Opinion

 

The Great Potter

During a pre-marriage counselling session, the councillor showed the couple a picture of a potter-house and asked each one of them to identify with one of the picture’s elements; the picture basically contained three elements: the potter, the wheel and clay. 

After a considerable time of silence…….both of them said: “the wheel”.

Generally, not only in marriage life, we might be too polite to express our deepest wish to be in the place of the potter, but we are defiantly against being the clay.

Conventional Pottery (the act of making pottery wares) has changed very little through the centuries. The wheel is now turned by an electric motor, but that is about everything. Even this is still controlled by the foot of the potter. The clay is the same as it has always been. 

Not long ago, we (human race) were more humble; this picture of the potter sitting behind his wheel forming and creating a useful pot or a beautiful decorative vase was inside the mind and soul of each one of us. 

We saw our life in the hands of The One who is ultimately knowing, able and loving. Before we went to sleep we would put our thoughts and concerns in his palms. As we left our houses in the morning, we asked him for guidance and when fear and sadness hit us we ran to him for help. 

The picture was present in the language we used and in our attitude from everything around us. I believe, not long ago, we lived in the world of the Great Potter.     

But, gradually, something changed; there has been a growing desire in us to be the potter of our own life and everything in it. 

We seemed to love the idea of being able to create something useful and beautiful out of a messy chunk of clay. We wanted to believe that what happens to this clay can happen to anything that comes our way; we are creative, smart, willing and we build something new almost every day, so why not to see ourselves as great potters??      

Since we (the human kind) started to uncover the laws of our world and later to control them we wanted nothing to do with clay; we felt that we’ve been there too long and we’ve paid our dues! 

When we look at all that has been achieved in the fields of science and technology we are more convinced that it was the best thing we’ve ever done when we claimed the seat of the potter. Who needs a great potter when he/she is that good?        

Bear with me this story: in the Bible in Old Testament there is this story about a person whose name is Jeremiah. The people in Jeremiah’s time have, at least, one thing in common with us today; they have lost the concept of the Great Potter from their life. God thought he needed to talk with Jeremiah about that.

The amazing thing in this story is in spite of the fact that potter-houses were at every corner and everybody (including young children) knew exactly what a potter house was and what happened in it, God still asked Jeremiah to go down to one of them. 

He told him: “go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words” (Jer. 18.2). 

Jeremiah could have received the words elsewhere, but God wanted him to be looking at the fingers of the potter holding the clay, his foot turning the wheel and his craftsmanship transforming the idea into reality. 

“I will let you hear my words” meant more than hearing words; it meant helping Jeremiah (in behalf of his people) to rebuild the connection between the picture he once owned in his mind and soul and between God telling him the words: “Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” 

This story teaches me that there is hardly any use if I keep telling myself: “I can’t be the potter of my life.” Or “there is no sense of meaning or true purpose when I’m trying to give a shape and use to my days.” I became defensive every time I did this and (to my grief) I worked hard to prove the opposite. 

Instead, I needed to find the picture of the Great Potter in my mind and soul. I needed to build the bridge between that picture and the words: “Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.”

I wonder, if you saw a picture of a potter-house and were asked to identify with one of the picture’s elements, what would you pick? I hope not the wheel!

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Clergy, lunch and so much more…

Last Wednesday, I had lunch with a group of clergy. Clergy are an interesting bunch.

On the first Wednesday of each month the ministers and pastors of South Dundas get together. Over lunch we do some business, discuss issues of concern to all our churches, plan events and actives that we do together and enjoy each other’s company.

We share concerns over the state of the church in the world today and commiserate about congregational challenges. 

We laugh. We shake our heads. We share stories of struggle and faith, and we celebrate the power of Jesus Christ to bring hope and new life. We see it happening in our community and world even today.

For me, the great joy and inspiration that comes from our time as clergy together is a profound sense of hope and encouragement. 

I can tell you the ministers and pastors in our communities deeply care for people and passionately give themselves in the service of Jesus Christ.

And for me that gives rise to a tremendous sense of hope and encouragement. 

And as I was thinking about this, I was struck by how we all need hope and encouragement, and how we can all be hope and encouragement to others.

The Season of Lent is about half way through. Lent is a season of preparation for Easter.  Lent is a time of discipline and commitment. We know well of the Lenten tradition of giving something up. In Lent accompanying the self-denial of giving something up the ancient church encouraged people to replace what was given up with some sort of spiritual activity.

And maybe half way through this season of Lent, we can give thanks to God for the hope and encouragement that comes to us in many ways.  And maybe we can commit ourselves to be agents of hope and encouragement.

So why not give ourselves to offer an expression of encouragement to someone each day up until Easter.  A word of grace, and act of kindness, a gesture of love, a simple expression of encouragement is all it takes. 

We all know what such things have done in our lives. Imagine what such things can do in the lives of those we meet during the next month or so. 

So there’s the challenge. It is not too late to take something of Lent into our everyday lives and bring hope and encouragement to others. And in that they and we will come to experience the presence and the blessing of God in new and exciting ways. 

For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ/who died for us, so that we may live with him/Therefore encourage one another and build up each other…       

 1 Thess 5:9-11 NSRV

Rev. Geoff Howard, Knox 

Presbyterian, Iroquois

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Jesus is full of surprises

When you read the stories about Jesus, you read that he was full of surprises. Sometimes they were happy surprises, sometimes they angered people.

A favourite story is the wedding he went to where the hosts ran out of wine. No problem. Jesus turned water into wine. 

A little while later he showed  up at a kind of hospital and a lame man he healed just got up and walked out. 

One of the wildest things he did was turn up at funerals and bring the dead back to life. Pretty surprising stuff.

But not all of his surprises were appreciated. Early on in his work, he showed up at the temple (the ‘church’ of his day). Surprise! He found the worship there corrupt and materialistic and made quite a stir. He chased out the animals being sold, overturned the tables of people exchanging money, and blasted the merchants who were there.

Jesus also surprised people by whom he hung out with. They expected him to hang out with the clergy and other religious types. 

But for the most part he didn’t. He didn’t like the way they performed their religious duties to put on a show. How they made long prayers to impress others, wore fancy robes, and looked for respect and honour. But mostly he found them too proud and full of themselves to be open to his free gift of grace (see Luke 18:9-14).

Even when it came to regular folk, he still surprised everyone. He didn’t usually spend his time with or even respect ‘good’ people. 

Instead he kept company with those looked down on in his day: prostitutes, tax collectors, and the non-religious. The way he put it was that it wasn’t the healthy who needed a doctor, but the sick (see Matthew 9:9-13). He really was full of surprises.

If Jesus was on earth today, I think he’d still be full of similar surprises. He might still have some serious issues with us ‘religious types.’ Ouch. 

I think he’d still be looking to hang out with those who would least expect him to. People who are rough around the edges, people who never darken the doorway of a church. People who seem to have it all together, but inside are looking for more in life. People who are hungry for something real.

Back in Jesus’ day it was those the world thought least likely to be of interest to him, that he reached out to. I’m sure it would be the same today. 

The chances are good that Jesus is not about to physically show up at our work, home or school, but he is still very much alive and well and among us in spirit. He’s still looking for people to love, to forgive, to befriend. Are you one of those people? Am I?

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Dead End

I’m really not sure how I got there. It certainly was not in my plans. It sure seemed like the right road at the time. I was just driving along and crossed a street, and suddenly there it was – a dead end. 

Probably, subconsciously  anyway, I had seen the sign, “Dead End”, but it had not registered. I still had a ways to go, and this way certainly was going nowhere.

Coming to a stop, I had to think how it had happened. When had I turned off the road I should have been on? I had never been quite this way before. Where had I gone wrong?

Taking the turns that I had, seemed to be the only sensible way at the time, but obviously, I had missed the cues and gone my own way. Not yet owning a GPS or a Smartphone, I reached for the Mapquest directions and map lying on the seat beside me looking for a way back to the route I needed.

The Bible says in Proverbs 16:25 that: “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.”

No one ever plans to make a mess of their life. In fact, most of us begin life thinking that somehow we, along with the rest of our generation, will conquer the world. 

We never really see ourselves taking the “wrong” turns. Those turns just happen as we go along. Sometimes it is weeks, months, or years later, when we realize that the way we have chosen is a “dead end”. It is getting us nowhere fast and there is really no place left to go.

At all times it is good to look to the Author of Life to find the proper directions. He has given us a “Road Map” to help us stay on the right road. Too often we feel that we can handle life ourselves and lay His map on the seat of life for consultation when we become desperate. 

The Lord says, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea” [Isaiah 48:17-18]. 

The good thing is that God’s road map is always available for consultation to bring us back to the road of life.

Doing an about turn, I retraced my route until I found myself back on the right road. With a great sense of relief, I confidently drove straight to my planned destination.

Where is your life taking you? Hopefully you are planning your destination well and enjoying the journey there.

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I am firm believer that some of our government’s proudest accomplishments have been providing financial support and tax relief to Canadian seniors who have built our great country. 

Whether it has been actions like pension splitting for seniors or increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement, millions of seniors across Canada have seen a lower pension burden and more support from our government. 

Another key demographic of our country’s success is ensuring the strength and financial viability of Canadian families. And I’m really proud of our government’s recent announcement of a package of tax cuts and increased benefits to make life more affordable for Canadian families. 

Here’s how families can put more money in their pockets in 2015:

1. The Family Tax Cut 

The new Family Tax Cut can lower a family’s overall tax bill by allowing a spouse to effectively transfer up to $50,000 of taxable income to a spouse in a lower tax bracket for federal tax purposes, providing tax relief up to a maximum of $2,000. 

This measure is aimed at couples with children under the age of 18, where one spouse is in a higher income tax bracket than the other.

For example, if one spouse earns $75,000 per year and the other earns $15,000, the higher- income earner could effectively transfer $30,000 to the lower-income spouse for federal tax purposes. 

This would reduce the amount of tax the couple pays by bringing the higher-income spouse into the lowest income tax bracket, resulting in the maximum tax savings of $2,000.

Couples can claim the Family Tax Cut on their 2014 tax returns. To benefit, each spouse must file a tax return, and either spouse may claim the credit.

2. The Universal Child Care Benefit

As part of its family-friendly measures, the Government is also proposing to enhance the Universal Child Care Benefit. 

Parents with children under the age of 6 would receive $160 per month, up from $100. 

In addition, parents with children aged 6 through 17 would receive $60 per month. 

These changes will take effect on January 1, 2015 and be reflected in monthly payments to recipients beginning in July 2015, pending approval of the necessary legislation. The July 2015 payments would include six months of benefits to cover the January to June 2015 period. 

Parents already receiving payments for children under the age of 6 will automatically receive higher monthly benefits, starting in July 2015. 

The July 2015 payment will include up to six months of benefits to cover the January to June 2015 period. 

Parents eligible for the new benefit, for children aged 6 through 17 will begin receiving $60 per month for each eligible child, starting in July 2015. The July 2015 payment will include six months of benefits to cover the January to June 2015 period. 

How do parents qualify? By completing the Canada Child Benefits Application form. Parents who have already completed this form to access other child-related benefits do not have to resubmit the form unless their family situation has changed. 

3. The Child Care Expense Deduction

Parents incurring child care expenses to go to work or school can deduct child care expenses from their income when filing their tax returns. 

Starting in the 2015 taxation year, the Government has proposed that the maximum dollar amount that can be claimed each year increase by $1,000. The new maximum dollar limits would be:

• $8,000 per child under age 7;

• $5,000 per child aged 7 to 16 (and for infirm dependent children over age 16); and

• $11,000 for children who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. 

4. The Children’s Fitness Tax Credit

If parents have kids enrolled in sports, they can now claim expenses of up to $1,000 per year for each eligible child. That’s double what they could have claimed previously. 

Parents can take advantage of the new $1,000 limit when they file their tax returns for 2014.

Starting in 2015, the credit will become refundable, which means that families with incomes too low to be taxable will also benefit when they file their 2015 tax returns. 

Our government understands the importance of strong Canadian families. If constituents would like more information, my staff and I are available to assist you at 1-888-805-2513 or info@guylauzon.ca.

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Where Do Your Federal Tax Dollars Go?

Constituents often ask me various questions about federal government finances. 

How much does the federal government spend each year? Where does the money go? 

I thought this week I would try and supply you with an insight into how your tax dollars are spent. While it can be difficult to summarize and explain in a brief article, here is a quick overview of the expenses.

For the last fiscal year, Canada’s federal government spent $276.8 billion from a variety of revenue sources. That represents roughly 15% of our country’s $1.9-trillion economy.

Transfers payments, which are federal funds that go directly to persons, to provincial governments, and to other organizations, are the largest category of government spending. They compose about 61 cents of each tax dollar spent ($169.4 billion).

Major transfers to individual Canadians cost 26 cents of each tax dollar spent ($72.2 billion). The biggest category in this line item was elderly benefits, which cost about $41.8 billion, or roughly 15 cents of each tax dollar spent. These transfers include Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, and the Allowance for Spouses.

Another major transfer to persons is Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. Altogether, EI benefits cost over 6 cents of every tax dollar spent ($17.3 billion). 

The final major types of personal transfers are child benefits. The federal government provided $13.1 billion to help families raise their children through the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the Universal Child Care Benefit. These payments cost almost 5 cents of every tax dollar spent.

 Major transfers to provincial and local governments totalled $60.5 billion, or 22 cents of each tax dollar spent. These transfers help fund health care, post-secondary education, and other vital programs for Canadians.

The Canada Health Transfer provided $30.5 billion for health programs, representing about 11 cents of each tax dollar spent.

The Canada Social Transfer provided $12.2 billion for post-secondary education, social programs and programs for children, representing close to 5 cents of each tax dollar spent.

Other major transfers, including provincial equalization programs and our Gas Tax Fund program to municipalities, totalled roughly 6 cents of every tax dollar spent ($17.7 billion).

The items listed above account for approximately 70% of the federal government’s annual expenditures. If you are interested in knowing where the additional 30% is spent, please visit ‎my website www.guylauzon.ca for all the information anytime.

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While celebrating the start of the New Year, many Canadians take the time to set some New Years Resolutions. Many of those resolutions focus on eating healthier, exercising more, or perhaps cutting back on some bad habits. That’s why I thought it would be timely to discuss the topic of health care in Canada.

Health care is one of the topics that my constituents consistently identify as a key priority. It affects everyone, either themselves directly or a ‎family member. 

Every time I send out questionnaires on issues that are most important to constituents, health care is in the top three. Each and everyone of us has had to use the health care system at one time or another. 

Generally speaking, Canada’s health care system is one of the best in the world. I am quick to acknowledge that our system is not perfect; sometimes constituents feel they deserve better service, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

To clarify our political structure, the federal government does not directly operate and direct the expenditures of health care services. That is the role of our elected provincial governments. In our case, the Ontario government at Queen’s Park is responsible for organizing our hospitals and long-term care homes, among many other front line health care services.

In addition to national health research and having the lead on international health prevention programs, the federal government still plays a very important role in health care by providing billions of dollars each year in transfer payments to provincial governments for health and social services. 

Those receiving less than perfect service when they go to a hospital or to a doctor often believe that the poor service is due to lack of funding. I can assure you this is not the case with the federal government’s funding model. When we compare the funds invested in health care by our federal government here in Canada to other countries, it is evident there is solid financial support for the system to provide top quality care.

In 2015-16, the Government of Ontario will receive $20.4 billion through major transfers– an increase of $9.6 billion from 2005-06. Yes, you read that right: over $20 billion dollars is given to the Ontario government each year by the federal government to assist with health and social programs. And it is growing more each and every year going forward.

Comparatively, it is alarming to see how little investment is made in health care in some countries. I recently came across statistics from the World Bank that confirm this argument. It is shocking to note that the annual health care spending (in US dollars) per capita in Gambia is $26. Here are some other examples: 

Kenya spends $45

India $61

China $322 

South Africa $645 

Lebanon $675. 

Among G-7 countries: 

Italy $3,032

United Kingdom $3,647, 

Germany $4,683

France $4,690

and the United States spends $8,895 in their private, insurance-based health care system. 

In comparison, Canada spends $5,741 on our public universal health care system for every Canadian man, woman, and child.

I believe we are fortunate here in Canada when it comes to health care services. Locally in SDSG, we have two state of the art hospitals, great doctors and nurses, and a dedicated sector of health care workers ready to look after our needs. 

As your federal Member of Parliament, I will continue to ensure that we increase our financial transfers to provincial governments each and every year to maintain and provide good quality health care to you and your family. 

Last but not least, good luck with your New Years Resolutions!

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Singing a New Song…

Well, my friends, as many of you know I have retired. My ministry with the Parish of Morrisburg, Iroquois and Riverside Heights came to an end on December 28th, 2014. Now it’s time to prepare for what God has in store for me next.

On the first Sunday after Christmas in our church the Gospel reading told of Mary and Joseph taking their infant son to the Temple for presentation according to their custom.

Two significant figures were there in the Temple at the time – Simeon and Anna. When each met the family, both offered a song to God; Simeon a song of departure and Anna a song of praise and thanksgiving.

Music, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to express ourselves. It can tell stories of joy. It can tell stories of sadness. Music can set our imaginations and hearts free in ways that words alone cannot. Needless to say, singing is one of my favourite things to do.

The music that has been my ministry with the people of the Parish and the community of South Dundas has for the most part been sweet. There have been the odd sour notes or the odd time when things were a tad off key – that’s normal in any unrehearsed musical composition. But the music always had God as director. 

Today, I begin singing a new song. The other voices that join in will be different. Who knows, the tune might be different and the words the same or vise versa – or both could be entirely different. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that God is still the director.

Thank you to all of you who have been faithful readers of this column of Perspectives. Thank you to the editorial staff at the Leader for your patience with an amateur writer. May God continue to bless you richly in 2015.

Cheers, Rev. Sue McCullough

 

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Cancer at Christmas

Years ago I read a Christmas story that both broke my heart and blessed it. It was about a three year old boy named Cameron, who discovered six weeks before Christmas that he had cancer in his brain. He had it before, but eighteen months earlier the doctors operated and were confident that they had removed it all. Now it was back.

Since the doctors didn’t want to try another surgery, it meant their only option was radiation.

For six weeks dear mom took him for his treatment. The little guy became weaker and slowly started to lose his hair. Christmas hardly seemed like Christmas that year. 

Each day on the way into the hospital little Cameron begged to see a Santa they drove by, but mom was far too busy and stressed to bother. Finally one day Cameron nagged to see the guy more than usual, so mom agreed to make a visit to the mall to see the Santa there.

He jumped up all excited to sit beside Santa on his sleigh when it was finally his turn to talk to him. Santa asked about the hair loss and his mother called over that he was going through radiation for a brain tumour. 

At that point Santa did something rather unexpected. He called mom over and asked that she come join them on the sleigh. And he asked if he could pray for them.

“You know,” he said, “that after the doctors have done all they can with their technology, the ultimate healing is up to the Lord.” He added that he himself had a serious brain problem and was healed. So with a crowd gathering and wondering what was going on, he prayed for healing for little Cameron.

I don’t know how Cameron is doing today, but the last I read, he carried on for years not entirely cancer free, but able to live a full and happy life.

That story puts Christmas in perspective for me. All our usual Christmas festivities and traditions are great. It’s fun to enjoy Santa and presents and all of those kind of things. But as happy as all this can make us, it doesn’t really meet our deepest needs, nor address our most urgent concerns. It has no answer for cancer, or violence, or death.

For the serious problems of life we need what that Santa in the story pointed to. We need the one who in love came to our world to be born in Bethlehem’s stable. The one who one day would die for the sins of the world that we could be saved and reconciled to God.

I wish you all a wonder-filled Christmas. Good times with family and friends. Feasting and festivities. Reaching out to those in need or lonely. 

But I especially hope that we realize our need of the one whose birthday we are called to celebrate: Jesus. For the really big stuff in life, only he has the answer. He is the answer. Turn to him, trust in him. And you’ll have the best Christmas ever.

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The Christmas Story

The scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is God, who came to earth as a man to make full provision for our eternal salvation. (John 1:1>14; 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7)

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14 

This prophetic utterance by Isaiah, was spoken some 735 years before the birth of Christ. 

In the historical narrative, the virgins conception and bearing of a Son, is a sign of both impending judgment and the provision of salvation. Judgment for the unbeliever, and salvation for the believer. (Isaiah 7)

Immanuel, the prophetic name of this Son who will be born of a virgin, means “with us is God.” This Son is more than just a man, He is the Christ. He will possess the full nature of man; also possessing the full, unmingled, nature of God. (2 Peter 1:1b)

The Holy Spirit was responsible for Mary’s pregnancy. He created and placed an original seed in Mary’s womb. Therefore the Scripture records that, “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit,” and “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18, 20)

The child to be born, will be a special Son; the Son of God; the only begotten Son being born to die a horrific and unjust death, to “save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21; John 3:16; Hebrews 10:5-10)

In Christ, God has subjected Himself to the human experience. According to Philippians 2:7,8, when coming into the world, Jesus “made Himself of no reputation;” kenoo Heautou, meaning that He “emptied himself,” that He divested Himself of His rightful dignity and privilege as God, subjecting Himself to the human condition.

He did not empty Himself of His essence as God; but He did set aside at least three aspects of the dignity and privilege He had eternally enjoyed as God. 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. – 2  Corinthians 8:9

•Jesus, coming into the world, set aside His divine glory. (John 17:5) The glory He demonstrated in His earthly life is the glory of Original Righteousness, like that which Adam enjoyed before sin, and like the glory to be restored to man by Jesus’ victory over sin. (Hebrews 2:10) 

•Jesus, coming into the world, set aside the independent authority He had the right to as God. Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane demonstrates His perfect submission to the will of another; i.e. God the Father. (Matthew 26:39; see also, John 5:30; 15:10)

•Jesus in coming into the world set aside His inability to be tempted by evil, or to suffer certain external results of Adam’s sin. Scripture clearly reveals God’s inability to be tempted by evil (James 1:13); but it also reveals that Jesus, in His human nature was tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15) 

The Christmas story is much more than the circumstances of Jesus’ birth; it is the beginning of the great climax of history, and the confirmation of the purpose of creation. 

May your heart rise above the normal activities of the Christmas season to embrace the eternal significance of the coming of Immanuel; God with us; Jesus the Christ. 

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