October 30, 2015
2
Always he has been faithful to me
The Lord said to Jeremiah, “Before I
formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the
nations.” Jeremiah replied, “I don’t know
how to speak; I am too young.” But the
Lord said, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’
You must go to everyone I send you to
and say whatever I command you.”
I made a decision to follow Jesus
during a Decision Sunday at my corps. In
childlike faith, I believed that God had a
plan for my life and aimed to live in a way
that would be pleasing to him.
I was raised in a Christian home and
attended corps programs regularly.
As I grew physically and spiritually, I
continued to make my promises to God.
I remember being enrolled as a Junior
Soldier. As I knelt and signed my pledge, I
understood its significance in my life.
At the age of 12, I attended my first
youth councils. I remember very distinctly
the Saturday night meeting. The message
was presented and a call to officership
inspired my walk to God and helped
to develop me as a leader by giving me
opportunities to use the gifts God had
given me. I am indebted to them.
The calling I received at the age of 12
was genuine. In the years that followed,
Captain
God continued to prepare my heart and
Julia Tarnue
I strived to be open and obedient to the
work he was doing in me.
given. I sat in my seat and watched as
In 2001, I entered the College for Officer
many moved forward in response. While
Training in St. John’s, Newfoundland,
I did not move, the Spirit of God spoke
Canada, as a cadet in the Believers session.
very clearly to me and a sensation that I
cannot explain flowed through me. I knew And on June 28, 2003, I continued to make
my promises to God as I was ordained
without a doubt that God was calling me
and commissioned as a Salvation Army
to be a Salvation Army officer.
officer. I vowed “to love and serve him
I did not verbalize the experience for
supremely all my days.”
some time because I wasn’t sure anyone
I know I fall short of this calling, but of
would believe a 12-year-old girl could be
one thing I am confident – God has always
sure of such a call from God.
However, as I continued to grow in my been faithful to me. My aim is the same as
that of the little girl who gave her heart to
faith and involvement at the corps, the
the Lord on Decision Sunday – to live my
affirmation of God’s people confirmed
life in a way that will be pleasing to God.
what I knew in my heart. I was blessed
Done in the strength of my Lord and
with a wonderful corps family, where
Savior.
many godly people invested in me. They
my
calling
It may be my funeral, but in the end it’s all for you
othervoices
By Major Larry Repass
Sometimes when I attend funerals, I find myself
saying to myself things like:
“At my funeral I don’t want them to have an ‘honor
guard’ because even those who, because they really
want to honor the deceased, don’t mind doing it,
get tired standing up there; I know how awkward I
always felt doing it.”
“I don’t want a band either; at best a brass quartet,
and they must play everything piano.” (I guess this
explains why I don’t want a full band.) Speaking of
piano, I would be pleased with just the piano-playing
of Sally Ann and forget the brass four.
“The program should say, in each case: ‘So-and-so
will speak for five minutes about the departed and
then read Scripture; So-and-so will speak for five
minutes about the departed and then lead a song;
So-and-so will speak for five minutes about the
departed and then pray; and so on. (Almost everyone
does this anyway, so just make it official?)
My mind does work this way at funerals. I will
tell you also, however, that every funeral gives me
spiritual food. Whether it’s the insightful preaching
or the testimonies of how God used the deceased to
bless others, or the sight of one who has had more
than her share of griefs caring with her arms for those
who now grieve, or the sensitive piano-playing of
much-loved hymns, or the challenge of the Holy Spirit
to my heart as I reflect on how little I have done for
the Father and yet how readily the Son forgives my
shortcomings. God always speaks to me at funerals,
and I am grateful.
So, I decided to write out my wishes for my own
funeral. I chose a couple of songs representing my
own heart-prayer (769 and 671). I selected my life-text
to be read (1 Timothy 1:15 – and don’t forget those
last five or six words!). I would ask that Ina sing “In
tenderness He sought me.”
But, in the end, it occurred to me that absolutely
none of what is done at my funeral will be for me
(surely you all know that I will be occupied with
greater things and couldn’t care less what might be
happening “down there”). So, forget all of the above,
and do whatever you like at my funeral.
Oh, I almost forgot. One thing I will plead that you
do: At the cemetery, instead of having someone play
taps, please have a cornet play the Army doxology,
and o