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The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘You are Loved’ Day 1: Romans 5:8 – “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Day 2: 1 John 4:9, 10 – “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” Day 3: Zephaniah 3:17 – “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Day 4: Psalm 86:15 – “But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” Day 5: Ephesians 2:4, 5 – “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” Day 6: Isaiah 54:10 – “‘For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” Day 7: Deuteronomy 7:9 – “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

For over a decade, I have provided training for first aid to a variety of groups. The groups are very diverse, but one thing remains constant, all who attend are preparing themselves for the future. Many take the course so that, in case of illness or injury, they are prepared to act and assist those in need of help. You see, the definition of first aid, according to St John’s Ambulance is the help given to someone who is injured or ill to keep them safe and to cause no further harm. The role of a first aider is to give someone this help. Tens of thousands of people take on the challenge and the responsibility to care for other’s lives in their time of need every year and are ready to assist when others walk away. At times, those in need are not found in favourable locations. Rarely have I come upon a casualty who is found in a warm, comfortable location. Most of the time, I am doing first aid in the rain or snow, it’s cold and I get very messy. In the end, though, the person comes through it all and learns to be a bit more careful going forward; usually. There is a parable in the Book of Luke in chapter 10 that talks of first aid. 30 A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” NLT Consider this in all you do each day, should you come across anyone in need of physical, emotional or spiritual assistance, are you ready and willing to lend assistance when asked? Are you trained to provide first aid for those who are reaching out in fear or pain? Are you equipped to be there when needed? The question we all need to ask is this, what do I need to do to help my brother or sister who is in need? This weekend, I am teaching first aid to a group of youth in Calgary, but we look forward to hearing from Rev. Glenn Reeder who will bless us with a wonderful message. The service will be broadcast online (see links below), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 10:30 AM, at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube Blessings, www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The other day, I was pondering the question of an unconditional relationship. You see, there have been occasions where, out of the blue, events of the past have been brought back to awareness and it is usually when others are around to witness it. Now, for those who brought it up and for the subject person it is old news from the past and probably had been put to rest way back when. For those who were just made aware, it is fresh news, and their opinion of the subject person is usually tainted. It could have happened twenty years earlier but to someone fresh into the conversation, it could have been yesterday. In my opinion, if forgiveness has been asked, remorse has been expressed, let the waters of forgiveness wash over it and cleanse it away. So why do others feel it necessary to resurrect the past? Is it to garner power over another? Is it to embarrass or cut someone down? Is it to deflect attention from one's own deficiencies by putting a light on someone else’s? And what if this person is a close friend who continues to bring up the past in awkward moments? I tell you the truth (one of my favourite Christ sayings), this is not a way to maintain a relationship, and yet so many people put up with it. So, what can we do about it? Consider teaching people about the truth of Grace, Grace means forgiving and loving a person unconditionally, in fact, it is extending perfect forgiveness when it is not deserved, you know, the kind Christ extends to us all. I had a person bring up my, not so pristine, past a few times in certain situations that could have caused embarrassment, but I reminded my brother in faith that my past has been forgiven by the one who counts. My past shaped me but it is my faith that defines me now. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption... Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Eph 4:21-24, 30-32. NLT We invite you to join us this Sunday as Pastor Todd explores this Ephesians passage. The service will be broadcast online (see links below), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 10:30 AM, at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube Blessings, www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Keep Your Focus on God’ Day 1: Matthew 6:33 – “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Day 2: Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” Day 3: Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Day 4: Hebrews 12:1, 2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Day 5: 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” Day 6: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Day 7: Psalm 28:7 – “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Years ago, I was asked to take a break from ministry while I went through some personal issues. I was incensed because I felt like I was being fired, let go, sent out into the boat without an oar, without any life preservers. I tried very hard to get anyone to listen to me, to listen to my plight. Nothing had changed except the fact I was having to deal with an issue, but I could do that and my job without any added stress. In my humble opinion, the people who were telling me to take a break had no clue what they were talking about, I knew better because I understood more than they, just how much I could handle. The scripture in Proverbs tells us not to lean on our own finite understanding but rather to trust in the Lord in all things. At the time, I was fooling myself and it completely clouded my judgement and understanding. You see, God knows these things and, when we are not listening, He uses others in our lives to speak into our situations. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isa 40:30-31 NLT The incident was almost a quarter century ago and today, I am called on to help others who were, or are, dealing with similar issues. So here is to walking alongside those who are hurting or are feeling overwhelmed, taking time to listen to what they are saying and lean on the wisdom of God to know what to do and how to be there for them. I can attest that when we are in that place where we feel we can deal with it and start getting defensive when others offer to assist, the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit seems to take a back seat to self. I got hit with this over twenty years ago when my stubborn streak kicked in: The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Pro 12:15 I may not be the wisest man but I do lean on the promptings of the greatest wiseman going and He says wait and rest, let Me show the way, who am I to argue? Today, I am thankful for the wonders God has provided me, my family, my calling and the gifts of the Spirit. I am also very thankful for the time away to refresh and renew. I did not know just how tired I was and, even though there were signs, I thought I was doing very well. This has opened my eyes to the fact I was a bit overwhelmed but had become blind to the reality the stress was having on not only myself but also my family and my faith family. Wise counsel suggested a rest, God provided. All this to say thank you for not only the break but also for the opportunity to reset and reorganize my life and ministry plus I would also like to thank our faith gathering for all they did to keep His message front and center. I look forward to seeing you all again this coming Sunday where we will join together in praise and worship to a mighty God. We invite you to join us as we welcome back Pastor Todd from Sabbatical. The service will be broadcast online (see links below), or you are more than welcome to join us in person 10:30 AM, at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB. Blessing, Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Our God of Abundance’ Day 1: Titus 3:4-7 – “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” Day 2: Ephesians 2:4-7 – “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.” Day 3: John 10:10 – “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Day 4: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – “Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” Day 5: Luke 6:38 – “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full - pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Day 6: Philippians 4:19 – “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Day 7: Psalm 36:8 – “You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

There are so many people out there who have abandoned hope in a loving and gracious God who created all things, watches over all creation and genuinely cares for every person on this planet. They have abandoned their faith in the promises of an eternity in Glory for a future that holds little in the way of life beyond the grave. I would like to tell you what I believe in and why. First, I do believe in a loving and caring Lord who has created each and every one of us. He has designed us perfectly and in His image, the image of love. We are, each of us, social people that desire the loving relationship of those around us. God created Adam and Eve for the purpose of relationship and, when they went against His will, He did not destroy them but rather He did what many parents do when a child errs, He punished them, but He still watched over them. Today, many have abandoned God, but like in those days long ago, He has never left us. Secondly, I believe that God has prepared a place for us in Glory and that we should have no fear of death. I recently lost a dear friend, and while it hurts that she has left us there is a joy in knowing she has passed into His Heavenly realm. She knew what her future held and was always quick to tell others that she was looking forward to being with those loved ones who passed before her. Her hope was in the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. You see, Christ went before to prepare a place for us all and while some have lost that understanding or have abandoned that hope, the promise is still very valid, and it was known and written down long before He was even born. In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken! Isa 25:6-8 NLT Finally, even though I cannot fully support the thoughts or beliefs of those who deny my God, I will not mock them or berate them because the choice to follow is a personal decision. I can only plant the seeds of His message and pray that there will come a time when they will see His light. And for those who mock us for our faith in God, relax, like I said, the choice is yours to believe or not. I do not fear the end because it is not the final resting spot, it is the doorway to a future in eternity. The Main Avenue service will be broadcast online (see links below), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB. Blessing, Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘You are God’s church’ Day 1: 1 Corinthians 3:9 – “For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.” Day 2: Ephesians 2:19-22 – “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.” Day 3: Hebrews 10:24, 25 – “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Day 4: Romans 12:4, 5 – “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” Day 5: Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Day 6:1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 – “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” Day 7: 1 Peter 2:4, 5 – “You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Know This…’ Day 1: Joshua 1:9 - at my lowest, God says – “This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Day 2: Psalm 40:1, 2 - at my dark times, God says – “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” Day 3: Philippians 4:13 - at my weak times, God says – “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Day 4: Jeremiah 29:11 - at my lost times, God says – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Day 5: Matthew 11:28 - at my tired times, God says – “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” Day 6:1 Peter 5:7 - at my anxious times, God says – “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Day 7: Psalm 23:4 - at my worst times, God says – “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Was watching a video the other day that brought a scripture to mind. I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[d] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Phil 3:12-14 NLT Many, many years ago, I would run 10K races, and, while I was not in the upper echelons of the racing elite, I generally finished in the middle of the pack. At the very beginning I was very excited and eager to get the race underway, but it did not take long for the negative thoughts to start entering my mind. At the start, I tended to struggle to find my pace because I wanted to stay with the pack, later I would start analyzing the various stitches and spasms wondering if I was even going to make it through the race. As it got later into the race, thoughts of “why even try” or “you’ll never be as good as these other guys” crept into the fray and, yes, there were moments where I considered just giving up, one time was when I was only a few hundred yards from the finish. So, the question remains, why even try? The video I watched was about an elite racer who was rounding the final corner on a longer race and had a commanding lead. He did not see another racer making a mad dash for the lead and, on the final fifty or so yards, he started to celebrate, waving to the crowd. With only a couple yards to go, the second-place racer who was leaving nothing to spare, flew past the leader and won the race by inches. Now, none of us is perfect, and there are occasions where we might set the cruise control on and just coast along with the blinders on, or doubt can creep in and set our minds into a protectionist mode, or, in this case, we can lose focus and we get passed over. Life can be like a 10K race as can our faith walk. At the beginning, there is an excitement that is indescribable. We are at a quicker speed than we may want to be, but we are only trying to keep up or, in some cases, catch up. While there are numerous stages along the way where we can hydrate and receive some nourishment and encouragement, there are those times when we start to focus on the wrong things or just settle into a comfortable pace and let things happen as they do. “I’m saved, that works for me” or “look at all the people waving and cheering for me, I’m on my way!” That time where I was about to give up with only a few hundred yards to go, I lost focus on what was just beyond the finish line. A voice in my mind screamed “finish strong, there is rest on the other side of the line!” The journey to glory is fraught with so many pitfalls and challenges, but there is always an encourager in our corner cheering us on. Just like in the 10K, there are always people around you cheering you on and the Lord is always at your side. As I came upon others who looked like they were struggling, I was able to pour into them and be an encouragement. We all need to lean on each other and our faith because none of us is perfect. Press on through the finish line, there is rest on the other side. The Main Avenue service will be broadcast online (see links below), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB. Blessing, Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

Hypothetical situation; let’s say there is someone out there who takes every opportunity to toot their own horn so they are considered indispensable and should be adored for their contribution to the success of a project. They spend more time maneuvering their position through self-glorifying conversations and boastful actions to promote their own ideation of self-worth. Combine this with their need to stay at the top by downplaying the contribution of those around them and you have the making of a very fragile team dynamic. You see, if those who are relying on the accuracy of the person who is acting in a very self-serving manner, more focused on self over the whole, they come to discover the message was false, the whole team can suffer and even break once the truth comes to light. Remember, this is only hypothetical, but I have not only run across this in a variety of situations but have been guilty of being that person at times. I can say this, true strength of leadership through a servant attitude does not come from a boastful position but rather from a position of support and care of one who is dedicated to the community rather than self. Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20 NLT All power and authority is given as a gift from God to go out into all nations baptizing and teaching in the name of the Lord, not in the name of the individual. Be careful of those who teach and preach but do so to bring glory to self over the Almighty. The Truth is for the benefit of the whole of creation and not for the glorification of any one individual. There was not one specific disciple singled out in this message from Matthew 28, they all had the same message to relay to the world. In 1 Cor 15:9- 10 NLT, Paul even claimed that; “...I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.” So here is a thought, when it comes to dealing with those who are focused on self over the needs of the whole, let them boast and yammer on because the truth will be revealed. For me, I have come to understand that I am not in this for the recognition of self but to glorify God in my words and actions, addressing the needs of those in our community. Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you. 2 Cor 10:12-13 NLT The Main Avenue service will be broadcast online (see links below), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB. Blessing, Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”