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.
Over the summer holidays a couple of people spoke words of encouragement into my life. It was just what I needed, and helped re-ignite a passion for my job. We need encouragers in our life, in the same way that we need sun and rest and the occasional ice cream. They bring joy and life.
Major Seth Le Leu reminded me the Army needs ‘troublers of Israel’— something the prophet Elijah was called disparagingly. Later, Catherine Booth called it ‘disturbing the present’. And I was greatly inspired by talking to a real life ‘disturber’ Major Campbell Roberts. He has stood on the front lines of protest, and spoken truth to power.
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Publishing for 135 years | Issue 6709
ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online)
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But perhaps what encouraged me the most, was that Campbell admitted it hasn’t always been easy. He questioned himself, and was often criticised. He was honest enough to say that the harshest criticism came from within the Army, not from without.
It’s a hard thing to hear, but one that needs to be said. Brothers and sisters, why do we spend our energy tearing each other down, instead of building each other up?
Campbell and Ross Richards were both recognised in the New Year’s Honours. We, also, need to celebrate and honour each other; that’s why I am so pleased to be able to congratulate them in this issue. The ‘troublers’ amongst us need us to be cheering them on.
Ingrid Barratt Editor
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Ihāiah 41:10
Kaua e wehi; kei a koe nei hoki ahau; kaua anō e tirotiro; ko ahau nei hoki tōu Atua: māku koe e whakakaha, āe rā, māku koe e āwhina, ka tautokona ake anō koe e te ringa matau o tōku tika.
You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.
Anne Lamott
Iremember learning about the Treaty of Waitangi in primary school. Around the same time, I recall the diversity of my classrooms.
I’ve never known a New Zealand that didn’t consist of a vast array of ethnicities and cultures. This was never something I questioned— multiculturalism was a core component of what defined us as Aotearoa. I remember going to the home of a Korean friend and seeing how things differed from my own Pākehā household. I knew these differences weren’t to be seen as being better or worse—just different.
A report released in 2015— Our Multicultural Future—found that the Treaty of Waitangi should be the basis for what makes people of other cultures more comfortable in New Zealand. An understanding of our biculturalism will also strengthen our multiculturalism.
The report discovered that there’s a strong desire across a wide range of people to take forward the Treaty into the multicultural future of New Zealand. This would involve building stronger relations between tangata whenua and other ethnic groups.
So what does this look like for us as people of Christian faith in Aotearoa? To quote former Archbishop Brown Turei: The Treaty is a ‘spiritual covenant, and a moral promise’. Many would also call it a ‘contract of respect’.
The tangata whenua, as Treaty partners, play a special role in welcoming newer migrants and
cultures. They offer manaakitanga to the newest members of our community—as they did when they signed the Treaty.
As we go about sharing our beliefs, the Treaty can—and should—serve as a constant reminder that our land is not built off the back of one dominant culture, but rather a plethora of worldviews which we can all learn from.
As Captain James Hobson declared after the Treaty’s signing: ‘He iwi kotahi tātau’—we are now one people.
Waitangi Day, on 6 February, is a time to reflect on our founding document’s intended purpose, and remember that sharing peace, showing respect, and upholding equality is something we must choose to do—it’s not just something that happens.
In 1990, at the 150th anniversary of the signing, then-Bishop of Aotearoa Te Whakahuihui Vercoe noted there was still work to be done on bicultural relations in New Zealand. Yet he closed his speech with these words: ‘May God give us the courage to be honest with one another, to be sincere with one another and, above all, to love one another in the strength of God’.
As we aim to move forward with the foundation of our Treaty, may we draw upon our faith for strength and hope.
BY HUGH COLLINS‘For us to really move forward as a nation we have to understand our history, learn our history and not be as näive as we have been’—Māori affairs expert Moehau Hodges-Tai.Colonels Suzanne and Melvin Fincham greet Tangata Whenua.
Thousands of struggling families around New Zealand will be able to stock up on a tasty summer treat thanks to pie company Dad’s Pies and Big Chill Distribution.
There were 72,000 pies donated to Salvation Army foodbanks around New Zealand by valued partners Dad's Pies to help families in need at Christmas and through the summer holidays. They were delivered free to Salvation Army Community Ministries centres during December and January by Big Chill Distribution.
The pies are a great chance to add a little something extra nice for families who often go without when others are celebrating, Salvation Army Community Ministries Secretary Jono Bell says. ‘It’s great to have a filling treat at this time of year. The New Year is a busy time for us.
Families have back-to-school bills coming and the kids at home raiding the cupboards. A pie is a perfect extra to help along with the other food and support we offer.’
Dad’s Pies spokesperson Georgia Newman said the company was looking for a way to make a difference at a tough time of year for foodbanks and families in need, and it appreciates the work the Army does.
‘We wanted to donate enough pies to impact as many families as we could.
The Salvation Army has been a long-term partner of ours and we are very passionate about our relationship. Thanks to that relationship, we were very lucky to be able to team up with them to help support kiwi in need.’
Julia joined the team in October 2018. She is originally from the beautiful coastal town of Oamaru and moved to Wellington in 2016, where she worked in marketing and communications for a non-profit. She has a background in libraries and still loves a good book— her two favourites are Being Mortal by Atul Gawande and The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. When she's not creating content or diving into social media strategy, you can find her at committee or board meetings for the various non-profit organisations she's involved in, working on her deadlifts at the gym or exploring Wellington's food scene.
Weird of the Week:
The world's first robot hotel in Japan, The Henn-na Hotel (translated as Strange Hotel), has fired 243 robot staff because they annoyed the humans and kept breaking down.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG, violence & offensive language) Peter Ramsey & Bob Persichetti
In an alternate reality, teenager Miles Morales is bitten by a radioactive spider and becomes the new Spider-Man. But when arch nemesis Kingpin opens a portal to other alternate realities, Miles quickly learns that he is not the only Spider-Man … Fresh, funny and often bonkers, the film features a wide array of alternate Spideys: Spider-Girl, a paunchy older Peter Parker, a hard-boiled black-and-white Spider-Man Noir, the anime-styled Peni Parker and Peter Porker AKA Spider-Ham. It’s a beautifullyrealised alternative world; chock full of originality, great storytelling and energetic action that explodes from the screen. It’s really unlike anything you’ve seen before. Spider-Man feels exciting and new again. It might just be the best Spidey movie ever. (Reviewed by Martin Barratt)
Answers on page 22
A simple but different lamb marinade if you're looking to add some lamb to the barbecue or change things up for dinner.
4 lamb shoulder or loin chops
Marinade
1 large clove of garlic
2cm piece of ginger
½ cup plain, unsweetened yoghurt
1 Tbsp honey
2 good-sized sprigs of mint (or 1 tsp dried)
1 tsp curry powder
½ tsp salt
Place the marinade ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until smooth and evenly combined.
Arrange the chops in a single layer in a shallow container, then pour in the marinade. Turn the chops so they are coated with the marinade, then leave to stand at room temperature for 10–15 minutes.
To cook, place the chops on the barbecue or about 10cm under the grill and cook for 5–7 minutes per side.
Films we’re looking forward to in 2019.
1 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part—Is everything still awesome? We can’t wait to find out.
2 Avengers Endgame /Star Wars Episode IX—We can’t separate the finales of the two biggest franchise storylines of our time, but the hype is huge.
3 JoJo Rabbit—Taika Waititi's new film promises to be … well a typical Taika film.
4 Ad Astra—Sci Fi fans, there’s a very positive buzz about this film, favourably comparing it to Christopher Nolan’s hit Interstellar.
5 You Are My Friend—Tom Hanks plays Fred Rogers, the children’s television presenter and Presbyterian Minister famous for relentlessly championing kindness. What’s not to love?
Two Salvation Army brothers regularly turned heads on Wellington streets in the 1960s, and became known as the ‘cycling Salvos’. In 1958, while training to be Salvation Army officers, brothers Ross and Robert McEwen built a tandem bicycle. They rode thousands of miles on it together. ‘If one goes north and one goes south, where will the tandem go? We’ll see,’ quipped War Cry at the time (we’ve obviously lost our sharp wit over the years). Now that's what we call double trouble! (Hey, we're trying okay?)
Source: Booth College of Mission Heritage and Archives Centre
Which nation’s highest peak is only 170.95 metres above sea level?
Which UK Supermarket began selling edible insects in November 2018?
What is the tallest dog breed in the world?
Philippe is the king of which country? 5 Where was Paul shipwrecked in Acts 28?
Photography: David White/Stuff
As an alcoholic lay dying in his arms, a young Campbell Roberts felt God tell him to work for those who have been sinned against. Since then, he has dedicated his life to becoming a voice for the voiceless.
BY INGRID BARRATT*o, should I call you sir?’ I ask Major Campbell Roberts, who was awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year’s Honours. ‘Definitely not,’ replies Campbell.
‘It’s always a bit embarrassing, because I am very conscious that you’re part of a team of people … I think an award like this is an award for The Salvation Army, it’s something of a recognition of the ministry of the Army and of the gospel.’
It’s not Campbell’s first accolade, having previously been nominated for New Zealander of the Year, and receiving The Salvation Army’s Order of the Founder. He is widely known for his tireless work in social justice—a profile in Stuff called him a ‘trusted voice advocating for those in need’.
The Salvation Army was woven into Campbell’s DNA before he was even born. Almost 100 years ago, a baby bundled in newspaper was left on the front steps of a Salvation Army children’s home. The baby was Alf Roberts, who was taken in by the Army.
As a young man, Alf met a woman who had also been helped by the Army. As an unmarried mother, she had been cared for at a Salvation Army hospital and her baby girl adopted out.
The two had a son called Alfred Campbell Roberts. ‘So the Army is part of my heritage and my parentage, really,’ Campbell told Stuff
They were a working class family—his father was a carpenter and his mother a seamstress—but Campbell credits his father with instilling in him a broad idea of the gospel of Christ. ‘My father was very engaged in ecumenical activities and had a wide view of politics and the need to engage the Christian faith in that.’
Yet, at the age of 20, when Campbell entered training college to become a Salvation Army officer, he describes himself as ‘very much committed to an evangelical faith’.
‘I thought maybe I would become the Billy Graham of the Army,’ he says wryly.
But, while at college, Campbell had an experience that profoundly affected him and forever changed the course of his ministry. ‘One morning a St Johns Ambulance came to the college and asked me to help them. We went to one of the houses behind the college where a whole lot of alcoholics were living, and there was this guy lying in the corner just about to die.
‘It was a house that was operated by a fairly substantial business man in Wellington, and he took the benefit off these alcoholics each week, and gave
them just enough each day to keep them in booze. There were 16 to 17 of them in each house, and it just destroyed their lives. And as we were carrying this man down, he died. In that moment, God said to me, “This man was someone I loved, and he was sinned against”.
‘It was a realisation that the gospel is about more than personal sin and people coming to faith, it is also about redeeming “sinned-againstness”.’
As a young Salvation Army officer in the ’80s, Campbell was seconded to manage a team of industrial chaplains, working in large factories. They became formative years—influencing his understanding of what the gospel looked like outside the walls of a church.
He began a group where people could come with their life questions, which had 30 to 40 workers attending in their lunch hour. At one stage, 50 people were going to be made redundant, and management asked Campbell to help them ‘do that in a Christian way’. At the end of his meeting with them, they had found a way to keep their workers employed. In one tragic situation, an employee committed suicide and the whole factory shut down while Campbell led a memorial service around his machine.
Campbell recalls one of his early mentors, an industrial missioner, arguing that ‘the church should be involved in home and domestic issues, it should be involved in work issues, involved in social and political issues, and involved in leisure and environmental issues’.
‘I began to ask myself: “What does the gospel look like in a work setting, or in a political setting?”’
Campbell found himself fighting the good fight at a political level—protesting initiatives like Robert Muldoon’s Think Big projects. ‘It was obvious that you were going to put high capital industries in places that were going to be very destructive to the environment, but were also not going to provide the jobs they promised because huge amounts of money were being spent in highly-mechanised plants.’
It was about this time that Campbell became a key player in the 1981 Springbok tour protests. ‘I went to the first protests and the leader said, “Oh, you’re just who we’re looking for. We’re going to break into Carisbrook today, we’ve got a pair of bolt cutters”. I was wearing my Salvation Army uniform, so he said, “You could [hide them in] your jacket, nobody would know that you had them”, so that’s what we did.’
Through these experiences, an activist was born. Campbell would become known as a voice for the voiceless in New Zealand. But at the time it was much more fraught, he says.
‘Having bolt cutters hidden up my sleeve is not something I naturally did. I often wondered whether I was doing the right thing or not, but it was a compulsion of God, really, to be involved and speak out … In the early days it was pretty tough—there was a lot of criticism and I don’t know how many times I got rolled over.’
He remembers during the Springbok tour, his name appeared in the paper as a vocal opponent: ‘I was a bit terrified going into the factory that Monday. This guy walked up to me and said, “I support the tour, but I want to honour you for standing up for what you believe in”. The next Sunday, as I went into the corps, one of the soldiers said to me, “If you ever preach here again I’m going to walk out”. Often the unenlightened get the truth of the gospel first.
‘The worst things people have said to me have not been from outside the Army, they’ve all been said to me by people within.’
Yet, he reflects, the deepest growth has come from the hardest places. ‘It was wrong of me to expect to be encouraged and supported unanimously, because the gospel will always be in the minority. So if I’m being true to the gospel, why I am expecting everyone to like what I’m doing?’
But he adds: ‘You have to be very careful, because it can become about personal ego. I have to admit that I have sometimes strayed away from the gospel into what is personal ego, and in some senses you also have to live in that risk as well.’
Campbell is quick to add that the Army has also been a space of ‘remarkable opportunities, and I’m so, so grateful. There is
‘HAVING BOLT CUTTERS HIDDEN UP MY SLEEVE IS NOT SOMETHING I NATURALLY DID. I OFTEN WONDERED WHETHER I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING OR NOT, BUT IT WAS A COMPULSION OF GOD TO BE INVOLVED AND SPEAK OUT.’
no doubt my life would have been so much more barren if God hadn’t called me to this’.
After he left industrial mission, Campbell was given a unique opportunity to move to South Auckland where he had free rein to work in the community. He spent the first few months talking to everyone from the mayor to the street cleaner, and wrote up a plan for what a ‘Christian’ South Auckland would look like—encompassing justice at every level, including roading and infrastructure. Since then, South Auckland has become his home and his heart—and Campbell says that he is still working from that original plan.
It was from one of those hard places—where Campbell felt he could no longer go on in the Army—that the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit (SPPU) was birthed. ‘I always had a dream that The Salvation Army should be engaged at the top end of society, with the decision makers—because if people are being sinned against, we need to make sure there are just policies,’ explains Campbell.
Initially, the Unit identified 400 significant ‘lever pullers’ in New Zealand who could influence the government. ‘We had business breakfasts—a leading business person flew people into Queenstown for lunch, so that they could listen to me talk about welfare reform. I remember a hotelier in Queenstown saying, “You know what the trouble here is, it’s not the welfare system, it’s how we’re operating. We’re paying too low wages in the hotel industry”. I thought, “This is exactly the reflection we want”.’
Over the years, Campbell has become a social justice advocate to prime ministers, and a confidante to politicians.
He remembers getting a call from an electorate chairman, saying, ‘“We’ve just elected a young MP called John Key and I think he’s most probably going to be prime minister one day. He knows a lot of about economics but has no idea about social need, would you go and spend some time with him?” I did and he started to engage with these ideas of social justice.’ It was the beginning of a relationship with John Key that continued throughout his years as Prime Minister.
When Hon. Bill English retired from politics, Campbell received this poignant message from him: ‘I appreciate the courage of you being prepared to be engaged with us. You had a big impact, a bigger impact than anyone will ever know’.
Campbell adds that, ‘It’s not me, it’s the impact of the Army coming from that faith tradition.’
Campbell also played another, unexpected, role in the corridors of power: ‘Some politicians have shared very deeply with me on a personal level, and that’s been a real privilege. I’ve always made sure that where people were in the media for bad things, I connected with them—because that pastoral aspect is also really important.’
So, what is his response to people that feel the Army shouldn’t be involved with politics? ‘I think politics is essential to be engaged with—not necessarily party politics, but in the sense that politics is about how human life is organised, and we believe that under the redemption of God, society can be improved and made better.’
Campbell says he’s hugely encouraged by millennials who are responding to a gospel of social and environmental justice, as well as personal salvation. Yet, traditional evangelicals still baulk. There is a current backlash against what has been dubbed ‘social justice warriors’—which, astonishingly, is used as a derogatory term.
I am curious about how Campbell—a flesh-and-blood social justice warrior—responds to the backlash. He points to Micah 6:8: ‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’.
He explains: ‘“Walk humbly” is the personal relationship; “act justly” is the creation of a just society between God and community, which includes the environment; and, “love mercy” is the caring part of the Army. If you don’t have them all together you’re not proclaiming the gospel.
‘For the last 40 years, that’s the picture of the gospel I’ve hoped to paint. It’s still an incomplete picture. At the end of your life you might have only painted a small 1cm x 1cm part, but at least you’ve contributed to the picture.’
*With additional text reprinted with permission from Stuff ‘National Portraits’, by Craig Hoyle.
If you’re going through a break-up, there is no easy way through. But there are pointers that can help us on the journey …
Have you ever seen the scene from that movie Something’s Gotta Give when Diane Keaton goes through a break-up? She goes to bed crying, wakes up the next morning with eyes wide open, immediately remembers, and bursts into tears again. We’ve all been there.
Break-ups are one of the toughest things we humans go through—and the reasons are more than skin-deep. We are intricately, profoundly created for relationship—as God the Trinity shows us. So, when we are torn from the most intimate human relationship we have, it breaks us—spiritually and emotionally.
There is no way around it but through it. It’s important to grieve your loss, and cry as much as you need to—for as long as you need to. Surround yourself with safe people who will be there to listen, not lecture.
That movie scene is memorable because it’s true—morning and evening can be our loneliest times. Psalm 46:5 says, ‘God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day’. God is with you in this journey, so cry out to him—he cannot save you from the pain of being a human, but he promises to hold you close through the journey.
Here are some practical tips to get you through the early days: Make a Plan B: Yes, it’s a consolation prize, but do something positive like plan a holiday—do something yourself. Ask God, ‘What is in your other hand?’ … You are not out of God’s will because this dream has been shattered, God has plans for you. Keep occupied—mostly: You need time to re-group and take some mental health days for yourself. But try not to spiral into isolation—keep in touch with your closest friends. If you wake up early, go for a morning walk. Help others—it’s a great healer. Don’t expect your resilience to be at a hundred percent, but get back to work—you will get some relief from your grief when your mind is busy.
Don’t avoid: Don’t fill the void with a new person, car, job or house. It takes time to get used to being single again—take that time. Don’t pile more stress on to an already stressful situation.
You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
A. A. MilneTry to keep it clean: Break-ups are generally messy—it’s fairly normal to do some light stalking, text and call, get back together and break up again … all these things are part of the journey. Ultimately, though, the more cleanly you can make a break, the quicker you will heal. Hanging on to your ex may feel good in the short term, but can cause more pain in the long term.
Finally, put your hope in God: The hardest part of breaking up is often giving up hope. It can take a long time to accept what has happened and move on. Give your hope to God—have faith that the right thing will happen, even if it’s not what you wanted. Ask God to give you new hopes and dreams.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SAFE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE THERE TO LISTEN, NOT LECTURE.
Captain Doug Newman was a police officer when he felt called to serve in a different way—as a Salvation Army officer.
I am the oldest of three sons, and while that came with certain pressures, these were multiplied by the fact my father was a serviceman. The first few years of my childhood were spent in South East Asia, where he served in Malaysia and then Vietnam. Growing up, I learnt about PTSD and alcoholism, and the impact these can have on family.
Family life wasn’t easy. Rules were strictly enforced and any misdemeanours dealt with severely. Despite this, I always knew God existed. I didn’t understand that a personal relationship with God was possible, yet I always felt God guided my footsteps.
In the late ’80s, I trained and was appointed as a traffic officer with the Ministry of Transport. In 1992, with the MoT and Police merger, I became a police constable. Structure and a rules-based working environment were comfortable for me. In 2002, a series of events led me to question where God was—both in my life journey and in the lives of those I served.
I was first introduced to The Salvation Army in Johnsonville through a work colleague while working as a sergeant training recruits at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua. Walking through the front doors of the corps, I immediately felt at home. I felt accepted, despite my faults and failings. Shortly after that, I began attending regularly. The corps officer at the time, now our Territorial Commander Commissioner Andy Westrupp, delivered William Booth’s historical ‘Darkest England’ sermon. Unabridged and unaltered from its original language, it moved me like nothing before. Very quickly, Janet and I
discovered that The Salvation Army was where God was calling us.
In 2005, we began training as cadets of the Heralds of the Good News session. While training wasn’t easy, I found the personal journey God took me on significant. During this time, my father was diagnosed with cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. At the same time, his brother, my uncle and godfather,
was murdered in West Auckland. It was a time of digging deep, seeking God’s presence in my life and accepting I needed to trust him in all things.
The past 12 years have had their highs and lows, including the passing of both my mother and father from cancer. This meant stepping out of officership for 22 months while we supported family through illness and old age.
However, we recently returned to officership. My current appointment as the Territorial Coordinator of Emergency Services provides me with the opportunity to look at his world with fresh eyes every day—to see the beauty he created.
As I reflect on my life journey so far, the words of a well-known Beatles song come to mind:
‘The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I’ve seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to your door.’
My long and winding road hasn’t been an easy journey, but it has always led to God’s door.
FAMILY LIFE WASN’T EASY. RULES WERE STRICTLY ENFORCED AND ANY MISDEMEANOURS DEALT WITH SEVERELY. DESPITE THIS, I ALWAYS KNEW GOD EXISTED.BY INGRID BARRATT
The words you hear every summer—‘beach body’, ‘summer body’, or ‘bikini body’—are based on one of our culture’s biggest lies: that there is only one acceptable body type. The very best thing you can do for your body is to get rid of these toxic terms … (#skuxbody).
I don’t need to tell you what a ‘beach body’ looks like, because every single day you’re bombarded with images of the idealised body— from billboards to Barbie dolls to Instagram. It’s a mass obsession.
But, ‘instead of seeing a single body type everywhere we turn as inaccurate, misleading, or manipulative, we see our own bodies as the problem’, says body positive influencer Megan Crabbe, in her book Body Positive Power. ‘We compare ourselves to those images until we’re left feeling worthless’.
Only an estimated five percent of us have the ‘media friendly’ body type. The other 95 percent are almost invisible—hidden underneath joggers and layering. So, as a culture, summer triggers mass hysteria about exposing our bodies.
Cue the gym instructors yelling at us, ‘You want to get a beach body don’t you? Work off those Christmas calories!’ … while we burpee ourselves into oblivion. Cue all diet advertising promising a ‘new year, new you’.
The mass beauty, media, fitness and diet industries have literally billions of dollars invested in keeping us believing the lie. The global beauty industry alone is
estimated to be worth a staggering $393 billion (NZ). If we suddenly all decided to accept our bodies in all their glorious diversity, the global economy could collapse. Everyone from Weight Watchers to ‘fitspo’ insta-celebs are making millions from our self-loathing.
But there are a few brave insiders who have begun to speak out and reveal the true face of the industry. Actor Justin Baldoni has made a career out of playing hunks. But he has spoken out about his struggle with body dysmorphia—a body image disorder. Justin says it began as a teenager when he was ‘really skinny’ and thought if he had muscles he would feel like a ‘real man’.
‘I was wrong. Muscles don’t give you anything except insecurity … Why do we sacrifice eating the foods we want to eat, while spending hours working on parts of our bodies that most people will never see. Pushing ourselves, sweating, buying billions of dollars in products … following influencers who spend their entire day in the gym posting about it and making money off our secret jealousy. What does that say about how we feel about ourselves? Does it really inspire us or does it set an unrealistic expectation for ourselves and our partners?’ said Justin in an honest Instagram post.
He has gone so far as to say that most men who spend large amounts of time at the gym probably have body dysmorphia.
‘I’ve been pretending to be a man that I’m not my entire life … I pretended I was strong when I felt weak, confident when I felt insecure, and tough when really I was hurting … It is exhausting trying to be “man enough”,’ Justin said in a TED talk.
Another celeb using their power for good is Jameela Jamil, who plays Tahani in The Good Place. She has been open about her struggle with anorexia when she was a TV presenter in the UK. When she began to put on weight she was ‘fat-shamed’ in the media for being a size 12.
Jameela has called out other celebrities for perpetuating unrealistic body types—like Kim Kardashian, who she criticised for ’gramming herself sucking an appetite suppressant lollipop. She says the Kardashians have built their empires from eating disorders.
In a recent Twitter thread, Jameela asked people to tell the truth about their experiences with diet pills and teas—stories came flooding in of severe anxiety, depression, panic attacks and insomnia. One woman admitted she literally soiled herself in public. It’s gross, but that’s the point. The beauty industry is, actually, very ugly.
Jameela says many of the social media posts constantly sell us a lie: ‘[Young girls who follow “influencers”] don’t know that these girls starve themselves, they don’t know how much these girls work out to look the way they do—because these girls just post pictures of themselves eating massive slices of pizza and just sort of lounging around hotel balconies,’ says Jameela. ‘We have to unfollow people who make us feel bad about ourselves and who promote unrealistic lifestyles and body standards on the internet’.
Conrad Goodhew is one of those guys in the five percent—he’s the uber-fit nutritionist for the Crusaders rugby team. Yet, he has recently been speaking out about eating disorders in the fitness industry.
The whole ‘summer body’ fitness routine is a lie, he says. ‘Suddenly summer is just around the corner and you’ve got to get this “bikini body”. It’s not going to happen.’
He warns that the New Year ‘quick fixes’ are a rip off. The latest buzzwords like ‘clean eating’, ‘detox’ or ‘strong is the new skinny’, are often just rebranded diets. If we want to take care of our bodies, we should focus on good habits over the long term.
When we get real and admit that we’re not going to suddenly have the ‘perfect’ body, we’ll actually be free to enjoy ourselves—summer should be about ice creams and celebrations.
A great body—the ideal body—is one that does a million miracles everyday to keep you alive. Your body keeps you healthy, it can do a killer bomb into a swimming pool and get lit on the dance floor.
Great bodies do not need to all look alike. Just as the rest of God’s creation is infinitely diverse, so are we. There are a huge range of body sizes and shapes that are still healthy.
If your body can get you to a beach this summer, than you have a beach body. Your body is worthy of care and fun and sun. Your body is worthy of love, just as you are.
1. Unfollow every influencer that makes you feel bad about yourself. Instead, follow people who encourage you.
2. Remember, all the time you spend obsessing about your body could be spent changing the world!
3. Notice when you are having negative thoughts about your body, and choose to replace it with positive thoughts. You don’t have to pretend to love your body straight away—start by accepting it without judgement.
4. Show gratitude for your body— thank God for all it does for you, and thank God for the parts you’ve hated on.
5. Tell yourself the truth—for example, you don’t have to say, ‘I’m super hot’, but you can say, ‘I’m attractive to some people’.
6. Learn to eat intuitively—eat when you’re hungry. Exercise enough so it gives you energy, not saps it. Give yourself rest.
‘I’VE BEEN PRETENDING TO BE A MAN THAT I’M NOT MY ENTIRE LIFE … I PRETENDED I WAS STRONG WHEN I FELT WEAK, CONFIDENT WHEN I FELT INSECURE, AND TOUGH WHEN REALLY I WAS HURTING … IT IS EXHAUSTING TRYING TO BE “MAN ENOUGH”.’
People in some of our most overlooked communities shared their hopes, dreams and raw, honest stories in a new Salvation Army report.
BY ROBIN RAYMONDThe second annual ‘State of Our Communities’ report by The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit surveyed 603 people in six areas around the country about their community.
People in Kaitaia, Whangārei, Manurewa, New Plymouth, Hornby and Tīmaru were asked about the things they liked, and the concerns they had, about their community. They were also asked what they would say to the prime minister if they could talk to her, and what they would like to see change in the next five years, report author Ronji Tanielu said.
Most of all though, it was about giving people a voice, and people had shared honest, raw stories, Ronji said.
‘These quite powerful stories came out, people who had journeyed through addiction or homelessness. There was a 21-yearold guy in Whangārei who talked about how he lost his parents in a car crash caused by a drink driver, how he became addicted to meth, became a drug dealer and eventually found Jesus Christ. He
talked about his recovery from addiction and coming to a place of forgiveness for the driver who caused the crash.’
Elderly people and young mothers also shared stories of social isolation and feeling lonely, while other people shared about the impact of suicide or mental illness on their family.
‘Stories like that were overwhelming, but also a great privilege. There was a man on a journey of recovery who had been in prison for 17 years. Another ex-prisoner and former gang member who talked about how his son is in the Mongrel Mob and isn’t allowed to come and visit him because he lives in a Black Power neighbourhood.’
The strongest theme across all the communities was concern about drugs and, in particular, about methamphetamine use, Ronji said.
‘People from all different ethnicities, ages and backgrounds were sharing how destructive it was. There was a young mum in
Tīmaru who said she could get weed or meth in five minutes, it was that prevalent.’
The housing crisis was also a major concern, along with worries about a lack of opportunities for youth. People in most communities spoke about the need for opportunities to engage young people, to help them stay away from drugs and gangs.
A surprising area of concern was race relations, although this varied from community to community, he said. In Northland, people were concerned about tensions between Māori and Pākehā over issues of colonisation and poverty. Some also questioned the support being provided by some Māori organisations, Ronji said.
However, in Manurewa people spoke about racism towards people of Asian ethnicity, and in Tīmaru people noted the increasing cultural diversity of people being pushed south by the housing crisis and questioned whether others in the town would be welcoming to the newcomers.
A lack of mental health services, especially in Kaitaia and New Plymouth, was also raised, while violence, especially from gangs, was a particular concern for people in Manurewa.
There was hope in the report though and its outcomes, Ronji said. People had a clear idea of the building blocks of a strong community based around clear values, morals and connectedness, he said.
There was strong pride for each area, with people talking about a sense of home and community. They also talked about the many different ideas where people had taken ownership of the issues the community faced, and grass roots actions for addressing them.
‘There was Open the Curtains [where social workers go doorto-door helping families] and community pantries in the far north, self-defence classes in Hornby, parent groups in Tīmaru. They weren’t relying on local or national government to do things, they were coming up with their own solutions.’
The report gave an interesting insight into people’s views on the role and value of the church in their community.
‘There’s an increasing secularisation in New Zealand, at the same time, when asked about who was doing things to address the needs in the community, people were constantly coming back to the church—Christian organisations—even secondhand stores run by Christian groups. New Zealanders don’t want anything to do with the church, with the gospel message, but when it comes to their works they are accepted.’
Many people also advocated for a return to traditionally Christian values when they spoke about what made the building blocks of a good society, he said.
The report does not offer its own recommendations, allowing the people they interviewed to present the solutions themselves.
The Unit will also be going back to meet with each community this year to discuss the findings. The aim is to empower communities to come up with their own solutions, Ronji said. He was hopeful the report would be embraced by all six communities in the same way the first State of Our Communities, released in 2017, was embraced by the communities it covered—Linwood, Papakura and Porirua—and surrounding neighbourhoods.
In Linwood, the report was used to support the community’s appeal for a swimming pool that was eventually built. In Papakura, community groups had used the report to shape what they were doing—and surrounding areas had used it as a model to do their own surveys, he said.
The report has also been presented to parliament with a view to helping national and local government hear the concerns of the community. Collecting people’s stories added a human element—faces and voices that were important, alongside the number-based reports often presented to govenment, Ronji said. ‘We value the stories just as much as we value the numbers. We honour the voices that spoke on behalf of their communities.’
THE AIM IS TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN SOLUTIONS.
THESE QUITE POWERFUL STORIES CAME OUT, PEOPLE WHO HAD JOURNEYED THROUGH ADDICTION OR HOMELESSNESS.
it was just about being available to talk, mix and mingle.
It seems that everyone has a Salvation Army story. And the best thing about steampunk? It’s our story too! Steampunk is a re-imagining of the Victorian era, which is when William and Catherine Booth formed The Salvation Army.
I like the style of steampunk. It’s reimagined Victoriana— fun, fantastical and sometimes outrageous outfits rolled into a raucous blend of history. Steampunk also includes steam-powered machines, and fun events like teapot racing and parasol duelling.
My steampunk persona is Gospellina Navigator (derived from gospel and navigation) and over the past six years I’ve developed a style along the lines of the early New Zealand Salvationists.
I usually limit myself to one or two outfits so it forms an easyto-recognise Victorian steampunk Salvation Army uniform.
For the past four years, Thames has celebrated steampunk, with an annual ‘Steampunk the Thames’ festival. I’d always wanted to join in, and last year I was there! Hallelujah!
The whole weekend is purely social with a full programme of steampunk events. I based myself around the Thames Salvation Army Barracks (Corps), attended Recovery Church and went to Sunday morning worship—all in full steampunk style battle gear.
I was surprised that my bonnet and shiny SS’s were instantly recognisable, and many people recounted happy childhood memories at a Salvation Army. The blessing cards (used for the Red Shield Appeal) were received with a smile and, often, curiosity. Basically,
‘Steampunk the Thames’ will be held again on 7–10 November 2019, and, God willing, I will be there.
Plans for the festival include joining the ‘Steampunk on Parade’ march with the Salvation Army flag, as well as having Recovery Church and Sunday morning Worship Service included in the official Steampunk the Thames programme.
For more on Steampunk the Thames go to: https://www. steampunkthethames.org/ And follow/join me on Facebook: Gospellina Navigator.
BY CAROL S. FORSYTHNorth Shore Korean Corps Plant held a shared meal recently to welcome eight newly enrolled soldiers into their church. Corps Officer Gabrielle Choi says she feels proud to welcome the soldiers into the plant: ‘We had a special time of ceremony during the service. It was a time of commitment to God, and I am sure that they are prepared for their faith journey as they walk alongside the other members of our church.’
She says the church currently consists of around 30 people, and the new soldiers will help to grow the church. ‘It has been a small plant and actually restarted since we shifted our location to Albany. So we had faced some difficulties as a small church, but by God’s grace, we got new people nearly every month and some of them became soldiers.’
Gabrielle says the soldiers are excited for their new role, and some are already considering officership. ‘One of them already participates in our worship team and others are involved in our Bible study and prayer meetings,’ she says. ‘I am so proud of them and happy for their willingness to become soldiers.’
The plant also held a dedication for three young children on the same day. ‘We try to encourage parents to raise their children according to the Word and by their faith in God. In Korea, it is a common practice in church and it can be done as soon as they’re born.’
BY COURTNEY DAY
Ross Richards considered turning down his nomination for a Queen’s Service Medal.
Ross received the award in the New Year’s Honours for more than 30 years serving in the Manukau community, including 33 years at Manukau Community Ministries and with a wide variety of other community groups.
Ross, who now works as a Court chaplain at Manukau District Court, said when he first heard he had been nominated for the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) he struggled with whether he should accept it.
‘As a Christian do we accept these accolades from the world or not? I went through a process, going through the scriptures, trying to decide whether to accept or not.’
In the end, he took advice from a friend and considered the amount of work the people who nominated him had put into it and he decided to accept with gratitude.
‘I was thinking about the team I worked with and I accepted on behalf of them, because I couldn’t do it without their love and support. They deserve as much recognition as I do. They contributed to the outcomes of the families as much as I did.’
Among various roles at Manukau Community Ministries, Ross served as Director, Centre Manager, Service Manager and Emergency Housing Coordinator. He ran some of South Auckland’s first computer courses from a bus he turned into a mobile Salvation Army centre, and set up the Family Breakthrough mentoring programme for mothers with young children.
Ross said he was extremely grateful to God, who ‘gave me a kick up the backside and a smile and turned my life around’ when he was young.
‘It’s a cliché when we say that we give all the glory to God, but the truth is that if God didn’t change my life around and give me purpose, direction and motivation, I wouldn’t have been bothered to participate in any way at all in the community. I was thinking about a quote from Mother Teresa who said “I’m
a little pencil in the hands of God” and that’s what we are. In my case, I’m a very blunt and often broken one.’
He was also grateful to the Army for giving him the opportunity and the freedom to live out his calling.
‘It’s been an exciting journey—always interesting, never boring. I don’t find it an onerous task, I enjoyed the work and working with my colleagues and the community.’
Assistant Territorial Secretary for Programme, and one-time work colleague, Captain Gerry Walker said, Ross was quiet and extremely humble, but often led pioneering roles for the Army and was highly respected among staff and the community. Ross never gave up on anyone and people always came first, even at the cost of other things.
‘He was the face of The Salvation Army across much of South Auckland. People would do anything for Ross, because he’d probably already helped them many times. We’ll never know how many people he helped.’
Although he accepted the New Year honour ‘with appreciation’, he’s still uncomfortable with the recognition and said he won’t be signing his name with a QSM. ‘No, I don’t think so. I thought I’ll accept it, but try to keep it as low key as possible, but once it gets out it’s out. I’ve lost that battle. I’m just letting it be.’
It was a special day in the life of Woodville Corps when Chief Secretary Colonel Suzanne Fincham opened a new worship and community centre, on 17 November 2018. The centre replaces a brick citadel opened in 1899, which was assessed as a significant earthquake risk.
Insurance funding to replace the old building gave the opportunity to pursue a cost-effective and innovative solution, with a Totalspan steel building erected in the space between the earthquakeprone building and a wooden hall opened in 1926. The new multi-purpose centre, which includes an office and a large, bright, open space, shares an entrance with the old wooden hall. It will be used for Sunday worship and communityfocused activities.
The original citadel was decommissioned by Colonel Melvin Fincham, Territorial Secretary for Programme and Communications, who gave thanks for the lives transformed and the prayers answered during its many years of service. The building will be demolished in early 2019.
The new centre was then dedicated and officially opened by Chief Secretary Colonel Suzanne, with past Woodville Corps Officers Majors Ray and Coral Allott cutting the ribbon across the front doors.
A pōwhiri led people into the building, with a welcoming whaikōrero and
waiata setting the scene for a celebration meeting, led by Captain David Daly, Central Division Divisional Commander. There was a sense of joy that the new building would allow the Army’s mission to better meet community needs.
Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis brought words of encouragement and appreciation, with Woodville Salvationist Jeremy Teulon and Central Division Regional Property Manager Major Mark Ennever also speaking.
The opening ceremony wrapped up with the cutting of a ceremonial cake, followed by an afternoon tea, with a BBQ provided by Totalspan Manuwatu owners Scott and Rachel Hockley. The afternoon tea gave the opportunity for people to share memories from past days.
BY CAPTAIN DAVID DALYEnvoy Service: The Territorial Commander is pleased to announce that Sailosi and Salaseini Laliqavoka have been accepted for Envoy Service in the Fiji Division. Envoys Sailosi and Salaseini Laliqavoka will take up the following appointment from the General Change: In Charge Tavua Corps, Fiji Division.
Bereaved: Lieutenant Adriano Rokovesa, of his mother Veronika Lewaseni, who passed away on Monday 10 December 2018, at home in Vuna Village, Taveuni, after a short time of un-wellness. Please uphold Adriano and Seramana, and their family in prayer at this time of loss and grief.
Retirement: Majors David and Vyvyenne Noakes on 31 January 2019, completing 39 years and 13 days of active service. David and Vyvyenne entered the Training College from Edendale Corps in 1978, as cadets in the Joyful Evangelists session. Following their commissioning on 19 January 1980, they were appointed as the Corps Officers at Paremata, followed by corps appointments in Devonport (1981) and Whanganui (1984).
In 1988, David was appointed as Divisional Youth Secretary, Northern Division, with the additional responsibility of Executive Officer Camp Mahurangi. Vyvyenne was the Divisional Guide Organiser, Northern Division. In 1992, David and Vyvyenne were appointed to Rotorua as Corps Officers. In 1994, David was appointed as Territorial Youth and Candidates Secretary. Over the next six years he had additional appointments as Executive Officer for National Youth Band, Camp Akatarawa and Blue Mountain Lodge. Vyvyenne was appointed Territorial Youth Department Resources Coordinator, Territorial Early Childhood Education Consultant and Territorial Guide Consultant.
In 2000, David and Vyvyenne were appointed as Corps Officers, Dunedin Fortress Corps, with an additional responsibility for David as Metro Team Leader.
In 2002, David and Vyvyenne were appointed to the School for Officer Training, Upper Hutt. David was Assistant Training Principal, Education Officer and Dean of Studies. Vyvyenne was the Senior Training Officer, Director William Booth Educare and Whatman Early Childhood Centre (Masterton). From 2000–2004 Vyvyenne served as the Territorial Early Childhood Education Consultant alongside her appointments in Dunedin and Upper Hutt.
In 2006, David and Vyvyenne were appointed as Corps Officers, Wellington South Corps, where David had an additional appointment as National Consultant for Men’s Ministries. Vyvyenne also received an additional appointment in 2009, as Territorial Overseas Development Officer.
In 2010, David was appointed as Principal, Booth College of Mission and Training Principal, School for Officer Training, Upper Hutt. Vyvyenne was the Senior Training Officer, School for Officer Training, in addition to her Territorial Overseas Development responsibilities.
In 2015, David and Vyvyenne were appointed to Fiji Division where David served as the Divisional Commander and Public Relations Secretary, and Vyvyenne served as Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries, Divisional Secretary for Personnel and Divisional Child Sponsorship Secretary.
David and Vyvyenne returned to New Zealand in January 2018 and were appointed as the Corps Officers, Hutt City Corps. Vyvyenne had an additional appointment as Director, Hutt City Community Ministries.
It is with much appreciation that we acknowledge the sincere and faithful ministry of Majors David and Vyvyenne Noakes and thank them for their service, given in the true spirit of Joyful Evangelists. We pray God’s blessing on David and Vyvyenne in their retirement. Retirement: Major Russell Garbett on 31 January 2019, completing 16 years, 1 month and 17 days of active service. Russell and Kathleen (Kathie) entered the Training College in 2001 from Gisborne Corps as cadets in the Cross Bearers session. Following their commissioning on 15 December 2002, they were appointed as Corps Officers of the Te Aroha Corps and New Plant Matamata, with an additional appointment for Russell as Chaplain to Employment Plus, Matamata.
In 2005, a change of appointment saw Russell and Kathie transfer to Waikato Bridge as Assistant Officers and Chaplains of Recovery Church. Further corps appointments followed in the Southern Division as the Corps Officers at Rangiora (2007), Invercargill (2010)—with Russell having the additional responsibility of Director of Community Ministries—and Oamaru Corps (2013) where Russell was also the ILU Referral Officer. It is from his appointments in Oamaru that Russell enters retirement.
With sincere thanks and appreciation we honour Major Russell Garbett for his leadership, faithfulness in ministry, and heart after God as a Cross Bearer. We pray God’s blessing on Russell and Kathie in the days ahead.
The tragic murder of this young British tourist prompted an outpouring of sorrow across the nation. Public tributes flowed even though we did not know her. What we did know was that our sense of who we are as a nation, had been violated. Grace’s death also served to bring to everyone’s attention the disturbing statistics related to domestic violence, and particularly violence towards women. We agreed: this is not OK!
December also saw the release of the government’s enquiry into mental health and addictions. The increasing impact of poor mental health and addictions cannot be fixed by government legislation alone. The facts speak for themselves: something has gone tragically wrong. The report concludes that we cannot medicate our way out of this epidemic. It found our well-being is being undermined by aspects of modern life such as loss of community, isolation and loneliness.
With this new year underway, I’ve been wondering how I can be better connected to the life of my community and to be involved in making significant change to others’ experience. My struggle is common: as someone who commutes, my work is disconnected from where I live. Additionally, my current role is not located in the grassroots of Salvation Army mission—the real hands-on stuff; face-to-face with people stuff, that defined my earlier years. Opportunities to visit places and listen to people’s stories remind me what it’s all about. I hope and pray that in fulfilling my part in leadership, what I do makes a difference for others on the giving and receiving end of things.
There’s real advocacy that happens from our corps, centres and Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit that strives to change outcomes, and influence change. Organisations such as National Council of Women of which we are a member, also enables us to add weight to the collective voice on various justice issues. These are important aspects of us—the collective ‘us’—achieving our mission of caring for people, transforming lives, and reforming society.
The truth of the matter is that organisationally we can do only so much. I celebrate every local Salvation Army corps and centre that provides an unconditional welcome to anyone, and a place to belong where people find freedom and fullness of life. But I’m also cheering for every one of you who live to influence change in your workplaces and community, through the giving of yourselves to change the life of another. I’m convinced that this is what is going to bring about the nation that we aspire to be.
Colonel Heather Rodwell Territorial Secretary for Women’s MinistriesCHEERING FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO LIVE TO INFLUENCE CHANGE.’
There’s a name that is now etched in our collective memory from the December that’s just passed: Grace Millane.
We all need advice for getting through life, and the Wisdom books in the Bible show that God is interested in all aspects of our lives. In the first of a five-part series, we look at the pithy wisdom of Proverbs.
BY CARLA LINDSEY
Since ancient times people have been in active pursuit of wisdom. In Old Testament times, people of the Ancient Near East had sages, or wise men, who were often associated with the court of the monarch. In Matthew 2, some of these wise men from the East came to visit Jesus.
Israel had a wisdom tradition of its own. Elements of wisdom literature can be seen scattered throughout the Bible,
from the words of Jesus, to the positions of Daniel and Joseph (Old Testament Joseph!) to the lyrics of songs found in Psalms. But, naturally, the place where Wisdom is most easily located in the Bible is the ‘wisdom books’. These are the books of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes.
The Bible is a collection of books. It has the one divine author behind it all, yet his voice is heard in the Bible through many varied voices. This is seen especially in the Wisdom books. The three books are completely different to each other.
The book of Proverbs is the voice of conventional wisdom. It contains short, memorable statements that give advice for living well. These statements are not promises or guarantees. Rather, the biblical proverb is a general principle, which if followed, will contribute to living a happy and successful life.
Job and Ecclesiastes have a completely different tone to Proverbs. They are
called contemplative or speculative wisdom. Proverbs sees things in black and white terms: ‘If you do the right thing, you are wise, and things will go well for you’. But Job and Ecclesiastes say, ‘Hang on … I don’t think it’s always quite that simple!’ These books deal with the harsh realities of life.
Job asks, ‘Why is it that people who have done the right thing have bad things happen to them. How is that fair?! How can God let these things happen?’ Excellent questions!
The writer of Ecclesiastes certainly didn’t seem to be having a good day
THE FACT THAT PROVERBS IS INCLUDED IN THE BIBLE SHOWS THAT GOD IS INTERESTED IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES.
when he was writing his volume. He seems rather depressed. He questions everything. He wonders, ‘What is the point of it all?’ More excellent questions. In fact, they raise questions that people are still grappling with today. We still need wisdom and we still need to be able to grapple with the complexities of it.
While the voices of these three writers are each quite different, there is something that unites them. That is the belief that the fear of God is the beginning of true wisdom. Each of the books point us to God as the ultimate source of wisdom.
Over the next issues we’ll be exploring the Wisdom books. This week we’ll begin with Proverbs, and from there we’ll move on to Job and Ecclesiastes. And then we’re going to throw in a bonus book, Song of Songs. It’s not exactly a wisdom book. It’s really in a category of its own, but it’s a fascinating book that’s worth taking a look at. So for now though, let’s think a little more about the book of Proverbs.
Who wrote the book of Proverbs? It is strongly connected to King Solomon who was known for being even wiser than the wise men of the surrounding countries. Solomon, we are told, composed 3000 proverbs (see 1 Kings 4:30–34). But Proverbs has other contributors, too—including someone by the name of Agur, a group simply called ‘wise men’ and Lemuel, who was a pagan king.
It is fascinating that the wisdom of a non-Israelite king should be included in the Bible! Wisdom can be found in surprising places.
The proverbs included in the book are usually two lines. The first line makes a statement and the second either makes the same statement in a negative way or carries on the first line by adding more information to it.
An example of the second line making the same point in a negative way is Proverbs 10:5, which says:
‘He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son’.
An example of a second line which continues the first is Proverbs 16:4, which says:
‘The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster’.
Reading these proverbs as couplets is important, as it helps to make their meanings clearer. Also, reading Proverbs through the lens of the introduction (Proverbs 1:2–7) is important as it states the purpose of the book which was:
‘… for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction’.
We note from this introduction that the words of Proverbs are particularly for the young. Much of Proverbs has a fatherly tone about it, the voice of a dad giving
advice to his son. It is also a book for those who don’t know much yet, as well as for those who are already wise. Both groups will learn things from Proverbs— it is a book for people who want to learn and grow.
The things they will learn cover a wide variety of topics, from the lofty to the very basic. The subjects jump around throughout the book—but themes stand out. It covers controlling one’s anger and restraining one’s tongue, being generous, being a good parent, respecting one’s parents, the value of hard work and the kind of company you should keep.
The writer(s) are essentially asking the reader to choose either wisdom or the way of folly. Consistent with a father advising his son, both folly and wisdom are personified as women who call out to the naïve young person asking them to follow her. The listener is asked to choose their path.
Proverbs is a practical book. It deals with real life decisions, interactions and situations that people found themselves in then—and still find themselves in now. In Proverbs, Israel’s relationship with God was applied practically to their attitudes, activities and relationships. The fact that it is included in the Bible shows that God is interested in all aspects of our lives.
How does our relationship with God apply to the rest of our lives? How does it impact the boring, everyday, seemingly unspiritual parts of our lives?
Do we welcome God’s advice in all areas of our lives or just some?
Are we people who want to learn and grow? If we do, then Proverbs is a book for us.
PROVERBS SEES THINGS IN BLACK AND WHITE TERMS: ‘IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU ARE WISE, AND THINGS WILL GO WELL FOR YOU’. BUT JOB AND ECCLESIASTES SAY, ‘HANG ON … I DON’T THINK IT ’ S ALWAYS QUITE THAT SIMPLE!’
Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries)
6 Feb: Waitangi Day Celebrations, Paihia 8–10 Feb: Officer's Councils and Cadets Welcome, Fiji
Colonels Suzanne Fincham (Chief Secretary) and Melvin Fincham (Territorial Secretary for Programme and Communications)
3 Feb: Whangārei Corps visit, Northern Division
6 Feb: Waitangi Day Celebrations, Paihia Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development)
6 Feb: Waitangi Day Celebrations, Paihia
I would like: to learn about who Jesus is information about The Salvation Army The Salvation Army to contact me prayer for the following needs:
Name Email Address Phone
Send to: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
BECOME
Our Family Care Centres are safe houses for women escaping domestic violence, homelessness and human trafficking.
For $25 a month, you can help support this work.
Contact Major Debbie Clark (Child Sponsorship Secretary), e: debbie.clark@salvationarmy.org.nz, p: (04) 384 5649 or download a form from our website www.salvationarmy.org.nz/FijiFamilyCentreSponsor
Quiz Answers: 1 Denmark, 2 Sainsbury's, 3 Irish Wolfhound (averages 71–89 centimetres in height), 4 Belgium, 5 Malta.
A long time ago there was a man who lived in Israel called Jonah. One day, God called Jonah to share God’s love to the people of Nineveh, a city filled with people doing evil things.
Jonah did not want to visit Nineveh because they were the enemy of Israel. So, instead of obeying God’s command, Jonah hid on a boat and headed out to sea. But when a storm struck, Jonah knew this was God’s way of telling him to get off the boat.
Jonah ordered the people on the ship to throw him into the sea.
But as Jonah was sinking to the bottom of the ocean, he was swallowed by a gigantic fish! He stayed alive in the fish’s tummy, and spent three days and nights, praying to God the entire time.
He realised he couldn’t run away from God’s commands! Yet he knew God would keep him safe. Then on the fourth day, the whale spat Jonah out. God spoke to Jonah again, and told him he must still go to Nineveh. So off he went and talked to the people of Nineveh about God’s love for them. To Jonah’s surprise the people of Nineveh listened! Even the king wanted to ask God for forgiveness.
God loves everyone and wants the best for everyone, even our ‘enemies’ (like the people of Nineveh). God is always with us—even in the belly of a fish!
God loves even the people you don’t like. Maybe you could try playing with a kid you don’t like.
God can always hear you,
to
When I was in trouble, Lord, I prayed to you …
The start of a new year is a great time to introduce positive change into your life.
The Salvation Army’s addiction services, Bridge & Oasis, provide a range of free and confidential services to anyone whose alcohol, other drug, or gambling activitity, is causing them harm.
These professional services are offered nationally for people directly or indirectly affected, so if you or someone you know needs support, our services can help.
Learn more at salvationarmy.org.nz