Local Heroes

The next wave of radio ads for our publicity blitz campaign are hot off the press! Special thanx to Brett Slater of Slater's Garage for the awesome work he's doing for us! Click here to listen to one of the ads:

Local Heroes

Here's our plan. We started by telling people We are a Church. Now we're moving to the Army's "Hand to Man" mission- Service to Others. From there we will shift up to our "Win the World" mission- Salvation. After that, we will focus on our intercessory prayer ministry in and for our community. All the while keeping the fact that TSA is a church at the forefront.

We believe this series of ads will be most effective without music. The message is attention-getting enough to capture the listeners ear. Another one finished talks about our Soup Kitchen ministry.

What do you think? Let me know and I'll keep you posted about our success.

Intercession 101

I just started reading the book "The Beginner's Guide to Intercession," by Dutch Sheets (click to buy it). I mentioned awhile ago that one of my goals was to get a group of intercessors together from my corps and work with them on their spiritual gift. Intercession is an important gifting for our corps, since intercession is one of the purposes God has for us in our community. It is interesting to see how many intercessors naturally come to our church and how many God has sent our way over the years!

Tomorrow we are having our first intercessor's meeting and our assignment was to read the first chapter of this book. Dutch Sheets is a good author so I dove in with anticipation. I was not disappointed!

The book is not complex or confusing- it is as the title says: "a beginner's guide." I look forward to working through it with my small group of 5. We will meet for 1 hour every week before our scheduled bible study at the corps.

Here is a wonderful illustration from the book:

"Ken and Barbara Gaub leaned to overcome financial lack through their relationship with God:

"Desperately needing a break from their missions work in Kentucky, the Gaubs headed for their parents' home in Washington. Traveling in below-zero weather was challenging- especially with a baby and a partially working car heater. Upon reaching Colorado, they had only a little bit of change left, so Ken pulled into a parking lot to discuss with Barbara what they should do about their critical financial situation.

"In amazement Barbara said, 'We do what we preach. We believe the Lord and pray.' Bowing their heads, they asked the Lord to send help for them. When finished praying, they drove to a service station and sat there, wondering what step to take next.

"Another car pulled in behind them, and a lady got our and came up to their window. Very excitedly, she remarked, 'I saw you parked back by the grocery store with your heads bowed. I told my husband that I believed you were Christians and that you were praying for financial assistance. I want to help you.' Reaching in the window, she placed money in their hands.

"Overwhelmed at the miracle they held, they thanked her and praised God for His provision."

Why is it we are surprised when God actually answers prayer? All it takes is our putting our faith on the line and trusting God to do what he has said he would do.

Powerful intercession is as simple as that!

Can we be There for Them When it Matters most?

It is with great sadness I write today informing you of a group of people who are seriously misled. I thought I might add a link to their site, but as I perused it, I realized the last thing I want to do is point someone (who might not be able to handle it) in such a wrong direction. My blog is about finding light; truth.

Have you heard of "The Blasphemy Challenge?" It has been set up by a group of atheists who (mis)take the biblical passage of Mark 3:29 as meaning that if you say the actual words "I deny the Holy Spirit," you are forever damning your soul. So they have set up a place where you can post your video denial and join their ever growing ranks.

First my take, then our response.

MY TAKE
1) Mark 3:29 is not about saying the actual words. It is a condition of the human spirit. Humankind is mostly unaware of the spiritual realm- and God will only hold us responsible for what we know of it. This is opposed to those angels who chose to deny God, when they knew the whole truth. They were not looking through a glass darkly, as it were. So the result of their sin was permanent- there is no redemption available and they knew that when they chose to follow Lucifer.

When a human being says those fateful words, it will not in and of itself condemn you forever, but it might lead you down the path which will someday get you there. However, until you do get there (and there's a lot of speculation on when and how you "get there"), God is willing to forgive. These people are not accomplishing what they think they are and we should ask God to reveal the truth to them.

2) They (and many of the links they give) speak of the hatred Christians have for non-Christians and even have recordings of "famous" Christians saying hateful things. Bottom line: they are right in many cases! Who of us have not heard "Christians" saying such hateful things about other human beings?

Yes, there will always be those people who call themselves "Christian" (Christ-follower), but are really NOTHING like Jesus. True Christianity is about love- NOT hate. God loves all humankind. Therefore we should love all humankind. We must own up to the fact that we often aren't the best examples of what Jesus has to offer.

3) They speak of rational thinking. A rational person sees no reason to believe in God (so they say). Yet it is here they take the same step of faith they denounce Christians for, but in another direction. It takes faith to NOT believe in God. There is just way too much evidence around us to NOT see God's obvious existence. To deny something that so permeates the world around us takes anything BUT rational thinking.

OUR RESPONSE
Many "Christians" are denouncing these people as the worst kind of humans. They are fighting against them and, yes, hating them as if that will somehow win them over to the "truth." But THAT truth is not REAL truth. Out response should be sadness, humiliation and prayer.

Sadness because The Enemy has really pulled one over on these people. They think they are so right and yet they are so wrong. Many of them will one day see the truth, but it will be too late (others will be won over by a REAL Christian loving them). Remember- God didn't create hell as a punishment for humankind, he created it for Lucifer and his followers. If you follow him, you'll certainly get to the same place he goes to. God does NOT want that. He is not willing that ANY should perish and even sent Jesus to make SURE it wouldn't happen to any who just believe in him.

We should feel humiliation for our part in pushing these people to this place in their lives. We have obviously not been there for them when they needed us. We have obviously let them down. Many of us have hated them and looked down on them and shown them disdain instead of the love Jesus has for them. We need to humble ourselves- maybe in front of them- and ask forgiveness for our failure to "be" Jesus to them.

We need to PRAY for these people. I challenge you to do so. And I don't mean just namby pamby "bless them all, Lord" prayers. We need to weep and fast and bring these people to Jesus BY NAME.

I know, I'm asking you to pray for them by name and then not giving you any names, because I've not given the link (I also will not post these people's names without their permission). If you know the site and are serious, I encourage you to watch a few videos, catch their names and begin praying (you can also contact me privately to get more info).

They HAVE NOT condemned themselves forever. We CAN stand in the gap for them and make a difference.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, make us good examples of your love to others- especially those who have needed us in the past and we have failed them. Give us a burden to pray for those who need you most, yet believe in you least. May we be faithful to you and to them.

We are What we Watch

Today was a movie day, as it often is on our day off. As we were heading into the parking lot of the movie theater, we realized it was a day off for a lot of other people as well. The place was crowded (usually on Mondays we get the theater to ourselves)! I guess that happens on national holidays and almost everyone has the day off.

As we headed down the hallway to our theater, I felt like we just missed the party and everyone was leaving. One of the movies had just ended and we had to dodge people until we passed the group emptying out into the hallway. There were lots of kids in the crowd, so I looked to see what animated movie they just saw. Imagine my surprise when I realized it wasn't a cartoon- it was rated PG-13.

Here's what the MPAA rating says about PG-13 movies: "Parents Strongly Cautioned" and this particular movie posted this: "Crude and sexual humor, some nudity and language." Yeah- that's what I want to make sure my kids get drilled into their heads (please see the sarcasm in that last sentence!).

So what's the deal these days? What is it that makes us think we can submerse our kids in this sewage and expect them NOT to grow up to become societal problems? Why are we surprised when they develop "issues?"

And "our kids?" These are movies I shouldn't watch (by the way, we didn't see this particular movie and will not in the future)! AND we can't just talk about movies; we need to include TV in this mix as well. Some things are just NOT good to let into our heads.

This is real spiritual warfare friends. What do you think? Anything you think we can do about it on a large scale or are we stuck with what our world is becoming?

I am Coming

For some time now I have been very concerned with the issue of Human Trafficking- to the point where I would call it a prayer burden from God. He's got some purpose for me and I have been meditating and seeking what and how I need to get involved in its destruction.

I just read Aaron's blog on ArmyBarmy about the I am Coming Campaign and I was immediately taken by it's simplicity yet power. I bought in!

There is hope; hold on just a little bit longer- I am Coming!

Go to the official site (I am Coming). Click around; explore. Check out the videos (a surprise awaits in one). Sign the petition. Sign up for a ring (I can't wait for mine! Alas, I will have to). Read up on Human Trafficking. Talk it up. Do SOMEthing!

Did you know there are more people caught in this slavery right now today than there were in all the history of African slavery? Incredible. Yet it's more incredible that hardly anything is being done about it. In fact in some places, such slavery is even protected by some of the legal authorities?

There is much more to write about and I will be blogging more soon. It is welling up in me and I can hardly keep it down (not that I want to).

In the meantime- get busy learning as much as you can.

Thoughts on 2 Chronicles 15-16

Check out 2 Chronicles chapters 15-16. It's a fascinating passage and I'd like to leave you with a few thoughts about it. I'll assume you've already read it now, so I'll just make my comments on specific verses:

15:2 If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

There's a promise and a curse here. If you do the right thing, you get the promise. If not- well, you get the idea. But the main issue is God's concern that his people seek him. Mind you, he WANTS to be found so he's not into hiding.

He actively seeks us, but that's not enough for him. He wants us to do the same. That doesn't just "happen" because we go to church once a week. It takes effort and time. He promises that we will find him, but we've got to do the seeking. The last thing we want is for God to forsake us, but it WILL happen if we do NOT seek him.

4 But in their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.

It always seems to take some distress for us to really seek God now, doesn't it? I wonder what serious blessing we'd receive if we sought God BEFORE we got into trouble? Yet still, either way, he IS found WHENEVER we choose to seek him (whew!).

7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

Nice promise! I hang onto this one all the time, because just when I want to give up, I need a reminder to hang in there just a little bit longer.

12 They entered into a covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.

A covenant; a contract, if you will. Wouldn't it be great if we were so serious! To actually sign a contract with God that we would seek him with all our heart and soul. Wow! Powerful!

13 All who would not seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.

Ouch! This would be a little hard to follow through with today! :) But they were serious and my bet is there weren't too many people that had to die that day. Seeking God was the most important thing they had to do.

14 They took an oath to Yahweh with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. 15 All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So Yahweh gave them rest on every side.

Not only did they take the oath, they did it wholeheartedly and with LOUD shouts and the whole band! They sought God with everything they had and, of course, they found him- because that's the promise. And God is good for his word. Always.

16:9 For the eyes of Yahweh range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Here's the kicker: If we will fully commit ourselves to God, he will strengthen us to be successful. And we see God seeking again- seeking all over the earth to find those who sincerely want to find him and know him with all their hearts.

Often in today's world, there are way too many things keeping us from giving God everything. Anything in your way of seeking God with ALL your heart?

Mbembe and the Elephant

You may have heard this report. In 1986, Mkele Mbembe was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Mbembe approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Mbembe worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments.

Mbembe stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.

Mbembe never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Mbembe was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenage son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Mbembe and his son Tapu were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Mbembe, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Mbembe couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Mbembe summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.

The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Mbembe's legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

Moses' Press Secretary

Leadership Styles

An officer friend of mine in Africa (Paul Pelletier) sent me some notes from an Officer's Councils he attended on leadership styles and personality types. There's some very interesting stuff in here, so I offer it for your enjoyment and information. When looking through these, we should always include the giftedness of the person as well.

Autocratic or Dictatorial: Single leader - gives orders to others; This style can be beneficial if the leader has very good information and can make a well informed decision. Also, the leader needs to know he or she has the support of their followers. This style can make quick decisions but does not promote teamwork or creativity among followers.

Authoritative: Leadership that utilizes a chain of command. This style can maintain control while being a little flexible, can bring quick decisions or
delegate tasks to others for participation and teamwork. Organizationally, it can work democratically with some leaders and autocratically with others.

Democratic or Consultative: Leadership that gives opportunities to others to advise. When the leader lacks information necessary to make a good decision the consultative approach is best.

Participative Leadership: Team leadership with people working together toward a set of goals. When supporters/followers are not likely to cooperate in a set of circumstances the Participative approach may help.

Within these leadership styles are personality traits of leadership behavior.

Type A Leaders: Tend to be well organized and goal oriented. This style works best in attaining goals and bringing order to chaos. Type A leaders tend to look for other goal oriented individuals who will assist them in attaining the success of their tasks.

Type B Leaders: Tend to be more relationally oriented. This style promotes supporter participation, teamwork and creativity among followers. Type B leaders tend to look more for others who value harmony in relationships.

Charismatic Leadership: Charismatic leadership is an extremely strong, visionary leadership that appeals to both Type A & B followers. While the high expectations and strong goal of a vision appeals to type A personalities, type B personalities are willing to let go of any suspicions in the hopes of gaining something for themselves if the vision is accomplished.

- - - - -
So what do you think? Do you have anything to add? There are obviously many different takes on leadership styles and types. I'd be interested in hearing from some of you on the subject.

The Caveman's Crib

Any of you who have seen the Geico "Caveman" ads, will really enjoy this new website they have put up. It's the Caveman's Crib (Click here to go there).

Once you enter the apartment, you can click on things and tour his house. Click on his books in the book case and see what he reads. If you go in the bathroom don't forget to click on the toilet handle.

This is an interesting site- not difficult at all to figure out. In fact, it's so easy a caveman could do it!

lala

lala.com is an interesting new web site I have found. If you like music and like to buy CDs you will know it can get very expensive! Wouldn't it be nice if there was a site where you could just trade CDs with other people?

There is! it's called lala (.com). Click on the link above or the picture and you'll be taken to their home page. Click around on that page and you'll find all the info you will need to understand what they're all about and how you can become a member.

I'm a newbie there, but already I've gotten 3 new CDs (each for a grand total of $1.75 including postage) and sent 4 of my unwanted CDs (absolutely free to send CDs). I've gotten Great River Road by Jason Upton; Risk, by Ten Shekel Shirt; and Carnaval, by Wynton Marsalis. A Canadian Brass Christmas is in the mail too.

Here's the scoop. When you join, you start entering CDs you WANT and CDs you HAVE to sell. Probably by the time you finished entering what you want, you will get a notice that one of them is being sent to you!

lala will then send you a mailing kit (wait until you get your kit before you send anything!). When someone wants what you have to offer, you will get a notice. You respond to that notice with a click. When your mailing kit arrives, you take your CD out of it's case with the booklet and any other art (back of the CD). Put the CD in the plastic mailer, slide the cover art in with it, seal the postage-paid envelope that was provided.

The mailing envelope has a number on it. You go to the site, click on the send notice and enter the envelope number. You will then get the address to mail it to. Drop it in the mailbox! Now you're all done, except to tell lala when you receive your wanted CD (if it came in good condition, etc).

Each CD you get costs $1.00 that goes to lala. The shipping cost is $.75. All charges are put on your credit card at the end of the month. It's that simple!

On your home page (once you sign it) is a kind of "traffic light." If it's green, you've sent more CDs than you've gotten. If it's yellow you're in the middle. If it's red, you can't receive any more CDs until you send more. The idea is to receive AND send!

Try lala out. If you like it, let me know. If you must know, my name there is Duck Tape. Check out my picture!

More on "Apostle"

Chad, a new reader to Light Seeker, just posted a comment back in January. One of the things he said really caught my attention: "An apostle is an innovative leader."

At first, I thought it was too simple, because after all, I've got books and books and pages and pages of teaching materials on the subject! But something about it really caught my spirit, so I continued to think about it.

Now the simplicity of this definition doesn't negate all of my materials nor all the books out trying to help the church get a handle on the gift of apostle- they're still valid. But in our attempts to get a quick understanding of what an apostle is, I like it! As long as it is understood that the innovation comes from moving back to basic truths today's church seems to have forgotten. AND the innovation is of God and not just some humanly creative, business oriented, sense-making (maybe even charismatic, in the non gifts related definition) "good" ideas.

I have long taught that an apostle is deeply concerned with getting back to a basic truth of the Gospel. Good examples of apostles would be Martin Luther and his thrust to get the church back on track regarding God's grace; William Booth and his thrust to get the church back on track regarding "others." Each exemplified a dogged determination to remain faithful to the truth even in the midst of serious attack from the church who was almost as dogged in their attempts to keep these innovative leaders from ushering in the change God was directing them to champion.

Which brings in another aspect of an apostle- an apostle will always have opposition. They will actively fight against the status quo that is very comfortable remaining right where they are, thank-you very much. It's interesting that when we look back through history and see such examples like Martin Luther, we all gladly point out how unbelievable the church (and certain people within it) were in fighting against what God had so obviously led the apostle to champion (grace, in ML's case). I mean, how oblivious could those people have been back then? Yet alas! we fail to see the log in our own eyes today.

Perhaps a better question would be: How oblivious can WE be? Like the Pharisees in their day, much of the church today fights against Holy Spirit and will one day stand before Jesus and find themselves terribly saddened by their lack of recognizing The One they so readily proclaimed (as long as it was done their way)!

My heart breaks for these people. I pray regularly that they will be given grace to get through the walls they have built to keep Holy Spirit out or at the very least, keep him on a short leash.

Almost sounds a bit like the unpardonable sin, doesn't it?

Game 33

It's been quite awhile since I posted a cool game. The last one was "Red Square" where you had to keep the red square from being hit by the moving boxes as long as possible.

Well it's time for another game!

Check out this new game called Catch 33 (click to go play). You can bookmark the game to go back again and again until you get the high score!

The gist of the game is to roll the mouse over all 33 numbers (in order) as fast as you can. Sounds easier than it is because the numbers are moving randomly around the screen! The best score is the lowest this time.

My lowest score so far is 39. Who's going to be the first to beat me?

Operating in the Natural in a Spiritual Environment (Part 2)

So if operating in the Natural is not valid in a Spiritual Environment, then how do we go about operating in the Spiritual? Jack Hayford mentions it in his article (if you haven't read it yet, go back to yesterday's entry). What do we do?

Listen to God.

Now I fully realize that stymies cessationists, because they think God can only speak to us through the Bible. But more and more people are coming on board with actually listening to God in prayer and expecting him to personally answer. I must admit it's something I was not taught to do as a child.

God tells us in Scripture:

Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know. - Jeremiah 33:3

He also says:

You will hear a voice say, "This is the way; turn around and walk here." - Isaiah 30:21

Enough defending hearing God's voice. God speaks. What else is there to say?

However I was intrigued by Jack Hayford's way of approaching God. Instead of assuming (because he is a successful pastor in a large church) that whatever he wanted to do was anointed of God, he actually asked God what he should ask for!

You know, I've been listening to God speak to me personally for a few years now, and I still keep discovering new ways to ask him things! This is another new way and I like it. Especially as it relates to the "business" of the church.

What if we started asking God what we should do instead of the "business gurus" out there that have written all those books on leadership? Would we make decisions that would stymie the gurus? Of course we would! If we were listening to God, then those choices would turn out for the best even if the gurus
would cringe at our seeming lack of good sense.

I seem to remember a story in the Bible about a town called Jericho. What was the battle plan God gave them? What? March around the city 7 times for 7 days? What!? Shout at the walls!? Are you crazy?!?

Did it work?

Who in their "right mind" would EVER suggest such a ridiculous military plan? But it was God's idea and there was no guess-work to it.

I'd like to suggest we actually start listening to God for ALL the decisions we have to make relating to our corps. We would certainly make some people nervous, because we would begin doing some really weird things!

But they would work! Assuming we were actually listening to God- not just asking him to rubber-stamp our plans. You see, God is NOT obligated to support our ideas, but he IS obligated to support his own!

Listening to God IS Operating in the Spiritual. That's what I'd like to do. Now, I have been doing this for some things, but I must admit I have not been doing it for everything.

I'm going to start. Anyone out there with me?

Operating in the Natural in a Spiritual Environment (Part 1)

I just finished reading an excellent article my brother sent me from Buildingchurchleaders.com. Jack Hayford titled his work "Why I Don't set Goals." I have always had a natural aversion to goal setting, so I was interested in what this well known man of God had to say.

Before I go any further, you need to read it in it's entirety at the following link:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bcl/areas/vision-strategy/articles/090905.html

Go ahead. I'll wait . . .

If you haven't read the article I'm not going to let you read any further- so get going! Besides much of what I say won't make any sense if you don't read it.

So what do you think? I tend to agree with him- even in that is it hard to "buck" the system of setting goals, because they are not totally evil; they do have some good aspects. The problem is (as he says):

"If we reach the goal, we conclude that 'God is blessing.' The next assumption is 'God is in this program,' and before long we are serving the program instead of the Lord himself . . . We [in the church] have a propensity for launching our crusades with righteous intent and then fueling them with carnal energy."

I so agree! Just because something is successful doesn't mean God is in it (not necessarily the reverse either)! Nor does it mean that the ones who put the program in place are doing God's will through it. Nor are they necessarily God's anointed messengers because of that success.

For instance, take the kings of the Old Testament. You have a good king, then a bad one. Then a good one and another bad one- etc, ad infinitum. According to scripture, each one was "placed there by God." Did each one follow God? No. So can we say that because a king got into his place of authority, that God was on his side? I think not- in some cases God actively fought against them! Assuming that every person who attains a leadership position is therefore anointed is not a valid assumption. But there are few people who think they are "doing the wrong thing." They start from the position of righteous intent, but fuel that fire with carnal energy.

Hence my title: Operating in the Natural in a Spiritual Environment.

The church is a Spiritual Environment. Operating in the Natural should not be a part of our manual. The person who operates from the Natural (Carnal) should not have authority over the Spiritual person. The church is not a business and should not be run as such. Yes, we need to move in the business world and we need administrators and business people to help us manage. But the leadership should be those operating from the Spiritual.

What's your take?

[Part 2 tomorrow]

Back to Basics

When you find yourself doing something poorly, you might want to get back to basics. That's what I do when I find myself golfing poorly- I get back to basics- with a little help from my Dad who always welcomes the opportunity to tell me what I'm doing wrong! I would also assume that if I found myself driving poorly, the police would be only too willing to help me get back to basics! A costly lesson, to be sure.

When things got off track in Ephesus (Revelation 2), Jesus reminded that church they had forsaken their first love; their primary purpose. He reminded them to do what they did at first.

When we, as an Army of Salvation, find ourselves going off in a different direction than we started- it's time we stop right where we are and re-evaluate our mission. Who are we Salvos (I like the Australian term!)? What ARE we supposed to be doing? Why aren't we growing?

Maybe we need to get back to basics.

So what IS our purpose? What ARE the basics we need to get back to? Good questions (I'm glad you asked)!

The Primary Purpose of The Salvation Army is SALVATION! Duh! What's our name? What should we be doing? Salvation! Getting people saved!

Are we? Have we forsaken our first love? If you're a Salvo, ask yourself: "When was the last time you led someone to salvation?" The early Army grew like wildfire! Why? They got people saved. It's as simple as that. That's why we changed our name from The Christian Mission to The Salvation Army!

If there are Christians out there whose hearts aren't burning to get others saved, I'm sure they can find some wimpy church out there where they can sit and be comfortable. But that's not who WE are. We have a mission and we need our soldiers to get on board with our purpose. Salvation.

The Secondary Purpose of The Salvation Army is SANCTIFICATION! We are a holiness movement. Look at the altars at the center of most corps chapels- they don't read "Do this in Remembrance of me," they read "Holiness unto the Lord." Have we forsaken our first love?

What IS holiness? It's living without sinning. What is sin? "An offense against God." Technically, we can't "sin" against each other, but when we do things we shouldn't OR don't do things we should, that hurts God, we call that sin.

Holiness is a subsequent work of God's grace in our lives AFTER we're saved that puts Holy Spirit in control of our lives instead of just a "guest." When that happens, it becomes possible to live without sinning. We don't have to offend God. It's awesome!

Once we get people saved, it's our purpose to lead them into sanctification. But how can we do that if WE don't experience holiness? If we live no differently than the non-saved around us; if people can't SEE that we're God's children by our actions and lives, then we need to ask ourselves what's going on!

We have a mission and to accomplish it we need to get back to the basics of who we are. Sanctification.

The third Purpose of The Salvation Army is INTERCESSION (I know some might argue it should be service, but I disagree)! Yes, we pray for ourselves, but mostly we should be praying for others- that's intercession. Are we praying? Have we forsaken our first love?

I am often taken aback at the response in our services when we pray a little bit "longer" than usual; when we remain still and silent beyond the typical "fidget limit." It seems obvious, many (if not most) of us are uncomfortable praying beyond The Lord's Prayer.

As Christians, we pray. As Salvos, we pray. It's our purpose! How are we going to win the world for Jesus if we don't pray? News Flash: It can't be done if we don't pray much more- it won't be done.

We have a mission and to accomplish it we need to get back to the basics of who we are. Intercession.

If you're a Salvo, I challenge you to take stock of your life. Dump the junk that keeps you preoccupied and get back to basics.

Salvation. Sanctification. Intercession. That's who we Salvos are.

Promoted to Glory!

Bernie started coming to the Bangor corps around 2 years ago. Why he never got connected long before that, I'll never know; Bernie was so at home with this group of people! It wasn't long before it seemed he had always been around. We got so used to him seeing him working on something or helping someone.

Debbie and I were two of the few we knew who called him Bernie. He had a variety of nick-names, but most called him Bertie. We figure we misheard him when we asked what his name was and started calling him Bernie. He never corrected us, so I guess it wasn't a problem for him.

Many (especially his old time friends) called him Poochie. Yeah, you read that right- where he got THAT one, I'll never know! Someone told us to "pooch" something was to collect it- sort of like a pack rat would. And Bernie was CERTAINLY a pack rat! You should have seen his house! Incredible all the stuff he crammed in there (not to mention his truck)! Debbie and I like to do the garage sale circuit, so we'd often see Bernie on our travels. The difference was, we look- Bernie bought . . . everything! So I guess Poochie fit him.

Bernie was a handyman. As I said above, he was often fixing things around the building- especially little things that others didn't even notice. He was fastidious about those kinds of things. He always wanted his church to look it's best.

Bernie liked to come into my office and sit by my desk to chat. We'd chat about all kinds of things, but mostly about Jesus and the Bible. He liked to ask me questions that made me do some research. Someone once told me when Bernie asked you a question, he already knew the answer- he just wanted to see what you thought about it. And he wanted to make you go search the Bible! There was a method to his "madness!"

One of the coolest memories I have is after Bernie was enrolled as a soldier (in full uniform- even the cap!), is seeing him come around the corner into our parking lot in full uniform on his motorcycle! Incredible.

We had a special service last Thursday morning in his memory. We talked about some of the things I wrote above, sang his favorite song (How Great Thou Art), and talked about his Jesus. We had a packed-out chapel, since so many people knew Bernie and loved him. At least half the crowd was from our Soup Kitchen, where Bernie would come and talk to everyone about Jesus.

We'll miss Bernie. Actually we have been missing him, since cancer kept him at home in bed for so long recently. The Bangor corps will never be the same without this hard worker who wanted to help everyone he knew and even many he didn't!

I find it interesting how God would connect us with such a wonderful person for so short a time. I guess here's where the old saying is especially true: "It was better to have known and loved him for a short time than to not have ever known him at all."

I'm looking forward to seeing Bernie again some day. We'll sit together and chat with Jesus- perhaps by his desk in heaven. I'm certain of this, because I know Jesus too and heaven's where the path of following Jesus ends. Without Jesus in the picture this temporary parting would be for a much longer time.

So do YOU know Jesus too?

TSA NEWS FLASH!

Word just hit the Internet of an important Salvation Army personnel move. Here it is in a nutshell:

Captains Steve Court and Danielle Strickland are on the move to Australia's Southern Territory!

I just read this on the blog of Australia South's Territorial Commander, Jim Knaggs. There's not much to read- but here's my source (click on the link):

TC SPEAK

You may want to follow Steve and Danielle's blogs for any comments that may be showing up in the near future.

ArmyBarmy

ArmyBarmy REMIX

Congratulations Steve and Danielle! Sounds right up both your alleys! I love it when The Army puts people right where they are gifted!

God bless Steve and Danielle!
God bless the Australian South Territory!
God bless Jim Knaggs!
God bless The Salvation Army!
God bless the General!
God bless you!

News Flash: Young Adult Becomes Holy!

Today, before our Superbowl party (which is still going on), I had the privilege of leading one of our young adults (Alberta) into a holiness experience!

She has been wrestling with conviction for awhile now and we have chatted a few times before today. After our service this morning (where holiness was a part of the message), she asked if we could chat again before the party. That's when we concluded our talking about it and actually got to it! Very nice!

So this is a shout out to Alberta AND a highly public announcement (she gave me permission) which will help her be accountable.

Now it's all about faith, listening to Holy Spirit and always making the next moral decision the right one.

Congrats Alberta! You go girl!

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Click on the book picture to buy one.

Power

Power (pou' er) n. 1. The ability or official capacity to exercise control; authority. 2. A person having great influence over others.
[excerpted source: The American Heritage Dictionary]

There are quite a few more definitions, but for this blog I'm sticking with these two.

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How you understand power tells others quite a lot about you. If you are a person who seeks to control others, you will exercise whatever authority you have over people. If you are a person who seeks to impact others, you will influence them by your manner of dealing with them.

It is all too easy to fall into the former. The problem with that is people follow the leader out of respect for the position (not the person); because they have to. Irritation, distrust and even anger can flow from this model of leadership. Followers feel constricted, undervalued (if at all) and rarely good enough. One can easily see how this model of leadership will always cause a downward spiral for the followers and their work.

However, if a leader works with his people and influences them, people follow their leader because they want to. Trust develops, friendship, and satisfaction. Followers feel freedom to try and explore, valued, confident and successful. One can easily see here as well, that this model of leadership will always build people up, creating an uplifting environment with positive results.

In a business it is assumed we will find both models in various places. In the church, we should never find the former. Yet we do for a variety of reasons. {sigh}

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
- Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)

I guess the bottom line here is that the best leader is the one who actually serves his followers (imagine that!). He doesn't try to control them or mold them in his own image, rather he cherishes who they are and allows them to grow and flourish in who God has made them to be.

I know I'm not perfect, but I really try to be a leader who serves his followers. I want to have influence over people not control. To me, that's real power.

Being Transparent (Part 2)

* Continuing on about Being Transparent, there is another facet that needs to be addressed if we sincerely want to be truthful at all times. It has to do with "politics" and to some people, this is a very important thing.

For instance, there are some who are very concerned with how they are perceived from within their organization. They go out of their way to present a good, solid (safe) picture to their leaders of who they are. This is done even if deep down they aren't really the people they represent. The hope is that they will be seen in a good light by their leaders and therefore be "promoted" to a particular place within the organization they want to be in. The assumption is that if they do not play the party politics, they will be overlooked and end up in a career dead end.

The problem with this line of thinking, is twofold. First, if you are not really the person you pretend to be, then when you get to that place you wanted to be in, you aren't really who "they" think you are and the "real you" will create conflict with those very people you wanted to impress. This could end up being a very hard thing for you AND the organization.

Second (and perhaps even more important than the first), if you pretend to be someone you are not for too long, you may actually become that person! Then when you get to that place you wanted to be in (maybe because you desired to change things within the system), you cannot make change because you have changed yourself and look a lot like what you wanted to change in the first place. And when do you actually "get" to that place where you can let your guard down? How long do you have to "play the game" before you can shed that image and really be who you are? There's always one more step.

This is scary! And not just a little bit convoluted!

Here's my plan as it relates to my life goal of Being Transparent: I want to be who I am at all times. What you see is what you get. I want to say what I would say and not what someone else would say. When you look at me, I want you to know who I am and not have to wonder what you're getting. I am NOT you, so I will necessarily be different. God values diversity (he made us all different, didn't he?).

I believe that if I operate this way, then God will be pleased and he will be my advocate (if I need one). I don't have to worry about the politics. If he wants me somewhere within my organization then he will arrange it. If he doesn't want me there (and it's my own idea or desire) then I really don't want to get there anyway. "His way is best. You see, I'm in His hands."

When it all comes down to it, my first life goal relates too: "I want to be Faithful to my God." If I am who my God wants me to be and I do what my God wants me to do, then I shouldn't have any problems in THIS particular organization. That's because The Salvation Army values truth and faithfulness to God.

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* In case you're wondering why you can't view my picture, wonder no more. It's another picture of Invisible Girl. This time she's totally transparent!

Being Transparent (Part 1)

* Way back on March 31, 2005 I posted God's Purpose for Doug Burr (click on the link to check it out). I didn't go into much detail at the time, but recently I have been thinking a lot about one of my life goals: "Be Transparent." Here are some of my thoughts on what it means:

It seems to me that when people communicate, there are really two things being said. The first is what words are actually spoken and the second being the truth that is hidden behind their words. So as we grow up with this happening all around us, we have to learn what people mean- not what is actually said. Some of us get very good at filtering out the actual words and hearing what WOULD be said if the person were honest enough to say it.

To that, I say: "PHOOEY!"

Now I understand this is going to happen between non-Christians. Also when Christians are dealing with non-Christians they will still have to know this "secret code," but between Christians, there should be none of it! I believe we should be transparent- meaning we say what we mean and mean what we say (WE should also be that way with non-Christians even if it brings difficulty).

Here's an example: Three friends just finished dinner; one needs a ride home. The two with cars chat about who will take their friend home. Friend One says: "It doesn't matter to me- I'll take her or you can take her." But REALLY, he wants to get home to catch the game on TV. If he has to take Friend Three home, he'll miss some of it. Rather than say that, he says what is "acceptable" in such a situation to not look bad. If Friend Two knows Friend One well enough, he MIGHT pick up on what is happening. Then again, he might not- it depends on how well he knows "the code." Now there's a good chance Friend One ends up taking Friend Three home and THEN getting mad at the Friend Two for NOT taking her! You know what I'm talking about- you've been there right?

How ridiculous this is! Why not speak the truth and teach your friends that you want to be transparent? Eventually we all 1) get to know each other better, 2) practice telling the truth, and 3) don't have to wonder what other people are thinking and how we should REALLY respond. It's all a whole lot simpler!

I'm trying to be transparent. I know the "secret code" is out there, but I'm trying to get people to understand that I don't want to play that game.

More to follow.

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* If you don't understand why I posted a picture of a girl with a four on her shirt: She is a Marvel super heroine of the Fantastic Four named Invisible Girl. Get it now? Invisible . . . Transparent?