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The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘God’s Word, Our Source Of…’ Day 1: 1 Peter 1:23 - Salvation– “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.” Day 2: Hebrews 4:12 - Self Check-up – “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: Luke 11:28 - Blessings – “Jesus replied, ‘But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’” Day 4: Proverbs 4:20-22 - Healings – “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.” Day 5: Psalm 19:8 - Joy – “The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.” Day 6: Romans 15:4 - Comfort – “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.” Day 7: 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 - Preparation – “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.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

In the past, I attended many a service where we were told that if we do not live a perfect life, if we do not memorize scripture, if we do not look and act a certain way that is pleasing to God, we will surely go to hell. Talk about scaring a little kid to death. I mean who tells a kid, who is just wanting to go out and play with their friends after church, they can’t because it is wrong. “It is wrong” is associated with “against the church” which is linked, in a young child’s mind, as sin and there is a special place in Sheol for those who break the rule. Move forward a few decades and these kids have grown up and away from the church because, as many research papers have deduced, there is no way to live up to the expectations of the church. There was and, in some churches, still is, such a concentration on sin and the consequences of non-compliance, that the truth is not getting the proper billing. In Romans 3 starting at 23, it is noted that: For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. This is a common verse used by many a preacher to throw it out there that none of us is truly worthy of the gift of God, that is Glory. But, as we read on in that chapter: 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. Everyone has sinned and fall short but hear me now when I say this is not truly the focus for those who are trying to relay that absolute Truth. The finger that points at the sinner (whom is all of us) in condemnation is doing more harm to the family than building up the community of the Kingdom. Jesus said it best in John 8 starting at 3: As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd…“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” While mankind looks for ways to point the finger at people’s flaws, Jesus simply wants us to point others to Him. Think of it, Jesus said He did not come into the world to condemn but rather to save. Why would we not point others to Him? Life, love, and grace—this is the perfect message. This Sunday, we will continue to explore construction of faith, building people up. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca

We just got back from our holidays in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia and, while it was fantastic to be with family and friends once again, it is wonderful to be back home. I dare say I need a holiday to recuperate from our holiday. It was wonderful to see everyone but it was also magnificent to see some of the changes going on. Our friends had not changed much at all but the surroundings sure did. There were some things that had to change, like the old buildings that were falling in on themselves but in their place were a couple of beautiful parks and some new buildings that were alive with new tenants. There is a road between New Glasgow and Antigonish that is notorious for accidents and fatalities especially around Marshy Hope. After years of research and deliberation, the powers that be decided to make a rather radical change to that section of the highway, they are taking it over the big hills and twinning it. These changes should make the journey a bit faster and a lot safer. The construction is well underway but it will not be completed overnight, it takes time when you want it done right. New construction to change lives for the better. There are times we have to let go of the past and embrace the future with a new passion. For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. 2 Cor:1-5 NLT We are on a journey and, while we are on this planet, all have an opportunity to research the path they are on and make choices on the route they will take. For those who embrace the Christ, accept His promise of a future without end and hand over their sins to Him, life begins anew. When we become a Christian, a follower of Christ, we enter the construction zone. The old is stripped away and, through the giftings of the Holy Spirit, we grow and become a new creation in the Lord. It does takes time and the journey does continue until we are greeted in Glory but when it is all done, our reward will be eternity in paradise, all safe and secure. This Sunday, we will explore this area of construction and also celebrate a wonderful 2022 Vacation Bible School week. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Are You Thankful?’ Day 1: Psalm 107:21 – “Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.” Day 2: Psalm 28:7 – “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Day 3: Psalm 13:5 – “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.” Day 4: Psalm 92:1, 2 – “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening…” Day 5: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Day 6: Hebrews 12:28 – “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Day 7: Philippians 4:6 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘You Are Called to…’ Day 1: Proverbs 31:8, 9 - Speak – “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” Day 2: Isaiah 1:17 - Learn – “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” Day 3: Micah 6:8 - Act – “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 4: Isaiah 58:6, 7 - Share – “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” Day 5: Philippians 2:14, 15 - Lift Up – “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.” Day 6: Hebrews 12:1, 2 - Keep Going – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Day 7: 1 Peter 2:9, 10 - Declare – “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.’” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I feel like I am writing a thesis for my Master’s but as all of you may know, the chances of me doing a Master’s degree is slim to none and Slim has left the building. The fact is I have started working on a new series for the fall and am basing it on a book by Bud Robinson called “The Story Of Lazarus”. If you want to get ahead of the game, Google it and you will find a free download online. I have been reading this intriguing book, all of 110 pages, and was prompted to think about how the actions of the church in 1909 are very similar to society today. We change so much yet we don’t really change. One tiny part of the book concerns how a church of well over 500 relies on a very precious few to attend to the affairs of the church and even fewer to do God’s bidding of preaching the Word. Remember, this was in 1909! For the past six months, Natalie and I have been planning and preparing for holidays. I think this is the first time we have done so with very little stress and, when the time came to depart, even the threats of lost luggage and cancelled flights did not phase us. We were ready for a rest. No rentals in St. Johns, no worries, God provided an answer and U-Haul got our business. One day the weather did not cooperate but God provided the answer; you needed the rest. In Nova Scotia, the morning started off hot, muggy and overcast but by noon, the skies cleared and we made plans to hit the beach; God announced we needed time alone in His beauty. Take the time God provides and enjoy the beauty of His creation. So here is the key; listen to His direction, rest when He provides the occasion and be ready to respond when He opens up opportunity to share the peace and joy of the Lord with others. You see, the world has become way too busy fully enjoy the gifts God has provided. In some cases, society has become so earthly minded that they are no heavenly good. As I write this, my grandson has come to me with, what some would call, an interruption but for me it was an opportunity to share a laugh and hug. I am still working on the article but it is not the most important thing right now. God has provided the opportunities to relax and rejuvenate and, as we talked about last week, has even commanded it. Keep the Sabbath holy. What does it take for the pendulum to swing to the Lord? We all need to take a break from the busyness of the world and take stock of what God has provided. What would happen if we took a holiday from the rush and stress of tight schedules and embrace the peace and relaxation God has placed before us? Revival is defined as an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again. My thought or suggestion for society is this; take a holiday from the hustle and bustle once a week, embrace the peace and solitude of the Lord and find out what is truly important once again. This week, we will once again welcome a message from Rev. Bob Hillock. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Declare This… The Lord Will Fight For Me’ Day 1: Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Day 2: Deuteronomy 20:4 – “For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!” Day 3: Joshua 23:10 – “Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.” Day 4: Deuteronomy 3:22 – “Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.” Day 5: Isaiah 59:19 – “In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify him. For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.” Day 6: Psalm 20:6 – “Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power.” Day 7: Psalm 138:7 – “Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

These past two years have played havoc on everyone. Those of us who are members of a ministry can tell you that not being able to meet in person for church services has been a tough go. As restrictions loosen and more and more things open up, there begins a long road back to what we thought was normal. Our ministry group usually gathers at a local funeral chapel, and due to provincial guidelines, we are still on hold to meet. We know that there will be a time where we can gather to celebrate Jesus, and to be together as a complete faith family again. For now, we are business as the new normal by online messages by our pastor, bible study, weekly written messages and even a scripture for each day, all by way of social media. It is working and we are thankful for that. That being said, our congregation is another two years older and some have gone onto Heaven. A few of us meet when we can to stay in old voice so when we meet again, the worship will even more special than before. We are all doing what we can to stay plugged into each other, and to God, but there is still something missing. That missing element is live fellowship. We are realizing more and more just how much we need God. That one-on-one experience of being together in church has such a healing and uplifting quality that just cannot be replaced. We are hoping that absence does truly make the heart grow fonder as we look forward to the day when we can drop the masks and offer the hugs without fear. Some may argue that covid is just one of those things we will have to live with. Well, I can respect that point of view, yet scripture tells us to use the wisdom that God gave us, along with the knowledge of those we trust. That combination will allow us to regain some lost time and ground as we get ready to get our faith boots back on the ground. I do applaud those congregations that are meeting responsibly, as they know the joy of in person fellowship as it should be. Our ministry has no owned meeting place and I’ve even been told that we are a church without a steeple. That is true, but Jesus never had a steeple or even a place to call home. Where we gather is not as important as when we gather, so many groups like ours have been in good company all along. We are free of earthly responsibilities of a building, and that allows us to pour our tithes and offerings into our community as needed. We have been blessed by a group of volunteers who use our time, treasures, and talents to bring glory to the Father. Do we need Him? Oh yes, more than anything. As we come into the third year of this thing called a pandemic, we will continue to do what we can, and will always look to the future when we can gather in person, sing to the King, and hug each other with reckless abandonment. That time is coming, soon we hope. Until then, I encourage everyone to stay connected with your faith family. Don’t allow yourself to drop of the faith radar, as it is very easy to do these days. Maintain your financial faithfulness as you can, stay in the word and don’t allow the world to pull you into the rat race. I need Him, you need Him, we all need God, so remember He is as close as the whisper of His name. Until we all meet again, let’s keep on needing Him. Soon we will get to celebrate in person, and what a day that will be. Mike Shindruk Master’s Hand Ministry http://mastershandministry.blogspot.com/

The other day I came across an article regarding the benefit of taking a day off from a regular workout routine. For the past year, I have gotten back into working out and went back to some of the old routines which included taking a day off each week to give the body a chance to recover. Years ago, a personal fitness coach told me to take a day off and I just did but never really questioned it. So, today, I questioned it. Why do I have to take a day off? According to an article in Medical News Today, not only do you need to take a day off to let the muscle groups heal and rest but it also creates a stop point that will help prevent injuries. It is a break that is beneficial to the health of the body and creates a healthy platform for one’s overall physical fitness going forward. So this got me to thinking; what about our mental and spiritual health? There was a time where Sunday was a day of rest for everyone. You did not shop, go out for dinner, do any kind of work on that day. It was more about the Sabbath but it did have its health benefits. The Lord created the world in six days and on the seventh day, rested. The seventh day was set aside for resting for all and was strictly adhered to, in fact there were specific rules in the Mitzvah as to how one must observe the Shabbat. Some today view the rules about the Day of Rest as a hindrance to “getting things done” but even the medical profession has proof that taking a day off from work and stressors is of benefit to overall health. So often we try to fill every moment of the every day with something so that we “get the most out of every day of life” but it turns out it is not the best thing for us. God was right when He said to take time to rest, meditate and pray. In God, we find a peace and a calm that is beyond anything we can imagine. By taking that one day away from the busyness of life, we can find a great benefit for our overall health; physical, mental and spiritual. It is a reset for our holistic health, for mind, body and spirit. When God told us to rest on the seventh day, He truly knew what He was talking about. This Sunday, we welcome Rev. Bob Hillock as Pastor Todd is on holidays. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Are You Putting God First?!’ Day 1: Matthew 6:33 – “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Day 2: Proverbs 3:6 – “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Day 3: Galatians 2:20 – “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Day 4: 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 5: Malachi 3:10 – “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’” Day 6: Romans 8:5 – “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” Day 7: Psalm 37:4 – “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” ** Verses taken from the New Living TranslationThe Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Are You Putting God First?!’ Day 1: Matthew 6:33 – “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Day 2: Proverbs 3:6 – “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Day 3: Galatians 2:20 – “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Day 4: 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 5: Malachi 3:10 – “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’” Day 6: Romans 8:5 – “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” Day 7: Psalm 37:4 – “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

As I was growing up, I thought for sure my nickname was “What where you thinking?” My last name was “Don’t do that again!” My brother and I had a great childhood. We had a swing-set in the back yard that needed to be tied down to the ground with a large piece of ready-rod lest we tipped it over swinging too high. We were often told not to swing so high because we were going to wreck the swing and if we did, we would not get another one. Beside the swing was a very cool fort. It had three levels and windows for shooting our cap guns out when the enemy came to attack. It later served as target practice for shooting tennis balls at with our hockey sticks. Then we got the bright idea to get people to go inside the fort and put their face in the window and try to avoid getting hit with the ball as we fired the dripping wet tennis projectile at the hole (we had dogs that loved to drool). Apparently we were “not thinking” when it was discovered what we were doing and we were told to stop it – NOW! Beside the fort was our sandbox in the shade of a huge evergreen. We spent hours playing with our Tonka trucks and Dinky cars and, like most boys, we also dug holes. One day in our exuberance, we started digging and just never stopped. After some time, mom looked out the kitchen window wondering where we had gotten to and came out the back door to call us in for lunch. My brother and I popped our heads out of the rather large hole to answer and we asked “what on earth are you two doing?” We thought it was quite obvious but failed to realize that as we dug down, hacking through roots as we went, we were weakening the tree at the foundation. We were told very vehemently that what we had done was wrong and to fill it back in and don’t do it again. If you read the scriptures, the Old Testament is full of rules God handed down to us. These were not meant to hold us back but rather to protect us and, yes, direct us to a better path. God’s creation, His children, often rebelled because rules are meant to be “broken or tested”. My parents set up some very solid rules to live by, many of them biblically based, and, while we did push back on them, they still are an integral part of our personalities. When we were living as children, we needed the parameters but as we grew, rational thinking became a part of our makeup and our thought process changed quite a bit. The Old Testament had the pat rules but take a look through the New Testament and count the number of times Christ referred to the law and put it out there in a different way, “You have heard that it was said…but I say to you.” Take Matthew 5:21-24 for example; “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Here we see rational thought and a positive solution being presented in such a way as to promote growth and peace for all involved. This is the message of the Christ. This Sunday, we will explore the “but I say to you” moments in the New Testament. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Be Washed in His Mercy’ Day 1: 1 Peter 1:3, 4 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you...” Day 2: Lamentations 3:22, 23 – “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Day 3: James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Day 4: Psalm 73:25, 26 – “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Day 5: Psalm 29:11 – “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Day 6: 2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Day 7: Psalm 103:1-5 – “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation