William Booth

January 15, 2019

DAILY READING

1 John 5:13-21
This weekend’s reading: Revelation 2:8-11

FIELD NOTES
I pray that you will be inspired, challenged and given hope by the stories and words of faithful Christians I share throughout the week.  These Christians were ordinary humans just like you and me, loved and cherished by Christ and confronted by everyday real challenges to living faithful lives.

What “boldness do we have in Christ?” Hear this story of William Booth (1829-1912).

William Booth was a Methodist preacher in Britain who co-founded the Salvation Army.  He was born in Nottingham and ended up living and working with his wife, Catherine, among the poor and ostracized.  Out of their work on the streets was born the Salvation Army, with its uniforms and discipline.  The movement became structured as a quasi-military organization with no physical weaponry, but with an army of people passionate about salvation and healing the broken wounds of our world.

William Booth said, “Consider the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.”

QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD

• How does William Booth’s story challenge you?
• How does William Booth’s story inspire you?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Though the century he speaks of in his quote has passed, do you feel like this quote could apply to this current century? How so?

PRAYER

Lord, help us become so familiar with your word and with your presence that thoughts of you consume our waking moments and holy fear of you brings us to worship. Then even our smallest actions will speak of you. Amen.
 
(In part from “Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals”)