Salvogesis

Today, as well as All Hallows Eve eve, it is also Reformation Day Eve. The Reformation is acknowledged to have started on 31 October 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, in what is now Germany.   When Covid-19 struck the world – at least when the panic and the initial measures were taken, when they started closing borders and not allowing people outside, we were in Germany. Germany was our first stop in our planned trip. We were hoping to see Denmark and other places but most of Europe was closed before we would have a chance but one place that we were able to see before the great lockdown was Mainz in Germany. (Here are some pictures of our time in Mainz) Do we know what is an important artifact relating to the Reformation that is in Mainz? It is something that actually came into being sometime between 1450 and 1454, a few years before the Reformation: The Gutenberg Bible! (show pictures)   Acts 17:11-12: Now the Berean Jews wer

Romans 13:1: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”   We have just had municipal elections. I had a number of friends running. Our Mayor was re-elected, of course she is married to Colin here, congratulations to the family. I also have a couple of friends of mine from Rotary and the community who were running and some have been elected and/or re-elected to different positions. There are also those for whom I wouldn't and didn't vote who were also elected. These are our new governing authorities. You may not have personally voted for them but they are now our authorities and, Romans 13:2-3a:   Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong…   This reminds me of on

Deuteronomy 8 reminds us of an important truth that, Verse 3, because He loves us, God hungers us blessing us to rely on Him but, 8:10-11, as we enter times of abundance we must give thanks to the Lord because, 8:19-20, forgetting the Lord will result in our destruction.   The book of Deuteronomy here records the time after the Hebrews had fled Egypt and before they reached Canaan. They had only what they could carry and – as they were nomadic – obviously, no farms to grow food, no permanent water source or anything like that. They were hundreds, thousands or even more people without a permanent home wandering around the desert.   As the Hebrews followed God around the desert like this, He provided for them. Even their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell during this time. God provided for them; when they had nothing God provided for them. Deuteronomy 8:15,16:   He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes a

Friday was Orange Shirt Day. It was the second Truth and Reconciliation Day statutory holiday. As a result, we were closed here at The Salvation Army, at the Bread of Life Centre, and at Kuu-us Crisis Line. A number of our people (congregation, staff, volunteers) were involved in the events in town yesterday. Colin’s wife, our Mayor, Sharie Minions, gave a speech; Cherie, our supervisor at the Bread of Life and an hereditary Tseshaht Chief, danced; many of us, clad in orange shirts, walked either or both from the Friendship Centre down to the Harbour Quay where there were speeches, songs, dances and more and/or from the Harbour Quay to Maht Mahs, Tseshaht where there was a meal and much more still. We did this to acknowledge reconciliation. Our passage today, Romans 5:8-11, is about reconciliation:   8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.           9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be sa