(Read Judges 8:22-27)
We love to tell our testimonies. I love to hear them from those who were on the Salvation Army's front line in years past when the Army culture was a lot different. Not necessarily better, but different. It is interesting to see the different ways in which God is moving compared to how He moved in the past. What is not good is when those who were there, stay there. Their testimony and plea is to always ..."go back, go back to when things were done right and we were a real Army!"
I believe there is a real danger in that kind of thinking. Of course every generation pines for the return of the glory days of their own prime, so there is nothing new about that. What concerns me is when Soldiers and Christians look only to the past for their victories and can't embrace the new ways in which people are touched by God.
Now, remember the Scripture from the beginning (in Judges). So, Gideon took his accomplishments and made a true object of worship out of it. It was supposed to be a reminder of what God had done for them by giving them so many victories over the Midianites. Instead, all of the people went to Ophrah to worship the Ephod instead of God. The reminder of God's victories became a snare when they took their eyes off of God.
We as Salvationists love to look back at the grand old Army and it can become an idol to us. Some often wonder why God isn't moving like he used to. Might the answer be that we have begun to worship the Salvation Army instead of the God of the Salvation Army? Have we turned the old days of the Army into a golden ephod and it in turn has become a stumbling block to us?
May I suggest to you that the "old Army" only had the voice and the word of God to follow and only the future to look forward to and no Ephod to worship?
Dear friends, get rid of your ephods and idols. Look to God alone and listen for his leading. Embrace the ways that people are being reached today and then get involved. God has not changed, but our culture has. The victories will come. There's nothing wrong with celebrating the victories of the past. But when we look back and lament that it will never be that good again, we create a golden ephod and we shackle ourselves with the sin of nostalgia. Follow God's leading and look to the future and be amazed at what He has in store for the "Brave New Army"...and you.
What a blessing it is for me to be in the company of the Saints of God who appreciate the past, but who are active in the present and look forward to the future with anticipation and a willing spirit to do whatever it takes to see the lost won.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
The First Identity Theft
Dear Friends,
In 2003, 23.7 million Americans were victims of Identity theft. Some say that by now, that number may have doubled. Identity thieves are known for their craftiness and deceit. Those who do it face to face, first gain the confidence of their victims then steal what ever it is that they're after.
Genesis 3 teaches the fall of all mankind. You remember, where Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit? In reading this story and recently preaching on it, it seems to me that they were the first victims of "identity theft". Our doctrines teach that our first parents (Adam and Eve) were created in a state of innocency. Because of their disobedience, they lost their purity and that very innocence. Though we accept that teaching as truth, let us not forget that they were deceived into disobeying God. Their Original identity (that of purity and innocence) was essentially stolen. This is identity theft.
In order for a victim to recover from identity theft, help (the authorities) must come from the outside. You can try to track down the scoundrel, but even if you did, the authorities would still have to exact justice. Adam and Eve tried a number of things to regain their original identity but what fig leaves and hiding could not restore God could. He called to them not because He didn't know where they were, but so that they would have the opportunity to repent by responding to his voice.
Thank goodness, that they did hear his voice and come back to Him. If they hadn't responded to Him and stayed hiding, I wonder what life would be like today.
You and I were born with that same identity theft consequence. We were born in sin. We would love to be able to hide our way out of it or cover our lives with fig leaves. But just like Adam and Eve, no amount of hiding in the bushes of self-hate, addiction or covering up our faults with the fig leaves of good deeds and religion will restore that which we were born without. Our innocence, our true identity can only be restored by hearing God's voice as He calls us to come out of hiding and trust Him to be our means of restoration.
What Satan, abuse, doubt, sin, self-hate and addiction has stolen, Jesus can and will restore to you. You can be reborn as innocent as Adam and Eve before their Identity was stolen. Jesus calls to you even now. Do you hear Him? He's all around you. Will you now get back your true identity in Him?
In 2003, 23.7 million Americans were victims of Identity theft. Some say that by now, that number may have doubled. Identity thieves are known for their craftiness and deceit. Those who do it face to face, first gain the confidence of their victims then steal what ever it is that they're after.
Genesis 3 teaches the fall of all mankind. You remember, where Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit? In reading this story and recently preaching on it, it seems to me that they were the first victims of "identity theft". Our doctrines teach that our first parents (Adam and Eve) were created in a state of innocency. Because of their disobedience, they lost their purity and that very innocence. Though we accept that teaching as truth, let us not forget that they were deceived into disobeying God. Their Original identity (that of purity and innocence) was essentially stolen. This is identity theft.
In order for a victim to recover from identity theft, help (the authorities) must come from the outside. You can try to track down the scoundrel, but even if you did, the authorities would still have to exact justice. Adam and Eve tried a number of things to regain their original identity but what fig leaves and hiding could not restore God could. He called to them not because He didn't know where they were, but so that they would have the opportunity to repent by responding to his voice.
Thank goodness, that they did hear his voice and come back to Him. If they hadn't responded to Him and stayed hiding, I wonder what life would be like today.
You and I were born with that same identity theft consequence. We were born in sin. We would love to be able to hide our way out of it or cover our lives with fig leaves. But just like Adam and Eve, no amount of hiding in the bushes of self-hate, addiction or covering up our faults with the fig leaves of good deeds and religion will restore that which we were born without. Our innocence, our true identity can only be restored by hearing God's voice as He calls us to come out of hiding and trust Him to be our means of restoration.
What Satan, abuse, doubt, sin, self-hate and addiction has stolen, Jesus can and will restore to you. You can be reborn as innocent as Adam and Eve before their Identity was stolen. Jesus calls to you even now. Do you hear Him? He's all around you. Will you now get back your true identity in Him?
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Missional Fruit
Dear Friends,
Continuing with the Missional mindset and goals, we have continued with the gradual addition of contemporary elements and outreaches in Asheville. The latest is a coffee ministry on our front porch. For the last four weeks, we simply set up a table and give away coffee and pastries. We have a brand new Soldier (Lorraine) and a long-time Adherant (Ed) who have taken this on as their personal ministry. There are several others who help out some, but it is their ministry. Ken Callahan once noted that the people who are the newest in the faith tend to be the ones who are most eager to invite friends and spread the Word. We generally have about ten passers by who partake of the coffee and snack. But since the beginning of the ministry, there has been one young man from the neighborhood who continues to come back and has been spending more and more time just drinking and chatting. Today, he helped take down the table and coffee and then helped to bring the supplies inside the building. Lorraine introduced him around and we all tried to make him feel welcome. Right now he goes to another type of Sunday morning activity.......right now. We would like to see him come fully into the Kingdom. Right now, we just want to love and accept him for who he is. On another note, my son has been bringing a friend to church for the last month. He wants to learn the cornet and become a Junior Soldier. But the good news is that today, after a simple and brief explanation of the Gospel, He accepted Christ as his Savior. He has had no formal or casual religious association until he began coming with us to the Corps. It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is for a child to accept the Grace of Christ when the soil of the heart is tilled for just a little while. Please pray for us as we continue to simply love the people of our Corps neighborhood and Asheville.
Continuing with the Missional mindset and goals, we have continued with the gradual addition of contemporary elements and outreaches in Asheville. The latest is a coffee ministry on our front porch. For the last four weeks, we simply set up a table and give away coffee and pastries. We have a brand new Soldier (Lorraine) and a long-time Adherant (Ed) who have taken this on as their personal ministry. There are several others who help out some, but it is their ministry. Ken Callahan once noted that the people who are the newest in the faith tend to be the ones who are most eager to invite friends and spread the Word. We generally have about ten passers by who partake of the coffee and snack. But since the beginning of the ministry, there has been one young man from the neighborhood who continues to come back and has been spending more and more time just drinking and chatting. Today, he helped take down the table and coffee and then helped to bring the supplies inside the building. Lorraine introduced him around and we all tried to make him feel welcome. Right now he goes to another type of Sunday morning activity.......right now. We would like to see him come fully into the Kingdom. Right now, we just want to love and accept him for who he is. On another note, my son has been bringing a friend to church for the last month. He wants to learn the cornet and become a Junior Soldier. But the good news is that today, after a simple and brief explanation of the Gospel, He accepted Christ as his Savior. He has had no formal or casual religious association until he began coming with us to the Corps. It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is for a child to accept the Grace of Christ when the soil of the heart is tilled for just a little while. Please pray for us as we continue to simply love the people of our Corps neighborhood and Asheville.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Zombies in Asheville!
Hello Friends. We had a really good officers councils which had two main speakers who definitely challenged my thinking, my actions and lack of creativity presenting our faith. Dr. Leonard Sweet (www.sermons.com) showed us that our precious, well behaved Jesus was actually quite scandelous and shocking to the well behaved of his day. Dr. James Emery White of Mecklenberg Community Church (www.mecklenburg.org) challenged us to engage the culture where we live, learn their "language" in order to be able to meet them where they are.
So I started thinking, how could I be shocking and relevant to (not necessarily corps) the neighborhood around the corps in Asheville, NC. We are currently in a series from the book of Micah (chapter 3) which sounds a lot like "Zombies". Look it up. So I renamed the Sermon "Surving Zombie Attacks" and posted the title on our marquis sign out side. I had some zombie related pictures for the projector, you know nothing too graphic (baby steps). I figured if Jesus was scandelous and offensive to some, why shouldn't we be? Our founder William Booth, if he was anything, was offensive to many, but boy did they flock to see him talk!
So it's Sunday morning and the zombie sermon goes out. The three Points? #1 Zombies in ancient times (the priest and prophets who led the Children of Israel astray). #2 Zombies in Modern Times (any person or system which denies rights and propogates injustice and poverty). #3 Zombies in the Church (Those which come only to consume and to be "fed"-Never bringing, helping or feeding others....Zombies!)
The sremon and teaching was well received and there were some at the altar (praise God). What was truly interesting was that later after the Salvation Meeting a complete stranger came in and joined us in our prayer circle. He wanted to study the Bible with us on Wednesday nights. I told him that we were currently studying Micah. He lit up and said that he had "just" started reading the Bible for the first time and happend to start it in Micah and wanted to know what it all meant....Philip....Ethiopian eunich....(Acts chapter eight)...connect the dots. After church, there was a couple in front of our sign taking a picture of it. I went out and struck up a conversation with them. The lady asked me "Was this really the sermon, or was this something metaphorical?" I assured her that the sermon was literally about zombies and then gave then the two minute version of it. They were satisfied and said their good byes and walked off. So I met three strangers today simply because of a risky sign announcing how to survive a zombie attack.
Lord, forgive me for doubting that you can use anything to continue your work. Give me fresh ideas and help me to engage this culture with acceptance and love. Show me your ways that I may be scandelous to some and offensive to others so that by all means we may win a few. Amen
So I started thinking, how could I be shocking and relevant to (not necessarily corps) the neighborhood around the corps in Asheville, NC. We are currently in a series from the book of Micah (chapter 3) which sounds a lot like "Zombies". Look it up. So I renamed the Sermon "Surving Zombie Attacks" and posted the title on our marquis sign out side. I had some zombie related pictures for the projector, you know nothing too graphic (baby steps). I figured if Jesus was scandelous and offensive to some, why shouldn't we be? Our founder William Booth, if he was anything, was offensive to many, but boy did they flock to see him talk!
So it's Sunday morning and the zombie sermon goes out. The three Points? #1 Zombies in ancient times (the priest and prophets who led the Children of Israel astray). #2 Zombies in Modern Times (any person or system which denies rights and propogates injustice and poverty). #3 Zombies in the Church (Those which come only to consume and to be "fed"-Never bringing, helping or feeding others....Zombies!)
The sremon and teaching was well received and there were some at the altar (praise God). What was truly interesting was that later after the Salvation Meeting a complete stranger came in and joined us in our prayer circle. He wanted to study the Bible with us on Wednesday nights. I told him that we were currently studying Micah. He lit up and said that he had "just" started reading the Bible for the first time and happend to start it in Micah and wanted to know what it all meant....Philip....Ethiopian eunich....(Acts chapter eight)...connect the dots. After church, there was a couple in front of our sign taking a picture of it. I went out and struck up a conversation with them. The lady asked me "Was this really the sermon, or was this something metaphorical?" I assured her that the sermon was literally about zombies and then gave then the two minute version of it. They were satisfied and said their good byes and walked off. So I met three strangers today simply because of a risky sign announcing how to survive a zombie attack.
Lord, forgive me for doubting that you can use anything to continue your work. Give me fresh ideas and help me to engage this culture with acceptance and love. Show me your ways that I may be scandelous to some and offensive to others so that by all means we may win a few. Amen
Monday, February 20, 2012
My First Time...Thoughts on "Faith"
Well I guess it's my turn to start blogging. Being that I am a religious person, I guess most of my posts will have at least a hint of things having to do with faith. I can't think of anything in my life that has nothing to do with my faith. Family, friends, beliefs (religious or otherwise), they are all in some way related to faith....at least for me. As a Christian, I am a bit concerned that my faith has become exactly that. Mine. Although I do believe in a "personal" relationship with God, perhaps my faith has become too personel. Maybe the more personal it becomes, the less I have to share it. Maybe modern Western Christians in our zeal to fit in have become content to relegate faith to something deeply personal. As long as we keep it inside, we don't have to debate it, we don't have to defend it....heck, we dont even really have to believe it as long as we say we have it and leave it at that, it is smooth sailing in our culture. I don't think I can partake in a faith that is worth keeping quiet. What do you think?
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