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Carbon taxes, higher food prices, food banks not being able to keep up with demand, fuel prices make it tougher to get to work and the argument in the halls of government is all about money. Is anyone else besides me getting tired of it all? As I sit here writing this article, all I can think of is “what would Jesus do?” Go back in time when the Romans exacted a tax on the people for their “protection” and then the local rulers, the king and his people, would exact another tax. Combine this with municipal taxes, the temple taxes and the skim by the tax collectors and I dare say there would be much left to fuel up the donkey to get to work. Good thing most worked from home or in close proximity to their jobs. So, consider this, there are only two things that are certain, death and taxes. Levels of leadership will always try to get the most of everything they can from everyone but at some point in time they will either see the errors of their ways and back down or they will find themselves on the outside of the halls of leadership while another group rewards the common folk for their support by lowering the taxes. This is only temporary (review history), so why fear? Instead of fearing the taxman, prepare for the inevitable and rejoice when you are correct in your assumption and preparation. Same goes for fear of death. So many times, I have sat with people who are facing their last moments on earth, and they inform me they are scared. Going to get this out there right now, I am almost certain I will be fearful when it is my time and I do hope that someone will remind me that my Saviour is awaiting my arrival. You see, we are only human and tend to forget there is more to life than what we know on earth. When my time is up on this planet, there is still eternity awaiting where there is no more sorrow and no more pain. Love rules and chaos is no longer in the equation. I am no longer a slave to the fear of death because my Lord has made us all a promise that should eliminate our fear. "Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” John 14:1-7 NLT Thomas noted that he had no clue where Jesus was going, and Jesus made sure Thomas knew the full truth. There are a lot of people who are fearful because they are unaware of Christ’s promise. I am no longer a slave to the fear of death because I know there is something beyond the grave. My fear would be not knowing what the future holds if I did not have faith in Christ. This week, Pastor Todd returns with a sermon series on No Longer A Slave To Fear. 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 ‘God Speaks to us Through…’ Day 1: Psalm 19:7-11 - His Word – “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.” Day 2: Hebrews 1:2, 3 - His Son – “And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Day 3: John 16:13 - His Spirit – “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” Day 4: Ephesians 4:11, 12 - His Leaders – “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” Day 5: Hebrews 3:13 - His People – “You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.” Day 6: Romans 1:20 - His Creation – “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Day 7: 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24 - His Faithfulness – “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

For years, the fear of not making the most of life has really been a burden, a chain that bound me to a way of life where satisfaction could never be fully realized. There was a fear of never being good enough to measure up to those around me and also the fear of being left behind if I did not overachieve. I was a slave to doing everything I could to stand out and be recognized for raises and promotions. If the job required extra hours, count me in, if it needed more knowledge, there were always courses to take and if it needed more dedication to job than self, family, and friends, guess which one got the priority. Chained down to the American dream of wealth, power, and the good things in life. If those were not achieved, we were either not doing enough or trying hard enough to be considered a success in the eyes of our culture. I can honestly say that I am still somewhat trapped in that ideology because that was the way I was raised but I am trying to break free from more of the bonds every day. Bet you thought I was going to say that ever since I found Jesus, things drastically changed, and all the chains of bondage were broken but I cannot say that. You see, I still hold onto some of the old ways, but fear is no longer the master of my life, Christ is, and I find strength in Him. Focus has shifted, behaviours have changed, and continue to change. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. Heb 12:2-3 Msg The moment we realize that there is more to life, eternal life, than the finite measurements of this world, that is when we will truly break the bonds of this world and free ourselves from mortal bondage. Consider this, gold is a metal that mankind has given a value, and it is a measurement of wealth yet give a baby a rattle made of gold, and it is simply a toy. In heaven it is a paving stone, nothing more than a pretty covering for a path to be trod upon without a thought of being worth anything. The paper/plastic in our pockets is simply a representation of a wealth denomination and yet it can be wiped out with a simple declaration that it is worthless. It is my opinion that the greatest wealth one could be blessed with is a fabulous relationship with not only the Saviour but also with those all around me. You see, in Heaven there will be no need for finite measures of wealth but rather we will be amongst the greatest treasures, our Lord, our families and our friends. If we refocus on that which is truly important, we are no longer a slave to the finite but rather are set free to be blessed forever. For me, it takes time to completely release from the behaviours of the past but, in His strength, I/we can break completely free. This week, we welcome, once again, 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. Blessings, www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘God is our Peace’ Day 1: 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 2: Psalm 4:8 – “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Day 3: 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 4: Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Day 5: 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.” Day 6: Philippians 4:7 – “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.” Day 7: 2 Thessalonians 3:16 – “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

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