Comments for Top Left Hand Page

Comment on As we forgive those who sin against us by loubyjo

loubyjo — Sun, 20 May 2012 22:53:52 +0000

Reblogged this on Loubyjo's Blog and commented: I find it very hard to forgive mainly because i am aspergic and have a very strange memory where things replymy mind constanly like being constantly rewound and reliving the hurt over and over I know it is wrong but cant hlp it and feel worse as expect people to forive me I just hope God understands if noone else does

Comment on A Salvationist Perspective on the Sacraments by Ben Clapton

Ben Clapton — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:14:00 +0000

Hi Pastor Fred, and thanks for your comment. Firstly, I think it’s an awful shame that your DC required you to resign from something that is part of God’s word. I have been baptised – when I was 10, in the Church of Christ – and I regularly took part in communion as an Anglican. I would not renounce any of those actions, nor would I stop. As mentioned in my post, when I am at a church that allows me to partake in communion, I am allowed to and I will do so.
You make a good point in that Jesus was baptised – however, there’s no mention of Jesus baptising his disciples. His disciples might have actually been baptised by John the Baptist (Acts 1:21 says that the apostle to replace Judas must have been with them from the time of the baptism by John – it’s not clear whether this is Jesus’ baptism by John, or whether this is a baptism of the disciples by John). It’s interesting also to note that being baptised by someone would make you their disciple. So while we see John baptising Jesus in Mark and Matthew, Luke arranges his narrative to have John locked up before Jesus is baptised – removing the possibility of Jesus being seen as John’s disciple. This line in Matthew also deals with this. In Mark, Jesus is baptised by John without contest, but in Matthew, John protests, saying “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:14) Jesus then replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15 NIV). Matthew deals with John’s baptism to say it is necessary to fulfill all righteousness. As such, Jesus is baptised in the Jordan – a water baptism by John.
Looking at Acts 19, Paul finds some disciples in Ephesus who were baptised by John – presumably in the Jordan river. We read that they did not have the Holy Spirit, for they had not even heard about it (Acts 19:2). Paul then baptised them in the name of Jesus, and they received the Holy Spirit. There is no mention of a river here.
I’m not arguing against Water baptisms – 1 Peter 3:21 says “this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.” A Water Baptism is symbolic of this cleansing – however, spiritual baptisms as mentioned in Acts 19:2 are just as valid. I know that for me, my water baptism was a wonderful moment, a very spiritual moment for me. But when I was enrolled as a Soldier of the Salvation Army, this was again just as spiritual for me – and it was in effect, a spiritual baptism.
I’m glad that for you, your baptism gave you that “sense of blessing and joy, and peace” and I praise God that it has never left you. I pray that God will continue to bless you in your ministries, and maybe one day down the track, we might be able to catch up in person and chat further about our experiences together.

Comment on A Salvationist Perspective on the Sacraments by Pastor Fred Anderson.

Pastor Fred Anderson. — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:41:24 +0000

Thanks for your article Ben. I was formerly a Salvation Army Officer for 16 years, and believed and practised all the fundamental teachings of The Salvation Army; however there came a time when The Holy Spirit dealt with me about “believer’s baptism” and at that time I was not influenced by anyone or any evangelical church, just God’s Word. The real clincher came when I read about Jesus as He presented Himself for baptism and John the baptist expressed unwillingness to baptize Jesus. Jesus said (Matt 3:15) “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” For me, it was a revelation that if Jesus submitted to baptism in order to fulfill all righteousness, then I needed to do the same, in obedience to the Word of God. Immediately after I was baptized, I felt such an indescribable sense of blessing and joy, and peace, which has never left me. I personally know many Salvationists who have had the same experience, and are still serving God in The Salvation Army. Sadly my Divisional Commander required me to resign from Officership if I would not recant on my conviction, and God has taken my wife and I on an exciting journey over the last 40 odd years, which is another story.
We still pop in to The Salvation Army Perth Fortress at times, and enjoy the blessing of the fellowship we have there with many friends.

Comment on Pachelbel Canon in D for Solo Violin by Abigail Nash

Abigail Nash — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:59:54 +0000

Thank you so much for this beautiful arrangement! I will be using it to play in a wedding in Penobscot Maine this summer! The bride asked me to play solo violin Canon in D and I was going to tell her it couldn’t be done, but now that I see this arrangement she will be so pleased! I also love that this blog is Christ-centered. God bless and thank you again.

Comment on A Salvationist Perspective on the Sacraments by Tricia Jensen

Tricia Jensen — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:22:56 +0000

Thanks for posting this Ben. It has explained a few questions I had about Salvation Army practices. Personally, I enjoy regular Communion (call it what you will) as for me it is a re-dedication of my faith in Jesus and a time to again thank God for his gracious gift of Jesus to be my Lord and Savior.

Comment on Pachelbel Canon in D for Solo Violin by Gina Valo (@ginavalo)

Gina Valo (@ginavalo) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:32:49 +0000

I’ll be playing a slight adaptation of your arrangement at a wedding in Ann Arbor, Michigan USA on June 3, 2012.

Comment on Random Acts of Kindness by Daena Guest

Daena Guest — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 07:02:07 +0000

Oh wow… do you want to know something funny? I only found your post today and Today (25th March 2012) i am giving a talk at the church about this exact thing! Gods two great commandments and Kindness! I cant believe i found this today!
Thanks Ben for sharing my blog with others! Sorry its taken so long for me to read this!
You are a champion!
Anyways, God works in mysterious ways!
Luv Daena x

Comment on Disciples of the Cross by Cadet Nicholas Usagi adisciple of cross at National officers Training College-kenya east Territory.

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:06:26 +0000

Thanks for your sharing your journery to officer ship.iam also acadet also a convert from pentecoastal church salvation army is sweety!the blood of Jesus

Comment on Pachelbel Canon in D for Solo Violin by J. Blasi

J. Blasi — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:25:01 +0000

Thank you for this arrangement! I was getting ready to do something similar when I found your arrangement, and decided not to reinvent the wheel. I’ll be playing it at a wedding next month near Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

Comment on Not a Booksneeze blogger by TikkTok

TikkTok — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:08:19 +0000

Amd actually, I found a blog that only has a few (like 2 to 4) blog posts a month that is a Booksneeze reviewer and has no posted stats. Of course, they get to choose who reviews for them, but to have “requirements” in place that aren’t actually made public nor adhered to rubs me the wrong way…………. fwiw.