Response-ability

Dostoyevsky wrote, "People are people and not the keys of a piano'.We may like to blame our genes or our circumstances for our problems but to be truly human we need to accept that we are response-able (and accountable)for the way in which we live. What the bible calls holiness has to do with living responsibly.
Some say they 'couldn't care less' but Jesus our best example could not have cared more.The Jewish prophet Micah said, "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly snd to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (6.8).

Ethics of a cash register

I was present at the Salvation Army premises in Bourke Street, Melbourne for a crowded meeting listening to a highly qualified panel discussing alcohol abuse. One speaker described the way in which weaknesses are exploited for financial gain by people with what he described as the 'ethics of a cash register'. The bible describes the love of money as the root of all evil and there is no doubt that for the sake of financial gain much evil is perpetuated. By the same token, rightly used money well used can achieve great good in the world. There is nothing wrong with money, just the way in which some people use it!

The eye of a storm

The effects of the world financial crisis are becoming increasingly apparent. They can be seen at the supermarket checkout where people are being obliged to cut their spending. They can be observed in the number of people obliged to turn to voluntary organizations for food parcels and other assistance. It is amazing that problems in the United States have had a 'knock-on' effect around the world. No nation lives to itself. For good or ill we are all bound together in the bundle of life on earth. What we do has a bearing on others and for nations and individuals that is part of the responsibility of being alive. The implications of that need to be worked out.

Grievances

It is said that instead of nursing grievances we should teach them to walk. There may be times when everybody is niggled by someone or something. Small concerns can fester and poison our whole system unless we overcome them with love.

Turning the clock back?

History buffs such as myself are sometimes accused of trying to turn the clock back. In fact, sometimes our desire is to wind it up. We may avoid the mistakes of the past if we look back and learn from history. The crass and crazy thing is that the follies of one generation are often repeated in the next.Howm dumb can we get>

Homelessness

LEARNING that people slept on the streets of London William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, told his son Bramwell,'Go and do something!'Booth junior asked, 'What can we do?'.And hearing about homelessness in these days we may well echo his question.
Thousands of people - young and old - sleep on the street in Australia ever night. What can we do about it? The Salvation Army Historical Society will be focussing on the problem at the Inala Auditorium, 220 Middleborough Road, Blackburn on Friday
22nd August at 7.30 pm. There will be DVD footage about what the Army has done for the homeless in the past and is doing today. Nationally-known speakers will report on the problem and there will be music by the Camberwell Band and the 'Hope Choir' - the Army's equivalent to the 'Choir of Hard Knocks'.
There will be no charge for admission but what can we do about the problem? We can take part in a collection for work among street people.The offering may be in cash or kind such as hand-knitted garments such as scarves or beanies or newly bought socks. All are welcome!

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