Conclusion:
Sadly, “the pericope ends with magnificent yet tragic irony (v. 46). The religious leaders are told they will reject Jesus and be crushed. But instead of taking the warning, they hunt for ways to arrest him…and so trigger the very situation they have been warned about—a dramatic example of God's poetic justice. God in the Scriptures foretells this very event; and these men, prompted by hatred, rush to bring it to pass.” [11]
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Part 6)
The interpretation of the parable
What then is the meaning of the parable of the wicked tenants? In all three accounts Jesus explains the meaning of this parable with reference to the cornerstone or capstone: “Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people [ethnos] that produce the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls (Matthew 21:42-44; cf. Mark 10-12, Luke 20:17-18).”
Some have argued that this passage refers to Israel itself being replaced, however, the evidence rather “indicates that the parable concerns the leadership of Israel. Matthew contends that the tenant farmers, not the vineyard, must be replaced. In this light it seems unwise to take ethnos in 21:43…as a reference to the Gentile Church…it should be understood in its most basic sense as ‘a group of people,’ in this case the leaders of the Jewish Christian community.”[10]
Jesus then, in all three of these parables, is telling the religious leaders that “the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him (Matt. 21:31-32).” And this theme was not lost on the religious leaders for “…when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet Matt 21:45-46).”
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What then is the meaning of the parable of the wicked tenants? In all three accounts Jesus explains the meaning of this parable with reference to the cornerstone or capstone: “Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people [ethnos] that produce the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls (Matthew 21:42-44; cf. Mark 10-12, Luke 20:17-18).”
Some have argued that this passage refers to Israel itself being replaced, however, the evidence rather “indicates that the parable concerns the leadership of Israel. Matthew contends that the tenant farmers, not the vineyard, must be replaced. In this light it seems unwise to take ethnos in 21:43…as a reference to the Gentile Church…it should be understood in its most basic sense as ‘a group of people,’ in this case the leaders of the Jewish Christian community.”[10]
Jesus then, in all three of these parables, is telling the religious leaders that “the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him (Matt. 21:31-32).” And this theme was not lost on the religious leaders for “…when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet Matt 21:45-46).”
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The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Part 5)
Allegory or Parable? Do the characters stand for whom they appear to represent?
There is some debate about whether this story of the wicked tenants –particularly the Markan account- is an allegory rather than a parable and to whom each of the characters refers: “obvious metaphors have troubled many scholars, who detect late "allegorising," which, they judge, could not have been part of the original parable but belongs only to the church's interpretation of it.”[6] While the landlord may represent God; the tenants, the religious leaders; the vineyard, Israel; the servants, the prophets; and the son, the Son of God; “Mark 12:2-5 has three servants sent individually and then many others. It is pointless to try to identify them as Moses, Joshua, David, and so forth. Matthew simplifies the story by having the master send two batches of servants.”[7] Thus this is not a rigid allegory but in recognizing this, many scholars maintain “that the "son" motif in the parable itself depends on the logic of the story and therefore must not be judged inauthentic…even the most skeptical approach to the Gospels acknowledges that Jesus enjoyed a sense of special sonship to the Father. It is almost inconceivable therefore that Jesus could use this "son" language in defending his mission and not be thinking of himself. It is far more natural to read the "son" language of the parable as yet another veiled messianic self-reference, especially in light of the use of "Son of God" as a messianic title.” [8] Further, “for six months Jesus has been telling his disciples that the rulers at Jerusalem would kill him (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:18). Now he tells the rulers themselves, albeit in a parable form.” [9]
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There is some debate about whether this story of the wicked tenants –particularly the Markan account- is an allegory rather than a parable and to whom each of the characters refers: “obvious metaphors have troubled many scholars, who detect late "allegorising," which, they judge, could not have been part of the original parable but belongs only to the church's interpretation of it.”[6] While the landlord may represent God; the tenants, the religious leaders; the vineyard, Israel; the servants, the prophets; and the son, the Son of God; “Mark 12:2-5 has three servants sent individually and then many others. It is pointless to try to identify them as Moses, Joshua, David, and so forth. Matthew simplifies the story by having the master send two batches of servants.”[7] Thus this is not a rigid allegory but in recognizing this, many scholars maintain “that the "son" motif in the parable itself depends on the logic of the story and therefore must not be judged inauthentic…even the most skeptical approach to the Gospels acknowledges that Jesus enjoyed a sense of special sonship to the Father. It is almost inconceivable therefore that Jesus could use this "son" language in defending his mission and not be thinking of himself. It is far more natural to read the "son" language of the parable as yet another veiled messianic self-reference, especially in light of the use of "Son of God" as a messianic title.” [8] Further, “for six months Jesus has been telling his disciples that the rulers at Jerusalem would kill him (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:18). Now he tells the rulers themselves, albeit in a parable form.” [9]
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The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Part 4)
The parable’s place in the symmetry of Matthew’s rhetorical form:
It is significant that this parable fits nicely in the symmetry that is readily apparent in this portion of Matthew’s text (21:23-22:46). The poetic form is evident in the way in which the parable is placed in the gospel. Eugene Boring[3] displays it as such:
Introduction: The issue posed:
Jesus’ authority challenged 21:23
A Jesus’ question 21:24-27
B Three parables
1. The Two Sons 21:28-32
2. The Lord’s Vineyard 21:33-45
3. The Great Supper 22:1-14
B’ Three controversy stories
1. Taxes to the Emperor 22:15-22
2. Resurrection 22:23-33
3. The Great Commandment 22:34-40
A’ Jesus’ question
After Jesus’ question, “the three parables that follow are all directly addressed to the chief priests and elders as a continuation of Jesus’ response to their challenge (cf. 21:28, 33; 22:1: cf. Luke 14:15; 20:9).” This parable then is not only the second of three offered in response to the questioning of Jesus’ authority, it is also a part of a greater symmetrical rhetorical unit within the text. Further, “by adding two additional parables [he incorporates] the woes into the full-blown speech (23:1-25:46).”[4] This parable is not meant to stand in isolation.
There is a further element of the rhetorical structure of Matthew’s account that supports this claim: the formula of this parable of the wicked tenants is the same as the parable of the two sons that immediately precedes it:
21:28a Jesus’ introductory word 21:33a
21:28b-30 The parable 21:33b-39
21:31a Jesus’ question 21:40
21:31b Their self-incriminating response 21:41
31:21c Jesus’ concluding pronouncement of judgement 21:42-43
“The two parables are also joined by their common elements of vineyard and son, as well as by the theme of doing God’s will.”[5] Jesus, Matthew records, masterfully weaves his response here into a larger literary discourse.
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It is significant that this parable fits nicely in the symmetry that is readily apparent in this portion of Matthew’s text (21:23-22:46). The poetic form is evident in the way in which the parable is placed in the gospel. Eugene Boring[3] displays it as such:
Introduction: The issue posed:
Jesus’ authority challenged 21:23
A Jesus’ question 21:24-27
B Three parables
1. The Two Sons 21:28-32
2. The Lord’s Vineyard 21:33-45
3. The Great Supper 22:1-14
B’ Three controversy stories
1. Taxes to the Emperor 22:15-22
2. Resurrection 22:23-33
3. The Great Commandment 22:34-40
A’ Jesus’ question
After Jesus’ question, “the three parables that follow are all directly addressed to the chief priests and elders as a continuation of Jesus’ response to their challenge (cf. 21:28, 33; 22:1: cf. Luke 14:15; 20:9).” This parable then is not only the second of three offered in response to the questioning of Jesus’ authority, it is also a part of a greater symmetrical rhetorical unit within the text. Further, “by adding two additional parables [he incorporates] the woes into the full-blown speech (23:1-25:46).”[4] This parable is not meant to stand in isolation.
There is a further element of the rhetorical structure of Matthew’s account that supports this claim: the formula of this parable of the wicked tenants is the same as the parable of the two sons that immediately precedes it:
21:28a Jesus’ introductory word 21:33a
21:28b-30 The parable 21:33b-39
21:31a Jesus’ question 21:40
21:31b Their self-incriminating response 21:41
31:21c Jesus’ concluding pronouncement of judgement 21:42-43
“The two parables are also joined by their common elements of vineyard and son, as well as by the theme of doing God’s will.”[5] Jesus, Matthew records, masterfully weaves his response here into a larger literary discourse.
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Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Part 3)
The impetus for and purpose of this parable.
This parable appears in each account to be an elaboration upon Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees’ question about where he derives his authority (Matt 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8). His original response is recorded in the form of a question: “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” (Matt 21:25, Mark 11:30, cf. Luke 20:1). It is a masterful way for him to avoid the verbal trap laid by the Pharisees and in the process ambush them. When the Pharisees realise that a trap has been laid for them in return, they attempt to sidestep it by not responding to the question at all. This elicits from Jesus, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things (Matt. 21:27, Mark 12:27, Luke 20:8).” He nonetheless offers a parable –or parables as the case may be- in response.
It is also worth noting here that while the disciples are “…given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others [Jesus speaks] in parables, so that ‘looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.’ (Luke 8:10).”And as such Jesus does not always offer an interpretation. Here, preceding the parable of the wicked tenants, at the conclusion of the parable of the two sons, he does: “…Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you [religious leaders]. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him (Matt. 21:31-32).” The purpose of this series of parables then is “the depiction of the unfaithfulness of the Jewish leaders. It is for this reason Jesus asks the Jewish leaders for their opinion concerning which of these two sons was the faithful one.”[1] The religious leaders’ response in the affirmative to Jesus question is then, “through typically parabolic procedure, a self-indictment.”[2]
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This parable appears in each account to be an elaboration upon Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees’ question about where he derives his authority (Matt 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8). His original response is recorded in the form of a question: “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” (Matt 21:25, Mark 11:30, cf. Luke 20:1). It is a masterful way for him to avoid the verbal trap laid by the Pharisees and in the process ambush them. When the Pharisees realise that a trap has been laid for them in return, they attempt to sidestep it by not responding to the question at all. This elicits from Jesus, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things (Matt. 21:27, Mark 12:27, Luke 20:8).” He nonetheless offers a parable –or parables as the case may be- in response.
It is also worth noting here that while the disciples are “…given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others [Jesus speaks] in parables, so that ‘looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.’ (Luke 8:10).”And as such Jesus does not always offer an interpretation. Here, preceding the parable of the wicked tenants, at the conclusion of the parable of the two sons, he does: “…Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you [religious leaders]. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him (Matt. 21:31-32).” The purpose of this series of parables then is “the depiction of the unfaithfulness of the Jewish leaders. It is for this reason Jesus asks the Jewish leaders for their opinion concerning which of these two sons was the faithful one.”[1] The religious leaders’ response in the affirmative to Jesus question is then, “through typically parabolic procedure, a self-indictment.”[2]
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Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Part 2)
Commonalities in the contextual setting of the parable
There are several commonalities in the parable’s contextual setting. It is recorded after the triumphal entry when the people proclaim ‘Hosanna’ or ‘blessed be the king’ and that Jesus is the ‘Son of David’ (Matthew 21:10-11, Mark 11:9-10, Luke 19:38); the clearing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-46); and Mathew and Mark’s account of the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-26; cf. Mark 11:12-14, 20-22).
The accounts have other elements in common: the synoptics each include questioning about paying tribute to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26), concerning the resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40), comments on the great commandment (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark12:28-34, Luke 10:25-28), and David’s son (Matthew 22:41-46, Mark 12:35-37, Luke 20:41-44) followed by woes against the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36, Mark 12:37-40, Luke 20:45-47).
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There are several commonalities in the parable’s contextual setting. It is recorded after the triumphal entry when the people proclaim ‘Hosanna’ or ‘blessed be the king’ and that Jesus is the ‘Son of David’ (Matthew 21:10-11, Mark 11:9-10, Luke 19:38); the clearing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-46); and Mathew and Mark’s account of the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-26; cf. Mark 11:12-14, 20-22).
The accounts have other elements in common: the synoptics each include questioning about paying tribute to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26), concerning the resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40), comments on the great commandment (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark12:28-34, Luke 10:25-28), and David’s son (Matthew 22:41-46, Mark 12:35-37, Luke 20:41-44) followed by woes against the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36, Mark 12:37-40, Luke 20:45-47).
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Jesus use of Parabolic and Metaphorical Methods to Affect the Listeners of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Part 1).
In this paper I will examine how Jesus uses parabolic and metaphorical methods in the parable of the wicked tenants to affect his listeners. I will look primarily at the account in Matthew and expand on that by referencing Luke and Mark.
Matthew’s unique rhetorical setting for the parable
What is immediately evident in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ parable of the wicked tenants - that distinguishes it from the other accounts - is that this parable is the second in a series of three; all of these, I submit, are attempting to answer the same question posed by the Pharisees, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority? (Matthew 21:23; cf. Luke 1:2, Mark 11:28)” Mark and Luke do not record Jesus as speaking the other parables here. Indeed, Luke includes the parable of the Marriage feast – the third of Matthew’s three (Matt. 22:1-14) - in an entirely separate setting (Luke 14:16-24); it is not mentioned at all in the account of Mark and neither Mark nor Luke mention the parable of the two sons (Matt 21:28-32).
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Matthew’s unique rhetorical setting for the parable
What is immediately evident in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ parable of the wicked tenants - that distinguishes it from the other accounts - is that this parable is the second in a series of three; all of these, I submit, are attempting to answer the same question posed by the Pharisees, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority? (Matthew 21:23; cf. Luke 1:2, Mark 11:28)” Mark and Luke do not record Jesus as speaking the other parables here. Indeed, Luke includes the parable of the Marriage feast – the third of Matthew’s three (Matt. 22:1-14) - in an entirely separate setting (Luke 14:16-24); it is not mentioned at all in the account of Mark and neither Mark nor Luke mention the parable of the two sons (Matt 21:28-32).
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Hell
We know that God knows that Jesus is going to die before he sends him to the world (Cf. John 3,15). We know that Jesus’ death is necessary so that anyone can live and have eternal life. We know that He chooses to send His son to die so that we can live. Still some will hear this story and instead of concentrating on the authority of Jesus and the sacrifice of God they will fixate on the fact that God punishes these farmers and ask how come there is so much death? How come God punishes some people? In our world today we often hear the question, how can a supposedly loving God arbitrarily punish people and even condemn some to Hell?”
Well, He doesn’t… Jesus doesn’t condemn people to Hell (John 3:17). Hell is real but Jesus does not send people there. Those who are going there, like the tenant farmers in our story today who lose their lives in the vineyard, they make that decision to go there all on their own. Those who stand condemned, condemn themselves by denying (like the Apostle Paul makes clear in Romans Chapters 1 and 2) what is plainly obvious to everyone.[8] I truly believe that God gives us all we need to know in this life from our experiences and even creation itself (cf. Ro 1:18-24) just like he sent more and more servants to give the tenants more and more opportunities to repent and submit to His authority and indeed there will actually still be a time when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Ro 14:11, Philip 2:10) and then some, some who believe in the Lord and obey His commandments will go off to spend eternity with Him[9] and some, some who deny Christ (Matthew 10:33) and do not obey His commandments (John 14:15), some who simply refuse His love will go off to the hear the weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mathew 25:31ff). This is sad.
This is particularly sad because we know that God loves us. John 3:16 says that He loves the entire ‘Kosmos’[10]. He loves us so much that He laid down His life for us (John 15). God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten, his only natural, his only sired Son to die so that we may live.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/06/matthew-2133-46-john-31617-tenant.html
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Well, He doesn’t… Jesus doesn’t condemn people to Hell (John 3:17). Hell is real but Jesus does not send people there. Those who are going there, like the tenant farmers in our story today who lose their lives in the vineyard, they make that decision to go there all on their own. Those who stand condemned, condemn themselves by denying (like the Apostle Paul makes clear in Romans Chapters 1 and 2) what is plainly obvious to everyone.[8] I truly believe that God gives us all we need to know in this life from our experiences and even creation itself (cf. Ro 1:18-24) just like he sent more and more servants to give the tenants more and more opportunities to repent and submit to His authority and indeed there will actually still be a time when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Ro 14:11, Philip 2:10) and then some, some who believe in the Lord and obey His commandments will go off to spend eternity with Him[9] and some, some who deny Christ (Matthew 10:33) and do not obey His commandments (John 14:15), some who simply refuse His love will go off to the hear the weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mathew 25:31ff). This is sad.
This is particularly sad because we know that God loves us. John 3:16 says that He loves the entire ‘Kosmos’[10]. He loves us so much that He laid down His life for us (John 15). God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten, his only natural, his only sired Son to die so that we may live.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/06/matthew-2133-46-john-31617-tenant.html
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Saturday, July 24, 2010
What would you do?
Here in Matthew 21:31b-46 (cf. Lk 20:1-19, Mk 11:27-12:12) we read about an employer who, as Jesus tells us, has a bit of a challenging team working for him. This businessman is in the grape business. He is farmer of sorts and it is recorded in verse 33 that he put a bit of work into his farm. (He must love it!) It says that he plants his vineyard, he puts a wall around it, and he even builds a watchtower (cf. Isa 5:1-7 and Ps 80:6-16). It sounds like it is a pretty good setup that he has here. It says in verse 33 that he could even afford to go on vacation or a family trip or a business trip of some sort; it says in verse 34 that he had enough time and money that he could leave the vineyard. This is pretty good especially remembering that all this is happening in first century Palestine. It says that he could afford to go away and hire the fields out to some tenant farmers. Now I realise there are a number of people who do that in this area right?
The absentee landlord’s fields, his vines, are doing pretty well. He is still away doing whatever he is doing – sitting in his big corporate office or on the beach in Hawaii or Saskatoon or wherever it is that the rich farmers spend their time when they aren’t at home (-: . The landlord is away and it is time to collect his rent. The harvest is in and he wants his cut. He wants his share so he sends some of his employees up from the big city – briefcases, laptops, and calculators in hand (okay their were neither briefcases, laptops nor calculators then) – to collect the rent and it says in verse 35 that the tenant farmers, the fruit pickers, the contractors working the land, want to renegotiate their contract or something like that…it says in verse 35 that they seize his employees, they seize his servants and they beat one of them pretty severely, they kill another and they stone a third: stoning at that time often involved throwing someone into a pit and then hitting them with large rocks until they were dead. The farmers aren’t very nice to the landlord’s employees at all.
Now when the landlord hears about all this, what does he do? Well, what would you do? What would you do if you rented out your land for a season so that you could head down south and you send some property management company to go get the rent and they wind up getting themselves beaten up and killed? What are you going to do? Call the RCMP, right? Get the authorities. You’re going to want to do something, right? But what does the landlord do?
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/06/matthew-2133-46-john-31617-tenant.html
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The absentee landlord’s fields, his vines, are doing pretty well. He is still away doing whatever he is doing – sitting in his big corporate office or on the beach in Hawaii or Saskatoon or wherever it is that the rich farmers spend their time when they aren’t at home (-: . The landlord is away and it is time to collect his rent. The harvest is in and he wants his cut. He wants his share so he sends some of his employees up from the big city – briefcases, laptops, and calculators in hand (okay their were neither briefcases, laptops nor calculators then) – to collect the rent and it says in verse 35 that the tenant farmers, the fruit pickers, the contractors working the land, want to renegotiate their contract or something like that…it says in verse 35 that they seize his employees, they seize his servants and they beat one of them pretty severely, they kill another and they stone a third: stoning at that time often involved throwing someone into a pit and then hitting them with large rocks until they were dead. The farmers aren’t very nice to the landlord’s employees at all.
Now when the landlord hears about all this, what does he do? Well, what would you do? What would you do if you rented out your land for a season so that you could head down south and you send some property management company to go get the rent and they wind up getting themselves beaten up and killed? What are you going to do? Call the RCMP, right? Get the authorities. You’re going to want to do something, right? But what does the landlord do?
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/06/matthew-2133-46-john-31617-tenant.html
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Friday, July 23, 2010
A Theology of Food Bank
By Captain Michael Ramsay
Open letter, August - September 2008.
Recently I have heard a number of questions asked about The Salvation Army food bank. People have been wondering why we offer the service and whether it is a good thing or whether it is a bad thing. People have raised legitimate questions to which this letter is reply.
1) Why do we offer the service?
2) Does it do any good?
3) Can’t food banks just trap people in poverty, enabling them to be lazy or take advantage others?
4) How do we help people who have a real need?
5) What about Christianity?
1) Why do we offer the service?
The Salvation Army is a Christian organisation. We acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. There is a parable in the Bible (Matthew 25:31-46) about sheep and goats. This parable is addressed to all the nations of the world. You will notice in this parable there are two groups: those that spend eternity with Him and those that do not (Heaven and Hell). Both groups call Jesus ‘Lord’; the difference between the two groups is quite simple. The group that spends eternity with the Lord takes care of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the one needing clothes, the one in hospital, the one in prison.... The other group doesn’t. This is a good motivation for helping people as a society and The Salvation Army food bank is one of the tools we in this nation have available for helping in this way but…
2) Does it do any good?
Does it help really people? Can’t food banks and other social assistance programmes hurt people and hurt society? Can’t they force people to become dependant upon others? Can’t they help perpetuate generations of economic enslavement by removing people’s abilities and motivation for employment? Yes. A food bank (and other well-intentioned ministries) can contribute to all of these things.
In Nipawin and Tisdale we are blessed in that there is only one food bank in each of theses centres. In some centres there are many food banks run by more than one organisation and if there is not fluid communication between these centres then those who are trying to help may actually be tempting those in need to ‘take advantage of the system’ and inadvertently hurt themselves and others. In some larger urban centres a person can unaccountably eat seven or more square meals a day free of charge. Friends of mine struggling with addiction in some of these centres have lamented the fact that the only thing that they actually need to buy with the money they receive is their drugs. This is a problem in some – particularly large, urban places.
In the Salvation Army we have a large centralized database with the information from all of our food banks across the country stored on it. As a client hands us her identification we can see where and when in the country she last required the assistance of The Salvation Army. It means that we can better help the person because one cannot simply circumnavigate the procedures by visiting multiple food banks or moving to a new location. It means that if a client was being helped out in a specific town, when they move here we are able to continue assisting them in the same manner as before.
In North East Saskatchewan, the food banks are meant to help out in emergencies. They are not meant to supply a family with groceries for a whole month. We make a point of trying to give people what they need to help them through a short-term crisis. We are not meaning to supply all of their groceries for them. We also have policies as to how often a person can receive assistance at the food bank.
3) The food banks are meant to help people out of poverty rather than trap them in it.
In North East Saskatchewan here we have a policy that a person is only eligible to come to the food bank once every three months. This is intended to break the dependency cycle. We have noticed that some people can certainly be trapped by poverty. If this happens, when they are eligible to come to the food bank every month, they can plan that into their monthly budgets. This only keeps them trapped. We do not want the food bank to be a tool to keep anyone enslaved by poverty. By only allowing one visit every three months, we remove ‘free food’ from monthly planning and really aim to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
4) How does this work: what about people who are in legitimate need?
What if a family sincerely needs an emergency food hamper after only two months? It is, after all, very hard to break the dependency cycle. Will we turn away starving children? No. What we will do is attempt to address the problem. If a person comes to the food bank frequently there is a reason. That reason may be addiction. That reason may be budgeting. That reason may be personal. There can be any number of factors that drive a person to require assistance.
When a person shows up at the food bank we attempt to find out why she is here. If she returns after only a month and a half and she admits that she has an alcohol or a substance abuse problem, we will refer her to Alcoholics (Narcotics) Anonymous. If she has a problem with budgeting, we will direct her to a programme in town that can help her with that. If she has problems that require counselling we will facilitate her receiving help in that area as well. If she then shows that she is willing to get help, we will most certainly not deny her a small, emergency supply of food.
Many of us have gone through difficult times in our lives. Many of us have required help from our friends, family, churches, government, and The Salvation Army. It is very important to have the mechanisms in place to help and it is very important that the mechanisms are actually used to help people out of poverty rather than trap them in it.
There is an old adage by Lau Tzu that applies well to our theology of food bank: “give a person a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This is most certainly a part of our theology of food bank.
5) What about Christianity?
There is one more question that needs to be addressed and that is, ‘What about Christianity’? If we are a Christian organisation are we always proselytizing? No, but everyone must admit that there is no person or organisation that can distance oneself from one’s values be those values atheist, Hindu, Christian, or whatever. To suggest otherwise is not true. We acknowledge this reality. As such in the food hampers, we provide every client with the latest copy of our magazine, ‘Faith and Friends’. In that magazine you will find a bookmark that lists the times and dates of our Bible Studies, Sunday School, children’s programmes, etc. Whenever someone new chooses to join us at one of these, we are excited to see them. Also should you want it, there are New Testament Bibles available free of charge in our ministry centre and we are never adverse to praying for people – all you need to do is ask.
God Bless,
Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
www.sheepspeak.com
Open letter, August - September 2008.
Recently I have heard a number of questions asked about The Salvation Army food bank. People have been wondering why we offer the service and whether it is a good thing or whether it is a bad thing. People have raised legitimate questions to which this letter is reply.
1) Why do we offer the service?
2) Does it do any good?
3) Can’t food banks just trap people in poverty, enabling them to be lazy or take advantage others?
4) How do we help people who have a real need?
5) What about Christianity?
1) Why do we offer the service?
The Salvation Army is a Christian organisation. We acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. There is a parable in the Bible (Matthew 25:31-46) about sheep and goats. This parable is addressed to all the nations of the world. You will notice in this parable there are two groups: those that spend eternity with Him and those that do not (Heaven and Hell). Both groups call Jesus ‘Lord’; the difference between the two groups is quite simple. The group that spends eternity with the Lord takes care of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the one needing clothes, the one in hospital, the one in prison.... The other group doesn’t. This is a good motivation for helping people as a society and The Salvation Army food bank is one of the tools we in this nation have available for helping in this way but…
2) Does it do any good?
Does it help really people? Can’t food banks and other social assistance programmes hurt people and hurt society? Can’t they force people to become dependant upon others? Can’t they help perpetuate generations of economic enslavement by removing people’s abilities and motivation for employment? Yes. A food bank (and other well-intentioned ministries) can contribute to all of these things.
In Nipawin and Tisdale we are blessed in that there is only one food bank in each of theses centres. In some centres there are many food banks run by more than one organisation and if there is not fluid communication between these centres then those who are trying to help may actually be tempting those in need to ‘take advantage of the system’ and inadvertently hurt themselves and others. In some larger urban centres a person can unaccountably eat seven or more square meals a day free of charge. Friends of mine struggling with addiction in some of these centres have lamented the fact that the only thing that they actually need to buy with the money they receive is their drugs. This is a problem in some – particularly large, urban places.
In the Salvation Army we have a large centralized database with the information from all of our food banks across the country stored on it. As a client hands us her identification we can see where and when in the country she last required the assistance of The Salvation Army. It means that we can better help the person because one cannot simply circumnavigate the procedures by visiting multiple food banks or moving to a new location. It means that if a client was being helped out in a specific town, when they move here we are able to continue assisting them in the same manner as before.
In North East Saskatchewan, the food banks are meant to help out in emergencies. They are not meant to supply a family with groceries for a whole month. We make a point of trying to give people what they need to help them through a short-term crisis. We are not meaning to supply all of their groceries for them. We also have policies as to how often a person can receive assistance at the food bank.
3) The food banks are meant to help people out of poverty rather than trap them in it.
In North East Saskatchewan here we have a policy that a person is only eligible to come to the food bank once every three months. This is intended to break the dependency cycle. We have noticed that some people can certainly be trapped by poverty. If this happens, when they are eligible to come to the food bank every month, they can plan that into their monthly budgets. This only keeps them trapped. We do not want the food bank to be a tool to keep anyone enslaved by poverty. By only allowing one visit every three months, we remove ‘free food’ from monthly planning and really aim to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
4) How does this work: what about people who are in legitimate need?
What if a family sincerely needs an emergency food hamper after only two months? It is, after all, very hard to break the dependency cycle. Will we turn away starving children? No. What we will do is attempt to address the problem. If a person comes to the food bank frequently there is a reason. That reason may be addiction. That reason may be budgeting. That reason may be personal. There can be any number of factors that drive a person to require assistance.
When a person shows up at the food bank we attempt to find out why she is here. If she returns after only a month and a half and she admits that she has an alcohol or a substance abuse problem, we will refer her to Alcoholics (Narcotics) Anonymous. If she has a problem with budgeting, we will direct her to a programme in town that can help her with that. If she has problems that require counselling we will facilitate her receiving help in that area as well. If she then shows that she is willing to get help, we will most certainly not deny her a small, emergency supply of food.
Many of us have gone through difficult times in our lives. Many of us have required help from our friends, family, churches, government, and The Salvation Army. It is very important to have the mechanisms in place to help and it is very important that the mechanisms are actually used to help people out of poverty rather than trap them in it.
There is an old adage by Lau Tzu that applies well to our theology of food bank: “give a person a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This is most certainly a part of our theology of food bank.
5) What about Christianity?
There is one more question that needs to be addressed and that is, ‘What about Christianity’? If we are a Christian organisation are we always proselytizing? No, but everyone must admit that there is no person or organisation that can distance oneself from one’s values be those values atheist, Hindu, Christian, or whatever. To suggest otherwise is not true. We acknowledge this reality. As such in the food hampers, we provide every client with the latest copy of our magazine, ‘Faith and Friends’. In that magazine you will find a bookmark that lists the times and dates of our Bible Studies, Sunday School, children’s programmes, etc. Whenever someone new chooses to join us at one of these, we are excited to see them. Also should you want it, there are New Testament Bibles available free of charge in our ministry centre and we are never adverse to praying for people – all you need to do is ask.
God Bless,
Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
www.sheepspeak.com
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Keep your eye on the ball!
Doctrine 6 of The Salvation Army states,‘We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by his suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved’. Jesus establishes his Kingdom so that whosoever will may be saved and this is very good news.
However, there is a flip side to the coin: in this parable (Matthew 8:5-12) Jesus drives home the point as well that some will reject the salvation that he has provided for the whole world and so they will not be a part of his Kingdom. They, no matter who their parents are; they, no matter who or what else they know; they, no matter whether they even once sat at this very table of salvation or not; they who walk away from the banquet of eternal life will not get to eat of it. And this is sad. Christ has prepared this great feast for whosoever of us will have it since the creation of the world but some of us will reject it (cf. Matthew 22:1-14, 25:34, Luke 14:15-23).
Those who do not continue to pay attention to the game will miss the goal of eternal life. The goal has still been scored (between the cross and the empty tomb) but some will miss it. We need to keep our eye on the ball so we don’t miss it.
Jesus was born (as God incarnate), lived, died and rose from the grave so that we all may have eternal life but some of us will choose to reject that gift; some of us will walk away from the banquet table; some of us will not keep our eye on the ball and some of us, we will miss that all important goal of our salvation.
I encourage us today not to miss that goal. If there is anything that is distracting us from keeping our eyes upon Jesus, I encourage us today to put it aside. Let us not be distracted by the vuvuzelas of this world such as selfishness, self-indulgence; the vuvuzelas of worrying about our own personal life, liberty, and happiness. Let us not be distracted by the vuvuzelas of earthly cares and worldly concerns. Let us not let any vuvuzelas tempt us to take our eye off the ball. Instead let us turn, repent, hunger and thirst for righteous (Matthew 5:6). Let us continue to read our Bibles daily. Pray regularly. Keep our eyes focussed on the Lord and then when all is said and done, we will indeed see the goal and celebrate that great victory of the eternal abundant life with Christ Jesus our Lord.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/07/matthew-811-12-keep-your-eye-on-ball.html
or go home: www.sheepspeak.com
However, there is a flip side to the coin: in this parable (Matthew 8:5-12) Jesus drives home the point as well that some will reject the salvation that he has provided for the whole world and so they will not be a part of his Kingdom. They, no matter who their parents are; they, no matter who or what else they know; they, no matter whether they even once sat at this very table of salvation or not; they who walk away from the banquet of eternal life will not get to eat of it. And this is sad. Christ has prepared this great feast for whosoever of us will have it since the creation of the world but some of us will reject it (cf. Matthew 22:1-14, 25:34, Luke 14:15-23).
Those who do not continue to pay attention to the game will miss the goal of eternal life. The goal has still been scored (between the cross and the empty tomb) but some will miss it. We need to keep our eye on the ball so we don’t miss it.
Jesus was born (as God incarnate), lived, died and rose from the grave so that we all may have eternal life but some of us will choose to reject that gift; some of us will walk away from the banquet table; some of us will not keep our eye on the ball and some of us, we will miss that all important goal of our salvation.
I encourage us today not to miss that goal. If there is anything that is distracting us from keeping our eyes upon Jesus, I encourage us today to put it aside. Let us not be distracted by the vuvuzelas of this world such as selfishness, self-indulgence; the vuvuzelas of worrying about our own personal life, liberty, and happiness. Let us not be distracted by the vuvuzelas of earthly cares and worldly concerns. Let us not let any vuvuzelas tempt us to take our eye off the ball. Instead let us turn, repent, hunger and thirst for righteous (Matthew 5:6). Let us continue to read our Bibles daily. Pray regularly. Keep our eyes focussed on the Lord and then when all is said and done, we will indeed see the goal and celebrate that great victory of the eternal abundant life with Christ Jesus our Lord.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/07/matthew-811-12-keep-your-eye-on-ball.html
or go home: www.sheepspeak.com
Listening to Parables
There is much more that can be said about Jesus’ use of rhetoric and metaphor to affect listeners. One point is parables are not strict allegories as “Jesus told not allegories but parables—simple stories with a single point.”[12] “What distinguishes parable from allegory is not that only the former has one central point but that the former alone ties all its elements to one another within the parable's framework. These interconnections are determined not so much by a one-to-one link with the historical or theological situation to which the parable refers but by the demands of the story—viz., the parable itself.”[13] Parables are meant to be directly apprehended and in many cases without explanation.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Parable of the Sower
Jesus use of Parabolic and Metaphorical Methods to Affect the Listeners of the Parable of the Sower. (Fall 2006) By Michael Ramsay
Scope and Rationale
In this paper, I will examine how Jesus uses parabolic and metaphorical methods in the parable of the sower to affect his listeners. I will look at the accounts in Matthew, Luke, and Mark. In the case of this particular parable, I submit that the explanation of the parable and the explanation of why Jesus speaks in parables in general are part of that same rhetorical piece. As will be shown, the language of hearing and listening unite the explanation, the rationale and the parabolic discourse as one whole; so, I will examine here Jesus’ use of metaphorical and parabolic language in that whole.
Background and Introduction.
One immediately observable fact is that is that there are three separate accounts of the parable of the sower along with relevant explanations. As Mark is probably the oldest of the extant sources, Matthew and Luke may have used it as a source. That being said, each of the books needs to be read independently for each one has its own message. “The Gospel of Matthew has traditionally and popularly been known as the Jewish Gospel”[1]; Mark spends almost one half of his gospel relating an account of the death and resurrection of Jesus; Luke’s gospel is interested in the oppressed and the poor and a theme is that "Salvation embraces the totality of embodied life, including its social, economic, and political concerns;"[2] they each include the parable of the sower. I will attempt to see the three synoptic accounts of this parable together.
Luke’s textual context
In Luke, the parable of the sower is included in Chapter 8. This is near the end of his ministry in Galilee but fairly near the beginning of Luke. Preceding this account in Luke’s letter are a prologue (1:1-4), infancy narrative (1:5-2:52), and account of the preparation for Jesus’ ministry (3:1-4:13). It is immediately following the accounts of messengers arriving from John the Baptist and the woman anointing him with ointment. Also, as previously mentioned, the parable of the lamp under the jar follows immediately after this parable is explained; I wonder if indeed the further parable is not a part of Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower, as Luke “provides no textual indicators for a topical shift in the material of 8:4-21;”[3] it is one pericope.
Mark’s textual context
The parable of the sower is included in the fourth chapter of Mark. Prior to this, recorded in Mark are the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry (1:1-45) and controversy in Capernaum (2:1-3:35). Immediately preceding the story are the accounts of Jesus being accused of demonic possession and then being asked who is his true family. Following the parable of the sower, proverbs and parables are included (4:21-34) as well as a number of miracles performed around the Sea of Galilee (4:35-41).
Matthew’s textual context
In Matthew, the parable of the sower is included in Chapter 13. This is near the beginning of the second (12:22-28:20) of two sections of the book. It is part of a larger sub-section (13:1-52) on parables and follows a sub-section addressing conflict and gathering community; it is preceding a section about forming the new community amidst conflict (13:53-17:27).[4] “Matthew links the parabolic discourse in Chapter 13 to the preceding controversies (either 12:38-50 or 12:22-37) and ends it with a formulaic conclusion (13:53), which implies that all these parables were given on this occasion.”[5]
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com./NT_Michael_Ramsay.htm#Sower
Scope and Rationale
In this paper, I will examine how Jesus uses parabolic and metaphorical methods in the parable of the sower to affect his listeners. I will look at the accounts in Matthew, Luke, and Mark. In the case of this particular parable, I submit that the explanation of the parable and the explanation of why Jesus speaks in parables in general are part of that same rhetorical piece. As will be shown, the language of hearing and listening unite the explanation, the rationale and the parabolic discourse as one whole; so, I will examine here Jesus’ use of metaphorical and parabolic language in that whole.
Background and Introduction.
One immediately observable fact is that is that there are three separate accounts of the parable of the sower along with relevant explanations. As Mark is probably the oldest of the extant sources, Matthew and Luke may have used it as a source. That being said, each of the books needs to be read independently for each one has its own message. “The Gospel of Matthew has traditionally and popularly been known as the Jewish Gospel”[1]; Mark spends almost one half of his gospel relating an account of the death and resurrection of Jesus; Luke’s gospel is interested in the oppressed and the poor and a theme is that "Salvation embraces the totality of embodied life, including its social, economic, and political concerns;"[2] they each include the parable of the sower. I will attempt to see the three synoptic accounts of this parable together.
Luke’s textual context
In Luke, the parable of the sower is included in Chapter 8. This is near the end of his ministry in Galilee but fairly near the beginning of Luke. Preceding this account in Luke’s letter are a prologue (1:1-4), infancy narrative (1:5-2:52), and account of the preparation for Jesus’ ministry (3:1-4:13). It is immediately following the accounts of messengers arriving from John the Baptist and the woman anointing him with ointment. Also, as previously mentioned, the parable of the lamp under the jar follows immediately after this parable is explained; I wonder if indeed the further parable is not a part of Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower, as Luke “provides no textual indicators for a topical shift in the material of 8:4-21;”[3] it is one pericope.
Mark’s textual context
The parable of the sower is included in the fourth chapter of Mark. Prior to this, recorded in Mark are the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry (1:1-45) and controversy in Capernaum (2:1-3:35). Immediately preceding the story are the accounts of Jesus being accused of demonic possession and then being asked who is his true family. Following the parable of the sower, proverbs and parables are included (4:21-34) as well as a number of miracles performed around the Sea of Galilee (4:35-41).
Matthew’s textual context
In Matthew, the parable of the sower is included in Chapter 13. This is near the beginning of the second (12:22-28:20) of two sections of the book. It is part of a larger sub-section (13:1-52) on parables and follows a sub-section addressing conflict and gathering community; it is preceding a section about forming the new community amidst conflict (13:53-17:27).[4] “Matthew links the parabolic discourse in Chapter 13 to the preceding controversies (either 12:38-50 or 12:22-37) and ends it with a formulaic conclusion (13:53), which implies that all these parables were given on this occasion.”[5]
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com./NT_Michael_Ramsay.htm#Sower
Monday, July 19, 2010
Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) for July 20th
To see Bible readings and comics for every day of the year visit http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click the scriptures to read the daily Bible readings: 2 Chronicles 29-31 and James 4
Click the scriptures to read the daily Bible readings: 2 Chronicles 29-31 and James 4
Sunday, July 18, 2010
To continue to see the winning goal depends on your continued faithful watching of the match...
Matthew 8:11-12: Keep Your Eye on the Ball
Presented to the Swift Current Corps on 18 July 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
We just finished the World Cup of Soccer. This is by far and away the world’s most popular sporting event – actually I think it is the most popular ‘anything’ on the planet: did you know that there are more member countries of FIFA (208) than there are members of the UN (192)? I can’t remember how many billions of people they said tuned into the games but it was quite amazing. Did anyone notice those horns they had, the vuvuzelas? It was an earlier international soccer tournament (Gold Cup or Confederations Cup in 2009) where I noticed them for the first time (apparently they have been around since the 1980s and were heard at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico). They are really quite something – on the TV they just sound like a big buzzing of giant bees attacking the soccer stadium. Susan says those horns actually sound like a hungry baby. (Isn’t that right, baby vuvuzela?) I have a friend of mine from Rotary in town here who actually was able to go down to see the games in South Africa. He said it was quite something to be in a stadium with all of those people; the atmosphere he said was amazing. The only thing is that from some places you can’t see very well and in soccer there may be only one goal scored in a game. They don’t show replays at the stadium so if someone stands up in front of you or if you are distracted by a nearby vuvuzela - or something else causes you not to watch the game - when someone scores you miss it and there is no replay in a live match. Those who do not continue to watch, miss the goal. You need to keep our eye on the ball. The goal will have still been scored but those that don’t continue to watch will miss it. I am not sure what happened to my friend but it would be quite frustrating to watch hours of games and never see the winning goals. Depending on Divine providence and distracting vuvuzelas you could literally watch all the games and never see a goal so it is important not to be distracted. To continue to see the winning goal depends on your continued faithful watching of the match.
Doctrine 9 of The Salvation Army: We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/07/matthew-811-12-keep-your-eye-on-ball.html
---
www.sheepspeak.com
Presented to the Swift Current Corps on 18 July 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
We just finished the World Cup of Soccer. This is by far and away the world’s most popular sporting event – actually I think it is the most popular ‘anything’ on the planet: did you know that there are more member countries of FIFA (208) than there are members of the UN (192)? I can’t remember how many billions of people they said tuned into the games but it was quite amazing. Did anyone notice those horns they had, the vuvuzelas? It was an earlier international soccer tournament (Gold Cup or Confederations Cup in 2009) where I noticed them for the first time (apparently they have been around since the 1980s and were heard at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico). They are really quite something – on the TV they just sound like a big buzzing of giant bees attacking the soccer stadium. Susan says those horns actually sound like a hungry baby. (Isn’t that right, baby vuvuzela?) I have a friend of mine from Rotary in town here who actually was able to go down to see the games in South Africa. He said it was quite something to be in a stadium with all of those people; the atmosphere he said was amazing. The only thing is that from some places you can’t see very well and in soccer there may be only one goal scored in a game. They don’t show replays at the stadium so if someone stands up in front of you or if you are distracted by a nearby vuvuzela - or something else causes you not to watch the game - when someone scores you miss it and there is no replay in a live match. Those who do not continue to watch, miss the goal. You need to keep our eye on the ball. The goal will have still been scored but those that don’t continue to watch will miss it. I am not sure what happened to my friend but it would be quite frustrating to watch hours of games and never see the winning goals. Depending on Divine providence and distracting vuvuzelas you could literally watch all the games and never see a goal so it is important not to be distracted. To continue to see the winning goal depends on your continued faithful watching of the match.
Doctrine 9 of The Salvation Army: We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/07/matthew-811-12-keep-your-eye-on-ball.html
---
www.sheepspeak.com
Friday, July 16, 2010
For our new soldiers...
Since we are in the process of making some new soldiers at the Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army I thought this blog from armybarmy was timely...
The Salvationist Bag
What does a Salvationist carry in his/her bag? It's a good question. I've asked around a bit. It turns out that the ideal salvationist might carry the following:
- Bible (don't leave home without it - handy to have for the verses you haven't yet memorised and also for reading in spare moments)
- evangelistic tracts (handy to have when evangelistic conversations are interrupted or aborted)
- Salvation Army Song Book (handy for prayer and prophetic evangelism)
- pen and pad (handy to record inspiration, to write evangelistic presentations like the Bridge, share contact information with the evangelised, etc.)
- Handbook of Doctrine (handy to check on background of our doctrines)
- granola bars (handy for hungry people you meet either in evangelising or as a uniformed magnet for people who are hungry)
- breath mints/gum (your evangelism is greatly hindered by bad breath)
optional
- book (you already have the Bible, the SASB, and the HoD, but sometimes you might want to read another title in slow moments)
- SA Year Book (handy at an event like the World Youth Convention, but, if you live in a big city, you run into people while evangelising from all kinds of countries and it proves handy in those instances, too; it is also a good prayer resource)
What does a Salvationist NOT carry in his/her bag?
Interesting. Well, that list is much longer, of course, but here is a start:
- make-up aids (since salvos don't normally wear make-up we save all of that space (+$) in our bag [maybe I'll stop there and let you add suggestions, expecting that this one line will garner more negative content than the rest of the post will elicit positive feedback]).
The Salvationist Bag
What does a Salvationist carry in his/her bag? It's a good question. I've asked around a bit. It turns out that the ideal salvationist might carry the following:
- Bible (don't leave home without it - handy to have for the verses you haven't yet memorised and also for reading in spare moments)
- evangelistic tracts (handy to have when evangelistic conversations are interrupted or aborted)
- Salvation Army Song Book (handy for prayer and prophetic evangelism)
- pen and pad (handy to record inspiration, to write evangelistic presentations like the Bridge, share contact information with the evangelised, etc.)
- Handbook of Doctrine (handy to check on background of our doctrines)
- granola bars (handy for hungry people you meet either in evangelising or as a uniformed magnet for people who are hungry)
- breath mints/gum (your evangelism is greatly hindered by bad breath)
optional
- book (you already have the Bible, the SASB, and the HoD, but sometimes you might want to read another title in slow moments)
- SA Year Book (handy at an event like the World Youth Convention, but, if you live in a big city, you run into people while evangelising from all kinds of countries and it proves handy in those instances, too; it is also a good prayer resource)
What does a Salvationist NOT carry in his/her bag?
Interesting. Well, that list is much longer, of course, but here is a start:
- make-up aids (since salvos don't normally wear make-up we save all of that space (+$) in our bag [maybe I'll stop there and let you add suggestions, expecting that this one line will garner more negative content than the rest of the post will elicit positive feedback]).
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Who is Jesus?
...Not only do they know each other. Do you remember the interchange between the two of them – you can flip back to Chapter 3 if you want – when Jesus comes to be baptised? John says, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? (Matt 3:14).” John obviously knows Jesus and he obviously knows something about Jesus, even before and right at the beginning of Jesus ministry but now, now for some reason, John asks of him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
But there is even more: remember the heavens open up and God declares, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased (Matt 3:16)” and still John, who is there at the time asks, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Well this is interesting then – if John knows Jesus so well, who, other than the Messiah, the expectant King, could John be expecting?
Could John be expecting that Jesus is Elijah?[1] Some theorists have posited that John may have thought Jesus was Elijah; certainly other people did (cf. Matt 17:10-12; Mark 6:15, 8:28; Luke 9:19). After all – even though Jesus claimed that John was Elijah later in this very chapter we are looking at here today, in 11:14 (cf. also 9:11-13; Luke 1:17), John himself at one point denies that very claim (John 1:21). So if here John does not realise that he himself is fulfilling the role of Elijah and if he does not realise that Jesus is the Christ, he could have thought Jesus was Elijah – maybe.
Maybe John was just asking this questions for others and he really knew the answer all along. This was a popular view of the Reformers evidently– an unlikely view given the context of the passage, I would think, the gospels don’t tend to be quite so tricky – but maybe?[2]
He could be a prophet (Jeremiah; cf. Matt. 16:14)– much like John himself– only greater. If John saw the dove at Jesus’ baptism he may even recognise that, yes, Jesus is God’s son but maybe he just doesn’t know what that means? After all aren’t we all the children of God? Weren’t angels in the Genesis account sometimes referred to as ‘sons of God’ (Gen 6:2-4)? So then what does it mean to be the ‘Son of God’ and who, who is Jesus? Is he the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?
Well this is an important question for us today then too, isn’t it? Who is Jesus? The most educated, religious people of Jesus day, the Pharisees and Sadducees did not accept him as the Messiah, the Christ, the King to come, and in our story today John the Baptist, someone who knows Jesus even before he is born, someone who is his cousin, someone who baptises him, someone who teaches the same message of ‘repent for the Kingdom is near’ (cf. Matthew 3-4), someone as close to Jesus as John asks the question, are you the one to come, or should we expect someone else? Well, is Jesus the one to come or should we expect someone else; who do we say Jesus is?
A good man? - I have heard people say that. An imaginary figure? - I have heard that too –this one is rather silly though since we have much better evidence for Jesus as Christ than we do for Julius Caesar as Roman Emperor or the even the very existence of Socrates.
Was Jesus just a prophet as some – such as the Muslims and the Jews – suggest? Was he a mere man? Was he only a voice calling from the wilderness? Much of the world today would say that he was some kind of the prophet.
Could he just have been a religious teacher from a minor Roman province who developed a cult following that continued to grow for well – thousands of years now – there are more Christians in the world than ever before and, of course, the Bible is the world’s best-selling book. But all that aside, could he be just a dead teacher?
These are all answers with which people today answer the question, ‘Who is Jesus?’ Is he the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?
I think this is important because it changes everything doesn’t it? If Jesus is our Lord; if he is our king and his kingdom is at hand; if he is our wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting father and prince of peace (Isa 9:6) – then we need to submit to his authority don’t we? So who is this Jesus?
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/are-you-one-to-come-or-should-we-expect.html
But there is even more: remember the heavens open up and God declares, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased (Matt 3:16)” and still John, who is there at the time asks, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Well this is interesting then – if John knows Jesus so well, who, other than the Messiah, the expectant King, could John be expecting?
Could John be expecting that Jesus is Elijah?[1] Some theorists have posited that John may have thought Jesus was Elijah; certainly other people did (cf. Matt 17:10-12; Mark 6:15, 8:28; Luke 9:19). After all – even though Jesus claimed that John was Elijah later in this very chapter we are looking at here today, in 11:14 (cf. also 9:11-13; Luke 1:17), John himself at one point denies that very claim (John 1:21). So if here John does not realise that he himself is fulfilling the role of Elijah and if he does not realise that Jesus is the Christ, he could have thought Jesus was Elijah – maybe.
Maybe John was just asking this questions for others and he really knew the answer all along. This was a popular view of the Reformers evidently– an unlikely view given the context of the passage, I would think, the gospels don’t tend to be quite so tricky – but maybe?[2]
He could be a prophet (Jeremiah; cf. Matt. 16:14)– much like John himself– only greater. If John saw the dove at Jesus’ baptism he may even recognise that, yes, Jesus is God’s son but maybe he just doesn’t know what that means? After all aren’t we all the children of God? Weren’t angels in the Genesis account sometimes referred to as ‘sons of God’ (Gen 6:2-4)? So then what does it mean to be the ‘Son of God’ and who, who is Jesus? Is he the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?
Well this is an important question for us today then too, isn’t it? Who is Jesus? The most educated, religious people of Jesus day, the Pharisees and Sadducees did not accept him as the Messiah, the Christ, the King to come, and in our story today John the Baptist, someone who knows Jesus even before he is born, someone who is his cousin, someone who baptises him, someone who teaches the same message of ‘repent for the Kingdom is near’ (cf. Matthew 3-4), someone as close to Jesus as John asks the question, are you the one to come, or should we expect someone else? Well, is Jesus the one to come or should we expect someone else; who do we say Jesus is?
A good man? - I have heard people say that. An imaginary figure? - I have heard that too –this one is rather silly though since we have much better evidence for Jesus as Christ than we do for Julius Caesar as Roman Emperor or the even the very existence of Socrates.
Was Jesus just a prophet as some – such as the Muslims and the Jews – suggest? Was he a mere man? Was he only a voice calling from the wilderness? Much of the world today would say that he was some kind of the prophet.
Could he just have been a religious teacher from a minor Roman province who developed a cult following that continued to grow for well – thousands of years now – there are more Christians in the world than ever before and, of course, the Bible is the world’s best-selling book. But all that aside, could he be just a dead teacher?
These are all answers with which people today answer the question, ‘Who is Jesus?’ Is he the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?
I think this is important because it changes everything doesn’t it? If Jesus is our Lord; if he is our king and his kingdom is at hand; if he is our wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting father and prince of peace (Isa 9:6) – then we need to submit to his authority don’t we? So who is this Jesus?
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/are-you-one-to-come-or-should-we-expect.html
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Holiness, Nike, and Luke 4
How many times do we hear this in our lives: its just a white lie: you’ll be fine if you do this; you won’t go to hell. You’re just speeding, its not hurting anybody. Just one toke, God’s not going to cast you away for just one puff. Look no one really cares about that anyway. It says that God will never leave you nor forsake you. We all sin all the time anyway. These are tricks the devil can use to lead us astray and…
This is it. This is the culminating attempt at temptation and this is one lie that can get us all if we don’t rely heavily on God’s Spirit and God’s Scripture: ‘your not hurting anyone…and why bother? Since we all sin all the time anyway’.
It’s not true. We don’t need to sin so don’t believe it when you hear it. We don’t need to sin. We do need not to sin. Be holy (1 Peter 1:15, Lev 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7). Be perfect (2 Cor. 13; Col. 1:28; Hebrews 11,12;). We can’t do it ourselves but…The Lord will help us. He will do it (1 Thess 5:23-24). We need to rely on God and on his scriptures like Jesus did. Turn to the Spirit who lets us endure any temptation. Its like Jesus says, quoting Deuteronomy again, ‘don’t put the Lord your God to the test’…don’t Sin! Don’t listen to Nike – JUST DO IT. Listen to God and Just DON’T do it!
So when the Holy Spirit released Jesus into His ministry, the devil tried tempting Jesus with everything he had. Jesus was in the Spirit, he relied on God and he relied on the Bible, and in so doing he resisted the devil and the devil fled from him. Like it says in James 1:12, ‘Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.’
Don’t give up, remain in the spirit, even if you slip up, remain in the spirit and as you do you will find that you read the scriptures, trust in God, endure the temptations, and persevere. Remember what it said in Luke 4:13-14: ‘When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him –until an opportune time- Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee. And it will be the same with us.
Let us pray. This prayer for us from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, ‘May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you (us) through and through. May your (our) whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.’
So then, we need to remember when we leave here and are faced with temptations from the devil himself, to just remain in the Spirit, like Jesus and the devil will flee us -
God will take care of him.
from the sermon:
Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Luke 4 - Jesus' Forty Days', presented to Stony Mountain Penitentiary 18 June 2007. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/08/luke-4-jesus-forty-days.html
This is it. This is the culminating attempt at temptation and this is one lie that can get us all if we don’t rely heavily on God’s Spirit and God’s Scripture: ‘your not hurting anyone…and why bother? Since we all sin all the time anyway’.
It’s not true. We don’t need to sin so don’t believe it when you hear it. We don’t need to sin. We do need not to sin. Be holy (1 Peter 1:15, Lev 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7). Be perfect (2 Cor. 13; Col. 1:28; Hebrews 11,12;). We can’t do it ourselves but…The Lord will help us. He will do it (1 Thess 5:23-24). We need to rely on God and on his scriptures like Jesus did. Turn to the Spirit who lets us endure any temptation. Its like Jesus says, quoting Deuteronomy again, ‘don’t put the Lord your God to the test’…don’t Sin! Don’t listen to Nike – JUST DO IT. Listen to God and Just DON’T do it!
So when the Holy Spirit released Jesus into His ministry, the devil tried tempting Jesus with everything he had. Jesus was in the Spirit, he relied on God and he relied on the Bible, and in so doing he resisted the devil and the devil fled from him. Like it says in James 1:12, ‘Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.’
Don’t give up, remain in the spirit, even if you slip up, remain in the spirit and as you do you will find that you read the scriptures, trust in God, endure the temptations, and persevere. Remember what it said in Luke 4:13-14: ‘When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him –until an opportune time- Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee. And it will be the same with us.
Let us pray. This prayer for us from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, ‘May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you (us) through and through. May your (our) whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.’
So then, we need to remember when we leave here and are faced with temptations from the devil himself, to just remain in the Spirit, like Jesus and the devil will flee us -
God will take care of him.
from the sermon:
Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Luke 4 - Jesus' Forty Days', presented to Stony Mountain Penitentiary 18 June 2007. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/08/luke-4-jesus-forty-days.html
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Don't Sin!
Armybarmy blog on NOT sinning
July 12, 2010
All right, enough of this modesty stuff. I’ve heard too much of this, ‘oh, we sin every day;’ as if it’s something to be proud of. It’s nothing to be proud of. It’s disgusting. Why sin? Well, one lame excuse may be because you figure the Bible says we all sin. Of course, you could always try a close reading of Scripture.
A close reading of Scripture will let you in on the fact that saints do not, as a rule, sin. They don’t sin. Granted, occasionally there are exceptions, but basically there is no sinning happening in Christians. Jesus’ best pal, John, stated pretty matter-of-factly, “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning” (1 John 3:6). That’s pretty straightforward.
That, really, is just an effect of being holy, of having the Holy Spirit filling you. A lot of people get thrown with those two concepts. Barely anybody wants to say they are holy. On the contrary, heaps of Christians say they are filled with the Holy Spirit. The silly thing is, if you are holy, you are filled with the Holy Spirit, and if you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are holy. If you are either of those things, you don’t sin. So, if you go around claiming to be filled, and still keep telling people you sin, you are kidding yourself, and misrepresenting God. Stop.
In Sunday School this week, Al got pretty stubborn and concluded, “Jesus is the only guy to walk this earth who never sinned.” Amen. But not only that. Whenever Jesus walks this earth, He never sins. So, walking this earth 2,000 years ago, Jesus wasn’t sinning. And today, when Jesus is walking this earth, He isn’t sinning. If He invades, fills, and controls your life, He’s walking around living His life through you. And He’s still not sinning. That means you’re not sinning.
Don’t disgrace Him by claiming something you don’t have, like being filled with the Holy Spirit, or by claiming something, like sinning, which is unnecessary. Instead, live in Him, so that He can live out His life through you, and you’ll not sin.
read more from armybarmy: http://www.armybarmy.com/blog.html
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www.sheepspeak.com/
July 12, 2010
All right, enough of this modesty stuff. I’ve heard too much of this, ‘oh, we sin every day;’ as if it’s something to be proud of. It’s nothing to be proud of. It’s disgusting. Why sin? Well, one lame excuse may be because you figure the Bible says we all sin. Of course, you could always try a close reading of Scripture.
A close reading of Scripture will let you in on the fact that saints do not, as a rule, sin. They don’t sin. Granted, occasionally there are exceptions, but basically there is no sinning happening in Christians. Jesus’ best pal, John, stated pretty matter-of-factly, “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning” (1 John 3:6). That’s pretty straightforward.
That, really, is just an effect of being holy, of having the Holy Spirit filling you. A lot of people get thrown with those two concepts. Barely anybody wants to say they are holy. On the contrary, heaps of Christians say they are filled with the Holy Spirit. The silly thing is, if you are holy, you are filled with the Holy Spirit, and if you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are holy. If you are either of those things, you don’t sin. So, if you go around claiming to be filled, and still keep telling people you sin, you are kidding yourself, and misrepresenting God. Stop.
In Sunday School this week, Al got pretty stubborn and concluded, “Jesus is the only guy to walk this earth who never sinned.” Amen. But not only that. Whenever Jesus walks this earth, He never sins. So, walking this earth 2,000 years ago, Jesus wasn’t sinning. And today, when Jesus is walking this earth, He isn’t sinning. If He invades, fills, and controls your life, He’s walking around living His life through you. And He’s still not sinning. That means you’re not sinning.
Don’t disgrace Him by claiming something you don’t have, like being filled with the Holy Spirit, or by claiming something, like sinning, which is unnecessary. Instead, live in Him, so that He can live out His life through you, and you’ll not sin.
read more from armybarmy: http://www.armybarmy.com/blog.html
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www.sheepspeak.com/
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Are you the one to come or should we expect someone else?
Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on December 16, 2007
Presented to the Swift Current Corps on July 11, 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
In my teens I was a janitor; I worked nights for a big janitorial company. They have many buildings all over the city and I worked for this company since before I ever went to university so when I did go back to school, they were kind enough to work around my schedule.
They made me a ‘floater’: now a floater is a very important position because we are given the keys and alarm codes to banks and other important businesses all over the city and our shifts often end late at night or early in the morning so one doesn’t want just anybody walking around some of these buildings (for security reasons) in the middle of the night.
I remember one night. I’m on ‘floater’ duty. I have four buildings to clean. The first one, I have a staff working with me and I am given the unpleasant job of letting one of them go and that doesn’t go over so well. My second building takes me twice as long to clean as it should and when I get to my third building, it is well passed midnight and I have never been in this building before and I can’t find the light switch anywhere. As a result, I am late turning off the alarm and the thing goes off: it is loud. So while it is still ringing and the place is still dark I run and trip over a desk trying to turn it off and then the phone rings (the alarm company always calls to see why an alarm is going off) so I’m off and running again and this time it is in the other direction -still in the dark - to find the phone before I miss the call and the alarm company phones the police. I get to the phone just in time but not before crashing into another desk in the pitch black and yelling out some words that – don’t worry – I won’t repeat here.
I finally get this alarm mess sorted out but by now my leg that I have bashed twice is killing me as I am limping around the whole building still looking for the light switch in the pitch black. I am very lost in a maze of cubicles and I really can’t see anything and I am not feeling too happy at all when I hear something.
I hear something. I hear something growl. I hear something growl and bark loudly. This is not good. So what do I do? I yell. I yell quite loudly as I hit the floor. Peering up I can see a couple of police dogs and a police officer staring down at me. I can tell you – I don’t know if you have ever encountered an angry police dog but that was one of the scariest moments of my life.
What happened was when I spoke with the security company on the phone – remember I was just a spare, not the regular cleaner – my name wasn’t on the list of people who were approved to be in the building after midnight and instead of calling the company I worked for, like they are supposed to do, they called the police and so I almost got seriously hurt by a police dog.
Even though I told them my name they didn’t really know who I was.
This is not entirely unlike our story here today. Look at 11 verses 2 and 3, “When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
read more from sheepspeak.com: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/are-you-one-to-come-or-should-we-expect.html
Presented to the Swift Current Corps on July 11, 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
In my teens I was a janitor; I worked nights for a big janitorial company. They have many buildings all over the city and I worked for this company since before I ever went to university so when I did go back to school, they were kind enough to work around my schedule.
They made me a ‘floater’: now a floater is a very important position because we are given the keys and alarm codes to banks and other important businesses all over the city and our shifts often end late at night or early in the morning so one doesn’t want just anybody walking around some of these buildings (for security reasons) in the middle of the night.
I remember one night. I’m on ‘floater’ duty. I have four buildings to clean. The first one, I have a staff working with me and I am given the unpleasant job of letting one of them go and that doesn’t go over so well. My second building takes me twice as long to clean as it should and when I get to my third building, it is well passed midnight and I have never been in this building before and I can’t find the light switch anywhere. As a result, I am late turning off the alarm and the thing goes off: it is loud. So while it is still ringing and the place is still dark I run and trip over a desk trying to turn it off and then the phone rings (the alarm company always calls to see why an alarm is going off) so I’m off and running again and this time it is in the other direction -still in the dark - to find the phone before I miss the call and the alarm company phones the police. I get to the phone just in time but not before crashing into another desk in the pitch black and yelling out some words that – don’t worry – I won’t repeat here.
I finally get this alarm mess sorted out but by now my leg that I have bashed twice is killing me as I am limping around the whole building still looking for the light switch in the pitch black. I am very lost in a maze of cubicles and I really can’t see anything and I am not feeling too happy at all when I hear something.
I hear something. I hear something growl. I hear something growl and bark loudly. This is not good. So what do I do? I yell. I yell quite loudly as I hit the floor. Peering up I can see a couple of police dogs and a police officer staring down at me. I can tell you – I don’t know if you have ever encountered an angry police dog but that was one of the scariest moments of my life.
What happened was when I spoke with the security company on the phone – remember I was just a spare, not the regular cleaner – my name wasn’t on the list of people who were approved to be in the building after midnight and instead of calling the company I worked for, like they are supposed to do, they called the police and so I almost got seriously hurt by a police dog.
Even though I told them my name they didn’t really know who I was.
This is not entirely unlike our story here today. Look at 11 verses 2 and 3, “When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
read more from sheepspeak.com: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/are-you-one-to-come-or-should-we-expect.html
Friday, July 09, 2010
Jesus is Coming!
It is like with a new baby. When the first due date for our youngest came and went without baby's arrival, we could have taken the camera out of the baby bag and put it where it usually belongs; when the next anticipated due date came, we could have taken the baby clothes, Susan’s magazines, and toiletries out of the baby bag. When the next day came and went, we could have taken the very baby bag itself, in which we held everything in anticipation of baby’s arrival, and filled it with various work or play related items instead so that we were no longer prepared. If we did or if we do all of this still now it won’t stop baby from coming. We just won’t be prepared for baby’s arrival and even if I am looking for everything that we have unpacked and I can’t find what I need in time to be there, baby will still come at the pre-appointed time, I just may miss out on the blessings of that moment. Also if I was in Maple Creek helping our team out with the diaster relief work when baby came I would have missed the occasion or if baby had come early, a few days before the due date instead of almost 2 weeks after the due date now, my parents wouldn’t have been a part of it. They would have missed out on baby’s arrival. Hopefully baby gets here before they have to leave! Baby is coming soon whether we are ready or not and if we aren’t ready we will miss out.
Regarding eternal life, will we miss out on Jesus’ arrival? Or are we ready for him? Are our spiritual bags still packed? Or have we in the weeks, months and years since we gave our lives to Christ, have we been slowly unpacking our heavenly baby bags? Do we still have our Bibles that we read daily in there or did we put them back on the shelves because Jesus hasn’t come just yet? He’s still coming. How about our incessant, fervent prayers: do we still practice them daily or have we put them away until we feel we need them? How about our offering of food, clothing, and love to the least, the lost, and the last: is this still with us and in our spiritual baby bags or have we filed these away somewhere; leaving us unprepared for the immanent arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ who is coming soon?
Jesus is coming soon whether we are ready for it or not. Are we ready?
www.sheepspeak.com
Regarding eternal life, will we miss out on Jesus’ arrival? Or are we ready for him? Are our spiritual bags still packed? Or have we in the weeks, months and years since we gave our lives to Christ, have we been slowly unpacking our heavenly baby bags? Do we still have our Bibles that we read daily in there or did we put them back on the shelves because Jesus hasn’t come just yet? He’s still coming. How about our incessant, fervent prayers: do we still practice them daily or have we put them away until we feel we need them? How about our offering of food, clothing, and love to the least, the lost, and the last: is this still with us and in our spiritual baby bags or have we filed these away somewhere; leaving us unprepared for the immanent arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ who is coming soon?
Jesus is coming soon whether we are ready for it or not. Are we ready?
www.sheepspeak.com
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Clothing donations flooding in...
- PRESS RELEASE -
Army in Yorkton Overwhelmed by Clothing Donations
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 (Saskatoon, SK) - As a result of generosity from the community, clothing donations are being dropped off in abundance for flood victims in Yorkton.
"On Tuesday alone," says Captain Les Marshall, "115 people visited The Salvation Army here to donate clothing and household items, 62 people visited to receive donations, and another 220 individuals received direct personal assistance as our Community Response Vehicle made its way from house to house."
The response was so great that the items will need to be moved to another location for distribution. The Parkland Mall is donating space for The Salvation Army to set up clothing racks for flood victims to visit and take what is needed.
The Salvation Army thanks the province for their overwhelming support in the form of clothing donations, and is now urging donors to consider financial support.
"Many people here are in desperate need of food, water, shelter beds, emotional support, and physical assistance," says Don Timmerman, Divisional Emergency Response Coordinator. "The Salvation Army is providing all of these things and more, and we need public support to continue."
"100% of donations given to The Salvation Army for flood victims actually goes to flood victims in the form of essential items and services."
WAYS TO DONATE
Online: www.salvationarmy.ca/yorkton
Mail: P.O. Box 456, Yorkton, SK S3N 2W4
In Person: at any Salvation Army Centre or Thrift Store in Saskatchewan or Manitoba
We are currently looking for companies and individuals to partner with us to provide financial donations.
The Salvation Army Emergency Response Team is hard at work in Yorkton. The team meets every morning at 9 a.m. with city officials for a debriefing, and is working with city and provincial officials to meet as many needs as possible.
Our Community Response Vehicle (CRV) is driving through the hardest hit parts of the city providing water, coffee, muffins and sandwiches, as well as Clean-Up Kits, flashlights, boxes, mosquito repellent, gloves, and other essential items.
Following the CRV is a second vehicle with Salvation Army officers who take time to offer urgently-needed emotional care and support.
"This is a big part of what the residents of Yorkton need right now," explains Captain Les Marshall. "There is no question that the Army is able to give hope where it is needed most."
The Salvation Army has assisted the city of Yorkton with setting up an Emergency Shelter in a school gymnasium. This shelter is for those whose homes are currently condemned, unclean or unsafe.
At the Reception Area at Kinsmen Arena, The Salvation Army continues to distribute clothing and essentials, and emotional and spiritual care is available by request.
TUESDAY BY THE NUMBERS
213 people visited in home
85 Clean-Up Kits distributed
45 boxes distributed
115 donors visited the Reception Centre to drop off clothing and items
62 people visited the Reception Centre to receive donations of clothing and items
100% of donations that The Salvation Army receives for Yorkton or Maple Creek is used directly for emergency disaster relief in those communities.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jackie Kripki
Government and Media Relations
Prairie Division - Public Relations and Development
The Salvation Army
1027 8th Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7H 0S2
Office: (306) 244-9114, Cell: (306) 371-5402
Fax: (306) 244-9115
E-mail: jackie_kripki@can.salvationarmy.org
About The Salvation Army in Canada
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction.
News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca.
Maple Creek: To date we have received $15,300 in donations for Maple Creek flood relief. Donations still gratefully accepted at www.salvationarmy.ca/maplecreek.
Office: (306) 244-9114
Cell: (306) 371-5402
Fax: (306) 244-9115
E-mail: jackie_kripki@can.salvationarmy.org
--
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Captain Michael Ramsay
www.sheepspeak.com
Army in Yorkton Overwhelmed by Clothing Donations
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 (Saskatoon, SK) - As a result of generosity from the community, clothing donations are being dropped off in abundance for flood victims in Yorkton.
"On Tuesday alone," says Captain Les Marshall, "115 people visited The Salvation Army here to donate clothing and household items, 62 people visited to receive donations, and another 220 individuals received direct personal assistance as our Community Response Vehicle made its way from house to house."
The response was so great that the items will need to be moved to another location for distribution. The Parkland Mall is donating space for The Salvation Army to set up clothing racks for flood victims to visit and take what is needed.
The Salvation Army thanks the province for their overwhelming support in the form of clothing donations, and is now urging donors to consider financial support.
"Many people here are in desperate need of food, water, shelter beds, emotional support, and physical assistance," says Don Timmerman, Divisional Emergency Response Coordinator. "The Salvation Army is providing all of these things and more, and we need public support to continue."
"100% of donations given to The Salvation Army for flood victims actually goes to flood victims in the form of essential items and services."
WAYS TO DONATE
Online: www.salvationarmy.ca/yorkton
Mail: P.O. Box 456, Yorkton, SK S3N 2W4
In Person: at any Salvation Army Centre or Thrift Store in Saskatchewan or Manitoba
We are currently looking for companies and individuals to partner with us to provide financial donations.
The Salvation Army Emergency Response Team is hard at work in Yorkton. The team meets every morning at 9 a.m. with city officials for a debriefing, and is working with city and provincial officials to meet as many needs as possible.
Our Community Response Vehicle (CRV) is driving through the hardest hit parts of the city providing water, coffee, muffins and sandwiches, as well as Clean-Up Kits, flashlights, boxes, mosquito repellent, gloves, and other essential items.
Following the CRV is a second vehicle with Salvation Army officers who take time to offer urgently-needed emotional care and support.
"This is a big part of what the residents of Yorkton need right now," explains Captain Les Marshall. "There is no question that the Army is able to give hope where it is needed most."
The Salvation Army has assisted the city of Yorkton with setting up an Emergency Shelter in a school gymnasium. This shelter is for those whose homes are currently condemned, unclean or unsafe.
At the Reception Area at Kinsmen Arena, The Salvation Army continues to distribute clothing and essentials, and emotional and spiritual care is available by request.
TUESDAY BY THE NUMBERS
213 people visited in home
85 Clean-Up Kits distributed
45 boxes distributed
115 donors visited the Reception Centre to drop off clothing and items
62 people visited the Reception Centre to receive donations of clothing and items
100% of donations that The Salvation Army receives for Yorkton or Maple Creek is used directly for emergency disaster relief in those communities.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jackie Kripki
Government and Media Relations
Prairie Division - Public Relations and Development
The Salvation Army
1027 8th Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7H 0S2
Office: (306) 244-9114, Cell: (306) 371-5402
Fax: (306) 244-9115
E-mail: jackie_kripki@can.salvationarmy.org
About The Salvation Army in Canada
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction.
News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca.
Maple Creek: To date we have received $15,300 in donations for Maple Creek flood relief. Donations still gratefully accepted at www.salvationarmy.ca/maplecreek.
Office: (306) 244-9114
Cell: (306) 371-5402
Fax: (306) 244-9115
E-mail: jackie_kripki@can.salvationarmy.org
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Captain Michael Ramsay
www.sheepspeak.com
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
It's Jesus or Hell!
Doctrine 11: We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
I. ‘… the immortality of the soul’: it continues forever (See A2. Eternal Life, pp. 224-225; B1. The immortality of the soul, Hand Book of Doctrine, p. 225)
II. ‘… the resurrection of the body’: Not just our spirits ‘going to heaven’ and staying there; there is more: there will be an actual physical resurrection. (A. The Christian Hope intro, HBD, p. 223; B2. The resurrection of the body, HBD, p. 226 cf. also A1. The triumph of the Kingdom of God, HBD, pp. 223-224)
III. ‘… in the general judgment at the end of the world’ : the world will end; we will be judged. (C. Ultimate Accountability intro, HBD, pp. 226-227);
IV. ‘...the endless punishment of the wicked’ – it doesn’t end. Some groups have taught that either there is no hell or that hellfire burns away the sins or the soul until it no longer exists. We do not hold to this. We believe in the immortality of the soul. (Cf. Exodus 23:6,11, Lev. 19:10,15, 23:22, 27:8, Deut. 15:7, 15:11, 24:12-15, 1 Samuel 2:8, Psalms 22:26, 34:6, 35:10, 82:3, Ezekiel 16:49, 18:12, 22:29, Amos 2:7, 4:1, 5:11-12, 8:4-6, Isaiah 3:14, 15, 10:2, 11:4, 26:6, 32:7, 41:17, 58:7, 61:1; Zechariah 7:10).
V. ‘the eternal happiness of the righteous’ – it also does not end. (A hope to be shared, HBD, p. 228)
Bottom Line: It's Jesus or Hell.
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www.sheepspeak.com
I. ‘… the immortality of the soul’: it continues forever (See A2. Eternal Life, pp. 224-225; B1. The immortality of the soul, Hand Book of Doctrine, p. 225)
II. ‘… the resurrection of the body’: Not just our spirits ‘going to heaven’ and staying there; there is more: there will be an actual physical resurrection. (A. The Christian Hope intro, HBD, p. 223; B2. The resurrection of the body, HBD, p. 226 cf. also A1. The triumph of the Kingdom of God, HBD, pp. 223-224)
III. ‘… in the general judgment at the end of the world’ : the world will end; we will be judged. (C. Ultimate Accountability intro, HBD, pp. 226-227);
IV. ‘...the endless punishment of the wicked’ – it doesn’t end. Some groups have taught that either there is no hell or that hellfire burns away the sins or the soul until it no longer exists. We do not hold to this. We believe in the immortality of the soul. (Cf. Exodus 23:6,11, Lev. 19:10,15, 23:22, 27:8, Deut. 15:7, 15:11, 24:12-15, 1 Samuel 2:8, Psalms 22:26, 34:6, 35:10, 82:3, Ezekiel 16:49, 18:12, 22:29, Amos 2:7, 4:1, 5:11-12, 8:4-6, Isaiah 3:14, 15, 10:2, 11:4, 26:6, 32:7, 41:17, 58:7, 61:1; Zechariah 7:10).
V. ‘the eternal happiness of the righteous’ – it also does not end. (A hope to be shared, HBD, p. 228)
Bottom Line: It's Jesus or Hell.
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www.sheepspeak.com
We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless
1
Doctrine 10 - We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I. What is a ‘privilege’? (An honour, ex. an invitation) Is it a right? (No)
II. For ‘all believers’: Salvation begins with repentance, faith and regeneration (Chapter 7, HBD) and must be sustained by obedient faith (Chapter 9, HBD). The development of life ‘in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:17) is explored in Doctrine 10. Holiness is not an optional extra for some believers, but is available to all who accept Jesus as Lord. While described as a privilege, this does not imply that it is a requirement for only some Christians. (A. Essentials of Doctrine, 1. For all believers, HBD p. 199)
III. ‘…may be preserved blameless’: ...To insist that believers are necessarily sinful, or that they continue to be prone to personal sin, is to limit the power of the Atonement to bring about a thorough change of character and a comprehensive victory over sin. We may sin, but when we do, we recognise that sin is contradictory and foreign to who we are in Christ. When we confess it to God and to anyone we have wronged, w are renewed in grace. (A. Essentials of Doctrine, 7. Holiness is not sinlessness, p. 201)
IV. ‘…unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ’: Holiness isn’t for later, either when we go to heaven (if we die before Christ’s return) or for after Jesus comes back. Holiness is for now. Sin is contradictory to Christ. Sinlessness is conformity to Christ. Therefore, let us go from here today and ‘sin no more’, We can indeed be holy as the Lord our God is holy (1 Peter 1:15, Leviticus 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7). We can – Matthew says – even be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48; cf. 2 Corinthians 13; Colossians 1:28; Hebrews 11,12).
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www.sheepspeak.com
Doctrine 10 - We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I. What is a ‘privilege’? (An honour, ex. an invitation) Is it a right? (No)
II. For ‘all believers’: Salvation begins with repentance, faith and regeneration (Chapter 7, HBD) and must be sustained by obedient faith (Chapter 9, HBD). The development of life ‘in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:17) is explored in Doctrine 10. Holiness is not an optional extra for some believers, but is available to all who accept Jesus as Lord. While described as a privilege, this does not imply that it is a requirement for only some Christians. (A. Essentials of Doctrine, 1. For all believers, HBD p. 199)
III. ‘…may be preserved blameless’: ...To insist that believers are necessarily sinful, or that they continue to be prone to personal sin, is to limit the power of the Atonement to bring about a thorough change of character and a comprehensive victory over sin. We may sin, but when we do, we recognise that sin is contradictory and foreign to who we are in Christ. When we confess it to God and to anyone we have wronged, w are renewed in grace. (A. Essentials of Doctrine, 7. Holiness is not sinlessness, p. 201)
IV. ‘…unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ’: Holiness isn’t for later, either when we go to heaven (if we die before Christ’s return) or for after Jesus comes back. Holiness is for now. Sin is contradictory to Christ. Sinlessness is conformity to Christ. Therefore, let us go from here today and ‘sin no more’, We can indeed be holy as the Lord our God is holy (1 Peter 1:15, Leviticus 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7). We can – Matthew says – even be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48; cf. 2 Corinthians 13; Colossians 1:28; Hebrews 11,12).
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www.sheepspeak.com
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
...but Jesus hasn't come back yet
from Matthew 24:36-51 (Revelation 22:7-21): He is Coming Soon!
Presented to the Swift Current Corps, 27 June 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
...Speaking of children, we all know that we are still awaiting our new child, a new member of our congregation here, a little boy or girl. Mom especially is getting understandably a little bit impatient to meet babe. When baby finally does arrive, it will be a real time of celebration because – as many of you know the due date was almost 2 weeks ago now so we know that baby is coming very soon one way or another. Through this time we didn’t and don’t necessarily know exactly when but we are ready. Our bags are packed and in the car. I keep the camera and the phone list at my side. Grandma and Boppa are here and have been since just before baby’s first due date to help look after the children when baby arrives. We know baby is coming soon, sooner than ever before…but baby isn’t here yet. We thought a doctor said that baby was coming on the 16th but the 16th came and went and the baby hasn’t come yet. We saw a doctor had written that the baby was coming on the 17th but the 17th came and went and the baby hasn’t come yet. I thought the ultrasound technician said the baby was coming on the 20th or the 21st ; Susan thought they said the 22nd but the 20th came and went and the 21st came and went and the 22nd came and went and the baby hasn’t come yet. We were prepared for the baby many days before all those dates, in between all those dates, and after those dates. We know the baby is coming soon but the baby hasn’t come yet.
Revelation 3:11, Jesus says, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” But Jesus hasn’t come (back) yet. Revelation 22:7, Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” But Jesus hasn’t come (back) yet. Revelation 22:12, Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” But Jesus hasn’t come (back) yet. And Revelation 22:20, “He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” But Jesus hasn’t come (back) yet.
The people in the first years after Jesus rose from the grave – when the early church was formed - expected him to come back soon, any minute, but Jesus hasn’t come back yet. The people in the first decades after Jesus rose from the grave – when most of our New Testament was written - expected him to come soon...
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/06/matthew-2436-51-revelation-227-21-he-is.html
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www.sheepspeak.com
Presented to the Swift Current Corps, 27 June 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
...Speaking of children, we all know that we are still awaiting our new child, a new member of our congregation here, a little boy or girl. Mom especially is getting understandably a little bit impatient to meet babe. When baby finally does arrive, it will be a real time of celebration because – as many of you know the due date was almost 2 weeks ago now so we know that baby is coming very soon one way or another. Through this time we didn’t and don’t necessarily know exactly when but we are ready. Our bags are packed and in the car. I keep the camera and the phone list at my side. Grandma and Boppa are here and have been since just before baby’s first due date to help look after the children when baby arrives. We know baby is coming soon, sooner than ever before…but baby isn’t here yet. We thought a doctor said that baby was coming on the 16th but the 16th came and went and the baby hasn’t come yet. We saw a doctor had written that the baby was coming on the 17th but the 17th came and went and the baby hasn’t come yet. I thought the ultrasound technician said the baby was coming on the 20th or the 21st ; Susan thought they said the 22nd but the 20th came and went and the 21st came and went and the 22nd came and went and the baby hasn’t come yet. We were prepared for the baby many days before all those dates, in between all those dates, and after those dates. We know the baby is coming soon but the baby hasn’t come yet.
Revelation 3:11, Jesus says, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” But Jesus hasn’t come (back) yet. Revelation 22:7, Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” But Jesus hasn’t come (back) yet. Revelation 22:12, Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” But Jesus hasn’t come (back) yet. And Revelation 22:20, “He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” But Jesus hasn’t come (back) yet.
The people in the first years after Jesus rose from the grave – when the early church was formed - expected him to come back soon, any minute, but Jesus hasn’t come back yet. The people in the first decades after Jesus rose from the grave – when most of our New Testament was written - expected him to come soon...
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/06/matthew-2436-51-revelation-227-21-he-is.html
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www.sheepspeak.com
Monday, July 05, 2010
Beware: Christian Junk Food!
Why the average believer is starving for something more.
By Anne Graham Lotz
(HT SR)
I love junk food—McDonald's french fries, Auntie Anne's pretzels, and almost any kind of pizza! If I'm not careful, though, I will gain unwanted pounds while getting zero nutrition.
Many Christians seem to eat spiritually the way I am tempted to eat physically. They fill up on "junk food"—Christian books, CDs, TV programs, seminars, and all sorts of church activities—none of these are bad, really, but they lead to a sickly spiritual state if consumed apart from the true Bread of Life. We need the real nutritional "food" that will be served one day at the Wedding Supper referred to in Revelation 19:9, food that we can partake of right now as we dig into God's Living Word.
For the past 17 years, as I have crisscrossed America, speaking at various conferences and churches, I have become convinced of one thing: the average church member is desperately hungry for God's Word. While we read books about it and hear sermons based on it, we are sadly devoid of it in our daily lives. When life begins to unravel, we don't know how to access its power and truth in a relevant way. As a result, thousands of us have spirits that are shriveling.
Several years ago a good friend of mine visited what had been a poverty-stricken country in Africa. As she flew in, she looked down on miles of African veldt covered by what looked like long, green waves of grass. She asked her hosts about the lush vegetation. With obvious joy, they explained that the crop she had seen was a newly discovered plant called "naroo" that adapted easily to the climate and soil. Within a few short years, they expected naroo to be the main staple of their diets.
But when my friend revisited that country a few years later, she was shocked to see miles of dry, barren land. She asked what had happened. Sadly, her hosts told her how the naroo had indeed become the main food of the local people, but they discovered it had no nutritional value. As a result, hundreds of people had starved to death—with their stomachs full!
Those African people could symbolize the spirituality of many church members in America today. We have made the main staples of our spiritual diets things that offer little nutritional value—political agendas, Christian entertainment, and marketing strategies for the local church.
While you and I can certainly enjoy an occasional helping of "junk food," our primary source of sustenance must be prayer and the Word of God. Take a moment right now to examine your spiritual diet. What changes do you need to make in order to eat right?
Anne Graham Lotz is founder and president of AnGeL Ministries, www.angelm=
inistries.org.
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www.sheepspeak.com
By Anne Graham Lotz
(HT SR)
I love junk food—McDonald's french fries, Auntie Anne's pretzels, and almost any kind of pizza! If I'm not careful, though, I will gain unwanted pounds while getting zero nutrition.
Many Christians seem to eat spiritually the way I am tempted to eat physically. They fill up on "junk food"—Christian books, CDs, TV programs, seminars, and all sorts of church activities—none of these are bad, really, but they lead to a sickly spiritual state if consumed apart from the true Bread of Life. We need the real nutritional "food" that will be served one day at the Wedding Supper referred to in Revelation 19:9, food that we can partake of right now as we dig into God's Living Word.
For the past 17 years, as I have crisscrossed America, speaking at various conferences and churches, I have become convinced of one thing: the average church member is desperately hungry for God's Word. While we read books about it and hear sermons based on it, we are sadly devoid of it in our daily lives. When life begins to unravel, we don't know how to access its power and truth in a relevant way. As a result, thousands of us have spirits that are shriveling.
Several years ago a good friend of mine visited what had been a poverty-stricken country in Africa. As she flew in, she looked down on miles of African veldt covered by what looked like long, green waves of grass. She asked her hosts about the lush vegetation. With obvious joy, they explained that the crop she had seen was a newly discovered plant called "naroo" that adapted easily to the climate and soil. Within a few short years, they expected naroo to be the main staple of their diets.
But when my friend revisited that country a few years later, she was shocked to see miles of dry, barren land. She asked what had happened. Sadly, her hosts told her how the naroo had indeed become the main food of the local people, but they discovered it had no nutritional value. As a result, hundreds of people had starved to death—with their stomachs full!
Those African people could symbolize the spirituality of many church members in America today. We have made the main staples of our spiritual diets things that offer little nutritional value—political agendas, Christian entertainment, and marketing strategies for the local church.
While you and I can certainly enjoy an occasional helping of "junk food," our primary source of sustenance must be prayer and the Word of God. Take a moment right now to examine your spiritual diet. What changes do you need to make in order to eat right?
Anne Graham Lotz is founder and president of AnGeL Ministries, www.angelm=
inistries.org.
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www.sheepspeak.com
Friday, July 02, 2010
Founders' Day, Dominion Day, and 1 Kings 2:1-4: Don’t Forget Your Roots.
Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on July 27, 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay
Friday Susan, the girls and I headed out to the Silver Stream fair – the Connaught fair. That is near where my grandma grew up. We even saw the old school and the old bell from those days. Afterwards we headed out to the Silver Stream cemetery and saw where some of our relatives’ were laid to rest.
This area of Saskatchewan has real significance for me and it always has even before we ever lived here. It is part of our history. It is a part of our family. It is a part of our life. Last week too, my mom’s cousin who owns a farm in the New Osgood area came to our church in Tisdale with a nephew who is helping him out for the summer. They invited us back to the farm afterwards. This was neat. The girls loved seeing the cows up so close. I enjoyed talking to my mom’s cousin and seeing where our family’s first quarter of land was in the area, where the old homestead was; I saw where my grandfather went to school and the old cemetery there where the remains of some of my relatives were laid to rest. North East Saskatchewan, New Osgood, Silver Stream, this whole area from Tisdale to Nipawin is my family’s old stomping ground and the kids and I are really enjoying getting to know it and a bit more about our roots.
For all of us, our history and the things we learn from our Christian family traditions are very important roots from which to draw for generations to come. Likewise, upbringings in anti-Christian households are many times a struggle to get over that can be every bit as brutal as any addiction. Traditions, roots, history, good and bad, generational curses and generational blessing have bearings on us all and they had a bearing on the patriarchs, on Moses, on David and on Solomon. David did not want Solomon to forget his roots.
David inherited a significant covenant blessing (2 Samuel 7) and in the first few chapters of 1 Kings here we see that Solomon receives for himself a part of that blessing – albeit conditionally. Now David, as sure as he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), was still just a man and he was not necessarily the best father in the world but he is still the vehicle for the blessing of Israel and indeed the world.
David was to have a descendant sit on the throne forever and now he does in the person of Jesus, the Christ...
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/07/1-kings-21-4-dont-forget-your-roots.html
By Captain Michael Ramsay
Friday Susan, the girls and I headed out to the Silver Stream fair – the Connaught fair. That is near where my grandma grew up. We even saw the old school and the old bell from those days. Afterwards we headed out to the Silver Stream cemetery and saw where some of our relatives’ were laid to rest.
This area of Saskatchewan has real significance for me and it always has even before we ever lived here. It is part of our history. It is a part of our family. It is a part of our life. Last week too, my mom’s cousin who owns a farm in the New Osgood area came to our church in Tisdale with a nephew who is helping him out for the summer. They invited us back to the farm afterwards. This was neat. The girls loved seeing the cows up so close. I enjoyed talking to my mom’s cousin and seeing where our family’s first quarter of land was in the area, where the old homestead was; I saw where my grandfather went to school and the old cemetery there where the remains of some of my relatives were laid to rest. North East Saskatchewan, New Osgood, Silver Stream, this whole area from Tisdale to Nipawin is my family’s old stomping ground and the kids and I are really enjoying getting to know it and a bit more about our roots.
For all of us, our history and the things we learn from our Christian family traditions are very important roots from which to draw for generations to come. Likewise, upbringings in anti-Christian households are many times a struggle to get over that can be every bit as brutal as any addiction. Traditions, roots, history, good and bad, generational curses and generational blessing have bearings on us all and they had a bearing on the patriarchs, on Moses, on David and on Solomon. David did not want Solomon to forget his roots.
David inherited a significant covenant blessing (2 Samuel 7) and in the first few chapters of 1 Kings here we see that Solomon receives for himself a part of that blessing – albeit conditionally. Now David, as sure as he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), was still just a man and he was not necessarily the best father in the world but he is still the vehicle for the blessing of Israel and indeed the world.
David was to have a descendant sit on the throne forever and now he does in the person of Jesus, the Christ...
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/07/1-kings-21-4-dont-forget-your-roots.html
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Canada Day and Psalm 72
Psalm 72: the Credit Card of Justice and Righteousness
Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps 01 July 2007
by Captain Michael Ramsay
I love Canada Day – (or Dominion Day as we used to call it) – I always have. I love the picnics and all the fun things to do. Every year we used to have a big picnic and fireworks in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria where I grew up. It is a perfect chance to see everyone – so I’m really looking forward to our picnic today in the park – this should be great.
But you know what else I love, I also love the quizzes that come out around this time – I know, who loves quizzes but, hey, I used to be a teacher– lets see how you do…
Who is our head of State?
What is our national animal?
What are our two national sports?
Who was the first PM of Canada?
When did Saskatchewan join confederation?
Upon what passage of scripture was Canada founded?
And that is another reason that I love it is that Canada Day it is a great chance to reflect upon the theological roots on which Canada was founded. Canada Day provides an opportunity to look at how the Lord formed and intended our nation.
Canada, unlike many countries who came into their own around the same time as us, was not born out of the atheist revolutions of the 1700s. If anything our forefathers went exactly the other way and decided to take a stand in FOR God, FOR King, and FOR country. So, instead of focusing on individualistic liberty and the selfish pursuits of personal happiness at the expense of others, the Canadian fathers of confederation focused on peace (Jesus is the Prince of Peace), order (God is a God of order not disorder), and good government (cf. Isa. 9:5-7, Ps. 72).
Canada’s motto, “A Mari usque ad Mare” is Latin for “from sea to sea.” It comes from Psalm 72. Where, in verse 8, it declares, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea.” That is a key underpinning of our society and of our founding identity, the idea that God himself, through the Canadian government, shall have dominion from sea to sea.
This is neat. It is not some accident or coincident. It is intentional. Our country is intentionally founded on the Word of God. And another interesting thing - Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, the father of Confederation that proposed the name for our country and its name, as the Dominion of Canada, be based on this Scripture would have made a great Salvationist.
Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps 01 July 2007
by Captain Michael Ramsay
I love Canada Day – (or Dominion Day as we used to call it) – I always have. I love the picnics and all the fun things to do. Every year we used to have a big picnic and fireworks in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria where I grew up. It is a perfect chance to see everyone – so I’m really looking forward to our picnic today in the park – this should be great.
But you know what else I love, I also love the quizzes that come out around this time – I know, who loves quizzes but, hey, I used to be a teacher– lets see how you do…
Who is our head of State?
What is our national animal?
What are our two national sports?
Who was the first PM of Canada?
When did Saskatchewan join confederation?
Upon what passage of scripture was Canada founded?
And that is another reason that I love it is that Canada Day it is a great chance to reflect upon the theological roots on which Canada was founded. Canada Day provides an opportunity to look at how the Lord formed and intended our nation.
Canada, unlike many countries who came into their own around the same time as us, was not born out of the atheist revolutions of the 1700s. If anything our forefathers went exactly the other way and decided to take a stand in FOR God, FOR King, and FOR country. So, instead of focusing on individualistic liberty and the selfish pursuits of personal happiness at the expense of others, the Canadian fathers of confederation focused on peace (Jesus is the Prince of Peace), order (God is a God of order not disorder), and good government (cf. Isa. 9:5-7, Ps. 72).
Canada’s motto, “A Mari usque ad Mare” is Latin for “from sea to sea.” It comes from Psalm 72. Where, in verse 8, it declares, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea.” That is a key underpinning of our society and of our founding identity, the idea that God himself, through the Canadian government, shall have dominion from sea to sea.
This is neat. It is not some accident or coincident. It is intentional. Our country is intentionally founded on the Word of God. And another interesting thing - Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, the father of Confederation that proposed the name for our country and its name, as the Dominion of Canada, be based on this Scripture would have made a great Salvationist.
Happy Canada Day
I am Canadian
Canada is really Big
Ontario Sucks
War of 1812
The Mountie Song
We are the Beaver
Canada is really Big
Ontario Sucks
War of 1812
The Mountie Song
We are the Beaver
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