Verbal Witness

Corps Cadet Sunday in Anchorage

2012-02-19T19:29:00.000-09:00

I was blessed today with the opportunity to preach on Corps Cadet Sunday on "Heart to God & Hand to Man." The Corps Cadets and their leader did a great job in organizing and leading almost every part of the Holiness meeting. God was good and we had people of all ages at the mercy seat, both young and old. God is amazing!

To listen to the message just visit the sermon player at... http://verbalwitness.blogspot.com/p/captain-marks-current-sermons.html or via the tab above labeled "Captain Mark's current sermons". Once there just click the triangle on the left to play or click title of the sermon to "show details", there you can download an mp3, find a manuscript or notes, or a brief description of the topic.

For other sermons feel free to check out the sermon sites at http://sermon.net/Thielenhaus or http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer
God bless your study!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Parable of the fishless fishermen

2012-02-06T17:47:00.000-09:00

Lord help me be much more intentional about going fishing.

-------

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Pete Brookshaw: The Church WILL Grow

2012-01-08T14:10:00.000-09:00

This is worth the read.

Pete Brookshaw: The Church WILL Grow: When God promises something it will happen right? When God says he will fulfil a prayer on your heart, God is faithful to answering that prayer... (click the link to see the rest of the story)

----------------

May God Himself bring it to completion in a superabundant manner, more than you can ask, hope, dream, or imagine.

God is good!

Prayers of agreement from the Salvation Army in Alaska, and since God shows no favoritism, may He work the same season of growth here as well.

------------------------

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Don't cross this Tennessee town (OneNewsNow.com)

2011-12-15T10:40:00.000-09:00

Don't cross this Tennessee town (OneNewsNow.com)

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=1496904

Good link. Let's display the Cross! Even more than that, let's proclaim the saving gospel message of the Cross to all creation!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

An Illustration on Eternity by Francis Chan

2011-11-02T16:12:00.000-08:00

Please consider where you will spend eternity, a million years and you won't have turned the first page, so repent of your sins, accept Jesus as your Savior, on His terms as stated in the Bible, and receive eternal life in Heaven (it makes short part of life better too).

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Letter & video link from the General...

2011-10-25T09:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Officers, Soldiers, and friends of The Salvation Army,

Here is a forward of a recent letter from the general.
-------------
Dear Salvationists:

Every Thursday, The Salvation Army around the world is in prayer for the entire day. Territories, commands and individual Salvationists have signed up, covenanting to use 30 minutes each Thursday between 5.00am and 8.00am to pray for the Army – its zeal for God, its compassionate service in every community and its daring and fruitful witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Driven by a desire to be the people God wants us to be and to do what he wants us to do, we commit ourselves to seeking the only One who can empower us with the Holy Spirit and energise and equip us for ministry in the 21st century.

One officer has written to me, ‘Some corps and divisional headquarters have changed their regular weekly prayer time to Thursday so more and more of us are lifting our requests to God at the same time. I’ve just come from the territorial headquarters prayer meeting where one pray-er likened this worldwide prayer meeting to a “Mexican wave” making its way around the globe as Thursday dawns in each new place – that’s one massive Mexican wave which God will not ignore.’

May the Lord hear the prayers of the tens of thousands of Salvationists united in seeking him.

The logo above features the ‘One Army, One Mission, One Message’ headings which are at the heart of the vision for the international Salvation Army launched on Thursday 13 October 2011. The statement is brought to life through the Vision Plan (downloadable from http://sar.my/one), which includes 12 International Mission Priorities. The priorities are headed by a determined ‘we will’.

Let’s pray through the vision. Let’s pray specifically for each Mission Priority. Dwell on each phrase in the Vision Statement and in each priority. Explore what they mean for you personally as well as for your corps/centre, division, command/territory and for the Army internationally.

Begin with praise and thanksgiving, for we have been a blessed people, and a blessing, since he called the Army into being almost 150 years ago. Then let’s move to confession – where we have failed him – possibly because we have been more concerned about our own image and self-preservation than the winning of the lost. Let’s petition and intercede so that we will be found faithful in holy living, sanctified activism and fruitful ministry. Let’s offer ourselves afresh for him to use his Army for his will and purpose in the 21st century.

Locally your territory/command may be using different language or terminology when it comes to mission and vision, but at the heart of it all is being faithful as his people in his service.

So together, let’s praise, confess, ask and surrender to him to see Spirit-inspired and Spirit-blessed action.

May the Lord be honoured and glorified as we unite in prayer.

Yours sincerely,

Linda Bond
GENERAL
-------
Live holy, preach Jesus!

If you're not fishing your not following - repost from Mark Cahill

2011-10-20T15:09:00.001-08:00

This is a newsletter reposted from MarkCahill.org - Good question, are you a "Fan or Follower"?
http://www.markcahill.org/news/1011news.html

October 2011 Newsletter

Fan or Follower?

I have got a question for you: Are you a fan or a follower? Think about that for a second. While they may sound similar, those two terms are actually quite different.

As most of you are aware, we have an addiction to sports here in America. Sometimes our lives are completely wrapped around it. We will check every score, tailgate for hours on end before then going to the actual game, put things on our cars to show our allegiance, and we will even join a fantasy league because, we love a sport so much. If you take a look at that list, you’ll see an example of a follower, who is not that hard to pick out.

But a fan is much harder to find. They blend right in with the followers around them, but they don’t have a real affinity for it all. They will enjoy a team when it is successful, but are just as ready to dump them when they’re not. They will go to a game if they get a ticket, but it is no big deal if they don’t go. That is because they are just a fan.

I played basketball when I was a student at Auburn years ago. We beat Kentucky when they were the number one team in the country. There was a packed house when we played that day, and it was a lot of fun! But at our next home game, there were only 2500 people there, which is only about a quarter full. Friends asked me, where was everybody? I told them we were a football school and not a basketball school. We even had a future NBA hall of famer on the team, and people still didn’t come. We had fans, but not many followers.

So when it comes to Jesus Christ, are you a fan or are you a follower?

1 Samuel 12:13-15:

“Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.”

You see, followers obey the Lord no matter what the cost. They don’t worry what people think about them. They obey the Lord whatever the cost, because it is the right thing to do. Pleasing men does not come into the conversation.

Ruth 1:16,17:

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:” “Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

You see, Ruth wasn’t a fan of Naomi. She was a follower of Naomi. If following Naomi meant death, so be it. She loved her that much.

Matthew 4:19,20:

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

A guy made a simple statement to me on the phone one day. He said, “If you’re not fishing, you’re not following!” I will never forget that statement all the days of my life. It was very challenging. Fans of Jesus don’t seem to care about the lost, but followers do. Also remember that true leaders follow. You cannot be a true Biblical leader unless you follow the Lord.

Matthew 9:9:

“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.”

Was Matthew’s life ever the same again once he became born again? Of course not.

I just got this letter from a father: “My eldest son Eliot, saw you and your challenge on Sunday helped to turn him and his faith around. Last year in Grade 12, Eliot gave a presentation to his English class on Evolution being only a theory and not proven fact. His English teacher cautioned him on the topic by saying: “You realize Eliot that this presentation will create controversy.” Eliot responded: “Indeed,” but he soldiered on. He didn’t put the theory down, he merely pointed out areas of the theory that didn’t stand up to sound science. One girl in his class said to him: “Eliot, you can't present such a topic for the class, because this is NOT what we are taught in school!” Eliot replied to her: “Don’t think for one minute, that everything we are taught in school is true.”

You see, Elliot is not a fan of Jesus and Biblical truth, but a follower. How about you?

Acts 26:1:

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:”

I was kind of surprised when I read the encounter between Paul and King Agrippa. He never asked the King for his autograph. He never asked him for a picture. You see, Paul wasn’t impressed by the king, because he was a follower of the true King, Jesus Christ. He was not just a follower. Agrippa’s soul and those within listening distance were far more important than anything else at that moment.

I ran into a United States Senator recently, and had a nice chat with her. I gave her one of my booklets, and as I did, I could see the rest of her family get interested, so I gave them all one as well. Those souls are important to God, and they need to be important to me!

I just heard from a guy who has walked away from the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. He started reading secular sources, and his faith is gone. Followers, are you prepared for when Satan attacks? God is wiser than the wisest man and hasn’t let anyone down. Never forget that.

God gave me the chance to speak at a High Tech Breakfast here in Atlanta. It was men and women who are trying to reach their coworkers and friends for Jesus. I can’t even describe how much hope it gave me! There are people out there in the business world who are truly following.

When I look back at when I worked at IBM, I never had anyone witness to me. I never saw anyone with a Bible on their desk; no one talked about going to church over the weekend; nothing. I guess there might have been some fans of Jesus there, but there were certainly no followers.

A bunch of us were witnessing at a Georgia football game at the Georgia Dome. It was a blessed day. I met a lot of fans of Jesus who encouraged me to keep doing what I was doing, but didn’t want to stop and help. I also met some fans of Mark Cahill! People told me that they had read one of my books, etc. That is nice and even flattering, but followers of Jesus are needed on the streets of America—not fans of Mark Cahill!

I just got this letter from a physical therapist in Alabama:

“I just went to the Alabama Chapter meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association and took some of your books with me in my bag. Gave away every one of them. Got to challenge several Christians with what I was doing, talked to a couple who are either false converts or have forgotten who their first love is supposed to be, and even got to witness to the lesbian who taught the course I was in. That was the best conversation. She said she wasn’t going to sleep that night until she read One Heartbeat! The sad thing is seeing “Christians” who refuse to wake up.”

It’s clear that Jon isn’t a fan of Jesus Christ. He is most definitely a follower.

You see, followers aren’t that hard to pick out. They stick out like sore thumb. I had a guy walk up to me in an airport and say, “You were just walking around looking for someone to witness to weren’t you?” I didn’t know it was that obvious!!

So, are you a fan of Jesus or a follower? It’s your choice to make. The days run short. Make the most out of every opportunity. Always remember that followers fish. Keep reaching the lost all the days of your life.

Until the nets are full,

---------

Are you a fan or a follower???

Live holy, preach Jesus!

The first thing out of your mouth?

2011-09-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Francis Chan - Stop praying video

This asks the question, "what would be the first thing out of your mouth is you actually approached the Lord in person, in all His fullness today"? The encouragement is to stop the standard repetitive prayers and actually talk to the Living God. Thank you Jesus for such a privilege.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

"180" video by Ray Comfort. - Beward of graphic material.

2011-09-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

This is taken from
http://180movie.com/
Please be aware this has some extremely graphic material from pictures and video from the holocost, to abortion, to the the things of eternity. Please take 33 minutes to watch and forward to everyone you know.

------------------- Live holy, preach Jesus!

Restaurant Evangelism - from youthworker.com

2011-09-24T22:41:00.001-08:00

Restaurant Evangelism

By Becky Roach | Posted July 14, 2011 | July 14, 2011

Scene: A few friends sitting around a table at a Chinese restaurant.

Bri: This place is AMAZING. This is the best fried rice I have ever had. I can't wait to tell everyone about it and get them here.

(Everyone at the table quickly turns and gives her a weird look.)

Erin: Are you crazy? Why would you tell people about this place? You don't know enough about it. Do you know when it was started? Who's the head chef? What's the calorie count of everything on the menu? How many wines do they offer? Bri, you can't tell anyone about this until you learn more. It's not like you're a chef or something. What do you know about good food?

Bri: I didn't really think I had to know everything. I mean this food is ridiculously good. Isn't that enough to get someone to come? I mean this is really, really awesome. Seriously, try the Lo Mein.

John: Bri, that's just the thing. You can't push your Lo Mein noodles on other people. They'll be totally offended. What about the vegans, huh? Did you think of that? They might not want to eat your Lo Mein noodles; when you tell them about this restaurant they're going to get really upset with you.

Bri: Really? You think people would be mad just because I suggested a restaurant?

John: Oh, yeah. Not only that, they'll make fun of you. They'll probably call you names. They might even beat you up. They'll say you're close-minded. I mean, this place only serves Chinese food. What about Italian food, Mediterranean Cuisine and Mexican food? Telling someone about a place that only serves one kind of food is ridiculous. If you try to get people to come here, you won't have any friends left by tomorrow.

Bri: OK, but tomorrow they are having a great special—buy one, get one free. Don't you think we should tell people about that? Did you guys taste these lettuce wraps? Who wouldn't enjoy these?

Gina: Come on Bri. You're really busy with a million things tomorrow. Is it really that important to get people here and take all that time out of your day just to tell them about this restaurant? Someone else will do it. It's not your job to be a walking commercial for this place.

Bri: Wow, what was I thinking? I guess you guys are right. I mean, I wouldn't have any idea where to start. No one has ever taught me how, given me a class or taken me to a seminar on how to tell people about a good restaurant. Let's just enjoy our food and keep it to ourselves.

Hold up a sign that says: THE END

Narrator: Will come on stage to do the wrap up: "We hope you caught on to our skit and the idea behind it. The excuses we give for not telling others about the powerful love Jesus has from them sound silly when we are talking about a restaurant. We don't think twice about recommending a place with good food to someone, but when it comes to offering the Bread of Life, our minds make up a million reasons for us not to do it: 'I don't know how. I'm too busy. I don't know enough. I'll be thought of as close-minded. Other people are doing it. I'm not good at it. The list could go on and on, but these are just excuses. Someone took the time to introduce you to Christ. Aren't you grateful that person didn't let anything hold him or her back from sharing the gospel with you? Pray for the power of Christ and the help of the Holy Spirit to enable you to move past all fears and share the love of Christ. Who will you invite?"

-------------------

Who will you share the gospel with today?

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Craig Groeschel Video : "What you pray for reflects what you believe about God."

2011-09-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Announcing Launch of SAVN.TV

2011-09-07T08:31:00.002-08:00

News from Territorial Commander Knaggs below....

----------------------------------------------------------

The Salvation Army
Territorial Headquarters - USA West
Office of the Territorial Commander
________________________________

~INVITATION~
Saturday, September 10, 4:30 p.m. (PST)
The Initial “Beginning” Launch of SAVN.tv

Soldiers and Friends of the Western Territory:

Not only are the above Internet TV call letters an acronym for Salvation Army Vision Network; they are also a contraction of the word, “SALVATION.” SAVN.TV is a Salvation Army Internet Mission Station where salvation can be proclaimed and found.

Jesus first cast the vision for this Mission Station in His proclamation of the Great Commission: Go into all the world and preach the good news (of salvation) to all creation (Mark 16:15). William Booth, co-founder of The Salvation Army, carried this vision into the 20th Century with his proclamation: “We are a salvation people. This is our specialty – getting saved, keeping saved, and getting other people saved.” A century later General John Gowans framed the vision this way: Saving Souls, Growing Saints, and Serving Suffering Humanity.

My vision for the 21st Century forward is this: The Internet and Cyberspace is our contemporary, virtual street corner ‘into all the world’ and ‘getting people saved’ – Cyberspace for Christ!
Orders & Regulations for Salvation Army Officers captures the Founder’s vision this way: “...he will not only make use of the Army’s time-honored methods of evangelism, adapting them in the most effective way possible to the needs of the hour, but he will courageously experiment with new ways of making Jesus known as Savior of men. In other words, he will be willing to be dedicated to failure. In the divine economy this could be the way to God-glorifying success.”

So ordered, we will be launching the first experimental phase of savn.tv during the Welcome of Cadets
Weekend, September 10, 11, 2011. It is the “beginning phase,” and will expand as “the spirit quickeneth – gives (it) life” (John 6:63).

Please accept this as a personal invitation to attend this first phase launch on www.savn.tv beginning with a Red, Yellow, Blue Carpet Event, live-streamed from the Pasadena Ambassador Auditorium at 5:00 p.m. (PST), featuring cadets from the Proclaimers of the Resurrection session. And I will be there to greet you personally. The Welcome of Cadets Meeting will also to be live-streamed following at 6:00 p.m. (PST).

There you will also find a beginning menu of “On Demand” programs to be viewed, along with a list of “Coming Attractions,” including a live-streamed 9/11 Service of Remembrance at the Long Beach Temple Corps on Sunday, September 11, 2:00 p.m. (PST), featuring Salvation Army leaders who led the army’s work at Ground Zero. Please feel free to include the above in your Sunday announcements.
Again, we will launch with a small offering of programs and grow as “the spirit quickeneth – gives (it) life.” Come grow (the Kingdom) with us!

See you on the web

Sincerely,
Jim
James M. Knaggs, Commissioner
TERRITORIAL COMMANDER

----------------------------------------------------
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Mark Cahill's website...

2011-09-06T21:36:00.001-08:00

The video is good, but I highly enjoyed his book "one thing you can't do in heaven". I've also been encouraged by his teaching on audio via his website MarkCahill.org. I've also given one of his books to someone on a plane ride after a long talk about faith and Jesus Christ (the book was "one heartbeat away).

Live holy, preach Jesus!

This is discipling (video)

2011-08-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Turning People Back from the Dangers of Hell, by Mark Driscoll

2011-08-21T20:43:00.000-08:00

Video taken from...
http://www.sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/mark-driscoll-turning-people-back-from-the-dangers-of-hell-1012.asp?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BetterPreachingUpdate

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Thoughts on Moses & the Exodus

2011-08-17T13:19:00.000-08:00

This past weekend my daughters were reading from Exodus while driving home in the van from a season at camp. As they read the familiar story of the Exodus and Moses I "heard" it in a fresh way... Thank you Lord that Your Word has power in and of itself and that in its reading there is power.

No time for a deep theological breakdown, just passages that have had me meditating....

Exodus 3: ¹ Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. ³ So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” ⁴ When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

Meditation #1 - it was when Moses when to look at what God was doing right before his eyes that God spoke to Him. Had Moses not been looking, he wouldn't have heard God speaking.

Exodus 3:¹¹ But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” ¹² And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” ¹³ Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” ¹⁴ God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Meditation #2 - As God asked Moses to serve Him, Moses said, "who am I". God's response was "I AM, and I'll be with you". It doesn't matter who we are, or aren't, if the I AM is with us.

Exodus 4:¹ Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” ² Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. ³ The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. ⁴ Then the LORD said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. ⁵ “This,” said the LORD, “is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

Meditation #3- Moses asked for a sign, and when God gave him a sign, Moses' first response was to run - even from a sign that God was with him. Moses began to run from the very thing that would allow God to empower him because it looked scary.

Response-
1. Be looking into what God is already doing right in front of you, then be ready to hear from God.
2. Don't worry about who you are if you have God Himself with you.
3. Don't run from the signs God is giving you right now, they are meant to empower and affirm you.

Consider all of these while you share the gospel with someone today!

-------------------
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Rick McKinley: The Flaw of Universalism

2011-08-08T08:46:00.001-08:00

This taken from
http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/videos-for-pastors/153137-rick-mckinley-the-flaw-of-universalism.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Update

Universalism from :redux on Vimeo.

Lovingly warn people of the reality of hell and invite them to find Salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Repent of your sins, live for Jesus on His terms, share the gospel!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Is Your Church A Movement or A Museum?

2011-08-05T08:30:00.001-08:00

Reposted from churchleaders.com
http://www.churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-videos/152982-is-your-church-a-movement-or-a-museum.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Update

"Church Planter" by Darrin Patrick from Crossway on Vimeo.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Angy "Atheists" - people of faith who know that there is a God

2011-08-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been in a discussion with an "angry atheist" who wants proof of God or say they don't have faith? Or have you ever thought that "angry atheists" don't believe there is a God so why bother trying to convince them? Here are a couple thoughts today.

#1 The other day I saw a rock on an upstairs porch railing, immediately I knew there was know way that rock could have gotten there by itself and thought, "who would have put that rock up here", or I've seen two identical rows of rock making a path leading to a door way and known it was campers (someone) who must have done it (of course). To believe that "chance" allowed one large rock to end up on an upstairs railing, perfectly, without help, requires too much faith when common sense evidence tells me otherwise. To see 20 rocks making a perfect design with a purpose (a path to the cabin) is too plainly obvious that someone created it for me to believe it was chance that allowed the rocks to get that way by chance.

As a common illustration says, to see a building, painting, creation, is proof there must be a builder, painter, creator. To believe that a "big bang" caused and explosion that by chance lead to every other chance for everything in existence requires too much faith to not bring up in your conversation.

#2 If someone ever asks "what proof do you have there is a God", why not ask them, "what proof have you found that there is absolutely no god". Let them defend their faith for a bit and get a chance to share what they believe and have put their hope and faith in.

#3 If "atheists" didn't believe in God (and on some level the God of the Bible) then why would they spend so much time, energy, and money trying to proof He doesn't exist or remove all trace of Him from our society.

I read this article today and it just reinforced what I believe.http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=1400038

Here are some quotes to consider.

- Atheists have no problem with Muslims who want to erect a mega-mosque near the Ground Zero site, but they don't want a cross.

- "[Their complaining is] not about Islam. It's not about eastern religions. They don't attack the Buddhist monks who spend their life in solitude. They don't attack Hindus praying to different gods in the caste system," notes Sekulow. "They attack Christianity and really the heritage of our country that they would hope to erase."

Angry atheists will spend time, energy, and money to advertise their belief that there is no God (of the Bible) and will spend time, energy, and money to fight in court, petition, and protest, that we as believers in God should not "advertise" our beliefs.

Here is one way I know that "angry atheists" believe there is a God. Those same people spending time, money, energy, and forming united groups (congregations of similar faith) to study their beliefs (their church) and work to plan next how to deliver their message and come against God (discipleship of their faith) - those same people will spend no time time, energy, and money coming against anything else from the Easter Bunny, to Santa Clause, or the belief in aliens from another planet.

WHY? Because if something is make believe, fantasy, or won't cause you to question how you live your life in the light of eternity, you would consider people who lived their lives for those things to be "odd" and just ignore them.

Angry atheists won't spend time, money, and energy fighting against other religions, Muslims, Buddhists, Wiccans, New Age, Reincarnationists, etc. WHY? Because they have no instilled fear of facing those "gods" that they "believe" to be imaginary. They would simply say those believers are "odd" and just ignore them.

BUT - The God of the Bible, the True God of Christianity. The God who we are told created us, and instilled in us a knowledge of Him in us, and who left us without excuse to recognize there is proof of God everywhere we look. The God who placed eternity in our hearts and who said in His Word that only a fool would say in his heart that there is no god (Psalm 14 & Psalm 53).

My point in all this ranting today... I guess, simply, that everyone, even atheists, have put faith and hope in something. Everyone has an instilled system that moves them to believe there is more to this life (and even one to come). Everyone believes there is a point to being moral and good (whatever good they believe). Everyone has an instilled conscience (con- "with" science - "knowledge") that there is right and wrong and even that the God of our Holy Bible will require an account someday and it moves people to get angry or saved.

Don't get "angry" and "attack" back at the "atheists" you know or encounter. Notice that they are 1st people of faith who, without Jesus, will end up in endless punishment.

Lovingly share the good news of the True God who gave us His Word and sent His Son Jesus Christ to make a way for them to find eternal happiness in Heaven with Him and an abundant life of knowing Him in the here and now.

Jude 1:17-22 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Who do you know that is need of news that there is a God who loves them and wants them saved from hell to heaven today? Boldly to and preach the good news today.

Somewhere today an "angry atheist" is sharing his or her belief. Somewhere today someone believes something that won't save their soul. Share your faith in the True God of the Bible today.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Andy Stanley: The New Commandment

2011-07-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

Reposted in entirety from http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/videos-for-pastors/152881-andy-stanley-the-new-commandment.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Update

Catalyst West 2010: Andy Stanley from Catalyst on Vimeo.

-----

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Restaurant Prayers - IHOP

2011-07-27T21:05:00.001-08:00

I've said in the past that our family usually prays for those who serve us in restaurants. Tonight we took the camp staff out to say thank you and asked the waitress if there was anything she needed prayer for. She immediately said yes. She and her husband are watching a 1 year old and 2 year old who just lost their mother. She said she'd only have them for a while until they could get them to the father, but until then they could use prayer for themselves and the kids. This time instead of praying for her as we got our meal, I asked if she would mind if we prayed for her right then. She said she'd love it. I led a prayer for her with our staff and she was elated. She thanked us at least 3 times (and even went in the back and bragged to some of the other employees what we had just done for her and made her night). We left a track for her and I hope to be able to follow up in the days ahead when we stop back in for another meal. Again I don't think I'm as bold as I ought to be with the gospel, but asking someone if they'd like prayer is just too easy not to do. Leaving a tract is too easy not to do. Offering this to those who are in the service industry who can't possibly get mad at their customers leaves all of us without excuse. We in America still have the ability to share with risk to our lives (at least for now) so how can we not do more. Lord please grant me the boldness I ought to have for you.

If you are looking for a safe way to start getting out of your shell in approaching others with the gospel? If you say you don't have any non-believing friends? Why not try some restaurant prayers and drop me a line and let me know how it goes.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Francis Chan on Erasing Hell. Let's warn someone today!

2011-07-26T00:20:00.001-08:00

This video is a little long, nearly 30 minutes, and is taken in entirety from
http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/videos-for-pastors/152665-francis-chan-takes-on-hell.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Update

Francis Chan talks about his life, ministry direction and why he wrote his new book, Erasing Hell, with Relevant Magazine's Josh Loveless.

-----------------------------
We as Salvationists believe in the eternal happiness of the righteous and the endless punishment of the wicked. We also believe that the only way to escape the realities of an eternity in Hell is an actively relationship with Jesus, a relationship based on repentance of our sins and the accepting of God's gracious gift of His Son Jesus Christ and the work He accomplished on the Cross.

If that is true, who must you share the truth of the gospel with today? If Hell and Heaven for eternity is at stake, what would keep you from telling everyone you meet?

Lord forgive me for my selfishness once again, and embolden me to love you enough that I am obedient to obey your command to preach the gospel to all creation, and embolden my love for everyone I ever meet, even in passing, that I would want them to know that you want know one to perish but all to come to salvation.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

What is Full Time Ministry? - www.MarkCahill.org

2011-07-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

What is Full Time Ministry? "article from newsletter by" www.MarkCahill.org

So, we are about halfway through the summer now: How is your witnessing going? This is turning into a fascinating summer for me! I have been meeting so many people and have had amazing conversations about the Lord!

One atheist I met told me he was having his bachelor party in Las Vegas just to ‘sin’ for the weekend! Wasn’t that an interesting way to phrase it? Even he knew what he was going to be doing wasn’t right. He knew right from wrong! He told me he was a pretty hardcore atheist, but that he would read my book and get back in touch with me. I’m excited to hear his thoughts.

I went to a couple of baseball games in St. Louis to watch the Cardinals play, and one of my friends who plays for the team told me he was watching me in the stands witnessing! I had so many neat conversations in those stands. I have already gotten two emails from people that I met at the games! One of the conversations was with a Muslim man from Iraq who is a dentist here in the States now. We had the most interesting talk about religion that lasted for several innings. It was like the game didn’t exist. He was such a nice man. Actually, he was one of the nicest men I have ever met before. Friendly, kind, generous, loving towards all, and he has even been on medical mission trips with Christian organizations. But of course, we know that it is not by works that someone gets to heaven. That is why we talked about who the Biblical Jesus is. I want to make sure this man is born again and saved before he dies.

You see when I was at that baseball game, I was actually in full time ministry. But there is a common misperception that really needs to be corrected as we head toward the return of Jesus Christ. People always ask me, “How can I get into full time ministry?” What people are forgetting is that if you are breathing, and you are born again, you are already in full time ministry! Satan is just tricking you into thinking that you are not. Remember in Matthew 28:19, 20 when Jesus said,

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

People call that the Great Commission, and that is every Christian’s call into full time ministry! That is why I stand at my front door and pray each day before I walk out it. Because I know when I head out that door, I must be in full time ministry mode. Just today, I had this great talk with Joe, who grew up Catholic, but now doesn’t really believe in much at all. It was a great talk about our Lord. He even told me that there is another Christian man who has been witnessing to him! I get so excited when I get to water a seed that someone else has already planted! Praise the Lord for those folks who are in full time ministry everywhere they go!

Today I also met someone in the Atlanta airport who told me that I sat next to his dad a year or two ago on a plane flight!! Isn’t that an amazing “coincidence”? Kyle said he was so glad that we met, and he knew that it was meant to be. I am so glad that I was in full time ministry mode when I left the house both today and nearly two years ago when I met Kyle’s father!

Last night, I had this incredible talk with a waiter. Justin grew up Catholic, but his girlfriend is Christian. He told me that she is trying to ‘get him saved!’ So we talked about what that meant, and why you need to do it. He had so, so many good questions. Oh, by the way, he wasn’t even my waiter! I am so glad that I was in full time ministry mode at the restaurant last night.

Moms and Dads: You are in full time ministry all day, every day with your kids.

Students and Teachers: You are in full time ministry all of the time as you interact with fellow students and teachers. One football player I know reads his Bible at his locker. He told me that so many times another player has walked over and asked what he was reading and that it leads to the most amazing conversations! I know one teacher who talks about Jesus in her classroom. She tells the kids if they want to get in depth about it to come to her room at 3:31—one minute after the bell rings! She told me that many times she has had a line of students at her door at the end of school!

Businessmen and women: You are in full time ministry mode representing the Lord when you do business in a Christian manner versus doing it the world’s way.

I know a doctor who witnesses to every single one of his patients!! I can’t tell you the number of doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors and business folks who have my books in their waiting rooms or lobbies for their patients or customers. I have heard from folks who have picked up a book at one of those places, and God used it to impact their lives.

Workers: You are in full time ministry every day. It is your job to share your faith and act like a Christian should in the workplace. When I was teaching at a Christian school, I hired a former professional baseball player to speak at an athletic banquet. As we spoke before the event, he told me that he worked for a cable company and laid cable. Inside, I was wondering, why do you do that? I, of course, thought that he was a millionaire from his pro baseball days, but then I started wondering how he had lost all his money. I shouldn’t have made that assumption. He looked at me and said, “I lay cable, because it gets me into people’s homes, so that I can talk to them about Jesus!” I can’t even begin to tell you how humbled I was. Here was this amazing, faithful man of God who stood for the Lord every single day in his ‘regular’ life. Why? Because he was in full time ministry mode everywhere he went.

A lady emailed the ministry recently and said that she had been struggling a lot with things in life. God sent her a Christian dishwasher repairman who witnessed to her and encouraged her. I am so glad that man realizes that he is in full time ministry.

Do you remember the great story of Jesus and the woman at the well? In John 4:6-10, it says:

“Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

Jesus was tired from the journey. He stopped to sit and get a drink of water. But even when He was tired and thirsty, He was in full time ministry mode, and that allowed one of the greatest stories in all of Scripture to occur. Why? Because the soul of that woman was more important to Him than that drink of water!

The great story of Paul and Felix in the book of Acts has always fascinated me. When Paul got before Felix, he began to speak truth. Acts 24:24,25 states,

“And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

Paul was in full time ministry mode. He was going to speak truth to Felix no matter what. Of course, he wanted to be set free, but Felix and Drusilla’s souls were much, much more important to Paul at that point than his freedom.

As one of my friends puts it, ‘ministry is not an occupation but a commandment’! Remember that full time ministry isn’t working at a church or a seminary or traveling and speaking at conferences. I have known so many people who work at places like that who become completely stagnant. They lose their zeal; they lose their passion. Why? They are completely removed from lost people. They get away from the great thrill of planting seeds with the lost. Don’t let that happen to you! You do not want to be lukewarm. Remember that if you are born again and breathing, you are in full time ministry every day! It leads to a very fascinating and satisfying life.

Until the nets are full,

----------------------------

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Francis Chan: We Need to Think Biblically

2011-07-11T23:22:00.001-08:00

Is your life "Biblically wierd"?

----

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Why Leaders Can't Afford to Be Easily Offended (from churchleaders.com)

2011-07-05T01:24:00.000-08:00

This was a good article, especially for a few friends who endured quite a lot this past week, may God bless your faithfulness in the midst of criticism.

The next is a link is to the article in its entirety if you want to see the source.
--------------------
Why Leaders Can't Afford to Be Easily Offended: "Take the high road, give the offender the benefit of the doubt, and move on."

As a leader, you are going to draw fire. People will criticize you. Some will second-guess your decisions. Others will impute motives that aren't there. A few will falsely accuse you.

For example, just a few weeks ago, someone wrote a blog post, publicly calling me a hypocrite. I won't lie: it stung. I was tempted to respond in kind. Thankfully, I didn't. But that doesn't mean it was easy. It never is for me. I often have to remind myself of three great truths I have learned—and am still learning—about offenses.

1. Offenses are inevitable. Jesus Himself said,
Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! (Matthew 18:7)

According to the Dictionary.com, woe means, "grievous distress, affliction, or trouble." Anyone who has been offended understands woe. And, in my experience, it doesn't get much easier with age.

But as Jesus also notes, offenses must come. People offend us by what they do (sins of commission) and, sometimes, by what they don't do (sins of omission). Either way, life affords us daily opportunities to be offended.

Note that while offenses may be inevitable, Jesus doesn't let the offender off the hook. They, too, are accountable and will experience their own level of woe.

2. Offenses can be good for us.
This is a hard saying. In the midst of being offended, it is difficult to believe that any good could come out of it, let alone that God might have a bigger purpose in mind. But consider two examples from the Bible.

The patriarch Joseph was ridiculed, kidnapped, and then sold into slavery by his own brothers. He was later falsely accused of attempting to seduce the wife of a high-ranking, Egyptian official. He spent several years in prison, and it was years before he was vindicated.

He could have been very angry with his brothers. Years later, when he finally meets up with them again, he is in a position of tremendous power. He could easily have had his revenge. Instead, Joseph said to them, Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones. (Genesis 50:19–20)

Or consider King David. In the latter part of his life, he was chased out of Jerusalem by his treasonous son, Absalom. If that weren't bad enough, a character named Shimei meets him on the road and starts throwing rocks at him. He curses the king and reminds him of all his sins. He says, Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man! (2 Samuel 16:7, 8)

Abishai, one of King David's servants, said, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!" But note how David responded: Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him. It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day. (2 Samuel 16:11, 12).

It's easy to resent those who offend us. But what if God has a deep and important purpose for sending them—something that He intends for our good because He truly loves us (see Romans 8:28).

3. Being offended is a choice. Every leader should memorize this verse:
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. (Proverbs 19:11)

There are certainly times when it is legitimate to be angry. The Apostle Paul says, "Be angry, and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26). Anger can be a valid response to something that is wrong. But it can quickly become toxic—not only for those to whom we direct it but also for ourselves. This is why the Apostle James admonishes us to be "slow to anger" (James 1:19, 20).

Between the stimulus and the response is the power to chose. This is precisely what makes us human.

We don't have to respond in kind.

The greatest leaders I know are not easily offended. Instead, they practice the habit of overlooking offenses. They take the high road, give the offender the benefit of the doubt, and move on. What about you?
---------
Live holy, preach Jesus!

The gospel in the Old Testament

2011-06-30T10:45:00.002-08:00

This article in its entirety is found at...

http://www.evangelism.net/sharing-the-gospel-from-the-old-testament.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Evangelismnet+%28Evangelism.net%29

Posted By Larry Moyer On June 29, 2011

EvanTell’s Bad News Good News approach ^[1] to presenting the gospel that is presented in our May I Ask You a Question booklet has been very helpful to many. Believers have found it to be very effective when presenting the gospel to the lost.

I’ve been asked, “Suppose you are talking to a Jewish person who only accepts the Old Testament. How could you present Bad News Good News from the Old Testament?” These would be the main points and the verses I would use:

^[2]Bad News #1 – We are all sinners
(Ecclesiastes 7:20) For there is not a just man on earth, who does good And does not sin.

Bad News #2 – The penalty of sin is death
(Ezekiel 18:4) Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul that sins shall die.

Good News #1 – Christ (the Messiah) died for you
(Isaiah 53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Good News #2 – You can be saved through faith
(Genesis 15:6) And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

The good news of Jesus Christ is the same, but you can easily use verses from the Old Testament to walk through a gospel presentation such as the Bad News Good News approach. One can see that the entirety of Scripture points to Jesus; He truly is central to the message within the Bible.

The method can change (and yes, even the Scripture verses referred to), but the message is the same:”Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.”

Article printed from Evangelism.net: http://www.evangelism.net

URL to article: http://www.evangelism.net/sharing-the-gospel-from-the-old-testament.htm

URLs in this post:

[1] EvanTell’s Bad News Good News approach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUe9ZgADBNQ&feature=channel_video_title

[2] Image: http://www.evangelism.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Bible_gold_sm.jpg

--------------------

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Service Corps - Alaska video update

2011-06-23T00:51:00.000-08:00

Great to see the Team USA Service Corps Team serving in Wrangell Alaska. May God bless your work and may you end with testimonies of changed lives and people coming to know Christ.

Here is part of their blog...

Alaskan Adventures

Jun. 22nd | No showers, no beds, no worries. We have lots and lots of coffee and craisins, and even more Jesus! We arrived in Wrangell and immediately began working. We talked with the Corps Officers about VBS that would convene the next morning and began planning out the day’s activities. What we thought was part of the USA, really is another country. Alaska is like Portland, OR on steroids. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Whenever we venture off to get a taste of glory in nature, someone always says “why does this look so fake?” Seriously, the beauty is surreal. I will never get used to seeing the 7 foot wingspan of a bald eagle fly twenty feet over my head. It gets dark here around 11pm and the sun is all the way up by 4am. We are all so tired by the end of the day that we really aren’t bothered by it. VBS was awesome. There were about 20 kids that attended the VBS. The last day of VBS we took the kids to the park in 50 degree weather where they all played water games in shorts and swim suits while the rest of us cheered them on in our doubled hoodies and pants. Then we all went back to the corps and camped out with s’mores and tents in the chapel. 20 kids came to VBS and 20 kids rededicated or for the first time gave their lives to Christ. It’s only been a little over a week and hearts are changing… Especially mine! After many VBS days, moose stew, and White king Salmon, we left Wrangell Sunday and arrived at Ketchikan in the evening. We caught the Ferry from Ketchikan to Klawock and the Salvation Army Community greeted us with a Salvo potluck and lots of love. One of the Elders named Jeff gave us a tour of the island and brought us out to a cemetery and to look at a handmade canoe that we are going to go on later this week. It’s only been one day in Klawock and I love it. People have opened up with us and shared their personal lives with us. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with us and the Klawock community.

Signing off…

Jenn

Keep up to date on service corps items at...
http://saynetwork.com/servicecorps/category/media/usa-media/
http://saynetwork.com/servicecorps/category/team-blogs/usa/

Live holy, preach Jesus!

General Linda Bond's first pastoral letter.

2011-06-15T08:17:00.003-08:00

June 2011

Pastoral Letter

Dear Salvationists:

As this is my first pastoral letter since I took office as General in April, I want to share a personal word with you and also emphasise what we hold in common.

My upbringing in the New Aberdeen Corps in Nova Scotia, Canada provided me with a clear understanding of the gospel of Jesus. As a child, I was not only aware that I could accept him as my Saviour but was trained to serve him. That service ultimately led me to say yes to the Lord's clear call to be an officer. A variety of appointments over these past 42 years have proven that the Lord opens doors of opportunity and gives great fulfilment and blessing. As Lord and Saviour, he never disappoints. Obeying him, trusting him and living for him are my greatest joys.

No doubt you also have had a personal encounter with the Lord that has changed the course of your life. Every experience is different but what we share in common is that we serve him together in The Salvation Army.

We are blessed with a wonderful heritage and the future is as bright as the promises of God. Yet the present connects both, does it not? We build on the past and chart a course for the future by our faithfulness to his mission in the present. Surely we all desire to be part of a Spirit-filled Army of the 21st century! Much depends on our own response to the Spirit but we can never imagine what God has in store for the Army he raised up. We need to seek him, keep in step with his Spirit and make his mission our priority.

Very soon you will be hearing from your territorial/command leaders about a way in which we can meet together in prayer. Commencing 1 September, we will begin to hold a weekly 30-minute international prayer meeting on Thursdays. Territories and commands have been asked to choose a half hour between 5 and 8 o'clock in the morning and will be urging Salvationists to pray for the Army and our mission priorities. Because we serve in so many different time zones, there is the possibility that for all or most of every Thursday, the Army will be at prayer. I hope you too will be joining us, in groups or individually. There will be information coming soon on the General's website. I will be joining with staff at International Headquarters at 7.30am, London time.

I close this letter with one of my favourite verses of Scripture; Psalm 143:8: 'Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you'. The psalmist whispered this prayer in the midst of adverse circumstances. However, it can be prayed every day, in the best of times and the worst of times. And it will be a prayer that God will always answer. May you delight in his love, be secure in it and share it.

God bless you richly,
Linda Bond
General

http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_ihq_general.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/B94A7FA92DD47627802578B00035B7F0?openDocument&charset=utf-8

-----------
Live holy, preach Jesus!

My own little world.

2011-06-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

Greetings in Jesus Name,

I'm not posting as much during our Salvation Army Camping season, please keep the camp season in your prayers that every child would come to know Christ in a real, powerful, and personal way. Also pray that everyone who serves here, myself included, will look more like Jesus when the season is over.

Here is a good video, but also remember my last post and ones prior, that "social holiness, social justice, mercy ministry" or whatever you call it, is only "half-tistice and not holisitic" if we meet needs and never share the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Make sure that while you serve you share Jesus!
Enjoy the video.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

How to Do Justice and Not Undermine Evangelism

2011-06-05T11:00:00.001-08:00

A repost from SermonCentral and then my thought at the end...

------------------

Home » All Resources » Articles on Evangelism: How To » Don Carson,

How to Do Justice and Not Undermine Evangelism Don Carson

How do Christians work for justice in the world and not undermine the centrality of evangelism? Don Carson responds.

How do Christians work for justice in the world and not undermine the centrality of evangelism? Don Carson responds.

1. By doing evangelism. I know numerous groups that claim to be engaging in “holistic” ministry because they are helping the poor in Chicago or because they are digging wells in the Sahel, even though few, if any, of the workers have taken the time to explain to anyone who Jesus is and what he has done to reconcile us to God. Their ministry isn’t holistic; it’s halfistic or quarteristic.

2. By being careful not to malign believers of an earlier generation. The popular buzz is that evangelicals before this generation focused all their energies on proclamation and little or nothing on deeds of mercy. Doubtless one can find sad examples of such reductionism, but the sweeping condescension toward our evangelical forbears is neither true nor kind. To take but one example: The mission SIM has emphasized evangelism, church planting, and building indigenous churches for a century—yet without talking volubly of holistic ministry, it built, and still operates, many of the best hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.

3. By learning, with careful study of Scripture, just what the gospel is, becoming passionately excited about this gospel, and then distinguishing between the gospel and its entailments. The gospel is the good news of what God has done, especially in Christ Jesus, especially in his cross and resurrection; it is not what we do. Because it is news, it is to be proclaimed. But because it is powerful, it not only reconciles us to God, but also transforms us, and that necessarily shapes our behavior, priorities, values, relationships with people, and much more. These are not optional extras for the extremely sanctified, but entailments of the gospel. To preach moral duty without the underlying power of the gospel is moralism that is both pathetic and powerless; to preach a watered-down gospel as that which tips us into the kingdom, to be followed by discipleship and deeds of mercy, is an anemic shadow of the robust gospel of the Bible; to preach the gospel and social justice as equivalent demands is to misunderstand how the Bible hangs together.

4. By truly loving people in Jesus’ name—our neighbors as ourselves, doing good to all people, especially those of the household of faith. That necessarily includes the alleviation of suffering, both temporal and eternal. Christians interested in alleviating only eternal suffering implicitly deny the place of love here and now; Christians who by their failure to proclaim the Christ of the gospel of the kingdom while they treat AIDS victims in their suffering here and now show themselves not really to believe all that the Bible says about fleeing the wrath to come. In the end, it is a practical atheism and a failure in love.

-----

I couldn't help but think how often we in the west are doing halfistic or quarteristic ministry as opposed to holistic ministry because we have failed to share the gospel in Jesus Name while do the work in His Name. My prayer is that every Salvation Army, and follower of Jesus, will live with heart to God and hand to man, and also be bold in proclaiming Salvation found only through Jesus Christ.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Follow the black cat Revolution

2011-06-04T16:30:00.001-08:00

Check out the site & video - pretty cool!
http://www.followtheblackcat.com/index.htm

Here is the link to the descriptions behind the metaphor and imagery.
http://www.followtheblackcat.com/documents/TBCR%20-%20The%20Metaphor,%20Meaning%20and%20Message.pdf

Live holy, preach Jesus!

11 things repentance is not - video by Mark Driscoll

2011-06-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

Have you biblically repented of your sin, killed it, and do you now live holy for Him?

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Video - Francis Chan: Why We Can't Afford to Get Hell Wrong

2011-05-26T10:57:00.002-08:00

Live holy, preach Jesus!

All I have is Christ - video by Chris Powers

2011-05-23T10:38:00.002-08:00

This five-minute animated video by Chris Powers of Sovereign Grace unpacks a powerful story of preaching the gospel in a country that's closed. The video is set to the song "All I Have Is Christ" by Jordan Kauflin.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

If today isn't "judgment day", how about...

2011-05-21T08:03:00.000-08:00

Many know that today has been predicted by some to be "judgment day". Scripture says no man knows the day or the hour. Enough to that discussion for now.

As many non-Christians will be using the "missed judgment day" for making fun of Christians today, how about asking people this question today or in the next week....

So obviously judgment day didn't happen as man predicted, but what do you think happens when....

our time on earth is over
we die and leave this world
you've breathed your last earthly breath
a hundred years from now you and all your loved ones have all passed away

No matter how you word it, why not remind everyone that the new statistic is 10 out of 10 people die - 100% of us will all eventually quit living, the question of eternity is at stake and we have a great conversation starter for the next few days with this whole story of today not being the day of the rapture, so why not share the message of eternal life (vs. eternal death) with someone who won't live here forever.

Start a conversation with someone today about eternity and present them the saving gospel of Jesus Christ who died for their sins so that if they will repent and live by faith, they might find eternal life.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
All our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, (Hebrews 9:27)
For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)
God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3:18)
the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ... “anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. (Romans 10:9-11)
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14;6)

http://verbalwitness.blogspot.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html

Live holy, preach Jesus!

A word of encouragment to my friends at DHQ

2011-05-19T18:00:00.001-08:00

Recently at a Corps review I was mentioning how I missed "the field" and that DHQ is a special ministry and important for resourcing those "on the front lines" of ministry, but that I did miss being a corps officer terribly.

A retired officer gave me a word which moved me greatly and I received as from the mouth of God.

This man of God retold the story of David in 1 Samuel 30 (feel free to grab a bible and read it today). David is going off to fight against the Amalekites, he has 600 men, but 200 are too tired for the fight and stay behind to watch the supplies while 400 men go with David off to battle.

On a victorious return the 400 men didn't want to share the plunder with the 200 left behind with the supplies.

David's response is found in 1 Samuel 30:24... The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.

This wonderful "retired" (whatever that means) officer told me that just because I wasn't in the fight (at the field level), that my share would be the same as if I had been in the battle, simply because I was being obedient to where God had asked me to be "on the supply line".

All this I know in my head to be true, but in my heart that day it hit very close to home.

Thank you to all the officers and soldiers serving in the field in the heat of battle for the salvation of the world. Keep up the good fight, victory is certainly ours in Jesus Christ.

For those of my fellow officers, soldiers, employees, and volunteers at Divisional and Territorial Headquarters and other support roles, be not discouraged, God sees your service, and you will share in the victory and the field sees people come to Jesus daily!

Finally, remember that there is a mission field in and around where you work to, tell someone about Jesus today.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

SA Songbook #380 Praise God for what He's done for me

2011-05-18T21:34:00.001-08:00

Song song by men in the A.R.P. this past Sunday... (to the tune of On Christ the Solid Rock I stand)

Songbook 380 Praise God for what he's done for me

1. Praise God for what he's done for me!
Once I was blind, but now I see;
I on the brink of ruin fell;
Glory to God, I'm out of Hell!

Chorus
For what the Lord has done for me,
I'll praise him through eternity.

2. I spurned his grace, I broke his laws,
But Jesus undertook my cause;
Bad as I was he cleansed my soul,
Healed my disease and made me whole.

Chorus
For what the Lord has done for me,
I'll praise him through eternity.

3. The Lord has pardoned all my sin,
And now to praise him I'll begin;
I never praised the Lord before,
But now I'll praise him more and more.

Chorus
For what the Lord has done for me,
I'll praise him through eternity.

-------
Why not tell someone what God has done for you, forgiveness, deliverance, and the hope of heaven.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Ready to Preach, Pray, and Pass away - doing 2 out of 3 at once.

2011-05-17T13:00:00.002-08:00

Just thoughts on prayer today...

I hope you all pray publicly out-loud in the world, we should be unashamed.

Today in a Denny's for men's fellowship the C.O. (Corps Officer - pastor for those of you in other denominations) stopped to pray for our food, we were at 2 different tables and not all facing one another, but he prayed loud enough to be heard by the table behind us. Not only did the other table of men quiet for the prayer, but the whole (rather noisy) room, brought the volume down almost to complete silence for the prayer over our food, our fellowship, and the blessings of the new corps we will be moving into soon. No one in the room was offended, in fact the sight of seeing men stop to give thanks and recognize God in prayer caused others to offer silence in respect. In America it is still a right to speak of our faith and pray in the Name of Jesus (at least it is right now), so while others risk their lives for His Name in the midst of persecution, let's be bold enough to stand for Jesus in times of "reasonable tolerance".

Another thought was we went to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate one of my daughters birthday party today, so when the food got there we huddled up our group (virtually all believers) and in the midst of it being way too loud I prayed to be heard by our group. I said a short prayer of thanks for Crystal's life and for that fact that Jesus loved her so much that He died on the cross for her sins so she'd go to heaven some day, thanked God for friends, fun, and the food, and said Amen. There's no way the room heard it, but I knew the table next to us (also with a party) had a man watching and listening (I believe with a look of curiosity) like he didn't get what we were doing.

When praying in a public setting especially among believers, mention salvation through Christ.

The best example I have of his is that at one volunteer recognition dinner for volunteer bell ringers when I was in Homer, we had people come to the corps (Church) for a meal and to let us give them a simple gift, brag about the season, I prayed before the meal and mentioned that I thanked Jesus most of all that He died on the cross for our sins, so that we who would repent of our sins and live for Him on His terms, would be saved from hell to heaven, and be blessed in the here and now with His presence. It was almost a year later that one of my saved friends from another church mentioned that he was "impressed" that in a room with volunteers (of many faiths, some contrary to us) that in a short prayer I had mentioned the way of Salvation through Jesus, planted the seed, said amen, and got on with the dinner without any conflict at all.

People respect others with enough faith to stand and speak out what they believe in. Why not preach and pray at the same time!

This week...
Pray for others to receive Jesus.
Pray for yourself to proclaim the gospel boldly as you should.
and Pray proud, out-loud, and mention the Savior Jesus Christ by Name.... HE IS WORTH IT!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Testimony from the Adult Rehabilitation Program

2011-05-16T21:22:00.001-08:00

Just a short post today. I was blessed to be able to preach at the A.R.P. on Sunday morning and was truly blessed by the men's testimony time of God's work to transform and deliver, and their praises to God for the gift of His Salvation Army that help to save their lives.

During testimony time (between verses of the singing) here are 3 of the testimonies I wrote down....
1. I no longer try to do spiritual stuff, but I am spiritually living with the goal of heaven.
2. A man praised God for 6 months of sobriety (couldn't recall a time in his adult life going that long), then the said the Lord was restoring his family and he had seen them the past weekend, more than that his dad asked him to kneel with him and pray something (this man said he had never seen his dad nor heard his dad mention any utterance of prayer in his entire life).
3. one man said that he certainly praised God for sobriety but more than that he praised God for a relationship with Jesus because, he said, "Sobriety without God is nothin'"

Sobriety without God is nothing. What good is it to gain the whole world and loose your soul. Not only does God want to fix us in this world to live right for Him, an abundant life free from addiction, but it is to be experienced with Him until we are reunited with Him in heaven for eternity.

Make sure you are right with Jesus your Savior today. May God bless the work of The Salvation Army and its faithful servants in the A.R.P. and A.R.C.'s.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Why should the devil have all the good websites, Internet evangelism works!

2011-05-15T21:21:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow soldiers and followers of Jesus,

Just a reminder that God wants to redeem and sanctify the web too. I have been using Facebook for a couple years now. Everytime I accept a new friend request I send some level of message asking the new friend where they are in their walk with the Lord, their spiritual life, etc. some probing question to find where they are and open a conversation pointing to Jesus as their Savior. I also ask if there is anything I can pray for them about (and for kids or ladies I mention that my wife reads he FB email too so I stay above reproach).

Most of the time people don't even respond to the spirtual question, but at least I have done my part. Tonight I went back through old answered and unanswered emails and just sent a follow up that I was praying for many of them (and I did pray for them).

Most may not answer, but I got two more responses tonight, one still hurting and searching, and the one more positive.

I don't ever want to share something confidential, so I won't mention any names, or share too much, but I thought this line was worth repeating... My FB friend replied.... "Hi Mark!!!! Wow, It is great to hear from you. I can't begin to tell you how much I really do appreciate your message :). I have to say that about two years ago when I got a message from you last telling me then to trust in Jesus, to welcome him back into my life without reservation I took your advice on that.

Let me just say first GLORY BE TO JESUS!!!

This FB friend went on to say that they have struggles still to deal with, but I believe God for greater things for all my internet friends.

I gave advice to the other FB responder and challenged them too to repent seek Jesus intentionally and He will show Himself to them too.

Why not share the gospel with everyone on your email, Facebook, or other internet site.

Our Lord is the God of the Web too!!!

Lord please empower us with your Holy Spirit to be your witnesses even to the World Wide Web. Bless all my friends (on line and those I see every day) to accept you Jesus as Lord of their lives without reservation. AMEN.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Preaching to more than the just the Songsters (Choir)

2011-05-05T21:32:00.000-08:00

I had the honor of speaking to a meeting of the Kiwanis group of Alaska recently and was charged with giving the inspirational message (a sermon if you will).

I know that not all service clubs shy away from the Name of Jesus, but I know that many indeed do. I also know that some of the friends of the Army in the Kiwanis group are not of the same faith that we are.

As I prepared my message I thought how different is is to give a "sermon" not to "church folk".

I was reminded again that I haven't done an open air or preached to those not in (or of) the church in quite some time, but as Salvationists and as followers of Jesus that must be our goal, not just to preach to the songsters in the corps each week but to a dying world that either is against Jesus, or ignorant of Him.

Catherine Booth said, "A barracks (the corps) is meant to be a place where real soldiers were fed and equipped for war, not a place to settle down in or a comfortable snuggery in which to enjoy ourselves. I hope that if ever, they, our soldiers do settle down God will burn their barracks over their heads!

Our goal in the church is to equip for war and the preaching of the gospel to those outside of our buildings.

As I prepared in the morning to leave to speak I felt the need to "pray on the Armor of God" and began going through Ephesians 6 even as I was getting dressed. Before leaving the house I looked up Ephesians 6:10-20 again and realized that it's not just the spiritual armor for the warfare I needed, but the reminder of the need to fight and declare the truth of God with boldness.

Here it is... Ephesians 6:10-20 Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Lord may every time we have the opportunity to speak your Name and share your Gospel, may we declare it fearlessly as we should.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Groeschel: "Weird is Better"

2011-05-03T16:16:00.005-08:00

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Restaurant prayers - an evangelistic opportunity

2011-04-29T15:58:00.000-08:00

For some time now I have made a habit of asking our servers (waiter and waitresses) what they would like prayer for. When they bring the food and ask if they can get anything else I simply say, "we like to pray for our waiters / waitresses, is there anything you'd like prayer for?" It's not that hard to do, you should give it a try and see the responses and opportunities. Only once have I had someone say "no, I'm good" and there would have been a great witnessing opportunity there had I taken the bait. Only once did the person say "let me think about it" and then come back with an answer. With that simply comment of "is there anything you'd like prayer for" I have had people immediately respond with...

my teen needs help getting through school
this is my first day back at work since having my baby and I'm really missing her and struggling with working
I need prayer because I just got this job and myself and my 4 kids are homeless
my 4 month old daughter is sick
"everything"
pray for my husband and I because we are trying to reconcile

the other night when I asked our waitress my question she said, without skipping a beat, "my friend just lost her 3 year old girl (to death) and needs help getting through it"

Here is what I know to be true...
1. When asked for prayer virtually everyone has something they needed prayer for and they weren't upset I asked.
2. There is a hurting world out there, how desperate must you feel to immediately tell a complete stranger "I'm homeless" or "my marriage needs help"
3. I always leave a tract of some kind with a gospel message tract, and usually write a short handwritten note on the receipt. I must believe it is received different when they know I prayed for them. (one time in fact I asked a young man for prayer need - he came back later and said people usually left tracts warning him of hell without ever talking to him, he said was already saved - he appreciated me talking with him before the "hell / heaven talk".
4. Every response given can be an open door if I am bold enough to take it a step past prayer and verbally go farther to ask them about their faith.
5. I need prayer that I might be 100 times more bold to move past praying for someone hurting, to starting the conversation about eternity. I believe God can use a tract, but there is something about a verbal witness.

Maybe I will try the "what's something I can pray for you about" approach if I am in a mall, there would be a much better chance to have a long conversation than with a waitress waiting on lots of busy tables.

PS. I was in uniform the last time I asked the waitress who mentioned her friends 3 year old (I do it whether in uniform or not). When a different waitress brought the bill I found our waitress outside on a smoking break when we left and I gave her a tract and my business card and told her if we could help comfort her or her friend, talk about the things of eternity, or pray with them more about anything at all to call or email, and said "that's what we're here for".

I am now recording my restaurant prayers in my ipod so if I go back to the same restaurant I can recall anything we talked about and hopefully pick up the conversation.

I know the devil always jumps me right after every encounter and says, "you could have done more, or done it different", but I will trust the results of seed planting to God and will pray for greater boldness at future encounters.

Give the prayer request method to start a conversation about spiritual things with someone and let me know how it goes.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

An outline to remember the G.O.S.P.E.L.

2011-04-26T15:09:00.001-08:00

God, Our, Sin, Paying, Everyone, Life

Have you believe and accepted God gift of eternal life on His terms? Have you repented of your sins and turned your life over to Him? Are you living for yourself or for the God who offers you salvation today? If you have questions don't hesitate to ask. If you are save and have the answer to eternity... who have you shared the gospel with today?
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Don't cry "He is risen"

2011-04-24T08:14:00.000-08:00

Posted this last year - still as good today!

He is risen indeed.

Although some of the lyrics include the words "don't cry, He is risen" I know that it referred to sorrow, but as I listen I wept with joy, for He is risen indeed!

OH YEAH!!!!! Sidenote - Samuel Ljungblahd is the Salvationist wearing the SA high collar uniform!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Pastor says "Spend Easter 'on the road" (OneNewsNow.com)

2011-04-22T07:50:00.000-08:00

Pastor: Spend Easter 'on the road' (OneNewsNow.com)
Russ Jones - OneNewsNow - 4/22/2011 3:45:00 AM

Easter and Christmas are two holidays that typically draw Christians to church. But one pastor believes that's the wrong place for believers to celebrate Resurrection Sunday.

Rev. Eric Foley is author of The Whole Life Offering and pastor of Doers of The Word Evangelical Church, which meets simultaneously in Colorado Springs and in Seoul, Korea. He says the Bible suggests the proper place to celebrate Easter is on the road.

He references Matthew 28:7, where the angel tells the "women who come to anoint Jesus' body [to] 'go quickly [and] tell his disciples he's risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him.'" From that, he decides that "if we want to be faithful Christians at Easter, then the way that we truly celebrate Easter isn't to dress in our fine clothes...gather together for a worship service, and then...go home and eat with our family members, but we ought to be able to go. It's almost as if it's best if there's a sign on the [locked] church door...that says, 'He is risen, and he's gone ahead of you out into your community, and that's where you will meet him.'"

Much of Foley's ministry is aimed at areas that practice great persecution against Christians, where churches do not have the luxuries of overhead projectors and other resources. So he says leaders have to know scripture well.

"They have to be able to make a compelling presentation of the gospel. That ought to challenge us as Christians in the United States to ask this Easter, 'Could we be a living Bible to the people that we meet? Could the celebration of Easter take place, not just in that hour on Sunday morning when we gather together with the church, but when we leave? Where are we going, and how are we going to celebrate Easter by sharing with the people who do not yet know the message of the risen Lord,'" the pastor decides.

Ultimately, Foley says Easter Sunday is the perfect day to practice both of those through acts of service in one's community.
-------

What do you think? More importantly how are you planning to tell the world about the Risen Savior this week?

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Make sure you use your words.

2011-04-19T13:48:00.000-08:00

"Use your words".

My wife and I used to say this to our girls when they were younger and would be crying or upset. They would often cry, grunt, whine, or point to tell us what they wanted. Our response was usually to say, "use your words". No matter how good we are at point in a direction and using body language, without our words it is up to the listener to interpret and guess what we want them to know. To get our point across we can only reach a new level of clarity and understanding when we "use your words"

A good salvationist friend of mine recently quoted, "Preach the Gospel, and when necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi. He stated that this quote had come up countless times in the last week and he was reminded that we must let our lives be examples of God's love.

I agree it is absolutely right to live our lives to back up the gospel message, but we must remember that without the words (the Gospel Truth of Jesus Christ) that it is only by Jesus that we are saved and changed, people will just think we are "good people" doing "good works".

My challenge to him, myself, and everyone who claims the name of Jesus is to make sure we USE WORDS because it is necessary.

Don't make people guess or interpret who you are pointing to.... make sure you use your words.

As we approach Good Friday when we remember Jesus death and Resurrection "Easter" Sunday, use every opportunity this week to tell people about Jesus our Savior!

I guess it is this dual concept of proper living and the need for words that causes me to always end my blog the same way.....

Live holy, preach Jesus.

Called to be a Salvation Army Officer

2011-04-04T07:00:00.002-08:00

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Come, thou Fount of every blessing...

2011-03-31T21:37:00.000-08:00

We sang this song on Sunday at it is still running through my mind.

Lord with your ever flowing streams of mercy may I be bound to you by grace because you know in my human nature I am so very prone to wander. Lord forgive my wandering heart again and make me wholly sanctified.

I claim right now that You who has begun such an amazing transforming work in me, You will complete it. "Glory, glory, Jesus saves me, Glory, glory to the Lamb! O the cleansing blood has reached me, Glory, glory to the Lamb!"

The Salvation Army Songbook song #313 by Robert Robinson (1735-90)

Come, thou Fount of every blessing

1. Come, thou Fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Chorus

Glory, glory, Jesus saves me,

Glory, glory to the Lamb!

O the cleansing blood has reached me,

Glory, glory to the Lamb!

2. Here I raise my Ebenezer,

Hither by thy help I'm come;

And I hope, by thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

3. Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,

Interposed his precious blood.

4. O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be!

Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to thee.

5. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it,

Seal it for thy courts above.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Jesus gives secret to eternal life and how to glorify God. John 17

2011-03-31T09:27:00.000-08:00

In my time of reading the bible with the family before school, which we try to do daily, today we looked at John 17. In this passage Jesus is praying before his crucifixion. Here is that passage and my thoughts today...

John 17 Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

¹ After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

1st - the secret to eternal life is in verse 3. This is eternal life... that people know God Almighty Himself, who is the only true God, and they know Jesus Christ who God sent to be the Savior of the world. Some people believe eternal life is something that starts the day we "die" but eternal life and "full-salvation" isn't just for the moment you leave this body. Eternal life according to Jesus starts the second we have a relationship with God Almighty found in a relationship where we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. That means that eternal life (abundant, hope filled, Holy Spirit empowered, sin conquering, God led living) is available right now today.

2 Corinthians 6:2 says, "I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation!"

If you don't know Jesus, you aren't living life to the fullest as God desires, nor will have anything to look forward to after this short time on earth is over. If you want eternal life, that starts today, repent of your sins and turn to Jesus Christ.

2nd - The secret of how to glorify God. In churches or Corps (Salvation Army "churches") we sing about, and talk about, glorifying God. But Jesus tells us not just how to sing about it and talk about it, but how to actually do it? The way to glorify God the Father is the same way Jesus brought His Father glory, by (verse 4) finishing the work you gave me to do.

Jesus prayed, ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

If you want to know how to glorify the Lord today, simply finish everything the Lord has asked you to do in His Word and by His leading (that will always be backed up by His Word).

Today I pray you have eternal life and glorify the Lord. If you have any questions about who Jesus is, or how to know Him, just drop me a line, I'd be happy to get in contact with you to talk or pray.

For my salvationists (and bible believing Jesus following friends), GIVE GOD GLORY TODAY - by finishing the work he has given us... Live holy and preach Jesus.

Who do you say that I am? - www.MarkCahill.org

2011-03-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

Reposted from MarkCahill.org

March 2011

Who Do You Say That I Am?

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying,Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:13-16

One of my friends here in Atlanta, Zach, is a bold witnesser for the Lord. He is out there five to six days a week sharing the good news with the lost. Whether it is at sporting events, on college campuses, downtown, around courthouses, or at malls, Zach seems to always be out and about doing the Lord’s work.

Zach is always fun to talk with, because he has so many neat stories about what God is doing right in front of his eyes. When we were talking one day, he told me that he was using a new question with folks and getting some interesting answers. He said he would ask people, “Who do you think Jesus is?” He said he had a lot of people tell him they were saved or said a prayer when they were younger, but when he asked this question, things got real serious.

One thing I love to do is learn. I pray all the time to have a teachable spirit. We never want to reach the point of being unteachable. It is only pride that keeps someone from learning:

Proverbs 1:2-5

“To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:”

But remember as you are heeding instruction to keep your guard up. There is false teaching everywhere: ‘there are many different paths to heaven,’ ‘you can be good enough to go to heaven,’ ‘only 144,000 people go to heaven,’ ‘Jesus only died for a certain few people and only these few people get to go to heaven.’ Of course, 1 John 4:14,15 refutes that:

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”

So of course, the way we protect ourselves against these false teachings is to make sure that what we believe lines up with the Word of God.

So I started asking people the question, ‘Who do you think Jesus is?’ All I can say is ‘wow’ to the responses that I have gotten!

I had a great talk with a gentleman in the waiting room of an eye doctor’s office. We were talking about spiritual matters, and I asked him, “Who do you think Jesus is?” He said that he then didn’t like talking about things like that, but that his son who was in the navy was very religious!! It was a good talk. He ended up taking a book and before we parted ways, said he would read it.

I have been getting ‘the Son of God’ a lot as an answer to my new “who is Jesus” question. A good follow-up to that response is to ask, ‘Since He is the Son of God, how does that impact your life?’ Because a lot of us are taught He is the Son of God when we are kids, but does it have any impact on our lives as we get older?

I was chatting with a guy from Montreal in the airport. He had a great French accent, and I love accents! He leaned toward Catholicism in his spiritual walk. During the conversation, I asked him who he thought Jesus was. He then said, “I am not very good at English,” and he started chatting with his friend next to him in French! He was just fine speaking English before I asked that question!! It was funny. So I asked his friend if he liked to read. He said definitely. So I gave Martin a book, and you could tell he was very thankful to get a gift. Maybe I was there for Martin the whole time.

After my encounter with these two gentlemen, I made my way to the gate and started talking to someone there. During the conversation, I asked Lawrence who he thought Jesus was. He looked at me and said, “He died on the cross for the sins of the world. He was the propitiation for our sins. If you do not believe in Him, you will go to hell for eternity...” It was absolutely the most rock solid answer I have heard for that question. He was a graduate level student in music. I asked him if he shared that exact same thing with his 20 closest friends at school? I guess you know what the answer was. Lawrence was so encouraged that when we got off the plane in Chicago, he found me to tell me about the encounter he had with the man who sat next to him on the flight. He had witnessed to him! He also now has materials as he is reaching his fellow students for the Lord! Praise the Lord for that encounter!!

So remember as the days progress, always have a teachable spirit. Test what you hear from others through the lens of God’s Word to make sure you are not falling into false doctrine.

When you are witnessing, use the question: “Who do you think Jesus is?” and watch it really spice up those seeds that you are planting in others‘ lives. Also, make sure you know what you believe and how to answer that question as well. You will be standing in front of Jesus sometime soon, and you don’t want to have the wrong answer to that question on that day.

Until the nets are full,

Life holy, preach Jesus!

The Salvation Army Opens in Togo - Praise God, enjoy the report of growth and advancement

2011-03-22T18:30:00.001-08:00

The Salvation Army Opens in Togo and Continues to Grow Around the World
Author: International News

FOLLOWING consultation with the International Management Council (IMC), General Shaw Clifton has approved the official commencement of Salvation Army work in Togo, effective 1 April 2011. Togo – officially the Togolese Republic – is a country in west Africa, bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. The fledgling work in Togo has been developing under supervision of the Ghana Territory and will continue to do so. With this new opening The Salvation Army is now at work officially in 124 countries.

Many messages reached International Headquarters between 1999 and 2005, both from residents of the country and Togolese people living in the USA and Canada, asking that Army work be commenced in Togo. In March 2007 the Ghana Territory despatched a fact-finding team to Togo, which was greeted with great enthusiasm by established churches and community leaders alike. It was discovered that Salvation Army meetings were already being held and converts were being made. Seven societies have been opened during the past year, 230 seekers have been registered and 14 indigenous soldiers have been enrolled. Work among children and young people is also developing well.

Captains Hervé Michel and Naty Dorcas Ahouyanganga, of the Congo (Brazzaville) Territory, have been appointed to give leadership to this new work as of 1 April 2011.

Middle East Region
There are also developments concerning Salvation Army work in the Middle East. The Salvation Army was officially established in Kuwait in 2008 and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2010. The Army received excellent support and cooperation from St Andrew's Church in Dubai in the early days of exploration leading to the start of its work in Kuwait.

Three centres now operate – Abu Dhabi and Sharjah (both in the UAE) and Kuwait. In recent days regular Army meetings have also been taking place in Bahrain and Oman, though these activities remain on an informal basis for the time being and are not yet officially established as Salvation Army activity.

In view of the development that has taken place in the region in the past three years, and the obvious potential for further growth, the General has approved the proposal that the work in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates shall be known, for Salvation Army purposes, as the Middle East Region as from 1 April 2011 (reporting directly to International Headquarters). Should the activities in Oman, Bahrain or other countries in that area move to official recognition, they will be included in the Middle East Region.

Majors Mike and Teresa Hawley, officers of the USA Southern Territory, will be the regional leaders – Major Mike Hawley serving as Regional Officer.

Updates on countries where Salvation Army work has opened since 2007
The General has received updated reports on Salvation Army work established during the past four years, briefly summarised as follows (dates in brackets indicate when work officially commenced):

Burundi (2007) – The work here is now part of the Rwanda and Burundi Command. Regular worship meetings are taking place, as are women’s and children’s activities. The first youth councils will take place in 2011. Burundi currently has 182 senior soldiers, 74 junior soldiers, 74 recruits and 319 adherent members.

Greece (2007) – The Salvation Army’s legal constitution in Greece has been recognised by the Greek authorities. Army ministry includes prison visitation, food distribution on soup runs, hospital visits and a ministry to trafficked women working in the red light district of Thessolonika. Regular Bible study takes place, as does an ‘open house’ event in the officers’ quarters. A newly commissioned Greek officer-couple (trained in London) will be appointed later in the year and it is hoped that their emphasis on corps work will give impetus to the development of a spiritual ministry in Greece. The work is part of the the Italy and Greece Command.

Namibia (2008) – Steady growth continues, with a number of senior and junior soldiers enrolled in 2010. Local officers have been commissioned. Namibia is under the direction of the Southern Africa Territory. Successful outreach activities took place during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup which was held in South Africa, attracting new families into the orbit of Salvation Army activity. Namibia currently has 54 senior soldiers, 42 junior soldiers and seven local officers.

Mali (2008) – Two new corps and two new societies have been established in the past year. Officers have been appointed from the Congo (Brazzaville) Territory to support the regional leaders and to run Sogoniko Corps. Mali has 54 senior soldiers, 27 junior soldiers, 34 recruits and 19 adherent members, as well as a growing number of people involved in singers’ groups, timbrels, home league, junior home league and other groups. The Mali Region reports to International Headquarters.

Mongolia (2008) – Great encouragement has come from the good beginnings the Army’s ministry has had in Mongolia, moving along under the careful supervision of the Korea Territory and led by a Korean officer-couple, Captain Lee, Min-ho and Captain Chang, Mi-hyun. A number of education programmes are running, involving 150 students on a daily basis. Other community programmes address diverse needs among the people. Work continues with regard to finalising the legal registration of The Salvation Army in Mongolia, with the hope that the government will recognise the Army as a religious body, thus enabling it to have maximum impact in the country.

Nepal (2009) – The Army now has two centres of worship in Nepal – one in Kathmandu, with 12 soldiers and five adherent members, and the other in Goldhap, Jhapa District, with 25 soldiers and seven adherent members. Plans are in place for the opening of an outpost in Doramba, Ramechap District, where there are already 10 soldiers. A regular holiness meeting takes place each Saturday (Sunday is a normal working day in Nepal) and cottage prayer meetings take place during the week. A community training centre has been established, providing training in tailoring, crafts and the English language. Each class begins with a 15-minute devotional. These combined skills help Nepalese women to find employment and thus become self-sufficient. Nepal's work is under the direction of the India Eastern Territory

Sierra Leone (2010) – The Army has been able to make use of radio and television opportunities as part of its evangelical outreach and the first outpost has been opened. Training sessions for local officers are taking place. Between May 2010 and February this year 68 senior soldiers were enrolled and a further 15 recruits are currently in preparation for soldiership. Sixteen newly trained local officers are preparing to take up their responsibilities. The Liberia Command supervises the work in Sierra Leone.

Nicaragua (2010) – A change of leadership has recently taken place for The Salvation Army in Nicaragua (part of the Latin America North Territory). There is every indication that steady growth can be anticipated. Four home cell groups are operating. More than 100 seekers have been registered and preparations are in place for the enrolment of eight senior soldiers and 12 junior soldiers.

Turks & Caicos Islands (2011) – A strong social emphasis formed the basis of early Salvation Army efforts on the Turks & Caicos Islands – including a school lunch programme, senior transport programme and family thrift store. These established a positive image for the Army in the community upon which an effective spiritual ministry is now being built. Around 60 people regularly attend the weekly Sunday worship meeting. School and door-to-door visitation are bringing the Army into contact with an increasing number of people. The Turks & Caicos Islands are part of the Caribbean Territory.

Solomon Islands (2011) – Though officially established only as recently as 1 February this year, Salvation Army work on the Solomon Islands shows great promise. Operating under supervision from the Papua New Guinea Territory, worship meetings involve a regular congregation of 60 people. Up to 30 people are participating in recruits’ classes and local officers have been commissioned. Two soldiers have applied for officer training and anticipate entering the Army’s training college in Papua New Guinea in January 2012. Various community needs present opportunities for The Salvation Army to become involved in a practical Christian ministry in the islands.

The General calls Salvationists and friends throughout the world to continue in prayer for God’s blessing upon these burgeoning expressions of Army ministry in so many different parts of the world.
-------

Live holy, preach Jesus!

I love the soapbox - by centralyouthnetwork

2011-03-22T07:49:00.000-08:00

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Testimonies of the supernatural

2011-03-19T21:19:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow Salvationists and followers of Jesus,

Captain Michelle and I just had a great meeting here in Sitka Alaska and I'm just encouraged by the chance to hear testimonies of supernatural encounters with the Lord. Over the past few days here I've heard testimonies of how the Lord has been speaking to people in their time of need, of visions, of people once caught up in the occult being delivered from demons, to alcoholics being supernaturally being delivered from the want of and desire for alcohol.

For those of us in the West we often don't see or hear of as many "supernatural" encounters, but we must never forget that our our battle is not against flesh and blood in the physical, but a spiritual realm. We must never forget that every time someone gives their life to the Lord, allows themselves to be empowered for holiness, or follows the leading of the Holy Spirit it is a spiritual encounter.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Prayer for the - wicca

2011-03-15T22:00:00.001-08:00

First of all, those of you who know me know that I truly miss being a corps officer (that's where the true action is). That being said God has been faithful and gracious to give me opportunities to witness for Him even here in our Divisional Headquarters.

Today a young man not quite 20 years old made his way into the building related to a job with the Army. During his time here he shared that was going to officially join a religious group this weekend - Wicca. A fellow employee (once caught up in witchcraft) shared how she had been delivered and found Jesus. After some sharing with him a little she called me in to talk with him a while. Our time was limited and he moved from one random thought to another trying to cover everything from the multiple gods he believed in, to re-incarnation, to him really wanting "proof" of everything in Christianity (but now having any proof for his current beliefs and admitting that even if there were proof for God he wouldn't care), and on and on.

Before our short conversation was over I was able to briefly share the gospel and told him that it sounded like he really wanted "Truth". I gave him my name and number and told him to call me anytime if he wanted to talk more, and that in the meantime I was praying for him what I pray for me as well, that God would show him the Truth of who HE really is.

Lord today thank you for the reminder that you have delivered others from falsehood.

Lord today I thank you for allowing me to serve you (even when it's more of an administrative role) if I will just be available and looking for those who need to hear your truth.

Lord today please save the young man I met today, let him find that You alone are The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

May every army building, facility, program, and soldier be a place where the gospel is ready shared with boldness, truth, and love.

-- Please shoot some prayer for this young man and those caught up in falsehood--

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

---------------------------------
Live holy, preach Jesus

General Shaw Clifton's farewell letter to the field

2011-03-15T10:23:00.008-08:00

LETTERS TO THE ARMY
March 2011

PASTORAL LETTERS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL TO SALVATIONISTS ACROSS THE WORLD

This is the 24th and concluding letter in a series of Pastoral Letters from General Shaw Clifton to every Salvationist across the world.

PASTORAL LETTER TWENTY-FOUR
FAREWELL

Dear Fellow Salvationists,

Greetings in the strong and sacred name of Jesus Christ!

You will understand me when I say that I write this final and farewell Pastoral Letter with something of a heavy heart. It has been a very great privilege to be free to reach out to you all through these letters in recent years. Many of you have written to me from time to time to express encouragement and appreciation for these simple but heartfelt communications. I have valued deeply your responses.

I want to record my profound sense of holy pride arising from the manner in which my fellow Salvationists remain loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ and faithful to the sacred calling he has placed upon us to grow the Kingdom, to witness, and to serve in his name. By the grace of God we are doing this now in 123 countries. I salute and thank you each one. So too does Commissioner Helen Clifton, who continues to be in need of your prayers.

How gracious God has been in these five demanding years in which he has called me to serve as the General. He has helped and guided unfailingly and in keeping with the holy promises we find in the Scriptures. I know that he will also bless and guard the General-Elect, Commissioner Linda Bond, as she succeeds me. Thank you for your prayers for her at this time.

Let me turn now to the Scriptures.

In the Acts of the Apostles in Chapter 20 we read of the Apostle Paul bidding farewell to the Christian believers in the city of Ephesus. In verse 20 he tells them, 'You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you.' I want to adopt this verse for my own use in this farewell letter. I thank God for the wonderful privilege of being called to preach as an officer of The Salvation Army.

In verse 22 Paul says to them, 'Now I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.' Let me also take this verse for myself. My 'Jerusalem' is in fact my retirement, for I do not know what will happen to me there! In many ways the future appears very uncertain. However, like Paul, we step into the unknown without fear because we know God is there too. He never fails.

Finally, in verse 32 Paul says to his hearers, 'Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified.' I take these words and offer them to you all on this occasion. I commit you to God. I commit you to God's word of grace and to the One who is the Word, the full incarnate expression of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ. I commit you to the One who alone can sanctify you. You and I are called to be pure for God, to be sacred vessels for him, sanctified and made holy by his blood poured out so freely at Calvary. The One who calls you can do it. He is able.

Thank you again for being my fellow Salvationists and my comrades. Thank you for your trust in Almighty God. Thank you for your holy obedience to Christ. Thank you for the sacred service that you give unstintingly for his cause.

Commissioner Helen and I will not cease to lift you up in prayer. We are bound together with you each one in our shared and sacred callings to witness and to serve in God's great Army of Salvation.

Hallelujah! God bless you all!

Yours in Christ,
Shaw Clifton
General
-----------------
Live holy, preach Jesus!

10 Reasons Why Small Churches Stay Small (by Joe McKeever)

2011-03-10T11:20:00.000-09:00

(completely reposted from Churchleaders.com)

First, an explanation or two, then a definition.

I know more about getting smaller churches to grow than larger ones. I pastored three of them, and only the first of the three did not grow. I was fresh out of college, untrained, inexperienced, and clueless about what I was doing. The next two grew well, and even though I remained at each only some three years, one almost doubled and the other nearly tripled in attendance and ministries.

By using the word "grow," I do not mean numbers for numbers sake. I do not subscribe to the fallacy that bigness is good and small churches are failures. What I mean by "grow" is reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you reach them and start new churches, your local church may not expand numerically, but it is most definitely "growing." If you are located in a town that is losing population and your church manages to stay the same size, you're probably "growing" (i.e., reaching new people for the Lord).

This is simply my observations as to why stagnant, ungrowing churches tend to stay that way. I send it forth hoping to plant some seed in the imagination of a pastor or other leader who will be used of the Lord to do great things in a small church.

I have frequently quoted Francis Schaeffer who said, "There are no small churches and no big preachers." I like that. But it's not entirely true. We've seen churches made up of just a few people and stymied by lack of vision and a devotion to the status quo. And here and there, we may encounter a preacher with the world on his heart and the wisdom of the ages on his lips; that for my money is a "big preacher."

But this is not about being such a preacher. We're concerned with not being one of those churches.
The "ten reasons" that follow are not necessarily in the order of importance or prevalence. This is the way they occurred to me and the order seems right.

1. Wanting to stay small.
"We like our church just the way it is now." While that attitude usually goes unspoken--it might not even be recognized by its carriers--it's widespread in many churches. The proof of it is seen in how the leaders and congregation reject new ideas and freeze out new people.

The process of rejecting newcomers is a subtle one, never as overt as snubbing them. They will be greeted and chatted with and handed a printed bulletin. But they will be excluded as clearly as if they were--as I was once--the only man in a roomful of sorority women at a state university. (I was an invited guest, about to bring a message to them. They couldn't have been nicer, but alas, they did not invite me to join!)
"Bob's class is meeting this week over at Tom and Edna's. Come and bring a covered dish." "The youth will have a fellowship tonight at Eddie Joe's. We're serving pizza and you don't want to miss it."
Unless you know who Bob, Tom, Edna, and Eddie Joe are and where they live, you're out of luck.

Pastors who want to include newcomers and first-timers in things should use full names from the pulpit. "I'll ask Bob Evans to come to the pulpit and lead us in prayer." This allows newcomers to learn who people are.
"For those who need directions to Eddie Joe Finham's house for the youth fellowship, he's the guy with the crewcut wearing the purple shirt. Raise your hand, Eddie Joe. He has printed directions to give you."
No one can promise that if a church wants to grow it will. However, I can guarantee you that if it doesn't, it won't.

2. A quick turnover of pastors.
A retired pastor who had served his last church some 30 years was supplying for a small congregation south of New Orleans. That week he told me of a discovery he made. "On Sunday afternoon, no one invited me to their home, so I had several hours to kill before the evening service. In the church office, I was reading their history and discovered that in their nearly 50 years of existence, they've had 22 pastors."

He was aghast.

"Think of that," he said. "If they had around 6 months between pastors, that means the average tenure was less than two years."

He was quiet a moment, then said, "They didn't have pastors. They had preachers."

It takes at least a couple of years to become the real deal for a church, a pastor in more than name only, one who has earned the right to lead the congregation. With larger churches, the time period is more like six years.

Again, no one will promise you that keeping a pastor a long time guarantees the church will grow. But I can assure you that having a succession of short-term pastors will prevent it from growing as surely as you took a vote from the congregation to reject all expansion.

3. Domination by a few strong members.
The process by which a man (it's almost always a man) becomes a church boss is subtle and rarely, if ever, the result of a hostile takeover.

The pastor of a small church leaves for another town. The pastorless congregation looks within its membership for leaders to rise up and "take care of things" until a new pastor arrives. There will be pulpit supplies to line up, a search committee to form and train and send forth, and a hundred details to see to for the operation of the church. So, two or three faithful and mature members (we assume) are chosen. They do their job well.

If the next pastor leaves after an unusually short tenure for whatever reasons, the congregation resorts to the fallback position: they enlist the services of those same two or three mature--and now experienced--leaders.
That's how it happens that one of them or possibly all three began to look upon themselves as the church itself. They make important decisions for the body and everything works out. When the new pastor arrives, they let him know that anything he needs to know, he should call on them. He quickly sees that they have set themselves up as the board of directors, a layer of authority between the hired man (the preacher) and the congregation.

The bosses explain that they are protecting the congregation. "We don't like to upset them with matters like this." "These things are better off handled by just a few."

The longer this situation continues this way, the more entrenched these men become in their dictatorship. Pity the young idealistic pastor who walks into that church unsuspecting that they lie in wait for him, to--ahem--"give direction to his ministry." Or, as one said to me, "We thought you would like to have some help in pastoring this church."

In almost every instance, such self-appointed church bosses exist to frustrate the pastor's initiatives, block his bold ventures, and control his tendencies to want the church to act on (gasp!) something he calls faith!
Result: the church stays small. No normal church family coming into the community would want to join such a church.

The remedy: the congregation must see that key lay positions in the church rotate, that no one stays chairman of deacons for thirty years or church treasurer for a generation. Members of the congregation must stand up in business meetings and ask questions: "Why was this done?" "Who made the decision that our church would do that?" "Why was the congregation not informed on this?"

The one thing church bosses cannot stand is the light of day shown on their activities. Even though they convince themselves what they are doing is in the interests of the congregation, they don't want others to know about it. "They wouldn't understand."

Oh, we understand all too well. (Read about Diotrephes in the little Epistle of III John. He "loves to have the pre-eminence.")

4. Not trusting the leaders.
A phenomenon which I've seen in small churches and never in a large one occurs at the monthly business meetings, which incidentally, is also a custom a lot of growing churches have found they could do without. (They choose excellent leadership for the deacons, finance committee, and other key groups, and ask them to keep the congregaton on course.)

In the small-and-determined-to-stay-small church, the treasurer passes out the monthly financial statement which accounts for every penny spent this month. The discussion centers on why 35 cents was spent for call-forwarding and 2 dollars for paper for the office.

The director of the Vacation Bible School, the Sunday School director, the children's choir leader, and of course, the pastor---all are frustrated that the congregation doesn't trust them with 20 bucks, let alone 200, for some task.

The small-and-determined-to-stay-small church is far more concerned about the dollars and cents in the offering plate than in the lost souls in the community.

"I want to know what that revival cost the church," said a disgruntled deacon in the monthly meeting. The pastor rose and cited a figure.

"And what did the church get out of it?" the plaintiff said. "Only one person saved, and a child at that. Poor stewardship of our resources, if you ask me."

With that, another deacon walks to the front, and takes something out of his pocket. He writes in his checkbook, tears out the check and hands it to the treasurer.

"Gentlemen," he says, "That one child that was reached is my son. And he's worth every penny of it."
The tiny-and-deadset-on-remaining-tiny church would never step out on faith and do something so bold as to have an aggressive evangelism campaign to reach the lost and unchurched of their community. And if they did, unless their mindset changes, they would then harass their leaders into the grave demanding an accounting of every dime spent.

When the pastor search committee announced plans for the candidate to spend the following weekend at their church, a member stood to raise a question. "That's not long enough for us to get to know him. How do you expect us to be able to vote on him if we only have a weekend with him?"

Another member stood. "May I respond to Mr. Alan? We can't get to know him well enough in a weekend to make this kind of decision. That's why we have elected good leaders for this search committee. Let's trust them."

Elect good leaders and trust them to do their work. It's a faithproof system for growing a church.

5. Inferiority complex.
I was a seminary student when called to my second pastorate. Determined to figure out how to grow that church--they had been stuck at 40 in attendance for years--I read everything I could find in the seminary library. Fortunately, they had quite a few books on pastoring the small church.

What I discovered was something I was beginning to notice in my people. Small churches often are stymied by inferiority complexes. "We can't do anything because we're small. We don't have lots of money like the big churches in town."

So, they set small goals and ask little from their members.

One day, I was visiting in the First Baptist Church of a nearby community. In no way was it what we would call large, but it was three or four times the size of mine. The pastor and I were chatting about some program or other. He said to me, "My people won't attempt anything like that. They say 'we're not large like the First Baptist Church of New Orleans.'"

That's when it hit me: feelings of inferiority can be found in all size churches.

I wouldn't be surprised if the members of FBC-New Orleans were excusing themselves for their inaction by saying, "We're not Bellevue in Memphis or the FBC of Dallas."

I don't know who the members of Bellevue or FBC-Dallas look at with envy. But I'll bet it's some church bigger than they somewhere.

The remedy is to put one's eyes on Jesus Christ. "Lord, what do you want us to do?" That's the best prayer one can ever pray, and it has nothing whatever to do with what another church is doing.

In that seminary pastorate, I encouraged our people to set the goal high for our annual Christmas offering for foreign missions. One day, a member told me she was chatting with a neighbor who belonged to my friend's First Baptist Church in the next community, who asked her about the size of our mission offering goal.
When she told her, the neighbor sniffed, "Why, ours is double that!"

Thankfully, my member said nothing. She could have responded, "It should be triple since your church is three times the size of ours." But she didn't, and I was pleased.

Peter said, "Lord, what about John here? What do you want him to do?" Our Lord said--and thus set a wonderful pattern for all of us for the rst of time--"What is that to you? You follow me!"

Want your church to reach people and expand and grow? Get your eyes off what others are doing. Most of them, to tell the truth, are declining at a rate so fast it can hardly be measured. You do not want to take your cues from them.

Ask the Lord, "What would you have us to do?" Then do it.

6. No plan.
The typical, stagnant small church is small in ways other than numbers. They tend to be small in vision, in programs, in outreach, and in just about everything else.

Perhaps worst of all, they have small plans. Or no plans at all.

The church with no plan--that is, no specific direction for what they are trying to do and become--will content itself with plodding along, going through the motions of "all churches everywhere." They have Sunday School and worship services and a few committees. Once in a while, they will schedule a fellowship dinner or a revival. But ask the leadership, "What is your vision for this church?" and you will receive blank stares for an answer.

Here are two biblical instances of church leaders who knew what they were doing.

In Acts 6, when the church was disrupted by complaints from the Greek widows of being neglected in the distribution of food in favor of the Hebrew widows, the disciples called the congregation together. They said, "It is not right for us to neglect....(how they would fill in this blank reveals their plan)...in order to wait on tables." And then, as they commissioned the seven men chosen, the disciples said, "We will turn this responsibility over to them and give our attention to....(fill in the blank)."

In the first instance, the disciples saw their plan as "the word of God" and in the second as "prayer and the ministry of the word."

How do you see your ministry, pastor? What is your church's focus?

Earlier, when Peter and John were threatened by the religious authorities who warned them to stop preaching Jesus, they returned to the congregation to let them know of this development. Immediately, everyone dropped to their knees and began praying. Notice the heart of their prayer, what they requested: "Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to.....(what? how they finished this is how we know their plan, their chief focus)."

"...to speak your word with great boldness." (Acts 4:29)

When the Holy Spirit filled that room, the disciples "were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." (v. 31) Clearly, that means they spoke it into the community, the world around them, and not just to one another.

When I asked a number of leaders for their take on why so many small churches do not grow, several said, "They need to focus on the two or three things they do best. Not try to be everything to everyone."
Some churches need to focus on children's ministry, others on youth or young adults, young families, or even the oldsters. (Tell me why it is when a church is filled with seniors, we look upon it as failing. It's as though white-haired people of our society don't need to be reached for the Lord.)

Some will focus on teaching, others on ministry in the community, some on jail and prison ministries, and some on music or women's or men's work.

One note of explanation: this is not to say that the church should shut down everything else to do one or two things. Rather, they will want to keep doing the basics, but throw their energies and resources, their promotions and prayers and plans, into enlarging and honing two or three ministries they feel the Lord has uniquely called them into.

7. Bad health.
It's no surprise to anyone who has spent time in more than a few churches to learn that some are unhealthy. And by that, we do not mean just because they are small, they are sick. You can be small and healthy; behold the hummingbird.

An unhealthy church is known more by what it does than by a list of characteristics and attributes. A church that runs its preachers off every year or two is unhealthy. A church that is constantly bickering is unhealthy. A church that cannot make a simple decision like choose the color of the carpet, adopt the next year's budget, or accept changes in an order of worship may be unhealthy.

So, what is a healthy church and how do we get from here to there?

Entire libraries could be filled with books written on the healthy church, and consultants abound, ready to assist congregations toward that purpose. But here it is in shorthand....

Romans 12 is God's blueprint for a healthy church. It divides into three parts: verses 1-2 call for each individual to make a personal commitment to Christ ("present your bodies as a living sacrifice"), verses 3-8 call for each one to find his/her place of service where they can use their spiritual gifts, and vs. 9 through the end of the chapter describes the relationships within a healthy, loving fellowship of believers.

Show me a congregation where everyone is committed to Jesus Christ, each one is using the God-given spiritual gifts in the Lord's service, and the fellowship is sweet and active--and I'll show you a healthy church.

8. Lousy fellowship.
This overlaps with the last point, but it deserves a spot by itself.

For my money, the best thing a church has to offer individuals and families in the community--other than the saving gospel itself--is a place they will be loved and welcomed and made part of an active, healthy family. It's what we mean by "fellowship."

There are ways to tell if the fellowship in your church is unhealthy. Here is a brief rundown.

First, regarding the visitors to your church, your the fellowship is unhealthy if:
a. Visitors are basically ignored.
b. In some places in the church, visitors are even resented.
c. No one follows up on visitors to let them know they are wanted and give information on the church.
d. There's no attempt to get people to visit your church in the first place.

Second, regarding the worship services of the church, the fellowship is probably unhealthy if:
a. Everything is orderly, but it's the same order you've used since forever.
b. The singing is lifeless and any departure from the norm is verboten. A new hymn or chorus, a different kind of musical instrument, a testimony here, an interview there, a short drama or video--no, sir. Not in our church.
c. There's no laughter, nothing spontaneous.
d. The invitation time is tacked on, lifeless, and without any response, ever.
e. The prayers are filled with platitudes and stale.

When the Old Testament prophets called on God's people to "break up the fallow ground"--Hosea 10:12 and Jeremiah 4:3--they wanted to see evidence of brokenness, a willingness to change, a desire to bear new fruit.

Fallow ground is soil that has laid unproductive for several seasons. The hard crust requires a deep turning plow to open it up and even then, the soil may require more preparatory work before it is productive.
A church with poor fellowship or essentially none is not failing to have enough socials and dinners. The church is failing in the most basic of areas of disciples: a failure to love.

Jesus said, "By this shall all men know you are my disciples, that you love one another" (John 13:35).
My observation from my own heart and nearly a half-century of ministry is that the disciple who is close to Christ loves the brethren. So a congregation that is unloving toward one another may be said to be far removed from the Lord and in a backslidden state. It's a simple deduction.

"Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you!" (James 4:8)

9. A state of neglect permeates the church.
Not always, but often, a dying church shows signs of its weakening condition by the disrepair of its buildings and the neglect of its appearance. The interior walls haven't been painted in years and bear the collective fingerprints of a generation of children. The carpet is threadbare, the piano's keys stick, the pulpit chairs need reupholstering, and the outside sign is so ugly it would be an improvement if someone knocked it down.
I received a vivid lesson on neglect early in my ministry when we received word that a high school student had taken his own life.

Although the family were members of another denomination, our youth minister and I called at their home to express our sympathy and offer our services. Along the way, my colleague filled me in on the family's situation. The dad was said to be having an affair, he and his wife bickered constantly, they were heavily in debt, the children were without supervision, and the brilliant son who had taken his life was rudderless.
As we parked and walked up the sidewalk, we were struck by the disarray of the yard. The grass was knee-high and clutter was everywhere.

Inside, the father calmly brushed aside our condolences. "The way I look at these things," he said, "is that they all have a way of working out for the best." I was stunned. I thought, "Sir, your child is dead. Tell me how that is going to work out for the best."

We left sadder than when we arrived.

Dying churches do not tend to their business. They let problems fester and divisions go unaddressed. Listen closely and you will hear a leader speak those infamous words: "These things have a way of working themselves out."

And so they do nothing, and the church drifts on toward the grave. No one gets saved, no one joins, people drift away, the community becomes less and less aware of the existence of that little church, and the remaining members complain that people just don't love the Lord the way they used to.

10. No prayer.
It's tempting to make a little joke here and say, "Such churches do not have a prayer," but they could if they chose to.

When King Saul was bemoaning the woes that had descended upon him as a result of his rebellion against God, one of his chief complaints was that God no longer heard his prayer. "He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer...." (I Samuel 28:6)

Luke tells us, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." (Luke 18:1)

Pray or quit. Those seem to be the alternatives.

Want to give your congregation a little test, pastor? Next Sunday, call for your people to meet you at the altar for a time of prayer. Do not beg them or cajole them. Just announce it, then walk there yourself, kneel and begin praying. See if anyone joins you. Notice who comes and pay close attention to who does not.
It won't tell you everything you'd like to know about your church, but it will say a lot.

A friend on Facebook requested prayer for his new ministry. When I asked what he was doing, he responded privately that in addition to pastoring his church, he is working for the state convention in his region. He said, "Almost all our churches in this part of the state are dying. We have buildings that were constructed for hundreds now running 15 or 20."

The plan, he said, is to get things in place to re-evangelize those regions as these oldline churches die off.
I hope they don't wait until those churches actually close their doors. A lifeless church can take a long time to give up the ghost.

The best approach would be for that stagnant, dying congregation to awaken and get dead serious about becoming vibrant again. This would mean taking the unprecedented step of doing anything it takes to re-establish their witness and presence in the community.

In almost every case I know personally, that is not going to happen. The leaders would rather see their church disappear from the earth than to do anything new and different.
That is as sad a sentence as I've written in a long time.

That's why the only approach most of us have ever seen work is to bring in church planters from outside and start afresh.

The leadership of the dying churches will resent it. "Why are you spending money on starting new churches when we already have churches here? You could invest a fraction of that to help bring our church back, if you were thinking straight."

Stay the course, church planters. Not only will you do a good work in your own new congregation, but you might just build a fire under that old bunch. Their resentment may awaken them to fan the flames of the dying embers of their own faith.

The pastors who arrive to begin new congregations will use innovative methods, almost always leave the suits and ties in the closet, set up guitars and drums and install screens and projectors, and come up with names for their churches that seem unchurchlike: Sojourn, Mosaic, Praiseworthy, Koinoia, Maranatha, Celebration, Vintage, and River.

God bless 'em.

But know this, church planter. A generation or two from now, if Koinonia and Sojourn and River and Celebration have not changed their methods and have become set in their ways, they too will be left behind as the ever-creating Holy Spirit seeks those who want to be new wineskins for the new things He is always up to.

Now, let us pray.

"Father, we do like our routines and ruts. Forgive us for limiting you by asking you to adapt to us instead of the other way around. Lord, in the words of the old hymn and the older Psalm, 'Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in Thee? We ask this for Jesus sake. Amen." (Psalm 85:6)

----
Live holy, preach Jesus!

The Power of Claiming a Name

2011-03-07T17:42:00.000-09:00

Recently I was thinking about the power in claiming a name.

Often I have my fear in a conversation lessen when I can drop someone's name. I'm here to se "so and so" or the manger "so and so" asked me to do this or that. Just introducing myself to someonoe new can be made so much easier by saying, "hey I hear you are also a friend with 'so and so' " and I am too.

There is no doubt I love to drop the name of "The Salvation Army". I find power in mentioning "I'm with The Salvation Army", it empowers me, endorses me, and lends weight to what I'm saying because people respect the name so much.

At the name of The Savlation Army I feel empowered because there is power in a good name.

How much more should you and I claim the name of Jesus Christ. His Name should be even more equipping, empowering, and endorsing than the name of HIS Salvation Army.

Today in your conversations don't be ashamed of HIS NAME, be quick to mention His Name, Jesus, after all - there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. Go out boldly claiming and declaring His Name today!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Don't give up when the brook is dry - by Perry Noble

2011-03-05T20:35:00.000-09:00

I've been by the dry book many times in ministry - how about you? Just saw this clip and knew someone needed to hear it...

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Pastoral Letter from the General

2011-03-01T09:30:00.000-09:00

PASTORAL LETTER TWENTY-THREE

CHOICES

Dear Fellow Salvationists,

This is my penultimate Pastoral Letter and it is sent to you together with my esteem in Christ and my constant prayers for you. Commissioner Helen Clifton joins me in thanking you for your many and faithful prayers for us. We are richer in grace because of your prayers.

The theme of my Letter is ‘Choices’.

As I compile this message to you the 2011 High Council has recently concluded its sacred business of choosing, by election, my successor. Gathered at Sunbury Court near London, the 109 officer-members of the High Council (57 women and 52 men) have chosen Commissioner Linda Bond to be the 19th General of The Salvation Army. She will take office on 2 April 2011. We surround her with our love in Christ and our prayers.

I know you will intercede for her constantly, as you have for me. God bless the General-Elect! She has been chosen in an atmosphere of prayerfulness and of waiting upon God. Yes, she has been chosen by human election, but we believe she has also been called by God to serve faithfully and to lead us all into a future that will be victorious for the cause of Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Now this prompts me to say that we who follow Jesus have all been called and chosen to be his instruments. The Bible tells us so. We have been chosen by a loving Saviour. In John 15:19 (I am using the Contemporary English Version – CEV – in this Letter) Jesus tells his disciples: ‘You don’t belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind.’ Being chosen by Christ, because first we have chosen to follow him as our Saviour, means that the world no longer has any hold on us.

No longer do we take heed of the worldly voices that surround us so constantly. This is because we have chosen to listen to the Lord. He speaks, and we are helped and guided. Sometimes, however, we seem to be so busy that the voice of the Lord gets crowded out. I think of Martha and Mary in Bethany. Martha was active and busy, doing the many things that indeed needed to be done, but Mary took time to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him speaking. ‘Mary has chosen what is best,’ said Jesus (Luke 10:42).

What is your habit in choosing how to use your time? Are you constantly busy? Does it seem as though the things you need to do never come to an end? I urge you not to crowd out your personal time with the Lord. Take time to slow down and to sit at his feet like Mary did, to listen, and to take in what he has for you. In doing so, you will grow to be like him more and more.

In Psalm 65:4 David prays to the Lord and says: ‘You bless your chosen ones, and you invite them to live near you.’ Here again we see the clear connection between being chosen by God and being close to him.

I pray that you will grow nearer and nearer to the One who has chosen you to be his own. May you sense his love surrounding and filling you. May others grow aware that you are close to him, making them want that closeness too.

I pray also that the peace of Christ will fill you day by day, moment by moment.

I pray that the whole Army will experience a fresh infilling of heavenly grace. I know you will seek that for yourself, and I rely on you to ask Almighty God to grant the same in glorious abundance to the General-Elect.

God be with you each one.

Sincerely in him,

Shaw Clifton

General

-----
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Jesus explained through the Bible!!!

2011-02-25T21:54:00.001-09:00

Is this your Savior? I pray you know Jesus like this today.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Thoughts on John the Baptists evangelism

2011-02-22T21:53:00.000-09:00

Live holy, preach Jesus!

What is the gospel video

2011-02-20T07:39:00.001-09:00

If it doesn't play visit please visit...
http://www.sbts.edu/resources/special-topics/what-is-the-gospel-2/

Greatly puzzled, but sure like to listen? Mark 6:20

2011-02-17T10:26:00.000-09:00

In my daily bible reading today Mark 6:20 caused me to pause and consider this thought...

Jesus had sent his disciples out and Herod heard about it (and the work they were doing of teaching and having authority over unclean spirits). People began to say Jesus was Elijah, or a prophet, but Herod believed he was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Herod had John killed a few verses later, but let me just look at these verses right now.

Mark 6 said...
¹⁷ For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled^[c]; yet he liked to listen to him.

The amplified bible puts it this way...
²⁰For Herod had [a reverential] fear of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and [continually] kept him safe [under guard]. When he heard [John speak], he was much perplexed; and [yet] he heard him gladly.

Herod, hearing John the Baptist even speaking out against him and his marital status, had a reverential fear of John because he was a righteous and holy man. When John spoke, Herod although perplexed and puzzled was glad to hear him.

How is our walk of holiness and your verbal witness today?

1st - although Herod didn't "get" John, he reverentially feared and respected John because his witness was one of righteousness and holiness. Even though John spoke against him, his relationship, and even though his wife hated John so much that she put Herod in a position to ultimately have him beheaded, Herod even tried to protect John. What an amazing testimony, that John's life impacted Herod so much, that Herod even stood up for him, even though they didn't see eye to eye.

2nd - although Herod didn't "get" John, and his words were often condemning or against Herod, Herod liked listening to Him.

Let's us as Salvationists and followers of Jesus live such righteous and holy lives, that even though we would preach against the world and it's conduct, they would respect us and know that they "want us around" even when we don't see eye to eye. Let's be so true to the sharing of God's Word, both with His boldness and compassionate love, that even though we would speak against peoples behavior and conduct, they would still like to listen to us because we offer hope eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Is anyone puzzled by you? Is anyone listening to you?

How is your life of holiness and your verbal witness today?

Live holy, preach Jesus!

"Know so, Think so" Evangelism plan

2011-02-14T19:41:00.000-09:00

How about this for an evangelism plan?

Make a list of everyone you and put them in one of two categories.

One group is the "I know so" - they are a follower of Jesus. I would imagine this list will be people you know well, you have asked directly about thier faith, or have heard their testimony of saving faith in Jesus Christ. After seeing those on the "know so" list of saved friends and pray for them.

The second group on your "I think so" list. These are people you "think" are saved, maybe by simple comments they have made, maybe their talk of thier church affiliation, or thier witness of being such a great person causes you to "think" they are saved.

How about taking your "think so" list and intentionally start a conversation with them.

Maybe you can start with one of these.... You could say...
I prayed for you by name today and need to ask for your forgiveness for never actually asking you about your faith....

how's your soul?
who is Jesus to you?
if you died tonight where would you spend eternity?
What do you think happens when you die?
(If a church goer) what does your church teach about getting to heaven or a relationship with God?

About 6 months ago I had a talk with one of my daughters priciples that I always thought was a saved follower of Jesus. On Good Friday I struck up a conversation about what the day meant to me and to him and quickly heard him testify to who Jesus was in his life and how it caused him to live and try to lead as a believer and a principal. For a long time I thought he was saved, and then I knew so and it changed our relationship for the better.

By the way you should also have a "don't know" list of aquaintances that you know at work or school or someone you usually bump into and only talk about the weather with.

You probably even and a "NO WAY" list that you don't think there's any way "that person" could be saved.

Now that you've got your lists, intentionally make a plan to start a conversation that will be important for thier soul and their eternal destination.

It is our duty as believers. We are a SALVATION ARMY!

Why not start a list today. Why not tell someone that Jesus can save them today?

Live holy, preach Jesus!

7 Tips for Encouraging New Believers in Evangelism - repost from evangelism.net

2011-02-03T09:25:00.000-09:00

CLICK HERE FOR EVANGELISM.NET ARTICLE

Okay, take out a penny. Toss it. Tails—focus on discipleship today. Heads—do some open-air evangelism.

Does the thought of flipping a coin make you uneasy? It probably should. Yet, if you think about it, we do almost that very thing. We don’t literally flip a coin, but people often tend to focus on either evangelism or discipleship. Neither is a bad thing. In fact, both are commanded. But the fact still remains that many of us find one easier than the other. What do you do if you’d rather teach a Sunday School Class than do open air evangelism? Can you evangelize so much that you lose sight of training new believers?

The problem here is that we tend to see evangelism and discipleship as two completely separate things. Yet, it is not about two separate sides of a coin. It is more about seeing both as being on the same side of the coin. Discipleship and evangelism are part of the same process. They are not the same thing, but to be healthy you can’t have one without the other.

Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19–20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The very notion of “make disciples” implies that you must both evangelize and then disciple those converts. The above verse describes disciples as persons who are taught to observe all of Christ’s commands. Therefore, as part of the discipling process, we need to teach new converts to evangelize.

You might be thinking, “How on earth do I get a new Christian to evangelize, when I can’t even get Christians who have been saved for 20 or 30 years to evangelize?” Or you might think, “How can I expect someone to evangelize who knows so little about his new faith?”

The truth is new believers are often the most excited about their faith. It has been said that new Christians lead more people to Christ than anyone else. They realize that they have been rescued from an eternity of torment and separation from God, and they are so grateful they want to shout it from the rooftops. Still, that doesn’t mean that we should leave them on their own, or that they don’t need some encouragement and guidance.

How can we encourage new believers in evangelism?

1.) Be an example—people are watching what you do, and they tend to pay more attention to what you do than what you say. When new believers see other believers evangelizing, it encourages them to do the same.

2.) Evangelize in teams—pair a more experienced evangelist with a newer convert. Whether it be witnessing in a park, church visitation, or simply visiting a friend you think would be open to the gospel, take along a new believer. Your experience will help them, and hopefully their newfound joy will encourage you.

3.) Pray with them for specific people who are not believers—praying for the lost increases our love for the lost.

4.) Realize that it is not about the numbers—God tells us to take the gospel to lost people, but it is God who does the saving, not us. With that in mind, we don’t need to feel like a failure if someone doesn’t trust Christ after we have shared the gospel (1 Cor. 3:6–8).

5.) Remind them that fear is normal—it is an experience that everyone deals with. The Apostle Paul even asked for prayer for boldness, something he would not have needed to ask for if he didn’t have fear.

6.) Tell them it is okay if they don’t have all the answers—It is okay to say, “I don’t know.” Unbelievers are more impressed by someone that admits they don’t know an answer than by someone who makes up an answer or acts like a know-it-all.

7.) Help them learn a basic method—there are many good methods, but having one basic method that they can always use is a must. It frees them up to talk and listen, instead of worrying about what to say next. (For more help on learning a method see EvanTell’s online training www.act111.org).

As new believers learn to share the Gospel early on, it will help solidify their own faith, and build a strong foundation in evangelizing for the rest of their time one earth. Who might God be asking you to mentor in evangelism?

Christ's ambassadors of reconciliation - Better Together 12

2011-01-29T09:00:00.003-09:00

Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts for January 30

2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I think of the familiar story of the little boy who made him a toy sailboat. He carried the little boat out to the pond and began watching it float on the water. However, the wind pulled the little boat away from shore, and all the broken-hearted boy could do was watch it be blown out of reach and sight. Several weeks later he was walking through town and he saw his little toy boat for sale in a pawn store window. He rushed inside and bought the boat and was overheard as he walked down the street hugging his little boat saying, “You are now mine twice. I made you and now I have bought you.”

Today we celebrate the truth that we have been both created by God and also redeemed by God to be His very own. What have we been created and redeemed for? Today as a united body of Christ we are His ambassadors seeking to proclaim to the world that they have been redeemed by Christ and He no longer holds their sins against them. Jesus has secured access to God the Father and an eternity with Him in heaven. As a Salvation Army let’s again today make it our goal to be ambassadors to the lost, that those swept away by sin can once again be re-united with their Creator and Lord who cared enough to buy them back into fellowship.

---
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Sinful view of sin - Mars Hill youtube video

2011-01-28T07:49:00.000-09:00

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Sunday's Sermon - How to never miss your miracle again.

2011-01-26T21:02:00.000-09:00

To listen to Sunday's sermon preached at the Anchorage Corps last Sunday, just click the play arrow here.

For a basic manuscript of this message use download, or sharing options, click the menu button at the right of this square and choose your option.

For this sermon, past sermons, podcasting options, and countless other preachers check out the sermon site at http://sermon.net/Thielenhaus
God bless your study!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

A holy temple - Better Together 11

2011-01-22T09:00:00.002-09:00

Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts for January 23

Ephesians 2:18-26 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Take a moment to look around your congregation. As you look at others around you I hope you realize, that for each of you who have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are each fellow citizens of His Kingdom and family members in His household. A glorious fact for us today is that not only are we to be individually filled with God’s Holy Spirit, but as a family of believers we become a home for Him to dwell within. Today as you start your time of worship make sure to thank the Lord that He wants to build you and your corps to become the place where He Himself continually dwells.

---
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Fwd: Confessions of the World’s Worst Evangelist

2011-01-17T11:56:00.000-09:00

This is a repost of an article from http://www.churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-blogs/147420-Confessions-of-the-World%E2%80%99s-Worst-Evangelist.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Update

Confessions of the World’s Worst Evangelist

by Steve Addison

Being a "bad evangelist" isn't the point...it's not about you.

You can teach an old dog new tricks.

For years, I’ve hidden behind the excuse that “I’m the world’s worst evangelist.” I was right. But that’s not the point.

1. It’s not about me.

Mission is not about us. It’s about God and what he has done through Christ. It’s about what Jesus continues to do today through us by the power of the Spirit. No more excuses. God is already at work.

For years, I’ve been telling people, “I’m the world’s worst evangelist.” It was an excuse. It was about me, not about what God was doing.

One Sunday afternoon, Michelle and I started walking around looking for “persons of peace.” It took half an hour to find our first one. Now we have a thriving ministry to people from all over the globe living on our doorstep. Monday night, we’ll baptize three new believers.

I’m still the world’s worst evangelist, but that no longer stops me from stepping out in faith to see what God is going to do.

2. Share the gospel—leave the results to God.

The gospel of our good deeds is a shadow. The gospel of our church cannot save. The gospel of our political agendas is a distraction. The gospel of our silence is unloving. The only hope for this lost world is the death and resurrection of Jesus—Christ in us, the hope of glory.

If this is true, why are we so slow to share it? We talk about “earning the right to speak” as though the Cross is not enough.

I’ve learned to share Christ the first time I meet someone. So many of the people I’ve shared with are now my close friends. Being up front with people has helped them see how important knowing Jesus is. My goal is not to convert anyone, but to find responsive people who want to learn more.

3. Teach them to obey.

The command was never just to teach; it was “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” That’s what discipleship is.

We start discipling people before they have decided to follow Jesus. I regularly meet with people who grew up in Communist countries. Some are still members of the Party. They’re atheists. We read a simple Bible story—the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son—I don’t teach; I ask questions. “What is this saying to you?” “What does this tell us about God? About humanity?” “If this story is true, what difference would it make to your life this week?” “Who could you tell this story to?”

I want them to discover Jesus for themselves and to begin learning to obey him. I finish up by asking how I can pray for them. Then we pray. You would be amazed at how many atheists are touched by your prayer for them. You’d be surprised how many come back the next week and tell me how the God they don’t believe in has answered our prayers.
----------------

Steve Addison is the author of Movements That Change the World, a calling to spark church planting around the world. He has been a life-long student of movements that renew and expand the Christian faith. Steve currently serves as director of Church Resource Ministries (CRM) Australia. He is married with four children and lives in Melbourne.

--------

Live holy, preach Jesus!

You aren't here for yourself - Better together 10

2011-01-15T09:00:00.003-09:00

Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts for January 16

In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold." "Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?" (Charles Schultz.)

Ephesians 4
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. … … … 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Today our scripture reminds us that our lives in the Body of Christ were meant to be lived in community. You are not here for yourself. God has intended that only as we all live united, each with our gifts, and all under His Headship will we ever experience all He intends for us. In Ephesians the Apostle Paul again tells us that Christ himself gave us each other so that the body might be build up, become mature, reach unity in the faith, and even all attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

I myself have not arrived to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ today, but the good news is that God has provided us the very support system to insure it can become a reality for each of us this year. Commit again today to do your part in the body of Christ, and then remind yourself you cannot do His work alone.

United to the body and with Christ as our Head, we are better together.

---
Live holy, preach Jesus!

A reminder of the call to prayer - Better together 9

2011-01-08T09:00:00.002-09:00

Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts

January 9, 2011

Acts 4 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

When were the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit for speaking the word of God boldly? When they were united together in prayer and of one heart and mind. When was grace powerfully working in all of them, when they were united in the work of proclamation of the gospel and the supporting of those among them. God has intended that we are better together and that coming together in prayer be part of His means of granting us unity and power.

General Shaw Clifton, International leader of The Salvation Army has proclaimed a world wide united call to prayer. Here is the full text of the Call, published on 1 November 2010:

Dear Comrades and Friends in Christ,
A GLOBAL CALL TO 24-7 PRAYER: A day and night cry for justice.

     Following thorough preparation by the Centre for Spiritual Life Development (a department of International Headquarters) and prayerful consideration by the International Management Council, I have agreed to the launching of A Global Call to Prayer: A day and night cry for justice (Luke 18:7) to all Salvationists, to commence on 1 January 2011.
     Therefore, I am writing to my fellow Salvationists around the world, to call you to united, focused intercession in relation to the need for justice for the oppressed, according to Luke 18.
     The spreading corrosive influence of human trafficking, corruption, and impurities beyond imagining call for nothing less than Salvationists to be on our knees before the One who alone can bring about a restoration of justice in the earth, even a holiness revival. Indeed, the great need of the times in which we live and serve urges us onward in day and night prayer.
     Many Salvation Army territories around the world are already engaged in 24-7 prayer, with more prayer rooms and prayer networks being developed continually.
     In recent years The Salvation Army's Centre for Spiritual Life Development in London and the International Social Justice Commission in New York City have been established and are born of the Spirit. This call to prayer will produce a spiritual synergy the world over.
     In Luke 18:8 Jesus concludes his teaching with the question, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
     Perhaps Jesus is looking for evidence of faith on the earth upon his return, in his chosen ones crying out to him day and night. May The Salvation Army be a part of the faith that he finds.

Yours in Christ, Shaw Clifton - GENERAL
---

Live holy, preach Jesus!

United and Annointed - Better Together 8

2011-01-01T14:00:00.001-09:00

Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts for January 2, 2011

Psalm 133 A song of ascents. Of David.

¹ How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! ² It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. ³ It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

As we start this New Year for the Lord’s glory, let’s look at David’s psalm in Psalm 133.

David professed it is good and pleasant when God’s people live together in unity. Not only is it good and pleasant for us, but it is pleasing to our Lord when we choose to unite under the banner of Jesus Christ.

David says that when God’s people are together in unity it is like a picture of anointing. I picture David describing the anointing of oil on the people of God. There is a lavish anointing available when we are united. David pictures precious oil poured on the head, running past the beard, and down onto the collar of the robe of the anointed. David says it’s as if the blessings of the Lord where being poured out as dew from Mount Zion.

Today as we celebrate this first Sunday of the new year, let’s insure that we have the blessing of the Lord. Today commit to live united with fellow soldiers and followers of Jesus in the cause to see the whole world come to find the Savior.

Lord may a fresh anointed fall on your united Salvation Army this next year and make us better together.

---
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Better Together 7

2011-01-01T12:51:00.000-09:00

Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts - meant for December 26th, the post might be late, but the Word of God is never out of season!

December 26

Here is just a portion of “the heroes of the faith” section of the bible from Hebrews 11.

Look at these amazing scriptures about our need for unity in the faith.

Hebrews 11
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. … … 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

All of these heroes of the faith had to put their trust in God without seeing the person of Jesus as we understand Him today. Prior to Jesus life lived among us, prior to his teaching, before his suffering and death, and without the evidence of His resurrection these men and women of faith simply believed God and backed up their faith with their lives. Each of these heroes did more than seek God merely for themselves, in part their faith was lived to point the way for us.

As we look at starting a new year of faith, let’s make sure we live our lives not simply to be obedient to the Lord for our sakes, but let’s take the blessing of being on this side of the tangible life of Christ and together with the prophets before us, let’s show the world God’s plan of Salvation.

Let’s proclaim the good news of a risen Savior who came and is coming again. Our Savior is worthy of an Army, and we are better together.

---
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Christmas Rapping

2010-12-24T21:52:00.000-09:00

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Merry Christmas.

Better Together #6

2010-12-18T10:00:00.004-09:00

Today is the 4^th Sunday in Advent and we are quickly approaching the day we celebrate as Christmas. On Christmas we remember the fact that God sent His Son Jesus to the people He created in order that we might have a way to be re-united with Him.

It wasn’t until the cross that Jesus says, “it is finished” and we see His purpose for coming to earth in the flesh being fulfilled.

We hear Jesus himself express the reason for His coming to earth the night He prayed in the garden for each of us.

In John 17:20-26 we hear Jesus praying this way… ²⁰ “My prayer is not for them (the disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message (that’s each of us as believers today), ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

This Christmas we celebrate the truth that God Himself wanted to have a relationship with us, and we understand today that we can only realize all that God wants us to experience in an earthly sense, while in community together. Jesus prayed that all of us may be one in the same way that Jesus and His Father were always united. Jesus prayed that all of us might be brought to complete unity. The ultimate purpose for His prayer was of course that while in complete unity the world will know that God sent Jesus to redeem and reunite with His children because He loves us.

---
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Better Together #5

2010-12-11T10:00:00.003-09:00

December 12

Today we celebrate the 3^rd Sunday of Advent and as Christmas morning draws closer and closer, we have all started thinking about the giving of gifts.

Everyone loves getting gifts, but my hope is that we also know the joy of giving gifts to others. At Christmas many of us will have given a gift that required us to spend time considering what was best for the recipient, what would they like, what could they really use, what would show that we really care for them?

In Romans 12 we read a passage about gift giving, but of our act of worship to live for our God, but also of our need to use the gifts God has given us to pass on to others around us.

Romans 12:1-10 says… ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Verse 13 tells us to share with the Lord’s people who are in need and to practice hospitality. . Practice hospitality. Verse 15 says to come along side others both to rejoice and mourn with them. Next (vs. 16 & 18) remind us to live in harmony and in peace with one another.

Throughout this passage we realize that our lives and the gifts God has given us are all in order that we might, in turn, live our lives unto the Lord as our act of worship, and also use our God given gifts to share with others. When someone finds the perfect gift for me I want to use it and share it with others around me. God Himself gave us His one and only Son, more than that His Son gave his life for us, even more we have His Holy Spirit and every good gift in life come from Him. Let’s make sure we leave no gift un-opened, un-used, or unappreciated. As an act of worship to your Lord and Savior, make sure you share your gifts with others this Christmas.
--- Live holy, preach Jesus!

Better Together #4

2010-12-04T10:00:00.004-09:00

Today we celebrate the 2^nd Sunday of Advent and recall not just Christ’s coming long ago, but look forward to His coming again. Let’s consider how best to enter worship today as we come before our Lord.

Today’s “Better Together” scripture focus is found in Colossians 2:2-3.

Paul wrote to the region of Colossi where many were being led astray by teaching that said if you only learned the right thing, if you knew the right secrets, if you studied enough, discovered enough, or spiritually tapped into a level of spiritual knowledge, then you could find God, or be like God, or as some believe today even become God for yourself. We know Paul spoke directly to a groups desire to find the secret knowledge of the things of God.

Paul then gives them the so-called “secret” to the knowledge of God. Paul knew that the answer wasn’t found by searching for enough spiritual knowledge to find God, but instead that if they found Jesus Christ, they will have found everything.

Paul writes… Colossians 2:2-3 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

To truly find all God has for us doesn’t require that we take a solitary “monk-like” trek to find a mystical level of spiritual enlightenment. God reminds us today that to know God Himself we must simply be united in love with Christ Himself.

This Christmas let’s not seek to “act” united or do things for Christmas like we think a church should, instead we should individually and corporately stay in tune with Jesus, that alone will draw us close to God.

A.W. Tozer, in his book, The Pursuit of God, tells us how to gain greater unity. He wrote, "Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking … to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity conscious’ and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship."

Colossians 2:2-3 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

With us all simply seeking an encounter with Jesus, we are “Better Together.”

---
Live holy, preach Jesus!

7 Witnessing tips - repost from GoForSouls.com

2010-11-29T09:46:00.001-09:00

http://www.goforsouls.com/archives/9097 Tips on Becoming a Great Evangelist

November 27, 2010 by admin
Filed under 5) BLOG, Tips Series

Better Together #3

2010-11-27T09:55:00.000-09:00

As we enter the holy season of Advent we remember that the word advent means “coming”. During this special time of year we focus on the coming of Christ and ultimately we remember His promise that He is coming again.

The Alaska Division program theme this year is “Better Together” and as we begin to focus on the advent “coming” of Jesus in the flesh as our Savior, we recall the words from Philippians chapter 2 verses 1-5.

Paul writes to the church and tells them, and us, that if we find encouragement from being united with Christ our Savior, and if we are sharing of the Holy Spirit, that the way to bring him joy would be by being like minded with a Christ-like love being one in mind and spirit. Today we remember that this letter was written to the church of Philippi and by God’s Spirit it is for us as the church today. We, in the same mindset of Christ, must look beyond ourselves with the goal of coming together to reach a world in need in the same way that Christ in perfect humility came to live among us, as our Immanuel.

Philippians 2 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

As we remember the advent of Christ coming to live among us and show us the love of the Father, we know that it is God’s will for us a united church to be like Jesus that the world would see Jesus as the Savior of the world.

To show God’s love to the world we are “better together”.

---
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Gratitude in the princess aisle - Angel tree in Alaska article

2010-11-26T15:11:00.001-09:00

This is a repost from adn.com http://community.adn.com/adn/node/154483

Gratitude in the princess aisle

Posted by parentpoints

Posted: November 24, 2010 - 1:29 pm

by Gina Romero

Shopping for the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program: Salvation Army Angel Trees are at Kaladi Brothers Coffee cafes in Anchorage. Grab a paper angel and follow instructions on how to help for the holidays.

We arrived at the toy store on Dimond.
Cars filled the parking lot.
The big box was stocked with extra holiday merchandise.

A huge display of Toy Story 3 products met us at the door.
We navigated past talking Dora dolls.
Stuff. We walked by aisle after aisle of stuff.

We stopped at the princess row.
It was with lined with sparkly dresses and magic wands.
I was overwhelmed by the excess.

My brow furled.
I felt my shoulders get tense.
I despised the hurried shoppers.

In that moment, an angel caught my eye.
She had blue eyes and blonde hair.
The red shield with white letters rested below her.

The shield of salvation placed at the feet of an angel.
It is a shield often seen and heard during the holidays.
The ringing sounds remind us to slow down and to give.

We were shopping for a four-year-old girl.
I wondered what she was doing right now.
Was our gift the only one she would receive for Christmas?

Frustration turned to gratitude.
I watched my vibrant daughter shop for a stranger.
My shoulders relaxed and I smiled down at her.

I am thankful for my children.
I am thankful for my husband, family and friends.
I am thankful to give.

------

Great article. Let's do practical things to show the love of Jesus, of course, let's also love people enough to share the true meaning of Christmas - that God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to be our Savior.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Your sin will kill you.

2010-11-22T08:15:00.002-09:00

This posting is from an email I get from MarkCahill.org. Mark Cahill has great resources and things for download. Enjoy the email!

--------------------

Your Sin Will Kill You

He died of cancer.

The entire family died in a car accident.

He couldn’t fight the leukemia any longer.

He was in a fatal hit and run accident.

She died of a heart attack.

Emphysema beat him in the end.

He just stopped breathing.

They were killed by the hurricane.

They were caught in a fire and never got out.

She had an aneurysm.

The virus was just too strong for his immune system.

There are many different ways to describe how an individual died, and I find it fascinating to see how different people or news reports choose to describe it. But it hit me as I was thinking about this one day: No matter how they say it, they are leaving out the real cause of how someone dies.

Romans 6:23 says,

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 5:12 states,

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

When someone dies, why don’t we say: “Sin finally got him”? “She was such a sinner, and now it has come home to roost”? And, because we don’t phrase it that way, I think there is a problem.

When someone has cancer, what do they do? They search long and hard to find a cure for that disease. They seek out different doctor’s opinions. I recently read about how some cancer patients were going to Mexico, because there was a special clinic that supposedly had the answer to help them out. Some people have completely changed their diets to organic fruits and vegetables to get rid of their cancer. Others have tried chemotherapy and radiation to get rid of it. Some folks have spent every last nickel to make sure they don’t die from it. Why?

Because they know what the problem is. Once they found out the problem they were facing was cancer, they began seeking the cure for that problem. If you really think about it, we are all like that in some way. When someone finds out they have a problem, they can either give up or start fighting back. It almost seems like it is ingrained in our systems to fight back and want to live.

So what if we instead let people know they were going to die because of their sin. What if we let them know that their sin was so bad that it was going to kill them. No, ifs, ands, or buts about it. What do you think might happen? I firmly believe it would drive some people to find the solution to their problem. Why? Because people want to live. They really, really do.

So if we talked about sin correctly with people, the solution would make so much more sense to them.

1 John 2:2 says,

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Once people know that Jesus died for their sins and He is the solution to their wrongs against God, I do believe they will want to know more about Him.

1 Corinthians 1:23 states,

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”

Why preach Christ crucified? Because He is the cure to the sin problem that each of us has.

1 Corinthians 2:2 says,

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

John 1:29 states,

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

He is the only hope that any of us have. Only Jesus can take away the sins of the world. We need to tell more people what they are really going to die from, and that will lead us to tell more people about what He has done!

I just met two different people at the airport going or coming from a funeral. People forget that at funerals, the person died because of their sins. And many also then forget the next thing: The person is still alive! They are either ‘alive and well’ or ‘alive in hell’. It is that simple.

We must get people ready to meet their Maker. We must challenge people to be ready for Judgment Day. It is not safe to die without Jesus. But oh what an eternity when you are born again!!

I don’t think Paul could have put it any better than in Philippians 1:21 when he said,

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Until the nets are full,

--------------

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Better Together #2

2010-11-20T10:00:00.003-09:00

In Acts 2 we read of the Holy Spirit coming on the disciples as they were gathered together in prayer at Pentecost. Peter addressed the crowd of people gathered from near and far to proclaim the good news of Jesus and His Resurrection from the dead for our salvation. Peter told the crowd to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. We know that about 3,000 were added to their number that day.

After the filling of the Holy Spirit, the preaching of the gospel, and the growing of our Lord’s church, we read this is what the believers did next…

Acts 2:42-47 ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The events prior to the Holy Spirit coming in a new way at Pentecost were that the believers waited together in prayer. The response to the Holy Spirit’s infilling was that those who called on the Name of Jesus met together for study, fellowship, sharing of meals, and the sharing of resources to all in need. God’s Word says they met together in the temple courts and in each other’s homes to praise God. The result of this union of God’s Holy Spirit and a united people seeking to put Him first was the daily growth of the Kingdom of God as people came to salvation.

Even this week as we make our plans to sit around the table with others from family, to those in our church, to serving those in need, we know it is God’s plan that in union with Him and in unity as a body of believers, we will see His Kingdom grow. Let’s praise and thank the Lord this week together.

---

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Pastor on trial for witnessing to Muslims (OneNewsNow.com)

2010-11-19T10:21:00.000-09:00

This is a repost from OneNewsNow.com

I am posting it unchanged or you can see the link.

Let's not be ashamed to witness about Jesus Christ to all creation.
----------
Pastor on trial for witnessing to Muslims (OneNewsNow.com)

A pastor in Wichita, Kansas, heads to court today to defend himself against charges involving his efforts to witness for Christ outside a mosque.
Pastor Mark Holick says the incident in late August occurred as members of the Islamic Society of Wichita were marking the holy month of Ramadan. Police were called when Islamists witnessed Holick and 13 others handing out packets that included the Gospel of John, the Book of Romans in English and Arabic, and a DVD with testimonies of former Muslims who have converted to Christianity.

Holick claims he was basically ignored by the arresting officer. "I asked him, 'What am I being charged with?' -- and he wouldn't answer me," the pastor tells OneNewsNow. "And I asked him a second time and I asked him a third time...and neither time would he even respond to me."

The Kansas pastor, who was ultimately charged with loitering and failure to disburse, is no stranger to controversy. In 2009 he won a $10,000 judgment after the City of Wichita admitted it had violated his civil rights when he was arrested for witnessing on a public city sidewalk during a homosexual event at a nearby park.

"It's really good for Christians to see what has really happened to our court system," he shares, "because if you haven't gone through it before, you really have no idea what it has become. But I think it's going to be good at trial, regardless of the verdict."

Holick, pastor at Spirit One Christian Center, will defend himself today before the Sedgwick County Municipal Court.
------------------
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Witnessing to Mike

2010-11-18T16:29:00.002-09:00

I have hoped that this blog would be a good way for me to both encourage others about their being bold and verbal in their sharing of the gospel, but also that it would be a way for me to journal my own witnessing to others.

I thought I'd share this as a possible conversation starter. On an airplane this past Tuesday I sat next to a man named Mike, we spoke about where we were going to and coming from. When I mentioned I was going to Anchorage he said he had been to Anchorage for a "convention". I asked what group the convention was with and he responded that it was with the Jehovah's Witness and then moved to another topic.

After a few minutes of small talk I used this as my conversation starter. I asked, "Mike, I've never really personally known a Jehovah's Witness, would you mind if I asked about your beliefs and how you believe one comes to salvation?" (of course I've had them at my door before, but I've never known one on a more personal level)

Needless to say we had a very intelligent conversation and we took turns asking each other, what do you believe about he person of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, salvation, and even the end times. Mike was the most well spoken JW I've ever spoken with (perhaps because he was a little older than many I've spoken with or because it wasn't done at my doorstep). Although we certainly disagreed an major points of our doctrines, at least he heard me declare the Truth about Jesus and the means to salvation.

Only God knows the seeds that were planted and I know that God is pleased that I cared enough to open my mouth to start a conversation with someone about their salvation.

If you read this, please just pray for "Mike" and others who are sincere in their faith, but are believing a lie.

The last blog I posted was about "apologetics" (make sure to see it below), if nothing else I was glad I was able to have an intelligent conversation, but as always I was left knowing that I always need to be learning, reading the Word, and in touch with God's Holy Spirit so that when a deeper conversation arises I am not ashamed and correctly handle the Word of Truth.

Be bold enough to start a conversation with a stranger this week.

I'd love to hear some of your stories of witnessing experiences or how you get the conversations started. Please leave a comment - I post them right after I preview them first.

Life holy, preach Jesus!

Go Deeper

2010-11-18T13:49:00.000-09:00

A special thanks to Rob Reardon for posting this on his facebook. A humorous reminder that we all ought to be able to speak intelligently about the deeper things of our faith.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Better Together #1

2010-11-13T10:00:00.002-09:00

Our Alaska Division theme for this program year is "Better Together" focussing on unity, supporting one another, and operating the body of the church God desires. Here are some devotional thoughts for your own consideration or use as a call to worship in your Corps this Holy season. Just my thoughts from my scripture meditation. Please use, change, alter as you see fit and meditate on the Word today.

For November 14, 2010

Slowly read and consider the 34th Psalm. After reading through Psalm 34 read verses 1-3 again.

Psalm 34:1-3 1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

This psalm was written as David had been fleeing for his life in the desert. At one point with seemingly nowhere else to turn he went to Gath (the hometown of Goliath who he had once killed). Once recognized, David was brought before the king and, in fear, David’s plan (God inspired, or completely self-conceived we do not know) was to fake insanity with drool dripping down his beard. The kings reply was to send him away.

Sometime after David writes a psalm of praise and thanksgiving to His Lord. In this Psalm David lists statements of the blessings available to the people of God and pours forth the truths about the nature of his Deliverer.

As we consider our theme of being “Better Together”, look at David’s psalm one more time. David begins with a personal declaration that “I will extol the Lord at all times and his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord”. He then goes beyond his need to declare God’s praise to the people, but then invites the people to join with him in exalting God’s Name together.

John Wesley wrote the words to our songbook song # 64 where he expressed this wish, “Oh for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace! My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread through all the earth abroad The honors of Thy name.

John Wesley, King David, and we as a body together today can all agree that although it is right for us to each individually glorify the Lord, our God deserves more than we could ever give alone.

As we approach this time of Thanksgiving, let’s make sure to take time to glorify His Name personally and privately, but let’s also make sure to join with others for corporate worship and praise, and then as the psalm of David states, let’s invite others to do the same that we might worship Him “better together.”

Psalm 34:1-3 1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

---
Live holy, preach Jesus

For all my fellow comrads involved in youth ministry

2010-11-07T17:39:00.000-09:00

I just thought this was too cool. Why not show a young person the love of Jesus today!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Sharing Christ on airplanes - by Larry Moyer

2010-11-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

Just reposting this article from Evangelism.net - http://www.evangelism.net/

Hopefully I will post one of my ariplane witnessing events in the next day or two?

Enjoy, be challenged, and love someone enough to share the gospel with them today!

Live holy, preach Jesus!
-----------

What I’ve learned from Sharing Christ on Airplanes

Posted By Larry Moyer On November 1, 2010 @ 6:00 am
^[1]Airplanes are great opportunities to witness. I’m convinced though that one reason they are good opportunities is people tend to have a fear of flying and they know if something goes wrong they’re not in control. The nervousness they have, many times, opens them up to spiritual things.

There are times I’ve stepped on over eighty different planes in the course of a year. I’ve learned several things in the past 37 years by experience that may help.

First, as with any opportunity you have, pray that God will open the door to people to whom He’d like you to speak. Two, assume that if the person is open to you as an individual, there’s an open door for the Gospel. I take a step at a time and go as far as I can. I start by talking about family, job, background, and then somehow turn the subject to spiritual things such as religion, church, etc. I then attempt to get to my question – “Has anyone ever taken the Bible and shown you how you can know for sure you’re going to heaven”? Three, if they’re not open to talking I assume that’s simply not an open door at the moment, and apparently God wants to use someone else to talk to them.

However, there are times, particularly on long flights (which are better opportunities than short flights), when they aren’t open one moment, they are open an hour later. One person, for example, made it obvious he wanted to sleep and not talk. Towards the end of the flight though, he woke up and said, “Please don’t think I didn’t want to talk. I was at my buddy’s wedding and we were up all night the night before he married, and I’m wiped out”. We then had a great discussion and one that allowed me to present the Gospel and even give a tract to him.

Interesting enough, I’ve found some of my best opportunities is when they’re in the window seat, I’m in the aisle seat, and there’s an empty seat between us. That way I think they feel they can talk without being overheard and some would rather discuss spiritual things in that kind of privacy.
Finally, don’t forget that as with any situation you have to pray for boldness. You want to be certain that if you don’t speak to them about spiritual things it’s because they just were not open, not because you were afraid to.

As encouragement, one of my most priceless conversations was when I had a chance to lead a contractor to Christ and two weeks later received a note from his girlfriend. She expressed her gratitude and how much they were looking forward to a God-centered marriage. God does great things everywhere, even at 30,000 feet above sea level.

Article printed from Evangelism.net: http://www.evangelism.net
URL to article: http://www.evangelism.net/what-ive-learned-from-sharing-christ-on-airplanes.htm
URLs in this post:

[1] Image: http://www.evangelism.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/sky_from_plane_sm.jpg

Reposting - "Rebranding the Great Commission"

2010-10-26T14:00:00.001-08:00

Interesting article - check it out at this link, or read it all below...

http://www.churchleaders.com/youth/youth-leaders-blogs/137068-rebranding_the_great_commission.html

"Rebranding the Great Commission"

by Greg Stier

"It’s time to rebrand the Great Commission for a postmodern generation," says Greg Stier.

Did you know that the term “the Great Commission” is never found in the Bible? It was a moniker developed by missionaries in the late 18th Century. I’m sure it sounded very hip then but, heck, so did the King James Version.

Thou knowest tis true.

The missionaries who coined the term “the Great Commission” developed it to infuse interest in it in the hearts of their audiences. They wanted to use a term that would attract people to join Jesus in the greatest mission of all time to tell the greatest story ever told. They hoped that this term would recruit more givers and goers when it came to missions work, especially when it came to young people. They succeeded. The term was used to recruit thousands upon thousands into foreign missions.

The problem with TGC term is that, whenever we use it, teens scratch their heads in confusion, youth leaders’ eyes glaze over, and pastors robotically nod their heads in agreement (because they know they are supposed to). The term has lost its panache with today’s culture.

A new generation lies waiting to be challenged to accomplish the ultimate mission, and we are using an ad campaign from a few centuries ago to motivate them. Imagine if companies were still using the same commercials from twenty years ago to get people to buy their products. (”Yes, we know tricks are for kids…let it go! We like your cereal, but we hate your commercials!”) We’d call these companies crazy and then watch them go bankrupt.

So why are we using an ad campaign for Christ’s last and lasting mandate developed by Europeans from the late 1700’s who wouldn’t know an iPhone from Ichabod to motivate people to go and make disciples? Don’t get me wrong, commission cereal is still delicious, but we need a new and improved commercial.
Silly rabbit!

It’s time to rebrand the Great Commission for a postmodern generation. I propose we call it THE Cause. Why? Because people are into causes today, especially young people (if you don’t believe me, you need to sign up for Facebook…after your first hundred or so cause invitations, you’ll change your mind). And the ultimate cause is the timeless command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 to “Go and make disciples of all nations…” Here Jesus is calling his young followers to invade and persuade, to make disciples who make disciples until every nation has heard the good news.

This is THE Cause of causes. While there are some good causes out there that we can be involved with, some goofy causes that we should avoid, there is one cause that we must all embrace. It is THE Cause that Jesus left us with before He ascended into heaven. We are to spend the majority of our time, talent, and treasure making disciples who make disciples.

So let’s harness the cause-centric mindset of the next generation to accomplish THE Cause. By the way, our vision for THE Cause at Dare 2 Share is to mobilize teenagers on every one of the 67,342 high school and middle schools in America who will relationally and relentlessly make disciples who make disciples.
Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, he told his disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Immediately after he reminded them of THE Cause they were supposed to be doing, “he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:9)

Jesus reminded them of what they were called to do and then floated away. I love what happened next, “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:10-11)

So why are you sitting here reading this blog (and why am I sitting here writing it, for that matter?) Let’s get on it. Let’s accomplish THE Cause before Jesus comes back! But before I go, I have to ask you one more question…

WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR THE CAUSE?

More from Greg Stier or visit Greg at www.dare2share.org
_____
Live holy, preach Jesus!

A link & a tip for using prayer to share your verbal witness.

2010-10-25T17:58:00.001-08:00

First just a forward from "OneNewsNow" link click here The team that prays together... (OneNewsNow.com)

For the The world will be getting more and more upset (persecution) as we stand up for our Savior Jesus Christ.

Now a thought on praying your witness... Use Jesus' Name in your prayers and pray often. I had someone just a few months ago mention that they heard me pray "the way of salvation" in front of others at a community event and he said it was a great way to take advantage of public prayer. Basically as we started the event I prayed something like, "Jesus I thank you for your gift of salvation offered freely by your life, death, and resurrection, so that sinners like me can accept you by faith, repent of our sins, and choose to live our lives for you. I thank you that living according to Your Word promises that it will bring You glory and that it's for our own good right now today"... then I went on to thank God for some of our blessings, and asked His blessings on that days events.

It's not that hard to mention God's plan of salvation in your prayers. In fact it would be a pretty weird thing for someone to interrupt your prayer time (although you might hear about it later), but at least you got it out there where people could hear it. What's the worst thing that could happen - there might be some public conversation about using Jesus Name at an event? Again that's just more opportunity for you to share what you believe and why.

Just a few weeks ago I had a meal with someone from my wife's family who is an un-believer. The setting wasn't right for a direct approach or I didn't feel the Holy Spirit's leading (or perhaps I just wasn't bold enough) to talk about their faith. As we sat down for a meal at the restaurant together I simply said, "How about we pray for our meal, let's pray quick," then I started right in. Again I quickly a thanks to God for all His blessings, the blessings of getting together with family, and the blessing of a meal, and then I quickly thanked Him for His offering us eternal salvation through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ and said Amen." We then started right back into our conversation and enjoying the meal.

To share the conclusion of the meal... After the meal I got the bill and after getting my receipt back I placed a silver coin track for a tip (which I do virtually everywhere we eat.) Our guest just happen to notice (I hadn't even meant for them to see) and they said, "what's that a medallion"? I said it was a gospel tract and handed them one for themselves (I always keep several in my wallet). They said it was interesting so I followed up with, "I keep the big money here", and showed them a million dollar bill tract I always have on me too. They said it was cool so I told them to keep it, and they didn't refuse.

This person heard the gospel in a nutshell over prayer and they were left with a couple reminders that they can hold on to and see again later. Hopefully there is an open door for us to share later. At least the seed was planted. I'm sure God will bring another person to follow up.

Not ready for an open air sermon on the street corner, try praying the gospel in front of a friend this week.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Wanna Witness? Wear your uniform!

2010-10-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

As I tell people all the time, the uniform is a great tool for witnessing. Not only does the uniform allow us access to almost anywhere at anytime, it will always help start a conversation. Another example again today was just stopping at the grocery store on the way home. I was asked, "what are the symbols on the uniform about?" With just a couple moments from the check out to the car I was able to explain I was with the Salvation Army. When the "bagger" mentioned he thought we were just a thrift store I was able to explain we are called "The Salvation Army" and the "Salvation" was specifically because our goal is to let everyone know that only through a relationship with Jesus can one find Salvation from hell to heaven. I shared that all our services were a way to show God's love in a practical way and then explain to them the His ultimate gift of love to save them through Jesus Christ.

Not bold enough to approach a stranger, just wear your uniform, be prayed up, and be ready to share when they come to you.

The uniform is an amazing tool to help you with your verbal witness. Soldier up - dress for battle spiritually and physically, and share the gospel with someone this week!

Live holy, preach Jesus.

Only so many in the boat

2010-10-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

Hello soldiers and fellow followers of Jesus,

This is just a quick brag on my daughter Emily. Last night around the dinner table something from school prompted the old reminder of the exercise that went, "you are in a boat at sea and there are more people than fit in the boat, you have to decide who to toss overboard, who do you pick", I went on to tell her that in the exercise there was usually a "cool" person, a "jock", a "rich" person, a "special needs" person, a "famous" person, and a "dork" of some kind. So I asked Emily, "If your teacher asked you who would you through out, what would you say?" Her response was, "I'd jump overboard to save a seat for someone else since I know I'm going to heaven.

If only we would all be at the point where we were each willing to die to proclaim the message that Jesus saves for eternity, this lifeboat we are in now won't stay afloat forever, make sure you tell someone how to be right with God through a relationship with Jesus today.

Repent and be born again today - unlimited seats available in heaven!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Bakery displays morals, now faces eviction (OneNewsNow.com)

2010-09-30T19:21:00.000-08:00

Praise God there are still people who stand up for their beliefs.

Bakery displays morals, now faces eviction (OneNewsNow.com)

Now let's make sure we don't just tell the world what we have taken a stand against, let's tell the world what and who we stand for. All sin is against the Lord, and my lying or lustful thought life, or anger issues are just as vile to a holy God. Let's tell the world that no matter what your sin is, that we serve a God who sent his one and only perfect Son to die on a cross and who rose again that if we accept Him by faith, we can be forgiven, empowered to live a holy and pleasing life for Him, and eternally saved from hell for heaven.

Take a stand not just against what is sin, but tell the world there is One who died to save sinners like me.

Life holy, preach Jesus!

Coach not concerned with ACLU (OneNewsNow.com)

2010-09-28T18:56:00.000-08:00

Coach not concerned with ACLU (OneNewsNow.com)

Don't be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind and self-discipline!

Life holy, preach Jesus!

Witnessing results in library ban (OneNewsNow.com)

2010-09-27T18:32:00.000-08:00

Witnessing results in library ban (OneNewsNow.com)

Praise God for young people who aren't ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Now let's go share our faith out loud and unashamed!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Homer news article - see link below...

2010-07-03T22:36:00.000-08:00

Salvation Army in Homer sees change in leadership this week

By McKibben Jackinsky - Staff writer - Homer News
http://homernews.com/stories/063010/news_sah.shtml

After eight years in Homer, Capts. Mark and Michelle Thielenhaus of the Salvation Army are headed to other pastures. They left Monday for a new assignment as divisional youth secretaries, with duties to include running camps in Wasilla and other youth work throughout the state.

"It should be a challenge and an adventure. A lot like Homer," a laughing Capt. Mark Thielenhaus told the Homer News.

As they head north to their new assignment, Lts. Jeff and Michelle Josephson and their two teenage sons head to Homer. Recent graduates of the Salvation Army Training College in Rancho Palo Verde, Calif., the Josephsons will pick up where the Thielenhauses leave off. Their schedule had them arriving in Anchorage Tuesday, checked in by the Salvation Army divisional commander Wednesday and released to come to Homer to arrive by Sunday.

"During their two years (at the college), they had a lot of business and Bible (study) and they also have a lot of practical experience doing things you would do at a Salvation Army appointment," Thielenhaus said of the Josephsons, who are officially ordained pastors.

The community will have an opportunity to meet the couple and their sons at the Salvation Army's 11 a.m. service on Sunday.

"One of our divisional commanders, Major Sheryl Tollerud, will officially put the Army stamp of approval that they are the ones here to lead for the town of Homer," said Thielenhaus.

Looking back over his and his wife's years of service in Homer, Thielenhaus summed up what they experienced. When they first arrived, the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Pioneer Avenue was still new. Eight years later, the "store is doing fantastic. It is really what empowers us to stay in this community and serve people, thanks to folks in Homer and their giving," Thielenhaus said.

A 6,370 square foot building also was constructed on the Sterling Highway by North Star Construction during the couple's tenure. The building provides a kitchen, dining area, offices, classrooms, a chapel capable of seating 100 and storage area for stocking food the Salvation Army distributes to those in need.

Thielenhaus praised the volunteers that have supported the Salvation Army's social service program, "and then, of course, all the fantastic relationships with different service groups in town. There are just a lot of fantastic volunteers that give of their time, everything from standing kettles to giving items of food and clothes and all those things. This has just been a fantastic place to live," Thielenhaus said.

One other change in the family's life while living in Homer was the birth of their daughter Crystal, now 7. Their other daughter, Emily, is 11.

"They are excited to be able to live in camp for the summer," Thielenhaus said. "If you must leave the paradise of Homer, I guess we'll settle for a lake in Wasilla."

There is the possibility the couple's new duties will bring them back to Homer on occasion. That's a good thing, but not the most important thing, in Thielenhaus' view.

"We have so many people we consider family at this church and in this town. ... Homer is not too far away for a good visit," he said. "Ultimately, the most important thing of our entire time here is to share the love of Jesus and the message of salvation. That's why we do what we do. ... It's still the same mission of the Army, just a different role for us."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.
---------------

It has been an honor to serve the Lord and His Salvation Army.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Sunday's sermon - Our farewell message to the Homer Corps "Be Careful"

2010-06-27T17:33:00.000-08:00

This was a very emotional day as Captain Michelle, Emily, Crystal, and I say farewell as the Corps Officers (pastors) after 8 amazing years here in Homer. May God bless what He has next for Homer, Lt.'s Josephson continuing the work here, and next things for our family in Anchorage.

May God be glorfied.

To listen to Sunday's sermon now, just click the play arrow here.

For a basic manuscript of this message use download, or sharing options, click the menu button at the right of this square and choose your option.

For this sermon, past sermons, podcasting options, and countless other preachers check out the sermon site at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer

God bless your study!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Sunday's Sermon - Get your hands up! Exodus 17

2010-06-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

To listen to Sunday's sermon now, just click the play arrow here.

For a basic manuscript of this message use download, or sharing options, click the menu button at the right of this square and choose your option.

For this sermon, past sermons, podcasting options, and countless other preachers check out the sermon site at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer

God bless your study!

Live holy, preach Jesus!