Happy Fathers' Day

http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/thought-and-questions-for-parents-on-fathers-day

the ministry of the SA

"It was through the ministry of the Salvation Army that she became a Christian. This led to her being involved with a Bible study group"
http://www.elisabethelliot.org/ramblings061709.html

Crossing the Line by Major Stephen Yoder

“When I was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer, I indicated in signing my officer covenant that I would be available to serve wherever the Lord and the Army wanted me to be. I didn’t qualify that commitment with any notes of guidance, or exceptions or ‘small print’ to indicate personal preferences, or any special conditions or prerequisites relating to my service. And I meant it, for life.
“I don’t want to alter that commitment. But sometimes I’m scared about crossing the line between offering myself willingly and offering myself with strings attached. I don’t want to have provisions in my life; I don’t want to limit the Lord’s ability to use me anywhere at any time. I don’t want to limit the opportunities that simply come with Salvation Army officership. I haven’t yet and I sure don’t want to….
“I worry about having self-serving expectations of the Army….
“Wherever? Yes, because my commitment is first and foremost to the Lord, who alone is infallible....”

What is The Salvation Army?

The Salvation Army has been organized to carry the blood of Christ and the fire of the Holy Ghost into every corner of the world.

The Salvation Army is recruited from among the multitudes who are without God and without hope in the world, devoting their leisure time to all sorts of laborious efforts for the salvation of others from unbelief, drunkenness, vice and crime.

The Salvation Army is an army for the purpose of carrying Salvation through the land.

The Salvation Army is a revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus.

The Salvation Army is Fighting for right and opposing the wrong.

Blood & Fire

Heart to God & Hand to Man

Soup, Soap & Salvation

Saved to Save

The Salvation Army is called by God to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Salvation Army is a charitable and religious organization to evangelize and to care for the poor and homeless.

The Salvation Army is a Christian charity and church that is internally organised like a military service.

The Salvation Army is an integral part of the Christian Church. Its objects are the advancement of the Christian religion, of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole.

The Salvation Army is a worldwide evangelical Christian church with its own distinctive governance and practice. Its doctrine follows the mainstream of Christian belief and its articles of faith emphasize God’s saving purposes.

The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian denomination and an international charity which has become famous around the world for its work in the social services. The work of the Salvation Army is intended to provide social services to the needy while also practicing Christian evangelism, encouraging people to deepen their bonds with Christ and promoting a life of Christian service among its adherents.

The Salvation Army is doing the most good to the most people in the most need.

The Salvation Army is a Christian body organized on military lines for working among the poor and spreading the Christian faith.

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 love for God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Save Souls, Grow Saints & Serve Suffering Humanity

The Salvation Army is a Protestant denomination and international non-sectarian Christian organization for evangelical and philanthropic work.

the one I've been waiting for! :-D

http://armyrenewal.blogspot.com/2009/06/affirmations-10-faith-at-margins.html

preaching advice!

"I also prepared my talks out loud. I never wrote things out in full. I used outlines and I prepared them out loud. I took notes from my study but I think the whole art of communicating out loud is very different from writing. So if you write a sermon it most likely won't be the best spoken sermon as it is a different form of communication."
http://blog.sophianetwork.org.uk/2009/06/interview-with-danielle-strickland.html#more

Pastor Leho Paldre Kolgata Baptistikogudusest!

http://www.christiantoday.com/articledir/enlarge.htm?artid=23511&imgid=10538

"help find you some church or ministry ... where you’ll be more comfortable"

"And to my Salvationist brothers and sisters who may be trying to move the Army in directions of liturgy, greater formality, a more “stained glass” setting, communion, more relaxed standards, or a mega-church mentality, may I lovingly set this idea on the table…? Could it be that the Army just might not be right for you? Please understand I’m not criticizing or condemning! I know full well that we aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Truth is we’re really more of an “acquired taste.” I’m simply suggesting that perhaps we work together to help find you some church or ministry – complete with the elements, practices, “look,” and “feel” you’re wanting –where you’ll be more comfortable, and not as frustrated."
quoted in http://www.armybarmy.com/blog.html

I personally would add -- those who have zero interest in the poor, in evangelism (this means that we actually have to spend time with SINNERS!), who only want a nice quiet peaceful place to worship and sing their nice familiar songs, who can't stand to be around someone who is drunk or smells bad or is homeless, who believe in "I sin every day" and refuse to believe in holiness, who after years of soldiership still aren't sure if they're saved, who will not read the Bible or pray or testify, who have plenty of money for their own wordly pursuits but none for Kingdom advancement, who think the 11 doctrines are optional (9 or 10 is good enough!) -- if you feel like it's time for you to start looking for a new church, my only response is OKAY!

More from the original article at http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article10-61.html (I highly recommend you read the whole piece):

"the kind of people we intentionally sought out (the marginalized, the cast-off, those who were in some way broken, ignored, despised, or who would fit into no other church system)"

"What I do find highly disturbing ... is the strengthening push – here in the West, anyway – for us to become more of a “middle-class,” suburban church. If some had their way, they would ditch the urban Army model where we intentionally go out searching for and bringing in those who have been written off by other churches. Instead, they would have us settle into well-placed bedroom communities where we could turn our attention on the comfort and care of folks who “look like us.” Tell me…where is it written that we are called to be more concerned about those we’ve already got, than we are those who are still missing and in danger?"

1500 seekers; ~1000 conversions

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090601/over-30-000-attend-graham-fest-in-estonia/index.html