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Salvation Army Corps: Challenges and Potentials

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The Salvation Army is steeped in its rich heritage, traditions and doctrines…It’s ministry has been felt around the world since 1865.  Below I have compiled two basic lists.  The first, “The biggest challenges for Corps (local chapters of The Salvation Army).”  The second, “the biggest potentials for corps”.   These are not absolute by any means, some will not apply to all corps, but are general, though in essence something that should get us thinking.   

The Biggest Challenges for Corps: 

 

1.  Proper Time (Ministry application and usage) Management 

2. Consumed with reporting and other non-spiritual materials

3. Lack of responsible local officers

4. Lack of a clear vision and mission (locally)

5. Financial Concerns

6. Poor Spiritual condition of corps members

7. Corps property lacks adequate space for current programming

8. Traditions and regulations limit innovation and “out of the box” creative thinking & planning

9. Leadership and Lay person role perceptions/misperceptions 

10. Clinging to inadequate and or antiquated programs which no longer meet the needs of the community.  

 

The Biggest Potential for Corps:

1. Clear and concise doctrines

2. Most public perceptions are positive, Salvation Army is a trusted name.

3. We were founded upon the notion of taking risks for Christ and being bold in action planning!

4. Holiness Movement means we MUST rely and listen to the prodding and direction of the Holy Spirit!  

5. The Army Mission statement is clear.

6. Strong sense of purpose in communities (Holistic Ministries) 

7. Vast, sometimes untapped resources of other command units & officers.

8.  Continued education of its leadership and officers

9.  Discipleship initiatives and weekly bible studies

10.  Application of Christ like teachings outside of the four walls of the corps building, through cell groups, ministry teams and relational ministries.  

 

As I mentioned, these are not all inclusive, and are probably similar to other denominations.  It does help in any process organizational planning to have a clear understanding of your local ministry and its strengths and weaknesses.  Some food for thought.    

-Glory to God! 

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Falling in sinkholes or Rockin’ it out!

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  (Ephesians 5:15-17)

ImageJust look at this picture for a moment…let it sink in…(no pun intended).   Recently a man, while sleeping in his bed, lost his life because beneath his home a sinkhole had developed.  This Florida man’s body was never recovered because the earth beneath the home was too turbulent and unstable.  Imagine for a moment being in your bed asleep and suddenly the floor gives away and you not only dream you’re falling, but you literally are plunging to your death.  How horrifying a moment!  I don’t want to trivialize or make light of the grief this family must be going through.  To be there one minute and lost the next…it’s simply unbelievable and yet true.

In a very real sense, this is what can happen to us spiritually as followers of Christ if we’re not careful.  Jesus used an illustration like this to point out how important it is to not only hear His words but to put them into practice in our lives.  He said to put them into practice is like being a wise man who built his house upon a rock, where as if you don’t listen and apply His word you are like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand…watch out because a sinkhole could suck you down and you will disappear forever (My paraphrase).

What sorts of things in your life have the capacity to create sinkholes in your spiritual walk today?  Don’t be foolish, and don’t simply ignore the warning signs either!  If we are to be wise and live for Christ, then we must be careful and to utilize every opportunity God gives us each moment of every day!  We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds our tomorrows!  So be wise, be firmly grounded and be mindful of the sinkholes in this world, Satan would love some company!

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Fall on me (Poem)

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Let Your love fall on me

Precious Spirit fall on me

may Your strength my will supply

this is my heart’s cry 

Holy Spirit may your power

fall on me.  

Let your grace fall on me

through your eyes, others see

I give my heart, my life to fill 

come and guide, Spirit indwell

Holy Spirit come fall on me.

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Good News, Bad News…

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Good news is sometimes hard to find.  We turn on the news and discover more violence, more issues, more bad news.  In journalism there’s a saying, “bad news sells”…are we that consumed by bad news?  Do we thrive on bad news like the Romans and their Colosseum games of torture and violence?   Has society become blood thirsty voyeurs?  It is certainly a perception of our society that isn’t too far from the truth.

In a song by mainstream Christian band “Switchfoot” called “Blinding Light” they explore the lies in our culture today, and one of the lines says, “We are culture that eats our youth”.  When you consider the ramifications and consequences of our media saturated world there is a dark side to our thirst for news stories and drama.

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Do we neglect the Good News?  Does our world need this good news?  The answer to both of these questions is a resounding ‘Yes’!    Acts 8:34-35 tells us of a moment in the ministry of Philip who encountered a person who needed to hear about this good news: “The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”

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This good news needs to be heard in our world!  There will be many who will ignore it, many who will dismiss it, but our call by Christ in the great commission to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19)

So go and tell this awesome good news to those you meet today!  The world doesn’t need more bad news, they need good news…they need The Good News!

-Just a thought for your day!

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Book Review: “Falling in Love with God” by Bob Hostetler

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Hey all, a little over a month ago I was asked to give a book review on a book that just released yesterday, April 9th, 2013.  The book is called, “Falling in love with God” by Bob Hostetler.  If you get a chance to, pick up a copy and read it for yourself!  

For your convenience I have posted two links where you can purchase this great book: 

http://www.christianbook.com/falling-in-love-with-god/bob-hostetler/9780891123743/pd/123743?item_code=WW&netp_id=1055981&event=ESRCG&view=details

http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Love-God-Bob-Hostetler/dp/0891123741/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1365606837&sr=8-7&keywords=Bob+Hostetler

As I read this epic story of God’s love for his people anew through the eyes of Hosea, Hostetler illustrates for us to the lengths in which our Father in Heaven will go to buy back His Bride from the deepest darkest depths of total depravity.  Hostetler weaves this journey of God’s Redemptive love in a very practical and personal way for us today!  Not only does he accurately expound on the scriptures of the book of Hosea, but brings our lives into focus for the here and now!  How God desires to love us more deeply, and He wants us to love Him back!   If you have ever pondered the extent in which God will go to win back His Bride, read the book of Hosea in the Bible, then pick up a copy Bob Hostetler’s new book:  “Falling in Love with God“.  I know you won’t regret it, check it out and I know you will be blessed as I was when you read its pages.

 

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The Heavenly Host…and Imago Dei

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I had a date night with my lovely wife last night.  We started out by going out for coffee, we talked at one of those tables in the coffee shop then we went to see a movie.  I’m not here to give movie reviews, so don’t worry there won’t be any spoiler alerts.  We saw the movie “The Host” by Twilight author Stephanie Meyer.  Now before you demand my man card be taken away, remember we were on a date, and besides that I’m a sucker for Sci-fi movies even movies that involve a tale of romance.  There was a scene though within the movie that struck me as profound.  The alien inhabited people were searching for the ‘Resistance’, a collection of people still hiding out in the rocky desert.  As they flew over desert terrain searching, the antagonist of the film looks down and says, “I see evidence of humans.”  To which a fellow alien in the helicopter looks down and only sees another alien vehicle driving by and he says, “I only see evidence of us.”  The world had been conquered but for small pockets of resistance, evidence of humanity was all but gone, and profoundly the alien in the helicopter gets it right when he says “I only see evidence of us.”

When God created mankind; Adam and Eve, He created them both in His image.  He created them, as Rick Warren accurately describes for God’s fellowship.  God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, He talked with them…their bond of fellowship and love was deep.  Then the fall took place, Adam and Eve disobeyed God, ate of the tree in the middle of the garden and sin entered into the world.  Because of sin and the fall, the image of God was marred within all of humanity.  Little by little evidence of God’s image diminished from humanity as sinful acts, temptation and its total depravity ensued.  Since the fall, that image of God or Imago Dei within us all has been marred.  And if humanity turns from Him, that image further diminishes.  Sin could rightly say “I only see evidence of us” as some of humanity has knowingly turned their backs on God.

But the beauty of God’s Redemptive story is that He won’t let us remain ignorant of our sinful state.  God wants to restore us and Imago Dei within us.  There is nothing physically or spiritually we can do to save ourselves no matter how hard we try.  We can never rid ourselves of the parasite of sin within us.  We are slaves to it, in and of ourselves we are powerless to resist it.  And God knows this…that’s why He sent us His Son Jesus Christ into our fallen world to conquer once and for all sin and death.  The parasite of sin that has marred the image and ravaged the world by forcibly removing evidence of God within all of humanity…this is what Christ came to reverse.  He came to make us right again.  He came so that we could be sons and daughters of the Most High once again.  His blood sacrifice on the cross was our replacement on death row in the death sentence of sin.  So that when we call upon Jesus Christ, accept His sacrifice, believe that He is the only way to God…He looks at us and says “I see evidence of me in you!  You are my child and I love you!”

That is redemption, that’s atonement at work because of Christ, that’s Godly love!  Imago Dei in us begins by acceptance of Christ as our Savior…then we live it so that each day the reflection of Christ becomes more and the reflection of this fallen world in us becomes less.  Not by our power and strength, but by the workings of the Holy Spirit within us.   God comes to us today and says, “I don’t see evidence of sin, I see evidence of me!”   Receive it, believe it and live it today!

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Live Responsibly!

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What does ‘Live Responsibly’ look like in this life?  

Driving, at times can be relaxing…when there aren’t other drivers on the road that is…which is obviously very rare.  Other times when we drive there are drivers which test our patience  am i right?  The driver behind is riding your bumper and thinks you’re driving too slow, speed up and you become just like the driver behind you and get annoyed with the slower driver in front of you.  It’s a never ending cycle of frustration.  Isn’t it interesting that colds and virus’ aren’t the only things that are contagious?  Don’t believe me?  Just hang out with a person who is always sour long enough and you too will become sour.  Spend time with one who is constantly angry and you too will find your temper (and blood pressure) becoming higher.  Emotions and attitudes are also contagious.  The opposite is also true.  Spend time with a loving and level headed person and soon you will long to act and behave in that same manner.  

I’m reminded of the beer commercials during sporting events that reminds us to ‘Drink Responsibly’…I’d like to adapt that concept, not for the consumption of alcohol, but rather for living our day to day lives…we ought to LIVE Responsibly!  After all, who is responsible for the choices we make? We Are!  You and I are responsible!  We can’t shy away from the fact that when we make choices, we have to live with the consequences.  We can’t blame others for the destinations of our choices.  We have to take responsibility for our lives…we have to live responsibly!  

It is true that we shouldn’t live by our emotions, but at the same time we ought to be wise in the company that we keep.  After all we are responsible for our actions not someone else.  When we live responsibly we start to recognize the triggers that can set us on a path that can and will lead to our destruction.  When we live responsibly we begin to grasp just a fragment of what’s at stake in this life.  

What living responsibly isn’t:  

1) Boring

Living responsibly doesn’t mean we can’t have fun or enjoy life, in fact the opposite is true.  When we live responsibly we will not only grasp the importance in life but also enjoy life a little more…maybe we laugh a little deeper, we relish the company of healthy influences and we invest in its enjoyment.  

2) We stop risking

Sorry, that’s not true either.  When we live responsibly we take calculated risks but in different ways.  No longer are we not thinking of the consequences but we are taking risks for others.  By that I mean we will extend ourselves to others who might need positive change in their lives but they don’t recognize it yet.  In our Christian worldview that means we are sharing the love of Christ with those who haven’t heard or experienced it yet.  We take risks for others instead of ourselves…these types of risks are far more rewarding and far reaching that the risks with selfish desires attached.  

3) We lose friends

Perhaps this is a half truth, because when we live responsibly we will find that some friends will simply walk away from us…but we will also gain friendships with deeper ties and firmer foundations.  Living responsibly (as a Christian) will force us to put on godly lenses in our living and lifestyles.  When we do, and we recognize the paths that God wishes us to travel on, we too will be joined by other sojourners on the journey.  This comradely will impact our lives like nothing before it.  The fellowship of believers is something everyone needs, and a sense of belonging will stem from these relationships.

 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,  for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe”  (Philippians 2:12-15 NIV) 

Living Responsibly will impact not just our lives but the lives of those around us…so how about it?  Will you allow the infection and emotions of others to effect you, or will you take the initiative to impact your world for God?  The choice falls to us…no one can force us to take this bold step of faith.  Live it out loud and take this great leap of faith for yourself and for others!  

 Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
“Finally, brothers, 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.”

 

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The closets and chest of drawers

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When the rusted cut of coffee

slices through

tetnus express, I embrace

what I cannot change.

When morning breaks the mourning

of the weeping soul I left in the closet

last night, I will embrace

the embers of

the smoldering tribe.

Placing delicate fingers

retracing precious memories

the dust covered photo books

could never measure up

something tangible

something credible

If only I could touch the light

that dances off of the dust

dancing to the breeze

of my movements.

Yet, stuffing my demons

back into the chest of drawers

catching fingers along the way

I am content to remove

the cobwebs from my soul

and start again.

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A Spiritual Intervention

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The door opens seemingly by itself, could it be a ghost?  No, Bilbo Baggins reappears after sliding The Ring off of his finger.  He has just shocked all of the Hobbits in the Shire as he vanished from sight at his birthday party.  Now, placing the ring in his pocket for safe keeping he goes to his sitting room to collect his things.   But Gandalf is waiting for him with questions.  Finally Gandalf confronts Bilbo about the ring and, for his own sake, to give up the ring.  Bilbo reacts with aggression, not a part of his normal temperament.  Then he seemingly talks to himself as he strokes the golden ring in his hand; “my precious”…he whispers to it.  Gandalf seems to grow taller as the room darkens as his voice booms in the small hobbit home, “Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjuror of cheap tricks…I am not trying to rob you, I am trying to help you!”

The scene is epic within the story spun by J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Lord of the Rings”.  Gandalf is having an intervention of sorts for Bilbo.  The Ring, can and will impose its will on those who possess it…they may at first believe they control it but soon enough it will control them.  Bilbo Baggins’ mood change is evidence of this as Gandalf tries to reason with him.  He bares his teeth and snarls like an animal…he is possessed by what he possesses within his hand.  Bilbo needs help, he needs someone stronger than himself to find the strength to relinquish that which he is now a slave to.

Isn’t that a great picture of what sin does to us?  We begin by dabbling, believing we are in control.  But we quickly realize that we don’t possess sin, sin possesses us.  We hold it in our hands, in our lives and we lack the strength to relinquish control because we are slaves to it.  “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34-36 NIV) We need a source of freedom.  We need a spiritual intervention, one who has resisted life’s temptations and has paid the price of our redemption: Christ himself!  Jesus, the Son of God, comes to us and says give it to me!  Give me your burdens, your sins, your enslavement.  Without His help we snarl and wail like animals lost within their own entanglements.

“I have come that you might have LIFE, and have it abundantly!” -Jesus (John 10:10)

What are you holding onto that you have yet to relinquish to the Lord?  Don’t be a slave to what you possess any longer!  Do not let the trappings of sin keep you from experiencing freedom and abundant life!  When we allow the Lord to take from us our sin and shame, we WILL be free!  So let go of it!  Don’t allow it to poison your life any longer!  You have One who cares and loves you and He wants to give you His strength and support.  Let Him help…the shackles of sin can be released immediately with His strength on your side!

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Burn the Ships!

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The smell of smoke fills the nostrils and tears up the eyes.  The view on the beach is disturbing, the ships are on fire as the smoke coats the air and blocks out the sun at mid-day.  A sense of panic strikes at the heart of the sailors now marooned on this foreign soil.  Soon, realization will set in.  To find their way home, they have to move forward. 

 

Infamous conquistador Hernando Corte’s is well known for his brutality when conquering and claiming the Aztec lands for Spain.  He will forever go down in the annals of history as a conqueror that nearly wiped out an entire civilization in his day, but there is one saving act of leadership that begs to be examined.  When Cortes’ ships landed in the new world, to prevent mutiny he ordered his ships burned and sunk.  Imagine for a second being a sailor on one of those vessels and upon landing in this foreign environment your leader burns the only mode of transportation home.  Your world comes crashing in, and the only way home is forward without retreat.  It’s forward and never backward.

 

In a very practical sense, we ought to consider burning the vessels of doubt that reside within our faith in God.  These modes of transportation will only move us backwards into our old sinful lives instead of transporting us forward into a deeper relationship with our Father in Heaven.   Burning the ships of doubt has a motivational value that boldly declares that our purpose and our faith is all or nothing.   As an Ambassador for Christ in this world, there is no escape route or exit plan to abandon the cause of Christ!  We are either all or nothing; doubt can’t exist in the same place as our faith. 

 

If we have doubt and fear present, perhaps it’s time to burn the ships.  One might argue that fear is a part of our faith, rightly so…but it ought to be the fear (reverence) of the Lord not the fear of what the world might do to us within this cause for Christ!  These two types of fear are different.  Doubt on the other hand is something Jesus even confronts His disciples on… “Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 8:26)   

 

Burn the ships…move forward in your faith and trust in the Lord for guidance, protection and strength!  He will never leave us or forsake us! (Deut. 31:6) 

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