Genesis 37, 39,41; Beat the traffic

Presented to TSA Alberni Valley Ministries, 28 July 2024 by Major Michael Ramsay

 

Read Genesis 37:12-36, 39:1-20, (Later 41:9-14)

 

These things and things similar still happen today. They happen here. Jun 26, 2024, 10:18pm, I had a text from David Wiwchar of the Peak Radio Station: "Are you aware of the Vietnamese men who are about to be made homeless by san group?"

"No. Not at all...but we can help" I replied.

 

I immediately set to work to try to find out what was going on. David’s common law wife works for Kuu-us Crisis Line, so I texted her boss, Colin, who used to work for us, and asked him what he knew about all this. He told me that the RCMP and the City were aware of the workers and that it was one of our employees at the Army who brought this all to light: It appears that they came to the Army for help but the information was not kept internal. It was shared with Kuu-us and not with myself and The Salvation Army. I followed up with the employee and let them know that this really is something that I need to know and it would be way better if this was confidential. I then contacted Sharon, my Area Commander, and the Modern Slavery and Anti-Human Trafficking departments of The Salvation Army seeking help and passing on the information that I had. At 3:35pm I received this reply:

Hello Michael, my name is XXXXX and I'm the Manager of Propel Anti-Human Trafficking Services. I'm trying to get a hold of you and your case worker XXXXX because I was asked to help support the 16 [alleged] human trafficking survivors that I heard presented to your staff yesterday. … With the information I have received so far I have secured a Vietnamese translator/counsellor who is on standby, a shelter on the island that can house all 16 survivors (at least temporarily), and I have an HT specific budget to help with whatever their needs are including transit to the shelter and clothing. I would love to speak with you further to get more information and support your team in whatever ways needed! My number is xxx-xxx-xxxx, hope to speak soon!

 

And then after he had contacted me earlier in the day, at 8:30pm that same night, our Member of Parliament, Gord Johns, reached out to me. He was on his was out to see the workers. He asked me to join him. I hopped in his car. We met a translator, Kimmy, who knew the people, just over the orange bridge. We then followed her out to the San Group property on Hector Road. The conditions the workers from Vietnam were living in were deplorable. There was sewage backed-up. It soaked the carpet. The men slept on mattresses side by side on this sewage-soaked carpet. The smell was terrible. There was no heat in the building. There was apparently no running water. The people bathed and washed their dishes in a ditch with water running out of a pipe outside. Gord, who has been in derelict buildings in town – maybe even more times than I have – said that these living conditions were even worse that the Port Pub that the city had just recently closed down because it is dangerously unsafe.

 

We spoke to the people through a translator. They said they paid between $20 000.00 and $30 000.00 to come here to work for a wage in excess of $30/hr. They said they never received that wage. They said they were subject to unsafe working conditions: working with toxic chemicals without proper protective gear, working long hours, many days in a row. They were afraid for themselves, and they were afraid for the safe transportation of their family. They showed us where they lived. They explained to us how they lived. They asked us to help them flee. I told them we could get them out tomorrow.

 

On Saturday, June 29^th, 15 of the 16 workers were taken out of town to a secure Salvation Army facility in Victoria where they could have their physical, emotional and spiritual care needs met and where they could get the legal and other counsel that they needed. I checked up on them on Sunday. They were happy. They were free.

 

The following day I followed up with David Wiwchar, who was kindly waiting on releasing his story about the migrant workers until we could get them to safety. He brought all of this to light and hopefully many people were and can be helped because of it. When David Wiwchar broke the story other media followed up as well. CHEK 6 News toured the site with the San Group[1]:

It is where approximately 15 migrant workers who were under contract to the San Group were living until the Salvation Army’s anti-human trafficking unit moved them out on June 29.

The building reportedly did not have running water, and the men were allegedly forced to wash dishes in a small trickle of a stream out back and drink from it.

When CHEK News visited the Hector Road site Thursday, a small stream was still full of pots and plates in it. “This is where they were washing their dishes?” asked CHEK 6 News

“This is where they chose to wash their dishes,” said San Group’s general manager of terminals, Joe Spears.

“If someone chooses to use water, maybe in Vietnam that’s an acceptable practice, that’s normal housekeeping,” said Spears.

Inside the trailer was a very different scene from the video shot there one week earlier. San Group insists it was untouched.

“I didn’t touch it,” said Spears.

 

There were also previous accusations relating to San Group and where and how they housed foreign workers. Recently the fire department investigated their offices as San Group had a fire order issued by the Port Alberni Fire Department in September 2022 after there were accusations of them keeping foreign workers housed in their offices. The letter orders that no structures at the property “be utilized as sleeping quarters for any person effective immediately.” The PAFD checked to make sure that that was not happening there now. I believe they found beds there – even after the other workers had been rescued.

 

I don’t know that any of the people were trafficked – nothing has been proven in court – or who may have been behind it if they were. I do know that the conditions these people were living in were terrible.

 

“The Salvation Army is currently assisting several migrant workers who required urgent support,” said Gavin Randhawa, manager of marketing and communications with the Salvation Army. We ask the public and the media to respect their privacy”

 

The future of the 15 or so men that were being cared for in Victoria remains uncertain.

 

These sorts of things still happen today. The stories of Joseph and human trafficking and slavery are not just tales from a far a way place and a far away time. Canada’s laws are seemingly favourable to human trafficking. I was concerned about this even last century when I worked in international education. It seems just as bad now,

 

Shelly D’Mello, with the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, told CHEK 6 that when it comes to the care of temporary foreign workers, the onus is on the company…Food, health, nutrition, housing in some cases, safety. When it’s a closed work permit, that employer becomes responsible for those pieces,” said D’Mello.

 

A closed work permit creates a dangerous state of dependency; as a closed work permit, versus an open permit, means the temporary worker’s visa is tied to a specific company. Closed permits make a worker much more vulnerable. For instance, the workers don’t qualify for MSP, so any injuries on the job are the employer’s responsibility to deal with. “And we’ve got to be careful that we don’t slide or slip in that obligation, that duty of care for those who are helping us,” said D’Mello.[2]

 

Canada’s reliance upon temporary foreign workers is growing. This is scary. This creates an environment where this sort of thing can happen all the time. I have heard of domestic servants and human trafficking in Vancouver. I have spoken to my Member of Parliament with another TSA Officer about human trafficking of farm workers when I lived in Saskatchewan. We have worked with trafficked, prostituted people in various cities across this country.

 

This is real life. This is happening. Here in Canada. Here in Port Alberni. This is scary stuff. So, what do we do? Well, if you know anyone who needs help let The Salvation Army know! We can get them out of there and get them the supports they need! Also, write to your Member of Parliament: tell them to stop enabling human trafficking; tell them to end unsupervised, closed work permits where an employer has that much control over a person’s life. Make the government check in on foreigners under their care (in their own language), make them protect those they are duty bound to protect.

 

Pray for people who are trafficked. Pray for people who are trafficked in this country, around the world, and here in this community. Pray for the underprivileged: the poor, the family-less, the immigrant. And help us help them.

 

And trust God. God was with Joseph when he was a trafficked domestic servant in Potipher’s household. God was with Joseph when he was sent to a prison in a foreign land. God was with Joseph in his hour of need and the scriptures say that in that he prospered.  And then God used a cupbearer to the king to deliver him and God used Joseph to deliver many other people in turn. We remember in when Joseph was in the depths of prison, Pharoah’s cupbearer, encountered him, there and though for a long time he did nothing, eventually he did something – two full years later – Genesis 41, reading from verse 9:

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

 

Thanks to God using the cupbearer, Joseph was delivered from captivity as Joseph was earlier delivered from slavery. May we each be like that cupbearer. Even if we have been slow to help those in need thus far, even if we have forgotten, even if it has been years. Even if we have delayed in helping out those in need for both now and eternity, may we now be encouraged, may we now be faithful. May we now be spurred to action; so that like those workers we can be saved in the here and now. And may we also be faithful in sharing the Good News of Salvation so that we and all those we love may be saved for eternity as well.

 

Let us pray.

---

[1] https://www.cheknews.ca/new-details-emerge-in-case-of-alleged-human-trafficking-in-port-alberni-1212632/

[2] Quotes from: https://www.cheknews.ca/port-alberni-temporary-foreign-workers-await-their-fate-local-provincial-and-federal-officials-meet-1212611/

Dual Citizenship: Hebrews 11:13-16 and Philippians 3:10-4:1

Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, 03 July 2022 and 30 June 2024 by Major Michael Ramsay

 

 This is the 2024 version. To view the 2022 version click here: https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2022/07/dual-citizenship-hebrews-1113-16-and.html

 

It is the wind down before Summer break in a number of agencies as such I tend to lend my support at their AGMs. I also sit on a lot of community boards,

 

I was at a board meeting a couple of years ago for the Neighbourlink Society: a group that provides food for children in the schools. Many of the people on the board have been friends for years. They were telling a few good stories. John and Carol are very good friends. John was giving Carol a hard time about her cooking because apparently shortly after she fed him a grilled cheese sandwich he had a heart attack – he was saying, ‘don’t let Carol make anyone any food’. Carol then told us more of the story. John was coming over to mow her lawn and after he had a lunchbreak, he headed outside to finish the work… and he did have a heart attack. They called the ambulance. It was quite significant. Carol was quite concerned. They took him to the hospital and then they actually had to fly him out by helicopter. You have to really understand the humour of these two for the rest of the story. As he was going up in the helicopter with his family and everyone around Carol yelled out, ”and don’t think I’m paying you! You didn’t finish the job!” The paramedic with John, in the helicopter, apparently said “I wouldn’t want to work for her” and then they heard her yell, “and don’t think I’m going to give you a reference”. John and Carol were laughing hysterically as they were recounting the story – especially as no one else there, at the hospital, at the time (including his adult son, I believe) realized that it was a joke. This made them laugh all the more.

 

This then got the stories going. One of them was telling the story of when their husband was in the hospital. A friend of theirs came to see him. Now he was in one of those rooms with more than one bed and there was a curtain drawn around his bed; so the friend went up to the other bed and thinking it was Fred (or whatever the husband’s name is) said, “Oh my goodness – Fred you look so bad I don’t even recognize you!” Fred's family then poked their heads out of where they were and said, “cut that out, come over here...”

 

Another lady told a story about when her mother went to the hospital to see her father and she leaned over to give him a big kiss only to realize that the fellow she kissed wasn’t her husband.

 

John then relayed the story of when he came up behind his friend and blew in his ear, for a joke, only to find out that it wasn’t his friend at all. It was some complete stranger’s ear he was blowing into. That gentleman did not receive that gesture very well at all. Board meetings can fun...

 

Monday is Canada Day. In light of that, I thought that we would look at the verse from the Order of Canada (and more) today. Can anyone tell me:

•         What is the motto of the Order of Canada? desiderantes meliorem patriam, meaning "they desire a better country"

•         Where does it come from? Hebrews 11:16

 

The Motto of the Order of Canada comes from Hebrews 11:16, “they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

 

Pierre Eliot Trudeau when he established the Order of Canada applied this verse to our nation but, of course, this verse refers to more than just our nation or any nation. It is great that he wanted to apply these Christian ideals to our country, just as an earlier generation had applied the Christian ideals of Psalm 72:8 to our nation – with the hope that our country would always take care of the poor and those on the margins. But to fully ascribe this verse to our nation, of course, would be a case of mistaken identity not entirely dissimilar from our opening stories. This verse and this passage (though extended) obviously isn’t actually referring to Canada. It is referring to someplace else. The second part of the verse, where it says that God has prepared a city for them… to what city is the author of the Hebrews referring? The new Jerusalem.

•         Hebrews 12:22, “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God” (cf. 13:14)

•         Revelation 3:12 “Him who overcomes (I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it.) I will write on him the Name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.”

•         Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

 

At the eschaton – the end of everything – the New Jerusalem, as referred to in Hebrews, Revelations, Philippians, and Thessalonians (where it mentioned the saints going to meet the Lord as He comes down) among other places, the city prepared for God’s children will come down from heaven to earth.

 

Philippians 3:20 says this, “… our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”

 

Let us read more from Chapter 3 because tomorrow we will celebrate Canada Day and today, like all Sundays, we are celebrating on the Lord’s Day with our fellow citizens of Heaven. Let’s read some encouragement from Heaven, where as Christians, our primary citizenship resides. How should we, who will be resurrected, live out our time here in Canada as dual citizens of Heaven? While we are living here, we are actually primarily citizens of Heaven and the new Jerusalem which will descend from Heaven. Philippians 3:15 through 4:1 says this:

 

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained [our citizenship in Heaven].

17 Join together in following my example, brothers [and sisters], and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

 

Tomorrow is Canada and there are many good things and other things about Canada and about celebrating Canada Day. I always used to love Canada Day – the parades, the picnics, the celebrations; some places have fireworks. A few Canada Days ago I remember was quite somber as I spoke at the legion with so much going on in our country: Covid-19, the discovery of probable graves at the IRS and all the controversy around our government lowering our flag and not knowing how to raise it appropriately. Things then became quite uncomfortable and this year our community has no parade, no picnic, no official community events. I think it is still good to celebrate the many good things that we experience as part of Canadian community and I hope that our community will do that again at some point because there are many good things about living here and many things we can celebrate with our fellow citizens of Canada. It is good to celebrate some of the wonderful ways that God has used Canadians to help others: Fredrick Banting’s discovering penicillin and refusing to patent it so that everyone could access it regardless of income or circumstance, Terry Fox who died raising awareness and hope for people with Cancer. Tommy Douglas who made healthcare accessible to everyone who lives in this country and Lester B. Pearson who for a time made Canada Peacekeepers instead of war-makers. Blessed be the Peacekeepers. There are many thing we can thank God and praise Him for as He has provided for us as Canadians but let us never forget that – even more important that that -  we do have a dual citizenship and our other citizenship is Heaven and so even as we rejoice in the things God has done in and through Canada – and there are many good things, Hebrews 11:16, we are still longing for a better country—a heavenly one. For God is not ashamed to be called our God, for he has prepared that city for us.

That is our hope.       Let us pray.

Mark 10:46-52: Open our Eyes Lord

 Presented to TSA Nipawin Corps 03 May 2009 and TSA Alberni Valley Ministries 09 June 2024 by Captain (Major) Michael Ramsay

 

This is the 2024 BC Version, to read the 2009 SK version, click here:  https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/05/mark-1046-52-open-our-eyes-lord-we-want.html

 

People are in Toronto now for Commissioner Floyd Tidd’s Celebration of Life. Later in June Commissioning will be held in Mississauga. In thinking about this I am reminded of when we were commissioned many years ago in Winnipeg and then 2 years after that we went to something called Captains’ Institute in Toronto.

 

Captains’ Institute was where you would get together for a few days with people that you went to CFOT (seminary) with. It was a good chance to talk, listen, pray, and find out the sort of things that God is doing in the lives of people that we used to spend so much time with, people with whom the Lord has already allowed us to connect with spiritually.

 

We had the opportunity to share stories about our ministries and offer assistance to our colleagues but it wasn’t just about connecting we also got to pray and worship and learn together. At one point we were able to join in spiritual activity known as ‘Lectio Devina’ – It is a neat activity where we reflect on various passages of scripture and look for and listen to what the LORD is telling us and then share this in a group. The passage that we looked at was Mark 10:46-52. We read through this a number of times each time seeking an answer – in silence – to a number of questions and then sharing those answers with each other. We were to listen for a word or phrase that struck us from the passage. We were to meditate on that word or that passage in our own life. We were to seek the Lord as to an appropriate response and then we were to pray for each other. I will read now (Mark 10:46-52) from the New Living Translation:

 

46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.

But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”

So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

“My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”

52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

 

Here was my revelation at the time about this pericope: Jesus is busy. His disciples are busy. They are doing the work of God. They are traveling the countryside and the Judean townships spreading the work of God. They are busy.

 

I don’t know if any of us ever get so busy that we just don’t feel like we have time for anyone. It seems every season here is busy. I finish one season and we are on to the next. Busy with family; busy with work; me when I just got back from time with family I was working full steam ahead with Port Pub, HR, BC Housing, Heather had dance, band and school events. After the service today we are back to meet family in Victoria only to return here again tonight. I have grant applications due tomorrow: busy.

 

When Jesus is busy with a large crowd and his disciples traveling to Jericho, there is a street person. There’s a beggar. He is just sitting there and then as Jesus and this crowd come near. He just starts to shout at them. He starts to yell. He shouts! He shouts, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”[2]

 

I don’t imagine that he just called this out a couple of times or in a quiet and an orderly fashion (vs. 47) because it says that many of the people rebuked him and told him to be quiet but he shouted all the more (vs. 48). Can you imagine if you went to a concert or to see a famous person and he is coming near and you’ve taken time off work and camped out for days and he’s finally coming near and you are trying to see and hear what he is doing and there is this smelly, dirty street person just yelling at the top of his lungs right when the person is coming by? Right when you actually have a chance to hear him in person. Some marginalized person is yelling “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

 

It must have been quite annoying for them and not for just one of them, not for just a couple of them but many of them. Many of the people who were following Jesus told the beggar to ‘knock it off!’ as it were. They told him to ‘be quiet!’ and they rebuked him (vs. 48) all the more! He was getting in the way of their seeing and hearing Jesus! “Be quiet,’ they said. ‘Stop it!’

 

But Jesus heard him and Jesus stopped. Jesus is the one who stopped (vs. 49). He listens to the man. Jesus asks the noisy beggar what he wants him to do for him (vs. 51) and then Jesus does it (vs. 52). Jesus is busy. The people with Jesus are busy. Jesus takes the time to listen, to hear what the man wants and as the man comes to God in persistent, noisy, confrontational faith, Jesus gives him what he asks for.

 

When someone interrupts us in our busy lives, when we see that annoying person who can just grate on everyone’s nerves, when we are in a hurry, how do we treat the people God sends to us? Do we take the time to ask the people who we come across in life how we can help them or do we just brush them aside? When we are busy and our children or grandchildren want us to read the Bible to them, when we are busy and people knock on our doors with a question or a concern do we open it? Are we open to them? What do we do? What do we do?

 

God encourages us even when times are difficult. Verse 49 – the people say to the man, as Jesus is calling him, “Cheer up.”[3] There are times when life may seem difficult when we need to be offered the comforting words of ‘cheer up.’

 

This brings us to two things the really struck me initially about ‘Lectio Devina’ and this text here. One is Mercy. The Lord took mercy upon those who called upon his Name and I trust that He will also have mercy on all of us.

 

The other is faith: God calls us to step out in faith. Bartimaeus stepped out in faith. Even though Bart couldn’t see what was happening. Even though Bart couldn’t possibly see what lay ahead. Even though Bart wasn’t able to see the Lord when He was right in front of him. Even though those around him were telling him NOT to cry out to the LORD. Even though those around him – who were also seeking the Lord – were trying to prevent Bart from coming before the Lord. Even though people in the crowds following Jesus tried to stop this man from reaching Him. He called out. Bart called out to the Lord.

 

And when Bart called out – even though he could not see the Lord – when Bartimaeus called out, the Lord could, would and did see him. The Lord loves him. The Lord has mercy on him and the Lord says to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Bart’s eyes are opened and he in that moment follows the Lord down life’s road.

 

This message is for me and this message is for us. For now we see through not only the eternal glass darkly, but we also only have a blind man’s view of our immediate future here. We do not see right now where God is in this. We do not see what Jesus is doing. We do not see what lies ahead. We cannot possibly see that but what we can do is call upon Jesus. What we can do is call upon Jesus over and over again. What we need to do is to not take ‘no’ for an answer from any who would want to discourage us from seeking the Lord in faith. What we need to do is to call persistently on the Lord in this time and in the times ahead and as we do, I have faith that He will heal us; He will open our eyes and He will make it so we too can see Jesus.

 

Let us pray.

Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus.

http://www.sheepspeak.com/

Thoughts on a Trip to Ontario

 Presented to TSA AVM, 02 June 2024 by Major Michael Ramsay. 

 

Susan and I and all three of our kids went to Ontario this past week to attend a Celebration of Life for Susan’s aunt. We also got to see a little bit of the sites and Sarah-Grace saw a friend or two from our time living out there. Today I am going to share a few scriptures, pictures, and reflections on our family trip to Ontario.

 

Remember (Ex 12:24-27, 1 Cor 11:23-25)

Exodus 12:24-27:

24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped.

 

1 Corinthians 11:23-25:

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

 

We saw a lot of neat things on our trip. We saw a lot of statues, artwork and displays. We did see a bit of history when we were on our trip. We saw an old city hall in Woodstock that had one of Canada’s fist woman mayors. It was neat seeing the historic City Hall because it was flying what was Canada’s flag back then which is, of course, the Union Jack. We also saw the ROM and interesting displays from Byzantium, Rome, ancient Korea, and China. Did you know that China had a moveable type printing press about 200 years before Gutenberg? We often look for historic Salvation Army things on our trips – our first hotel was actually across the street from a Salvation Army – or family stuff: we did drive by a town called Ramsay. In one museum I was able to see some old Rotary stuff. That was neat because I am a Rotarian. We often look through old churches and read about their history.

 

Our Faith history is so important. We are told in the scriptures to never forget what the Lord has done for us. The is what Passover and then communion are all about. The is what testimonies are about. That is a big part of what the Bible is about too – it is (as well as everything else) an anthology, a collection of stories of what the Lord has done throughout history and whatever we can learn from other people’s mistakes can save us from making the same errors. I invite us all to make every effort to remember our faith history. As we remember our faith history – both in the Bible and from our own and others testimonies – it will encourage us to persevere and share that hope we have in Jesus with everyone we meet.

 

And then it is done (James 4:13-15, Luke 12:20)

James 4:13-15:

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

 

Luke 12:20

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

 

We were in Ottawa for a memorial service. This reminds us that indeed we never know when our time will end here, when we will be called home or – as we used to live in Ontario and our job is what it is - even when we will move to a new appointment, a new community. We never know when will be the last time we will see someone we love. I have friends I used to see everyday in different towns we used to live whom I haven’t now seen for years and I may never see again. I thought of this as we had all three of our children together, the Ramsay five, on a trip. That doesn’t happen very much anymore. Our last big trips have only had two or three people, the ones before that four people. It has been a long time since we had all five of us on a trip together. Who knows when that will happen again?

 

This relates to our faith as well. If you love someone you probably do want to share your faith with them. Let them know about Jesus and how God loves you and looks out for you now and will do so forever – even after you die. You never know when the last time you will see someone is so please do share with them the reason that you do have hope in this life and the next – don’t keep them guessing.

 

Just Visiting (Heb 13:14, 2 Cor 5:1-2)

Hebrews 13:14 (LB):

For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.

 

2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (CEV):

Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. 2 While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home.

 

It was interesting visiting Toronto, if only for a very little while. We saw the ROM. That was good. We weren’t there long. We didn’t get to see any friends – well Sarah-Grace did; she was prepared but the rest of us didn’t. It did remind me, like it has reminded me when we have visited other places we used to live – Winnipeg, Nipawin, Swift Current, Victoria, Vancouver – that things continue to change when we aren’t there and very quickly the people and places we used to know are not there. Toronto was where we lived just prior to here and already some of our friends have passed away; the two corps we led no longer exist; the buildings we used to worship in are not in use by the Army anymore and the Ministry Unit names do not even exist anymore – they have faded into memory and soon those memories will be gone to. Truthfully, the community of Regent Park, as it was, is now just a memory.

 

Just like Toronto is not our home anymore, this world is not our home for any of us really. Just like Susan and I are moved from one community to the next, we all here are just passing through this time and place. Our home is in heaven with our Lord and Saviour and one day He will return bringing our home with Him and there will be a whole new heavens and earth and even more than that: also our very bodies are not really our homes either – here and now they keep getting older! But one day the tent that is our body will be replaced we will have new bodies that no longer decay and age! This is certainly something to look forward to!

 

Joy  (1 Thess 5:16-18, Phil 4:4)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

16 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

Philippians 4:4:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

 

There were many great things about our trip, including just being together but -believe it or not – it was not perfect! The children and everyone else didn’t always get along perfectly – especially when we are travelling in a car for hours together and then sleeping three or so people in a twin bed – when our children aren’t little anymore. And then after having no sleep for a few nights driving and flying through the whole night, one can be tired and cranky. There is a little rainfall in everyone’s life. But here is the thing, the Lord is with us in everything we experience. He will never leave us nor forsake us. A friend of ours, Major David Ivany, whom we have quoted regularly, regularly says, ‘in the end it will all be all right; so, if it is not all right it is not the end’. I think that is a wonderful encouragement to persevere in the strength of the Lord.

 

Be Prepared (2 Tomothy 4:2)

2 Timothy 4:2:

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

 

We went to Ontario couple of days before the Celebration of Life. We spent our first two nights in a community called Woodstock because it was within driving distance of Stratford. You know what Stratford is famous for? It’s Shakespeare Festival! That is quite interesting. Do you know the history of the festival? Stratford Ontario, as we know, is named after Stratford, UK. And Stratford UK has a strong connection with William Shakespeare. So the Tom Patterson a few years after returning from World War II started the festival to help revive his home town. It is really worked and the town and the festival are still going and bigger than ever.

 

Now, we were one week early to actually catch the festival itself but we did get to see one play: Romeo and Juliet. This was especially good because Sarah-Grace was with us and she is, of course, studying Shakespeare at UVic. She knows Shakespeare – all the nuances, all the history, all the comedy, everything! It was good: I was also able to get her birthday present while we were there a book where a bunch of scholars debate Shakespeare – the kind of book only a university student could appreciate! At one point before we went to the show, she actually was reading Romeo and Juliet with full commentary as we were driving for hours in the car before the show. She was prepared for Stratford! And she prepared her sisters and us for Stratford! She was so prepared she even wore shoes with Shakespeare’s face on them!

 

Like the scriptures says we need to be prepared in and out of season to share our faith. In the old days I used to carry little New Testaments in my pocket but now the Bible is all online. But I encourage you all to be prepared for when the opportunity presents itself, to share your faith arises. Like Sarah-Grace had her Shakespeare shoes and a copy of the play, maybe have a few good Bible quotes, memory verses or a testimony ready to go, off the top of your head, just in case. Even offering a prayer for someone in need. I encourage you to be a prepared as Sarah-Grace!

 

Oh, and one more thing. Not only was she prepared when we saw Romeo and Julliet – look at this picture. We stopped by a place called primitive designs that had many neat designs, including a shark sculpture and Sarah-Grace was prepared. Here she is with a Shark dress!

 

Actually I guess that is the moral of today’s message: be a Sarah-Grace! Now you don’t need to go out and buy a shark dress or shoes with your favourite playwright on them. You don’t need to coordinate your clothes perfectly with every activity you are participating in but you should always do your best to be prepared, to share your faith and what you know about our Lord and Saviour with everyone you meet. Be ready to offer a word of encouragement to those you meet,

 

Let us pray.