The Greatest Strategy (it never fails!)

I edited my last post a little. If it's worth your time, you can read it over. Only a couple of changes though.

I want to talk more on holiness. But before that, a little Brengle on the Army.

Brengle wrote a book called Ancient Prophets and Modern Problems. His 23rd chapter is titled "What About the Future of the Salvation Army?" It's very interesting and incredibly helpful, especially in this time of the Army's life, where people are wondering "What is the Salvation Army?" This is Brengle's prediction of the future of the Army:

"We must still prove our discipleship by our love one for the other. It is not enough to wear the uniform, to profess loyalty to Army leaders and principles, to give our goods to feed the poor and our bodies to be burned. We must love one another. We must make this the badge of our discipleship. We must wrestle and pray and hold fast that we do not lose this. The Army is so thoroughly organized and disciplined, so wrought into the life of nations, so fortified with valuable properties, and on such a sound financial basis, that it is not likely to perish
as an organization, but it will become a spiritually dead thing if love leaks out. Love is the life of The Army. 'If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.' But if love leaks out we shall lose our crown, we shall have a name to live and yet be dead. We may still house the homeless, dole out food to the hungry, punctiliously perform our routine work, but the mighty ministry of the Spirit will no longer be our glory. Our musicians will play meticulously, our Songsters will revel in the artistry of song that tickles the ear, but leaves the heart cold and hard. Our Officers will make broad their phylacteries and hob-nob with mayors and councilmen and be greeted in the market-place, but God will not be among us. We shall still recruit our ranks and supply our Training Garrisons with Cadets from among our own Young People, but we shall cease to be saviors of the lost sheep that have no shepherd."

What do you think?

Has love leaked out?

Have his predictions come true, or are we as passionate and loving as ever?

How is your love? Do you love your brothers and sisters and fellow soldiers/salvationists?

Test your love. Are you patient? Are you kind? Do you envy? Do you boast? Do you think highly of yourself? Do you behave rudely? Do you try to get your own way, or let others get theirs? Do you get angry with others easily? Do you forgive easily, or tend to hold on to offense? Are you ever happy when wrong is done? Do you rejoice when you see/hear/experience the truth of God, even those truths that are hard to accept? Are you willing to bear all things? Do you think the best of others? Do you hold tightly onto hope? Will your love endure through anything?

That kind of love will NEVER fail. It's got the Biblical stamp of solid Holy Spirit Truth.

Let us spur one another on to love and good deeds.

PS- If you want the whole chapter, I can e-mail it to you...