TSA USA, 'Doing The Most Good' : http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/E402898512A8DB8E852574C3006DBB8A?Opendocument
TSA USA Central: http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/usc/www_usc.nsf/vw-news/6880C9246338FAE9862574C2006D6125?opendocument
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Dead Sea Scrolls
Sep 24, 2008 03:56 PM
John Goddard Staff Reporter
Five of the Dead Sea Scrolls destined for a blockbuster show next year at the Royal Ontario Museum will be going on public display for the first time, museum authorities said today.
Sixteen ancient scrolls - including the five - form the core of an exhibition on the earliest known copies of the Old Testament, or Hebrew Bible, discovered by Bedouin goat-herders near the Dead Sea in what is now Israel in 1947.
“I’ve seen them in Jerusalem,” ROM director William Thorsell said of some of the scrolls following the official announcement.
“When you actually see a fragment of Isaiah actually written 2,000 years ago, the oldest reference to the words we all know so well, there’s something very powerful about that, something unexpected.”
read more from the Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/505241
John Goddard Staff Reporter
Five of the Dead Sea Scrolls destined for a blockbuster show next year at the Royal Ontario Museum will be going on public display for the first time, museum authorities said today.
Sixteen ancient scrolls - including the five - form the core of an exhibition on the earliest known copies of the Old Testament, or Hebrew Bible, discovered by Bedouin goat-herders near the Dead Sea in what is now Israel in 1947.
“I’ve seen them in Jerusalem,” ROM director William Thorsell said of some of the scrolls following the official announcement.
“When you actually see a fragment of Isaiah actually written 2,000 years ago, the oldest reference to the words we all know so well, there’s something very powerful about that, something unexpected.”
read more from the Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/505241
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Micah Challenge
“I’ve been lambasted and chewed out. I’ve had pastors say, ‘What right do you have to tell us we need to help the poor? We don’t need to do that. Our job is to preach the gospel,” says Easthouse.
“Some churches say we have to condition our help to the poor…[The poor] have to participate in the life of the church. If they’re not willing to join us then we’re not willing to help them.”
read more from Christianweek.org: http://www.christianweek.org/stories.php?id=202
“Some churches say we have to condition our help to the poor…[The poor] have to participate in the life of the church. If they’re not willing to join us then we’re not willing to help them.”
read more from Christianweek.org: http://www.christianweek.org/stories.php?id=202
Monday, September 22, 2008
End Poverty and the Canadian Election
ISSUE WATCH
Poverty : What can be done to help?
Last Updated: Thursday, September 18, 2008 9:01 PM ET
by Brian Kemp, CBC News
The homeless are visible in big cities and small communities across Canada. Soup kitchens and shelters are busy, and some Canadians have more than one low-paying job and struggle to pay bills and buy the things they need for daily living.
There is poverty in Canada...
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/09/18/f-electionpoverty.html
related from CBC:
IN DEPTH: The debate over Canada's poverty line
Income gaps grow, as Canada's have-nots get left behind
more (non-CBC) links:
National Anti-Poverty Organization
MOSAIC
Earnings and Incomes of Canadians Over the Past Quarter Century, 2006 Census
related: vote to make poverty history, http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/en/take-action/action-alerts/vote-make-poverty-history
Poverty : What can be done to help?
Last Updated: Thursday, September 18, 2008 9:01 PM ET
by Brian Kemp, CBC News
The homeless are visible in big cities and small communities across Canada. Soup kitchens and shelters are busy, and some Canadians have more than one low-paying job and struggle to pay bills and buy the things they need for daily living.
There is poverty in Canada...
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/09/18/f-electionpoverty.html
related from CBC:
IN DEPTH: The debate over Canada's poverty line
Income gaps grow, as Canada's have-nots get left behind
more (non-CBC) links:
National Anti-Poverty Organization
MOSAIC
Earnings and Incomes of Canadians Over the Past Quarter Century, 2006 Census
related: vote to make poverty history, http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/en/take-action/action-alerts/vote-make-poverty-history
Sunday, September 21, 2008
FOURTH-CENTURY BIBLE ONLINE
Ancient Codex Sinaiticus accessible to global audience
One of the oldest copies of the Bible is now online. It was handwritten by early Christians living in Egypt around 350 A.D. The manuscript contains the Christian Bible in Greek, including the oldest complete copy of the New Testament. Its heavily corrected text is of outstanding importance for the history of the Bible as the manuscript is the oldest substantial book to survive Antiquity.
The Codex Sinaiticus Project is an international collaboration to reunite the entire manuscript in digital form and make it accessible to a global audience for the first time. Drawing on the expertise of leading scholars, conservators and curators, the Project gives everyone the opportunity to connect directly with this famous manuscript.
The document is believed to be the oldest known Greek copy of the Bible, along with the Codex Vaticanus. High resolution images of the Gospel of Mark, several Old Testament books and notes on the work made over the centuries now appear on www.codex-sinaiticus.net as a first step towards publishing the entire manuscript online by next July. Selected translations will be available in English and German.
The manuscript “is like nothing else online," said Ulrich Johannes Schneider, director of Leipzig University Library, which holds part of the manuscript. "It's also an enrichment of the virtual world - and a bit of a change from YouTube."
The vellum manuscript (a parchment made from calfskin) was discovered in Saint Catherine's Monastery near Mount Sinai by German biblical scholar Konstantin von Tischendorf in 1844. He was allowed to take some folios to Leipzig. He returned in 1859 and acquired the largest section of the Bible for his new Russian sponsors. It remained in St Petersburg until Stalin sold it to the British Museum in 1933. The Codex is now housed at four locations in Europe and the Middle East.
The internet project was launched in cooperation with the University of Leipzig, the Russian National Library, the British Library and Saint Catherine's Monastery.
"Thanks to technology we can now make the oldest cultural artifacts--ones that were once so precious you couldn't show them to anyone--accessible to everyone, in really high quality," Schneider said.
from TAP (The Anglican Planet) : http://anglicanplanet.net/TAPIntern0809d.html
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Dr Was
September 21
Daniel 7-8 and Psalm 137 and Luke 4
Ephesians 4:27: Anger gives the devil a foothold....
More comics and rations: http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Daniel 7-8 and Psalm 137 and Luke 4
Ephesians 4:27: Anger gives the devil a foothold....
More comics and rations: http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Friday, September 19, 2008
How do we know that Christ was raised from the dead?
how do we know that Christ was raised from the dead? It says in 1 Cor 15:20-23 that Christ was the first fruits of the resurrection. He was raised from the dead. His body was gone from the tomb (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20) – How do we know?
Paul points as evidence to this all of the witnesses, of whom he was one. He says as we read in 1 Cor 15:5-8: “…[Jesus] appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also…” There were also the women at the tomb (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20). There were all those recorded in the Gospels and Acts and so many in fact, in both number and account – believe it or not – that historically there is more evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, than there is for the very existence of Socrates or even of Julius Caesar’s historic crossing of the Rubicon which led to his entire reign[2] but, even so, some will always be stubborn. Some will always be ignorant to what is before them and some will -sadly – choose to reject Christ. There is lots of evidence that Christ was resurrected. We know that he was dead and he came back and we wait for his return again because we were dead in our sins and we will come back, we will be resurrected too and as we come to Christ, even we will be saved!
Still – with all the assuredness, with all those witnesses and the preponderance of evidence – some people argue that Christ did not actually rise from the dead. Some say that the person that people saw after he was raised wasn’t Jesus. Some say it was someone else. The fact that Jesus was not recognised at first by a couple of people on the road – the fact that people did not recognize him has been a bit of a stumbling block for some but I must confess that I don’t know why. On the road to Emmaus (Luke 24) you will remember the story, two of the disciples are talking and Jesus comes up beside them and joins in the conversation but they do not recognise him. Some say this is because Jesus mysteriously hid himself from them. While this is possible, I find it much more likely that they just simply did not recognise him.
The people Jesus was walking with were probably not some of his closest twelve: they were other followers of his. And I don’t know about you, but I’ll confess to you that I don’t always recognise people right away. I don’t always recognise people that I should recognise too – if you catch me out of context. If you appear before me in the wrong setting, I might not know who you are. I can tell you that once, I spoke with a very good friend of mine for a solid block of time before the light bulb went off in my brain as to who they actually were…now they had changed somewhat in the time since I last saw them and I certainly wasn’t expecting to see them then but when who they were was revealed to me, we had an exciting conversation. I imagine that it might have been similar here – they weren’t expecting to see Jesus and he had changed somewhat.
He later appeared in the locked room to his disciples and to Thomas, the disciple who longed for concrete proof of the resurrection, Jesus even held out his physically resurrected body’s hand for him to feel the nail holes (John 20). We all – when we stop to think about it – we all know that he was resurrected; we all know that he was dead and he came back. We were dead in our sins and we will come back, we will be resurrected too and as we come to Christ, even we will be saved!
read more: http://www.sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/
Paul points as evidence to this all of the witnesses, of whom he was one. He says as we read in 1 Cor 15:5-8: “…[Jesus] appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also…” There were also the women at the tomb (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20). There were all those recorded in the Gospels and Acts and so many in fact, in both number and account – believe it or not – that historically there is more evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, than there is for the very existence of Socrates or even of Julius Caesar’s historic crossing of the Rubicon which led to his entire reign[2] but, even so, some will always be stubborn. Some will always be ignorant to what is before them and some will -sadly – choose to reject Christ. There is lots of evidence that Christ was resurrected. We know that he was dead and he came back and we wait for his return again because we were dead in our sins and we will come back, we will be resurrected too and as we come to Christ, even we will be saved!
Still – with all the assuredness, with all those witnesses and the preponderance of evidence – some people argue that Christ did not actually rise from the dead. Some say that the person that people saw after he was raised wasn’t Jesus. Some say it was someone else. The fact that Jesus was not recognised at first by a couple of people on the road – the fact that people did not recognize him has been a bit of a stumbling block for some but I must confess that I don’t know why. On the road to Emmaus (Luke 24) you will remember the story, two of the disciples are talking and Jesus comes up beside them and joins in the conversation but they do not recognise him. Some say this is because Jesus mysteriously hid himself from them. While this is possible, I find it much more likely that they just simply did not recognise him.
The people Jesus was walking with were probably not some of his closest twelve: they were other followers of his. And I don’t know about you, but I’ll confess to you that I don’t always recognise people right away. I don’t always recognise people that I should recognise too – if you catch me out of context. If you appear before me in the wrong setting, I might not know who you are. I can tell you that once, I spoke with a very good friend of mine for a solid block of time before the light bulb went off in my brain as to who they actually were…now they had changed somewhat in the time since I last saw them and I certainly wasn’t expecting to see them then but when who they were was revealed to me, we had an exciting conversation. I imagine that it might have been similar here – they weren’t expecting to see Jesus and he had changed somewhat.
He later appeared in the locked room to his disciples and to Thomas, the disciple who longed for concrete proof of the resurrection, Jesus even held out his physically resurrected body’s hand for him to feel the nail holes (John 20). We all – when we stop to think about it – we all know that he was resurrected; we all know that he was dead and he came back. We were dead in our sins and we will come back, we will be resurrected too and as we come to Christ, even we will be saved!
read more: http://www.sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 18, 2008
International Day of Peace - 21 September 2008
From TheSalvationArmy.org
General Clifton calls Salvation Army to prayer
General Shaw Clifton has issued the following call to prayer:
GREETINGS in the name of Jesus.Salvationists are praying people and we have cause to be deeply grateful for the devoted prayer which has supported God's children through many situations in different areas of the world during this past year. Sometimes there is a need to call the whole Salvation Army to prayer on a specific issue, and this will happen again this year in the month of September.
Call to Prayer for Peace, Sunday 21 September 2008 (International Day of Peace)
As last year, The Salvation Army around the world is called upon to mark the above date by praying for peace. Not only is there conflict between nations, but many countries have suffered internal tension and political unrest. Inevitably, the innocent suffer, and there is tragic loss of life and displacement of people. Our intercession is for the leaders of the nations, striving for peace and justice, and for the victims of war, suffering pain and bereavement. Our heartfelt plea to the Lord is: 'Guide our feet into the path of peace' (Luke 1:79, Today's New International Version).
From http://www.ploughshares.ca/
International Day of Peace - 21 September 2008
Background
Recognition of the UN-declared International Day of Peace has been building over the past few years and is becoming a genuine global phenomenon. The concept itself is not new, dating back to 1981 when the United Nations General Assembly Resolution UN/A/RES/36/67 stated that it would be appropriate “to devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States, as well as of the whole of mankind, to promoting the ideals of peace and to giving positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways… (The International Day of Peace) should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”At first the day was scheduled to be on the third Thursday of September to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. In 2001, an amending UN resolution UN/A/RES/55/282 fixed the date of the International Day of Peace on 21 September and called for a Global Ceasefire on that Day.
Resources
The UN International Day of Peace site: http://www.un.org/events/peaceday/2007/
Note the text and video links to the UN Secretary-General's text and video message given on June 12, 2008, 100 days in advance of this year's International Day of Peace.
The Global International Day of Peace site: http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/.
An attractive new website, launched in mid-August 2008, this resource has many suggestions for activities that groups can undertake and an invitation to list activities with them.
People Building Peace: http://www.peoplebuildingpeace.org/.
A project of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (also known as GPPAC or the Global Partnership), and whose secretariat is the European Centre for Conflict Prevention, People Building Peace produces publications documenting and analysing the role of civil society in conflict prevention. It also lists International Day of Peace activities worldwide and provides an Awareness Raising Toolkit that may be helpful.
World Council of Churches: http://overcomingviolence.org/en/about-dov/international-day-of-prayer-for-peace.html.
In 2004 the idea for an International Day of Prayer for Peace that coincides with the UN International Day of Peace was proposed at a meeting between WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (press release). The Day of Prayer became one of the initiatives of the WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence and congregations worldwide are now invited to pray for peace - possibly using the same prayers - in all participating churches on September 21 or the Sunday preceding it. The resources section of this WCC webpage contains the prayers that have been collected annually since 2004 and includes a brochure and prayers for 2008 which have a Pacific focus.
International Day of Peace Vigil: http://www.idpvigil.com/.
The objective of the International Day of Peace Vigil is "To encourage worldwide, 24-hour spiritual observations for peace and nonviolence on the International Day of Peace, September 21st in every house of worship and place of spiritual practice, by all religious and spiritually based groups and individuals, and by all men, women and children who seek peace in the world." The Vigil website has further information on this initiative including a listing of those committing to events this year.
Events
CalgaryPeople Building Peace - a celebration of the International Day of PeaceSunday, September 21, 20081:30 pm Walk in the Park (Meet ahead outside Eau Claire Market at the Olympic Arch)2:30 pm Picnic in Peace Park ( Bow River pathway at 8th Street and 2nd Avenue SW)
Edmonton International Day of Peace Gathering at City Hall Sunday, September 21, 2008, 4:00-6:00 pm
OttawaPACIFEST: marking the UN International Day of Peace with Peace WalksSunday, September 21, 2008 In Ottawa, meet at Women’s Monument, Minto Park, at Elgin and Gilmour, 10:45 am.In Hull-Gatineau, meet outside the Gatineau Municipal Council, 25 Laurier, 10:45 am.
Montreal“International Day of Peace” Activities for the whole familySunday, September 21, 2008At the Tam-tams du Mont-Royal (Monument Sir George Étienne Cartier), 9:30-13:30.
General Clifton calls Salvation Army to prayer
General Shaw Clifton has issued the following call to prayer:
GREETINGS in the name of Jesus.Salvationists are praying people and we have cause to be deeply grateful for the devoted prayer which has supported God's children through many situations in different areas of the world during this past year. Sometimes there is a need to call the whole Salvation Army to prayer on a specific issue, and this will happen again this year in the month of September.
Call to Prayer for Peace, Sunday 21 September 2008 (International Day of Peace)
As last year, The Salvation Army around the world is called upon to mark the above date by praying for peace. Not only is there conflict between nations, but many countries have suffered internal tension and political unrest. Inevitably, the innocent suffer, and there is tragic loss of life and displacement of people. Our intercession is for the leaders of the nations, striving for peace and justice, and for the victims of war, suffering pain and bereavement. Our heartfelt plea to the Lord is: 'Guide our feet into the path of peace' (Luke 1:79, Today's New International Version).
From http://www.ploughshares.ca/
International Day of Peace - 21 September 2008
Background
Recognition of the UN-declared International Day of Peace has been building over the past few years and is becoming a genuine global phenomenon. The concept itself is not new, dating back to 1981 when the United Nations General Assembly Resolution UN/A/RES/36/67 stated that it would be appropriate “to devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States, as well as of the whole of mankind, to promoting the ideals of peace and to giving positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways… (The International Day of Peace) should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”At first the day was scheduled to be on the third Thursday of September to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. In 2001, an amending UN resolution UN/A/RES/55/282 fixed the date of the International Day of Peace on 21 September and called for a Global Ceasefire on that Day.
Resources
The UN International Day of Peace site: http://www.un.org/events/peaceday/2007/
Note the text and video links to the UN Secretary-General's text and video message given on June 12, 2008, 100 days in advance of this year's International Day of Peace.
The Global International Day of Peace site: http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/.
An attractive new website, launched in mid-August 2008, this resource has many suggestions for activities that groups can undertake and an invitation to list activities with them.
People Building Peace: http://www.peoplebuildingpeace.org/.
A project of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (also known as GPPAC or the Global Partnership), and whose secretariat is the European Centre for Conflict Prevention, People Building Peace produces publications documenting and analysing the role of civil society in conflict prevention. It also lists International Day of Peace activities worldwide and provides an Awareness Raising Toolkit that may be helpful.
World Council of Churches: http://overcomingviolence.org/en/about-dov/international-day-of-prayer-for-peace.html.
In 2004 the idea for an International Day of Prayer for Peace that coincides with the UN International Day of Peace was proposed at a meeting between WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (press release). The Day of Prayer became one of the initiatives of the WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence and congregations worldwide are now invited to pray for peace - possibly using the same prayers - in all participating churches on September 21 or the Sunday preceding it. The resources section of this WCC webpage contains the prayers that have been collected annually since 2004 and includes a brochure and prayers for 2008 which have a Pacific focus.
International Day of Peace Vigil: http://www.idpvigil.com/.
The objective of the International Day of Peace Vigil is "To encourage worldwide, 24-hour spiritual observations for peace and nonviolence on the International Day of Peace, September 21st in every house of worship and place of spiritual practice, by all religious and spiritually based groups and individuals, and by all men, women and children who seek peace in the world." The Vigil website has further information on this initiative including a listing of those committing to events this year.
Events
CalgaryPeople Building Peace - a celebration of the International Day of PeaceSunday, September 21, 20081:30 pm Walk in the Park (Meet ahead outside Eau Claire Market at the Olympic Arch)2:30 pm Picnic in Peace Park ( Bow River pathway at 8th Street and 2nd Avenue SW)
Edmonton International Day of Peace Gathering at City Hall Sunday, September 21, 2008, 4:00-6:00 pm
OttawaPACIFEST: marking the UN International Day of Peace with Peace WalksSunday, September 21, 2008 In Ottawa, meet at Women’s Monument, Minto Park, at Elgin and Gilmour, 10:45 am.In Hull-Gatineau, meet outside the Gatineau Municipal Council, 25 Laurier, 10:45 am.
Montreal“International Day of Peace” Activities for the whole familySunday, September 21, 2008At the Tam-tams du Mont-Royal (Monument Sir George Étienne Cartier), 9:30-13:30.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Do miracles still happen today?
The Nipawin Journal
September 2008
There was a fellow who decided to go parachuting with his friend. As neither of them had ever been parachuting before they needed to be trained. They spent the day at the airport studying wind trajectories, physics, the speed of acceleration of a free falling object, as well as what to do if your parachute fails to open. The one friend did not understand it at all and even when they practiced with a mock parachute, he didn’t get it.
They went to the plane. Flipping a coin to see who would go first, the friend lost and was supposed to jump first. Discovering, however, at about 850 ft in the air that he was afraid of heights, he convinced his companion to jump first.
They were jumping from 3000 ft. As this was their first jump, cords were tied to their parachutes so that they would open automatically upon exiting the plane. The companion climbed out on the wing (as he was supposed to) jumped, counted to five (as they practiced), looked up saw that the parachute had opened beautifully and enjoyed one of the most peaceful experiences of his life noticing the miracles of God’s creation while drifting to the ground on this perfectly windless day.
The friend, emboldened, does the same: climbs onto the wing, jumps, counts and looks to see the parachute; he reaches to grab the steering toggles on his parachute…they aren’t there. His parachute isn’t there (most of it anyway). It isn’t working. He has to take it off his back and pull the emergency chute all the while falling faster and faster towards the ground. As he pulls the cord, he prays: "Lord, please save me." He pulls the cord, looks, and the emergency chute didn’t open properly either. It isn’t catching any wind. It isn’t slowing him down. He falls beneath the trees towards the power lines and highway below.
It is at this time that the Lord’s hand reaches out and actually lifts the parachutist up in the air, opens his parachute and gently sets him on the ground without a scratch. This is a true story; I am that parachutist.
Miracles do happen.
In another sense, we are each that parachutist, our lives are that journey from the plane and, as we call on the name of the Lord, we can all be saved. This too is a miracle.
Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
www.sheepspeak.com
September 2008
There was a fellow who decided to go parachuting with his friend. As neither of them had ever been parachuting before they needed to be trained. They spent the day at the airport studying wind trajectories, physics, the speed of acceleration of a free falling object, as well as what to do if your parachute fails to open. The one friend did not understand it at all and even when they practiced with a mock parachute, he didn’t get it.
They went to the plane. Flipping a coin to see who would go first, the friend lost and was supposed to jump first. Discovering, however, at about 850 ft in the air that he was afraid of heights, he convinced his companion to jump first.
They were jumping from 3000 ft. As this was their first jump, cords were tied to their parachutes so that they would open automatically upon exiting the plane. The companion climbed out on the wing (as he was supposed to) jumped, counted to five (as they practiced), looked up saw that the parachute had opened beautifully and enjoyed one of the most peaceful experiences of his life noticing the miracles of God’s creation while drifting to the ground on this perfectly windless day.
The friend, emboldened, does the same: climbs onto the wing, jumps, counts and looks to see the parachute; he reaches to grab the steering toggles on his parachute…they aren’t there. His parachute isn’t there (most of it anyway). It isn’t working. He has to take it off his back and pull the emergency chute all the while falling faster and faster towards the ground. As he pulls the cord, he prays: "Lord, please save me." He pulls the cord, looks, and the emergency chute didn’t open properly either. It isn’t catching any wind. It isn’t slowing him down. He falls beneath the trees towards the power lines and highway below.
It is at this time that the Lord’s hand reaches out and actually lifts the parachutist up in the air, opens his parachute and gently sets him on the ground without a scratch. This is a true story; I am that parachutist.
Miracles do happen.
In another sense, we are each that parachutist, our lives are that journey from the plane and, as we call on the name of the Lord, we can all be saved. This too is a miracle.
Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
www.sheepspeak.com
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Election is coming...
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 every 4 years like clockwork 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, my friends, this is one of the main downfalls of western democracies. Every election people (albeit fewer and fewer 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, the US is not going to cease to be the world’s Superpower. He is not going to withdraw their troops from the more than 100 countries they are in. He is not going to beat their swords in the ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). He will not be a ‘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: unemployment is not going to go down because of a change or a majority government; regardless of who is elected services will not improve so much that the blind will see and the lame will walk; a majority government by the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, or even the Greens, is not going to solve all our problems (Matt 15:31; Lk 7:22). Not one of our federal leaders – no matter what their ads tell us – not one of them can walk on water; 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 who lived 2000 years ago, he did all these things and more. He even preached good news to the poor and then like all great leaders - he died. Jesus died but – it didn’t end there and this is important - He rose from the dead.
Listen to what Paul says:
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/09/1-corinthians-151-34-vote-for-jesus.html
The USA every 4 years like clockwork 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, my friends, this is one of the main downfalls of western democracies. Every election people (albeit fewer and fewer 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, the US is not going to cease to be the world’s Superpower. He is not going to withdraw their troops from the more than 100 countries they are in. He is not going to beat their swords in the ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). He will not be a ‘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: unemployment is not going to go down because of a change or a majority government; regardless of who is elected services will not improve so much that the blind will see and the lame will walk; a majority government by the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, or even the Greens, is not going to solve all our problems (Matt 15:31; Lk 7:22). Not one of our federal leaders – no matter what their ads tell us – not one of them can walk on water; 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 who lived 2000 years ago, he did all these things and more. He even preached good news to the poor and then like all great leaders - he died. Jesus died but – it didn’t end there and this is important - He rose from the dead.
Listen to what Paul says:
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/09/1-corinthians-151-34-vote-for-jesus.html
Monday, September 15, 2008
Pope rejects easier divorce rules
CITED FROM THE TORONTO STAR
Philip Pullella Reuters News Agency
LOURDES, FRANCE–Pope Benedict said yesterday the Roman Catholic Church could not recognize "irregular unions" of Catholics who divorce and remarry outside the church.
"Initiatives aimed at blessing irregular unions cannot be admitted," he said in an address to French bishops in the shrine city of Lourdes.
Throughout the developed world, the church has been struggling with how to administer to Catholics who have divorced and remarried without an annulment – an ecclesiastical declaration that their first union is null and void – but want to remain fully active in the church.
The church does not recognize divorce. It considers the first marriage still valid . . .
Read more: http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/499266
Philip Pullella Reuters News Agency
LOURDES, FRANCE–Pope Benedict said yesterday the Roman Catholic Church could not recognize "irregular unions" of Catholics who divorce and remarry outside the church.
"Initiatives aimed at blessing irregular unions cannot be admitted," he said in an address to French bishops in the shrine city of Lourdes.
Throughout the developed world, the church has been struggling with how to administer to Catholics who have divorced and remarried without an annulment – an ecclesiastical declaration that their first union is null and void – but want to remain fully active in the church.
The church does not recognize divorce. It considers the first marriage still valid . . .
Read more: http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/499266
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Sunday's Sermon
www.sheepspeak.com
I considered starting to preach from 2 Corinthians this week but the resurrection really is the central part of the Christian message of hope for the future, and as such I can tell you that we would most certainly be remiss if we read Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and did not even discuss, this most important event. It would be like reading ‘Anna Karenina’ without the train episode or being in the washroom during the revealing scene in the ‘Crying Game’ or missing the final play in last year’s Grey Cup game after waiting for 18 years… we just can’t pass up this opportunity to discuss the resurrection. It is the most important event in Christianity. Christ was dead and he came back – just like the Grey Cup. We were dead in our sins and we will come back, we will be resurrected too and as we come to Christ, we will be saved!
See you Sunday...or if you can't make it, the sermon will be on-line...
I considered starting to preach from 2 Corinthians this week but the resurrection really is the central part of the Christian message of hope for the future, and as such I can tell you that we would most certainly be remiss if we read Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and did not even discuss, this most important event. It would be like reading ‘Anna Karenina’ without the train episode or being in the washroom during the revealing scene in the ‘Crying Game’ or missing the final play in last year’s Grey Cup game after waiting for 18 years… we just can’t pass up this opportunity to discuss the resurrection. It is the most important event in Christianity. Christ was dead and he came back – just like the Grey Cup. We were dead in our sins and we will come back, we will be resurrected too and as we come to Christ, we will be saved!
See you Sunday...or if you can't make it, the sermon will be on-line...
From Bill's Story (AA's Big Book)
...I had always believed in a power greater than myself. I had often pondered these things. I was not an atheist. Few people really are, for that means blind faith in the strange proposition that this universe originated in a cipher and aimlessly rushes nowhere. My intellectual heroes, the chemists, the astronomers, even the evolutionists, suggested vast laws and forces at work. ... I had little doubt that a mighty purpose and rhythm underlay all. How could there be so much of precise and immutable law, and no intelligence? I simply had to believe in a Spirit of the Universe, who knew neither time nor limitation.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Cardinal Turcotte gives back Order of Canada
Last Updated: Thursday, September 11, 2008 12:06 PM ET
CBC News
Montreal's archbishop is renouncing his Order of Canada to protest Dr. Henry Morgentaler's appointment to the prestigious membership.
Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, 72, told the CBC's French-language service on Thursday that his decision was a question of personal conviction.
"I'm worried about how we treat life, from conception to death, " he told RDI. "I decided to take a stance that clearly reflects my convictions."
Turcotte, who has worked extensively with the poor while fulfilling his religious duties, was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 1996 by former governor general Roméo Leblanc.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/09/11/mtl-turcotte0911.html
CBC News
Montreal's archbishop is renouncing his Order of Canada to protest Dr. Henry Morgentaler's appointment to the prestigious membership.
Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, 72, told the CBC's French-language service on Thursday that his decision was a question of personal conviction.
"I'm worried about how we treat life, from conception to death, " he told RDI. "I decided to take a stance that clearly reflects my convictions."
Turcotte, who has worked extensively with the poor while fulfilling his religious duties, was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 1996 by former governor general Roméo Leblanc.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/09/11/mtl-turcotte0911.html
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Be Bold for the Gospel
The world changes very quickly, doesn't it? I remember when I was child. I lived in a semi-rural area. All behind my house were cornfields, beside us were Farmer Wild's potato fields and we had a very small orchard of our own in our back yard. The Vantreights, they had Daffodil fields everywhere; so, between Farmer Wild and the Vantreights there was no end to seasonal employment for the kids. In the Spring some of us could even be seen cutting school in order to go earn a couple bucks cutting daffodils.
These days my parents' home has been completely swallowed up by my hometown which is now a city of 300 000 people or so. It is the country's 13th largest city.[2] Things change.
In those days, however, life was different. The area was semi-rural and dogs could even roam free without being on a leash or without even their owners. They would often stroll along by themselves or together in pairs or packs and then they would meet up with another pack of dogs and start to investigate each other. Of course, every once and a while there would be an aggressive dog or two and I certainly saw more than one dog fight growing up. (Some of these could be quite scary actually).
We had a dog. His name was Tuffy. Tuffy was a little border collie/sheltie cross and he was a smart dog but every once in a while, of course, he would get into one of these scraps himself. I remember more than once, Tuffy would see some dog on our block that doesn't belong there. He would charge them. It wouldn't matter how big is the dog. It doesn't matter how fierce is the dog; Tuffy runs at them. He's not afraid of them. He growls at them. He, completely without any fear, engages the intruder.
Now sometimes, like I said, the dogs are a lot bigger than Tuffy. Still Tuffy charges, teeth bared- no fear – he charges the giant intruder with full confidence and then when the large dog strikes back…He runs away.
The other dog inevitably chases him and Tuffy runs right toward home. Tuffy runs faster and faster. As the dog gets closer, Tuffy – never afraid – runs to our next door neighbour's house. He bounds up the stairs to his deck. The dog comes flying after Tuffy and arrives on the deck where he is seemingly trapped and … there is Goldie.[3] Goldie is by far the biggest dog you have ever seen and Goldie and Tuffy are quite a pair. They really are the best of friends.
So now the pursuing dog, the dog chasing Tuffy – which until this moment seemed quite large - is all of a sudden dwarfed by the giant Goldie, surrounded, and trapped on our neighbour's deck. Then, after a couple of very noisy minutes, the intruding dog finds a way out and runs away as fast as it can never to come back again, and there is little Tuffy standing at the top of the stairs –(if dogs could smile)- this little collie-sheltie cross is telling the much bigger dog, I'm sure, to never to come back! When Tuffy saw the intruder, he wasn't worried, he engaged him; he did not avoid a conflict. He was prepared; he was not afraid. He didn't worry about what could happen to him. His goal was to encourage his opposition toward Goldie and have Goldie take care of the rest.
This is actually the same sort of thing that 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 Tuffy up against a bigger dog. Paul is even in jail right now as he writes this letter to the Philippians. 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. ...
... Paul is encouraging us, thousands of years later; Paul is encouraging us, since we have the same struggles that he had (cf. 1:30), to be bold in our proclamation and our preparation for the Day of the Lord so that our love may overflow and so that indeed the harvest of holiness, the harvest of righteousness may be produced in our own lives as the Kingdom of Christ will certainly be established through Jesus and to the glory and praise of God (1:11; cf. 1:27,28).[17] Let us not be mistaken, in our world today, as we walk along we, like Tuffy, will run into dogs, who attack us for the truth of the Gospel of Christ. We will run into big, aggressive beasts. We must stand firm in proclaiming and living a life worthy of the gospel (1:27,28). Like Tuffy did not back down from his adversaries but rather let them to the balcony to meet Goldie, we should be prepared to be bold and not back down, and in the process lead even our aggressors to Jesus Christ - because it is only through Him that our Salvation comes.
----
read the article in JAC (issue 54 Apr/May 08):
http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article6-54.html
read the sermon on Sheepspeak (Jan 08):
http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/01/philippians-1-be-bold-be-prepared-are.html
read more by Captain Michael Ramsay:
http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
These days my parents' home has been completely swallowed up by my hometown which is now a city of 300 000 people or so. It is the country's 13th largest city.[2] Things change.
In those days, however, life was different. The area was semi-rural and dogs could even roam free without being on a leash or without even their owners. They would often stroll along by themselves or together in pairs or packs and then they would meet up with another pack of dogs and start to investigate each other. Of course, every once and a while there would be an aggressive dog or two and I certainly saw more than one dog fight growing up. (Some of these could be quite scary actually).
We had a dog. His name was Tuffy. Tuffy was a little border collie/sheltie cross and he was a smart dog but every once in a while, of course, he would get into one of these scraps himself. I remember more than once, Tuffy would see some dog on our block that doesn't belong there. He would charge them. It wouldn't matter how big is the dog. It doesn't matter how fierce is the dog; Tuffy runs at them. He's not afraid of them. He growls at them. He, completely without any fear, engages the intruder.
Now sometimes, like I said, the dogs are a lot bigger than Tuffy. Still Tuffy charges, teeth bared- no fear – he charges the giant intruder with full confidence and then when the large dog strikes back…He runs away.
The other dog inevitably chases him and Tuffy runs right toward home. Tuffy runs faster and faster. As the dog gets closer, Tuffy – never afraid – runs to our next door neighbour's house. He bounds up the stairs to his deck. The dog comes flying after Tuffy and arrives on the deck where he is seemingly trapped and … there is Goldie.[3] Goldie is by far the biggest dog you have ever seen and Goldie and Tuffy are quite a pair. They really are the best of friends.
So now the pursuing dog, the dog chasing Tuffy – which until this moment seemed quite large - is all of a sudden dwarfed by the giant Goldie, surrounded, and trapped on our neighbour's deck. Then, after a couple of very noisy minutes, the intruding dog finds a way out and runs away as fast as it can never to come back again, and there is little Tuffy standing at the top of the stairs –(if dogs could smile)- this little collie-sheltie cross is telling the much bigger dog, I'm sure, to never to come back! When Tuffy saw the intruder, he wasn't worried, he engaged him; he did not avoid a conflict. He was prepared; he was not afraid. He didn't worry about what could happen to him. His goal was to encourage his opposition toward Goldie and have Goldie take care of the rest.
This is actually the same sort of thing that 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 Tuffy up against a bigger dog. Paul is even in jail right now as he writes this letter to the Philippians. 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. ...
... Paul is encouraging us, thousands of years later; Paul is encouraging us, since we have the same struggles that he had (cf. 1:30), to be bold in our proclamation and our preparation for the Day of the Lord so that our love may overflow and so that indeed the harvest of holiness, the harvest of righteousness may be produced in our own lives as the Kingdom of Christ will certainly be established through Jesus and to the glory and praise of God (1:11; cf. 1:27,28).[17] Let us not be mistaken, in our world today, as we walk along we, like Tuffy, will run into dogs, who attack us for the truth of the Gospel of Christ. We will run into big, aggressive beasts. We must stand firm in proclaiming and living a life worthy of the gospel (1:27,28). Like Tuffy did not back down from his adversaries but rather let them to the balcony to meet Goldie, we should be prepared to be bold and not back down, and in the process lead even our aggressors to Jesus Christ - because it is only through Him that our Salvation comes.
----
read the article in JAC (issue 54 Apr/May 08):
http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article6-54.html
read the sermon on Sheepspeak (Jan 08):
http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/01/philippians-1-be-bold-be-prepared-are.html
read more by Captain Michael Ramsay:
http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Covenant: a three legged race
* The following is the article that was submitted to The Officer magazine. The one that they published was edited somewhat (which is fine) but one significant difference that I feel I should highlight is that in reference to the statement from William Francis, I was quoting from the Canadian Salvationist Magazine rather than from a UK publication, as is indicated in the version published in The Officer.
The Officer, September/October 2008.
by Captain Michael Ramsay
The three-legged race is always a fun one to watch at the fair. Perhaps you have noticed that some people seem to run it with ease whereas many others tend to fall down and trip all over each other. I have seen dads tied to their kids who have simply picked them up and run with them without breaking the tie that binds. It is a lot of fun but you'll notice that the team that wins moves in sink with each other so that with every stride they are matching their partner. When you have two independently minded people however (like siblings often) you see two people going nowhere other than to a pile-up on the ground.
This is not unlike covenants: the origins of the most commonly translated word for covenant (Berit[h]) in the Hebrew Bible itself refers to being bound, tied, or shackled together, not unlike the three-legged race.
We in the Salvation Army are a covenanted people. Our covenants are very important to us. They can certainly be one of our organisational strengths. General Clifton wrote in his third pastoral letter that our covenants are one of the main ways in which the Lord chooses to provide opportunities for us to join him in the work for the salvation of the world. A covenant is more than a promise; it is more than a legal contract. It is a sacred covenant through which the Lord binds Himself to us. Covenants are important.
Salvation Army soldiers pledge to uphold our doctrine and, among other things, abstain from all that can enslave the mind and body. Our officers covenant to make soul-winning a primary focus of our lives. The Lord binds Himself to us in these covenants. As Christians we are all yoked together with Christ. Commissioner William Francis (June 2008, Salvationist) wrote that 'the key to upholding our sacred covenant is staying close to God, keeping faith with him.' This is significant and this relates very closely to the three-legged race.
Any of us who have ever been in a three-legged race with our children, our siblings, or our parents, will remember the challenges that this event can hold when one sibling tries to move at quite a different pace than another and I am sure I am not the only person who has fallen on the ground laughing as my little partner stopped looking where she was going and started heading in the opposite direction all together: it is difficult to move, let alone win the race, when the one you are yoked together with is going in the other direction (even if they are a pre-schooler!).
It is the same with our covenants. If we have tied ourselves to YHWH is a sacred vow and do not follow Him in it, it is very difficult to even finish, let alone win the race and experience the victory with Christ. Once we have committed to the race, we need to press on towards the goal and not give up. But not only that: we need to rely on the strength of the Lord. If we try to go our own way then our covenant is of little or no use to us and it will be of little or no use to our Heavenly Father as well.
On the other hand, as we walk in step with each other; when, while we are bound together, we put are arm around our partner and run together; when the young ones lean on their parents and rely on their strength in the race, the race is easy and the child can often move even faster than if she were running on her own. As we remain faithful to our covenants and allow our Heavenly Father to put His arm around us we will find that through our covenants it is even easier to walk in step with our Lord. At times, often when things are most challenging as well, when look to Christ, indeed we will find that He is carrying us towards the finish line where we will celebrate that anticipated victory in Jesus.
This is what are covenants are like with the Lord. As we bind ourselves to Him with covenantal ties that won't be broken and as we continue to follow in proper covenants, the Lord's yoke is easy! And really, is there anything in life that we can accomplish on our own that isn't accomplished much more easily and effectively, when we were shackled to the LORD?
The Officer, September/October 2008.
by Captain Michael Ramsay
The three-legged race is always a fun one to watch at the fair. Perhaps you have noticed that some people seem to run it with ease whereas many others tend to fall down and trip all over each other. I have seen dads tied to their kids who have simply picked them up and run with them without breaking the tie that binds. It is a lot of fun but you'll notice that the team that wins moves in sink with each other so that with every stride they are matching their partner. When you have two independently minded people however (like siblings often) you see two people going nowhere other than to a pile-up on the ground.
This is not unlike covenants: the origins of the most commonly translated word for covenant (Berit[h]) in the Hebrew Bible itself refers to being bound, tied, or shackled together, not unlike the three-legged race.
We in the Salvation Army are a covenanted people. Our covenants are very important to us. They can certainly be one of our organisational strengths. General Clifton wrote in his third pastoral letter that our covenants are one of the main ways in which the Lord chooses to provide opportunities for us to join him in the work for the salvation of the world. A covenant is more than a promise; it is more than a legal contract. It is a sacred covenant through which the Lord binds Himself to us. Covenants are important.
Salvation Army soldiers pledge to uphold our doctrine and, among other things, abstain from all that can enslave the mind and body. Our officers covenant to make soul-winning a primary focus of our lives. The Lord binds Himself to us in these covenants. As Christians we are all yoked together with Christ. Commissioner William Francis (June 2008, Salvationist) wrote that 'the key to upholding our sacred covenant is staying close to God, keeping faith with him.' This is significant and this relates very closely to the three-legged race.
Any of us who have ever been in a three-legged race with our children, our siblings, or our parents, will remember the challenges that this event can hold when one sibling tries to move at quite a different pace than another and I am sure I am not the only person who has fallen on the ground laughing as my little partner stopped looking where she was going and started heading in the opposite direction all together: it is difficult to move, let alone win the race, when the one you are yoked together with is going in the other direction (even if they are a pre-schooler!).
It is the same with our covenants. If we have tied ourselves to YHWH is a sacred vow and do not follow Him in it, it is very difficult to even finish, let alone win the race and experience the victory with Christ. Once we have committed to the race, we need to press on towards the goal and not give up. But not only that: we need to rely on the strength of the Lord. If we try to go our own way then our covenant is of little or no use to us and it will be of little or no use to our Heavenly Father as well.
On the other hand, as we walk in step with each other; when, while we are bound together, we put are arm around our partner and run together; when the young ones lean on their parents and rely on their strength in the race, the race is easy and the child can often move even faster than if she were running on her own. As we remain faithful to our covenants and allow our Heavenly Father to put His arm around us we will find that through our covenants it is even easier to walk in step with our Lord. At times, often when things are most challenging as well, when look to Christ, indeed we will find that He is carrying us towards the finish line where we will celebrate that anticipated victory in Jesus.
This is what are covenants are like with the Lord. As we bind ourselves to Him with covenantal ties that won't be broken and as we continue to follow in proper covenants, the Lord's yoke is easy! And really, is there anything in life that we can accomplish on our own that isn't accomplished much more easily and effectively, when we were shackled to the LORD?
Monday, September 08, 2008
Obesity vs. Christianity
Obesity and the Body of Christ: Where did we get the idea that we can wilfully jeopardize our physical health without affecting our spiritual health?
by Caron Somers
Is it my imagination or are we all growing? And I don’t necessarily mean in the Lord; I mean girth wise. As much as I enjoy stirring the pot occasionally, I have recently discovered a huge taboo subject in Christian circles—obesity.
The rapid increase of obesity in our North American culture and churches is epidemic in proportion — but try and bring it up at church and it’s fascinating to hear the responses. The worst answer I’ve heard is, “Well, the reason we all overeat is because we can’t drink.” Oh, OK then—that justifies being overweight?
read more from: http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=6045
The Resurrection
Bishop Wright's, 'Jesus' Ressurection and Christian Origins:http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Jesus_Resurrection.htm
NT Wright: "There are many other things to say about Jesus' resurrection. But, as far as I am concerned, the historian may and must say that all other explanations for why Christianity arose, and why it took the shape it did, are far less convincing as historical explanations than the one the early Christians themselves offer: that Jesus really did rise from the dead on Easter morning, leaving an empty tomb behind him. The origins of Christianity, the reason why this new movement came into being and took the unexpected form it did, and particularly the strange mutations it produced within the Jewish hope for resurrection and the Jewish hope for a Messiah, are best explained by saying that something happened, two or three days after Jesus' death, for which the accounts in the four gospels are the least inadequate expression we have."
NT Wright: "There are many other things to say about Jesus' resurrection. But, as far as I am concerned, the historian may and must say that all other explanations for why Christianity arose, and why it took the shape it did, are far less convincing as historical explanations than the one the early Christians themselves offer: that Jesus really did rise from the dead on Easter morning, leaving an empty tomb behind him. The origins of Christianity, the reason why this new movement came into being and took the unexpected form it did, and particularly the strange mutations it produced within the Jewish hope for resurrection and the Jewish hope for a Messiah, are best explained by saying that something happened, two or three days after Jesus' death, for which the accounts in the four gospels are the least inadequate expression we have."
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Wesley (Sept 3 ArmyBarmy blog)
John Wesley, grandfather of Salvationism, believed that you cannot be authentically holy unless that experience plays itself out among the poor.
This conviction was Biblically grounded, starting with Jesus' instruction to address God the Father as 'Our Father'. The fatherhood of God implied the brotherhood of men and women. Wesley's favourite epistle challenged him, "whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1 John 4:21 NIV). Wesley's comment on this verse carefully defined "brother" as "everyone, whatever his opinions or mode of worship be, purely because he is the child and bears the image of God (Frank Baker, 'Wesley's Principals for Social Action', in Good News, January/February 1985).The dual command to love the Lord and to love your neighbor, the latter broadly defined by Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, aborted Wesley's flirtation with a separate Christian community. In one of his sermons on the Sermon on the Mount, he asserted, "Christianity is essentially a social religion, and that to turn it into a solitary religion is indeed to destroy it" (Frank Baker, 'Wesley's Principals for Social Action', Good News, January 1985).
He funded several initiatives toward the poor on faith, although he did make appeals for support, one of which invited, "Join hands with God to make a poor man live" (Frank Baker, 'Wesley's Principals for Social Action', in Good News, January/February 1985). And he put his own money where his mouth was. One year he made the equivalent of $1.4 millions and gave 98% to the Kingdom ("Thinking Drafts," Keith Drury -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday). In his lifetime he made what would be equal today to $30 millions, yet at his death he left a few books, a few coins and a spoon!
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is a famous measure for all good Wesleyans today, but the Wesleyan Trilateral is less well-known (Quadrilateral sets up four checks for Christian life: Bible, experience, reason, tradition). It concerns money. Wesley taught us to 'make all you can, save all you can, and give all you can'. The only problem was, by the time he got to the end of his sermon, his third point went from 'give all you can' to 'give all you have'. And he lived it.
Wesley's social justice burden was birthed in the Holy Club of Oxford, in 1729. Holy Club social action focused on two Oxford prisons, poor families, the workhouse, and a school for underprivileged children (Craven E. Williams, 'Origins: Social Holiness', http://www.gborocollege.edu/prescorner/holiness.html).
As early as 1740, Methodist collections fed nearly 150 unemployed people each day. Wesley looked upon this effort as, "redemption of society by economic means" (Craven E. Williams, 'Origins: Social Holiness', http://www.gborocollege.edu/prescorner/holiness.html). He initiated London's first financial institution to make interest-free loans to the poor. He followed that up with a free medical dispensary. He founded schools. As a champion of prison reform, he often skipped meals so he could help prisoner pay off debts (Carolyn Moore. 'The Dirt On Holiness', Athens Banner-Herald, March 2, 2002.).
Many argue that it was a letter from John to William Wilberforce that led to the end of slavery in England (Carolyn Moore. 'The Dirt On Holiness', Athens Banner-Herald, March 2, 2002.). He vowed never to spend more than was absolutely necessary to live. He even wrote his brother Samuel that by letting his hair grow unfashionably long he was able to save a bit of money for the poor (Letter to brother Samuel, Nov. 17,1731).
----Get holy!
Friday, September 05, 2008
What is my responsibility to the environment?
By Captain Michael Ramsay
Letter published in the Nipawin Journal, September 2008.
"As people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we have been entrusted with the care of the earth's resources (Genesis 2:15). Stewardship requires that we use these resources in a manner which ensures the well-being of present and future generations. God's instruction to 'subdue' the earth and 'rule' over every living thing (Genesis 1:28) cannot be interpreted to justify abuse or disregard for any life, not only human life. The privileges granted require our accountability to Him and one another" (TSA Canada Position Statement).
God cares about the environment, the land itself. He lays out some important commands concerning it (specifically relating to Palestine; Lev. 25, 26) in a part of Scripture that is – interestingly enough - known as the 'Holiness Code'.
We are directed that the land itself shall enjoy its Sabbath rest (Lev. 25:2, 26:34,35) just as man is commanded to (Exod. 20: 8-11, Deut 5:15), and as God did (Exod. 20:11, Gen. 2:3). If we, as 'tenants' of His land (Lev. 25:23), fail in our responsibility to carry out this duty to take care of the land, then the owner of the land -who cares about His land- may remove us from it.
He did remove Israel from the land as it neglected its environmental responsibilities: "He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its Sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfilment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah" (2 Chronicles 36:20-21). When Israel neglected the land, the LORD held them responsible. The land is the LORD's. He cares about His land and therefore so should we.
Given that God cares about His land and given the finite resources of our world, its expanding population, and the impact of industrialization, we each need to accept responsibility for the environment by taking practical steps to regenerate and conserve God's creation.
Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Click to read a commentary on Leviticus 25:1-23: the Land Shall Observe a Sabbath
Click to read The Salvation Army Doctrines.
Click to read Salvation Story (elaboration upon the doctrines of The Salvation Army)
Click to read more articles: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
Letter published in the Nipawin Journal, September 2008.
"As people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we have been entrusted with the care of the earth's resources (Genesis 2:15). Stewardship requires that we use these resources in a manner which ensures the well-being of present and future generations. God's instruction to 'subdue' the earth and 'rule' over every living thing (Genesis 1:28) cannot be interpreted to justify abuse or disregard for any life, not only human life. The privileges granted require our accountability to Him and one another" (TSA Canada Position Statement).
God cares about the environment, the land itself. He lays out some important commands concerning it (specifically relating to Palestine; Lev. 25, 26) in a part of Scripture that is – interestingly enough - known as the 'Holiness Code'.
We are directed that the land itself shall enjoy its Sabbath rest (Lev. 25:2, 26:34,35) just as man is commanded to (Exod. 20: 8-11, Deut 5:15), and as God did (Exod. 20:11, Gen. 2:3). If we, as 'tenants' of His land (Lev. 25:23), fail in our responsibility to carry out this duty to take care of the land, then the owner of the land -who cares about His land- may remove us from it.
He did remove Israel from the land as it neglected its environmental responsibilities: "He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its Sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfilment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah" (2 Chronicles 36:20-21). When Israel neglected the land, the LORD held them responsible. The land is the LORD's. He cares about His land and therefore so should we.
Given that God cares about His land and given the finite resources of our world, its expanding population, and the impact of industrialization, we each need to accept responsibility for the environment by taking practical steps to regenerate and conserve God's creation.
Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Click to read a commentary on Leviticus 25:1-23: the Land Shall Observe a Sabbath
Click to read The Salvation Army Doctrines.
Click to read Salvation Story (elaboration upon the doctrines of The Salvation Army)
Click to read more articles: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Plane Crash
The concerns of this world: our employment, our status, our wealth, our pride, whatever it is that is getting under our skin, this stuff that means so much to people, it is all ‘an indifferent matter’...it reminds me of a story.
At the end of the last century there was a revolution in one of the North Western African countries. As it became obvious that the government was going to fall, the wealthy North Americans had to flee. They really made it just by the skin of their teeth. Some boarded the last plane out and others just managed to get on an oil tanker that was leaving. Everyone got out just in time before the freedom fighters liberated the country.
A disappointing thing happened on the plane. You see it was a commercial airline that had a first class section that had so much more comfortable seating than the rest of the plane. Now on this plane were all rich, famous and important people. One of them first got it in their mind that because of who they were they deserved the good seats. Then someone else; then the next; soon everyone on the plane was fighting. They were so busy fighting that they did not notice the announcement that the plane was going down...in a sad irony while they are fighting about who is the most important in this life – the plane crashes and they all wind up faced with the next life – where none of the things of this world matter anymore.
As our lives are like this plane going down or like the Titanic after it hit the iceberg (original sin being the iceberg), worrying about our wealth or status or pride or the small selfish things that try to bother us in this life is like, as the expression says, 'rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic'. It is ‘adiaphoron’ - it doesn't matter! This is what Paul is saying in Ch 7 of 1 Corinithians.
So then, if these don't matter, what does matter?
What matters is what will happen when Jesus returns. What matters is not our happiness in this short voyage on a sinking ship (or crashing aero plane), what matters is our AND OTHERS’ eternal salvation. Our life here is going to end – as such our position and our petty complaints and whining in it doesn't matter – what really matters is what happens afterwards and afterwards though all may be eligible for heaven, some will choose to crash and burn and experience the fires of hell but others - others will choose to be saved.
read on: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/08/1-corinthians-7-21-24dont-worry-be.html
At the end of the last century there was a revolution in one of the North Western African countries. As it became obvious that the government was going to fall, the wealthy North Americans had to flee. They really made it just by the skin of their teeth. Some boarded the last plane out and others just managed to get on an oil tanker that was leaving. Everyone got out just in time before the freedom fighters liberated the country.
A disappointing thing happened on the plane. You see it was a commercial airline that had a first class section that had so much more comfortable seating than the rest of the plane. Now on this plane were all rich, famous and important people. One of them first got it in their mind that because of who they were they deserved the good seats. Then someone else; then the next; soon everyone on the plane was fighting. They were so busy fighting that they did not notice the announcement that the plane was going down...in a sad irony while they are fighting about who is the most important in this life – the plane crashes and they all wind up faced with the next life – where none of the things of this world matter anymore.
As our lives are like this plane going down or like the Titanic after it hit the iceberg (original sin being the iceberg), worrying about our wealth or status or pride or the small selfish things that try to bother us in this life is like, as the expression says, 'rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic'. It is ‘adiaphoron’ - it doesn't matter! This is what Paul is saying in Ch 7 of 1 Corinithians.
So then, if these don't matter, what does matter?
What matters is what will happen when Jesus returns. What matters is not our happiness in this short voyage on a sinking ship (or crashing aero plane), what matters is our AND OTHERS’ eternal salvation. Our life here is going to end – as such our position and our petty complaints and whining in it doesn't matter – what really matters is what happens afterwards and afterwards though all may be eligible for heaven, some will choose to crash and burn and experience the fires of hell but others - others will choose to be saved.
read on: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/08/1-corinthians-7-21-24dont-worry-be.html
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