tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222103712011-04-22T05:15:59.580+03:00The ramblings of a Salvation Army Soldier on Overseas Service.Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1146683805589335132006-05-03T22:15:00.000+03:002006-05-03T22:16:45.590+03:00

As I've now changed to a new site I'm automatically redirecting you to it!Hope you enjoy my future writing!Graeme

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1144748485054653882006-04-11T12:38:00.000+03:002006-04-11T12:41:25.066+03:00

It's not a physical move though, instead I've moved the location of my blog.You will be able to find my continuing rambling at:A UK Salvationist in LatviaSo if you do have me as a favourite place to visit make sure you change the address!

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1144243856655818772006-04-06T21:32:00.000+03:002006-04-06T19:34:26.073+03:00

I found this excellent quote by someone called Esmée Chengapen over at opensourcetheology.net"If we view poor people as not having enough to eat, a place to sleep, the unspoken assumption is to provide the missing things and the poor will no longer be poor. If they do not have the relevant skills or knowledge, then providing education and if the poor simply learns enough, they will no longer be

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1144233883004168692006-04-05T13:36:00.000+03:002006-04-05T13:44:43.016+03:00

Yesterday we had our monthly meeting of leaders here in Latvia and following a period of teaching we were asked to pray about various things.During this prayer period I felt the Lord directing me to Revelation 3:1-6 which says:"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1144071747694457722006-04-03T19:30:00.000+03:002006-04-03T19:34:37.800+03:00

I saw the following quote from the Dalai Lama on Phil Laeger's website and it got me thinking."It is fascinating. In the West, you have bigger homes, yet smaller families; you have endless conveniences -- yet you never seem to have any time. You can travel anywhere in the world, yet you don't bother to cross the road to meet your neighbours...""I don't think people have become more selfish, but

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1143477625966163962006-03-30T15:21:00.000+03:002006-03-30T15:23:04.396+03:00

Thanks to Gordon for the heads up on the we blog cartoons site.When I was looking through I just had to put this up as anyone who knows me well will understand! Lord help me avoid this type of mentality!Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1143522160429026692006-03-28T07:55:00.000+03:002006-03-28T08:23:09.526+03:00

There is an interesting article about a prophecy given by Rick Joyner over on the armybarmy blog today.The first thing that struck me when I decided to take a look at the whole thing was that this 'prophetic word' was surrounded on all sides by advertising! In fact you would be hard pressed to find a more 'commercial' Christian website out there. It seems strange that a website about the

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1143475992198618882006-03-27T18:41:00.000+03:002006-03-27T19:13:12.220+03:00

... or so I've heard!Before coming and working in Latvia I spent more than 4 years working for the Anglican Church in the office that tries to link all the various provinces of the church together. At the time I was working in their accounts department and I take a lot of happy memories (as well as many unpleasant and depressing ones) away with me.Having been brought up in TSA those years were my

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1143473167694630972006-03-27T18:09:00.000+03:002006-03-27T18:26:07.716+03:00

I've been reading Joshua for the last few days and have decided that it has to one of the most confusing books to read. God has given me a real passion against injustice, yet here is the same God telling the Israelites to inflict wholesale genocide against those who live in the promised land. Now I understand the reasons why this is, but it is still difficult for me to read!Still I always try to

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1143134776963025212006-03-23T18:58:00.000+02:002006-03-23T19:27:40.970+02:00

Over the last few weeks I've been reading a lot of stuff within the Army's rapidly increasing blogosphere about the way our movement should be going. Almost without exception the people expressing these views are voices of change, insisting that if the Army doesn't change it will die. For me, who has been praying that the Army will change for more than half of my 36 years, this is pretty

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1143012231993788992006-03-22T09:18:00.000+02:002006-03-22T09:23:52.006+02:00

God is good!Last Thursday the Corps Officer and 14 soldiers from Bauska Corps attended the town council meeting when application for the new gambling centre would be voted on. The mayor of Bauska had apparently been positive about the application before the meeting, but during the meeting spoke against the application. The vote was then taken and there was a unanimous vote against the

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1142974408151293832006-03-21T22:43:00.000+02:002006-03-21T22:53:28.166+02:00

Sorry for the lack of updates but we've been away for a few days and since we got back I just haven't had time to sit down an write.I've been to London with Zoe & Sian and they had the opportunity to relax and spend some time with friends and family. I however was there to work! The work entailed visits to THQ & IHQ to learn more about this job I find myself in these days. The time I spent was

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1142324039183897002006-03-14T09:50:00.000+02:002006-03-14T10:13:59.196+02:00

We have a corps in a town called Bauska and on Thursday 16th March 2006 at 14:00 there will be a hearing about the licencing of a gambling establishment in the same building as the corps. Obviously we have great concerns regarding this as all to often it is The Salvation Army who help families pick up the pieces caused by the addictive nature of gambling.In our letter of complaint we have

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1141922097754850312006-03-09T18:34:00.000+02:002006-03-09T18:34:57.773+02:00

There is a great discussion going on over at the URBANarmy under the title of "Morisy on Mission's False Dichotomy".It's well worth going and having a read!

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1141840741630432332006-03-08T19:59:00.000+02:002006-03-08T20:04:15.200+02:00

Back in the 1980's there was a band called Blood & Fire and for me they are still one of the best TSA bands. Often contraversial and seen by many in authority as too political and dangerous they eventually were forced into disbanding. However their lyrics live on today to speak to a new generation.Here are the words of their song "Part Time Soldier". At the time I didn't realise how prophetic

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1141828699266390052006-03-08T16:38:00.000+02:002006-03-08T16:56:38.603+02:00

I have a Palm handheld computer and Im testing some software I've found that should help me blog direct from it.If this post shows up then you'll know I was successful.The software can be found herePS: Well it seems to have worked except for an error I made in the html and have amended live!

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1141656232512070942006-03-06T16:39:00.000+02:002006-03-08T10:52:48.876+02:00

Over the weekend I got sent a new web link that has proven to be pretty good! I'm a fairly amateur multimedia presentation person but this site is full of stuff that makes me go "WOW!!!"Here's more about them! (click on the image to go to their page)Midnight Oil Productions. Telling the Story in a New Light through professional-quality worship media that your church can afford, and inspiring

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1141626804532241592006-03-06T08:23:00.000+02:002006-03-08T10:53:05.720+02:00

On Friday I was saying that I hoped the winter would be over soon. How fickle I am!On Saturday we decided to go out for the day and went to the Ethnographic museum, which is basically a collection of buildings from all over Latvia. It's the first time we've been during winter and it looks totally different.We spent about an hour wandering around, trudging through knee deep (well knee deep for

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1141381508080292932006-03-03T12:14:00.000+02:002006-03-03T12:25:08.080+02:00

Sian is sick again. Thankfully its nothing major but she cannot seem to shake off the cold she has been having. In herself she's fine but has a very annoying cough that seems to strike worst between 12 midnight and 1:00am. This means everyone wakes up and we're all tired! Hopefully she won't be feeling too bad over the weekend and we'll get the chance to go out a little bit.We've got loads of

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1141052559543234862006-02-27T16:55:00.000+02:002006-03-03T12:24:00.643+02:00

I've been reading the Articles of War that I signed more than 20 years ago and feel shocked that I was so willing to make such a big commitment at the tender age of 14 (well almost 15)! Casting my mind back I don't think I ever understood the reality of what it could mean for my life, and I've certainly failed to live up to them over the years.Here in Latvia I often find that my language skills

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1140809103850383292006-02-24T21:22:00.000+02:002006-02-24T21:28:42.343+02:00

I saw a variation of this post on Chris's Blog and couldn't resist.If you want to see this blog without all my ramblings click hereTechnorati tags: humour this blog text sucker

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1140780924007822292006-02-24T13:29:00.000+02:002006-02-27T16:36:47.903+02:00

Today it seems that there is no end to the paperwork! All I seem to have done since I started the new job is read information, write up reports, send letters and move paper. Not only is it very frustrating but at the moment it feels like there is no end in sight.Part of the reason for accepting this position was the fact that I may get to put into place new ideas for how The Salvation Army in

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1140630500698383042006-02-22T19:38:00.000+02:002006-02-24T13:27:12.400+02:00

Tomorrow morning I'm off out of Riga to Skangal (Children's home and school) where there is a seminar for employees and volunteers of The Salvation Army here in Latvia. This is the second time we've run this half-day training and I have the job of talking about Salvation Army history. I'm really happy about this as I love the history of my church.As I've looked over my notes this evening, I've

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1140454160477505012006-02-20T18:43:00.000+02:002006-02-20T18:49:20.476+02:00

Today it has been snowing almost non-stop and at least 4 or 5 inches have fallen and its still coming down. Everything outside looks like one of those old fashioned christmas cards and the only thing missing is a little robin sat on a sprig of holly!The children from Patverums have been enjoying themselves out in the snow doing the things kids do best. Tomorrow we'll take Sian out in it and I'm

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1140354725144151482006-02-19T15:03:00.000+02:002006-02-20T18:42:57.080+02:00

One of my favourite secular authors is Terry Pratchett and, despite him being humanist, I sometimes find stuff that speaks into my own life! In one of his books I found the following:"If I thought there was some god who really did care two hoots about people, who watched 'em like a father and cared for 'em like a mother ... youwouldn't find me just being gen'rally nice in the hope that it'd all

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1140270185759859572006-02-18T15:42:00.000+02:002006-02-18T16:11:30.836+02:00

Just been browsing a few blogs and seen Steve's blog and took the quiz he has in a past post!You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1140170865249256432006-02-17T12:02:00.000+02:002006-02-17T12:07:45.256+02:00

Yesterday we had a major health scare. Zoe had a major migraine (the first in the 10 years we've been together) but the symptoms suggested that it could be any one of a numberof different things, some of which could have had major implications!As I rushed over to pick her and Sian up from the parent and toddler group they were at, all the possibilities were going through my mind. It suddenly

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1140021123907763132006-02-15T18:23:00.000+02:002006-02-15T19:38:23.123+02:00

Today I was faced with the possibility of change in a small area of my life and its got me thinking about how people embrace change in their lives. Even though I didn't understand all the implications of this change I embraced the possibilities as it meant a new, and for me, radical way of doing things and I trust the person who was suggesting it. I could see the vision that was being put across

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139952937477520832006-02-14T23:34:00.000+02:002006-02-14T23:35:37.486+02:00

Every so often you have one of those days that you would rather forget! Today was one of those for me! Finally capped by Sian spending the best part of 2 hours crying after going to bed!

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139851231405916542006-02-13T18:58:00.000+02:002006-02-13T19:20:31.413+02:00

... so the saying goes!One of the things I do in my job is try to keep abreast of social conditions in Latvia. Consequently a lot of statistics tend to catch my eye. Just now I noticed that the Central Statistical Bureau have increased the Minimum subsistence level per capita to LVL 111.97 (approx. GBP 110 or USD 192) per month. In other words it costs about LVL 120 for each person in Latvia to

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139845501783183462006-02-13T17:42:00.000+02:002006-02-13T18:45:17.523+02:00

I was reading Gordon Cotterill's blog today and noticed the text running across the top of his blog and couldn't help but read it!The comments about Mission reminded me about a book I have just received which is actually the text of a lecture given by Andrew Kirk in Sweden two or three years ago. The book called "What is Mission?" tries to answer that very question and raises concerns with some

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139759644816326862006-02-12T17:49:00.000+02:002006-02-12T17:54:04.823+02:00

Well Sian is much better today, although still wanting lots of cuddles, which is nice! I was worried for awhile that I wouldn't get to the meeting this morning but she had recovered a lot over night.I'm glad I did get to the meeting though as the 4 of our 6 cadets were leading. They all did extremely well and even though they have only been training since 9th January I can already see a

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139647667591288642006-02-11T10:47:00.000+02:002006-02-11T10:47:47.603+02:00

After having had a long succession of busy Saturday's we were looking forward to getting out as just our small family today, but unfortunately, Sian woke up at about 6:00am and was vomiting.  It's now 10:45 and she's still not well so our plans for the day have gone out of the window!   This time last year Sian went down with gastroentiritus (excuse the spelling) and ended up spending 2 days on

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139582622587812252006-02-10T16:43:00.000+02:002006-02-10T16:51:02.720+02:00

Patrik & Hanna Olterman are our new Youth Leaders here in Latvia and they have not had a very good time of it over the first few weeks of their life in Latvia. Car break ins, bad housing, record low temperatures and sickness have been the order of the day. Today they moved into the flat that will be their home while they are here only to find some of their furniture has been damaged during the

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139567731901875172006-02-10T12:15:00.000+02:002006-02-10T12:35:31.910+02:00

Yesterday's posts reminded me of some thoughts about TSA that I had a few weeks ago. I can't remember now what set my thought process off, but I suspect that it was a letter in the Salvationist as that's often the case. Whatever it was I seem to put across a pretty narrow view of what TSA is.Any I recall thinking that the view put across didn't describe any army in the world, so why should it

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139513562741118512006-02-09T21:32:00.000+02:002006-02-09T21:32:42.740+02:00

Later in the year we should be starting a Mission Team in Latvia from amongst the youth. The leader of the project has asked me to teach Salvation Army history to them during the first few weeks when they will undergo intense training.In preparation I’ve started re-reading various books and yesterday I picked up Phil Wall’s ‘I’ll fight…’. I found the following that really made me sit up and

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139513341490653992006-02-09T21:28:00.000+02:002006-02-09T21:29:01.493+02:00

As a regular reader of the Journal of Aggressive Christianity I was delighted to see the latest article from Danielle Strickland relating to the lack of married women as nominees for General. As the husband of a wife, I can understand why this is concerning to many people, and the fact that no married woman has yet reached a senior position in The Salvation Army is a problem that I hope will be

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22210371.post-1139513296226531092006-02-09T21:27:00.000+02:002006-02-09T21:43:19.423+02:00

I’ve been thinking about my own blog for sometime now and have finally decided to take the plunge.Like many new bloggers I have no idea whatsoever about where this blog will take me, or how often I will be updating!My main reason for starting a blog is that I’m not the best person at keeping a journal and the idea of sharing my ramblings with others through this medium quite interests me. I’m

Graeme Smithnoreply@blogger.com0