Nipawin Jeopardy (Round one)

A: When the cows come home.

Q: What happens in the fall?

I'll keep you posted as I learn more...it is great how much we are learning here as we get to know more of everyone. It is a lot of fun.

Cyber-Saints (From Army Barmy)

Winning the World for Jesus, Starting on Second Life...For those of you who are not up on the latest crazes, Second Life is a virtual world - an internet simulation game - on which you can create avatars and "live" an alternate life. It sounds like an enormous waste of time, and surely it is, but the game has 8 million "residents" who spend millions of dollars (virtual dollars and actual dollars) every month. That would make it one of the bigger cities in the world, and there are many people who identify more with their lives on Second Life than in real life (or IRL).

So what is the response of the Catholic Church? Send in missionaries, of course!Why not? Missionaries have been sent to a lot more dangerous places before. And you're pretty certain not to wind up with "rice Christians" as a result of this mission activity.It's all kind of weird, but if this is where you feel called, maybe it's time to set up a Training College in Second Life. Or perhaps a 614. But remember, if it's a 614 it has to be in one of the poor Second Life neighbourhoods. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070727/tc_nm/religion_secondlife_dc

Posted by Aaron at www.armybarmy.com/blog.htm

Open Air in Tisdale; Radio in Nipawin

We had an open air in Tisdale Sunday. We grabbed our flag, our songbooks and headed out onto the street. It was great fun.

In Nipawin we had a wonderful meeting as well. I was blessed by hearing more than one story of how the Lord is working in people's lives. In Nipawin we are further blessed with Andrew, a great pianist. This truly is a blessing. Thanks be to the Lord.

Also in Nipawin there is a great Christian radio station (I believe Andrew was one of the founders of it); I hope that we can do some work with it in the future; you may wish to check it out on-line (www.lighthousefm.ca).

I have also posted a version of this Sundays sermons on-line at www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_Sermons.htm ; both sermons were different from each other and from that which I had written on my paper... (-:

Michael

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Social Justice in a Cup - Prison

I have been thinking about Social Justice a lot lately not only relating to the new TSA portfolios, the Warrior's Song Cafe, and 'Social Justice in a Cup'...

It seems to me that one of the areas that both the Bible and Booth were very concerned about was social justice around captives and those in prison. In our society, people still go in and out of prison - in and out. I was thinking...

It seems silly to me that when people are so ill adjusted to society that they commit crimes against society, our solution is to give them a time-out and then return them to society. While they are on their time-out society changes; so, if they were ill-equipped before how much more ill-equipped will they be after their time in prison?

I was wondering if there would be anyway that one condition of one's release would be that one hold down a job. I was also wondering if one could start that job slowly: an employment counsellor could find it for them. As they could spend their first three months working there, they could return to prison to sleep. After that, a counsellor could help them secure a place to live (so that they do not need to return to the same social crowd that they were a part of when they got into trouble in the first place) and they could gradually be integrated into society.

Of course, there would also need to be specific programmes offered for the people in prison to help them acquire the appropriate skills. It seems to me that something like this would offer more justice for society and for the captives than there is at present...

let me know what you think?

blog@sheepspeak.com

Michael

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Happy Birthday Susan!

Luke 16

So as I have been studying Lukan parables again and have been concentrating on their interconnectedness, I find very interesting Luke's comments about serving both God and money (Luke 16:13). One cannot serve both God and money; this is true.

This statement seems to be a bridge between the parable of the 'shrewd' manager and comments about some specific people's love of money (v.14). As well as serving as a literary transition, it also seems to shed a further light on the preceding parable. One reading the parable of the 'shrewd' manager out of the context that is provided for it in the Lukan account, could draw the erroneous conclusion that the 'God figure' was condoning a goal of obtaining 'unrighteous' funds and using them for 'eternal' purposes. This comment that "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money (v.13)," serves to discourage that misinterpretation and further narrows the possible meanings and consequences of this parable.

Michael

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Food for thought

Food for thought from DR Was: www.sheepspeak.com/drwas.htm



Let go, you're in good hands.

_____________________________



Where will you be after you pass through this world?

Shrewd manager and the Prodigal Son

Ever notice how the 'prodigal son' "squanders" the wealth from the God
figure in the story but is totally forgiven and the 'shrewd manager'
"squanders" the wealth of the God figure in the story but is fired?

Initially, it seems to me - as the parables follow each other in the Lukan
account, that after hearing the story of the 'prodigal son,' Jesus'
disciples may have been thinking that, "since we will be forgiven if we
stray from the Father and 'squander' what he has given us, why shouldn't we
go out and enjoy some 'wild living'?"

This would make sense particularly as the second parable is spoken strictly
to the disciples and I think it can be shown that it is not uncommon for
Jesus to explain a parable with a parable (cf. Luke 8, the parables of the
Soils and Lamp under a Bushel).

I submit that - as this section of Luke, recording what Jesus taught on the
road to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-19:57), should be considered as a whole - that
in the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus often uses one parable to explain the
previous one.

If one accepts this premise of mine, and consider the preceding and
following parables as further explanations of each other intentionally
answering related but tangential questions from those before them, then I
think that one will find that the parable of the shrewd manager need not be
as controversial as it seems to be amongst scholars: forced apologetics,
which in my opinion are applied way too often, certainly would not be needed
for possible interpretations of this parable - for when the context is fully
considered, its probable meaning becomes narrowed immensely.

Okay, I have to go to bed...

Michael

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AC DC in Concert

We were in Beaver Creek today to meet and officially greet our new Area Commanders and Divisional Commander. It was good.

Pray for Susan she is doing both leads and preaches tomorrow and we are being installed. I am leading the children.

Yes, you can buy happiness

Yes, you can buy happiness - this was actually the Cdn TSA's kettle campaign slogan in '73 (We were reading part of the Nipawin Corps history book today); I like 'Giving Hope Today' more and more every day.

Sermons On-line

I have posted my post-commissioning sermons on-line: you are welcome to view them at www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_Sermons.htm

The next Sunday (July 28, 2007) that I am preaching, I am preaching on the Lukan account of the 'Parable of the Dishonest Manager' (Luke 16:1-13) in the context of chapters 15 and 16 of Luke.

Further, if you like you can read what I have previously written about The Ethics of Jesus as Reflected in the Lukan Parables that he taught on the road to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-19:57). The teachings in this section of Scripture offer a good glimpse of Luke's portrayal of the ethics of Jesus and the parables and their themes here are very much intertwined.

So, if you are going to be listening or reading the upcoming sermon, you may wish to read the whole book of Luke again prior to the 28th

Michael

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Social Justice in a cup is coming soon - real soon

Social Justice in a cup is coming soon - real soon

If you have any

good Social Justice web links
valuable information about need
good PR about how the Army is currently meeting that need

If you could send me that info ASAP that would be wonderful.

ramsay@sheepspeak.com

Michael

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A Nipawin Joke

So, I was listening to the local heavy metal station, and....ha ha ha.

Red Deer and Esquimalt

A gentleman whose family used to be very active members of our corps, before they passed away years ago, came to visit. He is from Red Deer. I told him to wish the Sabourins the best. We are looking forward to seeing them and the Pearces at Officer Camp. It should be a good time. Rebecca and Sarah Grace will like seeing Bria again too.

We also saw some friends of ours, from HighPoint, the first corps we ever attended, in Esquimalt, on the Island. It was good to see some familiar faces.

Christmas in July

It was Christmas in July for the girls the last shipment of our stuff arrived. It was some of my old toys from when I was their age. They loved playing with all the old fashioned toys.


Pictures

Our worship team....




and timbral brigade.

Quick update...

I'll post more (with picts) later.

Saturday. I was in the office for a little bit and then headed home to clean the car with the girls and the garage. The girls and I enjoyed this. Susan worked on the kitchen. We then worked on some Sunday prep stuff - the girls helped Susan bake cookies too! And after everyone was in bed I headed to the office for a little while...it was a good day. We also made an appointment for the Tisdale Corps Council to see the building that we may be buying...maybe.

Sunday. Susan headed to the corps early. I joined her a little later with the girls. We were short a pianist so we had borrowed the keyboard from Tisdale so Susan could lead and play at the same time. The meetings went well, I think. I preached on Luke 4. Once I revise it to match more closely what I actually said I will post it on-line. It is neat having kids. There was another first time kindergartner today. It was a challenge too. I did the first 1/3rd of the class while Susan led the meeting. Susan covered the next bit while I preached and Melanie took over the last bit while Susan played for the appeal and sending out.

Tisdale wasn't as complicated. We did not have to worry so much about the Sunday school. Both corps are great and we really look forward to getting to know everyone at all the ministries with which we are personally involved in the two towns. I am looking forward to talking to the Hoefts tomorrow and seeing how there day went.

Anyway, I have to get back...don't forget to read your Bible today.

Captain Michael

The Evil Blog

"One of the reasons our contemporary world has not been able to come to terms with the reality of evil, and has instead reacted to it in immature and inappropriate ways, is because it has thought evil either as a philosopher's puzzle at which secularism has long shrugged its shoulders or as an old-fashioned difficulty which modernity has at last solved...Evil is alive and powerful, not least where mighty empires want themselves and imagine they can do as they please." - NT Wright

It was a busy day

It was a busy day - but a good one. I was awake at five, prayed for a while and then headed out for my morning run. This is always a great opportunity to pray for the community. I want to keep this up so one one of our trips to the big city (of 40 000 people! (-: ), I'll have to search out some winter running gear.

We spent some time in Nipawin, then headed down to Tisdale for a 10:30 meeting. This was good. It was a good chance to pray with Major Hoeft and work out some of the division of labour within the NE Saskatchewan circuit. This puts my mind at ease a little. I am very glad that we were able to set up regular prayer and planning meetings.

Tomorrow, I have to try and reach a Tisdale realtor (they were all at a funeral today), to see when he can let the corps council in to view the property that we have an offer in to buy. I am not sure whether the Lord wants us to buy it or not yet. It looks good but I don't know...we'll find out soon.

Okay, I should go. I do have some more work to do here...

Michael

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Dr Was

www.sheepspeak.com/drwas.htm

Congrats Philippe and Phyllis

The Vegas have a new grandson - Ethan. He was premature but he was still over eight pounds. Congrats guys!

Dr Was

We've been having some technical difficulties with the Daily Rations with a Smile lately. If you are not able to open the links to the scripture references, we invite you visit http://www.havelock-viha.com/journal.htm . That should work. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Nipawin

We have met a few new friends and some of the community leaders here. We have been trying to spend our time here in both the church and centre offices of the corps. Our home phone is hooked up and we should have internet at home soon - I hope -  we have the equipment.

The Sewer problem has been fixed. We now need someone to tear up the floor in the basement. The carpet particularly needs to be replaced as soon as possible - health reasons, etc. Susan is in the process of getting quotes.

I have been working (as much as I can) on the message for Sunday. I have not spent nearly as much time as I would like to; however, I am speaking on a text that I have researched extensively before, the Lukan account of the Parable of the Sower. I think that I am being led in a different direction with it than I have previously been led. It is neat that the word of God is living. There is so much that you can always get from it.

Read  Parabolic and Metaphoric Usage in the Parable of the Sower . That is an article that I wrote previously, I hope to put some of my sermons on-line soon. They are much different that research papers, of course.

Tisdale

We have been visiting a few people and invited to help out many new friends. We have been enjoying the opportunities for ministry here. We look forward to getting as involved as we are able to in Nipawin and Tisdale. Susan claimed the perimeter of the towns for Jesus. The Lord has been showing us where He is working there. There are a number of youth there that we have met. I hope that we can continue to develop the relationships that we have began there. Susan will be leading the music (she is the only musical member of the leadership team) and speaking, if all goes well. She preached in Nipawin this past Sunday.

Answers to Prayer

Susan's laptop was returned. I met some friends in Tisdale today who encouraged me greatly as we are facing some new challenges here.

Prayer Request

Please pray for our team ministry. Pray that it will be consultative, bathed in prayer, and an intentional following of the Lord and His leading...

Michael

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We saw the northern lights tonight

We also a double rainbow. It was so clear in the main rainbow that the indigo was easily distinguishable from the violet.

The Lord does an amazing work in the heavens...

Michael

The Sewer is fixed!

The sewer is fixed.
The power is out in the whole town.

I gotta go -

Michael

I'm sorry, internet has been down.

I'm sorry that we haven't posted anything in the last little bit. The internet has been down at the centre here and we are still waiting to have it connected at the corps and the quarters (which is also lacking a phone connection at the moment). I'm sure it will be up soon.

 

The people who were going to come last week to fix the sewer problems didn't; someone said that he will be here Monday morning. That is when the carpet cleaner was supposed to come so we'll need to get him to come later after the sewer problem is dealt with.

 

We have had a busy time here...

 

Sunday Meetings

 

Susan worked most the night last night putting the final touches on her sermon (She preached on Luke 1:67-79)and tweaking the meeting for today in Nipawin. I think it went really well (I wasn't able to catch it). We had more than double the numbers out. We also had to put together an impromptu Sunday school class (the reason I wasn't able to catch the sermon) as we had 8 children under eight show up - where previously there were none in the corps - The LORD is good!

 

The people, of course, are great. It was such an encouragement talking with everyone after the service - we didn't manage to leave until an hour or more after the meeting. This is good. We also got some names of people that we should visit in the week including one member who is in the hospital - pray for him - I don't know the name right now...

 

After the meeting in Nipawin, we piled into the car (3000 km or less per month is not going to happen!) and headed to Melfort where they were holding a picnic to welcome the Hoefts. We were glad to be invited. It ended earlier than planned however and when we arrived we just met people in the parking lot as they were leaving. A number of them invited us out for coffee. The Hoefts came back and met us for coffee as well. It was a good time.

 

We then went down to Tisdale to lead the meeting there. We were all tired. I think it went well though. Mike Hoeft preached on Deuteronomy 34 and 'The great commission', among other things. He is a good speaker - even if he was hoarse from a cold and preaching in Melfort in the am.

 

We have started a Jr. Songsters and Timbral Brigade in both places. I will write more about that later and post - if someone can show me how - a recording on U-Tube...

 

In Love

 

Saturday we were in Love - in Love, Saskatchewan. I bet you didn't know that you could find Love just ten minutes out of Nipawin but it's true. It is a town of only "57 loving hearts" the sign says but it hosts a great Gospel Music Jamboree and that is why we were in Love on Saturday. Rebecca and Sarah-Grace were in love with donkeys. They were able to go on free donkey rides and a horse and cart and I think they may have also had a spin in Herbie, ' the love bug'. The music was good too - they played a few songs that reminded me of the guys at Stony Mountain Penitentiary - They played a number of the songs that the guys usually request there; maybe they should ask if they'll be permitted to come on a field trip next year. (-:

 

We also met the Gideons there. They recognized us - and we weren't even in uniform - apparently they live only a few doors down from us; they were only in Love for the weekend. We also met some people from Regina. Susan wound up helping them lead the children's activities for the afternoon. She loved it. It was good...you should try and find love...

 

Baptism and Stoning

 

After a baptism at the Army Centre there was a stoning on the highway...

 

I had just come down from my office to meet a lady in the Warriors Song Cafe (Social Justice in a Cup - look here soon for T-shirts and mugs for sale) when it happened, there was a mass baptism. The pop vendors were carrying the soda up the stairs when one can of Root beer broke loose bounced down the stairs and landed right in front of us. None of us could get out of the way of the explosion. We were all baptised in Carbonated water (and we still can't use our shower or laundry facilities at the quarters due to the sewage seeping into our basement every time someone uses the water).

 

The morning was good and productive though. I met a lot of new people. I got caught up on a lot of office work while the girls listened the the Bible on CD. They were great and let me get a lot of work done actually.

 

I then received the call that Dot, a lady who works at our store in Tisdale, was in the hospital. I brought the kids to Susan at the Corps and headed down to Tisdale. I have learned to slow down on the highways - I can tell you that this is tough (I think I read somewhere that the road to Nipawin from Tisdale is the straightest highway in the world) it is tough to avoid the temptation to travel above the speed limit but having heard stories the other night about the number of people who die each year on this road from striking Moose, etc., on the road slowed me down a bit. It is a good thing. As a large truck passed me going the other direction a rock the size of my hand flew up and 'crack', right in the windshield, right in front of my face. I ducked. I'm glad that it didn't hit me with any more force than it did!

 

I made it to Tisdale. I visited Dot and the ladies at the Thrift Store and visited and helped them a little bit. We need to make some decisions about the store soon..I'll be back in Tisdale on Monday again. Dot usually does the Family Services on Monday. It appears the she has pneumonia. I will cover for her. Tuesday we have a corps meeting to decide whether we are going to purchase a new centre (that doesn't have all of the leaks of our other buildings and so that we don't need to pay rent on the store anymore - but the unified centre may have a drawback or two as well) or not...

 

Blog yah later,

 

Michael

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Prayer Requests

As we are setting in, we have some prayer requests.

Salvation of Souls;
That we follow the Lord's leading eagerly;
That the new circuit team work together well as we join forces in Tisdale;
That the problems from the sewers backing up and filling our downstairs with water and the other contents of the sewers get fixed;
That we can use our showers and laundry and dishwashing facilities soon;
That when the carpet and upholstery cleaners are able to come, that they can out all the remaining animal orders not only because they are strong but also because of Susan's allergies;
Please pray for Susan and her allergies and the difficulties that arise from them
There has been some minor vandalism of the centre in Nipawin, pray for the vandals, the staff and the building;
There have been other building issues (some serious) that have arisen in both Nipawin and Tisdale.

God bless,

Michael

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Pictures of the world's biggest Bee and an even bigger Butt

Big Bee





Big Butt..




Running Around


So, I've been running around town in the mornings - literally. I'm trying to keep up my morning running at least until the snow hits - in the next week or two (I mean month or two). We have also been running around a lot between the different ministries, buildings, and cities in the area. We met the Hoefts today. We are now embarking on the adventures of teamwork...they seem nice...let's see what the Lord has in store.


We've been invited to a few friends' paces for dinner both here (Nipawin) and Tisdale and have enjoyed the fellowship and the meals greatly. The Warriors' Cafe and the centre in Nipawin is excellent. Just to let you know how busy we've been already, the other day I was in the office above the coffee shop early in the a.m. and did not leave until late and I did not have to opportunity to grab a single cup of COFFEE!

Susan found her laptop. It is in Yorktown. This is good. The house is beautiful both on the outside

and the inside. We are starting to make a dent in the unpacking. The allergies are still a problem however and the drain backs up.









We have already had two floods...









(The plumber examining a contributer to the floods)




The corps building in Nipawin is great both on the exterior

and the interior - chandeliers and everything.

We are starting to figure out proper procedures and policies, I have already made more than one phone call and e-mail to HQ - so far its not so challenging as it will soon - as soon as I figure out what I'm not doing perfect just yet.

Our first meetings went great, I think, in both Nipawin and Tisdale. Susan's musical gifting was greatly appreciated and the Lord greatly blessed me through the meeting. I think that the sermon went over well in both places. There was a good response anyway. Look out Sheldon, Rebecca is eager to be the next best drummer in the Army world! She is always on them, whenever she is in either corps.









Becca also led singing in Tisdale this past week - really - she stood up and started to sing and clap as Susan played the piano and everyone followed her lead! She's a natural and SGV, of course, has the preacher's voice!





I met some of the other preachers / pastors / ministers...at a ministerial prayer meeting held at our centre this week and while walking around here and Tisdale - this uniform thing comes in handy.


Today, after showing the Hoefts around 'the land of rape and honey', I took the kids for a swim at the big RecPlex while Captain S. Ramsay prepared for her sermon, this Sunday. That was great. We met some new friends in Tisdale and even a girl (12) who goes to our corps but who wasn't there on this past Sunday. We have also met a number of little girls, who live around our home in Nipawin and look forward to meeting more as the girls attend 'fun factory' for the next few weeks at the school they will be attending - I think.

The trip here was really good....

but why is Susan so happy?

She brought her pot plant -

I mean her potted plants - carrots to be specific (-:

CFOT.ca is featuring an article on 'The Human Condition'

Paul and the Human Condition as reflected in Romans 1:18-32 and 2:1-16
Presented to Dr. Roy Jeal for 1.211 Paul the Apostle (Winter 2007)
By Michael AH Ramsay

"Romans is neither a systematic theology nor a summary of Paul's lifework, but it is by common consent his masterpiece" - NT Wright.

read the article from www.cfot.ca  : http://www.salvationist.ca/cfot/2007/paul-and-the-human-condition/#more-205

read more articles by Captain Michael Ramsay at www.sheepspeak.com  : http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm

CFOT also has a doctrine study by Major Brian Slous that is good for soldiership classes available at http://www.salvationist.ca/cfot/?page_id=43/

Army Barmy also has a number of other learning resources (by Captains Stephen Court and Danielle Strickland and others)available at www.armybarmy.com   

- MR
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Nipawin and Tisdale

We led our first Nipawin and Tisdale meetings. It was a busy day. I preached on Psalm 72 as our motto and name at the time of confederation both come from this psalm. I think it went over very well. Susan led worship in both places. She of course is very gifted in that area. Neither corps has a PowerPoint projector. That is on my list of things to get next week - I'll buy one for us rather than any of the corps, that way we can trek it around with us as we go.

I have started to climb the learning curve re: TSA general business practices, reporting of information and the like. I'm sure it won't take long to learn all the different procedures at all the different ministries in the different towns but right now it is feeling a little challenging.

We have visited a few people in both Nipawin and Tisdale. They all seem to be wonderful. We have received gifts galore from the congregants and the out-going corps officers.

The house is really nice. They did a great job of setting it up for us - particularly the kids room. They were very excited about each getting their own room! We will make a point of continuing to take time to finish unpacking house. I think we are going to take a half-day off tomorrow to
play with the kids a bit. Today was our first official day but we have been pulling them back and forth across Saskatchewan for a few days now without really spending time with them. Sarah-Grace keeps asking when she will meet some kids that she can be friends with - she wants to go knocking door-to-door (there aren't any kids the girls ages in our churches).

We only have e-mail in the centre in Nipawin (the town we live in) and I think that the quarters phone was disconnected too - so we'll have to see about that. We'll need a home phone and I think that I'd like to be able to work on-line at either home or the corps here.

The meetings as I said were excellent today I thought. The people are great. We prayed for our country and our leaders. We also had an opportunity to visit the local Canada Day celebrations in Nipawin and hey, come to Nipawin - the coffee is GREAT at the warrior song cafe. It really is. The cafe is based on Social Justice.

I'll be selling mugs and stuff on-line soon, I'm sure.

God bless,

Captain M. Ramsay

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