Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, 31 July 2022 by Major Michael Ramsay
We had a great furlough. Susan and Heather have
been gone for about a month; Sarah-Grace and I flew out to meet them about 2
weeks ago in Winnipeg. We then all drove back across Western Canada. Today I am
going to chat about a few lessons learned and/or things that were reinforced for
me along the way.
Lesson One: Philippians 2:3&4: Human
Responsibilities
One place Sarah-Grace and I visited early in
our adventure was the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg. This is a big building
with lots of ramps, and stairs, and walking. They seemed to have walking for
the sake of walking, as a good portion of the museum was just long empty ramps
to get from one floor to the next. There were a number of exhibits in the
building – but not on the ramps. There was, of course, a big section on Germany
during the second world war and the holocaust. There was also information about
the Rwandan genocide and other terrible things from history.
I noticed that many of
the most horrible and violent atrocities in history have been incited by us focusing
on our rights rather than our responsibilities: I deserve this (good thing);
therefore they deserve (something bad) because they took away my rights - my
rights, her rights, his rights. It really seemed clear reading about persecutions,
purges, and genocides; it really struck me about times and places where human societies
commit horrible atrocities that the perpetrators always seem to focus on their
rights. Many in Germany in the 1930s were upset at what had been done to them,
how they had been victimized and how they had to make it right. That is how the
Nazis came to power. The Hutus focused on Hutu rights and the Tutsi privilege and
previous atrocities that a previous generation of Tutsi or others had done to
them. Looking through the displays about the many horrific things that we
people have done to each other, the people committing the crimes seem to always
believe that they are actually the victims, they are righting a wrong, and that
the other is ‘getting what they deserve’. They are focusing on their perceived
rights as more important than others’: Only Hutu lives matter. As Christians of
course, we should know better. We all know the acronym J.O.Y: Jesus. Others. Yourself.
Many times the scriptures tell us we should consider God first, then others, then
ourselves. Philippians 2:1-4 says:
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
…in humility value others above yourselves; don’t
look out for your own interests but the interests of others. This is the
Christian message. Social media and various social movements these days, even
here in Canada, seem to be very much focused on people loudly screaming, “I
have the right to do this…” Be wary. Be very wary of this. 1 Corinthians
10:23-24:
““I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” As Christians, it is imperative that we focus not on our real, perceived or imagined rights but rather on our responsibilities and how we can help one another.
Lesson 2: Deuteronomy 6:7: Teach your Children
We
were able to see many other interesting things while we were in Winnipeg too:
the Art Gallery, the Forks, the Museum, the Hockey Sweater the musical, St.
Boniface, Booth College… and we even stayed in the same room there we stayed in
when we first lived in Winnipeg for a couple of nights before we camped at
Birds Hill Park. In between visiting Winnipeg and reminiscing about our time
living there 15 years ago we went to pick up Heather from Ukrainian Camp in
Gimli – this camp is why we were here. Heather has been learning Ukrainian, as
you probably know. Susan’s mom has Ukrainian heritage, and she may have even
gone to this camp herself many, many years ago. Coming back, we even stopped by
Vegreville to see the world’s largest pysanki (Easter Egg). This is all part of
her and Susan’s heritage; just like the Highland Dancing Heather and Sarah-Grace
have done is part of their heritage on both sides of the family. This got me to
thinking about our Christian heritage and how important it is that we pass on
our Christian life. Jesus talks about eating together in remembrance of Him and
how He delivers us unto eternal life. We are commanded to never stop meeting
together. The Passover, similar to and in some ways foreshadowing this, is all
about remembering how God delivered the Israelites from slavery into the Promised
Land. The 10 Commandments themselves are all about passing on our heritage and
relationship with God to future generations. Deuteronomy 6:1-2, 7-9 and 12 says
this,
These are the commands,
decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the
land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children
and their children after them may fear the Lord your God… Impress them on your
children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the
road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands
and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses
and on your gates…. be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you
out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Our heritage is important. Teaching future generations the lessons, love and forgiveness that is part and parcel of serving the Lord, is how we carry on our heritage of loving God forward through the generations and into a future of His Salvation.
Lesson 3: Matthew 13:44: Heaven is a Great Treasure
Next
we went to Alberta and stopped at the West Edmonton Mall. Heather really wanted
to see the Mall. We went there on Susan’s Birthday. Susan and Sarah-Grace went
shopping and spent a good day together while Heather and I spent the day in the
waterpark inside the mall before we all met for a birthday dinner. There were a
lot of great waterslides. We went on a few of them – not all of them by any
means. We spent most of our time in the wave pool.
In the wave pool, everyone stands waiting for these giant waves to come crashing over you and then you try to either jump over them, into them, or just hold firm without being swept away. It was fun. One thing that struck me was the singularity of focus. You had fun but there was no doubt why everyone was in that pool. When the horn sounded and the waves rolled, we all responded. This reminded me of the Holy Spirt greeting the disciples in Acts 2 who were eagerly awaiting Him. It also reminded me of the pearl of great price and Matthew 13:44 where we are told that “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” This is how the Christian life is meant to work – as we focus on Christ, the results are worth more than anything else in the world.
Lesson 4: Galatians 5:23-24: The Mark of God Upon Us
With so many people in
bathing suits, I also noticed just how many people have tattoos these days. I
think the majority of people between 15 and 50 probably have a tattoo of some
kind – and some have lots. The 15-year-olds, I hope they still like whatever it
is that they have tattooed on their bodies when they are 50 years old. A lot
will change for them between now and then but that tattoo will probably stay
the same.
What
my mind thought of when I saw this was… what are the tattoos, the markings of a
Christian life? What are the things that when people look at a child of God
they will see? What indelible marks does the Holy Spirit put on our lives. I do
hope that it is indeed the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 and 25: the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
After Alberta we
continued on through BC stopping to see Rebecca and heading home and as I reflect
on this trip it really is my hope that it will be a reminder for me (and maybe
all of us here) to
·
Philippians
2:3,4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of
you to the interests of the others.” Remembering that
·
Matthew
13:44 “The
kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he
hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that
field.” so
·
Deuteronomy
6:7: “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and
when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” For
·
Galatians
5:22-23a: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
May we always have that in our lives.
Let us pray
and if you like this, you may enjoy Salvogesis Guide to Romans Road available here:
www.facebook.com/RomansGuideBook
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