Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSAWAKE O ZION!ture bunch.) I remember being annoyed at Pete for being anelder when I wasn’t. I also remember Pete regularly handingin his resignation! Being a shepherd was no joke. You werepushed up to the front line and from then on you were supposedto be a guardian of others and a fount of wisdom. Thequalifications for eldership in 1 Timothy and Titus wereenough to make anyone quail (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9). Butat least we weren’t into wine and brawling!In community houses, being an elder meant continuous responsibility.All sorts of people came round and looked to theelders as examples of godliness. The shepherds learned tocast themselves on the Lord. They had to.God gave us much wisdom about what it cost to be a shepherd.One picture was of a flock of sheep protected by a strongwooden fence. All over the fence could be seen the claw marksof the wolf. The sheep were safe, but the shepherds who protectedthem would suffer fierce attack. In another picturethe true leader was seen as a servant with a mop and bucket.Another scene showed a garden with flowers and trees whilein the corner lay a heap of rich manure that the gardenerused to nourish them. What was that? The leaders, of course!Mud, sweat — and tears! A year ago, Malhamdale had beenvisionary, the first real sight of community. Since then, thecross had bitten deep and some were running from it. Theself-life got us into trouble and messed it all up. God’s wordhad to penetrate ‘even to dividing soul and spirit’ (Heb 4:12)and reveal our true motivations. Altars were built. Tears wereshed. Sacrifices were made. Some were captivated by Jesusand considered remaining single for the sake of his kingdom.‘How few are the enraptured souls who languish for love of113