US Christian Leaders Apologize For Iraq War

Ximena Diego - Inter Press Service - 2/25/06

Christian leaders from the United States lamented the war in Iraq and apologized for their government's current foreign policy during the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Porto Alegre, Brazil, which ended Thursday.

"We lament with special anguish the war in Iraq, launched in deception and violating global norms of justice and human rights,"

Read more by clicking here: http://www.warcrimeswatch.org/news_details.cfm?artid=876

any thoughts?

From Armybarmy blog - Naomi in Van

Naomi Project up close and personal.

I made a new friend tonight of a guy who is on the Naomi Project (see Melinda Peters's blog for details on this government free heroin clinic).

He said he gets about $100/day of heroin from the government in this project (for you Canadians, that's $100.day out of your pocket in taxes). I asked him how much his habit cost him before he entered the project. Answer- $80.

So, for those not doing the math, our government has kicked up his habit by 25%.

There is a better way. Jesus is the answer.
Grace
sec

Nothing for Money

Instead of giving money for children in need, the new government is
threatening to take the service away from the poor and just give money to
those who don't necessarily need it as much. PM Harper, just admit your
mistakes. It will save this country and maybe even your government. You
can't count on the Bloc on this one. Not all of them care more about
separating than about services for children. Just some thoughts - remember,
we who claim Christ have a responsibility to look after those in need.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060228/child_care_libs
_060228/20060228?hub=Canada

Food for Prayer

Quebec priests challenge Vatican on homosexuality
Last Updated Mon, 27 Feb 2006 12:50:40 EST
CBC News

A group of 19 Roman Catholic priests from Quebec has published an open letter criticizing the church's stand on homosexuality.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/02/27/quebec-priests060227.html

Share the wealth

Alberta's surplus hits $7.4B on energy revenues
Updated Mon. Feb. 27 2006 4:25 PM ET

Canadian Press

EDMONTON — Alberta's energy boom continues to paint the province the colour
of money, pushing it toward a record budget surplus of $7.4 billion,
according to a third-quarter fiscal update.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060227/alberta_surplus
_060227/20060227?hub=Canada

Note to Federal and Provincial governments: we are one country. There is no
need for people from parts of this country to suffer because they happen to
live far away from the area where are our energy reserves. We need people to
live in the east and the north as well. Share the wealth: its biblical...

Put your money where your mouth is..

PM Harper and Mr Emerson put your money where your mouth is...

Emerson, the MP for Vancouver-Kingsway and federal minister of international trade, told CTV Newsnet on Monday that he will weather the political storm and "probably win an election as a Conservative."

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060227/emerson_monday_060227/20060227?hub=Canada

Integrity, integrity, integrity...

We're praying for you to do what is honest.

CTV.ca

More Freedom of Speech vs. Hate Laws

U.K. mayor rebuked over Nazi remark
Feb. 25, 2006. 01:00 AM
ROBERT BARR
ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON-Mayor Ken Livingstone refused to apologize for comparing a Jewish reporter to a Nazi camp guard, and now he's facing four weeks off the job - suspended for bringing his office into disrepute.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1140824433992&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724

Is this a worse offence than the Comics? Is it the same thing or something totally different? Can free speech allow one and not the other? Should it allowed in either, both or neither situation? No offence meant to anyone, just questions...

Blessed be the Peacemakers

Russian deal may prevent US aggression

Feb. 26, 2006. 04:24 PM
ALI AKBAR DAREINI
ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUSHEHR, Iran - Iran and Russia agreed in principle Sunday to establish a
joint uranium enrichment venture, a breakthrough in talks on a Kremlin
proposal aimed at easing concerns that Tehran wants to build nuclear
weapons.

Kiriyenko said the Russian-proposed joint venture, if successful, would help
achieve a peaceful solution to the standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Artic
le_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1140958810896&col=968705899037&cal
l_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News

South Dakota lawmakers pass anti-abortion law

Last Updated Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:03:04 EST

CBC News

South Dakota's legislature has passed a ban on nearly all abortions, a move that could challenge a 30-year-old decision by the country's top court to legalize the procedure.

The bill, approved Friday, would make it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion unless it was necessary to save the woman's life. There would be no exception in cases of rape or incest.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/02/24/dakota-abortion060224.html

This a more radical stance than the Army's, if I remember correctly...

Congratulations Jamaica

Jamaica to get first woman prime minister
Last Updated Sun, 26 Feb 2006 11:38:32 EST
CBC News

Jamaica will get its first female prime minister in the coming weeks when Portia Simpson Miller takes over the leadership of the country's ruling People's National Party.

Simpson Miller, who is 60, won her party's leadership in voting on Saturday.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/02/26/jamaica-pm-060226.html

The world is finally catching on the what the Army has known for a long time...We've had more than one woman leader

Way to go Canada..

Congratulations to all the Canadian athletes participating in the games this
year.

So far Canada (whose population is 1.7% of that of the top 10 ranking
countries) has captured 12.7% of the medals, placing us in third overall...

I must confess, though, that I do wonder how much this all costs and if we
are being good stewards of our money...

any thoughts? Click the 'comments' link in the header.

mr

E-rations with a smile for February 25, 2006

 

	Daily Rations with a Smile
	February 25, 2005

	More Rations . . .
	Be added to our daily e-rations mailing list
	Numbers 17-18 and Psalm 29 and Mark 4

Problem

"On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked North America and Canadians were
killed. Let me be clear: when terrorists attack Canadians, Canada will
defend itself. That's why we're in Afghanistan," Federal Defence Minister
Gordon O'Connor is pledging that Ottawa will follow through on its mission
in Afghanistan. But a new CTV News poll suggests most Canadians are uneasy
about the military's involvement in the volatile region.

Mr. O'Connor, The so-called 'terrorists' no more attacked Canadians, than
the Americans in the so-called 'friendly fire' incident attacked Canada.
Afghanistan still has not been linked to September 11th: Americans, a German
and some Saudis have. Mr. O'Connor, don't insult our intelligence. Canadians
wouldn't mind so much being there to keep the peace; why isn't that why you
want to be there? If you want to spill blood, let it be on your own head -
not ours.

We're praying for you...

Soup, Soap and Salvation Ministry Opportunities - Renew Network style...

Investing in education for low-income adults pays off

February 1, 2006

(Vancouver) The province must invest in education programs for low-income adults with upgrading needs if it wants achieve its goal of making BC the best-educated and most literate jurisdiction in North America.

Shauna Butterwick, an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Studies at UBC, is the author of "A Path out of Poverty: Helping Low-Income Adults Upgrade Their Education," released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The study calls on the provincial government to:

• Restore tuition-free Adult Basic Education (upgrading for those who haven't completed high school) at BC's public colleges;
• Change welfare rules so recipients can participate in upgrading, literacy, and English as a Second Language programs without losing their income assistance benefits;
• Restore and increase targeted funding to post-secondary institutions to support income assistance recipients who participate in these programs;
• Support colleges and institutes in meeting the specific education needs of adults who have experienced long-term poverty.

"The province has acknowledged the links between poverty, unemployment and low levels of education and literacy," says Butterwick. "These are four inexpensive solutions that will create a path out of poverty for thousands of British Columbians and their families."

Full story: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/index.cfm?act=news&call=1281&pa=BB736455&do=Article

Download the Report/Study: A Path Out of Poverty: Helping BC Income Assistance Recipients Upgrade Their Education - PDF File

Child Labour - Prayer and Praise

Morocco: Government Vows to Stop Child Domestic Labour

Following a Human Rights Watch report documenting the tens of thousands of girls employed as domestic workers in Morocco, the government's secretary of state for family, solidarity, and social action stated publicly that Morocco was working on legislation to prohibit employment of child domestics, and creating prevention programs to target regions where the practice is most prevalent.
February 13, 2006    Advocacy Impact

Museum blog

Bible tours provide hands-on view of creationism versus evolution debate
Catherine Tsai, Canadian Press
Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2006

BOULDER, Colo. -- Inside the flagship lab of the U.S. National Center of
Atmospheric Research, a dozen home-schooled children and their parents walk
past the offices of scientists grappling with topics from global warming to
solar storms and the electrical fields of lightning.

Whole Story:
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=6fc0affc-fbb6-4f96-
92ad-65fd88ecd8c6&k=11911

Pray for Ottawa's Anglicans

The granting of a temporary licence to an American lesbian priest who is in
a relationship with a woman sparked a small debate in the diocese of
Ottawa..

“The fact that Bishop Coffin has licensed Linda Fisher Privitera in the
diocese of Ottawa rather seems to foreclose further diocesan dialogue
regarding same-sex marriage,” wrote Norman Henderson, a lay person in the
diocese. He added that the decision “will move the diocese of Ottawa out of
the grey zone and firmly establish its alignment with” churches and dioceses
“which have been declared to be in a state of broken or impaired communion
by two-thirds of the global Anglican Communion.”

Full story: http://anglicanjournal.com/132/03/canada15.html

While one can possibly make the argument that it is okay for a country in
post-Christendom to marry people of the same gender, one cannot make that
claim for the Church and still hold that the Bible is true...And the Bible
IS true!

Famine in Kenya

Opportunity for faith in action...

Famine in Kenya
ENI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Nairobi
Churches in Kenya are moving to provide aid for millions facing starvation
due to a severe famine in this East African country, where the head of state
has declared the food crisis a national disaster.

Church leaders are asking their congregations to drop food at church centres
or designated places to be delivered as aid to starving populations. “We
should be mindful of our brothers and sisters dying of hunger,” Anglican
Bishop Thomas Kogo of Eldoret told the East African Standard newspaper. His
diocese and the African Inland Church have launched food collection centres.
They are urging farmers in western Kenya who have been enjoying bumper
harvests, despite the shortages in other parts of the country, to donate
food for relief purposes.

President Mwai Kibaki has declared the food crisis a national disaster and
launched appeals for local and international help. His government says more
than 2.5 million Kenyans will need famine relief for the next six months.

Anglican Journal
http://anglicanjournal.com/132/03/world07.html

Quote about WB

Those who served in the Army were pelted with hot coals, sprayed with tar
and burning sulphur, beat, stoned and even kicked to death in the streets.
The Salvation Army resisted their enemies with a cheerful "God bless you",
and a prayer. General Booth, himself was often in the thick of it. When spit
on during the Midlands tour, Booth encouraged his fellow soldiers, "Don't
rub it off - it's a medal!"

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=39

An expression

"Christ turned water into wine; an even greater miracle is that the church
changed wine into water." Food for thought for NT class today.

A note to new readers:

I understand that we have a few new readers these days. I have toned it down
a bit but I am still trying to be intentionally controversial here. If you
have any comments, questions or would like to offer me a rebuking or an
encouragement or two, I invite you to click the 'comments' button in the
header.

Michael

Government

For the record, I pray for our elected officials most days and many times
more than once on those days. I trust that the Lord will do wonderful and
amazing things in this country. Government is a wonderful way to do things.
Pray for your local, provincial, and federal rep.'s, as well as the heads of
government and state.

Michael

Prostituted Persons

I was reading COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS:AN INTERNATIONAL
PERSPECTIVEHEARINGBEFORE THESUBCOMMITTEE...(thanks to Captain Court) and it
states that..

"in the United States, the average age of entry into prostitution is between
12 and 14."

That's something worth a few prayers..

Spotted on Armybarmy blog:

Superman to the rescue of Jesus   The comic book hero Superman is to be used by religious education teachers in Britain to help youngsters understand the concept of Jesus Christ. School children will be told that Superman is like Jesus because both arrived on earth in usual circumstances after being sent here by their fathers, both move from relative obscurity as a child to a more prominent adulthood, both help the humans they are sent to live with and both struggle to stand up for truth against injustice and evil. Superman is just one of among the Hollywood icons being enlisted to help children better understand their country's majority religion of Christianity. The aim is also to make the nation's school students stick with religious studies. Read more: http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2006/02/superman_to_the.html#more

The Gracious God of Second Chances

PM Harper, you've had an opportunity now to get an idea of the public
opinion around Mr. Emerson's defection; you claimed that you wanted to clean
up politics and make politicians more accountable. Now is your chance:
apologize for offering Mr. Emerson the cabinet position and remove him from
your caucus until he runs in a by-election. You missed the opportunity God
gave you while you were in opposition (the Grewal affair) to prove that you
had integrity. The Lord has been gracious in offering you another
opportunity here. Please, don't let this new opportunity pass you by as
well.

We're praying for you...

Related news stories:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060217/layton_emerson_
060217?hub=QPeriod&s_name=&no_ads=
http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060219/emerso
n060219

Don't blame Christians for the Cartoon.

Christians don't promote hatred by hiding behind 'freedom of speech'; it may be the Secularists or just people with specific prejudices but it is not Christian.

Nigeria protesters kill 15 people over Muhammad cartoons
Last Updated Sat, 18 Feb 2006 21:39:58 EST
CBC News

Nigerian Muslims killed 15 people and burned at least 11 churches on Saturday in the country's first violent protests over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, police say.

A police spokesman, Haz Iwendi, said the worst violence took place in the northeastern state of Borno, which is predominantly Muslim but has a large Christian minority.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the city of Maiduguri and killed 15 people, mostly by beating them to death.

Iwendi said they burned at least 11 Christian churches, as well as looting and torching stores, hotels and vehicles.

Full Story: http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/02/18/nigeria-060218.html

---------------------
United Church decries Mohammed cartoons
TERRY WEBER
Globe and Mail Update

Reprinting controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed serves mainly to incite "racial and religious hatred" and has little to do with freedom of expression, the United Church of Canada charged Friday.

In a letter to the Islamic Council of Imams, the church also expressed its regrets over decisions by media outlets in Canada and the other countries to publish the caricatures, which have triggered fatal rioting in some regions of the world.

Full Story: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060217.wcartoon0217/BNStory

Use your gifts, please.

I believe the Lord saw to it that some people with the needed skills and
talents were elected to run this country. I would urge us to pray that any
eyes that He assigned to our government would be used for seeing and any
ears for hearing. Right now (it appears anyway) that we may be not utilizing
the talents that God has given us in Ottawa. Some areas to pray about where
the head may be appointing a foot to do the job of an eye:

a unilingual English Albertan parliamentary secretary for la Francophonie,
a retirement age gentleman from B.C. attached to status of women portfolio,
"a white guy from Calgary", tasked only with multiculturalism

We're praying for yah...

data (and quotes) from Macleans.ca

Good Stewards, Boys and Girls

Tory defence plans long on ambition, short on financing: analysts

FROM MACLEANS.CA
JOHN WARD

OTTAWA (CP) - Conservative election promises to bolster the military with
new ships, soldiers and an Arctic force are long on ambition, but may have
come up short on money, say defence analysts.

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/news/shownews.jsp?content=n021811
A
--------------------------

I'm all for stopping foreign countries from encroaching on our territory now
that they think there is oil to be found in our Artic waters. However, PM
Harper, we must be good stewards of our finances; it took a long time for us
to get them in order. Now that we have Conservatives back in government, it
is not an excuse to have a deficit back in government.

We're praying for yah...

2 Samuel 9

A Michael paraphrase.

This is from 2 Samuel 9
It is a paraphrase, I trust you won’t mind:

David asked, "Is there anyone left of the house of Saul
to whom I can show any kindness at all

Now there was a servant named Ziba of Saul's
to appear before David, they gave him the call
and asked him in front of all them
Are you Ziba? Yes, and your servant I am

"Is there none of Saul's family left" asked his royal highness
"to whom I can show any of God's great kindness?"

Ziba answered the king. He was very meek,
"There is still a son of Jonathan who has crippled feet."

"Where is he?" the king asked.
Ziba answered at last,
"He is at Makir's home, not too far
just over there in Lo Debar

So King David had him brought from Lo Debar,
from the house of Ammiel's son, Makir

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan came,
he bowed down to pay him honor- David was of great fame.
David said, "Mephibosheth!"
"Your servant," he replied, "please don't put me to death"

"Don't be afraid," David said to him,
"I will show you kindness for the sake of Jonathan.
I will restore to you all the land that was Saul’s,
and you will forever eat with us all."

Mephibosheth bowed down and spoke with glee,
"Who am I, that you should be so kind to me?"

Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's servant, and siad
"I have given your master's grandson everything that he had
which belonged to Saul and his family" he said as he sat
You don’t, do you, have any problem with that?”

“So now you and all of your family
must serve him forever and you should be happy
and there won't be many dishes you see
because he will always have dinner at my table, with me”

Then Ziba said to the king,
“I will do whatever you happen to say
and Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table from that very day”

It was really quite neat that the king
was so kind to the one with two crippled feet.

---

For more, click "Cadet Crab" on our 'links' page.

Michael

Re: Military Metaphor

My $0.02: No problem with it.

Am I militaristic? Do I support the aggressive wars of this century? No.
Am I a pacifist? Do I think that people shouldn't struggle to rid themselves
of their oppressors? No.
Do I ignore the fact that the Bible is full of Military metaphors? No.

Should we continue with it in the Salvation Army? No reason why not.

Michael

Pray for peace in the mid-east.

Israeli soldiers shot and killed Mujahid Samadi, a retarded 15-year-old
Palestinian boy on Wednesday bringing the overall toll since the September
2000 to 4955. The vast majority have been Palestinian. (Source: AFP)

Too many dead. Pray for peace in the middle east.

Hate laws

Beware U of T students of the context in which you are publishing certain
pictures: Canada has hate laws. Canada has prosecuted people under them for
less. Be careful.

Canada is a rich country...

James 5: 1-6

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Set the captives free.

Five independent human rights experts with mandates from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights today called on the United States to close the Guantánamo Bay detention centre and either bring all detainees to trial or release them without further delay, according to a joint report released today in Geneva.

 

UN News Release: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=17523&Cr=Guantánamo&Cr1=Bay

 

Transformation

From: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/all-news-english/display-single-english-news/article/1637/anastasios-calls-for-chri.html

Anastasios, the primate of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania and renowned theologian and ecumenical leader, spoke on the Assembly theme and God's transformative intervention into human history.

He said that a direct consequence of God's incarnation was that all who belonged to God had "both the privilege and the obligation to share actively in the transformation of the world".

He spoke of the need for people to transform themselves, with the grace of God becoming an inexhaustible source of action: for service, creative struggle for healing and reconciliation, and the spreading of the gospel for the transformation of all.

"In the face of all the poor - the hungry, estranged, and refugees," he said, "we are obliged to discern the face of Jesus."

Anastasios, who has been active in promoting efforts for peace and reconciliation in the Balkans and who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, then lamented how, on our planet, peace continues to be injured on a daily basis.

He said, "Let us make a firm decision to struggle, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to overcome violence wherever we possibly can: in our family and society, as well as in the political and international community."

He concluded, "With our gaze firmly set on Christ, our lord, who is the absolute truth, the boundless beauty and the incarnate love of God in the world, let us contribute, to the best of our ability, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, to the transformation of the world."

The text of the sermon is available on the WCC Assembly website under www.wcc-assembly.info/en/theme-issues/assembly-documents/sermons/anastasios-address.html

Isaiah 10:1-3

Isaiah 10

1 Woe to those who make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,

2 to deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey
and robbing the fatherless.

3 What will you do on the day of reckoning,
when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?
Where will you leave your riches?

Internet security

Microsoft Corp., Yahoo Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. joined Google in announcing
that they have the ability to restrict internet access and are willing to do
so in China.

Why don't we require them to restrict access to child pornography and 'how
to make a bomb' sites in North America? It doesn't make any sense...why, in
China, are they allowed to be free from that garbage but in North America,
where our leaders claim Christ, we subject our children to that kind of
stuff. I don't get it.

Do Something!

50,000 people die each day in the Third World and Canada can do its share to
ease suffering. - Dr. J. Layton

Brengle on Holiness

“Holiness is that state of our moral and spiritual nature which makes us
like Jesus in His moral and spiritual nature.”

It is “complete deliverance from the sinful nature, and in the perfection of
the spiritual graces of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,
goodness, truth, meekness and self-control or temperance.”

Food for prayer

Do we really need to kill more people in the Near East? Food for prayer:

Iran offers no "nuclear threat". There is not the slightest evidence that it
has the centrifuges necessary to enrich uranium to weapons-grade material.
The head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, has repeatedly said his inspectors
have found nothing to support American and Israeli claims. Iran has done
nothing illegal; it has demonstrated no territorial ambitions nor has it
engaged in the occupation of a foreign country - unlike the United States,
Britain and Israel. It has complied with its obligations under the
Non-Proliferation Treaty to allow inspectors to "go anywhere and see
anything" - unlike the US and Israel. The latter has refused to recognise
the NPT, and has between 200 and 500 thermonuclear weapons targeted at Iran
and other Middle Eastern states. Those who flout the rules of the NPT are
America's and Britain's anointed friends. Both India and Pakistan have
developed their nuclear weapons secretly and in defiance of the treaty. The
Pakistani military dictatorship has openly exported its nuclear technology.
In Iran's case, the excuse that the Bush regime has seized upon is the
suspension of purely voluntary "confidence-building" measures that Iran
agreed with Britain, France and Germany in order to placate the US and show
that it was "above suspicion". Seals were placed on nuclear equipment
following a concession given, some say foolishly, by Iranian negotiators and
which had nothing to do with Iran's obligations under the NPT.

Whole article by John Pilger:
http://www.zmag.org/sustainers/content/2006-02/11pilger.cfm

Pray for the world leaders. War is not good. Jesus is the Prince of Peace
afterall.

Coutts on Holiness

“the soul can not remain content to be forgiven only”
“God’s will for you is complete sanctification”

Orthodox Catholics

Interesting. Read the article. Let me know what you think?

Bishop Hilarion said he believed Catholic Bishops’ Conferences should “unite
their efforts” with Orthodox Churches to stem Europe’s “rapid
de-Christianisation” and prevent the continent from losing its
“centuries-old Christian identity.”

He told Russia’s Interfax newsagency Orthodox leaders were “astonished” at
attempts by Protestant communities “to revise Biblical teachings,” believing
it reflected their “dependence on influence from secular currents devoid of
all moral foundations.”

http://anglicanplanet.net/TAPIntern0602e.html

Coutts on Holiness

“the soul can not remain content to be forgiven only”
“God’s will for you is complete sanctification”

General Elect Shaw Clifton on Holiness Part II

“Holiness is a possibility! It requires dependence on the Holy Spirit,” he
said. Quoting Commissioner Bramwell Tripp, Clifton continued, “To say ‘I
cannot sin,’ and that sinning is ‘inescapable,’ is to deny Divine grace. To
say that the other extreme, ‘I am incapable of sinning,’ is simply to delude
ourselves.

“But, to say, ‘I need not sin now’ is to testify to the saving and keeping
grace and power of our God and our risen Christ and the power of the Holy
Spirit who comes moment by moment, to see me through and to help me not to
fall.”

From the Sentire..

This is from the Sentire, circa 1989...

 

General-Elect Clifton on Holiness (Part 1)

Clifton said the problem with Christians today is that they are so complacent about their spiritual lives that the world is not able to distinguish them from non–Christians.

What has led to this problem, Clifton said, is that Christians have forgotten the meaning of holiness, as articulated by early pioneers such as Brengle and Coutts. Clifton urged his audience to resist sin and live holy lives.

Happy Valentine

February 14, 270: According to tradition, Valentine, a priest in Rome during the reign of Claudius II, is beheaded along the Flaminian Way. One explanation for Valentine's subsequent relationship to the romantic holiday is this: Claudius, seeking to more easily recruit soldiers, removed family ties by forbidding marriage. Valentine ignored the order and performed secret marriages—an act that led to his arrest and execution.

February 14, 869: Cyril, "apostle to the Slavs," dies. Creator of the Cyrillic alphabet (still used in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and elsewhere), translator of the Scriptures into Slavonic, and bishop, he worked with his brother, Methodius, who carried on the missionary work for another 15 years.
( These guys are personal favorites - especially the brother Methodius)

February 14, 1760: Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, is born. The first African-American ordained by the Methodist church, Allen also a co-founded the Free African Society, America's first organization founded by blacks for blacks.

More prayers for our government

Stephen Harper wants to refashion the country. (From the Toronto Star -
[*]mine)
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Artic
le_Type1&c=Article&cid=1138229413386&call_pageid=968332188774&col=9683501164
67

On the one hand, [PM Stephen Harper] wants to radically decentralize power
and taxing authority so that the federal government no longer plays a
significant role in social areas, like Medicare, that Canadians regard as
national institutions [This would place a high tax burden on Canadians who
would have to make up the difference provincially. Not all provinces are in
a position to provide for the most needy in society; that is one reason why
we have national programs like Medicare.]

On the other, he wants to focus and strengthen Ottawa's role in areas such
as defence so that Canada can more effectively join the United States. [Our
biggest financial struggles at present are due to an economy too closely
tied to the US economy - we need diversification instead. Who when investing
puts all their money in one company? No one. You diversify.]

[Food for prayer. This is serious stuff. It is not just theoretical
ideology. It directly effects our ability to take care of the most needy
people in our society. It impacts on our ability to provide for everyone
equally. I also must confess that I am proud to be a Canadian. I hope that
is not a sin. I would prefer us not to be broken up and then totally
absorbed into a foreign country. This is just food for prayer.]

ex-witch.org

I ran across this today (I was following Susan's links on-line):

 

Hypothetical situation: Once I accidentally drank something poisonous and it made me very sick. I was so sick that I could have died from it. Suppose for a moment that I witness another person about to drink this same substance. They really don't know that it's harmful. In fact, someone told them that it's good to drink! What should I do?
A) let them drink, because their truth might be different from mine...maybe they'll be fine...
B) let them drink, because we all need to discover the truth for ourselves.
C) do everything I possibly can to prevent them from dying a horrible death.

Jesus said that we're to love our neighbor as ourselves. How could we not do this work? How could we sit idly by? . . .

http://www.exwitch.org/cms/

Conclusion of matter

Alright, I'm willing to commit. This week sometime, ITLP, I'll write up an
opinion on one of our on-going themes. The most recent political drama has
provided a great form for analogy.

keep looking...

Virtue?

"While there may be no virtue in being poor, there is no virtue in being
rich."
"We could all use a good dose of poverty for a while." - Dr. Roy Jeal

Pray for your government

Canadians pray for your government.

Someone in the Conservative Party, during the election, elicited information
illegally from the Liberal Party. The Conservative MP was rebuked by the
Justice looking into the Grewal affair. PM Harper (who claimed that he was
opposed to an appointed senate) as one of his first acts, appointed a friend
to the senate so that he could serve in his cabinet. PM Harper has appointed
a parliamentary secretary for la Francophonie who doesn't even speak French.
There are marches in the streets and massive petitions, like never seen
before, calling for David Emerson to resign after PM Harper appointed him to
cabinet. He ran as a Liberal but never sat as one. Never has a ball been
tossed this low in a Canadian election. The Air-bus affair needs to be
reopened as well, from the previous time we had a 'Conservative' government.

Canadians, we have never had a government get off to such a bad start -
ever. Hopefully this is just because PM Harper was not expecting to receive
a job for which he is apparently not well-suited.

Christians, elections are expensive. Pray that our government will turn it's
eyes towards Christ. Harper, like the leaders of the other parties, claims
to be a Christian. It is not too late. Pray for our government.

in my in-box today

This was part of an e-mail in my in-box today:

"I believe that we have the responsibility to go out and share the Good
News. It is Good News so let us spur one another on and go out walking in
the Spirit. This is a spiritual battle and like Catherine Booth said
Christians are being deceived by Satan to not witness to the unsaved. I
know it is a balance and you can't always come out with the gospel to
everyone you meet, but why aren't we prepared to share? Why are we not
intentional about sharing the gospel with words? We should be praying daily
for opportunities and stepping our with boldness for He did not give us a
Spirit of timidity but of power, love and of sound mind." -MA

Mission?

From Journal of Aggressive Christianity, Issue 37, June 2005 - July 2005
The Year of the Learning Child

"We are The SALVATION Army. We were raised up to be used by God to serve and to save. We are called to help to meet people's needs both now and forever. Education is a wonderful way to do this." - Michael Ramsay

Entire article: http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_037.pdf

Asbury again

http://www.asbury.edu/press/chapelcontinues06

Chapel continues in Hughes

WILMORE, KY-(Feb. 7, 2006) Monday morning the student body gathered for Chapel at 10 a.m. and the student-led chapel continues. Hundreds of students, faculty and staff, and even members of the surrounding community and Asbury Theological Seminary joined the praise, worship and prayer.

 Students are committing their lives to Christ for the first time and scores of others are rededicating themselves to the Lord. Jesus is at the center of it all.

Wilmore freshman Michael Spann spent a total of 11 hours in Hughes Auditorium, praying and worshiping. Spann said that he and several other students have been meeting independently since early last term to pray for the college and for the Holy Spirit to move on the campus.

Asbury House of Prayer started in the original Asbury building on campus where generations of Asbury students have waited on God. Students have gathered and signed up to pray for the college independently. Currently, students have committed to more than 40 hours of prayer each week interceding for the college community

"My brother Travis [Spann, a senior] felt strongly that something great was going to happen and yesterday God's will just broke out. People were just yearning for God. I can't even describe it." Michael Spann said. "I didn't want to leave until I felt the Lord was in me the way He needed to be."

College President Dr. Paul Rader and his wife, Dr. Kay Rader, stayed in Hughes until after midnight. When they left, Dr. Rader said hundreds of students were still praying and praising.

"Following the morning chapel the altar was crowded with students seeking the Lord-two and three deep, with people praying in groups around the auditorium," he described. "Throughout the day there has been a beautiful awareness of the Holiness of God. Many students took off their shoes with a sense of standing on Holy ground. God is answering the passionate and persistent prayers of committed students who have been fasting and praying for weeks for this kind of spiritual breakthrough. We are all rejoicing in it."

Stu Smith, associate dean for campus ministries and campus chaplain, said that news of the chapel service spread throughout the surrounding areas, high schools and other local colleges. Students called friends and relatives throughout the world to have them pray for Asbury College.

"People were praying all over the world as God was moving here," Smith said.

Spann said he even heard that people off the streets of Wilmore just heard the music and were drawn to Hughes. "People want to be transformed and that's what attracted them to Hughes."

The music didn't stop. Smith said that when one group of students would tire from leading the worship another would move into their place. Nothing was coerced or planned.

Fitch's IGA in Wilmore and others in the community sent food and water for the students who couldn't leave.

Atlanta sophomore Hannah Helfen who spent several hours in Hughes yesterday said she didn't want to leave either. She says that God spoke to her in a different way. Typically not very outspoken, God told her that it was OK to be open about her faith and tell other people about Him.

Sophomore Ben Greenhoe from Ada, Mich., spent most of the day in Hughes. He said, "When God moves, you have to respond. There's nothing else you can do when you meet your Creator face to face like we did yesterday. There's nothing else that could bring that many people together from so many different backgrounds. And the fact that it is still going on now speaks volumes."

Lisa Harper, director of communications and Transforming (class of 2007) advisor said,
"It was incredible to be in the midst of it all, praying with the students at the altar and witnessing the joy and sweet peace. If that's not what we're about here then I don't know what we're about."


Clisk link for other chapel stories: Chapel continues today

Cadet Crab was Sad

'Cadet Crab was Sad' is available on-line by clicking HERE.

Minority benefits?

While it was reported the previous few days that assistance to low-income
families who need childcare would be cut, it may not happen. The federal NDP
is reportedly going to introduce legislation to support low-income families.
Public opinion and the other two parties seem to favour the opposition
proposal.

The Lord works in mysterious ways..

Don't forget to pray for your MP. (-:

Another revisited theme

If you scroll down A LOT you will see some of our previous discussions on baptism. One of our number here pointed out something very interesting. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus ministry is recorded as starting with his EXAMPLE of water baptism and ending with his COMMANDMENT for (water) baptism.

This is an interesting point...I think.

Michael

Psalm 40: 9-11

9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.

10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.

11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.

Hebrews' take on one of our running themes

This came up in theology class today...(4-6 particularly). I was going to blog this last week. Interesting the way things come up again...

Hebrews 6: 1-8

1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, notlaying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.

4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, becauseto their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to
those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

-------------
cf: January 05, 2006 blog; Friday, December 30, 2005 blog; Tuesday, December 27, 2005
blog: 3 Questions (1 John 5:13-20); Wednesday, December 21, 2005blog: Unforgivable
Sin?(2 Peter 2:17-22); AND Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:29-30; Luke 12:10; AND Matthew 10:14;Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; Acts 13:50-52

Hey, read this article...

Journal of Aggressive Christianity

Not Long Ago
by Captain Amy Reardon

Not long ago, I was teaching a junior soldier preparation class. I feel strongly that children who are believers need to see themselves as active combatants in the war against sin and oppression, so I consider it a special honour to try to guide young hearts and minds. I took the opportunity to open up discussion about the urgency to share our faith.

In this small class was an extremely bright ten-year-old. She had thorough answers and thoughtful questions. But when the topic of evangelism came up, she threw me for a loop. "Of course," she said casually, "we only talk about Jesus with other people who believe in him. We wouldn't want to offend people who have different beliefs - like Muslims, or something."

continue: http://www.armybarmy.com/article9.html

Hi - a rejoinder to my friends

I love God and I am not willing that any should perish. I'm sorry for any
opportunities that I missed or misused to show people God's love.

To clarify my position: Evangelism is a tool for salvation. It should not be
abused so as to contribute to alienation.

God is love.

Michael

Hiring practices

I have heard people questioning about whether Christian clergy should hire
non-Christians. I heard one good comparison: will the Conservative
government hire active New Democrats or Liberals - certainly not for key
jobs.

(The opinions expressed in this blog are at most - but not always
necessarily - the opinions of Michael Ramsay. Blame me alone. - MR)

Controversy Survey

Question: we have been running intentionally controversial blogs on a few themes. There has been some good dialogue because of it, but I think that for the sake of provoking discussion or overstatements may have alienated some of our readers.

In light of that if you could take time to send us an e-mail to let us know what you think:
1. Should we intentionally avoid controversial topics?
2. Should we still address them but with tact instead of deliberate provocation?
3. Should we avoid comments and return to only questions as we did before?
4. Should we limit our discussion to the Biblical text?
5. Other comments:

responses: ramsay@havelock-viha.com

(The opinions expressed in this blog are at most - but not always necessarily - the opinions of Michael Ramsay. Blame me alone. - MR)
---
Michael Ramsay
www.renewnetwork.net
ramsay@havelock-viha.com  

Nature vs. Nurture: the answer according to Wesley

"The ultimate origin of conscience is neither nature nor society, but God
Almighty." John Wesley.