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Over my life, I have heard this term, and I have also communicated it to others. There was “the time has come to get off the couch and look for a job” and “the time has come to shake off the ughs and embrace the happy”. When a good friend passed and I was going through a rough time letting go of the grief, someone offered up sage advice and told me “The time has come to let go and move on with your life”. Now, as a counsellor, I can tell you that it is not the best advice but that was then, this is now. I will, however, say this – the time has come to make a decision that will affect not only your life today but also the lives of those around you going forward. The time has come to repent, declare Jesus as Lord and Savior and let Him bless you in ways that you could never imagine.   Over the past decades of ministry, I have seen and heard of people who have some very questionable theories about salvation and grace. There were some who thought they were going to heaven because they were good people but when asked “do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?” they were rather put off. “I have read the Bible; I know what it says” but the question remains; do you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Have you repented of your sins and claimed Him as the King of your life? The time has come to evaluate one’s own relationship with the King of all kings and ask yourself, “have I asked Him to forgive me, have I asked Him to direct me on my journey to Glory?” Decades ago, my life took a turn for the worse and I idolized the things of the world over my relationship with my Lord. One day, I ended up back at the church I was born into and was challenged by the speaker, Dr. Alden Aikens, during the sermon. He was talking on the perfect healing through the Blood of the Lamb in Acts 3.  16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. 17 “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. 18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.   I was crippled in my own sin because I had lost sight of the Savior, but, in that moment, I went to the altar and laid my sins at the foot of the cross and turned away from my past. Since my birth, I was in the church, I was in VBS, I memorized bible verses and knew the Lord’s prayer but until I realized that the time had come to repent and declare Jesus as my Savoir, I was still lost. I was one of the people who said, “I am going to heaven because I am a nice guy”, but now I know I am going to Glory because I have repented of my sins, and I know Jesus and declare Him as my salvation. Don’t wait for it to be too late to repent, the time has come to embrace His saving grace.  This week, Community Minister, Eryn Austin-Bergen, will start a two-week series where we will be seeking direction for our faith family’s journey for the next year. Your input either online or in person will truly help us continue to be relevant in our community, both online and in our town. 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’s Protection’ Day 1: Psalm 91:11 - “For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.” Day 2: 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 – “But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” Day 3: Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” Day 4: Psalm 121:7, 8 – “The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Day 5: Psalm 34:17, 18 – “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Day 6: Psalm 32:7 – “For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude” Day 7: 2 Samuel 22:2-4 - “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation Homework: Really read Psalm 23 for Peace and Protection

Who are we and where are we going? On Sunday August 18, I challenged our community to take one week to pray and ask God what our identity is. Ask him, what is Main Avenue Fellowship's unique identity and calling within the wider Family of God and among the other churches in the Sundre area. Then listen to what he has to say! Below is the prayer guide (the "homework") that was passed out at the end of Sunday's service. I invite you - even dare you! - to ask God to speak to you about our congregation's identity. Then come to church on Sunday August 25 ready to share what you've heard him say. God speaks to each one of us differently and every member of Christ's body is needed when we're discerning God's voice together. I'm so grateful for you!

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘Will You Be Found Faithful?’ 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: 1 Peter 4:19 – “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” Day 3: 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 4: Proverbs 3:3 – “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.” Day 5: Deuteronomy 6:5 – “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” Day 6: 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 7: Hebrews 10:23 - “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Before I get started on this article, I want to make one thing perfectly clear – I am not knocking His church, I am questioning the misconceptions of His Word by members of the establishment. If I have to listen to one more person make false assertions on the validity of a person’s faith or whether a church is legitimate because it does not meet the criteria of an individual’s preferred belief, I am going to push back a bit more than I have in the past. Yes, there are churches out there that add rules and regulations to the already perfect Message, and there are those who make up criteria to judge a person’s whereabouts in their faith walk, but I would suggest they are adding their own finite parameters to an already perfect, infinite Message. She can’t be a Christian; do you see the way she is dressed? He can’t be a preacher; he is covered in tattoos. This isn’t a real church; they don’t follow the liturgical calendar. This church is not a proper church, it’s full of homeless people and drunks. They don’t do communion properly, the preacher wears shorts and sandals, the music is not to my liking. I was watching a video from Zach Williams called “Heart of God” and the chorus, in my opinion, says it all:  'Cause there's only love in the heart of God   No room for shame in His open arms   There's beauty from ashes, so come as you are   And there's only love in the heart of God   Consider this for a moment, in Luke 8:43-48, a woman who had been suffering for twelve years could find no relief from her affliction. She could not go to temple, could not talk to the holy men, could not have contact with anyone for she was considered unclean. Jesus went out into the market place and she took a chance at a miracle, she snuck in and simply touched Christ’s robe. The second Jesus recognized her touch, He stopped and called her forward and said to her “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”  A man stricken with leprosy, suffering great pain not only physically but emotionally and spiritually because he was shunned and unable to attend worship ceremonies sought out the Son of God (Matthew 8:2-3), knelt before Jesus and said “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.    The heart of God on full display. There was no room for shame in His presence, there was no question of whether they were in good standing with the church, with the holy leaders, there was only compassion and complete healing. As I mentioned in last week’s sermon, we are a broken community with churches divided by manmade rules. If His churches came together as one united voice calling out to the world that “… everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”  Rom 3:23-24 NLT and accept that we all stand on equal footing before the Lord, division would disappear. You see, no one is better than the next person, His infinite love and forgiveness is available to all who call upon Him, to all who have faith in Him, to all who give over their sins to the Master. Do you have the courage to reach out and embrace His perfect forgiveness, His perfect healing? Are you willing to touch the hem of the Master’s robe? Are you willing to tell the world that He has saved you?   This week, Community Minister, Eryn Austin-Bergen, will start a two-week series where we will be seeking direction for our faith family’s journey for the next year. Your input either online or in person will truly help us continue to be relevant in our community, both online and in our town, 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

As I started to write this, I had nothing but issues with the tablet, the keyboard and the word program, but I carried on and persevered. You see, there are things of this world that are manipulated to cause us angst. Many times, we ask God “why me” when we should really be asking for strength to overcome, to persevere and to overcome. The question should not be “why did You allow this to happen” but rather we should be speaking the heart of God and leaning on His strength and wisdom to overcome. Think about this for a moment, if you want to build up your body, you do not sit around in front of a big screen TV in a plump recliner and expect to get buff, rather you go to the gym expecting there to be some resistance and pain as you work through the cycle and use the resistance to strengthen.   Now, I’m not saying that we should intentionally place ourselves in harm's way but rather we should seek the counsel of those wiser, strength training coaches, scholarly mentors, Jesus, to help us grow in body, wisdom, and spirit. You see the heart of Jesus is for all of us to be filled with love and compassion for God and for each other. Proverbs 3:5-6 does not say lean on your own understanding, rather it says lean NOT on your own understanding, trust in the Lord. In all situations, don’t look around for someone else to blame, rather seek the heart of Jesus, let Him show you the path to take. Reading on a bit further, the Scriptures also say, “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom, instead fear {respect) the Lord and turn from evil”. You can take the victory lap but make sure to acknowledge His part in the win. I can, at times, feel compelled to “flip over the tables in the Temple courts” and I have to remind myself to calm down and seek His will before I throw the tablet and the keyboard across the room. The devil loves the chaos and anger, Jesus loves all His children. Remember to take a breath, a spiritual breath through the power of the Holy Spirit and seek His heart before losing it over something that really doesn’t rate the angst or anger.  This week, Pastor Todd, will share a message with us, a message and a challenge that will help to share with those around us in a powerful way. 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   ‘If You Are Looking For Truth’ Day 1: John 14:6 - “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” Day 2: 1 John 1:8 – “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” Day 3: John 17:17 – “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” Day 4: Psalm 25:5 – “Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Day 5: Ephesians 1:13 – “And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.” Day 6: 1 John 5:20 – “And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.” Day 7: Psalm 119:160 - “The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘You Must Walk With God Daily’ Day 1: Micah 6:8 - “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 2: Proverbs 10:8, 9 – “The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.” Day 3: Psalm 25:4, 5 – “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Day 4: Psalm 119:102-106 – “I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.” Day 5: John 15:4, 5 – “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. ‘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.’” Day 6: Psalm 143:8 – “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” Day 7: Joshua 22:5 - “But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translatio

I am currently working two jobs over the summer. Today I am at an Army cadet camp as a duty driver but tomorrow I will be back in Sundre to jump back into ministry work. Now, I am going to preface this account by saying that, though I miss seeing my congregants, I am mostly looking forward to seeing my wife. What a day that will be, when my wifey I shall see. When I am away from home, there are times when I catch myself looking around for Natalie or starting to ask her a question only to realise she is not there. The people around me often wonder who I am talking to which can be good, especially in those times when I want to be left alone. I roll over at night to curl up with her only to bash my hand into the locker that is beside my bed. What a day that will be when I am able to sit in front of the TV holding hands with her, fighting the dogs for her attention and just relaxing with the family. Warm, safe, comfortable and wrapped in love.  So, let’s bring God into this. What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see. You see, there are so many things going on in the world right now that are very frightening and, to tell the honest truth, it feels like we are living in the final days but there is a grand hope, He has gone on before us and is there waiting. You see, in Deuteronomy 31 starting at verse 8, the Lord Himself goes before His people and was with them always. History proved that He never left them nor forsaken them, that is Israel, and He told them do not be afraid or discouraged. I think that is a message that is very relevant today. The world is looking for a “proper leader” who will lead the nations to peace. I have seen the candidates vying for power all around the world and still none compare to Jesus. What a day that will be when our Jesus we will see. You know, the best part about all this chaos is that when that day comes when Jesus returns, He is going to straighten things out and then all those who were a part of the problem will suddenly become aware of the futility of their mortal efforts. So many out there know what is to come and in that we are hopeful. I fear, however, there will be many who are going to be sorely disappointed.  What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace. When He takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land, what a day, a glorious day, that will be (Jim Hill)! Wrap yourself in His comforting love and be assured that He has it all under control.  This week, Pastor Todd, will share a message with us, a message of promise and hope in Christ. 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   ‘Can You Take Correction?’ Day 1: 2 Timothy 3:16 - “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.” Day 2: Proverbs 10:17 – “People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.” Day 3: Proverbs 12:1 – “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.” Day 4: Proverbs 13:18 – “If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.” Day 5: Proverbs 15:32 – “If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.” Day 6: Hebrews 12:11 – “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Day 7: Job 5:17 - “But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Many years ago, I had a dream that was so real, I remember the vivid details to this day. I have referred to it many times  in print and sermon and it begs repeating again. You see, I was walking down a very well lit path heading towards a distant point of light. The path seemed very safe but there was an uneasiness in the darkness beyond the path. There was a constant murmur just beyond the light, in the cold just outside the safety of the path. After a few more steps, I paused to peer into the void beyond the light and suddenly a hand exploded from the darkness, flailing in the hopes of grasping onto anyone or anything that would serve as an anchor to pull themselves out of the grips of the void. It was almost as if they could not sense the path but could see the Light that was within and were pleading for help, for a release from the suffering. As I got closer, the hand grasped my arm, the only thing I could think of was to call out,” in the name of Christ, release him!”  As he came out from the shadows, even more reached out and the cycle was repeated over and over again but they all just hung around, not knowing what to do, some even falling back into the darkness. That was when it came over me to tell them to look to the Light, that point in the distance, and walk towards the point of Light with a laser focus for in Him, the Savior, for in Him is perfect hope, a release from the grip of death. Those who listened walked into His perfect love and, by the grace of God, they were saved. In this message, this vision, I realized two things; if someone is reaching out for help, take the time to stop and lend a hand. Second, once they are on solid ground, they still need direction and guidance to walk on the path and not fall into the ditch of despair.  In our lives, we will run into those who are seeking help, please, take the time to help them up. Also, we will run into those who are on the path but they need a gentle nudge or guidance to walk the path to Jesus and His Glory. For some, the hardships of life can throw a wrench in their path and they get turned around a bit. Point them in the right direction because, one day, we may be the ones in need of a gentle nudge. This is the way. This week, our Community Minister, Eryn, will share a message with us. Please plan to join us either in person or online at 10:30 AM this Sunday. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.       Blessings,     www.mainavefellowship.ca