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Spiritual Growth – A Lawnmower Theology

What do you mean by “Lawnmower theology”?  you might be asking…let me first tell you a story.

I was mowing the grass the other day.
I greatly enjoy mowing, it’s cathartic for me and it gives me time to think.
We just got a new lawnmower and I had to put it together before using it.
So I begin by putting the arm onto the mower body and attaching the pull lever to the extended arm.  Then I put the nuts and bolts into the connector holes at the bottom of the arm that actually attaches to the base of the mower.  Long story short, I merely tightened them with my fingers and did not use the tool needed to tighten it fully – I’m impatient like that sometimes.

I was really anxious to start up the new mower and get to mowing our neglected backyard.  So I start it up for the first time, and it just purrs – it was wonderful (I know I’m lawnmower nerd).   I begin to make my way around the yard, meticulously ensuring I don’t miss any wayward grass as I pass with the new machine.  It was really starting to look good…and then it happened – the arm that I had attached with the nuts and bolts came loose.   I had not tightened it enough and through the constant jostling and vibration of the engine, one of the bolts had come loose and was no where to be seen.   I looked aroundbolts in the tall grass and in places I had already mowed, I couldn’t find it anywhere – it was gone, *poof* vanished.   I searched for another five minutes only to recognize that in my haste to get the job finished, I had lost a crucial component that held everything together.  I had to make a run to the hardware store and purchase a new bolt and nut – only this time I used the appropriate tool (not my fingers) to tighten the bolt into place.   Now, it’s not going anywhere!

Why do you I tell you this tale?
What’s the point?
I think our Spiritual Growth can be a lot like this lawnmower of mine; or rather, how we put this “Christian life” together.  We are often impatient with ourselves and with God.  We want to just get out there and live for him, and so we take shortcuts.  I took a shortcut wayin assembling my spanking new lawnmower – I thought I had tightened everything down good enough only to discover I had misjudged my strength and the terrain around me.  Perhaps in our lives this rings true too.  We get ahead of ourselves.  We cut corners and take shortcuts because we think we already know it all.  We don’t take the time as we should in our Spiritual lives and explore the spiritual disciplines necessary for long-term spiritual growth and success.  Instead we settle for the quick fix.  We go to a service here or there and we think it’s enough – yet the things that hold our “Christian” lives together isn’t enough, and it’s certainly not strong enough either.

Why do we think we know better than God knows us?
Why is it that we become impatient with God when He seems to take a long time?
Do you get impatient with Him?  I am embarrassed to say this, but I do sometimes.
I don’t always take the time I know I need with Him.
Sometimes I do all of the talking and I hardly ever hear what He has to say to me.
And so I get out there in life and I plod ahead full-steam only to realize I’m not as put together as I thought I was.  I find that I, all too easily fall apart – because I didn’t take the time to truly tighten things down in my prayer life, or my faith walk.  Sometimes I’m a mess…and it’s all my fault.

Have you been there?
Are you there right now?
I have to confess I’ve been there more times than I care to admit.
I’ve run so far ahead of God only to fall apart.
It’s in those moments that I realize just how much I need Him.
It’s also very humbling to know that I still have much work to be done within my life.
There are perhaps a few missing nuts and bolts that have to be replaced by God – but I have to be willing to let Him work on me.  It’s painful sometimes to admit this.
It’s embarrassing to recognize that although I’ve been a Christian most of my life – I still need help, I still need work, I still fall apart from time to time.

Have you been running ahead of God in your life?  hs
Perhaps you recognize right now that there are pieces missing in your life.  That somewhere along the way you have taken a shortcut and you really aren’t as “put together” as you want everyone to think you are.   The Holy Spirit still has work to do with us!  He longs for us to expose those missing pieces, those broken pieces, the dirty old life that still remains.  He wants us to surrender it all to Him.   It won’t be easy – but in the long run we will be made whole without any shortcuts or missing pieces.  He has something much better in store for us – if we allow Him complete access to us daily, even moment by moment.

So how about it?
Are you ready to put the lawnmower together the right way this time?

Something more to ponder today!
To God be the glory!

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Messy Church – World Services Edition

Our Messy Church – World Services/Self-Denial Experience:

Quite a few of you have asked me how our corps (church) went about doing “Messy Church” after we posted photos and a video of our event.  Let me just first say that Messy Church was something new to us.  We hadn’t done it before in our corps and so it was quite a departure and risk to do.  Perhaps sometimes we worry too much about upsetting the “Norm” or the flow of the traditional service.

Our Messy Church event focused on World Services. messy3
You know the old adage “you won’t understand until you walk a mile in my shoes”?  Well, with messy church, we were trying to help our corps people walk a mile in the shoes of other Christians in specific parts of the world in the hopes that it will spur on more of a concern and care for World Services – and the necessity of it.

We set up in our gym with 8 tables which represented these countries (printed flags were also taped to the tables):
*India
*Malawi
*Kenya
*Columbia
*Bolivia
*Nicaragua
*Afghanistan
*Sierra Leon

messy2The Curriculum is Messy Church “Christian Aid”  which is from the UK and another denomination – this can be easily modified to fit our World Services through The Salvation Army and our specific territory and its Partners In Mission.  So as you click the link above, please note that we did modify it a bit to help us focus our corps members on World Services as we changed some of the verbiage within the guide.  We also used the stories linked here: Case Studies to help our corps members understand the specific struggles of children and families in these regions of the world.  The case studies will help to put the objective of each table into proper perspective for the participant.  messy4

Because there are 8 tables/countries to visit, we kept this portion moving rather rapidly by only giving the groups 5 minutes at each table.  Each table’s task varied, from grinding coffee, smelling it and brewing it (Nicaragua); to building a shelter and roof then checking to see if it was waterproof (Sierra Leon).  All of these activities fully engaged the groups and helped them visualize the struggles of each country they were in.

SCHEDULE: 
messy5Here’s how we organized our time:
The Welcome: (5 minutes)
I wanted to help some of our traditional attendees feel less uncomfortable by starting out in the chapel with our Welcome & Announcements which was followed by our offering (We sang “He’s Got the whole world in his hands”).

The Instruction Time: (5 minutes)
After our offering we explained our World Services emphasis and what Messy Church was all about.  I wanted to assure some corps members that these activities were not specifically for children, but for the whole corps and all ages.  I also wanted to emphasize that we all needed to stop “adulting” for a bit and just absorb our discovery.   This will help some to feel more comfortable as you step out of traditional worship and what some have come to expect from a Sunday morning service.

After assuring and instructing we prayed for our service and I invited everyone to grab a “Passport” at the back of the sanctuary as they made their way out to the gym.  Note: the passport sample is on page 6 of this link:  Session Guide.   If you wanted to incorporate another method or passport book that’s entirely up to you.  We simply had stickers at each table, so after completing that country’s activity, the participant placed a sticker or “stamp” in their passport for that country.

The World Traveling Experience: (40 minutes) nic
Once in the gym, the participants were asked to find a country as a starting point.  We encouraged the groups to go in different directions and to take 6-8 people with them.  Each location had elements for their activity which coincided with the Case Studies (again these studies can be modified and adjusted).  Also, since each corps/ministry is unique, you should adjust the activities for each table that arr suggested in the Guide to match your demographic and audience.

messy1From there, have a time keeper and assure that each group has both adults and kids involved in the “travels”.  Keep them traveling from country to country at or near your designated timeline!

 

 

The Celebration: (10 minutes) 
Following the last country’s destination and completion of activity, depart back for “Home”.  In our case we all traveled back to our sanctuary to debrief.  What happens in the celebration is a reinforcement of what everyone just experienced through hands-on activities and the case study stories.

In the Guide, towards page 5 is a suggested plot for the celebration/worship component.
Our corps discussed the experience in sort of an open forum, with feedback, then we read Micah 6:8 and discussed justice, love and mercy.  Following this scripture reinforcement,  we watched The Salvation Army Central Territory’s World Services/Self-Denial video: ITW Self-denial Transforms

We presented a brief synopsis of Self-denial, talked about the change boxes/piggy banks and pledged to come back in a month (with weekly focus videos and announcements as reminders) and have a Self-denial offering celebration together (this would entail, our corps members bringing back their change boxes or piggy banks to give collectively in a World Services offering).

Following this we sang “Open the Eyes of my heart”
and concluded with a benediction.

A Fellowship Meal Followed: (30 minutes – 1 hour) 
The last component is often what we do best isn’t it?
But it does help corps members and possible new comers to further discuss and fellowship together.  We had a simple meal, but in the study Guide it even suggests having an international meal prepared for the participants.

My Thoughts on Messy Church:
This type of hand-on, full sensory worship has potential for new comers and regulars a like.  This wouldn’t be something that we would do every Sunday (honestly, it took a lot more effort than your traditional service).   BUT, I believe Messy Church will help bring in new corps members who are unchurched or do not understand what church is about in the first place.  This is really a non-threatening type of ministry approach which, I believe, eases families and individuals into a new church setting.

There are all sorts of ways to do a Messy Church themed event in your corps, I have linked some videos below for you to check out for yourself.  The sky really is the limit in how you and your team organizes one.  Also, these type of events can of course be done on any day of the week, originally the Anglican church conducted theirs on Wednesday evenings.

Messy Church can help break our monotony and also open up worship to some of those “Creatives” out there and those who are already in your congregation.  Don’t be intimidated by Messy Church either, it can be a real tool to use for evangelism and even discipleship.  Give it a go, perhaps it’s not for every demographic or congregation…but you won’t know unless you first try it for yourself.

Something more to ponder today!

As promised, here are some videos on Messy Church for further review:

Messy Church Introduction

What does Messy Church look like?

News Story on Messy Church

Also check out this link for more Messy Church ideas: Messy Church UK

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Dear Salvationist, 3 Ways To Prevent Burnout

This mission that we are on is NOT is easy, in fact it is arduous, laborious and often exhausting.  We might feel compelled to do things our way and become tempted to rely solely on our strength – and this is where burnout takes place.

There are often soldiers and officers who have dead eyes.  What do I mean by “dead eyes” – the spark has gone out.  The fire that once burned so brightly is just a glowing ember.  The fight has has been squelched.  Have you been there?   If so how do you come back from that place?  How do you recapture that fire, that spark?

Here are 3 suggestions.
3 Primer observations to help us prevent burnout.

3 Ways To Prevent Burnout

1.  Go to the well often!waterwell
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint…” (Jeremiah 31:25)
The well of the Lord is deep.
He provided aid and renewal to Elijah in his time of need, he provided comfort and assurances to David when he was on the run, and He will provide us this water when we too are distressed and in need of it.

This well of the Lord can be found in the spiritual discipline of prayer & meditation…but it can also be found in the nature around us.  Have you ever just walked out in the woods and felt the peace and tranquility of that place?  It sort of took away that crazy, busy, go-go-go lifestyle that you’re used to in your every day life?  These walks can become that well to us because we are connecting with nature-created by God himself.  But this well can be different for all of us.  He can come and refill us in the most unlikely of places.

If you’re burned out right now, or finding yourself close to the end of your rope, don’t quit or surrender, instead seek out His well of refreshing.  He wants us to drink deeply from it often so that we will never thirst or grow weary of this mission that we have been placed on to save souls and go for the worst!

order2.  Understand you aren’t a solitary soldier
“He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left...” (1 Kings 19:10)

Elijah felt all alone after experiencing a phenomenal defeat of King Ahab, Jezabel and the prophets of Baal, and despite this victory, Elijah feared for his life and felt as if he was all alone.  Have you ever felt this way?  It’s very common for Officers and Soldiers to feel this way even after experiencing successes at your corps and appointments.  Perhaps Satan would love to convince us that we are all alone.  The father of lies would love nothing more than to distort the truth and make us believe we have to stand alone…but it’s simply not true.

When we experience burnout, it often comes from a place of utter aloneness…you know what I mean.  We feel abandoned, alone and afraid.  We might fall into a deep depression like Elijah did and come to the conclusion that we too are the only ones left.  It’s not true.  Perhaps in this moment of realization it would be time to seek out other believers, those who can surround you with encouragement, love and support.  Find another church and/or pastor, seek out another corps member, soldier, friend, call up a mentor or divisional officer that you trust – You. Are. Not. Alone.  We were never meant to be solitary soldiers!

3.  Our Power doesn’t come from us – but the Holy Spirit. order3
“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

I have a confession to make, all to often I rely on my own power, wisdom and strength rather than fully relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.  Does this ring true for you as well?  I want control.  I need to press forward, and so I do, only to find that I have moved ahead of God and out of step with Him.  Have you experienced this too?  I believe this is where burnout can happen too.  We exert so much of ourselves, we pour so much of ourselves, we invest our everything – but it is done with our own pride and strength and we find that once our strength is all gone, we have no idea what to do next besides feeling weak, alone, and powerless.

Dear Soldier, our strength and power has never been enough for the tasks that we have been given.  The great burden of ministry was never ours to carry alone, we are only asked to be faithful while the Holy Spirit will lead and provide.  I cannot count how many times the Lord has had to remind me of this.  I charge in with all of my might and power only to discover I have run ahead of Him…and I run out of strength and power.  Does this happen to you too?  Are you there right now?  You have exerted all of your power, and now you are burnt out?  Perhaps it’s time to go back to the well.  Perhaps it’s time to realize you aren’t a solitary soldier, perhaps it’s time to ask for the Holy Spirit’s strength and power once again to fill you.

If you are burned out right now – there is hope!
If you feel as if you might be headed that way – it’s time to take personal inventory of your actions, motivation and life.  This Army has never been about us shining and looking good in our uniforms, but instead it has always been about fully submitting to God and allowing Him to lead us in His strength and power.  Faith doesn’t require us to conquer the world, it simply requires us to conquer our fears through the power of the Holy Spirit, from there, full submission to God can and will lead us onward.

Something more for our Army to ponder today.
To God be the glory!

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Sermon Podcast – “In The Desert of Sin”

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Listen to our Sermon from The Evansville Salvation Army.
Today’s Sermon is entitled: “In the Desert of Sin”

Listen from this web-page here:  In The Desert of Sin

Or subscribe and download on this link:  In The Desert of Sin

Exodus 17:8-16New International Version (NIV)

The Amalekites Defeated

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”

15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[a] the throne of the Lord,[b] theLord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

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Quantifying God In Worship

Check out our latest “PonderCast” here:

How do we appropriately quantify God in our worship?
What does that look like?
How does that feel?

<<A transcript of today’s Pondercast is listed below:

I wonder sometimes whether or not we put limits on God in how we worship, within the structures of our worship?  Jesus states over and over again that He is present with us everywhere, yet almost always we ask Him to just show up in our services, well…what about our service in every day life?  Do we expect Him to show up there?  Is this a part of our relationship to Him?  Do we attempt to say to God, “You stay over here in this church, I’ll see you on Sundays…” and then we walk away?  I mean is God really honored in our lives when we do that?

It’s like having a relationship with somebody but never introducing that person who means so much to you to anyone else, including your parents and friends.  But instead you say to that girl friend or boy friend, you stay over here and I’ll come back and visit you.  I mean does that make any sense at all?  Do you think that kind of relationship is healthy let alone will it last?  NO… So why do we attempt to do that with God?

Something else that kind of bugs me is how we actually worship on Sundays.
Have you ever gone into some of those old cathedrals?  I mean they are immense structures, some have taken over a hundred years or more to build, and as you walk into these massive doors you look up and you see this vaulted ceiling which juts up hundreds of feet, and there’s stained glass everywhere and the colors are vibrant and the gold is shining in the opaqued windows.  Usually the first words upon seeing this sight for the first time is “WOW!”  And perhaps your jaw hits the ground and you have to pick it back up…and there’s sort of embarrassing scrapping noise…and everyone turns to look at the newbie in the back that just yelled “Wow” in a very sacred space…

The builders of these monoliths that are cathedrals knew what they were doing.  They wanted the worshiper to  catch a slight glimpse of heaven as they entered, or better yet what would be waiting for them when they eventually entered eternity.  God’s glory was to shine.

Now despite all of the rituals and things one might get stuck on when going to a denomination like this, I have to wonder, within the context of my denomination – have we sort of lost that glory of God in our very practical worship halls?  Does it matter?  Or is this a thing of the past and we shouldn’t worry with it at all?  But I would counter that with – are we missing out on something because of it?   Are we inadvertently attempting to quantify who God is within our timed out and perfect bulletins and services on Sunday mornings?

I’m not saying that any of the types of worship formats are wrong, but have we left the mystery of God and the awe of God behind?  Have we exchanged the imported marble and the gold for cheap dollar knock-offs?  You see when Solomon built the temple of God, no expense was spared.  It was built to strict specifications and there was no skimping on any of it.

I must be careful today as I say this because it truly is not about how ostentatious and grandiose your worship hall is or isn’t, it is first and foremost a deep matter of the heart of the worshiper.  How we approach worship in and out of church matters.  How we come to the Almighty in and out of church matters.  How we quantify or leave a mystery about God matters.  God doesn’t reside in a box that is our church buildings.  God is present everywhere with us.

So let me ask you today, How is your heart?
What matters to you most about worshiping God?  How your church is perceived or how you are perceived by God in or out of true adoration and worship?  Does it matter to you how you present yourself?  Do you offer the most expensive side of you or are you offering the cheap dollar store knock-off leftovers?

God is some much greater and bigger than we ever give Him credit for…and I think it’s about time we recognize this in our hearts and minds.  It begins with you and me!  What are you going to do about it?

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Dear Salvationist – Arrogance Beware!

Luke 18:9-14(NLT)

Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[a]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Beware dear Soldier of the trappings of arrogance, for it can creep into that uniform of yours and corrupt your heart and attitude!  We do not wear this uniform and associate ourselves with this army because we are better than other people, instead we should wear it as as sign of utter humility, servitude to Christ and as a constant reminder of our mission in this world.

selfCould our corps halls feel like an exclusive club to outsiders?  -This should never be the case!  We might become tempted, at times, to puff ourselves up with all of our corps’ accomplishments and fortunes, instead run from such thoughts and temptations!  Do not become like the Pharisee in the parable Jesus told – who was so enamored by his own pride and arrogance that those earnestly seeking were criticized and despised.

No, instead fight this war against pride and arrogance as a Soldier of this army!  We ought to fall to our knees and repent every time we become prideful of who we are instead of Whose we are.   We must recognize and repent every time we aspire to places of position and power out of personal gain and selfish ambition.  Pride and arrogance will poison our army if we are not careful; and although we do good in our communities lest we not forget Who our faith is in and for Whom all of these good works are accomplished.thumb

If we as soldiers exchange this true calling of sincere holiness in our lives for earthly recognition and these temporary places of authority the world bestows upon us, we will have lost it all – and our identity as an Army for God.

Jesus despised the hypocrite and the religious zealot who couldn’t see past their own personal needs and desires.  Beware dear Soldier of the trappings of arrogance and pride.

Prayer:
Lord, make us humble.  May we be mindful of our fellow man – and the hurting world around us.  Give us Your heart and eyes – may we ever be on our knees earnestly seeking after you.  Holy Spirit, instill in us this servant-heart.  Break us of our pride and arrogance. Remove the dross, wipe away the old life.  If need be, remove us from places of prominence so that we may be yours and yours alone.  Lord, forgive us when we have had a divided heart – you want us all to yourself, and there have been times when we have strayed.  May Christ-likeness be our goal as we humbly serve.  Amen.
cs
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly[a] with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

 

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Sermon Podcast – “It’s Not My Job”

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Listen to our Sermon Podcast here:

Or download today’s Message Here:
“Not My Job” 

Ephesians 4:1-16 (NLT)


Unity in the Body

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift[a] through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b]

9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.[c] 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

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Dear Salvationist: “Those People”

A New PonderCast – (an Audio Pondering) is available to listen today.
Today, hear the words of General William Booth and ponder with me on the topic of “Those People”

Or Click Here to Download & Subscribe to our PonderCast: “Those People”

Transcript of today’s PonderCast is here as well:

                                                                    “Those People”

Dear Salvation Army,
Dear Salvationist,
I would like to take a moment and talk to you about what this Ministry of the Salvation Army is and isn’t – at least from my experience.

The Salvation Army is more than just a church first and foremost.
Our ministry takes giving within the context of ministry a step further than most churches do.
I’m not saying we are better than other churches, I’m just saying that our scope of the Great Commission has more of an aggressive tone than other churches.  We claim the old motto “Soup Soap & Salvation” and we attempt to live it out in our ministry.

The very fiber of our being, of who The Salvation is can be wrapped up in that phrase of William Booth – when He said, “Others”.

The funny is we still live in a very divided world – even amongst Christians and Church.
We even have this division in our corps sometimes.
We can become so comfortable in our services and in how things operate but when new families start coming we get a little nervous and sometimes even upset.

It’s like when the disciples and others watched Jesus go to Zecheus’ house – there were some who complained because Zecheus was a tax collector and he was reviled by people.  Why would Jesus go to that person’s house.  Why would he go see “those people”

Another of “those people” that Jesus visited was the Samaritan woman at the well.  Even his disciples kind of shook their heads at this encounter.  Why would Jesus go to “those people”?  And besides that a man, let alone a Rabbi wouldn’t be caught dead talking with a woman – and a Samaritan woman at that.

But you see Jesus came for the least of these, those who were searching.
He didn’t care where they came from or where they had been…you see “those people – were His people!”

And sometimes in our corps – when we get too comfortable and suddenly “those people” show up, it sort of disrupts our flow…It upsets the apple cart…and we have to wonder sometimes, even in our uniforms if we haven’t become that clique –that exclusive social gather fighting for a cause so everyone can see us and pat us on the back…and when genuine spiritual need comes to our corps building – do we shun it?  Or welcome it?  Do visitors to our corps buildings feel like “guests” or do they feel like outsiders…because the ones in uniform are giving them sideways glances, shaking their heads at the unchurched, unfamiliar new comers…

Ah Salvationists…Dear Salvation Army – “Those People” are our people too!
The drunk that smells like the fumes around his body might spontaneously combust at any moment and he is shaking so bad that it’s visibly noticible in the seat next to you.  Yeah, Jesus says “that’s my people too”.

That older lady who come occasionally just to see what she can take with her after the service – She’s one of “those people” and Jesus says that “She’s one of His people”.   That young scary looking young man who wanders into your service half way through who smells and is wearing a questionable tshirt with offense material on it – “We look at him and think THOSE PEOPLE” AND Jesus says “He’s one of my people.”

Salvationist –
Our halls are emergency rooms for the spiritually afflicted.
And we are all “those people”…we all came searching for hope and love and acceptance.
We do not look  like other churches because the least of these are our regulars.   It is a shame when we try to become like other ministries and churches when our calling as an Army is has a specific target and ministry already.

We don’t look like other churches because the Salvation Army shield is like a beacon of hope, a lighthouse to many of “those people” who have lost their way.  It is a safe-harbor for many to come.  It should be a place where “those people” don’t feel as if we’re looking down at them – because we have all been there.

Where other places have turned “those people” away – we must accept them, welcome them offer them love and hope and in turn – eventually show them what Christ’s transforming power looks like.

 

5

Putting Jesus Back

Monday after Easter, and the Easter dress is on the floor in the laundry room, as are the Easter suits and carelessly tossed ties and shoes.  Easter is over.  The Celebration party had its curtain call.  Everyone went home.  So…what now?

What impact does the Resurrection have on us the day after?  The week after?  The month after?   Understandably we can say “Well there’s always next year…”  or “I go to church every Sunday anyway.”  These are all valid points, but what kind of impact does Christ’s resurrection have on you and me in our daily lives?

All too often we want to put Jesus back.
We put Him back into those boxes for next year.
We put Him back on the hanger as we hang up that Easter dress or suit.  dress
We close our Bibles to that story until next year rolls back around.
We put Jesus back into our preconceived, compartmentalized places.

But should we put it all back like that?
Is there a trace of Him in our work places, social events, friendships, relationships, families?  Or does He get put away just like the seasonal stuff in our closets?
I have to wonder what the answer is even for me sometimes.
I can accept a risen Savior, but what does it mean in my habits, and in my faith walk and my desire to become more and more like Him?  How does this Resurrected Christ fit into my overly complicated life?  Am I secretly compartmentalizing Jesus?  Am I packing Him away for another year?  Am I checking that season off on my calendar  and moving on without Him there?

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What a tragedy it would be for any of us to progress past the cross and the empty tomb without it affecting the entirety of who we are as His creation!  Essentially when we put Him back on the shelf, in the box, on a hanger – we are selectively accepting who He is and who He can be in our lives.   We are, subconsciously putting limits on the Almighty…we are also putting limits on our own spiritual growth.

 

A New Creation: 
A friend of mine on Facebook posted this comment that sparked my heart and ignited some intrinsic truth deep within me.  Have you ever had one of those “A-ha” moments?  Where the light bulb flickers on, and it’s bright and it shines on truth.  Perhaps this will spark something within you too in terms of re-framing  who Jesus is, which will undoubtedly make us second guess putting Jesus back…here it is:

“One could suggest that the ‘tetelestai’ (it is finished) saying refers not to atonement but to creation; it is the creation that is completed on the cross. On the cross, the true human is created, creation is now complete.” (Cameron Horsburgh/Michael Hardin)

                                                      -Mind. Blown. –

How can you ever go back to putting Jesus on the shelf?
How can you not have a life changing event take place in your heart when you consider ALL of creation is now complete in this Messiah atonement?  That we can’t put God in a box and only bring Him out once a year in light of creation becoming complete in Him.  There’s nowhere else to move besides forward in our relationship to the One who has made EVERYTHING complete!

It’s like buying a new suit, wearing it only one time just to put it on a hanger and stare at it while wearing the same old dingy ripped up, dirty outfit you’ve always worn.  It just doesn’t make any sense.  So…why do we do this sometimes with Jesus?

Unwrapping It.
Take Jesus off the shelf.   box3
Throw the old outfit away – you have a new suit to wear!
Throw away the old title for yourself – “Sinner”
Because you’ve been saved by this amazing grace found only in Jesus, and you’ve been given a new title – “Child of God.”
You can’t compartmentalize Jesus.
You can’t “seasonalize” Him either.
He can’t be contained.
He wants to transform you!
He has already completed creation – which can include YOU!

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20

May you find an ever present Christ with you today!
May our hearts be compelled to live for Him and reside with Him every moment of every day!  May we experience this new creation every time we utter His name on our breath.
May this transformation of the new, complete creation be in us EVERY day.

Something more to Ponder today.
To God be the glory!

(Another fitting article for today from Steve Simms entitled: “Why Put Jesus In A Box?” check it out too!)

3

“The Spear” by Jim Gallop

Below is a short skit written and presented by a friend of mine,  Major Jim Gallop.
Read, consider, ponder, and revel in Christ’s amazing love for us!

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THE SPEAR

(Scene opens with Roman guard, gazing at the end of his spear in stunned disbelief. He is standing, centre stage, quarter turn right as play begins. Spear is held to display its end before the audience)

Soldier:
My most useful tool….my best friend…..my help in times of trouble….my spear. That is what they told me when I chose to become a soldier……always be aware of the power of your spear.
And, oh, I was aware….how I learned to accurately throw you in battle, how I clinged to you as we defended our legion against Jewish zealots, bent on their preposterous notion that they could defeat the Roman army. We crushed them with our spears, our swords, our shields, and our might.
Our army was one of the mightiest ever seen! Men from all over Italy, armed and always ready for battle! The Roman empire had hold on vast areas of land…..the Meditteranean, North Africa, Europe, Syria, the middle east….all through the power of our weaponry.
I…..well, I was sent to this squalid refuse of a place known as Jerusalem. My orders were to protect Roman interests. “Squash any rebellion against our authority”, they told me, “Maintain control of the people, make them know that Rome still has power here”…….power.

So yes, I knew the kind of bone-crushing power that these weapons held…..but now, I wonder…and, I am confused. You see, they had me stand by to witness someone called Jesus of Nazareth executed. They nailed him to a cross on that hill behind me to make an example of him. They called this Jesus ‘king of the Jews’ to mock him. He was hung on that cross for 3 hours and I watched, oh I watched…..3 hours of excruciating pain for this man, the nails digging into his flesh, the whip marks exposing gashes on his skin, the crown of thorns they had battered down onto his head, making fresh blood drip onto his face. He was in incredible agony, and believe me I have seen agony before….but this sort of agony was not normal. This agony he had, well, it was actually a sorrow….a sorrow for those who were executing him. He cried out to His God saying “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”, He hung there, and did not yell at people for spitting at him, or for tormenting him…he said “father, forgive them.”

After he died, I was told by my commander to thrust this spear into his side to make sure He was dead. I-I hesitated at first, but then as I had always been taught to do, I followed the command. As I thrust this spear into him, blood came out, then water. Blood and water came gushing out of Jesus’ side! It was, dare I say it! It was as if this spear, covered in blood was being cleansed by Jesus on the cross. This spear which was used to keep order and discipline…this spear which was used to make others bow to it….this spear was being cleansed by Jesus, who had called on His God to forgive us. This….this spear (lay down the spear….fade to black)

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Thank you Major Gallop for allowing me to share this today!
Something more to ponder today!

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