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War CryTHE

salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry Est 1879 No 7131

FIGHTING FOR HEARTS AND SOULS

31 August 2013

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HOPPY BIRTHDAY!BEATRIX POTTER’S PETER RABBIT IS 120 Page 3

TO SEE ORNOT TO SEE?‘Hamlet’ blocked onlinePage 16

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AS a prison chaplain I find The War Cry to be invaluable and indispensable. As part of my statutory duties, I visit everyone in the segregation unit every day. I always take copies of The War Cry and they are always well received.

There is one man who asks for a copy every week and gets quite upset if I forget. I’m sure he enjoys it along with his more dubious literature. Most weeks I run out of copies.

On a personal note, The War Cry is full of ideas for my preaching. Praise God for all he is doing among prisoners!L. HarriesHMP Manchester

2 The War Cry 31 August 2013

CAPITAL OPEN HOUSE DAY

The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the names of individuals and details of their circumstances. Send your requests to PRAYERLINK, The War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, Lon don SE1 6BN. Mark your envelope ‘Confidential’.

YOUR prayers are requested for Robert and his family, that their difficulties will be resolved.

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There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God.

Lord Jesus Christ,I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit.Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen

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Army HQ opens its doors

Salvation Army provides kids holiday

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COMMENT – p6 LIFESTYLE – p7 PUZZLES – p12 INNER LIFE – p13 FOOD FOR THOUGHT – p14 RECIPES – p15

Agency gives aid after Pakistan floods

Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

Children gather flood water

THE number of worshippers at Church of England

cathedrals increased last year, continuing a decade-long trend.

The most recent statistics published by the church show that total weekly attendance at its 43 cathedrals grew to 35,800 – a rise of 35 per cent since 2002.

CHRISTIAN Aid is providing emergency food to survivors of flash floods in Pakistan. Monsoons, the agency reports, have claimed at least 80 lives and left 80,000 people homeless.

More than 300 villages, many of them in the southern district of Sindh, have been affected, with some 2,500 homes destroyed. Heavy rains have also destroyed crops.

MEMBERS of the public will be able to look around The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters next month when it takes part in Open House London.

The event allows people to view buildings they would not ordinarily be able to see.

Architects from Sheppard Robson, the company that designed the building, will be on hand to explain aspects of the design to visitors, and a Salvation Army historian will give presentations on the history of the organisation on the site, which stretches back more than 100 years.

The present headquarters is the third Salvation Army building to stand on the site in the City of London.

The headquarters will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday 21 September. Admission is free.

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THIRTY-NINE per cent of par-ents say they will be unable to take their children on a week-long break this year, according to research carried out by The Salvation Army.

The organisation has been running weeklong camps for hundreds of children over the summer holidays, and Major Denise Cooper – its UK chil-dren’s ministries leader – says that for some people the camps are ‘providing the only holiday they will get’.

THE Christian Socialist Movement is to change its

name to Christians on the Left. Its new name was chosen by 67 per cent of members who took part in a ballot. The organisation says that its present name confuses some potential members, who believe that the Christian Socialist Movement is a separate political party, while the word ‘socialist’ puts off others.

31 August 2013 The War Cry 3

By CLAIRE BRINE

Beatrix Potter’s original book (right) and Emma Thompson with her new Peter Rabbit story

CBeebies’s animated ‘Peter Rabbit’

ONCE upon a time, there were four little rabbits and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter. But people mostly remember just Peter. Created by Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit came to life 120 years ago, when the author wrote an illustrated letter – dated 4 September 1893 – to the son of her former governess. In it, she told the bunny’s tale for the first time.

It wasn’t until 1902 that The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published. The story – which tells of the blue-coated bunny hopping into difficulty in Mr McGregor’s garden – became an overnight success, prompting Miss Potter to pen another 22 tales in the series.

Peter Rabbit is still popular. Not only can people buy toys, crockery and ornaments depicting their favourite bunny, but they can also catch him on the CBeebies chan-nel, where he stars in his own TV series. Fans of the original story can even check out what Peter did next in The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit, a new story written by Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, which was published last year.

Why does this cheeky little rabbit remain so appealing?

Perhaps readers enjoy the mischievous-ness of Peter. Even when he’s warned to avoid trouble, he lands himself in it anyway.

Maybe they feel sorry for him as he faces problem after problem, leaving him well and truly stuck.

Or it could be that they share his feelings of exhaustion and regret after a day where nothing has gone according to plan.

The fact that The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a children’s book doesn’t stop adults from being able to relate to it. We all do things we shouldn’t or are told not to. We get ourselves into scrapes and wonder how we will get out. We feel ashamed when we make a mess of things, especially if we know it’s of our own making.

The twist in our own story is that we can have a second chance – a possibility to put things right or make things better. Just because we’ve got things wrong once doesn’t mean we have to do so again.

That was the experience of Good Book writer Paul, who spent the first part of his life persecuting Christians, even to the point of death. But, after an encounter with Jesus, he changed. His life became full of peace, hope and compassion for others. He spent the rest of his life telling people about God’s love, even to the point of imprisonment.

Paul pointed out that if God could change him – the ‘worst sinner of all’ – for the bet-ter, then God could put anyone’s life the

right way up. He wrote: ‘Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and every-thing is new’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 Contemporary English Version).

If we ask God to help us, he will show us how to make wise choices in future and give us the strength to put them into action. When we fall, he will help us get back on our feet. When we are stuck, he will show us a way out.

We don’t have to carry on living out the same old story. By asking God for help and forgiveness, we can start a brand new chapter. And, in Heaven, live happily ever after.

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We all do things we are told not to

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moved to Merseyside and blagged his way into a job painting bridges.

While at work, he met a former soldier and decided to join the British Army. For three years, he served in the Parachute Regiment before, once again, mov-ing on.

Mike returned to London and worked on market stalls at Covent Garden. As well as starting his own business importing fruit and veg from all over the world, he began selling TVs and jewellery.

‘I discovered that there were things other than fruit and veg being sold on the stalls – things that had fallen off the back of a lorry. As I child, I’d always wanted to be rich.

‘Five years later, I was happy. I had money. I drove around in a Rolls-Royce. I lived in a five-bedroom house in West London. I had a house in the country and a flat in Spain. But the one thing I didn’t have was status.

‘One day, my wife, Pat, and I met a TV presenter whose husband played keyboards for Cliff Richard. We thought that if we befriended them, then we’d get some sort of celebrity status. But it didn’t happen.’

FROM RUNAWAY

‘WHEN I was 14, I saw a group of kids in a circle kicking and

spitting on an old man lying on the ground. I followed the crowd and joined in. When the man turned over, I realised it was my dad,’ says Mike McDade.

Mike recalls his earlier childhood as being ‘relatively normal’, but it was when he was ten years old that life changed completely.

‘I went home one day to discover that my mum had left me, my two siblings and my alcoholic father to be with another man,’ he says.

The family breakdown had a great effect on Mike. He struggled to cope at school and left at the age of 11.

‘I hung around the streets and worked odd jobs to earn some money. My father drank heavily. There was never any food at home, so I stole from shops just so I could eat.’

After the incident when he joined in the attack on his father, Mike’s life changed once again.

‘I was so ashamed of what I’d done that I decided to run away to escape the consequences. I never saw my father again. He did not come looking for me. He just continued to drink.’

Mike made his way to London and did whatever it took to get by. He slept rough and ate food out of dustbins. He

TO ROLLER

I was so ashamed of what I’d done

31 August 2013 The War Cry 5

TO REVEREND

The couple were Christians and invited Mike and Pat to their church.

‘I wasn’t interested in God,’ says Mike. ‘I went to church kicking and screaming. But the minister said something that grabbed my attention. He spoke about Jesus being born homeless. I could identify with it.’

Mike recalls the moment he gave his life to God.‘During a service, I sensed Jesus calling me to follow

him. Little did I know that Pat had the same experience. We became Christians at the same time.’

Mike began to attend church regularly and was bap-tised. Although life changed for him, there were still some grey areas. He continued in his dodgy dealings. But God had other plans.

‘I was approached by a particular couple who said God had told them I should be a Baptist minister,’ Mike says. ‘I laughed because I didn’t have a good education. I also knew how little Baptist ministers earned in a year. I was earning that in a month.’

After being told he should become a minister by numer-ous people, Mike eventually decided to accept God’s calling.

At first, being a Baptist minister was difficult. Mike’s comfortable lifestyle had changed.

‘It wasn’t easy taking our two young children out of London to Bradford and then to Warrington. They were used to living in a nice house, going on holidays and driv-

MIKE McDADE talks with Renée Davis about discovering riches

ing around in posh cars. Suddenly, they had it all taken away. It was a humbling experience for us all.’

Mike has been a minister for 25 years and has touched people’s lives in many ways.

‘Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be rich,’ he says. ‘Today, my life is richer than I can ever put into words.’

A minister spoke about Jesus being born homeless. I could identify with it

• Mike tells his story in Runaway, Red Beret, and Reverend, published by Authentic Media

The War Cry 31 August 20136

IS the beautiful game losing some of its allure? One fan seems to think so. Reports of the opening day of the Premier League season included a picture of an Arsenal supporter standing behind the manager, Arsène Wenger, with a heartfelt plea on a home-made placard. It read: Spend. Spend. Spend.

Here’s why. Last season, Arsenal failed to qualify automatically for the Champions League, putting themselves at risk of missing out on European competition for the first time since 1997. Before this season started, they – unlike their rivals – did not splash out on big-name players. Season tickets at the Emirates Stadium start at almost £1,000 – the country’s highest – so fans want to see something for their hard-earned cash.

So does Mr Wenger. With the transfer deadline of midnight Monday 2 September looming, he told the club’s website: ‘When we think we have the right players, we do it.’

Value for money may be the Arsenal manager’s goal, but the national game is not following his tactics.

Figures from The Guardian for the 2011–12 season (the most recently available) show that nearly all Premier League clubs are struggling to find the right financial line-up.

That season, only eight made a profit. Apart from three clubs – Norwich, Swansea and the since-relegated Wolves – the other seventeen ran on debt to the collective tune of £2.4 billion. The ‘most successful’ clubs, including Arsenal, were among those in deepest debt.

Football – the sport that puts towns on maps, gives communities identity and inspires undying devotion – cannot afford to take itself or the paying public for granted. Football would do well to redefine what it means by success.

At whatever level, corporate or personal, indefinitely going deeper into debt to spend our way out of it is a game plan that is doomed to fail.

Anything else, as in football, is fantasy.

Football crazy

CommentMediaFind The War Cry on Facebook and Twitter at /TheWarCryUK

PEOPLE following The Salvation Army’s New Testament Bible Challenge

are reading the whole New Testament, five chapters a week, over the course of a year. For each day’s reading plan and discussion notes visit salvationarmy.org.uk/biblechallenge

SIMON SCHAMA explores Judaism from ancient times to the present day in BBC Two’s The Story of the Jews, which begins tomorrow (Sunday 1 September 9 pm).

In the first of five episodes, the presenter looks back to a time 3,000 years ago when a tribal people lived in a contested land. He also takes a look at the Hebrew Bible, discovering it to be a chronicle of the Jews’ stormy relationship with God.

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Simon Schama presents Jews’ story

AFTER the success in the US of the tele- vision miniseries The Bible, producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett have written a novel based on the programmes.

Published by Hodder and Stoughton, A Story of God and All of Us tells the sto-ries of Bible characters, including Moses, David, John the Baptist and Jesus.

The TV series The Bible is scheduled to appear in the UK later this year.

Ex-Archbishop: UK Christians not persecuted

FORMER EastEnders actress

Danniella Westbrook talks about her Christian faith on Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday tomorrow (1 September 7 am).

Danniella tells presenter Clare Balding about her autobiography Faith, Hope and Clarity, in which she writes about overcoming her cocaine addiction and how faith has helped her.

THE recently retired Archbishop of Canterbury has said that Christians in Britain are not ‘persecuted’ as some people claim, reported The Guardian.

According to the paper, Dr Rowan Williams described true persecution as ‘systematic brutality and often murderous hostility’, not being made to feel ‘mildly uncomfortable’. He went on to say that, after observing persecuted minorities, he has learnt to use the word ‘very chastely’.

In an event at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Dr Williams also talked on the concept of spirituality and how the word is frequently misused.

‘Speaking from the Christian tradition,’ he said, ‘the idea that being spiritual is just about having nice experiences is rather laughable. Most people who have written seriously about the life of the spirit in Christianity and Judaism spend a lot of their time telling you how … awful it is.’

THE National Trust has uncovered Pre-

Raphaelite masterpieces depicting Bible charac-ters behind wallpaper in William Morris’s home, reported The Guardian.

After stripping away paint and wallpaper in the Victorian art-ist’s bedroom in Red House, Bexleyheath, vast painted figures were revealed which were cre-ated by friends of Morris, who went on to become Pre-Raphaelite artists.

The paper said that the figures include Adam and Eve, Rachel, Noah and Jacob.

731 August 2013 The War CryLifestyle

Fraud attempts unmaskedNEARLY three quarters of the UK’s population has experienced an attempted fraud, according to research by the bank First Direct. Its survey also revealed that 51 per cent of people who have experienced a fraud attempt said it was carried out online.

Nearly a third said they were aware of more than five such attempts and more than half said they’d received an email from an apparent ‘bank’, requesting some of their secure personal information.

Advance-fee frauds, in which people are asked for a sum of money to help secure a much larger sum, were also seen frequently, with one in three people saying they’d been targeted.

The common types of fraud are:• Fake emails claiming to be from a

bank, requesting secure personal information, such as PINs and account login details.• Advance-fee frauds, asking for a

sum of money to help secure a much larger sum.• Phone callers claiming to be

from well-known organisations, such as broadband providers or software firms, asking for access to personal computers.• Debit card fraud, in which one or more of

a person’s bank cards are duplicated.• Fake lotteries.• Fake charities.• Phone callers claiming to be from a bank, asking for

personal information, such as PINs and account login details.• Identity theft, such as application fraud.• Non-investment fraud, which entails selling items with

no intention of shipping them or sending a faulty or harmful substitute.• Online ‘friending’ or dating fraud, in which the fraudster

befriends people online and then sends them requests claiming they have incurred financial difficulty.

The survey showed that the most likely age group to be targeted was the over-55s. Those aged 16–24 were the least likely to experience a fraud attempt.

PEOPLE moving house should ensure that they register on the electoral roll as soon as they change address, says online credit information provider Equifax. Being registered on the electoral roll not only is a legal requirement of every UK adult, but also plays an important part in how an individual is assessed when applying for new credit.

An Equifax spokesperson says: ‘A lot of people aren’t aware that not being registered on the electoral roll at their present address can affect their ability to get credit. This is especially important when moving home, because of new credit agreements that are likely to be needed in connection with broadband deals, phone contracts and insurance. Not being registered on the electoral roll means that people may not be accepted, because a lender cannot verify their identity.

‘As ID fraud is a major threat to lenders, considerable importance is placed on electoral roll data to verify an individual’s identity. Although there are a number of factors that contribute to an individual’s credit score, being registered on the electoral roll is one way of boosting this. Individuals usually have a long list of things to do when they move home, but making sure they are registered should be high on that list.’

Equifax also encourages homebuyers to get a copy of their credit report before they move, to ensure they get the best mortgage deal, and afterwards, to make sure their address details are up to date.

Electoral roll boosts identity credit

8 Interview

AT the end of the 2007–08 season, Julián Speroni was

named Crystal Palace Player of the Year. The following season, he won the title again. And the next season, the goalkeeper came and claimed it for a third time.

Julián is the only player to win three consecutive Player of the Year awards at Selhurst Park. He has become a fans’ favourite at the club he joined nine years ago.

‘Every time I meet the fans, they show me how much they appreciate what I do,’ says Julián. ‘I try to repay them on the pitch. They know I can make a mistake or have a bad game, but they also know that I always give 100 per cent, and they appreciate that.’

Since joining Crystal Palace from Dundee, the

Argentinian has played his part in some successful seasons as well as some tough ones.

‘Over those years, we have gone through a lot of ups and downs,’ he reflects. ‘We have been through relegation battles, administration, chances to get into the Premier League and play-offs. I remember beating Manchester United and Liverpool, which are always special matches. But obviously one of the best memories I have is of the play-off final at Wembley last season.’

The stats show that in the Championship play-off final at the end of May, Julián made six saves as Crystal Palace beat Watford 1-0 to return to the Premier League.

Palace have not been in England’s top division since Julián’s first season at Selhurst. He hopes that 2013–14 will be a more successful season than 2004–05 for the club and for him. Back then, Julián did not hold on to his place in the side and by the end of the season, the Eagles had landed back in the Championship.

‘Every footballer wants to play at the highest level,

Crystal Palace goalkeeper JULIÁN SPERONI tells Philip Halcrow about his path into professional football, his hopes for the new Premier League season and how he handed his worries to GodN

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Julián in his days at Dundee and now (opposite page) at Crystal Palace

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and I’m no exception,’ says Julián. ‘The last time Crystal Palace were in the Premier League, I played only six or seven games. The club signed Gábor Király, a Hungarian international, and he became the first-choice keeper.

‘This time, I feel I have a better chance to establish myself in the team. I know that things can change quickly in football and you are never safe, because other players want your place. So I will keep working hard. I want to enjoy this season and play as many games as I can.’

Julián has been happy in London SE25. ‘I come from Buenos Aires, which is a big city. So, although I had to adapt when I came here, it wasn’t a huge change and I settled in.’

Julián kicked off his footballing story at his school in Buenos Aires. ‘Then someone saw me playing and asked if I wanted to play for Platense. I loved football so I said: Why not?’

He played only two games for Club Atlético Platense’s first team before his career changed direction.

‘I think I had just turned 22 years old when I signed for Dundee,’ he remembers. ‘When I was 16, I had spent a month or so training in Italy, but moving to Scotland was my first long-term experience of being away from my country.

‘It was a big decision to make and I was a bit nervous, because normally a footballer plays more games for their club in their own country before moving abroad. But I had an opportunity to come to Europe, where everyone wants to play. So I chatted with my family and made the decision to move to Scotland and start my career there.’

The move worked out well. He went on to make 113 appearances for the club.

‘It was great. At that time, there were six or seven Argentinian players at Dundee, so they helped me with the language, with settling in and with understanding Scottish football. I made a lot of friends, and I like to go

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From page 9

back there, because I have happy memories.’After his first season at Dens Park, Julián and his

girlfriend, Marina, briefly returned home to get married. The couple now have a four-year-old son, Thiago.

During his three years in Scotland, Julián’s life changed in another way.

‘My wife and I started to go to church and we became Christians,’ he says.

‘I was going through a tough period in my career and I was growing tired of things. A friend told me that I could relax and leave everything in God’s hands. I didn’t understand very much what he meant, so he invited me to go to church. I went and slowly understood what he was talking about. He read the words of Jesus: “Come to me all you who have worries, and I will give you rest.” It was a great passage for me at that time. So I decided to leave everything in God’s hands, and it worked well for me.

‘I had always believed in God, but up until that point, I had never known what it was to have a relationship with him.’

Julián – who says his Palace team-mates are ‘very respectful’ of his beliefs – suggests that his faith is transferred into his football.

‘It doesn’t change the way I train, the way I play,’ he explains, ‘but what it changes are the priorities that I have. Before, it was all about winning. Obviously,

when I step on a football pitch, I try to win. But God knows that I want to win. So now, I pray that I will do my best and use the talents that he gave me 100 per cent. Then I pray that he will keep me healthy and that I will be able to enjoy what I do.

‘Of course I want to win, but I know who is in control of that.’

The word ‘enjoy’ makes a number of appearances when Julián talks about his career.‘I enjoy what I do,’ he says, ‘and the past 12 years

since I moved to Scotland have been great. When I was young back home in Argentina I enjoyed football, but those early days are probably the hardest for any kid that wants to be a professional player. You are not sure whether you are going to make it. Once you get through that, I am not saying things are easy, but certainly you gain a lot of confidence and see that you have something to build on.’

And in his own analysis, Julián’s career is based on an important link-up.

‘I am sure that my talent is a gift from God,’ he says. ‘But you cannot become a professional footballer only on the strength of talent. You have to work hard. And that is what I have done: I have worked hard to develop the talent that God has given me.’

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I was going through a tough period. A friend told me I could leave everything in God’s hands

Julián saves from Watford’s Troy Deeney in the Championship play-off final

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12 The War Cry 31 August 2013 Puzzlebreak

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9

Solution on page 15SSUUDD

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HHONNNEEYCCOMBB

QQUICCCKK CRROSSSSWWOORRDD

ANSWERS

ACROSS3. Toupee (3)7. Mend (6)8. Admire (6)9. Extract (6)10. Merited (6)11. Headgear (3)12. Crib (6)14. Even (6)17. Superior (6)21. Emerge (6)24. Everything (3)25. Horse pace (6)26. Bigger (6)27. Small hat (6)28. Shiny (6)29. Cereal (3)

QUICK CROSSWORDACROSS: 3 Wig. 7 Repair. 8 Revere. 9 Elicit.

10 Earned. 11 Hat. 12 Cradle. 14 Smooth. 17 Better. 21 Appear. 24 All. 25 Gallop. 26 Larger. 27 Beanie. 28 Glossy. 29 Rye.

DOWN: 1 Cellar. 2 Rancid. 3 Writhe. 4 Greets. 5 Overdo. 6 Arrest. 12 Cab. 13 Lie. 15 Map. 16 Her. 18 Evaded. 19 Talent. 20 Rapier. 21 Allege. 22 Parson. 23 Averse.

QUICK QUIZ1 April. 2 Harper. 3 The beetle family. 4 Daniel

Defoe. 5 London and Birmingham. 6 Yellow.HONEYCOMB

1 Castle. 2 Minder. 3 Funnel. 4 Muffin. 5 Invoke. 6 Sesame.

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these Beatrix Potter characters

BENJAMIN BUNNYHUNCA MUNCAJEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCKJOHNNY TOWN-MOUSEMISS MOPPETMR TODMR JEREMY FISHERMRS TIGGY-WINKLE

MRS TITTLEMOUSEPETER RABBITPIGLING BLANDSAMUEL WHISKERSSQUIRREL NUTKINTIMMY TIPTOESTOM KITTEN

DOWN1. Vault (6)2. Fetid (6)3. Squirm (6)4. Welcomes (6)5. Carry too far (6)6. Apprehend (6)12. Taxi (3)13. Falsehood (3)15. Chart (3)16. Belonging to a

female (3)18. Dodged (6)19. Aptitude (6)20. Sword (6)21. Assert (6)22. Clergyman (6)23. In opposition (6)

1. Fortified building

2. Bodyguard

3. Chimney on a ship

4. Type of bread

5. Call on as a witness

6. Tall herbaceous plant grown for its seeds

Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number

WORDSEARCH

QUICK QUIZ

1. In which month in 1912 did RMS Titanic sink?

2. What is the surname of the family in the TV programme My Family?

3. To which insect family does the ladybird belong?

4. Who wrote the novel Robinson Crusoe?

5. The Grand Union Canal links which two English cities?

6. What colour are the flowers of the laburnum tree?

COMPETITION WINNERSTHE winners of the Jahméne Douglas CD compe-tition are T. Stevens of Southampton and S. Challinor of Lincoln.

The name of the song released as a single was ‘Titanium’.

P T S S O E E U S U N P M T I M B N R E H S I F Y M E R E J R M E P E S U O M E L T T I T S R M N I E N I K M R E T M O K R U D J G M T I F E J T T C A O I M O A L U M E K C U D E L D D U P A M I M E J R T M R S T I G G Y W I N K L E T R U H J J I W C U R N G W T D J E A N U Y M E H P M B B G O O K N P B L N S G U O A U L Q S T M S S P B E C I L S N N A Y N R Y K S K O I R A R L N N N I B M L N I Y M M T R M R Y Y D Y Y M E E N T E N S U I U A T S S S N L T T H T I M S S U N T I M M Y T I P T O E S M I N Q C M R L H E B I A N J N A C M D S A M U E L W H I S K E R S W I S

Inner life 13

Jesus.I.Am

LOOKING FOR HELP?Just complete this coupon and send it to The War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN

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31 August 2013 The War Cry

A slice oflife

There was plenty for everyone

In this series ROSEMARY DAWSON looks at the ways Jesus described himself

FEELING hungry? What better way to satisfy those pangs than with a hunk of freshly baked crusty farmhouse loaf, bloomer or baguette, especially when it’s thickly spread with butter. Delicious!

For millions of people, bread is a daily staple food. It was no different in New Testament times.

When a crowd of 5,000 people who were listening to him began to get hungry, Jesus used a boy’s picnic of five small barley loaves and two small fish to feed them (see John 6:1–13). There was plenty for everyone and even some leftovers.

As we might imagine, this caused a sensation. Here was a man who healed sick people, talked about God in a way people had never heard before and now was giving them free food. Not surprisingly, the crowds grew even bigger.

Then Jesus made this important statement – the first of seven ‘I am’ statements recorded in John’s Gospel: ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’ (6:35 New International Version).

There is more to this ‘I am’ saying – and the other such sayings – than may be obvious. Hundreds of years before, God had revealed himself to Moses in a burning bush. When Moses asked by what name God should be known among the Israelites, he replied: ‘I AM WHO I AM’ and even more simply ‘I AM’ (see Exodus 3:13, 14).

Jesus knew that by using the words ‘I am’ he would be seen as putting himself on a par with God. He did not say that he was a ‘meal ticket’ for life or that the crowd would never need to buy bread again. Rather, he was declaring himself as sustenance for the soul, the source of spiritual food and nourishment to all who sincerely hunger and thirst after truth.

We devote much time and attention to the needs of our bodies, which will eventually waste and decay, often at the neglect of our souls, the eternal part of us that lives on after death.

Jesus warns that humans don’t ‘live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4). Is it time to think about changing our diet?

‘I am the bread of Life’ (John 6:35)

I WAS listening to Classic FM on the radio. In asking listeners to vote for their favourite music, the presenter grabbed my attention with the words: ‘Get voting now! You can make a difference!’

Not long after, it was Red Nose Day. As I watched some of the special television programmes that showed the heartbreaking needs of children in Africa, I again heard the statement: ‘You can make a difference. Your donation could save a life.’

In both cases, I realised that taking action really did make a difference. A person’s vote for their favourite music – added to many other votes – would determine the outcome. Five pounds could save the life of a child in poverty.

What a responsibility we have to make a difference for good in the world! But we may wonder how we can achieve this when so many of us live a life that seems humdrum, full of ordinary activities connected with work, home and family. Don’t we need to be raising

thousands of pounds or building hospitals

abroad to make a valuable contribution?

Contrary to what many people may believe, I think we can make a positive difference in our ordinary lives and

14 The War Cry 31 August 2013

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The Salvation Army UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BNTel: 0845 634 0101 Helpline: 020 7367 4888

Founder: William Booth General: André CoxTerritorial Commander: Commissioner Clive AdamsEditor-in-Chief and Publishing Secretary: Major Martin Hill

The War Cry Registered at Companies House as a newspaper under the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881

Editor: Nigel Bovey, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Stephen Pearson Editorial Assistant: Claire Brine Editorial Assistant: Renée Davis Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston DTP Operator: Denise D’Souza Secretary: Joanne Allcock War Cry office: 020 7367 4900Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

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Annual subscription of The War Cry Print version £26 (UK) or £44.50 (overseas) Call 01933 445451 or visit sps-shop.com

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Food for thought

by BARBARA LYNE

Can we spot the difference?

communities. Taking time to chat with a lonely neighbour, phoning a friend who is feeling low or sending a card to someone who is ill are all actions which can make a difference to how a person is feeling.

When we give people time and attention, we may feel as though we are doing nothing special, but it is what Jesus did. He chatted with people, ate with them and cared for them when they were sick. To those watching him, he said: ‘Follow me.’

If we have the right attitude, our little acts of kindness have the potential to make a huge difference to the world.

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what many elieve, I think a positive

He chatted with people, ate with themwhat Jesus did. Hm when they were sick. To those and cared for them

watching him, he said: ‘Follow me.’

If we have the right attitude,our little acts of kindness havethe potential to make a hugedifference tothe world.

We may wonder what we can achieve

I’M Michael Darracott. I have been an executive chef in several large establishments in charge of cooking for 200-plus people. I have also written a number of books. It gives me great pleasure to offer my recipes in The War Cry.

I invite readers to send in recipe ideas, to be considered for publication here. I would also like to offer help with any cooking-related problems you have. So send in your question and, if it is selected, an answer will be published on this page.

Email your recipes and questions to chefmike56@chefmikedarracott.com

Ingredients:4 x 100g chicken

breast3tsp vegetable

oil, for fryingFor the sauce1tbsp butter1tbsp plain flour230ml hot milk1tbsp olive oil12 large

mushrooms, diced

1tsp oregano1 clove of garlic,

crushedSalt and pepper,

to taste

1531 August 2013 The War CryWhat’s cooking?

SUDOKU SOLUTION

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MasterCard Visa Maestro Method:Fry the chicken in the vegetable oil until

tender, then set aside on a plate. Leave the oil and juices in the frying pan.

Melt the butter in a saucepan, then stir in the flour until it starts to bubble. Add the hot milk and whisk until the mixture thickens. Lower the heat to a simmer.

Pour the olive oil into the original frying pan and place over a low heat. Add the mushrooms, oregano, garlic and seasoning, then cook until the mushrooms are tender but not crispy. Add the mushrooms to the milky sauce, then whisk for 1 minute.

Return the chicken to the frying pan and reheat. Once hot, place the chicken breasts on 4 plates, then pour the mushroom sauce over the top of each one before serving.

Serves 4

chefmikedarracott.com

Cook with chef MICHAEL DARRACOTT

Chicken breast with a mushroom sauce

The Salvation Army (United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland) on behalf of the General of The Salvation Army. Printed by Wyndeham Grange, Southwick. © André Cox, General of The Salvation Army, 2013

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A RESEARCHER working in the British Library in August wanted to check a line in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, only to find his wi-fi access was blocked by an internet filter because of the play’s violent content.

Some years ago, a Salvation Army employee was searching for a supplier of Christmas trees, but found his search blocked because the kind of tree he was looking for was known as a ‘Naked Scandinavian’.

Of course, public institutions such as the British Library want to protect their users from sites promoting pornography, gambling and suchlike. But it can be hard to get the balance right.

In recent weeks, the Government has announced that it wants internet service providers to impose filters that will automatically block pornography. But security experts claim that such internet filters are dysfunctional, because there is no human brain deciding what is or is not appropriate content.

No doubt some software would block parts of the Bible, which has its share of sex and violence, and includes refer-ence to the ‘casting of lots’. That’s because in the Bible – as was said of a now-defunct newspaper – ‘all human life is there’.

The Bible doesn’t pussyfoot around the darker sides of human life. Its pages have provided film-makers with material for some of their more lurid productions.

But the Bible gives us the big picture. It balances the dark mat-ter of human behaviour with the most positive and life-affirming

SEARCH ENGINEERING

Lib

rary

pic

ture

The truth will filter through writes BRUCE TULLOCH

The Bible doesn’t pussyfoot around the darker sides of human life

messages we could ever find anywhere – messages from God. And while cherry-picking verses won’t tell the whole story, we can get a flavour of his promises.

So God says: ‘Do not be afraid – I am with you! I am your God – let nothing ter-rify you! I will make you strong’ (Isaiah 41:10 Good News Bible).

And Jesus says: ‘Do not be worried and upset … Believe in God and believe also in me’ (John 14:1).

Access to these messages, and to the love and forgiveness God offers through Jesus, is never blocked. They are freely available to us all.