Sheepspeak: sermons, articles, and papers: 2016

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Devotion 2.33/86: Luke 1:46-47: Friend

Presented to River Street Cafe 29 December 2016

Read Luke 1:46-56:

Wayne Cormier told me a story. He used to work for the government. A few years ago he found himself driving around one of the cabinet ministers and his assistant was sitting in the back with his tape recorder taping everything the minister said as per protocol at that time in that situation. They were driving around sizing up the damage from all of the forest fires in the north when all of a sudden their vision became impaired. It became more and more impaired. Wayne was chauffeur and he could barely see anything in front of him and it wasn’t winter so it wasn’t snow – it was smoke from the fire. The fire was so close you could almost feel it. The politician asked Wayne, ‘what do we do now’?

Wayne said, ‘Pray’. Wayne is a solid Christian and he has been for a quite a long time. ‘Pray’, he says, ‘we can’t see anything but we can’t stop driving or its game over; we can’t do anything else but drive and pray - so pray!’

The assistant with the tape recorder in the back begins to pray quite a bit when Wayne hears the cabinet minister, the politician, start to pray. He prays, ‘God if you save us, I will go to church on Sunday.’ They wait patiently as Wayne drives slowly through the fire. They wait and they pray as they await their salvation from the fire.

When they get out of the fire and they start to relax a bit and get ready for their next tour, Wayne approaches the politician, the cabinet minister, and he asks him, ‘So you’re going to church on Sunday?”

“Oh, you heard that, did you?”

“Yes, and so will everyone; your assistant has it on tape”

“Oh, well maybe I should go to church then…”

Now Wayne doesn’t know whether or not the politician was true to his word. He doesn’t know whether he did go to church or not but while he was waiting for his salvation, in that moment he approached God, he encountered God and we can only hope that once that waiting was over he continued with God.

In everything in our lives, God is with us. He is with us in the easy times. He is with us in the difficult times but it seems often that it is only in the midst of the difficult times, that we call on God. A real friend is with you in the good times too; they don’t just come around when they are in a jam or when they need something from us. Question for us today: are we a friend of God?

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Luke 2:1: With Us or Augustus?

Presented 25 December 2016 to The Salvation Army 614 Warehouse Christmas Dinner in Toronto and 25 December 2018 to Alberni Valley Ministries on Vancouver Island by Captain Michael Ramsay*
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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.” It is not by accident that Luke invokes the name of Caesar here. It is actually a crucial part of our Christmas story. Do we know why? Do we know who was Caesar Augustus? His given name was Gaius Octavius.

Octavius’ uncle was Julius Caesar. He saved Rome from the republic and became the first Roman Emperor. Julius Caesar was worshiped as a god. Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BCE; when he died his will was read and in his will Julius Caesar adopted Octavius as his son – so Octavius/ Augustus inherited the throne of the whole Roman Empire – He was the adopted son of a Roman ‘god’ and he became king of all the Roman kings. Thus Caesar Augustus was known as a son of a god and the king of kings. Luke knew this and the first people reading Luke’s Gospel knew this. This is important because by mentioning Caesar in this opening passage Luke is not so subtlety telling people that Caesar is not the son of God and Caesar is not the ultimate king of Kings. Do these titles sound familiar? Who do we know is the real King of kings? Who do we know is the real Son of God? This is important.

There is another interesting thing about the Christmas story as it relates to Caesar and another famous king. After taking power, Caesar Augustus and his allies slaughtered thousands of political enemies. Antony and Cleopatra then waged war against them. They were defeated by this other famous person in the Christmas story. King Herod Agrippa was the one whose navy defeated Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BCE and within a year they both famously committed suicide.

Following this, Rome officially named Octavian ‘Augustus’: the name ‘Augustus’ means ‘the exalted.’ The politicians then gave him the legal power to rule every aspect of the Roman Empire all to himself. Through wars, murder and intrigue, Caesar Augustus became Rome’s ultimate Emperor, bringing stability to the realm.

Caesar Augustus ruled with an iron fist. He was worshiped as a god and as a son of a god; by destroying his enemies in war he even ironically became known as the prince of the Roman peace.

Luke and all his readers know very much what we have just said about Augustus Caesar. They know his story. That is their life and times. This is important to Luke’s Gospel because Luke knows and is showing us that Jesus – not Caesar- truly is God, the Son of God, and the Prince of Peace. Notice how different the real King of Kings is from Caesar Augustus or any other king or any leader of any superpower either past or present. Luke, in invoking Caesar Augustus’ name and this taxation is drawing this parallel and making this contrast between all other political leaders and Jesus.

In our passage today Luke is showing us that Jesus, Jesus’ mother and adoptive father are very different from Augustus Caesar and his adoptive father. Rather than conquering an Empire by force, Joseph and Mary walked to faraway city to pay their taxes to this Caesar Augustus.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, the city was full. There was no room in the inns so the real king, the real Son of God, the real God incarnate comes into the world – a little differently from Caesar Augustus or anyone else – even today – who is a powerful ruler. Jesus’ mother, Mary, gives birth in the only room available in a cave or a stable and makes her baby as comfortable as possible, wrapping him snugly in pieces of cloth and placing him in a feeding trough, in a manger packed with straw.

Whereas the king Augustus Caesar had his power acknowledged by the powerful politicians of his day through war, murder, and intrigue. Christ Jesus’ kingship is heralded through angels to working class shepherds who were working the night shift.

Luke 2: 8-14: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

These working class shepherds, who are working that night, are invited by God’s messengers to come and see His new born Son, born to parents who are here to pay their taxes to the leader of the temporal superpower of their day: who is ironically enough an impostor pretending to be the son of a god. These shepherds listen to God and go to Bethlehem and are blessed to see the birth of God’s truly only begotten son who will grow up to save the whole world.

Our thought for today thus concludes with the same questions as was before the readers of Luke’s gospel in the first century. Which of these two kings will we serve? Will we serve Caesar or Jesus? Are we with Christ or Augustus? Will we serve the rulers of our current time and place in history who stand where Caesar did – Presidents, Prime Ministers, Premiers – and their empires and systems – capitalism, democracy, consumerism, imperialism… - or will we serve the real Son of God who lived and died and rose again so that we can all live forever in His Kingdom to come if we so choose?

On this Christmas two centuries closer to the return of our King, the choice is ours. Who will we serve: the rulers of our time and place who wage war in the name of peace or the true Prince of Peace who was born in a manger 2000+ years ago and who is returning anytime soon?

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* Based on Luke 2:1-20: A Tale of Two Kings which was presented to Swift Current Corps and community on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, 2011&12 http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2011/12/luke-21-20-tale-of-two-kings.html

Devotion 2.32/85: Luke 2:1: God-King

Presented to River Street Cafe, 24 December 2016

Read Luke 2:1-7

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.” It is not by accident that Luke invokes the name of Caesar here. It is actually a crucial part of our Christmas pericope. Do we know why? Do we know who was Caesar Augustus? His given name was Octavian or Octavius.

Before he was king, his uncle Julius Caesar was king in Rome. Julius Caesar was worshiped as a god. He was murdered in 44 BCE and in his will Julius Caesar adopted Octavian as his son thus making him his heir to the helm of the Roman world. Octavian then became the adopted son of the ‘god’ Julius Caesar and he became the king of all the kings in the Roman Empire. When Octavian / Caesar Augustus became king the fastest growing religion was the worship of the king. Caesar Augustus was known as the son of a god and the king of kings.

After taking power, Augustus and his allies slaughtered thousands of political enemies. Antony and Cleopatra then waged war against them. They were actually defeated by another famous person in the Christmas story. King Herod Agrippa was the one whose navy defeated Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BCE and within a year they both famously committed suicide.

Following this Rome officially changed Octavian’s name to ‘Augustus’, which means ‘the exalted.’ The politicians then gave him the legal power to rule every aspect of the Roman Empire all to himself. Through wars, murder and intrigue, Caesar Augustus became Rome’s ultimate Emperor, bringing stability to the realm.

Caesar Augustus ruled with an iron fist. He was worshiped as a god and as a son of a god; by destroying his enemies in war he even ironically became known as the prince of the Roman peace. When the Gospel of Luke was recorded, Augustus was known as a god, a son of god, prince of peace and the exalted one. This is extremely important to Luke’s Gospel because in this Gospel Luke goes out of his way so that the readers will understand that Caesar is not god, son of god, prince of peace or the exalted one, someone else is.

Our thought for today thus concludes with the same questions as was before the readers of Luke’s gospel in the first century. Which of these two do we believe is in authority? Which will we serve? Will we serve Caesar or Christ? Will we serve the apparent rulers of our current time and place in history who stand where Caesar did – Presidents, Prime Ministers, Premiers – and their empires and systems – capitalism, democracy, consumerism, imperialism… - or will we serve the real Son of God who lived and died and rose again so that we can all have the opportunity to live forever in His Kingdom to come?

On this eve of Christmas Eve two centuries closer to the return of our King, the choice is ours. Who will we serve: the apparent rulers of our age or the real ruler of the age to come? And what is the difference between serving one or the other.

www.sheepspeak.com

Friday, December 16, 2016

Devotion 2.31/84: John 1:5: Solstice

Presented to River Street Cafe, 16 December 2016

Read John 1:5-9

This upcoming Wednesday is the Winter Solstice. The Winter Solstice is the darkest day of the year. There is less light and more darkness than any other day of the year. Sometimes I think that our world or our country is near its own Winter Solstice where it is only spiritual darkness all of the time.

Crime in Canada is as high as it ever was. In our own neighbourhood death and violent crimes seem to occur weekly if not more regularly. According to the CCVF, it is so bad in our country now that many people are losing any faith in the authorities’ ability to stop even violent crime and so in many cases charges aren’t even being filed anymore. Even economic crime is on the rise in Canada with Reuters reporting that 56 percent of companies surveyed (more than half of them) reported falling prey to white-collar crime. And – of course – near the darkest night there is pornography, which horribly is North America’s most lucrative pastime. In the US, pornography revenue –as we have said before- is more than all money made from professional football, baseball and basketball combined. The money made by US pornography exceeds the combined revenues of all their major TV networks (6.2 billion) Child pornography alone generates $3 billion annually. We are near to that societal Winter Solstice.

And then there is war: Did you know that in the ten years after the Soviet Union fell, there were people dead from more wars than from the whole century before? – And in that century, we had both WWI and WWII. The wars keep rolling and the blood keeps flowing as we invade country after country after country. The nights seem very long and dark indeed. The days seem near to a societal Winter Solstice.

During this Advent for these devotional thoughts as well as in the sermons I have preached, we have spoken a lot about social justice. That is a key element of Advent. Celebrating and waiting for deliverance from all the darkness around us.

This Wednesday is the darkest day of the year but do you know what that means for Thursday? Thursday we will see a little more light. And Friday, Friday we will see a little more light; and Saturday and Sunday, and after Christmas, more light and more light.

The Gospel of John speaks about Jesus as the light of the world. Jesus, when he came 2000+ years ago, he came as light into our dark world and though we may still be near a societal solstice, the darkness can not overcome the light and eventually the light of the goodness of Christ will fill the whole world. Just as we celebrate Jesus coming in a manger, we look forward to his return on a cloud very soon and the Bible promises that when he does return there will be no more darkness. Revelation 22:5: “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Jesus is the light of the world.

When that day comes there will be no more darkness but until then as Christians, we are called to reflect Jesus’ light while we await his ultimate return; how can you and I do that for our neighbours who may still be groping around in our society’s darkness?

Devotion 2.31/83: Isaiah 11:9: Waiting

Presented to River Street Cafe, 09 December 2016

Read Isaiah 11:9-10

We spoke about this on Sunday. We know what is God’s holy mountain? It’s Mount Zion. It is the mountain where Solomon’s, Zerubabbel’s, and Herod’s temple’s were built. It is the mountain where the Dome on the Rock currently stands. It is the mountain where God spared the life of Isaac, as he was about to be offered up to the Lord as a sacrifice. Zion, for many years, was where some people even thought that God himself lived. God says when the His kingdom is fully realized on earth here no one will hurt or destroy on His holy mountain. As God’s seat of power, when Jesus ultimately claims his throne, no one in authority will ever hurt anyone again. No more will politicians or their handlers exploit the rest. No more will governments wage war or the powerful take advantage of the poor.

We are in a season of Advent now. Advent is about waiting. We remember waiting for the birth of our saviour millennia ago as we eagerly await his return now. And when He returns what a day that of rejoicing that will be. When Jesus comes back, we will no longer be subservient to the brutal politico-socio-economic systems we are today. (The Lord has already provided more than enough resources for the whole world to be fed and clothed many times over.) These systems of oppression will end. The rulers of this world will be brought low. The presidents, money people, and other rulers of our age who oversee all of this will be brought down. This will come to an end. Isaiah promises that. Jesus fulfills that.

When Jesus comes back there will be no more elections, rigged or otherwise. There will be no more ignorance. There will be no more wars. There will be no more death. There will be no more tears. When Jesus comes back, everything will be okay. He promises it will be okay and this is what Isaiah is telling us today in the text.

Added to that truth is this: as you serve Jesus, as we follow him instead of the others who want us to follow them - politicians, money people and powerful people and their systems: this ‘ism’ and that ‘ism’ - as we serve Jesus instead here and now; even while there is so much death, dishonesty, pain and suffering all around us and even while there may be so much pain even within us, Jesus promises that he will comfort us in the midst of all the very real struggles of this world as indeed we look forward to that day when he will return and wipe all of the injustice off the face of this earth… and then God alone will rule over us with His righteousness and His faithfulness forever more.

Devotion 2.30/82: Mathew 24:42: Ready

Presented to the River Street Cafe 02 December 2016

Read Matthew 24:36-42

It is like with our daughter’s birth. She was two weeks or more late. When the due date came and went we could have taken everything out of the baby bag we had prepared for that day and put it away. If we did, it wouldn’t stop the baby from coming. We just wouldn’t be prepared for her arrival and even if I was looking for everything that we had unpacked and I couldn't find what I need in time, the baby would still come at the pre-appointed time, I just may have missed out on the blessings of that moment. Baby was coming soon whether we were ready or not.

Advent is about being prepared and waiting. Jesus is coming back. In our life; are we ready for him? Are our spiritual bags still packed? Or have we in the weeks, months and years since we gave our lives to Christ, have we been slowly unpacking our heavenly baby bags? Do we still have our Bibles that we read daily in there or did we put them back on the shelves because Jesus hasn’t come just yet? He’s still coming. How about our incessant, fervent prayers: do we still practice them daily or have we put them away until we feel we need them? How about our offering of food, clothing, and love to the least, the lost, and the last: is this still with us and in our spiritual baby bags or have we filed these away somewhere; leaving us unprepared for the immanent arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is coming soon?

If Jesus comes like an overdue baby tonight, are we ready? Will we be there to greet him or will we miss out? Today, are our bags packed with our prayers, Bible study, and love for our neighbour? Are we ready to meet our maker when he returns? As sure as Baby was coming soon and indeed did eventually arrive, Jesus is coming very soon. When he arrives, are we ready? Are we ready for when he shows up like a thief in the night or will we be left outside like the unprepared bridesmaids? Are we investing the talents God is entrusting us with? Or will He take back even the very life that He has loaned us because we wasted it? Jesus is coming soon. When he does, will he say to us ‘away from me’? Or will he say to us, because we are prepared to meet him, ‘take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world’ - and ‘well done my good and faithful servant’? In short, I ask us today, Jesus is coming soon, whether we are ready for it or not; so are we ready?

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Isaiah 11:1-10: On that Day.

Presented to Corps 614 Regent Park on the second Sunday of Advent 04 Dec 2016 by Captain Michael Ramsay

In our world today we are subservient to politico-socio-economic systems where one person becomes rich as over 25 000 children die each day due to poverty. Some people become millionaires for appearing on a screen or playing sports while many others cannot afford to feed and clothe themselves. In our world today there is pornography, which horribly is America’s most lucrative pastime. In the United States, pornography revenue is more than all money made from professional football, baseball and basketball combined. The money spent on one professional team alone would feed and clothe the world. This is our world today. But…

ISAIAH 11:1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

ON THAT DAY… From a stump – an albeit dead tree – that has been chopped down, burned down, rotted out or otherwise destroyed, from this stump a shoot, new life will Spring up.

Isaiah says this shoot will come from the stump of Jesse; who is Jesse? (King David’s father) Who was King David? David was one of only 2 or 3 kings of a unified Israel.

David was the first king of Judah. Every other king of Judah claimed to be descended from David. They walked away from God and as they did, they were carried into captivity. The nation and the people, it seemed, were finished. The Kingdom of Judah, like Israel, eventually rotted out and became like a burned out, chopped down stump. It is from this stump that new life will spring. It is a descendant of David who will rule not only Israel but also the whole world. Who is this descendant of David who will rule the whole world? Jesus.[1] ON THAT DAY…

11:2 The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

11:3 His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;

What does it mean that he has knowledge of the fear of the LORD and that his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD? Why does he delight in fear? What does that mean?

The phrase ‘fear of the LORD’ can describe dread (Deut 1:29), being terrified (Jonah 1:10), standing in awe (1 Kings 3:28), or having reverence (Lev 19:3). With the Lord as the object, this phrase captures both aspects of shrinking back in fear and of drawing close in awe. It is not a trembling dread that paralyzes action, but neither is it a polite reverence (Plaut, p. 32).[2]

Strong’s dictionary and concordance define this ‘fear’ as ‘moral reverence’ acknowledging that the phrase encompasses more than that – it can refer to a sense of moral dread or even of an exceeding moral fearfulness.[3] What does this mean? What is the difference between this reverent, moral fearfulness that leads to knowledge or wisdom and the fearful, panic-stricken, timid phobia that leads to cowering? What is this fear of the Lord?

Are we familiar with the word ‘deference’? Deference means respect. People often have a certain amount of deference (respect) for our uniforms. I have had many people alter their language and try not to swear in my presence because of my uniform that represents my office as a representative of God. Even non-believers tend to offer this token of deference to The Salvation Army uniform. Even more than that I have seen people show a healthy respect in courtrooms when they are in front of the judge. This kind of thing is what Isaiah is talking about when he says Jesus will delight in the fear of the LORD. ON THAT DAY…

11:3 His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;

What does it mean that he shall not judge by what he sees or hears? Isn’t that how we are supposed to make judgements - by what we see or hear? What is a better way to judge?

11:4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Jesus is the great equalizer. The Bible tells us over and over again around the birth of Jesus and the reign of God, those that serve the world we be deposed when the systems of the world are overthrown. Capitalism will be overthrown. Presidents will be overturned and presidential elections will end. Corrupt politicians will cease to exist. No more will we live in a world where bankers, athletes, actors, investors, and others live high on the hog while over 25 000 children die every day due to poverty. Jesus makes decisions based on righteousness rather than by what he sees and hears: he kills the wicked and provides equity for the meek. ON THAT DAY…

11:5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

Faithfulness will be his underwear. Not only will Jesus rule the world with righteousness. Faithfulness will guard what is near and dear to him. Jesus, the leader who pulls down the powerful and raises up the powerless – unlike the reputation the world’s politicians seem to have earned – Jesus will not turn on those who endorsed and worked for him. How many times have people elected leaders in this country and even recently in the USA who they thought would be their champions, only to see those politicians seemingly betray the people who voted for them and act in bad faith. Jesus is not like that. Jesus will not betray the poor, the widow, the immigrant, the victimized, the marginalized. Jesus will not betray us. The high and mighty people of today – as they serve our current socio-politico-economic systems - will be brought low. And those who have been brought low by our world’s leaders will be lifted up by Jesus. You can count on that – faithfulness is the belt around his loins. ON THAT DAY…

11:6 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.

Lamb is a good meal even for a wolf. The wolf will live with the lamb instead of eating his food. Goat is great food even for a leopard but instead of eating his meal, the leopard will lie down with the kid. The same with veal; the same with the baby calf and the lion and the fatling; and a little child will lead them. Instead of killing – even to eat – the prey will have nothing to fear of the predator; let alone powerless people from Superpowers. In a country that serves God people will not kill each other. ON THAT DAY…

11:7 The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Predators will no longer be a threat to traditional prey. ON THAT DAY…

11:8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.

Babies will not be attacked by animals and animals will not be provoked by toddlers. You have seen a dog or a cat that is good with babies and toddlers: how they let a child carry them around and do all kinds of things to them. All animals, all creation, all of us will have that same patience when Jesus returns to claim his crown that he was crowned with upon his own death and resurrection. ON THAT DAY…

11:9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

We know what is God’s holy mountain? It’s Mount Zion. It is the mountain where Solomon’s, Zerubabbel’s, and Herod’s temple’s were built. It is in Jerusalem. It is the mountain where the Dome on the Rock currently stands. It is the mountain where God spared the life of Isaac, as he was about to be offered up to the Lord as a sacrifice. Zion, for many years, was where some people even thought that God himself lived. God says when the Messiah’s kingdom is fully realized no one will hurt or destroy on His holy mountain. This can mean two things: 1) there will be no hunting there – but this mountain, long before Isaiah lived even, is right in a large urban centre; it is not prime hunting grounds. 2) It can also mean that as God’s seat of power, when Jesus ultimately claims his throne no one in authority will ever hurt anyone again. No more will politicians or their handlers exploit the rest. No more will governments wage war or the powerful take advantage of the poor and the powerless.

11:10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Advent is about waiting. We remember waiting for the birth of our saviour millennia ago as we eagerly await his return now. And when He returns what a day that of rejoicing that will be. When Jesus comes back, we will no longer be subservient to these brutal politico-socio-economic systems we are today. (The Lord has already provided more than enough resources for the whole world to be fed and clothed many times over.) These systems of oppression will end. The rulers of this world will be brought low. The presidents, money people, and other rulers of our age who oversee all of this will be brought down. This will come to an end. Isaiah promises that. Jesus fulfills that.

And I will add to that the truth that as you serve Jesus, as we follow him instead of the others - politicians, money people and powerful people and their systems - as we serve Jesus instead, here and now; even while there is so much death, dishonesty, pain and suffering all around us and so much pain even within us, Jesus promises that he will comfort us in the midst of all the very real struggles of this world as indeed we look forward to the day when he will return and wipe all of the injustice aside… as God will rule over us forever more with His righteousness and His faithfulness.

Let us pray

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, Acts 15:1-19 - The Chihuahua Barks Again. Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Salvation Army, 09 September 2007 and Swift Current, 26 May 2013. On-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2007/09/acts-151-19-chihuahua-barks-again.html

[2] Cf. Allen P. Ross, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/I. Introduction to the Book of Proverbs (1:1-7)/C. Motto: The Fear of the Lord (1:7), Book Version: 4.0.2

[3] Yirah, in The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words. (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1966), p. 395. Cf. also Cf. The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. ‘5374: yir’ah’ (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1995), p.59.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Matthew 24:36-51 (Revelation 22:7-21): He is Coming Soon!

Presented to the Swift Current Corps, 27 June 2010 and Corps 614 Regent Park and Warehouse Mission in Toronto, 27 November 2016. By Captain Michael Ramsay

This is the Toronto 2016, version. To view the original click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2010/06/matthew-2436-51-revelation-227-21-he-is.html

A fellow was speaking to God and he said, “Lord, I have two questions for you, I was wondering if you could help me.

1) A Millennium, a thousand years, is a long time to us – how long is that time for an eternal God?”

“It is just a second”

2) “God, there is a lottery draw coming up next Saturday and I was wondering if I could have the winning lottery ticket?”

“Sure, in just a second.”

Advent is about waiting. Advent is about being prepared and Advent is about waiting. Advent is about remembering the wait for Jesus to be born and advent is us today waiting for him to come back. Who here likes to wait?

I remember when Susan was pregnant with Heather six plus years ago. Heather was quite a few days later than her due date. Mom especially was understandably a little bit impatient to meet babe as the days wore on. When Heather finally did arrive, it was a real time of celebration because the due date was about 2 weeks before baby showed up and so everyday we were getting more and more eager for her to come and everyday it was another day closer and every hour it was another hour closer and every minute it was another minute closer. Two plus weeks past the due date and we were ready for Heather to arrive.

Through this time we didn’t necessarily know exactly when she was coming but we were ready. Our bags were packed and in the car. I kept the camera and the phone list at my side. Grandma and Boppa came all the way from Vancouver Island to the small city on the prairie where we were living. They were ready and they were with us since just before baby’s first due date to help look after the other children when baby arrived. We knew baby was coming soon, sooner than ever before…but she wasn’t here yet. We thought a doctor said that baby was coming on the 16^th of June but the 16^th came and went and the baby hadn’t come yet. We saw a doctor had written that the baby was coming on the 17^th but the 17^th came and went and the baby hadn’t come yet. I thought the ultrasound technician said the baby was coming on the 20^th or the 21^st; Susan thought they said the 22^nd but the 20^th came and went and the 21^st came and went and the 22^nd came and went and Baby hadn’t come yet. We were prepared for the baby many days before all those dates, in between all those dates, and after those dates. We knew that the baby was coming soon, all through June (and before) but –until the 29^th - the baby hadn’t come yet.

Revelation 3:11, Jesus says, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” But Jesus hasn’t come back yet. Revelation 22:7, Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” But Jesus hasn’t come back yet. Revelation 22:12, Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” But Jesus hasn’t come back yet. And Revelation 22:20, “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” But Jesus hasn’t come back yet.

The people in the first years after Jesus rose from the grave – when the early church was formed - expected him to come back soon, any minute, but Jesus hasn’t come back yet. The people in the first decades after Jesus rose from the grave – when most of our New Testament was written - expected him to come soon, any minute but Jesus hasn’t come back yet (cf. Luke 17:26-27).[1] The people in the first centuries after Jesus rose from the grave – when most of our church fathers lived - expected him to come soon, any minute but Jesus hasn’t come back yet.[2] The people through the first millennium after Jesus rose from the dead – when the church continued to spread through North Africa, Europe and Asia - expected him to come soon, any minute but Jesus still hasn’t come back yet. The people through the second millennium after Jesus rose from the dead – when the church experienced its Renaissance and Reformation - expected him to come soon, any minute, but Jesus still hasn’t come back yet. And now we are into the third millennium…and still Jesus hasn’t come back yet.

In the time between Baby’s due date and her unknown arrival time, there was a lot going on in our small city where we lived then, in our community, in our ministry –races for which we provided the concession, food drives, new phone system installation and training in our building, farewell events for soldiers and employees, 3 corps and community barbecues - even when Susan was becoming quite anxious about Baby coming, I could have continued on just working on what I thought needed to be done on what I wanted to do or on what I thought was best (cf. the sin of Judges: Judges 21:25). The longer we waited for Baby to come the more I could have slipped back into a regular work routine or turned my attention to real emergencies that ordinarily would have taken me away. There was a massive flood near the border. We sent an Emergency Disaster Services team (Lloyd Blyth, Elaine Blyth, Rachel Sloper, Alvin Gador, Larry Jaster, Lori Reimer; who did a great job, btw)[3] down to Maple Creek Saskatchewan. As the Emergency Disaster representative, I should, would, or could have gone to help with that but if I did, as a result, I would risk missing out on our baby’s birth. Instead –as was needed - I decided to stay by Susan’s side prepared, watching and waiting for Baby Heather. I was still working of course, fulfilling my duties in this post-modern age of laptops and blackberries, but I remained close, waiting, ready for Baby to arrive.

Similarly relating to our Lord Jesus, Matthew 24:42-51 that we read from earlier, records (cf. also Luke 12:42-46):

⁴²"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

⁴⁵"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' ⁴⁹and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. ⁵⁰The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Advent is about waiting and being prepared. Let us look a little closer at this story. What is it about? It is about the fact that Jesus is coming soon and we – even more than doctors and ultrasound technicians - we really don’t know when Jesus is coming but we need to be ready because, like our baby was, Jesus is coming soon (Matthew 24:26, 25:13; Mark 13:32; Luke 12:39-40, 46). He is coming like a thief in the night (Matthew 24:34) and we should be ready (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3, 16:5). This is important. We know this is important for a couple of reasons not the least of which is the fact that Matthew records for us that Jesus says this is important and he repeatedly makes this very point in a number of stories placed back to back to back here in the text.[4] This story of being ready for Jesus to come because he will come like a thief in the night is in the context of a number of similar parables about Jesus’ immanent return.[5]

Advent is about waiting and being ready and Matthew 25:1-13 compares Jesus’ immanent return to bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom and the whole wedding celebration to begin (cf. Luke 14:16-24).[6] This is a big deal. It is the party of the year and no one wants to miss it and their ticket in, in this case, is to be prepared by having oil in their lamps when the groom returns. There are those who started waiting but they weren’t prepared to wait quite long enough and then the bridegroom shows up when they have already gone to do something other than wait for him so they don’t get to celebrate with the groom upon his arrival. They weren’t prepared and, like an out-of-town father when his baby is born, they missed their opportunity to greet him (cf. Heb. 3:7–4:13).[7]

Advent is about waiting and being ready. There is also the so-called, ‘Parable of the Talents’, Matthew 25:18-30 (cf. Luke 19:11-26).[8] Remember that story about waiting and being prepared, about being ready? An employer, a master divides his investment portfolio between his employees, giving them responsibility for it. He gives his servants, his slaves some money, some talents, to be in charge of while he is away. He tells them to take care of his talents. Two of the three servants do just this and thus they are ready for their master’s return. The third – he is thrown into the darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:31). He is not faithful with a little when the master was away so how can he be trusted with the treasures of heaven when the Lord returns (Matthew 25:21,23, 30)? He was not prepared for his Lord’s coming.

Advent is about waiting and advent is about being ready. And we all know the parable of ‘The Sheep and the Goats’ (Matthew 25:31-46). Here when the Son of Man comes he divides the nations on his right and his left. Those who are prepared to reap the benefits of his Kingdom take care of the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the naked, the sick and the prisoners while they were waiting for Him. They are prepared and, to them, He says ‘take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world’ and he says ‘well done my good and faithful servant’. However there are those that did not do this and as such they were not ready to meet their maker and they did not celebrate at his return (Cf. Exodus 23:6,11, Lev. 19:10,15, 23:22, 27:8, Deut. 15:7, 15:11, 24:12-15, 1 Samuel 2:8, Psalms 22:26, 34:6, 35:10, 82:3, Ezekiel 16:49, 18:12, 22:29, Amos 2:7, 4:1, 5:11-12, 8:4-6, Isaiah 3:14, 15, 10:2, 11:4, 26:6, 32:7, 41:17, 58:7, 61:1; Zechariah 7:10). He still came but they did not celebrate. They were cast aside. They were not prepared for his return so they miss out on the blessings of the coming of his kingdom.

It is like with Heather’s birth. When the first due date came and went we could have taken the camera out of the baby bag and put it where it usually belongs; when the next anticipated due date came, we could have taken the baby clothes, Susan’s magazines, and toiletries out of the baby bag. When the next day came and went, we could have taken the very baby bag itself, in which we held everything in anticipation of baby’s arrival, and filled it with various work or play related items instead so that we were no longer prepared. If we did all of this it wouldn’t stop the baby from coming. We just wouldn’t be prepared for her arrival and even if I am looking for everything that we had unpacked and I can’t find what I need in time, baby will still come at the pre-appointed time, I just may miss out on the blessings of that moment. Also if I was away helping out with EDS or something else when baby came I would have missed the occasion or if baby had come early, a few days before the due date instead of 2 plus weeks after the due date, my parents wouldn’t have been a part of it. They would have missed out on baby’s arrival. Baby just barely got there before they had to leave as it was! But we didn’t know when she was coming; all we knew was that she was coming and she was coming soon and with every day, every hour, and every minute that passed baby was coming even sooner. Baby was coming soon whether we were ready or not and if we weren’t ready we would miss out.

Advent is about being prepared and then waiting. Jesus is coming back. In our life, will we miss out on Jesus’ arrival? Or are we ready for him? Are our spiritual bags still packed? Or have we in the weeks, months and years since we gave our lives to Christ, have we been slowly unpacking our heavenly baby bags? Do we still have our Bibles that we read daily in there or did we put them back on the shelves because Jesus hasn’t come just yet? He’s still coming. How about our incessant, fervent prayers: do we still practice them daily or have we put them away until we feel we need them? How about our offering of food, clothing, and love to the least, the lost, and the last: is this still with us and in our spiritual baby bags or have we filed these away somewhere; leaving us unprepared for the immanent arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is coming soon?

What about all of us here today? If Jesus comes like an overdue baby tonight, are we ready? Will we be there to greet him or will we miss out on his return? Today, are our bags packed with our prayers, Bible study, and love for our neighbour? Are we ready to meet our maker when he returns? As sure as Baby Heather was coming soon and indeed did arrive about six and a half years ago, Jesus also is coming very soon. So when he does arrive, are we ready? Are we ready for when he shows up like a thief in the night or will we be left outside like the unprepared bridesmaids? Are we investing the talents God is entrusting us with? Or will He take back even the very life that He has loaned us because we wasted it? Jesus is coming soon. When he does, will he say to us ‘away from me’? Or will he say to us, because we are prepared to meet him, ‘take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world’ - and ‘well done my good and faithful servant’? In short, I ask us today, Jesus is coming soon, whether we are ready for it or not; so are we ready?

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] Cf. Douglas R.A. Hare, Matthew (Interpretation: Louisville, Kentucky: John Know Press, 1993), p.281.

[2] Volume 120 of The Expository Times has a good series of articles on the church fathers. See for ex. Judith L. Kovacs ‘Clement of Alexandria’ in The Expository Times, Vol. 120, No. 6 (March 2009), pp. 261-271

[3] Information about the team and their mission is on-line at: http://renewnetwork.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html#1586402264514679316

[4] Cf. R.T. France, ‘Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary’, Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1985 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 1), S. 342. Endurance is a prominent apocalyptic theme (cf. e.g. Dan. 12:12–13).

[5] Cf. Michael Ramsay, 'Jesus use of Parabolic and Metaphorical Methods to Affect the Listeners of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants', Presented to William and Catherine Booth College (Fall 2006). Available on-line at http://sheepspeak.com/NT_Michael_Ramsay.htm

[6] Luke includes the parable of the Marriage feast – the third of Matthew’s three (Matt. 22:1-14) - in an entirely separate setting (Luke 14:16-24); it is not mentioned at all in the account of Mark and neither Mark nor Luke mention the parable of the two sons (Matt 21:28-32).

[7] Cf. Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14-28. (WBC 33B: Dallas, Texas: Word Books, 1995), 612.

[8] There are several commonalities in the parable’s contextual setting. It is recorded after the triumphal entry when the people proclaim ‘Hosanna’ or ‘blessed be the king’ and that Jesus is the ‘Son of David’ (Matthew 21:10-11, Mark 11:9-10, Luke 19:38); the clearing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-46); and Mathew and Mark’s account of the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-26; cf. Mark 11:12-14, 20-22).

Friday, November 11, 2016

2 Kings 23:29-30: 888,246 Ceramic Poppies

Presented on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #56 to the Community Remembrance Day 11 November 2014 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and to Warehouse Mission and Corps 614 Regent Park, Toronto on 13 November 2016 by Captain Michael Ramsay

This is the Toronto version, to view the original click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2014/11/2-kings-2329-30-lest-we-forget.html

On this day in 2014 there were 888 246 ceramic poppies encircling the famous Tower of London in England; they create a powerful visual image to commemorate the centennial of the commencement of the First World War. The 888 246 poppies filled the Tower’s moat. Each poppy represents a military fatality during the war. We Canadians fought as part of the empire; our family members and our countrymen lived, served, and died in the ‘Great War’, the ‘war to end all wars’, the First World War.

When World War One broke out Canada was a very small and sparsely populated country of just over 7 million people. Most were farmers or involved in other primary industries. Many boys and young men left their family farms and businesses here to serve in the war there. I have read stories of bankers and teachers and minors and scientists and athletes and farmers and very young men from across this country and Newfoundland who put their jobs, their careers, their parents, their girlfriends, their new wives, their young children, and their whole lives on hold until they returned home from the war - only many never did return home from the war. They were never to be seen again by their wives, their children, their brothers, their sisters, their mothers, their fathers.

Almost 7% of the total population of our country – 619 000 Canadians served in this war and 66 976 Canadians never returned. That was almost 1% (0.92%) of our country's whole population and it was almost 1-out-of-every-5 boys aged 16-24: meaning that in a community the size of Regent Park (Cabbage Town) now, 150 (120) people would have been killed in the war. If you lived in Canada then, you would know more than one person who did not return. On River Street alone in the few blocks where 614 is today from just past Dundas to Queen St., seven young men gave their lives – and many more on the side streets here too. In the very short walk down Parliament St. from the Warehouse Mission to the food bank, were the homes of five more young men who gave their lives. I want to share one of the many stories I happened read about young people who left their homes here in our city to serve in the mud of Europe:

Allan McLean “Scotty” Davidson was one of Canada’s early hockey heroes. As captain of the Kingston Frontenacs, he led the team to the Ontario Hockey Association’s junior title in 1909 and 1911. During the 1912-1913 season he joined the National Hockey Association, playing for the Toronto Blueshirts, scoring nineteen goals in twenty games. The following year, as team captain, he led the Blueshirts to Toronto’s first-ever Stanley Cup title.

Lance Corporal Davidson was the first professional hockey player to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1914 serving with the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment). He was 24 years old when he died in France on 16 June 1915 and is one of over 11 000 Canadians whose remains were never found or positively identified. He was only 24. He lived and worked in our city and he was killed in the mud in France. He is just one of the almost 20% of Canadian young men aged 16-24 who never returned from his European service. Let us not forget.[1]

We remember just before Remembrance Day in this country a couple of years ago too: a couple of young service people had their lives cut short in Ottawa. Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, who along with Curtis Barrett and others, acted to save many in confronting a gunman on Parliament Hill, said “On behalf of all members of the House of Commons Security Services team, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo. Our prayers are with you. Our thoughts are also with Constable Son, who … suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.” I also heard reported that Kevin Vickers when asked about the gunman, said, “All I could think of was his mother.” Let us remember her and let us remember Kevin Vickers, and let us remember Curtis Barrett (the one who delivered the fatal shot that saved many) and all that he is going through. He has suffered serious PTSD since the event. Let us remember all our service people and let us remember everyone affected there here today.

Today in the Scriptures we read about King Josiah. Josiah was the last great King of Judah. He was a good man, used by God to do good things and he was the last significant ruler of his country. Josiah, when he was 26 years old, this young leader marched out to battle and never returned. Josiah’s life was over. Josiah’s reign was over. Two chapters later, the two books of the Kings are over. And two chapters later the two Kingdoms of Israel and Judah are over.[2] They are destroyed. Lest we forget the tragedies of war. Let us not forget.

Like Josiah, so many of our Canadian soldiers of the 20^th and 21^st Centuries, left their families behind, left their work behind, left those who loved them behind. Let us not forget the many good people who marched out to battles from Canada all risking and some laying down their lives for God, for King and for country.

When World War 2 broke out, Canada was a country of 11 million people and we sent more than one million of our family members to serve in the military and of those more than 100 000 sustained casualties; 45 000 gave their lives. Many of us have friends and family who marched out of Toronto here to offer their lives up in service to us. I met one such man at Kiwanis last week. My own grandmother’s brother who left the family farm to serve overseas never did speak of the day they were surrounded by the Germans in the war. We who have not served in that way can’t possibly even imagine what he and others experienced on that day.

My grandfather returned home to Canada from California where he was working when war broke out so that he could serve God, King and country in the Second World War.

I have these cards from my family members who served in both world wars. These are some of my treasured possessions. This one from April 2, 1917 says:

Dear Sister, Just a line to let you know that I am alive yet, and hope to continue the same. Tell Albert when he gets time to drop me a line. Bye, Bye, Love from Frank.

These are some of my cherished possessions. I look at these and I remember my family. I remember all those that risked their lives for us. I remember. I hope I never forget. I hope my daughters never forget. I hope we never forget. Let us never forget their sacrifices and let us not sacrifice the peace that they won for us. Let us not forsake them and let us not forget them

Our bothers and sisters, our parents, our grandparents, our great-grandparents, our comrades-in-arms who are veterans all lived and some died so that we would not have to live through the horrors of war. I have been a legion chaplain for many years and was honoured to hear their remembrances as clear as if they were yesterday: What they lived through. They lived and their friends died so that we wouldn`t have to live and die in war. Many cry when they see how cheaply we treat the peace that they bought us at such a high price. They lived and died fighting for an end to war. When we refuse the peace they died for, I have been told we devalue their life; we make their sacrifice mean less. Jesus Christ himself died so that we could be reconciled to God and each other. He rose again so that we could serve Him, the Prince of Peace, whose government will never stop ruling and whose followers will never stop being peaceful. And that is my hope for each of us here today – that we would, honour the sacrifices of our veterans as well as our Lord and Saviour by living in peace with one another.

It is said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Two years ago today, across the ocean, there were 888 246 ceramic poppies to remind us of the terrible price of war. Today we are wearing poppies as a pledge that we will never forget our friends, our family, our loved ones, and our veterans who offered their lives in service to us. Let us not forsake them. Let us not forget. Lest we forget. Lest we forget.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION – Canadian Agency http://www.cwgc-canadianagency.ca/a128/Canadian+War+Dead+from+the+Sporting+World.pdf

[2] Choon-Leon Seow, The First and Second Book of Kings, in NIB 9, ed. Leander E. Keck, et. al. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1999): 287 points out that salvation is not meted out on a basis of works.

Devotion 2.29/81: John 15:13: Life

Presented to River Street Cafe, 11 November 2016

Read John 15:12-15

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends, John 15:13.

On November 11, 1918, the armistice was signed to end the Great War, the war to end all wars – the First World War. Canadians, our friends and our family, in service to God, King, and country, marched overseas to lay down their lives for our friends.