New Blog and Top 10 List

Okay! We're off and running! We've finally got all three of our War College student blogs going and listed to the left (thank-you and it's about time, Travis!). You will all be able to keep up with their daring exploits throughout the summer at Bangor through these sites. Not to mention, learn about them and share in their ministry through directed prayer (but we won't mention that).

Tara Ayer: Ayer Up There

Aurora Atell: Dayspring of God

Travis Roberts: Made for War

Do keep up with them all. Through this blog and theirs, you'll be able to quadrangulate (I made that up) what's really going on in the heavenlies over Bangor and in the hearts and minds of its people.

And now- the Top 10 List: Reasons we're excited about our coming students.

10) We can't wait to see how God works out their housing arrangements!
9) We want to see if Travis has cut his hair yet.
8) We've got to know if Tara will find a "Stinger" in Bangor.
7) We've been waiting forever to see the Borealis in Bangor.
6) We're wondering if Travis has learned any more chords on guitar.
5) We can't wait to see Aurora and her bouble bass get out of the car.
4) The teen boys are awaiting the arrival of that "hot babe," Tara (actual quote after seeing her picture).
3) We're wondering if Travis is ending all his sentences with "eh?" yet, eh?
2) We want to know if Aurora can get her stuff into her room before heading out to Youth Councils.

and the top reason we're excited about our coming students is:

1) We can't wait to see how God works out their housing arrangements!

Why Not?

Today's devotional thought with comment (my comments in brown, all emphasis mine):

Christian Discipleship

We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. - Colossians 1:28

Discipleship is personally transferring the full dimensions of your relationship with Christ to the person you are walking with (Great definition!). It is not the imparting of spiritual disciplines as much as it is acquainting another with a Person you love. Paul said that he would teach and urge with all his strength that every person God placed in his life would come to a complete experience of the person of Christ (Col. 1:29). He was not satisfied with people becoming partially like Christ. He would not rest until those around him were perfect, or complete, in Christ (I love that word, "perfect!" Replace it with "holy" and we're all set!). That is, that the fruits of the Spirit were being fully expressed through each life and the character of Christ was reflected in each person (Gal. 5:22).

We can mistake Christian activity with becoming like Christ. Christian activity and Christlikeness are not the same things. We must not assume that because our friend attends church and reads her Bible, she is growing as a Christian (This is a perennial problem in the church. We assume that because someone comes to church activities, they are saved. But if that were true, then going to McDonald's would make you a hamburger!).

Christian activities are an important expression of your relationship with Christ (Agreed). They can lead you to a relationship, but the danger is assuming that your religious activity is the relationship (This is eternally dangerous! How many people are we going to miss in heaven some day because we thought they were spiritually sound because we saw them regularly in church or some weekly program? This puts a huge responsibility square on our shoulders.). If you are only encouraging those around you to attend Christian activities, then you have not “discipled” them the way Paul did. You do your fellow Christians an injustice by teaching them that Christian activity is equal to Christian maturity. Do not rest until those around you have become “perfect” in Christ (Wow! Can you imagine what Christianity would be like if we took this to heart and practiced it wholeheartedly!?). If God has put new Christians under your care, you have an obligation to “stay with them” until they have reached Christian maturity. - Experiencing God Day by Day

Two days ago, I established my first intentional discipling relationship at my corps. Oh yes, I disciple people pretty often, as their leader; here and there, but this is different. We're meeting weekly at a set time to work on spiritual progress and develop a deeper fellowship in Christ.

Until he's perfect? Yeah, why not?

What are You Waiting for?

Our Northern New England Division recently had our 2005 Annual Command Review and our Divisional Commander sent out an email gist of the findings. There were two points that caught my attention and I would like to comment on them here. Whether you see it immediately or not, these two points are related.

1) We are particularly commended for the noticeable “healthy officer comment sheets.” These stand distinctly so in the Territory and is attributed to the officer small group infrastructure in our midst.

2) For the 2nd year in a row, Northern New England holds the highest appointment tenure in the Territory – 4 years 6 months average appointment length.

A few years ago, at the leading of our Associate Divisional Commander, Janet Munn, this division embarked on a "great experiment." I put that in quotes, because to those in the know, it was no experiment, it was a sure thing (I'd bet on it any day, if I was a gambling man). That experiment was Officer Small Groups.

At first, they were voluntary- after a year they became mandatory. Now, every officer in the division is a member of a small group of officers. There are roughly 8-10 groups and each officer has the choice of which group to attend (admitedly, some groups are too far away from a particular appointment to make it sensible to attend, so depending on the location, the officer may be limited in choice). The groups meet once a month and focus on different areas of study (perhaps studying a book). This year, each group is studying the book "Can You Hear Me?" by Brad Jersak (link in my column to the left- awesome book, by the way). Whatever the subject, the intent is to develop real Christian relationship and it's working!

I am a small group believer. I became involved in my first real small group in my last appointment. It was an interdenominational prayer group that became my church family. These people became my life-line and I learned to count on them, through the many struggles we worked through in the group over the years. Yes, many struggles! But we were committed to each other, so we worked through each struggle to a wonderful conclusion that developed trust and a sense of family. I was seriously sad to leave that group when we moved to this appointment in Maine. Some of those people will be dear friends for eternity.

"Church" as we have known it, over the years, is not working. We are not developing real Christian relationships in our body. Listen to the conversations on Sunday AM and you'll see we don't even know each other. So we need to make a change; we need to develop small groups (and our officers need to see themselves as people too- not set apart or higher than; equal with. But that's another story).

When our divisional officer small groups started, I heard it was being watched by all the other divisions to see if it would "work." I heard all kinds of disparaging comments, that frankly made me mad. Now, 5-6 years down the road, we've got a track record of success. To the point of our officer comment sheets actually being measurably more positive than the rest of the divisions in the territory and our officer stay average is the longest in the territory. If you think that doesn't relate, you're out of touch!

This division is committed to growing healthy officers and small groups is a major part of that equation. Healthy officers are happy officers and happy officers are productive officers. Productivce officers want to stay where they are to continue the success they are seeing. And you've got to remember that New England is spiritually tough ground! It's not easy ministering with such a high level of air warfare over us.

So now that we have a proven record- small groups actually do work, where are the other divisions? I think they should have stepped up to the plate long ago, but now that there is proof, there is no excuse. I think if our divisions are not willing to move in this direction, it should be mandated by our territorial leadership. Our officers are just too important. All our people are. I've seen program after program mandated by my territory through the years of my officer tenure. Most die out after a few years. None have produced the results small groups have. And we're just getting started!

And any corps officers out there aren't off the hook either. Small groups need to be implemented in each corps. Our corp's are producing similar results to the officers groups. Yeah, it's hard to get them going. No argument from me there. But you just can't argue with results.

Any Divisional Officers reading this? I challenge you toward small groups. Any Territorial Officers reading this? I challenge you toward small groups. Any Corps Officers reading this? I challenge you toward small groups. Any Soldiers reading this? I challenge you toward small groups.

What are you waiting for?

Songs Mean Things

If we use words, we must be careful to understand what they mean. Words mean things. We cannot just change their meanings at our own fleeting whims.

I've been thinking: Songs mean things too. They are words we speak through music, but they are words nonetheless. They have meanings that we cannot just ignore or blow off because we don't care at the moment or don't want them to mean what they do.

If we sing the words to a song that says something untrue or evil, we bring about their intent whether we agree with them or not. I'm thinking of those popular ditties that get into your head through listening to the radio (or whatever). How often have I heard someone say something like: "I'm not really paying attention to the words, I just like the music." Too bad. You're still speaking their reality into being over yourself. And if that ditty stickes in your head all day long, how many times are you reinforcing that junk? Yikes!

We need to be very careful what we speak, whether it's in words or music, because words not only mean things, they have power over us. Know anyone who thinks they're "stupid" or "ugly?" Or "I can't remember names;" "I'll never understand math." How many times does it take for us to convince ourselves they're true? How many times does it take for it to "stick" and we go through life believing what we've said of ourselves? I know plenty of people who have cursed themselves because of what they have convinced themselves of- just by speaking untruth over themselves over and over again! This is one of the reasons scripture encourages us to think about positive things:

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. - Philippians 4:8

Let's watch what we say. Let's watch what we sing. Fill your mouth with praises for God and encouraging words for yourself and others.

Setting the Example

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set the example . . .
- 1 Timothy 4:12

I was taught a serious lesson this past week- a lesson in trusting God. And this lesson was taught to me by one much younger than I, in fact, she is my daughter!

I watched and prayed as a situation I had no control over played out in her life. I "worried" that she would respond in anger. I was getting all my parental hackles up and was preparing to jump into the situation myself to try to protect her from any pain (she had no idea what was going on in my head). Then I got an email from her in which she told me how she felt about it all. She was trusting God had his hand in it and was submitting to the situation, believing God had a greater purpose that she just couldn't see at the moment.

I was floored! My little girl (who is usually so much like her Dad in these kind of things), has grown so much that she is able to trust God even in the middle of difficulties. I looked back on some of my own recent struggles and realized she was doing much better than I. She was setting the example for me. And I am not above learning from anyone- especially those younger than I.

You see, when we read that verse above, we often think of our side of the equation- "don't let anyone look down on you." But there is another implied side: "Don't you look down on anyone younger." How often have we missed a lesson or blessing just because it came from someone we considered to be younger than us?

Thanks Jenn, for "getting up to the plate and swinging for the fence." You hit that one out of the park! You are a wonderful example to your Dad and you taught me a powerful lesson. I know I risk embarrasing you by writing all this here, but I am proud of your growth and am only too happy to let you stand on my shoulders to get to the higher plane God has designed for you.

Keep setting the example and setting the bar high. You'll clear it and so will those you minister and relate to.

Adonay

I must admit, when talking with God, I use "Lord" more often than any other form of address. Lord, implies a relationship- one of Master and Servant; Lord having complete control over the Servant (slave actually fits well here). Yet how often have I gone to my Master, called him Lord and not complied with his will? That flies in the face of the definition. One day every knee will bow and acknowledge his Lordship over all things. But Christians are supposed to be doing that now. I cannot call God "Lord" if I'm not completley abandoned to do his bidding.

Adon is Hebrew for Lord or Master that is often used as a term of respect. It carries with it the sense of owner- at the very least, superior. Adonay (a-do-NAI) is the plural of adon and always refers to God. Isn't it interesting that God as Master, is addressed in the plural (3-in-1, get it)? Adonay shows up in our Bibles as "Lord" while "LORD" is the translation of Yahweh, God's personal Name. If they appear together, the NIV uses "Sovereign Lord" (Hmm, I like Master Yahweh).

The question I must ask myself this morning is, "Is Yahweh really Lord of my life, or do I just give him lip service?" I must be honest in my response, because it means nothing to call God "Lord," yet not really put myself willingly in the position of humble Servant, ready to do his will at a moment's notice. My will must be supressed, even ignored. His will must be supreme and always obeyed.

I will be thinking twice every time I call God Lord from now on. My desire is to make it truth and not just an empty word.

Take Your Stand!

I love it when The Enemy helps you out! It's never his intention, mind you, but sometimes, he's just too smart for his own good.

This morning, I was preparing to preach on trusting God through the tough things in our lives. All through my prayer time, I was feeling down- almost depressed. I couldn't seem to break through. Then all of a sudden, the thought flashed through my mind: "This isn't worth it. Give up; quit." That's when I knew instantly Satan was at work. So I broke out my Praying the Bible book, and started fighting back.

It wasn't long after that, that I did break through. My spirit lifted and I knew we had a good meeting ahead of us. And that's just what happened. I think God was able to break through to many people, because we took a stand against our great Enemy and caused him to flee! There was some very direct confrontational prayer against Satan and some very direct proclamational prayer over the people. It was one of those awesome, empowered times when God just wants to get his message through to us!

So we' re all going to watch for those times when Satan comes at us to make us feel depressed or out of sorts. And we're not going to let him get the better of us. We're going to trust God to work out any situation for our good. Want to join us? Take your stand!

Yahweh

Did you ever wonder why everyone has a "proper" name except God? I did, when I was younger. Then I learned that God actually has a proper name- Yahweh. We call him Lord, Master, Savior, King, Heavenly Father, etc, but rarely do we use his personal name. In fact, it's been so rare over the years, that most people don't even know the name and it sounds weird to us when we do use it.

Yahweh is used more than 6,800 times in the Old Testamant, appearing in every book, but Esther, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. The name was considered so sacred, that it was only used by the priests in the Jerusalem temple. After the destruction of that temple (A.D. 70), the name was not even spoken and the actual proununciation was lost. Adonay was substituted wherever Yahweh appeared in the biblical text. Wherever you find "the LORD" (all caps) in scripture, it is a translation of Yahweh. The assumed pronunciation today is
yah-WEH.

Yahweh, also known as the Tetragrammaton, was formed by four Hebrew consonants YHWH or translated into German- JHVH, which is where the name Jehovah came from. You see, the original Hebrew language did not use vowls until scholars in the tenth century began adding vowels to help with pronunciation. Since the name Adonay was substituted for Yahweh in the text, they used the Hebrew vowels in Adonay to the name Yahweh and it turned into this: YaHoWaH. So those who teach that Jehovah is God's proper name (Jehovah's Witnesses), are completely mistaken. Jehovah is a made-up name of God's actual name and the one used as its substitute!

12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." 13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD (Yahweh), the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation. - Exodus 3:12-15

Jesus said of himself: "I Am." The people of his day understood what he meant by it- he was saying he was God- Yahweh. In fact, the name Jesus (Joshua) means "Yahweh Saves." Awesome, huh?

Based on my blog way back about how I prefer to be called "Doug," it makes me wonder if God would prefer we use his personal name today. If he's given it to us and asked us to remember him by it, I think we can safely assume he wants us to use it.

The name of the LORD (Yahweh) is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are saved.
- Proverbs 18:10

Yahweh, I'm running!

Working Myself out of a Job

Tonight, my youngest child, Chris, got his driver's permit. Yup, he passed the test after finishing his driver's ed classes. I can hardly believe it- he was just toddling around the house, getting into things a few days ago, wasn't he? His biggest gripe after class was that all his friends were driving their parent's cars away from class, but not him because we had the big 15 passenger van (Mom has the minivan at school)! Well, as much as I rib him about his driving, he's doing fine and I expect him to be a good driver. It all came quite naturally to him.

None of us is getting any younger. The old Cat Stevens song comes to mind: "The Cat's in the Cradle." There was a day when I couldn't keep Chris off of me when I walked in the door. Now, it's rare he looks up from his computer to even say "hi." He's growing up and I'll never have any of those old days again.

Not that I'm too sad about it, mind you. I love it when they get old enough to have good conversations with them (I well remember one of my first long serious spiritual talks with Jenn. It was awesome! Now, they happen often- PTL!). And that's the way it's supposed to be. My parenting job is all about preparing my children to live life on their own. I don't want to make them dependant on me. The way I see it, I'm supposed to work myself out of the job!

I thank all of you who spent time praying for our daughter Jenn. She's turned out to be a wonderfully gifted, Spirit-led young woman. I'm so proud of her- in the right way. Now I ask you to continue to pray for Chris- that he experiences God for himself and continues the process of growing up into the person God designed and needs to serve him.

PS: Don't stop praying for Jenn!

The Great Bangorian Sandwich Caper

It's 7:30 AM and it's mayhem in our building already! Well, not quite, but this is our huge annual Sandwich Caper week! Every year (since forever), the teens of the Bangor corps have been doing a Sandwich Caper fundraiser. It raises enough money to send them all to Youth Councils and any extra (usually plenty), goes into their program fund (which is used for programs, world services and such throughout the year).

In the last few weeks, the teens have been going all throughout the area dropping off sandwich orders to local businesses and offices (at $3 per sandwich, it's a steal). They are later collected and supplies are purchased. Then for 2 days, we all make sandwiches (heroes, hoagies, wedges, subs- whatever you want to call them!) and have them all delivered before lunch each day. It's a huge project! And it's great to see how it's organized and watch everyone scurrying around.

This year's traditional faux pas? The bakery that makes our rolls for us each year, forgot to make our rolls for yesterday! So that's twice as much work for us today as we get people cutting rolls as well as making sandiches all at once! I gave Mary MacKay a big hug and helped her get control of her breathing- she'll make it- she always does! Now if we can only keep Nick from throwing tuna on the basketball backboard.

So the corps will be humming with activity for the next 2 days! And I was reminded yesterday, of the new "tradition" I started for the guys- a sleepover (which makes sure they're all here by 7:30 AM Friday)! What was I thinking when I came up with that? I guess this falls in the same category as forgetting about painting rooms! {sigh} So it's X-Box and hide-n-go-seek all night for me!

Well, I've got to go . . . bread needs to be cut; sandwiches need to be made! If you're in the area, I've got an idea for lunch for you!

Watch it Happen!

Many people have recently asked me why I root for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Baseball team. I'm not really tired of answering them, but for those of you who don't know my favorite team, here's the full scoop:

1) Years ago, when we lived in Cincinnati I rooted for the Reds, but I haven't really followed Baseball since then. My folks retired to St. Petersburg, Florida and we take at least part our annual vacation there. Since the Devil Rays became a major league team, we always go to a game while there. One day I realized, the Rays are the only team I've seen in person, in over 30 years! So I decided they're my team.

2) I love their team colors (Green and Black, with some blue and white thrown in)! Just don't blame me for their starting year colors nor lame jerseys that year!

3) Carl Crawford is my favorite player (with a close second of Joey Gathright, who's been back and forth from the AAA Durham team until he matures a bit more- the first few games of this year were incredible watching Gathright and Crawford on base at the same time stealing! Five between them in one game alone!).

4) You gotta love a team that can do as well as they do with the smallest payroll in baseball! Sure they could buy the World Series, like some other teams have done, but it takes a lot more perseverance to grow your young players in the farm system. Just wait until these young guys come out to play.

5) Lou Pinella is doing an excellent job of working with what they've given him (finances and players). He really is a great coach.

6) Tropicanna Field is a nice place to visit.

And now for my spiritual reason:

7) One of my spiritual gifts is Faith. So when I root for the Rays, I practice and develop my gift. I just have faith they're gonna do it! What kind of faith does it take to root for a team that wins year after year? One day, I will know what the Red Sox fans felt like when their team finally won!

Watch it Happen! is the Rays team advertising blurb this year. I'm watching! Go Rays!

PS: We beat the Yankees last night and are now tied with them for last place in our division! Steinbrenner is gonna be ticked- big time!

AAUUGGHH!!

What is it about me, that always forgets the pain and agony of painting or wallpapering a room myself? Every single time I do it, I vow I will never do it again. Then later, I forget all about it and say: "Sure, dear."

By now you can imagine what I'm going through. Deb's away at school and I said I'd paint the family room while she was gone. Actually, it wouldn't have been a real problem, if we had picked a normal color. We picked red. You know how many coats it takes to cover a wall in red?! Right now, I've finished 3 coats and it looks like I'm going to need at least 2 more! And maybe even another can of paint. AAUUGGHH!!

Pray for me. I really want to survive this. It would also be nice, if I don't burn the room down before I'm done. Deb would not like that.

'Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house,
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were laying on the shelf without care;
In hopes that Jesus would never come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed;
Not once ever kneeling or bowing their head.
And Mom in the rocker with baby on her lap,
Was watching The Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the east there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I flew like a flash;
Tore open the shutters and threw open the latch!

When much to my wondering I should hear;
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here!
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,
I know in a moment this must be the day!

The light of His face made me cover my head;
It was Jesus returning just like He said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth;
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the book of life which He held in His hand;
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word, as He searched for my name,
When He said, "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love;
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He stood without sound;
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried, as they arose out of sight;
O, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear,
The coming of Jesus is drawing very near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
You'll find that the Bible was true after all.

(I'm not sure who wrote this, but it does makes you think)

Six Resolutions

When William Booth was 20 years old he penned 'Six Resolutions.' They were discovered after his Promotion To Glory. They are as follows:

1. That I will rise every morning sufficiently early to wash, dress, and have a few minutes, not less than 5, in private prayer.

2. That I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk in which I have lately so sinfully indulged.

3. That I will endeavor in my conduct and deportment before the world and my fellow servants especially to conduct myself as a humble, meek and zealous follower of Christ, and by serious conversation and warning endeavor to lead them to think of their immortal souls.

4. That I will read no less than four chapters in God's Word every day.

5. That I will strive to live closer to God, and to seek after holiness of heart and leave providential events with God.

6. That I will read over this every day or at least twice a week.

God help me, enable me to cultivate a spirit of self-denial and to yield myself a prisoner of love to the redeemer of the world.

I feel my own weakness, and without God's help I shall not keep these resolutions. The Lord have mercy upon my guilty soul.

Our Latest Attempted "Hit"

The phone rings. Deb picks it up and after a few seconds tells me: "Our Family Store has been evacuated. There's a fire in the field behind our building. The fire company is on their way." So am I.

The short story- the field is all burned black, but it didn't touch our building. Well, "didn't touch," in that nothing burned. The fire definately touched our building in at least 3 places. But again, no damage. God is good. All the time!

This is just another "attempted hit" by The Enemy on our now wildly successful Family Store. He keeps trying, but God is covering for us. He has a plan for The Salvation Army in Bangor and that place is right in the middle of that plan.

The outcome of the most recent attempt before this fire, is still pending. But we trust God has it all covered. No real worries. However, I'm not ignorant of the fact that The Enemy is attacking and wants nothing less than to wipe that place off the map before we have the chance to change Bangor through its ministry (Family Store, Christmas Center and The PowerHouse Teen Center).

I know God listens to you guys (he promises that), so I ask for your prayers on our behalf. Not only that each attack by The Enemy fails miserably, but that we begin the process of renovations in the Teen Center soon. Changing Bangor through the Teen population can't start soon enough!

Thanks!

The Bangor Vision Logo

A couple of weeks after we officially arrived in Bangor, we were headed out on vacation. We don't usually schedule vacation so soon after a new assignment, but we had little choice, because of our new schedule.

When arriving in Bangor, we didn't find a vision in place, so I knew I had my work cut out for me and immediately began pressing in for God's direction. My plan was to spend some free time on vacation, praying and listening. So as the plane took off from the Bangor airport, I pulled out my notebook and started to pray and doodle. The sketch I felt led to put to paper (before we even leveled off), looked very much like the one above. It needed some tweaking, but I knew God was showing me his plan. Within another 2 weeks of our return, I had heard the majority of the entire vision and began seeking what it all meant. Here's the gist of our PPP Logo.

The cross, of course, is the focal point of our mission and is intentionally at the center of everything we do. The words "Blazing the Way," refer to our historic and prophetic lead role in blazing new territory for our division and community. The 3 "Ps," however, provide the backbone to build upon. These "steps" are taken in the following order:

Promise: When we realize the Promise we are in Jesus, we settle into who we are. We don't have to worry about what others think, we know God loves us and has a huge plan for our lives. The potential is limited only by our faith!

Purity: When we know the Promise we are in Jesus, we can begin to walk in the Purity he expects of his children. The world needs to see models of this truth in action.

Power: When we know the Promise we are in Jesus and live in the Purity he expects of his children, we can experience the Power he promises in our daily lives. Power just doesn't happen without the first two.

After 5 years, I believe we're beginning to understand the Promise we are. But truth be told, I can hardly wait until we get to the power step!

The Bangor Corps Vision Statement

I thought it would be good to post the Bangor Corp's Vision Statement (Click on the picture to enlarge), since I talked about my own a few days ago. With it, instead of talking about the details of the statement, I want to share my thoughts about what happens with our corps' purpose when officer's transfer.

I believe God has a specific pupose for each church/corps- just as he has a specific purpose for each person. When you think about it, it makes sense, but I don't believe we think about it much!

So, like discovering our personal spiritual gifts and mission, we need to discover our corp's spiritual gifts and mission. Once we do that, we can focus on what God wants us to do instead of floundering around trying to do everything (only half well). It also allow us to say "no" to things that are not a part of our purpose and tend to drain us from being effective in our mission.

Like personal spiritual gifts, the major gifts and mission of a particular corps do not change (other than growth and expansion) with each officer that is assigned. But too often a corps gets going in the right direction and a new officer decides that's not the way he wants it to go and changes everything. That's a huge reason many of our corps are so innefective- we change our focus every few years (and if one of those foci is right, that means the others are wrong).

Here's the way it should work:
1) The Leader is responsible to "pull down" the vision from God.
2) S/he shares what s/he has discovered with local corps leaders.
3) They all work together toward consensus about God's plan for them, fine-tuning the statement as each person does their part in the process.
4) When they reach consensus (consensus is worth a lot more space than I'm prepared to give it here), they share God's vision with the whole corps.
5) The leadership begins the process of vision-casting, so that everyone can share in the ownership of the vision/mission.
6) The whole corps begins the work they are called to accomplish- their purpose.

If this happens, it is not subject to change when a particular officer moves. The new officer should come in, learn of the purpose (which should be well documented), gain ownership as well (as any new-comers would) and continue the forward motion to accomplish God's purpose. Think of how we could actually be winning the world for Jesus, if we followed one God-led direction without shifting around!

I'll tell you what- God's ideas are certainly better than any I could come up with! I'll tell you what- God's ideas are certainly better than any you could come up with either! Or any other officer who ever darkens the door of any corps, for that matter. So why do we do this to our faithful people, who only want to buy into the Army's mission of winning the world?

(stepping down off my soap box now . . . )

As a corps, we believe the above excapsulates what God wants us to be doing in Bangor, Maine. We are working in this direction and God has been leading and blessing. The results have been nothing short of amazing! Now, I'm not planning on leaving any time soon, but when I do, I pray the Bangor people will be strong enough spiritually to continue this work. I also pray the new officers are strong enough to let God lead and not go their own way.

First Place is Reserved for God

Unlike Abraham, God will not have us physically place our children on the altar of sacrifice. Yet in a similar way, he does require us to place all things of importance on the altar of our hearts. He does that because nothing can take first place in our lives over him. First place must be reserved for God alone.

What thing does God require you to sacrifice?

A few years ago, it became obvious to me that I valued Star Trek very highly. While noticing this truth, I began toying with the idea of getting rid of everything Star Trek in my life- cold turkey. That meant watching the current TV iteration (Voyager) would have to stop. At first, I thought it would be no problem, but as the day progressed (and time for the newest episode to air approached), it got harder and harder to convince myself I needed to make this "sacrifice." As the countdown neared zero, I sat in my kitchen (a mere 10 feet from the TV) agonizing over whether I could do this or not; whether I should do this or not. I tried to convince myself that this sacrifice was not necessary; my heart beat faster; the clock ticked louder. And it was then, in that struggle, I realized how important Star Trek had become to me. If it was so hard to leave behind, it had to have a serious hold on me- and that really bothered me!

Finally 9:00 PM came and went and great relief flooded my body. From that point on, I had no trouble leaving Star Trek completely behind.

Like the proverbial frog in the kettle, these things sneak up on us without our even noticing them. I'm sure that some of you think it incredible that a mere TV show could have such a hold on my life. But plug in some other thing from your own life and the story takes on new meaning. What is it that has a crushing hold on your life? What takes precidence- maybe even over God? That morning cup of coffee? That exercise regimen? That car? That person? Am I meddling now?

Months after leaving Star Trek behind, God spoke to me one day and "gave it back to me." I hesitated, but he assured me it would be okay from here on out and I have since discovered he was right. I enjoy Star Trek (and praise God for it, although Battlestar Galactica has overtaken Star Trek- "Enterprise" was so lame!), but it no longer has a strangle-hold on my life. God is first and there's no doubt about it.

Abraham too, placed his most valued thing on the altar and was prepared to give it up forever. God did not really require it of him either- but in the process, Abraham and I realized the same truth: God must have first place in our lives.

Yahweh Yireh

Yahweh Yireh (yah-WEH yir-EH), usually seen as Jehovah Jireh, is God the provider. The name is first seen in scripture when Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, Isaac. As they approached the moutain for the offering, Isaac asked his father where the lamb was they were going to slay. Abraham told him, "The Lord will provide."

I wonder what Abraham was thinking. Was he covering so his son wouldn't be upset or did he have faith to believe that his Provider-God would not actually go through with his original order? Did he believe that God would stop him and provide another offering in his son's stead? Either way, God was pleased with Abraham's faith and Abraham saw yet again, how his Provider came through for him.

None of us have been asked to offer such a costly sacrifice and yet how often do we balk at God's more simple requests? When we look back, we realize there was one from whom this terrible offering was required. God required it of himself. He himself required that he give his only Son so that we could be provided for.

It seems the human tendency is to remember the times we didn't get what we wanted. Take some time today and think over the many ways God has provided for you. That's a good way to recall how Yahweh Yireh has come through for you! You are blessed!

Jehovan Jireh, my provider! His grace is sufficient for me
(for me, for me)!

Jehovan Jireh, my provider! His grace is sufficient for me!

My God will supply all my needs,

According to his riches in glory.

He will give his angels charge over me-

Jehovah Jireh cares for me (for me, for me)!

Jehovan Jireh cares for me!

Quote for the Week

A prophesy is an invitation to action that contains a promise of blessing.

- Steve Thompson

A Lower Songbook

I love The Army songbook! Or maybe I should say- I love the songs in The Army songbook- well, you know what I mean. However, I do have a real problem with it. Or maybe I should say the music to the songs in The Songbook? Yeah, that's the problem (confused you enough yet?). Why is it so many of the songs are so high? I once bought a large print songbook, hoping it would also be in a lower key! No such luck.

I am not an accomplished soprano and most people I know are not either. It's extremely difficult to keep a good spiritual atmosphere when singing and people are straining and squeaking (or not straining and squeaking because they are not singing at all)! I don't care to count how many times I've been in a prayer meeting trying to bring seekers to the altar and the situation just becomes funny, with all the straining, completely ruining the mood.

Now I am a musician and I understand that the music is arranged so the brass band can accompany the singing in an easy enough key. But I also know it's not really that difficult to make them both happen at the same time (decent key and low enough for unstrained singing).

This is a real unfortunate blooper that could have been corrected a few years ago when we re-did the songbook and tune books. Now I know a fix won't happen tomorrow, but it should at least be acknowledged so we can set our sights on a fix some day.

Is anybody out there who can get this situation to the right people, to make this go away some day? Who's up for an email-writing campaign?

International Encourage Your Local Administrator's Week

As highly valued as the gift of Administration is to The Salvation Army (my brother says we'd readily trade 3 with the gift of tongues for 1 with the gift of administration!), I discovered last night that it is highly undervalued in the local corps setting. That, because it's not seen as "spiritual."

We're studying Spiritual Gifts in our cell group and one gift we looked at last night was the gift of Administration. We had plenty to say about the other "pastoral" gifts (as Wagner categorizes them together), but when it came to Administration- as a group, we had little to nothing to say (well, on to the next gift . . .).

Now Debbie has the gift, so I know this bothered her. She "checked out" of the conversation for a few and began to think and write her thoughts. Later she told me she had some insight: "The gift of Administration is undervalued in the local church because it's not 'spiritual.' " I agree. Yet, it is definitely highly valued and encouraged in a headquarters position (hence the trade reference above).

We were stationed at a DHQ position for 3 years. I toughed it out; Debbie thrived (we didn't work together). Her gift was appreciated and she received "high marks" for all the amazing things she accomplished in so short a time. I struggled because my gifts are not well suited for the desk job as I had.

Now in the local church setting, you need to get administrative things done, so I am very thankful and highly appreciative of Debbie's giftedness (I have often said she makes me look good!), but I don't think the corps people realize how important her behind the scene's work is. They easily see the stuff I do, but her work is often invisible (for instance, right now [Saturday AM] she's headed to the corps to prepare the building for Sunday- who knows that? And who notices that the building is clean and tidy for Sunday's activities?). Now, that's not to say she isn't gifted in other aspects of ministry as well- she is- very much so. It's just that people often cubby-hole her, and wrongly so. My assumption is that others gifted in Administration are in a similar boat. All because the gift is not seen as "spiritual."

So why do we call it a "Spiritual Gift?" Ah, because it is spiritual! It is a powerful gift given by Holy Spirit to those he can trust with it. These are they who rarely need the proverbial "pat on the back." They work well in the background. They need little visibility to be fulfilled. They do the detail work so that others (like me) can do their work without "messing administrative things up!"

I say we schedule a special week to encourage our Local Administrators in their neverending job. Know anyone who's so gifted? Well, the week of Sunday, April 10 is International Encourage Your Local Administrators Week!

Thank God for them! Get out there and encourage them!

Who Are You Anyway?

“When I want to end a relationship, I just say, ‘You know, I love you. I want to marry you. I want to have your children.’ Sometimes they leave skid marks.” (Comedian Rita Rudner)
[copied from Ruhani's blog page]

Hmmm. Sounds to me like this is very similar to people at church (not the "have your children" part, just the "I love you" part- or just simply "I want to get to really know you").

Why are we so afraid of the people at our church getting to know us? I think it's because we're afraid they'll see us for who we really are- not just who we pretend to be while we're at church. Yikes! Worse yet- we're afraid we'll see ourselves for who we really are- not just the person we make ourselves believe we are. Double Yikes!!

Who are you anyway?

It's a good thing God loves us despite who we really are! It doesn't matter to him who we are (well, it matters, he just won't reject us because of our failings). We can't hide from God. He knows us even better than we know ourselves.

Are you afraid others will find out your secret- who you really are behind that mask? Are you afraid to know who you really are? Take a tip from God, who knows us best:

Long ago the LORD said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. - Jeremiah 31:3

No matter what others think of you, God will always love you. Actually, it doesn't matter what others think of you anyway! That should give you a little courage to face the truth.

Lack of Vulnerability Leads to Superficiality

"Lack of vulnerability in personal relationships leads to superficiality."

Click the quote above (link) to read Tara's original blog and my response. I'm elaborating on my thoughts here.

That is HUGE! This is what happens Sunday mornings- we talk about all kinds of things, but don't make ourselves vulnerable, so we end up not knowing the people we worship with. We're going to spend eternity with them- maybe it's about time we get to know them! And let them get to know us.

Instead of asking about the weather, we should be asking how they're doing spiritually. Better yet, we should be sharing how we're doing spiritually.Why are we so afraid to "wear bikini's" to church? Of all places, that's the one place we should feel comfortable to open up and be real.

I'm tired of all the superficiality in the church. That's why we lose so many people- especially in this day when people are searching for real relationship. Where else do we expect them to find it?

I challenge you to start opening up. Then make the commitment to stay around when others start opening up to you. Don't like what you find? It doesn't matter- love them anyway and begin the process of bonding to the body of Christ.

God is with you

In my inner healing and deliverance ministry, I have discovered a pattern. More often than not, people don't really believe that God is with them. Oh they know it in their heads, but they don't believe it in their hearts; they don't experience the truth of God's presence. But what a difference in that mere 12 inches (the distance from your head to your heart)!

Often when we have had a troubling experience in our past, we feel alone in our suffering. In that moment of pain, we were totally focused on how badly we hurt- to the exclusion of looking around to find Jesus in that place. But when we revisit that experience in our memories, we can "freeze-frame" what happened and take a closer look around the room. In my experience, we always, always find Jesus was there. Not only was he there, he was concerned for us and actively involved in the situation- either protecting us, keeping it from being worse, ending it sooner or providing the strength to survive it. He didn't cause it, he was grieved that The Enemy got one over on us. Learning that fact alone, is empowering and healing!

Imagine the truth of this statement: God is always with you! Don't just read that as a platitude, meditate on it until you begin to grasp the depth of the reality and move it the full 12 inches from your head to your heart.

David had spent much time "alone" and realized there really is no such thing! He shared his wisdom with us and said it well:

I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.
- Psalm 139:7-12

I wonder what our struggles would be like if we actually practiced this knowledge? Here's a thought: in the middle of your next tough situation, stop a moment, take a deep breath and look for Jesus right then and there. I guarantee you'll find him, because he is there and he wants you to know it.

Musician's Head Explodes!

Don't believe everything you see in print (maybe I should have posted this on April 1)!
- - - - -

Musician's Head Explodes Trying to hit a High Note
. . . it swelled & burst like a balloon

by PAT CRAIGERS / The National Enquirer.

A TALENTED TRUMPET player died on stage when he blew so hard trying to hit a high note that his head exploded!

Ugo Solari, 43, was playing the end of The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha when his head swelled and burst like a balloon.

"It was horrible," says Gilberto Franconi, who was sitting in the front row of the Il Torquo Jazz Club when the trumpeter's head burst open.

Shakes
"I get the shakes when I think about it. There was blood everywhere.

"I looked over at my girlfriend Theresa. There was blood dripping from her blonde hair and she was screaming.

"A woman on the other side of me had fainted. The man with her had vomited onto the table."

Witnesses say there were screams and a mad stampede for the exits when the audience heard a popping sound and saw blood splatter out of Ugo's head.

"Luckily, no one else was injured," says club owner Renaldo Vienna. "The stampede reminded me of some of those incidents at soccer games when people were crushed by rampaging crowds."

After the jazz concert disbanded in mayhem, frantic musicians followed the ambulance carrying Ugo to the hospital in Treviso, Italy.

Accidental
It was there that medical examiner Dr. Roberto Palizzi revealed that blood vessels in Ugo's skull had simply exploded when he blew too hard on the trumpet.

"The skull is especially thin and weak at the temples," says Dr. Palizzi. "The force of the exploding blood vessels actually blew out part of the skull and ruptured the skin.

"He had a hole in the side of his head the size of a large coin. Part of his brains seeped out of the opening."

Palizzi ruled the death "accidental" on Ugo's death certificate.

"I have heard of trumpet players who developed serious headache problems and had to give up playing the instrument," he says.

"The trumpet is unusual in that it demands a certain amount of force to play it. It is common to see a trumpet player's face turn red, even purplish from the exertion.

"However, to cause his head to explode in this manner is a fluke.

"I believe Ugo's skull was unusually fragile at the temple and this weakness caused the tragedy."

Ode to a Bass Trombone

O Bass Trombone, O Bass Trombone,

I love your rich and fruity tone;

Your biting rasp; sonorous groan,

You stand majestic or alone.

Should you perchance be overblown,

This causes frailer souls to moan

That they'd prefer the sousaphone!

But I shall never cease to own

My love for you,

O Bass Trombone.

A Bass Trombone Physics Lesson

Paolo Esperanza, bass-trombonist with the Simphonica Mayor de Uruguay, in a misplaced moment of inspiration decided to make his own contribution to the cannon shots fired as part of the orchestra's performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture at an outdoor children's concert. In complete seriousness he placed a large, ignited firecracker, which was equivalent in strength to a quarter stick of dynamite, into his aluminum straight mute and then stuck the mute into the bell of his quite new Yamaha in-line double-valve bass trombone.

Later, from his hospital bed he explained to a reporter through bandages on his mouth, "I thought that the bell of my trombone would shield me from the explosion and instead, would focus the energy of the blast outwards and away from me, propelling the mute high above the orchestra, like a rocket."

However, Paolo was not up on his propulsion physics nor qualified to use high-powered artillery and in his haste to get the horn up before the firecracker went off, he failed to raise the bell of the horn high enough so as to give the mute enough arc to clear the orchestra.

What actually happened should serve as a lesson to us all during those delirious moments of divine inspiration. First, because he failed to sufficiently elevate the bell of his horn, the blast propelled the mute between rows of players in the woodwind and viola sections of the orchestra, missing the players and straight into the stomach of the conductor, driving him off the podium and directly into the front row of the audience.

Fortunately, the audience were sitting in folding chairs and thus they were protected from serious injury, for the chairs collapsed under them, passing the energy of the impact of the flying conductor backwards into row of people sitting behind them, who in turn were driven back into the people in the row behind and so on, like a row of dominos. The sound of collapsing wooden chairs and grunts of people falling on their behinds increased logarithmically, adding to the overall sound of brass cannons and brass playing as constitutes the closing measures of the Overture.

Meanwhile, all of this unplanned choreography notwithstanding, back on stage Paolo's Waterloo was still unfolding. According to Paolo, "Just as I heard the sound of the blast, time seemed to stand still. Everything moved in slow motion. Just before I felt searing pain to my mouth, I could swear I heard a voice with a Austrian accent say "Fur every akshon zer iz un eekvul un opposeet reakshon!" Well, this should come as no surprise, for Paolo had set himself up for a textbook demonstration of this fundamental law of physics. Having failed to plug the lead pipe of his trombone, he allowed the energy of the blast to send a superheated jet of gas backwards through the mouth pipe of the trombone which exited the mouthpiece, burning his lips and face.

The pyrotechnic ballet wasn't over yet. The force of the blast was so great it split the bell of his shiny Yamaha right down the middle, turning it inside out while at the same time propelling Paolo backwards off the riser. And for the grand finale, as Paolo fell backwards he lost his grip on the slide of the trombone, allowing the pressure of the hot gases coursing through the horn to propel the trombone's slide like a double golden spear into the head of the 3rd clarinetist, knocking him unconscious.

The moral of the story? Beware the next time you hear someone in the trombone section yell out "Hey, everyone, watch this!"

My Rule of Life

Along the lines of my Purpose Statement, here's my Rule of Life. This was developed for a class at Greenville College (here's the shameless plug for their LAMP course- Leadership And Ministry Program- an awesome Masters program). During the Spiritual Development Class, we went to a monestary for a weekend and spent time in solitude, discussion and with the monks.

Similar to what the monks follow, we were asked to create our own Rule of Life. There were 6 areas I felt important to develop in my own life: Personal Growth, Family, Community, Humility, Leadership and Sacrifice. If you wish to look at a larger version of it, just click on the image above.

Signed August 2001, the paragraph at the bottom is very important:

It is my desire that this rule be a guide for my life in Christ. I will not become legalistic about my performance; if I fail in their accomplishment any particular day, I will get up, dust myself off
and move forward. I call upon God's unlimited mercy and grace as I henceforth endeavor to put these ideals into practice.

As I look it over, I realize I still have a long way to go. But I'm working on it!

- - - - -

Ah, it appears even enlaged, it's hard to read. So here it is in full:

RULE OF LIFE

PERSONAL GROWTH
• I will give God at least my first hour of each day in prayer.
• I will daily read a portion of my Bible and meditate on what God speaks through it.
• I will be called away from what I am doing to spend time in prayer each mid-day and evening.
• I will read at least 1 book for spiritual growth every month.
• I will spend 1 day a month in Solitude.

FAMILY
• I will schedule personal time with my wife and each of my children every week.

COMMUNITY
• I will foster a wandering puppy attitude of scheduling my time; I will consider God's schedule for my day more important than my own. I will keep an open door policy at my office so that people will feel free to speak with me when they want to.

HUMILITY
• I will intentionally develop relationships with people I find it difficult to relate to.

LEADERSHIP
• I will fast and pray every Sunday AM for God's people I am shepherding to experience God's manifest presence in worship.

SACRIFICE
• I will give away at least one thing I own personally every month.

It is my desire that this rule be a guide for my life in Christ. I will not become legalistic about my performance; if I fail in their accomplishment any particular day, I will get up, dust myself off and move forward. I call upon God's unlimited mercy and grace as I henceforth endeavor to put these ideals into practice.

Signed 8/01

El Shadday

El Shadday (el shad dye): "God Almighty" or literally- "The Mountain One."

In Abram's day, the people worshipped "gods" who they believed lived in the mountains (or at least in specific geographic areas). In each area they found themselves, they would seek out the "god" who "ruled" that area and worship him/her, to be blessed with good fortune, etc. Today, we know these "gods" to be territorial demons or principalities, who have been assigned certain geographic regions. Yes, they do have a certain power over their areas and the people therein, but they are not all powerful- they are vulnerable to confrontation empowered by Holy Spirit (hallalujah!).

Now, the One, True God comes along and makes himself known to Abram: " I am God Almighty (El Shadday), walk before me and be blameless" (Genesis 17:1). He reveals himself in the context of the person he speaks to- in this case Abram. "Hey Abe- just so you know, the God who is speaking to you now, is The Only Mountain One" (the "walk before me and be blameless" part, deserves its own blog)!

When I think of El Shadday, my thoughts quickly turn to Psalm 91 and the opportunity we have to dwell in the shadow of El Shadday and the promise when we do so. When we take refuge in His shadow, we experience The Mountain One in all his glory and might. As you read the words of this "psong," praise El Shadday for his protection and rest.

Psalm 91 (NLT)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling--

even the LORD, who is my refuge--

10 then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation."