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

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.