Who,me?

Here’s a classic quote from William Booth’s excellent little book Purity of Heart. Maybe you’ve seen it…

"A Pure Heart will make you a blessing to those around you, and that not merely as a result of what you do, but from the fact of what you are. (NOTE: The emphasis is mine. This is a h-u-g-e point, as “being” will always trump mere “doing.” – W). People will, no doubt, be drawn to love Christ, and seek Salvation, and fight for The Army by what you say and sing. Your appeals and your prayers will all affect them; but if, in addition, you possess this treasure, they will also be led to God and holiness and Heaven by what they see you are!" (again, the emphasis is mine – W)

– General William Booth
Purity of Heart

Holiness of heart, of life, of mind, of attitude, of purpose, of mission… These hallmarks were all at the core of Army teaching, emphasis, theology, and practice. After all, we identified ourselves, and saw ourselves very much as a holiness movement. The telltale marks of a holy life were easily seen by everyone from the proverbial “poor lost girl upon the streets” and men living under bridges, to the aristocracy and royalty.

But fast-forward to today and answer this question – Are we still seen as holy people who are part of a larger holiness movement?

Unfortunately, the answer is a frustrating “that depends..."

Why the lack of a definite answer? Because the truth of the matter is that there really is no corporate, all-inclusive answer. The question can only be answered by YOU as an individual. Not the General, not the Territorial Commander, not the Doctrine Council, not your corps officer, but YOU.

You see, it’s this simple: The Army will only be seen as what YOU decide and show it to be. That’s the point Booth was making in the quote above.

So if we use the everyday lives of those who wear the name “Salvationist” as our measuring stick – and you already know that everyday lifestyle, habits, and actions are among the most accurate measurements people around us have for determining what the Army is and how the Army behaves – could we still be accurately described as holy people who are part of a larger holiness movement, as mentioned above?

Here’s the simple fact of the matter, gang… People see who and what we are. That is, they quickly connect the dots that our lives, words, attitudes, and actions give them, and arrive at their own conclusion. The Army will be seen as a holiness movement only if others see you and me living holy lives.

So whaddya say…? Let’s go for it!

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Covenant Thoughts

Lately, I’ve found myself thinking over and pondering the nature of covenant. Partly because the Prayer Warriors session is only a couple of weeks away from prayerfully signing their Officers Covenant , which is always a very moving ceremony for me. And each year, as Covenant Sunday approaches, I’ve also made it a practice to re-read James Garlow’s excellent little book on the subject – cleverly entitled The Covenant – as well as Commissioner Ed Read’s classic Keepers of the Covenant.

Add to all this the fact that I’ve recently had the chance to read through the manuscript of a fine, soon-to-be-published book on covenant by a Canadian Salvationist.

All in all, I’ve been enjoying a fantastic reminder of the unique covenant relationship I’ve entered into with God, as a Salvationist and as an officer.

Each of us, as Salvationists, has willingly bound ourselves to God by at least one of three different covenants: the Junior Soldier Promise, the Soldier’s Covenant (previously The Articles of War), and the Officer's Covenant. The terms, declarations, and promises we commit to in these covenants very much defines how we relate to God and others, and describes what people can expect of us by way of our actions and values.

In the forward to Commissioner Read’s book, then-General Paul Rader shared well-worded insights about the relationship between Salvationism and covenant when he wrote:

If there is one thing that sets Salvationists apart in these times more than any other it is that Salvationists are people of Covenant. If you want to know what makes the Army tick at its best, then you must understand the compelling significance of Covenant. A single woman officer refuses to abandon her post in a region exploding in cruel violence. A young couple defies all the stereotypes of their generation in a willingness to reach the people of a country recently reclaimed from Marxism. A former officer in his nineties in Communist China is still loyal to his calling after 45 years of separation from all the usual supports of his Salvationism. A man and wife whose marriage is under stress press their way through to a deeper commitment to one another and to their family and future. An aging husband devoted himself entirely to the care of his now helpless wife whose darkening mind the kindly light of reason has long since been denied. It’s all about Covenant.

…This is an era of contractual negotiation, of ensuring that one’s options are open, that one always preserves the chance to cut and run when the going gets tough or the constraints of commitment too binding. Covenant is a very different arrangement. Benefits and options, important as they may be, are not the issue

…We never needed to understand [Covenant] more than now. It is vital to the understanding of every Salvationist who may have been dedicated under an Army flag, later sealing their Soldier’s Covenant as they entered the family of faith and enlisted in this global fighting force. [Covenant] is what makes members into soldiers, and faithful attenders into fighting units. It is what makes otherwise sincere supporters the very stuff that makes an Army.

Tell me…when was the last time you read through the covenant(s) that you’ve promised, and signed before God? Why not take a look today and see the extent to which your life matches what you’ve promised?

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…

Willis

Mind the Gap

Recently, I was living in London as a delegate to the Army’s International College for Officers (“ICO” in Armyspeak). All in all, it was an extremely memorable experience, spiritually, relationally, as well as culturally!

Living in any culture that’s different from your own, however, always requires some degree of getting used to. Take Americans going to England, for example… Although both countries speak the same language (more or less), you have to get used to the fact that there are words common to both cultures while having completely different meanings. These differences run the range from being innocently funny to sometimes embarrassing or potentially offensive! It takes getting used to the fact that the two countries have completely opposite ideas as to which side of the road you should drive on. Now this is no big issue if you’re a passenger in a vehicle, right? You just sit in your seat and enjoy the ride. But this “which-side-of-the-road-does-traffic-come-from" difference can be hugely life-threatening if you’re a pedestrian! I never got the hang of which way to look before crossing the street. In fact, it was nothing short of God’s grace and protection that allowed me to leave England before I became a hood ornament on a London taxi!

Let me focus on another point of English culture for just a moment. Specifically, I want to call attention to the little three word phrase that you regularly see or hear when you travel by way of the London rail system – “Mind the gap.” Those three words are prominently posted on signs as well as stenciled on the edge of train and subway (“tube”) platforms. And when the train you’ve been waiting for pulls into your station, you’ll also frequently hear a crisp, English-accented robotic voice cautioning you again to “Mind the gap, please.”
The constant written and verbal reminder is a safety thing. It’s intended to continually reinforce the point that the presence of a “gap” represents potential danger.

This truth has an application for Christians, too.

You see, unless we’re careful and intentional about such matters as how we live, what we value, what motivates us, and how we care for our souls, dangerous inconsistencies – “gaps” – can develop between what we profess and what people actually see.

Now let’s face it… There’s a long list of areas and aspects of our spiritual development that can lead us down one of the many roads to “Gap-ville.” But I’d like to focus on a particular one that many believers seem to fall into. As I said, this isn’t the only gap believers fall into, and perhaps it’s not even the widest one. But from my experience, it’s among the most popular of gaps that we seem to step into: compartmentalization.

Compartmentalization happens when a believer, instead of seeing their life as a consistent, related, connected whole, views his/her life as having different sections or unrelated, independent “compartments.” They have a professional life compartment, a personal life compartment, social life compartment, and so on. Each compartment carries its own set of rules, standards, and dynamics, and allowances. And to their thinking, what happens within the sphere of one life compartment really ought to have no bearing, influence, or consequence on another.

A few years back, an officer was talking to me about his upcoming furlough. “When I go on vacation,” he said, "I’m not an officer...!”

“Really?” I answered. “So then what are you? Who are you?”

He wasn’t simply referring to the fact that for the time of his furlough he’d have a period of time where he was out from under the daily responsibilities of phone calls and assorted meetings. No, he explained to me that he would regularly live a completely different life for the period of time he was on vacation. He was making very clear the fact that he compartmentalized his life and ministry. It made me think of the old country preacher’s line, “if you ain’t who you are, you are who you ain’t!”

Now let’s be realistic…each of us have a number of roles we’re responsible to fulfill, right? But unlike a pearl necklace which is a series of independent components merely strung together, our lives are meant to be more like cut and polished diamonds, where our roles and responsibilities are nothing more than facets of the one stone which help to add beauty and uniqueness to it.

Check this out from The Message…

You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent.

But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent

with what you believe…then you know that you're out of line.

If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong.

Romans 14:22-23

So when you look at your life, do you see a consistent whole, or a fragmented, inconsistent, sectioned-off series of differing compartments? As believers, and especially as Salvationists, each of us would do well to persistently “mind the gap.”

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot...!

WIllis

One Date -- Two Milestones!

February 11, 2009 – just one year ago today – Fan the Flame first began; a small, insignificant pinpoint in the cyberspace blogosphere, really.

It started because of an incessant urging from God’s Spirit within me. You know that feeling…? Well this was one of those things that He just wouldn’t let up about (I guess that’s what’s meant by incessant, huh?). But I wrestled with the insecurity of thinking that I really didn’t have anything unique or significant to add to what others had said – and continue to say – so much better than me. I mean, c’mon…if you’ve ever read anything on this site, you’ve figured out pretty quickly that I’m not exactly what you’d call a scholar, right? I don’t possess any particularly special insights, and there’s certainly no one waiting in line to label me an intellectual! But still, God had lit something within me that I couldn’t shake – a 21st century “burning in my bones,” so to speak. So He just kept poking at my heart in that way of His, prodding me to do some small thing that might be used to, well…“fan the flame” of Christian passion, holy living, and Army mission.

So if FtF has ever – in any way – been useful, challenging, or encouraging to your Christian life, thanks be to God and His constant nudging! So may this Flame, as well as the flame of your holy passion, burn hotter and brighter in the days ahead of us.

Now let me tell you about the other flame that God ignited on this date…

On February 11, 1978 – thirty two years ago now(!) – Barbara Leidy and I became Willis and Barbara Howell! God’s gifts and blessings are always more than we deserve, aren’t they? That’s certainly the case with me being blessed with a life-partner like Barbara.

As often happens with the gifts God gives us, I have to admit that when we were first married, I didn’t come anywhere close to grasping the extent of the blessing I had been given with this woman, let alone all that she would come to mean to me (people who know me understand just how dim my bulb can be, at times!). But moment by moment, experience by experience, one day at time, the pages of thirty two years of life have steadily turned. His “Barbara gift” has continued to unfold, bringing delightful surprises and ever-deeper blessing. I find myself now filled with with wide-eyed wonder and gratitude to God for His incredible gift of Barbara to me.

Now as I look back from my present vantage point over the story of our life together – from then till now – I see that like any couple we’ve had our share of storms, challenges, and struggles (Barbara would call them “opportunities”). But what stands out as a testimony of God’s faithfulness to us, however, is that the problems and “opportunities” have only served to cause us to hold tighter in our love for each other and to drive our shared roots deeper into our dependency on God’s protection and grace.

For thirty two years, I’ve been blessed to have Barbara beside me, to feel her support of me, and to be on the receiving end of her love for me. Over this time, I’ve been rescued from any number of my own dumb choices or crazy ideas by her incredible, God-given insight, and have come to rely on the unimaginable peace of heart that comes through her prayers on my behalf. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I am far deeper in love with her, more strongly attached to her, and have a much greater appreciation for her now than ever before in my life. You see, we haven’t simply grown old together – we’ve matured together in Jesus.

I guess some flames just burn hotter over time…!

So here’s to anniversaries -- long ones and short ones -- and the Lord who works in and through them all to His glory.

I love you, Barbara…

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

The Critical Question

Here's a great question from John Piper...

"The critical question for our generation -- and for every generation -- is this: If you could have Heaven with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with Heaven if Christ were not there?"

Now that ought to get you thinking...!

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot...

Willis

Beware of Imitations

Here’s a question for you…

What is it that makes a Salvationist a Salvationist?

I think there would be general agreement that a case could be made to support the idea that not everyone who wears an Army uniform is a Salvationist. It's a complete reversal of the old axiom: clothes alone don’t make the man (or woman, as the case may be). Now of course an equal case could be made for the flip side of the issue in that not everyone who doesn’t wear a uniform – or attend a corps, or in some other way align themselves with the Army in a denominational sense – isn’t a Salvationist.

So if all that’s true, then let’s come back to the question… What’s the “it” that brands or identifies someone as a Salvationist? What defines one? What is “it” that sets the genuine article apart from the “wanna-be’s” and posers? Working from the assumption that we can readily recognize one when we see one, what is “it,” then, that would cause any one of us to sit up and say “now there’s a Salvationist”?

Here’s another way of asking it: Are Salvationists Salvationists because of their actions, or do they do what they do because they’re Salvationists?

To my thinking, I’m not sure that I could put my finger on any one thing that specifically sets the Salvationist apart from the Salvationist. But I’m convinced that the “it” factors that make the difference have to do with certain attitudes of the heart, such as a burning inner passion, a goading and compelling holy determination, a complete abandonment of self to such an extent that whatever grieves or breaks the heart of Jesus grieves or breaks the heart of the Salvationist to the point that they have to do something about it.

Lately I’ve been reading through Talks With Officers, an old Army book from way back in November of 1920. The book is simply a collection of old Officer Magazine interviews with General Bramwell Booth.

One of the interesting features of the book comes at the end of each of the interviews. After Bramwell has had his say about a given subject or concern, there is a closing quote from his father, William. Now I have no idea as to whether Bramwell asked that these specific quotes be included or if the editor added them on his own (NOTE: One way or another, however, the quotes would’ve had to have Bramwell’s approval. If he didn’t choose them himself, he certainly would have had to give his endorsement of their addition before the book ever got within a mile of a publisher.). Either way, the quotes are highly motivating and thought provoking.

Here’s one that caught my attention. It relates to this very matter of Salvationist vs. Salvationist :

If you are a Salvationist, your lips will say so; your clothes will say so; your holy life will say so; your prayers and tears and songs will say so; your standing up for God in the face of a perverse and rebellious generation will say so; your efforts to save people from sin , and devils, and Hell will say so. The word of the Lord will be as fire in your bones, it will compel you to speak – that is confess your Lord.

While there cannot be the possession of Salvation without the profession, there can be the profession without the possession. You can have the form of a thing without the spirit which the form represents.

-- William Booth

The guy sure had a clear way of putting things, wouldn’t you say?

So let’s use Booth’s description above as the basis for a little exercise in self-examination…

If someone were to follow you or me around every minute of every day for, say, a solid month – listening in on all of our conversations, taking note of everything we wore and what it communicated about our values, observing our lifestyle and attitudes, documenting the TV shows and movies we watch, the books and articles we read, the music that entertains us, hearing our prayers, keeping a record of the passions that stir us – what would they conclude at the end of that month? Salvationist, or Salvationist?

It’s kind of like telling the difference between a genuine, first quality watch – built with all the materials and precision Swiss craftsmanship that allows it keep accurate time – and the cheap look-alike, knock-offs that are sold on the streets of some large metropolitan cities. Put the two side-by-side, and they look almost identical at first glance. But the pretender just can’t stand up to a closer examination. There are shortcomings and inconsistencies in the fake that just aren’t there in the authentic Swiss watch. And before long you’re aware that the performance difference between the two will only become more and more evident over time (no pun intended). You see real quality isn’t cheap. It comes at a cost, and you know it when you see it.

The same is true when it comes to the quality of a genuine Salvationist spirit. It can be cheaply imitated, but it can never be truly duplicated by any artificial means. Oh, let’s be clear…the pretend version can be made to look similar to the real thing. But like the watch, over time the difference only becomes more and more obvious. You see, the real spirit can only come from the real Spirit. And while it’s available to everyone, only those willing to pay the price of complete self-surrender actually receive it. And again like the real Swiss watch, you know “it” when you see it.

What was it the General said…?

While there cannot be the possession of Salvation without the profession, there can be the profession without the possession. You can have the form of a thing without the spirit which the form represents.

So what about you…? Real or imitation? Salvationist or Salvationist?

Here’s a thought – why not ask God to give you His answer since He’s the one who does, in fact, take note of all we do and why we do it.

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Daily Bread, Daily Blessing

Sooner or later, lettuce wilts, meat spoils, milk turns, apples get soft and mushy, bananas turn black… In short, food rots.


Hardly an insight, I know….


But who of us has never experienced the unique stink of a rotten egg? Is there anyone reading this who has never mistakenly swallowed a big gulp of milk gone bad? Can we each relate to the strong churning in your stomach that happens when you find and – foolishly – open the mysterious container long buried in the back of the refrigerator, only to find – and smell – the black, fuzzy thing that 3 months ago was a leftover half of a tomato?

So let me say it again – in spite of our best efforts to prevent it, eventually all food rots.

This is why when we’re hungry, none of us want a year-old orange, or a piece of chicken that has sat opened and exposed on your counter top for the last 3 weeks. No, we want something that’s new, unopened, just-baked, or freshly picked from the valley of the Jolly Green Giant. This is also why we need a constant supply of fresh food, because what was good for yesterday may not, in fact, be good for today.

Evidently, even Heaven’s bread rots. Way back when the Hebrews first left Egypt for the Promised Land, they had to wrestle with the rot-factor of manna sent from the very hand of God. You remember the story…?

God had miraculously delivered the entire nation of Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. Perhaps as many as 2 million people were suddenly on a group hike away from the only place they’ve ever known – Egypt – and the only life they’ve ever known – slavery. As they left in something of a rush (see Ex. 12:33), they understandably took what food they could, including, according to Scripture, their unleavened bread dough (Ex 12:34).

Well you certainly don’t have to be a biblical scholar to figure out that regardless of the amount or variety of food they might have had with them, there’s no way it could last very long when you’re trying to feed 2 million people a day, not to mention the effects of desert heat on unpreserved food. And sure enough, not long after “…the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt…” the Israelites are giving Moses an absolute fit over the fact that they now don’t have anything to eat. Moses passes their complaint up the line to God.

The Lord said to Moses, "I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel. So tell them at twilight you will eat meat, and every morning you will eat all the breayou want. Then you will know I am the Lord your God.'"

That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost were on the desert ground. When the Israelites saw it, they asked each other, "What is it?" because they did not know what it was.

So Moses told them, "This is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. The Lord has commanded, 'Each one of you must gather what he needs, about two quarts for every person in your family.'"

So the people of Israel did this; some people gathered much, and some gathered little. Then they measured it. The person who gathered more did not have too much, nor did the person who gathered less have too little. Each person gathered
just as much as he needed.

Moses said to them, "Don't keep any of it to eat the next day." But some of the people did not listen to Moses and kept part of it to eat the next morning. It became full of worms and began to stink, so Moses was angry with those people.

Every morning each person gathered as much food as he needed, but when the sun became hot, it melted away.

Exodus 16:11-21 (NCV)

Time after time throughout the Exodus story God has to continually drive home the point to the Israelites that He wanted them to depend on Him constantly and completely for protection, guidance, blessing, and – as this story illustrates – provision. “Don’t try to stockpile my blessings. What you gathered yesterday doesn’t count for today. And all that I provide for you today is just that – for today. You don’t have to s-t-r-e-t-c-h what I give in the hope of making it last longer. I won’t ask you to warm up bit of blessing leftovers that you have to try to preserve somehow. I don’t work that way. Rather, I have an infinite store of graces, and gifts, and mercies, and blessings that I’m anxious to share with you daily. And make no mistake, I WILL PROVIDE!”

So God gives them a practical object lesson to drive home His point. God caused the manna from heaven to rot – quickly.

When Jesus taught His disciples – the original bunch as well as the present-day group of us – to ask the Father to “give us this day our daily bread,” it wasn’t because refrigerators and modern food storage techniques hadn’t yet been invented! No, it was a manna reference. Jesus was pointing to the fact that God still wants to be depended on to provide the daily gifts, graces, and blessings we need. Why? Because, in the figurative sense, God’s blessings grow stale when we try to hoard and hold them past their daily expiration date.

In spite of that fact, many Christians (in the West, anyway) are frustratingly content to settle for a once-a-week, pre-packaged Sunday serving of God’s blessing. Now understand, many of these same folks will move heaven and earth to ensure they have something fresh and nourishing to eat – multiple times a day! But when it comes to the daily care and nourishing of their souls, rather than spending time each day gathering a ration of new and nourishing blessings fresh from the hand of God, they choose to gnaw on some fuzzy out-of-date bit of spiritual leftovers of gifts and graces that simply were not meant to last beyond the day they were given. And then, adding insult to injury, they drag themselves around in their spiritually under-fed and weakened state, wondering why it is they have little or no spiritual stamina and/or power!

It’s just not the way God set it up to work! His faithfulness in providing for our daily soul-nourishment is custom made to intersect with our obedience in coming to Him to receive. And when His provision and our obedience come together you have a believer who has the understanding described in Annie Johnson Flint’s classic hymn (SASB #579):

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase,
To added afflictions he addeth his mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, his grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of his infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Don’t let God’s blessings rot out from under you. Instead, go to Him every day for more!

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Now THAT Left a Mark!

Have you noticed how some people go to great – sometimes even extreme – lengths in marking, piercing, or modifying themselves? Some do it to stand out from the crowd as an expression of their individuality. Others mark themselves they way they do in order to blend in, as in some settings and cultures tattoos or other body markings are a visible sign of association or affiliation. Whatever the reason(s) behind the action, those who have marked themselves in some way are usually loud and proud of what they’ve done, wanting everyone to take notice.

One result of today’s explosion in the popularity of body art was the fellow who not long ago offered his bald head as advertising space! For a price, he was inviting businesses to “…send me a tattoo or have me go to a tattoo parlor and get a temporary ink tattoo on my forehead and this will be something [you] choose, a company name or domain name, perhaps [your] logo…"

Hmmm…

One of the first Sundays after I arrived in my appointment at the Evangeline Booth College, just a couple of years ago now, I noticed a number of the cadets – men as well as women – walking around our campus with bandages of various sizes stuck to their arms, legs, ankles, and Lord knows what all else. Some had a single, relatively small bandage, while others had so many they looked like apprentice stunt doubles from a slasher horror movie! It was another one of those things that make you go, “hmmm…” So going up to one guy whose forearm was wrapped with a 3-inch Ace bandage, I asked what had happened to his arm. “Oh, nothing,” he said, “we’re just required to cover our tattoos when we’re in uniform!”

I’ve got to tell you that while I am not what you’d call a “fan” of tattoos and body art, when measured on the “concern-o-meter” I’m far less interested with what marks or identifies someone on the outside. I take much more notice of what seems to mark a person on the inside that works its way out into behavior and attitude. (Note to any Southern Territory cadets who may happen to read this and get the wrong idea: NO! This does NOT mean that you can go out and get more tattoos!!)

If you’re a believer, did you know that at the point you invited Jesus into your heart, GOD marked you? It’s true -- check it out…

“[I]n Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you

by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised.”
Ephesians 1:13 (NCV)

You see, with salvation comes an inner mark – by way of an inner Presence – which God intends for people to see in us.

Tell me...what person having just gotten a new tattoo or piercing doesn’t show it off to friends, family, and those they happen to meet (assuming, of course, that the “artwork” is placed in a location socially acceptable to be seen by the general public!)? So why should it be any different following the experience of being marked spiritually? Christ’s “artwork” within us should be easily seen in the way we live, the choices we make, the words we use, the attitudes we display. But far too often, believers shy away from letting their inner Jesus-marks be seen by those around them, preferring instead to hide what God intended to be noticeable. Tell me…just how does that help to promote and advance the Kingdom we claim to belong to?

Years ago, we used to sing a chorus that went like this:

I would that others might see
The marks of Jesus in me.
For they will not believe,
If they do not perceive
The marks of Jesus in me.

There’s a lot of truth in those simple words. It’s so much easier for someone to believe a witness that is clearly and openly seen.

I wonder...What do people see in your life? Do others see the evidence of His marks in you?

Since Jesus willingly and very publically took onto Himself the marks of punishment and death that belonged to each of us, how is it that some Christians try to justify or rationalize hiding the marks of His life and influence within them?

Coming back to the matter of the cadets with the bandages… I told them to stop the Band-Aid silliness. Remove the bandages and let the world see you for who they are – warts, tats, and all!

If you’ve been an “undercover Christian,” consider this an encouragement to do the same thing in your witness. Peel off whatever has hidden your Christ-marks. Be open and proud about the work Jesus has done, and is still doing in you.

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Another Unsung Hero Gone

Hi…remember me?
Sorry it’s been so long between posts, but over the last month or so, my family and I have been dealing with issues of life’s journey to death. Barbara’s dad died a couple of weeks back. This, of course, has been followed by the emotionally turbulent transition for her mom into this new chapter of life without her husband.

Barb’s father, Major Ralph Leidy, was one of the many outstanding, yet mostly unsung officers who quietly go about their mission of influencing lives for Christ without a lot of fanfare, flash, or hoopla. As I prepared to conduct his funeral, I learned that during their years as corps officers, the Leidys sent some 26 people(!) to Training (5 of who were even in attendance at his funeral!). And get this…every single one of those 26 kept their officer covenant and served right through to their own retirement! Quite a feat in this day where officership more and more resembles the “Hokey Pokey” dance – “you put your whole self in, you take your whole self out, you put your whole self in, and you shake it all about...”

Ralph’s commitment to finding those who are lost continued right up to his death. The Sunday before he died, the Clearwater Citadel Band came to his apartment and played him a mini concert (he was a life-long 2nd baritone player). As the band played, a number of neighbors and curious onlookers came out and gathered to listen, including a particular neighbor from across the street. When the band finished playing, this fellow came up to the bandmaster, pointed to my father-in-law and announced to those gathered, “This man has been trying to get me saved for years! And this (meaning the expression of love shown by the band as they played for Ralph) might just get it done!”

Nice…

I love the term we Salvationists use when one of our soldiers pass away: Promoted to Glory. Even as I type the words, I sense the strong but unwritten “hallelujah” that so often accompanies the phrase. One reason Promoted to Glory stands out for me is that there are a number of those among us who richly deserve various forms of earthly promotion who – for one reason or another – are overlooked or otherwise passed over. Maybe they didn’t stand out as much as so-and-so. Maybe the job they did never brought them anywhere near the limelight. Maybe all kinds of other possibilities… But God sees to this final promotion. And none of His faithful ones are ever overlooked. None of them passed over or forgotten.

So here’s to the passing of one of our quiet giants. While we’re still blessed to still have a number of others in our ranks who fit that description, my fear is that their number is silently dwindling as we focus on so much else around us.

Hey, I have an idea… Maybe each of us could step in and help take up the slack. Let’s do what we can – whatever that may be – to make a difference for Jesus right where we are!

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Safety Off!

I enjoy the writing of Erwin McManus, who pastors a very unique gathering of believers in the Los Angeles area. McManus is one of those guys whose spirit seems to reflect the same kind of daring and passion that marked early Salvationists. Like them, he’s outspoken and uncompromising in his belief that the Church is at her best when she is involved with and interacting with the world outside the walls of our sanctuaries and citadels.

The quote below comes from his book An Unstoppable Force, subtitled daring to become the church God had in mind. As you’ll see, McManus warns of the danger of buying into some of the popular concepts and ideologies that have been embraced by much of the Church here in the West.

I think there’s a word here for the Army as well…

“Out of the community church context has come an unending parade of pop and bumper sticker theologies – the kind that gives us comfort for all the wrong reasons. One of these in particular has both misguided the church and diluted the calling of every believer who is shaped by it. You’ve heard it said that the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will. I am sure this promise was well intended, but it is neither true nor innocuous. When we believe that God’s purpose, intention, or promise is that we will be safe from harm, we are utterly disconnected from the movement and the power of God.

“I remember sitting in the home of a pastor and his wife just after they had finished seminary. They were tremendously gifted and had chosen to serve in a small community of a few thousand residents. We began to talk about their future, and I suggested they move to a major metropolitan center, such as Los Angeles. I was stunned not so much by their response, but by the rationale behind it. With great passion, they told me that God would never expect them to do that. God would never subject their children to the danger and corruption of the city. I remember leaving that night wondering what was happening to the church. If those preparing for leadership are looking for the safe place, who will lead the church into the dangerous places?

“Somehow we have missed the reality of the biblical experience. From Abraham to Paul, those who followed God were subjected to great dangers. Paul describes his journey with Jesus as anything but safe.

“In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul writes, ‘Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.'

"The truth of the matter is that the center of God’s will is not a safe place but the most dangerous place in the world! God fears nothing and no one! God moves with intentionality and power. To live outside God’s will puts us in danger; to live in his will makes us dangerous.”

I think he's nailed it!

God bless us with more Salvationists throughout the world who are eager to throw safety and caution to the wind by choosing to be in and stay in the "dangerous" center of God’s will. Give us more officers and leaders who willingly offer to serve in the dangerous places of our society and culture. And bless us with the holy passion to be dangerous to all of hell for Christ’s sake.

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Fuel for your Flame -- Catherine Booth

As yet another follow up to the September 27 posting below, here’s still more fuel for your inner flame from one of our hottest firebrands – Catherine Booth. In spite of the fact that she wrote these words more than a century ago, trust me – you’ll still feel the heat her godly passion generates.

“Heat burns. Hot saints set on fire the hearts of other saints. They singe the consciences of sinners, burn the fingers of Pharisees, melt the hearts of backsliders, and warm up those who have left their first love.

“Hot saints are mighty The Spirit is not given by measure to them. They may not be very intellectual or learned, but their heat makes more impression on the hearts of sinners, and stirs more opposition from hell that all the intellect and learning of a whole generation of lukewarm professors… Hot saints are more than a match for their enemies. Satan himself is afraid of them…

“To be hot ensures opposition from the world. The world hates hot saints, because the look with contempt on its pleasures, set at naught its maxims and customs, trample on its ambition and applause, ignore its rewards, abjure its spirit, and live altogether above its level… [The world] can tolerate lukewarm religionists – rational, decent people, who appreciate this world as well as the next, and can see how to make the best of it; but these ‘hot,’ ‘pestilent,’ ‘mad,’ ‘fools,’ who obtrude their religion everywhere who are at everybody about their souls, who are always talking about God, death, judgement, heaven and hell – ‘Away with them! They are not fit to live...’

"Let me remind you, in conclusion, that to be hot ensures God’s special favor, protection, and fellowship, and our final victory… Whereas to be lukewarm is to be spewed out of His mouth, which indicates special dislike, disgrace, and final abandonment. WHICH WILL YOU BE, HOT OR LUKEWARM?”

– Catherine Booth
Practical Religion

Keep your fire hot and your altar ready…!

Willis

Fuel for your Flame -- T. Henry Howard

As you see from the previous couple of posts, I’m still offering quotes and insights from past Salvationists intended to focus on ways we can keep our inner burn well-stoked.

For this post, I’ll let Commissioner T. Henry Howard throw a few more logs on your fire…

"How shall we feed the fire or fan the flames? That is the question for us. We may rest assured of God’s willingness to cooperate in the fuel supply if we are determined to keep the Fire burning. In all our spiritual life and service there is the principle of action and reaction as between God and the soul. His offer of fullness of blessing does not relieve us of personal responsibility… If, therefore, at any time we see a decline or loss of the fire either in ourselves or in others, we can be certain that the decline or loss was due to the unfaithfulness or neglect of the person concerned.

"[There is] the need of constant care if our heart-fires are to be maintained. Fuel must be carried to the altar in the form of worship and loyal devotion and love and glowing aspirations; the sacrifices of righteousness and praise must be there; renewed consecrations, sanctified aims, high ideals, and enthusiasm are as the beaten oil of the sanctuary. These forms of fuel we must add to the fire."

Commissioner T. Henry Howard

Fuel for Sacred Fire

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Fuel for your Flame -- S.L. Brengle

In light of my September 27 epistle, I thought I might offer a few follow-up postings of what could be considered high-octane fuel for your spiritual fire.

Let’s start by letting Commissioner Brengle weigh in on the subject…

"What is this fire? It is love. It is faith. It is hope. It is passion, purpose, determination. It is utter devotion. It is a divine discontent with formality, ceremonialism, lukewarmness, indifference, sham and noise, parade and spiritual death. It is singleness of eye and a consecration unto death. It is God the Holy Ghost burning in and through a humble, holy, faithful man…

"This burning is the spirit that led the young men soldiers of a corps to come to the officers many a night and ask for the key of the hall that they might spend half the night in prayer, until their corps became the banner corps of a dozen States. It is the spirit that inspired an officer in a desperately hard corps in a city full of indifference and opposition to have an all-night of prayer every week with two or three kindred souls who shared with him the burden, until God moved the whole city, and the Mayor became his friend and protector, and the city officials and pastors attended his Sunday afternoon meetings in the City Hall, and the people gave him money for a new hall and instruments for a big band, while the platform was filled with soldiers who had caught the flame from their officer.

"Do you ask, How can we get the fire? I answer, Not by feasting, but by fasting; not by playing, but by praying; not by sleeping and slothfulness, but by watching and by diligently seeking God and the souls that wander from Him; not by skimming The War Cry once a week and reading newspapers and devouring the comic sections and sporting news, but by searching the Scriptures."

Commissioner S.L. Brengle
—Resurrection Life and Power

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Why "Fan the Flame"?

What sort of image does the word fire conjure up in your mind?

I’d guess that most folks will turn to some kind of mental picture of that flaming phenomenon that grills our steak and toasts our marshmallows at a backyard cookout, brings a warm and comfy ambiance to a cold winter’s night, or causes billions of dollars of disaster and loss throughout the world when it blazes out of control.

For me and many other Christians, however, fire in the spiritually symbolic sense of the word is a highly significant and powerful image. For us, fire calls up impressions of holy passion, zeal, a driving purpose, an inner “burn.”

You don’t have to read a whole lot of early Army history before you come to understand that fire in the spiritual, “holy passion” use of the term was a very popular concept with Salvationists back in the day. Our authors wrote about it, our musicians composed songs about it, sermons were preached about it. We emblazoned it on everything from our flags to our jerseys… Everywhere they turned, early Salvationists were encouraged to live lives that were described as being “on fire.”

I’ve gotta tell you, I love that!

But regardless of whether we’re talking about literal, burning fire or fire in its spiritually symbolic sense, let’s agree that there are some fundamental principals that are common to both. A short sampling of those would include:

Both need fuel in order to continue burning. Remove the fuel and before long you’ve killed the fire.

Fire – literal or spiritual – must be respected. You’d better not be careless with it or around it (one of the earliest lessons learned in childhood, but not often taught in the spiritual context, I’m afraid).

Unless you’re careful, fire can be extinguished

If left to itself, the natural tendency of any fire is to go out.

I’m sure you’re aware of the fact that there are some incredible fire stories in the Bible, such as:

• God talking to Moses from out of a bush that’s somehow on fire but doesn’t actually burn (Ex 3-4:17)


• Elijah calling down God’s fire on the water-logged offering on top of Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:19-39), as well as on his would-be captors (2 Kings 1:9-15)


• God sending fire on David’s offering at Araunah’s threshing floor (1 Chron 21:18-26)


• The coming of the Holy Spirit as symbolized by “tongues of fire” that rested on each of 120 people gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-4)
  

For me, one particular fire passage highlights a spiritual principle that challenges both my life and ministry, as well as forms the foundational purpose for this blog site. It’s found in the book of Leviticus.

Now before looking at the passage itself, it might be helpful to point out a particular fact about Leviticus...

Did you know that unlike Genesis and Exodus, Leviticus is arranged more categorically or topically as opposed to chronologically? In other words, Leviticus is more of a “procedures manual” or “handbook” than it is a narrative. Why is that important to know, you ask? Because it means that what you read in the book’s earlier chapters don’t necessarily happen before what you read in later chapters.

Tuck that little point away in your understanding (you’ll need it in just a moment) and let’s pick up the action taking place in Leviticus 8-9.

It’s describing the formal ordination – the commissioning, if you like – of the Hebrew priesthood. It was an eight day affair, according to the text, that required following a long list of instructions and particulars. The details include everything from the various types of offerings that God called for as part of the process, to the sorts of animals to be sacrificed, and the procedures to be followed.

Scroll ahead in the passage to the last offering being made on the last day of the event… Something amazing happened:

“Moses and Aaron entered the Tent of Meeting. When they came out they blessed the people and the Glory of God appeared to all the people. Fire blazed out from God and consumed the Whole-Burnt-Offering and the fat pieces on the Altar. When all the people saw it happen they cheered loudly and then fell down, bowing in reverence.” Leviticus 9:23-24 (MSG)

Understand, this was different from every other altar fire they had ever used or seen. This fire didn’t rely on any man-made ignition methods. This was God-fire – flashing down from the Father Himself – that burned up the offering on the altar. Proof of His blessing, His approval, and His presence.

And the record points out that when the people saw this, they were filled with praise to God as well as a strong sense of holy awe.

Incredible!!

Set all that on the back burner for a moment, and let’s go “back to the future” by flipping pages from chapter 9, to orders from God given in chapter 6 (which actually were given after the chapter 9 miracle. This is what I was talking about earlier when I was explaining about Leviticus being generally more topical than chronological.).

Jumping in at verse 8 and reading through verse 13, God tells Moses to pass on some particulars to Aaron and the boys about burnt offerings. And as you read through these six verses of commandments and instruction, you find God hammering home a particular point about this holy fire He sent to crown their altar and offering. Three times in the passage He tells them – with each repetition being a little stronger than the one before – that they are now responsible to feed and care for what He has ignited. Check it out:

“…the fire must be kept burning on the altar.”
Lev 6:9

“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out.”
Lev 6:12

“The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”
Lev 6:13

Good old Matthew Henry adds an interesting insight on this passage:

The first fire upon the altar came from heaven (Lev 9:24), so that by keeping that up continually with a constant supply of fuel all their sacrifices throughout all their generations might be said to be consumed with that fire from heaven, in token of God's acceptance. If, through carelessness, they should ever let it go out, they could not expect to have it so kindled again. Accordingly the Jews tell us that the fire never did go out upon the altar, till the captivity in Babylon.
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by
Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

OK… Let’s look at this God-established principle in light of a present-day application.

A strong case could be made that as believers, God has in a very real sense “ignited” something in us. At the very instant of salvation, the Holy Spirit – who is symbolized by fire (coincidence…? Hmmm…I don’t think so!) – consumed our sin, flamed our hearts, and signaling His approval, His blessing, and His presence within us. And for those who’ve been willing, God has also lit a passionate Pentecostal fire of holiness that burns away anything within us that is unlike Jesus.

You see, I believe that God has faithfully done exactly what we’ve asked of Him, as time and time again we’ve thrown our heads back, raised our hands, lifted our voices, and zealously sung Booth’s words, “…send the fire!” From there, however, whether through carelessness, inattention, or sometimes just plain foolishness, far too many let that freshly God-sparked fire starve for fuel. With hardly as much as a notice – degree by degree – the inner heart-flame is allowed to gradually burn down, cool off, flicker, sputter, and then sadly go out. And listen gang…when Holy Ghost-fire goes out – when the fire of holy passion cools – there’s no amount of personal effort, or church attendance, or rule-keeping, or program involvement, or any other kind of “going through the motions” that will make a difference. Oh it might look a lot like the actions of an “on-fire” believer, but it’s all smoke and no flame. Only God can reignite the fire that’s gone out in a heart.

This is why I’m convinced that this Leviticus principle is so important. It’s code-red critical for us to understand and embrace the fact that once God has lit – or rekindled – a fire on the altar of our soul, we then carry the responsibility to keep that holy passion-flame well-fed, well-fanned and burning hot ; at all times and at all costs. “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out!”

You know, this could possibly be how God plans to re-fire our Army. Not by way of some corporate, miraculous, Cecil B. DeMille kind of moment that so many look for, but rather something that starts smaller…like a spark that spreads from soldier to soldier, from town to city, from division to territory, until the world is once again ablaze with passionate, mission-minded Salvationists.

But for that to happen, this – like all fires – has to start somewhere.

I wonder…is it possible that you’re the tipping point for all this? That you’re the catalyst God wants to use? Could it be that the only thing needed to set it all in motion is for your heart-altar to ignite – or be rekindled – with the God-sent fire of holy zeal?

I dare you to ask Him. In fact, I double-dog dare you to offer yourself to God for the job! (NOTE: In the Southeastern U.S., a “double-dog dare” is the highest of all challenges! No one with even the smallest sense of honor among his peers can ever pass up the double-dog dare.)

And once He’s given you that fire, once you’re “burning”, do everything in your power to keep that flame well-fanned and fed. When you take care of your part, the door opens wide for God to do His through you.

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Heroes

I grew up in an age of heroes. Sports figures like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays wowed and impressed the group of kids I ran with. Then we’d go home and watch the heroic adventures of TV cowboys such as Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger. Heroes were just everywhere! What’s more is that this was also the golden age of superheroes. I can remember running around with my arms stretched in front of me in “flying” fashion while my Superman cape dramatically rippled and flowed in the breeze behind me (In reality my “cape” was an old dish towel that my mom had pinned to my shirt. But as far as I was concerned, it was the genuine article!)

But regardless of when or where you were born, there’s something in each of us that is drawn to the heroic, isn’t there?

Just think about it... Have you ever noticed just how many box office blockbusters over the years have centered on a heroic main character? Luke Skywalker, fearlessly steps forward to face-up to the Empire. Maximus, the Roman general, heroically refuses to surrender his honor. William Wallace, who, even in the face of his own execution courageously challenged his countrymen to believe they could actually be free.

And it’s not just movie heroes. We’re moved by the real-life soldier who has returned safely from a war zone, the fireman who has just put his life on the line to save people from a burning building, the policeman who rescues someone from a dangerous situation. Heroism tugs at our hearts.

You see, heroes are the embodiment of values that are important to us. And I believe that somewhere deep inside each of us is the secret desire to be heroic.

Salvationists…do you know that heroism is woven into the fabric of our heritage? In a sense it’s our birthright. The Army that you and I are part of has been passed to us by an incredible group of heroes. Heroism is in our spiritual DNA.

Beyond the well-known adventures and exploits of the Booths, Railton, Brengle, Booth-Tucker, and the like, we have truck-loads of records and accounts from around the world that demonstrate the heroic spirit of Salvationists whose names we likely have never heard of at all.

In their book, Be A Hero, Commissioner Wesley Campbell and Captain Stephen Court include some snapshots from the pages of our history that illustrate exactly what I’m talking about. Like this report sent to the War Cry from Major Wells (whoever he was) – a pioneer Officer in California:

"My heart is cheered. We are making the devil mad. Victory will come! Look
out for some martyrdom here in the near future – it is to come, for sure. Well,
we are saved to die, and don't care much where our bones are buried."

Don’t you love that?! No backing down, no compromising. No running away from the
enemy. Yeah, they’ll likely kill us and throw our bodies into some hole... Whatever...!

Campbell and Court also share this telegram sent from Captain Albert Brice to his Territorial Commander, back in 1887. For whatever reason, Brice was evidently facing life-threatening persecution. But rather than knuckling under to the pressure to quit, he decides to stay the course and keep doing what he was doing letting the results fall where they will. His message to the Commissioner simply said...

“Expecting to go to Glory Wednesday night.”

Albert Brice was actually expecting to die! Clearly, he had settled in his mind that such a possibility was simply part of the potential cost of doing business – the business of reaching those that others thought were unreachable. Mocking, beating, ridicule, scorn, possible death...it was all just part of the deal.

Friends, our history is filled with literally hundreds (thousands?) of these kinds of stories!

I have a small collection of early Army books that help to fuel for my passion. One of my favorites is a late 19th century Orders and Regulations for Field Officers (designated as a “Special Edition” intended “…for the use of Candidates for Officership”).

Part VIII of the book makes for particularly interesting reading as it covers such timely subjects as “How To Deal With Persecution”, “Mobs”, and “Riots” (just the sorts of issues your corps faces, right?). Part VIII also has a section that discusses an officer’s responsibilities to reach and save “Roughs” (criminals / gang members / violent types etc.). Here’s a direct quote from this section:

“Go to them. There are certain parts in every town where they are to be found. You need not be in a neighborhood a single day without knowing their haunts. But what if they kill you? Well, you must die. You have often sung and said that you would. Now, here’s a chance. Make up your mind to the worst; then perhaps he that would lose his life shall save it.” (emphasis added)

Remember, this is from Orders and Regulations!! It’s being put forward as the standard. Heroism is pointed to as the rule, not the exception. In fact it was an expectation! And our history records that many lived up to it. “Salvationism” was practically synonymous with heroism.

Is this still the case, I wonder, or have things changed in our more enlightened day and age?

Tell me…what’s expected of Salvationists where you live? What’s required of the soldiers at your corps? What standard are they held to? Is “just showing up” good enough? Is that all that’s asked or hoped for?

Using our heroic past as a backdrop, it just may be that there’s a message for the soldiers of today’s Salvation Army to be found in the following passage:

Remember those days in the past when you first learned the truth. You had a hard struggle with many sufferings, but you continued strong. Sometimes you were hurt and attacked before crowds of people, and sometimes you shared with those who were being treated that way. You helped the prisoners. You even had joy when all that you owned was taken from you, because you knew you had something better and more lasting.

So do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. Hebrews 10:32-35 (NCV)

Learn from our past. Let it serve as a model. Hold to our heritage of heroism. Count the cost and be bold for Jesus. Allow God to stir and awaken your inner hero!

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot...!

Willis