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As I worked this week on an artist’s studio for my wife, I was to the framing stage of assigning window openings in the walls. A good friend of mine gave of his time to help me, which was a huge gift, as the walls were heavy to lift into place. Friday came and we finally got to stand the last wall, just as the daily heat hit. Just as we finished and I was showing him the old windows I was to use, I noticed they seemed much larger than the openings we made. Sure enough, in my haste and in the heat, I had made a mistake. As I dug in to fix the error, it occurred to me that we humans err every day, and we literally spend our lifetime trying to make amends for our mistakes. None of us are without fault, or sin for that matter, yet we can all take comfort in knowing that each day, our Father’s forgiveness is poured onto us. He gave Moses the ten commandments for all humanity to follow, yet if the truth be told, they are almost impossible to follow to the letter. Unlike the days of the Old Testament, where the religious leaders of the day would never show mercy, the New Testament flips that on it’s ear. When Jesus came, He offered unabashed love, grace, and forgiveness for our shortcomings. He taught and showed all of us that our Father is a loving God. He gives us all the freedom of choice to believe in Him or not. We are to revere Him, rather than fear Him. That does not mean we are to run amok with our lives. What it does tell us is that He will be available in our daily live, all the days of our lives to help guide us to His arms and our days end. He knows that we will make mistakes every day, yet He forgives. He gives all of us the opportunity to accept Him, even to our dying breath. In that alone, there is ultimate forgiveness. Even those who mock Him or his followers will still have that last chance to repent. That is our Father’s forgiveness. He even tells us to forgive each other seven times seventy times if need be, knowing we are most likely to fail, yet He forgives. You see it is in His forgiving nature and spirit that we are all worthy of His love. None of us are without fault, yet He practices what He preached. When we’re too weak to try, He does. When we’re too blind to see, He guides, and when we’re too stubborn to change, He waits. We’ve all heard about the patience of Job. Well I can imagine how much patience God has to put up with the mayhem and disobedience of the human race. His agape love for us is beyond understanding, yet we try. We err, then we repent. This is a lifelong journey on a road well travelled. Our world will always want to keep us under thumb for every action. There always seems to be someone out there just waiting to pounce on us for a mistake. It could be our boss, our banker, our neighbour and even strangers. Heaven forbid we bump into someone’s vehicle or cut in a grocery line. To live our lives on guard every day is stressful, yet when we close in with Jesus we can separate ourselves from this. These days, if we followed His commandments, to love our neighbours as our selves, we would all find life easier. If we all just tried a little kindness, then our mistakes would be less frequent. Will we still make them? Yes, but I for one take comfort in knowing that God loves me so much that His helping of forgiveness is unending. Perhaps it will be nice to know that when we meet Him face to face that the greeting at the gates will be hugs rather than history. Mike Shindruk Master’s Hand Ministry

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘God Comes Near’ Day 1: James 4:8 – “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” Day 2: Psalm 145:18, 19 – “The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.” Day 3: Psalm 73:28 – “But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.” Day 4: Psalm 16:8 – “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” Day 5: Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Day 6: Deuteronomy 31:8 – “At that time I gave this command to the tribes that would live east of the Jordan: ‘Although the Lord your God has given you this land as your property, all your fighting men must cross the Jordan ahead of your Israelite relatives, armed and ready to assist them.’” Day 7: 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.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘WARNING! WARNING! What God Hates…’ Day 1: Psalm 101:5 - Scornful Arrogance– “I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride.” Day 2: Proverbs 12:22 - A Lying Tongue – “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.” Day 3: Deuteronomy 27:25 - Killing the Innocent – “‘Cursed is anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’” Day 4: Hosea 7:6 - A Deceitful Heart – “Their hearts are like an oven blazing with intrigue. Their plot smolders through the night, and in the morning it breaks out like a raging fire.” Day 5: Micah 2:1 - Evil Plans – “What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so.” Day 6: Proverbs 12:5 - False Witness – “The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.” Day 7: Zechariah 8:17 - Trouble Makers – “Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Not long ago, I had a conversation with a person who seemed to have a rather interesting viewpoint when it comes to entering into glory. Let me try to explain it through parable. A young person decided they wanted to go to a concert and had been waiting for most of their life to get tickets for the event. There were more than enough tickets for anyone who wanted to go but you needed to arrive at the venue at least three hours before the concert. The young person did as instructed and dutifully waited in line. At the first stop, the person was asked to provide identification and submit to a security scan. This is not uncommon so the person accepted. With that test done, the person moved back out into the line again. In the distance, the person heard a commotion and turned around to look. There were numerous people approaching the gate and being turned away. They were screaming that their rights were being violated and that they were only a few minutes late. That is where it ended because the line started to move once again. The next stop and another test, this time it was a test of knowledge. They wanted to know if you were a great fan or a poser. Fifty questions about the artist and the person could not have more than two wrong otherwise they would be sent out. The test was completed and only one wrong so onto the next challenge. At the next table, there was a second knowledge challenge involving the artist’s music. Three songs and the person not only had to know the words but also had to identify other selected songs by hearing a very small excerpt. This was now getting tougher and tougher. After making it past this challenge it was back into the lineup for the next test. With every test there seemed to be less and less people in line, kind of reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The tests seemed to get harder and harder and finally the young person got to the last challenge. Standing at the door was the bouncer who looked the person up and down. If the bouncer thought you worthy, you were in. The young person must have passed that test because the door was opened and access was granted. Inside the hall were a handful of others, the lucky few who made it through the labyrinth, who proved their worth to receive the great gift from the great artist. If I told you that in order to pass from this world into the presence of the Father you needed to jump through a myriad of hoops and prove your dedication through acts, would you even try? If you are being truthful with yourself, you probably would not. But I tell you the truth the reality of entrance into the Kingdom of God is far easier than what some would have you believe. Consider the thieves on the cross. One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 34:49-43 NLT Name the love of Christ and His reign over your life and claim His promise of eternal life in Glory. This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 NLT I am here to make this very simple, in plain words. Love God with absolutely all you are, declare Him as Lord of your heart and soul and give over your sins unto Him and He will cleanse you. He will welcome you into Glory with open arms and all Heaven will rejoice. It is not by works that you will be saved but rather through the grace of God. Works do have a place but it is to help and inform others around you that God is looking forward to sharing Heaven with us all. This Sunday, we will examine the entrance exam for Heaven and rejoice. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘God’s Word, Our Source Of…’ Day 1: 1 Peter 1:23 - Salvation– “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.” Day 2: Hebrews 4:12 - Self Check-up – “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Day 3: Luke 11:28 - Blessings – “Jesus replied, ‘But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’” Day 4: Proverbs 4:20-22 - Healings – “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.” Day 5: Psalm 19:8 - Joy – “The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.” Day 6: Romans 15:4 - Comfort – “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” Day 7: 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 - Preparation – “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

In the past, I attended many a service where we were told that if we do not live a perfect life, if we do not memorize scripture, if we do not look and act a certain way that is pleasing to God, we will surely go to hell. Talk about scaring a little kid to death. I mean who tells a kid, who is just wanting to go out and play with their friends after church, they can’t because it is wrong. “It is wrong” is associated with “against the church” which is linked, in a young child’s mind, as sin and there is a special place in Sheol for those who break the rule. Move forward a few decades and these kids have grown up and away from the church because, as many research papers have deduced, there is no way to live up to the expectations of the church. There was and, in some churches, still is, such a concentration on sin and the consequences of non-compliance, that the truth is not getting the proper billing. In Romans 3 starting at 23, it is noted that: For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. This is a common verse used by many a preacher to throw it out there that none of us is truly worthy of the gift of God, that is Glory. But, as we read on in that chapter: 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. Everyone has sinned and fall short but hear me now when I say this is not truly the focus for those who are trying to relay that absolute Truth. The finger that points at the sinner (whom is all of us) in condemnation is doing more harm to the family than building up the community of the Kingdom. Jesus said it best in John 8 starting at 3: As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd…“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” While mankind looks for ways to point the finger at people’s flaws, Jesus simply wants us to point others to Him. Think of it, Jesus said He did not come into the world to condemn but rather to save. Why would we not point others to Him? Life, love, and grace—this is the perfect message. This Sunday, we will continue to explore construction of faith, building people up. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca

We just got back from our holidays in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia and, while it was fantastic to be with family and friends once again, it is wonderful to be back home. I dare say I need a holiday to recuperate from our holiday. It was wonderful to see everyone but it was also magnificent to see some of the changes going on. Our friends had not changed much at all but the surroundings sure did. There were some things that had to change, like the old buildings that were falling in on themselves but in their place were a couple of beautiful parks and some new buildings that were alive with new tenants. There is a road between New Glasgow and Antigonish that is notorious for accidents and fatalities especially around Marshy Hope. After years of research and deliberation, the powers that be decided to make a rather radical change to that section of the highway, they are taking it over the big hills and twinning it. These changes should make the journey a bit faster and a lot safer. The construction is well underway but it will not be completed overnight, it takes time when you want it done right. New construction to change lives for the better. There are times we have to let go of the past and embrace the future with a new passion. For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. 2 Cor:1-5 NLT We are on a journey and, while we are on this planet, all have an opportunity to research the path they are on and make choices on the route they will take. For those who embrace the Christ, accept His promise of a future without end and hand over their sins to Him, life begins anew. When we become a Christian, a follower of Christ, we enter the construction zone. The old is stripped away and, through the giftings of the Holy Spirit, we grow and become a new creation in the Lord. It does takes time and the journey does continue until we are greeted in Glory but when it is all done, our reward will be eternity in paradise, all safe and secure. This Sunday, we will explore this area of construction and also celebrate a wonderful 2022 Vacation Bible School week. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Are You Thankful?’ Day 1: Psalm 107:21 – “Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.” Day 2: 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 3: Psalm 13:5 – “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.” Day 4: Psalm 92:1, 2 – “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening…” Day 5: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Day 6: Hebrews 12:28 – “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Day 7: Philippians 4:6 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘You Are Called to…’ Day 1: Proverbs 31:8, 9 - Speak – “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” Day 2: Isaiah 1:17 - Learn – “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” Day 3: Micah 6:8 - Act – “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Day 4: Isaiah 58:6, 7 - Share – “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” Day 5: Philippians 2:14, 15 - Lift Up – “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Day 6: Hebrews 12:1, 2 - Keep Going – “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[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Day 7: 1 Peter 2:9, 10 - Declare – “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. ‘Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.’” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I feel like I am writing a thesis for my Master’s but as all of you may know, the chances of me doing a Master’s degree is slim to none and Slim has left the building. The fact is I have started working on a new series for the fall and am basing it on a book by Bud Robinson called “The Story Of Lazarus”. If you want to get ahead of the game, Google it and you will find a free download online. I have been reading this intriguing book, all of 110 pages, and was prompted to think about how the actions of the church in 1909 are very similar to society today. We change so much yet we don’t really change. One tiny part of the book concerns how a church of well over 500 relies on a very precious few to attend to the affairs of the church and even fewer to do God’s bidding of preaching the Word. Remember, this was in 1909! For the past six months, Natalie and I have been planning and preparing for holidays. I think this is the first time we have done so with very little stress and, when the time came to depart, even the threats of lost luggage and cancelled flights did not phase us. We were ready for a rest. No rentals in St. Johns, no worries, God provided an answer and U-Haul got our business. One day the weather did not cooperate but God provided the answer; you needed the rest. In Nova Scotia, the morning started off hot, muggy and overcast but by noon, the skies cleared and we made plans to hit the beach; God announced we needed time alone in His beauty. Take the time God provides and enjoy the beauty of His creation. So here is the key; listen to His direction, rest when He provides the occasion and be ready to respond when He opens up opportunity to share the peace and joy of the Lord with others. You see, the world has become way too busy fully enjoy the gifts God has provided. In some cases, society has become so earthly minded that they are no heavenly good. As I write this, my grandson has come to me with, what some would call, an interruption but for me it was an opportunity to share a laugh and hug. I am still working on the article but it is not the most important thing right now. God has provided the opportunities to relax and rejuvenate and, as we talked about last week, has even commanded it. Keep the Sabbath holy. What does it take for the pendulum to swing to the Lord? We all need to take a break from the busyness of the world and take stock of what God has provided. What would happen if we took a holiday from the rush and stress of tight schedules and embrace the peace and relaxation God has placed before us? Revival is defined as an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again. My thought or suggestion for society is this; take a holiday from the hustle and bustle once a week, embrace the peace and solitude of the Lord and find out what is truly important once again. This week, we will once again welcome a message from Rev. Bob Hillock. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Declare This… The Lord Will Fight For Me’ Day 1: Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Day 2: Deuteronomy 20:4 – “For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!” Day 3: Joshua 23:10 – “Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.” Day 4: Deuteronomy 3:22 – “Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.” Day 5: Isaiah 59:19 – “In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify him. For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.” Day 6: Psalm 20:6 – “Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power.” Day 7: Psalm 138:7 – “Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

These past two years have played havoc on everyone. Those of us who are members of a ministry can tell you that not being able to meet in person for church services has been a tough go. As restrictions loosen and more and more things open up, there begins a long road back to what we thought was normal. Our ministry group usually gathers at a local funeral chapel, and due to provincial guidelines, we are still on hold to meet. We know that there will be a time where we can gather to celebrate Jesus, and to be together as a complete faith family again. For now, we are business as the new normal by online messages by our pastor, bible study, weekly written messages and even a scripture for each day, all by way of social media. It is working and we are thankful for that. That being said, our congregation is another two years older and some have gone onto Heaven. A few of us meet when we can to stay in old voice so when we meet again, the worship will even more special than before. We are all doing what we can to stay plugged into each other, and to God, but there is still something missing. That missing element is live fellowship. We are realizing more and more just how much we need God. That one-on-one experience of being together in church has such a healing and uplifting quality that just cannot be replaced. We are hoping that absence does truly make the heart grow fonder as we look forward to the day when we can drop the masks and offer the hugs without fear. Some may argue that covid is just one of those things we will have to live with. Well, I can respect that point of view, yet scripture tells us to use the wisdom that God gave us, along with the knowledge of those we trust. That combination will allow us to regain some lost time and ground as we get ready to get our faith boots back on the ground. I do applaud those congregations that are meeting responsibly, as they know the joy of in person fellowship as it should be. Our ministry has no owned meeting place and I’ve even been told that we are a church without a steeple. That is true, but Jesus never had a steeple or even a place to call home. Where we gather is not as important as when we gather, so many groups like ours have been in good company all along. We are free of earthly responsibilities of a building, and that allows us to pour our tithes and offerings into our community as needed. We have been blessed by a group of volunteers who use our time, treasures, and talents to bring glory to the Father. Do we need Him? Oh yes, more than anything. As we come into the third year of this thing called a pandemic, we will continue to do what we can, and will always look to the future when we can gather in person, sing to the King, and hug each other with reckless abandonment. That time is coming, soon we hope. Until then, I encourage everyone to stay connected with your faith family. Don’t allow yourself to drop of the faith radar, as it is very easy to do these days. Maintain your financial faithfulness as you can, stay in the word and don’t allow the world to pull you into the rat race. I need Him, you need Him, we all need God, so remember He is as close as the whisper of His name. Until we all meet again, let’s keep on needing Him. Soon we will get to celebrate in person, and what a day that will be. Mike Shindruk Master’s Hand Ministry http://mastershandministry.blogspot.com/