Simplicity

We simplify our lives.
We live gladly with less.
We let go the illusion that we can possess.
We create instead.
We let go the illusion of mobility.
We travel in stillness. We travel at home.
By candlelight and in stillness,
In the presence of flowers,
We make our pilgrimage.
We simplify our lives.
Michael Leunig from "The Prayer Tree"

I read this passage this morning and it really struck me. How easy is it to get sucked into materialism? We live in a "fast food" society. We want everything and we want it now. We think possessions are going to bring us happiness... How we have it all wrong.

I've been challenged myself this year about living simply. Living simply so others can simply live. A massive challenge...one i fight every day!

Overdose Awareness Day

My day (along with many other peoples!) has been a bit chaotic today. This morning I had several people go a bit psycho and aggressive on me, which isn't any fun at all (thank goodness for those conflict resolution skills is all I have to say). When talking to some of the guys later on, I found out that many others had had similar experiences of community members for the last couple of days. So we thought.. what could possibly be causing this?! It didn't take us long to figure out it had to do with drugs. There's a fresh batch of 'Ice' on the streets of Melbourne, and it's pretty dodgy. So dodgy its making people much much more aggressive than normal.

Strangly enough, Tomorrow (Friday) is overdose awareness day. It's a chance to remember those who have died from having suffered overdose as well as those who live with permanent injuries from overdose. It hopes to lay bare the stigma associated with drug use, To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn for loved ones, some for the first time, without feeling guilt or shame, To give community members, beyond the drug users direct family and friends, information about the issue of overdose, To send a strong message to current and former drug users that they are valued, To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.

I think it's great that The Salvation Army is pushing this so strongly. There is such a stigma surrounding drug use, and its time to open our eyes and see the bigger picture. Behind every person who uses drugs there's a story. A story usually filled with pain and sorrow. A story that no one ever wants to know. All they see is the drug user.

Its a challenge to myself, because before ths year, I was determined that after I finished uni, I would never work with people who have drug and alcohol issues, because all I knew was the stigma. This year I've gotten to see what really goes on and my thoughts and attitudes have changed. Praise God!.

Tomorrow is going to be a hard, but good day. It's going to be a day when the community members I work with every day are given the chance to reflect on the impact that drugs and overdose have had on our community. They're going to be given the opportunity to remember friends and family who have succumbed to drugs. They're going to remember other 'streeties' who have died because of drugs. It's going to hurt. But there's going to be a message of hope. That things can change for the better. That they have an almighty creator who can help them break free from anything. I don't think thats too idealistic... I believe in a God of the impossible.

For Him Alone
Ness :-)

No room in the Inn..

It was highlighted to me again today how bad the housing situation really is in Australia. I was interviewing people for Emergency Relief this morning (our welfare part.. so food parcels, help with bills etc.). I got chatting an old guy who was sleeping rough (on the streets) and had been for a long time. He started telling me a bit about his story. This man was a war veteran. He ended up on the streets because he couldn't afford to rent in the private rental market, and was currently on the waiting list for public housing. He said that he expected to be waiting about 2 years for a place. When I asked him what his plan was until then, he replied that he guess he'd have to sleep on the streets, occasionally forking out the money for a room in a motel when the weather was terrible.

I asked him if he'd been in touch with services that assist with emergency accommodation. Usually these places put you up in boarding rooms or something like that. A lot of people try and bunk down in these, usually because they're waiting (for a ridiculously long period of time) for public housing. He said that he'd been to a boarding house, but had had a really bad experience and would prefer to sleep rough on the streets.

Then he described his experience of the boarding house to me, and I had to stop myself from being visibly upset in front of the man I was that disturbed. He told me that when he walked into the place, it smelt of urine and alcohol. The guy who showed him to his room (a paid staff member of the place) had alcohol on his breath. He barely got any sleep that night because his mattress had springs poking through. He woke up in the morning with scratch marks on his body from the exposed springs. When he asked the caretakers of the place he was staying at if he could possibly get a new mattress they replied "shut up you old bag, just turn the mattress around (insert a few not so nice words here too).. I mean was he really asking too much?.. for a different mattress so he could have a good nights sleep?

Well good news- they came and gave him a brand new mattress... but at the same time told him that once the days that the accommodation agency had paid for were over, he better get the F out of there. Needless to say he didn't feel very safe or welcome anymore, so after getting one good nights sleep, he left the boarding room and headed for another lonely, cold nights sleep on the streets. The war veteran, who served our country, is now sleeping in the alcove of the building in the city dedicated to the ANZAC'S. Seems a bit wrong doesn't it?

Another guy, who is in his mid 30's comes into our Life Centre. At the moment he's living out of his car. He parks it in a shopping centre every night, because it's safer there than many other places. I asked him if Public Housing was an option, and he said that he wasn't eligible for it until he was 55. So this guy has another 20 years to wait until he's eligible for any kind of housing. Where's the fairness in that?!

Another young girl I've come across is 5 months pregnant. Currently she's homeless and living in a boarding house with her boyfriend. She's on the top priority emergency accommodation waiting list. So, being young and pregnant, she's in the most extreme category. But the waiting list is 12-18 months for EMERGENCY accommodation. By that time, she will have had her baby, but will still be homeless. How can a young mum have a fair go with a system that seems to be working against her? It makes me SOOO angry!

Why in a "prosperous" country like Australia, do we have people in situations like this? Why do people have to wait ridiculously long periods of time for something that is a NEED not a want. And what the heck is the government going to do about the crisis. It just seems so unfair... something needs to be done.

I'm not sure what I can do. I feel utterly powerless when looking at an injustice that is so huge. I know I can pray about it, but i don't know what I can do on a practical level to fight it. I don't know. What I do know is that I can love these people, and reach out to these people who are fighting against a society that doesn't seem to want to help them out. I feel like giving people food, blankets, water and a cup of coffee at night isn't much, but it gives them dignity, even if it is a small amount.

God needs us all to fight against the injustices of our society. He needs people to fight it at all levels. He needs people to serve food and give blankets to the homeless. He needs people to pray for change. He needs people to work for organisations that assist people to get housing. He needs people to fight for changes in policy and to lobby government. We can all play a part in some way.

Will You?

Children Matter, Youth Matter

A couple of weekends ago I had the opportunity to fly up to Brisbane (via Newcastle; that's right- 3 states in 3 days!) to go to the Eastern Territory's Children/Youth Matter conference. It was a really good weekend on a few levels. I got to catch up with a lot of some old friends (a few who I wasn't expecting to see there, which was nice!), receive some great training for the ministry I'm involved in, and be inspired by some great teaching. Going to the conference got me thinking about the potential impact that God, through me, can have on children and young peoples lives.

I know a story of a girl, who is a first generation Salvo. Her family weren't church goers at the time (her mum has now accepted God as well, Praise Him!) But people in the church encouraged her to come along and made me feel welcomed when she was there. They showed Jesus love to her in a very real and practical way. During her teenage years, one particular family would take her home to their place every Sunday after church, feed her lunch, and she would hang out with their daughter until the night meeting. . They took an interest in her, and that's (along with Gods promptings!) is what kept her in the Army for so long. I wondered if without them doing this for her, would she still be in the Army today? I'm not sure hey...

Don't underestimate the potential impact you have in the lives of children and young people in your church, and in your communities. The smallest things make a big difference, particularly for kids from disadvantaged families. We have so many great opportunities to add soldiers to our Army, young soldiers, if we just go an extra mile for them. The fruits of our labour may not be apparent immediately. But did the family who took that girl in when she was a 14 year old non churched girl know the impact that that would have on the future direction of her life? They never would have known. But had they not have shown her love and care, she may not be where she is today, serving God with all her heart. That girl is me.

I thank God often for the way he showed me love through that family who took me under their wing while I was growing up. The church gave me the extended family I never really had. I now have people who are like second parents to me through going to church. I have a "grandma" figure that I never had growing up. They've just blessed me so much...

And now I consider how I can serve God faithfully, and have that same impact on children the way that a family, and a corps, impacted on my life. I wonder what little things I can do in kids lives to show them Gods love...... We all have a role to play in the lives of children in our communities. One thing I love about the real tribal communities in third world nations, and even indigenous communities in Australia is that all of the community is responsible for the upbringing of a child, not just the individual parents of that child. Can you imagine if it was like that in our community. If everyone took responsibility for raising the children in our communities... I wonder what that would look like?

It's the little things that make the difference.

For Him Alone
Ness :-)

P.S: A big hello to Nat McC! the self proclaimed biggest fan of my blog! lol :-)

Coalbiting...

So i learnt a thing or two about life on the streets tonight. I was chatting to some of the people who come into the life centre, but tonight they were at Youth Church. I noticed that one particular young girl, which for the purposes of this blog we'll call Kate was missing. I asked her husband where Kate was, and he said she was off "coalbiting".

Have you ever heard of it? Because before tonight, I sure hadn't heard of it! I'd seen it in action, but not known what the street name for it was. In Melbourne the site of somebody “coalbiting” - approaching people directly to ask for money, sometimes aggressively - is pretty much par for the course. For many people this can be quite a confronting experience, while for many homeless people it’s an accepted part of what it means to survive on the street.

Every Thursday, without fail, as I walk down to catch up with a friend for coffee, I will walk past Kate and she'll ask me for money. She now knows who I am. She knows I work for The Salvation Army. She sees me in the Life Centre a couple of times a week, and she knows I won't give her any money. I ask her if she wants to grab something to eat or drink, but she politely refuses. I found out tonight that Kate's husband sends her out to get money on the streets for their drugs, while he relaxes in our Life Centre, or chills out on the Youth Outreach Bus. Kate looks young, shy and innocent, and any normal person would give her spare change. Kate's partner knows that and uses that to their advantage.

Tonight I was talking to her husband. Kate and her husband have been married for 2 years, but have been living on the streets for their whole married life. Tomorrow they're moving into temporary accomodation. Hopefully this is the start of a positive turn around in their lives. Next step is rehab. Praying hard...

The knowledge that Kate's husband sends her out to "coalbite" and get money for their drugs angered me at first. I mean how dare he take advantage of his wife like that. But God then made me look at him through His eyes. And suddenly that anger and frustration was gone. Then the line from a Nooma that I had watched that night, called Lump popped into my head. It was talking about God's love for his children, and how God says to us "nothing you could do, could make me love you any less". And that's the same for Kate and her husband. No matter what we've done, no matter where we've come from, nothing ... nothing will ever make Him love us any less. I know that beneath the surface, beneath the issues of homelessness and drug addiction there are deep deep struggles and issues... there's so much more to these people than just being homeless and drug addicted... so much more...

I'm not saying that this situation is perfect- by no means, but I know that our God is a God of the impossible, and things can change. Relationships can be restored to the way they're meant to be. People can be freed from the bondage of drug addictions... The chains of injustice can be broken... Things can change. With God all things are possible. No matter what the situation, we must always cling onto that fact.

When the situation seems bleak this my cry...

There's freedom in the name of Jesus
Freedom from all shame
There's freedom in the name of Jesus
Freedom from all pain
There's freedom in the name of Jesus
Freedom from all sin
There's freedom in the name of Jesus
Freedom in the Name of JESUS! (Free: Planetshakers)

Hallejuah!

For Him Alone
Ness :-)

hosanna!

Just a quick one today!

I went up to Brisbane for the Children/Youth matter conference last weekend. It was real good (more on that later), but we were singing this song is worship, and it just resonanted with me so much. It's one of my favourites, and sums up a lot really.. Here it is (with a few little notes)

I see the king of glory; Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes. The whole earth shakes (THIS is how powerful our God is!)

I see his love and mercy; Washing over all our sin
The people sing. The people sing

Hosanna Hosanna Hosanna in the highest (hosanna: an exclamation of praise. Literally means “save please” or “save now.” The crowd cried this at Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem,... it's the cry of my heart!)

I see a generation; Rising up to take their place (lets be movers and shakers!)
With selfless faith, With selfless faith (no room for apathy!)
I see a near revival; Stirring as we pray and seek (praying and seeking.. not our own ideas, but Gods)
We're on our knees, We're on our knees (are we desperate enough to see change that we'll get on our knees and beg and pray to God for it?!.. just a thought)

Heal my heart and make it clean (holiness; the key... )
Open up my eyes to the things unseen (ignorance is NOT bliss)
Show me how to love like you have loved me (love... it's time to get back to the basics)
Break my heart from what breaks yours (and continue breaking it.. i never want to become numb to the gross injustice that surrounds me)
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause (full surrender...)
As I go from nothing to Eternity (only by Gods grace)

For Him Alone (always)
Ness :-)

An Amazing Example

I have had the amazing privilege this year of meeting, and working alongside the retired General Eva Burrows. She is one of the most amazing, humble, servant hearted people I have ever met, and such a person to aspire to want to be more like (other than Jesus of course!) As I've interacted with her this year, I've learnt so much, but I wanted to know a bit more about where she's been up until now, and about her time as General, so I decided yesterday that I would read her biography.

I'm just over half way through at the moment, and I've been absolutely blow away by her deep, intimate love of Jesus, and the commitment she has both towards God, and The Salvation Army. Here's a few quotes that were quite thought provoking

"I preach Christ, not Christianity"

Talking about Homeless people "You may change the location (i.e. get them temporary accommodation), but that doesn't change the person. You may improve the facilities, but that doesn't solve the problem. Really, the need for these people is to receive love and warmth in these most difficult of circumstances. These lonely and unhappy people need to know that somebody loves them. When you are dedicated to Christ, that love of God is shared through you. The Holy Spirit enables you to love the unlovely, to love where love is not returned, because you are bringing Christ to these people who hurt and are in need."

"It doesn't matter how low a person sinks, somewhere there is a touch that love can spark. I still believe that there is nobody sunk so low that there isn't any hope. People sometimes say 'Will you look after the people that nobody else wants to know? Will you look after the people that no one else wants to help? They're hopeless aren't they?' But we believe there is still hope for everyone"

In response to the question "Has The Salvation Army had its day or is it getting a second wind?" she said
"I think every organisation does have a tendency to wind down like a mechanical toy. But we are not just an organisation; we are an organism of the Holy Spirit. If we're open to renewal by the Holy Spirit then I think you could call what happens to us our second wind. We are looking more critically at the way we've done things and we're not holding onto things just because they belong to our past"

Some thought provoking stuff hey?! I can't even begin to express to you how challenged I have been by knowing General Eva, and recently reading her biography. She is an amazing example of a Jesus focused, servant hearted woman of God, and if I could be one tenth like her, I'd be a better person for it.

I was having a conversation with a friend a few weeks back, and we were discussing General Eva. I was telling the story that people have jokingly called me the General Eva protege, or General Eva the second, and I often would laugh it off, saying that there was no way I could be anything like her- for one thing I never wanted to go to Africa, and I wanted to get married! I didn't want that life. Afterwards God really really challenged me on that, and has been changing my perspective on it all.

God used General Eva in amazing ways, in every appointment she had, probably because she had such an obedient heart that sought God in everything and did her utmost best in every task she was given. She was dedicated and committed, and at the same time so extremely compassionate. And the fact that she was a single officer wasn't a burden to her at all. Jesus was all she needed, and she didn't let anything, even potential relationships get in the way of the commitment to serve God and the Army. That's what I want to be like. I want to serve God (and the Army) with all of my heart, soul, strength and mind, not letting anything or anyone hold me back. I want to be content no matter what the circumstance (Phil 4:11). I want to be compassionate, and always a people person, no matter where I am and what I'm doing. I want to be more and more like Jesus every day... Oh gosh I do.. with all my heart hey.

So when people joke at me, calling me the General Eva protege; When General Eva herself (When I turned up at a themed 21st dressed as The General (as per the picture above) tells me that I could be the Third Australian General (oh gosh!) I'll still laugh, and still say that there's no way I could be anything like General Eva. But it won't be because I don't want to go to Africa (because if that's what God wants, then hey, OK!.. those he equips the called right?) and not because I want to get married (if God is going to be able to use me more effectively as a single woman, then that's what I want, because Jesus IS all that we need.). I'll laugh because General Eva's shoes are pretty big ones... too big for me to fill!

However, I'm still totally inspired by the life of this anointed woman of God. It all reminds me of a song

To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me
In every thought and deed. This is my aim my creed
To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me
His Spirit Helping me, Like Him I'll be.

For Him Alone

Ness :-)