Concord Chronicle

This week, I took a much-needed long walk - just to stretch my legs, clear my head, and allow myself some time to reflect. Of course, the day that I allotted for myself was Thursday morning - the day that started off with thunder and rain. (Typical for an English countryside ramble.) Nonetheless, I was determined to do it. I'm so glad I did.

It didn't matter that I had walked this particular trail at Newhall Community Park before, it had new beauty. The black mustard was in full bloom and towering over me. And when I got to the crossroad where I normally turn back, I decided to go on instead. I was surprised that it took me to Treat Street. It gave me a new view of the town and a different perspective rather than from the streetside. I looked across the valley and saw where my house would be at the base of the hill. Again, a different perspective.

At the start of Lent, I am reminded of Jesus' walk to the cross. How difficult that must have been for him! He knew what was coming - the doubt, the torture, the ridicule, the betrayal - and yet, he walked through it all ... even to his death. Three days later, he resurrected. He visited his friends, encouraged the disciples, told them where he was going next, and finally, gave instructions or commands as to what they were supposed to do next. He could look back and see how he lived - walked and talked - and what he endured and that he was victorious in the end. Amen!

Thank you, Jesus, for doing this for me - for us. You literally saved! We are grateful.

Whatever road you are journeying, ask God to be with you. He will help you navigate the turns and walk through the unknown. Before you know it, you will be able to look back and see that it was a beautiful adventure and have an appreciation for the growth and new perspective.

Take a walk - see what lessons God may reveal to you.

AnnMarguerite Jones

“Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,

Look upon a little child;

Pity my simplicity,

Suffer me to come to Thee.”

Charles Wesley SASB#583

The words of Charles Wesley’s Hymn of Childhood quoted above are the first conscious prayer I ever remember uttering.

At about age eighteen months my nightly ritual before being tucked in for sleep was to recite these words followed by a list of people I asked the Lord to bless, beginning with mommy and daddy.

Although intellectually and spiritually I have matured beyond this simplest of prayers, just saying or reading the words transports me mentally to knelling at that bedside. Unfortunately, the words don’t mean what our current language would have us believe.

Similarly with the words of Jesus:

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” Matthew 5:5 KJV

To our dictionaries! One internet dictionary defines “meekness” as “docile, overly compliant, spiritless, yielding or tame”. Merriam-Webster defines it as “mild, deficient in courage, submissive and weak”. By those definitions the only way Jesus’ assertion could be true is if the blubbering masses of meek souls are all that is left after the strongmen and tyrants of all ages have annihilated each other, and they are left to pick up the smoldering pieces!

Surely that can’t be what he meant?

No, a little research into linguistics and word morphology shows he meant something quite different!

Also note that Jesus’ words didn’t change, but our language has.

Meekness is a term used in The Old Testament to describe Moses.

The Hebrew word is “anaw” and refers to someone who is afflicted or bearing a heavy burden. For instance, Moses never complained to God about the grief Miriam and Aaron caused him. He simply choose to bear the burden. Moses’ meek disposition was also evident in Exodus when he was literally wearing himself out trying to help everyone solve their problems. In spite of this, he never complained or even gave thought to how it could affect him personally. Hence, Moses’ meekness wasn’t a character of timidity or letting other people run over him. On the contrast, it was a powerful demonstration of disciplined strength beyond what most people could endure.

In the 17th century when the translators of the Bible the now-famous King James (I of UK and VI of Scotland) had commissioned, came across the greek word “prautes”, which connotes a total lack of self-pride, to the point of a lack of self-concern, they translated it as the English word “meek”.

In 17th century English “meek” was the characteristic most prized in the largest, strongest, hard-working horse on the farm! Think of those magnificent Clydesdales you may have seen in a television commercial! Meekness meant that its enormous strength could be gently directed without resistance or complaint from the animal. Note that the idea of carrying heavy burdens without complaint is present in this definition as well.

Jesus, of course, uniquely embodies this characteristic. He wasn’t a weak and wimpy pushover — just ask the money changers in the Temple — rather, he was self-disciplined and always used his immense power and potential to the benefit of others and the glory of God. He carried a heavy, one might say the heaviest, burden all the way to Calvary without complaint despite the suffering it would mean for him personally. You can see why the translators thought this was an appropriate word.

You might be wondering about my title for this column about performing brain surgery with a bulldozer. I was looking for an exaggerated image that might convey tremendous power coupled with extreme care and precision to accomplish a miracle. That would be true meekness! Of course I wanted this image to stick in your — ahem! — head!!

So, bearing in mind that Charles Wesley spoke the same King’s English as the King James Translators, I now have a new, expanded meaning in my prayer. I now understand that the author, preserver and governor of the whole universe would be willing to listen to and answer my pathetic little prayer!

And I have a better understanding of Jesus’ words too. It’s not the weak who inherit the earth, but the meek; those to whom he entrusts all the power of heaven through his Holy Spirit and are willing to put aside any complaints or thoughts of themselves for the benefit of others and the glory of God.

Those are the folks — the meek — this earth is anxiously awaiting!

O that we might be meek and mild like Jesus!

Make it so, Lord, make it so!

Blessings on you and yours,

Jim Black

SUNDAY:

• 9:00 AM - Praise Team Practice - Chapel
• 10:00 AM - Sunday School - Classroom
• 10:00 AM - Corps Cadets - Library
• 10:15 AM - Prayer Meeting - Prayer Room
• 11:00 AM - In-Person Worship Service - Streaming on Concord Corps Family FB Page

NOTE: After the meeting, we will be requesting assistance in setting up meetings rooms and the platform in advance for the Women's Retreat. Some of the tasks include folding programs, setting up tables, putting out chairs, and rearranging furniture. If you can help, let us know. Many hands will make light work for all.

• 12:15 PM - Singing Company Practice - Chapel
• 1:15 PM - Lunch Break - Fireside Room
• 1:30 PM - Jr Band Practice - Chapel
• 6:00 PM - Corps Councils - Zoom

TUESDAY:

• 6:00 PM - Men's Bible Study - Fireside Room
• 7:00 PM - Songster Practice - Chapel
• 8:00 PM - Musicians' Devotions & Prayer - Chapel
• 8:15 PM - Senior Band Practice - Chapel

WEDNESDAY:

• 10:00 AM - CAMEO: Blessing Jars - Hybrid, Zoom & In-Person

FRIDAY:

• 1:30 PM - Setting up for the Women's Day Retreat

NOTE: If you are available to help, we will be prepping food and setting up the Fireside Room. Majors Jones will be arriving this afternoon after being away at Officers' Councils all week to help with this.

SATURDAY:

• 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM - Concord's Women's Retreat Day: Fashioned By Grace

NOTE: We have nearly 120 ladies registered for our first annual retreat. Keep our guests and our team in prayer as we host our guests.

NEXT SUNDAY: March 6th

• 9:00 AM - Praise Team Rehearsal
• 10:00 AM - Sunday School - Classroom
• 10:00 AM - Corps Cadets - Library
• 10:15 AM - Prayer Meeting - Prayer Room
• 11:00 AM - In-Person Worship Service and Visit of Majors John and Pamilla Brackenbury and Colonels Kelly and Donna Igleheart - Streaming on Concord Corps Family FB Page
• 12:15 PM - Singing Company Practice - Chapel
• 1:15 PM - Lunch Break - Fireside Room
• 2:15 PM - Jr Band Practice - Chapel

UGANDA TERRITORY

Territorial Leaders: Colonels Samuel and Philomina Kawo Oklah

Prayer requests:

• Pray for International Secretary for Africa in March.
• Pray for Colonels Samuel and Philomina Kwao Oklah's Retirement in March.
• Pray for incoming Territorial Commander and Chief Secretary, in that God may grant them strength, wisdom, and knowledge to lead Uganda Territory.
• Pray for the ongoing store building project at Territorial Headquarters.
• Pray for the Cadets at Officers' Training College to finish well and will soon be commissioned.
• Prayer for the word of Command Heads, Officers, and Local officers as they win souls for Christ.
• Pray for spiritual growth and transformation in the lives of our soldiers and creative opportunities for the Uganda Territory.

Fundraising Options:

Fundraise for good has added a Ukraine option. Click “become a fundraiser” via the link below and you can set up your own fundraiser or create a team to fundraise. That way you can track how much you and your friends have raised. The money will go directly to Ukraine relief.

https://www.classy.org/campaign/help-in-ukraine/c394184.

Donate/read the latest on our response at salarmy.us/Ukraine (donation page at salarmy.us/UkraineCrisis)

Text UKRAINE to 52000 to make a $10 donation

***All monies given in the above ways go directly to our Ukraine crisis response!

Did you start this week feeling a little …

Bewildered

Heavy-hearted

Worried

Empathetic

Trying to learn

Caught up in distraction

Trying to make sense of the senseless

It seems fitting it’s the first week of Lent, the 40 days of sadness leading up to a happy Easter.

The world can feel hard, broken, overwhelming. It can seem so dark.

Still, we trust, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:5).

In Scripture, the number 40 holds significance—often accompanying periods of waiting, testing, or growth. ⁠

⁠

Noah waited as the rain fell. God refined the Israelites in the wilderness. There were 40 decades between the last Old Testament prophecy and the birth of Jesus, who Satan tempted for 40 days in the desert. And more—slavery in Egypt, time on Mt. Sinai, and the cycles in Judges...

This Lent, in a messy world, we have 40 days to reflect. To remember you are loved on your worst, uneasy days as much as your best ones. To spend time focused on the light.

As Corrie Ten Boom said, “The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something and enter God’s Realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for his almighty power. Nothing is too

small for his love.”

If you want a reflection guide for these 40 days, we have one waiting for you in the Caring Scripture Study Collection.

⁠

With love,

Christin Thieme

Caring Magazine Editor

Theme: Zest for Life

Dates: May 13-15, 2022

Location: William Jessup University

Cost: $75 which includes housing, food, materials, and a t-shirt

There will be workshops, fun activities, inspirational worship, and fellowship. They are even putting on a Prom! So start getting your outfit together!

Registration is due April 13th.

See Major AnnMarguerite Jones or Major Willdonna Rich if you would like to attend.

After being postponed for two years, we will be hosting our second Spring Craft Fair! If you would like to be a vendor or know of someone who would like to be one, please message me, Major AnnMarguerite Jones. I will forward you a Seller's Agreement and Application to look over.

Email: annmarguerite.jones@usw.salvationarmy.org
Website: https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org
Location: 3950 Clayton Road, Concord, CA, USA
Phone: (925) 676-6180
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tsaconcord