Book review" Out of Colditz by David Lascelles

As a kid growing up in Scotland, I can remember both the movie “The Colditz Story,” and the television series simply called “Colditz.” Both were dramatic representations of what actually occurred to Allied Prisoners of War during World War 2. My impression was that the survivors of Colditz were national heroes and great escapers, so when I began reading David Lascelles’ book “Out of Colditz” I was intrigued by what happened to his father during the last year of World War.

I had never heard of the group of men called ‘The Prominente’ who were kept in isolation from the other prisoners because of their connections to the Royal family and European political leaders. It was interesting to note that they were largely being used as pawns to possibly negotiate surrender deals with the victorious Allied Forces.

Lascelles personal experiences with the German Commandant’s family as he researched material for his book were also fascinating. He gave us ‘the rest of the story,’ especially when he described several events which the Colditz Commandant used to gain some credible defense of not following Hitler’s orders to kill his prominent prisoners.

The book is well written and provides an ample history of some of the last days of the Second World War in Europe and the subsequent war-criminal trials. I would recommend it to anyone who is really interested in the Allied prisoners and the defeat of Germany in World War 2.

The book will be published by St. Martin’s Press in January 2027

Midweek Message: Have Patience

Ecclesiastes 7:8   Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. (ESV)

            Sometimes when I am looking for a quick answer to things and pray for a swift resolution, the Bible reminds me that God’s timing may not be the same as my own. Take today’s highlighted verse, for example. It’s a wise way of telling us to slow down and wait for a positive result rather than hastily trying to enforce our own. We all look for a quick end to our issues, problems, and struggles, but sometimes we have to endure what’s happening for a while before we can reach a satisfactory conclusion. Sometimes this occurs when we’re recovering from an illness, surgery, or treatment, or when we’re looking for news about a meeting, a problem at work, or an incident with our family.

 

              I like what the ancient teacher has to write about being patient in spirit rather than being proud. It’s meant to teach us a lesson that patience requires some level of humility in order to reduce our anxiety and diminish our concerns. How many times have we worried about something that never transpired, or lost sleep over an issue that was never fulfilled? Rather than wasting our time with ‘what ifs,’ God often invites us to place all our anxieties into Christ’s hands and wait for the right moment for everything to be revealed or fulfilled.

 

              May God be with you and all your loved ones today, blessing you with patience and faith, hope and love.

 

Pastor John

Midweek Message: The Gift of Music

Colossians 3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (NIV)

                             One of the most enjoyable aspects of worshiping on Sundays is the inclusion of music. Whether it is played on the organ or piano, is sung by the choir or the congregation, or even played on instruments by adults or children, music is a centerpiece of how we cheerfully and sincerely praise God. The lyrics we sing and the harmonies we create, bring us together as a family of faith and connect us to Christian communities across the Earth, as well as with the angels who are forever singing before the throne of God. Without the inclusion of music, our worship would be empty and dull; with the gift of music, our worship becomes inspirational and meaningful.

                             I like today’s highlighted verse from Colossians. It reminds us that we have been singing God’s praises for thousands of years. The Apostle Paul emphasized the singing of hymns and psalms as a special and holy means to teach the Christian faith to the young church at Colossae. The words and music helped his people draw closer to God in both cheerful and sorrowful times. Similarly, throughout the centuries, many Christian communities have sung sacred songs to strengthen their resolve and overcome their problems. For example, the hymns and spirituals of the nineteenth century enabled enslaved people to persevere; the protest songs and community choruses of the 1960s inspired churches to fight for civil rights.

                             I hope that you enjoy the music on Sundays, too, and understand how important and precious the gift of music is for everyone in our congregation. As we sing our hymns, listen to the anthems, and reflect on the special music, may we all experience the presence of God’s Spirit and deepen our relationship with the Lord, as well as with one another.

                             May God bless you and all your loved ones.

Pastor John