Past Is Prologue!

This post is originating from New Zealand. The following is now up on the SAVN.tv blog. This is where my energies are being channeled these days. Click on over and check it out.

TCSPEAK: PAST: Street Corner Evangelism. I believe it was Shakespeare who wrote, “Past is prologue.” The Salvation Army was conceived on the street corner. One early writer characterized its sanctuary as a “Cathedral of the Open Air.” It has also been described, in part, as “The genius of The Salvation Army.”

The panel on this “foundational” episode of TCSpeak explores this “genius” from personal experience and a historical perspective: Jim Knaggs, on the streets of New York City. Bob Docter, on the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Joe Noland, on the streets of San Francisco.

This discussion is also prologue to Knaggs vision for SAVN.tv – a virtual Cyberspace street corner for the 21st Century! Click on over to “About Us” and read the two posts, “Under Construction” and “Mission/Vision” for further clarity on the “past” and “future” part.

BACK2ONE: Ararat Action News! (Satirical, light-hearted, designed to reach a specific audience). In film-speak, “Back to one” is the verbal cue for performers to return to the mark where they started the scene. In this respect, past is also prologue. “In the beginning God created…” In order to go forward, we must go back to the beginning to the One who created us. The final “wrap” will occur upon Christ’s return.

In this sense, “Back2One,” the SAVN comedy ensemble, is always going back to the beginning in its sketches. “I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.” Or another way of putting it – “Back to the future.” The featured Ararat Action News sketch is no exception. The ensemble takes you back to the time of Noah, humorously, in order to parody a present and future spiritual truth:

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood (Hebrews 11:6,7).

Past is prologue!

A couple of further observations: 1) SAVN.tv is still in its experimental stages as new content is being produced. We’re learning and innovating as we go. 2) The SAVN team is not yet complete, but we’re getting there. 3) Social Media Chaplains will be part of that team. We are not ready to launch far and wide, via social media, until all is in place, but feel free to share with your circle of friends and encourage them to, in turn, to begin widening the circle. 4) The “launch” will occur in three phases. Watch the blog corner for more on this unveiling. 5) The best is yet to come! 6) With regard to the BACK2ONE SAVN.tv Comedy Ensemble mentioned above, it’s purposely designed to be a bit edgy, and we realize that some of the saints will have difficulty with presentation and content. But it’s not meant for the saints; it’s meant to reach a specific audience loitering out there on those virtual street corners. 7) Swallow hard and pray that God, The Holy Spirit, will take His Gospel Message virile! 

“All things, all persons, all means, save some” (1 Cor. 9:22).

JN