Anathallo: to renew, cause to grow, or bloom again.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
In case you haven’t heard The Fire Escape—a music-venue-evangelism-outreach-initiative of the Hammond Munster Corps—has just confirmed that popular-eclectic-well trained-precise-intricate-Christian rock band Anathallo will play at the Corps on Friday, Feburary 24th starting at 8pm. This is the equivalent of Matt Redman leading worship at the next Prayer and Praise Night.
Don’t believe me? Check out The Fire-Escape dot net or Anathallo dot com for more information. You can listen to their music online by clicking here. They will be joined by Darkroom and Yea, Lachance! the concert will cost you 5 bucks. If your Corps is hesitant to bring a van say these eight magic words: “they have a flugel player in their band.” See you there.
Posted By: Eric at 3:24 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Shout Outs from CFOT Prayer and Praise Night
Monday, January 30, 2006
I just wanted to give a few shout outs from the CFOT Prayer and Praise Night on Friday:
1. To all of you who came. There were 200! I know that many of you traveled a great distance to come on Friday. It was great to hear you testify, praise the Lord and look into the Lazarus story (from John 11) together. I know of at least one young person who gave their life to the Lord on Friday! This is exactly why we are having these Prayer and Praise Nights. Hallelujah!
2. To the CFOT Youth Ministry Team. Thank you to the Moffitt family, to all the CFOT youth that pitched in by moving equipment, passing out materials, taking the offering and helping us clean up after the night was over and to the people who provided refreshments to all 200 of us. You made the night a success, thanks for the tamales.
3. To Ryan Himes. The testimony you gave was great. Thanks for sharing your heart and what the Lord taught you while you were in Guatemala.
4. To the worship band. I always forget to thank you guys (publicly). It was great to have Nate Irvine back with us on drums as well as have our faces melted by Nate Hood’s guitar solo. You all sacrifice a lot to get out their early on Friday, it is most appreciated. Well done.
The next Prayer and Praise Night will be at 7pm on Friday, February 17th at the Elgin Corps (316 Douglas Ave. Elgin, IL 60120-4110). If you don’t have anything going on at your Corps that night, it would be great to see you.
(Photos courtesy of C. Himes)
Posted By: Eric at 12:28 PM : Link : 0 Comments
CFOT P&PN
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Hey,
Just a quick reminder that the CFOT Prayer and Praise Night is tomorrow night, January 27th, at 7pm.
I’m really looking forward to it. Hasn’t it seemed like forever since the last one?
There are two bonus reasons to come:
-It’s the last P&PN before we record The Red Book Sessions and we are going to try out many of the songs that will be on the album. Don’t worry, you know most of them. We’re recording next weekend.
-If you come you’ll be able to get a Band of Survivors 2006 application. They’re hot off the presses.
Just thought you should know.
P.S. That’s my cat Salinger. She was cold so my wife bought her a sweater. She will not be there tomorrow night. The CFOT doesn’t allow sweater wearing cats in their chapel. Luckily Salinger wont feel left out, she has no idea what she’s missing.
Posted By: Eric at 5:04 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Neglecting God’s House
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Nehemiah 13:4-11
4 Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, 5 and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.
6 But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission 7 and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. 8 I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah's household goods out of the room. 9 I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.
10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. 11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.
* * *
How would you react if you went to your church next Sunday and found Osama bin Laden living in the pantry? That’s basically what happened to Nehemiah in today’s scripture passage.
Nehemiah had just returned from the huge task of building a wall around Jerusalem. He came home because he had to mediate problems and deal with some of the corrupt things that had happened while he was away. In short, there was a lot of drama for him to deal with.
One of the problems was that Eliashib the priest had given Tobiah a large room to live in that should have been designated for grain offerings, incense, temple articles and a whole bunch of other important stuff (v.5). This was a big problem because that room was meant to house offerings to God and Tobiah had defiled the room by using it for himself.
Let me explain why Tobiah was so bad. Not only was he a freeloader but he was an enemy of the Jews. He opposed the important wall building project (Nehemiah 2:10, 19; 4:3, 7) and had even conspired to injure and intimidate Nehemiah (6:1-14,19)! He was Nehemiah’s greatest enemy and had done the most offensive thing he could have ever done; he moved into Nehemiah’s church and seriously disrespected God.
Eliashib had done an “evil thing” by providing “Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God” (v.7) and Nehemiah was not afraid to do the right thing, even though it may have been unpopular at the time. He threw all of “Tobiah’s household goods out of the room” (v.8), restored order to the temple and purified the rooms (v.9). He was not afraid to rebuke the officials that had allowed the temple to become unclean and for their laziness by asking, “Why is the house of God neglected?” (v.11).
What will you do the next time God is disrespected? Are you afraid to stand up for what is right, even if it is unpopular? If you don’t you’ll never know what you’ll find in your church pantry!
Posted By: Eric at 2:15 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Larsson’s Last Words (As General)
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
General Larsson gave a great challenge in his final address as an active General. Behold:
“In the presence of all the Army’s senior leaders the General challenged The Salvation Army corporately not to turn back and settle down: ‘Don’t forget about aggressive Christianity, don’t forget about going for souls and going for the worst, don’t forget about being a radical force for good, standing up against what is wrong; don’t trust in the Army’s good name; don’t trust in pounds or dollars.’
‘The Salvation Army,’ the General said, ‘must never turn back, whatever it may cost, we’re called to love and serve the lost. More than not turning back from being what God called us to be, we must press on, in the words of Paul, ‘press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenwards in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:14).
The Spirit-filled meeting was soon over, the congregation dispersed and High Council members boarded their coaches bound for Sunbury Court to complete their sacred task of electing the Army’s 18th General. But the words of the final chorus continued to challenge hearts and minds:
The world for God! The world for God!
I give my heart! I will do my part!”
(This portion from Captain Dean Pallant’s article was taken from the International Headquarters Website).
* * *
May it be so.
Posted By: Eric at 5:50 PM : Link : 0 Comments
1.27.05 Youth Prayer and Praise Night at the CFOT
Monday, January 23, 2006
Dear Metro Youth,
The College for Officer Training (CFOT) is hosting the next Prayer and Praise Night this Friday, January 27th starting at 7pm. It will be a night of fellowship, prayer, praise and teaching for the youth of the Division.
Worship will be spirited and will feature many of the old Army fight songs. We will pray in a diverse community of our peers. Ryan Himes—who just returned from studying abroad in Guatemala—will testify about his trip. The message will feature the Lazarus story found in John 11 and will challenge you to let the Lord roll away the stones of death (sin) you may have in your heart, even though it may “stinketh” (John 11:39).
Here’s what you should bring:
-Your Bibles; there will be a "sword drill".
-A testimony about what the Lord is doing in your life and at your Corps.
-$2 to help pay for the snack (after the meeting).
Here’s what you should know:
-You may want to car pool or organize transportation with your Officer/Youth Leader/Friends because parking at the CFOT may be limited.
For directions to the CFOT (700 W. Brompton Ave., Chicago, IL 60657) please click here.
Hope to see you there.
(Photos from the December Hammond Munster Prayer and Praise courtesy to T. Moffit)
Posted By: Eric at 1:21 PM : Link : 0 Comments
The Hallway Blessing
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
So yesterday I went to work in the afternoon because I was going to be working with the Chicago Temple Gospel Choir in the evening (they’re going to be singing on The Red Book Sessions).
So I head out of my apartment, which is always a hassle because apartments have many elevators, stairs, doors and obstacles in your way and I’m always carrying around massive amounts of Guitars, amps, computers, books, pads of paper, cans of diet pop and music.
So I get to the last glass door and I see this elderly couple with a cart loaded up with groceries, struggling to find their keys.
So I put down my guitar and open the door for them.
So the old woman sees my Salvation Army hat and smiles at me.
So she whispers to her husband, “John, that nice young man works for The Salvation Army.”
So John grumbles to himself as he tries to get his groceries through the door.
So she nudges him again and he turns and smiles at me.
So she addresses me and says, “Do you work for The Salvation Army?”
So I say, “Yes, I do.”
So she says, “You must live in apartment 316 then.”
So I looked at her, a bit confused, and say, “Yes, I do. How did you know that?”
So she says, “We live right below you. We hear you sing your Salvation Army songs all the time.”
So I got a little embarrassed and said, “Sorry about that, sometimes I get a bit carried away.”
So she says, “That’s quite alright, I think it’s lovely. You must hear us plunk around on the old piano from time to time?”
So I say, “Why yes I do. I was wondering who played piano in the building.”
So then I introduce myself, “My name is Eric.”
So she says, “My name is Shirley and his name is John.”
So John grunts again.
I would have never received that blessing if I wasn’t wearing my Salvation Army hat and if I didn’t praise like no one could hear me.
May God continue to use cute little encounters to show His love to everyone.
Posted By: Eric at 2:53 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Primitive Salvationist Dot Com
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Hey, Cadet Thom Moffitt has just created a really cool website called PrimitiveSalvationist.com. I recommend you checking it out.
Posted By: Eric at 4:09 PM : Link : 0 Comments
National Day of Prayer Press Release
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER THEME SONG SEARCH WINNER ANNOUNCED REBECCA ST JAMES IS VOCALIST FOR 2006 THEME SONG
Nashville, TN—In response to the National Day of Prayer Theme Song Search 2006, hundreds of songs were submitted and the winning song was, “America,” written by Phil Laeger of Snellville, GA. “America” will be recorded by Grammy winner Rebecca St James.
Laeger’s song was chosen by a panel of 21 music industry professionals as being the best representation of the 2006 National Day of Prayer theme, “America, honor God!”
Laeger, an alumnus of the Berkeley School of Music, says he heard about the Song Search from a friend. Intrigued by the 2006 theme, Laeger says, “I didn’t want to write something clever. I wanted to make sure the Holy Spirit was behind the song and that it had a sense of true humility, the sense of a nation humble before God.”
Laeger is the Worship & Music Evangelism Specialist for Non-Traditional Music for the Salvation Army in Atlanta, GA. A veteran songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, Laeger often leads worship for national Salvation Army Youth events. His work in Worship & Music Evangelism often has him writing new music or arranging old hymns for contemporary worship.
Rebecca St James will record vocals for Laeger’s song in early 2006, with production by Ted T. “America” will be added as a bonus track to St James’s newest release, If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something (Sparrow). The song will release to Christian radio in 2006.
As the 2006 theme song, “America” will be distributed to thousands of National Day of Prayer event coordinators nationwide and then incorporated into local observances of National Day of Prayer.
The National Day of Prayer will be observed Thursday, May 4, 2006.
Listen to Phil’s demo at: http://www.ndpsongsearch.com/
Posted By: Eric at 4:07 PM : Link : 0 Comments
The Taco Bell Blessing
So last night I went to Taco Bell to get a quick dinner before heading home from a long day of practicing for The Red Book Sessions.
So I get my order (2 Cheesy Crunchy Gorditas or is it 2 Cheesy Gordita Crunches?) and I drive to the window pay and grab my delicious meal.
So the guy who is putting my stuff together saw my Salvation Army hat and smiled.
So he says, “You work for The Salvation Army?”
So I say, “Yeah.”
So the guy looks at me and says, “Do you want sauce, boss?”
So I say, “Yes. Hot.”
So he puts the sauce in the bag and I say, “I’m a youth worker.”
So he gives me my meal and says, “We need more people like you in the world.”
So I said, “Thanks” and then drove away.
I would have never received that blessing if I wasn’t wearing my Salvation Army hat.
May I live up to his praise.
Posted By: Eric at 12:30 AM : Link : 0 Comments
MLKII
Monday, January 16, 2006
...And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!
Martin Luther King Jr., Speech in Memphis, April 3, 1968, the day before King was assassinated.
Posted By: Eric at 11:04 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Consumed by Zeal
Sunday, January 15, 2006
John 2:13-22
13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
17His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."
18Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
20The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
When I was in Junior High I had a friend at school who would challenge me about my faith. He would ask me if I thought Jesus was perfect and when I would say “yes” he would point out today’s scripture passage and say, “If he’s so perfect, why did he get angry? Isn’t anger a sin? And if he’s angry then he’s not perfect.” At the time I didn’t really know what to say to him. Was I wrong? Was Jesus really flawed?
In yesterday’s scripture passage (2 Chronicles 29:15-19) we read that the first thing Hezekiah did when he became King was purify the temple. In today’s passage we see that the first thing Jesus does in Jerusalem is go to the temple and clean it up. And just like King Hezekiah, King Jesus gets the job done, not with violence or anger but with zeal.
When Jesus saw that the temple had been defiled—that there were birds and large animals in the temple courts and that money changers were making a profit off those who came to worship—he decided to do something about it.
The first thing Jesus did was make a whip (v. 15). If he was angry he could have used the whip to physically hurt those who had dishonored the temple but instead he uses it to drive out their sheep and oxen. Then he poured out the money changers money (v. 15) and overturned their tables. If he was angry he could have taken the money for himself as a penalty for those who made a profit from religion. But he didn’t. Then he tells the dove sellers to leave (v. 16). He could have opened up their cages and watched as their birds flew away. But he didn’t.
I still stand by what I believed in Junior High but now I know that it was zeal—and not anger—that consumed Jesus that day in the temple. "Zeal for your house will consume me." (Psalm 69:9).
Posted By: Eric at 11:59 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Anticipation
2 Chronicles 29:15-19
15 When they had assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves, they went in to purify the temple of the LORD, as the king had ordered, following the word of the LORD. 16 The priests went into the sanctuary of the LORD to purify it. They brought out to the courtyard of the LORD's temple everything unclean that they found in the temple of the LORD. The Levites took it and carried it out to the Kidron Valley. 17 They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and by the eighth day of the month they reached the portico of the LORD. For eight more days they consecrated the temple of the LORD itself, finishing on the sixteenth day of the first month.
18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported: "We have purified the entire temple of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table for setting out the consecrated bread, with all its articles. 19 We have prepared and consecrated all the articles that King Ahaz removed in his unfaithfulness while he was king. They are now in front of the LORD's altar."
My father-in-law is an Amusement Park fanatic. Every year he crowds the family into the mini van and drives five hours (and four states away) to his favorite amusement park. Now that I’m part of the family, I get to tag along. We get up early, drive over to the park, buy our ticket and are the first people at the entrance so that when the park opens we’re the first ones in.
Now you’re probably asking yourself, “What does an Amusement Park Fanatic have in common with the Levites mentioned in today’s Bible passage?” Good question: the thing they have in common is a sense of anticipation.
The temple was run down by the time Hezekiah became king (the two kings before him had neglected it). So the first thing he did was “open the doors of the house of the Lord” (v.3) and bring in the priests and Levites to consecrate themselves and purify the temple (v.15).
Now the Levites were God’s all star team in the area of temple cleaning. They were knowledgeable, hard working and meticulous. Their only function was to assist the temple priests and make sure that the temple was maintained according to God’s instructions. So when they were finally able to return to the temple, and do what they were best at, they were excited to go. They had anticipated this day for a long time.
Are there areas in your spiritual life that you have neglected? Are you willing to assemble yourself before the Lord, consecrate yourself to His will and allow Him to purify you? Are you anticipating the Lord working in your life and are you excited to see what He can do in your life? I hope so, because if you let Him you’re in for the ride of your life.
Posted By: Eric at 2:02 AM : Link : 0 Comments
Sola Scriptura
Thursday, January 12, 2006
2 Peter 3:8-18
8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
1 John 2:1-5
1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
Posted By: Eric at 9:55 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Wikipedia
I got to hand it to Wikipedia (AKA The Free Encyclopedia), they have a fairly accurate definition of The Salvation Army. I would like to bring the following excerpts to your attention:
History
As The Salvation Army grew rapidly in the late 1800s, it generated opposition in England. Opponents, grouped under the name of the Skeleton Army, disrupted Salvation Army meetings and gatherings, the usual tactics being the throwing of rocks, rats, and tar, and physically assaulting members of The Salvation Army.
The mission of The Salvation Army is to win the world for Jesus. This mandate is based on the Army's interpretation of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. The Salvation Army believes, as stated in their first doctrinal statement, that only these scriptures, "constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice."
Declining Numbers
In the U.S. there are 1.4 million followers, of whom more than 400,000 are "soldiers" who have taken covenant vows. Membership is declining, as is the number of "cadets" enrolled in the four U.S. officer-training schools…Worldwide, in 2005 the organization had 62,000 employees and 3.5 million volunteers. In 2005 its leadership was 3,700 clergy ("officers"), a decrease of 30 percent from the number five years earlier.
Public Perception
Often classified within the taxonomy of Christian denominations as a Methodist faith community, The Salvation Army has always seen itself primarily as a Christian church, but this has been eroded in the public's perceptions over the years. It is now seen externally to be mainly a social services charity and/or thrift shop. Some members of The Salvation Army are keen to re-emphasize their role as a Christian church.
Music
The Army tradition in music is to use popular idiom of the day to reach people for Jesus. The Army's Joy Strings were a hit pop group in the 1960s and early 1970s in the UK and beyond, reaching the charts and being featured on national television. Possibly the most popular SA band is The Insyderz, an American ska-core group in the 1990s and early 2000s. Current bands like New Zealand's Moped and The Lads, England's Electralyte, Australia's Soteria, and America's TransMission, carry on this Salvation Army tradition.
Read the entire entry for The Salvation Army here.
It’s also interesting to read the debate about those who collaborated on the entry by going here.
Posted By: Eric at 5:12 PM : Link : 0 Comments
All Your Anxiety
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Words by: Edward Henry Joy SASB# 246
Is there a heart o'erbound by sorrow?
Is there a life weighed down by care?
Come to the cross, each burden bearing,
All your anxiety, leave it there.
All your anxiety, all your care,
Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there,
Never a burden he cannot bear,
Never a friend like Jesus.
No other friend so keen to help you;
No other friend so quick to hear;
No other place to leave your burden;
No other one to hear your prayer.
Come, then, at once; delay no longer;
Heed his entreaty, kind and sweet;
You need not fear a disappointment;
You shall find peace at the mercy seat.
Posted By: Eric at 2:48 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Who He Is
Monday, January 09, 2006
Exodus 20:1-17 — The Ten Commandments
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
Once, when I was six years old, I was sick and was prescribed some medicine by my doctor. Unfortunately, I was allergic to this medicine; it made me hyperactive. So instead of staying in bed all day I started shouting and running around the house. I was so annoying that my parents gave me a “time out”.
I screamed as they put me in my room. After a half hour my father came to check up on me. As he approached my door he heard, not screaming, but a ripping sound. When he entered my room he realized that I was ripping the wallpaper off the walls!
In today’s scripture passage we read the Ten Commandments. It’s interesting that in receiving The Ten Commandments the Israelites not only were given rules for life but also gained deep insights into the very nature of God. God’s not just telling them what not to do; He’s also letting them know who He is.
He’s revealing himself by saying: I give you freedom (v.2), I am all you need (v.3), I am jealous and punish those who hate me (v.5), I lavish love on those who love me (v.6), My Name is awesome (v.7), I want us to have a consistent relationship (v.8-11). I created you to love your parents (v.12). I want you to value life, marriage, hard work, honesty and to have unselfish relationships with others (v.13-17).
I wasn’t being malicious in destroying my room—I was under the influence of an allergic reaction—I just didn’t know any better. When I saw the anger on my fathers face and heard the power in his voice I stopped my destruction. My father taught me these things not just by saying “Don’t rip your wallpaper!” but by showing me who he was, what he valued and who he wanted me to be.
Extra Credit: Print out, color and turn in this picture of Moses at the next Prayer and Praise Night (January 27th at the CFOT) and receive a special prize.
Posted By: Eric at 9:10 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Promoting The Common Object
Friday, January 06, 2006
‘But this is making a denomination – a new sect.’ Well, and supposing it is. Is there any harm in doing so? Is there not a need for just such a ‘sect’ in many a city and town of this kingdom, where no such work is being done amongst the masses? But we deny that we are in any proper sense a sect. We refuse to settle down into places of worship such as might be agreeable to our people and their families, but insist upon the open-air stand and the place of amusement, where there may be little comfort, but where the most good may be done. WE refuse to allow our Officers to stay very long in any one place, lest they or the people should sink into the relationship of pastor and flock, and look to their mutual enjoyment and advantage rather than to the Salvation of others. The whole Army is kept in its course by the direction of one controlling will… We refuse utterly to allow of any authoritative assembly, committee, church meeting, or any other representative or popular gathering, except purely for the purpose of auditing finance and accepting and confirming and arranging for the execution of plans which have been tried and proved most calculated to promote the common object. We are not and will not be made a sect. We are an Army of Soldiers of Christ, organized as perfectly as we have been able to accomplish, seeking no Church status, avoiding as we would the plague every denominational rut, in order perpetually to reach more and more of those who lie outside every Church boundary. Owing to our adherence to this military system, we are losing almost every year Officers who, having lost their first love, begin to hanker after the ‘rights,’ ‘privileges,’ ‘comforts,’ ‘teaching,’ or ‘respectability’ of the Churches.
-Commissioner George Scott Railton as quoted by General Bramwell Booth in Echoes and Memories pg. 62, 1977 paperback edition.
Posted By: Eric at 11:23 AM : Link : 0 Comments
Great Aunt Sally
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
By Major Gregory Morgan
Has The Salvation Army become like everybody’s favorite eccentric aunt—loved by all but emulated by no-one?
Sometimes, when I seek a visual illustration of what The Salvation Army has become, my mind turns to the image of a remarkable but eccentric great aunt.
She’s wonderful, would do anything for anyone, but is a bit outdated. And despite the fact we all love her there’s no way we want to be like her.
The Salvation Army in Australia occupies an unprecedented position in terms of public acceptance and popularity, but alongside is the stark reality that the church aspects of our movement, attendance and membership figures, have been in decline for many years. Everyone loves us, but nobody wants to join us.
There are many reasons for this decline but the key issue is the rise of postmodern thought and the need for a new missional approach to ‘church’.
John Cleary has written, ‘The Salvation Army’s practice and worship, as expressed over the past half-century, could be seen to represent all the worst aspects of the “modern”: imperialist, triumphalist, monocultural, inflexible and conformist. It could well stand condemned as…an organization doomed to irrelevance in the early 21st century.’
While the Army’s militaristic structure, colonial-like worldview and hierarchical bureaucracy served us well in the past it may condemn us in the future.
The biggest danger the Army faces today is to hold religiously to a modernist world view and ecclesiology. Instead we must interface historic Christian truth and, if we desire to survive as a distinct expression of church, historic Salvationist essence.
World view and structure are expendable. Modernist tendencies can be rethought. But the classic essence of what The Salvation Army is must be reclaimed and lived in a postmodern environment.
Let’s consider the emerging missional church (EMC) and look for connections with the Army’s original essence.
The emerging missional church
The EMC first appeared as a response to postmodern thinking but also as a result of the changing place of the church within Western society.
Since the fourth century the Western Christian church has occupied a central place in society—one of prestige, power and influence. But society has moved on and the church now exists on the margins, sometimes actively shunned and seen as irrelevant.
The difficulty is that the church still thinks it lives at the center of society. Australian EMC advocates Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch write, in The Shaping Of Things To Come: ‘The heart of the problem is that we have been planting churches that are (smaller) carbon copies of the already beleaguered, failing Christendom-style church.
‘An EMC on the other hand has abandoned the old Christendom assumptions and understands its role as an underground movement, subversive, celebratory, passionate, and communal.’
Hirsch and Frost articulate three modes for EMCs: incarnational, leaving its own culture and religious world to infiltrate and transform society; messianic spirituality, a spirituality of engagement with culture and the world; and apostolic leadership, an entrepreneurial, creative mode of leadership.
Consideration of these three modes may help The Salvation Army reconnect with its original essence and embrace the postmodern world of mission.
Incarnational mission
On the surface level The Salvation Army has become highly attractional in its focus, as opposed to incarnational in its mission.
Over the years our corps have become heavily program—and building—centered and our social welfare expression has become large, professional and program-based.
This is a far cry from the early Salvation Army, which passionately believed in, and practiced, incarnational mission.
Pioneer officers such as Frederick Booth-Tucker knew the necessity of such mission and when he led The Salvation Army into India encouraged his group of officers to embrace the local lifestyle.
Likewise the early social work of the Army was often a localized response to an obvious community need. Salvationists practiced incarnation, living with and aiding the people around them.
These early-day Salvationists set about transforming society from within rather than following a model that expected people to come to them. However, over time we have adopted the dominant attractional model of Christendom.
Derek Linsell writes, in Thank God For The Salvos: ‘Ministry in a postmodern society is no longer about the development of programs but living out the lifestyle so that people can see the relevance of Salvationists’ beliefs.’
Messianic Spirituality
The concept of messianic spirituality as a mode for EMC requires some explanation.
Frost and Hirsch use it to describe ‘the church’s spirituality and activity. It is messianic in that it acts in the same way Jesus acts, it is essentially structured around the person of Jesus, and our actions in some way extend the messianic kingdom.’
The origins of The Salvation Army are firmly Wesleyan and sit strongly in the holiness movement within 19th-century evangelicalism. Central to the Army’s faith and practice is the conviction that people are able, through the Holy Spirit, to be transformed and grow in their likeness to Christ.
Coupled with this, the Army at its inception carried a strong belief that this transformation must extend throughout society—bringing about the kingdom of God in the here and now.
As John Cleary recounts: ‘Booth declared that the Army was about “the reformation of human nature in every form”. The first requirement was “to change the man when it is his character and conduct which constitute the reasons for his failure in the battle of lice”. The second was: “a change [in] the circumstances of the individual when they are the cause of the critical condition and beyond his control”.’
The passing of generation and a growth in an internal church focus have distracted The Salvation Army from these passionate spiritual convictions; we need to rediscover practical holiness and commitment to kingdom transformation.
Apostolic leadership
The third mode of EMC, apostolic leadership, also has strong correlations to the early days of our movement.
Linsell notes that, upon its arrival in Australia in 1880, The Salvation Army ‘was cheeky, daring and creative. [However] The Salvation Army in 1997 is a bureaucracy, made up of conservatives.’
Daring and innovation don’t sit well in a bureaucracy and the apostolic style of leadership which resulted in the missionary explosion of The Salvation Army during its first 20 years has been squashed or pushed to the margins.
Phil Needham, in Community In Mission, reminds the Army of the importance of adaptability in structure. ‘The church,’ he says, ‘is a people who are free to abandon structures that no longer hold promise for helping them to move decisively toward the future.
‘When a decision-making process is so cumbersome as to create missionary inertia and so ingrown as to create self-serving goals, it should be abandoned.’
In embracing the apostolic mode of EMC, the Army needs to harness God-inspired boldness to abandon those structures that inhibit incarnational mission.
Most challenging for a movement modeled on military lines is the need to move away from a hierarchical mentality to a networking mindset. This type of change will be costly and difficult, but ultimately necessary.
The world is changing at a rapid pace and a new form of leadership and ecclesiastical structure is required to engage with it.
Salvation Army emerging missional churches
If we were to adopt these EMC modes what would The Salvation Army look like?
It might look like ALOVE, a new sub-brand of The Salvation Army for young people and young adults, which expresses the heart and passion of the Army for a new generation.
ALOVE is part of the United Kingdom Territory’s response to the declining number of young people attending Army activities over the past 50 years. In establishing a sub-brand and promoting a new expression of church, ALOVE recognizes that young people don’t always identify with the military metaphor, which is often seen as old-fashioned.
ALOVE is a commitment to building on the essence of The Salvation Army and expressing it in the youth culture of the 21st century.
The 614 phenomenon—a series of Salvation Army church communities that began in Toronto, Canada in the late 1990s and which now find expression in Vancouver (Canada), Melbourne (Australia) and Manchester (England)—is evidence of the web-like networking of EMC’s.
Melbourne 614 engages in meaningful ministry among the most underprivileged people of the inner city while developing a relevant expression of church that is a mix of young and marginalized people.
In Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs is the territory’s first official Salvation Army house church which seeks to be a new form of Salvation Army church, connecting in meaningful mission with its local community.
For this church there is no intention of ‘graduating’ into a corps with a building; instead, those involved see it as the beginning of a developing network of Salvo house churches engaged in local incarnational mission that will coexist alongside the existing Army.
So, what of that eccentric great aunt we all love but don’t want to be like? Do we care for her into old age and then bury her, along with the values and essence of a movement that has radically impacted millions of lives across the world?
Or do we dare to allow her essence to live on in a postmodern Salvation Army that has rediscovered its original essence?
Major Gregory Morgan is the training college’s field program officer for Australia’s Southern Territory. His article was originally published in the November 22nd edition of On Fire, an Australia’s Southern Territory publication.
Posted By: Eric at 2:49 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Two Quotes
Whom you would change,
You must first love.
—Martin Luther King Jr.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
—John 3:16
Posted By: Eric at 12:37 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Two Quotes
Whom you would change,
You must first love.
—Martin Luther King Jr.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
—John 3:16
Posted By: Eric at 12:37 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Rockford Temple Praise Night
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
I forgot to post this a few weeks ago…
For some time now Rockford Temple has had a youth praise night—one Saturday each month—at their corps. I was privileged to attend one of these nights just before Christmas.
Mike and Kristina Sjogren have been doing a great job at facilitating these events and Corps members have been incredible at loving their great community of young Believers. It was also cool to see many parents attend and testify and worship with their children. Rockford Temple also has one of the best praise bands in the division.
If you are interested in going out their check out Mike’s Xanga for future Rockford Temple praise night information.
Posted By: Eric at 11:25 AM : Link : 0 Comments
Kettle Season
Question: Do you know how insane kettles are?
Challenge #1: Give glory to God THEN thank your Officer(s) (and Kettle Coordinator if you have one) for the long hours they put in to this year’s kettle season.
Challenge #2: Use that money wisely. That is, the goal of raising money was not to put heat and electricity in your Corps but to grow an authentic Christian community.
Short Story: To William Booth there was no such currency as dirty money. All gifts, whoever the donor, were gratefully received to help on his work of alleviating the sufferings of the needy. Sinners and saints alike were welcome to contribute to Army coffers. He had a ready answer for his critics. On one occasion he accepted a donation from a man in high society, but one known for his agnosticism. Although some of his friends frowned on his action, the Army Founder's conscience was not uneasy. 'We will wash it in the tears of the widows and orphans' he replied, 'and lay it on the altar of humanity.'
Taken from the International Heritage Centre Website.
Posted By: Eric at 10:21 AM : Link : 0 Comments
