Pierre Poilievre at Lois Lumber

I was with Pierre Poilievre at Lois Lumber, a cedar specialty sawmill in Powell River January 15, 2025.  It is a small operation but valued by the community.  The night before, Pierre had spoken to a rousing packed crowd of about 800 at the historically restored Dwight Hall built in 1927.

Mill workers and contractors gathered on that cold clear morning under the shed-roof of the mill’s greenchain to hear from Pierre about getting BC back to work.  Of note were his views on energy policy as published by Northern Beat’s, Fran Yanor.  She wrote:

https://substack.com/home/post/p-155124686

Reliables versus renewables

Q: Premier David Eby announced his government will expand electricity generation to increase investment.

A: “I’m fine with that, as long as it pays for itself.  The reason why electrical generation is so expensive in Canada is that it takes so long to get permitted.  We need to speed up permits for hydroelectric, for natural gas generation and for nuclear, quite frankly.  There’s a lot of talk about renewables.  I’m focused on reliable base load, affordable electricity to power our economy.  So, if that’s what he wants to do, I agree with him on that.

Speed up permitting

Q: There’s a couple of pipelines stalled in B.C., as you probably know, Northern Gateway and Prince Rupert [gas transmission pipeline].  If your party formed government, would you clear the way for those?

A: I will repeal the anti-pipeline law C-69, and I will give rapid permits for pipelines so that we can get our energy to market.  Every time the NDP and Liberals block a pipeline, Donald Trump does a dance of joy, because it means that we have to sell him all of our oil at a discount.

The Americans are getting our oil for a discount of between $10 and $15 a barrel, and that’s times 3 million barrels a day.  That’s $30 million in subsidies that the Canadian energy sector is giving to the American economy because we have almost no other customers than America. 

Pipelines would allow us to get our product to the Pacific, which means we can get it to Asia without going through America.

Why do the Americans have us by the throat?  Because we don’t get our products to other markets.  And I don’t know why the NDP is so determined to help Donald Trump.  They seem to be his biggest ally in giving him our energy at a huge discount.

Ramp up LNG to feed global demand

Q: You said we need four, five or six LNG Canada plants.

A: The more the better.

Q: If you become Prime Minister, what do you want from B.C., in terms of what they are bringing to the table for trade talks, for instance?

A: The thing is, with energy, we don’t actually need new trade agreements.  We already have free trade with 800 million Asians now with the Trans Pacific Partnership.  We have a free trade agreement with Europe.  We could use India. I would like us to have unbridled access to the Indian market.

But really that’s not the issue.  The issue is getting our energy over the Pacific.  And that means we need two things: one, pipelines, and two, LNG plants.

We have one [Canada] LNG plant that’s about to come on [stream] over in Kitimat. There’s the Cedar [LNG] project.  There’s the Squamish [Woodfibre LNG] – who’ve got a beautiful project they’re just about to start – but none of them are operational yet.

The Americans have built seven of these plants in the last decade.  The Qataris have doubled their production.  The Greeks, Germans, Japanese and French have all asked for Canadian LNG.

We don’t need a deal.  We don’t need paperwork.  We don’t need politicians to go across to hold meetings.  What we need is LNG plants to liquefy it and put it on boats.

That’s what we are going to rapidly approve.

Incent nations to support pipelines

Q: One challenge with pipelines, as you know, is getting them across First Nation territories.

A: Well, look, first of all, I’m going to give a powerful incentive for First Nations communities to say yes.

I will allow the companies that transit through traditional First Nations lands to pay some of their federal tax to the first nation and I will vacate federal tax room so the companies will then pay these local first nations communities a tax that the federal government will neutralize through a federal tax cut.

Then these communities will have a very powerful incentive to say yes, and they can use some of that money to defeat poverty, build schools and hospitals and clean water and other essentials for their people.

The tax break will be for the natural resource companies.  Instead of paying all their taxes to the federal government, [the company] will pay some of it to the local first nation.  Then they sign an agreement and away you go.

It will be a standard.  I hope what they’ll do is develop standardized agreements that are very easy to replicate.  Then you don’t have to spend seven years negotiating, it’s already done.  You have a clear, simple template that you can use anywhere you have a negotiation between first nations and companies, save a hell of a lot of time.

‘You can’t please everybody’

Q: What about those nations that still hold out?

A: Well, you can’t please everybody, at the end of the day.

There were hereditary chiefs that opposed the Coastal Gaslink and we went ahead anyway.  We have to.  You’re never going to get unanimity in anything.

You can’t get 100 per cent of Canadians to agree that Elvis is dead.

At the end of the day, if you wait for 100 per cent of people to agree on something, nothing will ever get done.  So, you’ve got to go ahead.

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In addition, my friend R. Whittaker did a live interview which is worth watching for policy substance. 

https://fb.watch/xags5Nqvdh/

In conclusion, Poilievre has talked about substantive policy for quite some time across the country.  However, voters know him for adeptly revealing the disasters of the Trudeau administration.  Pierre Poilievre has been diligent and successful at his job.  It is his parliamentary role as ‘His Majesties Loyal Opposition.’  Nevertheless, the cynical legacy media talk about Poilievre being all “critic” without substance for “governance”.  They have not been listening.  Maybe they don’t want voters to know?

This post reveals the Trudeau contrast.  Trudeau is ‘image over substance’ and Poilievre is ‘substance over image’.

 

Coffee with Pierre Poilievre Jan.15, 2025

It was great to chat with Pierre Poilievre over coffee, after attending his rousing packed political rally the night before.  We had served together as MPs in the House of Commons from 2004-2006.  It was heartwarming to catch up and reminisce about former colleagues.  However, he did surprise, that just before he had to leave, he seriously looked straight at me and asked if I had any advice.  He didn’t need my wisdom, and what I said will stay private.  Pierre is the real deal.

More detail of the town hall meeting can be found at the Peak Powell River Newspaper by Paul Galinski  https://www.prpeak.com/local-news/political-rally-in-powell-river-outlines-conservative-policies-10082949

On December 16, 2024, a sour, sarcastic MP questioned Pierre Poilievre in the House of Commons by asking, "What jobs has he held in real life outside politics that make him think he could be prime minister?”

(Answer) Hon. Pierre Poilievre: “I would be happy to talk about jobs, Mr. Speaker.  My first job here was to help pass the Federal Accountability Act to crack down on the corruption that we have seen on the Liberal side.  I then helped cut the GST so that Canadians could save when they made every single consumer purchase; it was cut from 7% to 6% to 5%.  I worked with former Prime Minister Harper to help balance the budget and rebuild the military so that we would have the necessary equipment to help destroy al Qaeda after the attacks of 9/11.  I helped deliver the lowest inflation of any government in 40 years, leaving behind a balanced budget and the best balance sheet of any government in the G7.  In fact, it turns out that the job experience I have is best aligned with the job that I promise to do.  Now let us bring it home.”

Pierre Marcel Poilievre, born June 3, 1979, in Calgary, is a Canadian who has served as the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the leader of the Official Opposition since 2022.  He has also been a Member of Parliament since 2004.

He studied at the University of Calgary and earned a Bachelor of Arts in international relations.  He then worked for Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day.  Poilievre was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2004 federal election.  He at first represented the Ottawa-area riding of Nepean-Carleton and then represented the re-established riding of Carleton.  After holding various parliamentary secretary posts from 2006 to 2013 under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Poilievre served as Harper's minister for democratic reform from 2013 to 2015 and as his minister of employment and social development in 2015.  From 2017 to 2022, Poilievre served as the shadow minister for finance and briefly as the shadow minister for jobs and industry.

In 2022, Pierre Poilievre ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party and emerged victorious on the first ballot.  His victory was a testament to his popularity and support within the party.  Described as a populist, Poilievre has focused on issues related to the cost of living in Canada.  His leadership has been instrumental in the Conservative Party's substantial lead in opinion polling for the 2025 federal election since mid-2023.

There is a reasonable history from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  However, the best and most worthwhile background is in the book “Pierre Poilievre: A Political Life” – May 28, 2024 (hardcover) by author Andrew Lawton  - ‎ Sutherland House Books ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1990823807.

Pierre is a well-prepared political party leader aspiring to become Prime Minister.  The transparency about his life journey, which has no dark secrets, has unfolded based on his merit and natural talents.  His life story is in contrast to the current Prime Minister, who was born into privilege and has a thin resume of accomplishment, including many shameful incidents that required cover-up.  The most significant contrast is with demonstrated life values, where Poilievre has lived them and Trudeau has only been able to mention them.

Pierre Poilievre is not just a contender for Prime Minister; he is the best-prepared person for the role in decades.  His extensive political experience, dedication to public service, and clear vision for the country make him a formidable leader.  Serious times demand serious people.  If Canadians honour him with their trust, he won’t disappoint. His readiness for the role of Prime Minister should inspire and instill confidence in every voter.

Canada - Taxes for middle-class families have increased since Trudeau Liberals took office.

While reflecting on his tenure, Prime Minister Trudeau said he was proud that his government reduced taxes for middle-class Canadians. In reality, taxes for middle-class families have increased since he took office. That’s a major part of his legacy as prime minister.

January 10, 2025, By: Jake Fuss and Grady Munro Fraser Institute

https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/trudeaus-legacy-includes-larger-tax-burden-middle-class-canadians

On Monday, January 6, 2025, outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Canadians he plans to resign, a reporter asked Trudeau to name his greatest accomplishments.  In response, among other things, Trudeau said his government “reduced” taxes for the “middle class.”  But this claim doesn’t withstand scrutiny.

After taking office in 2015, the Trudeau government reduced the second-lowest personal income tax rate from 22.0 per cent to 20.5 per cent—a change that was explicitly sold by Trudeau as a tax cut for the middle class.  However, this change ultimately didn’t lower the amount of taxes paid by middle-class Canadians.  Why?

Because the government simultaneously eliminated several tax credits—which are intended to reduce the amount of income taxes owed—including income splitting, the children’s fitness credit, children’s arts tax credit, and public transit tax credits.  By eliminating these tax credits, the government helped simplify the tax system, which is a good thing, but it also raised the amount families pay in income taxes.

Consequently, most middle-income families now pay higher taxes.  Specifically, a 2022 study published by the Fraser Institute found that nearly nine in 10 (86 percent) middle-income families (earning household incomes between $84,625 and $118,007) experienced an increase in their federal personal income taxes as a result of the Trudeau government’s tax changes.

The study also found that other income groups experienced tax increases.  Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of families with a household income between $54,495 and $84,624 paid higher taxes as a result of the tax changes.  Across all income groups, 61 percent of Canadian families faced higher personal income taxes than they did in 2015.

The Trudeau government also introduced a new top tax bracket on income over $200,000—which raised the top federal personal income tax rate from 29 per cent to 33 per cent—and other tax changes that increased the tax burden on Canadians including the recent capital gains tax hike.  Prior to this hike, investors who sold capital assets (stocks, second homes, cottages, etc.) paid taxes on 50 percent of the gain.  Last year, the Trudeau government increased that share to 66.7 percent for individual capital gains above $250,000 and all capital gains for corporations and trusts.

According to the Trudeau government, this change will only impact the “wealthiest” Canadians, but in fact it will impact many middle-class Canadians. For example, in 2018, half of all taxpayers who claimed more than $250,000 of capital gains in a year earned less than $117,592 in normal income.  These include Canadians with modest annual incomes who own businesses, second homes or stocks, and who may choose to sell those assets once or infrequently in their lifetimes (when they retire, for example). These Canadians will feel the real-world effects of Trudeau’s capital gains tax hike.

While reflecting on his tenure, Prime Minister Trudeau said he was proud that his government reduced taxes for middle-class Canadians. In reality, taxes for middle-class families have increased since he took office. That’s a major part of his legacy as prime minister.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigns

 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025.  Photo Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Canada is finally stumbling forward politically.  The nightmare of the Justin Trudeau Liberals is ending.  Voters desperately want relief from a government that has hurt the nation.  Even voters who want them gone from office, don’t yet realize how bad the Liberal administration has been for society, the magnitude of the financial corruption, and how deep are the wounds of strife they have brought.  Healing the nation will be difficult and complicated.

Now that the Liberal house built on sand is being swept away, the media would have us believe it is all about Justin Trudeau and his desires and plans.  The sad truth is that he is the mere symptom and projection of a self-serving voter class that tells its lies into the wind.  The conversation of the political chattering class now revolves around the fate of one flawed man.

Trudeau said, "I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process.  Last night, I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election."

The Prime Minister asked the Governor General for Parliamentary Prorogation, so business is temporarily suspended until Parliament reconvenes on March 24.  The move means opposition parties can’t trigger an election with a non-confidence motion before the Liberals have a new leader, as all parliamentary business has stopped.

Trudeau lost his political caucus support from Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.  The Trudeau days are over.  Fortunately, Canada is a country of law, social rules, and enough Christian cultural foundation that most Canadians will work it through to an agonizing yet reasonable outcome, unlike the international scene.

Trudeau says he is going.  Yet he is still dragging us around inside the jail yard as we wait for the gates of freedom to open with an election.  The farcical political march must stop; the outside world goes on. 

Our government must turn its attention to nation-building.  One in ten Canadians uses food banks.  Too many people are jobless and homeless.  We are drowning in debt.  It may get worse for a time.  President Donald Trump threatens to impose 25% tariffs on our exports.  His additional promise to deport 10 million illegal aliens could see a wave crashing our border.  The Prime Minister and his Cabinet do not have the mandate and skill to deal with this. There will be no real difference between the Liberal Party Canada now, and the Liberal Party that will emerge with a new leader.

Canada needs the ready and waiting Conservatives to govern, like the adults we need.  They can meet the internal and international challenges, and begin healing our wounds.  

Trudeau and his complete Caucus need to leave, and the Liberal Party needs to find an acceptable reason to exist. The new Liberal leader will be announced on March 9.

We need an election to put Canada first.

Michael J. Fox receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom

 Image  michaeljfox.org

Michael J. Fox receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom

January 4^th, 2025   Today, President Biden named nineteen Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honour, presented to individuals who have contributed to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors.

President Biden said, “Great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair shot, and put decency above all else.  These nineteen leaders have made America and the world a better place.  They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world.”

President Biden personally presented the awards at the White House on January 4, 2025.

(José Andrés – Bono - Ashton B. Carter (posthumous) - Hillary R. Clinton - Michael J. Fox - Tim Gill - Jane Goodall - Fannie L. Hamer (posthumous) - Earvin “Magic” Johnson - Robert F. Kennedy (posthumous) - Ralph Lauren - Lionel Messi - William S. Nye - George W. Romney (posthumous) - David M. Rubenstein - George Soros - George Stevens, Jr. - Denzel Washington - Anna Wintour) 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/04/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-3/

Of note to Canadians, we honour Michael J. Fox, who was bestowed the Medal for his lifetime achievements.

Michael J. Fox, originally from Canada, is an actor who has won five Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award.  He is a world-renowned advocate for Parkinson’s disease research.

Fox was one of 19 named (four posthumously), including other international notables and was personally given the nation’s highest civilian honour by President Biden.

“Michael Andrew Fox OC (born June 9, 1961), known professionally as Michael J. Fox, is a Canadian and American activist and retired actor.  Beginning as a child actor in the 1970s, he rose to prominence portraying Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989) and Marty McFly in the Back to the Future film trilogy (1985–1990).  Fox went on to star in films such as Teen Wolf (1985),  The Secret of My Success (1987), Casualties of War (1989), Doc Hollywood (1991), and The Frighteners (1996).  He returned to television on the ABC sitcom Spin City in the lead role of Mike Flaherty (1996–2000).  In 1998, Fox disclosed his 1991 diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.  He subsequently advocated for finding a cure, and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help fund research.  Worsening symptoms forced him to reduce his acting work.” (Wikipedia)

Canadians are proud of Michael and congratulate him on his family, career, and philanthropic example.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign ?

 

Pierre Poilievre, leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition in the Canadian Parliament

January 3^rd, 2025

Liberal Members of Parliament calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign are coming from every corner.  Each day, another MP in the Liberal Caucus adds their name to the roster of roughly 20 Liberal MPs who have gone public with their request for Trudeau to resign.

However, there have been about 8 non-confidence votes in the last few months.  During those opportunities, the NDP and Liberal Members could have abstained from their vote and allowed the government to fall.  Even better, they could have voted to support ‘non-confidence’.  Instead, while whining about how bad Trudeau and his administration were, they kept voting to keep the government in office.

All the ‘toing and froing’ about getting Trudeau to resign from MPs inside the Caucus is hot air.  Also, the NDP partners have no credibility.  They have had many opportunities but did not have the courage of their rhetoric.  Consequently, they collectively must bear the responsibility and be accountable for their actions. 

Trudeau could be gone tomorrow if enough MPs in the Liberal Caucus signed a letter saying they would no longer vote in the Commons to support the government if Trudeau remained the leader.

Canadians, feeling increasingly exasperated by the Liberal government, are expressing a strong desire for an election.  Pierre Poilievre's phrase resonates with this public demand.  He says, "axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, stop the crime”.  This phrase succinctly identifies some key problems a new government must tackle, acknowledging the challenges ahead.

In concert with the Ottawa lobby industry, the media bias and the resistant public service will do everything they can to preserve their insider benefits and undermine the corrective actions of a new Conservative government.

Poilievre, leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition, enters the election year 2025 with a surge in popularity, as reflected in the opinion polls.  This rise in popularity comes at a time when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's days are numbered, signaling a change in national leadership.

The '338 Canada Poll' now projects seat counts CPC 232, BQ 45, Lib 39, NDP 25, GPC 2

The 2025 election will be the first time the new 343-seat electoral map will be based on the 2021 Canadian census.  New electoral boundaries for each of the ten provinces were finalized between February 14 and July 8, 2023, and officially proclaimed on September 22, 2023. 

The Canadian election in 2025 will yield a Conservative government with Pierre Poilievre as Prime Minister —the detailed picture of how Trudeau exits will soon be painted.  The dark confused the swirl of colour won’t be attractive. 

Choices for 2025

Choices for 2025

There are ways to carry the Christmas Spirit into the New Year and beyond that will bring better living in 2025.  The New Year is not just a time for resolutions, but for continuing with choices that lead us closer to our best selves.

The promise of Christmas was first noted in Genesis.  God our creator, was coming to be with us.  Then, the long story unfolds about the nature of the human heart which had become separated from God.  However, reconciliation with God was made possible if we chose to respond.  

In 2025 we could choose some humility more often.  Christmas commemorates the birth of Christ, who humbly came to earth as a baby.  Creator God humbled himself to temporarily live among His creation, with its sickness, suffering, and sin.

What would choosing that kind of humility in our lives look like?  It could mean offering to help a colleague with a project, even if it's not your responsibility.  Sincere prayer is not just a ritual but a transformative practice that changes the one who prays.  Take time to pray, "Father, where are the needs?  Have I been making excuses for avoiding the needy I see around me?”

Humankind has been self-centred and rebellious, not humbly recognizing our actual position in life before God.  In 2025, we can choose to walk more frequently on the path of humility.

While becoming a little more humble, we could also practice some generosity.  We could be generous with time and money.  We could hang out with those who need a friend or provide transportation to someone who needs it.  We could join a committee dedicated to supporting refugees or give money to your church that is designated for a community food program.

Allow yourself to get out of your comfort zone.  Following the Lord will bring inner joy when you realize generosity has an impact on people.

In the new year, we could also practice some peace.  God’s peace is not the cessation of strife or overcoming the lack of social acceptance.  It's a deep, inner calm that comes from trusting in God's promises.  The people who enjoy God's peace are those who, in everything by prayer, let their requests be made known to God.  Christians experience the Lord’s peace when they walk in faith.  They turn to God in good and bad times to experience His closeness.

In 2025, we could also practice more patience.  We need patience to deal with unfulfilled longings and stress.  Passion is a powerful desire, and these yearnings frustrate us to the point of giving up or lashing out.  When we want something badly, that longing can become heavy.  But remember, the reward of patience is hope and encouragement.

Seek to hear from God, then be quiet and learn to hear His voice.  The Lord does not always give us what we desire.  Instead, He might provide us with something we never thought to ask for.  Patience and trust go together.

So, we could become a little more humble on occasion, more generous and patient, and live more peacefully with ourselves and others, but can we do it faithfully?  It is good to practice faithfulness.

As the Christmas celebrations end and decorations are put away, we might struggle to believe that God is faithful, so we can specifically choose to be faithful to Him in our lives.

A lifetime of steadfast faith doesn't happen overnight.  It's built upon years of many days of ordinary perseverance.  Faith is a steadiness, a daily belief that God is good, He is real, He is for you, and we do not need all the answers.  God is trustworthy with our prayers, and He is there for a relationship.

We can trust God in life's big decisions and in the dull minutes (laundry, traffic, cleaning the yard, or paying bills).  We can trust God for energy, discernment, patience, and generosity of spirit.

We can trust God to faithfully show us mercy when we lack patience or become self-centered.  We can live forward by actively replacing the bad in our minds with good things and trusting and declaring God’s goodness, an act of faith.

When we start to do these things, we discover a kinder side within ourselves.  We practice kindness.

Christians often do kind things.  They express their love for Jesus by encouraging sad people and trying to lift broken spirits.  Even many non-Christians can behave kindly for a few weeks of the year and are likelier to do so when Christmastime is in the air.

Kindness observes sadness and despair, remembering in the months after Christmas that those problems don’t go away when the tree and decorations come down. Genuine kindness asks God to reveal needy and broken hearts.  God says, "Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these things, I delight, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:24).

Similar to generosity, kindness can sometimes feel sacrificial.  It is easy to be kind to loved ones but not to adversaries.  We remember that in His kindness, Jesus was not merely “nice.”  Sometimes, our kindness will mean lovingly speaking the truth, planting a seed of wisdom that comes to fruition later.

When someone rejects God and His standards, yet mistakenly thinks philanthropy will open the gates of heaven, it may be kind to explain that no amount of donations will buy a person’s redemption or way into heaven.  Genuine, practical kindness comes from God through you.

Beyond the aforementioned positive attributes, we can choose to be more thankful in life and find ways to practice joy.  The joy of practicing joy is in the upliftment and optimism it brings to our lives.  It's a powerful tool that can transform even the most challenging situations into opportunities for growth and learning.

Joy may come easily when things seem good.  But the more profound joy of life can remain deep within even when things seem empty or incomplete.  Joy arises from discipline and sacrifice, and it is available even to the hurting and the poor, the hungry and the lonely.  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can approach life's most difficult circumstances with a sense of inner joy.  When we are spiritually impoverished, when we grieve with our sins, and when we are weak, Christ can come close.  The joy that comes from God is our strength.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

For life in 2025, there is a formula:

The Spirit of God in one’s life yields fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance, and self-control—and no shame exists against any of them.  Those who belong to Jesus Christ have rejected their old natural desires with all that was lusted for.  If the Spirit of God inspires our lives, we can live to the fullest by the Spirit of God’s motivation.

The acts of the flesh (sins) are evident in this world: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, lies, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things, there is no law or social prohibition.  Galatians 5:19-23

In 2025, we can choose to be more humble, generous, peaceful, patient, faithful, kind, and thankfully joyful.  Will you?

 

At Christmas

 

At Christmas

A man is at his finest

     towards the finish of the year;

He is almost what he should be

     when the Christmas season is here;

Then he's thinking more of others

     than he's thought the months before,

And the laughter of his children

     is a joy worth toiling for.

He is less a selfish creature than

     at any other time;

When the Christmas spirit rules him

     he comes close to the sublime.

 

When it's Christmas man is bigger

     and is better in his part;

He is keener for the service

     that is prompted by the heart.

All the petty thoughts and narrow

     seem to vanish for awhile

And the true reward he's seeking

     is the glory of a smile.

Then for others he is toiling and

     somehow it seems to me

That at Christmas he is almost

     what God wanted him to be.

 

If I had to paint a picture of a man

     I think I'd wait

Till he'd fought his selfish battles

     and had put aside his hate.

I'd not catch him at his labors

     when his thoughts are all of pelf,

On the long days and the dreary

     when he's striving for himself.

I'd not take him when he's sneering,

     when he's scornful or depressed,

But I'd look for him at Christmas

     when he's shining at his best.

 

Man is ever in a struggle

     and he's oft misunderstood;

There are days the worst that's in him

     is the master of the good,

But at Christmas kindness rules him

     and he puts himself aside

And his petty hates are vanquished

     and his heart is opened wide.

Oh, I don't know how to say it,

     but somehow it seems to me

That at Christmas man is almost

     what God sent him here to be.

 

Edgar Albert Guest (1881 –  1959) was a British-born American poet who became known as the People's Poet.  His poems often had an inspirational and optimistic view of everyday life.

What God Wants from Us This Christmas

What God Wants from Us This Christmas

By Alicia Searl    Alicia Searl is a devotional author, blogger, and speaker. Visit her website at   aliciasearl.com   and also connect on Instagram and Facebook.  This article found at  Christianity.com

How are we already at the end of the year celebrating Christmas?  Did this season seem to sneak up on you as quickly as it did for me? The older I get, the quicker the years seem to slip away, and before I know it, I’ve blinked, and my children are all grown up! (sniff, sniff). As I ponder back on the days of old when our daughters were in that sweet stage when everything was magical and celebrating Christmas came with extreme amounts of giggles, I can’t help but get sappy.

Yet, as I begin to prep and prepare for this season, it not only causes me to get a little sentimental, stroking those nostalgic memories, but it also summons me to pause and reflect on this past year. I must admit, each year, I am blown away at how God has moved behind the scenes, showcasing His faithfulness. Even in the times when I was hanging by a thread (and those have been many), I can see where He delivered and made true to His promises. We sure do serve an incredible God!

So, with that, it may leave you wondering, what does God want from us this Christmas? Furthermore, what could we possibly give to the Giver of all things?

Maybe, like me, you are wondering how to honor and glorify God for all the rich blessings and goodness He has so graciously given you and long to truly thank Him for His unwavering and unfailing love. Even more, you seek to give our merciful Father your whole heart, undivided attention, and faithful love, placing yourself at His feet in adoration for the most beautiful gift of all, His Son!

Well, my friend, I dare not say I know exactly what God wants from us on Christmas, but what I can say is that there is some insight as we dig into His Word and seek to understand the nature of His character and heart. So, let’s gain a little clarity and strive to learn what gift (or gifts) we can bring to our Heavenly Father and maybe even receive a precious gift from Him in return.

God's Christmas List

What if God had a Christmas “wish list?” What do you think would be on it? I believe that since He is the God of love, it would be fitting for Him to want our genuine and authentic love. Maybe, just maybe, His list might resemble this-

Love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30).

Love and serve others (John 15:12-13).

Love. The basis of the best gift! But not just any kind of love; rather, the kind of love that is unconditional and comes with selfless sacrifice. The love that flows from a heart that loves Jesus and longs to love others through His shining example. The kind of love that is laid out for us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. If there is anything our world is lacking and desperately needs, it’s love that brings joy, hope, and peace and is wrapped in mercy.

Love God with Your Heart, Mind, and Soul

Deuteronomy 6:5 and Mark 12:30 (along with other gospel accounts) tell us we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Powerful verses that link the Old Testament and New Testament remind us that God has always sought after all our hearts, minds, and souls.

This commandment was given to Moses to share with the Israelites, calling on them to lay down the foundation of their faith by giving their full devotion to the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:5-9). Then, in Mark 12:30, Matthew 22:37, and Luke 10:27, we see this verse as Jesus teaching in the courtyards before the crowds, actively debating the Jewish and civil leaders, sharing that this is the greatest commandment.

Loving God with Your Heart

As we apply this commandment to our own lives this holiday season, we can love the Lord our God with our hearts by connecting to Him daily through earnest and fervent prayer. This time of year brings forth such a sweet opportunity to connect with our Father in an intimate and meaningful way. Posture yourself in submission and thank God for His abundant love and grace, then see where the communication leads as you pour out your heart. If you are unsure where to start, try a Christmas devotional, journal your thoughts, or just sit in stillness and silence, soaking in the wonders of His love as you give Him your undivided attention.

Loving God with Your Mind

We can love the Lord with our minds by seeking truth and digging into His Word. There are countless verses that reference the birth of our Savior and can really make us ponder on the wonders and depths of God’s love with the birth of Jesus. Read Isaiah 7:17 and 9:6, Micah 5:2, Titus 3:4-6, and 2 Corinthians 9:15. The gospels of Luke and Matthew are also a good place to start. As you read these verses, let them resonate with you as you come into God’s presence. If there are lies you currently believe or misunderstandings you are bending towards, ask God to replace them with His truth to set you free. 

Loving God with Your Soul

Loving the Lord God with all our soul comes with an action step of giving Him all our thanks and praise in the form of worship and song. There are so many beautiful Christmas songs that can truly capture and declare the sheer magnitude of this season. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is one of my favorites, and every time I hear it, the words simply penetrate my soul. So, give God the gift of your worship this season and belt out those songs, letting Him know how much you love Him!

Love and Serve Others

If the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole heart, mind, and soul, the second greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22: 39). Truth be told, Jesus didn’t have to add this commandment when speaking to the Pharisees, yet He did so purposefully, as He obviously thought it important and valuable enough for them (and us) to hear. Maybe because these commandments cause us to act in an unnatural way and to love selflessly; in other words, they provoke us to love more like Jesus!

When we love our neighbour, (or basically anyone that we come into connect with), as ourselves, we treat them the way we want to be treated. Oh, the universally dubbed” Golden Rule.” However, in going a bit deeper with that thought, if we love God first, He prompts us on how to love others well. So, now we see how these commandments naturally go hand in hand. And, with that, let’s put it into practice this holiday season, shall we?

Spread Joy

Ever since a children’s pastor explained to our youth that J.O.Y stands for Jesus, Others, and Yourself, it made me look at relationships in a whole new light. God’s design for our relations with others can bring so much joy if we just follow His plan and seek Him first, love others well, and then tend to ourselves in that order. So, let’s spread joy to others this season by letting God prompt us to share simple acts of kindness (1 John 3:18), display an attitude of gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19), and place another’s needs above our own (Philippians 2:3).

Be a Peacemaker

Matthew 5:9 calls for us to be peacemakers and, even more, that those who promote peace will be abundantly blessed. It’s obvious that God’s kingdom is a sanctuary of peace. And, let’s face it, we all long for peace and unity, especially around a season that practically welcomes it around the globe. We can be peacemakers this year by being patient with others, listening intentionally, acknowledging the views and feelings of others, and extending grace as needed.

Deliver Hope

Christmastime has a special way of bringing renewed hope in all of us. It’s as if we can let go of the past and see a glimmer of light in the future. There is nothing quite like the hope we feel during Christmas. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that as we renew our hope, we essentially awaken our faith and find new strength to persevere. Yet, for many, the holidays can spur on pain and sorrow, and hope can become lost in the fog of grief. This holiday, let’s be mindful of those who are hurting and reach out in love, delivering hope by bringing a meal, sending a heartfelt card, or stopping in with a warm cup of cocoa.

This Christmas, give God the gift of your love! Start now by connecting more deeply to Him through your prayers, digging into His Word, and praising Him through song and worship. Then, allow the Holy Spirit to help you spread joy, bring peace, and deliver hope! What precious gifts we can both give and receive!

Visit Christianty.com for other inspirational reads   

Alicia Searl is a devotional author, blogger, and speaker that is passionate about pouring out her heart and pointing ladies of all ages back to Jesus. She has an education background and a master’s in literacy.  Her favorite people call her Mom, which is why much of her time is spent cheering them on at a softball game or dance class. She is married to her heartthrob (a tall, spiky-haired blond) who can whip up a mean latte. She sips that goodness while writing her heart on a page while her puppy licks her feet. Visit her website at aliciasearl.com and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.

Canadians must become aware of the horrible truth

   

Rally in Montreal  -  picture CTV News internet capture

The Christmas and New Year season is a time to reflect on our lives, give thanks for what we have, and make gestures for those who may have less.  Unfortunately, the ideological lefties use this emotional time to advance their guilt politics.  The stories of the plight of the people of Gaza are used as a device to advance the agenda of the anti-Semitic hate machine.

One ploy is to use the media to exploit the tragic pain and suffering stories of Gaza residents to obtain sympathy.  It is part of the overall strategy to de-legitimize and discredit Israel and deflect attention away from Hamas crimes.  False reporting of the war in Gaza fuels the internationally organized to obtain sympathy, money, and political support. 

The legacy media have done a poor job of “observing and reporting” as distinct from “opinion and analysis.”  Western journalism has a backdrop of unreliable propaganda manufactured by Hamas, and they have not made sufficient effort to sort fact from fiction.

In December 2024, Andrew Fox published an in-depth report entitled,

QUESTIONABLE COUNTING: ANALYSING THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE HAMAS-RUN MINISTRY OF HEALTH IN GAZA

https://henryjacksonsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HJS-Questionable-Counting-%E2%80%93-Hamas-Report-web.pdf

He makes key findings that have received no coverage in the Canadian legacy media.

The issue for Canadians is to understand and admit the philosophical and religious base of Hamas.  Why do they exist, and what are their stated aims?  What have they done?

Hamas is an acronym of the Arabic phrase حركة المقاومة الإسلامية or Ḥarakah al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah, meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement".  This acronym, HMS, was glossed in the 1988 Hamas Covenant by the Arabic word ḥamās (حماس) which itself means "zeal", "strength", or "bravery".

The 1988 Hamas charter proclaims that jihad (war) against Jews is required until Judgement Day.  On October 24th, Hamas leadership excused their October 7th attack: "Israel is a country that has no place on our land.  We must remove that country because it constitutes a security, military and political catastrophe to the Arab and Islamic nation.  We are called a nation of martyrs, and we are proud to sacrifice martyrs. We are the victims of the occupation.  Therefore, nobody should blame us for the things we do".

Canada, under the Jean-Chretien government, declared Hamas an illegal terrorist organization on November 27th, 2002.

Once the blood flowed on October 7th, 2023, Hamas launched its political cyber offensive of lies to feed its confederates in Canada and around the world.  Moreover, until now, their casualty counts have not been seriously challenged.

Andrew Fox says that Hamas listed men as women to inflate female fatalities to inflate the narrative that civilian populations, particularly women and children, bear the brunt of the conflict, thereby influencing international sentiment and media coverage.

Fox says: “This fatality analysis report recognises the immense toll of the war on Palestinians in Gaza.  Even as fatalities are discussed as quantifiable numbers, it is important to remember that innocent people are suffering, and each number represents a human life.  Many of those lives were innocent people caught in the middle of a brutal war started by Hamas on 7 October.  The suffering, death and destruction are very real for actual human beings.”

Adults were registered as children.  It inflates the number of child casualties, which is emotionally impactful in global reporting, and frames the conflict as disproportionately affecting children.  They also disproportionately report deaths of fighting-age men.  This evidence says that many fatalities classified as civilians may actually be active combatants.  They also include natural deaths.  Despite the typical annual rate of 5,000 natural deaths in Gaza, such practice inflates the civilian death toll.  Then there is the media underreporting of combatant deaths.  The omission creates a skewed narrative that portrays all casualties as civilians, thus shaping public opinion and international policy based on manipulated data.

In conclusion, the report says:

“Global media outlets have, understandably, focused on the number of deaths in Gaza as a lens of critique of Israeli operations.  Many media outlets give the proviso that the Gaza Ministry of Health is Hamas-run, but few give the same level of attention to IDF reports of the number of fighters killed as part of the overall Israeli fatality total.  Nor do media outlets give the methodology, reporting, or content of the lists of names the scrutiny they deserve.”

“A definitive figure of fatalities is impossible due to the lack of transparency from the Ministry of Health (MoH), a general lack of access to the Palestinian Population Registry, and the challenges of counting militants killed in combat.  However, this report finds numerous errors that cannot be explained by a lack of access to the Ministry of Health computer network that went offline in November 2023.”

“We have identified distortion of statistics, misreporting of natural deaths, deaths from before the war started, and a high likelihood of combatant deaths being included on the list.  This report also challenges the assumption that MoH fatality reports from previous conflicts are reliable and reveals evidence of efforts to hide militant fatalities.  We also identify critical differences in the demographic breakdowns reported by the MoH and the Hamas Government Media Office.”

Given the Fox report, it is not hard to surmise that Hamas lies about everything.  They exist on a false premise.  Their actions are murderous.  They will resort to anything to pursue their goal.  Sympathizing Canadians must become aware of the horrible truth.