May 2012 – Page 11 – Morrisburg Leader

Perspectives with Rev. George Frey

May 2, 2012 Editor

Jesus is Lord!

Are you a Christian? Is Jesus Christ the Lord of your life? Too many people say they are Christians without any consideration to the relationship they actually have to the Christ they are identifying with.

Jesus is identified in the Bible as the Lord. This designation is not to be taken lightly as both the Father and the Son are very serious persons. The fact that even a word of idle talk is subject to judgment necessarily implies that God does not speak or write an idle word (Matthew 12:36), and that the biblical references to Jesus as Lord are not without grave significance.

The Bible identifies Jesus as Lord in a very concrete and enduring way. Jesus’ designation as Lord is in no way like the often vacant titles we sometimes use in today’s society. Jesus Christ is Lord in fact and whether or not a person has respect for that fact has grave consequences.

For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. – Romans 14:10-12

Notice that in the scripture quoted above Christ is identified as both the LORD and God being spoken of in the interpretive quote of Isaiah 45:23. It is Christ the Lord’s judgment seat before which “every knee shall bow … and every tongue shall confess.” It is the Lord Jesus Christ to whom “each of us shall give account of himself.”

The context of Romans 14 makes it clear that this scripture is referring to Christians in particular.

As a Christian, Jesus is the Lord over your life, and how you responded to that reality will determine how He will judge your life.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. – 2 Corinthians 5:10

Have you ever said to someone, or had someone say to you, “who are you to judge me,” or “you have no right to judge me?” No Christian can say that to Jesus. Jesus has the right to judge you because He is your Lord and your God. (John 20:28)

When you became a Christian you embraced the confession that Jesus is your Lord? Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

I once spoke to a small group of men about the promises they made to their brides on their wedding day. None of the men were sure about exactly what they promised, and all of them looked guilty because they were divorced and knew they had broken whatever promises they had made. They were all adulterers in the biblical sense violating the covenants they had made.

I believe the problem began with the fact that not one of these men ever took the promises they made seriously, and from the very beginning they were willing to break those promises.

How seriously do you take your relationship with Jesus your Lord? What did you say to Him when you became a Christian? Are you faithful to Jesus’ Lordship over your life?

Take time in prayer today to speak to your Lord, Jesus the Christ, and reaffirm your commitment to Him as your Lord.

Rev. George Frey

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Few changes for South Dundas Minor Hockey

May 2, 2012 Editor

With just three exceptions, the executive of the South Dundas Minor Hockey Association remains unchanged with president Jeff van Moorsel returning for another term.

The annual general meeting of the association was held last Tuesday, April 24 with the various reports given for the year.

President Jeff van Moorsel said it was a great year for the association with two teams winning championships, the Novice B Lions and the Bantam Rep Lions. van Moorsel expressed his thanks to all the coaches and the executive for a job well done.

He mentioned too, that fees for the South Dundas Minor Hockey Association have been increased for next year by $50 at all levels, save Initiation, due largely to the increasing cost of ice, which is the association’s biggest expense.

Ice rental costs for the 2011-12 season were $83,035.24, up from $76,577.55 the season before.

With registrations totalling $79,245, the association counted heavily on fund raising which brought in $35,400 and donations which accounted for another $4,000.

After ice rental, the biggest expense was refereeing at a cost of $17,304. Insurance (coaches and players) cost $7,236 and another $6,375 was spent on equipment.

Other costs were for instruction, league fees, trophies and banners and general and administrative expenses.

With a total revenue of $120,169.13 and total expenses at $122,921.44, the association dipped into its reserves for the second consecutive season. Last year the association reported a small loss of $2,300.

Although experiencing back to back years with small losses, the association remains healthy, financially. In addition to the fee increase, plans are in the works to recruit more children into the Initiation program.

Referee in Chief, David Lapier reported the South Dundas referees had a great year, claiming the local association has the best referees in the league.

The association’s web master, Jason Broad, shared some of the stats regarding hits on the website.

Joining the executive of the South Dundas Minor Hockey Association for the 2012/13 season are Mike Domanko in the 1st vice-president position and Jamie Smith as 2nd vice president and Risk Management rep.

Also new to the executive is Tanya Domanko who will be Co-registrar with Cassandra Barry who has handled the position for a number of years.

Past-president Gary Hart returns as fund raising coordinator.

Also returning are Secretary Andrea Cartier, Treasurer Pam Mullin, Rules and Discipline Chair and Referee-in-Chief David Lapier, Coaching/Development Coordinator Bruce Mullin, Equipment Manager Rob Perry, Ice Scheduler Steve Martineau, Referee Assignor Lisa Schwerdtfeger and Web Master Jason Broad.

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Shovels Dig In for Iroquois Wastewater Treatment Plant

May 2, 2012 Editor

IROQUOIS–With shovels in hand, three levels of government dug in here on Friday, to officially kick off the $18 million Iroquois Wastewater Treatment Plant project that will include the addition of a secondary treatment process and upgrades to increase the plant’s overall capacity, efficiency and reliability.

Performing the official ground-breaking ceremony were Guy Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Stormont, Dundas & South Glengarry, Grant Crack, MPP for Glengarry, Prescott & Russell and South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds.

The project is part of the legacy left to South Dundas by the late Charles Barkley whose lobbying resulted in the procurement of 100 per cent funding split 50-50 between the federal and provincial governments.

Although the late Mayor knew the municipality had secured the funding, he passed away on June 17, 2009, just days before the official announcement was to be made.

At the 2009 announcement, MP Lauzon, said “this is Charles’ day. The fact that we are making this announcement today is a testimony to Charles Barkley. I don’t think that I ever saw Charles in the last two years that he didn’t remind me that South Dundas couldn’t afford this project. I would like to dedicate this project to the memory of Charles Barkley.”

Friday, Lauzon again acknowledged the late mayor Barkley, along with former mayor Robert Gillard and current South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds who was a member of council at the time of the funding announcement.

“Safe and reliable wastewater infrastructure will support the health and well-being of residents of South Dundas, and help to protect the St. Lawrence River,” said Lauzon, who spoke Friday on behalf of Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “Our government believes that investing in infrastructure is one of the best ways to create jobs in Canada, and I am pleased that this project will contribute to a cleaner environment and the economic future of this region.”

On hand to represent the province of Ontario was Grant Crack, MPP for Glengarry, Prescott & Russell.

“This project will protect the local environment, the St. Lawrence River and improve the quality of life for residents for years to come,” said Crack. “Ontario is about communities, about the families who live and work in these communities.”

Next to speak was South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds who introduced his council, deputy mayor Jim Strader, and councillors Evonne Delegarde, Jim Graham and Archie Mellan all of whom were in attendance.

Byvelds too commended the previous South Dundas council under Mayor Barkley, which included deputy mayor Robert Gillard and councillors Delbert Jones and Jim Graham and himself.

“We knew we had an environmental issue that had to be dealt with,” he said, pointing out that the late Mayor Barkley was instrumental in obtaining funding.

Byvelds also remarked that when this project is completed it will result in an entire infrastructure rebuild for South Dundas which includes the South Dundas Water Treatment Plant, the Morrisburg Wastewater Treatment Plant and now the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Iroquois.

“This is a good day for Canada, for Ontario and for South Dundas,” said Byvelds. “The project goes a long way in providing the necessary infrastructure we need to grow and prosper.”

“I look forward to the final day when we will meet here for the opening of the wastewater treatment plant.”

The government of Canada is contributing up to $9 million through the Green Infrastructure Fund toward eligible project costs and the Province of Ontario has already contributed $9 million.

The Township of South Dundas will pick up the balance of the total eligible project cost of $18,062,067.

The Green Infrastructure Fund is a key part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan which focuses on creating new opportunities for jobs and growth and securing long-term prosperity for Canadians.

The project also supports Building Together, the Government of Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province’s roads and highways, bridges, public transit, etc.

The Iroquois project includes the upgrading of equipment, new facilities and modifications to existing facilities and removal and replacement of the existing outfall sewer.

South Dundas CAO Steven MacDonald, who emceed Friday’s ground breaking ceremony, acknowledged project manager Ontario Clean Water Agency, project engineer AECOM and project contractor J.C. Sulpher.

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