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