Norway....

Norway was beautiful...

I was in Norway last weekend with other Salvation Army Training staff to look at and to explore the issues facing TSA as it trains people for leadership.

There is a beauty in sharing ideas and frustrations; a beauty in working and laughing with old friends; a beauty in making great new friends, that I am really looking forward to meeting again.

We spent time in Olso, and where-ever you looked there was beauty. The beauty in the face of an African Training Principal having thrown his first snowball, the beauty of sculptured art with the backdrop of a sinking sun. The terrifying beauty of standing at the top of the Holmenkollen ski jump, the beauty of trade justice in action within The Salvation Army 'Sally Ann' Fair Trade shop.

However it was the real beauty in the face of the woman who runs the Street Hospital in Oslo, that I wont forget. A refuge for those that the regular hospitals would rather refer. Her eyes shone with the beauty of someone living out the kingdom in a natural and irresistible way. Her eyes shone with the beauty of someone who knew mission as a daily reality not a mere theology to tickle the ears. This was a truly beautiful woman.

You can't knock a sunrise over a fiord! Particularly when you watch it listening to a songwriter trying to capture in song the real beauty that is found in seeing yourself through the eyes of God.

Norway was beautiful.

Comments

Isaiah43 said…
God is truely beautiful and when people allow Him to use them for His purpose they too become beautiful! Thanks for inspirering me!
3:44 PM
Anonymous said…
beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing!
1:43 AM
Anonymous said…
Is Isaiah 43 the same person that does the Isaiah 43 blog. That is such an amazing blog.
12:53 PM
Anonymous said…
Yes it is. I agree. It is an amazing blog. Very alive. Well Done Isaiah 43. How encouraging to see people growing in Jesus. There is also a link to a site which I had grave concerns over: being-The-Light.blogspot.com. What kind of army is that? Anyone else concerned over it?
2:34 PM
Isaiah43 said…
Thanks, Being the light is a fantastic army of God!It has to be I go there!lol No really its great, its growing, its got God!
7:31 PM
Anonymous said…
I do not see the sort of Salvation Army that I am part of. What kind of leadership does that place have?
8:39 PM
Gordon said…
Has anyone heard from Barbara Shufflebottom recently?
11:37 PM
Anonymous said…
Who?
12:23 PM
Isaiah43 said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
3:44 PM
Isaiah43 said…
Ashford Salvation Army Christian Centre has leaders who have the power and boldness of the Holy Spirit! All leaders should have that. They listen to God and trust in His word! Perhaps I should say that its a fantastic Church, not perfect but seeking to be an Acts 2 church, under the name of the Salvtion Army. isn't that what we all should be doing? What kind of Army do you go to?
3:47 PM
Anonymous said…
Interesting comments Isaiah43. Yes all leaders should have the boldness of the Holy Spirit - but should also hold the spirit of the army dear to them. My corps is seeking to be reflective of a true Army - one that holds dear the roots and the present and indeed the future. We look with interest to see what type of future some of the new 'army church' has
9:29 AM
Isaiah43 said…
We are not a 'new army church' as you so put. I have been going there all my life which might only be 19yrs and 7months, but Ashford Salvation Army Christian Centre has been going a long time. Without the leaders we have now our Traditional Army would have died with its membership being 20ish! Now its over 100 and its still growing. The roots of the Salvation Army was the Holyness movement. We are firstly the Church of Christ before we are the Salvation Army. We believe in the saying heart to God and hand to man and that is what we seek to do! To be the light at Ashford to shine Christ. I challenge you to come to Ashford Salvation Army Christian Centre and judge it by seeing God there and not by just reading a blog about it!
12:07 AM
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