What Are You Doing Here?

Sunday (September 13, 2015) was a great day of Celebration Sunday in Asbury Park. The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey became a gigantic Corps Hall. September 13 marked the final summer Sunday morning worship for the season. For many years, the Asbury Park Corps has held forth and invited some of the greatest Army preachers of the day to bring a Holiness Message. I am told that Mrs. Commissioner Swanson took the opportunity to look through the guest speaker register. Surely a tear must have come to her eye when she discovered the signature of Commissioner Andrew S. Miller – her father.

Commissioner Barry Swanson took a very poignant text for this day of celebration and also reflection at the end of the summer. In I Kings 19:9 God asks Elijah a most probing question which has had me musing since. "What are you doing here?" God asks Elijah, and by extension all of us who follow the Lord God. I love to think about the great prophet with all his accomplishments, his loyalty to God, and even his legacy – literally his mantle of power.  But I don't like to think of the depressed, self-involved Elijah. You know, the one who hid in a cave after one of his greatest victories?

I guess it's because the self-involved Elijah is too much like me. We talk a lot about making a difference, about doing work for God, being God’s hands here and now. There are times when God comes quietly to me in my sulking self-made caves. And he asks, "What are you doing here?" He's really not asking a question, but reminding me that I'm not here to 'do' anything to help him.  

In this quiet moment, God comes to remind me why I'm here. Echoing across the ages is Jesus question to Peter: "Peter, Do you love me?" And then comes God's answer to all who follow Him: Simply, "Feed my Sheep." There you have it, Elijah's, Peter's, and our purpose as soldiers of Christ is to be:

"Channels only blessed Master,
But with all thy wondrous power
Flowing through me, thou canst use me
Every day and every hour."

Written by Major Carl E. Carvill
Asbury Park Corps

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Groundhog Day

Well, did he see his shadow? I’m talking about Punxsutawney Phil, who had thousands of people gathered yesterday morning to observe what he would do. According to folklore, if February 2nd is a cloudy day, spring will come early. If it is sunny on this day, when Phil emerges from his burrow and sees his shadow, he returns to his snug nest, and the winter weather will persist for six more weeks. If you live in Staten Island, New York, you will wait for Staten Island Chuck, and if you reside in Cumberland, Maryland, Maryland Murray will determine the next six weeks of weather.

According to Groundhog Day organizers, the rodents' forecasts are accurate 75-90% of the time. However, a Canadian study for 13 cities in the past 30 to 40 years found that the weather patterns predicted on Groundhog Day were only 37% accurate over that time period. According to StormFax Weather Almanac and records kept since 1887, Punxsutawney Phil’s weather predictions have been correct 39% of the time. Based on the law of averages, you and I can do better than that. In reality, the groundhog has shown no talent for predicting the arrival of spring, especially in recent years.

Did you know that February 2nd is also known as Candlemas Day? Candlemas is a Christian holiday, known as the "Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple". It is believed that Jesus’ mother, Mary, presented her son to God at the temple in Jerusalem after observing the traditional 40-day period of purification of mothers, following his birth. Scriptures record that a righteous and devout man named Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit moved Simeon to go to the temple courts, and when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, Simeon took the baby in his arms and declared:

"God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised.
With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation; it’s now out in the open for everyone
to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your
people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32 MSG).

More than 30 years later, Jesus said of himself: "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12 NIV)

This two-fold promise is for everyone who will trust in Christ and accept the salvation He brings. By trusting Him, we need never walk in darkness because His Spirit lives within us, and He is Light. We also have the privilege of reflecting this Light of the World in all the circumstances of our daily lives.

This reflection will bring hope and encouragement to all who see it.

Did the groundhog see his shadow?  It doesn't matter. If we choose to follow Christ, we will walk in the light of God which leads to the everlasting springtime of eternal life.

Written by Gloria Hohn
Asbury Park Corps

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Be a Better Servant

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but I've made one this year, and it's to be a better servant. Not just of the Lord but also of those around me - at work, at home, anywhere I go. In preparation, I asked myself, "What does it look like to be a good servant?"

To answer this question, it's natural that we look to Jesus himself, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45 NIV)

We know the greatness of Jesus' character and how He extends Himself to us through the Holy Spirit. And I hope we know how deep His love is for us, so deep that He took it to the cross. But do we know some practical ways that Jesus served others? We can't die on a cross to save souls, but what are some tangible examples that we can apply to our own lives today?

1. When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. (Matthew 14:13-14 NIV)

We, too, can serve strangers when it's inconvenient, when we don't want to or didn't plan to. Jesus sought some well-deserved alone time and was interrupted by scores of people. Not only did He heal the sick, but He also hung around to help feed five thousand! When interruptions happen in our lives, rather than huffing and puffing (which I admit I do), we can be open to servanthood opportunities.

2. Jesus served women by respecting them and not being condescending when others were - like the story in John 8 of the woman caught in adultery. We, too, can serve both women and men by treating all honorably, regardless of what they've done.

3. Jesus washed His disciples feet in John 13, a filthy task that no one wanted to do. Can you think of a task at work or at home that no one wants to do? Do it!

I think, next holiday season, instead of organizing Secret Santas, we should plot to be Secret Servants. Think of how much fun that would be! Like a game of "Who can do the most good?" A game that can bring victory in our relationship with the Lord.

When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out. (Matthew 6:4 MSG)

When we serve, we not only grow closer to God, we grow to be more like Him!

Servanthood is leadership. When someone serves me, they give me an example of how I can serve others. That example, if I'm turned into it, can lead me to serve.

And what can come of that?

Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 MSG)

The cycle of servanthood to leadership to servanthood changes minds, changes hearts and can change the world.

You might have a new year's resolution of your own, and you don't have to adopt mine, but I would encourage you to consider - How do the people in your life serve you? How can you serve them? How can you serve people whom you've never met?

Written by Elyse Jankowski
Community Relations Associate

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Comfort

Comfort - we all crave it. Commercials advertising comfort repeat hundreds of times. Comfort food, get a relaxing massage for only $49, come sip fancy drinks on our Caribbean cruise. How much is too much? These messages can lead to complacency and an expectation that my comfort is a priority and all that matters in this life. Being comfortable can easily become the status quo. 

Isaiah, the prophet, speaks of another type of comfort. The words recorded in this book of the Bible are often shared at this time of year because they speak about the coming of a Messiah - one who would bring comfort. The type of comfort described in the writings of Isaiah sound a little different than the world's view on comfort.  

Isaiah repeats words describing comfort more than a dozen times throughout his writings.  Isaiah 40, a passage often used during advent, speaks of this comfort: 

1 Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,

11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.

28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 40:1-2a, 11, 28-29 (NIV)

Verse 11 highlights the way God cares for His people. He watches, pulls us close, looks out for those with children, and we are loved. Verses 28-29 reinforce the comfort and care He provides. It never ends - He does not grow tired of caring for us, and there is a special place for the weary and weak in God's kingdom. 

God's view of comfort reminds me clearly of the way he arrived in the flesh. There was nothing comfortable about his birth. A long donkey ride, straw, smelly animals, scrounging for a blanket. Who was told about this arrival? The weak and least of these, simple shepherds tending to their sheep in a field.

In this season, we can become easily distracted, believing comfort can be found in trinkets, relationships or comfort food. Jesus' arrival reminds us of an everlasting comfort that lavishes care, love, and strength on His children. Embrace that comfort this season.

Written by Chip Kelly
Territorial Lay Leader
Development Bureau Director

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Count Your Blessings

In preparation for a garage sale, I recently went through boxes stored in my basement. In one of those boxes, I came across my high school yearbooks. I took a moment to pause and look at my senior portrait. I reminisced a bit about that year and what has transpired since. 

The first thought I had was, "Wow, was I really that young?" I then started thinking about all the places I had been and things I had done since that photo was taken. I realized that while I had one idea of how my life would go, God had another.

I have continued to ponder this over the past few weeks and, while I shouldn't be, I am amazed at how good God's plan for my life has been. I have been blessed beyond measure with a wife who takes me for who I am without judgment and for three wonderful sons who are growing in their relationships with God. Don't get me wrong; I'm not always as positive about what's going on in my life as I am at the moment, but I cling to Exodus 15:2 (NASB) -

"The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will extol Him."

And, when times are especially tough, I remember the chorus of Song #396 in The Salvation Army Songbook (http://bit.ly/1rUmNLp) -

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Perhaps, today, you are struggling with life and feeling overwhelmed. Why not pause, take a breath and count your blessings? It just may surprise you to see what God has done in your life!

Written by Richard Pease
Divisional Controller

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Promoted to Glory

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human need in His name without discrimination. Its structure is para-military. Its clergy are called officers; its members soldiers. Like many other military organizations, much of its terminology is unique to the organization. An example of this is the term, "Promoted to Glory."

Ranks of officers in The Salvation Army are based on years of service. One begins as a Lieutenant; after five years, an officer is "promoted" to the rank of Captain, and, after fifteen years, to the rank of Major. Increased responsibility in leadership may prompt the organization to raise officers to the leadership ranks of Lt.-Colonel, Colonel, and in some cases, Commissioner. Such a promotion would indicate the highest level in Salvation Army service, as the General, who leads The Salvation Army in 126 countries around the world, is elected by his or her peers

There is still another promotion for Salvation Army people, a "promotion to Glory!" This is the term used when a soldier or officer of The Salvation Army dies. It is based on the promises of Scripture which tell us: "No eye has seen, nor ear heard, and no mind has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him." (I Cor. 2: 9); and the Apostle Paul’s witness which is also true for all followers of Christ: "There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (II Timothy 4:8).  This final and special promotion is anticipated with joy.

In recent days, our society has been bombarded with the news of the death of two celebrities; Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. Facebook and Twitter have been overwhelmed with tributes to these two well-known Hollywood personalities. Their chosen paths in life has granted them fame and acclaim. Therefore, their deaths have caused such an overwhelming response.

Another death notice crossed my desk at about the same time as the newspapers and televisions were filling our eyes and ears with every detail of the lives of Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. It was the report of a saintly gentleman, a Salvation Army soldier named Edward Gooding. He had lived 93 years and died quietly in his home in Boston, MA, as he had wanted. With grace and dignity he accepted his final promotion, his "promotion to Glory."

In his younger years, Ed Gooding had served as a foreman for the U.S. Navy, working in the Panama Canal Zone. Having accepted Christ as a young man, he migrated to Boston where he displayed great boldness in reaching out to men and women, boys and girls of the Roxbury section of the city with the Christian message.

"People may say that we are overzealous or aggressive," he explained, "but there is a certain responsibility that comes when we have been chosen as an instrument of God."

Gooding’s aggressive evangelism led to his establishment of Boy Scout, Cub Scout, Girl Guard and Sunbeam troops at the local Salvation Army church in Roxbury. He also formed a youth singing group and a brass band

During the turbulent 60's, Gooding and his wife joined the local chapter of the NAACP. They marched in civil rights demonstrations. Despite the prevailing political climate of that era, Gooding continued to connect with those around him. His personal conviction was evident in all his activities.

Again and again he would tell anyone who would listen: "In the final analysis, God is the answer. Only our love for one another will make a difference." Gooding’s gentle persuasion and his faithful witness brought countless Bostonians to new faith in Christ

On August 30, 2014, Edward Gooding was promoted to Glory from his home. There were no newspaper headlines to inform the world of his passing. No television programs were interrupted to tell us of his death. I read no comments on Facebook of Twitter. But I believe there was great rejoicing in Heaven as Edward Gooding marched through Heaven's gates to claim his well-earned reward.

I don't care if I never get the acclaim of Robin Williams or Joan Rivers at my demise. But I pray every day, that God will help me to be as faithful as Edward Gooding in discharging my responsibility of witnessing to the love of God. That's what will live on beyond my passing, and that's what will help me to hear the same greeting that Ed Gooding received at Heaven's gates: "Come, you who are blessed of my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:33).

Written by Gloria Hohn
Asbury Park Corps

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Not “To Get," but “Because”

God's acceptance is the power that liberates us from sin, not the reward for liberating ourselves. - JD Greear

I recently listened to a seminar on rightnow.com (I recommend this site to anyone wanting to obtain a great resource in ministry) by JD Greear, and he suggested a number of ideas. It was mostly things I agreed with but never had heard them articulated so well. I've always believed that the Gospel was inherently in opposition with the world because its source is not of this world. Meaning often, if not always, its teachings suggest we live and believe the opposite of what we might naturally do!

We say payback, the Gospel says love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. We say stay in the boat, the Gospel says step out!

Our thinking is different.

Consider the initial quote in this post. Too often, we consider the blessings of God as the goal and end result of a life well lived. When in reality, they are the basis for which our lives should be lived. Matthew 6:33 says to seek his righteousness first and 1 John says we ought to love because He first loved us. No longer let us think or see God's gifts as rewards at the end. Let us instead recognize them as the fuel injected into our spirits to power our lives thereafter!

God doesn't merely want our love and obedience. He wants us to desire to love and obey Him! Our relationship is offensive to God if it stems from coercion. He doesn’t want the love of trapped people; rather, He desires the love of the free who willingly submit themselves to Him and live for Him.

What does that look like? I believe this type of love and obedience looks unplanned. There's no scheme or hidden agenda. It is rooted in "because," not in "to get." Imagine if a child did their chores because it was one less thing their parents had to worry about, rather than to get an allowance. Now imagine if we applied this to our relationship with the Lord.

I’d like to challenge us all to live like we are accepted by God and not to get accepted by Him. Let's not pay God with our love, but let us love Him because of the price Jesus paid.

Dear Lord, you died and rose again because you loved us, not to get our allegiance. I pray that we may, in turn, live because we love you and not to get the acceptance already afforded to us by your great sacrifice.

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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The Walking Dead

OMGoodness!!!

The Walking Dead keeps me on edge week to week. Every week, the final 10-12 minutes draw me in as I try to prepare myself for the outcomes. Will Rick become the old Rick? Will Glen's love for Maggie be his downfall? The answers unfold partially before my eyes, and I'm drawn back to the screen next week for those that remain unanswered.

Then there are the Walkers. They are the shadow of human life. Dazed and living life as an instinctual monster. It's a shame really. When you look at them, they have faces because they were people once. Now, they only exist to satisfy their own sick desires. They go from want to want. Left foot then right foot. They drag their lifeless bodies from place to place until eventually they are destroyed.

Luckily, we are not in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, but we have the walking dead around us. Everyday, there are men, women and children who wake up miserable and go to bed feeling even worse. They live broken, hurt and hopeless lives. Living as a poor replica of human life. Dazed and disengaged with the world. When you look into their eyes, you see a human face, often smiling the best smile inner turmoil can buy. They drag themselves from routine to routine until eventually they fade away.

That isn't life, but it's life for so many people.

So many of our brothers, sisters, friends and co workers are subject to this unfulfilling lifestyle. They are the walking dead. They aren't living - they are existing. In the TV show, the dead are destroyed on site in most cases, but the hurt and the suffering these people experience doesn't have to kill them.

It says in Jeremiah 33:6,

"Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security."

God has offered a better solution to the destruction prescribed by the world. He offers healing, prosperity and security. We don't have to broken, poor in spirit or afraid! God loves us all and not from a distance. He isn't a spectator or at ringside. because He is in the fight with us! His offer holds true for anyone that would accept it.

Today, you many know someone who is suffering in a similar fashion. I urge you to offer them this reminder of love so that they may partake in the gifts of God. Perhaps you're reading this, and something resonates within your own spirit. I pray that God is allowed into your heart this moment so that the seeds of life can be planted.

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps

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Spring Has Sprung

The signs of spring are all around me – warming weather (most days), green shoots appearing in the garden, and my beloved New York Yankees are only days away from their 2014 season opener. These signs give me pause to consider the miracle of rebirth that happens so visibly this time of year.

Before moving to New Jersey, I spent several years living in Southern California where I hardly noticed the arrival of spring, as winter in San Diego merely means you don’t get up to 70 degrees. Here, however, winter is evident in the cold days, gloomy skies and inches of snow. So, when I start to see signs of life in the garden, I get impatient for warmer weather and fresh air!

This rebirth of nature also prompts me to consider the rebirth that I have experienced through Christ. I am reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:17 – "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (NLT)

What an incredible promise and transformation; all of my sin and decay has been replaced with new life and righteousness. To me, it is the single most important truth of the Bible, a real, personal relationship with Christ results in a new me!

I am given pause to think about the thousands of people I have encountered in my time with The Salvation Army who have experienced this same rebirth. Whether they are graduates of our Adult Rehabilitation programs, young people who have attended our camps, or volunteers who have packed food boxes, people see Jesus and accept His offer of a new life at the Army. We don’t force it on them; we just live by Biblical principles, and they are drawn to ask why we are different. I think that this is an incredible testimony to the life changing ministry that is and has been since 1865 - The Salvation Army.

Perhaps, today, you are in need of new life. Why not reach out and ask for it? We’re here to guide you to the source. Make this spring be about more than just flowers and baseball; make this spring one of rebirth in your life. When you do, things will never look the same.

Written by Richard Pease
Divisional Controller

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The Slow and the Furious: But and Yet

"This is going to hurt me more than its going to hurt you!"

The phrase heard around the world. No matter what language you speak or the neighborhood you’re from (unless you suffer from affluenza), these words preceded an inevitable form of punishment.

"How can it be?"

How can my pain hurt you, not as much, but more than it hurts me? As a child, this paradox baffled me to my core. It made no sense that the source of my perceived affliction would hurt more than I. As a child, and sometimes even now, my thinking was simple: Up was the opposite of down, there were winners and losers, and there were pain givers and pain receivers. Now, you ask me to believe in a mutual suffering? A mutual suffering that stems from love and anger.

Love. It has caused wars, raised heroes, built nations and caused committed men and women to gladly look death in the eyes and stare back! So has anger. These two great passions can be seen as the seeds from which all great efforts and conflicts grow.

A man will climb and cross mountains to get to the woman he loves. If she were harmed, in anger, he would traverse those same peaks in pursuit of her assailant. A mother would move heaven and earth for her children, yet she will grow angry if they misbehave and discipline them.

In the same way, God would do anything for His people because He loves us. Not unlike the loving mother’s reaction to poorly behaved children, this does not absolve us from the discipline of His love.

I was always taught that whenever you see 'but' in a sentence, the latter often contrast the aforementioned statement, BUT when you see ‘'yet,' a crucial detail is about to be added. In Numbers 14:18, we read:

"The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.

Yet

he does not leave the guilty unpunished"

The Lord loves us, but this love doesn't negate His anger when we exhibit undesirable behavior, yet the discipline is still from a place of love. Love and anger are a two car garage that are attached to the same house. One is a luxury sedan and the other is a four wheel drive SUV. They pull out of the same driveway and onto the same street. The weather or circumstance determine which the driver takes, but they are both intended to get us safely from point A to point B.

God is abounding in love and slow to anger, but that anger isn't rooted is hate. It's rooted in love. He only grows angry because He cares. My fear is not His correction. My fear is when He no longer desires to correct.

Written by Lt. Darell Houseton
Newark Ironbound Corps 

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What Love Looks Like

I am completely and painfully heartbroken.

The past 48 hours have been a whirlwind of tears, hope and despair.

Shaheed was driven down to Monmouth County on Saturday by his friend James and James’ son Tremaine, with the joyful expectancy of starting our documentary film on Sunday afternoon. After some GPS trouble, the trio arrived at my dad and stepmom’s house to a warm welcome. The six of us went out to dinner and had a blast sharing stories and laughs. While James and Tremaine headed back to Essex County, Sha stayed at my parents’ home for the night before joining us at Shore Vineyard Church on Sunday morning.

Sha smiled from ear to ear as countless church family members greeted him, praised his story and encouraged his walk with Christ. When our Pastor Brett Conover gave him a hug and a kiss during worship, my eyes welled up with tears, knowing how much that meant to Sha.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this. I want more.”

Overcome by his contagious grin, my heart softened as I watched a man learn what love looks like.

After church, we set out with my dad to start filming in front of the Neptune house Sha grew up in. Thankfully, this didn’t bother the current owner! As wonderful as the weekend was so far, it became clear that Sha wasn’t quite himself. He looked drained and sickly. When I asked him what was wrong, he hesitated to answer.

“Sha, it’s just me. It’s ok. You can tell me the truth.”

And finally, on the curb of a sun-drenched street, the truth came out. Sha is a heroin addict.

He held his head in shame and admitted to lying about parts of his story. As easy as it would have been to react in anger, I actually grew excited. God had brought a 53-year-old homeless, handicapped, heroin-addicted black man and a 27-year-old none of those things white girl together for a purpose - what we thought was just a short film. Instead, it seemed God had paved the way for Sha’s freedom from addiction. What an honor to play even the smallest role in this!

“I’m ready because you believe in me.”

Not entirely sure what to do next, my dad and I drove Sha to Jersey Shore Medical Center’s Emergency Room, where he remained for two days, detoxing without any medication. Sha’s social worker at the hospital said they don't provide the services he needs. She gave me a list of numbers to call with a warning that he would have to leave the hospital this morning.

I’m quite certain I’ve gone cross-eyed from calling every possible detox/rehab number that I could find statewide. To my sorrow and stress, absolutely no one would admit Sha into a program. Some had several week-long waiting lists, some weren’t handicap-accessible. For one reason or another, it seemed every door was closing, and Sha would end up back on the street. Thank God for my coworkers who saw me crying on numerous occasions today as I sunk into helplessness.

“God, you brought all of this together. Now, we need you to make a way. You must make a way for Sha.”

While I attempted (and failed) to pull myself together at work, my dad and stepmom went to visit Sha at the hospital, only to find him sitting in the parking lot by himself. He had been discharged with nowhere to go.

My parents, who demonstrated heavenly grace throughout the weekend, brought Sha back to their house to clean up as we furiously prayed for a solution. James came up with some ideas, and they fell through. I found two potential leads, and they fell through. I grabbed my tissue box for the umpteenth time today as my phone rang.

“Nan found needles and drugs in Sha’s pocket. We kicked him out of the house.”

My heart sank. I had spent the past two days trying desperately to help a friend who gave me his honest-to-goodness word that he wanted to be clean. And now this.

The police came to my parents’ house to dispose of the drug paraphernalia and decide what to do with Sha. By God’s grace alone, an officer who is “human first” offered to take Sha to the train station and pay for his ticket to wherever, rather than arrest him. And just like that, Sha was gone.

I have no idea where he is. I have no idea if I’ll ever see him again, if he’ll die on the streets or if he’ll stay clean.

This is new territory for me. My emotions have never run this wild for a man who was a stranger only a few weeks ago. A man who has cheated death multiple times and passed on an opportunity for new life. I can only pray that Sha is safe and takes recovery into his own hands. I did everything I could do for him, and even knowing that truth still leaves me broken.

I’ve been saying over the past month that “this is kingdom stuff,” because it is. This is the stuff of faith. I have seen things in my parents this weekend that rival anything I could ever ask of them. I’ve even seen things in myself that scream true transformation. I could not have relentlessly survived this experience without Christ, nor can I get through the days to come without His steadfast love. Sha is in His hands, and I cling to the hope that someday soon, he’ll come home.

Written by Elyse Jankowski
Community Relations Associate

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Meeting Jesus Outside of Rite Aid

Shaheed has one tooth, zero legs and countless stories to tell.

He sits in his wheelchair holding a change cup outside of the Rite Aid on my way to work. Most passersby pay him no mind, myself included, until God called me out.

I stopped into Rite Aid for a few things on a rainy morning and quickly gave him my dismal change while shuffling back to the car. About a week later, I felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart.

“You could have given so much more. Why didn’t you stop and talk to me?”

It was the best wake up call I've received. I packed up my favorite daily breakfast (two pieces of sprouted grain toast with almond butter, flax seeds and banana slices) and prepared to step out in faith.

I sat down on the sidewalk in front of Shaheed and asked for his forgiveness. I apologized for practically ignoring him a week before and asked how he was doing. Gentle and quiet yet cheerfully grateful, he accepted my breakfast and offer of prayer. We held hands, and I prayed a blessing over our new friendship.

That was a week ago. Neither of us could have prepared for what God did today.

This morning, I took my seat at the foot of Shaheed’s wheelchair, and he completely opened up about his life, from being raised by his Seventh-Day Adventist grandparents, to an adolescence of drug abuse and false success before serving in prison, to how he lost his legs (and dreams of pro boxing) in a fatal drive-by shooting - Shaheed was pronounced dead after being in a coma for 11 days. But God wasn't finished with him yet.

He chuckled a bit while explaining that after his recovery, the Holy Spirit started working on his ego, and Shaheed knew that he would have to surrender every part of his being and submit to Jesus. I chuckled when he said, “It actually didn’t hurt as bad as I thought it would!”

As he spoke, a heavenly passion radiated out of him, and I sensed that Shaheed was telling me his story because he longs for it to be known. While making it clear that my intention was not to exploit him, I offered my videography skills. I told Shaheed I would be happy to record his story and share it with the world.

His face lit up.

As we celebrated this opportunity, I suggested we pray together and asked Shaheed to lead. He took my hands in his and gave thanks to God for a new friend who sees him “differently.” I continued in praise after his prayer, and when I opened my eyes, tears were streaming down his face.

In a flood of emotion, Shaheed shared that the woman he considers to be his mother did not speak to him for several years because she was disappointed in him. When they finally reconciled just last week, he promised her that he would tell his story, in the hope of it saving someone’s life. After making the promise, Shaheed wondered how he could fulfill it.

He said that one of his favorite passages in the Bible is Matthew 3:17 when a voice from heaven says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Shaheed yearns to hear his mother say, “Son, job well done.” I believe that when she sees our video, he will hear those words.

We both cried in the realization that God had brought us together for a purpose. I went into Rite Aid to buy a few things (including Shaheed’s favorite orange soda), and when I walked back out, a woman was talking to him.

His face was still in awe of God’s handiwork as he told Maria about our video idea. She also became excited and said the three of us should pray together right away.

I smiled and closed my eyes as Maria transformed into full-on prayer warrior, hands lifted towards the sky. She prayed to cancel Satan’s assignments against us. She prayed for blessing over our lives and plans. She prayed words of praise to Jesus Christ, and I stood with my arms outstretched, delighting in this amazing kingdom moment. What a sight we must have been to see on the busy street!

After spending a total of thirty minutes in conversation with Shaheed and being thoroughly late to work, we decided to pray on our video project over the next week before trying to start it next weekend. We want God’s will to be done – He is the director and producer!

Shaheed requested that we film in Asbury Park, where the home he grew up in still stands, and where many of his memories, good and bad, stem from. The first apartment I lived in as a baby also stands in Ocean Grove, the next town over. I’ve been in Asbury and Ocean Grove the past two weekends and will be again this weekend. I have always felt a divine peace there, and it’s starting to make sense.

For the past two years, I’ve been desperate to discover my calling as a follower of Christ, rarely meditating on the simplicity of joyful (and sometimes nerve-wracking) obedience to His voice. When God has His hand in something, you just know.

I am Shaheed’s answered prayer. And he is mine. 

Written by Elyse Jankowski
Community Relations Associate

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Keep the Faith

"Faith does not minimize difficulties but does magnify God."
-General Bramwell Tillsley
 
How is your faith? Be honest with yourself; sometimes, our faith in God and his will and plans for us are small, while other times, our faith is so overwhelming it bursts from us like a beam from a spotlight. I can attest to that. There have been times in which I didn't want to have faith in anything other than myself; faith in anything else didn’t seem feasible. That is the "I got this" mentality. This seems to happen when great difficulties arise, and we want to be able to control any given situation. In times like these, the last thing we want to do is let go and have faith in something else.

But there are the times of great faith where you know that everything is going to work out with no notion of the alternative. Times when your boldness can inspire others. Times when you know nothing can stand against you. This spectrum of faith is illustrated for us by one man in one biblical account.

Matthew 14:25-33 reads:

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.
"It’s a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Peter embodies the spectrum of faith in this account. After we learn that all of the disciples were afraid, it is Peter who says "Tell me to come to you on the water."

Peter knew the power of the Lord. He knew that if Jesus said the word, anything was possible. He steps out of the boat and walks on water! His faith in Christ's word and his power over creation allowed him to do something only Jesus could do.

But then something happens. His faith is overwhelmed by the things surrounding him. After he sees the winds, fear strikes, overtaking his faith, and he begins to sink. How many are sinking in the world today, just like Peter whose fears consumed the place where faith once stood strong?

Jesus catches and saves Peter from drowning and then says to him, "Why did you doubt?"

This man who had enough faith to ask to walk on the water, enough to get out of the boat, and enough to start walking suddenly lost sight of what his faith could accomplish.

Friends, I don't want you to lose sight of what your faith can do. Don't let the things of this world deter or minimize your faith. Great things can be accomplished if we have the faith to continue moving forward. Don't focus on the winds of this world. Keep your eyes fixed on the glory of God and the sacrifice Jesus made for you. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus tells us that with faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. Imagine what you can do if you have and keep the faith it takes to get out of the boat.

Written by Bramwell Applin
Cadet, College for Officer Training

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Divine Appointments

Every Tuesday at our headquarters office, we have devotions from 11:30am-12:00pm. These very special 30 minutes are spent in prayer, worship and hearing a message from a fellow staff member or officer. I had the pleasure of speaking two weeks ago. Hope this vlog (video blog) blesses you!

-Elyse Jankowski, Community Relations Associate

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Commit to Submit

If Dr. Seuss were to write a book about families, it might begin like this... 

"One kid, two kids, three kids, no kids.

Families Big; Families Small
Families Short; Families Tall
Quiet Families; Loud Families
Crazy families; Serious Families" 

Families come in all shapes and sizes and have all kinds of personalities, and all of us who live for Jesus are members of God's Family.

"Lord, make my family beautiful." That’s a prayer I regularly pray. My prayer means that I want each member of my family to love God more than anyone or anything else. I know that if each of us love God like that, we will act more and more like him and our family will increase in His likeness and characteristics of love, grace, peace, honesty, forgiveness, support and joy. 

I believe that God wants all of us to have beautiful families that reflect Him. I believe that God has the power to make and keep each of our families beautiful. And I believe God wants that for our church family too!

One thing that every family member must do to make and keep their family beautiful is submit to one another. The Bible tells says in Ephesians 5:21, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

This is a direct command of Scripture for every believer. If you are a Christian, you are to submit to God with a motivation that comes out of deep respect and honor for Christ and what he has done for you. This kind of submission is a voluntary attitude of giving in. It is not forced. It is acting in a spirit of cooperation with God. Throughout Scripture, the submissive life is taught:

Luke 22:26 "...the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." 

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Phil 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourself." 

Bryan Wilkerson in his published sermon entitled "In God We Trust" shared this illustration and application about submission... 

"Taylor University is a Christian college in Indiana. Years ago, they were pleased to learn that an African student, Sam, was going to be enrolling in their school. This was before it was commonplace for international students to come to the U.S. to study. He was a bright young man with great promise, and the school felt honored to have him. When he arrived on campus, the President of the University took him on a tour, showing him all the dorms. When the tour was over, the President asked Sam where he would like to live. The young man replied, 'If there is a room that no one wants, give that room to me.' The President turned away in tears. Over the years he had welcomed thousands of Christian men and women to the campus, and none had ever made such a request"

Can you imagine the impact Christians would have on the world if we all submitted like Sam? What if Christians were to say...

If there's a job that no one wants to do, I'll do that job.

If there's a student that no one wants to eat lunch with, I'll eat with him.

If there's a piece of toast that's burnt, let me take that piece.

If there's a parking space that's far away from the church, I'll park in that space.

If there's a service time that's less convenient for me but better for others, I'll worship at that service.

That's the kind of submission that we are talking about. I like the way The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia sums up submission: "The general attitude that is to mark every Christian in relation to God, to other Christians, and to civil authorities is one of readiness to renounce one's will for the sake of the Others."

Jesus gave up heaven for 33 years and came to earth covered in human flesh. He submitted himself to God's plan to become a human sacrifice to take the punishment for our sins. His submission included betrayal by friends, an unlawful trial by authorities, physical torture, humiliation, and separation from God for a period of time.

Jesus knew that his submission was paving the only possible road for sinful men to find their way to God, and he was willing to do whatever God asked of him to make that possible. When Jesus submitted to God's will in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, "...not my will but thine be done," he was saying, "It’s not about me, Lord. It's totally all about you and what you want."

How many of us have included something like that in our prayers recently? Submission is also how God designed the Christian family and the church to function. It is what sets us apart from the world and the world's "It's all about me" attitude. (Ephesians 5:22- 6:9)

The world teaches people to seek first place; Jesus says that the first shall be last.  The world teaches people that they must purchase the latest and greatest gadget; God teaches us that it is better to give than receive. The world teaches people not to associate with the marginalized; Jesus said, "Whatever you have done for the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."

God designed the family and church to function differently than the world! And we cannot obey God and function like the world. It doesn’t work that way. Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this World." (John 19:36)

Christians are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ in every aspect of their lives. In addition, the Bible teaches that submission includes the specific duty of...

Wives submitting to their husband's leadership and wives respecting their husbands.

Of husbands submitting to their wives by loving them with the same tenderness and sacrificial love that Christ showed the church - a love to the death.

Of children submitting to their parents by obeying and honoring them.

Parents submitting to their children by taking the time to train them in the Lord and doing it with the same tenderness, mercy and grace God uses to train us.

Of students submitting to their teachers by respecting them, following their instructions, and working hard on their assignments.

Of teachers submitting to their students by treating them with respect, and not showing favoritism among them.

The body of Christ is made up of different parts. Christ is the head, and each of us is a Holy Spirit-gifted member of the body. The body of Christ consists of teachers, workers, healers, givers, those who show mercy, those who serve, those who preach, leaders, those who prophesy, shepherds and more. Just like our physical body is made up of different parts and all parts are required to work as a team to function well, each part of our church body must submit itself to the other parts of the body to function well. (I Corinthians 12:12-29)

If my brain sends a message to my hand to pick something up, and my hand ignores the message, the work is not accomplished. If my eye tries to start doing the work of my heart, it fails and loses sight of its original function. Have you ever tried to pick something up with your toes? While it is possible to pick some things up with your toes, it takes a lot more time, energy, and concentration to do it. If we as the body of Christ are unwilling to work with one another by submitting to the giftedness that God has given to each of us, we will not accomplish anything for his Kingdom. Submission is the oil that keeps the family and the body of Christ running the way God designed it: in reflection of Him. 

What would a Seuss book about your church family reveal about your level of submission to one another? Submission is not part of our human nature, but it is definitely a mark that the Spirit of God is alive and working in us.

When we commit to submit to one another, we are obeying the Bible, imitating Jesus, and following God's design for our family and church community.

The result is a beautiful family of love, peace, honesty, forgiveness, grace, support and joy. 

When we are not submitting, we're not acting any differently than the world around us and our impact for God is ruined. 

COMMIT TO SUBMIT SURVEY

Ephesians 5:21 

(Directions: Please fill in all the blanks that pertain to you.)

ALL BELIEVERS:  My level of putting the interests of others (without exclusion) above my own interests, on a scale of 1 to 10, is a ______.

CHILDREN:  My level of honor toward my parents and my level of obedience to them, on a scale of 1 to 10, is a ______.

PARENTS:  My level of taking the time to train my children in the Lord and my level of training them with the same tenderness, mercy, and grace God uses to train me, on a scale of 1 to 10, is a ______.

TEACHERS/SUPERVISORS/BOSSES: My level of treating my students/fellow employees/employees with respect and without favoritism, on a scale of 1 to 10, is a ______.

STUDENTS:  My level of following my teacher's instructions and working hard on my assignments, on a scale of 1 to 10, is a ______.

WIVES:  My level of submitting to my husband's headship and my level of respect for him, on a scale of 1 to 10, is a _____.

HUSBANDS:  My level of loving my wife with the same tenderness and sacrificial love that Christ showed to the church, on a scale of 1-10, is a _____. 

As a result of my submission score/scores above, I realize where my commitment to submission stands, and I believe God wants me to...

Written by Major Cheriann Stoops

Asbury Park Corps

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