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Let’s go back a few years, back to the days that Pastor Doug, Pastor Mark and I were working at Calgary East Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Doug had started a series on JOY that, I believe, was going to go for an entire year. A whole year focused on JOY. I must say that, for me at the time, making it through the week in a joyful state of mind was not all that easy. You see, Natalie and I lived up the Deerfoot Trail and, if you have ever been on that stretch during rush-hour, there is little joy in Whoville by the time you get home. I was trying to figure out how Pastor Doug was going to stretch out a sermon series for a year based on JOY. How much can you say about JOY? Well, let me tell you, there is more to joy than just the regular dictionary definition, you see JOY is Jesus, Others and You. This seems like the perfect time to take a look at this in context of the world around us. Currently, there is not a place anywhere on the earth that isn’t lacking perfect peace and joy. An argument can be made for those little places where no one has any issues with anyone but reflect on this, someone always has a neighbour with a pet that does damage to lawn or garden and there is always that one relative that causes issues at the family dinner. Countries having issues with each other regarding territory, trade, religious differences or even the old argument of “we are right and they are all wrong”. Even in the church there are arguments; King James Version verses the Message (they are both the inspired Word of God, get over it), the three wise men beside the manger or thousands of miles away on their trek. There have been church splits over the wording above the door into the sanctuary. Where is the joy in selfish arguments or self-righteous indignation? I had to look that last one up to make sure I was using it correctly and, yes I was, but it is rather harsh. Here is the thing, when we lose focus on JOY, chaos and anger reign because the foundation of JOY is overshadowed by the cloak of darkness. Jesus, the J in JOY, is the Son of God, the Prince of Peace and the Saviour of all people and He is the reason for this season we are in. Sorry folks, Santa and presents are not central to the Christmas celebration, it is Jesus. Remember when the Grinch stole all the presents from the people of Whoville and they came out in the morning lacking all the presents and trimmings of Christmas and they held hands to sing joyfully in the square? The Grinch listened for the sad cries but he did not hear that! He says: “It came without ribbons, it came without tags, it came without packages, boxes or bags!” Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before, “Maybe Christmas” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more”. Dr. Seuss, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Jesus came to earth to give us all a hope and show us the proper way to live life. Find the JOY in the Lord through Christ the King and remember that we are all His children. Instead of fighting with others or starting wars over stupid trivial things, find the good in Others and rejoice in their happiness. Gather in the square and sing out: Fahoo foores dahoo dore-es welcome Christmas bring your light Fahoo fores dahoo dore-es welcome in the cold, dark night Welcome Christmas, fahoo ramus, welcome Christmas, dahoo damus Welcome Christmas, while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand Stand hand in hand with those around you and celebrate JOY and let your heart burst with love and happiness. When you have Jesus in your heart, Others around you to celebrate alongside you, then You will be blessed in the miracle of His grace for all of us. Hundreds of years before Christ’s birth, Isaiah prophesied of His coming and told of His blessing for us all. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6 NLT There is none greater than the Messiah, no government can conquer Him, no powers can break His perfect peace. He is born to us all and there is no end to His love and peace. JOY; Jesus, Others and You. Celebrate Him this Christmas and may peace reign supreme in your hearts. This Sunday, Pastor Todd brings the message of JOY on this third day of Advent, Peace. Please plan to join us either in person or online at 10:30 AM this Sunday. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms  ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.        Blessings,         www.mainavefellowship.ca

Please join us Christmas Eve at 6:00 PM at the church for a Carole Sing and we may even have a fire with marshmallows after the service.

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘You are God’s Treasure’ Day 1: Psalm 139:13, 14 - “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Day 2: Deuteronomy 26:18 - “The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.” Day 3: Revelations 1:5-6 - “He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” Day 4: Isaiah 62:3 - “The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—a splendid crown in the hand of God.” Day 5: Deuteronomy 7:6 - “For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.” Day 6: 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 7: Malachi 3:17 - “‘They will be my people,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.’” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

There was a time many years ago when the darkness of the night scared me witless. The monsters that feared the light would hide under my bed and in the closet just waiting for the darkness of night to free them from the confines of their below bed cells and they could then do all sorts of evil during the night. I can remember my parents saying, “don’t be silly, there is nothing there…to be scared of”. So, did that mean there was nothing there so don’t be scared, or did it mean there was something there but don’t be scared of it? My Grandma was the best, she left a night light on to keep the monsters away. The threat of the unseen in the darkness had a real hold on me to the point that I would not even put my feet on the floor for the fear of them grabbing a hold and dragging me under the bed and don’t even get me started about going down into the dark basement! I was safe so long as there was light because I could see all things around me and there was a wonderful sense of peace. The light of day seemed to be the cure for all the fear and anxiety that came with the loneliness of the darkness. The lack of light seemed so cold and, when you could not seek very far, the sense of being alone and defenseless was overwhelming. Move forward a couple decades and I am now a grown adult and very little scares me. I don’t need the nightlight anymore, a trip to the basement is not filled with stress and I am, in my mind, invincible. I am doing great in the business world, making a name for myself and there is very little that causes me any angst until a very close friend passes away and the reality of life’s end really hits me. I went to his funeral and the minister said “Do you know where you are going when your days on earth are done?” That was a strange question, of course I do, I am going to heaven because I am a good person. Then he said, “Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus because it is only through Christ that you will live in the land of Eternal Light with the Saviour”. It was at that moment that I realized that I truly did not know the absolute peace of living in relationship with the Messiah and knowing that only through Him was influence the darkness of evil completely dispelled. You see, total darkness is the complete absence of light and the moment the light shines out, even just a little bit, there is no longer total darkness. The moment we recognize the Light is the instant we realize we are not alone and, in that, there is peace and comfort. Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5 NLT Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” John 12:36 NLT When you discover this peace, the comfort of knowing that you are never alone, embrace the Light and then, like my Grandma did at one time, set out the night light so that those around you will also know the eternal peace He has set aside for us all. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. This Sunday, we welcome Rev. Bob Hillock as he brings the message on this second day of Advent, Peace. Please plan to join us either in person or online at 10:30 AM this Sunday. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms  ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.           Blessings,         www.mainavefellowship.ca

Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘What Jesus Has Done for Us’ Day 1: 2 Corinthians 5:21 - “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” Day 2: Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Day 3: Ephesians 2:8, 9 - “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Day 4: 1 John 1:9 - “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” Day 5: Romans 10:9 - “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Day 6: Titus 2:11, 13 - “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.” Day 7: John 14:6 - “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Can you find joy on the cross? I was having a great conversation with my buddy Bob at Bible study. We were chatting about how the world demands proof before they believe, yet the miracles are all around us. Here is the thing, both Bob and I have numerous acquaintances who do not believe or have a relationship with Jesus, and they tend to ask for proof of existence. Now, I have no problem with answering questions or even debating the issue. So many in our society are dismissive of a faith walk because they don’t have proof, they have proof but refuse to consider it as plausible, or they don’t want to listen because the proof that was presented did not match their needs or preferred understanding. “If it does not look like the duck I have in mind, then even though it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it is not a duck”. It does take more effort and understanding to recognize not only the divinity of Jesus but also the existence of God because it requires one to be open to all sides of a discussion, willing to be objective and interested in a dialogue designed to enhance a fuller understanding. Consider this question, who was filled with joy on the cross? Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him... And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine ... One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And He said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:32, 35-36, 39-43 ESV Those who were mocking the King were demanding proof on their terms. “Prove to us by dancing for us monkey and we will worship you! Save yourself and us and we will buy into your message!” The thief who defended Jesus was under the same sentence as the first thief and yet he got it. He may not have been happy that he was about to die but his joy came when the Messiah declared that he would be with Him in paradise this day. I have a very tough time understanding how anyone who is faced with death can hold so tightly to nothing, a hard stop as the breath of life leaves them. There is no hope, no joy in that understanding. The first thief wanted answers but asked the wrong questions and most likely faced that dark abyss as the light faded but the second thief was blessed with the promise of eternal life and his final moments would have been filled with hope and a deep joy. We come into a season of love and joy where many will share a smile and open their hearts to the true meaning of the season. This is the time where we embrace the celebration of the birth of a Savior, the birth of a new hope. Sunday, we begin the season of Advent with a message from Eryn, our minister of community, and celebrate the start of the season of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Please plan to join us either in person or online at 10:30 AM this Sunday. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms  ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.          Blessings,         www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘There is Abundant Grace for All’ Day 1: Romans 3:23-25 - “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past” Day 2: Romans 5:1, 2 - “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Day 3: Ephesians 2:8, 9 - “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Day 4: Isaiah 30:18 - “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” Day 5: John 1:16, 17 - “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” Day 6: 2 Corinthians 9:8 - “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 7: 2 Corinthians 12:9 - “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Time to come clean, I have, for the past month or so, been dealing with numerous attacks and it has been tough to hold it together at times. It takes everything I have not to lash out at friends and family but there are moments when I feel I am not coping well. It is almost like trying to climb up a sand dune, no matter how much you try to crawl out of the valley, it seems like you are moving in the wrong direction. Over the past three months, I have put my faith in the word of others and have come to find out they are paying lip service to their “customer service”. Here is an example; “we are going to escalate your request up to my supervisor”. Translation, I am going to tell you what you want to hear just so I can end this call and get you off the phone. How about this one; “we are so sorry for all of this, I have forwarded your letter to the director for his consideration”. Translation, your letter is going to sit on the reservation director’s desk in the hope that you won’t remember our conversation and disappear. You may think that I am upset about this one incident but no, it has happened with three different organizations and their modus operandi is identical. It is almost like they all took a class on “Lying to Others 101”. I remember the day when your word was your bond, and you would rather walk over hot coals with bare feet than purposely slide problems under the rug and hope they go away.  So, how does this affect the average person, this onslaught of lies and deceit? It makes a person rather short with those who are closest to them because, in most cases, they will take it, but they should not have to. This line of thinking led me to focus on something else. Those who are closest to us should not have to take on the stress that we carry and yet they do because they love us. You see, the stress comes from selfish people that have taken advantage of us and will lie to shut us up or make us think there may be a chance. That is the foundation to this stress and if we truly want to move away from this stress, this cancer, we really need to consider a couple lessons from Christ’s teachings. First, consider this: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,  John 13:34-35. When people purposely try to upset you, try this one on for size; “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”  Matt 5:43–44. One more thing, no matter how many times people let you down, remember that Peter really let down Jesus in the final moments before He was tortured and killed and yet He blessed Peter upon His return and said, “ ... Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”   “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”   Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”   After Simon fell asleep, cut off ears, denied the Lord and lied about his involvement with the Lord, Jesus still loved him perfectly and forgave him. Forgive me for projecting my anger and stress into your lives as of late, please know I love you all and will try better to live the love of Christ. I think we all can learn a thing or three from His example and others will also learn this from how we react to their actions.   This Sunday, we will be focusing on forgiveness as a means to cope with the world and how this can affect the lives of those around us. Please plan to join us either in person or online at 10:30 AM this Sunday. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms  ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.           Blessings,             www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘You Can Talk to God Anytime; He’s Listening’ Day 1: Psalm 116:8, 9 - “He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!” Day 2: 1 Peter 3:12 - “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” Day 3: Psalm 18:6 - “But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.” Day 4: Isaiah 65:24 - “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” Day 5: Psalm 34:17 - “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.” Day 6: Psalm 4:3 - “You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him.” Day 7: 1 John 5:14 - “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Funny, this is the second time I have written this article in as many days. I guess I may have rattled the bones of an old adversary. You see, these past two weeks, for me, have been filled with numerous challenges and attacks that seem to come from left field. Once, I came back with some fairly harsh words to which I felt very convicted with regards to the way I handled the situation but the other times I felt an incredible peace descend as I looked past the attack and embraced the calm. The understanding, for me, came when I realized that you don’t disturb the soil unless you desire to plant seeds. I know I have talked about this in the past and I will do so until the day I die. If your enemy is focused on the stuff they feel is important and maintain the status quo, and if it does not cause you any grief or concern, why would you desire take their mind off it all and get them to turn their designs upon you? The term that drives me up the wall is “as long as it doesn’t affect me, why worry”. I have seen so many ministries that just keep on keeping on doing things the “way they have always been done” and they become ineffective and fade away. What a travesty and what a disservice to the Kingdom. I am going to throw this out there; complacency is the work of the devil. Let me expand a little bit on that. If you are rolling along, avoiding the challenges by bending to the will of the world and not really planting your flag on any hill, do you think that you are making a difference or are you following the path of the church of Laodicea? If your ministry is lukewarm and no one is really challenged to move against worldly influences on the faith, do you think the devil is going to disturb you or take shots at you? Now, I am not saying that all ministries that are moving along well are ineffective but I am suggesting that we take time to examine our ministries, our lives even, and ask the question, “are we making the devil nervous or angry?” A few weeks ago, I had a decision to make and I chose a path that led me away from a position of comfort and put me onto the path of ministry that looks very much like that of the Apostle Paul. Natalie and I decided to retire from the church and, moving out in faith, followed the call to that of a tent maker. You see, Paul went from province to province and helped those new churches get established and healthy, plus he taught a new generation of preachers and spoke in the new lands to all who would hear. Natalie and I have embraced this new opportunity and move. I did, however, fail to remember that Paul did not walk around all happy and feeling secure, he was hammered by those who listened to the world, the same world that the devil plays in, and was never really safe (just read through his letters). Through it all, he persevered and was protected by the One who was in ultimate authority, Jesus. I have learned that life is not always going to be a bowl of cherries but if you lean fully on His guidance and strength, He will not let you fall. The devil has no power over us and would love to let sleeping dogs lie for fear of disturbing the faithful to action. Last week, we talked about a society that has forgotten the love of God and the travesties of the past, the time has come to poke the bear, arose the sleeping nation of faith and rally them to take back what the devil has stolen and this Sunday, I will delve into this subject more. Please plan to join us either in person or online at 10:30 AM this Sunday. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms  ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.          Blessings,            www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘Rock Solid Hope’ Day 1: 1 Corinthians 3:11 - “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.” Day 2: Hebrews 6:19 - “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Day 3: Psalm 62:5 - “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Day 4: Psalm 40:1-3 - “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. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.” Day 5: Matthew 7:24 - “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” Day 6: Deuteronomy 32:4 - “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” Day 7: Psalm 95:1 - “Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Over the next week, many will don the red poppy over their heart in remembrance of those who served in the military, the RCMP and other agencies. For those who gave their lives in support and protection of others and for the thousands who serve and have served Sovereign and country over the past, we remember their sacrifice of their own lives and their time. We do this so we do not forget the horrors of war and abuse that have occurred. In remembering, we also seek ways to prevent the deadly losses of the past to repeat in the future. I will speak this truth, however; when the memories fade and are forgotten, history tends to repeat and the horrific events of the past are once again realized by the actions of those who do not hold onto the sanctity of life. I do understand that some may not appreciate the harshness of this declaration but I fear that the importance of remembrance is slowly being forgotten. You see, fewer people are taking a time out to stop and truly remember those who sacrificed their lives, both their mortal lives and their daily lives as they set everything to the side in order to come to the aid of others. The less society remembers or ignores the past, the more likely society is to repeat the mistakes of the past. Let me shift to the messages from the Bible. Jesus came to live amongst us all and to teach us the way of love and compassion over war and destruction. As Peter cut off the ear of the servant, Jesus healed him and claimed; “Put away your sword, those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” Matt 28:52-54 NLT Many tend to forget the part where Jesus healed and asked compassion on those who came to persecute Him. Many more have forgotten the sacrifice He made on our behalf so that we would not know the pain and suffering associated with death. Jesus promised us before He left that He was going to prepare a place for us, a place in Heaven where we would no longer know pain, sorrow or evil. The world has lost faith in this message and doomed itself to repeat the errors of the past when the needs of self overshadowed the compassion and love for others that Jesus taught us. We will remember them, the motto of the Royal Canadian Legion. Our battle cry of the faith family should be “We Will Remember Him”. Love God with every ounce of your being and love all others around you as you are loved by the Creator. This week, we gather on the Sunday before Remembrance Day and will take a few moments to remember those who have passed in service to our nation and our Sovereign and Pastor Todd will reflect on the sacrifice made by our Lord and Saviour centuries ago so we can live with the assurance of a future without pain and oppression, plus an eternity filled with love and fellowship with the Father. Please plan to join us either in person or online at 10:30 AM this Sunday. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms  ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.                Blessings,            www.mainavefellowship.ca