Founders' Day Concert

A rousing brass band, tuneful vocal singing, enthusiastic young people's musical sections and a well-choreographed Launceston Timbrel Brigade. Put them all together and you have a great celebration in music at Box Hill Corps in recognition of this Founders' Day weekend.

Right from the commencement, it was clearly evident that all were God-glorifying musicians gathering together to share God-inspired soul music ~ a truly God-honouring intention!

It was a personal delight for us to catch up with my former COs, Colonels Robin and Shona Forsyth, who are over from New Zealand as special guest leaders for this celebration weekend.

Blessed? You bet!

Four-Way Test

Since its inception, Rotary has been concerned in encouraging all Rotarians to promote high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is the Four-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. This 24-word test for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy.

Formally adopted by Rotary in 1943, the Four-Way Test is still a vital focus of its members today.

"Of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

Though developed initially for use in professional business contexts, its application can also be personally and spiritually relevant in a faith context. Wouldn't you agree?

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) ~ "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Shining Light

It's amazing what a bulb change can do. A different wattage; a brighter, whiter fluoro and suddenly you have a new energy-saving shine that lightens up the whole room. The dull becomes bright and gives the room a much clearer perspective.

Christian faith brings a brighter perspective to the light of daily life. As believers we are called to be beacons of God's love shining truth and justice to the world in which we live. So, how's your shine? The light challenge of Jesus' words need to be taken seriously.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV) ~ "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Boost For The Soul

Healthy living professionals declare that morning ritual shapes how we feel for the rest of the day and give varying tips we can follow to be refreshed and focused to the max. How right they are! Personal experience has proved that the best way to boost one's morning is to exercise the soul by enjoying an intentional time of prayer and devotion acknowledging God's presence and seeking His empowerment for daily graces.

Here's a refreshing prayer written by Commissioner William Cairns that boosted my soul this morning (sourced from his book, Conversational Prayers for Salvationists, p86).

"May today be one of those days that should be everyday when I remember to be courteous to those at home, at work, at recreation or at the place of study. May I not fail to commend when something is done well and if it is my place to correct when there is error, let me do it in love and understanding. Let me not overlook any opportunity to enrich somebody's life today. Help me to put you first in all things, Lord.

Pray it for yourself and boost your soul!

Psalm 90:14 (NIV) ~ "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

Awesome Acapella ~ Army-style!

A recently acquired CD has become another favourite to add to our collection. It's a collection of Salvation Army songs by the awesome UK acapella group, The King's Singers, with the album titled The Quiet Heart. If you haven't already heard it, you're missing out on a real blessing.

These words by Elizabeth Codner (from Song 295) are great for reflective prayer.

Lord, I hear of showers of blessing

Thou art scattering full and free,

Showers, the thirsty land refreshing;

Let some showers fall on me,

Even me.

Pass me not, O gracious Father,

Sinful though my heart may be;

Thou might'st leave me, but the rather

Let thy mercy light on me,

Even me.

Pass me not, O mighty Spirit,

Thou canst make the blind to see;

Witnesser of Jesus' merit,

Speak the word of power to me,

Even me.

Love of God so pure and changeless,

Blood of Christ so rich and free,

Grace of God so strong and boundless,

Magnify them all in me,

Even me.

Check out their interactive website ~ http://www.kingssingers.com/homepage.htm

India-national Appointment

When God is central to our living, there are no boundaries or impossibilities. Our preconceived ideas and unrealistic expectations have no place in determining the will of God.

Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Robin Dunster, recently announced another historic international leadership appointment decided upon by General Shaw Clifton.

EFFECTIVE 1 AUGUST 2007
COMMISSIONER P MARY RAJAKUMARI, an officer of the India Central Territory currently serving as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries in the India Western Territory, is appointed as Territorial Commander, India Western Territory, in succession to her husband, Commissioner P D Krupa Das, who was promoted to Glory last week.

I know that you will remember the commissioner in prayer at this time, as she courageously prepares to continue the ministry that she shared with her husband.

It's a real delight to see the giftedness of women being recognized in leadership. I commend the Indian article "Women within The Salvation Army" for your reading.

God bless, equip and use Commissioner P Mary Rajakumari in her new leadership role!

God bless the India Western Territory as they seek to "help all people find fullness of life in relationship with the living Christ, discovered through the Scriptures and demonstrated by holy living in peace and harmony with others"!

1 Thessalonians 5:12 (MSG) ~ "And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!"

2Love

The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory are re-launching youth and children's ministries under a new banner - 2Love.

Our divisional website includes this statement:

"We're all about the two greatest loves - loving God, and loving others. You can't do one without the other! Trying to love God without loving others would be like wanting to go for a swim, but not wanting to get wet! Loving others comes with loving God - just like getting wet goes with swimming."

I like the pictorial language used here. It reminds us that Christian love is, above all, practical in nature. Love is never only an emotive feeling or theoretical concept, but a deeply practical expression that influences lives and situations for the better. Hence, the complimentary phrase "Love in action".

Lord, bless us all 2Love!

1 Corinthians 13:13 (MSG) ~ "Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."

Prevailing Purposeful Plans

When man fails, you can be sure that God prevails. This was a truth experienced by us today as we went about our ministry. Circumstances beyond our control meant that the expected structure of our normal routine was interrupted and we were faced with an unexpected "fly by the seat of our pants" situation.

What could have become a bitter outcome in our 'heated' minds proved to be a better (no, the best) outcome as we relied totally on God's leading. His constant promise to us when our own plans are thwarted is "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper not to harm...plans to give hope and a future." (Jer 29:11)

So, next time you're faced with an unexpected situation, rely upon the ability of God to lead the way. He expects us too and, in doing so, we find all our own expectations are fulfilled beyond measure.

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) ~ "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."

Mooroolbark Corps

Upbeat music, relaxed atmosphere and a local school auditorium ~ put them all together and you have the vibrant worship community of Mooroolbark Corps. Dabak and I were privileged to gather together with them in worship this morning, along with our friends Bram and Pat Peck.

Their corps officers, Captains Clint and Karen Castley, provide intentional spiritual leadership to these genuine people of God as they seek to be 'an authentic Christian community dynamically living out God's mission in a broken world'. We were challenged to consider our personal attitudes toward life and faith with the question, What does your face say about you? and encouraged to seek to discover God in all matters and all circumstances.

While we're talking about faces, as we looked around we saw the face of Christ in those who gathered for worship and evidenced their obedient heart response to God. And that's the honest face value of it all.

Ephesians 4:22-25 (NIV) ~ "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Homecoming

It's nice to be away, but it's good to come home! This picture drawn by Erika Aoyama depicts a well-known adage.

Quite true, don't you agree? We often use this saying when we want to express that our true home is with someone or somewhere that we love the most. Consider this then from a Christian faith perspective. Our True Home is living in the presence of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We hope for our eternity because we are merely transients on this earth ~ passing through on our way home to our eternal dwelling.

Bill and Gloria Gaither are renown for their Homecoming concerts, where believers celebrate their confident hope and faith assurance with the joyous expectation of eternity. Why? Because Home is where the heart is...in the Father heart of God's presence, safe and sound.

That's our destiny ~ a Glorious Homecoming!

2 Corinthians 5:4-5 (MSG) ~ "Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less."

Great Ocean Road

250+ kilometres of smooth winding roads and amazingly stunning scenic sights. That's the reward of travelling along the Great Ocean Road from Allansford to Anglesea as we did today. God's most truly breathtaking scenic creation!

A highlight ~ stopping off at Apollo Bay and looking out at the blue waters rolling in just as our CD started playing "When Jesus looked o'er Gallilee, so cool and calm and fair..."

Oh and by the way...London Bridge has fallen down! Here's a photo I took to prove it.
Psalm 104:24 (MSG) ~ "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations."

Precious Friends

"There is a scene where spirits blend, and friend holds fellowship with friend..." (Song 573, verse 3)

What a precious scene this is! Even more so to experience it first-hand as we have over recent days. Our holiday travels have taken us westward (?) to South Australia where we spent six beautiful days based in Victor Harbor with colleague friends, Bob and Valis McDonald. It was time truly God-ordained and blessed. They are certainly God's appointed to SA ministry in this relaxed and friendly community.

Next, we renewed fellowship with our sessional friends, Ian & Sue Muirhead (pictured below). They are precious God-influential folk who live right in the centre of God's will. Praise God for their deep and wide faith that is continuing to reach out to others with the love of our boundless and amazing God.
Then, we met up with Frank Reynolds, a retired officer friend living in suburban Adelaide. A special visit to our favourite winery for a small 'non-alcoholic' purchase followed by a fellowship meal and coffee was our communion of friends that day. So refreshing!

That brings us to tonight, stopping off here in Victoria's west, Warrnambool, enroute back home. We've had a further great opportunity to catch up with another sessional mate, Gordon Main. With his wife, Dianne (who was away at women's camp!), they shepherd the Army's worship and social community in seeking others to "believe, belong and become" God's inspiring people.

I love the way that Michael W Smith expressed the joy and value of Christian friendship and fellowship when he wrote these words:

...friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never 'cause the welcome will not end

"...spirits blend and friend holds fellowship with friend..."

Eternal friendship and precious fellowship...bring it on, Lord!

BOOST!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time of physical relaxation and spiritual refreshment at our annual BOOST! (EVD Officers Fellowship) last week in Geelong.

A variety of interesting guest speakers ~ Karen Gatt (of Clothesline Diet fame), Kim Hammond (Director of Forge Victoria), Tom Hafey (former Collingwood coach/motivational speaker) and Pastor Bill Brown (Syndal Baptist) ~ each brought much blessing and inspiration.

BOOST for the body, mind and soul.
Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord.

Psalm 119:73 (MSG) ~ "...let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high."

Now, it's off to South Australia for a week. More later...

On His Mind, In His Heart Always!

When the people of Israel were feeling down and despondent, they thought that God had abandoned them for good ~ forgotten and never to be remembered. And God, in his unlimited grace, provided a messenger to speak his words of reassurance they needed to hear.

Isaiah 49:15b-16a (NIV) ~ "I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands"

Yes, God's message is just as relevant for us today as it was then. In times of despair, doubt and difficulty comes the personal assurance that we are on his mind, in his heart always!

General Albert Orsborn grasped this experience well when he wrote these confident words of encouragement as found in chorus 125 of The Salvation Army's songbook.

He cannot forget me

Though trials beset me

Forever His promise shall stand.

He cannot forget me
Though trials beset me
My name's on the palm of his hand.

Hallelujah! God is our truly reliable Palm Pilot.

It's Party Time!

Today was an extra special day in our household. Dabak celebrated another birthday and we enjoyed a family dinner party at a restaurant of her choice. With joyful exuberance she announced to all, "Thanks for your presence and your presents!" I have to say I agreed whole-heartedly with her sentiment of thanksgiving.

How blessed we are as God's people when we come into His presence seeking Him with fullness of heart and mind. In His presence we find presents of grace for our enjoyment and benefit. When we live in accordance with His holy will, all of Heaven celebrates.

How much more, then, when a lost soul seeking renewal and purpose finds their way home into God's heart for the very first time. The Bible tells us that the angels party with wild abandon! (refer Luke 15:8) So, too, we rejoice as they begin to unwrap all that the Gift-giver has to offer them. God is always doing great things and we have every reason to celebrate His goodness.

Psalm 91:14 (MSG) ~ "Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"