"My time, matey, not yours!" - is what God told me very clearly earlier this week as I was growing impatient for inspiration!
This is the 39th meeting I have prepared for FORTRESS RADIO since the Covid lockdowns began in March 2020
This meeting is the third in the series based on the 1st Epistle of Peter - this time -chapter 2. How can we best be 'walking advertisements' for Jesus in this evil world?
If you like some of the GREAT Salvation Army songs then this one's for YOU!
Plus music from the Amsterdam Staff Band, International Staff Band and Songsters, Croydon Citadel Songsters, Portsmouth Citadel Singing Company...and more besides!
Thoughts are centred around Major Darren Shaw's wonderful 'Guardian of My Soul'
Doom and Gloom
"Which Way are YOU Going?"
This Salvation Meeting - the 35th in the series I have produced for Fortress Radio since the Covid-19 Pandemic struck in March 2020 - is all about walking our life's pathways with Jesus.
Do you walk with Him? Talk with Him? There are many times when it is difficult for all of us - and many of us have been directly affected by the virus, of course.
Rest assured, that whatever might happen to us here on Earth we, as Christians, are always promised a joyous eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Saviour.
Some parts of the meeting are based on some writing I encountered earlier in the week by Commissioner Harry Read - and we also hear his lovely song 'Become Aware of Him'.
The band piece is an all-time classic, Ray Steadman-Allen's 'In Quiet Pastures' and some of the songs from that piece are either sung in the service or referenced in my talk.
Other music is provided by groups including Wood Green Singing Company, the International Staff Band and Songsters, the Canadian Staff Band, The Melbourne Veterans Band - and there is a lovely solo from Canadian Salvationist Dayna Curtis. All that - and an excerpt from a much-loved Gowans/Larsson musical.
God bless you all - and thank you for listening.
Marc
Salvation Meeting (34) for Fortress Radio
"Jesus - our Foundation"
This meeting, the 34th in the series I have prepared for Fortress Radio since March 2020, the start of the Covid pandemic, is centred around i Corinthians ch 3 - in which the Apostle Paul exhorts the younf church in Corinth to stop bickering about trivialities and ensure they build on a solid foundation.
Songs include 'I Dare to Be Different', 'How Firm a Foundation" and "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand." Musical items, by Norwich Citadel Band, Canadian group 'Witness', cornet soloist David Daws and the Southern Youth Chorus include favourites such as 'Total Praise', 'A New World' and Norman Bearcroft's 'Songs of Testimony'. Portsmouth Citadel Singing Company remind us of the foollish man who built his house on 'Sandy Land'.
This ministry continues to be listened to right round the world both on Fortress Radio and here in the Podcast version. Feedback is always welcome as are requests for songs or items - or you might want to record a word of personal testimony and become part of a meeting yourself?
Welcome to the Fortress Radio/Going to the Army Carol Service 2020
I am delighted to invite you to join with the listeners from Fortress Radio to tonight's 'meeting' - the 32nd Sunday Evening Service I have been privileged to record and share with you since March 2020.
The world this year has changed so very much - but God's Love for the world He made is the same today as it was then - in fact, I believe He is holiding our world even tighter as it lurches from crisis to crisis in this unique year.
Tonight we join with the musicians of the Norwich area, East Anglia for our Carol Service - as much of the material for tonight's service is taken from a CD I was privileged to make with them a few years ago - titled 'Joy to the World'.
Tonight, I wanted us to all be able to simply sit back, relax in God’s presence and celebrate Christmas in a quite traditional way. There will be carols, readings and musical items as we spend this hour together – united in our love for the Lord and our prayers that the world would simply ALLOW Him to be the answer to all the problems it seeks answers for!
So, I speak a little less than usual - but am grateful for help from Stuart Hall, the owner of Fortress Radio and his wife Lorraine - who have contributed readings. Also to Kaytie Harding, Jane Brill, Ira Thomas and Sharon Kent who have made a new recording of 'Mary, Did You Know' that we are featuring. You will also hear the International Staff Band and Songsters, The Sunbury Junior Singers, Hendon Corps and Chalk Farm Band with musical items.
The service also includes my own song 'My Christmas Wish' - the title track of my 2001 CD.
God bless you all - and may we all have a Wonderful, blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Marc
This meeting, the 31st in the series produced for Fortress Radio in 2020, marks the 3rd Sunday of Advent.
In a world that needs Jesus more than ever before Christians are praying for the world to turn to its Saviour as we prepare to celebrate His birth.
The meeting has some great Salvation Army songs, Songster and Singing Company music and one of the greatest brass band pieces ever composed, from the pen of Eric Ball.
Of course, we are also preparing ourselves for Christ's return - the Second Coming - or Second Advent, as I refer to it. We look at Isaiah's prophecy and are left with the words of Major Joy Webb's beautiful song "Come into our World - NOW, Lord Jesus"
Tonight's Salvation Meeting for Fortress Radio is all about TRUST.
This, the 28th meeting in the series that I have prepared most weeks since lockdown began in March 2020. God is using this online ministry in ways I - and many others - could never have imagined and I count it both a great privilege and responsibility to have this opportunity and to be part of this tremendous witness.
Music this evening includes items from Coventry City Singing Company, Norwich Citadel Songsters and the Household Troops Band. There are some truly wonderful songs included with a brand new recording of an old favourite from me.
The band item is an Eric Ball Classic and other music includes 'Christ is All' and 'I Know a Fount'. The band even play The Red Shield after the benediction!
Join me at 6pm tonight or on the "Going to the Army!" podcast site soon afterwards. God bless you all.
Marc