8 February 2014 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION | 08 February 2014 | Issue 8 | $1.0

Making a List: Looking for the Perfect Partner William & Catherine Booth’s Lasting Love Affair Interview with General Cox, Resiliency and Recovery in the Philippines

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Kia ora Take good care WAR CRY

The Salvation Army Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL André Cox TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Robert Donaldson The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination.

War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission.

EDITOR

Major Christina Tyson GRAPHIC DESIGN

Lauren Millington, Josh Wyatt STAFF WRITERS

Ingrid Barratt, Martin Barratt, Jon Hoyle, Vanessa Singh PROOF READING

Major Jill Gainsford OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Phone (04) 384 5649 Fax (04) 382 0716 Email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department Phone (04) 382 0740 Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT MakeReady | www.makeready.co.nz

I’ve been enjoying listening to the Christmas present my husband bought me last year. It’s a CD by Australian troubadour Paul Kelly and Kiwi music icon Neil Finn. The pair performed in an Australian tour last year and the CD (with DVD—how’s that for value!) I received for Christmas is a recording of the amazing performances that resulted.

Anyway, with Valentine’s Day just a week away, I’m thinking fond thoughts about my husband of 25 years. Listening to his gift (which was especially thoughtful because he let me choose it to avoid disappointment), I was struck by some words from one of the Paul Kelly songs, ‘Careless’: How many times did you call my name, knock at the door but you couldn’t get in?

I know I’ve been careless I’ve been wrapped in a shell, nothing could get through to me Acted like I didn’t know I had friends or family I saw worry in their eyes, it didn’t look like fear to me I know I’ve been careless—I took bad care of this We all have so many important relationships in our lives: with our partner, our family, our work colleagues, the people in any groups we belong to, people at our church. As we celebrate Waitangi Day in New Zealand, we could also consider the relationships we have with others in our country—particularly with Māori if we’re Pākehā (and vice versa).

It’s easy to become careless of these relationships. To take things for granted, or to become so self-sufficient or selfabsorbed that we don’t let anyone close. I pray this will be a year in which you find new ways to nurture your close relationships.

And over all of these, let’s not neglect the most impacting relationship of all: our relationship with God who gives meaning and purpose to the ways in which we interact with others.

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Christina Tyson Editor PAPER Novatech is an environmentally responsible paper manufactured under environmental management system ISO14001 using FSC Certified, Mixed Source, ECF pulp from well managed and legally harvested forests.

Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated.

Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission.

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BIBLE VERSE

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Colossians 3:13 New Living Translation

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Korohe 3:13

‘Kia āta hanga koutou tētahi ki tētahi, me te hohou i te rongo tetahi ki tētahi, ki te mea kei tētahi he take riri ki tētahi: kia rite ki tā te Ariki i hohou nei i te rongo ki a koutou, kia pera ano hoki koutou.’

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WISE WORDS

salvationarmyNZFijiTonga @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft

salvationarmy.org.nz

I pray that you will understand the words of Jesus, ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ Ask yourself ‘How has he loved me? Do I really love others in the same way?’

Unless this love is among us, we can kill ourselves with work and it will only be work, not love. Work without love is slavery.

Mother Teresa

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Let’s Talk | 0

W

aitangi Day, New Zealand’s national day, can sometimes be the subject of misunderstanding. Some see the Treaty of Waitangi that the day celebrates as the critical foundation on which our nation is built. Others suggest the Treaty was written in haste and couldn’t possibly contain the elements required to define and guide a nation today.

Whatever your thoughts, the Treaty will always represent a key point in our history. Within its three articles are the key elements required for a nation to protect and provide for all people. A place where all might prosper—not just Māori, as some seem to believe. We should celebrate that at our nation’s birth the representatives of the Crown, the missionaries and Māori leaders displayed many laudable ideals in negotiations surrounding the Treaty—many of which still bear thinking about in today’s world.

New Zealand politicians have heralded, so early in the year, that a General Election is just around the corner. In the context of that election, it would be good to consider what the Treaty might say to New Zealanders and our politicians this year. I see within the articles of the Treaty the welcome and inclusiveness of New Zealand as a nation to foreigners. The treaty has been likened to New Zealand’s first immigration policy. Inherent in it was the welcome of the first New Zealanders, tangata whenua, to the first settlers to join and be a part of a new nation. We see within the Treaty values of inclusiveness and welcome—manaakitanga.

Actually stated or inherent in the Treaty is the protection of various property, resources, cultural treasures and rights to self-determination: the rights of citizenship.

Photography: Creative Jen Designs / Shutterstock.com

These rights provide the basis for all people to thrive, develop and to find security and safety.

As we consider some of New Zealand’s critical issues such as income inequality, child poverty, violence, inadequate housing and the economy, the question is: how would we like the nation to respond? How might it look to shape our country so that all people are able to thrive, grow and to feel they belong, as well as having the genuine freedom to shape their own destiny? This will surely not be achieved purely by focusing on the economy divorced from other social and community outcomes.

Not all will agree on what the primary issues are or how we might achieve the best result, but at least the Treaty provides principles and values that should be considered.

Increasing levels of poverty affect many New Zealanders, who appear lost and separated from social support. Māori communities have been impacted out of proportion to their numbers, making the words of the Treaty especially poignant—at least in relation to actual practice, both present and historical.

For the sake of all in our community, I hope we can find a way to begin to remedy these issues. Not by abdicating our own responsibilities and loading them onto politicians, but by seeking to fight injustice and inequality where we are in our communities.

Holding our politicians to account in an election year is certainly one way to seek to influence the direction of our country. Perhaps we can yet find a genuine way to honour the Treaty and build on the foundation it provides. IAN HUTSON

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Bookshelf Māori Culture Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand Buddy Mikaere Buddy Mikaere is a well-respected historian with a speciality in 19th century race relations and Māori history. In this 64-page guide, he provides an easy-to-read historical overview of Māori in New Zealand, before going on to examine the impact of a changing urban world on the traditional way of life and the renaissance of Māori culture.

While not an in-depth study, this is an excellent introductory resource to help visitors and locals become more familiar with the culture and customs of contemporary Māori, especially those related to the marae, pōwhiri, hui and tangi.

(New Holland)

Playlist

Christian Spirituality Land and Place Helen Bergin and Susan Smith (editors) Thirteen writers provide their views on spirituality from Aotearoa New Zealand, discussing how they relate to mountains, seashore, garden, harvest and cities. Each essayist explains what the land means to them and how this intersects with their spiritual understanding.

Topics include a perspective on early Māori relationships with land, Jesus and his relationship to land, rural spirituality, and spirituality seen through the life and death of a garden. As one writer says, ‘The fact that we live in the midst of such startling beauty cannot but nurture a wonderful sense of the divine.’ (www.accentpublications.co.nz)

Christian History William and Catherine Cathy Le Feuvre The Salvationist author is a former head of media for The Salvation Army, and a former BBC journalist and presenter. She brings together letters shared between The Salvation Army’s co-founders, weaving these among historical narrative. William and Catherine’s correspondence reflects a deep love and a lasting friendship.

Retired General John Larsson commends this book as ‘a brilliant new take on the story of William and Catherine Booth in which their personalities, love for each other and achievements come alive in an unprecedented way.’ (Distributed in NZ by New Holland, see page 13 for special War Cry reader offer.)

Reel News

Alternative Rock Fading West Switchfoot Fading West is Switchfoot’s ninth studio album. It’s chock full of catchy melodies, hip-hop tinged grooves and enough hooks to land plenty of new fans to the band’s experimental, alternative rock style. Opening with the anthemic ‘Love Alone is Worth the Fight’, Fading West takes cues from much of Switchfoot’s older work in its guitars, with fuzzed up riffs and big open acoustic guitars laying a solid foundation for some of the more experimental elements.

This includes a lot of atmospheric vocals, heavy hip-hop grooves, woodwinds and lush synth soundscapes. A solid album and a great addition to Switchfoot’s growing catalogue.

Rock High Hopes Bruce Springsteen The Boss’s 18th studio album is somewhat of an anomaly. Instead of new material, it’s composed entirely of covers, b-sides and reimagined versions of Springsteen’s extensive back catalogue. Backed by the E Street Band and ex-Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello, Springsteen successfully breathes new life into some very aged tracks.

Opening with the title single ‘High Hopes’, the song (and album) is carried by an impressive horn section and Morello’s unmistakable whammy bar acrobatics. Aside from some explicit language in ‘Harry’s Place’, High Hopes is fairly clean.

These songs represent both the past and the present for Springsteen.

Definitely one for the fans.

GIVEAWAY To win a copy of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand, tell us the English translation of ‘Haere rā’.

War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 24 February.

If Not Dieting, Then What? winners are G. Campbell and L. Pond.

Black Comedy/Drama August: Osage County John Wells / M (offensive language, drug use & content that may disturb) The censor’s warning is apt—if August: Osage County doesn’t disturb you, there’s something wrong with your empathy settings. Playwright Tracy Letts adapted his Pulitzer-winning play—a cautionary tale about the cost of lies, enabled addiction and downright dysfunctional parenting. The life cycle of any family offers a myriad of opportunities for nurture and encouragement, but that when these are missed, chaos and dire consequences ensue.

Director John Wells steered the ship on ER and West Wing, so he’s no stranger to rapid-fire verbal exchanges—be they witty or vitriolic. In August: Osage County, the chief protagonists in this battle of words that sometimes spills over into physical conflict are mother and daughter Violet and Barb Weston, played spectacularly by Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.

The disappearance of alcoholic father Beverly Weston (Sam Shepherd) sees the rest of the clan return to the family’s farmhouse in rural Oklahoma.

The house is caught in the oppressive August heat and the clutches of matriarch Violet, a bitter and manipulative woman who is suffering from mouth cancer and addicted to narcotics. Violet’s decision to embark on a practice of ‘truth telling’ subsequently devastates her nearest and dearest.

The rest of the ensemble cast perform admirably, but it is Streep and Roberts who steal the show. Both are deservedly nominated for Oscars— Streep for best actress and Roberts for best supporting actress.

The audience almost literally watches all hell break loose in a family that clearly didn’t have enough heaven in its past. Although a disturbing watch, August: Osage County gives viewers a lot to think about—hopefully cautioning them toward more open and honest family relationships, rather than the practices of secret keeping and sabotage.

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Pursuing the Dream General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox visited New Zealand in 2013 Photography: www.thephotographer.co.nz

General André Cox shares his vision for a Christ-centred Army that practices what it preaches from the top leadership down ‘How would you see your last day in office as the General of The Salvation Army?’ That’s the question then-Commissioner André Cox was asked at the 2013 High Council immediately prior to his election.

It caused him to put into words his vision for The Salvation Army.

After being elected as the Army’s 20th General, he then shared his ‘I Dream’ statements with the world.

I Dream …

I dream of a committed, effective and joyful Army, rooted and confident in the Word of God and on its knees.

I dream of an Army that truly reflects the mind of Jesus in our commitment to the poor and the marginalised.

I dream of an Army that practices what it preaches from the top leadership down, an Army that is a visible and living example of kingdom values.

I dream of an Army that values its youth, where our young people feel that they have a voice.

I dream of an Army with strong, relevant and streamlined administrative structures and a much more effective use of our financial and material resources.

I dream of an Army where all cultures are equally accepted and celebrated through the spiritual ties that bind us all together.

I dream of an Army that shuns the dependency culture.

Geoff Moulton, editor-in-chief in the Canada and Bermuda Territory, spoke with the General six months after his election to hear more about those dreams and find out how to turn them into a reality.

General Cox, what inspired you to communicate this vision?

What do you hope to achieve? Proverbs 29:18 says, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (KJV). If we don’t have dreams, if we don’t have a vision, then there’s nothing to aim for. Without vision, man wouldn’t have landed on the moon. It’s an impossible dream and yet someone had it. Having a vision helps us focus on a goal so we can work toward something.

I hope [this vision] will inspire people to reach for something more. I want to see an Army that will continue to grow, believe and develop. A lot of what I see in that dream is happening now, but we have the potential to aim even higher.

How do the ‘I Dream …’ statements fit with the International Vision of ‘One Army, One Mission, One Message’? This vision touches every aspect of the One Army, One Mission, One Message vision and reinforces that call. As One Army we talk about deepening our spiritual life, uniting in prayer, reaching out and involving children and youth. We also pledge to stand for and serve the marginalised, communicate Christ unashamedly, reaffirm our belief

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in transformation and increase self-support. All of those things are echoed in my dream, so I think the two dovetail quite neatly.

You envision an Army ‘rooted and confident in the Word of God.’ With the rise of secularism, do you think Salvationists have lost some of this rootedness? How can this be restored? I don’t believe we’ve lost the battle on this because some of the challenges and economic realities that we’re seeing in many western cultures are driving people to search deeper and rediscover some of the spiritual values that had previously been discarded.

In a multimedia society where communication is limited to 140-character tweets and screen time with your family exceeds your face time, we can become superficial. We can nibble at little bits of life without prioritising time with God by studying his Word, meditating and reflecting.

I believe the Word of God has not changed and is still relevant in our 21st century. By engaging and being serious about the Word, we can regain that confidence.

As Salvationists, how should we interpret the Bible? There is a danger in being judgmental, in seeing the world through a very narrow lens; but I also see an equally troubling tendency to try and adapt the Word of God to suit where we’re at so that nothing has to change. The Word of God challenges us, and the values of the kingdom are countercultural. It should make us uncomfortable in the areas of our life where we don’t live out those values.

In some parts of the developing world, the Army is experiencing significant growth, yet in the developed world the numbers of soldiers are declining. Does this concern you? It is a real challenge and I don’t think we should paint a picture that’s extremely rosy, but I do believe that we’re seeing signs that offer us hope. Corps that had been given up for dead for a long time are suddenly taking on a new lease of life as Salvationists engage and support people. In a practical way, many people now come to corps simply because they need assistance with food parcels and basic necessities. This opens up new opportunities where corps are engaging with people and sharing the gospel message.

While travelling throughout the world, I am encouraged by the large number of young people expressing a calling to serve as Salvation Army officers. It’s more than I’ve seen in the last 15 or 20 years! So I think there are possibilities for growth when we genuinely show Christ’s compassion in the things that we do.

In the early days of the Army, greater numbers of soldiers were engaged in our work with the poor. Today we increasingly pay ‘professionals’ to carry out much of our social work. What impact does this have on the culture of the organisation? I think there are obvious pluses when we work with professional people—when we raise the standards of what we’re doing. But there’s a danger in relying on professionals who do not necessarily subscribe to the spiritual values of the Army. When we take pride in being part of The Salvation Army and the wonderful works we do, but lack the driving passion to win the world for Jesus, there’s a disconnect because we’re only delivering half of the mission.

Jesus calls us to have a heart of compassion and reach out to a

needy world. While we care for those who are sick, we should also be concerned for those who are dying in sin. Being a wonderfully run institution is not enough to meet all the physical, emotional and spiritual needs in our communities.

What does it mean to ‘reflect the mind of Jesus’ in our interaction with the poor and marginalised? Jesus often drew attention to the things that were insignificant, discarded. I think of the spotlight he put on the poor widow who was giving her mite or how he would draw children to himself. Or how about his compassion for the sick or for those who would have been outcast in their society because of the sicknesses they had? I don’t think we should be looking for accolades and public acclaim, however pleasant that is, but we should be seeking to reflect that same concern for the seemingly ‘insignificant’ or marginalised people in the world today, people without a voice who are considered to be nothing.

The typhoon that hit the Philippines in November 2013 has reminded me rather starkly that, very often, the communities that suffer most are the poorest of the poor because they’re in the least secure locations. That’s why it’s important that we strive to reflect the mind of Christ and think of things that the world considers to be unimportant.

When we present, believe and live out the gospel message, transformation takes place You dream of an Army that ‘practices what it preaches, from the top leadership down.’ How are we currently doing with respect to this? If you’re looking for perfection, don’t look to me. I’m still a work in progress, but I recognise the need to lead by example and not by words. In my travels to various countries in different cultural settings, I’ve been pleased to sense an energy and passion in those who serve the poor and the marginalised. When we present, believe and live out the gospel message, transformation takes place.

You long for ‘an Army where all cultures are equally accepted’.

How are we doing in this respect? I sense a growing acceptance and celebration of our differences. I’m hoping we’ll capture a sense of that in the 2015 International Congress as the world comes together in London, England. People say to me, ‘How do you deal with the tension between the developed world and the developing world?’ I’ve been surprised that there are not that many differences. We are more of a family than we think we are.

There can be a tension between diversity and uniformity in the Army. What are the non-negotiables when it comes to Army distinctives? What binds us together is our common belief that the Bible is the inspired message of God, that it reveals his plan of salvation for the world. That’s the bedrock to start with. We’re also a covenanted people—we sign the Soldier’s Covenant and Officer’s Covenant.

My wife and I have travelled to officers councils in four of the zones this year and there is a sense of unity. Our doctrines also help in binding us together—they shape and guide the principles

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of our faith. Also, everywhere I go, people talk about how valuable the weekly prayer meeting has been for them. There is a sense of ownership for Salvationists in knowing they are praying for the Army around the world.

Another thing that brings us together is our use of the mercy seat. I’ve been moved in each of the zones that I’ve visited this year to see how naturally and wonderfully people make use of the mercy seat for prayer, dedication and commitment.

Lastly, our dress code is a clear, visible way to show that we belong to The Salvation Army. I know there are negative connotations to wearing the uniform in some parts of the world, but I’ve found that it’s a wonderful way to open doors. As we travel, people stop us in airports and talk to us about their connections with the Army. I don’t believe in God’s secret service. This is an easy way to make sure we’re visible.

Is the Army too top-heavy in its administration? How do we restructure to maximise resources? I’m a firm believer that good administration leads to effective mission outcomes, but there’s a fine line between good administration and undue bureaucracy. We should be continually reviewing the relevance of our policies and procedures and the cost of our administration. The only reason headquarters exists is to support the frontline mission and be a resource.

Getting the balance right is a challenge in many places and we should never lose our focus. I know that in every territory that I have served in, we’ve had a careful look at our structure because, if we get the balance wrong, we can suck up far too great a proportion of our resources just to keep the machinery going—and that’s not our purpose. We’re there to continue to ensure that souls are being saved, suffering humanity is served and that we’re growing disciples.

You invited young people to share their voice by submitting videos for the January 2014 General’s Consultative Council. How did that project go? We received more than 200 videos and were very pleased with the exceptionally good response. I viewed a large number of the videos and I don’t feel a huge disconnect with the visions and dreams youth have and the things that they aspire to.

This was a great way for us to build bridges, rather than say there’s a generation gap. The Council was the first springboard to opening opportunities for youth in many territories.

What other steps will the Army take to ensure that youth have a voice? I don’t want young people to be considered the Army of the future—they are the Army today. Only they can effectively reach their generation. And so we need to empower them, support them and engage them. Instead of looking at young people with the mindset of, ‘In a few years’ time, they might be able to take over from us,’ we must see it as a partnership that’s real now.

You dream of an Army that shuns the dependency culture. What does this mean? If you look at the One Army vision statement, we talk about increasing self-support and self-denial. In the developed world, how many corps are self-financing and how many rely on mission support grants? I think there is a certain dependency culture—even in western society—when it comes to the evangelical work of The Salvation Army. I believe that if all Salvationists tithed,

a lot of the financial problems would be resolved, certainly with regard to the sustainability, development and growth of our evangelical and corps work.

The dependency goes further in other parts of the world, where we simply say, ‘Here’s a desperate need and we’re looking for someone to fund it.’ I think that many of our territories have more resources at our disposal than we readily recognise. We might be cash-poor in some areas, but we are usually asset-rich when you look at our buildings and properties. We need to be a little more savvy about how we maximise our stewardship and management of some of those facilities. With a bit of creativity and thought, we could do a lot more and not look to someone else all the time to pay for our next meal. We do have resources at our disposal, so changing that attitude is going to give us a huge start.

What are the top challenges facing the Army today? What keeps you awake at night? Emergency situations such as the Philippines typhoon make me uneasy because I know just how thinly it stretches our personnel and financial resources to respond to crises of that magnitude.

Another major concern is when I hear of people who belong to the Army—whether soldiers or officers—who fail to maintain the standards, particularly in cases of abuse. Those are horrendous issues that we have to deal with and often have huge repercussions in the lives of individuals, often to the point of scarring them for life. Those issues challenge me to the core of my being and cause me to reflect in the hours of darkness.

Fortunately, there are a lot of positives in this organisation.

Seeing a lot of positive change and evidence of transformation is what helps me get through a lot of the other challenges.

How can Salvationists help make these dreams a reality? My only call or challenge would be to ask them to consider these dreams. I’m not saying they should just go and do it without proper reflection, but to pause and think about what they would need to change in order to make these dreams a reality in their own lives.

The international leader of The Salvation Army is elected by a High Council of more than 100 of the Army’s most senior leaders from around the world.

Retired General John Larsson invites readers to step inside a typical High Council session to observe what happens, giving background to the stages of an event that lasts a week or more. Drawing on recollections of previous Generals and little-known historical information, Inside a High Council presents a fascinating factual and human-interest account of what happens when a High Council meets.

Buy from Salvationist Resources, p: (04) 382 0740, e: mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org salvationarmy.org.nz/saresources

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LIFESTYLE

BUDGET

The Reluctant Valentine

Love Your Job! Finding your work strengths can help you really enjoy those 40 hours a week.

Not everyone can have their dream job (the world only needs so many X-Factor winners or underwater welders), but almost everyone can find things they love about their job by working to their strengths.

Time flies when you’re having fun: Ask yourself, ‘What tasks do I get engrossed in and find time going quickly?’ These are the tasks where you are working to your natural strengths. Think about what you enjoy about these tasks, and what you find rewarding? Even if the answer is ‘being in the lunchroom’, that still tells you that you’re a people person.

Despite what jewellery ads say this time of year, romance is best when it’s small and sweet. Here’s our budget-conscious guide to Valentine’s, for even the most reluctant romantic.

Let the boss in on it: A good employer will see that you’re at your best when you’re working to your strengths, and will be pleased if you show initiative. So talk to your boss about the parts of the job you love and want to expand.

Not everyone is into Valentine’s Day, and for good reason—it needn’t be a consumer-driven holiday, and romance shouldn’t be demanded. However, it is a nice opportunity to acknowledge your appreciation of someone in your life.

Time drags when … Your strengths are just one half of the equation. If we only focus on what we’re good at, we won’t overcome our weaknesses.

When does time drag for you, or what do you put off doing? Rather than ignoring them, learn skills that will make you more effective at these tasks.

That way you can turn your weakness into a strength!

Plan together: There’s a lot of pressure to pull a big surprise on Valentine’s, but actually, relationships work best when you communicate! Talk honestly to your partner about your thoughts on the day, and listen to theirs, to clarify any unspoken expectations

Receive feedback: Be brave and allow others to be honest with you about your strengths and weaknesses. It might sting to hear that no one wants your shoulder massages, but by growing and learning, you can only enjoy your job more.

Think of them: Even if you hate V-Day, consider your partner’s feelings. If they really want to celebrate, think about what they would appreciate. Do they love a massage, help with chores, or loving words? You can do any of these things without spending a cent.

Accentuate the positive: Even Beyoncé has to do paperwork sometimes … the best of jobs have their mundane moments.

Making the decision to accept those and do them well, while focusing on what you enjoy, immediately transforms your job into one that you can love.

Eat in: There is nothing cheesier than a restaurant full of couples trying to be romantic. But what really is romantic is preparing a special meal together and snuggling up to watch a DVD. Make vouchers: Write a card and include some homemade vouchers for things they’d appreciate, such as ‘one foot massage’, ‘one night of cooking and doing the dishes while you take a bath’, or for people with young kids: ‘One sleep-in’—they’ll love you for it!

Make a card: Even if you’re not creative, you can print out a photo of you two—it could be a really ugly one for a bit of fun—and write a note letting them know what you love about them.

There is no job a man can do that is undignified —if he does it well.

And if you’re single … You’ll probably have the most fun! Invite your besties around for takeaways and treats, and get everyone to bring a funny gift for a ‘secret Valentine’s’.

Bill Cosby

Spaghetti Carbonara A simple but delicious pasta sauce—perhaps a good meal to share with someone special on Valentine’s Day? | Serves 2 200g fresh or dried spaghetti 1 large egg ¼ cup cream ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ¼ tsp salt 2 Tbsp butter, cubed black pepper to taste Optional Extras ¼ cup chopped ham ¼ lightly cooked baby peas

Put pasta on to cook in plenty of boiling water. While it cooks, combine egg, cream, grated Parmesan and salt.

When pasta is cooked, drain and then return to cooking pot and add butter. As soon as butter has melted, add egg mixture and stir to combine thoroughly. The heat of the pasta and pot should thicken the sauce. If sauce is not thickening, return the pot to a very low heat (placing it on the switched off element will usually do) for a minute or two, stirring frequently.

Add a generous grind of black pepper and the ‘optional extras’ if using, then stir again and leave to stand for one minute. Serve immediately.

Cook’s tip: This does not reheat well. For a single serving, use 1 small egg and halve the remaining ingredients.

From Meals for 1 or 2 by Simon & Alison Holst. www.holst.co.nz

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Q&A What happens at a tangi?

The rituals of the Māori tangi (funeral) have evolved into a mix of traditional Māori and Christian elements. A tangi marks the transition from life to death.

Journey to the home marae: Once a person has died, their body is normally given over to an undertaker for burial preparation.

The deceased person is then returned to the family who, if they are associated with a marae, will organise for the funeral to take place there.

Welcome onto the marae: Members of the immediate family and the hau kāinga (local community) gather at the marae to prepare for the return of their dead kin. On arrival, the dead person and accompanying party are given a karanga (call of welcome) onto the marae. A haka may be performed as the funeral party advances.

Sitting around: The coffin of the deceased person is usually placed in the centre of the back wall of the wharenui (main building on the marae) under photographs of deceased ancestors and family members. Family arrange themselves around the coffin and the lid is removed.

Speeches and singing: The senior kaumātua (elder) will then rise and speak, usually addressing the dead person directly. A family member or someone accompanying the funeral party might respond. Others then follow with similar messages. At the end of each speech, the speaker or others sing a waiata (song).

Sharing with hosts: After the last speech, the funeral party harirū (greet) their hosts. At the end of this, there is usually a short Christian service of karakia (prayer) and a hymn. All then share a meal together.

Concluding rituals: A tangi usually lasts over three days. On the morning of the funeral service, immediate family say their last farewells before the coffin is closed and the mourners leave for the urupā (burial ground). At the urupā, there is a final service, and the grave is then filled. Because a cemetery is a tapu (unclean) place, people cleanse their hands with water when leaving. Everyone returns to the marae for the hākari (the feast that concludes all tangi).

Source: Maori in Aotearoa New Zealand by Buddy Mikaere

Testify!

Jill Garrett is making a difference to children and parents in Hornby.

On 16 November 2013, a remarkable graduation ceremony took place at Hornby Community Ministries in Christchurch. The graduates were young parents that had completed two years of the ‘Kids Under Construction’ programme, set up at Hornby by Christchurch City Corps soldier and former school principal Jill Garrett.

Jill is passionate about helping parents facilitate their children’s learning and development, and she has been doing this kind of work for a very long time. From the age of eight, Jill knew she wanted to become a teacher. At 15, she was given the opportunity to teach in Sunday school. Her first lesson was on the theme of ‘All things bright and beautiful’. Jill borrowed a canary, brought it to Sunday school in a cage, and set it down in the middle of the room. As the sun streamed down on the cage the canary began to sing. The passion for teaching has been singing within Jill ever since.

Jill began teacher training at 18. In her first year of teaching she was told not to bother about an eight-year-old boy in her class who had had a head injury. Jill thought, ‘Watch me!’, and she found out his interests, cheered him on and gave him lots of encouragement. That boy went on to receive a special prize for English at High School.

Jill believes in character education, making a difference by reaching the heart of a child. That

is her philosophy of teaching. She also sees every child as precious, made in the image of God and to be treated with respect and honesty and dignity so that they can become the best they can be.

In her office she keeps close at hand a clipping that says, ‘One hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, or what sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.’

Her motivation is the example of Jesus who said, ‘Whoever welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me … For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest’ (Matthew 9:48).

For close on 50 years, as both a teacher and a school principal, Jill has been working with this attitude. When she retired just a few years ago she was asked what she was going to do with all the

experience and knowledge she had gathered over the years. Kids Under Construction has been the outcome of that inquiry.

Statistics on the number of children who come to school unable to read basic words or even write their name are horrifying.

Even in this country, with all our reading and writing resources, children are growing up in homes without books.

Jill has an eye for the kinds of resources that help parents to be the very best first teachers for their children. In putting good, colourful, interesting books, toys and charts into the hands of parents, and teaching them how to best use these resources, Jill has been doing a lifesaving work. She has equipped parents to make sure the essential first steps of learning are accomplished and to lay a solid foundation upon which all future learning can be built. The passion of her own life is being passed on to young parents in a way that they will never forget.

The world may be different because I was important in the life of a child

Let’s Talk I would like: to explore what it means to follow Jesus information about Salvation Army worship and activities prayer for the following needs:

NAME: ADDRESS:

Please post to: War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org

10 | WarCry¨08 February 2014

SUDOKU

5 4

Difficulty Easy

4 9

2 7 4

3

8

5 7 2 3 8 6 6 2 9 4 3 1 8 7 1 6 4 8 9

1 7 9

Untold Stories

6

Each Sudoku number puzzle has a unique solution that can be worked out logically (not mathematically). The numbers 1 to 9 appear once in every row, column and 3x3 square.

ANSWERS BELOW 9 8 6 7 2 5 3 1 4

3 5 7 1 9 4 2 6 8

2 1 4 6 3 8 7 5 9

4 6 9 5 8 3 1 2 7

1 7 3 2 6 9 8 4 5

8 2 5 4 1 7 9 3 6

Answers: 1 Space bar, 2 Crossing bridges, 3 A, 4 Mike Hesson, 5 Cana (John 2:1-11)

5

6 9 1 8 5 2 4 7 3

2 3 4

What is the largest key on a standard keyboard?

What is gephyrophobia the fear of?

What note does an orchestra tune to?

Who is coach of the Black Caps cricket team?

Where was the first wedding Jesus attended?

7 3 2 9 4 6 5 8 1

1

5 4 8 3 7 1 6 9 2

LET’S GET QUIZZICAL

New book available The Salvation Army brought to New Zealand a powerful message that the most enslaved drunkard could be set free.

Majors Don and (the late) Joan Hutson tell the story of The Salvation Army’s care for people with addictions in New Zealand.

This 165-page book includes a thorough history of the Rotoroa Island treatment centre and the evolution of the New Zealand Bridge Programme.

flagPUBLICAT ONS Order from Salvationist Resources p: (04) 382 0768, e: mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org

It’s an exciting year to be a Christian in New Zealand, as we celebrate 200 years since the good news of Jesus was first preached on our shores.

BY INGRID BARRATT This Christmas, we celebrate 200 years since Samuel Marsden first preached the gospel in New Zealand. As a young man, Marsden had travelled to Australia to care for convicts living in horrific conditions. Returning to Australia after a visit to England, he met Ruatara, a Ngāpuhi leader, who had been persuaded to sail to England and had been treated savagely by the English crewmen. Marsden nursed him back to health in Australia for six months, and when Ruatara returned to New Zealand, Marsden promised he would visit.

It wasn’t easy. After an incident in 1809 in Whangaroa harbour, when a tribe attacked a British ship and the crew retaliated, no sailor would land on those shores. Marsden had to buy his own ship and crew it with a group of missionaries.

He arrived on 19 December 1814, and an extraordinary scene played out, with warriors calling out ‘Haere Mai’ and greeting him with a haka. This was perhaps because Marsden appeared riding on a horse—a scene of wonder—but he was able to mingle with the warriors and spend the night in their camp.

On Christmas Day, Ruatara stood next to Marsden, translating his message to the hundreds of Māori gathered.

Marsden spoke of the angel’s Christmas proclamation: ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people’ (KJV).

It was 16 years later that Marsden made his last missionary journey to New Zealand. By this time, a large group of missionaries had made New Zealand home: ‘Thousands came to greet [Marsden] and he sought, as always, to make known the “good tidings” of a wondrous redemption. When he was about to re-embark the Māori carried him on their shoulders to the ship,’ writes Eugene Myers Harrison in Giants of the Missionary Trail.

In celebration of New Zealand’s rich Christian history, The Salvation Army is getting behind an inter-church campaign to bring the good news of Jesus into every home in New Zealand.

‘Jesus—All About Hope’ will be a multi-media campaign, including a TV ad and booklet for every Kiwi home. It will mark

Close Up | 11

the 200-year anniversary of the first Christmas Day sermon, and bring Marsden’s gospel message to 2014.

Campaign director Dave Mann says that New Zealand’s Christian history has gone largely unrecognised. ‘The impact of Christianity in New Zealand is outstandingly good, but we have many untold stories,’ says Mann. ‘Most Victorian Europeans were pro-colonisation in their worldview. The missionaries were unique among Europeans in New Zealand because they battled against colonisation.’

But the most effective missionaries were Māori themselves.

One of the most moving and famous stories is of Tārore, a young girl living in Matamata in the 1830s who attended a local mission school. She was gifted a copy of ‘Ruka’—the newly translated gospel of Luke—which she kept in a kite around her neck. ‘It was a treasure to her, and she read it all the time to her whānau and iwi. Her father Ngakuku became a Christian,’ recalls Stephen Opie of the New Zealand Bible Society.

Tārore was murdered by a raiding party, and a warrior stole the kite from around her neck. Scandalously, Ngakuku refused to invoke utu, and instead offered forgiveness to Tārore’s killer. Meanwhile, her killer had a slave read him the gospel of Ruka, and was so moved by the message of Jesus that he went searching for Ngakuku to ask for forgiveness. ‘You may take my life for what I have done,’ said the warrior, and Ngakuku replied, ‘No, I forgive you.’ This was the beginning of a friendship between two warring tribes, spreading the gospel throughout New Zealand and unravelling entrenched values of war, utu and violence.

In the spirit of the early Māori Christians, Mann says that rather than trying to change our culture, we need to bring Jesus into our society. ‘Kiwis aren’t closed to spirituality, but today the walls go up because people can pick up a sales pitch a mile away. Instead, we need to engage in conversation, listen before we talk, and have a conversation that is two ways.’ The story that has been told for 200 years is still bringing hope to New Zealand.

For more on Jesus—All About Hope go to

hopeproject.co.nz

Joy Cowley’s popular re-telling of Tārore’s story, featuring Mary Glover Bibby’s 1920s Sunday School paintings, is available from Bible Society at a discounted price of $11.25 each (until end of March).

In 2009, Bible Society distributed more

My Favourite Story The beginnings of the King Movement, or Kīngitanga, is one of historian Peter Lineham’s favourite stories from the early Christian movement in New Zealand.

‘The early Māori believers showed extraordinary courage, and there are remarkable stories of people who took the Christian faith and adapted it with great imagination and integrity,’ says Lineham, Professor of History at Massey University.

In the 1850s, a movement to crown a Māori king similar in status to the British monarch began. It was a way of establishing their status as equal to the colonists and to halt land acquisitions. At the heart of this movement was Wiremu Tamihana, a Ngāti Hauā leader. He had become a Christian in the 1830s and founded a pa with rules based on the 10 commandments.

‘Wirimu had been trying to find a way of being fully Christian and fully Māori, so he set out to create a number of distinctive Māori Christian villages that would rebuild Māori culture, not within European boundaries,’ says Lineham. ‘Increasingly, he felt this burden that Māori culture was being undermined and threatened by the inability of the British to recognise the right of Māori to have their own status and dignity. So he called meeting in which he talked to [government representatives] using Old Testament references—which had barely been published in Māori but which he knew from English.

Wiremu told them about the Israelite desire for a king, and that God had said that a king would be bad for the Israelites, and yet, that a king would be good for them in providing an identity. So Wiremu went through the book of Samuel, where the prophet seeks to anoint a king that would give them an identity, along with warnings from Deuteronomy that a king would be dangerous.

Then Wiremu finds the first Māori king, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, and anoints him in a ceremony that is profoundly Old Testament.

Wiremu saw Māori as a re-living of the Old Testament Israelites.

We should celebrate this deeply Christian vision in the development of Kīngitanga.’

than 250,000 copies of a free shorter edition of Tārore and Her Book to primary schools throughout New Zealand. Copies in English and Māori are still available for primary school and Sunday school teachers for free distribution.

Order from Bible Society 0800 424 253 or visit biblesociety.org.nz

12 | WarCry 08 February 2014

Sunshine & Storms: The love letters of William and Catherine The love story of The Salvation Army’s founders is told through their letters, in William and Catherine, a new book by Cathy Le Feuvre.

The young man picked up his quill pen and smoothed the nib between his thumb and index finger, stretched across the desk to dip it into the inkpot, took a moment to collect his thoughts, and stared intently at the clean crisp sheet of writing paper in front of him. As he began to write, the image of the object of his affection came clearly to mind.

Her pale face framed with brown curls, her quiet smile and her lively, sparkling eyes shining with a sharp intelligence. It was but a few weeks since they had met, yet already Catherine Mumford’s personality and beauty were imprinted on William Booth’s heart.

I honour you, I worship, I adore, I have loved you … but I forbear: I would not write about myself. I want you to be happy and in the future to … but again I am rambling onto forbidden ground … I will work harder, study more closely … and seek to gain equilibrium for my spirits and employment for my thoughts. Fear not for me. If I love you at all, if you wish to know how much I love, measure it by my calmness and my willingness in any way to do as you wish. I will. If you wish to see me, name the time and then nothing positively presenting, I will come, though it be every night or only every year …

It had been but a few weeks since they had met, yet already they were speaking about long-term commitment and marriage. Several letters had passed between them, in which they were able to pour out their new feelings of love in a way they were unable to do when they actually met, since that was often in the company of others.

But it was clear to them both that this was not just a passing fancy or an infatuation; it was much more than a developing friendship or mutual admiration, and it surpassed a growing love affair.

At first sight Catherine Mumford had first caught sight of William Booth from a distance when he stood to preach at the church she attended, Binfield House Methodist Chapel in Clapham, South London.

Was she immediately struck by the sight of the young man standing more than six feet tall in the pulpit? Or was it the power of his voice, his energetic preaching style, his intensity of spirit, and his religious zeal that made the greatest impact as he urged people not just to live a Christian life but to give their lives to Christ and to strive for a holy life? Whatever the case, she was sufficiently impressed by the young visiting preacher to express her admiration to a church friend, a prosperous Walworth bootmaker and businessman, Mr Edward Harris Rabbits, who was also William’s sponsor and supporter.

Within a fortnight Mr Rabbits, an unlikely matchmaker, had arranged afternoon tea at his house and Catherine, her mother, Sarah, and William were among the invitees.

This first personal contact may have confirmed Catherine’s opinion. William was sincere, deeply religious, and driven by the same ambition—to see the world and individual people transformed

by Christian faith. In William, Catherine recognised a kindred spirit.

William may have noted with admiration the outspoken young woman whom he met that day, but he later reported that it was on his 23rd birthday, 10 April 1852, a Good Friday and some weeks after the Rabbits’s party, that he fell in love with his future wife.

After just a couple of meetings and one carriage ride, their future was sealed. But neither could have foreseen the consequence of their meeting: the eventual creation not just of a Christian ministry based on that ‘personal salvation’ that William had preached about from the Binfield chapel pulpit, but of an entirely new ‘church’, a Christian organisation that would change society, and which would extend across the globe. A ‘movement’ of Christian people that would eventually become The Salvation Army.

Prince’s Row, Walworth Road My own dear Catherine, I know you will, at least I presume you will, forgive the liberty I take in writing you a line, altho’ it is not so long since we met, but for some reason or other I am happier than I have been for some time back, and when there is a ray of sunshine in my heart I conceive you have a right to know it, especially seeing you have been so minutely acquainted with every dark cloud that hath flitted across the horizon of my soul of late. I have been thinking of you very much yesterday and this morning. I feel that the affection I entertain for you is a growing, deepening, expanding and extending feeling; I trust that on both sides it shall be ever and ever thus. To love as one, live as one, with one, only one, class of cares and anxieties and sorrows. What is thine in this respect shall be mine, and what is mine shall be thine. … Farewell for a season, I shall soon hold you in my arms again, by the blessings of heaven … Until we meet be assured that I am forever, your dearest and most sacred friend and lover.

William

The path to true love never does run smooth …

But William felt insecure. Right and proper behaviour was paramount and he wavered, one moment expressing deep, undying love, the next acknowledging the practicality and the reality of his situation.

Wednesday 12 May 1852 My Dear Friend, I promised you a line. I write. I know no more than I knew yesterday.

I offered as you know full well then and there to make the/an engagement. You declined on what without doubt are good grounds, but still I cannot do more … You know the inmost feelings of my heart, and I can say no more than that I have not, as I could have wished, seen anything striking to intimate the will of God. If my circumstances had not been so benighted I might not have desired this, but feel the importance of the affair, if I feel nothing else.

Now understand me. As I said yesterday, I offer now a step in the dark. I will promise you anything you wish for your own dear sake, but mind, my feelings are still the same. But the tie shall be as sacred as though made under the influence of sunnier feelings and in prospect of brighter days.

Soul Food | 13

You can write me your mind. I do not wish to trouble you for a long letter. Put down in a line what you think.

If you decline as yesterday, I ask the favour of being allowed to keep as sacred as my Bible and as full to me of inspiration, and as sacred as my soul’s inmost feelings, the notes I already have in your writing. As you wish you can keep or burn mine. I could almost trust you with the keeping of the Title Deeds of my soul’s salvation, so highly do I esteem your character. Perhaps I write wildly. Excuse me. I began calm.

After this is ended, this awful controversy, I shall call on you again. If you accept what I have stated, I will come Saturday. If not, I shall call as a friend in the course of a few days and show you how I bear the matter. If it be of man, if it be wrong, it will pass forgotten away. If it be of God, he will still bring it to pass.

All I fear is your suffering and your mother’s condemnation. But I cannot help it. Believe every word I have here said. If you accept, we are henceforth and forever one. If you decline, the matter must be forgotten. I leave you in the hands of my God. I am, Yours, etc., William Booth

The thought of walking through life perfectly united, together enjoying its sunshine and battling its storms … is to me exquisite happiness Russell St (Thursday) May 13 1852 My Dear Friend, I have read and re-read your note and I fear you did not fully understand my difficulty. It was not circumstances, I thought I had fully satisfied you on that point. I thought you felt sure that a bright prospect could not allure me, nor a dark one affright me, if we are only one in heart. My difficulty, my only reason for wishing to defer the engagement was that you might feel satisfied in your own mind that the step is right.

I have deeply pondered over all your words at our last interview, especially the objections which you so honourably confessed had influenced your mind, and I dare not enter into so solemn an engagement till you can assure me that you feel I am in every way suited to make you happy and that you are satisfied that the step is not opposed to the will of God. You say if your circumstances were not so blighted, you could not desire so striking an indication of God’s will. I answer if you are satisfied of his will irrespective of circumstances, let circumstances go and let us be one come what will, but if there is an thing in me which you fear, anything which you think would mar your completest happiness, banish the thought of an union forever, and let us regard each other as true and tried friends. … In the mean time I shall not cease to pray that God may guide

you right. May he bless you and if he sees that I am not such an one as you need to be an help mate for you, may he enable you to forget me. I know you will rightly appreciate what I have said; you will not attribute anything to hardness of heart or indifference. I think I know you too well to suppose it.

Let us besiege his throne with all the powers of prayer, and believe me yours affectionately, Catherine.

Sunshine and Storms Barely one month after their Good Friday carriage ride, and having known Catherine for only a little longer, William Booth put aside any doubts he might have had about marriage, and on Saturday 15 May 1852 he and Catherine Mumford announced their engagement, committing themselves not just to each other but, together, to God, for whatever purposes he intended for them.

Saturday or Sunday May 15 or 16, 1852 My dearest William, The evening is beautifully serene and tranquil, according sweetly with the feelings of my soul. The whirlwind is past and the succeeding calm is in proportion to its violence. Your letter—your visit—have hushed its last murmurs and stilled every vibration of my throbbing heartstrings. All is well. I feel it is right, and I praise God for the satisfying conviction. … The thought of walking through life perfectly united, together enjoying its sunshine and battling its storms, by softest sympathy sharing every smile and every tear, and with thorough unanimity performing all its momentous duties, is to me exquisite happiness; the highest earthly bliss I desire. And who can estimate the glory to God, and the benefit to man, accruing from a life spent in such harmonious effort to do his will?

If, indeed, we are the disciples of Christ, ‘in the world we shall have tribulation’; but in him and in each other we may have peace. … The more you lead me up to Christ in all things, the more highly shall I esteem you; and, if it be possible to love you more than I do now, the more shall I love you. You are always present in my thoughts.

Believe me, dear William, as ever, your own loving, Kate.

Extracted with permission from William and Catherine: The love story of the founders of the Salvation Army told through their letters, by Cathy le Feuvre. Published by Monarch, an imprint of Lion Hudson, and distributed in New Zealand by New Holland, $24.99.

Special Reader Offer New Holland is extending a special price offer to War Cry readers, of $22 including postage and packaging.

Email books@nhp.co.nz with ‘War Cry Offer’ in the subject line, or phone (09) 481 0444

14 WarCry¨08 February 2014

Partnerships, Resilience and Recovery in the Philippines

As my plane descended into Tacloban City, the region’s vulnerability to the sea was obvious. Tacloban is built on a coastline of inlets, with the airport runway jutting out on a narrow spur of land. The city is built at the top of a funnel of land with nothing between Leyte Island and the west coast of the USA–only thousands of miles of the warm Pacific Ocean, an ideal breeding ground for storms and typhoons.

Days before 8 November 2013, TV and radio forecasters warned a major storm was on the way. The experts spoke of a ‘storm surge’, but many people did not understand this new term. Many drowned in their homes that dreadful morning. ‘If they had told us a tsunami was coming,’ one person told me, ‘we would have known what to expect.’

I landed in Tacloban exactly a month after Super Typhoon Haiyan (known as Yolanda in the Philippines) drowned thousands of people.

The death toll is disputed—between 6000 and 15,000 people. The UN estimates four million people have been displaced and 14 million lives affected. These massive numbers did not affect me as much as seeing family homes and entire communities blown out and washed away. Mile upon mile of destroyed houses, roofs ripped off, millions of palm trees up-ended or stripped to stumps—the sheer scale of the destruction was overwhelming.

Members of The Salvation Army were among the affected people but they were also some of the first to respond. Personnel from Cebu and Manila got to Tacloban as soon as they could to support the Salvation Army corps (church) at Tacloban, as its members started to serve their community with what they had. The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services deployed Damaris Frick, an experienced field officer, from London to support the territorial response and coordinate with the United Nations, the government and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Major Drew Ruthven (Australia Southern Territory) and Matthew Beatty (USA Central Territory) soon joined her.

The Salvation Army’s immediate response focused on food and water for the survivors. Thousands of people were airlifted out of Tacloban City, and The Salvation Army helped at the airport—day after day, hour by hour—with food, water and pastoral care. It was exhausting work both emotionally and physically in searing heat and stifling humidity.

Getting supplies to the affected area was extremely difficult, but trucks were finally able to drive from Manila to deliver supplies.

Warehouse facilities were hard to find, but The Salvation Army linked up with the Mormons and logistics/delivery company UPS—an unexpected but highly effective partnership—to move, store and distribute much-needed supplies to affected communities. A judge in Tacloban wanted to help his people and so allowed Salvation Army team members to use his car for a number of weeks. It had air conditioning, a real blessing to weary workers!

Partnership has been a key characteristic of the response.

Colonels Wayne and Robyn Maxwell, territorial leaders in the Philippines, visited Tacloban with Commissioner Gillian Downer, the International Secretary for South Pacific and East Asia, less than two weeks after the typhoon to give their support and encouragement.

The Salvation Army around the world has come together to pray and give financial support to the relief and recovery effort. Thousands of members of the public around the world have given money to The Salvation Army—a global partnership.

Partnership and cooperation are essential after a disaster. The Salvation Army and the Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) from the USA partnered together for the first time to provide medical care to people affected by the typhoon. Dr David Stevens, CEO of CMDA, led the first team and partnered with Dr Mirriam Cepe, a Filipino Salvationist medical doctor, who coordinated the Salvation Army health response. Doctors, nurses, officers and corps members all worked together to serve those affected.

In its first three weeks of operation, the team saw 1495 patients, immunised 942 children and started a dental programme that will operate for a number of weeks—headed by world-renowned oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr Sam Molind. A total of 2669 hygiene kits were also distributed.

Dr Stevens, reflecting on the partnership, wrote, ‘It has and will continue to touch many lives one on one, meeting each individual at their point of medical need but more importantly sharing with them the love and compassion of Christ ... The local Salvation Army officers working with us did the same as they provided counsel and prayed with many patients. It was [biblical apostles] Paul and Luke, doctors and evangelists, working together. We owe much to the tireless efforts of Colonel Maxwell and his team. They handled logistics and provided Philippine staff to work alongside our health team. There was wonderful synergy that accomplished much more than either group could have done alone.’

When the CMDA team complete its mission, the health ministry to the affected communities will be continued by the Filipino Salvation Army team.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Samaritan’s Purse have also partnered with The Salvation Army. Samaritan’s Purse provided thousands of hygiene kits, which The Salvation Army teams distributed with health education while WHO supplied vaccines for the immunisation programme.

Another characteristic of the response to the typhoon is resilience. The people of the Philippines are sadly well experienced in coping with natural disasters but, even so, their resilience to this major catastrophe is amazing.

For example, as I lay on the hard floor at 5 am after a fitful night with little sleep—none of our team had beds—I heard the sound of

Our Community | 15

banging. I looked out the window to see a man repairing his roof. He was not waiting for help but getting on with it at the crack of dawn.

Throughout my visit I witnessed many examples of resilience.

Fishermen told me they were already back on the killer sea catching fish each morning despite some of their boats being destroyed.

Electricians climbed recently erected poles, trying to restore power (in mid-December there was still no running water or electricity). A school teacher proudly showed me her school, which was open just three weeks after the deadly storm, despite a collapsed classroom and trees strewn around the playground. Market traders were back on the roadside with tables of fresh vegetables and fruit. Traffic jams were starting again in Tacloban as fuel prices returned to normal—the cost of a litre of fuel reached US$10 in the days after the typhoon.

Despite superficial signs of normality, the road to recovery will be long and hard. Understandably, there are deep emotional scars. I attended Sunday worship at the Salvation Army corps in Tacloban.

The corps officer opened up the meeting for testimony, encouraging his little flock to thank God and share prayer requests. The emotions were raw: ‘Thank you, God, I am alive’; ‘Please help me with fears in the night’; ‘Thank you for those who have come to help us’; ‘Please protect us under martial law’; ‘Help my spiritual life to deepen through this.’

Many of the poorest people are coconut farmers that will be hit hard for years to come. Palm oil is a valuable product and a mature palm tree produces a crop every six to eight weeks. However, it takes five to ten years for a palm tree to reach maturity. I saw thousands and thousands of trees upended—the farmers’ incomes will take years to recover.

The Salvation Army is committed to partner with the people of Tacloban and other affected communities across the Philippines for years to come. One of its strengths is that it is not a foreign NGO; The Salvation Army has been serving the people of the Philippines since the 1930s and will continue to serve for years to come.

As time passes, the focus in the typhoon-hit areas will move from relief work to longer-term recovery and development. Initial discussions about the best ways in which The Salvation Army can help communities to recover have already started. Many creative and interesting options are on the table.

Typhoon Haiyan will never be forgotten by the millions of people whose lives were changed forever by a storm that lasted less than eight hours, but the partnerships between The Salvation Army, other agencies and local communities will ensure that recovery will come and many lives will be rebuilt.

Major Dean Pallant Major Dean Pallant is Under Secretary for Programme Resources and International Health Services Coordinator at International Headquarters. Reprinted with permission from The Salvation Army’s international magazine All the World—www.salvationarmy.org/alltheworld

(clockwise from top) Children play on a beach near Tacloban, surrounded by beached fishing boats and uprooted trees; registering displaced people and providing refreshments at Tacloban Airport; some of the Salvation Army emergency relief team; Dr Nader Tadros treats a young patient; scenes of destruction in Tacloban; distribution of Salvation Army aid packages in Tacloban.

Donations to support relief work in the Philippines can be made online at salvationarmy.org.nz/donate or by phoning 0800 53 00 00. Please specify that your donation is for ‘The Philippines’.

16 | WarCry¨08 February 2014

‘Changing Places’ Art Exhibition Proceeds from a Hamilton art exhibition on 29 November 2013 featuring the works of 14 Waikato artists will go toward refurbishing four family homes used by The Salvation Army Changing Places programme in the city.

Changing Places helps children at risk—taking a whole-of-family approach to meeting their developmental needs by strengthening the knowledge, skills and resources of parents. The aims of the programme include building family stability through providing temporary housing, developing support networks in the community to reduce family isolation, and providing opportunities for parents and children to experience sustainable ways of living.

To launch the Changing Places Art Exhibition, over 100 guests—including Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker and Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe—attended a corporate breakfast hosted by the Waikato Chamber of Commerce. Countdown Bridge Street donated the food, cooked to perfection by Barry Finch and his team from Wintec.

Fourteen artists, including well-known glass artist Di Tocker and painter Bruce McLachlan, exhibited at the show. Salvation Army artists Haydn Rive, Tom Jewkes and David Clarke provided some stunning pieces—all achieved sales. Kellie Rillstone, a renowned Hamilton artist, donated her skills and expertise as curator.

‘The Changing Places programme encourages and nurtures the development of parental skills by exploring and engaging in habits and skills necessary for active parenting,’ says Public Relations Director Shane Chisholm.

‘The funds raised through this well-supported exhibition from art sales together with generous donations from local businesses will go a long way toward providing a safe and warm home environment for the families involved.’

The Salvation Army greatly appreciates the support of Changing Places Art Exhibition sponsors Stainless Design, Gallagher and Hamilton Party Hire.

‘Treasure Time’ by Kellie Rillstone was just one of the impressive artworks on display

Come to the International Congress

Salvationists from around the world will unite under the theme, ‘Boundless: The Whole World Redeeming’ from 1 to 5 July 2015 at the International Congress. The theme comes from Salvation Army co-founder General William Booth, who wrote what is affectionately called ‘The Founder’s Song:

GAZETTE Appointment Capt Katherine Sonntag, Corps Officer, Foxton Corps, effective 13 Feb. Bereaved Lt-Cols Yousaf Ghulam and Rebecca Yousaf of their son-in-law, Capt Colombus Younis, from Pakistan on 2 Jan 2014 while serving at the Training College in Lahore, Pakistan. Yousaf and Rebecca returned home to Pakistan for the funeral, which was held in Karachi on 5 Jan. Please prayerfully support Yousaf and Rebecca, their daughter Captain Fozia, and her children, Aroona and Joyce, along with other family members and The Salvation Army Pakistan Territory at this time of great loss.

Lt Robert van Abs of his mother, Mrs Cato van Abs, from Wellington on 14 Jan. The funeral service was held at Karori Baptist Church on 17 Jan, led by Robert. Our prayers are with Robert and his family.

O boundless salvation, deep ocean of love; O fullness of mercy, Christ brought from above.

The whole world redeeming, so rich and so free; Now flowing for all men, come roll over me!

The biblical mandate comes from Ephesians 3:8, ‘Preach to

Promoted to Glory Lt-Col Vera Williamson on 28 Dec 2013 from Feilding. Vera was born on 5 July 1917. She entered Salvation Army training college from Balclutha Corps in 1943 in the Valiant Session and was commissioned in Oct 1943. Following appointments at the Wellington Maternity Hospital and Bethany in Auckland, Vera was appointed to the Catherine Booth Hospital in India. She served for 35 years in India, firstly as a nurse and then as Superintendent of Nursing and Superintendent of the Women’s Vocational Training Centre and Girl’s Hospital in Nagercoil. In May 1977, Vera was appointed Chief Secretary of the South Eastern India Territorial as well as Territorial Home League Secretary.

She retired on 6 July 1980 to Feilding. A service of thanksgiving was held on 3 Jan at Feilding Corps. The territory honours Vera for her faithful service as an officer and her ongoing ministry in retirement.

the nations the boundless riches of Christ.’

The 2015 International Congress will commemorate the past accomplishments of The Army in 126 countries. It will also celebrate what God is doing in and through The Salvation Army today. And it will spur Salvationists on to even greater things beyond the year 2015.

The congress will be held at The O2, a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London. Every meeting is being planned to bring honour and glory to God first of all, but also

Retirement Mjr Margaret Ousey entered retirement on 15 Jan after 44 years of officer service.

Margaret entered Salvation Army training college from Masterton Corps in 1969 in the Undaunted Session and was commissioned in Jan 1971. She served at Sunshine Lodge, the Bethany Day Care Centre in Wellington, as Assistant Officer of the Emergency Lodge in Porirua, and as Catering Officer at the Officer Training College. In 1980, Margaret was appointed to Territorial Headquarters (THQ) as Secretary to the Field Secretary. In Oct 1982, she was appointed to the Pakistan Territory as Private Secretary to the Territorial Commander. On her return to New Zealand in 1987, she served as Secretary to the Training Principal and Finance Officer at the Officer Training College. In 1988, Margaret was appointed as Secretary to the Chief Secretary. In March 1997, Margaret was appointed to the Philippines Territory where she served as Territorial Education Secretary and

to display the cultural diversity of a worldwide Salvation Army.

Salvationists from the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory who plan to attend the International Congress are asked to contact the Chief Secretary’s office so their names can be added to this territory’s delegate list—p: (04) 382 0731, e: nzf_cs@nzf.salvationarmy.org boundless2015.org for more info and a schedule of events. Online registrations will soon be open.

Go to

Literature Officer, Training Principal and Education Secretary in 1996, and then Assistant Field Secretary (Programme) in 1999. In 2001, she was appointed to the International Personnel Department at International Headquarters, before returning to New Zealand in August 2004 and serving in various capacities within the Personnel Section at THQ. In 2009, Margaret was appointed Private Secretary to the Territorial Commander.

She will continue in this appointment in retirement until Jan 2015. It is with sincere thanks and appreciation that we acknowledge Margaret’s extensive service, both in New Zealand and overseas.

First Grandchild Congratulations to Mjrs Bruce and Lee Edney on the birth of their first grandchild. Oliver Samuel Jenkins was born to daughter Micah and her husband Luke on 4 Jan in Dunedin.

Lifestyle | 17

CALENDAR FEBRUARY 8: Youth and Children’s Training / Tonga Region 9: Youth Mission Team / Central Division 10–11: Personnel Conference 12–14: Women’s Retreat / Fiji Division 13: Orientation for New Officers / Northern Division 13–16: SpiritSong Rehearsal Camp 14: DHQ Retreat / Southern Division 15: Safe to Serve ‘Train the Trainer’ / Northern Division 16: Welcome to New Officers (Southern) / Central Division 16: Welcome to Cadets / Fiji Division 16: Tertiary Students Gathering / Northern Division 17: DHQ Planning Day / Midland Division 17–19: Summer Councils / Southern Division 18–19: DHQ Retreat / Northern Division 19: New Plymouth Golf Day / Midland Division 19: Officers Councils (Levin) / Central Division 21: Youth Rally / Tonga Region 21: Regional Lunch (Auckland City and Auckland South) / Northern Division 21–23: Father and Kids Weekend / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre 23: Divisional Welcome Meeting / Midland Division 23: Welcome Meeting (Northern) / Central Division 23: Blaze Youth Event / Central Division 23: Welcome to New Officers / Northern Division 24–25: Officers Summer Councils / Midland Division 24–26: Addictions and Supportive Accommodation Services Retreat 27: Family Store Quality Improvement Working Party / Northern Division 27: Family Store Annual Awards Dinner / Northern Division 28: Youth Kneedrill / Northern Division

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Robert (Territorial Commander) and Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 11–17 February: Fiji Division 21–24 February: Northern Division (various engagements) 25: Addictions and Supportive Accommodation Services Retreat 27 February–2 March: Cabinet Retreat 9 March: Territorial Welcome to Cadets (New Zealand) 10 March: Territorial Executive Council 11 March: Women’s Commission Meeting (TPWM) Colonels Graeme (Chief Secretary) and Wynne Reddish (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 5–8 February: National Māori Ministry Hui, Waitangi 27 February–2 March: Cabinet Retreat 10 March: Territorial Executive Council 11 March: Women’s Commission Meeting (TSWM)

To advertise your event, email: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org

Sign up for a Development Course in 2014 The Centre for Leadership Development at Booth College of Mission offers an excellent short course programme to up skill people in specific areas. Some of the upcoming courses include: • 12–14 March: Finance Training • 26–28 March: Speaker 3.0 • 2–4 April: ‘The Big Picture’, Training for Managers • 12–15 May: Foundations for Chaplains • 30 May–2 June: Brengle Holiness Institute • 5–6 June: The Leadership Challenge • 12–14 June: Preaching Workshop Go to www.salvationarmy.org.nz/boothcollege for the 2014 schedule and registrations forms.

2014 Thought Matters Conference Honour God with Your Body: A Christian View of Human Sexuality 29–31 August / Auckland The 2014 Thought Matters Conference theme has now been announced. New Zealand is hosting the two Australian Salvation Army territories this year in Auckland (venue to be confirmed).

Christian theology and sexuality has implications for every aspect of human existence, including spirituality.

Even though sexuality is given inordinate attention in popular culture, it is seldom discussed, in a deliberately theological way, within The Salvation Army. It is hoped that this year’s Thought Matters conference will allow participants to reflect on their responses to issues of sexuality in their own lives and in society in general. There will be a call for contributing papers in due course.

For more information or to be added to the Thought Matters email database, e: thought_matters@nzf.salvationarmy.org.nz

GET THE LATEST NEWS For Salvation Army local and international news:

salvationarmy.org.nz/news

Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES online:

salvationarmy.org.nz/employment

PRAYER FOCUS Please pray for: Blenheim, Cambridge, Carterton, Central Taranaki and Christchurch City Corps, retired Salvation Army officers, The Salvation Army in Korea.

18 WarCry¨08 February 2014

LEADERSHIP LINKS

In our nation and in the Church we need to continually learn how to work together We have just celebrated Waitangi Day, an important marker in New Zealand’s history. Waitangi Day marks a date and time—6 February 1840—when representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs signed what is considered to be New Zealand’s founding document. In a sense, it marks the establishment of a new nation with new relationships and responsibilities. And it marks a place of new beginnings.

The beginning of the Christian Church in New Zealand, however, dates even back further—to the 25th of December 1814, when Samuel Marsden preached what is thought to be the first sermon on New Zealand soil at Oihi Bay in the Bay of Islands. Which means that this year marks the 200th anniversary of the preaching of the gospel in New Zealand. Like the Treaty of Waitangi, the Church’s message was also about new beginnings, new relationships and new responsibilities.

So, how have we done as a nation and as a Church? We’ve come a long way since those new beginnings, and the journey hasn’t always been smooth and easy. It has, in fact, often been quite rocky and stormy—in the life of our country and in the life of the Church. New Zealand has become a nation in its own right and we have a lot to be proud of. The Church has had a big influence in the development of our country and in the lives of individuals, which is something we also need to celebrate.

We haven’t arrived at our final destination because life goes on. There is still much to do, much to understand and much to agree. In our nation and in the Church we need to continually learn how to work together to support and encourage each other in the journey of life. The important word for me in all of this is ‘together’. I’m reminded of a popular song from the ’70s that says: For united we stand Divided we fall And if our backs should ever be against the wall We’ll be together, together, you and I Striving for unity in any partnership is important. As Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, ‘By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped’ (The Message). Many of us think of this verse as speaking about ourselves, another person or people, and God. Such a ‘three-stranded’ partnership is more likely to be lasting and useful.

As a nation, as part of the Christian Church and as individuals, may we continually work together to build a better nation, finding ways to address our differences so that we can live in peace and harmony together.

Colonel Graeme Reddish Chief Secretary

The Byrds were Singing Ross Wardle of the Corps Growth and Mission Resources Department looks back on the 1981 Springbok Tour Heaven—I’m in heaven and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak …

I was 16 years old and heading to the first test of the Springbok Tour. The straight road between Ashburton and Christchurch was mind numbing, but it didn’t matter. All I could see was the green turf and the concrete terraces of that hallowed Canterbury stadium Lancaster Park (second only to Carisbrook). All I could hear was the noise of the crowd celebrating an All Black try. My backside may have been perched 20 inches above State Highway One (inside my uncle’s Holden Kingswood), but my mind was soaring with the possibilities of the day.

And why not? I was a teenager living in a rural servicing town that was still emerging from the 1970s. It had a kind of Trinitarian approach to life: Rugby, Racing and Beer. As a member of the local Salvation Army corps, I was restricted to rugby.

The sun was out and the Byrds were singing—on the radio: ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’—Pete Seeger having given the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes a soundtrack. But there was one cloud on the horizon: those ‘trendy lefty liberals’ that had something against the Springboks playing here. I wasn’t totally sure what that was, but they had already stopped the Waikato game. Surely that wouldn’t happen to a Test! If nothing else, it added a bit of excitement to the day. ‘Heaven, I’m in heaven …’

There is something about going to a live game that you can’t get any other way: parking the car—usually a long way from the stadium; hearing the noise of the crowd grow louder as you walk towards it; standing in line with your ticket; buying a pottle of chips and heading for the terraces; walking into the stadium and seeing it all unfold before you. It was just like I imagined.

‘Heaven, I’m in heaven …’

I had not seen anything of the threatened protest, so standing there on the terraces it slowly disappeared from my

Mission Matters 19

Police stand watch during the Springboks vs. Southland game at Invercargill’s Rugby Park on 8 August 1981 (Photographer: Stuart Menzies / Ref: EP-Ethics-Demonstrations-1981 Springbok Tour-01 / Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand) mind. Until a large group of fellow terrace dwellers broke ranks, jumped over the field enclosure and ran to the middle of the ground.

Not something you see every day. Oh! They’re protesters! At the same time, fans at the top of the partially completed southern stand started throwing everything they could at some target over the back.

Blue square boxes with many legs jogged onto the field and persuaded the protesters to accompany them off the field. They were met by a hail of beer cans thrown from the stand as they made their way down the tunnel. Meanwhile, the target of those throwing from the southern stands turned out to be the main protest group marching along a nearby street trying to reach the stadium. They didn’t. ‘Heaven, I’m in heaven …’

Eighty minutes later the final score was Fans 1, Protesters 0.

(It was also All Blacks 14, Springboks 9). The trip home was not boring in the least.

… the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what you want, to love rugby, and to walk from the car park to the stadium I do not live in a small rural servicing town anymore and I no longer see the world and life through those 1980s cultural lenses.

They were cultural lenses like any others—not all bad, not all good.

More significantly, my Christian discipleship has deepened (how much depends on who you speak to) and I am far more focused on what that discipleship both offers and requires. But it has not been until relatively recently that I have had cause to evaluate my attitude to the Springbok Tour and the larger issues that swirled around it.

Perhaps it would have been more helpful if, instead of the Byrds on the radio, it had been Dire Straits singing Micah 6:8 set to ‘Sultans of Swing’. While I was in ‘Heaven, I’m in heaven …’, where were nonwhite South Africans? ‘Hell, I’m in hell …’?

Having thought about the ‘me’ of 1981, the ‘me’ of the ‘2000s’ was concerned. My concern was not so much about who was right and who was wrong. It wasn’t even about what I should have been doing or thinking. It was that I didn’t actually ask that question. It didn’t occur to me to evaluate anything but the rugby.

I had reduced Micah 6:8 to … the Lord has told you what is good,

and this is what he requires of you: to do what you want, to love rugby, and to walk from the car park to the stadium. There was plenty of stuff around me to help me recognise that, but it wasn’t until something was shoved in front of my face that I did.

That something was Goal 3 of our Salvation Army Territorial Strategic Mission Plan (TSMP). At the time it read: ‘Take significant steps to eradicate poverty and injustice.’ Now it reads, simply: ‘Fight Injustice.’ I wish I’d thought more about fighting injustice back in 1981. I’m glad The Salvation Army is talking to 16 year olds (and 86 year olds) about it now.

Do I think TSMP is ‘perfect in every way’? No. Do I think it is significant in the life of this territory? Yes. Am I pleased that we have it? Yes. Has it developed me as a Christian disciple? Yes. Can it do that for each of us? Yes.

What do you think?

1. Is social justice an ‘optional extra’ for ‘trendy lefty’ Christian disciples, or an integral part of Christian discipleship?

2. Is there anything I use or consume that might be produced in an unjust way?

3. We don’t have to ‘save the world’ on our own— we can be one of many that takes small steps.

Where in my weekly routine do I make room for deciding on at least one small step I could take?

For more on the Territorial Strategic Mission Plan, including free resources, go to salvationarmy.org.nz/tsmp

GOD & FAITH

The List: Finding Your Dream Guy or Girl Most of us have some kind of secret wish list—what we hope for in our future Mr or Mrs Dreamy. But what should be on our list? And should we even have a list? We get the guys’ and girls’ down low.

The Girls I didn’t have a list. Hey, if I could find someone that loved God and dug me, booyah. But I lived in a flat of six girls, and for about a year all we watched were rom-coms. Ideals about our ‘perfect guy’ became more like the guys in those movies. You know—obviously a hottie, knows how I’m feeling, romantic, can talk all night …

Then when I met my husband, I realised that I did have a list—I just didn’t realise it—and that list was based on a fantasy. I thought we would talk all night about our feelings, but I quickly realised that’s what girlfriends are for, not blokes.

He didn’t even understand me, let alone read my mind. And he was romantic ... but in his own way.

He wasn’t a rom-com fantasy, he was a real life guy: who loves God, accepts and loves me for who I am, and has strengths that I would never have imagined. I had to throw away my list, and realise that God had a better, bigger dream for me than I could have imagined.

Ideals and reals I once did a survey of about 26 young peeps and asked them what they really wanted in a girl or guy: ‘I want him to be taller than me, so that I feel feminine,’ said one girl.

One typical guy said, ‘Athletic and blonde. Sporty and fit.’

One thing I noticed was that guys had ideals about how their dream girl would look or act. But girls had ideals about how the guy would make them feel: ‘I just want someone who will accept and love me,’ said one girl.

This is what the rom-com industry is based on: the fantasy that the perfect guy will fulfil all your emotional needs.

But the problem with ideals is that they are not real. Especially the fantasy that a guy will know just what to say or do to make you feel loved.

The reality is that no guy is a mind reader. You’ll have to tell your man if you need a hug or want a word of encouragement. That’s real life.

But most of all, guys were never meant to have the power to tell us whether we’re accepted or lovable.

Only God our creator has the right to make that judgement.

Be the best you Heaps of our insecurities as girls come from questions about how guys might see us—we worry that we’re too loud or too quiet; we’re not pretty enough; we’re not sporty or we’re too sporty. But God made you to be the very best you, not some version of you that you think guys will like.

So while you’re young, focus on becoming the gal God made you to be. Train yourself to love the beauty he has given uniquely to you. Be confident in the personality and gifts he gave you. And allow God to fill your heart with his true, deep, crazy love to you.

‘For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty saviour.

He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs,’ says Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT).

You might be too young to be thinking about Mr Right anyway, but you’re not too young to listen to God singing his love song over you.

When you know you’re loved by God, you don’t have to give guys the power to tell you whether you are loved and accepted. God already tells you that you are—just the way you are.

Keep it real So, what kind of expectations should we have about our Mr Dreamy? A great start is to ask yourself what God cares about. Our culture has a lot of false ideals about the perfect guy or gal that are completely opposed to God’s Word. One of the biggest false ideals is that they need to be hottie pototties. God made all of us, so I’m pretty sure he thinks we’re all hotties!

We need to re-train our minds to be attracted to the things God cares about. And God mainly cares about having a relationship with us. So, wanting a guy who has a relationship with God is probably the best expectation we can have. And out of that we can expect him to aspire to the values of Jesus: kindness, gentleness, wisdom, integrity …

But if we want those values in a guy, then we have to first of all work on having those values ourselves.

It’s really healthy to understand what character traits are important to you, and to also know the values you want to share in a relationship. But God has a way bigger imagination than us, so allow him to surprise you with the details!

08 FEBRUARY 2014 | 21

FIREZONE.CO.NZ

The Boys Unlike Ingrid, I had a list. In fact, I had many ever-changing lists detailing my ideal girl. When I was 12, she was a surfer, skateboarder, guitarist, who was good at sharing, and whose mum packed amazing school lunches. Essentially, I was after a prettier, better-fed version of my male friends.

At age 16, she had to call herself a Christian, or at least go to church.

She had to be hot, but not too hot because it’s tricky playing above your league. And she had to be … actually that’s all; my 16-year-old self was highly uncomplicated.

Then, at age 18, after several relationship misfires, I came up with the list. Now I look back on it I’m surprised that the skateboarding, peroxide-blond, punk Hayden came up with it. My ideal girl had to have: humility, joy and wisdom.

Deep. It’s not that I decided to totally disregard my earlier lists—music, sport, looks and her mum’s cooking were still serious considerations— but I had finally dug a little deeper into my heart to reveal what, when all the superficial stuff gets stripped away, I was truly attracted to. So, for the sake of example, let me unwrap my list for you a little.

Humility This has to be the single most misunderstood and least sought after character trait in the history of character traits. Humility is basically an approach to life that says, ‘I’m not the centre of the universe.’

Lack of humility is, in my humble opinion, what’s wrong with the entire human race. Instead of being humble, we’re self-centred. It’s our default position and it leads to greed, pride and selfishness, which leads to divorce, war, pain and so on.

If you can find a woman who is able to resist that infectious drift toward self-centredness in order to put God as number one and value others

above herself (Philippians 2:3), you’ve not only found a revolutionary human being but also someone you’d want give your life for.

Joy The first thought that comes to mind when I hear the word ‘joy’ is an I-believe-in-unicorns, Ned Flanders-style of overt and annoying happiness. That sort of joy would never become sad and definitely wouldn’t have room for weeping. But Jesus, who should be our model for all fruit of the Spirit (of which joy is one, see Galatians 5:22), was sad and even wept (John 11:35). So joy is clearly something deeper than positive emotions.

A common interpretation of the New Testament word for ‘joy’ is ‘grace recognised’. According to this, joy is being aware of the eternal significance of God’s forgiveness and allowing it to create a rock inside us that nothing can shake. It doesn’t close our emotions down, but allows them to be rooted in something secure so they can flourish. Joy makes a person’s happiness more contagious and makes their sadness more profound. Women can get criticised for being too emotional, but joy makes that emotion something beautiful to behold.

Wisdom This has nothing to do with how well you can spell or how many facts you can regurgitate in an exam—some of the wisest people I know are school dropouts. Nor is wisdom about always being right—some would say the wiser you are the more you realise how often you are wrong. And wisdom doesn’t have all the answers—in fact, sometimes it prefers just to keep quiet (see Proverbs 17:27-28).

I guess what I was thinking when I wrote my list was that I wanted a wisdom with the patience to search for the truth. I was looking for someone who wasn’t going to just jump on the latest fad idea, but would test it. Someone who wouldn’t

Ingrid Barratt & Hayden Shearman

judge others by their appearance, but would take the time to seek the truth of how God sees them. That’s the sort of person I’d like to wake up next to (and if you knew what I look like first thing, you’d understand).

Got the list, where’s the girl?

So that was my list. I can tell you when I wrote it, all of a sudden, the number of fish in the sea plummeted.

And I knew that if I also weighed myself on those three points I wouldn’t come out too flash, so could there possibly be a girl out there for me?

I figured yes, because wisdom, joy and humility are characteristics of God—and if there are girls who have been hanging with God, surely there’d be at least one who’d had those three characteristics rub off on them a little.

And the good news is, I found one!

I’ve got her permission to say that she’s not perfect in the list all the time (that privilege is reserved for God alone), but she still oozes these characteristics, plus many more.

Oh, and to top it off, her mum is an amazing cook!

Writing your list My list is unique to me. Your list might include some of those characteristics or it might be completely different, but if you want a list worth writing I’d recommend looking for characteristics that are timeless, that aren’t affected by age or illness or circumstance. And because God is timeless, he’s the ultimate place to learn about them.

So, spend time with God. Fall in love with his many varied and incredible character traits (exploring the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23 is a great starter). Write your own list of the traits you find particularly compelling in a soul mate. Then, when it comes to deciding whether a certain someone might be ‘The One’, look to see if those character traits have rubbed off in their life from spending time with God.

So, should I write a list?

Sometimes it can be great to write a list, to sort out false ideals from true values.

Write down the things you want in a lifelong partner. List all your ideals and expectations.

Now, think about what will be important to you in 10 years’ time: write down those things.

Cross out anything that is a fantasy: look over your list and cross out anything that has to do with the way they look, what they’re good at (someone musical, or someone practical), how they make you feel, how they dress, what they do for a living, how much money they have … these may all be fantasies. They are not necessarily bad, but they are ‘bonus extras’ and not what will make a strong, lasting relationship.

Now, look at what you’ve got left: you may have a very short list! What values and character traits have you still got listed?

Ask yourself which ones line up with God—and keep these on your list.

FIREZONE.CO.NZ

EVENTS | 22

Living in the Light at Summer Carnival 2014 From 6 to 10 January, 22 people from New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga attended a week of worship, with challenging speakers, a carnival and a magic show. And for most of us, it was the first time we had ever showered in a truck!

Summer Carnival is on every year for Australia Southern Salvos, but this year it was also a tri-territorial youth gathering, which meant people were there from all over the place!

group discussions and an afternoon of games, before our night session where Michael Collins (Canada) spoke about the dangers of living in darkness when we know the Light.

To start off on Monday night, we had Rowan Castle (Australia Southern Territorial Youth Secretary) share a great message about living in the darkness and needing to find the light. On Tuesday Morning, Shandri Brown (Australia Eastern Territory) talked about actually moving from the darkness into the light. The rest of Tuesday was then filled with small

On Wednesday, Michael began the day with a message on holiness and how following God requires us to live a holy life. During the afternoon, we had a real carnival—there were heaps of rides, a petting zoo, scavenger hunts, a wrestling show and snow cones! In the evening, we enjoyed a magic show by

Christopher Wayne, followed by a message on being obedient to God

by Fulton Hawk (Hawaii).

On Thursday, Shandri called us to be followers of God, rather than people who follow the crowd. The day continued with more small group discussions and an afternoon of games. Michael then closed the conference on Thursday after Shandri had talked about the importance of taking action ourselves instead of just waiting for ‘someone else to do it’.

It was an amazing and challenging week, and the delegates from the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory had a blast. Here’s what some of them had to say about Summer Carnival …

Amazing and challenging speakers … and not so amazing flies—Alana Inspiring and challenging—Michaela I love the Australian style of worship: crazy! Also, it was the first time I’ve ever showered in a truck—Maika Aussie weather is weird, but it was nice hanging out with my youth group and connecting with God and with a lot of people from all different places—Lauren

Awesome experience! Can’t wait to come back next time—Holly-Eve The speakers were amazing!—Aaron It’s been an amazing camp with heaps of fun and awesome speakers—Sione The messages were very challenging, especially about being an active soldier—Eliesa (about to embark on the journey of officership) Yes I’m a Kiwi, and no I won’t say ‘fish and chips’ for you!—Catelin I loved the dancing during worship, and listening to Michael Collins —Amelia There is no better thing than to see young men and women surrender to the God who loves them with a relentless love, then commit themselves to be carriers of hope and light into the dark places of their world—Shar New friends + great music + awesome speakers + a whole lotta Jesus = Summer Carnival 2014—Sarah (recent graduate from Revolution Hawaii) Awesome to hang out with the NZFT contingent. You all rock it for Jesus!—Joanne (aka ‘Terry Irwin’ and new Territorial Youth Secretary)

OF MICE AND MEN

Metalcore

Restoring Force

Restoring Force is the third major release from Californian metallers Of Mice and Men. Fronted by ex-Attack! Attack! vocalist Austin Carlile, the group typically operated closely within the rules of the metalcore genre, though their latest effort reinvents their sound, with a shift from metalcore to nu-metal—abandoning complex syncopation for simplicity, repetition and the riff-based, groove-driven styles of early Linkin Park and Cheville. It’s not all lost. Tinges of the breakdown infused metalcore are still there, but have fused their way into a solid hard rock/nu-metal album. KS

MUSIC

LYRICS

GOD CONTENT

ALBUM REVIEW

ALBUM REVIEW

Melissa Morris

ONLY KING FOREVER

Worship

Elevation Worship

Elevation Worship is a team of musicians that knows exactly who and what they’re writing for. Many of the lyrical themes in Only King Forever feed directly from Pastor Steven Furtick, and it’s a stronger album for this. It’s coherent, and dodges a lot of the ‘me-ology’ that typifies a lot of modern worship music. There’s a downplaying of the electronic elements that characterised Elevation’s earlier work, replaced instead by excellent builds, layers and harmony. The use of dual drummers drives many of the songs, including a great rendition of ‘Blessed Assurance’. Recommended. KS

MUSIC

LYRIC

GOD CONTENT

FIND THE RIGHT PIECE OF THE PICTURE

r is the laziest?

What part of the ca e they are The wheels, becaus always tired.

When is a car like a frog?

When it’s being toad.

Fun4Kids | 23

How do trains hear?

Through their engine-ears.

What happened when the red ship crashed into the blue ship?

The crew was marooned.

CAN YOU GUIDE THE BOY THROUGH THE MAZE?

SEND US AN ACROSTIC POEM! We’ve written an acrostic poem for the word BIBLE.

B rilliant I nspiring B ook L ets me know E verything about God’s love Can you make your own acrostic for the word JESUS?

J E S U S Email your poem to warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org, along with your name, age and address, and we’ll send you a thank you gift.

Answer: 5

READ IT

Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105 GNB

PRAY IT Cate

Dear God, thank you so much for writing to me through the Bible. Help me to read the Bible lots and to follow your good advice. Amen.

TALK IT Cate is a junior soldier in The Salvation Army. One of the promises she made when she became a junior soldier was to read her Bible.

But why is it so important to read a book written so long ago?

Well, have you ever had to put something together where you had to refer to some instructions to know what to do? People joke about how bad some adults are at reading the instruction manuals for things they buy to use around the house. But did you know that the instruction manual we’ve been given for life is the Bible?

That’s right! If we read the Bible often, we’ll read all of God’s great advice about how to live in this world. And God knows what he’s talking about, because God made this world!

So, try to read your Bible as often as you can—maybe first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Ask someone to help you if that makes it easier. Reading the Bible is one of the best ways you can stay connected to God.

Territorial Welcome to the

Sunday 9 March, 6 pm Wellington City Corps, 92 Vivian Street With Territorial Leaders Commissioners Robert and Janine Donaldson ‘You are the light of the world … let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honour to your Father in heaven.’ Matthew 5:13-16, New English Translation