Hotchpotch Blog
This blog is a bit of a hotchpotch of things so forgive me if it is a bit all over the place.
Hayley, our youngest daughter is back safe and sound from her inter-railing trip around Europe. She has had a wonderful time and I am so glad I didn't listen to the people who told us we shouldn't let her go.
We did a school assembly about the Bible this morning, which went well until the headmaster had to go and follow up what we said with a politically correct statement about the Koran having wonderful stories in it as well. It might have but its not the word of God, which was the while point of our assembly. Aaaaagh!
Last week I was totally inspired by the story of Marie Ozanne in Flora Larson's book "My best men are women." Having been stationed in the Channel Islands I don't know how I missed hearing about this courageous saint.
Whilst stationed as a Salvation Army officer in Belgium, WW2 broke out and Marie had to return to her native Guernsey, where she reported for duty and was given responsibility for St Sampson Corps.
But then Guernsey was invaded and Salvation Army activities were forbidden. Marie, however simply continued her pastoral duties in full uniform. Every Saturday afternoon she stood in the market place reading her Bible and talking to anyone who dared to stop and listen. The authorities confiscated her uniform so she continued her ministry in civilian clothes and set about learning German because the invaders needed God too.
Marie who was a trained teacher was asked to teach in school but even though it would have made life easier for her she declined the offer, feeling that all her time and energies must be consecrated to her calling as an officer.
On one occasion someone vandalised a public monument and it was announced that unless the guilty one confessed all the islanders would be punished. Marie wrote to the occupation authorities and offered to die in the nameless ones place to save her fellow islanders from punishment. This was refused. She was horrified to hear constant screams from the internee camp where prisoners underwent floggings and torture. Marie went and protested and asked to speak to the camp commandant. Eventually she was such a thorn in the side of officialdom that she was sent to prison herself. From her cell she wrote encouraging messages but her health was failing and she died in February 1943 aged 38.
Interestingly today whilst sorting through some papers I came across a quote from the April 1983 Soldiers Armoury which said, "It is tragic when a Christian destined to be a king among ment, adopts a guise of ordinariness because he fears the consequences of Christian distinctiveness."
Marie Ozanne was certainly not guilty of this and I pray that we won't be either.
God bless
Carol
This blog is a bit of a hotchpotch of things so forgive me if it is a bit all over the place.
Hayley, our youngest daughter is back safe and sound from her inter-railing trip around Europe. She has had a wonderful time and I am so glad I didn't listen to the people who told us we shouldn't let her go.
We did a school assembly about the Bible this morning, which went well until the headmaster had to go and follow up what we said with a politically correct statement about the Koran having wonderful stories in it as well. It might have but its not the word of God, which was the while point of our assembly. Aaaaagh!
Last week I was totally inspired by the story of Marie Ozanne in Flora Larson's book "My best men are women." Having been stationed in the Channel Islands I don't know how I missed hearing about this courageous saint.
Whilst stationed as a Salvation Army officer in Belgium, WW2 broke out and Marie had to return to her native Guernsey, where she reported for duty and was given responsibility for St Sampson Corps.
But then Guernsey was invaded and Salvation Army activities were forbidden. Marie, however simply continued her pastoral duties in full uniform. Every Saturday afternoon she stood in the market place reading her Bible and talking to anyone who dared to stop and listen. The authorities confiscated her uniform so she continued her ministry in civilian clothes and set about learning German because the invaders needed God too.
Marie who was a trained teacher was asked to teach in school but even though it would have made life easier for her she declined the offer, feeling that all her time and energies must be consecrated to her calling as an officer.
On one occasion someone vandalised a public monument and it was announced that unless the guilty one confessed all the islanders would be punished. Marie wrote to the occupation authorities and offered to die in the nameless ones place to save her fellow islanders from punishment. This was refused. She was horrified to hear constant screams from the internee camp where prisoners underwent floggings and torture. Marie went and protested and asked to speak to the camp commandant. Eventually she was such a thorn in the side of officialdom that she was sent to prison herself. From her cell she wrote encouraging messages but her health was failing and she died in February 1943 aged 38.
Interestingly today whilst sorting through some papers I came across a quote from the April 1983 Soldiers Armoury which said, "It is tragic when a Christian destined to be a king among ment, adopts a guise of ordinariness because he fears the consequences of Christian distinctiveness."
Marie Ozanne was certainly not guilty of this and I pray that we won't be either.
God bless
Carol
posted by Rehoboth at
12:17 PM
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