Opinion

 

The Way We Live

The difference between the culture of God’s people, and the cultures of the world, must be clearly manifest. It is this clarity that allows for an informed choice, by those who would repent of their sin and turn in genuine faith to God for salvation. 

If the difference is not clear the choice cannot be clear. The free will of man is not served by the unclearness of the issue. If men, being free moral agents, will be able to make a self obligating moral choice, they must understand the issue without ambiguity. 

Therefore the Lord says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:7-9

The forsaking of one’s way of thinking, and way of doing things, is a major decision. But it is the decision called for in both the Old and New Testaments. It is certain that man’s way of thinking and God’s way of thinking, concerning matters of righteousness, do not agree. 

Notice that in God’s salvation appeal to the wicked and unrighteous, the forsaking of thoughts and ways, precedes the returning and receiving of mercy and abundant pardon. 

This reminds me of a time that a young man came to me asking how he could be saved. I asked him if he was ready to repent of his sin and he assured me that he was a “pretty good person.” 

But if one would attain to righteousness by his own efforts he must be perfect. Jesus admonishes us in the sermon on the mount, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) 

It seemed in the young man’s way of thinking, that in comparison with others he must surely qualify for God’s salvation. But according to Isaiah such thinking is to be forsaken, because by holding such thoughts one fails to “return unto the Lord,” continuing to trust in his own works for salvation.

But the bases for mercy and abundant pardon may not be found in the good works of men for Isaiah also says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;  (Isaiah 64:6) Therefore we must look elsewhere for any righteousness we may attain to. 

So we are thankful that Jesus Christ has come, living the perfect life before the Father, that we could not; and by sacrificing His life, that was not deserving of death, Jesus has provided eternal salvation for all who will put their trust in Him. In Jesus we find the mercy and abundant pardon of God. (Romans 6:17-23)

As Christians we must keep the issue clear, and openly demonstrate the difference Jesus Christ has made in our lives. The way we think, and what we do, must demonstrate the difference to be expected by one who returns to the Lord. We must manifest the clear and present choice that is before the free will of each person every day.

Rev. George T. Frey, 

Faith Christian Center 

Morrisburg 

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Always Be Ready

Well, here we are, a brand new year, 2013. We are not supposed to be here according to some wag. December 21, 2012, it was supposed to be all over. But we’ve heard these stories before, haven’t we?

I don’t know why it is that some people are so foolish as to claim to know something that even Jesus, the Son of God, said it wasn’t His to know.

In Matthew 24:36, we read Jesus’ words, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son but My Father only.”

Jesus’ words were in response to questions from His disciples as to when the end of the age would be.

The problem with all these presumptions is the danger that comes to us when nothing happens. People get to the place of ignoring anything that is said about the world coming to an end.

And that is a danger because it will come to an end some day when God, who created it all, determines that it is time.

Sinful humanity will one day be judged, Satan will be bound and God will make all things new where there will be no sin, no sickness, no dying.

That’s the promise of God.

Of course, those who have believed on His Son for the forgiveness of sin need not fear, we will be with God in His glorious kingdom.

Maybe you are thinking, “I’ve heard all of this foolishness before.”

May I encourage you to take a few moments to read 2Peter 3:1-16 and know that God knows. Back to Matthew 24, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will by no means pass away.”

I don’t know when the world as we know it will come to an end, and I don’t worry about it either. My hope is in Jesus Christ who tells me if I believe on Him that is, if I come to Him confessing my sins and trusting in Him to cleanse me from all sin, which He promises to do, that I need not worry about what happens in this life because He has gone back to His Father in Heaven to prepare a place for me and he will come again for me that I may be where He is, John 14:1-3.

That can also be true for you, for everyone. All you have to do is confess your sins, turn from your old ways of living to satisfy self and follow Jesus. I trust you will make that choice and believe in God, who knows all things.

For the past number of years, I have truly enjoyed writing this Perspectives Column as Pastor at the Morrisburg Pentecostal Tabernacle. Although, as of December 30, 2012, I have retired from full time pastoral ministry I will continue to do so, along with other members of our clergy here in South Dundas. 

I wish God’s blessing on you and your families.

Maybe we’ll see each other around, as I do have eight good reasons to be around here.

God bless each of you for your kind words over the years. You will not soon be forgotten. 

Rev. Duncan Perry,

Morrisburg

Pentecostal Tabernacle

Editor’s Note: All of us here at The Leader wish Rev. Perry all the best in his retirement years, and, yes, we look forward to seeing him out and about in the community. 

We thank Rev. Perry for his many years of penning a Perspectives column and look forward to his continued efforts. We also welcome interim Pentecostal pastor, Rev. Lorna Casselman who will be joining our Perspectives Column writers.

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HEY! Unto You a Child is Born

On this eighth day of Christmas what did your true love give to you? Eight maids a-milking?? I highly doubt it. 

But I’ll bet that since the 25th of December you haven’t thought a whole lot about what God has given to you. Hence, the reminder at the top.

If you were to ask any member of any of the congregations of the parish I serve, you would discover that I am a stickler for observing Advent – to me that means Christmas music waits until Christmas. 

The secular world has told us that the Christmas season begins when Hallowe’en is over. The Christmas music begins at the beginning of November and on the 25th of December it stops. It’s done. It’s over.

People have forgot that Christmas begins on the 25th of December and continues into January when on the 5th of January we celebrate the 12th Night – you remember the twelve days of Christmas, right? 

I love Christmas, and I love to hear the music of Christmas. I listen to the music throughout the Christmas season, regardless of what the secular world tells me. 

It reminds me into the new year, through all the noise and chaos in my life and all the chaos in the world that, hey, unto me, unto us a child is born.

As your life continues on into 2013, recollect the gift that God so lovingly and generously gave.

We are better people for him. The world is a better place for him. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and may God continue to fill your life with blessings in 2013.

Oh, and by the way, we are having a little 12th Night/Epiphany Potluck Party at St. James’ on the 5th of January. If you want to hear Christmas music, we will be singing Christmas music.

Come on along with your favourite potluck dish and join us in the singing. . . .oh, and did I mention the ever popular Epiphany Party Quiz?????

Cheers,

Sue+

Rev. Sue McCullough

Anglican Parish of 

Morrisburg, Iroquois 

& Riverside Heights

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The Ongoing Gift

The Christmas gifts have been unwrapped. We have eaten the turkey, potatoes, dressing and pie. We have watched as a child in our church placed baby Jesus in the manager. We have decorated our homes with strings of lights, proclaiming that Jesus, the light of the world, has come, that darkness can never again be as black.

In a few days, Christmas 2012, will be behind us. Eventually, all the leftover food will be gone. We will now sing Epiphany hymns. 

We will take down the Christmas tree and put away the beautiful ornaments.

When we put away the snowmen, angels, bells and nativity sets, let us not put away the hope, peace, joy and love that comes down at Christmas.

May we put Christ at the centre of our days–may we remember that God’s ongoing gift to humankind is life.

God’s greatest gift to us was a child, a child who assures us of eternal life in His arms.

Jesus opened the eyes and minds of men and women to the great possibilities which lie within the realm of personhood.

Jesus loves us and asks us to walk in His paths of mercy, justice, caring and concern.

We are called to minister to others in a spirit of compassion and kindness–we’re to be Christ’s faithful and devoted disciples.

May the magic of the holiday season touch you, and may the New Year bring you peace.

Always remember that Jesus taught the value of life,the wonder and beauty of life, the joy of caring for each other.

This is the true gift of Christmas, and has nothing to do with purchases or wrapping.

It belongs to all of us. Amen.

Rev. Janet Evans, Iroquois United Church

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A doggone thank you from the dogs and the South Dundas Animal Shelter

Dear Editor,

On behalf of a whole bunch of homeless dogs who now have found homes, I would like to thank everyone who is contributing in some way to the South Dundas Animal Shelter.

I would especially like to thank Bonnie McNairn and the Morrisburg Leader who give these dogs exposure every week in the paper. Without their help, none of this would be possible.

Thanks to all of the people who have donated food, treats, blankets and towels, money and cheques and a big thank you to Carol Armstrong and Myrna Whelan for all of the work they are doing behind the scenes.

Just so everyone knows, the Township pays me for four days food and shelter for the canines I am called to rescue. After that, I rely on your support so that I can help them get to the point where they can be adopted–sometimes this can take months.

Without your support, some of these adoptable dogs would have to be euthanized.

Dogs are just like our children–they need us to take care of them and keep them safe.

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2013. Please continue to support the South Dundas Animal Shelter.

Kevin Casselman. 

Editor’s Note: Those of us involved here at The Leader add our thanks to everyone for their support and especially those people who have come forward and adopted the dogs. Since we first ran the story with Kevin and the plight of the dogs, we have featured 13 dogs in the paper. Twelve of the dogs have been adopted and another handful or more have been adopted before their pics even made it to the paper. Having made more people aware of the shelter and the dogs there has helped to make the shelter a first stop on many people’s “best friend” shopping list.

At the time of this letter, we still have one young fellow, looking for a loving, forever home…here’s hoping we can make him lucky 13, and get this very loving and very obedient mixed breed (yup the hound mix) a home. Please call Kevin at 613-543-2980. 

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Giving Birth at Our Age

Friends, first of all, may celebration of the birth of Christ child bring new life to you wherever you are.  The witness of scripture in the gospels tell the reader that this child would even the rough spots, raise the lowly, ignite the Christ-light in each human and affirm God’s presence in creation from before to beyond. 

This time of year belongs to faith communities to tell the story filled with wonder and joy, to sing joyfully, to share abundantly in response to God’s gift of revelation in Jesus the Christ. 

However you do this be assured that however it happens God will work wonders through your efforts.  

Whatever age you are, know that God does birth new life through you.  Blessings and peace for Christmas 2012, Rev. Arlyce

A Prayer for Christmas and New Year

by Nellis L. McClung

Lord, let me live while I can see the beauty of the 

blossoming tree,

The message in the wayside flower, and love it for its one short hour;

While morning song of lark and jay, can scatter all my doubts away,

And lift my poor heart from the sod, and tell them 

I am born of God;

While I can feel I’m linked with all the burdened ones who halt and fall,

While I can feel my share of blame in every cheek that’s dyed with shame,

While I can feel life’s burdens sweep across my heart and drive out sleep;

While I can suffer, hunger, strive, Lord, let me live

—for I’m alive.

But if the time should come when I forget to lift my eyes on high, forget to

Seek for love divine, or seek it but for me and mine; 

when my dim eyes

Shall fail to trace Thy image in each human face, when lulled by comfort,

Ease and pride, I find my soul is satisfied to build its house of wood and hay, 

Letting the old world go its way; content to preen before a glass where wounded

Ones barefooted pass, easing my conscience if I must by throwing hungry dogs

A crust, then, Lord, they crowning mercy shed and let me die

—for I am dead.

Written by Nellie L. McClung 

Copyright, Canada, 1915, Wm. E. Coutts

The Rev. Arlyce Schiebout

Lakeshore United Church

Morrisburg

[…]

Merry Christmas Seaway! Can you say HOLY SNOW? Just kidding, there was a dust over the green grass. It’s December and there is absolutely no snow. WHY! This is simply outrageous!  Whether you love it or hate it, snow just completes December. We can only hope for a bright white Christmas! 

Monday was our first snow day of the year! (If you even want to call it that. It was more of an ice day!) Hopefully there is more snow/ice days throughout the year as it was a nice break for both students and staff!

Seaway had a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside of the cafeteria for the annual Christmas concert! The audition times were on December 13 and 14 during MSIP.  Meet or Beat the Challenge started on December 3rd and ends on December 17th. Meet or Beat the Challenge is when each MSIP class brings in certain items such as, shampoo, deodorant, canned food items, etc. and the food/toiletries are donated to the South Dundas Food Bank.  Whichever MSIP class brings in the most things, wins a movie and a pizza party! There seems to be a tight race between Mme. Martin’s class and Mrs. Gilmour’s class. Good Luck to all!

To liven up the last week of school until Christmas Break, Student Council has made up a spirit week! Monday was Red & Green Day, when students wore green and red to get in the spirit! Tuesday was Christmas Character Day and, as I write this, I wonder if anyone will be coming as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus! Maybe Rudolph will appear too.  Wednesday, today, is Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Did your grandma ever give you one for Christmas? If not run over to her house and take one! Thursday will be (W)Rapper Day, I might dress as a Christmas present… hm…! Friday will be PJ day! Get those nice and toasty warm footy pyjamas! If only I had some… Friday we will also be having a Christmas Concert! I am totally looking forward to that! Actually… come to think of it… I’m not, because my gym class has to perform a dance, great!  It should be a great concert! Good luck to all performing!

Need Christmas ideas for your teenage kids? Here are some popular ideas; Ipod/Iphone, Movies, Laptops, Clothes, books, Blackberry (Torch, Bold, Curve), Shoes, Games (Xbox, Playstation), Xbox, Playstation 3.

Seaway Spartans wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hope everyone gets what they want and give more than they should! Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.  Here are some words to live by:

“To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” – Calvin Coolidge.

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Preparing for Joy

This afternoon I received a long distance call from Alberta from a long time  friend of mine that I haven’t seen for a few years. It was so good to hear her voice again!

It wasn’t long before we were on to familiar topics of discussion and updates on our families. That conversation was a time of joy in the course of daily work, and personal preparations for Christmas. 

The season of joy and light is not necessarily that for all people.  Even in the midst of Advent and Christmas preparations, our real life stories enter in and attempt to draw us into the dark places of our lives.

Parents become ill. Younger couples are  having rough times in their marriages. Some one is laid off work. A little child ends up in the hospital. The great unknowns in our lives can present us with doubts and darkness.

That is why I feel that it is important to take time to remember that God is our joy and our light. 

The Christmas lights we see in our neighbors’ houses can cheer us momentarily. The Advent candles we light in church remind us that God’s light changes the darkness in our personal worlds and transforms that darkness by grace into a path where fear is no longer necessary.

Remember the story of the shepherds who were overwhelmed with fear. 

Luke 2: verse 10  and the angel said to them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people. That means for you and for me. Let God handle the darkness, and prepare your heart for little joys this Christmas season.

Pastor Norine +

Rev. Norine Gullons  

South Dundas Evangelical

Lutheran Parish

Morrisburg/Williamsburg

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Around the Corner

by Stormy Howard

Is it really December already? Less than 15 days until Christmas!! It’s crazy, and school seems to be going pretty fast with sports and tests.

Monday, December 3, we received news about how Bill 115 was going to affect our everyday activities. 

Essentially our daily academic life will remain the same (lessons, projects, activities and tests), but unfortunately the extra-curricular side of school is going to change (sports and clubs are put on hold as of Monday, December 10th).  A lot of people (students and staff) are upset about this, and want to change it. 

Bill 115 is a piece of legislation passed in the fall and it imposes a two-year contract on educators that allows the government to take away the teachers bargaining rights. This is unfair to the senior students because it’s their last year, and they will not get to do any sports or clubs. There are some students here at Seaway who are planning to walk out to demonstrate in a positive way their anger over this change to the school day. They have met with our principal, Mr. Gardiner and had a teleconference call with the Director Mr. David Thomas.  I hope we can come to an agreement on Bill 115 so we can all get back to doing the things we love.

Tuesday, December 4th,  the boys basketball team consisting of: Clay Dumoulin, Evan Mullin, Cameron Chayer, Andrew Jarvis, Mustafa Hamadi, Brandon Vandodewaard and Dillon Sullivan, had a tournament at Char-Lan.  They won 40-30. Great work!

On Tuesday December 4th, the Seaway juniors played volleyball at CCVS (they split will all the teams they played, and improved greatly throughout the day according to Coach Waddell). Meanwhile the seniors played across town at La Citadelle.  The Seniors beat Tagwi, Glengarry, and split with La Citadelle and Char-Lan. On Friday, December 7th the Seaway girls played volleyball in Rockland, and both teams did really well, with the seniors bringing home the tournament title!  We were all impressed! Way to be ladies!

On Thursday Seaway had a ‘Tight-n-Bright’ dance for grades 9-12. Tickets were $10 in advance or $12 at the door. You could even sign in friends from other schools. This was an awesome event that was extremely well attended. There was a laser light show that was presented by PINX Productions from Toronto  and  students dressed in neon and other clothing that would glow in the dark with the black lights. It made a really cool effect in the gym . Also for 50 cents you could buy a pot of glow in the dark paint to decorate yourself and your friends. It really was a blast!!!!

[…]

 

Dear Editor,

When did the municipal government’s role change to become a bank for private business? I ask this question in opposition to Township Council voting to grant the Morrisburg BIA a loan “up to $12,000” towards an electronic sign.

From my understanding, the Morrisburg BIA represents the businesses in Morrisburg who are only physically located in the village plaza, and is funded through a fee on their annual property taxes. 

That fee pays for marketing, upkeep, improvements, and such for the plaza. This BIA only represents businesses who are physically located in the plaza and does not allow non-plaza businesses located in Morrisburg or South Dundas to join.

If the Morrisburg plaza BIA wants to put up an electronic sign that costs $21,000, and they need a loan for "up to $12,000" to help pay for it, why does the BIA not go to its members? The BIA’s website claims there are 48 businesses in the plaza, which would amount to a contribution of $250 per business towards this sign. The sign would be paid for in full and South Dundas taxpayers would not be loaning the money to private business.

A loan for $12,000 may not seem like a big amount of money, however the township directly loaning money from the taxpayers for a business improvement project benefiting private business is a bad precedent to set.

Now that they have done it once, what is stopping every other business group in the township from holding their hand out to municipal council when they need to borrow?

Council should rethink granting this loan and encourage the BIA to go to its members. If the members are not willing to pay more towards the sign, then maybe the BIA doesn’t really need the electronic sign.

Or the BIA could just do what the rest of us do when we want to spruce up our humble abodes, borrow from a bank or save up your money.

Phillip Blancher

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