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The Salvation Army / USA Central Territory News and Views from the Midwest “We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.” Eph. 4:3,4 (NLT) Volume 47, Number 11 December 2017 Love rings true at Christmas by Craig Dirkes Unit. Incredibly, his last name is eral mental disabilities. Winterringer! 45-year-old man is in his “The only reason I’m alive is fourth year of ringing Michael Winterringer has manned because of God,” said Michael, Abells at kettles in the cold the same spot outside the local who celebrated five years of and snow for the Grand Walmart for more than 200 hours sobriety last spring. “There are Rapids, Minn., Service Extension each season—and he’s loved every no words to explain the depths minute of it. of God’s love,” he said, fighting “You know back tears. “It’s better than any that feeling drug. It’s better than any you get when drink.” you fall in love Michael’s lifelong struggle with Jesus? with addiction ended when he That’s the way moved to Grand Rapids and hour for The Salvation Army. I feel when I got involved with a Presbyterian ring bells,” he church in the nearby city of Although ringing bells outside for said. Coleraine. Several members of his eight hours a day is frigid work, Michael said he doesn’t mind the Michael church have been like parents to him, as have members of other cold. In fact, he almost prefers it. “I credits Jesus lived a major portion of my life on with saving churches he has attended in north - ern Minnesota. Today, Michael has the streets—being outside is like him from being home,” he said. addiction. He a part-time job and apartment and spent most of manages his own finances, all with “Michael is incredible,” said his adulthood minimal assistance. Kathleen Saelens, a Salvation Army on the streets Without Michael’s help, the ket - social worker in Grand Rapids. hooked on tle at the Walmart largely would go “What stands out about him is his drugs and unstaffed. But because of Michael, love of God. It just shines. Given alcohol. He it’s the busiest one in town with his life story, for him to have so lives with sev - Michael raising an average $30 an much love is a lesson for all of us.” Truth for Today Living in the confusion of this 21st The challenge for us is to allow century, it can be hard to distinguish ourselves the space to be aware of by General André Cox alternative truth, yet Christmas is about God and experience the presence of facts, false breaking into our world in the gift of Jesus, which can be as real as that e pause once again in news, fake the busyness of our his Son, Jesus. The angels broke into first Christmas. news. Little the world of the shepherds to Whectic and frenetic lives wonder that We need to be his followers and to give thanks to God announce the birth of our Savior and his disciples in this generation, and we live in a those shepherds then went to the for his wondrous gift. It was the generation that is more and more he has promised us that, “If you greatest gift ever given to manger to experience the truth of stick with this, living out what I tell skeptical and suspicious of any what they had been told. humankind; a gift of healing, whole - claims of absolute truth. you, you are my disciples for sure. ness, restoration, love, reconciliation Jesus came and walked among us, Then you will experience for your - and relationship with the God who For many, truth has become rela - died on the Cross that we might be selves the truth , and the truth will created the universe and our world. tive and subjective; it is what feels saved, then rose again and ascended free you” (John 8:31-32 MSG). right for them or what they choose it The apostle Paul reminds us of just to Heaven where he reigns at the Christmas is God’s greatest gift to be on any given day or in any right hand of God. We know that one how awesome that gift is: “Thanks be given situation. because we can know truth—truth to God for his indescribable gift!” day he will return again to establish that is more than abstract concept, (2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV). In fact, subjective approaches to God’s reign on earth—and what a a truth that is real and alive, truth are nothing new. People of all glorious day that will be! By return - It is sad how many people fail to embodied in Jesus and imparted by generations have chosen to read and ing to the Father however, Jesus did the Holy Spirit. recognise and experience the truth of interpret truth as they see fit. not abandon or forget us. the gospel message; a message of “And we know that the Son of good news reminding us of God’s How desperately we need to hear He said, “I will talk to the Father, God came so we could recognize love and provision for whoever and live truth in a world that has lost and he’ll provide you another Friend and understand the truth of God— chooses to believe and take him at its moral compass. Some would ques - so that you will always have some - what a gift!—and we are living in his word. tion the relevance and importance of one with you. This Friend is the the Truth itself, in God’s Son, Jesus Jesus and yet we see through the life Spirit of Truth . The godless world At the trial of Jesus, Pilate asked, Christ. This Jesus is both True God he lived that God was truly with can’t take him in because it doesn’t and Real Life. Dear children, be on “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Today, him. When we look at Jesus, we see have eyes to see him, doesn’t know increasingly, we ask ourselves that guard against all clever facsimiles” evidence of God working in and what to look for. But you know him (1 John 5:20-21 MSG). same question. In recent months, we through him. His life reveals the already because he has been staying have had to expand our vocabulary truth of God’s promise and message with you, and will even be in you!” I pray that you will experience to accommodate concepts such as for the world. (John 14:16-17 The Message). the Truth this Christmas season. 2 9 1 0 6 L I , s e t a t s E n a m f f o H , y w k P e n o t S e i r i a r P 0 5 5 5 , r e g a n a M n o i t a l u c r i C : o t n o i t c e r r o c r u o y h t i w l e b a l d e h c a t t a e h t d n e S ? g n i v o M 2 9 1 0 6 L I , s e t a t s E n a m f f o H y w k P e n o t S e i r i a r P 0 5 5 5 Y M R A N O I T A V L A S E H T 2 Rockford Temple celebrates 125 years with Scandinavian Jubilee by Lt. Colonel Marlene Chase the band has toured exten - elebrating 125 years of min - sively in istry, the Rockford Temple, Europe. CIll., Corps hosted a biennial Scandinavian Jubilee which Colonels Jan drew 150 delegates from across the Peder and r Birgit Fosen, e country to participate in lively meet - Leaders of the jubilee are (back, l to r) Majors Sidney and Betty Anderson, h c l chief secretary Colonel Jan Peder Fosen, Majors Roger and Cecilia Senn, Lt. Colonels Becky o ings, worship, fellowship and fun T e and secretary and Dan Sjogren; (front, l to r) Colonel Birgit Fosen, Lt. Colonel Bodil Dahl, n under the theme “Jesus Christ, the a i for women’s Majors Teri and Mark Martsolf. Children are Shawn and Hailey Davis. D same yesterday, today and forever.” d n ministries, a Many more individuals attended pro - k c the world with the gospel. The a grams or concerts at various times respectively, for the Norway, Iceland l S meeting’s concluding song, “They h t during the weekend. The opening and the Faeroes Territory, returned i a shall come from the east,” gave fit - F flag-filled evening brought 275 indi - Colonel Jan Peder Fosen, chief secretary for for their third Scandinavian celebra - y b tion in Rockford. The colonels ting expression to the corps’ ser - s Norway, Iceland and the Faeroes Territory o viduals together, and a total of 1,831 t o brought Spirit-filled messages and vice. h persons attended the three days of P programs and events highlighting the through Jesus Christ. The band, orga - accentuated the warm and lively The Salvation Army’s work in Scandinavian heritage of Rockford. nized in 1892, has given consistent camaraderie that marked the week - Rockford began as a revival move - end. They were ably assisted by The Stavanger Brass Band from service and earned a reputation for ment among Swedish immigrants.