Will you be joining the students that already have been accepted for this next year's session?
There still time to apply!
The War College announces the first 4 students accepted for September.
War Cry 09-10
Eric Colins, (Metro)
Josh Gamble, (Indiana)
Conqueror Session Phase 2
Abby Hartman (Metro)
Amber Ulery (Indiana)
We are currently evaluating other applications and will be posting those names soon. Keep us in prayer and if you know these applicants, please support them Spiritually and if possible financially!
God Bless The Salvation Army!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The War College Students are beginning to leave for summer placements. Please keep them in your prayers. They will be back on August 9th for a time of debriefing, and graduation. More details to follow about the graduation.
Also, we are now recruiting for our second session!
Also, we are now recruiting for our second session!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
YOUR KINGDOM RULES!
So yesterday was amazing! Cory Harrison came to visit just for a day and he taught a class on mission. Instead of talking about hypothetical mission for the Army, he decided to talk about practical things we could use in mission. He spoke about the history of the church referencing Ephesians 4:11 and the five offices essential "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowlegde of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (vs 12-13) Of the five offices mentioned in verse 11, the church as a whole has only embraced the last three in the list: evangelists, pastors and teachers. Pastors came back into the church with Martin Luther's reformation. Evangelists came next with William Booth and then, with the start of Sunday School, the office of teacher was reintroduced to the church. (Again, he was speaking of recognized offices in the church as a whole). However, the first two mentioned in the verse - apostles and prophets - have not come back yet.
Then, Cory began to speak about prophecy specifically. He referenced 1 Corinthians 14 where we are commanded to "eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." (vs1) And we are told "...you can all prophesy...so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged." (vs 31) In chapter 14, Paul also makes a point of explaining why prophecy should be desired by believers. It works inside the church and outside the church. It builds up the body of believers (vs 4) and causes what Cory called "face-plant evangelism." Which comes from verses 24 and 25 where Paul tells the Corinthians that if an unbeliever comes in to where they are and they are all prophesying, that unbeliever will "fall down and worship God, exclaiming, 'God is really among you!'" Cory told us about something that happened at his church in order to illustrate this point: It involved a teenage girl who was a self-proclaimed athiest. She came to one of their meetings and, afterwards, three people who had never met her before prophesyed over her. She went home and began telling her friends, "I was wrong - God is real." The day after she received the words of prophecy, she brought one of her friends to the person who had taken her to Cory's church and asked that person to tell her friend how to become a Christian. She hadn't accepted Christ, but the power of God caused her to become an evangelist nonetheless.
Cory spoke for a while and it was so good! God was among us - speaking to us! When he finished, since we had no set schedule for that day because our classes have ended for this term and we're about to go on Thanksgiving break, Cory asked, "Now what do we do?" And I (who hate hearing the Word and not acting on it) said, "Let's do it! Let's prophesy over each other right now!" So, Cory set a chair in the middle of the room and we came, one by one, and sat in it for the rest of the group to prophesy over us. There is no possible way to describe what it was like - especially in writing. Suffice to say that it was incredible! God spoke through Scripture verses He placed in our minds, words He gave us and visions (some pretty crazy visions too!) It was awesome! And so encouraging. I'm excited about what He said to me. I could probably write a whole nother blog twice as long as this about one word which was spoken to me. Both Nathan Holt and Cory told me that my ministry will not be according to the economy and rules of the world! I live by the economy and rules of the Kingdom! How cool is that!
Yes, Lord! Your Kingdom come! Your will be done (by Your rules and Your economy) - on earth - in my life and ministry (and everyone else's for that matter) as it is in Heaven!
Abby Hartman
Then, Cory began to speak about prophecy specifically. He referenced 1 Corinthians 14 where we are commanded to "eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." (vs1) And we are told "...you can all prophesy...so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged." (vs 31) In chapter 14, Paul also makes a point of explaining why prophecy should be desired by believers. It works inside the church and outside the church. It builds up the body of believers (vs 4) and causes what Cory called "face-plant evangelism." Which comes from verses 24 and 25 where Paul tells the Corinthians that if an unbeliever comes in to where they are and they are all prophesying, that unbeliever will "fall down and worship God, exclaiming, 'God is really among you!'" Cory told us about something that happened at his church in order to illustrate this point: It involved a teenage girl who was a self-proclaimed athiest. She came to one of their meetings and, afterwards, three people who had never met her before prophesyed over her. She went home and began telling her friends, "I was wrong - God is real." The day after she received the words of prophecy, she brought one of her friends to the person who had taken her to Cory's church and asked that person to tell her friend how to become a Christian. She hadn't accepted Christ, but the power of God caused her to become an evangelist nonetheless.
Cory spoke for a while and it was so good! God was among us - speaking to us! When he finished, since we had no set schedule for that day because our classes have ended for this term and we're about to go on Thanksgiving break, Cory asked, "Now what do we do?" And I (who hate hearing the Word and not acting on it) said, "Let's do it! Let's prophesy over each other right now!" So, Cory set a chair in the middle of the room and we came, one by one, and sat in it for the rest of the group to prophesy over us. There is no possible way to describe what it was like - especially in writing. Suffice to say that it was incredible! God spoke through Scripture verses He placed in our minds, words He gave us and visions (some pretty crazy visions too!) It was awesome! And so encouraging. I'm excited about what He said to me. I could probably write a whole nother blog twice as long as this about one word which was spoken to me. Both Nathan Holt and Cory told me that my ministry will not be according to the economy and rules of the world! I live by the economy and rules of the Kingdom! How cool is that!
Yes, Lord! Your Kingdom come! Your will be done (by Your rules and Your economy) - on earth - in my life and ministry (and everyone else's for that matter) as it is in Heaven!
Abby Hartman
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Dance With God
"Everything is meaningless if not done for me." God said that to me once. And I must have lost sight of it because He had to remind me of that tonight. He reminded me that I am selfish, lazy, prideful, faithless and self-seeking. A word God gave me before I moved to Chicago was servanthood. He asked me to serve others. I realized today that I don't serve even my brothers and sisters that I spend countless hours with each day. I've lost sight of them because I'm so involved with myself. If I cannot love and serve my roommate, a fellow believer in Christ, how am I to love the beggar on the street?
Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" and then He tells us the second greatest commandment is to "love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)
It's as simple as that. Love God. Love your neighbor. Simple. Very simple. It really doesn't get much simpler than that. So why do we make it so complicated?
I don't love God. I don't know how to. It's been my desire and prayer that I would fall head-over-heals in love with God. I don't believe I can fall in love with God without His help. He is love so I need Him to show me how to love.
Let's tie these two together. Serve. Love. I believe, and am being taught, that to love is to serve. To serve is to love. Out of my love for God I should desire then to serve Him. And as I serve Him I am showing Him that I love Him. Simple.
I don't serve my friends, the ones I spend countless hours with each day, because I don't love them. Why don't I love them? Because I'm so involved with myself. I'm quite a selfish person, thinking of myself most of the time. It's not about me though. It's not. It never has been. It never will be.
God is calling me to strip off and lay aside the sin that so easily entangles me. Pride. Selfishness. Laziness. Apathy. And He is asking me to clothe myself in Him. To put on compassion, love, joy, peace, kindness, humility.
This isn't just a me thing but the community in which I live is struggling with the same thing. We're pretty selfish. That's a harsh word to take, but it's true. How can we function as a church, as a body of believers, if we're thinking of only ourselves?
Another word. Pray. We do not pray enough. We do not pray enough for the city in which we live. We do not pray enough for the world in which we live. Prayer is the key to God's heart. I heard that once. The more we pray the more we know God.
We are not walking with God.
I have been reading this book, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places written by Eugene Peterson, and he mentions 'dancing with God'. I can't even begin to describe to you how powerful those words are to me .... 'dancing with God'. My only prayer is that as you read those words God will give you revelation of what it means. I don't even know what it means yet. I'm still chewing on it. But if you could imagine dancing with God, being apart of everything He does. Letting Him lead you in all you do. Never letting go. A dance that never ends.
I have a desire to dance with God. I pray that you would too. I pray that the church would dance with God. Because, whatever it means to dance with God, we are not doing it. He desires to dance with us. I have this vision in my head right now ....
If we only knew the beauty of the life we would have if only we took His hand and let Him lead us in this dance. But we're scared, we're lazy, self-seeking, prideful and so we don't take His lead.
I want to know what this dance is. I want to know the beauty of dancing with my God. So whatever it takes, whatever it means, I am going to let Him lead me in this dance. This dance is more than you can imagine. This dance is bigger than you think. This dance will change your life and the life of the world around you.
Ask God about it. Seek Him out and ask Him about this dance.
I urge you to dance with God.
-Rebecca Lewis
Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" and then He tells us the second greatest commandment is to "love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)
It's as simple as that. Love God. Love your neighbor. Simple. Very simple. It really doesn't get much simpler than that. So why do we make it so complicated?
I don't love God. I don't know how to. It's been my desire and prayer that I would fall head-over-heals in love with God. I don't believe I can fall in love with God without His help. He is love so I need Him to show me how to love.
Let's tie these two together. Serve. Love. I believe, and am being taught, that to love is to serve. To serve is to love. Out of my love for God I should desire then to serve Him. And as I serve Him I am showing Him that I love Him. Simple.
I don't serve my friends, the ones I spend countless hours with each day, because I don't love them. Why don't I love them? Because I'm so involved with myself. I'm quite a selfish person, thinking of myself most of the time. It's not about me though. It's not. It never has been. It never will be.
God is calling me to strip off and lay aside the sin that so easily entangles me. Pride. Selfishness. Laziness. Apathy. And He is asking me to clothe myself in Him. To put on compassion, love, joy, peace, kindness, humility.
This isn't just a me thing but the community in which I live is struggling with the same thing. We're pretty selfish. That's a harsh word to take, but it's true. How can we function as a church, as a body of believers, if we're thinking of only ourselves?
Another word. Pray. We do not pray enough. We do not pray enough for the city in which we live. We do not pray enough for the world in which we live. Prayer is the key to God's heart. I heard that once. The more we pray the more we know God.
We are not walking with God.
I have been reading this book, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places written by Eugene Peterson, and he mentions 'dancing with God'. I can't even begin to describe to you how powerful those words are to me .... 'dancing with God'. My only prayer is that as you read those words God will give you revelation of what it means. I don't even know what it means yet. I'm still chewing on it. But if you could imagine dancing with God, being apart of everything He does. Letting Him lead you in all you do. Never letting go. A dance that never ends.
I have a desire to dance with God. I pray that you would too. I pray that the church would dance with God. Because, whatever it means to dance with God, we are not doing it. He desires to dance with us. I have this vision in my head right now ....
I see a high school gymansium. The lights are low. There are streamers hanging from the ceiling and music is playing in the background. In the center of the gym I see God. He is standing there, holding out his hand, in my direction. I cannot see myself, but I know I am sitting in a chair up against the wall along with the rest of the church. We see Him, but we are not taking His hand. He is waiting. He has been waiting for a long time.
If we only knew the beauty of the life we would have if only we took His hand and let Him lead us in this dance. But we're scared, we're lazy, self-seeking, prideful and so we don't take His lead.
I want to know what this dance is. I want to know the beauty of dancing with my God. So whatever it takes, whatever it means, I am going to let Him lead me in this dance. This dance is more than you can imagine. This dance is bigger than you think. This dance will change your life and the life of the world around you.
Ask God about it. Seek Him out and ask Him about this dance.
I urge you to dance with God.
-Rebecca Lewis
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Surrender of Control
One of the hardest lessons to learn is to surrender. Jesus said we have to loose our lives to gain it. The more we share life together as a session, the more we realize how selfish we really are. No wonder God is with holding from us those things he has prepared in advance for us to do.
Acts 2 reminds me of the disciples having to surrender even the presence of their Lord. They had images and words, but no physical manifestation of the one who had become to cornerstone of their lives. For the first time, they were alone, they were to follow his directions, they were to relinquish their plans, and just wait. The promise will come, just as He said.
How hard is it to wait for something you know is coming and yet it seems so far away. How difficult is it to wait when you know that there are people, things, and places in the way of the one thing you wait for.
How sweet it will be when it comes. How sweet it will be when this faith image becomes a reality. The day I touch, feel, smell, and enjoy the fruit of total surrender.
Come Lord Jesus Come~
Acts 2 reminds me of the disciples having to surrender even the presence of their Lord. They had images and words, but no physical manifestation of the one who had become to cornerstone of their lives. For the first time, they were alone, they were to follow his directions, they were to relinquish their plans, and just wait. The promise will come, just as He said.
How hard is it to wait for something you know is coming and yet it seems so far away. How difficult is it to wait when you know that there are people, things, and places in the way of the one thing you wait for.
How sweet it will be when it comes. How sweet it will be when this faith image becomes a reality. The day I touch, feel, smell, and enjoy the fruit of total surrender.
Come Lord Jesus Come~
Thursday, October 9, 2008
learning
alright. i'm not really sure what to write about other than how i am still amazed to even be at the War College. it was one of those divine coincidences. it just so happened that i didn't get hired at the Indiana camp. it just so happened that i got hired at the Metro camp. where i just so happened to hear about and meet people from the War College. and it just so happened that i got accepted, everything worked out, and here i am. God has definitely been teaching me a lot. i was really slacking on my prayer time at home. now i have truly learned to pray without ceasing. it's kind of hard for me to gather all my thoughts together and actually explain what i have learned since i have been here. i will just say that sometimes we think we know so much about God and having a relationship with Him then he puts opportunities in our way that make us really think and realize that we can never fully understand Him and there will always be room for learning. God has already blessed this year so much. and i'm excited about the things that are yet to come.
<>< Amber Ulery
<>< Amber Ulery
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The first week
In the past week it was probably one of the best weeks that i've had in a while, for so may reasons. The Holy spirit has shown where ever we are and i can tell that he has made opportunities for us to talk to others but still me personally have not taken all the opportunities but i've been working on it and its going better and God has just blessed me with the strengh to just be friends withanyone that i talk and to tell the people about him. Now that i'm here I feel so joyful to be here for him and to not not have other distractions like t.v.,ect. you guys know what i mean. Now that a new week is coming up i more excited then before because i'm looking forward to meet new people and to help the community in what ever they want because now that i'm in the war college i always want to do anything for anyone and i wont do it just for doing it but i do it because i want to. God has also given me more compassion for others and that is awsome because i've been asking him for that for a while, and feels great in a way and I recomened for everybody to ask for that. Everybody in this session is also great and I couldn't ask for anyone else, even though I'm the only guy It's still good. On tuesday we helped out with a program called infyuz in the Mt. greenwood corps it was pretty alright specially because i was just playing basketball with some of the young adults, i got to know some people and i feel like i made some connections with some of them even though i'm not that good playing basketball but good enough to school some kids. I'm good but I still want to grow more spiritually so i love it if who ever reads this would pray for me and the rest of the session.
God bless
Stephen Rivero
God bless
Stephen Rivero
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
