WOW Holy Spirit Blow on US!

Just recently a copy of the Words of Life, a Salvation Army devotional book, has crossed my path again. Starting in the May to August book, retired General John Gowans is the new author. May’s subject is the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. I am starting off a bit late with the daily readings so will attempt to catch up, however the thoughts are provoking and I feel I must linger to catch what the Spirit is saying to me.

Today, I read two pages and they were titled, the Gifting of the Spirit and the Unchanging Spirit. Taking a few moments to ponder each, I thought of how all the different people involved in planning for and shaping the WOW Celebration have each brought their own unique gifts into this project. The devotional thought calls us to celebrate the unique gifting of others. I am thankful for the gifts that Major Rose-Marie Leslie brings to this project. She is a woman of detail and logic. So she is perfectly fit for the logistics part of this event. She has worked with registration and even as I write this today is making the table assignments. We have a full house and a waiting list. She will attempt to seat divisions together, make those with wheel chairs and walkers comfortable by seating them with a friend, alert honorees and guests about their special seating, and get everyone in without crowding them. God bless Rose-Marie!

Then there is the special gifting of Major Dawn Rocheleau who will sing the part of Clair, a lonely woman who is invited to Home League, receives the gift of Christ, and has her life transformed. In the olden days we used to do open airs together and I witnessed the gift she has been entrusted with. Dawn would start to sing and the crowds would gather to hear her. We just finished a film shoot that will be part of the on screen video; I notice she is also a great actress with a beautiful smile.

On Friday we filmed a couple of sections and our artist, Guy Noland is bringing his gifts of cinema and production to the WOW Celebration. Spending the day with him gave me a new appreciation for his work and I know he will do a wonderful, God honoring job.

I think of the gifts of Josh Cowing and Richard Brown who will make sure all the video works on the day. Barry Frost is the director and we are beginning to set up rehearsal times. Neil Smith and Ivor Bosanko are helping get the music pulled together. Major Ivy Hood and crew are pulling the flowers together and will add those special decorative touches. Commissioner Heather Lang is preparing a devotional message. Commissioner Pat Swyers and Lt. Colonel Diane O’Brien will portray past and present leadership. (I won’t spoil the surprise here.) Artists have created banners for their divisions and commands. Individuals, groups and corps will be featured as women who dared to do something new. The staff of the Anaheim Grove, including those who are working with us to take care of details, create and cook our meal, and make sure our day is more than wonderful.

Programs are being designed and going to the printer this week. Tickets are going in the mail. Last minute touches on the script are being made. The video is in production. Rehearsals will begin. Praise God for the Holy Spirit, who is working in each of us to make this day happen.

Now as I was contemplating this, the wind blew stronger than the still small breeze and the trees were disturbed. Leaves began to fall and I startled at the noise. Ah ha! Words of Jesus came to mind. He was describing how the Holy Spirit works in people. “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) The wind caught my attention and it was a God moment for me.

Let me explain. As I thought of these words of Jesus, I began to ponder them. The wind blows and we can see its effects and hear it pass, but we don’t control it. Sometimes the wind blows and is destructive like a hurricane or tornado its power is overwhelming to us. Other time the wind is gentle and sooths us during a hot day. The wind blows and stirs up things. The wind blows and fills the sails of a ship helping it on its journey. The wind blows and turns the blades of a windmill to produce water or energy. We cannot make the wind blow. We can counterfeit it by using fans, but there is nothing like a real wind blowing. We can make all the preparations for the wind to blow at the WOW Event, but only God can send the Holy Spirit to blow on us. My prayer is that God will send the Holy Spirit to come and blow to stir up our hearts, to fill our sails and help us on our journey. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will blow and help us be productive for the Kingdom of God. Dear God let you Holy Spirit blow on us as we meet together for the WOW Celebration in a way that will sooth us, fill us and help us on our journey.

If you are going to be there, join me in praying. If you are not able to be there, join me in praying. We want this time together to honor God and make a difference for Him.

Thank you!

It has been a while!

It has been a while since I have been able to blog. WOW! It has been a busy two months. Really busy since January. We are in the final stages before the territorial WOW Celebration.

Just this past week we have collected the reports from the divisions that tell us who has been chosen as their WOW Honorees and what kinds of things we will celebrate!

So, I am busy writing that information into the script and preparing the special awards for those individuals, groups or corps that were selected as the honorees because of their outstanding WOW efforts.

At the moment, I am in Dallas, Texas. We are here for the National Advisory Organizations Conference. There is a tremendous group of people here. Like all Salvation Army gatherings we are having a great day meeting and greeting people we have not seen in a long time. It is exciting. I know the same excitement will occur when our 1000 women gather together on June 9, 2007 for the WOW Celebration.

We are working hard to make sure that it will be a "happy" experience for all who attend that day. Since we are in Anaheim, we will make sure the Anaheim Grove is the "Happiest Place" in the world - not Disneyland. With your prayers and support that will happen. Since God will bless us beyond measure that day, we also plan for it to be an event where we celebrate God's Presence and it will be the "holiest" place as He meets with us in His special way.

By now you should have let your division know that you plan to attend. You cannot get into this meeting without a ticket. You can only get your ticket through your Divisional Women's Ministries Secretary or her representative. Each division has a limited amount of places to fill. Once those are full, you will have to go on your divisional waiting list.

As predicted, those spots are filling up and we have divisions who are having to turn people away or borrow some from another division. It is a nice problem to have.

There will be translation for Spanish speaking delegates. It will be a unique experience that will take about 3 hours and includes a great lunch. (Turkey Dinner)

For the opening welcome time - you are invited to bring your timbrels, ribbons and personal sized Army flags to wave. Cadets and Crestmont women officers are going to be in historic SA uniforms and will bring their timbrels as they participate in this Hallelujah celebration. We will lift up the Army Banner - Blood and Fire as we Fill the World with Glory!

Lots of surprises and blessings are planned.

We need your prayers and support! If you cannot join us - pray for us!

From February Please read!

We are really excited to see how the plans for the WOW! Celebration Event are developing. The purpose the of WOW! Celebration Event is for Salvation Army women from the Western Territory to come together to celebrate our past, present and future.

Past
Celebrations of the past will include a salute to 100 Years of Home League. It will also salute one "honoree" from each division and command who has caught the vision of the WOW Initiative. (Twelve honorees will receive recognition of their efforts for promoting Christ through the Women's Ministries programs or efforts from October 2006 to March 2007.) The honoree may be a single person, a women's ministries group, or even a corps who reached out and won women and their families to the Kingdom of God, The Salvation Army, and for the corps. We will also have historical photos of Women of the West so that we can recognize the work of women officers and soldiers specifically in the west. There will be video taped interviews, silent films and photos depicting the story of Women Out West.

So, do you have a story that should be told? We need to hear it soon. If you are a soldier in the corps you report to your Corps officers. If you are a corps officer with stories, you report to the Divisional Women's Ministries Secretaries, who will report to THQ. Or you can post a comment to the blog and we will figure it out!

Present
We will celebrate what God is doing now, yes NOW, in the live of women and in Women's Ministries. Do you have stories about what God is doing in your corps or life right now? I want to hear! Your story may appear in the blog or in the New Frontier. (Maybe even the War Cry!) We need stories and pictures for the WOW! Celebration Event!

Have you ever thought of doing a silent video? Well you should! Soon you will hear about the opportunity to tell the story of your WOW group in a short (2 to 3 minute) silent video. The best ones will be used at the WOW! Others could be posted on Youtube! WOW! Stories will tell about HOW God is moving in your group to reach new women, grow you as saints, or show how you are impacting your corps and community for Jesus sake.


Future
Through out WOW! there will be an opportunity to renew your commitment to God. We will lift up our prayers to God. (Remember the prayer vessels that are traveling over the territory? Those will be brought to WOW! and physically lifted up to God symbolizing our prayers. We will BOW before the Lord in worship.


Seek the Lord - NOW - with all your heart and soul - WOW - and build His Kingdom!

If you want to attend the WOW! Celebration Event (June 9, 2007) you must let your DWMS know today! Each division only has a limited number of seats and once those are spoken for that is it! The cost is $25. A ticket is required to enter the gates.

Right now there is an ART Contest where officers, soldiers and employees have been invited to submit art work that could be used in the program, or as a logo, for WOW! Ask your DWMS for details today!

More from the General

Our General has sent a pastoral letter and his theme is victory. This portion spoke to me:

He has spoken to us about victory. In preparing yourself for Good Friday and Easter Day why not read again the early chapters of the Book of Revelation? Recently I revisited the seven short letters to the churches that are found in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. Each letter has a powerful, warning message, but I urge you to search for the wonderful promises to those who are victorious for Christ.

Two churches (Smyrna and Philadelphia) receive warm commendation from the Lord, but five (Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea) do not. Two have victory, but five have known defeat.

The church at Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) faced persecution, slander, and poverty but they remained truly ‘rich’ as they lived victoriously in Christ despite everything. Jesus promised them ‘the crown of life’, the laurels of victory! That same crown can be yours, and mine too!

The church at Philadelphia (3:7-13) was affirmed by the Lord because they had kept his word and had not denied his name, even though they had ‘little strength’ to call their own (v. 8). Notice the promise in verse 12: the overcomer, the victor, will be made a ‘pillar in the temple of my God’. How we long to be victors in Christ! It can be done!

The church at Ephesus (2:1-7) had a liking for hard work and refused to tolerate false teaching, but they had forsaken their ‘first love’ and were now commanded to ‘do the things you did at first’ (v. 5). They are given a wonderful promise: ‘To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life’ (v.7). There is eternal life if we are victorious! It is offered to us all!

The church at Pergamum (2:12-17) had stood firm in persecution, but had allowed false teaching to infiltrate their ranks. Again, the Lord holds out a gracious promise of ‘manna’ (v.17) to believers who prove to be overcomers. He feeds those who find victory in him! You can enjoy this divine provision for the feeding of your soul!

The church in Thyatira (2:18-29) had made progress in many ways (v.19), but had permitted sexual immorality to creep into the membership (v.20). However, to those who remained victorious the Lord would give ‘authority over the nations’ (v.26) and ‘the morning star’ (v.28)! Jesus himself is ‘the bright Morning Star’ (22:16)! He gives us himself, to indwell us and keep us victorious! Let us open our hearts afresh to him!

The church at Sardis (3:1-6) was reported to be alive and well but was in fact dead (v.1). Jesus called upon them to repent. This time the Lord’s promise for the victorious ones is that they will be ‘dressed in white’ (v.5) and for the overcomer that the Lord ‘will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels’ (v.5). O, how we long for victory, in order to be claimed by Jesus as one of his very own!

Finally, the church at Laodicea (3:14-22) was ’neither cold nor hot’ (v.15). They lacked true passion. Without Spirit-filled passion there is no victory. Again the Lord is gracious and ready to forgive, for he promises to the victorious one ‘the right to sit with me on my throne’ (v.21). Imagine it! Imagine the honour of sitting beside Jesus in Glory! It is the destiny of those who know victory in Christ! It is our destiny!

I am praying that you and I will know victory in Jesus day by day, and that we will go on to claim the incomparable rewards for all who are true to him .

The Lord bless you and keep you.

As you prepare for the coming of Easter, claim VICTORY!

In Christ!

Victory

In the General's letter to every Salvationist he writes:

I am writing to fellow Salvationists in the weeks leading to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the period often referred to (in English) as Lent. It is a time when we prepare to commemorate the self-giving of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. We want to arrive at Good Friday in a spiritual condition that allows us to obtain maximum benefit from everything that is remembered on that solemn day. It is the same for the celebrations of Easter Day.

Therefore, as the weeks now pass by, I invite all Salvationists to think of victory. Let us think together of all that has been won for us by Jesus. ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’ (1 Corinthians 15:54). Jesus has done this for us. Death has been defeated: ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?’ (15:55). Let the Army give thanks together to God for he ‘gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (15:57).

The following phrases from familiar songs come to mind:
Victory! Write it on our banners, get it on our knees - Victory!

Victory in Jesus.

The WOW Initiative is about Victory. Win One Woman, Win Our World. That is victory over the enemy in that every person won for Jesus is one less the enemy has. All Christians are expected to share the Gospel and praise God when we are the one's chosen to lead some one out of darkness in to light. How exciting it is when we lead someone from defeat into victory.

Have you won one for Jesus sake yet?

Get excited about Victory. Don't wallow in defeat - get on your knees and pray for victory!

Living the Life of the Beloved

Last Friday all of the Divisional Women's Ministries Secretaries, the Territorial Women's Ministries Leaders and Major Linda Madsen made a presentation about Women's Ministries to the cadets. It was a whole day seminar. In one day we tried to expose the cadets to the joys, potential, challenges and excitement of ministry to women. That was a lot to present and we all have a frame of reference. Can you imagine how it was to try to absorb information from four workshops, a luncheon, a keynote session and a concluding session?

I found a picture from the year my session, the Companions of Christ and the first years session of the Disciples of Jesus had our seminar. I am not sure why it is black and white, we did have color film in those days. (30 years ago) The picture is a group performing the song about a good cup of tea can always be found in the Home League. Well, maybe in England.

The thing I remembered most from our one day seminar is the notebook. I used it a lot in the beginning.

The DWMS joined Major Rose-Marie Leslie and me for a weekend seminar. We ended on Sunday morning in a time of worship. Anne Calvo led us as we used the book by Henri Nouen called The Life of The Beloved.

I will write more about the book in days ahead. One thing I wanted to say tonight is that it sent me back to the song book to find the words to Albert Osborne's song - In The Secret of Thy Presence. The beloved of God is loved just because. That is a place where I want to spend time because I don't have to strive for it or be worthy of it, I just have to go there.

The beloved want to share that place with others. Have you discovered the place?

WOW! Cadets' Seminar

The Divisional Women's Ministries Secretaries are here at Crestmont and have worked very hard today as we set up and prepared for the Cadets' One Day Seminar.

In one day the cadets will learn every thing there is to know about Women's Ministries and ministry to women. Right?

We were able to join them for dinner. Dinner was a celebration that there are only 100 days until Commissioning. I should also use that as a count down for the WOW Event. (That would be 99 days until the WOW Event.) Are you ready to attend?

What to expect at the WOW Event:

• Connect with friends
• Celebrate God's goodness in our past, present and future
• Capture the joy of Winning Our World for Jesus

Pray for us as we advance the plans for the day!

A Blast from the past - one of the first posts!

In case you missed out on what this is about. You can look at the archives. Here is the first post.

The Salvation Army of the Western Territory will spend the months of August and September praying about and planning for what they will do to Win Our World for Christ. Each corps will help their women Win One Woman for Christ, the Kingdom of God, The Salvation Army and for Women's Ministries.

That is the "How" phase.

The "NOW" phase begins in October 2006 when corps and ARC units through out the territory will put their plans into action. The months of October 2006 through March 2007 will be monitored and measured. We will have a territorial celebration June 9, 2007 for what has been accomplished.

You may be able to tell, that I am excited about this Initiative and praying that God will use it and us for His Glory.

We will circulate "Prayer Pots" through out the divisions and the ARC command. This is to insure prayer coverage for this fantastic opportunity. We also hope it will build interest in the WOW Initiative. Everyone will bring their prayer pots to the June Celebration.

During the June 9, 2007 celebration we will have a time when we BOW before the Lord God to give Him our offerings of what was accomplished to date through this Initiative.

What is WOW supposed to accomplish?

WOW! So what is the thinking behind the WOW Initiative? In the spring of 2006 Commissioner Pat Swyers met with Lt. Colonel Debi Bell and Major Rose-Marie Leslie to share her heart and thoughts about Women’s Ministries in the Western Territory. We all sense that there is a great opportunity on the horizon for advancement of the Kingdom of God. We share the same belief that the women of The Salvation Army will be mightily used by God to bring about the salvation of souls and a movement of holiness not yet experienced in our history. Our statistics tell us that we have been in a fifteen year recession through out most of the territory. That in itself is a great concern to us. We prayed and talked about the challenges facing the women’s ministries programs.

Commissioner Pat Swyers shared her thoughts about some kind of WM promotion that she would like to see developed and that she would like us to name it WOW. She explained that WOW could stand for Win One Woman. As we talked about the ways to develop this idea for the territory, the three of us became very enthusiastic about the possibilities of this endeavor.

Tasked with filling in the blanks, Major Rose-Marie and I left the office to begin to piece together a plan that would be “user friendly” for the corps and ARC units of our territory and still have the desired effect of winning souls for the Kingdom of God and building the ranks of The Salvation Army. That is how the WOW Initiative was born. We decided that it would be called an Initiative instead of a campaign, contest or endeavor.

Why use the word “Initiative” instead of something else? The word initiative means “plan, proposal, scheme, idea, enterprise, program, project, or inventiveness.” We hope that our officers and soldiers will catch the vision and get excited about what they can do for the Kingdom of God, The Salvation Army and for women.

There is nothing new here. We want the field to recognize the value of what is expected from a balanced ministry approach.

Women’s Ministries Programs can provide one of the best outreach opportunities we have in The Salvation Army. The women who “enter” The Salvation Army through the door of Home League or other women’s ministries groups often become your stable leaders and hope for the corps. It is time to take back the dignity of women’s programs and work. We can no longer allow it to be marginalized. As leaders in The Salvation Army, it is up to you to create a culture where women’s ministries and women are valued. (By what you say and do.)

Our dream is to see creative, exciting programs reach out to women and their families to bring them to a right relationship with Jesus. Then to establish them as leaders and soldiers in the Salvation War!

Plans for WOW! Moving forward!

We are really excited to see how the plans for the WOW! Celebration Event are developing. The purpose the of WOW! Celebration Event is for Salvation Army women from the Western Territory to come together to celebrate our past, present and future.

Past
Celebrations of the past will include a salute to 100 Years of Home League. It will also salute one "honoree" from each division and command who has caught the vision of the WOW Initiative. (Twelve honorees will receive recognition of their efforts for promoting Christ through the Women's Ministries programs or efforts from October 2006 to March 2007.) The honoree may be a single person, a women's ministries group, or even a corps who reached out and won women and their families to the Kingdom of God, The Salvation Army, and for the corps. We will also have historical photos of Women of the West so that we can recognize the work of women officers and soldiers specifically in the west. There will be video taped interviews, silent films and photos depicting the story of Women Out West.

So, do you have a story that should be told? We need to hear it soon. If you are a soldier in the corps you report to your Corps officers. If you are a corps officer with stories, you report to the Divisional Women's Ministries Secretaries, who will report to THQ. Or you can post a comment to the blog and we will figure it out!

Present
We will celebrate what God is doing now, yes NOW, in the live of women and in Women's Ministries. Do you have stories about what God is doing in your corps or life right now? I want to hear! Your story may appear in the blog or in the New Frontier. (Maybe even the War Cry!) We need stories and pictures for the WOW! Celebration Event!

Have you ever thought of doing a silent video? Well you should! Soon you will hear about the opportunity to tell the story of your WOW group in a short (2 to 3 minute) silent video. The best ones will be used at the WOW! Others could be posted on Youtube! WOW! Stories will tell about HOW God is moving in your group to reach new women, grow you as saints, or show how you are impacting your corps and community for Jesus sake.


Future
Through out WOW! there will be an opportunity to renew your commitment to God. We will lift up our prayers to God. (Remember the prayer vessels that are traveling over the territory? Those will be brought to WOW! and physically lifted up to God symbolizing our prayers. We will BOW before the Lord in worship.


Seek the Lord - NOW - with all your heart and soul - WOW - and build His Kingdom!

If you want to attend the WOW! Celebration Event (June 9, 2007) you must let your DWMS know today! Each division only has a limited number of seats and once those are spoken for that is it! The cost is $25. A ticket is required to enter the gates.

Right now there is an ART Contest where officers, soldiers and employees have been invited to submit art work that could be used in the program, or as a logo, for WOW! Ask your DWMS for details today!

The Daffodil Principle

Major LeAnn Trimmer shared this with me and I share it with you.

The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see
the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour
drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a
little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I
drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the
joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my
grandchildren.

"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog,
and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to
see badly enough to drive another inch!"

My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."
"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading
for home!" I assured her. "But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's
just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."

"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I
promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a
small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with
an arrow that read, " Daffodil Garden ." We got out of the car, each took a
child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a
corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.


It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over
the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in
majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy
white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each
different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and
flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of
flowers.

"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She
lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept
A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We
walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are
Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs,"
it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two
feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman
whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb
at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop.
Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever
changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created
something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The
principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of
celebration.




That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a
time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing,
learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time
with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish
magnificent things. We can change the world ...

"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have
accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years
ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years?
Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start
tomorrow," she said.

She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The
way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is
to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....
Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...

There is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So work like you don't need money.

Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching.

If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special.

I just did!

Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!

Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

~anonymous
"Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

WIN ONE WOMAN! One by one we will make a difference!

Choose Wisely

Do you have favorite lines or scenes from movies? (Lines like the famous one from Terminator: “I’ll be back.”) Here is one of my husband’s favorite scenes from Indiana Jones, The Last Crusade. The scene is toward the end of the movie when Indiana, the bad German, the knight, who guards the Holy Grail, and the blonde are in a room filled with cups. The cups are all shapes and sizes. The bad guy wants the Grail. The knight tells him that he will have to choose one. The bad guy looks at all the cups and admits he does not know which one to choose. Elsa, the blond, offers to choose for him. She falsely chooses a cup that would be fit for a King. He fills it with water and drinks. He dies dramatically and turns to dust. The knight replies: “He chose poorly.” Indiana chooses a cup that would belong to a simple carpenter. He dips it in the water and drinks. His wounds are healed. The knight replies: “You chose wisely.” There were so many cups to choose from, but Indiana used the truth he knew to help him make the choice. His choice enabled him to bring the cup to heal his father. There are choice still to come in this film clip.

Choices, choices, there are so many choices we have to make in our life times. Choices we make affect others. Choices others make affect us. Choice – a funny word. Here are some other words used to describe choice: selection, alternative, option and preference.

What do we know about Eve? Her story begins in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible. “Then God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life--the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals." Genesis 1:26

The Hebrew word for “people” is “adam” and literally means “groundlings,” but through the years we have understood it as “man” meaning mankind or all humans.

So we know that Eve was created in God’s image.

“So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

We know that Eve was created as Adam’s equal.

“God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.”” Genesis 1:28

“And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." So the LORD God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, birds, and wild animals. But still there was no companion suitable for him. So the LORD God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam's ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam.” Genesis 2:18-22

Ribs, the Hebrew (Tsela) literally means side and does not refer to the rib bone. It was not until the medieval times that Rabbis taught this translation to support that women were made inferior. They also used the same verse to teach that women were created as an after thought and in the image of man rather than God.

God made a companion to help him. The Hebrew here is “Ezer Kenedo” and means “helper corresponding to.” It is interesting to note that God often refers to Himself as “Ezer,” our Helper. There is nothing subordinate in that job description.

We know that God was happy with His creation.

“Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31

We know that God created the world with human kind in mind so Eve really had it made. God gave them permission to eat all the fruit in the garden except the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

“Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he placed the man he had created. And the LORD God planted all sorts of trees in the garden--beautiful trees that produced delicious fruit. At the center of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:8-9

“But the LORD God gave him this warning: "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die."” Genesis 2:16-17

We know that Eve was curious and liked to “push the envelope.”

She was inspecting the tree.

^“Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the LORD God had made.”

"Really?" he asked the woman. "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"

"Of course we may eat it," the woman told him. "It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die." Genesis 3:1-3

She was considering truth of what God said.

She added to the truth. (Even touch it.)

She refers to the forbidden thing by its position in the garden rather than by its content.

She rationalizes and she was ripe for the temptation offered and the hidden lie.

^“"You won't die!" the serpent hissed.

"God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil."

The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too.” Genesis 3:4-6

Eve made her choice. She took the bait because she ignored or forgot the truth. (Truth: She was already like God because she was created in the image of God.)

Adam was with Eve, but we do not hear or see him trying to stop her.

They both swallowed the lie.

The consequences:

Eve became separated from God by her choice to eat the fruit. Adam became separated from God by his choice to eat the fruit.

Eve lost everything. Adam lost everything

Their rebellion caused sin to enter into our world.

Generations have been affected and infected by their choice.

It is true that the choices of others affect our lives. Their choices may narrow our choices or may bring more choices. Think about how your lives have been affected by the choices of others. Some have brought you good and some have brought you bad. Think about how your own choices have affected you. Every day we have a choice: We can be like Adam and blame Eve or someone else for the consequences of their choices. We can choose to wallow in the mire of bad choices or we can choose to take responsibility for the choices we have made and take responsibility for our future.

Choices, choices we have so many choices to make. Will you choose wisely?

Will you choose to share the Gospel Story with someone who needs to hear it today. Will you choose to Win One Woman?

WOW We Want to Hear From You!

WOW!

Recently we were at Territorial Executive Council meetings and met together with the TEC Women to hear reports on the WOW Initiative. It was thrilling to hear the stories. It was encouraging to hear the stories! We want to hear your stories.

If you have a WOW story to share, please send it to my lotus notes address. Testimonies always inspire us to do better. Also you can make a comment on the blog site. Some have tried without success to comment, so that is why I suggested you send them to me. If you are in TSA you will know how to get my address. If you are not on Lotus Notes, ask your corps officers to send it for you. Keep the stories, short, real and uplifting.

We are getting into the deeper waters of planning for the WOW Event. We need your prayer support and you need to let us know how we can pray for you.

Changing Lanes

Changing Lanes

In the medieval age the Church saw the need to address the moral behavior of the masses of people. They used entertainment in the form of street plays. These were called Moral Plays. The main character was cleverly named “Everyman” and faced moral dilemmas that every man could and probably did face. Occasionally Hollywood comes up with a great example of a moral play. One such movie is Changing Lanes. The language is raw, but the story is great. Two men become our “Everyman” character. The encounter between the two men takes place in New York and lasts one day. We get glimpses of both men before they encounter each other. One man is an insurance salesman estranged from his family. He is a recovering alcoholic and on his way to court to retain partial custody of his children. His good news is that he has been able to get a loan to buy a house so that his ex-wife will not move to Portland, Oregon with their two boys. The other man is a young, Wall Street lawyer who had started out his career with high expectations of making a difference. We see him giving a speech to grade school children who have just performed their first concert using instruments donated by a foundation that he helped set up. After the concert we discover he is being sued in court by the granddaughter of the man who left the legacy for the children. She is very angry because she believes he sold out his ideals and took advantage of her grandfather.

The moral play presents us with two men who have high hopes for the future. These two men will be challenged, will examine their core values and have a choice presented to them. Actually the play gives these two men several opportunities to redeem their situation before they reach the point where there is no turning back. While on their way to court the men are distracted, and as they change lanes to take the same exit, they have a wreck. The man in insurance wants to change information and do the correct thing. The lawyer is in a hurry and cannot find his insurance information and offers the other man a blank check. The insurance man refuses. The lawyer stuffs his court files back in to his brief case in which he had been searching for the insurance information and leaves the insurance man with a disabled car on the road. The lawyer is late for his court hearing. He unpacks his legal files to discover one of the most important files is missing. The judge gives him until the end of the day to bring it back. The problem is that the lawyer does not know who the man is because he did not exchange information properly and left the scene of an accident.

It begins to rain and the insurance man sees that the lawyer has left a file on the ground. He picks it up with the intent of returning it. He is twenty minutes late for his court hearing and is not able to present the fact that he has the loan to buy a house. The judge has awarded the wife with full custody of his sons. When the insurance man leaves the courthouse, he throws away the file. He walks off despondently in the rain. Low and behold out of the millions of people in New York the lawyer drives by to see him. He offers a ride. The insurance man declines the ride and tells the lawyer that he threw the file away. He will not accept the apology offered. They go their separate ways. Now the lawyer knows the name of the insurance man and the insurance man knows the file is important to the lawyer. The insurance man goes back to find the file. He taunts the lawyer by faxing the first page of the file to him.

The lawyer is told about a computer hacker who will be able to help him. The computer hacker shows how easy it is to get information on the guy and fix his records. The lawyer asked if there was any other way to handle this. The computer hacker tells him he could call and ask nicely for the file. One push of the button and the situation escalates. I will not tell about you the entire movie., but will skip to the end. The lawyer has a conversation with his boss, who is also his father-in-law about how he can live with himself and the corruption. The father-in-law says: “I judge it all by the end of the day. If I have done more good than bad, I consider it a good day.” The lawyer has choices to make. The insurance man has choices to make. Can they make things right by the end of the day?

I relate the story told in this movie to you for a reason. The reason is to challenge you today as “Everyman” and “Every-Woman” who daily face ethical, moral and spiritual dilemmas to carefully consider the choices you make. Your choices carry a heavier price tag because of your call and appointment as an officer and spiritual leader.

Recently I heard the children’s poem Jack and Jill used as a parable lesson to point to our circle of influence. Jack’s fall effected Jill. Because when Jack fell, Jill came tumbling after. Your circle of influence as a Salvation Army Officer, soldier or Christian makes it crucial for you to choose the most correct response to the ethical, moral and spiritual dilemmas you face.

Well I have given you a quick look at Hollywood’s version of a moral play and a very quick look at a nursery rhyme’s version of a moral out come; but what does God’s Word have to say?

Here are a few “sound bites” from the Bible. Can you find them? A tree is known by its fruits. Be holy, because I am holy. You are a new creation. Walk worthy of your calling. Live in such a way to honor God.

What do your choices say about you at the end of the day? I hope they say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

WOW – Will your life style win others to Christ and to The Salvation Army?

Bind The Strong Man

Bind the Strong Man

Jesus referred to binding or tying up the “strong man” when the Pharisees challenged and tried to discredit Jesus for His ability to cast out demons.

“He knew their thoughts, so he said, ‘Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.’”

Luke 11:17-22 (NLT)

Parallel account found in Matthew 12:29 King James Version: “Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?”

How does this idea relate to the work we do for the Kingdom today? The strong man is Satan and Satan has stolen many people from God. They are “stored up” or held captive in his “house” and we must liberate those captives in the Name of Jesus. In order to do that we must “bind the strong man” in the same way that Jesus bound him.

We are involved in a battle. The battle belongs to the Lord. Some times the best fight is to first commit the problem or battle to the Lord in prayer. Through prayer we bind or tie up the strong man so that we can invade his house or strong holds to set captives free. What are the strong holds that you face in your corps and community? A strong hold can be identified by repetition of a problem or challenge in one or more families. Unwed pregnancies, gang activity, violence, illness, abuse, and addictions are examples of how the enemy can get a hold on the lives of people. These are strong holds and these strong holds can only be taken if we bind the one who holds them. Bind the strong man.

Before any prayer warrior takes it upon themselves to begin to bind the strong man, they must be covered in the armor of God. (See Ephesians 6) Also a prayer warrior is to cover in prayer their health, their reputation, families, their ministries, their homes and their businesses. Cover in prayer anything or anyone that could be used to distract them from the battle or be used against you.

The word for today is: Bind the strong man.

When Does Christmas Happen?

When Does Christmas Happen?

When does Christmas happen for you? In The Salvation Army we are kept very busy with Christmas happenings. The first stage is planning. We plan how we will do it all. (This usually takes place in the summer.) For the needs of the community the next stage is the interviewing. We interview people to see if their families will qualify for Christmas assistance or if another partner agency will help them. Then we interview prospective volunteers and employees who will be responsible for raising money at a kettle which will go toward taking care of people. The next stage is gathering. We have to gather all the resources we need to take care of the people who have been identified as those we can help. The next stage is the delivery and distribution of resources. We have to get those resources to the distribution sites and that takes even more volunteers. (Praise God for volunteers.) Then you have the clean up stage which takes you long past Christmas Day. Finally you have the thank you letters and reports. Oh, don’t forget about evaluation and planning for next year. That is a lot of happening.

In addition to the community needs for Christmas, there are the congregational needs of the corps, the needs of family, the officers in charge, and the needs of the organization. Add to that the pressure society and culture put on us to purchase and give gifts, send cards and be merry. We have a lot driving us and a lot happening. These things can keep Christmas from happening.

During our corporate times of worship we read the Christmas Story, sing the Christmas songs, and hear or preach the Christmas sermons. That should help Christmas to happen, but even the most alert and devout among us can miss Christmas.

For me Christmas is that one special glimpse of God’s love where He gives me a special miracle moment for a memory. Once it was in the tears of a grateful mother at the Toy and Joy Shop who was now able to give her children food and toys. Once it was tiny senior woman that opened the door to us so we could deliver a food box and tree. Once it was the surprised look on my husband’s face because he was not expecting to get two sweaters. Another time it was the awkward moment with my family as I tried to read a Christmas scripture and began to cry because they did not seem to hear the truth because their hearts were hardened by all the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Many times it has come while I was singing a familiar carol and discovered new meanings to a phrase. One time it was a young person from our corps giving me a gift that they had sacrificed time and money to obtain. God designed me in such a way that gifts of time and revelation are more important than things. So I have to remember that He will send Christmas in the way I least expect it. I have to keep my eyes and heart open to receive it.

How about you? How does Christmas happen for you in the midst of Christmas happenings?

The magi were looking for it, but in the wrong places and had to be put back on the right path. The scholars had preconceived ideas and missed it. The shepherds were in a quiet place and were surprised by it. The angels announced it. Most people missed it. Many of us still miss it. Please don’t miss Christmas this year.

Hark the herald angels sing: “Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled.” This was the description on the new born King. Jesus was God’s peace offering, offered in mercy so that humankind could be reconciled with God. Jesus was the spotless lamb given as a sacrifice so that we could know the love of God. Jesus is God’s gift of Grace! For me this was Christmas this year. Has it happened for you?

Win One Woman – Win Our World for Jesus’ sake!

WOW Numbers for October

Report For October Looks Good! We are so happy that we are dancing. We rejoice over the victories and weep for the loses, every ONE is important to us.

The numbers are in for Women’s Ministries attendance for the month of October 2006. (The first month of the WOW Initiative) Please God, let this good trend continue and catch on!

We saw an increase! There were 2,000 more women in WM meetings in October 2006 than in 2005. (Last year we saw a decrease by 1,500 so it is an even better increase in that we are 500 over the attendance of October 2004! These are round numbers.)

The following five divisions saw increases, Cascade, Golden State, Hawaii, Southern California, and Southwest. Congratulations to all of those who worked hard. If we all Win One Woman for the Kingdom of Heaven, for The Salvation Army and for our Women’s Ministries groups this year we will grow!

Keep Praying (POW – Prayers of Women, Prayers of Warriors). Keep in the Word of God and be Women of the Word who pray for Women of the World to come to Jesus!

Have you made your list of those people you can win for Jesus this year? Have more than one on your list and pray for them. Remember that every day could be the day God will put you in the path to sow a seed into the life of an unsaved person or water a seed that has been planted. You may even get to harvest a seed that is ready to know Jesus. WOW!

WORDS THAT WOUND

“Sticks and stones may break my bones”… Are you familiar with that childhood rhyme? It continues: “but words will never hurt me.” I am not exactly sure what age I was when my Mom taught it to me. I do know that I was under six. I vaguely remember the occasion. An unkind child wounded me with their words and I ran into the house crying. The funny thing about it was the unkind child was most likely my slightly older sister. The unkind words did hurt and I went to the one person I knew who could make things better, my Mom.

She did the “Mom Thing”. She wiped my tears. Reminded me that she loved me. She told me to go back out and face my tormentor(s). What were her words of wisdom? Don’t let people know their words hurt you and they will leave you alone. She also taught me the rhyme about sticks, stones and words. My Mom’s intentions were good and most of her advice worked. However, she was wrong. Words do hurt. Words make invisible wounds that can be much harder to heal than physical wounds.

Words spoken in anger, in malice, and even the “accidental” outburst of a hard truth wound the mind and soul. Words are sharp instruments. We can use them to hurt or to heal. Think about it. A knife in the hands of a physician can cut out a dangerous infection or growth. A knife in the hands of an evil person can cause great harm and even death.

The holidays are coming. This wonderful time of the year is also one of the most stressful times of the year. We want things to be perfect and we stress out trying to produce perfection. We dwell on the past and relive memories. Not all of these memories are sweet. One of the first people to wound a child by their words will most likely be a family member. Families and friends love us and are usually the safe people to be around. However, life happens and words are spoken. Words, once spoken, cannot be erased.

Common wounding words spoken by families and friends are comparisons, out bursts of anger, and negative observations. Have you ever heard any of these phrases, “You will never amount to much.” “Why are you so lazy?” “Why can’t you get good grades like your sister?” “Why don’t you play sports like your cousin?”

Our brains replay the wounding words we hear until we believe them. Those words program us to believe certain things about ourselves. Can you recall any of the “prophecies” that wounding words programmed into you? Perhaps you heard, “You are just like your father.” “You are slower than others.” “You will always fail.” Identifying the wounding words is one of the first steps to break their power over you.

Do you remember wounding another person by your words? Perhaps you did it intentionally. Perhaps the words just slipped out of you mouth. It happened. The truth is that once words leave our mouths, or computers they cannot be taken back. There is no room for retraction in real time or cyber-space. Even when we repent and apologize, the words have made their mark.

As God’s people we are to speak positive words, healing words. The Psalmist prayed and asked God to put a guard over his lips. I like that idea. Also we can pray the following prayer found in Psalm 19. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.”

The Holy Spirit, speaking through the writing of Paul in Ephesians 4, gives us this command: “Stop being bitter, angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.”

How will your holidays be different in light of this command? Will you change your words? Will you choose to react differently when you feel wounded? Will you forgive? Romans 12, tells us that we can only act and react differently when we become different. We become new when we allow God to renew our minds. In Psalm 119 the psalmist teaches that we can keep ourselves pure when we meditate on the Word of God.

God’s Word is living and sharper than a two edged sword. Jesus is also called the Word of God. Our hope for happy days is literally found in the Word. Allow God to heal the wounds that separate you from family and friends. Allow God to set a guard over your lips and fill your mouth with positive healing words. Allow The Word of God to renew you, fill you and bless you.

Honor God

I would like to share the following story with you:

Honor God

Hallowed Be Thy Name

After she finished breakfast, Katie rushed to put on her shoes. A new day is always full of wonderful surprises for a little girl. When Katie went outside, she saw that the field behind her house sprouted the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. They reminded her of the bouquet of flowers their neighbor Molly brought over last week. She remembered how much her mother enjoyed those flowers.

Katie ran into the field and began to pick a bouquet for her mom. Because Katie really wanted to show her mother how much she loved her, she spent all morning trying to find the most beautiful flowers in the field.

Molly stood and stretched. Gardening is hard work, but her beautiful roses were the reward. Everyone loved them and that made her feel good. Molly looked over the fence, into the field behind her house. She spotted Katie Larson playing. When she saw Katie she thought of Marcia. “Marcia loves my roses and she hasn’t felt well. I will take over a bouquet. Perhaps they will cheer her up.”

Molly prepared some of her best roses to take over to her neighbor. An hour later she knocked on the door. Marcia answered. She saw Molly and the roses. She smiled and said, “Oh, Molly, these are absolutely beautiful. Come in and have some iced tea with me.”

The two neighbors sipped their tea and chatted. The morning sipped away. Katie rushed in just as Molly was about to leave. Katie was hot, dirty and sweaty. Her dirty hands grasped a bunch of weeds, a simple bouquet of wild flowers. Katie’s face beamed with the love she felt for her mother. She reached out to give her heart felt expression of love to her mother. The picture suddenly transformed.

Through the eyes of love the hot, dirty and sweaty little girl became a princess. Through the eyes of love the wilting, smelly weeds became the most beautiful bouquet either of the women had ever seen.

Many times our feeble efforts to honor God are like wildflower bouquets offered in love by a dirty, sweaty child. Love, true love transforms them. When our weed bouquets are a heartfelt expression of our love for God, there is nothing more glorious. They are even more wonderful than the angel’s greatest hymns!

“Our Father, Who art in Heaven…” help us to honor Your Name.

This Christmas Season most of you are working hard and producing great things for God. What ever you do, make sure it is an offering of love so that you honor God. You are loved.

Some POW in our WOW

We need some POW for our WOW Initiative. POW stands for “Prayers of Warriors” and we must have our prayer warriors focused on the WOW Initiative if we want it to make a difference. Each division began circulating Prayer Pots by sending them to the corps. Each corps is to keep the Prayer Pot one week before sending it to the next corps. The Prayer Pot looks like a pot being formed by the potter. It has the shape of two hands on it and the words “Thou art the potter” inscribed on the top. The Prayer Pots are also being circulated at the ARC, Crestmont and THQ. The Prayer Pot at THQ sits on the desk of Jean Bauer and is filled with white rose petals. People at THQ and those visiting are encouraged to take a rose petal out of the pot and write the letters WOW. Then they are to take the petal with them to remind them to pray.

Even though the WOW Initiative is an idea designed and promoted by the Territorial Women’s Section and Women’s Ministries in the Western Territory, it is not just a “woman’s thing,” it is a Kingdom thing. It is a promotion to win souls for the Kingdom of God, for The Salvation Army and for the local corps. Salvation Army women’s ministry programs are outcome oriented. They were designed to lead people to Christ (Seeker 1) and help them mature in their Christian life (Seeker 2). Women’s programs were designed to bring families to the corps and add to the Soldier roll. We measure these outcomes.

Here is a celebration report from Major Mariam Rudd for the Cascade division:

Line # 2405 (37) #1 Adult Seekers through Women's Ministries – 65

Line # 2410 (37) #2 Adult Seekers through Women's Ministries – 338 women sought after God's heart in rededication and submission

Line # 3001 Women's Ministries 703 (last year - 688) 25 more women attended WM in 2006

THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STATISTIC OF ALL!

Line #3010 – 47 - new families were brought to the corps through Women's Ministries!

We are praising the Lord for this harvest - CELEBRATE with us and the Corps Officers of the Cascade Division, as we give thanks to the Lord this Thanksgiving Season.

This is just from one division! More reports are coming in to our office of how God used Salvation Army women’s programs to grow His Kingdom.

We can do better with some more POW in our WOW!

Believe in Victory

Catherine Booth wrote, “Soldiers of Christ must believe in victory. Faith in victory is an indispensable condition to successful warfare of any kind. It is universally recognized by generals of killing armies that, if the enthusiasm of expected conquest be destroyed, and their troops imbued with fear and doubt as to the ultimate result, defeat is all but certain. That is equally true with respect to spiritual warfare, and hence the repeated and comprehensive assurance and promises of victory from the great Captain of our salvation.”

The true soldier of Christ, who has the spirit of war and who is abandoned to its interests, has in his soul knowledge of coming victory. He knows it is only a question of time…faith inspires him to hardship…”

The Thanksgiving and Christmas season are upon us and opportunities for service will increase. Some will see this as hardship and others as blessing. All of us must claim victory for the Kingdom of Christ.

As I look for the one, two or more people that Jesus will bring into my life who will be won for His Kingdom this year, I try to greet every opportunity as the one that will open the door and reveal the person or people to whom God has chosen me to be His instrument for their salvation. It has made life somewhat of an adventure. I try to remember this attitude when I wake each day. Will this be the day? I try to remember this attitude when I meet people. Will this be the person? I may be the seed planter, the one who brings water to the seedling or the one that tends the field – I just want to be faithful as I try to win one woman for the Kingdom, for The Salvation Army and for my corps this year.

Do you believe in victory?