War Cry 11 May 2019

11 May 2019 20p/25c

‘LET’S HAVE A CUP OF TEA AND WE CAN TALK’ Remembering a bereavement

COUPLE AIM TO FOSTER HOPE The joys and challenges of caring for children

Saying a little prayer ARETHA FRANKLIN FILM PRODUCER JOE BOYD GIVES HIS TAKE ON HER GOSPEL PROJECT

2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 11 May 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 WHEN Tony Thornton’s wife died in 2017, people had no idea how to support him.

Some wanted to give him advice, while others overwhelmed him with food. What Tony wanted, he says in an interview in this week’s War Cry, was for people to ‘just be normal’.

Tony is not unique in his experiences. Generally, we are not good at dealing with bereavement. But Monday (13 May) is the start of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which highlights the importance of talking about death.

The Christian faith has a lot to say about death. Its central message is that dying does not mark the end of everything. Instead, it provides the opportunity for people one day to meet with God in an entirely new way in a place where the Bible says there is ‘no more death, no more grief or crying or pain’ (Revelation 21:4 Good News Bible).

Although this faith does not save Christians from the sadness of losing a loved one, it does save them from the hopelessness that bereavement can bring. The hope of Heaven means that there are many uplifting Christians songs that reference death and eternity.

Two articles in this week’s War Cry feature gospel music, a genre whose songs make many references to life after death.

We speak to the co-founder of Soweto Gospel Choir about their contribution to a ballet that combines South African and western music and dance. We also feature Amazing Grace, a film shot in 1972 of Aretha Franklin recording what has been described as the most successful gospel album of all time.

The song from which the film takes its title gives the promise that, when it comes to the matter of dying, we can be assured of a ‘home’ with God if we’ll believe in his amazing grace.

Now we are aware of that opportunity to see death differently, will we take it?

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 7422

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 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 Dean Pallant

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 Roche Ltd, St Austell, on sustainably sourced paper

Your local Salvation Army centre

Contents FEATURES 3

Gospel, according to Aretha Producer Joe Boyd talks about Amazing Grace film

6

Fostering hope Couple talk about caring for children

8

Choir’s latest move Singers provide music for Zulu ballet

10

‘I said to people: Just be normal’ Tony Thornton reflects on his bereavement

REGULARS

6

8

5 News 12

Browsing the Bible

13 Expressions 14 Puzzles 15

What’s cooking?

Front-page picture: Studiocanal

10

11 May 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 3 Studiocanal

Aretha Franklin singing with the Southern California Community Choir

‘So focused’

PA

JOE BOYD, a producer of the newly released film Amazing Grace, tells Philip Halcrow about witnessing Aretha Franklin make a gospel album

Joe Boyd

A

FILM showing Aretha Franklin recording a gospel album has finally seen the light of day.

More than 35 years after cameras captured her performing the songs at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, Amazing Grace is being shown around the world and was released in UK cinemas yesterday (Friday 10 May).

Back in 1972, Aretha spent two nights performing the songs that would be released on the album titled Amazing Grace. A camera crew filmed the events. But technical problems meant that the sound was not synchronised with the picture. So the footage was abandoned for years until a team equipped with new technology put the film together.

Joe Boyd says Amazing Grace is ‘a portrait of a great artist at the height of her powers’.

In 1972 Joe – who was already known for his work as a record producer – was working for the music department at Warner Brothers Films in California.

He says that, although he’d helped to set in motion the project to film Aretha recording her gospel album, he didn’t have any duties on the nights when the singer, her producer Jerry Wexler, the Southern California Community Choir led by Alexander Hamilton, and the film crew went to work. Nevertheless, he

says, ‘I wouldn’t have missed it for all the tea in China.’

At the beginning of the film, the Rev James Cleveland – Aretha’s mentor and collaborator – can be seen telling everyone assembled: ‘We’re here for a religious service.’

The nights at the church weren’t just a recording of a concert Joe remembers those nights of music-making in the church as being different from the usual ways of making an album.

‘Often live recordings are simply a recording of a concert, where you have an audience that have bought their tickets and are just there to see a show.

The nights at the church weren’t like that. They were a hybrid. They were partly a recording session, so there were microphones and they could stop and start a song again to correct mistakes, which you wouldn’t do at a live concert.

‘At the same time, there was an audience, but it wasn’t an audience that had just bought a ticket to an

Turn to page 4

➥

4 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 11 May 2019

From page 3

Studiocanal

Aretha Franklin concert. It wasn’t advertised, but it was spread by word of mouth within James Cleveland’s congregation, and probably among Aretha’s friends.

‘So you had an audience that really wanted to be there. Many of them I think were part of Cleveland’s congregation or Alexander Hamilton’s, and so they knew those songs and they knew the type of ritual and the type of event it was.

‘There were a few ringers like me and Mick Jagger sitting in the back row somewhere, but it was mostly local people.’

Joe believes that making the album meant ‘a great deal to Aretha spiritually and musically’.

He says: ‘A couple of journalists came up to me at the end of a screening of the film and said: “Aretha looks so unhappy. She never talks, she’s very serious. What was wrong with her?” I said nothing was wrong

Aretha with choir master Alexander Hamilton

with her. She was so focused. She was working. This was an important project to her. And you can see it in the way that she stops one take – she doesn’t like the way that it started, so she’s the one who says stop.

‘Not only was it serious musically and a challenge to do a whole double album in two days, but also it was a spiritual project for her. You can see that in the final song, “Never Grow Old”, when she departs from the book and from the lyrics and says: “I’m so glad I’ve got religion and my soul is satisfied.”’

The film takes its title from John Newton’s hymn, written in 18th-century England, about the lifechanging experience of grace. Joe highlights another song in the set and how it not only reflected a moment of

In this film, you see one of the greatest singers of a musical tradition change in the life of its writer but also a development in gospel.

He says: ‘Thomas A. Dorsey was originally a blues singer called Georgia Tom. He was known for quite risqué and salacious lyrics. He was on tour once and, while he was away from home, his wife died in childbirth. He returned to Chicago for the funeral of his beloved wife, and in that moment he composed “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”.

‘After that, he turned his back on the blues and devoted himself to the church. But he brought a lot of that blues feeling into his writing of religious music. He revolutionised gospel music in America. His compositions became the foundation stone of the modern gospel world.

‘Then there was Clara Ward, who appears in the film, and people such as the Dixie Hummingbirds and Mahalia Jackson and all these groups that toured the States right into the Sixties.

‘In this film, you see one of the greatest singers of a musical tradition that America turned round and gave to the world in various forms – through jazz, blues and pop musicians who came out of the church. So much of that rich strand of culture stems back to this tradition.

‘And in a way, in Amazing Grace Aretha is giving a history lesson in all these fantastic gospel songs.’

11 May 2019 • WAR CRY • NEWS 5

Strawberry Field video wins silver at awards A SALVATION Army video Strawberry Field: The Story Behind the Song has received a silver award at this year’s Charity Film awards.

The film features a choir’s rerecording of the Beatles song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ at Abbey Road studios. The recording was designed to raise money for the church and charity’s project to build a new training hub for young people with learning difficulties at the Strawberry Field site in Liverpool, which was previously a Salvation Army children’s home.

The Salvation Army’s video production team picked up their award at a ceremony in London, where they were joined by Jordan Clark, a member of the choir featured in the film.

Video production unit manager Bridget O’Leary told the War Cry: ‘We are grateful RUNNERS who to all those participated in the who worked London Marathon have alongside us raised almost £60,000 for on this film – The Salvation Army’s but especially work in tackling modern to those who slavery. featured in it.’

Jordan (centre) picks up the award with the team behind the video Funds raised will support The Salvation Army’s specialist services for victims of human trafficking. Its team offers counselling, healthcare, housing THE leader of a Sri Lankan church that was of Zion Church, Batticaloa, said: ‘We are hurt. support, confidential bombed last month has offered forgiveness to We are angry, but we say to the suicide bomber, legal advice, financial those who perpetrated the attack. and also to the group that sent the suicide bomber, help and educational The church was one of a series of sites attacked that we love you and we forgive you, no matter opportunities. on Easter Sunday. what you have done to us, because we believe in One of the 36 people In a video message, Roshan Mahesen, the leader the Lord Jesus Christ.’ who ran in support of The Salvation Army, Australian Dale Murray, travelled across the THE Salvation Army has world especially to take provided food and emotional part. and spiritual care after floods The Salvation Army forced 9,000 people to evacuate is looking for runners to their homes in Canada. join its London Marathon Emergency disaster personnel team next year. For from the church and charity have more information visit handed out more than 5,000 meals salvationarmy.org.uk/ in Ontario. The team also helped virgin-money-londonlay sandbags to protect property.

FAITH leaders have signed an open letter urging marathon In New Brunswick, a Salvation the UK government to tackle climate change, Army church has been offering after the release of a Committee on Climate meals, food baskets, vouchers Change report last week. and access to showers.

The leader of The Salvation Army in the UK In Quebec, ministers have been and the Republic of Ireland, Commissioner making themselves available to Anthony Cotterill, was among the signatories of emergency services personnel the letter, which read: ‘The urgency and scale who needed emotional and spiritual care. of action required necessitates a legally binding As part of long-term recovery target of net zero emissions by 2045. Such a target efforts, The Salvation Army has demands a cross-governmental approach and one pledged to continue feeding which does not rely on offsets or outsourcing of volunteers and emergency carbon emissions to poorer nations. services after the flood waters ‘We now urge our country’s politicians to show recede. leadership of the magnitude demanded by the A state of emergency was declared across Ontario, Quebec challenge we face and encourage them to consider and New Brunswick after fastthe extraordinary legacy they could leave.’

Dale Murray melting snow and heavy rainfall triggered rising river levels.

n

‘We forgive’ says bombed church

Faith leaders call for zero emissions

n

MELANIE CLIVE

6 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 11 May 2019

‘Fostering has taught me

a lot about hope’ Ahead of Foster Care Fortnight, which starts on Monday (13 May), GAZ and JACQUI HUTCHINSON speak to Sarah Olowofoyeku about the joys and challenges of being foster-carers

M

ORE than 65,000 children live in foster families in the UK and last year Gaz and Jacqui Hutchinson became one of those families. Having grown up with parents who were foster-carers, Gaz has always had a heart for fostering.

Although it took a little longer for his wife to decide to become a foster-parent, in the end Jacqui felt that it was something God wanted her to do.

‘About two years ago I was walking through town and it was as if I hit this massive wall of emotion,’ she explains.

‘I felt it in my stomach that we should be foster-carers.’

‘Empathy, compassion and love were characteristics we both already had,’ says Gaz. ‘But they’ve definitely been expanded. God has helped us to be more generous and thankful for what we have. Our two young children are growing up with a sense of gratitude too.’

The whole family, who live in the

Jacqui and Gaz Hutchinson West Midlands, have found fostering rewarding, but it has come with challenges.

‘When we got the call about our first placement, I was nervous,’ Jacqui recalls. ‘My heart was beating fast. We were told we’d be getting a baby the next day. The social worker brought the baby round, dropped him off with a bag of a few clothes, said “Right, we’ll be in touch!” and left us to it.’

The pair had been through the basic training but say it is not possible to know the extent of the role until it begins.

Before the training, they had to go through a long process that Jacqui says was ‘quite intense’. It included submitting an application and being asked questions by a multi-agency panel.

‘When you think about what it is

we’re doing,’ says Gaz, ‘the council do have to know and trust the people they’re going to work with.’

Now on their second placement, the couple are beginning to get to grips

When we got the call about our first placement, I was nervous with the uncertainty of their new roles.

‘We didn’t get as much support as we thought we were going to get during our first placement,’ Jacqui admits. ‘The little boy ended up in hospital and it was quite a low point.

‘Without our people at church and our support network, I don’t know what we would have done.’

Gaz adds: ‘The incident happened

11 May 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 7

over a weekend, which isn’t the best time for social services to get involved.

We felt a bit alone, but it has helped us to grow as foster-carers. It has prepared us, so if things like that ever happen again, we’ll know what to do.’

Jacqui says: ‘Fostering has made me more thankful for what Gaz and I have with each other, and it has made me come out of my shell too. I’m out of my comfort zone, but that has made me more confident in my everyday life.’ az has gained a deeper G understanding of what his parents did while he was growing up, and still

continue to do. ‘My parents are in their sixties and have been fostering for about 30 years,’ he says.

‘Some of their placements, who are in their twenties now, still come round for coffee and call my mum “mum”. She always said that when they go, they take a little bit of you with them. I didn’t really

God opens up your heart to have the capacity to keep loving understand that, but now I do. You form such a deep bond, but God just opens up your heart to have the capacity to keep loving more foster-children.’

Jacqui says: ‘When they go, we will miss their happy little faces, their baby smiles and what they bring to the home, but they’re not ours to keep. They’re ours to help for as long as they need our help.’

Gaz has found parallels between caring for children and what he believes God has done for humanity. ‘When a child is being prepared for adoption, the people caring for them have to write the child’s profile. It’s everything about the

child – it’s really honest,’ he explains.

‘When parents are adopting they read through the profiles to help them decide which child they want to adopt. God knows our profile – he knows everything: the good, the bad and the ugly, and still chooses us.

‘Fostering has taught me a lot about hope,’ he adds. ‘Society writes some people off quickly. But I feel that God has shown us always to believe in a turnaround and always to hope.

‘God never writes anyone off and we’re all works in progress. In situations where people may say there’s no hope, we want to fly the flag for hope.’

Dance mix 8 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 11 May 2019

Co-founder of Soweto Gospel Choir SHIMMY JIYANE tells Philip Halcrow how the singers are contributing to a ballet that combines South African and western styles of music and dance

S

JANE HOBSON

OWETO Gospel Choir have sung at state occasions.

They have collaborated with artists such as Peter Gabriel and U2 on music for cinema and TV. Now they have taken the step of sharing the stage with members of dance companies in a Zulu ballet.

Conceived by former Royal Ballet dancer Pietra MelloPittman and composer Ella Spira, Inala is billed as a ‘fusion of South African and western cultures’ that takes its name from a Zulu word meaning ‘abundance of goodwill’. It was first staged at the Edinburgh International Festival and later at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, and is now in a debut run in the West End. In Inala’s early days the music was performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, but now Soweto Gospel Choir are taking the role.

Shimmy Jiyane

Soweto Gospel Choir Shimmy Jiyane, the co-founder of the choir, believes that music and dance are natural partners.

‘Music is food for the soul, and dance and choreography are an art form that allows you to express yourself,’ he says. ‘When you put the two together, they make one harmony and one sound.’

And, he says, the choir’s role in the production is not solely to provide the music.

‘Because we’re a choir, people are expecting us to be sitting in rows, singing, but the choir is also actually dancing. We are onstage with the dancers. We even join the dancers with some movements. The dancers

We bring our feeling from our roots and mix it with the ballet

‘Inala’ is billed as ‘a fusion of South African and western cultures’

are classically trained, but we are bringing our feeling from our roots in the different cultures that we have in our country. We bring it and we mix it with the ballet.’

Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in 2002 with the aim of celebrating South African gospel music, which, Shimmy explains, derives its distinctive sounds from the country’s variety of cultures.

‘Our country has 11 official languages, and we sing in all those languages. Just as we have different languages, so we have different cultures and different churches that worship in different ways, right down to the

11 May 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 9 JANE HOBSON

sound of their music.

When you listen to Soweto Gospel Choir, you hear a variety of sounds and genres.’

He says that one such genre is isicathamiya, a style of song that is usually performed a cappella and characterised by harmonies and a call-and-response structure. ‘It is one of the genres that Ladysmith Black Mambazo put on the world map,’ he says.

‘We sing accompanied by an African drum called a djembe. We sing in ways that were taught to us by our great-great-grandparents.

We start from our roots. We don’t want to sound like everybody else.

We want to sound like us.’

Over the years, Soweto Gospel Choir have given their treatment to a variety of songs.

Shimmy names two pop covers from their repertoire – ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’, written by Paul Simon, and Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’.

‘But we also sing “Amazing Grace”, “Oh Happy Day”, “This Little Light of Mine” and “When the Saints Go Marching In”. When we sing spiritual songs, people not only enjoy watching but also get up and sing with us.’

The music the choir sing in Inala does not come from their usual repertoire. It was written specially by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and British composer Ella Spira. It covers a range of experiences.

Shimmy says: ‘In Inala we sing about death, where we’ll be singing quietly in harmony; but then we also sing about happiness. We’ll

Music and dance are food for the soul

raise our voices, dance, stamp our feet, ululate and shout. We sing about what someone says when they speak to the one they love. And we sing about the celebration of our cultures and the exchanges of cultures.

‘The story we try to tell is that music and dance are food for the soul. They can bring joy, peace and happiness, and we want the people in the theatre to see something that soothes their soul.’

The music of Inala may be new, but Shimmy says that, like the songs that make up their standard repertoire, it delivers a positive message.

‘Music has different genres all over the world. We need to share music and we have to create music that will make people happy and understand more about their heritage. You listen to music not just for the fun of it; you listen to music because it has to inspire you.

‘By joining with the ballet dancers, the message we are trying to spread is that anything is possible in life. Let’s explore music. Let’s explore our heritage. Let’s explore life.’ l Inala is at the Peacock Theatre until 18 May

10 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 11 May 2019

‘Each person has their own time frame for grief’ To mark Dying Matters Awareness Week, which begins today (Saturday 11 May), Emily Bright speaks with TONY THORNTON about his experience of bereavement

E

VERY Sunday, Tony lights a church candle for his beloved wife, Ann-Marie, who passed away from cancer in December 2017. ‘She will always be in my heart and be part of my life no matter what I do,’ he says. ‘We were married nearly 30 years and we did absolutely everything together.’

Tony was introduced to Ann-Marie at college, where he had been on a course connected to his work with people who were experiencing homelessness. Within four weeks they were engaged. They subsequently married and their daughter Lisa was born a year and a half later.

An enthusiastic cyclist and runner, Ann-Marie was fighting fit until she developed what she thought was a chest infection in 2015. When she received the test results from her GP, she received an unexpected diagnosis: cancer.

Doctors discovered that she had two tiny tumours in her lung.

Medical staff successfully operated on her and she left hospital within three days. She commenced chemotherapy and before long, she was back to her usual active self.

However, all that changed when she suffered a stroke. It resulted in her speech becoming slurred and it weakened the left side of her body. It was then that Tony Thornton

11 May 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 11

doctors discovered she had an aggressive brain tumour. Cancer cells from her lung had travelled up through the bloodstream to her brain.

‘The hospital removed this brain tumour successfully,’ Tony explains. ‘But within six months, it came back quite aggressively.

Everything deteriorated quickly.’

Tony says that his Christian faith, shared by Ann-Marie, played a vital role in sustaining them throughout her cancer.

‘It was a comfort, knowing that God was there, even in moments of uncertainty.

I think he was walking beside us as we took one day at a time.

‘Her faith never faltered and she was just grateful to be alive. I could even see her belief growing in times of desperation.’

Tony fondly recalls Ann-Marie’s inimitable spirit throughout her chemotherapy and how she buoyed up her fellow patients.

‘She brought in ginger nut biscuits for the other patients because they helped with the sickness, and she chatted to people and gave out little booklets of Scripture.’

As her condition deteriorated, Ann-Marie was transferred to a nursing home. Within four weeks of the move, Tony lost his wife.

‘She passed away peacefully,’ he says.

‘She died at 9.20 pm, which was the time we used to pray before bed. Her breathing changed, and it just felt as if she was saying goodbye.’

He recalls that in the aftermath of AnnMarie’s death, people around him had no idea how to support him. Some bluntly told him that he should move on with his life after six months, while others overwhelmed him with food.

‘Right from the start people were making me pies and feeding me up. I said: “I don’t want that, thank you. Just be normal, let’s have a cup of tea and we can talk!”’

Tony’s own painful experience of bereavement allows him to offer sound

advice on supporting others.

‘I think you’ve got to talk about it.

Get alongside people who have been bereaved and try to be normal and have a conversation, not smother them.

‘When they want to talk to you, they will.

But always be there for them. Try to explain

‘I’m based on a ward that looks after dementia patients and the elderly,’ he explains. ‘Sometimes it’s simply a question of holding somebody’s hand for a couple of hours.

‘It has been quite humbling to be able to talk to them about their lives, and it has been helpful for me to get through my grief as well.’

He reflects that his experiences of bereavement help him view life differently.

‘Supporting someone who is terminally ill brings perspective. You appreciate life more fully. Life is too short to worry about that things do get better, but remember that the little things, so I just enjoy the time I each person works on their own time frame.’ have got.

Tony felt that aiding others would help ‘I’m so grateful for each day, and I thank him through his own bereavement, and he God that I’m fit and well. Without my faith decided to become a chaplaincy volunteer at in him, I wouldn’t have got through the past Darlington Hospital. few years.’

Life is too short to worry about the little things

Tony with his wife, Ann-Marie

12 INNER LIFE • WAR CRY • 11 May 2019

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Sue and her son, who are entering a new time in their lives.

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

Job

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

HE Book of Job, along with Proverbs T and Ecclesiastes, is part of the Old Testament’s wisdom literature. These

books are not set within historical contexts but are philosophical considerations of big topics. In Job, the big topic is suffering.

Job was a man with a reputation for being successful and God-fearing. One day Satan tells God that Job does not love him out of pure motive but for material gain. God allows Satan to test Job (1:1–12). A series of disasters befall Job, including the death of his children (1:13 to 2:10).

Three friends – Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar – become Job’s comforters (2:11– 13). Together, they search for the ‘why?’

After Job laments the day he was born (chapter 3), the narrative divides into a series of questions and answers, with each friend offering suggestions and Job responding (chapters 4 to 31).

In a culture where prosperity is regarded as a sign of divine favour, the friends are unanimous. Job’s loss of livelihood and family has one cause – he sinned.

Eliphaz insists that the innocent do not suffer (4:7) and that Job’s plight is God’s chastening (5:17).

Bildad argues that Job cannot be innocent, because creation itself testifies to God’s glory, against which mere mortals are worthless (chapter 25).

Zophar contends that God’s knowledge is beyond human comprehension and that God is treating Job lightly (chapter 11).

Job feels wretched and believes that God is unjustly punishing him (9:17). He argues that God is angry with him (16:9) and is refusing to answer his prayers (9:16).

Throughout, Job stridently maintains his innocence, but does not curse God. Elihu enters the discussion and corrects Job. No one, he says, is without sin. God does answer prayer (33:8–14) and sometimes allows suffering, not as a punishment for past sin but as a corrective against greater spiritual peril (33:19–30).

A series of disasters befall Job Finally, God speaks to Job. He reminds him of his creative genius, justice and sovereignty (chapters 38 to 41). Faced with the glory and wonder of the Almighty, Job repents (42:6).

Consequently, God restores Job’s fortune and gives him a new family and more wealth than he had before (chapter 42). The mystery of suffering, though, goes unanswered.

Key verse

r lives, and that ‘I know that my redeeme on the earth’ in the end he will stand ational Version) (Job 19:25 New Intern

"

Looking for help?

Just complete this coupon and send it to War Cry 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN Basic reading about Christianity Information about The Salvation Army Contact details of a Salvation Army minister

Name Address

11 May 2019 • WAR CRY • EXPRESSIONS 13

QUERIES, DOUBTS AND HONEST PRAYERS

It’s the thoughts that count

M

WAR CRY annual subscription Call 01933 445445 email subscriptions@sp-s.co.uk visit sps-shop.com or contact your local Salvation Army centre

ANY people would say that Jesus had a totally balanced personality. However, his words and behaviour sometimes appeared irrational, even unbalanced. It causes me to query why he acted as he did.

Some of Jesus’ teachings ran counter to the usual ones, and spiritual leaders of the time declared that he was possessed by a devil. Even some of his own disciples said that his teachings were too hard to accept, and they left him. But their misunderstanding was not proof that he was unhinged.

Jesus claimed that he could rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem in three days, knowing that his words would undoubtedly be misunderstood.

What was going through the minds of the Some things disciples when he spoke of their drinking his blood and eating his flesh? Certainly his that Jesus references to rising after three days seemed hard to believe. Yet that is what he did. said are He remained quiet when on trial before difficult to the Roman governor Pilate, even though Pilate doubted he was guilty as charged and take in sought his release. Did he have a death wish?

Amazingly he forgave his torturers and declared to a dying thief that he would see him in paradise. Irrational or truth? Or irrational truth?

Some things that Jesus said are difficult to take in, but when I apply his teachings I find them wonderfully sound and relevant. So I pray that my moments of doubt will give way to an inner peace that only Jesus can give.

by Peter Mylechreest

BOOK REVIEW A Year at Hotel Gondola Nicky Pellegrino Orion

CBAD a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk Twitter: @TheWarCryUK Facebook.com/TheWarCryUK

B www.salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

IN Nicky Pellegrino’s novel, Kat has spent her life travelling and writing about food.

At 50 years old she wonders if she has missed something. After falling in love with an Italian who runs Hotel Gondola, a guesthouse in Venice, she pitches an idea to her publisher. She will write about her first year in Venice – the sights, the recipes, the people she meets and her search for the real Venice, known only to locals.

Alternating between Kat’s own experiences and chapters of the book she is writing, readers travel through Venice, enjoying the food, the characters and the beauty of this unique city. It made me want to see this Venice and immerse myself in its life.

She describes the meals she experiences and even gives the recipes.

Jennifer Wakefield

14 PUZZLES • WAR CRY • 11 May 2019

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS

DOWN

1. Well liked (7) 5. Drain (5) 7. Arena (7) 8. Overturn (5) 10. Open (4) 11. Remnant (8) 13. Score (6) 14. Breathing disorder (6) 17. Recollect (8) 19. Lazy (4) 21. Amusing (5) 22. Chide (7) 23. Hazards (5) 24. Playhouse (7)

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

9.

Pacify (7) Den (4) Comment (6) Slow-moving (8) Squander (5) Smashed (9) Friendly chat (4-1-4)

12. Incitement (8) 15. Bolt-hole (7) 16. Rue (6) 18. Varied feelings (5) 20. Duelling sword (4)

SUDOKU

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

1

5

2

8

6

7

4

9

3

6

3

7

5

4

9

1

2

8

9

4

8

1

3

2

5

6

7

4

6

5

9

8

3

2

7

1

Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number

7

9

1

4

2

5

8

3

6

8

2

3

6

7

1

9

5

4

1. Feeling of the need to drink 2. Season 3. Used with a saucer 4. Choose 5. Film actor ___ Reed 6. Movable indicator on a computer screen

3

7

4

2

5

8

6

1

9

2

1

6

3

9

4

7

8

5

5

8

9

7

1

6

3

4

2

HONEYCOMB

WORDSEARCH

ANSWERS

ALL SHOOK UP BLUE MOON BLUE SUEDE SHOES CRYING IN THE CHAPEL HEARTBREAK HOTEL HOUND DOG JAILHOUSE ROCK LOVE ME TENDER MYSTERY TRAIN RETURN TO SENDER SHE’S NOT YOU SURRENDER SUSPICIOUS MINDS THE WONDER OF YOU WOODEN HEART

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally 1 5 2 8 6 7 4 9 3 on the grid to find these Elvis Presley songs

6

3

7

5

4

9

1

2

8

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

HONEYCOMB 1 Thirst. 2 Spring. 3 Teacup 4 Select. 5 Oliver. 6 Cursor.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1 Popular. 5 Sewer.

7 Stadium. 8 Upset. 10 Ajar.

11 Fragment. 13 Twenty. 14 Asthma.

17 Remember. 19 Idle. 21 Droll.

22 Reprove. 23 Risks. 24 Theatre.

DOWN: 2 Placate. 3 Lair. 4 Remark.

5 Sluggish. 6 Waste. 7 Shattered.

9 Tête-à-tête. 12 Stimulus. 15 Hideout.

16 Regret. 18 Moods. 20 Épée.

8

5

1

2

7

3

2

8

9

7

6

4

4

9

3

6

5

1

9 6 4 3 1 5 8 7 2

7 3 2 6 4 9 1 5 8

1 9 5 7 2 8 3 4 6

6 4 8 1 5 3 2 9 7

3 7 6 9 8 2 5 1 4

4 8 1 5 3 7 6 2 9

2 5 9 4 6 1 7 8 3

SUDOKU SOLUTION

8

5

1

2

9 6

7 3

1 9

6 4

3 7

4 8

2 5

11 May 2019 • WAR CRY • WHAT’S COOKING? 15

Asian-style beef noodles 2tsp soft brown sugar 2tbsp oyster sauce 1tbsp hoisin sauce 2tbsp soy sauce 125ml water 250g rice noodles 2tbsp sesame oil 5cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped 4 spring onions, finely chopped, plus extra for garnishing 450g lean beef mince 2tsp Chinese five-spice powder Salt and freshly milled black pepper

SERVES

4

2tbsp cornflour 2tbsp hot beef stock

Asian-glazed steaks 6tbsp light soy sauce 4tbsp plum jam ½ lime, zest and juice 2 spring onions, finely chopped 3tbsp fresh coriander, chopped 5cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 4 lean sirloin steaks

Place all the ingredients except the steaks in a large shallow bowl.

Mix well. Add the steaks, cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, or overnight if time allows.

Preheat a grill pan to medium heat.

Remove the beef from the marinade, and set aside the sauce.

Cook the steaks for 6 minutes on each side on the grill pan, basting occasionally with the reserved marinade.

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

SERVES

4

Mix the sugar, sauces and water in a bowl. Cover and set aside.

Cook the noodles according to the packet instructions, then drain and mix in half the sesame oil. Heat the remaining oil in a large wok. Add the ginger and spring onions and stirfry for 30 seconds. Add the beef and cook for 10 minutes until browned.

Add the Chinese fivespice powder and the mixture of sauces, then stir-fry for 7 minutes.

Season. Mix together the cornflour and beef stock and add to the wok, stirring gently for 3 minutes. Serve on a bed of noodles, garnished with shredded spring onions.

I want to travel light, so I forgive Emmanuel Jal