When Will It All End?

Dickens said it best when he wrote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair” (A Tale of Two Cities). This represented everything that happened in the last week. For me there were periods of great joy and hope and then in the very next moment, periods of deep lows and utter disappointment. An emotional rollercoaster that truly messes with one’s positive outlook on life.

Let’s take a look at another’s life that serves as an example when things start to go south in our own lives. Jesus made a triumphant entry into the world to the loud praises of the angels however a couple years later had to make a fast exit to save His life. Then when the coast was clear, He returned with His family and had a period of relative peace until the time came for Him to begin His ministry. There was great joy such as when He was able to preach a message of peace and love to the masses and then there were times of great disappointment when these same people called for His death and traded His life for the life of a criminal. Read the Gospels and you will see the ups and downs of Christ’s life but there is a message in all this. By His death and resurrection, Christ showed us that even though life is filled with highs and lows, there is a better life in store. Jesus ended His ministry on a high and gave us the promise of His return and a life eternal with the Father in Heaven.

Lean not on your own understanding and in all things trust in God (Pro 3:5-6) for He is the Creator of all things and has promised us a joyous ending. It will be the best of times, the age of perfect wisdom and this is the spring of hope. Our hope is in the season of eternal light and in that we are leaning of the epic of this belief. In a time of loneliness and despair, remember the promise of the Father by the Son and lean on Jesus.

We invite you to join us this Sunday either  in person or live on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158) at 10:30 MST. You can also watch the service later in the week by going to our web page (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.com) and clicking on the Live Stream Upload tab and clicking on the link for the Sunday service.

Shalom

Todd

Am I Getting Through?

There are times when every one of us wonders if we are making a difference, or getting through. These days with weekly shrinking attendance numbers at church services, it is a constant challenge for God, pastors and church leaders to capture peoples’ attention. More and more younger people it seems, are distracted by the world, and it’s demands and temporary fulfillment. The elderly are decreasing in numbers, as their mobility and ability to attend is diminishing. So, the question arises from those of us who are carrying the torch. Are we spinning our wheels as we try to remain obedient in spreading the Gospel? People who don’t care or don’t believe because science hasn’t proven or disproven God’s existence, are wandering around without hope or purpose. There seems to be a culture of, well, when I’m dead, I’m dead, so I’ll do whatever makes me feel good while I’m here. Unfortunately, there are many who attend service, listen to the message, ask for prayer, and all of this falls off of them come Monday morning.

Well, I want to encourage you all, that God’s NOT dead. He’s alive and well, and is the driving force in each of us who reach a wall of doubt, then get pushed through. He’s the one who put people in our lives so we could minister and witness to them before they passed onto glory. He is the one who assembled every praise and worship team that ever existed, and wrote every lyric as love prayers to the believer and non-believer alike. He’s the one who instructs each of us to minister to the young, and old alike, to those in church and to those who have been hurt by church. He is the one who instilled a pastor’s heart into the heart of a young child who may be the one who ministers to hundreds, without fanfare.

Are we effective, or making a difference? Well, God will let us know when we each meet Him face to face. Until then those of us who walk in faith, must keep the faith. Keep offering Him to our community, even when we don’t think we can. Someone, somewhere needs the gift that Jesus offers, and we need to be the bearer of gifts from above. My pastors, and my God captured me, and made a profound difference in my life. The least I can do is pay it forward. The most we can do is our part to share Him with the world. In this we will all be more effective than we will ever know.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Week At A Glance Sept 25- Oct 1, 2017

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Monday

Church Office Open        - 9:00 PM – 5:00 PM Tuesday

Church Office Closed      - Wednesday

Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Thursday - Friday

Church Office Closed      - Saturday

Church Service                - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Special Events

Quad Fellowship                              - Call Pastor Todd for details

Coffee Time                                       - 9:00 Tuesday @ Little Country Cap

Lady’s Bible Study                            - Wednesday 1:00 PM

Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose         - Wednesday 2:00 PM

Men’s Leadership Study                    - Thursday 8:00 AM

Men’s Coffee Fellowship                  - Thursday 9:00 AM

Church Service                                  - Sunday

Care Home Services - MVSH           - Not On Schedule this week

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents.

BTW, if you don’t like getting dirty, Monday’s might not be your thing :D

Sunday Services can be heard on the website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca) after the service or seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158) at 11:00 AM Mountain Standard

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘GOD do you hear me?’

Day 1: 1 John 5:14 – “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.”

Day 2: Psalm 66:19, 20 – “But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.”

Day 3: 1 Peter 3:12 – “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Day 4: Proverbs 15:29 – “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.”

Day 5: John 14:14 – “Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”

Day 6: Psalm 17:6 – “I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.”

Day 7: Psalm 86:7 – “I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Prayers, Working Or Not

This past week I had a question rolling around in my head. Are there times when prayers are not effective, or do they not work? I posed that question to a couple of friends, who each gave me similar reactions. They paused, as though they couldn’t believe I would ask. My thought was simple. Many of us pray daily for many people and situations, as we are asked to do. I have noticed that some people never seem to have improvement either in their spirit, or situation. I’m wondering, out loud, with no finger pointing, that if we, as people don’t accept, or earnestly believe that prayer will help, then it won’t work. I likened it to a love relationship between two people. In order for it to work, it must be a two way street, where it is given and received. Basically, if you ask for prayer, then you must be willing to accept it, and believe in its’ power.

On the other hand, I have been witness to prayers being answered in real time. Case in point was the presence of Holy Spirit at our retreat a couple of weeks ago. Prayer warriors were on duty, and duty called, and we came away with the most powerful sense of a gift given straight from God. Our prayers, given and received are the most powerful weapon we have against our situations. There is little that can top the feeling when someone offers to pray for you, or someone close to you. It’s like God speaks to your heart, well that’s what it is.

I would like to encourage everyone to pray, and be prayed for. When this happens with a sincere heart, God listens, and puts in motion, His way how they will be answered. We are rewarded. Hebrews 5:7 NIV tells us that during the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. So, if Jesus, through everything He endured, and knew He would endure, remained faithful in prayer, then it should be so easy for us to do the same.

Today, let’s everyone turn a new leaf, and enter into a free prayer trade agreement in a much more believing manner, and watch how great our God really is.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

“JOY OF THE LORD – Do you have it?’

Day 1: Psalm 94:19 – “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”

Day 2: Proverbs 10:28 – “The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.”

Day 3: 1 Peter 1:8, 9 – “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”

Day 4: 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 5: Nehemiah 8:10 – “And Nehemiah continued, ‘Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!’”

Day 6: Romans 14:17 – “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Day 7: Psalm 149:4, 5 – “For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Where Does My Help Come From

Natalie and I were coming back from a friend’s house the other night and Natalie asked me to slow down so she could take a picture of the mountains. We live twenty minutes away from the mountains and see the beauty of God’s majesty almost every day but this was different. For months now, the mountains have been hidden by a cloak of smoke from all the fires west of us but this day they were revealed in full glory.

There are times when the issues of the world can blind us to the glory of God’s magnificence and if we are in the cloud of smoke and darkness for long enough there is a tendency to lose sight of the importance and glory of God and seek out alternate coping methods. But if you climb high enough and seek the light beyond the smoke, you will find the darkness is only finite. The glory of the Lord is never far from any of us, He is with us whether we can see Him or not.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

This Sunday we will explore Psalms 121 and how this speaks to our hope moving forward. Join us in person or live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158) at 10:30 MST.

Shalom
Pastor Todd

Week At A Glance – September 18-24, 2017

Church Office Open        - 9:00 PM – 5:00 PM Monday - Wednesday

Church Office Closed      - Thursday - Saturday

Church Service                 - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday

Special Events

Trim Installation                          - Monday

Carpet Installation                       - Tuesday

Ladies Bible Study                      - Wednesday 1:00 PM

Lady’s Craft for a Purpose          - Wednesday 2:00 PM

Men’s Bible Study                       - Will Resume in September 28

Men’s Coffee Fellowship            - Will Resume in September 28

Board Meeting                             - Saturday 10:00 AM

Fellowship Feast                          - Sunday after service

Mountain View SH Services        - None Scheduled this week

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents.

BTW, if you don’t like getting dirty, Monday’s might not be your thing :D

Sunday Services can be heard on the website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca) after the service or seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158) at 10:30 AM Mountain Standard

Come Holy Spirit

This past week I witnessed the best and the worst in human behavior. Master’s Hand Ministry hosted our seventh retreat at Camp Geddie this past weekend. I soaked in the services and was given a break from leading worship. I saw a fantastic team of people who allowed Holy Spirit to take over and quilt everything together. Our special guests, Michael and Naomi Knoll from Hearts of Motion, in New Brunswick shared messages and music to demonstrate God’s power in our lives. The organizing team within our ministry, from the kitchen staff, to our co-worship team of John and Roxann Spicer, all worked as a unit. The sharing of time, prayer, and encouragement filled the hearts of the sixty or so who attended.

I also witnessed, while waiting for a medical appointment, a lady sitting and just listening as an elderly patient spoke volumes of stories, just engaging with another human. An elderly man, sitting alone, was reading newspapers and magazines, and when we were all called, it was found that he did not register for an appointment. He was frail, and somewhat confused, then I saw him being handled in the most gentle manner. On the doctor’s discreet orders, his staff quickly jumped to make a spot for the elderly gentleman to be seen by the already taxed physician. All of these things were done out of love, not obligation. You see, what I saw was the loving power of Holy Spirit coming from within these people. They were doing what Jesus would do, and that is to serve one another.

Then, there was the ugly side of human behavior. I watched news reports of the devastating hurricanes that our American neighbors were enduring, I saw looters running amok. In the midst of all the mayhem of storms, they were looting a shoe store in gangs. I saw how people can pounce if given the chance, yet others would do what Jesus would do. They chose to have wet feet in stolen goods, rather than help someone else.

Well, I’m glad to have put more words into the good side of this week rather than the desperate evil. I’m sure God will look after all of those in these instances. I’ll close with this scripture for all of us to ponder. Joshua 24:15.NIV, But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Pray For Your Leaders

I have hear it said that it’s the government’s fault, they haven’t acted fast enough, they jumped in too soon, they are short sighted, they are making promises that our children are going to pay for and on and on and on. What happened to the day when the government was chosen by the people and if the wrong party (according to the perspective of the speaker) came to power, they still had the support of everyone in the nation? Let’s think about that one for a bit. I am not sure that has ever happened.

Even in the days of old, no one has ever fully supported the opposition. The Sadducees had the Pharisees and third party, the Essences. No one really could come to support the Romans and none would give the other group any backing. Yet Paul, in a time when ruling parties of government and religion where at odds with each other, called the population to task.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:1-2 NIV

There is so much stress in the world and much is caused by people thinking they can affect change by open disrespect for the ruling party or persons and this leads to division and, in many cases, violence. Scripture would have us accept the governing authority regardless of how we voted and support them while they are governing. What would happen if instead of being a pain in the side of a leader we prayed that they would lead with wisdom and compassion? A great mentor of mine, Mrs. Pease, once said that leaders are only temporary but the church family is forever. Pray for wisdom and guidance for yourself and for leadership and leave it in God’s hands.

This Sunday we will explore Romans 13 and how this could look in our present situations. Join us in person or live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158) at 10:30 MST.

Shalom

Pastor Todd

What Does Your Faith Mean To You?

I watched a movie the other day about a soldier who would not pick up a weapon due to his faith. He was a conscientious objector but he still wanted to serve his country as a medic. All trough basic they taunted him, bullied him and even beat him so that he would just quit but his commitment to country and service kept him going forward. His commitment to God and his promise not to take a life put him into the predicament he found himself in yet he found the strength to overcome.

The soldier put his life on the line for not only his own corps but also for men that he did not know. In fact, he even put it on the line for those who were shooting at him in the first place. So here is the question – what does your faith mean to you? Do you put God first in every aspect of your life? Does your faith rate high on your priority list? Do you put things aside so that you can serve the needs of your neighbour? Is “church” more than just a once a week occasion? I can honestly say that there are times when my priorities are askew but someone or some event snaps me back to spiritual reality.

God sent His Son to earth and while He was here He was bullied, taunted and beaten just so that He would quit. Satan tested Him and pushed Him to quit. In the end, Jesus took the abuse and the beatings and gave up all He had for not only those who called Him Saviour but also for those who screamed for Him to be crucified. His priority is for the lives, the eternal lives, of all His children and this is not just a Sunday duty but rather a constant passion. Is Jesus your passion? Is your faith your number one priority?

This Sunday, we will look into this plus we will celebrate communion. Join us in person or live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158) at 10:30 MST.

Shalom

Pastor Todd

Pastor Todd Is Back

Week At A Glance Sept 4-10, 2017

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Holiday Monday

Church Office Open        - 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Tuesday

Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Wednesday - Friday

Church Office Closed      - Saturday

Church Service                - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Special Events

Quad Fellowship                          - Call Pastor Todd for details

Coffee Time                                 - 9:00 Tuesday @ Little Country Cap

Lady’s Bible Study                      - Resuming September 20

Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose   - Resuming September 20

Men’s Leadership Study              - Resuming September

Men’s Coffee Fellowship             - Resuming September

Church Service                             - Communion Sunday

Care Home Services - MVSH      - Not On Schedule this week

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents.

BTW, if you don’t like getting dirty, Monday’s might not be your thing :D

Sunday Services can be heard on the website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca) after the service or seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158) at 11:00 AM Mountain Standard

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

“GOD in Creation – Do You See Him?’

Day 1: Job 12:7-10 – “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you. For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the Lord. For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.”

Day 2: John 1:3 – “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.”

Day 3: Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.”

Day 4: Psalm 104:24, 25 – “O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.”

Day 5: Psalm 8:3 – “I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings.” (MSG)

Day 6: Isaiah 42:5 – “God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth.”

Day 7: Romans 1:20 – “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.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation