War Cry 9 Feb 2019

9 February 2019 20p/25c

BUILDING UP THE DRAMA There are perils to face in new Lego movie

LOOK OF LOVE THE SAINT, SECRETS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF VALENTINE’S DAY

2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 9 February 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 ‘I DON’T care too much for money, money can’t buy me love.’ So sang the Beatles in 1964. But 55 years later it would seem many people hope that money can at least help their romance. Spending on Valentine’s Day exceeds spending at Easter.

By the end of Thursday (14 February) millions of pounds will have been handed over for food, flowers, confectionery and those allimportant cards.

However, for some people, Valentine’s Day will go unmarked.

Unless, of course, their parents step in. According to research by Royal Mail, almost a fifth of parents will send their child a Valentine card, worried that their son or daughter will feel rejected if they do not receive one.

It is natural for parents to want to protect their child from feeling rejected or from suffering any emotional or physical pain.

It is not only parents who have this instinct. The vulnerability of children often prompts adults to provide care and security for them.

That is why Emmanuel Jal’s story in this week’s War Cry will horrify many people. Born in southern Sudan, Emmanuel was trained to fight as a soldier when he was only eight years old.

In his interview, Emmanuel describes the mental and emotional traumas he endured even after he escaped from the army.

Emmanuel is now in his thirties, but last week Sky News reported on the present situation that children are facing in South Sudan. The UN is concerned that children are still being recruited to join the 19,000 who are already with various militia in the country.

Today Emmanuel works to improve the lives of those who have been affected by war, particularly focusing on children who are at risk of returning to the military.

Our hope must be that he, and the charities he works alongside, will succeed in eliminating this appalling mistreatment of children.

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 7409

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 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

Contents

Tel: 0845 634 0101 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 Secretary for Communications: Lieut-Colonel David Kelly

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.

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FEATURES 3

Amour the merrier Why millions of cards are still sent on Valentine’s Day

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Disarming Duplo Lego Movie returns

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Recovering relationships Counsellor reflects on helping couples in need

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‘I didn’t want to die’ The experience of a child soldier

REGULARS 4

News and media

12

Browsing the Bible

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Now, there’s a thought!

14 Puzzles 15

What’s cooking?

Front-page picture: Shutterstock

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9 February 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 3

H T I W D E L SEA

A KISS?

Who is the man at the heart of every Valentine card? asks Andrew Stone SPARE a thought for the posties next Thursday (14 February). More than half the population intend to post at least one card for Valentine’s Day, declaring their love for that special someone.

Many of those cards will maintain the tradition of secrecy. Research by Royal Mail found that four in ten people have posted cards that keep the sender anonymous – which is quite appropriate, as experts are not sure about the identity of the man who gives the day its name.

‘We don’t know anything about St Valentine as a historical person,’ explains Father Alexander Lucie-Smith, consulting editor of the Catholic Herald magazine.

He tells the War Cry: ‘There may well have been two or three people called Valentine and nobody is quite sure which of the Valentines we remember. He might have been a priest, or a bishop in central Italy or somebody else. We can only be reasonably sure that a man called Valentinus died a martyr’s death in the late 3rd or early 4th century.’

However, there are some clearer ideas as to why this obscure Christian came to be linked with love and romance to such an extent that one in ten people has started a relationship as a result of a Valentine card.

‘In the 8th century people wrote legends which deeply embroidered the lives of the saints with all sorts of lovely stories,’ says Alexander.

One of the legends of Valentine is that he was imprisoned and sentenced to death for conducting weddings for Roman soldiers after

the emperor had forbidden his troops from marrying.

While he was in prison, the legend continues, Valentine fell in love with the jailer’s daughter, and when he was taken for execution he sent her a love letter signed ‘from your Valentine’.

‘That would be one of the reasons why Valentine was linked with the idea of romantic love,’ says Alexander. ‘But those stories have no historical or religious significance at all.

‘Another reason people celebrate the day as a day for lovers is that, in the mindset of people in the Middle Ages, birds began mating on 14 February – it is purely a coincidence of the date!’

Whatever the truth about Valentine, Alexander can see an obvious reason why there should be a link between the man, the day and love.

‘For a Christian saint to be linked with a day of love is deeply appropriate,’ he says, ‘because all Christians believe that love is an excellent thing.’

The importance of love was explained by the early Christian teacher, Paul, who said: ‘I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains – but if I have no love, I am nothing’ (1 Corinthians 13:2 Good News Bible).

It’s no secret that the greatest love a person can receive is that of God, who loves everyone. He invites each of us to experience the quality of his love and to see the difference it can make in our lives.

Will we accept God’s overt declaration of love to us?

Nobody is sure which Valentine we remember

4 NEWS AND MEDIA • WAR CRY • 9 February 2019 PA

RE syllabus changes proposed for Welsh schools

PA IMAGE NOT FOR WEB

HOLLYWOOD actor Neal McDonough has said that his strong Christian faith n almost cost him his career after he refused to

participate in sex scenes out of loyalty to his wife, the model Ruvé Robertson.

Neal (pictured with Ruvé) told US magazine Closer Weekly that he initially struggled to get jobs after being labelled as a ‘religious zealot’ and considered quitting the acting profession. However, his situation changed when producer Steven Spielberg asked him to audition for the Second World War miniseries Band of Brothers. Since then, he has featured in hits such as Desperate Housewives, The Flags of our Fathers, Suits and a number of Marvel films.

THE Welsh government is proposing a reformation of the RE curriculum to take account of non-religious perspectives such as humanism.

Welsh education minister Kirsty Williams unveiled the proposals in a white paper last week.

The white paper stated that it was the Welsh government’s intention that ‘RE reflects our historical and contemporary relationship in Wales to philosophy and religious views, including non-religious beliefs.

A NEW podcast series #SheToo ‘Therefore the is tackling the Bible’s most current legislation will controversial episodes of violence be amended to ensure against women. the agreed syllabus Journalist Rosie Dawson speaks for RE takes account to feminist scholars to provide an of non-religious world in-depth examination of the Bible views which are stories and offer a new perspective. analogous to religions Among the stories being studied are (eg, humanism).’ those of Abraham’s slave girl Hagar, Other proposals and King David’s daughter Tamar, include making who was raped by her half-brother. religious education In the wake of the #MeToo non-compulsory for movement, the podcast asks whether sixth-formers and providing a voice to women of the permitting nurseries Bible can validate the experience of to teach RE. The victims today. consultation period The podcast can be found at for the white paper biblesociety.org.uk/shetoo lasts until 25 March.

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A RELIGIOUS enigma that has puzzled academics for n centuries has been solved by a divinity student. The BBC reported on its website that St Andrews University undergradu-

ate Jonny Woods deciphered sermons written in shorthand by influential Baptist theologian and pastor Andrew Fuller.

Hundreds of pages written by the theologian are stored in archives, but no one had been able to translate the shorthand until now. The third-year student cracked the code after an academic found a corresponding longhand text.

Andrew Fuller, who lived from 1754 to 1815, co-founded the Baptist Missionary Society.

BBC schedules new programmes as it tunes in to beliefs THE BBC is to broadcast an array of new programmes on religion and ethics as part of Year of Beliefs. The corporation said that a ‘ambitious landmark series’ and ‘powerful documentaries highlighting big moral questions’ will examine the range of faiths in Britain, and look at how ethics and values shape people’s everyday lives.

Upcoming TV documentaries include Earth’s Sacred Wonders, which explores the world’s major religions and sites such as Angkor Wat, and Pilgrimage: The Road to Rome, in which celebrities, including singer and politician Dana Scallon, actress Lesley Joseph and Olympian Greg Rutherford, embark on an expedition which ends with a private audience with Pope Francis.

‘We’ll be shining a light on what Britain believes in today through new commissions, appointing a youth panel to work with well-established programmes across radio, and exploring a complex range of issues affecting people’s lives – from IVF to being single,’ said BBC radio and education director James Purnell.

He adds: ‘With radio’s unique ability to bring stories alive, our audiences will hear Jeremy Irons read the Psalms on Radio 4 at Easter, and I hope that throughout the year we’ll offer people a place to pause and reflect on the world around them.’

The celebrity pilgrims in ‘Pilgrimage: The Road to Rome’

9 February 2019 • WAR CRY • FILM 5

BRICK

Warner Bros Pictures

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A WOMAN in Newport, south Wales, has praised The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus programme after she received qualifications and secured a job with its support.

At a meeting of the Institute of Employability Professionals, held in The Salvation Army’s building in the city, mother-of-two Karen said that Employment Plus was ‘really helpful’.

‘Since I’ve been coming to Employment Plus I’ve gained qualifications and that has made me more confident, which has been really helpful when I’ve been to job interviews,’ said Karen.

‘I recently had a job interview – it went brilliantly and I’ve been offered a job as a support worker.

I’ve just signed the contract and I’m waiting to hear my start date.

I would recommend Employment Plus to anyone.’

B Y BRIC K

THE BBC World Service programme n Heart and Soul (Sunday 10 February 9.30 am) speaks to bereaved mother Mary

Johnson-Roy, whose only son was murdered in 1993, about her commitment to help his killer rebuild his life. Oshea Israel was sentenced to 25 years for killing 20-year-old Laramiun Byrd. But, years later, Mary visited Oshea in prison and after his release they became next-door neighbours and developed a bond. Inspired by her Christian faith, she established an organisation called From Death to Life to provide similar healing for victims and perpetrators. The programme examines the role of faith within the healing process.

Emily Bright sees builder Emmet try to fix broken Bricksburg VERYTHING is no longer awesome for Bricksburg citizens. In Lego E Movie: Part Two, released in cinemas yesterday (Friday 8 February), mysterious invaders declare, ‘We are from planet Duplo and we are here

BBC/CTVC/SIMONA SBORCHIA

to destroy you.’

Master builder Emmet (Chris Pratt) greets them chirpily with a peace offering of a Lego heart. But it’s promptly chewed up by a Duplo creature, heralding postapocalyptic scenes. Sinister cyborgs take over the streets and Lego babies are condemned to work in the sewers.

Emmet valiantly tries to boost his spirits by building his own Lego home in which to settle down with girlfriend Lucy (Elizabeth Banks). But, when a Duplo spaceship kidnaps Emmet’s friends, he’s forced to leave Lucy behind and embark on a solo rescue mission. After building his very own house rocket, Emmet soars into space to track down and free his pals.

But the mission is not straightforward.

Emmet’s life is on the line when he gets too close to an asteroid. He is relieved when gallant galaxy defender, astronaut and allround real brick Rex Dangervest rescues him from impending meltdown. Together they navigate the Systar System, hoping to liberate Emmet’s friends.

But despite his heroic efforts, and unknown to him, Emmet’s actions are putting his entire community at risk.

Lucy tries to warn him of the danger, but he stubbornly ignores her until he realises his mistake.

Perhaps we can relate to Emmet’s predicament. Our best intentions may backfire, inadvertently hurting our relationship with others and causing us problems as well.

There are times when it feels as if everything we do is wrong and that it is impossible to put things right again.

But countless people through the centuries have found that God can help them even when the outlook seems bleak. Jesus said: ‘There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything’ (Matthew 19:26 Contemporary English Version).

If we turn to him, we can be certain that no matter what mistakes we have made in the past, God can rebuild our lives.

Emmet soars into space to track down his pals

6 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 9 February 2019

Heart of r e t t a m e th

Valentine’s Day is a day to reflect on love and relationships. In the build-up to 14 February JORGEN BOOTH talks to Linda McTurk about his experience of providing therapy for couples and individuals in need

ORGEN BOOTH has counselled Jdifficulties people through relationship for more years than

he cares to remember. For more than two decades he provided face-to-face counselling through relationship support service Relate. Today he is the head of a counselling practice, MGS. Throughout his time working as a professional counsellor, Jorgen has emphasised the importance of therapy being an aid rather than a fix.

‘Counselling is a temporary relationship between the therapist and the client,’ he explains. ‘I can’t sort anybody out. People have to sort themselves out.

But I can work towards the process of resolution with them in a confidential environment.

‘It’s not about offering advice, but about working together towards the best outcomes. It’s also not about what I want, but what the individual or couple want and what they’re prepared to do. There have been times when someone has left the room and I have thought: “What a pity!” But if they are not prepared to take the steps necessary to put the situation right, then I’ve got to respect their choice.’

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, many people who are not in a romantic relationship might be feeling apprehensive about how they will spend the day. But Jorgen says that Valentine’s Day offers them a chance to reflect.

‘Valentine’s Day can be a chance for people to look at what they have, what they are doing and what is happening in their lives and then use that as a turning point.

It offers people an opportunity to change themselves for the better. And if someone finds this difficult to do on their own, they can ask for help from a counsellor or a wise friend to talk things through.’

Films and TV shows often depict love as being all about hearts, flowers and extravagant romantic gestures. But real life can be different. Jorgen believes that the unrealistic expectations in today’s society contribute to struggling couples thinking that their relationship is beyond saving when it may just need mending.

‘Love can be shown in a multiplicity of ways,’ Jorgen says. ‘I saw this recently in a couple who came to me for help. She

I can’t sort anybody out. People have to sort themselves out was some 60 years old and he was in his seventies. She felt loved by being kissed, hugged and caressed, but he came from a very strict religious background and he didn’t want that kind of intimacy.

‘To him, love was about supporting the other person no matter what and accepting them even in their bad moments. For her,

Jorgen Booth it was about physical intimacy.

He was horrified by this. But when I helped him to see that she was not asking for anything outlandish, he realised that she was only needing to be loved.’

In his many years of experience, Jorgen has noticed that the problems he identifies in people’s relationships

9 February 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 7

are sometimes down to more than just surfacelevel tensions.

‘When I am counselling a couple, I look at all aspects of their relationship,’ he explains. ‘What is the background of each of the individuals I’m sitting with?

What do they know about life, about each other? Why does he shout and she cry?

What made them this way?

Sometimes I am trying to repair or compensate for something that should have happened 20, maybe even 30, years earlier.

‘Some people are dealing with limitations that were set upon them decades ago.

There

are things that they believe because of what their parents said to them or because of what was never provided to them as a child. But if they are willing to open up and to adjust their thinking, then the sky is the limit.’

Jorgen, who has been married to his wife, Libbet, for more than 50 years, is also a Christian minister with The Salvation Army. He grew up aware of the Christian faith, but only chose to commit

Love is about giving, not receiving himself to it at university. Since then, it has influenced his entire way of life, including his take on what love means.

‘At the last moment before Jesus Christ was crucified, he questioned God,’ says Jorgen. ‘He asked: “Do I really need to do this?” Jesus then loved us enough to sacrifice himself on the cross for our sake.

Through his crucifixion, he showed us a supreme act of love.

‘Love is about giving, not receiving.

It is an emotion, but it also has to have commitment. There is the initial feeling, but that feeling then has to be followed by an action. If you leave love as a feeling, it doesn’t cut it.’

8 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 9 February 2019

‘As a child, I was forced to be a soldier’ For the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers (12 February), Sarah Olowofoyeku speaks with rapper, activist and former child soldier EMMANUEL JAL about his experiences of war and how he is working for peace

‘T

HE first time I witnessed war, I thought the world had ended,’ says Emmanuel Jal. ‘Villages were burning, people were running, heads were flying and people were getting killed. It was a difficult thing to take in as a kid.’

Today, Emmanuel Jal is an activist, speaker and musician. But more than 30 years ago, as a young boy in southern Sudan, Emmanuel experienced a very different life.

‘My father told me that I was going to school in Ethiopia, but instead I was forced to become a soldier,’ says Emmanuel. ‘I left home when I was seven years old and was trained when I was eight.’

Emmanuel had been made to join the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), a rebel movement fighting in the Second Sudanese Civil War. After suffering many casualties, the group attempted to regroup quickly by recruiting young boys. ‘The training was desperate,’ says Emmanuel.

‘They needed help, and they needed it fast. We were brainwashed with army skills: learning to listen and obey orders, survival, and how to attack and kill.

‘We were excited at having a gun,’ he confesses. ‘Before I fired my first shot, I used to shake with fear, but once I had shot at a couple of things I became braver.

I also realised that it was either they who would get killed or me. Naturally, I didn’t want to die.’

After four years, he was able to escape from the fighting. When his uncle, who was in the leadership of the SPLA, found out that children were being used

as soldiers, he left and then made the children leave. ‘There were 200 to 400 young people who escaped when I did, but only 16 of us survived. We had to travel from the north to the south part of Sudan. The journey took three months,’ Emmanuel explains.

‘It was tough, but I experienced miracles on that journey.

‘The first month was OK. We had enough food and water. But the second and third were not so good.

We ran out of food and had little to no water. I was reduced to drinking my own urine. Some of the boys began to eat dead bodies.

‘I was tempted to eat my friend. He was dying and I said to him: “I’m going to eat you tomorrow.” I had to battle with my mind. Part of my mind was telling me that I had to eat my friend, the other part said that if I ate my comrade, it would haunt me for the rest of my life. So I decided that I wouldn’t eat anybody.

‘Instead I prayed: “God, if you’re there, give me something to eat. If I survive, I’ll always tell this story.”

‘I waited through the night. By 11 am I was about to lose hope when a crow flew on top of a tree. My hands were

Turn to page 10

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9 February 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 9

The training was desperate. We were brainwashed with army skills

10 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 9 February 2019

From page 8 not strong, so I struggled to shoot the bird.

But then one of the child soldiers, who I thought had died, woke up, shot the bird and collapsed. He never lived to eat the bird. I ate it instead.’

The story is a constant reminder to Emmanuel of what God can do.

Soon after this incident, he found freedom when he and 150 other child soldiers were rescued by a British aid worker called Emma McCune. They were in Nairobi, Kenya, and Emmanuel was enrolled into a school.

But it wasn’t the end of Emmanuel’s battles. He had escaped physically from the horrors of the battlefield, but he could not escape so easily from the memories of

what he had experienced.

‘I had to deal with a war in my head,’ says Emmanuel. ‘I didn’t know that this kind of thing existed. I would stop and have a flashback, and I wouldn’t be able to move.

I had to deal with a war in my head ‘As an African, I come from a background where men are not allowed to cry or say what’s bothering them inside.

We have to man up and deal with it.

Sometimes I wished somebody would ask

me what was going on in my head. But no one ever did.’

However, Emmanuel was able to use his inner turmoil for good through his creativity. He has written a book called War Child about his experiences which, although he found painful to write, eventually helped him. ‘When the book was finished I felt lighter,’ he says. ‘I felt as if a great weight had been lifted.

‘Now I’m able to use my experiences to help people to overcome their worries and anxieties, to support them in having joy and peace of mind and in continuing to manage their lives.’

The former child soldier now lives in Toronto, Canada, and is an accomplished musician who has performed all over the world. Next Friday (15 February) he will be onstage with his sister Nyaruach at London’s Southbank Centre and Hootananny in Brixton.

They will be playing tracks from their latest album which, Emmanuel explains, was created ‘to uplift the spirit of people and to put across a message about staying resilient and focused – tomorrow is going to come.

‘I used to do music just for fun,’ he says.

‘But one time I was listening to the radio, and I heard a guy called P Diddy rapping about God. So I thought, if he could sing songs about God, so could I. And that’s how I started.’

ver the past 20 years Emmanuel O has performed with stars such as Alicia Keys, Ed Sheeran, Nile Rodgers

and Angelique Kidjo. He has appeared at events with key figures, such as the Dalai Lama, who have championed humanitarian causes. Through his work he has had the support of, and spoken alongside, US presidents as well as UN leaders Kofi Annan and Ban-Ki Moon.

But Emmanuel’s highlight was meeting the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. ‘He was somebody who had a painful background, but used the experience to help his nation,’ he says.

‘Meeting him was inspirational.

‘Nelson Mandela was once known as a prisoner. Then he was known as a president. Now he is remembered as a former president. One day I’m not going to be remembered just as a former boy soldier.’

Emmanuel says he never knew his musical talents would take him this far, but he adds: ‘I always wanted to be part of a solution and there’s a verse in the Bible that says your gifts will take you before kings.’

His faith in the God of the Bible helped

Sudanese boy soldiers

9 February 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 11

him not only when he was facing the unthinkable as a child, but also when he was dealing with his emotions and the reality of life after a traumatic childhood.

‘I got my faith through my mother,’ he explains. ‘She used to sing in a church choir, and she would pray with us and tell us that Jesus was going to watch over us.

I saw how dear her faith was to her.’

After he was separated from his mother, he continued to pray as she had taught him.

‘When I was in the bush as a soldier, I would pray to my mother’s God. When I was really stressed, depressed or suicidal I prayed a lot. I would lock myself in a small room and say the Lord’s Prayer. If I believed that there was a God watching over me when horrible things were happening, it helped me to wait for tomorrow and believe that things were going to change. As I’ve grown up I’ve got to know who my mother’s God is.’

Through his faith, Emmanuel has found some healing and the ability to forgive.

He has decided not to keep his journey private, but shares what he has been through in order to help others. ‘But I wouldn’t be able to do that if I hadn’t made the journey myself,’ he says. ‘My motivation comes from Jesus’ message, which is to forgive and to love your enemy.

‘There’s also a proverb that says if you don’t forgive, it’s like you’re drinking poison and wishing for someone else to die. Forgiveness is an important principle.

You have to forgive yourself, forgive those who have caused you harm and ask for forgiveness from those you caused harm.

I want to travel light, so I forgive.’

Emmanuel is also determined to

Emmanuel meets Nelson Mandela see that no more children go through what he did as a young boy. ‘I’ve been campaigning against the use of child soldiers with Amnesty International, with

War Child and independently,’ he says.

‘There are demobilised child soldiers who are vulnerable – they could go back.

Mentally, they will have to deal with worries about their future or whether they’re going to be significant in society.’

Through his charity, Gua Africa, he provides education to help individuals and families who have been affected by war and poverty. ‘I’ve been engaged in finding scholarships or sponsors for ex-child

I want to travel light, so I forgive soldiers to go to school,’ he says.

Emmanuel feels he has learnt a lot from his experiences – lessons that have changed the way he lives and that he longs to share with others. One of them is a different perspective on going through difficulties.

‘I no longer regret the things of the past.

I look at it as what I’ve been trusted with,’ he says. ‘Now I’m grateful for the good and for the bad. The challenges we go through are all incoming blessings.’

12 INNER LIFE • WAR CRY • 9 February 2019

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

Deuteronomy

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

EANING ‘second law’, Deuteronomy M is the fifth and last book in the law section – the Torah, as it is known in Hebrew – of the Old Testament. Much of it is presented as the reflections of an old man, Moses. It is a mix of an eve-of-battle speech, prematch pep talk and national heritage lecture.

Under Moses’ leadership, the Hebrews escaped Egyptian slavery. Heading towards Canaan, they journeyed for 40 days around the Sinai Peninsula. They rebelled against God. Consequently, he condemned the generation that left Egypt to spend 40 years in the wilderness. They would not live to see Canaan. Under the leadership of Joshua, a new generation would conquer and settle in the ‘promised land’.

With the momentous fate and future of the people of Israel at stake, Moses recalls their history.

He tells them how God had promised Canaan to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (1:8) and how he had sent spies to reconnoitre it (1:19–25). He recounts battles – defeats and victories (chapters 1 to 3). He reminds them of their special relationship with God, as set out in the Ten Commandments (chapter 5), and emphasises their need to remain faithful to God (chapters 4 and 7).

He outlines many of the required religious observances (chapters 12 to 16), the administration of justice, the appointment of a king and the

establishment of cities of refuge for those who accidentally kill someone (chapters 17 to 19).

He lays down civil laws on military service, foreign wives, marriage, divorce, relationships and the benefits of keeping faith with God (chapters 20 to 28).

Speaking from the heart, he urges this second generation to keep the covenant with

A new generation would conquer the ‘promised land’ God (chapter 29). He reminds them of the benefits of repentance, urging them to learn, as he did, that life is nothing without God (chapter 30).

He pleads with them to ‘choose life, so that you and your children may live’ (30:19).

Having prepared his people for a new life, at the end of the book Moses dies.

Key verse

r ‘Love the Lord your God with all you h wit and heart and with all your soul all your strength’ (Deuteronomy 6:5 New International Version)

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

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by Barbara Lyne

Something to look up to HE clifftop was crowded, the promenade was thick with people, T and the beach was full to capacity. It was a glorious sunny afternoon with a clear blue sky, and we were all looking up at it.

Why? Because it was the Bournemouth air show, and at that precise moment the Red Arrows were giving a spectacular display. It was well worth watching.

A few weeks earlier, my husband and I had been on holiday in Norway.

To enjoy fully the beauty all around you in such a country, you have to look up to the towering mountain tops, which are majestic in their natural beauty. The trip made me wonder how often we look up in our everyday life.

Sometimes we are so busy that we do not have the time to look up. In retirement I have found more occasions to enjoy the beauty of the sky and the formation and colours of the clouds. They are a joy to see.

We spend time It might also be that we spend time looking in the wrong direction. looking in the If we look down, we may see a dirty wrong direction pavement or a muddy puddle. If we look around, we could see a lot of sad faces. But if we look up, even in the middle of a busy city centre, we can see the sky.

One of the Bible’s writers knew the value of raising our eyes. He says: ‘I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth!’ (Psalm 121:1, 2 New Living Translation).

When we are going through difficult times, God can help us. He is a source of courage and hope.

Red Arrows can thrill us and the sky can inspire us. But if we look up and lift our heart to God in prayer, we can gain strength for the day, every day.

14 PUZZLES • WAR CRY • 9 February 2019

QUICK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Earnest request (4) 3. Distant (3) 5. Hasty (4) 7. Marvellous (9) 9. Comprehend (4) 10. Melody (4) 11. Grown-up (5) 14. Father (5) 15. Small constellation (5) 17. Urge (5) 18. Leans (5) 19. Enticed (5) 20. Before time (5) 23. Seafood (4) 25. Obliged (4) 27. Tranquillisers (9) 28. Disabled (4) 29. Secreted (3) 30. Without feeling (4)

1. Choose (4) 2. Confess (4) 3. Withered (5) 4. Pastoral (5) 5. Utter defeat (4) 6. Possess (4) 7. Of no value (9) 8. Ridiculous (9) 11. Get up (5) 12. Shoe part (5) 13. Correspond (5) 14. Mine (3) 16. Unhappy (3) 21. Flooded (5) 22. Scottish landowner (5) 23. Tumbled (4) 24. In this place (4) 25. Intend (4) 26. Burial vault (4)

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1. Which two Portuguese clubs 5 have 7 2won 9 football’s 3 8 1 4 European Cup? 4 8 6 1 5 2 7 3 2. Who wrote the poem The Tyger?

6 1 in 7which 3 country?

9 4 5 2 3. Singer Andrea Bocelli was born

6

9 4 Friends 8 2 set?

7 5 3 6 4. In which city was the TV sitcom 5. Who was British prime minister from 1957 3 2 5 8 1to 61963?

9 7 6. Stratus, cumulonimbus and cirrus are types of what?

7 3 1 6 2 9 4 8

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4 9 1 5 8 7 6 2 3

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PUZZLE ANSWERS

5

8 4 2 1 7 9 5 3 6

1 3 9 6 5 4 2 8 7

6 2 4 9 3 5 7 1 8

9 1 8 7 6 2 3 4 5

3 7 5 4 1 8 9 6 2

SUDOKU SOLUTION

4 9

7 5

QUICK QUIZ

2

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

WORDSEARCH Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these children’s authors

A. A. MILNE BEATRIX POTTER C. S. LEWIS EDITH NESBIT ENID BLYTON J. K. ROWLING J. R. R. TOLKIEN JACQUELINE WILSON JULIA DONALDSON LAUREN CHILD LEWIS CARROLL MALORIE BLACKMAN MICHAEL MORPURGO PHILIP PULLMAN ROALD DAHL

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

8 4

1 3

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9 1

3 7

QUICK QUIZ 1. Benfica and Porto.

2. William Blake. 3. Italy. 4. New York.

5. Harold Macmillan. 6. Cloud.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1 Plea. 3 Far. 5 Rash.

7 Wonderful. 9 Know. 10 Tune. 11 Adult.

14 Pater. 15 Aries. 17 Impel. 18 Tilts.

19 Lured. 20 Early. 23 Fish. 25 Must.

27 Sedatives. 28 Lame. 29 Hid. 30 Numb.

DOWN: 1 Pick. 2 Avow. 3 Faded. 4 Rural.

5 Rout. 6 Have. 7 Worthless. 8 Ludicrous.

11 Arise. 12 Upper. 13 Tally. 14 Pit. 16 Sad. 21 Awash. 22 Laird. 23 Fell.

24 Here. 25 Mean. 26 Tomb.

9 February 2019 • WAR CRY • WHAT’S COOKING? 15

Kitchen Creamy fish in Vegetable oil

filo pastry

75g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped 55g red onion, finely chopped 115g fresh spinach 1tbsp reduced-fat spread 1tbsp plain flour 120ml skimmed milk ½ lemon, zest 1tbsp fresh chives, chopped Black pepper 2 sheets filo pastry 2 x 75g skinless white fish steaks

Serves

Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/ Gas Mark 7.

2

Wipe a small frying pan with oil.

Fry the mushrooms and onions until soft. Stir in the spinach. Cook

Quick

fish stew

until the spinach has wilted and liquid has evaporated.

Leave to cool.

Heat the spread, flour and milk in a small saucepan over a medium heat and whisk constantly until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat and continue whisking until the sauce is thick and smooth. Stir in the lemon zest and chives.

Season with the black pepper and leave to cool.

Lay out the pastry sheets, then fold in half. Divide the mushroom mixture, fish and white sauce between the two folded sheets. Lightly brush the pastry with oil and wrap over the fish. Fold in the edges of the pastry and tuck under to form a parcel.

Lift the parcels onto a lightly oiled tray. Bake for 15 minutes until the pastry is golden and crisp.

Serve with green salad.

Recipes from British Heart Foundation’s magazine ‘Heart Matters’. For more information visit bhf.org.uk/heartmatters

Vegetable oil

1 small red onion, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove 1tsp smoked paprika 230g can chopped tomatoes 300ml low-salt vegetable stock 220g can butter beans, drained and rinsed

Serves

1

115g white fish fillet, chopped into large chunks 1tbsp fresh parsley, chopped Black pepper

Wipe a non-stick saucepan with a little oil.

Fry the onion and garlic for 8 minutes on medium heat until soft and golden.

Stir in the smoked paprika. Mix in the tomatoes and stock and bring to the boil.

Simmer gently, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Add the beans and fish to the pan. Simmer gently for 5 minutes until the fish is cooked through.

Stir in the parsley and season with pepper.

Serve immediately with slices of wholemeal soda bread.

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