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So, as you may or may not know, I am away from home at an air force base in northeastern Alberta. There are so many people on this base from so many different ethnicities and they all have such an array of religious or non-religious backgrounds. I could go down several paths with this article, but I want to focus on one thing; we are all God’s creation whether we know it or not. Earlier in the day, my cohort and I were discussing the big bang theory and the creation and, while our ideologies are very compatible, we did have our own opinions. My thought is this; while evolutionists conclude that all life came from a massive explosion of a small and finite amount of matter which produced an infinite and massive universe that continues to expand and will do so until sometime in the near or infinite future when it may or may not collapse in upon itself. I do not want to get too deep into this but will say this, according to Antoine Lavoisier in 1789, “Matter can change form through physical and chemical changes, but through any of these changes matter is conserved. The same amount of matter exists before and after the change—none is created or destroyed. This concept is called the Law of Conservation of Mass.” My questions regarding this are where did the original matter come from and what was the “spark” that set it all off. Secondly, if something that massive and that hot was the start of all life, how did the organic material survive? Let me throw this out there as a possible answer; In the beginning God created... Gen 1:1. You want the spark to the start of all that is, God created it. Intelligent design, He has a thought and a purpose and He created the universe and it was, in my opinion a very large bang, He created the heavens and the earth and all the stars in the sky, He took the time to place the earth just where it needed to be, He set up the perfect amount of water and air required, prepared the dry earth for food and animals and then God created man, in His image. He set the foundation for life, He created life and He then created man and woman. From Adam and Eve came all mankind and we are all one in the Father, the creator of us all. Not everyone believes this, not all will proclaim this but, truth be told, it makes much more sense in my mind that a chance encounter of a series of proteins that somehow survived a cataclysmic event and through some miracle, sorry, evolutionary event, became a sentient life form, survived the harshness of a very inhospitable environment, and somehow formed complex organisms that eventually became human beings. Here’s a heads up for those who follow the theory of evolution, not everyone is a believer of this. I, for one, can appreciate the differences in our understandings and beliefs and I will never force my beliefs on anyone. It is my calling to inform others as to what I believe to be truth and also to respect the ideology of others. I try to keep an open mind just as I hope others would to my ideas and beliefs. We all do not have to fully buy into the thoughts or beliefs of each other nor do we need to fight wars over our differences, we simply need to respect each other and, as in all things, keep an open mind to the opinions of others. I have learned so much from listening to others in my time here and am grateful for the added knowledge and wisdom they have shared with me. We are all family on this rock that circles the sun at an incredible speed and for that I am truly humbled and grateful. 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 ‘God Loves Through Us’ Day 1: John 13:34, 35 – “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Day 2: Jude 1:20, 21 – “But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.” Day 3: 1 John 4:7, 8 – “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Day 4: Hebrews 13:21 – “...may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.” Day 5: Colossians 3:23 – “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Day 6: Philippians 2:3, 4 – “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Day 7: Romans 12:9, 10 – “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. Pro 17:27-28 I know I have written about this before on a few occasions but there are times when we all, me included, need to be reminded that there are times to speak and there are times to shut our pie holes. Prime example, I was watching a show the other day and was in one of those moods where I was hypercritical of the message being delivered. It was a comedy show but for some reason I was watching it like it was real and was getting rather upset at one actor. You see, the protagonist was asked a question regarding his opinion and, if memory serves correct, the antagonist interrupted him and told him that was not right and that this is how it really should be. The protagonist was very patient regarding the interruption and when he was given the chance, he continued with his opinion. He was interrupted on numerous occasions and when it came time to provide an illustration, he could not even get through the story and the antagonist was interrupting with a “better story” than the one the protagonist was telling. I know these are actors and it was a simple skit, but I have lived through discussions like this, and I am embarrassed to admit, I was the antagonist on many occasions in my youth. When I got into ministry, my mentor who is a very patient and loving person, took me off to the side and suggested I read Proverbs 17:27-28. I read it though a couple of times but really didn’t see the significance of the verse as it pertained to me but over the years, I have come back to it numerous times and have often quoted it under my breath on numerous occasions. Abraham Lincoln was thought to have said “Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt” This, combined with the Proverb was the turning point to my life, I concluded that if you ask for my thoughts or opinions on something, tell me I am wrong and then proceed to relentlessly carry on, I will let you have your rein so you can keep on galloping ahead. Following scripture, I will simply remain silent, smile and nod and I may even let you know that I have never heard it presented like that before. You see, I am trying to be wise and understanding, and I figure if I keep my mouth shut, I can keep a ton of people guessing and I will be able to reduce some of the stress in my life by avoiding useless arguments. Does it work every time? No, it doesn’t but I am not perfect, just forgiven. 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 ‘Are You Being Faithful?’ Day 1: Deuteronomy 23:21-23 – “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.” Day 2: 2 Timothy 1:13, 14 – “Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.” Day 3: 1 Corinthians 10:12, 13 – “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” Day 4: Hebrews 4:14-16 – “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Day 5: James 1:12 – “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” Day 6: 1 Samuel 12:24 – “But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.” Day 7: 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.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Are You Producing Fruit?’ Day 1: Galatians 5:22-25 – “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Day 2: Ephesians 5:8-10 – “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Day 3: Colossians 3:12, 13 – “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Day 4: Galatians 6:8-10 – “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone - especially to those in the family of faith.” Day 5: Ephesians 4:2, 3 – “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Day 6: James 3:17 – “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” Day 7: John 15:5 – “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Farewell my friend but it is only for a time, not forever. It has been a while since I saw my friend Walter but I want to tell you a bit about him. You see, he had a big smile and an even bigger heart. I would see him at church and his joy was infectious. You could not help but smile when he was around. I cherished those times he would share his nature pictures on Facebook, such wonderful glimpses into the world just outside his back door. At the church gatherings, it was truly wonderful to chat with him and hear the love of God communicated through his words and actions. While I won’t see him again on this earth, I look forward to seeing him once again in Glory. Such a wonderful thought that one day we will be able to see those who have left before us in Heaven. I do have to say this, there are those who will say that I am a fool for believing in a fallacy, in a myth but I have to say this, I have faith in a magnificent and wonderful Saviour and in His promise. My response to those who mock is simple; am I hurting you with my faith? If not, pump the brakes, step off my belief and continue on your merry way. You see, my faith in a living and loving God is just that, mine. I don’t hurt you or force you to believe but if you do want to ask the questions and ponder, I will gladly sit and chat...just like Walter and many others like him. There is a parable about three men who were given a task of taking care of the master’s wealth and how the one servant took the time to grow the wealth over time and when the master returned, there was an increase and this was good. I want to challenge you to think about the things God has entrusted us all with; His Message. We have not been tasked to save the world but rather to share the love of God and the message of grace to all around us as we come into contact with them, We don’t need to slay the mighty giant with a stone or part the sea with a stick but rather spread the Word of God and see the fruits grow for the Master. I only hope one day there will be those who will say that I planted the seed of faith in their heart and they found salvation because they heard the Good News. For me, however, what I want more than that is to hear my Master say, “well done, oh good and faithful servant.” Those who mentored me, who took time to share the Message and help me better understand His Word, like Walter, I am certain they were met at the gates of Glory by the Saviour and heard those words from Him directly. Praise God for faithful servants! 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”

Once we pass June 21, our days start to get shorter and shorter. I have stood on a balcony in the far north and watched the sun dip down to the horizon and then come right back up moments later. It never did get dark that day and I was truly amazed. There is a downside to this however, in the winter, it gets super dark for a very long time. It is hard to stay super positive when you are lacking enough light to keep the Vitamin D levels up. You see Vitamin D is critical in helping the body to absorb and retain both calcium and phosphorus, both essential for building strong bones. Also, laboratory studies show that vitamin D can reduce cancer cell growth, help control infections and reduce inflammation. Many of the body’s organs and tissues have receptors for vitamin D, which suggest important roles beyond bone health, and scientists are actively investigating other possible functions…Vitamin D production in the skin is the primary natural source of vitamin D, but many people have insufficient levels because they live in places where sunlight is limited in winter, or because they have limited sun exposure due to being inside much of the time. (Harvard TH Han https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d/) Vitamin D is the “sunshine vitamin” and without it, we would not have the vital foundation required to do the amazing things we want to accomplish. As the world gets smaller and smaller through the instant communication network that is social media, conspiracy theories, cancel culture, public shaming and negativity seems to rule the web and many conversations, on a daily basis. No wonder depression and mental disorders are so prevalent in our culture because there is so much darkness in all aspects of our daily lives. The darkness that is out there is widespread because the world wants us all to focus on that instead of the Truth that is the Light. 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 Why is this message so scary? Jesus did not come to the world to condemn but rather to save, to bring Light into the lives of all. It is a message of love and kindness, peace and joy. This is a message of caring for others and keeping the Light front and center. Even though the world wants for itself, Jesus came to chase out the darkness and conquer death for all. So, for a time, the lovers of the darkness have their time but, in the end, the Light will destroy the darkness and He will prevail. As Harvey Dent said in the Dark Knight “The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.” Jesus will return, be ready and be vigilant. When the time is right, He will come and chase away the darkness forever. Praise the Lord! The 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 ‘It’s a Heart Issue’ Day 1: Proverbs 4:23 – “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Day 2: Psalm 26:2 – “Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.” Day 3: Jeremiah 17:9, 10 – “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Day 4: Lamentations 3:40 – “Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.” Day 5: Psalm 139:23, 24 – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Day 6: 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 – “That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” Day 7: Matthew 6:21 – “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks Can You Say “This I Believe”?’ Day 1: John 3:18 – “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.” Day 2: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – “Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God - which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.” Day 3: Hebrews 11:6 – “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Day 4: Romans 15:13 – “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Day 5: John 20:31 – “But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.” Day 6: 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.” Day 7: Mark 9:23 – “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

This sabbatical has been good for me but it has also opened my eyes a bit more. You see when one focuses on the needs of the faith gathering for the majority of the time, one tends to be somewhat blind to the needs of the greater community around us and the warnings contained in Scripture. I was perusing the internet for scripture paintings and art that I could possibly purchase for my office when I came upon one that grabbed my attention. The more I read it and read around it, that is the passages before and after, and I realized this was a message that needed to be studied and broadcast to the world. You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Tim 3:1-5 NLT Many will call those who stand on the street corner packing signs and pamphlets that declare “the end is near” yet two thousand years ago, Paul was telling Timothy what the end days would look like. There will be even harder times coming unless we, as a faith community, take a stand and ask the world to pump the brakes on selfish attitudes and shift the focus off dangerous and divisive self-centred desires and shift the paradigm to one of love and unity in Christ. While the world looks for ways to promote distinctiveness, Jesus promotes unity and peace. There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. 1Tim 2:5-6 NLT Over the next two and a half months, I will be focused on Paul’s message to Timothy and will start a series on the epistles to Timothy. The 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”

A while back, I attended a service where the person beside me was chatting rather loudly with regards to the preacher. The conversation mainly focused on the delivery, the tone of the preacher’s voice, and a variety of other issues that had nothing to do with the message. I even overheard the person say, “if this person becomes more regular in the church, I am looking for another church”. I will admit, I was not all that into the delivery or even the attitude of the preacher, but I did keep it to myself, but I will admit, the message was fully scriptural and right on point. There are some who preach like Rev. Lovejoy from the Simpsons or preach like a wind-up monkey with a set of tambourines but what we need to listen for is the message. Let’s try this on for an illustration. There are many out there who do not like southern gospel. Some people love the old hymns, some appreciate the new choruses and others a good old fashioned Gregorian chant. Over the past twenty-three years in ministry, I have heard the same complaint with regards to music, “they never play music I like”. Consider this, if I was to pull up some of the worship songs from the days of Christ, not many would really fancy the tunes but think about this, are we there to tickle the fancy of self or are we there to share, worship and celebrate our Lord and Savior. Take some time to look at the lyrics of the Christian songs you like and define the central message of the song. Now, look at song you are not a fan of and analyze the central message presented. Are they the same? Do they celebrate Jesus and encourage a faith in God? Sure, not all messages tickle our fancy but not all of us like the same things in life. My suggestions is this, instead of complaining about the delivery, celebrate the fact that someone has taken time to listen to His Message, that the preacher or worship team has been faithful to present His Message to those who need to hear and celebrate and that they are doing everything they can in a world filled with doubt and confusion to declare the Grace of God. Celebrate God, lift His messengers in prayer and support the faith family through encouragement and uplifting discussions. You see, the evil one’s main tool is chaos, confusion and separation, don’t give into his nasty tactics. One last thing before I sign off for this week, if the church is missing something like a children’s program or a youth group or even a young adult’s group, don’t walk away going “they have nothing for us here”. Instead, ask around to see if there is an opportunity to start something and then just do it. It takes time and effort to build up the church, don’t wait for “someone” to get the ball rolling, be that “someone”. Remember, Jesus said go out into all nations to share, baptize, and build up the faith community (I paraphrase). He did not say go out and find a group that is already up and running that suits your needs. The 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 ‘Praising in the Storm’ Day 1: Psalm 59:17 – “O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.” Day 2: Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” Day 3: Psalm 103:2 – “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” Day 4: Jeremiah 17:14 – “O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!” Day 5: Habakkuk 3:17-19 – “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” Day 6: 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 – “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. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Day 7: Psalm 150:1-6 – “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation