Salvation + ism = The Right Balance

Salvationism is a two part word: Salvation + ism. The salvation part is never changing – the same, yesterday, today, forever (The conservative part). Ism, by its proper definition is “a movement” – always changing: “Mobile, fluid, robust, pulsating, progressive, maturing – Genesis in motion.” In other words, our methodology needs to stay relevant, inclusive and flexible in order to reach the last, the lost and least (The liberal part).

I expand on this theme over at TheRubicon. Check it out, including my own euphemism for Salvationism.

JN

Isms!

Pinpoint trouble spots in the world today and where there is schism you will generally find a prevailing, trailing “ism.” Read what I have to say about this over at The Rubicon, including how Salvationism might fit into the picture.

JN

11. Curiosity!

Driven by inborn curiosity, my twin grandson’s, Parker Kuanalu and Hayden Kaipo’i Noland are caught white-handed, creating their first artistic masterpiece utilizing Tempura Flour, their medium of choice.

I’m a product of The Salvation Army’s Westward Movement. Had the inborn curiosity of those early pioneers not been piqued and given permission to flourish, I wouldn’t be here today in this capacity. Who knows what the eventual outcome of my life would have been had their spiritual progeny not been around to shape, influence and point me in the right direction. My masterpiece would have been a different one to be sure, if any.

Unbridled curiosity is key to discovering the Genesis person within. Without it our masterpiece will never be created. My fear is that the stymieing of curiosity these days is inhibiting the creation of many masterpieces yet to be painted. I explore the Curiosity Recipe for Genesis thinking in Chapter 11 of my book in progress. Go to joenoland.com and scroll down or click here for the corresponding blog. If it resonates, spread the word.

JN

10. Risk!

Mary Matthews Stillwell

Who was it that said, "Beginning as I did with a clean sheet of paper, wedded to no plan... willing to take a leaf out of anybody's book... above all, to obey the direction of the Holy Spirit... we tried various methods and those that did not answer we unhesitatingly threw overboard and adopted something else?”

Hint: It wasn’t said in my lifetime, and in those threescore and ten, I’ve had only three leaders who came close to modeling that same kind of risk-taking spirit, unfortunately. The answer, along with my take on the role risk plays in the making of a Genesis Person, can be found in Chapter 10 of my book in progress at The Blog or joenoland.com. Find out how Mary Stillwell (pictured above)fits in to it all, especially as a role model.

When reading, please remember that this is the unedited version with many refinements and corrections yet to be made. Otherwise enjoy.

JN

Flash!

Some “Scary!” thoughts, written by me, have just been posted over at TheRubicon in the “Think” section. The editor changed my title from “Let Freedom Ring | Scary!” to “Primitive Salvationism | Scary!” which is a bit misleading, and perhaps my fault for the way it was phrased in the concluding thought. For me, personally, Primitive Salvationism is an oxymoron because Salvationism is never primitive; it is always relevant, contemporary and spontaneous, spewing forth autonomy and individuality. That’s what makes it scary i.e., forcing one to look over the edge once in awhile.

Also risk is relative. One person’s risk is another person’s opportunity. One may see risk as opportunity, whilst another sees it as uncertainty. Risk-taking is entirely individualistic by definition. “Conforming risk-taker” is also an oxymoron. Doing it the way its always been done is not risky business; it’s called, safety, status quo.

I also assumed that the risk I was talking about would be interpreted as good risk. Risks must always be taken for the right reasons, not the wrong ones. Also, you will find that good, calculated, risk-taking begins to dissipate as mission metamorphosis into institutionalism. Early day Salvationists were risk-takers for the right reasons. Let’s take this primitive concept and make it contemporary, sans the traditional, institutional regulations and regalia. For many that’s too scary to even think about.

JN

Homegrown!

Word was just received that Commissioner Lawrence Smith was promoted to Glory. One of my first remembrances of him was, as Public Relation’s Secretary in USA West he accompanied several cadets, of which I was one, into San Quentin Prison to conduct a Sunday worship service. There are two indelible memories of that experience that stay with me: 1) Walking through the prison yard with a sea of convicts in their striped prison garb (as it was in those days) silently parting the way for us as we passed through (this would never happen today). 2) After the service, a black inmate asking me why he’d never seen a black person in TSA, and my sputtering response (There were no good answers then, few and far between in this country, still are mostly).

Incidentally, did you know that there was once a full-blown corps inside San Quentin Prison, one of the inmates its Sgt. Major? I think they even had a Home League, quilting and all. Their motto, “Set Free!” I don’t know?

And here’s another almost unbelievable fact: Commissioner Smith is the only USA Western born, homegrown officer to have been appointed Territorial Commander in this territory, discounting Bill Luttrell who was pulled out of retirement for a brief interim period during a crisis. Historically, for whatever the reasons, this has been a stepchild territory, and still is, Commissioner Smith being our only claim to fame – a real gentleman who singly represented us well. Maybe this enigma will right itself in the next generation?

Speaking of retireds, rumor has it that the General will be in this territory come June for a series of regional engagements (not to be confused with Congress Meetings) culminating in the Commissioning Weekend. A recent notice came out to retired Officers, via the THQ liaison, that retireds are invited to these regional events sans any expense reimbursement (in other words, on your own dime), as this is not “officially a Congress.” Tis a shame as this will preclude many retired officers from hearing and greeting The General, a rare occurrence for this territory. Maybe we should picket the events, canes, walkers, hearing aids and all, what do you think? I mean, what would they do without us?

And speaking of the next generation, click on over to Revolution Hawaii and check out their blogs: eight outstanding future leaders in this territory. Who knows, one of them might be the next homegrown TC in this territory or maybe even The General! Nah. Let’s not get carried away here.

"Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Wait a minute! What! Can any good thing come out of...?

JN