The best of both worlds…

It would be interesting to know if the name 'Brindley Boon' means anything to young Salvationists today – especially those outside the UK and Canadian Territories? (Brindley is pictured with his wife Nina)

In these days of contemporary worship songs, mentioning some of the songbook classics he penned still might not even raise a flicker of recognition: 'Spirit divine come as of old', 'For thy mission make me holy', 'Weaver divine, thy matchless skill', 'I would be thy holy temple,'.

In addition Brindley wrote many band pieces, a history of the ISB and two books on banding and singing 'Play the Music Play,' and 'Sing the Happy Song.' He was also the main organiser of the 1978 International Congress.

Colonel Brindley Boon was promoted to glory this year at the grand age of 95 and his autobiography has just been published 'The best of both worlds'.

The Amazon product description says of this book "In 'The Best of Both Worlds', Salvation Army officer Colonel Brindley Boon delves deep into memories covering nine decades to provide a record of an extraordinary life. His twin loves of music and journalism provide the framework for this fascinating autobiography. But, more than that, every experience he recollects seems to shine with his love for God and his desire to serve Him."

In the book, especially the earlier part, Brindley describes a Salvation Army I can only imagine yet one I would have loved to belong to!

Certainly it was an Army obsessed with music yet at the same time it was equally obsessed with soul winning. It wasn't music or evangelism it was both and evangelism always took precedence.

Reading the book was a cathartic experience for me and I feel refreshed and better able to focus on what really matters as a consequence of Brindley's memoirs.

My Dad was appointed to the Editorial Department on IHQ in 1963 at which time 'Uncle' Brindley was already an established and stalwart Army journalist.

Reading the book showed me just how much we have lost our way as a movement and the quicker we can get back to basics the better.

Deportment matters, professionalism matters, discipline matters, regulations matter, uniform matters, respect for leaders matters – all these things matter. They are not all that matters or even the most important things but we diminish their value at great cost to ourselves.

In those territories that are growing the above qualities are still valued and very visible.

Maybe they should put Brindley's book on the curriculum at Western Training Colleges J

Grace and peace, A

Sanctified ordinariness...

Last night I was privileged to attend a thanksgiving service for Colonel Brindley Boon. Back in 1971 Brindley (as UK Editor-in-Chief) was my Dad's boss and mentor but to us children was ( and always will be) 'Uncle Brindley'. For those for whom the name conjures up nothing – below are three of his songs (all in the current song book).

SASB 218 - Spirit divine, come as of old with healing in thy train...

SASB 786 - I would be thy holy temple, Sacred and indwelt by thee...

SASB 463 - For thy mission make me holy, For thy glory make me thine, Sanctify each moment fully, Fill my life with love divine...

I'm probably in a minority but my favourite of these three (which, incidentally wasn't mentioned last night) is song no: 463. Brindley understood that holiness (rather than being an end in itself) is actually a means by which God seeks to save others.

During the many tributes that were shared yesterday evening, Lt-Colonel Charles King (presiding) read one from my Father which described Brindley's 'sanctified ordinariness' as being the inspiration behind his own spiritual life.

Charles went on to make this reference to 'sanctified ordinariness' the basis of his final address in which he made the point that, although Brindley's first and greatest passion was the Army, he also had time for the English cricket team and Crystal palace Football Club! The challenge to the congregation was to allow the Holy Spirit to restore this 'sanctified ordinariness' to our ranks. It made me think of Paul's words to the Corinthians:

"¹⁹Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."(1 Corinthians 9)

It also made me think of the lovely rendition of Romans 12 found in The Message:

"^{1 -2} So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out."

Suddenly the penny dropped – what is holiness? Nothing more than 'sanctified ordinariness'...

I think I'd like some of that!

Grace and peace, A