Atheists are trying to ban prayer at the ceremony.
We seem to forget here that Atheism is as much of a faith system/worldview as Christianity, Islam, Judaism., etc. It has many sub-groups and causes to which it is dedicated. It seems to be AT LEAST as intolerant of others as any other faith. Various Atheist groups seem to be consistently lobbying to have ONLY their worldview (no God, no prayer, no songs or rituals by any other faith groups) represented in public institutions. This intolerance is very frustrating.
The USA considers itself a democracy. Democracy (like secular-humanism) espouses that the majority is right the majority of the time. The majority in the USA claims to be Theistic - so why should their public institutions be Atheistic? It doesn't make any sense.
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www.sheepspeak.com
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
World's least tolerant faith group (atheists) at it again!
Why should the atheist worldview always try to silence all others?
This is most certainly among the least tolerant of all faiths - probably because this belief system requires more absolutely blind faith than any other...
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U.S. group wants religion pulled from Obama's inauguration ceremony
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 10:45 AM ET
CBC News
A group of atheists is taking legal action in hopes of having all religious references removed from U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony in January.
A lawsuit filed in Federal Court is trying to prevent having the phrase "So help me God" included in the oath of office. It also wants to prevent inaugural prayers from being delivered at the event.
"We're hoping to stop prayer and religious rituals at governmental functions, especially at the inauguration," Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, told Fox News Radio.
"The inauguration is not a religious event. It is a secular event of a secular country that includes all Americans, including those of us who are not Christians, including those of us who are not believers."
Barker has teamed up with Michael Newdow to file the suit. Newdow unsuccessfully sought to have the words "under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance and sued to remove religion from inaugurations in 2001 and 2005.
There are 18 plaintiffs in total, including atheist and humanist organizations.
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www.sheepspeak.com
This is most certainly among the least tolerant of all faiths - probably because this belief system requires more absolutely blind faith than any other...
---
U.S. group wants religion pulled from Obama's inauguration ceremony
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 10:45 AM ET
CBC News
A group of atheists is taking legal action in hopes of having all religious references removed from U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony in January.
A lawsuit filed in Federal Court is trying to prevent having the phrase "So help me God" included in the oath of office. It also wants to prevent inaugural prayers from being delivered at the event.
"We're hoping to stop prayer and religious rituals at governmental functions, especially at the inauguration," Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, told Fox News Radio.
"The inauguration is not a religious event. It is a secular event of a secular country that includes all Americans, including those of us who are not Christians, including those of us who are not believers."
Barker has teamed up with Michael Newdow to file the suit. Newdow unsuccessfully sought to have the words "under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance and sued to remove religion from inaugurations in 2001 and 2005.
There are 18 plaintiffs in total, including atheist and humanist organizations.
---
www.sheepspeak.com
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Covenant: The Example of Samson
Captain Michael Ramsay
Covenants are very important to the Lord. In ‘Till I Die’ in the November-December 2008 issue of The Officer Magazine, Captain Stephen Court makes a very important point about our Soldiers’ covenant. He points out that it does not come with an expiry date. This is significant. We cannot simply declare that we no longer feel called to be a Soldier or that we no longer agree with every aspect of it and then pick and choose which parts we adhere to and which we disregard.
I am reminded of Samson. Samson was bound by a covenant without an expiry date (Judges 13:7). Samson was bound by a covenant that he did not even willingly enter into (Judges 13, Cf. 1 Sam 1, Luke 1, Lev 27.28-29). Samson was bound by a covenant that he either did not like to obey or that he at the very least struggled to keep. Samson, like the Salvation Army Soldier, was not to drink nor was he to defile himself. Samson was a liar at times (Judges 16:7ff). He was a killer (cf. Judges 14:19). Samson visited prostitutes (Judges 16:1). He put himself and others ahead of God at times (Judges 14:17). Samson disobeyed his vows. Samson transgressed his covenant with God. The Lord did not forsake him though (Cf. Judges 16:22, Romans 3:3,4).
At times in his life Samson, like many of us, was better at following the Lord’s direction. At times he was greatly used by God. At times he experienced the great blessings that accompanied his covenant. At times Samson drew on the strength of the Lord and Samson was used greatly by God to accomplish His purposes. At other times Samson sinned.
Every time in his life that Samson turned to and drew on the strength of the Lord, the Lord delivered him. No matter what Samson did, the Lord did not leave him. He still reaped the benefits of his covenant with the Lord until one very significant day.
I am sure it was a surprise to Samson who had lied, visited prostitutes, sinned, and transgressed his covenant in his life, that one day after his covenant (that was made on his behalf by someone else) had been violated (by someone else, Judges 16:18), the Lord’s strength of his covenant was not available to him (Judges 16:20). Samson disobeyed his covenant and finally – after being given many chances – the Lord allowed him to experience the natural and logical consequences of disobeying his covenant. Samson was blinded, bound, and imprisoned (Judges 16:21).
The story, as we know, does not end here though. This is significant. Samson did not fulfil his vow. Samson sinned. Samson disregarded his covenant. Because he did this, he suffered natural and logical consequences but the Lord did not release him from his covenant (Cf. Judges 16:22).
God is faithful even when we are faithless. God did not forsake Samson. When Samson repented, when Samson turned to the Lord and drew on the strength of the Lord that was provided through his covenant, the Lord used Samson to save his people and Samson is now forever remembered as a hero of the faith (Hebrews 11).
This is important for Salvation Army Soldiers and Salvation Army Officers. We, like Samson, are bound to God through a covenant that does not have an expiry date before we die (Rom 7:2,3). As such if we do not live up to our covenant, like Samson, we will find that we are not as effective as we could be and we will find that we will suffer the natural and logical consequences of disrespecting our covenants.
However, no matter what we have done, no matter how far we have strayed, no matter how may times we have fallen short of our covenantal promises, while we are still alive there is still the opportunity to turn (repent) to the Lord, draw on our covenant and His strength.
This is one of the many benefits of covenant. We are bound to God until we die. As this is the case, rather than suffering the natural consequences of struggling against our vows, let us defend them with zeal and continue to draw on the strength of the Lord because as we do, I am sure that we, like Samson, will see many people saved.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Covenants are very important to the Lord. In ‘Till I Die’ in the November-December 2008 issue of The Officer Magazine, Captain Stephen Court makes a very important point about our Soldiers’ covenant. He points out that it does not come with an expiry date. This is significant. We cannot simply declare that we no longer feel called to be a Soldier or that we no longer agree with every aspect of it and then pick and choose which parts we adhere to and which we disregard.
I am reminded of Samson. Samson was bound by a covenant without an expiry date (Judges 13:7). Samson was bound by a covenant that he did not even willingly enter into (Judges 13, Cf. 1 Sam 1, Luke 1, Lev 27.28-29). Samson was bound by a covenant that he either did not like to obey or that he at the very least struggled to keep. Samson, like the Salvation Army Soldier, was not to drink nor was he to defile himself. Samson was a liar at times (Judges 16:7ff). He was a killer (cf. Judges 14:19). Samson visited prostitutes (Judges 16:1). He put himself and others ahead of God at times (Judges 14:17). Samson disobeyed his vows. Samson transgressed his covenant with God. The Lord did not forsake him though (Cf. Judges 16:22, Romans 3:3,4).
At times in his life Samson, like many of us, was better at following the Lord’s direction. At times he was greatly used by God. At times he experienced the great blessings that accompanied his covenant. At times Samson drew on the strength of the Lord and Samson was used greatly by God to accomplish His purposes. At other times Samson sinned.
Every time in his life that Samson turned to and drew on the strength of the Lord, the Lord delivered him. No matter what Samson did, the Lord did not leave him. He still reaped the benefits of his covenant with the Lord until one very significant day.
I am sure it was a surprise to Samson who had lied, visited prostitutes, sinned, and transgressed his covenant in his life, that one day after his covenant (that was made on his behalf by someone else) had been violated (by someone else, Judges 16:18), the Lord’s strength of his covenant was not available to him (Judges 16:20). Samson disobeyed his covenant and finally – after being given many chances – the Lord allowed him to experience the natural and logical consequences of disobeying his covenant. Samson was blinded, bound, and imprisoned (Judges 16:21).
The story, as we know, does not end here though. This is significant. Samson did not fulfil his vow. Samson sinned. Samson disregarded his covenant. Because he did this, he suffered natural and logical consequences but the Lord did not release him from his covenant (Cf. Judges 16:22).
God is faithful even when we are faithless. God did not forsake Samson. When Samson repented, when Samson turned to the Lord and drew on the strength of the Lord that was provided through his covenant, the Lord used Samson to save his people and Samson is now forever remembered as a hero of the faith (Hebrews 11).
This is important for Salvation Army Soldiers and Salvation Army Officers. We, like Samson, are bound to God through a covenant that does not have an expiry date before we die (Rom 7:2,3). As such if we do not live up to our covenant, like Samson, we will find that we are not as effective as we could be and we will find that we will suffer the natural and logical consequences of disrespecting our covenants.
However, no matter what we have done, no matter how far we have strayed, no matter how may times we have fallen short of our covenantal promises, while we are still alive there is still the opportunity to turn (repent) to the Lord, draw on our covenant and His strength.
This is one of the many benefits of covenant. We are bound to God until we die. As this is the case, rather than suffering the natural consequences of struggling against our vows, let us defend them with zeal and continue to draw on the strength of the Lord because as we do, I am sure that we, like Samson, will see many people saved.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Warrior's Song
Based on: Proverb’s 31:8-9 and Exodus 17:8-16
There are countless references in the Word of God that directs Christ’s Followers to mercy and social justice. Proverbs 31:8-9 is just one example:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
There are also countless references that direct Christ’s followers to stand together… to unit and support each other in the battle. One example of this is found in a battle against the Amalekites. While the battle was on, Moses stood up on top of the hill. As long as he had his hands raised, the Israelites won against the Amalekites. As Moses’ arms grew tired and dropped to his sides, the Israelites lost. It was important for Moses to be supported by his friends. Aaron and Hur supported Moses by holding up his arms for him. It was through their support and God’s power, that the Israelites were able to overcome the Amalekite army on that day.
The Warrior’s Song is found through the awareness of the injustice in the world, and our need as Christ’s Followers to support each other in the fight against it. It is a battle that we have all been called to fight, young and old.
There are countless references in the Word of God that directs Christ’s Followers to mercy and social justice. Proverbs 31:8-9 is just one example:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
There are also countless references that direct Christ’s followers to stand together… to unit and support each other in the battle. One example of this is found in a battle against the Amalekites. While the battle was on, Moses stood up on top of the hill. As long as he had his hands raised, the Israelites won against the Amalekites. As Moses’ arms grew tired and dropped to his sides, the Israelites lost. It was important for Moses to be supported by his friends. Aaron and Hur supported Moses by holding up his arms for him. It was through their support and God’s power, that the Israelites were able to overcome the Amalekite army on that day.
The Warrior’s Song is found through the awareness of the injustice in the world, and our need as Christ’s Followers to support each other in the fight against it. It is a battle that we have all been called to fight, young and old.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Captain Stephen Court on Covenant...
- an important and inspiring article:
'AND I do here and now call upon all present to witness that I have entered into this undertaking and sign these articles of war of my own free will, feeling that the love of Christ, who died to save me! requires from me this devotion of my life to his service for the salvation of the whole world, and therefore do here declare my full determination, by God's help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army till I die'...
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com/SC_Covenant.pdf
'AND I do here and now call upon all present to witness that I have entered into this undertaking and sign these articles of war of my own free will, feeling that the love of Christ, who died to save me! requires from me this devotion of my life to his service for the salvation of the whole world, and therefore do here declare my full determination, by God's help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army till I die'...
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com/SC_Covenant.pdf
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Nana, my grandmother...
Audrey Helen Ramsay: April 17,1917 - Dec. 27, 2008
born in London, England on April 17, 1917 and departed to join her beloved Albert on Dec 27, 2008.
Survived by her daughter Lynn Dean in Nanaimo, sons Keith (Linda), and Bruce (Pamela), four grandchildren Karen Dean-Ellis, Larry Dean (Nanaimo), Captain Michael Ramsay (Nipawin, SK) and Karla-Lorinda Ramsay (Abbotsford). In addition she leaves nine great-grandchildren; her sister-in-laws Connie Meadmore, Shirley Dawson (Mesa, AZ), Evelyn Beaudry (Regina), brother-in-law Ken Ramsay (Humboldt, SK) and numerous relatives in Canada, USA and Britain.
Predeceased by her husband, Albert Alphonse in April 1995 and brothers William and George Meadmore.
Very few years after emigrating from ³the Old Country² to Calgary, Alberta, and with World War 1 raging, her Mother decided that her expectant offspring was not to be born in the Colony but in her native England. Our mother first saw the light of day in the Shepherd¹s Bush area of London. A U-boat ³tailed² them for the whole of their return voyage, dispatching the liner to the depths with a torpedo after it had unloaded her cargo in New York.
Shortly after Audrey’s birth she was back in Calgary where the family resided for several years. After the death of Audrey’s father, her mother moved with her 3 children to Victoria.
The young family spent their school years in Lake Hill near the ³Old Winery², attending Cloverdale Elementary and Mount View High Schools. The oldest sibling, William (Bill), left school early to help support the family. Mom and George enjoyed sports while in their youth.On finishing school, Audrey worked at the concession of the Memorial Arena and at a series of printing companies, including Diggin¹s and Hebden¹s, where she plied the craft of bookbinding.
Audrey met Albert, the love of her life, when he was stationed in Victoria during World War 2. They were married at St. John¹s Anglican Church in Victoria and spent their early years in various army camps.
Lynn, their first-born, arrived when they resided in Kingston, ON. and Keith came along in Camp Petawawa, ON. Bruce made his debut after Audrey and Al had settled in Victoria after the War.
Mom¹s interests included five-pin bowling, coffee and tea with ³the girls², the St. Mary¹s Church Guild, golf and dancing with Dad. Her hole-in-one at the Henderson Park Course ranked right up there as a personal hi-light.
The family extends its heart-felt gratitude to the Home Care Workers who enabled our mother to stay in the family home until a series of strokes, beginning about a month ago. The Seniors Daycare staff at Oak Bay Lodge is also commended for providing social opportunities for Mom. The family also wishes to thank the 2nd Floor West Nursing staff at the Jubilee Hospital for the wonderful care of our mother. A special thank you is extended to Dr. Lisa Veres, whose compassion, dedication and medical expertise gave great comfort to both Mom and her family during this difficult time.
born in London, England on April 17, 1917 and departed to join her beloved Albert on Dec 27, 2008.
Survived by her daughter Lynn Dean in Nanaimo, sons Keith (Linda), and Bruce (Pamela), four grandchildren Karen Dean-Ellis, Larry Dean (Nanaimo), Captain Michael Ramsay (Nipawin, SK) and Karla-Lorinda Ramsay (Abbotsford). In addition she leaves nine great-grandchildren; her sister-in-laws Connie Meadmore, Shirley Dawson (Mesa, AZ), Evelyn Beaudry (Regina), brother-in-law Ken Ramsay (Humboldt, SK) and numerous relatives in Canada, USA and Britain.
Predeceased by her husband, Albert Alphonse in April 1995 and brothers William and George Meadmore.
Very few years after emigrating from ³the Old Country² to Calgary, Alberta, and with World War 1 raging, her Mother decided that her expectant offspring was not to be born in the Colony but in her native England. Our mother first saw the light of day in the Shepherd¹s Bush area of London. A U-boat ³tailed² them for the whole of their return voyage, dispatching the liner to the depths with a torpedo after it had unloaded her cargo in New York.
Shortly after Audrey’s birth she was back in Calgary where the family resided for several years. After the death of Audrey’s father, her mother moved with her 3 children to Victoria.
The young family spent their school years in Lake Hill near the ³Old Winery², attending Cloverdale Elementary and Mount View High Schools. The oldest sibling, William (Bill), left school early to help support the family. Mom and George enjoyed sports while in their youth.On finishing school, Audrey worked at the concession of the Memorial Arena and at a series of printing companies, including Diggin¹s and Hebden¹s, where she plied the craft of bookbinding.
Audrey met Albert, the love of her life, when he was stationed in Victoria during World War 2. They were married at St. John¹s Anglican Church in Victoria and spent their early years in various army camps.
Lynn, their first-born, arrived when they resided in Kingston, ON. and Keith came along in Camp Petawawa, ON. Bruce made his debut after Audrey and Al had settled in Victoria after the War.
Mom¹s interests included five-pin bowling, coffee and tea with ³the girls², the St. Mary¹s Church Guild, golf and dancing with Dad. Her hole-in-one at the Henderson Park Course ranked right up there as a personal hi-light.
The family extends its heart-felt gratitude to the Home Care Workers who enabled our mother to stay in the family home until a series of strokes, beginning about a month ago. The Seniors Daycare staff at Oak Bay Lodge is also commended for providing social opportunities for Mom. The family also wishes to thank the 2nd Floor West Nursing staff at the Jubilee Hospital for the wonderful care of our mother. A special thank you is extended to Dr. Lisa Veres, whose compassion, dedication and medical expertise gave great comfort to both Mom and her family during this difficult time.
Snow in Victoria
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 1:20 PM
Subject:Extreme weather on Vancouver Island
We heard that Victoria is getting some cold weather. Here is the news report..
The following is a minute-by-minutereport of the extreme weather concerns in Victoria:
6:22am. Temperature plunges. Word spreads that a Victoria man finds ice on his windshield! Curious neighbours gather to watch him scrape it off with credit card. One motorist, a former Albertan, claims use of mysterious "defrost" switch on dashboard can aid in process.
9:30 a.m. Hardware stores sell both of their snow shovels. Islanders begin cobbling together implements made from kayak paddles, umbrellas, plywood, cookie sheets and boogie boards.
10 a.m. Golfers switch to orange balls. Beacon Hill Park cricket players, anxious not to repeat the ugly "snow blower incident" of the Blizzard of '96, switch to orange uniforms.Noon. Word of impending West Coast snowfall tops newscasts across Canada. Saskatoon hospitals report epidemic of sprained wrists related to viewers high-fiving one another.
1:20 p.m. Elementary schools call in grief counselors. Grief counselors refuse to go, citing lack of snow tires.
2:30 p.m. Rush hour begins an hour early as office workers come down with mysterious illness and bolt for home. Usual traffic snarl is compounded by large number of four-wheel-drives abandoned by side of road.
2:50 p.m. Airplanes are grounded and ferries docked. No way to travel between Island and rest of the world. Times Colonist headline: "Mainland Cut Off From Civilization."
3:22 p.m. Prime Minister Harper announces Canada's DART rapid-response team can be on the ground within six months." We can't leave Victoria to deal with 225 centimeters of snow on its own," he tells mayor Lowe. "Um, that's two-to-five centimeters, not two- two-five," replies the mayor. The prime minister hangs up.
3:33 p.m. Provincial government responds to crisis by installing slot machines in homeless shelters.
4:10 p.m. At behest of Provincial Emergency Program, authorities begin adding Prozac to drinking water.
4:15 p.m. Fears of food shortage lead to alarming scenes of violence and looting. Grocery shoppers riot across the city, except in Oak Bay, where residents hire caterers to do rioting for them.
4:30 p.m. Bracing for the arrival of snow, the city is gripped by an eerie stillness reminiscent of Baghdad on the eve of the invasion. Searchlights comb darkening sky for first sign of precipitation.
4:48 p.m. Panic ripples across region as word comes in that first flakes have fallen on Malahat. False alarm. "Flakes" turn out to be nothing more than anthrax spores released by terrorists. An uneasy calm returns to city.
5:40 p.m. Television reporter, Ed Bain, shaking uncontrollably, tells viewers that snow warnings have been extended. This weather pattern could go on for days. Mercury plummets to Calgary-in- August levels. Martial law is declared. Victoria-area politicians announce plans to establish emergency command centre aboard HMCS Regina once it reaches Oahu.
Subject:Extreme weather on Vancouver Island
We heard that Victoria is getting some cold weather. Here is the news report..
The following is a minute-by-minutereport of the extreme weather concerns in Victoria:
6:22am. Temperature plunges. Word spreads that a Victoria man finds ice on his windshield! Curious neighbours gather to watch him scrape it off with credit card. One motorist, a former Albertan, claims use of mysterious "defrost" switch on dashboard can aid in process.
9:30 a.m. Hardware stores sell both of their snow shovels. Islanders begin cobbling together implements made from kayak paddles, umbrellas, plywood, cookie sheets and boogie boards.
10 a.m. Golfers switch to orange balls. Beacon Hill Park cricket players, anxious not to repeat the ugly "snow blower incident" of the Blizzard of '96, switch to orange uniforms.Noon. Word of impending West Coast snowfall tops newscasts across Canada. Saskatoon hospitals report epidemic of sprained wrists related to viewers high-fiving one another.
1:20 p.m. Elementary schools call in grief counselors. Grief counselors refuse to go, citing lack of snow tires.
2:30 p.m. Rush hour begins an hour early as office workers come down with mysterious illness and bolt for home. Usual traffic snarl is compounded by large number of four-wheel-drives abandoned by side of road.
2:50 p.m. Airplanes are grounded and ferries docked. No way to travel between Island and rest of the world. Times Colonist headline: "Mainland Cut Off From Civilization."
3:22 p.m. Prime Minister Harper announces Canada's DART rapid-response team can be on the ground within six months." We can't leave Victoria to deal with 225 centimeters of snow on its own," he tells mayor Lowe. "Um, that's two-to-five centimeters, not two- two-five," replies the mayor. The prime minister hangs up.
3:33 p.m. Provincial government responds to crisis by installing slot machines in homeless shelters.
4:10 p.m. At behest of Provincial Emergency Program, authorities begin adding Prozac to drinking water.
4:15 p.m. Fears of food shortage lead to alarming scenes of violence and looting. Grocery shoppers riot across the city, except in Oak Bay, where residents hire caterers to do rioting for them.
4:30 p.m. Bracing for the arrival of snow, the city is gripped by an eerie stillness reminiscent of Baghdad on the eve of the invasion. Searchlights comb darkening sky for first sign of precipitation.
4:48 p.m. Panic ripples across region as word comes in that first flakes have fallen on Malahat. False alarm. "Flakes" turn out to be nothing more than anthrax spores released by terrorists. An uneasy calm returns to city.
5:40 p.m. Television reporter, Ed Bain, shaking uncontrollably, tells viewers that snow warnings have been extended. This weather pattern could go on for days. Mercury plummets to Calgary-in- August levels. Martial law is declared. Victoria-area politicians announce plans to establish emergency command centre aboard HMCS Regina once it reaches Oahu.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Holy Christmas!
Christmas messages:
The General: http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/92312A80BB91C08F8025751100412D85
HRH Queen Elizabeth II (on youtube): http://uk.youtube.com/theroyalchannel
The Pope: http://www.vatican.va/liturgical_year/christmas/2008/christmas08_en.htm
The General: http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/92312A80BB91C08F8025751100412D85
HRH Queen Elizabeth II (on youtube): http://uk.youtube.com/theroyalchannel
The Pope: http://www.vatican.va/liturgical_year/christmas/2008/christmas08_en.htm
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Matthew 1:18-25
Today, on this Christmas Eve, as we look forward to the joy of tomorrow: Christmas Day, the celebration of the incarnation and the advent and of Christ, let us for a moment focus on from our passage today, Joseph, the man, the husband of Mary.
Oh how it must have been for him. Oh how it must have been for him.
Pretend with me for a moment that you are he, pretend.
He was engaged to be married to Mary. They were one unit in everyone’s eyes.
The problem is that they have not become one yet ‘in the Biblical sense’
And Mary – and Mary is now pregnant.
Really – two questions arise.
One, what to do? Joseph is just and merciful. He does not want to expose her to public disgrace. He does not want her to die – because that is what will happen if she is exposed in this way – he does not want her to die.
He also does not have it in mind to fully marry her. He has done nothing wrong and this would be a tacit admission of guilt. What should he do? What would you do?
He comes up with the idea to put her away quietly – sparing her life and his reputation BUT there is another question:
Whose is it? Should He believe the divine conception story? That God overshadowed her; would you?
Well he does and he has a lot of help in doing this…He has vivid dreams and Angels coming to visit him. So he does. He believes it.
So the first question arises again…what to do? Really! His betrothed is impregnated by God what should he do?
Does he deign to be the step-father to God’s own Son, the child-King? Does he hold himself so high? What can he do? He can’t be father to God’s son, can he? Could you?
Again, in Joseph’s dream, the angel tells him to marry Mary. The angel then tells him that he must name the boy Jesus for Jesus will save the people from there sins…
Now this all comes in a dream…in a dream…do you believe your dreams? Do you?
Well Joseph does… it says that when Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Joseph had faith and was faithful. As we offer our songs to the Lord today and as we read through the Holy Scriptures together please bear in mind the faith of Joseph.
Oh how it must have been for him. Oh how it must have been for him.
Pretend with me for a moment that you are he, pretend.
He was engaged to be married to Mary. They were one unit in everyone’s eyes.
The problem is that they have not become one yet ‘in the Biblical sense’
And Mary – and Mary is now pregnant.
Really – two questions arise.
One, what to do? Joseph is just and merciful. He does not want to expose her to public disgrace. He does not want her to die – because that is what will happen if she is exposed in this way – he does not want her to die.
He also does not have it in mind to fully marry her. He has done nothing wrong and this would be a tacit admission of guilt. What should he do? What would you do?
He comes up with the idea to put her away quietly – sparing her life and his reputation BUT there is another question:
Whose is it? Should He believe the divine conception story? That God overshadowed her; would you?
Well he does and he has a lot of help in doing this…He has vivid dreams and Angels coming to visit him. So he does. He believes it.
So the first question arises again…what to do? Really! His betrothed is impregnated by God what should he do?
Does he deign to be the step-father to God’s own Son, the child-King? Does he hold himself so high? What can he do? He can’t be father to God’s son, can he? Could you?
Again, in Joseph’s dream, the angel tells him to marry Mary. The angel then tells him that he must name the boy Jesus for Jesus will save the people from there sins…
Now this all comes in a dream…in a dream…do you believe your dreams? Do you?
Well Joseph does… it says that when Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Joseph had faith and was faithful. As we offer our songs to the Lord today and as we read through the Holy Scriptures together please bear in mind the faith of Joseph.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sally Van gives 'bit of hope'
From The Toronto Star
Dec 23, 2008 04:30 AM
Noor Javed, Staff Reporter
Just like it does every night of the year, the "Sally Van" begins its journey from Salvation Army headquarters in Scarborough with dozens of meals, bags of donated clothes and a little prayer.
"Dear Lord. Thank you for bringing us together. Please keep us safe ..."
Read more from the Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/557628
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www.sheepspeak.com
Dec 23, 2008 04:30 AM
Noor Javed, Staff Reporter
Just like it does every night of the year, the "Sally Van" begins its journey from Salvation Army headquarters in Scarborough with dozens of meals, bags of donated clothes and a little prayer.
"Dear Lord. Thank you for bringing us together. Please keep us safe ..."
Read more from the Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/557628
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www.sheepspeak.com
Monday, December 22, 2008
Christmas Hampers and Child Poverty
We are handing out hampers for Tisdale, Nipawin, and the Yellowquil reserve today and tomorrow,like Salvation Armys accross this country are trying to show the Lord's love to others in this way.
It is a good time to remember that on November 24, 1989, Canada's House of Commons unanimously passed a resolution stating that: "This House seeks to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000."
From Make Poverty History Canada:
More than seventeen years later, and seven years after the deadline of 2000, what has happened?
One in six Canadian children is poor.
Canada's child poverty rate of 15 percent is three times as high as the rates of Sweden, Norway or Finland.
Every month, 770,000 people in Canada use food banks. Forty percent of those relying on food banks are children. These statistics point to a betrayal of Canada's children. What makes the persistence of child poverty all the more disturbing is that Canada is a rich country, a country that ranked fourth in the world on the 2004 UN Human Development Index.
But in the midst of wealth, almost 5 million Canadians live in poverty. Poverty is increasing for youth, workers, young families and immigrant and visible minority groups. Poverty among Aboriginal groups remains appallingly high both on and off reserve. In fact, if the statistics for Canadian Aboriginal people were viewed separately from those of the rest of the country, Canada's Aboriginal people would slip to 78 th on the UN Human Development Index — the ranking currently held by Kazakhstan.
Canada needs to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals for poverty reduction globally, but if we are to have any integrity we also need to work at achieving poverty reduction goals at home. The national platform of the Make Poverty History campaign in Canada puts forward achievable demands that would make a significant contribution to "making poverty history" — globally and in Canada.
What needs to be done
We can achieve the elimination of child poverty in Canada within five years if we:
expand affordable housing;
build a universally accessible child care system;
raise minimum wages and increase the availability of good jobs and living wages; and
increase the Child Tax Benefit to $4,900 per child, per year and ensure that all low-income children receive the full benefit of this program.
The federal government has committed to gradually increasing the Child Tax Benefit to $3,240 by 2007. While the current program has made a positive difference in the depth of poverty of working poor families, benefit levels are not sufficient to help children and families escape poverty. Part of the benefit is also denied to children and families who receive social assistance in most provinces, as the National Child Benefit Supplement portion of the Child Tax Benefit is "clawed-back" in the form of lower social assistance benefits. We need to end the claw-back that effectively denies this important benefit to children whose families receive social assistance.
Raising the level of the Child Tax Benefit to $4,900 per child per year would likely cost $7 billion when fully implemented. It would be a vital investment in Canada's future. Ending child and family poverty is an important first step.
But ultimately we need to find a way to ensure that no one is poor. That is why the Make Poverty History campaign in Canada is calling for the federal government to involve groups where poverty is predominant — such as Aboriginal People, women, minorities and youth — in the design and implementation of a domestic poverty reduction strategy.
Eliminating poverty in Canada is an achievable goal. We can all make it happen. This is the year to take action.
For more information:
On the National Child Benefit Supplement – The National Child Benefit Supplement PDF
National Anti-Poverty Organization – http://www.napo-onap.ca/
Campaign 2000 – http://www.campaign2000.ca/
Canadian Council on Social Development – http://www.ccsd.ca/
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Home: http://www.sheepspeak.com/
It is a good time to remember that on November 24, 1989, Canada's House of Commons unanimously passed a resolution stating that: "This House seeks to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000."
From Make Poverty History Canada:
More than seventeen years later, and seven years after the deadline of 2000, what has happened?
One in six Canadian children is poor.
Canada's child poverty rate of 15 percent is three times as high as the rates of Sweden, Norway or Finland.
Every month, 770,000 people in Canada use food banks. Forty percent of those relying on food banks are children. These statistics point to a betrayal of Canada's children. What makes the persistence of child poverty all the more disturbing is that Canada is a rich country, a country that ranked fourth in the world on the 2004 UN Human Development Index.
But in the midst of wealth, almost 5 million Canadians live in poverty. Poverty is increasing for youth, workers, young families and immigrant and visible minority groups. Poverty among Aboriginal groups remains appallingly high both on and off reserve. In fact, if the statistics for Canadian Aboriginal people were viewed separately from those of the rest of the country, Canada's Aboriginal people would slip to 78 th on the UN Human Development Index — the ranking currently held by Kazakhstan.
Canada needs to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals for poverty reduction globally, but if we are to have any integrity we also need to work at achieving poverty reduction goals at home. The national platform of the Make Poverty History campaign in Canada puts forward achievable demands that would make a significant contribution to "making poverty history" — globally and in Canada.
What needs to be done
We can achieve the elimination of child poverty in Canada within five years if we:
expand affordable housing;
build a universally accessible child care system;
raise minimum wages and increase the availability of good jobs and living wages; and
increase the Child Tax Benefit to $4,900 per child, per year and ensure that all low-income children receive the full benefit of this program.
The federal government has committed to gradually increasing the Child Tax Benefit to $3,240 by 2007. While the current program has made a positive difference in the depth of poverty of working poor families, benefit levels are not sufficient to help children and families escape poverty. Part of the benefit is also denied to children and families who receive social assistance in most provinces, as the National Child Benefit Supplement portion of the Child Tax Benefit is "clawed-back" in the form of lower social assistance benefits. We need to end the claw-back that effectively denies this important benefit to children whose families receive social assistance.
Raising the level of the Child Tax Benefit to $4,900 per child per year would likely cost $7 billion when fully implemented. It would be a vital investment in Canada's future. Ending child and family poverty is an important first step.
But ultimately we need to find a way to ensure that no one is poor. That is why the Make Poverty History campaign in Canada is calling for the federal government to involve groups where poverty is predominant — such as Aboriginal People, women, minorities and youth — in the design and implementation of a domestic poverty reduction strategy.
Eliminating poverty in Canada is an achievable goal. We can all make it happen. This is the year to take action.
For more information:
On the National Child Benefit Supplement – The National Child Benefit Supplement PDF
National Anti-Poverty Organization – http://www.napo-onap.ca/
Campaign 2000 – http://www.campaign2000.ca/
Canadian Council on Social Development – http://www.ccsd.ca/
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Home: http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Come Lord Jesus
(an advent prayer)
Jesus, our Lord, save me from my sins. Come, protect me from all dangers and lead me to salvation.
Come! Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: teach me to walk in the paths of knowledge!
Come! Leader of ancient Israel, giver of the Law of Moses on Sinai: rescue me with Your mighty power!
Come! Flower of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all His people: save me without delay!
Come! Key of David, opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom: free the prisoners of darkness!
Come, Emmanuel, God's presence among us, our King, our Judge: save us, Lord our God!
Come, King of all nations, source of Your Church's unity and faith: save all mankind, Your own creation!
Come, Radiant Dawn, splendour of eternal light, Sun of Justice: shine on those lost in the darkness of death!
Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to Your people who trust in Your love.
By Your coming, raise us to the joy of Your Kingdom, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.
Amen.
Jesus, our Lord, save me from my sins. Come, protect me from all dangers and lead me to salvation.
Come! Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: teach me to walk in the paths of knowledge!
Come! Leader of ancient Israel, giver of the Law of Moses on Sinai: rescue me with Your mighty power!
Come! Flower of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all His people: save me without delay!
Come! Key of David, opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom: free the prisoners of darkness!
Come, Emmanuel, God's presence among us, our King, our Judge: save us, Lord our God!
Come, King of all nations, source of Your Church's unity and faith: save all mankind, Your own creation!
Come, Radiant Dawn, splendour of eternal light, Sun of Justice: shine on those lost in the darkness of death!
Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to Your people who trust in Your love.
By Your coming, raise us to the joy of Your Kingdom, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.
Amen.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Red Wings join the Salvation Army
Tuesday, 12.16.2008 / 11:59 AM / NHL Insider
By John McGourty - NHL.com Staff Writer
Talent has a lot to do with it, but one of the biggest reasons the Detroit Red Wings have been the NHL's most successful team over the past decade is that individuals within the team never stop competing.
They compete against their opponents, of course, and their practices are filled with minor contests between shooters and goalies, lines vs. lines, etc.
And, they compete to see who can raise the most money at the holidays each year for the Salvation Army.
read more from http://www.nhl.com/: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=398368
By John McGourty - NHL.com Staff Writer
Talent has a lot to do with it, but one of the biggest reasons the Detroit Red Wings have been the NHL's most successful team over the past decade is that individuals within the team never stop competing.
They compete against their opponents, of course, and their practices are filled with minor contests between shooters and goalies, lines vs. lines, etc.
And, they compete to see who can raise the most money at the holidays each year for the Salvation Army.
read more from http://www.nhl.com/: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=398368
From the office of the General
PASTORAL LETTER ELEVEN
MONEY
Dear Fellow Salvationists,
This Pastoral Letter comes to you close to the time when Christians everywhere are rejoicing in the birth of the Saviour.
With my wife, Commissioner Helen Clifton, I send you warmest good wishes and Christmas greetings. May the miracle of the coming of Jesus into the world fill us all with new wonder and new love as we go on witnessing to, and serving, others in his sacred name.
It may seem strange to use the title 'Money' for a Christmas Pastoral Letter. Let me explain. Our news bulletins and newspapers are filled these days with reports of a global financial crisis.
We hear about the worldwide 'credit crunch', caused by lenders failing to be self-restrained when lending to over-keen borrowers who could not afford the repayments. We hear about governments, who often refuse to spend a few millions on good causes or human need, suddenly being able to spend billions to prop up failing financial institutions and large businesses.
For most of us it is all baffling, but also deeply disturbing. Ordinary people are losing their jobs, and some are in danger of losing their homes. Despite this, we do not hear of many financial or political leaders accepting personal blame or apologising or offering to withdraw from public life because their economic policies have led to global recession and hardship for countless millions of people. Of course, it would take very great personal honour to shoulder the responsibility in this gracious way.
When Jesus entered the world he had nothing. His parents were not rich. His father, Joseph, worked with his hands, with wood and nails. When Jesus died he still had nothing. He was not at all interested in materialism, and yet he was immensely wealthy for he knew the meaning of true wealth. He told us that it is incredibly hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and he held up, as a shining example for us, the widow who gave all she had, a tiny coin, for the work of God.
During the recent presidential elections in the United States of America, both candidates were interviewed by Pastor Rick Warren and were asked to 'Define rich'. Despite offering sincere responses, neither really got it right, completely missing the point that true and lasting riches have nothing whatsoever to do with cash. Neither mentioned that the Lord Jesus Christ has told us to store up riches in Heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt and where thieves do not break in and steal. There is no 'credit crisis' there!
This Christmas, let us not go deeper into personal debt. Let us be restrained in our spending. Let us remember that in the 117 countries where the Army has been called to serve most people are poor and that there is absolutely nothing glamorous or sentimental about poverty.
This Christmas, let us remember that we follow in the steps of a matchless Saviour who came into and who left the world penniless.
This Christmas, as we anticipate an upsurge in the number of those seeking and needing the Army's help, let us remember that even a cup of cold water given in his name is given as unto him, and that we are going to have many, many more opportunities to share Christ with others as they turn to faith, abandoning the false god of material security.
This Christmas, let us rediscover true riches: forgiveness in Christ, a sanctified life in the power of the Holy Spirit, obedience to the will of God, and our days spent in living for others.
You remain always in my prayers.
May 2009 be filled with blessings from God for you and all whom you love.
May you be fruitful for the Kingdom of God.
I commit you to the perfect love of Christ.
God bless you.
Shaw Clifton
General
http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_ihq_general.nsf/vw-local/pastoral-lette
rs
Monday, December 15, 2008
John 16:25-70 and unsubstantiated transubstantiation?
Comments:
It is interesting. Jesus' claim to be the 'bread of life' in the context of 'Manna' and the preceding miricle of the bread and the fish.
v. 35 - so then we eat the Bread and thus will never go hungry by coming to Jesus and we will never thirst when we believe in (put our trust in) him.
v. 40 - 'For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day' (cf. also v.47).
v. 51 - 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world' - it seems, in the context of this chapter that this is talking about Jesus' impending death on the cross.
Jesus has already given his bread (flesh) for the life of the world (v. 51). I think therfore that the key to understanding this passage (John 6:25-70) is laid out in verses 35 and 40. It is in verses 35 and 40 where Christ defines his terms. If that is the case, then we eat his body and drink his
blood by coming to Jesus and by putting our trust in Him.
It seems then that the ceremony at 'last supper' was an apt metaphor for this reality and I imagine that it was His intent to draw his disciples'minds to this event. I see no direct indication of transubstansiation...
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John 6:25-70 (New International Version)
25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him,"Rabbi, when did you get here?"
26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, notbecause you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had yourfill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures toeternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father hasplaced his seal of approval."
28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he hassent."
30So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we maysee it and believe you? What will you do? 31Our forefathers ate the manna inthe desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'[a]"
32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has givenyou the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true breadfrom heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven andgives life to the world."
34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me willnever go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as Itold you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All that theFather gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never driveaway. 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do thewill of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that Ishall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the lastday. 40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son andbelieves in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the lastday."
41At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am thebread that came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is this not Jesus, the sonof Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came downfrom heaven'?"
43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44"No one can come tome unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at thelast day. 45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught byGod.'[b] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he hasseen the Father. 47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlastinglife. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in thedesert, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven,which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down fromheaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is myflesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this mangive us his flesh to eat?"
53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh ofthe Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eatsmy flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up atthe last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so theone who feeds on me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that camedown from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds onthis bread will live forever." 59He said this while teaching in thesynagogue in Capernaum.
60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Whocan accept it?"61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them,"Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where hewas before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The wordsI have spoken to you are spirit[c] and they are life. 64Yet there are someof you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which ofthem did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, "This iswhy I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabledhim."
66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followedhim.
67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the wordsof eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
70Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you isa devil!"
Food 4 Prayer / Pray 4 Food
A U.S. Story:
As traditional sources of donations dry up and demand rises amid a worsening recession, food banks and their volunteers are finding creative ways to make the best of a growing challenge — while the hungry try to make less food go further.
"(Hunger) has been a persistent problem but it's radically gotten worse in the last year since the economy has tanked," said Ross Fraser, a spokesman for Feeding America, formerly Second Harvest.
The number of people going to Feeding America's food banks nationwide increased 18% between 1997 and 2005 to more than 25 million. A more recent figure was not available.
The nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, Feeding America said some distribution centers in California, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio recently reported a 30% to 40% surge in demand from a year ago, Fraser said.
But supply is not keeping pace.
read more: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-12-14-foodbanks-farms_N.htm?csp=34&POE=click-refer
As traditional sources of donations dry up and demand rises amid a worsening recession, food banks and their volunteers are finding creative ways to make the best of a growing challenge — while the hungry try to make less food go further.
"(Hunger) has been a persistent problem but it's radically gotten worse in the last year since the economy has tanked," said Ross Fraser, a spokesman for Feeding America, formerly Second Harvest.
The number of people going to Feeding America's food banks nationwide increased 18% between 1997 and 2005 to more than 25 million. A more recent figure was not available.
The nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, Feeding America said some distribution centers in California, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio recently reported a 30% to 40% surge in demand from a year ago, Fraser said.
But supply is not keeping pace.
read more: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-12-14-foodbanks-farms_N.htm?csp=34&POE=click-refer
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Bible-Based New Anglican Province?
New Anglican church proposed
By Leigh Anne WilliamsAnglican Journal
Cited from Canadian Christianity .com
LEADERS of the Common Cause Partnership, a coalition of conservative Anglicans in the U.S. and Canada, released a draft constitution on December 3 for a new Anglican province that they propose would be defined by theology rather than a geographic location.
Gathered in Wheaton, Illinois, leaders of the partnership -- which represents about 100,000 Anglicans, who have left the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church in the U.S. largely over blessing same-sex unions and the ordination of an openly gay bishop -- outlined their vision for the new Anglican Church in North America.
read more from canadiancristianity.com: http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/081211anglican.html
Anglican News
Anglican Planet: www.anglicanplanet.net
Anglican Journa: www.anglicanjournal.com
By Leigh Anne WilliamsAnglican Journal
Cited from Canadian Christianity .com
LEADERS of the Common Cause Partnership, a coalition of conservative Anglicans in the U.S. and Canada, released a draft constitution on December 3 for a new Anglican province that they propose would be defined by theology rather than a geographic location.
Gathered in Wheaton, Illinois, leaders of the partnership -- which represents about 100,000 Anglicans, who have left the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church in the U.S. largely over blessing same-sex unions and the ordination of an openly gay bishop -- outlined their vision for the new Anglican Church in North America.
read more from canadiancristianity.com: http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/081211anglican.html
Anglican News
Anglican Planet: www.anglicanplanet.net
Anglican Journa: www.anglicanjournal.com
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Leader removes Christmas from the Legislature
Last Updated: Thursday, December 11, 2008 10:38 AM ET
The Canadian Press
Two days after winning a majority government, Quebec Premier Jean Charest's Liberals have apparently become embroiled in their first debate — what to call the festive tree on the legislature lawn.
On Tuesday, Charest's office sent out a news release announcing the premier was going to "light the Christmas tree" the next day. But 10 minutes later, that bulletin was followed up with "a slight modification."
It said Charest would "light the holiday tree" on Wednesday. The word "Christmas" was gone.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/12/11/mtl-christmastree1211.html
The Canadian Press
Two days after winning a majority government, Quebec Premier Jean Charest's Liberals have apparently become embroiled in their first debate — what to call the festive tree on the legislature lawn.
On Tuesday, Charest's office sent out a news release announcing the premier was going to "light the Christmas tree" the next day. But 10 minutes later, that bulletin was followed up with "a slight modification."
It said Charest would "light the holiday tree" on Wednesday. The word "Christmas" was gone.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/12/11/mtl-christmastree1211.html
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Marie Marguerite d'Youville
First Canadian-born saint is canonized - this day in history (Dec 9)
Broadcast Date: Nov. 29, 1990
After a lifetime of helping the poor in Quebec, a century of lobbying on her behalf in Rome, and two miracles, Marie Marguerite d'Youville is officially a saint. More than 200 years after her death, the founder of Montreal's Sisters of Charity — the "Grey Nuns" — is canonized by Pope John Paul II. In this interview recorded shortly before the canonization, Grey Nuns historian Sister Estelle Mitchell describes the remarkable life and legacy of this "mother of the poor."
the audio/video: http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/12/09/
Broadcast Date: Nov. 29, 1990
After a lifetime of helping the poor in Quebec, a century of lobbying on her behalf in Rome, and two miracles, Marie Marguerite d'Youville is officially a saint. More than 200 years after her death, the founder of Montreal's Sisters of Charity — the "Grey Nuns" — is canonized by Pope John Paul II. In this interview recorded shortly before the canonization, Grey Nuns historian Sister Estelle Mitchell describes the remarkable life and legacy of this "mother of the poor."
the audio/video: http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/12/09/
Be Bold for the Gospel
This is what is happening in Paul's life as he writes this letter to the Christians in Philippi...
Paul has been openly engaging the non- and pre-Christian world. He has met with some strong resistance and it is just as if he is a cornered dog up against a bigger dog. Paul is even in jail right now as he writes this letter. Paul is in a jail and jails then, like now, really are not the best places in the world to be and not only that, Paul is facing a capital charge[4]. Paul, if convicted, is facing execution. Paul is seemingly cornered by a larger and an aggressive part of the pre- and non-Christian world of his day but he is not afraid of this dog nor is he even apparently concerned for himself.
Imagine with me that you are in that prison with him. I don't know how many of you have ever seen the inside of a prison here. I've seen a couple. I can tell you that they themselves can be more than a little intimidating – even when you aren't confined there.
Now imagine that you aren't just in any prison. Imagine that you are in an off shores American prison – the Super Power of our day – imagine that you are in Guatanamo or something and they've actually charged you OR even imagine that you are in Afghanistan or Pakistan and in the hands of the Taliban or another such group and imagine that you are facing a capital charge. Imagine that you are facing execution if you are convicted…
What would you write in your letters home? If you could make a video tape or leave a phone message, what would it say? I imagine that we would be more than a little afraid. I imagine that we would ask for everyone to pray for us. We would try to activate a prayer chain on our behalf and we would get everyone that we could to pray for our safe return, right? We would send up the prayer alert and ask everyone to pray for our deliverance…
Now this is interesting because this isn't what Paul does here at all. Paul mentions that he is in prison but it is not with his own state that he is concerned (1:18b-26).[5] He is bold and he is concerned with how well the Philippians are doing at standing firm in preparing to meet Christ (cf. 1:11) on the balcony as it were, on the 'Day of the Lord'.
He is encouraging them to not be afraid and to be prepared for this 'Day of the Lord' by living in a manner worthy of the Gospel (1:27) by being united in purpose (1:18; 2:1-8; 3:15-16), staying the course, fighting the foe, and he is even now rejoicing (cf. 1:3, 6) in the Lord's accomplishments through them;[6] he is encouraging them to be bold in making preparations for the day of the Lord's return. Are they ready for Christ's return?
read more from JAC Issue 54: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article6-54.html
read the most recent JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
Paul has been openly engaging the non- and pre-Christian world. He has met with some strong resistance and it is just as if he is a cornered dog up against a bigger dog. Paul is even in jail right now as he writes this letter. Paul is in a jail and jails then, like now, really are not the best places in the world to be and not only that, Paul is facing a capital charge[4]. Paul, if convicted, is facing execution. Paul is seemingly cornered by a larger and an aggressive part of the pre- and non-Christian world of his day but he is not afraid of this dog nor is he even apparently concerned for himself.
Imagine with me that you are in that prison with him. I don't know how many of you have ever seen the inside of a prison here. I've seen a couple. I can tell you that they themselves can be more than a little intimidating – even when you aren't confined there.
Now imagine that you aren't just in any prison. Imagine that you are in an off shores American prison – the Super Power of our day – imagine that you are in Guatanamo or something and they've actually charged you OR even imagine that you are in Afghanistan or Pakistan and in the hands of the Taliban or another such group and imagine that you are facing a capital charge. Imagine that you are facing execution if you are convicted…
What would you write in your letters home? If you could make a video tape or leave a phone message, what would it say? I imagine that we would be more than a little afraid. I imagine that we would ask for everyone to pray for us. We would try to activate a prayer chain on our behalf and we would get everyone that we could to pray for our safe return, right? We would send up the prayer alert and ask everyone to pray for our deliverance…
Now this is interesting because this isn't what Paul does here at all. Paul mentions that he is in prison but it is not with his own state that he is concerned (1:18b-26).[5] He is bold and he is concerned with how well the Philippians are doing at standing firm in preparing to meet Christ (cf. 1:11) on the balcony as it were, on the 'Day of the Lord'.
He is encouraging them to not be afraid and to be prepared for this 'Day of the Lord' by living in a manner worthy of the Gospel (1:27) by being united in purpose (1:18; 2:1-8; 3:15-16), staying the course, fighting the foe, and he is even now rejoicing (cf. 1:3, 6) in the Lord's accomplishments through them;[6] he is encouraging them to be bold in making preparations for the day of the Lord's return. Are they ready for Christ's return?
read more from JAC Issue 54: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article6-54.html
read the most recent JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
In the news
Priest chases thief, recovers church money
Published: Monday, December 8, 2008 12:11 PM ET
Canadian Press: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - Call it Godspeed.
Rev. Bill Hegedusich, a 48-year-old marathon runner, went bounding from the church Sunday after a man took two bags of money totalling about $125 from an unlocked safe.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/081208/K120802AU.html
Salvation Army tests cash or credit options at holiday red kettle
Last Updated: Friday, November 14, 2008 8:59 AM ET
The Associated Press
It's a true season of change: The Salvation Army is experimenting with a plastic alternative for folks who don't have cash to throw in a holiday red kettle.
This season, five bell-ringers in El Paso County, Colo., will be the first to accept debit and credit cards along with spare change and bills.
Salvation Army officials say the kettle tradition needs to be tweaked as consumers increasingly carry only plastic.
Bell ringers are giving the credit card-kettles mixed reviews. But some shoppers who saw the new kettles liked them, saying they've walked past kettles in the past and wanted to donate but had no cash.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/11/14/salvation-credit.html
Skinheads show support for Harper
Last Updated: Monday, December 8, 2008 9:16 AM AT
CBC News
Several skinheads tried to disrupt a rally organized by supporters of the federal Liberal-NDP coalition last Thursday night in Moncton, Codiac RCMP have confirmed.
Three skinheads heckled the crowd of 200 people in Moncton who gathered to support the coalition formed between the two opposition parties to replace the Conservative government.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/12/08/skinheads-rally.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g4:r4:c0:b0
related (from a comment on a CBC web poll):
Leaders of Countries that suspended Gov to avoid a non-confidence vote.
Adolph Hitler Germany 1933
Fransisco Franco Spain 1936
Benito Mussolini Italy 1939
Agusto Pinochet Chile 1973
Steven Harper Canada 2008
Published: Monday, December 8, 2008 12:11 PM ET
Canadian Press: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - Call it Godspeed.
Rev. Bill Hegedusich, a 48-year-old marathon runner, went bounding from the church Sunday after a man took two bags of money totalling about $125 from an unlocked safe.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/081208/K120802AU.html
Salvation Army tests cash or credit options at holiday red kettle
Last Updated: Friday, November 14, 2008 8:59 AM ET
The Associated Press
It's a true season of change: The Salvation Army is experimenting with a plastic alternative for folks who don't have cash to throw in a holiday red kettle.
This season, five bell-ringers in El Paso County, Colo., will be the first to accept debit and credit cards along with spare change and bills.
Salvation Army officials say the kettle tradition needs to be tweaked as consumers increasingly carry only plastic.
Bell ringers are giving the credit card-kettles mixed reviews. But some shoppers who saw the new kettles liked them, saying they've walked past kettles in the past and wanted to donate but had no cash.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/11/14/salvation-credit.html
Skinheads show support for Harper
Last Updated: Monday, December 8, 2008 9:16 AM AT
CBC News
Several skinheads tried to disrupt a rally organized by supporters of the federal Liberal-NDP coalition last Thursday night in Moncton, Codiac RCMP have confirmed.
Three skinheads heckled the crowd of 200 people in Moncton who gathered to support the coalition formed between the two opposition parties to replace the Conservative government.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/12/08/skinheads-rally.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g4:r4:c0:b0
related (from a comment on a CBC web poll):
Leaders of Countries that suspended Gov to avoid a non-confidence vote.
Adolph Hitler Germany 1933
Fransisco Franco Spain 1936
Benito Mussolini Italy 1939
Agusto Pinochet Chile 1973
Steven Harper Canada 2008
Monday, December 08, 2008
"Where there's a need, there's The Salvation Army". - Winston Churchill
Is it as true in the 2000's as it was in the 1940's?
By the way, Winston Churchill never led a party to victory in the house of commons to become the allies' war time leader and when he led the Conservatives into the post-war election, his party was soundly defeated. In his time he was each a cabinet member for the Conservatives and the Liberals and he did lead a coalition government.
(-:
Is it as true in the 2000's as it was in the 1940's?
By the way, Winston Churchill never led a party to victory in the house of commons to become the allies' war time leader and when he led the Conservatives into the post-war election, his party was soundly defeated. In his time he was each a cabinet member for the Conservatives and the Liberals and he did lead a coalition government.
(-:
Mark 1:1-8
Mark Chapman
The Expository Times
Vol. 120 No. 2. P.80
"Being in Christ is shocking and those who are in Christ will often appear strange and eccentric - like that man in the wilderness and that God on the cross... It is the foolish and the eccentric like John the Baptist who become our saints; those who can see just how radical, threatening and disturbing is the messege of God's justice.
It was the wild man in the desert who preached repentance and who practised baptism who was beheaded: and it was the strange man from Nazareth who proclaimed God's justice who was crucified.
Their message was too much for a world that has no place for foolishness..."
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Mark_1.pdf
The Expository Times
Vol. 120 No. 2. P.80
"Being in Christ is shocking and those who are in Christ will often appear strange and eccentric - like that man in the wilderness and that God on the cross... It is the foolish and the eccentric like John the Baptist who become our saints; those who can see just how radical, threatening and disturbing is the messege of God's justice.
It was the wild man in the desert who preached repentance and who practised baptism who was beheaded: and it was the strange man from Nazareth who proclaimed God's justice who was crucified.
Their message was too much for a world that has no place for foolishness..."
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Mark_1.pdf
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Horton Hears a Who
At a time when Canadians elected officials are acting like a bunch of buffoons (well, even more than usual that is.... The fact that we are still in court about the corruption in the Mulroney era - a fellow who signed the so-called free trade pact, destroyed a political party, sued tax-payers and was rewarded with an 'order of Canada' for his efforts shows that elected officials have been acting like twits for quite a while in this country.)
Anyway, at a time when the media is paying attention to the lunacy of our very highly paid elected officials who need no qualifications - but do need money - to be elected, we saw 'Horton Hears a Who.'
There were a couple of interesting sub-themes that could be identified in that movie. One of which mirrors western democracies. The Whos traditional hereditary leader, though groomed for his post and the only one with any sense, had lost all authority as elected leaders over-ruled him by ignoring the impending crisis, launching attack-ads of sorts, and promising the people all kinds of irrelevant goodies...in short the elected officials 'tickled the people's ears' like the false prophets of Biblical fame and until the end of their world had actually began, the people refused to repent and instead continued in the sins of Genesis and Judges... 'doing what seemed right in their own eyes', etc.
As well as pointing out the all too noticeable shortcoming of a democratic form of governance (esp. one with a capitalist economy), Horton pointed out the absolute blind faith of the atheist. When all others are willing to accept what is plainly obvious to see. The kangaroo, like the atheist Robespierre, blindly pursues her beliefs willing to leave death and destruction in her path...
interesting...
Friday, December 05, 2008
Russian Orthodox Church head dies
Patriarch Alexy II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has died at his residence outside Moscow, a church spokesman has announced.
There was no immediate word on the cause of death of the patriarch, who was 79, but he had been sick for some time.
Within minutes of the announcement of his death, state television broadcast video footage of him and former and current officials voiced their condolences.
read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/12/200812510256714903.html
There was no immediate word on the cause of death of the patriarch, who was 79, but he had been sick for some time.
Within minutes of the announcement of his death, state television broadcast video footage of him and former and current officials voiced their condolences.
read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/12/200812510256714903.html
Is Christmas just a tradition?
From The Nipawin Journal
December, 2008
Is Christmas just a tradition?
No.
Christmas is a special time when we remember the coming of Jesus, even as we now are looking forward to his return in the very near future. Jesus lived two thousand years ago, and the many documents collected in the Bible and other sources tell us about him. He came to live in Palestine when it was a province of the Roman Empire. His birth is linked to the time of Caesar Augustus. His life and his death by crucifixion are referred to in a number of ancient manuscripts. His whole life and ministry can be seen in the context of Jewish religious life and history. Although his universal message and ministry broke through the boundaries of Judaism, he did belong to the Jewish/Roman world of the first century AD. Jesus was an historical person but not merely an historical person because in him, God has revealed himself and acted in history on our behalf(Cf. Salvation Story, pp 35-49).
Jesus Christ is ‘truly and properly God’. ‘He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made . . .’ (John 1:2-3). The character and being of God were fully present in the life of Jesus, for ‘He who has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14: 9). The early Christians adopted the word ‘Incarnation’ to describe this truth. The word is not strictly a biblical term, but literally means ‘embodiment’ or ‘in the flesh’ (John 1:14). The Incarnation declares that our God, who was without sin, loved us so much that He even became one of us (Cf. Salvation Story, pp 35-49).
First century writers express this truth in different ways. In the Gospel of John we read that ‘the Word became flesh and lived for a while among us’ (John 1:14). In Philippians, Paul expresses this truth as he describes Christ as ‘being in very nature God’, and yet ‘taking the very nature of a servant’ (Philippians 2:6-7). In Hebrews, Jesus Christ is referred to as ‘the radiance of God’s glory and exact representation of his being’
(Hebrews 1:3). (Cf. Salvation Story, pp 35-49)
Christmas is much more than a tradition it is a time when we celebrate that God, Jesus, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” (John 1:14). “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
December, 2008
Is Christmas just a tradition?
No.
Christmas is a special time when we remember the coming of Jesus, even as we now are looking forward to his return in the very near future. Jesus lived two thousand years ago, and the many documents collected in the Bible and other sources tell us about him. He came to live in Palestine when it was a province of the Roman Empire. His birth is linked to the time of Caesar Augustus. His life and his death by crucifixion are referred to in a number of ancient manuscripts. His whole life and ministry can be seen in the context of Jewish religious life and history. Although his universal message and ministry broke through the boundaries of Judaism, he did belong to the Jewish/Roman world of the first century AD. Jesus was an historical person but not merely an historical person because in him, God has revealed himself and acted in history on our behalf(Cf. Salvation Story, pp 35-49).
Jesus Christ is ‘truly and properly God’. ‘He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made . . .’ (John 1:2-3). The character and being of God were fully present in the life of Jesus, for ‘He who has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14: 9). The early Christians adopted the word ‘Incarnation’ to describe this truth. The word is not strictly a biblical term, but literally means ‘embodiment’ or ‘in the flesh’ (John 1:14). The Incarnation declares that our God, who was without sin, loved us so much that He even became one of us (Cf. Salvation Story, pp 35-49).
First century writers express this truth in different ways. In the Gospel of John we read that ‘the Word became flesh and lived for a while among us’ (John 1:14). In Philippians, Paul expresses this truth as he describes Christ as ‘being in very nature God’, and yet ‘taking the very nature of a servant’ (Philippians 2:6-7). In Hebrews, Jesus Christ is referred to as ‘the radiance of God’s glory and exact representation of his being’
(Hebrews 1:3). (Cf. Salvation Story, pp 35-49)
Christmas is much more than a tradition it is a time when we celebrate that God, Jesus, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” (John 1:14). “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Remember from where our hope really comes...
Remember that people and politics will not save anyone. Our hope isn't in a temporal democracy, it is in an Eschatalogial Theocratic Monarchy, headed by God Himself...
---
Now about the latest round of nonsense that elected politicians like to subject us to - particularly political parties with a lot of money, like the present administration, in captialist democracies, tend to spend resources on 'spin' and 'attack ads' instead of other things...
Just to set the record straight. Some people have been saying some strange things about the current political situation in Canada - trying to make it look like a constitutional crisis of sorts - it isn't and hopefully will not become one...
The following are some Q and A re: Coalition Governments (from the TorStar)...
Would it be an abuse of power for the Governor General to prorogue parliament, as PM Harper desires, when an election was held just over a month ago?
I think that would be a reasonable interpretation. It would be an abuse of the prime minister’s power to make that request and legitimate for the Governor General to say no.
What would happen if the Coalition failed?
That would seem to be evidence that nobody can form a government with this current parliament and that it would be reasonable, then, to have to go back to an election. Theoretically, the Conservatives could say, `Here’s our evidence to say yes, we can command the confidence of Parliament again,’ if they got the Bloc or somebody to support them, but that’s highly theoretical, and we’d start to look like Italy - going back and forth like that.
Is this a coup d’état?
That’s the way the Harper government would like to portray it. But it’s fundamentally confusing a Republican system with a Parliamentary system. In essence, we have an indirect election of government - rather than a direct election. In a Republican system, voters in the U.S. got to decide, `Do I want McCain or Obama.’ And then secondarily: `Who do I want as my local rep or my state rep?’ Whereas in the Canadian parliamentary system, like the British parliamentary system, you only get to vote for whoever your local rep is, and then the majority of members of that legislature then get to decide who forms that government. And they’re free to change their minds over the course of a parliament. And in a circumstance, that we have in modern parliamentary system with party discipline, they tend to vote along party lines, which means you generally only get this when you have a minority situation.
read more from the Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/547915
---
Now about the latest round of nonsense that elected politicians like to subject us to - particularly political parties with a lot of money, like the present administration, in captialist democracies, tend to spend resources on 'spin' and 'attack ads' instead of other things...
Just to set the record straight. Some people have been saying some strange things about the current political situation in Canada - trying to make it look like a constitutional crisis of sorts - it isn't and hopefully will not become one...
The following are some Q and A re: Coalition Governments (from the TorStar)...
Would it be an abuse of power for the Governor General to prorogue parliament, as PM Harper desires, when an election was held just over a month ago?
I think that would be a reasonable interpretation. It would be an abuse of the prime minister’s power to make that request and legitimate for the Governor General to say no.
What would happen if the Coalition failed?
That would seem to be evidence that nobody can form a government with this current parliament and that it would be reasonable, then, to have to go back to an election. Theoretically, the Conservatives could say, `Here’s our evidence to say yes, we can command the confidence of Parliament again,’ if they got the Bloc or somebody to support them, but that’s highly theoretical, and we’d start to look like Italy - going back and forth like that.
Is this a coup d’état?
That’s the way the Harper government would like to portray it. But it’s fundamentally confusing a Republican system with a Parliamentary system. In essence, we have an indirect election of government - rather than a direct election. In a Republican system, voters in the U.S. got to decide, `Do I want McCain or Obama.’ And then secondarily: `Who do I want as my local rep or my state rep?’ Whereas in the Canadian parliamentary system, like the British parliamentary system, you only get to vote for whoever your local rep is, and then the majority of members of that legislature then get to decide who forms that government. And they’re free to change their minds over the course of a parliament. And in a circumstance, that we have in modern parliamentary system with party discipline, they tend to vote along party lines, which means you generally only get this when you have a minority situation.
read more from the Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/547915
Ontario's 25-in-5 poverty plan
TORONTO STAR
Tanya Talaga
Queen's Park Bureau
The Ontario government will promise today to reduce child poverty by 25 per cent within the next five years – a target activist groups say is critical to a meaningful poverty strategy.
The Liberal government, led by Children and Youth Minister Deb Matthews, is expected this afternoon to deliver its much-anticipated strategy on how to improve the lives of needy Ontarians.
Legislation will follow shortly to ensure no future government can undo the path for reducing poverty set out by the McGuinty government, said Matthews.
Matthews will also announce plans to crack down on unscrupulous employers by hiring more enforcement officers. The minister is also expected to point to legislation slated for early next week to expand the Employment Standards Act to include temporary employment agencies.
A government source said the plan will also target child poverty, putting new money into community hubs positioned to respond to local needs related to poverty reduction and student success. There'll be money to build after-school programs in high-needs neighbourhoods.
There are more than 1 million Ontarians, including one in nine children and teens, living in poverty.
"There is no shortage of evidence that if we don't address these problems in the early years the costs will only be greater later on," Premier Dalton McGuinty told reporters yesterday.
Also expected is a "tool kit" for measuring poverty in Ontario and identifying families subsisting on marginal incomes. Poverty indicators would be centred on education and drop-out rates, housing affordability and such basic gauges of children's health as obesity and mortality rates.
As in health care, where a system was introduced to measure wait times for five key health services in an attempt to reduce them, the poverty plan will be run by measurements and goals. Lifting 25 per cent of Ontario families out of poverty in the next five years is rated by many advocates as being a good start.
"There will be annual measurements taken that will be public," said McGuinty. "And there will be a focused strategy in place to help us achieve our targets."
The 25 in 5 Network, a coalition of Ontario anti-poverty groups, has long argued any plan should include a clear and measurable reduction target, but the government has previously refused to be tied to specific goals.
McGuinty acknowledged the woeful state of the economy has put a damper on the anti-poverty announcement. He said he can't do it alone – Ontario will need the support of the municipalities and the federal government.
Recent reports from many sectors have cited the urgent situation many Ontario children face. Poverty rates are soaring in Toronto suburbs, says the Children's Aid Society.
There has also been an alarming increase in the amount of people using food banks. It is projected that next year 350,000 people will use them monthly, according to the Ontario Association of Food Banks.
In Peel Region, 45 per cent of newcomers with children under age 6 live in poverty, said Paddy Ramsingh, executive director of Family Services of Peel. "That is startling news, a wake-up call to us all."
The face of poverty is increasingly south Asian, she added. Newcomers often come to Canada with good academic backgrounds, yet when they apply for work they are told they don't have Canadian qualifications, she said.
Canada doesn't officially have a poverty line. Statistics Canada defines a family living below the low-income cut-off as one spending more than 63 per cent of its after-tax income on food, shelter and clothing (an average family needs to channel 43 per cent of its purse to those needs). According to Statscan, the 2006 low-income cut-off for a single person in Toronto was about $17,570 after taxes, and for a family of four it was $33,221 after taxes.
Jacquie Maund, co-ordinator of the Ontario Campaign 2000 coalition, has been among those hoping for "25 in 5" poverty reduction.
- With files from Laurie Monsebraaten
Tanya Talaga
Queen's Park Bureau
The Ontario government will promise today to reduce child poverty by 25 per cent within the next five years – a target activist groups say is critical to a meaningful poverty strategy.
The Liberal government, led by Children and Youth Minister Deb Matthews, is expected this afternoon to deliver its much-anticipated strategy on how to improve the lives of needy Ontarians.
Legislation will follow shortly to ensure no future government can undo the path for reducing poverty set out by the McGuinty government, said Matthews.
Matthews will also announce plans to crack down on unscrupulous employers by hiring more enforcement officers. The minister is also expected to point to legislation slated for early next week to expand the Employment Standards Act to include temporary employment agencies.
A government source said the plan will also target child poverty, putting new money into community hubs positioned to respond to local needs related to poverty reduction and student success. There'll be money to build after-school programs in high-needs neighbourhoods.
There are more than 1 million Ontarians, including one in nine children and teens, living in poverty.
"There is no shortage of evidence that if we don't address these problems in the early years the costs will only be greater later on," Premier Dalton McGuinty told reporters yesterday.
Also expected is a "tool kit" for measuring poverty in Ontario and identifying families subsisting on marginal incomes. Poverty indicators would be centred on education and drop-out rates, housing affordability and such basic gauges of children's health as obesity and mortality rates.
As in health care, where a system was introduced to measure wait times for five key health services in an attempt to reduce them, the poverty plan will be run by measurements and goals. Lifting 25 per cent of Ontario families out of poverty in the next five years is rated by many advocates as being a good start.
"There will be annual measurements taken that will be public," said McGuinty. "And there will be a focused strategy in place to help us achieve our targets."
The 25 in 5 Network, a coalition of Ontario anti-poverty groups, has long argued any plan should include a clear and measurable reduction target, but the government has previously refused to be tied to specific goals.
McGuinty acknowledged the woeful state of the economy has put a damper on the anti-poverty announcement. He said he can't do it alone – Ontario will need the support of the municipalities and the federal government.
Recent reports from many sectors have cited the urgent situation many Ontario children face. Poverty rates are soaring in Toronto suburbs, says the Children's Aid Society.
There has also been an alarming increase in the amount of people using food banks. It is projected that next year 350,000 people will use them monthly, according to the Ontario Association of Food Banks.
In Peel Region, 45 per cent of newcomers with children under age 6 live in poverty, said Paddy Ramsingh, executive director of Family Services of Peel. "That is startling news, a wake-up call to us all."
The face of poverty is increasingly south Asian, she added. Newcomers often come to Canada with good academic backgrounds, yet when they apply for work they are told they don't have Canadian qualifications, she said.
Canada doesn't officially have a poverty line. Statistics Canada defines a family living below the low-income cut-off as one spending more than 63 per cent of its after-tax income on food, shelter and clothing (an average family needs to channel 43 per cent of its purse to those needs). According to Statscan, the 2006 low-income cut-off for a single person in Toronto was about $17,570 after taxes, and for a family of four it was $33,221 after taxes.
Jacquie Maund, co-ordinator of the Ontario Campaign 2000 coalition, has been among those hoping for "25 in 5" poverty reduction.
- With files from Laurie Monsebraaten
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Remember from where our salvation comes - it isn't from a democracy of any kind
The following is from an Article entitled "Vote For Jesus"
It was published in the Journal of Aggressive Christianity,
Issue 57, October 2008 – November 2008, pp. 27-29.
It is amazing how political speeches have started to sound like scripture or sermons these days. The more I listen to political speeches and the more I watch the news, the more I realise that the world really is crying out for a messiah. The USA – which is also in the midst of an election campaign - every 4 years parades out at least one possible new messiah. Look at how people talk about Obama (particularly before McCain announced his running mate); there is no mention of his past failures, only an almost messianic hope for a bright new future as if he is the One.
For all its strengths, this is one of the main downfalls of western democracies. Every election people are mistakenly looking to parties, politicians, ideologies, platitudes, and other such nonsense to solve our problems - as if that is where our salvation comes from.
You know what? If Obama or McCain wins the next US election, he is not going to withdraw their troops from the more than 100 countries that they are in. He is not going to beat their swords in the ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3). He will not be the 'Prince of Peace' (Isa 9:6). He will not end poverty (Matt 26:11, Mark 14:7). None of the presidential candidates can walk on water (Matt 14, Mark 6, John 6). Not one of them has been raised from the dead.
Likewise in Canada, regardless of who is elected, services will not improve so much that the blind will see and the lame will walk (Matt 15:31, Lk 7:22). A majority government by the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, or even the Greens, is not going to solve all of our problems. Not one of our federal leaders can walk on water – no matter what their ads tell us – not one of them has been raised from the dead.
There is a leader though who has and he's not running in the election. There is a leader who has done all that and he lived 2000 years ago. This leader did all these things and more. He even preached good news to the poor and meant it and they believed him and then, like all great leaders, he died. Jesus died but it didn't end there and this is important.
The Apostle Paul says:
"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the good news (gospel) I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this good news (gospel) you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...(1 Corinthians 15: 1-4)"
This is the most important part of the Christian faith: Paul says that it is because of the good news (gospel) that Christ died for our sins, was buried and raised from the dead that we can be saved. It was in this that He actually won the eternal election.
read morefrom JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_057.pdf
read more from sheepspeak: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_JAC.htm#Vote%20for%20Jesus
read the latest issue of JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
It was published in the Journal of Aggressive Christianity,
Issue 57, October 2008 – November 2008, pp. 27-29.
It is amazing how political speeches have started to sound like scripture or sermons these days. The more I listen to political speeches and the more I watch the news, the more I realise that the world really is crying out for a messiah. The USA – which is also in the midst of an election campaign - every 4 years parades out at least one possible new messiah. Look at how people talk about Obama (particularly before McCain announced his running mate); there is no mention of his past failures, only an almost messianic hope for a bright new future as if he is the One.
For all its strengths, this is one of the main downfalls of western democracies. Every election people are mistakenly looking to parties, politicians, ideologies, platitudes, and other such nonsense to solve our problems - as if that is where our salvation comes from.
You know what? If Obama or McCain wins the next US election, he is not going to withdraw their troops from the more than 100 countries that they are in. He is not going to beat their swords in the ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3). He will not be the 'Prince of Peace' (Isa 9:6). He will not end poverty (Matt 26:11, Mark 14:7). None of the presidential candidates can walk on water (Matt 14, Mark 6, John 6). Not one of them has been raised from the dead.
Likewise in Canada, regardless of who is elected, services will not improve so much that the blind will see and the lame will walk (Matt 15:31, Lk 7:22). A majority government by the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, or even the Greens, is not going to solve all of our problems. Not one of our federal leaders can walk on water – no matter what their ads tell us – not one of them has been raised from the dead.
There is a leader though who has and he's not running in the election. There is a leader who has done all that and he lived 2000 years ago. This leader did all these things and more. He even preached good news to the poor and meant it and they believed him and then, like all great leaders, he died. Jesus died but it didn't end there and this is important.
The Apostle Paul says:
"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the good news (gospel) I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this good news (gospel) you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...(1 Corinthians 15: 1-4)"
This is the most important part of the Christian faith: Paul says that it is because of the good news (gospel) that Christ died for our sins, was buried and raised from the dead that we can be saved. It was in this that He actually won the eternal election.
read morefrom JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_057.pdf
read more from sheepspeak: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_JAC.htm#Vote%20for%20Jesus
read the latest issue of JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Working Together
For the first time in many many years the majority of the House of Commons in Canada is threatening to work together for the good of the country. May it be so. May we not have any more of this terrible bickering and taunting and spite and lack of conciliatory leadership that this country has had for many years now. It has been quite a while since the last working majority government has been dissolved and the majority of our politicians have been unable to work together since then - now for the first time in a very long time we actually have people from diverse groups in this country offering to work together in the best interest of us all. I hope this puts an end to the terrible in-fighting that has come from petty differences and terrible leadership from our dysfunctional minority governments (which have been both led and attacked by more than one party over the past few years). Pray for our politicians.
Pray for our politicians that as a number of them promise to work together that it does happen and that it will be a good model for the churches. Like each of the politicians are supposed to look out for the best interest of their riding's electorate, each of the churches is supposed to serve God and look out for the best interest of of congregation. May we in the churches put aside our petty differences and work towards productive coalitions for Jesus.
Pray for our politicians that as a number of them promise to work together that it does happen and that it will be a good model for the churches. Like each of the politicians are supposed to look out for the best interest of their riding's electorate, each of the churches is supposed to serve God and look out for the best interest of of congregation. May we in the churches put aside our petty differences and work towards productive coalitions for Jesus.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Does anyone know why I would wish you a happy New Year today? Today is the beginning of Advent. In traditional liturgical churches, advent is the beginning of the church year where we celebrate the first coming of Christ and celebrate the hope that is in his anticipated return. Now often at New Year there are all kinds of year-end quizzes; so I thought that I would put a little tongue-in-cheek quiz together for us based on our text today, Mark 13:32-37.
read and try the quiz @ http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/11/mark-1332-37-hope-for-happy-new-year.html
read and try the quiz @ http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/11/mark-1332-37-hope-for-happy-new-year.html
Friday, November 28, 2008
John 3:16-21
I truly believe that God gives us all we need to know in this life from our experiences and even creation itself (cf. Ro 1:18-24) and indeed there will still be a time when every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Ro 14:11, Philip 2:10) and then some, some who believe in the Lord and obey His commandments will go off to spend eternity with Him[5] and some, some who deny Christ (Matthew 10:33) and do not obey His commandments (John14:15), some who simply refuse His love will go off to the hear the weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mathew 25:31ff). This is sad.
This is particularly sad because we know that God loves us. Verse 3:16 says that He loves the entire ‘Kosmos’.[6] He loves us so much that He laid down His life for us (John 15). God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten, his only natural, his only sired Son to die so that we may live.I can’t imagine how much this must hurt God that some of us do actually perish. I am a parent. Many of us are parents here. Think about this scenario for a moment...
The house across the street is on fire; there are children asleep in that house. Your child is able to save them. Your son or daughter – your ONLY son or daughter can reach them so you encourage her “…Go, go, go! Save those people.”
Your daughter goes. She goes. She suffers every peril in that burning house that everyone else in there is suffering (Cf. 1 Cor 10:14; Lk 4). There is the smoke – the deadly smoke, there is the fire, and there are the falling beams. She is successful. She gets to where the children are. She can see them. She is able to make an opening in the wall. She points them to the way out. She yells for them to walk through the opening in the wall. She has made a clear path so that all of the kids can be saved - and then she dies. Your daughter dies so that all these kids can be saved. Your child dies so that none of these kids need to die but – here’s the kicker: the children did not want to be saved. They died. She died so that they could be saved but – on purpose – they died. They did not need to die but they chose not to walk through the opening. They chose to die. Your daughter dies for them and they all die anyway; they refused to be saved.
This is what it is like for God when our loved one’s reject Him. He sent His son to this earth that is perishing. He sent His Son to this house that is on fire – and His Son died so that we may live but yet some still refuse His love for us and some still reject His Salvation. He sent Jesus not to condemn us to burn in the eternal house fire but to save us but like those children some of us refuse to obey Him and walk to safety. Some of us simply refuse to walk through that opening that Jesus died to make. John 3:18: “Those who believe in Him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already…” of their own accord because, 3:19, “people loved darkness rather than light.”
But today for those of us here I want to share the good news of John 3:16-17. Sure the house is on fire, sure Jesus died, but we, as long as we are still breathing have the opportunity to walk through the hole in the wall that He created through His death and resurrection. We can walk through the wall from certain death to certain life. All we need to do is believe in Him, obey Him, and walk through that wall to eternal life with the Father because “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only [begotten] Son, so that everyone who believe in Him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Thursday, November 27, 2008
There is still time...
Q: What is this?
..
.
.
.
.
.
A. a Christmas kettle.
There is still time to sign up for a Christmas kettle shift or two in both Nipawin and Tisdale...
Michael
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
The USA is kicking off their kettle campaign tomorrow...
Tomorrow, multi-platinum recording artists and international stars, Jonas Brothers, will kick-off The Salvation Army’s 2008 Red Kettle Campaign in the USA with a live, nationally-televised halftime show performance during the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game. Coverage begins on the Fox network at 3:15 pm CST. Jonas Brothers will also be hosting their own virtual red kettle for one week beginning today.
You might want to check it out.... we did our kick-off in Nipawin at the Co-op (-:
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Do we have a responsibility to take care of the poor?
Nipawin Journal
January 2008
Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbour as yourself.'"
"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:13-26).
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).”
Canada is one of the richest nations on earth; one in six Canadian children live in poverty.
Do I have a responsibility to share my wealth with those who are poor? Yes.
January 2008
Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbour as yourself.'"
"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:13-26).
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).”
Canada is one of the richest nations on earth; one in six Canadian children live in poverty.
Do I have a responsibility to share my wealth with those who are poor? Yes.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Poverty X 2
From http://www.cbc.ca/
Poorer Canadians are more likely to enter hospital for health problems such as child asthma, mental illness and diabetes, including potentially preventable conditions, according to a report released Monday.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/11/24/poor-hospital.html#articlecomments
From http://www.thestar.com/
Ontario will have to spend at least $6 billion over the next five years to make a dent in the province's "stubbornly high" child poverty rate of almost 12 per cent, advocates say.
read more: http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/542244
---------
Want more?
Related CBC Links:
Gap found in kidney disease treatment for aboriginal Canadians
Canada slow in combating child poverty: report
Reduce overcrowded housing to slash TB rates, native leaders urge
'Social injustice is killing people on a grand scale': report
From The Star's (Toronto) War on Poverty site:
http://www.thestar.com/poverty
Other Related Links
Reducing Gaps in Health: A Focus on Socio-Economic Status in Urban Canada, CIHI (in .pdf format)
Poorer Canadians are more likely to enter hospital for health problems such as child asthma, mental illness and diabetes, including potentially preventable conditions, according to a report released Monday.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/11/24/poor-hospital.html#articlecomments
From http://www.thestar.com/
Ontario will have to spend at least $6 billion over the next five years to make a dent in the province's "stubbornly high" child poverty rate of almost 12 per cent, advocates say.
read more: http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/542244
---------
Want more?
Related CBC Links:
Gap found in kidney disease treatment for aboriginal Canadians
Canada slow in combating child poverty: report
Reduce overcrowded housing to slash TB rates, native leaders urge
'Social injustice is killing people on a grand scale': report
From The Star's (Toronto) War on Poverty site:
http://www.thestar.com/poverty
Other Related Links
Reducing Gaps in Health: A Focus on Socio-Economic Status in Urban Canada, CIHI (in .pdf format)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The John 3:16 Man
There was a time to when it seems that you couldn’t turn on a sporting event even without seeing someone hold up a sign that said ‘John 3:16’ on it. Do you remember that? Has anyone seen that? Do you know the story about how that got started? I ran across a version of this event by Dr. David Wendel when I was doing my research. He says:
A man tried to make his mark on society by attending sporting events, getting on camera, and holding up a sign that said, "John 3:16". The fellow's name is Rollen Stewart, whose story is told in a documentary titled, "The Rainbow Man/John 3:16", made by San Francisco filmmaker, Sam Green.
Steward had problems and it seems Stewart's problems started during his childhood. His parents were alcoholics, his father died when he was seven, his mother was killed in a house fire when he was 15 and that same year his sister was strangled by her boyfriend. Rollen got into drag racing in high school, married his girlfriend, and opened a racing shop. Then his wife left him, he sold the shop, moved to the mountains, became a marijuana farmer, tried to grow the world's longest moustache, and watched a lot of TV.
In 1976, hoping to gain some attention, he had the idea to become famous by constantly popping up in the background of TV sporting events. So, putting on a rainbow-coloured wig and carrying a battery powered TV to keep track of the cameras, he would wait for his moment, then jump in to the camera frame-smiling and giving a big ‘thumbs-up’. It didn’t work.
But in his depression after the 1980 Super Bowl, he had a conversion experience while watching a TV preacher in his hotel room. At which point, he began showing up at sporting events wearing T-shirts emblazoned with "Jesus Saves", and holding that now famous sign which reads, "John 3:16". Later accompanied by his second wife, he spent his time traveling to sporting events around the country, living in his car, existing on just savings and donations. All in all, he figures he was seen at more than a thousand sporting events – Until his wife left him because he supposedly choked her for holding up a sign in the wrong location; his car was totalled by a drunk driver, his money ran out, and he wound up homeless in L.A.
Feeling harassed and convinced that the end was near, he then set off a string of bombs in a church, a Christian bookstore, a newspaper office, and other locations. He sent out apocalyptic letters warning of the end time and compiled a hit list of preachers. On September 22, 1992, Rollen, the man who brought the gospel in John 3:16 to the American sports fan, believing in the Rapture, that it was only six days away, and wanting to make a big media splash, he took a maid and two labourers hostage in an LA airport hotel, and demanded a three-hour press conference. Instead, the police threw in a grenade, kicked down the door, and Rollen is now serving three life-sentences for kidnapping. [1]
As Paul Harvey would say…now you know the REST of the story.
---
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/11/john-316-21-for-god-so-loved-world.html
---
[1] The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel. "John 3:16" Saint Luke's Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.February 17, 2008: http://www.saintlukes-cs.org/sermons/sermons-2008/Lent_II_08.shtm. Note I have only edited it very slightly here for stylistic purposes.
A man tried to make his mark on society by attending sporting events, getting on camera, and holding up a sign that said, "John 3:16". The fellow's name is Rollen Stewart, whose story is told in a documentary titled, "The Rainbow Man/John 3:16", made by San Francisco filmmaker, Sam Green.
Steward had problems and it seems Stewart's problems started during his childhood. His parents were alcoholics, his father died when he was seven, his mother was killed in a house fire when he was 15 and that same year his sister was strangled by her boyfriend. Rollen got into drag racing in high school, married his girlfriend, and opened a racing shop. Then his wife left him, he sold the shop, moved to the mountains, became a marijuana farmer, tried to grow the world's longest moustache, and watched a lot of TV.
In 1976, hoping to gain some attention, he had the idea to become famous by constantly popping up in the background of TV sporting events. So, putting on a rainbow-coloured wig and carrying a battery powered TV to keep track of the cameras, he would wait for his moment, then jump in to the camera frame-smiling and giving a big ‘thumbs-up’. It didn’t work.
But in his depression after the 1980 Super Bowl, he had a conversion experience while watching a TV preacher in his hotel room. At which point, he began showing up at sporting events wearing T-shirts emblazoned with "Jesus Saves", and holding that now famous sign which reads, "John 3:16". Later accompanied by his second wife, he spent his time traveling to sporting events around the country, living in his car, existing on just savings and donations. All in all, he figures he was seen at more than a thousand sporting events – Until his wife left him because he supposedly choked her for holding up a sign in the wrong location; his car was totalled by a drunk driver, his money ran out, and he wound up homeless in L.A.
Feeling harassed and convinced that the end was near, he then set off a string of bombs in a church, a Christian bookstore, a newspaper office, and other locations. He sent out apocalyptic letters warning of the end time and compiled a hit list of preachers. On September 22, 1992, Rollen, the man who brought the gospel in John 3:16 to the American sports fan, believing in the Rapture, that it was only six days away, and wanting to make a big media splash, he took a maid and two labourers hostage in an LA airport hotel, and demanded a three-hour press conference. Instead, the police threw in a grenade, kicked down the door, and Rollen is now serving three life-sentences for kidnapping. [1]
As Paul Harvey would say…now you know the REST of the story.
---
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/11/john-316-21-for-god-so-loved-world.html
---
[1] The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel. "John 3:16" Saint Luke's Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.February 17, 2008: http://www.saintlukes-cs.org/sermons/sermons-2008/Lent_II_08.shtm. Note I have only edited it very slightly here for stylistic purposes.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
John 3:16-21: For God so loved the world...
Tomorrow's sermon is ready: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/
Like A Hawk...
Last night Sarah-Grace and I went to see the Nipawin Hawks hockey game. Last night at the game the Kinsmen donated over 600 items for the Christmas hampers and the Lions collected over 330 toys for us to give to the kids.
The toy event is called the 'Teddy Bear Toss'. After the home team (the Hawks) scores its first goal, everyone throws a teddy bear onto the ice for The Salvation Army to give to kids in need - it is quite a thing. It is great! Well after the first period 3 goals had been scored (none by the home team) and after the second 7 had been scored by the opposition but the Hawks were still not on the board - and the Teddy Bears still not on the ice. With the Flin Flon bombers adding to their lead well into the third period, people were beginning to wonder if The Army would get the toys tonight; we thought we were going to have to comeback to the next game (which wouldn't be so bad...) but then we finally scored a goal.
Sarah-Grace, on the Hawks goal: "see Daddy, I told you the good guys always win in the end." And in a way, I guess we did... And in a way (eternally speaking) I guess she is also right (-:
During the first intermission, while we were loading the food in the car and were commenting on the fact that the Hawks might not score a goal, S-G told me, "Don't worry if we don't get the teddy bears - they are just 'things'. Nobody really needs things. We have the food. It will be okay..."
How true...
Like A Hawk...
Last night Sarah-Grace and I went to see the Nipawin Hawks hockey game. Last night at the game the Kinsmen donated over 600 items for the Christmas hampers and the Lions collected over 330 toys for us to give to the kids.
The toy event is called the 'Teddy Bear Toss'. After the home team (the Hawks) scores its first goal, everyone throws a teddy bear onto the ice for The Salvation Army to give to kids in need - it is quite a thing. It is great! Well after the first period 3 goals had been scored (none by the home team) and after the second 7 had been scored by the opposition but the Hawks were still not on the board - and the Teddy Bears still not on the ice. With the Flin Flon bombers adding to their lead well into the third period, people were beginning to wonder if The Army would get the toys tonight; we thought we were going to have to comeback to the next game (which wouldn't be so bad...) but then we finally scored a goal.
Sarah-Grace, on the Hawks goal: "see Daddy, I told you the good guys always win in the end." And in a way, I guess we did... And in a way (eternally speaking) I guess she is also right (-:
During the first intermission, while we were loading the food in the car and were commenting on the fact that the Hawks might not score a goal, S-G told me, "Don't worry if we don't get the teddy bears - they are just 'things'. Nobody really needs things. We have the food. It will be okay..."
How true...
Friday, November 21, 2008
Huricane Ike Relief
I had the opportunity yesterday to speak with the Rotary club about our Hurricane Ike Relief effort:
It was 90 degrees down there; it isn't that here:
Reminder: Christmas Hamper Registration is next week...
Monday 12-4pm in Tisdale
Tuesday 10am -12pm in Nipawin
Thursday 1-3pm in Nipawin
Thursday 1-3pm in Nipawin
Don't forget to sign up for a kettle shift or two as well : kettle@sheepspeak.com
Thursday, November 20, 2008
'The Lord's Supper'
The Reformer Ulrich Zwingli had an important stance on the Lord’s Supper in specific and on the sacraments in general. His position on the Lord’s Supper was one of the primary things that drove the wedge between himself, the established church, and his fellow reformers. Zwingli disliked the term ‘sacraments’ stating, “I wish the Germans never let this word get into their theological vocabulary”[25] for it caused a great source of division between the Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anabaptists and others (this is not unlike some early Salvationist arguments). Zwinglian historian, Jacques Courvoisier points out that, in contrast to the aforementioned three groups, “to Zwingli, a sacrament is thus a kind of induction or pledge. To receive it is to enlist in Christ’s forces, and to receive in return a token, a reminder, that one must not yield but remain faithful.”[26]
Zwingli in Baptism, Rebaptism and Infant Baptism argued that baptism and also communion are merely outward signs that were given to us ‘as a concession to our frailty.’ It cannot take away one’s sins as no outward sign can possibly do this anymore than an outward sign can confirm faith because faith does not come from outward signs; faith comes from God. It is rather like a pledge of allegiance of sorts.[27] Zwingli remarks in a statement on baptism that he could equally apply to the Lord’s Supper, “The man who receives the mark of baptism is the one who is resolved to hear what God says to him, to learn the divine precepts and to live his life in accordance with them.”[28]
Ulrich Zwingli’s theology of baptism and communion continued to develop the more he studied and after 1525 it became linked with his understanding of covenant. Whereas he had previously argued that the observance of baptism was a covenant between the Christian and his (her) fellow Christians, he now argued that God had one covenant with humankind and the sacraments were symbolic of that covenant. As circumcision was nothing more than a symbol of this covenant that ‘God would be the God of his chosen people and they would be his people’ in the Old Testament so is baptism and communion, as circumcision’s contemporary cultural-religious equivalents (cf. The Apostle Paul’s writing on circumcision) in the New Testament era and beyond.[29]
Zwingli being the first of the Reformed Theologians had a great influence through Bullinger (1504-1575), his successor, over John Calvin (1509-1564). Though Calvin’s shadow often hides Zwingli from popular recognition, parts of Calvin’s theology certainly sprung from Zwinglian roots with some notable exceptions: one of these exceptions being the Lord’s Supper. Calvin and Bullinger reached a compromise on the Lord’s Supper: they decided (against Zwingli’s position) that it was not purely symbolic. The Salvation Army’s official stance however is closer to Zwingli’s than Calvin’s or Luther’s or Wesley’s. In the most recent ecclesiological statement (2008) was included the claim, “we maintain that no external observance can rightly be said to be essential to salvation or to the receiving of divine grace”[30]
Calvin did not see communion as purely symbolic but he did not go as far as transubstantiation or even consubstantiation; Calvin “in the 17th chapter of the fourth book of the institutes, disputes the catholic and Lutheran formulae of a divine presence enclosed in the Eucharistic species, insists on the communicant’s participation in the Risen Body which is in heaven.”[31] This is a step closer to Wesley’s later understanding than Ulrich Zwingli’s previous one of a purely symbolic nature.
Zwingli, however, argued the purely symbolic stance with passion. This was the key contribution to his split with Martin Luther: they broke over an understanding of Christ's role in the bread and the wine of communion. Their break was irreconcilable. Intermediaries could not bring them together. Both men rejected transubstantiation. Luther preferred consubstantiation (“a word that Luther never used [meaning] no change in substance, but an addition of the elements of the body of Christ.”)[32] Zwingli, as has been stated, moved towards the idea of the Lord’s Supper as purely a symbolic act, rejecting the ‘real presence’ all together.[33] In 1526 Zwingli wrote the German treatise, A Clear Briefing About Christ's Supper, in which openly attacked any idea of the real presence of Lord in the supper before going on to defend his purely symbolic understanding.[34] The rift between them continued unmended. “Not even Zwingli’s death at Kappel appeased his opponent: it was merely the removal of another fanatic. Zwingli resorted to the sword and received his just reward. Worst of all, Luther proclaimed, Zwingli was no fellow Christian.”[35] This was a serious issue for both men.
Specifically addressing the Lord’s Supper, Zwingli had argued that when Jesus is recorded as saying, ‘this is my body’ as it relates to the sacrament, the word ‘is’ can and should be translated ‘signifies’. Zwingli, who generally rejected the authority of the church fathers, draws on Augustine, Tertullian, and Origin’s arguments to make this point.[36] He further cites John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is of no avail” claiming that this text renders impossible all views of eating the flesh (including but not limited to ideas such as transubstantiation and consubstantiation). He cited from 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, the phrase, “we many are one bread and one body”, to argue that by eating the bread we are merely binding ourselves to an oath rather than consuming Christ in any practical way.[37] Communion like Baptism is a sign, a symbol, and therefore is neither necessary nor necessarily useful. Near the end of his life, he only administered the Lord’s Supper a maximum of four times each year.
read more: http://sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_History_TSA.htm#Wesley1
Zwingli in Baptism, Rebaptism and Infant Baptism argued that baptism and also communion are merely outward signs that were given to us ‘as a concession to our frailty.’ It cannot take away one’s sins as no outward sign can possibly do this anymore than an outward sign can confirm faith because faith does not come from outward signs; faith comes from God. It is rather like a pledge of allegiance of sorts.[27] Zwingli remarks in a statement on baptism that he could equally apply to the Lord’s Supper, “The man who receives the mark of baptism is the one who is resolved to hear what God says to him, to learn the divine precepts and to live his life in accordance with them.”[28]
Ulrich Zwingli’s theology of baptism and communion continued to develop the more he studied and after 1525 it became linked with his understanding of covenant. Whereas he had previously argued that the observance of baptism was a covenant between the Christian and his (her) fellow Christians, he now argued that God had one covenant with humankind and the sacraments were symbolic of that covenant. As circumcision was nothing more than a symbol of this covenant that ‘God would be the God of his chosen people and they would be his people’ in the Old Testament so is baptism and communion, as circumcision’s contemporary cultural-religious equivalents (cf. The Apostle Paul’s writing on circumcision) in the New Testament era and beyond.[29]
Zwingli being the first of the Reformed Theologians had a great influence through Bullinger (1504-1575), his successor, over John Calvin (1509-1564). Though Calvin’s shadow often hides Zwingli from popular recognition, parts of Calvin’s theology certainly sprung from Zwinglian roots with some notable exceptions: one of these exceptions being the Lord’s Supper. Calvin and Bullinger reached a compromise on the Lord’s Supper: they decided (against Zwingli’s position) that it was not purely symbolic. The Salvation Army’s official stance however is closer to Zwingli’s than Calvin’s or Luther’s or Wesley’s. In the most recent ecclesiological statement (2008) was included the claim, “we maintain that no external observance can rightly be said to be essential to salvation or to the receiving of divine grace”[30]
Calvin did not see communion as purely symbolic but he did not go as far as transubstantiation or even consubstantiation; Calvin “in the 17th chapter of the fourth book of the institutes, disputes the catholic and Lutheran formulae of a divine presence enclosed in the Eucharistic species, insists on the communicant’s participation in the Risen Body which is in heaven.”[31] This is a step closer to Wesley’s later understanding than Ulrich Zwingli’s previous one of a purely symbolic nature.
Zwingli, however, argued the purely symbolic stance with passion. This was the key contribution to his split with Martin Luther: they broke over an understanding of Christ's role in the bread and the wine of communion. Their break was irreconcilable. Intermediaries could not bring them together. Both men rejected transubstantiation. Luther preferred consubstantiation (“a word that Luther never used [meaning] no change in substance, but an addition of the elements of the body of Christ.”)[32] Zwingli, as has been stated, moved towards the idea of the Lord’s Supper as purely a symbolic act, rejecting the ‘real presence’ all together.[33] In 1526 Zwingli wrote the German treatise, A Clear Briefing About Christ's Supper, in which openly attacked any idea of the real presence of Lord in the supper before going on to defend his purely symbolic understanding.[34] The rift between them continued unmended. “Not even Zwingli’s death at Kappel appeased his opponent: it was merely the removal of another fanatic. Zwingli resorted to the sword and received his just reward. Worst of all, Luther proclaimed, Zwingli was no fellow Christian.”[35] This was a serious issue for both men.
Specifically addressing the Lord’s Supper, Zwingli had argued that when Jesus is recorded as saying, ‘this is my body’ as it relates to the sacrament, the word ‘is’ can and should be translated ‘signifies’. Zwingli, who generally rejected the authority of the church fathers, draws on Augustine, Tertullian, and Origin’s arguments to make this point.[36] He further cites John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is of no avail” claiming that this text renders impossible all views of eating the flesh (including but not limited to ideas such as transubstantiation and consubstantiation). He cited from 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, the phrase, “we many are one bread and one body”, to argue that by eating the bread we are merely binding ourselves to an oath rather than consuming Christ in any practical way.[37] Communion like Baptism is a sign, a symbol, and therefore is neither necessary nor necessarily useful. Near the end of his life, he only administered the Lord’s Supper a maximum of four times each year.
read more: http://sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_History_TSA.htm#Wesley1
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Question...
2 Corinthians 13:5-7: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are living by faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ is in you? – unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test. I hope that you will find that you will not fail.”
Reading this made me realize that we have not had a test in a while – so in the spirit of Disneyworld from where we have just returned I have a little riddle for you.
Show pictures of Captain Hook and other Pirates.
If you saw a ship like this with a crew of men with hooks for hands, pegs for legs, and patches over their eyes ....What do you think would be on their flag?
check answer here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/11/amos-32-therefore-i-will-punish-you.html
Reading this made me realize that we have not had a test in a while – so in the spirit of Disneyworld from where we have just returned I have a little riddle for you.
Show pictures of Captain Hook and other Pirates.
If you saw a ship like this with a crew of men with hooks for hands, pegs for legs, and patches over their eyes ....What do you think would be on their flag?
check answer here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/11/amos-32-therefore-i-will-punish-you.html
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Ploughshares
Breaking the War Cycle
Project Ploughshares is an ecumenical agency of the Canadian Council of Churches established in 1976 to implement the churches' call to be peacemakers and to work for a world in which justice will flourish and peace abound. The mandate given to Project Ploughshares is to work with churches and related organizations, as well as governments and non-governmental organizations, in Canada and abroad, to identify, develop, and advance approaches that build peace and prevent war, and promote the peaceful resolution of political conflict.
"and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4)
This was in my e-mail in box:
HELP BAN CLUSTER BOMBS - SIGN THE PEOPLE’S TREATY
As a member of Mines Action Canada (MAC), Project Ploughshares is supporting MAC’s campaign to ban cluster bombs. We are sending you this email today to ask you to sign the People’s Treaty to help urge the Canadian government to sign The Convention on Cluster Munitions on December 3, 2008 in Oslo that will prohibit the use, stockpiling, transfer, and production of cluster munitions. To get more information and to sign the People’s Treaty, go to http://www.minesactioncanada.org/peoples_treaty/index.html.
Earlier this year the Canadian government, along with more than 100 other governments, endorsed the final text for an international convention banning cluster munitions. By adding your name to the People’s Treaty you will be delivering a call to Canada and other governments to sign the Convention and make the ban on cluster bombs a reality. “All governments serious about protecting civilians in armed conflict will sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo on December 3 and ratify it without delay,” says Thomas Nash, Coordinator, Cluster Munitions Coalition.
Please sign the Treaty by November 30th. Thank you.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Scriptures
Wesley put a strong emphasis on the scriptures: “I want to know one thing - the way to heaven, how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach me the way, for this very end He came from heaven; He hath written it down in a book. O give me that Book! At any price, give me the Book of God. I have it; here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri!”[14] A very significant means of grace that Wesley claims is hearing, reading and meditating upon the ‘Book of God’, the scriptures. He opens this part of the discussion in his sermon, The Means of Grace, by reasoning through scripture that “Our Lord’s direction, with regard to the use of this means, is likewise plain and clear. ‘Search the scriptures,’ saith he to the unbelieving Jews, ‘for they testify of me.’ (John 5:39) And for this very end did he direct them to search the Scriptures, that they might believe in him.”[15] He further reasons from the scriptures and tradition that the Bereans received accolades from the Apostle Paul for searching the scriptures (Acts 17:11-12) and Timothy for meditating on them since he was young (2 Tim. 3:15). Noting that all scripture is given by God (2 Tim 3:16-17), he reasoned that the scriptures are infallible and thus profitable for each of us to engage[16] and indeed as “a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day-star arise in your hearts.’ (2 Peter 1:19)”, if we want to share in this experience Wesley argues that we should search the scriptures as a means of grace.[17]
The scriptures were of the utmost importance to all of the Reformers. Zwingli was no different. He, like Wesley, certainly understood them as inerrant. Ulrich Zwingli produced the first German Bible, the Zurich Bible, which he made with Leo Juda (1524-29) and this Bible was one of five major sources for the Coverdale Bible (1535).[18] This is significant. Zwingli held a strong belief in the central role of the Bible in Christian belief and practice and as such he made it available to the German-reading public. In his work, On True and False Religion, Zwingli states that the true source of all religion is the Word of God. “The Reformation as a whole was based on this principle, at least in the Reformer’s intentions and any study of Zwingli’s theology ought therefore to begin with his understanding of the Word.”[19]
Wesley, as we have shown, assigned a very important role for the Bible in his understanding of the means of grace. Even so, Zwingli held a more prominent role for the scriptures than did Wesley. Zwingli insisted that the scriptures – not reason, not experience and certainly not the traditions of the Church fathers – was the only master, teacher and guide. He held the extreme flank of the Sola Scriptura line. He proclaimed in his sermon, Of the Clarity and Certainty of the Word of God, “there is no law or word that will give greater light to the inward man than the Word of God.”[20] He insisted that the word of man must always be subject to the Word of God rather than the other way around[21] as he perceived was happening in his day and could certainly be argued is happening still in ours. He dismissed non-Biblical writers with scorn but when he quoted them, as he was apt to do, he acknowledged that the wisdom of God could even be shown through the ungodly.[22] Humankind can only come to know God and oneself through the Word of God; it is the Word of God, Zwingli claimed, which sets us apart from the plants and the animals.[23] More than any other churchman of his day, Ulrich Zwingli, truly did believe in Sola Scriptura.
Like Wesley and Zwingli, The Salvation Army holds a very important role for the scriptures in our theological tradition. The first of our eleven doctrines reads, “We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.” We hold that they are the primary authority, the ‘final court of appeal’ for the Christian that supersedes all other claims and that “as we search the scriptures, we enter into dialogue with them and experience the transforming power of the message.”[24]
The Salvation Army, like Wesley and like Zwingli, reserves a central place in our understanding of how we engage the Lord through the Word of God. While John Wesley did not ascribe to the same extent as Zwingli to the most radical version of the Reformation’s rallying call of Sola Scriptura, as was shown, Wesley clearly held that reading, hearing, and meditating on the scriptures was a very significant, and indeed one of the primary means of grace.
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_History_TSA.htm#Wesley1
The scriptures were of the utmost importance to all of the Reformers. Zwingli was no different. He, like Wesley, certainly understood them as inerrant. Ulrich Zwingli produced the first German Bible, the Zurich Bible, which he made with Leo Juda (1524-29) and this Bible was one of five major sources for the Coverdale Bible (1535).[18] This is significant. Zwingli held a strong belief in the central role of the Bible in Christian belief and practice and as such he made it available to the German-reading public. In his work, On True and False Religion, Zwingli states that the true source of all religion is the Word of God. “The Reformation as a whole was based on this principle, at least in the Reformer’s intentions and any study of Zwingli’s theology ought therefore to begin with his understanding of the Word.”[19]
Wesley, as we have shown, assigned a very important role for the Bible in his understanding of the means of grace. Even so, Zwingli held a more prominent role for the scriptures than did Wesley. Zwingli insisted that the scriptures – not reason, not experience and certainly not the traditions of the Church fathers – was the only master, teacher and guide. He held the extreme flank of the Sola Scriptura line. He proclaimed in his sermon, Of the Clarity and Certainty of the Word of God, “there is no law or word that will give greater light to the inward man than the Word of God.”[20] He insisted that the word of man must always be subject to the Word of God rather than the other way around[21] as he perceived was happening in his day and could certainly be argued is happening still in ours. He dismissed non-Biblical writers with scorn but when he quoted them, as he was apt to do, he acknowledged that the wisdom of God could even be shown through the ungodly.[22] Humankind can only come to know God and oneself through the Word of God; it is the Word of God, Zwingli claimed, which sets us apart from the plants and the animals.[23] More than any other churchman of his day, Ulrich Zwingli, truly did believe in Sola Scriptura.
Like Wesley and Zwingli, The Salvation Army holds a very important role for the scriptures in our theological tradition. The first of our eleven doctrines reads, “We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.” We hold that they are the primary authority, the ‘final court of appeal’ for the Christian that supersedes all other claims and that “as we search the scriptures, we enter into dialogue with them and experience the transforming power of the message.”[24]
The Salvation Army, like Wesley and like Zwingli, reserves a central place in our understanding of how we engage the Lord through the Word of God. While John Wesley did not ascribe to the same extent as Zwingli to the most radical version of the Reformation’s rallying call of Sola Scriptura, as was shown, Wesley clearly held that reading, hearing, and meditating on the scriptures was a very significant, and indeed one of the primary means of grace.
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_History_TSA.htm#Wesley1
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