War Cry 6 Apr 2019

6 April 2019 20p/25c

BELIEF ON THE BRAIN Professor explores memory, emotions and knowledge

RED-LIGHT MINISTRY Caring for people in the sex industry

BOY WONDER TEENAGER IS ALL GROWN UP IN DC’S ‘SHAZAM!’

2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 6 April 2019

What is The Salvation Army?

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

From the editor’s desk TV VICARS are comedy gold. Sitcom and screenplay writers have found that members of the clergy make great comic characters and can even provide the lead role, as demonstrated by programmes such as The Vicar of Dibley, Father Ted and Rev. Last month, Rowan Atkinson reprised his role as the bumbling, tongue-tied cleric in the Comic Relief sequel to Four Weddings and a Funeral, while in BBC Three’s sitcom Fleabag the main character, Phoebe, became comically entangled with a Roman Catholic priest.

While certainly managing to raise plenty of laughs – and, in Rowan Atkinson’s case, several million pounds for charity – these characterisations do not accurately depict the experiences of clergy, who are often found at the sharp end of life, helping people in the grip of poverty, addiction and grief. Sean Bean’s Father Michael Kerrigan in the 2017 BBC One drama Broken gave a better depiction of the issues ministers of religion regularly face.

Captain Annemarie Gifford is far from the comedic stereotype. In this week’s War Cry, the affable Annemarie speaks candidly about her ministry to individuals within the sex industry. In her interview she describes how she has offered care to people who are often looked down on and written off by wider society.

Annemarie is inspired by her Christian faith. ‘We are no better than the people we serve,’ she says. ‘Jesus Christ sees every person … as a brother or a sister to him … We want to offer people a space in which they can meet their potential in God.’ Whatever our perception of a person may be – whether bungling vicar, shady individual in the sex industry or some other negative stereotype – everyone is of worth and has potential.

We need more people like Annemarie who are willing to act on that truth to help others realise how valuable and precious they are.

And that’s no joke.

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

WAR CRY Issue No 7417

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Stephen Pearson Assistant Editor: Claire Brine Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku Staff Writer: Emily Bright Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston Graphic Designer: Mark Knight War Cry office: 020 7367 4900 Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN Tel: 0845 634 0101

Contents

Helpline: 020 7367 4888 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@sp-s.co.uk Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill

Published weekly by The Salvation Army ©The Salvation Army United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland ISSN 0043-0226 The Salvation Army Trust is a registered charity.

The charity number in England and Wales is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399.

Printed by Walstead Grange Ltd, Southwick, on sustainably sourced paper

Your local Salvation Army centre

FEATURES 3

Power play Film introduces new superhero

5

Stepping out in the red-light district Team cares for the people society does not love

5

8 Faith-full thinking

Neuropsychologist on the brain’s spiritual networks REGULARS 4

News and media

12

Browsing the Bible

13

Now, there’s a thought!

14 Puzzles 15

What’s cooking?

Front-page picture: STEVE WILKIE/DC Comics

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6 April 2019 • WAR CRY • FILM 3 STEVE WILKIE/ DC Comics

Freddy helps Billy explore the new powers Billy has as Shazam

Power play ‘F

Warner Bros

AMILIES are for people who can’t take care of themselves,’ says Billy Batson (Asher Angel), a 14-year-old foster-kid who has run away from different homes in six Pennsylvanian counties. But everything changes when he is chosen to be a superhero in Shazam! the latest DC film, released in cinemas yesterday (Friday 5 April).

At the age of three, Billy was put into care after getting lost in an amusement park. Since the day he was separated from his mother, the streetwise kid has been doing everything in his power to track her down, but to no avail.

After escaping the latest in a line of foster homes, then outsmarting some police officers and hijacking their car, teenager Billy is placed with the Vasquez family – two loving parents, who were once foster-kids themselves, and a motley crew of five siblings.

Unsurprisingly he keeps his distance, callously reminding the youngest and

Shazam faces the evil Dr Thaddeus Shivana

Fighting evil can be fun, writes Sarah Olowofoyeku most affectionate of the bunch that she is not his sister; he is still looking for his real family.

One day, while riding the subway, Billy is transported into another realm.

In an ancient, spooky-looking temple he meets the self-described ‘last of the consul of wizards, sworn to protect

Billy and Thaddeus have spent their lives looking for fulfilment realms from the seven deadly sins’.

The wizard (Djimon Hounsou) has been awaiting one soul who is worthy to take on his power. He says that Billy is that chosen one and to gain the wizard’s power all Billy has to do is say his name – Shazam!

Transformed physically into an adult superhero, the new-look Billy (Zachary Levi) and his foster-brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) set out, in true teenage boy fashion, to find out what powers Shazam possesses. Their series of tests

make for prime YouTube material.

Super strength? Check. Hyperspeed?

Check. Flight? Not quite…

While the boys are having fun, a villain is on the move. Dr Thaddeus Shivana (Mark Strong), who has gained control of the seven deadly sins, is also eyeing up Shazam’s powers. The emotional abuse Thaddeus suffered as a young boy had turned him into a monster even before he gained dark powers. He has been in pursuit of acceptance ever since and will do whatever it takes to get it.

Billy and Thaddeus have spent their lives trying to find what they think will bring them ultimate fulfilment – but will they ever find what they have been looking for?

Many of us can go through our whole lives looking for what we think will make us happy – a spouse, children, a job. Sometimes those desires reveal our deeper longing for approval, acceptance and love.

While some of our desires can be met by relationships or work, many people have found that their deepest longings can only truly be met in one person: Jesus. He told his followers that he had come in order that they might experience a ‘better life than they ever dreamed of’ (John 10:10 The Message).

Jesus still has the power today to give us a life that will satisfy our needs. He offers us the approval, acceptance and love for which many of us are searching.

It’s tried and tested.

4 NEWS AND MEDIA • WAR CRY • 6 April 2019

EMILY BRIGHT

QR codes reveal stories of family photos

Compassion UK’s CEO Justin Dowds (right) and head of philanthropy Mark Preston at the launch

AN exhibition of photographs showing women and babies who are being supported by Christian charity Compassion UK has opened at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London.

Visitors to the exhibition can use their mobile devices to scan a QR code next to each image, which links to a 90-second video and a written profile of each family portrayed.

The families are beneficiaries of Compassion UK’s Child Survival programme, which supplies clean water and nutritious food.

‘We’re excited to be hosting Compassion UK’s exhibition of photographs which capture its story about caring for children around the world,’ The Salvation Army’s international leader General Brian Peddle told the War Cry at the launch. ‘The Salvation Army does that as well, and it’s good to be able to hold hands with Compassion UK.’ Compassion UK’s CEO Justin Dowds said: ‘We’re thankful for the generosity of The Salvation Army in opening up a facility right in the centre of London to allow us to have this exhibition.’

The free exhibition runs until 25 April.

THE Salvation Army is tackling the spread of the ebola virus in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo through a new prevention training programme.

The church and charity is hosting training courses for leaders in healthcare, religion and education. Leaders who attend the courses can then go on and train other leaders.

The Salvation Army has also provided churches, clinics and schools with hygienic handwashing facilities. In addition, ten clinics are receiving full-body ebola suits and being equipped with a triage centre to assess and contain cases.

The outbreak began in August last year, and more than 900 cases and almost 600 deaths have been attributed to the virus in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.

HOUSING n minister Heather Wheeler praised The

Salvation Army’s ‘vital work’ with people experiencing homelessness when she visited one of the church and charity’s centres.

The minister met with residents and staff at Riverside Complex, which provides supported accommodation for women in east London.

‘By allowing women to stay here and rebuild their lives, it gives them an opportunity to break the cycle of homelessness and ensure they are able to stay off the streets for good,’ she said.

Riverside Complex supports 81 women.

Some have a long history of rough sleeping, while many have experienced mental health problems, drug or alcohol abuse or have been in the sex industry.

Prize for physicist who sees science as spiritual quest

PA

Salvation Army trains trainers to tackle ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo

PA IMAGE NOT FOR WEB

n

FLEUR EAST talks about her Christian faith when she appears as a guest on Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday tomorrow (7 April 6 am).

The singer reveals the instrumental role that her mother played in helping her retain her faith, and discusses the pressures that many young people face today.

Hillsong Church’s youth pastors Dan and Jo Watson will also be talking about their participation in a new book on how God can help people overcome fears.

The book, Fearfully Made, features interviews with Fleur, rapper Guvna B, fashion designer Marcel and Leah McFall, a former contestant on The Voice UK.

A THEORETICAL physicist who proposes that spirituality and science can work together has won the Templeton prize. The prize, which is awarded annually, honours people who have made ‘an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension’.

Marcelo Gleiser is known internationally for his books, essays, blogs, TV documentaries and conferences that present science as a spiritual quest to find out how the universe began.

He asserts that by linking science, the humanities and spirituality, people can answer questions about the universe that science alone cannot answer.

In a career spanning 35 years, his research has explored early universe cosmology, astrobiology and the behaviour of elementary particles.

Reacting to news of the physicist’s win, the Rev Ed Carter, chair of faith-based education group the Christian Evidence Society, said: ‘When Marcelo CHRISTIAN Aid is responding to a humanitarian crisis in came to speak to us in London Burkina Faso after violence in the country was reignited last year, I thought he was the first by armed gangs, leading to the displacement of more than scientist I’d heard who sounded 100,000 people. like a poet. He described in a More than 1,000 schools have closed, health workers have powerful way how religion and abandoned their posts and people are experiencing food science complement each other. shortages as a result of the violence.

‘His prize makes an imporThe charity is providing cash transfers to people who are tant statement about the place without food and are living in temporary refugee camps or with for mystery as we experience the host families in other parts of the country. world.’

n

6 April 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 5

Taking care in the red-light districts LINDA McTURK

ANNMARIE GIFFORD tells Linda McTurk how people within the sex industry turn to her for help

C

HRISTIAN minister Captain Annmarie Gifford spends more of her time chatting to individuals within the sex trade on dark street corners than speaking in chucrh services in broad daylight.

I meet Annmarie at her office in Faith House in London, the hub of The Salvation Army’s ministry to individuals within the sex industry. She speaks with ease about the people she cares for, just as someone would talk about their friends. Her affable and professional demeanour tells me that she is unfazed by the often negative public perceptions of people within the sex industry.

‘I get to meet people where they are and to share the love of God with them,’ Annmarie tells me. ‘Prostitution as a behaviour is not liked by society. And society does not love people within the sex industry – but God’s love is for all.

‘People go into the sex industry through circumstances that can be so far-ranging. I’ve known of people paying off their university fees or supporting their family. I’ve even known of a professional ballet dancer who was subsidising her pay Society does not through prostitution.

Other times, it could love people in be to help pay for education. Some the sex industry individuals stay in the sex trade because they

Captain Annmarie Gifford

cannot afford to have a place of their own.’

The Salvation Army’s ministry to individuals within the sex industry, formerly known as the Midnight Patrol, began at King’s Cross more than 60 years ago and has been running ever since. In 2012, Annmarie volunteered with it while she was training to be a minister. After she completed her training, she became project manager at Faith House. But much of her ministry happens outside an office. She and a team of women regularly reach out to people on the streets of King’s Cross and Edmonton.

‘During an outreach evening, my team and I eat and then have a Bible study together,’ Annmarie says.

Turn to page 6

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6 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 6 April2019

I knew she would be feeling judgment, but I did not judge her From page 5 ‘Afterwards we will pray and then go out on the streets in teams of two.

‘When we first started in Edmonton, we would give out chocolate, fruit tea and other items to the individuals we saw and then leave. We wanted them to see that we were not there for ourselves at all. Two years on it’s different. We take hot chocolate in a flask, then stand around and have a good old natter.’

Annmarie’s ministry also happens off the street, in private flats, where she offers care and support to individuals within the sex trade. ‘Finding the private flats is difficult,’ she says. ‘But then again building that trust with these individuals is difficult. Usually we find out by word of mouth. Someone who is operating in another London borough tells us that someone else has come across to our borough and would like some support.’

If there is ever a risk to life, Annmarie and her team of staff members and volunteers will report the locations of the places they visit to the authorities. They also help individuals within the sex industry to report any crimes committed against them to the police. Some of the women on the streets have also asked for specific pastoral help concerning their sexual health.

‘In the past six months, I cared for a woman who decided to have an abortion,’ Annmarie says. ‘She came to me for help and I went on a pastoral journey with her. These things do take time, so I sat with her for hours in the process. I knew that she was Christian Orthodox and active in her faith, so she would be feeling judgment from her own faith perspective, but I did not judge her.

‘I did find it personally challenging, as I realised that I would be marking a death on that occasion, no matter how long the pregnancy had gone along. I knew that in

the Orthodox faith, adherents pray with candles quite a bit.

‘So I got two candles, one for me and one for her and wrote in Romanian to her: “As you light this candle, I pray that you know the love and peace of God. You are precious.” She responded to this with a hug and tears.

I also lit a candle and prayed for her and myself.’

hile Annmarie wants to provide appropriate W pastoral care for the individuals who need it, she makes it clear that she does not condone illicit

behaviour.

‘It goes back to integrity and consistency,’ she explains. ‘If I promise to journey with someone and to meet them where they are, that’s what I mean. But there are boundaries and limits to what I will do. At one point, while I was visiting a massage parlour where prostitution was taking place, someone offered me money to be the licensee of that place. I’m not going to sign up to that.’

Annmarie is aware that some people’s preconceived ideas of individuals within the sex trade can hinder them from showing kindness.

‘Some people might say that the individuals I serve cannot possibly be Christians,’ she says. ‘But I would say, this is a broken world. I meet women on the street who are Christians who are scared that if their church knew what they did, then they wouldn’t be welcomed the next week.

‘I am not saying that prostitution is an outworking of the faith – it’s not. But we forget sometimes that

6 April 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 7

none of us have the right to earn God’s grace. I would say that Jesus Christ sees every person I serve as a brother or a sister to him.’

Annmarie draws inspiration from the life of Jesus and his followers when she considers how to treat the people she meets.

‘Some people fear that my team and I might be corrupted by the world of prostitution,’ she says. ‘But I would say to them that we’re called to be Christlike, and Jesus and his followers visited tax collectors, but none of them became tax collectors. Instead, they maintained their identity. Likewise, we maintain our identity when we serve individuals within the sex industry.

‘When I go on outreach with my team, we respect that the space belongs to the individuals first. It’s about mutual respect. We are not better than the people we serve.’

Annmarie says that she wants everyone she meets to flourish. But she is also resolute that her ministry is to care for every individual, regardless of whether they choose to leave the sex industry or not.

‘If I am completely honest, I would dearly love the

rote w e h S I’ve ‘ : k c ba I’m left. more worth is’ th than

Annmarie and her team hand out items to people in the sex industry

people I meet to exit,’ she says. ‘I don’t want them to stay in the sex industry. But at the same time I would never force people to make that decision to leave either.

‘We had the privilege of walking alongside a woman named Gabriella. A Faith House team member started to journey with her around 2007. At first she told us: “I have a beautiful body and I can make money out of it.” We respected her decision.

Some time later, Gabriella disappeared from the place where we would see her. Concerned, a text was sent to find out how she was. She wrote back: “I’ve left. I’m worth more than this.” It was a beautiful moment – she had recognised how valued, worthy and loved she is by Jesus.’

Before I leave Faith House Annmarie explains why she and her team do their work.

‘We do this ministry because of our relationship with Gabriella and other individuals like her,’ she explains. ‘Inspired by Jesus, we want to offer people a space in which they can meet their potential in God. He equips us to enable others to have hope that they can flourish, and that hope is what drives us.’

l Gabriella’s name has been changed

8 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 6 April 2019

‘Our faith relies Professor STEPHANIE CLARKE, head of neuro­psychology and of the neurorehabilitation clinic at Lausanne University, Switzerland, talks to Nigel Bovey about faith, wellbeing and the brain’s spiritual networks Professor Clarke, what is neuropsychology?

It is a branch of psychology and medicine that is interested in how the brain relates to our cognitive functions, such as learning, perception, memory, recognition, the ability to plan, behaviour and personality.

Are you a medical doctor?

Yes, I am. Before turning to clinical work, early in my career I undertook medical research. The bulk of my work is to look after patients who have brain lesions and cognitive problems and offer them neurorehabilitation.

NIGEL BOVEY

So, your patients are physically damaged rather than mentally ill?

Yes, most of our patients have suffered the likes of a stroke, traumatic brain injury or lesions caused by tumours. Some of our patients have degenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.

Why did you want to go into this area of medicine?

I became attracted to neuroscience during my medical studies. At that time it became possible to trace connections between different parts of the brain with a view to understanding better how it is organised.

Before then, one could only make assumptions.

Stephanie Clarke

Has the clinical development of neuropsychology been made possible by the advance of technology?

Neuropsychology actually started in the second half of the 19th century, with the description of the effects of brain lesion on specific functions. The best known is the lack of language function where there is a lesion in the brain’s left hemisphere.

Through the years, people came to understand the effects of other lesions, parallel to which was research on animal models, which contributed to understanding of the connections between certain lesions and deficits.

In the 1970s, there was an advance in brain imaging technology. Later came functional imaging. This allowed

us to see the difference in functions between a healthy person and one with a brain lesion.

Now we can carry out activation studies, which show how the brain reorganises itself.

What moral challenges do you face in your work?

Neurorehabilitation is often long and costly and there are questions about the wise use of rehabilitation. We need to recognise which patient will respond well to treatment and discern where rehabilitation will not bring any improvement. Sometimes we may suggest adaptation to the patient’s

6 April 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 9

on our brain’

surroundings as an appropriate alternative to a stringent rehabilitation programme.

But it is basic medical ethics to try to bring about the best outcome for the patient.

Neuroscience tells us how being human relies on brain function

The Bible talks about humankind being made in the image of God. What do you understand by this?

I would like to think it means that the way God revealed himself to humankind reflects on his nature and resonates in us. Neuroscience tells us how being human relies on brain function. The two approaches are not contradictory; rather,

they address different questions.

In our brains, we have networks that help us to remember things – episodic memory. It is interesting that God uses episodic memory in the way he reveals himself. For example, the children of Israel experienced two dramatic events in close succession – the Passover and the Exodus. The generation who were

there transmitted the story to the next generation. The process has continued ever since.

The Old Testament also describes God as having emotions. This resonates with human beings.

Furthermore, our brains also have a

Turn to page 10

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10 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 6 April 2019

From page 9 system that underlies social interactions.

This fact highlights the personal aspect of the Christian faith – a relationship with God, who interacts with us today. We are made in the image of God because we have the capacity to receive the messages he sends.

There have been incidents where people with cruel mental diseases such as schizophrenia have claimed divine healing and stopped taking their medication. This can be dangerous. I am not saying that God cannot heal but we need to be very careful.

To what extent does faith have a positive effect on a person’s mental wellbeing?

There have been a number of investigations into the impact of faith on various mental states, including addiction and depression. The results showed beneficial effects. The question is: is it the belief or is it a side-effect of belief?

Having a religious faith includes adhering to moral principles and being involved in social interactions – being part of a community and having more friends.

These are beneficial aspects of a person’s life.

Within medicine, is there a place for miracle?

One aspect of the miraculous is that it is out of the ordinary. Miracles are also signs of God’s presence. I believe that God can, if he chooses, perform miracles and healing in an extraordinary way. I also believe that God heals through the medical process.

To what extent can religious thoughts damage a person’s mental wellbeing?

It depends. There are distortions of religious thoughts that can have a negative influence. If because of religious convictions somebody evades a medical treatment, this can have negative consequences. For example, an epilepsy patient may perceive an epileptic aura as a religious experience and refuse the treatment that would stop epileptic seizures but would also deprive them of what they perceive as a religious experience.

There are said to be spiritual networks within the brain. What are they and how do you know their function?

With the aid of imaging technology, researchers have identified specific parts of the brain that become active when a person reacts to a spiritual stimulus. By comparing reactions to different stimuli, researchers found that, to a great extent, spiritual and secular aspects of cognition use the same networks. This is the case for knowledge, appreciation of what is true or false as belief or recollections of

The human brain has networks that support religious experience

experiences. Thus, our faith relies on our brain, but there is not a specific spiritual module just for this.

Is the brain hardwired for religious faith?

The human brain has networks that support religious experience or faith.

These same networks also support social interactions or secular knowledge.

The sets of these areas are determined.

However, what is stored in these networks is highly malleable.

For example, when we learn something new, the brain changes how that new knowledge is organised within existing knowledge. There is evidence that the same happens with religious experiences.

Therefore, it is not that we are hardwired in the sense that we can’t do otherwise; rather, we have a brain set-up that allows us to use it for our faith.

It is said that emotions are perceptions of physical change, so how are Christians emotionally attached to Jesus, when they can’t physically see him?

When a person feels supported or carried through a difficult period in their life by the prayer of others, they remember that time warmly. That memory affects their emotions.

Then there are mystical experiences, such as having visions, which are a visual stimulus that engages the emotions.

6 April 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 11

There are instances of dementia patients who kept their faith But emotional engagement does not depend only on visual or sensory aspects.

It also depends on what we know about the person – their personality and our interactions with that person.

We can, therefore, know things about Jesus – what he did and what he does now. Such knowledge contributes enormously to a person’s love for him. It can come through reading the Bible, rather than depending on a mystical experience.

What convinced you that Jesus is who he says he is?

I was born in Prague and grew up under the Communist regime. In our family, faith was not a topic of conversation. Under the Communists, people steered away from faith unless they were very convinced by it. It was too dangerous.

When I was 14, we fled the Warsaw Pact invasion and settled in Switzerland.

My parents decided to join the Protestant church and I was educated at a Protestant school. It was there that I heard about

Jesus. By the time I finished secondary school, my faith had come alive. I believed it. At university, my newfound faith became more personal.

What does your faith give you?

My faith gives me a sense of perspective and a purpose. I try to orientate all I do around my faith.

Can a person be brainwashed into faith?

I have no experience or insight into cults. Being part of a religious community can positively reinforce the faith one lives.

Motivation is an important consideration.

When we are self-motivated to learn, we learn better. The decision to make a commitment to faith is important. Faith is not about following the crowd.

If faith is enhanced by memory, to what extent does dementia destroy a person’s faith?

There are instances of dementia

patients who kept their faith and, despite losing everything else, were able to sing hymns, quote Bible verses or appreciate prayer. There are also reverse stories.

It is problematic for a family when they see the faith of their loved one apparently disappear. I remind myself that expressions of faith are a function of the brain. When memories and facial recognition have gone, it is very distressing. One hopes that even if they can’t remember God, God still remembers them.

The accusation is sometimes made that becoming a Christian means intellectual suicide. Why does it not?

First, the Christian faith is built on historical evidence. Divine revelation is another element. Christianity influences people and changes people’s lives, sometimes in dramatic ways. On the basis of probability, there is more evidence for the truth of Christianity than against it.

12 INNER LIFE • WAR CRY • 6 April 2019

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Harry, who has been admitted to hospital.

The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their ­circumstances. Send your requests to Prayerlink, War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, Lon­don SE1 6BN. Mark your envelope ‘Confidential’.

Becoming a Christian There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

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

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

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

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

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

1 Chronicles

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

HE two books which appear with the T title Chronicles recount the history of the Jewish nation from the death of King

Saul to the return from its Babylonian exile, a period of some 460 years.

Although covering much of the history detailed in the books of Samuel and of Kings, there are a number of differences.

The mention of the return from Babylon suggests that some or all of the account was written during the exile (2 Chronicles 36:23).

Unlike Kings, Chronicles focuses on David’s reign and the subsequent Jerusalemcentred kingdom of Judah, with Temple worship and the priesthood emphasised.

Perhaps as a reminder of its roots to a nation that will be rebuilding after years away from home, 1 Chronicles begins with a series of genealogies from Adam to the descendants of Solomon (chapters 1 to 9).

After the death of Saul (chapter 10), David takes centre stage. He retrieves the Ark of the Covenant – the symbol of God’s earthly presence that contained the stones of the Ten Commandments – from the hills of Judah and takes it to Jerusalem (chapters 13 to 16).

He wins military victories over the neighbouring Moabites, Ammonites and Philistines and the expansionist nation of Assyria (chapters 18 to 20).

He orders his son, Solomon, to prepare to build an appropriate sanctuary for the Ark – the Temple

in Jerusalem (chapters 17 and 22).

In his last days, David commissions the holy men of the Levites to help Solomon in his divine task and outlines their duties once the Temple is built. David then lists the

He invites his people to give to the building costs of the Temple duties to be carried out by the priests, musicians, gatekeepers and treasury officials who will serve in the Temple (chapters 23 to 26).

He invites his people to give, as he has, to the building costs of the Temple and prays that God will reward their generosity.

Shortly before his father’s death, Solomon becomes king (chapter 29).

Key verse ‘And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel’ (1 Chronicles 14:2 New International Version)

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6 April 2019 • WAR CRY • EXPRESSIONS 13

NOW, THERE’S A THOUGHT!

by Cliff Kent

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Notes needed for operation lying on the operating table with a nurse on either side of the ItheWAS bed. They adjusted my pillow, raised my legs and prepared me for op. Before the surgeon gave me a local anaesthetic he asked:

‘What kind of music would you like?’

That took me by surprise. I’d heard of music being played as you enter an operating theatre, but never knew that patients were given a choice.

I would have settled for silence, but as the specialist wanted a reply, I suggested classical. I wonder what would have happened if I had asked for rap, reggae or rock? That question didn’t arise, because I wanted something more soothing and gentle, with a calming influence. The quieter the better.

When out and about, I often use a bus station where there used to be trouble with yobbos and vandalism. The amplification of loud music in the terminus seemed to fuel bad behaviour.

I contacted the manager and suggested they Silence can played something much quieter. They obliged still be hard and found that the troublemakers vanished and there were no more problems. to come by I also heard a story about an agency that created an advertisement for a luxury car manufacturer. The proposed ad had the strapline: ‘At 60 miles an hour the loudest noise in this new car comes from the electric clock.’ When they ran the ad by the company’s CEO he smiled and said: ‘I guess we’ve got to do something about that clock!’

Even though some people take action to create quietness, silence can still be hard to come by. Noise pollution is the scourge of our age.

Machines and devices increase noise and distract us from any quieter moments. It is hard on the ear and it can lead to problems such as insomnia, anxiety, high blood pressure and heart attacks.

We all need a few simple ways to find calm amid the cacophony of our daily lives. One way is to follow Jesus’ words from the Bible. He says: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28 New International Version).

His offer is music to our ears and one we would do well to accept.

14 PUZZLES • WAR CRY • 6 April 2019

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS

1. Only (4) 3. Burst (3) 5. Creep (4) 7. Colleague (9) 9. Slant (4) 10. Cut down (4) 11. Produce (5) 14. Snapshot (5) 15. Corpulent (5) 17. Apparent (5) 18. Characteristic (5) 19. Similar (5) 20. Boarding house (5) 23. Mild (4) 25. Net (4) 27. Killed (9) 28. Quick (4)

HONEYCOMB Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number 1. Book of financial accounts 2. Insistent request 3. Narrative song 4. Used to fill a gap 5. Meal eaten outside 6. Rough drawing

ANSWERS

WORDSEARCH AFRICAN LILY BLUEBELL COMMON POPPY DAFFODIL FIELD DAISY FORGET-ME-NOT FRENCH MARIGOLD HOLLYHOCK JAPANESE IRIS MADEIRA ORCHID MEADOW SAFFRON PETUNIA STARFLOWER SUNFLOWER TULIP

11. Kiosk (5) 12. Eminent (5) 13. Sum (5) 14. Container (3) 16. Watch (3) 21. Group of eight (5) 22. Arouse (5) 23. Hand warmer (4) 24. Retained (4) 25. Note (4) 26. Song of praise (4)

29. Extremity (3) 30. Portent (4)

DOWN

1. Haze (4) 2. Compass point (4) 3. Investigate (5) 4. Arrogance (5) 5. Jot (4) 6. Grasped (4) 7. Allotted (9) 8. Hastened (9)

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

8

2

5

4

6

3

1

9

7

6

9

4

2

1

7

8

3

5

7

1

3

8

5

9

6

2

4

1

7

2

5

4

8

3

6

9

4

5

8

3

9

6

7

1

2

9

3

6

1

7

2

5

4

8

5

8

1

9

3

4

2

7

6

2

4

7

6

8

1

9

5

3

3

6

9

7

2

5

4

8

1

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

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

HONEYCOMB 1 Ledger. 2 Demand. 3 Ballad.

4 Filler. 5 Picnic. 6 Sketch.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1 Mere. 3 Pop. 5 Inch.

7 Associate. 9 Tilt. 10 Axed. 11 Beget.

14 Photo. 15 Obese. 17 Overt. 18 Trait.

19 Alike. 20 Hotel. 23 Meek. 25 Mesh.

27 Destroyed. 28 Fast. 29 Toe. 30 Omen.

DOWN: 1 Mist. 2 East. 3 Probe. 4 Pride.

5 Iota. 6 Held. 7 Allocated. 8 Expedited.

11 Booth. 12 Great. 13 Total. 14 Pot. 16 Eye. 21 Octet. 22 Evoke. 23 Muff.

24 Kept. 25 Memo. 26 Hymn.

6

3

4

2

8

5

3

9

5

4

7

1

1

7

9

6

2

8

9 7 1 6 8 2 3 4 5

7 6 9 1 3 5 8 2 4

2 8 3 7 9 4 5 1 6

5 1 4 2 6 8 9 7 3

4 9 2 5 7 3 6 8 1

8 5 7 4 1 6 2 3 9

1 3 6 8 2 9 4 5 7

SUDOKU SOLUTION

6

3

4

2

9 7

7 6

2 8

5 1

4 9

8 5

1 3

6 April 2019 • WAR CRY • WHAT’S COOKING? 15

Pork meatballs baked with cheesy crumb top 1tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 450g lean minced pork 2tbsp fresh basil, chopped 400g can chopped tomatoes 2tbsp tomato ketchup 1tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped 1tbsp fresh basil, roughly torn Black pepper 25g breadcrumbs 50g Double Gloucester cheese, grated

SERVES

4

Tikka pork chops with potato salad 5tsp tikka spice powder 2 lean pork chops, fully trimmed 250g new potatoes, halved ½ red onion, sliced 50g baby spinach 1tbsp tomato ketchup 1tbsp honey 1tbsp water 3tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick saucepan and fry the onion and garlic for 2 minutes.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

Place the mince and basil in a large bowl and add half the onion mixture. Mix together well and shape into 15 meatballs. Set aside.

Place the tomatoes, ketchup, parsley, basil and black pepper and the remaining onion mixture in a family-sized gratin dish and mix well.

Add the meatballs to the dish and spoon a little of the tomato sauce over the top.

Mix together the breadcrumbs and cheese in a separate bowl. Top the meatballs with the breadcrumb mixture and bake for 30 minutes until the topping is golden and the meatballs are thoroughly cooked.

Preheat a grill.

SERVES

2

Rub 3tsp tikka spice over the pork chops. Cook under the grill for 10 minutes on each side. Meanwhile, to make the potato salad, boil the potatoes in a pan of water, then drain and allow them to cool. Place the cooled potatoes, onions, spinach, 1tsp tikka spice, tomato ketchup, honey and 1tbsp water in a bowl and mix well.

Make a spicy dip by mixing together the yoghurt with the remaining 1tsp tikka spice. Serve the chops with the potato salad and spicy yoghurt dip.

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board website lovepork.co.uk

Anyone devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love Martin Luther King Jr