Joshua the reinstated priest... The video!

The following link will take you to a video recording of the sermon, I preached at my reinstatement as an Officer. Have a quick look because it took ages to work out how to do this.

The sermon was based on the following reading from Zechariah 3:1-7

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not his man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. "

Love and prayers

A

Thanks Clinton Trimmer

A couple of days ago I published the picture (left) and asked if anyone could shed any light on it. Rob Reardon put me in touch with the wonderful Clinto Trimmer who came up with the following:

According to the research I’ve done I believe it was taken in the summer of 1883 in Oakland California. When Major Wells (on one knee by the drum), first Salvation Army officer in the west, arrived in June of 1883 he met with the members of the Pacific Coast Holiness Association. The PCHA had come across a War Cry possibly as early as 1881 and decided to model their organization after The Salvation Army. They even went so far as to ask William Booth to send someone to the west to open the work in California. (California at this time wasn’t exactly tamed. Most images of the Wild West with stage coaches, saloons, cowboys and miners certainly apply to California at the time.)

The group in Oakland was called the #1 regiment because the PCHA was trying to keep the spirit of the military structure that was used in London. Oakland had the #1 regiment, San Francisco had the #2 regiment, and San Jose (a town on the southern end of the bay) had the #3 regiment. When Wells arrived he met with all these groups who were part of the PCHA and rolled them into The Salvation Army. Sadly by the time Henry Stillwell, Wells’ partner who had stayed in New York to handle some business matter before crossing the continent, arrived in October of 1883 most of the members of the PCHA had left the Army. One of the members, who stayed though, although not in the photograph, was John Milsaps who became the first American Salvation Army Officer in the American West.

This is possibly one of the first photos ever taken of Salvationists in the American West. This photo is definitely a treasure of the Army's past, especially the Western Territory's past.

Thank you Clinton

Love and prayers

A

To save or not to save?

Over at The Rubicon, Dion Oxford, says that...

'when I read the different musings on theRubicon and in other Salvation Army literature, I find myself wondering if we really know what our mission is. Do we now why we exist? Do we have a biblical understanding of what God desires of us?'

Dion then goes on to answer his own question - Dion seems like an OK sort of guy but I think his answer is fundamentally flawed - what do you think?

For a balance compare Dion's view with that of Matt Kean - expressed in his excellent and refreshing article 'Our first love' found in the same journal.

Where do you stand?

Love and prayers

A

Penguins with no bounce or squeak...

Packing enables us to discover things we either forget we had or thought we had lost. The other day in my sock drawer (where I keep all kinds of miscellany) I came across a small stuffed penguin wearing a Father Christmas hat!

The penguin used to hang from the interior mirror of a car I had back in 1991. The penguin was bought for me by my son Ben (then aged 8). The penguin used to bounce up and down on elastic whenever the car went over a bump and at the same time it squeaked. The elastic has long since broken and the penguin has lost all its bounce and all its squeak. It no longer functions in the way it was designed to. It lurks away in my sock drawer kept for purely sentimental reasons.

As I packed the penguin away I thought that he kind of symbolises the way some people view their Salvationism. It is no longer functional – not even decorative – it’s simply hidden away and held onto for purely sentimental reasons.

‘Wake up O sleeper and rise from the dead and God will shine on you!’

Love and prayers

A

California dreaming...

I love this photograph. According to the drum its the first California Corps (what fantastic faith - Corps were numbered even when they only had one!).

TSA arrived in LA in 1892, this pictue must have been taken prior to 1900. It's a real wild west picture. I wonder if anyone out there can spread any further light on the photo?

If you click on the image you can see the photo full size.

Love and prayers

A

A peculiar people!

A great blast from the past and as true today as it ever was...

"Salvationism is aclear and well-defined quality that represents distinctive features of doctrine and service which distinguish it from all other organizations and makes of it an entity entirely apart, incapable of being blended with any other people. Any attempt to harmonize it with methods employed by other religious bodies destroys its effectiveness and renders it incapable of achieving its purpose or continuing to develop its special characteristics." (Edward Higgins - When Chief of the Staff 1n 1928)

Love and prayers

A

World Cup Woe!

In 2004 when South Africa landed the 2010 World Cup, it estimated that costs would be around $300 million. Today, the organizing committee reports it is going to cost $1.5 billion to host a one month long football competition. That is merely five times the original estimate!

South Africa, a poor country by anyone’s standards is spending quite a bit of money building new stadiums, a questionable move considering how these stadiums end up largely redundant when all the fans go home.

Despite being Africa's superpower (having the continent's biggest economy, strong financial and manufacturing sectors, rich mineral resources and a strong tourist industry) many South Africans remain poor and unemployment is high.

The redistribution of land from white colonists back to the indigenous population is slow - most farmland is still white-owned. The government is committed to transferring 30% of farmland to black South Africans by 2014.

South Africa has the second-highest number of HIV/Aids patients in the world. Around one in seven of its citizens is infected with HIV.

Whilst some will argue that the World Cup will do much to boost the economy will these benefits ever filter down to those in the shanty towns? The country gets richer and the gulf between rich and poor seems to increase proportionately.

Maybe Salvationists should boycott the world cup and thereby draw the world’s attention to AIDS and poverty?

Love and prayers

Positive aggression!

"Aggressive Christians are going to have to take a stand against this creepingsecularism. Already it has a stronghold in the Christian community, and I fear, in The Salvation Army itself. There is a difference between right and wrong, truthand lies. There is a heaven to be won and a hell to be shunned. The gospel isright and all other religions are wrong. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. There is no compromise.

This does not meanthat we should not live in peaceful non-violent coexistence in so much as we arecalled to love others and show the world by our example that we are Christians. But it does mean that we are at war, and our war is every bit about the mind as itis about the body and soul. If the truth is offensive, then offensive we will be. This is the very essence of Christianity, a religious system based not on philosophical mush but on the historical fact of the death and resurrection of theJesus Christ. We proclaim Christ and we proclaim him crucified. Let it offend.The Salvation Army and the Christian Church will not survive the next century ifwe do not first win the battle for truth." (John Norton)

Read the whole article at JAC

Love and prayers

A

Negative Aggression!

Where does negative aggression come from?

Today I visited a very well known Computer store. I had gone to return a faulty keyboard and also to place an order for a laptop. The keyboard was worth about £5 the laptop a lot more (with all the accessories included).

I was served by the store manager. Out of nowhere came such rudeness – I know that in the UK we are not very good at working in service industries (the Yanks have service down to a fine art!) However, this man took rudeness to a new level. When I threatened to complain he said ‘go ahead’ when I told him that I wouldn’t shop there again he said ‘I don’t care’. He refused to replace the keyboard and consequently lost the laptop sale.

When I got home I emailed a formal complaint – the outcome is a promised £20 gift voucher (to buy a new keyboard) and a letter of apology from the man concerned.

Later in the day I felt guilty – although I had done nothing to provoke such aggressive surliness was I right to complain. As Christians where do we draw the line between letting people walk all over us and turning the other cheek?

Being ‘humble’ has an honest almost honourable ring to it but being ‘humiliated’ doesn’t – are the two words synonymous?

Answers on a postcard please.

Love and prayers

A

A Letter from the devil

Someone emailed me this the other day - I thought it was worth passing on...

Letter From the Devil

Hi - I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You woke up and without kneeling to pray went straight into the day. As a matter of fact, you didn't even say grace before your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so ungrateful, I like that about you.

I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed the way you live - you are mine. Remember, you and I have been going steady for years and I still don't love you yet. He kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use your life as long as you let me to pay him back. You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have given your life to me, and I'm going to make your life a living hell. That way, we'll be together forever. This will really hurt God. Thanks to you, I'm really showing Him who's boss in your life with all of the good times we've had. Your day is crammed full of TV, football, cinema, DVDs, church politics - thank you for not having any time left for loving the lost.

We have been having a great time together cursing people, stealing, lying, being hypocritical, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, being judgmental, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults, and those in leadership positions, no respect for the Church, bad attitudes. I'm so glad you don't want to give all this up. Come on, let's burn together forever. Oh, and by the way - thanks for not believing in me and judgement and all that stuff it makes life so much easier! I've got some hot plans for you. I'f I'm going down I'm going to take as many of you with me as I can.

This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I just wanted to say "THANKS" for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible, I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in HA HA HA, you make me so happy. Instead of pursuing holiness you discredit it and laught at those who think it's the only way out - I just love the way you think that sin is inevitable - who'd have thought I could have pulled that one off!

Sin is beginning to take it's toll on your life. You look 20 years older, and now, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach your children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, get drunk, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and live as selfish a life as you can . Do all of this in front of your children and they will do it too. Kids are like that.

Well, I have go for now. I'll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run somewhere, confess you sins, live for God with what little bit of life that you have left. It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I still hate you.

Yours eternally - the devil

Anonymous hits the nail on the head!

In my previous post I mentioned the deliberate sin that is committed by those (Officers and soldiers) who try and serve God with deliberately broken vows.

The comments of 'anonymous' would carry far more weight if he/she were to back up their posting with a name - however the point made is extremely valid and I am grateful to 'anonymous' for the reminder.

One thing, however - like all Salvationists and Officers there have been (and undoubtedly will be) times when I fall short of the promises contained in my covenants but there is a difference between failing, repenting and reconsecrating and deliberately breaking a promise because you think it is no longer valid or because you think the promise is wrong but do not have the courage to renounce it.

I may not always be true to the letter of my holiness manifesto but I am always true to its spirit. What would be really bad would be to attach my name to it whilst actively believing it to be wrong - that would be pointless as well as stupid.

I'm glad I published the manifesto as it will (and already has) increased my acountability.

Thanks anonymous for speaking out.

One last thing - making vows that increase our accountability to God and each other is not the same as legalism - the manifesto 'is not an attempt to earn God’s blessing but is a response to blessings already received, it is not an attempt to win ‘salvation by works’ it is a commitment to see God’s words reflected in my actions.'

Love and prayers

A

Officers and soldiers who 'grieve' God...

'Have I grieved thee with an ill kept vow?'

Every Salvationist publicly states at the time of their enrolment that they ‘believe and will live by the truths of the word of God expressed in The Salvation Army's eleven articles of faith.’ In addition every soldier solemnly declares that they “will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, they will show the spirit of Salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution.”

In his well known song “I renew my covenant with thee’ Will Brand asks the question – ‘have I grieved thee with an ill-kept vow?’

TSA in the UK has a hardcore clique of Officers and soldiers who are openly dismissing (in both practice and public preaching) the following Army beliefs:

• Doctrine 5 – Original sin
• Doctrine 9 – The possibility of back sliding
• Doctrine 10 – Holiness
• Doctrine 11 – The general judgment and eternal punishment of the wicked

In addition we have:

• Officers who baptise new converts
• Corps that regularly hold what can only be described as communion services,
• Officers who question our commitment to total abstinence from tobacco and alcohol,
• Officers who only ever wear their uniform when compelled to
• Officers and soldiers who openly rebel against the instructions of their leaders in these particular areas,

Under the guise of post modernism, cultural relevance, free expression and intellectual freedom these Officers and soldiers are all attempting to serve God ‘with an ill kept vow’ for they are living lives completely at odds with the two covenants mentioned above.

Anyone who disagrees with TSA's beliefs and practices to such a degree should feel morally obligated to resign their Officership and ask for their soldiership to be cancelled. Once they are not in disagreement with the covenants they voluntarily made they are then free to fight their revolution. To be so at odds with one (and for Officers two) sacred covenants is deliberate sin and dishonours themselves, the Army and most of all God.

Broken covenants are a serious business – either keep your covenants or cancel them but please don’t compromise them – such sin in the camp merely withholds God’s blessing from the Army.

“Have I ceased from walking close beside thee?
Have I grieved thee with a well kept vow?
In my heart of hearts have I denied thee?
Speak oh speak dear Lord and tell me know.”

Yours set apart by God, for the Lost, IN THE ARMY!

AJB

PS - the photo is a 'stock image' from IHQ and not a renegade Lieut-Colonel weeping over a broken covenant (at least not as far as I know!)

Make a date... Now!

I have recently encountered quite a few people who have heard the call to become Salvation Army Officers. Some of them have even gone so far as to contact their local Candidate's department. They have announced their intent by way of testimony, some have even blogged it on the internet.

However (with the exception of one of them) they have all failed to specify a date! If God has called you to full time covenanted ministry as a Salvation Army Oficer then don't delay make a date today. Get your calendar off the wall, get your diary off the shelf, get your IPAQ out of your briefcase and make a date!!!

If you don't make a date now then before you know where you are you'll be surrounded by a whole host of attractice and logical reasons why becoming an Officer is impossible.

'Come join our Army and make no delay the time for enlisting is passing away'

'Not called' did you say? 'Not heard the call', I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear him bid you go.' William Booth.

Yours set apart for the lost, in the Army

A

Onward Christian soldiers!

Andrew Skipjack wanted to join a church and as he doesn’t drink alcohol decided to try the Army – finding a very warm welcome at St Mary Cray he decided to stay. On Sunday Andrew was enrolled as a Senior Soldier. At the same time John Harding was also enrolled, John came to the Army from the Baptist church feeling called to continue his Christian service in the ranks of the Army. Andrew (left) and John (right) were enrolled on Sunday resplendent in their new uniforms.

How come uniforms are so 'last century' to everyone other than new converts who can't wait to put them on!

Also pictured is my beautiful wife and soul mate Tracey!

On to the conflict...

A

Reinforcements now appearing...

This Sunday sees the enrollment of two new soldiers at St Mary Cray - Hallelujah!

John Harding and Andrew Skipjack have enlisted for the Salvation war.

In preparartion for the big day I have written the following song to be used during the signing of the soldier's covenant.

We will sing these words to the tune of Repton:

In faithfulness we humbly bow
Before your throne Lord Christ,
Draw close and hear our sacred vow
And may your grace accept just now
The lives we’ve sacrificed.

As soldiers we are called to fight
In this dark world of sin.
O Pentecostal flame ignite
Our lives with holy fire and light
So we will fight and win.

We’ll feed the hungry, save the lost,
The prisoner we’ll release
The poor and lame we’ll gladly host
We’ll pray and preach but love the most
Empowered by your peace

So come and seal our offering
Accept our lives we pray
As in our hearts we crown you king
And with the angels gladly sing
Of soldiers made today.

May God bless the new converts - pictures and a full report will appear here on Monday!

Love and prayers

A

'Tis done the great transaction's done!

Today I was reinstated as a Captain in The Salvation Army by my Divisional Commander Major Anthony Cotterill.

Our little hall was full to capacity.

We sang the following songs:

Army of Salvation, Army of the Lord!

I have no claim on grace.

All my work is for the Master.

I believe we shall win!

By the love that never ceased to hold me.

I'll go in the strength of the Lord!

Anthony presented me with a new Commission signed by John Matear (TC) and a new covenant which I signed at the penitent form. My Father in law offered a prayer, as did Paul du Plessis and Carol Young shared a bible reading.

My 8 year old daughter Bethany prayed the prayer that everybody else wanted to (but didn't have the courage to) when she said "Dear God please make sure my Daddy doesn't walk away from you again!"

I preached on Zechariah 3:1-7 - the reinstatement of the fallen priest Joshua.

Commissioner Denis Hunter (British Commissioner when I was a Cadet 25 years ago) was the first to come to the penitent form in reconsecration, then Majors Alan & Carol Young (sessional mates of mine) followed by my eldest daughter Caitlin (20). Then our Corps Secretary came forward, then my older sister, then my two sister-in-laws (who were reconciled at the conclusion of the meeting after two years of not speaking to each other).

God was glorified and the angels rejoiced in heaven!

We had 60 people stay for dinner after the meeting.

On the way out of the hall Comissioner Hunter said "Sock it to 'em when you get to Dartford Andrew!" - By God's grace we will.

Tomorrow I'm off to Sunbury Court for a 4 day conference and then next Sunday (Pentecost!) my first duty as a new Captain will be to enroll two new soldiers (and their not transfers from the YP Corps!)

God bless The Salvation Army!

A rose by any other name...

Shakespeare asked (via Juliet) "What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet..."

Just wanted to say that this Sunday I will be reinsated as an Officer in The Salvation Army, my commission will be to preach Salvation and teach Holiness. I will sign a covenant which will be an extension to my Articles of War.

If I am obedient, faithful and believing then God will bless my endeavours with Revival.

Please feel free to replace any of the above words with ones of your own choice as long as they mean the same thing!

As for me... "I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day!" (2 Timothy 1:12)

Love and prayers

A

Yuill tidings, old chestnuts and holiness!

The arguments set forward by TSA for remaining non-sacramental have, over the years, been well presented and are well known.
Those arguments have been summarised and dismissed in an article by Chick Yuill in the Rubicon (for more detail and context go here)

Yuill dismisses the surpassing importance of personal holiness over and above ceremony and rite as follows:

“That line of argument—beautifully, movingly and poetically expressed by Albert Orsborne—has been that the sacramental principle is too big and too important to be limited to a ceremony and that, properly understood, the true sacrament is the fully surrendered life of the Christian… This, to me, is the Army’s position at its best. But alas, it now seems that the noble and worthy position of Orsborne and his like has been hijacked and even perverted into a rather unpleasant statement of superiority—one which not only denigrates the convictions of many sincere, seeking and troubled Salvationists, but also effectively dismisses almost the entire Christian church who do not share our position.”

I find this paragraph highly offensive to those sincere proponents of personal holiness who do not see themselves as superior to the rest of the church but sincerely and humbly believe in the “noble and worthy position of Orsborne” The Osborne position is still valid – the only reason it seems weak isn’t because it has been hijacked or perverted by those who see themselves as superior but because the demands of holiness appear unrealistic (or perhaps unpalatable) to the majority of contemporary Christians. Even if this argument was ‘perverted’ surely our responsibility toward what was once ‘a noble and worthy position’should be to reclaim it and restore it not discard it.

Chick goes on to say

“I would contend, however, that the real issue—and here I come to the heart of my argument—is not that red juice fascinates less spiritual comrades who are not sufficiently tutored in the blessing of a clean heart, but that faith in Jesus Christ as a perfectly adequate, all-sufficient Saviour does not nullify our humanity.”

I agree that holiness does not ‘nullify our humanity’; holy people remain quite capable of making mistakes and still require the grace of God to motivate and maintain their holiness. Humanity also makes us susceptible to the power of symbols and ritual. However, whilst holiness does not ‘nullify our humanity’ it does supplant our human nature by creating the image of Jesus in us.

Charles Finney used to argue that if a believer surrenders 99% of their life to God and knowingly withholds 1% their sacrifice is worthless, as the 1% withheld represents deliberate disobedience and deliberate disobedience amounts to sin. Holiness is about grace inspired and fuelled surrender – complete surrender. A completely surrendered life might well remember Christ at mealtimes (indeed at all times throughout the day!) but would have no need of a ceremony in order to remind themselves of the one to whom they have consecrated themselves and who, in return has sanctified them.

This issue is hugely important because without meeting the demands of holiness the church – let alone TSA has no future! This is why our denominational witness is so important.
As a mission we need to travel light – our job is to make converts, enrol soldiers, train evangelists, fight for social justice and help people to lead holy lives.

I have read and re-read Yuill’s article with great care, and whilst the reintroduction of the sacraments might expand or broaden our corporate and personal worship I cannot see how it could possibly make us a more effective mission.

If our mandate is still to save the maximum number of people in the minimum amount of time how would such a change help?

Surely what we ought to do is just get back to preaching the gospel, pressing for decisions, supporting converts, helping people live holy lives.

The restoration of communion (in whatever form) might make Sunday more fun for believers but do very little for the lost.

One final thing – if Salvationists feel so strongly about this issue there area plethora of evangelical churches they can join which will adequately meet their needs. For those of us committed to a non-sacramental stance there is only TSA.

Dare I say that the main reason many (not all but many) Salvationists want to see the sacraments return is because defending the Army's position becomes increasingly tiresome when they are constantly rubbing shoulders with sacramental Christians on the 'preaching circuit'. It's bad enough always having to say 'sorry I don't drink I'm a Salvationist' but at least that only usually happens in a secular environment but constantly being asked 'why don't you have communion' for some is obviously a bit wearing.

Love and prayers

A

Entire Sanctification by Commissioner T McKie (1907)

The following article is reprinted from The Bandsman and Songster October 26th 1907.

If it be asked whether I mean by sanctification or a Personal Pentecost the mighty rushing wind and the tongues of fire, gifts of healing and miraculous power, I answer emphatically, "No!" But I mean the plenitude of the Holy Spirit, the filling of our hearts with the Divine love and power which results in the salvation of many souls. Thank God we may now be so filled with the Spirit, entirely sanctified, made perfect in love, and possessed with a passionate enthu­siasm for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

But in order to come into the enjoyment of this glorious experience certain conditions must be met. Need I point out that God has attached conditions to the bestowal of all His great gifts, and clearly stipulates them in His Word. With these conditions we must cheerfully comply; we must add nothing to them, and take nothing from them. But as soon as we meet the conditions, God undoubtedly will fulfil His pledge. He cannot mock us. He will not go back on His own truth. He lovingly waits now to confer the infinite riches of His Holy Spirit upon His every obedient child.

THE CONDITIONS

But now, putting aside all preliminaries, what are the conditions with which we must comply before Jesus can baptise us "with the Holy Ghost and with Fire," and fill us with all the fullness of God. Briefly, they are these:-

1. THERE MUST BE A GENUINE HUNGER­ING AND THIRSTING FOR THESE GIFTS. "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." This is the initial step - the cornerstone of the whole structure. No hungering, no thirsting - no filling. We may reckon positively that the Holy Ghost will never pour resurrection life and fullness into our lives until we are right dead in earnest about it, and feel we cannot live and work another day without it. Are you hungering and thirsting for this incoming? This is the first step, and we cannot take the second until we have taken this one.

2. THERE MUST BE A SPIRIT OF ABSOLUTE AND UNQUESTIONING OBEDIENCE. This was the condition attached by Christ to the bestowal of the first apostolic baptism. He commanded them “that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me" (Acts 1:4). This condition of all blessing is expressed in the words of the mother of Jesus, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it" (John2:5). The obedient alone shall eat of, the fat of the land. There must then be prompt, exact, and cheerful obedience if this gift is to be possessed.

3. THE BAPTISM MUST BE SOUGHT SOLELY FOR GOD'S GLORY. Not for my comfort, nor my joy, nor the promotion of neither my in­terests, nor that I may be happy. All these things will come in their natural course. One thought and purpose alone must possess and move me; "Not my glory, but His, and His alone!"

ENTIRE SURRENDER.

4. I MUST YIELD MYSELF UNRESERVEDLY TO GOD. I must “present” my “body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is" my "reasonable service" (Rom 12:1) “What things” are "gain unto me, these I” must count “loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I” must count “all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, and ... count them but dung.”

Another condition upon which the fullness of the Divine blessing is dependent is given in Malachi 3:10 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, If I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

See also Matthew 19:20; Mark 12:44. To yield is to possess; to lose is to find.

5. LASTLY, I MUST TAKE. One of the most significant words of the whole Bible is that little word TAKE. It is a case of "take it or leave it." You will get no more than you take. Do not remain talking about “trying” to take it. Take it! Help yourself!
THE RESULTS.

The results to any company of people receiving this baptism must be similar to those produced at its first bestowal. Let us see what those first results were, and their present day analogies on our life and work.

1. THE BAPTISM QUALIFIES US FOR AT­TRACTING THE CROWDS. We read that immediately after the first Pentecost, “when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together.” A house on fire always attracts a crowd, so does a man on fire. A Band or Brigade filled with the Holy Spirit and with Fire will not be long without crowds.

2. IT SETTLES THE QUESTION OF " HOW TO GET A MOVE ON - In some places the work of God may be stagnant; almost everything has been tried by way of a remedy, and yet things remain in, many instances as they were. Why not try a Pentecost? You will be certain to create a stir then. We read that when the hundred and twenty were baptised the people “were all amazed and marvelled”, they were “confounded” … "in doubt, saying to one another, what meaneth this?” (Acts 2:6-7 and 12). There is nothing like the Holy Ghost for creating interest, causing a stir, “getting a move on” among the people.

3. IT WILL SETTLE THE QUESTION OF WHAT WE ARE TO PREACH. Read Peter's sermon as recorded in Acts 2 from verse 17 to the finish of the chapter. We must give the people the pure unadulterated truth of God, without trimming or qualification, if, we want to cut men and women to the heart. There must be no withholding the sword from blood, no holding back unpalatable truths about sin or judgment or hell. The Holy Spirit will teach us to deliver “the whole counsel of God.”

4. IT WILL HELP TO SETTLE THE QUESTION OF CONVERTS STANDING. They will remain steadfast -not carried away by every wind of temptation, persecution, or false doc­trine that blows. “And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship." (Acts 2:42.)

DIFFICULTIES SOLVED.

5. IT WILL HELP TO SOLVE MANY DIFFICULTIES. “And all they that believed, were together, and had all things common.” They were of one heart and of one soul. Men sometimes call the sacrifices of love of that day fanaticism. Such practice is, perhaps, not possible in these days, but the spirit of it is as necessary now, as then, to the success of God's Kingdom on earth. No stingy man can have the Holy Ghost. The­ work of God is backward in many places, almost solely because of the stinginess of God's people. Nothing but a general and genuine Pentecost will alter such a state of things.

6. IT ALSO BRINGS CANDIDATES FOR OFFICERSHIP. “And ye shall be witnesses unto Me... Unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” A Pentecost brings men and women to that point where their highest joy is to devote all their powers to the publishing of the everlasting Gospel.

In conclusion, let me say that I believe it will help to solve all the problems connected with ourselves and the work God has given us to day. It is your high privilege, and the command of your Lord: - “Be ye FILLED with the Spirit.”

Why do bands exist?

An article by William Booth originally published in The Bandsman and Songster May 11th 1907 - Obviously directed at brass bands but equally applicable today to contemporary worships bands!

Love and prayers A

WHY DO BANDS EXIST

"Having assured you of the deep sym­pathy I feel with you in your work, and of my true appreciation or your toil and trouble involved in the discharge of your duties, I want to suggest some improvements which, if adopted, will, I think, make the services you render to the Corps more valuable and useful still.

I will begin by reminding you of the object for which The Salvation Army Bands exist, and after we have looked at that, I think you will be better able to judge whether your particular Band is conducted in the manner calculated to secure the accomplishment of that object.

NOT FOR THIS!

1. A Band is not created and maintained for the mere amusement of the individuals composing it. To say that this were the case would lower it very nearly to the level of a Cricket Club or a Choral Society.

2. Neither does a band exist for the benefit of its members, either as regards their musical attainments, or the promotion of their personal religion.

To those members who are faithful to their opportunity and the duties it de­volves upon them, the band will doubtless prove, a school in which their musical ability will be developed, and a means of grace by which their souls may be greatly blessed; but these are not the ends for which the band exists.

3. A band does not exist for the amuse­ment of other people.

Music is, beyond question, very attrac­tive, and capable of imparting many delightful emotions; but I certainly am not called to raise Salvation Army bands for the purpose of merely gratifying our own Soldiers or of pleasing the crowd outside.

THE ARMY'S PURPOSE

In a general way, I may say that a band exists for the same purpose as The Salvation Army itself. We all know what that object is but I may just express it in a few words; The Salvation Army exists to promote the Glory of God in the Salvation of a dying World, the Sanctification of our Soldiers, and the inspiration of all alike with that same Spirit that brought Jesus Christ from Heaven to live, suffer and die for the Salvation of the world.

That is the object for which The Salva­tion Army exists, and the bands, as a part of that Army, must have the same object, and be actuated by the same spirit - that is, if it is loyal to the purpose for which it has been called into being.

Is not this the object for which you expect your Officers will live and after which you desire that they should aspire? Would you be content with any aim lower than this in them? Suppose a Captain came to your Corps; who made it evident that all he wanted was to show off his abilities, to set forth how eloquently he could talk on the platform, what wonderful words and ideas he could express in his prayers, what marvellous reports he could write for "Cry," or how cleverly he could play on the cornet or something else of the same description, would not every right-minded Soldier in the Corps look down on such a Captain with pity, if not contempt, and say, "We thought you had come here to help us to save souls and live holy lives; we are afraid that you have mistaken your calling; had you not better go to the Peni­tent Form and get saved yourself?”

What do you reckon, my Comrades, is the purpose for which your General jour­neys to and fro over land and sea; for what do I sit writing at my desk by night and by day; for what do I argue and plead in councils and conferences with my Officers; for what do I stand on the Platform and talk, and pray, till I can scarcely stand at all? It is, as you know, that I may cooperate with my Comrades in the attain­ment of this object, that is, thee blessing of my Soldiers, and the saving of the People.

HOW ACCOMPLISHED.

Now, as a part and parcel of The Army, the object of the band must be the same as is that of The Army; the same as your Captain's; the same as your General's­ - you wish it to be so, and you glory in the fact that it is so.

This purpose can be carried out in various ways. And first and foremost, it can do this:-

1. By attracting strangers to our meet­ings, cheering up our own people, and generally commending The Army to public notice. I think this part of the work of a band is generally aimed at in a very rational and hearty manner, and I believe that in this respect great success has crowned the efforts put forth. Most of our tunes are of a popular character, and the manner in which they are played is in many cases very pleasing and attractive to the public ear.

In the performance of every kind of music I give to all my Bandsmen the same rule for their guidance that I give to every other class of Officer in the Army, the rule by which I hope I constantly strive to be guided myself, and which says: “Whether you pray to God, or talk to man; whether you write for the 'Cry,' or play your Music, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God, do it for the benefit of your fellows, do it in the Spirit of The Salva­tion Army, and do it as well as ever you can”

Now, without posing as a musician, there is one thing I would like to say with regard to the playing of our bands which, if attended to, will, I am convinced, do more to improve our music, and more to make it acceptable and useful to our people, than ­perhaps any other thing that can be done. That one thing is, let there be an honest attempt on the part of every Bandsman to bring his particular Instrument into such agreement with the rest of his Comrades’ that the united sound shall be one harmonious whole.

In listening to a band we do not want to hear the cornet, or the trombone, or even the Drum, clanging and banging out loud and distinct above the rest. What we want is to hear the sound proceeding from every instrument, so blended together that it shall be as if the whole volume came from one instrument only. This will be a result not attained in a day, but, it should be aimed at and persistently sought if the highest success in band performances is to be reached."