New Convert?
It was a delight to share lunch with Commissioner Hunter on Sunday. He is quite deaf and cannot see very well but his mind is as sharp as a razor. He wanted to know all about our appointment and asked informed and perceptive questions about new openings, mission in schools and prisons.
Having agreed to having his photo taken Alan jokingly said he would send it to the Salvationist. To which the Commissioner replied, "The headline could be, "Major Carol Young with a new convert!"





God bless



Carol

Cousins, Covenants and Commissioning

It's been quite a week-end. On Saturday we attended a family wedding. My cousin Liz and her husband Ivan are officers engaged in mission at the inner city corps of Sheffield Castle Corps. Their daughter Sarah married Matt, and it was lovely to be present as the happy couple entered into their marriage covenant.

It was also a chance to catch up with my other cousins, Liz's brothers and sister whom we rarely get to see because we all live so far apart. They feature regularly in my prayers for prodigals though. I keep on believing.

It was then down to London, to stay overnight at our Katie's and Sunday morning found us focussing on covenants again at the re-Commissioning of our session mate, Andrew Bale. We have journeyed with him through the process that led to this great occasion and I felt a bit like the proud parents at the wedding the day before.

What was it that got me, the one who is known in our family for not getting emotional to get the hankies out? Was it that in one weeks time we celebrate 25 years as officers and Andrew is able to rejoice with us as an officer? Was it little Bethany's prayer that Daddy will keep his covenant this time? Was it the sight of Commissioner Denis Hunter making his way the the mercy seat? Was it kneeling at the mercy seat with Alan, renewing out own officer covenant?

I don't know. I only know God is the great Redeemer. He is faithful. He is at work and I am excited about the next 25 years.

God bless

Carol

Stopping the parade

I am reading The God Catchers by Tommy Tenney at the moment. Much of what he says resonates with me at this time.

"If you ever have an encounter with the manifest presence of God, it will ruin church for you......"

I feel like that sometimes. When I have chattered on about how the Holy Spirit turned up and blessed my socks off at a meeting I later remember what it was like for me when during an all might prayer session I was so overwhelmed with God showed me of his heart that I couldn't speak and it took me days to translate the experience into words. And I know in my heart we have seen nothing yet.

I have this ache that we quickly congratulate ourselves about the liveliness of our worship and the height of passion in our praying. Yet although we might be jumping higher than some, most of the time we fail to get over the bar. I can't settle for a lower height when I've been over the bar. And I've discovered that even then, God has this way of not letting you get used to even that. He keeps raising the level.

It's similar in terms of evangelism too. I have been working in the prison for 6 years now. I have always found it a fulfilling ministry but in these last weeks, when we have seen God do remarkable things in the lives of some of our prisoners I can now only be truly satisfied with making disciples.

It's true in spiritual warfare. I'm moving. Prince Harry is apparently disappointed that he is not allowed to serve in a war zone. I am certain that I am called to venture onto enemy territory in new ways in the coming days.

And what about holiness? I am convinced of the Salvation Army's teaching on this doctrine and testify to its blessing. I believe it and hopefully live it. It's too important to tailor it to fit in with other churches or to make it palatable to those even within our own ranks who don't believe it.

Perhaps Tommy Tenney has it right when he refers to the loud cry of Bartimaeus after Jesus. His pleading halted the procession of people following Jesus through Jericho in its tracks. This annoyed the crowd intensly. They were enjoying the parade and the seeming progress they were making but Jesus stopped the whole thing for the sake of a beggar with a loud voice. Everyone experienced a miracle that day.

All I know is that I am desperate enough for God's presence, too aware of urgency of the gospel message, too fired up to sit in the grandstand and not fight, too amazed by the fullness of the salvation we have been given to worry anymore if my cry for mercy embarrasses people and stops the parade.

Merciful God
We pray don't pass us by
In your love
Remember mercy

God bless

Carol

True Soldiers Fight

Alan preached on being God's soldiers on Sunday. He included this classic quote from Bill Booth

"A good soldier of Jesus Christ is always a fighting man. This assertion may sound strange and unnecessary, but it is not so. In ordinary armies there are, beyond a doubt, hosts who don't mean war- the wages, the shining clothes, the idle life, the music, the promenade, with all the pomp and parade of war and as much more of the same kind as you will; but no fighting, if you please........................

Look at these fourteen hundred millions of our fellow men (world population in 1879) mostly in the arms and power of the foul usurper of Hell who has largely his own way with them, making this possible paradise into blackest and most hellish perdition here, and dragging multitudes down to the deeper depths of all possible woe hereafter. What do Jesus and the angels say of this long-standing army of professed soldiers of Jehovah who look on and sing and speak and read and understand all about the actual condition of things and are so very contented and do so little fighting to prevent and hinder and deliver? Oh what can we say of the professed followers of Jesus Christ who don't fight? who don't fight when they are wanted, who don't fight their way throught the darkness and devils to the salvation or a redeemed world. That they are orthodox, learned, theological, ornamental? Say anything and everything but don't call them soldiers for without excuses and self-consideration of health or limb or life, true soldiers fight, live to fight, love to fight, love the thickest of the fight and die in the midst of it."

God bless

Carol

Roots 2007

Was it a good Roots?

Yes but it was not an easy and there are two sides to the impact of the event. Corporate and indiviudual.

In terms of where the event fits into assisting and enabling the UK Salvation Army as a corporate body in renewal and mission this years Roots was edgy. The leadership team were determined that the descent into a fellowship weekend at the seaside mentality be halted. As a result there were a number of disgruntled people who didn't get want they wanted to consume.

There are others who really think that Roots needs to get back to its early reputation for having a radical edge and want boundaries pushed much further in the styles of teaching and worship. 13 years on the debate about what is meant by radical rages more fiercely than ever. There are still others who are passionate about the Army being renewed and returning to effective mission but who feel a disquiet that Roots is too culture led, too influenced by what the wider church is teaching and doing and not endorsing Salvation Army distinctives such as holiness and soldiership enough.

Consequently there was some flatness and some tension initially. As far as those looking for entertainment are concerned I believe there is no point in them coming next year. Roots as an extentsion of New Horizons or whatever it is called is over. But what its future looks like I just don't know. At the end the day the future renewal of the SA does not depend upon Roots. However Roots really could continue to inspire and facilitate it if there is real discernment through prayer of where the Spirit is leading.

Despite all I said above. God worked through the event in a powerful way just as he has in the past. Sunday evening saw a massive response to the altar call. Candidates for officership came forward throughout the week-end. Cafe Church worked really well, the children's and youth events all reported significant responses in terms of people getting saved and in moving forward in their experience.

For the first time I was part of the prayer team and it was a privilege to pray with people seeking God's way and for those who needed to find comfort or freedom in Christ. It was so good and we had a great team.

Roots 2008, will I be there? It's more than likely.

God bless

Carol

Standing out

"It is tragic when a Christian destined to be a king among men, adopts the guise of ordinariness because he fears the consequences of Christian distinctiveness."

from The Soldiers Armoury 17th April 1983

God bless

Carol

Standing out

"It is tragic when a Christian destined to be a king among men, adopts the guise of ordinariness because he fears the consequences of Christian distinctiveness."

from The Soldiers Armoury 17th April 1983

God bless

Carol