What's happening in the neighbourhood

First some good news. The shop on Tuesday had a record sales day. Well done to Lucy and her team. Also, our community party (only 10 days away) has already recieved some air time on Life FM. Let's look forward to that great day.

Today I was called out to see Todd (name changed). Todd has lost his goods in a house fire a few years ago. He lost his job last year through a worker's compensation claim. He lost his wife a few months ago because she could no longer handle his depression. He cannot afford his rent because they took out the lease when there were two income earners in the house. He cannot afford his child support and has lost access to his son because he cannot afford to feed him.

That's a lot of loss. Todd is ready to quit life. He is serious - and has tried suicide before. He had the intent and the means so we needed to act. We talked through a plan to keep him safe and made access to the mental health intervention team. We made sure that he didn't have the tools available to do anything silly for now. We made a pact for him to keep some appointments tomorrow. We've also made plans for some financial intervention early next week with the help of our financial counsellor, Gail.

What struck me is that this is all going on in a very nice street... only two doors down from one of our key community leaders who has helped our cause out quite often. I wondered as I chatted with Todd if the people in his street had any idea what was happening in their neighbourhood.

Do we have any idea what's happening in our street?

Patience

A guy from NZ in the 80's had a hit song that went something like this:

Patience is a virtue
Posess it if you can
You gotta wait and see

I'm finding patience with myself in short supply this week. I simply can't keep the pace I normally would - not even close! Sitting and writing can wear me out. Hopefully I'll be back on top of things soon.

According to Paul (Gal 5:22), patience is something the Holy Spirit works in us to produce. It is a 'fruit' that grows in our life with the Spirit's influence. Maybe part of my growing this week is to learn more about patience.

Certainly we are seeing the benefits of patience around the centre. Our playground, that we have waited two years to open, is getting very close. There are barrells with soil waiting for plants, the plumbing is finished and this afternoon I get to go and look at some furniture. The BBQ is outside and we are now just waiting for the landscapers to show up with the soft-fall bark. It is our intention to open and dedicate the playground as part of our Christmas party for the community on December 6.

Time

It's an interesting commodity, time. Especially when you have a lot of it on you hands, but can't do much. Causes me to see Paul's letter to the Ephesians in a new light - be careful how you spend your days, as wise and not unwise.

Also causes me to think about all the things we normally spend our time on and whether they are all worth the focus they receive. Let's be wise.

Hospital

Hi all

In not wanting to create a fuss, I seem to have created a fuss. For those that are unaware I have required facial/ sinus surgery this week.

The proceedures were relatively simple, requiring a realignment of my nasal septum, reduction of some swollen glands, excise of a polyp and then resetting the whole thing back in place. Not everything went smoothly - a burst blood vessel in my sinuses that wouldn't corterise caused a few headaches.

This will mean that I am out of action for at least this week. Angela and the team are carrying on, and I'm sure there'll be no interruption to the service or the activity of the Corps. Next week, also, I will be confined to 'desk duties' and the 'light duties' following that.

Ange & I appreciate you support and I look forward to being back in the swing of things - and able to breathe properly for the first time in a while!

One Mission

What a great weekend. Congratulations to the South Australian Divisional Headquarters team on putting together an excellent conference and combined meetings for The Salvation Army in this state.

Lt Colonel Geanette Seymour and Captain Robin Moulds were inspired choices as speakers in the worship times. Chatswood Songsters, Geoff Bullock, ACH Band, Parafield Gardens Corps Children's Choir, the Raymond sisters - all musical contributions were of the highest standard. Most importantly God was at work.

I am personally disappointed that more of our Corps weren't able to be a part of the weekend. I understand that the heat took out a few people.

For the few that came along: what a weekend!

Protecting the unity of the church

Some events of the last 24 hours have led me to contemplate the unity of the church and those things that can affect it.

While we have great social networking and are possibly more connected than ever through means such as Facebook and MySpace, they are also media that are very public and can damage relationships and how the church is seen.

Let's all make sure that when we post something (e-posting or snail mail), say something or portray something, we take a little time to think with a Kingdom perspective. These media could be the means of bringing someone to a point of decision and salvation, or could drive them from the church and the gospel for good.

Caroling

Yep - we're off and racing for another caroling season. Early? You bet - but we can't pass up the gig to play in Santa at Westfield each year. Our band is seen by more people on the days we go to Westfield than probably most Salvo bands throughout the year.

They did us proud, too, both through the mix of traditional message-laden carols and modern Santa tunes, and through their witness and prayer at the end. Good job guys (and thanks to child care expert Bronwyn).

For everyone who follows, a reminder that tomorrow our church services are at Wayville Showgrounds - Ridley Pavilion. They are at 10 and 2.

Corps Finances

Hi all

I thought that it was worth sending a note to all of our Corps just to let you know about our Corps financial situation.

The Corps runs a very tight monetary ship and has a large budget. Our loan repayments on our building, for example, are around $78,000 per annum and about to increase. Our wage bill is about $6000 per fortnight, not including Angela and I, and not including the CSS staff who are paid by a different cost centre.

Then there's the utilities, projects, programmes... and you end up with an annual budget of just under $0.5 million (again not including CSS which adds around another $250,000).

The reality is that we are running a deficit budget at the moment. Our shop income has decreased this year, even seasonally adjusted, and our Sunday morning offerings have dropped by around $200 per week (which adds up very quickly!). We are doing everything to reign in our expenses by commensurate amounts, but so far to limited avail.

Please pray about this situation and if you are involved in any position where you can influence this matter (even by turning off a light switch), please do so.

Back on the horse

It takes a while to get back into the run of things. Having only been away for less than a fortnight, I feel as if it might as well have been months. Lots of things happen quickly and getting my head around them has been interesting.

In the meantime it has been good to be reminded of the things that matter. Looking at my devotional reading this morning in Galatians 1 & 2 I was reminded by Paul that there is only one message that we need to be proclaiming - God's grace in Jesus and his want for relationship with the world.

Now that I'm back on the horse, I've got to make sure I'm riding on the right track.

What a great Sunday!

Hi all,
Firstly, thank you for your prayers and support while I've been away. I'm back safe and well and in one piece after a great experience.

More importantly, what a great Sunday. Please continue to pray for our newest soldier Sarah, and our newest adherents Brenton, Kaye, Kathleen and Glenda.

I appreciated the message from our Chief Secretary, Colonel Raymond Finger. We have to keep choosing to step out for God, to cross the next line of commitment to holiness and service and to trust that his grace will be sufficient for us in our efforts. Certainly as I am trying to pick up the threads around here after a break I'm relying on God's grace just to know where to start.

But start we do, and we look forward to the rest of the year and all the celebrations and opportunities that come with One Mission, Christmas and the summer season.