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)

Practical Love

So many of the hymns and modern songs we use in our worship services focus on the characterstics of God's love or give praise to the sacrificial nature of Christ's love. Very few refer to the practical nature of love that we are instructed through the Word of God to live out in our personal relationships with those around us.

Lieut-Colonel Malcolm Bale, a retired officer from the United Kingdom who I recall served in Australia and soldiered at my home corps in Box Hill, authored the words of song 518 as a personal challenge to us all. Reflect on them and allow the words to bring about transformational change in your everyday witness.

O Lord, whose human hands were quick

To feed the hungry, heal the sick,

Who love by loving deed expressed,

Help me to comfort the distressed.

What is divine about my creed

If I am blind to human need?

For you have said they serve you best

Who serve the helpless and oppressed.

Lord, may your love translucent shine

Through every loving deed of mine,

That men may see the works I do

And give the glory all to you.

1 John 3:18 (NIV) ~ "...let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

A Politician Like No Other

As I listened attentively to Obama's acceptance speech, I was deeply stirred with hope. He spoke with great confidence, humility and, unlike most politicians today, with a real sense of honest commonsense.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, ...I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there."

Most promise the world and fail to deliver. In my unqualified opinon, Obama's convictions seem to be based on 'doing what needs to be done' and not simply saying what people want to hear'. Obama's acceptance speech was not about 'me', but about 'we' ~ and that's the key to effective leadership and fruitful results.

"This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the ...dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you. God bless you."

...and I pray that likewise He does!

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (MSG) ~ "May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech."

Cup Day

Today I celebrated the Cup. Not the "horse race that stops the nation", but rather the "blessing of God that constantly amazes me" as I put my faith in Jesus!

God has made every provision for the believer to live a life that overflows with God’s grace. The Psalmist reflects on this experience in Psalm 23. As I reflected on this today I was reminded that God’s desire is that we be continually under the control of His Spirit and begin to experience "fullness of life" here and now.

My cup runs over because God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all" that I could ever ask for or begin to imagine. Every believer who has received the fullness of God, and grace upon grace "according to the power that works within us”, can testify to an overflowing cup. It is result of God's superabundant provison that we receive through the Spirit in Christ Jesus.

The fullness of life Jesus gives causes our cups to run over with the fullness of joy. No Christian is poor while Christ is rich. Because of our intimate relationship with Christ we experience the riches of His glory.

Psalm 23:5 (MSG) ~ "...my cup brims with blessing."

My Jesus, I Love Thee

It is difficult to realize that this favourite hymn of mine, which expresses so profoundly a believer's love and gratitude to Christ for what He has accomplished in redemption, was written by a teenager.

The author, William Ralph Featherston (sometimes spelled Featherstone), was born on 23 July 1846 in Montreal, Canada, son of John and Mary Featherston. The family were members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. It is thought that young Featherston penned these words at the time of his conversion experience, when only sixteen years of age. Though information about William Featherston is scarce, it is believed that he then sent the text to his aunt, Mrs. E. Featherston Wilson, living in Los Angeles, who in turn encouraged its publication. It is reported that the original copy of the poem, in the author's boyish handwriting, is still a cherished treasure in the family.

Though William Featherston went to be with the Lord at 27 years of age, it's comforting to know that his inspired composition continues to 'live on' and touch lives with personal impact in ministry today.

Just goes to show that God's blessings are timeless in every aspect!

Verse 2

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,

And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Urban Conversation: Binge Drinking

I was both disturbed and stirred to share in discussions on the topic of "Binge Drinking & Street Violence - how can we change the culture?" Urban Conversations is an social justice initiative of The Salvation Army Project 614 (Majors Brendan & Sandra Nottle) and tonight's panellists were both informed and informative.

The evening, facilitated by Seven News Journalist and 3AW radio personality, Nick McCallum, featured the following high profile personalities.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg ~ Psychologist and Media Identity

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana ~ Victoria Police & Corporate Sponsor for Drug & Alchohol portfolio
Dr Pippa Grange ~ AFL Players Association Psychologist
Nathan Buckley ~ Former Collingwood Captain & Sports Journalist
Paul Ramadge ~ Editor-in-chief of The Age newspaper

Binge drinking is a major community challenge in Australian society that affects our youth, in particular, and countless others in the process. How? Recent research has proved that around 3,000 people die every year because of alcohol abuse and annually it’s estimated 65,000 people are hospitalised because of alcohol abuse. Studies reveal a consistent link between heavy drinking and physical brain damage, in addition to the fact that 2,500 Australians are now treated annually for alcohol related brain damage.

Need more info? Start here: http://salvos.org.au/need-help/the-facts/binge-drinking.php

Most encouraging was the outcome of discussion resulting in committments from the various panellists to take a stand and do all they can to influence a culture of change. The strongest committment was voiced by Paul Ramadge, who declared that The Age would run a focussed campaign dedicated to binge drinking in the hope that tonight's words might be "put into action" to bring about transformational change in our society.

More Than Tolerance

I came across the following challenging ditty and quotation recently as I was sourcing reference material.

To dwell above with saints we love

That will be grace and glory

To live below with saints we know

Well, that’s another story!

G K Chesterton is quoted as saying, All [people] matter. You matter. I matter. It’s the hardest thing in theology to believe.

As I contemplate these words, I offer this personal prayer ~ "Lord, help us to not only be tolerant of others, but really love them."

John 13:34-35 (NIV)
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."