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Tuesday, October 31, 2017

What Would Jesus Do?

I remember when people used to wear those bracelets all the time and, to tell the truth, there were a few times when I thought I really should not be wearing this public declaration. Sometimes the promise to do that which would be considered a good reflection of Christ was rather lacking and the bracelet felt more like a tensor bandage biting into my wrist to remind me to act like my Master. These were the times when I was ashamed of my actions. There was also the time when I got not one but two photo radar tickets on the same street at the same location about fifteen minutes apart. On the back of my brown pony was a bright, shiny fish sticker announcing to the world that I was a Christian. The Calgary Police service must have had a great chuckle out of that one. The reason I talk of these incidents is because afterwards I realized that the world was watching and I was helping to perpetuate the misconception that all Christians don’t walk the talk.

He (Saul) fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. Acts 9:4-5

This was the moment that Saul (Paul) went from being the persecutor to the persecuted. Saul rounded up the followers of Christ and, with letters in hand, was involved with the identification, persecution and, in the case of Stephen, witness to the execution of Christians.

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Mat 25:40 NIV

This passage can also be reversed by saying whatever you did to the least of these my children you have also done to me. When you persecute my people, you also do to Christ. Persecute the Christians and Jesus feels the pain of the masses.  Paul went on from this point to know and understand the fullness of the pain of persecution yet he became one of the most passionate messenger of the Good News.

This week we study the persecution of the church after the death and resurrection of the Messiah. We invite you to join us either in person or on FaceBook Live ( htttp://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158 ) at 10:30 MST or watch the service at a later date by visiting our website and go to the Live Stream Upload page ( www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca )


Shalom
Pastor Todd


Thursday, October 26, 2017

And The Fight Is On!

A few weeks ago, a gentleman wrote in regarding an article published on our BlogSpot. It was not my writing but rather that of a friend and the person did not appreciate the message. The comment was “I don’t want your religious views splattered all over Facebook so you need to stop”. I took some time to look at some of the posts this other person put online and found I was not in agreement with their views. Interesting fact, I don’t have to agree with everything that is out there but I will not censor them nor will I resort to bullying techniques to shut them up. The question is this; what makes your stance more correct than mine? If I like the colour green and you like the colour blue, is that enough to start an argument? Are you going to start a shame campaign by gathering all those who are partial to blue to start a feud?

When Jesus was going through the land, He was relentlessly bullied by the naysayers. They tried to trip Him up with trick questions, bully Him with threats of physical violence and garner the support of the crowds in an attempt to silence Him. Christ’s response was to educate them through peaceful means (except for that incident in the Temple) and have them think about exactly what they were doing. A while ago, an acquaintance of mine responded to a repost in a respectful and thoughtful way and I truly appreciated his input, in fact I learned something in the exchange. Christ also presented His message in a manner that was not designed to bully you into acceptance but rather offer an alternative that has an eternal promise. His promise is one that the world could use right now. Love God with all you are and love your neighbours, be they friends or enemies, as yourself. What exactly is wrong with this message? Even if you don’t believe in God, is it not refreshing to have an entire group of people seeking out ways to love on you? Where is the down side?

This week we look at the Scriptures for hope and a message of love. We invite you to join us either in person or on FaceBook Live ( htttp://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158 ) at 10:30 MST or watch the service at a later date by visiting our website and go to the Live Stream Upload page ( www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca )

Shalom
Pastor Todd

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

The Things You Find Out

Growing up, I remember attaching myself to my father to learn all I could from him. Dad, being a farmer from Manitoba, struck out on his own at a very early age. He had a six grade education, yet he was one of the smartest people I’ve ever known. His carpentry and mechanical skills seemed to be inherent and woven into his DNA. I always looked up to him and as a son, wanted to be just like him.
          
These days, my mom and I occasionally enjoy some coffee time and through our conversations I learn something new about her every time.  For example, as recent as last week she told me that she worked for the New Glasgow Evening News in the 1940’s delivering newspapers in Thorburn. She, at about ten years of age would walk the roads until she saved enough money to buy a used bicycle from a friend. How fitting, that seventy years later, I am writing these messages for the same. She used to clean houses and give most of her pay to my grandmother to help run the household. Now, these things may not mean a lot to most reading this, but to me, it allowed me to know a bit more of how my mom’s work ethic was developed and passed onto us.
  
I am mentioning this as a demonstration that when we spend time with our parents, spouses, friends, children, and yes God, we will be amazed at what we learn about each of them. If we didn’t spend time together in each other’s presence, we will never know anything about the most important people in our lives. The natural order of things is that parents will graduate to God’s glory before children, so we should be hungry to learn and share all we can.
          
When we gather with friends for church and bible studies, we are honoring Jesus’ invitation to sit with Him. He wants so much for all of us to share our own “coffee” time with Him so we can learn as much as we can about Him. He has even given us a great book to read and learn from, so we can get a small taste of what He has in store for us when we meet Him. So this week, I encourage you to sit in His shadow, read His book, and listen as He shares His story with you. Like me learning about my mom, you too will be amazed at the things you will find out.
          
Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks
‘What If I Trust God?’
Day 1: Jeremiah 17:7, 8 – “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Day 2: Proverbs 3:5, 6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Day 3: Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”
Day 4: Psalm 91:1, 2 – “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.”
Day 5: Psalm 121:3 – “He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.”
Day 6: Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Day 7: Lamentations 3:24, 25 – “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’ The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.”
** Verses taken from the New Living Translation


Friday, October 20, 2017

Where We Left Off

This past weekend I played a dance with my band mates from years ago. The past year for us was a time of re-acquaintance, catching up, and mending broken fences. When we began our rehearsals for a couple of reunion dates, it was like time stood still, then just clicked back on. After a few rusty starts, and memory stretches, we seemed to have picked up from where we left off many years ago. We had all walked away from a tight run of twenty years, and in a flash, we were back. The common thread was that we were all older, a bit slower, but there was still a fire in the belly. Without going into detail, there were markers beforehand that I recognized later that I would know that we would reboot. As I thought about the last concert, I replayed all the preparation, and finally the event. It was a success, and whatever happens in the future, we know we are again, friends and brothers.
          
God gives each of us the same opportunity. When, not if, we go through a time, or season of disconnect from Him, He waits, patiently. He knows no broken fences between Him and us. We, as humans separate ourselves from time to time from God. Yet He never separates Himself from us. Nothing we could ever do can break the love bond He has with us. He is in us, around us, and with us always. Without us knowing it, I believe He guides us, and when He knows the time is right for us, He reveals. He never revives old wounds, never digs up or throws our past at us. He allows us the free will to pick up with Him, from where we left off. Then, like the spark I had with my band brothers, He reignites a fire for Him within us that gently says, it’s like I never left. Once this happens, and it will, you will feel a sense of rediscovery. It will evoke the question, God, what did I miss? His answer will be, nothing my child, I have been with you the whole time, now let’s you and I take up from where we left off.
          
I encourage you to ask yourself. Is this my day to reconnect with Jesus? The answer will be, yes.
          
Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

I Am Not Sure I Would Want To Go To Church Either


I recently read an article from Promise Keepers that really spoke to the message from this past Sunday. The sermon last week focused on the difference between a church fighting to survive and a church seeking to thrive. There is a huge difference between surviving and thriving and it all begins with a shift in attitude, a paradigm shift as it were.

The article from Promise Keepers (click here) is entitled Anti-Everything. In it, the author, Jud Wilhite, suggests that the church has gotten so bogged down in the rules and rituals that say NO that we forget that there are many more occasions to celebrate YES. For some, they see church as a negative place and view God as the source of anti-everything where the exact opposite is true. Some quote that God refers to money being evil where, in fact, scripture states that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” 1 Timothy 6:10. This is only one example of numerous inaccurate teachings of scripture and I have heard so many complain that church is a place for the holier than thou’s to go and judge the world.

If we are to thrive, we have to preach that God wants us to say YES! Now, I am not saying that we say yes to heresy but rather that we say YES to sound teaching. YES, God wants the very best for each and every one of us so much so that He gave His one and only Son so that we may recognize Him as Saviour and live in the promise of an intimate relationship with our Lord. YES we can love the Lord our God with every aspect of our being and we can love our neighbour as ourselves. Do we really need to say don’t harm those around us if we hold fast to loving our neighbour? The scriptures are full of the promise of YES and when we live in this promise others will see the positive aspect of God’s Message and the church will thrive!!

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 to hear Rev. Glenn Reeder as he brings us a wonderful message! 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

Pastor Todd

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks
‘A God of Grace’
Day 1: John 1:14 – “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
Day 2: Ephesians 2:8, 9 – “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
Day 3: 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 4: Romans 3:23, 24 – “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 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.”
Day 5: Romans 5:6-8 – “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Day 6: Ephesians 1:7 – “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.”
Day 7: Colossians 1:13, 14 – “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
** Verses taken from the New Living Translation


Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Let Us Flourish

I get emails from Flourishing Congregations Institute and look forward to reading the material but this month the title of the article floored me; Faith Communities With Nothing To Lose. I read the article (http://newscoopyyc.coop/faith-communities-with-nothing-to-loose/) and was not only staggered by the title but also the similarities to many churches I am watching grow in numbers and in influence. Our church was seeking change and when Natalie and I were interviewed, one of the questions we asked was “is the church open to new ideas?” The answer was a decisive yes and we have, as a family of faith, grown in numbers and faith.

Go back almost two thousand years. The governing bodies were very similar to events of today with dictators, army rule, corruption, immoral behaviour and so much more. The religious leaders had it great because nothing had changed significantly in their realm for decades and they were very comfortable. Then came Jesus. Christ rocked the world by teaching the Truth in both word and deed, built relationships and community, challenged the status quo and taught a nation how to love perfectly. He knew that there would be those who would challenge or even plot against Him but there needed to be a realignment to the way the world was looking at their faith walk.

Is your faith community willing to try something new or make changes in order to reach a seeking and hurting nation? One of the worst things I have ever heard is “we have never done it that way before” without there being the follow-up “let’s give it a shot; what do we have to lose?” Think about it,  Jesus went forward with nothing to lose! Is it time for us to follow suit? What do we have to lose?

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


Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Colours Of The Harvest

This past weekend, we here in Nova Scotia were blessed with some of the best weather we could ask for. Sunny skies and warm temperatures made the Thanksgiving weekend so wonderful. As my wife and I spent time together at our place on Eden Lake, I was reminded of a message I had written a couple of years ago, and included in my first book, Frog Legs and Photographs, messages of encouragement. The time together in the quiet, allowed us to see God’s masterpiece, so I would like to re-share this message of thanks with all of you.

As I travelled on the highway, in mid-October near our home here in Nova Scotia, I noticed how quickly God reveals His pallet of fall color. During this time of year, trees will be in the absolute prime of kaleidoscope of color. Look closely, and you will see trees with lush green, vibrant red, orange or yellow, and some are already bare. Each color offers something different to our senses, as we think of the stage of their life cycle for the year. Green signifies a remaining time of growing, the other colors represent a successful harvest, and bare branches are the clearing of the fields, prepared for future growth.
          
Ponder God’s Kingdom, imagining where each of us fit in His color scale. Regardless of our age, background, or experience, we will always have green leaves if we accept Jesus’ life energy to be nurtured and grow in Him. Stay hungry and thirsty for His presence in our lives. Psalm 107:9 GNT,” He satisfies those who are thirsty and fills the hungry with good things”. The red, orange, and yellow in our lives are the harvesting of endless bounty as we share Jesus with those around us, whenever and wherever we offer to feed the spiritually starving. Bare branches are the prepared fields, ready for fall planting as we reach out to those who have yet to accept Jesus into their lives.

God’s colors promise a better future for all who will come into the fields, inviting Jesus into their hearts and trusting Him to take care of them. Psalm 37:4-5 GNT, “Seek your happiness in the Lord, and He will give you your hearts’ desire. Give yourself to the Lord; trust Him and He will help you.” Most importantly, it is the time to give Him thanks…for everything.   I hope that as you travel the roads this time of year, that the colors you see and enjoy, will have a new meaning in your life.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Monday, October 9, 2017

Week At A Glance Oct 9-15, 2017

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Monday
Church Office Open        - 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Tuesday
Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 1:00 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                           - Wednesday 1:00 PM
Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose        - Wednesday 2:00 PM
Men’s Bible Study                            - Thursday 8:00 AM
Men’s Coffee Fellowship                 - Thursday 9:00 AM
Board Meeting                                 - Friday 1:00 PM
Sunday 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


Friday, October 6, 2017

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks
‘How to Have a Full Life’
Day 1: Psalm 16:11 – “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
Day 2: Isaiah 58:11 – “The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.”
Day 3: Matthew 6:34 – “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Day 4: Psalm 37:4 – “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”
Day 5: Colossians 3:23 – “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
Day 6: John 8:12 – “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”
Day 7: John 10:10 – “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


Just Face The Other Way

This past week, the Town of New Glasgow revealed and presented a modern sculpture to the public. It was designed and crafted by an artisan friend of mine, who always has a level headed outlook on life. It is a piece that evokes deep thought and interpretation. It is of a  human figure, gray in color, Hoodie over the head, cell phone in hand, slouching posture, leaning on the back half of a vehicle. Inside the vehicle is a two person seat, facing a wonderful view of a river.
          
Images like this are very common these days, only we see the live versions everywhere. This piece perhaps, is an illustration of how we, as humans, are being consumed by the world and its distractions. It begs the question, have we as a society unplugged ourselves from each other, and what is really important? Have we somehow been conditioned to give in to the temporary distractions of our world? Is it too late for us? Personally, I don’t believe that.
          
This piece should cause all of us to just, turn ourselves around in our world. Take our eyes off the addictions that grab us, and just sit. Rest on a bench, just breathe, and thank God for the life He has given us. Put down the computers, cell phones, or anything that causes us to block out the important things in our lives. Invite Jesus back into our homes, our churches, our schools, our government, and our life. The tools we use are not bad, but the emotional attachment we give them, is.
          
This Thanksgiving weekend, let’s all of us begin to spend more time with our family. If you are running every day for an outside cause, slow down to a walk. Hug your mom, your dad, your spouse, your kids. Take an hour each week to just sit, facing the sun, take in a Bible study, or church service. Take a moment to taste the coffee you just bought. Give thanks. Don’t become what the sculpture at the rivers’ edge demonstrates. Rather, enjoy the sculpture, by just facing the other way.
         
 Mike Shindruk
www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca


Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Thanksgiving and Forgiveness

It is funny how the mind works. Sunday night, just as I was about to fall asleep, I started to wonder about the word “thanksgiving”. My mind continued to roll that thought around for a bit but my line of thinking turned to the word “forgiving”. Are these two related in any way and could there be an article in this? It is Tuesday now and I am at Little Country Cappuccino enjoying my homemade cinnamon bun with a hot cup of fresh brewed coffee and the thought came to my mind again; are thanksgiving and forgiving related?

Forgive, according to etymonline.com, suggests that the root is Old English from the original forgiefen. To split this word, one would consider the first syllable as for-, most likely meaning in this case to be completely and the second syllable giefan, to give or receive. Therefore, the word meaning would be to give or receive completely.

Now Thanksgiving is a newer word, according to etymonline.com. Thanksgiving dates back to the Colony Pilgrims and was then thought to be a public celebration that acknowledges Divine favours. When we just take a word and look at the parts from our present understanding, there are times we miss things. Old English for thanks, sticking with the Divine aspect, meant gratefulness, grace, mercy and pardon among other things. Therefore, when we combine in the Old English, we can surmise the word meaning of Thanksgiving to be complete gratefulness, grace, mercy and pardon.

When Christ was on the cross, He called out to the Father, “Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” Consider the etymology of this declaration; receive them completely for they know not what they are doing. Despite their wrong doings give to them not just a little but completely. What a glorious declaration that should be welcomed with complete thanksgiving on our part. Complete gratefulness for the deliverance and complete grace mercy and pardon for us all and by us all to those around us.

This Sunday, we celebrate the joy and perfection of God’s love for us all and give thanks to the Creator of life, love and all joy. 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


Tuesday, October 3, 2017

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks


‘How Can I Be Right With God?’
Day 1: 1 John 5:13 – “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.”
Day 2: Ephesians 2:8, 9 – “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
Day 3: Romans 5:8 – “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Day 4: 1 John 1:7 – “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
Day 5: Acts 16:31 – “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.’”
Day 6: Acts 4:12 – “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Day 7: John 14:6 – “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’”
** Verses taken from the New Living Translation


Monday, October 2, 2017

Week At A Glance Oct 2-8, 2017

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - 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                      - Wednesday 1:00 PM
Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose   - Wednesday 2:00 PM
Men’s Bible Study                       - Thursday 8:00 AM
Men’s Coffee Fellowship            - Thursday 9:00 AM
Communion Service                    - Sunday
Care Home Services - MVSH     - 1:30 – 2:30 PM

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