Dear Salvation Army – Movement or Church? The debate continues…

I enter into this fray of conversation only to politely ask some relevant questions. I honestly have trouble getting caught up in defining what we are when there is work to be done for the Kingdom. As a matter of fact, this particular debate isn’t one of those topics that keeps me up at night.

Questions to ponder:
* Are we a Church or are we a movement?
* Does it matter what we define ourselves to be?
* Are we simply splitting hairs in such a definition?
* Does the outside world really care how we label ourselves or is this only an inward debate?
* Does this organizational identification help to refine our mission?

A Movement Born Out Of Necessity:
It would be easy to concede the fact that the foundation of our Army was created out of necessity. No one was there to “do something” for the poor, the wretched and the outcast in Victorian England. It swiftly became a world-wide movement which now includes 126 countries globally. The movement of The Salvation Army is, in a sense, universally recognized. We help feed and clothe the poor. We identify with the outcast. We bring comfort to the distressed regardless of who they are and where they come from (in principle). This by definition is a movement. Something that transcends mere Church. It is born of something more with a far deeper social outreach than most denominations. Please don’t misinterpret that last statement. It isn’t mean to puff us up or to make us sound any better than other denominations. We are all one body of Christ which performs many different tasks for the Kingdom of God.

A Movement…but…
When Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded the Apple company from their garage in 1976, it certainly had room to grow. Once things began to take shape and become marketable a new place to conduct business needed be found. Relocation of assets and the dynamic changed from a homegrown garage business to a global computer tech company. They were out to change the world but as they grew so did their strategy to change it.

In the same way for-profit organizations like Apple must change in business to stay viable, so it is with non-profit organizations like The Salvation Army. From an organizational standpoint we couldn’t maintain that singular movement solely within darkest England. That movement needed to shared and so the dynamic and strategic shift of the Army had to be modified. Doctrines were introduced, policies and procedures, conformity within the Army brand had to be emphasized…in a sense, these organizational structures began to resemble Church. The movement of The Salvation Army still exists, but is it more than just a movement? Are we exclusively labeling ourselves when internally and structurally we have taken a Church foundational structure?

I am unsure of the answer here…this is why I pose the question.
-For some out there who are tired of hearing this question, I apologize.
-For others who have never really considered or even cared about this identity…carry on.
-For those who really get bogged down in this debate, I would ask you this:
Does it really matter?

If we are still called by the Holy Spirit to serve suffering humanity by employing social and spiritual tools does it really make much of a difference if we call ourselves a Church or a Movement?

It is not my intention to get anyone riled up today, but I would like to hear what you think. What are your thoughts on this conversation? As I have said at the opening of this post, I am not one who is caught up in the definition of what we are but instead more importantly Whose we are and if we are Serving Him through all that we do and say.

Questions for you to respond to:
-What are we? Movement, Church, Both, Other?
-What rationale can you give for your response?
-Why is this definition so important to you?

Something more for our Army world to ponder today!

To God be the glory!

September 24, 2014 1

Perspectives: Featuring Eric Bicknell – “The Glory Days To Come”

THE ‘GLORY DAYS’ TO COME
Why is that when people refer to the ‘Glory Days’ of The Salvation Army, or any church for that matter, why is it they are always referring to them in the past? What about the ‘Glory Days’ to come? Are we expecting them? Are we working to make them happen? Why does the term ‘Glory Days’ always refer to the past?

I think in some respects its alright for us to look into the past, see the past victories, and remember the sacrifices made by those gone before us that have made it possible for US to continue the mission they started. We look back with fondness at the characters that form the story of The Salvation Army. Characters like the Booths [all of them, William, Catherine and the kids], Railton, Booth-Tucker, Joe The Turk, Ashbarrel Jimmy, Eliza Shirley, and Samuel Brengle, just to name a few. People who gave their lives and dedicated their talents to the expansion of the Kingdom of God through the ministry of The Salvation Army. We look back at the courage and determination of the countless officers and soldiers who literally fought for The Army’s right to proclaim the gospel in the streets. We remember, or read about the meetings where THOUSANDS came to hear William or Catherine Booth preach.

We read about the parades of witness with hundreds of bands marching in the streets. We remember the way the Spirit of God moved in such a mighty way in Army meetings that people were moved to wave or clap their hands, or shout AMEN! A time when The Army was not afraid to SHOW the joy of the salvation they so graciously received from God. But it seems we have moved on from there. The Spirit that once permeated The Army SEEMS to be no more. BUT! The spirit hasn’t gone from The Army! Its still here … we just have to find it! But today, we are more refined, more respectable. There are things that were done in the early days we wouldn’t dream of doing today. Such a SHAME! The Spirit of The Army isn’t dead … no. We just put it in the closet where no one can see it!

Joyful faith. That’s what Salvationism is about! The joy of the Lord is MY STRENGTH, and expressing that joy in word [shouting AMEN!] and deed [clapping, raising, or waving hands, picking up the flag and waving it] is how we let others know we have that Spirit of Joy within us. But we’re refined. We’re respectable, and you can’t do that in uniform. HOGWASH! [The only thing you can’t, or shouldn’t do in uniform is eat powdered doughnuts, and
you can even do that if you’re careful!]

The Salvation Army is a unique worship experience. I’m not just talking about the band, if you have one, or the fact most of the ‘members’ of our church wear uniform. Those things, while different from other churches, are only ornaments to worship. No. Army worship is, or should be unique because of the way we express the joy of our
faith!

If you can sit down and sing ‘I believe we shall win’ without clapping your hands with a big smile on your face, then there’s a problem. If you can remain in your seat, and solemnly sing the seventh verse of ‘O Boundless Salvation’ without feeling the irresistible urge to pick up the flag and wave it, there’s a problem. Does the Captain say something in her sermon that stirs your spirit? Does it make you want to shout ‘HALLELUJAH!’ or give a resounding ‘AMEN?’ Do ya do it? Or, are you afraid of shouting ‘AMEN!’ for fear the elder members of the corps would have heart attacks if you did?

I am a traditionalist. When I see [mainly on videos on YouTube] a Salvation Army band marching down the street, it stirs my soul; sometimes even to tears. I remember the days when we went out into the community doing open-air services [we didn’t march from the corps, we took the van]. I remember Easter Sunday morning marches of witness in our corps neighborhood. We took the message of Jesus Christ out into the streets where the people were. Nowadays, the people are on the internet, they join Facebook and read blogs. Times change; methods change, and sometimes traditions change. But, our faith never changes, and neither does the joyful expression of it! I generally tend to refer to the expression of our joyful faith within The Salvation Army as ‘Army Spirit.’

Army Spirit encompasses more than just expressing our joyful faith, it also encompasses a desire to seek out those whom the world has forgotten about, the ones lost, without hope, without a prayer for the future; the ones who believe that even God Himself has forgotten about. But, God hasn’t forgotten them, and neither should we.

In today’s Army, we spend a lot of time trying to be like other churches. In some ways this is a good thing. Other churches are successful in ministry, and we want to be too. So, we decide we need to get rid of things like the uniform, the band, and possibly even the flag. But those things, traditional as they may be, are a part of us, and identify us. We aren’t God’s Secret Service, we don’t blend in: We stand out. We stand out for Christ. Other churches haven’t given up their traditions, they have included more contemporary aspects of modern worship into their traditional worship, and we need to do that too. But, in the process, we cannot continue to quench that spirit of joyful faith that so permeated The Army in its early days. We need to release it once again so others can feel the fire of The Holy Spirit as we worship in our
corps.
The ‘Glory Days’ of the past serve as an inspiration to us in the present. We see in our past how God has worked in Salvation Army worship, and how soldiers expressed their joyful faith. We see in the past those who were not just ‘happy to be in church today,’ but people who desired to be there to feel the warmth of God’s Spirit as they shared the worship experience with those around them. They inspired each other to go out and take the message of God’s love to those in their communities, and they were encouraged to do acts of daring that today, we might consider extreme in order to reach out to the lost and suffering of the world they lived in. We sometimes refer to this as ‘the pioneering spirit,’ and rightly so, as this was the spirit that led the pioneers of our Army into battle against Satan. We also refer to these people as being ‘on fire for God.’ And again, rightly so, for they really were immersed in the fire of The Holy Spirit.
But today we have relegated these people, and this spirit of Salvationism to the past. We are firmly established in flourishing corps these days, so the spirit of the pioneers is not needed, right? WRONG! Some believe that we have grown out of touch with those around us, and our former style of worship is no longer relevant. Are they right? If it’s ‘traditional worship’ for the sake of tradition, then they are. If it is blended with more modern styles, then they’re not. [I believe that the band is a part of worship. If worship becomes about the band, there’s a problem.]

But the spirit of Salvationism, that joyful faith that we saw in the early days, the ‘Glory Days’ of The Salvation Army CANNOT remain in the past, or in the closet. We can’t keep it in a back room somewhere and hope that our corps moves forward without it. No. Just as this spirit of Salvationism was a driving force for the pioneers of The Army, so it is a driving force for The Army today. This joyful faith, grounded in Jesus Christ can be the catalyst for today’s Army to move forward. Will this move forward look like it did 100 years ago? Certainly not! But this joyful faith will keep us grounded in Jesus Christ as we blend new forms of worship into our traditions, and as we start new ministries that will take the love of God to those who are without hope. Who knows where the spirit of God will lead us!

When we think of ‘Glory days,’ we NEED to STOP thinking of them in the past, and start ANTICIPATING them in our FUTURE! While we remember the ‘Glory Days’ of the past with fondness, we need to start looking forward
to the many MORE ‘Glory Days’ still to come.

September 23, 2014 2

Dear Salvation Army – Salvationist Life Hacks (10 Hacks To Improve Your Effectiveness)

Introduction to Salvationist Life Hacks:
Thank you to all those who contributed to this blog entry. I will list each individual by name at the end of this article. Please note that these aren’t
“shortcuts” or means to cheat life and challenges that we face as Officers and Soldiers, these are merely suggested ways to improve our effectiveness in ministry and in organization. We could all use a little house-keeping from time to time and perhaps some brainstorming and idea sharing could help us in this process. Many of these “life hacks” are for Officers of The Salvation Army but Soldiers and Cadets could most likely apply these as well to their lives and ministries wherever that may be.

Without further adieu 10 hacks to improve your ministry effectiveness:
10 life hacks:

1) Calendar Planning – It takes a lot to become disciplined in scheduling things out a year in advance…but it is possible. The Salvation Army is rather good at scheduling reports and specific required events for the entire year, so syncing that to your personal calendar is not all that difficult, but it is just time consuming at the onset. Some suggestions would be to use apps like Google Calendar to help link and bring up reminders of important events and due dates. Calendar planning doesn’t just end with your personal ‘to do’ list but can also become vital for worship planners…which leads to #2 life hack:

2) Worship Planning:

There are many tools to help make this happen, from a simple excel worksheets to elaborate subscription based websites. Remember, worship is not only about the selection of music on Sunday morning. When you put forth the effort in advance to plan Holiness meetings and other such events, the actual execution of these services becomes easier. Be careful not to over-plan and thereby constraining the work of the Holy Spirit, but not planning services and just expecting the Holy Spirit to do everything is also not an option. There is action required on our part, participate is not optional, instead it should be a proactive, not a reactionary response. Poor planning is noticeable. Poor planning, in my opinion, can resemble how unimportant we view our worship offerings to the Lord. One highly touted premium online service is Planning Center Online which begins at $14 a month (I am not a paid sponsor, nor have I used their product). If you’re a little more low tech a simple calendar, a sheet of paper and your music/scripture/readings/lectionary and a few local officers once a quarter will suffice. Lectionary sources are abundant and available online including ELCA Lectionary which may be a little high church but can provide some guidelines on seasonal and specific calendar planning within our worship.

3) Have additional sermons on standby!

You know the old Army adage “always keep an extra sermon in your pocket“…if that phrase is new to you, well then, you’re welcome. In training College or other preparatory courses, one learns to become proactive and always ready. Thus having a sermon in ones back pocket provides opportunity and keeps us always on the ready. You never know when you might be called upon to spontaneously preach a sermon when someone calls in sick or you find your name on a bulletin without any foreknowledge. Borrowing from the old Boy Scout motto – “Be prepared!”

4) Meal Preparation

Officers and even Soldiers can become very busy, whether it is the Christmas season or another hectic week in the office. It is not healthy to eat fast food every night or to miss meals and then gorge on late night snacks. Again, preparation is the key. It is time consuming at the onset, but it can save us some pounds around the waistline as well as money from our pockets. There are some places that allow you to do all of the prep work at their business like Let’s Dish. My sister works there and I have sampled their products during the long Christmas season. Be careful, though some may not be easy on a budget so shop around. Buying pre-cooked meals might help or you can pre-cook various favorite dishes and freeze them for a later event.

5) White Shirts = Stains.

It’s inevitable.
Just accept it…and then be prepared for that next spaghetti or coffee stain. Carry with you a simple stain stick or wipe so that you aren’t forced to wear the “stain of shame” for the rest of the day.

6) Ladies: buy quality Nylons and keep an extra set in your purse.

This comes to us from other Officers who are women. I trust that they know a little something about nylons. You never know when the next set of velcro shoes will run the pair you are wearing now…so plan to keep an extra set with you in the event of the nylon disaster of 2014. Remember, buy quality nylons that are comfortable (as comfortable as they can be that is). Spending a little extra might go a long way to surviving that next all-day required event in full uniform.

7) Safety Pins, Safety Pins, Safety Pins…

I once flew to an event and a couple of my tunic buttons got torn off by a strap on my carry-on bag. I didn’t have a sewing kit on me but I did have safety pins. These can be life-savers, or at least uniform savers.

8) Buy Bulk multi-use Cards
We all need encouragement and support. Why not buy a bunch of cards and store them in your desk drawer to pull out and send to members in your corps, session mates and friends?! It will save you one step of having to rush out to the nearest Walgreen’s or Hallmark store and purchase a card. Always be prepared to soothe the hearts of trouble friends and corps members by sharing a quick card of encouragement and love.

9) Post-it Note ‘To Do’ Lists
Buy some simple post-it notes for ‘to-do’ lists or tasks at hand needing your attention. These are practical suggestions but important ones. If you are better on your smartphone or calendar with ‘to-do’ lists then use that feature. Never forget to do a report or complete a task again because you have a note right there on your desk to remind you. Also on Lotus Notes there is a ‘flag’ feature as well as a ‘to-do’ feature which can help you stream line your lists of tasks you need to complete.

10) Spend Quality Time With Family!
Soldiers and Officers of The Salvation Army lead very busy lives. Carve out intentional times where the phones are turned off, the tablets are disconnected and the laptop is left in the office. Put the tech down and look at your kids. Stop bringing your work home with you for a change. Take the time to have dinner together around the table and talk about their day. Go to that soccer game to support your child. Invest in family time! There are many former Officer Kids out there who, once becoming an adult, walked away completely from the Army because they never saw their parents. This is a parental choice, not the army’s fault. Make life fun, be a parent not just the “Captain” or “Major” or “General”. This life hack can bring your families closer together, but allows you the opportunity to minister to your most important congregation – your kids! If there’s one life hack that mustn’t be neglected, it’s this one.

These are just a few hacks…I’m sure there are many more. What are your suggestions? What life-hacks have you learned along the way? Share them here in the comment section below.

More for our Army world to ponder today!
Special Thanks To:
John Mowers, Tammy Whitney, Kelsey Moreno, Jennifer Wilson, Amyjo Ferguson, Keith Bailey, Kathie Chiu, Robin Shiels, David Grindle, Deb Coles, Jim Garrington, Cindy Marquis, Timothy McPherson & Rob Whitney for your contributions!

September 22, 2014 0

Dear Salvation Army – Do Something…But Do It Well!

William Booth, founder and first General of The Salvation Army, recognized a need when he saw homeless people huddling under a bridge. He looked at his son Bramwell and said “Do something!”. Since the early days of our Army we have been doing something to help those in need. This is nothing new to most of you reading this because you, as a Soldier of our Army, are actively participating in “doing something”already. We understand that there is a need and if we can help, we should.

But is doing “something” enough?
What I mean is, are we doing what we are doing well?
Do we strive for excellence in our “Somethings”?
Is our motivation for program and activities propelled only by maintaining or numbers and statistics? I would hope not. We are not the army of maintainers. We are not the army of programs. We are The Salvation Army, and our mission for Christ should propel us constantly forward. Our “somethings” what ever they may be ought to be provided out of need and necessity not strictly tradition and maintenance. Similarly, General Booth advised that if Corps were not growing or producing they ought to be closed immediately and the officers should move on to another town or location.

Are our roots of tradition and staunch “status quo” too deep today?
Does this prevent us from being that revolutionary Army we once were in Victorian England and subsequently the US and Canada and many, many other regions in the world? In our striving to do not only “something” but EVERYTHING are we unintentionally aiming for mediocrity in mission as we spread ourselves too thin?

Do “Something” Well!
Perhaps as our Salvation Army movement has grown we have evolved into an entity too big to micro-manage…is that such a bad thing? I say no. But we are so large and power/financially hungry that we must delve into every aspect of social helps? In so doing (if this is indeed the case) have we spread the “service” and “something” so thinly that we cannot possibly begin to expect long-term and life-changing results in those we serve?

Yes, we ought to do something, and do it immediately to help those in need. That is without question…but are there certain tasks that we currently perform in our ministries that perhaps we ought to discard? What purpose are some of these tasks still performing? If we were to look at specific programs and line them up with our community’s needs would they serve a purpose? Is THAT specific program or service needed and does it help save souls and serve suffering humanity? If the answer is “no” and it is just something we are required to do or something we have always done perhaps it’s time to let it die. Even Soldiers and Officers of our Army carry around sacred cows that no longer serve any purpose in our present ministries. This is a top-down issue but it is also a local officer and corps issue as well. I would imagine if Booth were around today there would be far more corps closing, a lot less sacred cow keepings going on and possibly a few more fires burning to prompt all of us to get on with it. We just don’t have time to dwell on these less important things when there are broken lives who need this army in the here and now!

If we’re going to do “something” I pray that this something is worth it! Don’t misunderstand, it isn’t about perfection in programming, but it is about sincerity, compassion, intentional ministry and effort. One might argue that the life of an officer and a soldier is really, really busy to get it right…and that’s exactly my point in writing this today. If we are so consumed with all of the mundane and the unimportant tasks (insert those here as they vary from location to location) what time is left to that which is critical and vital to meeting human needs in His name?

Dear Salvation Army, we aren’t an army of mediocrity.
If we cease to perform those tasks of reaching souls for Christ because we are too busy chasing funding and worried about our image and perception, I fear God will replace us with those who are willing to do the impossible. Consider this a shot across the bow. Consider this a warning. We are not an Army of doing “everything” but we ought to be doing “something” and that something ought to be done as best as we can! Perhaps it’s reaching one family or one soul at a time.

Forget about numerical success and financial success. Although these are often indicators of “success” they are secondary to our mission of doing “something” well. Our first order of business is to be in constant prayer with the Father to guide us and to send us a re-ignition of the Holy Spirit. Without His guidance on what must be done we will flounder and fail. It sounds basic…because it is and yet this discipline can get lost in the busyness of our Army. Secondly, as we are constantly praying for guidance and direction we must venture out of our walls and comforts of these corps buildings and centers. We must engage those in need at where they are. The bars are still open to the drunkards and the socialites, they did not close because the War Cry sales have ended. The grocery stores still operate to the public long after the red kettles are put away for another year. Nursing homes still provide services to the shut-ins and sick long after those care teams come during the holidays. That single parent who barely makes ends meet by working two or three jobs still needs someone to talk to after our social service office closes for the day. There are many avenues for intentional “somethings” that could mean everything to the hurting, the marginalized, and the broken.

Yes, Dear Salvation Army, do something…do anything…but do it well! Make your efforts count, and make sure it is done with love and compassion not obligation of uniform or service! This is spoken from my heart and my own convictions today. I am equally guilty of spreading my efforts far too thinly. I am equally guilty of chasing that next funding source (though important) or worried about others perceptions of me instead of what God is calling me to do for Him right here and right now. Let’s get on with the important stuff and let the sacred cows and mundane tasks take a backseat for a while.

-Just something more for our Army world to ponder today.

September 19, 2014 2

Dear Salvation Army, Do We Shoot Our Wounded?

We are an Army of Salvation.
An Army of Holiness.
An Army of Hope.
An Army of Compassion.

But do we shoot our wounded?
Those who have worked on the front lines…
Those who have fallen…
Those who have broken ranks…sometimes..

This is probably an uncomfortable topic. This is most likely similar to picking a scab…but I think we should.

Years ago, and in some places still today farmers will treat the wounded horse if they can. Many will send for veterinarians. Most will find means to help the wounded animal…but every now and then there are just some wounds that won’t heal. Every now and then a break in the horse’s leg is irreparable. Sometimes this is done out of compassion. Other times because the animal is now more of a liability than an asset it is shot and killed. There are far better solutions. I am not a hippologist or an equestrian by any means, but it seems to me that others have found ways to save these animals. Some have sent these wounded horses “out to pasture” to become therapy horses or they are donated to petting zoos or camps. Most of the time there is a way to save these animals besides shooting the wounded.

Dear Salvation Army, are we seeking out ways to save the wounded, the weary, the broken, the ones in need of reconciliation and spiritual saving? Or…are we shooting the wounded?

Can an Officer or Local Officer Admit To Sin & Temptation?

It almost seems like a “hush, hush” type of topic. “Well we don’t talk about sin in the corps and in our leadership”, one might utter under their breath grimacing as they do. “We can’t admit we too struggle with this sin. We can’t let anyone know.” Why is this such a touchy subject? Why can’t we all admit that we are still sinners saved by grace? I must be careful here because I do not wish to imply that we just go on sinning, but we can be redeemed and given the power to overcome…but why are we hesitant, why do we pretend and hide these things from each other? Are we not to keep each other accountable? Are we not to be vulnerable before each, those in whom we can trust? Ah, I think this is the crux of the situation…because there are still many within our Army that shoot the wounded.

Changing Our Focus
All too often we focus so much on the mission and saving the lost that we neglect the solider. I do not intend this to mean that we cater and prop up and pamper, but when all of our energies are focused outwardly into the world we possibly run the risk of weakening our ranks. There must be edification, concentration and preparation of spiritual care given to our soldiery or our Army. We cannot allow temptation to take hold where we are able to prevent such a decay to occur in the first place. There must be pastoral care given to both Officer and Soldier. It must be intentional. It must be emphasized. It is brother helping brother, sister helping sister as we fight shoulder to shoulder. When one of our brothers or sisters slips and falls we must help to pick them up, we must help to carry them not shoot them! We must lovingly restore them! (Galatians 6:1)

Is There A Sin That Is “Shootable”?

Yes there ought to be consequences to sin. Immoral behavior, which includes slander, and gluttony (Thank you General Cox), must be dealt with and addressed. In so doing, can we still restore a dear soldier or officer within our ranks? In the past such situations were dealt with harshly and people were turned out of our army with nothing. I am thankful in some circles who have seen the error of this response and have begun to deal justly but with compassion and grace.

What happens to one who is “tossed out” or thrown out? Is there some measure of a restoration plan in place or are the Army’s hands washed and done with such an individual? Is there any sin that is shootable?

Grace & Compassion

Grace, which Christ bestowed upon us has to be evident in how we deal with others. Grace and compassion is beyond our human grasp and yet the Holy Spirit can and will provide this to us when we love instead of shoot those who are wounded. Do you remember the parable of the unmerciful servant? He was forgiven by the master a sizable debt and then he goes and attempts to viciously extract the debts that were owed to him. When the master found out that unmerciful servant was punished. I do not want to be an unmerciful soldier and officer of this army. We cannot operate solely within a mind set of stiffness, legalities and policies and procedures…where does grace and compassion fit into this?

Punish? Yes.
Shoot? I sure hope not.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 3:23-24)

Dear Salvation Army, we are so outspoken about the need for more soldiers and officers, could it be that impart we have already shot some of our wounded who could have facilitated some of our need? We do need more able bodies on the front lines, but do not forget about those who are wounded and are in need of loving restoration when this is possible. God’s grace still outshines the grace that is evident in our Army today.

-Just something more for our Army world to ponder today.

Lord, you grace is enough!
Come Lord Jesus fall afresh on us again!

September 18, 2014 8

Opening Our Eyes

“Opening up our eyes”
By Captain Scott Strissel

“…this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” -2 Corinthians 4:4

Have you ever seen those air freshner commercials? It is the commercial where blind folded people are placed in very cluttered, dirty rooms that have been sprayed with this air freshner product. Surprisingly, the blind folded people could not detect the state of their surroundings as the air freshner covered up any trace of foul odors. Once the blind folds are removed, those who had been blinded are surprised and also revolted by the cluttered, smelly things around them. Because of their temporary blindness they were oblivious or aware.

Sin has a way of blinding us all as well. In that state of blindness we are oblivious to our surroundings and just how bad it truly is. We can cover it up for a time, we can pretend it is something other than what it truly is, but eventually we have to open our eyes and see. We have to look around and wake up. Sin tries to convince us that things are okay when in fact things certainly are not. We can’t cover up our sins. We cannot live these blinded lives anymore. We must wake up and allow God to clean our cluttered hearts. Let God open our eyes today! -Just a thought.

September 15, 2014 0

Mark Driscoll Was Right…

Questions some of you might be thinking about right now having read the title:
“What was Mark Driscoll right about?”
“Did I miss something?”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Barf, barf, barf…what?”
“Has this blog and its writer joined the dark-side?”

The Preamble:

Let me clarify what Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church was right about before the pitchforks come out and the mobs with torches attack.
We all know him because of the recent news stories and the controversy surrounding his ministry in the recent years. If you have been living under a rock or haven’t really cared one way or another, here’s a link to read up on: Driscoll Controversy

I am not here to throw more fuel on the funeral pyre of Pastor Driscoll’s ministry. I think there are plenty of bloggers out there who are doing a bang up job in that department…maybe a little too much. I do not wish to become a bitter blogger who dances and celebrates whenever a “celebrity Christian” falls from grace. I pray that this never becomes my identity or the identity of this blog http://www.pastorspondering.org.

Mark Driscoll’s response – Update from Mark Driscoll

Here’s what Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church got right:
Mars Hill Church was founded in 1996 and has since become the largest multi-church “Mega Church” in the United States.

Why did they grow so fast?
What was their secret?

Mars Hill Church understood and was a major catalyst for the Emergent Church movement. Along with its modernistic church/rock feel they had a way of connecting with younger generations of our country. They were able to plug tech-savvy generations into a very relevant God with whom they could relate to and understand. Mars Hill Church, not just Mark Driscoll, branched out and created a relevant heavy worship music driven service(s) to reach the young adult/single adult communities in over 5 states. At their peak they had a weekly attendance of over 12,000 members. They were successful at being cutting edge. They were willing to take risks. They were creating other disciples and branching out through small groups and para-churches…they. got. evangelism. right.

What We Can Learn From Them:
There is much to learn from Mars Hill Church and other churches out there who have been very successful at reaching people for Jesus. There should be something good to take away from such ministries. Are there downsides? Negative implications? Controversy and inaccurate/jumbled up theologies? Yes, yes and yes.

But…

Could we be more cutting edge?
Could we take more risks in evangelism and discipleship?
Do we develop leadership based ministries that cultivate and grow additional disciples and leaders?

Another lesson to draw from Mars Hill Church in my opinion is this:
Success is not solely about numbers.
We can play the statistics game. We can do “splashy” events to draw in a few extra families…but is it only about sheer numbers of attendees? No.

Success in ministry is about being faithful to the place(s) God has called your ministry to be. If He has called you to minister to a senior citizen demographic then minister to those seniors through relevant and dynamic methods that will be suit them. If God has called you to minister to the outcasts and rejects in society, then prepare relevant and hard hitting applicational methods to best suit the down and out. Where God has called us, we must respond and be willing to step up and extend a hand to all who would hear and receive.

From Discoll to Willow Creek – Change is tough!
A few years ago (2008) Mega Church Willow Creek recognized that their ministries needed to have a “re-alignment” from Seeker-Sensitive services to developing a more mature discipleship growth initiative (to read more on this, see this article: Willow Creek’s change). This adjustment took guts and could have been seen as a detriment to their ideology and mission as a church…but they took this step anyway.

I am not trying to lump Willow Creek in with Pastor Mark Driscoll here. But what I am attempting to do is display the need for change in any church regardless of where God has placed us. We cannot operate in the long term using the same tools we first began with. Perhaps for Mars Hill Church the old tool here is Pastor Mark Driscoll…perhaps a long term change requires a new identity and new leadership…I don’t know, I’m just spit-balling here.

When it comes to change there are some truths here to be grasped:
Life changes. Times progress. Culture and society changes. I also do not believe that the Holy Spirit is ever static in reaching out into our brokenness and restoring shattered lives. We too should recognize the pivotal moments when change must take place. We too ought to be prepared to move when the Holy Spirit tells us to move.

Can we learn something from Mars Hill Church? Yes.
Can we learn something from the whole Mark Driscoll debacle? Yes.
Are we willing to adjust our ministries and are we prepared to move when the Holy Spirit moves us?…..um…maybe? I don’t know if we truly are. I’m just being honest. I can’t say that we are really prepared for such a venture. It’s scary. Change is frightening to a lot of people. Risks also have their downside which is known as failure. Are we prepared to face failure?…I don’t think we truly are.

My Two Cents:

Mark Driscoll, Lief Moi and Mike Gunn did something right when they founded Mars Hill Church. They longed to engage a younger generation. They took risks…and they adjusted and changed. I cannot say that I agree with Driscoll’s stance on a lot of topics, especially Women in Ministry, his use of language (in the past), his treatment of former staff members, his use of mission funds… I cannot say that I am all too pleased with what has taken place on either side of this debacle in Seattle…honestly it’s quite sad for the Church (big ‘C’). I also know that I have no right to judge. I also know that I am not in any position to criticize, but I would rather err on the side of grace, prayer and compassion than I would on harsh judgement, negative responses and name calling.

Jesus was very harsh with certain teachers of the law in His day. He did not hold back…but He was also God’s Son. He understood what people were thinking and He cut to the quick when dealing with judgmental, hypocritical law abiding scholars. I sure don’t want to end up on the wrong side of that conversation with my Lord. That is why I think it prudent to prayerfully point out inaccurate theological teachings. We should conduct ourselves with prudence and respect while attempting to live out holiness practically and reverently. Does that mean there isn’t room for debate, constructive criticism and disagreement? No, not at all…just be careful because in the process we may miss out on or overlook some very teachable moments.

Just something more to ponder today.
Okay, now you can light your fires and hoist your pitchforks. 😉

September 8, 2014 1

Dear Salvation Army – Hell?…No!

“We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.” (Salvation Army Doctrine # 6)

People are going through hell right now.
Sometimes life choices and wrong decisions lead to hell on earth.
Sometimes hell breaks loose upon the innocent by others or financial woes and health issues.

Hell is alive and well here on earth.
But…

Does it have to be? NO!

You see, though hell in the realms of eternity is “eternal separation from God”, there are many, many people who are enduring hell while they live here and now. Suffering is real. Sin is real. Sorrow, anguish, guilt, pain…all real. What can we do about this hell on earth? Are we not called to do something? Are we not called to offer compassion and care?

Who is the whosoever?

It was you and me.
It might have been our Moms and Dads, our brothers or sisters.
It is that neighbor across the street.
It is that person who comes to our food-shelf.
The drug addict who is on his fourth round of rehab.
It is anyone who is living through hell right now and wants to be saved from it.

Jesus came to free us from hell both on earth and after earth.
He came to redeem us from certain death because of sin.
He chose to willingly die in our place and His blood makes us clean.
Jesus died for the whosoever…regardless of the depths of sin and decay in the heart.

What if I’m not good enough to save?
This question is such a lie. Don’t buy this lie!
“For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23
That’s right…ALL. Everyone one of us is not good enough. Everyone of us has fallen short, messed up, screwed up, royally wasted every opportunity and burned every bridge in our wake. It is for everyone who has thought hope – should never, could never be ours…but it is!
Jesus has saved you. You don’t have to be good enough…we will never be good enough to save ourselves. Jesus comes to our level and plucks us from our own personal hells. He can do that for others as well.

Dear Salvationist, people around our corps buildings and other places that we hang our shield and crest…some people around our neighborhoods are going through horrific hells right now. We can help! We should help! This isn’t some sort of social fellowship without an outward reaching – NO! We are called to be Christ’s hands and feet and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, help extinguish the flames of hell in peoples lives today. We have this sacred duty to perform. We are charged with not only the souls of our brothers and sisters in uniform, but in the soul care of the helpless, downtrodden, the outcast and the poor. All of whom have experienced hell on earth. All of whom may never have felt the soft touch of compassion and love before. Who may initially spurn our efforts and attempts to help because they fear we have ulterior motives because that is what the world has taught them through hard lessons.

Sin and death and hell are here and now. People aren’t required to wait to reap these rewards in some sort of horrific afterlife punishment because they are enduring them now.

Beware of Hardened Hearts and Apathetic Care!
We minister to many who have been marginalized and cast out from society. Many carry with them that bitterness from hard living. Dear Soldier, it would be very easy to become angry with such a soul. It could sometimes be very justifiable. We serve many who might take advantage of our gifts of compassion, and yet because of God grace that we have firmly accepted, we cannot in good conscience and love, harden our hearts and provide empty apathetic care to those in need. We may be the only light of Christ in a world of hell that they see. Take every opportunity to share that light! Take every opportunity you have to rescue these poor souls from their own personal hells.

Can we leave a poor wretch in such a condition if we have the power to transform lives in Jesus name? I say ‘no we can’t’!
Hell is more than some fire-pit of punishment doled out on the wicked at the end of all things. Hell is here and now among us. Hell’s flames of sin has decimated families, wrecked havoc on the hearts of men and women and Satan would love to convince us that there is nothing that we can do to help extinguish such a fire. Don’t buy that lie! We are witnesses for Jesus! We can live as kingdom people here and now, and in so doing we can say to Hell – NO! While we aid our poor brothers and sisters who are without hope by employing the Holy Spirit as our guide and strength.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7-7

“Storm the forts of darkness, bring them down, bring them down!
Storm the forts of darkness, bring them down, bring them down!
Pull down the devil’s kingdom,
Where’er he holds dominion,
Storm the forts of darkness, bring them down.
Glory, honor to the Lamb,
Praise and power to the Lamb;
Glory, honor, praise and power,
Be forever to the Lamb.”
(Storm the Forts of Darkness, Robert Johnson 1884)

Something more for our army world to ponder today…to God be the glory!
“Go for souls…and go for the worst!”

September 5, 2014 2

Salvation Army – 7 Scriptures To Live By

There are many, many cherished verses stored up in our hearts. Some we learned in Sunday School many years ago, while others we have come to love and accept through personal trials, bible studies and other opportunities to feast on the scriptures.

A Cautionary Note:
As we read through passages in the bible make sure care is taken to first understand the context of the verses we are reading. Understand to whom they were written first, the historical background, possibly the original reasons the author wrote them in the first place. It can become easy to merely pick and choose certain scripture verses which seem to fit nicely into our lives while ignoring the rest. Do not pick and choose! Yes, we store up specific verses from memory and these are good, but make sure in memorizing verses that you understand the context and meaning as well.

Here are only seven passages of scripture which are meaningful to me that I would like to share with you. There are many, many more passages in the scriptures that I could list here, but these are just a few:

7 Scriptures To Live By:

1. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5,6

We place our all in the hands of God when we say ‘yes’ to Christ. As followers of Jesus we must find our footing in this world that is not always safe and “fun”. We endure hardships at times. There will be struggles along the way. We will encounter opposition from time to time. Trials and even persecution may take place to those who follow Christ. Can we place all of our trust in Him? Do we trust Him enough to allow His leading to guide us? Do we really believe that He will make our paths straight? There is nothing here that promises things will get easier. There isn’t anything listed here that states we will find “prosperity” or receive smooth sailing through life. But this Psalm does say that if we acknowledge Him; if we place our trust in Him, if we walk in His ways that He will direct us. Can we live by this, as difficult as life may be sometimes?

2. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Jesus was speaking to His disciples in this passage. This is before His arrest and crucifixion. How could Jesus talk of peace in the midst of pending violence and death? How can we find peace in the midst of turbulence our lives today? Truth: God’s peace comes to us despite the world and its craziness around us. His peace can fill our hearts and lives despite the storms that “would our way oppose“. Jesus speaks of an inner peace. A peace that helps us walk by faith. A peace that transcends worldly problems big and small. His peace is eternal when the temporal trials and problems fade away. This is a peace and a passage to live by today!

3. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trials you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12,13

Peter writes of trials to a persecuted early church. Suffering, torture and even death were very real to the early church. Today there are still places in this world where Christians are martyred for their love and faith in Christ. We may not face this extreme for our faith…but others do. With that being said, can we stand firmly on the truth of Christ and His resurrected power of salvation despite the suffering we may receive? Is Christ our Lord and Savior only in the good times when things are going our way? I hope not! May we be bold in our faith to stand firm. May His love be reflected in all that we do. May we be dispensers of God’s grace to the world around us even to our enemies and those who would laugh and scorn us. Stand firm and live for Him!

4. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Paul writes to Timothy to remind him of his calling and to persevere. He is young but is following in Paul’s footsteps as a leader in the early church. Leadership, no matter where it is, requires resolve, wisdom and strength. Paul reminds Timothy and also you and me to be bold in our faith, but also that we have been given power of the Holy Spirit to overcome and live holy lives. We can do what God has called us to do. It is not impossible. No task that God gives us is impossible with His Holy Spirit leading us! We are powerless without Him, but with Him we can live this life and we can share this life and hope with others.

5. “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22
Once again I share with you a passage that is dear to my heart. It seems a lot of these verses that I have selected revolved around trials, suffering, and faith…true! We all endure. We all encounter trouble of every kind. It may come to us in various forms. It will vary from person to person, but ultimately where does our hope reside? The answer: In Christ alone! Psalm 55:22 reminds me of how important my prayer life ought to be with my God. He wants to fellowship with me. A mighty, amazing, all-powerful Creator of the Universe wants to fellowship with little you and me. WOW! A part of that fellowship is sharing with Him our troubles and our concerns. Do we go to Him with our cares…all of them? Is this only a bed time or early morning time conversation? NO! It should be a continual conversation with our Lord. Casting our cares on the Lord isn’t just some wish list of demands. It isn’t just a laundry list of gripes and complaints either. Our cares should include whatever concerns us – big and small as well as the cares of others – our children, families, friends, neighbors and even our enemies. That last segment of this verse says, “He will never let the righteous fall.” I take that to mean He will protect us from spiritual battles. He will uphold us in our sorrows and times of despair. He will ultimately deliver us from this life one day and we will finally know that Divine fellowship fully. What a promise! What a joy to know that we serve a God who is personal and loving and protective of His children!

6. “You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.” Psalm 139:1-6

This passage is near and dear to my heart because of the understand that even before I existed God knew me. I don’t wish to delve into anything theological like “Predestination” or anything…but this is comforting to me and it should be to you as well! God knows us so intricately, so personally. How amazing is that? How awesome is He? So much could be said about His knowledge of us. So much could be written on this topic of prayer and of worship. This Psalm is one of my favorites for the reason that God is a personal God. He isn’t some deity that wound the world up, put it on some cosmic shelf and walked away…No! He lives within us. He communes with us. He loves us so very deeply and longs for us to, in some way, reciprocate this love relationship with Him! What a comfort it is to know we serve a God who knows us so well!

7. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (and verses 1 – 8)

Jesus is the only way to the Father. Some might say this preaches intolerance of other religions. Some might say that this verse is wrong and that there are other ways to “heaven”…but I don’t. I firmly believe Jesus has provided humanity with an eternal hope. But more importantly this isn’t about getting a ticket to heaven. This isn’t about making sure we don’t go to hell. This is about restoring a right relationship with God. Mankind needs salvation. Mankind cannot save itself. We have a hope of restoration, reconciliation and salvation through Christ alone! This is a verse to live by because Christ offers unmerited grace. Christ offers restoration and deliverance from sin. Christ has bought our salvation with His blood. We can live by this verse because we can receive this freely and live joyfully in a restored relationship to the Creator.

QUESTIONS:
What are some of YOUR favorite passages?
What are passages you love to read?

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

September 4, 2014 3

Sometimes Hope Sucks…

It is in the still small, lonely moments when we come face to face with a lingering trace of hope. It is in those moments when it seems all hell is about to break loose that, with a pinkie finger, we cling onto that last thread, praying it doesn’t snap. We pray. We cry out. We make ultimatums. We wait. Thanks Tom Petty for reminding us that the “waiting is the hardest part.”

I remember many occasions clinging to that last, frail thread of hope.
One moment still sticks out in my mind even after all these years.
My Great-Grandmother suffered a life-threatening issue on my thirteenth birthday. My father took her to the hospital, it didn’t look good. I remember praying earnestly for her…I felt as if God didn’t listen. Sometimes hope sucks. She passed away soon after and hope’s thin, frail thread seemed to snap in my hands. It hurt. It sucked.

Another occasion >>

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I was trying to comfort my wife at the news of her mother’s tragic accident. How earnestly I prayed that God would provide us a miracle in the midst of horrific circumstances…He didn’t. She didn’t make it. We were devastated. It hurt. Pain was immense. Sadness entered our hearts like a flood. Hope totally and completely sucked that night as wave after wave of grief swept over our family. We didn’t get the answer we were praying for. The frail, shredded thread snapped in our hands, yet something else took hold. We felt the prayers of others. Literally felt them. We were being upheld, carried, protected, comforted, assured and loved. Hope sucked…

But…

Hope isn’t always about getting what we want.
Hope isn’t always about God answering our prayers the way that we want Him to.
Hope isn’t even about God delivering us from situations in this life…I wish it did, but it doesn’t always happen.

Sometimes hope. just. sucks…yet…another question rises up in my heart.
Another pondering takes place and is formed in the brain and attempts to reserve carefully placed words on the tongue to inevitably chew on and spit out.

The question?

Here it is>> So what?
The follow-up question that rings out like a loud, noisy bell in my heart
is this >> Even then can you still persevere in your faith?

The Answer?
Is amazingly – “YES“.

Because...
>Sometimes ~~hope~~ life sucks.
>Sometimes things do not always go according to OUR plan.
>Sometimes God chooses to answer our prayers differently from what we had hoped.
>My faith doesn’t revolve around ME getting everything that I want.
>Despite life’s circumstances and the temporal nature of this life I serve an eternal God who has an eternal plan
for me.
>I know in Whom I have Believed!

The Apostle Paul believed this way too, I’m convinced of it. He believed despite hope and life sucking royally. Not life with God, but circumstances beyond his control. Oppression sucked. Beatings sucked. Not life with His Savior, but with imprisonment and chains and even death. Despite all of these things which totally and completely sucked, he persevered and carried on.

Can we carry on?
Even when our notion of “hope” doesn’t pan out?
Even when our prayers seem to go unanswered?
Even when hope has run out the backdoor and you’re left in a house that is burning to the ground around you?

Circumstances and our perception of hope can seriously suck sometimes…but can we carry on?
Can we persevere?
Can we press on in our steadfast faith?

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed...” 1 Peter 1:3-8

How is your faith today?
Can you stand firm despite hope sucking royally sometimes?
Can we persevere?

Something more for us to ponder today!

August 29, 2014 0

Category: Life