A Powerful Assurance

While chatting with a few nursing home residents this morning, the conversation topic turned to the global financial crisis the world is facing. In response to our discussion, one of the Salvo residents piped up, "Cap, I lived through the 30s Depression, and I said it then and I say it now: 'Take the world, but give me Jesus. He alone can satisfy...'!"

The comment, though unpredictable, was full of Christian optimism and made us all smile in agreement. The resident's personal experience spoke loud and clear about her own priorities and the important role that faith and hope continue to play in her own journey.

Never underestimate the power of personal assurance!

Song 6, verse 2 ~ Albert Ernest Dalziel
Forbid that man's achievements should cause our faith to wane
Or seek in human wisdom our spirit to sustain
Lord, surely thou art shaping all things to thy design
And born of this conviction is faith to match our time.

A Timely Word For The World

As the world is experiencing the uncertainties of the global financial crisis, here's a timely word from God's Word that we considered in our chapel service today.

Romans 8:18 ~ “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Paul goes on the mention God's 'gift of hope'. Likewise, the Bible points us to a hope that is greater than the world we live in. We are reminded that we need to live life with an eternal perspective. If we are in Christ, we have been infused with an eternal sense of hopefulness.

Romans 8:24-25 ~ "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Faith in Christ keeps us from settling for the things of this world, and Christian hope helps us turn our eyes away from our own pain to focus on God's glory.

Hallelujah, we have the hope of future glory now!

General Change 2009

AUSTRALIA SOUTHERN TERRITORY
2009 TERRITORIAL CHANGES OF APPOINTMENT (effective 14 January 2009)

The Territorial Commander has approved the following appointments:

TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY
Major
Trevor Pickens ~ Assistant Territorial Literary Secretary, National Editorial Department – Effective 15 November 2008
Captain
June Knop ~ Editorial Assistant , National Editorial Department
Kerryn Roberts ~ Executive Support Officer

TRAINING COLLEGE
Major
Sandy Crowden ~ External Lecturer – Additional
Wayne Ennis ~ Senior Lecturer
Grattan Savage ~ Dean of Studies and Education Officer – Additional
Glenda Savage ~ Personnel Officer
Judith Soeters ~ Assistant Training Principal
Captain
David Janssen ~ Training Officer
Brad Potter ~ Field Programme Officer
Katrina Potter ~ Training Officer

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY FOR BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Major
Bram Cassidy ~ Assistant Territorial Public Relations Secretary / Operations Manager
Daryl Crowden ~ Territorial Overseas Development Consultant – Additional
Gary Hart ~ Overseas Development Director – Additional
Mark Kop ~ Territorial Planned Giving Operations Manager, PRD – Effective 15 November 2008

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY FOR PERSONNEL
Lt-Colonel
Lyndon Spiller ~ Pastoral Care Officer, Pastoral Care Centre
Major
Jennifer Mundy ~ Officer Resource Secretary, Personnel Department

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY FOR PROGRAMME
Major
Jean Cassidy ~ Employment Plus, Chaplain Region South
Robyn Fernihough ~ Assistant Territorial Social Programme Secretary
Winton Knop ~ Territorial Corps Programme Secretary
Kelvin Merrett ~ Growing Healthy Corps Network Consultant – Additional
Susan May ~ Red Shield Defence Services, Representative (Northern Territory)
Robert Paterson ~ Melbourne Staff Band, Executive Officer – Additional
Captain
Kylie Collinson ~ Assistant Territorial Youth Secretary, Corps Programme Dept
June Knop ~ Territorial 24/7 Prayer Coordinator, Corps Programme Dept – Additional
Genevieve Peterson ~ Territorial Social Policy Consultant, Social Programme Dept
Envoy
Sonia Jeffrey ~ Territorial Children's Ministries Secretary, Corps Programme Dept

OFFICE OF THE TERRITORIAL PRESIDENT FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
Major
Sally-Anne Allchin ~ Assistant Territorial Director Women's Ministries/Resources & Outer Circle Secretary

DIVISIONS

EASTERN VICTORIA DIVISION
Major
Jennifer & Peter Anderson ~ Bentleigh, Corps Officers
Colin & Karen Elkington ~ Doncaster, Corps Officers
Warren Elliott ~ Waverley Temple, Corps Officer
Jean Kaus ~ Positive Lifestyle Centre Eastern Region, Manager – Additional
Lyn & Peter Lindstrom ~ Swinburne (New Plant), Planting Officers
Gregory & Priya Morgan ~ Box Hill, Corps Officers
Wendy Oliver ~ Ringwood Court, Court Chaplain
Captain
Kirsten Elliott ~ Waverley Temple, Corps Officer
Cheryl & Martin Lees ~ Mountain View, Corps Officers
Lynda Price ~ Dandenong Positive Lifestyle Centre, Case Worker
Richard Price ~ South East Services Network, Chaplain
Naomi & Phillip Shelton ~ Pakenham, Corps Officers
Daniel & Melissa Templeman-Twells ~ Warragul, Corps Officers
Bruce & Naomi Thorne ~ Traralgon, Corps Officers
Kathryn Vale ~ Assistant Divisional Secretary Women’s Ministries/Divisional Playgroup Coordinator
Christine & Michael Wright ~ Rosebud, Corps Officers
Envoy
Judy Shaw ~ Rowville, Corps Officer

MELBOURNE CENTRAL DIVISION
Major
Daryl & Sandy Crowden ~ Preston, Corps Officers
Beth Holman ~ Alcohol & Drug Rehabilitation for Women, Bridgehaven, Chaplain
Captain
Cheryl Butcher ~ Brunswick, Assistant Corps Officer
Catherine & Christopher Garcia ~ Divisional Youth Officers
Erica & Peter Jones ~ Brunswick Corps Officers
Jason Davies-Kildea ~ Divisional Social Programme Secretary
Michelle Davies-Kildea ~ Chaplain, Courts & Prisons Network

NORTHERN TERRITORY
Major
Wendy Friend ~ Regional Public Relations Secretary – Additional
Karina Wood ~ Regional Youth, Children & Candidates Secretary
Peter Wood ~ Red Shield Hostel, Manager & Top End Social Programme Chaplain
Captain
Craig & Maree White ~ Darwin, Corps Officers

NORTHERN VICTORIA DIVISION
Major
David & Fiona Bartlett ~ Red Cliffs, Corps Officers
Captain
Allan & Carolyn Kerr ~ Kyabram, Corps Officers
Nari & Stuart McGifford ~ Eaglehawk, Corps Officers
Gerald & Mairi Mitchell ~ Seymour, Corps Officers
Simon Pickens ~ Divisional Youth, Children & Candidates Secretary
Envoys
Stewart & Heather Stamp ~ Swan Hill, Corps Officers

SOUTH AUSTRALIA DIVISION
Major
Jenny Craib ~ Divisional Secretary Women's Ministries
Dulcie & Ken Parnell ~ Victor Harbour, Corps Officers
Daryl & Maureen Rawlings ~ Divisional Social Programme Chaplains
Andrew Ruthven ~ Divisional Programme Secretary
Leanne Ruthven ~ Divisional Secretary
Captain
Robert & Roslyn Casburn ~ Copper Coast, Corps Officers
Alan & Marilyn Jenner ~ Millicent/Naracoorte, Corps Officers
Colin & Kylie Palstra ~ Oakden, Corps Officers
Clare & Matt Reeve ~ Adelaide Congress Hall, Assistant Corps Officers
Graham & Kathleen Stanley ~ Semaphore, Corps Officers

TASMANIA DIVISION
Major
Kaye Seccombe ~ Hobart, Assistant Corps Officer
Captain
Judith Brown ~ Burnie, Corps Officer
Claire & Timothy Watson ~ Carlton, Corps Officers

WESTERN AUSTRALIA DIVISION
Major
Debra Stevens ~ Divisional Secretary Women's Ministries
Patricia Willhelme ~ Chaplain, Aged Care & Seaforth Gardens
Captain
Clyde Colls ~ Gosnells, Corps Officer – Additional
Margaret Colls ~ Gosnells, Corps Officer
Dean & Kaye Hill ~ Mobile Outback Ministry - North West
Michelle Myles ~ Armadale, Corps Officer
Nikki Novell ~ Divisional Candidates Secretary – Additional
Brendon Robertson ~ Bridge House, Assistant
Scott Smallacombe ~ Harry Hunter Service, Assistant Manager
Andrew & Jeanette van Gaalen ~ Floreat, Corps Officers
Charles & Sharon Watson ~ Bentley, Corps Officers
Cadets in Appointment
Alison & Gareth MacDonald ~ Northam, Corps Officers

WESTERN VICTORIA DIVISION
Major
Bruce Cassidy ~ Geelong, Corps Officer
Dorothy Poke ~ Kardinia Network Chaplain, Geelong
Captain
Joy Cassidy ~ Geelong, Corps Officer
Allan & Glenda Morrison ~ Horsham, Corps Officers

OVERSEAS & EXCHANGE OFFICERS

INTER TERRITORIAL APPOINTMENTS
Captains Cathy & Darren Elkington ~ to New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory
Captains Allan & Carolyn Kerr ~ from Australia Eastern Territory

RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA SOUTHERN TERRITORY
Majors Daryl & Sandy Crowden
Majors Andrew & Leanne Ruthven

RETURNING TO HOME TERRITORY
Majors Laurie & Simone Robertson ~ Australia Eastern Territory
Majors Mark & Tracy Bearcroft ~ UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland

GENERAL

ON LEAVE
Major Stuart Hamilton
Majors Beth & Graham Roberts
Captain Jeff Vale
Captain Chris Rowley

endorsed by : Commissioner James Knaggs, Territorial Commander, Australia Southern Territory
Thursday 9 October 2008

North Pole Expedition

I was privileged to listen to an inspirational talk by Louise "Ig-Lou" Allard (pictured right) about her 100+km expedition to the North Pole with the 8-member Australian Polar Extreme team. Upon reaching the North Pole on 18 April 2006, Louise went down in the history books as the first Australian woman, and along with her husband, Wayne, the first Australian married couple, to ski to the North Pole. What an achievement!

The ski trip was a tough and challenging one. The team had a hard time making headway in the first few days, with negative drift taking the team south (away from the pole) at up to 10km per day. Compounding the problems were strong northerly winds and unseasonally warm temperatures, between -5 and -15C, which caused large expanses of open water that both hindered progress and made for exciting travel. Two kayaks towed as sleds were employed on a number of occasions to cross open leads from 2-10 metres wide.
After days of what seemed like futile effort, the wind and drift stopped, the sun came out and the temperatures began to drop, eventually reaching the expected -30C. Progress sped up accordingly and the tight-knit and motivated team finally reached the North Pole, a day ahead of schedule.

In her own words, the expedition was "30% physical and 70% mental." Her personal experience and encouraging message to all present was that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. And furthermore, nothing is off limits when you work together as a team!

Spiritually-speaking, we are all on a expedition to eternity. We each need the support of those around us to bring out the best in us. And, knowing that we have God on our side, we can face the future with great confidence.

Luke 1:37 (NIV) ~ "For nothing is impossible with God."

Mission Uganda

Tonight's World Mission Fellowship meeting was most interesting and informative. Major Sylvia Gray (R) shared about her recent mission trip to Uganda, where she gave six months voluntary service at "The Bulrushes", a home for orphaned and abandoned babies operated by the Watoto Organization in Kampala. Sylvia's moving presentation reached our hearts and moved us to care through prayer!

'The Bulrushes' care facility was opened in early 2007 to give loving care to abandoned and rejected babies. These tiny premature babies and toddlers have been found on rubbish heaps, in trash cans or abandoned in hospitals and police stations, and were brought to their new home where they now find acceptance and unconditional love. When these babies are old enough to enter a Watoto Children’s Village, they continue their journey to become Uganda’s next generation of leaders.

The Watoto organization has the motto: "Rescue a child - Raise a leader - Rebuild a nation". It is the result of God's calling upon a dedicated Christian couple who are intentional about resourcing change and transforming lives.

Check out their story on their website: http://www.watoto.com/ and pray for their ongoing ministry. You'll be blessed that you did!

James 1:27 (NIV) ~ "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Rewarding Faith

Faith is one of the most crucial terms in the entire Bible. It denotes the trust one has in another, but it also conveys the idea of the God’s trustworthiness or reliability. Faith is not a passive resignation to life; rather, it is a confidence that God will fulfill His promises and, as a result, causes people to act upon those commands that lead to the promises. Faith means both to believe and to be faithful to the belief. Faith is not a noun, it is a verb!

Genuine Christian faith invites us to respond obediently to God in love, assured that He in return rewards us with all we need.

A faith-filled life is a victorious life, for FAITH STRENGTHENS OUR RESOLVE and RESOLVES OUR WEAKNESSES.

Be encouraged to live by faith everyday and allow God to strengthen your resolve, knowing that as you trust Him believingly, you will resolve your weaknesses in His strength and experience God-confident, Christ-victorious living.

Romans 15:13 (NLT) ~ “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

God's Word

Paul Harrington, rector of the Holy Trinity Church in Adelaide, commences his feature article entitled "A Spiritual Famine" with the following.

"I met a senior Adelaide based Christian leader the other day who was lamenting the state of churches around Adelaide. His observation was that pastors and churches have lost confidence in the gospel to change lives and are failing to teach the Bible to their people.
This gels with trends in church life over recent decades in Australia. Preaching has been swallowed up by communication. Even in orthodox churches where the authority of God's word is upheld in theory, my friend tells me that in practice the Bible is still not opened and explained in public meetings."
(Trinity Times, August 2008)

This rocked me and yet didn't complete shock me either! God's Word is imperative to spiritual development. Consider this word from the Apostle Paul.

"Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (MSG)

I was encouraged to read his concluding sentence: "...our leaders are committed to God's Word and (we) ask all members of our community to affirm this with us. Keep praying that in all our ministries and relationships we will allow the God of the Bible to direct our steps."

Let's not 'water down' the gospel for the sake of popularity, but use it to keep us on track and shape us in the ways of God!

Lord, You have given us a spiritual banquet in Christ.