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The War Cry | OCTOBER 2015
O
n January 8, 1815, one of the greatest battles in U.S. history
was fought in New Orleans. More than 50 British ships and
8,000 crack British soldiers came to attack this strategic port
city. Standing in their way was a ragtag collection of 4,000
American volunteers commanded by "Old Hickory" Andrew
Jackson. The only defense was a mud rampart and barricades
made of bales of cotton.
The battle only lasted for half an hour, but when the smoke
cleared, the American thrill of victory had met the British agony of defeat. This
battle saved New Orleans, kept American control of the Mississippi, raised the
morale of an entire nation, and launched Andrew Jackson to national prominence
and ultimately to the White House. But there was only one problem--the battle
was really not worth fi ghting. Unbeknownst to Jackson, the war had ended two
weeks earlier when the treaty of Ghent was signed in Europe.
We need to fi ght the right battles. There is a battle for the security of the family,
for the sanctity of life and for the souls of men and women. Paul was on the right
battlefi eld, fi ghting the right war, against the right enemy.
Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3: 1, "In the last days there will be very diffi cult times." He
went on to say that homes would weaken. It is sad to say that among Christians too
many marriages are ending in divorce. Paul said that morals would wane. He lists
many characteristics of a society that is pushing the self-destruct button: "love only
themselves...money...boastful and proud, scoffi ng at God, disobedient to parents...
ungrateful... consider nothing sacred...unloving and unforgiving...slander others...no
self-control...cruel and hate what is good...betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed
up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God."
He concludes, "Stay away from people like that!" One way to win is to never be
on the wrong battlefi eld.
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 C. Schena
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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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
OCTOBER 2O15
Volume 135 | Number 12
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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�2015 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.
S
in is often the misuse of one of God's gifts. The gift of
persuasion can be used to woo people to God or instigate
mass murder. The gift of wealth can be used to bless others or
it can be the means for extravagant self-indulgence. The gift
of intellect can be used to move humanity forward or it can be
employed to fi nd ways to cheat, steal and destroy. Whether a
gift is used or misused is determined not so much by the gift
as by the heart of the person.
God has gifted humanity with sexuality and desire. When a man and woman
committed to each other in marriage enjoy this gift, it reaches its fullest
potential. Not only is the bond between husband and wife strengthened; human
life is conceived in joyful expressions of love, and the next generation is born.
But when misused, sex becomes a weapon against the innocent. It can be a
means of self-torture. Lust can substitute for love, and that which serves the
high purposes of God instead wallows in the muck and mire of human depravity.
Sex, which is meant to comfort and provide contentment, too often becomes a
self-consuming fi re of destruction. The scourge of pornography is built around
the idea that what titillates today will not suffi ce tomorrow. There is an
increasing hunger for more graphic displays, more perverted practices. Even
when a person steps away, the mind continues to replay these images, and he or
she views others not as examples of God's creation but objects of scorn or
desire based upon their perceived attractiveness.
The Bible is open and honest about sex, never condemning its rightful use but
clearly warning against its misuse. The permissiveness of the present age does
not refute the Bible's teaching but affi rms that God's plan for sex is not only
right but a blessing as well.
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