Entitlement and contempt

On July 20th while shopping in Portage la Prairie I noticed employees of the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries had established a picket line. Out of curiosity I took the time to visit both picket lines and discovered that the issue was wages. The picketers explained that their previous four year contract, expiring in March of 2022, involved a two year wage freeze, followed by a 0.75 percent a one percent raise in the last two years of the contract. In effect they had received a 1.75 per cent wage increase over a four year period. Adjusted for inflation the Liquor and Lotteries workers had over the previous five years and four months had earned a 15-18 percent reduction in employment income.

By Pastor Vlad Makyeyev First Baptist Church

We live in a very exciting time very close to the second coming of Jesus Christ to this world. There is so much chaos, confusion, deception, violence, lies we can see, watch, hear and personally witness nowadays.

And there is so much fear about what is coming next; what is going to happen to this country, world, public health care system, banks, money, environment etc.

There is only one remedy given by Creator God to the fallen human race. Acts

4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved”. No one and nothing will save you from the coming God’s wrath and judgment. Absolutely no one and absolutely nothing!

This fallen world is not getting better. It is getting worse, less and less secure day by day. Jesus Christ, the only Savior of mankind, predicted the times we are living in now. Luke 21:25-26 says, “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and expectation of things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of heavens will be shaken”

It is going to happen very soon. Humanity is getting there. If you are not a true believer in Jesus Christ, then you do not have any hope beyond the grave. And you live in fear of losing control over your own life in terms of health and wealth. There is a solution to all kinds of fears. It is the fear of God. If you fear God, if you fear to commit a sin against Holy and Righteous God who created everything and gave you life, then you will enjoy peace in your heart and mind. When your physical life is over, it is not the end of the story, it is just an open door to eternity. There are two kinds of eternity according to the Bible: Heaven and hell.

Do not waste your time. Do not live for the sake of vanities and empty things that do not nourish your immortal soul. Do not let Satan run your life. Turn to Christ in repentance and ask Him to completely change the course of your life.

If you are already a Christian, you have nothing to fear even if you physically die or lose your health or all your money and assets. Jesus Himself encouraged all generations of Christians with the following words recorded in Luke 21:28, “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near”

Pack your spiritual suitcases, Christians! The Lord is preparing a heavenly mansion for you. This world is not your home. Jesus is coming soon to take His Bride home.

1Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words”

Come, Lord Jesus!

Premier Stefanson and her cabinet are now reportedly restricting the provinces negotiators to offering Liquor and Lotteries workers a maximum wage increase of two percent a year in a four year contract. If accepted, this offer would result in employees receiving a total pay increase of 9.75 percent over an eight year period. Imposing wage increases below the rate of inflation is a plan to impose creeping poverty upon Liquor and Lotteries workers. The Pallister-Stefanson governments motivation in impoverishing workers may be part of their plan to privatize Manitoba’s Liquor Stores. In comparison, it is note worthy that Premier Stefanson and her Cabinet will receive pay increases of 10.5 percent over a three year term, 3.3 percent, 3.6 percent and 3.6 percent. I do not view this salary increase as being unreasonable. However the optics of Manitoba’s Premier accepting a 10.5 percent salary increase to her $189,000 salary over a three year period while restricting her employees to a 9.75 percent increase over a period of eight years, gives an impression of personal entitlement and contempt for her employees.

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