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The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘God’s Word is Life’ Day 1: 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 – “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.” Day 2: Hebrews 4:12 – “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: James 1:21 – “So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” Day 4: Psalm 18:30 – “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” Day 5: Philippians 2:14-16 – “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. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.” Day 6: Colossians 3:16 – “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Day 7: Romans 15:4 – “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.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

These next two weeks, we are going to hear from a wise and knowledgeable speaker, Craig Fisher. I can assure you his message will not only open our eyes but will also speak to our hearts. With that said, the next two weeks, I will be focusing on the start of a series called “I Am No Longer A Slave”. Now, before anyone starts getting up in arms about “what do you know about slavery” and “who are you to talk”, I am going to use these next two weeks to set up the series because we, as Christians, are being oppressed by the world and it is time to recognise that basic fact. Let me say this; I am no longer a slave to fear because I am a child of God. The world can say “you are not allowed to say prayers in our schools, in our places of government or even on our battlefields” but I can assure you that I am praying. You can ask me not to pray over the sick and dying but I promise you I will and there is nothing you can do about it. The world can threaten to put me in jail if I do not cease and desist praying but what they do not understand is this, I am a child of God. There are those who deny the power and strength of prayer because it is not tangible, it is not measurable and therefore it is not real yet I know the power of prayer, I know His power. When a person comes up to me and says “I know you are a man of God, can you please pray for my mom, my sibling, my friend?”, I am the first to say yes and I make sure they know I am praying for them as well. Only once have I ever heard someone say “it won’t work for me because I don’t believe”. I tell them it works because God believes in you and that is the truth. Consider this, I am not a slave to fear, to sin, the darkness of death because I am a child of God and I know He has conquered the grave, not just for me but for us all. He went to the grave and he arose because He believes in us all. The woman who had suffered for a dozen years overcame her fear to reach out in the crowd and dared to touch the hem of Christ’s garment overcame her fear and was healed. But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:46-48 NLT She was no longer a slave to her infirmity, but was set free to live a life in the fullness of His love, joy and peace. I had a dream not too long ago where I was struggling with several issues and, in my dream, I reached out to touch the hem of a garment and when I looked up, I saw Jesus smiling down at me. There was such a rush of joy that came over me and my eyes were opened. That day, Natalie introduced me to a song by Zach Williams called “No Longer A Slave” and the dream and the song opened my heart and my eyes to what my future holds and while I should be fearful, I am no longer fearful for I know He has it all under control. 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. Isa 41:10 NLT Fear not to pray for others wherever you are, fear not to speak out for your faith, fear not to proclaim His salvation message for we are all children of God. For the next two weeks, we welcome Craig Fisher who will share a message that God has placed on his heart. 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 Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

While sixty is just a number, the effects of ageing are a tell tale. After years of abusing my mind and body trying to stay young and keep up with the youngsters, I am quickly becoming aware of my limitations as I am sure many others are as well. Five years ago, I would strap on the skates and race around the rink thinking “I still got it” only to realise everyone else has been into the zone and the puck was in the other end. I have yet to get on the ice this year but I am fairly certain I have lost another step or two. It is not just the body that is slowing down but it is also the mind. The other day, I was in a fabulous conversation with a group of my peers when I realised I was a couple points behind the conversation and when I did interject my thoughts I realised they were in context at the time but rather disjointed in the current setting. Words that flowed from the tongue, thoughts that just wound in and out of the conversation now take a bit more time to bring together and memories are, at times, fleeting. It could be worse and, I fear, it will get worse but I saw a video the other day that brought joy to my heart. A granddaughter had come to town and offered to take her grandfather to church on Sunday. He spoke very little on the way into church, which brought tears to her eyes, and, truth be told, to mine as well. All her attempts to get a reaction from him were met with that far off stare, a blankness that we can see but have no clue what it is like to live in. After trying just about everything to communicate with him, she put a old gospel tape in the radio and within a few moments, he was speaking the words of the old hymn by memory. You see, the words of the old hymns are generally scripture put to music and he knew his Savior’s message, it was still there and it was still strong in his heart. When the mortal facilities of our being start to fade, the Word of God, written on our hearts, never fades and it never fails. Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord. Ps 25:6-7 NLT As life goes on and my thoughts begin to fail a bit more often, Lord, please, remember me. For the next three weeks, we welcome two guest speakers who will share a message that God has placed on their hearts. 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 Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘God is…?’ Day 1: Psalm 99:5 - Holy – “Exalt the Lord our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!” Day 2: Exodus 34:6 - Merciful – “The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, ‘Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.’” Day 3: Isaiah 30:18 - Just – “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” Day 4: 1 John 4:16 - Love – “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” Day 5: Psalm 147:3 - Healer – “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” Day 6: 1 John 1:9 - Forgiving – “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 7: John 10:10 - Restorer – “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

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