Early Sunday morning, October 30

No, it is not a picture of the new tunics for the Brass Band. It is something quite different. Last weekend on our way home from the course in Norway we stopped in Brussels to visit our old friends Fred-Arne and Sylvia. We have not seen them since we moved to Riga more than two years ago. During our visit we had the opportunity to visit the battle field of Waterloo. That is the place where Napoleon was less succesful some years ago. I found the picture outside the museum.

During the past week we have mainly been sitting in negotiations. Negotiations with the welfare department in Riga concerning the future of the Leontine Gorskas orphanage in Riga, which will close in the end of the year, and negotiations about the budgets for next year for the different operations in the Salvation Army in Latvia.

This week we had also had prayer 24 hours per day during seven days. I shall just start my shift at five o´clock.

Now it is Monday morning and we shall drive to the outpost Drusti in the northeastern part of Latvia. In Drusti we will have a Soldiers´enrolment of four new soldiers.
We will bring the flag for the enrolment, two boxes of new Songbooks (the old ones are worn out by all singing for many years) and a box with the new plastic bags with the Salvation Army shield which will be used for the food parcel distribution the coming winter. To the right you see the Commanding Officer in Drusti.

Next week we will go to a concert in Riga. It is my favorit male vocal group (next to the Norwegian group Mannssambandet of course) Ernie Haase and the Signature Sound. Here you can get a taste of how they sound:



Have a blessed week!
Peter Baronowsky

A CONCERT PIANIST

Nicolaj Vollburg who recently turned 42, has a solid classical music education from the Malmö Academy of Music behind him. He studied at the Academy for five years and was a fellow student with Daniel Viklund, and they are once again classmates.

“Directly following graduation from college, I began freelancing as a concert pianist and conductor”, says Nicolai, and says that “there were many trips within Sweden and beyond. - You have to build a network if you are a freelancer”, says Nicolai, who adds that he is Sweden Director of Crescendo, a network of classically trained Christian musicians.

“Actually, I have lived with a pastor's vocation for many years, a vocation which I suppressed, but now, God spoke in 2008 directly to me and my family. The message was clear that we would move to the Mälardalen region of Sweden. There, I thought about continuing my music career, but God spoke again to us, and I realized that it was in the Salvation Army, that I would serve and that my calling was specifically, to proclaim salvation as an officer.

Nicolai and his wife Helen became soldiers in Västerås Corps and “the decision to enter the officer school felt just right”, says Nicolai. He is passionate about preaching the word and is no stranger to working as an evangelist in the Salvation Army; to travel combining music and preaching, but he adds that, “God will put him where he is most needed.”

(FA Sweden Wbsite: translation Sven Ljungholm)

Headlines week 43

Study: Gays can change sexual orientation
Baptist Press - "A major seven-year study published in a mainstream journal is challenging the secular notion that gays and lesbians cannot change their sexual orientation."


 Why Para-Church Ministries are the Best and Worst Thing to Happen to the Church
Plilcooke.com - "In the early decades of the 20th century – for the most part – the church dropped the ball.  Secular philosophy, spiritual anemia, poor leadership, locked-in traditions, and more were keeping the church from making a real impact in the culture.  In some cases, local churches farmed out the work of the Great Commission to their respective denominations, but even many of those efforts were poorly executed.  Seeing that impotence, a generation of entrepreneurial thinkers moved outside the Church to accomplish what the church wouldn’t do."

Religious Discrimination Incidents Doubled in US Since 1997
Christian Post - "Though a country whose First Amendment mandates the freedom of religious practice, the United States of America appears to be suffering from rising religious discrimination in the workplace.According to statistics compiled by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, religious discrimination incidents have doubled over the past 13 years."

Five things I can't do (and you can't either!)
Wesleyan life - "Most of the things that sap my time and energy as a pastor—or in any aspect of life—are things I can't do by try anyway.
I don't mean dreams that are too big or goals that are too challenging. Those represent things I might accomplish if I work diligently and God blesses the effort.
I'm referring to things that nobody can do—they simply cannot be done.
How often have you wasted time, burned energy, or lost sleep on one of these fruitless activities?"

Global Variety

THE results of the All the World Photographic Competition 2011 have been revealed. The winning entry has an appropriately international twist, being a photo of The Salvation Army in Pakistan taken by an American who currently lives in Korea!

Read more
See the pictures

Early Sunday morning, October 23

Now I am on my way back to Riga after a week in Norway and the NLDI-conference  (Nordic Leadership Development Institute).

It has been an interesting week together with a great group of people.

Alexander Hughes spoke about the Leader´s identity and picked the following qualities for Biblical Leadership:
-Submission
-Integrity
-Compassion
-Weakness
-Courage
-Leadership development
-Spirit-filled

Here are some pictures from the conference:

 Four of the delegates. From Moldava, Romania, Denmark and Sweden

Commissioners Ingeborg and Alexander Hughes

Now it is time for a new week. On Tuesday we will have a gathering for all our leaders in Latvia, looking at visions and dreams sent in from last Leader´s gathering. That will be interesting.

Have a blessed week
Peter Baronowsky

Headlines week 42

God Will Make a Way
Christiannity Today Leadership - "There’s an idea floating around Christian women’s circles. I’m hearing it more frequently. I’ve heard it from missionary colleagues and women at church. I’ve read it in books and seen it posted in comments on blogs. It goes something like this: If God has gifted and called a woman to lead, teach, pastor, or preach then he will make a way for her to fulfill that calling."


Rest in the Storm
Charisma Magazine - "My husband, Steve, and I once owned property that had an eagle’s nest on it. One day after a spring storm we went out to check on the property and found that a third of the nest had been blown down.
As I looked at the fallen pieces, it occurred to me that often when we think of eagles we picture the majestic bird that is our national symbol—a bird that is able to soar high above any tempest that might come along. We rarely think of eagles as having to go through storms."

Mars Hill Pastor: Mormonism Is 'Antithetical to Christianity'
The Christian Post - "The debate on whether Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney can be called a Christian carries on with the pastor of a Seattle-based megachurch being the latest to describe the Latter-day Saints as a cult, theologically.Simply said, by the theological definition, Mormonism is a cult,” wrote Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church on his blog Tuesday – the day author and speaker Chuck Colson told The Christian Post in an interview that Christians should not refrain from voting for someone because they are not a Christian. "

Vision plan for the Salvation Army

GENERAL Linda Bond made a passionate call for The Salvation Army around the world to be united in mission and message and to grasp new opportunities as she launched the International Vision: One Army, One Mission, One Message.

The vision is given substance through 12 Mission Priorities – full details of which can be seen in the Vision Plan (http://sar.my/one). These priorities call on Salvationists to say 'we will' to principles such as deepening spiritual life; reaching and involving youth and children; and communicating Christ unashamedly. The General said she was aware that, if not approached practically, a vision could be 'only a pipe dream' but that the Mission Priorities make it clear that 'you have to do something'.

She emphasised that One Army, One Mission, One Message should not be seen as 'the General's vision' but that she wants Salvationists around the world – who she described as having 'the DNA of The Salvation Army tattooed on heads and hearts' – to say: 'This is our vision'.

Read more

Launching the vision plan

Launching the Vision Plan from The Salvation Army UK on Vimeo.

Early Sunday morning in Moss, October 16

This weekend we spend at Jelöy, an island in Moss in Norway. It is the opening of the new Conference Centre and the new corps building for Moss Corps.

It all started Friday evening with a march from the old corps building in Moss to the new facilities on Jelöy. The Salvation Army has now gathered on the same site the School for Officers training, the Folk High School, the Conference Centre and the Corps Building.



Friday was the corps day. Saturday was the special opening of the Conference Centre. Special guest was colonel Robert Street.

The Corps building

The Conference Centre

The view from the parking area

Ready to cut the ribbon

The cadets singing

The House of Praise singing

Now it is Sunday morning and soon time to go to the morning meeting in the new corps building.

I wish you a blessed week.
Peter baronowsky

Why should we wear uniform? Part three

I believe the Salvation Army has a very unique commission. There are many denominations within the universal Christian church and we are all brothers and sisters. However siblings may not always be similar, either in appearance or personality. The Salvation Army's commission is to be an army that proffers salvation; a Salvation Army.

Jesus said: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. " (John 3:16 NIV). Jesus does not want anyone to perish, and so he raised up an army of people whose mandate is to save the people from being lost; a Salvation Army.

I believe in the Salvation Army's mission! People who let themselves be seized by the vision of an army that marches steadily onward to save people. People who are not ashamed of what we are; marching boldly without fear in uniforms and flags and all the trappings that belong to an army. An army that does not try to imitate any of its siblings, but one that’s confident and daring in his own identity. An army that is not a poor imitation of some other church, but dare to be what it is commissioned to be.

/PB

Why should we wear uniforms? Part 2

In the first section I wrote about the Salvationists’ uniform serving as a testimony that we believe in the common priesthood of all believers and that we do not draw a sharp distinction between professional clergy and regular, ordinary church members.

Another reason to wear the SA uniform is to testify that; “I have entered into a covenant with the Lord”. The purpose is to enter more deeply into a tradition that has long existed within Christianity. Monks and nuns have historically aligned themselves into special orders identified by unique dress to testify that they have made the decision to resign from a nondescript lifestyle and enter into a covenant with God.

Becoming a salvation soldier means that I commit myself to live in a very specific way. The things one commits to when becoming a soldier are far from being inconsequential. Becoming a salvation soldier means that I have entered into a covenant in which I promise far more than I would do if I were simply a ordinary parishioner in another church. Every time I put on my uniform, I remind myself and all within my world what I promised:

"Soldier's Covenant

Having accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord, and desiring to fulfill my membership of His Church on earth as a soldier of The Salvation Army, I now by God's grace enter into a sacred covenant.

I believe and will live by the truths of the word of God expressed in The Salvation Army's eleven articles of faith:

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God; and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.

We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.

We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost - undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.

We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.

We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.

We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.

We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

I will be responsive to the Holy Spirit's work and obedient to His leading in my life, growing in grace through worship, prayer, service and the reading of the Bible. I will make the values of the Kingdom of God and not the values of the world the standard for my life.

I will uphold Christian integrity in every area of my life, allowing nothing in thought, word or deed that is unworthy, unclean, untrue, profane, dishonest or immoral.

I will maintain Christian ideals in all my relationships with others; my family and neighbours, my colleagues and fellow salvationists, those to whom and for whom I am responsible, and the wider community.

I will uphold the sanctity of marriage and of family life. I will be a faithful steward of my time and gifts, my money and possessions, my body, my mind and my spirit, knowing that I am accountable to God.

I will abstain from alcoholic drink, tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs, gambling, pornography, the occult and all else that could enslave the body or spirit.

I will be faithful to the purposes for which God raised up The Salvation Army, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, endeavouring to win others to Him, and in His name caring for the needy and the disadvantaged.

I will be actively involved, as I am able, in the life, work, worship and witness of the corps, giving as large a proportion of my income as possible to support its ministries and the worldwide work of the Army.

I will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, and I will show the spirit of salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution.

I now call upon all present to witness that I enter into this covenant and sign these articles of war of my own free will, convinced that the love of Christ, who died and now lives to save me, requires from me this devotion of my life to His service for the salvation of the whole world; and therefore do here declare my full determination, by God's help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army."

Why should we wear uniforms? part 1

I am constantly challenged to answer the question why we (Salvationists) should wear uniforms. Some say; “I can be just as good a Christian out of uniform as in!” And of course they’re right, one can. But I still maintain there are some very valid arguments for wearing a SA uniform. I will share just a few…

The vast majority of religious communities have some sort of priestly garb. They vary and can look very different one church to the next, but the notion that the priest has some form of distinguishing clothing has been with us since Old Testament times. In the larger denominations they even have uniquely decorated garments based on hierarchy; one’s status in the religious order. But the one commonality is that they have a need and intent to distinguish who is a ‘priest’ from those who are "regular" members.

The Salvation Army is different. The uniform is a testimony that we believe in the common priesthood of all believers. All members / soldiers are active workers. In many religious communities one is considered an active member by attending church services regularly and listening to the priest or Pastor each Sunday. However, being a SA soldier in uniform testifies to the significance that I belong to and am in God’s service. It signifies that all members of Christ's body are functionally responsible and not simply passive spectators.

Peter Barononwsky (Translated into English by Sven Ljungholm)

Headlines week 41

Egypt's Christians, attacked by army, may flee country
Baptist Press - "Funeral services were held Oct. 10 in Cairo, Egypt, for some of the victims of a military attack against a group of Christian protestors that left 26 dead and hundreds wounded.
In the wake of what could be the worst act of violence against Egyptian Christians in modern history, leaders of the Coptic Orthodox Church have called for three days of fasting and prayer for divine intervention, along with three days of mourning."

Aborting the "Imperfect" Seen as Cause for Less Research
EWTN - "Carlo Bellieni wrote a report for the Vatican's semi-official daily last week called "The Elimination of the Imperfect."
"We note it by looking around us; we no longer see 'imperfect' children, marked by genetic diseases," observed Bellieni. "Censured by the media, sheltered by their families from a society that no longer accepts them (...) but above all aborted," these children "are systematically detected before being born and, once identified, they are often banned from being born."
"What is grave," the doctor stated, "is that this screening and selection no longer surprises us: it's the norm."

Top 10 gifts to give your pastor
Baptist Press - "October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This is the month when many churches will take some time to show their appreciation to their pastor for his love and ministry over the past year. Some churches will take up a love offering for their pastor."

How to talk to your kids about Jesus being the only way to heaven
What´s in the Bible? - "We live in an inclusive society.  It’s more acceptable to be politically correct and to not make anyone feel uncomfortable, especially on matters of theology. Sometimes that makes it tough to be blatantly direct and unwavering in a fundamental truth.  The thing is, truth is different than just a belief.  Truth just… IS, whether or not one chooses to accept it.  That’s how we Christians view the truth of our gift of salvation through Christ alone.
The challenge for many of us is to teach this fundamental truth to our children, while being mindful that it can be a confusing concept if we have family members who have chosen to not accept Christ.  How do we handle those tough questions, like “Do you mean that Uncle Paul isn’t going to Heaven?”

The Salvation Army has lost a visionary

By Major Glad Ljungholm

Steve Jobs, the visionary "geek" who changed the way the world looked at technology, has died.   This is the news I woke up to this morning. 


STEVE JOBS 1955-2011


 




The father of four started Apple Computer with high school friend Steve Wozniak in his garage in 1976 but was forced out a decade later. He returned in the mid-1990s and transformed Apple into one of the world's most powerful companies.

Despite resigning as chief executive due to his health, Mr Jobs said he would continue to play a leadership role. He was replaced by Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook, and took the role of Chairman of the company's board.

The pioneering businessman, who was the mind behind the revolutionary iPhone and iPad devices, had been fighting pancreatic cancer and underwent a liver transplant in 2009.

Apple's board said in a statement: "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."

"Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor," Mr Cook wrote in an email to Apple's employees. "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

The news Apple fans and shareholders had been dreading came the day after Apple unveiled its latest iPhone, a device that got a lukewarm reception. Perhaps, there would have been more excitement had Mr Jobs been well enough to show it off with his trademark theatrics.

A statement released by Mr Jobs' family said: "In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve's illness."

What a man … what amazing tributes to one individual.  Reading these comments made me think of a phrase I often quote when conducting funeral services and I found myself praying it again today in response to a man I have never met, but in response to a man whose life has touched and influenced mine as I sit here typing on my Apple Mac laptop.

‘May his dying challenge my living’

Who of us wouldn’t want to hear said of us at the end of our earthly lives: "Glad's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enriched and improved all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Glad."

  … ‘The Salvation Army has lost a visionary and creative genius’ …

"Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Glad have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor,"

 "In her public life, Glad was known as a visionary; in her private life, she cherished her family.”

I don’t for one moment imagine any or many of these things would be said of me but as I read of this ‘driven’ man I found myself driven to my knees again and praying:

‘All my days and all my hours

All my will and all my powers

All the passion of my soul

Not a fragment but the whole

Shall be Thine Dear Lord

Shall be Thine Dear Lord’

Rick Warren at the beginning of his book:  ‘Purpose Driven Life’ asks the question:  ‘What on earth am I here for?’ … life’s most important question.  Answer that question he says and you will understand the ‘big picture’ how all the various pieces of our lives fit together.

The Apostle Paul had no doubt at all about the purpose of his life or that of the Thessalonian believers.  They were created for relationship with God.  This purpose, this holy purpose was constantly the focus of Paul’s prayers on their behalf.  In 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-12 we read:  ‘We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfil every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  We pray this so that the Name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.’

In His earlier letter Paul had urged them to ‘live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His Kingdom and Glory.’  (1 Thess. 2:12)

Our true value, our great worth, our high calling is emphasised in Ephesians 2: 10 we are:  ‘God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works’.

In his sermon, ‘The Drum Major Instinct’ Martin Luther King Jr asked not to be remembered for his Nobel Peace Prize, his numerous awards or where he went to school.  He asked rather to be remembered as someone who ‘tried to love and serve humanity’.

Our names may never be famous, it is very unlikely for most of us that we will be world renowned and on the day of our death it is very doubtful that such breaking news will hit the world press as has Steve Jobs’. But, may his dying challenge our living and may we be reminded of the high calling that is ours and the purpose for which we were created.

Major Glad Ljungholm (from fsaof.blogspot.com)

Early Sunday morning in Riga, October 9

A busy week is coming close to it´s end.
Monday we had a visit from the board of the Baltic Children Foundation. They have supported our "Change a village"- project in Sarkani. They came with a private jet to the airport in Riga to see the Children´s House for the first time.
The corps leaders and the cadet, doing field practice as children worker in the village, told about the project and the board members were touched almost to tears. Here you can see the house when we bought it and after one year.

 And her you can read more about the project

Tuesday Ruth and I taught an Officer´s course on Discipleship and Wednesday we had a board meeting at Skangal.

Thursday we had a meeting with our Strategy Board looking at the reports from the Leaders Vision Day about the Salvation Army in Latvia in five years. Really encouraging reports.

Friday we had a Spiritual Day at the School for Officers training. Our guests this time were the Chief  Secretary Johnny Kleman and the Program Secretary Eva Kleman. Their theme was "Do not loose heart".

Now it is Sunday morning and we will have a board meeting with the Leadership for the Sweden/Latvian territory in the morning 9 o´clock. The reason for the very unusual time for a board meeting is that Ruth is leaving for Prague later today to take part in a reference group preparing the European Congress in October 2012.

After the Board Meeting the Board will take part in the Sunday morning service at Riga 1 and then visit different Salvation Army operations in Latvia during Sunday and Monday.

And by then we are already in the new week. I hope it will be a blessed week for you.

Peter Baronowsky

Headlines week 40

Virtual Dead Sea scrolls get more than a million hits in just one week
Haaretz.com - "More than a million people have visited a new website featuring high-resolution photographs of several Dead Sea Scrolls since the site was launched less than a week ago by the Israel Museum and Google Israel."

Should Religious Institutions Follow Anti-Discrimination Laws? Supreme Court Decides
Christian Post - "Should religious institutions have to follow anti-discrimination laws? That’s the question the Supreme Court will address on Oct. 5, when one of the most important religion cases in decades will be presented. The case concerns “ministerial exception,” a 40-year-old legal doctrine that protects churches and other religious institutions from government interference in their employment decisions."

Being a missionary in your own home: the rise of social media in missions
Mission Network News - "Two thousand years ago, Jesus told His disciples that there will be a day when "this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:14, NIV).
"It must have been staggering [to the disciples]," notes evangelist Ron Hutchcraft. "But today, with the internet, with technologies--whether it is Twitter, or whether it is search engines on the internet, whether it is Facebook or social media--we're talking about the vehicle for actually having that happen. Literally, it would be possible for everybody to hear now, because technology reaches every corner of this planet."

Simplify Your Life
Joyece Meyer - "Indecision is a miserable state to be in and certainly is not a fruit of the simple life. Simplicity prays, seeks wisdom and decides. It doesn’t waffle. It sticks with the decision it made unless there is a very good reason to change it. The apostle James said the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways and will not receive anything he asks from the Lord.
How can God give us anything if we can never make up our minds concerning what we want?"