'Witnesses For Christ' Commissioning

Sunday's worship meetings were full of God-expectant worshippers, Spirit-responsive hearts and Christ-inspired encounters. It was truly a time of sacred celebration. The Word of God was both audible and visible, impacting the lives of worshippers in a way that only God's Holy Spirit can - with confident affirmation and crucial challenge.

Covenanted cadets of the Witnesses For Christ session took a courageous stand as they publicly declared their personal committments to serve God faithfully as Spirit-ordained ministers of the Gospel within their newly-appointed communities.

Our challenge was to 'go deeper' with God and 'venture boldly' for Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. I echo the words of the English Reformer, John Bradford, "There but by the grace of God go I."

Launch out into the deep

O let the shoreline go

Launch out, launch out in the ocean divine

Out where the full tides flow

(Salvation Army chorus section)

On Fire Exhibition & Festival

In His wisdom God has His people a myriad of creative gifts, so that we might glorify Him individually and seek to appreciate and value each other corporately.

This was very evident over the whole weekend, but especially at Saturday's On Fire exhibition and musical festival. The wide range of creative abilities and different mediums of faith expression were a delight to experience and, without a doubt, brought much spiritual blessing and faith inspiration to those who took the opportunity to be there.

I'm glad I was there! The hand of God moved in so many ways and His presence was keenly felt. Praise Him!

2 Timothy 1:6 (NLT) - "I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you."

"Windows of the World" CD

An historic, four-CD compilation of the best of Salvation Army brass and vocal music, featuring staff band, staff songster and territorial music groups from across the world.

Proceeds from the sale of this recording will go to The Salvation Army's project work in developing countries.

Fundraising price: $50

Available from members of the staff sections, Salvo Supplies outlet or

during the Commissioning weekend.

Bare Necessity

I awoke this morning, not to the strains of radio 3AW, but to my wife singing these words.

Christ is the bare necessity
A simple, bare necessity
You've got to leave your worries and your cares
You've got to learn to trust Him
And live Your life just like Him
For Christ is the bare necessity of life.

What a nice thought to awake to!

Often we need a reminder that Jesus is the centre of our everyday, the reason for our existence and our inspiration to live faithfully and confidently in God's gracious love.

John 3:13 (MSG) ~ "...it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life."

Reign Of Christ

According to the Christian Liturgical Calendar, today is the last Sunday in the church year known as Reign of Christ or Christ the King Sunday. It is an opportunity for the church to celebrate and honour Jesus the Christ as King. It is a day to remember that through the power of the Holy Spirit, God calls us to acknowledge that Jesus, and Jesus alone, is worthy to be our Lord, who will judge the world in righteousness.

Quite appropriately, this was our congregational worship focus this morning as we united to sing the hymns "Sing we the King who is coming to reign" and "Rejoice, the Lord is King!" As we considered Christ's teaching on the coming kingdom from Matthew 25, we were encouraged to remember it is not our deeds that make us righteous, but our intimate relationship with Jesus…God’s grace at work through our faith. The invitation to enter the Kingdom is an act of God's grace in the lives of those who allow Christ to reign over their hearts in love.

It is my sincere prayer that the Holy Spirit might continue to work in our hearts and lives, so we might deepen our relationship with God and His Son, inspiring us to live as our worthy ambassadors of the Heavenly King, in preparation for our promised reward.

John 18:37 (NIV) ~ "Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

A Lynn-merick

One of my Facebook friends posted this on my wall this morning.

There once was a guy known as Lynn
Who was too cool to know how to begin
With a heart big as a mountain
His kindness flowed like a fountain
There is no doubt Christ is within him.

It's nice to be affirmed by a fellow believer. My personal prayer in response was "Spirit of the Living God, continue to fall afresh on me."

When was the last time you shared a word of encouragement in the faith with another?
Be a blessing today!

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (MSG) ~ "Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it."

Ambassadors Of Holiness

God is continuing to raise up people and prepare them for a life of covenanted ministry and service through The Salvation Army. I clearly remember the moment when I arrived at 303 Royal Parade some 15 years ago ~ a further personal confirmation of my 'divinely-purposed' calling.

There are now 24 accepted candidates for the Ambassadors Of Holiness session. Each of them has a unique awareness of God's guiding grace that will set them on an amazing journey of ministry in Jesus' name.

Sean Attard

Monty and Mera Bhardwaj

Envoy Russell Butcher

Jonathan and Katherine Dent

Sarah Eldridge

Envoy Adam Peterson

Envoys Matt and Fiona Kean

Envoys Darren and Susan Lamotte

Paul and Robyn Lorimer

Adam and Catherine Mackenroth

Simon Mapleback
Kathleen Pearce

Cheryl Pryor

Michael Shanks

Andrew and Kirsty Stringer

James and Sarah Thompson

As I reflect on their personal commitment in answering God's call, I am drawn to the Apostle Paul's pastoral prayer from Ephesians 3 and offer it up as an intercession for those mentioned above as they make preparations to commence their officer training in February 2009 ~ and indeed for those who will join them.

"...may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within (you), to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

Ephesians 3:18-20 (NLT)