India

So I'm heading of to India tomorrow afternoon and will be meeting up with a few friends who left a few days ahead of me.

I love travelling, as many of you would know, and I can't help but think of people who have gone into lands like India before me. India has so much history and diversity in religions and other aspects of life in general. Being a part of The Salvation Army, knowing some of the work that happened in India with the likes of the Booth-Tuckers and just to be able to put everything in context will be exciting. So much to see and experience!

Going to towns and villages where Jesus is either unknown or un-acknowledged will be a challenge, being surrounded by idols, cow's of great worth and ultimately opposition in the spiritual should be a great experience especially in the northern regions.

God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, so to be blessed to be able to see more of that creation is amazing and won't be taken for granted. Prayer support will be appreciated so that God's work will be done and the Kingdom will be experienced and expanded.

Thanks for everyone who is and already prayed for the three of us who are taking this trip. I'll place some pictures up when I return, especially on Facebook if you want to check them out in around 4 weeks.

Please keep praying for us and for God's will to be done in this season.

"I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars."

Isaiah 45:2

Love, how I believe God intended

Love, how I believe God intended

Taken from – Sex (Part 3): Wilderness – Matt Chandler

Raya is the Hebrew word for companionship, and it’s not just like buddies, but it’s this: that I know you and you know me. It’s not that I just know your pretty stuff, but it’s that I know your junk, ok? That I have seen the wicked parts of you, you have seen the wicked parts of me, and yet still we’ve decided to try to work on this relationship. So, the foundational element of love and sex for the Hebrew mind and their idea of love, was this word, raya, which means that I know you and you know me and I really know you and you really know me. So, raya never occurs on a first date. It never occurs on a second date. Raya can never take place until that first time you watch the person you’re dating or the person you’re married to do something that makes you go, “Oh, no.” ok? And then, in that moment, raya occurs if you say, “I’m going to keep going.” Now, if you go, “I’m done”, then you’re done. But raya is this getting to know each other in such a way that I know you, all of you, and you know me, all of me. And we continue to walk together. And raya leads into ahava.

Ahava is a love of the will. The best way to say ahava is this, “I am not going anywhere.” And that word, that love of the will, it does not carry romantic connotations with it. It carries a very aggressive tone, and it basically is this: Your spouse, your girlfriend, your boyfriend – they want to kill you, and then in that moment when there is such conflict and there is such difficulty, there’s still within you this: “I am not going anywhere.” And so what happens is raya (or me getting to know you and you getting to know me – my good stuff, my bad stuff, your good stuff, your bad stuff) it leads to this moment, or this period of time where, I guess there’s this moment of epiphany? That’s how it was for me where I’m just going, “This is the woman I want to fight with for the rest of my life.” Now, you say that and you go, “I’ve got that. There’s still no sex.” Ok? There’s still no sex yet. There’s all this work (the only people that think that deep relationships aren’t hard work are the people that don’t have them, ok? haha). There’s all this hard work, there’s all this stuff that has to be weighted through, there’s all this baggage. And you’re like, “Why is she so heavy? Oh, baggage.” You’re like, “Why is he so hard to train? Oh, baggage.” Ok? And so you’ve got to walk through all that. You’ve got to sort the dirty laundry. You’ve got to figure out how to wash it. Now, you move from there into ahava and then comes sweet dod, baby!

Dod is not the Hebrew word for sex. It is the Hebrew word for sex when ahava and raya are present. If we have raya and we have ahava, then sex isn’t just two bodies together, it’s two persons. And it’s in there, in that moment that all the intimacy and love that we crave is found. It’s why we are so over-sexed and still so lonely. Cuz, we’ve divorced it, we’ve divorced it from raya and ahava, ok? We’ve exalted sex to be the end all of everything, and sex requires very little work. And so when you’ve divorced it from the real foundational weight and beauty of it, then all you’re left with is technique and trying to work on your technique. So we’ve really become a very lonely, miserable, oversexed people.

I would totally encourage you and urge you to go to iTunes and get The Village’s free podcast. Listen to Sex (Part 1, 2, & 3). I’m telling you, man, this is really weighty, good, varsity stuff that is often never preached from some pulpits. And it’s really too bad, cuz it’s one of the main things that our culture and friends and own selves deal with and struggle with understanding on a large level. Thanks for reading this. Go listen!

[Borrowed from: http://kelseyschneider.blogspot.com/2008/10/raya-ahava-and-dod.html]

Straight off the press - pro-life

Dear Friends,

Just moments ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a over $1 Trillion Dollar Health Care Reform package. The pro-life amendment to the bill was passed earlier in the night after months of House leaders refusing to allow it to be voted on.

The good news: Leaders realized today that in order to pass this highly controversial bill they had to make sure the bill didn't use government money to fund abortions.

This is a HUGE victory for the pro-life movement. Planned Parenthood is fuming right now!

Thank you for your calls, e-mails, and visits to the Congress.

The bad news: The package still contains troubling pro-rationing provisions in it and is especially concerning to parents of special-needs children, like myself.

Now, on to the Senate where we must make sure any health care reform that passes DOES NOT include abortion and pro-rationing provisions.

Look forward to many more updates from me on this issue.

For Life,
Kristan Hawkins

Well represented

How is holiness like the crusades?

I suppose in a few ways, but the way I had been thinking of is that the people involved can often mis-represent God.

Doing things in the Name of God can often be bad promotion for the Body of Christ. Zeal is great, but missinformed zeal can be harmful. I know so many that are 'young' in their faith who are so alive in Christ and that is so inspirational, I love being around these people, but they quite often put their foot in it since there is so much to learn about the All Powerful.

There are even a few more mature 'Christians' that I have heard to claim to be 'holy' and therefore claiming to represent accurately the character of God - these people I have often found lacking in the Fruit of the Spirit and often causing hurt in other people's lives.

Does our lives represent God's character?

I know many people who represent the characture of God well, but I've never heard these people claim to be holy or sanctified, but they live out a life that Jesus was and just do it rather than tell everyone how holy they are.

I'd rather be integral in the way I live to accurately represent Christ rather than spray meaningless words of my achievements and my self-righteous perfection - What it all comes down to is how we are seen in God's eyes, I'd rather please Him than impress man.

God is good and wants us to be perfected in His eyes - He want's you to be holy - come to Him and He will perfect you if you allow Him to do a good work in your life

"³I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:3-6

Function

When something doesn't fulfil it's function, then it's not whole or complete, but broken.

God has told us to be holy, if we are not holy then we are not fulfilling our function as humanity. We need to remember that this is not just an individual thing either, we are to be holy as a community.

Start living a holy life today if you haven't already. It's your destiny :)

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."

Romans 6:22

Heaven - Pastoral Letter from the General

As you are most likely aware, the General of The Salvation Army writes letters to the Army regularly. His latest letter has just been released on the topic of Heaven;

PASTORAL LETTER SIXTEEN

HEAVEN

Dear Fellow Salvationists,

I send warmest greetings in Christ to my fellow believers across the globe and especially to my fellow Salvationists in the 118 lands into which God has led us.

Thank you for your fidelity to the cause of the gospel. We remember you daily in prayer. Thank you for your faithful prayers for me and for Commissioner Helen Clifton. We need these prayers. They sustain us powerfully. I request that you intercede on my behalf for ongoing wisdom in all matters touching the worldwide Army.

We are all on our way to Heaven. The theme of this 16th Pastoral Letter is Heaven.

Recently we were privileged to be with our fellow Salvationists in Zambia and Zimbabwe. In both places we witnessed Salvationists marching past in vast numbers. Each and every marcher offered the Army salute, the right index finger pointed Heavenward. How happy we were to return these salutes! It did not seem to matter that our right arms grew tired as the cohorts of Salvationists paraded, for we were comrades together, bonded deeply by sacred ties, and in exchanging salutes we signalled that we were all on our way to Heaven by the grace of God.

The people of Jesus Christ in the Army are marching to Glory. Salvation Army soldiers are said to be ‘promoted to Glory’ when they take their final breath. We deck our flags with white ribbon for the funeral of a Salvationist, a powerful sign that though we feel keenly the pain of loss we do not wallow in despair for we know about Heaven.

Since taking office as the General in April 2006 my father, Major Albert Clifton, has been promoted to Glory and so too have Commissioner Helen’s parents, my father-in-law Bandmaster Donald Ashman and my mother-in-law Betty Ashman. We know our parents are safe in Heaven. How do we know? The answer to that question is simple: Jesus has told us so. Just turn in your Bible to John 14. See there the rock-solid promises of Jesus about the life to come.

The Lord Jesus Christ offers deep and lasting assurance. He knows the natural fears and uncertainties of the human heart when the end of life is contemplated. That is why he offers special words of emphasis and comfort: ‘… if it were not so, I would have told you.’

He has made ready. All things are planned and prepared. He has told us all we can take in for now. There remains only the need to trust him for our loved ones and one day for ourselves. He is trustworthy.

In Romans 6:4 we are taught that ‘just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.’ Paul goes on to say in verse 5 that we ‘will certainly also be united with him (Christ) in his resurrection.’ This is another reliable promise from God.

So let us each live in a way that testifies to our sure hope of Heaven.

As I pen these few words, I see in my imagination the Army saints who have gone on before us to Heaven. I picture them gathered from time to time and leaning over the battlements of Heaven as the Lord affords them a glimpse of what the Army is doing today. They are cheering us on!

I thank God for each of you as we travel to Glory together. Until the Lord calls us Home let us journey with a real consciousness of Heaven as our final destination. Our journey thus has profound meaning and purpose.

I commit you each to the perfect love of Christ.

Yours in Jesus,

Shaw Clifton
General

Holiness, the best thing since..

Holiness is a big part of the movement of The Salvation Army, in fact our foundations are set on it!

Many people we have been talking to, many have been with The Army for many years and have said that we haven't had teaching on holiness for ages. Well now it's making it's come back.

This years session at Training College for 2009-2010 are called the "Ambassadors of Holiness" and I am one of them. We have had much teaching on holiness this year and even in my private life I have been searching this out since I haven't had 'teaching' as such in the past, but it is the best thing even before sliced bread!!

Holiness has been taught in The Salvation Army since it's beginings, but in more recent days we haven't used the term 'holiness' as much as previously, we may have used words such as 'Christ likeness' or blameless or even in all teachings of putting sin behind us and becoming blameless before God.

One quote we use around the College a heap is 'holiness is the solution to every problem' and I think it just might be the case.

Be holy.. cos God told you to!! I know we don't like taking orders, even from God, but it's something that when tasted, you will want more, just like a juicy peach in summer with the juice running down your chin.. ok, enough dreaming of summer.

Holiness, it's the way of the past and IS the way of the future - eternal future!!

"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"

Exodus 15:11

The Future

Today field changes came out for Officers of The Salvation Army. This is where appointments can be changed and the unseen future for the coming year becomes clearer, well apart from the second year Cadets, they still don't know, but much speculation is happening :)

There was some talk even of the first year Cadet's placement for next year at the end of tea. I had some ideas in my head that I'd love to experience during this time, while still in training and was hoping to have some say in it, but it appears that is not the case this time round.

Very frustrated, I decided to run it out and sprinted around the Zoo at the back of the College and came back and had a long(ish) shower. As I was getting out, my ipod changed to the song that I haven't heard for a while now - "I'm in His hands" [Phil Laeger version] - God makes me laugh hard sometimes!!

After a day of letting a few things get the better of me, God gave me a good wake up slap and reminded me gently; what am I worried about.. I'm in His hands!!!! I trust God with my future, sometimes I struggle with this, but after tonight, I'm still feeling slightly unsettled, but I have His assurance going into tomorrow that He'll be with me and walking beside me all the way.

"I"m in His hands, I'm in His hands

Whate'ver the future holds, I'm in His hands

The days I cannot see, have all been planned for me

His way is best you see, I'm in His hands"

Words by Stanley E. Ditmer

Protection

Just a quick thought;

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he
delivers them.
-- Psalm 34:7

God loves you and wants to take you under His wings like a mother hen.. strange mental picture in ways, but a good analogy.

Bless ya, hope the week is going well

Salvation

I've been thinking a bit recently about the true depth of salvation. We've looked into it a bit in an online study of Luke and it goes much deeper than what we generally just look at it to mean.

We traditionally in the 'church' we narrowly think of salvation in terms of eternal life, but back in Jesus day, we see Jesus saving people from all kinds of things. Things such as loss of sight, being outcast, sickness, demonic opression or possession and forgivness of sins to name a few.

Jesus came to give us life, and life to the full, not just for eternity but for here and now also. Is there anything you need saving from today? Jesus is good to help - try Him and see. He loves to the point of dying so He can live with you forever.

If you need saving from something like drugs, obsession, impure thoughts, gambling, depression, etc - take it to Jesus now, ask Him to help you and save you from it. Leave me a message or email me at mapleback_simon@hotmail.com if you are wanting this salvation and having trouble claiming it!

Live victoriously and free, in Jesus Name!

Bless ya

"God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don't have to rely on the world's guesses and opinions. We didn't learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we're passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way."

1 Corinthians 2:10b

Letter from the General - Family

Pastoral Letter Fifteen

Family

Dear Fellow Salvationists,

You are lifted to the Throne of Grace in prayer daily. Prayer is a recurring miracle that gives us direct access to our Maker and which bonds together those who trust in Jesus as their Saviour.

In my last Pastoral Letter (Letter Fourteen) I requested your prayers for the International Conference of Leaders. Now I record my deepest thanks to you for supporting this historic gathering in prayerful intercession. In the days leading up to the conference I received many written assurances of prayers and more have reached me since the gathering ended, making intercession for the ongoing impact of the deliberations. Those present certainly experienced a deep sense of being held and sustained by the prayers of many around the globe. We had a wonderful sense of unity right from the very beginning of our time together. Please note the ‘Spiritual Statement to the Army’ that has recently been issued on behalf of all who attended the conference. It is my hope that this Statement will be met with a tender and sensitive response by all who read and ponder it.

The Lord granted the International Conference of Leaders a true sense of being members together of the family of God.

The theme of this Pastoral Letter is Family.

Family is God’s idea. He has planned the created world in such a way that we thrive best when family life is strong, protected and promoted by those in government. Serious social research shows that children do best, for example in health and in education, when they are raised by two parents, one male and one female, who through marriage are publicly committed to one another for life.

Marriage and family are inevitably interlinked. Alternative models of family life can be found on every hand these days, some arising out of marital breakdown, others the result of a deliberate choice to bring a child into the world out of wedlock. Statistical evidence tells us that these children face an uphill struggle to do well compared with children born within the sacred bond of traditional marriage.

When family life is strong, a nation is strong. Stable families are a pre-requisite of a stable social order. Secure family life results in lower crime rates, in fewer people serving time in prison, and in improved mental and emotional health. Family lies at the very heart of a stable social order.

In turn, stable family life delivers for most of us reliable love and personal security. The reliable love of parents, experienced by the child, opens up that child to experiencing and knowing the ultimate reliable love – that of the Creator. Recently we celebrated the birth of our fifth grandchild, Amos Paul Clifton. We are thankful that he will be raised in a secure fam ily setting, giving him the best possible start in life and an opportunity to know and sense from his earliest days parental love modelled on the love of God.

Closely interwoven with strong family life are key areas of social policy that all governments should promote and protect. We need to pray for political leaders to be raised up who will have respect for life, who will work for decent housing for all, who will promote family-friendly practices in the workplace, and who will favour families and marriage in the shaping of taxation and other fiscal policies.

Families are the bedrock of our society, the setting within which we discover the essential human qualities of love, commitment, compassion and generosity.

Let us pray therefore that every family will be modelled on God’s creation plan. Let us pray that Christian families will know daily the grace of God as the key ingredient in living and growing together. We can also pray that those see king to undermine family life will be frustrated. We can pray that marriages will flourish and succeed even in the face of much modern pressure to the contrary.

We must pray too for much divine grace to attend those who presently find their marriages and their family life under strain. May they come through the storms stronger and more deeply committed to each precious relationship.

Finally, let us give thanks for the family of the Body of Christ, the family of believers within which we can also know reliable love and spiritual intimacy.

I commit you, yet again, to the perfect love of Christ.

Yours in Jesus,

Shaw Clifton
General

Holiness potential..

"If Holiness is possible anywhere for anyone at any time, it is possible anywhere for everyone at ALL times"

General Bramwall Booth

Red hot and Committed??

I was reading some of Catherine Booth's book 'Practical Religion' the other day and found an interesting paragraph I'd like to share with you. The passage is found within the chapter entitled 'Hot Saints'.

Catherine wrote;

"WHY does God like people to be hot in His service? For the same reason that we like people to be hot in ours. We have no confidence in half-and-half, fase and-loose friends; milk-warm adherents who in times of danger wait to see which way the wind blows before they commit themselves to our views or interests; sevants who will serve us while at the same time they can serve themselves but the moment our interests and theirs appear to clash will leave us to our fate. We may use the half-hearted as far as they serve our purpose, but we have no confidence in them, no heart-fellowship with them, no joy over them. We would rather they were hot or cold out-and-out friends or foes." p109

Have you ever heard the saying, 'treat others how you would like them to treat you', how would God, then in return, treat those outlined above? Does God see you as trustworthy? Have you earnt God's trust?

I want to be red hot and consistant so on that day when I meet Him face to face He will smile at me! [Can you imagine that day you stand before Jesus and not being able to look Him in the eyes.. your heart just sinks knowing what's in store for you - your choices this very minute shapes that moment]

Decide today whether you are fully committed or fully not - THER IS NO IN-BETWEEN!

Saved or doomed! In or out! For God or against Him, headed for Heaven or headed for Hell - totally your choice, but you already knew that!

Know where you stand, and don't waver!

'I would thou wert cold or hot'

Revelation 3:15

Power of an Officer

"When Officers show lack of power for aggressive work, I am convinced that their hearts are not deeply moved over the condition of sinners; and if the heart of an Officer is not moved over the condition of sinners, surely his convictions bind him but loosely to the great Christian doctrines which form the very soul of The Salvation Army."

From Mrs. Bramwell Booth's book titled 'Powers of Salvation Army Officers' p51

Is your heart moved by the condition of sinners? Yes! We need you!

Let's not give God anything less than our best.

The General's letter on Leaders

PASTORAL LETTER FOURTEEN

LEADERS

Dear Fellow Salvationists,

This Pastoral Letter comes to you with my warmest greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ and with my prayers for each of you. The Lord is using the Army in wonderful ways. We seek to be faithful to the divine impulse to go out into the world representing Jesus Christ to all we meet. My constant prayer for you is that God will use you, just as he uses all who are faithful to him regardless of their denominational affiliation. My Fellow Salvationists, you are key players in a mighty Christian host of believers scattered across the globe. I hold you all before the Lord in prayer as I write to you. God has a part for you to play in his great plan of salvation.

The theme of this letter is Leadership.

There is a deep and true sense in which all Christians are leaders. Often we use the word 'leader' to mean a person in high position or with authority over others. This is a legitimate use of the word, but for now let me suggest that we can use it with a wider, more inclusive, meaning.

You are a leader just where God has placed you. You can influence other lives, leading people to consider the things of Christ. You can lead others into the realisation there is more to life than selfishness or the pursuit of pleasure. You can be the sanctified leader when someone suggests that you engage with them in some doubtful activity. You can lead when others do not sense someone's hurt, or another’s need. You can take the lead when others stand by idly or are in confusion as to the way forward in a time of crisis.

To be a leader like this does not require a special rank or position, or any kind of formal authorisation. Each believer in Jesus is called to be a leader like this. All Christians are called to be leaders.

The very fact that we are known to be in the Army can sometimes make other people have expectations of us that mean we will often need to show initiative and leadership more than others. Our uniforms can result in expectations like this. There is a deep sense in which the wearing of Salvation Army uniform says to others that the wearer is ready to take responsibility in the unexpected moment, to take the lead in the unlikely situation.

In fact, there is a sense in which we are an Army of leaders. We each have a leadership function to carry out. Let us not minimise this or shrink from it out of shyness or fear. The Lord who calls us is able to accomplish through us everything he wills and wishes. The Holy Spirit is our guide and our helper.

Without diminishing in any way this 'leadership' role of all believers, let me also mention those who hold heavy leadership burdens in the Army because of their rank or appointment as officers. On Tuesday, 7 July 2009 London will host a gathering of the Army's most senior officers. An International Conference of Leaders like this takes place every few years. I seek your prayers for those who will gather with me. They are spiritual leaders like you, in the deep sense I have tried to outline above, but they are also leaders in the organisational sense in terms of the senior responsibilities they carry within the Army.

We shall number about 140 and will be together for seven days. Let me mention the two most important things we will do in that week: we will pray together, especially for you and your fellow Salvationists, and we will study the Scriptures together, waiting upon God for his divine direction and impulse.

We will also take a warm-hearted but hard-headed look at the state of the world, at the readiness of the Army in 118 countries to engage with the modern world, and at the need to see far into the future to discern God's way forward for his Salvation Army.

Please, please pray about this gathering. Let me give you the dates again: 7 – 13 July 2009. Perhaps you can enter these dates into your prayer diary or into your devotional schedule so that you can influence the deliberations through prayer. That would be wonderful! Perhaps you could covenant with the Lord to hold a particular participant, perhaps your own leader, before the Lord each day of the conference. What a difference you could make in that way!

God bless you in your own local leadership, both in your community and in your corps. Every soldier is a leader for God and the gospel. I pray that you will be used to lead others into faith in Jesus as their Saviour. I pray that you will be used to lead others eventually to their eternal reward when we shall see Jesus in Heaven. What a day that will be!

I commend you to the perfect love of Christ.

I pray for you daily.

Sincerely in Jesus,


Shaw Clifton
General

Sanctification

For Spiritual Formation here at the Training College we have to give a presentation on someone who has influenced us spiritually over the years, I chose Samuel Logan Brengle, the great holiness teacher of the Salvation Army.

As I've been reading over his books and biographies, God gave me an insight to what Samuel teaches about.  God told me that I've been born to be sanctified, I've been called by His will for His glory, and a critical part of achieving all these things is to be totally blameless before Him.

Brengle writes in the introduction to his book 'Helps to Holiness',  "He satisfied me- I weigh my words - He satisfied me!  He satisfied me".  

Have you ever had that experience of being totally satisfied??  As I've been reading God has been showing me and sanctifying me, it is totally amazing, right now as I type, I am satisfied.  Even though I know I haven't been sanctified through and through, God has given me something to work towards, and sooner rather than later, I'm going to live totally within God's will for my life and live a totally sanctified life - He requires it of us, and therefore it is possible!

Hallelujah - God is good, all the time!!

"This is the will of God, even your sanctification... For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness"

1 Thessalonians 4:3,7

TONIGHT - Famous Last Words

----

"The Still Point of the Turning World"

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

We're experimenting with a three-camera live-edit online broadcast of this popular Salvo series - Famous Last Words, and we're inviting you to join us.

The event is live Wednesday 20 May 7:30pm - Melbourne time (that is 2pm in Kabul; noon in Antananarivo, Madagascar; 9:30am in England, 5:30am NYC, 3:30am in San Salvador; and 2:30am Vancouver).

It features noted Salvo holiness teacher Colonel Lyell Rader preaching as if it was his opportunity and Salvo worship leader Cadet Nathan Rowe on worship. You don't HAVE to watch it live but you can! Thanks. Tell all your friends and networks.

The topic of the preach is "The Still Point of the Turning World."

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/sstv/

See previous post for more info

Blessings!

Famous Last Words

Wednesday 20th of May 2009 is the next 

"Famous Last Words"

at The Salvation Army's Training College in Melbourne starting at 7:30pm

Tell everyone you know about it, it's going to be huge! 

Lt. Colonel Lyell Radar will be giving his 'famous last words' and will be the first time we will be broadcasting world wide with multi cameras and can be watched at

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/sstv/

just in case you can't make it to 303 Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne

Hope to see  you there, it's going to be a night to remember

Greatest Action Story Ever Told

Absolute classic!  


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Saved or un-saved?

We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency but, by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God

(Article 5 - Salvation Army doctrines)

Every man is regarded now as a sinner in need of salvation. Romans 3:23 says "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God". Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3), man was destined to be separated from God. Disobedience to God separates us from Him, eternally not just here while we live on Earth.

Sin is more than the breaking of particular commands; it is inward opposition to the will of God. In so doing the sinner separates himself from God, the source of all true life [Handbook of Doctrine pg85 section VI]

If we haven't gone to God for forgiveness for this wrong we've done against Him, we will be punished by eternal separation from God, eternal damnation. If you want to be saved from this I'll explain how;

Everything has to be paid for, old school you had to bring something of great worth, so back before my day, that mostly was in the form of the best from your flock, ie, the best lamb without imperfections and sacrificed it in your place, otherwise you would pay by death - your life - eternal death.

Now this has been made redundant by one human sacrifice, one for all

"We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world, so that whosoever may be saved"

(Article 6 - Salvation Army Doctrine)

It is God's will that all should be saved (1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 4:14) All men need the gospel and have a right to hear it.

It is my duty to take it to you!

All you have to do, is realise you have separated yourself from God, ask Him for forgiveness through His Son's sacrifice of dying in your place, and change your ways. God has made it that easy!

Once you've realised this rebellion from God, admit it to yourself, ask God for forgiveness from it, know you need to change your lifestyle and make the improvements based on God's Guidelines to Living a Full Life (better know as the Bible) and you will then be SAVED!

We use the term saved in a broad term, it means salvation from a range of things like sin itself, eternal punishment (Hell), spiritual oppression, and other things that sin or rebellion causes.

If you know you need to change some things in your life but not sure where to start, leave me a comment or email me at mapleback_simon@hotmail.com. Even if you have just changed your way and lined your life up with God, also please let me know.

Bless ya

"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Romans 10:10

New members of the Kingdom

Tonight we had our second youth group gathering at the Plenty Valley Corps of the Salvation Army. Last week we met a few local youth playing basketball in the car park and invited them along, we ended up playing table tennis, wee, xbox and had a tiring game of basketball to finish with.

Tonight these guys came back and we had a great time just hanging out since the basketball ring had been broken during the week. One of the guys saw the Bible and some Bible activities in a book and we started going through it. Before long the 4 guys started being convicted and wanted to receive forgiveness from God of things that had been doing and been involved with so I explained the things of Jesus to them and they wanted to receive 'salvation'.

We went through the prayer of forgiveness and salvation and these guys were so excited, their faces were beaming with happiness! These guys were only young teens but really sincerely repented and have become truly saved! It was a great moment tonight and all through out the night kept asking things of God and we touched on so much of the Bible and now are going to have a study next Thursday night to make sure they get fed. We gave them New Testaments to read also.

God is so good. The harvest was ready and God pointed them to come to us tonight, what a Good Shepherd. Hallelujah.

If you still don't know the truth and freedom and the true happiness that only Jesus can bring email me at mapleback_simon@hotmail.com or leave me a message and I'll get back to you. Today is the day of salvation, you're not guaranteed tomorrow, so take the opportunity today so you also can be a member of the Kingdom of God.

Bless ya

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Acts 4:12

Transformation

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

"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 5:32

Ego

Having trouble with a big head?

When was the last time you came before the Creator of the Universe? I was thinking the other day, we were talking about keeping humble, especially when you are entrusted with a huge task or with a large group of important things, it is easy to either be daunted, but if things go well it's easy to think that it was because of your greatness.

I'm sure it was because of your abilities and capable skills, but make sure it's all placed in proportion. God is the giver of all abilities and skills and some are entrusted with more 'talents', but that comes with great responsibility and accountablility.

Would you be able to be entrusted, like the parable, with 5 talents, or even 8 talents?! That's a huge responsibility, and can be classed as a burden by some leaders I know. Sure it's an honour, but at the same time, a huge expectation is placed upon you.

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. ...

'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!'

Matthew 25:14-15, 21

Keep it in perspective, come before your God honestly and openly and you'll see things straight.

Bless ya!

Version 1 or 2?

If you needed a computer program that had a version 1 and a version 2 on offer - which would you choose? If the second version is the updated version and is a total upgrade on the first (which goes without saying!!), which version would you choose - price not being an issue?

I think everyone would go for the second, the newest version, right?

I've been thinking a bit lately about baptism, in both 'versions', water and Spirit and why there is such a big issue around them. I totally understand the baptism of the Spirit, I couldn't live without it, but water - what's the big issue?

We talked about this subject in one of our lectures yesterday so it's sparked a few new thoughts in my head so I'm finally making a big effort and letting it out!

I've been reading parts of the Old Testament in my rations, and I've found in the books of Moses that if something is made 'unclean' it is to be washed with water to be made clean (Leviticus). I was wondering if water baptism evolved from this over many hundreds of years, but that's just a side note...

So, water baptism was carried out by John as a baptism of repentance as a promise salvation that was on it's way. As it says in Luke 3 referring to the prophecy of Isaiah;

"A voice of one calling in the desert,

'Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.

Every valley shall be filled in,

every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked roads shall become straight,

the rough ways smooth.

6And all mankind will see God's salvation."

John was just preparing the way for Jesus, who brings salvation through His blood and then sent the Holy Spirit, the 'upgrade' to water baptism. Once you've called on Jesus to be your Saviour, you will have repented of your sins which separate you from Him and then you receive the Spirit all in one 'version'. [This is also helpful when you find yourself in the desert where there is no water, face to face with Jesus...]

This 'version 2', the baptism of the Holy Spirit, comes with power and all the benefits from the first along with SO much more. Why would you go backward and live off the promise of the second, by living with the first?

Your thoughts?

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 1:8

College update

College.

Busy.

Rosters.

Cleaning.

Uniform.

Prayers.

Class.

Laughing.

This is some of the things that have stood out so far from our first few weeks. It's been an awesome experience, been loving every second of it.

We started last week with official classes on a two week intensive on Worship and preaching which is great, and on the same day we started being deployed out to Wittlesea to assist with the fire relief teams. A team would be sent out every afternoon and night which got as late as 4am some mornings, but as of this evening will be changed to a 5-11 'shift' so our classes will be effected as little as possible, so we don't fall asleep basically.

Still no wireless, hence the lack of blogging, but I thought I'd better quickly blog today to let the world know college is going really well and that I'm alive, very alive actually!! God is great!

If you're a Salvationist and have felt God call you to serve Him in this way, don't be a Jonah and run, but run towards Him, there's no better place to be.

We started our Corps placements yesterday also, I'm placed at Plenty Valley, what a start, a very vibrant attendance and a great atmosphere, a place where God is doing great things and has great plans for, I'm excited to be a part of it.

I better stop it there, got much reading to do and an essay to work on, and no real time to do it presently. I have an hour till a rushed tea before I head out to Wittlesea at 5, so if I improve my time management skills I may place a dint the work.

Bless you all - please feel free to leave a comment to let me know you're out there, it can be a very insular place here at the college

College - We've arrived!

Today, nearly all of the Ambassadors of Holiness have arrived into the Australia Southern Territory Training College in Melbourne, Australia.

There are many tired faces, not too much emotion presently, just a friendly 'hi' here and there without the jumping around sorta excitement of teenage high school days, but still a sense of sincerity and respect.

Due to this transition, the next few days will most likely be without much blogging as Internet and orientation is all still to be sorted out in the not to distant future.

Check this space soon for more updates of the Ambassadors, training college, and things about the Kingdom of God.

Bless ya

"The LORD is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous:

"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

Psalm 118:14-15

Saviour of the World

Human Trafficking & Teenage Rape

I've just been watching a movie on Human Trafficking, the largest growing crime in the world and it just makes so much anger burn up inside me. Last week just over 600 young people from around Australia and New Zealand gathered together in Melbourne for a huge youth event called 'Insane'.

A part of Insane was a huge silent protest in Federation Square against this vile crime where around the number of around a jumbo jet full of mostly of women and children go 'missing' everyday and are sold into sexual slavery. There are way too many stories I've heard from individuals that have been involved in this and it really breaks my heart.

We keep telling ourselves that this only happens in far away lands and that it's doesn't really effect us so why do anything?! I want to change the focus slightly to right here on our shores of Australia, slightly different from sexual trafficking, but still sexual victims.

I've been having a few girls coming to me regularly now for months with stories and experiences of young teenage girls mostly getting drugged and raped here in Australia from every corner of the continent and they really develop a sense of self hate and depression. As these girls talk to me, it makes my heart break and I just wish I could really do something to stop this. The part that makes me the most angry is that nearly 100% of these go unnoticed and unpunished. One example I know of is a 26 year old raping a 15 year old girl who was drunk!!! How can we allow this to happen!

I've been told I'm too protective of our young girls, but I want to be a father one day, and this scares the hell out of me when my daughter will become a teenager. Is it culture we need to change or teachings that our children get from tv shows and songs.

We need to start doing something now, something needs to change now!

One life at a time

Break my heart for what breaks Yours God! I promise to do all I can in my power God so just give me access and Your anointing

"He [the wicked man] lies in wait like a lion in cover;

he lies in wait to catch the helpless;

he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. "

Psalm 10:9

Insane.. and more change

Insane starts tomorrow!

I had my last day of employment yesterday!

I'm now in no mans land - in transition of one life into another life

So, anyway, since insane is starting tomorrow - 168 hours of youth madness I'm pretty sure I won't get a chance to blog for a few days. Please be praying for all of these youth in attendance from around our Territory - that is Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, that their lives will be changed and that they will have the time of their lives under the safety of our Sovereign God.

I have to note here, just going back to my last day of work, how God blesses you for just being obedient. The guys at work are just great, going to miss them so much, but since I'm pretty much just moving around the corner, almost literally, I really hope to catch up with them here and there throughout the coming months.

My work mates wrote some great things in my farewell card, but by far the highlight was a poster they put together with pictures of them all and little in jokes and some really nice wishes and blessings. If God didn't call me elsewhere, I don't think I would have been leaving there just yet.

One more request before I sign off, please be praying for all the cadets of the 'Ambassadors of Holiness' session as we prepare to enter into our new life in a couple of weeks time, many of us are now feeling strain and some feeling burdened. God will give us victorious spirits, but it would be great to know that we have a great army backing us up as we go into battle.

Blessings

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

Psalm 60:12

Change

Wow, 2009 has finally arrived!

So much is changing and I think I'm just not thinking about it all yet, so I'm coping.

This is my final week of work, my last day is on Friday before I move straight into this Salvation Army week called 'Insane' where youth from all over our Territory come to Melbourne for a week of activities and fun. I still have no idea what's going on, haven't heard a thing even though I've registered as a leader!! Wonder if I am?!

Packing is still a project that I'm thinking of but not doing a lot of!

I finished up at my home Corps last Sunday and had the best farewell ever, with many friends attending, nice words said and a few favourite songs requested. Everyone back for a bbq and a great game of cricket in the local park.

So, in summary, I've left my church which I've been a part of and built up for 27 years, packing to move out of home after 27 years in the same place with my family which I am very close to, quit my job which I really enjoy after working there for a bit over 4 years, going back to study all in the same building as where I'll be living and I get claustrophobic sometimes, living in a close community with a whole heap of different people with different aspects on things and backgrounds who are all leaders in their own rights and have generally strong personalities. I think I'm actually looking forward to this even though I haven't really got myself to think about it yet

I'm an Ambassador of Holiness, that's a higher calling than worrying about moving location, or the conditions of living, or income, or work, people etc. God is sovereign and always will be.

Come on world, you're yet to find the truth if you're not a disciple of Jesus!

I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me

John 13:20