C is for Congress

 

What is a Congress?

According to the ICCA (the International Congress and Convention Association) a congress is a "regular coming together on a representational basis of several hundreds - or even thousands - of individuals belonging to a single professional, cultural, religious or other group."

The Salvation Army’s first International Congress was held in 1886 to celebrate TSA’s 21st anniversary. The event was able to attract two thousand officers from sixteen different nationalities.

See link here

A is for All Together

It was so good to meet up with so many friends and colleagues at the recent Together 2022 event in Birmingham. Particularly after the lack of events due to Covid-19 over the past few years.

The event was actually three events in one! It saw the Symphony Sounds Gospel music concerts, the commissioning and ordination of new Salvation Army officers (ministers), and a Congress event where Salvationists from all over the country got together. 

Did that make this year's event so much more intense? I think so, and I certainly felt it. The intensity of the event is the reason I can't rest, I need to unpack it a little further ...

 

Is This The Hill You Wish To Die On?

During the Sunday morning meeting today we were each presented with a challenging question. Do you feel so strongly about something that you believe in that you would be happy to make the ultimate sacrifice to commit to it?

Admittedly, the phrase "Is this the hill you wish to die on?” is actually a new one to me, however I understand the sentiment very well. And it's a formidable challenge... Pick your battles carefully. However, you should be awfully sure of your stand before you commit to it. Are you so sure of your facts that you are prepared to stand firm on them, no matter what. No turning back? Really?

In truth, there's aren't very many battles around that are as clear cut as that. Is this one of them?

I spent a while this evening Googling the phrase, eager to explore more about this. I came across a reference to the US Marines who use the saying, "Choose the Hill you want to die on.". And then I discovered these quotations:

"If you must fight about something, if there must be that thing that will make you raise your voice, grind your teeth and pound your fist on a desk, let it be something that has to do with respect, dignity and integrity; or someone's attempt to deny another of one or all three of those things."  - Demitri C. Kornegay

And then there's the Founder's words, from a century ago, which I blogged about after the recent Territorial Congress a few months ago:

"While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight-I'll fight to the very end!" - General William Booth, May 1912

Choose your battles. Is it trivial? Forget it. Is it persistent? A storm in a teacup? Is it bothering others or only you? And - here's the clincher - when you come to the end of your life, are you always going to regret that action? Or are you simply going to regret never doing it... never having tried?

I'll end with a brief quotation from Rick Warren's book,"The Purpose Driven Life" - which I am reading through at the moment. I used this very quotation in the prayer meeting that was held at the Corps prior to the main meeting. Awesome, eh?

"It is impossible to do everything people want you to do.  You have just enough time to do God’s will.  If you can’t get it all done, it means you’re trying to do more than God intended for you to do..." - taken from The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan, 2002).

Work it through. Clarify your thoughts and intentions. Ensure it's only that thing that God wants you to do. Then commit to it. Nail your colours to the mast.

From Darkness Into Light

I have been extremely privileged to be a part of this year's Territorial Congress in London, entitled 'I'll Fight'. This is of course a reference to William Booth's famous speech which he gave to a large gathering at the Royal Albert Hall in May 1912. A century after that event comes this very Congress, and the current General, Linda Bond, opened the proceedings this evening with those very same words in the very same venue:

"While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight, I'll fight to the very end!"

I was particularly challenged by the sentiment, realising that we as a movement - and therefore, myself as a member of that movement, are called to the dark places of society, the dens of iniquity, the haunts of sin and shame. This clearly aren't comfortable places to be. But where else can I be if I want to be true to my beliefs? And how can I ever handle that darkness that threatens to overwhelm? A darkness that I know too well...

By carrying the light within me. The Light Of The World.

Much to mull over tonight.

My Happy Place

Today was a challenge of a day. However, rather than harp on and on about it I thought I would draw a line under it, and concentrate instead on reflecting on some positive feelings.

I tried to visualize myself in places of calm, to times and places where I'd felt most at ease; to experiences that I'd really like to go back to today if I could. Some people may say that I was seeking to find 'my happy place'. Here's the list I drew up this evening...

* Inside the prayer room at one of the Territorial Congress events a few years ago
* Walking the grounds at daybreak at the SAFE Music School
* Sitting inside a practically empty coffee shop (with a wi-fi connection), drinking coffee
* Sitting outside my tent whilst away camping with the family, once again drinking coffee

I wonder what that says about me?

The Right Time, The Right Path

Some stray thoughts at the moment, as I'm finding myself descending into the 'valley' after a exciting 'mountain-top' experience at Congress (all scripture verses are New International Version):

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Psalm 37:23
The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him...

Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 1:33
...but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 48:17
This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 48:14
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will guide you always...

Contemporaneous Circumstances

(definition of Contemporaneous: existing, occurring, or originating during the same time)

God is so good. Over the last fortnight (which has included a rather busy week's holiday from work) I have experienced so many blessings that blogging about these has been difficult, they've all seemed to have come as a rush, one after another. Some have occurred all at the same time! It's tough to recall all that has happened, it's been such a rush! Highlights include:

• five separate opportunities to be 'salt and light' on the streets of  my home town after the hours of darkness, thanks to The Salvation Army, to Street Pastors and the local Council. Although sometimes this has meant 'burning the midnight oil', I didn't miss the sleep, this was more than made up for by some very unique experiences.
• two occasions where I was privileged to assist my wife with her work with the local Cub Scout pack. Awesome - and often very noisy!
• some wonderful experiences at the Corps - one young person kneeling in commitment and coming to faith during our Corps Anniversary; other young people really responding to a prayer invitation the week after; even an awesome send-off to one of our more mature soldiers at her funeral service. She completed over sixty years of valiant service; the Hall was packed!
• several occasions where God has really got to grips with some of our family's more personal requests for prayer. Some of the answers have been right in front of us all of the time!
• I've even found that 'little area of calm' that I've been looking for (see my earlier blog entry). And I found it within me, so the good thing about it is that it's portable!

As I start to prepare for still further opportunities to serve that will be headed my way at this year's Territorial Congress (next weekend), I'm intrigued to know what else God has in store. Because I'm so up for it at the moment!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
(Thomas O. Chisholm - William M. Runyan)

The Way Of Holiness

Isaiah 35 (New International Version)
1-2 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendour of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendour of our God.
3-4 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it (a).
9-10 No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Footnote: (a) or 'the simple will not stray from it'

(Bible verses from the Prayer Room at Territorial Congress this year).

Stray thoughts from the Territorial Congress

I am pleased to be in Bristol this weekend for The Salvation Army's Territorial Congress. Although it's a long weekend it's one I really enjoy... meeting loads of people I know! One high spot is when people encourage and challenge you. Here's just a few of the things said to me today that I need to note and unpack later:

"...it's not what you know it's who you know..."
"...is the way you have chosen easy?"
"...are you the only one who does this?"
"...whatever you do, stay close to Him".

More later...