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Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘Is This Your Response to Jesus’ Coming?’ Day 1: Acts 2:37, 38 – “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Day 2: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – “Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God - which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.” Day 3: Titus 2:11-14 – “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. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” Day 4: Hebrews 2:1-4 – “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.” Day 5: Proverbs 1:7 – “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Day 6: Isaiah 55:7 – “Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.” Day 7: Acts 3:19 – “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The other day, I took the Jeep into the car wash because I was not sure what colour it actually was. I think the colour could best be described as a brown, grey mash smattered with white flake. Now the inside is very organized and fairly clean compared to the outside. It is interesting how we can look at the outside of a car, see the dirt and mess it is in, and make the assumption the inside is equally a shambles. Actually, it can happen with so many different things like houses, properties, clothing. You see, so many people judge by what they see on the outside and miss the importance of what is on the inside. I have seen some fabulous homes that look amazing but, on the inside, the love was missing, and the home was broken. There are those who are dressed to the nines, have rings on every finger, drive the best cars and seem to have it all but are suffering on the inside and take it out on those around them and on themselves through drug and alcohol abuse but you don’t see it until they end up on the news or even in the obituary column.   At one time, I thought the external presentation was how society measured success and I tried to live up to it. Was I ever wrong. I started to look past the grease, grime and dirt, the bling, shine and pizzazz and discovered this truth; there is a blessing available to us all that is just waiting to be recognised. It is a cleaning that sets every one of us on the exact same footing. The mess can be cleansed, it is only temporary, and the rest can be washed away. What is truly important is this, once the dirt has been cleansed, leave it alone, leave it behind. Here is an example: I washed my Jeep and gave it a good wax job and then I cleaned the dust off the dash, shook out the mud mats and threw away the garbage. How ridiculous would it be to throw the mud I just cleaned off the Jeep back onto and into the vehicle?   So, here is the good news to end the year; Jesus saves! Jesus cleanses from the inside out and does an amazing job. We can ask Him to cleanse us of our sins and He will. We can ask Him to show us a way to live a cleaner life and He will. We can ask Him to soften our heart and he will. You see, Jesus sees past the mud and grime of our outside and knows us better than we even know ourselves, right to our souls. So, when we ask Him to forgive us, cleanse us and take away our sins, we need to trust that He will do this and leave it in His hands. There is a time when we need to shake off the baggage of the past and ring in a new year. Is it time to embrace a new life in Christ? Trust me, He sees you in a way most of society does not understand and He looks forward to greeting us in person in Glory.   But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”   And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43 NLT   The thief on the cross was probably messed up big time but Jesus heard his heart welcomed him in. This is the new start; this is the new year.  This Sunday, Pastor Todd will bring the final messages of 2023. Our service is at 10:30AM both online and in person. 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     Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

That statement may have you scratching your head but I will say this, without hope there is little for which to carry on. I have talked with many folks in counselling sessions, in those conversations where one just needs to be heard and in the church setting as a pastor where the issues of the day are just building and the only outcome they can see is destruction or nothingness. “Why should I even care?” “What is the use?” “It just doesn’t matter anymore.” A few months ago, I took a refresher course in Suicide Intervention and those statements were just a few indicators that hope had been lost and the cry for help was being sent out. Some cries are from those who are in the midst of the chaos while others are pleading for understanding because they can’t make sense of the turmoil around them and are, themselves, being sucked into the confusion. So much death and destruction in this world. Where is the hope? Let me throw this out to the wind; could it be we have legislated and denied the communication of hope, joy, peace and love right out of our lives? Those who make the laws of the lands have mandated religious silence because it is non-inclusive and yet Jesus states in Matthew 11:28-30: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” NLT Jesus is the hope and the love of the world, inclusive for all who want and need hope. He invites us into a relationship with Him and asks only that we give over our sins and declare Him as Saviour. It was through His death certificate that we were given a new birth certificate. That is the hope we all need to hold onto and to declare. Jesus is the bright morning star that is our guide in the darkness. So long as there is light, darkness cannot fully reign. Remember this; “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt 28:20 b Where does my hope lie? It does not rest with our governments because they sway in the wind like reeds, bending to the will of the breeze. There will always be strife because there will always be differing views and all of society will be swayed by how they understand the situation but know this, Jesus is the Rock and the Anchor. He is never changing and on Him we can place our hope because He will prevail. He is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.” Isa 9:6b-7a If we see someone dying of thirst and give them a glass of water, they have hope. If we see someone drowning in the depths of despair and pour into them with love and compassion, they will see hope. If we see someone dying in the grips of hopelessness and we show them Jesus, the Light will shine forth. For God so loves  the world He gave His one and only Son so that all , every single person , who believe in Him will not perish but instead have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT ( emphasis added ) This Sunday, Pastor Todd will bring the final messages of Advent. Our first service is at 10:30AM both online and in person, a second service will be held in the Mountain View Senior’s Home, in person only, at 1:00 PM and the third service will be the Christmas Eve service at 6:00 PM online and in person. Following the evening service, we will gather around the campfire behind the church for roasted marshmallows and hot chocolate. 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 Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘God Comes to Us’ Day 1: Isaiah 40:5 – “Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!” Day 2: Daniel 7:13, 14 – “As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man[ a ] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal - it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.” Day 3: Romans 16:25, 26 – “Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets[ a ] foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him.” Day 4: Philippians 2:9-11 – “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Day 5: 1 John 2:2 – “He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins - and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” Day 6: Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Day 7: Psalm 62:6-8 – “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘God Reaches Out For Us’ Day 1: John 15:16 – “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” Day 2: Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Day 3: John 6:44 – “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.” Day 4: 1 Peter 2:9, 10 – “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. ‘Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.’” Day 5: 2 Timothy 1:9, 10 – “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time - to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.” Day 6: 2 Peter 1:3, 4 – “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” Day 7: Ephesians 4:4-6 – “For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I hear this question all the time and will admit that I also have asked this a few times but awhile back, someone pointed this out and I have yet to forget it. You see, in light of all that is going on around the world, there is a cold fear regarding the dark, nasty garbage that is so prevalent today and the media seems to be stoking the flames of this fear to keep society glued to their televisions and social media devices. Fear is a tool that, when used by the forces of evil, can keep so many bound up that they are paralyzed to live life to its fullest and best. Why does evil exist? Why does God allow evil? Why doesn’t God eliminate evil for good? Consider this, cold is the absence of heat. While we can define the lowest temperature as that point where there is no energy, movement of atoms ceases and temperature cannot go any lower there is no limit that we are aware of to the upper reaches of heat. At minus 273.15 degrees Celsius, absolute zero, the fundamental particles of nature reach their zero-point energy induced particle motion. So cold is a measurement of a lack of energy. Part two to this, darkness is considered by definition to be a lack of light energy. If there is any energy at all, be it particle movement that generates heat or light energy that provides a small spark in the darkness, then there is heat, there is light. With that said, think about this for a moment, evil is the absence of faith and love. You come across a person who has just been fired from their job and the boss has just torn them down another notch and someone who has a big heart comes by and lifts them up, dusts them off and helps them out, the actions of evil are displaced by the actions of love and compassion. A group of hardened criminals are in a hard place, locked up and considered outcasts by a society gather in the prison gym to listen to a singer with a message from God.  They fall to their knees because they hear the power of His message in their souls and cry out to God in worship and celebration. The energy is added and the darkness recedes. A stadium filled with those seeking reassurance and a break from the harshness of an evil world are embraced by the energy of the Holy Spirit while the preacher pours out a message of hope and love and a community is filled with the light energy of a loving Saviour. The evil one sucks the energy out of a nation so that darkness moves in, the coldness of his world pushes out the energy of love and faith and the chaos fills in the void that was once bursting with hope and joy. The devil wants to suck all the energy out of the lives of all so that he can claim victory but remember this, there is a limit to absolute zero and to absolute darkness but there is no end to the energy that is in Him. God did not create evil; it exists because we allow it to take hold. Embrace God’s power through the Holy Spirit and claim victory over the darkness through faith and love. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Light and we come to the Father through Him, and one day there will be no more darkness, no more fear, no more evil. Evil does exist in the world but it holds no power because God is the power, the light and is infinite. The evil’s time is finite and the Light is coming. It is time to celebrate the Light for He is here! This Sunday, Eryn Austin-Bergen will bring the third message of Advent. 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. Blessings, www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘World Gone Crazy - Turn to God’ Day 1: John 14:27 – “I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Day 2: Isaiah 26:3-4 – “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” Day 3: John 16:33 – “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Day 4: Colossians 1:12-14 – “...He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” Day 5: Ephesians 5:8-10 – “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” Day 6: Ephesians 6:12, 13 – “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” Day 7: Philippians 4:8 – “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

According to the National Post dated Nov 24, 2023 (Tristin Hopper), https://nationalpost.com/opinion/federal-commission-declares-christmas-holiday-is-religious-intolerance , “The Canadian Human Rights Commission, which wields broad quasi-judicial powers, argued that a day off on Christmas is 'discriminatory' ... The Canadian Human Rights Commission — an agency with broad judicial powers that is fully funded by the federal government — has declared that the celebration of Christmas is evidence of Canada’s “colonialist” religious intolerance.” So, what does this mean for the average person in Canada? According to the article, Easter and Christmas should not be statutory holidays. You see they are based on colonialist religious intolerance and should be eliminated as they are not in keeping with inclusion of all as the other religions have to seek special permissions to get their days off. The article does go on and it quite interesting (I have included the link above) but, again I ask, what does this mean to the average citizen in Canada? It means that those statutory holidays would be rescinded, and it will either become another named statutory holiday or it will become just another day of the week. Happy holidays all. Here is another way to consider this push. The Christians of Canada would still celebrate the birth of the Saviour because the celebration of Christmas (Mass- the Holy Communion...of Christ) and of Easter, that is, the celebration of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection for us all, is more than a paid day off. These holiest of celebrations for the Christian community are above and beyond the laws of mankind and we, as a faith nation, would still celebrate regardless of the situation. But what I want to know is this, why is this agency so opposed to the celebration of the birth of the Prince of peace? The message is about loving those around us and spreading the joy of the season. The Easter message is not about bunnies that produce chocolate eggs but rather the fulfillment of the promise of salvation. Do we need a statutory holiday, a paid day off, to realize the birth and the sacrifice of the Messiah? "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 5:10 NIV Persecute the faithful and they will only grow stronger, try to remove the relevance of the two seasons and they will only dig in their heels and become stronger, eliminate the religious rights of the Christian nation and nothing will change because we know the true reason for the season. Here is the kicker, eliminate the statutory status of the holidays and those who appreciate the extra day off, the extra cash on the pay cheque will rise up and demand it reinstated. You cannot quench the Spirit, one can try but, in the end, He is greater than the machinations of humanity and His will shall prevail. So take away the the designation of a statutory holiday, make it another set of normal days on the calendar and leave it at that. Jesus was born over two thousand years ago, gave fully of Himself without concern for monetary rewards and died for us all so that we would not know death and was resurrected as proof that death had no hold on Him. This is what we celebrate and we can do that without the stat designation. This Sunday, Rev. Bob Hillock will bring the second message of Advent. 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. Blessings, www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

We are located on the corner of Main Avenue and 3rd street in the wonderful little town of Sundre, Alberta. The community is nestled in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, and we are truly blessed by the beauty that surrounds us. While the location is spectacular, there are a couple of drawbacks to everyday life in the community. We are on the Cowboy Trail that was, and still is, a major route of travel for a variety of goods and services for the western province. It is a major oversize route for heavy, large loads, freight runs and, along with the numerous tourists that pass through, sees over 7 million vehicles traveling through each year. Where am I going with this? Consider this, there is one set of lights in the town on Main and Centre and the rest of the intersections on Main (aka Highway 27) were controlled by two way stop signs. Five years ago, we went to a series of three roundabouts for the road to allow better traffic flow but this fall, the province began the job of replacing the temporary roundabouts with permanent fixtures. This may not seem like much, but it is going to take a while and the intersections are now controlled by four way stops. I sit in my kitchen watching as hundreds of vehicles fly through the intersection without even acknowledging the signs. In fact, the other day, I was almost hit by a semi who was running the sign. So here is the point, as soon as the large orange fixture was replaced, the rules went out the window and it is now a free-for-all even though there are stop signs in place. One driver was heard to say, “if the sign was bigger, maybe we would be more likely to stop.” Life is that way as well. I was going to say it is getting that way but, in reality, it is there already. The scriptures warned us about times like this and, in the past, many people were respectful of the scriptural ways and of His word but today, they are turning their back on His wisdom and guidance. The yield signs and stop signs have, over the years, always been there to provide some sense of organization and boundaries that keep us safe today and well into the future. But people are choosing to ignore the wisdom of the warning signs and doing it their own way just like those who are running the stop signs in our town. The officers who are there to inform and, yes, ticket, the offenders of the law, are demeaned and chastised on many occasions and yet they are there for the safety of the travelers. Those of the faith family and the clergy are also chastised for being bible thumpers or the holier-than-thou crusaders but we are not there to judge but are simply trying to show a sign. “Why not make the signs bigger?” Here is my question, why not watch for the signs, accept the signs for what they are there for and respect the message they are communicating? Life is not about blaming others for the mistakes made but rather watching for the signs, using wisdom to discern the outcomes, should the signs be ignored, and taking appropriate action to avoid pain and suffering. God’s message is simple, Christ came to save all through His sacrifice and who claim Him as Lord and Saviour. The signs of what is to come are very large even though there are those out there who do not believe in the end times and push back, but the time is coming when those who do not want to yield to the signs will come to a sudden realization of the consequences. The signs are there, they are noticeable, and it is up to all to acknowledge and not ignore. This week, Rev Glenn Reeder brings the first message of the Advent. 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. Blessings, www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Trusting God is Always Best’ Day 1: Psalm 118:8 – “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.” Day 2: Proverbs 29:25 – “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.” Day 3: Psalm 37:3-5 – “Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” Day 4: Psalm 143:8-10 – “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. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” Day 5: Psalm 56:3, 4 – “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” Day 6: Psalm 31:14-16 – “But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, ‘You are my God!’ My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.” Day 7: 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.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Oh Canada… Repent’ Day 1: 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” Day 2: Proverbs 28:13 – “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” Day 3: Isaiah 55:6, 7 – “Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.” Day 4: Joel 2:13 – “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” Day 5: James 4:8 – “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” Day 6: Zachariah 1:3 – “Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’” Day 7: Isaiah 43:5 – “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

My wife Natalie showed me a meme the other day that spoke directly to this article. It stated, “the devil knows your name but calls you by your sin, but God knows your sin but calls you by your name.” Consider this if you will, there was once a young man who was rather ordinary, and I do not mean this as an insult. In a crowd, he did not stand out, at work, he did his job satisfactorily and was neither a standout nor a cause of concern. He was as grey as grey could be in his job and his perceived private life. There was, however, a dark side that no one knew about, and his secret life was fully immersed in the dark web where he was a completely different person. His alternate identity was very different, and he was, in this space, a giant, delving into criminal activities. He could not stop even if he wanted to because he was so entrenched in the lifestyle but, like all things, it had to come to an end and the police force helped him to quit. Let us call this guy John. When he was caught, no one even thought he could be this person they were describing. John was definitely not going back to work after he was released from prison and the only job he would get was working as dishwasher at a local restaurant. He was tagged as a thief and scammer who could not, should not be trusted. What was not known to many was this; while he was in prison paying for his past transgressions, John found Jesus and he gave his life over to the Lord. He gave up his past ways and started a new venture when he was not working but it was an uphill battle. John was a convicted computer scammer and a thief in the eyes of the business leaders but to those he served, he was their knight in shining armor. You see, he started a small group composed of individuals who had a desire to help those who were susceptible to scammers, seniors, the less affluent and the lonely singles who were getting ripped off by false promises of love and travel. The church they met in embraced the ministry, the community was thankful for the blessing, and this group of servants were called by their names and not by their sins. I feel this passage talks to our lives as much as it did to the tribes of Israel. But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isa 43:1-3 NLT This week, Pastor Todd brings part two in the sermon series, No Longer A Slave To Sin. 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. Blessings, www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”