Bill C-30 has been passed and received Royal Assent on June 18th, 2008. You’ll remember that in April of this year, I told you about the proposed Specific Claims Tribunal Act. Now in effect, six Superior Court judges from across Canada will be appointed to sit on a dedicated tribunal for the purpose of finalizing settlement of the one thousand plus outstanding native land claims. The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada describes the intention of this Act in their November 2007 press release:
“By setting up an independent tribunal of impartial judges, we are ensuring there is greater fairness to the way specific claims are handled, and speeding up claims resolution,” said Minister Strahl. “For 60 years, the Government of Canada has been asked by First Nations and experts to create an independent tribunal to adjudicate claims. Today our Government is taking action to get it done.” Read the whole press release here.
This Act will come into force 120 days from the date of Royal Assent which was June 18th, 2008. National Chief Phil Fontaine seems pleased:
“I am very pleased to see Bill C-30, The Specific Claims Tribunal Act, become law today. The work that led to this very important legislation was a truly collaborative effort on the part of the government of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations. The all-party support for this Bill reflects the role of First Nations in its development, which produced a more effective and efficient process for dealing with the majority of specific claims,” said National Chief Fontaine. “I strongly encourage the federal government to use this cooperative approach that directly involved us in all future attempts to address policy or legislation that impacts the rights and interests of First Nation governments and our citizens.” You can read the rest of the press release here.
Thank you for your prayers in this matter. Please continue to pray that the present cooperative spirit being displayed by all parties involved remains as other matters of proposed legislation to benefit First Peoples continue.
Once a year there is a special Sunday where individuals and churches can partner with the National House of Prayer to pray for Canada and the Government as well as support this national ministry. It is always the Sunday before Canada Day July 1st. This year’s Government Prayer Sunday is TODAY, June 29th, 2008. Churches across the nation have an opportunity to set aside a time during their service to pray for our nation using the resources printed from our website and to bring a toonie gift for the ongoing work of the ministry here in Ottawa. It’s still not too late to get involved if you haven’t already. We have developed a number of downloadable resources in pdf and Word format that you can use to get your church involved. Click here to download them directly from our website and print them off.
I’ve been following the Transformation Prayer Guide daily devotional, free from Prayer Transformation Ministries, which is intended for Christians who believe that revival will begin only through the manifest presence of Jesus Christ. I’m including week six here for you….
Week 6 – Repentance: the final words of Jesus *
With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.’ You are witnesses of all these things.” Luke 24:47-48 (NLT)
Prayer Focus:
Jesus was entrusting the gospel message to the disciples by commissioning them to speak the truth and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples had been prepared by Jesus to continue preaching the whole gospel. They had witnessed Jesus teaching the crowds, healing the sick, taking authority over the demonic, and speaking life into the dead. They also had been mentored in the message of repentance: “So the disciples went out, telling all they met to turn from their sins” (Mark 6:12). Now the time had come for Jesus’ final instructions that included the importance of repentance. Once the Holy Spirit came to them, they would be ready with all understanding and authority to call people to repent and receive salvation. Jesus’ final words to His disciples are the same instructions to us today. We must honor the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior by preaching the whole gospel of repentance and belief. Repentance may not be a popular message, but it is the truth!
Day 1: Worship Jesus as the only true Savior of the world.
Day 2: Ask the Lord to take the message of repentance deep into your own heart.
Day 3: Commit to a lifestyle of repentance that invites the Lord to continually examine every area of your life.
Day 4: Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with boldness to speak the message of repentance that leads to salvation.
Day 5: Pray that believers will be faithful to take the message of repentance to their families, friends, and community.
Day 6: Pray that leaders in your church will faithfully teach and model the message of repentance and turning from sin.
Day 7: Pray that you will have a vision for your community as the “Jerusalem” that needs to hear the message of repentance and salvation. Invite Jesus to fill you with His presence and authority to proclaim truth to the lost.
*This has been printed without permission – copies may be obtained at the above-noted website.
On May 8th, 2008, Stephen Harper stood before the United Jewish Appeal Federation, gathered to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary, and declared that Canada’s support for Israel would be “unshakeable”. This is pretty bold, considering that in 2006 his comments concerning Israel’s counterattack on Lebanon for kidnapping two Israeli soldiers came under a great deal of criticism. It was considered to be a mistake by those who maintain we need to keep a neutral stance in the Middle East if we wish to make any headway in the peacemaking process. Two years later, our government’s position has not changed as evidenced in Mr. Harper’s speech which I’ve drawn from here:
Unfortunately, Israel at 60 remains a country under threat – threatened by those groups and regimes who deny to this day its right to exist. And why? Make no mistake; look beyond the thinly-veiled rationalizations: because they hate Israel, just as they hate the Jewish people. Our government believes that those who threaten Israel also threaten Canada, because, as the last world war showed, hate-fuelled bigotry against some is ultimately a threat to us all, and must be resisted wherever it may lurk. Read the whole speech here.
These are strong words, but remember Balaam’s oracle over Israel: Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them? ”May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!” (Numbers 24:9) Please thank God for a government that is honouring the Word of God and boldly standing with Israel in its right to exist.
If you’re praying for the passage of Bill C-484, there seems to be a glimmer of hope. An Angus-Reid poll conducted at the beginning of this year’s House of Commons summer break showed that 68 percent of those polled were in favour of the passage of this bill. Part of the summary reads:
Bill C-484, an act to amend the Criminal Code—also known as the Unborn Victims of Crime Act—was introduced by Ken Epp (Conservative, Edmonton-Sherwood Park, Alta.) in November 2007. The bill seeks to amend the Criminal Code to make it an offence to injure, cause the death of, or attempt to cause the death of a child before or during its birth while committing, or attempting to commit, an offence against the mother. The bill does not apply to consensual abortion or any act or omission by the mother of the child.
Two-thirds of respondents (68%) would like their Member of Parliament to vote in favour of this bill, while 13 per cent are opposed and 18 per cent are not sure. Atlantic Canada (80%) and Alberta (77%) hold the highest levels of support for the bill, while Quebecers (54%) are less enthusiastic. Read the whole summary here.
(Michael Fortier, Christian Paradis, James Moore from left to right)
by Richard Long,
This morning the Prime Minister announced a minor cabinet shuffle. This means here at NHOP that we do a minor shift in our praying for these specific M.P.s.
We encourage you to pray for the honourable David Emerson who is now confirmed in his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is actually already working in this role.
Also let’s pray for the honourable Christian Paradis who has been moved up to Public Works, for Michael Fortier who has now taken over at International Trade, and the honourable James Moore now moved up to secretary of state for official languages, the Asia-Pacific gateway and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
Both they and their new staff will need to make quick adjustments to their new responsibilities. Let’s pray for the wisdom of the Lord to guide them and that they will have a revelation from heaven of what they need personally and for the nation.
We continue to pray for a total overhaul of the various Human Rights councils in this country, whether they be provincial or national. It is encouraging that more and more people are picking up on this issue, including M.P.s, reporters, and human rights advocates. Now if we could get more Christians involved!
Here’s the opening lines from an article in today’s Halifax Chronicle Herald by a writer Paul Schneidereit.
“HOW FAR are the human rights thought police willing to go in this country?
Just watch them.
In Alberta last month, a government human rights apparatchik slapped a lifetime gag on an evangelical pastor, legally prohibiting him from ever again publicly expressing – via publishing, radio, public speech, e-mail or other Internet use – anything “disparaging” on homosexuality, regardless of whether his views are based on honestly held religious beliefs.
Think about that one for a moment. Stephen Boissoin, the target of the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal’s May 30 ruling, has been told by the state he cannot – for the rest of his life – publicly utter a word that could be considered insulting to gays, even if he’s quoting from Christian Scripture.”
Please pray that over the summer months as our politicians are back in their home ridings that this issue would continue to be high on their radar screens. Hopefully when they come back in the Fall they will make it a priority in the Justice Committee and with potential legislation to make some major reforms
Do you know any high school age kids who are ready to be fired up about prayer? We’re looking for 35 of them who could come to a special week of training and adventure in the nation’s capital this summer.
We are running this training camp from Aug.17-24 which fits together with “The Cry” that will happen on Sat. Aug.23rd. We know that hundreds, if not thousands of kids, young adults and young-at-heart adults will be showing up for that event. The idea is to make is a week long event for some very special teenagers. We’re looking for the kind that will go back and ignite prayer in their youth groups and high school campuses this Fall.
Please be praying for these “firestarters” that they will be enabled to come and join our Camp”Fire” this summer. If you know any that would fit the description can we encourage you to have them check out all the information on our website?
I’ve been following the Transformation Prayer Guide daily devotional, free from Prayer Transformation Ministries, which is intended for Christians who believe that revival will begin only through the manifest presence of Jesus Christ. I’m including week five here for you….
Week 5 – Repent: The Foundation of the Gospel *
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:14-15 (NIV)
Prayer Focus:
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by preaching that people should prove by the way they lived that they had repented from sin and turned to God. His message was relentless and uncompromising, even at the risk of offending those he called a “brood of vipers” (Luke 3:7-8). Jesus did not soften the message when He began to preach after John’s arrest. After being baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit, and then spending 40 days in the wilderness—Jesus immediately reinforced the foundation of the gospel: There was no attempt to
make the gospel appealing to the masses by downplaying the issue of repentance. If Jesus Himself ties repentance and belief together as the means of salvation, then any gospel preached minus the power of repentance is a false gospel. If our churches are filled with “believers” who have not embraced the critical place of repentance, we have done a disservice by not telling them the truth. The gift of repentance is an expression of God’s kindness to us (Romans 2:4).
Day 1: Praise God that He offers repentance to us as the pathway to salvation.
Day 2: If you have not truly repented before the Lord, take time now to deal with the sin in your life.
Day 3: Confess to the Lord your heart’s desire to turn from sin and walk in true belief in Him.
Day 4: Pray that the importance of repentance will not be downplayed in the message of salvation in the Church.
Day 5: Pray that those who consider themselves “believers” will also walk in a lifestyle of repentance.
Day 6: Pray that your church will not hesitate to speak of the need for repentance.
Day 7: Ask God in His kindness to do a powerful work of repentance among the people in your community.
*This has been printed without permission – copies may be obtained at the above-noted website.
I was talking with an aboriginal friend the other day and was asking her how she felt about last week’s apology. She expressed what I think a lot of the First Peoples are feeling, and that is, that she is happy the apology has been made but will be “waiting to see how it is walked out of its darkness.” I could tell that she was tentatively hopeful.
Interestingly, she also said that she was waiting to see how the average Canadian responds. She went on to relate a story about how, after the apology, she was with her aunt when they met a woman from Guyana who has lived in Canada for 17 years. This woman came to her aunt and apologized on her own behalf for never really taking notice of First People’s issues. This was a very moving moment for both women and her aunt said, as a result, that she felt proud “to be Indian” for the first time in her life. Her aunt is 85 years old. That’s a long time to live ashamed of who God has created you to be. When I heard this story, it was as if I could see light suddenly blazing into a darkness that had not been pierced for centuries.
Healing the wounds of the First Peoples is a big issue and it’s not going to happen overnight; but, I feel, at least, that for all aboriginal and non-aboriginal citizens of Canada, the apology is a positive step forward toward that healing. June 21, 2008 is National Aboriginal Day. If you’re aboriginal – God bless you! If you aren’t, please take the time to thank God for every aboriginal person you know and pray a blessing upon them. And while you’re at it, ask the Lord how you can, like this woman from Guyana did, move the healing forward. Then do it.
If you have about six minutes, take some time and watch this post. It’s National Chief Phil Fontaine’s response to the apology in the House of Commons.
