Mark Chapter 14 verse 3-9
In Mark chapter 14 we have one of the most beautiful stories ever told; a simple and yet profound act of love and devotion. Here we find Mary giving over to Jesus everything she has to give to him, an outward expression of something so deep, precious and internally profound. We see an example of the heart, mind, soul and strength kind of love that is spoken of in Scripture. Mary gives over to Jesus everything; her hopes, her dreams and her future. She gives her greatest earthly treasure. In these moments Mary also gives over her reputation and herself in humble devotion, commitment and worship to Christ – who is her Saviour.
And in the breaking of her alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume, Mary withholds nothing from Him and expects nothing in return. She’s not out for what she can get from this. And not out to get noticed. She is not out to receive recognition and praise.
It is an incredible scene that unfolds here. A scene that prompts several different and immediate reactions.
• What a Waste!
Firstly there are men lounging around on low couches ready to enjoy a meal; Simon the leper, and the disciples of Jesus. John tells us that Lazarus was also there. And it’s likely that Mary and Martha and other women are probably also around. Martha no doubt was beavering away out back and Mary may have been asked to serve at the table.
It was customary for the guest to be anointed with a few small drops of pure nard before eating commenced. This acts falls upon Mary. Except she isn’t happy with just a few small drops of perfume – Jesus deserves it all!
She breaks the jar and pours its entire content over him. It was a most expensive perfume – worth perhaps more than a year’s wages. And Mary believes that she has done a good thing, a special thing. Some of the men however, Judas in particular, does not react favourably to this gesture: ‘what a waste!’ is the phrase on some minds. They are not impressed by such extravagance. She has wasted the whole jar and it could have been sold and put to much better use!
Most of us can relate to this scenario… Dad arrives home following a long day at work- coffee, his slippers, and the evening news is on his mind. As he enters the front door mum comes down the stairs as if floating on air and says: “don’t you just love my new dress? I got it on sale and it’s perfect for the family reunion next month…” Dad, without seeming to even look at the dress, to observe its beauty and to notice just how lovely and radiant his wife looks in it, and to issue a compliment, so seldom heard in this house, stumbles toward the sofa with a gruff; “How much did that cost?” as he fumbles for the TV remote control. Even the family dog, waiting uneasily for a stroke of recognition can read the husband’s mood in those few words; How much did that cost? – and quickly exits the room.
This is the kind of reaction Judas and others had has they reclined at the table - What a waste!
The fact is this - that when we sacrifice something for Jesus, not everyone is going to necessarily see what we do as being a good thing. Some will look at the cost and not the commitment. Some will look at the act and not the reason. Some will find the negatives and not think much about the positives. Some will find our devotion to Jesus and our commitment to the service of God through the church difficult to understand. Some might even attempt to persuade us to commit a little less, to lower the cost of that which we give.
And you know, sometime we find it hard ourselves to give sacrificially. Maybe we find ourselves saying ‘what a waste’ to the things we do. Sometimes we may feel we are not gaining anything in return; we don’t always see results. No return on our investment.
And yet Jesus calls us to give our lives as a sacrifice in humble service: to Him, to our family, our friends, our work colleagues, our church family, in following Him.
Romans 12 verse 1-2 (Message paraphrase) ‘so here’s what I want you to do, God helping you – take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going to work and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering.’ - when you do that, it is never a waste!
Major Sheila Loman
Birkenhead Corps UKT
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Working with Angels
I first wrote this article in April, 2008.
At that time I was the Corps Officer at Exeter Temple. It was a week before Sven and I got engaged and two weeks before he had a massive stroke. As I look back on it now I feel these words still speak and having shared in fellowship, interview, conversation and prayer with some of you in recent weeks I now take it and ask God to use it to minister to you where you are now.
Many, many years ago as a first year Cadet I was sent to Scotland for Annual Appeal Collecting as part of my training. I found myself staying with two Officer families in their homes and working closely with them during that two week period. As I was about to return to the Training College one of the Officers gave me a plaque in memory of our time together. It read:
‘Learn to laugh at your mistakes,
Everyone else does.’
He went on to say that it was one of those important life lessons that he had learned and would encourage me, as a then young person to do the same.
As you can no doubt imagine, since that time there has been many an occasion when I have had to learn to laugh at my mistakes … and not all of them a lifetime ago!
One such occasion was when a number of what seemed like huge changes were happening to me. I so wanted to be the very best I could be for the next phase of my life, and so I did everything I could to try and prepare myself physically, mentally and spiritually.
For sometime now one of my favourite writers has been Eugene Peterson, writer of the Message paraphrase Bible. I love that Bible because for me it helps make Scripture more intimate, personal, relational. However, I had also come across a few books that Eugene Peterson had written and thought I could gain much insight from his life and ministry.
One book that particularly drew my attention was: ‘Working with Angels’. At that time I thought it was a wonderful, positive title that could perhaps help me to look at people in a whole new light. Maybe even more so in the way Christ would want me to look at people. And so I ordered the book and eagerly awaited its arrival.
Much to my amusement when I opened the package and saw the title, I read: ‘Working the Angles’ … it was absolutely nothing to do with angels … the very precious, beautiful people that God has given to us … in whatever shape or form He has given them to us, as I had assumed. ‘Working the Angles’ put a whole new perspective on what I was expecting and yet as I thought about it, I recognised that the reality of life and ministry, however that is worked out, is much more about ‘working the angles’ than working with angels.
Someone once said: ‘One of the kindest things God has given to us, is that of not knowing the future.’ I think I am inclined to agree. I guess most of us would never believe that we would get through what we have got through in our lives, had we known the issues we were going to have to face before we faced them. I mean some of those painful, difficult times that maybe now in hindsight we know we only got through, or are getting through because of the grace of God with us.
Some of the ‘angles’ in our lives are things that I imagine we would never have dreamed we would ever have had to face or work through. Angles, that maybe at the time have been devastating, destructive, demoralising to name but a few emotions. And yet at the very same time, angles that have helped shape and formed us into the very people we are today.
As I think of some of those ‘angles’ in my own life I am encouraged, enabled and enthused by the words of Scripture in Isaiah 43. The Message Paraphrase reads:
‘When you’re in over your head,
I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters,
you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
It won’t be a dead end.’
Scripture doesn’t say to us: ‘If’ you go through hard times … ‘If’ you have to work with the angles … but it says: ‘when’ and God constantly goes on to say: ‘I will be with you’.
‘Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Saviour.
I paid a huge price for you …
That’s how much you mean to Me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.’
The experience of the years has shown me … proved to me that when I have needed God most He has come … and when He hasn’t He has sent someone … maybe an ‘angel’ to help me with the ‘angles’.
... Gosh, three and a half years later I can sincerely testify to the truth of those words, that Scripture and thank God for the numerous times I was able to kneel in those early days of Sven's stroke in fear, trepidation, in prayer and this mercy seat and found Jesus waiting to meet me there to help me 'work the angles'.
Glad
Glad Ljungholm
Major
Divisional Candidates Officer
North Western Division
UKT
At that time I was the Corps Officer at Exeter Temple. It was a week before Sven and I got engaged and two weeks before he had a massive stroke. As I look back on it now I feel these words still speak and having shared in fellowship, interview, conversation and prayer with some of you in recent weeks I now take it and ask God to use it to minister to you where you are now.
Many, many years ago as a first year Cadet I was sent to Scotland for Annual Appeal Collecting as part of my training. I found myself staying with two Officer families in their homes and working closely with them during that two week period. As I was about to return to the Training College one of the Officers gave me a plaque in memory of our time together. It read:
‘Learn to laugh at your mistakes,
Everyone else does.’
He went on to say that it was one of those important life lessons that he had learned and would encourage me, as a then young person to do the same.
As you can no doubt imagine, since that time there has been many an occasion when I have had to learn to laugh at my mistakes … and not all of them a lifetime ago!
One such occasion was when a number of what seemed like huge changes were happening to me. I so wanted to be the very best I could be for the next phase of my life, and so I did everything I could to try and prepare myself physically, mentally and spiritually.
For sometime now one of my favourite writers has been Eugene Peterson, writer of the Message paraphrase Bible. I love that Bible because for me it helps make Scripture more intimate, personal, relational. However, I had also come across a few books that Eugene Peterson had written and thought I could gain much insight from his life and ministry.
One book that particularly drew my attention was: ‘Working with Angels’. At that time I thought it was a wonderful, positive title that could perhaps help me to look at people in a whole new light. Maybe even more so in the way Christ would want me to look at people. And so I ordered the book and eagerly awaited its arrival.
Much to my amusement when I opened the package and saw the title, I read: ‘Working the Angles’ … it was absolutely nothing to do with angels … the very precious, beautiful people that God has given to us … in whatever shape or form He has given them to us, as I had assumed. ‘Working the Angles’ put a whole new perspective on what I was expecting and yet as I thought about it, I recognised that the reality of life and ministry, however that is worked out, is much more about ‘working the angles’ than working with angels.
Someone once said: ‘One of the kindest things God has given to us, is that of not knowing the future.’ I think I am inclined to agree. I guess most of us would never believe that we would get through what we have got through in our lives, had we known the issues we were going to have to face before we faced them. I mean some of those painful, difficult times that maybe now in hindsight we know we only got through, or are getting through because of the grace of God with us.
Some of the ‘angles’ in our lives are things that I imagine we would never have dreamed we would ever have had to face or work through. Angles, that maybe at the time have been devastating, destructive, demoralising to name but a few emotions. And yet at the very same time, angles that have helped shape and formed us into the very people we are today.
As I think of some of those ‘angles’ in my own life I am encouraged, enabled and enthused by the words of Scripture in Isaiah 43. The Message Paraphrase reads:
‘When you’re in over your head,
I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters,
you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
It won’t be a dead end.’
Scripture doesn’t say to us: ‘If’ you go through hard times … ‘If’ you have to work with the angles … but it says: ‘when’ and God constantly goes on to say: ‘I will be with you’.
‘Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Saviour.
I paid a huge price for you …
That’s how much you mean to Me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.’
The experience of the years has shown me … proved to me that when I have needed God most He has come … and when He hasn’t He has sent someone … maybe an ‘angel’ to help me with the ‘angles’.
... Gosh, three and a half years later I can sincerely testify to the truth of those words, that Scripture and thank God for the numerous times I was able to kneel in those early days of Sven's stroke in fear, trepidation, in prayer and this mercy seat and found Jesus waiting to meet me there to help me 'work the angles'.
Glad
Glad Ljungholm
Major
Divisional Candidates Officer
North Western Division
UKT
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Photographic Competition Highlights Global Variety
October 2011
THE results of the All the World Photographic Competition 2011 have been revealed. The winning entry has an appropriately international twist, being a photo of The Salvation Army in Pakistan taken by an American who currently lives in Korea!
Kevin Sims, Editor of All the World, reports in the October–December issue of the magazine: 'The number and standard of entries was beyond anything we had hoped for. When the competition closed on 18 August we had received an astonishing 370 images from all over the world.
'We were sent photos of brass bands, songbooks and laughing officers; thrift stores, worship meetings and guitar-strumming musicians; marches, open-air meetings and a bus in the mist; waving flags, shaking tambourines and a dog wearing a bonnet!'
He adds: 'The remarkable thing with this huge variety is that each photo really does represent The Salvation Army in some form or another.'
A panel of judges, including Kevin, Berni Georges (Designer of All the World) and Lieut-Colonel Laurie Robertson (Editor-in-Chief and Communications Secretary, International Headquarters) had the tough job of working through the large number of images to choose the photos that fulfilled the brief – the theme for the competition was 'This is The Salvation Army' – while being engaging, interesting and avoiding cliché.
SEE PHOTOS (CLIK HERE)
In first place was a picture of a Salvation Army gathering in Pakistan, taken by Keri Shay, originally from USA Central. Kevin says: 'We loved the dynamism in the picture, along with the aspect of the unexpected. Take the Army flag away and it could appear to be something completely different.'
The judges liked the sheer joy of the second-place photo – ‘Salvo Leaves’ by Matt Ryan, now in training to be a Salvation Army officer in Australia. His entry shows his brother outside a thrift store in the USA. Matt says: 'To me this photo embodies the hope the Army brings to those who have none ... and that's The Salvation Army I know.'
In joint third were three photos that the judges were unable to separate. Robert Cox, from the USA, sent a great story-telling photo of assistance given to emergency workers in Austin, Texas. A black-and-white photograph by Luke Tearle, from New Zealand, shows a mother and child looking very at home in a Salvation Army hall. Also third is a great action shot from Matumaini School of Hope in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, taken by Morag Cordiner, from the UK.
The five top photos, together with a selection of the many other superb entries, are featured in the October–December issue of All the World and featured above.
They will also form an exhibition in Gallery 101 at International Headquarters in London in November, where Salvationists and members of the public alike will have the opportunity to see The Salvation Army through the eyes of some talented and inspired photographers.
The October–December issue of 'All the World' is out now. Copies can be ordered through Salvation Army trade/supplies departments or from the main distributor: Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd, 66-78 Denington Road, Denington Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northants NN8 2QH, United Kingdom. Email keith.jennings@sp-s.co.uk for more details.
From this week, 'All the World' subscriptions can be ordered online from www.sps-shop.com. Go to http://sar.my/atwsubu (UK subscribers) or http://sar.my/atwsubo (rest of the world).
THE results of the All the World Photographic Competition 2011 have been revealed. The winning entry has an appropriately international twist, being a photo of The Salvation Army in Pakistan taken by an American who currently lives in Korea!
Kevin Sims, Editor of All the World, reports in the October–December issue of the magazine: 'The number and standard of entries was beyond anything we had hoped for. When the competition closed on 18 August we had received an astonishing 370 images from all over the world.
'We were sent photos of brass bands, songbooks and laughing officers; thrift stores, worship meetings and guitar-strumming musicians; marches, open-air meetings and a bus in the mist; waving flags, shaking tambourines and a dog wearing a bonnet!'
He adds: 'The remarkable thing with this huge variety is that each photo really does represent The Salvation Army in some form or another.'
A panel of judges, including Kevin, Berni Georges (Designer of All the World) and Lieut-Colonel Laurie Robertson (Editor-in-Chief and Communications Secretary, International Headquarters) had the tough job of working through the large number of images to choose the photos that fulfilled the brief – the theme for the competition was 'This is The Salvation Army' – while being engaging, interesting and avoiding cliché.
SEE PHOTOS (CLIK HERE)
In first place was a picture of a Salvation Army gathering in Pakistan, taken by Keri Shay, originally from USA Central. Kevin says: 'We loved the dynamism in the picture, along with the aspect of the unexpected. Take the Army flag away and it could appear to be something completely different.'
The judges liked the sheer joy of the second-place photo – ‘Salvo Leaves’ by Matt Ryan, now in training to be a Salvation Army officer in Australia. His entry shows his brother outside a thrift store in the USA. Matt says: 'To me this photo embodies the hope the Army brings to those who have none ... and that's The Salvation Army I know.'
In joint third were three photos that the judges were unable to separate. Robert Cox, from the USA, sent a great story-telling photo of assistance given to emergency workers in Austin, Texas. A black-and-white photograph by Luke Tearle, from New Zealand, shows a mother and child looking very at home in a Salvation Army hall. Also third is a great action shot from Matumaini School of Hope in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, taken by Morag Cordiner, from the UK.
The five top photos, together with a selection of the many other superb entries, are featured in the October–December issue of All the World and featured above.
They will also form an exhibition in Gallery 101 at International Headquarters in London in November, where Salvationists and members of the public alike will have the opportunity to see The Salvation Army through the eyes of some talented and inspired photographers.
The October–December issue of 'All the World' is out now. Copies can be ordered through Salvation Army trade/supplies departments or from the main distributor: Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd, 66-78 Denington Road, Denington Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northants NN8 2QH, United Kingdom. Email keith.jennings@sp-s.co.uk for more details.
From this week, 'All the World' subscriptions can be ordered online from www.sps-shop.com. Go to http://sar.my/atwsubu (UK subscribers) or http://sar.my/atwsubo (rest of the world).
Monday, October 24, 2011
DON’T UNDERSTAND? TRUST GOD!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
You may be facing a dead end right now—financial, emotional, relational—but if you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don’t see a way, he will make a way.
It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter till the full light of day.” (NIV)
One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for you.
In the meantime, do what Proverbs 3 tells us to do: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Be patient. God knows what He’s doing. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result. You can’t. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays -- all the things that make you ask “why” -- one day it will all be clear in the light of God’s love.
But for now, we’re learning to trust God.
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times Best Seller The Purpose Driven Life. His book, The Purpose Driven Church, was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors. © Copyright 2011
Rick Warren.
“Explore” – Exploring leadership Day Part Two
Esther’s story brings us a strong reminder that nothing is impossible with God … There’s no force too strong .. no position too sure … to prevent His will from prevailing. Indeed God, a miracle worker, delights in weaving His miracles into the everyday happenings of life. Esther reminds us that we can never be sure when God will move to turn a situation around through some sort of baffling and curious coincidence, or Godincidence as many call them. I wonder, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SUSPECTED GOD MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH A FORTUNATE ‘COINCIDENCE’ … GOD INCIDENCE’ IN YOUR LIFE?
God finishes Esther’s story in a royal fashion. The King grants all of her requests, taking Mordecai into the palace and sparing the Jews from destruction. To cap off the story, many Gentiles become Jews, turning to God who has awed them and evoked their respect. Not only does God save His own people … He turns other to Himself and makes a way for them to enter into relationship with Him. He cares not only about justice but about mercy towards those who need to know Him. God expresses His deep love for people who, though imperfect, show courage in carrying out His plan. In their faithfulness they find His unending forgiveness and care.
I wonder WHAT WAS IT ABOUT GOD THAT FIRST CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION?
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME? People tell stories about getting jobs … meeting spouses … winning prizes … and finding bargains … all because they were in the right place at the right time. Often these seemingly accidental strokes of good luck are explained with the words: ‘It was meant to be’. If the job offer was given … ‘It was meant to be’ … If the relationship works out … ‘It was meant to be’ … But on the other hand … If the job falls through … or the relationship breaksdown … ‘it wasn’t meant to be’.
What lies behind these words? Are we speaking in a round about way of God’s hand on our lives? Or are we attributing our success and failures to the more general and impersonal hand of fate?
Esther had several such fortunate experiences. She was selected as a contestant to become Queen … then won the King’s favour and became royalty. ESTHER 2: 1-4 & 17&18
She was in the palace at the time a plot to kill the Jews developed …ESTHER 2: 19-23 She waited for a second banquet to present her request to the King, unknowingly giving him time to read about Mordecai’s act of saving life. ESTHER CHAPTERS 5&6
Continually Esther found herself in the right place at the right time to save her people. Her circumstances were more than ‘meant to be’. They were brought about by a Sovereign God who had a plan for Esther’s life and the life of His people.
We serve the same God as did the Jews of Esther’s day. God tells us: ‘I the Lord do not change’. (Malachi 3: 6) His ways of moving in our lives may looks somewhat different from His ways of moving in the Old Testament … but … God has not changed … nor have His purposes. Just as He had a plan for His people then … He has a plan for those who belong to Him now. We can trust that whenever we find ourselves in the right place at the right time, God’s hand is present.
‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’ (James 1: 17) We can thank God for every stroke of good fortune … every providential gift. Sometimes they are simple blessings … Other times they are his strategic ways of fulfilling the bigger purposes He has for us.
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED ABOUT THE PLACES TO WHICH GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU IN LIFE?
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FAILURES OR MISSED OPPORTUNITIES?
Ask God to help you better see your life through His eyes … and place yourself in His care … trusting that His good purpose for you will be achieved. ‘For such a time as this.’
God finishes Esther’s story in a royal fashion. The King grants all of her requests, taking Mordecai into the palace and sparing the Jews from destruction. To cap off the story, many Gentiles become Jews, turning to God who has awed them and evoked their respect. Not only does God save His own people … He turns other to Himself and makes a way for them to enter into relationship with Him. He cares not only about justice but about mercy towards those who need to know Him. God expresses His deep love for people who, though imperfect, show courage in carrying out His plan. In their faithfulness they find His unending forgiveness and care.
I wonder WHAT WAS IT ABOUT GOD THAT FIRST CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION?
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME? People tell stories about getting jobs … meeting spouses … winning prizes … and finding bargains … all because they were in the right place at the right time. Often these seemingly accidental strokes of good luck are explained with the words: ‘It was meant to be’. If the job offer was given … ‘It was meant to be’ … If the relationship works out … ‘It was meant to be’ … But on the other hand … If the job falls through … or the relationship breaksdown … ‘it wasn’t meant to be’.
What lies behind these words? Are we speaking in a round about way of God’s hand on our lives? Or are we attributing our success and failures to the more general and impersonal hand of fate?
Esther had several such fortunate experiences. She was selected as a contestant to become Queen … then won the King’s favour and became royalty. ESTHER 2: 1-4 & 17&18
She was in the palace at the time a plot to kill the Jews developed …ESTHER 2: 19-23 She waited for a second banquet to present her request to the King, unknowingly giving him time to read about Mordecai’s act of saving life. ESTHER CHAPTERS 5&6
Continually Esther found herself in the right place at the right time to save her people. Her circumstances were more than ‘meant to be’. They were brought about by a Sovereign God who had a plan for Esther’s life and the life of His people.
We serve the same God as did the Jews of Esther’s day. God tells us: ‘I the Lord do not change’. (Malachi 3: 6) His ways of moving in our lives may looks somewhat different from His ways of moving in the Old Testament … but … God has not changed … nor have His purposes. Just as He had a plan for His people then … He has a plan for those who belong to Him now. We can trust that whenever we find ourselves in the right place at the right time, God’s hand is present.
‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’ (James 1: 17) We can thank God for every stroke of good fortune … every providential gift. Sometimes they are simple blessings … Other times they are his strategic ways of fulfilling the bigger purposes He has for us.
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED ABOUT THE PLACES TO WHICH GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU IN LIFE?
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FAILURES OR MISSED OPPORTUNITIES?
Ask God to help you better see your life through His eyes … and place yourself in His care … trusting that His good purpose for you will be achieved. ‘For such a time as this.’
Saturday, October 22, 2011
“Explore” – Exploring leadership Day Part One
At: Prescot
On: Saturday 22 October, 2011
Theme: ‘For such a time as this …’
Bible Reading: Esther 4: 12-17
INTRODUCTION:
Are you ready for some surprises?
What we find in the book of Esther is probably not what we would expect from Biblical history. It is more like a soap opera.
It is the story of:
• strong, ambitious men …
• beautiful intelligent women …
• groups vying for power and control
• threats of death …
• enormous risks taken …
• genocide …
• ethnic cleansing …
• self sacrifice …
• evil forces
• good triumphing in the end.
It could be Jack Higgins latest thriller or a Danielle Steel romance spiced up just a bit. There are characters that reflect greed … power … prejudice and arrogance; those who manipulate and oppress others in order to help inflate their own egos. But there are others who are people of integrity and dignity … who have courage and are honest … who take risks for what matters … who are self-sacrificing and modest.
We don’t expect this of a book in the Bible, but what is probably more surprising is that in the whole book of Esther God isn’t mentioned, not even once. By today’s standards there is absolutely no political correctness. It is a story of women who are groomed for a year to be good enough to be hostess and entertain and please the King for just one night… of a Queen selected for her beauty … of women having no say in their destiny, used as accessories for their masters … not allowed to question their husbands or appear disrespectful.
It is the story of the young and innocent Esther … the evil Haman … and the astonishing Mordecai. It is written in an age that is so different from our own that it is not immediately apparent how it can have anything to say to us today. And yet the characters and events have been repeated numerous times throughout history and the lessons are as relevant today as they were 2,500 years ago when they were first recorded.
So whether we are male or female … ugly or beautiful … powerful … weak … rich or poor this book points us to a way of living that is radical … dangerous … controversial and yet also noble … holy and admirable. God uses the book of Esther to remind His people that He can use them whatever their situation. His grace shines through, illuminating once more His great love for His people.
Esther’s story is a thrilling chapter in the story of God’s love for the Jews.
While no other group has been so persecuted, no other group has shown the Jews’ ability to overcome adversity. How? Esther reveals God’s exquisite timing … combined with the courage of individuals who ‘happen’ to be in the right place at the right time. Possibly the most memorable and challenging quote from the book of Esther is found in Esther 4: 14 ‘And who knows but that you have come to a royal position …‘For such a time as this’ … being in the right place at the right time .. and willing and able to respond in the right way. Someone has called coincidences ‘God’s way of working anonymously’.
I wonder: DO WE TEND TO GIVE GOD THE CREDIT FOR THE COINCIDENCES IN OUR LIVES?
Major Glad Ljungholm
Divisional Candidates Officer
Liverpool, UKT
On: Saturday 22 October, 2011
Theme: ‘For such a time as this …’
Bible Reading: Esther 4: 12-17
INTRODUCTION:
Are you ready for some surprises?
What we find in the book of Esther is probably not what we would expect from Biblical history. It is more like a soap opera.
It is the story of:
• strong, ambitious men …
• beautiful intelligent women …
• groups vying for power and control
• threats of death …
• enormous risks taken …
• genocide …
• ethnic cleansing …
• self sacrifice …
• evil forces
• good triumphing in the end.
It could be Jack Higgins latest thriller or a Danielle Steel romance spiced up just a bit. There are characters that reflect greed … power … prejudice and arrogance; those who manipulate and oppress others in order to help inflate their own egos. But there are others who are people of integrity and dignity … who have courage and are honest … who take risks for what matters … who are self-sacrificing and modest.
We don’t expect this of a book in the Bible, but what is probably more surprising is that in the whole book of Esther God isn’t mentioned, not even once. By today’s standards there is absolutely no political correctness. It is a story of women who are groomed for a year to be good enough to be hostess and entertain and please the King for just one night… of a Queen selected for her beauty … of women having no say in their destiny, used as accessories for their masters … not allowed to question their husbands or appear disrespectful.
It is the story of the young and innocent Esther … the evil Haman … and the astonishing Mordecai. It is written in an age that is so different from our own that it is not immediately apparent how it can have anything to say to us today. And yet the characters and events have been repeated numerous times throughout history and the lessons are as relevant today as they were 2,500 years ago when they were first recorded.
So whether we are male or female … ugly or beautiful … powerful … weak … rich or poor this book points us to a way of living that is radical … dangerous … controversial and yet also noble … holy and admirable. God uses the book of Esther to remind His people that He can use them whatever their situation. His grace shines through, illuminating once more His great love for His people.
Esther’s story is a thrilling chapter in the story of God’s love for the Jews.
While no other group has been so persecuted, no other group has shown the Jews’ ability to overcome adversity. How? Esther reveals God’s exquisite timing … combined with the courage of individuals who ‘happen’ to be in the right place at the right time. Possibly the most memorable and challenging quote from the book of Esther is found in Esther 4: 14 ‘And who knows but that you have come to a royal position …‘For such a time as this’ … being in the right place at the right time .. and willing and able to respond in the right way. Someone has called coincidences ‘God’s way of working anonymously’.
I wonder: DO WE TEND TO GIVE GOD THE CREDIT FOR THE COINCIDENCES IN OUR LIVES?
Major Glad Ljungholm
Divisional Candidates Officer
Liverpool, UKT
God Will Make a Way
What are we waiting for?
There’s an idea floating around Christian women’s circles. I’m hearing it more frequently. I’ve heard it from missionary colleagues and women at church. I’ve read it in books and seen it posted in comments on blogs. It goes something like this: If God has gifted and called a woman to lead, teach, pastor, or preach then he will make a way for her to fulfill that calling.
We talk about God making a way in terms of “open doors,” as in, “God will open a door for you to preach,” and in terms of time, as in, “At the right time, God will give you the place to use your gifts.” While these sentiments are true on one level—God is absolutely powerful and capable of opening doors and placing his daughters where he wants them—on another level, they trouble me deeply. I believe they represent two faulty ways of thinking that affect many Christians—men and women—today.
The first problem with this kind of thinking: it makes what is really an issue with the system into an issue related to the individual. A woman who is called and gifted to preach or lead ,but who finds herself unable to put these gifts to use, is very likely in a situation that prevents women from preaching or leading based on principle. It could be the tradition or theology of the denomination, local church, seminary, or organization that tells her women can’t do that.
The obstacle arises because of a structure that opposes women using certain gifts in certain ways, not because of the woman herself. Yet when we repeat the “God will make a way” response, we’re reinforcing the notion that the issue is about the individual woman. The unspoken second half of the statement is this: “If God hasn’t opened that door yet, it’s because you aren’t ready or perhaps are mistaken in what you think is your call.” So she waits, and years may go by without her ever using her gifts. Meanwhile, the system that prevents women from using all their God-given gifts to build up of the Kingdom of Christ goes unquestioned.
The second troubling aspect with this line of thought: it leads to a type of Christian fatalism and takes away our responsibility to act. If God will open a door at the right time, then all we have to do, indeed all we can do, is pray and wait. Those are certainly valuable acts for believers, but are they all God expects of us? When I read the Bible and Christian history, I see a long line of believers wrestling and struggling to right injustice. I see beautiful examples of women throwing themselves into the spiritual battle for Christ’s kingdom on earth. When systemic issues regarding women changed in the past, it was usually because women and men decided to act.
For example, in the late 18th century, as the modern missionary movement got underway, sending boards refused to send single women to the mission field. Married women on the field were begging for single women to help in the work, and single women in North America were begging to go, yet the boards refused to send them. So, women from many different denominations banded together to create their own sending agencies. By 1900, more than 40 women’s sending agencies were established and the missionary work force had risen to 60 percent women, according to Dana Robert in American Women in Mission (Mercer University Press, 1997). During the first half of the 20th century all those women’s groups were gradually merged back into the main groups, and now none of those groups exists. Yet the missionary force continues to be composed of about two-thirds women, and hardly anyone today would refuse to send a single woman to serve God overseas. The change happened because the women worked together to fix a faulty system.
So what happens when we continue to tell ourselves and each other that it’s up to God to open a door for us? Can that become an excuse for passivity and disobedience to God’s call on our lives? While God absolutely can and sometimes does miraculously change things for us, can we also consider that perhaps we need to work together to change the system? Or do we need to seek a different ministry setting where women are not prevented from using their gifts?
by Leanne Dzubinski
Leanne Dzubinski has served as an evangelist and church planter in Europe, training missionaries in Bible, leadership, and ministry skills. In 2007, she received her DMin from Gordon-Conwell. As the mother of two teenage daughters, she is passionately interested in how the church and Christian organizations treat women in general and particularly women in ministry.
There’s an idea floating around Christian women’s circles. I’m hearing it more frequently. I’ve heard it from missionary colleagues and women at church. I’ve read it in books and seen it posted in comments on blogs. It goes something like this: If God has gifted and called a woman to lead, teach, pastor, or preach then he will make a way for her to fulfill that calling.
We talk about God making a way in terms of “open doors,” as in, “God will open a door for you to preach,” and in terms of time, as in, “At the right time, God will give you the place to use your gifts.” While these sentiments are true on one level—God is absolutely powerful and capable of opening doors and placing his daughters where he wants them—on another level, they trouble me deeply. I believe they represent two faulty ways of thinking that affect many Christians—men and women—today.
The first problem with this kind of thinking: it makes what is really an issue with the system into an issue related to the individual. A woman who is called and gifted to preach or lead ,but who finds herself unable to put these gifts to use, is very likely in a situation that prevents women from preaching or leading based on principle. It could be the tradition or theology of the denomination, local church, seminary, or organization that tells her women can’t do that.
The obstacle arises because of a structure that opposes women using certain gifts in certain ways, not because of the woman herself. Yet when we repeat the “God will make a way” response, we’re reinforcing the notion that the issue is about the individual woman. The unspoken second half of the statement is this: “If God hasn’t opened that door yet, it’s because you aren’t ready or perhaps are mistaken in what you think is your call.” So she waits, and years may go by without her ever using her gifts. Meanwhile, the system that prevents women from using all their God-given gifts to build up of the Kingdom of Christ goes unquestioned.
The second troubling aspect with this line of thought: it leads to a type of Christian fatalism and takes away our responsibility to act. If God will open a door at the right time, then all we have to do, indeed all we can do, is pray and wait. Those are certainly valuable acts for believers, but are they all God expects of us? When I read the Bible and Christian history, I see a long line of believers wrestling and struggling to right injustice. I see beautiful examples of women throwing themselves into the spiritual battle for Christ’s kingdom on earth. When systemic issues regarding women changed in the past, it was usually because women and men decided to act.
For example, in the late 18th century, as the modern missionary movement got underway, sending boards refused to send single women to the mission field. Married women on the field were begging for single women to help in the work, and single women in North America were begging to go, yet the boards refused to send them. So, women from many different denominations banded together to create their own sending agencies. By 1900, more than 40 women’s sending agencies were established and the missionary work force had risen to 60 percent women, according to Dana Robert in American Women in Mission (Mercer University Press, 1997). During the first half of the 20th century all those women’s groups were gradually merged back into the main groups, and now none of those groups exists. Yet the missionary force continues to be composed of about two-thirds women, and hardly anyone today would refuse to send a single woman to serve God overseas. The change happened because the women worked together to fix a faulty system.
So what happens when we continue to tell ourselves and each other that it’s up to God to open a door for us? Can that become an excuse for passivity and disobedience to God’s call on our lives? While God absolutely can and sometimes does miraculously change things for us, can we also consider that perhaps we need to work together to change the system? Or do we need to seek a different ministry setting where women are not prevented from using their gifts?
by Leanne Dzubinski
Leanne Dzubinski has served as an evangelist and church planter in Europe, training missionaries in Bible, leadership, and ministry skills. In 2007, she received her DMin from Gordon-Conwell. As the mother of two teenage daughters, she is passionately interested in how the church and Christian organizations treat women in general and particularly women in ministry.
Friday, October 21, 2011
An electrician and Scout leaders will soon be a Salvation Army officer couple Sweden Part 4
It was love that brought Per Lundell, now 44 years old, to Skövde more than twenty years ago. Stockholm native Per met his future wife Lotta at a scout camp and did military service in the regiment in her home town to be near her. He remained in Skövde and both spouses were active soldiers in the corps.
Now they have four children and wife Lotta's is a officer with responsibility for social projects in Skövde Corps. Per has worked as an electrician while being a active Scout leader.
“It was during a youth conference in 2010 where I was the leader, where I received my ‘call’ from God to apply to train to be a Salvation Army officer”, says Per. During training, he will do his field placement training in Jönköping.
Both Peter and Lotta are prepared to move if they receive ‘marching orders’.
“Moving can even feel like relief”, says Per, adding that he would “become the Pastor and assume responsibility with God's help to provide a corps with a revival spirit, one that might be needed”.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Maria ran a country convenience store on Mörkö (Island) SWEDEN Part Three
The only woman in this year's cadet ring is Maria Sandberg, born in 1964 and raised in Sköndal outside Stockholm. Mary is the mother of two grown sons who live and work in Stockholm.
“I have worked extensively with children and adolescents”, says Maria, who experienced her encounter with God when she was a student at TSA Dalaro Folkhögskola, (College) in 1994. Following her time at the college she worked as a youth instructor in the Salvation Army and also began her officer school training, which at that time was located on Skeppargatan in Östermalm, a stone's throw from the Salvation Army headquarters.
The period of time was not easy for Maria and she dropped out after just one semester, and instead began studies at a teacher training college where she remained for three years while she ran a country store with organic focus on the island of Mörkö along with her sister.
“I went into the wall”, says Mary, “but after sick leave and work in a kindergarten, I ran the café in the Vasa Corps in Stockholm.
The next step was to take charge of the matron job at the Salvation Army Temple Corps in Stockholm, where Mary, together with others developed a popular caf’e which serves lunch several days a week.
The call to become an officer returned during her time at the Temple corps, which is now where Mary does her field training. When I asked Maria what her burning desire is fulfilling the call to be an officer, she says that she lives in the Stockholm suburb Rågsved. “There is a spiritual darkness”, says Maria, “And I would love to tell the young and the elderly living in the area of the advantage of being a disciple of Jesus. But if I get orders to go to Kiruna” (in Sweden’s northern most tundra), I’ll pack my bags” , says Mary.
“I have worked extensively with children and adolescents”, says Maria, who experienced her encounter with God when she was a student at TSA Dalaro Folkhögskola, (College) in 1994. Following her time at the college she worked as a youth instructor in the Salvation Army and also began her officer school training, which at that time was located on Skeppargatan in Östermalm, a stone's throw from the Salvation Army headquarters.
The period of time was not easy for Maria and she dropped out after just one semester, and instead began studies at a teacher training college where she remained for three years while she ran a country store with organic focus on the island of Mörkö along with her sister.
“I went into the wall”, says Mary, “but after sick leave and work in a kindergarten, I ran the café in the Vasa Corps in Stockholm.
The next step was to take charge of the matron job at the Salvation Army Temple Corps in Stockholm, where Mary, together with others developed a popular caf’e which serves lunch several days a week.
The call to become an officer returned during her time at the Temple corps, which is now where Mary does her field training. When I asked Maria what her burning desire is fulfilling the call to be an officer, she says that she lives in the Stockholm suburb Rågsved. “There is a spiritual darkness”, says Maria, “And I would love to tell the young and the elderly living in the area of the advantage of being a disciple of Jesus. But if I get orders to go to Kiruna” (in Sweden’s northern most tundra), I’ll pack my bags” , says Mary.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
A concert pianist with a Pastor's vocation SWEDEN Part Two
Nicolaj Vollburg who recently turned 42, has a solid classical music education from the Malmö Academy of Music behind him. He studied at the Academy for five years and was a fellow student with Daniel Viklund, and they are once again classmates.
“Directly following graduation from college, I began freelancing as a concert pianist and conductor”, says Nicolai, and says that “there were many trips within Sweden and beyond. - You have to build a network if you are a freelancer”, says Nicolai, who adds that he is Sweden Director of Crescendo, a network of classically trained Christian musicians.
“Actually, I have lived with a pastor's vocation for many years, a vocation which I suppressed, but now, God spoke in 2008 directly to me and my family. The message was clear that we would move to the Mälardalen region of Sweden. There, I thought about continuing my music career, but God spoke again to us, and I realized that it was in the Salvation Army, that I would serve and that my calling was specifically, to proclaim salvation as an officer.
Nicolai and his wife Helen became soldiers in Västerås Corps and “the decision to enter the officer school felt just right”, says Nicolai. He is passionate about preaching the word and is no stranger to working as an evangelist in the Salvation Army; to travel combining music and preaching, but he adds that, “God will put him where he is most needed.”
(FA Sweden Wbsite: translation Sven Ljungholm)
“Directly following graduation from college, I began freelancing as a concert pianist and conductor”, says Nicolai, and says that “there were many trips within Sweden and beyond. - You have to build a network if you are a freelancer”, says Nicolai, who adds that he is Sweden Director of Crescendo, a network of classically trained Christian musicians.
“Actually, I have lived with a pastor's vocation for many years, a vocation which I suppressed, but now, God spoke in 2008 directly to me and my family. The message was clear that we would move to the Mälardalen region of Sweden. There, I thought about continuing my music career, but God spoke again to us, and I realized that it was in the Salvation Army, that I would serve and that my calling was specifically, to proclaim salvation as an officer.
Nicolai and his wife Helen became soldiers in Västerås Corps and “the decision to enter the officer school felt just right”, says Nicolai. He is passionate about preaching the word and is no stranger to working as an evangelist in the Salvation Army; to travel combining music and preaching, but he adds that, “God will put him where he is most needed.”
(FA Sweden Wbsite: translation Sven Ljungholm)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Salvation Army's School for Officers - SWEDEN
Part One
This year, four men and one woman who affirmed the call to be full time Servants of God in the Salvation Army have chosen to leave their previous professions to study at the officers' school to become Salvation Army officers. Waiting for the five new cadets are two years of intensive study at the School for Officer Training, which include distance learning at home, regular ‘on-campus seminars’ and field training at a corps or department.
“For me, humor is a language to reach people”
Marcus Andersson, 36, was one of the young people who planted a new SA corps in Vårby, a suburb south of Stockholm, 1994-1995.“Yes, we were five pioneers”, Marcus says, and shares that one of the four was a SA officer, and who is the Training school's current headmaster, Mattias Nordenberg. The other were Veronica Wahlstrom and Johan Grahn both currently officers and serve in the officers' school, and Anna Byberg.
Marcus is married to Rosmarie, working as a instructor/ leader of a Swedish Lutheran Church congregation and they have two boys who are 5 and 1 year. The family lives in Malmo, in the southern part of Sweden with Copenhagen, Denmark as their nearest large city neighbour just 35 minutes across the waters on one of Europe’s longest spanning bridges. Following his employment at Telia (Swedish Telephone Company) Marcus worked as a successful stand-up comedian and has studied theology in Malmö / Copenhagen and the nearby university town of Lund.
“There are too few humorists who engage in theology and also too few theologians who engage in humor”, says Macus with a laugh.
“For me, humor is a language to reach people, and when I complete my training to be a SA officer, I can return to the pub, an environment in which salvation officers were often active during the pioneering days, a tradition that I now want to continue”.
Words spoken and sung are my passion
Daniel Viklund, a renowned singer who last Christmas released his latest CD, was born in 1969 in Vansbro (in Sweden’s fabled Dalarna Province), where the Salvation Army at one time had one of their strongholds.
The SA’s ministry and mission are not new to Daniel, “I actually have links to the Salvation Army in the past”, says Daniel, adding that; my father's cousin Sven-Erik Power, was a SA officer and evangelist”.
Daniel recalls growing up in the Vanbro corps and even as a teenager wanted be a officer and belonged to the group; SAY (SA Youth) which spoke of ministry calling issues. Almost thirty years later Daniel affirms the calling of the officers' commission and becomes a cadet in the Salvation Army.
His musical education brought Daniel to southern Sweden, to the Malmö Academy of Music and the Opera School in Copenhagen. While studying inMalmo Daniel served as Bandmaster of the Malmo SA Corps. After a year as a musician Daniel knew that God called him, and which led him to serve for nine years as Pastor of a free church near his home in western Dalarna.
He had previously been a salvation soldier, but parted from TSA in 1994, sensing that God called him to work within the free churchs’ movement. However, since 2009 he again wears a SA soldier's uniform, and now with a cadet’s distinctive trim.
“When I realized that God wanted me to become part of the Salvation Army again, he opened new doors”, says Daniel, who lives in Västerås and does his field work experience in the Corps.
“I love the Salvation Army's history”, continues Daniel and uses the expression "the redhot idealism" of the Salvation Army's involvement. It suits an artist's soul like me, who requires a passionate commitment, according to Daniel and says there is room for that in the Salvation Army.
Daniel is reticent when speaking of the future, but suggests that he would be very willing to work as an evangelist.
“Words, sung and spoken are my passion”, he concludes.
(from TSA Sweden Website: translation- Sven Ljungholm)
This year, four men and one woman who affirmed the call to be full time Servants of God in the Salvation Army have chosen to leave their previous professions to study at the officers' school to become Salvation Army officers. Waiting for the five new cadets are two years of intensive study at the School for Officer Training, which include distance learning at home, regular ‘on-campus seminars’ and field training at a corps or department.
“For me, humor is a language to reach people”
Marcus Andersson, 36, was one of the young people who planted a new SA corps in Vårby, a suburb south of Stockholm, 1994-1995.“Yes, we were five pioneers”, Marcus says, and shares that one of the four was a SA officer, and who is the Training school's current headmaster, Mattias Nordenberg. The other were Veronica Wahlstrom and Johan Grahn both currently officers and serve in the officers' school, and Anna Byberg.
Marcus is married to Rosmarie, working as a instructor/ leader of a Swedish Lutheran Church congregation and they have two boys who are 5 and 1 year. The family lives in Malmo, in the southern part of Sweden with Copenhagen, Denmark as their nearest large city neighbour just 35 minutes across the waters on one of Europe’s longest spanning bridges. Following his employment at Telia (Swedish Telephone Company) Marcus worked as a successful stand-up comedian and has studied theology in Malmö / Copenhagen and the nearby university town of Lund.
“There are too few humorists who engage in theology and also too few theologians who engage in humor”, says Macus with a laugh.
“For me, humor is a language to reach people, and when I complete my training to be a SA officer, I can return to the pub, an environment in which salvation officers were often active during the pioneering days, a tradition that I now want to continue”.
Words spoken and sung are my passion
Daniel Viklund, a renowned singer who last Christmas released his latest CD, was born in 1969 in Vansbro (in Sweden’s fabled Dalarna Province), where the Salvation Army at one time had one of their strongholds.
The SA’s ministry and mission are not new to Daniel, “I actually have links to the Salvation Army in the past”, says Daniel, adding that; my father's cousin Sven-Erik Power, was a SA officer and evangelist”.
Daniel recalls growing up in the Vanbro corps and even as a teenager wanted be a officer and belonged to the group; SAY (SA Youth) which spoke of ministry calling issues. Almost thirty years later Daniel affirms the calling of the officers' commission and becomes a cadet in the Salvation Army.
His musical education brought Daniel to southern Sweden, to the Malmö Academy of Music and the Opera School in Copenhagen. While studying inMalmo Daniel served as Bandmaster of the Malmo SA Corps. After a year as a musician Daniel knew that God called him, and which led him to serve for nine years as Pastor of a free church near his home in western Dalarna.
He had previously been a salvation soldier, but parted from TSA in 1994, sensing that God called him to work within the free churchs’ movement. However, since 2009 he again wears a SA soldier's uniform, and now with a cadet’s distinctive trim.
“When I realized that God wanted me to become part of the Salvation Army again, he opened new doors”, says Daniel, who lives in Västerås and does his field work experience in the Corps.
“I love the Salvation Army's history”, continues Daniel and uses the expression "the redhot idealism" of the Salvation Army's involvement. It suits an artist's soul like me, who requires a passionate commitment, according to Daniel and says there is room for that in the Salvation Army.
Daniel is reticent when speaking of the future, but suggests that he would be very willing to work as an evangelist.
“Words, sung and spoken are my passion”, he concludes.
(from TSA Sweden Website: translation- Sven Ljungholm)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
THE UNIFORM DEFINES MY VOCATION Part Three
I believe the Salvation Army has a very unique commission. There are many denominations within the universal Christian church and we are all brothers and sisters. However siblings may not always resemble each other, either in appearance or personality. The Salvation Army's specific commission is to be an army that proffers salvation; a Salvation Army.
Jesus said: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. " (John 3:16 NIV). Jesus does not want anyone to perish, and so he raised up an army of people whose mandate is to save the people from being lost; a Salvation Army.
I believe in the Salvation Army's mission! People who let themselves be seized by the vision of an army that marches steadily onward to save people. People who are not ashamed of what we are; marching boldly without fear in uniforms and flags and all the trappings that belong to an army. An army that does not try to imitate any of its siblings, but one that’s confident and daring in his own identity. An army that is not a poor imitation of some other church, but dare to be what it is commissioned to be.
Friday, October 14, 2011
THE UNIFORM DEFINES MY VOCATION Part Two
Why should we wear uniforms? Part 2In the first section I wrote about the Salvationists’ uniform serving as a testimony that we believe in the common priesthood of all believers and that we do not draw a sharp distinction between professional clergy and regular, ordinary church members.
Another reason to wear the SA uniform is to testify that; “I have entered into a covenant with the Lord”. The purpose is to enter more deeply into a tradition that has long existed within Christianity. Monks and nuns have historically aligned themselves into special orders identified by unique dress to testify that they have made the decision to resign from a nondescript lifestyle and enter into a covenant with God.
Becoming a salvation soldier means that I commit myself to live in a very specific way. The things one commits to when becoming a soldier are far from being inconsequential. Becoming a salvation soldier means that I have entered into a covenant in which I promise far more than I would do if I were simply a ordinary parishioner in another church. Every time I don my uniform, I remind myself and all within my world what I promised:
Soldier's Covenant
Having accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord, and desiring to fulfill my membership of His Church on earth as a soldier of The Salvation Army, I now by God's grace enter into a sacred covenant.
I believe and will live by the truths of the word of God expressed in The Salvation Army's eleven articles of faith:
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God; and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost - undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
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.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
I will be responsive to the Holy Spirit's work and obedient to His leading in my life, growing in grace through worship, prayer, service and the reading of the Bible. I will make the values of the Kingdom of God and not the values of the world the standard for my life.
I will uphold Christian integrity in every area of my life, allowing nothing in thought, word or deed that is unworthy, unclean, untrue, profane, dishonest or immoral.
I will maintain Christian ideals in all my relationships with others; my family and neighbours, my colleagues and fellow salvationists, those to whom and for whom I am responsible, and the wider community.
I will uphold the sanctity of marriage and of family life. I will be a faithful steward of my time and gifts, my money and possessions, my body, my mind and my spirit, knowing that I am accountable to God.
I will abstain from alcoholic drink, tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs, gambling, pornography, the occult and all else that could enslave the body or spirit.
I will be faithful to the purposes for which God raised up The Salvation Army, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, endeavouring to win others to Him, and in His name caring for the needy and the disadvantaged.
I will be actively involved, as I am able, in the life, work, worship and witness of the corps, giving as large a proportion of my income as possible to support its ministries and the worldwide work of the Army.
I will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, and I will show the spirit of salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution.
I now call upon all present to witness that I enter into this covenant and sign these articles of war of my own free will, convinced that the love of Christ, who died and now lives to save me, requires from me this devotion of my life to His service for the salvation of the whole world; and therefore do here declare my full determination, by God's help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army.
Another reason to wear the SA uniform is to testify that; “I have entered into a covenant with the Lord”. The purpose is to enter more deeply into a tradition that has long existed within Christianity. Monks and nuns have historically aligned themselves into special orders identified by unique dress to testify that they have made the decision to resign from a nondescript lifestyle and enter into a covenant with God.
Becoming a salvation soldier means that I commit myself to live in a very specific way. The things one commits to when becoming a soldier are far from being inconsequential. Becoming a salvation soldier means that I have entered into a covenant in which I promise far more than I would do if I were simply a ordinary parishioner in another church. Every time I don my uniform, I remind myself and all within my world what I promised:
Soldier's Covenant
Having accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord, and desiring to fulfill my membership of His Church on earth as a soldier of The Salvation Army, I now by God's grace enter into a sacred covenant.
I believe and will live by the truths of the word of God expressed in The Salvation Army's eleven articles of faith:
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God; and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost - undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
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.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
I will be responsive to the Holy Spirit's work and obedient to His leading in my life, growing in grace through worship, prayer, service and the reading of the Bible. I will make the values of the Kingdom of God and not the values of the world the standard for my life.
I will uphold Christian integrity in every area of my life, allowing nothing in thought, word or deed that is unworthy, unclean, untrue, profane, dishonest or immoral.
I will maintain Christian ideals in all my relationships with others; my family and neighbours, my colleagues and fellow salvationists, those to whom and for whom I am responsible, and the wider community.
I will uphold the sanctity of marriage and of family life. I will be a faithful steward of my time and gifts, my money and possessions, my body, my mind and my spirit, knowing that I am accountable to God.
I will abstain from alcoholic drink, tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs, gambling, pornography, the occult and all else that could enslave the body or spirit.
I will be faithful to the purposes for which God raised up The Salvation Army, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, endeavouring to win others to Him, and in His name caring for the needy and the disadvantaged.
I will be actively involved, as I am able, in the life, work, worship and witness of the corps, giving as large a proportion of my income as possible to support its ministries and the worldwide work of the Army.
I will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, and I will show the spirit of salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution.
I now call upon all present to witness that I enter into this covenant and sign these articles of war of my own free will, convinced that the love of Christ, who died and now lives to save me, requires from me this devotion of my life to His service for the salvation of the whole world; and therefore do here declare my full determination, by God's help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
THE UNIFORM DEFINES MY VOCATION Part One
I am constantly challenged to answer the question why we (Salvationists) should wear uniforms. Some say; “I can be just as good a Christian out of uniform as in!” And of course they’re right, one can. But I still maintain there are some very valid arguments for wearing a SA uniform. I will share just a few…
The vast majority of religious communities have some sort of priestly garb. They vary and can look very different one church to the next, but the notion that the priest has some form of distinguishing clothing has been with us since Old Testament times. In the larger denominations they even have uniquely decorated garments based on hierarchy; one’s status in the religious order. But the one commonality is that they have a need and intent to distinguish who is a ‘priest’ from those who are "regular" members.
The Salvation Army is different. The uniform is a testimony that we believe in the common priesthood of all believers. All members / soldiers are active workers. In many religious communities one is considered an active member by attending church services regularly and listening to the priest or Pastor each Sunday. However, being a SA soldier in uniform testifies to the significance that I belong to and am in God’s service. It signifies that all members of Christ's body are functionally responsible and not simply passive spectators.
Lieutenant
Regional Commander, Latvia
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
NEW OUTREACH TO BOOST SAGGING RESPONSE Part Four
The third thing I wanted Sven to bring with him was himself. As I said at the beginning of this article I had always thought ‘Single Spouse’ Officership was a great concept and could open the door to ministry for many who previously could have had a call to ministry denied them through the ranks of The Salvation Army, but never felt it was for me. I had always believed if I was ever to have married, it would have had to have been to a Salvation Army Officer because I just couldn’t imagine working with what appeared to me, could be split loyalties and commitments. Now however, I am eternally grateful TSA in the UK allow single spouse officers and would encourage all other territories to follow suite. The thought of having had to resign in order to marry sounds horrendous and I know for certain is not what God would have wanted of me as I believe I was born for this.
Life has turned out to be very different to what Sven and I had imagined as our relationship commenced. However, I believe I have learned much through what has been at times a challenging three years of marriage, of life and of ministry. I have learned that what I had always believed, I really do believe. I discovered that what I preach is true. I found myself during the hardest, toughest times God wrapping me up in His love and faithfulness and assuring me He was / is with me every single step of the way. And I felt soaked, absolutely soaked in the love and faithfulness of God.
Life has turned out to be very different to what we had expected but there has been a richness, a depth, a strength added to my life. Sven and I may not share ministry in exactly the way we had hoped and planned but we share ministry and Sven has added a dimension to my life that I would never have had without him. His genuine and realistic love for the Army and our common mission, grounded in his SA history and experience serves us both very well... We'll soon make our 4th foreign mission trip within the last 12 months, something I'd never consider if I was still single.
Now I cling to the encouragement and the assurance we find in Ephesians 3: 20-21 Message Paraphrase : God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
I very much look forward to getting to know you and journeying with you as you discern the will of God for your life. Please know I am here for you and my thoughts and prayers are with you.
GBY real good!
Glad
Glad Ljungholm
Major
Divisional Candidates Officer
Monday, October 10, 2011
NEW OUTREACH TO BOOST SAGGING RESPONSE Part Three
Out of a whole houseful of things collected over a period of many years, and having visited more than 70 countries these were the three things I wanted Sven to bring to be a special part of our home.
Any of you who know or have met Sven will know that he is full of stories and usually takes great delight in sharing them and it was because of such stories I wanted him to bring his spear and ‘the’ rug and for them to take pride of place in our home.
Many years ago as a young man Sven visited Kenya as part of his job and was taken out into the middle of the bush to meet a Maasai tribe. He travelled with them for sometime and learned something about them, their culture and their ways. Together they journeyed to what was going to be their new home / camp and when they arrived near their destination the chief took out his spear and threw it high in the air. Wherever it landed, that then became the centre of the world for them. Before Sven left the group the chief presented Sven with his spear and now it stands at the side of our fire place in every home we have shared as a constant reminder that for us, this is the centre of the world. This is where we believe God has placed us for a reason and a season. This is where we believe He wants to minister to and through us. And so, this is the centre of our world. It is very easy for me to believe this with Liverpool being my birth place, although I only lived here for the first two weeks of my life in the Oxford Street hospital before my parents took me home to Formby and then Southport. And so I can look at this physical symbol, this spear and know:
‘Just where He needs me, my Lord has placed me,
Just where He needs me, there would I be!
And since He’s found me, by love He’s bound me
To serve Him joyfully’
It’s funny, as I sit here and type and think on this chorus I grew up singing, but don’t think I have sung for years, I had to look it up in our song book as I couldn’t remember if that last word was ‘joyfully’ or ‘faithfully’. I guess the reality of life means that sometimes it will be ‘joyfully’ but always, ‘faithfully’.
‘The’ rug, is something quite different and it is something I feel absolutely humbled and privileged to have in our home and for my part, I will always cherish and make sure it is passed on to an equally loving and caring home when the time is right.
Adj and Mrs. Otto Ljungholm 2nd row - 3rd and 4th from left
This rug is old, dilapidated, virtually colourless and to an unknowing person could be tossed into the recycling bin quite easily. And yet recycling is where it came from in the first place. Back in 1917 some Swedish Salvation Army Officers, including Sven’s Grandparents and the Grandparents of General John Larson were sent to Russia to pioneer the work of The Salvation Army in an era when times were extremely hard, and literally, their lives were in danger for working on such a mission. Our rug is something a number of the Salvationists contributed to by bringing wool as close to SA colours as possible from their own jumpers and together they wove ‘our rug’ which was in reality their mercy seat, their portable mercy seat.
Adj and Mrs. Otto Ljungholm 2nd row - 3rd and 4th from left
This rug is old, dilapidated, virtually colourless and to an unknowing person could be tossed into the recycling bin quite easily. And yet recycling is where it came from in the first place. Back in 1917 some Swedish Salvation Army Officers, including Sven’s Grandparents and the Grandparents of General John Larson were sent to Russia to pioneer the work of The Salvation Army in an era when times were extremely hard, and literally, their lives were in danger for working on such a mission. Our rug is something a number of the Salvationists contributed to by bringing wool as close to SA colours as possible from their own jumpers and together they wove ‘our rug’ which was in reality their mercy seat, their portable mercy seat.
As I consider the Officers, Sven’s Grandparents setting off on foot with their backpacks and their mercy seat into the hardness of Leningrad and the surrounding countryside, knowing their lives were at risk and earnestly, earnestly kneeling and praying at this mercy seat with seekers in remote villages or visiting SA comrades in their home. When I consider what I believe to have been the blood, sweat and tears of prayer that have been poured into this rug I feel very humbled to add my own from the safety and security of our living room in Liverpool. My mind goes to St. Paul asking that his cloak and parchments be brought to his Roman prison cell. A tearstained cloak bleached by the Cyprus sun, the Aegean and perhaps his own blood shed at Paphos.
GBY real good!
Glad
Major
Divisional Candidates Officer
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Sunday is Pastor Appreciation Day
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 4 NIV)
Sunday is Pastor Appreciation Day (October 9). Let me take this opportunity to encourage you to pray for your Officer, and then on Sunday, affirm them.
Being an Officer is one of the toughest jobs on the planet, but the Apostle John says it can also be the most joyful: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4 NIV).
Spiritual leaders must correctly teach God’s Word … confront false teaching before it spreads … proclaim the Gospel to non-believers …pray for all people, and train and appoint leaders. They must do this all while serving as examples of what it looks like when you’re maturing in Christ-likeness (see 1 and 2 Timothy; Titus).
Accordingly, the Apostle Paul says we should respect our spiritual leaders, overwhelming them with appreciation: “Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:13 NIV).
You can see the enormous responsibility an Officer has to stay in sync with God and to encourage others to stay in sync also. Your Officer is human and every bit as capable as you or me of making mistakes or slipping into sin. Pray that your Officer will stay focused on Jesus and that your Officers ministry will flow from that intimacy. There is nothing the enemy wants more than to distract your Officer from their purpose by getting them distracted.
Pray for your Officers protection, because the attack they feel from the enemy comes in strong every time your Officer proclaims God’s truth. It gets even stronger the closer they get to Christ.
Pray that your Officer will know deep within their soul that “not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, ?hostile? powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:38-39 HCSB). And then let your Officer know that your love will never cease, that you are committed to loving your Officer with the love of Jesus Christ.
Now think of some practical bit of service you can do for your Officer, and do it this coming week.
Adapted from Jon Walker & Rick Warren’s Daily Devotionals. © 2011 Jon Walker. Used by permission.
Sunday is Pastor Appreciation Day (October 9). Let me take this opportunity to encourage you to pray for your Officer, and then on Sunday, affirm them.
Being an Officer is one of the toughest jobs on the planet, but the Apostle John says it can also be the most joyful: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4 NIV).
Spiritual leaders must correctly teach God’s Word … confront false teaching before it spreads … proclaim the Gospel to non-believers …pray for all people, and train and appoint leaders. They must do this all while serving as examples of what it looks like when you’re maturing in Christ-likeness (see 1 and 2 Timothy; Titus).
Accordingly, the Apostle Paul says we should respect our spiritual leaders, overwhelming them with appreciation: “Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:13 NIV).
You can see the enormous responsibility an Officer has to stay in sync with God and to encourage others to stay in sync also. Your Officer is human and every bit as capable as you or me of making mistakes or slipping into sin. Pray that your Officer will stay focused on Jesus and that your Officers ministry will flow from that intimacy. There is nothing the enemy wants more than to distract your Officer from their purpose by getting them distracted.
Pray for your Officers protection, because the attack they feel from the enemy comes in strong every time your Officer proclaims God’s truth. It gets even stronger the closer they get to Christ.
Pray that your Officer will know deep within their soul that “not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, ?hostile? powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:38-39 HCSB). And then let your Officer know that your love will never cease, that you are committed to loving your Officer with the love of Jesus Christ.
Now think of some practical bit of service you can do for your Officer, and do it this coming week.
Adapted from Jon Walker & Rick Warren’s Daily Devotionals. © 2011 Jon Walker. Used by permission.
Major Glad Ljungholm
DHQ
Liverpool, UKT
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Salvation Army has lost a visionary...
Steve Jobs, the visionary "geek" who changed the way the world looked at technology, has died. This is the news I woke up to this morning.
STEVE JOBS
STEVE JOBS
1955-2011
The father of four started Apple Computer with high school friend Steve Wozniak in his garage in 1976 but was forced out a decade later. He returned in the mid-1990s and transformed Apple into one of the world's most powerful companies.
Despite resigning as chief executive due to his health, Mr Jobs said he would continue to play a leadership role. He was replaced by Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook, and took the role of Chairman of the company's board.
The pioneering businessman, who was the mind behind the revolutionary iPhone and iPad devices, had been fighting pancreatic cancer and underwent a liver transplant in 2009.
Apple's board said in a statement: "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."
"Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor," Mr Cook wrote in an email to Apple's employees. "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."
The news Apple fans and shareholders had been dreading came the day after Apple unveiled its latest iPhone, a device that got a lukewarm reception. Perhaps, there would have been more excitement had Mr Jobs been well enough to show it off with his trademark theatrics.
A statement released by Mr Jobs' family said: "In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve's illness."
What a man … what amazing tributes to one individual. Reading these comments made me think of a phrase I often quote when conducting funeral services and I found myself praying it again today in response to a man I have never met, but in response to a man whose life has touched and influenced mine as I sit here typing on my Apple Mac laptop.
‘May his dying challenge my living’
Who of us wouldn’t want to hear said of us at the end of our earthly lives: "Glad's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enriched and improved all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Glad."
… ‘The Salvation Army has lost a visionary and creative genius’ …
"Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Glad have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor,"
"In her public life, Glad was known as a visionary; in her private life, she cherished her family.”
I don’t for one moment imagine any or many of these things would be said of me but as I read of this ‘driven’ man I found myself driven to my knees again and praying:
‘All my days and all my hours
All my will and all my powers
All the passion of my soul
Not a fragment but the whole
Shall be Thine Dear Lord
Shall be Thine Dear Lord’
Rick Warren at the beginning of his book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ asks the question: ‘What on earth am I here for?’ … life’s most important question. Answer that question he says and you will understand the ‘big picture’ how all the various pieces of our lives fit together.
The Apostle Paul had no doubt at all about the purpose of his life or that of the Thessalonian believers. They were created for relationship with God. This purpose, this holy purpose was constantly the focus of Paul’s prayers on their behalf. In 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-12 we read: ‘We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfil every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the Name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.’
In His earlier letter Paul had urged them to ‘live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His Kingdom and Glory.’ (1 Thess. 2:12)
Our true value, our great worth, our high calling is emphasised in Ephesians 2: 10 we are: ‘God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works’.
In his sermon, ‘The Drum Major Instinct’ Martin Luther King Jr asked not to be remembered for his Nobel Peace Prize, his numerous awards or where he went to school. He asked rather to be remembered as someone who ‘tried to love and serve humanity’.
Our names may never be famous, it is very unlikely for most of us that we will be world renowned and on the day of our death it is very doubtful that such breaking news will hit the world press as has Steve Jobs’. But, may his dying challenge our living and may we be reminded of the high calling that is ours and the purpose for which we were created.
Major Glad Ljungholm
1963 - Eternity
Major Glad Ljungholm
1963 - Eternity
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