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The War Cry | DECEMBER 2014
F
or many, Christmas is the busiest time of the year. But in our
busyness, John the Baptizer calls to us from the wilderness:
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:2). John
was the one whom the prophet Isaiah predicted would come as
"A voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the
Lord, make straight paths for Him.'"
Are there some changes you need to make in your life to get
ready for Christmas? Is there some resentment you need to let
go of? A relationship you need to examine? John calls us to look within, to search
ourselves and to deal with problem areas in our lives.
Repentance is more than turning away from immoral acts. For followers of
Jesus, repentance is always a turning to: to God and to one's family and friends
and neighbors. Are there some people you need to reach out to? That is the
wonderful thing about this time of the year. We are motivated to reach out and
demonstrate our love to others.
Has Christ been born in your heart? It is not Christ's birthday that matters
most, really. Rather, it is the day of our new birth into the kingdom of God,
having opened ourselves to the indwelling Christ. Has that happened in your
life? Have you consciously prayed, "Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, be born in
me today?" Christ's coming is the central message of this season of the year.
Heed John's message and make it real in your own heart: "Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is near."
MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL COMMANDER
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
W
ILLIAM
B
OOTH
FOUNDER
A
NDR�
C
OX
GENERAL
D
AVID
J
EFFREY
NATIONAL COMMANDER
The Salvation Army Territorial Commanders
P
AUL
R. S
EILER
Central Territorial Commander
B
ARRY
S
WANSON
Eastern Territorial Commander
D
ONALD
B
ELL
Southern Territorial Commander
J
AMES
M. K
NAGGS
Western Territorial Commander
The Salvation Army National Publications Department
Allen Satterlee
Editor�in�Chief
Frank Duracher
Assistant Editor-in-Chief
Jeffrey McDonald
Editorial Director
Roger O. Selvage Jr. Art Director
Gloria A. Hull
Design & Production Editor
Ashley H. Clarke
Graphic Designer
Andrea K. Ricker
Graphic Designer
Cynthia A. Edelen
Publications Marketing Manager
Charles Piercey
Electronic Communications Co ordinator
Erin Thibeau
Editorial Assistant
Esther M. Satterlee Circulation Man ager
Elizabeth Duracher Publications Outreach Officer
Melissa Hollinger
Administrative Specialist
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Now in its 134th year, the
"War Cry" prints
on average 180,000 copies monthly, 1,700,000
at Christmas and 750,000 at Easter.
O U R M I S S I O N
The Salvation Army, an international
movement, is an evangelical part of
the universal Christian church.
Its message is based on the Bible.
Its ministry is motivated by the love of God.
Its mission is to preach the gospel of
Jesus Christ and to meet human needs
in His name without discrimination.
National Publication of
T H E S A L V A T I O N A R M Y
DECEMBER 2O14
Volume 134 | Number 13
Printed on recycled paper produced by
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The War Cry (ISSN 1550�5286) is published 14 times a year at
615 Slaters Lane, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313.
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�2014 The Salvation Army
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken
from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright �1996,
2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188, USA. All rights reserved.
C
hristmas music, lights, decorations, gifts, concerts, sales,
television specials, cookies, trees, candles, wreaths, mall
Santa Clauses and scores of other sights, sounds and smells
signal that something special is happening. Now is the time to
think of someone else, whether that be a person close to us or
someone in need we may never have met. For Salvation Army
offi cers it means getting kettles out, keeping bells repaired,
purchasing toys and food wholesale, processing Angel Tree
gifts and visiting care facilities until by Christmas Eve they have spent their last
ounce of strength.
One thing that is settling during these rush times is tradition. Too many people
want to jettison tradition, treating it like something akin to yesterday's trash. But
traditions form the basket that holds our collective memories. The Christmas
tree we put in our home is linked to trees of our childhood. Our children will link
this year's tree to something in their homes decades from now. Christmas
traditions ground us, reminding us that Christmas is more than the bills that
come due in January, more than the frenetic pace and crowded parking lots. It is
deeply meaningful, so that a trace of a smile can be seen on the face of even the
worst Scrooge.
We who cherish the Christian Faith fi nd even deeper meaning in our traditions
than others. The lights, the candles, the trees, the wreaths, the carols and the
gifts speak ultimately of Christ. Many traditions have drifted from their original
intention, but some still point clearly to Christ. Although there is increasing
opposition to public nativity scenes, few traditions more accurately tell us about
why Christmas is. Dancing snowmen and fl ying reindeer fade when compared to
the beauty of the Christ Child.
This year, stop to consider the why of what you are doing and then thank the
Who being rightly heralded.
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