Prayer and St Teresa

I was quite taken by the story of St Teresa of Ávila when it came up in my daily readings the other day. She was a Carmelite nun and prominent Spanish mystic from the 16th Century. The one thing that leapt out at me was the sheer honesty in the following statement:

“I was more occupied in wishing my hour of prayer were over, and in listening whenever the clock struck, than in thinking of things that were good,” she confessed. “Whenever I entered the oratory [the prayer room] I used to feel so depressed that I had to summon up all my courage to make myself pray at all.”

In her early years as a nun, she would sometimes even shake her hourglass in an effort to make her hour of prayer go faster!

She persevered, and managed to get past this barrier to her prayer life, and has since become in inspiration to those who want to learn to pray with depth and passion. 

Here's another quote from her:

“The important thing in prayer is not to think much, but to love much.”

Shaking the Dust - Walking Away

The instruction from Jesus to “shake the dust off your feet” appears four times in the New Testament. For example, in Mark 6:11 Jesus says, 

“And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” (NIV translation)

In the Message translation, we read:

"If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way."

It's an indication that you've done all that can be done in a situation - and you have no further responsibility for it. You are free to walk away with a clear conscience, knowing that you have done all you could.

The 'shaking the dust' portion of that phrase is meant to be a warning. This was in effect saying that those who rejected God’s truth would not be allowed to stop the progress of the gospel. In an act of symbolism, you remove even the dust of those cities from your sandals and move onto somewhere new.  

I get it. There are times when God calls us to stand firm, to work hard and do the best you can. We are eager to see good results of our labours. And yet, there are times in our lives when it's clearly time to move on. This is when we realise that 'enough is enough'.  Times when God gives us the freedom to move on. It's somebody else's time to shine in this place. It's our time to emotionally let go, to move to somewhere else or to something else. 

Shalom

Let's look a little closer at the word Shalom.

This is a Hebrew word that translates literally to peace, however the word describes so much more than that. Far more than just the absence of conflict, it means complete wholeness, harmony, health, and a restored state of well-being.

It describes a state where everything is put right; any emptiness is made full; where anything missing is restored or replaced.  It's a place of safety where everything is in its proper place and nothing is broken or lacking. it's also used as:

• A Greeting and A Farewell: It is widely used in modern and traditional Hebrew as both a hello and a goodbye.
• A Blessing: When people say shalom to one another, they are offering a wish for health, security, and divine blessing in all aspects of life.

Explaining the Gospel

Following on from the previous blog entry:

‘How do you teach the Bible to those who can barely read?’

This is something that the early-day Salvationists would have encountered frequently, unfortunately we in the 21st Century are complacent, expecting the level of literacy to be much higher now then it was in the 19th Century. Understandable, as that's what I learned at school. It didn't take me long to find out that functional illiteracy is still a great problem in the UK!

Traditional evangelism often relies on printed tracts, reading specific Bible verses, or handing out New Testaments. I remember sitting in a teaching session from Spring Harvest a couple of decades ago about conveying Gospel truth to a society from a non-book culture. They told us that you won't welcome some people into your church if you hand them a hymn book and a bible as soon as they walk through the door; so many at that time only had access to one book; the Argos catalogue! Nowadays, they may not even have that ...

In unpacking this topic, I've pulled together a few ideas from the early day Salvationists, from the Spring Harvest teaching and from an online article from Ian Williamson (Ragged School of Theology) to build my blog entry today. 

Firstly, you need to engage with people with more that just the written word. Some people will only learn through hearing the message orally; some will respond only to effective visuals. These people may not relate to traditional Bible studies or formal church meetings.

This is why early day Salvationists took their message directly to street corners, marketplaces, and outside pubs. This is why they used Brass Bands and Singing Groups to attract a crowd: Lively music and simple choruses allowed individuals to engage with spiritual themes without needing a hymn book or Bible.

Ian Williamson makes a very good point -  when somebody is struggling to comprehend, hearing different translations read out loud will cause confusion. This is different from my preferred method of study as I find multiple translations helpful to understanding what the Gospel writers are getting at. However, I get it. Both Ian and I prefer the NIV translation over the others. It flows really well and reads the same as we speak.

We need to remember that the Bible is only understood when the Holy Spirit opens our mutual eyes to God’s Word (1 Corinthians 2:14). Thus, a meeting should be preceded and followed by prayer. 

Finally, we need to be prepared for questions afterwards, as the true message of the Gospel sinks in and needs to be reinforced in community.  We need to explain, illustrate and apply the Word of God exegetically so that people understand what God is saying and how they need to respond.

A thought about adult literacy rates

According to the National Literacy Trust, 18% of adults in England aged 16 to 65, or 6.6 million people, can be described as having 'very poor literacy skills'. This means they can understand short straightforward texts on familiar topics, however reading information from unfamiliar sources or on unfamiliar topics could cause them problems. Percentages vary across the other UK countries, however broadly you can see a similar trend with many millions unable to fully comprehend some words on signage, the printed page or computer pages. 

To clarify: The UK's basic literacy rate is apparently 99% (reference: World Literacy Foundation). But that figure only measures the most basic ability to read and write. Functional literacy proficiency in this country has declined, and that 18% figure that I mentioned above means that nearly one in five of us have trouble in reading legal contracts or disclaimers, deciphering bus or train timetables, understanding medicine labels, and so on. This explains an unwillingness by many to read anything more complex than a small paragraph. Too long, didn't read. 

This statistic has come as quite a shock to me. And a bit of a challenge... how can we convey the good news of the Gospel to people who will struggle with some of the deeper theological concepts?

More later as I unpack this further ...

Serenity - more, please!

Serenity (noun): the quality or state of being calm, peaceful, and free from anxiety, stress, or agitation.

I keep coming back to dwell on this word in this blog. I wonder why... it's much more than the science fiction reference. It's a real longing for a lasting, inner peace in my life.

What I'm looking for is more that just earthly peace. Serenity is a deep feeling of calm even in the face of adversity. It's when you can still see the problems around you, however you are no longer suffering under the weight they once carried. I believe it's only available through our relationship with God. 

I'm reliably informed that pursuing serenity involves shifting your daily habits and perspective to calm your mind and reduce stress in your life. Removing the pressures of working life has gone a long way to improving my perspective. My mind is so now quieter since I retired and this has helped me to slow down and build in some regular quiet time to be with God. 

i am spending a good deal of my time reducing distractions; reducing the clutter in some areas of my house (why do I need to keep those work reference books now?) and making a positive choice to live a simpler life. 

I can feel a real sense of peace on some days. More, please!

Life is precious

Christians have a firm belief that human life is a sacred gift created and cherished by God. Are you in agreement with that?

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realise it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfil it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.
Mother Teresa

The most precious things in life are not those you get for money.
Albert Einstein

Because we are mortal, our time on Earth is precious. Every second is a flash of light in the cosmic dark.
Carl Sagan

Some Scripture verses to consider:

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Coffee, anyone?

Whilst you relax over your latte this morning, why not give a prayer of thanks to the Lord for his creation - today (1st October) is International Coffee Day. However you prefer your coffee, spare a thought for this incredible product. 

Wild coffee plants were first discovered in 9th century Ethiopia, as a goat herder called Kaldi noticed that some red berries were having an unusual effect on his goats.  The coffee beverage itself hails from Yemen, where it was harvested, roasted and brewed; Sufi Muslims in the 15th century used it to aid concentration during night prayers.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, coffee spread from the Islamic world to Christian regions, through the interactions between Muslim and Christian traders. It was in the monasteries of Europe that coffee found a special place. Monks and priests adopted coffee as a tool to aid in their spiritual practices, as coffee helped them stay awake during long prayer vigils and night-time services.

By the 17th century, coffee was the popular drink for intellectuals as they met in coffee houses to drink, listen and debate. They became hangouts for the likes of diarist Samuel Pepys, architect Christopher Wren, and the French philosopher Voltaire. The Lloyd's Coffee House in central London was the birthplace of the global insurance market.

Finally, the cappuccino owes its name to the Capuchin friars, an order of Catholic monks from Venice, who were known for their brown and white robes. 

Lovingkindness

Chesed is a Hebrew word that means 'kindness or love between people'. It is frequently used in Psalms to describe the love or mercy of God towards humanity. Some English translations use the word lovingkindness (sometimes hyphenated, sometimes written as one word). I'd never before explored this term, so I thought I'd give this some study today. 

The translation of lovingkindness used in the King James Version is derived from the Coverdale Bible. This version was compiled by Myles Coverdale and based on the earlier translation by William Tyndale. The King James Version and later writers then compounded it into a single or hyphenated word. Although some feel that this word is now considered archaic, it is still part of the traditional rendition of Psalms in some English Bible translations and there are even modern worship songs still using the term. 

Here's a selection of translations of the first few words of Psalm 51 across the centuries:

ἐλέησόν με ὁ θεός κατὰ τὸ μέγα ἔλεός σου (Greek)

Miserere mei, Deus, secundum misericordiam tuam (Vulgate)

God, haue thou merci on me; bi thi greet merci. (Wycliffe, 1388)

Haue mercy vpon me (o God) after thy goodnes (Coverdale Bible, 1535)

Haue mercie vpon mee, O God, according to thy louing kindnesse (KJV, 1611)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness (KJV, 1769)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love (RSV, 1952)

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love (Good News, 1976)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love (NRSV, 1989)

Generous in love—God, give grace!  Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record (The Message, 1993)

And here's the New International Version translation, which I use most of all:

Psalm 51:1

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

I find it's always useful to see the same verse in different translations. 

Open Our Eyes

On Sunday 27th September 2026, The Salvation Army will unite around the world for the International Day of Prayer for Victims of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

This year’s theme is 'Open Our Eyes', which is inspired by Proverbs 31:8 NLT:

'Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.'

Modern slavery is when someone loses their freedom and is controlled and exploited by another person or people for personal or commercial gain. It is an umbrella term for many forms of slavery including but not exclusive to human trafficking.

At The Salvation Army, we believe that everyone should be able to live in peace without being exploited and we open our hearts and minds and ask the Lord to hear our prayers to protect the vulnerable throughout communities across the world.

Many Salvationists around the world (there are over a million of us) will be praying for those trapped in this way. We stand with the survivors and we advocate for an end to exploitation. Please join us in prayer. #OpenOurEyes