Monday, December 24, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Real St. Nick
The original “Old St. Nick” who inspired the tradition of Santa Claus, Nicholas was bishop of Myra in fourth-century Turkey. Little is known about his life except that he entrusted himself to Jesus at an early age and, wh
en his parents died, gave all of their possessions to the poor. While serving as bishop, Nicholas learned of three girls who were going to be sold into slavery by their father. Moved to use the church’s wealth to ransom the lives of these little ones, he tossed three bags of gold through the family’s window. We remember this ancient Christmas gift, even as we remember that 1.2 million children are trafficked each year in the global sex trade today.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
UNITED NATIONS' ALERT !
SALVATIONIST TEENAGER TO SPEAK AT THE UNITED NATIONS
A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Salvationist from the USA is preparing to give a speech at the United Nations in New York. Kayla Calvo was asked by the United Nations (UN) to represent and speak on behalf of young people from around the world on the topic of 'Fulfilling the Rights of Indigenous Children: Successes and Challenges'. She will speak at the UN on Thursday 15 November as part of a day of celebration for the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
As a descendant of indigenous peoples from Costa Rica, Kayla will bring personal insight to the proceedings. The invitation has allowed her to research and find that, in addition to the difficulties that all children face, there is a need for the UN to look more deeply at the unique needs of indigenous children.
In 2011 Kayla was invited to represent The Salvation Army at the UN's 55th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women. She attended the opening session of the General Assembly while representatives from different countries gave their views on the condition of the 'girl child'. She also attended workshops given by the UN. Kayla was asked, along with two other Salvationist girls, to give a presentation at a parallel event. This presentation was entitled 'Girls Talking about Violence Against Girls'. During this event, Kayla offered her findings and impressions regarding the violence that girls face every day.
Kayla is an active member of Newark Ironbound Corps (Salvation Army church) in the USA Eastern Territory, where she is preparing to be enrolled as a senior soldier. She is involved in women's ministries and also volunteers at a boys and girls club in Newark, which is run by The Salvation Army.
One of Kayla's great passions is for the plight of the girl child. Kayla has conducted research in order to learn about the conditions under which many girls are forced to live. She has a burden for the many girls who live in subhuman conditions and often have to fight for their right to survival. She and her family sponsor a girl in Burkina Faso.
Kayla is inspired to live her life in line with Matthew 25:40, where Jesus shares an important truth: 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me' (New International Version).
Report by Major Victoria Edmonds
Representative to the United Nations
The Salvation Army's International Social Justice Commission
Representative to the United Nations
The Salvation Army's International Social Justice Commission
Saturday, November 3, 2012
NOT CALLED?!
" 'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,'
I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin.
Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there.
And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world."
General William Booth
I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin.
Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there.
And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world."
General William Booth
Friday, November 2, 2012
PUP JOINS THE SALVOS
Bringing smiles to the faces of aged care residents across the region, Wally the therapy dog will soon become the first official four-legged Salvation Army community care member in South Australia.
The two-year-old chocolate Labrador will join the ranks of the not-for-profit organisation in an official presentation at The Salvation Army Millicent office sat 10am on Sunday.
Accompanied by Port MacDonnell resident and owner Ross Patterson, the much-loved companion will receive a certificate and official Salvation Army photo identification for his work in residential aged care facilities.
"Wally is a very friendly, placid and gentle natured dog and has a wonderful personality for this type of work,” MrPatterson said. "He’s everybody’s friend, as long as theyhave Schmackos."
Also working with South Australian Community organisation Caring Canine Companions, Mr Patterson has been training Wally since he was a puppy to provide company for residents in aged care facilities.
Making regular visits to Resthaven, Boandik Lodge and The Oaks Nursing Home, Wally is a big hit with residents,many of whom left behind their own petswhen they moved into aged care.
"A lot of these people had to leave their little pups at home and in some cases leaving pets behind is the hardest part of being in an aged care facility - Wally really fills that niche," Mr Patterson said.“I think the ability to care about an animal is very normalising for the residents - some have ended up in a position of feeling pretty helpless, so it really brightens their day when Wally visits.
Mr Patterson calls Wally his "best mate" and said he often catches residents sneaking the therapy dog treats. "My main problem is trying to stop people from stuffing him full of lollies,sweets and cookies - he’s very spoilt," Mr Patterson said. For his part, Wally, who sports a custom-made Salvation Army jacket, feels right at home at the aged care facilities,walking into the centres “like he owns the place".
"He trots into Resthaven like he owns the place, puts his paws up on the counter to say hello to everyone and then bolts down the hallway to visit his favourite residents," Mr Patterson said.“He’s a wonderful dog."
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
NOT YOUR AVERAGE 9 TO 5!
Officer Employment?
Often I have tried to explain to people in the community the nature of an officers’ employee relationship to The Salvation Army. We are not actually employees, we are not volunteers, we are not self traders or sub contractors. In the course of this explanation there is a mix of reactions. Some are surprised at this relationship while others raise questions about the legality of how this relationship is allowed to work given current employee/ employer rules and regulations in Australia. Trying to explain how this relationship works is difficult.
Often I have tried to explain to people in the community the nature of an officers’ employee relationship to The Salvation Army. We are not actually employees, we are not volunteers, we are not self traders or sub contractors. In the course of this explanation there is a mix of reactions. Some are surprised at this relationship while others raise questions about the legality of how this relationship is allowed to work given current employee/ employer rules and regulations in Australia. Trying to explain how this relationship works is difficult.
As a Salvation Army officer, if you have employees working under you, you are required by national and state law to follow all employee legislation in your dealings with them. They have legal rights that that must observed. Should an officer fail to observe these employee rights and follow correct procedures The Salvation Army could find itself in court.
However, it is my understanding that as a Salvation Army Officer you do not have same legal standing and protections as the employees you have to administer. I once had it said to me by a very senior officer that “the Army” could one day decide that they don’t have an appointment for me, they could then say “thank you” and that would be the end of the relationship. While I never heard of this actually happening I am very concerned that if I upset the wrong people within the organisation it just might happen. Especially as some very senior positions within The Salvation Army are now being held by actual non-officer employees. In the Australian Eastern Territory employees now outnumber officers by almost seven to one.
Our odd “employment” status in the modern labour landscape raises some important issues.
Is this lack of access for Salvation Army Officers to employee rights enshrined in legislation ethical in the modern labour landscape?
There are now some highly placed employees that have officers working under them. If the officer does meet expectations what protection does that officer have should their employee manager no longer want them in their department?
We are not allowed {by law} to discriminate as to religious beliefs when it comes to hiring and firing employees. It is not required that an employee be a practicing Christian when they are employed by The Salvation Army however they do have uphold the values and standards of the organisation. What if that well respected and very talented highly placed employee suddenly becomes an atheist?
I believe that it is time to form an association for Salvation Army officers. This association could;
- To be a voice for and from Salvation Army Officers to Territorial Leadership.
- To offer a listening ear and if necessary offer counsel and advice to those officers who are feeling disaffected by “our system”.
- To act as mediator between officers and the officer leadership to ensure the same fair and equitable process is offered on all levels as is offered to those The Salvation Army employs.
- To regularly dialogue with our Territorial Leadership about issues causing serious concern among the officer ranks.
- To work with the Territorial Pastoral Care Office to follow up on former officers within the Territory.
The Salvation Army Officers Association should not be seen as a union. It should only seek to provide representation and guidance to its members and as such will only involve itself in any industrial relations matters in that capacity. This association will not have all the answers and it may not be able to solve all the issues. However how many now former officers would still be serving God in His Army if they access to the same processes and procedures that employees automatically have access to? Ordinary rank and file Officers need a voice they currently they do not have when it comes to their employment status, this association may be that voice.
Colin Young
Commanding Officer
Dubbo, NSW Australia
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Spiritual Power Through Purity
Two of the main strategies of the enemy against us pertain to the issue of purity. On the micro-level, the devil is quick to exploit any impurity in our lives since it weakens us and exposes us to his attacks. And so demonic spirits oppress and bind us, rendering us useless on the battlefield.
On the macro-level, the devil deceives many followers of Jesus by convincing them that they cannot be pure in this lifetime. They settle with a compromising Christianity that renders them impotent against the enemy. And so the demons neutralize a potential danger.
We decree these biblical exclamations, expectations, and possibilities to bolster our faith and bash the enemy.
We Can…
We can serve You without fear in holiness and righteousness before You all our days. Luke 1:74,75
We can live holy, righteous, and blameless. 1 Thessalonians 2:10
We can control our body in a holy and honourable manner. 1 Thessalonians 4:4
We can live a holy life. 1 Thessalonians 4:7
We can be holy when Jesus returns in glory. 2 Thessalonians 1:10
We can be spiritual siblings in holiness with Jesus and other holy people. Hebrews 2:11
We can be holy in all we do. 1 Peter 1:15
We can live holy and godly lives. 2 Peter 3:11
We can continue in our holiness. Revelation 22:11
We can be blameless. 1 Corinthians 1:8, Revelation 14:5
We can fulfill God’s purposes for us in holiness. Ephesians 1:4
We can be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:27
We can be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Philippians 1:10
We can be blameless and pure, shining like stars in the universe, without fault in a crooked and depraved generation. Philippians 2:15
We can be blameless and holy as You strengthen us. 1 Thessalonians 3:13
We can be sanctified through and through – our whole spirit, soul, and body preserved blameless. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
We can meet Your expectations of holiness and blamelessness. 1 Peter 1:16, Titus 1:6,7
We can make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace. 2 Peter 3:14
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Major Stephen Court
Canada
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Why I am a Salvation Army officer | 2
Recently
theRubicon sent out a general call to officers on our mailing list asking them
to tell us why they are Salvation Army clergy. The responses were pithy,
profound, provocative and, in some cases, troubling. But most of all they were
genuine and honest reflections on a career and calling that can both uplift and
crush. This is the second of two parts.
Major, male, Australia: I have been an Officer for over 50 years and have spent almost
10 years in post-retirement service. The reason I became and am an officer is
related to a personal calling, but before accepting that calling I rejected it
and left my homeland - Australia - running from that calling. It was similar to
Jonah. I was later asked by a very close friend of mine, a retired
commissioner, what I was doing in England. I tried to answer but he stopped me
with one word: Officership.
So I returned and commenced all over again to
fulfill that calling. Over the years came marriage, 3 sons and almost 12 years
in third-world settings. These have all enriched my life in so many ways that
are very hard to describe. To share with a family in the death of a new-born
infant, to enjoy the sharing of wedding vows, and to stand by the casket of a
faithful Soldier being laid to rest are all part of that calling.
There were other things I could have done with
my life, but they could not compare to the joy brought to me in His Service.
The old question of “would I do it again?” is answered by a resounding YES.
Why? Because of the calling of His Spirit. He has blessed, used and given me so
many opportunities for service that they are too many to count.
My prayer is in the words of John Gowans, “May
others see Jesus in me.”
Captain, male, Canada: I feel called to a full-time ministry role. To say it’s a
“calling” is somewhat elitist; all Christians are called to serve and are
called to ministry. Not all Christians will enter Salvation Army officership.
That’s not an evaluative statement, just a fact. We need teachers and bus
drivers; doctors and janitors; pilots and city employees; day-care
professionals and lawyers (actually… do we need lawyers?).
I guess I still haven’t answered the question,
though. I grew up in The Salvation Army my whole life, so that plays a role. I
like The Salvation Army, so that plays a role. I love our focus on spiritual
needs and practical needs. We have church buildings and worship meetings; we
have food banks and shelters; we have thrift stores and a Bible college.
Captain, female, USA: Right now that seems like a question as dangerous as asking a
married couple in a “valley” if they’re happy … I can’t really say that I
became an officer to be a faceless bureaucrat stuck in middle management
offering virtually no resources, guidance or structure to corps officers and
flailing against a micro-managing THQ that is culturally clueless…. I’d like to
think that being in a corps or social work ministry would give enough reality
to deal with bureaucracy, just didn’t want to have to be bureaucracy -
especially without power or resources to make decisions or deal with
consequences… but not a reason to give up on officership.
Captain, male, Canada: No matter how cliché it might sound, I would love to answer
this question by simply saying: “Because I am called!” While I believe this is
true, it would not create an accurate portrait of why I entered this
occupation, vocation, and/or ministry.
1. It’s what I know! My parents are officers; I
grew up observing them every single day of my life. I witnessed the stress of
church conflict, unapproved budgets, and dealing with death and tragedy, but I
also took part in the joys of new converts, new building projects, and the
wonderful gift of new life. I guess you can say Officership has been engrained
in my life and is part of who I am.
2. The Confirmation! Another reason is the
number of doors that opened since my saying “yes” to ministry. When I began
this journey I was a single lumber salesman who gave little thought to active
service. Now I am a married father, who is actively engaged in the fight of my
life - the fight against sin.
3. The Rewards! There are many days that bring
about stressful and negative situations, but when I look back at each year of
ministry, the benefits, rewards, and blessings far outweigh the days that seem
like too much!
Major, female, UK: During my training with CAPE, the supervisor asked me why I was
a Salvation Army officer. Wow, much food for thought.
I answered that when I was 6 years old I
committed my life to serve God in full-time work. I said that if I had been
raised a Catholic then I would have been a nun. I did not necessarily have to
serve God in The Salvation Army, but I knew that I was born to serve and it did
not occur to me to serve in any other denomination. The Salvation Army was all
that I knew. No other denomination could have given me the same opportunities
that I have experienced. I have never appreciated the control that another
officer can have over my life decisions, but God has worked me through the times
when I felt I was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
My officership has
been a career with a calling to ministry and service. That is what God called
me to do.
Lt-Colonel, male, Canada: I have been a Salvation Army officer for fifty-seven years
(commissioned in l952) - forty-three years as an active officer, and fourteen
years as a retired officer. Margaret, my wife, served with me as a partner in
ministry for fifty-three years.
I am an officer in The Salvation Army for three
good reasons:
First, I had two very good parents who believed
so intensely in the ministry of the Salvation Army that they prayed and pleaded
with God that their children would follow in their footsteps. When I was very
young, I often woke early in the morning to hear my father crying out to God
for the salvation of his children. What I have become in life, I owe in a large
measure to the influence and passion of my parents.
Secondly, when I was twelve years old, during
the visit of a specialling officer to our home, I heard God calling me to be an
officer. It buzzed around in my mind for almost ten years, without anyone
knowing my hidden secret, and then at the age of twenty, one month before my
twenty-first birthday, I rose from my seat in a youth council and said: “Yes,
whatever you are asking me to do, I will do it.” I took the leap, not into the
dark, but into the arms of a God who had already planned from eternity the
destiny of my pilgrimage.
Thirdly, I now can look back on almost six
decades and stand in awe of the way he has blessed my life, far beyond anything
I could have dreamt or imagined. The thought of committing my life to an
organization whose foundational principles were sacrifice and obedience seems
unimaginable, but at eighty, with life nearing the end, it seems a very
reasonable thing to do (Romans 12:1). If I could have written my own biography,
I doubt if I could done it any better.
Life as an officer is not easy, but never dull;
not purely selfish, but submissive to the way of Jesus; not “I’ll do it my way”
but “not my way Father, but thy will be done.” I never asked for an
appointment, nor refused to go where I was sent.
Officership is more about eternity than it is
about time, and I believe time is only preparation for eternity. Today I see
the journey has been crammed full of challenges, privileges, surprises,
opportunities and much more. But the incomparable surprise is in the future:
when, by God’s grace I entered into the inheritance which God has prepared for
those who love and serve him (1 Peter 1:4, 5). Then we will know that life is
not about success in terms of this world’s values but about faithfulness to the
known will of God.
Lt. Colonel, male, Congo: Why I am a Salvation Army Officer? What an interesting
question! I suppose the first answer is that I felt called to Salvation Army
Service. I was in the military during the Korean Conflict at the time of my
calling, and I had an overwhelming sense that God wanted me to serve Him. I had
little talent to offer and was a first-generation Salvationist, but I felt that
service in The Salvation Army was the best thing I could do with my life.
After I was discharged from the Air Force, I
entered the “Faithful” Session in 1956 in San Francisco.
I met my wife in training, and over the years,
we have had many kinds of appointments and have been privileged to travel and
serve the Lord in many un-imagined places. Each appointment has only confirmed
that I was just where God wanted me to be. Since retirement, we continue to
serve as Coordinator of the Territorial Call to Prayer ministry, Phoenix ARC
Chaplains, and the Southwest Divisional Congo Partnership in Missions
Coordinator.
Oh, there have been times of disappointment and
stress, but God has been faithful, and even though we are now retired we still
have the joy of service and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. I used to be
a bit turned off by those old “fogies” who used to totter up to the pulpit and
say, “I’ve never been sorry I heeded God’s Call, etc” Well, I guess now I’m one
of them! Would I do it over again? Absolutely! God is just as wonderful now, as
all those many years ago. And I’m not finished yet!
Saturday, August 25, 2012
More officers! We want more officers. Here is an early take:
WANTED ALWAYS to become OFFICERS IN THE SALVATION ARMY men and women of God
Anxious to devote their lives to the work of souls,
Whose character will bear any amount of investigation;
Who can talk to a crowd of people out doors and in, so as to wound sinners’ hearts;
Who can lead a band of godly men and women to do something likely to win souls;
Who are perfectly ready to speak, pray, visit, sit still, travel a hundred miles, or die;
Who have given up drink, tobacco and finery, for Christ sake, or are willing to give up anything and everything for Him;
Who are willing to be led and taught, and to be sent home again if they do not succeed.
Who are willing to be evil spoken of, hated and despised, and even to be misrepresented, misunderstood, and undervalued at headquarters.
THE FOLLOWING NEED NOT APPLY:
Persons, who, “being out of employment, desire to vie themselves entirely, etc, etc,”;
Who, “do not think they can be expected” to exhaust all their strength in laboring day and night to save souls;
Who, “if engaged, will endeavor to give satisfaction to their employers”;
Who will take any notice of the fact of their going or living anywhere or doing anything they are asked to do;
Who desire “light employment”, “find their work beginning to tell on them”, etc. Etc.;
Who would like to know “particulars as to salary, hours, home, etc. before being engaged”;
Who “are sometimes troubled with doubts” about the inspiration of the Bible, the divinity of Christ, the Atonement, election, the possibility of falling from grace, eternal damnation, or the personality of the devil;
Who, “having had considerable experience” in our kind of work and think they know how to do it.
----
Are you in? (wow, there is some great stuff for those of us who are currently officers to re-read!)
----
Holy. now.
----
And from SALVATION SOLDIERY by William Booth:
"Here, young men and young women, you are thinking about this cadet business, and I am not surprised at it either. What is trade and shop keeping, and emigration, and marriage, and money making, and—and anything else compared with this business of war?"
Saturday, August 18, 2012
MAJESTY AND GLORY- LATVIA DAY FIVE
Around 8.30pm on Saturday evening our ship docked in Lithuania following a 20 hour crossing of the Baltic Sea, and we commenced the final part of our journey to Latvia. As the roads worsened the sky darkened until we eventually were far away from city lights heading north to Latvia. Darkness fell quickly and all around us was black. I sat in the front of the car as Sven drove, looking out of the window and thought to myself …
‘As I gaze into the night sky and see the work of your fingers
The moon and stars suspended in space
O what is man that you are mindful of Him.’
I became over-awed by the presence of God and again deeply moved by the words of Scripture from Psalm 8 and I found myself singing silently
‘The majesty and glory of Your Name
transcends the earth and fills the heavens’
My heart and mind bowed before our Almighty God as I sat in awe of Him and wondered again:
‘O what is man that You are mindful of him?’
‘O what is man that You are mindful of him?
Mere man that You care for Him
Yet You made him a little lower than the angels
You crowned him with glory and honour
You put him in charge of all creation …’
And still: ‘O what is man that You are mindful of him?’
And yet, our Lord and God, is mindful of us … so very, very mindful of us. He is interested in everything that interests us … Concerned about everything that concerns us … Our Lord and God is so very, very mindful of us!
Mindful of little Laura and others of the children with scabies and sometimes battered and bruised …
Mindful of Captains Aizan and Sergey who have just moved from Sarkarni to Seda as the Officers there.
Mindful of Dimitry and Iliona new Lieutenants serving in the isolated village of Sarkarni and she pregnant with their first child.
Mindful of Ann, one of our team members living with cancer and awaiting surgery.
Mindful of Captains Ruslan and Marina serving alone as The Salvation Army in Crimea and having just moved from the beauty of Yalta to the hardness of Simfiropol.
Mindful of Lieutenant Kira as she takes up an additional appointment as the Divisional Youth Officer for Russia, alongside being a Corps Officer in Samara, Russia. And knowing that to reach some of her appointments requires traveling on crowded Russian trains for up to 18 hours, sharing 4 berth compartments with strangers, men and women.
Mindful of Major Kay, as she faces so many changes just now.
Mindful of young Lauren for whose healing we continue to pray.
Mindful of Natasha who returns to Russia without employment and longs to follow God’s plans for her life.
Mindful of all the young people and families whose lives have touched ours this week; children who know hardship, struggles, pain, neglect, who have seen and experienced more in their young lives than any child anywhere should ever have to.
And yet, in the midst of all of this and much, much more, we have witnessed:
‘Little children praise You perfectly’
and our hearts response has been:
‘And so would we’
‘Alleluia, alleluia,
The majesty and glory of Your Name
This week we have come as a group of very different people, from very different backgrounds, cultures, and languages united by God’s love and a desire to serve the people of Sarkarni and Seda. Praying that God would help us in this week to:
‘Make a genesis week from the chaos of their lives’ (Ps. 51 Msg Para) and that God would do it in our own individual lives too.
From the moment we first prayed together as a group, until this very moment as we near the end of our week together our heart cries out in worship, love, thanksgiving and adoration that one word that unites us all ‘Alleluia’. Amen and Amin!
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