War CryTHE

FIGHTING FOR HEARTS AND SOULSsalvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

HEARTS AND SOULSHEARTS AND SOULS

NEW YEARLIFE CAN BE DIFFERENT

IN 2013writes

ANDREW STONE

5 January 2013

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THOUSANDS of people gathered to hear Big Ben ring in the new year this week. Others went first-footing, while still more stayed home to celebrate with family and friends. Across the UK, there were parties galore to mark the arrival of 2013.

Along with the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, many of the revellers made resolutions in an effort to improve their lives.

But, just four days later, many of those resolutions have been for-

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Every new year ushers in the unknown and brings change. Change may not be readily embraced and is sometimes seen as a threat. But change can also be an oppor-tunity. Many times we can fail to see that opportunity because it is easier to avoid the

things that lead us towards new paths and instead stick to the things with which we feel familiar and comfortable.

Change is inevitable, and life can at times be more turbulent than we would like. God did not and does not remove difficulties from us. He does, however, enable us to overcome them.

The Bible records advice and a promise that God gave to Joshua, Moses’ successor as the leader of the Israelites: ‘Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do eve-rything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and

successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go’ (Joshua 1:7–9 New International Version).

We can feel angry and threatened by change or we can see new opportunities and exciting adventures. Change can be stressful unless it is also seen as an opportunity for development.

Despite the uncertainties that we face, it is possible for us to feel full of confidence and

eager to discover a new sense of direction and purpose in an ever-changing world. The con-fidence comes from knowing that God is with us and directing us every step of the way – every day and night of the year.

IT is a privilege and a pleasure for me to wish all readers of The War Cry a very happy new year. What will this year bring? If I could forecast events with any certainty, I would probably be a very rich man. But, of course, I can’t.

2 The War Cry 5 January 2013

Change is here to stay

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Good news

A new year message from Commissioner ANDRÉ COX, leader of The Salvation Army in the UK and the Republic of Ireland

and so is God

PHOTOGRAPHER WINS AWARD

Commissioners André and Silvia Cox with the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Right Hon John Bercow, MP, at the 2012 parliamentary carol service

5 January 2013 The War Cry 3

The start of a yeargotten as easily as the ‘auld acquaint-ances’ sung about on Tuesday.

According to time.com, the ten new year resolutions most often broken include those made to lose weight and get fit, to eat more healthily, to get out of debt and to spend more time with family and friends.

The start of a year often encourages us to resolve to learn something new or to travel to a new place. Sadly, time tells us, many such ambitions are not realised.

Nor is the resolution that we will become less stressed. Perhaps it is the hustle and bustle of Christmas that prompts our decision to try to live more peacefully and calmly over the next 12 months.

The reality is that we often find our stress levels increasing as the year goes on. Some people’s problems start with the arrival of the first credit card bill after Christmas. Tensions can also rise as a result of a relationship break-

down or employment uncertainties. The stress builds and nerves become frayed.

Many people may have found that life was not easy last year. And despite their resolve that things will be different, they may fear that 2013 will be just as gruelling.

But it does not have to be. Problems and difficulties do not have to weigh us down.

Millions of people have found that putting faith in Jesus – rather than in their own resolve – helps them in times of trouble.

Jesus wants to take the stress and tension out of our lives. He said: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest … Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls’ (Matthew 11:28, 29 New International Version).

Christianity is not a form of escape. After we’ve put our faith in Jesus, we may still encounter difficult situations, but he will help us with them. If those problems are as a result of some-thing we did wrong, he can also forgive us.

If we learn from the teach-ings found in the Bible, Jesus will show us how to handle confidently every situation we face.

We do not have to feel stressed and worried. This year

can be different. Jesus can bring in a new and better way of living.

encourages us to learn something new

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We often find our stress levels increasing as the year goes onLibrary picture

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attended the church and had invited the men to come. The person thought the church was a good environment and might help them to stay clean.

‘The day I saw them was their first time at the church. Somebody had given them a Bible, and as soon as the pastor began to speak about a text, they turned to it.

‘I watched the intensity with which they opened up the Bible. They were pointing to the passage. They were riv-eted.

‘I wanted to get a photo of them, but I didn’t want to interrupt them. I didn’t want to use a flash, and I wanted to stay way back. It was the middle of the service and a guy walk-ing round with a camera could be distracting. I didn’t want to do that. So I changed to a telephoto lens and took the picture.’

Paul knows what it was that made him want to capture the moment. He was gripped by how gripped the young men were.

‘What got me was their intensity,’ he says. ‘I’ve been going to church all my life, and I’d never

London. ‘It’s too compelling to walk past or to push aside.’

The annual Faith Through a Lens competition is run by insurance company Congregational and General to highlight the role of faith in society.

This year’s winning picture was taken in Constanta, Romania, where American-born Paul was working with his wife, Mary.

Paul tells The War Cry: ‘Mary and I volunteer for Next Level International,

a mission organisation based in Coventry. Part of my responsibility is overseeing the work in the Balkans, where we help to open new churches.

‘I was in a Sunday morning church service, and saw two young men who had recently finished a drug rehab pro-gramme. I’m not sure whether the rehab programme was a faith-based one, but somebody who was connected with it

4

FocusedWhat’s going on

WHO are these people? What has happened to them? Don

McCullin – whose images of conflicts in Cyprus, Vietnam, Lebanon and most recently Syria have appeared in newspapers and mag-azines – wanted to know. The winner of World Press Photo of the Year 1964 was one of the judges who awarded the Faith Through a Lens prize to Paul Triller for his picture Brothers in Arms, which showed two former drug addicts reading the New Testament.

‘It’s a powerful image,’ said Don before presenting the award to the amateur photographer at a ceremony in Central

PAUL TRILLER tells Philip Halcrow the story behind his prizewinning picture of two men reading the Bible

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Don McCullin congratulates Paul on his photograph

5 January 2013 The War Cry 5

PHILIP HALCROW

before seen that kind of hunger for the words of the Bible. It was as if they could hear what the pastor was saying about faith but wanted to read the words for themselves.’

The image has made Paul take another look at his own faith.

‘The way these guys were opening up the Bible was like an attack – they wanted to find out something. So I learnt a lesson from them. They were eager. Have I become less eager in my own faith? They made me ask myself: Would anybody ever get a picture of me looking like that?’

Don McCullin commented that the picture made him wonder. ‘I would like to know the outcome,’ he said. ‘I wonder what’s happened to these two characters.’

Paul would also like to know how the lives of his photo’s subjects have devel-oped. He says: ‘The next time I go out to the church in Constanta, I’ll look to see if those guys are still there.’

I watched the intensity with which they opened up the Bible. They were riveted

‘Brothers in Arms’ by Paul Triller, pictured (below) with his prize

The War Cry 5 January 20136 People in the news

In 2012, The War Cry spoke to many Christians whose work places them in

the public eye. This is what some of them had to say about their faith

Famous Christians who are not afraid to speak out

‘I couldn’t be a comedian if I wasn’t a Christian. Without my faith, I just wouldn’t have enough courage. God gives me the backbone that I need to do my work. The Christian faith is the context in which I live my life.’

Comedian and Mock the Week panellist MILTON JONES

‘Putting my faith into music makes people feel good about themselves, so I make sure I carry God with me, no matter what genre I am playing. It may not always be gospel music, but I am putting myself into the music and I know that in me is God.’

Mobo-winning saxophonist YOLANDA BROWN

‘At some moments in life I feel closer to God than at others. But during those times I don’t suddenly think: “I’m closer to God now”, I’m just aware that I feel better within myself.’

TV chef BRIAN TURNER

‘Jesus has been good to me. He means a lot to me. All of life comes from him and he died to save the world.’

Cricket umpire DICKIE BIRD

‘I know that God is my friend and that he is with me wherever I go. I do wish that I could see – but

maybe God is teaching me and telling me to wait. Maybe he is planning to use me to help others a bit more, just as I am.’

Diamond Jubilee National Anthem singer LISSA

HERMANS, who has been blind since birth

‘Being a Christian gives me a different perspective on life. Athletes are often geared towards training and winning competitions, but I don’t think sport is the be-all and end-all.

‘I make sure I find my identity in God, rather than in being a rower.

I trust that God has my life in his hands. Because he loves

me, I put my faith in him.’

London 2012 Olympic rower DEBBIE FLOOD

‘If we matter to God once, we will matter to God for ever. If we mattered to God while we were alive, we will matter to him after we’ve died. He will not throw us away like broken pots on a rubbish dump. The faithfulness of God is the only basis for the hope of destiny beyond death.’

Physicist and Templeton prizewinner the Rev Dr JOHN POLKINGHORNE

Th W C k t NO BONES ABOUT IT

‘Jesus brought me to where I am today. When he died on the cross, he gave me the gift of eternal life. For that reason I believe he is greater than anything on earth.

‘God is a comfort to me. I know that he is greater than an Olympic gold medal.’

London 2012 Olympic silver medallist in rowing RICHARD CHAMBERS

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1. What was the name of Rosemary Conley’s skating partner in ITV1’s Dancing on Ice?

2. The film War Horse was based on the book by which author?

3. BBC One’s Call the Midwife is based on the memoirs of which author?

4. The bicentenary of which author was celebrated on 7 February?

5. Which country won rugby’s Six Nations Championship?

6. Who won the television singing competition The Voice?

7. Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz starred in the remake of which 1960s film?

8. Which singer represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest?

9. In which year was the Queen’s Coronation?

10. Who won the men’s singles

title at Wimbledon?

11. How many gold medals did Team GB win at the London Olympics?

12. Which country singer starred alongside Queen Latifah in the film Joyful Noise?

13. Who won the role of Jesus in the television talent show Superstar?

14. What are the names of the four children in the C. S. Lewis

novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?

15. Which Manchester football team won the Premier League?

16. How many gold medals did Oscar Pistorius win at the London Paralympic Games?

17. Frank Williams played the vicar in which TV comedy, set during the Second World War?

18. In which month in 1962 did the Beatles release their first single?

19. Mary Berry is a judge on which TV cookery programme?

20. How many years of broadcasting did TV

soap Emmerdale celebrate?

21. Which actor plays Nicholas Brody in the TV drama Homeland?

22. Which anniversary did the James Bond films celebrate?

23. Who were the first presenters on the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown?

24. Who won ITV1’s I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here?

25. Which adventurer wrote A Survival Guide for Life?

26. Which actor played Mr Peterson in Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!?

75 January 2013 The War Cry

WHAT A

5 Jan

novel The Lion, the Witch

21.

22.

23.

2

YEAR!2012-

1 Mark Hanretty. 2 Michael Morpurgo. 3 Jennifer Worth. 4 Charles Dickens. 5 Wales. 6 Leanne Mitchell. 7 Gambit. 8 Engelbert Humperdinck. 9 1953. 10 Roger Federer. 11 29. 12 Dolly Parton. 13 Ben Forster. 14 Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. 15 Manchester City. 16 Two. 17 Dad’s Army. 18 October. 19 The Great British Bake Off. 20 40. 21 Damian Lewis. 22 50th. 23 Richard Whiteley and Carol Vorderman. 24 Charlie Brooks. 25 Bear Grylls. 26 David Tennant.

ANSWERS

‘The War Cry’ looks at last year’s issues and the events of 2012. How many questions can you answer?

PETER COX

Atlaspix/Shutterstock.com

Left: Frank Williams played a wartime vicar

warm, where childcare was provided. She went to Florida, came back and said it had been awful.

‘It was 1999, the beginning of every-thing dotcom. Justine said: “Wouldn’t it be great if I could ask the world wide web for advice on where to go on holi-day with my twins next time?”

‘I said it was a good idea, so she asked me if I would like to join her in setting up Mumsnet. I had been working as a TV producer and was looking for something new to do, so said yes. Mumsnet was being estab-lished at the same time as Google and broadband.’

Carrie started visiting playgroups and toddler groups in North London, asking mums to fill in a review of pushchairs. Then she and Justine set up a Mumsnet discussion board.

‘We needed to get online conver-sations started, so I posted questions

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Interview

BEFORE Carrie Longton and her friend Justine Roberts launched the Mumsnet

website back in 2000, Carrie had never sent an email. She didn’t know how to surf the net. So she bought a computer and started to learn.

Working from their homes, the two mothers set up a website using a dial-up internet connection. Their idea was simple – to create a site where mums could ask questions about parent-ing and receive advice from one another. It went down well. Thirteen years later, the website attracts more than three mil-lion unique visitors a month and employs about 60 staff.

‘The aim of Mumsnet is to make parents’ lives easier,’ explains Carrie, who is married and a mother of three. ‘The website has been called “a virtual shoulder to cry on”, and I really like that descrip-tion. After all, life can be hard for any parent.’

Carrie remembers how Mumsnet got started and why.‘Justine and I met at antenatal classes. After we’d had our babies,

we kept in touch. When Justine’s twins were one year old, she decided to take them on holiday. She wanted to go somewhere

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CARRIE LONGTON tells Claire Brine why she set up a website to help parents

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through their difficulties.‘Mumsnet is not always about giving

out groundbreaking advice. Sometimes it’s about having somebody to say to you: “Poor you. Don’t worry. It’s OK.”’

Today, Carrie describes the discus-sion board as ‘the heart of Mumsnet’. The busi-est forum is called ‘Am I Being Unreasonable?’

‘I think it high-lights the fact that women often search for validation. They

ask questions, such as: “Am I being unreasonable to expect my husband to remember to buy milk, even though we have both been at work? Am I being unreasonable to expect my mother-in-law not to buy synthetic fabrics?”

‘The questions can also be more seri-ous, such as: “Am I being unreasonable to expect the United Nations to inter-vene in Syria?” The forum is a very say-it-how-it-is part of the website. Mothers can voice things to other mothers that they maybe can’t say anywhere else.’

Whether they are young, old, mar-ried, divorced, wealthy or counting every penny, all kinds of parents use Mumsnet. Carrie says that motherhood can break down the boundaries set by class and status.

‘Being a mum is a great leveller,’ she says. ‘If you are having problems sleep-ing because your child is keeping you awake, it doesn’t matter whether you live in a house worth £10 million or a council flat. All parents have to make it up as they go along.’

Perhaps mums are willing to speak truthfully on the website because Carrie tries to be honest in the way she runs it.

‘Before we post anything, I ask myself: “Would I buy or do this? Would

5 January 2013 The War Cry 9

on the board and Justine answered me. Then she posted questions and I answered her. It went on like that until one day when Justine was speak-ing with a friend; in the course of the conversation, the friend asked her a question. Justine refused to answer her until she posted the question on the Mumsnet board! When she did, some-one else answered her. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. That was the moment when I thought: “We’ve got something here.”’

Word spread. Slowly, Mumsnet grew. Today, the site is used by mums, dads, grandparents, nannies and carers. It offers more than parenting advice and a discussion board. It runs campaigns, reviews products and provides infor-mation on a range of topics, including education, work, money, food and life-style. It runs an online book club and competitions, and informs parents about child-friendly events and clubs running in their area.

‘Everything we offer has come about because the Mumsnetters have asked for it,’ says Carrie. ‘They are very passionate about the brand and protective of it.

‘The website has a gen-uine feeling of commu-nity about it, which people value. Lots of mums feel quite isolated. I know I did when I had my first child. I didn’t know many people with children and my own mum had died a long time before.

‘When my daughter was born and suffered with bad eczema, I had no one to talk to about it, because no parents that I knew of were going through the same thing. Setting up Mumsnet allowed me to talk with parents who lived miles away. We could share our experiences with each other. It was also reassur-ing to chat with parents whose kids were a bit older and who had got

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Carrie (left) and co-founder of Mumsnet Justine invite Gordon Brown to take part in a web chat with Mumsnetters

The website is about having somebody to say: ‘Don’t worry. It’s OK’

Mum

snet

community supports people through difficulties.

‘One longstanding Mumsnetter turned to the boards for support when her eight-year-old daughter was bat-tling with a rare form of leukaemia.

As well as holding her virtual hand day and night, Mumsnetters registered in their droves to donate bone marrow – and they strong-armed their partners to register too. When the little girl died, Mumsnetters filled the church at her funeral. Many of them were people the mother had never met in real life before.’

There is also an ever-growing group of Mumsnetters who call themselves Woolly Hugs. They make blankets for other users who have lost a child or a partner and send them on ‘with love from everyone at Mumsnet’.

‘The power of these women com-ing together can be such a force for good,’ says Carrie. ‘In the early days of

10

If I can teach my children anything, I’d like to teach them about the joy of serving others and the importance of empathy

Interview

From page 9

this product or survey work for me?” I would never ask anyone to do some-thing that I wouldn’t do myself. I think marketing has to be honest, because if it isn’t, I see through it. And if I can see through it, so will the Mumsnetters.’

Over its history, Mumsnet has inspired its users to help thousands of parents. Carrie’s eyes fill with tears as she recalls some of the ways Mumsnetters have shown kindness to others.

‘One mum posted online that her suit-case was lost at Glasgow airport. She and her family had flown to the Outer Hebrides. The suitcase contained her child’s comforter toy, and he couldn’t sleep without it. One Mumsnetter drove to Glasgow airport, found the suitcase and put it on the last flight out.

‘Mumsnetters have also set up a Secret Santa scheme at Christmas. Users who have enjoyed a good year can donate gifts for parents who have had a bad year or for those who have been amazing at offering support to others. Hundreds of Mumsnetters pledge to send a gift and/or nominate others for gifts. We match up givers and receivers, and December becomes a sob-fest of heartfelt, grateful postings on our thank-you thread.’

Carrie points out that, as well as help-ing people in good times, the Mumsnet

It isn’t easy to maintain a faith while working and raising a family, and Carrie admits that she doesn’t always read the Bible as much as she feels she should. But she keeps on keeping on.

‘I go to church with my family and I meet up with a friend each week to pray,’ she says. ‘She is training to be a vicar so I read her essays and we have debates. We talk about themes in the Bible and pray for each other. I feel blessed to have found her.’

Carrie also prays for her children and the future of Mumsnet.

‘I pray that my children will find faith

for themselves. I pray that they will find a lovely partner to support them and go through life with them. I pray that they will understand what sacrificial love is.

‘As for Mumsnet, I want to make sure we keep living up to our mission of making parents’ lives easier. The world and technology are moving so fast, so who can say what the future will look like?

‘All I can do is see where God leads me and offer Mumsnet to him with open hands. I have to give it over to him and see where he takes it.’

5 January 2013 The War Cry 11

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Mumsnet, I don’t think I realised that quite so much.’

The Mumsnetters collective power is especially evident in the success of their campaigns.

‘We ran a campaign called Let Girls Be Girls, which pushed for retailers to stop selling clothes that promoted the premature sexualisation of girls. Our efforts fed into the Bailey Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood, set up by the Government. Out of that campaign came another, asking retailers to stop displaying lads’ mags at the eye level of children. The mags were soon put on the top shelf.

‘Our latest campaign is called Family Friendly. We encourage companies to examine the way they treat families and to see if they can be more flexible in meeting their needs.’

Despite the pressure of a heavy workload, Carrie continues to be pas-sionate about Mumsnet and its users. She cares about them.

‘I like the idea that at Mumsnet we are trying to make parents’ lives easier, because if we are successful in doing that, they may become better parents. And if the parents feel better, they may have better relationships with their chil-dren. I like to think that we help people, in a small way.’

Helping people has always been important to Carrie. She learnt the value of serving others from her parents, who were Christians.

‘I have always gone to church,’ she says. ‘My dad was a Methodist preacher. My mum was a certified saint. Their Christian faith was all about love in action.

‘Today, my faith brings me such a huge amount of support that I don’t know where I would be without it. I don’t understand how people cope without faith. I’m quite impressed by those who get through life with only their own resources.

‘I find that having faith in Jesus gives me a good perspective in life. I some-times think: “If Jesus were here now, what would he be doing?” I think he would be spending time with people who felt lost. He was so loving. I try to hold on to that servant nature of Jesus and apply it to my own life. If I can teach my children anything, I’d like to teach them about the joy of serving others and the importance of empathy. Jesus had empathy in spades.’

I want to make sure we keep living up to our mission of making parents’ lives easier

12 The War Cry 5 January 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

OOKK

UU

HHOONNEEYCCOOMBB

QQUICCKK CRROSSWWOORRDD byy Chhrhris HHornne

ANSWERS

ACROSS3. Used to be (3)7. Scarcity (6)8. Ear bone (6)9. Blatant (6)10. Imprison (6)11. Signal (3)12. Leaseholder (6)14. Jewish food (6)17. Respect (6)21. Straight

man (6)24. Vase (3)25. Person who is

hooked (6)26. Wild ass (6)27. Threads (6)28. School

absentee (6)29. Can (3)

QUICK CROSSWORDACROSS: 3 Was. 7 Dearth. 8 Hammer. 9 Brazen.

10 Intern. 11 Cue. 12 Lessee. 14 Kosher. 17 Esteem. 21 Stooge. 24 Urn. 25 Addict. 26 Onager. 27 Skeins. 28 Truant. 29 May.

DOWN: 1 George. 2 Prizes. 3 Whence. 4 Shriek. 5 Smiths. 6 Decree. 12 Lee. 13 Eye. 15 Oft. 16 Rue. 18 Sudoku. 19 Elixir. 20 Mutism. 21 Snooty. 22 Opaque. 23 Greens.

QUICK QUIZ1 1666. 2 1918. 3 1962. 4 1978. 5 1994. 6 1908.

HONEYCOMB1 Derail. 2 Caddie. 3 Honest. 4 Doctor. 5 Fraise.

6 Collie.Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these words beginning with ‘new’

NEW AGENEWBORNNEWCOMERNEWFANGLED NEWFOUNDLAND

NEWIENEW-LAIDNEW LOOKNEWLYNEWLY-WEDNEW MANNEW MATHS

NEW MOONNEW STYLENEW TESTAMENTNEW TOWNNEW WAVENEW WORLDNEW YEARNEW YORKER

DOWN1. President

Washington, for example (6)

2. Values (6)3. From where (6)4. High-pitched

cry (6)5. Metalworkers (6)6. Edict (6)12. Shelter (3)13. Visual organ (3)15. Frequently (3)16. Regret (3)18. Numerical

puzzle (6)19. Potion (6)20. Inability to

speak (6)21. Snobbish (6)22. Turbid (6)23. Peas and

beans (6)

1. Cause train to leave tracks

2. A person who carries a golfer’s clubs

3. Truthful and sincere

4. Person who is qualified to practise medicine

5. French for strawberry

6. Breed of dog

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

WORDSEARCH

QUICK QUIZ

In which year…

1. Was the Great Fire of London?

2. Were women first allowed to vote in Great Britain?

3. Was the first James Bond film released?

4. Did the song ‘You’re the One That I Want’ from the film Grease reach No 1?

5. Did the Channel Tunnel open?

6. Did Great Britain first host the Olympic Games?

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

Inner life 135 January 2013 The War Cry

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Time is of the essenceWEEK 1

Next week: Time Lord

BROKEN any new year resolutions yet? Or perhaps you’re still trying to get motivated to make one!

The end of one year and the start of another has always been associated with new beginnings. It’s a good time to decide to break a bad habit or to put past wrongs right – whether it’s losing weight, saying ‘sorry’ after a quarrel or rebuilding a family relationship.

As the Bible says: ‘There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1 The Message).

The Good Book also has lots of stories about people who made new beginnings. Take Zacchaeus, for example (Luke 19:1–10).

Although influential, rich and powerful – a tax collector, no less – Zacchaeus was also friendless

TIME AND TIME AGAINIn this series, ROSEMARY DAWSON looks at what the Bible has to say about time

and extremely unpopular. He had heard about Jesus coming to his hometown and wanted to see the man everyone was talking about. But because Zacchaeus was short, he couldn’t see above the crowds.

A nearby tree provided the solution to his problem. Jesus saw Zacchaeus and – recognising the inner goodness struggling to get out – called him down and invited himself for a meal, a very unusual thing to do in the social climate of those times.

At that moment, Zacchaeus made a very public promise. In front of the crowd, he declared that he was going to become a very different kind of businessman. He promised to give away half his wealth to the poor, and – even more surprising – repay with interest anyone he had

overcharged on their taxes.Zacchaeus had discovered a truth that

was later to be put into words by the early Christian Paul: ‘Anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The good news is, we don’t have to wait for another new year before making a new beginning. God is ready and willing to help us right now, wherever we are, whatever our circumstances. All we need is to make the decision to begin and the determination to see it through.

Beginning is the first step to a new way of life. There’s no time like the present.

CALENDAR GIRL:change can start today

14 The War Cry 5 January 2013

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Food for thought

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HERE we are – 2013. A new year is the perfect time to make a new start. But, instead of hearing about people’s usual resolutions (to lose weight or stop biting their nails), wouldn’t it be good to hear about significant changes taking place in the world?

Wouldn’t it be great if global leaders resolved to end wars and poverty? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we found healthier ways to fuel our planet? Wouldn’t it be peaceful if everyone we met was full of compassion for others?

Perhaps these hopes sound like mere pipe dreams. But I believe that, with prayer, anything is possible. We just need to give it a try.

Many of us, at some time, have been in desperate situations where prayer seemed to be our only option for survival. Perhaps we call out to God because there is nothing else we can do.

When my son died, the prayers of others kept me going. Even though the circumstances were tragic,

somehow I was able to cope. Prayer helped. It made a difference.

If we want 2013 to mark a fresh start in our lives, it can. When we pray about our personal situations and those in the world, God listens. God acts. God shows us what we can do to bring about change. God gives us power.

In the Bible, Jesus tells his followers that if they pray to God, and dedicate their lives to him, he will help them to do amazing things. He explains why: ‘You

will receive power when [God’s] Holy Spirit comes on you’ (Acts 1:8 New International Version).

We can ask God to bring about a change in our attitudes at any time. If we follow him, who knows what the future will hold!

by JENNIFER HEATON

The prayers of others kept me going

Method:Mix together the breadcrumbs,

paprika, garlic powder, red pepper, green pepper, salt and pepper and place on a tray.

Dip each fillet in the beaten egg, then roll in the breadcrumb mixture. Ensure that the entire fillet is coated with breadcrumbs.

Fry the fillets in the vegetable oil until golden brown. Serve with chips and mushy peas.

Serves 4

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:

150g white breadcrumbs

1tsp paprika

1tsp garlic powder

4g red pepper, finely diced

4g green pepper, finely diced

Salt and pepper, to taste

3 large eggs, beaten

4 x 120g lemon sole fillets

5tbsp vegetable oil

155 January 2013 The War CryWhat’s cooking?

SUDOKU SOLUTION22 DECEMBER SUDOKU SOLUTION

Lemon sole in spicy peppered breadcrumbs

Ingredients:For the base 110g unsalted butter110g plain chocolate½ tsp cinnamon6g caster sugar2 medium eggs, beaten50ml milk110g plain flourFor the topping120g caster sugar480g soft cheese2tsp vanilla essence120g plain natural yoghurtJuice and zest of 1 lemon6 large strawberries, sliced

Chocolate brownie cheesecake

Method:Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Grease

a 23cm cake tin.To make the base, melt the butter and chocolate in a

saucepan and mix in the cinnamon. Stir in the sugar, eggs, milk and flour.

Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes.

To make the topping, mix the sugar, soft cheese, vanilla essence and yoghurt together. Fold in the lemon juice and zest. Pour this mixture over the base and bake for 40 minutes.

Once the cheesecake has cooked, decorate the top with the sliced strawberries. Leave to chill in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.

Serves 6

chefmikedarracott.com

Cook with chef MICHAEL DARRACOTT

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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. © Linda Bond, General of The Salvation Army, 2013

asks RON THOMLINSON

THE

HOKEYCOKEY!

moment to the next.But there are many people for

whom life is nothing like doing the hokey-cokey.

A young ex-serviceman who had experienced the genocide in Srebrenica, suffering personal trauma as a consequence, later became the father of three children, two of whom developed incurable illnesses. The eldest child died at 16. The second is expected to die within the next two years. Just how much suffering can one person take?

The start of a new year invites us not only to party and do the hokey-cokey, but also to pray. We can ask God to help us learn what ‘it’ – life – is all about.

Jesus’ vision of what it’s all about is quite simple: ‘Set your heart on [God’s] Kingdom and his goodness … Tomorrow can take care of itself!’ (Matthew 6:33, 34 J. B. Phillips).

Fun as it is, the hokey-cokey provides no solid foundation for our lives in 2013. Only Jesus can do that.

EVER since I saw the sign hanging in a cupcake shop in Margate, it has haunted me: ‘What if the hokey-cokey is what it’s all about?’

As a song, it is hardly the stuff of Lennon and McCartney. It wouldn’t even stand a chance of being chosen as Britain’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. But it is a great party icebreaker.

You put your whole self in,Your whole self out, In, out, in, out, shake it all about,You do the hokey-cokey and you turn around,That’s what it’s all about. I thank God for all the wonderful hokey-cokey

moments in my life when, surrounded by friends and helpless with laughter, tears roll down my cheeks. If only life was about moving from one jolly hokey-cokey

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Are we all in?

OH,

Partygoers enjoy the fun