from "Family Life"

Guys, I can’t tell you how strongly I feel about this. The statistics don’t lie. Despite more than a decade of “Just Say No” and countless sermons on “Love, Sex, and Dating,” the sexual conduct of Christian youth growing up in Christian youth groups, worshiping to Christian music, and sitting in Christian Bible studies, is virtually no different than the sexual conduct of any other teenager.

by Joshua Harris

http://www.familylife.com/familyroom/article.asp?aid=592&code=FRAPR07F4&cat_id=195&DCMP=EMC-TFR+April+2007&ATT=592C

confess

JAS 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

1JN 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

"Ave Verum Corpus" -- the words we are singing in Estonian

I think this translation is quite different from the English translations I have read, but it is beautiful nonetheless.

Arm, kes oled taevast tulnud, arm, kes jäävat head mul teinud ka, kes sa minu palveid kuulnud, kui abi Sult lootsin ma.

Palju tänu Sinu haavul, valurikas armastus! Kui on viimne elutund mul, mind saatku Su õnnistus, mind saatku Su õnnistus.

Here's my effort at an English translation of this (aita mind!):

Grace (love? mercy?), who has come from heaven, grace who (something) done good to me also, who heard my prayers, when I hoped for help from you.

Many thanks for your wound, love in rich pain! When I have the last hour of my life, give me your blessing, give me your blessing.

How was that? :-)

Evelyn

Youth Group is at the Methodist Church tonight!

Tere kõigile
Taaskord on tulemas noortekas.
Reedel 30.03.
kella 19:00-22:00
Narva mnt 51
HÄDAVALE, PISIPETTUS, SPIKERDAMINE ???
Tule ise ja võta sõber kah kaasa!
Sooja kevadet soovides,
sass

March 29: St. Jonas and St. Barachisius

Captain Stephen Court neglected to cite his source in yesterday's blog post. (I didn't think the writing sounded like his!)

http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/dailysaint/march/0329.asp

from "Christianity Today"

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/april/25.80.html

We are singing this on Good Friday in Estonian. Please join us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TfAyX8l5-g

http://www.conradaskland.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/K618_Ave_verum_VS_PML.pdf

from Captain Armida LaMarr in Kenya (our sessionmate!)

Some of the things I experience still break my heart. I'm actually glad for that, because nothing is worse for the cause than being desensitized. The poverty and disrepair I encounter can be devastating. The students, staff and officers stay positive and they work faithfully with whatever they have. They are an inspiration to me. I am also encouraged and inspired by those of you who hear these stories and offer to help through projects. Any little good we do makes a difference.

My verse for this week is:
"For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead" James 2:26

Thanks for the e-mails and all the notes of encouragement. With yoursupport, I feel that we are all ministering here together.

Lots of love,
Armida

Armida LaMarr
Captain
Social Service Secretary
Kenya Territory

Money

Okay, so we've been saying all along, "Õnn ei ole rahas." But maybe there can be an exception for one little guy.

Sola Gratia? Sola Fide?

Captain Stephen Court got me thinking about these verses.

TIT 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

EPH 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We read the following in Bible Study recently.

JAS 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
JAS 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
JAS 2:20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
JAS 2:25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

On Sunday, I preached on Doctrine #8:
"We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself."

One of our new soldiers rightly challenged me afterwards. It's not enough for us to accept the gift of God's grace, to have faith and ask God for more faith; we also must love one another! Hard to distill into a blog post all that I'm trying to sort through about this.

Evelyn

"I'll fight!" (as requested!)

"Nii kaua kui naised nutavad, nii nagu praegu, ma võitlen; kuni lapsed nälgivad, nii nagu praegu, ma võitlen; nii kaua kui mehed satuvad vanglatesse, sisse ja välja, sisse ja välja, nii nagu praegu, ma võitlen; kuni on üks joodik järel, kuni on üks kadunud tüdruk tänavatel, kuni on üks hing pimeduses ilma Jumala valguseta, ma võitlen. Ma võitlen kuni lõpuni!"
William Booth, London 1912

I couldn't resist passing this along!

Renewing the Mission by Commisioner Israel L. Gaither

I just felt the need to remind myself of this!

The Mission of The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

my mother was Promoted to Glory two years ago today

She loved this song by Oscar Eliason.

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?
Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?
God specializes in things thought impossible;
He can do what no other can do.

In two months and three days, I will be able to put flowers in front of her gravestone for the first time.

Evelyn

"A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder"

from Ian's Messy Desk:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2105584,00.asp

soldiers we have been praying for this week

Evelin Aavik
Sirje Palla
Svetlana Kiljak
Tiiu Rehepap
Arvo Rohtla
Teele Tiks

Besides having a beautiful name, Evelin is a beautiful girl! She is 18-years-old, the twin sister to Anneli. She is already an accomplished translator, dancer, dramatist, musician, singer, and even babysitter! Please pray for Evelin, and for all of our other soldiers.

"the Tallinn main train station" is across the street from the corps! and we already plan to go to Old Town on Sat. night!

The American Embassy would like to inform you of events this weekend where the police plan to increase coverage/presence due to security concerns. The first event is an indoor soccer match and concert at the Saku Suurhall, Rocca-al-Mare held on 23 March (Friday). The event will begin at 1900 hours and end approximately at 2200 hours. An after-game party will be held at “Amigos” in the Viru Center. Spectators are also expected to visit various bars/pubs in the Old Town area.

The second event will be the Estonia-Russia soccer match held at the Lilleküla stadium behind Kristiine Center on 24 March (Saturday). Russia fans are expected to begin gathering at the bronze soldier monument area at Tõnismäe across National Library at approximately 1700 hours. At approximately 1800 hours the Russia fans will proceed towards the stadium using Endla, Kristiine Center, and Kotka with some supporters using Tehnika street.

Estonia fans are expected to begin gathering at Tammsaare Park between the Estonia Opera and Viru Center at 1700 hours. The Estonia fans will then proceed towards the stadium using Pärnu manatee, Vabaduse plats, Liivalaia, Suur/Väike Ameerika, and Tehnika Street.

Many Russia fans are expected to stay in the Kopli area of Tallinn. In addition to the above-cited areas, Americans should consider avoiding the areas of Kopli, the Tallinn main train station, and Schnelli Lake. Russia fans are expected to begin departing Tallinn on Sunday afternoon around 1600 hours.

Police expect these events and gatherings to remain peaceful, however, they will increase police coverage/presence around these venues and in town in order to prevent/mitigate potential problems.

The Embassy advises all Americans traveling to or residing in Estonia to keep abreast of developments, particularly when planning travel. U.S. citizens should avoid locations of demonstrations and be particularly cautious when near large gatherings of boisterous persons.
The American Embassy in Tallinn is located at Kentmanni 20. You may contact the Embassy by calling 668-8100 or by contacting the duty officer at 509-2129.

An Acceptable Time

Having just finished the M. L'Engle book by this title, I now seem to keep coming across this phrase!

From the KJV:
Psalm 69:13But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
Isaiah 49:8Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

And from the NIV:
PS 69:13 But I pray to you, O LORD,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
ISA 49:8 This is what the LORD says:
"In the time of my favor I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
ISA 49:9 to say to the captives, `Come out,'
and to those in darkness, `Be free!'
"They will feed beside the roads
and find pasture on every barren hill.

"how much like God can we be?"

from http://www.armybarmy.com/blog.html
From Catherine Booth:
"It must be self-evident... that the most important question that can possibly occupy the mind of man is how much like God can we be? How near to God can we come on earth prepatory to our being perfectly like Him, and living, as it were, in His very heart for ever and ever in heaven?"
Blog away, you bloggers.

A friend wrote me this, and while I appreciate it more than words can say, it's an interesting way that God is using to bring me to repentance!
"Ev, the reason I am writing is because I want you to be encouraged by something. I think you are probably the most Christ-like of anyone I have ever met. Do you feel the kisses and hugs from Jesus? Because I am certain they are coming your way by the trainload."

Only God knows how truly NOT Christ-like I am!! This Sunday I will preach on the 8th Doctrine: "We believe that we are justified by grace...." How true! The justification is a gift. The grace is a gift. The faith is a gift. The assurance is a gift. And any Christ-likeness that there may be is a gift. Undeserved. Unmerited. Amazing!

Evelyn

Darfur

http://www.liberalavenger.com/2006/10/07/jay-mcginley-takes-action-for-darfur/

I love this picture!

Marching Orders, by Jim Wallis

Marching Orders
Below is the full text of my message at the Washington National Cathedral service of the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, where I, along with many other religious leaders, spoke to a capacity crowd before marching to the White House:
Get a free issue of Sojourners
Four years ago today, my son Jack was born – two days before the war began. I always know how long this awful war has gone on.The war in Iraq is personal for me. It’s personal for you too, or you wouldn’t be here tonight.It’s personal for the families and loved ones of the more than 3,200 American soldiers who have lost the precious gift of life. The stories I hear every day on the radio and TV break my heart. They are so young to die, and it is so unnecessary. When I look at my son and celebrate his birthday, I think of all the children whose fathers or mothers won’t be coming back from the war to celebrate theirs.It’s personal for the tens of thousands of service men and women who have lost their limbs or their mental and emotional health, and who now feel abandoned and mistreated.It’s personal for all the Iraqis who have lost their loved ones, as many as hundreds of thousands. What would it be like to wait in line at morgues to check dead bodies, desperately hoping that you don’t recognize someone you love? I can only imagine. And when I look at my son, I think of all the Iraqi children who will never celebrate another birthday.This isn’t just political; it’s personal for millions of us now. And for all of us here tonight, the war in Iraq is actually more than personal – it has become a matter of faith.By our deepest convictions about Christian standards and teaching, the war in Iraq was not just a well-intended mistake or only mismanaged. This war, from a Christian point of view, is morally wrong – and was from the very start. It cannot be justified with either the teaching of Jesus Christ or the criteria of St. Augustine’s just war. It simply doesn’t pass either test, and did not from its beginning. This war is not just an offense against the young Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice or the Iraqis who have paid such a horrible price. This war is not only an offense to the poor at home and around the world who have paid the price of misdirected resources and priorities – this war is also an offense against God.And so we are here tonight, very simply and resolutely, to begin to end the war in Iraq – not by anger, though we are angry; not just by politics, though it will take political courage; but by faith, because we are people of faith.This service and procession are not just another political protest, but an act of faith, an act of prayer, an act of non-violent witness. Politics led us into this war, and politics is unlikely to save us by itself. The American people have voted against the war in Iraq, but political proposals keep failing one after the other.I believe it will take faith to end this war. It will take prayer to end it. It will take a mobilization of the faith community to end it – to change the political climate, to change the wind. It will take a revolution of love to end it, because this endless war in Iraq is based ultimately on fear, and Jesus says that only perfect love will cast out fear.So tonight we say, as people of faith, as followers of Jesus, that the deep fear that has paralyzed the conscience of this nation, which has caused us to become the kind of people that we are not called to be, that has allowed us to tolerate violations of our most basic values, and that has perpetuated an endless cycle of violence and counter-violence must be exorcised as the demon it is – this fear must be cast out!And to cast out that fear, we must act in faith, in prayer, in love, and in hope – so we might help to heal the fears that keep this war going. Tonight we march not in belligerence, or to attack individuals (even those leaders directly responsible for the war), or to use human suffering for partisan political purposes. Rather, we process to the White House tonight as an act of faith, believing that only faith can save us now.Ironically, this war has often been cloaked in the name and symbols of our faith, confused American imperial designs with God’s purposes, and tragically discredited Christian faith around the world, having so tied it to flawed American behavior and agendas. Millions of people around the world sadly believe this is a Christian war. So as people of faith, let us say tonight to our brothers and sisters around the world, and as clearly as we can – America is not the hope of the earth and the light of the world, Jesus Christ is! And it is his way that we follow, and not the flawed path of our nation’s leaders who prosecute this war. As an evangelical Christian, I must say that the war in Iraq has hindered the cause of Christ and, in this season of Lent, we must repent of this war!So let us march tonight, believing that faith is stronger than fear;Let us march tonight, believing that hope is stronger than hate;Let us march tonight, believing that perfect love can cast out both hate and fear.And let us march tonight, believing that the peace of Christ is stronger than the ways of war;Let us march tonight, to say to a nation still captive to fear but weary of war, "May the peace of Christ be with you!"Let’s march tonight, as Dr. Martin Luther King told us in another magnificent house of worship 40 years ago this spring, to "rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter-but beautiful-struggle for a new world."And then let us return to our homes from the 48 states represented here tonight and generate a flood of public pressure that can wash away the blind intransigence of our White House and the cautious procrastination of our divided Congress. Your letters, phone calls, lobby visits, and actions at home will put a megaphone behind the sound of your feet today.And all of this must be wrapped in the power of prayer. Because we believe that God can still work miracles in and through our prayers – and that prayer followed by action can turn valleys of despair into mountains of hope. God has acted before in history and we believe that God will act again through us. Tonight we leave this Cathedral humbly hoping to be God’s instruments of peace and the earthly agents of the kingdom of God.It sometimes appears that the light of peace has almost gone out in America, but tonight we re-light the candle and take the light of peace to the White House!Tonight, by faith, we begin to end the war in Iraq!The peace of Christ be with you!
+ Read and respond to comments on this article on the God's Politics Blog
+ Dowload audio of the speech (mp3)+ Watch video of the entire service

fortunately, our ID cards are good until 2011!

http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/17541/

"People applying for a long-term residency permit in Estonia will have to pass a language exam under new requirements to be introduced on July 1. The Interior Ministry said basic Estonian language skills would now form part of the application process. Those who wanted to avoid the language requirement now have two months to file their application, the Citizenship and Migration Board said."

can someone find me the YouTube link with English subtitles?

http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/17538/

Catherine Booth

http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/pdf_files/haddad_egalitarian_pioneers.pdf

Catherine Booth (1829–1890), cofounder of the Salvation Army along with her husband William, was a noted preacher and a tenacious inner-city missionary. Catherine and William committed their lives to Christian service among the poverty-stricken neighborhoods of East London. When evangelist Phoebe Palmer was criticized for addressing audiences of both women and men in her lecture series, Catherine took it upon herself to write a defense of women’s preaching. Her pamphlet entitled "Female Ministry or, Woman’s Right to Preach the Gospel," is a concise and thorough survey of the biblical support for women’s public ministry.
Booth used a whole-Bible approach in interpreting 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34, stating that,
If commentators had dealt with the Bible on other subjects as they have dealt with it on this, taking isolated passages, separated from their explanatory connections, and insisting on the literal interpretation of the words of our version, what errors and contractions would have been forced upon the acceptance of the Church, and what terrible results would have accrued to the world.51
According to Booth, if women bring people to Christ, then they are gifted by God and should be supported by their church or denomination. She also warned that those who hinder women from ministry on the basis of their gender will be judged for keeping the Gospel from reaching those whom Christ died to save. Booth recognized a clear link between affirming the biblical basis for gift-based ministry and furthering the work of evangelism.

prostitution

http://web.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove/engage_humantraffic_body_soul_spirit.asp

St. Patrick's Day links from "Christianity Today"

http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/stpatricks/

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Rune of Patrick
from A Swiftly Tilting Planet
by Madeleine L'Engle

With ______ in this fateful hour
I call on all heaven with its power
And the sun with its brightness
And the snow with its whiteness
And the fire with all the strength it hath
And the lightning with its rapid wrath
The winds with their swiftness along their path
And the sea with its deepness
And the rocks with the steepness
And the earth with its starkness
All these I place
By God's almighty help and grace
Between myself and the powers of darkness

Prayer for you

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

"A Wrinkle in Time" et al.

http://www.madeleinelengle.com/books/biblio_murry.htm

I'm reading these books for -- if you can believe it! -- the very first time!

Feeling in a funk, I asked Chris if he had any good books to offer me. (Chris has hundreds of good books!) And he thought it was high time I had read these books!

Okay, true-confessions time! I haven't even read the Lord of the Rings books! I'm just not a huge fan of fiction.

So. These books have been good for me, and I highly recommend them to you!

Evelyn

His divine power has (already!) given you everything you need for life and godliness

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
(2 Peter 1:3-4)

Not a bad deal, eh? ;-)

Evelyn

praying for soldiers during Lent

Sergei Mihailov
Katrin Galai
Anna-Liisa Väisanen
Anne Ginzburg
Lii Assuküll
Riina Tiks

These are the soldiers we are praying for this week. I think the idea is catching on! One of the pensioners (who is not a soldier) asked if her name would be one the list! So I guess after we pray for our soldiers, we will start praying for our pensioners!

Please especially pray for Sergei, who is a young man who is so helpful when he is around, but is currently not around. God knows all about it. While you're at it, please pray that all soldiers who are currently AWOL will find their way home!

Thank you,
Evelyn

from the General

March 2007
Pastoral Letters
LETTERS TO THE ARMY
March 2007
PASTORAL LETTERSFROM THE OFFICE OF THE GENERALTO SALVATIONISTS ACROSS THE WORLD
This is the first in what will be a series of Pastoral Letters from the General to every Salvationist across the world.
The Pastoral Letters are intended to be distributed unchanged and entire to all Salvationists and may be shared also with others interested in the sacred purposes for which God raised up The Salvation Army.
INTRODUCTION
Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ.
This comes to all Salvationists with my strong affection in Christ for you, and with my prayers for your effectiveness in the sacred calling that God, in his supreme wisdom, has placed upon the peoples known as Salvationists.
It has been laid upon my heart that I am to take a step of obedience under God by reaching out to you all through a Pastoral Letter written from time to time. I write therefore in order to obey the One who created us all, and with a longing that what is written will affirm, encourage and inspire you.
The themes for these occasional Pastoral Letters will be the themes God reveals. His holy will is made known in many ways. I pledge myself to be mindful that his will is often revealed through interaction with members of the Body and not only or always in the seclusion of the place of prayer.
It is my deep hope that each Pastoral Letter will be read wherever Salvationists are to be found, whether in private or in public settings. The chosen themes may prompt discussion, prayer and - as appropriate - action.
All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, unless otherwise stated.

Shaw Clifton
General
PASTORAL LETTER ONE
VICTORY
It is natural for each follower of the Lord Jesus Christ to have a deep longing for a life of spiritual victory. I share this longing with you. It has been planted within us by the Holy Spirit. He has rooted that holy desire deep down in our souls. It is a good desire. It gives us a feeling of holy discontentedness in order to drive us on to better things in our walk with God.
In his sacred heart, God also has a longing for each of us to be victorious. He offers us a life of victory over temptation, over sin, and over self. This becomes possible when we are living under the feet of Christ, in submission to the Saviour (Ephesians 1:22). To be victorious we must submit to Christ.
None of this would be possible without the dying and rising of our Lord.
I am writing to fellow Salvationists in the weeks leading to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the period often referred to (in English) as Lent. It is a time when we prepare to commemorate the self-giving of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. We want to arrive at Good Friday in a spiritual condition that allows us to obtain maximum benefit from everything that is remembered on that solemn day. It is the same for the celebrations of Easter Day.
Therefore, as the weeks now pass by, I invite all Salvationists to think of victory. Let us think together of all that has been won for us by Jesus. ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory' (1 Corinthians 15:54). Jesus has done this for us. Death has been defeated: ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?' (15:55). Let the Army give thanks together to God for he ‘gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ' (15:57).
Do you live each day in a way that proves this to be true? Or is this greatest truth a mere theory to you?
Is your life a life of victory? Or are you experiencing defeat? We do not have to live in defeat, as though Good Friday and Easter Day - Crucifixion and Resurrection - had never happened.
My prayer is that we will each stand firm in the victory of Jesus, letting nothing move us, and that we will give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because our labour in the Lord is not in vain (15:58). A dying, defeated world needs your victorious life. Your family, your friends, your work colleagues, even your fellow believers need the splendid, humble example of your victorious life. Jesus can help you.
He has spoken to us about victory. In preparing yourself for Good Friday and Easter Day why not read again the early chapters of the Book of Revelation? Recently I revisited the seven short letters to the churches that are found in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. Each letter has a powerful, warning message, but I urge you to search for the wonderful promises to those who are victorious for Christ.
Two churches (Smyrna and Philadelphia) receive warm commendation from the Lord, but five (Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea) do not. Two have victory, but five have known defeat.
The church at Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) faced persecution, slander, and poverty but they remained truly ‘rich' as they lived victoriously in Christ despite everything. Jesus promised them ‘the crown of life', the laurels of victory! That same crown can be yours, and mine too!
The church at Philadelphia (3:7-13) was affirmed by the Lord because they had kept his word and had not denied his name, even though they had ‘little strength' to call their own (v. 8). Notice the promise in verse 12: the overcomer, the victor, will be made a ‘pillar in the temple of my God'. How we long to be victors in Christ! It can be done!
The church at Ephesus (2:1-7) had a liking for hard work and refused to tolerate false teaching, but they had forsaken their ‘first love' and were now commanded to ‘do the things you did at first' (v. 5). They are given a wonderful promise: ‘To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life' (v.7). There is eternal life if we are victorious! It is offered to us all!
The church at Pergamum (2:12-17) had stood firm in persecution, but had allowed false teaching to infiltrate their ranks. Again, the Lord holds out a gracious promise of ‘manna' (v.17) to believers who prove to be overcomers. He feeds those who find victory in him! You can enjoy this divine provision for the feeding of your soul!
The church in Thyatira (2:18-29) had made progress in many ways (v.19), but had permitted sexual immorality to creep into the membership (v.20). However, to those who remained victorious the Lord would give ‘authority over the nations' (v.26) and ‘the morning star' (v.28)! Jesus himself is ‘the bright Morning Star' (22:16)! He gives us himself, to indwell us and keep us victorious! Let us open our hearts afresh to him!
The church at Sardis (3:1-6) was reported to be alive and well but was in fact dead (v.1). Jesus called upon them to repent. This time the Lord's promise for the victorious ones is that they will be ‘dressed in white' (v.5) and for the overcomer that the Lord ‘will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels' (v.5). O, how we long for victory, in order to be claimed by Jesus as one of his very own!
Finally, the church at Laodicea (3:14-22) was 'neither cold nor hot' (v.15). They lacked true passion. Without Spirit-filled passion there is no victory. Again the Lord is gracious and ready to forgive, for he promises to the victorious one ‘the right to sit with me on my throne' (v.21). Imagine it! Imagine the honour of sitting beside Jesus in Glory! It is the destiny of those who know victory in Christ! It is our destiny!
I am praying that you and I will know victory in Jesus day by day, and that we will go on to claim the incomparable rewards for all who are true to him .
The Lord bless you and keep you.

If you have any queries regarding the above, or if you have any other matter which you would like to discuss, please contact us via our website.

contentment

PHP 4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

PR 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life:
Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

1TI 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

If you're wondering how to pray for us, please pray that we would be content. (This is not a money or material issue, by the way.)

Ouch, ouch, ouch! I'm sure that these painful arrows were fired without intent to harm. But still -- OUCH!

Evelyn

Crossing the Line?

Friends, we just really need your prayers right now. Maybe you've read Major Steve Yoder's article in the new Officer magazine.

So, we come to a situation where we have to ask ourselves that very question.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then just please know that we are hurting and we ask for your prayer support please.

Thank you.
Evelyn

Keit Tiks

Keit's blog has some cool pictures -- scroll down to see them!

special guest tomorrow -- be sure to come!

Travel Photography Show
Captain Evelyn Clark invites you to these special events at the Salvation Army Tallinn Kopli Corps, Kopli 8 (formerly the Lembitu Kino, across the street from the Jaamaturg). Everything
is conducted in both English and Estonian.
March 11
11:00 a.m. Third Sunday in Lent, Worship Meeting
1:00 p.m. Robin & Jean Bryant
The Salvation Army operates in 111 countries, and Robin Bryant has travelled all over the world as the Army's official photographer. He will be sharing many of his photographs and stories with us. The link below is a small sample of his work.
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vwissue/619521EB2C1A530F80256E59004DA8C1?opendocument&id=64BAD7E734AC12CD80256E32005188D1

"The Four Spiritual Laws" in Estonian -- and more!

http://www.greatcom.org/laws/estonian/

http://www.hereslife.com/downloads/tracts/EstEng4pWBw06Oct.pdf

A very cool pastor in town: http://www.online.ee/~niinemagi/

blast-from-the-past tract: http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0673/0673_01.asp

How to Find God

http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/howtofindgod.html

http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/7stepsBrochure.pdf

Please pray for Elis, who became a Christian today!

LK 15:3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
LK 15:8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

1PE 5:1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Promoting Missions

http://www.christianitytoday.com/bcl/areas/missions/articles/070307.html

International Women's Day!

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/women/womday97.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womensday1.html

http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-search/5134ECF86685ACB9802571F5004B1013?opendocument

http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-issue/15955DD1FE8AECA38025727C004C320A?opendocument&id=2FEE1528633E81358025727B0081A111

http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf
Women's Ministries
The Salvation Army Celebrates Women's Work Centenary and Sends Delegates to 51st Session of UN Commission on the Status of Women

Centenary of Women's Work

Statement to the Commission on the Status of Women

stuff that's got me thinking

http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/Yaconelli/fear.php

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/march/29.72.html

HIV/AIDS

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=43331

http://www.aids.ee/index_eng.php

praying for soldiers during Lent

This week we pray for:
Maire Jämsa
Helge-Astrid Altmaa
Gunnar Traus
Signe Treilman
Kristi Tiks
Caroliina Kalme

Maire is a single mother raising three boys. How can I not think of my own mother, who raised three girls alone (after raising two boys!)? Her sons are Eero, Vesse, and Aappo -- all junior soldiers. Eero and Vesse went to England with Tim and Chris (total of 11 from our corps gone for a long weekend mission trip). Maire works at the Salvation Army Youth Center (Lastekeskus) in a Russian-speaking part of town, although she's not (yet) a strong Russian speaker! She has become one of our faithful Bible-Study attenders, and we really enjoy that time together. She is also the Home League treasurer and attendance taker (there's probably an official title, but I'm not sure what it is!). Please pray for Maire, her three boys, and also her father who lives with them. God knows their needs.

Thanks!
Evelyn

Commissioner Gunpei Yamamuro, Salvation Samurai

We are following the UK Territory's Corps Cadet curriculum at our corps, which is party based on the book Heroes of the Faith by Derek Elvin. Tonight we will be learning from the life of Commissioner Gunpei Yamamuro. As many of our youth are fans of Japanese culture (anime, language, video games, etc.!), this will be a big treat!

http://jesus-otaku.blogspot.com/2005/05/gunpei-yamamuro.html

more on Integrated Mission

http://tsacascade.org/ihq%5Cwww_sa.nsf/txt-vw-sublinks/0151CA3EBC8F0985802571CE00140D62?openDocument

This audio file was recorded at an awareness session led by Dr Ian Campbell in Toronto, Canada, during the 2006 international Aids conference held in that city (the photograph was taken during the session). You will need Flash plug-in to hear it, a free download from Macromedia and usually already installed on most PCs. If you do not have it, you will see a notice on your screen when you click on the link and you will be given an opportunity to install it. The file is compressed to work on 56K modems but is best heard over a higher bandwidth, such as with DSL or cable.
Dr Campbell is introduced by Commissioner M. Christine MacMillan, Territorial Commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory. To listen to the file, click here

what Tim is doing in Finland this week

http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/766d2187c97e6bf180256cf4005d2284/fdb5578e5e1a3c9280256f0e004aed0e/$FILE/mission_in_community-lr.pdf

Facts and figures about Estonia

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/04/europe/EU-GEN-Estonia-Glance.php

the news

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/05/ap/world/mainD8NLLVGO0.shtml

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6416591.stm

God bless Andrus Ansip! He is a good man and I believe he is a Christian (he is a member of the Lutheran Church). He was the mayor of Tartu when we first moved to Estonia, and we met him in that capacity. He cooperated well with the Christian community in Tartu.

1TI 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
1TI 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
1TI 2:9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Vote tomorrow!

"The position taken by Salvationists since General William Booth has been not to align the Army with a particular political party. This is still the case today" -- Captain Dean Pallant, Editor of Salvationist magazine

http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/5752A6B0A22AB2138025728800429083?opendocument&id=E3BF428D539DDAB08025728800423626

The Tomb of Jesus Is Empty!

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
(1 Corinthians 15:13-20)

Wesleyan Distinctives

http://www.salvationist.org/extranet_main.nsf/vw_sublinks/8E93913570C2699B80256F16006D3C6F?openDocument

our social problems

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=135920&version=1&template_id=39&parent_id=21

Birthdays at the Corps!

2 March -- Aappo, 12
3 March -- Keit, 13
4 March -- Peter, 3
5 March -- Teele, 30th Jubilee!

I'm begging you -- please vote!