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The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘Are You Open to the Holy Spirit?’ Day 1: 1 Corinthians 3:16 - “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” Day 2: John 6:63 - “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Day 3: Romans 8:13, 14 - “For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” Day 4: Ezekiel 36:26, 27 - “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” Day 5: Roman 8:5 - “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” Day 6: Titus 3:5 - “... he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Day 7: 2 Corinthians 3:18 - “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

This is the time of year when we take a deep dive into the past year and pull out echos of the previous year and give thanks. We gather together, share with family and friends the memories of the year past and celebrate good times and blessings. For many in our country, there is a celebration of good luck or positive karma, unless you consider the position of the turkey, and that opportunity to have that one extra day off. But I do have a question, who are you thankful to? Think about this for a moment, who, or what, exactly, are you thanking? Let me throw this out there.  “I am so thankful for my wonderful friends”.   That is a wonderful thing to be thankful for, isn't it? So, are you thanking them for being your friends? Are you thankful for karma or luck that you all met? Did they just pop into your life courtesy of cosmic forces? When I think of being thankful for wonderful friends, I thank my Heavenly Father for bringing them into my life. I also give thanks to my Lord for providing for my needs and for His protection. The one thing I am most thankful for every single year, every single day, is His promise of Heaven and His forgiveness. Christ’s grace has given us all hope of a perfect life in glory, and we can get there through His sacrifice. His promise is for all, we only need to declare Jesus as Lord, leave our sins with Him and give thanks for the ultimate gift that He has provided.  I am so thankful for my friends and family; I am grateful for all that we have been provided with and I am filled with gratitude for all He has done for each and every one of us.   I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. Ps 9:1-2 NLT   Give thanks with a grateful heart and praise Him for all He has done for you, for us all.  This week is a bit of a change as we will be not only gathering to celebrate but also to share the wonders He has provided for us throughout the year. 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   ‘Hope in God’ Day 1: Psalm 147:11 - “No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Day 2: Isaiah 40:30, 31 - “Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.  But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Day 3: Psalm 16:5-8 - “Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” Day 4: Jeremiah 17:7, 8 - “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Day 5: Roman 12:11, 12 - “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” 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: 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.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Over the past few weeks, I have been having a ton of fun with this series. You see, last week, I gave the congregation a small glimpse into the way my brain works when it comes to prepping for a sermon. For example, in 25 years of preaching, I have never used the same sermon twice and, in each case, I have wandered down so many rabbit holes that I have a wealth of useless trivia that would rival even that of the almighty Cliff Claven. Now, I will admit, I come from it honestly because my Dad could rattle off all sorts of trivia for just about every occasion. Not all the trivia is useful, such as “what is the boiling point of mercury at sea level?” (347 degrees Celsius). Here, however, is a very interesting thing about rabbit trails when it comes to rabbit trails, at times, it does add a better understanding to Scripture when one reads in context and applies the wisdom with that in mind. I was once told that Eugene Peterson spent years honing his skills as a scholar and pastor, reading and researching all he could before he carefully and thoughtfully translated the Holy Scriptures into conversational English so that even more would be able to appreciate and read God’s Word. He did not pursue this to rebel against those translations that were widely accepted as proper, in fact he invited biblical scholars to read through his translations and asked them for their input and approval. I met Mr. Peterson a couple decades ago and listened as he not only opened up about his adventure in researching and writing the Message but was also fascinated to listen as he wandered through the rabbit trails that helped him better understand the Word.  With all that said, this week I will continue to work through the book of Judges and the story of Gideon. Did you know that Gideon was chosen to not only free the people of Israel from their oppressors but also to condemn their idolatry? Here is a guy with next to nothing for an army, a man who was witness to the absolute power of the Lord while leading a very small force and who turned down the kingship. Did you know that his actions afterwards the battle led to the Israelites once again worship false gods after he used the spoils of war to create an ephod? Did you know that we, too, face these issues still? Jeremiah 10:1-16 is very clear about idol worship and the power that false idols have upon the world and I will touch on this Sunday but let me throw this out there as an appetiser:  Say this to those who worship other gods: “Your so-called gods, who did not make the heavens and earth, will vanish from the earth and from under the heavens.” Jer 10:11   Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.   But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including Israel, his own special possession. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name! Jer 10:15-16   Why is this so important when studying Gideon? What does this have to do with today? Tune in Sunday to find out.  This week, Pastor Todd will be continuing a mini series on “Did You Know”, a look at little known facts in the Scriptures and how they still relate to our lives today. 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   ‘God Says You Are’ Day 1: Hebrews 8:12 - Forgiven - “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Day 2: 2 Corinthians 5:17 - A New Creation – “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Day 3: Psalm 111:9 - Redeemed – “He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!” Day 4: Galatians 5:1 - Free – “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” Day 5: Ephesians 2:10 - A Masterpiece – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Day 6: 2 Corinthians 5:20, 21 - His Ambassador – “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’ 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 7: Romans 5:8 - Loved - “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I have questions, as many others do, about things in the Bible and about faith. Did you know that life was very different back when Christ was alive? Even back in the days of Abram and Sarai (Abraham and Sarah) there were things considered very commonplace that we do not recommend today. Consider this: After Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran Gen 11:26 NLT Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’ And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her. When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.’” Gen 20:11-13 NLT Now, in no way do I want anyone to think that I am condoning or supporting anyone marrying their sibling but, in those days, it was not out of the ordinary. Science has proven that relationships with those way too close in the family lineage can cause health issues, back then, there was no such proof. As time went along, this practice was discarded and today, the law in Canada states that “A person may not marry their grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling (brother or sister).” Do you like bacon? Did you know that eating pork in days gone by was forbidden? Eating bacon and eggs with a couple pieces of toast, hash browns and a slice of orange on the side is one of my favorite ways to break the evening fast and start off the day right but in Leviticus 11 there is a list of things you cannot eat. The pig has evenly split hooves but does not chew the cud, so it is unclean. You may not eat the meat of these animals or even touch their carcasses. They are ceremonially unclean for you. Lev 11:7-8 NLT Why? What is the reasoning behind this? Well, in those days they did not have refrigeration, and they probably did not prepare pork properly to destroy the parasite that causes trichinosis, so it was declared unclean. There were also many other animals that were declared unclean in that chapter because of a variety of reasons (bottom feeders, garbage guts, carrion eaters, etc.) About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Acts 10:9-15 NLT There are so many preferences that have infiltrated the church and have become “Law” but if you take a close look at the Truth, take the time to research the reasons for the rules and even attempt to understand them in context, you may be amazed at some of the wonderful messages and truths that are revealed. Did you know Jesus loves you? The bible tells you so. This week, Pastor Todd is back and will be starting a mini series on “Did You Know”, a look at little known facts in the Scriptures and how they still relate to our lives today. 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   ‘With God You Are Never Alone’ Day 1: Deuteronomy 31:8 - “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Day 2: Joshua 1:9 – “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Day 3: 1 Chronicles 28:20 – “Then David continued, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.’” Day 4: Psalm 94:14 – “The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.” Day 5: Isaiah 41:10 – “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Day 6: Psalm 27:10 – “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.” Day 7: Deuteronomy 31:6 - “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I am going to say something here that many denominationalists could find blasphemous, but it will be backed up with logic and scripture. Over the years, we have all seen or been involved in situations where people are arguing over who is right. There was one person years ago who suggested that my denomination was not a recognized denomination by their organization and, while I am not one to start an argument over which Christian church should designated as a “properly recognized” church, I am guessing the look on my face prompted the person to proceed to tell me why we were not a true denomination/church. Here comes some of the logic; was it not the Pharisee and the Sadducee who were denying the deity of the Christ? Were they not looking for ways to discredit Him, attack Him and get the nation to turn away from Jesus and only follow the true faith? Did they not realize that when they called Him a heretic, calling for His demise, they were attacking the very God they served? This is my thought; if a faith gathering, a fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ, a Koinonia, meet each other in His presence, then we come together in His name, not the name of the denomination.  “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. Matt 18:19-20 NLT   This passage is a red-letter passage, Jesus Christ spoke these words and nowhere does it say a denomination. The message plainly says, “where two or three gather together as My followers”, followers of Christ, Christians. He says nothing about being followers of this sect or that group, Jesus says “as My followers”. I spoke at a faith gathering in Nova Scotia not long ago and in that hall, they were not a mixture of Nazarenes, Baptists, Presbyterians, Evangelical, Full Gospel, etc., but rather a collection of Spirit-filled followers of Christ who were on fire for the Lord and declared through songs of worship and a time of fellowship their love for Him and for each other. Some do not recognize this beautiful gathering, this blessed koinonia, as a “proper church”, but I would argue that this group is doing the will of God for the Kingdom, and I will defend them to the end of time.   Those churches that met in the homes of the faithful, met, at times, in secrecy for fear of death by the religious, all came together to praise the King of all kings. The disciple Peter denied Christ three times because he did not want to be found out yet when Christ went forth into Glory to be with the Father, Peter, filled with the Spirit, boldly stood up in front of thousands and declared the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ and thousands were saved. Paul, filled with the Spirit, declared Christ as the Son of God and preached the Good News for all to hear in Damascus ( Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” Acts 9:19-20 NLT ) and fearlessly spoke of the Son of God throughout the land. So, here is my question for all not only individually but also as a faith family: who do you say you are? This week, our Minister of Community, Eryn, will dig into how we, as a faith gathering, see ourselves as not only a koinonia but also as a community resource. If you are joining us online, please feel free to converse with us/me in the chat on Facebook as your input is very valuable to us all, remember, you are a part of this family. 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   ‘God Forever and Always’ Day 1: Isaiah 44:6 - “This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: ‘I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.’” Day 2: Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Day 3: Psalm 90:2 – “Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.” Day 4: Hebrews 1:8 – “But to the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.’” Day 5: Psalm 73:26 – “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” Day 6: Psalm 119:160 – “The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.” Day 7: 1 Timothy 1:17 - “All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

For over twenty years, I have been counselling couples, helping them to deal with their disagreements and giving them the tools they need to overcome whenever arguments threaten to drive a wedge into their relationship. You see, the key to a strong relationship is not covering up issues with a big thick blanket but actually dealing with it with a mindset that focuses on finding a good solution for both parties and also treating it as an opportunity to grow stronger in your relationship. Here is a quote from a fairly wise counsellor. “If every time you walked away when you did not get your own way, very soon you will be living alone in a very quiet house.” JTM Think about this for a moment. There is not a single person in this world who is exactly like another. Each of us has our own opinion that differs from others in some way. Should there be a difference of opinion that leads to an argument, there are two primary methods to dealing with the issue; plant the feet firm, close off the listening device and determinedly focus on getting your own point across, or open up a dialogue, listen to each other and, together, develop a plan that will be mutually beneficial. So many will take the easy road, the third road, the route of avoidance. Here is an example. Two friends, Jon and Jin, had an argument that started small but slowly developed into something that resembled a full-on feud. Jin would not budge and changed his daily routine so that he would even breath the same air as Jon. In doing this, he alienated others as a preventative measure including those who were trying to help the both of them. Jon tried everything to mend fences but it just didn’t work. Soon, Jin found himself alone, his friends moved forward and he was left behind. I have also seen this in many churches, it happened in our church decades ago. When you hear the term church split, it is because no one wants to focus on the primary message, unity in Christ, but instead focus on their own wants to the point of disharmony. I remember a split that happened quite some time ago where one person was so demanding and steadfast that they said “if you don’t like it, leave. This is the way it has always been done and nothing is going to change. This is my church!” It took six months for the remaining people to leave. In the end, four people and one clergy remained and the doors finally closed for good. The devil had won and the Kingdom was in mourning for those who left the faith family for good. Here is my question; what have you done lately to contact those who have left, to re-build the relationship and invite them back into fellowship with Christ and the faith family? “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!  Luke 15:4-7 NLT Blessed are those who find ways to bring peace and love into a situation and work hard to build up the body for they will be surrounded by a faith family united in Christ to promote strong community. There is no worse place to be, lost in the wilderness, alone and without the love of those around us. If you are the one who is lost and alone, shake off the bonds that are keeping you hidden and grab hold of the hand reaching in to help you up. This week, we welcome members from Teen Challenge. They will be bringing a message of hope and redemption. 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   ‘No Condemnation in Christ’ Day 1: Romans 8:1-4 - “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.” Day 2: John 3:17, 18 – “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. ‘’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 3: 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 4: John 5:24 – “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” Day 5: 2 Corinthians 5:17 & 21 – “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! ...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 6: Hebrews 8:12 – “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Day 7: Galatians 5:1 - “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I was going to write an article on a particular subject, but, due to circumstances, I have chosen another subject and will hold off on that one until a later date. Today is not the day to open that can of worms, I’m not fishing for an argument.   A few weeks ago, I was struggling with a few choices that required some rather big decisions and, while I am fairly good at thinking things through analytically, this required much more wisdom then I was able to provide. I was stuck looking at a massive wall that seemed to be rather formidable and suddenly a massive waive of doubt rolled over me and I was sucked into a well of despair and self-doubt. I am a fairly confident leader but when so many choices come to light and the need for answers comes on like a tsunami, it feels like I’m drowning and suddenly I am grasping around for any answer that will do in order to come up for air. That has been my summer and, yes, I have made some bad decisions as a result, but for the past few weeks, I have heeded my own advice and taken time out to focus on prayer and waiting on my Lord for His input. There have been some who demand instant answers and throw the burning embers of fires at my feet for immediate attention, but I am becoming more and more aware that our society is suffering from immediateness obsession disorder, yes I made that up, where they want an answer or results right now. Consider this, if you want an answer right away and you are relying on me for a quick response, then 1+1=5, math is not my gifting, but if you wait upon the Lord, the answer will come back 3. Do not become so reliant on the world, or even Google for that matter, just because it is convenient or you can find the answer you want by trying to manipulate the data, instead, take the time to ask, pray, and then listen. Secondly, don’t get all uppity with the person if they are not quick to respond, not everything in life is a home makeover reality show. Trust in the Lord, take time to listen, He is a lot smarter than any of us.  Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.   He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.   Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:5-7 NLT   This week, Pastor Todd will be bringing a message, what it will be is still to be determined because he is waiting on the Lord to calm his heart and mind so the message will touch the hearts and minds of those who tune in.  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