This isn’t a pipe dream. It is God’s will, His desire, His command. We sin in our apathetic silence, our rationalized immutability, our Jonah-philic disobedience. But we can shock ourselves (and everyone who knows us) and we can shame many who have gone before by going into all the world to preach the good news to everyone everywhere.

Sure, start at home, on your street, at your workplace and classroom. Definitely.

But buy a passport, save up some money and plan to go. Some will go for a month, others for a decade. And pray up some places where they still haven’t heard a good version of the good news.

(Several networks around The Army world are congealing around a vision to see outposts started in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years. Those of you who know your Roman numerals will recognize the nickname, MMCCXX. Brigades of bi-vocational soldiers go incarnational in poorer neighbourhoods to cultivate authentic Christian communities through a rabidly and rapidly multiplying cell system. What does that mean in English? Well, you don’t get paid. You have to get a job. Or, at least, someone in your brigade needs to get a job to pay your way. And you don’t need sound systems and ‘preachers’ and programmes and Sunday Schools and everything. You just need friends. Make some friends. Start a cell. Multiply it. And so on)

This is a resource-light, flexible, and relatively fast means of obeying Jesus’ command to, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to everyone everywhere.”
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 3: Two Weeks' Notice (and much more).

2012-01-03T12:27:00.002Z

January 3, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB939

1.
Sing we many years of blessing
Since the Army opened fire,
Led by valiant hearts possessing
Love's unquenchable desire;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Still their lives our own inspire.

2.
Bold they lifted high their banner,
Braving sin's hostility;
Strange their word, their song, their manner,
Wondering, men drew near to see;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Many found salvation free.

3.
For the faithful who have striven
In the fight so well begun.
For the years so gladly given
By the saints whose race is run,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the last great conflict won.

4.
When elate with joy unspoken,
Or beneath the chastening rod,
Still his promises, unbroken,
Speak the faithfulness of God;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
We will sound his name abroad.

5.
Father, Son and Spirit, raising
Heart and voices now to thee.
Thine eternal goodness praising,
Holy, blessed Trinity,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Thine our years, our lives shall be.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
William Booth testified:

"…my conversion made me, in a moment, a preacher of the Gospel. The idea never dawned on me that any line was to be drawn between one who had nothing else to do but preach and a saved apprentice lad who only wanted “to spread through all the earth abroad,” as we used to sing, the fame of our Saviour. I have lived, thank God, to witness the separation between layman and cleric become more and more obscured, and to see Jesus Christ’s idea of changing in a moment ignorant fishermen into fishers of men nearer and nearer realization."

Praise God for his experience. I expected that some obscuration has occurred since his promotion to Glory.

Maybe now is a good time to remind people that the only difference between officers and other soldiers is availability. That is, the General can call an officer and transfer her/him to ________ today. But when the General calls another soldier to send her/him to _______ it might take a little longer (since the solder has to get out of a lease/rental/home ownership situation; give employer a couple of weeks' notice; etc.).

So what's the difference between soldiers and officers? About two weeks' notice.

That's it.
----
Holy. now.
----
"An Army without training, without drill, would be simply a loose, helpless mob, a source of weakness and danger, impossible to hold together, though every one of them may have hearts full of zeal for God and love to man; so we must train them, and that to the uttermost." (Training Salvation Army Officers)

"But mind, you must train and teach and develop- no clay-pipe soldiers will be of any service here- and establish your army in actual service. In national armies, something may be done in making soldiers with marchings and inspections and drill in the barraks square, far away from the din and smoke of actual war; but not so here; they must learn as they fight, and fight while they learn." (Training Salvation Army Officers)

"The Salvation Army's great need in every country is Officers who are leaders (sc- implying that some officers are not leaders), people who can act alone (sc- again, implying that some can't). Is not our Training, on the whole, seriously deficient in giving opportunity for this? (sc- self-criticism! Nice. You do seem rewarded for being able to follow orders in cfot- at least, back in the day). I think it is, and that we ought to consider this. We need leaders. What are we doing in the Training Garrisons to make them? Does not the whole of our Training tend to this doing of a thing because others do it? (sc- oooohhhhhhh). Does it not tend to make the Cadets all alike (sc- !) , all of the same calibre? Do not many of them strive even to make their testimony of prayer or solo just like that of others. But standardization is not our aim! (sc- quick, get a memo out to the HQs and cfots of the world!). We do not want to turn out Cadets all exactly alike, like the cars from Ford's factory (sc- ah, places the chapter historically a bit later...), do we?"

Whew! I was planning to keep going, but I had to come up for air...

"Good Institutional Officers are, unfortunately, instinctively the enemies of initiative!"

The writer continues:

"The tendency to make Cadets all alike is a great misfortune to The Salvation Army! Often, alas, the little bits of originality that are theirs when they come to us are knocked off and cut out until the Cadets are as much alike as peas! (sc- some cadets in more recent years can probably testify to kicking and cutting wounds). The Training Garrison Principal ought to be against this. We should strive to leave every Cadet free to express herself (sc- interesting use of the female here, assuming the age of this document), and to do her work in her own way."

Now, the training session starts this month in half the world. Why not forward this to your cadets and staff officers as a reminder...?
----
Remember the poor.
----
My friend sent me a breakdown of a word in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (AV), which says,

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

For the weapons of our WARFARE are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obeddience of Christ."

The word 'warfare' is strateia- military service, the apostolic career- as one of hardship and danger, and also, strateuomai- to serve in a military campaign, to execute the apostolate- with its arduous duties and functions and to contend with carnal inclinations. (Strongs 4752, 4754).

Classic stuff up to which to live. High calling. What God commands, God enables.

May it inspire and empower your evangelising today.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 2: 'You want resolutions? We've got them! (and more).

2012-01-02T12:38:00.003Z

January 2, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB070
1.
There is beauty in the name of Jesus,
Passing time can ne'er extol;
All the splendor of its clear unfolding
Will eternal years enrol.
Chorus
In my heart there dwells a song of purest beauty,
Blissful as an echo of the angel-choir must be;
Jesus is the wondrous theme its notes are weaving.
Dearest name of names to me.

2.
There's salvation in the name of Jesus;
Trusting in his name alone
We shall find ourselves at last presented
Faultless at his Father's throne.

3.
There is comfort in the name of Jesus;
Comrade, faint amid the strife,
E'en as dew upon the spirit falling,
Jesus is the word of life.

4.
There is rapture in the name of Jesus,
Joy that bears the soul above,
All the wealth of Heaven to earth restoring,
Name of all-redeeming love.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Here is a set of resolutions:

Jonathan Edwards
BEING SENSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GOD' S HELP, I DO HUMBLY ENTREAT HIM BY HIS GRACE TO ENABLE ME TO KEEP THESE RESOLUTIONS, SO FAR AS THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS WILL, FOR CHRIST' S SAKE.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. July 30.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances do not hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do any thing out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so, at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance, in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him. (Resolutions 1 through 21 written in one setting in New Haven in 1722)

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God' s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say any thing at all against any body, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that, in Proverbs 20:6,‹A faithful man who can find?_ may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, to do always, what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done without overbalancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narrations never to speak any thing but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord' s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do any thing of which I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or not; unless I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God' s; agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, 1723.

44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. January 12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye: and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if, I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let the event be just as providence orders it. I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty, and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 11, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty, and then according to Ephesians 6:6-8, to do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man:‹knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord._ June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. January 14 and July 13, 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those ‹groanings which cannot be uttered_ (Romans 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those‹breakings of soul for the longing it hath,_ of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness, of which I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton' s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what am I the better for them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. August 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. August 17, 1723.
----
Holy. now.
----
Stacey Campbell and Patricia King discuss Justice on an episode of Everlasting Love, here:

http://www.xpmedia.com/aKalL8gQLEOb
----
Remember the poor.
----
William Booth to all pet lovers:

"Lastly , my comrades, there is the gift I referred to at the close of my last letter, that gift of gifts- the capacity to love. This gift we all have in common, and no soldier knows to what extent it can be increased in cultivation. But here, perhaps, some excel others. They can love; but oh, how commonly the precious passion is undervaluedwasted. How they spend it on trifling objects. You will find them lavishing this treasure on plants and pictures and money and dogs and birds and other inferior things; things that it would not be wrong, perhaps, to love in a purer sphere, but which, considering the state of things, seems to involve a serious waste of that precious gift." William Booth.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Harold Hill's LEADERSHIP IN THE SALVATION ARMY:

In 1888, addressing a meeting in Exeter Hall, William Booth said, “We have a problem. When two officers marry, by some strange mistake in our organisation, the woman doesn’t count.”

It isn't a new problem. It weakens our officer strength by around a third. It stifles the married women. It offends God. And William couldn't fix it.

We've got our work cut out for us (no, it isn't an issue in most corps, and in some other situations- we're are speaking in generalities).
----
Let's get at it - God's got heaps of people He wants to save in 2012...
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

January 1: War Covenant, and much more...

2012-01-01T16:59:00.004Z

January 1, 2012
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
Holy New year!
----
SASB656
1.
Set forth within the sacred word
The path of life is plainly shown;
The ways of God its lines record,
For every soul of man made known.
The truth, of all our hopes the ground,
Is here within its pages found.

2.
God's ample grace for fallen man,
His care for our eternal good,
The depth of his salvation plan,
The doctrine of atoning blood,
The Scriptures' living words express
And point the way to holiness.

3.
But how shall we that truth declare,
Thy grace, thy love, thy beauty show?
Only as we thy nature wear
Shall men that nature truly know;
And as we walk with thee abroad
They shall perceive the mind of God.

4.
So teach us, Lord, to use each power
As we the doctrine shall adorn,
That truth and grace shall spring to flower
In lives renewed and souls reborn;
As we to all the world unfold
The glory of the faith we hold.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
War Covenant
I dug this out of the old SALVATION ARMY CEREMONIES BOOK:

Concerned because of the wicked and wretched condition of the people around me, I desire here and now, with all my heart, for the glory of God and the Salvation of souls, to give myself afresh and for ever to the Salvation War.

I now pledge myself before God, before my dear Saviour, who died for me, and before my comrades, to use my time, talents, means, and influence to advance the interests of the War in my own Corps or neighbourhood, wherever I may go.

I promise to accept any position, do any work, or fulfill any commission that may be given me by my Officers, according to the Orders and Regulations of The Army.

I promise to sing, pray, or engage in any other duty, or to occupy any post assigned me, in any Meeting, whether indoors or out, whether among adults or young people.

I promise to give all the leisure time I can to the War, to be diligent in attending and working at all the Meetings possible.

I promise to wear uniform whenever I can, and at other times an Army badge, if possible. As I have opportunity I will sell 'The War Cry' and other Army publications, engage in visitation, and strive to make myself a thoroughly efficient Salvationist.

I promise to pray for my comrades daily; also for those in circumstances of persecution, poverty, and peril.

I will try to give every satisfaction to my employers, and to those with whom I live and work, so as to commend my Saviour and be a credit to The Army in the eyes of the ungodly.

I yield myself to God, to follow Him anywhere- as an Officer, should He so desire; and I will go to any country, or labour for the Salvation of any class, for which I may be thought best adapted.

In general, I here promise God that I will at all times obey Him, whatever cost or trouble, suffering or difficulty, this may involve; and I ask God my Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, to give me strength faithfully to carry out these promises. Amen.
----
No flying the Army tricolour at half-mast:

The order is Pt.1; ChapXI;Sect2;par7: "In its Salvation Army use the flag must never be lowered, reversed or fixed at 'half-mast'."
----
Holy. now. To kick off the new year, here's an 11-page booklet on 'The Doctrine of Holiness' by General Frederick Coutts: http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/0/E2E1DF957F61389880256F9600532B03/$file/Library-DoctrineOfHoliness.pdf
----
‘a soldier… will supply the wants of his family - that is, keep them in health and strength, provide for their necessary education, and meet such further needs as appear to him essential to their welfare, and that will qualify them most effectively for helping Jesus Christ to save the world - and when has set apart as much of his income as is required for this purpose, he will use the remainder in the interests of the Kingdom.’ (Chapter VIII, Section Eight)
----
Remember the poor.
----
The Army was raised up for these masses who are without God. Is it time we invented some new device or have we given up using the old one? How is it that our meetings go on, and we preach and pray often to twenties and thirties, while the people perish by the thousand- broken, enslaved, degraded, by their sin? (Catherine Bramwell-Booth)
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
"To go down to the perishing crowds is your duty. Your happiness henceforth will consist in sharing their misery; your ease in sharing their pain; your crown in sharing their cross; and your heaven in going to the very jaws of hell to rescue them. WHAT WILL YOU DO?" (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 31: Resolutions...

2011-12-31T14:17:00.004Z

December 31, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB788
1.
Jesus, thou hast won us,
Saved us, set us free;
Now thy hand upon us
Bids us follow thee;
Sin's dark ways forsaking,
Filled with new desire,
We our vows are making
'Neath the blood and fire.

Chorus
Lord, our vow performing,
We will fight for thee;
Hell's dominions storming,
Other souls to free.

2.
Comrades here remind us
We are not alone,
Thou to them dost bind us,
They and we are one;
All, our vows observing,
One great Army make;
Praying, fighting, serving
For thy Kingdom's sake.

3.
On to full salvation,
This shall be our goal;
Thine in consecration,
Body, mind and soul;
On to holy living,
Weakness left behind;
Perfect service giving,
Perfect joy to find.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)

A 'vow performing' is a lot like a resolution...
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
You may choose to resolve to ask these questions to God each day of 2012.

TEST FOR SELF-EXAMINATION
The following are questions taken from The Salvation Army ORDERS AND REGULATIONS FOR SOLDIERS.

1. Am I habitually guilty of any known sin? Do I practise or allow myself in any thought, word, or deed which I know to be wrong?
2. Am I so the master of my bodily appetites as to have no condemnation? Do I allow myself in any indulgence that is injurious to my holiness, growth in knowledge, obedience, and usefulness?
3. Are my thoughts and feelings such that I should not be ashamed to hear them published before God?
4. Does the influence of the world cause me to act, feel, or say things that are unlike Christ?
5. Do my tempers cause me to act, or feel or say things that I see afterward are contrary to that love which I ought to bear always to those about me?
6. Am I doing all in my power for the salvation of sinners? Do I feel concern about their danger and pray and work for their salvation as if they were my children?
7. Am I fulfilling the vows I have made to God in my acts of consecration or at the Penitent Form?
8. Is my example in harmony with my profession?
9. Am I conscious of any pride or haughtiness in my manner or bearing?
10. Do I conform to the fashions and customs of this world or do I show that I despise them?
11. Am I in danger of being carried away with worldly desires to be rich or admired?
----
Holy. now.
----
What are you resolving? If you haven't made up your mind, why not pray it up a bit? Why not look ahead to the end of 2012 and determine where you want be spiritually. Maybe you want to know more scripture off by heart. Maybe you want to read the Bible a couple of more times. Maybe you want to get sanctified. Maybe you want to evangelise at least once/week. Maybe you want to take on local officer responsibilities. Maybe you want to become an officer. Maybe you want to befriend your neighbours and evangelise them. Maybe you want to go the whole year without sinning. Maybe you want to disciple a couple of new people. Maybe you want to write an encouraging note to someone every day. Maybe you want to beef up your prayer list (to include every territory/command in The Army; or every country in the world; or every leader in your territory; or all of your friends; etc.). Maybe you want to experiment with some traditional Christian disciplines (e.g. fast one day/week). Maybe you want to read one great Salvo book each week (or month). Maybe you want to write an article for the Salvo press once/month. Maybe you want to start a cell group. Maybe you want to start an outpost. And so on.
----
You could resolve to witness to someone every day of Jesus' saving power. Today's the day to make such a resolution. If that is too much, maybe resolve to do it at least once/week. Either way, today is the day to start. Look for someone to evangelise. Let every conversation go to Jesus. May God help you reap a huge harvest of souls for whom Jesus died.
----
Remember the poor.
----
We were going through a tough time at our corps one year and I noted something I scribbled to comrades during the strain of maintaining around-the-clock prayer with a skeleton (but heroic) crew.

"We haven't yet begun to test the waters of grace that the die hards splash in, that history's greathearts waded in, that our persecuted comrades drown in."

Then I was on about God making our foreheads like flint... Exekiel 3:8,9- I am going to make your RESOLUTION as hard as a diamond, and diamond is harder than flint. So do not be afraid (Jerusalem Bible).

We've got to show at least as much resolve toward our mission of winning the world for Jesus as Shackleton showed to the Pole, as Achilles to Troy, as Rodgers to the Super Bowl.

Remember Jesus in Luke 9:51- He RESOLUTELY set out for Jerusalem. ('with an iron will', 'set His face').

In our resolutions, let's be flint-headed, iron-willed, and resolved to zealously do our part to win the wolrd for Jesus.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
This is it! This is the last opportunity you will ever have to get someone saved in 2011. Exploit it. God help you.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 30: 2012 - The Year of DisCo. (and more)

2011-12-30T11:20:00.004Z

December 30, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----

SASB885
1.
O soul,, consider and be wise,
And seek salvation while you may,
In this alone your safety lies
Against the awful judgment day;
'Tis Heaven or Hell, the choice is yours
Which through eternity endures.

2.
Satan has taught mankind to sin.
And lures them from the heavenly goal;
Shall he a further triumph win,
And doom your unrepenting soul
To travel an unending road,
Forever separate from God?

3.
Where God is not O awful thought,
A realm deserted, cast aside,
With sin to full fruition brought
And evil crowned and deified;
Where dread remorse and vain desire
Burn like an unconsuming fire.

4.
God stoops from Heaven your soul to save,
He calls you now from Calvary;
What hope have you beyond the grave,
And who can give you hope but he?
Why longer in your sin remain?
For your redemption Christ was slain.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
2012 - The Year of DisCo?

In the early 90s we attended a lecture by Allan Coppedge on discipleship. Since then in different seasons and contexts we've engaged in DisCo (discipleship covenants) with like-hearted people. It has proven mutually beneficial as we pray for each other, hold each other accountable, sharpen iron as iron, and spur one another on to love and good deeds.

DisCo can change the world!

One of the great things about DISCO is that each person comes in on his/her own terms. There are not standards imposed on everyone. Each determines what to be accountable for. So, a veteran Christian may want to be held accountable to fast two days/week, do a client retreat every weekend, and evangelise ten people/day. And a rookie Christian in the same group may ask the others to hold him/her accountable to read the Bible every day, avoid looking at those dodgy magazines/websites, and exercise three times/week.

Covenant is not to be taken lightly. Because the individuals covenant together, there are normally short time periods (in our experience, 1-3 months). That way, no one is tied in with undue burden, AND you can make adjustments in the next covenant (in your own accountables AND in the membership).

Does that make sense? Here's an excerpted example:
----
To align ourselves with the heart and purposes of the Lord Jesus Christ, to prepare for the plans He has, and to optimize the opportunities He is presenting us, we are committing to the following disciplines over the next month:

On a daily basis to:

Seek His will in our decision-making and then be accountable to each other for the action based on that will;

Make myself available to help the other fulfill God's will in his life;

On a weekly basis:

To witness/evangelise in a continuing manner as best as I can;
To intentionally seek evangelistic opportunities;
To intentionally encourage others at our Corps;
To pray for the burdens and trials each of us is experiencing in an extraordinary manner;
To participate in worship and discipleship;
To be able to encourage each other in a firm and loving manner, to grow in grace, and to extend our Kingdom impact;
To encourage and keep each other accountable in living holy lives;

Bobby's specifics:
To disciple ______ (including rations; memory work; evangelism; sometimes worship).
To do ____ of rations daily.
To memorise _____ of Scripture each week.
To evangelise each week.
To exercise XX/week.
To go avoid porn sites / magazines.
To treat women like my kid sister.
To avoid being alone with a female.
To avoid being alone with someone who is still using.
To volunteer at _______ XX/week.

Bart's specifics:

To do daily family devotions.
To do an hour of prayer every day.
To read XX chapters of the Bible daily.
To do daily chores.
To tithe my pay cheque to God on Sundays.
To read one Christian book this month (one we agree on).
To attend my cell each week (and call the other members in between)
To prayerfully consider soldiership.
----
That's just an example. You customise things for your own groups. But it makes intentional times that you might get together and talk sports. It formalises discipleship relationships. It makes inclusive accountability (in that vets/rookies can mix). It models covenant that is so important to God (and The Salvation Army!).

Look, DISCO is making a comeback! In fact, it looks like 2012 can be the Year of DisCo!

Why not share this idea with a couple of friends and try it out for a month or three as a new year's resolution? And then expand the sequel to include more people, up the commitments you make, and then multiply those groups until every corps and social unit in the world experiences them, and see how God uses DISCO to change the world?

(normally they are same gender, 'in person' groups; however, online groups also work well, and groups of both genders in multiples have worked well, too, though the dynamics are different)
----
Holy. now.
----
From the 1879 Welsh Council of War:

"There is but one conviction, which grows upon us each more and more, that is our Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom, and to give us all the kingdom of peace and joy and righteousness within, and all the kingdom of power to subdue the wickedness without. Thy kingdom come?" (The Salvationist, February, 1879)
----
Remember the poor.
----
"Oh, what folly to talk against new measures. Soldiers, rack your brains!" (William Booth)
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
"To go down to the perishing crowds is your duty. Your happiness henceforth will consist in sharing their misery; your ease in sharing their pain; your crown in sharing their cross; and your heaven in going to the very jaws of hell to rescue them. WHAT WILL YOU DO?" (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 29: Mighty Winds Are Stirring; Ten Things To Concern in 2012; Classic Salvo Tool; Top Five Advances; 4Points.

2011-12-29T11:14:00.004Z

December 29, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB864

1.
Rise up, O youth! for mighty winds are stirring,
Men's hearts grow faint through all the earth today;
Evil, with evil everywhere conferring,
Summons its legions forth in dread array.
Chorus
Hear then our answer: Lord, lead us on
Fighting nor resting until thy war is won.

2.
Deep in our hearts another voice is calling,
Urgent, insistent sounds the voice divine;
Out in the darkness men are thickly falling;
Go with the cross, it is thy battle sign.

3.
Forward, O youth! but first, in true submission,
Bring all thou hast and art to Christ, thy Lord;
Take from his hand his glorious commission,
Rise then, and in his name unsheathe thy sword.

4.
Arm then. O youth! the battle front increases.
Leaping the frontiers of a stricken world;
Strive till the foes of God are dashed to pieces,
Back with their armies into darkness hurled.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Top Ten things we should be concerned about for 2012

- salvation - everyone has to repent of their sins and trust the Lord Jesus for salvation.
- love - salvos love to fight and fight with love.
- humility - without that cloak we're an easy target for the enemy of our souls.
- holiness - check out http://sacrossroads.com/sacrossroads.com/Holiness.html for a good resource on the subject.
- honouring God - let's live to please Him and give Him glory.
- world for God - Knagg's book ONE THING (available audio/kindle/deadwood and in ONE FOR ALL trilogy) tackles this.
- multiplication mandate 2 Timothy 2:2.
- abortion (current JAC has an article on this - http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article9-76.html
- trafficking http://sacrossroads.com/sacrossroads.com/Justice.html has several links on justice issues.
- persecution http://sacrossroads.com/sacrossroads.com/Justice.html has several links on justice issues.

what's not on this list?
- fancy meetings
- great music / worship
- excellent nursery and Sunday School
- good mens / womens groups
- save the whales
- the latest fashion / celebrity scandal / award-winning movie / championship game
----
Holy. now.
----
Classic salvo tool for your rations:

TEST FOR SELF-EXAMINATION
The following are questions taken from The Salvation Army ORDERS AND REGULATIONS FOR SOLDIERS.

1. Am I habitually guilty of any known sin? Do I practise or allow myself in any thought, word, or deed which I know to be wrong?
2. Am I so the master of my bodily appetites as to have no condemnation? Do I allow myself in any indulgence that is injurious to my holiness, growth in knowledge, obedience, and usefulness?
3. Are my thoughts and feelings such that I should not be ashamed to hear them published before God?
4. Does the influence of the world cause me to act, feel, or say things that are unlike Christ?
5. Do my tempers cause me to act, or feel or say things that I see afterward are contrary to that love which I ought to bear always to those about me?
6. Am I doing all in my power for the salvation of sinners? Do I feel concern about their danger and pray and work for their salvation as if they were my children?
7. Am I fulfilling the vows I have made to God in my acts of consecration or at the Penitent Form?
8. Is my example in harmony with my profession?
9. Am I conscious of any pride or haughtiness in my manner or bearing?
10. Do I conform to the fashions and customs of this world or do I show that I despise them?
11. Am I in danger of being carried away with worldly desires to be rich or admired?
----
Remember the poor.
----
Armybarmy Top Five Advances of the next Decade

1. cell-based system
2. communication
3. justice
4. primitive Salvationism
5. incarnation

This is slightly amended from the beginning of the decade. By the end of the decade there will have been probably four generals, four emphases, all kinds of other dynamics impacting the salvation war on your front and around the globe. These five keys will help us regardless of our circumstances and the conditions of the war.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Check out the4points.com (and share it and this with someone who needs to repent and trust Jesus for salvation):

♥– God loves you (For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life [John 3:16]).

X – you have sinned (For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23]).

+ – Jesus died for you (For Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit [1 Peter 3:18]).

? – you must decide to live for God (Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God [John 1:12]).
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 28: Armybarmy Top Ten of 2011; Conventional Folly; and much more.

2011-12-28T11:19:00.004Z

December 28, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB922
1.
This, our time of self-denial
We as faithful soldiers keep;
By our consecrated giving
Wider fields our comrades reap.
Souls in darkness yet are calling,
Come and help us, still they cry;
With our gifts our hearts outpouring,
We will help them lest they die.

2.
Laying now our gifts before thee,
We toward thine altar move;
Lord, accept these simple tokens
Of our deep, unswerving love.
None can estimate their measure
When within thy hands they lie;
All that we sincerely offer
Thou wilt use and multiply.

3.
Naught we hold save by surrender;
Nothing keep but that we give;
Loving life too much, we lose it;
Dead to self, we truly live.
Jesus, grant us understanding,
Gain is found through sacrifice;
For thy gift of life eternal
Thou didst pay love's greatest price.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
After much fanfare, and following great anticipation, here is the...

armybarmy top ten of 2011

10. Aussie Salvation Army worship had a banner year that included a 24 hour-non-stop worship meeting in Melbourne, livecast worldwide with a highlight reel still on youtube, and the first professional live salvo 'worship' recording for CD/DVD (to be released in 2012), by Australia Southern. Full marks to Laeger and crew. Hallelujah.

9. Six ONES! In the same year that the book trilogy of ONE DAY, ONE THING, and ONE ARMY was released, the international vision of ONE ARMY, ONE MISSION, ONE MESSAGE was launched. Full marks to Knaggs and Bond. Read and apply. Hallelujah.

8. Birth of SAVN.tv, a full-funded, territorially strategic engagement with the salvosphere for evangelistic and discipling purposes. The goal remains the same though the tactics may change. We exploit internet and social media windows into people's lives to evangelise and disciple. It's all about Jesus and world conquest. Full marks to Noland(s) and Knaggs. Hallelujah.

7. USW training college shoots from low teens to 60+ session size in a few years. It gives hope to all of us fighting in theatres with low leadership recruitment. Full marks to Commissioners Swyers and Knaggs. Hallelujah.

6. Corps of the year. It's a tie. Kambuzuma Corps in Zimbabwe started a campus of The War College this year and currently has the largest session of students - 24 - all from the Kambuzuma Corps. And the Bellarine Corps in Australia Southern is wrapping up its second year with a couple of dozen soldiers, the vast majority of whom have had no Christian influence until the Salvos invaded. Full marks to the Togos and the Hobbses. Hallelujah.

Honourable mention: Crossroads Corps in Canada has prayed non-stop for the first year of the Global Call to 24/7 Prayer. Hallelujah.

5. Wardrobe has come into its own. Thousands of professionally designed salvo shirts are being worn by salvos around the world and have strategically deployed scores of thousands of dollars at global hot spots of need. Full marks to Hawk. Hallelujah.

4. Election of General Linda Bond. She has served a significant minority of her term already (nearly a quarter?). She exemplifies God's mercy and reflects Jesus. There have been only 17 elections in history over the 133 years of The Salvation Army proper (we don't know if/how often WB was elected in charge of the conference system that preceded the 1878 change of name). She's the second woman and the fourth Canadian. Full marks to the High Council. Hallelujah.

3. Invasion of Solomon Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Togo. Full marks to the pioneers salvos on each front. Hallelujah.

2. General Clifton retires. General Clifton was the most expansionary general since Bramwell Booth (though he had a much shorter term than Booth) and injected strategic intention into our world-winning mandate. Number three on the list has his fingerprints. Full marks to Clifton. Hallelujah.

1. Global Call to 24/7 Prayer. This has only happened once in history. There are heaps of generals elected through history. This has potential to transform the world. And we don't have to remind you that it is not a one-year campaign. The intention is to keep it up until Jesus comes back.* Full marks to Munn. Hallelujah.

Disclaimer: we have undoubtedly missed heaps of important and significant advances and events from 2011. It goes without highlighting that there is nothing mentioned in all but two countries in Africa, nothing mentioned in all of Asia, nothing at all in South America, nothing in Europe (excluding IHQ from Europe for this purpose)... We've missed heaps of stuff. So, maybe it is more of a top ten SA events in Oceania, North America, and IHQ of which WE have heard! :-) Regardless, it is cause to give God glory. Hallelujah.

We welcome suggestions of other worthy potential inclusions (and other comments, on facebook or at revolution @mmccxx.net).

*(same attitude as the change of youth councils 'theme' from REVOLUTION in the mid-oughts. "What? Is the revolution over? Was it a success?")
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Holy. now.
----
For those changing appointment and getting new appointments in the coming weeks, here's a reminder from God that you are not your rank and you are not your appointment: "God is not impressed with a man’s office" (Galatians 2, JB Phillips).
----
Remember the poor.
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Conventional wisdom, when not received in whole, can quickly become conventional folly.

Take all those leaders moving to new appointments.

People like to say that you shouldn't change anything for the first six months in an appointment. This can be conventional folly if the conditions don't align with the original perspective.

Sure, don't change things IF THE SALVATION WAR IS ADVANCING WELL ON THE FRONT. If lots of people are getting saved, being discipled, covenanting up as soldiers and local officers and officer candidates, if people are being healed and delivered and loved and cared for, if your NCD scores are high across the board, if your 'corps benchmarks' are all above standard, if whatever measures your territory uses are being met, then don't change things for six months unless Holy Spirit tells you to. Sure. That's wisdom.

But if your appointment does not fit that condition, if the Salvation War is NOT advancing well on the front, then it is FOLLY not to change things for six months. Don't sin; change.
----
Here is a detailed global accounting of this month's persecution of Christians:

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/12/a-month-of-christian-persecution.php
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It is not too late for God to add to the number of those being saved on your front. Listen to His leading. Obey with loving boldness. Who knows how many will be saved?
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 27: Will Brand; Clarifying Holiness; 10 Affirmations; Spiritual Sponsors...

2011-12-27T11:05:00.002Z

December 27, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
Having finished up the Herbert Booth SASB entries, we're moving on to Will Brand...

SASB688
1.
Lord, as we take our chosen way
In commerce, industry or art,
The state or science, we would pray
To serve with singleness of heart.

2.
Thou, Lord, a craftsman's tools hast plied,
A craftsman's excellence hast shown,
And honest labor sanctified
By making human toil thine own.

3.
In works or office, field or mart,
Where our appointments, Lord, may be,
Grant that with mind and hand and heart
We labor as we would for thee.

4.
So shall our light be shed abroad
And we, as Christians truly named,
Shall strive to be approved of God.
His workmen, not to be ashamed.

Will J. Brand (1889-1977)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Too many people still don't get holiness. They base their understanding on Romans 7: 15-16:

"For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good."*

For most people, holiness is a correction of Romans 7 such that they don't do what they don't want to do and do what they want to do.

Did you get that? Read it again, if you need to.

But the reality is that holiness is more of a transformation of Romans 7 such that they really don't want to do what they don't 'want to do', and really want to do what they 'want to do'.

Do you catch the difference?

Holiness is not a 'grit your teeth' thing, setting boundaries and regulating your behaviour such that nothing 'bad' comes out of your mouth nor nothing bad comes into your view, and so on.

It is a transformation of your desires (see Rom6:6; Gal2:20; etc.) so that you have defeated one of your two enemies (flesh/old/man/sinful nature). The other, the devil, remains, and the battlefield- the world, of course, remains (except for those ascetics who live on poles or in caves in the desert).

*even though Paul is talking about the situation as a Jew - a God-fearer who lacks the power to obey God - not as a Christian, who has the Holy Spirit to empower obedience.
----
Holy. now.
----
10 Affirmations:

1. We believe the doctrines of The Salvation Army;
2. We believe that we should (and can) be holy;
3. We believe that we should (and can) win the world;
4. We believe that lots of people are going to hell forever (some who never got saved, and some who lost their salvation);
5. We believe that signs and wonders and prophetic and deliverance will play a big role in winning the world;
6. We believe that charismatic cell-based Christian communities are the most effective means of accomplishing mission today;
7. We believe that God can do something unprecedented with The Salvation Army.
8. We believe that The Salvation Army is a revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus.
9. We believe that covenant is the only hope of avoiding the international fragmentation of The Army within 20 years.
10. We believe salvos love to fight and fight with love.
----
Remember the poor.
----
"Are we making the mistake of occupying ourselves chiefly with the care of our corps instead of training our soldiers as fighters for souls? Are we so taken up making records of our work that there is hardly any time left for the work itself? Are we in our hearts believing that the devil's power is so great that we dare not challenge him? Are we simply forgetting how the people live, because we so seldom go to see?" (Catherine Bramwell-Booth)
----
Submissions for Journal of Aggressive Christianity can be sent to revolution @mmccxx.net
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
One follow-up system that seems to work well is to spiritualise the 12-step practice of having sponsors. These spiritual sponsors are different than 12-step sponsors (though useful in that the concept is familiar to a lot of our converts) in that spiritual sponsors are not passive but initiate the directing and guiding and teaching and modelling and sharing and counselling and training and supporting. it is a handy step into community and discipleship. If you haven't anything in place maybe give it a prayer. Holy evangelising, today.
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 26: Grace There Is My Every Debt To Pay, and more.

2011-12-26T12:13:00.002Z

December 26, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
1.
Saviour, hear me while before thy feet
I the record of my sins repeat.
Stained with guilt, myself abhorring,
Filled with grief, my soul outpouring;
Canst thou still in mercy think of me,
Stoop to set my shackled spirit free,
Raise my sinking heart and bid me be
Thy child once more?

Chorus
Grace there is my every debt to pay,
Blood to wash my every sin away,
Power to keep me spotless day by day,
For me, for me!

2.
All the memories of deeds gone by
Rise within me and thy power defy;
With a deathly chill ensnaring,
They would leave my soul despairing.
Saviour, take my hand, I cannot tell
How to stem the tides that round me swell,
How to ease my conscience, or to quell
My flaming heart.

3.
Yet why should I fear? Hast thou not died
That no seeking soul should be denied?
To that heart, its sins confessing,
Canst thou fail to give a blessing?
By the love and pity thou hast shown,
By the blood that did for me atone,
Boldly will I kneel before thy throne,
A pleading soul.

4.
All the rivers of thy grace I claim,
Over every promise write my name;
As I am I come, believing,
As thou art thou dost, receiving,
Bid me rise a free and pardoned slave,
Master o'er my sin, the world, the grave,
Charging me to preach thy power to save
To sinbound souls.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Tragically, this 'ordination' thing keeps cropping up around the salvosphere (even though we dealt with it decisively here: http://armybarmyblog.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html and http://armybarmyblog.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html and elsewhere). But how about this? Thanks up front to Major Hill for the excellent source material...

The 'ordination' thing is another trick of satan. Listen to General William Booth to a crowd of soldiers in 1898:

"You cannot say you are not ordained. You were ordained when you signed Articles of War under the Blessed Flag. If not, I ordain every man, woman, and child here present that has received the new life. I ordain you now. I cannot get at you to lay my hands upon you. I ordain you with the breath of my mouth. I tell you what you true business in the world is, and in the name of the living God I authorise you to go and do it. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
----
Holy. now.
----
"Get a barracks on the corner of every street" (General William Booth).
----
Remember the poor.
----
Here's a couple of pages of evangelistic resources that you can use today in your evangelising:

http://www.armyonitsknees.org/Fusion.Evangelism.ToolKit1.php

http://sacrossroads.com/sacrossroads.com/how_to_find_God.html
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 25: Top EIGHT list and much more.

2011-12-25T14:51:00.004Z

December 25, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Holy Christmas!
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
1.
Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown
When thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For thy holy nativity.
Chorus
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
There is room in my heart for thee.

2.
Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth cam'st thou, Lord, on earth
And in great humility.

3.
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore thee to Calvary.

4.
When Heaven's arches ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At thy coming to victory,
Let thy voice call me home, saying: Yet there is room,
There is room at my side for thee!

And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When thou comest and callest for me.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
sacrossroads.com has a brand new HOLINESS resource page that has heaps of stuff - written, audio, video - to help you experience and spread holiness around your world. It is from a corps that had a good year - hallelujah. Here is one 2011 TOP EIGHT list for that particular corps (in no particularly order):

a. Souls: glory to God that He added weekly to our number in 2011. That isn't satisfactory, of course, in that the Biblical model is adding daily. But when you add indicated decisions / first time seekers of salvation from evangelising of our soldiers outside of the district it quickly gets into daily range - Hallelujah.

b. Sean Barringham's testimony. One of our newest Junior Soldiers / Corps Cadets, Sean's testimony told us a lot about Sean, a lot about God, and a lot about us. All glory to God.

c. Soldiers: Junior Soldiers, Senior Soldiers, Local Officers, and Prospective Candidates were made in 2011. They underwent some serious preparation and have already demonstrated commitment and zeal that will help accelerate the advance of the salvation war on our front. There are more to come, God helping, in 2012. Hallelujah.

d. System: We are in the first year of our transition to a cell-based system. This is helping to cultivate authentic Christian community. We started Junior Soldiers and Corps Cadets and Corps Council. More to come... Hallelujah.

e. Global Vision / Global Impact: We talked a lot about this through the year. A mission trip to Cuba, formation of a national coalition to fight human trafficking, preaching by one of our soldiers to 65,000 people in several countries, an estimated social media evangelistic reach of 40,000, focus on sponsorship and our first full Self Denial campaign, twinning with the Kambuzuma Corps in Zimbabwe, publishing five books from our corps, and other actions have increased global impact and global vision. Hallelujah.

f. Women: The Canada Freedom Relay, the deployment of the new van on overnight sorties, women's only drop-in, two women's brigades, The Journey, The Liberating Truth book, and a new systematic discipling system for women have all focussed the war for women on our front. People are being rescued, saved, discipled... Hallelujah.

g. Prayer: How could a small corps respond to the Global Call to 24/7 Prayer in 2011? God enabled our people to fill eight three-hour shifts daily from January 1 and impact cannot really be measured. The War Room became the centre of the barracks (it used to be an office). That's 56 shifts/week and 2912 and 168 hours/ week and 8736 hours on the year. Hallelujah.

h. Events: The Corps showed up and participated well at youth councils, ski weekend, TC welcome, women's camp, and the territory's first TYI. It hosted the first DC welcome in the division, sponsored the first GO FOR SOULS conference, hosted the Walk Thru The Bible Old Testament seminar and Community Care Ministries training seminar, ran our second annual Operation Halloween, and experienced the world's first Greater Things Campaign. Hallelujah.
----
Holy. now.
----
Have you read JAC76? http://www.army.com/jac.html
----
Remember the poor.
----
The miracles of 8lb 2oz! The creator of the whole universe somehow SHRINKS down to fit into the womb of a virgin. He lives among us. He is the One we celebrate. He is worthy of all of our lives. If you are not currently submitted to His Lordship in your life, join up with the wise men and the shepherds on your knees before Him. Repent of every distraction and opposition and competition to His rule. Accept His invitation in His life.

And if you are submitted to Him, why not exhort others you meet to submit to the newborn King?
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 24: Great is the Army of Women Evangelists, and more...

2011-12-24T16:24:00.002Z

December 24, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB415
1.
From every stain made clean,
From every sin set free;
O blessed Lord, this is the gift
That thou hast promised me.
And pressing through the past
Of failure, fault and fear,
Before thy cross my soul I cast,
And dare to leave it there.
2.
From thee I would not hide
My sin, because of fear
What men may think; I hate my pride.
And as I am appear, Just as I am, O Lord,
Not what I'm thought to be,
Just as I am, a struggling soul
For life and liberty.

3.
While in thy light I stand,
My heart, I seem to see,
Has failed to take from thy own hand
The gifts it offers me.
O Lord, thy plenteous grace,
Thy wisdom and thy power,
I here proclaim, before thy face,
Can keep me every hour.

4.
Upon the altar here
I lay my treasure down;
I only want to have thee near,
King of my heart to crown.
The fire doth surely burn
My every selfish claim;
And while from them to thee I turn,
I trust in thy great name.

5.
A heart by blood made clean
In every wish and thought,
A heart that by God's power has been
Into subjection brought,
To walk, to weep, to sing,
Within the light of Heaven;
This is the blessing, Saviour-King,
That thou to me hast given.

Herbert Howard Booth (1892-1926)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
To what extent is the end of the world waiting for US to to OUR part in fulfilling the conditions in Psalm 68:11?

NASB - 11 The Lord gives the [k]command; The (W)women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host

ASB - 11 The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.

AMP - 11The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host.

GNB - 11 The Lord gave the command, and many women carried the news:

YLT - 11The Lord doth give the saying, The female proclaimers [are] a numerous host.

WYC - 11 The Lord shall give a word; to them that preach the gospel with much virtue. (The Lord gave the word; and many womenpreached this good news.)

NCV - 11 The Lord gave the command, and a great army told the news:

NLT - 11 The Lord gives the word, and a great army[a] brings the good news.

http://www.easyenglish.info/psalms/psalm068-taw.htm - The Greek translation of verse 11 says ‘many women preached the gospel’.

Some commentators can't figure it out - women!

Adam Clarke - "I know not how to undertake a comment on this Psalm: it is the most difficult in the whole Psalter; and I cannot help adopting the opinion of Simon De Muis: In hoc Psalmo tot ferme scopuli, tot labyrinthi, quot versus, quot verba. Non immerito crux ingeniorum, et interpretum opprobrium dici potest. "In this Psalm there are as many precipices and labyrinths as there are verses or words. It may not be improperly termed, the torture of critics, and the reproach of commentators." To attempt any thing new on it would be dangerous; and to say what has been so often said would be unsatisfactory. I am truly afraid to fall over one of those precipices, or be endlessly entangled and lost in one of these labyrinths.

"There are customs here referred to which I do not fully understand; there are words whose meaning I cannot, to my own satisfaction, ascertain; and allusions which are to me inexplicable. Yet of the composition itself I have the highest opinion: it is sublime beyond all comparison; it is constructed with an art truly admirable; it possesses all the dignity of the sacred language; none but David could have composed it; and, at this lapse of time, it would require nosmall influence of the Spirit that was upon him, to give its true interpretation. I shall subjoin a few notes, chiefly philological; and beg leave to refer the reader to those who have written profusely and labouriously on this sublime Psalm, particularly Venema, Calmet, Dr. Chandler, and the writers in the Critici Sacri.

"Verse 11. "Great was the company of those that published it. " - br abx twr bmh hammebasseroth tsaba rab; "Of the female preachers there was a greathost." Such is the literal translation of this passage; the reader may make of it what he pleases. Some think it refers to the women who, with music, songs, and dances, celebrated the victories of the Israelites over their enemies. But the publication of good news, or of any joyful event, belonged to the women. It was they who announced it to the people at large; and to this universal custom, which prevails to the present day, the psalmist alludes. See this established in the note on Isa. xl. 9."

Spurgeon's notes (William Bridge quote)- First, the word which you read company, in the Hebrew it is "army," great was the army of preachers. An army of preachers is a great matter; nay, it is a great matter to have seven or eight good preachers in a great army; but to have a whole army of preachers that it glorious.
--
Great is the army of women evangelists.

Verdict:
a. When the people of God unleash and bless the women evangelists we fulfill that condition;
b. Women must be prepared and willing to deploy in this army of women evangelists.

Plan:
- Let's unleash the women, bless the women - NOW.
- Women - don't make excuses to avoid it.
----
Holy. now.
----
Have you read JAC76? http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
Remember the poor.
----
How many people will get saved today as we faithfully, boldly, compellingly share the Gospel on this big occasion?
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 23: Clarifying Commissioner Noland, and more.

2011-12-23T11:33:00.002Z

December 23, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB437

1.
Lord, through the blood of the Lamb that was slain,
Cleansing for me;
From all the guilt of my sins now I claim
Cleansing from thee.
Sinful and black though the past may have been,
Many the crushing defeats I have seen,
Yet on thy promise, O Lord, now I lean.
Cleansing for me.

2.
From all the sins over which I have wept,
Cleansing for me;
Far, far away by the blood-current swept,
Cleansing for me.
Jesus, thy promise I dare to believe,
And as I come thou wilt surely receive,
That over sin I may never more grieve,
Cleansing for me.

3.
From all the doubts that have filled me with gloom,
Cleansing for me;
From all the fears that would point me to doom,
Cleansing for me.
Jesus, although I may not understand,
In childlike faith now I stretch forth my hand,
And through thy word and thy grace I shall stand,
Cleansed by thee.

4.
From all the care of what men think or say,
Cleansing for me;
From ever fearing to speak, sing or pray,
Cleansing for me.
Lord, in thy love and thy power make me strong
That all may know that to thee I belong;
When I am tempted, let this be my song,
Cleansing for me.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Clarifying Commissioner Noland

Noland blogged on our comments about one of Richard Munn's top ten SA events of the year (December 19's post), here:

We want to clarify that we don't disagree...

Munn said;
6. Inauguration of Savn.TV in USA West – first fully fledged and funded SA movie and TV studio with a mission to evangelise cyberspace.

We commented;
sc- RM is being prophetic at this point as the site to date has a handful of videos. We're not sure it is the first. The Limelight Studio produced the world's first movies. So there is no question that is it not the first movie studio (and to be modest SAVN doesn't have a movie to its credit yet). And (later) General Arnold Brown's WORDS OF LIFE from (late 50s? and) early sixties was the first network colour TV going (so, first colour AND network TV). Maybe we can downgrade the enthusiasm and call it a bold commitment of resources into the internet?

Here are Noland's comments, along with our clarifications:

JN- Steve Court gets it right much of the time, but I must challenge his off the cuff take on Rick Munn’s Top Ten list for 2011 - #6 SAVN.TV Launch. His comments do not reflect the essence of what SAVN is all about, which is understandable, as he’s not immersed in it. First, it is not a movie studio.

sc - Munn called it a movie studio in his description of it (as above). Noland and I agree that it is not (yet) a movie studio.

JN- It does have a sound stage and with film making capabilities. It is an Internet Television Mission Station with content being developed in all types of venues. Studios in and of themselves are relics of the past, especially when it comes to distribution. Innovation and creativity are the bywords for SAVN.TV.

sc - hallelujah.

JN- Second, it would be stretching it to say that Limelight Studio was fully fledged.

sc - Limelight Department produced 300 films of various lengths, including some done for private and government contracts, and including arguably the first full-length feature film in history - SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS (1899) - as well as the Federation of Australia. That sounds as 'fully-fledged' as could possibly be.

JN- It had barely begun before it was ended, unfortunately – so no comparison there, hopefully.

sc - Limelight Department officially started in June 1892 (having run unofficially since '91) by Commissioner Thomas Coombs and Adjutant Joseph Perry. It existed under FOUR territorial commanders (Coombs, H Booth, McKie, and Hay) before closing for financial reasons NINETEEN years later in 1910. So, to compare, SAVN would need to exist until 2030 and under three more territorial commanders that follow Commissioner Knaggs before it is in the same league as Limelight in terms of longevity (for comparison, while it is not even close to the the longest running TV show - Hockey Night In Canada - Limelight lasted about as long as LAW AND ORDER (I know- apples and oranges). By then, many children born this year will have moved out of their homes, GenEva will be over a 100, and General Bond will be in her 80s if Jesus hasn't already returned.

JN- Third, Words of Life was not a network, it was a show produced for network television (not really sure which network). SAVN is an Internet TV Network already collaborating with several production companies to feature their films on its network – Sound Enterprises and Living Waters to name a few – many others in the works – so no comparison here.

sc - WORDS OF LIFE was recorded completely in the Canada and Bermuda THQ studio in the basement of the old THQ. Because it was next to the subway they actually had to record in the middle of the night, after the subways stopped, to ensure there was no rattling from the subways. Munn's condition was 'fully fledged TV studio'. I think we can agree that a studio that shoots the world's first colour TV series is a fully fledged studio.

JN- Fourth, whilst it is true that SAVN has only posted a handful of videos and films (25 to be exact), the website clearly states that it is a “Preview Site Under Creation” (Only 14 weeks in the making). It’s creators want viewers to experience its development with them, slowly, soundly and surely. And what sc can’t know or see, again understandably, is the wealth of creative content in its developmental stages, much of it already in the can, a lot still in the editing bay, this because the creative team is still coming together – a work in progress.

sc - amen.

JN- Fifth, the website (Cyberspace Interactive Theater), still under construction, is far more complex than one would imagine, because of the innovative interactivity that is envisioned – no comparison to the studio-bound film industry, or any of the other Christian web-based film sites. In fact, the experts have told us that SAVN is a pioneer in this area.

sc - Hallelujah.

JN- Finally, prophetic is a good word and we give an A+ to sc for this observation. However, “prophetic” is no reason to downgrade the enthusiasm that Munn rightfully exudes for SAVN.TV. And I can assure sc that it is much more than “a bold commitment of resources to the Internet,” although it is surely that as well.

sc - I'm happy to defer to both Munn and Noland on the prophetic and enthusiasm fronts. And I hope that Jesus comes back (i.e. we have won the world for Jesus) before the 19 years between now and when SAVN would be as old as Limelight. But if He tarries longer than that, I hope someone reminds us to revisit the blog to recount the myriad of ways and manners God has exceeded our greatest hopes and expectations for SAVN. I'm both a fan and an advocate.

JN- Thanks rm and sc for giving us a platform to voice these clarifications and help eliminate any other confusion or misconceptions that might be rumbling around out there.

sc - always happy to be at the service of the good commissioner! (full disclosure, JN and I have a couple of books we hope that you will be able to read, the first meant to be published in coming months)
----
Holy. now.
----
Have you read JAC76 - http://www.armybarmy.com/blog.html
----
Remember the poor.
----
Christmas season means automatic evangelising opportunities. Don't leave any on the table today.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 22: Mercy Still For Thee; Armybarmy Top TEN; Salvo Sabbath; and more.

2011-12-22T11:00:00.005Z

December 22, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
1.
O wanderer, knowing not the smile
Of Jesus' lovely face,
In darkness living all the while,
Rejecting offered grace;
To thee Jehovah's voice doth sound,
Thy soul he waits to free;
Thy Saviour hath a ransom found,
There's mercy still for thee!

Chorus
There's mercy still for thee,
There's mercy still for thee;
Poor trembling soul, he'll make thee whole,
There's mercy still for thee!

2.
For thee, though sunk in deep despair,
Thy Saviour's blood was shed;
He for thy sins was as a lamb
To cruel slaughter led,
That thou mayst find, poor sin-sick soul,
A pardon full and free;
What boundless grace, what wondrous love,
There's mercy still for thee!

3.
Though sins of years rise mountains high
And would thy hopes destroy,
Thy Saviour's blood can wash away
The stains, and bring thee joy.
Now lift thy heart in earnest prayer,
To him for safety flee.
While still the angels chant the strain:
There's mercy still for thee!

Herbert Howard Booth(1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
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The TOP TEN Armybarmy reader countries in 2011

United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Netherlands
Chile
Jamaica
India
Germany

Who knew armybarmy was so big in Jamaica? Hallelujah. If your country is not on the list, spread the word! Thanks to everyone who reads the blog. May God bless you, heaps, in your warfighting.
----
Holy. now.
----
A seasonal topic for salvos is 'sabbath'. Some salvos work and fight like crazy and never take a break. Others criticise the first group for not resting on the sabbath and not keeping it holy. And here we are again, this month with relation to collecting money for The Salvation Army on Sundays. What to do?

1. In Australia Salvos regularly collect at football games on Sundays - we head out after the meeting (some might even leave early, we suspect!). In parts of Canada bell ringers are standing by Christmas kettles after the closing song. So, we already do it.

2. The argument on Sabbath is irrelevant because, a. Sunday is not the Sabbath; b. other than Seventh Day Adventists, Christians don't normally care about the Sabbath (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). So, we already do it (collect on the Sabbath).

3. Some suggest that Sunday is the Christian Sabbath. However, Hebrews 4 explains the Christian Sabbath is HOLINESS rest. So, get sanctified.

4. Some insist on a 'day of rest' since God 'rested' on the seventh day, remind them that God TOOK His day off, and now He never stops working - John 5:16: "So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”" Two verses later The Son said He only does what He sees His Father doing, so, as we emulate God the Son (who never stops working) we should see what the Father's doing and do what we're seeing ('always at His work'). So, we should be.

5. Romans 14:5 - "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord." Salvationists reckon that every day is the Lord's Day and every day we ought to be about our Father's business. God help us.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Have you read JAC76? http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
James Thompson has a great post over at Go For Souls on Brengle's Most Feared Temptation. Almost every salvo will benefit from reading it. Check it out, here: http://www.goforsouls.com/archives/1670
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
When you're evangelising today, you might want to use the verses by Herbert Booth above and remind the vilest sinner, 'there's mercy still for thee.'
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 21: Aaron White's Top FOUR SA Events of 2011, and more.

2011-12-21T14:11:00.003Z

December 21, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB702

1.
To the front! the cry is ringing;
To the front! your place is there;
In the conflict men are wanted,
Men of hope and faith and prayer.
Selfish ends shall claim no right
From the battle's post to take us;
Fear shall vanish in the fight,
For triumphant God will make us.

Chorus
No retreating, Hell defeating,
Shoulder to shoulder we stand;
God look down. with glory crown
Our conquering band.
Victory for me
Through the blood of Christ, my Saviour;
Victory for me
Through the precious blood.

2.
To the front! the fight is raging;
Christ's own banner leads the way;
Every power and thought engaging,
Might divine shall be our stay.
We have heard the cry for help
From the dying millions round us,
We've received the royal command
From our dying Lord who found us.

3.
To the front! no more delaying,
Wounded spirits need thy care;
To the front! thy Lord obeying,
Stoop to help the dying there.
Broken hearts and blighted hopes,
Slaves of sin and degradation,
Wait for thee, in love to bring
Holy peace and liberation.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Aaron White's Top FOUR SA Events of 2011:

4 Notable SA Events (in no particular order):

General Bond: The election of General Linda Bond is another affirmation of TSA’s belief in equality, and an inspired choice for our international leader. Her concern for bringing glory to the name of Jesus will call TSA back to its first love.

sc- a little prophesying by Aaron. Nice. God grant it.

International Year of 24-7 Prayer: Prayer precedes all revival. The Salvation Army this year was called to a year-long 24-7 prayer meeting, crossing all continents, territories, languages, and cultures. There is simply no way of gauging the spiritual impact of this mighty year of intercession until we reach glory, but we have to know that it is significant.

sc- May God use it along with other expressions of extraordinary love for His greater glory and the salvation of the world. We've been blessed to be in a few towns where the salvos were going non-stop for significant periods and when it went off it went well, to the benefit of the participants and the front on which they were fighting. Hallelujah.

614 Network turned 10 this year: Begun in 2001 in Regent Park, Toronto, the 614 Network has been a spur towards revival, renewal, perhaps even revolution within The Salvation Army world. Dedicated to proclaiming the gospel in the poorest neighbourhoods, through the strategy of authentic Christian community and radical incarnation, 614 communities have sprung up throughout Canada, the UK, Germany, the US, New Zealand and Australia, with many other locations expressing interest. The Network has recently been reinvigorated and can be followed at www.614network.com

sc- We've lived in a couple of cities that had them and it is fair to say that the cities were blessed by their presence. God did (is doing) outstanding things in and through them. Hallelujah. Aaron sidesteps an argument about whether this should be in the 'top 4' by calling his list '4 Notable SA Events'.

Human Trafficking work: Around the world TSA has continued to be involved in the fight against human trafficking. If even one life is saved, this is notable. But we know that the impact is even bigger than that. In my own city Deborah’s Gate is a facility, overseen by some truly remarkable people, that is caring daily for women who were tricked or coerced into coming to Canada and then were forced into sexual slavery. They have 24 spaces for women, and are usually pretty close to capacity. It is hard to get numbers on the impact of TSA’s fight worldwide, and we are in the beginnings of this battle in some respects, but here is where the Army is truly standing up for the renown of God’s name in justice and mercy.

sc- God help us smash the fangs of evil-doers. On this issue a national anti-human-trafficking coalition was formed by The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. That's notable.
----
Holy. now.
----
Have you read JAC76 yet? Captain Mark Braye writes LOVE AND LIFE IN COMMUNITY. Here's an outtake:

Life in community is never easy.
It takes work.
It can be complicated.
It involves conflict.
Life in community brings ups and downs; good times and bad times; loss; joy; excitement; sorrow; jealousy; anger; sadness; celebration; and happiness.
Life in community is all around us; we cannot escape it. No one is an island onto themselves.
Marriage is a form of community. A family is a form of community.
A circle of friends and a place of work is a form of community.
A congregation and church/corps family is a form of community.
Community is all around us.
The Bible, as Salvationists our only source “of Christian faith and practice,” speaks volumes about community.

To read all of JAC76 go to http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
Remember the poor.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Taking Prayer Requests at Kettles
Praying for evangelistic opportunities on kettles
Handing out the War Cry at kettles
Blessing those who pass by in the name of Jesus
Singing/playing the Gospel story in song
Sallying up as one who is Saved To Save

These and other approaches can help your evangelising today.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 20: Aaron White's Top 5 World Events of 2011, and more.

2011-12-20T15:51:00.003Z

December 20, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB503
1.
Let me love thee, thou art claiming
Every feeling of my soul;
Let that love, in power prevailing,
Render thee my life, my all.
For life's burdens they are easy,
And life's sorrows lose their sting,
If they're carried, Lord, to please thee.
If their pain thy smile should win.

Chorus
Let me love thee, Saviour,
Take my heart forever;
Nothing but thy favor
My soul can satisfy.

2.
Let me love thee, come revealing
All thy love has done for me.
Help my heart, so unbelieving,
By the sight of Calvary.
Let me see thy love, despising
All the shame my sin has brought,
By thy torments realizing
What a price my pardon bought.

3.
Let me love thee, I am gladdest
When I'm loving thee the best;
For in sunshine or in sadness
I can find in thee my rest.
Love will soften every sorrow,
Love will lighten every care,
Love unquestioning will follow,
Love will triumph, love will dare.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Aaron White's Top 5 World Events of 2011, in no particular order:

Keystone Pipeline Decision / Tar Sands / Canada and Kyoto: Called the dirtiest extraction of oil in world history, the Tar Sands oil project in Northern Alberta is already a big issue. But when plans were established to transport the oil into the States through a massive pipeline called the Keystone Pipeline, opposition truly rose up. Environmentalists point to the massive dangers of running oil through a huge portion of vulnerable land and lakes, not to mention the abuse to the land that the Tar Sand represent already, and the West’s disastrous dependence on fossil fuels; Nebraskans don’t want this pipeline dangerously cutting through their land. The decision on the pipeline has been postponed so far, though a recent rider on a tax bill looks to force President Obama into a decision before the end of the year.

At the same time, Canada has announced that it will not be meeting its Kyoto agreements. Canada helped to create the Kyoto agreement in 1997, but now has chosen to step out of it, because the financial penalties, which Canada helped put in place, would be levied against Canada for not meeting its commitments. Read that carefully. Canada made a commitment, agreed to penalties if it didn’t live up to it, and is not reneging on its commitment and pulling out of the Kyoto agreement because the penalties were about to be enacted. Shameful behaviour. Canada is the first to pull out, almost certainly creating a precedent for other countries. Not a banner year for Canada, in terms of caring for Creation.

US Credit Rating / European Union: In August of 2011, S & P, a private financial services company, downgraded the credit rating of the U.S. from AAA to AA+, indicating that the U.S. no longer had a strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. This sent shock waves through the financial world. Can the US be trusted financially? Is its power and stability fading? Other nations, particularly some in the EU such as Ireland, Greece, Italy and France have faced financial crises and have been downgraded or threatened with downgrade in their credit rating. It is a time of serious anxiety and instability for anyone who puts their trust in the stock market or in governments to be their security and salvation. Tellingly, one stock trader announced on BBC News that people should not be looking to any governments to save them from recession, because “The US and and EU don’t run the world, Goldman and Sachs runs the world. And they don’t care about you.”

Arab Spring / Awakening / Uprising / Revolution / Renaissance: Starting December 18 of 2010 with the self immolation of Mohamad Bouazizi in protest of police corruption in Tunisia, revolutions have spread through the Middle East and North Africa over this past year. We have seen massive protests, civil unrest, and at times armed insurrection in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Lebanon, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. Long-time political leaders have been overthrown in three countries, and more seem to be on their way out. It has the potential to be a move towards self-determination, but there are reports that in some places religious persecution has increased, and there are some worries about Islamic regimes coming to power. There are also concerns from world powers that these areas will not be quite so “controllable” in the near future.

Occupy Wall Street: Begun on Sept. 17th, 2011 in New York, for a long time this large protest received little to no media coverage, which makes sense, given that the Wall Street companies being protested own the media outlets. But after awhile the protest could no longer be ignored, and started to reproduce itself around North America and the world. Derided by some as unorganised, anarchistic, and entitled, others took this movement as an opportunity to express democracy in a way that went beyond polls and voting booths. Whatever one thinks of it, it certainly suggests a widespread dissatisfaction with the corporate status quo. No clear, unified economic or political alternative has yet emerged, but these are very complex issues.

Sudan Referendum: The Sudan has been a hot spot for violence and unrest for years. It is one of those places on the periphery of empires where it seems instability always reigns. A free referendum was held in the South Sudan in January of 2011, the question being whether or not Southern Sudan ought to form its own country, separate from the North. The answer came through loud and clear: 99% voted to form their own nation. In July of 2011 the Republic of the South Sudan was formed, and recognised by the UN. Will this offer more protection for Christians in the area who are routinely persecuted? Fears of violence and intervention by the LRA from Uganda have yet to materialise, but South Sudan is still one of the poorest countries in the world.

Other big events: The Assassination of Osama Bin Laden; death of Steve Jobs; London riots; World Cup in South Africa
----
Holy. now.
----
I stumbled on this from an editorial in SALVATIONIST a decade ago:

"The question of identity - ‘What does it mean to be The Salvation Army?’ - is increasingly being asked. A hunger for ‘primitive Salvationism’ is emerging as a new Salvationist sub-culture takes shape. It is marked by informality and linear/relational structures - high on Army passion and ideals, low on form and existing tradition.
...
"Whatever our personal perspective, God is on the move. So how should we respond? If our heart is for mission and the future of this Movement, it can only be positive. I believe our best days are ahead rather than behind. We will not find all our answers for the future in our past. We need new revelation, new prophets, new forms of ‘Army’ - and for all this we must trust God. Our prayer, despite fears and insecurities must be: ‘Lord, whatever you are doing, do not pass me by.’" (end of quote)

Amen. But where does this new sub-culture stand a decade later?

It is both deeper and broader, having spread into new relationships in new regions and new strategies and new understandings of God. While it is far from being mainstream salvationism, it is sliding into the mainstream. How?
- it is true;
- it is efficacious;
- it has marshalled various media to some effect;
- it is optimising relationships and expanding networks.
Hallelujah.

For those wanting to get the lowdown on primitive salvationism, see Eight Myths, here:

http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article13-42.html
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Remember the poor.
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Toronto's Mayor proclaimed this week Salvation Army week and urged all the citizens to give generously.
----
Don't forget to optimise urgently this week - it is a key season and we keep hearing of conversions. Hallelujah. Let's optimise our opportunities.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 19: Richard Munn's 2011 TOP TEN SA Stories List and more...

2011-12-19T14:04:00.005Z

December 19, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB473
1.
All I have, by thy blood thou dost claim,
Blessed Lord, who for me once was slain;
Now thine own I will give thee,
I know thou wilt take me,
Though long thou hast pleaded in vain.

Chorus
All I have I am bringing to thee,
All I have I am bringing to thee;
In thy steps I will follow, come joy or come sorrow,
Dear Saviour, I will follow thee.

2.
All I have, it shall be nothing less,
All I have thou shalt own, Lord, and bless;
Loss and pain shall not hinder,
I'll keep back no longer
From being thine fully, my Lord.

3.
Days of darkness there may be for me,
Rough and steep, too, my pathway may be;
But the joy or the sorrow
That comes with tomorrow
Will just be the fittest for me.

4.
Though by darkness my future is veiled,
Here's my all, for thy love has prevailed;
I no longer will doubt thee,
I know thou dost save me,
My life shall be wholly for thee.

Richard Slater (1854-1939) (verses),
Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926) (chorus)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Lieut-Colonel Richard Munn's
Top Ten SA Stories – 2011

Each year Richard Munn produces a list that generates discussion and thanksgiving to God for His work in our midst. Here is his list for 2011. Expect others to weigh in before year-end...

1. Election of Linda Bond as 19th General of The Salvation Army after the nomination of 10 candidates
sc- It's big, obviously. There have only been 18 times in the 146 years of the life of the movement in which there has been a leadership change. God bless the General. She has served a significant portion of her term already...

2. Launch of One Army, One Mission, One Message international vision campaign from IHQ
sc- RM is optimistic here. The ONE campaign is a coalescing of salvo emphases without a change of direction. We wonder how many of the roughly 1.5 million soldiers (senior/junior) know about it. And if they all know, how is that knowledge intended and expected to affect the salvation war?

3. Launch of the Global Call To 24/7 Prayer initiative on 1/1/11 – the first ever intentionally coordinated global prayer campaign
sc- here we wonder if RM is being maritally modest. This is historic. If there have been 18 leader changes there has only been one coordinated global prayer campaign. This has potential to transform the world. Asking the same kind of question as with #2, how is universal participation in the Global Call intended and expected to affect the salvation war? Global revolution.

4. Launch of The General’s Thursday Morning World Wide Prayer Meeting – the first ever intentionally coordinated global prayer meeting
sc- nice. It seems a bit of a novelty, though, at this point. We're not sure how it is a meeting, since at best we're 'meeting' at the throne of grace. Unless we're totally out of it (possible?) people don't 'meet', they just pray in the same window of time. But this isn't any different than the salvo tradition of everyone praying for The Salvation Army and the General at lunch every day. At this point it seems a good idea with great potential.

5. Official expansion of the Army into Solomon Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and Togo – for a total of 124 countries around the world
sc- we have thought the total is now 125. The IHQ site provides statistics from 2007 (someone over there should really update the stats). Wikipedia agrees with RM. We have invaded 152 countries. We got kicked out of some. And some countries merged. In any case, praise the Lord. These represent the expansionary posture of The Salvation Army under General Clifton.

6. Inauguration of Savn.TV in USA West – first fully fledged and funded SA movie and TV studio with a mission to evangelise cyberspace.
sc- RM is being prophetic at this point as the site to date has a handful of videos. We're not sure it is the first. The Limelight Studio produced the world's first movies. So there is no question that is it not the first movie studio (and to be modest SAVN doesn't have a movie to its credit yet). And (later) General Arnold Brown's WORDS OF LIFE from (late 50s? and) early sixties was the first network colour TV going (so, first colour AND network TV). Maybe we can downgrade the enthusiasm and call it a bold commitment of resources into the internet?

7. All 8 staff bands from around the world congregate in London for the 120th anniversary of the ISB, all day festival at the Royal Albert hall and March of Witness into Buckingham Palace before over 15,000 people.
sc- historic. It is possibly the last time we'll see something like that.

8. Comprehensive Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Service responses to earthquake in New Zealand, tsunami in Japan, teenage massacre in Norway and urban riots in England
sc- praise the Lord that where there's a need, there's The Salvation Army. God help us to serve You and draw multitudes to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

9. Howard Webber book Meeting Jesus wins ‘Christianity Magazine’ Book of the year award.
sc- cheers to the Major. We recommend it (and you can read excerpts of it in Journal of Aggressive Christianity, here: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article3-69.html and http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article3-70.html ). The weird thing, though, is that there are other salvo books that have out-sold it this year (we can really do better in reading salvo stuff).

10. Annual Roots Conference in Southport, UK, concludes after 17 year run.
sc- I guess the key here is 'in Southport', because we understand that ROOTS continues regionally in UKI (?). We've had opportunity to speak at the four Roots conferences (UKI, C+B, USS, Southern Africa) and praise God for its impact. Certainly the Southport conference was a phenomenon at its height. Hallelujah.

What else should be on the list? (suggest it on facebook, where this will be posted).
----
Holy. now.
----
We hadn't seen this great version of the good test with Mr. Nice Guy. Check it out, here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCSUKIhjevo&feature=share

Why not share it with all your friends, today?
----
Remember the poor.
----
Exploit the seasonal opportunities.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 18: Give Myself Afresh; Loose, Helpless Mob; Until You Bless Me; Method Of Deliverance...

2011-12-18T14:09:00.004Z

December , 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
War Covenant
This is a beauty from the old SA Ceremonies Book:

Concerned because of the wicked and wretched condition of the people around me, I desire here and now, with all my heart, for the glory of God and for the salvation of souls, to give myself afresh and for ever to the Salvation War.
I now pledge myself before God, before my dear Saviour who died for me, and before my comrades, to use my time, talents, means, and influence to advance the interests of the War in my own Corps or neighbourhood, or wherever I may go.
I promise to accept any position, do any work, or fulfill any commission that may be given me by my Officers, according to the Orders and Regulations of The Army.
I promise to sing, pray, or engage in any other duty, or to occupy any post assigned me, in any Meeting, whether indoors or out, whether among adults or young people.
I promise to give all the leisure time I can to the War, to be diligent in attending and working at all the Meetings possible.
I promise to wear uniform whenever I can, and at other times an Army badge, if possible. As I have opportunity I will sell 'The War Cry' and other Army publications, engage in visitation, and strive to make myself a thoroughly efficient Salvationist.
I promise to pray for my comrades daily; also for those in circumstances of persecution, poverty, or peril.
I will try to give every satisfcation to my employers, and to those with whom I live and work, so as to commend my Saviour and be a credit to The Army in the eyes of the ungodly.
I yield myself to God, to follow Him anywhere- as an Officer, should He so desire; and I will go to any country, or labour for the Salvation of any class, for which I may be thought best adapted.
In general, I here promise God that I will at all times obey Him, whatever cost or trouble, suffering or difficulty this may involve; and I ask God my Father for Jesus Christ's sake, to give me strength faithfully to carry out these promises. Amen.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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There is an attempt to get this short Jay Leno clip to go viral -

http://player.vimeo.com/video/33765041?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

So I've tweeted it, facebooked it, and am blogging it, here. Why not do the same in your networks?
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Feel free to follow the twitter feed (StephenCourt)
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Here is an open air from the 60s: The Joystrings 1964 http://t.co/VR4HNMN2
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"An Army without training, without drill, would be simply a loose, helpless mob, a source of weakness and danger, impossible to hold together, though every one of them may have hearts full of zeal for God and love to man; so we must train them, and that to the uttermost." General William Booth

Training needs to be mission-focused, charismatic-saturated, incarnationally-entrenched, covenantally committed, and doctrinally sound (!) (any absent elements weaken the results). Let's do it.
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Holy. now.
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"Many a dynamic message has been preached using the words of Jacob as an example for what we should do in prayer: 'I won't let you go until you bless me' (see v.26). I've done it myself.
However, Scripture does not present this wrestling match as an example of how we are to pray. The reason it lasted so long is...God and Jacob were after different things. Jacob wanted protection from Esau; God desired a nature change in Jacob..."
pg. 155, Intercessory Prayer, Dutch Sheets
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Remember the poor.
----
Here's a great line from General William Booth:

"No language can describe the mighty power an officer wields in a corps or neighbourhood who can truthfully claim the possession of a clean heart, and who absolutely confesses it. The cry of multitudes, at different periods of their lives, is: 'Who will show us any good about holy living? We hate the sins that master us. We do the things we would not, and we leave undone the things that we would do. But how are we to get deliverance?' To simply describe a method of deliverance to such people is very blessed, but the power of any such message is multiplied a thousand-fold when an officer is able to stand up and say, "I have this experience myself. I am a man or woman of like passions with yourselves; I have had a like bringing-up, and was once under the same appetites and sins; but I have been delivered; my chains have been broken. Sin has no dominion over me. It is destroyed out of my heart. I walk with Christ in white.""

It's also true of a soldier!
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
We celebrate Jesus' birth in a week. Let's see how many people we can get saved between now and then!
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 17: Why the Church doesn't impact the world?; Fuel for the fire; With thy power baptize us all; Far more perfect and world-wide.

2011-12-17T14:12:00.006Z

December 17, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
In REACHING WITH INTEGRITY by Kenton Anderson (sequel to Preaching with Conviction), a narrative on Biblical preaching, I was stunned by some recent stats he quotes in the book:

- 64% of pastors confess to a sexual addition
- 25% of pastors confess to having sexual intercourse with someone other than their wives while married, and since they were converted to Jesus Christ
----
I'm sorry. I just don't get it. Basically two out of every three pastors are sexually addicted? One in four is an adulterer? I'm flabberghasted. I'm dumbfounded.

How can this be?
I am guessing these are mostly non-holiness movement types (is that naive? I mean, you 'hear' about exceptions but they are very rare.

I'm not sure what they mean by sexual addiction. If they're using addiction to rationalise intentional, habitual sin, these 'pastor's' aren't saved. So we're looking at one Christian out of every three pastors. And, I expect, the adulterers are within the confessing 'addicts'.

And people wonder why the Church doesn't impact the world (they do wonder, don't they?).

Here's what I observe. In one district we were blessed by some non-salvos who came alongside us to fight. They're keen Christians who enriched our lives and increase our effectiveness. One early observation from one of them was that our little community of warriors was the holiest thing she'd experienced (disclaimer- this has nothing to do with me, as she didn't know me that well. Before you think that's bragging, I once lived in a place where it was discovered that two volunteers had sex in the barracks!).

A holy God commands and enables holiness. And He deserves it.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Cadet Rob Dolby blogged this half a dozen years ago, long before the Global Call to 24/7 Prayer:

In "The Founder Speaks Again" ... Booth shares what he would do, if he could do it all over again. #1 is prayer. He says that he would pray more, without ceasing, in fact he says he would pray, "until he was having intercourse with heaven." I want it, I want to pray so hard that I'm having intercourse with heaven.

I pose that Satan's greatest sceme is to get us to stop praying. Wesley said that "God does nothing except in response to prevailing prayer." WOW !!! The scriptures say that "the prayers of a righteous [ARMY] are powerfull and effective." (James 5:16)

It was a long standing tradition that Salvationists all over the universe would pray everyday at noon for The Salvation Army and the General, just imagine the fuel for the fire we would have if the world's third biggest army fought like that every day ... I'll leave you with some chat from Pearson. (OG Songbook 556)

O Thou God of every nation
Bless our General, bless our leaders
We now for thy blessing call
Bless our officers as well
Fit us for full consecration
Bless our converts, bless our soldiers
Let the fire from heaven fall
Speed the war 'ganst sin and hell
Bless or Army ! Bless our Army !
With thy power baptize us all.
We will all thy goodness tell.
----
Holy. now.
----
Here is the London "Speaker" on the capacity of General Booth for winning the masses:

"Seeing from what The Salvation Army has grown, and to what it has grown, we are extremely reluctant to denounce any scheme seriously and carefully elaborated by its leader, as being "too big to be practicable." We must remember who will be the "one head and centre" of the scheme. There are many weak points in General Booth: he is only human. But he is an earnest man; he has proved his talent for organisation; he has proved his capacity for winning the sympathies of the masses. We would say nothing against gentleness, and quiet, and culture. We hope to attain them in the end. It is a pretty work to prune the vine, a beautiful thing to let in the sunlight on the fruit, and to watch the perfection of bloom, and shape, and color; but first of all
something has to be done at the roots, something at which we may hold our noses, but which is for all that requisite."
----
Remember the poor.
----
For all the social types, here is a line about DARKEST ENGLAND from IN DARKEST INDIA, by Booth-Tucker:

"When Christ reigns as Viceroy for Jehovah for a thousand years, as the Word of God so distinctly intimates, it may be that some such plan as this, far more perfect and world-wide in its aim, will form part of the inaugurative forces of that happy lot."
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Since we've had a bit of William Booth today, here's his famous evangelistic tract for you to use in today's evangelising:

http://sacrossroads.com/sacrossroads.com/Welcome.html
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 16: Salvation Held Up To My Sight; All It Was Cracked Up To Be; One Year Non-Stop; Samuel Ljungblahd; sacrossroads.com

2011-12-16T17:02:00.005Z

December 16, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
1.
When my heart was so hard
That I ne'er would regard
The salvation held up to my sight,
To the cross then I came
In my darkness and shame,
And 'twas there that I first saw the light.

Chorus
At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away;
It was there, by faith, I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day.

2.
In my blindness I thought
That no power could have wrought
Such a marvel of wonder and might;
But 'twas done, for I felt,
At the cross as I knelt,
That my darkness was turned into light.
3.
Then the gloom had all passed,
And, rejoicing at last,
I was sure that my soul was made right;
For my Lord, I could see,
In his love died for me
On the cross, where I first saw the light.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926) (verses)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
The December newsletter of the international Centre for Spiritual Life Development features a story on a corps that has prayed non-stop all year long:

http://www1.salvationarmy.org/IHQ/www_ihq_csld.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/6C9B17544D7C482E80257966006899C8?Opendocument

You can read more about that corps at sacrossroads.com
----
Holy. now.
----
"Imagine a whole generation that had never planted a flower, let alone a crop; that had never worried about the weather, because, odds were, the people were picking up to leave sometime soon, anyway. The wilderness generation of Israelites fed from the gracious hand of God.

This Promised Land deal wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Not only did they have to fight for the land, the Jews had to fight with it. The nomads were settling down. And there were decidedly no green thumbs among them."

Read more of the Ammonite Uprising here:

http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article7-76.html

Read the whole JAC76 at http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
Remember the poor.
----
Salvationist Samuel Ljungblahd's latest youtube offering is LET GO, LET GOD, here:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/4E3ldE4hjVg?rel=0
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Here is a video of the good test, an evangelistic approach that might work effectively with some of your friends or acquaintances:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JiESHIYIJg&feature=player_embedded
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 15: General Linda Bond's December Letter and more...

2011-12-15T11:10:00.003Z

December 15, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
General's Letter
Sharing the Vision

Dear friends:

It is time to connect with you again, and what a great season for sharing good news. No matter how hectic Christmas time is for any of us, we still get immersed in the first Christmas story. Even the traumatic woes of our world only serve to sharpen our need for Immanuel. He came into our world more than 2,000 years ago, but without a doubt he will come afresh in these days. Where one lacks comfort and direction, he will come as the Wonderful Counsellor. For a world at war, we seek his presence as the Prince of Peace. To the childlike, he is the Everlasting Father. Where human effort fails, he proves again to be the Mighty God. And his name JESUS says it all, doesn't it? He is our Saviour. May this Christmas be for you one of rich blessing.

Since last writing to you, the Vision Plan for the Army has been launched (http://sar.my/one). You may have watched the video on the website or read about it in your War Cry or territorial magazine. It is the vision of One Army with One Mission and One Message. The 12 Mission Priorities are each preceded by the statement: 'We will...'. This is the commitment made by leaders at International Headquarters to be doing something to realise the vision. These priorities reflect the themes that have come from territories around the world, based on their strategies for mission. The logo produced by our Communications team has really caught on. I have seen it used by officers on their emails, in corps halls and distributed as bookmarks. In recent travels, I have used Scripture passages for my preaching that undergird elements of the vision.

In earlier letters I promised to mention some of my travels. Looking forward to these visits was like opening presents on Christmas morning, full of anticipation, surprise and joy. I was not disappointed. What a blessing this autumn to attend the Welcome to the Proclaimers of the Resurrection session of cadets in New York! The Spirit-led response to the mercy seat is lodged in my memory bank. I thank the Lord for this mighty moving of his Spirit. Similar evidence of the Spirit's work was seen during visits to Africa (Mozambique, Malawi), South America East (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) and Europe (Finland, Switzerland, Spain and France). The visit to Hungary and Latvia was an unforgettable Advent experience.

Every place was so different. The Army ministry was varied. The language, culture and worship styles were diverse. But there was a very real sense of the Spirit blessing our Army and empowering our people for ministry within their corps and communities. People were saved. Others experienced the blessing of holiness. Many young people responded to God's call to officership. How can we help but praise the Lord! How can we help but continue to pray!

If you have not taken the opportunity to join the Worldwide Prayer Meeting on Thursdays, please ask for details from your corps officer or check out the Army's international web page (http://sar.my/wwpm). It is, as a New Zealand Salvationist described it, 'a Mexican wave that begins in the South Pacific and moves across the Army world'. We are praying for our Army, its effectiveness in mission, for courage to share the gospel with love and grace. Please check out the details of the Mission Priorities and pray for each one. Pray fervently for revival. Pray that we will have a deep desire for God and hunger for holiness. Pray that the Army will be stirred afresh with a passion for the lost and the marginalised.

Let's live a life of praise, for Jesus is worthy. And what a time of year to offer our thanksgiving! May the Christmas blessings of joy, peace and hope be yours as you celebrate his birth.

Sincerely,

Linda Bond
General
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Have you read the new JAC76? http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
SASB402
1.
With my heart so bright in the heavenly light,
I live with Jesus all the time;
And I know I am washed in his blood quite white,
And I am his and he is mine.

Chorus
My soul is full of joy the devil can't destroy,
I'm serving such a mighty, mighty King;
And it doesn't matter now
What the world may do or vow,
While Jesus is my Saviour I can sing.
I've joined the Army of the Lord,
Fighting for the King of kings;
And it doesn't matter now
What the world may do or vow,
While Jesus is my Saviour I can sing.

2.
When my heart was dark, and my soul was lost,
My Jesus spoke a pardon free;
And he stilled by his power the ocean that tossed
And bade me go and happy be.

3.
By his death he bought me everlasting life,
By his stripes my soul was healed;
And for my transgression he has borne the strife,
And by his sorrow joy revealed.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
Holy. now.
----
Follow-up on the enduring institutions post:

"While culture and values necessary for endurance are readily apparent in all ten organizations, one, The Salvation Army, is iconic in its ability to motivate and inspire its workforce. The Salvation Army's skill is in creating the culture and expressing the values that make its own endurance possible. As an "army" it broadcasts this culture through simple but effective practices, such as the readily recognizable uniform it asks volunteers and workers to wear."
----
Remember the poor.
----
What matters it what ELSE SOLDIERS CAN DO IF THEY CANNOT FIGHT? - Booth

So, go for souls and go for the worst. We are saved to save. Let's do what we are created and saved for.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 14: Greed; The Liberating Truth; Pregnant with God; Go Into The World; Why?; The Most Enduring Institution; The Purpose For Which You Awoke.

2011-12-14T11:22:00.003Z

December 14, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
Have you read the new Journal of Aggressive Christianity, yet? JAC76. http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html

Danielle Strickland's article is GREED: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article8-76.html
----
She also has a new article in SHE LOVES Magazine: http://shelovesmagazine.com/2011/pregnant-with-god/

And here is a review by the Birkses of her latest book, THE LIBERATING TRUTH:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/rob-birks/the-liberating-truth/10150472859809577
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
From AGGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY remix (Catherine Booth with Cory Harrison):

"They took seriously the words of Jesus, ‘Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the message of God’s good news to one and to all,’ and again the same idea—’I’m sending you off.’ Look at what Jesus is saying here. I will go as far as to say that no one in the history of man has even gotten close to fathoming the meaning of these two commissions. I believe that we of The Salvation Army have come closer than any others. But we are straying. What? Do you think that these words from Jesus ever meant, ‘go and build chapels and churches and invite the people to come one or two days a week and if they don’t leave them alone?’ ‘YOU GO!’ Imagine you were running a business and asked a staff member to do something for you, something that required some meetings and paperwork and some travel and time, definitely hard work, something that was within their job description and contract with you. They are employed by you to do this business, and you commissioned them to go and do it. How would you feel if he just went to his office and said, ‘Maybe I will go out once or twice but I don’t want to bother these folks. I know, I will just wait here in my office and if they want our business they will come to us.’ He may be out of a job for not doing what you asked of him."
----
Holy. now.
----
A youngster I know, when not yet two, went through a phase in which he asked me, 'why?' in 20-round shots, about 20 times a day. And, if memory serves me correctly every round ended up with the same answer:

God is love.
----
Here's a two-minute video on The Salvation Army by Commissioner Jim Knaggs:

http://tcspeak.com/blog/2011/12/13/christmas-sample-from-savn-tv/
----
Here's The WillIam Booth Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygedu0CKSEw

I've seen the whole video - it's great. Good Christmas present option.
----
Remember the poor.
----
MOST ENDURING INSTITUTIONS

In the last decade there was a project that identified ten of the world's most Enduring Institutions over the past century (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041216/165437_1.html). "The list celebrates those institutions that have managed to reinvent themselves time and again - and remained market leaders - as the unique circumstances of their founding have given way to changing conditions."

Explained Dr. Ralph W. Shrader, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Booz Allen Hamilton, "An Enduring Institution is one that has changed and grown in unswerving pursuit of success and relevance -- yet remained true through time to its founding principles."

Here are the top ten:
Academic Institutions: Dartmouth College; Oxford University
sec- maybe in the next century they will include The War College.

Arts and Entertainment: The Modern Olympic Games; the Rolling Stones
sec- really? First up, how about the NHL (it is for the last century, not this one) and it's time-honoured Stanley Cup? And Rolling Stones? I'd replace with U2 if it had to be a music group.

Business and Commerce: General Electric; Sony
sec- tough to argue.

Government Institutions: American Constitution; International
Telecommunication Union
sec- tough to argue on the first one; I don't know what the second one is (maybe obsolete because of the internet).

Nonprofit Organizations: The Salvation Army; the Rockefeller
Foundation
sec- this is the part where we go 'Yahoo!'

Now, stay with me on this. These are interesting criteria to apply to the ARMY:

"Each institution is recognized for its unique abilities to meet or exceed seven specific criteria for an Enduring Institution:
Innovative capabilities--The capacity to create and modify strategies based on market opportunities and threats.

sec- I am not sure what they were studying for the Army. Most of what we had in place by 1910 was still around in 1990: cubs and scouts (or in the States guards...), home league, corps cadets, junior soldiers classes, songsters, brass bands, training colleges, corps (for more of the century the colour of the faces was the only way to tell what part of the world you happened to be), league of mercy, etc. I think we must have been chosen despite our performance in this category. We're trying hard on our front in this respect.

Governance and leadership--A leadership structure and senior management team that promote an organization-wide commitment to enterprise resilience.

sec- we're strong on that- it is tough to find a more 'total institution' experience within the 'volunteer realm' (military is potentially one). I hope that is happening on our small front.

Information flow--A continual flow of information regarding an organization's operations and markets that is evaluated by senior management in making strategic decisions.

sec- well, we send in monthly stats... In one territory where I fought they updated the stats every day at 1am. Very impressive.

Culture and values--A working environment in which the adaptive qualities required for enterprise resilience are cultivated.

sec- this is true on our front. Man, we have to go with the Spirit flow!

Adaptive response--The ability to withstand operational disruptions, market risks and other threats without significantly compromising an organization's effectiveness.

sec- praise the Lord.

Risk structure--A system for managing risk that doesn't encumber or limit an organization's operations.

sec- not sure exactly how that look for us and how well it works. But praise God.

Legitimacy - The undisputed, withstanding credibility of an organization within its market.

sec- agreed- Hallelujah! (although I wonder which market they think we're in!).
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Don't forget that the purpose for which you woke up this morning, ate breakfast, washed, dressed, did rations, went to work or school, laboured for many hours, ate, volunteered, served, helped, evangelised, discipled, prayed, relaxed, played, slept is to win the world for Jesus. That being the case, is there anything you might want to streamline or modify in your schedule to help optimise your effectiveness in this obsession?
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 13: Preparing Teens To Invade Cities.

2011-12-13T12:08:00.000Z

December 13, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB420
1.
I bring my heart to Jesus, with its fears,
With its hopes and feelings, and its tears;
Him it seeks, and finding, it is blest;
Him it loves, and loving, is at rest.
Walking with my Saviour, heart in heart,
None can part.

2.
I bring my life to Jesus, with its care,
And before his footstool leave it there;
Faded are its treasures, poor and dim;
It is not worth living without him.
More than life is Jesus, love and peace,
Ne'er to cease.

3.
I bring my sins to Jesus, as I pray
That his blood will wash them all away;
While I seek for favor at his feet,
And with tears his promise still repeat,
He doth tell me plainly; Jesus lives
And forgives.

4.
I bring my all to Jesus; he hath seen
How my soul desireth to be clean.
Nothing from his altar I withhold
When his cross of suffering I behold;
And the fire descending brings to me
Liberty.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
WHAT TEENS NEED TO BE PREPARED TO OPEN AN OUTPOST IN A NEW CITY
warning: this is long- but it IS your comments!

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends. Thanks for the comments in response to my blog on this subject. Here is a smattering of them, along with my comments (sc):

First - Teens need one on one discipleship above all and intense Bible study. They need to be taught how to study the Bible on their own and what spiritual discipline means - how important it is and a model to whom they can look. I came out of High School very unaware of how to study God's word much less hear him and understand what it was saying. If you want them to start outposts - they've got to know His Word.

sc- good point. It is incumbent upon those of us further down the road to disciple these teens, then. What are you using? We use a variety of non-salvo courses plus SALVATIONISM 101, 201 (there is some Bible study stuff in that), and 301. And we're emphasising DisCo (Discipleship Covenants) about which we'll write more soon...

Second - I think they need a better doctrines class than Corps Cadets and the soldiership class they get before becoming Senior Soldiers.

sc- amen. We try to handle the subject in SALVATIONISM 101.

Third - They have to know authentic community and be a part of it.

sc- amen. Hard to find and difficult to cultivate. But it is not only the image of God, it is the future of mission.

Fourth - They need to know how to lead a small group and how to nurture it.

sc- related the the third point. For us, this is THE transferable concept. You might not have a stacked corps. But if you have a little team that can care for people you are almost set to start a cell...

New Blogger: support from our leaders...from THQ. i think in terms of the youth dept. we've gone long enough just entertaining at youth councils and not going deep...

sc- two point here, really. The THQ support depends on your THQ. But I don't know how much support you need. I mean, make some friends, start a cell... The second point is totally relevant here, since we're playing with training teens to go open outposts. To do that, we need to beef up youth councils! Won't it be great when youth departments are equipping teens to start outposts?

NB: one word? support from our leaders. real support.

sc- sure. More Biblically, effectively spiritual covering by those in authority.

NB: what is it we as young people need to trained and equipped so that when we finish high school we can go out and open an
outpost as u said...relationship. that word has come up again and again lately, and in this case i think its a huge thing. growing up in the army i've been preached at, preached at, preached at preached at and you guessed it, preached at. but i've never had a relationship with someone who was bulding me up, keeping me accountable, and not to preach at me. just to be there to offer support, answers, prayer etc. "kids today" haha, we don't want to be preached at. we can get enough of that at church, or from certain SA leaders. so i realize that isnt "training" but if i had to say one word...relationship.

sc- relationship. We're cultivating authentic Christian community. Similar.

NB: however when it comes to specific training, i would say bible teaching and understanding (because i know for me growing up in the army i knew stuff all about the bible) worship leading, (but how to lead worship in the context your in, not how to lead worship like matt redman)how to teach the bible (again in context) and incarnation. what it means to "move into the
neighbourhood".

sc- relates to comments above.

Here is another list:
1. do it in a community
the most blatant need for kids who are emerging (hopefully - In Jesus' name!) from a self destructive but necessary descent into immature and ungodly independance is to be adopted by awesome, function, healthy warriors for them to know interdependence (ala Gal. 6), which probably translates as community - bring them into a tribe of warriors - a villiage of saints they dig into.

sc- nice. TRIBE OF WARRIORS. That means, of course, that we need to deploy in groups as well...

1b. this is what I'm refering to, dependance - childhood, independance - adolesence, adulthood - interdependence. Kids are looking for the people to trust to come out of their nest leaving independance trip into an adult like interdependence - Gal 6 - carry your own load but share your burdens!

sc- amen.

2. a focussed and purposeful work load...
i guess 80% of the adolescent nonsense I see is cured when they leave school and get a 9 - 5. why? who has time for that ridiculous introspection and personal creation when you're working and tired!

i'm not suggesting some cultish wearing down of people's resistance - just a workload that would've been common historically.

sc- haha- sign me up!

3. an alternative missional culture; a non media defined, non consumeristic reality of tribal war.
Kids desperately need an alternative to the whole image, consumer, popularity, status, money, sex and power... nightmare.

I can preach it till my tongue falls out but I'm the minority... Most parent unwittingly are raising their kids up for worldy success/distraction - not a covenented lifestyle and reality of war. For kids to be able to detox their heads/hearts in this way would give us some legends...

sc- wow. This guy is writing from a war footing! God grant it!

4. experience rather than education.
we are obsessed with education - what we really lack is experience!
experience - emphasis on - but still coupled with education - ala apprenticing!
Kids need to, want to, be apprenticed...

sc- wow. We had this model of officer training approved by the cabinet of one territory (hasn't started yet). Imagine the impact that will have when every territory has that kind of system operating for teens and officer candidates (there should be some overlap there, too)?

A couple:
Experience sharing their personal testimony and the good news together in a trained way: with a friend, in front of people, in front of more people, for 5 min, ten min, 15 min, practice, practice,...

sc- alright. I guess in some situations public meetings are effective for people.

They need a passion for Scripture and to believe in Holiness and to have received the second blessing.

sc- nice. Well, God grant that we all get that one down. I am trying to convince some of our students now away from a 'walking it out day-by-day' kind of holiness to Brenglian holiness (which includes the first kind).

old friend of mine:
And the answer really is: University education.

sc- I respectfully disagree. And I won't trot out century-old examples. I can trot out current ones. How about every general up to Burrows? Mark Zuckerberg seems to have done alright without a university degree; Steve Jobs succeeded without one. Go to uni if God wants you to go. Otherwise, fight. (yes, you can fight on campus- I did).

We might play with these and other ideas to come up with 'formal' training for these guys, glutted, as they are, as mid-teens with professional and occupational and educational options...
----
Holy. now.
----
Remember the poor.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Why not get your new converts to bring their friends into community. New converts' changes in lives and testimonies often demonstrate a sharp contrast that God uses to convict their friends of guilt regarding sin, righteousness, and judgement that brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 12: Let Thy Grace My Will Incline; How Popular?; NO NEED; Daring, Unentangled; It's Better On The Inside.

2011-12-12T11:41:00.003Z

December 12, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone? Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle asked this question to Christians, opening the door to a conversation about holiness. If there roots aren't gone, we can't be holy.
----
Have you been to Boston Common? Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle's holiness testimony is geographically located at Boston Common, where he famously explained, " I walked out over Boston Common before breakfast, weeping for joy and praising God. Oh, how I loved! In that hour I knew Jesus, and I loved Him till it seemed my heart would break with love. I was filled with love for all His creatures. I heard the little sparrows chattering; I loved them. I saw a little worm wriggling across my path; I stepped over it; I didn’t want to hurt any living thing. I loved the dogs, I loved the horses, I loved the little urchins on the street, I loved the strangers who hurried past me, I loved the heathen, I loved the whole world." So, have you had that experience?
----
SASB460
1.
There are wants my heart is telling
While the Spirit passes by,
And with hope my soul is swelling
While the Spirit passes by.
O what prospects now I see,
What a life my life must be,
If thy seal is placed on me,
While the Spirit passes by!

Chorus
While the Spirit passes by,
While the Spirit passes by;
Let my heart be sealed for thee
While the Spirit passes by.

2.
There are sins my lips confessing
While the Spirit passes by,
Treasures long my heart possessing,
While the Spirit passes by.
All the world's delight and cheer,
All the things I held so dear,
Ah, how worthless they appear
While the Spirit passes by.

3.
Here I stand, myself disdaining,
While the Spirit passes by;
Stand in faith, thy mercy claiming,
While the Spirit passes by;
Let thy power my soul refine,
Let thy grace my will incline,
Take my all and make it thine,
While the Spirit passes by.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand. This message is a key to understanding the Bible. Jesus explains that it is here. Don't forget it. Live in the fullness of it.
----
"If you want to know how popular a denomination is, go to its morning service. If you want to know how popular a preacher is, go to the evening service. If you want to know how popular Jesus is, go to the prayer meeting." Bill Hybels.

If you don't care about popularity, then soldier up and go fight in the trenches.
----
Holy. now. This is a short form of General William Booth's command, 'be ye holy, but be ye holy now.'
----
No Need
I was convicted in a cell meeting by my friend Jonathan S. He was telling me about sleeping outside for 14 months in Charlotte and how he was connected with a church there. After describing it to me, I asked him if it was a good church.

He paused and reflected, then quoted Acts 4:34: "There were no need among them."

"'No need'. Now, that's a good church."

Ouch. The mirror is pretty unforgiving. Lots of easy questions ('who is my neighbour?') but no easy answers...
----
Remember the poor. This is the counsel from the apostles in Jerusalem to the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:10.
----
"Age is prudent, cautious, and oftentimes timid and fearful. Youth is generous, hopeful, courageous, daring, unentangled, willing to take risks, unafraid." (SLB LOVE SLAVES. p34).
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth) How important is it that we don't forget this truth - true for all who are saved through repentance and faith by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ at the Cross.
----
Looking for a little evangelistic exhortation? Here's my friend Fleur:

Look, my friends were training people to do evangelism and in preparation for actual evangelism made a pitch for people to get saved, so that they could see others get saved- three did- Hallelujah!

Anyway, a couple of guys were not buying the options they gave, and Fleur said, 'you're either in or out- it's better on the inside.'

You could make a t-shirt: It's Better On The Inside.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail. Love never fails, according to that famous 13th chapter in 1 Corinthians. And so His love in you never fails. Hallelujah.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 11: How Not To Reach The Roughs...

2011-12-11T15:32:00.002Z

December 11, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB470
1.
With my heart so full of sadness,
I am coming, Lord, to thee;
Coming now to find thy gladness,
And thy grace, so rich and free.
Empty is the world's enjoyment,
Fleeting is its glittering show;
When I see my Saviour's brightness
All is darkness here below.
Chorus
O Saviour, I am coming,
Coming, coming!
O Saviour, I am coming,
I'm coming now to thee.

2.
Coming with my heart of sorrow,
Coming with my life of care,
Coming to the Lord of mercy,
Coming to the God of prayer.
Leaving all the world behind me,
Leaving all my doubts and fears,
Pressing on to find my Saviour,
Who will wipe away my tears.

3.
Giving now my soul and body
As an offering, Lord, to thee,
I would follow in thy footsteps,
Living, dying, thine to be.
O in mercy let thy blessing
Fill and overflow my heart!
All my ways and thoughts possessing,
Come, dear Lord, no more to part.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Salvos v. Jesuits.

I read this from an article online:
we do find Railton declaring that we have got an organisation, "formed of people whose devotion, determination and confidence at least equals that of the Jesuits."

:- )
----
Holy. now.
----
HOW NOT TO REACH THE ROUGHS
Harold Begbie did up William Booth's biography. In it, Booth instructs us how not to reach the roughs:
HOW NOT TO REACH THEM

To Officers who do not want to reach and save these roughs, we give the following counsels:

1. Don’t go where they are; keep out of those neighbourhoods where they live. Act as though there were no such people. Leave them to harden in sin, sink lower in vice and crime, and to go to Hell without being disturbed on the way thither. You will then in time, perhaps, come to lose sight of them and to question their very existence, as some other people do.

2. Don’t let them come where you are, if you can help it. Have Doorkeepers who will keep them out of your Halls, or throw them down the stairs if they do come in, because they don’t behave like ladies and gentlemen.

3. If they do come near you, don’t talk to them in a language they can understand. Adapt your praying and singing and talking to the Church and Chapel and nice people; and there being nothing the roughs can understand or that interests them, they will soon cease to trouble you with their vulgar presence.

4. Make it evident that you look down upon them as an inferior class of people. Dress and talk and pray all above their notions, as though you belonged to a superior class. There is nothing they hate like stuck-up lady-and-gentlemanism.

5. Treat them as people who are never likely to become religious.

6. Scold them plenty. Be like the Judgment Day to them. Let them only see one side of the character of God, and that the angry side. In short, be just the reverse of what Jesus Christ was, who came not to condemn, but to save.

7. Be impatient with any little irregularities they may manifest. That is, if they keep their hats on, or speak to one another in the meeting, as they do at their places of amusement, lose your temper over it. Or, still worse, let a Doorkeeper strike them, or use violence in keeping them out, or patronize and encourage Sergeants who do all this, and the roughs will never trouble over much, indeed they will soon find out that you do not love them, and then they will most certainly trouble you no more.

8. Threaten them a great deal and fail to perform your threats, and they will mark it down and reckon you up as not being true to your word, and despise and trifle with you ever after. Or if you don’t do this, have plenty of law against them Always be running for the police, getting out summonses, making them pay fines, or sending them to prison —in short, hate them where you should love them, drive them where you should draw them, and make their damnation more certain and terrible because of your appearing on the scenes, rather than be the means of making their calling and Salvation sure.

If you want to save the roughs, just go and do the opposite of all this.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Go for souls and go for the worst (WB).
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 10: Crowned By The Hand Of Jehovah; How Was Christmas?; Billy Graham on Evangelism; Birthing Commission Of The Salvation Army...

2011-12-10T15:15:00.004Z

December , 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB894
1.
Summoned home! the call has sounded
Bidding a soldier his warfare cease;
And the song of angels resounding
Welcomes a warrior to eternal peace.
Praise the Lord! From earthly struggles
A comrade has found release.
Death has lost its sting, the grave its victory,
Conflicts and dangers are over;
See him honored at the throne of glory,
Crowned by the hand of Jehovah.

Chorus
Strife and sorrow over,
The Lord's true faithful soldier
Has been called to go from the ranks below
To the conquering host above.

2.
Once the sword, but now the scepter,
Once the fight, now the rest and fame;
Broken every earthly fetter,
Now the glory for the cross and shame;
Once the loss of all for Jesus,
But now the eternal gain.
Trials and sorrows here have now their meaning found,
Mysteries their explanation;
Safe forever in the sunlight gleaming
Of his eternal salvation.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Christmas Prep

Just after another Christmas my buddy Tony asked how my Christmas was. I told him it was fine, good times, all that. I returned the courtesy question. He said, "32 people got saved over Christmas!"

And then he asked me, 'Tell me why I haven't read this on the front page of a Salvation Army publication? In three days over Christmas in Birmingham, Alabama, 555 people got saved!'

This puts them near a grand for the year.

That's what most people call a revival.

For all of you a little dismissive about the kind of evangelism that sees 555 saved in three days in Birmingham, because you want to see the results, I quote BIlly Graham, who faced similar criticism of his methods, from Chick's Yuill's book, LEADEARSHIP ON THE EXIS OF CHANGE:

"I prefer the way I do it to the way you don't do it."

:- )

Look, even if only one in ten sticks (not that much worse than Jesus' projection of one out of three), we're still talking about 55 saved in three days in one corps.

Let's not be older brothers, here. Let's praise the Lord!
----
Holy. now.
----
Yes, holy, now...

Speaking of Chick Yuill's LEADERSHIP ON THE AXIS OF CHANGE, it might have been the first time we saw the completion of this famous William Booth quote:

"We are a salvation people- this is our specialty- getting saved, keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved, and then getting saved ourselves more and more, until full salvation on earth make the heaven within."

That's huge, just in case you're scanning. Enormous.
1. The mission is full salvation on earth. Everyone holy. Holiness IS the solution to every problem.
2. Don't wait until you are all of that before you get out there and replicate yourself.
3. Don't sit on your laurels- there is more out there for you.
4. You do it. Don't wait for the William Booths.

This is the 1878 birthing commission as explained by William Booth. This is it. FULL SALVATION ON EARTH MAKING THE HEAVEN WITHIN.
----
Remember the poor.
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Contamination v. Defilement

This outward impact of corporate holiness is best illustrated by what I call the Contamination/Defilement Theory of Holiness in the Old Testament. There are two kinds of holiness in the Old Testament. One type of holiness gets easily defiled by the world. So there are all kinds of warnings and rules to protect this holiness from defilement. The other doesn’t get defiled by contact with the world. The opposite occurs. It actually contaminates the world with the essence of holiness (examples abound: Exodus 29:37; 30:29; 2 Chronicles 8:11; Leviticus 6:27, etc.). In other words, the world gets holy when it comes into contact with someone who is holy! That’s my kind of holiness!

In the Church we’re too often living in a Defilement Holiness mindset. Whatever extent of holiness we think we have, we try to protect by walling things off from the world, building barriers to interaction. Instead, we need to be living boldly with Contaminating Holiness, the kind that makes other people and other things and even other systems holy when we come into contact with them.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
As Tony exemplifies above, Christmas is a classic evangelistic season. Let's exploit it. Singing carols that explain the Gospel, accompanied by an opportunity to repent and believe, 'God bless you's' at the kettle opening the door to a presentation of the Gospel, salvo gift-wraps that provide context for explaining God's great gift of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, 'Merry Christmas' - a subversive greeting in much of the 'west' these days - that provide opportunity to publicly celebrate the miraculous incarnation (and give excuse for evangelising), and salvo hampers and toys and Christmas dinners all set the stage for a miraculous evangelistic season. God bless you in it.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 9: Flood And Cleanse My Heart; Incendiary; 100 To Raise Up 100s; SAYNetwork Online Awards.

2011-12-09T10:53:00.004Z

December 9, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB502
1.
Let me hear thy voice now speaking,
Let me hear and I'll obey;
While before thy cross I'm seeking,
O chase my fears away!
O let the light now falling
Reveal my every need,
Now hear me while I'm calling,
O speak, and I will heed!
Chorus
Speak, Saviour, speak!
Obey thee I will ever,
Now at thy cross I seek
From all that's wrong to sever.

2.
Let me hear and I will follow
Though the path be strewed with thorns;
It is joy to share thy sorrow,
Thou makest calm the storm.
Now my heart thy temple making,
In thy fulness dwell with me;
Every evil way forsaking,
Thine only I will be.

3.
Let the blood of Christ forever
Flood and cleanse my heart within,
That to grieve thee I may never
More stain my soul with sin.
Farewell to worldly pleasure,
Farewell to self and pride;
How wondrous is my treasure
With Jesus at my side.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Nearly a decade ago a few of my friends attended a women’s conference at which they were taught exciting ways to make up a mission statement. They had to pick from a few words to describe themselves and then fire off ten descriptors to characterize the word they chose.

‘Fire’ is the word I chose afterwards, as they practised what they learned on me. One of the first descriptors I chose was ‘incendiary’.

The dictionary defines ‘incendiary’ as follows:
1. used or adapted for setting property on fire;
2. of arson;
3. tending to arouse strife, sedition;
4. a person who commits arson;
5. a device that burns with an intense heat;
6. a person who stirs up strife.

That defines what I want to be, fairly well. I want to be used to set territory on fire (1), to start and spread fires (2,4). I want to arouse sedition, or, rebellion against the government of satan (3,6). I want to burn with an intense heat (5).

How about you?
----
Holy. now.
----
John Wesley once proclaimed: "Give me one hundred men who love only God with all their heart and hate only sin with all their heart and we will shake the gates of hell and bring in the kingdom of God in one generation."

We want to raise up 100 who will raise up 100s.

We figure we need probably 5,000 outlandishly sold-out, extravagently anointed, wonderful sign-performing, divinely creative, super-humanly tireless, spiritually authoritative, offensively bold, ankle-rubbingly humble, over-size-hearted compassionate, devil-daring, shockingly fearless, holy, passionate, zealous, covenanted, apostolic, prophetic end-time warriors to win the world.

Are you in?

This mmccxx vision is advancing and is now in several countries and many outposts. Praise the Lord. To get to 2000 outposts in 200 countries in 20 years (we're six years in) requires God's hand and power. He might be prompting you to participate...
----
Remember the poor.
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The first-ever SAY Network Awards:

Why not take a minute and fill this survey in, and then another few seconds to share this widely?

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/saynetworkawards Much grace.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Have you been to lovedwithoutcause.com recently? It is a salvo evangelistic site that you can share with your friends who don't know Jesus, yet.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 8: Weak I Am, But Still; Except I AM Moved; Free Will Boils Down To This; Under Close Scrutiny.

2011-12-08T21:53:00.001Z

December 8, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
1.
I bring to thee my heart to fill;
I feel how weak I am, but still
To thee for help I call.
In joy or grief, to live or die,
For earth or Heaven, this is my cry,
Be thou my all in all.

Chorus
Christ is all, yes, all in all.
My Christ is all in all.

2.
Around me in the world I see
No joy that turns my soul from thee;
Its honors fade and fall;
But with thee, though I mount the cross,
I count it gain to suffer loss,
For thou art all in all.

3.
I've little strength to call my own,
And what I've done, before thy throne
I here confess, is small;
But on thy strength. O God, I lean,
And through the blood that makes me clean,
Thou art my all in all.

4.
No tempest can my courage shake,
My love from thee no pain can take,
No fear my heart appall;
And where I cannot see I'll trust,
For then I know thou surely must
Be still my all in all.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926) (verses),
W.H. Williams (chorus)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Danielle and I were preaching on the trinity for awhile and one of our premises is that the name of the trinity is Yahweh, or I AM.

Out of this comes an interesting prophetic re-interpretation of the famous song, (SASB 527), Except I AM moved with compassion. He is the initiator. Unless He moved first, with compassion, we'd all be history. Instead, now, we can all be eternity. The last line of that song is as famous as the first: 'both instant and constant for Thee'.

May that ever, only, always be our response to this great Inititator (as a songs suggests, "You started this romance, I just respond to You).
----
Holy. now.
----
Ez 36:23 I will show how HOLY My great name is... and I reveal My holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign LORD, then the nationas will know that I AM Yahweh.

We know that I AM is Yahweh, the trinitarian God.

The context is judgement. But, as I've blogged before, free will boils down to this: discipline now or punishment later. So we can position ourselves for discipline now (downstream in the rivier of GOd's grace). His holiness is thus revealed. Short form: Be humble or be humbled.

He reveals His holiness through us. 1 Tim 4:16 is important for us here: "Keep a close watch on yourself (character) and on your teaching (doctrine).

The result is that the nations will know that I AM Yahweh.

This is contagious holiness.
----
Remember the poor.
----
We posted this in the past. But it bears reminding...

Commissioner Booth-Tucker on the eve of the Army’s invasion into India. It was a memorandum of instruction prepared for all new candidates for this new appointment. St. John Irvine 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 hunt 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.

Heroic is right. Wow! Praise God for the warriors who obeyed. God, raise up thousands more of us, “to fight, live to fight, love to fight, love the thickest of the fight, and die in the midst of it” (Booth).
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Why not try some of that stuff out in your evangelising, today?
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 7: Booth Banged His Drum; 1000 Aborted Fetuses Buried; Pigs / Chickens; Only Heroes Will Survive.

2011-12-07T11:32:00.004Z

December 7, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
We've been on for years about the fact that it is good that The Salvation Army is not a church and that we should embrace our identity and not slavishly imitate churches. For recent examples, see this year's SEMANTICS ANTICS - http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article11-75.html - and BLOOD AND FIRE UNDER FIRE - http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article10-74.html

Here is a classic testimony of this truth. It is online, and so is public. The Bellarine Salvos is a new corps - less than two years. And in the last year they have made 25 soldiers. Listen to this reflection from their latest prayer update:

"So we ... have taken “Jesus” to them in the form of practical and genuine love into the world they are familiar with... their own. They have seen from our behaviour that we are who we say we are - “Christ followers” who trust God and they have concluded he must be who he says he is (Luke 10). Once again, Booth banged his drum on and on about this point of going to people. We are finding Junior Soldiers works best; actually The Salvation Army works best, when it is completely immersed in community, and disassociated with “church” – and all about Jesus – much like the early Army.

"We have found the people we work with love Jesus and they love The Salvation Army, but most really dislike church. Yet these people are following Jesus, growing in their faith, their lives are being transformed and society is changing around them because they love each other. They really look out for each other, they are like an ever growing/organic family that keep adopting other people. They are the church but it’s funny as they don’t call themselves that, they are The Salvation Army.

"Jesus commanded us to “Go and Make Disciples” not plant a church, guaranteeing to us he will build his church. So we have done what he has asked and raised the bar on discipleship and God himself is forming the most amazing community (ecclesia) of seedling believers who love each other."
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Possibly the best blog (though it rejects that term) is Wall Street Journal's Best Of The Web. Here's a classic from it:

"The Los Angeles Times reports from Boulder, Colo., that "a Catholic church plans to bury the ashes of as many as 1,000 aborted fetuses Sunday, raising a storm of protest from those who accuse it of exploiting the pain and grief of women for political purposes":

"The Sacred Heart of Mary Church obtained the ashes from a mortuary that had a contract to cremate remains from the Boulder Abortion Clinic. But the clinic said it didn't know the ashes were being given to the church.

""They have taken it upon themselves to make a macabre ritual out of this, inflicting pain on everyone," said clinic director Dr. Warren Hern. "I have women calling me who are very upset over this. These fanatics simply cannot leave other people alone with their most intimate sorrow." . . .

""It's sad the church would take it upon itself to violate the doctor-patient relationship," said Kate Horle, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. "These women went to the doctor in confidence and made a difficult, personal decision. And now it's been dragged all over the media."

""Antiabortion zealots, Catholic or otherwise, have shown that they will stop at nothing to inflict guilt and to compound the grief, sadness and sense of loss that these women experience," he said.

"Hey, c'mon, Kate, what's the big deal? After all, they're only fetuses! As for women experiencing "grief, sadness and sense of loss" after an abortion, well, that's not what we hear. To quote from the Web site of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains:

"Serious emotional problems following abortion are uncommon. Most women report a sense of relief, although some may experience temporary depression. Serious psychological disturbances after abortion occur less frequently than after childbirth.

"So if the Catholics want to have their silly little fetal funeral, why whine about it? Let the baby have his bottle!"
----
Holy. now.
----
JAC76 is out - have you read it? There is insight into General Linda Bond's salvationism. A taste -

JAC: Please comment on the state of aggressive Christianity in the 21st century. How relevant is primitive salvationism?

LB: In 32 years of officership (editor's note - this from a decade ago), I have never known such a sense of the Church desiring to move forward. Prayer is more intense than I have ever known. Our young people are mission- minded in a way that my age group never was. The Church is linking arms, not to submerge their own personalities but to proclaim the gospel in word and deed. This is primitive salvationsim. This is primitive Christianity. The world may appear to be bleak but greatest extremities provide greatest opportunities. I used to say that the Army's greatest days are ahead but I think it was more "wish" than truly belief. I now have hope as I have never had before. There is much cause for optimism. There are still many salvationists in the "barracks or on the parade square". We need to encourage them to "move out". We are on the march. Its an old chorus but it has profound truths: "The world is need us, Christ is heeding us, comrades let us be true".

Read the rest at http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
Here is a page with heaps of Catherine and William Booth writings online - http://www.gospeltruth.net/booth/booth_index.htm
----
We asked Sunday for any other salvo sites than justsalvos.com that you can order your pigs / chickens / birthing kits / etc. online and it turns out you can do it in the UK as well:

Salvation Army publishing & Supplies - www.sps-shop.com
----
Remember the poor.
----
Numbers 18:7 refers to your special gift of service. God gives us a special gift of service. It is HIS gift to us that allows us to serve Him in some way. A nice turn around from normal understanding.
----
My buddy lives in South Africa and laid this one on me: "The British Army suffered one of its greatest defeats at Isandlwana. More than 1500 soldiers died at the hands of the Zulus. A combination of pride, arrogance, and foolishness led to this defeat. They thought the Zulus would line up and play fair when the invaded Zululand. Word got back to a mission station at Roarkes Drift that the Zulus were coming. A small group of people held off the Zulus through the night and 14 victoria crosses were handed out because of that battle. It remains the battle that has had the greatest number of victoria crosses handed out. I could not help but wonder if God wanted me to learn something from that history. I have see arrogance in The Salvation Army and I really believe that as a result we have seen some defeats. Perhaps we have in someways faced our Isandlwana - or perhaps we are still facing it. I wonder if we are heading to our Roarkes Drift. If we in The Salvation Army will face a battle in our future where only heroes will survive. Ultimately the British did win the war with the Zulus, but they had to go through both kinds of battles before they did win the war. I have no doubt of our ultimate victory, but neither do I have any illusions about the challenges of the road."

"Only heroes will survive."
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
People are getting saved. We said that. Hallelujah. In a 12-step subculture familiar with the concept of 'sponsors' each convert is connected with a spiritual sponsor to support them in their relationship with God. It is the start of discipleship. One big difference is that while 12-step sponsors are passive, merely 'there' if the individual needs him/her, spiritual sponsors guide, lead, recommend, advise, counsel, help, model, share, direct. Don't forget to disciple your converts. Spiritual Sponsors is one way.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 6: Touched By The Wonders Of The Grace; Pro-Rape?; Four Resolutions; Ticked Off; Little Rush.

2011-12-06T11:04:00.003Z

December 6, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB138
1.
Within my heart, O Lord, fulfil
The purpose of thy death and pain,
That all may know thou livest still
In blood-washed hearts to rule and reign.

2.
O Lord, I gaze upon thy face,
That suffering face so marred for me;
Touched by the wonders of thy grace
My heart in love goes out to thee.

3.
O Saviour, by thy bleeding form
The world is crucified to me;
Thy loving heart, so rent and torn,
Thy suffering bids me share with thee.

4.
'Twas on the cross thou didst redeem
My soul from sin and dark despair;
'Tis near the cross I would be seen,
And welcome every sinner there.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
pro-choice?

A couple of prominent politicians came out arguing that they are not pro-abortion, just pro-choice. As Randy Alcorn might suggest, that is like saying, I'm not pro-rape, I'm just pro-choice concerning rape.
----
Holy. now.
----
Our feature of HEATHEN ENGLAND by George Scott Railton has made quite a stir in different parts of the world. Glory to God. You might want to read it yourself. To give you an idea of the context in which it was written, check out this fact (other source):

"By 1882 a survey of London discovered that on one weeknight, there were almost 17,000 worshipping with the Salvation Army, compared to 11,000 in ordinary churches."
----
Remember the poor.
----
Four Resolutions of John Wesley. How’s this for hardcore?

1. To use absolute openness and unreserve with all I should converse with.

2. To labor after continual seriousness, not willingly indulging myself in any the least levity of behavior, or in laughter; no, not for a moment.

3. To speak no word which does not tend to the glory of God; in particular, not to talk of worldly things. Others may, nay, must. But what is that to thee? And,

4. To take no pleasure which does not tend to the glory of God; thanking God every moment for all I do take, and therefore rejecting every sort and degree of it which I feel I cannot so thank Him in and for.

(I don't buy #2 - the rest blows me away)
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
(throwback blog)
On May 9, 1912, General Booth preached his last message, at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The rhetorical climax went as follows:

While women weep as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl on the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight—I’ll fight to the very end.

Here we are, nearly 100 years later, still fighting. I’m ticked off. I’m ticked off that millions of women still weep. I’m ticked off that tens of millions of children go hungry (I’m ticked off that we haven’t stopped millions of them from dying every year from starvation). I’m ticked off that men go in and out and in and out of prison. I’m ticked off that there are millions of drunks and drug addicts (I’m ticked off after seeing a friend of mine back on the street shaking like a leaf from a terrible drug that he should be free from if God could trust me with His delegated authority). I’m ticked off that there are millions of lost girls prostituting themselves on the streets, along with many boys, and a bunch of confused people who aren’t sure of their gender identity. I’m ticked off that there are more people going to hell right now than at any other time in the history of the world.

I’ll fight. I want to see us rise up in the zeal and authority of the Lord to break the fangs of the wicked, to crush the back of injustice, to shatter the bonds of poverty, to smash the chains of addiction, to demolish hell’s throne, and win the world for Jesus.
----
We're in a little rush of conversions around here these days - every day someone is repenting of sins and trusting Jesus for salvation. Hallelujah! God help us disciple the converts. Why not pray that God will be preparing people you and your friends will be evangelising today and the rest of this week and make a point of explaining the gospel to each of them and giving them opportunity to repent and believe, too?
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 5: Thou Must His Kingship Own; Chronos Serves Chairos; Bond's Heroes (part 2); Bond's Vision.

2011-12-05T11:22:00.005Z

December 5, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
1.
Love of love so wondrous,
Rich and free,
Now the King of Glory
A pardon offers thee.
Chorus
While he's waiting, pleading, knocking,
Let him in.

2.
For thy heart he's waited,
Days and years;
And thy sins, long hated,
Have caused him bitter tears.

3.
Canst thou leave his pardon
Still unknown,
And forget the mercy
That unto thee he's shown?

4.
Soon the day is coming
When, alone,
Trembling or rejoicing,
Thou must his kingship own.

5.
Ah! his love, unchanging,
Calls thee home,
And the gathering shadows
Bid thee no longer roam.

Herbert Howard Booth
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
We heard some teaching on chairos time this week. Here are some armybarmy tidbits on the subject:

Rob Dolby - Praise God for His chairos grace and His chronos discipline.

Isaiah 60:22: "The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly." That is, chronos serves chairos.
----
Holy. now.
----
For those who guessed on yesterday's post, General Linda Bond's heroes are Commissioners Ed Read and Roy Calvert. They are both Canadians, both promoted to Glory in the last 20 years. Calvert was TC Canada and Bermuda (active). Read was the first and last International Spiritual Special since Brengle (if I have my facts right). Both have reputations for holiness.
----
General Bond on her take of the future of The Salvation Army:

"I do have "watchman/warrior mentality and therefore I dream of an Army moving forward to claim people for Christ, moving in purity and courageously. I still believe we must be a soul-saving movement. I have great hopes for the reclamation of our Wesleyan doctrine. I also believe the Army will once again find its "voice" and speak with conviction and intelligence on issues that matter to our Lord."

You can read more at JAC76 - http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
Remember the poor.
----
Did you read Herbert Booth above? You could evangelise off those lines, effectively. Why not try it? "Thou Must His Kingship Own!"
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 4: Before Thy Face; Bond's Heroes; JUST Gifts; Tebowing; Pure Joy and Pure Religion; Wartime Mentality.

2011-12-04T14:32:00.004Z

December 4, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB285
1.
As I am before thy face,
Saviour, I pray,
Let the merits of thy grace
Claim me today.
Canst thou my poor treasure take,
And my heart thy temple make,
Can my sins for thy dear sake
Be washed away?

2.
As I am, so tired of strife,
Lord, I will come.
As I am, for death or life,
Lord, I will come.
Crowds of fears obstruct my way,
Past defeats would bid me stay,
Yet in childlike faith I pray,
Lord, let me come.

3.
All my past is known to thee,
Lord, let me come.
All my future thou canst see,
Lord, let me come.
Take me, I can trust my all
In thy hands whate'er befall,
Then no tempest shall appal,
Lord, let me come.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Do you know who General Bond's heroes are? Wouldn't you like to know? You can find out by reading the brand new JAC76 - at http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html

She names names and gives reasons. Check it out and be inspired (and maybe 'Read' all of one of her heroes' books!).
----
We haven't confirmed it but we're informed that JUST SALVOS Just Gifts is the only salvo online purchase option to buy your pigs / goats / chickens / wells / mosquito nets / etc. for Christmas this year. So, if you can debunk this, please advise (revolution @mmccxx.net). Otherwise, here is where you can shop - https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/justsalvos/justgifts/
----
Holy. now.
----
James 1. Have you ever noticed the instruction about pure joy and pure religion.
We want both.
Pure joy comes through facing trials.
Pure religion is realised by caring for the widow and orphan.
Neither is a front-stage, behind-the-mike kind of activity.
Neither is something most of us would really choose to do on a Saturday afternoon.
But if you want it, it's yours.
Hmm.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Wartime mentality. We need to be aiming at winning the war, not building and protecting and being good stewards.
----
Tim Tebow is the quarterback for the Denver Broncos. His godly character and overt Christianity has caused quite a stir through North America. Here is one of scores of articles on the phenomenon. What Tebowing says about his religion+ about ours: National Review. http://t.co/vTG7KtDS
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Do you know anyone who needs to get saved? Well, send them over to GET SAVED website - http://get-saved.org/ another salvo resource your daily evangelistic habits.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 3: Knowing Not Defeat Or Fear; Bond's Holiness Testimony; Roots Healing; December's C-Word; History's Most Effective Evangelistic Tool.

2011-12-03T15:54:00.003Z

December 3, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB713
1.
Blessed Lord, in thee is refuge,
Safety for my trembling soul,
Power to lift my head when drooping
'Midst the angry billows' roll.
I will trust thee,
All my life thou shalt control.

2.
In the past too unbelieving
'Midst the tempest I have been,
And my heart has slowly trusted
What my eyes have never seen.
Blessed Jesus,
Teach me on thy arm to lean.

3.
O for trust that brings the triumph
When defeat seems strangely near
O for faith that changes fighting
Into victory's ringing cheer;
Faith triumphant,
Knowing not defeat or fear!

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
General Linda Bond on holiness, from JAC:

JAC: Please tell us a little about your experience of holiness.

LB: If I look to a dramatic experience, it would be while I was a cadet in College. This is not the time or place to go into detail, but the Lord came to me in a very clear way and assured me of a deep cleansing. I do have to confess that I have failed Him miserably, but I am convinced that His call to holiness is insistent and every provision through His Son and Holy Spirit has made it possible for me to claim by faith this holy life.

He has all there is of Linda Bond and whether He chooses to grant dramatic encounters in my spiritual journey or requires me to walk by faith alone, then that is His choice. I seek to be like Jesus and be open and responsive to the Holy Spirit.

Read the whole interview and those whole JAC76 issue, here:

http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
-----
Holy. now.
----
There is a book by James Thompson et al called GREATER THINGS: 41 days of miracles, a daily devotional on God's working signs and wonders in our lives. All the testimonies are from The Salvation Army. It is hard to narrow down all that God is doing in the Army to 41 days! Here's a story from a handful of years ago in SALVATIONIST that is not in the book:

Captain Christine Ord, a medical doctor and corps officer at Leicester Castle, reflects on a remarkable healing.

JOHN BUTTERWORTH is a soldier at Leicester Castle. John is a nurse by profession but after an accident at work that injured his right knee, he had to take early retirement. For the next three years he had an endless and depressing series of hospital appointments, investigations and consultations with a variety of professionals – with much indecision about the most appropriate treatment.

Worst of all, John experienced increasing pain and disability. A regular regime of painkillers partially relieved the problem but walking was so difficult that he went to Roots 2004 in a wheelchair. His wife and friends pushed him from the hotel to various venues during the weekend.

As we left the Big Top after Sunday evening worship a friend challenged John to accept prayer for healing. He agreed and, not wishing to miss the opportunity, 12 people ushered him into the nearby prayer tent. The group of friends gathered round his wheelchair and, led by Major Phil Garnham (Raynes Park/WBC), began to pray.

John’s leg started to tremble and he appeared to be in pain but, sensing the presence of God, we continued to pray. After about 20 minutes John stood up and then knelt down – he had not done that for more than two years! John pushed his chair out of the prayer tent and back to the hotel. He was completely healed.

Just as miraculous was the recovery of John’s personality which had become increasingly soured by his difficulties. God released him physically and emotionally from his pain and the next morning he was witnessing to the hotel manager about the miracle God had performed in his life!

Recently at the corps, members of the congregation were invited to write on a board things they enjoy and thank God for. John was first to respond, writing boldly ‘skiing and motorbike riding’.

Those of us privileged to witness this miracle learnt a never-to-be-forgotten lesson about the power and presence of God! John’s healing continues to have implications for our corps – which is going through a period of change including moving to a new building. We are being challenged to consider the essence of who we are and this is often a painful process.

As we prayed for John, Major Garnham felt God was saying to us that our corps was also going to step out boldly in new ways. The healing that we saw was a message from God, which said very clearly: ‘This is what I am capable of and, look, I am with you!’ It was an awesome moment.

It also taught us about waiting for God’s timing. John had been urged to accept prayer for his knee on other occasions but he had declined, feeling it wasn’t the right time. God chose that moment in that place for his purposes and we now see that his sovereign control can be utterly trusted. We are acutely aware of our need to be in touch with the Holy Spirit and to obey his prompting.

So much more could be written about this incident but perhaps the lesson most urgent for all God’s people is this – never underestimate the power of God to achieve his purposes.

‘On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’ (Revelation 19:16 New International Version). This is the God to whom we pray!
----
Remember the poor.
----
One way to know for sure when armybarmy blogs are posted is to follow on twitter - StephenCourt.
----
Here's an old classic by Jay Nordllinger called December's C-Word, that is a timely reminder for us all:

http://old.nationalreview.com/flashback/flashback200412130648.asp
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
This is the most effective evangelistic presentation in history. If you are in a dry season of evangelising, why not crack open this old standby and share it with all of your friends? Be sure to follow it up to give them opportunity to repent and believe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz820iBfZf0&feature=player_embedded
-----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 2: Have I That Ground Maintained?; Wanted Always; JAC76; Prophetic Word.

2011-12-02T12:01:00.003Z

December 2, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB409
1.
Before thy face, dear Lord,
Myself I want to see;
And while I every question sing,
I want to answer thee.

Chorus
While I speak to thee,
Lord, thy goodness show;
Am I what I ought to be?
O Saviour, let me know.

2.
Am I what once I was?
Have I that ground maintained
Wherein I walked in power with thee,
And thou my soul sustained?

3.
Have I a truthful heart,
A conscience keen to feel
The baseness of a false excuse,
The touch of aught unreal?

4.
Have I the zeal I had
When thou didst me ordain
To preach thy word and seek the lost,
Or do I feel it pain?

5.
O Lord, if I am wrong,
I will not grieve thee more
By doubting thy great love and power
To make and keep me pure.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
----
Have you read the brand new JAC76? 'Salvationism Still Works' is stirring quite a bit of interest, already:

http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
WANTED ALWAYS to become OFFICERS IN THE SALVATION ARMY men and women of God
Anxious to devote their lives to the work of souls,
Whose character will bear any amount of investigation;
Who can talk to a crowd of people out doors and in, so as to wound sinners’ hearts;
Who can lead a band of godly men and women to do something likely to win souls;
Who are perfectly ready to speak, pray, visit, sit still, travel a hundred miles, or die;
Who have given up drink, tobacco and finery, for Christ sake, or are willing to give up anything and everything for Him;
Who are willing to be led and taught, and to be sent home again if they do not succeed.
Who are willing to be evil spoken of, hated and despised, and even to be misrepresented, misunderstood, and undervalued at headquarters.

THE FOLLOWING NEED NOT APPLY:
Persons, who, “being out of employment, desire to vie themselves entirely, etc, etc,”;
Who, “do not think they can be expected” to exhaust all their strength in laboring day and night to save souls;
Who, “if engaged, will endeavor to give satisfaction to their employers”;
Who will take any notice of the fact of their going or living anywhere or doing anything they are asked to do;
Who desire “light employment”, “find their work beginning to tell on them”, ect. Etc.;
Who would like to know “particulars as to salary, hours, home, etc. before being engaged”;
Who “are sometimes troubled with doubts” about the inspiration of the Bible, the divinity of Christ, the Atonement, election, the possibility of falling from grace, eternal damnation, or the personality of the devil;
Who, “having had considerable experience” in our kind of work and think they know how to do it.
----
Holy. now.
----
Prophetic Word from Nathan Rowe in 2004 (at the international salvo creative arts gathering in Canada):

"Unless the dying world sees all soldiers of The Salvation Army doing what we so passionately play, sing, mime and dance about, then our creative arts are for show and we will continue to lose people. We will diminish to a small group of people performing to ourselves, wondering what happened. Christ said, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation" (Mark 16:15). My prayer and dream is that we would be an army where all soldiers participate in our Lord's Great Commission; that we would be a united Army, unstoppable with one mission for souls; that we would bring destruction tothe devil's schemes and plans.

"I pray that we would repent for the years that we have been caught in bondage; that we would be an Army that longs for the conviction and correction of the Holy Spirit; that we would fall to our knees and ask God to forgive, renew, and lead us in His ways.

"The world needs an Army that is participating in the war. Not just talking, singing, or playing about being involved. This Army needs leaders who not only lead from buildings, but lead from the front line. There are the leaders that soldiers want to follow. Help us, Lord! People want to be part of something that is worth dying for. They want to be committed to it..."
Remember the poor.
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Here's an evangelistic video for the kids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnYwcQsxkX8&feature=player_embedded (the four points)
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

December 1: JAC76 is out!; Why Are You Doubting And Fearing?; From 'Bi-Vo' to 'Beggar'; I Bind Myself To Him; Trouble, Trouble, Trouble.

2011-12-01T11:22:00.004Z

December 1, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
JAC76 is out! Read Bond, Harris, Officer X, Strickland, Braye, Ramsay, and more at http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
SASB467
1.
Why are you doubting and fearing?
Why are you still under sin?
Have you not found that his grace doth abound?
He's mighty to save; let him in.
Chorus
Jesus is strong to deliver,
Mighty to save! Mighty to save!
Jesus is strong to deliver,
Jesus is mighty to save.

2.
Say, are you weak, are you helpless,
Trying again and again?
This may be true, but it's not what you do,
'Tis he who is mighty to save.

3.
When in my sorrow he found me,
Found me and bade me be whole;
Turned all my night into heavenly light,
And from me my burden did roll.

4.
When in the tempest he hides me,
When in the storm he is near;
O'er the long way the Lord is my stay,
And now I have nothing to fear.

Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926) alt
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Aaron White weighed in (again) on the most significant events of the 21st century earlier this week. He makes some good points, over-rates a couple (I suspect), and leaves out one of his five from 2004 that should probably still be there. The non-stop prayer movement led by IHOP and 24/7 Prayer didn't make his 2011 list but I suspect it is still worthy. It continues to grow in influence (hallelujah). And, as armybarmy readers know, the Global Call in The Salvation Army has been like a shot of steroids for it's strengthening in our movement.

Aaron has an optimistic take on a current problem:

"I'll make this one Salvo-specific: A growing realization, in Canada at the very least, that the system as it exists is not producing enough officers. One recent estimate suggests that in 5-7 years we will only have one third of the officers required to fill leadership positions. This is a long-term trend that is being acknowledged now. The status quo is not working. What is going to happen? Do we try to make more officers, or do we try to think more creatively and flexibly about leadership and mission within the SA? Perhaps this is a momentous occasion for bi-vocational models of leadership, for the raising up of soldiership to where it ought to be, for simplicity, stability, sacrifice, incarnation and longevity to become the expected way of life amongst Corps, for CSM's to run Corps, freeing up many officers for other tasks, for new training models to be enacted. This could be a crisis, or it could be an opportunity."

AW brings up heaps of points in this statement that we have room to merely mention quickly:
- 'in Canada at the very least'. True. And in several other places there are big hits to officer recruitment. However, in some similar places (notably a couple of US territories, incoming AUS, etc.) there are quite large sessions being recruited. This suggests that there are other factors than the system producing low results in Canada (I'm not letting 'system' off the hook- keep reading);
- 'more officers... or... think more creatively?' Well, both. If USW can quintuple its session sizes with the same system in four years then we can surely recruit more officers. Should we think more creatively? Of course. Let's fix the broken training system of The Salvation Army (see below).
- 'bi-vo'. I was recently re-reading THE TRAINING OF CHILDREN by William Booth (recommended) and in it he advocates bi-vocational officership (I'll likely be blogging on this in a short while). So, a. there is nothing new under the sun; b. you have to wake up very early in the morning if you think you can beat Booth to the punch (bi-vo is just one of MANY examples of him being a century ahead of the rest of us); c. sure - let's go bi-vo; d. the even more extreme option than 'bi-vo' is 'beggar' (see Booth's vision we blogged earlier this week).
- 'new training models'. Amen. Incarnational, apprenticeship training is the way to go. But no one is going that way these days (though, again, in the early days in Canada, we did this very thing).
- We agree on most of this. We could argue about a couple of things (e.g. longevity has its strengths, but in a healthy salvo system, isn't necessarily the best option) but if we approach the challenge as Aaron suggests, with faith and boldness, we could position ourselves to significantly accelerate the advance of the salvation war around the world.
----
Holy. now.
----
Commissioning prep for imminent lieutenants (and reminder for all officers; AND good challenge for all readers):

"I bind myself to Him in this solemn covenant to love and serve Him supremely all my days; to live to win souls, and to make their salvation the first purpose of my life; to maintain the doctrines and principles of The Salvation Army and by God's grace to prove myself a worthy officer" (Officer's Covenant).
----
Remember the poor.
----
"Everyone down here is either looking for trouble, in trouble, or helping someone in trouble" (Peter Thackwray, of downtown eastside).
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
Here's a short video that explains the gospel in abstract form:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKAhy0VcTgM&feature=player_embedded

You might be able to use it in your evangelising, today.
----
The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

November 30: Commissioning Right Around The Corner; Weep The Gospel Into People; Heavy-Duty Christians; Harm Reduction?; Saved All Over The Place!

2011-11-30T11:36:00.003Z

November 30, 2011
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Are the roots of bitterness gone?
----
Have you been to Boston Common?
----
"You are better than your last sin" (Len Ballantine).
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
"I wish Christians would weep the Gospel into people' (C.Booth, AC).
----
Holy. now.
----
Commissioning is right around the corner for a lot of cadets so it is time for our seasonal reminder:
- you are not your rank;
- you are not your appointment.

Your value is not how 'big' your appointment is (actually, if you are sent to a small corps or no corps that is an expression of faith from God in you). You are who God has made you; don't settle with that, though. Press on to what He is making you, all He has dreamed up for you.

Congratulations. God be with you. Aim for world conquest. Love your people (your people are not limited to those who who up a an hour-long meeting once a week, of course, but include everyone in the district). Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Did you know that we are a 'heavy-duty Christian group'?

I usually like to quote an old Funk and Wagnalls definition of us as an 'ultra-revivalist movement'. But heavy-duty Christian group is nice for the 21st C.

It comes from an article today about kettles catching the odd rare gold coin. The article (FoxNews.com) has this bit: "Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, a charity watchdog group, doubts the Salvation Army is planting the coins to create publicity. "They're a heavy-duty Christian group, so that may go against their principles," he said."
----
The Holy Ghost is with me. (William Booth)
----
This old classic puts it better than I could...

Harm reduction is not the right road
Sun, December 12, 2004
By Harry Lehotsky
Winnipeg Sun

I've been hearing more and more talk about "harm reduction." At first I didn't argue because it sounded like a noble pursuit.

Then I heard some activists boasting that they've started a "Manitoba Harm Reduction Network." That's when I started getting more suspicious.

I thought to myself, "We were all in this together. Why would some folks want a separate network for harm reduction?"

As I talked with some of the members and proponents of this coalition, they made it clear that forming the network was one way of distinguishing themselves from those who "naively" obsessed over harm elimination rather than focusing on harm reduction.

They're advocating that we re-prioritize our collective efforts (staffing, programs and funding) into harm reduction. I'm wondering if it's purely coincidental that while government cuts treatment (harm elimination) they're talking more and more about harm reduction.

If pushed to be honest, many confess that they have given up on eliminating the harm. Some of them don't even want to discuss all the harms. And most of these activists are certain they want to avoid any appearance of judgment regarding the behaviour of addicts and criminals whose harms they seek to reduce.

But their rhetoric outstrips our reality. The philosophical propaganda of harm reduction is betrayed by lack of practical proof.

Do you see less harm to addicts and their victims? Do you see fewer prostitutes on the street? Have you noticed the decrease in violence and mayhem due to the "harm-reduced" version of crack addiction?

But these folks are unflinching in their assessment of their own importance. They insist that the only reason they haven't succeeded is that we haven't yet surrendered enough tax dollars, ideals and programs to their agenda of harm reduction. They dismiss or attack attempts to evaluate their philosophical claims of harm reduction.

Government is increasing distribution of crack kits to addicts who don't want to stop -- while decreasing the treatment options for those who want to stop.

Harm reduction activists won't bite the hand that feeds them. Their calls for adequate treatment are muted by their awareness of how they profit from government's perverted priorities.

Harm reduction makes the most sense when delivered by medical professionals. Not social activists, many of whom are philosophically opposed to some efforts at harm elimination.

Does it make more sense to fund more programs to tell addicts what they already know? Shouldn't we rather fund places that help them stop when they want to quit?

Harm-reduction activists won't advertise how "needle exchange" programs have deteriorated into "needle distribution" programs. The needles are still out there -- carelessly discarded and easily picked up or stepped on by kids and others. And how many of those addicts haven't contracted HIV or Hep C through some other aspect of their destructive lifestyle? Let's not exaggerate the harms reduced.

If the network is so concerned about reducing harm, why don't they introduce a condom exchange program? Folks could bring in a used condom (instead of dumping it out the window on the sidewalk) and, in exchange, receive two new condoms, a chocolate bar and a cigarette.

I've wondered previously why harm reduction activists don't distribute clean sniff rags for sniffers. The WRHA could publish lists of less harmful solvents and techniques by which they can be abused more "safely."

Government and agencies seem to be dedicating more and more resources to harm reduction rather than treatment.

In an article months ago, I mockingly postulated that perhaps unrepentant pedophiles should be given a condom and safe-rape kit before being released onto our streets.

I was shocked to learn that harm reduction activists in Cambodia actually admitted that they have counselled children as young as six in the art of servicing tourists.

They work to build relationships and encourage change. But in the end, the only practical help they offer is instruction in how to use a condom, and how to say "please wear a condom" in English, Japanese and German.

For children as young as six years old!

Some of these groups are so anxious to preserve their role in "harm reduction" that they refuse to jeopardize their relationships with brothel owners by getting them busted or ratting them out.

Donna Hughes, professor at the University of Rhode Island, provides a very appropriate analogy.

Imagine if 19th century abolitionists were willing to mute their protest against slavery in order to cultivate better relationships with slave traders. Imagine if they contented themselves with facilitating better conditions on slave ships.

I can just imagine members of historical "harm reduction networks" distributing bottles of sunscreen to alleviate sores and cancers caused by extreme exposure to ultra-violet rays. To get close enough to the slaves, they'd have to be sufficiently non-judgmental enough not to incur the wrath of the plantation owners.

Thank God for some folks who were willing to balance tolerance with sound judgment. Thank God for abolitionists who didn't content themselves with harm reduction.

As I survey the chaos, crime and agony caused by today's slavery to addiction and prostitution, I'd rather take my stand with the "naive" abolitionists than the "realistic" harm reductionists.

Harm reduction makes sense within a context of harm elimination. If you're not committed to the latter, you're not fully equipped for the former.

Rev. Harry Lehotsky is a founding member of New Life Ministries on Maryland Street.
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Hey - people are getting saved all over the place. They hear the Gospel, they are given an opportunity to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they go for it! Look at them! Hallelujah. Jesus is strong to deliver. Jesus is mighty to save. Let's join with Him in adding to their number, today. God be with you!
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The love of Jesus in you does not fail.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the General.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court