Retirement

a Jesus thought...
"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you! (John 14:15-17)

a Godly thought...
Jesus knows that it is only through actual obedience that a man can become liberated to believe. (p72 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
Leaders who make it a practice to draw out the thoughts and ideas of their team and who are receptive even to bad news will be properly informed. (p84 Newman)
a Dave thought...

It was pleasure yesterday to be a part of the retirement service for our Chief Secretary. John & Judith Jeffrey have been incredibly faithful to God and the Salvation Army for 37 years and 10 months and finish their years of service with many accolades. As one who has only signed my officers covenant just 9 days ago I admire the lives of long standing officers even more, as I have noticed many seem to sign the covenant of life long service with good intentions but few seem to make it. They explained the journey has not always been easy but with God they have been able to be true to their calling.

It was great at the service to hear stories of them taking homeless children back to their house at night, picking up hitchhikers and being incredibly generous to the poor. The covenant is all about those things and I trust God will also help me to be faithful through the coming years regardless of the situations that come my way.

Just a thought.

SA

a Jesus thought...
"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35)

a Godly thought...
Only one thing is required in every situation - to rely on Christ's word, and cling to it as offering greater security than all the securities in the world. (p69 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
True leadership happens when people want to see the work done and they care little about who gets the credit. (p80 Newman)

a Dave thought...

I have come across another acrostic for the letters SA. It is Selective Answering as we all aware there are certain people you know who live with their mobile phone on them 24/7 but only answer select calls. There is also ST which is Selective Texting, SE Selective Emailing and then of course SF on Facebook and Myspace which is of course Selective Friends, but the most annoying for me is SR yes the dreaded Selective Responding. It seems we just avoid any people or conversations we don't want to have now and just deal with the few people that make us happy or a few conversations which we know will be safe and easy and don't take the risk to broaden our world.

I am one who at least makes the effort to call back those that have made an attempt to call me, but have discovered there are those who play hard to get and continually avoid you at all costs. Is it because they think they will have to have a conversation or deal with a situation that is uncomfortable for them, or do they not answer because they do not know how to put boundaries in their lives so it is easier to avoid rather than having to say no to a request for a social activity or task? I tend to label the S for Secretive as theses S types seem to have secrets and can't seem to be truthful to certain people so instead just choose not to answer their phones instead.

We all have people in our lives who maybe hard to deal with, but we also need to learn how to face the harder situations that come our way and be comfortable saying no or telling the truth on any given occasion. So lets get rid of SA, ST, SE, SF and SR and accept all but learn to tell the truth, surely its worth working on and apparently this guy starting with letter J used to model something similar and it worked for him.

Just a thought.

Youth at Risk

a Jesus thought...
Jesus summed it all up when he cried out, "Whoever believes in me, believes not just in me but in the One who sent me. Whoever looks at me is looking, in fact, at the One who sent me. I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won't have to stay any longer in the dark. (John 12:25-26)

a Godly thought...
The life of discipleship is not the hero-worship we would pay to a good master, but obedience to the Son of God. (p66 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
Keep your dreams vividly before you at all times. Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goals. (p76 Newman)
a Dave thought...
Yesterday I met at Cummins (a diesel company) in Scoresby to finalise a new program for "Youth at Risk". The program is part of the VCAL (hands on subjects) stream at Bayswater Secondary College and includes a partnership with a youth worker from the Salvation Army as 15-17 year-olds have an opportunity to build go-karts and learn about the automotive industry through a corporate company. Andy Philp who has set up our Youth Workers Network has pioneered this and it looks like it will be great for not only the 3 partners involved but especially the young guys who are struggling with normal school life.
As we sat around the board room table yesterday it was one comment that really got my attention as the principal from the College commented, "youth at risk for her included all young people as all teens are only one failed relationship or bad decision away from being at risk." This lady speaks from experience as I found out later that she has been involved at this lower socio-economic school for over twenty years and has seen many young lives ruined over her time.
I now consider many of the young people I have journeyed with and know that it was a certain moment like their parents telling them they are separating or a fight with a step dad that tells them to leave home or a friend that suicides that changes them from one who many would call normal to a youth at risk.
So no matter which teens we are working with it is important to realise they are all in need of support, encouragement and positive role models as we are all vulnerable in this journey of life and need partnerships to help us get through the tough times that come our way.

Just a thought.

Do you get it?

a Jesus thought...
"You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

a Godly thought...
First the young man must go and sell all that he has and give to the poor, and then come and follow. Discipleship is the end, voluntary poverty the means. (p65 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
Leadership is often a battle, and the fight requires courage. Having courage means that you will do what is right, regardless of the consequences. (p68 Newman)

a Dave thought...
I was in a conversation recently with a wise retired officer when the topic of leadership was brought up, and how do we know when to encourage or promote a person into a new role. This person suggested that if they "get it" then you need to do your best to make their journey as a leader as smooth as possible. I was fascinated with the simple response and questioned further, they then added that they looked for people around them who were not into controlling with policy but rather leading with vision, a risk taker who is willing to start new ventures and do whats best for the Kingdom regardless of the consequences.
So how do we know if we "get it" or not? I find it really easy in life to get caught up in the day to day matters of my role and understand more than ever that we need people who are sound administrators and can run ongoing programs effectively. But I still find that the days when I dream or discuss with others new or better ways of doing ministry are the most invigorating for me. Some may argue that it never achieves much but I believe unless we encourage those who "get it" we will still be doing the same things in ten years time but just with less people.

Just a thought.

The BIG 6

a Jesus thought...
Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. "I'll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn't listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (John 10:6-10)

a Godly thought...
Only he who believes is obedient, and only who is obedient believes. (p54 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
Knowledge can be memorised but wisdom must think things through. (p59 Newman)

a Dave thought...
Well it has been a week quite like no other. After being approached about the possibility of being commissioned several months ago life has seemed to have gotten a whole lot busier. This culminated in the past week with 5 significant occasions - Covenant Day, Valedictory Evening, Fellowship of the Silver Star Lunch, Commissioning and Ordination, and yesterday afternoon we concluded with our Sending Out celebration service.
Many have asked if I have had a good week or if I have enjoyed the experience. As literally hundreds of Salvationists have congratulated me on making the step to commissioned officership I have appreciated their good wishes as they acknowledge the life time commitment we are making to God and the Salvos.
Perhaps for me though making the step to Lieutenancy 5 years ago when only a few congratulated me and there was only one small ceremony was the biggest step in my life. These last 5 occasions in 5 days were very significant and public and have further enhanced that first major decision 5 years ago.
So let me say out of the 6 occasions I have had on my journey to commissioned officership, the first was the biggest step even though there was only a hundred there on that night in Ringwood in January 2003. Some may find that unusual but it is often the decisions and commitments you make in life when few are watching and the fanfares are small that are often the hardest in life.

Just a thought.