FAITH IN ACTION  29 JULY 2017 | Issue 6672 | $1.50
IAN KILGOUR
Getting Ready for Our Final Journey On the Spot with Joshua Duinker
No Beers? Who Cares! 16-year-old Jodee Hayward: Free to be Me! Midland Division Tackles NZ Housing Crisis Battling the Demons of Addiction
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WAR CRY The Salvation Army
Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | GENERAL André Cox | FOUNDERS William
& Catherine Booth
The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination. War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission. EDITOR Major Christina Tyson | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Ingrid Barratt, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | PROOF READING Major
Jill Gainsford
OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box
6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Fax (04) 382 0716, Email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone
(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org, $75 per year within NZ
PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset
is an environmentally responsible paper produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) FSC® certified Mixed Source pulp from responsible sources and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System. Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.
All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated. Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission. Publishing for 133 years | Issue 6672 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry
www.salvationarmy.org.nz salvationarmyNZFijiTonga @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft
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The end starts today There’s a lot of discussion in New Zealand at the moment about euthanasia. Some of those calling for assisted suicide are people we could describe as the ‘worried well’, those anxious about what their life will be like at the end. Will there be pain? Will there be embarrassment? Will someone have to clean up after me when I go to the toilet? Will I be a stress or inconvenience for my family? What did Jesus say about worries? ‘Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today’ (Matthew 6, CEV). God knows we worry about plenty of things, but it’s important not to let our worries about the future keep us from being fully present today. We can trust God to meet our needs. As Jesus said immediately prior to the above words: ‘Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these [things]. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.’ If we’re truly worried about the end of our life, we need to appreciate that the end starts today. The choices we make, the attitudes we build into our lives, the way we invest ourselves in others, and the relationship we have with God is what will determine the quality of the rest of our lives. So let’s ask God to help us give today our best … and see what comes from that. Christina Tyson Editor
But death’s my friend, Why greet him with a frown? He’s only Life Dressed in another gown! John Gowans O Lord!
John 11:25–26 Common English Bible Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die …’ Hoani 11:25–26 Ka mea a Īhu ki a ia, ‘Ko ahau te aranga, te ora; ko ia e whakapono ana ki ahau, ahakoa kua mate, e ora anō: e kore anō e mate ake ake ngā tāngata katoa e ora ana, e whakapono ana ki ahau …’
‘W
ould you have work done?’ It was a topic that came up one night at an office job, when we were having Friday night nibbles. Because we thought we were the cast from Sex and the City (‘work, of course, meant cosmetic surgery). ‘Definitely.’ ‘Hmmm, I don’t know about the pain.’ ‘What’s wrong with wrinkles? Why are we so scared of aging?!’ That last one was me and my big mouth. I was received with an embarrassed silence, and immediately knew I had said something wildly inappropriate. It was as if I had announced I was ‘saving myself for marriage’ in a room full of hardbitten journalists. I know this because I did that once. And I was getting the same awkward throatclearing response now. That was the moment when I realised how profoundly scared our culture is of aging. Questioning it is like exposing a well-kept secret. We’re desperately trying to cover up the symptoms—getting ‘work’ done, or at least smothering ourselves with anti-aging creams— rather than sitting with the truth: we will get old. We will not always be beautiful. And … we will die. I am not putting myself above the fray. As a 40-something I’m still a rookie when it comes to aging, and I have all the same insecurities as anyone. But I have been given a gift in knowing Jesus, because he allows me to glimpse life through a different lens. In his book Falling Upward, Richard Rohr observes that we are a ‘first half of life culture’ —that stage when we are establishing our identity through our work, home, relationships and
community. It’s an ego phase of life, occupied with proving our worth. The Greek word ‘persona’ means ‘stage mask’. And as a culture, we seem to be stuck on stage—which is why it is so terrifying when the wrinkles start to appear, and the mask starts to slip. But if we allow ourselves to embrace the second phase of life, we have the opportunity to discover the ‘task within the task’—to shed the mask and see ourselves as we really are, not as we want to be seen. This is a time when we can reflect on our motivations and purify our intentions. Rohr calls it ‘shadow-boxing’: wrestling with those parts of ourselves we prefer to keep in the shadows, unseen by both ourselves and others. When people are brave enough to wrestle with their shadow, they realise they ‘do not need to be perfectly right, and they know they cannot be anyway, so they just try to be in right relationship. In other words, they try above all else to be loving,’ says Rohr. ‘Such people have met the enemy and know that the major enemy is “me” … shadow work literally saves you from yourself, your false self.’ The second stage of life does not happen by accident. There are certainly young people who wrestle with their shadows. And older people who do not. Many who grow old simply become more enmeshed with their mask. Do you find yourself holding on to status, or angry that others don’t see things your way? You have some shadow work to do. Do you desire to embrace everyone with the love you have found? You have truly become an elder. Those wrinkles of yours radiate beauty. BY INGRID BARRATT
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No Beers? Who Cares!
ONTHESPOT Joshua Duinker is a professional basketball player, currently playing with the Wellington Saints.
A new social initiative called ‘No Beers? Who Cares!’ is making it fun to give up alcohol—with the aim of shifting our bingedrinking culture. ‘It’s not about giving something up, but seeing how much you gain,’ says Claire Robbie, TV reporter, yoga instructor and founder of No Beers? Who Cares! When she decided to give up alcohol six months ago, Claire knew she needed a support network to make the journey not just beer-able (get it?), but enjoyable.
Secret Indulgence: I love breakfast cereal. I’ll put back any kind, mixed together, it doesn’t matter. I’ll eat it all! Celebrity crush: Hillsong New York Pastor Carl Lentz is someone I really look up to. His love for God and people is something I aspire to.
Claire started No Beers? Who Cares! as a social group, with events and online support. So far, over 300 people have become paid-up members (with all proceeds going to charity)— making a commitment to be alcohol-free from three months to a year. As Dry July comes to an end, there has been an influx of memberships. And many who initially pledged for three months have now renewed their commitment.
What I’m watching or reading: Currently reading Goliath Must Fall by Louie Giglio—dwell on the size of our God, not the height of our giants! One thing I love: I love reading my Bible, just something I can’t live without! This year is the second time that I’m reading the whole Bible in a year.
Regular social events are held at pubs, with craft non-alcoholic beverages on the menu. ‘We often hold it in bars, so people can push through that initial awkwardness and learn to socialise without alcohol,’ says Claire. ‘It’s also a place to be able to discuss how you’re feeling, since you’re not suppressing your emotions with alcohol.’
One thing I hate: When people step on my shoes! I’m a low-key sneaker head, so I try to keep my shoes clean! Something that would surprise us about your job: I’ve played for teams in eight different countries. I love to travel with my wife, so I’m very thankful to have a job that takes me all over the world. Cookbook The Ultimate Party Book for Children Samuel Rich and Cissy Azar At first glance, this is a cookbook—but with contents that include ‘Pirate Parties’ and ‘Princess Parties’, what a fun cookbook it is! The design is light, bright and nostalgic—and the kids will love poring through it. But at second glance, it’s also a one-stop party shop, with party games, snacks and decorations to match each theme. As you’d expect, it’s a bit too aspirational. (Cue: very stressed out parents—do we really need a venue and hired entertainment?!) But it’s also refreshingly free of merchandise, focusing on traditional party ideas. (New Holland)
The Facebook page is an important source of support as well, says Claire. ‘When the rugby was on, we had a couple of guys that really wanted to have a beer, but people rallied around them.’ This support is key to making the commitment stick. ‘When I gave up alcohol, I also had to do a lot of inner work and self-development,’ sums up Claire. ‘I can’t tell you how amazing the whole experience has been. I learned who I was and I found my real personality again.’
QUIKQUIZ
1 Who is the Greek goddess of love? 2 Musa sapientum is the scientific name for what fruit?
3 ‘Cat Island,’ a small island with more
‘It’s no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.’ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
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cats than people, is in which country?
4 What creature can see through its eyelids when they are closed? 5 How did Jesus heal two blind men who asked for his help? Answers on page 22
GOODSTUFF
The revolution has begun. This month, Tesla announced the production of a massmarketed electric car. Then Volvo announced that from 2019, they will only manufacture cars run with a battery. Not to be outdone, France announced that from 2040, the sale of petrol-powered cars will be banned. In New Zealand, the use of electric or hybrid vehicles is increasing rapidly—last month alone there were 3834 new registrations, a huge leap from only 199 in June 2013. It makes it possible to hope for what once seemed impossible: a world that isn’t reliant on fossil fuels. A world that isn’t destroying our planet (quite so quickly). Perhaps, even, a world without wars over petrol?
To produce a single pound of honey, a single bee has to visit two million flowers.
X Marks the Spot This recipe for lamb cutlets with parsley & macadamia rub can be arranged into ‘Xs’ for a pirate-themed party (if you have particularly sophisticated kids!) 4–5 frenched lamb racks (or trim the fat yourself) 1 bunch parsley ½ bunch mint leaves 2 whole garlic cloves 50g macadamia or Brazil nuts 20g breadcrumbs juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp olive oil salt and pepper
Action, Adventure Spider-man: Homecoming (M) Jon Watts
This latest film in the Marvel Universe introduces a refreshingly awkward teenage Peter Parker aka Spider-man. Parker attempts to fight crime and prove his worth to father figure Tony Stark and the Avengers, while hiding his alter ego from his Aunt May and friends. His efforts cause complete chaos and are costly. Ultimately, Peter must find his value without the suit before he earns the right to wear it. The film works well as a standalone story, but also weaves in well with the other Avenger films. As an origin film it lays a quirky, funny and engaging foundation for more Spider-man films—without the cringe delivered by other re-boots of this well-loved superhero. (Reviewed by Shar Davis)
mayonnaise or yoghurt
Preheat oven to 200°C. In a food processor, combine the parsley, mint, garlic, nuts, breadcrumbs, lemon juice and olive oil. Whizz until you have a smooth paste. Set aside some of the mix for later. Rub a generous amount onto the racks (both sides) and leave to marinate for 15 minutes. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pan until medium hot. Brown each rack for one minute on each side. Place the racks into a baking dish and bake in the oven for 20 minutes (for medium rare). Rest the meat for 10 minutes. Using a sharp, straight-edged knife, slice between each bone carefully to separate the cutlets. Arrange on a platter by criss-crossing the bones to make an X. Mix leftover rub with a little mayonnaise or yoghurt and serve immediately.
Recipe reproduced with permission from The Ultimate Party Book for Children: All You Need to Make your Children’s Party a Hit, by Samuel Rice and Cissy Azar (New Holland, $24.99) Available at all good bookstores or online at newhollandpublishers.com
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Retired Salvation Army officer Major Ian Kilgour isn’t letting the grass grow under his feet. A stay in hospital prompted him to develop a book that invites those nearing the end of their lives to face death with courage, peace and hope. BY CHRISTINA TYSON
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an, now 71 and six years into retirement, jokes that wife Shirley always wanted him to get a back shed for when he stopped work. ‘She somehow has this romantic notion about “a man having a shed”,’ he laughs, ‘but it would be a pointless exercise, because I’ve got nothing to put in it!’ Instead, over the past six years, Ian has been happy to continue with his Christian ministry, serving with Shirley as an associate minister at their local Presbyterian Church, St Heliers. He’s also kept busy chairing a joint Salvation Army and Presbyterian project looking at the plight of health care workers in the aged care industry. Alongside all that, Ian enjoys spending time with his nine grandchildren. ‘I sometimes find myself a little bit overcommitted, and you realise you don’t have quite the same energy or recovery from one event after another, but apart from that—which just goes with the territory of growing old—all is good.’ Ian has just written a 75-page book entitled The Art of Dying Well. He confesses some degree of self-interest in the subject matter, with the book’s genesis coming when Ian was hospitalised with a heart issue and feeling ‘somewhat threatened’ by the possibility of his own death. ‘But I was also in a ward with other men and found it an intriguing and lovely experience to hear their stories and get to know something of them and their lives. I thought to myself, “I’m only going to be here with them for such a short time, but what if I could produce something that could help them and others like them approach death in a more positive way?” ’ This connected with a request from a chaplain at his church who serves in hospitals and rest homes and was looking for some sort of resource to help people facing their last days with a terminal diagnosis or simply because of old age. Ian observes, ‘There’s a lot of material for someone who has been bereaved, but not so much for people facing their own mortality.’ And so Ian started putting his own thoughts on paper.
Let’s talk about death What he’s produced is a simple book that opens by encouraging people to take a trip down memory lane—recalling the major events and people in their lives, along with places where they’ve lived, visited and worked. ‘The intention is to help people remember and, by remembering, realise their life has added up to a great deal of living. They can then gain a sense of completion and thanksgiving for all that has made up their journey,’ Ian explains. 29 JULY 2017 WarCry 7
The middle section of the book presents a spiritual understanding on death and dying, with the concluding section offering a collection of inspirational readings. At the start of the book, Ian also includes a suggested list of final wishes to communicate to family before dying. Ian includes readings and thoughts from faiths other than Christianity. ‘This was deliberate, recognising that when chaplains and others visiting hospitals and rest homes go about their duties, they’re meeting people from all sorts of backgrounds—ethnically and religiously. So there is no reason to make it exclusive to a Christian understanding and every reason to make it inclusive. It’s also important to honour the fact that the person receiving it has had their own journey in life, according to their own faith tradition or values.’
IF WE HAND OVER THE BROKEN PIECES OF OUR LIFE TO GOD, SOMETHING REMARKABLE CAN BE DONE WITH THEM. The Art of Dying Well can be given to a person who is approaching death to read on their own, but those who are already using it say it’s also opening up ongoing discussions. When they return to visit someone, that person will often point them to something that caught their eye and was meaningful. This then gives the opportunity to further discuss their death and dying. It’s a ‘read and share’ approach to what can sometimes be difficult conversations to hold. ‘Because they’re talking about something a person has read, it doesn’t seem so intrusive,’ Ian suggests. ‘It gets away from all of that awkwardness. Families can read to a family member who is old or ill, asking them some of the questions in the book. It’s a way of indirectly talking about the reality that a person is dying, yet gets around the awkwardness of trying to have that conversation more directly.’
Getting past denial Ian enjoys thinking deeply and compassionately about lots of issues, so it’s not surprising he’s considered why many of us are reluctant to discuss death—even with those we know are dying. Even when we know we’re dying. 8 WarCry 29 JULY 2017
‘Woody Allen said he didn’t mind the thought of dying, but he doesn’t want to be there when it happens! I think most people choose not to think about death, preferring to live in denial of the certain reality of our demise. Even when we’re talking to people who we know are dying, we’re still likely to say, “Don’t worry Mum, you’ll be home soon.” We try to avoid the word “death”, so people “expire” or “pass away”. In news reports of war deaths, terms like “collateral damage” desensitise us to the reality that real people have died.’ Something that Ian believes contributes to people’s denial of death is fear. ‘We shelter our children from death, from the indignity or pain that can be experienced towards the end. We don’t express our feelings and fears with dying people, and so they don’t share theirs with us. Mother Teresa said, “Death is part of the achievement of life.” This underlines the notion that the way to die well, is to live well. Yet death is often seen as a failure, especially in the medical context.’ Ian believes the debate about euthanasia that’s going on in New Zealand is an opportunity for people to talk more openly about their fears and expectations around death and dying. ‘It might sound outrageous, but in many ways death can be quite beautiful—especially when faith is part of our experience. That’s because faith, as an essential component in our preparation for death, takes us beyond our preoccupation with just the suffering or demise of the body. We need to focus on our “true self”, which is formless and which lives on.’ He points to the contributions of the hospice and palliative care movements, which have made such inroads in managing people’s pain and bodily needs, as well as addressing people’s fear of isolation at the end of life. ‘That releases us to contemplate more positively what’s happening to us—especially when we’re aided by people with a compassionate understanding of the issues. Maybe it’s overstating this to talk about “a beautiful death”, but it can bring about a “good death” that gives an individual a sense of completion and peace.’
A way of hope And, as Ian says, if there is a faith component for a person, there’s also hope at the end. ‘I think of when Jesus ascended back to Heaven,’ he says. ‘The interesting thing about this story is that Jesus’ disciples were staring up into the sky after he had gone and the angel says, “Why are you looking up at the sky?” The inference is: get on with it! And the account in Luke tells us they did this
‘with great joy’. There were no tears. They now had a different understanding of what life after death was like. ‘It was the same at the tomb after Jesus’ resurrection. The angel says, “Jesus isn’t here—he’s gone before you.” When we can really embrace and comprehend that Jesus has already gone before us, we can accept the fact that we’re going to die. But in the meantime, we get on with God’s mission for the church—and indeed for the world.’ Ian describes a YouTube video he’s just seen of a 92-year-old man knitting beanies for the homeless. ‘Here he is, lying in bed at 92 years of age—and he still believes he can do something of value for others. He’s knitted over 8000 beanies for homeless people, including a Salvation Army shelter. And I thought to myself, “How wonderful, here is a man who’s going to keep giving to the wellbeing of others right to the very last!” ’
Making peace with the past Of course, as people follow the prompts in Ian’s book, calling to mind the people and events of their lives, it’s likely they’ll revisit moments of regret, disappointment and even shame and guilt. So, how is a person at the end of their life to respond to the thoughts and feelings associated with such memories? Ian recounts a story he says he’s told many times of a young man picking up pieces of broken glass from the seashore. An old man is watching and asks the younger man what he plans to do with the glass he has gathered. He is taken to a small workshop, where the younger man shows him a beautiful stained-glass window that he is making from the broken pieces. Ian picks up the story: ‘Now, these bits left on the shore could be sharp and dangerous, but gathered up and put into the hands of a craftsman, they’re being made into something of great beauty. And that’s the redemptive actions of God in our life: picking up all those pieces, some of which are jagged and sharp, some of which we feel guilty about or wish had never happened. But if we hand them over to God, something remarkable can be done with them.’ It’s an experience he can relate to. ‘Down through the years, I haven’t always been the person I should be. I have failed. But when I reflect on those points of failure, they’ve been turned around when I’ve allowed God to work. We need to be challenged about many things—especially our failings—if we’re to become who we’re meant to become. But we also need to remember that God loves us, warts and all!’
What’s in a Name? The inspiration for the title of Ian’s book, The Art of Dying Well, comes from Joseph Campbell, the famous professor of mythology, who suggested that in the second half of their lives, people should practise the art of dying. ‘What he meant was that in the first half of life we accumulate goods and chattels to establish our home and provide for our family, but in the latter part of life we should prepare for our death by divesting ourselves of life’s accumulation, ready to finally depart with nothing but our character and our spirit,’ Ian explains. ‘Modern life encourages an obsession with what we have, rather than who we are and what we can become. Yet this dependency on material things can be at the expense of the essential inner work and preparations we ought to make for the next part of our journey with God. ‘We don’t have to see death as an intruder, but more as a companion. Preparing for death is about developing a sense of oneness with God through prayer and meditation. It’s also about shifting the focus, if you like, onto relationships and memory— onto being, rather than all our doing and our hectic striving. ‘My old grandfather used to use the expression, “There are no pockets on a shroud.” Or, as Jesus asked, “What does it profit a person if they gain the whole world but lose their soul?” ’ REQUEST A COPY OF IAN’S BOOK | Email warcry@nzf. salvationarmy.org
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The Story of Us Imagine someone asks you to tell them the story of your relationship. How you answer that simple question is the best predictor of your relationship’s success. When you get together for a girls’ or guys’ night, how do you talk about your partner? What you say is more important than you think. There is a simple question you can ask yourself that will help evaluate the shape of your relationship, according to the world’s leading marriage expert John Gottman. Imagine someone is asking you to tell them about the history of your relationship. What kind of story do you tell? • What do you emphasise? Do you focus on the positives or the negatives? • Do you talk about your ‘idiot’ partner, or do you make them sound like a super hero? In his long-term research, Gottman— professor emeritus at the University of Washington—describes couples as ‘Masters’ or ‘Disasters’ (a bit harsh, but bear with).
POSITIVITY IS NOT BURYING YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND, BUT NEGATIVITY WILL SKEW YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
‘Our best prediction of the future of a relationship came from a couple’s “story of us”. It’s an ever-changing final appraisal of the relationship and your partner’s character,’ Gottman tells author Eric Barker. ‘[Disasters] were developing a “story of us” that was very negative in which they described all the problems in the relationship. They really emphasise what was missing. Masters did just the opposite: they minimised the negative qualities that all of us have and they cherish their partner’s positive qualities. They nurture gratitude instead of resentment.’ If this sounds a bit delusional, it is. And that is the way it should be. The Masters saw their partners as better than they really were, while the Disasters saw them as worse than they really were. The interesting thing is that this research showed the rose-tinted perspective was actually more accurate. ‘People who have this negative habit of mind miss 50 per cent of the positivity that outside objective observers see. So the positive habit of mind is actually more accurate,’ explains Gottman. In other words, choosing a positive attitude is not burying your head in the sand, it is choosing to see things as they actually, mostly, are. It is negativity that will skew your perspective. At the heart of all this is the old-fashioned concept of ‘counting your blessings’. Choose to focus on what is positive, see the good qualities of your partner and tell yourself a positive story of your relationship.
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Three Keys to Happiness in Marriage 1. Build a ‘love map’: Get to know your partner and what makes them tick—this is like a map to their internal world. The only way to do this? Spend time together, ask lots of questions, and disclose personal things about yourself. In other words, spend quality time getting to know each other. 2. Respond to your partner: There are many small ways in which we seek our partner’s attention every day—it can be as simple as, ‘Nice day, isn’t it?’ Couples that stayed married responded to these ‘bids’ 86 per cent of the time—‘Yes, it is a nice day, darling’, while couples that divorced only responded 33 per cent of the time. Small gestures do matter. And your response matters even more. 3. Show admiration: This is similar to showing positivity. Focus on what you like (or even love) about your partner—and tell them. Be generous with your compliments. Source: bakadesuyo.com
TESTIFY! For Christchurch Salvationist Liz Edwards, working with formerly homeless men at the Addington Supportive Accommodation centre is a privilege. My role is transitional support and budget advisor and I’m also the chaplain. We had Major Mel Impey here before as the chaplain and he did a great job. When he and his wife Major Jan Impey were transferred to Auckland there was no spiritual input in our service. I went to the boss and said, ‘We need to do something,’ and ‘something’ became me. It’s a busy role, but it’s really exciting. I run a Bible study every morning at 9 am. We have a great group of about six to 10 guys, including some who have left our service who come back. We did the challenge of reading the New Testament a couple of years ago, and the guys then decided they wanted to read the Old Testament. It’s a scary but exciting undertaking. We’re up to Ezekiel and they really enjoy reading the history of Israel and getting to know God’s heart for us all. I also meet one-on-one with those who are on a spiritual journey. I don’t believe in bible bashing, but my door is always open for a chat. We’re a 24/7 service and we have prayer at each handover as much as is possible. We also have devotions as a staff team. This place is all about starting again —people are basically on the compost heap because of their circumstances, and we get back to basics and they start again. I tell the guys if you are a gardener you’ll know compost is a good foundation for a plant to grow into something beautiful and useful. So it can be for their lives. We have up to 89 men living here. The majority of our guys have addictions
I WENT TO THE BOSS AND SAID, ‘WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING,’ AND ‘SOMETHING’ BECAME ME.
I work towards transitioning the guys into their own accommodation, and in my chaplaincy role many ask: ‘Can you pray a blessing on my house?’ The first week I became a chaplain, a guy who was living with us was a really heavy solvent user. He had a Christian upbringing, but said, ‘I have been far from God for many years.’
and we connect them with the Bridge next door for treatment. A lot also have unaddressed mental health issues and poor physical health from lack of a good diet. We connect them with mental health services and have a nurse here. So they come here and address their addictions, their finances and their health. We also try and help them into housing and employment.
I asked him if he would like a Bible. He said, ‘Yes, but I can’t read it.’ He opened it to a random page, put his finger on a verse and asked me to read it to him. It was Job 36:15 ‘He rescues the afflicted in their affliction.’ He said, ‘What does affliction mean?’ I said, ‘It means God rescues people from their addictions.’ And he said, ‘Really?’ He worked with us and the Bridge and is now living well and healthy in the community—praise God!
All three of my roles work hand-inhand. The guys come here very broken and part of that is they’re just plain broke, financially as well as physically and spiritually. I offer budget advice,
It’s a job I come to every day and love being here. It’s a privilege to be able to work with clients on a holistic basis. That’s what we do as The Salvation Army. 29 JULY 2017 WarCry 11
Jodee Hayward (16) was brought up to believe ‘God was just a conspiracy’. Then, after a powerful experience at the Amplify creative arts camp earlier this year, she couldn’t deny God anymore. But how was she going to tell her parents? When I was in Year 8, at about 12 years old, a teacher asked if I was a Christian or believed in God. I didn’t have to think, my answer came out straight away: no. What else could you expect from a girl who had been brought up her whole life believing that religion was pointless, and that God was just a conspiracy? When I was in Year 9, a friend asked me to go to a programme called Revolution, a youth group for college kids at Winton Salvation Army. I only went as a favour to my friend, but I kept going because I liked the people. They instantly made me feel happier when I was around them, and were so unique and fun-loving.
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Even though I was now continually going to a church programme, if you asked if I believed in God, I would still have said no. At Revolution, we prayed every week without fail. Well, they prayed—my version of praying was closing my eyes and waiting for whoever was talking to … well, stop. But as cheesy as it sounds, they became like a second family to me. They were, and still are, really supportive of everything happening in my life— whether it was a breakup or if I wasn’t sure what I believed—they understood and didn’t judge. I don’t know when I stopped saying I didn’t believe in God, and started thinking of myself as a Christian. But one thing I do know, if my family had asked me if I believed in God, my answer would still have been no. When I started going to church, I told my parents I was going to see a friend. One day I brought home a Bible and they asked why I had it. I shrugged it off, saying I got told to take it home—even though I had asked for a Bible.
I know, but I was suddenly so scared of them. One day my dad said, ‘No Hayward goes to church!’ I knew he didn’t mean anything by it, but I still felt really upset. I replied, ‘This Hayward does.’ My parents took it way better then what I had imagined they would—I honestly don’t know why I was so scared to tell them. They support me and are slowly getting used to where my faith stands.
I’M PROUD TO SAY I WENT FROM BELIEVING IN NOTHING, TO BELIEVING I HAVE A ROLE IN GOD’S PLAN. THIS IS WHO I AM!
A MESSAGE FROM GOD In January, I went to Amplify, a Salvation Army creative arts camp in Wellington. I experienced something I thought could never happen to me: a message from God. During Night Church, a lot of people felt God’s presence and stayed behind afterwards to pray. I went outside to get some fresh air, but felt like I needed to go back inside. I went to comfort a friend who was praying and in tears. Instead, she told me about a dream she’d had: God was coming towards me, and then he just stopped and turned away as if I was pushing him away. Suddenly, I was the one in tears. With the help of my friends, I gave myself to God and promised to build my relationship with him and let him be my focus—starting with my mum and dad. My parents were still in the dark about my belief in God, so I finally decided to come clean. Mum and Dad are perhaps the funniest and most loving people
Anyone who knew me in primary school knows I wasn’t exactly the nicest person. I was too focused on what others thought of me, so I would tell everyone what they wanted to hear—even if it meant being fake. I regret this, as it meant I hurt a lot of people that I didn’t intend to. I used to be in denial. I didn’t want others to know I believed in God. I was always shutting God out and pretending like he didn’t matter. But I’m no longer focused on what others think. I’m focused on showcasing who I really am, and not what I want others to think I am. At the moment I’m just working on the little things—talking to God most nights and thanking him for everything he has done in my life. I’ve been way more involved at church, making sure I take every opportunity to grow my faith. I’m working on my confidence in Christ, and this has helped me do things I never thought I could—especially sharing my testimony! Right now, I’m confidently saying I couldn’t be happier with where I am. I’m proud to say I went from believing in nothing, to believing I have a role in God’s plan and that I am a Christian. I’m nowhere near a perfect Christian, and I’m still working out everything as I go—but that’s alright by me.
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Sunday worship at Tokoroa Corps. Photography: Andy Westrupp.
MORE THAN A HOUSE A rapidly expanding work helping homeless families in the central North Island has seen corps going far beyond just providing a roof over people’s heads. To help address rising homelessness, The Salvation Army has been increasing its transitional accommodation, including across the Midland Division, providing families on the Ministry of Social Development housing register homes for 12 weeks along with wrap-around services and help to find a stable place to stay. Rotorua Corps has opened five houses in the past three months, for homeless families and singles. Corps Officer Lieutenant Kylie Overbye said the houses had been a great opportunity to help people in need and build connections. The first people they housed were a grandmother and her grandchildren who were about to become homeless. The Army built rapport with the family, and although it is difficult to find housing in Rotorua in less than 12 weeks, were able to help them find a more permanent home in less than two weeks. This was a big boost for the housing team, Kylie said. Among other clients, they were able to take in a solo father with health issues and his children, as well as a pregnant woman. ‘We’ve had a few rough beginnings, and we expect challenges here and there, but the effort is so worth it to see these positive outcomes—and to sow seeds of the Kingdom in the lives of people who don’t yet know they need God, to go on a prayerful journey with those willing to engage, and to build relationships that bring life to these families.’ In Flaxmere, Corps Officer Captain Tim Malton said they had taken on five houses this year, while the corps building itself was also briefly turned into emergency accommodation for homeless families at the start of the year. The use of their hall came over Napier’s Art Deco weekend in February. Flaxmere Corps responded to an urgent call as motels 14 WarCry 29 JULY 2017
were fully booked, leaving Ministry of Social Development clients who were being put up at the motels in need of temporary accommodation. ‘We were asked if there was anything we could do. I asked the leadership team and they were more than happy for our building to be used as emergency accommodation,’ Tim said. The corps offered the use of the building for free as a gift to the community. After a lot of paperwork to make sure all the health and safety and risk management requirements were met, they hosted 20 people for a week. ‘The families that stayed looked after the place really well. They did their own cooking for the week and we had a few corps families that came in and took turns to sleep overnight to supervise the place,’ Tim said. Taking on five transitional houses was a significant commitment for a small corps, but they saw it as an opportunity to engage with and support families in the region, and have already worked with eight families. Most of the houses are within walking distance of the corps, something they hoped would help build community. While they are looking to hire a staff member to work with the families, they were also hoping people would build relationships with corps members. Some families had already attended corps family nights and a Mothers’ Day service, Tim said. Napier Corps Officer Major Alister Irwin said their corps had one longstanding transitional house and had been pleased to bring their number of houses up to four this year, with the last two opened in the past fortnight. Their original house had only been used to house single mothers and their children, but their
new houses allowed them to expand into helping families, and they have already been able to help 18 people in the past three months. Their focus was on more than just giving people a roof over their heads, Alister said. ‘When we were offered the opportunity to provide wrap-around services to more people in transitional accommodation we were quite excited. Our work is holistic, based on the Ministry of Health’s te whare tapa whā Māori model of health care, so we’re looking at how people are physically, emotionally and spiritually.’
WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW PEOPLE ARE PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. Depending on people’s needs, the corps offers budgeting, the Positive Lifestyle Programme, and mentoring and food parcels to families, connecting them with other agencies for additional support, and offering spiritual support where appropriate. Tokoroa Corps Officer Lieutenant Steve Molen said being able to provide wrap-around services was a very important part of what the Army was able to offer. ‘It’s a long journey for people sometimes. Often there’s a wider story and they need support to get them to a stable place. We’re not just about the social support; it’s also about the relationship connection and doing life together.’ That included practical help for one client so they wouldn’t get on the real estate rental black list. Community Ministries staff and volunteers from the corps grabbed paint brushes and some plaster and went to work helping the client repair holes in the walls and fix smashed windows in a flat they had been evicted from, Steve said. ‘It was a fun day out and our client really appreciated it.’ The corps opened its third house earlier this month, after starting transitional housing work in October last year. Their residents have included a man living in a van and a pregnant woman and her partner who were living in a garage with no access to a toilet or kitchen. ‘They’re doing really well; doing parenting courses and the Positive Lifestyle Programme and getting their lives back together.’
The previous garage residence of a Tokoroa client.
National Award for Salvation Army Farmers The Salvation Army’s Jeff Farm has been recognised as the best farm in the country for training the next generation of farmers. The farm won the Silver Fern Farms Sheep Industry Trainer of the Year award at the Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Sheep Industry Awards this month. The Salvation Army was gifted the farm by Southland farmer Edmund Sanderson Jeff in 1954 to train young people in farming. Four young people a year are trained on the 11,000ha farm. Profits from the farm go towards agricultural scholarships for other disadvantaged young people to study agriculturerelated courses at university and primary industry training organisations and towards other Salvation Army work with youth. The awards, which have been running for six years, celebrate the top performers from the sheep industry in the fields of science, innovation, industry training and genetics. The award organisers recognised the work of farm managers John and Liz Chittock over 17 years, providing young people with the opportunity to learn both basic farm and life skills. They commended the Chittocks as ‘enthusiastic about encouraging young people into the industry and take a real interest in them as individuals, encouraging and supporting them to be skilled shepherds and farmers’. However, John said the award was definitely a team effort involving seven staff on the farm. ‘It’s nice to be recognised, but it’s just what we do. It gives us a lot of reward seeing these young people come in straight out of school and leaving as young adults. What we try and do for other parts of The Salvation Army also gives us a lot of pleasure.’ 29 JULY 2017 WarCry 15
Joy and Excitement at Tonga Brass Camp
‘Joy! Joy! Joy! There is joy in The Salvation Army!’ This was the tune that rang out at the start of the 2017 Tonga Regional Brass Camp on Thursday 15 June. The setting couldn’t have been more perfect. We were based at Nuku’alofa Corps, near the coast looking out over a clear blue Pacific ocean, with a warm island breeze. These are ‘the friendly islands’, and they live up to their reputation. The enthusiastic rendition of ‘Joy in The Salvation Army’ by the Nuku’alofa Corps Band was followed by a welcome from Regional Commander Captain Sila Siufanga, reminding campers why they were meeting: to make joyful music and proclaim that there is indeed joy in The Salvation Army in Tonga. Going back 24 hours, there was plenty of work to be done before camp even began. The group of four camp staff from New Zealand: Territorial Creative Ministries Director Jim Downey, Stewart Stanbridge and Tom Smith (Hamilton City) and Josh Smith (Wellington City), got to work servicing, cleaning, and repairing instruments. These repaired instruments, along with 13 instruments donated from around New Zealand, were being distributed to new and existing players, with the aim of having a band in each of Tonga’s six corps. Brass banding holds a special place in Tongan culture and as the campers 16 WarCry 29 JULY 2017
started arriving we knew we were in for a great couple of days. Their energy and excitement was obvious right from the start. Thirty campers had come from all over Tonga, ranging in age, experience and ability. Some had only been playing a brass instrument for a couple of weeks. After sharing a meal together, introductions and devotions were held. Campers were then divided into two bands: learners and advanced. What followed were two-and-a-half days of teaching, training, fun, laughter and music making. Days were long and the campers worked hard. When they weren’t in rehearsal, they were practising and learning their parts. In the learners group the emphasis was on the basics of playing an instrument, being part of a group, instrument maintenance and establishing good practise routines. The advanced group was encouraged to think about the words associated with the tunes they play and to work hard at making music, rather than just playing notes on a page. Among the hard work and progress was also plenty of time to let our hair down and have a bit of fun. Tongans certainly know how to have fun! Camp wrapped up on Saturday afternoon with a mini concert. This was a chance for the two groups to come together and show what they’d been working on over the past two days. It was
a great time of sharing, encouraging and building each other up. The two bands then combined to form one 30-person band. What followed was loud! Saying goodbye after camp was hard. As is always the case, staff go to be an encouragement to the campers but end up leaving blessed and encouraged themselves. This was my first trip to Tonga, and it was an eye-opening and humbling experience. The passion and enthusiasm of Tongan Salvationists is infectious and at the same time challenging. On Sunday, the four New Zealanders went to two different corps—Fua’amotu and Talasiu—for Sunday worship. Then it was back to Nuku’alofa Corps for a combined afternoon meeting with Nuku’alofa, Vaini and Kolovai Corps. The weekend wrapped up with the now familiar tune, ‘Joy in The Salvation Army’—this time as an accompaniment to Tonga’s first-ever timbrel brigade. BY JOSH SMITH CAN YOU HELP? | The Salvation Army in Tonga is still in need of brass instruments, old Salvation Army tune books and timbrels. If you can help, contact Jim Downey at Territorial Headquarters on (04) 384 5469 or e: Jim_Downey@nzf.salvationarmy.org
Missing Teens Being Groomed Online A rise in cases of vulnerable teenage girls going missing after being groomed through social media is worrying The Salvation Army’s Family Tracing Service.
As with other cases Family Tracing has seen, the woman had written on her social media profile of feeling socially isolated and depressed.
There is an increase in people asking the service for help to find young women who have disappeared without explanation, sometimes overseas, after meeting men online, Family Tracing team leader Vivienne Hill said. ‘Last year, we had seven or eight cases flagged as predatory behaviour; this year, we’ve had an increase. They’ve become more international—girls from all over the world—and more disturbing.’
Conversations from the teen’s social media account showed she was speaking to someone on the other side of the world, who spent two years grooming her, Vivienne said. The person behind the account, who appears to be a member of a hate group, finally sent her money for plane tickets, after promising they would get married.
Online dating apps such as Tinder and the social media site Tumblr were increasingly being used in the cases they were seeing. With rising popularity of such apps among young people, the service is encouraging people to look out for friends and loved ones and be aware of the warning signs. ‘We know people are going to use these apps, so we just want to encourage them to be careful, particularly when they are talking to people online that they don’t know,’ said Vivienne. Her concern peaked when they were contacted about two cases in one week this month, involving two 18-year-old women, one from New Zealand and the other from the United Kingdom. Details of both cases were passed on to the police. The New Zealander had been groomed by a man who paid for her to fly to the other side of the world. ‘She was talking to a man online and then she has suddenly obtained money for plane tickets. She’s left her study, not telling her family where she was going.’
Family Tracing Officer Major Brenda Ennever said the woman’s family had not realised how serious the situation was. ‘Her sister had been worried about her using Tinder and she’d promise she’d come off, but then she disappeared.’ Other cases they have seen involve both young Kiwi women being lured to different parts of the world and people from overseas being lured here. Vivienne fears the problem is much bigger than the cases that come across their desks. ‘This is just the tip of the iceberg. For us to see a growing trend means it must be a much bigger problem in society.’ The Family Tracing Service in New Zealand is part of the wider tracing community throughout The Salvation Army worldwide and works with them to trace these young women. For tips on staying safe online and keeping children safe on social media | netsafe.org.nz/groomingand-online-predators
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Band Festival Inspires
Over Queen’s Birthday weekend, Salvation Army band members from Hamilton, Auckland and Tauranga gathered at the Clarence Street Theatre in Hamilton for the inaugural ‘Inspire’ band festival. After a busy Saturday of rehearsals, fellowship and a scrumptious dinner, crowds gathered in the evening for a concert. The concert was compered by
Hamilton City Corps Officer Captain Jenny Collings. Throughout the evening, Jenny shared about the composers and the strong Christian message behind their musical inspiration. The concert had something for everyone, from rousing marches to vocal pieces, a bit of swing and contemplative arrangements, all executed to the highest standard. On Sunday morning, Divisional
Commander Captain Paul Gardner led the musicians in a biblical reflection time, before all joined together for worship. One of the highlights of this service was acknowledging Don Coombridge for over 50 years’ service to God through banding. Over the weekend, the audience were blessed and amazed by the talent of all the musicians—but special mention must go to the guest soloists. We were privileged to have cornet soloist Dean Rusling (soprano cornet player in the Melbourne Staff band), and Bb bass soloist Frazer Robertson (New Zealand Tuba champion). Harmonics, pitch range and sensitive dynamics were commented on by those who are brass enthusiasts. The weekend was a time for bandsmen and women from Auckland City Corps, Hamilton City Corps and Tauranga Corps to join together to inspire others through their music. Friendships were renewed and all who attended were blessed spiritually through praise and worship.
Norway, Iceland and the Færoes Congress ‘I’m an optimist,’ General André Cox told Salvationists and friends from the Norway, Iceland and the Færoes Territory, ‘I believe our best days are ahead of us.’ But the General told delegates to the territory’s annual congress in Oslo, Norway, that for this to become true, Salvationists needed to be out in the community as witnesses and proclaimers of the gospel—loving and serving people. The extensive congress programme started with the commissioning of six cadets on Thursday, and continued through to Sunday evening. The programme took full advantage that in Oslo in June, no matter how far into the night an event lasts, it is still daylight when it ends. And when Salvationists from the three countries of this farstretched territory gather for a congress, they tend to keep going! From early morning until late into the night, the congress was a celebration of fellowship with many blessings, including challenging messages from the General and Commissioner Silvia Cox (World President of Women’s Ministries). The messages brought by the international leaders were supported 18 WarCry 29 JULY 2017
by vibrant praise, powerful testimony, prayer and musical contributions from groups and soloists. Throughout the weekend the Holy Spirit was present. In every meeting there was a quick and spontaneous response as many people moved forward to pray at the mercy seat. Special guests were Regent Hall Songsters and the male-voice group Four Hymn (both from the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland). Their musical offerings were a blessing and inspiration throughout the congress, as were contributions from the teenagers in the worship band Kongsgata (from Stavanger), the M-band, the Territorial Band and Oslo Temple Band. A highlight for many was when Four Hymn and Kongsgata joined forces to lead the congregation in praise during the final meeting of the congress. On Friday morning, the General visited the Royal Palace for a private audience with King Harald V of Norway, accompanied by Commissioner Cox and Territorial Commander Commissioner William Cochrane. Later, the international leaders met with the territory’s active and retired officers.
The Mayor of Oslo, Marianne Borgen, visited the congress on Saturday and took part in a special meeting, ‘Celebrate Good Times’, which revealed the wide range of Salvation Army work and ministry through video presentations and interviews. Lay employees and volunteers received special invitations to attend. The mayor spoke of the importance of volunteer work and her own involvement as a volunteer for The Salvation Army and other groups. She had already signed up to be a volunteer at the Homeless World Cup, which The Salvation Army is hosting in Oslo from 29 August to 5 September, and urged everyone present to do the same. The congress also included a march of witness, women’s breakfast, meeting for seniors, seminars and several concerts. A youth congress and a children’s congress ran alongside the live-streamed public meetings until, in the final meeting on Sunday, all generations joined in a creative and engaging afternoon for all the family. They were encouraged by Commissioner Cox not to leave without accepting the assurance that Jesus lives in his followers.
GAZETTE Bereaved: Mjr Anthony Stone of his sister, Jewel Norman, promoted to Glory from Christchurch on 16 July. Please uphold Jewel’s husband Keith, her mother Pauline Stone, Mjrs Anthony and Gaynor Stone, and other family members in prayer at this time of grief. Appointments: Effective 1 Nov: THQ —Lt-Col Melvin Fincham, Secretary for Programme, with the rank of Colonel. Lt-Cols Jennifer and Roderick Carey, appointments to be advised. Effective 14 July: Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services—Capt Ralph Hargest, Mission Director, Oasis Dunedin (additional); Mjr Andrew Hay, Project Officer, Bridge Whangarei; Central Division— Mjr Katherine Sonntag, Divisional Youth Secretary (pro-tem additional appointment). International College for Officers: The Chief of the Staff has approved the appointment of Capt Jennifer Collings to the International College for Officers and Centre for Spiritual Life Development, Session 236, 10 Jan to 19 Feb 2018.
GIVE EACH DAY A CHANCE TO BE THE BEST DAY IT CAN BE. What does it take for you to wake up in the mornings? Dim light, no talking, a hot shower, a cup of coffee or tea, or a gulp of Coke? Or maybe you’re like me and as soon as you flick on the lights, you flick on your mind. I’m ready to jump out of bed and even jump ahead of God as I anticipate how this day is going to play out. I recently read this quote from the ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus: ‘People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.’ I want to keep God in view, so he can give me his perspective on the things each day brings. Mark Twain’s view on greeting a new day was: ‘Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life.’ Doesn’t every day deserve a chance to be a good day? After all, ‘this is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it’ (Psalms 118:24). ‘This is the day’ includes such days as holidays, birthdays, wedding days. But ‘this is the day’ also includes surgery days, test days, lonely days, divorced days, days of deep, sensitive wounds. Difficulties can look awfully big, and they threaten to stare us down and force us to despair. In contrast, choosing to see life through God’s eyes widens our view. It gives those dim, dark days a chance. Clearly God is bigger than our problems, but he is also bigger than our perception of any problem. I love the words God spoke to the tiny nation of Judah at a time when her enemies were great, her future uncertain and her people’s view of the days ahead were dark and hopeless: ‘Was my arm too short to ransom you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you …? (Isaiah 50:2) … ‘Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear’ (Isaiah 59:1). Your difficulties may seem higher than you can see, deeper than you can tunnel beneath, and wider than you can walk around. Nevertheless, the arm of the Lord is never too short to grip you by the hand and help you over, under, around or through any difficulty life brings to your doorstep! Let’s trust God to stay close through the great days and the worst days. You may be transferred, lost, let go, reassigned or hospitalised but—brand this truth on your heart—you can never go where God is not! As Jesus promised us: ‘I am with you always’ (Matthew 28:20). So, give each day a chance to be the best day it can be, because this truly is the Lord’s day. Colonel Barbara Howell Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries 29 JULY 2017 WarCry 19
If we want to kick the demons of addiction out of our lives, we need to let Jesus move in. BY CHRISTINA TYSON
When we talk about the harmful use of alcohol, we sometimes hear people talk about the ‘red mist’, the violent or aggressive impulses that can take over when some people drink too much. Australian songwriter Paul Kelly touches on this in ‘If I Could Start Today Again’, written from the point of view of someone regretting the words spoken and actions taken while under the influence: All the kings and queens of the Bible They could not turn back time So what chance have I of a miracle In this life of mine? I only want one day To unsay the things I said Undo the thing I did Twenty-four little hours Oh God, please wipe them all away And I promise I will change If I could start today again I know I’m not the milk and honey kind Today I proved it true But when the red mist falls around my eyes I know not what I do Please give me back today And I won’t say the things I said Or do the thing I did Every minute, every hour The replays just the same And I can’t stand the shame Let me start today again 20 WarCry 29 JULY 2017
It can be so hard to break free from alcohol and other harmful drugs—and perhaps those who’ve tried and stumbled along the way can relate to a story Jesus told about evil spirits (or ‘demons’): When an evil spirit leaves a person, it travels through the desert, looking for a place to rest. But when the demon doesn’t find a place, it says, ‘I will go back to the home I left.’ When it gets there and finds the place empty, clean, and fixed up, it goes off and finds seven other evil spirits even worse than itself. They all come and make their home there, and the person ends up in worse shape than before. (Matthew 12:43-45, CEV) This could serve as a cautionary tale for the alcoholic or drug addict who wants to stay sober and clean, without slip after slip, relapse after relapse. The person who wants self-control and self-respect, not chaos and confusion. Jesus knows how hard it can be to battle demons, warning that when an evil spirit leaves a person, it can try to take up residence again. And so Jesus offers hope for the person who doesn’t want the regret of that Paul Kelly song to be the anthem of their life: ‘If I could start today again.’ Hope for the person who doesn’t want to pray, in desperation: ‘Please give me back today!’ What is that hope? It’s that it truly is possible to kick out the demons of addiction forever by choosing to clean house in a deep and lasting way. Partly that’s done by learning new skills and new ways of thinking, and then— one day at a time—making these the new healthy habits of our life. If our old habit used to be to have a drink or get stoned or high whenever we felt anxious, frustrated or disappointed, our new habit might be to reach out to talk with someone who wants us to have the healthy, happy life we deserve, free from drugs and alcohol. Cleaning out attitudes and habits is a great start, but to keep the demons permanently at bay, we need to bring in someone who can get into every nook and cranny of our life. And that’s where Jesus comes in. Many years ago, Robert Boyd Munger penned a story called ‘My Heart Christ’s Home’. It’s a simple idea—we open the
front door of our life (representing our heart or soul) and invite Jesus in to help us make the best of our life. Let me paraphrase and update this a little …
CLEANING OUT ATTITUDES AND HABITS IS A GREAT START, BUT WE NEED TO BRING IN SOMEONE WHO CAN GET INTO EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY. My Heart, Christ’s home To start with, we invite Jesus into our lounge room. It’s all tidy and beautiful because we knew we had a guest coming and so we cleaned up. We head out to the kitchen and return with some coffee and snacks … and we have a lovely time with Jesus. Jesus becomes a regular visitor, and we enjoy hanging out in the lounge. Chatting about life. Sometimes we ask for advice and Jesus gives it. Sometimes Jesus teaches us something new. We always feel more peaceful afterwards. But over time, Jesus starts to ask about the other rooms in our house. Perhaps he wants to look into our study, but we’re reluctant, because that might mean Jesus wants to talk with us about how we’re spending our time … and our money. Jesus might want to look in our family room, and we’re nervous about that, because perhaps Jesus is going to ask why we’re so often snapping at our loved ones in anger. Maybe he’ll ask us some tough questions about what sort of role model we want to be for our kids, which could mean some major changes. And then Jesus might ask to head into our bedroom. That makes us super uncomfortable, because our relationship, and especially our sex life, is private! What if Jesus pulls open the top drawer beside our bed and spots our porn collection?
Jesus might even start to ask questions about our closet—which is where we hide our hurts and our pain. It’s that place where we’ve locked away our more traumatic experiences, our memories of hurts from people we won’t forgive. If Jesus wanted to take a look in there, we might have to talk about forgiveness and letting go. We might have to talk about making amends. We’d certainly have to revisit some painful stuff. Gradually, the person in this story does let Jesus into all those rooms to help him clean house. And there’s a huge sense of relief as this happens. Their friendship grows as the homeowner comes to trust Jesus with even the hardest stuff in their life. Excitement grows as Jesus helps them become a better person. And when they reach the closet, Jesus —in love—offers to take care of that on his own. ‘Just give me the key and I’ll look after it,’ Jesus says. And so that dark and terrifying room gets cleaned up too. By the end of the story, the person has handed over the title of his house to Jesus. It’s not their house anymore —it’s Jesus’ home. When we decide to tackle any addiction, what we’re really doing is kicking out demons. But let’s be honest, they’re sneaky little devils and they will try to come back. So we need supernatural strength and power on our side. We need Jesus to make his home with us. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, ‘Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together.’ This is the picture of a close friendship, two friends sharing a meal together. And that’s the type of relationship we can have with Jesus—one that keeps the demons from our door.
One evening I invited Jesus Christ into my heart … Something happened at the very centre of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light. Robert Boyd Munger
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SUDOKU
OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS
Each Sudoku number puzzle has a unique solution that can be worked out logically (not mathematically). The numbers 1 to 9 appear once in every row, column and 3x3 square. Difficulty | Easy
3 2 1
1 8 7 6
9 7 3 7
5
6 3
9 4
Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 29–30 July: Blenheim Corps 7 August: Sole Officer Symposium Dinner 10 August: Education and Employment Governance Review Visit 13 August: Porirua Corps 14 August: Lead to Grow Conference Dinner 15 August: Auckland Bridge Recovery Church 15–16 August: Visit of International Zonal Secretary, Auckland Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 15–17 July: Northern Divisional Review 18 July: Addictions, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services Review 24–26 July: Appointments Conference 11–14 August: Visit of International Zonal Secretary to Tonga
5 7 6 9 6 3 2 8
PRAY Levin, Linwood, Lomaivuna, Manukau Central and Masterton Corps; Divisional Headquarters, Midland; The Salvation Army in Bangladesh.
INTERESTED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE? For reports and Salvation Army government submissions:
www salvationarmy.org.nz/SocialPolicy
Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES online:
www salvationarmy.org.nz/employment
Spiritual Direction Training Do people approach you to talk about their spiritual life? Would you like to train as a Spiritual Director? Spiritual Growth Ministries offers a well-regarded and comprehensive two-year, part-time programme, to inspire and form you as an effective Spiritual Director. The programme includes: • study of the theology and practices of Christian spiritual direction • deepening personal spiritual formation • regular workshops conducted by experienced practitioners • supervised one-to-one spiritual direction practice. Contact the Programme Coordinator, E: fran.francis@sgm.org.nz or visit sgm.org.nz. 2018 applications due 20 Sept 2017—late applications will be considered. 4 8 3 5 7 1 9 2 6
7 9 5 2 4 6 1 8 3
2 6 8 9 1 4 3 5 7
3 5 7 6 2 8 4 9 1
9 1 4 7 3 5 8 6 2
5 4 2 1 8 7 6 3 9
1 7 6 3 5 9 2 4 8
8 3 9 4 6 2 7 1 5
Quiz Answers: 1 Aphrodite, 2 Banana (means fruit of the wise men), 3 Japan, 4 Snakes, 5 He touched their eyes (Matthew 20:30–34).
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6 2 1 8 9 3 5 7 4
400–600 words with one or two captioned photos. Promotion to Glory tributes are approx 300 words. Email reports and large, high-quality jpeg images to: warcry@nzf. salvationarmy.org
crossword puzzle
Finish the crossword by answering questions about the picture.
Sing a new song to the Lord, because he has done amazing things!
tongue twisters
Some singers warm up their tongue, teeth, lips and jaw by saying tongue twisters. This helps them sing words clearly. Try these tongue twisters before you sing!
Psalm 98:1 ERV
When we sing about the wonderful things God has done, those words stay in our hearts and minds and remind us of how amazing God is.
pairing up 1. What time does the clock on the wall read? 2. What is the girl wearing on her right hand? 3. The doll has two of these.
ACROSS 3. What colour is the hat at the end of the bed? 4. The girl is playing an guitar. 5. How many drawers are open? 6. What is the toy closest to the clock wearing?
Cross out all the matching pairs of letters. Use the leftover letters to spell a musical word T P S I W Q LEFTOVER E B V J C R LETTERS O L U X S M Q X H E P G H A Z O L M W J V C Z B
The Bible tells us when God hears the noises that nature makes, these are also like songs of praise and thank you to God. Psalm 98, verses 7 and 8 say: Let the sea and everything in it, the earth and all who live in it shout his praise! Rivers, clap your hands! All together now, mountains sing out!
CROSSWORD ANSWERS: Down: 1. three; 2. glove; 3: buttons. Across: 3. blue; 4: electric; 5. two; 6: glasses. PAIRING UP ANSWER: Guitar.
DOWN
We can sing about God’s salvation and God’s forgiveness. We can sing about God giving us strength and courage. We can sing about God’s love for all people. All of these types of songs remind us of what God has done for us and also what is important to God.
So, when you hear waves crashing onto a beach—think about that as a song about God wanting his love to wash over everyone. When you see the mountains—think about this as a song about God helping you to stand tall and strong even when you might feel weak. When you hear the quiet rustle of the wind blowing through trees—think about this as God whispering his love for you.
God, when I sing songs to you, help me to really think about the words and what they mean. When I sing, I want you to know that I love you and want to say thank you for all that you do. Amen. 29 JULY 2017 WarCry 23
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Fr�l� yo� � ��� r�ceived; fr�l� give.
Matthew 10:8