Stories of Hope

Dr Russell Rook grew up in a Salvo family in the UK and attends the Raynes Park Salvos in the UK. He is the founder of a variety of amazing charities, he consults members of Parliament and is a fellow trombone player!

For most of us, self-discipline is a challenge and we need to get involved in events that inspire us and hold us accountable. No one will sponsor me for Dry July, but if it was dry from coffee and chocolate, I might get a few more takers.

The Bible mentions sheep over 200 times. And as I often relate, feeling a bit stupid and lost, I like to hear what it has to say. Turns out Sheep shouldn’t try to be tigers and actually need other sheep and the humility to accept a bit of guidance.

Born in Northern Ireland, Sharon Callister is an amazing ultra marathon runner, recently completing a 320 kilometer event in the Arctic Circle. She was also the CEO of the Salvos Aged Care Plus for ten years and made a massive contribution.

We find meaning in our lives when we have healthy relationships. When we are in lockdown and tempted to stock up on dunny paper and look after No 1, lets take opportunities to look out for others and connect, even if it involves songs about squirrels.

God is always doing a new thing and we need to be open-minded to keep up with this.  We do this every time we pray.  We open ourselves up to receive new truth about how Gods kingdom love is to be expressed in this world.   

Mike Carter grew up in America and moved suddenly to Australia when he was 13. This change set him on a course of drug using that nearly killed him. Now, over 20 years clean, Mike is the founder of a charity for young people. overflowfoundation.com.au

Jean Fox was involved in a weekly cooking show on channel 7 back in 1955. She came to the Salvos in real need as her husband struggled with alcohol. But for 8 years Jean and her team made awesome cupcakes for people in recovery.

Every day we have the opportunity to allow good seeds of truth to grow in our lives. But often the soil of our spirit is hard or overgrown or shallow. When we nurture our spirits, seeds of truth, opportunity and love can flourish!

Lucy Davis is an Aboriginal, South Sea Islander woman who lives in Brisbane. Lucy is the National Coordinator of the Salvation Army’s Reconciliation Action Plan or RAP and is passionate about her family and her culture. This is her story.

A few weeks ago on the 26th May 2021 there was a lunar eclipse, a Blood Moon. Just a small incidental alignment of objects in our tiny solar system, in our particular galaxy. No big deal really, there are at least 170 billion galaxies!

Sometimes people stray from the ways that seem best for them and there are often good reasons for this.  Coming to our senses and finding our way home to truth and love takes courage, humility and faith.  

Matt Reeve and Sandy McLean join me to chat about a few topics raised in the interview with Phil Wall back in May 14. We discuss how a mature Christ like Love is the main power of our living rather than having all the answers to complex issues.

I shared a podcast the other week about the fabulous love and compassion of the town of Gander in Newfoundland that inspired the musical Come from Away.  Well today I want to share a real life story of this culture in a printing company in Brisbane.

My brother Russell lives in South Africa and is the director of a NGO that helps financially disadvantaged young people progress into higher education. His journey from a middle class Salvo upbringing in Melbourne to a very different life in Cape Town is an interesting story.

I’m not much for the big sing fest type gatherings where we seem to sing forever and never have time to chat.  I’d much rather gather with a dozen or so sincere friends and have more of a fireside sing along. 

Love and hope in a person is infectious and hard to contain.  Like a warm smile or a big laugh, it just seems to influence whoever witnesses it.  A tiny mustard seed grows and spreads everywhere and is difficult to stop.  

Kelvin Merrett is a naturally introverted and quiet sort of fellow, but he has the integrity and capacity to carry senior leadership responsibilities for the Salvation Army in Australia. This is his story.

Nobody really knows what it’s like inside our skin. People can empathize, but we ultimately need to face our lives alone, nobody can face it for us. However some people find comfort in the mysterious of God at these times.

Ambition can be a dangerous fixation on a set future that drives us to achieve a goal in a way that diminishes our humanity and hurts the people around us. Ambition that is not generous, creative and loving is often ugly and immature.

David Garlick teaches at Sir Joseph Banks Hi School in Sydney and runs a program for year 9 boys called Triple M.  (Mentoring, Masculinity and Mateship) He partnered with the Salvos and the boys got involved with some projects that made a real difference.

Four challenges for World Environment day. 1 Pick up rubbish 2 Stop using plastic bottles. 3 Walk and cycle more. 4 Fall in love with your local environment.

Life and faith is complicated and challenging.  Socrates said “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing”   I learned this in the veggie maths class at school!

Matt Reeve and Sandy McLean join me in this episode to unpack the meaning of true friendship. Last Mondays nugget of truth and the interview with Phil wall touched on this important subject and we take some time to have a deeper look.

Paul has come to Fraser Island on the Salvos 4WD fishing trip for three years now. The first year his behavior was challenging. The second year his behavior was fabulous. The third year, he caught a monster fish!