A Reading From The Founder
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Have you ever wondered what historical people's voices sounded like? Like Aristotle's, Tarzan's (if he were a real person), or, say, William Booth's? Well, let your troubled hearts be calmed, and let your mind and soul be whisked away by the softest voice you've ever heard...The Founder's.
No need to thank me. Just thank the people at salvoaudio.com. They've done a fantastic job at archiving some of the sermons of Army heroes. Enjoy.
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The Community of the Flood
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Michael Steinsland (Mayfair Community Church/North Park University) - As many people know there were many neighborhoods around the Chicago-land-area that flooded this past week, ruining homes and forcing entire neighborhoods to be evacuated. The waters rose to 25 feet in some places, in some places less. In What I witnessed was an absolutely beautiful image of God working in the community. I saw his power to command the weather, to overtake and push people farther than they knew they could be pushed. Teens from the Corps were working side by side with city officials and residents of the neighborhood, and as houses flooded they yelled to those who were watching, pleading for help. Christ surely was with us, teaching us how we can be used. When something like a flood happens, we should all eagerly run to help, and I would argue that any decent human being should do the same. However, the dwindling state of humanity has lesser ideas on this, and so only teens and residents stayed behind to work hand in hand to fulfill a basic need: safety. We worked until we were asked to leave, and by this we were tested. It would have been easy to walk away at any point and feel good, deciding that we gave it our all. The truth is that with God, our all was not completed until the residents said so. So we continued building anyway, extending our strength to those who needed it.
The people we helped are no longer strangers who live across the street from our Corps and DHQ. We know their faces, we know their voices, and they know us. What I witnessed that day was a fragmented and broken community of strangers who were thrust into a position were they had to come together to achieve a goal. The beauty of God’s love was shown to me through two sisters who took charge of the operations after the city gave up. We were told to leave because there was nothing else we could do. Bystanders were coming to us, asking if they could help. We had the manpower and the equipment we needed, and yet we were told there was nothing we could do! It may have been true, that after wading in the water for so long, heaving sand bags over my shoulders and traversing through a current that left me breathless, that I could do no more. However, God could still do more through me, and through the others who stayed.
When the street lights went on and the sun retreated past the horizon, the bus dropped off its passengers right by our sand pile. When we were tired and sore, God delivered help! At first the passengers just stood around trying to find a way home, and then something clicked and they started filling garbage bags with sand and carrying them to the edge of the water so that we wouldn’t have to travel nearly as far to get them. All of a sudden we were trying to keep up with the sandbags that arrived to build our wall.
The arrival of the extra help was, I would argue, a miracle. I know that everyone was exhausted and tired of being outside waste-deep in the water, and to have someone cut our work in half was amazing.
When we all started to work together the things we did were blessed and we didn’t need to waste our energies. The community worked together and communicated so well that things started to run really smoothly. I actually had a really great time being in the water talking and hanging out with my new friends and our Corps members that I started to feel bad that peoples’ houses had been flooded while I was outside laughing and having fun while I worked. It was a really great experience that I feel blessed to have been a part of.
This is the type of community that God has called us to be in, amongst non-believers. So despite the damage and anxiety, I know that God has blessed that community with the knowledge that by their unity the worst may have been prolonged.
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Sign Up: La Villita Prayer & Fasting Lock-In
Monday, September 22, 2008
There is still space to sign up for the La Villita Corps Prayer & Fasting Lock-In! If your Corps is not doing something for this weekend's call to prayer and fasting for the victims of human trafficking, you should consider coming out. There will be training on human trafficking, worship, prayer, a prayer walk, and a movie on human trafficking.
If you want to go, contact Julio Romero at the La Villita Corps (773.257.0700), or contact Nate Irvine (Nathan_Irvine@usc.salvationarmy.org). You have to sign up and fill out the necessary waiver forms before you come. You will not be able to show up the night of. So hurry!
What: La Villita Corps Prayer & Fasting Lock-In For Victims Of Human Trafficking; pray and fast on behalf of those involved in Human Trafficking.
When: Friday, September 26-Sunday, September 28
Where: The La Villita Corps (click here for a map)
If you want to go, contact Julio Romero at the La Villita Corps (773.257.0700), or contact Nate Irvine (Nathan_Irvine@usc.salvationarmy.org). You have to sign up and fill out the necessary waiver forms before you come. You will not be able to show up the night of. So hurry!
What: La Villita Corps Prayer & Fasting Lock-In For Victims Of Human Trafficking; pray and fast on behalf of those involved in Human Trafficking.
When: Friday, September 26-Sunday, September 28
Where: The La Villita Corps (click here for a map)
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Isaiah 58 | True Fasting
1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.
3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
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Seeing the Good in the Evil
Friday, September 19, 2008
Genesis 50:15-21
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Just this past Tuesday I had the privilege of eating lunch with a good SA friend. We met at about 12:00pm and decided on the Mayflower Chinese Restaurant down the street from DHQ (amazing Chinese food, always two meals). My friend, along with many other Salvationists from the Mayfair/Albany Park neighborhoods, was a part of some flood relief work over the weekend. For those that are unaware, those neighborhoods were among the worst affect from this past weekend's storm, along with Des Plaines.
After we waited unusually long for our food (arguably the only con of the Mayfair Chinese restaurant), we sat down, got siutated and began to, non-verbally, decide who was going to pray. I verbally volunteered my friend to pray. The cool thing is that when you pray for intimacy's sake, you don't pray rote, boring and recycled prayers. They're fresh (usually) and are almost always different in someway. Such was the case here. A highlight for me was a prayer in which my friend thanked God for the results of the flood - more specifically the results of the relief efforts. See, what most people don't realize is that once word hit a few people from the affected Mayfair/Albany Park area, it spread and soon relief teams were formed out of people from the community - not just organizations. And that's why my friend was thanking God.
Where some people would have only seen horrible tragedy and devistation, my friend was able to see mutual giving and community. Where some may only see evil, he saw good. God saw evil, and used the opportunity for goodness, for His Kingdom.
If in your life you can only see ruin, and things seem to be falling apart, ask God to see things from His vantage point. See if this thing your dealing with might actually be a good thing. Above all, seek God and His Kingdom, and "He will give you everything you need" (Matthew 6:33, New Living Translation).
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The Kingdom of God & the Fire of the Holy Spirit
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Acts 1:1-11
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
The first chapter of Acts, particularly verses 1-11, gives a great picture to the beginning of the Church, because in it we find two of the most important things the Church needs: the Kingdom of God and the Fire of the Holy Spirit. Now, the actual coming of the Spirit doesn't happen until the second chapter, but the teaching of both the Kingdom and the Spirit are found immediately in the book. Even though the "teaching" of the Kingdom seems more like an honorary mention than anything, it is, nonetheless, there.
It happened like this: As Luke tells us, Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he died and rose again. The point of this seems to be twofold: 1) He needed to show his followers that he was indeed who he said he was - the Messiah. He needed to show them by way of the resurrection. 2) He had to teach them about the Kingdom of God.
I think more often than not, this part about Jesus teaching his disciples about the Kingdom after resurrecting from the dead is overlooked, maybe because we focus on the aspect of the disciples praying for the Spirit to come, and rightly so. The coming of the Holy Spirit is not to be downplayed here. However, is it not interesting that when the resurrected Jesus came back to his followers he came to speak specifically on the Kingdom? He comes back for forty days, he can talk about whatever he wants, and he decides to talk about the Kingdom. This should grab our attention! If this is the last thing he instructs his disciples on, it's important; especially if it is the first thing that Mark records him preaching on (Mark 1:14-15).
The Kingdom of God is at hand!
Equally as important to this fact, is the reality that at one of the times that Jesus was eating with his disciples, he also instructed them to no leave Jerusalem where they were, but to pray for the Holy Spirit, the very gift that the Father had promised to them. The disciples seemed to have another idea, possibly more pertinent to them, and asked Jesus about the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. Jesus sets them straight, telling them that their focus should not be on that, but on the coming of the Holy Spirit.
What is your focus on? Who do you focus on? It's clear from this passage that Jesus was concerned with two things: the Kingdom of God and the Holy Spirit.
Take time to make sure that your focus is on the Father and His Kingdom. Pursue that, run after Him with all you have, "and he will give you everything you need" (Matthew 6:33, New Living Translation).
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The Salvation Army Responds to Hundreds of Flood Victims
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The following is a news release put out by DHQ about the flooding from this past weekend. Many people are still in need as they try to clean up after the wreckage. However, many Salvationists who were not obligated to help out took to the streets to help local authorities sand bag key areas. Continue to pray for the families who will need help getting things back together.
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Chicago, Illinois (September 15, 2008)—The Salvation Army continues to assist thousands of first responders and survivors following weekend storms causing massive flooding in parts of Chicago, surrounding suburbs and Indiana. Five mobile canteens began moving into Des Plaines, Albany Park, Calumet City, Plainfield and Hammond-Munster, Indiana after rising flood waters began forcing residents from their homes.
The Salvation Army’s volunteers have served 4,570 meals, given out 8,423 bottles of water and 2,041 snacks to emergency responders and storm victims. “We are on the scene in the most devastated areas to help those responding to this disaster and families who have been displaced as a result,” said Lt. Colonel David Grindle, Metropolitan Divisional Commander. “We’re also supporting the City of Chicago by providing meals to people seeking help at nearby shelters in Albany Park.”
Volunteers with The Salvation Army were participating in an emergency disaster drill at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday when the call came in to help. The Salvation Army’s mobile units will continue to provide 24 hour assistance until affected areas no longer need help.
If you want to help, please visit www.salarmychicago.org to make a donation.
Chicago, Illinois (September 15, 2008)—The Salvation Army continues to assist thousands of first responders and survivors following weekend storms causing massive flooding in parts of Chicago, surrounding suburbs and Indiana. Five mobile canteens began moving into Des Plaines, Albany Park, Calumet City, Plainfield and Hammond-Munster, Indiana after rising flood waters began forcing residents from their homes.
The Salvation Army’s volunteers have served 4,570 meals, given out 8,423 bottles of water and 2,041 snacks to emergency responders and storm victims. “We are on the scene in the most devastated areas to help those responding to this disaster and families who have been displaced as a result,” said Lt. Colonel David Grindle, Metropolitan Divisional Commander. “We’re also supporting the City of Chicago by providing meals to people seeking help at nearby shelters in Albany Park.”
Volunteers with The Salvation Army were participating in an emergency disaster drill at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday when the call came in to help. The Salvation Army’s mobile units will continue to provide 24 hour assistance until affected areas no longer need help.
If you want to help, please visit www.salarmychicago.org to make a donation.
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Forgiveness, Repentance and Houses
Friday, September 12, 2008
Mark 1:14-15
14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
I've heard it said that everything Jesus did and said revolved around the Kingdom of God (go to our podcast section and listen to Aaron White's sermon on Prayer). Everything. It makes sense, then, that the first thing Mark records Jesus preaching about is the Kingdom of God. He makes amazing statements, that sometimes don't reflect the sad faces we put on on Sunday mornings, like "The time has come!" I think we miss the importance of such words. Jesus comes and reveals Good News - that the Kingdom of God is near. It's at hand. It is now.
Just as interesting is the statement that follows Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom: "Repent and believe the good news!" In order to be in this Kingdom, you have to repent.
An obvious statement, yes. But what does that imply, exactly?
I've heard repentance explained a number of times, I'm sure. But the one that has lodged itself in my brain, probably forever, is one that I read about in a book by Eugene Peterson, "A Long Obedience In The Same Direction" (at least I think I did). The illustration goes that at some point, when army platoons would go out to march as a unit, one of the commands they used was "repent". Instead of commanding a resounding, "About face!", they would yell, "Repent." The soldiers would then turn around and march the opposite direction, doing the same thing as an about face, just with different wording.
This idea is certainly the thrust of Scripture. To repent means to turn. More specifically, repentance means turning from my way of living and embracing God's way. See, ultimately, Jesus taught that what is important is doing God's will, living His way. Since the Kingdom of God is now, we need to live out the Kingdom now.
Jesus hints at this in Matthew 7:15-27. In this context, Jesus is finishing a sermon known as "The Sermon on the Mount", which is chapters 5-7, and he concludes by talking about doing his will. The first bit, 7:15-23 goes like this:
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Basically, by putting emphasis on the fruit of a person, he stresses that what's important what we do and not who we say we are. Because ultimately, if we're really who we say we are, the fruit will come.
So asking for forgiveness is not just about a verbal plea, but ultimately about change. It's about not doing one thing, and doing the opposite. This is what Jesus looked for. He wanted obedience.
Then Jesus goes on to talk about what happens when people do the Father's will:
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Interestingly enough, Jesus gives us two pictures that are really two sides of the same coin. In other words, in both situations, there are storms. That's the constant, the absolute. What changes is not the storms, but the outcome. One falls, the other stands its ground, and the storms come no matter what.
Sometimes there's this perception, this negative connotation, that obeying the Father's will is constrictive and freedom-stealing. The opposite is the truth! It's when we submit that we are freed. It's when we obey that we experience life to the fullest. It's when we live out the Father's will that we stand our ground. This is the Kingdom, and the Kingdom is now.
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La Villita Prayer & Trafficking Lock-In
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Dear Metro Youth,
In response to the Salvation Army's call to pray and fast for the victims of sexual Trafficking, the La Villita Corps is hosting a lock-in specfically for that purpose. The event will take place from Friday, September 26 at 7pm until Sunday, September 28 at 2pm. Praise God!
There are only 15 spots left, and each person under 18 must fill out a permission slip and waiver. Click here to download those forms and for more information, or contact the La Villita Corps for more details (773.257.0700). Hurry to reserve your spot! First come, first serve!
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Chicago Temple Prayer & Praise Night
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The Chicago Temple Prayer & Praise Night was a great night of worship, prayer, challenge and commitment. For those of you who were not able to go, go to our media page and check out the photos. Remember to pray for those who testified and keep up the commitments you made at the altar. Remember, although it may be hard, giving glory to God means that we do His will, not ours. It's about the Father, not us! And good news, God will give us grace to follow Him and do His will.
Book the date now! October 31, 2008 is the Des Plaines/Halloween Prayer & Praise Night NEW LIFE! This is definitely an event that you will not want to miss, and you will want to bring your (unsaved!) friends too. And, as announced, come in your costume! It is not only hoped, but encouraged! And, if you don't have any ideas, just take and every day things/people, and come as the zombie version of that. For instance, don't come as a normal math teacher. Come as a zombie math teacher. Or, don't come as Hannah Montana. Come as zombie Hannah Montana. Keep checking back to MYN.com for more updates about this exciting night.
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Prayer & Praise Night Kick Off!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
It's time to kick-off the 2008-2009 Prayer & Praise Nights! The Chicago Temple Corps has agreed to host the historic first Prayer & Praise Night. Mark my words, it will go down in the annals of history.
Something you should know: we've decided to have a theme for this year. It's nothing too big, just something to piece them together. We're going with "Glory to God." Why? Because we believe that it's not about us, it's about the Father. Because, above all, Jesus lived to give Glory to the Father, and as his disciples, we want to do that too.
So, come out for the kick-off, but, more importantly, come out for a night of prayer, worship, fellowship, and growth.
Be sure to bring:
-Your Bibles
-Your friends
-Your friends' friends
-A focused attitude of worship
Also, while parking may not be extremely limited, it's always a good idea to carpool.
See you there? Prove it! RSVP via our Facebook event.
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