Jack's Back!

I must confess, I am a 24 addict. It took me a few years to get into 24, but once I started watching it on Netflix, I was hooked. I don’t know if it's the iconic ticking clock or the grittiness of the story, but I can't seem to get enough of Jack Bauer.

And I’m not alone, as the latest ratings show that I was joined by more than 8 million other viewers during the two hour 24: Live Another Day premiere on May 5th. My Monday nights now revolve around what is happening on Fox at 9:00PM, as I don’t want to be left out of the conversation on Tuesday. I need to know how Jack will, once again, save the world from evil terrorists who have no problem making innocent people suffer in an effort to right perceived wrongs.

As I sit in front of my TV mesmerized by the real time activity, I start to identify with Jack and his desire to protect others, even if it means sacrificing himself physically and emotionally. I think this is what makes Jack (and 24) so engaging – the idea that people want to see good prevail even if it means doing something wrong to get the job done. In Jack's case, he has no problem physically threatening a suspect, lying, or even non-fatally shooting a random protester in order to create a diversion. While this makes for good TV, it also reinforces a flawed belief about people – that we are inherently good.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the church in Rome: “For Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23 NLT) You see, the truth is that people are not inherently good, and we don,t all want to do the right thing. If you need proof, just look at children. I know that my three sons have all, at one time or another, exhibited our sinful nature (and if you ask my parents, I did too). A simple question like, "Is your homework done?" will be met with a lie. Why? It's not as if I will punish them; I'll only insist that they get it done. Yet, if my boys want to do something else, they may choose to lie rather than do the assignment. This is our true human nature.

Thankfully, God knows us intimately and loves us limitlessly. He sent His son Jesus to die on a cross for our sin and rise again to conquer death so that we can have a restored relationship with God through our belief in His Son. He declares this clearly in John 3:16: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (NLT) and promises salvation in Romans 10:9: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (NLT)

While Jack Bauer may live another day on Fox, we have the opportunity to live every day through Christ. And while Jack is only around for a 12-episode special event, Jesus is here for eternity. Why not consider putting your life in the hands of the Saviour?

Written by Richard Pease
Divisional Controller

Read More

A Life Formatted for God

As a tech in The Salvation Army, it is best practice to use a disk drive or an external drive that has been formatted. By having the drive formatted, it will reduce the risk of infected files or corruption on the drive. Any time you work with something that is used and has current applications or software, it is best to format first. This will reduce any incompatibilities or current applications and software that are not needed. The assurance of having a formatted drive rules out and eliminates the possibilities of failure.

The Bible (God's Word) speaks concerning how difficult it would be to put something new into or onto something that has been used. In Matthew 9:17, it reads: "Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

I like what the last phrase of v17 says: "both are preserved." God's assignment is to assure both are preserved – HIS word and His people. That's why the scripture points out the story of Nicodemus in John 3:3. In reply, Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again (formatted)."

The Lord Jesus wants to format you that you can receive the Word of what the Father has spoken, concerning Jesus and your relationship with HIM. It's hard to rewrite over an application or program. The possibilities of failure are imminent! The Lord Jesus wants to give you a fresh start and a new beginning with him.

Let's not operate any longer on Windows 98 or XP. There is a new operating system that has worked out all the glitches (sin) and the blue screen (death). Jesus repaired both, and to receive his operating system (Holy Spirit), we must be formatted. It's amazing that the root word of format is form, and God the Father can do just that! Will you open your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, repent (turn away) from your sins, invite HIM into your heart, and let the formatting begin? God Bless you!

Terrell Curry
IT Service Desk

Read More

Keepin' it Real

Have you ever known someone who prides themselves on keepin' it real? This may mean different things to different people, but to me, someone who is keepin' it real calls it exactly as they see it. No punches pulled - it may not be what you want to hear, but at least you know what they really think and feel.

Jesus was all about keepin' it real. In Matthew 19:16-30, He was talking with someone who is described as a young man. This young man asked Jesus what "good" things he must do to ensure eternal life. Jesus is real in saying, "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments."

Boom. Right away, Jesus tell this man exactly what he needs to do - no ifs, ands or buts about it. After asking which commandments, the man says he has kept them all and asks if there is anything else he must do. So, Jesus is blunt: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." He kept it real.

This was too real for the young man. He went away sad because the Bible says he had great wealth. This young man let his stuff, his possessions, get between him and the Lord of all creation and eternal life. When Christ was real with him, the solution he was seeking hit a little too close to home.

Let me keep it real. Is something holding you back from going all in to follow Jesus? The crazy part is you don’t even have to sell all of your possessions. You don’t have to leave your home. You just have to ask for forgiveness from your sin (keepin' it real - we are all sinners), and take up your cross and follow Him. And while you may not have to give up your worldly possessions, you will have to give up the things of this world steeped in sinful nature. But -real talk- isn’t eternal life worth it?

Written by Bramwell Applin
Community Relations Manager

Read More

A Vision of the Lost

Written by William Booth

 

On one of my recent journeys, as I gazed from the coach window, I was led into a train of thought concerning the condition of the multitudes around me. They were living carelessly in the most open and shameless rebellion against God, without a thought for their eternal welfare. As I looked out of the window, I seemed to see them all... millions of people all around me given up to their drink and their pleasure, their dancing and their music, their business and their anxieties, their politics and their troubles. Ignorant- willfully ignorant in many cases- and in other instances knowing all about the truth and not caring at all. But all of them, the whole mass of them, sweeping on and up in their blasphemies and devilries to the Throne of God. While my mind was thus engaged, I had a vision.

I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightening flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again.

In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.

And I saw out of this dark angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with it’s summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this great rock I saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, I saw with delight a number of the poor struggling, drowning wretches continually climbing out of the angry ocean. And I saw that a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping the poor creatures still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety.

On looking more closely I found a number of those who had been rescued, industriously working and scheming by ladders, ropes, boats and other means more effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of the sea. Here and there were some who actually jumped into the water, regardless of the consequences in their passion to "rescue the perishing." And I hardly know which gladdened me the most- the sight of the poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks reaching a place of safety, or the devotion and self-sacrifice of those whose whole being was wrapped up in the effort for their deliverance.

As I looked on, I saw that the occupants of that platform were quite a mixed company. That is, they were divided into different "sets" or classes, and they occupied themselves with different pleasures and employments. But only a very few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea.

But what puzzled me most was the fact that though all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean, nearly everyone seemed to have forgotten all about it. Anyway, it seemed the memory of its darkness and danger no longer troubled them at all. And what seemed equally strange and perplexing to me was that these people did not even seem to have any care- that is any agonizing care- about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning right before their very eyes... many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and even their own children.

Now this astonishing unconcern could not have been the result of ignorance or lack of knowledge, because they lived right there in full sight of it all and even talked about it sometimes. Many even went regularly to hear lectures and sermons in which the awful state of these poor drowning creatures was described.

I have always said that the occupants of this platform were engaged in different pursuits and pastimes. Some of them were absorbed day and night in trading and business in order to make gain, storing up their savings in boxes, safes and the like.

Many spent their time in amusing themselves with growing flowers on the side of the rock, others in painting pieces of cloth or in playing music, or in dressing themselves up in different styles and walking about to be admired. Some occupied themselves chiefly in eating and drinking, others were taken up with arguing about the poor drowning creatures that had already been rescued.

But the thing to me that seemed the most amazing was that those on the platform to whom He called, who heard His voice and felt that they ought to obey it- at least they said they did- those who confessed to love Him much were in full sympathy with Him in the task He had undertaken- who worshipped Him or who professed to do so- were so taken up with their trades and professions, their money saving and pleasures, their families and circles, their religions and arguments about it, and their preparation for going to the mainland, that they did not listen to the cry that came to them from this Wonderful Being who had Himself gone down into the sea. Anyway, if they heard it they did not heed it. They did not care. And so the multitude went on right before them struggling and shrieking and drowning in the darkness.

And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision. I saw that some of these people on the platform whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them!

Some wanted Him to come and stay with them, and spend His time and strength in making them happier. Others wanted Him to come and take away various doubts and misgivings they had concerning the truth of some letters He had written them. Some wanted Him to come and make them feel more secure on the rock- so secure that they would be quite sure that they should never slip off again into the ocean. Numbers of others wanted Him to make them feel quite certain that they would really get off the rock and onto the mainland someday: because as a matter of fact, it was well known that some had walked so carelessly as to loose their footing, and had fallen back again into the stormy waters.

So these people used to meet and get up as high on the rock as they could, and looking towards the mainland (where they thought the Great Being was) they would cry out, "Come to us! Come and help us!" And all the while He was down (by His Spirit) among the poor struggling, drowning creatures in the angry deep, with His arms around them trying to drag them out, and looking up- oh! so longingly but all in vain- to those on the rock, crying to them with His voice all hoarse from calling, "Come to Me! Come, and help Me!

And then I understood it all. It was plain enough. The sea was the ocean of life- the sea of real, actual human existence. That lightening was the gleaming of piercing truth coming from Jehovah’s Throne. That thunder was the distant echoing of the wrath of God. Those multitudes of people shrieking, struggling and agonizing in the stormy sea, was the thousands and thousands of poor harlots and harlot-makers, of drunkards and drunkard makers, of thieves, liars, blasphemers and ungodly people of every kindred, tongue and nation.

Oh what a black sea it was! And oh, what multitudes of rich and poor, ignorant and educated were there. They were all so unalike in their outward circumstances and conditions, yet all alike in one thing- all sinners before God- all held by, and holding onto, some iniquity, fascinated by some idol, the slaves of some devilish lust, and ruled by the foul fiend from the bottomless pit!

"All alike in one thing?" No, all alike in two things- not only the same in their wickedness but, unless rescued, the same in their sinking, sinking... down, down, down... to the same terrible doom. That great sheltering rock represented Calvary, the place where Jesus had died for them. And the people on it were those who had been rescued. The way they used their energies, gifts and time represented the occupations and amusements of those who professed to be saved from sin and hell- followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The handful of fierce, determined ones, who were risking their own lives in saving the perishing were true soldiers of the cross of Jesus. That Mighty Being who was calling to them from the midst of the angry waters was the Son of God, "the same yesterday, today and forever" who is still struggling and interceding to save the dying multitudes about us from this terrible doom of damnation, and whose voice can be heard above the music, machinery, and noise of life, calling on the rescued to come and help Him save the world.

My friends in Christ, you are rescued from the waters, you are on the rock, He is in the dark sea calling on you to come to Him and help Him. Will you go? Look for yourselves. The surging sea of life, crowded with perishing multitudes rolls up to the very spot on which you stand. Leaving the vision, I now come to speak of the fact- a fact that is as real as the Bible, as real as the Christ who hung upon the cross, as real as the judgment day will be, and as real as the heaven and hell that will follow it.

Look! Don’t be deceived by appearances- men and things are not what they seem. All who are not on the rock are in the sea! Look at them from the standpoint of the great White Throne, and what a sight you have! Jesus Christ, the Son of God is, through His Spirit, in the midst of this dying multitude, struggling to save them. And He is calling on you to jump into the sea- to go right away to His side and help Him in the holy strife. Will you jump? That is, will you go to His feet and place yourself absolutely at His disposal?

A young Christian once came to me, and told me that for some time she had been giving the Lord her profession and prayers and money, but now she wanted to give Him her life. She wanted to go right into the fight. In other words, she wanted to go to His assistance in the sea. As when a man from the shore, seeing another struggling in the water, takes off those outer garments that would hinder his efforts and leaps to the rescue, so will you who still linger on the bank, thinking and singing and praying about the poor perishing souls, lay aside your shame, your pride, your cares about other people’s opinions, your love of ease and all the selfish loves that have kept you back for so long, and rush to the rescue of this multitude of dying men and women.

Does the surging sea look dark and dangerous? Unquestionably it is so. There is no doubt that the leap for you, as for everyone who takes it, means difficulty and scorn and suffering. For you it may mean more than this. It may mean death. He who beckons you from the sea however, knows what it will mean - and knowing, He still calls to you and bids to you to come.

You must do it! You cannot hold back. You have enjoyed yourself in Christianity long enough. You have had pleasant feelings, pleasant songs, pleasant meetings, pleasant prospects. There has been much of human happiness, much clapping of hands and shouting of praises- very much of heaven on earth.

Now then, go to God and tell Him you are prepared as much as necessary to turn your back upon it all, and that you are willing to spend the rest of your days struggling in the midst of these perishing multitudes, whatever it may cost you.

You must do it. With the light that is now broken in upon your mind and the call that is now sounding in your ears, and the beckoning hands that are now before your eyes, you have no alternative. To go down among the perishing crowds is your duty. Your happiness from now on will consist in sharing their misery, your ease in sharing their pain, your crown in helping them to bear their cross, and your heaven in going into the very jaws of hell to rescue them.

 

Read More

Keep Calm, and I'll Fight

A very popular image being used on posters all over the world is that of a crown with the phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On" written underneath it. This phrase was coined by an unknown civil servant to be a moral boost to citizens of the United Kingdom during the perils of World War II.

Like our friends in England during the Second World War, we too are under siege. The difference is while the British were being bombed, we are at war with sin and hell. Knowing this way back in 1912, General William Booth is reported to have given his famous "I'll Fight" speech.
 
"While women weep as they do now, I'll fight. While little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight. While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, I'll fight. While there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight. I'll fight to the very end!"

Society is changing. Sin is now seen as acceptable. People are justifying sin as a part of society and believe that as society changes, what God views as sin changes along with it. I must emphatically disagree. Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the LORD, I do not change." Not convinced? How about Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." God's word, God's views, God's love, God's will NEVER changes because God himself never changes. He is perfection, as is his will and his law.

Society is not going to get better without some fighting. Not physical fighting, but true engagement in spiritual warfare. This may scare you. People are afraid to send their children to school, to go to the movies, and even leave their homes let alone engage their secular friends in conversations for Christ. But I have a message for the timid: Keep calm, and I'll fight. I'm not alone in this. The Salvation Army is full of fighters on the streets you wouldn't want to walk down, in the neighborhoods you're afraid to drive through...Where there seems to be no hope, no light, we will fight.

The message is for today's society and future generations. As the chaos of this world consumes you, I'll fight. As sin guides you in your views, I'll fight. While there remains one soul reaching out for the redeeming blood of Jesus, I'll fight. So, everyone just Keep Calm, and I’ll Fight.

Written by Bramwell Applin
Community Relations Manager

Read More

One Year with Christ: Lessons Learned and What Has Changed

This morning, I heard birds chirping for the first time since moving into my apartment in September. You know what that means - Spring is right around the corner, so summer will soon follow! This July will mark two years since I became a Christian. As a "newbie" to faith, I've been keeping track of Jesus' transforming work in my life and was just reminded of a "first year recap" I wrote last summer. Whether you're a new Christian like me or have been walking with Christ for years, see if you can identify with the lessons I've learned. How has the Lord changed you?

Top 3 Lessons Learned

1. Following Christ doesn't mean life gets easier

I started reading the Bible "backwards," meaning New Testament first. I was really excited to learn about who Jesus is and what he did during his time here on Earth. In the four Gospels, I read about Jesus' miracles and healings and thought, "Alright! Sign me up. I could use a miracle in my life!"

Pretty quickly, I learned there’s a lot more to it! In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Deny myself? That doesn't sound fun, and for me, it means to put aside my selfish wants and desires, most of which would be considered "worldly" – like money and clothes – things that the world tells us we should want because they're supposed keys to fulfillment. Spoiler alert: They're not! In reality, placing my heart on Christ instead of trying to please myself with nonsense is the true key to fulfillment. He is my joy, not the world and not myself.

Taking up my cross is Jesus' way of flat-out saying, "This ain’t gonna be easy." It's also a reminder of the cross of Christ, his crucifixion, and how any suffering I endure as a result of following him will be nowhere near as agonizing as what he experienced to save me.

While following Jesus is a tough road that I inevitably wander off of, I'm thankful that he always welcomes me back.


2. I don't have to live in shame or fear

Over the past year, I've learned that I live in shame and fear a lot. Shame from bad decisions I've made, like hurting people, and fear of the future – Will I get that new job? Can I afford that apartment? What if all my plans don't work out?

In the past, those feelings would really eat away at me. I'd go through days, sometimes weeks, of self-loathing, depression and anxiety. I didn't know that there was a God who would take all of that away from me.

In my small group, we started reading 1 John, and 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Now, because I'm walking with Christ, I know that when I start to feel guilty about something, I can and should immediately bring it to him rather than let shame eat away at me. There is power in repentance. When I release a sin to Jesus in prayer, it's like a weight has been lifted off me. I can't describe the incredible feeling of freedom, but I can recommend that you seek it from him!

As far as fear, I really love Psalm 56:3-4, which says, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?"

When I start to feel shame or get scared of something, God invites me to come to him. Trusting him means knowing that fear has no hold on me. Like the Psalmist said, "What can flesh do to me?" What can I be afraid of when I have the Lord on my side? Nothing! There is also power in peace, which I always find when I release my fears to God.


3. Christianity isn't just about what you do; it’s about why you do it

What I mean by this lesson is that life with Christ isn't just about the good work or deeds you do; it's about being guided by your faith in him.

James 2:14:18 says, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."

When you're Christian, there's a relationship between deeds and faith. Before knowing Christ, I certainly did some good deeds, but I usually did them for the wrong reason – to inflate myself, to make myself look good. But doing good works with faith gives God the glory he deserves. Taking the spotlight off me and shining it on him not only opens people's hearts to the grace of God, it helps cultivate the relationship I have with him. 


What Has Changed

1. How I think

Before learning about Jesus, I used to think that some sins, like cursing and gossiping, were totally ok to do. In most cases, everyone else around me was doing them. But let me be clear – I am not placing blame on my friends or anyone else for decisions I’ve made. Because I deemed those things acceptable, my actions followed.

If I got in an argument with someone, I would use derogatory names and curse words to put them down. 1 Peter 3:10-12 says, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech."

I didn't keep my tongue from evil because I just didn't care. I didn't see cursing at someone as a bad thing because it made me feel like a stronger person in that moment. Now, I try to keep my lips at bay and think before I speak. I have no right to tear anyone down and inflate myself.

Which brings me to gossip. Ladies, you know how women can be. And gentlemen, this doesn't mean you're off the hook either! When people around you start gossiping about someone, it's really easy to jump in, right? When I used to gossip (and I still struggle with this!), I would feel a false sense of joy from talking bad about someone. It made me feel better about myself, and it made me feel like I was more of a friend to the person or people also gossiping.

James 4:11 says, "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it."

This verse is saying that if we speak ill of someone, we're also speaking ill of God and disobeying his command to love. Being a Christian, I want to show obedience to God in every way, including trying to not gossip, because I love and respect him and thus should love and respect everyone he's created.

Now that I've been a Christian for a year, I recognize sin as sin – thoughts and actions that separate me from God – and I make conscious efforts to stop myself from engaging in them.


2. How I feel

I used to feel like life was all about me. Now, I feel God working in me daily to pull me out of my selfish desires. That's not to say I never give into selfishness, because I still do! But I know and feel that my life is to be lived for him, not for me.

I also feel pain from following Christ (which he tells us to expect) because I care about people more than I ever have. And when you're vulnerable with your heart, you can get hurt. I need to remember to put my faith in God and not in people, because we will inevitably let each other down, intentionally or unintentionally. But I know that Jesus will never let me down.


3. How I act

I would have never chosen to use 3-4 days a week to serve and spend time with others before knowing Christ's love. My time was MY time, and I spent it doing what I wanted to do. Now, what I want to do is serve, because I see the blessings that come from it.

In conclusion, following Christ over the past year has profoundly changed who I am and how I relate to other people. It's important to note that as much as I try to run from sin, I am still a sinner. But before knowing God's love, I was just that. Now, I'm a sinner redeemed. I am blessed, loved, chosen, forgiven and free. I can't tell you how incredible that feels, but I can encourage you to discover it for yourself in Jesus!

Written by Elyse Jankowski
Community Relations Associate

Read More