I was just having a conversation over break with some of the Divisional Staff about how the world service money from America supports the majority of the Salvation Army ministries in the world.
We talked about how we could change that trend so that the army would be stronger. We wanted to know if there could be ways found so that the Army could support its work in each country through resources found in their countries? The thought came up that we in America don't believe in self support. Our largest corps in Atlanta is given heavy support funds, our teenagers don't pay their own way to youth councils, it just isn't a principle we teach.
As I walked away from the conversation my mind began to drift to the terrorist attacks of 911. If the Salvation Army world and the youth of America are so heavily dependent upon the financial resources extracted from America's economy, what happens if the economy tanks? Will we lose the mission and testimony of the Army world wide?
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Roots
I am still trying to process this last weekend. As an event I felt it went well! It was encouraging to hear the conversations that were happening around the corps building as a result of the meetings. The attendance was high. The Territorial cabinet was there. Salvationist from other Territories were there. It was cool.
But I think the coolest part for me was when God showed up for me personally. It was the last song of the event. Graham Kendrick was the guest worship leader for the weekend. He wrote "Shine Jesus Shine." Well I used to really get into that song but that was about ten years ago. That's how I knew I was having a God moment. The Spirit was breaking through to me. The words were new once again!
All weekend we had begun every meeting by lighting candles in the outline of a cross. We were told that the early Christians had just such a tradition and that it represented Christ's living presence with us in the room. It was in this context in a dimly lit room that I heard these words...
Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me
As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me
Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1987 Make Way Music,
But I think the coolest part for me was when God showed up for me personally. It was the last song of the event. Graham Kendrick was the guest worship leader for the weekend. He wrote "Shine Jesus Shine." Well I used to really get into that song but that was about ten years ago. That's how I knew I was having a God moment. The Spirit was breaking through to me. The words were new once again!
All weekend we had begun every meeting by lighting candles in the outline of a cross. We were told that the early Christians had just such a tradition and that it represented Christ's living presence with us in the room. It was in this context in a dimly lit room that I heard these words...
Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me
As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me
Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1987 Make Way Music,
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
operation II
Just to let you know that my friend's wife has been permitted to come home from hospital. It was felt that her further recovery would be best suited to being at home. The miraculous news is that the tumours were not malignant this time. It really is a miracle. We praise the Lord.
Thank you for your prayers and faith.
Thank you for your prayers and faith.
End of the Spear
I went to a preview of the above movie. They have sent me the following letter that they want me to send out to my friends. I am posting the letter instead. I thought the movie was good and the story is definitely powerful but I am still trying to get my head around the way they used the same actor with just a baseball cap and a long haired wig as an age enhancement for a character who had aged 30 supposed years...here's there letter...
Subject Line: End of the Spear- a must see film !
Hello Friends,
Recently, I had the opportunity to see a "sneak preview" of a motion
picture film called End of the Spear. It was incredible! It is the
story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and their three young missionary friends
who were speared to death in the jungles of Ecuador exactly 50 years ago.
The amazing story of conversion and forgiveness that resulted from the
wife and sister of these young missionaries, continuing to reach out to
the tribe is a wonderful witness to the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The film has been endorsed by hundreds of ministry heads such as James
Robison, Joyce Meyer, John Maxwell, John Bevere, Ted Haggard, and Peter
Bradley- The President of the International Bible Society.
End of the Spear is releasing in 1200 theatres nationwide on January 20th.
The way the film is produced makes it very "non-threatening" to an
unbeliever, so it would be great to bring your non Christian friends to as
well. (Lots of action and danger) .
You can visit www.endofthespear.com to view a trailer, and to locate the
theatre nearest you under "Group Sales" on the home page, and if you want
to, it would be great to forward this information to your buddy list and
ask them to email their buddy list, etc. !! As we spread the word, and
box office sales rise, it is one more significant step in using the power
of film to shape the culture of our nation and the world in a positive,
God-centered direction.
Have an awesome New Year !!!
Subject Line: End of the Spear- a must see film !
Hello Friends,
Recently, I had the opportunity to see a "sneak preview" of a motion
picture film called End of the Spear. It was incredible! It is the
story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and their three young missionary friends
who were speared to death in the jungles of Ecuador exactly 50 years ago.
The amazing story of conversion and forgiveness that resulted from the
wife and sister of these young missionaries, continuing to reach out to
the tribe is a wonderful witness to the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The film has been endorsed by hundreds of ministry heads such as James
Robison, Joyce Meyer, John Maxwell, John Bevere, Ted Haggard, and Peter
Bradley- The President of the International Bible Society.
End of the Spear is releasing in 1200 theatres nationwide on January 20th.
The way the film is produced makes it very "non-threatening" to an
unbeliever, so it would be great to bring your non Christian friends to as
well. (Lots of action and danger) .
You can visit www.endofthespear.com to view a trailer, and to locate the
theatre nearest you under "Group Sales" on the home page, and if you want
to, it would be great to forward this information to your buddy list and
ask them to email their buddy list, etc. !! As we spread the word, and
box office sales rise, it is one more significant step in using the power
of film to shape the culture of our nation and the world in a positive,
God-centered direction.
Have an awesome New Year !!!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Operation
The following is an email from my friend whose wife underwent surgery last week. Please pray for them...
She had her operation on Thursday. As on previous occasions, she was wheeled into the theatre singing aloud 'In thee O Lord do I put my trust'. Amazing - and quite an experience for the theatre technicians ! She was 'away' for five and a half hours. As expected, it proved to be a very serious operation indeed. and the surgeons told me that had serious anxieties for her. Three surgeons worked on her throughout the operation with other doctors in support.
Major complications arose as a result of her previous operations. This is not the time and place for too much detail, suffice to say that her remaining internal organs had to be surgically separated before the new stoma for her ileostomy could be fashioned.
It is mainly as a result of this that she is in so much pain. It was not medically possible to give her an epidural, so her main form of pain control is morphine. This is causing her to be very confused and distressed, all of which is compounded by her blindness which she is still adjusting to, of course. It is very hard for her not to have any idea where she is and what is going on around her. The hospital asked me to stay with her as much as possible, especially through the nights, so I have been doing that. I've done a 20 hour stint, had a six hour break, and now I have just come home from a 15 hour period with her. I am now going to grab some sleep before going back this afternoon.
The doctors say the next few days are critical to her recovery, but the encouraging news is that all the 'numbers' (temperature, blood pressure etc) are settling down. She has now been allowed to drink, but it will be some time before she can take any food, She remains very poorly, in a lot of pain and confusion, and in the high dependency unit, but we believe she will continue to improve.
She had her operation on Thursday. As on previous occasions, she was wheeled into the theatre singing aloud 'In thee O Lord do I put my trust'. Amazing - and quite an experience for the theatre technicians ! She was 'away' for five and a half hours. As expected, it proved to be a very serious operation indeed. and the surgeons told me that had serious anxieties for her. Three surgeons worked on her throughout the operation with other doctors in support.
Major complications arose as a result of her previous operations. This is not the time and place for too much detail, suffice to say that her remaining internal organs had to be surgically separated before the new stoma for her ileostomy could be fashioned.
It is mainly as a result of this that she is in so much pain. It was not medically possible to give her an epidural, so her main form of pain control is morphine. This is causing her to be very confused and distressed, all of which is compounded by her blindness which she is still adjusting to, of course. It is very hard for her not to have any idea where she is and what is going on around her. The hospital asked me to stay with her as much as possible, especially through the nights, so I have been doing that. I've done a 20 hour stint, had a six hour break, and now I have just come home from a 15 hour period with her. I am now going to grab some sleep before going back this afternoon.
The doctors say the next few days are critical to her recovery, but the encouraging news is that all the 'numbers' (temperature, blood pressure etc) are settling down. She has now been allowed to drink, but it will be some time before she can take any food, She remains very poorly, in a lot of pain and confusion, and in the high dependency unit, but we believe she will continue to improve.
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