HUFFERS & PUFFERS

CELEBRATION DAY

A man caught a taxi for his journey, and on the way to his destination he decided to change his destination. Leaning forward the man gently tapped the taxi driver on the shoulder to give the amended directions. At this the taxi veered across the road, over the footpath, and crashed through a white picket fence. Shaken, the man apologised to the taxi driver for distracting him and causing the carnage. To which the taxi driver said he was completely responsible for his own collision. He further informed the man, that it was his first day as a taxi driver, and that for his employment during the last 25 years, he had driven a hearse.



The ‘Huffers and Puffers’ a band of retirees performed at the Home League Celebration day. The concert contained secular sing-along music that the toe-tapping oldies enjoyed immensely. It was a great day!!!


Proverbs 17:22 (Message)
A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

WORK SPACE

Expectations from others, that at an instant you are available to do their every wish. Including wallowing around in rubbish and garbage in your nice clean, neat, clothes. This is very frustrating.

Analyse!! The main problem, as in every place I have been appointed, is insufficient space for staff to work and little or no storage. Whenever something is required, four other things have to happen first, so that space is available.

What does God have to rearrange for Him to have space in my life?


Galatians 2:21 (Message)
I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

THINKING TIME

Just catching a few moments after lunch. It is valuable to just sit, rest, and have some time to gather your thoughts. It has been a busy time in one way or another, and it has not ended yet. The Home League Celebration Day is on Wednesday, so that is the next major event to occur. However in thinking ahead we can miss the ordinary/normal events that still need to occur. So a few moments to settle are of great value.



Romans 12:3 (Message)
I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

PSA

Pleasant Sunday Afternoon

It was a great afternoon, and pleasant as well. The Latrobe City Brass Band, with the Morwell Band, Singers, Timbrels, and also special guests Dean & Dayna Roberts, provided well-presented music for the enjoyment of all. Major Gwyn mentioned the “Pencil Philosophy” in her comment.

The afternoon was capped off with a cuppa, and plenty of time to chat.

2 Chron. 7:6 (Message)
The priests were all on duty; the choir and orchestra of Levites that David had provided for singing and playing anthems to the praise and love of God were all there; across the courtyard the priests blew trumpets. All Israelites were on their feet.

SUMMER TIME

Tonight the clocks are to be turned forward one hour, as at 2am tomorrow we commence daylight saving or summer time.
It is a great time of year, as we have an extra hour of daylight to enjoy life outdoors.

Proverbs 23:17-18 (Message)

Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—That's where your future lies. Then you won't be left with an armload of nothing.

ELECTION

Federal Election.

In election campaigns there are many promises made by all candidates. One of the areas that I find interesting is what happens in the campaign of the incumbent government. I notice that after 3 years in government, suddenly there is money available to meet many and varied projects, and also taxation relief for individuals.

Is this good government?
Is this vote buying?
Who is more important, the voters or the politician?


Micah 6:8 (Message)
But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbour, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.

RAM

One of the interesting, but frustrating, aspects of moving to new appointment is the equipment you find when you arrive. In particular, regarding the multi-media equipment. Whilst I am not an overly computer literate person, I can get by with a general understanding of the basic aspects of computer use.
Having purchased two multi-media computers in other places, I am aware of the major requirement of sufficient RAM for general multi-media operations. We just want to see the face of our multi-media operator on Sunday, as we have increased the computers RAM from 256MB to 1.256GB. We expect a big smile!

James 5:11 (Message)
What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.

SORTING

Today we were sorting some things out which were part of the last financial Year. It is interesting how small things understood differently can have an enormous impact. People all working to the same end, who work in offices 150 km apart, making assumptions that were quite different from each other. Even with modern technology, the human element is still an important link in the system.

The work of the last 3 days has given us an important knowledge base to encourage our site to operate under more efficient processes for the future.

Small adjustments here and there, will be of great value to all the staff, as we endeavour to meet the spiritual and physical needs of our community.



2 Timothy 4:1-2. (JB Phillips)
I solemnly charge you, Timothy, in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead, by his appearing and his kingdom, to preach the Word of God. Never lose your sense of urgency, in season or out of season. Prove, correct, and encourage, using the utmost patience in your teaching.

Bands

Yesterday we went to Warragul for a band concert. The Salvation Army Household Troops Band from UK, were visiting on their tour. It was a brilliant night, with skilled musicians. All whom I have spoken with, have reported how great they felt with the whole night.

Tonight we had a combined practice with the Latrobe City Brass Band, and our Corps Band in preparation for a pleasant Sunday afternoon on Sunday. Well, all I will say is that the skill level was different from that of the Monday night concert.

Psalm 100:4 (Message)

Enter with the password: "Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.

REST

Did you have a nice holiday?
Yes!!!

Although after 4 days it’s hard to remember. Take yesterday for an example. We left home at 7am to journey to Melbourne, concluded the 3 things that had to be done, got back to the office for 2pm, I had cricket training at 4.45pm, Singers Practice at 7pm, Band rehearsal at 8pm, and 9.30pm thought about some tea. Well, nothing unusual really!

Yes it was a good rest, and we were able to catch up with some folk and hear about their journey over the past year.


Genesis 2:2 (Message)
By the seventh day
God had finished his work.
On the seventh day
he rested from all his work.

SOLDIER FIRST

I have read some comments lately about the role and abilities of officers within The Salvation Army. Most seem to elevate the role of an officer to a position supremely above that of a soldier. Officership is a role that can only be filled in response to the call of God on the person. For myself, after some years of rejection, and rebellion, the time came when there was surrender to the deep ache in my spirit, this then culminated in a deep peace. Rightly or wrongly, I see myself as a soldier first, who fulfils the role of an officer. Each soldier or officer has a specific giftedness, and abilities, which are unique to the body of believers. Can we celebrate the diversity of the body, without making pedestals, and categories, and boxes to restrict our individual roles?

2 Timothy 2:20 (JB Phillips)
In any big household there are naturally not only gold and silver vessels but wooden and earthenware ones as well.

TANK-FULL

The empty tank has been filled and has 6 residents. Tick another thing to be done, off the list.

Played cricket yesterday, lost by 84 runs.

Last day of furlough, back to the office tomorrow.

Romans 12:3 I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him. (Message)

HUG

Give me a hug!

SUCCESS

The journey to Wonthaggi was a partial success, as the actual grave of William James Rowe was not located, however we found some other people to search out.

With the MotoGP at Philip Island this weekend the roads were filled with motorcycles heading to the big race. There is great expectation for the race as the Australian, Casey Stoner, the new world champion will be muscling his machine around the circuit. I also, desire that Casey have further success.



Hebrews 12:1 (Message)
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

TO-DO LIST

Today, flexibility and mature age are poles apart. It seemed an appropriate time at the end of furlough to do some things that have been on the to-do list since we arrived in January. One was setting up our satellite dish, this happened to be today’s job to complete. Well, it’s up with 99% signal strength. The journey through the roof cavity proved to be rather strenuous, as the flexibility of my youth has disappeared somewhere.

Following this theme, it must follow that we tick of another item, to visit Wonthaggi Cemetery to find the grave of William James Rowe, who died on 14th December 1937, aged 85.

What a journey, from youth to the grave!



2 Tim. 2:22 (Message)
Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.

THE SEEKER

Today we went to the movies. The movie we saw was ‘The Seeker ~ The Dark is Rising’. It was an enjoyable movie where the main character had to collect a number of items to have the strength to be victorious.

There may be times when we set our sites on collecting things, rather than being the person we were created to be.



Ephes. 2:10 (Message)
No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

GROWING

I find it encouraging and refreshing to sit under the ministry of others as they share their understanding of God’s word. ACC was one of these great times of encouragement and refreshment. There were also times of challenge, which was the Holy Spirit confirming that the biblical teaching was in line with God’s will.

I see this situation quite differently from those who sit in meetings where the Word of God is shared, with an attitude of “bless me if you can”. We are all called to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18) It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus Christ and his teaching to us as individuals. (John 15:26) There are those who sit in worship and want everyone else to be responsible for their inability to grow and develop in Christ. Having just enough religion to be miserable. They need CHRIST to make them joyful.



Jeremiah 31:33-34 (Message)
"This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them—write it on their hearts!—and be their God. And they will be my people. They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They'll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow. I'll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I'll forget they ever sinned!" God's Decree.

CONFUSED

Have you ever been confused?

The answer must surely be yes! Being confused is part of the natural mental process of growth and development as human beings. For some whose brains are wired a little differently, it may be an occurrence that happens more frequently. This is not right or wrong, good or bad, but a simple reality.

I recall a time when, in Primary School, a survey form was handed out, to be filled-in with the assistance of our parents. One of the survey questions was, “Are you a breast fed baby?” I thought that I had the answer, NO, but I asked mum for assurance, and she agreed that my answer was correct. I then wished to understand the question more fully, to which mum explained that it meant being fed from the breast. I knew that I was right because I did not have a scare in my chest where the feeding tube was placed to give me the nutrients required to grow. I was able to eat normally like every body else.

Now that you have regained your composure, got up off the floor, and dried your eyes, I admit I was very confused. The subjects of bodily functions were not normal topics for discussion or conversation in our home in the 50’s. Thus I had little information to assist in my decision-making.

Do we communicate the Love of Christ to children and adults, in a way that minimizes the possibility of confusion?




Matthew 19:14 (Message)
But Jesus intervened: "Let the children alone, don't prevent them from coming to me. God's kingdom is made up of people like these."

ACC07 ~ KNAGGS (TC)

ACC07 ~ OTHERS
Commissioner Jim Knaggs ~ Friday 5th October

I Have a Dream . . . That one day . . .

The Salvation Army will in it’s entirety, be what God wants it to be . . .

. . .that every soldier, young and old would be sanctified through and through . . . and out of the passion of their love in Christ, would be an undeniable force for God’s love in the world.

. . .that this love would be seen between each soldier to demonstrate that God has sent His Son into the world not to condemn it, but that the world through Him might be saved. . . and by this would all people know that we are His followers and represent Him.

. . .that our love would be seen through intentional and overt acts of mercy and justice, all the while in humility before God, not needing to publish our works, only doing them to glorify God.

. . .that our mission would have such integrity that every expression of our ministry would be marked not so much by a red shield or even a crest, but by the love of God for people.

. . .that our corps would embrace the gospel for everyone in their community, not discriminating by culture, language, social status, or age. . .and that the helping ministries would be woven into the fabric so that even under a nuclear microscope we could not distinguish between spiritual and social.

. . .that every social programme would be inviting to any one in need to be helped towards eternal affect, still maintaining our resolve to dispense such love indiscriminately and unconditionally. . .and that their connections with the corps ministries become seamless to the point that they would become a type of corps in their own right.

. . .that we would have effective ministries to eradicate homelessness, human trafficking, prostitution, and other indecencies currently common in our society.

. . .that the social programme strategy will be based upon the needs of people in the context of Biblical mandate, not necessarily the offerings of government contracts.

. . .that headquarters support units would be understood as such, not diminishing their purposes for accountability, but wholly in the context of authentic support and encouragement.

. . .that programmes such as Salvo Stores and Employment Plus would also become saving stations for the lost and fully integrated into the mission of the territory.

. . .that Salvo Stores and the Trade become responsible outlets for Fair trade goods.

. ..that our commercial department at THQ become a resource and focal point for facilitating our increasing efforts in Fair Trade.

. . .that the Family Tracing Service be expanded to find those souls who have been lost to the Army, assisting in bringing them home, where they belong.

. . .that we would never have another day in our existence where someone was not brought to Christ.

. . .that our soldiers roll would only be an increasing reality as would our worship and discipleship meetings.

. . .that the proliferation of new ministry openings would be so common and normal that we would have to appoint personnel just to keep track of it, most often after the fact.

. . .that those gifted with creative ministry gifts would have every opportunity to employ those very skills in the work of the Army.

. . .that our worship would be filled with creative means to celebrate God’s provisions and presence among us.

. . .that our 24/7 Prayer Initiatives will be adopted by individual corps throughout the territory all the time.

. . .that we would establish Lighthouses of Prayer to cover our neighbourhoods with grace.

. . .that we would have numerous prayer destinations where people could go for prayer retreats, learning opportunities and resources.

. . .that our systems would be less restrictive and more imaginative to accommodate the new things God wants to do among us.

. . .that as a movement, we would be marked by holiness in corporate and individual praxis.

. . .that there would be such an out pouring of the Spirit upon us that we would be courageous and effective witnesses in our families, communities, cities, Australia and the world.

. . .that our compassion would be large enough to be understood as authentically global throughout what we do at home and abroad.

. . .that our people would be quick to respond to the voice of God for whatever He calls them to.

. . .that our officer training programmes would be taxed by the unusual response of the called to serve as officers in TSA.

. . .that our local officers would be so empowered to understand their foundational role in the corps ministries and fully embrace the priesthood of all believers.

. . .that our women would have appointments and responsibilities commensurate with their gifts, abilities and experience.

. . .that our young people would be filled with the Spirit and recognised as contributors in the fight.

. . .that our children would be welcomed as authentic soldiers with proper opportunities to celebrate the presence of Christ in their lives and in their environments.

. . .that an extraordinary forgiveness and healing of past sins and hurts would prevail upon all people victimised by our practises and inattention.

. . .that God would see that we love Him supremely through Christ and that our reliance on the Holy Spirit completes His hope in us.

. . .that God would see that we love Him absolutely and we expressing our love for Him by our active love for others.




John 15:8 (Message) This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

I'M BACK

Back again!
I have been away from home for three weeks, and have not had any Internet connection. So there is a lot of catching up to do.

A few weeks ago, I was talking with my uncle who is an elderly man of God. He spoke of the wonder and joy of growing and developing in his faith, as a believer, and follower of the way. His life is one of continual development and growth, under the influence of God the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord!!!

This last week was spent at the Aggressive Christianity Conference held at the Box Hill Corps. This was a fantastic way of being spiritually fed during furlough. The speakers were inspiring and challenging, the worship uplifting, and it was a great week for the Kingdom of God. It was my first time at ACC, and I was personally surprised that each day I awoke unaided around 5.15am to get ready for the day, as I am not a morning person. The conference was a time where many have set their sights on moving forward as true ambassadors for Christ. Next year ACC will be Sept. 30th to Oct. 3rd 2008. Put it in your diaries now!




Ephes. 3:16-19 (Message)

I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.