May 18, 2012

 Praying Scripture – 1 Chronicles 16:29

“Ascribe to the LORD
the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the LORD
in the splendour of his holiness.”

Living Scripture - Hebrews 12:8-9

If you are not disciplined
(and everyone undergoes discipline),
then you are illegitimate children
and not true sons.
Moreover, we have all had human fathers
who disciplined us
and we respected them for it.
How much more should we submit
to the Father of our spirits and live!

May 17, 2012

Praying Scripture – 1 Chronicles 16:29

“Ascribe to the LORD
the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the LORD
in the splendour of his holiness.”

Living Scripture - Daniel 6:10

Now when Daniel learned
that the decree had been published,
he went home to his upstairs room
where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.
Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed,
giving thanks to his God,
just as he had done before.

This is a season of change at CFOT.  The College is a buzz with activity as 1st year cadets prepare for their summer assignments, and 2nd year cadets prepare for commissioning, as well as their very first appointments.  We are also experiencing other seasons of change.  As June approaches we will soon be wishing a number of CFOT staff officers a fond farewell.  We will also be welcoming some new officers into the fold.

Major Eric Bond (Principal) and Major Donna Bond (Director of Spiritual Formation) will be retiring this June.  We thank them for their significant contribution to the training college as they have led from a place of deep spiritual committment to the Lord.  The CFOT community will miss their kind hearts, wise counsel and lovely spirits.  We wish them much joy and happiness on their new journey.

Major Keith Pike (Director of Field Education) will be leaving us to head to his new appointment as Territorial Youth Secretary at THQ and Major Shona Pike (Director of Personnel) will be also be heading to THQ as the Secretary for Candidates.  We know that they will bring a wealth of experience and considerable gifting to these new positions.  Though we are sad to see them go, we are grateful that their new responsibilities will likely bring them back to CFOT on a regular basis!

We are pleased to announce that Major Jamie Braund has been appointed as the Principal at CFOT and Major Ann Braund will be the new Director of Spiritual Formation as of June 29th.  They have been with us this past year and they have been a wonderful addition to the CFOT team.  Congratulations Majors Jamie and Ann.  We look forward to what God has in store for the next season at CFOT!

And a big welcome to Majors Dale and Glenys Pilgrim!  Major Dale will be the new Director of Field Education and Major Glenys will be the new Director of Personnel.  We are sure that the congregation of  Kitchener Community Church will miss you but we are so happy to welcome you to CFOT.  We look forward to meeting you!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the cadets and staff who will soon be launching into new adventures.  We pray with confidence knowing that God will lead the way.

Please join us at the Ordination and Commissioning of The Friends of Christ.  Ordination and Commissioning will take place on Satuday, June 23 at 7 pm, at Canada Christian College, 20 Gervais Drive, Toronto, Ontario.

You may also attend “I’ll Fight” – a Social Justice Concert featuring OCE Division Youth Chorus & Canadian Staff Band on Friday, June 22 at 7 pm, also at Canada Christian College.

There is also a Worship Service on Sunday, June 24 at 11 am at Scarborough Citadel, 2021 Lawrence Ave. East, Scarborough, Ontario.

After the excitement of the Friends of Christ first appointments,
the Proclaimers of the Resurrection received their summer assignments.

Here’s where they are going to be spending their summer:

Cadets Colleen & Justin Gleadall (and Payton and Malakai) – Springdale Corps, Springdale, NL

Cadets David & Laura Hickman – Pasadena/Hampden Circuit – Pasadena, NL

Cadets Peter & Ruth Hickman (and Levi and Vivian) – Kingston Citadel, Kingston, ON

Cadets Anne & Randy Holden – Ocean Crest, Campbell River, BC

Cadets Tina & Joshua Howard (and Abigail and Julian) – New Westminster Citadel, New Westminster, BC

Cadets Dusty & Laurie Sauder (and Ayrton and Elaina) – Chilliwack Community Church, Chilliwack, BC

Cadets Ricaurte Velasquez & Vilma Ramos – Montreal Citadel, Montreal, QC

Happy trails!  We know that your summer assignment will be a wonderful learning experience.

Here’s the news that everyone has been waiting for! 

 The Friends of Christ first appointments are as follows:

Cadets Brian and June Bobolo – Estevan Community Church, Estevan, SK

Cadet Kim Chan – Arnold’s Cove Corps, Arnold’s Cove, NL

Cadets Kristen Jackson-Dockeray and Jason Dockeray (and Jackson!) – Niagara Orchard Community Church, Niagara Falls, ON

Cadets Cory and Kelly Fifield – Foothills Church & Community Ministries, High River, AB

Cadets Lance and Monika Gillard (and Ewan and Elijah!) – Dartmouth Community Church, Dartmouth, NS

Cadet Bethany Howard – North Vancouver Corps, North Vancouver, BC

Cadets Jenn and Josh Ivany (and Aiden, Liam and new baby girl!)- The Caring Place – A Salvation Army Ministry – The Church in Action, Maple Ridge, BC

Cadets Dennis and Mary Maybury (and Demara!) – Fort Frances Corps, Fort Frances, ON

Cadets Keesom and Tina Phanthaamath (and Daniel!) – Cedarbrae Community Church, Toronto, ON

Cadets Stefan and Laura Van Schaick – Quesnel Corps, Quesnel, BC

Congratulations to the Friends of Christ.  We know that you will be a wonderful asset to the lucky Corps that you will be leading.

This Easter CFOT Cadets and Officers had the privilege of participating in a variety of Easter activities and services at Corps in Alberta. 

Small goups of Cadets/Officers participated in all aspects of the Easter Services and were also able to spend some valuable time with youth groups.  In Calgary tradition, some of our CFOT folks were “white hatted” (see photos below).  A wonderful time of worship, outreach and fellowship was had by all.  

A big thank you to the Alberta Divsion for hosting us!  You have been so gracious to us in sharing your ministries, your homes and your hearts with us…

As I have journeyed with various residents at Golden West I have been privileged to see the hand of God working on numerous occasions. Every Thursday morning Major Velma Preston conducts a sing-a-long time on the floors of Golden West with the most severe cases of dementia or need. Although some of these individuals no longer speak, or are often in a world of their own, something incredible happens when you begin to sing “Jesus Loves Me.” Suddenly those who cannot remember where they live or if they ate breakfast are singing all of the lyrics from memory. The wonder of God’s glorious creation of the mysterious mind!

I have also had the privilege of identifying the hand of God working through the various staff at Golden West. It does not take long for someone to identify that Golden West is a unique environment. At Golden West residents become part of a family and the staff do everything they can to make this place a home. The residents, their family, and other staff members can attest to this truth. Although the residents are faced with numerous challenges (the challenges to adapt to a new way of life, the challenges of change in independence, etc.), the staff are always looking for ways to bring dignity to their family at Golden West. It is truly inspiring to witness how this team works together to create a warm and inviting home for their residents.

God has given me the privilege of seeing his hand working in a variety ways at Golden West. Not only have I been given the privilege to see his hand working but I have also been blessed with the opportunity to offer my hands in service with him there. Through this experience I have grown in my ability to simply be. I have learned that sometimes in ministry the best thing I will be able to offer is time. By taking the time to be in the company of others I allow God the opportunity to minister through my presence with his own presence. I look forward to future ministries of presence!

We are certain that Laura’s lovely presence is a blessing to the residents at Golden West.

Laura, and her husband David, are both a part of the Proclaimers of the Resurrection session.

The following was written by Cadet Josh Howard.

““Salvation” is a complex notion.  It does not necessarily have any specifically Christian reference.”[1]  Although this is true, the term “salvation” holds a prominent place at the centre of Christianity.  This prominence can be better understood in reviewing the use of the term “salvation” throughout Scripture, investigating what people were being saved from in the Old and New Testament, and looking deeper at the words of Philippians 2:12. 

“The writings of the Old Testament are the first powerful witness that God is the originator of our salvation.  He is the God who saves.”[2]  Within the Old Testament, there are several Hebrew terms that can be interpreted as “salvation.” Below are three selected terms which show a variety of uses of salvation.  Alongside these are the other meanings for the original Hebrew term. 

The first term to examine is yĕshuw`ah, which can mean salvation, help, deliverance, health, saving, and welfare.[3]  A scriptural example of this term referring to salvation is found in Psalm 13:5 (NIV):  “But I trust in your unfailing love;  my heart rejoices in your salvation.”

Another term used in the Old Testament is yasha`, which can be interpreted as salvation, deliver, avenging, rescue, safe, and victory.[4]  Isaiah 30:15 (NIV) uses this term in stating, “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:  “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

A third term used in the Old Testament is tĕshuw`ah, which can mean salvation, deliverance, help, safety, victory.[5] 

2 Chronicles 6:41 uses this to state: “Now arise, LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.  May your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.”

“The term salvation (with its associated word group) has become widely used in Christian theology to express the provision of God for our human situation of need and sin.”[6]  The writers of the New Testament used a variety of Greek terms to express the word “salvation,” including sózó, rhyomai and soteria. 

The  term sózó  has been describe as a verb that, “… has three meanings in the NT: (1)  “To rescue from danger and to restore to a former state of safety and well being”; (2) “to cause someone to become well again after having been sick”; (3) “to cause someone to experience divine salvation – ‘to save.’”[7]  A scriptural example of these three meanings are: (1) Matthew 8:25, where Jesus calms the storm when the disciples request his help; (2) Mark 5:34, where Jesus heals a sick woman; (3) Luke 18:18, where the rich ruler asks Jesus about entering the Kingdom of God.

Rhyomai, “…is  used much less frequently, generally with reference to deliverance from extreme danger, such as death or falling into the hands of enemies.”[8]  The Lord’s Prayer shows a prime example of this term in use: “And lead us not into temptation,  but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13, NIV).

Sōtēria appears to be the most well-rounded term translated to mean “salvation”:

Much of the most frequent use of sōtēria and derivatives is for deliverance, preservation from all spiritual dangers, the bestowal of all religious blessings.  Its alternative is destruction (Phil. 1:28), death (II Cor. 7:10), diving wrath (I Thess. 5:9); it is available to all (Titus 2:11), shared (Jude 3), eternal (Heb. 5:9).  It is ascribed to Christ alone (Acts 4:12; Luke 19:10), “the pioneer of salvation,” and especially to his death (Heb. 2:10; Rom. 5:9-10)[9]

Within these terms of the Old and New Testament are found both the historicity and true essence of Christianity.  As these definitions reveal, salvation expressed an assortment of things in both the Old and New Testament. Within the Old Testament, the terms listed above place “salvation” alongside terms such as help, deliverance, health, saving and victory.  With this in mind, it could be said that salvation in Old Testament terminology could be condensed to mean liberation (from sins, oppression, etc.) and healing (from physical illness).

The New Testament draws upon these meanings and enables “salvation” to mean so much more.  The terms observed above reveal that salvation had developed to mean new things, such as healing (to the extent of healing a person back to life – John 11) and deliverance from extreme and eternal danger (i.e. John 3:16).  The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine says, “By dying on the Cross, Jesus made the Atonement.  The Father’s gift and the Son’s loving response bridged the separation between us and God.  We are reconciled to God in Christ and our sins are forgiven” (129).  Although salvation referred to many things in the New Testament, it is undeniable that the foremost meaning of salvation is seen in the resurrected Christ.  Through the resurrection comes the eternal wellbeing of the soul which is commonly referred to in Christianity today as salvation.  This is the ultimate Atonement, the salvation of humankind.

Philippians 4:12 accepts this dominant view of salvation.  It also brings salvation into the present: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”  For someone new to the Christian faith to read this and see the phrase, “… continue to work out your salvation…” would cause much confusion.  Many people understand the message of salvation as something that is accepted now and revealed at the end of physical life.  Here, the author draws attention to the now of salvation. 

My interpretation of this verse is that although salvation is the future reality for the person who has accepted Christ, there is still much work to be done.  Take the example of a person who walks away from a life of bad habits (drinking, drug addictions, etc) and walks toward Christ.  With acceptance of Jesus, salvation is present.  The working out of their salvation comes in the avoidance of temptation, of finding the strength and support to not backslide into the turmoil that life once was.  The Handbook speaks to the Christ’s Atonement, by which all people can be forgiven and in a right relationship with God.  It is because of this that people have, “… new desires for inward purity and love for others.  These desires are signs of the experience of new life, the spiritual transformation that we call regeneration.”[10]  These new desires are the inner working of the Holy Spirit, who stirs Christians as they continue to work out their salvation.

Through this word study, my personal understanding of salvation has broadened.  As is common amongst many in the church, I have held the view of salvation as something that is available, but will not be actualized until earthly life ends and eternal life begins.  Through this study, my eyes have been opened to the fact that I have Jesus’ salvation working in my life today: healing me, delivering me, and providing for me a means to victory for whatever I may face.  I am humbly grateful that salvation is as much about the here-and-now as it is a reference to the life to come.

 For Footnotes & Bibliography click here.

 Cadet Josh Howard and his wife Tina (along with children Julian and Abigail) are a part of the Proclaimers of Resurrection session.  Josh’s hair is getting longer these days and, some of us, are hoping for a re-enactment of the famous “afro” from his high school days.  Not sure this would be a Salvation Army officer regulation hair cut though!!

On most days through the week, I make the short walk up the street from CFOT to the Remand Centre. My mind invariably races during this brief 7-8 minute journey. On my way there, I wonder how I will react to the sound of a succession of heavy steel doors slamming shut and locking behind me as I make my way down the hallways into the interview rooms. I wonder how comfortable I will be sitting in front of people who have lived lives drastically different than my own. I wonder how God could ever use me to shed some light in such a foreboding and dark place.

I enter into the Centre with the best of intentions – to share the love of God and the promise of the Cross in ways that might provide individuals with some hope. Yet, I am reminded daily of how daunting the opposition to this aim can be. I sit in those small glassed-in interview rooms and wait for inmates to be brought down for a visit. These can be the longest five or ten minutes of my day. I can feel the pressure of having dozens of eyes glare at me as guards, other inmates and visitors wonder why on earth I would want to be there…what my motives could possibly be…why I am not doing good somewhere else, like in a Salvation Army soup kitchen or something. In these moments, the words of John come to mind. “This is the judgment: that light has entered the world, and men have preferred darkness to light because their deeds were evil. Each person who does wrong hates the light and keeps away from it, for fear their deeds may be exposed” (Jn.3:1-20). The propensity towards darkness and stagnation is very real and very difficult to alter at the Remand Centre.

Despite these difficult moments, my heart is drawn to those in the Remand Centre. My short walks up the street to the Centre are full of eager anticipation as well, as my mind turns to those inmates who find themselves in a place they never thought they would ever be. When I look across the table at these individuals, I see some mother’s child who has simply lost their way somewhere along the line and who desperately longs for a way out of the darkness that enshrouds their lives. I hear in their voices the words of the prophet Isaiah. “We look for light, but all is darkness; we look for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes” (Isa.59:9b-10a).

As the inmates tell their stories, the “if only’s” invariably begin to set in. If only they had a positive influence in their lives before they made their fateful decisions. If only they had help from teachers and social workers along the way who could have set them off in a different direction. If only they knew that God loved them and saw the dignity and worth in them that others do not.

I answer the inmates’ questions, talk about God and try to convey a sense of optimism about what their futures have in store for them. But as I do this, a voice screams in my head, “What they have had to deal with in their lives is so unfair!” Nevertheless, I press on. “I may not be able to do much,” I think to myself, “but at least I can show them that I care.” In my ministry at the Centre, I have adopted the motto of Amnesty International – “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”  Perhaps I can be that candle inmates can cling to as they await trial and serve their time…

As my tenure at the Remand Centre winds down and I begin to prepare for my first appointment as a Salvation Army officer, the words of the apostle Paul have taken on a greater significance for me.

 “You are all people of the light and people of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled.” (1 Thess. 5:5-8a)

I feel fortunate to have grown up in a good Christian family. Unlike the inmates whom I visit, I know that I am loved by God and cherished by others. God has blessed me with a wonderful home corps family (Mountain Citadel, Hamilton) who have been instrumental in my formation. He has given me a beautiful, God-fearing wife who challenges me to be the man and servant God created me to be. He has called me to officership, providing me with an opportunity to share the love of Christ with others. I have been handed many gifts that have made it easy for me to “belong to the day.” I feel blessed to have been in a position these last two years to be used by God to bring the light of Christ into the lives of individuals who have known so much darkness.

Tomorrow, I will make my way back up the street to the Remand Centre and do what I can to bring a few moments of comfort and companionship to individuals who desperately need it. I will sit in my little glass room and feel judged, alone and unwelcomed. I will struggle with angry feelings as I reflect on the injustice and unfairness in this world that ruins lives, limits opportunities and crushes the human spirit . But I cling to the hope filled words of my Saviour: “You are the world’s light…Men do not light a lamp and put it under a bucket. They put it on a lamp stand, and it gives light for everybody in the house” (Mt.5:14-15). I continue to hope that God will use me to bring light into the lives of those at the Remand Centre.

I trust that God somehow will use those moments I have with inmates – moments of uncertainty and awkwardness, moments of not knowing what to say or how to comfort individuals as they continue to journey in darkness, moments of wondering if I am making a difference or am even welcomed. I continue to believe that God has great plans for those inmates I have come to know – plans that are greater than they might ever dare to imagine for themselves. Perhaps in the end, prison chaplaincy is simply a matter of allowing oneself to be used by God to bring a small light into a great darkness.

Cadet Brian Bobolo, and his lovely wife June, are both a part of the Friends of Christ session.  Brian has a quiet, unflappable presence but also has a fine-tuned sense of humour.  We are certain that when he is commissioned he will be sorely missed by the inmates and staff at the Remand Centre but whichever corps he and June are assigned to will be equally blessed by their leadership. (Of course, if we are lucky enough to have them stay in Winnipeg I am sure the folks at the Remand Centre would be delighted!)