That time of year has come again and is almost finished when we rattle the tins and knock on doors trying to fund the work of The Salvation Army for the next twelve months and beyond. It has really struck me this year how generous people are! at a time when inflation is causing pain, where the price of petrol is continually rising, where the cost of everyday shopping items is soaring, when we see so many people through our welfare, it is good to see that people still regard us highly enough to give very generously.
This has made me think about the people who have gone before us and the reputation that has been built over many years, we should be very grateful for their work. The other thing that has really stood out to me is the value of our uniform. Many people complain about it and look at ways of changing it, some choose not to wear it, others believe it is holding us back. Whatever your take on it is you cannot deny the power it has, I got to doors to find people waiting with money in hand because they had seen me coming and recognised the uniform. I went into shops and didn't need to ask for money as they would see you and say "Oh its the Salvos !". I would love to see the figures but I would be amazed if people in uniform didn't get significantly more than those in casual attire. I always used to be amazed at one of my previous corps when people who wore uniform all year round would suddenly turn up in jeans and a jumper for Red Shield Sunday because it was more comfortable. I might be wrong but I thought the whole idea of wearing a uniform was to witness to the fact that you were a follower of God in The Salvation Army. Why then are we witnessing to those who already know this in our Sunday meetings, surely if you are going to change for one Sunday it would be the opposite way; for most of these people this is the one day when they actually go out and are seen in their community and they choose not to wear the uniform. Makes me question why they are actually wearing it and who they are wearing it for ..... themselves, their friends, their fellow soldiers.... or GOD !
If you were involved in Red Shield thank you for your efforts and I pray that you realised how much the Salvation Army is held in high regard and what great opportunities we have to minister to our own communities.
Monday 26 May 2008
Wednesday 21 May 2008
Little Girl Lost
We recently got the opportunity to share in a layered learning event over two days with the team from the Fist Baptist Church of Clovis. The Rev. Dr Tim Brown is the Senior Pastor of this church which has grown from around 40 to currently around 900 people attending. He is a great speaker and we learnt a lot from the time we spent together but I would like to share with you a story Tim told us.
" We love to go camping as a family, in case you dont know I am married with two young girls aged 9 and 5. This one time we went camping our youngest was about three. We set the tents up and I went to collect some wood to start the fire, my wife was setting up the sleeping bags and ensuring everything was solid for a cold night. When I returned I asked where the girls were, my wife said they were in their tent but when I went to look only our eldest daughter was there. We called out to Allison but there was no answer, we looked around the campsite feverishly but still no sign. We were on the side of a Mountain with a large stream not too far below us, we were starting to panic. We called the Park Ranger and he came with the local sherriff and started to organise a search party.
Now the sheriff said that before we could orgainse the search party we would need to set up a base for the operations so they started to erect this large marquee that they would work from. Then he said it was important that everyone was up to speed with the latest search techniques and protocols and so he handed out a manual and started to talk people through the book. They then decided it was getting dark and cold so they should build a bigger fire to keep them warm and comfortable.
While all this was going on I was yelling out my daughter is out there will someone start looking.
They then decided they needed to bring in beds for the searchers to sleep in when their shift had finished, so they started to erect this room with comfortable beds and cover for when the searchers returned. All the time the child was still lost.."
He went on with this for a bit longer but the real story was not about his lost daughter (in case you are worried this was not a real story !) this is what we as Churches and Christians do today we are so worried about making sure that we have every comfort available to us, that we have the latest sound equipment and the most comfortable chairs, that we forget what we are really called to do...... Go and find the lost ! Just as in the story above I am sure that at times God our father is watching us in frustration saying what are you doing my daughter is lost will someone just go and look for her !
When something of value is lost it becomes the focus of our attention, shouldnt we be investing in what matters most to God. God gets excited when lost people are found, shouldnt we be moved by what moves God. Jesus spent time with irreligious people because God is in the search and rescue business, so shouldnt we join God in this Search and Rescue Mission ?
" We love to go camping as a family, in case you dont know I am married with two young girls aged 9 and 5. This one time we went camping our youngest was about three. We set the tents up and I went to collect some wood to start the fire, my wife was setting up the sleeping bags and ensuring everything was solid for a cold night. When I returned I asked where the girls were, my wife said they were in their tent but when I went to look only our eldest daughter was there. We called out to Allison but there was no answer, we looked around the campsite feverishly but still no sign. We were on the side of a Mountain with a large stream not too far below us, we were starting to panic. We called the Park Ranger and he came with the local sherriff and started to organise a search party.
Now the sheriff said that before we could orgainse the search party we would need to set up a base for the operations so they started to erect this large marquee that they would work from. Then he said it was important that everyone was up to speed with the latest search techniques and protocols and so he handed out a manual and started to talk people through the book. They then decided it was getting dark and cold so they should build a bigger fire to keep them warm and comfortable.
While all this was going on I was yelling out my daughter is out there will someone start looking.
They then decided they needed to bring in beds for the searchers to sleep in when their shift had finished, so they started to erect this room with comfortable beds and cover for when the searchers returned. All the time the child was still lost.."
He went on with this for a bit longer but the real story was not about his lost daughter (in case you are worried this was not a real story !) this is what we as Churches and Christians do today we are so worried about making sure that we have every comfort available to us, that we have the latest sound equipment and the most comfortable chairs, that we forget what we are really called to do...... Go and find the lost ! Just as in the story above I am sure that at times God our father is watching us in frustration saying what are you doing my daughter is lost will someone just go and look for her !
When something of value is lost it becomes the focus of our attention, shouldnt we be investing in what matters most to God. God gets excited when lost people are found, shouldnt we be moved by what moves God. Jesus spent time with irreligious people because God is in the search and rescue business, so shouldnt we join God in this Search and Rescue Mission ?
Friday 16 May 2008
Sunday 11 May 2008
Famous Last Words
I got the opportunity to travel to Melbourne on the 1st May to hear the first in the series of lectures at the Salvation Army Training College entitled "Famous Last Words". This is a series featuring Retired Officers and giving them the opportunity to talk to Cadets and the wider Salvation Army and give what message they would give if it was their last chance to preach. Firstly let me say I think this is a sensational idea and we as a movement should use our Retired Officers and their experience more than we currently do. The reason I travelled from Warrnambool to Melbourne for this event was it was my Mum (Lieutenant Colonel Avis Lamotte) who was delivering the first in this series of lectures, and I wanted to support her and also hear Mum preach again. I am different to a lot of Officers kids in that my parents were not Corps Officers of mine after the age of three so I never really got to hear Mum preach very often. When my parents were the DC's if they visited my corps it was usually Dad who spoke, and even then I can count on one hand how many sermons I heard Dad deliver. So I was really looking forward to this chance; I was not disappointed ! Even if I am biased Mum was brilliant, she spoke of her childhood and then her path to Officership and the fact that God has been her constant companion through all of life's journeys.
If you know my Mum well you will be surprised to learn she was a very shy,quiet young girl. Her Dad used to say when I introduce you to someone for Heavens sake just say something...anything... just don't stand there. Now I should also say Mum's maiden name was Heaven, she was born Lorna Avis Heaven but has always been known as Avis. She used the theme of "For Heavens Sake" as the main theme of the night and flowed this through everything she spoke about.Mum spoke about getting out and doing things rather than setting up committees or bringing in consultants. I could bore you with everything Mum said but I wont, I do want to share with you her last few comments. Mum finished with this ... "I love this Army that God raised up; I long for it to be true to its name a Salvation Army totally mission based, and fulfilling that Mission. More geared to winning people than winning approval, more committed to making disciples than making dollars.I pray for an Army that will continue to challenge and encourage our beautiful young people to embrace Soldiership,Officership and Ministry; that our Senior Members would not feel discarded or that they have past their use by date.That we as an Army will understand that we are all in this together, One great Army, an army that builds on the past rather than dwells in the past, we have a wonderful heritage we should rightly salute thrilling achievements however lets not get lost in the what was, our challenge is the now.Being the army we ought to be now, fulfilling our mission now, Oh to catch a fresh vision of what we can be under the direction and empowerment of God The Holy Spirit, catch that vision and you and I will be filled with a glorious optimism that will motivate to overwhelming achievement."
I give thanks to God for the incredible woman that is my Mother, and also pray that these words will not just fall to the ground but they will be embraced by those that heard them. I Love You Mum, you are my inspiration and encouragement.
If you know my Mum well you will be surprised to learn she was a very shy,quiet young girl. Her Dad used to say when I introduce you to someone for Heavens sake just say something...anything... just don't stand there. Now I should also say Mum's maiden name was Heaven, she was born Lorna Avis Heaven but has always been known as Avis. She used the theme of "For Heavens Sake" as the main theme of the night and flowed this through everything she spoke about.Mum spoke about getting out and doing things rather than setting up committees or bringing in consultants. I could bore you with everything Mum said but I wont, I do want to share with you her last few comments. Mum finished with this ... "I love this Army that God raised up; I long for it to be true to its name a Salvation Army totally mission based, and fulfilling that Mission. More geared to winning people than winning approval, more committed to making disciples than making dollars.I pray for an Army that will continue to challenge and encourage our beautiful young people to embrace Soldiership,Officership and Ministry; that our Senior Members would not feel discarded or that they have past their use by date.That we as an Army will understand that we are all in this together, One great Army, an army that builds on the past rather than dwells in the past, we have a wonderful heritage we should rightly salute thrilling achievements however lets not get lost in the what was, our challenge is the now.Being the army we ought to be now, fulfilling our mission now, Oh to catch a fresh vision of what we can be under the direction and empowerment of God The Holy Spirit, catch that vision and you and I will be filled with a glorious optimism that will motivate to overwhelming achievement."
I give thanks to God for the incredible woman that is my Mother, and also pray that these words will not just fall to the ground but they will be embraced by those that heard them. I Love You Mum, you are my inspiration and encouragement.
Thursday 8 May 2008
Living Incarnationally
I have been thinking really deeply lately about how we as a movement,church and me individually can connect deeper and more powerfully with the community in which we live. This is the age old question I suppose for the church "how can we link with the community, be in the world but not of the world". The answer that keeps coming back to me is we need to be Incarnational. I look at the successful things happening at Reservoir, Melbourne 614 and Urban Heart and they are all based on models of living incarnationally.
I read the following from an article by C.Michael Johnson " Everything has a unique design and purpose;individuals do, families do, organisations do, even whole communities carry the seeds of a divine destiny. Think of it this way; In God's design, people and things could be viewed as a vacancy for a purpose, a specific place that is designed for and waiting to be filled with God's purpose. God wants to incarnate himself and his perfect will through us into those vacancies, that like the stable in Bethlehem, await their fulfilling purpose."
For a mission to become incarnational the focus has to be on its redeeming purpose. So the question is what purpose are we trying to fulfill? It could be the God dreams of individuals, the destiny of a family or group, or God's purposes for a neighbourhood or culture. Just being active in ministry and mission is not sufficient. It's like just being out for a drive, which though it may be fun and kills time, is not good enough and may even be counter productive, when there's a destiny to be reached. And boy, do we have destinies !
It's also important to understand that community service alone is not incarnational. We cannot serve God without serving His specific purposes in people and communities, incarnational ministry pushes all the way through to empower purpose.
We give our heart to Jesus, but then we fail to live out of it. We should heed the advice of the old warrior in Braveheart, who told young Wallace, "Your heart is now free, have the courage to follow it." We don't have desire , we are desire ! Which ever way we choose to look at it the search for meaning,purpose,significance,and direction is an ever present driving force. It is also the strongest thing we have in common with our community, to know who we are,why we are here,and where we are going; and to know how to live out of our heart- that place where our dreams can become one with the dreams of God.
I could go on and on, but in reality I am searching for how best I can live Incarnationally in my community, and where I can have the greatest impact for God. I will continue to search for answers and hope that God will show me where and how this can best be done.
I read the following from an article by C.Michael Johnson " Everything has a unique design and purpose;individuals do, families do, organisations do, even whole communities carry the seeds of a divine destiny. Think of it this way; In God's design, people and things could be viewed as a vacancy for a purpose, a specific place that is designed for and waiting to be filled with God's purpose. God wants to incarnate himself and his perfect will through us into those vacancies, that like the stable in Bethlehem, await their fulfilling purpose."
For a mission to become incarnational the focus has to be on its redeeming purpose. So the question is what purpose are we trying to fulfill? It could be the God dreams of individuals, the destiny of a family or group, or God's purposes for a neighbourhood or culture. Just being active in ministry and mission is not sufficient. It's like just being out for a drive, which though it may be fun and kills time, is not good enough and may even be counter productive, when there's a destiny to be reached. And boy, do we have destinies !
It's also important to understand that community service alone is not incarnational. We cannot serve God without serving His specific purposes in people and communities, incarnational ministry pushes all the way through to empower purpose.
We give our heart to Jesus, but then we fail to live out of it. We should heed the advice of the old warrior in Braveheart, who told young Wallace, "Your heart is now free, have the courage to follow it." We don't have desire , we are desire ! Which ever way we choose to look at it the search for meaning,purpose,significance,and direction is an ever present driving force. It is also the strongest thing we have in common with our community, to know who we are,why we are here,and where we are going; and to know how to live out of our heart- that place where our dreams can become one with the dreams of God.
I could go on and on, but in reality I am searching for how best I can live Incarnationally in my community, and where I can have the greatest impact for God. I will continue to search for answers and hope that God will show me where and how this can best be done.
Monday 5 May 2008
Integrity
I looked up the dictionary for the word integrity and found this "Integrity is the basing of one's actions on an internally consistent framework of principles. Depth of principles and adherence of each level to the next are key factors. One is said to have integrity to the extent that everything one does is derived from the same core set of values. While those values may change, it is their consistency with each other and with the person's actions that determine the person's integrity."
I have been thinking about this word a lot lately and Dianne preached on this last Sunday. I have been trying to determine if my actions and my words are congruent, am I living out what I am talking. It is a great challenge and I admit that at times I have fallen well short of what I would and should be hoping for. The hardest part of this for me is the part about everything being derived from the same core set of values, this means totally, always, everytime, even when people arent looking. This includes my thoughts, my desires, my anger, my frustration, my tiredness .... the list goes on and on... but in each of these things I must work toward having the same set of values.
As a follower of Christ I should be living a life that is not only pleasing to myself but more importantly pleasing to God, and portaying Christs love to those that I encouinter along the way. This is a great challenge but also a must if I am to do what God is wanting me to.
I pray that as you go about your every day life that you would try to do everything with Integrity and allow God to use you in every situation. God Bless.
I have been thinking about this word a lot lately and Dianne preached on this last Sunday. I have been trying to determine if my actions and my words are congruent, am I living out what I am talking. It is a great challenge and I admit that at times I have fallen well short of what I would and should be hoping for. The hardest part of this for me is the part about everything being derived from the same core set of values, this means totally, always, everytime, even when people arent looking. This includes my thoughts, my desires, my anger, my frustration, my tiredness .... the list goes on and on... but in each of these things I must work toward having the same set of values.
As a follower of Christ I should be living a life that is not only pleasing to myself but more importantly pleasing to God, and portaying Christs love to those that I encouinter along the way. This is a great challenge but also a must if I am to do what God is wanting me to.
I pray that as you go about your every day life that you would try to do everything with Integrity and allow God to use you in every situation. God Bless.
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