Faith & Friends September 2018

Graduation Day

STUDENTS HELP P.20

Olympian Lolo Jones

GOES FOR GOLD P.12

Army Snapshots

CARING FOR P.E.I. P.8

Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G

faithandfriends.ca

SEPTEMBER 2018

Back From the Brink AFTER DECADES OF ALCOHOLISM, CONRAD GINTER FOUND SALVATION AT WINNIPEG’S BOOTH CENTRE. P.16

“ Turn your ear to my words of insight.”

Recently, a thief in Lyon, France, broke into more than 80 homes. He was caught in the act at one burglary, but after checking his ear print with those left at other crime scenes, he was charged with many more break-ins.

This particular burglar had the habit of pressing his ear to the door in order to hear if anyone was at home. Unfortunately for him, police can identify ear prints.

They are as unique as fingerprints!

Our very own ear prints! Proof once again of how marvellous and creative God is.

This same God of ours who made each of us unique sees all, not missing a move we make—for the good and the not-so-good.

We would be wise to use those unique ears of ours to listen to the wisdom and advice of others. More importantly, we should use those God-given ears to hear all that God has to say to us in order to continue moving forward on the splendid and spectacular journey of life He has prepared for each and every one of us.

“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”—Mark 4:23 (The Message) To learn how to listen to God’s words, email us at faithandfriends@ can.salvationarmy.org or visit your local Salvation Army church.

Beverly A. Ivany, Words of Life May-August 2018, London, England

—Proverbs 5:1

September 2018

VOLUME 21 NUMBER 9

8

SACRED SPACE 5 Knock, Knock?

There’s more to prayer than just asking.

THE BIG PICTURE 8 Caring for Charlottetown

The Salvation Army’s Friendship Room offers food for the soul and body.

IN CONVERSATION 12 Worth the Wait

At 36, Lolo Jones has not given up on her quest for Olympic gold.

FEATURES

COVER STORY

16

20 22

30

Back From the Brink

After decades of alcoholism, Conrad Ginter found salvation at Winnipeg’s Booth Centre.

Graduating With Honours

Students step up to help The Salvation Army.

Flushed With Promise

Like any cool cat, you need to know when to run, and when to dive in.

LITE STUFF 26 Eating Healthy With Erin

Sudoku, Quick Quiz, Word Search.

Cover photo: Jordan Thompson

FAITH BUILDERS 29 You Gotta Have Faith

An atheist’s life is turned upside down when he gets a friend request from God. NIFTY THRIFTY 30 4 Fall Fashion Essentials

New looks for a new season. faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

FROM THE EDITOR

Never Too Far Gone

W

hile writer Jordan Thompson had never heard Conrad Ginter’s testimony, the communications and marketing co-ordinator for The Salvation Army’s Prairie Division was asked to profile him in conjunction with his participation at a fundraising breakfast.

Accordingly, Jordan interviewed Conrad at his home one evening.

As they chatted, Jordan was struck by how open and honest Conrad was about his struggles, both past and present. “He practises what he preaches when he says to never be ashamed,” Jordan relates, “and seems to find strength in sharing his story with others.”

That’s not to say that Conrad isn’t affected by what he’s been through. “In the article, I didn’t mention the tears in his eyes when he spoke about his suicide attempt,” notes Jordan. “He was very emotional when he mentioned how his family had stuck by him even when he was at his lowest.”

Conrad has reconciled with his family and is committed to staying sober. “He realizes he’s been given a second chance.

“My story about Conrad is one of my favourite pieces I’ve ever written,” says Jordan. “That’s largely because of the message: you’re never too far gone to be saved. And if you think nobody cares about you or loves you, you’re not looking hard enough.”

Conrad’s story is on page 16.

Elsewhere in the issue, we see how The Salvation Army in Charlottetown is making a difference in the lives of vulnerable people on Prince Edward Island, and funnyman Phil Callaway shares a unique method for bathing cats.

Ken Ramstead

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Mission Statement To show Christ at work in the lives of real people, and to provide spiritual resources for those who are new to the Christian faith.

Faith & Friends is published monthly by: The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4 International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England William and Catherine Booth FOUNDERS

Brian Peddle, GENERAL Commissioner Susan McMillan TERRITORIAL COMMANDER

Lt-Colonel John Murray SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Geoff Moulton, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Ramstead, EDITOR

Brandon Laird DESIGN AND MEDIA SPECIALIST

Timothy Cheng SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Pamela Richardson, COPY EDITOR, PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Ada Leung CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR

Kristin Ostensen STAFF WRITER, PROOFREADER

Giselle Randall STAFF WRITER Scripture Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version Contact Us P. (416) 467-3188, F. (416) 422-6120 Websites faithandfriends.ca, salvationist.ca, salvationarmy.ca Email faithandfriends@can.salvationarmy.org Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6119 circulation@can.salvationarmy.org All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794 ISSN 1702-0131

Faith&Friends

SACRED SPACE

Knock, Knock?

Where prayer is concerned, there’s more to asking than just asking.

Photos: © Shaun Menary/lightstock.com

by Richard Bauman

H

ave you ever prayed, taking Jesus at His word, “Ask and you shall receive,” and had your prayer go unanswered?

Most of us have probably had that experience. No doubt, some prayers go unanswered because we prayed for something that would be harmful to us or isn’t in harmony with God’s will.

In Luke 11:1-13, Jesus teaches His disciples, and us, how to pray, using what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer. He tells them, and us: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).

Many of us latch onto “ask and it will be given to you.” We pray diligently, asking for something, and

faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

SACRED SPACE

We ask precisely not so God understands us, but so we have a clear picture of what we want or need. forget Jesus’ additional directions: “seek and you will find” and “knock and the door will be opened to you.”

One third of His instruction focuses on asking God, and two thirds of His direction require us to do our part in the prayers being answered.

Ask and it will be given to you seems straightforward. But do you know what you really want from God? When we take our requests to God, we need to be specific. If you pray for a new job, good health for your aging parents or success in school, what precisely do you mean? What kind of job appeals to you? What do you mean by good health? What does success in school look like to you? We ask precisely not so God understands us, but so we have a clear picture of what we want or need.

Seek and you will find encourages us to take action. We can’t simply sit back and wait for God’s miraculous intervention. If you want a better job, it’s unlikely a potential employer is going to come looking for you. It could happen, but more likely you’ll

6 • SEPTEMBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

have to vigorously participate in finding that new job.

You have to seek, so you can find.

For example, you would seek out companies and organizations that hire people with your mixture of talents and abilities. You would let friends, relatives and colleagues know you are looking for a new job and the type of work you are seeking.

Knock and the door will be opened to you also seems clear. It means being diligent and persistent.

Besides asking and seeking, it’s important to keep at it. You have to keep “knocking.”

Some years ago, I was unemployed for eight months. I prayed for guidance, answered help-wanted ads and sent out resumés on a daily basis. When I called for a job interview, I dressed professionally and showed up on time. I realized anything less than a full effort wasn’t “knocking,” so how could I expect it would be opened to me?

When I finally did get a job offer, it was for less money than I had been making and doing technician

work rather than engineering work.

Not my vision of the ideal job. But it turned out to be one of the best jobs I had during my work career.

My prayers were answered, but not in the way I expected.

No matter what the life event is— employment, better health, a new

home or a myriad of other wants and needs—we can’t leave it all up to God. For our prayers to be answered we have to do more than ask—we have to seek and we have to knock.

Then we can trust God to work in our lives. The results may surprise us!

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Faith&Friends

THE BIG PICTURE

Caring for Charlottetown The Salvation Army’s Friendship Room offers food for the soul and body.

by Kristin Ostensen

Photos: Kristin Ostensen

Ronald Brandon Duffy is all smiles as he grabs a cup of coffee. “The best thing about the Friendship Room is the people,” he says.

P

rince Edward Island is known as the home of Anne of Green Gables and the birthplace of Confederation, attracting tourists from across Canada and beyond.

With 150,000 residents, it’s the smallest province by size and population. But it’s not immune to the social problems that affect larger cities and provinces.

Major Daniel Roode, pastor at

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The Salvation Army’s Charlottetown Community Church, sees these problems up close. P.E.I. is the fastestgrowing Atlantic province, according to the most recent census, and that has put pressure on the housing market.

For those who can’t afford housing, it means homelessness; for those who can, but just barely, it means less money for food and other essentials.

The church’s Friendship Room,

Mark Tippett has been coming to the Friendship Room for two years. “I don’t have a lot of money,” says Mark, who has been on disability since he injured his leg. “There are good people here and it’s nice to just have breakfast and talk.”

Marguerite Keating volunteers on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“I have a soft spot in my heart for the Army,” she says. “My father was a prisoner in Hong Kong during the Second World War, and he always told his children, ‘If you have any extra money and you don’t know what to do with it, give it to The Salvation Army. During the war, they were the only ones that helped us.’ ”

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Faith&Friends

THE BIG PICTURE

Every morning before the doors are opened, Steffen Hood (left), office administrator, and his volunteers pray together.

“Working for the Army is meaningful for me because we help people in both a spiritual and a practical way,” he says.

“I’m a senior and I’ve got rent and bills to pay and that leaves me short,” says Carolyn MacNeill, who has come to the Friendship Room for the past five years. “It’s not easy, but it’s even more difficult if you’re on welfare because they don’t as much as seniors get.”

Major Glenda Roode, the church’s co-pastor, chats with people at the breakfast program. “The Friendship Room is a place where people can come and socialize and feel safe,” she says.

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The church holds a chapel service after the breakfast program on Wednesdays.

“Sometimes in this world, when we feel like we’ve been beat up, it feels like people don’t care,” says Major Daniel Roode. “But the good news is there’s always Somebody who cares about you.

Even when you feel like you’re lost and alone, or down and out, God cares.”

“I’m on a fixed income and live in the community care centre, so I don’t have enough money to treat myself to the coffee and doughnuts I get here,” says Robert Frizzell. “The Friendship Room helps a lot of the poor and unfortunate people in Charlottetown.”

which is open every weekday, aims to help alleviate these issues. “The Friendship Room reaches out to vulnerable people,” says Major Daniel, “providing an opportunity for them to come in off the street in the morning and get a continental breakfast.” Donated food items such as fresh bread and canned goods are also available for anyone to take

while the program is operating.

Major Daniel notes that the Friendship Room welcomes people of all backgrounds, but especially people who are homeless, on fixed incomes, the working poor and newcomers to Canada. “It really is a cross-section of humanity, and a cross-section of our society as we see it evolving in Canada today,” he says.

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Faith&Friends

IN CONVERSATION

Worth the Wait

O

lympian Lolo Jones is the most-followed U.S. track athlete on Twitter, and recently she told her more than 400,000 followers of the good The Salvation Army does.

Last November she posted a video of her and her mother ringing a red bell, with the following caption: “Growing up, @SalvationArmyUS housed my family when we were homeless. I’ve joined the fight for good and I’m close to filling my red kettle!”

That same month, she was honoured at a Salvation Army luncheon, where she shared what the Salvation Army church and community centre in Des Moines, Iowa, means to her and her family. With an absentee dad, at one point their financial situation was so dire that her mom, Lori, along with Lolo and her four siblings ended up on the Army’s doorstep.

12 • SEPTEMBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

There they found shelter from their circumstances.

“It changed my life,” Lolo said at the luncheon. “The question I’m always asked is: ‘How do you get the courage to try again?’ I always answer, ‘With the help of The Salvation Army.’ ” Lolo knows all about courage and trying again. She is a threetime world champion in track and field, having won gold in both the 60-metre and 100-metre hurdles, but has yet to capture a medal at the Olympics. She has earned a spot on the Summer Olympics U.S. track team twice and is one of a select few athletes who have competed in both the summer and winter Olympic Games. In 2014, she competed as brakewoman on the U.S. national bobsled team but narrowly missed making the team again in 2018.

At the age of 36, she hopes to

Photos: Courtesy of USA Bobsled & Skeleton

At 36, bobsledder and hurdler Lolo Jones has not given up on her quest for Olympic gold.

Lolo Jones competed as a brakewoman on the U.S. national bobsled team at Sochi in 2014

Faith&Friends

IN CONVERSATION

“ The question I’m always asked is: ‘How do you get the courage to try again?’ ” LOLO JONES have one more shot as she eyes the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

She took time to share with Faith & Friends her thoughts on resiliency and getting ready.

You needed to put on an extra 30 pounds to compete in the bobsled meets. How did you lose that much weight when it was time to run track again?

The first part of that came off quickly because my body’s not used to eating that much, and then the second phase was a lot of hard work.

I reached a plateau, which I think everyone does when they’re trying to lose weight. I hit a wall where I was no longer losing even though I was still doing the right things—eating healthy, working out. I’d also been dealing with injuries and so that set me back. I had to get strict with myself mentally, because this time I didn’t make the bobsled team.

How did you deal with that huge disappointment, to have performed well in trials and not make the 2018 team?

I had to decide that I was just going to act like the Christian that I am.

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If God had wanted me to be on that team, He would have made sure I was on it. I stand by the Bible verse that says, “For God, our God, is our defender forever! He guides us!” (Psalm 48:14 New English Translation). Sometimes, I have to question, “God, why did You let that happen?” But I don’t think He provides answers to everything. I think that was my biggest lesson.

Sometimes it’s painful for me, but I’m just trying to trust Him through the process.

Despite your ups and downs, your Twitter feed is always so funny and it’s great how you can laugh at yourself. Have you always had that kind of self-confidence?

No! Even now I struggle with moments where I get frustrated.

There are all kinds of things that come and attack me. I’m 36 and I’m still waiting on God to provide my husband, and so it’s like, maybe there’s something wrong with me!

And in my races, if I hit a hurdle or whatever, I always told myself that I wanted to be the first one making jokes about it. I just feel I can help

Doubled Effort Lolo is one of the few athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games

unemployed to stop looking for a job? But God is God and He does have something special for me. someone who’s having a hard time.

Maybe they’re not laughing anywhere else or any other time in their day, but when they read my Twitter feed, they get a little five-second fun break.

I hope I provide that.

You’re vocal about your trials with dating.

How does your faith help you through this season in your life?

Honestly, I’m at the point where I can’t pray much about a husband anymore, because it gets me discouraged. You know, a lot of Christians will give cliché advice that is damaging to singles, such as, “Stop looking and just let it happen.”

Would they tell a person who is

Could this apply to both your relationships and your running?

Yes. My Olympics competition only comes every four years and because of that, it definitely means more than a race that I could run every day.

I know that the next Summer Olympics will be my last stab at trying to make the team. I’ve just given it to God, and I know He works best when the odds are stacked against us. For instance, in 2008, at the prime of my career, He could have easily let me medal my first go round. But if I get a medal at 37, you know how much glory He will get! It’s like I’m Abraham’s wife—I’m the sports equivalent to a 90-year-old trying to have a baby.

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

Back From the Brink

by Jordan Thompson

AS CONRAD GINTER STOOD on the edge of the Disraeli Bridge in Winnipeg, he started to cry.

“I thought to myself, Just end it right now. All the pain will go away.

Everybody who hates you will be happy you’re gone. And I just stood there and waited for a semi.”

It was September 2016, and Conrad had walked to the bridge to put an end to the battle with alcoholism that had been tormenting him for 25 years.

A Truck Drive to Jail Raised in rural Manitoba, Conrad found out about alcoholism the hard way a couple of days before his 18th 16 • SEPTEMBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

Photos: Jordan Thompson

AFTER DECADES OF ALCOHOLISM, CONRAD GINTER FOUND SALVATION AT WINNIPEG’S BOOTH CENTRE.

birthday, when someone spiked his cola with whiskey at a dance.

He continued to drink unwittingly throughout the night, returned to his dormitory drunk and slept through his final exams the next day, resulting in his expulsion from high school in his senior year.

“And after that, I didn’t stop,” says Conrad, 43.

He worked at a local car dealership before becoming a truck driver when he was 21.

In 1999, he met his wife, Debra, and the two were married in 2000.

Conrad continued to drink heavily, but when his brother-in-law

Heartfelt Plea “Don’t ever give up and don’t be ashamed to ask for help,” says Conrad Ginter

passed away, his drinking problem got worse, ultimately culminating while on the job driving a truck to Minnesota.

“I left Friday night and I was supposed to be there Monday. I had all weekend to go there, and I spent the whole weekend drinking,” Conrad says. “Sunday night, I started driving. I had beer in the fridge and I reached to grab one and the truck veered to the shoulder. Then I saw flashing lights. My whole sleeper was full of empties; I hadn’t even thrown them out.”

Conrad paid a $15,000 fine and spent a month in jail.

Decision at the Bridge After his release, Conrad fell back into abusing alcohol, was kicked out of his house and, after his grandfather’s death in 2016, decided to kill himself.

“Just as I was about to jump, I felt a lady grab my arm,” Conrad recalls, tears welling in his eyes. “ ‘You need to come down,’ she told me. ‘You need to come talk to somebody.

There’s somebody that wants to talk to you. You need to follow me.’ I don’t know why, but I did.

“I was angry,” Conrad continues.

“I yelled at her: ‘Who wants to meet me?’ ” faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

“You’ve already met Him,” she replied. “He wants you to come back.”

“I turned away from her and looked down the street. When I turned back, she was gone.

“I’ll never forget that moment.”

Meeting Adjourned The next morning, Conrad went to The Salvation Army’s Weetamah church for the Sunday morning service and to eat. He had been frequenting the building, as had his estranged wife and daughter, Alexia, but would never go inside when he saw his wife’s van parked out front.

That morning, The Salvation Army’s Lieutenant Mark Young gently took Conrad’s arm as he was on his way out.

“You and I need to talk,” the pas-

Fast Friends Lieutenant Mark Young and Conrad share a smile

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tor told Conrad. “You’ve been coming here for a month and a half. I know who you are. You’re Alexia’s dad. But you never come when she’s here. I want you here tomorrow morning— but be sober.”

The next morning when Conrad showed up for their meeting, Lieutenant Mark told him something important had come up and he needed to push their meeting to the next morning, but again instructed him to show up sober.

Lieutenant Mark continued to postpone their meeting each day, while Conrad did his best to distract himself from drinking, staying out of his hotel room as much as possible and going for long walks.

After a week of back-and-forth, Conrad began to experience severe withdrawal symptoms, but he went

“ We need to talk. I want you here tomorrow morning— but be sober.” LIEUTENANT MARK YOUNG back to Lieutenant Mark one more time.

“How do you feel?” he asked Conrad.

“Right now, I’m pretty mad at you.”

“I believe it. But you’ve been sober for a week. How do you feel?”

“Awful. I’m shaking. I need help.”

“I know you do. I just wanted to make sure you knew you needed help.”

With Lieutenant Mark’s assistance, Conrad cleaned out his hotel room and filled out the forms for The Salvation Army’s Winnipeg Booth Centre Anchorage addiction treatment program.

Blind to Love Conrad began to learn what caused his drinking problem and how to properly process the grief that he had previously numbed with alcohol. He was soon overcome with emotion and asked one of the intake workers he had become close with if he could leave the program.

“He had a supper planned with his family,” Conrad recalls. “Instead, he called them and said, ‘I can’t make it tonight, I’m needed here.’ And he sat with me until eight o’clock at night.”

“Monday morning you can leave,” he told Conrad. “But I want you to

write out the pros and cons of leaving and staying. What’s your life going to be like if you leave Monday morning?

What’s your life going to be like if you stay? You really need to think.

Are you going to be alive a year from now if you leave?”

“That’s one of the many ways that Anchorage saved my life,” recalls Conrad.

He stayed and completed the three-month program and moved into a sober living facility after he graduated. He’s been sober for nearly two years.

“God came to me that night on the bridge. I know it was Him,” Conrad says. “I was ashamed. And the more guilt I had, the more shame I had, the more I drank. I thought nobody loved me anymore, and I thought ending my life would be the answer.

It turned out that I was the one who was blind to the love. Everybody wanted to help me and I was just turning them away.

“Don’t ever give up and don’t be ashamed to ask for help.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, contact the Salvation Army church or facility nearest you. faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Job Well Done One of the placement students shows Salvation Army family services worker Senthil Kumaran all of her hard work in the food bank

Graduating With Honours WHEN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY HIT THE SALVATION ARMY’S CEDARBRAE COMMUNITY CHURCH IN TORONTO, STUDENTS STEPPED UP.

by Ken Ramstead

E

very year, The Salvation Army’s Cedarbrae Community Church in Toronto provides placements for students from surrounding colleges who are pursuing certificates in social services work or health and wellness.

The students help with the client intake and assist at the food bank, answer phone inquiries and ensure clients are attended to.

“While we have been conducting student placements for the past five years or so, this past session was 20 • SEPTEMBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

particularly momentous,” says Joan Harry, Cedarbrae’s community and family services co-ordinator.

But it wasn’t just the size of the placement group—13 students—that made this a standout year.

Passion and Compassion Halfway through the placement, Joan was suddenly hospitalized and then placed on sick leave for five weeks, between February and April. That left only family services worker Senthil Kumaran, himself on the job

A Class of Their Own Staff and students relax after a full day’s work

for just three weeks before Joan’s departure.

Without the guidance and supervision provided by Joan, the students could have simply melted away to pursue other interests or opportunities.

Instead the students stepped up and took over the planning and execution of the programs, with Senthil’s assistance and oversight from Majors Cecil and Tina Mitchell, Cedarbrae’s pastors.

It was only when Joan returned to her duties after her hospitalization and convalescence this spring that she realized how the students had had to take matters into their own hands.

“It chokes me up now when I think of it, but they all rose to the challenge,” she says. “They didn’t panic or walk away when things got rough. The students learned to work together as a group and became stronger because of it.”

There was more to what they did

than just working together, however.

“The students came from different backgrounds, countries and faiths,” says Senthil. “Not only did they gain leadership qualities, but they embraced the core values of The Salvation Army and understood our mission, which is to meet people at their point of need. It changed their lives. They now have a passion and a compassion for the poor and the needy of our community, and they have become mature adults in the process.”

“It was a challenging time,” Joan reflects, “but we saw God work in mysterious ways in the lives of our students, giving strength to those who needed it.”

To commemorate their great work, Cedarbrae hosted a special graduation supper for the students, complete with a certificate acknowledging their efforts.

“As far as we were concerned, these kids graduated with honours,” smiles Joan. faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Flushed With Promise LIKE ANY COOL CAT, YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO RUN, AND WHEN TO DIVE IN.

Illustration: Dennis Jones

by Phil Callaway

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A

friend sent me something called How to Bathe a Cat:

Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.

Pick up the cat. Soothe the cat while you carry him toward the bathroom.

In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid. You may need to stand on the lid.

At this point the cat will self-agitate, making ample suds. Never mind the noises you hear: the cat is actually enjoying this.

Flush the toilet three or four times.

This provides the “power-wash” and “rinse” cycles.

Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.

Stand well back behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.

The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom and run outside, where he will dry himself off.

Both the toilet and the cat will be sparkling clean.

Sincerely yours, The Dog Please do not try this at home.

Knowing cats, as I do, leads me to believe that there is no greater recipe for misery in the cat world than this prescription from a dog.

Years ago, a very smart man said, “Phil, God has a plan for your life.

And it’s good. The enemy has a plan for your life, too. And it isn’t. Be wise enough to know the difference.”

That dog certainly had a plan for the cat, and it was not good.

Promises to Keep Now, keep in mind that I am not a God-has-a-wonderful-plan-tomake-you-healthy-and-wealthy-andyour-teeth-straight-so-come-toHim-and-He-will-owe-you kind of problem-free-philosophy Christian.

Nowhere does God promise us a trouble-free life. In fact, He promised the opposite. “In this world you will have trouble,” said Jesus. “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

God does have a plan and He is working things together for our good—even when it doesn’t seem like it.

The devil, on the other hand, has a plan that looks a little more like that dog’s plan for the cat. He wants to set your life on the “agitate” cycle. To take every good plan you’ve had and flush it. To steal your joy and your life. He comes to kill and destroy. He divides. He dismantles. But you don’t know it at first, because he picks us up and soothes us with a little pleasure. He promises the world— before closing the lid. faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

God does have a plan and He is working things together for our good— even when it doesn’t seem like it.

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will lead to shambles.

And what does God desire for us?

He came that we might have life.

Unrivalled, unequalled, because it springs up from His presence within us. He promises purpose, hope, joy and eternity with Him through faith in His Son, Jesus.

Like a cool cat, we need to know when to run. Don’t run toward the one who is lifting the lid and measuring out pet shampoo.

Flee the building. But when you encounter the One who promises life, whose plans are for your good and His glory, dive in!

© www.kevinfrank.net

HEAVEN’S LOVE THRIFT SHOP by Kevin Frank

The New Testament’s 2 Timothy 3 exposes the devil’s desires for us. That we love only ourselves and our money.

That we be boastful, cruel and proud, mock God, be disobedient, ungrateful, unloving and unforgiving. That we have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. That we slander others and have no self-control. That we hate what is good, betray friends, be reckless and love pleasure rather than God. That we act religious, but reject God’s power that can make us godly.

The Apostle Paul says to Timothy, “Stay away from people like that.”

Stand well back, this shampoo

TOGETHER, WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE 2017-2018

WE GIVE BACK! 79,442,703

$6,093,965

pounds of clothing, textiles & household items diverted through local landďŹ lls

$757,552

given to those in need for clothing & household items

for GoodWorks@WorkTM cause related initiatives

108

12 Million

Stores & Donor Welcome Centres and 9 Distribution and Recycling Centres

Guests & Countless Donors

2,212

Employees and 250 Volunteers of the Heart

Salvation Army National Recycling Operations WE OFFER A UNIQUE WAY TO SERVE THROUGH RETAIL & RECYCLING

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Eating Healthy With Erin SWEET AND SAVOURY BAKED RIBS TIME 3 hrs 45 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH lemon herb potatoes

2.5 kg (5 lbs) pork spare ribs 250 ml (1 cup) brown sugar 30 ml (2 tbsp) paprika 30 ml (2 tbsp) seasoned salt 5 ml (1 tsp) sea salt 5 ml (1 tsp) garlic powder 5 ml (1 tsp) onion powder 60 ml (¼ cup) barbecue sauce

1. Preheat oven to 150 C (300 F).

2. Rub brown sugar, paprika, seasoned salt, sea salt, garlic powder and onion powder to both sides of ribs.

3. Arrange in baking dish, bone side up, and bake covered with tinfoil for 3 hours.

4. Flip rack to bone-side down and raise temperate to 175 C (350 F).

Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.

5. Brush with barbecue sauce and return to oven for 12 minutes.

LEMON HERB POTATOES TIME 60 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH baked ribs

26 • SEPTEMBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

1. Preheat oven to 205 C (400 F).

2. Place potatoes and garlic in large mixing bowl.

3. Add olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, parsley, rosemary, salt, pepper and chicken broth. Mix well until potatoes are well coated.

4. Pour into 50-mm (2-in.) deep pan.

Bake for 50 minutes.

5. Stir potatoes, then put oven on broil for 2-3 minutes so that edges crisp up.

Recipe photos: Erin Stanley/veganvirgin.ca

8 medium-sized potatoes, quartered 2 cloves garlic, diced 75 ml (1/3 cup) olive oil 60 ml (¼ cup) lemon juice 15 ml (1 tbsp) dried oregano 5 ml (1 tsp) dried parsley 5 ml (1 tsp) dried rosemary 2 ml (½ tsp) salt pinch black pepper 500 ml (2 cups) chicken broth

Fighting With Hope

SAGE NORTHCUTT P.22

Power of a Compliment

“WANNA RACE?” P.8

Dignity Through ‘Dos

STREET STYLEZ P.10

Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G

faithandfriends.ca

AUGUST 2018

Rock of Ages ALICE COOPER’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL ACT IS DEDICATING HIS LIFE TO GOD. P.16

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Sudoku Puzzle

4

7

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 × 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

QUICK QUIZ 1. What is Led Zeppelin’s untitled 1971 album widely known as?

2. What star, considered the brightest in the night sky, is called the Dog Star?

3. What does the symbol CI stand for on the periodic table?

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4

2

9

8 1

7

3 8

1

9 8

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4 9

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1

© J.Sanko/C. Layton, 2018

OH MY WORD!

by John Sanko

Answers on next page.

3

“ They may be Master Carpenters, but how about those Master Termites!”

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Word Search Over the Moon E T L G I L L U D N P W P Q X T X D D E L R J U X U B O Y E J S L D A C I K A A C N K Q N D R V R A U R N A T T W V N A K X X I M L S I K L P D P I R I B R A V G C T A A S L O A E A T E T N L U E N A B I I C L U S P E E T Y L O A I D L N D D U U P N E N S A A Y N I R D M E A N A I S L E O E R O T C U T J O A E I L L L E S Q A C I H W H W A N E R C D I N M P P Z D M A S C O N T P E E R I W E Y O E A I C C E R B H L C G H F R T U N O I T A N I L C E D U S O I R E T L I B R A T I O N S N H C G P I O M C I T P I L C E I A T Q E C I A R I P E N U M B R A D R H E B P O H O O G I B B O U S I A R E T R A U Q I X H A L F F H R E Z Q S E D O N F D X APOGEE APOLUNE BASALT BRECCIA CRATER WALL DARK SIDE DECLINATION DIURNAL EARTHSHINE ECLIPSE ECLIPTIC GIBBOUS

GRAVITY HALF LACUS LIBRATIONS LUNAR LUNITIDAL MARE MASCON MERIDIAN METEOROID NADIR NEAP TIDE

NODES NODICAL MONTH OCCULTATION PALUS PARALLAX PENUMBRA PERIGEAN TIDE PERIGEE PERILUNE QUARTER RILLE TEKTITES

28 • SEPTEMBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

Quick Quiz Answers: 1. Led Zeppelin IV; 2. Sirius; 3. chlorine.

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Faith&Friends

FAITH BUILDERS

Facebook Connect?

Miles Finer (Brandon Micheal Hall) is unsure what to make of his newest friend request

You Gotta Have Faith An atheist’s life is turned upside down when he gets a friend request from God.

by Kristin Ostensen

“

T

here is no proof of God anywhere in the universe,” declares Miles Finer on his podcast, The Millennial Prophet.

The wayward son of a pastor, Miles is determined to make his listeners question their beliefs. And then a Facebook notification pops up on his phone. It’s a friend request. From God. Miles laughs it off, sure that someone is trolling him. But when strange coincidences start piling up, suddenly he’s the one questioning his beliefs.

That’s the premise of God Friended Me, a humorous, uplifting drama making its debut this fall.

Profound Truth Miles (Brandon Micheal Hall) reluctantly accepts the friend request and starts getting friend sugges-

tions from “God.” One of them leads him to Cara Bloom (Violett Beane), a journalist. The connection seems random—until he learns that Cara’s mother, who left the family when she was a child, had nursed Miles’ mother when she had cancer.

With help from Cara and his hacker friend, Rakesh Sehgal (Suraj Sharma), Miles is on a mission to find out who this “God” is, but soon learns that God has a mission for him. Quite unintentionally, he becomes an agent of change, saving lives and helping people around him.

God Friended Me may be a lighthearted show, but it underscores a profound truth: when we meet God, our lives are transformed. As the Bible says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT ). That’s a friend request worth accepting.

faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

NIFTY THRIFTY

4 Fall Fashion Essentials New looks for a new season.

Fall has some of the best runway trends and looks, thanks to the season’s gorgeous colour palette. Head to your local Salvation Army thrift store and expand your seasonal wardrobe with these four fall fashion essentials.

Wide-leg pants This style of pants is very versatile— you can wear them to the office, on a night out or even to a fancy event.

For a 1970s vintage touch, find a pair of wide-leg pants that are rusty orange or mustard yellow.

30 • SEPTEMBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

Velvet dress Velvet is a huge fall trend. A dress like this one will add a cool vampy look to your collection of fall outfits.

Military-style jacket The perfect material for fall weather!

Find a military-style jacket at your thrift store and customize it by adding your own patches. I refashioned this jacket myself and love how it’s personalized to my taste.

Front-lace top Giving you a cute boho look, these tops are flattering on everyone. Add your favourite pair of denim pants and you’re good to go!

(left) Anna Lee is a YouTuber by day and a vintage fanatic by night. Watch her styling videos on the There She Goes channel at youtube.com/c/thereshegoess. Find a Salvation Army thrift store near you at thriftstore.ca.

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