By Robert Docter, Editor-In-Chief “I want to be a soldier of the cross Brave-hearted and true…” Once we were “red-hot and righteous”—now we are “The Most Effective Organization in the United States.” I’ve been wondering—what does that mean? Does it indicate progress? Maturity? Growth? Keeping up with the times? What’s it mean to be red-hot? [...]
By Robert Docter, Editor-In-Chief Two articles in the current edition of The Officer magazine emphasize the Army’s commitment to the process of human transformation—a changing of one’s belief system and lifestyle. One, by General Linda Bond, titled “I Believe in Transformation,” focuses on her hopes for the international Army’s accomplishment of one of her 12 goals: “We [...]
By Robert Docter. Editor-In-Chief This year, Easter ushered in April, the most beautiful month of the year. Hope is in the air. Choose to feel and act on it. Easter has become a time for celebration, for enjoying the flowers of springtime, the warm greetings of a Sunday morning, special events, sumptuous dinners, excited voices [...]
By Robert Docter, Editor-In-Chief I’m sure you’re aware of our Army’s mission, and the interpretation of it made by John Gowans. Just to remind you, he said: “The Salvation Army exists to save souls, grow saints, serve suffering humanity.” Simple. Straightforward. Specific. This is who we are and what we do. I buy it. I wonder, [...]
By Robert Docter, Editor-In-Chief In a few days, we will reach the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Then we will celebrate Christianity’s climatic event: Jesus’ victory over death. Easter is upon us, and with it comes spring and the dramatic display of the glory of new birth. The days [...]
By Robert Docter, Editor-In-Chief A few weeks after the death of his 6-year-old son, Waldo, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: The history of Christ is the best document of the power of character we have. A youth who owed nothing to fortune and who was “hanged at Tyburn”—by the sheer quality of his nature has shed this [...]
By Robert Docter, Editor-In-Chief My corps (Pasadena Tabernacle) recently celebrated its 125th birthday. It was quite a shindig. Lotta people. Mostly past and present soldiers. Many traveled long distances for the occasion, and seeing them brought back warm, fond memories. The event took place on the exact date that the Army held its first meeting [...]
By Robert Docter, Editor-In-Chief John Gowans’ contributions to The Salvation Army are of such significance, I believe, that picking one or two is impossible. Regardless, his relationship with all of us held such intensity and authority that no one with him for more than a minute left him without feeling the power of the moment. [...]
By Robert Docter, Editor-In-Chief Reviewing “Reflections of a Former Atheist “ Merry Christmas! This is a time to celebrate re-birth, to recognize the Babe of Bethlehem and his growth as God’s son, the Christ, the Messiah, who gave such a second chance to all who would believe in his name. The story of one such second [...]
By Robert Docter, Editor-In-Chief None of us can claim perfection. We’d like to, but we can’t. We’re human. In our imperfect humanness we seem required to approach innumerable unsettling and mystifying situations in life. They often occur on a daily basis. We feel threatened, unsafe about something. We perceive a critical glance, a strong word, or negative [...]
