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6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 17, 1985 CHRISTMAS -- WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Few words mean so many things as the word **Christmas."" Think of all the things Christmas means to people -- cards, carols, trees, lights, tinsel, trains, turkey, shopping gifts, Christmas Stockings, San- ta Claus, reindeer, pageants, parties, holidays, family get-togethers, mistletoe -- and, of course, the birth of a baby in a manger which is somehow connected with peace to men of 's goodwill! Recently people have become uneasy about all this and its im- plications for the meaning of Christmas and they have begun to talk about putting Christ back into Christmas. Of course, they are right. Christmas can't mean all of these things and really mean anything. If Christmas really means so many different things then it actually means nothing. On the other hand -- people who talk about putting Christ back into Christmas are wrong -- because it doesn't make sense to talk of putting Christ "BACK" into Christmas. If Christmas is the celebra- tion of the birth of Christ -- then He has never been absent from it. And if Christmas is simply a time of feasting and drinking -- then Christ has never been there and we can't very well put Him back where He has never been Now what does Christmas mean" Nearly everyone is at least vaguely familiar with the story of the Babe born in a manger some nineteen hundred years ago in Bethlehem. They have heard how there was no room in the Inn for His Virgin mother and her husband Joseph Most people are also familiar with the story of the Angelic Choir an- nouncing His birth and how the shepherds came to worship Him that mght and later the Wisemen from the East bringing their gifts But for the most part, this is just a warm and appealing story with such elements as the Angels and the Star appearing as enchanting- ly mysterious additions Yet it 1s 1n just such elements as the Star and the Angels that the real meaning of the event is to be found For these, the Bible plain: ly says 'were Divine Announcements This Child was not an or- dinary child This was not just another birth in the history of mankind The star and the angels turn our attention to another starthng fact namely that He was born of a "Virgin" mother And that fact sends us back several hundred years earlier to the prophecy of Isaiah which said. "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. and shall call his name EMMANUEL God with us GOD WITH US! Almost unbehevable but gloriously true That is the meamng of Christmas God Himself came into our world in the birth of this Child Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem's manger was non other than Almighty God in human form But why" Again we must go back back to the very beginning of time and the Garden of Eden There God had once walked and talked with man. but sin entered and man became estranged from God With hearts an rebelhon against God. men were under God's wrath and subject to eternal death But the birth of Jesus Christ signaled the great work of God's grace by which He Himself undertook to remove sin's curse and effect a reconcihation between God and man Christmas and that event in the manger was God putting His plan into ac tion through Jesus Christ that those who receive Him might be restored 'o fellowship with God That 1s what Christmas must mean if 1t 1s to mean anything to us and for us For only this can reach us in our need our need of forgiveness and cleansing from the sin that troubles us day by day and 1s the source of our world problems today If this 1s what Christmas means to you then it will truly be A Very Merry Christmas indeed for then vou will know and beheve that God so loved the world. that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting hfe May our Mayor and all those recently elected to office along with every member of our commumty have a very Merry Christmas and a Bright and Blessed New Year by Dr George H Moore, Presbyterian Church In Canada Coyotes seen close to the barn / Scugog farmer concerned | or safety of livestock Roy Poole and his wife Susan are feeling a little edgy these days. Mr. and Mrs. Poole, who keep 20 head of beef cattle and several horses and chickens on their farm near Seagrave, have seen numerous coyote signs over the past few weeks. Chatterbox by Cathy Robb (From page 5) That's why I felt a little upset when | heard how they felt about the "*poor driver' who could end up paying a stiff penalty as the result of his friend's death. Sure he feels guilty. Sure he feels remorse, and undoubtably he'll be a more careful driver in the future. But that doesn't ex- cuse what happened. The law can't let up on im- paired driving until it doesn't hap- pen anymore. It's a horrific crime that causes more than 50 per cent of traffic deaths in this country, and it can't be excused. By letting a driver off the hook, even in a conversation, because the passenger agreed to take the risk, is like saying impaired driv- ing is okay. And it's not. Just ask the families of those who have died at the hands of inebriated drivers. This holiday season, and in the years that follow, make a decision not to appear before a judge on an impaired charge. It could be the best decision you ever make. SNACK IT Toasted pumpkin seeds make a great snack. To toast pumpkin seeds, place seeds on a greased bak- ing sheet, sprinkle with salt, if desired. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for 20 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Turn seeds occasionally to prevent burning. WHITBY-OSHAWA HONDA 1110 Dundas St. East - Whitby, Ont. SALES - SERVICE - LEASING NEW & USED CARS Call ... Kevin Cannon 'Nye 666-1712 686-1745 RESIDENCE 985 2515 NORMAN ROCKWELL PRINTS 11" x 14" Framed PORT GIFTS Custom Ploture Framing 233 Queen Street Port Perry em SO B-; VISA yo ' And one morning last week as Mrs. Poole was finishing the chores in the barn, she spotted two coyotes in a field not too far from the farm house. "We're getting concerned for the farm animals if the wolves are com- ing close to the barn and the house," Mr. Poole told the Star over the weekend. John Leask, who runs a neighbouring farm south of the Poole's, lost a heifer to wolves or coyotes about two weeks ago. The large heifer likely became stuck in a boggy area before it was killed. All that remains are the bones as the meat has been picked competely from the dead animal. And Mr. Poole said he recently lost one of his chickens. He found the severed head close to his barn, but he has no way of knowing whether it was killed by a coyote or another kind of predator. Mr. Poole said that last winter the wooded area on his farm contained a large rabbit population, but they seemed to have disappeared this year. He's concerned that with the apparent decline in the rabbit population, the coyotes may be tur- ning to domestic animals for their food. A spokesman for the Wildlife department of the Ministry of Natural Resources said wolf, or coyotes as they are properly known in this part of Ontario, do not appear to be on the increase in numbers this winter in Scugog Township. But the spokesman confirmed there is no question coyotes will take down farm animals like heifers and sheep, especially if the animal is sick or gets into difficulty. And he said that "coy-dogs," which are part coyote and part wild dog may pose even more of a threat to farm animals because "they like to kill for the thrill of it," and have no fear of humans. While the province of Ontario has banned the bounty on wolves and coyotes, farmers who are having trouble with the predators can con- tact the MNR office in Lindsay and they will put them in touch with pro- fessiional hunters who will try to kill some of them off. And there is no law to prohibit a farmer from shooting a coyote or wolf that is creating problems for his livestock. Editorial Comments (From page 4) rent against those who think they can flaunt local by-laws and get away with it. In short, what's the point of having by-laws on the books for the protection of citizens if they are not being enforced. Scugog Township has moved way past the time when one per- son could handle both by-law enforcement and building inspection duties. A person hired as an employee or on a contract basis could actually save the Township tax dollars in the long run. By-law enforce- ment, if it is to be effective, requries a person with unique attributes: diplomacy, tact, knowledge of the court systems, and enough authori- ty to let offenders know that they will face the courts if they persist in flaunting the laws of this municipality. Finding such a person may take some time. The time to launch the search is now. The taxpayers are not going to accuse anybody of "empire building" through the addition of an essential person like a by-law officer. And likewise they are not going to begrudge the tax dollars spent to assure that local by-laws are properly enforced. Department only 16 votes Yesterday's Memories (From page 5) election this week. They were Grace Love and June Crozier. For School Board representative, Mrs. Helen Redman topped the polls. Art Petrozzi was hired as foreman of the Port Perry Works Sam Oyler, Reeve of Reach Township, was returned to office by Three new School Trustees were elected in Cartwright, Harold Kyte. Douglas Sleep and Robert Wheeler 10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 17, 1975 Herb Eagleson celebrated his 100th Birthday at the Community Nursing Home in Port Perry, where he lives with his wife Mabel, 88 He lived most of his life in Lindsay-Seagrave area Winners of the Royal Canadian Legion Literary contest were Marlene Parsons, Karen Post, Shelley Schweikert and Debbie Map- pin. all of Cartwright Public School Five past presidents of the Port Perry Senior Citizens Club were honoured as part of the festivities at the annual Christmas Party at the Latcham Centre Those honoured were: Mrs Freeman McCullough. Mabel Cullens. Percy Willis, Ernie Healey and Mrs J Robertson R H Cornish placed first in an eight-school basketball tourna- ment in Uxbridge Team members are Dennis Franssen. Wilt Fellows. Paul McQuinn, George Burnett, Brian Sells, Bret Filion, Bob Ireland. Danny Taylor and coach Paul Wylie 5 9] 5