Transformed!

Transformed!


I suppose most of us think that the whole saga of the MP expense claims is something new. Well, it seems that this kind of thing has been going on for years, thousands of years in fact. ‘What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.’ (Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV)

Most people that I have spoken to about the continual revelations are now completely fed-up hearing about the whole thing and feel that there is a real insincerity in the giving back of monies that have been falsely claimed.

These circumstances reminded me of someone that Jesus encountered many years ago, and that person was Zacchaeus. He collected taxes for the Roman government and he had the freedom to charge people whatever he wanted. He gave what he should to the government and pocketed the rest for himself. He was the kind of guy who didn’t care how little everyone else had, but he himself would have lived like a king.

One day in Jericho there were crowds everywhere, they were all waiting to see Jesus, and Zacchaeus wanted to see him too. The thing is Zaccheaus, it tells us in the Bible was short of stature and he couldn’t see anything. He climbed up a tree and waited there to see if he could catch a glimpse of this Jesus that everyone was talking about. The strangest thing happened, Jesus was walking along the road and he stopped right at the place where Zacchaeus was hiding. He looked up the tree and said to Zacchaeus to come down. He then asked to go to Zacchaeus’s house to eat. The crowd where shocked that Jesus would choose to go and eat with a tax collector and a cheat.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what Jesus and Zacchaeus talked about while they were eating, but what we do know is that when Zacchaeus left his house he was completely transformed. He said: ‘Look Lord here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back 4 times the amount.’ (Luke 19:8NIV)

Complete transformation. Zacchaeus gave back more than he needed to and his heart was completely changed. He wasn’t giving it back out of some bid to save face or restore his name. He was giving it back because he was a changed man. Jesus said about Zacchaeus; ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too, is a son of Abraham. For the son of man came to seek and to save what was lost.’

How wonderful it would be if more people had a real encounter with Jesus. What would our government be like if our MP’s encountered Jesus. What would our schools be like of our teachers encountered Jesus. What would our country be like if more people encountered Jesus. What would your life be like, if you encountered Jesus? Transformed!!

Captain Wendy Parkhill

Cafe Church Concludes Season

Grand Finalé!


The final Café Church before the summer recess was once again a resounding success and quite popular if the number of people in the audience are any indication!

The ever popular Performing Arts Club provided several Vocal, Puppetry and Drama items which were thoughtful, inspiring, and entertaining.

Robert Dibden delighted the audience treating them with his artistry playing some familiar melodies at the piano.

In true Salvation Army style, these participants were supported by the Corps' Senior Band and Songsters (senior Choir).

This superb evening of praise and worship was concluded by a short Epilogue by Captain Graeme Parkhill, who is the commanding officer (Pastor/Minister) of the Ayr Citadel Corps.

You can see the slideshow of photographs from the evening by clicking here.

A Fathers' Day Thought

A thought about Fathers day!

I hope that all you Dads out there had a great Fathers day! Perhaps you had breakfast in bed, a gift, a card or something like that to celebrate a day in honour of all Dads everywhere.

Sometimes Fathers Day can be a bit difficult for some people, especially if that Father/child relationship hasn’t been quite what it should. As I was thinking about different feelings that people might have about Fathers day, I started to think of the kind of role models that are around, some better than others; and I was reminded that the best example of a Father that we will ever have is, of course, our Heavenly Father.

Jesus, when he walked the earth used stories to illustrate what God was like, or what Heaven was like and these are called parables. One of these stories is the Parable of the lost son. This story shows what God is like as a Father.

‘Once a man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, “Give me my share of the property.” So the father divided his property between his two sons. Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living. He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through the whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat. He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs. He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing.
Finally, he came to his senses and said, “My father’s workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.’”
The younger son got up and started back home to his father, but when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.
The son said, “Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you, I am no longer good enough to be called your son.”
But his father said to his servants, “Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.” And they began to celebrate.’
(Luke 15:11-24 CEV)

This story shows us that God is the kind of Father who never gives up on us. It tells us that when the son was coming home the father saw him and ran to him. It shows that he was watching out for the return of his son, never giving up hope. And that’s what it’s like with us.

Even when we feel that we are very far from God, He never gives up on us, He never stops loving us, and when we return to Him He rejoices over us.

If you are far from God, return to Him now and there’ll be a father waiting to throw His arms around you, and to show you just how much He loves you.

Captain Wendy Parkhill

At the Royal Albert Hall

LET EVERYTHING PRAISE Gospel Arts Concert 2009
Royal Albert Hall London

What did you do at the weekend?
Saturday 6th June, 6am was the start of a memorable experience for nine of our fellowship. We boarded the 6.50am flight from Prestwick to Stansted Airport then a train into London.

A quick break for some lunch & shops for the ladies, next stop the Royal Albert Hall.
Several others from our corps had gone down to London earlier in the week.
From 1.30pm we joined in rehearsals with 700 other Songsters from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to form the Festival Chorus.
Other groups taking part were The International Staff Band, International Staff Songsters, Territorial Music School ‘A’ Band, Croydon Citadel Dance Group, Ireland Division Timbrels, special guest Carol Jaudes from Montclair Citadel Corps USA.
After we had rehearsed the vocal music for the evening concert everyone was provided with a packed tea.

There was time to go to the Prince Albert Memorial and hear the Troops Band in concert, some of us managed to find time for a coffee and a chat. The evening concert started at 6.30pm where we were treated to a wonderful evening of music, dance and drama.

A full report on the concert can be found in the SALVATIONIST 13th June 2009 No 1197.

After the concert there was time to meet up with family and friends. Former Songster Leader Mark and Kirsty Allan send there best wishes to all at the Corps.

By now it was 10.30pm and time for something to eat, Pizza Hut was chosen, thanks to Robin Black for getting our order sorted out. Tired and weary we made our way to the underground Circle Line and out to Liverpool Street Station where we arrived exhausted at our hotel just after midnight.

Sunday morning we enjoyed some free time, midday we boarded the train out to Stansted Airport then onto the 3pm flight back to Prestwick and after approximately 850 miles round trip arrive home.
The rest of the Ayr contingent arrived home safely later on in the week.


It was wonderful for some of Ayr Songsters to take part in the premier of Majors Ian & Isobel Robinson’s ‘Lift up your Voice and Sing’. Ian is a former member of the Ayr corps, his Mum still soldiers and sings in the Ayr Songster Brigade. Majors Ian and Isabel are due to take up their new appointment at Sheringham Citadel Corps in August.

Ian has just started a three part series on our website called Life is a Journey click here for part one.

A big thank you goes to Bobby Irvine for organising our travel and hotel arrangements. Also for all his hard work in preparing and rehearsing the music for London during Songster practices.


Leonard McIlloney

Life is a Journey - Part I

This article is the first of a series written by Major Ian Robinson, who might truthfully be described as a "local boy made good"!

Major Robinson and his wife Isobel are moving back to the UK to take up an appointment at the Sheringham Corps.

Ian and Isobel are well-known all over the Army world as pastors, missionaries, and an incredible music and song-writing team. While they were stationed in Singapore, Ian and Isobel wrote a series of email "epistles" to the rest of the world entitled "Survivor Island". Those letters were always filled with poignancy, hope, and a love for the people for whom they worked so diligently to bring the love of Christ.

We are delighted Ian has agreed to write these articles for us and we hope you enjoy his journey as we publish it!




A worried-looking Major Ian Robinson


Life is a Journey – Part One

Some of you may remember Malcolm and Connie High. They were Corps Officers at Ayr during my teenage years and I recently had contact with Malcolm because of our move to Sheringham. That’s his home town and our new appointment. As I reminisced about those distant days I began to recall just what a rotten and troublesome teenage Salvationist I was! Yet, more than forty years on, I am now a Major and soon-to-be Corps Officer at Sheringham. How did that happen? That’s the story of my life journey and there is a certain irony to it. In fact that’s a good way to explain it; I-R-O-N-Y!

Insensitive. It began with my insensitivity to my parents, Corps leaders, and most of all to God’s Holy Spirit. I must have sat through countless sermons, hours of Bible study at Corps Cadet Class, umpteen altar calls and yet all I thought about was me! I just wanted to live life my way; Romans 2:8 describes it perfectly – “Other people are selfish and reject what is right in order to follow what is wrong” (Good News Bible).

Rebellious. My insensitivity quickly led to rebellion against my parents, my leaders and God. I was trapped in a spiral of ever-increasing sinfulness. The Bible says that rebellion is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance as sinful as idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23). My sin and arrogance were dragging me away from God, as well as the godly influence of The Salvation Army, and closer to Hell.

Open. I thank God for spiritual people who never gave up praying and encouraging me. It was the incredible witness of Isobel’s changed life that led me to read God’s word again. Suddenly all those old Corps Cadet classes with Malcolm and Connie came flooding back and began to make sense. Finally, I opened my heart to Christ and my journey took an amazing u-turn.

New life. With new life came a new direction. I couldn’t keep going down the old road – God was showing me a different way. I had grand ideas of how to find a new church, but Isobel’s pragmatism cut through all that and led us to the Santa Ana Corps of The Salvation Army where good officers and new friends helped me to grow into my new life. I learned again how to study the Word, pray and to worship. What a difference it was to know Christ and not just to know about Him!

Yielded. Now that God had my attention, He began working other miracles in me as I yielded myself completely to his will. Not easy but necessary. Paul says, “Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him” (Romans 12:1). Having committed to follow Him wherever He led, I began to go along with His wonderful plan for my life.

An even greater irony is that all the effort I poured into rebelling against God is now being used to serve Him! Paul says, “At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes” (Romans 6:19).

Surrendering to Him has taken me on a journey I could never have imagined, as well as to places and to people I will never forget.

More about that next time.

Contentment

"Contentment" by Marion Coltman

Are you content?

Have you ever asked yourself the question: ‘Am I really content?’ or can you remember a time when you have felt true contentment? We live in a world where people are always looking for the next big thing, the latest fashions, the latest model of computer, a better car, a bigger house. No matter how much we possess, we always want more, bigger, better! How do we ever reach that point where we are just happy with where we are now?

Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. Can you recall feeling an empty void somewhere deep inside? What is it that you turn to in order to fill that space? What is that you do to take away the discontentment? Many people fall into the trap of turning to things such as binge drinking, retail therapy, relationships, drug use, over/under eating, excessive exercise, and the list could go, to try and fill this empty void. The trouble is that very often these things will give a quick high, and leave no lasting joy. So how do we find true contentment?

Paul wrote many letters in the Bible, and in his letter to the Philippians Paul talks of true contentment because he had a contentment that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:12 says: ‘I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. Whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.’ Paul went through many difficulties in his lifetime, but he was still able to say: ‘I am content with whatever lot I have been given’. True contentment comes from knowing Jesus, and making him our source of joy and power.

Turn to Jesus and he will teach you how to be satisfied in every circumstance. Turn to Jesus and he will fill your deepest longing. He will supply all your needs in the way he knows is best for you.

Wendy Parkhill (Captain)

Ministering to Children

Recently Captain Wendy wrote an article on the importance of ministry to children for The Salvationist. We think you'll find it both interesting and stimulating.



In taking time to reflect on my ministry to my children, I realised this was something that I had thought about even before my children were born. On our wedding day, both Graeme and I declared: 'We promise to make our home a place where all shall be aware of the abiding presence of God, and where those under our influence shall be taught the truths of the gospel, encouraged to seek Christ as Saviour and supported in the commitment of their lives to the service of God.' Although, when making this promise we were talking about all the people who would come into our home, in my mind I was also thinking about any children that we would have. Some things I see as a ministry to my children happen very naturally, other things take more planning and effort. I remember the first night I was alone in the hospital ward with our first child, Joshua. He started to cry and I picked him up and rocked him as I sang 'Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so'. Not something that I planned, it just happened naturally.

My ministry at home falls into two categories: organised and ordinary. There are certain organised things we do every day as part of our routine. We always have prayers together at bedtime. My two younger children - Rebekah and Luke - have a Bible story, prayers and then we sing some choruses. With the two older boys - Joshua and Isaac - we use a devotions book and have a chat about what we've read. Then, we each say a prayer and sing a song together. It has been a joy to see them develop in their prayer life - from simple prayers to now being able to speak to God about whatever is on their minds.

Recently Isaac prayed: 'God, you are a great big God. I'm really glad you are bigger than me because that means you can hold me in your hands. The whole world must be really heavy for you, but you are so strong.'

Then there are things that are the ordinary parts of ministry in the home. The things that happen every day: being together as a family; being a good Christian example to our children. We can tell children many different things, for example, read the Bible every day, have good attitudes, don't shout at your brother and sister and be kind to each other. But unless they see us backing up those words with our actions, our words are empty and they will not learn to put these things into practice.


My daily prayer is for my children to see Jesus in me and that the example I give them will not hinder their relationship with God.

Of course, I am well aware that the best way to minister to my children is to pray for them daily. I know that God loves my children far more than I ever could, so I pray for them, continually giving them over to God. When Joshua and Isaac were born I always prayed that they would find Jesus as their friend and saviour at a young age and I thank God they have given their hearts to Jesus. I continue to make that same prayer for Rebekah and Luke, along with many other prayers for their futures. As time goes on, my ministry to my children will change but this prayer ministry will not. I will continue to bring them to God daily, asking that he will keep them close to him.

The greatest blessing for me is that my ministry has a ripple effect beyond our home - to friends at school and nursery and to other families that come to the corps. I'm glad when my children bring friends home from school and they see there's something different about us. Just the other week one of the children that comes round said to me: 'You're really nice, you know... I love coming here.' The odd thing was that at that moment I was actually telling everyone very firmly to tidy up the mess of toys! Their enjoyment reflects God's presence in our home.

I have been privileged to share with some families that come to the corps about the ways we pray and read the Bible together as a family and to pass on some of the books that we use. It is then wonderful to listen to their stories about sharing together within their families.

In writing this article, I have laughed and cried at different memories that have come into my mind. Most of all, though I have been challenged to think again about the example that I am to my children, I am encouraged to continue praying for them. I pray that readers will be challenged to be that true Christian example to their children and will be encouraged to be constant in prayer.

Greater Things

The Latin Motto translates as "Born for greater things"


Great things


William Carey’s motto in life was, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God”.

Last week I invited you to consider whether this was a motto that you might like to adopt for yourself.

However, what are the great things we should be attempting for God? If we are to look at the sort of things that the world considers to be great, surely we are looking in the wrong direction. The world generally considers those things, or people who have power, status, popularity, image and acceptance to be some of the defining factors when considering whether something is great or not. All too often, we too look for these to determine whether someone or something is ‘great’.

In the Bible we find that “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27 NRSV)

Greatness in the Bible is often represented by sacrifice, submission, service ….
“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

This world needs good people to attempt great things for God. Let us keep our hearts and our vision close to God so that the things we attempt are truly great in God’s sight. This is where we will find the best and longest lasting results for our efforts.

Graeme Parkhill

The wow factor

Ayrshire Soprano had the “WOW” Factor!


Marie Claire Breen

This was how Commissioner Keith Banks of the Salvation Army described the exceptional singing talents of Saltcoats born soprano Marie Claire Breen as she inspired the audience at Holy Trinity Church last Sunday evening.



The large audience who attended a fund raising concert organized by The Salvation Army held in the Holy Trinity Church in Ayr last Sunday were inspired by the young soloist who is currently studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama’s Opera School.


Sharing the platform in this Evening of Concert Classics was the Paisley Philharmonic Choir under the leadership if Ian Anderson on their first visit to Ayr, the choir’s rich and balanced singing along with impeccable accompaniments of Bill Ross was a treat enjoyed by everyone in attendance.

The Salvation Army would like to say thanks to Holy Trinity Church in Ayr who made the evening possible and as a result of this fine evening of music, The Salvation Army were delighted to be able to donate £500 to the Ayrshire Hospice.

Bandmaster Bobby Irvine