A frosty Olympics

Most mornings, since the fabulous opening ceremonies in Vancouver, I have checked the Olympic medal table to see how my fellow Brits are doing. Britain doesn't have a great tradition in the winter Olympics, though we have had glimpses of glory. A bobsleigh gold in the 1950's...Men's figure skating champion in both 1976 and 1980 and at the last Olympics we won the gold medal for the women's curling. But most famously, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean gave the greatest ice dance performance in history in 1984, securing perfect marks for artistic impression, a feat that will never be equalled as the system of scoring has now changed.

I was telling my American wife about this incredible couple, and even pulled up video on Youtube which she watched with vague interest. They were marvellous, they were wonderful, but then I realized that it was also 26 years ago, and I was still having to revel in their glory. You see Britain is sitting equal 26Th in the medal count, a position we share with about 40 countries who have won...no medals at all!!!

At times I find myself living in the former glories of The Salvation Army. The stories of the match factories, the age of consent in the UK and the closing of Devils Island. There was a day when a group like the Army could really make its mark in the Western world, but in reality that day is gone. Not because The Army is not working, but because society is different and The Army less controversial. This does not mean, however, that significant societal changes are not happening elsewhere.

I received a bulletin this week, taking about The Salvation Army's work in Papua New Guinea and titles, "Swapping Bullets For Bibles." It talked about 26 year tribal battles that have taken the lives of hundreds of men, and has caused desperate mothers to smother their male children at birth to reduce future fighting forces. In the midst of these tribal wars, Captain Michael Hermuno has been working with 15 tribes sharing the gospel message. For many years he had been offering them a solution to hate, a solution to the conflict and finally, in October 2009 he was at the center of a celebration that was the fruit of his labor, and the answer to he most earnest prayer...a formalized peace treaty. A number of Salvation Army Officers attended this amazing event where, as a symbol of the change, the tribesmen handed over their guns in exchange for a Bible. The guns, bows & arrows and other weapons were collected and then burned in font of 2,000 people, most of whom had no memory of peace. Major James Cocker of The Salvation Army said, "It's amazing that this remote place has no government involvement, no police and no services, but The Salvation Army is there."

So, a war that had started about the time Torvill and Dean gave Britain it's greatest Winter Olympic memory was finally over, and the winner was Jesus. What a reminder that God is still at work, and He is still giving us victories. As for me, that displaced Brit begging for some glory...roll on women's curling.