tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86647940156420718222012-01-29T18:01:59.379-05:00FORMER SALVATION ARMY OFFICERS FELLOWSHIPSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-78664821993306962502012-01-27T20:32:00.001-05:002012-01-29T18:01:59.392-05:00HBTQ (GLBT) Part 4 2012 BIBLE, CHURCH, Grumblings, LGBTQ
Of course, one must carefully consider the scripture portions
that deal with homosexuality. It may be interesting to take into account the
fact that there are six Bible verses (three OT and three NT) and two Old
Testament stories traditionally associated with homosexuality.
Set this against the more than 600 Bible verses that talk about
greed, one can imagine that the number of Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-62085569206279098432012-01-26T17:07:00.001-05:002012-01-26T17:07:22.026-05:00LGBTQ and Science Part 3
Part 3
-2012
LGBTQ and Science
Before
moving to and delving into the depth of the biblical text, we might want to
look at what science has to say on the GLBT issue, primarily to clarify the position
(starting point) on which the following texts are based.
An
entire dissertation could be written on what science has to say about
homosexuality to date, and naturally this has already Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-16520868766059299352012-01-26T00:36:00.002-05:002012-01-26T00:36:25.599-05:00LGBTQ Part - 2 –
" We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by
inspiration of God, and that they only
constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice."
These
are the opening words of the Salvation Army's eleven doctrines. And it is here that
one must begin each theological discussion. But perhaps it is not enough to simply
have the Bible as a starting point- it Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-74522455832397672482012-01-25T09:37:00.001-05:002012-01-25T10:06:43.486-05:00GLBT and The Salvation Army (Sweden)
Lt. Patrik Olterman
Commanding Officer
Malmo #1 Corps
Part 1 – Introduction From
the Swedish – HBTQ: Homosexual. Bisexual, Transgender, Queer movement in Sweden 2012
It was an ordinary
day (as if there are ordinary days for those who follow the Spirit’s leading),
and the Holy Spirit tells Philip that he must go down to the desert road. There
PhilipSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-77696692021741835812012-01-25T08:43:00.002-05:002012-01-25T14:52:57.771-05:00The Race of Your Life -2-
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Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-86343571611367894722012-01-24T18:00:00.005-05:002012-01-24T18:24:23.458-05:00The race of your Life! Part One
HEBREWS
12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-77885693923835528792012-01-24T05:29:00.002-05:002012-01-24T14:50:00.317-05:00Back to What's Tried and True Part Two
PART TWO
No civilian members, soldier, or
officer only!
Paul writes that ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ This is what the
church therefore has to represent.
Our congregation more so than others
must therefore represent this “come as you are” philosophy. We are not in
church to show off or to set out our Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-6374081625609011892012-01-23T11:07:00.002-05:002012-01-23T11:28:58.216-05:00BACK TO WHAT'S TRUE AND TRIED... Part One
On our recent visit to Stockholm
Sweden Major Glad and I joined in the Christmas Eve morning worship service in
one of Sweden's oldest and high profile corps. There were a total of 4
persons in uniform, the corps officers and we two. During the coffee hour that
followed we listened courteously to the many reasons why uniforms are no
longer worn, albeit without us having asked a single questionSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-83634369390907534452012-01-21T03:59:00.003-05:002012-01-24T14:53:19.318-05:00A FORMER'S VOICE GOES SILENT... (co-wrote Darkest England...
Frank Smith: Lost Voice of Mission….
The enigma of Frank Smith has intrigued me for years and it has been good to get an insight to this man through a paper given several years ago to the National Salvation Army Social Services Conference by Norman Murdoch.
If ever there was a lost voice of Mission within TSA it is Frank Smith. The one time Commissioner who led TSA work in the US and Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-39017330698436203702012-01-20T10:09:00.003-05:002012-01-20T10:17:41.770-05:00Baptism's purpose...
I will
speak at the Salvation Army today (on Baptism). Those who know that the
Salvation Army does not practice the baptism ritual may wonder where I’m headed and might be anxious about some of
these introductory words, but I'm not on a collision course with either the
Bible or the teachings of my church.
In the
church calendar today celebrates the Feast of Epiphany, where the texts of
Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-24741352476259215682012-01-18T13:18:00.003-05:002012-01-18T13:18:44.039-05:00
A question that’s been on my mind lately has been this; "What is a Salvation Army Officer?” More specifically, what makes a Salvation Army Officer different from anyone else? Indeed, are they different at all (apart from the obvious red epaulettes)? I've observed an emphasis upon the "call to Officership”, accompanied by an attempt to understand the place of ordination within our movementSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-25131677810569882042012-01-17T12:48:00.001-05:002012-01-17T12:48:08.833-05:00OFFICERSHIP: A LIFETIME CALL?
Officership: A Lifetime Call?
Statistics don’t lie—for an increasing number of people, the years of service as an officer are short
April 15, 2010 by Majors Wendy and Ian Swan
-----------------------------------------
In an age when most people change careers four or five times, can we realistically expect a lifetime commitment to officership? Does God call different people for Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-60126286013766431512012-01-16T06:43:00.000-05:002012-01-16T06:50:21.636-05:00Have I grieved thee with an ill kept vow?
Every Salvationist publicly states at the time of their enrolment that they ‘believe and will live by the truths of the word of God expressed in The Salvation Army’s eleven articles of faith.’ In addition every soldier solemnly declares that they “will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, they will show the spirit of Salvationism whether in Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-90844998097458406632012-01-15T03:21:00.000-05:002012-01-15T03:22:41.073-05:00Leadership in the Army is no longer one-size-fits-all
If we truly accept the “priesthood of all believers,” then we need opportunities for lay leaders to take a greater role.
BY MAJOR IAN SWAN
It is entirely reasonable to expect that officership will be a lifelong commitment. After all, it’s not a calling to a particular service path or vocation, but rather a covenanted life—or, to use the language of the Church, a joining of holy orders. Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-92025419023852177592012-01-13T03:25:00.001-05:002012-01-15T03:24:39.208-05:00KEEP IN STEP! (http://www.armybarmy.com/blog.html)
My friend recounted to me a conversation with a SA Cadet who doesn't believe a few of the SA doctrines. Not a big deal, you say? Well, this person has covenanted with God based on the SA doctrines.
He has applied for officership based partly on his belief in these doctrines. He feels 'called' to officership, which is basically the vocation of establishing these doctrines in the hearts of Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-36005105023984247622012-01-12T04:40:00.002-05:002012-01-12T04:51:15.265-05:00Bang Bang You’re Dead
An Army that shoots its wounded won’t survive, says Captain C.
I had the pleasure of conversing with one of the Army’s world renowned brass band composers this last week. He is a very clever man who has written some of the best music of the past forty years but he is no longer a salvationist. You see he made a mistake, quite a big one I suppose by some people’s standards, but certainly Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-22945659602522559352012-01-11T01:21:00.002-05:002012-01-11T01:25:26.166-05:00GOD CAN AND DOES HEAL...
Does anyone else notice particularly when the anniversary of their Covenant Day and Commissioning fall on the “right” day of the week? For any other Proclaimers of Salvation reading this, Tuesday is the 20th. May, & Friday is the 23rd., which were our Covenant & Commissioning Days respectively, in 1980. I really can’t believe it was so long ago.
A few thoughts on healing, from my own Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-37580752071615316082012-01-08T23:30:00.000-05:002012-01-09T03:45:30.822-05:00
Ukrainian example of the Freedom Prize; reads Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter (Daily News) noting that Olexander Tymoshenko seeks political asylum in the Czech Republic. He is the husband of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (famous for her braids). Her circumstances are described as though, "living in a torture cell."
Why does this happen in a free Ukraine?
One thing Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-79443756808741778112012-01-08T14:24:00.000-05:002012-01-09T03:46:14.691-05:00The High Cost of Freedom
The question is not what the cost is, but rather who pays, and whose freedom is purchased.
The Arab democratization wave actualizes the political freedom’s dilemma. It should not only be won, but also realized. Young students, men and women, gave their lives to formulate and build a new future, but the established power structures appear to maintain control.
The "free market" direction Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-58125054915126293392012-01-08T04:09:00.000-05:002012-01-08T04:17:16.623-05:00Comments from the more than one thousand recent visitors
Below is a sampling of the more than 70 comments received from the more than 500 visitors these last few days; 49 on this site and more than 25 on our private FB site.
-------------------------
Each to their own! The
Salvation Army in the USA has always been apart from the wider international SA
with internal powers and special privileges that not other territory in the
world has. Its Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-53718230287277327022012-01-07T02:59:00.000-05:002012-01-07T03:30:33.991-05:00Positional Clashing -2-
"To
prevent birth is anticipated murder; it makes little difference whether one
destroys a life already born or does away with it in its nascent stage. The one
who will be a man is already one." Tertullian (160 - 220 CE)
"Whether or not abortion should be
legal turns on the answer to the question of whether and at what point [an
embryo or] a fetus is a person. This is a question that cannot Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-39310942154483059472012-01-04T03:37:00.002-05:002012-01-06T01:15:19.243-05:00POSITIONAL CLASHING OF THE CYMBALS!
KATHLEEN GILBERT
LifeSiteNews.com) -
Leaders of the American branch of the Salvation Army have criticized the decision by the international branch of the church to condone abortion in some cases, saying that the new position does not reflect the beliefs of members in the United States.
WorldNetDaily revealed that American leaders were infuriated by a Salvation Army’s Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-25975757037796864312012-01-03T04:06:00.002-05:002012-01-03T10:07:22.669-05:00A NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW CHALLENGES IN LATVIA
Riga Prison inmates awaiting The SA's worship team.
A new year has just begun. What will it bring?
These are natural thoughts on a New Year's Day. The Salvation Army in Latvia is facing major challenges.
-We have just closed our orphanage in Riga and terminated employees. The genesis of a new outreach effort will soon begin to take shape.
-A new session at Officer School Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-61354158049213664062012-01-02T09:36:00.000-05:002012-01-02T09:38:07.479-05:00
My Covenants
Our Mercy Seat at Home
God's covenants with Israel stood whether they were in the land or out...they weren't based on location, but relation. He was their God and they were his people. They stood for those who were unfaithful and those who were faithful. He rewarded those who were faithful and put to testing those who weren't.In this last 16 - 18 months I haven't Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-77548325768231640382011-12-30T04:13:00.003-05:002011-12-31T01:34:51.872-05:00IN WITH THE NEW -3-
And that brings me thirdly to the outcome of his appeal. Supposing we do present our bodies to God, what will happen? The answer is in the remarkable contrast of the next verse, "Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." The basic contrast, I think you will agree, is absolutely clear. On the one hand is the fashion of the world which is superficial andSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-31338663699643797972011-12-30T04:08:00.002-05:002011-12-30T04:16:23.891-05:00IN WITH THE NEW -2-
Biography
Dr. John Stott was rector for 25 years of All Souls Church, London, the largest Anglican church in Britain. He is widely known for his university missions, his seminars for pastors and students in the Third World countries, and his continuing service in World Evangelization out of the Lausanne Congress. Dr. Stott is founder and director of the unique London Institute for ContemporarySven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-56950720779994737852011-12-29T01:23:00.003-05:002011-12-29T01:43:46.976-05:00IN WITH THE NEW Part -1-
I've come to talk ... about Jesus Christ. I wonder why it is—perhaps you have asked yourself this question many times—I wonder why it is that so many of us seem to be such abysmal failures. We mean well. We try hard. We have good intentions. We make good resolutions, whether at the beginning of a year or the beginning of a month, a week, or whatever it may be, but somehow we don't seem ableSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-35039018053065145572011-12-27T13:33:00.000-05:002011-12-27T13:34:13.780-05:00SINGLE SPOUSE OFFICERSHIP; LATVIA
SSO Sweden & Latvia is one of TSA Territories that adopted the Single Spouse Officer provision. We will be sharing information on the effectiveness of the provision, pro and con, from all of the territories where the provision was endorsed and adopted.
__________________________________________________
LATVIA December 19, 2011
My name
is Aivis Ilsters and I live and minister in Latvia, Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-4814334489302426012011-12-25T18:02:00.000-05:002011-12-25T18:02:38.425-05:00My Most Precious Gift
Last night we hosted a Christmas party for our Latvian children- 40+- dancing, games, singing and a movie highlighting our 8 previous visits... then came SANTA! The children literally jumped for joy!The children's toys and games were doled out, too slow for some, by Santa (Derek) and the childrens' faces said it all; "thank you American, British and Swedish donors"! All except one...Natasha,Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-45839374725891882422011-12-22T13:51:00.001-05:002011-12-22T14:46:04.578-05:00Mary’s SongFrom the Commanding Officer; Birkenhead, UK
December 2011
Could you imagine Christmas without any carols? Going through the whole of December without hearing ‘o little town of Bethlehem’ or singing ‘silent night, holy night’. Sometimes when I am out collecting as the band is playing carols people will say to me – now I know Christmas is really on its way as they listen to the band playing.A Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-2956257197597308772011-12-22T10:51:00.000-05:002011-12-22T10:51:00.964-05:00CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY TO SKANGALI AND SEDA
… and so the day of days arrived, There was an air of anticipation and great excitement and that was amongst us, the adults when there wasn’t yet a child in sight! More presents needed to be wrapped … a few needed to be purchased as we struggled to find some for older children. So off we went for a quick visit to Vermeira...
There was the aroma of baking coming from the kitchen as homemade Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-25876484797408732312011-12-21T02:50:00.000-05:002011-12-21T02:50:23.149-05:00THE FSAOF MISSION TO LATVIA 3
Today has been a relatively quiet day in Skangali as we waited for the arrival of the Christmas presents for the children. We had already brought them to Latvia back in August but since then they had been in hiding from curious eyes.
We received them this afternoon when it was all hands on deck with Sven, Derek and Glad as we looked through what there was, sorted and beganSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-80896087358062292662011-12-20T03:46:00.001-05:002011-12-20T03:47:50.854-05:00THE FSAOF MISSION TO LATVIA
Sunday morning found us at the Riga 1 Corps.
This was a first for us as we have usually been to Riga II on a Saturday and at Seda on the Sunday, so this was a really refreshing change. I was looking forward to worship, this fourth Sunday in advent and I was not disappointed.
As we entered the hall it was warm and welcoming as were the people. The Christmas décor was stunning in its Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-29946858963674547682011-12-19T00:58:00.007-05:002011-12-19T07:29:13.736-05:00THE BUBBLE!
LEAVING HOME
3 LARGE SUITCASES BEING LOADED BY A VERY LARGE CHAUFFEUR
THE BEATLES WAVE FAREWELL TO US AT JOHN LENNON AIRPORT LIVERPOOL
BAGGAGE COLLECTION ON ARRIVAL; RIGA AIRPORT
LET'S GO!
Day One: Friday / Saturday
‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’ … I absolutely believe this and have been singing that line for weeks, I don’t know anymore of the song, but I certainly know Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-42171187163770576622011-12-16T05:50:00.002-05:002011-12-16T05:53:11.113-05:00What will be the role of the non-officer spouse? Part 5On arriving at my officer spouse’s new appointment I was approached by a member of the shrinking corps fellowship (steady annual 2 decade decline) and asked if I’d like to join the band and songsters. Word had reached the corps that I’d been a staff bandsman, Bandmaster, Songster Leader, composer, etc.
I was in a wheelchair, disabled following a stroke 2 years earlier, and began my response; “Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-5217964888550698782011-12-13T06:16:00.003-05:002011-12-14T13:30:43.612-05:00Single Spouse Officership - ONE MISSION? (part 4)“We need Officers ... Officership by its nature is about availability and mobility. In a worldwide Salvation Army we need people who are prepared to serve anywhere and be of service to the cause of Christ, with all their gifts. We need people who are available. So the more officers the better! We need officers who see this not as a profession in a secular sense but as sacrificial service. Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-33581762410984811422011-12-10T01:23:00.002-05:002011-12-10T01:58:26.759-05:00Single Spouse Officership - HELP WANTED-HELP NEEDED- HELP! (part 3)
In the chapel on the King of King's campus, twelve well-dressed female students sit on the front pew, their hair perfectly groomed, their nails painted a modest pink. Bibles are open on each lap. Though nobody is preaching and the room is all but empty, they nod and smile in silence, occasionally throwing in a demure "That's right" or "Amen." Finally, an instructor with a stopwatch yells, "Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-35795921357770297052011-12-09T02:16:00.000-05:002011-12-09T02:16:22.287-05:00Single Spouse Officership (part 2 b)SSO celebrates individual calling to ministry as officers in The Salvation Army and requires that each candidate for SSO be evaluated on their own merit.
SSO (retirement option) facilitates continuance of service by the active officer when his/her officer spouse retires at normal age or retires early.
In the case of SSO (retirement option) the single spouse officer is married to a retired Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-75202720033105848552011-12-08T01:25:00.004-05:002011-12-09T01:06:15.583-05:00Single Spouse Officership (part 2)
at·tri·tionnoun1. a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength: Our active officer numbers are decreasing rapidly; a high rate of attrition because so many have retired or resigned
2. a wearing down or weakening of resistance, especially as aresult of continuous pressure or harassment: The enemy schemed; surrounded us in part, infiltrated our movement and conducted a war of attrition.Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-52839859384213923882011-12-06T00:24:00.005-05:002011-12-06T03:56:29.478-05:00On the need for trained non-officer spouses (intro)
According to the Harvard Business School, the cost of making the wrong hire can be between 3 and 5 times an employee’s annual salary. These figures highlight that the true value of a business is built on a strong foundation of recruitment and retention expertise that ensures the highest possible success.
Ought TSA reassess the Recruitmemt-Selection-Retention process?
I'mSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-11041824828045247442011-12-04T00:51:00.000-05:002011-12-05T17:04:41.911-05:00SHOUT TO THE LORD (LYRICS)Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-62149286054279292112011-12-03T02:42:00.004-05:002011-12-07T01:41:17.477-05:00Choosing Beliefs vs. Submitting to Beliefs.
Sometimes my columns are picked up and posted other places and one such posting gave me the idea for this column. My denomination, The Wesleyan Church, hosts a blog discussion and picked up my column on hell-Bell. I was prompted to go there when a couple of anonymous folk called me out, insisting I state my own “stand” on hell. That sparked the idea for this column.
Since I host discussions Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-21302065938536199762011-11-29T22:16:00.003-05:002011-12-06T00:53:53.673-05:00Who Is Called?A question that’s been on my mind lately has been this; "What is a Salvation Army Officer?” More specifically, what makes a Salvation Army Officer different from anyone else? Indeed, are they different at all (apart from the obvious red epaulettes)? I've observed an emphasis upon the "call to Officership”, accompanied by an attempt to understand the place of ordination within our movement. All ofSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-19647672901621825152011-11-29T10:42:00.001-05:002011-11-29T10:44:09.468-05:00NON-OFFICER SPOUSE POLL
IF YOU ARE A NON-OFFICER SPOUSE PLEASE COMPLETE THE SURVEY IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN. THANK YOU(THE BLOG SOFTWARE ALLOWS ONLY ONE VOTE PER PERSON).Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-13075819668617780142011-11-28T09:43:00.000-05:002011-11-28T09:43:10.232-05:00Snapshot: The next 10 years in the American churchSabbatical can do funny things to people, can’t it? I’ve returned from mine and there are many things that I feel the Lord is bringing to the front of my mind (one of which I will begin a blog series on next week). But one of those things is simply wondering, as a Futurist, what the next 10 years of the American church will look like?
We’re seeing many things right now as we survey the landscape Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-81296511842301665342011-11-26T11:13:00.001-05:002011-11-26T11:15:27.888-05:00Radical Gratitude: Grateful in Tough Times
A few years ago, university psychologists conducted a research project on gratitude and thanksgiving. They divided participants into three groups. People in the first group practiced daily exercises like writing in a gratitude journal. They reported higher levels of alertness, determination, optimism, energy, and less depression and stress than the control group. Unsurprisingly, they were also Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-25765647559754228202011-11-24T12:42:00.005-05:002011-11-25T06:22:26.861-05:00A FSAOF THANKSGIVING
This is one of my favourite times of the year, the approach to Thanksgiving and the Christmas season. I’m sure many of you with family in the USA are with family during this Thanksgiving holiday. It is a time of reflection, giving thanks for treasured memories. I have been privileged to visit my almost 90-year old mother these last few days and will travel over the course of the next week to Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-66426374208286179742011-11-23T11:14:00.000-05:002011-11-23T11:14:23.762-05:00Mad Enough To Walk On Water ! Part Two
· A Picture of Panic
This is a picture of peril and it is a picture of panic! Momentary panic. We thought they were scared of the storm, but no, that was nothing compared to the panic that seized hold of them as they saw what looked like a ghost coming towards them.
We are so quick to panic at times, some yes, are more gifted in the art of panicking than others. Some of us may manage Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-90688365849136712332011-11-20T21:16:00.002-05:002011-11-20T22:48:02.570-05:00Mad Enough To Walk On Water ! Part One
(Extreme Living)
Is there anything in the world that you would never, ever do and yet would love to do?
For example, when I lived in Surrey my house was on a hill and from my living room window, during the summer months I would often see hot air balloons rising up into the sky and floating across till out of view. I used to sit there watching, thinking; ‘I would so love to do that’ to go up in Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-69387225057429311302011-11-18T14:48:00.000-05:002011-11-18T14:48:45.375-05:00THE UGLY DUCKLINGIn April 1887, The Salvation Army ‘opened fire’ in Denmark, homeland of the master story teller Hans Christian Anderson. As in many other countries, including the United States, the working class and the underprivileged welcomed Salvationists gladly. They were grateful for the good news of the Gospel and for the practical help offered to the needy.
But more often than not, the Salvationists Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-70230688996934618052011-11-16T06:19:00.002-05:002011-11-16T06:31:14.953-05:00There is no such thing as a historic ‘Palestinian people” living in the Middle East
My May 28th article, “Five Simple Truths about the Mideast Conflict,” elicited some passionate responses from those on both sides of the debate, with the first point in particular proving to be the most controversial: “There is no such thing as a historic ‘Palestinian people” living in the Middle East.’”Let’s unpack two of the most common responses to that assertion, separating myth from fact. Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-53830657737912887182011-11-14T16:40:00.001-05:002011-11-14T16:44:22.203-05:0021 Skills of Great PreachersI came across the following list by Keith Roberts a few days ago on the site Preaching Points. Like the author of the post, I am amazed to think back over the great preaching I've heard over my short lifetime (short compared to Methuselah, at least), which I will soon post about on my prayer blog (here). And as I look over Keith's list of twenty-one skills of great preachers, I'd have to say thatSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-92229208155420293162011-11-12T17:00:00.001-05:002011-11-16T06:18:24.519-05:00South Korea changes rolls.
Add caption
The Salvation is active in 124 countries around the world. The financing of the work is built around the receiving countries accepting assistance from the so called supporting country. This year South Korea moves over to the supporting country roll.
This means that South Korea will in the future no longer need supporters to operate their childrens homes and other institutions. Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-42098567005684028472011-11-09T08:54:00.003-05:002011-11-10T21:38:22.683-05:00The Salvation Army in Korea enters its Second Century Part 1 of 2There exists a growing, vibrant and ultra-modern Salvation Army who hardly know of any barriers when it comes to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. The 100 year anniversary Jubilee Congress was quite different than those celebrated in the USA or Europe. It was aimed primarily at people "outside" of the Salvation Army.
TSA had seized on the enormous "Seoul Plaza" in the heart of the 10-Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-70556337430004171482011-11-08T10:04:00.000-05:002011-11-08T10:04:14.351-05:00WHAT A WASTE ! Part Three
• What a Memory
Finally, we see in verse 9 something incredible being said. Jesus says of Mary, ‘what she has done will be told in memory of her.’
What she did for Jesus was never to be forgotten, and it hasn’t. Over 2000 years later we are still talking about what Mary did that day; still reflecting on it and applying it to our own lives.
What a waste? NO. What an investment andSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-65331056626877628432011-11-07T20:17:00.000-05:002011-11-07T20:17:32.205-05:00WHAT A WASTE ! Part Two of Three
• What an Investment
As Judas and others criticise what Mary has done, see what Jesus says in verse 6: ‘leave her alone – why are you bothering her, she has done a beautiful thing.’ A beautiful thing!
When we live our lives as an offering poured out to Christ it is never a waste – it is a beautiful thing.
When you’re cooking for the luncheon club, or washing the dishes or cleaning the Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-9403401893873176432011-11-06T20:09:00.001-05:002011-11-06T20:11:07.459-05:00WHAT A WASTE ! Part One of Three
Mark Chapter 14 verse 3-9
In Mark chapter 14 we have one of the most beautiful stories ever told; a simple and yet profound act of love and devotion. Here we find Mary giving over to Jesus everything she has to give to him, an outward expression of something so deep, precious and internally profound. We see an example of the heart, mind, soul and strength kind of love that is spoken of Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-17589792369460041512011-11-06T08:36:00.001-05:002011-11-06T08:40:06.909-05:00Should the Salvation Army be distinctive? Part four of FourAnother aspect of Salvation Army distinctiveness is our uniform, drawn attention to by the Territorial Soldier’s Advisory Council (Southern Territory – Australia ,.TSAC) when it says: “The Salvation Army needs to be continually visible within the wider community, and our distinctive uniform helps us to build upon the recognition and respect for ‘the Salvos’ that already exists.”[13] Some of theSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-44762804621120635912011-11-04T03:25:00.000-04:002011-11-04T03:25:20.690-04:00Should the Salvation Army be distinctive? Part Three of Four
What about Salvation Army service? Are the services provided by the Salvation Army so different from that of other organisations? In terms of social services, other churches do similar things to us and have often been doing so for as long as the Army has exited, e.g. Anglicare[7] helped over 400,000 in NSW alone last year and has been going since 1859. Uniting Care is of a similar size to Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-74256605113939176472011-11-02T10:54:00.000-04:002011-11-02T10:54:45.620-04:00Should the Salvation Army be distinctive? Part Two of Four
Again in Philippians 2:1-4 we read: “1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-79275489497287781172011-10-31T06:41:00.001-04:002011-10-31T06:43:25.598-04:00Should the Salvation Army be distinctive? Part One of FourThe Salvation Army of today often describes itself as distinctive, and proclaims that this is something to be encouraged and of which to be proud. Various aspects of the Army’s work and its characteristics are described as distinctive. It is even seen as a means of Church growth. Recently on the WWW a Google search for “distinctive” and “Salvation Army” produced 955 thousand hits.When you Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-91680870881671985172011-10-28T10:56:00.004-04:002011-10-28T11:17:51.482-04:00LINKOPING CORPS SWEDEN CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO
Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-52701152982285991422011-10-27T07:46:00.004-04:002011-10-27T07:58:04.659-04:00MORE than 50 church leaders
Sign the new marriage petition before the ALP Conference
Posted by ACL Team on October 18th, 2011
New petition to save marriage
Targets ALP National Conference
Sign today and pass on to your friends
This past weekend ACL held its annual National Conference in Canberra. It was the best we’ve had.
We heard from Australian Labor Party national executive member Joe de Bruyn that the ALP is under Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-75778679194549271882011-10-26T04:59:00.000-04:002011-10-26T04:59:03.039-04:00That Annoying Little "Commissioned Minister" StatusOctober. 2011
In the LCMS, (The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., founded on the teachings of Martin Luther) we've always had a strong doctrine of what it means to be called. It was a term reserved for our clergy, our male clergy (we only have male clergy).
Ministers have certain Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-33342533089420711832011-10-22T05:39:00.003-04:002011-10-26T04:57:06.077-04:00Would You Attend a Same-Sex Marriage Ceremony?Al Mohler clarifies his views on attending same-sex weddings, but more questions arise.
by Url Scaramanga
Last week I wrote a brief report about Al Mohler's dissatisfaction with Joel Osteen's answers during his CNN interview with Piers Morgan. Osteen said that while he would not officiate a same-sex marriage ceremony, he was open to attending one if it involved close friends. Dr. Mohler said Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-60249318639956419192011-10-20T11:31:00.000-04:002011-10-20T11:31:08.051-04:00A CONCERT PIANISTNicolaj Vollburg who recently turned 42, has a solid classical music education from the Malmö Academy of Music behind him. He studied at the Academy for five years and was a fellow student with Daniel Viklund, and they are once again classmates.
“Directly following graduation from college, I began freelancing as a concert pianist and conductor”, says Nicolai, and says that “there were many tripsSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-9892410320376567032011-10-19T09:05:00.000-04:002011-10-19T09:05:25.953-04:00Salvation Army's School for Officers - SWEDENPart One
This year, four men and one woman who affirmed the call to be full time Servants of God in the Salvation Army have chosen to leave their previous professions to study at the officers' school to become Salvation Army officers. Waiting for the five new cadets are two years of intensive study at the School for Officer Training, which include distance learning at home, regular ‘on-campus Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-52753394935052183932011-10-17T04:02:00.001-04:002011-10-17T04:03:55.344-04:00LATVIA- January, June and August 2011 INCOME/EXPENSESSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-35311466794767286112011-10-16T12:28:00.002-04:002011-10-16T12:28:51.299-04:00THE UNIFORM DEFINES MY VOCATION Part One
Why should we wear uniforms?
I am constantly challenged to answer the question why we (Salvationists) should wear uniforms. Some say; “I can be just as good a Christian out of uniform as in!” And of course they’re right, one can. But I still maintain there are some very valid arguments for wearing a SA uniform. I will share just a few…
The vast majority of religious communities have some sort ofSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-11073959473851917382011-10-15T11:14:00.000-04:002011-10-15T11:14:04.389-04:00The best laugh I've had in a while came from one of our pastors who wanted to resign and the Lord put a stop to it. He sat in my office this week and told us what happened.
Under the stress of the church situation -- every church has its situation -- the pastor felt he had taken all he could stand. So, he sat down and wrote a letter to every member of his congregation. He didn't exactly resign,Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-27227312772364437272011-10-14T04:10:00.001-04:002011-10-14T04:17:30.774-04:00LEAN ON ME...Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-43969128262560256742011-10-13T00:41:00.000-04:002011-10-13T00:41:54.529-04:00NEW OUTREACH TO BOOST SAGGING RESPONSE Part Four
The third thing I wanted Sven to bring with him was himself. As I said at the beginning of this article I had always thought ‘Single Spouse’ Officership was a great concept and could open the door to ministry for many who previously could have had a call to ministry denied them through the ranks of The Salvation Army, but never felt it was for me. I had always believed if I was ever to have Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-508195992145113322011-10-12T14:37:00.000-04:002011-10-12T14:37:52.786-04:00NEW OUTREACH TO BOOST SAGGING RESPONSE Part Three
Your spear … ‘the’ rug … and yourself” …
Out of a whole houseful of things collected over a period of many years, and having visited more than 70 countries these were the three things I wanted Sven to bring to be a special part of our home.
Any of you who know or have met Sven will know that he is full of stories and usually takes great delight in sharing them and it was because of such Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-29150265073145710902011-10-10T06:34:00.001-04:002011-10-10T06:34:46.618-04:00Elegant Reflections on an Elegant Ministry: John Stott, 1921-2011
Several members of the BibleMesh project have posted meaningful reflections on the life and career of Anglican expositor John Stott, who just went home to glory. I commend them all to you. Below are two that speak to a personal connection with the man, who influenced generations of Christians.—————————-One of Dr. Stott’s many initiatives was to establish the London Lectures focusing on Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-80066114076440703002011-10-08T15:32:00.001-04:002011-10-08T15:38:14.416-04:00Sunday is Pastor Appreciation DayI have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 4 NIV)Sunday is Pastor Appreciation Day (October 9). Let me take this opportunity to encourage you to pray for your Officer, and then on Sunday, affirm them. Being an Officer is one of the toughest jobs on the planet, but the Apostle John says it can also be the most joyful: “I have no greater joy than to hear Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-85167110771620982552011-10-06T11:57:00.001-04:002011-10-06T11:59:24.609-04:00The Salvation Army has lost a visionary
Steve Jobs, the visionary "geek" who changed the way the world looked at technology, has died. This is the news I woke up to this morning.
STEVE JOBS 1955-2011
The father of four started Apple Computer with high school friend Steve Wozniak in his garage in 1976 but was forced out a decade later. He returned in the mid-1990s and transformed Apple into one of the world's most powerful Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-77371913461457309112011-10-03T09:20:00.000-04:002011-10-03T09:20:01.015-04:00NEW OUTREACH TO BOOST SAGGING RESPONSE Part Two
Nearly four years ago my life took a very different and unexpected turn. Up until that point I was single, happily single, fulfilled in ministry, fulfilled in life, fulfilled in myself as a person and was not looking for or expecting anything else. I loved my then appointment as Corps Officer at Exeter Temple and was thoroughly enjoying being able to put everything I could into it. Then, Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-11374045585677500282011-09-30T09:32:00.003-04:002011-09-30T09:59:42.682-04:00NEW OUTREACH TO BOOST SAGGING RESPONSE Part One
Dear Friends, I thought now that this new blog initiative has been up and running for two weeks it was time for me to introduce myself to you and share with you something of ‘my story’.
At the moment I find myself in what must be the best appointment in the Salvation Army world; Divisional Candidates Officer for the North Western Division of the UK Territory.
I have only been in this Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-88891609602634282592011-09-29T09:04:00.000-04:002011-09-29T09:04:40.044-04:00Can You Make a Difference in the Life of Your Minister?Celebrate Clergy Appreciation Month in October
October is Clergy Appreciation Month (CAM) and the perfect time to commit to praying for and encouraging our ministers on a regular basis. This year, several ministries, denominations, publishers, bookstores and church groups are participating in this significant event, including the National Day of Prayer Task Force (NDP). As Shirley Dobson, Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-16136936153999920682011-09-28T11:53:00.001-04:002011-09-28T11:54:19.534-04:00Why are so many pastors leaving the ministry?
Most pastors can point to a specific time or setting in which they received a call to pastoral ministry. Often they pursued the calling despite the warnings of others. They believed this calling was from God, and they chose to follow it. Their preparation typically has involved years of education and continued development. The journey began as a response to a personal call.
As I reflect on 35 Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-78531863940571138012011-09-28T04:29:00.001-04:002011-09-28T04:31:04.190-04:00Megachurch pastor Rob Bell seeks life beyond the pulpitFor pastors with ambitions to reach huge audiences, there's often no better platform than the megachurch, which has given rise to powerhouse media empires from T.D. Jakes to Max Lucado to Joel Osteen and many others.
Megachurch pastor and author Rev. Rob Bell's new book, "Love Wins," is causing a firestorm among evangelicals for his controversial views on hell.
Enlarge
Megachurch pastor and Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-40649582917315423472011-09-26T02:34:00.000-04:002011-09-26T02:34:29.998-04:00They shall come from the ???First let me say thank you for accepting me into your Facebook fellowship. I have read many of the (more than 600) posts and have been blessed to know that I am not alone and God still loves and uses us even when ignored by TSA.
My husband and I were commissioned in 1987 (Messengers of Peace) in Los Angeles, CA. We were always assigned to corps that were struggling and God worked greatly in Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-39420288406504847322011-09-25T05:58:00.003-04:002011-09-25T06:06:22.610-04:00Close Enough to Hear God Breathe
Close Enough to Hear God BreatheClose Enough to Hear God Breathe, by Greg Paul, took me on a short roller-coaster ride of expectation, suspicion, surprise and fulfillment.
I was drawn to the book by the title: Close Enough to Hear God Breathe sounded like just the sort of book I longed for. I am drawn to to books that draw me deeper into God, the reading of which feels as much like prayer as itSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-74783230983661207442011-09-22T04:37:00.000-04:002011-09-22T04:37:36.849-04:00First to know Thee, then to serve Thee
There are certain distinct scents that move our senses to recollect memorable experiences, sometimes many decade's old...
Last week I was busy cleaning house, packing up family heirlooms and things collected while stationed and working on four different continents. Among the items selected to gift to my children and grandchildren was a family seal that was used many years ago. With it was a wax Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-686776980152957132011-09-21T02:05:00.000-04:002011-09-21T02:05:41.096-04:00THE OLD WELLS conclusionTHE OLD WELLS
(Uppdraget p. 40-41, ‘The Commission’)
“Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.”Genesis 26:18 (NIV)
And then we have the well of gladness. (Joy and happiness) I have been to meetings where I haven’t heard a single ‘hallelujah’, Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-8283445758540941012011-09-20T05:24:00.000-04:002011-09-20T05:24:25.637-04:00THE OLD WELLS -3-
THE OLD WELLS’
(Uppdraget p. 39, ‘The Commission’ -3-)
“Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.”Genesis 26:18 (NIV)
There is another well (fountain) that we need to discover anew – the offer or donation well. Perhaps Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-65960185227859910832011-09-19T18:11:00.000-04:002011-09-19T18:11:46.098-04:00THE OLD WELLS -2-Aggressive Christianity
(Uppdraget p. 38, ‘The Commission’ -2-)
“Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.”Genesis 26:18 (NIV)_____________________________________________________
The thoughtless or shortsighted person might think or say: “Yes,Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-80735398303934444922011-09-19T01:20:00.002-04:002011-09-19T01:26:31.091-04:00'THE OLD WELLS’“Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.”
Genesis 26:18 (NIV)
Isaac – like Abraham and Jacob – was one of the Israel’s children’s progenitor fathers. We read that God spoke about Himself as Isaac, Abraham and Jacob’s God.
Abraham has been Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-424223312748943142011-09-17T05:54:00.001-04:002011-09-17T05:55:30.963-04:00We are called to be pioneers of the Kingdom
GENERAL E WICKBERGInternational Leader of TSA 1969-1974
A series of articles will be posted beginning September 19, 2011 translated from General Wickberg's book; THE COMMISSION (UPPDRAGET), 1990"There are certain things which The Salvation Army can spare and still be The Salvation Army -- citadels and other meeting places, for instance. Money, too, can be done without. The advantages of Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-80639303385507185682011-09-16T05:10:00.007-04:002011-09-16T05:30:22.238-04:00Questions Matter; MORE BELL
Questions matter. They can help you to grow deeper in your knowledge of the truth and your love for God—especially when you’re dealing with the harder doctrines of the Christian faith. But questions can also be used to obscure the truth. They can be used to lead away just as easily as they can be used to lead toward. Ask EVE.Enter Rob Bell, a man who has spent much of the last seven years Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-88502300596242236292011-09-15T04:37:00.000-04:002011-09-15T04:37:07.810-04:00WHAT PRETTY A PEARL
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”Matthew 13.45Many of us who claim the name of Christ today are so in love with the world we cannot find an interest in the humble attributes of Christ. He asks too much. He isn’t worth the price. The cross and his suffering Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-84013991845454420912011-09-14T02:28:00.000-04:002011-09-14T02:28:11.378-04:00NEW COACH NEEDED
Leadership, TransformationJohn Feinstein recently wrote an article for The Sporting News regarding the turnover among coaches. He quoted heralded college coach Steve Spurrier as saying, “Coaching is a lot like preaching. After about nine or ten years you need to move on to another church. People have heard your message enough times that you need to find a different place to take your message.” Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-63904056570775490182011-09-13T06:57:00.000-04:002011-09-13T06:57:04.472-04:00DEATH SWARM -2-Death Swarm pt2
Before the death swarm laid me waste, like barren dessert or parched and dry riverbed, I didn't realize how deep my roots penetrated the earth. Down deep in the soil I sensed life movement. Ever so small, threadlike root fibers were moving, drawing nourishment, living, not dead. In the darkness and noise of the death swarm the power of clattering jaws could not reach my roots. Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-4487312300058148212011-09-12T15:11:00.009-04:002011-09-12T15:16:11.128-04:00DEATH SWARM Part -1-Death Swarm pt1If you know of a person who suffers from depression please read this seeking a new sense of understanding. I began the first writing of this piece about seven years ago. At the conclusion I will give some background and points of understanding.
My life was like a blade of wheat, for within me was the desire and the potential to reproduce and feed multitudes of hungry souls. I knewSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-62941660011769279882011-09-12T03:24:00.002-04:002011-09-12T06:09:09.266-04:00Love Wins 6
Rob Bell; A Bridge to Confusion? -6- Conclusion
Rob Bell’s fourth
chapter in his new book Love Wins: A
Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived
asks a great question: “Does God Get What God Wants?” This is the sixth
installment of a series of posts on the book. In this series, I intend to
expose the main lines of argument in each chapter and critically reflectSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-78535308239412953782011-09-11T16:23:00.000-04:002011-09-11T16:23:06.603-04:00
LOVE WINS, -4-
The Gospel
Coalition on Love Wins
At the recent Gospel Coalition Conference here in Chicago, a
session was dedicated to discussing Rob Bell's Love Wins. There are two links:
one is Don Carson's talk on
universalism and the other is a round table
discussion with Don Carson, Kevin DeYoung, Tim Keller, Stephen Um,
and Crawford Loritts.
This at the very least should be Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-3836281547818452182011-09-11T16:20:00.001-04:002011-09-11T16:21:00.246-04:00
Love Wins 5
I continue my interaction with Rob Bell’s book. Today we
come to the third chapter and the topic of hell.
The central point of this chapter is to argue that hell is a
real place. But, and most importantly, the reality of hell is not only or even
primarily a future place. Hell is present in the world today. Hell is the
outcome of people’s choices when they reject “the good Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-89909536045370241892011-09-11T16:20:00.000-04:002011-09-11T16:20:21.324-04:00MORE ON BELL
The firestorm around Rob Bell has grown considerably in the
last week. Now the leadership of his Mars Hill
Bible Church is rushing to his defense, and we're learning more
about the fight to publish his controversial new book.
Last week, we reported
that conservative Christian blogger Justin Taylor
suggested Bell's yet-to-be-released book, "Love Wins: A Book About Heaven,
Hell, and the FateSven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-51358612653534249062011-09-11T03:40:00.003-04:002011-09-11T03:40:35.058-04:00
Love Wins 3
Chapter one of Love Wins is a stream of consciousness. It is
a set of ideas in the form of questions that loosely hold together.
Reading the chapter I felt like I often do when talking to
my 4-year-old daughter. Mary, my budding conversationalist, beads ideas
together whose only relationship is that the one idea caused her to think of
another. But perhaps that’s the point. Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664794015642071822.post-87508416461981751172011-09-10T04:30:00.002-04:002011-09-10T04:32:57.150-04:00MORE WILLETT ON BELL CLANGERS -2-
This is the second part of a two-part post on Rob Bell’s
fifth chapter (“Dying to Live”) in his book Love Wins. The chapter is about the
meaning of Jesus death and resurrection. In the first part of the post I
discussed the Atonement. In this post I want to address his discussion of the
resurrection. In the section, he makes three points: (1) the idea of
resurrection is not new; it is the Sven Ljungholmnoreply@blogger.com0