Hebrews 11: You are Heroes of the Faith

Presented to TSA Alberni Valley Ministries by Major Michael Ramsay on the occasion of the Ramsays’ farewell, Sunday June 28, 2026.

Hebrews 11 speaks of the heroes of the faith. They are people that God uses to do amazing things in our world, laying the framework for the world to come. My friends you are heroes of the faith. 

Last week when we spoke about David and Goliath we spoke about how God uses each of us for His good purpose. God uses you each and everyday here to help out in so many ways 

God uses you, heroes of the Faith, to provide in excess of 700 meals for people in need in our community.  

God uses you to provide a safe place for people to be 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

God uses you to provide groceries for hundreds of kids and families every month through the food bank, Breakfast and After the Bell programs. 

God, through you, provides companionship, entertainment, crafts, activities, meaningful volunteer and non-volunteer work for people in need – for children, youth and adults at the Army and for adults at the Bread of Life. 

God enables you to make a safe place for doctors, nurses, social workers, outreach workers, and other community partners to meet, to help the vulnerable in our community. 

God is using you to spread the Good News to the community. He has touched people’s lives through the many events you have been a part of: Summer Rain Evangelistic festival, Rotary Colour Fest and Train station, Hospice Butterfly, fishing derby, CAT car show, workshops; employment fairs, coop days, Special Olympics, Sage Haven CNOTY, Friendship Center events, Orange Shirt Day, the Toy Run where we have served at the start, the finish and even prayed for the Bikers before they rode each year; God used you to save the John Douglas memorial Polar Bear Swim when the City was not going to hold it anymore. I spoke to Donna Douglas, John’s widow, the other day. She is so thankful for what God does through you. 

God is also using you to save a lot more people. God used you to place more than 24 people in homes of their own last year – these are people who were on the streets, then staying with us at our shelter and now are in a place of their own 

God used you to save victims of human trafficking and just this week we were commended in the House of Commons for how the Lord used our team 

God through You has given people their first jobs at 20, 30, 40 years old and more and you have given people experience so that they can get their first jobs 

God has used you – to transform many children's lives through sending them to camp for the very first time, through powerful and amazing kids club programs, through day camps, through music lessons, through pageants, through community kitchens, and so much more. 

God used you to send men and women to camp as well – some for the very first time 

God uses you at the Thrift Store ministry serving and providing for people 

God uses you as an instrument of reconciliation – in every sense of the word 

The Lord used you all so powerfully during covid-19. When the world was locked down for its safety, you were able to bring food to people who would otherwise have none. The first few months of covid, people weren’t leaving their houses; so, you, we brought food, hygiene kits, and other supports to them. We had a large map of the city separated into dozens of delivery routes; people in this room today, other volunteers and congregation members, and with many groups and individuals helped make and deliver food. You saved lives. Praise the Lord. You are heroes of the Faith. 

When church was banned, and people in distress were prevented from receiving the emotional and spiritual care they needed, through the Lord’s Providence and Susan’s great idea, we were able to have sandwich church at the legion, where without breaking a single rule, we could not only offer emotional and spiritual support but also make sandwiches which we in turn brought to people in need in our community. Can there be anything more Salvation Army than that? . 

God delivered food via our team from the TSA mobile kitchen, food truck; we thank the Lord for providing the Food Truck from Gibsons; we still partner with many agencies to serve nutritious and delicious meals to those in need in our community – especially seniors and the housing insecure. Many of you have served on the food truck, cooked meals, made sandwiches, prayed with people and helped people out in other ways from the CRU. 

Many of you have served meals at the Bread of Life Centre, being used by God to care for the most vulnerable. Many of you have rung bells at the kettles and with your support, we were able to raise more resources than ever before to help the most vulnerable right here in our community, at Christmas.  

Thank you each for coming to our very many events, dinners and Christmas kick-offs.  

God had blessed our team to be able to be involved in the Remembrance Day events, and honoured me by enabling me to officiate legion events and address the community on Remembrance Day.  

You are heroes of the Faith 

The Lord used you here to set up the only dry, clean shelter in our community. This was especially important during covid. We had some resources in town to care for those who could be around substances but we had none for the sober addict or others who couldn’t or didn’t want to be around substance use. The Lord made it possible to take care of everyone who is in need of shelter.  

When weather was dangerous, the Lord used you to open and run a warming centre and a cooling centre;  many of you worked with us during road closures.  

You are heroes of the Faith. The Lord used you to keep the Bread of Life open when it looked like it was coming to an end – it is so important to our community. Just before covid struck The Salvation Army was able to invest time, money, and people into the centre so it not only survived but thrived. And continues to this day serving more than 700 meals each and every day and providing a safe place for people to be 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

People involved with the Bread of Life Centre were also worried about missional drift – that it wouldn’t serve God in the same way it was intended. Now, not only is grace fully accepted and appreciated before every meal but there are prayers and prayer groups, salvation, and Bible study and men’s and women’s groups. And even before all of this at the Bread of Life there were Bible studies here, at the Grunehagges, at Steampunks and elsewhere. The Lord is using you heroes of the faith. 

It is a real blessing that you support the fire and police departments by sending our food truck, food and water, and other care during long engagements – fire, flood, road closures, evacuations.   

The Lord used you to help people during strikes, and other challenges in our community; you have been there everyday with all our community partners serving this community.  

The Lord has used each and every one of you to affect so much change for good in this community, He has and is transforming it through you to make it more and more like His Kingdom to come where there will be no more sickness, no more death, and no more suffering. 

I praise the Lord for you, for you are each heroes of the faith. Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  I have every confidence in you heroes that God will continue to use you in amazing ways as Sharon Tidd arrives as your new captain – to guide you, to lead you, to serve you as she and you continue to serve the Lord.  

Hebrews 11:40: “since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” My friends as we, you and I, continue to serve the Lord, we will be made perfect and you will continue to do great things for God, the Kingdom, and others for now and forever more. 

Let us pray. 

www.sheepspeak.com

www.salvogesis.blogspot.com 

Exodus 17:8-13, Hebrews 10:32-37: Thank you for holding my arms

Presented to TSA Alberni Valley Ministries, 14 September 2025 by Major Michael Ramsay

 

Busy time at The Salvation Army! And only getting busier now until Christmas is done! Yesterday was the Toy Run. We were blessed to be able to prepare and serve chili and hotdogs. We were blessed to be able to pick up a cube van full of toys. We were blessed to say the prayer and ask the blessing before the riders rode.

 

Last weekend was the fall fair and the parade. Thank you to everyone who helped out. We were blessed to be able to have  a booth and we were blessed to have a float and our mobile kitchen (CRU) and a number of walkers in the parade. Thank you!

 

The weekend before that was Salmon Fest. We were blessed to be able to run the bullhead derby and we were blessed with rods and lures to be able to hand out to kids who were fishing.

 

We, of course, were blessed to help our community and Parksville / Qualicum with the fire relief as well this summer.

 

Next up: in a couple of weeks we have Men’s Camp and the Thanksgiving food drive. We are blessed to be able to take a number of men from here (some who stay with us in our shelter and eat at the Bread of Life) to camp. They get a chance to be a part of everything as equals and as friends. And a number of them have been saving up and looking forward to it for months.

 

That same weekend we are blessed to raise funds and food for people in the community through the Thanksgiving Food Drive. We also just finished collecting and distributing school supplies for families in need. And of course, a Thanksgiving meal is upcoming too! – served both at the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen and off The Salvation Army food truck to the homeless and housing insecure. We are blessed to be used by God to do a lot for this community.

 

October 4^th, we have a booth at Co-op Days. That day we are also officiating the wedding of Logan. He is a young man who works at the Bread of Life and whose family was a part of The Salvation Army for generations.

 

October 18^th is Della’s memorial service.

 

There has been, is still, and will be a lot of work involved in all of these things that we are blessed to a part of: planning work, doing work, and emotional work.

 

All of this is added to our everyday work of church and CCM/ care homes, soup kitchen, food bank, food truck, shelter, staffing, thrift store, etc., etc., etc.…

 

I know many of you and others work selflessly around the clock and around the calendar. I praise God for you and all He does through You.

 

The scriptures we read today and the scriptures we will read and the whole canon of scripture really tells us, along with other things, that we are to continue to serve and love God by allowing Him to serve and others through us.

 

Sometimes that is difficult.

 

This week as our team was still dealing with the passing of a teammate and friend, as our team was dealing with an assault that affected many, as our team was grieving employees who may not be returning – suddenly – after years of being part of our team. This week I have spoken with a few people who are faced with their own mortality.

 

This week I had to speak to city council.

 

I was told I didn’t need to speak. I was told there wouldn’t be public input. I was told that we wouldn’t need letters. I was told I didn’t need to be there. I shouldn’t have acted as if I believed the things I was told. I was there to get a permit!

 

I sat and I listened for a large portion of an hour as people told me and themselves bad things that we allegedly do or contribute to in our community. (You can watch the City Council meeting on-line.) Some of what was said was lies or at least intentionally misleading, some was mistaken, conflated and confused; some was angry; and one or more councillors slapped us with a backhanded compliment, a Marc Antony type soliloquy, or even put Brutus’ dagger in our back (Thanks Dustin!). I had to listen to this.

 

I had to answer to this. I had no notes. The public wasn’t supposed to be able to speak. I was told that I didn’t need to speak. I was told I didn’t need to be there. And then… I was asked why there was homelessness in our community, why it is getting worse, and what AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT!?!

 

I was only there to renew a permit to continue feeding and sheltering people in our community and now I was being asked to solve homelessness before they would consider renewing our permit to serve the homeless.

 

I wanted to say a bunch of things. I was tempted to tell them that was their job to solve homelessness! My job is to protect and provide for the people you forsake! I was tempted to tell them that if they didn’t close down the Port Pub, the trailers, and RB’s playground throwing all those people out on the street, then all those people would not be out on the street! I was tempted to tell them that if they provided supportive housing and involuntary treatment then there wouldn’t be homelessness! I was tempted to tell them that if they built homes and let people stay in them then there wouldn’t be homelessness!

 

I was tempted to say. “You are blaming us because people are sleeping in doorways, defecating and urinating in planters, and leaving drug paraphernalia on the streets; and your solution is for us to close our shelter tossing 25 to 45 more people onto the streets with no place to sleep or defecate!”

 

We have bathrooms, beds, and no in-and-out privileges at night. We keep our people safe. We are the only dry shelter in our whole community. We are the only safe place for sober addicts. We offer jobs, volunteer work, meaning, purpose and family for people. We feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and befriend those with no friends. I was tempted to close it all down! And tell City Council to see how they like it now that there are 25 to 45 more people on the streets with no safe place to go! I was tempted… but I didn’t.

 

Instead I spoke of the great work that the LORD is doing through all of you. I was and am very thankful for the support of our mayor, Sharie Minions; Councillors Deb Haggard and Charlse Mealy. I know that another councillor who shall remain nameless is our enemy (as he always speaks and votes against us) and I am still smarting from Dustin’s knife in our backs. I left the City Council meeting upset. I did not sleep that night.

 

Do you ever get to the point where you just want to quit? Do you ever get to the point where you ask “what is the point? Why am I doing this?” I was getting to that point.

 

Susan pointed to our prayer meetings, our check-ins, our prayer / grace before meals as a part of how we are serving our Lord and our neighbourhood and pointed out that the Enemy will fight against those willing to be a part of the Lord’s kingdom and His transformative power in this age and in the age to come. Last week Tim read from Isaiha 61. We have been a part of two separate TSA Corps based on that chapter of the Bible – especially Verse 4.

 

I know that the LORD’s will will be done.

 

Sage Haven, Island Health, Agro Hope, CAT, Ineo, and others have already written or offered to write letters. I imagine another councillor or two will vote along with Sharie, Deb, and Charlse to support the vulnerable in our community. I have had many people reach out to me this past week, thank you: the Lord used and is using you to sustain me on top of all the other things He is using you to do.

 

Today I want to encourage you. We are all working so diligently for the LORD and the most vulnerable in our community. Please keep it up and please don’t give up!

 

I think of the story of the Hebrews in a battle during Moses’ time. The people were fighting hard. God used Moses to encourage His people. As Moses held his staff above his head, the Hebrews would prevail, when this burden became too heavy and his arms, his staff and his encouragement waned; the Hebrews started to falter and fall. God then provided people to uphold Moses’ arms so that God would still use Moses to encourage God’s people to win the battle.

 

Friends, many of you are fighting in life’s battle on behalf of Jesus and the Kingdom of God everyday – by serving at the soup kitchen, shelter, seniors homes, church, store, food bank, prayer and Bible studies, and even more.

 

I do see a big part of the blessing of my job to stand up here and elsewhere to hold up the staff of the LORD’s encouragement in the face of adversity. Please hear me now:

 

Hebrews 10:36-37: You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For,

“In just a little while,

He who is coming will come

and will not delay.”

 

1 Peter 3:8: ...all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9: The Lord says, “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

 

And Psalm 55:22: Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

 

I thank the Lord for all of you that come alongside me and hold my arms each and everyday through prayer and conversation and listening on top of everything else you do; you are a vital part of this battle that is our life’: the battle to live in, to live for, and to grow the Kingdom of God for now and forever.

Amen.

 

www.sheepspeak.com

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.

The Lamb at Vimmy Ridge (John 1:29; Revelation 12:7-12a) and the Sunset on the Beach at Dieppe (Hebrews 9:28).

 Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, 20 August 2023 by Major Michael Ramsay (Padre. Royal Canadian Legion)

 

The Lamb at Vimmy Ridge

 

 

 

On May 17^th of this year, I walked the short walk from a parking lot to the memorial atop a small ridge, overlooking a small town in France. There were sheep everywhere. I did not see a shepherd. One little lamb had escaped a fence and become separated from the flock; she desperately ran back and forth along the ridge looking, searching, hoping for someway to break through the fence before it is too late; hoping to join her flock, looking for someway to be reunited; looking for safety she bleated, she cried as she looked out terrified over the ridge. This ridge on which she was lost and bleating has a name. It is Vimmy Ridge.

As I stood atop Vimmy Ridge by the memorial to our Canadian soldiers, the symbolism of this bleating lamb running back and forth, looking for someway through the fence was not lost on me.

April 9^th to April 12^th, 1917, a brutal battle was fought as our Canadian soldiers desperately looked for a way to break through the fences and trenches on this very same ridge. Many had tried before. Many had died before. But here they were now, trying to get over those fences and through those trenches, to climb the ridge and bring safety to so many.

After many battles fought by many of our allies. The Canadian Corps were able to secure the high ground and most of the ridge on April 9^th 1917. On April 10^th they secured the village and the crest of the ridge and the final objective, a fortified knoll fell to the Canadian troops on April 12^th. The battle was the first occasion when the four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought together. Our soldiers climbed through many barbed wire fences, many deep trenches, many hazards and perils and accomplished what had not been accomplished before but at a great cost: By nightfall on 12 April 1917, the Canadian Corps had sustained 10 602 casualties; 7004 soldiers had been wounded, some in the most horrific of fashion, some to never recover, and 3 598 people breathed their last breath on that ridge overlooking that town on that day in April in1917.

It was quite something to stand there in May of 2023 and see that one little lamb bleating as she ran trying to get through the fences more than 100 years after 10 602 Canadians lay bleeding, 3 598 never to be reunited with their families the way the little lamb I watched was finally able to be reunited with hers.

This all reminds me, of course, of Jesus, who himself is the lamb of God. John the Baptist, John 1:29, “…saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” And relating to the sacrifice of battle, Revelation 12:7-12a:

7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“Now has come the salvation and the power

    and the kingdom of our God,

    and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,

    who accuses them before our God day and night,

    has been hurled down.

11 They triumphed over him

    by the blood of the Lamb

    and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much

    as to shrink from death.

12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens

    and you who dwell in them!

 

Jesus is the lamb of God. As all those soldiers died on that simple ridge more than a century ago, Jesus died on the cross more than 2 millennia ago. The WWI soldiers offered their lives there and many of them died. Ultimately they were victorious. The foe was defeated and as a result of this battle 100 plus years ago and others that followed over the next 100 days, they celebrated victory and experienced a much sought after peace.

The angels in the heavens fought against the devil and his forces. Jesus, The Lamb of God has triumphed in the Ultimate battle. He has defeated not mere mortals but even death itself; therefore we can all rejoice!

 

Sunset on the Beach at Dieppe (Hebrews 9:28)

May 15^th and May 16^th of this year, I walked along the beaches of Dieppe. I looked out across a beautiful beach covered with large smooth rocks that gave way under your feet drawing you back, in towards the sea, and I looked up steep, steep cliffs to see even ancient fortifications, in the evening beautifully lit up by an amazing sunset.

August 19^th, 1944, almost 80 years ago, over 6000 infantry, primarily Canadian infantry arrived at this same beach. The same rocks that gave way under my feet gave way under their feet. Only they were wearing heavy packs and carrying their weapons and supplies; just trying to survive. Balance must have been near impossible. They would have been so heavy, soaking wet as the sea wanted to claim them for her own. As they looked up at the sheer cliffs, I am sure it was not the beauty of the moment that captured their imagination but rather the sheer horror of having to find a way to scale those cliffs, while sopping wet, heavy with gear, and being shot at. The fortifications seemed insurmountable to me months ago; the fortifications for many of the Canadians on the beach then were impenetrable. 3623 Canadians died on this small strip of beach. As I stood there watching the sunset over the water, this fact was not lost on me. 3623 Canadians after visiting this beach never saw another sunset again.

I walked silently along the beach. I looked again at the stones, the cliffs, the fortress, the waves, and the sea and imagined and remembered those who had gone here before me. Then I noticed a monument, a monument, in a garden, in a place now called Canada Square, placed there lovingly and in remembrance by the citizens of the town of Dieppe. It reads:

 

On the 19th of August 1942

on the beaches of Dieppe

our Canadian cousins

marked with their blood

the road to our final liberation

foretelling thus their victorious return

on September 1, 1944.

 

This memorial cast my thoughts to Jesus and His sacrifice -yes- and also the hope that comes with it. This memorial did not talk about the futility of war – we all know about that and the closer to having had experienced a war we are personally the more acutely aware of that we are. This monument does not glorify or justify war pretending that is somehow a noble cause or something we should exalt in. This plaque at this monument notes that those who died, “marked with their blood the road to our final liberation, foretelling thus their victorious return”. These words are so poignant for me that I will probably remind you of them on Remembrance Day and again on Resurrection Day, Easter. These words sum up the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross on Good Friday, and the hope of Easter and beyond. Hebrews 9:28 records, “so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” When Jesus died on the Cross on Good Friday it not only foretold His resurrection on Easter; it also foretells His victorious return at the Eschaton, at the end of time, when Heaven comes down to earth and there is new heavens and a new earth. 

This is our hope. Just as the people of Dieppe remembered the sacrifices of the Canadians on their beaches at a future time when they were able to celebrate their victorious return at their final liberation; so too do we even now remember Jesus, each and every week as we gather here for, as the plaque in Dieppe, interpreted, paraphrased, adapted; reads, Jesus “marked with [His] blood the road to our final liberation, foretelling thus [His] victorious return”. At which time there will be no more suffering and no more death in the Kingdom to Come.

 

Art of the Gospel (Hebrews 12:1-2, Philippians 1:20-21, 1 Corinthians 13:12, Luke 7:36-50)

Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries by Major Michael Ramsay, 16 July 2023

 

When I have been chatting with you over the past few weeks I have been sharing from a sermon series, ‘Thoughts from France’ about various truths / realities that the Lord has revealed to me during travels this Spring. We have looked at various themes and scriptures through a number of different sermons: 

·                  We looked at John 4, 5 and 7 in our message titled ‘Lessons from Lourdes’ 

·                  We looked at the Gospels, the Pentateuch and Revelation 3 in ‘Thoughts from Driving Around France’ 

·                  And last time we spoke, we looked at a number of other truths in our message entitled ‘Gospel Seine-ry’ 

 

Today we are exploring the scriptures through the theme of the ‘Art of the Gospel’ 

 

Mona Lisa and Other Oil Paintings

Hebrew 12:1-2a Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith… 

 

When we were in Paris and the rest of France, we were able to see the Louvre, other museums, art galleries, and many famous works of Art. We saw the Mona Lisa and other great oil paintings. One thing that struck me as I looked upon the original works of art of which I have seen reproductions dozens or even hundreds of times before in my life, is that the reproductions are never as good as the original. They can be like the cloud of witnesses in Hebrews but they are not anywhere near the value and power of the original! A picture of a painting is not the painting itself: not nearly as vibrant and alive!  

 

This reminds me of our faith and a temptation for some Christians who maybe even grew up in the churches. I have met some people – even in seminary - who hadn’t ever read through their entire Bible even once! There are people who identify as Christians who look to or through others instead of to God directly for their faith. They rely on preachers, teachers, parents, authors, musicians, friends, anyone, instead of relying directly on God. 

 

These maybe are the folks we hear about who ‘lose their faith’ when they go to seminary or when they are challenged in any other way by someone who has a different interpretation or faith perspective than their own. These are the folks who can’t defend their faith because they don’t know their faith – people who have only seen reproductions of God or commentaries on His Word, may never have even met Him or if they did, then they seemingly prefer to read about Him instead of spending time with Him. 

 

When we read Christian authors but don’t study the Bible; when we listen to podcasts, preachers, teachers, and our friends but not to God we only see a reflection of the truth, a reproduction, a copy… and a copy is not worth nearly as much as the original. No one is going to try to steal a postcard of the Mona Lisa and sell it to a museum for millions of dollars! No one is going to hang a photocopy of Monet’s Waterlilies in the Louvre. 

 

Likewise we shouldn’t just rely on other people’s copies for our faith in God – especially when the original Jesus Christ –who is the author and perfecter of our faith - and the very living Word of God is right here for us to experience anytime we like. 

 

The Death of Marat

Philippians 1:20-21: I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

 

One oil painting we saw at the Louvre was an oil painting of the 1793 painting by Jacques-Louis David of his colleague, the murdered French revolutionary leader, Jean-Paul Marat, entitled ‘Death of Marat’. 

 

Oil paintings are amazing. You can see them today, centuries later, and they look as vibrant as if they were painted just yesterday. 

 

What struck me about the death of Marat however was not the art as much as the subject matter. Now, I am not a fan of Marat. It really is not a surprise that he was murdered, in my opinion: he was really quite a nasty fellow. He was a propagandist for the French revolutionaries; much like Milton was for England’s Cromwell, only nastier, I think. 

 

Marat is often held responsible for the September Massacres in which between 1,176 and 1,614 defenceless people were taken prisoner and then murdered. And then after earning these murderous credentials, Marat went on to sit on the Committee of General Security where he played his part in what is now called the Reign of Terror as they chopped the heads of a further 1700 people and otherwise were directly responsible for the deaths of up to 5000 people. I would not say he was a ‘good guy’. 

 

What strikes me about the painting and his death is this; possibly his one noble attribute: Marat died doing what he loved and what he believed in. He was a propagandist for the revolution. He was murdered probably writing propaganda for the revolution and his doing so certainly contributed to his death. 

 

If the ‘bad guys’ can have so much devotion to their causes, that they die for them and that they are willing to live for them, how much more should we? We should feel emboldened and empowered to stand up for our faith. Do we share Christ with the world and with our friends – Christ, who has saved the world and who can save your friend – do we stand up for Christ the way others stand up for their causes and beliefs? Are we willing to die for what we believe in like Marat did? Are we willing to die, yes, and even more importantly than that, are we prepared as Paul said, to live for Christ? 

 

Philippians 1:20-21: I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

 

Monet’s Gardens

1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see in a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 

 

We saw a Salvador Dali museum in Paris. I have always liked his work – though one may need a book or a tour guide to understand them fully: the melting clocks and other items that typify surrealism.  

 

We were also able to go the Giverny and see Monet’s gardens. I have seen Monet’s paintings before and I admit that I have never been that much of a fan. I once, in university, for a class had to review some of his work. I ran through everything I knew about the techniques he used and everything else. My professor was really impressed and was starting to comment on my analysis before I had spoken the concluding words of my presentation which were, “and I don’t like that”. 

 

But then I saw up front and in person the objects Monet was painting and I understood. French Impressionism made sense to me in an instant. That which I never used to even understand, let alone appreciate, when I saw the reality it was representing with my own eyes, when I was able to see the light on the water, and smell the flowers in the air, I understood and was impressed by Monet’s impression. 

 

This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13:12 for all of life here and now is just seeing through the glass darkly. It is like we are looking at an impressionist’s or a surrealist's paintings: There are many things we don’t understand but in the end all will be revealed. The mystery and the majesty of the love of God and Christ, at the end of it all, will be revealed when, like with Monet’s garden we see and experience God and His new creation with our own nearly re-created eyes and eternal bodies where there is no more suffering and no more decay but only the love of God – then and only then will we no longer see through the glass darkly but fully understand His Majesty! 

 

Church Walls

Luke 7:44-47: Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 

 

Verse 44-47 are part of the episode we read earlier in the service today. This passage was very much in my mind when we were in Paris and any other part of France where we walked into an historic cathedral. The big, ancient Roman Catholic churches walls are filled with naves, alcoves, altars. Many rooms open exposed to the main sanctuary. You can see in many of these worship spaces amazing works of art; grand works of art, worshipful works of art painted right on the walls of these chapels; some of which are painted by some famous artists, their contemporaries or their equals. Some of these painted walls in these chapels are in great condition and some of them are worn away. It is something as you can see them worn away. At the top the painted walls, they still look mostly untouched even after a century or centuries of use as an aid in worship – but near the bottom, in the places where one can reach, you can see where thousands of people over hundreds of years have beseeched our Lord with their tears pouring down their faces. Facing the wall, one can see where people in real need and in real passion they have placed their hands and faces upon the painted images of God incarnate and scenes of service to Him. You can almost hear their prayers through their tears; their fervent prayers! Now they are gone but the testimony of their coming before the Lord is still there. The power of the miracles they sought, is still there. The image of the Love of God is still there. Their tears have washed the painted feet of our Lord in the sanctuary. 

 

May it be the same with us. May we be like the lady anointing the feet of Jesus with our tears, may we be like the centuries of people washing away the images in the churches with our tears; may we come to the Lord with such passion and devotion that all who see us will have no doubt of our love and zeal for God. For as we do, we will know we have been forgiven and as we do we will know He has saved us. 

 

It is my hope that we can all come to the Lord with that true passion and abandon that comes only from really, truly, and totally turning ourselves over to Him. May we each do this then and experience the full power of His Salvation for now and forever! 

 

Let us pray

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