Stories of Hope

It is with great sadness that I share that Wayne passed away recently. I spoke with his partner, Bea and she was happy for this podcast episode to be re-posed in his memory.   Wayne had to lie about his name at school so his father could avoid the police finding him through the education department, because of his "freelance narcotics business" From dreadful beginnings, Wayne now has a family and...

We all experience hardship and unfortunate circumstances.   However our response to this and our capacity to remain hopeful despite the random nature of good and bad luck can make a huge difference.  Jesus on the cross cries out in despair my God, my God why have you forsaken me?  We all feel like this at times, but as the movie "luck" so beautifully portrays, the richest love and hope can often r...

When we position ourselves to love others, we often find ourselves compelled to behave in loving ways, when it might well be the last thing we really want to do.  The lovely Sue is rarely inclined to love me but she has to, because we are married.  Mark's gospel records a guy called Simon who was forced to carry Jesus' cross and although this wasn't his idea, his involvement has become a key part...

Katharine grew up in Sydney and says she was a bit of a party girl, but her life turned around when she wholeheartedly embraced Christian faith.  She ended up serving at a Salvo rehabilitation centre in Ghana for 13 years before returning to Australia, marrying Russell and joining him as the officer at Fairfield Salvos in Western Sydney, where she continues to love and serve folks from other cultu...

Jesus was ridiculed and hurt by the soldiers who dressed him up in a robe, put a crown of thorns on his head and bowed before him in mock worship.  Humour that is cruel is particularly hurtful and people sometimes get caught up in the mob mentality of it all and just go along with it.  Adam Goodes was an outspoken but brilliant aboriginal AFL footballer.  His career was cut short by the dreadful w...

Blaming others for our foolishness, laziness and troubles breaks friendships and does nothing to effect change.  We continue to make mistakes and feel unhappy when we do this.  The umpires have been responsible for Collingwood's lack of premierships over the years and finally they are starting to behave properly, as this year we are actually doing quite well and our obvious brilliance is no longer...

Apparently women use more words each day than men.  And apparently it's because men don't listen. Being silent has its advantages.  If you are accused unjustly like Jesus it can highlight the absurdity of the charges.  If you are married, it can help calm down arguments and even be a way avoid being told what to do. In our family, I am a respected secret keeper - because I don't listen and have a...

Marty grew up in a religious family in Sydney and for the most part found this to be a positive experience.  But later in life after a marriage breakdown and the general business of life he found himself disconnected to community, unfit and overweight.  He and his wife Lisa wanted a change and attended the Wishart Parkrun to make some changes to their lifestyle.  Who knew that within a few years t...

We all have an idea of what is the right thing to do.  Sometimes we have people close to us who see a foolishness that we are blind to and they let us know.  Sometimes the implications of not listening are small, but at other times, like when Pliate ignored his wife or when the Captain of the Titanic ignored his crew, really bad things can happen.  

Recorded before a live audience at the Salvos Creative Arts Engagement Conference in Melbourne, Julia works full time for the Salvos encouraging and nurturing the arts amongst our people.  She has over 20 years experience in community theatre along with work experience in TV and Radio.  She is a delightful person and shares her story beautifully.

People will attempt great things when they are assured of the support and encouragement of others.  My friends complete epic marathons and trail runs.  The lovely Sue is by nature a little timid, but has been shark cage diving and involved in the lives of people suffering from addiction and homelessness.  Peter denied Jesus and failed because he was alone and had no back up.  But when he formed a...

Greg is the founder of Sanctuary.  A place of refuge and community in down town Toronto.  I know Greg because he has come to Australia to teach and share his story with Arrow leadership.  A great quality of this man is his courage to be honest and vulnerable and as he shares his story in this podcast, you cannot help but be warmed to the humble way of Jesus that has captured and guided his life.  

Jesus - the kindest and most enlightened person you could imagine was brutally killed because he was a threat to people with a completely different world view.  Spiral dynamics helps us understand world views and find ways to be less freaked out when we meet people who are not on the same page.  

Wayne was a teacher and school principal and has enjoyed a fulfilling life as a husband, father and committed Salvo. He has worked for many years with the Salvos, mainly at the Tom Quinn centre and has served some of Bundaberg’s most vulnerable people.  He has been the host of a community radio show for over 20 years.  But life took a savage turn for Wayne, when a few years ago his 39 year old son...

Thinking about death is not easy.  Dwelling on it in prayer is even harder.  But prayer is often about facing up to the things we would rather not deal with and seeking insight and wisdom.  Jesus prayed in a garden before he went to the cross and agonised over it all.  How we think and accept the realities of our fragile lives impacts how we live and there is strength, comfort and hope in the quie...

When we are betrayed by someone, it is really challenging to trust them again.  Not impossible, but not easy. Grace and courage is required and there are always consequences for bad behaviour.  But if we can't reconcile with people who have betrayed us when it is reasonable to do so, we will treat ourselves the same way.  We know that with some grace and the courage to learn and grow we can improv...

Leanne Rogers visits refugee camps all over the world to teach English and spread hope, love and music to some of the most desperate people on earth.  Her journey to this, from life as a middle class church attender, mother and supporter to her husband Bob, is inspiring and challenging.  Her enthusiasm and purposeful living is a testament to the value of following the way of Jesus.  

Sharing a meal can be the consumption of food or the opportunity to really encounter other people.  Eye contact, the inflection of a voice and body language is all on display around a table.  Lets not miss our opportunities to really engage with each other over food.  It could be your last supper.  

John Viles is a Salvo officer in Tweed Heads.  He is married to Nicole and they have two children.  John was loved and valued beautifully as a kid by a lady called Mrs Knowels.  He became a boiler maker, following in the steps of his Father at first, but soon realised he loved sharing about his Love of God more than welding and bolting things.  He became a Salvo officer and at his ordination Gener...

Most people are struggling with something.  Everyone has significant events in their lives. even if it's just a birthday.  To pause and honour someone with a gift, some kind words or to arrange a gathering, is really special.  Jesus was heading for the cross and a woman grasped this reality and anointed his feet with expensive perfume.  Most people thought this was silly and wasteful.  But Jesus w...

We all have seasons where we get a bit complacent.  Things are going OK so we just hit the cruise buton and let life mooch along. Or maybe we are just tired and in a rut.  However we still need to be watching out for our opportunities and responsibilities.   Love, hope and Joy is sure to return, so lets not fall asleep and miss the moments we are given.   

Vince Ross grew up living in a humpy on the banks of the Murrumbidgee river in New South Wales.  Madi Madi country.  His father was Scottish and His mum was aboriginal and so he found it hard to find his place in the world.  The Salvos came with hammers and nails to help make some improvements and repairs to his home one day and Vince liked what he saw.  He has been a Salvo ever since.  His work w...

There will always be seasons where everything seems doomed.  Mark Ch 13 is a chapter of end times apocalyptic doom and gloom.  But Marks world was quite small and the troubles of the day were to him of global proportions, so he wrote about them in language that depicted cosmic destruction.  The hope that a return of love, goodness and peace is clear though and is a good reminder that we too will i...

Brenda Linsell is a keen park runner and likes to have a go at anything.  Her cancer journey taught her to value every moment.  She lives in Melbourne with her husband Derek and loves art, mosaics and cooking.  She has lived in New York and is trained in law and nursing.  She is currently the school nurse at girls school and looks after over 800 children and teachers.  

The poor widow who gave her last two coins was not being generous - she was oppressed by the religious leaders who demanded her compliance with unfair and unkind rules.  Jesus calls them out on this.  Compassion and a heart for justice will only come when we allow ourselves to feel our own pain and when we look at difficulty with insight and wisdom.    I understand this as I look at the Carlton fo...