FAITH IN ACTION  25 MARCH 2017 | Issue 6663 | $1.50
Jamie Bradley: Living with a Brain Tumour On the Spot with Andrew Little Salvation Army Fights to Continue Drug Programme for Gangs
HOW TO ARGUE Words to live by:
RESTORATION From 'Frozen Guys' to 'Go Guys'
Unleash Your Inner Genius A panic-free way to study
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WAR CRY The Salvation Army
Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | GENERAL André Cox | FOUNDERS William
& Catherine Booth
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 Sam Coates, Tanesha Dahya | STAFF WRITERS Ingrid Barratt, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | 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, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone
(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.nz PAPER Sumo Offset is an environmentally responsible
paper produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) FSC® certified Mixed Source pulp from responsible sources and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System.
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Will you be a breadcrumb? We cover some serious issues in War Cry, but few stories have been as confronting as the story of Wellington police officer Jamie Bradley, diagnosed in December with a brain tumour. Jamie attends the same Salvation Army church that I go to, and his honesty and positive outlook on his diagnosis has done much to encourage my faith and that of so many others in our congregation. Earlier this year, God gave Jamie a vision of breadcrumbs, symbolising the faith those at our church held in the power of God to work in Jamie’s life. Just a few weeks ago, he clarified that those breadcrumbs weren’t the tiny bits of bread that we typically associate with the word ‘breadcrumbs’. Instead, they were ‘big hunks of bread, symbolising big hunks of faith’. Jamie doesn’t know what the outcome of his health journey will be. And anyone who has ever prayed for someone with a serious health condition would know our prayers aren’t always answered in the way we most long for. But I’d ask you to be one of Jamie’s ‘breadcrumbs’ by adding your own prayers to those of Jamie’s many supporters. Please pray for healing! I am sure that Jamie’s story will challenge and inspire you—especially to approach life with a sense of expectation that God wants to talk with us every day. As Jamie says: Seek God, be obedient to God’s word, trust God ... and don’t let the world steal your amazing relationship! Christina Tyson Editor
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. Publishing for 133 years | Issue 6663 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry
www.salvationarmy.org.nz salvationarmynzftwarcry @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft
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This life is but a moment in the morning of my day. Randy Stonehill
Psalm 73:26 Common English Bible My body and mind may fail, but you are my strength and my choice forever. Ngā Waiata 73:26 Hemo iho ōku kikokiko me toku ngakau: ko te Atua ia te kaha o tōku ngākau, tōku wāhi ake ake.
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ell, that’s democracy,’ said TV broadcaster Mike Hosking, with a shrug of his shoulders. That’s what got me—the shrug. It implied that we might not like it, but we
better lump it. Unless you’ve been living in some utopian alternative reality (sounds blissful, can we join you?), you’ll know about some of the decisions being made in the world’s most powerful corridors. Decisions aimed at humiliating people and upholding unjust power structures. Baffled news commentators respond with, ‘Well, that’s democracy.’ It’s easy to roll our eyes when we hear about Donald Trump’s most recent act of lunacy/ comedy/genius (circle most appropriate). But Mike Hosking was talking about us, here in New Zealand. I was listening to an interview with former New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd, advocating for Māori representation (check out the last issue of War Cry). Apparently, we don’t want Māori represented in local politics. Kiwis voted against it by 83 per cent. But, that’s democracy. I wonder when democracy became something we can’t question? As if democracy is next to godliness. Our particular political system is simply a human construct, certainly not created and ordained by God. Sure, it might be the best of a bad bunch, but it’s fallible. When we shrug our shoulders and say, ‘that’s democracy’, we excuse dumb decisions. We fail to ask the questions that need to be asked—like, what are the power structures within democracy that silence the marginalised? Jesus challenged the
powerful and lifted up the powerless—and he has called his followers to do the same ever since. ‘The first will be last, and the last will be first,’ was his mantra. I abhor the accusation that Christians don’t think. We don’t have the luxury of floating along on the tide of public opinion. We’re called to constantly ask whether we’re siding with the powerful, or the powerless. This sometimes means challenging the powerful majority. For example, if New Zealand introduces euthanasia, how will we ensure we protect the most vulnerable? As a feminist, what does it really mean to be sovereign over my own body? Am I primarily an individual, or connected to something far greater? And there is an even greater warning for Christians: we are called to question our own blind spots, before we dare to question anyone else. Are we embracing the marginalised—those people of differing sexualities, religions, ethnicities, economic status, or even morality—or are we holding on to our own form of power? Do we wrap arms of love around the girl who has had a termination? Do we embrace the transgendered? Do we love the Muslim? Within our Christian walls we also have power structures—and unless we make the least powerful among us feel the most included, we are not doing the work of Christ. Jesus was never about the popular majority, he was always about the one. BY INGRID BARRATT
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GOODSTUFF
ONTHESPOT Andrew Little, Labour Party It’s election year, so we’re putting the major party leaders ‘on the spot’. Andrew Little dared to answer ...
If the treadmill at the gym feels like an instrument of torture, you are totally right! It was first invented in the 1800s as the ‘tread wheel’ and used in British prisons for hard labour. Considered the most severe form of punishment, it was outlawed in the early 20th century as too cruel. Its comeback began in the 1930s, when it was rebranded as a fashionable exercise machine, and then the ’80s running boom secured its place in modern fitness. The most recent research shows exercising in bursts (or interval training) is the most effective for fitness and weight loss. This means doing a high energy exercise for a minute or so, followed by a short rest.
In 1886, Thomas Edison proposed to his second wife, Mina Miller, with morse code.
QUIKQUIZ
Secret indulgence: Turning up the volume on a Spotify playlist at the end of the working day.
1 What is ‘syndactyly’
Celebrity crush: Susan Sarandon.
2 Who created
commonly called?
What I’m watching: Suits on Netflix—I love any drama where lawyers are heroes, since that’s my profession.
Paddington Bear?
3 What is the hybrid
One thing I love: Kayaking on Island Bay on a glassy sea on a windless Wellington day.
of a blackberry and raspberry called?
One thing I hate: People being treated unfairly—I hate injustice. Fave Friday night takeaway: Fish and chips—there is no substitute. What do you love most about your job? Meeting people from all walks of life all over the country. Something surprising about your job: Despite the mud we fling at MPs in other parties, we can be civil towards each other away from the fray. You need to be able to do that with people you deal with in Parliament all the time.
It’s never too late to be what you might have been. George Eliot
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Drama, True Story A Street Cat Named Bob (PG, Language & Drug References) Roger Spottiswoode A Street Cat Named Bob is the story of James Bowen, a former drug addict who lived rough on the streets of London. Bob, a stray tomcat, soon becomes James’s hero and redeemer, transforming the life of this one-time transient. Based on the international bestseller, it would be easy to think this film would be a saccharine offering about Bowen’s struggle with some cat cuteness thrown in. However, life on the streets for Bowen shows addiction in all its forms: overdoses, foraging through bins for food, busking for money to survive, the reliance on methadone, and the relentlessly grim daily struggle. A thoughtful, funny and surprisingly moving film that will leave you feline greatly uplifted. (Reviewed by Martin Barrett)
4 What is the capital of Kenya?
5 Who was the mother of two of Jesus’ disciples?
Answers on page 22
Parenthood Rants in the Dark Emily Writes When a mummy blog gets popular enough, it’s usually turned into a book—and most don’t work well in this more linear format. But Rants in the Dark, by Wellingtonian Emily Writes (her actual name, not a clever blog name #missedopportunity), stands above the fray. Her first blog was about how annoying it is when people tell you to enjoy the baby years—and it got over a million hits! Writes says this blog compilation is for other mums who are awake at 4 am. It’s pithy, insightful, laugh-out-loud funny, sprinkled with swears and sometimes crass. As such, it won’t appeal to everyone. But it could be a perfect at 4 am. (Penguin Random House NZ)
What Whales Teach Us About Being Human Last month, New Zealand watched the mass whale strandings in Farewill Spit in dismay. Science is discovering why we feel so connected to these mammals from the deep. Even those of us who don’t consider ourselves ‘animal people’ felt the tragedy of New Zealand’s third biggest whale stranding, when over 400 pilot whales beached themselves—killing about 70 per cent of them. We don’t know why whales strand, although the environmental impacts of pollution, human-made sonars and even ‘ocean noise’ due to human activities, are making strandings more common. But we do know whales often strand in large numbers because of their highly developed empathy. Whales respond to others in distress, even when it means death for themselves. Whales have a much bigger and more elaborate emotional-processing area of the brain than humans. If whales were human-sized, their spindle cells— the neurons responsible for empathy and social organisation—would be twice the size of ours. This could mean that whales have a greater capacity for emotion and empathy than humans.
Empanadas Alison Holst is known for making exotic flavours accessible to Kiwis. This recipe for Empanadas, a Spanish street food, is from the reprint of her classic Meals Without Meat—her first collaboration with son Simon Holst. Short pastry, or make your own 2 cups grated cheese 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped 1 large green or red pepper, diced 10-12 olives, chopped 1 Tbsp capers ½ tsp chilli powder 1 tsp ground cumin ½ tsp oregano
Divide pastry into six balls. In a bowl, combine all filling ingredients. If you can’t be bothered boiling the eggs, just break them into the mixture and combine. Roll out the first balls of pastry until they are 15-20 cm across. Place about ½ cup of filling on one side of each pastry round. Fold over to make a half-moon, seal the seam with a little water, pressing around the edge with a fork. Brush liberally with oil and bake for 30 minutes at 180°C. Brush again once or twice while cooking.
Whales may have what is termed a ‘distributed sense of self’—meaning they can’t separate themselves from their community. ‘When you look at the behaviour of dolphins and whales, especially in the wild, you see a level of social cohesion that is really unmatched in other mammals including the humans,’ says neuroscientist Lori Marino, who was in the documentary Blackfish. (If you haven’t seen this, it’s essential viewing—available on Netflix.) It seems whales do naturally what humans are called to do—‘love your neighbour as yourself’.
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Living with a brain tumour
God has taken Jamie on a journey, teaching him the strength that comes from faith. BY JAMIE BRADLEY
I
’m 51 years old, married to Judy and the father of Maia, who’s 18 and at university. I’ve been a police officer for 25 years—most recently teaching at the Police College. Last June, I had an operation to remove a melanoma on my eye. After that, I had an MRI and was told everything was clear. But then I was put forward for some experimental drug treatment, and the first step was a CT scan on 12 December 2016. Just after Christmas they phoned and said, ‘Get in here!’ And that was when they told me, ‘You have a brain tumour.’ The scan also showed a tumour on the lung and some spots on my liver. I’m having treatment at Wellington Hospital. My days are mainly good at the moment, although I haven’t had been at work much this year—I haven’t had the strength. I’m not feeling unwell now, just fatigued. But my strength is coming back.
It started with a prayer When I was younger, I used to go to church. I stopped when I was about 23. Church just didn’t hold me anymore. But I still knew God was with me. I’d joined the Police, so I was putting myself into dangerous situations, and I always knew God was looking after me. When I first heard the thing on my eye was melanoma, I went to two people at the Police College who I knew were Christians: Sheryn, who went to The Salvation Army, and Rex. I knew they were active Christians—and I knew I needed prayer, because I couldn’t do this alone. Rex asked me a few weeks ago, ‘How did you know to come to me?’ And I said, ‘Well, I’ve always known you were a Christian.’ Sheryn shared a message God had given her when she prayed for me: that God had a plan for me and that God would be with me. So when I got the injections ahead of my eye surgery last year, I asked God to hold my hand. I had a tangible sense God was standing there with me after that prayer. Once I was over the surgery, I talked to Sheryn about coming back to church. The main thing for me was finding a place to go, because my previous experiences of churches were not fantastic. So Sheryn invited me along to The Salvation Army in Johnsonville with her family.
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God plays ‘word games’ with me. In the very first sermon I heard at The Salvation Army, Lesley Nicolson was preaching about Christians being ‘salt and light’ in the world. And she said God’s plan was for us to ‘shake and shine’ where we were. But it was that word ‘plan’ that jumped out at me, because that was the same thing Sheryn has said: that God had a plan for me. So that spoke to me. I joined the dots and knew God was saying, ‘Okay, you’re home. This is where you’re supposed to be.’ Everything just came together—it was the right time, right people, right messages.
Now it’s a relationship That’s what God does for me—he communicates blatantly. Someone will say something or I’ll read something in the Bible, and I get a consistent message. God speaks to where I am and for what I need at the time. Sometimes I get an overall picture. I’ve been reading the book of Acts and in this case God showed me the big picture: that God is telling us to act, to get out there. Jesus has gone back to Heaven, but his instructions are that we get out and do something for God. When I was 20, I was shy and wouldn’t talk about God. So I never grew in my faith either. But now, I’ll talk to anyone about God. And that makes it easier for me to grow in God. Back then, God never spoke to me—but I never sought God out. I went to church, I listened to the sermon, but I never stretched my faith. Now it’s different. And easier. I’m fully in the zone of ‘God can expect anything from me’, rather than ‘what’s God going to do for me?’ I’m seeking out God and asking God to use me. And that’s hugely different!
Trusting God today I wasn’t really focused on the health side of life so much when I started going to church again. My faith journey was the more important thing. Where am I going with God? What’s it going to look like to follow Jesus? That focus brought me to where I needed to be when I got the news about the brain tumour.
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I KNEW I NEEDED PRAYER, BECAUSE I COULDN’T DO THIS ALONE. What this has meant for us as a family is that we’re actually okay. The absolute trust I have in God keeps me in a good head space. Judy tells me that just the fact that God is looking after us—and looking after me—means she’s in a good head space as well. Because God speaks to me so much and gives me assurance, that gives Judy and Maia assurance too. Some people might see themselves as ‘dying from a brain tumour’, but I see myself as living with one. That’s part of the journey God has taken me on. But it’s also a conscious decision. I can moan and think about the negatives—or I can do what God is telling me to do. I’m alive today, which means it’s a good day. I could sit down every morning and cry, ‘Woe is me’, but that’s not living. And God has told me to live. Trust me—and live today. That’s all I’ve got to do: trust God today. I trust God mainly to keep me safe from negative thoughts associated with my tumour. Every day, I imagine myself putting on God’s armour [Ed–see Ephesians chapter 6:10-18]. I used God’s armour when I was waiting to get a CT scan and I was dry retching into the toilet. Even then, I was thanking God, seeing myself holding God’s shield of faith and knowing God was with me, helping me not to go down the path with negative thoughts that could have taken me to a dark place. In hospital, a palliative care doctor was in charge of my meds. He’d come and ask me how I was feeling and was really stumped by my positive attitude. I felt like he wanted me to feel bad, perhaps so he could hold my hand and cry with me. But my answer is: ‘Look, I’m okay. I walk with God. And God gives me the strength I need.’ So I go out with friends, and I don’t worry about what’s going to happen tomorrow. And to tell you the truth, some days I don’t even remember I have a tumour, because God has me in such a good space.
Staying positive
I HAVE NEVER SAID, ‘WHY ME?’ OR COMPLAINED TO GOD, ‘THIS IS NOT FAIR.’
The tumour has grown and I might have just weeks to live. This was devastating news, but it’s not the end of the world. God has me, no matter what. I don’t know where the journey will end up, but that’s not what God has told me to worry about. He’s just told me, ‘Trust me today.’ And I trust others to have faith in God to help me, too. I’ve always tried to be a positive person. Working in the Police you see bad things happen to people—that’s just the nature of the job. You can’t avoid the tragedy in people’s lives. You’re putting people away and dealing with family violence and the terrible things that happen to kids. But in my personal life I’ve always tried to keep reasonably positive. You don’t want to take the negativity home. I learnt very early in my career that’s detrimental to your mental health. So the way I view life is that this tumour is part of my journey. I have never said, ‘Why me?’ or complained to God, ‘This is not fair.’ I don’t have a sense of being ripped off. This has just happened and it’s not God’s fault. And that’s been my attitude right from the start. ‘God, this is not your fault. But you’re the one who’s going to get me through. I’m going to rely on you.’ And I’ve found that God is there to help me. Obviously, healing would be fantastic—and people are praying for that. But the simple messages that God has given me are: put on your spiritual armour, know that I’ll be standing beside you, and trust me today. God has strengthened me, and my faith has grown and grown through this journey. That helps me and it helps the people who love me. We were strong at the start—and we’re still okay. If I die from this, I wouldn’t say God let me down. And I wouldn’t want anyone else to say that. If this hadn’t happened to me, I wouldn’t be where I am now. If this didn’t happen—and in the way that it has—I would have missed having a relationship with God. That’s how I see it.
Jamie: Expect God to Talk To You! I’m here to do God’s work and to be obedient to God, which means I need to seek God in everything I do. So every time I open the Bible, I don’t do it just to read. I read the Bible and expect God to talk to me. I’m consistently getting messages from God as I read the Bible and listen to sermons at church. I like to come to church because I get a boost of the Holy Spirit. But that’s because I come with an expectant heart. The day I got saved—handing my life over to Jesus at The Salvation Army—every song at church was about being saved. And God continues to speak to me through the songs and the preaching. I listen to the worship leader and I take notes during the sermon, because I have an expectant heart. God speaks to me through TV, through books, through songs, sermons and Bible verses that people give me. They come at the right time. I expect to hear from God what he wants me to do, where he wants me to be and who he wants me to talk to. And that strengthens me. When a crisis comes and your world is falling apart, do you turn to the world or to God? I’m a black-andwhite person, and when I got this brain tumour, God said, ‘Trust me. I’m with you.’ And that was good enough for me.
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How to Argue The ability to effectively problem solve is the major contributing factor for relationship success, according to researchers. Every now and then you meet a couple who say they never argue—but they simply choose avoidance as their coping mechanism. It’s not whether we argue, it’s how we argue that matters. 1. Don’t blame: Your partner is not responsible for your feelings, so avoid blaming them for how you feel. Instead, discuss the issue from your point of view. This is often described as making ‘I statements’. But beware of simply disguising your blame as an ‘I statement’. For example, saying, ‘I feel you are acting like a slob when you leave wet towels on the floor’, is really blame. A true ‘I statement’ would be: ‘I get really annoyed when you leave towels on the floor.’ You are stating your feelings, but taking responsibility for them. Which leads us to … 2. Take responsibility: True resolution will only come when you both take responsibility for your side. One partner might be being a bit uptight about wet towels. On the other hand, is it really such a sacrifice to hang up the towels, if it makes your partner happy? What can you do to make the situation better? Ultimately, resolving conflict is not about one partner ‘winning’, it is about you both finding a solution together … if only it was that simple …
LEARN HOW TO ARGUE WELL, AND YOU WILL BE SET UP FOR LIFE.
3. No name-calling: Resolution may be the aim of the game, but in reality our emotions often take over during an argument. This is when we’re in danger of name-calling and saying cruel and hurtful things. This will only get in the way of finding resolution—and will damage your relationship. When you find yourself hurtling into attack mode, practise putting in place an internal ‘pause button’: stop, breathe and reset. Get yourself back on topic. 4. Don’t shut down: The flip side of attacking is shutting down. It’s another way of protecting yourself and ‘winning’ the argument. But it’s important your partner knows you are hearing them and are emotionally present. Even saying, ‘I don’t know what to say, I’ll have to think about this and get back to you,’ shows you are involved and want to solve the problem. Do get back to them. 5. Stick to the issue: It’s so easy to derail a disagreement by bringing up other tensions. It’s usually a defence mechanism, such as ‘Well, I left the towels on the floor, but you never empty the dishwasher.’ Not only is this introducing other tensions, it’s blaming. And it’s breaking another golden rule: don’t generalise. You can bet they do empty the dishwasher sometimes! Don’t be unfair to your partner by making sweeping statements. 10 WarCry 25 MARCH 2017
Solve Problems Together A study of 20 marriages lasting more than 25 years identified one distinguishing characteristic in the most satisfied couples: they were good at joint problem-solving. Dr Howard Markman, director of a 10-year longitudinal study into marriage, calls constructive arguing ‘the single biggest predictor of marital success over time’. Issues such as financial and sexual issues—often cited as the leading causes for divorce—are simply red herrings. ‘Many people believe that the causes of marital problems are the differences between people and problem areas such as money, sex, children. However, our findings indicate it is not the differences that are important, but how these differences and problems are handled—particularly early in marriage.’ Learn how to argue well, and you will be set up for life.
TESTIFY! Sam Parker, children and youth worker at Kapiti Salvation Army, struggled with depression and self-harm. But God restored him and his whole family. When I was about four, my grandmother took me to church. If you ever met her, she’d always tell you two stories. Firstly, about the day she heard me talking to someone outside the house. She came to have a look and I was demanding, ‘Jesus, if you’re real, come to me right now!’ Then, there’s the time she took me to a church bonfire. I stood in front of everyone and said, ‘Right, now we’re going to sing this song.’ They obliged, but I would get bored, so I would say, ‘Stop, stop, now we’re going to sing this song’ … like only a bossy four-year-old can do. I moved away with my parents and stopped going to church. For about 10 years, we moved around the country a lot and I lost my way. My father has always been a very heavy drinker and chain smoker. We had an incident of domestic violence between my parents. It only ever happened once, but was quite severe. I lost a lot of trust in my father—he was the one that was supposed to protect us and look after us. We lived in the same house, but I didn’t talk to my dad for about four years. My mum fell into a deep depression and tried to take her own life. At the time, I didn’t understand why and what was going on, and that led me to my own depression and self-harm. As I was going through all that, I got invited along to youth group at Browns Bay Salvation Army (now Albany Bays). I was invited to Easter camp, and that’s where I really felt God’s presence for the first time. I told my story to the corps officer (pastor)—the first time I had ever told
TEN YEARS AGO I COULDN’T EVEN SPEAK TO MY DAD, BUT NOW I CAN SAY I’M SO PROUD OF HIM.
fateful day I saw an advertisement for children’s and youth worker at Kapiti Salvation Army. When I started in my role, there hadn’t been a youth group for 15 years, so it was exciting to start that up again. We now have almost 20 kids and it continues to grow—a lot have come to us through our Community Ministries centre and playgroup, and we’ve been able to just wrap our support around them.
anyone what was going on. I was nearly in tears when I prayed, ‘Lord, I need my dad back.’
The thing I love about children and youth work is that you never know who you’re talking to—they could be the next prime minister, and you could be a small part of helping them achieve their dreams. It’s also a real honour when young people trust you with their pain, and you can be that person that helps them through. The greatest joy is just knowing I can help someone, some way, somehow, some day.
Soon after that, my dad came home and told me and my siblings he was quitting his job because he realised how much of our lives he had missed. My dad and I are like best mates now. I’m so proud of my dad. This year he has cut down his drinking and has decided to quit smoking. Ten years ago I couldn’t even speak to my dad, but now I can say I’m so proud of him. I’m a qualified primary school teacher and had worked as a youth worker at Albany Bays Salvation Army. One
MORE INFO | Salvation Army Youth Online firezone.co.nz
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UNLEASH YOUR INNER GENIUS Don’t panic! You can face those end-of-year exams with confidence, not regret. BY CHRISTINA TYSON
Maybe it seems like a long way off, but if you want to avoid that sick feeling just before exams, today's the day to start. If you get things organised now, you’ll make those final frantic weeks of school and exams soooo much easier!
YOU ARE CLEVER! First off, your brain is amazing, but scientists reckon we probably use less than 10 per cent of its potential, which means any of us can stretch our brain power to study more effectively. Every brain has trillions of cells called ‘neurons’, each more powerful than most computers. And every one has the potential to make 20,000 connections with other neurons. Which means you have exactly the same brain capacity as Albert Einstein … or that super clever, slightly nerdy physics teacher at school. The secret to being more of a genius is to increase the connections made between your brain’s neurons. You do that by challenging yourself to learn new things and go beyond your intellectual comfort zone.
YOU ARE PREPARED! Secondly, as boring as the word sounds, preparation is important. So here are a few other things you’ll need to become an amazing (or simply more on-to-it) student: Prepare a place to study: No matter how hard you try, you can’t learn well with distractions like TV or music or people. You need a place that’s quiet, comfortable, well-lit and relaxing (ideally not your bed). Have everything ready (paper, pens, textbooks, highlighters), so you don’t waste time looking for 12 firezone.co.nz 25 MARCH 2017
YOU’RE IN THE PERFECT PLACE TO KEEP YOUR LEARNING MUSCLES WORKING OUT! them. You might like to stick up positive messages and even photos of people or friends who inspire you. Prepare your mind to study: Here are three simple tips from Kevin Paul, author of Study Smarter, Not Harder:
But I'm Not a Great Student Not everyone succeeds at study and school—and that’s okay!
1. Set study goals: Goals help you overcome the temptation to procrastinate and keep you on task. Realistic goals are good because when you tick them off, they give you a feeling of progress and success. Dividing each subject you’re studying into topics is one way to break big goals into smaller tasks.
There are lots of other ways we can succeed. In New Zealand, lots of trades are desperate for good qualified staff, so don’t forget to consider trade courses and apprenticeships. High schools offer opportunities for training and work experience before you leave school so you can try things out before you make your final decision.
2. Relax your mind: Stress and anxiety distract us from study. Stress is normal, but when it's too much of a problem, you might need to find ways to relax. Breathing techniques and muscle relaxation can help (Google these). Studies also show certain kinds of music help us relax and learn better. It’s not heavy metal music, hip hop or rap (no surprise there!), but classical music (especially baroque) is helpful, as well as Ancient Indian and Japanese music.
Maybe you’re not sure what you want to do with your life yet, so you might not want to dive into study and a student loan debt straight away. Sometimes a little work experience can open our eyes to how we’d like to spend the next few years. Then we can decide what we might want to focus on.
3. Activate your knowledge: Once you’re calm, alert and feeling good about yourself, it’s time to ‘activate’ what you know about the topic you’re about to study. A simple way to do this is scribbling down everything you remember about that topic. Do this for five minutes without editing yourself. Then stop. This is like what an athlete does when they stretch before a competition—you’re warming up your mind. Try it! Now it’s time to focus on reviewing what you’ve been learning at school so you can build on that information with all the new things you'll learn the rest of the year. You’ll be saving all that into your long-term memory, so you can retrieve it easily whenever you need to.
YOU CAN MAKE AN EFFORT! Finally, realise that just a little extra effort now will pay off. This is true of anything in life. If we don’t put in the work, it doesn’t matter how much we could have achieved, we’ll always fall short. To me, adventurer Bear Grylls has always seemed like the classic overachiever. Yet Bear says that when he was growing up, he felt small and not likely to succeed. He says: The difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary is so often just simply that little word: extra. And for me, I had always grown up with the belief that if
Lots of people do succeed at university who didn’t do well at high school. Often this is because their high school subjects didn’t seem super relevant at the time. But once we're excited about a particular job, those same subjects make sense. They have a purpose to us now. One of the exciting things about our friendship with God is that the Holy Spirit nudges us toward experiences that help us discover our passion. That passion then becomes a driving force that keeps us going in a direction we might never have imagined. So keep listening for God to give you those nudges!
someone succeeds it is because they are brilliant or talented or just better than me … and the more of these words I heard the smaller I always felt! But the truth is often very different … and for me to learn that ordinary me can achieve something extra-ordinary by giving that little bit extra, when everyone else gives up, meant the world to me and I really clung to it. Do you feel anxious about study? Are you worrying about exams? Don’t give up! Change your attitude, your environment and your behaviour and you will make the most of the opportunities school is giving you this year. Study Smarter, Not Harder by Kevin Paul is the source of much of this article. The author explains memory techniques, time management, reading to remember, taking notes, essays and exam prep. He also clobbers myths like ‘I study better with music on’ and ‘It’s okay to leave it to the last minute—I work better under pressure’. Highly recommended, available online.
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FROM ‘FROZEN GUYS’ TO ‘GO GUYS’ Andrew Davis is praise band leader at The Salvation Army’s Kuwait Corps. He shares thoughts from his part of the world about how The Salvation Army is connecting with The Salvation Army’s Whole World Mobilising campaign. BY ANDREW DAVIS To me, going forward as a mobilised Salvation Army is about reaching out to people and sharing the grace, love, care and wisdom we have received from God. It is helping others believe the truth that God can do wonders in their lives, regardless of where they have been or what they have done. God’s desire is for us to see the truth and accept him as our saviour. At times, people find it hard to see the goodness of God. They may or may not understand God’s nature—and that is where we Salvationists come to play our part. We are called to show others how God can change their lives. We do this through our words and our deeds. So, in January, we looked at God’s call for us to ‘GO FORWARD’. And then, last month, we explored the idea of not wanting to be ‘FROZEN guys FEARFUL to move FAITHFULLY FORWARD.’ We don’t want to be a frozen people, always stuck in the past and not wanting to move 14 WarCry 25 MARCH 2017
forward, because as Luke 9:62 says, ‘Anyone who looks behind him is useless for the kingdom of God.’ A few lines in the song ‘Let It Go’ from the movie Frozen summarise this well: Let it go, let it go! Can’t hold it back anymore. Let it go, let it go! Turn away and slam the door.
GOD HAS CHOSEN ORDINARY PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME TO CARRY OUT HIS CALLING. Don’t let anything hold you back Letting go of our past life is not easy. Heartbreak, shame, failure and disappointment are just some of the things we might face or may have already been through that can keep us stuck where we are. Why can’t we go forward? Is it because we don’t have the courage to move? Or is it because we don’t have faith in God? Our lack of faith stops us from putting all of our troubles at God’s feet. Look at the lives of Moses, Paul, Isaiah and Peter—to name a few. They understood faith and trusted God regardless of how difficult their situation was. Being
strong in their faith is what kept them from being frozen. You may not feel frozen, but there can still be that feeling of something holding you back. We doubt ourselves and question God. We ask, ‘Can I be the person to do God’s work?’ or ‘But I am just an ordinary person. How could I be a soldier in God’s army?’ In Kuwait, we have been considering the example of such people as Elijah, Esther, Joseph, Jonah, Ruth, Rahab, Philip and Paul. All were ordinary people chosen by God to do his work. Sometimes the work done for the kingdom might be big or very small, but the truth is that God has chosen ordinary people like you and me to carry out his calling. It’s up to us to decide whether we accept the call or not, but if God has chosen us, it means we can do anything through his grace and our faith in him. And so we find ourselves in a process of transforming from FROZEN GUYS to GO GUYS.
The Salvation Army Middle East Region The first Salvation Army officers were appointed to Kuwait in 2008. Expansion continued from 2010 into the neighbouring countries of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman. The current Regional Officers are Majors Stewart and Heather Grinsted, from the United Kingdom. Writing in the Kuwait Times this month, Stewart recalled a recent trip to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. He was greeted by two young Emiratis at passport control who apologised for the long queue and delay. One of them looking at Stewart’s badge and asked, ‘Salvation Army?’ The man then followed this with another question: ‘Church with guns?’ ‘No, no!’ said Stewart. ‘We are an Army without guns. The only weapon we have is love!’ To which the passport control officer replied, ‘Jayed! A’jabanihaqqan! That is good!’
Mobilising in the Middle East Now that we have accepted the call of God to play a part in ‘mobilising’ as The Salvation Army around the world and to ‘go forward’, how do we begin? In the Middle East, we find the options to do this are scarce. It’s often up to us to find and create these opportunities where we can.
Soon after, another airport official told Stewart to ‘keep up the good work’. ‘What is this good work?’ Stewart asks. ‘It’s being as positive, friendly, accepting, welcoming and encouraging—participating in the good work of building a positive, relational, accepting world! Thanks be to God, this region isn’t just about a very warm climate—it’s full of very warm people!
We decided to form a ‘think tank’ with a group of soldiers from our corps in Kuwait. We meet at the officer’s residence and brainstorm ideas and explore the possibilities of spreading the message of Christ. A common idea shared by all of us—although strange at first—was to do a brass band outreach. It made sense to us because Christians and non-Christians alike are interested in music. Last year, we played many more gigs than in previous years. Not just in other churches or embassies, but also in unexpected places, like a Kuwaiti winter sale! A brass band in the Middle East is not at all common among locals. We’re hoping that conversations will be started through the common interest of music so we can gain more influence with people and continue to move forward as an army for God. I believe initiating the mobilising mission should start from our hearts by accepting God’s call to go forward. Let’s not be FROZEN GUYS, but GO GUYS with our armour of faith in God! THE WHOLE WORLD MOBILISING | For more stories like this, visit mobilising.salvationarmy.org
See the latest Salvation Army job opportunities: online at salvationarmy.org.nz/employment
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Salvation Army Questions Decision Not to Fund Successful Drug Programme The Salvation Army is publically releasing the results of an independent review into its programme helping gang members overcome methamphetamine addiction to highlight its huge success. Salvation Army Addiction Services National Manager Lieut-Colonel Lynette Hutson said the decision was made to celebrate the ‘extraordinarily positive’ results of the Hauora Programme, which has been running since 2009. The Army is fighting a decision by the Ministry of Health not to renew funding of the programme. The Hauora Programme was developed and run in partnership with the Notorious Chapter of the Mongrel Mob, helping its members overcome methamphetamine addictions. It sees clients attend with their family and has a strong emphasis on tikanga Māori. In the review, report authors LCK Consulting and Vertical Research found the programme was delivering effective addiction treatment. There was ‘overwhelming feedback’ from those they interviewed that ‘because of their involvement with the programme, their lives are better and they have developed positive, life-changing beliefs, attitudes, understanding and skills’. The report found 92 per cent of the 90 participants had stopped using methamphetamine six months after the camp and 55 per cent were still clean three years later. In addition, 61 per cent had stopped using alcohol and other drugs in the year after the programme. It also found participants were committing fewer and less serious crimes, having better relationships with their partners and children, and more were getting back into work and education. ‘We wanted to make these results available to the public because they’re exceptional both in terms of measuring the effectiveness of the Hauora Programme’s alcohol and
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drug treatment and its impact in supporting hard-toreach communities,’ Lynette said. ‘We now have evidence that we made a huge difference in people’s lives—more than other models currently used to work with these groups.’ The Notorious Chapter had reached out for help and was trying to make positive changes for its members, and it was sad to see that such change wouldn’t be supported in the future, Lynette said. ‘So few people are willing or able to work with this sector of society, and when there’s something that’s working, the lack of foresight to not continue is disturbing.’ Former Notorious Chapter leader the late Roy Dunn began working to change the chapter’s culture in the 1990s and spent 14 years trying to find someone to work with the chapter to break the scourge of methamphetamine addiction. ‘In those years, many people in society did not take us seriously,’ Roy said several years ago. ‘They viewed us with suspicion and mistrust. I can see why. I think it’s fair to say we continue to be viewed as the baddest of the bad. I recall saying, “Everybody deserves a second chance.” Well, [this programme has] been about getting that second chance.’ When he died in March 2016, Roy’s legacy included the Hauora Programme that gave 90 people and their families that second chance—and Lynette said The Salvation Army remains determined to continue that legacy. It had received strong support from the wider New Zealand community, she said, and the Army continues to speak to the Minister of Health and MPs across multiple parties as it works to have the funding reinstated. READ THE REPORT | salvationarmy.org.nz/HauoraReport
New Building Works Well for Invercargill
A new building is becoming the foundation for Invercargill Corps to build new links between different parts of the corps and the local community. The corps’ new building was opened in November 2016 by Colonel Willis Howell at a ceremony attended by MP Sarah Dowie and Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt. Corps Officer Captain Annette Bray said the move was helping the corps connect all its services and expand its links with the community. The move was the end of three years of difficult decisions, Annette says, but the new building had allowed extra space the corps needed and was conveniently located next to its Community Ministries and Emergency Accommodation buildings. ‘It has been a long journey, but one where we are thankful to God for leading us every step of the way. We are looking forward to what God is going to do into the future with all aspects of the integrated mission that is The Salvation Army Invercargill.’ The youth and children’s space in the old building was getting too small to house their growing children’s ministry, and various corps groups were using the Sunday morning worship space. But in the new building they have been able to set up three separate areas for youth and children, worship and a community hub. Although they’re only just spreading the word that the community room is available, they’ve already had interest from the local branch of Toastmasters and a funeral home, and hosted a public meeting. One of the biggest benefits is having all their buildings together and all their staff on one site. The aim is to be able to link Community Ministry clients with activities at the church and the other way around, she said. ‘We had one lady who came in for a food parcel, who had kids. We said, “We have a play café that you could go to with the kids—that’s the building you need to go to on Thursday.” And you can just point out the window; it’s not somewhere different you need to give directions to.’ The building is also next to the emergency accommodation hostel the corps runs, providing another opportunity for integration. ‘Some of the emergency accommodation people who are in there on a Sunday have started coming to church. They don’t have to travel, they just go out the back door and they’re here. We’ve had three or four of them come so far—one comes all the time and one comes when he’s not working.’
Mobilising in Wellington February’s Cigna Round the Bays on Sunday 19 February was the biggest yet—with 14,500 people from the wider Wellington region taking part. Eighty thousand people turned out for the 21st Newtown Festival on Sunday 5 March. The Salvation Army was visible at both events. Wellington Citadel Band performed to Round the Bays crowds—runners, walkers and supporters. At the Newtown Festival, the Wellington South Corps Band played outside the Army hall on Constable Street, along with the corps and Bridge Recovery Church music teams. Salvation Army mascot Shieldy took part and festivalgoers also enjoyed the corps’ sausage sizzle. Conversation was shared, information leaflets distributed and people invited to Salvation Army activities.
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Band Camp Nurtures Skills and Friendships Over the weekend of 3 to 6 February, close to 90 keen brass players met at Silverstream Retreat for the annual Salvation Army Brass Camp. Forty-five musicians came as part of the Academy Band— including an astonishing 29 cornet players! The Academy Band was for players of all abilities, with ages ranging from 11 to 19. Alongside these young people were a good number of tutors there to help as required. The National Youth Band (Bandmaster Duncan Horton and Executive Officers Lieut Daniel and Captain Juanita Buckingham) were also at camp, rehearsing for their 2017 events. A number of new players successfully auditioned for the National Youth Band. It was a real privilege to have Ken Waterworth, Bandmaster of The Salvation Army’s Melbourne Staff Band, lead rehearsals for both of the groups. Ken is a vastly experienced musician with a teaching background. His sessions were informative, interesting and full of humour—ideally suited to the vast array of skill levels that he was leading. The camp was not only an opportunity to improve one’s brass skills; it was also a time of worship and fellowship. Each day, a devotional thought was presented to encourage and stimulate spiritual reflection. There was ample time for outdoor games in the great weather Wellington turned on over the weekend. During the evenings, after rehearsals had finished, there was
time to relax, including in a Saturday night quiz competition involving all the campers. On Sunday afternoon, the band travelled to Wellington City Corps to provide musical support at the welcome of Commissioners Andy and Yvonne Westrupp, the new leaders of the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory. One of the really encouraging things to observe as the weekend progressed, other than people’s obvious improvement in playing together, was the way everyone interacted. For a number of campers, this was the first band camp they had attended, which could have been daunting, but nonetheless they got on with it, made friends and really enjoyed themselves. BY ROWEN GEDDES
An Appealing Opportunity The Salvation Army is offering New Zealanders the chance to join the movement to help end poverty in New Zealand. The Army is expanding its search for collectors for its annual Red Shield Appeal week in May, which has the theme, ‘It’s time to end poverty in New Zealand’. All funds raised from the Red Shield street appeal fund the frontline work of The Salvation Army in New Zealand. While the Army has typically used volunteers from corps and centres to collect, this year it’s spreading the net wider, offering the public the chance to join the Army for an hour or more collecting money. For the first time, this year people who want to sign up as a collector can go to The Salvation Army’s website and fill out a request form, Salvation Army Community Engagement manager Rhondda Middleton said. ‘They just have to fill out a form and be ready and willing to help The Salavation Army, and we will do the rest.’ Those attending a Salvation Army corps or centre will also be given the opportunity to volunteer through their church soon. The Army was extremely grateful for the dedicated support of many corps members and staff who gave their time to collect, but hoped to increase the number of collectors and sites—allowing more people to donate. Volunteering as a collector was not just a benefit to the Army, there were upsides for the collector as well, Rhondda said. 18 WarCry 25 MARCH 2017
‘You really get to feel like you’re part of something and making a difference. And the number of compliments you get for The Salvation Army as you stand there is just amazing. It’s a really good boost!’ SIGN UP TO HELP | salvationarmy.org.nz/RedShieldVolunteer
DO WE NEED ANOTHER REFORMATION? DOES CHRISTIANITY NEED TO BE REBORN?
GAZETTE Bereaved: Mjr Lola Bailey of her twin sister, Coral Aileen White, on 22 Feb. A service of thanksgiving and remembrance for Coral was conducted by Mjr Judith Bennett at Levin Corps on 27 Feb. Please support Mjr Lola Bailey and other family members in prayer. First-time grandparents: Congratulations to Lt-Cols David and Margaret Bateman on the birth of Maddison Lydia Hamilton on 12 March to Joy and Trent Hamilton. Retirement: Mjr Marilyn Leque on 31 March after 22 years, two months and 20 days of active officer service. Marilyn and her husband Darrell were warranted as auxiliary captains in 1995 after four years as envoys—first as Assistant Managers and then as Managers at Bethany Village, Christchurch. In 1997, they were appointed Managers at Omaio Village Nelson. Marilyn had an additional appointment as Divisional Medical Fellowship Secretary, Canterbury/North West Division. On 12 Jan 2000, Marilyn and Darrell were commissioned with the rank of captain. The couple had a change of work in 2005, appointed as Assistant Directors at Auckland Bridge and Chaplains of Recovery Church. In 2010, they were promoted to major and appointed as Directors of Supportive Accommodation, Addington, Christchurch. Darrell retired from this appointment on 31 Oct 2011. In Aug 2011, Marilyn was appointed Earthquake Recovery Chaplain, Southern Division. Then, in 2013, she was appointed Assistant Divisional Secretary for Personnel, Southern Division, and Court Ministries Officer, Christchurch. In 2016, Marilyn became the Divisional Missionary Fellowship Secretary, Southern Division, in addition to her other roles. It is from these appointments that Marilyn retires. It is with sincere thanks and appreciation that we honour Mjr Marilyn Leque for her faithful service. We pray God’s blessing on Marilyn and Darrell in their retirement. International Appointments: Effective 1 March: Lt-Cols Yousaf Ghulam and Rebecca Yousaf, officers of the Pakistan Territory currently serving respectively as Secretary for Programme and Sponsorship Secretary in the Sri Lanka Territory, are appointed as territorial leaders in that territory. Lieut-Colonel Yousaf Ghulam is appointed as Territorial Commander and Lieut-Colonel Rebecca Yousaf as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries. They will take up their new appointment responsibilities with the rank of colonel. The couple have previously served in New Zealand.
Martin Luther, John Calvin and the 16th century Reformers had a radical impact on the Church and, in turn, changed their world. This was a defining moment for Christianity, where the transforming power of God’s Word was released into pulpit and pew. This spearheaded the development of modern Europe and the wider world in terms of metamorphosising to modernity. For instance, it helped reshape many of the cultural patterns inherited from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, laying the foundation for the development of modern culture. Understandings of human and women’s rights, including marriage and family life, were radically changed. So too were concepts of work and vocation, especially by challenging the separation between the sacred and secular. Consequent advancements included development of the study of the natural sciences and advances in medicine and astronomy. Economics was impacted, with a strengthening of financial prosperity in Europe and the Western World. Education was strengthened, especially in the area of literacy, with the ‘unleashing of the vernacular Bible’ aiding developments in arts and literature. Alister McGrath writes in Reformation Thought: ‘The fundamental conviction motivating the magisterial reformers was that Christianity could be best performed and renewed by returning to the beliefs and practices of the early church … The great vision of many 16th century reformers was summed up in the Latin slogan ‘Christianismus renascens—Christianity being born again’. As I’ve considered the reformation, I’ve found myself asking, ‘What was the catalyst that brought about such momentous change?’ I believe part of the answer lies in the Five Solas (sola being the Latin word for ‘alone’), which the reformers used to stand against a compromised and corrupt church of its day: 1) Sola Scriptura: scripture alone; 2) Sola Gratia: salvation by grace alone; 3) Sola Fide: salvation by faith alone; 4) Solus Christus: in Christ alone; 5) Soli Deo Gloria: for the glory of God alone. I suggest a return to the Five Solas—and in particular Sola Scriptura: releasing the power of God’s Word in pulpit and pew—may hold a key to the renewing of The Salvation Army. If we are to recapture the glory days of our movement and rise and thrive in our contemporary context, we need to return to living and proclaiming the Word of God as a major focus of our ministry. ‘Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and preaching the good news that Jesus is the Christ’ (Acts 5:42). With faith, prayer and a determination to unleash the Word of God, we may live to see Salvationismismus renascens—Salvationism being born again! Lieut-Colonel Rod Carey Territorial Secretary for Programme 25 MARCH 2017 WarCry 19
In the last of three reflections, Major Barbara Sampson testifies to God’s power to restore. BY BARBARA SAMPSON
I know a little bit about restoration. When I retired three years ago I felt like a piece of old furniture, worn out from use and put into storage in a dark cupboard somewhere. But God found me and brought me out into the light of day. He looked me over—he knew my dents and bruises, the cuts and scrapes and the stories associated with each one. ‘That dent was when you …’ or ‘That scrape was when someone …’. ‘I remember,’ he says, ‘I know, I understand.’ While I felt rather ashamed of my shabby condition, God looked at me, not with the eyes of a Critic or Accuser but with the eyes of a Restorer. He saw something of value still in me, something worth making new. So how did God go about restoring me? Rest was needed, he said—green pastures and still waters, whenever and for however long. So I took myself off to stay with friends near a stretch of water. 20 WarCry 25 MARCH 2017
There, as I walked and pondered, I was able to make an honest assessment of the state of things. Some things needed to be tossed out, trimmed back, turned around. ‘See I am doing a new thing,’ God said (Isaiah 43:19). Such pruning can be painful, but this was pain with a purpose. ‘So what is your purpose in restoring me, God?’ I asked. The answer came as clear as the blue water around me. He needed to restore me in order to prepare me for a new season of grace and a new kind of task, a new open door of ministry.
WHEREVER JESUS WENT HE RESTORED PEOPLE TO THEIR ORIGINAL PURPOSE. All that I had ever known of God as Shepherd, Saviour, Lord, Friend, Advocate, Companion, Provider, Sustainer, Helper, Comforter, Guide and Protector encouraged me at that point to trust him as my Restorer, the
One making all things new within me. And even as he restored me, God was preparing me for what this new season of retirement would bring. And so it has been, thanks be to God!
Moments of encounter This winsome word ‘restoration’ is not often used in Scripture, yet the Bible is full of examples of it. Especially in the gospels there are stories of people— ordinary, sinful, fractured people just like you and me—being made new and restored to a new kind of beauty and wholeness. Wherever Jesus went he restored people to their original purpose. Think of Zacchaeus (see Luke 19:1-10), a wealthy tax collector, short of stature and very short on honesty. He clambers up a tree to see Jesus pass by. Jesus stops, looks up, calls to Zacchaeus, invites himself home to lunch (the ultimate compliment), and over bread and wine they talk together. Well, we don’t exactly know what they eat for lunch or what they talk about, but when Zacchaeus emerges again into the public eye, he is a changed man. Something has been restored in him, and to prove it, Zacchaeus restores all the money—in fact four times as
much—that he had stolen from people. Then there’s Peter, full of promise, full of declaration that he will follow Jesus to the very end, but turning to dust and denial when the going gets too tough for him. After the resurrection, Jesus seeks Peter out. On the beach over breakfast, Jesus speaks to him and restores Peter. Peter’s three denials are met by Jesus’ three commands that reinstate Peter as a follower: ‘Feed my lambs … Take care of my sheep … Feed my sheep’ (see John 21:15-19). From that holy moment of encounter Peter moves on to become a foundation stone upon which the early church is built.
AFTER 72 YEARS OF SPITEFUL HATE, RAGE AND SELFISHNESS, I LEFT THE DARKNESS ... FOR THE INCREDIBLE JOY OF GOODNESS! What a tangled web I knew a woman who for years had lived a lie. Lots of lies, in fact. Every new minister who came to the church where she attended got the yarn spun to them of her loneliness, her medical crises, her desperate needs. She would call someone late at night—usually the minister or a man in the church—because she was in extremity and was sure she was dying.
honest confession after another, she started to live—really live—in the full blaze of God’s restoring love and the ready forgiveness of her colleagues. Poet Walter Scott wrote: Oh, what a tangled web we weave When first we practise to deceive! I might add: W hat sweet relief when truth is told and new beginnings can unfold!
Renewed and restored I love hearing the testimonies of people who have done their nonsense and paid for their crimes, but then at some point—often in mid-life—they have an awakening. It’s as if a light goes on. ‘How did I get to this place? When did I step onto this conveyor belt that just keeps taking me round and round, in and out of trouble, never learning, always falling down in the same old ways? Why can’t I stop and get off?’
MAKE ONE OF YOUR DETERMINATIONS FOR 2017 Is the image of God clearly seen in and through you? What might God be wanting to restore in you or restore you to this year? Is there another person whom you need to forgive and thus restore? See Galatians 6:1 on how to do this.
Getting off is hard to do, for sure, but changing the same-old, same-old is essential if we are ever going to become something different, our own better or best selves. We need help from those who will hold us up, give us strength, encourage us to keep going, to keep on with the new thing that God is doing. When this happens, it is truly wonderful to see.
shoulder out of nowhere and completely changed my life. I was born again.
A man had some Christian friends who were often encouraging him to read the Bible or other Christian literature. Someone even signed him up to receive a regular book of devotional readings. Every time the booklet arrived in the mail he tossed it in the bin. ‘Then,’ he said, ‘one day Jesus tapped me on the
The image of God that is within each one of us (see Genesis 1:27) can get dulled by the onslaughts of life. But God, the Restorer, is always working to renew that image within us, shining us up and restoring us to what he created us to be. ‘Be on the lookout for what I am doing,’ God says. ‘I’m making all things new.’
‘After 72 years of spiteful hate, rage and selfishness, I left the darkness of despair and misery for the incredible joy of goodness! Now I read [that devotional booklet] cover to cover when it comes!’ What a waste of 72 years of that man’s life! But what glory for his remaining years!
Then one day she overstepped the mark and it became clear she was not telling the truth. The circle of compassionate people who had jumped to her needs for 15 years or so gathered to decide on a plan of action. One of them—a woman—went and spoke to her, challenged her about what was true and what was not. Amazingly, the woman confessed the lies. With what looked like huge relief she stepped out of the web of deceit she had woven around herself for so long, and into the light of truth. She had a lot of apologising to do, a lot of lost ground to make up. But slowly, through one
With what looked like huge relief she stepped out of the web of deceit she had woven around herself for so long, and into the light of truth. 25 MARCH 2017 WarCry 21
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Songs made famous by another 8 Summer fruits 9 Non-military 10 Interference 11 An official list 12 More to do than normal 13 Business sections 18 Deviates
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New Teaching Resource: In the Master’s Hands Written by respected author Robert Street for the One Army teaching series, In the Master’s Hands teaches that every life is meant to be sacramental —an outward and visible expression of an inward and invisible grace. This resource considers the place and use of specific ceremonies and sacraments in the Church. Excellent for group study and personal reflection. Order from Salvationist Resources www.salvationarmy.org.nz/shop, p: (04) 382 0768, e: mailorder@nzf. salvationarmy.org. The DVD is also online with the full series of One Army international teaching materials at www.salvationarmy.org/OneArmy
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Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 8–10 Apr: Midland Division Review 29–30 Apr: Christchurch City Complex Opening Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 8–10 Apr: Midland Division Review 13, 14 & 16 Apr: Easter Services at Feilding Corps 29–30 Apr: Christchurch City Complex Opening
4 Show sound judgement 5 Fears 6 Culinary formulas 8 Complimented 14 Downright 15 Playhouses 16 Thought of 17 Duplicates 19 Pressed 21 Fit
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Wellington South, Whakatane, Whangarei, Winton and Woodville Corps; Booth College of Mission; The Salvation Army in Taiwan. Quiz Answers: 1 Webbed feet, 2 Michael Bond, 3 Tayberry, 4 Nairobi, 5 Salome (Mark 15:40). Crossword Answers: Across: 7 Covers, 8 Cherries, 9 Civilian, 10 Static, 11 Register, 12 Busier, 13 Departments, 18 Varies, 20 Listened, 22 School, 23 Thirteen, 24 Selected, 25 Events. Down: 1 Noticed, 2 Medicine, 3 Assist, 4 Sensible, 5 Dreads, 6 Recipes, 8 Congratulated, 14 Absolute, 15 Theatres, 16 Hatched, 17 Repeats, 19 Ironed, 21 Suited.
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‘Peter came to Jesus. He asked, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but 77 times.” ’ Matthew 18:21-22, NIRV
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It’s not that easy to get over it when someone hurts us. It’s not easy, but it is smart! It’s smart to forgive people because it stops us worrying and hurting so much when we remember what they did. It’s also smart because we know that sometimes we hurt others. Usually we don’t hurt people on purpose. Most often it’s an accident—like when we say something without thinking that might make someone feel sad. But if ever we do hurt other someone, it always makes us feel better when they forgive us and give us another chance. So it’s only fair to give that same second (or third or fourth …) chance to anyone who hurts us too. Forgiveness is smart, but it’s not easy—so we may need to ask Jesus to help us forgive when we feel hurt.
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for forgiving me and making me part of your family. I want to be kind to people and not feel angry about mistakes they made in the past. Help me to forgive people when they do something that upsets me. Amen. 25 MARCH 2017 WarCry 23
Shadow Answer: E
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