captdoc

The Real World

2006-10-08T19:36:00.000Z

I am the husband of a cadet! Rhonda entered training as a Salvaton Army Officer last month as a member of the God's Fellow Workers session. She's enjoying it so far and settling in well. However her sessional song slightly annoys me. It talks about the so-called 'real world', as if it is somehow different from the college or is only where there are certain problems.

I disagree. The`real world is`where ever people are. Even the training college.

If only Zara had come to Christ

2006-09-24T16:39:00.000Z

Today was a great day. It was also a bad day. Two residents of Riverside House who have recently come to Christ were made Adherents of the Salvation Army in the morning meeting. They gave testimony of his power to save abundantly. He had rescued them from their addictions. I praised God, and inwardly shouted for joy.

However just before I was inwardly crying. As we were getting ready to start the meeting a man arrived, stating that he was Zara's partner. Zara had a serious alcohol problem and had frequently come to the hall for help with food and clothing when all her money had gone on drink, or to ask for prayer. Recently she had told us she was ill with cancer, she was devastated and we prayed with her and tried to support her. Her partner was released fromn prison on Friday and went around to the flat to find that she was lying dead, and that her body was starting to decompose. He was asking for help as to how to organise the funeral and to trace her relatives. He is to come back to see me tomorrow with information about the family. If only Zara had come to Christ, like Geoffrey and Paul had.

William's grave

2006-09-23T19:22:00.000Z

After numerous false starts, we finally got to visit William Booth's grave (for the fourh time!) this morning. It was immacutely clean and tidy, obviously well-tended. But just accross the path was his son, Bramwell's, grave. It was somewhat grubby. But it had still obviously been tended, just not as throughly as William's.

But we passed many much smaller, completely overgrown graves. The people buried in them completely forgotten today. When the ressurection comes what will matter is not what their graves were like, but whether they were written in the Lamb's book of life.

I thank God that through the minisitry of the Booths, and the organisation that they started, that many names were written in the Book of Life, names that are known today only to Christ, who purchased their salvation

Eating dry pasta

2006-09-13T10:03:00.000Z

I was munching away on some dry pasta, straight out of the packet. Rhonda came into the kitchen, and I tried to hide it. But, as usual, she caught me - "why are you eating dry pasta when there is chocolate here?"

It reminded me of the times when I have been content with the scraps from my master's table, when the full riches of Christ are available for me. I need to share Christ's feast, not grovel around with the dried pasta.

People take advantage of Jesus

2006-09-06T09:13:00.000Z

"People take advantage of Jesus, he's the nicest man I know, I met him on a mountain." Thus spoke Patrick yesterday. Isaiah said 'surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried away our iniquities, on him was the chastisement that made us whole'

People take advantage of Jesus? I wish they did!

A lowly cot or stately home

2006-08-30T15:08:00.000Z

A couple of weeks ago we were on holiday where I was brought up, in Cornwall. We took the opportunity to visit Lanhydrock, a splendid, grand, stately home. It was magnificent and luxurious.

Today I visited somebody in the worst living conditions I have ever seen. The squalor of the flat is beyond description. I recoiled at the dirt and the smell. I began to think of the words written by Evangeline Booth:-

Dark shadows were falling,
My spirit apalling

I realised how much Christ was needed there. But later I thought about Lanhydrock and its splendour. I realised Christ died for the sins of the rich as well. There is a song that sums it up:-

We're in God's army and we fight,
Wherever wrong is found
A lowly cot, or stately home
May be our battleground
We own no man as enemy
Sin is our challenged foe
We follow Jesus Son of God
As to the war we go

We shall not lose the fight of faith
For Jesus is our Lord
We lay all carnal weapons down
To take his shining sword.

My prescription pads have arrived!

2006-08-30T15:05:00.000Z

My private prescription pads for controlled drugs arrived today - that means that Greig House and the Harbour Recovery Centre can get back to normal - hallelujah!

Another one of those days

2006-08-23T16:38:00.000Z

Last night somebody broke into the Hall car-park, broke a window on the minibus and nicked the battery. I spent most of the morning trying to sort it out, with insurers, glaziers, THQ etc. I then showed Rachel (Patrick's Social Worker) and Patrick upstairs to the counselling room for a meeting, going out, intending to leave all the doors unlocked behind me so that they could get out. I then went to Greig House to do my doctoring, found that only one out of the three admissions had turned up, had another client that I did not have a clue what was wrong with, then went back to the hall to be told that Patrick was cross with me because I had looked him and Rachel in. After that settled down with Laura, another officer at the corps, to do the books (keeping the financial records) for the week, only to discover that there were major discripencies in the petty cash.

Setting out soon for a meeting with officers from nearby corps to sort out Annual Appeal, wonder what will go wrong then.

Patrick's testimony

2006-08-23T16:32:00.000Z

The meeting on Sunday morning was not going too badly. People were participating. Then I openned the meeting up for testimonies. There was a long, uncomfortable silence. Finally Patrick said "It's all gone wrong, Sir!"

Even though I felt that he was right, and it was going wrong, he cheered my spirit that was heading towards gloom.

Patrick's boiler again

2006-08-11T16:03:00.000Z

It has been a bit cooler these last few days, and Patrick is feeling the fall in temperature. I turned his boiler off a few weeks ago because we were having a heatwave and his heating was full on, making the flat unbearable. He came in complaining that he had got the 'flu because of this, and by implication blaming me.
(he had no symptoms of 'flu) Rhonda suggested that he put an extra blanket on his bed, which he vehemently rejected.

I'm afraid of turning it back on because we are going away for a week and if it turns hot again he will melt.

Sometimes the system does work!

2006-08-04T13:03:00.000Z

It started in the same way that these things often seem to start - I was on my way from Greig House to Poplar corps when he saw my uniform and called me over. George had just been evicted from a local (non-SA) hostel and was about to be on the streets. He was no longer a young man, and looked as if there was no way he would be able to manage this.

We walked to the hall together where I made some 'phone calls. We were able to arrange an interview for him at a hostel in Whitechapel.

George called me over again yesterday - it looks like he has got accommodation.

Normally finding emergency accommodation is like banging your head against a brick wall, I find it so frustrating that there is accommodation there but so much red-tape interferes with the people who need it getting it. But just this once the system seems to have worked.

What a day!!!!

2006-07-27T16:33:00.000Z

On Friday I was given, temporarily, the responsibility for the medical care of clients in the new Harbour Recovery Centre, next door to Greig House, a collaboration between the Army and the local Primary Care Trust - the PCT were to supply the doctor but have run into delays, so the army has provided me until the PCT get sorted out. Harbour is an eight bedded unit for detoxification from heroin or synthetic opioids.

Yesterday I ahd a 'phone call from the pharmacist who had just discovered that there had been a change in legislation relating to the prescribing of controlled drugs (such as methadone and buprenorphine) taht came into effect on 7th July, but was not publicised. It seems that I have been acting contrary to the law since then. Morning was spent sorting this out, and closing Harbour to all admissions and Greig House to opiate admissions. It involved various 'phone calls to various bodies, none of which seemed to know anything. The only person that did know details was on her day off. It is being co-ordianted by this one woman in the PCT, but the rest of the PCT know nothing.

This afternoon was calmer, helping Christine to move into her new quarters.

I will be her loyal lieutenant

I'm the boss!!!!

2006-07-27T16:28:00.000Z

I'm an associate officer with no commanding officer!! We are in what our Anglican colleagues would call the interregnum! I'M THE BOSS FOR TWO WEEKS.

Or perhaps the Father, Son and Holy Spirit all outrank me.

I missed the point

2006-07-26T19:49:00.000Z

I preached on Sunday afternoon on the Woman at the well, whom Jesus met in Samaria. I presented in monologue form, in which I played the part of the woman. I was perhaps too subtle, but also too dramatic (Rhonda says I am a drama queen!). My emphasis in performance interfered with the Spirit's emphasis in the simple, but true, gospel message.

It is His gospel, not mine

I'm the boss

2006-07-26T19:23:00.000Z

I'm the boss!!!

2006-07-26T19:15:00.000Z

Now in the two week spell between Gordon and Kate leaving their appointment and Christine taking it up. I'm the boss!!!!

Or perhaps the Father, Son and Holy Spirit all outrank me.

Go with the blood and fire.

2006-07-16T18:57:00.000Z

Farewell Sunday for Kate and Gordon (www.urbanarmy.blogspot.com) who have been COs at Poplar for the last eight years. The corps handled it much better than I expected, I expected floods of tears and mass non-coping. Our cadets for the summer, Kevin and Wendy, led the meeting on the theme of 'sending-out', I was fortunate enough to have the privilege of preaching.

They went out to a rousing rendition of 'I'll go in the Strength of the Lord', I couldn't resist the urge (encouraged by my wife!) of waving the big corps flag, sending them out with the blood and the fire.

Captain and Mrs Cotterill - Go with the blood and fire!!!!

Major Christine Comely - Come with the blood and fire!!!

Recovery or New Creation

2006-07-12T11:18:00.000Z

First of all, two confessions. The first is that I am dreadful at reading the 'Officer' magazine. Sometimes I do not even take my copy out of the wrapper. Second, I have been working in the addicitons field since my commissioning, four short years ago, and have, almost without question, been semi-brainwashed into the world's view of recovery.

However, I have just openned, in a quiet moment at Greig House, the current edition of 'the Officer' and have discovered an article that deals with the second problem, by an brother officer in an American addictions centre. He points out that when we are saved sin has no more dominion over us. We are no longer defined by our past sins. Converted alcoholics are no longer alcoholics. Praise God!!!

I am so wonderously saved from sin
Jesus my Saviour abides within
And, by the cross, I a crown shall win
Glory to his name!

Come to this fountain, so rich ans sweet
Cast thy poor soul at the Saviour's feet,
Plunge in today and be made complete,
Glory to his name!

Back to blogging

2006-07-09T21:28:00.000Z

Been away for two weeks, at officers' retreat and then holiday. So much to reflect on.

Just one thing for now, at the retreat we were asked, as I have been several times in the past, to write on a piece of paper things that need dealing with in our lives and through it onto the fire, a symbol of the blood of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit that cleanse us from sin and give us the power to overcome unrighteousness. I throw my bit of paper on the fire. It did not immediately burst into flame, but slowely singed, curled up and turned into ash. Despite my belief in Wesleyan holiness, this seemed apt for the progress in my own life.

Maureen's boiler

2006-06-21T09:18:00.000Z

After the excitement of Monday, when Patrick believed that his boiler had exploded, yesterday it was Maureen's turn. She rang up Gordon saying that her boiler was making a horrible noise and she didn't know what to do. Gordon went round, but it had stopped. Maureen rang the emergency council number, they told her that they would send a repairer round, but he didn't turn up.

Soon the noise started again and she got her friends and neighbours round. Fear soon began to grip them all that it was about to blow-up. She rang Kate and Gordon again with their fears and I went round to see her. I found Maureen with two of her neighbours just standing in her kitchen listening to the noise. Maureen informed me that she had rung the emergency number again and they would be out in four hours. I tried to reassure her, but every time I did, one of the neighbours would anxiously interrupt "But what if it blows up!" and Maureen's anxiety would increase again.

It sounded like the noise might have come from the next door flat, so I listened at their door (they were away) and heard a loud noise, similar to Maureen's. I had to go back to the hall to do a semi-recruits' class, but by the time this was over Maureen was nicely settled. The man had come and told her that he thought it was next door's boiler. Repairs will be made this morning.

What is it with Poplar and boilers?

Patrick and Rachel - the latest instalment

2006-06-19T11:41:00.000Z

Patrick had been getting on very well with Rachel, his new Social Worker (see below) and she is slowely gaining his trust. However, today there was a bit of crossing of wires and she turned up at the hall to see him and he wasn't here. I went round to his flat and knocked the door. He came to the door, bleary eyed, clad in only a shirt, with no lower body wear (I was glad that Rachel hadn't come with me). He quickly agreed to come down and see her, but unfortunately went to the Post Office to get his pension first, so missed her.

He seemed a bit disappointed to not see her, but told me that his boiler had exploded. Patrick has something of a fascination with boilers, probably arising from his old job of as a trainee plumber that he had before his accident so cruelly damaged his brain, and tends to fiddle, resulting in numerous breakdowns. I went round with him, back to the flat, to look at it. The heat was overpowering. We are going through a spell of hot weather, but Patrick had his heating full on. I examined the boiler, found it to be working and turned his heating off.

Not only was his flat very hot, it also smelled very badly, and was fully of dirty rubbish that he had rescued from bins. He gave me a sack of rubbish and an old chair that he had found, saying that he wanted them out of his flat. I took them back to the hall to dispose of.

I hope that Rachel is able to establish a good working relationship with him.

High and low in half an hour

2006-06-12T20:14:00.000Z

I didn't recognise him at first - he was clean, tidy and sober. But he was the bearer of good news.

"I haven't had a drink for ten days!"

"That's good!"

"I'm not on the streets anymore, but I am the only sober person in my new accommodation"

I finally recognised him as Marcus - see below and the urbanarmy blog for info about some of our previous encounters and our attempts to find him somewhere to live. I danced into the office and happily told Gordon, he rejoiced with me. My heart was singing 'Hallelujah!'

Then I went to Greig House. One of today's admissions was Hillary, who had been in twice before. Last time was in October, he relapsed on alcohol as soon as he left. Then for some strange reason he started using heroin for the first time, despite being in his forties. My heart sank.

High and low in half and hour.

At the centre of the community?

2006-06-12T07:59:00.000Z

A recent conversation that Rhonda had with a self-confessed atheist included the atheists suprisingly making the comment "A Church should be at the centre of the community"

However Jesus stated that everyone would hate us because of him, and Paul told us that everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus would be persecuted. So is a Church that is at the centre of its community a failing, compromising Church that the Devil is happy with? Perhaps

Railton

2006-06-03T17:29:00.000Z

"So, can I have one?"
"Will you help to clean it out, even after the novelty has worn off?"
"Yes"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"OK then"

The above was a conversation between Rhonda and me in the 'Pets at Home' store in Charlton. As a result we have a new member of the family. Railton. A lovely Guinea Pig. He's settling in his new home, munching on some cucumber.

The gospel is more than a nice idea

2006-05-31T19:43:00.000Z

Herbert had recently discharged himself from Greig House after just a couple of days. On Sunday he came to the morning meeting at the corps. Obviously not recognising me he started telling me about his brief stay at Greig House:- "I left because I was the only alcohol user there, the others were all drug users!" I gently pointed out that this was not true and reminded him of who I was. He graciously backed down.

He then started to tell me about the reason he had come to the meeting. He wanted spiritual guidance. He believed in Jesus but said he also believed in spiritualism. He was looking for nice ideas to believe. I pointed out that Jesus and spiritualism are incompatible. He knew this, but he seems to be looking for nice things to believe. He is coming to see me tomorrow to discus things further. I pray that the Holy Spirit will give me wisdom and power to present the truth in love, and to show him that it is not a question of believing nice things, but believing true things. Christ is more than a nice idea, in fact, the gospel, in the world's eyes, is not very nice at all sometimes, because it destroys pride.

I am an uncle!!!!!

2006-05-27T18:12:00.000Z

Hannah Louise Poole, born this morning. 6lbs 12oz, the daughter of Rhonda's brother Mark and his wife Human Katie (to differentiate her from Pussy Katy, Rhonda's mum and dad's cat). Both doing well.

I pray that she will come to know her saviour early in life.

I've always wanted to be an uncle :)

Human trafficing report launch

2006-05-23T16:59:00.000Z

I thought I was completely the wrong person for the job. The army was carrying out a research project on behalf of the local council into the health needs of migrant and trafficed women in East London, and I was asked to be on the steering group as a supposed expert. I felt that had nothing to offer the project, but did it anyway. Throughout it looked like the project was heading for disaster, there did not appear to be any co-operation from other agencies, and we had real trouble contacting women who had been trafficed. But finally we got through, just before the end, and contacts were made and other agencies co-operated.

In all honesty, while I did put some input into the project, and some of my suggestions and advice were taken up, my role was small.

Today was the launch of the report, in the plush surroundings of the Tower Hamlets council offices. There were a string of findings and recommendations, which, if followed, would hopefully improve the lot of trafficed women. However, I was reminded of the words of Evangeline Booth:-

Dark shadows were falling
My Spirit apalling
For hid in my heart, sin's crimson stains lay
but when I was weeping
The past o'er me creeping
I heard of a blood that can wash sins away

The wounds of Christ are open
Sinner, they were made for thee
The wounds of Christ are open
There for refuge flee

The wounds of Christ are open, there for refuge flee - the greatest recommendation of all, but missing from the report.

I understood what you were saying anyway

2006-05-22T09:19:00.000Z

I had planned the sermon several weeks ago. It was on Ephesians 1:5, The central theme was that we are not born as children of God, but as children of Satan, but God graciously adopts us as children into his family through Christ so that we can have a full share in his inheritance and eternal kingdom. But that the only way we can become his children is through Christ. It was the third in a series of three that I had planned on Ephesians 1:1-5, but there had been a break of several weeks since the second in the series. While preaching I felt I lost my thread completely. I kept on apologising for the muddle.

Afterwards Jeremy, who was helping to make the tea, encouraged me - "I understood what you were saying anyway". Jeremy has recently started attending the meetings and it seems the Spirit is working in his life to bring him to Christ. I pray that that will happen soon.

It was better than the last time he encouraged me with the memorable words - "That was a good talk, what was it all about?"

He came in the afternoon as well, on his way the store detective of the local supermarket stopped him, believing him to be a shoplifter, only to discover that the item hidden in his bag was his Bible!

Please Lord, bring Jeremy home to you.

The Fire

2006-05-18T14:27:00.000Z

The first part of the leading article from 'the Field Officer' (predecessor of today's 'Officer magazine', July 1902 edition:-

One clear day last month I witnessed a tragedy in the heart of London which I shall never forget. It was a fire. I ahd seen several fires before, and read of the destrction of Chicago by fire, and of the recent deluge of lava in the West Indies, and have imagined some of the horrors of these indescribable catastrophes. But I got so near to this fire as to be almost in it. And this made all the difference in the world to me. I saw it and felt it, with its ghastly consequences, and after two hours I left the scence sick at heart, benumbed in body and brain, without a desire for food or reading, or thiking or takling,k except it was about what I had witnessed.

Moral: We msut see some things to believe in them, and to realise their importance. When our senses are thouroghly awakened to bhe blackness of sin, the high-handed rebellion of man, the afront which sin is to the Almighty God- with its power to wither and destroy the soul - ah! when we see sin as it is, without its fine dresses and fine words and vain excuses,k then, and, I think not till them, does the Bible become a living Book. Then, and not till thn, do we understand the cities of the Plains, the Deluge, Hell, Judgemnet, Christ, Calvary, Immortality. I saw the fire - do I see sin?

Thanks to the anonymous author of this article.

Just like the author of this article, just under 104 years ago, I am convinced that one of the greatest needs of the Church, inluding the Salvation Army, is for Christians to see the horrors of sin, to understand how much God hates it, to have a glimpse of hell and its reality and then to see the wonderful salvation and deliverance from this brought by Christ.

You can't see the stain in the dark

2006-05-12T08:52:00.000Z

"You can't really see the stain in the dark!" was Rhonda's comment as she looked at the dirty tablecloth in the dim light. We had spilled some sauce or other on it on Saturday and she had tried various detergents to get rid of the stain, none of which had worked well, although some had gone. It was now at the stage where, in the bright light, there was an obvious stain, but when it was a bit darker it was not so obvious.

Reminds me of how, when we come into the light of Christ and into the prescence of the holiness and the purity of God little sins in our life that were not so obvious in the darkness, become apparent and we become aware of them.

Sealed by Thy Spirit

2006-05-09T16:02:00.000Z

A real jewel from Gems for Songsters 3. By George Marshall. The chorus is in the chorus section of hte current songbook, but not the verses.

Lord for Thy righteousness hungring and thirsty,
Fixing mine eyes on Thyb promise divine;
Thus would I seek to be fill'd with Thy fullness,
Seal'd by Thy Spirit, eternally Thine

Seal'd by Thy Spirit, seal'd by Thy Spirit,
Seal'd by Thy Spirit, eternally Thine
Thus would I be to Thy service devoted,
Seal'd by Thy Spirit, eternally Thine

Burneth but dimly Thy light in my being,
Lord I would feel Thee more palpably Thine;
Lit with Thy prescence, I'd blaze for Thy glory;
Seal'd by Thy Spirit, eternally Thine

From all my bondage Thy power can deliver,
Snapping the fetters that round me entwine;
Then I'd be free, disentangled forever,
Seal'd by Thy Spirit, eternally Thine

Help me just now whilst before Thee I'm kneeling,
All that I have, all I am to resign;
Then, oh, my God, make me Thine, Thine entirely,
Seal'd by Thy Spirit, eternally Thine

Why do we want law?

2006-05-07T16:38:00.000Z

Why is law so popular as a means by which people attempt to please God? There seem to be several varieties of legalism. There is old fashoined, Victorian style, morality and respectability that turns a blind eye to social issues and there is new fashoined, 21st century style, anti-racism, social action, political correctness, that turns a blind eye to personal morality. Both are hard on sin, but only on certain types, the types of sin that it is fashoinable to be against.

The idea that Christianity, or the gospel, is some form of law seems to be taken for granted in society. The majority of people, even many Church going people, if asked would say that Christ was sent to show us how to live, in other words to give us a law.

But of course the truth is we can never please God by law. We can never make ourselves acceptable by keeping any variant of law, either Victorian or 21st century or for that matter the variant popular at any time in history. The Bible clearly teaches that teh song 'Only by grace can we enter' is entirely correct.

So why do we want law? I think it is because we want to think that we deserve salvation, our place in heaven, and that it reflects well on us, rather than on the sheer mercy and underserved favour of God.

The good thing about scriputural law is that it shows us that we are sinners - and so points us towards grace. But fashoinable law does not. It only speaks against sins that are only committed by a few, that it is fashoinable to attack.

These thoughts were triggered by a comment by Jeremy, who has recently started attending the meetings, after coming to the Youth Club for years. He has brought many of his friends. They have recently heard sermons about grace and the futility of trying to please God by law. But when we were talking to him, commending him for bringing along his friends, he said "I've got a first class pass to heaven!"

Only by grace can we enter. But the true law, the law of scripture shows us we are sinners and that we need grace. Fashoinable law does not do this

Baxter again

2006-05-03T11:21:00.000Z

I confess to my shame that I seldom hear the bell toll for one who is dead, but my conscience asketh me, 'What has thou done for the saving of that soul before it left the body?? There is one more gone to judgement; what didst thou do to prepare him for judgement?

I throughly recoment 'The Reformed Pastor' by Richard Baxter, written in 1656 and available from Puritan Paperbacks for all Salvation Army officers, or anyone with responsiblility in the army. He was a true blood and fire salvationist who preached a blood and fire gospel over 200 years before Booth. I will post a review in the near future

Maureen and prevenient grace

2006-04-28T16:09:00.000Z

Visiting Maureen we were talking about how she first came to the army. She told me that she had never been to Church througout her life until her friend Grace (who is now in the Gloryland) encouraged her to come along to meeting in the corps. She commented

"It was only Grace that got me to come along"

How true! She did not intend to be profound, but she was! I explained again to her the theological meaning of grace. She smiled.

Prevenient grace. What all Christless people need.

I am a fundamentalist!

2006-04-24T19:25:00.000Z

Thanks to Andrew Clarke and Andrew Bale - from their blogs. My results from a survey - to be interpreted in a non-fundamentalist way!

You scored as Fundamentalist.

You are a fundamentalist. You take the Bible as the foundation of your faith and read it very literally, and it shapes your worldview. Non-fundamentalist Christians have watered-down the Gospel in your view, and academic study of the Bible stops us from 'taking God at his word.' Science is opposed to faith, as it contradicts basic biblical truths.

Fundamentalist

93%
Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

89%
Reformed Evangelical

86%
Neo orthodox

71%
Charismatic/Pentecostal

54%
Emergent/Postmodern

25%
Classical Liberal

18%
Roman Catholic

11%
Modern Liberal

7%

Patrick and the Social Worker

2006-04-24T19:03:00.000Z

"I'm sorry I ever came to this borough, I'm going back to Elephant and Castle!"
"I'm fed-up with your army, you got a Social Worker onto me!"
"I'm going to take my case to the United Nations!"

These were Patrick's words as he came into the Sunday morning meeting yesterday, angry at reports that his block of flats might be demolished in two years time. He loudly announced that he was a liberal and was fed-up with the labour party. He then began to express his fear that the Social Worker who I had arranged to meet him today would put him in a concentration camp.

His mood was slightly improved this morning as, over breakfast, he promised to attend the meeting with Rachel, from the council Social Services department, but insisted that he would bring a Liberal Member of Parliament with him. But I was still worried that he would not turn up or that he would come and refuse to talk to her.

I had to rush back to the hall, between clients at Greig House, to make it for the three o'clock appointment. I got there and was thrilled to see Patrick and Gordon sitting in the community lounge, calmly chatting.

Then Rachel arrived. The meeting went far better than I ever imagined. Patrick co-operated, seemed to lose his fear, and even went as far as to suggest a further meeting next week!

PATRICK HAS GOT A SOCIAL WORKER :)

Both Gordon and I are almost dancing for joy.

Hallelujah!

A true salvationist, two hundred years before Booth

2006-04-21T14:31:00.000Z

Had an interesting day today. Started the day off by performing an emergency Mental \Health Act assesment, as I seemed to be the only section 12 approved doctor available in East London. On the way I walked past the Blind Beggar pub, where William Booth was stopped and invited to preach on that history changing day in 1865. After my normal walk I continued to read a book written exactly two hundred years before that evening. Richard Baxter, in 'the Reformed Pastor' written 1665 wrote:-

Must I turn to my Bible to show a preacher where it is written, that a man's soul is worth more than a world, much more are many more souls worth? Or that both we, and all that we have, are God's and should be used to their utmost for His service? Or that it is inhuman cruelty to let souls go to hell for fear my wife and children should fare somewhat the harder, or live at lower rates; when, according to God's ordinary way of working by means, I might do much to prevent their misery, if I could but a little displease my flesh, which all, who are Christ's, have crucified with their lusts?

A true salvationist, two hundred years before William Booth preached outside the Blind Beggar.

Two new books

2006-04-19T14:09:00.000Z

Thanks to Amazon vouchers I have just got two new books. One is 'Aggressive Christianity' by the Army Mother (Catherine Booth) as recommended by other bloggers, the other is 'the Reformed Pastor' by Richard Baxter, written in 1665 and recommended by the 'Field Officer' magazine in 1902 and by a contemporary book that I have recently read - 'the Practical preacher'.

Will blog my response to these books when I have read them.

You'll wake the neighbours!

2006-04-14T13:23:00.000Z

Following our indoor meeting (in which I mildly shocked some nuns who had just dropped in, arriving early for the open-air by pointing out that even his mother Mary misunderstood Jesus sometimes and on one occassion thought he was out of his mind) we went out into Poplar market for a march of witness with the united Churches.

As we went round from stand to stand, the drummer slowely keeping us in step, a passer-by said "You'll wake the neigbours!"

Gordon replied that that was probably what they needed.

I think Gordon was right. We needed to wake the people of Poplar with the horrifying, but good, news that the Son of God took the wrath of God upon himself, so that they do not have to receive the wrath and punishment they deserve.

All my work is for the master

2006-04-12T20:00:00.000Z

Yesterday morning was a busy and stressful time at Greig House. I had a constant stream of clients wanting to see me for changes to their medication and I was getting back into my old habit of seeing my work there as being secondary to my work at Poplar corps.

I was starting to think "I wish I had a proper appointment!" and my anxiety levels were rising.

Today should have been worse. In the last 24 hours I have had two clients admitted to hospital and one arrested. It was just as busy.

But as I was working frantically the Lord brought to my mind the old song

All my work is for the Master,
He is all my heart's desire;
O that he might count me faithful
In the day that tries by fire

Have I worked for hireling wages,
Or as one with vows to keep,
With a heart whose love engages,
Life or death, to save the sheep?
All is known to thee, my Master
All is known, and that is why
I can work and wait the verdict
Of they kind, but searching eye

All my work is for the master? My covenant stated that the first purpose of my life would be the salvation of souls. That is the first purpose of my life. But what about when I am just being a doctor at Greig House, where is my service, where is my seeking the salvation of souls then?

All my work is for the master

Despite from an outside view today at Greig House being worse than yesterday, the challenge All my work is for the master reminded me and enabled me to cope.

It is no secret that I would prefer all of my officer service to be in corps work, rather than part as a doctor in a detox unit, part in corps. But I have no right to choose how I will serve my master, and no right to choose how I will live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose in my life.

Riverside House Prayers

2006-04-11T15:57:00.000Z

My turn to lead prayers at Riverside House, the hostel next door to Greig House tommorrow. I have only got fifteen minutes. But I am determined by God's help to tell them why Christ died and why propitation was necessary.

Victor and Patrick again

2006-04-10T10:23:00.000Z

Victor strood up to the hatch and commented "Patrick should be locked on a balcony behind French windows!" Patrick and Victor have a history of winding each other up, both suffering from different mental health problems. Patrick is a major character in Gordon's urbanarmy blog (see the link). Sone encounters with Victor, including his court case, are described below. Earlier on Patrick had come into the charity shop with two sacks of clothes that he said he had got from Hackney. He then started to tell us how he secretly worked for Booth House (one of our nearby hostels) and was going to marry Neeta.

"Bram, will you hover in the community lounge for ten minutes, Victor and Patrick are hurlling accusations against each other" asked Kate. I went and spent about twenty minutes trying to listen and understand both of them as they simultaneously talked at me, one into my right ear, the other into my left. Victor at times was extremely thought disordered, verging on word salad. Patrick seemed to have Brick Lane on the brain, he told me that the Salvation Army had a secret centre there. He also informed me that the General was really a woman who worked at Booth House. Eventually peace between them seemed to be restored.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Audrey

2006-04-06T17:44:00.000Z

It was immediately apparent to me that she suffered from a major mental disorder as she called me over as I was leaving the hospital after visiting one of our soldiers. She asked for prayer for her back-pain - I prayed with her.

She then began to share with me the content of her delusions. She told me that the doctors were giving her dirty pills to give her streptococcal infections. She said that the African nurses on the ward were really German nazis in disguise. I listened, trying to briefly forget my Psychiatric training and study and I deliberately did not let onto her that I was a Psychiatrist as well as a Salvation Army officer. As she spoke to me I prayed for her to receive peace.

When she had finished, with a "God bless you" I got up and walked back home. Audrey returned to her ward.

She told me that she believed in the Lord Jesus. May the Prince of Peace grant her peace.

Not a servant, but a child

2006-04-05T21:27:00.000Z

Just been reading 'the Field Officer', May 1902 edition. I was struck by a sentence in an article entitled 'my early struggles' by Mrs Colonel Eadie:-

'I never felt that I was a mere servant of the army, but its child'

While I might not quite express it in that way, I would still agree with her. I am not an employee or agent of the Salvation Army, doing what I do for money or because it is my employment, but because it is the very depths of my being and identity. I do what I do because my own desires are being united with those of Christ. I want to want what Christ wants. Officership is more than a job, more than a vocation, it is my life.

In the words of Major Harborne - "Officership is not something you do, it is something that you are!"

Why no revival?

2006-04-04T11:19:00.000Z

Matt Clifton's (http://www.futurefire.blogspot.com) blog has reminded me that we have been promised revival time and time again, but it has not come. Why not?

Partly because we have put our faith in methods rather than Christ. But is it also because God in his sovereignty has decided not to give it? He chooses to act throught the prayers of his people. Is he waiting for our humble prayers and for us to place our reliance upon him rather than the latest seemingly relevant fad?

Revival will come when God chooses to give it. But that does not mean that we should not ask him for it or humbly seek it, acknowledging that it is from him alone, not our cleverness with all the latest relevant, seeker-sensitive methods.

Or am I just turning into a Calvinist?

"Excuse me, are you the police?"

2006-04-03T18:38:00.000Z

Said to me twice today, within a couple of hundred yards on the journey between Poplar corps and Greig House, by people mistaking my Salvation Army uniform for a police uniform. A good reason not to wear it? NO! It gave me the chance to speak to these two people about the army and what we are for that I would not have done if I were going about in disguise - even if it were a polo shirt with the army logo on.

Many of the best contacts I have had in the street were with people who stopped me precisely because I was in normal uniform of cap, shirt and epaluettes.

Back with a vengence

2006-04-02T19:15:00.000Z

First day back in the corps after our holiday at my mum's. We brought her back with us to spend a week. Got to the hall to find the Overhead Projector was broken. Then a Greig House client who was attending the meeting suddenly broke into severe withdrawals - Gordon needed to take him back to Greig House in the minibus as an emergency, while I increased his medication. Got back to the hall for the after meeting tea and chat. Patrick in an excited mood, angry with Victor for not accepting fish and chips off him. Patrick then tried to force Victor to eat a bun. I had to intervene in between them. Both agitated.

Patrick had attended the local Church of England, but was angry because Neeta did not come with him.

A normal Sunday morning in Poplar.

Going to see my mummy

2006-03-23T19:20:00.000Z

Going away tomorrow for a week to see my mummy - will be there for Mothering Sunday. Hope she is OK.

No blogs for a week

An unwelcome guest

2006-03-21T09:53:00.000Z

Today the sun crosses the equator and re-enters the Northern Hemisphere. For those who, like me, do not like warm weather and sunshine, it is an unwelcome guest. I hope that we are not in for another long, hard summer. Roll on the Autumnal Equinox!

Oswald

2006-03-20T08:14:00.000Z

Oswald is an interesting gentleman. Armeninian by ethnicisity he was brought up in Cyprus and came to Britain with his mother many years ago. They eventually found their way to the East End of London, his mother died, and Oswald was left on his own. He is now an old, quite eccentric gentleman. He wears a variety of different hats, changing them constantly, he seems to have one for each different activity he engages in. Due to his poor hearing he has to sit at the very front if the hall during a meeting. There he unpacks his hats, his slippers, his footstool and many other items from the bag before he settles down for the meeting=- Rhonda says she always expects him to take out a flask and sandwiches! He is a larger than life charater, extravert, who delights in the company of others. He is also a lonely man, who craves friends. Because of that he is frequently ringing up, asking for things, such as hatstands, or asking for people to help him clean his flat, when all he wants is people to talk to.

But above all he is a man who truly loves the Lord. Sometime ago I went to visit him in hospital. It was evident that the whole ward knew that he was a Christian and that all were fond of him. He had made up a silly song that he claimed was the National Anthem of Cyprus, but left no doubt that it really wasn't. If a member of staff gave him a small assistance he would sing "For he's a jolly good fellow!" He was really in his element, able to tell people who didn't know all about his precious Saviour, having lots of friends to spend time with. When I arrived I was greeted with "Ahhh, Brother Bramwell!" I then had to help him change his underwear!

He frequently asks for help, probably for things he could do himself, because of his need for company. Is he manipulative? Possibly slightly. Is he zealous for the Lord? Undoubtedly

The Scrubology

2006-03-18T20:45:00.000Z

We had a good old fashioned Salvation Army scrubology at Poplar today. For the uninitiatated everyone is invited to come to the hall and clean it. We spent a happy hour and a half getting dirt out of the inaccessible areas and improving the general cleanliness of the hall. About 20 of us were there. A good turn-out. It was also a time of informal fellowship, particularly over the chips afterwards.

It made me think about the sort of standard of hall we should be aiming at. We need to be clean and sufficently hygeinic and tidy for people not to be distracted or distressed by the filth, but not so fussy and ornamental that people are distracted by the decoration or scared to touch anything. Either too untidy or too ornamental can ruin people's visits and lead to distraction from the message and cause people to be uncomfortable.

It is a delicate balance. Scrubologies help us to maintain it. They are also great for fellowship.

Long live the Scrubology

Nadab and Abihu and Maureen and co

2006-03-16T21:24:00.000Z

Been to busy to blog much this week. Been solidly busy for the last couple of weeks, at least that was my excuse.

It was midweek worship on Tuesday. I normally prepare for it starting on Sunday evening and finishing on Monday. This week I was sorting the corps budget out with Kate on Monday evening. I thought about starting my prep after I had got home from this, then remembered that there were no admissions to Greig House booked for Tuesday morning, so thought I would leave it all until then. got to Greig House to be reminded that I was teaching medical students all morning.

No preperation for Midweek worship. Cobbled together the meeting in fifteen minutes. It was not an acceptable way of preparing to lead God's people in worship. Our midweek worship is a small group of people, one of whom is Maureen, about whom you can read in Gordon's blog. But all the same I should have done the same amount of prep as if it was a large congregation.

In the book of Leviticus we read about two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, who did not adequately prepare to lead God's people in worship. They ended up dead. I am glad that God did not discipline me in the same way.

Patrick and the joy of giving

2006-03-13T16:05:00.000Z

Saturday was our divisional standing day, in aid of annual appeal. I was trying out a new part of the market to stand. I soon became aware of some fairly tuneful music approaching, thinking it was a busker I took little notice, until Patrick emerged out of the crowd playing a mouth organ (or harmonica). He saw me and approached. I thought I would feel embarrassed, but he came and stood beside me, playing the harmonica, interspersed by periods of singing.

I did not feel embarrassed, just happy that Patrick was there. He then told me the tunes he had just played, they bore no resemblance to the sounds he had been making. Happily he showed me his instrument. It was in a presentation box with a book 'how to play the harmonica' - it was obvious that he had found it in a bin.

He commented, with obvious pleasure, "I'm earning money for you!" and indeed it was possible that the flow of givers had increased. It seemed to be a source of joy to him to be using what he believed to be his musical talent for the Lord's work. I wish and pray for a portion of Patrick's joy when I am doing it - rather than thinking of some parts of it, particular the financial bits, as being something to be just got through.

It was then that his generosity came through. He handed me a small pot, that also looked like it had come from a bin "Here's some cosmetics for your wife" - the smile broadened. When I got back to the hall it was a nearly empty tub of moisturiser that someone had desposed of - but to Patrick it gave an opportunity for him to partake of his joy of giving. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver!

Showing grace

2006-03-10T10:23:00.000Z

We are constantly being called to show grace in our actions, but that is like asking us to fly. It is impossible by definition.

Grace is the undeserved favour of God, with the emphasis on undeserved. I am as fallen as everybody else, I am in no position to be able to condemn anyone - my favour towards people cannot be undeserved because of the positon that I am in. I am not a dispensor of grace

Only God can dispense grace. He does it through Christ. All I can do is point other lost sinners towards it.

Rich or poor?

2006-03-07T20:57:00.000Z

I was on my way from Greig House to the corps to lead Midweek Worship when I heard a shout "Oi, Salvation Army!" It was Hillary who ran up behind me. He has been in Greig House several times for detoxes, but has always relapsed. Getting alongside me I could see that he was drinking from a can of lager.
It was raining fairly hard and he was wearing a coat, but I was just in informal uniform of shirt, epaluettes, cap, trousers but no tunic or coat or umbrella and I was getting wet.

"Where's your coat, doctor?"
"I don't normally wear one and it wasn't raining when I left home this morning so I didn't bring an umbrella"
"Couldn't you have got a taxi"
"I couldn't afford that" I replied, thinking that it was hardly fitting for a Salvation Army officer to travel around in a taxi anyway.
"But you lot are the second richest B%&@@£%s in the world, after the Vatican!"

We walked along the street chatting about his latest relapse and how to seek help to tackle his recurrent drink problem. I was glad, however, to hear that he no longer uses drugs.

But why did he think that the army was so rich? Is it because we are always asking for money? I know that we are not rich materially.

Or perhaps sometimes we have seen the valuable weapon against the devil, known as money as being the end of the war in itself, rather than just a useful aid.

Teh song 'Lord for the years' includes a line referring to souls opressed by pleasure and wealth. Wealth does opress its possesor, taking it attention and trust away from Christ.

We are not rich materially, but are we rich spiritually? Do we know the riches of Christ like previous generations of salvationists did? We don't seem to proclaim them much, concentrating our preaching and teaching on the here and now, and not the blessings reserved for us in the heavenly places in Christ as in Ephesians 1:4. My nest sermon is going about that.

The hungersite

2006-03-07T10:04:00.000Z

For every visit to www.thehungersite.com advertisers donate food to famine hit regions of the world. I would encourage everyone to visit daily.

Unusual advice from a Salvation Army officer

2006-03-05T14:33:00.000Z

Marcus passed by as I was openning the hall for this morning's meeting. He was sober, and had not had a drink since last night. We had a chat and I invited him in. But he was already beginning to shake with his alcohol withdrawals - so I advised him to go and have a drink to ward the shakes off, but not enough to get drunk, then come back for the meeting. He said he would try to get back but didn't think he would make it. He didn't.

It was unusual for a SA officer to advise someone to have an alcoholic drink, but in an alcohol dependent individual untreated withdrawals could be dangerous, possibly leading to seizures or delirium tremens. I think it was the right advice, but I was disappointed that he didn't come back for the meeting.

Grace and cancer

2006-03-04T14:20:00.000Z

Telling someone about the grace of God without telling them that they are a lost sinner is like a surgeon telling someone that they need their Colon removed without telling them that they have got cancer.

Patrick and Social service, Part II

2006-03-01T15:58:00.000Z

The social worker has finally seen Patrick, and he is not pleased. To Patrick's mind being refered to Social Services, which he accepted in theory earlier, now appears a betrayal of him. He sees us, and Gordon in particular, as having stuck a knife in his back.

He came round to hall yesterday shouting and was quite threatening towards Kate, he has to be asked to leave. Today he stood outside the hall shouting about the betrayal and clinched his fists at me. It sounds as if they saw the state his flat was in and offered to help with cleaning it up (although we had already told social services that we would do that for him if he would allow us). He is now afraid of being evicted and probably of being put in an old people's home.

He desperately needs this input, but could we have handled it better?

Two years of wedded bliss

2006-02-28T09:31:00.000Z

Today is our second wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe that it was two years ago that I was nervously waiting in the army hall at Coalville, wondering if Rhonda would turn up or if she would see sense and jilt me at the mercy seat. I am so glad that she did turn-up. It's been a great two years.

Hope we get many more.

Victor and the press - lying by telling the truth

2006-02-26T18:50:00.000Z

Two local newspapers have just published the story about Victor's court case (see below for more info). Both reports were totally factual and contained no errors or untruths. However they both painted a picture of Victor as being a violent, dangerous man who should really have been locked up for the protection of the community. They did this by failing to include other vital information, such as the severity of his mental illness, the background to the incident and his general character. I am worried that people reading them who do not know Victor or the full facts will protest about the fact that he was conditonally discharged, and may treat him badly in the street etc. As I said, they told the truth and nothing but the truth, but they painted a totally inaccurate picture of the story and of Victor by not telling the whole truth.

They lied by telling the truth.

It reminds of times that I have done that. By doing that I sinned as much as if I had told blatant lies. They made me deserve hell as much as telling blatant lies. They needed the grace and blood of Christ as much as telling blatant lies.

I pray that Victor will escape unscathed by the newspaper reports.

I thank God that he has applied his grace, through Christ to me for those occassions when I have behaved in the same way.

Where am I stationed?

2006-02-26T10:04:00.000Z

Just seen this weeks Salvationist, with all the officers' appointments in the territory in it. It still claims that I am a THQ officer, but I try and keep out of the place as much as possible, and I thought I was really a field officer. Once THQ sucks you in, you can never escape

Can I motivate them to beg?

2006-02-26T10:02:00.000Z

Got to chase up the soldiers to beg money for God's work at the divisional standing day on Saturday. It is always a struggle to get collectors. Will I manage?

Professional officers

2006-02-23T15:25:00.000Z

I have always been somewhat insulted when people have referred to Salvation Army officers as professionals. Agreement for this came for me from an unexpected source while at Sunbury - we were watching a DVD of Bill Hybels of Willow Creek fame talking on 'Holy Discontent'. He stated that he did not wish to belong to a Church led by a professional pastor, but by one led by a pastor with a vision and full of holy discontent.

The same applies to Salvation Army officers, although not pastors, we should not be professionals, serving time until we retire. Our motivation should be different to that of professionals.

Neither should we divide our lives into personal and private sections. Instead as in the words of the covenant:-

Called by God to proclaim the gospel of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as an officer of the Salvation, I bind myself to him in the Solemn covenant.

To love and serve him supremely all my days

To live to win souls and to make their salvation the first purpose of my life.

I pray that this will be what motivates me

My licence to practice

2006-02-23T15:24:00.000Z

Been at Sunbury for the last few days for an 'into officership' continuing development seminar. Was talking to another officer who described her commission as being her 'licence to practice'. I was taken aback by this. I need no licence to practice as a Salvation Army officer. It is God who appointed me, not a piece of paper.

"I've got the very thing!"

2006-02-19T19:10:00.000Z

We were traipsing around a shopping centre yesterday - I was throughly bored as usual in one of these places. We were stopped by a woman selling some form of skin product, she started trying to sell her stuff to Rhonda, then she looked at me, noticed the patch of dry skin on my face and said

"I've got the very thing for your face, a mask" !!!!!!!!!!

Rhonda thought it was hiliarous.

We all wear masks for protection. We put on acts and persona. That is one of the reasons that it is so hard to reach Christless people. Their masks, and ours.

Victor's Court Case - the Grand Finale

2006-02-17T17:37:00.000Z

Victor's long brush with the law is finally over! See below for the start of it.

After a long discussion and several hearings, the Crown agreed to a plea of guilty to a lesser charge, back in December. Today he was up for sentencing. He has been given a Conditional Discharge, which means that if he keeps out of trouble for the next eighteen months he will not receive any punishment.

The next step for him is to sort out his accommodation.

Patrick and Social Services

2006-02-16T18:30:00.000Z

For some time we have been trying to persuade Patrick to accept some support from Social Services. It looked for a time as if he would agree to it, on the basis that a Social Worker would 'help us to help you'. Now he is having cold feet about the whole idea. To learn more about Patrick read www.urbanarmy.blogspot.com

Gordon has got to ring the Social worker on Monday, 'cos I am at an 'into officership seminar' at Sunbury. I hope that we are able to negotiate something before then.

Joseph and believing your own lies.

2006-02-13T10:00:00.000Z

At the moment the morning readings from the 'Salvation Soldiers Guide' are on the story of Joseph. What has struck me for the first time is how his brothers, after inventing the lie about finding his coat, torn apart and blood stained, seem to have repeated it so much that they came to believe it themselves.

Do we deceive ourselves with our deceptions?

Diclofenac, our good name, and the whole gospel

2006-02-10T18:03:00.000Z

He walked up to me, obviously under the influence of alcohol. In his left hand he held a can of strong cider, of the type that many of the Greig House clients drink. He stopped in front of me, looked me up and down, read the words on my cap-band and said "You're from the Salvation Army, aren't you?"

"Yes!" I answered, expecting a spiritual conversation of some kind, a request to trace a missing relative or a complaint about one of our hostels. Instead he handed me a box of diclofenac, a prescription only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

"I found these lying on the street, I thought it was a bit dangerous so I wanted to give them to somebody who could deal with them. I'm glad I've given them to the right person!" He walked off. I took them to the nearest pharmacy and handed them over for safe disposal.

I was pleased that he so obviously trusted the army, but then I began to think about the trust that the public have in us. It is good that they do, but I think that sometimes we regard it to highly and try to protect our trust and good image at the expense of telling the whole gospel, including preaching the lostness of man without Christ. We want people to like us, so we do not tell them that their sins have bound them to eternal damnation, which only Christ can save them from.

I have an image of the day of judgement when people that I did not want to offend, who are cut-off from God and on their way to hell saying "You knew, but you didn't tell me!" Those words would haunt me for eternity. We must risk our public respect for the sake of the whole gospel.

So they're moving...

2006-02-09T22:14:00.000Z

Heard today that Gordon and Kate are going to be Spiritual Programme Directors at William Booth College. I pray that they will be an inspiration and help to all cadets.

I'll soon be loyal lieutenant to Major Christine Comely, currently at Cambridge Heath, God bless her too.

Anyway, its been a hectic day for various reasons, and I am tired. so I will stop blogging now.

Another Greig House rebuke

2006-02-07T12:19:00.000Z

Had a phone call this morning from the army's addiction consultant, gently asking if there was any possibility of finishing off a research trial that I have taken on relating to nutrition supplements in detoxification from alcohol and the possible protective factor on the brain of certain nutrients. I have not enrolled any clients for ages and have had it very low down on my list of priorities. All my attention has been put onto my corps appointment, I have been spending much of my time at Greig House thinking about Poplar issues, even in the handover meeting this morning I was thinking about what I was going to say in midweek worship this afternoon, rather than fully concentrating on the meeting I was in. My reading recently has all been to help me to be a better corps officer, my recent copies of 'The British Journal of Psychiatry' lying unopened.

My basic philosophy about Greig House seems to be that it is a necessary distraction from my real calling, the only reason that I do it being the fact that Greig House pay Poplar corps for my time, meaning that I cost the corps nothing, and, in fact, it actually makes a small profit out of having me.

But my whole appointment is from the Lord, including Greig House. He called me to be both an officer and a doctor at exactly the same time, during a walk through a country lane about 20 years ago, when I was a teenager. Much has happened since then. For a time I was in rebellion about the officer bit, now perhaps I am in rebellion about the doctor bit.

Today I renew pledge to serve Christ in the way that he shall choose, not the way I choose. My life is to be lived for the salvation of souls, who are lost and bound for hell. But part of the way that God wishes this to be fulfilled is as a doctor in a detoxification unit.

Mission or imposition

2006-02-06T17:46:00.000Z

Had one of my "I don't like Greig House" days. Had a good morning at Poplar corps, working with Victor and Patrick and preparing mid-week worship for tomorrow.

Then I had to go to the other half of my appointment, Greig House. Sat through the staff meeting hearing that a large number of clients wished to see me about general medical problems, chest infections, poorly controlled diabetes etc. I began to feel as I have done many times in the past, that Greig House was not really part of my mission as an officer. I started to wish that I was not medically qualified.

But I know that that was wrong. I am called to be a Salvation Army officer, not a Church pastor. Even being a doctor in a detox unit can be work for Christ if I do it for him.

When I signed my officer's covenant I stated that I would live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life. I can do this even in my time at Greig House, even if I am only preparing people for evangelism and hearing the gospel.

A loyal lieutenant

2006-02-04T22:03:00.000Z

Went to the Christian Bookshoop 'Wesley Owen' today. As usual I spent too much money. However one of the books that I bought was called 'Second-in-Command' aimed at Christians like me who are in the postion ofbeing an assiociate leader to a senior leader. There are many books and helps for the Commanding Officer/Senior Pastor but very few for the Associate. However as Gordon and Kate's side-kick I could wreck their ministry or I could enable them to be more effective and more used by God.

I regularly read Catherine Bramwell-Booth's 'letters to young officers'. One of the letters is written to a young woman officer during the first world war who was a lieutenant to the commanding officer who was a captain. She was told the need to be a 'loyal lieutenant' and shown how on many occassions a ministry has been underminded by a faithless second in command, and at other times a faithless commanding officer's ministry has been rescued by the lieutenant.

Since being Associate Officer at Poplar, although my Salvation Army rank is that of Captain, the same as the COs, Kate and Gordon I have always tried to be their 'loyal lieutenant'.

My prayer as Gordon and Kate's Associate Officer is that I will be a 'loyal lieutenant' and that rather than persuing my own agenda I will do my utmost to ensure that God uses Gordon to extend his kingdom in Poplar.

So its Robin Dunster

2006-02-02T13:56:00.000Z

Just heard that the new Chief of Staff designate of the Salvation Army is Commissioner Robin Dunster, TC the Phillipines - lets pray that God will use her.

I wonder who the new TC for the United Kingdom will be...

Poplar Harca

2006-01-31T17:58:00.000Z

Trouble with Poplar Harca today - they are our landlords. They have locked the gate at the entrance to our street to stop people from other parts of the estate parking in our close as a result of a campaign by some of the other residents. Personally I don't think that there was any problem, I didn't mind other people parking there. We did not have a key and so were locked in our own street. It tooks several phone calls to get a key. I feel trapped with the gate there.

It also reminded me of who we often shut ourselves up and lock ourselves in in our daily lives to protect ourselves from the perceived threat coming from strangers. The barriers we put up to protect ourselves also entrap us. We need Christ to help us pull them down.

Ralph's Funeral

2006-01-30T21:58:00.000Z

Ralph used to come into our community centre. Unfortunately his body and mind were showing the effects of his long battle with alcohol dependence. He showed us enough to show that he must have been quite a character in his earlier life.

We heard just before Christmas that he had been found dead in his flat, and the social worker was trying to locate relatives. She was not successful. Today I did (or officiated at, whichever term you prefer) his funeral. It was just me and the undertaker. To give the undertaker his due credit he came into the service and paid full attention, even though he had never met Ralph alive. I thought about shortening the service, but decided to give Ralph his full half-hour. I am glad I did. I wanted to cry as I pressed the button to draw the curtains around his coffin. I wish that there were more than just us two, one of whom had never known him, to mark his passing.

Ralph never made any profession of faith, although he used to sometimes come along on a Sunday, and he asked me sometimes about the love of God, and we talked of his grace. I read in his funeral the passage from Romans 8, saying that nothing can seperate us from the love of Christ. I hope and pray that Ralph did experience this before he died.

victor's court case

2005-07-22T02:47:00.000Z

Went to court with Victor today. He is accussed of an assualt, which he denies. It seems the Crown had not properly prepared their case and did not make it clear what he was charged with. This was his second hearing, just to make a plea. He was all on edge, thinking that he might be going to prison, but his actual trial is not until late September. It seems so unfair to keep bringing him to court, just to adjourn it and to put him on bail. Surely they could manage with just one hearing.

On our way home

2005-07-09T09:49:00.000Z

going back to London today. What will we find? We shall see.

2005-07-04T17:10:00.000Z

Westville corps survived my preaching yesterday, despite me describing them (and me) as a bunch of idiots and referring to a biblical character as a twit. I was preaching on the parable of the rich fool - he had a huge harvest, so he decided to pull down his barns and built bigger ones to store his wealth and decided to eat, drink and be merry. He gave no thought to God or to others - his possessions had defined his life. He thought he had set himself up for life - and indeed he had, because he died that very night. He was a supreme idiot, just like so many in Western society

Canada day

2005-07-02T06:26:00.000Z

July 1st - Canada day. For the first time I have seen a nation celebrate its national day. Was even on the Westville Salvation Army float in the town's parade, holding first the Canadian flag, then the SA flag. Felt somewhat uncomfortable seeing displays of patriotism as I have often considered patriotism to be sin and unchristian. In the evening Janis put the TV on and it was a show of American patriotic songs - again felt uncomfortable. But saw many people in real life not ashamed of being Canadian and on the TV not ashamed of belonging to the USA. If only we citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven were not so ashamed of where we belong.

Seeing the wood for the trees

2005-07-01T00:34:00.000Z

These Nova Scotian forests seem so vast to my British eyes. As we were going through them today I began to think of the song that says 'higher than the stars that reach eternity, broader than the bounderies of endless space, is the love of God that pardoned me, O the wonders of his grace'.

Although these forests seem vast to me, to someone from Brazil, or Siberia, or more sparsely inhabited parts of Canada they would probably seem small. This earth seems vast to those of us that live on it, but compared to Jupiter it would seem small. I am even smaller and more insignificant. But seeing these forests has reminded me that I am not insignificant to the creator of the whole universe - even when I rebel against him.

The start

2005-06-29T16:47:00.000Z

Finally started blogging - but today's is in God's scholar's blog. Will do my own tomorrowish.