Sad loss

Word is to hand of the shooting of the very gifted and dedicated leader of The Salvation Army in Pakistan. It seems that no-one is immune from the culture of death evident around the world. Too many seek to solve their problems through the barrel of a gun rather than through ways of peace. We should all seek to be not just peace lovers but peace makers in the place where find ourselves.

Innovate or enervate

If we don't innovate we'll enervate. If we are not always open to new ways of pursuing our mission while still maintaining old methods still workable we are on the way to extinction. We must move on from failure and build on success. Among more recent innovations in The Salvation Army have been the 614 street ministry by young people in central Melbourne, the Mainly Music outreach to parents and young children in many centres and the current tour of remote centres in South Australia and the Northern Territory by Commissioner James Knaggs and the Staff Songsters. These and other ventures require huge prayer support.

Middle of the road

When I was young I thought that everything was black or white, quite simply good or bad. But the responsibilities of leadership taught me that life is not always as simple as that. Sometimes the only choice is between grey and grey and good (and intelligent) people may be on both sides of an issue. Staying in the middle of the road may be all very well but it does mean being liable to getting hit by traffic going both ways! At election time we are subject to a barrage of opinions held, sincerely perhaps, by those on both sides of the political divide. The luxury of not making a decision is not for us. We have to balance considerations and use our best judgement. That's life. God help us!

The prize

It is almost sixty years since, while still in my teens, I commenced pastoral work for The Salvation Army in Wales. Since then I have served in the Army in England, Scotland, Australia and Canada. Frankly, I have not made a lot of money and I didn't expect to do so. But I have had an immensely fulfilling life of service. It would be hard to imagine what could have been more satisfying. Like everyone else I must have made many mistakes but overall God has been good and I am grateful. The Duke of Edinburgh said, 'The only prize worth winning is a clear conscience at the end of your days that you have lives a ...useful life'. I say Amen to that.

Exercise

I have just done some light exercises featured on T-V. No doubt I should do more. People in Biblical times before the advent of modern means of transport probably got a lot of exercise through walking about and were better for that but there was still the exhortation to exercise in godliness. I often try to combine physical and spiritual exercise by going on prayer walks. Sometimes I do a thanksgiving walk and never run out of matters for which to praise God. Sometimes I do a mental round up-of friends and associates for whom I pray. In a way I do not understand I am sure that my prayers help others. They certainly help me , but most importantly they honour God.