Goodbye

Well after 141 continuous days of posting as Lieutenant Dave it is time to say goodbye. This morning after serving as a Lieutenant for the last 5 years I was ordained and commissioned as a Captain in The Salvation Army. So after much thought and prayer I have decided to launch my new blog as Captain Collo.
Thanks for all of you that have read my blogs faithfully and for the honest feedback you give and I hope you will continue to visit my new site regularly at http://captaincollo.blogspot.com/

Just a thought.

Silver Star

a Jesus thought...
The man replied, "This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he opened my eyes! It's well known that God isn't at the beck and call of sinners, but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will. That someone opened the eyes of a man born blind has never been heard of—ever. If this man didn't come from God, he wouldn't be able to do anything." (John 9:30-33)

a Godly thought...
Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. (p50 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
We can dream, plan, hope, even pray; but without the grit and discipline of persistence, our lives will be nothing more than empty wishes. (p56 Newman)

a Dave thought...
Yesterday at "the Fellowship of the Silver Star" lunch Kylie and I were able to acknowledge and thank our parents for the example and encouragement they have been in our own lives. As we both have officer parents of 30+ years service they have helped us have a positive experience as officers kids, and therefore we are also optimistic about our family entering this new phase of our lives.
I pray that we too will bring Noah and Josiah up in a positive environment which acknowledges what God is doing in our lives and looks for the best in the movement that we serve. One mark of a positive leader for me is someone who inspires and encourages those that come behind them to serve in the same organisation with more passion than those before them. So we thank God for our parents and trust Noah & Josiah will be equally thankful for us one day.

Just a thought.

B COOL

a Jesus thought...
Jesus said, "You're tied down to the mundane; I'm in touch with what is beyond your horizons. You live in terms of what you see and touch. I'm living on other terms. I told you that you were missing God in all this. You're at a dead end. If you won't believe I am who I say I am, you're at the dead end of sins. You're missing God in your lives." (John 8:23-24)

a Godly thought...
Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. (p37 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
Nothing great was ever achieved without self-discipline. (p52 Newman)

a Dave thought...
Last night at our Valedictory service the Training Principal, Major Frank Daniels gave us an address from The Rule of St Benedict (6th century) - a book of precepts written for monks living in community under the authority of an abbot. His five points were given from an officer of 40 years service to help us on the new journey that lies ahead.



1. Balance - maintain a healthy lifestyle Prayer, Study, Work & Rest
2. Commitment - remain steadfast and strong to the covenants you have signed
3. Obedience - always do what God is asking
4. Open to change - let God continue to renew you through His Spirit
5. Listen - to God, others & yourself

It is important that we take key messages like this with us in our lives. So for me acronyms are often helpful for remembering important points, even though they apparently went out in the nineties!

But for me last night I will remember to B COOL as I enter into commissioned officership and hope to live this wisdom out in the next 28 years of my service.

Just a thought.

Covenant Day

a Jesus thought...
So why are you upset with me because I made a man's whole body well on the Sabbath? Don't be nitpickers; use your head—and heart!—to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right." (John 7:24)

a Godly thought...
When the bible speaks of following Jesus, it is proclaiming a discipleship which will liberate mankind from all man-made dogmas, from every burden and oppression, from every anxiety and torture which afflicts the conscience. (p31 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
The only difference between being a dreamer and a goalsetter is adding a deadline to the dream. (p37 Newman)

a Dave thought...

CALLED BY GOD

to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as an officer of The Salvation Army

I BIND MYSELF TO HIM IN THIS SOLEMN COVENANT
to love,trust and serve him supremely all my days,

to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life,

to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unlovable, and befriend those who have no friends,

to maintain the doctrines and principles of The Salvation Army, and, by God's grace to prove myself a worthy officer.
Done in the strength of my Lord and Saviour

This is the officers covenant which Kylie and I signed yesterday. The table we signed our covenants on is over 100 years old and is actually the same table our parents Wes & Glenyce Collinson and Ian & Marilyn Hamilton also signed on in the 60's & 70's. It was a really significant day and to sign my third life long covenant after soldiership (1984) and marriage (1993) is one I will never forget.
The covenant is personal, challenging and between God and myself, and with Him helping me is one I desire to keep throughout my life.

Just a thought.

Red Frogs

a Jesus thought...
"Don't waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last." (John 6:27)

a Godly thought...
Bonhoeffer was firmly and rightly convinced that it is not only a Christian right but a Christian duty towards God to oppose tyranny, that is, a government which is no longer based on natural law and the law of God. (p24)

a leading thought...
Opportunities never come to those who wait, they are captured by those who dare to attack. (p36 Newman)

a Dave thought... http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermail/redfrog/
You get a few quizzical looks when you tell people that you are spending a week volunteering at Schoolies.
Let’s face it - “Schoolies” has a certain reputation. And Schoolies on the Gold Coast - well it’s the whole reason that reputation exists. A lot of people would rather stay away from the Gold Coast and not have to risk an encounter with any of the 35,000 freshly graduated Grade 12 students ready to party. However, did you realise there are hundreds of people who, right now, are preparing to give up sleep, give up a week of their time and give up their own schedules to provide support, care and a listening ear to young people testing their freedom.
These volunteers will see and hear a lot. They provide a service that is truly valued by the young people they support. Many parents sleep a little easier knowing someone is looking out for their kids. And the free lollies and pancake breakfasts that are synonymous with the volunteers never go astray!
It’s no doubt Schoolies is slowly changing each year. It has certainly become more organised, and commercialised. The security is stricter than ever this year, with large sections of the beach fenced off each night so that only registered schoolies, and workers, can access the areas. This is to prevent Toolies (older people who prey on Schoolies) from accessing the entertainment areas. It’s all designed to minimise risk, keep people safe and ensure tighter controls.
All of this is noble, but I’m curious. I have to wonder how long Schoolies will continue to hold its appeal as the spontaneous nature of the tradition ebbs. Too many rules, and it’s going to be - well - just like school. How long will those who are celebrating their new freedom be happy to do so from behind a fence?

Today is covenant day for 29 of us (Cadets & Lieutenants) who are being commissioned this Sunday. While we will be reflecting, praying and signing a life long covenant there is an incredibly contrasting event happening on the Gold Coast with 35,000 teens. Some decisions these young people will make this week in regards to violence, drug & alcohol consumption and even their virginity will also scar many of them for life.

Please pray for Paul Mergard and the 39 Salvos up there in the Red Frog team who are helping the school leavers have a week worth remembering for the right reasons.

Just a thought.

Lieutenancy

a Jesus thought... will now be from The Message
"I'm not interested in crowd approval. And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda. I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God? (John 5:41-44)

a Godly thought... now from The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoeffer
Christianity was not the concern of the believing, pious soul who shuts himself up and keeps himself within the bounds of the sacramental sphere. No, Christianity has its place in this world and the Church as the Body of Christ, and the fellowship in him can only be the visible Church. (p19 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought... now from The ten laws of Leadership by Bill Newman
A leader is one that has the courage to dream, the ability to organise, and the strength to execute the action necessary. (p19 Newman)

a Dave thought...
News is out via the IHQ website that March 1 will conclude the rank of Lieutenant as we know it today.
We currently have 72 Lieutenants in this territory. As this is 12% of officers in the AST there will be a lot of conversations and questions between now and then. As 16 of us are currently being commissioned this Sunday there are still 56 others which I hope will make it through this transition time.
Over the last 6 years in our territory Lieutenancy has averaged an entry every month which exceeds the number of cadets for the same period.
As the General has decided to make this rank for commissioned officers once again and only to be used after training I pray that this will not block a very successful path into full time ministry.
I know today if it was not for the opportunity to serve locally as a Lieutenant I would not be becoming a Captain on Sunday.

Just a thought.

Roman Ezekiel

a Jesus thought...
Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:21-24)

a Godly thought...
God certainly is "our glorious one, who lifts up our heads." (p108 Lucas)

a leading thought...
Improving knowledge worker productivity is the most important task of the century. Yet we have few measures or management interventions to make such improvement possible. Most organizations simply hire smart people, and leave them alone. (Tom Davenport)

a Dave thought...
Last night I had the privilege to conduct the dedication of Roman Ezekiel Young at the 6pm service at Box Hill. As part of the ceremony I read the following words...

I remind you that you are not just witnesses to this ceremony, but participants in it. Acknowledging this, will you encourage and support Nath and Sharon as they endeavour to nurture Roman in the ways and teachings of Jesus Christ?
In your personal contacts with Roman, will you establish a relationship that is based on love, acceptance, understanding, encouragement, forgiveness and kindness?
As you entered church today you were given a photo of Roman. Nath and Sharon would like you to take this photo and put it somewhere you may see it from time to time (Bible, glove box, under the kitchen sink!) and when you do see it, say a prayer for Roman.

It is great that as part of the dedication that we ask the church as a whole to support the family and the child. It was an especially nice touch last night that Nath & sharon handed out photos so we could all feel even more connected to this beautiful boy.

Just a thought.