War Cry 16 May 2020

16 May 2020 20p/25c

40 years

WHY VIDEO GAMES ARE STILL BEING PLAYED TODAY

the Pac

as a leader of

From the editor’s desk

What is The Salvation Army?

The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity providing services in the community, particularly to those who are vulnerable and marginalised. Motivated by our Christian faith, we offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK to all who need them, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. To find your nearest centre visit salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church

THERE was a time when the War Cry would carry information about the latest film releases, big sporting tournaments and other events that would be attended by hundreds and sometimes thousands of people.

In recent weeks, though, life has changed, and the content of the War Cry reflects those changes. Most people are having to spend more time at home. Many of them have found new ways to entertain themselves.

For example, record numbers of people are playing video games.

The BBC even staged an ePremier League competition, with professional footballers playing EA Sport’s Fifa 20 video game.

Highlights of every round were shown on the corporation’s website.

In this week’s War Cry, we look at the impact that video games have had on us throughout the years as we mark the 40th anniversary of Pac-Man. But while some have turned to technology, for others, lockdown has led to the kitchen. Mixing bowls and baking trays have been rummaged out of cupboards as the nation has returned to baking, leaving many supermarket shelves devoid of flour, eggs and baking powder. Assistant editor Sarah Olowofoyeku takes to her kitchen this week and conjures up a chocolate cake.

In her article, Sarah talks about the comfort and control that counsellors and psychotherapists say can be found in baking. During the past few weeks, many people feel they have lost control over their lives, as well as certain comforts, because of the necessary measures that have been put in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

As we start looking to take those first tentative steps out of lockdown, the hope must be that people will discover the comfort and the confidence that all can be well again.

What is the War Cry? The Salvation Army first published a newspaper called the War Cry in London in December 1879, and we have continued to appear every week since then. Our name refers to our battle for people’s hearts and souls as we promote the positive impact of the Christian faith and The Salvation Army’s fight for greater social justice.

WAR CRY Issue No 7474

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Ivan Radford Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku Staff Writer: Emily Bright Staff Writer: Claire Brine Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston Graphic Designer: Mark Knight War Cry office: 020 7367 4900

While it’s much better to have your weekly copy of the War Cry in your hands, we recognise that at the moment it is hard for some people to obtain a copy. So, as an alternative while the coronavirus restrictions are in place, you can access the War Cry at salvationarmy.org.uk

Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN Tel: 0845 634 0101

Contents

Helpline: 020 7367 4888 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Editor-in-Chief: Major Mal Davies

Published weekly by The Salvation Army ©The Salvation Army United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland ISSN 0043-0226 The Salvation Army Trust is a registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399.

Printed by Walstead Roche Ltd, St Austell, on sustainably sourced paper

Your local Salvation Army centre

FEATURES 3

Eating up the years

Pac-Man turns 40

4

‘Requests for food have gone up’

The impact of coronavirus on food banks

6

Failing marriages can be saved

There’s help when relationships struggle

10

Rising to the challenge

Banana bread and chocolate cake in lockdown

10

REGULARS 12

Browsing the Bible

13

Faces of Faith

14 Puzzles 15

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6

War Cry Kitchen

15

FEATURE

GA ME ON Retro video game Pac-Man is still popular 40 years after its launch, reports Linda McTurk

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-MAZE-ING! Pac-Man is 40 years old. Since the video game’s first release in May 1980, the adventures of the yellow pizzashaped character Pac-Man and four ghosts have captured the imagination of people worldwide.

Back in the day, millions of people spent hours on their Atari 2600 consoles, guiding Pac-Man through his maze and helping him eat the power pellets that would enable him to destroy the ghosts that chased him.Today, the game remains hugely popular, with a free Android version having been downloaded more than 800,000 times.

Jo Twist, CEO of Ukie, an association that supports the gaming industry in the UK, believes that Pac-Man is popular because ‘sometimes simple ideas are

the most compelling’.

She says: ‘Everyone recognises Pac-Man and the ghosts. The characters are so brilliantly designed as simple creatures.’

Pac-Man has also had an influence on the entire games industry. Jo says that the challenging and fun things that players have to do in Pac-Man have ‘been replicated in other games’ and that it ‘broke some boundaries’.

The video game industry has developed significantly since the first days of Pac-Man. Today, one in three people in the UK regularly plays electronic games, whether on a games console, a mobile phone, tablet or computer. In the present crisis, video games are playing an important role in helping friends and families to connect while socially distancing.

To help ease pressures faced by frontline health workers, Ukie is working with the games industry to give away more than 85,000 games to the NHS. ‘NHS workers are working so hard – they’re saving lives,’ Jo says. ‘Some have to isolate from their children and family members, so we wanted to make sure that if they are distancing from their families, they can do something together that’s fun.

Simple ideas are the most compelling

Jo Twist

‘Hopefully we’re able to provide some of these workers with a bit of relief,’ she adds.

Many other people are finding that they need a break, time out or something else to focus on the moment.

Some may feel worn out at the end of another day of social distancing from others. Some people have to deal with being furloughed from a job, being unwell or grieving the loss of a loved one. At our lowest points, we may feel like giving up and crawling back under our duvets in the morning.

Over the years, though, millions of people have found strength to face all kinds of tough times through their faith in Jesus. By getting to know him, they have been provided with respite and a fresh perspective on life.

Jesus says: ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28 New Living Translation).

And if we choose to spend time with him, he will help us to chase away the fears that haunt us.

Whatever challenges we face, Jesus can restore us to 100 per cent and give us a whole new level of hope that will help us now and way beyond our current life.

16 May 2020 • War Cry • 3

‘Overnight, people’s security has been taken away’

Food bank co-ordinator LESLEY HOLLAND tells Sarah Olowofoyeku how the impact of the coronavirus has increased the number of people in need of support

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VERYTHING has changed, it seems. To minimise the impact of the coronavirus, people all over the world have had to alter the way they live – staying at home 24/7, working and attending school from living rooms and not eating out. But some things have not changed – there are still people in need of practical help, and there are still those giving such support.

Churches, including The Salvation Army, have run food banks for many years, providing a lifeline for people who are struggling financially. Now, during the pandemic, job and financial security have been shaken, and even more people are turning to these food banks for help.

‘We’ve been extremely busy,’ says community services co-ordinator Lesley Holland, who runs the Vine food bank at The Salvation Army in New Addington, south London. ‘Requests for food parcels have gone up, so food that has been donated is going out almost as soon as it comes in.

‘Each parcel

4 • War Cry • 16 May 2020

INTERVIEW

Lesley sorts through the donations at the food bank contains enough food for three day’s worth of meals. Typically a family of four will get several tins of baked beans and soup, cereals and milk for breakfast, crackers, crisps, tuna or ham for lunch, plus three main meals such as tinned meat pie or tinned meatballs with spaghetti – it depends on what we’ve got.

‘We put in extra items such as sugar, instant noodles or pasta meals, tea, coffee or hot chocolate, biscuits, puddings, squash or juice. We put in any toiletries people require, and at the moment every parcel contains soap. We have also given out colouring books, craft packs and reading books for children.’

The Vine opens to give out food parcels twice a week and is providing vital support. Many families who have never used food banks in the past find themselves suddenly in need because of the current situation.

Lesley believes that it is important for The Salvation Army to be on the front line because ‘there are a lot of people who could slip through the cracks’.

Beatrice, for example. ‘She is a single mum with four children, one of whom has severe anxiety issues. She usually works nights in a minimum wage job while her mum babysits. However, her mum is now unable to come out, and so Beatrice can’t work. As she receives very little benefit money,

suddenly she cannot manage.

‘Another family is Monica and her partner, who have five children. They’ve had a difficult couple of years as Monica had cancer and her partner lost his job after taking too much time off to care for the children. He did find another job but has now been furloughed. They cannot

Families who have never used food banks are suddenly in need manage on 80 per cent of his salary, so they have had to come back to us for support.’

The practicalities of getting a meal on the table have become much more complicated during the lockdown. In particular, the anxiety of going outside in families where people are shielding or self-isolating has made getting food a challenge. But the New Addington Salvation Army church has found a way to help those people.

‘A volunteer is doing deliveries for anybody who has been referred but can’t come out,’ Lesley tells me. ‘A lot are selfisolating, but some are single parents or large families who just cannot face leaving their house with so many kids in tow.’

For some families, finding food to eat is not the only problem. ‘We have helped

one guy who is a single parent of two. His business folded overnight because of the nature of the service it was offering, so he is suddenly navigating his way around the benefits system and trying to work out where he can get help.

‘There was one mobile phone between him and his two teenage children. He was using it to try to generate work and get benefits, and the kids needed it to do their homework. We’ve been able to sort them out with a laptop, but those situations really hit you. People thought they were okay. But overnight, their security has been taken away.’

While there are challenges, Lesley says that she is trying to focus on the positives.

‘We have weekly Zoom conferences with the other food providers in New Addington and are working together to ensure that everyone we are aware of is getting the help that they need. The community is coming together and people are caring for their neighbours.’

On a personal level, Lesley is encouraged by her Christian beliefs. ‘I’m pleased that I have my faith,’ she says.

‘The pandemic is affecting the entire planet, and it’s easy to get thrown off by that, but beneath it all, my faith is keeping me grounded and giving me constant reassurance that we will work this out. We will get through it all together.’ l Names have been changed 16 May 2020 • War Cry • 5

We stuck for better, CHRISTINE DANIEL tells Claire Brine how she uses her experience of turning round a failing marriage to help others

‘W

HEN I first met Mark, I thought he was my very own James Bond,’ says Christine Daniel. ‘He picked me up on his enormous motorbike for our first date, and we were the last to leave the Italian restaurant that night. Three years later, we got married in a fairytale wedding. But things quickly started to go wrong.’

This year, Christine and Mark celebrate 35 years of marriage. Together they are the directors of Familylife UK, an organisation that helps couples to strengthen their relationships. But the happy couple ‘very me and said: “I’m not sure I want to nearly didn’t make it’, Christine reveals. be married – and I’m not sure I want to be ‘We had our first major row on married to you.” It was awful. I cried for honeymoon,’ she says. ‘When we went months. Some time later, Mark told me he skiing we had an argument on one of the slopes. The argument carried on into the evening, and everyone at our hotel could tell that this newly married couple were not having a good time!’

After the honeymoon, Mark, who was serving in the military, was posted to Canada for four months. When he had got his life into perspective and that returned to the UK, the couple were then he did want us to be married, but his initial moved to a base in Hong Kong, where rejection ran deep.’

Mark worked with the Queen’s Ghurka For the next seven years, Christine and Engineers and Christine took up a job Mark buried their relationship problems in banking. She found living away from by throwing themselves into their careers. family difficult.

On the surface, the Daniels looked like Christine recalls: ‘We hadn’t been in a highly successful couple with plenty Hong Kong long when Mark turned to of money, a flashy car and expensive

We had our first major row on honeymoon

6 • War Cry • 16 May 2020

clothes. But on the inside, they were miserable.

‘We didn’t deal with our emotions very well,’ explains Christine. ‘So when things went wrong, I would simmer, feel resentful and run away from issues, while Mark would explode in anger. We pushed each other away.’

In 1989, Mark left the army, and the couple moved to London. Then in 1992, they had their first child. Life with a newborn was tough, and Christine suffered with postnatal depression.

‘Our relationship hit a brick wall and we nearly broke up,’ she says. ‘We just weren’t functioning. But then we went to see the vicar who had married us. Although Mark and I didn’t have a Christian faith, we wanted our baby to be

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INTERVIEW

nd ea n i ist Chr

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christened in church. So I raised some questions with the vicar about it. Very kindly, he said: “You’ve raised some great questions about Jesus. If you want to explore those a bit more, here’s a portion of the Bible for you to read.” He handed me a small copy of John’s Gospel.

‘Mark accelerated towards the door, but I took the booklet from the vicar, went home and read it. Gradually, I began to read more of the Bible. A few months later I became a Christian by blurting out a mumbled prayer under the duvet.’

Mark couldn’t help but notice Christine’s new-found faith.

‘I changed,’ she says. ‘I was full of joy and love, and consequently I started to behave differently towards Mark.

Eventually he became interested in

exploring the Bible and went on to become a Christian. We sensed that God wanted us to work on our marriage.’

Christine and Mark began attending

I was holding on to a grudge without knowing it relationship counselling, which, Christine says, ‘helped to unstick a few things from the past’. But the couple’s problems didn’t disappear overnight.

‘The counselling didn’t really help us to grow closer together or restore intimacy,’ Christine admits. ‘So we started going to a small group exploring Bible-based

marriage and relationships. We learnt about resolving conflict and the importance of forgiveness. I realised that I’d never forgiven Mark for all the years of hurt and rejection. I was holding on to a grudge without knowing it. When I finally did forgive Mark, I became free to love him again.’

Over the years that followed, Christine and Mark grew stronger in their faith in God. They worked on their marriage by opening up to each other about their feelings and showing kindness. Their family life improved dramatically. Then, in 2003, Mark dropped a bombshell.

‘He confessed that he’d had a number of affairs,’ Christine says. ‘He’d had them

Turn to page 8

➥

16 May 2020 • War Cry • 7

From page 7 while we were dating and in the early years of our marriage. The first thing I thought was: “Oh gosh. Now it all makes sense.”

‘The reason why Mark told me about his past was because we had been invited to join the staff at Familylife UK, and Mark felt it was important that I knew the truth about everything he’d done.

He felt dreadful. I was very upset. I knew he’d had the affairs before he became a Christian, and I also knew that he was a different man now. But I still felt hurt and angry.

‘I said: “You idiot! Why did you do that for all those years? What were you looking for that you couldn’t find at home?” But then I looked at myself and remembered that in the early years of our marriage, I’d had a drunken one-night stand during a bout of loneliness. Although my cheating equated to just one black mark while Mark had several, I realised that God didn’t keep score like that. I needed forgiveness as much as Mark did.’

Mark and Christine went back to marriage counselling. Slowly, trust was restored.

‘In the end, I was glad that Mark told me about the affairs, because it helped me to make sense of the past,’ Christine says. ‘I could lay some hurts to rest, and together we began to pursue a more honest relationship.’

Christine and Mark went ahead and joined the team at Familylife UK. They decided that their mess should become their mission: to help other couples who were struggling.

‘At Familylife UK we want to bring 8 • War Cry • 16 May 2020

people hope by sharing practical relationship tools that are based on biblical principles,’ Christine explains.

‘Although we speak openly about Jesus

I was glad that Mark told me about the affairs in our work, we don’t push our faith on to people, because we want our resources to be accessible to everyone, whether they have a faith or not. We recognise that Jesus treated everybody he encountered with love – it wasn’t conditional on people responding positively to him.’

One event offered by the organisation is a seminar called A Day Together.

Couples are guided through various exercises that can help them to develop their communication skills and their ability to resolve conflict. Another resource is Together, a Bible-based course for small groups that teaches couples how to apply God’s word to their marriage.

In 2017, Familylife UK set its sights on reaching a wider audience by launching the Toucan app. Christine explains how it works.

‘It’s a free, online resource designed to help couples develop healthier, happier relationships by setting up constructive conversations around a number of topics.

There are modules on loving one another, communication, money and so on. Each module contains bite-sized videos with real couples sharing their stories, and then

INTERVIEW

True love isn’t about being self-centred there are interactive exercises to do.’

Christine hopes that couples using the app will begin to understand that no marriage is perfect – they all take work.

‘All of us have messy bits in our relationships,’ she says. ‘The struggles and the gritty stuff are normal, so no one needs to feel a failure about them. But we can all move forwards from those things and, with God’s help, make the worst parts of our relationships beautiful.’

Christine believes that one of the major pressures facing married couples comes from the media’s portrayal of true love.

‘We are fed this fantasy about love, but it isn’t realistic,’ she says. ‘Romantic comedy films always end at the beginning of the “happily ever after” moment.

Western culture promotes a “me me me”

attitude, making people believe that a good relationship should fulfil “me and my needs” first. But all that does is result in two people pulling things towards themselves and pushing the other person away.

‘True love isn’t about being self-centred.

Being in an intimate relationship requires you to be others-centred. It’s about giving.’

After years of helping couples with their relationships, Christine and Mark believe they know which tools and techniques are the best for keeping a marriage on track.

But while they are grateful for everything they have learnt, they maintain that having a relationship with God is the biggest help of all.

‘Knowing that God loves me means I

don’t need to get everything from Mark,’ Christine says. ‘I have a well of love outside the marriage that never goes empty – and that’s God’s love for me. Not all the pressure is on my husband.

‘Because Mark shares my faith, we have a common purpose and vision. God gives us added strength and peace. When there are ups and downs in our life, God can help us to see things from a different perspective, which then allows us to be more empathetic to each other’s point of view.

‘Having God in our marriage brings us so much joy.’ l For more information visit familylifeuk.org 16 May 2020 • War Cry • 9

To mark World Baking Day (Sunday 17 May), Sarah Olowofoyeku writes about an activity that has risen in popularity during a pandemic

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O many people are doing it. And I’m no exception.

Since the lockdown started, lots of us have raided the supermarket to get our hands on those allimportant ingredients.

If, at the start of 2020, someone had told me that by April, flour and eggs would have become precious commodities, I wouldn’t have believed them. But the shelves are empty and social media feeds are full of banana bread, freshly baked loaves and more.

Media outlets such as the Mirror and The Guardian are weighing in on the conversation with articles about the phenomenon. And last month, Bradford’s Telegraph and Argus newspaper revealed that baking was one of the UK’s most popular lockdown hobbies.

While I finally took a liking to baking last year, long before the pandemic hit, I have definitely enjoyed the extra time that the lockdown has given me to improve my skills in the kitchen. (My family have been pleased about it too.)

So far, I’ve made banana bread, brownies, chocolate cake and pizza dough. As someone who usually spends more time in the kitchen eating than making, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how my creations have turned out.

The banana bread is a crowd favourite at my house, as it makes use of the bananas that have been left out in the fruit bowl for too long. And the recipe I found on the BBC’s Good Food website some months ago has not let me down.

Although I probably know the measurements by heart now, I still pull up the recipe every time just to be sure.

Having nearly perfected banana bread, I decided to turn my hand to chocolate cake. This was slightly more nerveracking as I had made a rookie error on a previous attempt

10 • War Cry • 16 May 2020

and ended up throwing half of a rock-hard cake in the bin after salvaging as much of it as I could.

I spent 30 minutes trying to choose a recipe that I thought straightforward enough for me to follow but impressive enough to be worth the effort.

A find on the Tesco website promised to deliver the goods, so I added the ingredients I was missing to my essential shopping list and headed out.

I had certainly taken popping to the shops for granted before the lockdown was enforced. I never thought I’d have to queue for an hour before getting into Tesco Express to do a quick one-way dash around the shop. Thankfully, they had everything I needed.

Back in my kitchen, I cracked on with the recipe.

While it took significantly longer than it should have, I was very happy with the result. At 11.30 pm, I had a delicious two-layered chocolate fudge cake, covered in a rich ganache. Don’t worry, I didn’t indulge at that hour – I had a slice the next morning with my breakfast instead.

Almost every day has been a baking day for some of us during the lockdown, but tomorrow (17 May) is the official World Baking Day. What better time to acknowledge something that has

INTERVIEW

me chocolate are so Flour, sugar and ed us I s of the ingredient brought joy to so many? During what has been a stressful period, baking has been quite therapeutic.

There’s something relaxing about mixing batter or kneading dough, and, best of all, the result is a delicious treat.

While baking, I usually play music, turn it up loud, and I’m able to enjoy the moment – without worries of anything else that’s going on in my life or the world.

Lifestyle magazine Grazia spoke to psychotherapists about what it might be that makes baking such a treasured task at this time. Counsellor and psychotherapist Katerina Georgiou said it was about a mixture of comfort and control.

A second expert, counsellor Natasha Crowe, described baking as ‘a mindful, nurturing process’.

Speaking specifically about baking banana bread, she added: ‘It’s wholesome, nourishing and good for the soul; and right now that’s just what people need.’

I think she’s right. We do need to be

doing what’s good for the soul, particularly now.

And that includes activities such as baking, eating what you’ve baked, exercising and diving into a good book. But throughout many varied situations in history – pandemics, wars, natural disasters – Christians have found something else to be the best thing for their souls.

Jesus said to his followers: ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry’ (John 6:35 New International Version). He assures those who put their trust in him that he will take care of them and that they will have eternal life.

While baked goods satisfy, they do not last for ever. If we, like so many others, follow Jesus, we can experience his comfort and know that he is in control.

Will we do it too?

Baking has been quite therapeutic

Fresh from the oven 16 May 2020 • War Cry • 11

EXPLORE

Prayerlink THE War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their ­circumstances.

Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk.

Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

Becoming a Christian There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God

Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Amen Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

Nigel Bovey gives chapter and verse on each book in the Scriptures

3 John

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SING the pen name of ‘the elder’, John – a disciple of Jesus and Gospel writer – addresses this short, personal letter to ‘my dear friend Gaius’ (1). Scholars are uncertain as to who, exactly, Gaius was.

It is a Latin name and, therefore, suggests that Gaius was at least part-Roman.

Three men named Gaius appear in the Acts of the Apostles: a Macedonian companion of Paul’s, who was arrested during a riot in Ephesus (see Acts 19:29); a companion of Paul’s from Derbe (see Acts 20:4); and a man who hosted Paul in Corinth.

The Gaius of this letter is similarly showing hospitality to travelling evangelists – John writes that ‘it was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans’ (7). John’s commendation that Gaius is ‘faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you’ (5)

Key verse

‘I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth’ (3 John 4 New International Version)

Do you have a story to share?

may tip the balance in favour of this letter’s recipient being the Corinthian Gaius.

As in his two earlier letters, John emphasises the importance of truth.

John is delighted to hear that Gaius is

Christ’s followers are to live by love faithful to the truth, continuing to ‘walk in it’ (3 and 4). John says that showing hospitality to itinerant preachers is a way of working together ‘for the truth’ (8).

The ‘truth’ in question is something that John exposed and expanded upon in his two earlier letters. Contrary to prevalent false teaching, the truth is that, as the Christ – God’s anointed Messiah – Jesus of Nazareth is not only truly divine but also truly human (see 1 John 4:2 and 2 John 7).

Christ’s followers are not only to live in truth, but they are also to live by love (see 1 John 4:16).

In contrast to Gaius, John mentions Diotrephes, who lives to love himself. He loves to be first, has isolated himself from John and is openly critical of the apostle (9 and 10).

Gaius, says John, is not to imitate Diotrephes.

Stay connected

CBAD a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk @TheWarCryUK TheWarCryUK

B salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry 12 • War Cry • 16 May 2020

salvationarmy.org.uk Visit the Salvation Army website for the latest on the organisation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and find links to your nearest centre.

EXPRESSIONS

j

FACES OF FAITH

Q&A

ROSEL LABONE, a New Zealander living in London, on opera singing, spotting Crufts-worthy dogs and valuing people

What’s your typical day?

I’m a professional opera singer, so I spend my day making audition tapes to send out to opera companies. I’m learning French too. When I’m able, I also like to go for walks and look out for dogs that I think would make it to Crufts.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was little, I wanted to be a writer, and I still do some writing. But then I got into music after my dad took me to an opera. I fell in love with Carmen. Later I spent time opera busking in New York City, in Central Park and on the subway system. New Yorkers enjoyed it.

What makes you feel like a grown-up now?

Experience and owning up more to who I am.

What was the last book you read?

I’m challenging myself to read books by the Brontë sisters. At the moment I’m reading Charlotte Brontë’s Villette and Shirley.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Be grateful for the lovely people around you. We have a Maori saying in New Zealand: ‘What is important? It is people, it is people, it is people.’

qa quick QUIZ

1

Who played René Artois in the TV sitcom ’Allo ’Allo?

2

In Monopoly, what colour is Bond Street?

3

The human brain has how many lobes?

4

What is the cube root of 125?

5

What was the capital of West Germany before the country’s reunification in 1990?

6

How did you first become a Christian?

I have been a Christian for a long time, so I can’t remember a time when Jesus wasn’t there. It was a slow coming to my own personal faith.

What’s good about being a Christian?

So much! Having Jesus as a friend who has always got me, who doesn’t judge me and accepts me unconditionally.

That is the unfailing nature of Jesus. I need forgiveness every day, and God’s mercies are new every morning.

What one question would you ask God? What can I do for you?

Who wrote the book The Grapes of Wrath?

ANSWERS

What do you pray about?

I pray to be less selfish. I also pray for everyone around me. And for my favourite TV comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to get renewed!

16 May 2020 • War Cry • 13

1. Gorden Kaye. 2. Green. 3. Four. 4. Five. 5. Bonn. 6. John Steinbeck.

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Elastic sound (5) 4. Destined (5) 8. Melody (3) 9. Blossom (5) 10. Roll of tobacco (5) 11. Swamp (3) 12. Bulge (5) 13. Allure (7) 16. Amusing play (6) 19. Absorb (6) 23. Stammer (7) 26. Rascal (5) 28. Rocky hill (3) 29. Rage (5) 30. Extra page (5) 31. Cereal plant (3)

32. Dull-looking (5) 33. Falls (5)

DOWN 2. By oneself (5) 3. Placed a bet (7) 4. Thrifty (6) 5. Silent (5) 6. Tenet (5) 7. Foremost (5) 9. Fundamental (5) 14. Bone (3) 15. Young bear (3)

17. Choose (3) 18. Consume (3) 20. Wed (7) 21. Oust (5) 22. Blood vessel (6) 23. Alarm (5) 24. Impelled (5) 25. Toss (5) 27. Zest (5)

SUDOKU Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9

HONEYCOMB

7 8 2 5 1 9

HONEYCOMB Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number 1. Underground shelter 2. Cartoon mouse 3. Breed of dog 4. Shiny and smooth 5. Air passage 6. Male goose

6

2 5 9 1 4 6 8

8

Answers QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Twang. 4. Fated. 8. Air. 9. Bloom. 10. Cigar. 11. Bog. 12. Swell.

13. Attract. 16. Comedy. 19. Imbibe.

23. Stutter. 26. Rogue. 28. Tor. 29. Anger.

30. Inset. 31. Rye. 32. Dowdy. 33. Drops.

DOWN: 2. Alone. 3. Gambled. 4. Frugal.

5. Tacit. 6. Dogma. 7. First. 9. Basic. 14. Rib. 15. Cub. 17. Opt. 18. Eat. 20. Married.

21. Eject. 22. Artery. 23. Scare.

24. Urged. 25. Throw. 27. Gusto.

HONEYCOMB 1. Bunker. 2. Mickey. 3. Collie.

4. Glossy. 5. Larynx. 6. Gander.

1 6 3 7 8 2 4 9 5

9 7 5 4 6 1 3 8 2

4 8 2 9 5 3 7 6 1

7 2 1 3 9 8 5 4 6

3 4 9 5 2 6 1 7 8

6 5 8 1 7 4 9 2 3

8 3 4 6 1 7 2 5 9

2 9 7 8 3 5 6 1 4

5 1 6 2 4 9 8 3 7

SUDOKU SOLUTION

9 8 5 2

6

7 9 6 2 5 3 9

14 • War Cry • 16 May 2020

7 9 6 2 5 3 9

Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch

1 3 7 9 8 5 2 6

4

Wordsearch ADMIRATION ANGER

ANXIETY AWE

BOREDOM

CONFUSION DISGUST ENVY

EXCITEMENT FEAR

HAPPINESS HORROR

NOSTALGIA SADNESS

SATISFACTION SURPRISE

SYMPATHY TRIUMPH

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these emotions

1 9 4 7 3 6 8 2 5 6 7 8 2 4 5 3 9 1 N H D J B D P A Q D G L D E K E K B W Y T M V R J 3 5 Y D B N B Q H Z 2 1 9 8 4 7I N B 6 S T L T Y A E X Y M O D E R O B B J 7 4 9 3 I 5 Z Q W V C W Y 1 6 8 2 K G P W M Q X G K H D P F R X V T P N S T R 8 6 5 9 2 7I U M P H Q 1 3 4 G J O I I R R Z G A C A A A J R M E 2 1I U W D A H P T 3 8 6 4 7 J 5S N 9I L O Z L H V Z J P H G C S 4 3 E R N F O M M 7 5 1 9 2 I 6V C Y 8 C I J Q R T O Q A E S R K K Y O N T 9 8 6 4 I 7 R P R U S N R 2 5 1 3 Q T E W Z T V N E S A T B L N L B W F S T O Q 5 2 1 6 8 3 I 9 S E Z P 4 7

L C S V N K Z G Y U A R U E M Z U E U Y D B A I G L A T S O N E T Y S V T W I G H J Z K U J E I T A H L U E B Z T H Z U D D Q E P I O G P X H K T A I D J P N L C P C J X N Z E S I Y W L C Q U D Z A X Y H A N E P R B Y D W Z L A I H E D P V H A A S L S

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Spiced chicken and vegetable soup Ingredients

Method

2tsp vegetable oil

Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion and garlic for 3 minutes.

Add the carrots, turnip and apple and continue cooking for another 2 minutes.

1 medium onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 2 carrots, chopped 250g turnip, chopped 1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped 1tbsp curry powder 1l reduced-salt vegetable stock 400g tomatoes, chopped 200g cooked chicken, skin removed, chopped 50g frozen peas

SERVES

4

4tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt, to garnish Fresh mint leaves, to garnish 4 wholemeal rolls, to serve

Pancakes with caramelised apples Ingredients

Method

75g plain flour

Tip the flour into a large mixing bowl, add the egg and milk, then use a whisk to beat into a smooth batter.

1 medium egg 200ml semi-skimmed milk 2tsp vegetable oil 1 eating apple, cored and thinly sliced 1tsp caster sugar 1 lemon, juice and finely grated zest

Stir in the curry powder and cook gently for a few seconds. Pour in the stock and add the tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Add the chicken and peas and simmer gently for another 4 minutes.

Ladle the soup into warm bowls. Garnish with yoghurt and fresh mint leaves, to taste.

Serve each portion with a wholemeal roll.

Heat a few drops of oil in a non-stick frying pan and pour in a quarter of the batter. Use the handle to tilt the pan so that the batter flows evenly over the surface. Cook over a medium heat for 2 minutes until set, then flip over to cook the other side.

Repeat to make 4 pancakes in total, adding a few drops of oil each time.

Once cooked, set aside and keep warm.

Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan and cook the apple slices over a medium heat for 3 minutes, turning often. Sprinkle over the sugar and cook for a few moments until lightly browned. Add the lemon zest and juice and stir to coat the apple slices.

Top each pancake with some caramelised apple slices, to serve.

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Public Health England website nhs.uk/change4life

SERVES

4

16 May 2020 • War Cry • 15

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Ralph Wa