The end of the year is upon us, and with it comes the Covenant Day, Graduation and Commissioning for the Prayer Warriors. Each is a special and different day with differing emotions and attitudes.
Covenant Day was a real time of reflection on what this journey was about to become for the almost to be commissioned officers. Things became very real very fast. Each cadet prayerfully considered what they were signing and then did so surrounded by the prayers of the Staff, Ambassadors, Cabinet and lots of supporting Divisional and Territorial Staff. Not a dry eye in the house!
Graduation however is the academic recognition of the work undertaken over the two years. Each Cadet worked towards recieving two diplomas and a ceritifcate, for which they dolled up in robes and capes and posed for photographs.
And today - today brings all the pomp and circus of commissioning. The parents of the Cadets are honoured with a brunch here at BCM where they recieve a Silver Star. Then its off to the city to march down the street (if the rain clears up...). Following this is a long but celebratory service at the Wellington City Salvation Army where the Cadets are officially ordained as Salvation Army Officers.
Tomorrow, Sunday, is supposedly just a regular Sunday Service. However, the new Lieutenants can proudly wear thier new insignia and we officially become second year cadets.
And thats it. They are released onto the world for thier mission and ministry to continue in the new year at thier appointments.
Please pray that God will continue to bless the Prayer Warriors over this weekend and for their new ministries.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Pranks...
Opportunities are running out and we tend to have a little spare time on our hands...
Anyone got any good ideas for pranks?
Anyone got any good ideas for pranks?
Whoa, we're halfway there
Today is the last day of November. Christmas is less than a month away and in exactly 13 days the Ambassadors of Holiness will officially become second year cadets. Some say woop woop, others say already?!?
This year, like all others, has come and gone incredibly quickly. We have all grown, learnt much, been challenged by much and judging by the attitudes going around this place at the moment, are all really looking forward to a well deserved holiday! We have all farewelled our mission placement corps families and will spend time together as sessions for remaining Sundays of this month.
As the blog title song continues; "we're halfway there - living on a prayer." (Why don't we sing this song in our churches?) As I look and reflect over the year and ponder the year to come that Bon Jovi song rings in my head - 'living on a prayer', specifically the lines 'take my hand, we'll make it I swear'. I can't help but interpret that phrase as a reminder of why I am here as well as a reassurance that I am never in this alone.
This year, like all others, has come and gone incredibly quickly. We have all grown, learnt much, been challenged by much and judging by the attitudes going around this place at the moment, are all really looking forward to a well deserved holiday! We have all farewelled our mission placement corps families and will spend time together as sessions for remaining Sundays of this month.
As the blog title song continues; "we're halfway there - living on a prayer." (Why don't we sing this song in our churches?) As I look and reflect over the year and ponder the year to come that Bon Jovi song rings in my head - 'living on a prayer', specifically the lines 'take my hand, we'll make it I swear'. I can't help but interpret that phrase as a reminder of why I am here as well as a reassurance that I am never in this alone.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Holiness
There's alot of discussion going on around our college at the moment about Holiness. What is it, how can we get it, is it acheivable at all?
In The Salvation Army people normally sway between Coutts and Brengle, with a little bit of Robert Street and his book Holiness Unwrapped coming through occassionally.
Anyone who reads this - I invite comments as this area is one which need smuch discussion. We are known as a Holiness movement, and we are called the Ambassadors of Holiness. What do we represent?
In The Salvation Army people normally sway between Coutts and Brengle, with a little bit of Robert Street and his book Holiness Unwrapped coming through occassionally.
Anyone who reads this - I invite comments as this area is one which need smuch discussion. We are known as a Holiness movement, and we are called the Ambassadors of Holiness. What do we represent?
Monday, October 5, 2009
Stop the Gossip
The Salvation Army is notorious for gossip, rumours and speculation. It may seem harmless enough at the time, but some of the effects of it can be harmful. People very quickly can lose faith through broken trust and confidences, all because of one breif simple passing comment. Is it worth it?
The solutions to gossip seem simple - if you don't know whether it is true or not, don't talk about it. If its really none of your business, don't talk about it. If someone shares something with you, do you really need to tell someone else about it? Someone else's news is not my story to tell to others.
I've been convicted of this recently - if it doesn't help, it has the potential to hurt. And it is not worth losing a friend because of a loose tongue or comment.If someone tells me something cynical or demeaning to me about someone else, it raises the questions of, what do they say about me to others? And listening and agreeing is just as bad as literally doing it yourself.
I respect and value those people I know I can trust to keep things to themselves. I pray that I can become someone like that. I know I have a long way to go and will hopefully one day begin to catch myself before I say something, rather than feeling regretful in hindsight.
The solutions to gossip seem simple - if you don't know whether it is true or not, don't talk about it. If its really none of your business, don't talk about it. If someone shares something with you, do you really need to tell someone else about it? Someone else's news is not my story to tell to others.
I've been convicted of this recently - if it doesn't help, it has the potential to hurt. And it is not worth losing a friend because of a loose tongue or comment.If someone tells me something cynical or demeaning to me about someone else, it raises the questions of, what do they say about me to others? And listening and agreeing is just as bad as literally doing it yourself.
I respect and value those people I know I can trust to keep things to themselves. I pray that I can become someone like that. I know I have a long way to go and will hopefully one day begin to catch myself before I say something, rather than feeling regretful in hindsight.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tips for 2010 Candidates
I'm not sure of the schedules of other sessions, but right now in New Zealand we have just begun the school holidays. For us cadets this means a holida... ahem... "study break" - a time to get work finished, plan for the last term of this year and for the Prayer Warriors to prepare for commissioning. Hasn't the year gone by so fast!
We've also been hosting assessment weekends here at the college and have watched a few very nervous candidates come and go. Faces are appearing in the War Cry announcing the incoming session accepted candidates. Surely they will now be arranging and trying to get everything sorted in order to be prepared to move here in only three months. Time flies so quickly... So here are a few things I wish I had prepared earlier.... (and I don't have kids so if you want tips for those types of things just leave a comment and I'll ask around...)
1. You can never save too much money before you come. Trust us - Student Allowance only goes so far... Its enough to survive and have a little fun with but...
2. If you have spare cash and packing boxes, stock up on the stuff you really like but don't think you'll be able to afford, like your shampoo and conditioner etc
3. Don't leave any blankets or warm clothes behind thinking you wont need them... this place is freezing and power bills really cut into the budget...
4. Go to the dentist. Trust us. Tooth pain can mean big dentist bills when the money is tight. Your choice... suffer a short pain the mouth now or a huge dent in the savings later... The health benefits only kick in when you are commissioned.
5. Read your bible, and maybe brush up on The Salvation Army doctrines... I know this seems silly, but the more we learn here the less we realise we knew. Make sense?
6. Go on holiday. Enjoy your last days of freedom. Have a fantastically extravagant Christmas - as it may be the last you can spend with your extended family, as once enrolled you must stay at your appointment.
7. Keep and maintain freindships with people in your corps/centre. Random donations and food parcels are a blessing.
8. Get some practice - if public speaking really isn't your thing, then to prepare yourself try things around people you already know. Read a poem or carol in a Christmas service, deliver a prayer in a meeting - just to get a liitle more comfortable in front of people.
9. Pay close attention to how your corps does things. Watch and really listen to your pastor. What do you like about what they do, how they preach, what don't you like etc. In a few years this will be you. How do you want to come across, be heard, seen etc. Listen and seek out messages or pastors you are really moved by and study them.
10. Last but certainly the leastest... continue to pray and rely on your call. God has prompted this change in your life and has got everything covered. Trust that he knows what he is doing!
Things will work out, they will be fine. You'll see.
We can't wait to meet you all in 2010.
We've also been hosting assessment weekends here at the college and have watched a few very nervous candidates come and go. Faces are appearing in the War Cry announcing the incoming session accepted candidates. Surely they will now be arranging and trying to get everything sorted in order to be prepared to move here in only three months. Time flies so quickly... So here are a few things I wish I had prepared earlier.... (and I don't have kids so if you want tips for those types of things just leave a comment and I'll ask around...)
1. You can never save too much money before you come. Trust us - Student Allowance only goes so far... Its enough to survive and have a little fun with but...
2. If you have spare cash and packing boxes, stock up on the stuff you really like but don't think you'll be able to afford, like your shampoo and conditioner etc
3. Don't leave any blankets or warm clothes behind thinking you wont need them... this place is freezing and power bills really cut into the budget...
4. Go to the dentist. Trust us. Tooth pain can mean big dentist bills when the money is tight. Your choice... suffer a short pain the mouth now or a huge dent in the savings later... The health benefits only kick in when you are commissioned.
5. Read your bible, and maybe brush up on The Salvation Army doctrines... I know this seems silly, but the more we learn here the less we realise we knew. Make sense?
6. Go on holiday. Enjoy your last days of freedom. Have a fantastically extravagant Christmas - as it may be the last you can spend with your extended family, as once enrolled you must stay at your appointment.
7. Keep and maintain freindships with people in your corps/centre. Random donations and food parcels are a blessing.
8. Get some practice - if public speaking really isn't your thing, then to prepare yourself try things around people you already know. Read a poem or carol in a Christmas service, deliver a prayer in a meeting - just to get a liitle more comfortable in front of people.
9. Pay close attention to how your corps does things. Watch and really listen to your pastor. What do you like about what they do, how they preach, what don't you like etc. In a few years this will be you. How do you want to come across, be heard, seen etc. Listen and seek out messages or pastors you are really moved by and study them.
10. Last but certainly the leastest... continue to pray and rely on your call. God has prompted this change in your life and has got everything covered. Trust that he knows what he is doing!
Things will work out, they will be fine. You'll see.
We can't wait to meet you all in 2010.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Habakkuk
Anyone read this lately? It is a fascinating transcript of a prophet's prayer. It begins with a very human moan, a complaint, and then God answers and defends himself. Again, the man questions God 'Why?' Why does bad things happen to good people? How can God allow things like that? Why doesn't he step in a fix it? Why doesn't God answers prayers like we want him to!
The great thing about this prayer is that, not only does God audibly answer the questions, but the pray-er, Habakkuk, is transformed through it. He encounters God in his prayer, and is physically trembled at the thought of what God has done in past and what he still can do. At the very end of the prayer is a wonderful statement of belief that come rain or shine, miraculous justice intervention or horrible destructive invasion, Habakkuk will rejoice and praise God.
I'm preaching on this in a week or so, and am still coming to grips with how scary that statement really is. Its easy to praise God when things are going well, but a whole lot harder when things aren't.
My prayer for us all, as Ambassadors of Holiness, that even when the tough times come - and they assuredly will - we can say as the Message translation puts "I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God for He is my strength."
The great thing about this prayer is that, not only does God audibly answer the questions, but the pray-er, Habakkuk, is transformed through it. He encounters God in his prayer, and is physically trembled at the thought of what God has done in past and what he still can do. At the very end of the prayer is a wonderful statement of belief that come rain or shine, miraculous justice intervention or horrible destructive invasion, Habakkuk will rejoice and praise God.
I'm preaching on this in a week or so, and am still coming to grips with how scary that statement really is. Its easy to praise God when things are going well, but a whole lot harder when things aren't.
My prayer for us all, as Ambassadors of Holiness, that even when the tough times come - and they assuredly will - we can say as the Message translation puts "I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God for He is my strength."
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