THIS MEANS WAR!!!

I was feeling pretty average the other day, so sat myself down to relax with some mid-morning TV (on ABC), I found myself enthralled by a documentary on war strategy (Dad would be proud)!

Here is some of what I learned about Defensive Battle Strategy (as used in World Wars I & II):

• OBJECTIVE - Have a clear mission and battle plan. Defend your lines and counter-attack in order to advance into enemy territory.
• INTELLIGENCE - Gain reliable information on the enemy's tactics, their capabilities, weapons, mission etc. to inform your own battle plans.
• TIME - Don't allow your enemy time to prepare their battle plan or gather their troops - it will work against you.
• CONCEALMENT - Effectively hide the troops you have, so your enemy is unaware of your true numbers; OR don't conceal your impressive numbers - in order to give them a scare!
• ABSORB ATTACK - Withstand and absorb enemy attack, even in the most intense part of battle. Slow down the enemy's advance, then counter-attack!
• REALISM - Be realistic about your objectives, don't over-stretch yourself in counter-attack or try to achieve too much too quickly. Be detailed and ambitious, but allow that your troops will need to regroup and resupply.

A couple of other points were made about this kind of strategy. The PSYCHOLOGY of your troops is important, they need to believe in the cause they are fighting for, in order for them to be willing to risk their very lives defending it! Making HIGH RISK decisions is also necessary and important, this is where you are able to turn the tide on your attackers...

We are in a battle for the souls of men & women, it is imperative that we don't allow our enemy, the devil, to gain ground because of our inability to be strategic about this war that we're in. Every aspect of this Defensive Battle Strategy can be used as a guide to launch our defense and prepare counter-attacks in this Salvation War (it can be used especially in organising a stretegic direction for your Corps or ministry!). Let's rediscover the strategic, fighting heart of this Salvation Army and launch another attack... let's take some ground in the name of Jesus!!!!

Images - painting by Hank Henke (top), illustration pinched from David Collinson's blog (bottom)

Easter - Jesus died for YOU! Get to know him!

Whew! What a whirlwind that Easter was! Pete & I had opportunity to share a Good Friday "preview" at Sunrise last Thursday (Chapel). Pete laid the "Jesus died for you" message right out there on the line, answered a bunch of questions the guys had and challenged them to take Jesus as their life-saver... The classic line used to preach the gospel was "God is like KFC, we can't just walk up and take the chicken, there is a person we need to go through to get to the chicken (Jesus as a check-out chick with a difference!). The guys really connected with that one!

That night (Thursday) we went to a Passover meal at Darwin Corps, more than a hundred people rocked up! It was awesome to explore that last meal Jesus had, which he celebrated as a Jew and we can now recognise as a way to celebrate Jesus himself as the promised Messiah! (Messiah=a saving leader the Jews have been expecting for thousands of years, many recognised it was Jesus, others are still waiting to this day!).

Friday saw the kick-off of the NT Youth Easter Camp, we went to church (the Drama was awesome! that couple who were acting... second to none! hehe), then stayed out at Howard Springs at "Camp Beazley" (really a big property where the Beazleys live, they were great hosts). Camping out in tents during the wet season was a huge experience - we had two ridiculous rain storms, one which blew a big marquee tumbling across the yard! Only one person's bed got wet in the storms (guess who! grrr).
I spun-out at the go-karts (going too fast), Pete looked hilarious in his full-face helmet and one of the girls crashed while she was too busy waving! The Beazley's pool was well-used by all, especially the Melbournians! (it was HOT!). During the camp we learnt about prayer, justice and were challenged in our understanding of Jesus death and ressurrection - what did that mean personally?
The Camp Leaders had a rocking prayer meeting where the power of the Holy Spirit fell - everyone was amazed by God as leaders knelt, faces to the floor in prayer for the campers. The last night we sat round a campfire and shared about what camp meant to each of us, talked about Jesus' impact on our lives and how life from now on could be different, we could feel the Holy Spirit was there and active!

Where to from camp? We've invited the kids to our Sunday night Revolution Group, an opportunity to go deeper in learning and experiencing what it means to be a Revolutionary for God.

Monday Pete and I hung out at home, caught up on some sleep and reading, then Tuesday slept in some more and after lunch spent some time praying with one of the Sunrise guys that God is really working on (*please pray for him*). Afterwards we did the afternoon shift at Sunrise Homeless Mens accommodation.

Only a week to go here at Sunrise, then on to Darwin Corps... time is really flying by!

A final thought (as shared at Sunrise devotions today):

We can know OF people, we can know ABOUT people and we can KNOW people.
Do you know OF Jesus? Know ABOUT Jesus? or KNOW Jesus?

Because Jesus KNOWS YOU!!! - see Psalm 139!

TSAASTTCGFC - Grand Final Challenge, an update

Well things are progressing well, then bam!... its the final day of the challenge!
I won't provide a comprehensive list, but here are a couple more things we got up to:

• Pete blogged recently about evangelising a prank caller, next time one calls, try it! (Or maybe you could get a telemarketer saved!)
• We've had the privilege of collecting heaps over this past week, 4 attempts with 614 (Melb Central and Southern Cross Stations), we didn't get confirmed amounts, but each day my tin was packed to the limit with notes and lotsa gold, I pray that money will see people saved through 614!
• In a recent outreach night, Steve put Pete and I on the line when a gangsta-kinda guy came to 'preach' at us about the Salvos, we had 2 minutes each to share the gospel (which he agreed to listen to... yeah!), we didn't see any radical salvation that night, but on my parting handshake, I slipped the guy a little gospel of Mark - he thought that was hilarious and kept it - heres praying the gospel will stay with him till Jesus gets his heart!
• Collected $696 for Carlton Corps at Lygon Court shopping centre (nice), as I was collecting a uni student set up a henna tattooing table (henna - temporary painted tattoo). After my shift I asked her to paint me a cross and the words "Jesus Saves", to my disappointment, she said she'd especially love to write those words on my arm... turns out she's a believer! praise the Lord! Now I have a ready-made evangelistic opener, lets see some people saved this week!
• Prayer-walked the Collingwood area with Xander and Pete, along the way we met a guy from a past outreach in the park. Made a meaningful contact there, also prayed for rain.... since then we've received a healthy drenching!!! ;o)
• Freedom Friday last week we saw 4 College-mates meeting in the 707 prayer room. A time of focussed prayer and great mutual encouragement to continue the fight for freedom!
• Last night had an awesome night out with some mates of ours, I'm believing for the next Gowans and Lllarson!!! Candidates papers are getting sent their way today! whoo!

Well thats some of the cool stuff we've been up to for the kingdom! By the way, I'm loving the challenge and the way it has given me an opportunity to push forward in the fight! Maybe this should be a year-round focus to get us active in prayer, proclamation, evangelism and building character! I don't really care about whatever prize the challenge-winner gets, I care more that I've been challenged to reach my world for Jesus and in doing that, the prizes are fully eternal for myself and the people I've had the awesome opportunity to reach out to!

If you're interested in doing the challenge with your young people over the summer break - which I highly encourage! (its heaps better than sleeping in and playing the PS3/Xbox!), you can find the official list at the armybarmy blog in the 16th Dec post (thanks Steve!).

Feed and Clothe her...

I've been thinking a bit about something a wrote a while ago, I wasn't sure whether to post it here, but I left it to the Lord to confirm it. Recently I've received this confirmation through several different Godly friends and through scripture (which I hadn't read prior to writing down this vision). Anyway, have a read, I implore you - let your heart break for the lost, the bride can't wait.
.................................................

O Salvation Army, how you break my heart!
The mission sent from God to a multitude of freshly-saved, spirit-filled, holy warriors has been shelved and preserved as antiquity. A generation holding a cheap imitation of the original have marched forward, determined that the clothes they have made, the meal they have prepared for the bride are true and eternal.

Stand guard no longer! Selfish generation! Millions of lost tailors, cooks, chefs and seamstresses are wasting away, unable to fill her or adorn her in the finery she deserves. As Christ’s bride stands in tatters, weeping in shame and hunger, you admonish those who point out her rags and stains.

If you love her so, how can you stand to see her wasting away, alone and empty? Forget the meagre rations of the past! Bring to her a fresh harvest, that she might be filled once again! Look closely at her current state, see her eyes brimming with tears for the lost, those thin fingers clutching her empty stomach – aching and hungering for new fruit.

As you look into her eyes, deep with the sorrow of the past, steel yourself against running to the old orchards – they are deserted and empty, barren.
Look to the hills, see? There are the trees over-laden with strange new fruit! Run to the harvest, you must reach it before one more branch breaks and crushes its’ load – lost and rotting fruit, food for the worms.

Can we debate any longer the methods and tools required for the task?
Look, some of our number have begun the harvest, reaching out with bare hands despite the sharp branches. Do not be afraid, run to the hills for the harvest; reach out, this fruit will not be lost! Care not for the pain and the blood, for lack of tools or treat with disdain these primitive methods. Remember the bride, perishing for lack of blood spent, and lack of effort on our part to bring her the food she requires!

Work quickly, she wastes away; feed her, patch up her rags, create a new garment of praise with joyful shouts as more workers run to the harvest!

.................................................

" Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God." "
REVELATION 19:7-9

TSAASTTCGFC (Grand Final Challenge)

I think a few people already know about the Grand Final Challenge presented for this final 3 weeks of college. Basically we're challenged to form teams of 3 and choose tasks to complete out of a range of different options, there's evangelism, personal growth and other variations of Christian mission, ministry & formation (even the kooky stuff! hehe). I'm proud to say my team is made up of Pete, Xander Coleman and myself. We're pumped for the challenge to reach more people for Jesus and dive deeper in our personal commitment to the Lord!

Thus far our challenge tasks have included:

• Ridiculously early prayer (2-5am) - God used that time for empowering, edification and some serious intercession!
• Fasting (we chose to go a 'Freedom Friday' this week)

Since this is only the beginning, we're just getting warmed up, but we're praying to see some serious spiritual fruit out of this exercise. Praise the Lord for the challenge, it's certainly stirred things up!

So you think you can PREACH?

Macleod last night, 5 preachers "pitted against" a congregation of young people in a battle for Salvation & Holiness....

Preachers drew a preaching topic out at random and had five minutes to prepare before letting loose on the young people. Topics and Preachers were:

Alana - Trinity
Amazing for a first-time preacher! She had a go at a tough topic and ripped through it in record time! Keep an eye out for this young woman, she's got it!

Pete - Salvation
Shared his extreme passion for souls from a passage in Luke 4 - the bit with Jesus reading from Isaiah. Challenged the youth to lay down their sin before God and step into new life with Christ!

Jo - Worship
I brought a notebook with me to scribble notes on, as I opened it, found I'd scratched out some notes & bible verses on worship ages ago! (praise the Lord!). Preached also from Isaiah 58, using an out of tune guitar as an illustration for our worship being out of tune with God's desire for worship!

James - Holiness
Typical of Jamsie to get his favourite topic! This crafty guy organised a 'backing track' with the band, rocking it out with some holiness passion and laying down truth so thick we didn't know what hit us!

Tish - Choices
Man this girl has a seriously quick brain! She chucked in about 15 verses on choices and gave us the low-down on our choice between wisdom and foolishness.

The "all-in challenge" saw all 5 preachers up the front backed by the band, and being led by the Spirit in challenging some radical response. Tell you what, we saw some serious sanctification happening at the foot of the cross! A massive night for youth, by youth (yay Sarah McIver! love you!), this definitely has to be done again and reproduced across the world!!!!

CONNECTIONS 07!!!

Off to the first of many Connections 07 meetings today... (my first Officers Councils! yeah!).
I hope you've signed up to be a delegate, but if not, there's plenty of events you can rock up to at no charge. Check out the Connections page here. Make plans to be at the march, its gonna be awesome!

Well thats it for now, things are looking good here at college, the Heralds are mega-pumped for their commissioning and the Witnesses are just loving the ride....

See ya there!!!!

Songs for the Revolution

Here's my short-list of songs to keep you pumped for the fight...

Casting Crowns - "What if His people prayed"
Casting Crowns - "If we are the Body"
The Inhabited - "Revolution"
Switchfoot - "Dare you to move"
The Lads - "Favourite Time"

"Love is the movement, love is a revolution.
This is redemption, we don't have to slow back down."
Switchfoot - "Love is the movement"

Group 1 Crew - "A lot in common"
David Crowder Band - "Undignified"
Hip Hop Praise - "Liteshine (declaring war)"
Superchick - "One-girl revolution"
Superchick - "Get up"

"Make a move 'cause talk is really cheap.
You'll never start a revolution in your sleep.
Showing love to everyone is what It's all about."
Stellar Kart - "Activate"

Casting Crowns - "Every man"
Casting Crowns - "What this world needs"
Hillsong - "Hosanna"
Hillsong - "None but Jesus"
Hillsong - "Soldier"

There's something about a good song with passionate lyrics that stirs you up inside, gets you excited, uncomfortable, ready for action... Our revolution generation needs more anthems for the fight... got any other awesome songs up your sleeve???

How good is God!

I have way too much to write in this blog!!!! God has really blessed the socks off me! Last week was some AWESOME ministry with the kids and people out at Rochy, I was in my element and God was doing a good thing through the mission team! We had a great time.

The news today is mind-blowing (a new TP in Dec 2007), what is God up to???

Whatever it is, the Lord is getting things moving and I hope this momentum keeps up. I've had a read of the TC's dream/vision document (check it out here) and it was like fuel on the fire, I just want to get at missioning, visioning, leading and being with the people.

Our ATP Gregory Morgan has a great excerpt in JAC (from his thesis) about re-focussing educational strategy. I've pasted in a couple of my favourite quotes:

"We believe that the best educational theory confirms the fact that people learn best when learning matches the life experience of the learner. The idea that students are blank slates that come to be filled with knowledge is bad theology and even worse educational philosophy. Therefore we try to bring the experience and the learning moment together. (Frost and Hirsch 2003: 221)"

>> No one is a blank slate, everyone has experience, info and opinions to share. When it comes to cadets I think we should find ways to share our gifts and expertise to teach each other, a shared - not imposed - learning experience. For me, I've found sharing in group ministry is one of the most rewarding and richly educational experiences for me to date - experience and education.

"Do we want and need people who are socialised and identify strongly with others trained for ministry? Or do we want and need people who are socialised to society and identify with the community to which they are called in mission and ministry? A Christendom model of church can entertain the luxury of a separate class of people defined by status, however a missional church needs leaders who understand the genuine need for incarnational ministry."

>> I'm hungry for some incarnation, some community contact with the people I'm called to reach!

"[Mr.] Banks and others who share this view want the learning community of theological schools extended beyond the campus gates so that students, faculty, and administrators might experience their ministry in the context of God’s classroom – the world. Access to this world-oriented classroom would occur not after one’s degree is earned, but during the process of one’s education. The spirit behind this missional approach to theological education is found in the text of John 3:16… The context for theological education is not restricted to the classroom, but encourages us to be in the world at the same time. (2002: 54)"

>> Amen - Lord, bring it on

Gimme that old-time Salvation Army!

Reflecting on the stats blogged on ArmyBarmy & WhollyHoly (thanks Stephen & Jamsie!) about the decline in numbers over the past 10 years, I remembered some older stats I'd discovered in "Salvation Soldiery" that had just blown my mind (and this is not ten years difference, but five!)...

1876 The Christian Mission…

- 546 Public Speakers

- 27 Officers

- 380 Services weekly

1881 The Salvation Army…

- 13,400 Public Speakers

- 540 Officers

- 4,300 Services weekly

According to William Booth in “SALVATION SOLDIERY” (1889)

I pray that we might see these kind of radical results once more!

"going to the Army"

I found an awesome quote recently in Revolution in the Church by Michael Brown, in it he compares church to an Army…. as in military (think war & camouflage, not brass bands & uniforms), what a novel idea!
He is speaking about our perception and experience of "church" and how that affects our mission... doing vs. being. I don’t think he intended it to be directed to the Salvation Army, but it certainly fits us as a movement! Have a read...

“What about the Army? What if the local officers and enlisted members met together once or twice a week and discussed military strategy, displayed the latest weaponry, watched inspirational war films and sang favourite battle songs?
And what if attending those meetings became known as “going to the Army”? What kind of Army would we have? How many battles would we win (if we ever made it to battle at all)?
The problem, of course, is the concept of “going to the Army” instead of “being the Army.” What a life-and-death difference lies between the two!
And what if the Army’s meeting place also became known as “the Army”? Confusion would reign, resulting in misguided and misplaced military efforts, since the focus would be on the meeting (not the results of the meeting) and the meeting place (as if a nice building could defeat an enemy).”

p38-39 Revolution in the Church, Michael Brown

Close to home... do you agree?

Uniform vs. Uniformity

Yet again the question is raised... can the young salvos of today, especially Generation Y, be committed to wearing Salvation Army uniform? It's a monster question that raises its' head along with the endless cycle of debate around brass bands, timbrels, relevance of methods, social vs ministry etc...

Of course it's not young people who are asking the question (sorry), they aren't asking it because they don't see the relevance. Young people love uniforms, there's no doubt! Young people love to express themselves... uniform was designed partially as a visual expression of the Salvation Army, a way for people to align to a belief 'subculture'. Look at a young person on a night out and you see an expression of their personal style, their tastes, their subculture... have a look at their myspace page to see (& hear) their cultural "evangelizing", promoting their unique tastes and sharing their worldviews.

So open the wardrobe of the loudest and gutsiest young Salvos... in it you'll find red shields, modified uniform jackets, salvo badges (shameless plug).. all screaming "I AM THE SALVATION ARMY". Their everyday clothes carry an expression of their do-or-die faith, an affiliation to their movement and a commitment to a world-winning cause.

Salvos care so much about uniform-wearing because it communicates who we are.... or does it? Are we on about communicating? or is it really about uniformity?
I love wearing salvo uniform... but the 'official' uniform is understated and too 'respectable'... Navy blues look smart and different enough for people to take notice... but lets get practical, down here in AUS where we wear white shirts most of the year, we tend to look more like security guards than anything else!! (due to the white "S" on each shoulder being the most visible logo on the uniform). Slap an inoffensive, unobtrusive logo on a polo shirt, a jacket... does that better communicate The Salvation Army for all to see?....

NO! ...emblazon the red shield on my clothing (full-front, in-yer-face red t-shirt) and I'll be happy! the shield is recognized world-wide, it opens doors... people know you're a salvo from 500m away! Anything I do while wearing my red shirt is burned into the retinas of community members, as THE work of the Salvation Army.

I love wearing my uniform. It's an extension of my burning heart for this movement and the mission it represents... Transforming lives, caring for people, making disciples and reforming society... in the name of Jesus. What an awesome responsibility, to represent God and our movement. I believe we can trust our young people with that... no matter what it looks like.

How can a Po-mo live with Mo?

Are you Po-mo or Mo? how are you getting on with the transition?
I've recently been reading "Postmodernism and the Salvation Army" (TSA Triterritorial Theological Forum - AUS, AUE, NZ, FiJI & TONGA). In one chapter, it talks about how symbolism is a huge part of the Salvation Army's 'thing'. It says,
"Postmodernity.. offers a number of new opportunities for the Army to embrace. These include symbolism that is:

• less word, more visually centred;
• less cerebral, more exponentially based;
• less metanarrative, more personal narrative encouraged;
• less explanation, more mystery allowed;
• less formality, more play and artistic expression;
• less structure, more creativity;
• less order, more party celebration;
• less control, more transparency and vulnerability"

I can see these tensions playing themselves out in my life at the moment. The question I grapple with, is how can a postmodernist live with modernism? The answers?

• Become Modernist - let the system shape you
• Change others to Postmodernists - shape the system
• struggle somewhere in the middle - grapple with the issues, not let it take you over
• Give up - ignorance is bliss (yeah right)

I hope I'm a 'struggler', but sometimes think I might be a 'everyone needs to get with po-mo, NOW!' kind of person (maybe trying to make up for the Mo's dragging their feet!).

One more list of dot points for you.... about structures that will enrich the Army for the future.
"The institution that will work for us in the postmodern era is one that:

• thanks God for its potential contribution to renewal and mission;
• can distinguish between purpose and process;
• is strong on vision and mission while being relaxed about boundaries;
• holds itself up to scrutiny and acknowledges its own transitory nature;
• can laugh at itself;
• listens intently to those at the grass roots;
• is saturated by grace."

I think perhaps that last point holds some answers for Po-mo's and Mo's living in harmony and taking this transition on.... GRACE.
Lord send us more grace, we need it to remain united for your purpose - to be a SALVATION Army. Amen.

This Easter...

I'm an "easter person" - I love that Jesus died for my sins and was risen from death - bringing an opportunity for everyone to experience his saving love! Our TC ('Jimmy' Knaggs), spoke tonight about being 'easter people' and living not for dead things, but for the real life found only in Jesus. Today is Easter Sunday and we celebrate Jesus' being risen from death, its the most awesome day of the year for Christians to celebrate the joy and the hope we have for the future, Jesus is alive and working in our lives today!!!! (Yipee, Hooray!)

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
Luke 24:5-6 (Angels speaking to the women at the tomb)

It wasn't really part of the sermon, but while I was listening to TC Jim, I began to think about how I'm always on about the Salvation Army becoming a powerfully passionate movement once again, its a pretty awesome thing to think about, because we need to challenge the status quo when the Holy Spirit prompts a change...
BUT... life's all about JESUS! If I become engrossed in the systems and politics of the Salvos as an organisation, I'm kinda of missing God's calling for me! God wants me to bring focus and glory to him, not to people. The Salvation Army is great in the vision it provides, but without Jesus, it is also a dead thing, because life is found in Christ alone.

In the mish-mash of Easter events I went to this year (Rosebud corps, MCD Easter Camp, Divisional Youth celebration @ Waverley), I've been blown away by something I've seen and heard...

Jesus is alive (YAY!) and at work in the Salvation Army!!!
Young adults, youth and children have a vital part to play in the next 'chapter' of Jesus' mission to the world. I'm seeing more young people, more fired up, more passionate, more equipped than ever before... they are being handed the tools for the work openly and being truly trusted with the responsibility of bringing the gospel to the streets (Hallelujah! thanks Jim!). The people of the world see our young people actively loving the community and they LOVE it!!!! What an opportunity for us to bring the gospel back to where it belongs, out in the open, free for all!!!!

A 'force' of young people is rising up for Jesus.... I say its a REVOLUTION!!!!!!!

Thank you Jesus!

Frustration is my Friend

Ever had a moment when you've heard someone talking about something that you've been through, but they're not telling it with the passion you feel about it?
That's my life.

I really should stop reading Blogs from other Salvo people, I invariably get fired up by the prophetic voices rising up all over the world, reminding us to chase after Holiness and save souls... Then I read comments under these passionate posts and get all dis-heartened by people who just don't seem to get it. Why???

It seems obvious to me that the Salvation Army has been called to a specific task and that we are an Army for a reason. We are not about pussy-footing around and people don't expect that of us. We radically challenge the status quo, we fight against injustice, against poverty, against oppression, against the evils that see people condemned to a life of hopelessness.... we preach the gospel whether the 'time is favourable or not', we get out into the community to make Jesus a recognisable face in our neighbourhood, we challenge the lost to give up a life of sin and despair to chase after radical holiness, we meet needs in the name of Christ, we work at actively seeing lives transformed by the power of the Cross!
...or do we?

I'd love to say yes.... but I believe there is more for us to experience in the work of reaching this world!
I'm completely unable to say no..... many saints are fighting to the end to see the lost won for Jesus! They're making headway in the Spiritual War... when will 'back-up' arrive? Will reinforcement troops join the fight alongside them? (are you one of them?)

I struggle with these feelings, you see as gung-ho as I am about getting a Spiritual Revolution underway, I can find complacency creeping in. Being a cadet is great, opportunities are around for ministry... but this is not the place God has called me to. I am not called to be a theological student, part-time cleaner, odd-jobs minister..... (although some may be).... I am called to be a no-holds-barred, passionate revolutionary, fighting to see the world won for Jesus.... to see his unending compassion raining down on the oppressed and down-trodden... to shine a light in this dark world... for my heart to break for God's children and each day to humbly walk the path of Jesus.... Full-time ministry won't come for me until after college, but there must be something I can do now... then again... We're stretched in so many different directions, could I handle 'one more' outreach project? (Lord, please make it 'yes'!)

Before I came into college, I was given a vision of a high white tower with eagles nesting in the rafters, babies being nurtured and pushed over the edge to learn how to fly. I saw also, a pegasus, able to walk within hours of birth, but for the pegasus, learning to fly meant running along the ground, stretching its' wings.... Both eventually fly... one in the seclusion of a tower, the other with feet steadily pounding the earth.

My heart longs for the earth, to feeling the dust rising behind me... to mix with the horses, the wild brumbies, and to teach them, that they too can fly.

The frustration for me is constant... want to be in the world - have to be apart... ergh!
The tension of this struggle is such that I am determined to hold onto the fire placed in me by the Holy Spirit, to tightly embrace the burden he has for me to promote a revolution, to learn and grow by the teaching of the Spirit, to feel the passion threaten to burst out of me! (Praise the Lord for Blogging, without it I would burst!). This struggle enables a refining of passion and calling, to be in the world serving in the name of Jesus. It hurts, but it's good. Frustration is my friend.

YOU CAN'T GET 'WHITE-HOT' WITHOUT BEING IN THE FIRE...

A Spiritual Revolution for the 21st Century!

Hi, going nuts with my MSN Livespace blog, so I've made the change in order to make the Revolution rant more accessible!!! Here is some of my passion from a recent 'pre-college' assignment asking me to describe the 21st-Century officer... so here it goes...

In its relatively short history, The Salvation Army has experienced some of the greatest revolutions of the ages. The Industrial Revolution in the 19th Century was the setting for its founding in the East-end of London. In the 20th century came the communist revolution in Russia and two World Wars, which impacted the Western world in a dramatic way. Late in the 20th century, the Salvation Army was faced with the generational revolution of the Baby boomers and more recently, the technological revolution. All of this has affected society in ways that were extremely painful in the short-term, but brought long-term change and growth.

As an Army on a gospel mission in the world of the 21st Century, we have similar issues to face in the Spiritual Revolution I believe we will soon face. It is ministers with a specific calling that are required for the task of reaching this world, and this generation in the name of Christ. A new ‘breed’ of revolutionary officer is rising up in the Salvation Army, created by God for “such a time as this”! The calling of God is of vital importance to the character of a ‘revolutionary’. To form an image of what this 21st century officer will look like, we should consider the following questions:

Who is God calling? This generation of 21st century officers are from a vast spectrum of ages and backgrounds, they are united by their “evangelistic zeal,… commitment to holiness and.. strong community outreach,” key strengths attributed to the Salvation Army (TSA IHQ, 1986:101). These officers connect with the Generation Y characteristics of people-centeredness, a tribalistic focus that means they love to be part of a larger group. Their energy, drive to learn and ability to make things happen means they are an upcoming force in the world! Young people of today are looking for a cause, they are searching for meaning in their lives and they want to make this world a better place. It is from this group of people that I believe God is now calling a wave of revolutionaries to become 21st Century officers.

What is God calling them to? Primarily God calls people to serve in the name of Jesus. The distinctive of these revolutionaries is the focus of their ministry, these are not people with a ‘career’-minded attitude. They are ‘all about’ the mission set out for them by God. Their commission and calling to reach the world for Jesus is what drives them first and foremost, not the expectations of others or the red tape of bureaucracy. These officers are educated and connected with today’s society, working to change the world for Jesus and make The Salvation Army the most effective it can be in its mission.

The revolutionary officer of the 21st Century will be recognised by their passion, evangelistic heart, holiness, love for all and the spirit living and working in them. Their passion for God and serving him will be evident by their unwavering desire to be involved in ministry. This also will be characterised by a love for prayer and the word. Their heart for evangelism is noticeable in their excitement to engage with ‘not-yet’ Christians and the heated discussions (of which they will no doubt be involved!) of how to best reach the lost. Holiness will be an important aspect of their character, they will rely on and strive for the Holy Spirit and his gifts. In order for their integrity and influence to be without question, the revolutionary will see personal and social holiness of utmost importance to The Salvation Army and to God. Love is what drives these revolutionaries to action, their love for God fuels ministry, love for the lost drives them to their knees in prayer and love for the Army’s unique calling gives them a ‘cause to die for’! Without love the revolutionary Salvationist becomes a rattling timbrel or an out-of-tune songster stuck on a long note (please refer to 1 Corinthians 13:1 TSA version!). The Holy Spirit is what takes these revolutionaries from being burrs on the proverbial Salvation Army backside and inspires them with prophetic insights, words of knowledge, healing and other such gifts to minister in the Holy Spirit’s power. Their reliance on the Spirit in ministry is the lifeblood of who they are. Without the spirit, the revolutionary becomes evolutionary (and evolution never saved anyone!).

Just as each revolution in the world has its key figures and heroes, so too will this revolution. The Salvation Army officer of today is the hero of this spiritual revolution. These officers are those who lay their lives on the line to see genuine and lasting change - at a community level - within The Salvation Army and the entire world. A true revolutionary faces an oncoming current standing their ground against the tide of popular opinion. They are characterised by their strength in constant persecution and uncompromising commitment to the mission to which they have been called.

Just as Jesus said, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown” (Luke 4:24, NIV), the revolutionary will not be received well among their own people, we may be first drawn to notice them for what they are getting into trouble about! Until there is a change of culture within our Army, these on-fire, mission-focussed officers may be rejected by those who are ‘traditionalists’ (not to be mistaken for the real Salvation Army traditions of soul-saving and social holiness!). They may be called arrogant or stubborn, but it is this steadfastness in spirit that will allow others to stand with them in serving Christ.

In ushering in this generation of Salvation Army Officers equipped for the 21st century, it is our responsibility to further equip the whole Salvation Army with a stronger sense of who we are as Salvationists under God. “If we know who we are – Salvationists – and it’s a non-negotiable point with us, then our passionate commitment, the sheer joyful excitement and the heroic aspects of our identity will never lack in finding disciples.” (Geoff Ryan, Sowing Dragons, p63-64). This strong sense of Salvationist identity will allow people to be sure of what they are signing up for and give greater confidence for ministry to those who are its Soldiers. This said, we cannot be ready for ministry in this century, as an organisation, if we do not continually assess and update our structure and systems (as is timely) to further empower our soldiers and officers in the work of Christ. This century will also require a strong sense of God’s vision for the future of the Army and mission for the present - in order to greater fulfil our calling to reach the last, the lost and the least in the name of Jesus.

Finally, an officer in the 21st Century - a revolutionary - must rely fully on our God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), in order to fulfil the calling placed on their life, and their mandate to grow the kingdom under The Salvation Army, in the name of Jesus Christ. As a favourite ‘fake Salvo’ t-shirt of mine says, “the Revolution starts here”, I wear it proudly, as an outward sign of an inner reality; I can’t begin a spiritual revolution in the world, until I first allow God to perform a Revolution within me. These revolutionary officers will embody the spirit of revolution on behalf of The Salvation Army, from this - the beginnings of a world-wide spiritual revolution will be seen.