Planet Sallies - Feeds from The Salvation Army World

I’m going to kill myself today.” “What’s wrong? Do you want to talk about it?” responded Sabrina Mohamed, an online supervisor who was manning the line that night at The Salvation Army’s suicide prevention services in Hamilton, Ont. “There was no preamble,” says Sabrina, describing the call, “so I knew it was ...

In her book In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart, Ruth Graham, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, writes, “My own story is not tidy. Nor is it simple. My story is messy and complicated and still being written. I have known betrayal, divorce, depression and the consequences of bad judgment. ...

Usually I’m pretty good at trivia games. Maybe it’s because I like to read. I’m naturally interested in learning about all kinds of stuff—particularly history and geography. I love magazines such as Time, Maclean’s and National Geographic. I’ve learned that some facts are useful and others I’ll never need to ...

When leaders fail, the public always has something to say. The intensity of media comment is invariably ramped up when a Christian leader is involved. Names like Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart and Ted Haggard prompt almost immediate comment and opinion. Against this backdrop, Dr. Gary McIntosh and Dr. Samuel Rima ...

In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus returns to his home in Nazareth, visits the synagogue and reads aloud the following verses from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up ...

The Guelph Citadel is hosting a Southern Gospel Concert on May 2, 2009. This all day gospel sing will be from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and features 7 Artists performing and leading 7 Hours of Singing. Dinner will be available onsite as well. Come out and ...

Jorge was threatened with death several times and his vehicle was gunned down. When a group of young rebels swarmed his daughter in broad daylight and forced her into their car, he knew he must flee his country immediately. He left his job, house, extended family, and his 25-year-old son. ...

Leonard Heng brought his family to Canada from Singapore in 2006 because he was attracted by the Canadian education system and wanted to expose his children to a bigger country. He knows the challenges of integrating into a new country, a new community. His passion to reach out to ...

BC - AS Christians prepare to welcome the athletes and spectators who will be coming to Vancouver and Whistler from across the globe to attend the 2010 Winter Olympics next February, there is one group of potential visitors that they will be working just as hard to keep out: those ...

The Salvation Army in partnership with BC Housing celebrated the opening of newly renovated shelters at their Harbour Light location on Cordova Street in the downtown eastside with a special ceremony at the shelter this morning. Renovations to the shelters included creating privacy partitions in sleeping areas, new bug resistance flooring ...

I support the practical approach to retirement for SA officers. Following years of active, unceasing service, a person can take time to do things and enjoy their journey at their own pace and volition. Officership itself does not discontinue. The role and ordination of the individual remains as does the commitment to God. Many retired officers are invigorated by this time in their life and I salute them.

Around the world TSA attempts to appropriately provide for their retired officers. It is not possible everywhere. As a result, there is a fund to better support these servants in a more consistent manner and to the level they need to live. You can contact your corps officer to help as God leads you. Some, with conviction, arrange for payroll deduction to help the cause. The retired officers I'm writing about are living in difficult circumstances often known as poverty.

Matthew 25:21 (NIV)
21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

The latest discussion paper from the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit of The Salvation Army has gone to press. Economics of Elephants is a look at what the current economic crisis could mean for the practice of our faith in Aotearoa New Zealand. You can get a look at it by emailing me (malcolm_irwin@nzf.salvationarmy.org) or by going straight to www.salvationarmy.org.nz.

We’re currently doing the Hands that Heal training in sex-traffiking in preparation for the Brothel Chaplaincy ministry some of us female Cadets are about to take up. 

Perri (our dear friend, and great trainer!) was talking about how we need to call these things for what they are.  So instead of saying Sex-worker, we need to say Prostitute or Victim.  Instead of saying “client” we need to call them “Perpetrator”.  This goes against a lot of my social work training – where we’re taught to use “politically correct terms”.  It’s a challenge for me, but I have been thinking a lot about this, and I honestly think it’s important to do this.

The terms we use today have totally “normalized” what sex-work is.  IT’s made it as though what is happening is okay – and whilst at no point would I EVER judge a woman who has wound up in prostitution, I do think that by normalizing it, we make out that it’s okay that there are people who are willing to pay for sex – who are willing to devalue the life of another for their own personal gratitude.

Just after I started thinking this through, I caught the last 5 minutes of a TV show called ‘Secret Diary of a Call Girl’. It’s essentially about a call girl and her life.  It seemed to have quite a “positive” message at the end of this show – that the decisions this girl had made, cost her greatly in relationships – that she was unable to keep a relationship as a result of her line of work.

So, thinking I might actually be able to use this to strengthen my prep work for this ministry,  I jumped online and watched a few episodes of the show – and it really really upset me!  For one thing, it not only normalizes prostitution and the men who pay for sex – it actually GLAMOURIZES it! I am quite concerned about this being seen as a “good option” for people who want to make good money.  The danger of “normalizing” prostitution is that it:
(a) devalues those who are forced into this work – either because they are traffiked, or they feel it is their worth, or they have addiction problems etc.
and
(b) it makes it okay for men to exploit women for sex – for them to commit adultery with another woman (because surely it’s not adultery if they pay for it – WHAT?!?!)

One of the lines the character said at the beginning of the first episode was that she didn’t get into it because she was “touched” by some relative or something along those lines. 

The thing is – I’ve met and become friends with a fair few prostitutes in my time.  Not ONE of them started working because it was a “good” option.  Every one I have met is an abuse victim – either sexual or physical – and prostitution is either what they think they are worth (their worth is in offering sex to men) or it’s a way of regaining power – they own their body. 

One of the social workers I worked with in the past was a “madam” in a brothel, and she told me that every girl she ever worked with had some form of abuse in her life.  That “normal” girls don’t “choose” that line of work – because it is often degrading and lonely work.

I’m not saying that 100% of girls who become prostitutes are abuse victims – but this show makes out like it’s “normal” for a girl to choose to work as a prostitute for money – and those girls are the minority not the majority.

So whilst this TV show does attempt to show some of the “darker” sides of prostitution – it still normalizes it – it still says that it’s okay – and the fact of the matter is that it’s not.  It’s not ok to degrade someone by paying them for sex.  You are a perpetrator, not a “client”.  It is not okay to think your worth is to sell yourself for sex.  You are worth so very much more than this. 

I’m working on my language – but the truth of the matter is this – God loves each and every one of the women that we are about to start ministering to.  He longs for them to know their worth, that He created them for a greater purpose and that He longs to bring them to a fullness in themselves.  There’s no condemnation in Christ’s eyes, only love and a desire for so much more for their lives. So as we go in to these brothels, the message I’ll bring is “You are beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out. God is with you” (Luke 1:28 – The Message). 

So from here on in – I’m going to call a spade a spade.  I’m going to de-normalize prostitution.  Not out of judgement of the women involved – but out of pure concern that society thinks that this is okay – which I’m fairly sure grieves the heart of God.

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

We just got back from a great holiday in White Rock and Vancouver, British Columbia and then Drumheller, Alberta. It was cool to see the mountains and the ocean and the dinosaurs and hoo doos, but most of all it was cool to spend some time with great people - and to introduce them to Kieran. We got to spend time with 2 amazing women who have a huge influence on my life - Nana and Anita.

Nana is my grandmother (my mom's mom). She is an amazing woman of 85 who has spent her life praying, being kind to others, singing, leading... She is a great communicator who has always kept in touch with us and given us treats and been a big part of lives no matter the distance. We always knew when our phone lines were working again in Zimbabwe, because we would get a call from Nana. It was a delight to see her holding Kieran, and he did an amazing race of "almost" crawling, just to end up in her arms.

Anita is a beautiful friend who is a bit younger than Nana (!) but also spends her life praying, being kind to others, being an an extrordinary mom, leading The Salvation Army in Drumheller with her husband, cooking yummy food.... She is a joy to talk to and someone who really "gets" me. I am so thankful for her friendship.

Spending time with good people is refreshing. I recommend it. (Oh and do go out and see the mountains/ocean/dinosaurs/hoodoos - they're cool too).

2009 Book List

a Biblical thought...
I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. (1 Kings 3:12)

a Book thought...
Service is a practical ministry. It is not only reaching into the body of believers with the heart of a servant, it is also a reaching out into a desperate and dying world with love in action. (p56)

a Dave thought...
Last night at Box Hill Major Greg Morgan challenged us to go deeper with God and as part of this asked us each to pray this well known prayer written by Sir Francis Drake in 1577.

Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst For the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery; Where losing sight of land,We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future In strength, courage, hope, and love.

Sadly Francis Drake along with his uncle John Hawkins made their fortunes trafficking thousands of African captives into slavery in Spanish plantations. As this prayer was written by Francis Drake the human trafficker I still find it disturbing but now for other reasons.

Just a thought.

a Biblical thought...
May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. (1 Kings 8:57-60)

a Book thought...
Intellectual laziness has nothing to commend it, yet the very busyness of Christian service can sometimes appear to encourage it. (p61)
a Dave thought...

After agreeing to take my six year old son to Macca’s if he came to Church with me on Sunday night I realise I’m certainly not helping the situation. But for me healthy parents results in healthy kids, so whatever I choose to model is also a choice of how I want my children to value exercise and diet. Let's hope I get it right.

Just a thought.

This was the title given to last week’s Lent Course bible study based on Jesus’ words, cried out in  a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’

Here are the study notes:

Bible Readings

Psalm 22:1-2

Matthew 27:42-46

Isaiah 53:3

The Dark Night of the Soul

This is the fourth statement of Christ on the cross and possibly the most difficult to understand and explain.   Some commentators feel Jesus was actually forsaken, and that it was a cry of complaint.  Some feel He was not actually forsaken, but felt forsaken and expressed it in the words of the psalmist as a cry for help.  Yet others feel that He would have uttered it in the context of His understanding of Psalm 22 that ends on a note of triumph with a cry of confidence.

Strong in spirit: ‘About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice…’ This is an astonishing fact.  Normally the process of crucifixion paralyses the lungs and clamps the throat, and the victim dies of asphyxiation, being unable to draw another breath.  Jesus had now been on the cross for six agonising hours, but the loudness of His cry indicates the strength of character remaining in Him and great earnestness of spirit.   His body might be crushed, but His spirit remained strong.

Firm in faith: ‘…My God, my God…’ The words Jesus uttered from Psalm 22 need to be understood in the context of the rest of the psalm, which would have been familiar to Jesus.   The psalm is not only an imploring heart cry from the loneliness of pain and distress, but is also a psalm of confidence in God’s grace.

…you are enthroned as the Holy One…

In you, our fathers put their trust;

they trusted and you delivered them.

They cried to you and were saved;

in you they trusted and were not disappointed …

From birth I was cast upon you;

from my mother’s womb you have been my God ..

But you, O Lord, be not far off;

O my Strength, come quickly to help me …

For he has not despised or disdained

the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

but has listened to his cry for help …

The opening verses of forsakenness are an expression of honest human emotion, the feelings of facing a circumstance totally alone.   However, this is not a psalm of doubt;  rather one of supreme confidence in a God who will come through for me, despite the ordeal of feeling totally alone in the midst of personal pain and anguish.   In His first statement Jesus had said ‘Father’, and also in His last, but here He calls out, ‘My God’.  In these moments, though He cannot see His Father’s face or feel the sense of His presence, He holds on to the assurance that He is My God.   Despite the darkness and awfulness He has not lost His sense of a God who controls the universe.   In His dark night of the soul His faith clings on to the fact that He is My God.   In the depth of His suffering He affirms that God, the God of heaven, is His God.

Sincere in questioning: ‘…why…?’ In this moment Jesus had lost the sense of the Father-Son relationship.  It seemed that suddenly the Father’s face was hidden from view, His presence not there and His voice silent.   Could it be that in the darkness of the moment, as sin separated and distanced Him so far from the Father’s heart, He had lost His sense of Sonship, as He felt so far away from His heavenly home?   The consequences of sin are separation from God.  The answer to ‘Why’? is because He had to bear the sins of the world alone;  it was for your sake and mine He endured the deep darkness of being forsaken - that we might know the joy of sins forgiven, acceptance in the Beloved, and the eternal reality of the Father’s presence.

Alone in suffering: ‘….hast thou forsaken…’ There was a mysterious and supernatural darkness that descended around the scene of the cross from the third to the sixth hour.  Added to that was the air of gloom and despondency that engulfed His followers at the scene, the dark clouds that imminent death brings to the human heart.   There was a still deeper darkness around the soul of the dying Saviour.  It was so dark and dense that He cried out,  ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’  He was overwhelmed and overcome by being forsaken by His heavenly Father.

It is difficult for us to comprehend the blackness and darkness of the evil wickedness of sin that He took upon Himself - the Sinless One.   The immensity of sin was so great that someone has suggested the Father turned His gaze away from its awfulness.   Momentarily, because of the separation and alienation of sin, He was God-forsaken.   In this moment He tasted hell, and it has been said that these words of Jesus are the most apt description of hell that has ever been uttered.  The Father had not abandoned Him, but in His hour of dark trial He felt utterly forsaken.

A personal mission: ‘…me…’. This was the beloved Son.  Why should the Father forsake Him?  There is no question that Jesus was innocent.  He had done nothing to forfeit the favour of God.   The Father’s love was upon Him and this never changed and in this sense God would never abandon Him.   But in the sense that the Father delivered Him into the hands of the enemy of our souls in order that He could defeat the devil in His own right as the Son of God, He was alone in His mission.   It was Christ and Christ alone who defeated and overthrew the enemy of our souls and because of that it had to be ‘me’.   In the words of the old hymn, ‘There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin;  He only could unlock the gates of heaven and let us in.’  It was necessary for Christ to face and go through this alone for your sake and mine.

Final Thoughts

Jesus endured the dark night of the soul that the curse of sin brings, in order to overcome and dispel its darkness and usher in the kingdom of light.  Jesus endured darkness and the loneliness of sin’s separation in His dying that we might experience light and reconciliation in our living.

Loneliness and isolation come to us in different forms.  Jesus endured the loneliness of the intense physical pain He felt in His body;  the loneliness of separation from His Father, earthly family and close friends;  the loneliness that sin injects into the human soul;  and the loneliness of mental suffering and anguish as He wrestled with events taking place.  Jesus experienced feelings of rejection at the deepest level.  His own village threw Him out.  He came to His own and they received Him not.   As He looked over Jerusalem it caused Him to weep.  In His hour of greatest need those He needed most slept and were not there for Him as He agonised in prayer.   Of those He had given Himself to, from whom He would expect loyalty and support, one denied, one doubted and another betrayed.   Whatever the depth of your rejection, turn to Him, offer it to Him and let Him succour your soul.

Further References

Isaiah 53;  Psalm 22;  Luke 19:41-46;  Matthew 23:37-39;  Mark 6:1-4;  Luke 4: 16-30

I’m blogging about GTD and eProductivity. If you want to join with me in this journey you can follow me by rss feed, by email or through Twitter

I’ve done my weekly review and as always eProductivity powered GTD is making my life both managable and considerably more productive (to which I mean I’m now doing more things that have significant impact) than before.

It is time however to mention a few things that I have some difficulties with.  I’m sure these have been addressed elsewhere, so if you could post your ideas and or links I’d very much appreciate it.

Naming of Projects

When you create a new project within eProductivity you’re prompted to name it using the convention that would have the successful outcome as the name.  Hence you use a verb (Complete, finalize, submit) as the first word of the name.

This is fine, but when you’ve got quite a few projects on the go and you’re trying to link an email or action to an existing project it can be really quite difficult to find the project you need in an alphabetised list.  Would it be more logical to name the project based on its subject first, followed by that verb?  An example of this would be: “eProductivity – Fully implement both business and personal life.”

I’m sure these have been addressed elsewhere, so if you could post your ideas and or links I’d very much appreciate it.

Projects Within Projects

With GTD (quite rightly) stating that anything with more than one action is a project, I find I’ve got major projects mixed up with very minor ones.  Not really a problem but I have the definite feeling that some of my major projects are really a combination of smaller projects and it would be great if there was an additional field somewhere, separate to contexts, that could tie these smaller projects together in some way.

I suspect I’m missing something obvious here…  Maybe I just need additional guidance with GTD!

Context Context Context

When I was at Bible College one of our initial classes was all about Bible interpretation.  The teacher was emphatic.  The three most important things, in order of importance were context, context and then context.

I’m beginning to understand the importance of context(s) within the GTD system also.  I get the feeling I need to add additional ones in to make my life easier.  For example, would I be correct in assuming that I should add one (@Raewyn, who is also my co-pastor at The Salvation Army Johnsonville) so that anything I need to discuss with my lovely wife is not forgotten?  And if so, how do I add it?

I guess this post shows that I’m really getting into the nitty gritty.  I’m certainly learning as I go and that’s the best way to learn.  Even at such an early stage of my journey with eProductivity and GTD I’m finding it easy to keep going.  I’ve tried GTD in the past, but that’s involved multiple systems to try and keep track of things.  That’s too difficult and so I never kept things going for very long at all.  eProductivity has quickly become a truly trusted system because of its amazing integration with Lotus Notes.  Thanks to Eric Mack for his amazing work on this and thanks to David Allen for GTD!

Please answer my queries by commenting.

Sometimes people want to be able to change the colour of the font text in MediaShout and would like to make sure that it is applied to the entire song. This is something which is very easy to do and

Read the latest “In Touch With The World” Newsletter featuring articles;

“Whether we live upstream or downstream, we all live in the same boat”

“Some Water Facts”

“Reaching for that bottle of water on the supermarket shelf? Think again!”

“Gender and Water - Just a sip and no more drop is left”

“Virtual Water”

“The Butterfly Effect”

Click here

PROVERBS 3:5-6 "TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART & LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; v.6. IN ALL ....ALL...ALL YOUR WAYS ACNOWLEDGE HIM & HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT . v. 7 DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES FEAR THE LORD & SHUN EVIL ."

Heard these words before ? I am sure many of you have , how is the DOING going with these promises from God in your own life ?Many people ask me how to discern the perfect will of God in their own lives , that is without doubt one of the top five most "asked questions" at this time in people's lives . I want to over the next few days give some thoughts for consideration , contemplation , reflection and action.
1. If you are not prepared to obey what Jesus shows you don't demand that He show you HIS WAY for your life .
2.If the Lord Jesus is really speaking to you it will always be in regard to the KINGDOM of GOD on earth as it is in heaven ......thus it won't be personal opinions or egotistical empire building .
3. The way of the LORD will always bring glory to GOD ,His will in your life & mine will always require a humble , teachable ,open heart, mind & spirit in our lives.
4.The will of God for you & I will never contradict the WORD of GOD .......& the Heavenly Father will not tolerate making God's word fit our own personal theological position to make us have a comfortable , cozy committment.
5. If the Lord is really speaking, you will know it .....and know it & continue to have fresh revelation on that matter in your own journey of faith, often the same message will come back to you through various disconnected people or messages , affirming the same message over & over until you & I get it.
There are many facets of God's will can be seen clearly reinforced in three ways :
a. God's Providential will
b. God's Moral will (i.e. Ten Commandments).
c. God's Personal Will for your life .
Read on tomorrow ........I will add some more for prayerful consideration .....in the mean time stay completely foccussed on what JESUS is saying to you today .

I am praying for you , please pray for me and a lost world !

MARNEY

Sunday night marked the first youth meeting of my home Corps for 2009, the first one that I haven't organised and led. My younger brother Sean has had the leadership passed onto him; he's a really capable and talented leader and I'm proud of his humility (slight punt on words!)

The worship was great, my bro had an unsaved work mate playing guitar and a new set up with a few new and upcoming band members. It was great that I could attend and participate in the worship, it's not often I get to do that.

So now my main points. Sean talked about Transformation and went hard without remorse telling us that with the power and love of God, what's stopping you from being transformed?

We had a time of sanctification and repentance followed by a time for healing where a younger girl wanted emotional healing that I was allowed the privilege to participate in. While praying for her, I felt quite a bad pain in my lower back, I had known that a bit over a year ago she was in a car accident that damaged the muscles in her lower back but hadn't heard about it for a while. I asked her about it and the past week it had really been painful and aggravated, so we prayed for healing and God moved and she was relieved from the pain.

I caught up with her tonight, and she's still relieved of the pain, she can still feel some tension but compared to the past week, it is a huge improvement. Praise God!

You know that every 2 seconds someone dies? How many of them have eternal life through knowing the grace of Jesus? Not many, a large majority of them will be held accountable for their disobedience to God; tell as many people today of Jesus' love and forgiveness.

God is so good, come to know Him today

Foundation for Life with Lee Lescano for the week of 03/22/09, "Commitment" Psalm 96. If you listen online, call or e-mail us today! We'd love to hear that you're listening. Please pray for this ministry! If you're finding answers and help as you listen... tell a friend!After you listen, share your thoughts with us by e-mail info@sactr.com. Or call us at 1-877-434-LIFE (5433)! And ask for a free CD of this program.

Foundation for Life with Lee Lescano for the week of 03/15/09, "Pass It On" Psalm 145. If you listen online, call or e-mail us today! We'd love to hear that you're listening. Please pray for this ministry! If you're finding answers and help as you listen... tell a friend!After you listen, share your thoughts with us by e-mail info@sactr.com. Or call us at 1-877-434-LIFE (5433)! And ask for a free CD of this program.

"Information Age Prayer is a subscription service utilizing a computer with text-to-speech capability to incant your prayers each day. It gives you the satisfaction of knowing that your prayers will always be said even if you wake up late, or forget.

We use state of the art text to speech synthesizers to voice each prayer at a volume and speed equivalent to typical person praying. Each prayer is voiced individually, with the name of the subscriber displayed on screen.

At Information Age Prayer we think our service should be used like a prayer supplement, to extend and strengthen a subscriber's connection with God. Traditional prayer is an integral part of this connection and should never be forgone, even after signing up.

You can subscribe for yourself, or you can purchase a subscription as a gift to friends or family.

Promotional Rates for New Users, Limited Time Only!
Choose a Religion from the left menu."

I know a better way to connect with God. Directly.

2 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)
16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

I must admit, I am usually the one flubbing words in this family. Everyone looks at me and just laughs at some of the strange things that manage to pop out of my mouth. Of course, at the moment, my mind is running blank for an example of MY ineptitude with words. I like to claim that my brain merely runs too fast for my mouth to keep up. Hubby and ES like to claim that I have early Alzheimer's!

This afternoon, at lunch, hubby provided me with a fun laugh. He was reviewing an advertisement for a new family fun establishment called "Snapperz." They offer the usual things: bowling, laser tag, and a bungee trampoline. Suddenly, he said, "Oh, ES would like this! They have a 24 inch climbing tower."

I couldn't resist. I immediately said, "Boy, that'll be pretty challenging for him at twenty four inches!"

That is the kind of thing I usually come out with, not hubby. Thankfully, he was able to laugh at himself as well.

Then, this afternoon, MS asked if he could go outside to play. I didn't really feel like going out, since YS was napping and it is only 50 degrees out. As he was pleading, he argued "I'm an outside boy. In fact, I'm a PLAYBOY!"

This time, I kept my chuckles to myself. Perhaps I should suggest that the "playboy" attempt the "24 inch climbing tower" at Snapperz!

Networking is an important part of ministry, and leadership. I see how being connected in relationships brings so much to my life and enriches the dynamics of my ministry. Today was coffee with Robert. I met him about 4 years ago in Calgary - his job put him in touch with TSA and he was leading a group that was working for us.

Now I've reconnected with him in Edmonton. Over coffee today, he told me about a recent trip he took with associates to Africa. Robert is Catholic, and while he's wondering about where he stands with God, I can only describe this trip as a mission trip! Amazing stuff this group is doing. I listened intently. Education, strategic planning, coaching with local people.

Then the conversation turned to more personal things. He talked about his recent failures...marriage, work, life it seems to him. And yet at the same time he's growing, healing, developing in such remarkable ways that it struck me that he's taking failure and learning from it in such a way that I might not be able to call it failure. Out of the ashes of several difficult months something new is blooming. He told me about spending 2.5 hours with the woman who was his wife. They talked about what went wrong - how their relationship came off the rails. I was moved as he shared deeply, personally. Wow.

Then he talked about how he's connecting with the community - serving so many groups including TSA. That's when he asked..."do you know that when I talk to the head of xx group they would like to know the person in charge of TSA in Edmonton?"

"Would you introduce me?" I asked.

"Of course - I would love to."

And so it struck me...there are somethings I really want to do in the next few years. One of them is to network in the city at a level that will help the ministry of TSA.

It's all about relationships - isn't it?

I walked away from the conversation with a sense that God had arranged this. That God had seen our paths crossing and opened our eyes so that we would not miss the opportunity. I thought about Jeremiah 29:11 which says: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Join us on Sunday the 19th of April 2009 for this exciting new series about past hurts and forgiveness.

Two rare breed goats missing from Salvation Army Hadleigh Farm

Pinpoint trouble spots in the world today and where there is schism you will generally find a prevailing, trailing “ism.” Read what I have to say about this over at The Rubicon, including how Salvationism might fit into the picture.

JN

Just finished an amazing weekend in Wellington, New Zealand with warriors from The Salvation Army gathered together to seek God for a 'new zeal' in spiritual passion and energy for mission.
It was truly a hungry crowd as we gathered together to listen to God's words for now. And God spoke. Now, the challenge is to actually walk out what we heard. That is often the tricky part of a powerful conference... and yet, it's also where the blessings are. So, I'm praying for every participant of New Zeal that they would become the people God has called them to be. The release of the new book by Judith Bennett called White Cloud Soaring (about the 24/7 prayer movement in New Zealand) is a must read and for those looking in trying to figure out how to replicate the spiritual hunger and enthusiasm of the army crowd at New Zeal may need to take a page from the book and start praying now! Here's to revival in New Zealand. Bring it on.

Retired Salvation Army officer gains recognition for setting up national organisation that helps friends and family come to terms with the loss of loved ones through suicide

Sermon preached by Pastor Jerry Jones. President of Parson to Person Ministries Inc., in Burbank California. Pastor Jones reminded us of what happens to our sins when God forgives them and forgets them. Join us next Sunday (3/29) for our Welcome Home Service and BBQ Fellowship after the service.

Sunday Worship 01/04/09 0:00:0 - Sermon "Life-Changing Power" (S. Hurula)

MAIN POINTS: Romans 8:28-39 Romans 8:28 is easy to quote to someone else. But what about when it's your turn to suffer? Is there comfort in this passage? Notice two important things as you consider Paul's words here: (1) All things work together for good but not all things are good. The loss of a job, an overbearing boss, physical illness, or family troubles are not good per se - In fact, often they are the direct result of evil. That's important to observe. Believers are never promised immunity from the problems and pains of the world. Every day we must put up with much that is not good. (2) Nevertheless, good can come out of bad! This verse promises that God uses all the circumstances of our lives - both good and bad - to shape outcomes that accomplish His purposes for us. And His purposes can only be good, because He is good by definition (James 1:17). So how can you make this verse work for you as you face tough, troubling times? Affirm you trust in God's presence. Align your goals with God's purposes. Accept the reliability of God's promises.TODAY'S SCRIPTURES:1 Peter 4:12-192 Corinthians 4:17Ephesians 2:10Philippians 1:6; 2:13Romans 8:10Ephesians 1:5, 11Colossians 1:15, 18John 17:22

Sunday Worship 12/28/08 0:00:0 - Sermon "New Year: New Beginnings" (M. Gorton)

Some years ago, there was a lot of hype about 2020 vision in this territory.  The idea is that 2020 is a number that symbolises perfect vision, but also reminds us of the fact that statistical decline shows serious consequences for the SA UKT by the year 2020.  There isn’t much about this at all in the recent years.  No idea what happened.

However, having had those thoughts about the whole 2020 thing, imagine my surprise when I came across a new initiative by the South Queensland Division, Australia, through facebook.

Their vision, spearheaded by the Divisional Commander, is to see a life giving Division with 60 Mission Centres – liberating lives,transforming communities, advancing God's kingdom. 

The group on facebook shows signs too that people are taking the challenge seriously and that its producing focus and results to, so early.  This is a great example of clear, inspiring and empowering divisional leadership.

I hear too much of decline.  I hear too much about hopelessness, so much in fact that I got sucked into beginning to believe it.  If this thing called the Salvation Army is to be true to God in these next ten or so years, it really needs to stand up. 

What a vision…60 vibrant Mission Centres – liberating lives, transforming communities, advancing God’s Kingdom.  Great thing is that I really picked up that the division were doing so much to facilitate it to through provision of training, encouragement and vision casting.  I’ll be watching with interest.

Meantime, what a vision to consider – vibrant mission centre – liberating lives, transforming communities, advancing God’s Kingdom.  Amen!   Amen?

Denby is celebrating 200 years! And as part of that they have these wonderful mugs on sale. These are my favourite mugs - I have 4 of them, one at the office (from my friend Karen). Somehow a good cup of coffee tastes better in them. Note to collectors: don't put them in the dishwasher. It takes the shine off the glaze.

With supper now in the past, and the dishes done it was great to have had supper with Jason and Susan - missed you Phil and Amanda. Of course Susan continued her winning ways on Wii...that girl is gifted!

We were in St. Albert for the service this morning. It was good to share with our friends there. Jason and Gaye are great leaders. God is blessing their work.

Another busy week stands before us, and as we scan the horizon our calendars look like they will be busier than ever. I'm glad that I don't have to work my way to heaven!

Which makes me consider all the things I'm grateful for:

• a wonderful wife who is a gracious partner, she's strong in character, tender in heart
• health and strength (despite my present cough)...without good health many other challenges arise
• the ability to read...I'm enjoying so many great books lately
• the discipline to trust...yes I think it's a discipline and I'm finding great peace in trusting God
• the prosperous land we live in...despite our economic woes we're still wealthy compared to much of the world
• the freedom to worship...we might not be the best at it but we can do it in freedom
• family - 4 great children who enrich our lives in ways that can't be measured
• family - our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and cousins
• heritage - the groundwork of faith laid down by the generations before us
• mission - some call it work but we find that it is fulfilling and rewarding despite the challenges...we wouldn't do anything else
• peace - not only in our land but in our hearts...to live without fear is a gift from God

So those are my end of the weekend thoughts.

"The greatest tragedy in life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer." - FB Meyer

A packed Hall greeted us on the morning of Mothers’ Day yesterday.

a full gallery in the morning

Major Beverley led our 10am meetng which included a Church Parade for our Scout and Guide groups.

Major Drew receives the colours

The theme of ‘We are Family’ was explored using selected verses from Psalm 36, portrayed in visual form, and the songs chosen were 324 from the Salvation Army Song Book together with 1607, 783, 299 and 520 from Songs of Fellowship. As is normal on a Sunday morning the musical ministry was provided by the Singing Company and the Songsters, the Singing Company bringing ‘My Marvellous Mum’ and the Songsters ‘Beautiful Christ’.

Facilities were provided in the meeting for the very small children, particularly those from our Parent & Toddler Groups, to have activity whilst the regular meeting was going on around them. Drawing, colouring and modelling kept them very quiet indeed!

Special Mothers’ Day items included three video presentations, each of about 5 minutes duration, which portayed the thoughts of some of our young mums, some of the children and some our older church family members on the subject of family. We hope to be able to bring you these videos on this website later in the week. An item from ‘You Tube’ was also included, ‘Mum Song’ set to the William Tell overture, showing a humerous version of a mother’s day, but one not so far from the truth in many cases!

Once again we were able to witness an enrolment, this time of Jonathan Lockwood who relinquished his soldiership two years ago but now feels able to recommit his life to God in this way. The ceremony was conducted by Major Drew McCombe. Jonathan spoke of his experience in returning to soldiership and referred to the song Casting Crowns in his testimony, quoting the words ‘I once was lost but now am found. so far away, but I’m home now. Now my life to you I yield’.

Jonathan recommits his life

with Major Drew

In her brief message Beverley said life is a journey. God loves everybody and reaches out to all of us. We must exercise our freedom of choice and accept or reject His love. But it makes no difference - God loves us all and wants a relationship with each one of us. He gave himself for us so that we might live in that relationship if we want to. What is your response to His love?

The meeting concluded with the traditional distribution of flowers by the children to the mothers in the meeting.

Amongst the many visitors present It was good to welcome Duncan and Julie Sutton and son Andrew, currently living in California and home for a short holiday. Duncan grew up in Chatham and will be well known to many present and former members of the corps.

Duncan, Andrew & Julie

In the evening we continued to study some of the sayings of Jesus on the cross under the heading of ‘Love speaks from the cross - I am thirsty’. Song 10 from the Salvation Army Song Book opened the meeting followed by a consideration of many of the things we are able to praise God for continuing with 980, 27, 1013, 935 and 1561 from Songs of Fellowship. For the musical Ministry the Band brought ‘We saw Love’ and the Songsters ‘Part the Waters’.

The scripture used for the message was John 19:28-37 and Major Drew spoke about thirst beginning with images on the screen depicting thirsty people, the effects of drought and the devastation caused.

He referred to Jesus’ agony on the cross being much more than just thirst. ‘I am thirsty’, the words of Jesus, are a demonstration of His physical suffereing but not the whole of it. There was much more as Jesus knew what it was like to have His body abused. He therefore knew what we sometimes have to suffer and can empathize with it. We can be like Him, truly God-like and, at th same time, can have our deepest longings met. Experiencing a spiritual thirst can be just as agonising as the physical one Jesus suffered on the cross. We need to experience that thirst so that we can be aware of our own ‘holy discontent’. Perhaps that is the need for us to make disciples; to be a better ‘Army’. If so we need to be involved. Let your thirst drive you to God.

The meeting concluded with the song ‘I dare to be different’ - by living like Christ.

Big Ben

We must finish this week with a reminder that British Summer Time starts next weekend and that the clocks go forward one hour on Saturday night. Don’t forget or you might be very late for the meeting next Sunday morning!

The newer facilities of the Wyndham City Corps in the Melbourne Central Division were dedicated today. The Mayor and many Council members were present as was a full house of members and friends of the corps.

Captains Judy and Kevin Lumb are the corps officers and Majors Jenny and Rodney Barnard are the divisional leaders. It has taken good leadership and coordination to bring the corps where it is today. This is God's doing. The corps is following God in these new facility plans.

Thank you to all who have made it an exceptional day. Now we can expect even more amazing things.

Joshua 3:5 (NIV)
5 Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."

This post is for my mother. It is a joint "thank-you for the wonderful Christmas gift" and "look what your amazing grandson can already do!" For Christmas, YS received a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle game. It included 26 paired puzzle pieces, one for each letter of the alphabet. This quickly became one of his favorite toys and he insisted on carrying them around everywhere.

At first, he was fixated on three key players: G - Gordon; T - Thomas; and J - James. But, we soon noticed that he could identify almost all of the letters. Then, he found our set of magnetic letters.

He was still one just 2-1/2 months ago. As much as I wish for days away from my small children, they just won't stay small for long. Yesterday, YS wanted to take his nap in my bed, lying on Daddy's side. How could I say no? He was all cuddled up under the covers, with Sleepy Bear tucked under his chin, his two fingers upside down in the roof of his mouth, and his hand clutching his "black steam engine."

He fell asleep moments after I crawled in next to him. I, on the other hand, could not sleep. I spent the entire time watching him, loving his sweet, funny cowlicks, those precious fingers and the sucking sound they make, and his adorable face.

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