the salvation army.....

...breaking ground in Boston today _________________________ Backsliding??? - THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR IS HARD _________________________ By Meghan Irons, Boston Globe Staff July 15, 2009 Isaura Mendes still wears buttons with the faces of her two murdered sons. Since their killings - one in 1999, the other in 2006 - she has been spreading a message of peace, then forgiveness in her Uphams Corner community. Now her message is hope. Long a champion of creating places where teenagers can stay active and out of trouble, she has been rallying around a Salvation Army plan for a community center in her neighborhood. ____________________ The Lord continues to bless us in amazing ways! Thanks to the efforts and generosity of many we now have the necessary funds to begin building The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center of Boston. While this event has been three years in the making for the Army, it brings to fruition a 20-year vision and dream of Dudley residents. We, along with our supporters and everyone in the community invite you to attend our Groundbreaking Ceremony on Monday, July 27 at 11:00 a.m. - rain or shine. ____________________ Psalm 40: 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. __________________________ I spent some time serving in the Salvation Army. Those were some very interesting years. I was restless. I had a good job in the telecommunication industry. I was on my way to the top...some people thought. A possible trip to Japan to study some of the new emerging technologies at the time. I left the job, studied the bible for a year or so at a church school - Fisrt Missionary Church ...I did not sign on for the theology degree but ended up teaching children in the Salvation Army orphanage...I went to live in the orphanage for a couple years then moved over to the school for blind children where I lived and served for a few more years. Later on I served as sargeant major in a small community before I finally realized the need for salvation. Read the whole sad commentary (CLICK HERE) in Jeremiah that ends with this woeful lament The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. ------------------------------------------- Following is a verse of song I first heard when I was in the Salvation Army God is with us, God is with us, thus our brave forefathers sang. Far across the field of battle loud their holy war cry rang. Never once they feared or faltered, never once they ceased to sing. God is with us, God is with us, Christ our Lord shall reign as King.