It has been my very great pleasure during this summer to attend three Summer School Celebrations. The enthusiasm has been great to experience – and the music, dance, drama and timbrels were pretty good too!
As part of these times there is inevitably an opportunity for reflection – this may be carried out in small groups or through a worship experience. My prayer is that this reflection, and any decisions based upon it will be long lasting and become a new pattern for living.
The whole concept of reflection, and its practise within our own spiritual formation, is crucial – along with appropriate action.
It sometimes feels as though we make rapid decisions leading to actions when we have had little reflection on Biblical truth or the theology that threads through our existence, or conversely we engage in perpetual spiritual navel gazing leading to no personal growth, relationship or programme development.
The practise of reflection is one we all need to engage in but we need to keep it in balance with activity and response. Spend time thinking – in any given situation – praying, meditating on the word and listening for God’s voice. Then act, tell others what you are going to do, journal it, write a blog – it creates an accountability to others and to our God in His leading. I can’t think of any individual or corporate situation where this would not be appropriate. The danger is that we fail to act on our spiritual reflection – or fail to seek God’s will.
Jesus clearly took time for personal reflection while being an activist that saw lives changed – we can do nothing less.
Friday 26 August 2011
Friday 19 August 2011
Riots
I am sure it is with great sadness that many of you will have watched the violence erupting on the streets of the UK – firstly London then spreading to Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool. I sincerely pray that by the time you read these words that this upheaval will have ceased.
It is significant that blame is being placed at the feet of disaffected youth predominantly in inner city areas, the impact of generations of joblessness, the recession, the weather and the rapid movement of groups orchestrated through social media. Interestingly on Twitter #prayforlondon was out trending by a significant margin #londonriots .
At the same time we have hundreds of our own young people attending Summer School, Music Schools and adventure camps many of whom not only worship and socialise at the Salvation Army but also are engaged in volunteering in service in both Army and non Army settings. There are many other young people who are unemployed, get very warm and have access to social media who are not rioting and looting. There is much to be proud of within the young people of the UK.
Alongside this we have a responsibility to serve suffering humanity and see sinners saved. When people are asking questions and looking for a spiritual and moral compass this is the time when we, with all God’s people, can, and should, stand up and be counted as people who have found direction. Can I promote the idea of Salvationists and others who are aligned with the Salvation Army deliberately wearing an identifying mark? A fish, a cross, a red shield, even their full uniform when going about their daily living? And how about taking the time to be seen on the streets – available to the general public, walking to the next bus stop so that we are seen, walking to the Corps for activities? People are looking for hope – we have a God who brings hope to all. We need to be seen and be seen as having a viable message of hope for all those we meet with.
It is significant that blame is being placed at the feet of disaffected youth predominantly in inner city areas, the impact of generations of joblessness, the recession, the weather and the rapid movement of groups orchestrated through social media. Interestingly on Twitter #prayforlondon was out trending by a significant margin #londonriots .
At the same time we have hundreds of our own young people attending Summer School, Music Schools and adventure camps many of whom not only worship and socialise at the Salvation Army but also are engaged in volunteering in service in both Army and non Army settings. There are many other young people who are unemployed, get very warm and have access to social media who are not rioting and looting. There is much to be proud of within the young people of the UK.
Alongside this we have a responsibility to serve suffering humanity and see sinners saved. When people are asking questions and looking for a spiritual and moral compass this is the time when we, with all God’s people, can, and should, stand up and be counted as people who have found direction. Can I promote the idea of Salvationists and others who are aligned with the Salvation Army deliberately wearing an identifying mark? A fish, a cross, a red shield, even their full uniform when going about their daily living? And how about taking the time to be seen on the streets – available to the general public, walking to the next bus stop so that we are seen, walking to the Corps for activities? People are looking for hope – we have a God who brings hope to all. We need to be seen and be seen as having a viable message of hope for all those we meet with.
Children
It was a great pleasure to mix with the young people attending East/West Scotland Summer School ‘Awesome on the Inside’. The recognition that we have many young people who are valued by God and as such are provided for through such events should serve the purpose of reminding us that each individual has the opportunity through the Holy Spirit of reaching their fullest potential – whatever their age and whatever their potential might be.
I was also thrilled to be attending worship at two Corps over the last two weeks where the ‘Pray like Hannah’ approach to prayer has not just been mentioned but also prompted as a helpful and supportive way of praying and ministry to and for children.
Our children deserve our prayers and our personal investment because they teach us about the Kingdom of God with their simple approach to life.
As your young people return from Summer School, or their own holidays, and as they prepare to return to school, college, university, or the workplace assure them of your interest and support.
On a note that has personal echoes for my family it would be particularly appreciated if you could especially remember the children of officers who have moved and the new schools they will be attending. Many thanks.
I was also thrilled to be attending worship at two Corps over the last two weeks where the ‘Pray like Hannah’ approach to prayer has not just been mentioned but also prompted as a helpful and supportive way of praying and ministry to and for children.
Our children deserve our prayers and our personal investment because they teach us about the Kingdom of God with their simple approach to life.
As your young people return from Summer School, or their own holidays, and as they prepare to return to school, college, university, or the workplace assure them of your interest and support.
On a note that has personal echoes for my family it would be particularly appreciated if you could especially remember the children of officers who have moved and the new schools they will be attending. Many thanks.
New Start
Revelation 21:5 "And He that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."
With the sensory overload that accompanies a change of house, change of job, settling two children into family life that used to accommodate four children, we arrived in west Scotland.
The new neighbours were warm and friendly and fully lived up to the open hearted reputation that people in the west enjoy.
A new gym was enrolled in as well as the discovery of a new doctor and a new dentist. New ways of getting to work – walking – are also on the horizon as well as enjoying new fellowship with fellow pilgrims.
All of these new things mean that sleep comes very quickly at night but ‘…new every morning is the love of God’ (Lamentations 3:23)
The new life that I know in Jesus makes all of these other new things seem as nothing – the knowledge that, because I have new life in Jesus, He has led to this point in my life. Not one step would I change if it meant that I was out of the will of God and yet each and every day commenced with Him reminds me that I am, daily, a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Undoubtedly there will be many other new things to encounter but both Catherine and myself want to thank everyone who has made us feel so welcome as we become acquainted with our new roles. I would particularly thank the DHQ staff and regional team for preparations made and a very warm welcome to the working environment at Stepps.
Our passion is to see Salvationists fully immersed in life with Jesus and being full and purposeful disciples. We look forward very much to working with and for everyone associated with the Salvation Army in the West Scotland Division. God bless us all.
Revelation 21:5 "And He that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."
With the sensory overload that accompanies a change of house, change of job, settling two children into family life that used to accommodate four children, we arrived in west Scotland.
The new neighbours were warm and friendly and fully lived up to the open hearted reputation that people in the west enjoy.
A new gym was enrolled in as well as the discovery of a new doctor and a new dentist. New ways of getting to work – walking – are also on the horizon as well as enjoying new fellowship with fellow pilgrims.
All of these new things mean that sleep comes very quickly at night but ‘…new every morning is the love of God’ (Lamentations 3:23)
The new life that I know in Jesus makes all of these other new things seem as nothing – the knowledge that, because I have new life in Jesus, He has led to this point in my life. Not one step would I change if it meant that I was out of the will of God and yet each and every day commenced with Him reminds me that I am, daily, a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Undoubtedly there will be many other new things to encounter but both Catherine and myself want to thank everyone who has made us feel so welcome as we become acquainted with our new roles. I would particularly thank the DHQ staff and regional team for preparations made and a very warm welcome to the working environment at Stepps.
Our passion is to see Salvationists fully immersed in life with Jesus and being full and purposeful disciples. We look forward very much to working with and for everyone associated with the Salvation Army in the West Scotland Division. God bless us all.
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