Gary Grant

The Salvation Army seems to be in trouble with this issue of youth and young adults leaving our churches.  Many youth, including my own children, cant see the need to attend the salvation army any more, and as such go looking for other churches. which of course meets their need as the youth their age are there.  And it is a dilemma because if they stayed here, then obviously others may attend also.  I would rather see my kids  in church than stay away all together.... however it fails us (TSA) in a major way, that youth are leaving in such ways as this.  what is the answer ? maybe the answer is to be more relevant and try and keep our youth connected.  That's what our sunday night is about at Ringwood, but it is hard, and it is like swimming against the flow, our sunday morning congregation is our largest, and its overall average age would be around 60, and over 60 years olds deserve church too. So... the battle and the strug...

Yesterday I posted a comment on my facebook page about my belief in the bible and my difficulty in understanding why some people will read exaclty the same quote and not see the intent of the verse, or read it differently, assuming it doesnt aply to this day and age. What feedback then ensued. wow !!! What a lie and deception, Satan has sold this current world in which we live.!!! Yesterday it felt like I was being knocked around .... and last night when I went home, if it hadnt been for the friendship of some dear mates, I would have been feeling quite defeated, and most likely very depleted. A couple of things happened yesterday which made me feel beaten... a couple of things happened yesterday which also made me feel angry and frustrated and annoyed. However, Yesterday I also announced that we are making a strategic step forwards by employing a Youth Pastor and so, one can only assume that retaliation for that spiritual strategic step forwards, is a counter attack from ...

For me these days, life is super busy. I used to think I was busy before, but now...my goodness. Now, so that it's clear, I am happy being busy with the Kingdom stuff, and would never cope if I was blatantly bored in ministry, I am simply not wired in such a way. Life is good. My ministry is good. My God is good. For those of my readers who think, that maybe, I think I have arrived..... wash your mouths out...there is no way I think that, last week my head was in such a spin, I literally had to walk out the office and go home. I went for a walk to clear my head and got drenched when it started raining, and it was really good for me... I gained perspective and focus and the next day in the office was a little more sober. It's a busy place and much is going on.... it does pose questions for me, which over time I will seek clarity from the senior leaders here....and I guess where needed, I will tweak where and when I can. in the meantime, I am just doing what I feel...

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25 NIV) I have learned much in these past few weeks... one of the huge lessons I have learned is that when people speak to you, trying to be helpful, sometimes painting an ugly picture for your future....thinking they are doing something good for you... hmmmm....!!!!! it's not always right and true. Now, I am going to be very careful here.... but the truth is, some people tell lies, or perhaps better put, they dont tell you the whole truth.....and I have learned that the best way, is to find out for yourself. now this may sound all sort of cryptic like... but short of me getting involved in "slander" (which I wont) it's a shame that you dont get the whole picture and just a one sided perspective that is at best, very inaccurate. Jesus has made such a huge difference to my way of viewing things... I believe that if we keep things about J...