When Coffee Happens

I had a significant coffee incident the other Saturday night. I was on my way to Launceston taking Jackson home after a youth meeting. We decided to stop off in Campbell town for a coffee as I had to drive home back to Hobart after dropping him off. So we ordered our drinks, took them back to car and started down the road. I went to take my first sip when the lid pops off and the cup crushes in my hand. the coffee went all down the front of me. I find it funny in life how one person can find something so crappy and frustrating yet that same thing for some else is hilarious. Jackson was laughing so hard he also most wet himself. I had to stop the car pull over and wring out my clothes. Fortunately Jackson had his school sports shorts in the car, (these felt 3 size's too small) and a bonds t shirt that had shrunk in the drier. So with my stomach hanging out in all it's glory I continued the trip to launceston. (With much laughter continuing from the passenger seat).

I dropped Jackson at his house and just as he got to the front door yelled back to me. Oh by the I had several other things you could have worn but I thought these would be funniest. So looking like someone about to hop into a Mardi gras parade I drove the 2 hours home.

So some 2 Sermon illustrations, many mocking TXT messages from youth, and story about this on a my space later. I have dealt with it.

I discovered that during this whole time my character was looked at. Jackson was impressed I didn't swear. People were impressed I didn't get angry. Others are impressed with how well I've taken the coffee gags and comments.

We're always watched as youth leaders!

I'm just glad I passed this test.

Simon.

Simon's Thoughts

I've just had one of those time periods in my life where you just wish you weren't you. We had to stand down one of our workers for a serious issue in a high school, I have had to take out a restraining order out on one of our girls who has, to say the least, an unhealthy attachment towards me. I lost a $1200.00 kayak, my BBQ got wrecked, and I got a Cricket ball to the ribs. All in one week.

I asked myself why? why me? But I remembered the words of a person who died of cancer recently, She said why not me, maybe someone else has been spared this pain.

So I say thank you Lord (through gritted teeth.) That I have the strength to endure.

Simon.

Stories

This week I was having one of those weeks where I found myself thinking “am I having any impact at all here” (I have these from time to time). On Wednesday I was pleasantly surprised by multiple visits from some young people – in fact, in the youth department we had about 10 young adults that I had been involved in leading in some way over the last few years.

I was really encouraged to look around and think of the stories involved in all of their lives; stories that I have been privileged to be involved in.

God was especially good to me on Wednesday.

Darrell

Connections07

Well we had a great time at connections over 80 youth went to it from Tassie. An all time record and a living stress fest for us leaders.

It was for me a great thing to see our youth, some who had never been further than 1 hour from their home before be at such an awesome big event. Most thought it was better than Hillsong or Planet Shakers that we go to each year.

I loved the way we had some first time attenders with us, youth who have never been to church before. All thought it was great. Some have attended church since then!

I learned that once again community it would seem was what all of them craved and it happened for all of them in some way. They certainly went feral at the Saturday night youth rally, we then made a mistake and gave them all a Krispy cream donut which took their hyperness to a new level.

I just want to apologise to all those who got a "peg" on ya. Our youth distributed over 300 peg on random people during the weekend. One on the commissioner was the high light and one on the boom camera during the youth rally was cool. also. On the other hand the stewardess girls on the plane on the way home came under a lot of grief.

I hope this event was as good for your youth as it was for ours.

For me personally I couldn't have done a smarter thing than fly to Fiji for a holiday afterwards.

Blessings

Simon.

A Thought on Jonah

I think about the story of Jonah quite a bit....

Jonah is to present to the people of Nineveh a word from the Lord, "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned" but then the people repent so God changes His mind. Jonah, being a very Godly person (in fact a prophet was possibly the Godliest of all people) then gets angry because God has compassion on them.

Imagine if, at the time of judgement, God changes his mind and says "Everyone's in?"

I don't think it will happen judging on what I read in the Bible but God is God and He can do what he wants, right?

Darrell

Stu's Thoughts

Last night was the farewell of our divisional Leaders, Lieut-Colonel Jocelyn Knapp and Major Cilla Bone. The usual stuff happened as does at these type of events, speeches, public embarassment, pranks, a combined band and the Commissioners. What I found encouraging was a number of young people who came to bid farewell to our leaders.

The youth speech provided by Bendigo local Matthew Tatti (who by some miracle is just young enough to still be considered a youth). During the speech he mentioned how our Divisional leaders were "two old ladies, who like gardening and playing solitare and happen to do some church stuff." Admist the roars of laughter from the congregation there were also two massive beaming smiles from Jocelyn and Cilla. This is important to our youth and sums up how the young people of Northern Victoria view our divisional leaders for the last four years. They are approachable, engaging and our youth know that they care.

A couple of months ago I held my 27th birthday party. Among the many young people, family and friends that were in attendance were Jocelyn and Cilla. One of my favourite memories of that night is of Cilla sitting cross-legged on the floor, telling wild stories and listening to the ravings of a hyper-active 20 year old. I must say admire that, it reminds me of the hope I have for the church: a space where age isn't a barrier and we take the time to listen to each other. I long for the church in which our focus isn't on demographics and how we reach specific age groups, but is instead on the reality that every young person needs an adult who is irrationally commited to them. This is how we will see young people grow up with faith and in their faith.

So as the last song was sung, the benediction was prayed, the congregation flooded from the auditorium and gravitated towards the the supper table, I stood back. I smiled, and I watched. I saw tear filled hugs from young women who have received the gift of being listen to by "two old ladies... who do some church stuff." It just reminds me youth workers and DYs are the only ones, who change the lives of young people.

Stuart McGifford

The Young and The Hopeful

I am constantly amazed at how God chooses to use the less than obvious choices of people to change the world!!

I had the privilege of travelling to Bendigo on Sunday night to preach at their Divisional Youth Service Fuel. As i was preparing what it was that I felt God wanted me to say to these young people, I realised again the number of times God used teenagers to transform the world.

Look at David, he was probably only 12 or 13 when he killed and decapitated the giant Goliath. Think of Jesus' parents; both only teenagers and trusted to raise the Messiah (makes you think about unwed teenage mums a bit different huh??)!! Think of the disciples, still only 16 or so when Jesus called them to take up their cross and follow Him (was Jesus the first full-time youth minister?).

Remember back to the early days of The Salvation Army... Back to when a young Bramwell Booth was taken into the pubs and shown the drunken hopelessness of those there, then taken to the bridge under which many homeless people spent the night and was told by his father to do something. Do you remember the story of the 2 teenagers who decided to take the entire country of New Zealand for Jesus, 1 starting at the southern end the other at the northern end and planning to meet in the middle with over 10,000 people!!!

It occurs to me that God has often used the young Spirit filled people of a generation to change their world. Is this because these young people have not yet become jaded and cynical, because young people are still capable of seeing possibilities and opportunities where the more 'mature' person sees only problems and obstacles.

I leave you with the words of Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2: 12 - 16:
"Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers and example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Darrell's first go!

I have just returned from Melbourne where I attended The Salvation Army Australian Southern Territory’s “event of the decade” Connections07. I must say it was very encouraging and challenging at the same time.

I feel I should share some thoughts and questions I have coming away from the conference (please don’t hear me having a go at anyone, or TSA, I am just someone who likes to ponder things).

1. The first thing that really stood out for me is that we are a very unique church. Consequently there are not many models we can adopt from other churches. So why do we try?
And also do we do ourselves an injustice when we try to build churches aimed at white middle class Australians? (I am not saying every Church in our organization does this and I don’t have anything against this particular demographic – I am one). Does all the church growth stuff that is bandied around fit with our movement?

2. The Salvation Army as a movement unapologetically calls it’s members to live radically in a world that needs God. So an obvious question is why do so few seem to do it?

3. One of the presenters I heard said “we have the resources we need within our organization to achieve our mission”. Comments on this?

4. I love what Commissioner Knaggs said about the people who are employees and volunteers (non-Salvationists) are part of TSA. We are all in it together. We all make up the Organization. My question on this is can this kind of thinking really become a reality because at the moment we seem far from it.

I don’t want this to be too long so I will stop there! I would love to hear some comments cause I think in conversation we hear from God.

God Bless