We’ve been walking down ‘Romans Road’ this summer in the hopes that as a congregation we may memorise some of the verses we’ve looked at and use them as a tool to share our faith with people. The verses we’ve looked at – the stops we’ve made along Romans Road - are as follows.
(We remember that the first one we looked at wasn’t exactly on Romans Road but I thought we needed to have it before we embarked on this journey.)
1) Romans 1:16: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…”
2) Next stop, Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
3) Then we stopped at Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
4) This was followed by Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love for us, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
5) Others stops on the road include Romans 10:13: "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved", and
6) Romans 10:9,10: "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation".
We also made a couple of extra stops that aren’t usually made on the Romans Road as well, such as:
Romans 5:3-5: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
And Romans 13: 11-14: “… The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed … clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Today we are not looking at Paul’s letter to the Romans at all. Actually, we aren’t even looking at anything even written by Paul. Today, we are looking at letters within a letter ascribed to ‘John the Revelator’: in the book of Revelation. But in so doing, as strange as it may sound, we actually are continuing our walk down Roman’s Road today. (The seven churches mentioned in Revelation are along a physical Roman Road in the Roman province of Asia).[5]
7) The last stop on Roman’s Road is at Revelations 3:20: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/08/revelation-320-hello-is-anybody-in.html
more writings: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
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www.sheepspeak.com
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Is Jesus God?
By Captain Michael Ramsay
Nipawin Journal, May 28 2008.
Is Jesus God?
Yes.
Like every Christian, I affirm that Jesus is God. This is a non-negotiable in Christianity and it is an important question. If you go to a church or have someone show up at your door talking about religion, I encourage you to ask her this very question: Is Jesus God? Simply put, if the person cannot answer with an unequivocal yes, then she is not a Christian.
Jesus Christ is ‘truly and properly God’ (TSA Doctrine 4). ‘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 the man Jesus, for ‘He who has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14: 9). 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 when 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). A number of names and titles taken from the language of the Old Testament and from the first-century world are brought to the aid of those seeking to express in relevant language the inexpressible mystery of the fullness of God present in Jesus Christ. … At the Council of Chalcedon in 451, a statement was formulated which embraced the twin truths that Jesus Christ is one integrated person, with a divine and a human nature, ‘without confusion, without change, without division, without separation . . . at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man’ (from the Chalcedonian Definition). In the person of Jesus we see humanity fully open to divine grace and we see God revealed to us. (‘Salvation Story: Salvationists Handbook of Doctrine’, pp 37-38).
Jesus is God and as Jesus died and returned to life, he is the Lord of both the living and the dead and sooner or later actually every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 14:9-11, cf. Isaiah 45:23) for 'Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved' (Acts 4:12).
Click to read The Salvation Army Doctrines.
Click to read Salvation Story (elaboration upon the doctrines of The Salvation Army)
more: www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
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www.sheepspeak.com
Nipawin Journal, May 28 2008.
Is Jesus God?
Yes.
Like every Christian, I affirm that Jesus is God. This is a non-negotiable in Christianity and it is an important question. If you go to a church or have someone show up at your door talking about religion, I encourage you to ask her this very question: Is Jesus God? Simply put, if the person cannot answer with an unequivocal yes, then she is not a Christian.
Jesus Christ is ‘truly and properly God’ (TSA Doctrine 4). ‘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 the man Jesus, for ‘He who has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14: 9). 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 when 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). A number of names and titles taken from the language of the Old Testament and from the first-century world are brought to the aid of those seeking to express in relevant language the inexpressible mystery of the fullness of God present in Jesus Christ. … At the Council of Chalcedon in 451, a statement was formulated which embraced the twin truths that Jesus Christ is one integrated person, with a divine and a human nature, ‘without confusion, without change, without division, without separation . . . at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man’ (from the Chalcedonian Definition). In the person of Jesus we see humanity fully open to divine grace and we see God revealed to us. (‘Salvation Story: Salvationists Handbook of Doctrine’, pp 37-38).
Jesus is God and as Jesus died and returned to life, he is the Lord of both the living and the dead and sooner or later actually every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 14:9-11, cf. Isaiah 45:23) for 'Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved' (Acts 4:12).
Click to read The Salvation Army Doctrines.
Click to read Salvation Story (elaboration upon the doctrines of The Salvation Army)
more: www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
---
www.sheepspeak.com
What is real love?
Nipawin Journal, Feb 11, 2009.
By Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
This is an important question to which the fourth evangelist, John, ‘the disciple whom Jesus loves’, offers us an answer. He tells us that in Jesus’ farewell discourse, his good-bye talk with his friends (John 14:1-16:33), Jesus mentions love a fair amount. Knowing how important real love is, Jesus tells his disciples to love one another as he has loved them (John 13:34,35; 15:9,12,17).
Jesus tells his friends as he is about to be executed that if they love him, they will remain in his love even after he has gone on ahead (John 15:9): they will keep his commandments, which are always directly from God (John 14:15,21,23; 15:10). He then tells us his primary commandment: love one another (John 15:12). And how can we show that we have this love? Jesus says, while at the same time calling his disciples his friends, that greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus, of course, proceeds to do just that (John 19:30) and in their turn, tradition tells us that the disciples respond in kind.
John reminds us of Jesus’ words, “ If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me ” (John 14:23-24). And Jesus says, “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:12-14).
Jesus really does love us. Indeed he was executed for us. He sacrificed his life so that we all may live. This is real love. As he has given his life for us, in return shouldn’t we offer our whole life up to him? For indeed when we do, we share not only in his sacrifice but also in the glory of his resurrection. Let us love God, love our neighbour, and since Jesus gave his life so that we may all live, let us live our lives all for him.
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www.sheepspeak.com
By Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
This is an important question to which the fourth evangelist, John, ‘the disciple whom Jesus loves’, offers us an answer. He tells us that in Jesus’ farewell discourse, his good-bye talk with his friends (John 14:1-16:33), Jesus mentions love a fair amount. Knowing how important real love is, Jesus tells his disciples to love one another as he has loved them (John 13:34,35; 15:9,12,17).
Jesus tells his friends as he is about to be executed that if they love him, they will remain in his love even after he has gone on ahead (John 15:9): they will keep his commandments, which are always directly from God (John 14:15,21,23; 15:10). He then tells us his primary commandment: love one another (John 15:12). And how can we show that we have this love? Jesus says, while at the same time calling his disciples his friends, that greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus, of course, proceeds to do just that (John 19:30) and in their turn, tradition tells us that the disciples respond in kind.
John reminds us of Jesus’ words, “ If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me ” (John 14:23-24). And Jesus says, “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:12-14).
Jesus really does love us. Indeed he was executed for us. He sacrificed his life so that we all may live. This is real love. As he has given his life for us, in return shouldn’t we offer our whole life up to him? For indeed when we do, we share not only in his sacrifice but also in the glory of his resurrection. Let us love God, love our neighbour, and since Jesus gave his life so that we may all live, let us live our lives all for him.
---
www.sheepspeak.com
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Pastoral Letter #15 - from General Shaw Clifton
Family
Dear Fellow Salvationists,
You are lifted to the Throne of Grace in prayer daily. Prayer is a recurring miracle that gives us direct access to our Maker and which bonds together those who trust in Jesus as their Saviour.
In my last Pastoral Letter (Letter Fourteen) I requested your prayers for the International Conference of Leaders. Now I record my deepest thanks to you for supporting this historic gathering in prayerful intercession. In the days leading up to the conference I received many written assurances of prayers and more have reached me since the gathering ended, making intercession for the ongoing impact of the deliberations. Those present certainly experienced a deep sense of being held and sustained by the prayers of many around the globe. We had a wonderful sense of unity right from the very beginning of our time together. Please note the ‘Spiritual Statement to the Army’ (http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-news/C471B0D6EA9A5235802575F4004D8387?opendocument) that has recently been issued on behalf of all who attended the conference. It is my hope that this Statement will be met with a tender and sensitive response by all who read and ponder it.
The Lord granted the International Conference of Leaders a true sense of being members together of the family of God.
The theme of this Pastoral Letter is Family.
(http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_ihq_general.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/696DCCF58CAD799E802576170051FE00?openDocument)
Family is God’s idea. He has planned the created world in such a way that we thrive best when family life is strong, protected and promoted by those in government. Serious social research shows that children do best, for example in health and in education, when they are raised by two parents, one male and one female, who through marriage are publicly committed to one another for life.
Marriage and family are inevitably interlinked. Alternative models of family life can be found on every hand these days, some arising out of marital breakdown, others the result of a deliberate choice to bring a child into the world out of wedlock. Statistical evidence tells us that these children face an uphill struggle to do well compared with children born within the sacred bond of traditional marriage.
When family life is strong, a nation is strong. Stable families are a pre-requisite of a stable social order. Secure family life results in lower crime rates, in fewer people serving time in prison, and in improved mental and emotional health. Family lies at the very heart of a stable social order.
In turn, stable family life delivers for most of us reliable love and personal security. The reliable love of parents, experienced by the child, opens up that child to experiencing and knowing the ultimate reliable love – that of the Creator. Recently we celebrated the birth of our fifth grandchild, Amos Paul Clifton. We are thankful that he will be raised in a secure family setting, giving him the best possible start in life and an opportunity to know and sense from his earliest days parental love modelled on the love of God.
Closely interwoven with strong family life are key areas of social policy that all governments should promote and protect. We need to pray for political leaders to be raised up who will have respect for life, who will work for decent housing for all, who will promote family-friendly practices in the workplace, and who will favour families and marriage in the shaping of taxation and other fiscal policies.
Families are the bedrock of our society, the setting within which we discover the essential human qualities of love, commitment, compassion and generosity.
Let us pray therefore that every family will be modelled on God’s creation plan. Let us pray that Christian families will know daily the grace of God as the key ingredient in living and growing together. We can also pray that those seeking to undermine family life will be frustrated. We can pray that marriages will flourish and succeed even in the face of much modern pressure to the contrary.
We must pray too for much divine grace to attend those who presently find their marriages and their family life under strain. May they come through the storms stronger and more deeply committed to each precious relationship.
Finally, let us give thanks for the family of the Body of Christ, the family of believers within which we can also know reliable love and spiritual intimacy.
I commit you, yet again, to the perfect love of Christ.
Yours in Jesus,
Shaw Clifton
General
Dear Fellow Salvationists,
You are lifted to the Throne of Grace in prayer daily. Prayer is a recurring miracle that gives us direct access to our Maker and which bonds together those who trust in Jesus as their Saviour.
In my last Pastoral Letter (Letter Fourteen) I requested your prayers for the International Conference of Leaders. Now I record my deepest thanks to you for supporting this historic gathering in prayerful intercession. In the days leading up to the conference I received many written assurances of prayers and more have reached me since the gathering ended, making intercession for the ongoing impact of the deliberations. Those present certainly experienced a deep sense of being held and sustained by the prayers of many around the globe. We had a wonderful sense of unity right from the very beginning of our time together. Please note the ‘Spiritual Statement to the Army’ (http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-news/C471B0D6EA9A5235802575F4004D8387?opendocument) that has recently been issued on behalf of all who attended the conference. It is my hope that this Statement will be met with a tender and sensitive response by all who read and ponder it.
The Lord granted the International Conference of Leaders a true sense of being members together of the family of God.
The theme of this Pastoral Letter is Family.
(http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_ihq_general.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/696DCCF58CAD799E802576170051FE00?openDocument)
Family is God’s idea. He has planned the created world in such a way that we thrive best when family life is strong, protected and promoted by those in government. Serious social research shows that children do best, for example in health and in education, when they are raised by two parents, one male and one female, who through marriage are publicly committed to one another for life.
Marriage and family are inevitably interlinked. Alternative models of family life can be found on every hand these days, some arising out of marital breakdown, others the result of a deliberate choice to bring a child into the world out of wedlock. Statistical evidence tells us that these children face an uphill struggle to do well compared with children born within the sacred bond of traditional marriage.
When family life is strong, a nation is strong. Stable families are a pre-requisite of a stable social order. Secure family life results in lower crime rates, in fewer people serving time in prison, and in improved mental and emotional health. Family lies at the very heart of a stable social order.
In turn, stable family life delivers for most of us reliable love and personal security. The reliable love of parents, experienced by the child, opens up that child to experiencing and knowing the ultimate reliable love – that of the Creator. Recently we celebrated the birth of our fifth grandchild, Amos Paul Clifton. We are thankful that he will be raised in a secure family setting, giving him the best possible start in life and an opportunity to know and sense from his earliest days parental love modelled on the love of God.
Closely interwoven with strong family life are key areas of social policy that all governments should promote and protect. We need to pray for political leaders to be raised up who will have respect for life, who will work for decent housing for all, who will promote family-friendly practices in the workplace, and who will favour families and marriage in the shaping of taxation and other fiscal policies.
Families are the bedrock of our society, the setting within which we discover the essential human qualities of love, commitment, compassion and generosity.
Let us pray therefore that every family will be modelled on God’s creation plan. Let us pray that Christian families will know daily the grace of God as the key ingredient in living and growing together. We can also pray that those seeking to undermine family life will be frustrated. We can pray that marriages will flourish and succeed even in the face of much modern pressure to the contrary.
We must pray too for much divine grace to attend those who presently find their marriages and their family life under strain. May they come through the storms stronger and more deeply committed to each precious relationship.
Finally, let us give thanks for the family of the Body of Christ, the family of believers within which we can also know reliable love and spiritual intimacy.
I commit you, yet again, to the perfect love of Christ.
Yours in Jesus,
Shaw Clifton
General
Monday, August 24, 2009
We are Sheep
This summer the Saskatchewan Officers and the Prairie divisional leadership team were able to hear a wonderful speaker. This exciting speaker was a shepherd named Jared. Jared often has the opportunity to share the gospel with school children and campers. He brought his sheep to meet us all at Beaver Creek.
There were a number of good analogies that were part of his presentation. Someone observed that we are often referred to as sheep in the scriptures and asked if it were true that indeed sheep are ‘stupid’. Jared declined to answer the question directly; instead he replied that sheep are ‘cute’. He further commented that they are obstinate animals. This was nicely illustrated in an earlier conversation he had with us. He compared us, as the scriptures often do, to the obstinate sheep and the good shepherd to God. The sheep are unable to lead themselves and when they try often wind up bunching together and literally walking around in circles. These obstinate sheep, even though they may recognize their shepherd’s voice, do not always come to the good shepherd even when it is in their best interest. This is why contemporary shepherds have sheepdogs.
The dog is a natural predator of the sheep and if the shepherd did not forbid it, the dog would quite happily kill and eat a sheep. The good shepherd is in control however and he uses these dogs quite nicely to save the sheep from real danger by herding, or ‘hunting’, them closer to himself. The shepherd allows the dogs to ‘hunt’ the sheep in order to bring them closer to himself so that the sheep will remain saved from destruction and even death.
Jared, the shepherd, drew a parallel from his own life. In trying times when he is struggling with something, he compares his difficulties to the Lord’s sheepdogs sent to draw him closer to the Lord. I think this is an expression of the reality espoused in the wisdom literature of the Bible and as such it can be a source of comfort when we are going through difficult times. If we remember that the Good Shepherd is always in control, then maybe we can be better equipped to respond to the various sheepdogs that appear in our own lives by drawing closer to the Lord.
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www.sheepspeak.com
There were a number of good analogies that were part of his presentation. Someone observed that we are often referred to as sheep in the scriptures and asked if it were true that indeed sheep are ‘stupid’. Jared declined to answer the question directly; instead he replied that sheep are ‘cute’. He further commented that they are obstinate animals. This was nicely illustrated in an earlier conversation he had with us. He compared us, as the scriptures often do, to the obstinate sheep and the good shepherd to God. The sheep are unable to lead themselves and when they try often wind up bunching together and literally walking around in circles. These obstinate sheep, even though they may recognize their shepherd’s voice, do not always come to the good shepherd even when it is in their best interest. This is why contemporary shepherds have sheepdogs.
The dog is a natural predator of the sheep and if the shepherd did not forbid it, the dog would quite happily kill and eat a sheep. The good shepherd is in control however and he uses these dogs quite nicely to save the sheep from real danger by herding, or ‘hunting’, them closer to himself. The shepherd allows the dogs to ‘hunt’ the sheep in order to bring them closer to himself so that the sheep will remain saved from destruction and even death.
Jared, the shepherd, drew a parallel from his own life. In trying times when he is struggling with something, he compares his difficulties to the Lord’s sheepdogs sent to draw him closer to the Lord. I think this is an expression of the reality espoused in the wisdom literature of the Bible and as such it can be a source of comfort when we are going through difficult times. If we remember that the Good Shepherd is always in control, then maybe we can be better equipped to respond to the various sheepdogs that appear in our own lives by drawing closer to the Lord.
---
www.sheepspeak.com
We are Sheepdogs
In the scriptures we have often been compared to sheep. In contemporary shepherding we are also comparable to sheepdogs. Shepherd Jared Epp showed us a number of ways at the camp this summer:
* The sheepdogs know their master’s voice;
* The sheepdogs learn their master’s signals;
* The longer they serve the good shepherd the more they get to know him;
* The sheepdogs have a job to do;
* Their job is to herd the sheep to the shepherd;
* The nature of the sheepdogs is such that if they were left completely to their own devices they would quite likely kill the sheep;
* When they follow shepherd however not one sheep needs to be lost.
This is a lot like us as Christians. We are the Lord’s sheepdogs. We have been tasked with the great commission to proclaim the good news to the world so that whosoever will may be saved. If we try to do this on our own we will fail and some sheep will inevitably perish. However, as we turn our eyes and our ears toward Jesus – the Good Shepherd – as we listen to his direction and follow his lead, he will use us to bring the whole flock safely home to be with him. As this is the case it is my prayer that we will all be faithful sheepdogs. Amen.
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http://www.sheepspeak.com/
* The sheepdogs know their master’s voice;
* The sheepdogs learn their master’s signals;
* The longer they serve the good shepherd the more they get to know him;
* The sheepdogs have a job to do;
* Their job is to herd the sheep to the shepherd;
* The nature of the sheepdogs is such that if they were left completely to their own devices they would quite likely kill the sheep;
* When they follow shepherd however not one sheep needs to be lost.
This is a lot like us as Christians. We are the Lord’s sheepdogs. We have been tasked with the great commission to proclaim the good news to the world so that whosoever will may be saved. If we try to do this on our own we will fail and some sheep will inevitably perish. However, as we turn our eyes and our ears toward Jesus – the Good Shepherd – as we listen to his direction and follow his lead, he will use us to bring the whole flock safely home to be with him. As this is the case it is my prayer that we will all be faithful sheepdogs. Amen.
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http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Then Who Wouldn't be a Soldier?
Journal of Aggressive Christianity Issue #62 (July-August 2009)
by Commissioner Wesley Harris
AN EARLY- DAY Salvation Army officer – Staff Captain Jackson – wrote what became a popular chorus with our forebears in the faith:
Then who wouldn’t be a soldier,
An Army soldier, a valiant soldier?
Every soldier goes to war,
Which we’ve all enlisted for
And we don’t want any dummies in the Army.
I have to say that my becoming a soldier was singularly lacking in ceremony. I still have the rather tatty copy of the Articles of War handed to me when I was fifteen with the request that it be returned the same day. There were no preparation classes and no public swearing-in. Only years later did my local officer brother come across my signed copy and give it back to me for safe keeping.
However, the significance of the undertakings I made has become increasingly evident to me through the years. The promises have been solemnized and confirmed again and again and by God’s grace I have tried to live in accordance with them and found great joy and fulfillment in so doing.
.
Then who wouldn’t be a soldier?
read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article12-62.html
More articles from JAC #62: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
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http://www.sheepspeak.com/
by Commissioner Wesley Harris
AN EARLY- DAY Salvation Army officer – Staff Captain Jackson – wrote what became a popular chorus with our forebears in the faith:
Then who wouldn’t be a soldier,
An Army soldier, a valiant soldier?
Every soldier goes to war,
Which we’ve all enlisted for
And we don’t want any dummies in the Army.
I have to say that my becoming a soldier was singularly lacking in ceremony. I still have the rather tatty copy of the Articles of War handed to me when I was fifteen with the request that it be returned the same day. There were no preparation classes and no public swearing-in. Only years later did my local officer brother come across my signed copy and give it back to me for safe keeping.
However, the significance of the undertakings I made has become increasingly evident to me through the years. The promises have been solemnized and confirmed again and again and by God’s grace I have tried to live in accordance with them and found great joy and fulfillment in so doing.
.
Then who wouldn’t be a soldier?
read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article12-62.html
More articles from JAC #62: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
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http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile)
Reigned 40 Daisy Knights -or- rained 40 days and nights
-- More Comics: http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Home: http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Contact: ideas@sheepspeak.com
Home: http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Contact: ideas@sheepspeak.com
Friday, August 21, 2009
There are more Alcohol ads on teen TV shows
Alcohol ads spike when teens watch: study
Last Updated: Friday, August 21, 2009 11:43 AM ET
CBC News
The study's findings show that teens are exposed to more alcohol advertisements than would be expected, influencing underage drinking. CBCCommercials for beer, wine and spirits tend to pop up more frequently on TV when teens are watching, a new study finds.
The study tracked 600,000 national cable ads in the U.S. between 2001 and 2006. It found that when more youth aged 12 to 20 were watching, alcohol ads increased.
For every one percentage point increase in teen viewership, there was a seven per cent increase in beer commercials, a 16 per cent jump in ads for spirits and a 22 per cent rise in ads for alcohol refreshers — drinks that contain alcohol but are heavily flavoured to taste like juice or pop.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/08/21/alcoholads-teens.html
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related from Canadian Christianity: The National House of Prayer in Ottawa is looking for 'Nazarites' aged 18 - 35 to come to Ottawa for 12 weeks starting September 18 and dedicate themselves to prayer for the nation. The tuition fee of $2,500 includes housing, meals, training materials and all programming.
from: http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/090807briefs.html
related from JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article4-62.html
related from the Officer: http://www.sheepspeak.com./HabeusCorpusandCovenant.pdf
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Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
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www.sheepspeak.com
Last Updated: Friday, August 21, 2009 11:43 AM ET
CBC News
The study's findings show that teens are exposed to more alcohol advertisements than would be expected, influencing underage drinking. CBCCommercials for beer, wine and spirits tend to pop up more frequently on TV when teens are watching, a new study finds.
The study tracked 600,000 national cable ads in the U.S. between 2001 and 2006. It found that when more youth aged 12 to 20 were watching, alcohol ads increased.
For every one percentage point increase in teen viewership, there was a seven per cent increase in beer commercials, a 16 per cent jump in ads for spirits and a 22 per cent rise in ads for alcohol refreshers — drinks that contain alcohol but are heavily flavoured to taste like juice or pop.
read more: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/08/21/alcoholads-teens.html
---
related from Canadian Christianity: The National House of Prayer in Ottawa is looking for 'Nazarites' aged 18 - 35 to come to Ottawa for 12 weeks starting September 18 and dedicate themselves to prayer for the nation. The tuition fee of $2,500 includes housing, meals, training materials and all programming.
from: http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/090807briefs.html
related from JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article4-62.html
related from the Officer: http://www.sheepspeak.com./HabeusCorpusandCovenant.pdf
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
www.sheepspeak.com
Monday, August 17, 2009
Romans and Roughriders
How can our salvation be both now and still to come? How can it be both near and here already. This is an important concept to understand (theologians refer to this concept as a 'prolepsis') because our Salvation, as it is, has indeed already been achieved. It was achieved when Jesus died and then won the victory through rising from the dead. Paul himself acknowledges this in other places in the scriptures: 2 Corinthians 6:2, 1 Corinthians 15:2, Ephesians 2:8 and the Apostle Peter talks about just this sort of thing in 1 Peter 1. So then Christ has already won the victory but the final reward of Salvation is yet to come.
It is very much like our Roughriders game here. The year we came to Saskatchewan the Riders won the Grey Cup. I don't know if you remember but in the last couple of minutes of the football game, right after that interception near the end, you could see the anticipation as the cameramen zoomed in on the players' faces. They knew the game had won already but it wasn't over yet. The game had been won, they wanted to celebrate but it wasn't over yet. The game had been won already and it took everything for the coach to keep the players on the sideline and staff off the field because the game wasn't over yet. They knew that it had been won but the game wasn't over yet. The anticipation was written on the Riders' faces as they knew that the game had been won but it wasn't over yet.When the player went down on one knee to run out the clock at the end there was no way that they could be defeated. The Rider nation, as it were, the Roughrider fans were already victors with the team, just like we are already victors with Christ.The Game is won but the final whistle has not been sounded yet and the great cup is still be presented.
When Christ died on the cross and then rose from the grave, Death was dealt its deathblow, so to speak: Christ intercepted the pass and ran for the final touchdown to put the game out of reach. There is no way now that sin and death can ever come back and win the game but the thing is that that final whistle hasn't gone yet and this is exactly what Paul is speaking about in our text here today.
In Romans 13:11-14, Paul is speaking about salvation as if it were that final whistle. Sure the Riders had won the game with 20 seconds left to go but they did not get to hold the Grey Cup until after the final whistle had sounded.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/victory-final-whistle-romans-1311-14.html
reas more sermons by Captain Michael Ramsay: www.sheepspeak.com/sermons.htm
--
www.sheepspeak.com
It is very much like our Roughriders game here. The year we came to Saskatchewan the Riders won the Grey Cup. I don't know if you remember but in the last couple of minutes of the football game, right after that interception near the end, you could see the anticipation as the cameramen zoomed in on the players' faces. They knew the game had won already but it wasn't over yet. The game had been won, they wanted to celebrate but it wasn't over yet. The game had been won already and it took everything for the coach to keep the players on the sideline and staff off the field because the game wasn't over yet. They knew that it had been won but the game wasn't over yet. The anticipation was written on the Riders' faces as they knew that the game had been won but it wasn't over yet.When the player went down on one knee to run out the clock at the end there was no way that they could be defeated. The Rider nation, as it were, the Roughrider fans were already victors with the team, just like we are already victors with Christ.The Game is won but the final whistle has not been sounded yet and the great cup is still be presented.
When Christ died on the cross and then rose from the grave, Death was dealt its deathblow, so to speak: Christ intercepted the pass and ran for the final touchdown to put the game out of reach. There is no way now that sin and death can ever come back and win the game but the thing is that that final whistle hasn't gone yet and this is exactly what Paul is speaking about in our text here today.
In Romans 13:11-14, Paul is speaking about salvation as if it were that final whistle. Sure the Riders had won the game with 20 seconds left to go but they did not get to hold the Grey Cup until after the final whistle had sounded.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/victory-final-whistle-romans-1311-14.html
reas more sermons by Captain Michael Ramsay: www.sheepspeak.com/sermons.htm
--
www.sheepspeak.com
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Victory: The Final Whistle (Romans 13:11-14)
Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on December 02, 2007
Presented to Swift Current Corps on August 16, 2009
By Captain Michael Ramsay
click the pict or HERE to read the 2007 version: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/victory-final-whistle-romans-1311-14.html
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more sermons: www.sheepspeak.com/sermons.htm
more writings: www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
--
www.sheepspeak.com/
Presented to Swift Current Corps on August 16, 2009
By Captain Michael Ramsay
click the pict or HERE to read the 2007 version: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/victory-final-whistle-romans-1311-14.html
--
more sermons: www.sheepspeak.com/sermons.htm
more writings: www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
--
www.sheepspeak.com/
Thursday, August 13, 2009
United Church policy on Israel similar to its policy on same-sex marriages - Bruce Gregerson (United Church spokesman)
from CBC
Delegates at the United Church of Canada's national meeting [declined an opportunity to stand up for the Palestinians and] rejected a series of motions calling for a boycott of Israel ...
The resolutions before the council in Kelowna, B.C., called for a boycott of trade, cultural and academic activities with Israel, as well as financial and other sanctions.
In a video interview posted on the United Church's website on Thursday afternoon, spokesman Bruce Gregersen said the council has instead encouraged local congregations to undertake their own initiatives and study ways to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
He described the decision as "part of the freedom of the church," comparing it to the variety of opinions among different congregations on the church's acceptance of same-sex marriage.
related: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:31-46;&version=31;
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Mathew 25:45: "... I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Delegates at the United Church of Canada's national meeting [declined an opportunity to stand up for the Palestinians and] rejected a series of motions calling for a boycott of Israel ...
The resolutions before the council in Kelowna, B.C., called for a boycott of trade, cultural and academic activities with Israel, as well as financial and other sanctions.
In a video interview posted on the United Church's website on Thursday afternoon, spokesman Bruce Gregersen said the council has instead encouraged local congregations to undertake their own initiatives and study ways to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
He described the decision as "part of the freedom of the church," comparing it to the variety of opinions among different congregations on the church's acceptance of same-sex marriage.
related: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:31-46;&version=31;
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Mathew 25:45: "... I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
All our knowledge only brings us nearer to our ignorance - T. S. Eliot
x
“All our knowledge [only] brings us nearer to our ignorance”
- T. S. Eliot
We do not speak much of wisdom in contemporary mass culture. We value people who are “smart,” pursuing prestigious academic degrees for ourselves and high test scores for our children. But that is not the same as valuing wisdom, for intelligence per se is not its chief component. One can be very smart, yet not very sane, and the measure of wisdom is sanity, health of mind. It is the character of those who practice the discipline of a sober though not cheerless reckoning with the whole of reality.Wisdom denotes a way of thinking— and equally, of living—that brings us into enduring harmony with family, with neighbors near and far, with our physical environment and ultimately, with the whole created order. That is why the biblical sages represent wisdom as foundational to God’s work of creation:
YHWH by wisdom established the earth,
fixing the heavens by understanding. (Prov 3:19)
In the end, our failure to value wisdom may be the most consequential difference between modern industrialized culture and the culture the Bible seeks to advance, and the difference could be deadly. This may be the most important thing for us to understand and communicate as twenty-first century preachers of Proverbs: we are in a wisdom crisis, a crisis that is unprecedented in character and magnitude.
Obviously, it is not the case that most people in the past were wise; Proverbs repeatedly says that wisdom is more rare than rubies (or “corals,” 3:15, cf. 8:11; 31:10). Nonetheless, no culture has been so burdened and even endangered as ours by the proliferation of knowledge that is not disciplined by the search for wisdom.
--
ELLEN F. DAVIS (Professor of Bible and Practical Theology Duke Divinity School). Your can read the whole article, SURPRISED BY WISDOM: PREACHING PROVERBS, in the July 2009 (Vol. 63, No. 3) issue of INTERPRETATION: A JOURNAL OF BIBLE AND THEOLOGY.
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
“All our knowledge [only] brings us nearer to our ignorance”
- T. S. Eliot
We do not speak much of wisdom in contemporary mass culture. We value people who are “smart,” pursuing prestigious academic degrees for ourselves and high test scores for our children. But that is not the same as valuing wisdom, for intelligence per se is not its chief component. One can be very smart, yet not very sane, and the measure of wisdom is sanity, health of mind. It is the character of those who practice the discipline of a sober though not cheerless reckoning with the whole of reality.Wisdom denotes a way of thinking— and equally, of living—that brings us into enduring harmony with family, with neighbors near and far, with our physical environment and ultimately, with the whole created order. That is why the biblical sages represent wisdom as foundational to God’s work of creation:
YHWH by wisdom established the earth,
fixing the heavens by understanding. (Prov 3:19)
In the end, our failure to value wisdom may be the most consequential difference between modern industrialized culture and the culture the Bible seeks to advance, and the difference could be deadly. This may be the most important thing for us to understand and communicate as twenty-first century preachers of Proverbs: we are in a wisdom crisis, a crisis that is unprecedented in character and magnitude.
Obviously, it is not the case that most people in the past were wise; Proverbs repeatedly says that wisdom is more rare than rubies (or “corals,” 3:15, cf. 8:11; 31:10). Nonetheless, no culture has been so burdened and even endangered as ours by the proliferation of knowledge that is not disciplined by the search for wisdom.
--
ELLEN F. DAVIS (Professor of Bible and Practical Theology Duke Divinity School). Your can read the whole article, SURPRISED BY WISDOM: PREACHING PROVERBS, in the July 2009 (Vol. 63, No. 3) issue of INTERPRETATION: A JOURNAL OF BIBLE AND THEOLOGY.
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Atheist 'morals' do not trump religious morals
Supreme Court of Canada Justice Charles Gonthier:
… nothing in the Charter, political or democratic theory, or a proper understanding of pluralism demands that atheistically based moral positions trump religiously based moral positions on matters of public policy. I note that the preamble to the Charter itself establishes that ‘… Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.’
related: http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=6885
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Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
… nothing in the Charter, political or democratic theory, or a proper understanding of pluralism demands that atheistically based moral positions trump religiously based moral positions on matters of public policy. I note that the preamble to the Charter itself establishes that ‘… Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.’
related: http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=6885
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Monday, August 10, 2009
Canadian Nazirites
The National House of Prayer in Ottawa is looking for 'Nazarites' aged 18 - 35 to come to Ottawa for 12 weeks starting September 18 and dedicate themselves to prayer for the nation. The tuition fee of $2,500 includes housing, meals, training materials and all programming.
from: http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/090807briefs.html
related from JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article4-62.html
related from the Officer: http://www.sheepspeak.com./HabeusCorpusandCovenant.pdf
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
from: http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/090807briefs.html
related from JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article4-62.html
related from the Officer: http://www.sheepspeak.com./HabeusCorpusandCovenant.pdf
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Join the peaceful revolution
If you think war, violence, greed and environmental devastation are inevitable, think again. There are alternatives if we work at them together. Join the peaceful revolution and help build a culture of peace. Start revolting now!
read more: www.iamrevolting.org
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Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
www.sheepspeak.com/
read more: www.iamrevolting.org
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
www.sheepspeak.com/
More on Canada's recent religious persecution of the Hutterites
www.canadianchristianity.com
By Lloyd Mackey
THE SUPREME Court of Canada decision requiring all drivers' licenses in Alberta to carry photo identification will "have a profound effect on the Hutterian Brethren, with their belief on the communal ownership of property and their rural lifestyle," according to the lawyer who represented the Hutterites....
read more (there are a number of related articles on this page): http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/090730hutterites.html
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
By Lloyd Mackey
THE SUPREME Court of Canada decision requiring all drivers' licenses in Alberta to carry photo identification will "have a profound effect on the Hutterian Brethren, with their belief on the communal ownership of property and their rural lifestyle," according to the lawyer who represented the Hutterites....
read more (there are a number of related articles on this page): http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/090730hutterites.html
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Romans 5:3,4: Hope and an Angel on the Downtown Eastside.
As many of you here know when our children were just little (not that they’re so big now), we sold our home and our businesses and moved into North America’s poorest postal code - Vancouver’s downtown eastside - as full-time urban missionaries with The Salvation Army.
We have shared with many of you the excitement from our time there as we saw people who were turned from their addictive, destructive ways of life; transformed into new creations by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was exciting to open up our home and our lives to the miracles that indeed the Lord is still performing today and were, oh, so evident in that environment. We met people who have been cured of cancer, cured of AIDS, and completely cured of diabetes. We have seen and experienced the power of God (cf. Romans 1:4, 1:16, 11:23, 15:13, 15:19-20) first hand.
Our time there, as you can well imagine, wasn’t always rosy though. I remember one day – one morning, I was mugged. I knew better but I wasn’t paying attention. It was early in the morning and I was right on Main and Hastings – the most infamous intersection in this most infamous neighbourhood and I was on the pay phone with Susan who was out of town at the time.
Someone came running up behind me, grabbed my briefcase and tore down Main Street. In the briefcase was my laptop and all the information for the summer school programme I was running for the kids in the area; so, like anyone mugged in the depths of skid row, I’m sure, I…well, I chased the mugger.
I followed him down Main Street through Chinatown across busy streets and around the myriad of mazes that are Vancouver’s back alleys. Scaring rats, jumping over sleeping street folk, I pursued my assailant. When I was within reach of him… I fell right in front of a bus and though I escaped from in front of the bus with my life, the mugger escaped with my briefcase, my laptop, and the programme files for the kids.
It was when I was walking back, completely distraught and despondent from this incident, that I experienced the miracle that happened: I encountered an angel, a messenger of God, in the back alleys of Vancouver’s storied downtown eastside. I can still remember vividly; he looked like a ‘dumpster diver;’ he prayed with me and he offered me these words of encouragement from Romans 5:3,4 “...but let us also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Inside I sighed. I knew he was right. God gave me these words to encourage me.
When the Apostle Paul recorded these words circa 55 AD in his letter to the Romans, he himself had already seen much suffering...
Read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/04/romans-534-hope-and-angel-on-downtown.html
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we[a] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
www.sheepspeak.com
We have shared with many of you the excitement from our time there as we saw people who were turned from their addictive, destructive ways of life; transformed into new creations by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was exciting to open up our home and our lives to the miracles that indeed the Lord is still performing today and were, oh, so evident in that environment. We met people who have been cured of cancer, cured of AIDS, and completely cured of diabetes. We have seen and experienced the power of God (cf. Romans 1:4, 1:16, 11:23, 15:13, 15:19-20) first hand.
Our time there, as you can well imagine, wasn’t always rosy though. I remember one day – one morning, I was mugged. I knew better but I wasn’t paying attention. It was early in the morning and I was right on Main and Hastings – the most infamous intersection in this most infamous neighbourhood and I was on the pay phone with Susan who was out of town at the time.
Someone came running up behind me, grabbed my briefcase and tore down Main Street. In the briefcase was my laptop and all the information for the summer school programme I was running for the kids in the area; so, like anyone mugged in the depths of skid row, I’m sure, I…well, I chased the mugger.
I followed him down Main Street through Chinatown across busy streets and around the myriad of mazes that are Vancouver’s back alleys. Scaring rats, jumping over sleeping street folk, I pursued my assailant. When I was within reach of him… I fell right in front of a bus and though I escaped from in front of the bus with my life, the mugger escaped with my briefcase, my laptop, and the programme files for the kids.
It was when I was walking back, completely distraught and despondent from this incident, that I experienced the miracle that happened: I encountered an angel, a messenger of God, in the back alleys of Vancouver’s storied downtown eastside. I can still remember vividly; he looked like a ‘dumpster diver;’ he prayed with me and he offered me these words of encouragement from Romans 5:3,4 “...but let us also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Inside I sighed. I knew he was right. God gave me these words to encourage me.
When the Apostle Paul recorded these words circa 55 AD in his letter to the Romans, he himself had already seen much suffering...
Read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/04/romans-534-hope-and-angel-on-downtown.html
--
Romans 5:3,4: Not only so, but we[a] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
---
www.sheepspeak.com
Friday, August 07, 2009
New Atheism and Morality
By J.M. Njoroge
Though the chorus of voices decrying belief in God has been humming in the ideological background for centuries, it seems to have reached a crescendo with the emergence of a movement that has been dubbed the new atheism. The trademark of this new brand of atheism is its vitriolic attack on religion. To its advocates, religious beliefs are not only false; they are also dangerous and must be expunged from all corners of society. The pundits of the new atheism are not content to nail discussion theses on the door of religion; they are also busy delivering eviction notices to the allegedly atavistic elements of an otherwise seamlessly progressive atheistic evolution of Homo sapiens.
Given the rhetoric, one might be forgiven for thinking that some new discoveries have rendered belief in God untenable. Curiously, this drama is unfolding in the same era in which perhaps the world’s leading defender of atheism, Antony Flew, has declared that recent scientific discoveries point to the fact that this world cannot be understood apart from the work of God as its Creator. This is no small matter, for Flew has been preaching atheism for as long as Billy Graham has been preaching the Gospel.
read more: http://www.rzim.org/JustThinkingFV/tabid/602/ArticleID/10020/CBModuleId/1297/Default.aspx
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Though the chorus of voices decrying belief in God has been humming in the ideological background for centuries, it seems to have reached a crescendo with the emergence of a movement that has been dubbed the new atheism. The trademark of this new brand of atheism is its vitriolic attack on religion. To its advocates, religious beliefs are not only false; they are also dangerous and must be expunged from all corners of society. The pundits of the new atheism are not content to nail discussion theses on the door of religion; they are also busy delivering eviction notices to the allegedly atavistic elements of an otherwise seamlessly progressive atheistic evolution of Homo sapiens.
Given the rhetoric, one might be forgiven for thinking that some new discoveries have rendered belief in God untenable. Curiously, this drama is unfolding in the same era in which perhaps the world’s leading defender of atheism, Antony Flew, has declared that recent scientific discoveries point to the fact that this world cannot be understood apart from the work of God as its Creator. This is no small matter, for Flew has been preaching atheism for as long as Billy Graham has been preaching the Gospel.
read more: http://www.rzim.org/JustThinkingFV/tabid/602/ArticleID/10020/CBModuleId/1297/Default.aspx
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
The Americans Know This Will End in Schism
copublished with The Times, 15 July 2009
by Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham
In the slow-moving train crash of international Anglicanism, a decision taken in California has finally brought a large coach off the rails altogether. The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church (TEC) in the United States has voted decisively to allow in principle the appointment, to all orders of ministry, of persons in active same-sex relationships. This marks a clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion.
Both the bishops and deputies (lay and clergy) of TEC knew exactly what they were doing. They were telling the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other “instruments of communion” that they were ignoring their plea for a moratorium on consecrating practising homosexuals as bishops. They were rejecting the two things the Archbishop of Canterbury has named as the pathway to the future — the Windsor Report (2004) and the proposed Covenant (whose aim is to provide a modus operandi for the Anglican Communion). They were formalising the schism they initiated six years ago when they consecrated as bishop a divorced man in an active same-sex relationship, against the Primates’ unanimous statement that this would “tear the fabric of the Communion at its deepest level”. In Windsor’s language, they have chosen to “walk apart”.
read more: http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/page.cfm?ID=445
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http://www.sheepspeak.com/
by Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham
In the slow-moving train crash of international Anglicanism, a decision taken in California has finally brought a large coach off the rails altogether. The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church (TEC) in the United States has voted decisively to allow in principle the appointment, to all orders of ministry, of persons in active same-sex relationships. This marks a clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion.
Both the bishops and deputies (lay and clergy) of TEC knew exactly what they were doing. They were telling the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other “instruments of communion” that they were ignoring their plea for a moratorium on consecrating practising homosexuals as bishops. They were rejecting the two things the Archbishop of Canterbury has named as the pathway to the future — the Windsor Report (2004) and the proposed Covenant (whose aim is to provide a modus operandi for the Anglican Communion). They were formalising the schism they initiated six years ago when they consecrated as bishop a divorced man in an active same-sex relationship, against the Primates’ unanimous statement that this would “tear the fabric of the Communion at its deepest level”. In Windsor’s language, they have chosen to “walk apart”.
read more: http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/page.cfm?ID=445
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Romans 9:30-33
So when the big day comes where the school is supposed to vote for who will represent the class, Alan, along with some of his closest friends decide not to participate. They sneak out the back door and down the stairs and almost get away but the vice principal spots them and marches them unceremoniously into the gym - where they are just finishing the nomination process and all those who have been campaigning are sitting on stage and - now just when everyone is about to vote, someone notices Alan and the others being dragged in and yells out as loud as she can. “I nominate Alan!” Soon the whole student body is cheering – except for those who actually running and except for Alan. Alan is overwhelmingly elected.
Now when Alan tells me the story, he tells me too, that not only didn’t he want the position, but he would have refused it if the Vice Principal didn’t come up to him after the vote and try to convince him to step down. So now he has this responsibility. He has won this prize but it’s a prize that he didn’t even want.
This is a little bit like the story Paul is relaying to us in Romans Chapters 9-11, 9:30: “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
The Gentiles (and by Gentiles here, Paul simply means non-Jewish people) the Gentiles, weren’t campaigning to be class representative or anything (they weren’t seeking Salvation) and as far as many of the Jews[1] were concerned, the Gentiles were outside the promise when the election occurred but Paul here is letting the Romans know that indeed they snuck in at just the right time[2] and they were elected and whether they previously wanted it or not and even more than that…
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/romans-930-104-law-through-looking.html
---
www.sheepspeak.com
Now when Alan tells me the story, he tells me too, that not only didn’t he want the position, but he would have refused it if the Vice Principal didn’t come up to him after the vote and try to convince him to step down. So now he has this responsibility. He has won this prize but it’s a prize that he didn’t even want.
This is a little bit like the story Paul is relaying to us in Romans Chapters 9-11, 9:30: “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
The Gentiles (and by Gentiles here, Paul simply means non-Jewish people) the Gentiles, weren’t campaigning to be class representative or anything (they weren’t seeking Salvation) and as far as many of the Jews[1] were concerned, the Gentiles were outside the promise when the election occurred but Paul here is letting the Romans know that indeed they snuck in at just the right time[2] and they were elected and whether they previously wanted it or not and even more than that…
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/romans-930-104-law-through-looking.html
---
www.sheepspeak.com
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Numbers 6:1-21: Covenant and Old Testament Salvationists?
Journal of Aggressive Christianity Issue #62
By Captain Michael Ramsay
In the Salvation Army we have an opportunity to be separated for God in a very important covenant. Salvation Army soldiers voluntarily take a significant oath. We enter into the Soldiership Covenant before God and this vow is not dissimilar from one recorded in Numbers 6 that the Lord used to greatly bless some of the ancient Israelites: the Nazirite vow. This was a special vow of separation unto the LORD and the LORD himself told Moses that if a man or woman wants to take this special vow of separation to the LORD then there are some things she must do (Numbers 6:1,2).
Most of us, if we think about it, can probably name two or three famous people from the Bible who were bound to the LORD through this Nazirite vow: Samson. Samuel, John the Baptist. It is good to keep these three in mind as we think about the Nazirite vow but we should recognize that there are some key differences between the vows of these three and the other people who have been bound to God through a Nazirite vow.
read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article4-62.html
Other articles from this issue: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
Other articles by Captain Michael Ramsay: http://sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
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www.sheepspeak.com
By Captain Michael Ramsay
In the Salvation Army we have an opportunity to be separated for God in a very important covenant. Salvation Army soldiers voluntarily take a significant oath. We enter into the Soldiership Covenant before God and this vow is not dissimilar from one recorded in Numbers 6 that the Lord used to greatly bless some of the ancient Israelites: the Nazirite vow. This was a special vow of separation unto the LORD and the LORD himself told Moses that if a man or woman wants to take this special vow of separation to the LORD then there are some things she must do (Numbers 6:1,2).
Most of us, if we think about it, can probably name two or three famous people from the Bible who were bound to the LORD through this Nazirite vow: Samson. Samuel, John the Baptist. It is good to keep these three in mind as we think about the Nazirite vow but we should recognize that there are some key differences between the vows of these three and the other people who have been bound to God through a Nazirite vow.
read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article4-62.html
Other articles from this issue: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
Other articles by Captain Michael Ramsay: http://sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
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www.sheepspeak.com
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Emergency Response to British Columbia Fires
www.salvationist.ca
August 5, 2009
Staff and volunteers working for The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services have had a very busy summer, reaching displaced families and exhausted firefighers and other emergency workers, with fresh meals and other means of support, all over British Columbia.
It started in Kelowna, as massive fires forced over 10,000 residents from their homes.
The Salvation Army was on scene immediately.
read more: http://salvationist.ca/2009/08/emergency-response-to-british-columbia-fires/
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www.sheepspeak.com
August 5, 2009
Staff and volunteers working for The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services have had a very busy summer, reaching displaced families and exhausted firefighers and other emergency workers, with fresh meals and other means of support, all over British Columbia.
It started in Kelowna, as massive fires forced over 10,000 residents from their homes.
The Salvation Army was on scene immediately.
read more: http://salvationist.ca/2009/08/emergency-response-to-british-columbia-fires/
---
www.sheepspeak.com
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Daylight is coming : Romans 13:12
the darkness is fading (verse 12), we should no longer live like we are in the darkness. It is like ‘regime change’ such as we’ve heard so much in the news the last couple of years and there is a good example of this from historical England actually.
There was a time in England’s history when she had neither a King nor a Queen. Parliament had won the war against the monarchy and that is arguably the darkest period in all of English history. The rules of their society changed so drastically: it became so repressive without the king to look out for the interests of the common people that they eventually begged the son of the king to come back to rule over them again – but, even then, it takes a while and people have to be convinced to act the way the new regime wants. Just ask the Americans how well their governments in Iraq and Afghanistan are going…it may be a new day there but many people are still not choosing to living under their authority.
It is the same in our world of the text today. When Christ died there came about a regime change – the King is back. The Son of the King has come and he is indeed coming back and as this is the case, it is time to stop acting as if he is not.
Daytime is arriving so we should stop doing all of those things that people like to do in the night. Some of these things that we should stop are listed in our text today: it says in verse 13 that we should not engage in sexual immorality and debauchery; we should not engage in dissention and jealousy. Doing so, acting on our own selfish desires, would be like swearing allegiance to the darkness, to the old regime, the defeated regime; it would be like paddling out to join the Titanic as it’s going down or buying shares in Eaton’s as it goes ‘belly up.’ It would not be prudent. It would not be smart.
from the sermon, 'Victory: The Final Whistle (Romans 13:11-14)' by Captain Michael Ramsay. Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on December 02, 2007. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/victory-final-whistle-romans-1311-14.html
more sermons: http://www.sheepspeak.com/sermons.htm
more writings: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
Romans 13:11-14: And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
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http://www.sheepspeak.com/
There was a time in England’s history when she had neither a King nor a Queen. Parliament had won the war against the monarchy and that is arguably the darkest period in all of English history. The rules of their society changed so drastically: it became so repressive without the king to look out for the interests of the common people that they eventually begged the son of the king to come back to rule over them again – but, even then, it takes a while and people have to be convinced to act the way the new regime wants. Just ask the Americans how well their governments in Iraq and Afghanistan are going…it may be a new day there but many people are still not choosing to living under their authority.
It is the same in our world of the text today. When Christ died there came about a regime change – the King is back. The Son of the King has come and he is indeed coming back and as this is the case, it is time to stop acting as if he is not.
Daytime is arriving so we should stop doing all of those things that people like to do in the night. Some of these things that we should stop are listed in our text today: it says in verse 13 that we should not engage in sexual immorality and debauchery; we should not engage in dissention and jealousy. Doing so, acting on our own selfish desires, would be like swearing allegiance to the darkness, to the old regime, the defeated regime; it would be like paddling out to join the Titanic as it’s going down or buying shares in Eaton’s as it goes ‘belly up.’ It would not be prudent. It would not be smart.
from the sermon, 'Victory: The Final Whistle (Romans 13:11-14)' by Captain Michael Ramsay. Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on December 02, 2007. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/victory-final-whistle-romans-1311-14.html
more sermons: http://www.sheepspeak.com/sermons.htm
more writings: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsays_opinion.htm
Romans 13:11-14: And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
---
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Monday, August 03, 2009
The Law through the Looking Glass
Romans 10:2-3: “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”
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These people then, though they are zealous for God, try to develop their own righteousness and in the process reject Jesus as God and therefore cannot know God and, as a result, they do not win the prize. They reject Christ, they reject God, and they reject His righteousness.
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It seems like (if anyone remembers) the classic story, ‘Alice through the Looking Glass.’ At a point in that story there are two groups of people: those who are determined to reach a goal (like Israel here in our story) and those who are not. Now those who are most determined to reach the goal walk towards the mirror where it is reflected but – of course – the never reach it because its not there – only the reflection is there. The ones, however, who turn (repent) and walk in the opposite direction are the one’s who in the end actually did find it.[6]
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It’s like us as we are looking a mirror. We can never grab a reflection in the mirror no matter how hard we try because it is not a real item: it is just a reflection. This is like the Law was to Israel – you see, the Law is a reflection of God. It is not God and as long as one is just reaching for His reflection (The Law), one can never grasp God. As long as one is just reaching for His reflection rather than for Jesus himself - even though He is standing right beside you – as long as you are just reaching for his reflection you will never reach him.
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Now are there anyways that we can be tempted to do this? Are there ways in our own lives when we are tempted to ignore God and try to grasp an image, a rule maybe, or a ritual instead? Are there times when we, like first century Israel, might rely on our own righteousness and in the process actually turn our backs on God?
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read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/romans-930-104-law-through-looking.html
-
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
-
These people then, though they are zealous for God, try to develop their own righteousness and in the process reject Jesus as God and therefore cannot know God and, as a result, they do not win the prize. They reject Christ, they reject God, and they reject His righteousness.
-
It seems like (if anyone remembers) the classic story, ‘Alice through the Looking Glass.’ At a point in that story there are two groups of people: those who are determined to reach a goal (like Israel here in our story) and those who are not. Now those who are most determined to reach the goal walk towards the mirror where it is reflected but – of course – the never reach it because its not there – only the reflection is there. The ones, however, who turn (repent) and walk in the opposite direction are the one’s who in the end actually did find it.[6]
-
It’s like us as we are looking a mirror. We can never grab a reflection in the mirror no matter how hard we try because it is not a real item: it is just a reflection. This is like the Law was to Israel – you see, the Law is a reflection of God. It is not God and as long as one is just reaching for His reflection (The Law), one can never grasp God. As long as one is just reaching for His reflection rather than for Jesus himself - even though He is standing right beside you – as long as you are just reaching for his reflection you will never reach him.
-
Now are there anyways that we can be tempted to do this? Are there ways in our own lives when we are tempted to ignore God and try to grasp an image, a rule maybe, or a ritual instead? Are there times when we, like first century Israel, might rely on our own righteousness and in the process actually turn our backs on God?
-
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/romans-930-104-law-through-looking.html
-
http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Sunday, August 02, 2009
YouTube first ever attempt at downloading
Canada's really big
Dedicated to all the carrots out there...
Dedicated to all the carrots out there...
Saturday, August 01, 2009
JAC Issue #62
Editorial Introduction
Captain Stephen Court
Greetings in Jesus’ name. Mercy and peace to you from God our Father. Welcome to JAC62.
Our sixty-second issue of JAC promises to encourage and instruct, provoke and edify. As usual, contributors receive no remuneration for their articles. They are presented here to the glory of God.
Canadian Salvationist Ian Gillngham starts off JAC62 with some deep teaching called ‘The Love and The Hidden Treasure’. Grab your Bible so that you can have it open as you dig into this one.
Major Geoff Webb, Training Principal in Pakistan, provides an excerpt, 'Individual v. Corporate Holiness', from a forthcoming book, HOLINESS INCORPORATED. You'll have to wait until later in 2009 to read the whole thing.
Canadian Captain Michael Ramsay could be accused of having a one-track mind – COVENANT. In his latest offering, also an excerpt from a forthcoming book, ‘O.T. Salvationists’, Ramsay does some solid teaching on Numbers 6.
The Bible emphasis continues with American Sergeant Cory Harrison and ‘New Exodus’. Cory also makes a challenging application of Old Testament teaching to Salvationist experience. I’ve got a short response to General William Booth’s vision ‘Who Cares?’ called ‘Who Cares?’
Australian Major Daryl Crowden, who has served on a few continents in his day, offers up ‘The Art of Gentle Revolution’, some solid teaching on change and transformation from the perspectives of enculturation, acculturation, and 'conculturation'.
The Welshman Commissioner Wesley Harris gives us a thumbnail sketch of a famous old Australian Salvo, ‘Fighting Mac’.
Australian Salvationist Anthony Castle shares 'Stuff I've been thinking about.' Don't let the title fool you. This is explosive, incendiary stuff. Put on your seat belt before embarking on this one.
American Major David Laeger continues an occasional series with a poem, ‘Uttermost’ based on Hebrews 7:25.
‘Demonised Salvos?’ is the title of a short piece that puts this aspect of spiritual warfare into Salvation Army context.And Commissioner Harris, inspired by an old song and a new soul-saving campaign, wraps up this edition with ‘Then Who Wouldn’t Be a Soldier?’
Thanks for your patronage. If you finish up before JAC63 is due, feel free to dig through the complete archives, a decade’s worth of salvo resource.
God bless The Salvation Army
The Editor
Read the latest issue of JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
Captain Stephen Court
Greetings in Jesus’ name. Mercy and peace to you from God our Father. Welcome to JAC62.
Our sixty-second issue of JAC promises to encourage and instruct, provoke and edify. As usual, contributors receive no remuneration for their articles. They are presented here to the glory of God.
Canadian Salvationist Ian Gillngham starts off JAC62 with some deep teaching called ‘The Love and The Hidden Treasure’. Grab your Bible so that you can have it open as you dig into this one.
Major Geoff Webb, Training Principal in Pakistan, provides an excerpt, 'Individual v. Corporate Holiness', from a forthcoming book, HOLINESS INCORPORATED. You'll have to wait until later in 2009 to read the whole thing.
Canadian Captain Michael Ramsay could be accused of having a one-track mind – COVENANT. In his latest offering, also an excerpt from a forthcoming book, ‘O.T. Salvationists’, Ramsay does some solid teaching on Numbers 6.
The Bible emphasis continues with American Sergeant Cory Harrison and ‘New Exodus’. Cory also makes a challenging application of Old Testament teaching to Salvationist experience. I’ve got a short response to General William Booth’s vision ‘Who Cares?’ called ‘Who Cares?’
Australian Major Daryl Crowden, who has served on a few continents in his day, offers up ‘The Art of Gentle Revolution’, some solid teaching on change and transformation from the perspectives of enculturation, acculturation, and 'conculturation'.
The Welshman Commissioner Wesley Harris gives us a thumbnail sketch of a famous old Australian Salvo, ‘Fighting Mac’.
Australian Salvationist Anthony Castle shares 'Stuff I've been thinking about.' Don't let the title fool you. This is explosive, incendiary stuff. Put on your seat belt before embarking on this one.
American Major David Laeger continues an occasional series with a poem, ‘Uttermost’ based on Hebrews 7:25.
‘Demonised Salvos?’ is the title of a short piece that puts this aspect of spiritual warfare into Salvation Army context.And Commissioner Harris, inspired by an old song and a new soul-saving campaign, wraps up this edition with ‘Then Who Wouldn’t Be a Soldier?’
Thanks for your patronage. If you finish up before JAC63 is due, feel free to dig through the complete archives, a decade’s worth of salvo resource.
God bless The Salvation Army
The Editor
Read the latest issue of JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
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