Stories of Hope

A distinct Christian virtue is the the mysterious capacity to love without agenda. Jesus ate with misfits and nobodies and loved them in a radical way. Not sure it did him much good, but He did it anyway.

Gerrard was born blind and yet from an early age lived life wholeheartedly.  He even rode his bike to school each day as a kid, following his brothers bike.  He is a paralympian, has summited Mt Everest, been on dancing with the stars, he owns two chocolate shops and is planning to swim the English channel later in the year.  He is a remarkable man.  

We are thinking all the time. Sometimes we over think and get anxious and frustrated. It's possible to turn our lonely flawed inner monologue into constant prayer. Dialogue with God. I know the lovely Sue does this as sometimes I hear her muttering under her breath at me and she mentions God's name. I'm sure He helps her know what to do and what not to do.

Brodie was teaching English to kids in Vietnam as part of an extended working holiday, when his life was turned upside down by a devastating motorbike accident. His injuries are significant, but his attitude and positivity is amazing. He comes along each week to a group called "men's walk and talk" and inspires us all to be thankful for whatever we have.

Alberto grew up in an orphanage in Jamaica and was eventually adopted by an Australian Salvo couple here in Brisbane. He had no idea that we was gifted with the ability to run fast - really fast.   He now holds multiple Australian records for the 400, 200 and 100 meters sprints in the T20 class and represented Jamaica in the recent Tokyo Paralympic games.

Living the Christian life is the theme of the next 18 weeks of Monday podcasts while I am on Sabbatical walking the Camino de Santiago and a variety of other activities. Its not an academic or complicated conversation as it's just me, a simple sort of Aussie bloke trying to explain how it lands for me in 2024.

Peter Slegers (Hop) lost his leg in a motorbike accident at just 19 years of age. This, along with family and relationship challenges drove him into addiction. But he has nearly 20 years in recovery and is a funny bloke. Its a cracker of a story.

 Lots of things go wrong in life. Collingwood can snatch defeat form the jaws of victory, people get injured the week before running a marathon and for the lovely Sue, it was an unexpected issue with her leg. Prayer can bring a posture of hope that helps us be alert to the ways love and joy can find its way into the mix.

Dean Clifford was born with a rare skin disease and was often referred to as a cotton wool baby or a butterfly wing baby as his skin was extremely delicate. His life expectancy was maybe 5 years, but against the odds, he is now in his 40s and going strong. He is a motivational speaker and lives a high quality life.

Many people experience a time in their life when they find their calling and experience a heightened zest for life. For many Christians being filled with the Holy Spirit is one of the ways we understand this: God purposes and power entering into our lives. Not all enthusiasm is of God though! The lovely Sue's obsession with Masterchef: for example. 🙄

Rodney Walters grew up in the small town of Mt Barker in South Australia to officer parents and moved around a lot as a child. He went to 9 schools! He resisted becoming a Salvo officer as he wanted to have the opportunity to travel. Turns out Rodney is the epitome of the saying "Join the Army - see the world" 

The apostle Peter had a vision about a sheet filled with ceremonially unclean animals floating down from heaven. A voice told him to kill and eat what for centuries prior in his tradition had been unclean. It seems some things we think are true about God's ways can change.

Andy King is the pastoral supervisor for the Salvos telephone assessment team across Australia - 72 employees. To help others unpack how this work impacts them, he has had to do a lot of work on himself and as he shares his life story here, we see how his experiences and inner work has shaped his care for these workers.

I recently saw the movie Inside Out 2. It captures well the challenge for us all to be true to ourselves with all of our paradoxes. When Saul became Paul, he needed time and support to integrate his new understanding of his God given identity.

Mike is a prolific author, an internationally sought after speaker and one of the leading voices on the authentic mission of the church. Mike is not afraid to debate the tough issues and as he shares his story we see some of the experiences that have shaped his views and given him the courage to speak out.

When you think about encouragement in the bible you think Barnabus. He was instrumental in helping the Apostle Paul in the early days of his ministry. To give and receive encouragement is life giving. Who can you encourage today?

Leisa grew up in Broken Hill and luckily needed to go to the bathroom when she was a child at church which cleared a pathway in the pew for her father to go forward and embrace Christian faith. Her beautiful heart and love for God and people has been key through the challenges of family life and Salvo ministry. Today she serves young people in the Salvos in Brisbane.  

In Acts ch 9 we see Ananias going to Saul after his Damascus Road experience and helping him, even though he thought he was dangerous. We are all prompted at times to help people who we have doubts about, but who knows what a difference this might make, both to them and to you!

Fran Everitt didn't really want to come to Australia when she was 15 years old as the upheaval was significant. But thanks, in part to the beautiful community of the Salvos, her strength of character and love for people has flourished and she now cares for Aussie Salvo Officers from all over the world.

Sometimes we get stuck in a rut or feel trapped and it takes a dramatic moment for us to wake up. For Saul on the Damascus Road it was a blinding light, for the lovely Sue it was a persistent inkling to move to Melbourne. Both resulted in significant changes!

Tom Austin is the NSW manager of youth services for the Salvos and he and I worked together for a while at OASIS in Sydney. He has a fascinating story and has been shaped by both loving stability and personal tragedy. He has a surprising devotion to growing, preserving and making sauces from chillies!

In life, if we are open to it, we might receive divine guidance, we might meet people from far off lands who are different and we might participate in life together in wonderful ways. This happened to Phillip in Acts chapter 8 and I'm hoping it will happen to me on the Camino De Santiago later this year.

Dave Collinson, also known as Captain Collo, is a Salvo officer who never gets bored. He has written a book, led big bands, started Just Brass which is a music program for kids and is even an iron man. Always up for a challenge, his story is inspiring and uplifting.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit suggests we are not mere spectators of the faith. We have 100% skin in the game. It's like Collingwood on a great day where every player doing his part to create the magic. But is full surrender moving to Africa and working in a children's home or just making a cup of tea for the lovely Sue when I am tired? Or both?