Social Justice and our role.

I have been thinking about Social justice the past couple of days. Our meeting yesterday afternoon was on the book of Amos. It talks about social justice and what God's people should do about it. I then got this reading from Luke 14 in my devotional e-mail. It says this - Luke 14: 12 - 14 (New Living Translation) 12Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a luncheon or a dinner," he said, "don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. 13Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you."

Before I came to Poplar I had a strange kind of view about doing things within the community for the community. I used to think that I should do these things as a way of getting people saved, but this Bible reading doesn't mention anywhere that you should invite people to a dinner and then present them with the gospel. Jesus wants us to feed them because we can, no hidden agenda's. No clever sales pitch about the kingdom, just food. I like this verse, but I also like the concept of feeding the ones looked down on by society. Our place is with them. But this is an easy thing to talk about here. We have plenty of needy people making themselves known to us. The real challenge for me will be when I leave, and take charge of my own corps. I really hope I don't lose sight of this instruction from Jesus.

Morning Prayers

I led morning prayers today at the local Men's Hostel. The people seemed to enjoy it, and there was record numbers of people attending. There was even talk of having to get more chairs into the chapel there. Hallelujah!

My theme was coming to God, although it did kind of skip around themes, like God is the King of Kings but we can call Him Father. I had an inspiring thought whilst thinking through what to do for prayers. It was this. We may never get an invitation to spend time with Her Majesty the Queen, but we have something far greater than that, and that is we get to spend eternity with the King of Kings.

Preparations.

I realised today that I've got lots to do for the next few weeks. I had to finish planning prayers that I am leading at the local men's hostel tomorrow, prepare a meeting that I'm leading on April 30th, and do study two of my correspondence course. This will keep me busy for the next couple of weeks.

During my time here at Poplar, I've had things easy really. I've not had anything regular to lead. (I led the JAM club for kids at my home Corps) I also have not had many meetings to prepare for and lead here. I think that things will be much busier when I go to college, so I had better get used to it now!

Thoughts from a 29 year old.

It was my 29th birthday on Saturday. I don't want to be 30. I know it's inevitable, but I just see 30 as old. Oh well, you can't stop time from rolling on, and soon enough I will be 30. I will be a Cadet in College, and I'm hoping to keep it quiet although I doubt if I'lll be able to because I get so excited when it's birthday time.

Trophy?

We were singing a well known song today in church, and the words in the chorus made me a little confused. The song was The Old Rugged Cross. The Chorus says:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

The thing that confused me was talk about my trophies. What are my trophies? Maybe they are the things that I think are important to me. I have always taken it to mean that the cross will be held important by me until I die. I would welcome some suggestions on what my trophies might be. After all, I need to know what I'm laying at the feet of Jesus when I die!

The Old Rugged Cross
1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.

4. To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.

Text: George Bennard, 1873-1958 Music: George Bennard, 1873-1958

Living sacrifice

Romans 12: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

I have been thinking about what my response to Jesus dying for me is, or should be, and came up with this Bible reading. As I was thinking about it last night, I realised that sacrifices aren't easy. They are messy, noisy, and smelly. The thing to be sacrificed is not happy about it.Jesus wasn't even particularly happy about sacrificing Himself, but recognised that He needed to so that Gods plan would be fulfilled. So to be a living sacrifice is not easy, or pleasant, but Jesus went through with it, and so in response to that we should.

Song number 512 in The salvation Army song book says this.

1.My life must be Christ's broken bread,
My love his outpoured wine,
A cup o'erfilled, a table spread
Beneath his name and sign.
That other souls, refreshed and fed,
May share his life through mine.

2.My all is in the Master's hands
For him to bless and break;
Beyond the brook his winepress stands
And thence my way I take,
Resolved the whole of love's demands
To give, for his dear sake.

3.Lord, let me share that grace of thine
Wherewith thou didst sustain
The burden of the fruitful vine,
The gift of buried grain.
Who dies with thee, O Word divine,
Shall rise and live again.

Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)

My Weekend

I've had quite an interesting weekend. On Saturday we went to the welcome meeting for General Shaw Clifton. This was a good, ordered affair with everything running smoothly and majority of people wearing their uniforms.

Now I come to Palm Sunday at Poplar. This was far from ordered. Things were planned, it's just that things happened when you didn't expect them to. Like Patrick walking in at the end of the sermon talking loudly about something or other. Then there was the Donkey. He didn't like the music of the band, and wanted to escape. to read Godon's account, go to www.urbanarmy.blogspot.com. this will help you to understand what I'm trying to say.

I enjoyed both of these 'expressions' of Salvation Army worship, and I'm sure that God accepted them both, but if I'm honest, I feel more comfortable being around the Poplar people to being around all the uniforms.

Good News

I've forgotten to mention in my blog that I have been accepted for training as a Salvation Army Officer. I start this September, feel totally unprepared, but relying entirely on God. Thank you to anyone who has been praying for me.

Reluctant to change.

My Mum gave me some disturbing news not long ago. Her Salvation Army (my home corps) is having a new Mercy Seat and platform! Why did this news disturb me? I don't know. After all, I've been left the Corps two years. I guess it all has to do with the fact that this was the Mercy Seat where I knelt and gave my heart to God when I was ten years old. The platform was where I was dedicated, enrolled a Junior Soldier, enrolled a senior soldier, and got married. The funny thing is that my Mum seemed quite happy to get these new items. I guess in my future ministry, when people get upset because I want to change something, I need to remember my own reluctance to change the Mercy Seat and platform.

Holiday Thoughts.

We came back from our holiday yesterday. We more or less spent a week doing nothing, but thinking about what was going on at home. The holiday was at St Ives Cornwall. All week as we travelled around Cornwall visiting different places, I kept singing the song All Things Bright And Beautiful. It's easy to think of God's creation when you are in a place that is so vastly natural, and hardly any modern buildings around, but in London, it takes a bit more looking to discover natural beauty.

Are we Celts?

I have been going to a local Lent series the past two weeks. (I missed the first one because I forgot it was happening!) I learned a lot last night both from the speaker and from our small group discussion. One of the things that came out from the discussion was that the Celts knew that God was already in everything that happened. Now we tend to put God into things. An example I can think of is when we are in our meetings and invite God into the preceedings. God is already there, so it is insulting to say to God "We're here God, come and join us" Or what we usually say is "we ask that you will be here among us at this time of worship". Something we Salvationists have in common with the Celts is our total reliance on God for everything. We hand over everything to Him. Our time, our talents, our money and He takes care of it all for us.

Salvation Army Song Book Number 527

1.
The Saviour of men came to seek and to save
The souls who were lost to the good;
His Spirit was moved for the world which he loved
With the boundless compassion of God.
And still there are fields where the laborers are few,
And still there are souls without bread,
And still eyes that weep where the darkness is deep,
And still straying sheep to be led.

Chorus
Except I am moved with compassion,
How dwelleth thy Spirit in me?
In word and in deed
Burning love is my need;
I know I can find this in thee.

2.
O is not the Christ 'midst the crowd of today
Whose questioning cries do not cease?
And will he not show to the hearts that would know
The things that belong to their peace?
But how shall they hear if the preacher forbear
Or lack in compassionate zeal?
Or how shall hearts move with the Master's own love,
Without his anointing and seal?

3.
It is not with might to establish the right,
Nor yet with the wise to give rest;
The mind cannot show what the heart longs to know
Nor comfort a people distressed.
O Saviour of men,
touch my spirit again,
And grant that thy servant may be
Intense every day,
as I labor and pray,
Both instant and constant for thee.

Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)

Evangelism The Patrick Way.

"I had a good time at church yesterday Madam. Do you go to church?"
"No Patrick I'm not religious, I don't go to church"
"Don't you? Well you should!"

This was a conversation that I overheard at work in the community lounge this week between Patrick (The same Patrick mentioned in Captdoc1 blog and URBANarmy blog) and a lady who comes in for breakfast sometimes. I like Patricks approach, although it wouldn't work for all of us. Another of his conversation's that has stuck in my mind happened last year when I took him in a cafe for a cup of tea on our annual church outing. It goes something along the lines of Patrick saying "Madam, where are you from? We're from The Salvation Army inPoplar." She told him where she was from and he replied "Oh. There's a sale on in Woolworths, have you been there?" Patrick was proud that he goes to The Salvation Army inPoplar, and we're glad that he is part of our community.

The telephone rang today and it was a man wanting accomodation. You can tell when someone has worked themselves up to make a phone call. They launch right into what they are going to say. The problem here was that I work for a Corps and not a hostel so I was totally unable to help. I gave him the number of our local hostel that has recently been refurbished. He put the phone down and I decided that I should check that this was the right number. I discovered that it wasn't! Now though I have the correct number so I can direct people to the right place.

A little later, one of our regular homeless men came in for assistance. He was completely worse for wear. Slurring his words, and looking like he was fighting to get words out. I strongly suspect it wasn't just alcohol he had consumed today. This was another instance where I felt so helpless. I gave him a few tins of food, and just wondered what I could do for him. I ended up offering him a cup of tea which he drank. I didn't know what else to do.

Quiet Women?

I have been reading about The Angel Adjutant tonight. I have read her story before, but it's sometimes good to re-read things. One of the things that I have noticed about her in the first few chapters is that she was a quiet, shy person who was at her best in one to one conversations. Another person who is mentioned in this book is Catherine Booth. Apparently, she was also a shy person at the commencement of her ministry. When you think of Catherine, you think of this confident, outgoing person who is not afraid to speak her mind. After reading this about Catherine, I wonder whether she comes across completely different in her writings, and because I have never met her or sat in on her meetings I just assume that she was this great public preacher and Evangelist. I guess this is one of those questions that I will never know the true answer to until I meet with her in heaven. Although, no offense to her, but I think that she will be the last thing on my mind in heaven!

Hidden Agenda?

I had a really hectic day yesterday. Patrick was on top form showing off to everyone who was watching or listening to him in the Coffee Shop. I also tried to put up a trampoline for the Parent And Toddlers whilst it was quiet in the coffee shop. In the evening I did cooking with two six year olds where I burned the chocolate when I was trying to melt it. All in all it was a busy day! I thought about a blog I had read recently that spoke about two ladies who were the face of The Salvation Army to the people in their town. They didn't have any hidden agenda's, they just did what they could for the people because they loved them. I would like to think that this is the way that I "do mission" in my life. Yesterday, whilst Patrick was showing off, I wasn't thinking about how this could work to get people saved. Or when I burnt the Chocolate I wasn't thinking of any slick ways to turn that into a sermon illustration. It gets me cross when people analyse things too much. I like the simple gospel for the whosever. I like to do things because it's what comes naturally, and pray that it will still be that way even after my training for Salvation Army officership.

Presents.

I was challenged on Sunday about whether I take God's gift of nature for granted. I have to say honestly that I do. This is because I grew up on a housing estate where you could see the hills in the distance and sometimes sheep were grazing on these hills. It just seemed like the normal thing to walk home from school and see these sheep. But now, in the heart of London's East End I have no fields to look upon. No sheep graze in my neighbourhood. Nevertheless, I still see God's beauty here. I see works of grace everyday as I go about my life. I look up to the sky and think how beautiful it is sometimes. I also can see a cross of airoplane vapours occasionally. I always remember at this time that God loves me.

I don't think I wake up every morning thankful that I have woken up, but this is the most simple, but most important gifts that God gives us. I have a photo frame that says on it "every day is a gift, that's why it's called the present"

Groundbreaking News

It's official, I can now fry eggs!!!! This is my newly aquired skill. Whenever I fry eggs in the future I can remember that I learned this skill while I was Community Support Worker at Poplar Salvation Army. Ok, this doesn't sound very exciting to everyone else, but I am really impressed with myself. So impressed that Bramwell had to have a fried egg sandwich for supper last night and another for breakfast this morning!

Holiness

This week I've had my thoughts on holiness challenged. I always thought that holiness was all about your relationship with God, but I now know that is not the whole story on being holy. William Booth said

"What do I mean by a Holy life? It is .... A life fashioned after the life
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Is not such a life desirable?"

I think that William Booth here was talking about the whole of ones life. It sounds strange, but I have never really associated holiness with the way you live your life! I have grown up in The Salvation Army, but don't feel that I have a great deal of knowledge about holiness. How can I have missed such an important part of being a Christian? I'm not saying that I haven't tried to be holy, because I have, but I obviously have not grasped the bigger picture of it all.

Anniversary Present.

Today is my second wedding anniversary, and I would like to give Bramwell an online birthday present, so here you are Bramwell, I am going to link your blog from mine. Happy Anniversary.