WAR

70 years on from the start of the WW2.

Yesterdays various commemorations cast interesting light on the ongoing impact of the war - Germany's contrition; Russia's beligerance; the terrible suffering endured by Poland; the experience of evacuees from the East End moved out to the countryside.

When I was 17 my burning ambition was to join the Army. God then led me on a different course, and although the more I think about it the more I see the strength of the argument in favor of pacifism, there is still a large part of me that regrets never having served in the military.

A favorite Newfrontiers quote is that, "The Christian life is not like a battle. It is a battle." Guy Miller, who leads the Newfrontiers team that serves churches in the Wessex region and beyond, quoted this at our Together At event over the weekend. He also talked about his brother-in-law - a real life action hero who served in the Special Forces and died recently (you can read his obituary here).

The beginning of September always feels like the start of a battle for me. It is when church life gets fired up again after the easier pace of August. I'm preparing to preach on Sunday from Ephesians 3:8-12, setting out our plan of campaign for the next few months. Paul writes that we are to have boldness and confidence because of what Jesus has done in us. Boldness and confidence - characteristics of a good soldier.

Bring it on!