Yes its Mothers Day and we’ve set up a service that will inspire, encourage and bless Mothers.

If you’re in the area, make sure you invite your unchurched friends!

I have to say that preaching on these occasions is really hard.  All too often, I choose what looks like a suitable passage and it turns out that I’m trying to preach about “how to be a good Mother/Father”.  But in reality, that’s the last thing they need to hear on this special day.  They need to be encouraged for what they do, not beaten over the head and made to feel guilty for the bits they don’t get right yet.

Any ideas for future years would be very much appreciated!

The poet David Perkins once wrote

“Do not follow where the path leads, Rather go where there is no path, and leave a trail.”

I believe this is what God has called the Salvation Army local church (Corps) to – trailblazing.  We shouldn’t be copying the methods of WillowCreek and the like, but neither should we be copying the methods of our forefathers.

Each of us is in a unique situation.  Our community that we need to reach for God, (a given as our mission hasn’t changed, we are after all The Salvation Army) differs from country to country and even from suburb to suburb.

We each need to implement the best and most effective way to achieve that mission.

At the start of this season, John Larroquette joined the show I love as “Carl Sack” (that’s him on the far left).  As always, when a new cast member is added to a show I watch regularly, I went through some worrisome times.  What was going to happen to the relationship between Denny and Alan?  How was Shirley going to fit into all of this? (especially once I realised that Carl and Shirley were in a serious relationship).

You see, I regard the people at Crane, Poole & Schmidt as part of my family and I worry about things happening that may cause changes.

In a comment on an earlier post of mine, Rebecca made the following comment about Salvation Army small corps (local churches):

We just don’t seem to think like that in the Army, for good or for bad. From a divisional perspective, most of our corps struggle to accommodate a small handful of new people in their corps, let alone large growth. And for many of our 30-60pax congregations, growth beyond these numbers means a considerable change from familiarity to not as much (ie you might not know everyone’s name on a Sunday).

Regrettably, I think Rebecca’s right on this, people are thinking exactly this way, scared of change because that may upset their comfortable family life.

Here’s the catch though.  The network that owns Boston Legal knows that they can’t think of the show and its cast as a family.  They’re there for a purpose (to entertain and thereby make money) and the decisions made around the show reflect this strong mission orientation.

In the church, I believe we’ve got to start basing our decisions and behaviour on a strong mission orientation.  The first aspect to this is for everyone in our congregation to realise that:

1. The church belongs to Jesus, not to the individual congregational members; and
2. That Jesus stated the church’s mission as being there for those who are not yet in church (see the great commission).

Then and only then will we overcome this struggle of people being resistant to changing from being a comfortable church that meets members needs but doesn’t reach others, to being a church that honours Jesus instructions to make disciples of all nations.

God bless

We had two great services yesterday.

In the morning, Raewyn preached on anger, and with everybody wondering just where the sermon was likely to head, she cleverly talked about Jesus’ anger at corruption and the subjugation of those who are not in a position to resist it.

A major challenge was forthcoming also with Raewyn asking us what would Jesus do if he walked into SAJ today, would he be happy with us or would he make a whip and chase us out and overturn tables?

In the evening I spoke on 1 John 2:12-17 with a special emphasis on how the world takes us into spiritual captivity surreptitiously, not wanting us to deny Christ, but happy that we quietly accept “little” sins and then justify them to ourselves.

God moved in both services and it’s great to see our people opening themselves up to God’s Holy Spirit and the conviction He brings.

However, as I was preparing for that message, I was highly aware that the best I can do is preach my understanding of the word.  Yes, I work with commentaries from truly learned people, but at the end of the day, I have to decide what I’ll say about it!

What if I get it wrong (in a bad way)?

What if I speak without total clarity and someone takes something out of it that I wasn’t trying to say?

Oh, I love preaching but the responsibility really does weigh heavily sometimes.  Praise God that He is forgiving, that He upholds us and that He somehow uses our often pitiful words to make life change happen.

then are we portraying a God who can be regarded as quaint and therefore someone to be regarded with interest but not taken seriously?

At the recent Freedom Congress held in Dunedin we had a march of witness and everybody rejoiced that a couple of Japanese tourists (who knew nothing about Jesus) were spoken to.  However, my question is…  What impression do the general Kiwi public get of both God and The Salvation Army by displays such as this?

Let me explore my concerns a little more:

When The Salvation Army (TSA) started in London the concept of being part of an army was exciting and in vogue.  The “cause” was great and the “look” was modern and possibly even cutting edge.  The look was based on the military army of the time.

If we look at the “open air meeting” as being the equivalent of the Military Army’s (MA) advertising.  (Yes, that comment alone may cause consternation amongst many but surely “witnessing” for God is, as far as the public is concerned, about letting them know about him.  Isn’t that what advertising does too! – Even if you struggle with this, please bear with me.), then lets compare TSA with MA from the early 1900’s. (I’ve used a US recruiting poster because in Britain they didn’t have to push very hard for recruits)

Now lets jump to the present day and do the same (but with NZ recruiting this time)…

Now my contention is that the MA has modernised both how it approaches its mission and how it presents itself to the public.  I’m certainly not against taking God out of our buildings and to the people (I suspect he’s already there) but unfortunately TSA remains in a time warp, at least in how we present ourselves to the general public.  If you doubt it, ask some unchurched friends how they view such marches of witness.  Does watching us inspire them to join, or do they simply stare in disbelief at the quaint bunch of people in front of them…

Last night Raewyn, myself and our three kids had dinner with Raewyn’s parents and her brother, sister-in-law and their two kids.  The purpose of the dinner was manifold, celbrating two birthdays, one wedding anniversary and one of the children (not ours yet) about to enter basic training for the Airforce.

Additionally though, Raewyn’s brother (who is already in the Airforce), leaves on Monday for a stint in Afghanistan working on behalf of the United Nations.

A couple of things struck me:

1. He made the comment that he was looking forward to being able to actually make a difference.  This strikes a chord because we have just adopted this phrase at SAJ as a way of both pointing our church outward of itself, and letting people know we’re about a cause that they can get in behind; and
2. It felt very natural nearing the conclusion of what as an absolutely hilarious time (started with us being almost 2 hours late because of a massive traffic jam caused by an accident that happened 16 hours earlier and that had been cleared away about 12 hours earlier – go figure – and it just got funnier with every comment that was made) to ask if we could pray with him.  He and his family are not church going and I’m not sure just where there faith is, but he readily agreed and it was great to see the power of prayer in such a situation.

It’s the time of the mega church.  Heck, even emergent churches are only successful if they’re mega!  Well, at least that’s what general opinion would have us believe.

I don’t believe it for a minute… OK, you’ve got me…  Sometimes I believe it, then I argue myself out of it.  But then I wonder if I’m only doing that because I’m either jealous or even simply at a loss as to how some churches can grow just so quickly.  But that’s not really the issue.  You see I know that mega churches are neither good nor bad because of their size.  Likewise, smaller churches can’t be categorised so simply either.  However, in the Western world The Salvation Army, (and other traditional protestant denominations), are declining in numbers of disciples and converts.  At the same time, mega churches appear to be growing.

So the real question is this:  If, (and that’s a big word), mega churches are the way of the future how can we respond?

You see, The Salvation Army is, by definition a “small church” model.  We have congregations very close to others.  In the church I’m blessed enough to lead with Raewyn (The Salvation Army Johnsonville) we have other Salvation Army’s north (7 minutes drive), south (10 minutes) and east (12 minutes).  And each of those churches are in similar positions.

Obviously there are benefits to this model:

• As a “social justice/incarnational” organisation we are closer to the coal face and to those we are called to help; and
• It is much simpler to look after people pastorally (to name just a couple).

However, there are negatives too:

• It’s easy to get stuck in a comfortable mode where we are all inward focused and the great commission gets forgotten; and
• It isn’t always particularly good use of Kingdom money to pay officer couples to run smallish churches. (once again to name just a couple)

I’d absolutely love to hear people’s views on this matter (approach it from any angle you like!)

God bless

Paul

I for one, am pleased that there is lots of modern worship and praise music available.  As a Dad with three kids ranging from 10 to 19 it’s great that they go around listing to Hillsongs United (pictured), Parachute Band and the likes on their iPods.

I also love the fact that we can have “ragey” worship in our Sunday services (praise God for the fact that our older folk are more interested in the younger folk and their friends than in their own ears!)

What bugs me though is the fact that it seems almost impossible to find music in this genre to cover the full gambit of theological needs.  Where are the songs that admit we’re struggling, that we have doubts and that we need God to show up?  Where are the songs that really speak of the Trinity in any meaningful way?  Where are the songs that talk of God’s justice as well as His love?  Where are the songs that speak of The Salvation Army doctrine?

And the answer isn’t that we should use all the old hymns…  (William Booth would have expected, no, demanded that we be cutting edge).

We need new songs,  but all sorts of new songs.

Below is a post of mine from over a year ago.  I’m re-posting because of a blog by Jason Davies-Kildea about Theological Diversity within The Salvation Army.  In it he writes:

This is a topic that seems to be gathering some momentum lately within The Salvation Army. To characterise the debate as being only between ‘liberals’ and ‘conservatives’ would be to grossly oversimplify the matter – and also to marginalise those who don’t see themselves fitting under either of those labels. The basic question is ‘How much room exists for differing theological opinions within our movement?’

My earlier post was in response to an editorial about keeping debates from being doctrinally unsound.  This is what I said:

In a recent edition of a magazine I receive there was this statement form the Editor:

…But our arguments need to be debates, not merely the issue of ultimatums which force people into two camps.  And they should not be personal…

… But where is the forum where these debates can take place?  It’s right here – The <Magazine Name>.  Neither its editor nor its publisher (<Publisher’s name>) is afraid of controversy, providing it is not destructive, mischievous or doctrinally unsound.”

Now, I echo the cry that debates should not get personal, nor should they be destructive or mischievous.  But how do you define doctrinally unsound without squashing responsible and necessary debate.  An example is in order here:

My particular religion has a doctrine that says “it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Early in our history Samuel Logan Brengle taught one understanding of just what this meant.  Later on, General Coutts taught a different understanding.  Now debate on this doctrine is bound to produce arguments (oops, debate) from both sides, and maybe from a third point of view that incorporates both teaching.  My point is that, depending on which point of view you come from, the other side is doctrinally unsound!

So…  who decides?

I repeat myself here… Who decides?

At The Salvation Army Johnsonville we’ve just finished a series called “When Life Hurts…”

The concept of what we’ve been trying to get across is that becoming/being a Christian does not remove you from the painful time that life has to offer, but that having Jesus walk with you and cry with you is what faith is about sometimes.                           

During the series we had four members of our congregation tell their personal stories:

• A Mother told about her teenage son getting cancer and the journey she travelled.  (Her son survived but some of those they got to know on the journey didn’t);
• Someone told of her long battle to accept herself after her marriage of many years broke up and where God was during the process;
• Another brave lady told of her ongoing battle with depression including coming to terms with the fact that God has not yet answered her prayers for healing; and
• Finally we heard the story of a real rebel/hard guy who’s life and lifestyle had been miraculously transformed by coming to know Christ and the in-filling of God’s Holy Spirit.

As you can see we attempted to cover the range of areas that affect us, emotional, physical and spiritual.

Although we preached at each of the services, it really was the personal stories that had the major impact.  To the extent that on the final week, (after our “hard guy” had poured his heart out) I ditched my message and simply got up and led a response/ministry time.

I praise God for the open hearts of people.  Amongst the many who responded, (either in their seats or at the mercy seat we put up for the service), there were two first time decisions and one person who took an important life changing action that evening.