Mother's Day?

This year, as in previous years, I've been caused to reflect on the relevance of the celebration of Mother's Day. Once again I'm reminded that, while I celebrate this annual occasion with a deep sense of personal joy, delight and gratitude in honour of my own mother, there is an ever-increasing number of people who are negativcly affected in signifcant ways by this day for a variety of personal reasons.

My personal reflections are impacted greatly by my role as both a chaplain and minister of religion in a number of cultural and spiritual settings over the past 14 years and have led me to the point of really questioning the relevance of celebrating Mother's Day within our faith communities and places of worship. More and more I am convinced that the Church needs to move away from a corporate and public worship celebration focus of this day, which encompasses a pletora of human emotion stemming from a kaleidoscope of life experiences.

If the Church is to truly be a place where love, acceptance, belonging and unity are fostered, then it would do well to respond compassionately by ceasing to focus on celebrating an occasion that creates much deep isolation and personal pain in the lives of those to whom it seeks to reach out effectively.

World Mission Fellowship (WMF)

Having served appointments in overseas service, held the office of WMF Secretary, and currently have the privilege of being a financial member of The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory's World Mission Fellowship (WMF), I can personally vouch for the fact that this fellowship group is both vital and effective in supporting our personnel on overseas service ~ through the means of much needed intercessory prayer and financial funding.

Want to find out more about the WMF, and discover how you, too, can get on board with your support?

Check out their newly-developed website ~ http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/wmf

Help keep the Lord's "Great Commission" World Mission alive in the frontlines of Salvation Army international service!

Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT) ~ "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Holy Spirit...Move In Me

I'm still thinking and reflecting on yesterday's morning worship service - the visit of the Melbourne Staff Songsters to Melbourne's 614 Corps in the heart of the city.

I must confess to harbouring my own personal reservations about so many aspects of the scheduled worship and fellowship time, yet recall coming away feeling fully blessed, inspired and challenged because of the Holy Spirit's interaction that took place - both corporately, individually and, most notably, personally.

Majors Brendan and Sandra Nottle are genuine servants of God who pursue godly vision in constantly expressing the love of God in action without barriers. The phenomenal assurance of God's grace at work in people's lives was very evident, and a visible evidence of the Spirit's 'invisible' personal interaction.

Tonight during rehearsal our executive officer, Major Judith Soeters, shared some of the known spiritual victories that were celebrated in God's presence yesterday, and I guess...no, I know... that many more spiritual fruits are 'in progress' even now.

The MSS sang Nathan Rowe's composition, Holy Spirit, Move in Me - and I echo that prayer once again deep within me.

God's Heart...Our Dream

This evening I attended our Eastern Victoria divisional welcome and installation meeting to incoming Divisional Commander, Lieut-Colonel Jocelyn Knapp, and Major Cilla Bone, who takes up an additional appointment as Divisional Women's Ministries Secretary.

The new divisional leadership duo encouraged us to seek God's heart as we work together to become an 'Isaiah 58 Division' focussed on:

• loosing the 'chains of injustice'
• setting the 'oppressed free'
• being compassionate and responsive to the needs of our communities
• trusting God whole-heartedly to release the power of His healing, redemption and restoration in the lives of those we serve and minister to.

What a vision! ...and, together with God, what a sure reality!

Our incoming leaders shared their thoughts of GOD'S HEART, OUR DREAM...

For Our Mission Centres: Corps, Social Centres, Divisional Headquarters...

God desires...

• that there be plenty of prayer - less bickering and put downs
• that reputations are to be left intact - and harmful gossip has no place
• that fairness and justice be the standard - less inequality or positional exploitation
• that the focus is on the needs of the marginalized - less concern about preserving status/position

God wants...

• human dignity, justice, hope, compassion and community to be values which guide all decisions
• that money, personal ambition, personal preferences or personal satisfaction take a lesser place
• all personnel - volunteers, employees, officers, male or female - know that they are made in God's image and equally respected by all in leadership, and all given opportunities for self-development

God asks...

• that the atmosphere will be open and welcoming
• attitudes will be accepting and non-judgmental
• that all age-groups, from children to retirees, will be listened to, appreciated and encouraged to serve
• that opinions will be valued, without others taking a defensive position
• that language will be inclusive, in both the spoken and the written word

Psalm 37:4 (NIV) ~ "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires."

A Believer's Prayer

I always thank God for giving me a most beautiful wife who is a constant inspiration to me. I am wonderfully blessed to have such a loving life and ministry partner.

Four years ago, at a time of great personal pain, Dabak composed the words and music to a song she entitled, A Believer's Prayer. Major Howard Davies kindly assisted by writing onto manuscript the vocal parts and piano accompaniment she played. The result was a composition that has blessed me personally on numerous occasions, as well as many others who have heard it since.

Here are the words for your own reflection.

Create in me a heart that’s pure and true
That through my life Your will I’ll gladly do
Equip me Lord, with wisdom from above
That I may know Your peace and love
Through calm or storm Your presence I would know
Through joy or pain Your comfort me bestow
Transformed into Your likeness, Lord, I pray
That I may serve You well today

I believe in Christ we can be strong!
I believe that to Christ we belong!
I believe we live in one accord
And from my heart I thank You Lord!

Your plans for me I may not understand
But this I know, my future’s in Your hand
Help me to always look into Your face
That I may know Your daily grace
Give me that grace to do my Master’s will
Give me Your strength to conquer ev’ry hill
Give me Your pow’r to live victoriously
Your faithful servant now to be

Valuing Faith & Community

Often it's very easy to take the blessings of life for granted. So with purposeful planning, we met in worship today at Inala Chapel determined to value our Christian faith and those within our worshipping community.

Reflecting on the privilege of personal salvation and the need for pursuing holiness, we considered the spiritual blessings made available to us through Christ under the theme, "Come, Feast At The Table".

The Inala Choir brought much inspiration with their sensitive rendition of "At the table of the Lord", reminding us to be always be open to experiencing the hope, peace, love and grace of God that brings fulness of life as we claim the promises of God everyday.

A special feature of our meeting was an acknowledgement of the ministry and service of Major Win Barker, who has faithfully served the Lord as Chapel Pastoral Care Officer for the past 10 years. Win's effective ministry of personal care and concern has been greatly valued by the chapel fellowship at large. The wording on the appreciation card said it all: "Everything you do for the Lord matters, and everything you do for others is an expression of God's abundant love to you." Win's personal dedication in developing an effective pastoral ministry has certainly been beneficial both on a corporate and individual level that only eternity itself will reveal.

In a further endeavour to strengthen our faith community, fifty people gathered together around common meal tables to share a fellowship luncheon. Social interaction over a scrumptious menu certainly enhanced our spiritual bond of fellowship, with the highlight being the spirited singing of grace - "Be present at our table, Lord".

Feasting on God's 'banquet of grace' was, and always is, most valuable!

"Come and take your place at the banquet of grace.

There is room at the table for you."

(Joseph M Martin - At the table of the Lord)

South Barwon: Spirit-led

One of the highlights of being a member of the Melbourne Staff Songsters is the opportunity to visit many different corps (Salvo churches) in order to promote the gospel and provide spiritual and personal encouragement to those who attend worship in their respective local communities.

Though sometimes we do so, we should never underestimate the power and ability of God's Holy Spirit to minister through gospel music. Singing as an act of worship is not purposed solely for corporate entertainment, but is a God-inspired and blessed medium of sharing the message of God's love, as well as being a means of creating a worshipful atmosphere where people feel comfortable to openly communicate with God on a very deep and personal level.

Praise be to God for moving in hearts and lives by both confirming and challenging many with a reminder that His grace is more than sufficient for their every need.

I encourage you to pray for the ministry team at South Barwon - Majors David & Gloria Eldridge and Lieutenant Aaron Stobie. Together they are serving God well in building the Kingdom by offering exciting opportunities for people to personally encounter the grace of God upon their lives.