Issuu

SINCE

1879

17 August 2019 20p/25c

S YEAARRCRY 140 W THE OF

HALO TO HEAVENLY MESSENGERS Author on why angels are still popular

GOOD BOOK TURNED BAD? Common Bible misconceptions

O camel ye faithful TV PROGRAMME EXPLORES THE WONDER OF SACRED SPACES

What is The Salvation Army?

2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 17 August 2019

The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered 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 SURPRISING as it may seem to anyone born after 1990, there was a time when photographs had to be developed before they could be seen. Some people will still remember the excitement of high street shops offering a developing time of just one hour – although that was only after an entire film of 24 or 36 pictures had been used. Today, there are no restrictions on how many photos can be taken, and each one can be seen instantly on whatever digital device it is taken on. Nor is there any delay in sharing those pictures. Not all that long ago, showing friends holiday snaps meant popping round to their homes and passing printed photographs to them, always ensuring that no fingerprints were smudged across the glossy image. Now, no sooner has a photo been taken than it is shared via social media so that hundreds of friends can see the holiday destination, new hairstyle or scrumptious restaurant dessert. It is a far cry from the early days of photography that we look back on in this week’s War Cry to mark World Photo Day on 19 August. The date marks the 180th anniversary of Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre unveiling a new technique that made taking a photo of someone’s true likeness more affordable. The Frenchman could never have imagined how 21st-century technology would develop his pioneering work. Photos we see today are not necessarily even a true likeness of a person. Filters allow faces to be significantly changed – last month an app that could age the look of a person by 40 years was the focus of many people’s attention. Normally, though, filters are used to ensure that the subject looks as young and conventionally beautiful as possible. While some filters are undoubtedly just for fun, it is a shame when people feel the need to use other apps to ensure that their look fits with society’s expectations. It is our individuality that makes us unique and valuable – and that is a truth worth sharing.

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.

SINCE 1879

140 YEARS

OF THE WAR CRY Issue No 7436

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Ivan Radford 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@satcol.org 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

FEATURES 3

Building blocks of faith TV programme visits sacred sites

Over exposure? Why there is a World Photo Day

On the side of the angels Author on people’s fascination with heavenly messengers

Threat to my life spurred me on Archbishop on facing violent persecution

Bible truths Correcting misconceptions of the Bible

REGULARS 4

News and media

Browsing the Bible

Now, There’s a Thought! and Quick Quiz

14 Puzzles 15

What’s cooking? Front-page picture: BBC Studios

BBC Studios

17 August 2019 • WAR CRY • TELEVISION 3 The people of Djenné work together to replaster the mud mosque

Wonder-full places

Documentary investigates how sacred spaces influence people’s faith, writes Sarah Olowofoyeku

NEW series on BBC One is looking at landmarks which have inspired or been inspired by faith. Sacred Wonders takes viewers from America to Asia, exploring manmade buildings, natural landmarks and sacred ceremonies. Over three episodes, the documentary visits sites where people gather to perform great acts of devotion or test the limits of their humanity in order to show commitment to their faith. The first episode featured a man who works to maintain buildings in the ancient temple city of Angkor, Cambodia. He believes that one of the temples is home to his ancestral spirits and that they will be unhappy and leave if the temple falls into ruin.

In the second episode, broadcast last Wednesday (14 August), the 30,000 people of the mud-built city Djenné in Mali were preparing to work for hours under the blazing sun to replaster their mosque, the largest mud building on Earth. The building has stood since the 13th century, but because of the intensity of the heat that beats down on it every day, the mud cracks, so the mosque needs replastering annually to ensure that it does not get washed away in the rainy season. Scoping the four corners of the world, one of Sacred Wonders’ aims is to find out why these places or moments provoke so much passion in people. In New York, Patty Welch, pastor at the largest Anglican cathedral in the world, planned the proceedings for the Feast of St Francis. About 4,000 gathered for the service at the Cathedral of St John the Divine. Each year, the patron saint of animals is celebrated with a service of blessing for more than 300 creatures great (including a camel) and small (some ducklings). Patty co-ordinates the animal procession at the Feast of St Francis service

Patty says the animal service ‘is about connecting with these amazing creatures’ and being ‘grateful for them and what they give to us’. While some buildings are thought to be inherently holy, Patty believes that sacredness can stem from the acts of worship that take place within them. ‘We come together in these moments,’ she says, ‘and they’re sacred.’

A sense of awe can be cultivated through amazing buildings Many Christians find that a sense of wonder and awe and an urge to worship can be cultivated through amazing buildings or places. They believe that God is the one who ultimately created them all. But while some of the places they recognise as sacred are vast, it does not mean that they feel God is distant. The early Christian Paul once explained to a group of people in Athens, who were fascinated by philosophy, that God made the world so that it would point people to him. He told them that God is not limited to manmade temples and indeed ‘is not far from any one of us’ (Acts 17:27 New International Version). God longed to have a relationship with us so much that he even sent his son, Jesus, into the world so that we could recognise his great love. It’s a love that we can come to know, any time, any place.

4 NEWS AND MEDIA • WAR CRY • 17 August 2019

Prime minister urged to reopen refugee programme

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MORE than 100 faith leaders have signed an open letter urging Boris Johnson to expand refugee resettlement programmes. Published on refugee charity Safe Passage’s website, the letter reiterated calls from the Refugee Council and British Red Cross to expand resettlement to at least 10,000 refugees each year. Among the signatories are the leader of The Salvation Army in the UK

and the Republic of Ireland, Commissioner Anthony Cotterill, former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and representatives of the Sikh, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist faiths. Refugee response co-ordinator for The Salvation Army Major Nick Coke said: ‘Our experience tells us that our communities are ready and waiting to welcome more refugees. ‘As a Christian church and charity, built on our conviction to follow Jesus, we know that in doing so not only will the most vulnerable of people be given the opportunity to rebuild their lives in peace and security, but in our willingness to love our neighbours our very souls will be renewed.’ In June, Sajid Javid, who was home secretary at the time, announced that the UK government planned to welcome 5,000 refugees from 2020 to 2021. A PEACE garden dedicated to the memory of n nurses who manned ‘floating hospitals’ during the First World War has been recognised in the

Ancient monastery site discovered in Cambridgeshire AN Anglo-Saxon monastery site has been discovered within the precinct of Ely Cathedral, reports The Times. It had previously been thought that the 7th-century monastery of St Aethelthryth had been on the southern outskirts of the Cambridgeshire town. But the discovery by archaeologists of a large boundary ditch indicates that the monastery was within the cathedral precinct. The claim is supported by finds of Anglo-Saxon and imported Frankish pottery associated with royal sites. The monastery was founded in AD673 by Aethelthryth, the daughter of King Anna of East Anglia, who became a nun later in life. She was revered for her chastity, piety and support for the oppressed.

Craziness tees off in cathedral A CRAZY golf course has been opened inside Rochester Cathedral in Kent in a drive to attract parishioners through its doors. Visitors can play nine holes within the nave of the cathedral over the summer months. Running until 1 September, the initiative is designed to build bridges between the church and wider community. Speaking to Premier Radio, Rochester Cathedral’s the Rev Canon Rachel Phillips said that she hoped visitors would have fun, but also take the opportunity to pray, light a candle or talk to someone at the church. She added: ‘This is about welcoming everyone into the cathedral, letting people know we’re here. We’re open.’

House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament. MPs and MSPs have signed motions congratulating Polwarth Parish Church in Edinburgh for honouring those who evacuated the wounded from the battlefield on barges along canals in Belgium and France. The nurses worked in dangerous conditions to treat people with serious injuries, travelling in flotillas of six barges piloted by engineers from Britain’s Inland Waterways. They transported the wounded to hospital bases in French towns including Boulogne and Rouen and were exposed to aerial bombardments because they could only travel by daylight. The nurses also faced the risk of inhaling toxic gas fumes which clung to the clothes and hair of their patients. The garden, situated by the Union Canal, is complemented by a display of photographs in the church’s Drennan Hall.

THE chief organist of n Notre Dame in Paris has revealed his reliance on prayer in the wake of the fire that badly damaged the landmark. In an interview with The Times ahead of his performance at the Proms, Olivier Latry said: ‘I had a text from a friend: “Olivier, turn on the TV.” It was devastating. Notre Dame, my spiritual home for 34 years, was on fire. I stayed up all night, watching and praying.’ He added that Christianity has shaped his work. ‘In our tradition, you are trained to make the connection between music and the word of God.’ The cathedral was damaged by fire on 15 April and the restoration work is expected to take three to five years.

17 August 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 5

IN THE PICTURE

CHILDREN who normally receive free school meals are benefiting from a project at a Salvation Army church, which is providing food and activities for low-income families during the school holidays. Connect4Summer will run at Portsmouth Citadel on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10 am and 3 pm until 23 August. The programme is free to attend and offers a two-course meal and activities including art classes and circus skills sessions. Families can attend up to two sessions a week, and up to 80 families are expected to benefit from the initiative throughout the summer. ‘From speaking to people in our community, we were aware that July and August can be a difficult time, especially for low-income families,’ said Major Andrea Still of The Salvation Army in Portsmouth. ‘We realised that there was a need for a service that made sure children were being fed nutritious meals and kept entertained and engaged during the summer holidays.’ The Salvation Army received a £12,000 funding grant from the Connect4Summer programme, which runs across 23 venues in Hampshire.

World Photo Day is a chance to review our identities, writes Emily Bright

NSTAGRAM, Snapchat and WhatsApp have transformed the way we Iadding communicate through images. And whether we’re sharing holiday snaps, filters to our food images or chuckling at cute pets, all camera

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Notre Dame roof blazes during the fire last April

clickers can celebrate World Photo Day on Monday (19 August). Generations have framed self-expression and identity through photography since the art was invented in the 19th century. One of its pioneers was LouisJacques-Mandé Daguerre. On 19 August 1839, he announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris that he had invented the daguerreotype. It was a sheet of copper, coated with silver, and sensitised Generations have to light, to insert in a camera. His creation would allow people to capture their true framed identity likeness in print in a one-of-a-kind image at through photography an affordable price. Its popularity soared, and by 1850, there were more than 70 daguerreotype studios in New York City alone. People carried round framed depictions of their loved ones as rare and precious items, finding solace in seeing their identities in print. Throughout the generations, people have sought to carve out their identities based on what makes them unique, whether that’s being valued in a relationship, becoming successful in their career, or enjoying a luxurious lifestyle. Back in Bible times David, who was Israel’s King, seemed to have it all, with boundless wealth and power over his people. But he realised that his identity was rooted in something far more valuable: his relationship with the God who had created him and who loved him as a precious and unique individual. In a prayer to God, David acknowledged: ‘You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:13 and 14 New International Version). We too can frame our lives around God. If we focus on him, we can snap up the chance to be beloved children of God, and discover his promises of love, peace and joy that will never fade.

6 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 17 August 2019

Why do angels Author PETER STANFORD tells Philip Halcrow why people still believe in angels

I PHILIP HALCROW

F angels in a school nativity play are barefoot while Mary, Joseph and the three kings are in some kind of footwear, the costume choice made by the 21st-century staff who are staging the play may go back – without them realising it – 1,000 years. ‘In the 11th century,’ says Peter Stanford, ‘Christianity taught that in Heaven you could distinguish between saints and angels because angels didn’t wear shoes. Saints had to have shoes to walk around in, whereas angels had wings and so could fly.’ The author and journalist has been considering the distinguishing features of angels a lot. Angels, his latest book, announces itself as ‘a visible and invisible history’ of the mysterious figures. ‘Angels are a part of our cultural literacy,’ he tells me. ‘They’re in our Christmas cards. If children lie in the snow and wave their arms, they make a snow angel. And then there’s Angel Delight.’ Angels were certainly part of Peter’s childhood. He remembers growing up as a Catholic in Liverpool and every evening using a prayer which asked an ‘angel of God, my guardian dear’ to be by his side. But as well as reflecting on his childhood thoughts on angels, Peter has been thinking about what adults believe about them today. In his work as a journalist for The Telegraph he interviewed Lorna Byrne, author of a memoir Angels in My Hair, in which she wrote about being able to see people’s guardian angels. When he subsequently met people who were attending one of her events, he noted that they spoke about having had a sense of something similar to Lorna’s experiences. Peter has also come across a survey reporting that 21 per cent of Britons who never participate as worshippers Peter Stanford

Religion and angels used to go together, but angels seem to have gone a bit freelance

in religious services believe in angels, as do – perhaps more surprising still – 7 per cent of atheists. He says: ‘In Hebrew and Greek, the words used in the Bible for “angel” mean “messenger”, so I wondered whether there could be a messenger but no message.’ Peter says that angels, in one form or another, have played a role in belief systems for millennia. ‘The earliest mention is of the cherubs placed at the gates of the Garden of Eden. Angels were also present at the start of Christianity, when Gabriel announces to Mary that she is to give birth to Jesus, and in Islam, when Jibr’il appears to Muhammad. ‘Religion and angels used to go together, but angels seem to have gone a bit freelance in recent times.’ Peter can see why angels appeal even to people in western societies who do not commit themselves to a structured belief system. ‘They are pretty non-demanding. If you want a guardian angel, you don’t have to sign up to a set of rules. There are no Ten Commandments you have to agree to. And there’s no sense that when you go astray, angels will ensure there’s some consequence.’ He notes that in Judaism and Christianity, angels are not always cosy figures. In the Bible, they are portrayed as being sent by God to convey bad news as well as good.

delight? ‘Islam has this rather lovely idea that everyone has two angels: a guardian angel and a recording angel, who watches you and keeps a note of what goes on. The recording angel is not acting in a nasty way – its presence is more about a person knowing themselves. I do believe that human beings are flawed and we sometimes need someone to ask us whether we acted in the best way that we could.’ Angels seem to fly in the face of the science and rationality that society rightly prizes but which perhaps have their limits. ‘We’re told that we’re less religious as a society because fewer people go to church

17 August 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 7

We still have the same needs and hopes that we’ve always had

services or belong to faith groups,’ Peter says, ‘but I don’t think that means humans have particularly changed. We still have the same kinds of needs and hopes that we’ve always had – as well as the sense that there’s more to the world than meets the eye. We are still searching for the transcendent, just more randomly. ‘I spend quite a lot of time in Norfolk, where my local Anglican church has an “angel roof”. ‘If you go to a Sunday service, there may be only a handful of people there. But throughout the week there is a steady procession of people who go in and look up at these 30 carved

angels on the hammer beams. There’s something special about sitting underneath those angels, who don’t quite smile but seem to look down on you benignly and allow you to think different thoughts. ‘I think that ultimately it is rather dissatisfying to have angels without God, but people like angels – they seem to highlight our fundamental yearning for something transcendent.’ l Angels is published by Hodder & Stoughton

8 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 17 August 2019

ANDREW BOYD

‘Unforgiveness Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi

Nigerian archbishop BENJAMIN KWASHI tells Sarah Olowofoyeku why facing violent persecution has had a positive effect on him

T is the day that the world believes it should never forget. On 11 September 2001, the world looked on as two buildings fell in New York. But on the other side of the world, another tragedy was already occurring. Four days earlier in Jos, northern Nigeria, violence had erupted. Though the city was home to a Christian majority within a region that was mostly Muslim, life had been peaceful up to a point. But, as a result of some contentious political appointments, the divisions that had begun to bear it. Her blood stains were all over the place, open up between the two groups descended the doors were broken. I couldn’t sleep that into violence on 7 September. night. I just stayed awake crying and asking The fighting continued in Jos for ten days. questions. The Archbishop of Jos, the Most Rev Benjamin ‘I heard a voice saying to me: “Did you get Kwashi, was out of town for work, as was his a phone call from your friends abroad?” I then wife, but their children were at home with his recalled that I received phone calls from all assistant. They were unharmed, but some of the over the world: England, South Africa, east family’s Christian neighbours were killed. Africa, Australia and America. The voice said The following year, Benjamin had travelled to me: “When those in east Africa are praying again, but this time his family, who had stayed for you, the ones in Australia are asleep. When in Jos, did get caught up in the fighting. He the ones in Australia wake up, the ones in rushed home and returned to horrific scenes. England are asleep – 24/7, people are praying ‘I came back and met my wife Gloria, who for you. Those of Heaven are being disturbed had been partially blinded,’ he says. ‘I couldn’t because of you.’

Benjamin tells the story of his life in a book published earlier this year. Neither Bomb nor Bullet includes this incident and the many other instances of violence and persecution that he and his family were subjected to. In spite of this, he is still able to find forgiveness for his persecutors and healing for himself. ‘The intention of the book is to assure people that to persevere in all human difficulties produces good,’ he explains. ‘I have found the biggest healing through allowing the love of God to flood all over my heart. When people hurt me, it pains me, but I say to the Lord: “Please give me the grace to forgive, so that I can press on.” ‘I’ve found that unforgiveness is excess luggage that is useless in anybody’s heart.’ He insists that his heart is filled instead with love for God and for others, including those he

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I’ve wondered whether we should leave Jos refers to as his 50 children – orphans who lost their own parents as a result of the fighting in Jos. Benjamin and his wife have taken them in and called them their own. ‘There are about 52 of them in the house right now,’ he says. ‘If you visited and said you wanted to see orphans, they would tell you

17 August 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 9

is excess luggage’

Benjamin speaks to orphans at a camp in Jos

there are none here. They’re no longer orphans.’ Gloria is taking care of some 400 more children by providing for their schooling, feeding, clothing and health and welfare. ‘She is beginning to ask for support and funding to build hostels for her dream, which is to house and care for about 1,000 children. ‘There are times when I’ve wondered whether we should leave Jos. But when I do, I look at these children and then I break down in tears,’ he admits. ‘I ask myself: “What will happen to these kids?” ‘I always feel quite rebuked at my selfishness. No, I can’t go. I can’t leave these children. If it is God’s will and he gives me a long life, I would want to serve them till I die, in Jos. ‘And,’ he laughs, ‘even if I wanted to go and take them with me, think about the air or bus

The threat to my life spurred me into a sense of urgency fare for 50 or more kids.’ Benjamin believes that doing this work and caring for others, in spite of the persecution and hardship, is part of what it means to follow God’s guidance. ‘The threats to my life have spurred me into a sense of urgency in doing the work that God wants me to do on the Earth,’ he says. ‘It’s not just preaching the Bible, it’s saving lives through providing mosquito nets in the villages, teaching people hygiene and establishing schools. People should be able to live a meaningful life that’s honouring to

humanity, and that’s an urgent thing. ‘The persecutions I face are because I am doing good,’ reflects Benjamin. ‘So instead of giving up my faith, I increase the intensity of my love for people, for caring for and helping them.’

l Neither Bomb nor Bullet by Andrew Boyd is published by Monarch

10 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 17 August 2019

Page turner NICK PAGE, author of a new book about the Bible, tells Andrew Stone why he thinks some people have the wrong idea about the Scriptures

UTHOR Nick Page has a surprising opinion on what is arguably the best known book in the world. ‘I think we’ve been told wrong things about the Bible,’ he says. ‘We’ve been misinformed. ‘For example, sometimes we’re given the impression that God wrote every word in it, but the Bible is the writing of many people across thousands of years. ‘Some other Christians treat the Bible like it is God, and end up worshipping it. But the Bible isn’t God – it was written and created by men.’ Another ‘problem’ that Nick has identified is that people do not always realise that the Bible is a collection of writings. ‘Because it is bound together, some people think the Bible is one book,’ he explains. ‘The fact is, it wasn’t bound together until about AD350. Before then, some of it would have been on scrolls and some on codices [early forms of books]. ‘In a sense, we need to unbind it. Then we would have more awareness that these are different books written by different authors. ‘As well as being bound together, it is also translated by committees, which flattens all the voices so that it sounds like it has one author. ‘For example, the final book of the Bible, Revelation, was written in extremely bad Greek,

It doesn’t matter to me whether everything in Genesis actually happened by someone for whom Greek was their second language. It’s a very important piece of writing, but it would have been full of grammatical errors. You never find the grammatical errors in the translations, though – it’s always tidied up.’ In an attempt to rectify such misconceptions, Nick has written The Badly Behaved Bible.

Nick Page

‘The aim of the book is to come to the Bible and see what it actually is as a text,’ he explains. ‘We have to remember that it’s an ancient text, and its writers didn’t have the same categories of writing that we do. We go to it expecting the history parts to be our type of history. But the writers had no concept of writing history as we have.’ Nick makes his point by highlighting the first book of the Bible, Genesis, which has an account of God making the world in six days – something that is at odds with the scientific evidence of today. ‘It doesn’t matter to me whether or not everything in Genesis actually happened,’ he disarmingly admits. ‘Genesis is not a scientific treatise, so expecting it to be is wrong. ‘We should note that the first two chapters of Genesis contain two different accounts of Creation. The people who put Genesis together didn’t see any problem with including those two accounts. So I don’t see that they were ever trying to deliver an absolute statement on how the Earth was created. ‘I see in Genesis primal stories about what it is to be human. Genesis tells us that human beings are made in the image of God.

17 August 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 11

Now, that’s a massive statement, because it means that every human being is precious and unique. ‘Genesis also talks about a God who has personal relationships – that’s a constant of the Bible in whatever part we’re reading, and

Previously, my impression of Jesus was of him wandering around Galilee in his nightie I believe the Bible is a place where we can encounter God and begin a relationship with him.’ That was certainly Nick’s own experience. ‘The Bible has had a massive impact on my life,’ he says, as he recalls his own conversion. Having grown up in a Christian home, Nick drifted away from faith as a teenager and found a ‘different direction’. However, when he started university and felt homesick, he found himself turning to the Bible. ‘For some reason I read John’s Gospel. Previously, my impression of Jesus was of him being slightly hippy, wandering around Galilee in his nightie, being meek and mild and with a lamb around his shoulders. ‘But when I read John’s Gospel, a very different image leapt out at me. It was someone who was challenging, rebellious and passionate. Jesus was someone who

was deeply concerned for the poor and the excluded and was deeply against religions that excluded people. ‘After reading that, I thought that this was someone I could follow and give my life to. Since then, when I have read the Bible, verses have continued to leap out at me.’ It is because of the positive impact the Bible has had on his life that Nick hopes his book will encourage other people to read it and have their lives changed as a result. ‘I talk about the Bible as being a place of encounter, a way in which God communicates with us,’ he enthuses. ‘I want people to realise that, if they read the Bible, they face the possibility that God may say something to them through its words and that their lives may be changed. I think that’s an exciting way of viewing the Bible and that’s what is so special about it.’ l The Badly Behaved Bible is published by Hodder & Stoughton

12 INNER LIFE • WAR CRY • 17 August 2019

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Norah, who is having eye problems; and for Garry, who is on remand. 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

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

Obadiah NLIKE the books of prophecy that U precede it, Obadiah is not addressed to Israel or Judah but to other descendants

of the patriarch Abraham – the people of Edom. A land of salt marshes and sandstone mountains, Edom is a territory southeast of the Dead Sea. Today, it is part of Jordan, with Petra its most prominent city. Many Edomites were descendants of Esau, the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau’s younger twin brother, Jacob, persuaded him to give up his birthright (see Genesis 25:29– 34). As a result, Jacob inherited Esau’s birthright and he and his sons went on to inhabit the land flowing with milk and honey, while Esau headed for the barren hills of Edom. The perception that Jacob – renamed by God as Israel (Genesis 32:28) – had cheated Esau and his family seeped deep into the Edomite psyche. Israel was the old enemy. Over the years, Edom refused to allow the Israelites to pass through on their way to the Promised Land, they fought against King

Key verse Key verse: ‘As you have done, it will be done to you’ (Obadiah 15 New International Version)

Jehoshaphat, and they rebelled against King Jehoram. Now, God presents a charge sheet of Edom’s recent offences: allowing violence against Israel (verse 10); distancing itself from Israel while Jerusalem was plundered (11);

The perception that Jacob had cheated Esau seeped deep into the Edomite psyche rejoicing over the fall of the city (12); plundering it (13); killing those escaping bloodshed and handing over survivors to the enemy (14). In the hour of Israel’s greatest need, cousin Edom allowed herself to be governed by centuries-old prejudice and resentment, rather than by basic compassion. Instead of offering refuge within its mountain borders, Edom turned its back and let Israel down. God’s judgment is therefore clear: ‘Your deeds will return upon your own head’ (15). The family of Esau will be destroyed (18), foreigners will occupy Edom (19) and the country will be ruled by Israel (21). Jerusalem fell in 587BC. Edom fell to Assyria less than 30 years later.

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17 August 2019 • WAR CRY • EXPRESSIONS 13

NOW, THERE’S A THOUGHT!

by Renée Davis

QUICK QUIZ 1. What is the capital of Bhutan? 2. Who played M in the James Bond films Skyfall and Quantum of Solace? 3. What is measured in quires? 4. What does the abbreviation Nasa stand for? 5. The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar is located on the south coast of which country? 6. In what year was the Act of the Union passed between England and Scotland? ANSWERS 1. Thimphu. 2. Judi Dench. 3. Paper. 4. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 5. Spain. 6. 1707.

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

B www.salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

Age ain’t nothing but a number I

RECENTLY turned 30 – the age I’d spent most of my twenties looking towards as a checkpoint. I imagined that by this age I’d be a homeowner, in a brilliant financial position and married with at least one child. During my twenties, not only did I have my own pressure to reach personal goals, but I also felt it from certain peers and family members. They’d constantly ask: ‘Are you dating anyone yet?’ and ‘When will you settle down?’ I’m a reflective person, and in the months leading up to my birthday I pondered on my life journey. While in some ways, I felt super grateful that I’d achieved things I never even imagined for myself at this age, I also felt as though I had failed at many points. It made me wonder why there is so much societal, cultural and personal pressure to stick to a certain timeline. Instead of being nosy about a person’s relationship status, why don’t Why don’t we ask: we ask them questions such as: Are you Are you whole? Are you living out Are you living out happy? your purpose? Do you know what you your purpose? were put on this earth to do? Part of a birthday message from a friend read: ‘Welcome to your Jesus years.’ After processing it, I didn’t feel so anxious about where I was in life and began to think that I should take a leaf out of his book. Jesus spent 30 years of his life in obscurity before his three-year ministry began. He spent time growing and preparing for the mission that God had put him on this earth for. He didn’t let any pressure hinder him from his goal of saving humanity. I wonder how much more effective we would all be if we focused less on our age, and more on the good things we can do with our time. How much happier would we be if we saw seeming delays as opportunities to grow? As the popular saying goes: ‘It is not the years in your life that count, it is the life in your years.’

14 PUZZLES • WAR CRY • 17 August 2019

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Shock (5) 4. Throw (5) 8. Paddle (3) 9. Pulsate (5) 10. Fruit of the vine (5) 11. Wickedness (3) 12. Swift (5) 13. Exact (7) 16. Secateurs (6) 19. Vomited (6) 23. Afflicted (7) 26. Keen (5) 28. Young child (3) 29. Twelve dozen (5) 30. Diplomatic agent (5)

31. Religious sister (3) 32. Submit (5) 33. Dullard (5) DOWN 2. Pulped fruit (5) 3. Shellfish (7) 4. Caper (6) 5. Jungle cat (5) 6. Lift with effort (5) 7. Rested (5) 9. Petty quarrels (5) 14. Cereal (3)

15. Hint (3) 17. Garment border (3) 18. Perform (3) 20. Feign (7) 21. Filthy (5) 22. Plan (6) 23. Sodden (5) 24. Satire (5) 25. Savour (5) 27. Presented (5)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB

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

1. Large lizard 2. Muppet drummer 3. Rubbish 4. Record player 5. Speak of disrespectfully 6. Planet

WORDSEARCH

ANSWERS

ADELE ALICIA KEYS AMY WINEHOUSE CARRIE UNDERWOOD CHRIS TOMLIN CHRISTINA AGUILERA ESPERANZA SPALDING EVANESCENCE ISRAEL HOUGHTON JOHN LEGEND LAURYN HILL MARIAH CAREY MATT REDMAN MEGHAN TRAINOR NORAH JONES SAM SMITH SHERYL CROW TONI BRAXTON

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these 8 Grammy 9 7 5award 6 winners 3 4 1 2

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

HONEYCOMB 1 Iguana. 2 Animal. 3 Litter. 4 Stereo. 5 Insult. 6 Saturn. QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1 Appal. 4 Pitch. 8 Oar. 9 Throb. 10 Grape. 11 Sin. 12 Fleet. 13 Correct. 16 Shears. 19 Spewed. 23 Smitten. 26 Eager. 28 Tot. 29 Gross. 30 Envoy. 31 Nun. 32 Yield. 33 Dunce. DOWN: 2 Purée. 3 Lobster. 4 Prance. 5 Tiger. 6 Heave. 7 Slept. 9 Tiffs. 14 Rye. 15 Cue. 17 Hem. 18 Act. 20 Pretend. 21 Dirty. 22 Intend. 23 Soggy. 24 Irony. 25 Taste. 27 Given. 7

8 2 4 6 9 5 1 3 7

3 8 6 2 1 7 9 4 5

2 5 7 3 4 9 8 1 6

1 4 9 5 6 8 2 7 3

5 3 2 9 7 1 6 8 4

6 9 8 4 3 2 7 5 1

4 7 1 8 5 6 3 9 2

SUDOKU SOLUTION 8 2

3 8

2 5

1 4

5 3

6 9

4 7

17 August 2019 • WAR CRY • WHAT’S COOKING? 15

Warm lentils with mozzarella and homemade pesto

SERVES

For the pesto 100g spinach, rinsed and chopped 20g cashew nuts 2tbsp lemon juice 30g fresh basil leaves, chopped For the lentils 160g puy lentils, rinsed 2tsp olive oil 1 large carrot, peeled and finely diced 2 sticks celery, finely diced 1 small onion, finely diced 1 small fennel, finely sliced 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 sprigs fresh thyme, stalks removed and discarded Pinch salt and ground black pepper 80g vegetarian mozzarella, torn

Rhubarb brûlée ½ tsp orange zest 2 oranges, peeled

Few drops vanilla extract

300g rhubarb, sliced

20g caster sugar

100g strawberries, halved

8tsp white sugar

Slice the oranges horizontally and cut the slices into segments. Set aside. In a pan, simmer the rhubarb, strawberries, orange zest, vanilla extract and caster sugar over a low heat for 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Divide the rhubarb between 4 small heatproof dishes. Arrange the orange segments to cover the rhubarb completely. Sprinkle 2tsp white sugar on top of each heatproof dish and immediately place the dishes under a hot grill until the sugar starts to caramelise. Allow to cool before serving. Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Vegetarian Society website vegsoc.org

Place all the pesto ingredients in a blender and blend for 1 minute. If the sauce is too thick, add a little water and blend again. Set aside. Bring a pan of water to the boil and gradually add the lentils, ensuring they are covered. Reduce the heat and cook for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over a medium heat in a large non-stick deep frying pan. Add the carrot, celery, onion, fennel, garlic and thyme leaves and cook for 10 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. When the lentils have finished cooking, drain and add to the pan with the vegetables. Add a splash of water, stir for a few minutes, then remove from the heat. Divide the lentils between two plates, topping with the mozzarella and a drizzle of pesto. Serve with the extra pesto on the side.

SERVES

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