Testimony – Karen Jayne Jennings.

“Karen Jayne Jennings entered Heaven on 13 August 2009 into the presence of her risen Lord”

This is an edited excerpt of a testimony given by Karen;

I have early recollections of attending The Salvation Army and cannot remember ever not knowing Jesus being my Saviour from sin. Jesus was a part of my life; I never questioned it. On completion of my schooling and while in teacher’s college I started going out with Philip. After a few years we married. I was very much in love. While I enjoyed teaching and loved married life, I was also starting to experience the symptoms of MS.

What was happening to me? I still had my faith and knew (in my head at least) that God would have the answer. I prayed one morning, "Lord there has to be an answer for me. There must be more to this Christian life than I’m experiencing. It’s supposed to be good! Please show me!" Lying in that hospital bed after the diagnosis of MS, I poured my heart out to the Lord and was enveloped in such a comforting, fear dispelling presence. I was also convicted of my desperate need to be cleansed in the presence of such a pure, holy, perfect God. I knew at this time that I had been rescued by a loving God and that I was His child. That wave of well-being was to continue with me constantly.

The main lesson which I have been continually challenged to learn and practise is the need to be directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (filled with the Spirit). It has been the difference between life and death for me. When I’m filled with The Spirit I can cope with being sick and when I’m not (Jesus isn’t my boss) I can’t cope. I have soaked myself in the Word and have made the decision to obey what I’ve read. I’ve had to do many things by faith when I’ve thought God’s direction has been too hard or "not me" or I just plain didn’t feel like doing it. As I’ve done His Word (because I’ve had to many times) I’ve discovered the absolute joy that is to be experienced when I’ve done things God’s way and not my own.

Every morning I have to pray and in my prayers I have to tell Jesus that I’ll let Him be my boss. That means I obey what I’ve read in the Word and what I know in my heart. It has taken me all these years of sickness to really know and feel the consequences of my actions attempted without God being my boss. I know that God only wants the best for me so I will trust Him in everything that happens. Because I’ve been in obedience training I have been ‘doing the Word’ in faith many times. A wonderful thing has happened as a result. I have had many of the rewards promised in the verses. I know without doubt that God’s way is the only way to live.

The low-neck.

A serious warning against attempting a fashion-shift back to the good-ol’ days of the high-neck uniform…

“I should like to talk about the care of your health and physical powers. There is no time for that; but remember that I want you to take care of your throats. Do not sacrifice your throats for too prim a military appearance. Remember the alternative of the low collar. When I see you singing solos, with high collars hooked tightly, i cannot tell you how badly I feel. The only really bad throat I have had during forty years of Officership was about six months after the high collar came in, when the doctor said I had a clergy man’s sore throat. I went back to the low collar, and have not known throat trouble since.”

- p. 38 Florence Booth The Powers of Salvation Army Officers (1914)

The Climax

I was preparing a meeting lead for a meeting coming up soon, and as I was doing it, realised that I was working from the bottom up. I’m not sure if I’ve ever done it like that before, but if I have, I haven’t noticed.

Literally, I had written in a song for during the alter-call/response time and then worked up the meeting lead from there!

It made me think about the fact that the call to salvation or holiness REALLY IS the climax of a Salvation Army meeting.

So much so, that by default my focus was working backwards from there!

Praise God for the climax!

(NB: I’m making no reference to tattoos or piercing, that picture was simply 3rd on the list when I googled “Mercy Seat”. Although I have known people to get tattoos as sermon illustrations…)

Brigadier Power

She was speaking of an anonymous “Brigadier Power”, but I believe the same is true (to a large extent..?) of Capt. Stephen Court, our highly esteemed Training Principle, 108 years later;

“This man is a flame. His theology is of the apostolic brand, comprising a merciful and just God, an atoning Saviour, a full and free salvation through the Blood of Jesus Christ; a real, live active devil; an eternal hell for the wicked, and an eternal heaven for those who persevere to the end in righteousness and Christ. His lectures are admirable, full of point, thought, and fire. He can be read as he is reported; that is to say, his spoken sentences read as well as they sound, and may generally be printed without revision. They are brilliant with virile salvationism, and tingle with common sense. He uses no stale sentences. What he has to say is fresh and new from the mint of his own mind, original logical and manly.” – p. 40-41 A School of The Prophets 1901.

I especially would encourage you to read the post below, notes from a lecture presented by Capt. Court. A lot of the comments are direct quotes from his “spoken sentences” and further to the Brigadier, have been printed without revision. I would suggest that his comments, as well as being full of salvationism, also “tingle with common sense”.

“To be able to hold the attention of Cadets, and make them request a little more lecture, is an enormous compliment to any speaker’s power, we budding Officers soon becoming experts in good and bad addresses. The farewell volley when the lecturer concludes may be enthusiastic – it generally is; but, occasionally, it is the enthusiasm of relief. [Captain Court’s] ovations were evoked by pleasure and regret.” p. 42-43 A School of The Prophets 1901.

I’m not just saying these things to puff Steve up, I (and my fellow Cadets) are seriously enjoying his lectures, and the lectures from other teachers on college staff and at Whitley. And this, because more than anything else, our discussions and our musings spur us on to big and better things for the Kingdom. It has been an amazing blessing to be privy to such a wealth of knowledge and experience.

This training experience has been seriously underrated.

I urge you – if you’re called to Officership, hurry up and respond so that you can get in on the training. If you’re not called, and you’re sure of it, sign up for some classes – this stuff is not exclusive. If you’re already on the journey, or have been for a while, poke some people near to you and ask them whether they’re following Jesus.

Here I Am.

Too much of what I do is motivated by guilt. I need to concentrate on living a pro-active, rather than a reactive life. A life where I say “I intend to..” rather than “I should do..”. A life where I look forward to the challenges, rather than trying to make excuses as to why I don’t want to be involved.

I want to cultivate in me, and around me, a “Yes!” culture.

Not a yes culture that will make me overwhelmed, or burned out, just one that is real, optimistic, honest, forward looking, and not lazy.

A comrade of mine has inherited a signature-book-of-sorts that page-by-page, one-by-one has been signed in succession by all of the General’s of The Salvation Army, starting with General William Booth himself. This is what General Carpenter had to say…

“The Secret of the Victorious life will be found in saying “Yes” to God, and to keep on saying it.” – Melbourne, 20/6/1945

And, because Officership is at the beginning and end of most of my daily thoughts; an exhortation, before I leave…

“This little book/[blog] contains the experience of one who heard God’s call to become an Officer, and who answered it.

More than 13,000 men and women all over the world have chosen to obey His voice and give themselves up to lives of self-denying toil for the salvation of the world. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself whether God does not require you to give Him your life? Will you ask yourself that question today?

When you have thought and prayed about it, speak to the Officer of your Corps or write to your Candidates Secretary.” – A School of Prophets, by ‘One of the Scholars’ The Salvation Army Book Department, 1901

Quote/s of the Day (today, originating from one family unit);

“Incarnation without transformation is not the kingdom of God, it’s simply assimilation.” – Capt. Danielle Strickland.

“Enjoy the Lord today. Take a step back and appreciate the fact that the Creator of the universe died for you, loves your socks off, and dreams about you. Then crawl into His presence and soak it all up – fear/reverence, safety, acceptance, love, mercy, grace…” – Capt. Stephen Court

And Introducing; The Ambassadors of Holiness 2009-2010, The Australia Southern Territory Training College

Top Ten Reasons Why Men Shouldn’t Be Ordained.

The cut-out below can add good food for thought to the Women-in-Ministry debate that occurs to no end outside The Salvation Army, and is often avoided within The Salvation Army, because “we’ve had women in ministry from the beginning…” Yes we have, but…

So as Nathan Hobby says, few arguments are as engaging as humour. Maybe taking a look at the humour in it can help us to look at ourselves more closely! And btw, replace the word “Ordained” with “Commissioned”, or similar for the sake of the context; because ordination in The Salvation Army is a whole other issue!

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Top Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained

10. A man’s place is in the army.
9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.
8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do other forms of work.
7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.
5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.
4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.
1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.

What does The Salvation Army mean to you?

 

New Blog – Genesis

Hey, I just got an email from my mate Steve Friend who works at The Salvation Army’s Genesis Centre in Northbridge, WA.

Steve has started a blog telling of how the transformational power of God is working in the lives of people at the Centre – Staff, clients, students, everyone.

It’s pretty exciting stuff. Thanks Steve.

Here’s the link – http://tsagenesis.blogspot.com

Peace out