This blog dedicated to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to the Salvation of the World.
Items here are for encouragement towards salvation, evangelism, holiness, and opportunities for worship and service here at The Salvation Army in Homer Alaska. If visiting we have Sunday school and bible study at 10am Sunday and Holiness Meeting at 11am Sunday. Any questions about anything else call 907.235.2609.
We must be willing to share the Good News to anyone anywhere. by Diane R. Kinney
Thud-thud-thud. The rhythmic sound bounced off the empty Army barracks in the misty, predawn Kansas morning. The men and women of the 49th Ordnance company were out for a morning run.
"Listen up, people," rang out the sergeant's baritone voice. Whenever he started a cadence in that way, we knew that we would be having some fun.
The sergeant started us singing the "Amen" chorus from the movie "Lilies of the Field." (I put the you-tube below in case you haven't heard it)
We hesitated for a second, as we had the battalion chaplain running with us this morning. We did not want to seem disrespectful. We were a well-disciplined team, however, so we sang the cadence.
As we finished, from the back of the formation came a voice: "Keep on singing!" It was the chaplain. So we sang another round. Then he told us to sing a little softer. We did. He told us to continue singing. To a quiet background of "Amen, amen, amen … " the chaplain began to preach. For the next three miles he told of Jesus. I remember thinking that it was a strange place for the gospel.
But as I have come to a greater understanding of Jesus' ministry, I now realize that there is no strange place for the gospel. The Good News of Jesus Christ does not belong just inside the four walls of a church.
The chaplain knew that the gospel needs to be brought to where the people are. Jesus did the same thing. He brought the Good News of salvation to the people, to the marketplace, to the world. He preached on a boat, on a mountaintop, in fields and houses, hilltops and synagogues. Everywhere that Jesus went, he proclaimed the kingdom of heaven.
With those examples, I have learned to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people. I have spoken about the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ to a biker outside a strip club. I have told people about God's love on a merry-go-round, in a grocery store, on airplanes; in Minneapolis, in Amsterdam, in Jerusalem, in New York City. Wherever the people are, I tell them that God loves them. Evangelism is a lifestyle and the gospel has no boundaries.
Diane R. Kinney is staff artist for Decision magazine, and a co-leader for a street-witnessing ministry. She lives in Minneapolis, Minn., and attends Bethany Missionary Church (nondenominational), in Bloomington.
Hello soldiers, friends, and fellow followers of Jesus,
Just a quick update - if you live in Homer, or go to the corps, but are missing out on Wednesday night meal and bible study, you are really missing out on a great time of fellowship and time focusing on the things of God.
We are currently going through a book by Mark Cahill "one thing you can't do in heaven".
Of the praise reports and highlights we had a corps member return from hip surgery, with a walker, a little slower than usual, but didn't want to miss out on the food, fellowship, and time in the word.
We also had one corps member admit that he finally realizes that the only time we loose when sharing our faith is when we say nothing - otherwise it's a win, win, win situation (we either plant a seed, see someone saved, or are rejected for the cause of Christ - 1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.)
My 10 year old daughter realized that when we share the gospel and are mistreated we are in the company of the prophets of God!
Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
Another corps member began to realize that it's not that we "got" to witness, but that we "get" to witness.
As I will be out next week we had a young man offer to lead in my absence (his first time stepping out in faith to "lead" a study) -God is really moving in his life.
All in all a great night, we ended sharing prayer for one another around the table and talking about opportunities to share our faith.
If you live in the Homer area - or are a church member missing out - make time to come by for a meal and study.
The story is told that a national magazine assigned a photographer to take pictures of a forest fire. They told him a small plane would be waiting at the airport to fly him over the fire.
The photographer arrived at the airstrip just an hour before sundown. Sure enough, a small Cessna airplane stood waiting.
He jumped in with his equipment and shouted, "Let's go!" The pilot, a tense-looking man, turned the plane into the wind, and soon they were in the air, though flying erratically.
"Fly over the north side of the fire," said the photographer, "and make several low-level passes."
"Why?" asked the nervous pilot.
"Because I'm going to take pictures!" yelled the photographer. "I'm a photographer, and photographers take pictures."
The pilot replied, "You mean you're not the flight instructor?"
—Source unknown; submitted by Brett Kays to churchlaughs.com
Make sure you trust in no one else than Jesus for your Salvation. Jesus alone saves.
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I just wanted to brag on a young adult who is really striving to share his faith on a new level. He is currently doing some on-line witnessing. Towards the end of our talk he expressed he hoped the conversation of spiritual things wouldn't hurt the friendship, and we agreed (after some honest thought) that a true friend would risk anything to keep another friend out of hell. We also said that although we should try not to be offensive, we must be true to what we believe, and the gospel.
Why don't you risk sharing your faith today, speak to those around you about sin, hell, judgment, heaven, Christ, and salvation. One scenario is you share your faith and then leave it at you are always open to talk if they have questions, until then they are in your prayers, and stay friends. Another scenario is somehow they quit being your friend, but you have told them about the things of eternity and they may someday escape hell and find heaven through Jesus (trust me, they will be your friends there!) One other option is to keep your "surface" level friendship and keep the gospel to yourself - not only will you be disobeying your Lord's command to share the gospel - but your friend may spend eternity in hell (trust me, they will not be your friend if they end up there because you never spoke to them about how Jesus can save them for eternity).
Praise be to God! Soldiers and salvationists are getting motivated to share their faith with their actions and a matching message with their mouth. How are you doing? What friend do you know that you still haven't told about Jesus! Why not talk to them today - online or off.
To listen to Sunday's sermon now, just click the play arrow here for audio or download options.
For a sermon notes "fill in page" and manuscript - see the full size sermon player at the bottom of this page - next to today's title is a PDF of my preaching notes.
For past sermons or podcasting see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page. Choose a message by title OR click the podcasting icon at the bottom of the sermon player.
Do you believe there is freedom in Christ both for eternity and for your daily life! If so the proclaim liberty to all people - tell them about Jesus Christ.
Here are some freedom thoughts from scripture and song book.
Psalm 146 1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. 2 I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them — the LORD, who remains faithful forever. 7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, 8 the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 10 The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Here is how Charles Wesley agreed with the psalmist...
O for a thousand tongues to sing (song 988)
1. O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise; The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of his grace!
2. My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread through all the earth abroad The honors of thy name.
3. Jesus! the name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease; 'Tis music in the sinner's ears; 'Tis life and health and peace.
4. He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood avails for me.
