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War Cry THE

Est 1879 No 7037

FIGHTING FOR HEARTS AND SOULS

29 October 2011

salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

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OCCULT IS ALL TRICKS, NOT TREATS

Page 8

LSX.WWJD?

asks NIGEL BOVEY

FOR a modest investment, some Christians sport a wristband bearing the initials WWJD. It is a handy reminder to base their actions and reactions on ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ In some situations, the answer is straightforward.

Complex questions require greater discerning.

When Occupy LSX demonstrators were barred Turn to page 3

NIGEL BOVEY

LET US PRAY: the Rev Sally Hitchiner outside St Paul’s Cathedral

2

NEWS

The War Cry 29 October 2011

CHRISTIAN CONCERN AT VIOLENCE IN EGYPT

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

Send your requests to PRAYERLINK, The War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN. Mark your envelope ‘Confidential’.

Copts want deaths inquiry MEMBERS of the UK Coptic Christian Community want an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of 26 Coptic Christians in Egypt by the military earlier this month.

At a conference held at Westminster Central Hall last week, the head of the Coptic Church in the UK, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, said: ‘In the past ten months we have seen a level of violence that we haven’t seen in the past ten years. Churches have been demolished in full view of the military that didn’t step in. Persecution is nothing new to

Christianity. We have not waged a holy war. Egypt will weaken if Egyptians don’t stand together in this unhealthy separation and discrimination.’

Exclusive footage and photographs taken of the Cairo protests were shown at the conference, including images of a Christian being beaten to death by soldiers. The testimony of a woman who lost her fiancé in the protests was read out.

In attendance was Dr

Helmy Guirguis, founder and leader of the UK Copts Association. He told The War Cry about the practical steps taken towards an inquiry.

‘The United States and Canada have already taken steps towards change.

President Obama is putting a representative in the Middle East to look after minorities. I have also been told that a New Jersey congressman is asking for international intervention from the United Nations.

Christians shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for our rights. If the Government is not listening, we are entitled to ask the United Nations to act.’

The conference was hosted by Premier Christian Radio and Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The latter says that – despite video footage and witness accounts – the Egyptian military have denied any responsibility for the deaths.

MICHAEL OWEN

PRAYERLINK

YOUR prayers are requested for the staff and residents of Blackmore House in Bromsgrove.

INAUGURAL POVERTY LECTURE

IDS promotes work ethic

AT a lecture in the House of Commons Iain Duncan Smith spoke about ways of tackling poverty.

During the event hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty (APPG) last week, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions gave an overview of how the eradication of poverty has been approached over the years.

To an audience of representatives of anti-poverty charities – including The Salvation Army – he outlined ways in which the UK could resolve the issue.

Speaking about the factors which drive people to poverty, he commented on measurements used by the Government.

‘Income is part of the problem and also in a sense a symptom,’ he said. ‘Income doesn’t tell us why someone may find themselves in poverty in the first place or what is needed to help them get out of poverty.’

Mr Duncan Smith claimed there are five root causes of poverty: debt, addiction, education, failure and family breakdown. He said that ‘changing a person’s life chances’ in such areas is as important as their level of income.

He went on to discuss the positives in helping people in poverty to find employment.

ALL THE WORLD’S ‘It’s not just about the money,’ A STAGE p4 he said. ‘Work is transformative in many other ways. It’s about

THIS ISSUE: FEED THE BIRDS p16

PLUS

MEDIA/COMMENT p6

taking responsibility for yourself and your family, it’s about selfesteem and self-confidence. It’s about providing a role model for children. Work is the best route out of poverty.’

Annual subscriptions to In conclusion, Mr The War Cry can be Duncan Smith spoke ordered online at sp-s.com about the role of out-

LIFESTYLE p7

PUZZLES p12

INNER LIFE p13

of-work benefits, saying that ‘they need to be kept at the right level … but they don’t create a solution. They create more dependency and less control for people over their own lives.’

The inaugural annual lecture of the group marked the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

p14

Iain Duncan Smith speaks about poverty

RECIPES p15

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NIGEL BOVEY

29 October 2011 The War Cry

Jesus focuses on people, not profits

From page 1

from camping outside the London Stock Exchange, the cathedral authorities allowed them to set up outside St Paul’s.

Last week, because of fears over the health and safety of its visitors, those authorities locked the doors.

One Anglican priest immediately sensed what Jesus would do.

‘Prayer has been said on this site for hundreds of years,’ the Rev Sally Hitchiner told a crowd outside the cathedral. ‘I’m terribly sad that is not happening in the cathedral tonight. I am here to keep that going. I would like to say the Lord’s Prayer with you, and invite you, whatever your faith, to join in or to just be still.’

With Friday evening commuter traffic snailing by, the crowd fell silent as the young curate prayed.

‘I arrived for evensong to find the doors locked,’ the curate of St John’s, Ealing, tells The War Cry. ‘People were disappointed. For me, being a Christian is about being present with people and praying with them. That’s what I see Jesus doing.’

Protester George Barda, a Greenpeace street campaigner, is also motivated by his Christian faith.

DOME FROM HOME: Stock Exchange demonstrators outside St Paul’s

‘The global Occupy campaign is about bringing a change that huge numbers of people believe in. There are systemic problems in the world’s economy and democracies. There are vast inequalities that are at the root of a lot of social ills.

‘The words of Jesus that explain why I am protesting are: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my

brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Jesus calls us to look out for those who are the most unfairly treated and to do something for them.’

Jesus also occupies the space between the haves and the have-nots. Look in the Bible at the company he keeps: tax collectors, lepers, the sick, the demonpossessed, women, children, foreigners.

He focuses on those shut out of society; those left behind in the rat race.

Jesus occupies the space between sinful, lost humankind and our perfect Creator. His death – for our sins, in our place – was for the salvation of the world.

Jesus is the way to God, the truth about God and the giver of life with God. So WWJD about the world economy?

Jesus offers principles, not policies.

He says that people cannot serve God and money. He says it’s impossible for those to whom money is god to get into Heaven. He advises us to store up eternal treasure in Heaven – through faith in him – rather than material riches on earth. He tells us to ‘render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s’.

Jesus focuses on people, not profits.

He tells us to love our neighbour as much as we love ourselves. He says to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty.

There is a debt crisis. Our wrongdoing, personal greed and selfish ambitions count against us. They put us in God’s debt. We need his forgiveness.

It is time to live in a way that honours our Maker and our have-not neighbour.

Because that’s what Jesus did.

4 The War Cry 29 October 2011

The

Good Book a

good T

O believe, or not to believe? That is the question many people ask themselves after reading the Bible. And actor Jo Stone-Fewings – of the Royal Shakespeare Company – is still considering the answer.

WOLF MARLOH

To mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, Jo is joining other performers at London’s National Theatre to present some readings taken from the good book.

Along with his wife – actress Nancy Carroll – and Keeping Up Appearances star Patricia Routledge – Jo is reading extracts from the book of Psalms and Song of Solomon.

Actor JO STONE-FEWINGS tells Claire Brine about Psalm reading

‘I find the text of the King James Bible similar to Shakespeare, because there is something about the way the words fit in your mouth,’ says Jo, who speaks to me from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, where he is playing Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. ‘The Bible was written to be spoken aloud. The structure of the language and the theatricality of the words inspire me.’

Although he is reading from a book which is centuries old, Jo believes that the King James Bible remains relevant.

‘The Psalms have an intimacy and a magnificence about them. They are about humans wrestling with the meaning of life, their connection to God and how they should be living. Today people still have the same questions, needs and preoccupations.’

29 October 2011 The War Cry

5

ON STAGE: Jo Stone-Fewings has performed at the National Theatre

makes for

read J

o was brought up in a Christian family and attended the Hereford Salvation Army church until his late teens. Taking part in the National’s Bible readings reminds him of his past.

‘I remember sitting down and hearing Bible stories as a kid. I connected with them. I also used to attend Salvation Army open-air services and play in the band.

‘The traditions of The Salvation Army and its social work remain very important to me. Today there is so much

Psalms are about humans wrestling with the meaning of life inequality in the world and the widening gap between rich and poor is concerning. But I believe Jesus can be found in those situations. His work was about making the world a fairer place.’

Jo has many questions relating to the Christian faith but is not afraid to grapple with them. Nor does he underestimate the value of the Bible.

‘We call the Bible the Word of God and yet men have been the ones to translate it. Sometimes I have problems with that. Two people may read the same passage and have diametrically opposed views as to what it means. How can the Bible be all things to all men?

‘But at the same time there’s nothing fusty about the Bible. It’s a relevant book. There are some great stories and ideas in there, and helpful reflections on what it means to be a human being. It’s a book which connects us to the past. It’s

SHEILA BURNETT

Jo believes that other factors also play a part in the book’s long-lasting popularity.

‘I think that people enjoy reading the King James Bible because it feels familiar to them,’ he says. ‘So much of our identity is wrapped up in the book, because we continue to use phrases from it, such as “feet of clay”.

‘On top of that, it is a book of instructions which make a great deal of sense.

When I became a father I suddenly had all these new responsibilities. And as well as asking for advice from parents and extended family, I felt it would be good to seek advice from books, such as the Bible.’

One part of working at the National which appeals to Jo is performing with his wife, Nancy.

‘The Song of Solomon is between two lovers, so the language is wonderfully sensual. Speaking this text with my wife gives them an extra resonance for me. I find it fascinating.’

comforting to know that people who lived before us faced the same questions that we do. And it’s possible to find answers in it as well.’

As he considers the impact of the King James Bible on the world, Jo also contemplates how life would be different, had the book not survived the generations.

‘I believe there is something within a person’s DNA which makes them ask questions. There is a need to find out where we come from and to discuss it.

So, even if the Bible had been lost over the centuries, I think we would still end up discovering our need for God and his wisdom as we sought to find comfort and succour in our lives.’

The readings of the King James Bible run at the National Theatre until 6 November

MEDIA

6 The War Cry 29 October 2011

IN THE PRESS

Please progress

Sunday school’s not out ROCKER Alice Cooper has been teaching Bible classes to children at his church in Arizona, reported The Sun. According to the paper, the reformed alcoholic and ‘School’s Out’ singer said: ‘You should see the look on people’s faces. “Alice Cooper teaching Bible class? But he’s the spawn of the Devil!”’

Cooper’s shows used to feature fake blood, electric chairs and were once branded ‘anti-Christian’.

The singer – whose real name is Vincent Furnier – went on to say: ‘Alice is just a character. Alice hates going to church, but I go every Sunday.’

ONE rabbi likens it to the resurrection at the end of days.

Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu describes it as a ‘completed mission’. Last week’s release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners is certainly historic.

SIR Cliff Richard confessed that there have been times when he questioned God, reported the Daily Mail.

According to the paper, the singer told Radio 4 that he did not question his faith after the death of his elderly mother, who died when she was 87. But he went on to say: ‘I did question God a lot when Jill

Cliff has questions for God Dando got murdered …

It was a useless death.

So I spent a lot of time being angry with God.’ The singer also spoke on Premier Radio about

War Cry

SELLER AND TELLER NAME: Nellie Jey. OCCUPATION: Retired.

LOCATION: Outside Sainsbury’s, Littlehampton.

DURATION: Seven years.

MOTIVATION: ‘To meet people and share their joys and sorrows. Selling The War Cry and Kids Alive! is proclaiming God’s love.’

FAVOURITE STORY: ‘One day a man handed me his dog’s lead and asked me to look after his dog. This now happens every week and the dog and I have became quite friendly.

‘I also give out Kids Alive! to 20 children as they pass my door on the “walking bus” to school. The children wave and they give me Christmas and birthday cards.’

CUSTOMER SERVICE REACTION: ‘I think Nellie is wonderful. She is here in all

winds and weathers and I always look forward to seeing her,’ says Sarah.

‘It is always a pleasure to see Nellie. Come rain or shine, she makes so many people very happy to see her smiling face,’ says Peso.

Featureflash/Shutterstock.com

Conscripted as a teenager, Shalit was abducted in 2005 and held captive in the Gaza Strip. In Israel, military service is compulsory for its young men and women. Therefore, Shalit’s capture was every parent’s nightmare. His plight – his parent’s plight – hit the nation.

Hamas, the elected party that governs Gaza, is ideologically opposed to the existence of this State of Israel. Its covenant says it ‘considers itself to be the spearhead of the circle of struggle with world Zionism’.

There have been many failed attempts to bring peace to the region. The ‘roadmap’ of the UN, US, Russia and Europe to bring a ‘final and comprehensive settlement of the IsraelPalestinian conflict by 2005’ is just one to fall by the wayside.

Meeting the aspirations of peoples of mutually exclusive ambition is a nearimpossible task. Those who try – those who dare – run the risk of alienating themselves from their communities. But too many people on either side of the security fences have died – too many people are suffering today – for either side to surrender hope.

The figures may not add up – one for 1,027. Some argue the cost is too high; that it will spark more violence.

But for once, neighbouring peoples are simultaneously rejoicing. That is a priceless commodity.

Please God, now that Israel and Hamas – against expectation – are on speaking terms, may it be a foretaste of the rejoicing that will accompany a final and comprehensive settlement.

For, as another rabbi – Tel Aviv’s Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau – said in 1999: ‘We always knew how to die together.

The time has come for us to know also how to live together.’

EUGENE PARCIASEPE/Shutterstock.com

Comment

the pressures of being a Christian in the music business.

He said: ‘With Christianity we’re supposed to be ambassadors for our faith ... I keep saying to people that I will never be perfect. All we can ever do is see perfection in a character called Jesus and say: “If only I can be like that.”’

He laughed off a recent poll which asked people what came to mind when they thought of Christianity: ‘They all said Cliff Richard! How could they not say Jesus?

I beat Jesus and the Pope?’

If you would like to nominate your local War Cry seller, please write to ‘War Cry Seller and Teller’, The War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN. Or email warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

LIFESTYLE

29 October 2011 The War Cry

7

Slow down when driving in snow

BRRRR! Chilly weather has arrived and as people get ready for winter months ahead, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is warning drivers of increased dangers on the roads.

The institute says that if driving in bad weather is necessary, drivers need to ensure that their vehicle is correctly prepared and that they know how to cope with the changing road conditions.

IAM has provided some helpful tips to help drivers stay safe in winter road conditions.

O Allow extra time for journeys, even if it is a usual school run or journey to work, as the traffic on the road may be moving slower than normal.

O When roads are slippery it can take ten times longer for a vehicle to come to a stop. When driving in snow or ice, slow down and keep well behind the vehicle in front.

Focus your eyes a long way ahead and change lanes when necessary.

O When on hills, use low gears to keep traction. Also use the gears to restrain speed on downhill roads to avoid the need to brake.

O Don’t overtake snow ploughs or gritting lorries, as the road in front of them is likely to be worse than the for all motorists. road behind.

O Pack an emergency kit in your O To ensure a clear view of the roads, vehicle, such as warm outdoor remove ice, snow and frost from clothes, a reflective jacket, a torch, a all of the windows and not just spade, a flask with a hot drink and a the windscreen. Check that the fully-charged mobile phone. windscreen washer is topped up with washer fluid that is suitable for the outside temperature.

Ensure that all wiper THE problem of smartphones wheel, while an astonishing among young drivers aged 18–24 8 per cent admitted to playing blades – front and has reached staggering new games on their phone while on rear – are clean. levels, according to a report the move.

O Ensure that from the 2011 RAC Report on Texting is also a problem headlights are clear Motoring. among younger drivers, as over of snow. Always Nearly half of this age group 20 per cent say they text while use headlights when admitted to using their phone on the road, compared to 14 per driving in snow. Bad while driving. cent in 2010. weather conditions The most common distraction The Report on Motoring also cause poor visibility

How to keep motoring in winter weather

Not-so-smart phone use

was listening to music, followed by reading emails and accessing online maps.

A further 15 per cent said that they talk to friends while driving. Fifteen per cent tweet behind the

indicates that mobile phone use behind the wheel is accelerating across all ages.

When questioned, 12 per cent of motorists admitted to receiving or making calls without a hands-free kit, compared to 8 per cent in 2010.

However most drivers (82 per cent) say that using a mobile phone behind the wheel is dangerous.

The RAC’s Adrian Tink says:

IAM also advises drivers to be cautious at all times by checking the weather forecast before starting any journey and to prepare for short, familiar trips as well as long ones.

For more information, visit iam.org.uk

‘Drivers using handheld mobile phones is still common and appears to be getting worse. The popularity of smartphones and apps, especially among young drivers who’ve grown up with the technology, risks creating a new generation who believe using a phone behind the wheel is acceptable. This has to change.

‘Sustained education and public awareness campaigns have turned drink-driving into a socially unacceptable offence. The same needs to be done regarding using mobile phones behind the wheel.

The RAC is calling for social media companies to take the lead on this, working with the Government and road safety campaigners to educate the public before it’s too late.’

8 The War Cry 29 October 2011

No

treats,

‘W

HEN I was a teenager I started playing with Ouija boards,’ says George Osborn, an evangelist who lives in Woking.

‘At school I was a bit of a bad boy – into smoking, drinking and drugs – so when people started playing around with Ouija boards as well, I just thought: “Why not?”

‘At first, it was a bit of fun. The glass on the board moved over the letters, spelling out information for us. The atmosphere in the room changed. My friends and I thought it was pretty freaky, but we didn’t feel that we were doing anything dangerous.

‘We used to ask the spirits who they were. Once I thought I was communicating with my dead grandad. The glass spelt out information that no one knew apart from me – so I believed it was genuine.’

George explains that ‘lots of weird things happened’ when he played with the Ouija board. When he asked the spirits to reveal the answers to his upcoming exam papers, they did. He began communicating with spirits every day by using a cigarette box.

‘I’d put a coin on the packet and write the words “yes” and “no” at either end. Then I would ask questions and watch the coin move. I asked the spirits if the coast was clear. When it was safe, I stole things from shops. I started using the cigarette box for every decision I made.’

As the months went on, George and his friends felt that the way in which they contacted spirits was becoming a bit boring. So they decided to invite the spirits to enter their bodies.

‘We were in my friend’s kitchen.

Normally I placed the glass on the Ouija board, but this time I held it to my ear and asked the spirits to enter me.

Nothing happened.

‘Some days later I began to hear voices in my head. They were different from anything I’d felt before. They told me information about people. Gradually, the

A child dresses up as a ghost and goes out trick or treating. Nothing unusual about that. After all, many people believe that Hallowe’en is just a bit of fun for kids. But GEORGE OSBORN knows only too well that behind the celebration lies something a lot more sinister. After several years of dabbling in the occult – in which George believes his body and mind were demon-possessed – he tells Claire Brine why he has turned his back on evil spirits and chosen to focus on God

29 October 2011 The War Cry

only

tricks spat on the floor near him. Basically, we weren’t very nice.

‘But this man asked if he could pray for us. I replied: “Whatever, mate!”

I thought it was weird that he was interested in us, rather than instantly calling the police. He prayed, and as soon as he mentioned Jesus my whole body tensed up. He invited us to go back to church for more prayer the following week.’

Although members of the congregation were concerned for George, life got worse before it got better. When he returned to the church, people prayed for him.

But George found that he had no control over his body.

‘I remember standing at the front of the church

feeling OK, then suddenly grown men had to hold me down. They told me that I flipped, spoke in strange languages and started spitting.’

Not long afterwards, George hit rock bottom. He remembers chasing a friend down a railway track between Woking and Brookwood.

‘The demons took over my body and I found myself lying down on the track,’ he says. ‘I couldn’t move.

I felt as though I was being pinned down, although no one was on top of me. My friends were watching me from the bridge above. They shouted to me, wondering what I was doing.

‘A train was coming towards me but I still couldn’t get up. I was panicking and expected to die. There was nothing I could do. I remember imagining what the newspapers would say: “Troubled teenager kills himself.”

‘Just before the train was about to hit me, I felt as though someone had grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me off the track. Suddenly, I was bolt upright, watching the train whizz past my face in a flash of colour.’

Today, George has no idea what really happened that night. He struggles to explain it or make sense of it. But he

The voices in my head said: ‘You are going to die!’

voices became really nasty.

‘There was a constant dialogue going on in my head. The voices said things such as: “You are going to die” and “I am going to kill your parents.”

‘Looking back, I would definitely say I was possessed by demons.’

But something was about to change.

One night, George and his friends stumbled across a church and started throwing stones at it. A Christian man came out to talk to them.

‘He was a stereotypical Christian,’ says George. ‘He wore sandals and a big woolly jumper. We swore at him and

Turn to next page

9

10 The War Cry 29 October 2011

From page 9 believes that it was God who stepped in to save him.

‘Later, I met the Christian guy again and he told me about the gospel. I begged Jesus to set me free, because everything within me felt so dark. I offered him my life and asked for his help. Then I went through a dramatic change. I felt peace.’

George became a Christian. He started to attend church. At school, he spoke about his experience with Ouija boards and dissuaded others from using them.

At first, life was good. But then George began to drift away from God. ‘At 15, I stopped going to church,’ he says. ‘I didn’t go back to Ouija boards, but instead I started drinking more and taking harder drugs.

‘After college, I got a job in sales. My colleagues and I used to snort lines of cocaine on the boardroom table before our clients came in. I was in the middle of this party atmosphere – going out after work, drinking, taking drugs, sleeping around – but I still felt dissatisfied.

‘At 22, I went travelling for a year. I ended up meeting a girl and we bought a restaurant in Thailand.

I remember thinking: “Here I am, on a tropical island with my own business, money in the bank, girlfriend on my arm – this is great!” But that feeling soon wore off. I was in the middle of paradise but I became angry.’

George came back to the UK. He questioned the purpose of his life.

He found himself thinking about God again and wondering if he held the answer.

‘I went to church and heard the story of the prodigal son,’ he says.

‘It’s about a man who goes to his father and demands his inheritance money, then leaves home and squanders it all in wild living. I felt that the character of the son was just like me.

‘In the story the son ends up penniless and working in a pigsty. Then he goes back home. He confesses to his father what he has done and is welcomed with

George shares his story with others

open arms.

‘Through the story I felt God say to me: “I know about everything you have done wrong, but you can come home.

You have been looking for meaning to life in the pigsties, but what you are searching for is me.” I felt accepted. I cried with relief.’

Through his relationship with God, George found meaning to life. It wasn’t easy, but he stopped swearing, smoking and taking drugs. He took control of his drinking. He says he has no desire to return to his alcohol and drug-fuelled lifestyle.

The Devil tries to convince people he doesn’t exist

29 October 2011 The War Cry 11

I used to snort lines of cocaine on the boardroom table ‘I make sure I avoid certain situations where I could end up drinking too much,’ he explains. ‘I want to steer clear of temptation. I do this because I take seriously the powers of the Devil. The greatest trick the Devil has ever performed is to convince people he doesn’t exist. But he does – and he is dangerous.’

Today, George works as an evangelist for the Christian organisation Avanti Ministries, sharing his story with people in places such as prisons and schools.

He is passionate about telling them of God’s love and forgiveness.

‘I believe that Jesus died on the cross to take on the punishment for all the wrong things I have done,’ he says. ‘And he loves me so much that he gives me the choice of whether I want to follow him or not. I can live for Jesus or go through life without him. I also believe that all those who are willing to turn away from wrong and put their trust in Jesus can be put right with God. ‘Jesus is God – my Father, my rescuer. The Bible says that anyone who seeks him will find him, and I take God at his word. I know that he will never let me down.’

PUZZLEBREAK

12 The War Cry 29 October 2011

SUDOKU

WORDSEARCH Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9 Solution on page 15

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these common garden birds

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Grade (5) 4. Scarper (5) 8. Entire (3) 9. Melody (5) 10. Pulsate (5) 11. Nap (3) 12. Ledge (5) 13. Protrude (7) 16. Sweepstake (6) 19. Drink (6) 23. Not move (4, 3) 26. Shifted (5) 28. Golf drive-off point (3) 29. Hospital photographs (1-4) 30. At no time (5) 31. Take a seat (3) 32. Brushed (5) 33. More elderly (5)

ANSWERS QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1 Class. 4 Scram. 8 All. 9 Music.

10 Throb. 11 Kip. 12 Shelf. 13 Project. 16 Raffle.

19 Imbibe. 23 Stay put. 26 Moved. 28 Tee. 29 X-rays. 30 Never. 31 Sit. 32 Swept. 33 Older.

DOWN: 2 Aisle. 3 Sackful. 4 Sloppy. 5 Ratio.

6 Morse. 7 Debut. 9 Miser. 14 Jib. 15 Cob. 17 Apt. 18 Fly. 20 Memento. 21 Elder. 22 Attest. 23 Sixty.

24 Amass. 25 Piste. 27 Vivid.

HONEYCOMB 1 Ghost. 2 Trotter. 3 Colonel Mustard. 4 The Cottagers. 5 Samuel Morse. 6 Mrs Hudson.

HONEYCOMB 1 Conker. 2 Indoor. 3 Paddle. 4 Dog tag. 5 Knight.

6 Walk-on.

COMPETITION WINNERS THE winners of Rosie Rushton’s book The Greatest Love Story Ever Told competition are R. Thomas of Newport, R. Denyer of Reading and L. Curtis of Hampstead.

The four teenage characters in Rosie’s book are Reuben, Caleb, Esther and Seth.

T G O L D F I N C H E L G T N

I N L T I T L A O C F H C C L

S I W I O D E W A D K C A J B

T L P T G W L O P W A C N O L

C R E D R G B O R O B I N O A

BLACKBIRD BLUE TIT CARRION CROW CHAFFINCH COAL TIT COLLARED DOVE DUNNOCK

H A R E V O D D E R A L L O C

A T N L G H D P U C S C H H K

F S W I O E T I T N O C E R B

F E R A L P I G E O N C E R I

I H G T L L T E I I G O A B R

N C H G I U T O F R T C C M D

FERAL PIGEON GOLDFINCH GREAT TIT GREENFINCH HOUSE SPARROW JACKDAW LONG-TAILED TIT

C E H N U T A N T R H B V K A

H R H O U S E S P A R R O W S

I R I L G E R U A C U E B D I

T I F W R R G T L L S C C L C

E I P G A M P O N B H T I A U

MAGPIE ROBIN SONG THRUSH STARLING WOODPIGEON WREN

HONEYCOMB Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number 1. Nut of a horse chestnut tree 2. Situated within a building 3. Used to move a canoe through the water DOWN 2. Church passage (5) 3. Full bag (7) 4. Slipshod (6) 5. Proportion (5) 6. Signalling code (5) 7. First appearance (5) 9. Skinflint (5) 14. Front sail (3) 15. Male swan (3) 17. Appropriate (3) 18. Two-winged insect (3) 20. Keepsake (7) 21. Church official (5) 22. Confirm (6) 23. Three score (5) 24. Accumulate (5) 25. Ski run (5) 27. Very colourful (5)

4. Soldiers identity tag (3,3) 5. Chess piece 6. Small non-speaking part in a film (4-2)

QUICK QUIZ 1. Which film includes the song ‘Unchained Melody’?

2. What is Delboy and Rodney’s surname in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses?

3. In the board game Cluedo, what is the name of the character wearing yellow?

4. What is the nickname of Fulham Football Club?

5. Who invented the Morse Code?

6. What was the name of the fictional landlady at 221b Baker Street?

INNER LIFE

29 October 2011 The War Cry 13

The

To commemorate this year’s 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, PHILIPPA SMALE looks at some everyday expressions popularised by the BOOK translation

writing on the wall

NIGEL BOVEY

‘In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote’ (Daniel 5:5)

WALL MARK: writing on the wall of Belshazzar’s Palace, Iraq

INTENSE PROTEST: campaigners outside St Paul’s Cathedral

NIGEL BOVEY

THIS month’s worldwide protests over globalisation have, not for the first time, focused on the world’s banks. From Wall Street to St Paul’s Cathedral and Argentina to Australia, thousands of demonstrators have vented their anger at what they see as financial mismanagement within – and economic inequality caused by – the banking system.

One piece of writing on Wall Street summarised the point: ‘Wall Street and corporations have corrupted the political process.’

The protests came against a background of the credit crunch (kicked-started by the subprime mortgage fiasco), banking collapses, sovereign debt and the Eurozone crisis. As unpopular as bankers are, there has never been a golden time to be a banker.

Some 300 years ago, Jonathan Swift penned ‘The Run Upon the Bankers’. In the poem, he writes: ‘A baited banker thus desponds, From his own hand foresees his fall, They have his soul, who have his bonds; ’Tis like the writing on the wall.’

The phrase about the writing on the wall, which is used to denote impending doom, comes from the biblical account of God’s judgment upon the Babylonian King Belshazzar.

At a time when he held the leaders of Israel in exile, he gave a great

PHRASE

Whichever side of the bank counter banquet for thousands of his nobles. we stand, the Bible reminds us that While they were feasting, the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote one day we will all face divine reckoning for how we have spent our four words on the palace wall. The king asked Daniel to interpret the lives. Those who have invested their time in following Jesus will have divine message. nothing to fear. For those who have ‘Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of given no thought to God, the writing is on the wall. your reign and brought it to an end.

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and CAN WE HELP? found wanting.

Just complete this coupon and send it to Peres: Your The War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, kingdom is London SE1 6BN divided and given Please send me to the Medes and Basic reading about Christianity Persians’ (Daniel 5:25–28 New Information about The Salvation Army International Contact details of a Salvationist minister Version).

Name That night, Address Belshazzar was slain and someone else took over his kingdom.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

14 The War Cry 29 October 2011

MY husband, Alan, visited a barber in town. He only went the once, because the barber cut his ear and made it bleed. The barber said in response to his action: ‘I won’t say I’m sorry, because I didn’t mean to do it.’

First cut was the deepest

Alan and I have often pondered that statement. It is hard to believe that a qualified person, in the course of carrying out his trade, can harm a client and yet not be responsible for it.

We live in a society that plays the blame game. When things go wrong at work, on the road, at the dentist, wherever – nobody wants to take responsibility. Someone else is always to blame.

In many cases, people are afraid to accept responsibility, because they believe that admitting liability will lead to their tell God the things we have done being sued. wrong.

I find it interesting that people He said: ‘The kingdom of God often want to be noticed, thanked, is near. Repent and believe the and cheered when they do by good news!’ (Mark 1:15 New something really well, but if they International Version).

BARBARA make a mistake, have an accident Jesus knew that when we or cause someone pain, they want LYNE confess our wrongdoing to the truth to remain covered up. him, God wipes our slate In reality, we all make mistakes. clean. He understood that And they are not always easy to owning up to our errors admit. But Jesus advises us to would free us to follow him, so that with his help we can become kinder, more patient and more generous people.

The offer of Jesus’ unconditional love and infinite forgiveness is at hand. Who could blame us for accepting it?

We live in a society that plays the blame game

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Pumpkin pie Ingredients: 500g pack shortcrust pastry 450g pumpkin flesh, cut into 2.5 cm chunks 2 large eggs 1 egg yolk 75g soft dark brown sugar 1tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg ½ tsp ground allspice ½ tsp ground cloves ½ tsp ground ginger 275ml double cream Method: Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin so it is wide enough to line a 23cm tart tin. Ease the pastry into the case, making sure there is an overhang, then chill for 30 minutes.

Line the pastry with foil and baking beans, then bake for 15–20 minutes. Remove the foil and beans, then cook for a further 10 minutes SUDOKU SOLUTION

until the pastry is golden. Remove the pastry case from the oven and turn the temperature down to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.

To make the filling, steam the pumpkin, then place in a coarse sieve and press lightly to extract any excess water.

Lightly whisk the eggs and extra yolk together in a large bowl. Place the sugar, spices and the cream in a pan, bring to simmering point, then whisk. Pour the mixture over the eggs and whisk again briefly.

Add the pumpkin purée to the bowl, continuing to whisk the mixture to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.

Pour the filling into the pastry case and bake for 35–40 minutes, until the pastry has puffed up round the edges but the pie still feels slightly wobbly in the centre.

Remove the pie from the oven and place the tin on a wire cooling rack.

Serve warm or cold with crème fraiche.

Serves 8

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It’s time to be kind

S D R I B

writes NIGEL BOVEY

MARY POPPINS told us it would cost tuppence a bag. Garden centres tell us that seed costs considerably more than the good nanny’s couple of coppers. Whatever the expense, today (Saturday 29 October) is Feed the Birds Day. And the RSPB is inviting people to ‘Come dine with the birds’.

There is more to life than putting bread on the table

YOUR LOCAL SALVATION ARMY CENTRE

NIGEL BOVEY

The society wants households to host a wildlife garden party in their own backyard or windowsill. Thousands of people have already signed up to provide food and water for their feathered friends, or build hideaways for hedgehogs, bats, creepy-crawlies and other overwintering wildlife.

A bird-bath provides drinking water and the means of keeping feathers fluffy enough to keep a bird warm. Bird tables, seed feeders, nut hoppers, fat balls, flower seeds and windfall fruit can mean the difference between life and death.

With the clocks changing this weekend, garden visitors will need a helping hand. Apparently, tidier gardens and changes in farming methods have reduced the natural food supply of species such as finches, buntings and sparrows.

Shortages can occur at any time of year, but as winter approaches birds need high-energy foods to maintain their fat reserves to survive the frosty nights. When snow

blankets trees, hedges and ground, birds become even more dependent on human kindness.

Caring for birds is not a new idea. Challenging his hearers about their go-getting priorities in life, Jesus invited them to ‘look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable then they?’ (Matthew 6:26 New International Version).

There is more to life than putting bread on the table. There is more to life than providing for ourselves financially. Economic independence is not the only measure of our worth.

Jesus says our Creator values us. God designed us to be dependent upon him, not just for our next breath, but for what happens after we breathe our last. Our eternal survival depends on trusting him.

The Salvation Army (United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland) on behalf of the General of The Salvation Army.

Printed by Benham Goodhead Print Ltd, Bicester, Oxon. © Linda Bond, General of The Salvation Army, 2011