Dear Salvation Army, Practical Holiness…should be practical, right?!

I have taught on the topic of holiness many times, and one of the biggest hindrances people have with the concept of holiness is that they will never be perfect. Admittedly some could use this as just an excuse to hard, spiritual work within the spiritual disciplines, but many honestly feel that they will never be good enough to be truly holy.

I believe this to be one of the biggest misnomers with Holiness = perfection and being “good enough” was never the goal of Holiness. Instead, becoming the image of Christ is what we should all aspire to be in our lives. This can happen all at once, (entire sanctification) but predominately what I have found to be more consistent are the incremental adjustments to habits as one strives to shatter to the molds of the former life before Christ through the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the surrender of those strong holds by the Christian.

It would be impractical to equate holiness with human perfection.
This is not like a Christmas good/bad Santa (Father Christmas) list…where the bad ones do not get toys. We need to explore what being “good enough” really means in the Christian realm.

Good Enough:
Being “good enough” does not mean we walk through all the spiritual hoops and do all of the “sacred” rituals in order for us to be saved and holy. We can go to church every single day and dress the part, and never truly aspire an inch towards holiness. Doing the work, though good, is not the objective…this should merely be an outpouring, or evidence of the transformation on that inward change in our lives. Being Holy – drives the spiritual life into action. Declaring that you are a child of the Most High aligns you with the One who can transform and shape you. We, in and of our own efforts and striving, will never aspire to full sanctification – not even close. Our own efforts might draw public acclaim and pats on the back, but deep within our own conscience we will innately know that we are not, nor could ever be holy. Instead, the One who takes up residence within us, God’s very presence – at the moment of conversion, is the only means by which this complete transformation of Holiness could ever occur. So let us debunk the myth that being good enough is either possible or sufficient for practical holiness.

Executing Practical Holiness
I am on the opinion that real, authentic, practical holiness begins with a conversation.
Not just any conversation, but THEE conversation. The constant conversation between mortal and the Immortality of God. The communing with Deity and the creation. This conversation does not end. It begins at conversion and, with extreme discipline to pray, we can become in tune to listening to and for His presence.

God would come down daily and fellowship with Adam and Eve, in this fellowship, one could gather that they talked about their day, their emotions, their everything. Nothing was left out, no secret kept, no hidden agendas – just pure fellowship. Could it be that this simplistic, continual conversation with God is where true Holiness really begins? Could it be that instead of performing rituals and dressing the part and acting pious, we could ACTUALLY be Holy through conversations with God?

I have read many theologians on the topic of Holiness, many theories, many notions, and I would never presume to call myself a theologian by any means…but it seems to me that we as humans make something far more complicated than it really has to be. Not to say that these theologians make it complicated, but rather we, as people tend to over think things far too much – including what God requires from us as Christ-followers.

Yes, it says in the Bible – “Be Holy because I, the Lord is Holy” (Leviticus 20:26, 1 Peter 1:16) But what does that mean, how does that look? I would contend that in order to fully understand practical holiness, we must first become full in tune with God through the constancy of our conversations with Him. Through this first approach, we will be better receptors of His messages to us as individuals and as a part of the Vine/Body.

So…tell me, what do you think about Holiness?
What does Practical Holiness look like to you?
Is Holiness, in your estimation attainable to you?
How will you know when you have become holy?

These are tough question to answer, let alone personally answer there for real, without barriers or pretenses.

Tell us what you think!

Something more for us to Ponder today!

May 11, 2016 1

10 Funny Song Titles In The Salvation Army Song Book

*Warning: If you don’t like humor and or are easily offended by humor, please turn away now.*

I believe we can laugh with each other…right?
Laughter is a great remedy for a lot of issues in our lives.
The other day I was going through our new song book and I realized that there were some funny song titles that I had either never heard before or I was in the band and had never sung them. Perhaps as you read these you have others that you would like to share, because I know there are more. I also realize some of these song titles come from bygone days where the language was different and so was the culture, but it doesn’t stop me from having a laugh today as we explore 10 funny titles in The Salvation Army Song Book…

Please forgive me and indulge my warped sense of humor for a moment or two.

#10 “My Heart Is Fixed” (#507)

Here’s a band-aid, and now the heart has been repaired. All is now better, you may go about your business, we’re good here! This declaration seems kind of sudden that’s all.

#9 “Come, my soul, Thy Suit Prepare” (#745)

I see a tailor standing there with measuring tape ready to get that suit all sewn and ready. We know there is a spiritual implication here, but my mind has this image of something entirely different when one says “Suit Prepare”…

#8 “O Jesus Thou Art Standing” (#614)

I can see British comedian Ricky Gervais, in his dry, dead pan sense of humor saying, “If Jesus is just standin’ there, why don’t you offer him a seat? I mean, that’s just rude isn’t it?” What is the song writer trying to say? “O Jesus you’re standing…” It just seem sort of funny sounding doesn’t it?

(yes, I know there’s more to the song lyrics, but we’re focusing on the titles here)

#7 “O Jesus Pilot Me” (#655)

Sorry, but this is what I envisioned this song title to mean –
Jesus ready to board that plane and fly us to another destination. I know it’s silly, but it’s what I first saw within that title. We know what the writer meant, but I just couldn’t help myself…sorry.

#6 “I Stand All Bewildered with wonder” (#849)
Just the word “bewilder” brought up a face like this in my mind. Like we stand there gawking, with mouths wide open and our eyes ready to pop out of our eye sockets. It just evokes in me a kind of silly moment when we’re standing there dumbfounded and truly looking the part.

#5 “I Want A Principle Within” (#496)

I know, I know, it’s not “Principal” but the first thing that popped into my head was a Headmaster standing there ready to deliver some punishment. Understandably we want to have spiritual discipline in our lives, but this isn’t it. Still this imagery came to mind.

#4 “Lord, I Was Blind! I Could Not See” (#505)

I can almost see Lockhorns (comic depicted here) having this barb exchange… “Lord, I was blind! I could not see” and then Mrs Lockhorn saying “And He still can’t see!”

Why do I get the image of a married couple making fun of one another in my mind? I saw this title and it made me laugh.

#3 “Unto Thee Will I Cry” (#794)

Sorry Dawson’s Creek, your meme is famous. And when I saw this song title, I couldn’t help but have an image of James Van Der Beek shamelessly crying. I can just see us standing there shamelessly crying like this in some way and wonder if it would look like this…
#2 “Writes A Pardon On My Heart” (#493)

I know these songs aren’t to be taken literally, but I couldn’t help myself. I get the picture in my head of my heart and someone is holding it with an ink pen preparing to write the words Pardon right into my heart tissue.

Perhaps to an outsider without the understand of atonement theories, this song title might seem confusing and down right creepy. To me, it makes me chuckle a little bit.

#1 “Do Not Go Home Without Jesus” (#415)

I get this image of my heart of a soldier leaving a worship service, driving in their car only to look over in the passenger seat and exclaim, “Oh no, I’ve forgotten Jesus!”

I understand the imagery, it just seems to translate differently to me today. And then, that Maroon 5 group sang that one song about “I won’t go home without you…”

Moral of the story, don’t take these song titles literally like me.
Perhaps you have other song titles that you think are funny, ridiculous or strange, would you please share them with us?! This is all light hearted and I hope I haven’t offended anyone. All things considered, most of these songs have some wonderful lyrics, it’s just the song titles I couldn’t pass up to mention.

May 6, 2016 12

Let’s Get Uncomfortable About Prayer

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” ― Abraham Lincoln

Today is National Prayer day.
So let’s talk about prayer shall we?!

We have these images in our minds when we think about the word “Prayer”…perhaps it looks like this: or maybe maybe this:
These iconic images of prayer are okay, but are they really what prayer looks like and should be for us today? Don’t get me wrong, I am not discounting some of us might fold our hands like this when we pray, but by and large our prayer life probably looks more like this:

Driving back and forth from home to work, only to repeat this process. Perhaps after a really good, challenging Sunday service we might feel compelled to be more intentional about prayer and so we turn off the radio and simply talk to God. Realistically, the World around us seems to be a constantly busy place and our prayer life can begin to be measured out in how long it takes us to get to work.

Still there are some of us whose prayer life resembles this:

We work hard all day long and when it comes time for us to go to bed we think about prayer. So we pray, and we are serious about it, but at the end of the day we are completely spent and so our prayers fall into sounds of deep breathing and even snoring.

I don’t say this as a guilt trip, because I’ve been guilty of this too. We mean well, it’s just that our bodies and our minds are tired and we drift off to sleep.

Let’s Get Uncomfortable About Prayer:
This will probably be unpopular among many Christians, but we are too soft. We are not as disciplined as we should be in regards to prayer. Instead of looking like this in our prayer life:

(We don’t take the intentional time we need. We aren’t focused. We lack the discipline to keep going. We struggle with many distractions such as TV, cell phones, social media, websites, books, video game…etc. )

So we end up looking more like this in regards to the discipline of prayer:

And the only time we pull out our prayers, our conversations to God, is when we are in need of something. Could it be that THIS is why we feel as if God isn’t listening? Perhaps because we haven’t really disciplined ourselves enough to have a constant conversation with Him?

It’s like the couch potato suddenly getting up from the comfortable sofa and putting on their shoes and attempting to run a marathon without any training. Sure, some might actually finish, but by and large most would fall flat on their faces in utter exhaustion.

Prayer takes work.
Real prayer isn’t a bunch of “Thees” and “Thous” thrown into some fancy sentence full of flowery meaningless words. God doesn’t want our ritualistic prayers. He doesn’t want us to be something we’re not. He wants our authenticity. He longs for us to be completely candid with Him. He already knows us, there’s nothing hidden from Him…so why do we feel as if we have to put up a wall or limit what we say to Him?

Brother Lawrence, in his little book called “The Practice of the Presence of God” said this; “Do not be discouraged by the resistance you will encounter from your human nature; you must go against your human inclinations. Often, in the beginning, you will think that you are wasting time, but you must go on, be determined and persevere in it until death, despite all the difficulties.”
― (The Practice of the Presence of God)

True prayer requires concerted effort.
It might require us to become uncomfortable.
Discipline is required to spend time conversing with the Almighty.
It is not a waste of time.
He does hear us.
He will speak…but the question is are we actually listening?

Do we need prayer?
Absolutely…BUT perhaps prayer isn’t what we have always been taught it is.
Could it be that our prayers should resemble more of a constant invitation for God to hang out with us? Could it be that instead of kneeling at our bedside, we continually begin to think and speak to our Creator? Perhaps we’ve been taught prayer is all about closing our eyes…maybe we should open them instead. God longs for our fellowship, and a part of that fellowship is our constant communication with Him. He is nearer than we think or realize. But perhaps could it be that our hearts are not completely in tune with Him? Perhaps we are out of sync due to our random, undisciplined prayer lives?

The Discipline of prayer is more than just a notch in the “Christian” belt of accomplishments (hopefully we don’t think of it like that), it is connect ourselves completely to the Divine. It is a part of Holiness. It is a part of the complete surrender the Holy Spirit is desiring from us. For many of us, a complete surrender is really scary to think about. Instead of thinking about the things we will give up, think about the life that we will gain and the peace and knowledge that brings.

I’m not there either, but I want to be.
Something more to ponder today.

May 5, 2016 0

Dear Salvationist, This Is Why We Are Here

My Social Services Director called me out of a meeting recently.
It was a Saturday afternoon, and we were engaged in a training session with a number of volunteers. My mind was on other things when she pulled me out of the meeting. I was slightly annoyed, having been focused on the topic at hand. I was convinced the call at the front door, the reason she was pulling me away, had to do with yet another client seeking service, but not really needing it. Exhaling a little as we walked toward the front entryway, I attempted to switch gears. I attempted to put on my “pastor” hat and perhaps even my administrator persona. Rounding the corner I didn’t find just another client, I found a family desperately trying to hold it together.

Their son, Brandon, sat in a chair nearest me looking disheveled and fidgety. He wore a long sleeved shirt on a hot spring day in order to cover up the track marks on his body. I reached to shake his hand and asked for his name. He gave it, but I could barely make it out because he had so much chewing tobacco in his mouth. His mother told us his sad story. Brandon was a drug addict. He had burned all of his bridges at home, his church, and his extended family wanted nothing to do with him. His parents were bringing him to The Salvation Army because he could no longer remain in their home. His addiction had consumed him and he had begun stealing things in order to pay for his next fix. Essentially his addiction had made him homeless.

With tears in his mother’s eyes, she told me his story. How he had become addicted to heroin. How he had a 7 year old daughter that he could no longer see because drugs had become more important. He sat there long faced with sunken eyes, a shell of what he once had been. Brandon had not used in six days, and he was feeling the effects of withdrawal. In that small waiting room, parents were clinging to one final hope. A hope that would take a miracle in preventing their son from dying of an imminent drug overdose. Brandon’s parents had brought him to us because there was no where else to go.

I had entered this room full of cynicism and judgement, I had been humbled and suddenly struck by their pain and anguish. That small waiting room that usually housed a reception desk and a few chairs, became our sanctuary of prayer. I asked Brandon if I could pray with him. His mother and father joined us. We prayed over Brandon’s circumstances. We pleaded with God to grant him the strength to fight his drug cravings for one more day. Tears flowed, and my heart was rent. Can you imagine being a parent to a drug addict? Can you imagine what it must feel like watching your child become someone else, someone whose life is self-destructing because of drugs?

We prayed for Brandon. We earnestly prayed with Brandon. We held on in our prayer circle for as long as we could. We gave God this pleading. We prayed through tears…
Brandon was not ready to enter rehabilitation.
He had not hit rock bottom yet…be he was so close. He teetered on the edge of overdose and death or rock bottom and possible salvation.

As his parents left and made their way to the homeless shelter to drop Brandon off, I couldn’t help but feel deeply burdened by his story. Sure, he had gotten there by his own choices. He was a victim of his own addictions, but he could not quit…and it was killing him. Brandon had burned all of his bridges, even his parents, who loved him, had to let go. I know they weren’t giving up on him, but they had to relinquish their protection of him. They had to release him, which was an act of true tough love.

I wonder how many other Brandons there are out there?
How many of them will be brought to our doors?
How many tears will it take? Enough to fill an ocean?
How many broken promises will there be before this disease is eradicated?
How many heart broken parents will it take before sons and daughters will realize the true cost?

Unfortunately, Brandon’s story isn’t unique.
Many lives have been swept away by the use of “recreational” drugs.
As I stood there and watched him leave with his parents, I couldn’t help but feel a deep burden for him.
The Salvation Army was their last resort.
No one else would take him.
They had no where else to turn.

Isn’t that why we are here?
Isn’t that why we continue to fight?
Why we continue to wage this war against addictions, poverty, the marginalized, the criminal seeking restitution, the widow, the single parent, the parent weeping in our entryway hanging onto her last thread of hope?
This is why we are still here!
This is why we still engage the enemy in the streets and not behind church walls and ritual.
This is who we are – we are an Army of Salvation.
If you have been questioning why we continue to fight – this is why!
If you have been doubting your calling – this is why we need you!
When all other hope is gone – there we will be stand at the very gates of hell if need be to try one last time to save a poor wretch. This is why we are here. This is why we continue to fight.

If you or someone you know struggles with addictions, please click this link and find an Adult Rehabilitation Center near you! We want to help! Adult Rehabilitation Centers Here are some other resources to help as well – Addictions Resource Addictions Forum Helps

“While women weep, as they do now,
I’ll fight
While little children go hungry, as they do now,
I’ll fight
While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now,
I’ll fight
While there is a drunkard left,
While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,
While there remains one dark soul without the light of God,
I’ll fight-I’ll fight to the very end!”
-General William Booth.

May 3, 2016 1

Sermon Podcast – “Life Is Like A Garden”

Listen to our morning Sermon entitled “Life is Like a Garden”

Or listen anywhere by downloading this sermon and subscribing by clicking on this link and clicking “subscribe” – LIFE IS LIKE A GARDEN

Scripture Text for today’s service:

Matthew 13:1-23

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.²Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

¹⁰The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

¹¹He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. ¹²Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ¹³This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

¹⁴In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
¹⁵For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’^[^a^]

¹⁶But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. ¹⁷For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

¹⁸“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²²The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Some pictures to ponder while listening to the sermon –

May 1, 2016 0

Dear Salvationist, Participant Or Spectator?

Jesus doesn’t need a fan club.
He doesn’t need cheer leaders on the sidelines happily applauding but never stepping foot on the field.

If you are a soldier or adherent of The Salvation Army – we don’t need a fan club either.
We don’t have time to sit on the sidelines and cheer.
Every member of this army should an active participant in this great mission we are called to.

Distractions:

I understand that there are times when we peer over the fence at other churches and ministries and we wish we were like others – but this isn’t what we’re called to do either. We might also get so caught up in over analyzing everything within the four walls of our buildings that we lose sight of the hurting people outside of our buildings who need someone to bring them hope and to share with them the love of Christ. We were made for so much more than just keeping a uniform warm and a pew occupied. Our lives have been offered into a greater service than just selfish ambition and personal gain. We are not serving ourselves but we are to serve our communities and those in it through Christ-like selflessness. We cannot afford to become distracted by elements of worship or fence-peering or dressing to impress. No, we have communities to serve in and to love regardless of how we might be treated along the way.

Along with our distractions, there is also the distraction of social media and cellular devices. Although these can be used for good, they can also distract and pull us further away from one another. It sounds hypocritical talking about this as I write this blog article, and I’m equally guilty of this, but how much time do we devote every day to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? One might contend that they are bringing encouragement and hope by posting, and perhaps you are, but by and large we are so consumed by the social media that we sometimes neglect to look up from our tiny screens and into the communities we currently live. We need breaks from these devices. We need to look up and see real needs right in front of our faces – right there in your own community!

General Andre’ Cox recently said this at the National Advisory Organization Conference – “Never has there been a time when people were more engrossed with communicating, but who is really listening?’ He continued: ‘The virtual environment cannot replace looking someone in the eye, talking directly to them and knowing that they listen. God must also get frustrated with us because he keeps talking, but do we listen? … He has spoken most clearly to us through Jesus. When God sent Jesus he gave us a clear example of how to order and live our lives.”
(Source: http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/news/inr270416)

So let me ask you again, are you a participant or a spectator?
Are we still listening to the Holy Spirit as He leads us?
He is active and available…but are we?

Jesus doesn’t need a fan club, He desires disciples and soldiers who are willing and able to step out onto the mission field (both here and far away) and serve Him boldly and unashamedly. Are you available? Are you ready to participate in the battle for souls around you? We cannot do this work, this calling with out first listening to His Holy Presence as He provides the wisdom and guidance for this army of salvation.

It’s time to get on with it and step up…are you ready?

April 29, 2016 1

Are We Lying To Ourselves?

I think we all do it from time to time.
Do what you ask? We lie to others and to ourselves.
We convince ourselves that everything is okay, and that we are “fine”…but deep down we have been lying to ourselves, convincing our hearts and minds that we need not grow or that growth is not necessary any longer.

I don’t want to pick this scab…I really don’t.
I’m afraid of what lays beneath it.
But you know what? The funny thing is the Holy Spirit doesn’t want us to settle. He doesn’t want us to become static – this Pilgrim’s Progress is very real, and very needed for all of us. I can only speak for myself, but I have recognized the times when His holy presence wanted to move me into deeper fellowship with Him while I resisted because I was afraid of what I would have to surrender. Has this happened to you too? I kept lying to myself, trying to convince my heart and mind that I had imagined the prompting, and that I was fine and not in need of fixing…oh but I was wrong.

It is very hard to face the truth of spiritual undernourishment and the necessity for us to move. It is dangerous territory when the Holy Spirit desires to penetrate our prideful hearts and even more terrifying to admit these liabilities and struggles to others around us. We might tell ourselves, “I don’t need help, I’ve got this…and even if I don’t I’m going to fake it until I do.” And so we never ask for help and sometimes we tell the Holy Spirit “I don’t want to move, I’m perfectly comfortable right here.”

Stop Lying.
When will we come to terms with our lies?
When we will confront this elephant in the room?
This is about personal holiness, not personal convenience.
The Holy Spirit desires to move us, to spur us out of our comfort and into the fire of spiritual discipline. Through this holy fire we can become further refined and purified. Perhaps some of us must walk through this purifying fire over and over again just to surrender the hidden sins of the heart. This isn’t a guilt trip by any means, this is a deep personal conviction. I believe one of the reasons our churches are dying is because we have been lying to ourselves and to each other for far too long. We have bottled up our comfort and refused to become vulnerable to the Holy Spirit. We have pushed accountability aside and desired to privately entertain the desires of our own hearts and have turned the mission of others into a self-indulged power trip.

But I don’t believe it’s too late.
I believe that there is still time.
I know the tide can turn, if we would only stop lying and start moving back into the fire.

Begin To Feel The Flames Again…
I began anew this very topic with an accountability partner recently, and I began to recognize just how far I have come in my faith but also just how stagnant I have become.
At the risk of oversharing, I was convicted in my own life because I have been neglecting the Holy Spirit’s presence. I have been ignoring His pleading. I have been lying to my heart and mind that I require no further refinement…how wrong have I been?!

I need to feel the heat of refinement again…do you?
I need to stop lying and start confession my needs…do you?
The only way our churches will grow in the right way is when we are found on our faces before the Almighty and we burn with His refinement once again.
So how about it? Are you ready to begin to feel the flames again?

For further reading, please consider this tried and true (albeit difficult confrontation of questions) approach: A word of caution, don’t ask all of these questions all at once…perhaps digest a few poignant questions at a time, then pray about this or get with an accountability partner and talk it out.

The 22 Questions of John Wesley’s Holy Clubs Over 200 years ago when Charles and John Wesley were students at Oxford University, they started a small group that met for regular prayer, bible study, and discipleship. In their private devotions, they’d use these questions to “methodically” examine their spiritual lives to help them be spiritually accountable in the faith and encourage growth in their commitment to Christ. This became the beginning of the Methodist movement. John Wesley asked himself these questions every day & recorded his responses in a journal in order that he could grow spiritually. How might a commitment to this kind of honest examination of your spiritual life sharpen your commitment to Christ? How might this kind of spiritual accountability impact the mission of Christ in the world?

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

4. Can I be trusted?

5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?

6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying or self-justifying?

7. Did the Bible live in me today?

8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?

9. Am I enjoying prayer?

10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

11. Do I pray about the money I spend?

12. Do I go to bed on time and get up on time?

13. Do I disobey God in anything?

14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?

17. How do I spend my spare time?

18. Am I proud?

19. Do I thank God that I am not like other people?

20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard?

21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?

22. Is Christ real to me?

About The Holy Club ” John and Charles Wesley and a handful of other Oxford students devoted themselves to a rigorous search for holiness and service to others. The Holy Club, the name given to John and Charles Wesley’s group by their fellow collegians in mockery of their emphasis on devotions, was the first sign of what later became Methodism…
(Source: https://fairhopechurch.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/the-22-questions-of-john-wesley.pdf)

A Shorter version of this comes from General William Booth – so if you wanted to condense and ask the most relevant questions –
William Booth had 11 Questions for the Weekly Self-Examination of the Soul.

How must you answer them before God?….

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5 RSV)

1. Am I habitually guilty of any known sin? Do I practice or allow myself any thought, word or deed that I know to be wrong?

2. Am I so the master of my bodily appetites as to have no condemnation? Do I allow myself any indulgence that is injurious to my holiness, growth in knowledge, obedience, or usefulness?

3. Are my thoughts and feelings such that I should not be ashamed to hear them published before God?

4. Does the influence of the world cause me to do or say things that are unlike Christ?

5. Do my tempers cause me to act, or feel, or say things that I see afterward are contrary to that love that I ought to [show] always to those about me?

6. Am I doing all in my power for the salvation of sinners? Do I feel concern about their danger and pray and work for their salvation as if they were my children?

7. Am I fulfilling the vows I have made to God in my acts of consecration or at the penitent-form?

8. Is my example in harmony with my profession?

9. Am I conscious of any pride or haughtiness in my manner or bearing?

10. Do I conform to the fashions and customs of the world, or do I show that I despise them?

11. Am I in danger of being carried away with worldly desire to be rich or admired?

Selected material from: Chosen to Be a Soldier – Orders and Regulations for Soldiers of The Salvation Army 1977 (pp. 17-18)

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

April 27, 2016 1

Dear Salvation Army, Is The General Right?

This quote has bothered me, perhaps more than it should.
Is there more to this conversation that has not been quoted here that would cast a different light on this subject? I do not presume to know everything, but I would like to attempt at interpreting this soundbite with your help.

Are we splitting hairs here, or is this a general assumption?

I have seen this quote floating around for a day and a half, and I wonder if, perhaps some context is required before jumping to conclusions.

What does this quote mean?
What did the General mean when he said “Worshiping community”?
Are these two mutually exclusive or interconnected?

If I were to simply interpret this quote/sound bite, I would have to wonder why shouldn’t they be interconnected? And also, what is so bad about being a worshiping community?
Another thought that comes to mind within this pondering then is this; wouldn’t a worshiping community’s bi-product or outpouring/ evidence of fruit be in the complete submission to God and the service of man – thereby being also a serving community?

If, I have interpreted this correctly, (and if I haven’t please correct me) I would have to disagree with the General. I do not believe the Army’s paradigm has shifted nor has it’s hand to man. This army of salvation certainly has an ever evolving identity within this world, but it’s mission, in my opinion, still remains firmly intact.

Is there fear that The Salvation Army is yearning to become a full-fledged Church somewhere? From my small context of the Army world, I do not see that as an issue. In fact, just the opposite would be my fear – we become, or have become far too Social Work heavy and lacking the “Heart to God” in our service. With the ever increasing funding sources coming from governmental entities(at least in the U.S.), sometimes there is the fear that our hands become tied to preach the Gospel in His name while meeting the physical needs.

The Balancing Act…
I understand what the General is saying, if the context is correct, but I would have to counter with the notion that this is certainly a balancing act. We serve the Almighty and through our discipleship, fellowship and worship we begin to understand how to better serve the world around us. The pendulum certainly can sway in either direction and we must be mindful of it. If we are properly aligned as an Army, our worship and adoration of God will lead to the outpouring of service to man.

So is the General wrong?
Perhaps in places of the world this is true, but in this little corner of the world, I just don’t see it.

What do you think ?
Leave your comments below, share your thoughts on this and tell us what you think this means?

Something more for our Army world to ponder today.

*Disclaimer, this blog’s opinions and content does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of The Salvation Army.*

April 25, 2016 42

“No Regrets” – Sermon Podcast

Here’s today’s Sermon from the Evansville Corps – click to listen:

To download and subscribe, click on this link: “No Regrets”

2 Timothy 4:5-8 (NIV)

⁵But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

How to live without regrets:

1. Recognize your failures, own them then press forward, the past cannot be changed but the present and future can:

2. Hardships on the way are indicators that you’re on the right track – keep going! 2 Timothy 4:5 –
⁵But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship

3. Don’t Let Up Until The Finish Line – Endure, Persevere, Thrive!
“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (V.8)

April 24, 2016 0

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 around 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 in 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?
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!

April 20, 2016 0