Presented to Nipawin Corps, 22 March 2009
By Captain Michael Ramsay
God has a plan for Israel’s Salvation that could not be thwarted here in this story. We know – because we have the Book and have read the beginnings and the endings – that God promised Abraham that his descendants would occupy the land promised to them – at least for a time[1] (beyond that is up to them to remain faithful to their covenant responsibilities; cf. Exodus 19:5, Leviticus 23:33-35, 2 Chronicles 36:20-21, Amos 3:1-2, etc.).[2] As we are reading through the Bible together we notice that He used Moses to deliver people from slavery into the wilderness and Joshua to deliver them from that wilderness of Sin into the Promise. Today we have a very interesting story before us. One of the most interesting – I think – in the book of Numbers, complete with even an angel and a talking donkey: the story of the prophet Balaam and King Balak of Moab. Now we know that God’s plan for salvation will not be thwarted[3] but listen to this, it is interesting.
A king of Moab, Balak, sees how God is using the Israelites to devastate many Amorite communities.[4] Israel is fresh off a couple of military victories and they are on the move and Moab is just south of them and King Balak is concerned. He is worried about them not only because of their military might but also because he fears that if he lets them come across Moab’s land they will use all its supplies (Num 21) so Moab won't even have enough left for their own people. You often here this same logic from people who are opposed to immigration: 'if we let those people in we won't have any jobs for the rest of us'. To be fair though, Balak's logic isn't quite as backward as that.
Remember that there are about 2 million descendants of Israel here in this story.[5] Can you imagine if – in the days of limited transportation, before highways and railroads when we couldn’t quickly and easily get more supplies whenever we wanted them – can you imagine if the present day population of Vancouver just showed up on Nipawin’s doorstep[6], cranky, hungry, needing food, and having just wiped out the city of Prince Albert? What would we do? We couldn’t supply their needs.
Balak couldn’t supply Israel’s needs. He was worried...
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/03/numbers-22-24-balaam-blessing.html
Monday, February 28, 2011
DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 28th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 24-26 and 1 Corinthians 13
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 24-26 and 1 Corinthians 13
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Inside and Outside (Mark 7:1-23)
Presented to Nipawin Corps on March 03, 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay
So here’s the situation: the Pharisees, who we’ve looked at before, they really do want to keep the law and all the traditions. They want everything to be perfect. They are sort of like an albeit misguided type of hyper-holiness movement of their day. It says in verses 3 and 4 that not only do they observe the washing of dishes, food, and hands, but they really do try to keep all the traditions.[1]
Jesus says that the Pharisees of our account here are missing the point. He quotes Isaiah, in Verses 6 and 7 and saying, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites;[2] as it is written: ‘These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”[3]
He goes on, Verse 8: “You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human traditions.” These are harsh comments. Jesus isn’t really being gentle, meek and mild in this passage is he? He’s shooting from the hip – so to speak – and this is something he tends to do with the religious people, the synagogue-going people, the church people, isn’t it?
We’ve studied about how he extends so much charity to the outsiders but to those who should know better, he tells it like it is, doesn’t he? Jesus continues, verses 9-13, “And he said to them: ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honour your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’”[4]
Jesus says that by their very traditions they are transgressing the will of God. My question to us is, do we ever do that?
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/03/mark-71-23-inside-and-outside.html
By Captain Michael Ramsay
So here’s the situation: the Pharisees, who we’ve looked at before, they really do want to keep the law and all the traditions. They want everything to be perfect. They are sort of like an albeit misguided type of hyper-holiness movement of their day. It says in verses 3 and 4 that not only do they observe the washing of dishes, food, and hands, but they really do try to keep all the traditions.[1]
Jesus says that the Pharisees of our account here are missing the point. He quotes Isaiah, in Verses 6 and 7 and saying, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites;[2] as it is written: ‘These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”[3]
He goes on, Verse 8: “You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human traditions.” These are harsh comments. Jesus isn’t really being gentle, meek and mild in this passage is he? He’s shooting from the hip – so to speak – and this is something he tends to do with the religious people, the synagogue-going people, the church people, isn’t it?
We’ve studied about how he extends so much charity to the outsiders but to those who should know better, he tells it like it is, doesn’t he? Jesus continues, verses 9-13, “And he said to them: ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honour your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’”[4]
Jesus says that by their very traditions they are transgressing the will of God. My question to us is, do we ever do that?
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/03/mark-71-23-inside-and-outside.html
Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 26th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 19-20 and Psalm 28 and Mark 5
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 19-20 and Psalm 28 and Mark 5
Friday, February 25, 2011
We Stand in Awe of You (Mark 4:35-41)
Presented to Tisdale Corps on March 30, 2008
and Nipawin Corps on April 6, 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay
.
When we were in College back in Winnipeg, on Friday nights I used to help out with the street outreach at the Weetamah corps. We would walk around the streets at night to see who we could offer a warm meal, a hot chocolate or a place to stay down at the shelter (the Booth Centre) for the night. We then tell them about Jesus.
Now these nights usually go quite late -until 1 or 2 in the morning sometimes – and so at the end of a long week at the college, I am just exhausted and really quite look forward to my one day of sleeping in – Saturday morning.
Well this one Saturday about 6am or so – four or less hours after I crawl into bed – my 4 and 3 year-old children come bounding into our bedroom...
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/03/mark-435-41-we-stand-in-awe-of-you.html
and Nipawin Corps on April 6, 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay
.
When we were in College back in Winnipeg, on Friday nights I used to help out with the street outreach at the Weetamah corps. We would walk around the streets at night to see who we could offer a warm meal, a hot chocolate or a place to stay down at the shelter (the Booth Centre) for the night. We then tell them about Jesus.
Now these nights usually go quite late -until 1 or 2 in the morning sometimes – and so at the end of a long week at the college, I am just exhausted and really quite look forward to my one day of sleeping in – Saturday morning.
Well this one Saturday about 6am or so – four or less hours after I crawl into bed – my 4 and 3 year-old children come bounding into our bedroom...
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/03/mark-435-41-we-stand-in-awe-of-you.html
DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 25th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 17-18 and Psalm 29 and Mark 4
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 17-18 and Psalm 29 and Mark 4
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Family of God (Mark 3:20-35)
Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on February 17, 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay
On a quiet winter day somewhere here in northern Saskatchewan, there is this fellow – John. Now John has just finished a long tiring day of work and he is quite happy to be home. He comes in and sits down on his chair and picks up his newspaper.
Now John has a wife, Janet, and when she sees John sitting nicely in his easy chair there, she asks him what he is planning to do before dinner.
“Well, I’m planning to read my paper,” John answers, but from the look on Janet’s face he can tell immediately that he has actually gotten the answer wrong. That isn’t what he is planning to do.
He looks at her in that searching way, trying to discern what the right answer to her question could be: what is he planning to do? …Is he planning to - pick something up at the store? …Is he planning to …pick up the kids from somewhere? …Is he planning to…John didn’t know.
“Shovel Mrs McMillan’s driveway,” says Janet. “You’re planning to shovel Mrs McMillan’s driveway.”
“But its 40 below![1] …I mean…Yes dear, yes, Mrs McMillan’s driveway,” says John who, until this very moment, had no idea that he was planning to shovel their elderly neighbour’s driveway. So John grabs his shovel and heads out the door…
At just this time, as John heads outside, providentially around the corner of the house comes John Jr., his 15 year-old son: “What are you planning to do before dinner?” John Sr. asks.
“Play on the computer…” says John Jr. who, just like his father, has gotten the answer wrong. John Junior is of course now planning to shovel the driveway.
“Just let me put my school stuff away,” says Junior who is hoping to escape into the house and forget all about this plan to shovel Mrs McMillan’s driveway - that he never knew that he had made in the first place.
But Dad, who is wise to Junior’s plan, hands him the snow shovel, takes his school bag, sends him off to Mrs McMillan’s and then John promptly disappears into the garage so as to avoid finding out from Janet if indeed there is anything else he had planned to do that he didn’t know about…
Now as John Jr. is standing outside old Mrs McMillan’s driveway, who should come walking by but his little brother, Mark, and a group of his friends…Jr. yells to his 10 year-old brother and his seven or eight friends, “guess what you guys are planning to do?!”
Mark and his friends are all very good-natured and they do start out in earnest shovelling the walk but they only have 3 shovels between the eight of them and it doesn’t take too long for one of the boys to realise that this snow today actually packs quite nicely.
This friend of Mark then quite innocently makes one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight and even more snowballs and stacks them beside the shelter of a hedge. When he has got a nice lot of snowballs in front of him, Mark, who has actually been working quite diligently, notices him and asks his friend - as forcefully as he can muster - “and what are you planning to do with all those snowballs?” to which his friend replies by throwing one right at Mark. Within 10 minutes the eight boys are in a full-blown snowball fight. Having completely forgotten about any of their work when John Sr., Dad, comes around the corner,
“What do you think you are doing?”
Now Mark, in the boldness of a 10 year-old surrounded by his friends, takes the initiative to show his dad exactly what he is doing and promptly hits him with snowball. This is too much for John who then dives behind the car where he and his eldest son assemble their own arsenal and try to hold off the pack of ten year-old boys.
They are now divided into two groups and they have quite a bit of fun until all of a sudden everyone goes quiet as John and all the boys notice Janet –mom- standing, arms crossed, asking, “And what are do are you doing?”
“Shovelling the snow?” Answers John - and indeed for the next hour that is exactly what John, John Jr. and Mark are doing with their three shovels as Janet and Mrs McMillan look on from her front room.
If you’ll turn with me to Mark Chapter 3, you’ll notice that today’s pericope, which was read from Mark’s gospel earlier, is also about a divided house and a bit of a family conflict as well.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/02/mark-320-35-family-of-god.html
By Captain Michael Ramsay
On a quiet winter day somewhere here in northern Saskatchewan, there is this fellow – John. Now John has just finished a long tiring day of work and he is quite happy to be home. He comes in and sits down on his chair and picks up his newspaper.
Now John has a wife, Janet, and when she sees John sitting nicely in his easy chair there, she asks him what he is planning to do before dinner.
“Well, I’m planning to read my paper,” John answers, but from the look on Janet’s face he can tell immediately that he has actually gotten the answer wrong. That isn’t what he is planning to do.
He looks at her in that searching way, trying to discern what the right answer to her question could be: what is he planning to do? …Is he planning to - pick something up at the store? …Is he planning to …pick up the kids from somewhere? …Is he planning to…John didn’t know.
“Shovel Mrs McMillan’s driveway,” says Janet. “You’re planning to shovel Mrs McMillan’s driveway.”
“But its 40 below![1] …I mean…Yes dear, yes, Mrs McMillan’s driveway,” says John who, until this very moment, had no idea that he was planning to shovel their elderly neighbour’s driveway. So John grabs his shovel and heads out the door…
At just this time, as John heads outside, providentially around the corner of the house comes John Jr., his 15 year-old son: “What are you planning to do before dinner?” John Sr. asks.
“Play on the computer…” says John Jr. who, just like his father, has gotten the answer wrong. John Junior is of course now planning to shovel the driveway.
“Just let me put my school stuff away,” says Junior who is hoping to escape into the house and forget all about this plan to shovel Mrs McMillan’s driveway - that he never knew that he had made in the first place.
But Dad, who is wise to Junior’s plan, hands him the snow shovel, takes his school bag, sends him off to Mrs McMillan’s and then John promptly disappears into the garage so as to avoid finding out from Janet if indeed there is anything else he had planned to do that he didn’t know about…
Now as John Jr. is standing outside old Mrs McMillan’s driveway, who should come walking by but his little brother, Mark, and a group of his friends…Jr. yells to his 10 year-old brother and his seven or eight friends, “guess what you guys are planning to do?!”
Mark and his friends are all very good-natured and they do start out in earnest shovelling the walk but they only have 3 shovels between the eight of them and it doesn’t take too long for one of the boys to realise that this snow today actually packs quite nicely.
This friend of Mark then quite innocently makes one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight and even more snowballs and stacks them beside the shelter of a hedge. When he has got a nice lot of snowballs in front of him, Mark, who has actually been working quite diligently, notices him and asks his friend - as forcefully as he can muster - “and what are you planning to do with all those snowballs?” to which his friend replies by throwing one right at Mark. Within 10 minutes the eight boys are in a full-blown snowball fight. Having completely forgotten about any of their work when John Sr., Dad, comes around the corner,
“What do you think you are doing?”
Now Mark, in the boldness of a 10 year-old surrounded by his friends, takes the initiative to show his dad exactly what he is doing and promptly hits him with snowball. This is too much for John who then dives behind the car where he and his eldest son assemble their own arsenal and try to hold off the pack of ten year-old boys.
They are now divided into two groups and they have quite a bit of fun until all of a sudden everyone goes quiet as John and all the boys notice Janet –mom- standing, arms crossed, asking, “And what are do are you doing?”
“Shovelling the snow?” Answers John - and indeed for the next hour that is exactly what John, John Jr. and Mark are doing with their three shovels as Janet and Mrs McMillan look on from her front room.
If you’ll turn with me to Mark Chapter 3, you’ll notice that today’s pericope, which was read from Mark’s gospel earlier, is also about a divided house and a bit of a family conflict as well.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/02/mark-320-35-family-of-god.html
Go and Sin No More! (Numbers 15:17-31)
Presented to Nipawin Corps, 29 March 2009
and in Winnipeg, November 2006
By Captain Michael Ramsay
.
Many, many years ago I went to university to become an elementary school teacher. This was a lot different than many of the other programmes at University in that we had ‘extra’ rules to follow: we needed a minimum of a ‘B’ average, we had recommended dress codes, we had be on time. And these were important because we would be example for the young people we would be teaching.
I remember my first day of University. I wake up, my alarm clock doesn’t work. The power has gone out during the night. I wake up right when class is supposed to begin; so I throw on my clothes, grab my books and fly out the door. I jump in my car. I put the key in the ignition and... it doesn’t work. My car doesn’t work. At this point I am quite loudly practicing my… creative English skills, you know what I mean – and I run into the house and one by one call all of my friends who have cars. Most of them are still asleep but I get a hold of Dan. So he comes and gets me and drops me off at the university and, flustered and not wishing to stand out too much I try to sneak, half an hour late, into my first class of the day. I am caught by the professor who calls me to front of the class, issues me a recorder and asks me to play then and there in front of everyone. I do … and am promptly asked to stop playing as my teacher grimaces exaggeratedly. I am absolutely flustered and embarrassed at this point as the teacher asks for my name in order to check it off the attendance. Michael Ramsay. Michael Ramsay? That name isn’t on my list. What?!… All this and I am in the wrong class anyway
I was late for class, unknowingly disrupted the class and was guilty of breaking a rule. As we turn to our text in Leviticus, we discover a whole community of people who are guilty of breaking rules and are held responsible.
In 5:14, it specifies that, “If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible.”
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/03/leviticus-514-19-num-1517-31-go-and-sin.html
and in Winnipeg, November 2006
By Captain Michael Ramsay
.
Many, many years ago I went to university to become an elementary school teacher. This was a lot different than many of the other programmes at University in that we had ‘extra’ rules to follow: we needed a minimum of a ‘B’ average, we had recommended dress codes, we had be on time. And these were important because we would be example for the young people we would be teaching.
I remember my first day of University. I wake up, my alarm clock doesn’t work. The power has gone out during the night. I wake up right when class is supposed to begin; so I throw on my clothes, grab my books and fly out the door. I jump in my car. I put the key in the ignition and... it doesn’t work. My car doesn’t work. At this point I am quite loudly practicing my… creative English skills, you know what I mean – and I run into the house and one by one call all of my friends who have cars. Most of them are still asleep but I get a hold of Dan. So he comes and gets me and drops me off at the university and, flustered and not wishing to stand out too much I try to sneak, half an hour late, into my first class of the day. I am caught by the professor who calls me to front of the class, issues me a recorder and asks me to play then and there in front of everyone. I do … and am promptly asked to stop playing as my teacher grimaces exaggeratedly. I am absolutely flustered and embarrassed at this point as the teacher asks for my name in order to check it off the attendance. Michael Ramsay. Michael Ramsay? That name isn’t on my list. What?!… All this and I am in the wrong class anyway
I was late for class, unknowingly disrupted the class and was guilty of breaking a rule. As we turn to our text in Leviticus, we discover a whole community of people who are guilty of breaking rules and are held responsible.
In 5:14, it specifies that, “If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible.”
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/03/leviticus-514-19-num-1517-31-go-and-sin.html
Parable of the Haunted House (Mark 3:23-30)
Presented to the Swift Current Corps 31 October 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
I had a sermon all ready to go on Psalm 1 for today – well, almost all ready to go for three weeks now. (Susan had thought that we could start looking at some of the psalms as we start gearing up for Advent). I had prepared this sermon for 3 weeks ago but 3 weeks ago Susan preached, 2 weeks ago the CCM provided the message and meeting lead, and last week –of course– the youth led the meeting and Sarah-Grace did a wonderful job preaching.[1] But today is October 31st so I thought that there were a couple of other things that I should speak about. I am going to start of with an October 31st quiz [ANSWERS AT http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/10/luke-1114-28-matthew-1225-29-parable-of.html ]:
1) What historic event happened in Wittenburg on this date in 1517?
2) True or False: Ghosts are mentioned in the Bible.
3) True or False: A king of Israel went to a witch to speak with the spirit of a dead person.
- Bonus Marks name the King, the dead person, and the witch
4) Name people who the Bible records God used to raise others from the dead?
5) The man possessed by so many demons that they called themselves Legion, where did he live?
6) True or False: Jesus tells a parable about a haunted house?
The Parable of the Haunted House – especially noticeable in the Lukan account – talks about a demon-possessed man and a demon-possessed house.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/10/luke-1114-28-matthew-1225-29-parable-of.html
By Captain Michael Ramsay
I had a sermon all ready to go on Psalm 1 for today – well, almost all ready to go for three weeks now. (Susan had thought that we could start looking at some of the psalms as we start gearing up for Advent). I had prepared this sermon for 3 weeks ago but 3 weeks ago Susan preached, 2 weeks ago the CCM provided the message and meeting lead, and last week –of course– the youth led the meeting and Sarah-Grace did a wonderful job preaching.[1] But today is October 31st so I thought that there were a couple of other things that I should speak about. I am going to start of with an October 31st quiz [ANSWERS AT http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/10/luke-1114-28-matthew-1225-29-parable-of.html ]:
1) What historic event happened in Wittenburg on this date in 1517?
2) True or False: Ghosts are mentioned in the Bible.
3) True or False: A king of Israel went to a witch to speak with the spirit of a dead person.
- Bonus Marks name the King, the dead person, and the witch
4) Name people who the Bible records God used to raise others from the dead?
5) The man possessed by so many demons that they called themselves Legion, where did he live?
6) True or False: Jesus tells a parable about a haunted house?
The Parable of the Haunted House – especially noticeable in the Lukan account – talks about a demon-possessed man and a demon-possessed house.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/10/luke-1114-28-matthew-1225-29-parable-of.html
DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 23rd
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 12-13 and Psalm 90 and Mark 2
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 12-13 and Psalm 90 and Mark 2
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 22nd
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 10-11 and Psalm 27and Mark 1
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 10-11 and Psalm 27and Mark 1
Monday, February 21, 2011
DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 21st
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 8-9 and Acts 26
Ancient Advertising
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 8-9 and Acts 26
Ancient Advertising
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Nazirites, OT Salvationists? (Numbers 6:1-21)
Presented to Nipawin Corps, 15 March 2009
and Prairie Division Men's Camp, 21 February 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
Today we are talking about an important covenant, a significant vow in our text, the Nazarite vow. It is not unlike the Soldiership oath or the Christian marriage covenant. Susan and I, like every married Christian couple, made our wedding covenant and took these very serious vows with our spouse before the Lord. We promised to forsake all others and be joined by God with this one other person – separated from all others - until our death (Cf. Romans 7:2,3).
Covenants, vows, and oaths are very important to God. They are quite common in the Bible.[1] Covenants are a way for God to bind us to the vehicle of Salvation, his Son. This is very important. People used to enter into covenants more in this country. People used to call God as a witness and/or mention Him right in official documents. Even our national anthem and our country’s official motto refer to God (cf. Psalm 72). There was a time not too long ago when people would take an oath in our public courtrooms, on the Bible, before God, that they would be honest and tell the truth. And when people took oaths they used to realize their significance as well (cf. Joshua 9; Judges 2, 11; 2 Sam 21).
Canadians used to realise the importance of marriage... read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/03/numbers-6-1-21-nazirites-ot.html
related:
Captain Michael Ramsay 'Numbers 6:1-21: Covenant and Old Testament Salvationists?' in the Journal of Aggressive Christianity, Isuue 62 (Aug- Sept. 2009), p. 20-25. Available on-line:
http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article4-62.html
and
Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Praise The Lord For Covenants: Old Testament wisdom for our world today', Vancouver, BC: Credo Press, 2010. (c) The Salvation Army. More info. on-line: http://www.facebook.com/update_security_info.php?wizard=1#!/pages/Praise-The-Lord-For-Covenants/155941614427110?sk=info
and
Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Covenant: Bound Till Death (Praise the Lord!)',Prairie Division Men’s Camp at Beaver Creek (February 19-21, 2010). Speaker’s Notes, p. 25-33. Available on-line: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Prairie%20Mens%20Camp%20Notes%20Ramsay%20February%202010.pdf
and Prairie Division Men's Camp, 21 February 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
Today we are talking about an important covenant, a significant vow in our text, the Nazarite vow. It is not unlike the Soldiership oath or the Christian marriage covenant. Susan and I, like every married Christian couple, made our wedding covenant and took these very serious vows with our spouse before the Lord. We promised to forsake all others and be joined by God with this one other person – separated from all others - until our death (Cf. Romans 7:2,3).
Covenants, vows, and oaths are very important to God. They are quite common in the Bible.[1] Covenants are a way for God to bind us to the vehicle of Salvation, his Son. This is very important. People used to enter into covenants more in this country. People used to call God as a witness and/or mention Him right in official documents. Even our national anthem and our country’s official motto refer to God (cf. Psalm 72). There was a time not too long ago when people would take an oath in our public courtrooms, on the Bible, before God, that they would be honest and tell the truth. And when people took oaths they used to realize their significance as well (cf. Joshua 9; Judges 2, 11; 2 Sam 21).
Canadians used to realise the importance of marriage... read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/03/numbers-6-1-21-nazirites-ot.html
related:
Captain Michael Ramsay 'Numbers 6:1-21: Covenant and Old Testament Salvationists?' in the Journal of Aggressive Christianity, Isuue 62 (Aug- Sept. 2009), p. 20-25. Available on-line:
http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article4-62.html
and
Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Praise The Lord For Covenants: Old Testament wisdom for our world today', Vancouver, BC: Credo Press, 2010. (c) The Salvation Army. More info. on-line: http://www.facebook.com/update_security_info.php?wizard=1#!/pages/Praise-The-Lord-For-Covenants/155941614427110?sk=info
and
Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Covenant: Bound Till Death (Praise the Lord!)',Prairie Division Men’s Camp at Beaver Creek (February 19-21, 2010). Speaker’s Notes, p. 25-33. Available on-line: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Prairie%20Mens%20Camp%20Notes%20Ramsay%20February%202010.pdf
Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 20th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 7 and Psalm 23 and Acts 27
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 7 and Psalm 23 and Acts 27
Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Jan 19th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 5-6 and Acts 26
Livid at us
Leviticus
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 5-6 and Acts 26
Livid at us
Leviticus
Friday, February 18, 2011
Numbers 3:4: This is a test…
Presented to Nipawin Corps, 01 March 2009,
By Captain Michael Ramsay
1. Complete the patterns:
a) 2,4,6,8,10,
a) 2,4,6,8,10,
b) 1,2,4,8
c) 1,2,3,5,7,13,
d) O,T,T,F,F,S,S,
2. Did you know that Numbers have gender? – Some are male and some are female. For instance 4,5,6,7 could be called one gender – they’re rational numbers. And other numbers (root 2, Pi 3:14) are irrational numbers…you decide which is which (-:
Answers to #1 and more at http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/02/numbers-34-this-is-test.html
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Numbers
Today we are talking about a different kind of Numbers. We are talking about the book of Numbers (Greek: Arithmoi, Latin: Numeri Hebrew: seper misparim) I am not convinced that this is necessarily the most appealing name for a book of the Bible. The title seems about as interesting as a book named, ‘Yellow Pages’ or even, ‘Principles of Arithmetic.’ Now in Hebrew this book is not always referred to in this way. It sometimes referred to as wayedabber which means “And [YHWH] spoke [to Moses]” It is called wayedabber for the same reason that Genesis is called Genesis: wayedabber is the first word of the book. More descriptively still the book is regularly referred to as bemidbar in Hebrew, which means ‘in the desert’ and ‘in the desert’ is exactly where the events of this book take place.[1] The book of Numbers covers the whole time that Israel spent walking around the desert between Egypt and the Promised Land (Cf. Num 1:1).
Now this is interesting... read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/02/numbers-34-this-is-test.html
Now this is interesting... read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/02/numbers-34-this-is-test.html
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Acts 23:1-11)
Presented to each the Nipawin and Tisdale Corps 23 September 2007 by Captain Michael Ramsay
There’s a children’s book by Judith Viorst entitled “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”[1] Have you ever had one of those days, where it doesn’t matter what you do you just seem to get in trouble? … I remember grade 2.
Now grade two admittedly was not my finest hour. It seemed that I was a permanent member of the detention club. And I remember one day, I just couldn’t win for losing. It was my birthday and many of the grade twos were coming to my party after school so we were told, ‘no dawdling’. We had to be home right after school.
Well, Mrs Leung gave me a detention – and it wasn’t even my fault! You see, Clinton had been chewing gum in school. Now, I hate gum. He gets in trouble for it and he tells Mrs. Leung that he isn’t actually chewing GUM; he is chewing his cheek. She believed him! I thought it was a strange thing to do - chew your cheek so, like any curious 8 year-old, I have to try it and, of course, … And Mrs. Leung catches me and says “Michael no chewing gum” and I say, “I’m not – I’m chewing my cheek” (which I was) and do you think she believes me NOOOO! So I have a detention after school on my birthday and it wasn’t even my fault!
Now, it is my birthday so Mrs. Leung has pity on me and lets me get out at the regular time and this would be fine except two friends of mine in the class – Wade and Clinton – go and get detentions and Mrs. Leung isn’t going to let them go. So sure I get out at the normal time but we all have to wait anyway.
Well, so there we are waiting just INSIDE the exterior door for Wade and Clinton – and now apparently there is a rule that you are not supposed to wait INSIDE the school for anyone – you have to wait OUTSIDE. So guess what? Wade and Clinton finish serving their time and are on their way out of detention hall only to find out that the rest of us our now on our way into detention…so much for getting home on time for my birthday party! But that is not the end of the story either!
You see Wade and Clinton are waiting for the rest of us and guess what? They decide to wait for us INSIDE the school – so guess what…we all wind up spending the first part of my Birthday in detention hall
Well, more than ½ an hour later we all show up for my party…it was just like the children’s book says, “a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”
In Acts, today, up to and including Chapter 23, you will notice that Paul has been having a little bit of a run like that himself.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/09/acts-23-1-11-punch-in-mouth-or-terrible.html
There’s a children’s book by Judith Viorst entitled “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”[1] Have you ever had one of those days, where it doesn’t matter what you do you just seem to get in trouble? … I remember grade 2.
Now grade two admittedly was not my finest hour. It seemed that I was a permanent member of the detention club. And I remember one day, I just couldn’t win for losing. It was my birthday and many of the grade twos were coming to my party after school so we were told, ‘no dawdling’. We had to be home right after school.
Well, Mrs Leung gave me a detention – and it wasn’t even my fault! You see, Clinton had been chewing gum in school. Now, I hate gum. He gets in trouble for it and he tells Mrs. Leung that he isn’t actually chewing GUM; he is chewing his cheek. She believed him! I thought it was a strange thing to do - chew your cheek so, like any curious 8 year-old, I have to try it and, of course, … And Mrs. Leung catches me and says “Michael no chewing gum” and I say, “I’m not – I’m chewing my cheek” (which I was) and do you think she believes me NOOOO! So I have a detention after school on my birthday and it wasn’t even my fault!
Now, it is my birthday so Mrs. Leung has pity on me and lets me get out at the regular time and this would be fine except two friends of mine in the class – Wade and Clinton – go and get detentions and Mrs. Leung isn’t going to let them go. So sure I get out at the normal time but we all have to wait anyway.
Well, so there we are waiting just INSIDE the exterior door for Wade and Clinton – and now apparently there is a rule that you are not supposed to wait INSIDE the school for anyone – you have to wait OUTSIDE. So guess what? Wade and Clinton finish serving their time and are on their way out of detention hall only to find out that the rest of us our now on our way into detention…so much for getting home on time for my birthday party! But that is not the end of the story either!
You see Wade and Clinton are waiting for the rest of us and guess what? They decide to wait for us INSIDE the school – so guess what…we all wind up spending the first part of my Birthday in detention hall
Well, more than ½ an hour later we all show up for my party…it was just like the children’s book says, “a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”
In Acts, today, up to and including Chapter 23, you will notice that Paul has been having a little bit of a run like that himself.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/09/acts-23-1-11-punch-in-mouth-or-terrible.html
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Land Shall Observe a Sabbath.
Leviticus 25 1-23 in the Context of the Holiness Code: Presented to William and Catherine Booth College (Fall 2006)
Sabbath days, sabbatical years and years of jubilee are all significant to the LORD. Chapter 25 of Leviticus deals specifically with the year of jubilee and the sabbath year: “the Lord instituted a land reform of return to the old homestead every fifty years. Actually, the Jubilee was one of the first land reforms known in history…The sabbatical year likewise was a humane and very advanced social program. Imagine all debts forgiven and slaves released every seven years! Ingrained into Israel's laws and faith was a concern for the poor and unfortunate. It is observable in many of the laws already noticed and is made most emphatic in this chapter [25].”[1]
While God’s concern for the poor and the needy is marked throughout scripture, it is notable that “Leviticus 25 is indeed unique among all the chapters of the Torah, for it is the only chapter that deals with the subject of land tenure in ancient Israel.”[2] Through a brief examination of relevant background, contextual, historical, and rhetorical evidence and a close examination of Leviticus 25:1-23, I will discuss the significance of the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee as it relates to the land. I assert that the land reform of the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee are of great importance to God due to his concern for the land itself.
READ MORE: http://www.sheepspeak.com./OT_Michael_Ramsay.htm#Leviticus%2025%201-23
Sabbath days, sabbatical years and years of jubilee are all significant to the LORD. Chapter 25 of Leviticus deals specifically with the year of jubilee and the sabbath year: “the Lord instituted a land reform of return to the old homestead every fifty years. Actually, the Jubilee was one of the first land reforms known in history…The sabbatical year likewise was a humane and very advanced social program. Imagine all debts forgiven and slaves released every seven years! Ingrained into Israel's laws and faith was a concern for the poor and unfortunate. It is observable in many of the laws already noticed and is made most emphatic in this chapter [25].”[1]
While God’s concern for the poor and the needy is marked throughout scripture, it is notable that “Leviticus 25 is indeed unique among all the chapters of the Torah, for it is the only chapter that deals with the subject of land tenure in ancient Israel.”[2] Through a brief examination of relevant background, contextual, historical, and rhetorical evidence and a close examination of Leviticus 25:1-23, I will discuss the significance of the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee as it relates to the land. I assert that the land reform of the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee are of great importance to God due to his concern for the land itself.
READ MORE: http://www.sheepspeak.com./OT_Michael_Ramsay.htm#Leviticus%2025%201-23
DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 15th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 25 and Psalm 25-26 and Acts 22
Jesus heals a leopard.
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 25 and Psalm 25-26 and Acts 22
Jesus heals a leopard.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Pastoral Letter 23 : Choices
PASTORAL LETTER TWENTY-THREE FROM THE GENERAL
Dear Fellow Salvationists,
This is my penultimate Pastoral Letter and it is sent to you together with my esteem in Christ and my constant prayers for you. Commissioner Helen Clifton joins me in thanking you for your many and faithful prayers for us. We are richer in grace because of your prayers.
The theme of my Letter is ‘Choices’.
As I compile this message to you the 2011 High Council has recently concluded its sacred business of choosing, by election, my successor. Gathered at Sunbury Court near London, the 109 officer-members of the High Council (57 women and 52 men) have chosen Commissioner Linda Bond to be the 19th General of The Salvation Army. She will take office on 2 April 2011. We surround her with our love in Christ and our prayers.
I know you will intercede for her constantly, as you have for me. God bless the General-Elect! She has been chosen in an atmosphere of prayerfulness and of waiting upon God. Yes, she has been chosen by human election, but we believe she has also been called by God to serve faithfully and to lead us all into a future that will be victorious for the cause of Christ and the Kingdom of God.
Now this prompts me to say that we who follow Jesus have all been called and chosen to be his instruments. The Bible tells us so. We have been chosen by a loving Saviour. In John 15:19 (I am using the Contemporary English Version – CEV – in this Letter) Jesus tells his disciples: ‘You don’t belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind.’ Being chosen by Christ, because first we have chosen to follow him as our Saviour, means that the world no longer has any hold on us.
No longer do we take heed of the worldly voices that surround us so constantly. This is because we have chosen to listen to the Lord. He speaks, and we are helped and guided. Sometimes, however, we seem to be so busy that the voice of the Lord gets crowded out. I think of Martha and Mary in Bethany. Martha was active and busy, doing the many things that indeed needed to be done, but Mary took time to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him speaking. ‘Mary has chosen what is best,’ said Jesus (Luke 10:42).
What is your habit in choosing how to use your time? Are you constantly busy? Does it seem as though the things you need to do never come to an end? I urge you not to crowd out your personal time with the Lord. Take time to slow down and to sit at his feet like Mary did, to listen, and to take in what he has for you. In doing so, you will grow to be like him more and more.
In Psalm 65:4 David prays to the Lord and says: ‘You bless your chosen ones, and you invite them to live near you.’ Here again we see the clear connection between being chosen by God and being close to him.
I pray that you will grow nearer and nearer to the One who has chosen you to be his own. May you sense his love surrounding and filling you. May others grow aware that you are close to him, making them want that closeness too.
I pray also that the peace of Christ will fill you day by day, moment by moment.
I pray that the whole Army will experience a fresh infilling of heavenly grace. I know you will seek that for yourself, and I rely on you to ask Almighty God to grant the same in glorious abundance to the General-Elect.
God be with you each one.
Sincerely in him,
Shaw Clifton
General
Dear Fellow Salvationists,
This is my penultimate Pastoral Letter and it is sent to you together with my esteem in Christ and my constant prayers for you. Commissioner Helen Clifton joins me in thanking you for your many and faithful prayers for us. We are richer in grace because of your prayers.
The theme of my Letter is ‘Choices’.
As I compile this message to you the 2011 High Council has recently concluded its sacred business of choosing, by election, my successor. Gathered at Sunbury Court near London, the 109 officer-members of the High Council (57 women and 52 men) have chosen Commissioner Linda Bond to be the 19th General of The Salvation Army. She will take office on 2 April 2011. We surround her with our love in Christ and our prayers.
I know you will intercede for her constantly, as you have for me. God bless the General-Elect! She has been chosen in an atmosphere of prayerfulness and of waiting upon God. Yes, she has been chosen by human election, but we believe she has also been called by God to serve faithfully and to lead us all into a future that will be victorious for the cause of Christ and the Kingdom of God.
Now this prompts me to say that we who follow Jesus have all been called and chosen to be his instruments. The Bible tells us so. We have been chosen by a loving Saviour. In John 15:19 (I am using the Contemporary English Version – CEV – in this Letter) Jesus tells his disciples: ‘You don’t belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind.’ Being chosen by Christ, because first we have chosen to follow him as our Saviour, means that the world no longer has any hold on us.
No longer do we take heed of the worldly voices that surround us so constantly. This is because we have chosen to listen to the Lord. He speaks, and we are helped and guided. Sometimes, however, we seem to be so busy that the voice of the Lord gets crowded out. I think of Martha and Mary in Bethany. Martha was active and busy, doing the many things that indeed needed to be done, but Mary took time to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him speaking. ‘Mary has chosen what is best,’ said Jesus (Luke 10:42).
What is your habit in choosing how to use your time? Are you constantly busy? Does it seem as though the things you need to do never come to an end? I urge you not to crowd out your personal time with the Lord. Take time to slow down and to sit at his feet like Mary did, to listen, and to take in what he has for you. In doing so, you will grow to be like him more and more.
In Psalm 65:4 David prays to the Lord and says: ‘You bless your chosen ones, and you invite them to live near you.’ Here again we see the clear connection between being chosen by God and being close to him.
I pray that you will grow nearer and nearer to the One who has chosen you to be his own. May you sense his love surrounding and filling you. May others grow aware that you are close to him, making them want that closeness too.
I pray also that the peace of Christ will fill you day by day, moment by moment.
I pray that the whole Army will experience a fresh infilling of heavenly grace. I know you will seek that for yourself, and I rely on you to ask Almighty God to grant the same in glorious abundance to the General-Elect.
God be with you each one.
Sincerely in him,
Shaw Clifton
General
Valentine's Day: What is real love?
Nipawin Journal, Feb 11, 2009.
By Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
This is an important question to which the fourth evangelist, John, ‘the disciple whom Jesus loves’, offers us an answer. He tells us that in Jesus’ farewell discourse, his good-bye talk with his friends (John 14:1-16:33), Jesus mentions love a fair amount. Knowing how important real love is, Jesus tells his disciples to love one another as he has loved them (John 13:34,35; 15:9,12,17).
Jesus tells his friends as he is about to be executed that if they love him, they will remain in his love even after he has gone on ahead (John 15:9): they will keep his commandments, which are always directly from God (John 14:15,21,23; 15:10). He then tells us his primary commandment: love one another (John 15:12). And how can we show that we have this love? Jesus says, while at the same time calling his disciples his friends, that greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus, of course, proceeds to do just that (John 19:30) and in their turn, tradition tells us that the disciples respond in kind.
John reminds us of Jesus’ words, “ If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me ” (John 14:23-24). And Jesus says, “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:12-14).
Jesus really does love us. Indeed he was executed for us. He sacrificed his life so that we all may live. This is real love. As he has given his life for us, in return shouldn’t we offer our whole life up to him? For indeed when we do, we share not only in his sacrifice but also in the glory of his resurrection. Let us love God, love our neighbour, and since Jesus gave his life so that we may all live, let us live our lives all for him.
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http://www.sheepspeak.com/
By Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army
This is an important question to which the fourth evangelist, John, ‘the disciple whom Jesus loves’, offers us an answer. He tells us that in Jesus’ farewell discourse, his good-bye talk with his friends (John 14:1-16:33), Jesus mentions love a fair amount. Knowing how important real love is, Jesus tells his disciples to love one another as he has loved them (John 13:34,35; 15:9,12,17).
Jesus tells his friends as he is about to be executed that if they love him, they will remain in his love even after he has gone on ahead (John 15:9): they will keep his commandments, which are always directly from God (John 14:15,21,23; 15:10). He then tells us his primary commandment: love one another (John 15:12). And how can we show that we have this love? Jesus says, while at the same time calling his disciples his friends, that greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus, of course, proceeds to do just that (John 19:30) and in their turn, tradition tells us that the disciples respond in kind.
John reminds us of Jesus’ words, “ If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me ” (John 14:23-24). And Jesus says, “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:12-14).
Jesus really does love us. Indeed he was executed for us. He sacrificed his life so that we all may live. This is real love. As he has given his life for us, in return shouldn’t we offer our whole life up to him? For indeed when we do, we share not only in his sacrifice but also in the glory of his resurrection. Let us love God, love our neighbour, and since Jesus gave his life so that we may all live, let us live our lives all for him.
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http://www.sheepspeak.com/
Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 14th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 23-24 and Psalm 24 and Acts 21
'Dude_Astronomy'
Deuteronomy?
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 23-24 and Psalm 24 and Acts 21
'Dude_Astronomy'Deuteronomy?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Holiness is like a coat...
Holiness is like a coat that a father gives to his child. He gives the coat to the child because he loves his child. If someone else were to put on this coat it wouldn't make them this father's child. If the child took off the coat it wouldn't mean that the father would stop loving them. But if the child loves the father, and cherishes the gift that he gave her then she will take care of it. The better she looks after it, the better condition it will be in and the more she wears it the more she shows off her father's coat.
God gives us the opportunity to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16, Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2, etc) because He loves us and He wants to protect us from the metaphotical wind and rain and snow and other elements in this life that can harm us. He gives us this holiness (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) because he loves us. We cannot make this holiness but we can choose not to wear it - this is a sad choice. We can hide it in the closset in which case it does us no good or we can beat it up, not taking care of it at all. This doesn't effect the fact that God loves us. On the contrary, it makes Him very sad if we are not holy because He does love us. He doesn't want us to be without this much needed spiritual coat and even though He bought it for us at a great cost (Jesus' death on the cross), if we don't wear it, we will not benefit from it at all and indeed we will suffer the consquences of being without and this is sad.
As we do, however, cover ourselves with God's holiness and walk around proudly displaying it not only will we be saved from the eternal elements but all our borthers and sisters can see how wonderful this holiness coat is that protects us and they too can put on their holiness and be saved....
God gives us the opportunity to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16, Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2, etc) because He loves us and He wants to protect us from the metaphotical wind and rain and snow and other elements in this life that can harm us. He gives us this holiness (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) because he loves us. We cannot make this holiness but we can choose not to wear it - this is a sad choice. We can hide it in the closset in which case it does us no good or we can beat it up, not taking care of it at all. This doesn't effect the fact that God loves us. On the contrary, it makes Him very sad if we are not holy because He does love us. He doesn't want us to be without this much needed spiritual coat and even though He bought it for us at a great cost (Jesus' death on the cross), if we don't wear it, we will not benefit from it at all and indeed we will suffer the consquences of being without and this is sad.
As we do, however, cover ourselves with God's holiness and walk around proudly displaying it not only will we be saved from the eternal elements but all our borthers and sisters can see how wonderful this holiness coat is that protects us and they too can put on their holiness and be saved....
Friday, February 11, 2011
Holiness Code: True or False Test
God’s command to “be holy because I am holy” appears for the second time in Leviticus 19:2 at the beginning of a most important chapter in a portion of Scripture known as the Holiness Code: Leviticus 17-27. This is where God tells us in detail some of what it will look like when we are holy as the LORD our God is holy. I am going to give you a quiz now to see how much more you already know about Old Testament holiness and the Holiness Code. Are you ready? Which of these things are a part of being holy as God is holy? True or False, according to the Holiness Code, let’s see how we do. (ANSWERS AT: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/02/1-peter-116-lev-192-god-says-be-holy.html)
A holy person…
A holy person…
1) Will say bad things about a deaf person when they are right in front of them because they can’t hear them anyway and a holy person will trip a blind person.
2) Won’t ever get a tattoo anywhere on his body
3) Will rebuke their neighbour when he does something wrong
4) Will show favouritism to the poor
5) Will leave food out in the fields for the poor and the immigrants to collect
6) Won’t cut the sides of their hair or trim their beard
7) Will check their horoscopes daily and get their palms read periodically
8) Won’t plant two different kinds of seeds in his field
9) Will treat the immigrant the same way as you do a local; you won’t give them extra barriers or challenges
10) Won’t wear cotton and polyester blends
.
.
(ANSWERS AT: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/02/1-peter-116-lev-192-god-says-be-holy.html - scroll down a little bit; the answers are loacated next to the questions in brackets with the scripture references)
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DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 12th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 18-19 and Psalm 13 and Acts 19
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 18-19 and Psalm 13 and Acts 19
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Why Should I Read the Bible? (Acts 17)
By Captain Michael Ramsay
Nipawin Journal, February 2008.
My five year-old asks us every night if we can read the Bible to her since at Sunday school, not too long ago, the teacher sang with the children, “read your Bible, pray everyday and you’ll grow, grow, grow …” Sarah-Grace took this truth to heart and has been faithful in reminding us to read her Bible.
Reading the Bible has also been very important to me since I was in elementary school. I personally have tried to read my Bible everyday since I was ten or nine. I can’t imagine not reading my Bible regularly. It is exciting. It is transformative.
The very first doctrine of The Salvation Army, of which I am an Officer, states that, “the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.”
In Romans 1:16-17, Paul writes, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes... For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.’”
The gospel is contained in the Bible. The word ‘gospel’ (Gk: euangelion) itself means ‘good news’ or ‘good message’ (cf. Isa 40:9, 52:7). It is the whole Christian message. It is the information, from none other than God, that Jesus, God’s unique Son has become the spearhead of God’s ‘kingdom to come’ and the news that, in this new kingdom all that is bad, even sin and death themselves, have already been defeated.
The Bible is exciting. It is given by the inspiration of God himself and gives us examples and encouragements on how to live a life where we are truly free to serve God. It contains the good news that Jesus died, rose from the dead, and is coming back for us. The power of the gospel contained within can transform our lives completely as we accept the truth of Jesus’ gift of eternal life.
Why should we read our Bible? Well, we should read our Bible because as we do we will indeed “grow, grow, grow...”
Click to read Salvation Story (elaboration upon the doctrines of The Salvation Army)
DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 10th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 13-14 and Acts 17
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 13-14 and Acts 17
Moses and the Bull rushes
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 9th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 10-12 and Acts 16
A dam at Eve
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 10-12 and Acts 16
A dam at Eve
Monday, February 07, 2011
The Chihuahua Barks Again (Acts 15:1-19)
Presented to each the Nipawin and Tisdale Corps
on September 9th, 2007 by Captain Michael Ramsay
I have a friend of mine, Cory, back on the Island where I used to live, who is a hunter. Every once and a while, he would get a deer or a moose and would give us some great venison sausages or steaks or something – it was nice.
Well, one day Cory meets me for coffee and he is really excited; he tells me that he has won the goat lottery.
Great …you won a goat?’ I ask.
‘No.’ He then explains what he means to me. You see there are only so many mountain goats so hunters buy raffle tickets and the winners are allowed to hunt for goats and this year Cory won so he invites me to go with him.
Now back then Cory and I were both a little bit out of shape and the thing about mountain goats is that mountain goats tend to like to live at the top of… mountains; so away we go up to the top of the mountain and we are really starting to feel it. It is tough work. It is a bit of a hike. We are tired.
We are exhausted actually but I tell you that the view from the summit is just beautiful. One of the most beautiful things in the world. It is our reward for struggling and making it all the way to the top. You can see all the summits and valleys around, and the untouched land. You can see the majesty of God reflected in His creation. As we are sitting there absolutely exhausted from our hike and enjoying the beauty of the scene, Cory turns to me and says, “You know, Mike, we are probably among the first people to ever climb this mountain.” And at that moment bounding in front of us comes …a Chihuahua – a Chihuahua, and a five year-old, and a four year-old, and a 3 year-old… who, by the way, didn’t seem to be near as tired as we were from climbing the mountain. Next came the parents and a parade of tourist - So much for being the first ever people at the top of the mountain.
Now Cory is feeling a little embarrassed for saying that we were the first to ever reach this spot and then at that exact moment having the Chihuahua appear. So we quietly pick up our stuff and walk a few steps away from the crowd and I, in my most comforting voice, say, ‘Cory, you know, I bet we’re the first people to ever step here, on this spot.’ I laugh – and then I duck as Cory’s mood from switches quickly from awe and wonder to wanting to throttle me. And that is not entirely unlike our text today. If you’ll turn with me to Acts 15.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/09/acts-151-19-chihuahua-barks-again.html
on September 9th, 2007 by Captain Michael Ramsay
I have a friend of mine, Cory, back on the Island where I used to live, who is a hunter. Every once and a while, he would get a deer or a moose and would give us some great venison sausages or steaks or something – it was nice.
Well, one day Cory meets me for coffee and he is really excited; he tells me that he has won the goat lottery.
Great …you won a goat?’ I ask.
‘No.’ He then explains what he means to me. You see there are only so many mountain goats so hunters buy raffle tickets and the winners are allowed to hunt for goats and this year Cory won so he invites me to go with him.
Now back then Cory and I were both a little bit out of shape and the thing about mountain goats is that mountain goats tend to like to live at the top of… mountains; so away we go up to the top of the mountain and we are really starting to feel it. It is tough work. It is a bit of a hike. We are tired.
We are exhausted actually but I tell you that the view from the summit is just beautiful. One of the most beautiful things in the world. It is our reward for struggling and making it all the way to the top. You can see all the summits and valleys around, and the untouched land. You can see the majesty of God reflected in His creation. As we are sitting there absolutely exhausted from our hike and enjoying the beauty of the scene, Cory turns to me and says, “You know, Mike, we are probably among the first people to ever climb this mountain.” And at that moment bounding in front of us comes …a Chihuahua – a Chihuahua, and a five year-old, and a four year-old, and a 3 year-old… who, by the way, didn’t seem to be near as tired as we were from climbing the mountain. Next came the parents and a parade of tourist - So much for being the first ever people at the top of the mountain.
Now Cory is feeling a little embarrassed for saying that we were the first to ever reach this spot and then at that exact moment having the Chihuahua appear. So we quietly pick up our stuff and walk a few steps away from the crowd and I, in my most comforting voice, say, ‘Cory, you know, I bet we’re the first people to ever step here, on this spot.’ I laugh – and then I duck as Cory’s mood from switches quickly from awe and wonder to wanting to throttle me. And that is not entirely unlike our text today. If you’ll turn with me to Acts 15.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/09/acts-151-19-chihuahua-barks-again.html
Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 8th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 7-9 and Acts 15
The Prophet Amoth
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 7-9 and Acts 15
The Prophet Amoth
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Go and Sin No More! (Leviticus 5:14-19)
Presented to Nipawin Corps, 29 March 2009
and in Winnipeg, November 2006
By Captain Michael Ramsay
X
.Many, many years ago I went to university to become an elementary school teacher. This was a lot different than many of the other programmes at University in that we had ‘extra’ rules to follow: we needed a minimum of a ‘B’ average, we had recommended dress codes, we had be on time. And these were important because we would be example for the young people we would be teaching.
I remember my first day of University. I wake up, my alarm clock doesn’t work. The power has gone out during the night. I wake up right when class is supposed to begin; so I throw on my clothes, grab my books and fly out the door. I jump in my car. I put the key in the ignition and... it doesn’t work. My car doesn’t work. At this point I am quite loudly practicing my… creative English skills, you know what I mean – and I run into the house and one by one call all of my friends who have cars. Most of them are still asleep but I get a hold of Dan. So he comes and gets me and drops me off at the university and, flustered and not wishing to stand out too much I try to sneak, half an hour late, into my first class of the day. I am caught by the professor who calls me to front of the class, issues me a recorder and asks me to play then and there in front of everyone. I do … and am promptly asked to stop playing as my teacher grimaces exaggeratedly. I am absolutely flustered and embarrassed at this point as the teacher asks for my name in order to check it off the attendance. Michael Ramsay. Michael Ramsay? That name isn’t on my list. What?!… All this and I am in the wrong class anyway.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/03/leviticus-514-19-num-1517-31-go-and-sin.html
and in Winnipeg, November 2006
By Captain Michael Ramsay
X
.Many, many years ago I went to university to become an elementary school teacher. This was a lot different than many of the other programmes at University in that we had ‘extra’ rules to follow: we needed a minimum of a ‘B’ average, we had recommended dress codes, we had be on time. And these were important because we would be example for the young people we would be teaching.
I remember my first day of University. I wake up, my alarm clock doesn’t work. The power has gone out during the night. I wake up right when class is supposed to begin; so I throw on my clothes, grab my books and fly out the door. I jump in my car. I put the key in the ignition and... it doesn’t work. My car doesn’t work. At this point I am quite loudly practicing my… creative English skills, you know what I mean – and I run into the house and one by one call all of my friends who have cars. Most of them are still asleep but I get a hold of Dan. So he comes and gets me and drops me off at the university and, flustered and not wishing to stand out too much I try to sneak, half an hour late, into my first class of the day. I am caught by the professor who calls me to front of the class, issues me a recorder and asks me to play then and there in front of everyone. I do … and am promptly asked to stop playing as my teacher grimaces exaggeratedly. I am absolutely flustered and embarrassed at this point as the teacher asks for my name in order to check it off the attendance. Michael Ramsay. Michael Ramsay? That name isn’t on my list. What?!… All this and I am in the wrong class anyway.
read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/03/leviticus-514-19-num-1517-31-go-and-sin.html
DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 7th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 4-6 and Acts 14
The four Norsemen of the 'Apocka' ship.
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Leviticus 4-6 and Acts 14
The four Norsemen of the 'Apocka' ship.
Sarah-Grace's Latest Sermon
Daniel 3: ‘Keep on Loving’ like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo
Presented to Swift Current Corps on 30 January 2011
By Sarah-Grace Ramsay
You should all know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. Well, it starts off with Nebuchadnezzar. So Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue. The statue was about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. He put the statue on the Plain of Dura in Babylon. Now we will read some of this from the Good News Bible, reading from Chapter 3, Verses 1-3:
“Now King Nebuchadnezzar had a gold statue made ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and he had it set up in the Plain of Dura in the Province of Babylon. Then the king got all the important leaders: the governors, assistant governors, captains of the soldiers, people who advised the king, keepers of the treasury, judges, rulers and all other officers in his kingdom. They were to come to the dedication of the statue.”
So they all came to the special service for the sculpture. All the people stood in front of the giant statue. Then the man who made announcements for Nebuchadnezzar spoke in a loud voice and said, “People of all nations, races, and languages, you will hear the sound of trumpets followed by horns, lyres, flutes, zithers, harps, pipes, oboes, and all other kinds of musical instruments. When you hear this you have to bow down and worship the gold creation. This is the statue King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who doesn’t bow down to the statue will be thrown in a burning furnace.”
Back to the Bible: So we will be reading from Chapter 3 Verses 7 – 12:
“And so as soon as they heard the sound of the instruments, the people of all nations, races, and languages bowed down and worshipped the gold statue which King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. It was then that some Babylonians took this opportunity to denounce the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘May Your Majesty live forever. Your Majesty has issued an order that as soon as the music starts everyone is to bow down and worship the gold statue, and that anyone who does not bow down and worship it is to be thrown in a blazing furnace. There are some Jews whom you put in charge of the Province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo – who are disobeying Your Majesty’s orders. They don’t worship your God or bow down to the statue you set up.’ At that the King flew into a rage and ordered the three men to be brought before him”
So as I was reading, the King called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. Then when they came he said, “Is it true that you don’t worship my god and bow down before the statue? Now you will hear the sound of horns, flutes, lyres, trumpets, zithers, harps, and other musical instruments one more time. You MUST bow down to the gold statue this time or you’ll be sure to be thrown in a fiery furnace. THEN NO GOD WILL BE ABLE TO SAVE YOU FROM MY POWER!”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo answered, “Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves. You throw us in a blazing furnace, if you want to. The God we serve is able to save us from your power. If he does it, it is good. But if he doesn’t we want our king to know this: we will not serve your gods. We won’t bow down to the gold statue you set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar was Furious with Shadrach, Abednigo, and Meshach. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he commanded his strongest soldiers to throw them into the fiery furnace.
Back to the Bible, oh yah and I’m reading from Daniel Chapter 3 Verses 21-25:
“So they tied them up, fully dressed – shirts, robes, caps, and all – and threw them into the blazing furnace. Now because the king had given strict orders for the furnace to be made extremely hot, the flames burned up the guards who took the men to the furnace. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo, still tied up fell to the heat of the blazing fire. Suddenly Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement. He asked his officials, ‘Didn’t we tie up and three men and throw them into the blazing furnace?’
They answered, ‘Yes, we did, Your Majesty.’
‘Then why do I see four men walking around in the fire?’ he asked. ‘They are not tied up, and they show no signs of being hurt - and the fourth one looks like a god.’
So Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the furnace and said, “Shadrach! Meshach! Abednigo! Come out of the fire!” When they came out, lots of the king’s officers crowded around the men. They noticed the fire had not touched them. They didn’t even smell like smoke. Then the king said, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. Their God is the living God of Supreme Greatness. I now make this law: Anyone who does anything against their God shall be killed right away and their house will be made into ruins.”
Now you should all remember this story because it can be really important if you think of it. You should always love and obey God. If someone says they’ll kill you if you love God, ‘keep on loving’ Him. If someone says you should worship another god – don’t. Instead, be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo all the time. Always worship God even if you’ll be killed. Just ‘keep on loving’ Him.
Let us pray:
Dear God, please help us all to be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo, and ‘keep on loving’ You. Please help us all to always love You and always worship You and to always ‘keep on loving’. Amen
Presented to Swift Current Corps on 30 January 2011
By Sarah-Grace Ramsay
You should all know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. Well, it starts off with Nebuchadnezzar. So Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue. The statue was about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. He put the statue on the Plain of Dura in Babylon. Now we will read some of this from the Good News Bible, reading from Chapter 3, Verses 1-3:
“Now King Nebuchadnezzar had a gold statue made ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and he had it set up in the Plain of Dura in the Province of Babylon. Then the king got all the important leaders: the governors, assistant governors, captains of the soldiers, people who advised the king, keepers of the treasury, judges, rulers and all other officers in his kingdom. They were to come to the dedication of the statue.”
So they all came to the special service for the sculpture. All the people stood in front of the giant statue. Then the man who made announcements for Nebuchadnezzar spoke in a loud voice and said, “People of all nations, races, and languages, you will hear the sound of trumpets followed by horns, lyres, flutes, zithers, harps, pipes, oboes, and all other kinds of musical instruments. When you hear this you have to bow down and worship the gold creation. This is the statue King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who doesn’t bow down to the statue will be thrown in a burning furnace.”
Back to the Bible: So we will be reading from Chapter 3 Verses 7 – 12:
“And so as soon as they heard the sound of the instruments, the people of all nations, races, and languages bowed down and worshipped the gold statue which King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. It was then that some Babylonians took this opportunity to denounce the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘May Your Majesty live forever. Your Majesty has issued an order that as soon as the music starts everyone is to bow down and worship the gold statue, and that anyone who does not bow down and worship it is to be thrown in a blazing furnace. There are some Jews whom you put in charge of the Province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo – who are disobeying Your Majesty’s orders. They don’t worship your God or bow down to the statue you set up.’ At that the King flew into a rage and ordered the three men to be brought before him”
So as I was reading, the King called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. Then when they came he said, “Is it true that you don’t worship my god and bow down before the statue? Now you will hear the sound of horns, flutes, lyres, trumpets, zithers, harps, and other musical instruments one more time. You MUST bow down to the gold statue this time or you’ll be sure to be thrown in a fiery furnace. THEN NO GOD WILL BE ABLE TO SAVE YOU FROM MY POWER!”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo answered, “Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves. You throw us in a blazing furnace, if you want to. The God we serve is able to save us from your power. If he does it, it is good. But if he doesn’t we want our king to know this: we will not serve your gods. We won’t bow down to the gold statue you set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar was Furious with Shadrach, Abednigo, and Meshach. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he commanded his strongest soldiers to throw them into the fiery furnace.
Back to the Bible, oh yah and I’m reading from Daniel Chapter 3 Verses 21-25:
“So they tied them up, fully dressed – shirts, robes, caps, and all – and threw them into the blazing furnace. Now because the king had given strict orders for the furnace to be made extremely hot, the flames burned up the guards who took the men to the furnace. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo, still tied up fell to the heat of the blazing fire. Suddenly Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement. He asked his officials, ‘Didn’t we tie up and three men and throw them into the blazing furnace?’
They answered, ‘Yes, we did, Your Majesty.’
‘Then why do I see four men walking around in the fire?’ he asked. ‘They are not tied up, and they show no signs of being hurt - and the fourth one looks like a god.’
So Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the furnace and said, “Shadrach! Meshach! Abednigo! Come out of the fire!” When they came out, lots of the king’s officers crowded around the men. They noticed the fire had not touched them. They didn’t even smell like smoke. Then the king said, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. Their God is the living God of Supreme Greatness. I now make this law: Anyone who does anything against their God shall be killed right away and their house will be made into ruins.”
Now you should all remember this story because it can be really important if you think of it. You should always love and obey God. If someone says they’ll kill you if you love God, ‘keep on loving’ Him. If someone says you should worship another god – don’t. Instead, be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo all the time. Always worship God even if you’ll be killed. Just ‘keep on loving’ Him.
Let us pray:
Dear God, please help us all to be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo, and ‘keep on loving’ You. Please help us all to always love You and always worship You and to always ‘keep on loving’. Amen
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Grace and Works and Doctrines 5-10 of The Salvation Army
By Michael Ramsay
“Grace and free will are not easily harmonised, and this has led some Christians so to emphasise the grace and sovereignty of God as to teach a doctrine of predestination that disallows free will. Such a doctrine implies that God alone determines who will be saved without the need for any co-operative response from us. Free will, in this case, is undermined. On the other hand, it is possible to forget that our God-given free will is itself flawed by sin. It cannot operate in true freedom without the grace of God.”[1]
In the time since I joined the Salvation Army, I have heard the accusation many times that it has merely a ‘works based theology.’ I have even struggled with and revisited this accusation, myself, in my time serving in this organization. As such, I find this a very important criticism to address and intend to show here, through a brief examination of Doctrines 5 – 10, that the Salvation Army has a good and right combination of a theology of grace and of works.
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_Theology_TSA.htm#Works
“Grace and free will are not easily harmonised, and this has led some Christians so to emphasise the grace and sovereignty of God as to teach a doctrine of predestination that disallows free will. Such a doctrine implies that God alone determines who will be saved without the need for any co-operative response from us. Free will, in this case, is undermined. On the other hand, it is possible to forget that our God-given free will is itself flawed by sin. It cannot operate in true freedom without the grace of God.”[1]
In the time since I joined the Salvation Army, I have heard the accusation many times that it has merely a ‘works based theology.’ I have even struggled with and revisited this accusation, myself, in my time serving in this organization. As such, I find this a very important criticism to address and intend to show here, through a brief examination of Doctrines 5 – 10, that the Salvation Army has a good and right combination of a theology of grace and of works.
read more: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_Theology_TSA.htm#Works
Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Feb 5th
http://drwas.blogspot.com/
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Exodus 39-40 and Psalm 15 and Acts 12
Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Exodus 39-40 and Psalm 15 and Acts 12
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