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The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘How are you Dressed?’ Day 1: Ephesians 4:22-24 – “... 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.” Day 2: Galatians 3:27 – “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” Day 3: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 – “But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.” Day 4: Colossians 3:12 – “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Day 5: Luke 24:49 – “‘And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.’” Day 6: Colossians 2:6 – “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.” Day 7: Ephesians 6:10, 11 – “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

So much goes on all around us that we are totally oblivious to that I am amazed we are still able to function at all. A person walking down the street was totally unaware of the danger fast approaching and even though there were others all around trying to get her attention she could not hear because of the earbuds. You see she was so distracted because of the loud music and, you guessed it, the texting, she was completely shut off from the reality around her. Just moments before she was run over by the vehicle, another person rushed over to her and pulled her out of harm's way, and she was saved from possible death. Almost immediately, she started to scream and fight off the person who had just saved her life, berating him for his good deed rather than thanking him. You see, she had no clue. The signs were there, a speeding car, people shouting at her to run, oncoming traffic braking hard and tires screeching. In the end, one person put himself in a difficult position, stepped up with a rather aggressive message and was chastised for his efforts. Yes, when she fully realized what had just occurred, she thanked him, but she never apologized for her initial actions. You see, preaching and sharing the Message is almost the same as what happened to the young lady on the street. There are all sorts of warning signs out there, in fact there was even a book written warning people about the bleakness of the future, and yet there are those out there who are completely oblivious to the dangers. Missionaries, evangelists, clergy, and people of faith are all trying to inform family and friends that the end times are near, that none on earth will live forever on earth and yet the world turns up the music and digs even deeper into their world of reels. My fear is that people are so wrapped up in the world and the here and now they forget about what awaits them when life on earth comes to an end. There is only one who will be ready to jump into harm's way to protect but if we forcibly shrug off His grip and continue on our way, there will be a time when we won’t be able to come back from the brink. I have shared my fear, now I will share my stressor. I am not here to force people to come to Christ, I am simply a messenger, a bystander on the sidewalk trying to get the person’s attention to oncoming tragedy. It is heartbreaking to know that there are those out there who refuse to listen to the message because they have come to believe it is just a myth. Here is a crucial factor, if you come to believe and it is a myth, what have you lost? Nothing, in fact, you have gained because you will look at life from the side of peace, love and hope. My stress has been greatly decreased over the years, not because I no longer care but rather because of a new understanding. I can only plant the seeds; it is up to the individual whether they want to accept it. But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets, and say, ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ Luke 10:10-11 NLT For the next month, we are going to explore what mission means and how we can all be a part of communicating His promise to those who are seeking a new way to love, hope and peace. 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 10:30 AM, at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube Blessings, www.mainavefellowship.ca

I have to say this, there are times when I listen to well-meaning Christians try to explain Jesus and salvation to people and it comes out sounding like a military sergeant barking out orders in army acronyms. Now, I do not want to upset or insult anyone but trust me, if someone does not understand the lingo, they are not going to fully understand the message. In my mission courses at college, the professor let us in on a story that happened decades ago that made us sit up and take notice of our language when we are speaking to others. A missionary went into the jungles of South America and armed with tracts, an interpreter, and a Bible, He set off to tell the unreached about the good news of Jesus. He wanted to keep the message simple, so he chose to start with the birth of Jesus. Not where I would have started but he felt it a great starting point. The conversation started out well although the idea of God impregnating a mortal woman was a tad difficult to explain but this was not the toughest part. You see, there are no sheep in the area and to reference shepherds tending the sheep at night took a long time to explain but that was not the obstacle. The tough part came when the missionary referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God. To them, Jesus came as a boy child, born of a woman whose father was God and He was a shapeshifter who became a sheep, and this sheep was a creature they had no clue as to what it was. So often we think that people understand what we are talking about, but they look at you with that smile and nod attitude and hope you will just go away. No one has ever said I am subtle so take this as a word of advice, Keep It Simple, Seriously (KISS). Leave the thousand-dollar words like sanctification, justification, or glorification in the briefcase for those deep dives into faith at a Bible study and tell it like it is. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even that one is a tough one, but it is a good foundation to start on. Next, there is recounting the birth of Christ, God among us and what this truly means for us all. Simplicity is the key, and His message does not need words to satisfy a professor in a university but rather speak to the hearts of the shepherds who did not have the education to understand. The gospel was meant to speak to all, not just the elite so why present the gospel to those today in such a way that can be confusing. Take this for what it is worth, in my opinion, the Word of God is so simple and so pure, we do not need to jazz it up with fancy words or lofty ideas. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT For the next month, we are going to explore what mission means and how we can all be a part of communicating His promise to those who are seeking a new way to love and peace. 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 ‘Where to Turn in Troubled Times’ Day 1: Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude” Day 2: Psalm 34:17 – “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.” Day 3: Psalm 9:9, 10 – “The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” Day 4: Hebrews 4:16 – “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: Psalm 91:14, 15 – “The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.’” Day 6: Jeremiah 32:27 – “‘I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?’” Day 7: Philippians 4:4-7 – “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I am going to take some liberties with the Beatles song “Help”. I know that they did not intend for it to be used this way but while watching a show, the song hit me in a weird way and, after looking at the lyrics in a different way, it hit me, we all need help. Take a look at the lyrics with me. When I was younger, so much younger than today I never needed anybody's help in any way But now these days are gone I'm not so self assured And now I find I've changed my mind And opened up the doors Help me if you can, I'm feeling down And I do appreciate you being 'round Help me get my feet back on the ground Won't you please, please help me, help me, help me When I was younger, nothing really troubled me, well nothing major that is. I didn’t really need much of anything but as time went along, things really didn’t do much of anything anymore and it always felt like I was chasing after one thing or another but never really being satisfied with anything. One day, I found the one who could answer my many questions, the one who could open up the doors to a future that was so filled with hope and joy, I wondered how I never really knew the fullness of life before Him. I was fooling myself into thinking that the temporary things of the world could outshine the gifts from a loving God. He truly got my feet back on the ground and He helped me so much to get me rolling in the right direction. . Every time I had a rough time, He was consistently there, with me, guiding me and lifting me back onto my feet when times were so dark. There were those moments when I was a wreck and He helped me regain my way. So much good comes from God and yet so many turn away because they either don’t fully understand or they don’t want to trust without proof. Many will seek out DIY to solve their issues but, truth be told, the answer to all life’s issues is faith in a loving Saviour who only wants us to lean on Him and trust in His way. When I needed help, He has never failed me. Is it time for you to call out to Him to help you? For the next month, we are going to explore what mission means and how we can all be a part of communicating His promise to those who are seeking a new way to love and peace. 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 How Are You Dressed? Day 1: Galatians 3:27 - for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Day 2: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 - But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. Day 3: Ephesians 4:22-24 - You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  23  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  24  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Day 4: Colossians 3:12 - Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Day 5: Luke 24:49 - I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Day 6: Colossians 2:6 - Spiritual Fullness in Christ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, Day 7: Ephesians 6:10-11 - The Armour of God 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ** Verses taken from the New International Version

There has been a lot of focus on missions for decades, centuries even. Missionaries from Europe, North America and others sent messengers of the Truth to countries around the world. Sometimes the messengers used some rather violent methods to get the Word of God out there such as armed crusades, others went into harm's way armed only with the Sword of Truth (a Bible) and a stalwart faith in a loving God. Consider this, we do not have the market on mission, in fact, the western world is not the originator of mission. If we look back in history, the first missionary of the Christian movement were the angels when they went into the fields to spread the Good News to the shepherds in the fields. Go a few years into the future and we find the Messiah gathering the messengers to join Him and He taught them the Way. Eventually they were ready to set off into the world to share the Good News and this was the start of missional ministry. Luke 9:1-6 NLT One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” So, they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick. They went out into the nation, on the circuit, and they helped wherever they were accepted but they did not force anyone to come to faith. If they or their message was not appreciated or they were turned away, they simply turned on their heels, wiped the dirt from their sandals and carried on. They did not call down curses, they did not egg the houses or chastised those who turned them away, they simply left and went on to the next house, on to the next town. You see, not everyone wants to hear the Good News, they do not want to make enemies but rather, they wanted to go into the world and offer an alternative to the finality of death through the sacrifice of the Son. Mission is all about communicating the eternal promise of hope to a world in dire need of hope. Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. John 12:44-47 NLT For the next month, we are going to explore what mission means and how we can all be a part of communicating His promise to those who are seeking a new way to love and peace. 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 ‘Heart Check’ Day 1: Proverbs 4:23-25 – “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” Day 2: Psalm 37:4 – “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” Day 3: Hebrews 4:12, 13 – “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. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Day 4: Luke 6:45 – “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Day 5: 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 6: Romans 10:9, 10 – “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Day 7: Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

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”