Southland Christian Ministry Training
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By Ian Whitley, on September 14th, 2010%
 This week we celebrate the Battle of Britain with a formal ceremony in Martin Place involving myself and a few others from here at RAAF Base Richmond. Why? Surely after seventy years, for a battle that took place on the other side of the world, there is not much relevant to us? WRONG! The fact is it still has a lot to teach us, but sadly most Australians in the 21st century know very little about it. So here is your crash course to wet your appetite.
The name ‘Battle of Britain’ stems from a famous speech by Prime Minister Winston Churchill who announced to the House of Commons: “The battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin…” (June 18, 1940) and shortly after it did! The battle lasted from 10 July 1940 to 31 October 1940, and is usually celebrated on 15-16 September, to commemorate the turning point in the battle.
Most historians consider this battle a watershed event in air power studies because it was the first battle fought entirely in the air. The aim of the German Luftwaffe was very clear, to gain total air superiority as a prelude to invasion. The British aim was to survive and keep getting up one more time. The statistics are shocking, for both sides, but in this battle of attrition the biggest loser was Germany, and it never really recovered.
There were many who felt that England could never survive such an onslaught, but inspired by leaders such as Winston Churchill they beat the odds, and over time won the war. It was of this battle and particularly fighter command of the RAF that Churchill said:
“Never in the history of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few”
(House of Commons, 20 August 1940).
Sometimes it is all too easy to just latch onto one liners like that and think you have the whole story. If you want to know more, take the time to read the context of this and other speeches of Winston Churchill. A recent book called “Speeches that changed the World” (ISBN1 74045 663 7) is a great resource to do just that. To go one step further, have you recognised that you have power to change the future through your words, your vision and passion? Consider, what would it take for you to lay down your life for your country or to call others to do it? Churchill offered only “blood, toil, tears and sweat” and in this short time Wikipedia lists Britain as losing 544 aircrew killed, 422 aircrew wounded and 1,547 aircraft destroyed…
We need to know our history or as someone once said we will be doomed to repeat it.
Chaplain Ian Whitley
By Ian Whitley, on September 14th, 2010%
Timeless Principles for Personal, Career and Family Success.
Book review – Growing the Distance, by Jim Clemmer (ISBN 0-9684675-0-4)
There are many books on my bookshelf that I have read only once – this is one that I have read three times! Why? The sub-title seems to sum it up “timeless principles for personal, career and family success”. It is about leadership, taking control of our own growth, so that we have the skill and credibility to lead others.
The book includes some great stories from a wide range of sources, some good quotes and includes excellent summaries at the end of each chapter. The result is a clear outline of what has been covered with practical suggestions of how to apply each section to real life. I’m not sure that any of the content was particularly new, but the style of writing and the format (with lots of short sub sections) made it both easy to read and apply to my own situation.
People are looking for easy short cuts to success, but Clemmer makes it clear that it is a process, a series of choices, requiring a preparedness to grow through the pain of change and lead others to do the same. The author forcefully asserts that true leaders don’t lead by just offering rewards or threatening punishments, they get passionate about life, and energise others to motivate themselves.
For me, Clemmer has effectively attacked a difficult topic and broken it down into terms and concepts that I could understand and apply. At its most basic level all it takes is character, vision and discipline. In his final chapter, he sums up like this:
“Why do some people fail to grow the distance?
Some people fail because they don’t think….
On the other hand, many unsuccessful people think but they don’t do…”
This book has helped me to think more clearly about who I am and where I want to go. It has given me some good tools to get my own life back on track and lead others to do the same.
By Ian Whitley, on June 29th, 2010%
I usually enjoy reading, but there are some books that no matter how well written they are, the subject matter is always going to make them hard going. I have just finished reading a book called “When ‘I Do’ becomes ‘I Don’t’” by Laura Petherbridge (ISBN 978-1-4347-6876-6).
The sub title describes it as “practical steps for healing during separation and divorce” and that is what I found. This particular book is written from a Christian viewpoint, yet deals with the basic struggles and questions of any person going through the pain of separation and the implications of impending divorce.
All the obvious issues were covered such as stages and types of loss, how this affects children and how to cope with the financial and legal minefield that develops. The more difficult areas of forgiveness and reconciliation, co-dependency and self esteem, and how all this affects personal faith were all dealt with in practical, down to earth ways without minimising the pain and frustration that inevitably goes with the process. The author included some helpful hints on how to cope with special occasions, when to start dating and the extra challenges of how this affects over 50’s. The challenges of blending families, step parenting and how to help family and friends who are going through this were also covered.
The chapter format followed a basic formula where one issue was defined and raised, followed by associated questions and answers, a prayer, further discussion questions and then ending with a response/to do list. The best use of this material would probably be in a divorce recovery group (continually stressed) but I have found it a good tool for one to one counselling as well.
Sadly, I am seeing all too many people going down this track and very few of the secular publications have proved to be helpful. These days I tend to shy away from overtly Christian books (like this one) but it was easy to read and provided a good overview of the key issues. The fact is anybody going down this track needs help, feels like a failure and will require a large injection of time, energy and resources if they are to grow through the experience. I have used this book as part of that dynamic.
Chaplain Ian Whitley
By Ian Whitley, on June 14th, 2010%
Book review – Speeches that changed the World (Murdoch Books Pty Ltd Aust., ISBN 1 74045 663 7)
If I was going to write a book with that title, who would I include? How would I define a great speech? How would I determine those which “changed the world”? They are all questions that I had when I picked up this book in a secular bookstore recently, but I bought it anyway! It has taken a few months to get through, but I have now finished it, and in the process of trying to make sense of it, this report evolved.
Each speech has an introduction by Simon Sebag Montefiore, who very ably describes the history of the speaker and how this particular speech fits into history. The speeches are arranged chronologically, starting with Moses (The Ten Commandments), followed by Jesus (the sermon on the Mount) and Mohammed (early section of the Koran). As evident from the first three, the speakers come from a wide range of backgrounds, men as well as women, from all corners of the globe and all religious and political persuasions.
Speeches That Changed the World – the Stories and Transcripts of the Moments That Made History
Simon Montefiore in his introduction admits that “a great speech does not just capture the truth of its era; it can also capture the big lie.” He has included some of the latter as well as the former. Some were obvious, and expected, like the Gettysburg Address, and Winston Churchill speaking to House of Commons in 1940, yet many more caught me by surprise, and challenged me to think deeply. I have never before read any of the speeches of Napoleon Bonaparte, or Mohandas Gandhi, or Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin and the impact was undeniable. There were some quotes that I knew, and had used many times but had never read in context like the famous “I have a dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. or the oft quoted lines from John F. Kennedy. Good scholarship demands that we deal with scripture in context yet when it comes to other sources we get a bit slack.
I found this book unsettling and challenging, whether it was Franklin Roosevelt’s historic response to the bombing of Pearl Harbour, or George W. Bush’s response to 9/11. Who could ignore the call of Mother Teresa who on receiving her Nobel Peace Prize affirmed “the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion” and “love begins at home”, or the courage of F.W. de Klerk announcing the end of Aparteid in South Africa.
For those of us who are often called upon to speak publicly, it is a great reminder of the power of the spoken word, and the awesome responsibility it brings. It may not be an enjoyable book to read but it will impact you if you let it.
Chaplain Ian Whitley
By Ian Whitley, on May 29th, 2010%
I have been known to say that each stage of life has its unique challenges – even grandparenthood! So, while scanning my bookshelves for someone else, my eyes rested on a book that jumped off the shelf and said “read me!”
 It is an oldie but a goodie called Raising Boys, by Steve Biddulph (ISBN 0 646314181). It was published in 1997 and I suspect that I first read it soon after that. This book is much better than many others on my shelf about parenting for two reasons, it is written from an Australian context and it admits that raising boys is different to raising girls!
I have two sons, two sons-in-law and three grandsons and this book made it very clear that I have an ongoing responsibility for their development. But where do I start? Steve uses lots of stories and cartoons to make his point about why boys are different and clearly defines the role that we men have in helping them to develop into happy, well balanced men.
In contrast to the classical Aussie approach of leaving child rearing to mothers he puts a strong case for us to get more involved. His observations and helpful down to earth helpful hints on topics such as sexuality, schools and sports are insightful and right on the money.
In a society and culture that has witnessed an unprecedented number of family breakdowns and emergence of more and more single parent (female) households our boys are all too often the casualties. Steve Biddulph supplies a range of suggestions to address this and stresses the importance of grandparents, uncles, sports coaches, male teachers, pastors and other members of community to reverse the negative trends and behavioural issues arising from “under-fathering”.
I could not help but wonder how many of the relationship issues that I get confronted with are a direct result of a lack of an effective father, of not growing up with healthy role models of how men and women, fathers and sons should relate. None of us are perfect, we all make mistakes, the key is to be man enough to admit it and adjust our behaviour accordingly.
For those lessons maybe we also need God’s help – our Heavenly Father to forgive us and enable us to keep growing, following his example of what it means to be a father who cares, understands, disciplines and encourages, knowing when to be tender and when to be tough.
I’m still learning!
Chaplain Ian Whitley
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This week we celebrate the Battle of Britain with a formal ceremony in Martin Place involving myself and a few others from here at RAAF Base Richmond. Why? Surely after seventy years, for a battle that took place on the other side of the world, there is not much relevant to us? WRONG! The fact is it still has a lot to teach us, but sadly most Australians in the 21st century know very little about it. So here is your crash course to wet your appetite.
