Which side are you on?

Which side of the fence do you live on?

According to Aesop's fables, a long time ago when the world was young, the birds and the beasts were engaged in a bitter war. The bat, not wanting to be on the losing side--whichever that might turn out to be--tried to be on both sides. Whenever the birds won a battle, he would fly with them, telling everyone he was a bird. When the beasts won, he would walk around, assuring everyone that he was a beast. Because he refused to make a choice, he was rejected by both the birds and the beasts. From that day on, according to Aesop, the bat has had to go into hiding, living in dark caves, only daring to come out at night.

Only a story, perhaps, but one that finds parallels in the Bible. In Jeremiah 21:8 the Children of Israel are given a choice between accepting the way to life, or choosing the way of death.

There was no third option.

It is a dangerous place if we find ourselves slipping into a sense in which we try to get the best of both worlds, just like the bat above. When we are in the presence of Christians, we think holy thoughts and do good deeds and when we meet with non-Christian friends we put God “on hold” and fit in with the worldly lifestyle they adopt.

It’s a life of dualism – one minute one way; the next the other.

God desires that we choose the way of life – “life in all its fullness” and live that full life, with its truth and convictions 24/7.

What kind of life do you enjoy?

May God bless you this week as you consider which side of the fence you live on?

Graeme Parkhill

Want to sing gospel (again)?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SING GOSPEL!

Calling all singers who would like to sing in The Salvation Army’s AYR COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR


Following on from the success of the Ayr Community Gospel Choir which had a huge impact on The Salvation Army’s Christmas Concert, we are calling all singers from 14 upwards (no limit!) to do it all again - this time for a Summer Concert on Sunday the 13th June 2010.

There will be six rehearsals to be held during March, April & May.

All rehearsals will be in Riverside Evangelical Church Hall (John Street Ayr).

1. 11th March Kick off – reunion night 7:30 till 9:00pm
2. 25th March Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm
3. 15th April Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm
4. 29th April Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm
5. 13th May Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm
6. 27th May Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm

We are planning an open night on Thursday 11 March at 7.30pm in Riverside Church Halls, John Street Ayr. You can meet existing Choir members and find out more about the Choir. There will be tea / coffee and we will be showing the DVD of ‘The Joy of Christmas’ carol concert which will also be available to take home for a donation of £5. This will be an opportunity to bring other interested friends and neighbours from our community along. We will also have a sing and begin preparing for the Summer Concert.

For further information please go to www.salvationarmyayrcitadel.info or telephone 01292 285237.

All new participants will need to register and for those of 14-18 years of age we will also require parents consent.

This invitation is to members of the local community and beyond to come together and form a ‘Community Gospel Choir’ which is open to everyone aged 14 and above – you, your friends, local people …. In fact, anyone whether they have a faith or not.

Had enough?

Had enough? Aghh!!!

I wonder of you ever get to the stage where there are so many demands placed upon your time that you simply feel that they are threatening to swamp you?

Perhaps you feel that there simply aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish all that you need, or that you've got to the stage where you've pushed yourself so hard for so long that you simply don't have the energy to keep the pace up any more.

The temptation is to run away from it all – or stare hopelessly as the mountain of jobs grows in front of your eyes.

The Bible recounts the story of Elijah. His problem wasn't busyness, but a death threat put on him from Jezebel (1 Kings 19). His solution was to run away – to the desert – where he sat under a tree and prayed, "I'VE HAD ENOUGH, Lord. Take my life, I am no better than my ancestors."

God came to Elijah, but not in the mighty wind, not in the earthquake, and not in the fire… but in a still, small voice. (1 Kings 19:12)

If you're feeling like you've had enough … for whatever reason … may the words of Psalm 46:10 revive you this week as you put them into practice:

“Be still and know that I am God”

May God richly bless you.

Graeme Parkhill

Stand Firm!

We sometimes make good resolutions at the beginning of the New Year. These two snowmen were built at the same time. The one on the left started off well but got a bit lopsided once he began to thaw out. The Salvationist snowman, on the other hand, seems to have weathered the conditions rather better. The person who lowers their standards, in response to a change in the climate around, that is to fit in with the standards of the crowd, is weakened and sooner or later their lives fall apart.

Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind”. Romans 12:1,2 (Good News Bible)

Major Paul Latham

Welcome 2010!

This is a guest editorial by Major Clayton Gardner who is the Corps Officer of the Concord, California Corps.






Wow! It's a new year! Have you made your new year's resolution yet? Some of you will know that I encourage it! I love to hear that people are making or have made a resolution. You know why? Because I've never heard a person make a resolution to be worse than they are right now. We make resolutions because we want to better ourselves.

The other thing about resolutions is that there is no time like the beginning of of a new year to change. It's just something about the way we're wired, but there is something about having a brand new year laying out ahead of us to help us achieve change in our lives.

Last year, as you may recall, I made a resolution to spend less time watching TV and more time in my study - and you know what, I did it! Not as much as I had hoped, but definitely better than the year before. So, while I've heard a lot of people say that they never keep their resolutions, I can testify that it does work. (Now I'm hoping to lose some weight.)

So think about it - you have a brand new year ahead of you - what are you going to do with it? There are lots of good things you can do, but can I suggest that you think about God as you do your resolving? Perhaps you could read through the Bible? Or at least read it? Perhaps you could attend Bible Study? And, how about helping someone become a new person in 2010! Could I suggest that you consider sharing your faith? I mean actually resolving to share your faith. Perhaps with a co-worker, a friend or neighbour, family member - even a complete stranger. Could you at least pray about it?

May God richly bless your year!
Major Clay

Puppet Christmas!

Here's a clip from our "Joy of Christmas" celebration last week. Those puppets certainly know how to have good time!
Click on the picture or here to see the clip.

Thanks to Barbara and Ian Black for providing it.

Evening with the Matears

Soldiers and friends at Ayr Citadel recently enjoyed a truly inspiring weekend under the leadership of the Territorial Commander and his wife, Commissioner John Matear and Commissioner Elizabeth Matear. It was a weekend that had been anticipated for a long number of months and we certainly were not disappointed – their leadership was masterful, their speaking inspirational and the personal interest they took in the members of the congregation was welcomed and commented upon by all who attended the weekend’s activities.

The first major event of the weekend was "An Evening with the Matears", an informal gathering giving the opportunity for the members of the Corps to meet the Commissioners over dinner and listen with enthusiasm to their after dinner speeches.

Dinner consisted of quite the most amazing serving of turkey with, of course, the seasonal trimmings; or for those who preferred, winter stew. Certainly we were blessed by the quantity of food piled onto our plates and were not disappointed by the quality of the fayre – cooked to perfection by a team of willing volunteers from the ranks of the Corps.

The soloist for the evening was our own Bandmaster, Bobby Irvine,
who brought great blessing with his singing of various Christmas favourites from the hauntingly beautiful "O Holy Night", to the ever popular "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" and, accompanied by our own Robert Dibden on the piano, presented a truly unique and playful version of "God rest ye merry gentlemen", a la Dave Brubeck, the American jazz artist.

Commissioner Betty Matear spoke of her own experiences in ministry, thrilling the congregation with her personal insight of the difference that Christ has made in her life – from an enforced visit to the Salvation Army in Greenock due to her finding herself without her Sunday-go-to-meeting hat! (Praise God that all can attend the Salvation Army, with or without hat!) to her experiences at the training college and subsequent officer service, culminating in her present role as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries. She also gave insight into her role as Moderator of the Free Churches Group.

The Territorial Commander spoke on an aspect of the Army’s work that was growing in strength and making a practical difference in the lives of those we seek to serve in Christ’s name. The Employment Plus programme has been helping young men and women enter the workforce and gain the relevant support to help them to life lives closer to the John 10:10 maxim of “life in all its fullness”.

Our own Commanding Officer, Captain Graeme Parkhill guided the gathered congregation through the evening with a lightness of touch that complemented the whole evening.

Overall, a great evening, enjoyed by all who attended.