Generalisations - Quote from "Officer Magazine"

This first quote from our founder General William Booth...

"It is a charge brought against us by some that we make a hobby of the subject of holiness - that like Paganini with his violin, we are always fiddling on one string. If it were so, I suppose he would have replied, or someone like him, that he was able to bring more music out of his one string than his rivals could bring out of their four. And if it is true that are too frequently engaged on this one topic, I think there are a good many who can bear witness that there has been brought out of it - some music wonderfully enthralling, which music has been make a wonderful blessing to them, and to many who are round about them. But I take exception to the correctness of this charge. I say, varying the figure, we re running our 'Hallelujah Express' to Heaven not on one line, but on three. The first line of these rails we call pardon, and I am sure we very often talk about that. The second we term purity - a clean heart, with a clean life. The third term is sacrifice."

Tell someone of about pardon, purity, and sacrificial living today.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Today, just quote from the Founder - William Booth

Salvationists, soldiers, and officers... listen to this evangelism plan of our Founder General William Booth...

The leader of the Salvation Army wished he could suspend each one of his Salvation Army officers over hell for 24 hours.

He said, "If they could see the flames and smell the smoke and feel the heat and hear the cries of the damned, they would go out to preach what they had seen and heard. They would then preach like dying men to dying people."

Share the gospel with someone today - eternity is at stake.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Send the Fire

A song for your prayerful meditation today - written by our Founder, William Booth.

Songbook song 203 "Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame"

1.Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame, Send the fire!
Thy blood-bought gift today we claim, Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host,
Give us the promised Holy Ghost,
We want another Pentecost, Send the fire!

2.God of Elijah, hear our cry: Send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die, Send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin, Send the fire!

3.'Tis fire we want, for fire we plead, Send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need, Send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right,
For grace to conquer in the fight.
For power to walk the world in white, Send the fire!

4.To make our weak hearts strong and brave, Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save, Send the fire!
O see us on thy altar lay
Our lives, our all, this very day,
To crown the offering now we pray, Send the fire!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Quote from William Booth...

Today I just have a quote from William Booth and a question from our Wednesday Night study on evangelism (we're working through Mark Cahill's book "One thing you can't do in heaven").

William Booth said (speaking about the call to evangelise)... "Not called!" did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world.

Mark Cahill's Action Item... This week, either "look Christ in the face" and tell Him you will refuse to obey His call, or commit in your heart to follow Him and bring His good news to the lost. If you choose the latter, know that He will help you every step of the way.

Jesus said, "follow me and I will make you fishers of men".... so if you aren't fishing, you aren't following.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Soul winning and the Holy Spirit- a letter from William Booth

Hello soldiers, friends, and fellow followers of Jesus, .

Just going through some readings that always encourage me and I saw this... it is still every bit as true as when the Founder of God's great Salvation Army wrote it to his troops back in 1869... read it, believe it, seek it, and be blessed.....
---------

To the Brethren and Sisters Labouring for JESUS
by General William Booth
letter, published in The East London Evangelist , 1 April 1869
in connection with the Dunedin Hall Christian Mission, Edinburgh

BELOVED FRIENDS Though I have not been privileged to see you in the flesh, yet I have heard with great thankfulness from time to time of your work of faith and labour of love: and I rejoice greatly in the abundant blessing granted to your labours, and bless God for every brand plucked from the everlasting through your instrumentality. I earnestly pray that you may be made a hundredfold more useful in the future than you have been in the past. The work in which you are engaged is the most important that can engage the attention or call forth the energies of any being...

Success in soul-winning, like all other work, both human and divine, depends on certain conditions... If you want to succeed you must be careful to comply with these conditions...

I desire to give a few brief practical hints...And, first and foremost, I commend one qualification which seems to involve all others. That is, the Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost. I would have you settle it in your souls for ever this one great immutable principle in the economy of grace, that spiritual work can only be done by those who possess spiritual power. No matter what else you may lack, or what may be against you, with the Holy Ghost you will succeed; but without the Holy Spirit, no matter what else you may possess, you will utterly and eternally fail.

Many make mistakes here. Aroused by the inward urgings of the Holy Spirit, they endeavour to comply with the call which comes from the word and the necessities of their fellow men; but being destitute of this power, they fail, and instead of going to the Strong for strength, they give up in despair. Again aroused, again they resolve and venture forth, but having no more power than before, they are as impotent as ever. And fail they must, until baptised with power from on high.

This I am convinced, is the one great need of the Church. We want no new truths, agencies, means, or appliances. We only want more of the fire of the Holy Ghost. ...

O what zeal, what self-denial, what meekness, what boldness, what holiness, what love, would there not be? And with all this, what power for your great work? The whole city would feel it. God's people in every direction would catch the fire, and sinners would fall on every side. Difficulties would vanish, devils be conquered, infidels believe, and the glory of God be displayed...

You do desire to see signs and wonders wrought in the name of Jesus. To see a great awakening among the careless crowds around you....

This baptism then, is your first great need. If you think with me, will you not tarry for it? Offer yourselves to God for the fullness. Lay aside every weight...

Hold on! Though your feelings are barren, your way dark, and your difficulties be multiplied, steadily hang on the word of God.

Expect the baptism every hour; wait if he tarry. 'This kind goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting'; and the Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to his temple.

I have more to say to you, but must wait another opportunity. Yours in the fellowship of the Gospel.

WILLIAM BOOTH
--------------
Live holy, preach Jesus!

William Booths 6 resolutions for "daily rations"

At age 20 William Booth wrote down these 6 resolutions for his "devotional time".

1. That I will rise every morning sufficiently early to wash, dress, and have a few minutes, not less than 5, in private prayer.

2. That I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk in which I have lately so sinfully indulged.

3. That I will endeavor in my conduct and deportment before the world and my fellow servants especially to conduct myself as a humble, meek and zealous follower of Christ, and be serious conversation and warning endeavor to lead them to think of their immortal souls.

4. That I will read no less than for chapters in God's Word every day.

5. That I will strive to live closer to God, and to seek after holiness of heart and leave providential events with God.

6. That I will read over this every day or at least twice a week.

"God help me, enable me to cultivate a spirit of self-denial and to yield myself a prisoner of love tot he redeemer of the world." ... ... " I feel my own weakness, and without God's help I shall not keep these resolutions. The Lord have mercy upon my guilty soul."
------

Make sure you spend time with God today.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

11 Questions for weekly self-examination of the soul

These 11 Questions came from William Booth - the material is from "Chosen to be a soldier" Orders and Regulations for Soldiers of The Salvation Army 1977 (p17-18)

1. Am I habitually guilty of any known sin? Do I practice or allow myself any thought, word, or deed that I know to be wrong?

2. Am I so the master of my bodily appetites as to have no condemnation? Do I allow myself any indulgence that is injurious to my holiness, growth in knowledge, obedience, or usefulness?

3. Are my thoughts and feelings such that I should not be ashamed to hear them published before God?

4. Does the influence of the world cause me to do or say things that are unlike Christ?

5. Do my tempters cause me to act, or feel, or say things that I see afterward are contrary to that love that I ought to (show) always to those about me?

6. Am I doing all in my power for the salvation of sinners? Do I feel concern about their danger and pray and work for their salvation as if they were my children?

7. Am I fulfilling the vows I have made to God in my acts of consecration or at the penitent-form?

8. Is my example in harmony with my profession?

9. Am I conscious of any pride or haughtiness in my manner or bearing?

10. Do I conform to the fashions and customs of the world, or do I show that I despise them?

11. Am I in danger of being carried away with worldly desire to be rich or admired?

Ask yourself some hard questions today....

Live holy, preach Jesus!

William Booth's vision for the lost...

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Good advice on giving even during hard economic times

Studying and thinking about giving, serving, and finances I was reminded of these profound concepts written by Willaim Booth and John Wesley, that might just still apply today. Maybe it's still worth mentioning to rich and poor alike.

"I give one rule for every head of every home, whether rich or poor, and that is - keep your expenditure a little below your income and cut your coat according to your cloth." — William Booth

"Earn all you can, Save all you can, Give all you can" - John Wesley

"Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as you can." - John Wesley

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Evangelism Quotes

"Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you 'go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin." Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there." - William Booth

We can’t all witness the same way, but we can all witness some way.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Captain's meditation on evangelism & Proverbs 21:11-12

William Booth (founder of The Salvation Army)…"Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you 'go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin." Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there."

William Booth also said... “I do not want another ecclesiastical corps cumbering the earth. When The Salvation Army ceases to be a militant body of red hot men and women whose supreme business is the saving of souls, I hope it will vanish utterly.”

Charles Spurgeon said… If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned or unprayed for.

Catherine Booth... "You are not here in the world for yourself. You have been sent here for others. The world is waiting for you!"

In Proverbs 24:11 – 12 we read... Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Live holy, preach Jesus!

A letter from General Willaim Booth April 1, 1869

To the Brethren and Sisters Labouring for JESUS - by General William Booth
letter, published in The East London Evangelist , 1 April 1869
in connection with the Dunedin Hall Christian Mission, Edinburgh

BELOVED FRIENDS Though I have not been privileged to see you in the flesh, yet I have heard with great thankfulness from time to time of your work of faith and labour of love: and I rejoice greatly in the abundant blessing granted to your labours, and bless God for every brand plucked from the everlasting through your instrumentality. I earnestly pray that you may be made a hundredfold more useful in the future than you have been in the past. The work in which you are engaged is the most important that can engage the attention or call forth the energies of any being...

Success in soulwinning, like all other work, both human and divine, depends on certain conditions...

If you want to succeed you must be careful to comply with these conditions...

I desire to give a few brief practical hints...And, first and foremost, I commend one qualification which seems to involve all others. That is, the Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost. I would have you settle it in your souls for ever this one great immutable principle in the economy of grace, that spiritual work can only be done by those who possess spiritual power. No matter what else you may lack, or what may be against you, with the Holy Ghost you will succeed; but without the Holy Spirit, no matter what else you may possess, you will utterly and eternally fail.

Many make mistakes here. Aroused by the inward urgings of the Holy Spirit, they endeavour to comply with the call which comes from the word and the necessities of their fellow men; but being destitute of this power, they fail, and instead of going to the Strong for strength, they give up in despair. Again aroused, again they resolve and venture forth, but having no more power than before, they are as impotent as ever. And fail they must, until baptised with power from on high.

This I am convinced, is the one great need of the Church. We want no new truths, agencies, means, or appliances. We only want more of the fire of the Holy Ghost. ...

O what zeal, what selfdenial, what meekness, what boldness, what holiness, what love, would there not be? And with all this, what power for your great work? The whole city would feel it. God's people in every direction would catch the fire, and sinners would fall on every side. Difficulties would vanish, devils be conquered, infidels believe, and the glory of God be displayed...

You do desire to see signs and wonders wrought in the name of Jesus. To see a great awakening among the careless crowds around you....

This baptism then, is your first great need. If you think with me, will you not tarry for it? Offer yourselves to God for the fullness. Lay aside every weight...

Hold on! Though your feelings are barren, your way dark, and your difficulties be multiplied,steadily hang on the word of God.

Expect the baptism every hour; wait if he tarry. 'This kind goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting'; and the Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to his temple.

I have more to say to you, but must wait another opportunity. Yours in the fellowship of the Gospel. WILLIAM BOOTH

Live holy, preach Jesus!

6 Resolutions by Willaim Booth (at age 20)

1. That I will rise every morning sufficiently early to wash, dress, and
have a few minutes, not less than 5, in private prayer.

2. That I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk
in which I have lately so sinfully indulged.

3. That I will endeavor in my conduct and deportment before the
world and my fellow servants especially to conduct myself as a
humble, meek and zealous follower of Christ, and by serious
conversation and warning endeavor to lead them to think of their
immortal souls.

4. That I will read no less than four chapters in God’s Word every
day.

5. That I will strive to live closer to God, and to seek after holiness of
heart and leave providential events with God.

6. That I will read over this every day or at least twice a week.

“God help me, enable me to cultivate a spirit of self-denial and to
yield myself a prisoner of love to the redeemer of the world.”

“I feel my own weakness, and without God’s help I shall not keep
these resolutions. The Lord have mercy upon my guilty soul.”

Soldiers - live resolved to live holy, preach Jesus!

Founder William Booth speaks on First Principles and Dangers

This article first appeared in The Officer magazine in January 1893; reprinted in The Officer magazine in March/April 2003

The following is a summary of the General’s opening address at the last British Staff Council, which is likely to prove a turning point in the Army history. The notes were roughly jotted down at the time and only give a bird’s-eye view of what he said. The following are exerpts from among his introductory remarks:

‘Progress is tidal. There is a settling down tendency in human nature. If there is not a tide, we must make one.

‘In the Church there is a flowing tide of worldliness. We must stem it. Our business is not to interest or to amuse the world, but to save it.

‘There are other dangers of our own which must be looked into and remedied. By spreading out too rapidly, we have made some hard goes and have suffered losses. Again, we have weakened the Field to strengthen the Staff. There are many officers now on the Staff who should be in the Field.

‘The foundation principles of the Army’s teaching remain the same, and will do so to the end. They are in brief —
1. We can be forgiven.
2. We can be holy.
3. We must live to save others.

‘These truths can only be worked out by means of —
1. Faith in God.
2. Hard work.
3. Sacrifice.
4. Discipline.

‘The new plans I lay before you will not dispense with these essentials. There may be an easier way, but none better. These principles run through the Army like the veins through the body. ...

‘I speak to you as your father, and want to warn you faithfully as to the dangers to which I see you to be exposed — the dangers which threaten to hinder the success and progress of our Army.

‘I. The first great danger is Secularisation. We are in danger of becoming earth-worms, of being swallowed up in figures and business and returns. No hours with God, no flights of prayer, no going to Heaven over sinners saved.

‘II. The second great danger is Stagnation. We are continually exposed to this danger of formality, and of sleeping with our eyes open.

‘III. There is also the danger of Pride and Self-satisfaction. Few can stand promotion without being hurt by it, and losing the spirit of willingness to learn. A story is told of Lord Coleridge when a young man. The Master said to him, “Mr Coleridge, I have a high opinion of you, so has your tutor, so have we all; but none of us have so high an opinion of you as you have of yourself.” I fear it might be said of some of us. It is a tendency against which we must guard ourselves.

‘Dealing with root principles. I am going to deal with root principles. This has been largely the secret of my success in the past. I have laid them down and stuck to them. They are not many in number, and yet it is impossible to exaggerate their importance. There are only seven notes in music, and yet by a combination of them we are able to produce an infinite variety of exquisite harmonies. ...

‘There is not one of you in whose personal sorrows and struggles I do not feel an interest. I would like to go into them myself if I only had the time. I would like to go home to tea with each one of you, and help you mothers nurse the baby and share your troubles. I cannot bear to see you suffer, but I am unable to avoid it. I am determined to use you all to the utmost of God’s work. I am going to get out of you all I can. A general is no good for his post who is not willing to see his soldiers suffer. And however good my plans may be, they will involve not less but more hard work, sacrifice, and discipline than in the past; but they will ensure, I believe, with your hearty cooperation, an abundant harvest of success.’

The above remarks occupied the first sitting of the Council. Needless to say that the stirring words of our beloved General moved us to tears, and to a fresh consecration of ourselves to God and the war.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Safe From Harm Training Reminder & Scripture thought

This is a reminder to any reader from Homer, pass the word we are having our annual Safe From Harm child protection course from 9am - Noon on Saturday Feb. 28th at The Salvation Army Corps (church) building. We have had visitors from many churches, day cares, foster parents, even schools in the area attend in the past. It's all free so everyone is welcome.

scripture thought for life and our child protection plan...
When concerned about attack while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem we read this advice from Nehemiah 4:9 - But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

Nehemiah new that the first line of defense, protection, and safety comes by God's answer to prayer. He also realized it is foolish to pray for protection and then not be prepared.

William Booth said... "Work as if everything depended upon your work, and pray as if everything depended upon your prayer."

Let's always pray for God's divine protection, but let's also be vigilant in all we do.

Hope to see you at the meeting!

Why social services? Holistic Ministry?

To my fellow Salvationists and those of us who try to help meet people's physical needs in Jesus name,.... Let's make sure we actually mention His Name.

I read a "William-Boothism" that said, “I must assert in the most unqualified way, that it is primarily and mainly for the sake of saving the soul, that I seek the salvation of the body.”

One of my constant concerns is that we can get so good at "cranking out food boxes" that we forget WHY we are doing WHAT we are doing.

To invest such time, energy, money, and resources into paying an electric bill this month, or giving out a food box, and not take the time and opportunity to witness about Jesus Christ, is shameful and heartbreaking.

I hope our love for Christ always compels us to meet human needs without discrimination, but if we are just busy "cranking out food boxes" and building up our stastistics, and if we are just staying busy fund-raising, serving, and reporting, then I begin to believe we are motivated more by our love of the work, or the approval ratings, than we are motivated by our love for Jesus and our concern for our clients eternal destiny.

Please mention the Name of Jesus every chance you get today - for there is no other Name under heaven given to men by which they must be saved.

Can we call it "Holistic ministry" if we seek to save a client from hunger or homelessness, but never seek to save them from Hell for Heaven?

Can we call it "Holistic ministry" if we never see a client "made whole"?

What is a "Corps"? Booth's answer...

What is a Salvation Army Corps? To this I reply, that it is a band of people united together to attack and Christianize an entire town or neighborhood (William Booth, Salvation Soldiery). We are sent to war. We are not sent to minister to a congregation and be content if we keep things going. We are sent to make war – and to stop short of nothing but the subjugation of the world to the sway of the Lord Jesus (William Booth, The Words of William Booth, Cyril Barnes).

11 Questions from William Booth

William Booth had 11 Questions for the Weekly Self-Examination of the Soul.

How must you answer them before God?....

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5 RSV)

1. Am I habitually guilty of any known sin? Do I practice or allow myself any thought, word or deed that I know to be wrong?

2. Am I so the master of my bodily appetites as to have no condemnation? Do I allow myself any indulgence that is injurious to my holiness, growth in knowledge, obedience, or usefulness?

3. Are my thoughts and feelings such that I should not be ashamed to hear them published before God?

4. Does the influence of the world cause me to do or say things that are unlike Christ?

5. Do my tempers cause me to act, or feel, or say things that I see afterward are contrary to that love that I ought to [show] always to those about me?

6. Am I doing all in my power for the salvation of sinners? Do I feel concern about their danger and pray and work for their salvation as if they were my children?

7. Am I fulfilling the vows I have made to God in my acts of consecration or at the penitent-form?

8. Is my example in harmony with my profession?

9. Am I conscious of any pride or haughtiness in my manner or bearing?

10. Do I conform to the fashions and customs of the world, or do I show that I despise them?

11. Am I in danger of being carried away with worldly desire to be rich or admired?

Selected material from: Chosen to Be a Soldier - Orders and Regulations for Soldiers of The Salvation Army 1977 (pp. 17-18)