Writings
The Rise of the Preacher
by Major Lawrence Shiroma

In 1915, Major John McRae, a Canadian medical officer attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade in Belgium performed the funeral ceremony for a friend killed by enemy gunfire.   McRae had seen enough blood, screams and suffering in his medical field station to last a lifetime.  After the graveside service, the officer wrote:

“In Flanders Fields the poppies blow between the crosses that mark
Our places, and in the sky, the larks still bravely singing, fly scarce
Heard amidst the guns below. We are the dead, short days ago we
Lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. Loved and were loved and now we
Lie in Flanders Fields, where poppies blow between the crosses.”

The seeds of the red poppy lay dormant in the ground for years.  But when the ground is disturbed as in a battle, or dug up to bury the dead, the seeds germinate, take root and flourish.  Like the poppy seed, an officer may lie spiritually dormant for years.   Suddenly the ground of his heart is broken by the cries of the fallen.  Then the word of God takes root in his soul and he rises to preach with urgency because “the love of Christ compels (him).” (2 Corinthians 5:14).  The rise of the preacher today coincides with the rise of atheism.  The word “atheist” comes from the Greek “atheo,” meaning, “without God.”  The atheists say, “Smile, there is no hell.  The religious belief of any kind is irrational and the faithful are living in a fairy tale world.”  Atheistic writers are reaching the best-seller lists.  Some of their more recent books are, “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything,” by Christopher Hitchen, “The End of Faith,” by Sam Harris and “The God Delusion,” by Richard Dawkins.  The book by Sam Harris has sold close to a million copies.  Is it for such a time as this that God has called you to be His strong preacher of the gospel?   John MacArthur said, “Now is the time for the strongest men to preach the strongest message in the context of the strongest ministry."

”I got the news the day I received my long service award pin.  My brother was missing at sea.  A consummate fisherman, he was out alone in his boat, miles from shore, challenging the dark and fathomless ocean.  On that day, my brother’s boat returned without its captain.  The deep waters of life have claimed many fellow officers.  Sturdy men and women from sessions past have left the ranks and are no longer able to care over their soldiery, as a shepherd cares over his flock.

There is a cost to being a preacher.   “The pulpit calls those anointed to it,” wrote Bruce Thielemann, “like the sea calls its sailor and like the sea, it batters and bruises.” Paul wrote, "I discipline my body, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27).  Corps officers who faithfully preach God’s message each Sunday know, “To really preach is to die naked a little at a time, and to know each time you do that, you must do it again.” (Thielemann)

Contrary to relegating the importance of preaching to a secondary status within the vast work of the Army, General Evangeline Booth pleaded, "Preaching is the big job in the Army.  It isn't sitting by a desk.  It isn't delegating authority.  It's the preaching.  You've got to preach!"

Paul said, “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).  The calling of the preacher is, “the big job in the Army.”  Have we forsaken our call and focused our precious time, talent, resources and energy on lesser jobs?

May the love of Christ compel you to “preach the Word. . . in season and out of season.” (2 Timothy 4:2)  May the love of Christ compel you to be God’s strong preacher, whose heart has been broken by the cries of the fallen.

(All scripture from the NKJV)
S's On Our Shoulders
A Song written by
Cadet Cheri Currie

1. S on the left, S on the right been “Saved to Serve” through Jesus Christ.
Saved from our sins, given new life now we seek to show others life.
Our strong desire is that we might give hope to those longing to die.
To bring them joy for this we strive, to help the poor and change their lives.
We won’t give up, we won’t be shy. We’ll glorify the Lord on high.
While teenagers and children cry we’ll show them love instead of strife.
When people hurt we’ll find out why. Comfort for them we won’t deny.
Our Lord loved us when we would cry, so we’ll love them to change their lives.

Chorus: S’s on our shoulders means we are Salvation Army Soldiers
We will just get bolder we could be young or could be older
If it’s hot or colder it’s okay, we still know our Molder.
He is our Life Holder so we wear S’s on our shoulders.

2. S on the right, S on the left. Seeking to give the hurting rest.
Serving the Lord with ev’ry breath all or nothing, we’ll give our best.
While we see gangs, murder and theft, we’ll remember our flag and crest
What they stand for – how Christ was pressed and just for us He took that stress.
In that same way, we’ll stand the test. We’ll give our all and nothing less.
We pray in us His faithfulness will show along with holiness.
He’ll take their pain and brokenness to be their friend and give them rest.

Chorus: S’s on our shoulders means we are Salvation Army Soldiers
We will just get bolder we could be young or could be older
If it’s hot or colder it’s okay, we still know our Molder.
He is our Life Holder so we wear S’s on our shoulders.

Ending: These S’s don’t lie on our shoulders so the world can stay the same. The S’s lie on our shoulders that the world may be changed.

The Calling
by Cadet Anthony Barnes

The date is still a mystery.   Sometime in 2005, possibly in the winter months at the beginning of the year; but that is of no consequence.  The pastor led the congregation in a round of testimonies and prayer requests, as he normally does on Sunday mornings.  People responded as they normally do on Sunday mornings.   The family with single mother and three children arrived late as usual.  Not much was unique in relation to any other Sunday morning, except me.  As I listened to the testimonies and prayer requests of the congregation, something came over me.  Deep down in my soul, I felt a sentiment of deep concern.  I began to feel what seemed like a profound pulse of energy and extreme fear.  I looked to my right to see my wife listening intently to the testimonies and prayer requests in the room.  One after another, members of the congregation rose to speak their part.

I was overwhelmed with sorrow for these people and their requests.  However, what was more profound than the pain in their requests was the hope they exhibited for the rescuing power of faith in Jesus Christ.  Immediately, a pressure rose in my chest and tears began gathering at the lids of my eyes.   “What could I do for these people?”, I thought.  Moments later, my wife looked over at me and saw me weeping.  There was an indescribable feeling that came over me.  I excused myself and walked out of the chapel.  My wife escorted me and could not understand why I was so emotional, nor was I very helpful in clarifying the situation that I myself did not really understand.

Moments later, the pastor joined us in the hall and I described to him what happened.  He spoke into my ear in a soft voice, “you have a pastor’s heart”.  Those words glued themselves to my mind.  You know, I have heard the lessons, and read the stories, but I would never have thought that I would be part of such a tradition of God’s people.  He spoke to me.  It took me a while to grasp, or even accept that concept; He…spoke to me.

I wrote this poem to surround the idea that Jesus will meet you where you are.......wherever that may be.

Desert
by Captain Jim Gallop

In a land of constant wilderness,
surrounded by the sand,
I have journeyed far from holiness
to stir up this aching man;
bewildered with all reason,
befuddled without ties,
In my land of constant wilderness,
nothing satisfies.

Yet within this distant wasteland
stands a man with tattered hands;
He confronts me in my weariness,
He commits to understand:
enduring beyond measure,
empowered beyond scope...
within this distant wasteland,
He brings hope.

The Uniform
by Cadet Anthony Barnes

Out on the streets of the world
amongst those that the moonlight breeds;
I put on my uniform proud.
Dressed comfortably in urban fashion
And likewise clothed emotionally in aggression,
I invite the threat – fueled only by the possibility of confrontation.
I check my uniform to assure a flawless presentation
And I step confidently into the other side, the forgotten, with the, and as the, whosoever.
As a daily routine, I engage…
And I engage…
And I engage…
Placing challenges on anyone or anything that would dare to take on my disposition.
While in a moment least expected, the challenge was answered…a conviction made.
Without warning, the uniform I so proudly donned was removed
And I was reduced to a spiritual nakedness like that of my physical birth.
As roles were reversed, I found myself being challenged.
Regardless of reluctance, as if it was a daily routine,
I was engaged…
And in turn I felt compelled to engage the forgotten, and the whosoever.
Before long, a new uniform was on,
Often checked for flawless presentation.
This new uniform, spiritual and physical, is used to remove threats,
Fueled by the possibility of the Spirit’s convictions.
Proud to be Saved to Serve,
Out on the streets of the world amongst those that the moonlight breeds.

If you have a short story, poem or testimonial that you would like to share, please email your Writings to Susan Kendall, Visual Communications Coordinator & Webmaster at The Salvation Army College for Officer Training at Crestmont (Officers, Faculty, Students, Cadets and Employees of Crestmont only please).

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