sheepspeak

Is God 'Not the Mama'?

2012-01-11T22:51:00.000-06:00

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 08 Jan 12 by Captain Michael Ramsay

There was a show on Television late last century called Dinosaurs; it was about an anthropomorphic family of dinosaurs. There was a mom, a dad, a brother, a sister and a baby. Here is a clip about a running exchange between the dad and the baby. The dad loves the baby and will do anything to just try to get the baby to call him ‘Daddy’ but instead the baby just keeps referring to him as ‘Not the Mama’.

[1]

This, I think in some sense, is God’s relationship to Israel in the book of Judges. God just wants Israel to love Him and show that they love Him. He wants them to call him Father but they just refuse to and instead they just do whatever they see as fit in their own eyes. This is the tragedy of the book of Judges...

Read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2012/01/judges-61-16-salvation-theodicy-gideon.html

Year in Review..

2012-01-06T13:56:00.003-06:00

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 01 Jan. 2012 by Captain Michael Ramsay

New Years is often the time when we look back on the year and there are often quizzes to see how much we remember of the significant events that occurred in the world, our country and our community. In that spirit here is a New Years Day Quiz for you.

EVENTS IN OUR WORLD

1) A tsunami swept through this country?

2) What did these two cities have in common in 2011: London and Vancouver?

3) Who is the new General of the Salvation Army in 2011?

EVENTS IN OUR COUNTRY

1) Who is famous for the following quote from last year? “My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.”

2) Famous Wedding this past year where the honeymooners visited Canada?

3) Who won the Grey Cup in 2011?

EVENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY

1) Which bank was robbed here on January 7/11?

2) Who won this riding (Swift Current) in the provincial election?

3) What member of this congregation spoke her first words and took her first steps this year?

ANSWERS HERE: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/12/2-corinthians-517-turning-page-new.html

Sunday's Test

2012-01-03T08:42:00.001-06:00

This is the test for Self-Examination we took on Sunday - hat tip http://www.armybarmy.com/

TEST FOR SELF-EXAMINATION
The following are questions taken from The Salvation Army
ORDERS AND REGULATIONS FOR SOLDIERS.

1. Am I habitually guilty of any known sin? Do I practise or allow myself in any thought, word, or deed which I know to be wrong?
2. Am I so the master of my bodily appetites as to have no condemnation? Do I allow myself in any indulgence that is injurious to my holiness, growth in knowledge, obedience, and usefulness?
3. Are my thoughts and feelings such that I should not be ashamed to hear them published before God?
4. Does the influence of the world cause me to act, feel, or say things that are unlike Christ?
5. Do my tempers cause me to act, or feel or say things that I see afterward are contrary to that love which I ought to bear always to those about me?
6. Am I doing all in my power for the salvation of sinners? Do I feel concern about their danger and pray and work for their salvation as if they were my children?
7. Am I fulfilling the vows I have made to God in my acts of consecration or at the Penitent Form?
8. Is my example in harmony with my profession?
9. Am I conscious of any pride or haughtiness in my manner or bearing?
10. Do I conform to the fashions and customs of this world or do I show that I despise them?
11. Am I in danger of being carried away with worldly desires to be rich or admired?

A Tale of Two Kings: Christ and Caesar

2012-01-01T20:32:00.001-06:00

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair”: this is the famous opening line of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens; it is about Paris and it is about London. Today’s story from Scripture is a real life tale of two kings by Luke the physician; it is about Augustus Caesar and it is about Jesus Christ and in Luke’s Gospel, like in Dickens’ story, it is the best of times and it is the worst of times.[1]

The second chapter of Luke’s Gospel opens with, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” Caesar Augustus is the first king of our two kings, chronologically speaking, that we will address today.[2] What do we know of this king and of this world that he has ordered taxed?

Do You Believe?

2012-01-01T20:29:00.002-06:00

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Luke 1:26: In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
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This sixth-month referred to here by Luke is the sixth month of Elisabeth’s pregnancy. Elisabeth, as we know from earlier in this chapter of Luke, is Mary’s relative but Mary was quite young and Elisabeth and her husband Zechariah were old and 3 months from now Elisabeth is about to have a baby. The messenger, the angel who went to speak to Elisabeth’s husband was Gabriel. Here Gabriel is bringing another message from God about a miraculous birth but this time he is bringing the message of a very significant birth to a very insignificant fishing town, in an insignificant region, of insignificant Palestine (John 1:36).

Gabriel, the angel, the messenger of God is bringing this message…

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/12/luke-126-37-do-you-believe.html

Twas the day before the night before Christmas...

2011-12-23T09:10:00.001-06:00

Some local press coverange:

http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16506&Itemid=33

http://swbooster.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

http://www.prairiepost.com/component/content/article/3896.html

Don't forget

- Christmas Eve Meeting (Service) at 6:00 pm Saturday.

- Christmas Day Meeting at 10:30 am Sunday

- Christmas Day Community Meal at 2 pm

Seven Pieces of Pi

2011-12-17T16:32:00.003-06:00

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24: The 7 P’s and the Pi of Holiness. Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 11 Dec 2011 and to the Nipawin Corps 14 Dec. 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay

I don’t know if you have ever seen those motivational speakers on TV or in person. I’ve had some jobs in the past where they send someone in to rally the troops. They usually have – in the old days flip charts – these days PPT or DVD, lots of props and some way that they want you to remember what it is they are trying to motivate you to do. Sometimes it is just repetition.

One thing that people often use is an acronym – you spell out a word and every letter stands for something else. Here I’ll give you some famous acronyms and you tell me if you know what they mean:

1)      ASAP     2) NATO   3) NHL    4) MYOB    5) TSA

Sometimes they just have an alliterative list with each item in the cue staring with the same letter or the same sound, like Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, or here’s another little quiz for you can you tell me:

1)      In Four H, what are the 4 H’s?
2)      What are the 3 R’s from school?
          a.      How many of these words actually start with R?
          b.      Who can tell me which word that is?

Click here for the answers: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/12/1-thessalonians-516-24-7-ps-and-pi-of.html

Break-in at the Swift Current Salvation Army

2011-12-07T13:23:00.001-06:00

http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16358&Itemid=33

Christmas Miracle Room

2011-12-05T12:05:00.001-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1jfAjlT9YA&feature=player_embedded

Kettle Kick-off

2011-11-24T13:31:00.001-06:00

The Salvation Army wants to make Christmas bright for families, setting a lofty $170,000 fundraising goal during their 2011 Christmas Campaign.

The Salvation Army Miracle Room at the Swift Current Mall will be a hub of activity in the coming weeks, with a strong turnout attending their grand opening pancake breakfast and launch of their Christmas Appeal on Saturday.

“We made almost that last year, and it works out to basically $10 per person. So if everybody in the community can contribute $10, and maybe an extra $10 for your friend or family member who can’t. It’ll go a long way to providing assistance to those in need, not only at Christmastime here but throughout the year too,” Capt. Michael Ramsay explained at Saturday’s grand opening of the Miracle Room in the Swift Current Mall.

The continuation of the Angel Tree program again provides a special way where people can make Christmas extra special for a child.

“These are kids in need who may not get anything other than this at Christmas time, and they get a chance to put down that one thing that they really, really want. And as you pick up the angel and fill it, then you can make that one child’s Christmas extra special.”

Capt. Ramsay noted that Food Hamper registrations will start the last week of November at the Salvation Army and run until the first week of December. This is another way they can reach out to the community and help provide important food supplies to families who may especially be struggling during the Christmas season.

Admittedly, there have both challenges and successes at the Food Bank.

“One of the positives is even though the numbers at our own Food Bank have been going up quite a bit, as they have been across the country, we’ve also been tracking repeat use. And repeat use in Swift Current has been going down. And what that means is that we spend a lot of time talking with people that we help in difficulties. What it means is if repeat use is going down, then we’ve been able to walk with them and help them find a solution to whatever caused them to come to the Food Bank - so whether that’s a gambling addiction, alcohol addiction, simply budgeting, or circumstances like unemployment, court...we’ve been able to set them up with people who can help them, so that’s been one of the really encouraging things about Swift Current.”

In order to help continue these, and other services, they are currently looking for volunteers to ring bells and assist at donation kettles across the community.

One of the new programs they have developed is a justice program for individuals coming back to the city after serving court sentences. The Salvation Army assists them in finding places to stay, employment, and finding social groups other than the social group they were in when they got in trouble in the first place.

There have been no repeat offenders among this early group of program participants.

from the Southwest Booster: http://www.swbooster.com/

Kettle Kick-off

2011-11-21T15:07:00.001-06:00

http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16194&Itemid=33

Lest we forget what the Lord has done...

2011-11-21T11:23:00.001-06:00

The following is taken from 2 Timothy 3:12-17: Lest We Forget. Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 13 Nov. 2011, by Captain Michael Ramsay (Padre, Royal Canadian Legion #56)

Just after Remembrance Day here, it is sad that we often seem to have forgotten those soldiers who died hoping we would live in peace with our neighbours: since the 1990s Canada has been involved in a number of aggressive – sometimes even illegal – military adventures. As bad as this may be [or may not be; depending upon your political perspective, I suppose], it is even worse when we forget what the Lord has done. Lest we forget, lest we forget…

The Scriptures are a record of what God has done for creation. The Scriptures are a record of what God has done for us. The Scriptures are a record of what God has done through creation. The Scriptures are a record of what God has done through us. The Scriptures show God’s grace and God’s power. The Scriptures show God’s love and God’s sovereignty. We should not forget this. 2 Timothy 3:12 records Paul’s repeated reminder to Timothy and the church in Ephesus that “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” It has always been this way. Christians are the followers of the one, true God. These true followers of the one, true God have experienced suffering since the beginning. Paul earlier in this very letter of 2 Timothy encourages us to join him in suffering for the Gospel (2Timothy 1:8). Let us not forget this. Lest we forget, lest we forget…

Remember Abraham left his home for a land that his descendants would inherit hundreds of years after his death (Genesis 11-15). Moses brought Israel, following God, through plagues and famine to the precipice of the Promised Land (Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 1, 34). King David saw his own sons turn against him and even killed, as he was told that a descendant of his would sit on God’s throne forever (2 Samuel 7). David’s own grandson saw that kingdom torn from him, never to be fully returned until the return of Christ (1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10). Christ has now ascended the throne and when he comes back, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Isaiah 45:43, Romans 14:11). Let us not forget this. If humanity forgets this, what a blessing and what peace we will forfeit. Lest we forget, lest we forget…

Remembrance Day: Lest We Forget

2011-11-10T10:12:00.001-06:00

Canada's Hundred Days

Canada's Hundred Days refers to the last 100 days of World War I, from 4 August to November 11, 1918. During this time period, the Canadian Corps of four divisions fought several battles against approximately one quarter of the Imperial German Army on the Western Front, all with decisive victories.

Along with the battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele, Canada's Hundred Days cemented the reputation of the Canadian Corps as a tough and professional fighting force amongst its allies and foes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada
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JUST WAR - FROM ARMYBARMY

Read Aaron Whites blog of Saturday, November 10, 2007 - In Time for Remembrance Day... It is a very good look at the question of 'is war ever just?' www.armybarmy.com/blog.html
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THE SALVATION ARMY, A PRESENTATION BY THE CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM

"It would be easier to forget one's name than fail to remember the times without number when the Salvation Army was, in truth, our comforter and friend."
- General Harry Crerar (Former Commander of the First Canadian Army, Second World War)

Read more: http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/salvationarmy/index_e.html
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November 9, Let us not forget

The day Canada honours the sacrifices of the First and Second World War and Korea is also the anniversary of a battle that saved the country from an American invasion during the War of 1812. And as the First World War slips from living memory into pure history, how Canadians have marked the other Nov. 11 from our military heritage -- the 1813 Battle of Crysler's Farm -- offers a sobering glimpse of the future of remembrance.read more: http://www.islandnet.com/~havelock/FPNov11AmericanInvasion.html

November 8th - The Great War

Ephesians 6:11-1311Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.Read whole chapter: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=56&chapter=6&version=9

A TOUCH OF HOME:

The War Services of The Salvation ArmyDuring the First World War (1914-18), the Canadian Salvation Army's overseas activities were part of the much larger effort organized by British Salvationists. The latter established over 200 recreational huts (often no more than tents), 40 rest homes, and 96 hostels, all staffed by more than 1200 volunteers. The Canadian SA sent five military chaplains to the front and helped operate well-equipped huts, canteens, rest facilities, and hostels...

Read more (PDF): http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/salvationarmy/sallyanneng.pdf
at 9:31 PM

Is War Ever Just?

Article from the Nipawin Journal: http://www.sheepspeak.com/is_war_ever_just.htm

Winston Churchill on The Salvation Army
Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, "Where there's a need, there's The Salvation Army".Is it as true in the 2000's as it was in the 1940's? I believe so. Let's keep it that way - and more! - mr

Canadian TSA in the World Wars (Part 1).
In 1914 the Army shared in the national tragedy of the sinking of The Empress of Ireland in the St. Lawrence. On board were more than 120 Salvationists, bound for an international congress in London. Most of them, including the national commander and members of the Canadian Staff Band, were drowned. The Staff Band was not re-formed until 1969.

Canada's involvement in the Great War of 1914-1918 saw the appointment of the first Salvation Officer as a chaplain in the Canadian armed forces, and the donation of five motor ambulances to forces serving overseas. At the end of the war, military hostels were opened in Winnipeg, London, Kingston, Toronto, and other cities, for returning soldiers.

All of this demonstrates the unique ability of The Salvation Army to respond to urgent needs...It also reflects the ingenuity, efficient use of resources and a genius for improvisation, which the organization's quasi-military structure fostered. It showed government that in most things the Army could get the job done with greater efficiency and at less cost than almost any other agency, and at the same time it forged a bond of trust between the people of Canada and the 'Sally Ann', a trust that continues to this day...

The onset of World War II found the Army accompanying Canada's armed forces overseas not only as chaplains but as the operators of Maple Leaf Clubs, providing rest and relaxation for the troops. By the end of the war there were clubs in Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and India. They were mostly staffed by Salvation Army Auxiliaries, some of them as young as twenty years old. They provided a taste of home, with Canadian cooking, mail forwarding and social activities, including dances and short term accommodation. On the home front at the end of the war, Salvationists at Canadian ports welcomed the 'war brides' of Canadian servicemen.

Read more: http://www.salvationist.ca/about/history/

The Salvation Army - From the Canadian Department of National Defence website:

The Salvation Army and the Propagation of the Faith:The central mission of the Salvation Army is evangelism. The Army exists to spread the Word of God through its distinctive methods of outreach to the world. The Church and its members do not hesitate to reach out to the poor and the abandoned, to help all toward salvation.

Read more: http://www.dnd.ca/hr/religions/engraph/religions29_e.asp

Soldiers of the Cross (TSA WWI & WWII Australia and New Zealand)

In April 1915, at a little-known beach in Turkey named Gallipoli, two legends were created. The first was the courage of the Australian soldier: the second was the wartime service of the Salvation Army.

Read more: http://www.anzacday.org.au/spirit/cross/index.html

THE HISTORY OF THE SALVATION ARMY (USA) IN WORLD WAR I
The Salvationist stands ready, trained in all necessary qualifications in every phase of humanitarian work, and the the last man will stand by the President for execution of his orders.-Evangeline Booth, National Commander, April 1918

http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/salvhist.htm
at 3:38 PM

In the Lead up to Nov 11 - The Salvation Army Position on World Peace

The Salvation Army believes that the plan for creation is that all people shall live in a harmonious relationship with God. It acknowledges that only within this relationship can perfect peace be fully known, and that this peace transcends the circumstances of this life. Greed, selfishness and injustice, however, have entered human lives and often result in conflict and, at times, armed aggression.Therefore, in the light of the Gospel and in obedience to the one who declared, "Blessed are the peacemakers," The Salvation Army through its ministry around the world confronts the poverty, injustice and the inequalities that so often give rise to disharmony and unrest, and seeks to foster mutual respect and understanding between peoples of all races, ethnic origins, socio-economic backgrounds, religions and cultures.

Recognizing the appalling character of modern warfare, The Salvation Army urges nations to eliminate all weapons of mass or indiscriminate destruction and divert those expenditures into measures that will benefit society, and especially into providing services that promote the welfare of the poor, suffering or disadvantaged, and bring about a more just society.

The Salvation Army is ready to work, alone or in partnership with others of goodwill, to bring about an end to armed conflict and to promote reconciliation between opposing factions. It also undertakes to extend in Christian love its practical care to those who suffer because of war, civil unrest or other forms of violence, without discrimination except on the basis of the need being met and its capacity to meet it.

The Salvation Army calls upon all within its influence - members, friends and fellow Christians - to pray for peace, to love their enemies and to work for the betterment of society, witnessing to God as the source of lasting peace and to a right relationship with God as the only path to perfect peace.

More position Statements:
Abortion Artificial Insemination & In Vitro Fertilization Capital Punishment Environment Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide & Advance Health Care Directives Family Gambling Gay & Lesbian Sexuality Human Diversity Marriage Pornography Poverty & Economic Justice Sabbath Substance Abuse Sunday Observance World Peace

They died for us
Remembrance Day (a poem of sorts...)
They didn't die for freedom of speech
They didn't die for freedom of expression
They didn't die for the right to vote
They didn't die for democracy
They didn't die for capitalism
They didn't die for human ideologies
They died for us

John 15:13 reminds us that Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

2 Timothy 1:12: Learn To Suffer

2011-10-26T12:30:00.003-06:00

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army,
23 October 2011, by Captain Michael Ramsay

2 Timothy 1:12: That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Today’s message (sermon/homily/preach) on 2 Timothy 1:12 is entitled ‘Learn to Suffer’. ‘Learn to Suffer’ is motto of a Scottish Clan. Anyone know which clan? Clan Duncan: John Duncan, I did a little bit of research into your clan in preparing for today.

The Clan motto is ‘Learn to Suffer.’ Did you know that 2 of the early kings of Scotland were Duncans: One was Duncan I and do you know who was the other? Duncan II. Duncan I obtained the throne through murder and Duncan II lost it the same way. The Duncans would learn to suffer. The Duncans historically weren’t so good at choosing the winning side in important battles. They supported the victorious Robert the Bruce in his wars and received benefits from that. But later they supported Charles I, who was defeated, murdered and his country conquered by Cromwell’s Puritans. In supporting the losing side in this war, the Duncans would learn to suffer. They later supported Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Jacobite revolt and then they really learned to suffer, suffering all the consequences that come from launching an unsuccessful revolution. Most of the Duncan lands were even taken from their family. They indeed learned to suffer. And as Romans 5:3,4 says, I am sure it helped build their character.

Today we are looking at 2 Timothy 1:12: “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”

We are going to pull out a few things from this verse...

Deuteronomy 8: The Next Generation Thanks The Lord

2011-10-14T16:54:00.002-06:00

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army
Thanksgiving Sunday, 09 October 2011
By Captain Michael Ramsay

Today in Deuteronomy we are dealing with Exodus: the Next Generation; the children of the children of Israel whom God delivered out of Egypt. In our text today, we are getting close to the point where they have the opportunity to cross into the Promised Land. We read last week how their parents’ generation about 40 years before came passed this same spot in the wilderness and beyond. They were on the precipice of the Promised Land where they could eat, be satisfied and be saved from their desert wanderings but they rejected God’s salvation and so they spent the next 40 years wandering around the wilderness. These were the parents of this generation before us today in Deuteronomy 8 today. They rejected God’s promise and so died outside of God’s promise (Deuteronomy 2:19-46, Numbers 14, Hebrews 4). They have now passed on. Their leader, Moses, himself, has only has a few months left to live. And most of this book of Deuteronomy is a collection of his last words to the Hebrews before he perishes along with the rest of this generation (and his children’s generation; Moses was 80 when he began the exodus from Egypt.) outside of the Promised Land.[1] This book is thus very important.

Chapter 8 reminds us of an important three-part truth that is important for us on this Thanksgiving Sunday.

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/10/deuteronomy-8-next-generation-thanks.html

Barak the fearful?

2011-10-04T14:37:00.000-06:00

Exerpt from Judges 4, Numbers 14: Salvation, Take it or Leave it. Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 02 Oct. 2011 by Captain Michael Ramsay

We read from Judges Chapter 4 earlier where Israel’s leader, Deborah instructs General Barak, in the name of the LORD, to lead the troops into battle against their oppressors.[3] Instead of simply saying ‘Yes ma’am’ to Deborah and ‘Yes Lord’ to the Lord, Barak sounds a little like a scared elementary school student and he says instead to Deborah, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go” (Judges 4:8; cf. Exodus 4:13, Judges 6:15, Jeremiah 1:6). It reminds me of a summer or two ago when my daughters were younger and one of them accidentally threw a ball or something in the neighbours’ yard. I told her to just go ring their doorbell and ask if she can go into the yard and get it back. She looked scared stiff. She -in a moment of panic- said, ‘No, only if you go with me!’ General Barak when God through the Prophetess Deborah, Israel’s judge, tells him to run an errand for God, he says, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” Now I told my daughter when she attempted to give me this ultimatum that she could take her sister with her to ask our neighbours for the ball and the two of them went hugging and grasping each other for support, with me watching, to our next door neighbours’ house to retrieve their ball. Judge Deborah similarly has mercy on this timid general, Barak, and says that she will go with him.[4] She doesn’t have quite as much mercy as I did with my 7 or 8 year-old daughter at the time though; nor should she. Barak, in his fear to go into battle without Deborah holding his hand, wasn’t just questioning Deborah’s order; he was questioning God.[5] In response: “‘Very well,’ Deborah said, ‘I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honour will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman.’ Then Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh” (Judges 4:9).

This is important. Glory was there for Barak: he could take it or leave it. But regardless of Barak, God still delivered the people of Israel from their oppressors, just like He said he would do. Even though Barak did not show faith and faithfulness, God was still faithful and He delivered His people unto salvation. But because Barak was more afraid of men than of God, he did not receive the full reward that he otherwise would have received (cf. Deuteronomy 31:6; Numbers 14; Joshua 1:5; Romans 3:3,4; Hebrews 13:5-6; 2 Timothy 2:13).

This brings us to our parallel passage in Numbers 14....

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[3] But cf. Dennis T. Olsen, The Book of Judges (NIB II; Nashville: Abingdon, 1998), 778-783.
[4] Cf. Robert Jamieson, ‘CHAPTER 4: Judges 4:1-17. Deborah and Barak Deliver Israel from Jabin and Sisera’. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Available on-line: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/jamieson/jfb.x.vii.iv.html?scrBook=Judg&scrCh=4-4&scrV=0-0#x.vii.iv-p0.1
[5] John Wesley, “Explanatory Notes on Judges 4”. Cited from Christ’s Notes Bible Commentary (Cited 26 September, 2011). Available on-line: http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?b=7&c=4&com=wes

Can airstrikes protect civillians?

2011-09-26T11:59:00.001-06:00

http://www.ploughshares.ca/sites/default/files/2011summer.pdf

From Ploughshares which is a Christian Peacemaking agency of The Canadian Council of Churches.

Human Trafficking in Canada

2011-09-25T15:58:00.001-06:00

The Truth Isn't Sexy

2011-09-25T15:57:00.001-06:00

Pray for the end of human trafficking

2011-09-22T09:48:00.001-06:00

Human Trafficking: The following information is adapted slightly from The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Resources.

What is human trafficking? Human trafficking is slavery. Human beings are bought and sold for a number of purposes: sexual exploitation, forced labour, or organ removal.. Human trafficking exploits human beings (mostly women and girls) for profit. Individuals may be trafficked across international borders or within them. Traffickers – ranging from sophisticated international criminal cartels to local pimps, boyfriends and even family members – use force, the threat of force, or other forms of coercion to gain control over their victims. Throughout the world, in rural and urban settings, victims are trapped in a myriad of exploitive situations including the commercial sex industry, factory sweat shops, domestic servitude, and agricultural work. Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery proliferated in Canada and around the world.

It is estimated that up to 4 million people are trafficked annually worldwide. Hundreds to thousands of people are trafficked within Canada each year. It is a $12 billion (USD) annual business. Profits from human trafficking also fuel other criminal activities.

According to the 2011 US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report, Canada is a source, transit, and destination country for people trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labour. When it comes to forced labour, Canada is considered a destination country. Trafficking for the purpose of forced labour is more common in Canada than most people realize. Men, women and children are brought to Canada for the purposes of forced or bonded labour. They can be trafficked into commercial or private service. Typically, they are recruited with the promise of work that will make use of their skills and qualifications but find themselves doing menial labour. Often they make little or no pay and work very long hours. Their freedoms are usually limited; they may be confined, living in their place of work, and they may have their communications cut off. I am working with Captain Ed at the present time actually to help some victims of human trafficking in Maple Creek. The province of Alberta especially has high numbers of forced workers.

Re. prostituted peoples and sexual human trafficking: Canada’s Aboriginal female population is sexually trafficked in disproportionate levels. Aboriginal youth make up only 3 - 5% of the Canadian population, and yet in some cities they make up 90% of the visible sex trade.

Human trafficking was added as a crime in November 2005. Michael Ng was the first to be charged with human trafficking. These charges were later dropped, however, and Ng was convicted on other related charges.

It remains difficult to obtain a conviction based on trafficking charges because of the clandestine nature of the crime. Victims and witnesses are often too intimidated or too embarrassed to testify. Further, evidence may need to be collected abroad, and this presents its own difficulties. Laws relating to human trafficking are new; it takes time for authorities to become familiar with them in order to implement them effectively. Another problem is simply that law enforcement officers have limited resources to monitor bawdy houses and other suspect areas. Let us pray this responsive prayer on the overhead.

HumanTrafficking Prayer

Creator God, each person on this earth was made in your image – full of dignity and deserving of respect, honour and compassion. We pray for victims of trafficking who have been bought, sold and exploited – that they would be set free and that their dignity and honour would be restored. Lord have mercy.

Father God, we pray for your daughters and sons who are vulnerable to sexual trafficking. We pray for women and children. We pray for the poor. We pray for orphans and abandoned children; widows and abandoned wives. We pray for those who have already been sexually abused. Father God, protect them and prevent them from being trafficked. Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you are the suffering servant who has experienced violence, humiliation and rejection. Comfort victims of trafficking who have gone through the same. May they never feel alone. Pour out your love, giving strength, grace and wisdom. Lord, have mercy.

Son of Man, purify the hearts and minds of traffickers and all those involved in the sex industry. We pray for repentance and change; justice and restoration. Lord, show your power.

All-knowing God, may we not ignore injustice. May our eyes be ever seeing, our ears be ever hearing and our hearts be ever searching. Give feet to our prayers so that we might stamp out oppression and walk towards truth. Lord, show your power.

Omnipotent God, we ask that you break the chains of injustice and set the captives free! Release the prisoners of trafficking and deliver them from all evil. Redeemer, we pray for restoration, healing and hope. Lord, show your power.

Lord of lords and King of kings, may your justice and righteousness reign supremely in this world and in our lives. May your kingdom come and your will be done. May human trafficking be abolished, and its victims be set free. Lord, show your power.

more information: http://salvationist.ca/action-support/human-trafficking/weekend-of-prayer/

Human Trafficking Q&A

2011-09-21T10:11:00.002-06:00

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is slavery. Human beings are bought and sold for a number of purposes: sexual exploitation, forced or bonded labour, or forced or coerced organ removal. While the purposes of human trafficking vary, they all have a common element: exploitation. Human trafficking exploits human beings (mostly women and girls) for profit. Individuals may be trafficked across international borders or within them. Traffickers – ranging from sophisticated international criminal cartels to local pimps, boyfriends and even family members – use force, the threat of force, or other forms of coercion to gain control over their victims. Human trafficking is always involuntary because even when consent is achieved it is through some form of fraud, deception, abduction/kidnapping, or abuse of power/vulnerability. Throughout the world, in rural and urban settings, victims are trapped in a myriad of exploitive situations including the commercial sex industry, factory sweat shops, construction work, domestic servitude, and agricultural work. Human trafficking is a global tragedy that robs people of basic human rights and demeans their human dignity. It is a form of modern day slavery proliferated in Canada and around the world.

read more of the FAQ, Q&A from the TSA: http://salvationist.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Human-Trafficking-in-Canada-FAQs.pdf

Justice in Swift Current, Salvation Army Style.

2011-09-20T20:11:00.002-06:00

The Prairie Post
Tuesday, 20 September 2011 20:48
http://www.prairiepost.com/commentary/opinions/3331-justice-swift-current-salvation-army-style.html

Recently the Federal Government has announced some new ‘law and order’ initiatives. The Correctional and Justice Services of The Salvation Army in Regina is having a grand re-opening at 10:30 on September 30^th. With so much going on in the way of justice these days, I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of what we are doing in Swift Current to provide justice for those in need in our community.

At our Swift Current, Saskatchewan Salvation Army we are actively involved in justice ministries.

We provide the Alternative Measures / Justice Services for all of South West Saskatchewan. We provide mediations between victims and offenders with a goal of reconciling people to our community. This programme has met with great success and, in my opinion, has greatly contributed to a drop in rates of recidivism. We have been providing this service for many years and have a number of mediators working under the supervision of Harvey Lomax to help victims and to reconcile both youth and adult offenders to the community.

We have been hosting the Free Legal Clinic since its arrival in the South West. Last year we were among the busiest free legal clinics in the province helping those in need. The Swift Current Free Legal Clinic offers free legal advice in areas of Family Law, Criminal Law, and Civil Law and its services are provided to those who do not qualify for legal aid but are unable to afford legal Council.

We often appear with people in court. Court can be a scary place whether you are the accused, a victim, or a witness. We often have people in court who can provide comfort, support, help you understand the process, and say a prayer with you when it is so desired. We also have visited many people in the cells here either when they are awaiting trial or transfer to a correctional facility.

William Booth, The Salvation Army’s founder, said that he hopes that some day whenever people are released from prison that there would be Salvation Army personnel to meet them and help them reintegrate into society so that they don’t re-offend and immediately return to prison for committing some other crime. Canada’s first Dominion Parole Officer was The Salvation Army's Brigadier Walter Archibald. Here in Swift Current we are actively working with people returning to the community who were sent to a correctional facility from here. We help them find food, lodging, employment and other much needed services in order to help them reintegrate into the community and avoid the temptations that often facilitate a return to prison. We are in the process of expanding this programme significantly so that we can help more youth and adults in the area and do our part to help keep our community safe.

Here in Swift Current, we at the Salvation Army are doing our best to provide safety, security and justice to those in need in our community and we couldn’t do it without your help.

For more information or to see how you can help, please fell free to contact us at justice@sheepspeak.com

Sincerely,

Captain Michael Ramsay

Commanding Officer,

The Salvation Army:

Swift Current

Comics and daily Bible readings: http://drwas.blogspot.com

Commentary : http://renewnetwork.blogspot.com/

My book, Praise the Lord for Covenants, is available from Supplies and Purchasing as well as on-line at www.sheepspeak.com

Pat Robertson says Alzheimer's justifies divorce - The Bible, JAC and I disagree

2011-09-16T10:45:00.003-06:00

The Associated Press
Posted: Sep 16, 2011 11:03 AM ET
Last Updated: Sep 16, 2011 10:44 AM ET

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson told his 700 Club viewers that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer's is justifiable because the disease is "a kind of death."
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During the portion of the show where the one-time Republican presidential candidate takes questions from viewers, Robertson was asked what advice a man should give to a friend who began seeing another woman after his wife started suffering from the incurable neurological disorder.
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"I know it sounds cruel, but if he's going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her," Robertson said
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from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/09/16/robertson-alzheimers-divorce.html
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Roberson is wrong, of course: Covenant oaths are very significant to Christianity. If you throw them out you in essence throw out the bulk of the Canon. Jesus' whole death and resurrection relates to a covenant oath God made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:17-21): http://www.sheepspeak.com./ptl4covenants.htm
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See 'Rights and Responsibilities of Covenant - a look at Judges 2' in the Journal of Aggressive Christianity Issue 56: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article10-56.html and 'When God is Bound' in the Journal of Aggressive Christianity Issue 52, pages 5-10: http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_052.pdf

Top Ten Reasons Why Men Shouldn’t Be Ordained.

2011-09-14T13:19:00.002-06:00

Hat Tip: http://www.armybarmy.com/

The cut-out below can add good food for thought to the Women-in-Ministry debate that occurs to no end outside The Salvation Army, and is often avoided within The Salvation Army, because “we’ve had women in ministry from the beginning…” Yes we have, but…

So as Nathan Hobby says, few arguments are as engaging as humour. Maybe taking a look at the humour in it can help us to look at ourselves more closely! And btw, replace the word “Ordained” with “Commissioned”, or similar for the sake of the context; because ordination in The Salvation Army is a whole other issue!

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Top Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained

10. A man’s place is in the army.
9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.
8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do other forms of work.
7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.
5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.
4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.
1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.

EDIT: Apparently the top ten list was presented by David M. Scholer on February 20, 1998, at the Fuller Follies at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA. David’s version was taken, with small modifications, from a November 24, 1997 internet communication from W. Ward and Laurel Gasque, who have long been champions of Biblical equality.

read more: http://salvokat.wordpress.com/2008/11/01/top-ten-reasons-why-men-shouldnt-be-ordained/

Say it! Know it! Do it!

2011-09-12T11:15:00.002-06:00

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 11 Sept. 2011 by Captain Michael Ramsay

Today we are speaking about Romans 10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And, Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” These are some of the basics of the whole Christian faith (cf. TSA doc. 7). Therefore as we launch into our time today, along these lines I thought that I would share this piece of wisdom that was presented to us at Officer Camp by Major David Ivany – he is in charge of Spiritual Direction for all of Canada in The Salvation Army. He shared this story with us about a kind elderly lady, who in her heart upon a public confession of faith is experiencing the pure joys of Christian love.

This lady, Emma, she goes into a local Christian bookstore and sees a “Honk if you love Jesus” bumper sticker. Feeling particularly good that day because she has just come from a great choir practice and prayer meeting, she buys the bumper sticker and she put it on her car – professing her faith publicly. She recalls, “Boy, I’m glad I did! What an uplifting experience followed!” and then she launches into this story. She remembers stopping at a red light at a busy intersection just when she first had on her new ‘Honk if you love Jesus’ sticker. Lost in thought about the Lord and how good He had been to her, she didn’t notice the light had changed.

“It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus,” she said, “because if he hadn’t honked, I’d never have noticed that the light had changed!” She then noted that indeed, lots of people actually love Jesus because while she sat unmoving, blocking the lane of traffic, the guy behind her also honked like crazy before leaning out of his window and screaming, “For the love of God! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, Go!” She remembers thinking, “What an exuberant cheerleader he was for the Lord!”

Suddenly, it seemed as though she had started an epidemic and everyone started honking. Impressed by such a response, she leaned out of her window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people – while she was still parked in front of the intersection. “I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!” she recited. Then she realized the mix of celebrants. “There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a “sunny beach… I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger in the air. I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, and he suggested that it was probably an Hawaiian good luck sign or something…”

The woman admitted that she had never met anyone from Hawaii before and was unaware of their customs. “I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back,” she reminisced.

She also remembers that a few persons were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards her. “I’ll bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended but that was when I noticed that the light had changed. So, I waved to all my loving sisters and brothers in Christ, grinned joyously, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed that I was the only car that made it through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time before I sped away.”
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Romans 10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And, Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
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Read the whole message: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/09/romans-109-say-it-know-it-do-it.html

Exerpt from the Obedience Company

2011-09-07T08:57:00.002-06:00

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 04 Sept. 2011 by Captain Michael Ramsay
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Today the verse we are speaking about, Romans 6:23, is looking at wages from a different source. 6:23a records that, “the wages of sin is death.” Before we get into this too much, we should all know what sin is. Literally, the word here in Romans comes from an archery term meaning, ‘to miss the target’ or ‘to miss the mark’.[1] The word as it is applied in this context here refers to more of a status than a process.[2] Sin here is the already fired arrow having missed the mark. We have all sinned as we have missed the righteousness mark (Romans 6:16; cf. Romans 3:22-23). Righteousness for our purposes today we will simply define as being right with God.[3] Sin is having fallen short of this mark (this status).

We know also what wages are, right? Wages are what we are paid for what we do – often times in our culture this is represented by a paycheque. So then relating to our scripture today, what we earn by having missed the righteousness mark is death. The wages of sin is death. Doctrine 5 of The Salvation Army reads, ‘We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience [their sin] they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.’ The wages of sin is death.

The Apostle Paul expresses this idea in a number of different ways (cf. Romans 6:1-14, Romans 6:15-23, Romans 7:1-6).[4] Pertaining to the wages, which we are looking at today, he says in this analogy (Romans 6:15-23) that being neutral is not an option. Like a CFL (professional football) game that is already underway, you are either in the uniform of the Blue Bombers or of the Roughriders. The game is underway; no other players are on the field. You can play for one team or you can play for the other. No player on the field in neutral.

Expressed another way: unemployment is not an option. There are two competing companies in town and we have to work for one or the other of them. We can be employees (slaves/servants) of the Sin Company of which Adam, as the first to sin, is the CEO (Romans 6:21); or we can be employees of the Obedience Company, of which Christ, as the first fruits of the Resurrection, is the CEO (Romans 6:22). We can be employees (slaves/servants) of the Sin Company and receive as our pay, death (Romans 6:21); or we can be employees of the Obedience Company and receive as our pay, sanctification (NRSV, NIV: holiness; Romans 6:22; cf. TSA doc. 10). We can either choose sin and death or we can choose obedience and sanctification.
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Julie Arnold, a missionary from Swift Current Corps, visited today

2011-09-04T09:33:00.000-06:00

Julie Arnold: Enroute to Indonesia with NTMC Summer 2011

Recent Happenings

After three years of working at Millar College of the Bible (SK), I drove away on July 1st, laden with whatever earthly goods would fit in my car. I have enjoyed my time at Millar, working in the kitchen & doing some painting, but now I'm heading into the next state of this adventure!

Summer at Bible Camp

I plan to spend most of July & August at Round Lake Bible Camp (ON), which my parents direct. I am very excited to spend the whole summer there this year! July 3-29 are four weeks of girls' camps, during which I am slated to be a cabin leader for three weeks and chapel speaker for the week of July 10-15. Then we have three weeks of boys' camps from July 31-August 20, for which I plan to work in the kitchen. It will be a busy summer, but should be lots of fun and is definitely a great chance to impact kids & teens for Christ.

Preparations

This spring, I took a first aid course in preparation for a short medical module I plan to attend in October. I was also given the opportunity to share in my local church. It was really encouraging to see the interest the congregation is taking in my plans. In recent months, I have also had several financial gifts come in. This evidence of God's provision has also been a big encouragement!

Fall Travel & Share Plans

After camp is over, I plan to spend some time reconnecting with family & friends and sharing my vision for the future. I plan to head to Saskatchewan & Alberta in September, then southern Ontario in October. My goals during these months are to do some visiting before leaving the country, to raise support as I prepare to go, and to spread interest & enthusiasm for missions.

In the next few months I'll be setting up an itinerary, so if you would like to have me share with your church, Sunday School, Youth Group, Small Group, or family, please let me know--the sooner the better!

Praise God for...

- encouragement I have received!

- an excellent first week of camp!

Please Pray for...

- effective ministry at camp this summer: for joy, strength, wisdom & love

- details to come together for fall travels & speaking engagements

Thank you so much for your care & prayers!

Julie Arnold

New Contact Information: Julie Arnold RR 2 Kakabeka Falls, ON P0T 1W0 phone 807-475-9369

New Tribes Mission of Canada: NTMC Box 707 Durham, ON N0G 1R0

(cheques should be made out to NTMC with a separate note stating: "for the ministry of Julie Arnold")

Farewell to the Rapture!

2011-08-30T20:50:00.002-06:00

N.T. Wright, Bible Review, August 2001.
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Little did Paul know how his colorful metaphors for Jesus’ second coming would be misunderstood two millennia later.

The American obsession with the second coming of Jesus — especially with distorted interpretations of it — continues unabated. Seen from my side of the Atlantic, the phenomenal success of the Left Behind books appears puzzling, even bizarre[1]. Few in the U.K. hold the belief on which the popular series of novels is based: that there will be a literal “rapture” in which believers will be snatched up to heaven, leaving empty cars crashing on freeways and kids coming home from school only to find that their parents have been taken to be with Jesus while they have been “left behind.” This pseudo-theological version of Home Alone has reportedly frightened many children into some kind of (distorted) faith.

This dramatic end-time scenario is based (wrongly, as we shall see) on Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, where he writes: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first; then we, who are left alive, will be snatched up with them on clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
What on earth (or in heaven) did Paul mean?

It is Paul who should be credited with creating this scenario. Jesus himself, as I have argued in various books, never predicted such an event[2]. The gospel passages about “the Son of Man coming on the clouds” (Mark 13:26, 14:62, for example) are about Jesus’ vindication, his “coming” to heaven from earth. The parables about a returning king or master (for example, Luke 19:11-27) were originally about God returning to Jerusalem, not about Jesus returning to earth. This, Jesus seemed to believe, was an event within space-time history, not one that would end it forever.

The Ascension of Jesus and the Second Coming are nevertheless vital Christian doctrines[3], and I don’t deny that I believe some future event will result in the personal presence of Jesus within God’s new creation. This is taught throughout the New Testament outside the Gospels. But this event won’t in any way resemble the Left Behind account. Understanding what will happen requires a far more sophisticated cosmology than the one in which “heaven” is somewhere up there in our universe, rather than in a different dimension, a different space-time, altogether.

The New Testament, building on ancient biblical prophecy, envisages that the creator God will remake heaven and earth entirely, affirming the goodness of the old Creation but overcoming its mortality and corruptibility (e.g., Romans 8:18-27; Revelation 21:1; Isaiah 65:17, 66:22). When that happens, Jesus will appear within the resulting new world (e.g., Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2).

Paul’s description of Jesus’ reappearance in 1 Thessalonians 4 is a brightly colored version of what he says in two other passages, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 and Philippians 3:20-21: At Jesus’ “coming” or “appearing,” those who are still alive will be “changed” or “transformed” so that their mortal bodies will become incorruptible, deathless. This is all that Paul intends to say in Thessalonians, but here he borrows imagery—from biblical and political sources—to enhance his message. Little did he know how his rich metaphors would be misunderstood two millennia later.

First, Paul echoes the story of Moses coming down the mountain with the Torah. The trumpet sounds, a loud voice is heard, and after a long wait Moses comes to see what’s been going on in his absence.

Second, he echoes Daniel 7, in which “the people of the saints of the Most High” (that is, the “one like a son of man”) are vindicated over their pagan enemy by being raised up to sit with God in glory. This metaphor, applied to Jesus in the Gospels, is now applied to Christians who are suffering persecution.

Third, Paul conjures up images of an emperor visiting a colony or province. The citizens go out to meet him in open country and then escort him into the city. Paul’s image of the people “meeting the Lord in the air” should be read with the assumption that the people will immediately turn around and lead the Lord back to the newly remade world.

Paul’s mixed metaphors of trumpets blowing and the living being snatched into heaven to meet the Lord are not to be understood as literal truth, as the Left Behind series suggests, but as a vivid and biblically allusive description of the great transformation of the present world of which he speaks elsewhere.

Paul’s misunderstood metaphors present a challenge for us: How can we reuse biblical imagery, including Paul’s, so as to clarify the truth, not distort it? And how can we do so, as he did, in such a way as to subvert the political imagery of the dominant and dehumanizing empires of our world? We might begin by asking, What view of the world is sustained, even legitimized, by the Left Behind ideology? How might it be confronted and subverted by genuinely biblical thinking? For a start, is not the Left Behind mentality in thrall to a dualistic view of reality that allows people to pollute God’s world on the grounds that it’s all going to be destroyed soon? Wouldn’t this be overturned if we recaptured Paul’s wholistic vision of God’s whole creation?

http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_BR_Farewell_Rapture.htm

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[1] Tim F. Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Left Behind (Cambridge, UK: Tyndale House Publishing, 1996). Eight other titles have followed, all runaway bestsellers.
[2] See my Jesus and the Victory of God (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1996); the discussions in Jesus and the Restoration of Israel: A Critical Assessment of N.T. Wright’s Jesus and the Victory of God, ed. Carey C. Newman (Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999); and Marcus J. Borg and N.T. Wright, The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1999), chapters 13 and 14.
[3] Douglas Farrow, Ascension and Ecclesia: On the Significance of the Doctrine of the Ascension for Ecclesiology and Christian Cosmology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999).

reposted from an blog entry onthis site on Thursday, March 19, 2009

Galatians 3:19-25: Don’t be a McChicken

2011-08-30T13:47:00.000-06:00

One day at the McDonald farm there is a rumbling in the air; something is a foot. In the chicken coop something isn’t just quite right. The old farmer walks all around the chicken wire fence. It seems to be in tact. The barbed wire along the perimeter looks undisturbed. Everything looks fine as he locks up the hens for the night. But inside the henhouse on the top rung, something is stirring…it is Henrietta the poultry hen.

Now, as soon as Farmer McDonald closes the door to the coop, Henrietta the hen, speaks up: “It’s time.” Quickly Henrietta, Polly, Mick, and all the chickens on the top rung run to the southeast corner of the coop. They peck and they peck the ground in the corner like never before. Last night they had almost made it. Tonight would be the night. Finally – breakthrough! Henrietta and the other chickens are free. They are free from the farmer’s coop. They are free from the barbed wire and the chicken wire; they are free from the tedious ritual and routine. They are free!

They spend the next morning roaming around the yard, exploring the whole farm. They eat what they want, when then want. They can be near or wander far away. They talk. They talk and they talk some more: it’s a hen’s life. They spend that whole day walking around eating what and when they want and really enjoying the full freedom from the yard. At the end of the day, they perch on a branch of tree across the road from the farm and cuddle up for the night. It is good.

They have a nice rest but in the morning when they wake up, they notice something on the road: it is Mick the Chicken crossing the road. They wonder. Why did the chicken cross the road? Mick is walking back towards the farm.

Mick is walking back to the coop. She goes across the road, to the fence and through the same crack under the chicken wire fence. She walks around the corner and up the walkway onto her old bar in the farmer’s small, confining chicken coop. The farmer then notices the crack in the fence and repairs it quickly. Mick is trapped.

Henrietta can’t believe it. She sees the whole thing where she is sitting, still free, looking on from her perch on other side of the road. She sees Mick, of her own accord, trapped all over again on the farm.

Mick was free and then she just goes back to be trapped all over again and it is even worse then she thought at first. As Henrietta scans the farm and hears the noises: here a cluck, there a cluck everywhere a cluck, cluck. She remembers, Mick the Chicken is on McDonald’s farm. The Mick Chicken is back at MacDonald’s! And you know what happens to McChickens at McDonald’s.^[1]They get eaten. Mick is trapped.

And this is just like the Galatians to whom Paul writes his letter: the Galatians have become just as trapped by the Law of the Old Covenant – the way they used to do things between the Exodus and Resurrection - as Mick the chicken is by McDonalds. And Paul is quite concerned.

Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Don't be a McChicken: Covenant and Galatians 3:19-25' in the Journal of Aggressive Christianity Issue 67 (June - July, 2010), pp. 35-38. Available on-line:

http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article10-67.html

Captain Michael Ramsay 'Galatians 3:19-25: Don't be a McChicken...' Presented to Nipawin Corps on January 20, 2008 and to Tisdale Corps on January 27, 2008. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/01/galatians-319-25-dont-be-mcchicken.html

COVENANT PART 4: The Apostle Paul's Understanding of the Nature and Function of the Law

2011-08-16T08:53:00.002-06:00

This is the fourth of four postings on Paul's understanding of covenant and the Law as recorded in Romans Chapters 1 and 2

Paul’s understanding of the nature and function of the Law are important to comprehend in order to fully appreciate Pauline theology. Paul believed that as the promise was given to the Jews - though not to them exclusively and that it was even many years prior to the existence of either Jacob or the Jewish people (Galatians 3:17; Romans 4:13; cf. Genesis 12:3; Acts 2:23-25) - so too the Law applied equally to both Jew and Gentile in that God would not treat the sins of the Jews significantly different from those of the Gentiles (Romans 2:14-16; 3:27-31): this was indeed contrary to popular Jewish understanding.[1] The Law in no way superseded the covenant promise (Galatians 3:17).

It is in verses 2:12-16 where Paul introduces ‘the Law’ in his letter to the Romans, making it clear that it is not those who hear the Law but rather those who obey the Law who are justified (v.13). Verse 12 records that everyone will be judged and, “All who have sinned apart from the Law will perish apart from the Law and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law (2:12, cf. 2:1).” The Law will be the meter for measurement for those under it.

In Romans 2:14-15, the Gentile responsibility in relation to the Law is mentioned: even they, who do not have the Law, are able to do what the Law requires as much as anyone else is for it is written on their hearts. On the day of judgement the conscience of both the Jew and the Gentile will bear witness and their own thoughts will either accuse or excuse them before the Lord (2:14-16; cf. 3:27-31).

The problem is though that no one will be declared righteous under the Law (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16, 21; 3:11, cf. 3:2). No one can perfectly obey to the Law (cf. Romans 2:3, 14-15, 17-26; 3:29-31; 9:20). Those then that attempt to obtain righteousness through an adherence to the Law will fail and thus be under a curse (Galatians 3:10; cf. Deuteronomy 27:26). However, as many scholars have pointed out, the Law demands faithfulness, not sinless perfection[2] and Paul's position is that his gospel upholds and is supported by the Law[3] (Romans 3.31; cf. Matthew 5:17).

“Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the Law; but if you break the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the Law, will not their uncircumcision be regard as circumcision? (Romans 2:25-26).” In Romans 2:25-29, two groups of people are being addressed. This is relevant to an understanding of the nature and function of the Law: The first group is comprised of Jews who do not keep the Law (cf. vv 25, 26, 27). The other is comprised of either Christian Gentiles (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:3) or non-believing Gentiles.

N.T. Wright argues, “that in 2.25-9 Paul is principally describing the contrast between the Jew who breaks the Law and the Gentile Christian who apparently ‘keeps’ or ‘fulfills’ the Law. Such a person has somehow been included in the ‘new covenant’ category, designated simply as ‘Jew’ and ‘circumcision.’”[4]

Paul J. Achtemeier conversely claims that “the fact that the context is dominated by appearance, or claims, and reality make it more likely that he does in fact have the Gentiles, not Gentile Christians, in mind…he is arguing that such Gentiles are capable of doing some of the things the Law requires”[5] Since they who have not been given the Law are capable of obeying parts of it and the Jews who have been given the Law are not able to obey all of it, Paul is pointing to the fact a Jewish claim to any exclusivity on the basis of the content of their Law must contend with the fact that many of the virtues commanded in the Law are practiced by other people as well. As that is the case, it is what one does, rather than what one has in relation to the Law that is important.[6]

James Dunn, along the same lines as Wright, argues that the references to judgement in the context of Romans 2 are probably temporal and eschatological (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:3) and as such the Gentiles in question are most likely Christians. Though he disagrees with Achtemeier as to whom the passage is referring, it is interesting that he reaches a similar conclusion about the passage’s meaning, stating, “the point here is that the Jew who truly approves of the business of the Law (Romans 2:15) should recognize the acceptability to God of those who meet the demands of the Law. Such…was surely in reality the equivalent in God’s eyes to the full member of the covenant people (cf. Romans 2:13).”[7] The Gentile has obtained equivalent status to the Jew. They are on equal footing: on the day of judgement, the conscience of both the Jew and the Gentile will bear witness and their own thoughts will either accuse or excuse them before the Lord (Romans 2:14-16).

In Romans 2:29, Paul refers to a spiritual circumcision of the heart (cf., Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; 9:25, 26). Physical circumcision is only valuable if you obey the Law. Paul argues that God “will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the Law (Romans 2:27; cf. Galatians 3:10).” The apostle Paul, later in his letter to the Romans, cites Moses: “Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the Law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them’ (Romans 10:5).” The Gentiles are now grafted into the vine; therefore, as James Dunn argues, “to continue to identify the point of the Law with Israel as a national entity (clearly distinguished from other nations by circumcision) was actually to prevent God’s purpose in the Law attaining fulfilment.”[8]

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he states clearly that, pertaining to relying on the Law and a physical circumcision that “if you let yourself be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you…every man who lets himself be circumcised…is obliged to obey the entire Law. You who want to be justified by the Law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace (Galatians 5:2-5).” No one is justified by the Law (Galatians 3:11).

Romans 2:17-24 further addresses the Law and the Jews relationship to it. Paul responds to a Jewish claim that they can know God’s will and determine what is best because they are instructed in the Law (Romans 2:18) and that they are “a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and truth (Romans 2:19-20).” Paul makes the point that the Jews are not better or more knowledgeable than others. He does this through a series of five rhetorical questions pertaining to various sins that illuminate the hypocrisy of the claim. The essence of these questions can be summed up with “How can one claim to be a teacher of a Law when one does not obey the Law oneself (cf. Romans 2.1)?” N.T. Wright goes as far as to claim that “if the covenant was put in place to deal with evil in the world (this is the presupposition Paul shares with his imaginary opponent in Romans 2:17-24), then the failure of the covenant people to be the light of the world means that the covenant itself seems to be under threat.”[9]

Paul addresses this idea in his letter to the Galatians. As recorded in chapter three, he asks if the Law is indeed opposed to the promises of God (Galatians 3:21)? He responds, “Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the Law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe (Galatians 3:21-22).”

Paul is recorded as asking and answering, “Why then the Law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator (Galatians 3:19).” Now, however, “There is no longer Jew nor Greek, there is no longer slave nor free, there is no longer male nor female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:28-29).”

The Law reveals that we are guilty of sin (Romans 2:1, 17-24; 3:19). One can neither rely on the Law (Romans 2:17) nor condemn others by it, as one will not stand justified before it oneself (Romans 2:2; 3:19-20). Both the Jew and the Gentile stand on equal footing before the Law. The Law and “the works of Torah, that is, those practices which mark Israel out from among the nations, cannot be the means of demarcating the true covenant people; they merely point up the fact of sin (3:20, looking back to 2:17-24 and on to 5:20 and 7:7-25). Instead, the covenant faithfulness of the creator of the world is revealed through the faithfulness of Jesus, the Messiah, for the benefit of all, Jew and Gentile alike, who believe.”[10]

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[1] Douglas J. Moo, The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT 6: Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), 126. Cf. also NT Wright, The Letter to the Romans (NIB 10: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1995), 440, where he acknowledges that God’s national impartiality was not totally unconsidered in Jewish tradition.
[2] Timothy G. Gombis “The 'Transgressor' and the 'Curse of the Law': The Logic of Paul's Argument in Galatians 2-3.” New Testament Studies 53, 81-93. (Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2007), 83, see also Norman H. Young, 'Who's Cursed - and Why? (Galatians 3.10-14)'~ JBL 117 (1998) 79-92, 82-3; Wright, The Climax of the Covenant, 140, 147; Michael Cranford, 'The Possibility of Perfect Obedience: Paul and an Implied Premise in Galatians 3.10 and 5.3'. NovT 36 (1994) 242-58, 244-5, 248; James M. Scott, '"For as Many as are of Works of the Law are Under a Curse" (Galatians 3.10)' Paul and the Scriptures of Israel (ed. C. A. Evans and J. A. Sanders; Sheffield: JSOT, 1993) 187-221,189; Richard B. Hays, 'Galatians', The New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 11 (ed.L. E. Keck et al; Nashville: Abingdon, 2000) 181-348,257.
[3] Timothy G. Gombis, p. 85.
[4] NT Wright, “The Law in Romans 2,” 136.
[5] Paul J. Achtemeier, Romans. Interpretation: (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1985), 51.
[6] Ibid.
[7] James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8 (WBC 38A: Word Books: Dallas, Texas, 1988), 122.
[8] Ibid., 123.
[9] N.T. Wright, “Romans and the Theology of Paul,” Pauline Theology, Volume III, ed. David M. Hay & E. Elizabeth Johnson, (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995): 37.
[10] N.T. Wright, “Romans and the Theology of Paul,” p. 37.

COVENANT PART 3 (The Good News of Romans: Paul and the Gospel and Salvation, Romans 1:16-17)

2011-08-16T08:52:00.002-06:00

It is my intention in this paper to build upon the framework that I laid in my previous two papers: Paul and the Human Condition as reflected in Romans 1:18-32 and 2:1-16 and Paul’s Understanding of the Role of Law as Reflected in Romans 2:12-16, 17-24, and 25-29. Paul’s understanding of the gospel and salvation is very closely related to both his understanding of the Law and of the human condition.

Paul’s letter to the Romans was written in the mid-to-late 50s and is addressed to a Gentile dominated church.[1] In the mid-to-late 50s, Rome was by far the Mediterranean world’s dominant power and Nero was the Roman Emperor (54-68 AD, Proconsul since 51AD). Immediately prior to this time, in 49 AD, Nero’s predecessor, Claudius had banished the Jews from Rome. The remaining Christians then would be non-Jews. When Nero officially ascended the throne in 54, many of the Jewish Christians returned. Things had changed[2] and this was the historical context of Paul’s letter.

Paul’s letter to the Romans is clearly an important work. N.T. Wright claims that “Romans is neither a systematic theology nor a summary of Paul’s lifework, but it is by common consent his masterpiece.”[3] Pertaining to the theme of Romans, I have to acknowledge that, as Douglas Moo warns, “we must be careful not to impose on Romans a single theme when Paul may never have thought in those terms…a theme that fits 1:16-11:36 may not fit the whole.”[4]

I would argue, however, that if these verses do not convey the theme of the entire letter, they certainly do reflect Paul’s understanding of salvation. It is significant that immediately prior to the sections of Romans that I examined in my earlier papers (1:18-32; 2:1-16,12-16, 17-24, 25-29) -where Paul introduces his understanding of the Law and the human condition to his readers- he is recorded as stating, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God (dikaiosynē theou) is revealed through faith for faith (ek pisteos eis pistin); as it is written, ‘the one who is righteous (dikaios) will live by [or ‘out of’] faith (ek pisteōs)’ (1:16-17).” I would argue, then, that Paul’s understanding of the human condition and the Law, as expressed in Romans, should be interpreted in light of this gospel of salvation. Drawing on my previous work and citing other pertinent sections of Paul’s letter to the Romans, I will focus on the gospel and salvation according to Paul in his letter to the Romans, as reflected in Chapter 1:16-17.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel…

Verse 16 records Paul’s declaration that he is not ashamed of the gospel. It is likely that there is a connection here with Jesus’ claims that if one is ashamed of him, then the “Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory (Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; cf. also Pss 31:1-3; 71:1-2; 143:1).” The word ‘gospel’ is a rendering of the Greek word euangelion, which means ‘good news’ or ‘good message’ (cf. Isa 40:9, 52:7). “The gospel is not merely the initial proclamation of Christ which wins converts, but is the whole Christian message and claim in terms of the rest of the letter.”[5] For Paul, “the gospel was the sovereign message, from none other than God, concerning Jesus the Messiah, God’s unique Son…[It is] news that Jesus had become the spearhead of God’s ‘age to come;’ news that, within this new age, the principalities and powers…and sin and death themselves had been defeated and were now summoned to allegiance.”[6] Paul here is making a clear reference to his earlier statements in the prologue to his letter to the Romans. He states in the salutation, 1:1-7 (which is one very long sentence in the NRSV translation):

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this opening statement, Paul clearly links this gospel of God (v.1) with the good news of Jesus (v.3) who is descended from David (the anticipated human lineage of the Messiah or ‘Son of Man’) and declared to be the Son of God.[7] Paul declares that he was specifically set apart for this gospel (v.1) which was promised beforehand (v.2) and is now revealed. It is in this gospel that the power for salvation is declared as a result of the resurrection (1:4, 16; cf. 1Cor 15:1-5, 17-22).

Verse 16 also relates to Paul’s statements in the thanksgiving section of the prologue (vv. 8-15), where Paul argues that through mentioning this gospel of God’s Son, he is actually doing a service for God with his spirit (v. 9) and, as such, he is indeed eager to render this service by proclaiming this gospel (v. 15; cf. 15:16).

In Romans 2:14-16, Paul refers to this gospel of which he is not ashamed as being written on people’s hearts in a probable reference to the new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34.[8] There it is recorded that the Law will be ‘written on the hearts of the Israelites.’ Paul alludes to the good news of Genesis 12:3: the promise to Abraham that he will be a blessing, which is now fulfilled, for all nations of the earth (cf. 2:15; 4:13, 16-17; 9:7-8; 10:12-13; Gal 3:6-9). This gospel proclaims the good news that on the day of judgement, the conscience of both the Jew and the Gentile will bear witness and their own thoughts will either accuse or excuse them before the Lord (2:15). There are a number of other direct references to this euangelion throughout the letter to the Romans (cf. 11:28). Most of them specifically relate to Paul’s duty and ambition to proclaim this gospel (15:16,19,20) “that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedient faith (16:15).” This indeed is good news of which he is not ashamed.

…it is the power of God for Salvation…

The term translated ‘salvation’ has a range of meaning from ‘bodily health, preservation, and safety (cf. e.g., Mark 5:23,28,34; 6:56; 10:52; Acts 27:34), to – as is frequently the case in the Psalms and Isaiah - deliverance from peril and restoration to wholeness. God’s righteousness here is linked with the provided salvation. (cf. e.g., Pss 35:27-28; 72:1-4; 85:9-13; 96:13; 98:2-3, 9; Isa 9:7; 11:1-2; 45:8, 22-25; 51:5-6; 53:10b-11; 61:1-2, 11; Jer 23:5-6; Mal 4:2). “In other Psalm texts, it is surely striking that the psalmist prays for the Lord to deliver him in his righteousness (Ps 31:1; 143:1, 11; 71:1-2, 15; cf. 79:9). In these instances, deliverance from the enemy is the godly person’s salvation.”[9] In Paul’s understanding this salvation is “primarily eschatological, a hope for the future, deliverance from final destruction, the end product for God’s good purpose for humanity (see particularly 5:9-10; 13:11; 1 Cor 13:15; 5:5; Phil 2:12; 1 Thess 5:8-9).”[10]

Good news is the power (dynamis) of God for this salvation (see also 11:23). It is contrasted with the Law and its powerlessness to save (8:3) and the weakness of our state as sinners when Christ died for us (5:6-8). God’s power (cf. 9:19-22) has been understood and seen through the things He has made from the time of creation itself (1:19-20). It is by power that God has kept His promises to Abraham (4:13-22; Gen 12:3), defeated Pharaoh (9:17; Exod 5-14), and it is through the power of His Spirit that He enabled Paul to proclaim the gospel (15:19-20) and us to abound in hope (15:13).

It is this same power that Christ has and that was used to raise Christ from the dead (1:4). This is significant, for it is the act of the resurrection that showed Paul that Jesus is indeed the Messiah and the Son of God. False Messiahs were not unheard of at this time in history and a strong indication of the falsity of their claim would be their death – especially on a tree (cf. Gal 3:13) at the hands of Israel’s occupier.

The phrase ‘in power’ in Verse 4 then is important for, as Dunn argues, it indicates “Christ’s divine son-ship (v.3) had been ‘upgraded’ or ‘enhanced’ by the resurrection, so that he shared more fully in the power of God[11]…able to act on and through people in the way Paul implies elsewhere (e.g., 8:10; 1 Cor 15:45; Gal 2:20; Col 2:6-7)…The full extent of God’s purpose could only be realized through Jesus as Messiah (of Israel) risen from the dead to become the Son of God in power (for all).”[12]

Dynamis “seems to refer to both the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead (cf. 1 Cor 6:14; 15:24, 43; 2 Cor 13:4; Eph 1:19-10; Phil 3:10) and thereby declared his identity as Messiah, and to the powerful nature of his son-ship, through which he confronts all the powers of the world, up to and including death itself, with the news of a different and more effective type of power altogether. Paul, of course sees this same power at work now, by the Spirit, through the proclamation of the gospel and in the lives of those who are ‘in the Messiah’ (see, e.g., 1:16; 11:23; 15:13; 1 Cor 1:24; 2:4-5).”[13] This salvation then is by the power of God’s gospel and this is indeed good news.

…to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek…

Everyone -whether Jew or Gentile- stands equally before God. “Contrary to popular Jewish belief, the sins of the Jews will not be treated by God significantly different from those of the Gentiles.”[14] The Jews will be judged just as the Gentiles will be judged: “All who have sinned apart from the law will perish apart from the law (cf. 1:20-21), and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law (2:12, cf. 2:1),” for even the Gentiles who do not have the law are able to do what the law requires for it is written on their hearts (1:14) but, as Paul argues elsewhere in Romans, neither is truly able to do the Law (Torah) perfectly (cf. 2:3; 14-15, 17-26, 3:29-31).

The equality of the Gentile to the Jew before God, as expressed by Paul in Romans in no way negates the primacy of the Jews (cf. 11:7, 11). It was only “through their stumbling [that] salvation has come to the Gentiles…Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! (11:12-13).” In chapters nine through eleven of Romans, Paul goes into great detail about Israel’s election (9:4-18), rejection (10:1-4, 21; 11:15, 28), and future acceptance of the gospel of salvation (11:1-11, 23-36). Now “even those of Israel if they do not persist in unbelief [or rejection of the gospel], will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again (11:23).” Salvation then comes ‘to everyone who has faith, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.’

…For in it the righteousness of God…

Paul is arguing in Romans that through the gospel, the righteousness of God (dikaiosynē theou) is revealed (cf. 1:17; 3:5, 21, 22, 25, 26 10:3). Righteousness is not from the Law (3:21) and we are not inherently righteous (10:3; cf. Isa 46:12; Deut 9:6). This righteousness is sometimes called a ‘faith righteousness’ separate from works[15] (1:17; 3:21, 22; 10:4, 6). It relates to the reason why the gospel contains the power that it does. It is not referring to the Divine faithfulness to ethnic Israel, it instead refers to the fact that, in Jesus the Messiah, the covenant purpose of God for Israel was finally fulfilled; Israel was elected to bear the creator’s saving purposes for the whole world.[16] The concept is not merely individualistic; it has a corporate and even a global side.

Any righteousness that we do display comes directly from God (3:22, 24; 10:3; cf. 5:19; Psalm 72:11; Isa 46:13; Isa 61:10; Joel 2:23) for it is God who is righteous[17] (3:5; cf. Psalm 35:24; 48:10; 50:6; 51:14; 65:5; 71:19; Isa 5:16). And as such, we cannot obtain righteousness by either merit or the Law (3:21) so we should submit ourselves to God in order to be instruments of His righteousness (6:13). We do not need to be slaves to sin (6:16-18) which leads to death. But rather we are free to present our “members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification (6:19).” We have been freed from sin and enslaved to God. The gift that we receive is eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (6:22-23).”

…is revealed through faith for faith…

The salvific righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel itself. It is revealed ‘through faith for faith’, or ‘out of faith into faith’ (ek pisteos eis pistin). These words in 1:17 have been understood to mean the growth in faith ‘from the faithfulness of God to the faithfulness of believers,’[18] ‘out of the faith of Jesus and into the faith of believers’[19] or even ‘from the faithfulness of God to the faith of believers.’[20] Just as righteousness is from God so is faith or faithfulness (4:20, 12:3; Eph 2:8; James 2:5; 2 Pet 1:1; cf. Heb 12:2). It is God’s faithfulness that makes possible our faith or faithfulness. Paul states, as recorded in 3:3-4, ‘‘What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true…’’ This is important to bear in mind as one reads further into 3: 21-26:

But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ or all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

It is significant that ‘faith in Jesus’ in this passage can also be interpreted as the faithfulness of Jesus. This, I submit, makes sense from the perspective of 1:17 and 3:3-4. Prior to the above passage (3:21-26), Paul had just finished making his case that our faithlessness can in no way nullify the faithfulness of God (3:4-5); therefore it follows that, as it is the righteousness of God rather than the righteousness of the works of humankind; so, also it is the faith or faithfulness of Christ (cf. Heb 3:6, 12:2) – as Paul himself makes clear earlier in the chapter (3:4-5) – rather than that of ourselves that provides salvation. Redemption is in Jesus (v.24) whom God offered as a sacrifice of atonement (v.25). It is by his grace as a gift (v.24), rather than anything to be obtained by our works of faith; it is from the faithfulness of God to the faith and subsequent faithfulness of believers: the power of the salvific righteousness of God is experienced in the gospel, ‘through faith for faith.’

…as it is written, ‘the one who is righteous will live by faith’
It is then the one who is righteous who will live by faith. And this faith is both, as Dunn declares, “the initial act of receiving the gospel and the continuing process toward salvation.”[21] Faith is a result of righteousness (3:22; 4:5, 9,11,13; 9:30; 10:6) and righteousness is from God (3:22, 24; 10:3, 17; cf. 5:19; Psalm 72:11; Isa 46:13; Isa 61:10; Joel 2:23) for it is God who is righteous (3:5; cf. Psalm 35:24; 48:10; 50:6; 51:14; 65:5; 71:19; Isa 5:16) and it is His righteousness that enables us to be righteous, just as it is Christ’s faithfulness that enables us to live by faith.

Conclusion

Read in the context of the entire letter of Romans, Paul’s concept of the gospel and salvation is reflected succinctly in Romans 1:16-17. Paul is not ashamed of the good message of Jesus and God. This good news has the power of God for the salvation of everyone with faith. Salvation was provided through - and first to - the Jew. It was extended to the Gentile: all may be saved. God’s righteousness – not ours – is revealed in this good news through faith for faith. And as a result of the gospel power of the resurrection, God’s righteousness, and faithfulness, we can experience righteousness, come to and continue in faith. God, through His righteousness and faithfulness, has already provided for the salvation of everyone and this is indeed good news.

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[1] James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8 (WBC 38A: Word Books: Dallas, Texas, 1988), xiv.

[2] N.T. Wright, “Romans and the Theology of Paul,” Pauline Theology, Volume III, ed. David M. Hay & E. Elizabeth Johnson, (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995): 38-39.

[3] N.T. Wright, The Letter to the Romans (NIB 10: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1995), 395.

[4] Douglas J. Moo, The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT 6: Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), 24.

[5] James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8, p. 47.

[6] N.T. Wright, The Letter to the Romans, p. 427.

[7] Ibid., 416: Others have been referred to as ‘sons of God’ in the scriptures: angels (Gen 6:2; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Dan3:25), Israel (Exod 4:22; Jer 31:9; Hos 11:1; 13:13: Mal 1:6), the seed as David (1 Sam 7:14; 1 Cor 7:13; Pss 2:7; 89:26-27) and “Paul, in fact, lived in a moment of transition in the history of this phrase and helped it on its way to subsequent development.”

[8] Cf. for a different opinion, Everett H. Harrison, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Romans/Exposition of Romans/III. The Need for Salvation: The Plight of Mankind (1:18-3:20)/B. Principles of Judgment (2:1-16), Book Version: 4.0.2: “This ought not to be confused with the promise of the law written in the heart as depicted in Jeremiah 31:33, because if that were the case, as Nygren observes, Gentiles "would indeed have the law, and that in a more intimate way than the Jew had it" (in loc.).”

[9] Don Garlington, “A ‘New Perspective’ Reading of Central Texts in Romans 1-4,” Prepared for Evangelical Theological Society: 15 August 2006. Cited 20 02 2007. Online: http://www.thepaulpage.com/Rom1-4.pdf.12.

[10] James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8, p. 39.

[11] See Mark 13:32 where Jesus claims his own knowledge as less than his Father’s prior to his death and resurrection. Also see Mark 6:5, where it is claimed that under the circumstances, “he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.” This should not be explained away entirely either by the other two gospel accounts.

[12] James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8, p. 14.

[13] N.T. Wright, The Letter to the Romans, pp. 418-419.

[14] Douglas J. Moo, p. 126., cf. also N.T. Wright, The Letter to the Romans, p. 440, where he acknowledges that God’s national impartiality was not totally unconsidered in Jewish tradition.

[15] John Reumann, “Righteousness (NT),” in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Volume 6. ed. David Noel Freedman, 1st ed. (New York, New York: Doubleday, 1992), 764-765.

[16] N.T. Wright, “Romans and the Theology of Paul,” p. 65.

[17] John Reumann, p. 765: ‘One can view the ‘righteousness of God’ (8 of the 9 or 10 occurrences of dikaiosynē theou in Paul occur in Romans), especially the four examples in 3:21-26, as the basis for the entire letter, or at least 1:16-5:21.’

[18] Ibid., 765

[19] Roy Jeal

[20] James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8, p. 48, claims that Paul’s ambiguity as to whether faith or faithfulness is an intentional feature of Paul’s letter.

[21] Ibid., 49.

COVENANT PART 2 (Paul’s Understanding of the Role of Law as Reflected in Romans 2:12-16, 17-24, and 25-29)

2011-08-16T08:51:00.002-06:00

I chose to examine Paul’s understanding of the Law as he explains it in Romans 2:12-16, 17-24, and 25-29. This paper is a natural continuation of the work I previously completed entitled Paul and the Human Condition as reflected in Romans 1:18-32 and 2:1-16. As such I will forego much of the ‘introductory issues’ pertaining to Romans itself. This paper, as well as being a continuation of the previous one, does contain some valuable overlap. I submit also that the passages in Romans 2 that will be examined here contain some notable, albeit not infrequently overlooked information about Paul’s understanding of the Law.[1] N.T. Wright, in his article The Law in Romans 2, claims that “Romans 2, for so long the Achilles heel of schemes on Paul and the Law, may make a vital contribution to some eventual solutions, both to the theological questions which surround all of Paul’s writings and, of course, to the exegesis of Romans itself.”[2]

It is in verse 9 actually that ‘the Jew’ is mentioned for the first time. This is important for “contrary to popular Jewish belief, the sins of the Jews will not be treated by God significantly different from those of the Gentiles.”[3] It is verses 12-16 though where Paul introduces ‘the Law’ in Romans making it clear that it is not those who hear the Law but rather those who obey the Law that are justified (v.13). Verse 12 records that everyone will be judged and, “All who have sinned apart from the Law will perish apart from the Law and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law (2:12, cf. 2:1).” The Law will be the meter for measurement for those under it.

Verses 14 and 15 are important for contained therein is the Gentile responsibility in relation to the Law: even the Gentiles who do not have the Law are able to do what the Law requires for it is written on their hearts. On the day of judgement the conscience of both the Jew and the Gentile will bear witness and their own thoughts will either accuse or excuse them before the Lord (2:14-16). These verses contain an obvious reference to the new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34 where it is recorded that the Law will be ‘written on the hearts of the Israelites’ but even more than that, it is reference to the good news of Genesis 12:3: the promise to Abraham that he will be a blessing has been fulfilled for all nations of the earth.

Verses 17-24 speak of the Law and the Jews relationship to it. Paul addresses a Jewish claim that they can ‘know [God’s] will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the Law (v.18)” and that they are “a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and truth (19-20).” He refutes this, emphasising his point through a series of five rhetorical questions pertaining to various sins that illuminate the hypocrisy of the claim. The essence of these questions can be summed up with “How can one claim to be a teacher of a Law when one does not obey the Law oneself (cf. 2.1)?” N.T. Wright goes as far as to claim that “if the covenant was put in place to deal with evil in the world (this is the presupposition Paul shares with his imaginary opponent in 2:17-24), then the failure of the covenant people to be the light of the world means that the covenant itself seems to be under threat.”[4]

Verses 25-29 speak specifically about circumcision and Law. Two groups of people are being addressed but exactly to whom the passage is referring is not entirely clear. The identity of the first person referred to here is clearer than that of the second. The first is a Jew who does not keep the Law (cf. vv 25, 26, 27). It is the second person whose identification is somewhat ambiguous. Is the contrasting person a Christian (cf. 1 Cor. 6:3) or a non-believing Gentile?

N.T. Wright puts forth a lengthy argument in favour of the idea that the Gentile is indeed a Christian. He concludes, “that in 2.25-9 Paul is principally describing the contrast between the Jew who breaks the Law and the Gentile Christian who apparently ‘keeps’ or ‘fulfills’ the Law. Such a person has somehow been included in the ‘new covenant’ category, designated simply as ‘Jew’ and ‘circumcision.’”[5]

Paul J. Achtemeier conversely claims that “the fact that the context is dominated by appearance, or claims, and reality make it more likely that he does in fact have the Gentiles, not Gentile Christians, in mind…he is arguing that such Gentiles are capable of doing some of the things the Law requires”[6] Since they who have not been given the Law are capable of obeying parts of it and the Jews who have been given the Law are not able to obey all of it, “what Paul is pointing to is simply the fact that the claim of the Jews to any exclusiveness on the basis of the content of their Law must reckon with the fact that many of the virtues commanded in the Law are also practiced by other people. Since that is the case, it is what one does, not what one has that is important.”[7]

Dunn, along the same lines as Wright, argues that the references to judgement here are probably temporal and eschatological (cf. 1 Cor. 6:3) and as such the Gentiles in question are most likely Christians. Though he disagrees with Achtemeier as to whom the passage is referring, it is interesting that he reaches a similar conclusion about the passage’s meaning, stating, “the point here is that the Jew who truly approves of the business of the Law (v.15) should recognize the acceptability to God of those who meet the demands of the Law. Such…was surely in reality the equivalent in God’s eyes to the full member of the covenant people (cf. 2:13).”[8] The Gentile has obtained equivalent status to the Jew. They are on equal footing: on the day of judgement, the conscience of both the Jew and the Gentile will bear witness and their own thoughts will either accuse or excuse them before the Lord (2:14-16).

Pertaining to the spiritual circumcision, “there was plenty of background for Paul’s appeal for circumcision of the heart (e.g., Deut. 30:6; Jer. 4:4; 9:25, 26).”[9] Paul points out that circumcision is only valuable if you obey the Law and he has already argued that the Jews are not obeying the Law and thus “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (v.24; cf. Isaiah 52:5).” What of the uncircumcised Gentile who obeys the Law? Paul says that he “will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the Law (v. 27).” The Gentiles are grafted into the vine; therefore, “to continue to identify the point of the Law with Israel as a national entity (clearly distinguished from other nations by circumcision) was actually to prevent God’s purpose in the Law attaining fulfilment. This has been Paul’s critique consistently throughout the chapter.”[10]

The role of Law is to reveal how we are guilty of sin (cf. 2:1, 17-24; 3:19). One can neither rely on the Law (2:17) nor condemn others by it, as one will not stand justified before it oneself (2:2; cf. 3:19-20). It is the ‘doing’ rather than the receiving of the Law that reveals that one is justified (2:13-14,18, 25-26). Both Jew and Gentile, the latter not being recipients of the Law, are equally able to ‘do’ or ‘not do’ the Law (cf. 2:3, 14-15, 17-14, 25-26, 3:19-31). Further, if indeed it were possible for him not to transgress the Law (cf. 3:20), the Gentile would stand in judgement of the Jew who did receive it (contrast 2:1-3). At the conclusion of the second chapter of Romans, it is clear that the Jew and the Gentile stand on equal footing before the Law. The Law and “the works of Torah, that is, those practices which mark Israel out from among the nations, cannot be the means of demarcating the true covenant people; they merely point up the fact of sin (3:20, looking back to 2:17-24 and on to 5:20 and 7:7-25). Instead, the covenant faithfulness of the creator of the world is revealed through the faithfulness of Jesus, the Messiah, for the benefit of all, Jew and Gentile alike, who believe.”[11]

http://www.sheepspeak.com/

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[1] NT Wright, “The Law in Romans 2,” Paul and the Mosaic Law, ed. James D. G. Dunn (WUNT 89; Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 1996), republished with English translations of German essays (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001): 131

[2] Ibid.

[3] Douglas J. Moo, The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT 6: Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), 126. Cf. also NT Wright, The Letter to the Romans (NIB 10: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1995), 440, where he acknowledges that God’s national impartiality was not totally unconsidered in Jewish tradition.

[4] N.T. Wright, “Romans and the Theology of Paul,” Pauline Theology, Volume III, ed. David M. Hay & E. Elizabeth Johnson, (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995): 37.

[5] NT Wright, “The Law in Romans 2,” 136.

[6] Paul J. Achtemeier, Romans. Interpretation: (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1985), 51.

[7] Ibid.

[8] James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8 (WBC 38A: Word Books: Dallas, Texas,

COVENANT PART 1 (Paul and the Human Condition as reflected in Romans 1:18-32 and 2:1-16)

2011-08-16T08:50:00.003-06:00

“Romans is neither a systematic theology nor a summary of Paul’s lifework, but it is by common consent his masterpiece”[1] – N.T. Wright.

Introduction

Paul’s letter to the Romans was written in the mid to late 50s[2] and is addressed to Gentiles.[3] In the mid to late 50s, Rome was by far the Mediterranean world’s dominant power and Nero was the Roman Emperor (54-68 AD, Proconsul since 51AD).

Pertaining to the theme of Romans and not wanting to devote an excessive amount of space to introductory issues, I have to acknowledge that “we must be careful not to impose on Romans a single theme when Paul may never have thought in those terms…a theme that fits 1:16-11:36 may not fit the whole.”[4] In contrast to this difficulty, “the easiest thing to determine about Romans is its basic shape. Its four sections emerge clearly: chaps. 1-4, 5-8, 9-11, and 12-16.”[5] Chapters 1-4 can be broken down into 1:18-3:20 and 3:21-4:25,[6] and 1:18-3:20 can further be divided into 1:18-32; 2:1-16, 17-29; 3:9-20, 21-26 and 3:27-4:25.[7] For the purposes of this paper, I will examine Paul’s understanding of the human condition as it is related in Romans 1:18-32 and 2:1-16.

Romans 1: 18-32

The section begins with Paul acknowledging the human condition of those who “by their wickedness [asebeia] suppress the truth (1:18).” This is significant. Their condition is stated as receiving the wrath of God for good reason: Paul points out that the truth they are suppressing must be plain to them for God, himself, has shown it to them (1:19) through the evidence of His creation. Ever since the beginning of the world, God’s power and nature have been understood (v.20).

Though this truth was revealed to them, they neither honoured God nor gave Him the thanks He deserves; rather ‘claiming to be wise they became fools’ in that they abandoned the glory of the creator so that they might worship the image of the created (cf. Psalm 106:20). It is because they, without any good excuse, disregarded the truth and followed this lie that “God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity (v.24).” The human condition here is, by way of denying the obvious truth, one of rebellion against God.

Much could be written on the lists included in vv.26-31. What is significant for our purposes here is that God gave the truth-deniers up to their “unnatural” (para physin) passions (v.26): they had intercourse with people of the same gender and “received in their own persons the due penalty for their error (v.27).”[8] Further, “since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind (v.28):” they were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, gossip, slander, God-hatred, insolence, haughtiness, boastfulness, inventing evil, rebellion against parents, foolishness, faithlessness, heartlessness, and ruthlessness (vv.29-31; cf. 2 Tim 3:2,3). This is the general human condition of the truth-deniers while acknowledging that “sinful man is capable of committing all of them [these sins], but not every individual is necessarily guilty of every one.”[9] These truth-deniers, Paul asserts, are aware that they deserve to die for participating in these things and that they not only partake of these actions but also encourage others to indulge in the very same acts. The result, then, of disregarding the truth about the divine nature and eternal power of God is to be given over to these unnatural desires and to act upon a debased mind; this is the human condition and for this they deserve to die.

Romans 2:1-16

This next section is interesting. Paul claims in verse one that no one, whoever you are, has any excuse (cf. 1:18) to condemn others, for you, whoever you are, are doing the very same things. You, whoever you are, are committing the evil acts that come from worshiping the created over the creator and are worthy of the judgement of God.

It is worth examining here the ‘whoever you are’ from verse one. Until this point in the letter Paul has been using the third person plural pronoun (‘they’ in English) to refer to people whose actions he is discussing. He here describes people using the second person singular, ‘you’. This is not to say that he is referring to the recipients of the letter, as that would necessitate a plural form of the word. Rather, “Paul utilizes here…a literary style called diatribe. Diatribe style, which is attested in several ancient authors as well as elsewhere in the NT (e.g., James), uses the literary device of an imaginary dialogue with a student or an opponent.”[10] So who is this ‘you’ that is being addressed? It is probably not a specific person but rather an imaginary one who personifies many arguments that Paul may have previously refuted on this topic. This ‘you’ may be representative of a condemning Jew to contrast with the wicked Gentile ‘they,’[11] in which case it would say here that the Jew will judged as well as the Gentile. By ‘you’ however, Paul may have also meant the Gentiles who deplore the aforementioned evil actions.[12] Either way, this is a significant change of language and it espouses judgement upon the judge and condemnation upon the self-righteous moralizer.[13] You, whoever you are, are not immune to this human condition of being guilty of rebellion against God.

Verses 3-5, through a series of rhetorical questions, point to the hypocrisy of claiming one thing and yet doing another: “Do you imagine…that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (2:3-5).” Even in this judgement, grace can be seen. For while these actions by the truth-deniers lead to death, God’s kindness is meant to lead to repentance for God “will repay according to each one’s deeds (v.6).” The human condition of the truth-deniers is that they are more than creation worshipers (cf. v.25); they are self-seeking (cf. Gen 3:6) in their wrath-provoking disobedience of truth (cf. 1:18) and therefore every bit as guilty as they who were mentioned in Chapter One.

Verse 9 mentions ‘the Jew’ explicitly for the first time in Romans. This is important for “contrary to popular Jewish belief, the sins of the Jews will not be treated by God significantly different from those of the Gentiles.”[14] They will be judged just as the Gentiles will be judged. This is the human condition: “All who have sinned apart from the law will perish apart from the law (cf. 1:20-21), and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law (2:12, cf. 2:1).”

It is not those who hear the law – for they may be truth-deniers or rejecters – but it is those who obey the law that are justified (v.13). Verses 14-15 are an expression of a central part of Paul’s expressed concept of the human condition. Even the Gentiles who do not have the law are able to do what the law requires for it is written on their hearts. On the day of judgement the conscience of both the Jew and the Gentile will bear witness and their own thoughts will either accuse or excuse them before the Lord (2:14-16). These verses contain obvious reference to the new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34 where it is recorded that the law will be ‘written on the hearts of the Israelites’ but it is also an acknowledgement of the good news of Genesis 12:3: the promise to Abraham has been fulfilled for all nations of the earth. They are now blessed as even the Gentiles ‘have the law written on their hearts.’

All of this then is the human condition according to Paul in Romans 1:18-32 and 2:1-16. Those who deny the abundant evidence of God’s eternal power and divine nature (1:19-20) are rightly exposed to the wrath of God (1:18, 2:8), which results in being given over to their unnatural desires to act upon a debased mind. As a consequence of this sin, this rebellion, that they commit, they are condemned and deserve to die. Neither moralizing nor the Torah can save anyone. Christ, however, has ushered in the new covenant (cf. Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25; 2 Cor 3:6; Hebrews 8, 9, 12:24); therefore, repentance (2:4), blessing (Gen 12:3), justification (2:13), and righteousness (2:13) await those ‘doers of the law’ which is now written on their hearts. In Christ we are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17).

http://www.sheepspeak.com/

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[1] NT Wright, The Letter to the Romans (NIB 10: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1995), 395.

[2] Ibid., 396.

[3] James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8 (WBC 38A: Word Books: Dallas, Texas, 1988), xiv.

[4] Douglas J. Moo, The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT 6: Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), 24.

[5] NT Wright, p. 397.

[6] Marion L. Soards, The Apostle Paul: an Introduction to his Writings and Teachings. (New York / Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1987), 104

[7] Douglas J. Moo, p. 33.

[8] “We are not told how this giving over was implemented, but most likely we are to think of it in negative terms—i.e., that God simply took his hands off and let wilful rejection of himself produce its ugly results in human life.” - Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Romans/Exposition of Romans/III. The Need for Salvation: The Plight of Mankind (1:18-3:20)/A. In the Pagan World (1:18-32), Book Version: 4.0.2

[9] Ibid.

[10] Douglas J. Moo, p. 125. John Stott, p. 81, agrees with this possibility. While still acknowledging this possibility, NT Wright, p. 439, suggests a different opinion. He asserts that Paul here may be doing nothing more than taking a common ground between himself and his audience for granted here.

[11] Douglas J. Moo, p. 126.

[12] John Stott, Romans: God’s Good News for the World. (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1994), 80.

[13] “Perhaps the underlying thought is that, by standing in judgement of others while being guilty yourself of similar offences (in a way yet to be explored), they have been similarly deceitful, holding up their own behaviour as an example when it should in fact have been condemned.” NT Wright, pp. 438-439

[14] Douglas J. Moo, p. 126., cf. also NT Wright, p. 440, where he acknowledges that God’s national impartiality was not totally unconsidered in Jewish tradition.

Wright on Covenant

2011-08-15T20:15:00.002-06:00

The point of the covenant with Israel, in the whole of Scripture, is that it is the means by which God is rescuing the children of Adam and so restoring the world

read more: http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/54/54-1/JETS_54-1_49-63_Wright.pdf
. - NT Wright

1 Timothy 6:6 and The Resurrection Band

2011-08-15T15:35:00.001-06:00

1 Timothy 6:6-7, “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” A little earlier than the televangelist scandals of the 1980s, I can remember as a teenager being really impressed with a Christian musical group called The Resurrection Band. I don’t know if anyone here has ever heard of them. They are a Chicago band. They were the first hard rock Christian band to ever find popular success. One of their songs reached #6 on the American charts; they had sold out concerts; they had good record sales; even Canadian kids like me (who in those days really didn’t care for Christian music at all) were listening to them. Do you know what they did with the profits they made? They - like the early church - donated 100% of the profits they made to their church community (Acts 2:44-45).^[13] They didn’t donate a 10% tithe. They didn’t donate a 50% bonus tithe. They donated 100% back and spent their days working in ministry in their church community. These people could have chosen to be rich but instead they chose to follow God. 1 Timothy 6:6-7, “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/08/1-timothy-63-10-godliness-with.html

What about us?

The children are the future...

2011-08-10T08:36:00.000-06:00

vintage armybarmy (2003) re-run today at http://www.armybarmy.com/

July 31, 2003.

Greetings in Jesus’ name, friends.

Since I’m on about SALVATIONIST, how about the article by Colonel Brindley Boon on Commissioner George Scott Railton (one of my heroes- see the recent best books blogs)! He was promoted to Glory 90 years ago this month.

Boon brings to light some interesting information about Railton’s family. Here it is:

On 17 January 1884 George Scott Railton (GSR) left the Booth household - the only real home he had ever known - to marry Timbrel Sergeant Deborah Parkyn of Torquay Corps. The ceremony was conducted by General Booth at Exeter Hall in the Strand. It was a public occasion with 'tickets, a packed house, hundreds of tambourines, many concertinas, a full brass band and a large noisy drum'.

The bride was the daughter of a free church minister who was a man of property. When the girl became a Salvationist her father was greatly displeased. She was certainly socially a cut above the average Army lass of the time and her continuing activity could bring disgrace upon the respectable family. Eventually he relented to the extent of agreeing to his daughter marrying Railton so long as he severed all connection with the Salvationists. This was out of the question and the couple, so much in love, became 'continual comrades in the war'.

The travelling commissioner's many journeys took him frequently away from Mrs Railton and their three children, David, Nathaniel and Esther. The father had high hopes of the boys following him into Army officership and, like many a leader since, was disappointed when events did not work out that way. It has been suggested that the boys never really forgave the Army hierarchy for taking him away so often and not allowing them to get to know him. Most probably Railton, the Army's St Francis, would not have wished a life other than the one he so much relished.

Both sons went to Oxford University - with money from a trust set up by Deborah's father and from which Railton and the Army were excluded – and became Church of England padres in the First World War.

Light bulb! Here was GSR marrying a soldier daughter of a free-church minister. What’s the problem? Father-in-law did not approve. What’s wrong with that? We lost GSR’s family heritage for the Army.

Is that too extreme? Father-in-law established a trust fund to educate his grandchildren. GSR and the Army were excluded from it.

They went and got educated out of the Army.

“Tell it not in Gath!” you say? Their grandparents seemed to have poisoned them to the Flag. And we lost them.

Can you imagine what GSR’s children might have done as zealous, passionate, covenanted, apostolic, prophetic end-time warriors in the Ranks? Can you imagine THREE Railtons roaming the earth, starting wars, imitating Christ, winning souls, instigating revolutions, dreaming dreams, dying with their boots on? We didn't see it.

Re:Forgiveness (1)

2011-08-08T15:39:00.000-06:00

Think of the worst prank that you have ever played on a younger sibling or the worst thing that an older brother has done to you and I imagine that this is probably worse. Genesis Chapter 37:12ff records how Joseph’s nine older brothers treat him. They grab their 17 year-old younger brother and throw him into an empty well and then they sit down to have lunch all the while, it seems, discussing whether or not they are going to kill him or what else they are going to do with him. (Imagine what it would be like in the well, hearing that conversation!) Providentially some slave traders come along; so instead of killing Joseph, his brothers decide to sell him into slavery. This is the last time they see Joseph for many, many years. Joseph then spends quite a few years as a slave before he is sent to prison for a crime he doesn’t commit. All of this directly follows his brothers’ actions of kidnapping, confining, and selling him into slavery. They have a few things for which they need forgiveness and they are scared of their brother, Joseph. And they are more than a little bit afraid because Joseph is now – in our story today – the second most powerful man in all of Egypt.

Joseph has already shown too that he is not necessarily above games and a measure of retribution. Remember when Joseph and his brothers met the first time after all these years: Joseph accuses them of being spies; he frames them for theft and then wrongfully imprisons Simeon, one of his brothers. Then, upon their next meeting much later, Joseph threatens to do the same thing to one of his other brothers. The brothers were afraid of Joseph and they are particularly afraid of Joseph right now because their dad has just died. Remember that Joseph was dad’s favourite so the brothers figure that maybe Joseph is just waiting until dad dies to finally really get back at them once and for all for the horrible things they did to him as a teenager. Dad, they figure, was their protection from their brother, preventing him from exacting his long overdue revenge on them and now dad is dead so they fear that it is payback time (cf. Genesis 27:41-45).[2]

Genesis 50:15 records that “When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did him.’”... Have you ever done something wrong and just sat there worrying about the consequences? This is what it is like for the brothers. Have you ever had that feeling?

It is the same feeling, when you are driving along, look in the rear-view mirror, see the red and blue flashing lights come on behind you; you look down at your speedometer; you pull over to the side of the road, roll down your window and wait for the inevitable, “Driver’s licence and registration please. Do you know how fast you were going?” It is that same feeling in the pit of your stomach. You are guilty and there is nothing you can do; you are entirely at the mercy of the nice man or the nice woman in blue. For Joseph’s brothers it may even have been more intensified than this too because with the protection of their father out of they way, they know that Joseph has the power of life and death over them. He can -with impunity- have them all killed, if he so desires.[3]

It is in this setting that they contact Joseph and say (and they might even be lying)[4] that, Verse 17, their dad said before he died that, “This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly. Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.”

The Apostle Paul's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

2011-08-02T14:50:00.000-06:00

…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.

In Chapter 16, as we read about last week Paul winds up in detention in Philippi and again in Thessalonica after being attacked by a mob there and again in Berea all in Chapter 17. By Chapter 19 Paul is in the centre of a riot in Ephesus and by Chapter 21 he is now in Jerusalem again and arrested again after being attacked again by still more mobs. Paul really seems to be having “a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad” time of it.

Now Paul is arrested when he is spreading the good news. But it is not the gospel that gets him in trouble with the secular authorities really. They are just trying to keep the peace and save his life. The gospel is getting Paul in trouble with some of the religious leaders.[2] It is they who God delivers Paul from, through the Romans.

Paul is saved[3] but the Romans really have no idea why the religious people want to kill him;[4] so, they keep him under a full, armed guard. He is in the custody of the Superpower of his day[5] and because they do have a vested interest in keeping the peace and because he is a Roman citizen himself, they REALLY want to find out exactly what he has been accused of here; so, they order the Sanhedrin to convene to try to shed some light on the situation.

Now in our text today then, Chapter 23, it opens with this fact-finding hearing with the Sanhedrin and the Sanhedrin (you’ll note from your ‘Sermon Helps’ in the bulletin) is a council of the chief priests of Judaism. They are the Jewish authority.

So with the occupying Roman authorities looking on as official observers, the trial begins. Paul begins. He looks straight at the Sanhedrin (23 vs. 1) in his opening statement and says, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”[6] … and then the High Priest (vs. 2) orders someone to punch him in the mouth. What?

The Romans are asking, ‘what’, too, I’m sure; when I first read this I was asking, ‘what’? So I turned to my reference books and poured through Acts to see if I could find out what Paul said that was so offensive. Yeah… No luck. All I can guess is that they perceived Paul as misrepresenting God in some way here – but that is just a guess – however, we do know that whatever it is, it obviously offends Ananias,[7] the High Priest, so much that he gets someone to punch Paul in the mouth.

Now Paul, as we already said, is apparently not really having a particularly good day and so he does not maintain his usual composure under pressure.[8] He lashes out at the High Priest – this is pretty bold – he says, verse 3, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!” and look at what happens after this in verses 4 and 5: Those who are standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?” Paul replies, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’ (Exodus 22:28; cf. also Hebrews 13:16; Romans 13:1, 5; Titus 3:1)

So… now… this is interesting: Paul says that he doesn’t realize that he is the High Priest...

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/09/acts-23-1-11-punch-in-mouth-or-terrible.html

Army Barmy on leadership and people going to hell....

2011-08-01T17:25:00.001-06:00

http://armybarmy.com/blog.html (August 01/11)
Interesting stuff:

Leadership should have a local base.

There are exceptions to this statement, but generally speaking, leadership should have a local base.

So, how does that look practically? The DS oversees a corps. The DC oversees a corps. The cabinet members all oversee corps. The TC and the General all oversee corps.

It gives credibility. It permits you to lead by example. It gives a dose of reality. It helps you to keep your finger on the pulse of the culture. It keeps you closer to people.

Now, I am not suggesting that the general run the corps on her own. I am being realistic, too. Give her a couple of majors as associates or something, but leave her in charge.
----
Remember the poor.
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How about this, from Reuters News Agency (Zelie Pollon, July 17, 2003)?

A New Mexico family is suing their local Catholic church over a funeral Mass in which they claim a priest said their relative was only a middling Catholic and going straight to hell.

Court papers filed last month say that Rev. Scott Mansfield said at Martinez's funeral last year that the deceased was "living in sin," "lukewarm in his faith" and that "the Lord vomited people like Ben out of his mouth to hell."

Wow. What do you do about that? I’m pleasantly surprised that someone had the guts to speak the truth instead of this devilish nonsense about a ‘better place’. I’m not advocating the tone, of course (vomiting him out of His mouth).

All of you who are preachers had better be careful about what you say this Sunday. The lawyers are loose. And this goes for Canada, especially, where it might be construed to be a hate crime to note that liars and fornicators are going to hell.

Read more: http://armybarmy.com/blog.html

JAC is BACk tomorrow

2011-07-31T14:36:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow JAC74 will be available at http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html

Seven Years of Abundance

2011-07-24T12:12:00.000-06:00

Genesis 41: Seven Years of Abundance

Presented to Swift Current Corps, 24 July 2011

By Captain Michael Ramsay

One of my daughters collects stuffed and ornamental cows; when she was involved in 4-H, it was the cow programme she was interested in. We have pictures of her with my mom’s cousin’s cows around Tisdale, Sk. So being as we read about Pharaoh’s dream with the fat cows and the skinny cows, I asked her to share some cow jokes with me. She found me one or two. I found a couple more. Here we go:

What do you call a sleeping bull?

(A bull-dozer.)

What could you call a newborn calf?

(A new moo!)

Do cows give milk?

(No, you have to take it from them.)

How would you get a cow in your car?

(You promise to let her steer.)

What is a milking barn full of happy cows called?

(A merry dairy.)

Where do cows go when they want a night out?

(To the moo-vies!)

What did the bored cow say when she got up in the morning?

("It's just an udder day")

What's a cow's favourite musical note?

(Beef-flat)

How did the farmer find his lost cow?

(He tractor down.)

What sound do you hear when you drop a cow?

(Cowboom!)

Why did the bow-legged cowboy get fired?

(Because he couldn't keep his calves together.)

Why are round hay bales not as good for cows?

(Because they need a square meal.)

Did you hear about the cow that couldn't give milk?

(She was an udder failure.)

Why did the cow have a bell around its neck?

(Because its horn didn’t work.)

Knock, knock (Who’s there?)

Cowsgo (Cowsgo who?)

No, silly, cows go ‘moo’

In our story today we are actually addressing a very serious situation. There is about to be a famine throughout the country of Egypt.[1] The government of the day is well aware of it and our text today (Genesis 41) tells us what they are going to do about it.

Catherine Quotes

2011-07-19T08:50:00.003-06:00

“Friends, are you more concerned about relieving temporal distress than you are about feeding famished souls? If you are, you may know where you Charity comes from – [hell]” (Papers on Godliness, p 27-28).

“All other objects and aims of life [are] subservient to the one grand purpose of preaching the Gospel to every creature and striving to win every soul with whom they come in contact to its salvation” (The Salvation Army in Relation to the Churches, pp 31-32).

Joseph and the Prosperity Heresy

2011-07-09T17:24:00.002-06:00

Joseph’s family life, as we have been discussing, was not the greatest but as one can imagine a terrible home life probably beats being a slave in a foreign country but it is as a slave when it is recorded that, Genesis 39:2, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.” This is key. This prosperity is not wealth. He is a slave. This prosperity is not luxury. He is a slave. This prosperity is not freedom to do what he wants when he wants. He is a slave. Joseph is a teenager who has been sold into slavery in a foreign country – where I imagine he doesn’t yet even know the language. He is a slave completely against his will without even specified terms for release. This is the condition that he is in when and where it records, Genesis 39:2a, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered.”

Let me tell you some more about this prosperity.[6] While Joseph is a slave, his master’s wife takes a liking to him. She wants to fool around with him a little bit – have an affair. Joseph will have none of this and spends much of his time trying to avoid her. She finally gets so upset at Joe for not giving into her attempts at seduction, that she accuses him of sexual assault and his master has Joseph thrown into prison. This is what it looks like in the house of his Egyptian master when and where it says that the LORD was with Joseph and he prospered.

Joseph is then sitting in prison in a foreign country charged with a crime that he didn’t commit with no specified length or end to his sentence. This prison, while it was reserved for prisoners of important people, was no 21^st century Canadian prison (not that these are a picnic by any means) - there is no TV, no Charter of Rights and Freedoms, no early parole; just a dark dungeon, or a pit as some translations (KJV, ESV) refer to it, where you live out your days with the other prisoners. This is what it looks like when, Genesis 39:2a, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered.” This is what his prosperity looked like. No money, no luxury, no freedom, just slavery and then just sitting in a dungeon (or pit) in a foreign country with no hope of parole for a crime he didn’t commit. How many of us would consider this prosperity? I want us to remember this to the next time someone that believes the prosperity heresy tells us that when you are a good Christian you won’t get sick and you will always have all the money and freedom that you want. It is not true. That is NOT what God’s prosperity looks like. What God’s prosperity in our lives looks like is when God’s work is being done through us.[7]

Characteristics of Salvationism

2011-07-08T17:06:00.001-06:00

JAC Online, Issue #73

By Commisioner Wesley Harris

AMONG the people of God Salvationists are likely to have certain characteristics. I would mention a few. For one thing they should be visible. In the street where we live my wife and I are known as Salvationists because week by week we are seen in our uniform. Our garb has sacramental significance and gives silent testimony to our creed. Others may keep their faith under wraps and only share it with close neighbours but we are called upon to stand out because we stand up and at the very least let our uniform do the talking.

The visibility of our profession is a privilege and a responsibility. It announces our availability to be of service to any in need. The honour of the movement is on our shoulders. If behind the wheel of a car a uniformed salvationist behaved badly the Army might share the blame just as courtesy on the road could confirm a positive view.

On my travels through the years my uniform has encouraged complete strangers to confide in me and made it possible for me to help in ways that would not have been likely otherwise. Of course, what I have been able to share has needed to be more than ‘uniform deep’ – a living and personal faith, no less.

Then Salvationists are often audible. Through the years some of us have shouted the odds on issues of life and death on beaches and street corners and market places. But there have also been opportunities to speak up for our Lord in an office or factory where it may have been known that we were professing Christians and therefore expected to witness.

Have we sometimes been non-committal or struck dumb? It is said that silence is golden but sometimes it may just be yellow! The psalmist wrote, ‘Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…’ (Psalm 107.2 KJV). It should be in our spiritual DNA that when opportunity arises we will not hold back from speaking a word in season.

Then it should be characteristic of the Slvationist that he or she is credible. There is no doubt that in the early days of our movement some of our forebears were outlandish in their methods. No doubt sedate souls looked askance at some of the means employed to attract attention but they could not but be impressed when drunkards became sober and wife-beaters gentle men.

Holiness was a prescribed part of salvationism so that even critics had to admit that they were Army folk were good people.. Now in some parts of the world we have to pray that we may be at least as good as people have come to think we are for we are all too conscious of our imperfections.

When The Salvation Army is working at its best there is abundant evidence for the credibility of the gospel. It is found in the lives of souls reborn. God is honoured by the lives of his faithful people.

Read more from this issue quickly before the next one comes out: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html

Its Not Actually About You...

2011-07-04T10:40:00.002-06:00

Devotional Thought presented to Swift Current Corps Staff Meeting on July 04,201. Based on the Sermon, Romans 5:3,4: Hope and an Angel on the Downtown Eastside. Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale on April 20/08 Swift Current Corps on August 09/09 and the article, On the Job Experience, presented to 614 Vancouver Leadership July/04. By Captain Michael Ramsay

As many of you here know when our children were just little (not that they’re so big now), we sold our home and our businesses and moved into North America’s poorest postal code - Vancouver’s downtown eastside - as full-time urban missionaries with The Salvation Army.

We have shared with many of you the excitement from our time there as we saw people who were turned from their addictive, destructive ways of life; transformed into new creations by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was exciting to open up our home and our lives to the miracles that indeed the Lord is still performing today and were, oh, so evident in that environment. We met people who have been cured of cancer, cured of AIDS, and completely cured of diabetes. We have seen and experienced the power of God (cf. Romans 1:4, 1:16, 11:23, 15:13, 15:19-20) first hand.

Our time there, as you can well imagine, wasn’t always rosy though. I remember one day – one morning, I was mugged. I knew better but I wasn’t paying attention. It was early in the morning and I was right on Main and Hastings – the most infamous intersection in this most infamous neighbourhood and I was on the pay phone with Susan who was out of town at the time.

Someone came running up behind me, grabbed my briefcase and tore down Main Street. In the briefcase was my laptop and all the information for the summer school programme I was running for the kids in the area; so, like anyone mugged in the depths of skid row, I’m sure, I…well, I chased the mugger.

I followed him down Main Street through Chinatown across busy streets and around the myriad of mazes that are Vancouver’s back alleys. Scaring rats, jumping over sleeping street folk, I pursued my assailant. When I was within reach of him… I fell right in front of a bus and though I escaped from in front of the bus with my life, the mugger escaped with my briefcase, my laptop, and the programme files for the kids.

It was when I was walking back, completely distraught and despondent from this incident, that I experienced the miracle that happened: I encountered an angel, a messenger of God, in the back alleys of Vancouver’s storied downtown eastside. I can still remember vividly; he looked like a ‘dumpster diver;’ he prayed with me and he offered me these words of encouragement from Romans 5:3,4 “...but let us also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Inside I sighed. I knew he was right. God gave me these words to encourage me.

There was more to come. My life at the time of the mugging; here is a partial list in fast forward:

My foot was injured (which slowed me down as I tried to catch my mugger), I was mugged and had my laptop stolen. My hands were painfully swollen; my eye was injured (painfully enough that I couldn’t even get up for days) and later re-injured; my 2 year-old daughter suffered seizures in front of our eyes, my car stopped working, a person in our home was struggling with heroin addiction, the police visited our home and encouraged a roommate of ours to leave, my in-laws’ computer and camera were stolen on subsequent nights spent in our home along with my wife’s engagement ring and another heirloom...There is more but the important thing is God prepared us for these events that were to come through the comforting words of the angel after the mugging. God emphasized in our life in the next little while: perseverance, obedience, letting the saints pray. We re-learned that it wasn’t all about us and the importance of trusting and fully relying on God.

Where have you seen God working in your life and what is your response?
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http://www.sheepspeak.com/
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Click here to read Romans 5:3,4: Hope and an Angel on the Downtown Eastside.
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Click here to read On the Job Experience

Why Should I Read the Bible?

2011-06-30T09:18:00.002-06:00

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 The Salvation Army Doctrines.

Click to read Salvation Story (elaboration upon the doctrines of The Salvation Army)

Click to read Comment on Romans 1:16-17

Not an Atheistic Society

2011-06-30T09:15:00.001-06:00

By Captain Michael Ramsay

Letter published in the Tisdale Recorder, November 2007.

Re: Not Attending Ceremonies

Dear Editor,

It is too bad that one of the readers of this paper has decided not to attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies because their religious beliefs will not be given pre-eminence. The reader who had the compulsion to write, while still lacking the conviction to sign their name, did raise an interesting point. The writer claimed that less than 15%, or even less than 10%, of 'those that served' did not believe in the 'Judeo-Christian' God. It seems to follow then, that those who are religious Atheists make up an even smaller number of that population (accounting for other religious beliefs) - perhaps even less than 3 or 4%.

My questions then is this: why wouldn't you mention God? Why should the 96% of the population that are Theists be subjected to the Atheistic religious point of view in a public ceremony? If the bulk of the population in a democratic society recognises the sovereignty of God, then certainly this is the point of view that should be acknowledged in the public arena.

In recent public events the small vocal religious minority Atheists have been dominating ceremonies. In the ceremonies marking the SwissAir tragedy, the Christian clergy were banned from mentioning Christ in the ceremony. In the official Canadian 9/11 ceremonies, only the non-theistic viewpoint was recognized. Why, in a predominantly Theistic society, should the public be subjected only to Atheistic prejudices in our public ceremonies? This does not make sense.

While I am sorry that the writer will not attend the ceremony, I think it would be much worse to honour only the religion of a vast minority (possibly 4% or less are Atheists) at the expense of all others and in the process to possibly even insult the memory of all those who actually did lay down their lives for God, King, and country.

God bless,

Michael Ramsay

http://www.sheepspeak.com/

Is War Ever Just?

2011-06-30T09:13:00.000-06:00

By Captain Michael Ramsay

The Nipawin Journal, November 2007

Is war ever just? This is certainly a difficult question to answer; brilliant churchmen and theologians (Augustine, Aquinas, More, Grotius, CS Lewis, John Paul II...) like the pagans before them (Plato and Cicero) have wrestled with this question and fought to find various theoretical formulae in order to test for a just war. Though their intent was noble, the results are ambiguous. A prime example of the struggle is Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli was a brilliant reformer and staunch pacifist – he died in a battle he voluntarily entered.

Part of the difficulty in addressing the question of a ‘just war’ is, of course, the ‘two Joshuas.’ God used Joshua of the OT to deliver His people into the promised land. War and violence accompanied this conquest. God uses the second Joshua, Jesus, to deliver us into the eternal promised land. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6) who teaches that one should turn the other cheek and offer our attackers even more than they demand (Matt 5, Lk 6). Pacifists have argued that any resistance is therefore disobedience and placing our trust in ourselves rather than in God.

The Salvation Army, in which I am an officer, is not a pacifist movement. We have both pacifists and national soldiers in our ranks. We have a long tradition of standing up for the weak and disadvantaged. John 15 says that a man can show no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends; we do owe a debt of gratitude to all our soldiers who have died for us and, from my perspective, I think Canada’s peacekeeping tradition of sending our troops to defend civilian populations and stand between warring factions is a noble expression of faith in action.

I further believe that our war here is with principalities and powers and that, as this is the case, officers in the Salvation Army pledge to make the saving of people a primary focus of our lives. It is to this end that I have committed to fight; Jesus saves and when His kingdom is fully realised on earth, there will be no further wars, no more tears. This is most certainly a just war.

This is a cursorily look at the topic. For more reading, I have posted a bibliography (below) on www.sheepspeak.com. I invite you to read more and offer me any insights you may have at war@sheepspeak.com..

For further reading:

Captain Michael Ramsay's Remembrance Day address, 2007: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/11/greater-love-has-no-man-than-to-lay.html (Comment on that address by the Journal: http://www.nipawinjournal.com/News/354539.html )

An interview with General Shaw Clifton: http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_ihq_general.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/87BD3DF62F0F179F802572ED00564052?Opendocument

Hugo Grotius and Just War: http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/philosophers/grotius.html

The Just War Theory: http://biblia.com/jesusbible/joshua3c.htm

Cole, Darrell. The Problem of War: C.S. Lewis on Pacifism, War & the Christian Warrior.

The Salvation Army's Kids Club Camps

2011-06-27T15:01:00.001-06:00

All camps are 9AM-4:30PM, Monday through Friday.

The various weekly themes are as follows:

Splash into Summer: July 4-8

Summer Olympics: July 1-15

Make a Scene: July 18-22

Fun in the Sun: July 25-29

Arts Around the Word: August 1-5

Sports Spectacular: August 8-12

Carnival: August 15-19

Best of the Best: August 22-26

For more information or to apply call (306) 778-0515 and ask to speak with Liz about our Summer Kids Club Camps!

Julie Arnold is en route to Indonesia

2011-06-27T14:51:00.000-06:00

Julie, from our congregation here, is en route to Indonesia as a missionary with New Tribes Ministries. If you would like to support her and/or find out more information you can contact her at julie_arnold@ntm.org

Water in Weyburn

2011-06-27T14:49:00.000-06:00

WEYBURN FLOOD RELIEF REPORT

22 June – 24 June 2011

by Captain Michael Ramsay

26 June 2011

The Salvation Army had a successful mobile feeding and assessment phase that spanned the dates covered in this report.

Arrival and Information Gathering

Shortly after arriving in Weyburn on June 22, 2011, Major Mike Hoeft met me and we went over to the quarters where Captain Terri Wallace brought us up to speed with what she knew of The Salvation Army relief efforts to date. Unfortunately there was neither an event log nor a brief available but we were able to find out key contact times, people and general information. From this information we provisionally decided that we would be moving into the mobile feeding and assessment phase of the disaster relief plan.

After meeting Major Mike Hoeft for a breakfast meeting on June 23, 2011, I headed to the EOC (Weyburn Fire Hall) for a briefing. Prior to the briefing, I was advised by a ministerial representative as to the role that the other churches were fulfilling in helping to feed those in need. In the briefing Major Hoeft and I were brought up to speed as to how the relief efforts were going to date and we advised them that we had successfully completed the previous phase of our disaster relief feeding plan: providing meals for all of the staff and volunteers at the EOC (the power was on in the community, food and water were otherwise accessible so that service was not now needed) and that we were moving into the next phase: mobile feeding and assessment.

Mobile Feeding and Assessment Procedure

After the meeting, I worked out the details of our plan with other members of the EOC and then briefed Captain Terri Wallace and the CRU volunteers about the morning meetings and what our activity in this phase would look like:

Church groups would prepare food (that meet recognized health and safety guidelines),
CRU volunteers would put the lunch items in bags along with water and snacks,
The lunch bags would be taken from the fridge put into coolers immediately prior to distribution,
The town was divided into five sections (I have attached a copy of the map for your files),
We would send out 5 mobile feeding units (volunteers in cars), 1 unit to each section of the city,
We obtained a list from the EOC of residences in particular need, targeted those residences and then assessed, identified, responded, recorded, and reported other residences with people in need (we destroyed those lists at the end of the incident as per privacy regulations),
As the mobile feeding units returned, we replenished them as needed and assessed how long this phase would be required.
Wind Down

June 24, 2011 it was obvious that the Mobile Feeding and Assessment phase was successfully completed:
- Many people who had been identified as being in need were now having their needs met,
- The power was on in the community,
- As of 10:30 AM all water usage restrictions had been lifted except sump pumps hooked into the internal plumbing: they could still use pumps that pumped into the yard or the street,
- EOC was purchasing meals for their members,
- There were only eight people residing in the shelter,
- They were feeding not only shelter residence at the shelter but anyone who registered as being in need of basic services,
- As more and more of the needs in the community were being met now even the EOC meetings were reduced in time and frequency,
- We sent out 5 Mobile Feeding and Assessment crews one last time to confirm that they had successfully achieved their goals
Next Phase

The move towards normalcy can begin as needs may now be met through the regular Weyburn Salvation Army facilities.
- Extra food donations have been collected for those in need,
- Monetary donations have been directed from the city to The Salvation Army (I was blessed to receive a $5 000.00 cheque on the Army’s behalf prior to leaving Weyburn),
- Volunteers (especially from ministerial) have expressed an interest in helping in any way that they can,
- Volunteers may be needed to help with repairing The Salvation Army facilities of their own flood damage,
- The Food Bank may need to utilize more volunteers to help for a short period of time,
- The FB may need to be open more days than usual for a set period of time,
- The FB may need to track the numbers of specific flood related users versus other types of users
The decisions going forward will of course be left up to the very capable Lieutenants Mike and Melissa Mailman. I know that the people of their community have a great deal of faith in their abilities. The Mayor herself spoke very highly of The Salvation Army’s ongoing ministry in Weyburn.

It was a real blessing to be involved in this ministry. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Captain Michael Ramsay
The Salvation Army, Swift Current

Congraduations!

2011-06-27T14:46:00.000-06:00

Alyssia and Jessica are graduating from grade 12 this year!

Prairie Fishing Weekend

2011-06-27T14:45:00.000-06:00

Come to the corps for more information and to pick up an application - this is always a lot of fun!

The Soap Box Derby was a lot of fun

2011-06-27T14:41:00.000-06:00

We ran the concessions. It was a real blessing.

The barbeque with the Baptist went well on the weekend

2011-06-27T14:39:00.000-06:00

For pictures view our facebook page.

Malachi 2:10-12: Don’t Marry the Daughter of a Foreign God

2011-06-27T14:37:00.000-06:00

Presented to Swift Current Corps, 19 June 2011
By Captain Michael Ramsay

This is one you may hear again sometime but I thought it was appropriate for Fathers’ Day: When we were 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, 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 – Rebecca (who was then only 4) and Sarah-Grace (who was 3 at the time) come bounding into our bedroom.

“Daddy, what’s a trout?” Rebecca, as a four year-old, asks me as she and her sister climb on my bed. “What’s a trout?” (aside: You know what it is like when you try to respond to someone but you really don’t want to wake up – that is what it is like)
“What’s a trout?”
“A fish, why do you ask”
“A fish?”
“Yes a fish”
“Oh… Like Nemo…?”
“Short of, I think Nemo is a Clown fish”
“Oh”
“Daddy,” asks Sarah-Grace, who has been standing there the whole time, “what’s a trout?”
“A fish”
“Like Nemo”
“No”
“Daddy”
“Yes, Sarah-Grace”
“What’s a trout?”

“A chipmunk. A Chipmunk!” I snap back with all the composure of one who has not had enough sleep.
The girls run out of the room laughing, none the worse for wear. I put my pillow over my head and just try to get back to sleep wondering just what that was all about and why I was woken up for a question that no one seemed to want the answer to anyway.

At this point, in comes Susan. Slowly and today with the calm demeanour of the caring mother and wife. I know I have spoken a little harshly to my daughters, so I listen intently as she lifts the pillow from my head and gently asks me, “Michael, What’s a trout?”[1]

That story is dedicated to any parent of small children who ever suffered under the delusion that it was possible to sleep in sometime.

Here, in Swift Current, we are looking at the book of Malachi in Bible Study and in the services for the month of June so I had a challenge for today to try to find something at least loosely Father’s Day related. This is what I came up with...

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/06/malachi-210-12-dont-marry-daughters-of.html

Journal of Aggressive Christianity

2011-06-17T07:44:00.004-06:00

June - July 2011
Issue # 73

Editorial Introduction
Editor, Major Stephen Court

Seeing Again from the Blind Beggar
Captain Andy Miller

Radicalising the Reformation
Cadet Xander Coleman

Salvation to All
Cadet Dawn Marie Paulson

Ambassadors of Holiness Valedictory
Lieutenant James Thompson

Ranger Creed; God's Soldier
Mat Guthmiller

A Ladder to Holiness
General William Booth

Faith Healing in The Salvation Army
Cadet Robert Adams

Songs of Holiness - Part 3
Major Melvyn Jones

Characteristics of Salvationism
Commissioner Wesley Harris

Salvationist Monasticism
Cadet Xander Coleman

Is Militant Language in the Church Appropriate in the 21st Century?
Jonathan Evans

Malachi 1:8: Lame Offerings

2011-06-12T21:13:00.002-06:00

Presented to the Swift Current Corps, 05 June 2011

By Captain Michael Ramsay

Click Here to read Malachi 1:6-14

Harvey Lomax, our Justice Coordinator here who is in charge of the Alternative Measures programme and also has official responsibility for the oversight of the free legal clinic and other justice orientated ministries out of The Salvation Army, has a story that he shared with us at coffee the other day. Harvey is a former RCMP Officer. This story is from his days as a police officer not too long after he had given his life to the Lord.

He receives a call that someone has stolen something from the Catholic Church in the town where he is posted. They stole, of all things, the outhouse. The officers and others -of course- had a few laughs and told some of the obvious jokes here: ‘finding the culprits is a um…dirty job but someone has to do it….’

Harvey, aware of this case, is later driving down the road when he feels the Lord’s prompting to pull over a truck that he sees going in the opposite direction. At first he tries to disregard this nudging of the Lord to pull over this vehicle and continue going on his way but the leading of the Lord gets stronger and stronger so he turns his police car around catches up to vehicle that had passed him going in the other direction. He asks for the licences of the guys in the truck. They don’t have them on them so Harvey takes their information and just before he is about to let them go on their way with instructions to drop by the station with their licences he, at the Lord’s prompting, asks them if they happen to be doing some work at the community where the Catholic church’s outhouse had been taken from. They had been so he asks them if they know anything about it. Now, Harvey being a solid new Christian, would always pray upon getting in his police car for the Lord’s leading and direction.

Harvey sends they guys on their way and gets where he is going when the phone rings, the receptionist where he was going answers it and the person on the other end asks for Harvey. He just got there. This is strange so he takes the call. It is someone from the police station calling. The vehicle that Harvey had pulled over was actually driven by the guys who had taken the church’s outhouse. After their conversation with Harvey they went down to the police station, turned themselves in, and confessed to taking the holey outhouse. And at Harvey’s prompting as part of trying to make things right before they faced the courts, they replaced the outhouse with an outhouse that was twice as holey. They took a single hole outhouse but replaced it with one with two holes. These fellows paid back more than twice as much.

It doesn’t pay to try to steal from the Lord. That is what today’s story is about.

D-Day Service 2011

2011-06-03T09:21:00.002-06:00

Swift Current Cenotaph

05 June 2011

Invocation: We assemble today to solemnly remember an historic event and to pay our to the lives of our comrades whose death we mourn but whose spirits still live on.

Let us pray: Almighty God. To paraphrase a now famous D-day prayer: Our soldiers, they were sore tried, by night and by day, without rest— until the victory was won. The darkness was rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls were shaken with the violence of war.

For those who served were drawn from the ways of peace. They fought not for the lust of conquest. They fought to end conquest; hoping to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people, yearning but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some, however, did not return to their home here but rather to their eternal home with Thee. Continue to embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. We are here today Lord to commemorate those who lived and died through the battles of D-day.

We dedicate these proceeding today, in your name, Amen.

Reading from John 12:23-26:

²³And Jesus answered them, saying, the hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. ²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, except that a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit.

²⁵He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. ²⁶If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

²⁷Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, for it is this very cause that I came unto this very hour. ²⁸Father, glorify thy name.

Meditation: Normandy, June 6, 1944, 5 a.m., D-Day: The Royal Canadian Navy alongside our British and American allies brought the largest invasion fleet ever assembled from England to France in total darkness. for Operation Overlord. The Sun was coming up – on some those assembled for the very last time before the Good Lord returns.

This seaborne invasion was aimed at 80 kilometres of beach along the Normandy coast, west of the Seine River. Canada’s objective was right in the middle. The military planners assigned Canada a very significant role on D-Day: to take Juno Beach as a beginning to the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany

Involved in the invasion of Europe, in all there were 5000 ships and landing craft, 11 000 planes, 50 000 vehicles and 155_000 soldiers ready for the impending battle. 14 000 Canadian soldiers were to land on the beaches; another 450 were to drop behind enemy lines by parachute or by glider. The Royal Canadian Navy supplied ships and about 10 000 sailors. Lancaster bombers and Spitfire fighters from the Royal Canadian Air Force supported the invasion.

The Canadians who landed on Juno Beach that day were part of Britain's Second Army. The Canadian assault forces were the Third Canadian Infantry Division and the Second Canadian Armoured Brigade.

Cliff Chadderton of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles said, "The Canadian invasion forces had spent years in Britain training for the task. They had tried very hard not to think of what lay ahead. It was difficult to realize the enormity of what we would be attempting. I was part of that force. However, when we started our assault training on the south of England and in Scotland, we began to realize what loomed before us. Untried troops would dare to set foot in Hitler's Europe. Everyday while in Britain, we heard stories of the heavily fortified French coast which the Germans, in four years with slave labour had turned into a continuous system of guns, pillboxes, mines, barbed wire and on the beaches, underwater pilings, some loaded with explosives waiting to blow up the assault crafts. It was a terrifying picture. The men of the infantry and tank regiments chosen for the invasion simply had to disregard what lay ahead for them across the channel. We just dug in, trained harder, determined to do what some were saying would be impossible."

Fourteen thousand young Canadians stormed Juno Beach on June 6, 1944: They were from across the country; from the east to the west, from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, to the Canadian Scottish from Victoria. The bombardment of the beaches began at 6 a.m. Within an hour the lead landing craft were away from the ships. Two hours later, the German defences at Juno Beach had been shattered and Canada had established the beachhead.

Our service people’s courage, determination and self-sacrifice are the reasons for our success. They endured fierce, ferocious fighting and paid a high price - the battles for the beachhead cost 340 Canadian lives and another 574 wounded. British historian John Keegan, wrote about the Canadian 3rd Division on D-Day: “At the end of the day, its forward elements stood deeper into France than those of any other division. The opposition the Canadians faced was stronger than that of any other beach save Omaha. That was an accomplishment in which the whole nation could take considerable pride.”

Today we do feel that sense of pride and accomplishment but it is not without a sense of loss as we remember our friends, family, and comrades, who would not return from their service to God, King, and country.

Let us pray:

O Lord our God, whose name only is excellent and your praise above heaven and earth: We give you high praise and hearty thanks for all those who counted not their lives dear unto themselves, but laid them down for their friends, praying you give them a part and a lot in those good things which you have prepared for all those whose names are written in the book of life; and grant to us, that having them always in remembrance, we may imitate their faithfulness, and with them in herit the new name which you have promised to them that overcome; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer by F.E. Brightman)

Benediction:

May we, as citizens, and as members of the Royal Canadian Legion be charged anew with the full set of duties and responsibilities to our country and to our organization. May we ever strive to uphold the principles of unselfish service, which led us to serve God and our country in the time of war and in a time of peace, so that we may continue to serve, even unto death.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Following the Lord’s Lead

2011-05-31T08:57:00.000-06:00

Presented to Swift Current Corps 29 May 2011

By Captain Michael Ramsay

Today Julie has spoken to us about the Lord’s calling her into missions. On Thursday Dusty and Laurie were confirmed as candidates for Salvation Army Officership. They are following the Lord’s leading in their life.

God created us all, humankind, and He didn’t ask too much of us for obedience at first – He simply asked us to fill and take care of the earth and then later of course, in Genesis 2:17, He asked us not to eat the fruit off the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – and we know how well that went.

So in Genesis 11 and 12 we are a couple of generations after Adam and Eve and if we haven’t messed things up enough already by eating the fruit and failing to do one of the two things God asked us to do, in Chapter 11 we are making sure that we really mess things up by failing to do the other one: refusing to move, refusing to go when God sends us.

Swift Current Specialling

2011-05-26T09:58:00.000-06:00

http://cfot.ca/archives/8271

During Easter weekend, Cadets Kristen Jackson-Dockeray, Chalrimawia, Mary Maybury, and I had the great blessing of travelling to Swift Current. Upon arrivial, we were immediately welcomed and made to feel at home. While this weekend was certainly a great opportunity to share in ministry with the Corps in Swift Current, it was also a great time for fun and fellowship.

On Good Friday we attended and participated in the community-wide service in remembrance of the great sacrifice given at Calvary. The community came together to sing songs of thanksgiving and to offer prayers of praise and hear the Word of God.

On Saturday, the Cadets were able to help with renovations to the youth room at the Corps. We spent the day sharing with YP leaders and several young people as we worked on the floor and shared in a great time of fellowship. It was so great to see the youth of the Corps come and invest their time and energies in preparation of a room that would be designated for them. It was amazing to see the involvement of the youth in Swift Current and their desire for ministry and their passion for Christ and for each other was very evident.
Easter Sunday was a great day of celebrating the resurrection of Christ. The day began with a Son Rise Service held outside the Corps where we joined together to sing praise to and worship our Risen Lord. I had the great privilege of sharing a devotional with those who gathered and I spoke about the living hope that we have because of Christ’s resurrection. After this service, the Corps family came together for a breakfast and the time spent together was well enjoyed. A time of sharing with each other in stories, laughter, and fellowship was certainly a blessing and the people in Swift Current made us feel welcomed and accepted us into their Corps family.

The morning worship service was an exciting time of celebration of our faith. There was a band for this service which was comprised of youth, their leaders, and Cadets. The band played for a prelude and the offertory which was a testament of how the youth of the Corps are dedicated to ministry. Cadet Kristen expounded the Word of God and shared with us how “It All Matters”. She challenged us to live lives worthy of the sacrifice that was made on Calvary and how we should be thankful for the debt that was paid for us.

This weekend in Swift Current was a great time for us, as Cadets, to share with the Corps people and with each other. We enjoyed every aspect of the weekend from the travel to and from Swift Current and certainly, the time in the city. We were blessed over and over but none more than by the involvement of the youth in the Corps.

We pray God’s blessing upon the Corps in Swift Current and we will remember this weekend as an enriching ministry opportunity.

Cadet Kim Chan
source: http://cfot.ca/archives/8271

Quiz...

2011-05-23T19:38:00.001-06:00

From Mark 13:32-37: Hope for a Happy New Year! Presented to each the Nipawin and Tisdale Corps 30 November 2008 by Captain Michael Ramsay

What do these dates have in common: 8:00 AM October 19, 1533; April 5, 1534; March 21 and October 22, 1844; Sept. 10, 1979; Dec. 31, 1981; Sept 11 -13, 1988; March 31, 1991; October 20, 1997; December 12, 2012?

A: They are various people’s predictions for the end of world date.

What do these people have in common: Nero, the Pope, Mikhail Gorbachev, Prince Charles, the US President (elect), David Hasselhoff?[1]

A. They were/ are various people’s predictions for the arch-anti-Christ.

Now this next question is a good one. It is a riddle –you’ll have to pay attention. Someone has figured out a way to ‘out’ the beast of Revelation and solve the riddle of ‘666’ – let’s see together of we can solve the riddle and figure out who is the beast of John’s Apocalypse?

Given that 666 is the number of the Beast, First we must break that number down into its component parts in such away that when we add them back together, they will total 666.

I’ll give you this part: 100. 5. 5. 50. 500 .1 .5
Let’s do the math to prove we are right: so we have 100 + 5 =105 + 5 = 110 + 50 = 160+500=660+5+1= 666

So then mathematically proving as we did that these are the component parts of the number of the beast, we will need to translate them into Roman numerals as that was what they wrote with back then: So, does anyone know the symbol for:

100 = C
5 = V
5 = V
50 = L
500 = D
1 = I
5 = V

CV VL DIV

Now if we expand this using new web-based lettering for reassembling fragmented texts, we get the following:

CVT PVRPL DINSVR

Accounting for the fact that Roman lettering had no U and used a V instead and adding the missing vowels, we find out from this the one that the number points to as the beast…it is…

A CUTE PURPLE DINOSAUR; and we all know who the cute purple dinosaur who is leading children astray… Barney the dinosaur! “I love you; you love me!’

Jesus is watching you

2011-05-16T11:43:00.003-06:00

From a message presented to Swift Current Corps, 15 May 2011

By Captain Michael Ramsay

Late one night, a burglar breaks into a house that he thinks is empty. He tiptoes through the living room but suddenly freezes in his tracks when he hears a voice say: "Jesus is watching you!"

When it becomes quiet again, the burglar creeps forward. And again the voice says, "Jesus is watching you".

The burglar stops dead in his tracks. He is frightened. Frantically, he looks all around. In a dark corner, he spots a… birdcage and in the cage is… a parrot.

Gathering his senses, he asks the parrot: "Was it you all this time who said ‘Jesus is watching me?’"

"Yes", said the parrot.

The burglar breathes a sigh of relief, then gaining some confidence he asks the parrot: "What's your name?"

"Clarence," says the bird.

"That's a dumb name for a parrot," sneers the now confident burglar. "What kind of a silly person would name a bird, 'Clarence?"

The parrot replies, "The same person who would call his attack dog ‘Jesus’… Jesus is watching you."

Parrots are good imitators and our verse today is exhorting us to be good imitators, it says, 3 John 11: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God”

http://www.sheepspeak.com/

Mother's Day, Love and Obey

2011-05-07T20:28:00.001-06:00

My mom had her first Mother’s Day in the hospital, I was born a couple of days prior and in those days, apparently you were left in the hospital for a few days after giving birth rather than these days in maternity where they have the quick, ‘catch and release policy’ as it has been called.

The birth of your first child and grandchild is important. I remember when Rebecca was born, my folks were quickly in the hospital to see us and Susan’s parents stayed with us for a while afterwards and when Sarah-Grace was born my folks were kind enough to come and look after Rebecca while Susan was in the hospital with baby Sarah-Grace. That was when we lived in the same city as they did. Just this past year when Heather was born my folks came again for a couple of weeks planning to help out after the baby’s birth but apparently Heather and the doctor disagreed as to what her due date actually was and she arrived quite a few days late so my parents just got to introduce themselves to Heather before they had to return home.

Mother’s Day is an appropriate time to remember some of these important events around giving birth. My mom always tells the story about how important it was to my dad that I was born. It was so important that my dad actually made time to come down to the hospital and see me arrive, even though on that very same evening there was… a Stanley Cup play-off game on. And it wasn’t just any play-off game, it was the final series when I was born and no I wasn’t born in July. The finals actually used to be in early May.

Now for Mother’s Day, today, I thought we would look at 2 John.

read more from 'Love and Obey': http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/05/2-john-1-13-love-and-obey.html

Election Night.

2011-05-02T13:49:00.000-06:00

Being born and raised on the west coast of Canada, I can remember watching the election returns on election night and it is always exciting but I can never remember a time when the election wasn't over before the polls were even closed on Vancouver Island. The Prime Minister's party had always already won the election before we even finished voting out west. He had already defeated his foe. This is the same with Christ. Even though we each have until the last polls close (until we breathe our last breath) to cast our vote, Christ has already won the election. The only question we have is whether we want to join Him in His victory party or not. The election results were counted on the cross and announced at the empty tomb. Christ has won the victory.

Christ has already been resurrected and he is coming back to celebrate his victory and when the eternal polls close we will be resurrected too; we will all be raised (cf. Doctrine 11) and at that point some of us will be raised to eternal salvation and some of us – those who reject the opportunity – will be outside where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (cf. Matthew 8:12, 22:13). But it is our choice. The victory has already been won. We have all already been invited to the victory party.

Salvation is there for any of us who want it and this is important: there is the resurrection, there is the judgement at the end of the day and any of us who call on the name of the Lord at anytime before our polls close here can be saved! Jesus died and rose again so that whosoever may, will be saved!

Christ is our salvation. We should remember this as we cast our votes very soon (in our temporal elections) that there really is no other name by which we may truly be saved. Christ is the leader who deserves our full support. He is both liberal in His love and conservative in His steadfastness. He is neither a small 'd' democrat nor a small 'r' republican. He is a capital 'M' Monarchist – He is a King and He is the Son of the King. Unlike all the others who are trying to get us to turn to them for our salvation, He has actually run the race and won the election already. We are just waiting for the polls to close, so if you haven't done so already then go out and vote for Christ today: there is no other name by which we may be saved. The Lord raises up mere earthly governments and He topples them but when the eternal polls close and he does come back, make sure that He has your vote so that we will all be a part of His victory party at the resurrection of the just.

Our salvation comes from Christ alone.

read more from JAC 57's 'Vote For Jesus': http://www.sheepspeak.com/Michael_Ramsay_JAC.htm#Vote%20for%20Jesus

More from JAC 57 : http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_057.pdf

Latest Issue of JAC (#72) http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html

Election Time. Make your choice....

2011-04-29T10:04:00.001-06:00

From Journal of Aggressive Christianity, Issue 57, October 2008 – November 2008 (pp. 27-39)

Vote for Jesus: a look at 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

by Captain Michael Ramsay

http://www.sheepspeak.com/

In Canada we have an election coming up again – the third in four years. All the 'experts' admit without a doubt that this one will be... a 'waste of taxpayer money'. Even our Prime Minister, who wants the election, admits that it won't change the working dynamics of parliament but it's a contest; a game like any other and the competitors want to win it.

I have gotten to know a number of politicians around here lately and as I was listening to one speech from a recently elected MLA, it reminded me of 1 Corinthians 15:20ff. Here is a paraphrase of that passage as if by a contemporary provincial politician:

"Our party's leader has indeed been raised high. He is first of a new breed of Premier. You see devastation came to this province from the previous government but the resurrection of the economy comes through our new government. For as with the old leader all of us were as good as dead, so with our new leader all will be made alive.

But each in his own turn: first the Premier, then his party members and supporters, then, by the time of the next election, the whole province that belongs to him. Then the time will come for the next election when, of course, his majority will be so big that it is like he will be handing over the province of Saskatchewan to God himself.

For our leader will by that time have destroyed all dominion, authority, power of the former regime: indeed there will be no more problems in this province at all. And we'll re-elect our leader, our government, and our party again and again, for he will reign forever in order to put all our troubles and crush all our enemies under his feet..."

It is amazing how political speeches have started to sound like scripture or sermons these days. The more I listen to political speeches and the more I watch the news, the more I realise that the world really is crying out for a messiah. The USA – which is also in the midst of an election campaign - every 4 years parades out at least one possible new messiah. Look at how people talk about Obama (particularly before McCain announced his running mate); there is no mention of his past failures, only an almost messianic hope for a bright new future as if he is the One.

For all its strengths, this is one of the main downfalls of western democracies. Every election people are mistakenly looking to parties, politicians, ideologies, platitudes, and other such nonsense to solve our problems - as if that is where our salvation comes from.

most recent JAC: http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html

Resurrection Sunday and more (April 22-30)

2011-04-22T14:43:00.004-06:00

1 Samuel 27 and Psalm 141 and 1 Chronicles 9 and Matthew 10

(Miriam and Aaron)

more on-line comics and rations - http://drwas.blogspot.com/search/label/April%2016-30

Good Friday: Luke 23: Who do you say He is?

Presented to the Community Good Friday Service in Nipawin
at the Apostolic Church, April 10, 2009 By Captain Michael Ramsay
.
I remember many years ago when I was starting University. I was a janitor; I worked nights for a big janitorial company in Victoria. They have buildings all over the city and I worked for this company since before I went to university so when I did go back to school, they were kind enough to work around my schedule.

They made me a ‘floater’: now a floater is a very important position because we are given the keys and alarm codes to banks and other important businesses all over the city and our shifts often end late at night or early in the morning. Now break-ins aren’t uncommon in the city so one doesn’t want just anybody walking around some of these buildings in the middle of the night.

I remember one night. I’m on ‘floater’ duty. I have four buildings to clean. The first two buildings take me twice as long to clean as they should so when I get to my third building, it is well passed midnight and I have never been in this building before and I can’t find the light switch anywhere. As a result, I am late turning off the alarm and the thing goes off: it is loud. So while it is still ringing and the place is still dark I bang my leg as I trip over a desk running to turn it off. I turn it off and then the phone rings (the alarm company always calls to see why an alarm is going off to make sure it is a false alarm) so I’m off and running again and this time it is in the other direction -still in the dark - to find the phone before I miss the call and the alarm company phones the police. I get to the phone just in time but not before banging my leg again as I crash into another desk in the pitch black and yelling quite loudly.

I finally get this alarm mess sorted out on the phone but by now my leg that I have bashed twice is killing me as I am limping around the whole building still looking for the light switch in the pitch black. I am very lost in a maze of cubicles and I really can’t see anything and I am not feeling too happy at all when I hear something.

I hear something. I hear something growl…. I hear something growl and bark loudly! This is not good. So what do I do?

Resurrection Sunday: Luke 24:1-12: Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Presented to Swift Current Corps Easter Sunday, 04 April 2010
By Captain Michael Ramsay
.
Now I must admit that when I was a kid I used to be quite good at hide-and-seek and I still have a great way to not get caught – Rebecca and Sarah-Grace, cover your ears – you see, when I am hiding and they are looking for me, I keep my eyes open and watch to see where they are or listen to discover where they are looking and as soon as they have looked in a particular spot, I will move from where I am to that spot where they just were, knowing that they won’t look there again. This works really well with a house with an upstairs and a downstairs because as soon as the kids come upstairs, one can make a beeline straight for the downstairs.

Hide and seek: Did you ever play hide and seek? There is one thing that you notice playing ‘hide and seek’ with mostly little kids – younger than my two – but sometimes with older ones as well. It is really quite neat. Most of them when they are hiding, they close their eyes. So when you call out, ‘1-2-3, I see you’ – you will sometimes hear – ‘no you don’t! …I have my eyes closed’ or ‘1-2-3, I see you’ - ‘you can’t; I’m invisible still…I still have my eyes closed.’ This is not totally unrelated from our text today, as people are here wondering why they can’t see Jesus.

In our pericope today the disciples and the women are convinced that they know where Jesus is and what is happening. They look in the spot where they know he went, the tomb for the dead, but Jesus has moved. He is back in the land of the living. And so the angels ask, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/04/luke-241-12-why-do-you-look-for-living.html

The Credit Card of Justice and Righteousness (Psalm 72)

2011-04-08T12:58:00.000-06:00

Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps 01 July 2007
by Captain Michael Ramsay

I love Canada Day – (or Dominion Day as we used to call it) – I always have. I love the picnics and all the fun things to do. Every year we used to have a big picnic and fireworks in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria where I grew up. It is a perfect chance to see everyone – so I’m really looking forward to our picnic today in the park – this should be great.

But you know what else I love, I also love the quizzes that come out around this time – I know, who loves quizzes but, hey, I used to be a teacher– lets see how you do…

Who is our head of State?
What is our national animal?
What are our two national sports?
Who was the first PM of Canada?
When did Saskatchewan join confederation?
Upon what passage of scripture was Canada founded?

Answers and the rest of the preach: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/08/psalm-72-credit-card-of-justice-and.html

Gingerbread Cookies of Justice and Salvation (Psalm 72:1-7)

2011-04-08T12:55:00.003-06:00

Second homily in the Heaven Scent series.
Presented to the Swift Current Corps 05 December 2010.
By Captain Michael Ramsay
.
We are looking at Psalm 72:1-7 today: This is Canada’s psalm. When I next preach on Canada Day (Dominion Day) I will most likely preach on this Psalm:

Canada’s motto, “A Mari usque ad Mare” is Latin for “from sea to sea.” It comes from Psalm 72. Where, in verse 8, it declares, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea.” That is a key underpinning of our society and of our founding identity, the idea that God himself, through the Canadian government, shall have dominion from sea to sea.
This is neat. It is not some accident or coincident. It is intentional. Our country is intentionally founded on the Word of God. And another interesting thing - Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, the father of Confederation that proposed the name for our country and that that name - the Dominion of Canada - be based on this Scripture would have made a great Salvationist.
He wasn’t one but he would have made a good one. Tilley was a Sunday-school teacher and lifelong temperance advocate; he was one of the so-called "Smashers", who tried to introduce prohibition to New Brunswick in the 1850s.[1]

This is an important, relatively recent historical application of this psalm but we can speak more about that on Canada Day. Today is the second Sunday of Advent, so we will be looking at this passage through a slightly different lens: that of waiting for the Messiah to come and of waiting for the Messiah to come again.

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

Hockey Card (1 Samuel 4:1b-7:1)

2011-04-08T12:53:00.000-06:00

Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on June 22, 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay

Do you know what this is? A hockey card: a Paul Coffee rookie card from his debut with the Edmonton Oilers. Some Edmonton Oilers rookie cards are evidently worth more than $2000.00 - if they are in good condition[1] – but this one is not in good condition at all.

Who’d have thought that Hockey cards would become the big business investment that they have in recent years with people keeping them in special cases and only touching them with white gloves and the works.

When I was a kid, we used to actually play with these cards: close –ies, knocksies (I don’t remember what the games were really called) - we would play all these different games with these cards and they would all involve throwing them against a wall – so much for keeping their investment value – we thought these toys were – uh - toys. Who knew we were squandering our retirement funds by throwing Wayne Gretzky, Billy Smith, and Guy Lafleur against the wall.

Did anyone in these parts ever ‘play’ hockey cards growing up? Or was it just a west coast thing? I remember some games that we would have: you would each line three all-star cards up against the wall and then take turns trying to knock down your opponents cards by flicking one of your cards at it. The first person to knock down each of their opponent’s cards would win and got to keep all of the cards – including every one that had been thrown.

The longer these games went on the more that was at stake. You could see cards piling up and kids would really have their entire collection at stake and then, of course, the more exciting it gets the more people who come to watch. Some of the big matches could have almost the entire school watching. This was a lot of fun if you were competing except for one thing - the grade threes. You see the grade threes loved to collect hockey cards but they didn’t win them. They would steel them. They would sneak closer and closer to any game they could find and as soon as they could get close enough the bold ones would scoop up a handful of cards and run for their lives as a couple of grade sixes always took up the pursuit; and then there were the cautious grade threes, they would step on the cards they want one at a time and then bend down to tie up their shoes over each time picking up a new card and putting it in their pocket, footprint and all.

Now, like many kids, I did collect quite a few cards in my time growing up but like I said none of mine are worth much because – well – because most of them have footprints on them – or are severely bent from my running away from the grade sixes. Oh well. “Who’d ‘a thunk?” If I’d known they would be worth so much I might have invested the $0.10 for gum and a pack of cards in those days. Who knew that hockey cards would become so valuable?

This is the same sort of thing that is facing the Philistines in our story today in 1 Samuel...

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/06/1-samuel-41b-71-hockey-card.html

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Apr 9th

2011-04-08T12:50:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

1 Samuel 6-7 and Psalm 72 and 2 Corinthians 9

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Apr 8th

2011-04-08T12:44:00.000-06:00

1 Samuel 3-5 and Psalm 77 and 2 Corinthians 8

Is War Ever Just?

2011-03-22T12:10:00.002-06:00

By Captain Michael Ramsay

The Nipawin Journal, November 2007

This is a cursorily look at the topic. For more reading, I have posted a bibliography at http://www.sheepspeak.com./is_war_ever_just.htm

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 23rd

2011-03-22T12:05:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Joshua 15-17 and 1 Corinthians 8

Peter

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 22nd

2011-03-22T12:02:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Joshua 12-14 and 1 Corinthians 7

Don’t Worry, Be Happy (1 Corinthians 7 21-24)

2011-03-22T11:59:00.001-06:00

Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on August 31, 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay
.
Today’s passage speaks about slavery. This is actually a big social justice issue in the Salvation Army. Coming up this 28 September, The Salvation Army is asking us all to pray for the victims of today's sex slave trade. Social Justice is something about which we are very concerned.

Now when I think of justice, I must confess the first thing that comes to my mind these days are my daughters (6&7), they are concerned about justice – particularly as it relates to themselves. I don’t know how many times from downstairs, I hear, “Daddy she hit me” or “Daddy she won’t stop touching me” or “Daddy it’s not fair; why does she get to do that?”

I remember this too from when I was a child – there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl. 1:9) - that justice is usually more about justice for ourselves than for anyone else. I can remember when I was a child whenever I felt hard done by; whenever I felt that the world was ganging up on me; whenever I would get a detention for something that I didn’t do at school or whenever I got in trouble for something that my little sister did at home – all of a sudden justice became important. It is funny how important justice is when we feel wronged. Now, when I got upset about this unjust world that was ganging up on me, I would do something. I would do something: I would complain.

I would go to my mom. I would rant on and on about how life is treating me so poorly and how my rights are being trampled and how I deserve so much more and when I inevitably finish my whining and complaining and making much of an ado about whatever, my mother would answer my complaints with these important words of comfort.

“Michael, suck it up – stop your whining – deal with it.”

In the 80’s there was a song that would sum it up in a more positive phraseology – it was Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry. Be Happy”[1]

This is actually part of what our text today, 1 Corinthians 7:21-24, is talking about– and I’ll come back to that in a minute. First we should address a real social justice issue here because if we don’t it may bug some of us a little bit – after all how can we sing “Don’t Worry. Be Happy” when we are talking about slavery.[2]

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/08/1-corinthians-7-21-24dont-worry-be.html

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 21st

2011-03-22T11:55:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Joshua 9-11 and 1 Corinthians 6

Mel's keys on deck

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 20th

2011-03-22T11:52:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Joshua 7,8 and Psalm 69 and 1 Corinthians 5

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 19th

2011-03-22T11:49:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Joshua 3-6 and 1 Corinthians 4

The tribe of 'F-frame'

Covenant and the Gibeonite Dilemma

2011-03-18T09:42:00.000-06:00

Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on May 18, 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay

Judges 2:1-5: The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you." When the angel of the LORD had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, and they called that place Bokim (weepers). There they offered sacrifices to the LORD.

This is disappointing; it’s a sad but very important passage from which to launch the stories of the so-called Judges.[1] This pericope (Joshua 2:1-5) explains why the Israelites and their allies suffer hundreds of years of oppression.[2] It informs us that the cycle of sin, enslavement, repentance, deliverance, and sin again… which continues repeatedly until Israel finally descends into civil war and anarchy - this whole downward spiral[3] all stems from one broken promise; a disobeyed covenant.

Our promises, our covenants are important to God and as such how we operate within a covenant relationship has significant implications for our lives. The Lord said to His people that He will never break His covenant with them (Judges 2:1) – they, we are not released from our covenants simply for disobedience to them; there are serious consequences for taking our covenants too lightly.

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/judges-21-5-covenant-and-gibeonite.html

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 18th

2011-03-18T09:35:00.002-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Joshua 1,2 and Psalm 37 and 1 Corinthians 3

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 17th

2011-03-18T09:34:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 32-34 and 1 Corinthians 2

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 16th

2011-03-18T09:32:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 30,31 and Psalm 40 and 1 Corinthians 1

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

2011-03-14T22:32:00.002-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 28-29 and Galatians 6

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 14th

2011-03-14T22:30:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 25-27 and Galatians 5

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 13th

2011-03-14T22:27:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 22-23 and Galatians 4

Don't be a McChicken (Galatians 3:19-25)

2011-03-10T21:34:00.000-06:00

Presented to Nipawin Corps on January 20, 2008
and to Tisdale Corps on January 27, 2008
By Captain Michael Ramsay
.
One day at the McDonald farm there is a rumbling in the air; something is a foot. In the chicken coop – something isn’t just quite right. The old farmer walks all around the chicken wire fence. It seems to be in tact. The barbed wire along the perimeter looks undisturbed. Everything looks fine as he locks up the hens for the night. But inside the henhouse on the top rung, something is stirring…it is Henrietta the Poultry Hen.

Now, as soon as Farmer McDonald closes the door to the coop, Henrietta, the Hen, speaks up: “It’s time.” Quickly Henrietta, Polly, Mick, - and all the chickens on the top rung - run to the southeast corner of the coop. They peck and they peck the ground in the corner like never before. Last night they had almost made it. Tonight would be the night. Finally – breakthrough! Henrietta and the other Chickens are free. They are free from the farmer’s coop. They are free from the barbed wire and the chicken wire; they are free from the tedious ritual and routine. They are free!

They spend the next morning roaming around the yard, exploring the whole farm. They eat what they want, when then want. They can be near or wander far away: they talk. They talk and they talk some more; it’s a hen’s life. They spend that whole day walking around eating what and when they want and really enjoying the full freedom from the yard. At the end of the day, they perch on a branch of tree across the road from the farm and cuddle up the night. It is good.

They have a nice rest but in the morning when they wake up, they notice something...

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/01/galatians-319-25-dont-be-mcchicken.html

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 12th

2011-03-10T21:30:00.002-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 19-21 and Galatians 3

___Tigger's favourite verse:

'by his stripes we are healed'

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 11th

2011-03-10T21:27:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 16-18 and Psalm 38 and Galatians 2

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 10th

2011-03-10T21:24:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 13-15 and Galatians 1

The Lamb breaks the 3rd Seal.

Dead or Alive: what do you believe? (Mark 16)

2011-03-10T21:21:00.001-06:00

Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on March 23, 2008 (Resurrection Sunday)by Captain Michael Ramsay
.
Christ has Risen (He has Risen Indeed).

So this is it. This is the most important day in the Christian calendar. This is the day we celebrate the risen Christ. This is exciting indeed. This is how Jesus defeated sin and death by dying and rising again on the third day. Today is the celebration. Today is exciting. Do you know what these are? (My daughters’ medals) They are medals, right? These are medals that my daughters were awarded this year in soccer and skating.[1]

Rebecca did a really good job her first year in skating. Sarah-Grace’s soccer team was in two tournaments this year. In the first one her team won bronze. In the second one her team won silver: they played really well and we were all so proud. You should have heard some of the dads cheering. It was a lot of fun; we celebrated. Everyone is looking forward to the next tournament when we can go for gold.

This is what Easter (Resurrection Day) is all about.[2] It is all about celebrating the victory of Jesus through the death and resurrection and more than that: it appears, in Mark Chapter 16, that they were celebrating an unexpected victory[3] – a come from behind win if you will.

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/03/mark-161-8-dead-or-alive-what-do-you.html

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 9th

2011-03-10T21:17:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 10-12 and Mark 16

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 8th

2011-03-08T09:56:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 7-9 and Mark 15

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 7th

2011-03-07T10:00:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 5-6 and Psalm 43 and Mark 14

"repent and sin no more..."

Hope for a Happy New Year! (Mark 13:32-37)

2011-03-05T17:26:00.001-06:00

Presented to each the Nipawin and Tisdale Corps 30 November 2008 by Captain Michael Ramsay

Happy New Year! Does anyone know why I would wish you a happy New Year today? Today is the beginning of Advent. In traditional liturgical churches, advent is the beginning of the church year where we celebrate the first coming of Christ and celebrate the hope that is in his anticipated return. Now often at New Year there are all kinds of year-end quizzes; so I thought that I would put a little tongue-in-cheek quiz together for us based on our text today.

What do these dates have in common: 8:00 AM October 19, 1533; April 5, 1534; March 21 and October 22, 1844; Sept. 10, 1979; Dec. 31, 1981; Sept 11 -13, 1988; March 31, 1991; October 20, 1997; December 12, 2012?

A: They are various people’s predictions for the end of world date.

What do these people have in common: Nero, the Pope, Mikhail Gorbachev, Prince Charles, the US President (elect), David Hasselhoff?[1]

A. They were/ are various people’s predictions for the arch-anti-Christ.

Now this next question is a good one. It is a riddle –you’ll have to pay attention. Someone has figured out a way to ‘out’ the beast of Revelation and solve the riddle of ‘666’ – let’s see together of we can solve the riddle and figure out who is the beast of John’s Apocalypse?

Given that 666 is the number of the Beast, First we must break that number down into its component parts in such away that when we add them back together, they will total 666.

I’ll give you this part (if you click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/11/mark-1332-37-hope-for-happy-new-year.html)

Dr Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 6th

2011-03-05T17:22:00.001-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 3-4 and Psalm 36 and Mark 13

Two of the twelve tribes...

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 5th

2011-03-04T14:07:00.002-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Deuteronomy 1-2 and Mark 12

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 4th

2011-03-04T14:05:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 34-36 and Mark 11

Open Our Eyes Lord (Mark 10:46-52)

2011-03-03T10:26:00.002-06:00

Presented to the Nipawin Corps 03 May 2009
by Captain Michael Ramsay
.
Captain Holland, Stephen, my friend from Nova Scotia has a story: Stephen and his wife Karen are posted to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. It is a small community, not unlike our own and one day a new lady (named Karen) came to town and called up Stephen’s wife, Karen, and said that she would like to come to church. Well when she got there – Stephen told me – he asked the new lady her name. She said ‘Karen’

‘Karen, that’s my wife’s name,’ said Stephen, ‘Karen, that should be easy to remember.’ So he welcomes her, invites her to have a seat and then goes over to one of the other ladies in the church and asks her to go and introduce herself to the new lady.

‘What’s her name?’ she asks.

‘Debbie’, Stephen answers.

It appears that I am not the only one bad with names.

read more: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/05/mark-1046-52-open-our-eyes-lord-we-want.html

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Mar 3rd

2011-03-03T10:23:00.000-06:00

http://drwas.blogspot.com/

Click to read today's rations (scriptures): Numbers 32-33 and Mark 10

sheepspeak

Is God 'Not the Mama'?

Year in Review..

Sunday's Test

A Tale of Two Kings: Christ and Caesar

Do You Believe?

Twas the day before the night before Christmas...

Seven Pieces of Pi

Break-in at the Swift Current Salvation Army

Christmas Miracle Room

Kettle Kick-off

Kettle Kick-off

Lest we forget what the Lord has done...

Remembrance Day: Lest We Forget

2 Timothy 1:12: Learn To Suffer

Deuteronomy 8: The Next Generation Thanks The Lord

Barak the fearful?

Can airstrikes protect civillians?

Human Trafficking in Canada

The Truth Isn't Sexy

Pray for the end of human trafficking

Human Trafficking: The following information is adapted slightly from The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Resources.

Human Trafficking Q&A

Justice in Swift Current, Salvation Army Style.

Pat Robertson says Alzheimer's justifies divorce - The Bible, JAC and I disagree

The Associated Press Posted: Sep 16, 2011 11:03 AM ET Last Updated: Sep 16, 2011 10:44 AM ET

Top Ten Reasons Why Men Shouldn’t Be Ordained.

Say it! Know it! Do it!

Exerpt from the Obedience Company

Julie Arnold, a missionary from Swift Current Corps, visited today

Farewell to the Rapture!

Galatians 3:19-25: Don’t be a McChicken

COVENANT PART 4: The Apostle Paul's Understanding of the Nature and Function of the Law

COVENANT PART 3 (The Good News of Romans: Paul and the Gospel and Salvation, Romans 1:16-17)

COVENANT PART 2 (Paul’s Understanding of the Role of Law as Reflected in Romans 2:12-16, 17-24, and 25-29)

COVENANT PART 1 (Paul and the Human Condition as reflected in Romans 1:18-32 and 2:1-16)

Wright on Covenant

1 Timothy 6:6 and The Resurrection Band

The children are the future...

Re:Forgiveness (1)

The Apostle Paul's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Army Barmy on leadership and people going to hell....

JAC is BACk tomorrow

Seven Years of Abundance

Genesis 41: Seven Years of Abundance

Catherine Quotes

Joseph and the Prosperity Heresy

Characteristics of Salvationism

Its Not Actually About You...

Why Should I Read the Bible?

Not an Atheistic Society

Is War Ever Just?

The Salvation Army's Kids Club Camps

Julie Arnold is en route to Indonesia

Water in Weyburn

Arrival and Information Gathering

Mobile Feeding and Assessment Procedure

Next Phase

Congraduations!

Prairie Fishing Weekend

The Soap Box Derby was a lot of fun

The barbeque with the Baptist went well on the weekend

Malachi 2:10-12: Don’t Marry the Daughter of a Foreign God

Journal of Aggressive Christianity

Malachi 1:8: Lame Offerings

D-Day Service 2011

Following the Lord’s Lead

Swift Current Specialling

Quiz...

Jesus is watching you

Mother's Day, Love and Obey

Election Night.

Election Time. Make your choice....

Resurrection Sunday and more (April 22-30)

Resurrection Sunday: Luke 24:1-12: Why do you look for the living among the dead?

The Credit Card of Justice and Righteousness (Psalm 72)

Gingerbread Cookies of Justice and Salvation (Psalm 72:1-7)

Hockey Card (1 Samuel 4:1b-7:1)

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Apr 9th

DR Was (Daily Rations with a Smile) Apr 8th

The Associated Press
Posted: Sep 16, 2011 11:03 AM ET
Last Updated: Sep 16, 2011 10:44 AM ET