volume 6 number 50 27 December 2025
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Eliminating hurry
Taking time for our souls to catch up 6 Off the shelf
8 Post-Christmas delights
10 From toilets to trust
Tips for reading fun in the sun
Recipes for festive leftovers
Lessons from little green trespassers
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
– C S Lewis
27 December 2025
Editorial What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Vision Statement Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos will live, love and fight alongside others to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus. Mission Statement The Salvation Army is a Christian movement dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus by: • Caring for people • Creating faith pathways • Building healthy communities • Working for justice The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders, past, present, and future. We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.
Taking time For many of us, the week between Christmas Day and 1 January is often a time to unwind at the end of a busy year and a hectic festive season. The pace, even if we are still hosting family or friends or have other functions to attend, is somehow slower. The pressure of deadlines, shopping, events, expectations, seems to have lifted. Not for everyone, of course. We are grateful for workers who keep essential services running through this period, including those who care for the vulnerable and those at higher risk of harm – of which there are many. These days can give us time to stop, to think, to reflect on the year that has been and the year ahead, and to simply rest. It’s a time, as our feature explores, “for our souls to catch up to our bodies”.
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Founders: William and Catherine Booth Salvation Army World Leaders: General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham Territorial Leader: Commissioner Miriam Gluyas Secretary for Communications and Editor-In-Chief: Colonel Rodney Walters Publications Manager: Cheryl Tinker Editor: Simone Worthing Graphic Designer: Ryan Harrison Enquiry email: publications@salvationarmy.org.au All other Salvation Army enquiries 13 72 58 Press date: 5 December 2025 Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas at Focus Print Group, Chester Hill, NSW, Darug Nation lands.
Whether we do that through spending time with loved ones, reading, praying, nature, hobbies, or even just a few calm moments each day – our minds, bodies and spirits need time for repair and restoration. We pray that you can find this time and ease into a happier, healthier and more peaceful 2026. Simone Worthing Editor 3
Feature
Salvos Magazine
eliminating hurry
Taking time for our souls to catch up by Fay Foster
The story has been told many times of a Westerner, or group of Westerners, who went to a more remote place, with a job to do. Some say the Westerners met with a group of Brazilian natives who guided them as they trekked down the Amazon River. Others say they met with a mighty warrior in Ireland, who took them on a quest to retrieve gold and treasure. Yet others say they were on safari in Africa, led by a group
of locals, or climbing Mount Everest with renowned sherpas as their guides. What all the versions of this story have in common is that, after a few days of rushing to meet the Westerners’ expectations, the guides were found sitting and relaxing, well into the morning. When the Westerners, frustrated by the delay, asked what was going on, they
Psalm 23, verse 3 “He restores my soul.” (New King James version) “You refresh my life.” (Contemporary English version) “He makes me strong again.” (New Life version) “He makes me whole again.” (The Voice translation) “You let me catch my breath.” (The Message translation)
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Feature were all met with the same response: “We are waiting for our souls to catch up with our bodies.” Time to reflect How many times have we all wished that our hectic pace of life could bend a little, in order to meet the needs of our souls? We rush to be on time, to be ahead of time, to achieve, to meet other people’s expectations. We are governed by schedules and timetables and meeting times and TV guides. And all the while, our hearts and minds – and often our bodies – are crying out for rest, for repair, for restoration and fulfilment.
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While the stories mentioned above are unlikely to all be true, the wisdom of the guides’ response is unquestionable. Constant hurry creates anxiety, headaches, ulcers, and no time for reflection. The great Greek philosopher Socrates is said to have declared, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” When we are constantly rushing from one thing to another, where will we find that space to improve our life by examining it, reflecting on it, and making the changes necessary to give our lives balance, focus and purpose? Let’s make time and space this week for our souls to catch up with our bodies.
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Feature
Salvos Magazine
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Off the Sh lf An occasional column on all things books and reading
READING FUN IN THE SUN by Andrea Redford
It’s a beautiful summer day. You’re heading out to relax at the beach, a lake, the local park, a creek. You throw some sunscreen, a water bottle full of ice and some tasty snacks in your bag, along with your hat and sunnies. What’s missing? A good book, of course! Whether you’ve got weeks off from work, or just a short break for Christmas, any summer break is all the more relaxing with a good book. But what to read? Summer is a time when lots of readers opt for a lighter, breezier style of book (often loosely categorised as ‘beach reads’). Others take the chance to tackle that growing stack of books or the 6
800-page doorstop novel they haven’t had the chance to get to all year. Others still take advantage of a fresh new year to start a Bible-in-a-year reading plan. A quick search of the internet shows that summer reading has become quite a ‘thing’. A great selection of summer reading guides — curated by local libraries, independent bookshops and book bloggers — are just a few clicks away. Bookshops and libraries offer print editions, too. The summer reading guide from BookPeople, a national association dedicated to supporting Aussie bookshops, is a great place to start (visit bookpeople.org.au or your local
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bookshop). BookPeople curates and publishes seasonal reading guides featuring releases handpicked by Australia’s leading booksellers for every kind of reader. There’s new Australian and international fiction, biographies, history and science books, along with books for children and young adults. Speaking of kids, as the long days and weeks of school holidays stretch out before them, the Big Summer Read might be just the thing for any younger bookworms in your life. Running through December and January, the Big Summer Read is an annual reading challenge supported
27 December 2025
by public libraries in South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. It’s designed to keep kids and young people reading over the summer holidays, avoid the ‘summer slide’ in literacy skills and foster a lifelong love of reading. Participants are encouraged to log a minimum of five books, or five days of reading. There are prizes on offer, and more info can be found at readbooks.com.au/bsr. Young or old, lifelong bookworm or aspirational bibliophile, there is no shortage of guides and resources available to help you find your perfect summer read. 7
Feature
Salvos Magazine
Creativity in the post-Christmas kitchen Recipes for festive leftovers
Many of us are familiar with festive leftovers crowding the fridge after Christmas and trying to think of creative ways to eat them. Ham toastie anyone? Our recipes this week, using Christmas leftovers, help make the most of some holiday extras, creating fresh and delicious snacks without breaking the bank or requiring hours of preparation. Bubble and squeak fritters Ingredients 750g leftover roasted and or steamed vegetables, roughly mashed; 3 spring onions, thinly sliced; 2 eggs, lightly whisked; ½ cup self-raising flour; 2 tsp mild curry powder; pepper; ½ cup extra virgin olive oil To serve ½ cup Greek-style natural yoghurt; 1 tbs mango chutney Method Place leftover vegetables, slices of 2 of the onions, egg, flour and curry powder in a large bowl. Season with pepper. Stir to combine. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour 6 x ¼ cups of batter into oil. Cook for 4 minutes on each side or until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining oil and batter to make of 12 fritters. Season. Spoon yoghurt into a bowl, then swirl through the chutney. Serve fritters with mango chutney yoghurt and sprinkled with remaining onion. 8
Fruit jumble crumble Ingredients 2½ cups leftover chopped fruit, ½ cup leftover mixed berries, 300ml thickened cream, 2 crumbled meringue nests or meringues, 4 cherries Method Gently mix fruit and berries in a bowl until well combined. Divide among serving dishes or glasses. Beat cream until firm peaks form. Sprinkle meringue over fruit. Top with cream and a cherry.
27 December 2025
Feature Chicken soup Ingredients 2 tbs olive oil; 1 onion, peeled and diced; 2 celery sticks, trimmed and diced; 2 carrots, peeled and diced; 2 bay leaves; 80g mushrooms, thinly sliced; 300g leftover cooked or barbecued chicken, cut into strips; 2L chicken stock; 150g egg noodles; 15g parsley, finely chopped Method Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onions, celery and carrots for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables are soft. Add the bay leaves and mushrooms and stir for about 2 minutes. Tip in the chicken and chicken stock and bring soup to boil. Stir in the noodles and cook for 5 minutes or until the noodles are cooked through. Top with parsley for serving.
Chicken and mango salad Ingredients 1 barbecued/roasted chicken or equivalent, shredded or chopped; leftover lettuce, rocket, cherry tomatoes, diced capsicum, diced cucumber, sliced carrot; 1 mango, diced; bread rolls and/or cheese Method Place chicken in a large salad bowl. Add the greens, tomatoes, capsicum, cucumber, and carrot. Mix well. Top with diced mango. Optional: Add salad dressing, balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Serve with bread rolls and/or cheese. 9
Faith Talk
Salvos Magazine
From toilets to trust Lessons from little green trespassers by Michelle Gibson
I have an aversion to frogs in toilets. I don’t mind frogs in general. In fact, I find green tree frogs quite beautiful, just not when they are in the toilet! Unfortunately, living in the Northern Territory, frogs in toilets are an occurence that is not rare enough for me. Not long ago, we stayed at a house where there was not only one frog, but two! My husband, Niall, managed to take one outside, but couldn’t catch the other one. I had to just get my brave on as we were there for a couple of days. I have to wonder why a frog would want to live in a place that we humans think of as rather dirty. It rained while we were staying at this house, and close by is a waterway full of birds and wildlife, so why stay in a toilet? Had it lived there so long that it just got comfortable? Had it forgotten how beautiful the world outside is? Was it afraid to leave its comfort zone? Was it stuck? It reminds me of a man in the Bible who got stuck. He wasn’t stuck in water. In fact, he was stuck just outside the water, beside a pool that was believed to have healing properties when the water was stirred. Jesus came across this man, who had been lying next to the pool for 38 years! “Do you want to get well?” Jesus asked. The man replied that he had no 10
one to help him into the pool at the right time, so someone beat him to it each time. He was stuck. Getting unstuck Sometimes we get stuck, don’t we? We might not be overly happy with our circumstances, but we fear what venturing out into the the big, wild world might mean. Was this man in that situation? Maybe he didn’t really want to be where he was, but was worried about what getting well would mean. Jesus told the man to get up, to pick up his mat and walk. And, in faith, he did. The frog that Niall managed to catch and release didn’t return to the toilet. Did it realise that there was a whole world out there to explore? If only Niall could have convinced the other one to be free, we would have all been happier! Are you stuck? Do you need someone to set you free from a situation that you’d rather not be in, but are worried about taking the first step? Trust in Jesus. He can set you free. Actually, FROG can stand for Fully Rely On God. Why not give it a go? Major Michelle Gibson is a Salvation Army officer (pastor) serving as a flying padre in the Northern Territory.
Faith Talk
27 December 2025
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My Story
Salvos Magazine
Back-to-school tips We asked some mums what they’ve found to be helpful in preparing their kids to go back to school after a break. There was total agreement on the value of easing back into the school routine – earlier bedtimes and wake-up times – during the last week of holidays. All our mums also agreed on the need to make sure school supplies are in order – shoes and uniforms that fit, school bags and lunchboxes. Allowing children to have some choice in their bags and boxes, talking about the new school year, and focusing on the positives, are also highly recommended. Organisation I go through their rooms with them individually. We tidy cupboards, check that uniforms still fit, and get everything organised and ready. We set up their desks and put up a new calendar with important dates, public holidays and birthdays. Starting the year or term with a well-organised, decluttered room and cupboard makes things feel much easier for all of us.
Familiar If it’s their first time at school or they have just moved to the school, drive past and have a look at the different parts – where the playground, toilets, their classroom are located.
We make an outing of buying fresh hair accessories for smoother school mornings, and label school items clearly.
Support Our youngest son is about to enter Year 11. There have been lots of conversations already about how big the next two years of school will be. We want to gently support and guide him.
– Wilmie (8- and 11-year-olds)
Get kids involved with baking school snacks for their lunchboxes. – Kirralea (8-year-old)
We discuss household expectations and set realistic goals at home for the school year, especially around chores, socialising and extra-curricular activities. Most importantly, we want to make sure he has good spiritual support during the year. Does he feel supported? Does he need to touch base with friends and mentors before school begins? How can we be praying for him as a family? – Maia (16-year-old) 12
My Story Local knowledge Back to school for my family this year sees the beginning of a new era, with all three boys at secondary school. Our fortunate new starter in Year 7 gets the benefit of the lowdown on everything from teachers to timetables from his experienced brothers. When my oldest started secondary school, chatting to friends with older children already at the school provided a goldmine of great tips, and meant he started the year ready and raring to go. – Andie (boys aged 16, 14 and 11)
27 December 2025
Budgeting We begin each year with a new school bag and lunchbox for each child. When they are younger, these are often budgeted into Christmas presents or placed on layby straight after Christmas, giving time to pay them off before school starts. Discount department stores often have the best deals for these essentials. For the high schoolers, vouchers are given at Christmas so they can choose their own bags, which are often more expensive as they get older. Shoes are bought during back-to-school sales, usually a week before school starts – enough time to break them in, but not enough to cause too much wear. Bargain hunting and comparing deals are my way of managing the cost. We go through everything from the previous year to see what can be reused, saving money wherever possible. Throughout the year, if I see specials, I buy items and store them in our ‘back-to-school cupboard’ for later use.
Open conversations Having open conversations is everything. Sometimes I think we try to protect our kids or surprise them with realities because talking it over can be uncomfortable or lead to big feelings. Some of the best conversations have happened with my daughter when she has been afraid or unsure and we’ve been able to talk it through until she feels confident. I find once she has made a friend, she is all good, although that may not be the case for every child. – Kirra (4- and 2-year-olds)
Uniforms are the biggest upfront cost. We try to reuse what we can, then purchase the remaining items from the uniform shop. Not every year has been easy. At times, I’ve had to reach out to organisations for help. Now that I can prepare with a little less stress, I make it a priority to donate anything my children won’t need to families who will benefit. It’s my way of giving back and ensuring others feel supported, too. – Shana (15- 14- and 7-year-olds) 13
Taste of Life
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Leftovers rice and veggie slice
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Salvos Magazine
Quiz
1. What is the smallest bird in the world? Ingredients
2. Which bird can hold 11 litres of water in its bill?
1 tbsp oil; 1 small onion, chopped; 4 rashers bacon (or ham/ chicken/lamb), chopped; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1½ cups cooked rice; 200g sweet potato, grated; 300g broccoli (or other leftover vegetables), chopped; 1 cup frozen peas; 1¼ cups grated cheese; salt and pepper; 5 eggs, lightly whisked
3. Which bird has a beard, wattle and snood?
Method
5. Which bird can turn its head 270 degrees?
Preheat oven to 190°C. Grease and line 16cm x 26cm baking pan. Heat oil in frypan over medium heat. Cook onion, bacon and garlic for 5 minutes. Set aside. Add rice and bacon mix into a bowl with vegetables and 1 cup cheese. Stir until combined and mix eggs through. Season. Spoon mixture into baking pan, pressing down firmly. Sprinkle over remaining cheese. Bake for 30 minutes. Set aside for 5 minutes, cut into pieces and serve with salad.
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Believe in Good: Tips
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” – Albert Einstein 14
4. Which bird was used by Egyptians for the hieroglyphic for red?
6. Which bird lays its eggs in other birds’ nests, tricking them into caring for its young?
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Tum-Tum
On which page of this week’s Salvos Magazine is Tum-Tum hiding?
The Great Wall of China is over 8000km long.
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Puzzle #1
Sudoku
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
The Amazon River is the biggest river, while the River Nile is the longest.
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The Statue of Liberty was originally intended for the Suez Canal.
2 8
The world’s longest straight road is the Eyre Highway, Western Australia.
Answers
1 1
4
8 7
7 6
8
7
2
2
8
1
4 4
6
5
😆
4
1 9
8
Have a laugh
What is a penguin’s favourite type of lettuce? What do penguins drink out of? How do penguins make burgers?
Why do you rarely see penguins in Great Britain?
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Because they are scared of Wales.
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With their flippers
Snowfall was recorded in February 1979 and January 2012 in the Sahara Desert. The Anglo-Zanzibar War was the shortest on record. Fought on 27 August 1896, it lasted between 38 and 45 minutes.
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Beakers
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Did you know?
27 December 2025
Iceberg
Take Five
Bible byte
“But those who trust the Lord will find new strength…” Isaiah chapter 40, verse 31 Contemporary English Version
Tum-Tum: is hiding on the book cover on page 6. Quiz: 1. Hummingbird 2. Pelican 3. Turkey 4. Flamingo 5. Owl 6. Cuckoo 5 3 6 2 4 7 8 9 1
9 2 8 5 3 1 7 4 6
4 7 1 6 8 9 2 3 5
Puzzle #1
15
2 9 7 1 5 6 3 8 4
3 8 5 4 9 2 1 6 7
1 6 4 3 7 8 9 5 2
6 1 3 8 2 5 4 7 9
8 5 9 7 1 4 6 2 3
7 4 2 9 6 3 5 1 8
Dear friends, We hope you have enjoyed reading Salvos Magazine over the past year. We love knowing that in everything we publish, we are reaching people who we might not get to talk to in other ways. We are fellow humans, making our way through life in the best ways we know how, wrapped in the love of our great heavenly Father. We pray that in this coming year you will be blessed with peace, joy, love, and an ever-increasing awareness that you matter, you were made on purpose and for a purpose. From all of us here at Salvos Magazine, we wish you a wonderful 2026.