www.neosalvationarmy.blogspot.com

My new spot: www.neosalvationarmy.blogspot.com

New Site!!!!!!!!!

So I've moved to blog along with my fellow warriors and Pastors to www.614firecrest.blogspot.com

SIGNING OFF...FOR NOW.

I am going be canceling this blog site. We have some significant changes that we are making now....

*614:Firecrest Corps lead by Rob and Heather Dolby
*Firequest Mission Team spending 6 weeks fighting with us
*The War College Charlotte, first session in September (check out www.thewarcollege.com under the admissions page to sign up)

In late December, we will announce a new blog for what is going on in our hearts and mission here in Charlotte. Maybe with more of us, we can be more consistent.

Happy Holidays!

My response to the Sojourners (Jim Wallis) 'Death of Compassionate Conservatism' Article

Below is my response to this article. Give it a read, it is about 3 paragraphs.

http://go.sojo.net/nd.tcl?r=l1L1aup1GRdV&n=3465022

I, along with Jim Wallis, agree that we have a responsibility to fight social injustice. That is why I love the ministries of www.blackgenocide.org and www.abortionno.org. Both speaking out again the injustice of murdering the unborn.

I am a subscriber to sojourners. I have a couple of Jim Wallis books that I love. They have really stretched me as I come out of the conservative Midwest. Jim Wallis is a great pastor and social leader. The problem is that he is wrong on this particular issue. I think that he does a great injustice to the cause that you and I would fight for by distorting truth. Especially when the point can get across without lying.

When Jim Wallis tells us that 300,000 people are being "kicked out" of the welfare, food stamp, and school lunch program, it just isn't true. You can visit the center for heath and human services website and get the actual facts. The facts are that not a single person that is receiving any of these programs will be removed, in fact room is being made for more people. What has happened is that not enough people need the program. I saw a commercial here in Charlotte advertising food stamps. Currently there is an excess of funds, 54 billion to be exact. What he has done is take 54 billion and divided it by how many people that would help and bam, 300,000. So rather than use the 54 billion unwisely, they cut them from the budget and make room for more environmental or social protections for America and the world. It is actually a worthy thing for them to do that and allow it to go to a different cause if it is not being used rather than just horde it to there own budget.

The welfare programs were never intended for people to be "lifers" on. The idea is that they would improve their lives and move off of it. It is actually a good sign that less people are needing it not a bad one. Jim Wallis knows that so I am not sure why he is distorting that truth.
Once again, I love Jim Wallis. He fights for great things and I agree with him most of the time. Just not when he lies to make his cause. That very well could be the injustice.

What do you think? Am I wrong?

Canadian symposium...

So I am trying to make sense of what happened @ this symposium in Canada. Checking out the blogs and reading the responses. I find this interesting because I had a conversation with a "high ranking" Salvationist ,who knows better than most Americans what is going on in Canada, and he has "serious" concerns for the Territory. As some in Canada may have for my Territory as well.

It makes me wonder about Herb's (I don't know him) response on salvationist.ca:

"Suppose, as a result of your weekend deliberations, you all agree to recommend that The Salvation Army dissolve itself, cease operations, honourably discharge all its soldiery to find other congregations in which to serve, liquidate all its assets and holdings and donate them to government sponsored and private organizations doing similar social work...what would be the impact next Monday morning on Kingdom-building efforts here and around the world?"

I know what I think. How about you?

Back from the Dead

Sorry I have been gone speaking in the Central Territory.  Had a great time!  Check out http://asterisklog.com/ for more info.  This blog belongs to Eric Himes.  Look for his new CD project soon also.  Anointed for sure.  

I also heard while I was there that they may be using our Credo version of Aggressive Christianity as a class at the CFOT.  Cool, eh?  

More about the weekend later.  

Jim Bakker and Franklin Graham

I am currently reading: I Was Wrong by Jim Bakker (founder of PTL and Heritage USA).  

I liked this paragraph about a time when Franklin Graham had come to visit him.  

That night, long after Franklin was gone, I began to realize what a gutsy
thing he had done by identifying himself with me, a disgraced television evangelist as far as the world was concerned, and a convicted felon.  
Of all the people whom I might have expected to allow their names to
be linked with mine, I would never have thought that Franklin would
have risked the Graham name.  He had nothing to gain and everything
to lose by identifying with me, but he did it.  I had been in prison for
over a year now and had not heard a word from many of the people
who were regularly seen on our television programs.  But Franklin
Graham demonstrated risky, genuine Christian love.  

Desmond Smith gave us a challenge in response to an earlier blog to demonstrate risky, genuine Christian love.  Sounds like one we should all take up.  I’d like to suggest that as we do that, we not only demonstrate that love for the homeless and homosexual (2 groups a lot of Christians have a hard time loving) but also with those believe that have screwed up in their lives.  

P.S.  Jim Bakker was sentenced to 45 years in prision for defrauding the PTL partners.  On July 22, 1996, shortly after Jim Bakker had completed the writing the book I am readying, a federal jury ruled that he was not selling securities by offering lifetime partnerships at Heritage USA.  The jury’s ruling thus affirms what Jim Bakker had contended from the first day he was indicted and throughout the writing of his book.  

The Salvation Army Removed from Lotto

Well, opinions still welcome but “The Salvation Army” endorsement on the Georgia Lotto Tickets is now over.  Georgia DHQ or THQ axed it after our blogs.  Watch out Matt Drudge.

More on the Georgia Lottery

Check out the image of the Georgia Lottery Ticket that we spoke of earlier at Kelly Pope's Blog listed below.

Just a fund-raising tool I guess. No Shield...But Clearly The Salvation Army.

You can make your own judgments but here are some questions that we are asking:

Did we have to pay for this?

Did they ask us or did we ask them?

Does this insinuate that we are endorsing the product?

Anybody have a contact at Playboy? Is there a difference?

Has anybody donated because of our number being on a lottery ticket?


Once again, I can be swayed one way or the other on my thoughts. I am pretty opened minded right now but would love to know your thoughts.

See more at http://www.whatspastisprologue.blogspot.com/ She is the one that had to compromise on the covenant to buy the ticket. Hmmm.

BIG STORY COMING...Branding and The Lottery

BIG STORY COMING SHORTLY…DOING THE MOST GOOD?????????

Through some investigative information and research by Joy Mikles and Kelly Pope along with myself, we have uncovered some interesting info about Doing The Most Good.  

I just got off the phone with the Georgia State Lottery Commission who verbally verified that we are placing the “Doing the Most Good” branding on Georgia Lottery Tickets.  

Hmmm. Scans of the tickets and more verified info coming soon.  

Headlines...

I was on Google tonight looking for a story. It got me looking at all the Nations Headlines including the words 'Salvation Army.' I inlcuded the story headline just as it was listed. Take a look:

Salvation Army to build $30M center at Mueller

Flung Mung funks it for the Salvation Army

Salvation Army plans Halloween fundraiser

Man's Body Found In Salvation Army Bin

Salvation Army looking for recruits

Salvation Army hopes to build water park

Salvation Army aims to raise $3 million to replace aging ...

Salvation Army Returns

Salvation Army: 'We're not a dumping ground'

My Thoughts about your Thoughts

Thanks for the responses. I am glad to see that you are concerned as I am for the "image" that the Army is setting forth. I believe this is a conversation that we should be having with each other. One responder left this Railton quote that is fitting:

"I intend carefully to instruct my children that if at any time they see The Salvation Army a wealthy, respectable concern, the majority of whose "soldiers" simply go where they please to attend its' "ministrations," leaving the godless undisturbed to perish; and if they see another set of people, however they may be clothed or despised, who really give up all to go for the lost, then they must not for a moment hesitate to learn the concern their poor old dad helped to make, and go out amongst those who most faithfully carry out what the founder of the Army laid down in his writings and acts. May God preserve them from such a day by keeping the Army free from the love of money and ease."

The Army in its purest and I would say most effective state was able to move freely in the direction of Holy Spirit because as the Founder said, "we have no reputation to protect." That is not true today. This is a reputation protector.

I would add a response to my friend Aaron (I mean that in a sincere way, I consider Aaron a friend and am glad that he is standing and defending the Army in this and in other situations) in a separate email. I would only add and agree with the Cadet that "We are The Salvation Army." That is what they keep telling and teaching us. The problem is that the Army makes us say that, all the while making us add the lines "I do not submit this on behalf of The Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth College, The School for Officer Training, or any other person or entity other than myself, a Salvation Army soldier. This should not be consider by anyone as an official statement it is merely an opinion of one individual."

We (The Salvation Army as we keep saying we are) might need to ask NHQ to add similar disclaimers to the end of their thoughts. This may be the most minor of issues that we have to stand up for. The bigger ones are coming. Just ask the Anglican and Catholic Church.

I will steal this closing from another responder, Kelly Pope. As a soldier of The Salvation Army, I DO submit this opinion representing not only myself but the movement to which I am affiliated anyone reading this should take this as an official opinion of Cory Harrison, soldier of the Salvation Army.

A Country Removing the Word God From its Pledge, An Army Leads the Way.

It’s happening.  I am sure that you have heard it.  It is US Supreme Court Case Number 2002-1574 the USA v. Michael A. Newdow, etal.  It is a controversial case here in The States.  This is the case that could quite possibly remove the words ‘under God’ from our pledge of allegiance.

Now personally and politically I am not in support of 9 judges making this decision but that is part of governmental system here in the US.  I am also not a fan of The Salvation Army leading the way in support the removal of the words ‘under God’ either but I guess that is the Salvation Army system we have set up here in the US.  

The Salvation Army leading the way to remove ‘under God’ from the pledge, you hadn’t heard?  Well…it’s not like we sent our lawyers or lobbyist to Congress or the High Court.  We haven’t offered any type of assistance to Michael A. Newdow.  We haven’t even sent the National Public Relations Officer on TV to show support of the bill.  

What we did is lead the way by example.  A more powerful form of speaking, I think you all would agree, than using actually words.  Well, at least St. Francis would agree.  

Over the last month we have been releasing the new, name of God removed, pledge of The Salvation Army.  What was so previously biblical and historical ‘Heart to God and Hand to Man’ is now gone.  Well…at least half of it is.  You guessed it the ‘to God’ part.  And the new has come.  

Let me introduce you to the “new” national branding of The Salvation Army.  DOING THE MOST GOOD. (I apologize for not using the correct font when typing this.  I did sit through the hour long session on how to use the new brand but don’t have my notes in front of me.)  

I can’t remember who said it, but it applies nonetheless, “Good is the enemy of God.”  Isn’t interesting that we removed ‘God’ from the pledge, branding, motto, mission, whatever it is called, and replaced it with ‘good’.  Let me be blunt, it is worse than interesting, it is down right scary to me.  

Am I way off here?  Somebody who supports this new branding please defend it to me in a biblical and missional way.  


  

President Bush and Bono

President Bush the support of the apparent moral compass of Bono. Read below:

Before getting on stage before his fans in a Wednesday night concert, U2 frontman Bono bent President Bush's ear about the world's poor.
The rock star and the president had lunch in the private dining room off the Oval Office, ordering from the menu at the same mess hall where White House staffers get their lunch. Bush, dressed in the classic presidential uniform of suit and red tie, also showed Bono, dressed in his trademark black jeans and sunglasses, around the Oval Office.
Bono told Rolling Stone magazine in an interview before they dined that he had no fear of meeting Bush or any other world leader.
"They should be afraid, because they will be held accountable for what happened on their watch," Bono told the magazine for an article on newsstands Friday. "I'm representing the poorest and the most vulnerable people. On a spiritual level, I have that with me. I'm throwing a punch, and the fist belongs to people who can't be in the room, whose rage, whose anger, whose hurt I represent.
"The moral force is way beyond mine, it's an argument that has much more weight than I have. So I'm not feeling nervous."
Over an hour and 40 minute meeting, Bono and Bush discussed debt relief, AIDS, malaria and world trade, said presidential spokesman Scott McClellan. McClellan said they also talked about the concerts that U2 was preparing to put on at Washington's MCI Center Wednesday and Thursday night.
In the Rolling Stone interview, Bono heaped praise on Bush for providing $15 billion to help fight AIDS in Africa, money that is helping pay for anti-retroviral drugs. He said he was disappointed that Bush and Congress had cut the Millennium Challenge program that gives foreign aid to countries that pursue political, economic and human rights reforms, but he'll keep pushing them to fund the full amount that the president promised.
Bono said he is "capable of having a row" if he doesn't get what he wants. He said he once criticized Bush for not getting the Millennium Challenge money out quick enough and was rebuked for it.
"One senator threw a newspaper at me in a meeting. 'How dare you disrespect the president of the United States!'" Bono told the magazine.
Bono said he doesn't support any president from the left or the right, but he has a hard time criticizing Bush after he has sent the money to Africa. He said he's made it clear that he doesn't support the war in Iraq, but he doesn't campaign against it because his main priority is helping the poor and disadvantaged.

Revolutionary Thoughts

Just a couple of cool quotes from ‘Jesus Freak’

All true martyrs are revolutionaries but not all revolutionaries are true martyrs.

Jesus came to comfort the afflicted.  He also came to afflict the comfortable.  

Christians become true revolutionaries when they realize that there is only one truth worth fighting for, and that truth is the only thing truly able to set people free.  They would rather die that deny that Truth, but even more they are willing to forsake comfort for the privilege of living for that Truth and representing it to their world.  

Our Lord Jesus Christ has surnamed himself Truth, no custom.    

The Misrepresented Uniform

Rob Dolby and I had the opportunity to visit what is considered by the media and police as the ‘worst’ neighborhood in the Carolina’s.  We went with the Corps Officer who is in that Command.  

Interestingly enough, when Rob (not in uniform) got out of the car with the Commanding Officer (in uniform), it seemed more people were worried about Rob who looked like a drug informant that the Captain who was clearly marked in Army gear.  

Who is spreading the idea that he uniform looks like the police?  It doesn’t fly.  Not in this city at least.  

Ex-Officers

An interesting thought from Clericalisation by Major Hill:

“The ex-officer, no matter what was the cause that resulted in his loss to our fighting forces, is still a childe of the Army.  He entered the sacred circle.  He became one of us, sharing our joys and sorrows, losses and crosses.  He received the commission of a divinely appointed authority to proclaim Salvation, build up men and women in their most holy faith, and help to win someone to God.  He received the spirit of Officership, whereby he mingled amongst us, for a season as one of us, and go where he like, and do what he likes, the imprint of the life he lived will remain.  Time will not efface it; sin even will not blot it out.  So that in a sense, which we ought ever to remember, the ex-Officer still belongs to The Salvation Army.”

My friend Rob met some ex-officers this week.  They saw him in uniform and the faces went as white a chalk wondering what he would think about them since they left the Army or felt forced out of the Army for not fitting into “the mold.”  

He prayed with them, repented and apologized on behalf of The Salvation Army, and praise the Lord, two ex-officers brought back into the Army community.  Can’t wait to see how they impact the world starting here in the Carolina’s.    

Finding Jesus

I just caught a glimpse of the ALOVE definition for Mission / Evangelism:

Going into the world to find Jesus and point Him out.

I love it. It puts a really knock on what I have heard called the “Field of Dreams Evangelism.” That’s the “If you build it, they will come.”

2/3 of the word “GOD” is “GO!”

About That 13 % Bando

I have been clean and off the brass for seven years and counting. Of course I did relaps last Christmas but don't we all during Kettle Season?

Primitive Salvo

Yes! Living up to the name. Wait, how did I score 13% in the Bando section?

Rock the vote @ http://www.quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=68527

You scored as Primitive Salvationist.

Primitive Salvationist
100%
Safe Salvationist
25%
You should join a more tame church
25%
Bando
13%
Trad
0%

My God is like a Drunken Warrior

Can I tell you a couple of the coolest verses I have read recently?  Here goes:

Psalms 78:65-66: “Then the Lord awoke, as if from a sleep, like a warrior overcome with wine.  And He drove back his adversaries and smote them in their parts behind.”  

The King James Version says, “smote them in their hinder parts.”

The basic gist, just in case anybody is wondering, is that the Lord, acting like a drunken warrior, kicked those who came against Him in the ass and sent them on their way.      

Sorry so brash, maybe that could be in the word on the street version my friend Rob likes so much.  

AP Report on Poverty

This headline just in from AP:

Poverty Rate Rises to 12.7 Percent in U.S.

That means around 37 million people in America are living on less than $22,030 a year. I definitely am not trying to belittle that but do want to point out that according to the global rich list, there are 5,334,049,159 poor than those 37 million. That is 5.3 billion people are poorer than those living in poverty in America.

37 million Americans are struggling to live on $22,000 a year while 3 billion are struggling to live on $730 a year.

Someone told me a situation where a President of the United States was asked, "If your God is so good, then why are so many people dying of starvation in the world?" The Presidents response was, "Because we haven't learned to share."

Ouch! God, help me to share what I have.      

Inner city Prophesy from Rick Joyner

The inner cities will ultimately become the inner sanctuary of God's tabernacle--the place where His glory and presence dwells. The greatest move of God that has ever been experienced will come out of the inner cities. The suburban church may have the gold, but the inner city church will make them jealous with the glory. Those who are wise will take the gold that they have and use it to build a tabernacle for the Lord that is not made with hands, but with people.

A couple of months ago I was at the Booth-Tucker Institute in Vancouver (you should make every effort to attend) and one of our assignments was to read an article by Geoff Ryan entitled "The Mission." Until reading this article, I have always found myself comfortable with the middle-class, suburban Corps. Our Army is big enough for all, isn't it? I am really beginning to question whether our mission, Corps, ministries should be focused on the poor exclusively. I am not there yet, but I am questioning it? I am also not closed to trying common-purse either, but that is another topic.

More from Chick

I really need to blog more. I suck at this thing. Does anybody want to consolidate? One really constant and edgy blog? Give it some thought.

So here is another quote from Major Chick Yuill:

"God did not raise up The Salvation Army to be distinct. He raised us up to be effective."

I have been struggling with this one for a while. As I look back over the last couple of years I have been fighting to keep the "distinctions" of the Army when maybe I should be fighting for the effectiveness of the Army. The good thing is, a lot of the things that make us distinct also make us effective. But I have had to question myself and my willingness to move past holding on to the things that are distinct but not effective.

Here are some of things I am struggling over:

Uniform: I have always be a big supporter of the traditional uniform. Is the shield more effective in accomplishing the purpose? I don't know the answer. I am just asking myself the questions. Here is why we wear the uni:

a. it singles out its wearer as a professing Christian. Does having the words THE SALVATION ARMY in bright red do that better then a dark uniform that unless you pay $60 American for the new shirts or where the cap, doesn't say The Salvation Army on it?

b. it is an invitation to the people to avail themselves of the help in spiritual and social matter which a salvation may be expected to render. Same question as before.

c. it helps its wearer to remember to walk worthy of his calling. I could fool some with the uniform by working for the airports or security, but not the shield.

d. it creates an immediate feeling of comradeship with any other wears. OK, that's true. Point for the uniform.

e. it opens the way for the soldier to act as the representative of the Army. OK, another point to the uniform.

I will add more to the other things that I am struggling with later. Hey, maybe I could just tattoo the shield on my arm or somewhere visible and have the best of both worlds. Hmm?

Looking for more power

Major Chick Yuill said something at TYI that really struck a cord with many people. He said this: "Live your life in such a way that it will leave people no other choice but to believe that there is a God."

I have been wondering since then what that would look like. What would I need to do to live that statement out? A couple of things come to mind.

First, I must have some focus on those who do not believe that there is already a God. OK, that works. Falls right in line with the Founder when he said, "When an officer receives an appointment from headquarters, it is not contemplated that he shall deal merely with those who are already enrolled in our ranks, or with those who may be induced to come inside them; but it is intended that he shall be an apostle of the gospel to all those who live around."

Next, my walk must look out of the ordinary. It can't just blend in (like it does now). Can I go as far as to say that it might even look strange and even foolish? Wasn't it Joe the Turk who said, "I'm a fool for Jesus. Whose fool are ?" It was Paul who said, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God." What then did he come with? "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirits power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." And again later on: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."

That is the big thing I am lacking. Looking for more godly power. Healing power, praying power, miracle power, tongues power, dead raising power.

Let's ask for it, in His name, in faith believing.

The Other Road

I just got back from TYI and found this prophetic word from my friends at VOICE MINISTIRES check them out at www.voiceministries.com:

There are those that I am taking by the hand and leading down another road. This is a road of purity and utmost discipline. They will be trained to walk according to the spirit, and though they still are in a natural body, they will live by supernatural grace.

They are here because they have asked for it. The road of purity must go deep down inside their being, and supernatural grace will pave the way for my supernatural power. The days of cheap grace are gone and soon the days will come when I clear away all those who have handled my grace cheaply.

I tell you, on this road you will walk alone. But you must know that many are on the same road – being prepared alone. On this road, you will partake of my very body as your food, for only the purest of foods will give light to your inner man. Yes, your inner man will in this way be formed directly from my very being. This is my delight to you, my beloved! For this reason it will only be given to those who persevere through all obstacles to have me! You will lose many things in the natural world (Matthew 10:38-39), but the journey itself will cause your spiritual man to grow in a violent way (Matthew 11:12).

This is my path, my beloved. How I ache with you in the pain and loneliness at times, for I walked in these while I was a man. But the pain does not even touch what the promise will bring. Do you see this? Eternity itself coming to reign in your heart?

The Way It Happens

I found this in my files:

Start with a cage containing five apes.

In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it. Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the apes with cold water.

After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same result--all the apes are sprayed with cold water. This continues through several more attempts. Pretty soon, when another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes all try to prevent it.

Now turn off the cold water. Remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five apes and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Again, replace a third original ape with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four apes that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest ape.

After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes, all the apes, which have been sprayed with cold water, have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs. Why not?

Because that's the way they've always do it and that's the way it's always been around here.

And so goes some Army policy and traditions...

the tag

My friend Rob Dolby called me an "the tag in the new pair of underwear. Sure it is a pain in your backside at first", he said "but sooner or later you get used it. If you dont' get used to it and deside to cut it out the underwear will begin to unravel and you will be standing naked."

Now I don't know what all that symbolism means...but it sounds cool.

Booth-Tucker Institute Thoughts

From Can You Hear Me by Brad Jersak:

Mercy is like the ambulance at the bottom of a cliff ready to help those who fall. Justice builds a fence at the top of the cliff to protect the them from falling in the first place.

Mercy wipes the tears from the eyes. Justice asks, 'why are you crying?'

Mercy welcomes the hungry to gather around God's banqueting table. Justice addresses why some are under the table aching of hunger while others are sitting on top of the table aching from gluttony.

Mercy seeks and saves those lost in the darkness. Justice asks 'why is it dark? Who is keeping it dark? Who is benefiting from this darkness?' Is it me Lord?

Elaine Gillingham gives the following breakdown of mercy and justice:

Mercy--demonstrating the loving kindness of God.

Justice--Invoking the righteousness of God on earth.

seeking to love mercy and do justice : primitivesalvo

BTI

Some stuff to come shortly on Booth-Tucker Institute.

And the four quotes were: Chairman Mao Zedong. I didn't reall want to say but, I made you guess.

four REVOLUTIONARY statements

Here are four interesting REVOLUTIONARY statements from a revolutionary. I hate to say who it is that said them. Can you guess?

How should we judge whether a youth is a revolutionary? How can we tell? There can only be one criterion, namely, whether or not he is willing to integrate himself with the broad masses of workers and peasants and does so in practice. If he is willing to do so and actually does so, he is a revolutionary; otherwise he is a non-revolutionary or a counter-revolutionary. If today he integrates himself with the masses of workers and peasants, then today he is a revolutionary; if tomorrow he ceases to do so or turns round to oppress the common people, then he becomes a non-revolutionary or a counter-revolutionary.

Our slogan in training troops is, "Officers teach soldiers, soldiers teach officers and soldiers teach each other". The fighters have a lot of practical combat experience. The officers should learn from the fighters, and when they have made other people's experience their own, they will become more capable.

Enable every woman who can work to take her place on the labour front, under the principle of equal pay for equal work. This should be done as quickly as possible.

We shouid rid our ranks of all impotent thinking. All views that overestimate the strength of the enemy and underestimate the strength of the people are wrong.

Must Read Story

Ethiopia - A 12-year-old girl who was abducted and beaten by men trying to force her into a marriage was found being guarded by three lions who apparently had chased off her captors, a policeman said Tuesday.

The girl, missing for a week, had been taken by seven men who wanted to force her to marry one of them, said Sgt. Wondimu Wedajo, speaking by telephone from the provincial capital of Bita Genet, about 350 miles southwest of Addis Ababa.

She was beaten repeatedly before she was found June 9 by police and relatives on the outskirts of Bita Genet, Wondimu said. She had been guarded by the lions for about half a day, he said.

"They stood guard until we found her and then they just left her like a gift and went back into the forest," Wondimu said.

"If the lions had not come to her rescue, then it could have been much worse. Often these young girls are raped and severely beaten to force them to accept the marriage," he said.

Tilahun Kassa, a local government official who corroborated Wondimu's version of the events, said one of the men had wanted to marry the girl against her wishes.

"Everyone thinks this is some kind of miracle, because normally the lions would attack people," Wondimu said.

Stuart Williams, a wildlife expert with the rural development ministry, said the girl may have survived because she was crying from the trauma of her attack.

"A young girl whimpering could be mistaken for the mewing sound from a lion cub, which in turn could explain why they didn't eat her," Williams said.

I am up for some more of God using animals to protect the innocent. How about you? Or maybe we could play the role of the lions, sign up to be a hero, and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Joining the Crowd

My Results just for kicks.

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan.



You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.


Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

100% Charismatic/Pentecostal

96% Emergent/Postmodern

75% Neo orthodox

71% Fundamentalist

50% Classical Liberal

36% Reformed Evangelical

29% Roman Catholic

29% Modern Liberal