Contact summer 2015 by Armed Forces' Christian Union

www.afcu.org.uk

magazine for members of the armed forces

f i n di ng G o d

in an ISO

‘Pr om i s ed La nd’ - for soldier rehab Summer

2015

£2

your light will break forth like the dawn...

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard Isaiah 58: 8

hen it starts with a fall, at least things can only get better! We all hit rock bottom at some time in our lives and it’s often at moments like this that God steps in. For some, it is the moment of discovering faith and the start of a new journey in life. In this issue people linked with the forces share their own very personal stories of how they discovered faith. For Capt Rachael Phillips it was in a shipping container during a service in the middle of Afghanistan. Her story is a demonstration of how God can reach us wherever we are in the world. For Paulette Jones and her husband Philip, a former RAF pilot and trainer, it began as she started to attend church because her daughter heard about God at school and wanted to know more. She shares her story in our feature on the ‘Promised land’, which includes some of her experiences as an RAF wife and the new project she and her husband have taken on in retirement. It is inspiring to see that when people put their lives into God’s control, He leads them into new and exciting ventures that also impact on others. Steve Martin, in his column, shares his experiences of falling down and how God uses us when we realise we can’t do it all in our own strength. A new series called Big Questions starts in this issue and will continue during the year, as we look at some of the questions people ask about God and faith. Martin Riddall is looking forward to receiving your questions for the next Contact and he will attempt to give an answer to them. Please do send them in by email to: contact@afcu.org.uk Finally, congratulations to Mike Forsyth who has been recommended to train for ordination in the Church of England. We look forward to hearing more of his journey in the future, although he will be handing on his column to another colleague. Also thank you to Brian McAvoy for all his contributions on ethics which have been very thought provoking.

contents Finding God in an ISO how God took an army officer by surprise

Big Questions - our new series with answers to tough questions

Good Neighbours sharing faith on ‘the patch’

Joie de Vie How one RAF couple found their ‘Promised Land’

regulars ethics file Mike’s blog Martin’s memo coffee break book reviews caption competition

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Armed Forces Christian Union get.theapp.co/7423

Rachel Farmer Editor

• If you wish to know more about what it means to be a Christian and/or how to become a Christian, find and ask your local chaplain or a Christian you may know or pick up the phone and ask the AFCU office 01252 311221

Armed Forces’ Christian Union (AFCU), Havelock House, Barrack Road, Aldershot, Hants GU11 3NP Tel 01252 311221 Email: office@afcu.org.uk www.afcu.org.uk

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she found God...

in an ISO

Three years ago Capt Rachael Phillips wandered into an ISO for a church service in a remote patrol base in Afghanistan. She couldn’t have been more surprised by what happened next...

‘

I didn’t have to shoulder all the responsibility for the things I’d seen, and done or for those I’d failed to do, because despite everything, God loved me.

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didn’t believe in God. When I was younger God was like the sheets of wall paper that are sometimes found in old chests of drawers acting as a drawer lining; curious, belonging to an older generation and irrelevant, writes Rachael Phillips. As far as I understood, Christians wore loose fitting, old fashioned, conservative clothes, probably floral for the women and lots of shades of beige for the men. Christians were nice people. They were a constant. They were part of the fabric of my country. But let’s face it; they were a bit odd. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of smugness when I heard Christians talk of their belief in God, because I knew something they didn’t. I knew it was irrational to believe in God. By the very wise old age of 19, I had decided that God wasn’t for me, and though the Bible stories were nice, and the Christians I knew were pleasant enough, it was all just a bit... improbable. Not that my version of theology was particularly mature or well considered. If pushed I could trot out something about how man needs religion because it’s the best way to control people. But I rarely even engaged in theological discussions, because on the whole, my attitude towards religion could be summed up as intense apathy. So you can imagine my surprise, when, on my second operational tour of Afghanistan, I found myself walking towards an ISO container where a service was being held by a visiting padre. I wasn’t a Christian so deciding to attend a service in the make-shift church was certainly out of the ordinary. But it hadn’t been an ordinary day. The things I had seen and had to do weighed heavily on me. As a Pashto-speaking female trained to be a team medic, I had been required to help treat a number of civilian casualties who had turned up at our base looking for help. That evening I stood at the back of the cold metal church feeling somewhat of a hypocrite, a common feeling of those outside of the church who occasionally find themselves physically inside a church.

What happened in the next twenty minutes changed the course of my life. Padre Richardson told me about a God who loved me deeply and without condition. A forgiving, understanding God who loved me even more than my own parents did, and even despite my failings. I didn’t have to shoulder all the responsibility for the things I’d seen, and done or for those I’d failed to do, because despite everything, God loved me. He spoke about compassion and forgiveness. I was upset and confused and nervously happy all at once. Tears streamed down my face and were wiped away in embarrassment. I looked at my feet for the rest of the service. When it was over I loitered around to talk to the padre. He looked at me and saw the emotion etched into my face, and we sat and talked. Or rather we sat in silence. The kind of silence that’s strangely appropriate when in the company of a padre, who doesn’t expect anything of you. You can just be. I just was, and then eventually after a little sob, I told him I thought I might believe in God. Whilst in Afghanistan I did the Christianity Explored course and on my return home I worked towards my confirmation. At my confirmation service, only 3 weeks after making my wedding vows, I consciously gave my life to Christ. But it didn’t end there. No, God had something else in store for this very unlikely Christian. Later in the service the bishop was talking about his own calling to become an ordained minister and it seemed as though he was speaking directly to me. With a sick feeling I realised my calling. I realised that the reason God had packed so much into my first 29 years was because he was preparing me for a very challenging role. All my life I’ve been drawn to people in need, from my work in Malawi as a teenager, to my work in Sri Lanka following the Boxing Day tsunami, to the particular types of roles I’ve undertaken in the Army, all community development and people-centric jobs (MSSG and DCSU). I’d been given some skills, I had a strong support network around me and now God was calling me by name and telling me to serve as an ordained

minister. Oh dear, I thought. My husband, who is not a Christian, took it very well and has been an outstanding support ever since. Every step of the way he has given me confidence and listened to my concerns. He’s even joined me at every single church service since that night. He absolutely believes it is what I’m made for. I struggled a lot with my calling at first as it all seemed so implausible. Eventually I reasoned that if anyone knew what was best for me it was God, and I ought to listen. I’ve made a promise to pursue this path as long as He keeps opening doors for me, which, to my surprise and now delight, He does. I’m now leaving my job in the Army, where I’ve served on a full and part time basis over the last 12 years, to move back home to Darlington. I start a degree in Theology, Ministry and Mission at Cranmer Hall, Durham University this October while I continue the discernment process. My husband is also leaving the Army, so together we will build a new life in the North East and try to work out where this calling will lead. I suppose in the scheme of things it’s still early days. I’m meeting with the Diocesan Director of Ordinands and he will steer me and help develop me as I prepare to go to ‘selection’ (the Bishops’ Advisory Panel). There are now none of the certainties in my life upon which I used to always rely.

I have absolutely no idea what the future will bring, where I’ll live, what I’ll be doing or how. It is no longer in my hands. To say my life has been turned upside down would be quite the understatement! And yet in a strange way I’ve never felt more secure. There’s something wonderfully liberating about giving up your own choices and just following Christ. I don’t feel the same pressure to make the right decisions based on meticulous planning, calculations and pragmatism. I’m just saying “Let’s see what God wants”, and I very well might be a vicar one day. • Rachael Phillips joined the army in 2003 serving as a medic in the Green Howards (now the 4th Bn Yorkshire Regt). At 20 she was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and served on Op Herrick 9 with the Military Stabilisation and Support Group (MSSG). It was on this first tour that she met her future husband, Maj Richard (Dickie) Phillips, then with 2 Princess of Wales Royal Regiment. She has since worked with the Defence Cultural Specialist Unit and in 2011 went to Tajikistan for language and immersion training. She completed her third tour in Afghanistan in 2013. Last October she married Dickie, who is now serving with 3 Royal Anglian in Bury St Edmunds. She says with her husband’s postings in Cyprus and Germany they have spent almost their entire relationship living in different countries but, as they both prepare to leave the army, they are looking forward to moving into their new home in Darlington.

Photos: Above Rachael Phillips in Afghanistan speaking with locals. Above left inset, Padre Robin Richardson leads a service in an ISO, with Rachael pictured among the congregation, bottom right.

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tion s e u q BIG

what about the stars?

lot of questions get thrown at us about our faith, some about what we believe and some about how the Bible explains the physical world. Many are entirely genuine, although a few are simply to try to trip you up. Either way, making statements like ‘God works in mysterious ways’ tends to leave your oppos unimpressed, and it’s important to be able to give the reason for our hope in Christ (1 Peter 3:15). This series aims to answer some of those questions, so if you’re getting interrogated in the crewroom, or if you there’s something you just can’t get you head around, send it in to contact@afcu.org.uk. If the universe is only 6000 years old, how can we see stars millions of light years away? When answering such a question it’s important to point out that not every Christian believes exactly the same thing. Some Christians do argue that the earth is between 4-10 thousand years old and was created in 6 days, some say that God created everything over 6 defined eras, effectively kick-starting evolution whilst others suggest that Genesis wasn’t written to explain how things came to be but why and that we shouldn’t read it too literally. No matter what your perspective it is important not simply to claim immunity from the question because, by extension, you only isolate your ‘young universe’ brothers and sisters as having a screw loose. Therefore, a basic understanding of the concepts involved is essential to answering the question effectively.

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Firstly, it is important to realise that the old universe theorists have a very similar problem to consider. The Big Bang Theory states that all matter was expelled, and has subsequently expanded in every direction, from a single point. This it did at varying temperatures and thus there should be hot spots dotted around the universe. However, this is not what we observe, as radiation frequencies show a uniform temperature of 2.7K (-270.5°C). The only way that such a uniform temperature could be seen over distances greater than ~16 billion light years would be if energy were to have transferred at rates faster than the speed of light. This is known as the Horizon Problem and is, in essence, the same as asking the Young Universe Creationist how we can see light from stars more than 10,000 light years away. The Horizon Problem is recognised by the mainstream scientific community as a difficulty with the Big Bang. However, they still consider that the Big Bang Theory represents a best fit solution. But for you, being asked the question, it gives the opportunity to point out that cosmologists on both sides of the argument need energy (of some form) to move faster than light and therefore

questioning a young universe model based on distant starlight infers the same lack of logical and scientific rigour within the Big Bang Theory. A number of researchers have put forward suggestions to resolve this starlight and time problem both from mainstream and creationist perspectives; however more research is required to produce anything like a definitive answer. Whilst it would take this entire edition of Contact to scratch the surface of these theories you can find out more by searching any term in italics and for theories such as Inflation Cosmology and Variable Speed of Light Cosmology (secular) or, White Hole Cosmology, The Hartnett Model and Anisotropic Synchrony Convention (Creationist). Why would God allow so much suffering? Just look at what’s just happened in Nepal! So much suffering! But it’s not just from earthquakes. It seems everywhere you look, suffering is right there and it begs the question, If God is love, why doesn’t He do something about it? There is no simple answer to this. It’s true, there’s a lot of suffering in the world continued on page 11

• Devasation after Nepal’s earthquake and below Ghurkhas offer support to those affected

it all started with a ‘cuppa’

elen is married to LS Jono FreegardAndrew. Last summer they were posted to Cyprus with their two young children Aaron and Isla (pictured above). Nine months on she found that being a good neighbour can lead to unexpected results… Helen writes, I became a Christian in 2008. I had always believed in God and often prayed but I never really understood that I could have a

one who could fill the gap in my heart. A few years on I met Jono and I am now a forces wife. It’s not easy and the deployments are long, especially with young children, but having a Christian faith enables me to cope so much better than I would have done in the past – ‘pre-Jesus’. I know my prayers are heard and I know I am not alone. When we moved out to Cyprus I enjoyed meeting our neighbours and new people each day and there were more and more opportunities to share my faith. It’s not always an easy thing to do, but we went

• Some members of the Ay Nik Alpha group in Cyprus

How do you pray? One neighbour had heard of Alpha - a basic Christianity course - and was interested in doing it. I was keen to do it too. And so just before Christmas we started up an Alpha course with Rachel Farmer, the wife of our padre, Simon Farmer. We advertised it on our community facebook page and found several people were also interested. Amazingly, two of them were my neighbours! They were also navy wives with young children. Being part of the course was such a great experience. It was an answer to our prayers that the course was able to be run, that everyone who started it finished it and that we are all now continuing in a bible study group each week having just finished Alpha. I felt a few challenges along the way from being in a close military environment where people tend to gossip. It was really important for me not to get dragged into that, to know that God was on my side and to keep trusting in Him. At times I also felt challenged about some issues and certain questions that were raised. I certainly didn’t have all the answers, but it was great to discuss, hear others opinions and keep gaining knowledge of God.

relationship with Jesus. After many years of failed relationships and knowing I was on the wrong path, I found people at work and in my social life were Christians and they helped me to finally remove my blinkers and see that Jesus was the only

Is there more to life than this Pub again

to church upon arrival and that in itself started many conversations. We try to be as open and honest as we can in everyday life and just by doing this it lead to me being asked, Why are you a Christian? Why do you go to church?

How about a night in

Seeing people, whom I now consider my friends, gain knowledge of Jesus and begin their journey of faith was a real blessing and I feel very privileged to have been a part of it. My hope and prayer is that we will all continue to grow in our faith and also meet regularly to study the bible, pray and of course have a cuppa!

alpha.org

Will my mates be there

Got questions about life #TryAlpha

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• Philip & Paulette Jones

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flying to their ‘promised lan

how one forces family made the biggest move of th

it dawned on me that the light at the end of the corridor was most likely forgiveness

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acking boxes is a regular occurrence for most forces families and moving house comes around so often that we go on auto pilot rearranging our furniture to fit yet another quarter. RAF wife, Paulette Jones was no exception but after 17 different houses and a few miracles along the way, she and her husband, Phil, took a huge leap of faith to move out to France, where they believed God had a new project for them. Paulette hadn’t always been a Christian and writing about her experiences in her book, Another Promised Land, she describes her feelings on attending chapel in her first job. “I found it dull and any curiosity regarding religion that might once have had a chance to develop in my youth was now utterly quenched. A few months later, I left that job and I was very relieved not to have to go to another chapel service. The death knoll had tolled and I gladly hammered securely the final nail in the coffin labelled ‘church’ – and how good it felt to do so.” A few years later Paulette married a former school mate, Phil, who was an RAF pilot and she became immersed in what she describes as a new world of, “spit and polish, rules and regulations, jargon and abbreviations… cocktail parties and jolly japes, ball dresses, hand-tied bow ties and patent shoes”.

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Life in the RAF continued at a rapid pace for Paulette and Phil, as they moved around the UK following Phil’s various different postings and training positions, and Paulette found work where she could, working as a school matron and as a care assistant. After their two children, Rob and Amy, were born and Paulette was settling into life at RAF Cranwell, their lives were thrown into chaos when Paulette was struck down by a mystery illness in 1992. She writes, “I rather worryingly began to feel unwell, became very fatigued and experienced some mysterious internal pains resulting in collapse, having to be admitted to hospital for several days. No explanation could be given for my symptoms even though I had to have several morphine injections to combat the severe pain.” Although Paulette tried to ignore the problems, the pain and fatigue just seemed to worsen and she soon began to feel like a hopeless wife and mother, as Phil often had to take over the chores as soon as he came home from a day’s work with the Squadron. Paulette recalled a surprise visit from an RAF chaplain with whom she had worked with on a previous base when she’d volunteered with a listening ear project. She said: “He listened carefully to my problems and I was very pleased that he wanted to visit again.” Three weeks later, however, she was admitted to hospital in a state of collapse and the doctors told her a tumour had been discovered in her chest. Before the operation to remove it, she writes, “The whole family went out to the Station Guy Fawkes Bonfire night at

where the people understood about the military way of life, how it encroached hugely on our whole lifestyle and the many difficulties of coping with the children when Phil was away… I felt very accepted and comfortable.”

eir and’

ove of their lives

the top of our road and as the rockets exploded overhead in a starry sky, I remember thinking that I had to take everything in around me really in minute detail in case this turned out to be my last Bonfire Night.” Facing a major operation had brought Paulette face to face with the reality of death. She said, “I don’t think I spent too much time wondering about the actual meaning of life, but simply knew I was far too young to die... and I vowed that I would overcome everything easily just from my own strength of character.” Although the tumour was eventually removed successfully and it proved not to be malignant, Paulette began to suffer from moments of panic and nightmares as she relived the operation and she also began to ask herself some big questions about life and the future and what she could hold onto. Some weeks later she was taken by surprise when her daughter Amy, announced she ‘wanted to be part of God’s family’ when she met her from school one day. Paulette remembers, “I took her warm hand in mine and we started to walk to the car. My goodness, I thought, what am I going to do about this? …I looked down at Amy’s bright, innocent face and with much astonishment I heard myself say, ‘Right then, we’d better to go to church on Sunday!’ ” In a few short weeks going to church became a weekend habit and a few weeks later even Phil joined them on some occasions. She writes, “It was quite a revelation to go to church

A turning point for Paulette was when she went up for a blessing at communion and imagined a slightly open door into a long dingy corridor with a bright light at the end. She felt she wanted to go and investigate the light but felt uncertain. Some weeks later, after she had continued to attend church and a Bible study group, she writes, “Eventually it dawned on me that the light at the end of the corridor was most likely forgiveness and I needed to move fearlessly towards the light, trusting and completely hopeful… I began to grasp what it is like to have a true relationship with God… and take into my heart his mercy and moreover rest in his unconditional love. The light at the end of the corridor was being transformed from something small and insignificant into a large beacon with marvelous flares of blazing light.” Paulette’s new found faith proved to be the doorway to a miracle of full healing from chronic pain and led her and Phil into a new venture, as they left the Forces and bought a property in France, called ‘Joie de Vie’, which they have opened up to guests in need of refreshment. (See her book for the full story). She writes, “To date we have had 37 guests, with a multitude of needs, whether physical, psychological, emotional or spiritual. Ten guests have

received substantial funding, whilst others have generously given more than 5 euros per day to help others enjoy what they have experienced. Sometimes we receive referrals from military charities. This year we expect to provide funding for at least 5 guests. We feel as committed to this project as we have from its conception and it brings us so much joy to know we are reaching out to people. The reward we receive from seeing slightly nervous guests arrive to having them smile broadly and give us a hug before they leave cannot be bottled! There is no doubt our guests leave knowing we are Christians as we are constantly asked, “Why would you want to do this?” and we cannot but answer the truth. Our experience in the military continues to be invaluable as the problems associated with separation, detachments, bonding a marriage, bonding with children, facing many school moves, etc remain the same. My many major operations (8th ticked off last week and praying it will be the last!) and my experience of years of chronic pain help to make people suffering physical illnesses and trauma more relaxed as we have a shared experience. God continues to bless us richly and we so desire for others to be equally blessed. Joie de Vie is a means of extending God’s love to others. It isn’t rocket science, but simply a means of sharing hospitality.” For more details see: www.forcesholidaysfrance.co.uk

• The Jones family in France

• Philip Jones

• Joie de Vie

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e l fi cs

i h t e

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by Brian McAvoy

How do we respond to our Italian and Greek neighbours... in real danger of being overwhelmed financially by this “invasion” of desperate people?

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who is my neighbour?

’

he Bournemouth Daily Echo headline, on Friday 8th May 2015 reads, ‘Royal Navy rescues refugees in the Med’. It stated, ‘The individuals were rescued using Bulwark’s landing craft before being transferred on to the Italian coastguard’s vessel and taken to land. Everyone was transferred safely and HMS Bulwark remains on task.’ The article provoked the various responses from its readers, including: “It seems the landing craft went the wrong way. Should have returned them back from where they came from, which would send out a clear message. The media used to call them migrants now they are called refugees when they are illegal immigrants.” Another stated, “That’s only going to encourage thousands more to come now.” While one reader said: “It’s a good way to hide IS or Al Qaeda infiltrators and we’re merely increasing the dangers of sleeper cells and the dangers on our streets from extremists.” There are easier ways to get to the ‘promised land’ whether you’re a real refugee or an undercover terrorist! So what should be done? How should the military respond? What’s the real danger? As the young lawyer said to Jesus “And who is my neighbour?” Luke 10:29. The Good Samaritan incident ultimately leads to a “Go and do likewise,” response from Jesus and we nod in approval, but how does that translate in our present dilemma? Is it even a dilemma? Now that the ‘excitement’ of the General Election has died down and the men and women of principle get down to delivering and living by those principles, events such as those described in the Bournemouth Daily Echo might return to centre stage and demand more of our attention. There has been much comment and speculation about the causes and risks imposed by the current flood (at least 7000 rescued so far and at least some 2000 deaths at sea) of those seeking to flee from persecution in their homelands. Many of them are

indeed the victims of unscrupulous traffickers, and are doing all they can to flee the often lethal situations that confront them in their homelands. All the ingredients are there in Jesus’ parable – fear, trust, cost, pride and self-interest, and risk. We continue to see the results of the situation on our TV screens and politicians and governments vacillate over what they OUGHT to do about the victims more than what they CAN do. These are the essential elements of any moral dilemma, and the usual result (if there is one) is some sort of compromise. Meanwhile, lives are lost, people are exploited and those doing the exploiting get richer. The law of the sea means that anyone at sea must respond to another’s distress whatever the situation. They might be in the lead in a round-the-world race and forfeit the prize but they MUST respond. This “law” applies across the board (or waves) and no seafarer is going to ignore an overloaded leaking and sinking boatful of people. Think Titanic or Lusitania. Last week a German Naval Officer put it very simply, “We have a moral duty to help people in trouble at sea..” as his ship’s crew pulled some 420 refugees to safety. “Who is my neighbour?” Indeed, just who are these people who risk so much to leave behind their homelands? There won’t be passports to check, no ID cards to see, nothing except their stories told often in languages not understood by the rescuers. What are the health issues? The photographs taken show the rescuers wearing protective clothing – against what? Babies born during the exodus are stateless but must be accorded the care under God and common humanity that they need. Precisely what care? The Royal Navy’s sailors are many things, but an obstetrician or a paediatrician is hardly likely to be an established member of the ship’s company! As was ever the case in much more primitive times, they do their best with what they’ve got and “human decency kicks in” as a survivor of the recent Philadelphia train crash remarked about helping others in the situation. No-one on the spot, especially not the

• Crew on HMS Bulwark assisting refugees

stions

BIG que

cont from page 6 and I don’t know why some people suffer so much, but I do know that God cares. In fact the Bible says God cares so much He became a human being himself and suffered WITH us …. He doesn’t just know about suffering, He experienced it first-hand.

Samaritan, asks the question before doing what they can. And the cost? The Samaritan did what he could to cover the ongoing care of the victim and it seems so simple to insist that we follow his example to the letter. “Go and do thou likewise” is such a simple command but does it stand the test in our overly complex world with its high material expectations and moral relativism? Is it enough to offer a meal and a blanket? How do we respond to our Italian and Greek neighbours who are currently in real danger of being overwhelmed financially by this “invasion” of desperate people? The Samaritan understood that this might well be the plight of the inn-keeper who was left with the responsibility of longterm care of the victim and he made provision for that in his absence. He may have been a well-off merchant, but there are plenty of those in our midst across today’s world too. Whatever its merits or demerits, can we afford Trident and at the same time say that we can’t afford to help the very people it is supposed to protect? As I’m wrting this during Christian Aid week and there is a much stronger emphasis on our common bonds as human beings as our Ghurkhas, The RAF and Royal Engineers put huge efforts into assisting the Nepalese people in their time of disaster. Does this overshadow the people in the Mediterranean? As is proper in these ethical and morally difficult situations, I have asked far more questions than given answers. I don’t

apologise for this because I truly believe that having those questions “in our faces” is the best and most productive place to be. Each of us as followers of the Way of Christ has to decide for ourselves what we can and ought to do. Sometimes this will be good and useful, but sometimes mistaken and not so helpful.

In the end, as Carl Jung put it, “The greatest and most important problems of life are all fundamentally insoluble. They can never be solved but only outgrown”. This is far from a negative statement as we “go and do likewise” in the name of Christ and in the power of His Spirit. Do not be afraid, do what you can, and don’t worry about what you can’t!

But that does not explain why we suffer, and often we wonder whether we’ve brought it on ourselves? The fact is that it could be, but this isn’t always the case. Suffering is caused as much as anything else by our general rebellion towards God which the Bible calls sin. Since we all sin, we all get involved with suffering simply by being born into a sinful world. This is not something that the Bible ignores, in fact there’s a whole book about suffering, Job, which shows that suffering is not always our fault and that it can be overcome. This is something God really cares about. He cares enough to experience the full depth of human suffering for himself, and while I can’t explain everything about God’s attitude to our pain I do know this, “God has shown us how much He loves us in this… whilst we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) God is not just an observer of our pain, He gets involved, and has got involved for you! Because God, in Jesus, suffered and died on the cross for us, and because he was able to overcome death and come back to life we can be sure that He is able to take any suffering that is given to Him and turn it round, enabling us to overcome it. The biggest cause of suffering on the earth is not earthquakes or war, but separation from God which impacts every single person on the planet. Jesus’ death on the cross was the only thing that could solve this problem and when Jesus died He made it possible for all of us to know God personally and to be set free from the impact of sin, which separates us from God. If we accept that Christ died for us because He loves us so much, then we can begin to overcome the problem of our own suffering. God wants us to know Him personally and when we do then we can begin to experience life, as He wants us to. Answers by AFCU member, Martin Riddall

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Mike’s blog L i v i n g

t h e

F a i t h

s it is for most people in the Forces, I too have experienced some very long delays. When I was waiting to fly from Bastion to Kandahar after completing the Reception Staging and Onward Integration (RSOI) package on arrival into Theatre my flight was delayed three days. I was accommodated in the transit accommodation, which was reasonably comfortable (air conditioned tent, with WiFi) and I had been instructed by the movements staff to keep checking a whiteboard in the entrance to the accommodation. This whiteboard would get updated about four times a day with new flight times. The pattern became such that the day’s flights would be written up, only for the flight to Kandahar (usually scheduled for pretty late at night) to be cancelled only after I had got out of my sleeping bag, packed everything away, and dragged all my kit to the bus. I found the longer my wait, I actually became more patient and less surprised/frustrated when the flight was cancelled. When after the three day rolling delay, the

planners decided to schedule the flight with a different aircraft, it made the experience all that more enjoyable having waited so long. On another occasion, I had to wait 10 hours for a flight out of Bastion, and having previously experienced a three day delay, 10 hours was nothing! I found myself embracing delays as an opportunity to catch up on reading, sleep, watching films on my iPod, and seeing what was happening on facebook. When we are so busy with work, our social lives, family commitments, and all the stuff which keeps us constantly on the move, any obstruction in our path, which stops us getting to where we want to go, is really frustrating. When we are waiting for God to do something in our lives, for which we have been praying for fervently, it can seem it has been forgotten or an answer is never going to come. But I think it can be good to at least try to appreciate and enjoy the wait during the journey which you are currently on. Psalm 46:10 says, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ It is hard to be still when we really want to be doing something. I think it is in the nature of armed forces personnel to be proactive, which means we do not do well at doing nothing. But this is an instruction which can help us to come to a deeper intimacy with God and to really acknowledge God as in control of our lives. A wait can help with discernment, it can reveal our true motives and desires. A lack of commitment to wait for something can indicate the wrong motives or simply a consumer focus, wanting the next buzz or satisfaction. Waiting also builds patience in our lives, if we learn to wait for the small things, we are more prepared to wait for the bigger

• Mike Forsyth

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things in life. I also think that waiting transforms our character and builds a dependency on God. One example is that of Moses in Exodus 2. Wanting to stand against the unjust treatment of the Israelites by the Egyptians, Moses killed an Egyptian slave driver. As a result Moses had to leave Egypt and subsequently spent forty years waiting in the desert before God came to him. God used this time of waiting to transform the character of Moses and then, when God spoke through the burning bush, Moses was ready to serve God, as God intended. When we acknowledge God in the waiting process, we can see how He uses it to prepare us for His service. Easy enough to say, I know. I have recently completed a Bishops’ Advisory Panel on training for ordained ministry in the Church of England. The process to get to the panel has taken me four years, and for other candidates it can take even longer. The temptation is to see the time waiting as time wasted, just waiting to get to the next destination. With this particular journey, it was pretty easy to look back and see how God had shaped me and changed me as a person throughout. I hasten to add, at this current time I do not know the outcome, but my opinion is that regardless of the outcome, the process or ‘wait’ has been a worthwhile one. Just like the time when I sat in the passenger handling facility for 10 hours, embracing the wait made it bearable and even productive. Where else in our lives can we embrace the wait? Perhaps it is a wait for God to bless you with children, or for healing, or for friends/ family to come to know God. The wait is frustrating but how we use that wait will leave us either feeling disheartened or encouraged.

a very long delay

by Flt Lt Mike Forsyth

before a fall

ell last time I said the training for the London marathon was not going well. In fact it was so bad that I did not run it in the end. So all you guys out there in AFCU land who watched the whole thing looking for a glimpse of yours truly… sorry! It just got to the point where I knew I was not going to do a good time at all, but also I was actually beginning to doubt that I would even get round and complete the 26 miles. As it was a ‘Charity Bond Place’ I tried to get the name changed to another runner, but I was too late. Thankfully they have rolled the place over to next year, so CVM has a guaranteed place for 2016. Sometimes you just have to accept these disappointments, but to be honest I probably left it too late to make the decision to knock it on the head. That’s pride for you. I just couldn’t accept that I was not going to be ready. Lots of people were commenting on the fact that I was not getting the miles in, and should I be thinking about giving the place to someone else? But no, I kept the pretence up that I was going to be ready, knowing deep down it wasn’t going to happen. Pride. On one of those tedious West Indies deployments from the 90s we were in Curaçao (which our 1st Lt insisted on pronouncing ‘Cure A Cow’). I wanted to go for a run as usual on the first day in, and went up to the Flight Deck at lunchtime. It was hot. Stupidly hot. The gangway staff suggested I wait until the evening when it was cooler, but no, I went off for my run. Ran out for 20 minutes, which just confirmed that it was hot. Stupidly hot. I had taken no water. I turned after about

20 minutes and headed back to the ship. When I got back I was staggering around the flight deck, but managed to get myself down below only to collapse in the passageway suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration. What a clown. That was pride… I always went for a run first day in at lunchtime. They say pride comes before a fall, and that’s certainly what happened to me in Curaçao. I find pride takes its main form in digging my heels in over something, whilst knowing that I’m wrong. This is especially true when Helen (my wife) and I have a ‘disagreement’ (yes, it does happen). I know it’s gone too far when the tears start to well up in her eyes, then of course I give up, but that only happens when she is right, I am wrong and I know it! You will probably have heard of the term ‘Sin’. It’s basically stuff that we do that goes against God’s will for us, and much of that has to do with pride. Pride that I know better how to live my life than God, pride that actually sometimes God gets it wrong and doesn’t actually know much at all! The Bible says this, ‘All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God’ or in a newer version, ‘Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us’. I love that phrase ‘utterly incapable’. I had that in one of my reports once, won’t go into the context, but it sort of deflates you a bit - knocked my pride down a peg or two! And that’s basically what God wants from us, to recognise that without Him life is kinda pointless, but our pride very often stops us seeing that and we bimble along ignoring God, who actually (like my wife) knows better!

To bring it back to the London Marathon I did actually run it back in the mid 90s and pride came into that too. I was hoping to run a sub 3hr race, and had boasted of this and at 19 miles was on track. But at 19.6 miles I hit the wall. I had always thought that the Wall was mythical, an excuse runners used for not doing the training. Well in a way it is, as often it means that you just don’t have the miles of preparation in your legs, but it really was like hitting a physical wall. Legs just did not work and I spent those final 7 miles battling not only physical pain but my mental thoughts acknowledging that my pride was going to take a hit when I got back on board and told them my time. (However the worst moment was just before 26 miles when I was overtaken by Worzel Gummidge… pride said ‘No Way’ and I managed to get past him before the finishing line - just). I ended up doing 3 hrs 40 and indeed had to swallow my pride when back on the ship as I told them my time. Through this recent episode I’ve been reminded again that pride really can be my downfall. Ultimately if we let pride stop us getting to know God and the fact that He knows the best way to live this life, it can have eternal consequences. However if we acknowledge that, drop the pride and accept his escape plan through Jesus, life actually starts to have relevance, purpose and hope… by Steve Martin, Operations Director Christian Vision for Men

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coffee break Son of a World War 1 pilot, Robert Wyke, writes about experiences that changed his life...

t the age of nine, I attended a flying display in which my father was one of the pilots. He was a WW1 pilot who was founder of the firm, Auster Aircraft Limited, which made military light aircraft during WW2. It was in one of these planes during an aerobatic display that he failed to recover from one manoeuvre, crashed and was killed. Before he was killed, as I was growing up, I used to fight sleep to stay awake because I knew that my father would come and see me when he came home from work, and I liked to talk to him about what he had done that day. Quite recently, I remembered those occasions again and realised that the wonderful relationship I then had with my dad, I now have with my heavenly Father. The difference is now that I can talk to God

this booklet’. I couldn’t wait for him to go so that I could start reading. As I read the mist lifted from my mind. It was as if Jesus was standing outside the door of my

finding my father in heaven at any time and although my father was killed the relationship I now have with my heavenly Father is permanent. I became a Christian when I was 20 years old. As an undergraduate at Loughborough I found myself surrounded by Christians. I thought they were a bit crazy! While at a squadron party, as a member of the University Air Squadron (RAFVR), I talked to one of the pilots about his faith. He didn’t seem crazy, in fact, he appeared to be a sound, practical sort of chap who talked about Jesus, not as an historical figure, but as someone he knew personally. I was attracted by his experience and decided that I would like to know this Jesus too. I spent months considering this special relationship and one day the pilot who had originally aroused my interest brought me a booklet called Christian Certainty. When he gave it to me, I thought, ‘The answer to my problem is in the pages of

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room. I knew he was there but realised that I needed to take a step of faith, to ‘open the door’ as it were, and invite Him into my life. For me, that meant that I had to pray. But I didn’t know how to pray. I found a prayer in the booklet and read it aloud and meant every word. Immediately it was as if that great burden had been lifted off my shoulders. I knew without a shadow of doubt that I was then a Christian. From that day I have experienced blessing, with times of joy, as well as times of doubt and times of pain. However over the many years of my life, I have never questioned that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. The prayer that changed my life and helped me find my Father in heaven... Cleanse me from my sin, Lord. Put your power within, Lord. Take me as I am, Lord And make me all your own. Keep me day by day Lord, Underneath your sway, Lord. Amen

What is the Armed Forces’ Christian Union (AFCU)? AFCU is a British military Christian fellowship, tri-service, for all ranks and open to all Christian denominations. It is a fellowship of Christians who wish to grow their faith and share it with others. The basis of membership is prayer and a willingness to pray. Who can join? All who serve in regular or reserve sections of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or Royal Air Force join as Serving Members. All others, including those who have retired, join as Associate Members. Those serving in foreign armed forces are welcome as ‘honorary’ members. What are the benefits? All members receive the AFCU Contact magazine, News & Views and other literature and access to information and resources on the web and the App. AFCU has a network of Christian contacts across the Armed Forces and members have access to this address list. AFCU hold teaching events, days and weekends, and holidays. Serving members can link to an Associate prayer group for regular prayer. What does it cost? No subscription. but members are asked to give as they can. Cost of administering each member is about £30 per year. How do I join? You can apply for membership on the AFCU website www.afcu.org.uk by clicking on the ‘Join’ button. Or you can email (office@afcu.org.uk) or phone (01252 311221) the office for a membership form.

competition what a pic!

£25 ze i r P

What is happening in the photo above? Why not send in your caption to rachel.reay@gmail.com before 30th September 2015? It could be a winner... Thank you to all those who entered last time’s competition. We do receive some great captions. Congratulations to the winner.

“I wish the chef would stop serving up baked beans so we could take these off.” RB

the big read Simply Good News by Tom Wright Tom Wright thinks modern humanity has lost touch with a basic element of the Christian faith - ‘good news’. The good news is that of reconciliation between God and mankind through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Wright draws a distinction between good news and good advice, saying that the latter has often been presented as the former. £9.99 SPCK Publishing

All the Places to Go ... How Will You Know? by John Ortberg This book looks at the way God places open doors before us and how they are an opportunity to do something eternal. Using biblical examples from the lives of Abraham, Jonah, Elijah, and others, and stories from his own life, the author provides a unique look into the question of how to discover God’s will for your life. £10.99 Tyndale House Publishers

You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by Francis and Lisa Chan The co-authors address the question many couples wonder at the altar: “How do I have a healthy marriage?” This book dives into Scripture to understand what it means to have a relationship that satisfies the deepest parts of our souls. It will radically shift the way we see one of the most important relationships in our life. £11.99 Claire Love Publishing

Into the Silent Land: The Practice of Contemplation by Martin Laird This book invites us to journey with the author as he sets out to describe a spiritual landscape within which we are created to thrive. Augustinian friar, Martin Laird, brings a wealth of knowledge from the desert fathers and scripture to present a method of meditation which touches the practioner in his/her daily life. £10.95 Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd

Please send letters, captions and ideas for articles to: rachel.reay@gmail.com Photographs © Crown Copyright from www.photos.mod.uk are reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. All photographs are copyright. Every effort is made to trace copyright holders of the images reproduced. We apologise for any unintentional omission and would be pleased to insert appropriate acknowledgement in the next issue. 1. Pictures of service men and women and those not members of the AFCU reflect our prayers and support to all members of the Armed Forces. 2. Not all articles are the view of the AFCU Board of Trustees. Contact Editorial Team: Sqn Ldr S Priestnall RAF, Mrs S Sandy, Mrs Y Cobbold, AFCU staff, the Editors

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Cont act magazin e is p ub lis he d b y A FCU thre e t i m e s p e r y e a r - C o n t a c t I SSN 1 3 5 9 - 1 7 2 6 - Re g i s t e re d C h ar i t y (N o .2 4 9 6 3 6 )