“That hill is Mount Moriah,” explained Boaz, my tour guide. “It’s where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac.” Standing across the valley on Mount Scopus in September, I did a mental calculation. According to Scripture, 6,000 years ago a man named […]

An excerpt from “Pilgrim: 25 Ways God’s Character Leads Us Onward” “God is going to do big things with your life,” we often hear. No doubt well meaning, but is it true? Is it big when God allows a believer […]

Max’s interminable ruminations, always worrying about never getting it right, never being good enough in his career, had the effect of both sweeping him into the fast track of advancement—because of how hard he worked in response to his worry—and […]

Maybe you deal with anxiety by going into control mode. If I asked you to tell me specifically what causes you anxiety, what isn’t working in your life, what would you say? Chances are many of you wouldn’t point to […]

A Scripture study from Caring. Have you ever had a moment when you thought you understood something well and then God challenged your knowledge? I thought I understood God’s joy and then God instilled a calling for my husband and […]

All aboard! Rooted in the tradition of an African American spiritual, “This Train Is Bound for Glory” by Alice Faye Duncan and illustrated by Paul Kellam, is a mesmerizing picture book that takes readers on a cosmic journey to heaven, […]

It was the fall of 1899 in my hometown of Monkstown—then known as Paradise Sound, a tiny, isolated community accessible only by boat in Newfoundland, Canada. The town had no church building and no regular full-time minister. In faith, the […]

They were dreaded words. They were unwelcomed words. They were words that, as a child, would inevitably lead me, as it might most children, to frustration, anger and tears. “You need a nap.” “You need to take a rest.” “You […]

General Brian Peddle reflects on John 19:30. This Easter comes as Salvation Army leaders from around the world have been called together to elect a new General. The privilege of serving in the role of international leaders is now coming […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. Read part three here. “Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”—Thomas Jefferson People may be pure in their own eyes, but […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. Read part two here. Plans go wrong for the lack of advice; many advisers bring success. –Proverbs 15:22 NLT Tunnel vision is a condition when the focus of your eyes narrows […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Read part one here. “Only kind people are truly tolerant. Only gentle people are truly strong.”—Cathy Burnham Martin In any situation, we can respond two ways: with openness and acceptance or […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. “There is only one thing we cannot teach you,” I would often say to those in training to become Salvation Army officers. And it was a glaring one: common sense. Will […]

It was a simple night. A chill in the air. Stars like diamonds in the sky. No reason to expect a surprise. An ordinary, simple night with an ordinary sky. Sheep lying around on the hillside—sleeping, scrawny, common animals. The […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. See part three here. This is our final week in Advent. It’s nearly Christmas! Like any journey, the final stretch can be the hardest. Don’t miss out on what God has […]

The season of Advent brings a deep sense of wonder. We wait expectantly to celebrate the Light of the World being born in the form of an infant. We sing Christmas carols, enjoy celebrations together and most of all—set aside […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of two. Read part one here. We read in the first part of this study the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. Despite it not being popular, convenient or cheap, the […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. See part two here. We learned last week about the night the angel appeared to the shepherds proclaiming the Good News of Jesus’ birth. The angel told the shepherds not to […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of two. The spiritual power of a Christian is released when we serve others. Do you ever wonder how to exercise spiritual power? Some might say: “Eat this.” “Say these words.” “Pray this […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. See part one here. Every time you turn on the TV, scroll through social media or look at the newspaper, it seems there’s little good news. As the saying goes: “If […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. The day things went wrong in Eden, God showed his mercy (a fancy word for not getting what you deserve) by sending Adam and Eve out of The Garden. You might […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part seven of seven. Read part six here. Annie Johnson Flint penned the words, “When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving has only begun.” Why do we sometimes wait […]

Join the 28-day Advent journey for families from Caring Magazine Christmas is often the most celebrated occasion of the year. Wrapped up in the usual sights, sounds and smells of the season (colorful lights, jingle bells and peppermint hot chocolate, […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part six of seven. Read part five here. He feeds me at his banqueting table, His banner over me is love. Do you, too, remember singing those lyrics as a child in Sunday school? Jesus […]

Do you ever feel not-so-thankful at Thanksgiving? Somehow celebrating abundance can accentuate lack. And all the holiday stressors—cold weather, family drama, extra expenses—only add to the dissatisfaction. But what if gratitude isn’t about what we have, but who we know? […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part five of seven. Read part four here. The early Church of Acts was the epitome of community. After the Holy Spirit came on them, All the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of seven. Read part three here. Corporate prayer is a common spiritual discipline we share around our tables at Thanksgiving. We offer prayers of gratitude for God’s provision, protection and providence. At some […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of seven. Read part two here. One of my favorite foods at a good Thanksgiving feast is a loaf of hot bread, fresh out of the oven. Taking a deep breath and inhaling […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of seven. Read part one here. Devotion: the act of dedicating something to a cause, enterprise or activity. Acts 2:42 tells us that the early believers “devoted themselves.” They devoted themselves to teaching, […]

An excerpt from “Wandering Toward God: Finding Faith amid Doubts and Big Questions.” There I was in a seminary class, of all places, having a crisis of faith. We were only a few weeks into the semester, but I was […]

An excerpt from “You’re Gonna Make It: Unlocking Resilience When Life Is a Mess.” I was in college when my mom was sick with cancer. As the disease progressed, there were many nights when she would struggle to sleep, and […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of seven. What if we celebrated Thanksgiving and every meal as the early Church of Acts did? They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple, followed by meals at home, every […]

An excerpt from “Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again.” I am a better person on the sabbath. I am not as stressed. I move slower, talk slower and listen better. I am kinder, […]

An excerpt from “Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer.” The way to pray like Jesus taught us to pray includes this unavoidable invitation: learn to live like a monk in the […]

Can I tell you a secret? A lot of the inspiration for my business came from complete and utter heartbreak. Have you been there? That deep, deep valley of pain that seems unending and earth-shattering. Seasons of heartbreak can affect […]

An excerpt from “Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul.” On a late February night last year, I found myself in a hospital room beside my daughter, who had been admitted for what would […]

An excerpt from “Analog Christian: Cultivating Contentment, Resilience, and Wisdom in the Digital Age.” Recently our church was holding an outdoor event for families and kids. Dozens of young parents and little children were congregating on our campus, eating, playing, […]

The General’s Easter message My greetings to you as we recognize and celebrate Easter 2022. The Apostle Paul made the following affirmation in his letter to the church in Rome: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is […]

The Church is a community which comes into being in response to the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus the Christ as the one in whom the Kingdom is realized. Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God. By this […]

Redwood Glen Camp Executive Director Ed Covert explains what Creation Care is and how The Salvation Army can use it for good. Creation Care is an apolitical topic and one that seeks first to honor God, care for humanity and […]

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These are the words said as ashes are either sprinkled on your head or smeared on your forehead in the shape of a cross. The ritual is strange. It’s uncomfortable. […]

What was your best moment of the last year? And what was your worst moment of the last year? Every January since graduating from the university I attended, I and my old college housemates and our spouses rent a cabin […]

In Scripture, John 6 tells the story of Jesus performing an astounding miracle—multiplying the meager provisions of a young boy into more than enough bread and fish to feed a crowd of thousands. Imagine those who witnessed what happened. There […]

A long red envelope—subtle enough for a $100 bill to feel extravagant, but extravagant enough for even a single dollar bill to feel elevated. If you’ve ever received one, you know. It’s a thing of elegance and expectation. The red […]

I have never been much of a swimmer. Actually, the real story is, I can’t swim. Once on vacation in Grenada, I was splashing around in the beautiful turquoise water, attempting to swim. I suspect my attempt must have looked […]

All my life I’ve run the hamster wheel of achievement and acceptance; a headstrong, type-A control freak, looking for love. As a child, I earned love by working hard to fit in. At church, I earned love by memorizing verses. […]

In September 2001, my husband and I were newlyweds, having been married the year before. We had just moved back to New York City after living that first year in another state where Brian had been assigned a short project […]

I vividly remember a point in my life when the Bible was completely foreign to me. I had heard and understood the Gospel, confessed my sins to the Lord, believed in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, attended church regularly, prayed […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. Jesus still did good amid his trials. He had compassion and kindness and love—even to the point of death on the cross. Just as Jesus continued his mission to salvage the […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. Through the Scriptures we’ve seen how Jesus responds to “trash” days. We’ve gained perspective on how salvation is like being salvaged from the wreckage of this world and how God not […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Shortly after I had experienced my most recent garbage day, my husband and I had a Zoom meeting with our daughter’s teacher. Her teacher knows that we work for The Salvation […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. Have you ever had a bad day? A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day? One of my favorite books is “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day.” […]

There are two critical facts about the cross. First, its central importance (to Christ, to his apostles and to his worldwide church ever since), and second, its deliberate character (for, though due to human wickedness, it was also due to […]

I write to you having had “one of those days.” A day when the kids were wild, discontent, tired of “Zoom School,” and showed no interest in expending energy outdoors. A day that mocked my efforts to multitask as I […]

Waiting on God brings unexpected rewards. It was a special night, Jan. 11, 1974, the night the Kohoutek comet passed the earth, visible for all to see. For me, at age 9, it meant something else. It was the night […]

This Easter, join with The Salvation Army for music and drama from across the Western Territory, plus a message from Territorial Commander Commissioner Douglas Riley.

Julian of Norwich seems an improbable guide in the 21st century. We orbit the earth. She spent her life in one small room. But she knew the message God gave her was not meant only for her. “I would to […]

I was raised to believe in God, but just like believing in goodness, or heaven, or even love, simply having a concept of something being real, doesn’t mean it changes your life in any way. As I grew and got […]

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will […]

Brengle West 2021: The Western Territory holds its annual weekend holiness retreat online. The 2021 Brengle West “Perfect Love” holiness event took place online Feb. 5–7, encouraging attendees to learn more about loving the Lord, others and themselves through the […]

How much time do you regularly spend engaging with the Bible? As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a […]

I grew up and came of age in prayer circles, particularly prayer circles with women. In living rooms and the basements of churches, the women of my life—from church mothers to brand-new babies yawning in footie sleepers to earnest youth […]

By Sheryl Tollerud, Lt. Colonel– Although we are living in unusual times, I am encouraged by and proud of the ministry and services The Salvation Army provides throughout the Western Territory. The Army has been at the forefront, bringing a […]

By Lisa Smith, Lt. Colonel– Danniebelle Hall, a gospel singer back in the 1970s, used to sing these words: Just ordinary people God uses ordinary people He chooses people, just like me and you who are willing to do as […]

By Kyle Smith, Lt. Colonel– One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! I love this verse. […]

By Doug Tollerud, Lt. Colonel– In the days of many ways and no absolute truth, it is comforting to know that there really is only one way. Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and […]

By Marcia Smith, Lt. Colonel– The angel went to her [Mary] and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. […]

At some time or another, most of us have worried about money. We have fretted over how to pay off higher-than-expected bills, credit card debt and student loans, or perhaps have even exchanged our dream career for one that promises […]

Christmas is a day of celebration—a day marking the arrival of the Christ child, the King of Kings, who was born alongside livestock. Man right here, with us.  Perhaps more than any other story, the story of the first Christmas […]

By Steve Smith, Lt. Colonel– “What Child Is This?” is one of my favorite Christmas carols. William Chatterton Dix wrote its lyrics in 1865. During this time, he was working as the manager of an insurance company. When he was […]

By Donna Igleheart, Colonel– And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they […]

I don’t know about you, but in the middle of a pandemic, with four kids engaged in distance learning at home and a full work schedule during an already busy season, I find I’m unusually overwhelmed, tired, anxious and feeling […]

By Kelly Igleheart, Colonel– It’s Advent season! That glorious time of the year when we look back at the prophecies concerning the coming of our Messiah and we optimistically peer into the future of the certainty of his return. Amen! […]

Advent is about anticipation, excitement and readying yourself for the coming of Jesus. In modern days, however, it’s become a crazed, commercial frenzy—often beginning before the pumpkins are gone. The reality is—we live, breathe and raise our families in a […]

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One” (Rev. 1:8 NLT).    Breathe in. Breathe out. […]

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, […]

A pastoral word on how to find gratitude, joy in the suffering Gratitude is a concept we’re well familiar with and have plenty of information about, including some 196 million Google search results. But what does it really mean to […]

Have you ever approached something, whether it be a person or an event, with a bad attitude? Before you even get there you are already thinking, “This is going to be the worst experience of my life.” Or, “This is […]

By Lisa Smith, Lt. Colonel– As a child growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I saw some magnificent hydroelectric dams: Grand Coulee, Shoshone Falls, The Dalles Dam, Rocky Reach, and further south, close to Vegas, the massive Hoover Dam. These […]

By Kyle Smith, Lt. Colonel– Cast all your anxiety on him for he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Do you ever worry? Worry about today? The future? Our country? Our world? Do you worry about sick family and friends? […]

By Sheryl Tollerud, Lt. Colonel– One of my favorite verses at Christmas is Luke 2:19: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. God announced such an amazing plan for the salvation of the world […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four.  Read part three. Kindness is more than being nice. It’s great to do nice things for people, and that’s certainly part of being kind. But kindness tends to cover a broad […]

By Doug Tollerud, Lt. Colonel– “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).  It has been said that the world is in unprecedented times when it comes to the […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. Read part two. When Jesus was crucified, Luke 23:34 marks one of the last phrases he spoke: “Father, forgive them. For they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus prayed […]

By Marcia Smith, Lt. Colonel– But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Read part one. In 1 John 4:7-10, John explains that not only is God the source and standard of love, he is love. Love originates with God, and he is consistent […]

By Stephen Smith, Lt. Colonel– When I was 12 years old, I entered the soloist competition at music camp, something I had done for several years. This occasion was different, however. The beginning of my solo started out like any […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. We live in a world that is constantly asking us to support some sort of cause. We see story after story of neighbor helping neighbor from limited resources. We are amazed […]

By Donna Igleheart, Colonel– In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells his disciples: “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, not about your body, what you will put on. Look at the birds […]

Restoration, renewal and reconciliation are offered to everyone through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection (Ephesians 2:14-18). This powerfully demonstrates God’s love for us and the value placed on humanity. In Jesus, God was prepared to make this self-offering in order […]

Human trafficking strikes at the heart of what it means for humanity to be created in God’s image. It dehumanizes individuals who are trafficked, denying them their God-given value and worth and robbing them of their dignity and autonomy. Motivated […]

By Kelly Igleheart, Colonel– On Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy was on its way to bomb Pearl Harbor.  At that time in history, the U.S. was a neutral country in the war and had no reason […]

Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink […]

Salvation Army General John Gowans (1934-2012) penned the words to the song “His Provision,” which we have used as our theme for a series of devotionals by the same name. It speaks to our hearts and our souls and is […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. Read part three. James 1:22 calls us not just to hear God’s Word, but to take action—to live out the commandments of God. Now that you have read about the reconciliatory […]

In Western culture, we often struggle to teach and foster a healthy emotional vocabulary in the minds and hearts of our children. We tell them to “be strong” or to “be good” in tough situations, without providing much more in […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. Read part two. Though we are all sinners, we no longer have to live under the control of sin. From the moment Adam and Eve took a bite of the forbidden […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Read part one. God created us out of the abundance of love he has for all humanity. He created us in a perfect state and gave us the gift of unbroken […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. From the very beginning, God set humanity apart from the rest of creation. All of creation came to be through the Word of God, but humanity was made through the breath […]

Things happen when you watch your grandson play hockey. Like many young Canadians, Dylan started playing organized hockey when he was 6 years old. Essentially the referee put the puck on the ice and the players scrambled after it like […]

Imagine you have a mountain full of dishes with caked-on residue from meals past in your kitchen sink. You know your job is to go in there and get them cleaned, dried and back in their place, but hold on. […]

Daily devotions for people who hate daily devotions By Skye Jethani– Let’s face it. A lot of Christian resources can feel cheesy, out-of-touch, and a little boring. But when Skye Jethani started doodling and writing up some of his thoughts […]

This June, in his last month as The Salvation Army’s National Commander in the U.S., Commissioner David Hudson spoke at the Commissioning, Ordination and Appointment service of The Salvation Army Western Territory’s Messengers of the Kingdom Session. In The Salvation […]

By Lee Strobel– Lee Strobel—atheist-turned-Christian and best-selling author of more than 20 books, including “The Case for Christ”—was the featured speaker at a recent event of The Salvation Army Western Territory. Here is what he had to say, via video. […]

Our study library is a vault of four-part Scripture studies designed to help you get to know a passage or concept better. This week, choose one of these studies below to download and digest day by day. ‘My calling’—a Scripture […]

In order to fully live a surrendered life to God, we must be able to trust him in all circumstances. I struggle with this. I say I trust God, and sometimes I really think I do, but when I’m faced […]

By Jason Gaboury– “To be human is to be lonely,” Friar Ugo said to me, his voice cracking with age. For 40 years he served as a Jesuit missionary on the African continent. Now he was sitting across from me, […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. Love isn’t easy, especially when the entire world is being asked to isolate themselves due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is no secret that the global crisis which ensued from this […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. We, the church, are called to be holy in times such as these—especially when the world is yearning for someone to give them hope and love, somehow, as social isolation takes […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. They say my generation, the millennial generation, is skeptical about institutions and timid about commitments. The thing about commitment is, well, it means there is pressure to go all in. If […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. In order to fully live a surrendered life to God, we must be able to trust him in all circumstances. I struggle with this. I say I trust God, and sometimes […]

The Bible is God’s Word—full of truth for every situation we face in life. As the world endures quarantines, closures, and even panic during the coronavirus pandemic, God offers peace. His Word can displace anxiety and fear with hope and […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. I love the Old Testament prophets. They were bold, sometimes outrageous, fierce in their commitment to speak God’s truth, human, sometimes distraught by the world’s condition, and they possessed audacious faith.  […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. If asked to sum up what it means to be a Christ-follower in one sentence, it would be this: Love God and love others. Five words, easy to understand and easy […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. We live in an age when we are bombarded with noise and information and constant, instantaneous communication. We have things pulling at us from every direction, demanding our time and our […]

“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day […]

I wanted to take this opportunity to first, before anything else, give God thanks. I give him glory and honor; he deserves it all. I wanted to inform all of you, I am home. Last night I came back, I […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. Life is not always predictable, but the recent events surrounding COVID-19 have demonstrated that reality in very tangible, sometimes tragic, sometimes comedic ways.         The weekend before my husband and I left […]

By Rob and Stacy Birks, Majors– We are living in an unpredictable time. Day-to-day life has been turned upside down since the pandemic spread. It may seem as if “normal life” is gone forever, but take heart! Some things have […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four.  Read part three here. Between the lines Read what Scripture says in Acts 2. Beyond the surface  In Acts 2, we read about the growth of the church. “Every day they […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. Read part two here. Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in Luke 1. Beyond the surface  Have you ever been so excited about something that you just had to share […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Read part one here. Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in Exodus 17. One of my favorite stories in all of Scripture is that of Aaron and Hur holding Moses’ […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four.  Why is community important? Why do we need it in our lives? We have a deep desire to belong to something and participate in the complicated lives of others. It can […]

Traditionally, the season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is 40 days before Easter in the spring of each year. Ash Wednesday is preceded by Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday), or Mardi Gras, which is most often a celebration designed […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four.  Read part three here. “A new year, a new you.”  Typically, this phrase is associated with the celebration of the new year. Happy 2020, friends! Along with most people out there, […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four.  Read part two here. “A new year, a new you.”  Typically, this phrase is associated with the celebration of the new year. Happy 2020, friends! Along with most people out there, […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Read part one here. “A new year, a new you.”  Typically, this phrase is associated with the celebration of the new year. Happy 2020, friends! Along with most people out there, […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four.  “A new year, a new you.”  Typically, this phrase is associated with the celebration of the new year. Happy 2020, friends! Along with most people out there, I am sure you […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. Part 4: Mary, Joseph and Jesus: A Refugee Story Read part three here. Behind the scenes: Read what Scripture says in Matthew 1.  Beyond the surface: Any parent who has just […]

An unhurried approach to the season for families. A family advent study from Caring, part four of four. Read part three here. Historically, advent is entirely about anticipation, excitement and readying oneself for the coming of Jesus. Yet, during what […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four.  Part 3: The vineyard workers and the dignity of work Read part two here. Behind the scenes: Read what Scripture says in Matthew 20:1-16. Beyond the surface: Maybe you’ve been up […]

An unhurried approach to the season for families. A family advent study from Caring, part three of four. Read part two here. Historically, advent is entirely about anticipation, excitement and readying oneself for the coming of Jesus. Yet, during what […]

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. As a child, my dad reveled in the holiday celebrations and family traditions of the season. He came from a home filled with hurt, and I believe he wanted to create something new […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Part 2: Joseph: human trafficking survivor Read part one here. Behind the scenes: Read what Scripture says in Genesis 37. Beyond the surface: Imagine Joseph’s life when he was young: rich, […]

An unhurried approach to the season for families. A family advent study from Caring, part two of four. Read part one here. Historically, advent is entirely about anticipation, excitement and readying oneself for the coming of Jesus. Yet, during what […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. It’s the season of giving and good cheer, but for so many around the world, the need for basic human rights persists. This month, we’re exploring four biblical stories and what […]

An unhurried approach to the season for families. A family advent study from Caring, part one of four. Historically, advent is entirely about anticipation, excitement and readying oneself for the coming of Jesus. Yet, during what has become the busiest […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. Read part three here. Part 4: Jesus’ way for our relationships and family life The book of Colossians gets very specific toward the end of the letter. Paul’s concern for their […]

Like many inherently beautiful concepts, saying thank you has become so much a matter of habit that it can express a wide range of feelings, from sarcasm to indifference, from polite insincerity to deeply felt gratitude. It’s something we all […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. Read part two here. Part 3: Living in the New Life In the previous sections of Colossians we’ve seen how concerned Paul was for the believers to know the truth of […]

Author Lisa Tawn Bergren has a new children’s book, “God Gave Us the Bible,” out for 3–7 year olds. Featuring 45 stories from the Bible, it is a Bible storybook from the creators of “God Gave Us You.”  This new […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Read part one here. Part 2: Paul’s mission In Colossians 1:24-2:5 we read about Paul’s mission in life. He states that He is a minister according to the stewardship of God. […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. The book of Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul. His message to the church in Colossae was that they should stick to the message that he brought them and not […]

The power of friendship from three perspectives A Scripture study from Caring, part three of three. Read part two here. Part 3: The Paralyzed Man’s Friends Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in Mark 2.  Beyond the surface The […]

The power of friendship from three perspectives   A Scripture study from Caring, part two of three. Read part one here. Part 2: Jesus Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in Mark 2. Beyond the surface Jesus healed the paralyzed […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of three.   Such love, pure as the whitest snow
 Such love, weeps for the shame I know
 Such love, paying the debt I owe
 O Jesus, such love

   Such love, stilling […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. Read part three here. Part 4: Psalm 46:10 is not only about being still Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in Psalm 46. Beyond the surface  The purpose of this […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. Read part two here. Part 3: Jeremiah 29:11 is not about your own plans Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in Jeremiah 29. Beyond the surface In part one and […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Read part one here. Part 2: Matthew 18:20 is not about encouraging the faithful Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in Matthew 18.  Beyond the surface In part one, we […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. Christians often misunderstand, misquote or misuse verses in the Bible. We allow media and art to provide the mental imagery. I am guilty and so are you. It is just so […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part five of five.  Read part four here. Part 5: He is Redeemer  Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in John 21:1-19.  Beyond the surface In this passage, Jesus launches into a ministry of […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of five.  Read part three here. Part 4: He is the Way   Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in John 13:1-30.   Beyond the surface One of the most fascinating stories […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of five.  Read part two here. Part 3: He is the Shepherd  Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in Matthew 14:13-21.    Beyond the surface In this passage, the disciples found themselves […]

A well-known financial services ministry has launched an effort to teach generosity in a not-so-well-known way: through artwork.  Thrivent Financial this year released a book—“Inspiring Generosity: Stories of Faith and Grace in Art”—that explores generosity by examining the inspiration and […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of five.  Read part one here.   Part 2: He is Hope Behind the scenes Read what Scripture says in Matthew 16:13-20. Beyond the surface In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus takes his disciples on […]

Advocates believe there’s a powerful link between sport, service and spirituality. “Sport has the power to change the world,” the legendary South African activist Nelson Mandela once said. “It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of five. The Bible is filled with beautiful stories about God manifesting his presence among humanity through the revelation of who he is. The names of God describe God’s character. The theology of […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. Read part three here.   Life is tough—for everyone. This month, we’re going to get a little help—some life hacks—from the Bible’s David, the Old Testament shepherd, musician, poet, warrior, King, […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. Read part two here.   Life is tough—for everyone. This month, we’re going to get a little help—some life hacks—from the Bible’s David, the Old Testament shepherd, musician, poet, warrior, King, […]

Scene: a young man is lying alone on a muddy path, barely alive. “Oh my boy,” the father says. “I don’t know where you are. Please come home. Please.” That’s how the new “Heart Of This Place” short film begins […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Read part one.   Life is tough—for everyone. This month, we’re going to get a little help—some life hacks—from the Bible’s David, the Old Testament shepherd, musician, poet, warrior, King, adulterer, […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. Life is tough—for everyone. This month, we’re going to get a little help—some life hacks—from the Bible’s David, the Old Testament shepherd, musician, poet, warrior, King, adulterer, liar, murderer and man […]

The date was December 7, 2017—another day that will live in infamy…at least for me. Things happen, when you get older. One minute I am perfectly fine and the next minute I am struggling to keep my blood sugar level […]

My family and I have spent many wonderful holidays in the Kakamega rain forest of western Kenya. The forest is famed for its hiking trails and is popular with bird lovers, with over 300 species in its environs. For butterfly […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part three of three Read part two here. A story that began with three little words—“In the beginning…”—and carries on for just three chapters, sets the entire stage for a tremendous journey to come. Hope is […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part two of three Read part one here. A story that began with three little words—“In the beginning…”—and carries on for just three chapters, sets the entire stage for a tremendous journey to come. Hope is found […]

A Scripture study from Caring, part one of three A story that began with three little words—“In the beginning…”—and carries on for just three chapters, sets the entire stage for a tremendous journey to come. Hope is found here. First […]

There is absolutely no chance of me writing a 750–1,500-word piece about my mother that would do her justice. In truth, an entire book or volume of books could not tell her whole, beautiful story. Nor would it even begin […]

Prior to becoming a parent, best-selling author Matthew Paul Turner, had no idea how often he would pray for his children or how prayer would so profoundly affect him. Now, as the parent of three young children, Turner says, “In […]

‘God’s plan are always better than our dreams.’ Joey Zumaya had it all—a family, house and career. He and his wife, Jessica, had married young and quickly. But early on in their marriage, Joey found himself lost. “I was going […]

David I remember sitting in my room when I said, “I renounce Christianity.” I had become an agnostic. I was skeptical there might be a god, but I fundamentally felt I had no connection with God. People have used the […]

Among all the fears out there, one sticks out as one of the greatest in this generation: the fear of missing out or FOMO. Is it one of yours? The fear of missing out on people to meet, places to […]

By David Kelly, Lt. Colonel – I wonder if those who observed Jesus most closely would say he was more engaged in doing church or charity. Did he spend more of his three years of ministry teaching people about the […]

Many times, especially throughout the New Testament, it is made clear what is expected of us as we take up our cross and follow God. In the Gospels, Jesus meets the spiritual and physical needs of people through the use […]

Just as Salvation Army Founder General William Booth challenged his own son, we too can be challenged to never tire of doing something for others.    General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was brushing his mane-like white hair […]

A question as old as mankind itself   “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – I John 3:1 The questions are […]

I used to be a morning person, when mornings used to be quiet, solitary, slow. This year they’ve been abrupt, noisy, shoving—everything mornings should not be. I am disgruntled while I tie my shoes. It’s barely past 5 a.m. I […]

Scripture is filled with principles, ethics and morals to guide us in the way of righteousness. So, whatever your occupation, whatever your life stage, whatever your ability, do so unto the Lord so that he is glorified through whatever you […]

After a tumor left her quadriplegic, determination and a Kroc Center trainer helped this faithful single mother find strength. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Julie Alejado David focuses on this verse to get […]

The face of The Salvation Army in one community, telling anyone who will listen how the organization helps its neighbors.   For more than a decade, The Salvation Army Sierra Vista Corps in southwest Cochise County, Arizona, was housed in a […]

Is God moving The Salvation Army into a new mission field? That’s the big question Lt. Ben Cotterill often finds himself asking. He and his wife, Rebecka, have been confronted with the challenges—but also the triumphs—that come with serving an […]

Boldness is on the foundation of faith and as an instrument to obedience. Time and time again, we see that boldness is possible because we have an unmovable hope in Christ who is with us always. Whether we are in […]

I remember the first time I heard the term “daymaker.” I instantly fell in love with it and knew that it had to be a word that describes me. This idea that I could turn around someone’s day or that […]

God calls us to walk, to go, to obey. He never promised us that following him would be easy, but he promises daily that he will be with and for us until the end of time. Let Scripture open your […]

It’s important to deal with grief and pain—even when they’re not your own. They sat in the hospital waiting room for days, surrounded by those whose loved ones were on the brink of life and death. Lt. Colonel Sheryl Tollerud […]

Mark Saxon was an infantry doctor in Iraq, Desert Storm, before leaving the military in 1991 as he was beginning to lose his vision from cataracts. “It covers over the eyes so you can’t really see out of the eye […]

With the increase of technology comes the escalation of distraction and an equal veer from the essentials of time and reflection. There is power in prayer and it’s disheartening how we are blanketing its light and ability with the rush […]

Tending to the work of our souls is like gardenwork. It requires our hands to get dirty, committing to the care of living things, and playing the waiting game. A reading of Ecclesiastes 3 readies the soil of our minds […]

Parenting is no easy feat. With it, comes challenging days of toddler meltdowns in the grocery store, trying to keep everything in order when your children get sick, or the kids arguing when you’re struggling to get them to school […]

God calls us to fellowship with one another on earth because it reflects the fellowship we will have with one another in heaven. The mission of the gospel is too big a task for us to do on our own; […]

Lent is a season dedicated to self-evaluation. It’s a time to press pause on the fleetings of life and to press play on the realities of our eternality. It’s about confession. Not the kind where our apologies mean something one […]

Kindness is not simply being nice. It’s courage and discipline, it’s constant and unchanging. It’s a simple facet of Christ, not a smiling face of a Christian. It’s not a performance for the masses, it’s a performance for the audience […]

Between the string of parties, dinners, gift-buying, school and church programs, the Christmas season can feel like such a flurry of activity. One minute, we’re looking for that perfect present for the aunt for whom we never know what to […]

Each of us must build up the Kingdom of God. Each of us must respond to need. We cannot allow ourselves to sit back. But I want to make sure that all of us understand that every single one of […]

It is common to assign an entrepreneurial spirit to young people, who readily align themselves with the values associated with entrepreneurship, particularly social entrepreneurship—that “triple bottom line” way of doing business that insists on doing good and doing well at […]

Understanding the bigger picture of the theology that can make a difference in all of our relationships. We say God is love, as a descriptor of being. It might be more accurate to say that God is loving, and so […]

This life gets noisy, doesn’t it? Our lives and worlds are filled with so many messages both up close and from across the distance. We are constantly being told to be more and to do more and because of that […]

What once was hard for Dillion Toscano, now comes with ease. After finding peace in the riches of the soil and sunshine at the GrowGood urban farm in Bell, California, the psychology student, volunteer, and recovering addict found that changed […]

I recently changed jobs. It was “a long time coming.” So, when the time came, I jumped before checking there was a parachute. The landing hit hard. I went from waking up at 4:30 a.m. to make and serve coffee […]

When you’ve hit that afternoon slump, sometimes you need to hear something that lifts you up and connects you back to your faith or simply makes you more relaxed. Here are four podcasts that will uplift you. The Happy Hour […]

Being a new mom invites a ton of new experiences into your life. Look over these Scripture verses when you need encouragement and strength during this wonderful new season. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is […]

Taking something out of your life isn’t the only way to observe Lent Many Christian churches that are more liturgical in nature collectively experience Lent. The Salvation Army isn’t one of these, and because of that Lent can feel a […]

Two as One: A 30-Day Couple’s Devotional by Ryan and Selena Frederick Ryan and Selena Frederick, bloggers at FierceMarriage.com and co-authors of “Two as One: A 30-Day Couple’s Devotional,” released the “instavotional” as a new format for devotional content with Instagram-like […]

Reflections from Lebanon I flew into Lebanon shortly after polishing off a quick book on its incredible past. The Middle East is a part of the world I, like most westerners, have been ignorant of. Fear has dominated the news […]

How the creation care movement is bringing interfaith groups together. In late 2016, The Salvation Army in the U.K., in conjunction with a contingent of Quakers and Catholics, made international news for helping to switch some 3,500 houses of worship […]

I’ve been discovering the deep peace that is found in being fully present. A few things have helped. I’ve been experimenting with an app, Headspace, that teaches mindfulness as a daily practice. It’s been useful in my prayer life. On […]

Confused at Christmas? Me too. We’ve hallmarked the hell out of Christmas. We really have. We’ve smoothed over all the rough spots and photoshopped and fairy-dusted the characters to death. And in so doing, we’ve most likely missed the shocking […]

For children in many countries around the world, Christmas is a time of great anticipation and excitement. Christmas is rightly emphasized with the joy of children, for the wonderful story of Christmas is about the coming of the Christ-child of […]

A girl I knew died today. That’s not true. She wasn’t a girl, she was the same age that I am. And I didn’t know, I knew of her. I saw her posing, arms slung over the shoulders of our […]

He has shown you, O man, what is good… (Micah 6:8a). Mankind pursues “the good life,” always trying to figure out, what it’s all about: how to recognize its presence, how to achieve its content, how to understand its power. […]

I was reading a book this weekend that peers into the inner-life (or obvious lack of it in today’s world) of Christian leaders. I’ve been reflecting on my own personal journey—the ups and the downs of life as I’ve lived […]

Apparently Dante’s version of hell had many levels. One of them was called limbo. Catholics call it purgatory—it’s where you aren’t where you’re going but you’re not where you’ve been. You are in-between. Caught between two worlds. It’s a hard […]

Rising incivility has put many Americans on edge. What roles can Christians play in bringing peace to the public sphere? Blogger David Gushee took a month-long hiatus this summer from his column Christians, Conflict & Change for the Religion News […]

Does Scripture address the concept? Even those of us who grew up in transition or without a traditional home still understand the idealized concept of a home. Home is a place to belong, a place to live, and a place […]

Rose-colored glasses. I spent some time today with the man I love doing what we did when we first met—hanging out with homeless people. Or as my son Judah puts it (so much better), “visiting friends, who have no homes.” […]

We know that the Gospel accounts include episodes where we see Jesus placing a firm emphasis on the place and value of children. “We see Jesus blessing children, embracing them, rebuking those who turn them away, healing them and lifting […]

Corporate leader Diane Paddison founded an organization to mentor Christian women in the workplace. Salvation Army National Advisory Board member Diane Paddison is founder and president of 4word—a national network of professional Christian women committed to faith, family, work and […]

His rheumy eyes seemed on the verge of imminent discharge—without spark, listless, lacking in spirit—within ill fitting, almost hollow cavities in a tight, hard living face. He stood before me in the partially lit hallway, unkempt, unclean—unloved. Brown skin stretched […]

With developing technology, biblical translation is happening faster than ever. Bible translation has always been a complicated and often controversial process. From the moment that Martin Luther first translated the Bible into German, he sparked a movement to translate the […]

J Koebel’s dreams were coming true. He moved from Wisconsin to New York City where he was soon working regularly as a stand up comedian. Yet his addictions became a “security blanket” that kept him from dealing with his life. […]

Easter ushers in spring, and hope is in the air. Easter has become a time for celebration, for enjoying the flowers, the warm greetings of a Sunday morning, special events, sumptuous dinners, excited voices of happy children and the pleasures […]

Have you considered yours? I think I can speak for many of us when I say that we just want to be happy in this life. There’s nothing wrong with wanting contentment, happiness or even joy. These are good things […]

Ferrell Irvine fought through family anger and developed an Alcoholics Anonymous-based workshop for The Salvation Army.   Ferrell Irvine sat in a bar at 19 watching everyone dance. She wanted to be part of the group, but was terrified of […]

While the altruistic impulse may be specially honored in many religions, it isn’t unique to them. At the start of a typical evening at Monday Night Mission, volunteers wiped down tables on a terrace outside a Burger King near Our […]

“I died and came back—overdosed actually,” Ian Butler said. “My vision was getting blurry and I was getting ready to go, getting ready to die so I said my last prayer and said, ‘If I make it through this I […]

Holiness as biblical spirituality The Salvation Army’s first doctrine is concerned with the Bible, a remarkable book that has had a profound impact throughout the world. Its language has made its way into public discourse, and themes of its stories […]

Client-caseworker relationships can make all of the difference in Pathway of Hope.The Herth Hope Index is a 12-item, multi-dimensional index designed to measure a global, non-time oriented sense of hope. It is composed of three dimensions: temporality and future, positive […]

America is one of the most religiously diverse countries on Earth and yet we remain dangerously ignorant about religion. In a 2010 survey, the Pew Forum asked more than 3,000 Americans some simple questions about the world’s religions. Most respondents […]

Derrick Engoy, the soft-spoken poet, pastor and nonprofit advocate seems nervous when I first meet him. Dressed in a gray fedora, navy blue buttoned shirt and jeans he drinks his coffee and we make small talk. Engoy explains he used […]

As a historian, I appreciate reading books about the past. Yet as a person of faith, I seek out books that strengthen my faith in this present age. I am always amazed by the tales of The Salvation Army’s early […]

Suffering, pain, trauma, devastation and hardship can disillusion one’s relationship and trust with a loving God. It can usher in doubt of whether he is truly benevolent and has the best plans and intentions for human lives. In the midst […]

Chris Heuertz grew up in a struggling lower middle class home in Omaha, Neb., and was the first of his family to attend college. He double majored in theology and mythology with an ancient biblical language minor at Asbury University […]

Tyler Wigg-Stevenson has tackled a complex subject in a timely manner. As a leading activist against nuclear weapons he is well placed to speak into a world where we can feel that our influence as individual Christians seems so small, […]

In September 2012 The Salvation Army Western Territory’s OnlineCorps opened its virtual doors, bringing together an online community of people exploring and wrestling with issues of faith in Jesus Christ. From countries all over the world, differing time zones, and from a […]

Except I am moved with compassion, How dwellest thy Spirit in me? Albert Orsborn asked that question for Salvationists a few decades ago, and it’s one we need to ask ourselves every day. Empathy, the process of “understanding a person’s […]

Are we wired with a propensity to altruism? In an experiment with 24 children and 10 different situations, scientists Felix Warneken and Michael Tomasello tested the ability of an 18-month-old to help a non-family adult who was having trouble achieving […]

An excerpt from Boundless: Living life in overflow It took me about eight different tattoo parlours before I found the guy who would be willing to come with me to a large youth conference and give me a tattoo on […]

Generosity is a spiritual word. It speaks of the type of relationship between a giver and a receiver. It synthesizes the “fruit of the spirit” listed by Paul for the Galatians—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. […]

[dropcap style=”normal or inverse or boxed”]J[/dropcap]ust 93 miles from the shores of the “land of the free and the home of the brave,” the streets of Havana, Cuba, feel tropical but torn. The pastel infrastructure is vibrant but needing repair, […]

Board Member Dick Hagerty explains how it’s done This morning as we stood in church and sang “Amazing Grace,” I deeply felt that awesome gift from God—that he sent his son to minister to a hurting world, and to die […]

“That is so good of you” or “How wonderful that you spend your time with those people.” Such comments reveal an underlying sentiment about investing in the poor, disadvantaged, or otherwise marginalized: Only the really devout or extraordinary person does […]

Walking with Jesus and becoming a soldier for The Salvation Army wasn’t close to Izi Holokahi’s thoughts when he was tight roping over a self-induced cauldron of food, drug and alcohol abuse growing up in Oahu, Hawaii. It didn’t help […]

Most people have a difficult time explaining character. It does have several different meanings. Some immediately think of an actor playing a particular part in a play; others might think of it as a specific written or printed figure representing […]

The story of one second chance is captured in a new Frontier Press title, Reflections of a Former Atheist, by Major Glen Doss. In it, Glen tells a story of the war between belief and nonbelief. How does one move […]

From 1880 to World War I, the vast majority of Americans, those who did not come into contact with its street evangelism or were not direct beneficiaries of its services, knew about The Salvation Army through newspapers and magazines. Much […]

The Western Territory annually admits 7,500 men and women into its 22 Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARCs), a cost-free and biblically-based program to overcome addiction. Roughly 2,500 (33 percent) of these beneficiaries graduate, yet the majority are not found worshipping in […]

Locked up in solitary confinement, Charlie Woods never expected to one day become a Christian. He certainly never envisioned a life as a church pastor. After all, he was never much for religion. Little did Woods know, he was about […]

Care: (n.) a strong positive emotion of regard and affection; (v.) to be concerned or solicitous; have thought or regard (adj.) feeling and exhibiting concern and empathy for others. Caring. What is it, really? Sure, we see outward expressions of […]

Former Booth baby becomes Mother of the Year and starts her own nonprofit. Dianne Callister received a tremendous shock from her parents at just 8 years old—she was adopted. In 1964, a teenage girl gave birth to Callister at a […]

By Jamie DeJesus – I’m from North Carolina but moved to San Francisco in search of my life. On the weekends and at night I would dress as a woman, and in my unhappiness eventually became a crystal meth addict, […]

In his recent book, Keeping Faith in Faith-Based Organizations: A Practical Theology of Salvation Army Health Ministry (Wipf & Stock Publishers 2012), Salvation Army International Health Secretary Major Dean Pallant provides a tremendous amount of research and in-the-field observation on […]

We’re in the values education business. Our goal is to teach people to live God’s way as revealed in the life of Jesus—the Christ. If we live God’s way: He brings gifts into our lives much the same way that […]

Helping others feel welcome I wanted to leave, and you wouldn’t have blamed me. I stood before an ocean of gold and blue, of 40,000 people looking at me, not one of whom was glad to see me. Forty rows […]

“There is a picture set into the words” begins Georgann Chenault’s recently published work, Biblical Creation: An Illustrated Autobiography. Through over 25 years of research, Chenault demonstrates through computer diagrammatic constructs how the numbers, days and dates listed in Scripture […]

A couple committed to the renewal of people in ministry It’s quiet. The loudest sound is the crunch of my shoes as I walk down the pebbled pathway. Bordering the Lane Cove National Park in Australia is an oasis from […]