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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Sanctifying Power of the Holy Spirit

I love church terminology. Nothing scares people off faster than using hundred dollar words and expecting everyone in the building to understand just what it means. Many years ago I remember sitting in the church and hearing terms like eschatology, ecclesiastical, justification, reformation, sanctification, glorification and the odd diaspora and restoration thrown in to really confused me. For those who grew up in the church, these words and concepts meant something but for me, it just added to the confusion and I felt like I was on the outside looking in.

Sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Why is something so wonderful so difficult to understand? Sanctify in Latin is Sanctus which means Holy, set apart, purify, cleanse or unburden. These are terms I can understand. Now, let's expand this a bit more:

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5 NIV

Now, that's all cool but what is it the Holy Spirit desires of us?

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 NIV

The mind given over completely to Holy Spirit, completely sold out to God, growing in the life, the joy, the peace of God. Every day we are growing in the love of the Holy Spirit and dying a little bit more to self, that is, the flesh. Sanctification means giving up the reigns to God and letting Him steer.

Over the next few weeks leading up to Pentecost we are going to explore Holy Spirit. It will prove to be enlightening for many.

Blessings

Pastor Todd

Our World Cannot Silence Him

I hope that you are all still bathing in the glory of last weekend’s celebrations. Unlike Christmas, there are no decorations, colored lights, or gifts lingering about. For those who view Easter as a few holidays, rather than Holy Days, it’s back to life without chocolate. Yet for the rest of us, we realize the nature of a true miracle. Christ’s human body died, yet He has risen and is alive. No other event in history has made such an impact on the world. Jesus’ resurrection has been talked about and celebrated for almost two thousand years, and will be until the end of time as we know it. Man-made gods have come and gone, risen and fallen, yet the true Savior lives, as no grave could hold Him, and our world cannot silence Him.

Religions have tried to change His standing, and many even today deny Him, yet His rising from the dead is celebrated by more and more believers every year. That, is the power of the one and only true living God. In Exodus 20:3, and Deut.5:7, 6:14 we are commanded to worship no other gods or have idols as our god. Let us all remember this every day. I encourage you to allow the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection to stay in your hearts, and may we all keep Jesus alive in us.

Mike Shindruk

Master’s Hand Ministry

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Week At A Glance March 28-April 3, 2016

Church Office Closed      - Monday and Tuesday, March 28-29
Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Wednesday-Friday, March 30-April 1
Church Office Closed      - Saturday, April 2
Church Service                 -10:30 AM Sunday, April 3, Coffee at 10:00 AM
Care Home Services        - 1:00 PM Sunday, April 3 Extended Care
                                                - 2:00 PM Sunday, April 3 Foothills Lodge
Lady’s Bible Study           - 1:00 PM Wednesday, March 30 at the church
Movie Night                     - None Scheduled this week
Men’s Bible Study           - 8:00 AM Thursday, March 31 at the church

To book an appointment outside church hours, please contact Pastor Todd at (403) 638-4055, email fasterpastor1@gmail.com or text (403) 426-0014.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Greatest News of All

I have to admit there are times when I look at things around me and think “why do I even try?” Bad news is a daily occurrence, people are looking for answers and finding only more problems, the lives of others are in constant turmoil owing to the terrible economy and it seems everyone is worrying about who is going to be the next President of the United States. So many are quick to point out the negatives in our world yet lost in it all is the greatest news of all; He is risen!

If we are to get lost in the anger of a nation sentencing Christ to a death sentence and dwell on the negative fact that all but a few turned away from Him as He hung on the cross dying, then we loose sight of the magnificence of the events only three days later. Christ returned to show that not only did He take upon Himself the transgressions of mankind on the cross but to announce that there is no force able to keep the Messiah in the earth. Christ conquered death; He arose from the grave and He is alive!

There is nothing on earth that can compare to the magnificence of the Greatest News of all. Many may say that we are hanging our hopes on a myth and that there is no way He came back. Nations may claim there is all manner of falsities that have never been empirically proven yet none can explain how a tomb, sealed at the request of the Pharisees to Pilate and guarded by soldiers, was found open and the only evidence of Jesus was the burial shroud and the face cloth folded neatly nearby. My God has risen and my joy is more than the calamity of the world can subdue. Why do I even try? Because my Lord gave it all on the cross so that I may know His love for now and forever.

Shalom

Pastor Todd

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Gather In My Name

For we Christians, this is Holy week, a time of reflection, expectation, and celebration. We reflect on Jesus’ crucifixion, we expect renewal of our spirit, and then we celebrate His resurrection. For some, it may be one of the few times they attend a church service, yet for many it’s a time of humbling at the foot of the cross, to give thanks for Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Church attendance will spike, then fade away. We must remember why we gather in the Lord’s name. We should never come, or not come, just to hear one worship team or another, just as we should never come, or not come for one speaker or another. These are nice, as God has called them to serve. Yet, we must gather to spend time with Him. Jesus, is why we come together to worship.

In Matthew 18:20 NIV, Jesus reminds us. “Where two or three gather in My name, there I am with them.” I encourage everyone, to re-think why you may or may not come to church. Come, bring your children, your spouse, your victories, and your burdens. Come into the King’s chamber, listen to the singing of prayers, the message from a Pastor’s heart, but most of all, to gather in Jesus’ name. After all, He died for us, and He is coming back.

Mike Shindruk

Master’s Hand Ministry

Quick Announcement

There will be a Good Friday Rally at 10:30 AM, Red Deer First Church of the Nazarene, 2 McVicar St., Red Deer, AB (403) 347-1191

Monday, March 21, 2016

Week At A Glance March 21-March 27, 2016

Church Office Closed      - Monday, March 21
Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Tuesday-Thursday, March 22-24
Church Office Closed      - Friday-Saturday, March 25-26
Church Service                 -10:30 AM Sunday, March 27
Care Home Services        - None Scheduled this week
Lady’s Bible Study           - 1:00 PM Wednesday, March 23 at the church
Movie Night                     - None Scheduled this week
Men’s Bible Study           - 8:00 AM Thursday, March 24 at the church
Seder Service                   -5:00 PM Thursday, March 24 Very Limited Seating
             -Call Pastor Todd (403-426-0014) before 6:00 PM                                                  Tuesday March 22 to confirm a seat

Movie Night                     - Jesus Film, the Passion, from the book of John 7:00 PM                                                                                  Friday, March 25 at the church

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Reconnected

Have you been disconnected from things that were once paramount in your life? From friends, hobbies, parents, siblings, God? This is a hard one to answer truthfully for many people. This week, through God-incidence, I was able to spend some quality time with my only brother. We love each other dearly, and live only a few miles apart. Yet, life, family and jobs have kept us too busy to spend time together as brothers should do. Our face time has allowed me to pay attention to his hands, which are just like my father’s, to the gray hair, which is like mine, and to his spirit, which is his own. These were good days.

We can be disconnected from Jesus for the same reasons. It is unintentional, but the world and Satan will overtake us and before we know it, we age and become strangers with the One who knows us better than anybody. Then Jesus gives us a wake-up call. It may be a health scare, a missed appointment, or perhaps just our own aha moment, and we realize what we were missing. That is His way of re-connecting with us. When it happens, pay attention. Close your eyes, imagine His hands, His eyes, His hair, feel His spirit. Welcome Him back into your life and get reconnected. Remember, and give Him thanks for how it will be from now on. That will be a great day.

Mike Shindruk

Master’s Hand Ministry

Which Is More Important To You?

The other night just before I was about to fall asleep a thought started to circulate in my mind and soon I was tossing about pondering it. There are times I truly believe that God wants me to listen and the only time I can truly be still is just as I lay my head on the pillow. I know I was not dreaming this because I could hear the dog snoring at the end of the bed.

The question was this: Which is more important to you, the thought of living an eternal life or the idea of being with Jesus in Glory?

John 3:16 states “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Yes, eternal life is the promise of God that, by His Son and through His sacrifice on the cross we can know eternity with God but too many seek eternity by their own means and have lost sight of the true victory; life eternal WITH God. There have been quests be many an explorer throughout history. Juan Ponce de León sought out the Fountain of Youth in a hopes to live forever. There are some who believe that drinking from the Chalice of Christ, the Holy Grail, will grant the eternal life to the person who drinks from the cup. There are some religions that even teach that we live, die and are reincarnated into another life or life form and thus are living forever. Is mankind fixated on living forever and therefore lost sight of the true treasure?

Jesus said to the disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The key for me in this passage the last line, “and surely I am with you always”.

We live our lives looking to Jesus, celebrating His life and death for us and many preach and teach the life eternal in Heaven but last night my mind was awash thinking that it is not the eternal aspect that is important but rather the promise of being with Jesus always. In that promise lies the victory.

This Sunday we look at the victorious return of the King of kings into the city where the seat of the Father resides.

Shalom


Pastor Todd

Week At A Glance March 14-March 20, 2016

Church Office Closed      - Monday, March 14
Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Tuesday, March 15
Church Office Closed      - Wednesday, March 16
Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Thursday-Friday, March 17-18
Church Office Closed      - Saturday, March 19
Church Service                 -10:30 AM Sunday, March 20
Care Home Services        - None Scheduled this week
Lady’s Bible Study           - 1:00 PM Wednesday, March 16 at the church
Movie Night                     - None Scheduled this week
Missionary Night             -7:00 PM Wednesday, March 16
Men’s Bible Study           - 8:00 AM Thursday, March 17 at the church

Multi Church Seder Service -5:00 PM Sunday, March 20 Very Limited seating as tickets were distributed beforehand.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

I'm Not Worthy

When I was thirteen, I was with my grandmother in Edmonton and I confided with her that I would one day be a minister. Ask my mom, I was the quiet one. In fact, I was so passive I regularly allowed those in the neighbourhood to practice their fighting skills on me on a fairly regular basis. A few years later, I had become that same person that I ran from and the thought of being a servant of God had long since become a distant memory.

Some say that God looks after fools and drunks. For much of my life, I was the fool and at times the drunk but God had plans for my life and He made sure I was around long enough to realize them. He brought me through some very tough times and, when I realized His call on my life, I came running back to Him but it was with my head down. Jesus met me where I was and showed me just how close He was throughout my life. God was never gone; I just lost sight of Him.

The father watched for his son to come back from a land far away and even though he had treated his father poorly, even forgot him at times, the father kept watch. I am not worthy for the call He put on my life but He has equipped me for a time such as this. He has done this for us all, we just need to take hold of His call on our lives. Allow God to lead the way, He never makes mistakes.

Blessings

Pastor Todd

We Are All Worthy

How amazing, that Jesus injects His presence into our daily lives. He peels away the layers of static so He can listen to our heart, yet more important, He does this so we can listen for His still calm voice. If we allow Him, He will give us the tools needed to push away all the clutter until the only thing of importance that remains, is Him. Whether you are buried with work, health, financial, or emotional issues, He is always trying to get closer to you. Instead of convincing yourself that you are not suitable for Him, why not realize that you are the reason He went willingly to the cross.

He will always pursue us with His love. Remember that He doesn’t like it, but is used to rejection, so our individual excuses to not let Him in are futile. He is also used to being accepted into the hearts of many. He knows true victory, as He demonstrated that when He rose from the dead to come back. He came back, and left to prepare a place for us. In His stead, He sent Holy Spirit to be within us, as our comforter through everything. He’s there also when we bring comfort to others. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Why does He do this? It’s because we are all worthy.

Mike Shindruk

Master’s Hand Ministry

Time Management

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks
‘Time Management’
Day 1: Ephesians 5:15-17“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”
Day 2: Colossians 4:5“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity."
Day 3: Psalm 31:14-15 – “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.”
Day 4: Ecclesiastics 3:1, 2“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.”
Day 5: Psalm 90:12“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”
Day 6: 2 Peter 3:8, 9 – “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
Day 7: Psalm 39:4, 5 – “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

** Verses taken from the NLT.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Week At A Glance March 7-March 13, 2016

Church Office Closed      - Monday, Tuesday March 7-8
Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Wednesday – Friday, March 9
    - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Thursday – Friday, March 10-11
Church Office Closed      - Saturday, Mar 12
Church Service                 - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday March 13
Care Home Services        - None Scheduled this week
Lady’s Bible Study           - 1:00 PM Wednesday, March 9 at the church

Movie Night                     - None Scheduled this week
Men’s Bible Study           - 8:00 AM Thursday, March 3 at the church
Missionary Visit in Sundre, AB
Wednesday, March 16th at 7:00 pm
Doors open at 6:30 for coffee and fellowship

Main Avenue Fellowship (402 Main Ave West) is pleased to welcome Dee Sudnick to share what the Lord has put on her heart for the Philippines. All are welcome!

The Lord has been gracious to allow Dee Sudnick to serve in the Philippines for the past 17 years. With His direction, she hopes to continue to serve there. Her primary ministry is at Faith Academy, where she serves the children of those involved in ministry. She is the middle school guidance counselor, but also helps where needed. In the past, she has coached, taught various subjects at the middle school level, aided in curriculum development, and chaired the accreditation committee. The Lord has called her there to aid in building the church of tomorrow, so she loves to lead students into ministry situations, as well as taking some of her breaks to do ministries of her own. Most recently, she led the grade 8 students on an art and sports ministry to a school established for urban poor. She, herself, went to Tacloban to work with those still affected by the Typhoon Yolanda.

Faith Academy was founded in 1957, and exists only with the support of missionary staff who are not paid for their position. The heart of Faith Academy is to partner with families for the education and spiritual nourishment of their children. The staff consists of more than 160 people representing more than 50 mission agencies, including the Church of the Nazarene. The school, aptly named, is truly one that operates by faith from year to year.


A Love Offering will be taken for Dee Sudnick’s continued mission work.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Perfect Version

I was once asked what is the proper version of the Bible to refer to in the service. Proper version, there are so many wonderful translations and versions but what would be the best or proper version. There are some who say the King James version is the only version and all others are not the true word of God. If I were to say this, surely I would upset those who feel the New International Version is the best or those who believe the Message by Eugene Peterson is a paraphrase for today’s style of learning.

The Scriptures are the Divinely inspired Words of God. They are the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth but I suggest that these are the words written in the book so that we would have the reference and guide to the life history of our faith and our being and, can I go so far as to say there is more to the word of God than those words written in the Bible?

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Heb 10:15-16 NIV

The Word of God written in our minds; the law etched into our hearts. The first law; ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and the second law; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ As written in Luke 10 but also repeated throughout the Scriptures.  The Word of God in us, with us, and it is the perfect Word of God that dwells deep within our very being and we need only tap into the perfection of the Word.

With that said, we will look at the relationship between the Word of God and the Bible and how they are so closely tied and how they are both so relevant and required in our daily lives.

Blessings

Pastor Todd

Living the Book of James

The book of James teaches and reminds us that being a Christian is much more than saying the right words. Basically, faith words we profess are worth nothing, if we do not back them with our works and actions. Our world can consume us, fooling us into saying the nice words, but not backing them with visible actions to back up what we say. God, the one and only God, commands us in John 15:12 to love each other as He has loved us.

Lately, I have witnessed the book of James being lived out by many of my friends, both in and out of ministry circles. Before, during, and following my stay in hospital, the genuine care, concern, and compassion shown toward me and my family, has been humbling. The social media well wishes and prayers were staggering in their numbers. The phone calls to my home for me were so welcomed, and the many personal visits with coffee, food, and encouragement simply made me weak in both knees. How fitting, that this was in the love month of February.

It showed me that love, is love. Friends cared enough for me to push the world aside to demonstrate this very thing. Whether they go to church or not, they told me and showed God that I meant something to their lives. I know God is pleased, and my eyes are opened to always pay it forward. Show someone your love, as the price is so small, but the reward so great.

Mike Shindruk

Master’s Hand Ministry