Friday, December 31, 2010

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) 2011


WELCOME TO THE WORLD'S FIRST ON-LINE COMIC LITURGY (since 2003)

Read through the Bible in a year with us following the Life Journal Reading Plan.

On this first page of our site are the most recent comics that we have posted on-line: http://drwas.blogspot.com/

If you would like to read through the Bible in a year with us, you may either click on the appropriate month on the right hand column of our web page (http://drwas.blogspit.com/) or send us an e-mail (erations@sheepspeak.com) to have them delivered every Monday to your e-mail in-box.

If you want to view comics on a certain topic, either for your bulletins, briefs, or publications, you are welcome to peruse them by category. The categories are listed on the right. Simply click on them. You are welcome to use any of our comics free of charge, we would just like to know about it so if you wouldn't mind sending us an email (drwas@sheepspeak.com ) when you do that would be wonderful.

Sincerely,

Captain Michael Ramsay

comics and rations: http://www.drwas.blogspot.com/
 

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 31st

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Revelations 19-22

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 30th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Revelations 15-18



'The Golden Rule'

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 29th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Revelations 10-14

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 28th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Revelations 5-9

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 27th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Revelations 1-4

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 26th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Psalm 117, 119: 81-176, 2 John, 3 John

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 25th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): 1 John 1-5

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 24th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): John 19-21

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 23rd

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): John 15-18

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 22nd

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): John 12-14

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 21st

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): John 9-11

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 20th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): John 7,8

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 19th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): John 2-4

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 18th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): 2 Peter 1-3 and John 1

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 17th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): 2 Peter 1-3 and John 1

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Dec. 16th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): 1 Peter 1-5

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) December 15th

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Click to read today's rations (scriptures): James 1-5

Monday, December 27, 2010

Matthew 1:18-2:18: What is your choice?

Presented to the Swift Current Corps on 26 December, 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay

In this passage that we have just read, Matthew’s version of the Christmas story, we are faced with three responses to the miracle of the birth of Christ, the coming of the Messiah:

1) That of Joseph (his legal father),
2) Herod (King of Judea), and
3) Some magi (astrologers, astronomers, magicians or wise men, traditionally ‘we three kings’).

I want to look a little bit today at their three different responses to the news that Jesus was to be born and the news that he was actually born.

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/12/matthew-118-218-what-is-your-choice.html

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www.sheepspeak.com

Saturday, December 25, 2010

The Queen's Christmas Speach

He is born!

Luke 2 : The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Many of the top 10 recommendations of the Recession Relief Coalition Hunger Inquiry are NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT!

Recommendations of the Recession Relief Coalition Hunger Inquiry (with my comments in blue)

1.Employers pay a living wage so people working full-time can afford nutritious food, access to adequate housing and other life essentials. (OK)

2.The Ontario government immediately implement a substantial increase to social assistance rates. (NOT OK - Services are better than money. Recent history proves that an increase in assistance rates does not equal a decrease in services use.)

3.The Federal government provide additional access to Employment Insurance beyond the normal 50-week maximum until the recession ends and unemployment rates decline and lower the threshold of eligibility to 360 hours down from the current minimum of 420 hours. (OK only as along as EI involves training and services rather than just money)

4. The Ontario government maintain the Special Diet Allowance at current funding levels to support prevention and treatment of disease and recipients not be required to reveal medical information to non-medical professionals.

5.Members of Parliament vote for Bill C-304, a bill for a National Housing Strategy, to enact a plan to increase safe, affordable housing. (Affordable housing is good)

6.Food banks remove restrictions to access based on postal code, number of previous visits and identification. (Bad idea. Very bad idea. Very very bad idea! This is how we can track people so that we can help them out of poverty. Removing these tools from the belt of the workers helping people, will only serve to trap people in poverty. This is evidenced by comparing long-term repeat statistics between foodbanks with controls and those without. If you remove these tools, you might as well close up the foodbanks because it will be many times more difficult to actually help people OUT of poverty.)

7.All levels of government include health outcomes as a measurement of the impact of social policy decisions. (OK)

8.All levels of government consider the long-term cost to the health system of not addressing poverty and hunger now. (OK)

9.All levels of government and funders invest in community-based organizations to create food hubs that provide nutritious food and cooking opportunities. (OK)

10.Governments and community-based organizations reject charity as a means of fighting hunger and consider access to food a basic human right. (Not sure what this will mean when it actually plays out. My fear is that we will create a food welfare system such as that advocated by some proponents of suggestion #6; as soon as we accept poverty as inevitable, it is my fear that we will stop trying to help people to be able to stand on their own two feet and instead wind up locking them in a cage of poverty and inadvertently throwing away the key- this is what has happened when ideas similar to this have taken root in larger urban centres and this would be a tragedy)

In Vancouver's infamous DTES, when we were serving there with The Salvation Army's 614 Vancouver, we had people trapped in addiction lament to us that they can't break free of drugs because the government keeps giving them money and drugs is the only thing that they need to spend it on. They can eat up to a dozen meals a day - WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND NO ENCOURAGEMENT AND NO ASSISTANCE OUT OF THEIR ADDICTION! This is heart breaking and it is my fear that if these suggestions are implemented that that is exactly what will happen across this country...

Intentional Discipleship Communities:An effective way of formation and mission (JAC70)

by Jonathan Evans

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” A common and seemingly innocent question posed to a child but loaded with expectations and largely focussed on individual achievement in status and economic standing. This question frames contemporary educational efforts and programming that reinforces the fragmentation of the individual, focussing primarily on employable skills. Education becomes an incubator of narcissism by focussing on employable skill acquisition and grades while ignoring holistic values for personal development (or by holistic improvement in isolation with self-help books and trips to the gym.) Indeed, even religion has become individualised in the context of a pluralistic and secular culture. Robert Bellah writes about the trend towards individualisation in religion, “I believe the more dangerous threat today comes from the second alternative – the complete privatization of religion, so that religion becomes entirely personal with no collective expression at all. Indeed, in a significant sector of our population (which is not necessarily “secularized”) that has already happened.[1]

read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article6-70.html

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www.sheepspeak.com

A Note of Warning (JAC70)

(from the Contemporary Review 1898, pgs. 436-445)
by John Hollins

"O Heavens! If we saw an army ninety thousand strong maintained and fully equipt, in continual real action and battle against Chaos. Necessity, Stupidity .... fighting and incessantly spearing down and destroying Falsehood, Nescience. Delusion. Disorder, and the Devil and his Angels!"
—Carlylk, " Past and Present."

A NOBLE wish,. and surely almost prophetic of the Salvation Army! Yet a Wesleyan Methodist, on leaving one of our services some years ago, remarked to the friend who accompanied him, "That's Methodism gone to seed!" which would, I have no doubt, be news for most people who had not noticed that Methodism was getting seedy, and fancied that the Salvation Army was quite another thing. Every movement within the realm of Christianity is perhaps indebted to preceding ones, and all contain the same living seed—Jesus Christ. But Sir Oracle was wrong. The Salvation Army is not degenerate Methodism. It bears evidences of genuineness and originality writ large upon it. It came into existence because of a need, and has in some sort answered it. It propagates no new fanatical doctrines, but preaches Christ crucified. Its developments have been, on the whole, rational and beneficent, and it has displayed considerable adaptability. In short, without making any comparison as to what may be termed quality, it is as true a movement as Methodism itself, and so entirely original that it approximates in a remarkable way to Carlyle's ideal host.

The world, as was to be expected, has given the Salvation Army a very mixed reception...

read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article7-70.html

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http://www.sheepspeak.com/

A Higher Up Religion - part 2 (JAC70)

Originally printed in, The War Cry, No.4 - Jan.17, 1880
by General William Booth

Reprinted in, Holiness Readings. A selection of Papers on the Doctrine, Experience, and Practice of Holiness, Salvation Army Book Depot, London, 1883.

Our theme is holiness. We speak to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. You are the children of God. You have passed from death unto life. Your sins are forgiven you, and you know it. A great change has passed over you. Once you were the willing slave of sin. Sin in some form reigned over you, but the Saviour came, and He brought not only pardon but liberty. You were made free. You are free to-day. Hallelujah! Still, the work of deliverance is not complete. True, the absolute triumphing reign of evil in your soul has come to an end, but it is still there. The Philistine still dwells in the land, and the enemies who once had it all their own way still disturb your peace. At times they overcome you, bring you into condemnation, and threaten totally to subdue and bring you again into bondage. We need not enumerate those enemies. You know them only too well,-anger, malice, pride, envy, lust, and the like. All the land, that is, all your heart and life was once their own, and fain would they have it back again. You have had many a fight with them, and, I fear, suffered many a defeat, which defeats have had to be followed by tears of bitter repentance and fresh applications to the cleansing-blood. Oh, ten thousand thanks for the continued efficacy of the crimson fountain, and the never-failing willingness of Jehovah to forgive.

His mercy, indeed, to those who seek it endureth for ever. And the next best thing to not stumbling and falling down is, I suppose, to get up again, and the next best thing to not falling into sin is to repent and seek forgiveness. But is there no other way? ....

read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article8-70.html

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If at First You Don't Succeed...(JAC70)

by Commission Wesley Harris

A NEW twist of an old adage is that “If at first you don’t succeed, you’re running about normal!” We are not to be blamed if we don’t score immediate success. But we are to be blamed if we allow our first efforts to be our last. Like others, Salvation Army officers should be given permission to fail – as long as they then go on to try other ways of succeeding. The only thing for which we shouldn’t expect permission is giving up.

read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article9-70.html

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Holiness Movement - Time to Be Holy (JAC70)

by Lieut.-Colonel Richard Munn

The passage in I Peter 1 - "Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." - is authoritative scripture on the holiness of God. It is a statement declared early in the Old Testament and reiterated in the New Testament.

The way Peter uses it is follows a description of the all the prophets pointing to Christ as the fulfilment of this holiness, and he then points that line to us - the readers. These prophets 'were not serving themselves but you...even angels long to look into these things.

The holiness of God is the central attribute of His nature...

read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC70-4.pdf

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The Main Thing (JAC70)

by Major Howard Weber

In the early days of The Salvation Army, back in East London, leaders were referred to as ‘evangelists’, and that, indeed, was their role: to reach and lead the lost to Christ. Many confined themselves to evangelism and nothing else, so that the problem was not that of getting people saved, but rather what to do with them afterwards. Social work and the relief of physical and material deprivation was often a part of the work of salvation, but always in the minds of those dealing with the immediate wellbeing of a person was concern for his or her ultimate wellbeing. Even in 1866, (pre-Salvation Army days), with a cholera epidemic, continued unemployment and its intense accompanying distress, William Booth and his workers kept their heads and did not allow themselves to be stampeded either into distributing food, clothing, blankets, etc, indiscriminately, or losing sight of the Christian Mission’s first objective, that of the eternal salvation of the people.

Even the extensive organisation of this growing Movement did not impede the evangelist. Rather, it provided a means of retaining and channelling new converts, a problem that few of the missions of that time had resolved. The evangelist continued to concentrate on reaching the lost, the Mission’s priority. Though the discipling and care of converts were very important, the priority was always that of getting more of the unsaved saved. When a person got saved they were immediately discipled, mobilised and encouraged to get their friends and families saved. Taking his son to an unsavoury, smoke-filled public house, William Booth said to young Bramwell, ‘Willie, these are our people; these are the people I want you to live for and bring to Christ.’ Obviously a word from a God-fearing father to his son, but surely as we look at the eternal state of those around us who live without Christ, is it not a word from God to us all?

One thing I think is true of most of the Church in this country, its emphasis on eternal issues has changed/moved. The thing that was, at one time, the main thing of the Church is no longer the main thing anymore. There are a number of reasons for this.

read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article3-70.html

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Transformations (JAC70)

by General Paul A. Rader (Ret.) & Commissioner Kay F. Rader
McPherson Lecture - Australia South - August 2010

Transformation for the Salvationist is first about the power of the Gospel, the promise of real Redemption and the possibilities of Grace. It emanates from the Cross Of Christ, his atoning death, his risen life, his session at the right hand of the Father, the outpouring of his Spirit, and the promise that at his coming we will share in his glory. Whatever and whoever we have been or hoped to be, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:2,3 TNIV). That is the ultimate promise of our transformation in Christ.

Blessèd hope now brightly beaming,
On our God we soon shall gaze;
And in light celestial gleaming,
We shall see our Savior’s face.

By the pow’r of grace transforming,
We shall then His image bear;
Christ His promised word performing,
We shall then His glory share

But not just then....

read more: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article2-70.html

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www.sheepspeak.com

The secularist religion's takeover of public institutions seems to be paying dividends for them

Future of Faith, Part IV :Young Canadians increasingly shunning religious institutions
MICHAEL VALPY
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 9:00PM EST
Last updated Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 9:18PM EST

If the future for institutional religion in Canada lies in the hearts and minds of the young, a dark night is sweeping down on the country's churches, synagogues and temples.

Young Canadians, who religious leaders once hoped would find their way back to faith, are instead doing the opposite: leading the country's march toward secularism. And with the exception of evangelical Christians, they are doing it at an accelerated pace.

read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/young-canadians-increasingly-shunning-religious-institutions/article1837678/

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Einstein's teacher...

from my e-mail in-box:

> Subject: FW: A very interesting conversation, please read it to the end !
>
>
>
> VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION
>
> An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .
>
> Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
> Student : Yes, sir.
> Professor : So, you Believe in GOD?
> Student : Absolutely, sir.
> Professor : Is GOD Good ?
> Student : Sure.
> Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL?
> Student : Yes.
> Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.
> Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.
> But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
>
> (Student was silent )
>
> Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GODGood?
> Student : Yes.
> Professor : Is Satan good ?
> Student : No.
> Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
> Student : From . . . GOD. . .
> Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
> Student : Yes.
> Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
> Student : Yes.
> Professor : So who created evil ?
>
> (Student did not answer)
>
> Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
> Student : Yes, sir.
> Professor : So, who Created them ?
>
> (Student had no answer)
>
> Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
> Student : No, sir.
> Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
> Student : No , sir.
> Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
> Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
> Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM?
> Student : Yes.
> Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says yourGOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
> Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
> Professor : Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
> Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
> Professor : Yes.
> Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?
> Professor : Yes.
> Student : No, sir. There isn't.
>
> (The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )
>
> Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat.
> But we don't have anything called Cold.
> We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that.
> There is no such thing as Cold.
> Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
> We cannot Measure Cold.
> Heat is Energy.
> Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
>
> (There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )
>
> Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
> Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
> Student : You're wrong again, sir.
> Darkness is the Absence of Something
> You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .
> But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and its called Darkness, isn't it?
> In reality, Darkness isn't.
> If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
> Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
> Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
> Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?
> Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.
> You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.
> You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
> Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.
> It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
> To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
> Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
> Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.
> Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a Monkey?
> Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
> Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
>
> (The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the Argument was going )
>
> Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and
> Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavor,
> Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?
> Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
>
> (The Class was in Uproar )
>
> Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's Brain?
>
> (The Class broke out into Laughter )
>
> Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . .
> No one appears to have done so.
> So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol,
> Science says that You have No Brain, sir.
> With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?
>
> (The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face unfathomable)
>
> Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
> Student : That is it sir . . . Exactly !
> The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
> That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
>
>
> NB:
>
> I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so,
> you'll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . won't you?
> Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH.
> That student was Albert Einstein.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Editorial Introduction to JAC70

by Major Stephen Court

Greetings in Jesus’ name! Mercy and peace to you from God our Father. I trust the battle progresses well on your front.

Thanks for dropping by JAC70. You have stumbling onto a goldmine of edifying, challenging material in this issue and the 69 issues archived and available for free on the table of contents page.

The Raders kick off this issue with a primary document. TRANSFORMATIONS was delivered this year in cities across the Australia Southern Territory at the McPherson Lecture Series. It is privilege to read ‘Rader thoughts’ at any time, and this substantial lecture is certain to challenge and edify.

Major Howard Webber’s book, MEETING JESUS, is selling all over the place. You will want to read it. THE MAIN THING is the second of two excerpts he’s blessed JAC with. This is great material to inform evangelism.

Lieut-Colonel Munn, the principal of the International College for Officers, offers us the second primary document of this issue, with HOLINESS MOVEMENT – TIME TO BE HOLY, a lecture delivered this year to the international youth holiness institute of that name at ICO.

Captain Michael Ramsay’s brand new book PRAISE THE LORD FOR COVENANTS is filling a need in Salvation Army praxis. But he proves that this new book is not the last word on the subject by contributing A VERY MOVING COVENANT that will be of special interest to one important contingent of soldiers around the world.

Jonathan Evans leads The War College in Vancouver. And it is out of years of experience that he offers an academic take on INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP COMMUNITIES.

More than a century ago one Salvationist wrote A NOTE OF WARNING in Contemporary Review (1898). Read J Hollins’s piece here. Though there is much with which to disagree, there is much about which to debate for Salvationists today.

General William Booth provides another century-old article for JAC70, with the second in a three-part series called A HIGHER UP RELIGION.

Our regular columnist, Commissioner Wesley Harris, who, by the way, has his tenth book coming out soon, advises us, IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED…

And, since there is a High Council meeting during the shelf life of this issue, we offer some suggestions for those gathering to prayerfully consider and discuss.

And, that’s that! JAC70! What a treasure chest! Dig in. Share it with your friends, your comrade soldiers, your facebook friends, and anyone else you think might be interested in the contents.

This is a historic issue. By the time the next issue arrives on your screen (scheduled for February 1, 2011, unless Jesus returns first), the whole Salvation Army will have been mobilized and deployed in day and night cry for justice – non-stop prayer in response to the bold Global Call from the General. All glory to God for the Call, and in anticipation of our response.

God bless The Salvation Army.

read JAC online: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html

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www.sheepspeak.com

Friday, December 10, 2010

Psalm 72: The Promise of Christ

If David is the author of this psalm, it is here that David pours out his heart as to what he hopes for in his chosen son’s, Solomon’s, reign. Solomon, as a king of God’s people, must live in accordance with the revelation from God. To this end Solomon as the Israelite king would receive a copy of the Law of God at his coronation (cf. Deuteronomy 17:18-20). This is important because God’s country is to be ruled as a theocracy (rule by God) not as the people-centered rule of the other nations (i.e. democracy ‘rule [by] people’).[5] Because of this, if you look at the first seven verses of Psalm 72 – especially verses 2-4, you will note that there must be Justice and Salvation for the poor and needy. We know that sadly Solomon failed in this commission to provide Justice and Salvation for the poor and needy as laid out for us in Psalm 72. He was not an YHWH-based theocrat who provided for the disenfranchised. Instead he made forced-labourers of his countrymen (1 Kings 5:13, cf. 4:6, 9:15, 12:1-4) and religious pluralism and syncretism were prevalent during his reign (1 Kings 11:1-13). There was even idol-worship in his own household (1 Kings 11:1-9). In the end, Solomon’s wives eventually led the king himself astray (1 Kings 11:4). He followed other gods and he did evil in the eyes of the LORD (1 Kings 11:5-6). The country did not live up to its holy designation and as a result the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah died with Solomon as the tribes of Israel were torn from his family line (1 Kings 11:11).

But there is more to contemplate in this psalm of promise than simply the failure to provide justice and salvation for the poor and needy and final disappointment of Solomon’s reign. There is still the promise of Christ...

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/12/psalm-721-7-gingerbread-cookies-of.html

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Capt. Michael Ramsay
www.sheepspeak.com

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Grace, Works and Doctrine 5

The fifth doctrine espouses a belief in a combination of grace and works. The claim that Adam and Eve were created in a state of innocency is one of grace (Gen, 2:4 ff). They could not possibly have contributed to their creation at all. The Salvation Army does not claim that man is God. This is neither radical nor particular to the Salvation Army: the creation of the earth and humankind was an act of grace on the part of God.

The ‘theology of works’ in the 5th doctrine is represented in the claim that it was “by their disobedience, [that] they lost their purity and happiness.” This loss was a direct consequence of Adam and Eve’s work of disobedience (Gen. 3). This, however, is not a highly controversial or contested stand. “Original Sin” is an old[2] and common Christian doctrine[3] and most Christians acknowledge that humankind had to make the choice to disobey God (Gen 3:6).

Salvation Story expresses our relationship to original sin as such: “the term ‘original sin’ emphasizes the origin and radical consequences of the Fall. It reminds us that, although originally an intrusion, sin is innate. Our tendency is to sin. In that sense, we are ‘born in sin.’ This does not refer to the physical aspects of procreation. Human instincts are morally neutral and can be used either creatively or destructively. The phrase ‘born in sin’ rather refers to our condition under the dominion of sin. We have been subject to an invasion of evil from which no one is exempted.”[4]

Salvation Story further states relating to this doctrine, “God’s intention is the harmony of humanity with himself and all creation. We have been terribly scarred by sin arising from human disobedience. The consequence of sin is separation from God. This is our universal human condition.”[5] Sin certainly originated through humankind’s works (Romans 5:12).

The fifth doctrine does contain a more complex claim that relates to a combination of both the aforementioned grace and works: “in consequence ….all men have become sinners.” The consequence is a direct reflection of works: Adam and Eve earned their fall through sin. The phrase ‘all men becoming sinners’ in the doctrine reflects not a state that people have worked themselves into nor does it imply one of which one is able to work ones way out of. It seems indeed to be an inherited, rather than an earned state (Romans 5:12-14).

It is precisely because of this inherited state that we need salvation and “scriptural revelation and our personal experience confirm the powerlessness of human nature to achieve moral reformation. Our only hope is in the grace of God which issues from God’s will to overcome the separation caused by sin.”[6]

The sacrifice and general atonement stated in the sixth doctrine certainly reinforce the hope in that grace: the sacrifice was provided by God (cf. 1 Cor. 5:7). We did not do anything to merit this atonement: it was God, through His only begotten Son, Jesus, who was sacrificed to achieve the atonement for the whole world (John 3:16). This is a gracious answer to the inherited condition – as stated in our 5th doctrine- of depravity. “God has taken the initiative in providing the way. It remains with us to respond to the divine provision in repentance and faith in order to experience the personal benefit of reconciliation to God and fellowship with him.”[7] It is “by dying on the cross, [that] Jesus made the atonement. The coming together of the Father’s dynamic gift and the Son’s loving response bridged the separation between ourselves and God. We are reconciled to God in Christ and our sins are forgiven.”[8] He did it; we did not.

Monday, December 06, 2010

What do we do on the day that the ticket man shows up to take our car because we are Christian?

So then what about us? What do we do on the day that the ticket man shows up to take our car because we are Christian? What do we do on the day in this city when the mob won’t tolerate the mayor mentioning Christ in counsel here in Swift Current? What do we do when someone walks into our work or our school (like Columbine in the U.S. not too many years ago) asking us if we are Christians and then killing us if we say ‘yes’?

What do we do if we see someone being mocked for going to church? Also, what do we do when we have friends and family visiting us? Do we still say grace when we are entertaining non-believers or are we too embarrassed? Do we publicly ask the blessing when we are at a restaurant? Are we embarrassed to listen to Christian music when someone is in our car? When an acquaintance tells us their problems do we tell them that we will pray for them and then actually pray for them – or not? What do we do? I know more and more people in our country are shrinking back and even politicians that claim to be Christians openly say that they don’t let that affect their work though. (As if that were possible: Your beliefs always determine your actions. If Christian belief isn’t determining our actions, then I would guess that we are not Christian.) I know that when I am at the restaurant I don’t see a lot of people bowing their heads in prayer. I know that there are many friends of mine who – if they ever even go to church – they don’t if they have company or have something else to do on Sunday.

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/11/hebrews-1039-we-will-not-shrink-back.html

Friday, December 03, 2010

The Children Left Behind

Last Updated: Friday, December 3, 2010 | 12:09 PM ET
CBC News

Canada is lagging behind other developed countries when it comes to the well-being of its poorest children, according to a new report.

The landmark UNICEF report titled The Children Left Behind ranks 24 industrialized nations on inequality in terms of children's health, education and material well-being.

The report measures the gap in each country between the average child and a child at the bottom in terms of well-being.

At No. 17, Canada ranks below average among industrialized countries when it comes to the material well-being of its poorest children — a category that includes family income and housing.


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/12/03/unicef-children-report003.html#ixzz174vyhb4A

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Salvation Army bells banned at Toronto malls

Last Updated: Thursday, December 2, 2010 9:20 AM ET CBC News

The Fill the Kettle campaign has been a part of the Salvation Army's fundraising efforts in the U.S. and Canada for 118 years. (Associate Press) The ringing of Salvation Army bells has been one of the iconic sounds of the holiday season for more than 100 years in North America, but at least two of Toronto's largest shopping malls — the Eaton Centre and Fairview — have silenced them because of noise complaints.

Salvation Army volunteer Riley Blake spends many hours with his red Christmas kettle inside the downtown Eaton Centre collecting donations from passersby.

The plastic kettles have become synonymous with the Salvation Army's yearly Fill the Kettle charity campaign, but Blake says some people don't even know he's there.

"A lot of people ask us questions, 'Why don't we use the bells,' because they're so used to it. [We tell them it's] because of rules and regulations we're not allowed to. There's not much you can do about it — just stand here quietly and smile."


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/12/02/salvation-army-bells.html#socialcomments#ixzz16zBh0ULv

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

JAC is BACk (Issue #70)

December 2010 - January 2011
Issue # 70

Editorial Introduction
Editor, Major Stephen Court

Transformations
General Paul Rader & Commissioner Kay Rader

The Main Thing
Major Howard Webber

Holiness Movement - Time to be Holy
Lieut.-Colonel Richard Munn

A Very Moving Covenant
Captain Michael Ramsay

Intentional Discipleship Communities
Jonathan Evans

A Note of Warning
John Hollins

A Higher Up Religion
General William Booth

If at First You Don't Succeed...
Commissioner Wesley Harris

High Council Issues
Major Stephen Court

PTL4C Review in the Booster

http://www.sheepspeak.com./covenant_in_swbooster.gif

PTL4C Review in the Rubicon

http://therubicon.org/2010/10/review-praise-the-lord-for-covenants/

TSA Today in Swift Current

The Salvation Army Swift Current Today

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 – 2 years before Canada was founded as a nation. It was started in a very poor part of England to help people in need. One of our early slogans was ‘Soup, Soap, and Salvation’. The idea was that we could help people with food both physical and even more importantly spiritual. The Salvation Army came to Canada shortly afterwards and we have been in Swift Current here for nearly 100 years now. 2013 will be our 100th anniversary. In Swift Current, God uses The Salvation Army to help people out in a number of different ways:

Free Legal Clinic: If someone needs to contact a lawyer but doesn’t have the money to pay for one, we can help

A Friend in Court: if someone has to go to court either because they have been arrested or if they just have to testify, to tell the judge something, it can be very scary and we can help.

Alternative Measures for Youth: If someone is charged with a crime that they have committed, if they are convicted in court sometimes they aren’t allowed to get a job or go to other countries but we can help them not get a criminal record. What happens here is the people come and sit down with the victim, the person that they wronged, admit what they did was wrong, say they were sorry and the victim and they together come up with what the consequences should be. If the person completes the conditions, then they don’t have a criminal record.

Pregnant or a New Parent? Sometimes people get pregnant by accident, don’t know what to do when they are pregnant or just needs some extra support when this happens, we can help. We offer support for teens who are new parents and who are expecting to become parents.

For Kids: Floor Hockey: Youth between the ages are welcome to join us for a game of pick-up floor hockey, Fridays from 7:30-9:00 p.m. It is a good way to keep young people off the streets. Band: If you would like to learn to play an instrument and/or join our band, please leave a message for Captain Susan at 778-0515. Kids Club: 5-12 year-olds can join us for games, crafts, and other activates on Thursdays after school (3:30-5:00 p.m.).

Thrift Store: We have quality pre-owed items for discounted prices. Any of us at sometime could certainly find ourselves in a position of need. This is a key way that we pay for all of our ministries in town is by selling things at out Thrift Store but items here are priced low enough that pretty much anyone should be able to afford anything they really need. If a person even still can’t afford something we will provide a voucher for them. Also no organization ever needs to store furniture or other large items for that matter – it is even beneficial to our community if they don’t – because we have the space to keep it and can track it to make sure that it goes to people who are in legitimate need.

Emergency Relief Work: If there is a fire or a flood we are part of the relief effort in town. We provide a reception centre and Captain Michael Ramsay has been trained in teaching EDS courses and has assisted in international crises, especially with emotional and spiritual care and debriefing of personnel. I am also involved with both the fire department and the RCMP as their chaplain for when difficult situations arise.

The Food Bank: We are blessed in Swift Current to only have one food bank it means that we can actually be a part of the solution. In communities where there is more than one food bank sometimes they can trap people in poverty. We always ask the question, ‘why are you here?’ when someone shows up at our food bank. We try to identify the root cause and then address that. For example, if someone has budgeting difficulties, we will help them make a workable budget, if someone has alcohol addiction problems we will go and sit with them at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, if someone has a gambling problem we can go with them down to the casino so they can sign a voluntary exclusionary agreement – this is a promise that they won’t gamble anymore for a time. It is very important to us that we are a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. Shortly after I arrived in town here, we had the opportunity to help one fellow. I arrived at work a little while later and he was waiting outside when we were closed. He asked to see our Christian social worker. I told him we were closed. He just asked me to pass on a message to her. When he arrived in town he had nothing, The Salvation Army helped him and now he has work clothes, a job and a place to live. He just want to say, thank you. There are many stories like this and it is a great blessing to hear them.

Spiritual Component: This is a very important aspect of our ministry. The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world. Like I mentioned, we are chaplains for a number of organizations in town including the fire department, rural RCMP, and the Legion. We also have church services on Sundays and regular Bible studies. In The Salvation Army we really do try to serve God by looking after the mind, body, and soul of those in need in our community.

Swift Current Salvation Army at Christmastime is VERY busy. We have all of the church services, band concerts and other activities of the other local churches but we also work very hard to make Christmas very special for everyone in the community, particularly those in need at Christmastime.

We have our Angel Tree (gifts accepted until Dec.15). If you go to the miracle room in the Wheatland Mall right next door to the bookstore, we have our angel tree there. What this is: it is for kids who may not have any toys or presents on Christmas. You can take an angel off the tree. It will have the age of a child on it and whether they are a boy or a girl as well as what they would like for Xmas. You then buy the present and bring it and the angel back unwrapped by the 15th and we will make sure that even these families in need will get something special under the tree

We have our Christmas hampers. These are large packages of Christmas food including turkeys or hams and everything that a family would need to cook a big Christmas dinner plus enough food to get them through the month and gifts and special toys for the kids. People can apply all week this week if they need to. I had one young mom with a new baby a couple of years ago come up to me in tears when she was collecting their hamper and say, ‘Thank-you, without The Salvation Army we wouldn’t have had a Christmas at all.’

Broncos Teddy Bear and Toque Toss is this Friday! This is great opportunity to come out to the Broncos hockey game and bring a teddy bear or a toque and mitts for someone in need. We added the toques and mitts to the toss this year because this is always a big need in Saskatchewan. So if you can come to the game to cheer on the Broncos don’t forget to bring a teddy bear and/or toque and mitts.

Community Christmas Dinner: Saturday, December 25 – Christmas Day at The Salvation Army hall @ 2 p.m. Cost is $1.00. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come and share in a great turkey dinner. The city bus and the Abilities bus will both be offering free rides that day. It is only $1.00 so anyone can come. Rich or poor, alone or with the whole extended family come join us at the Salvation Army. We look forward to seeing you!

The Salvation Army Swift Current, we really are about giving hope today. Thank you very much for helping us make this possible for those in need in our community...