Out With The Old And On With The New

I don’t want to end this year on a bad note with anyone so I am now accepting apologies. I saw this on Facebook the other day and got quite the kick out of it. That is when I realized that there are those out there who are going to go through the night of December 31 without dealing with the past. New Years is the celebration of a new start yet people will still wake up in the morning holding onto things from the past. Last Sunday we talked about this and then celebrated communion at the end of the service. Before we all shared in breaking bread, we took some time to reflect and think of the errors, sins and issues we were still holding onto. Did you know that in most cases, the people we have issues with don’t even realize it? That’s right, we see John Doe walking down the street and we secretly think bad thoughts about the person and yet give them a hearty hello and a wave. They haven’t got a clue and yet they are renting space in your mind. So we have issues on the one side where we hold onto anger for our neighbour and we are also lying to the world by putting on a mask.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (4:32). We also pray forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. (Matt 6:12). I want to start the new decade off on the right foot. If there is anyone out there that I have not done right by, please forgive me, in fact give me a holler and I will do it directly. Do not let my actions rent space in your head. I can honestly say that I am not perfect, in fact I hold onto the wise words of Paul in this:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Tim 1:15-16

With that understanding on both sides of the equation, I am not perfect, please forgive me as my Father in Heaven has forgiven and know this, I have forgiven those who have done me a disservice. That is my resolution for not only this year but for all time. So my question is this, will you also take the challenge?

This Sunday we welcome Rev Bob Hillock to share a message that God has laid on his heart. We invite you to join us if you can at 10:30 MST on Sunday or watch live online on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Breaking Bread, Not Tradition

On the first Sunday of each year, my family gathers, as we have for many years, to celebrate “old” or in my case, Ukrainian Christmas. This year, 2020 it will be on Jan 5^th, as that’s when will be able to gather as a family. By this, I mean we enjoy a family supper at my mom’s home, sharing traditional Ukrainian food. We will not have the twelve meatless dishes that represent the Apostles, but we will prepare perogies, cabbage rolls, and borsht, using very ordinary and basic ingredients, guided by original family recipes from my paternal grandparents. This get together is part tradition, part time to give thanks as a closely knit family, and it also serves as a celebration and reminder to remain proud of my heritage, and a time of fond remembrance of my earthly father, Stan.

          

As I thought of this, I could not help reflecting on the parallels as we gather to share communion. When Jesus gathered his disciples for what we know as the last supper, they shared food. It also was very ordinary and basic, bread, and drink. In Luke, 22:19 NIV. And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying “ This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me”. They would only realize much later, just what He was telling them. Whenever we gather to share food, may it be a reminder that this too, is communion. As we speak Jesus’ name in all things, let us be reminded to give thanks for the heritage He has gifted to us, and always be in fond remembrance of the presence of our Heavenly Father.

        

As we begin 2020, please take a few moments and give thanks in your own way to the blessings of the previous year. Some of you have suffered through your own health or financial crisis. Some have had their heart broken by the passing of a loved one. Some have married, and others welcomed a new addition to the family. Through all of this, if you are reading this message, you are alive. That is in itself a gift from God. It should tell you that He has a wonderful plan for your life, Jeremiah 29:11. Start your own tradition of thanks for everything that comes your way, and share that with everyone. Break bread with friends and family and let God provide as He always has.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.com

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

“MAKING ROOM FOR JESUS”

Day 1: Revelation 3:20 – “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

Day 2: Mark 1:15 – “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Day 3: 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.”

Day 4: John 6:35 – “Jesus replied, “ I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Day 5: Psalm 145:17-19 – “The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.”

Day 6: John 3:16 – “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Day 7: 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.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Dad’s Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, Dad’s nowhere to be found

He’s out on the prowl with a leap and a bound

He left all his shopping for the very last instant

With all that was happening, his mind was quite distant

The children were all resting, zoned out on their phones

They didn’t even notice that dad had not shown

Mom on her tablet trying to update her Net card

Had all settled down til the start of Die Hard

When at the Couche Tard, there arose such a clatter

Dad slammed on the brakes like it really didn’t matter                                                                                                                                                                    

The clerk was so startled by the noise and the racket

That he fell off his stool and broke the sign off it’s bracket

The sweat on dad’s face was glistening like wax paper

The clerk knew in a moment this was no illegal caper

For what came to mind was immediately clear

This poor daft father had just realized Christmas was near

He wasted no time and as quick as a wink

Raced up and down aisle only pausing to think

People he needed to buy for they all came to mind

And he called them by name hoping a gift he would find

For Jesse a Frostee, no that wouldn’t do

It would be melted by morning and watery too

For Kathy a Mars bar and a Kit Kat for Beth

A Kinder surprise for the kid with bad breath

The dog and the cat, oh look some pet toys

And some Christmas Ice Cream for my wife, my great joy

Dad wasted no time and filled up bag after bag

The clerk trying to keep up with every tag

The register climbed as the counter did fill

And finally the job done he asked for the bill

Two hundred and six dollars the clerk he did say

And dad pulled out his card with a lot of dismay

He paid for the items and asked for more sacks

He could put one in each bag and write their name on the back

Off to his rumbling wagon he strode

He started it up and drove out to the road

To the top of the hill and now into the valley

Around one more corner and then sneak down the back alley

Up the back porch, his step light the cat’s

He snuck in the back door but tripped over the mats

His wife yelled to him from the living room chair

“Pick up your feet you big clumsy bear”

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

and giving a nod, up to the bathroom he rose.

You could hear him declare as he went down the back hall

Merry Christmas to you and now rest until next fall.

Todd MacDonald

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘WHY JESUS CAME’

Day 1: Matthew 1:21 – “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”.

Day 2: 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 3: Galatians 4:4-5 – “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”

Day 4: Isaiah 9:6 – “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Day 5: Titus 3:3-7 – “Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But – When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon un through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

Day 6: 1 John 5:11 – “And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

Day 7: Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Love Of God

What a beautiful name is the name of God. Consider this; His name is Wonderful Saviour, King of kings, Mighty Counsellor and Prince of Peace just to name a few. He is the example of the pureness of the love and light that is our Creator. So when we talk of the Lord, do we consider the perfection of His love for all mankind? A simple statement such as Jesus is love can not only be a phrase that slips off the tongue as easily as good day or have a nice day, a statement that is almost a reflex, or it can be a powerful statement of care and dedication for all His creation. I want you to follow along with me for a second as we look at six words from John 3:1. “For God so loved the world”. The term world is, in Greek, Kosmos meaning both order and world. The Greeks considered that the entirety of the known world was perfectly and impeccably in order and thus the world meant a perfectly ordered sum of all existence. God so loved the entirety of all that existed so much that He sent His one and only Son into this realm to be amongst us all. His promise is not that select people would have the chance to know the Creator but that all who believe in Him would on day know the joy of living in eternal existence with the Master.

God also loves all of His creation so much that He is not willing to force us to bow down but rather gives us all the choice to follow. It is up to us whether we will follow. I hear the cries of a nation demanding that we stop the spread of this terrible thing called Christmas, the celebration of Christ’s birth, because “it is religion, “it is nothing that I believe in” or “I am offended”. There are many who cry out “you will stop saying that and call it what it is; happy holidays”. God loves us so much He allows free will and rebellion but there will be a time when the eyes of a nation will be opened and those who do not believe will realize their opportunity for eternal joy and happiness was wrapped in swaddling and celebrated on Christmas Day. So here is my question for the week; I do not ask those who do not believe to stop all they are doing to share in my faith celebration and I do not demand they keep quiet about their opposition to a faith in the Almighty Creator so why are we not afforded the same courtesy? Is my point of view any less important than theirs? My God came for all. If you do not believe this, that is your choice but know that you are loved regardless.

This Sunday we will explore God’s love. We invite you to join us if you can at 10:30 MST on Sunday or watch live online on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Christmas, Christ For The Masses

This year, my wife and I are later than usual at decorating our home for Christmas. It was just this past week that we managed to retrieve our decorations, including out pre-lit tree, to make our home cozy and welcoming to our family and friends. We have been in the throes of all things, repainting our kitchen. Like every other home, this room is one of the most occupied this time of year, so having it disassembled was quite a decision. Well, through the failures of a heat pump, a clothes dryer, and vehicle issues our world just kept on turning. Yes we’re persevering to make our home Christmas ready. We do not fret over gifts and lists, but the reality of appliance break-downs had to be dealt with. Instead of throwing our hands up in frustration, we simply raised our hands to the Father with thanks that we have a home.

    

Christmas will come and go as the calendar dictates, and we will still be rich because we celebrate God’s blessings on us. This has been a challenging year for health in our home. Yet, He carries us. Things break and wear out, yet He carries us. Tree lights may or may not work, but they don’t make Christmas and I realized that regardless of the lights, the trimmings, or the stress, Christmas will come. Our home will be a place of celebration marking the birth of Jesus, a baby, and our King.

          

So here we are, some two thousand plus years later, and our world still celebrates this birth. Yes, we decorate with bright lights and festive trimmings, and it is our way of shouting that our King was born, Luke 2:11, and we are sharing Him, Emmanuel, God with us. Our home like many others will be decorated, and we will remember the true reason. When we open the door to our friends and family, they will know that Jesus is alive and well within our home. Regardless of the grandeur of the tinsel, or the number of working lights, we will be reminded that a most precious gift was given to all of us. In a couple of weeks, all of this will be again, set away for another year, yet Jesus will remain.

                  

I encourage everyone who may read this to look past the lights, push past the gifts, and focus on the gift of love from God. Share love with your family, friends, and yes, strangers. Remember, Christmas is not a string of lights on a tree or a newly painted kitchen rather it’s a time to thank God for the lifeline to Him that Jesus represents, a gift in the birth of a baby.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.com

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘God’s Purpose for You’

Day 1: Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”.

Day 2: Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Day 3: Philippians 2:13 – “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

Day 4: Ephesians 1:11 – “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance for God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.”

Day 5: 1 Peter 1:3-4 – “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance-an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”

Day 6: Exodus 9:16 – “But I have spared you for a purpose-to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”

Day 7: Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I Can Only Imagine

Well, we are one week away from the day we will celebrate the birth of Jesus. I was thinking about that, and imagined that this would be the week (timeline) where the order was given from Caesar for everyone to return to their place of birth to participate in a compulsory census. Joseph and Mary, expecting a child would now be on their way to Bethlehem. The distance, by today’s standards, is short. Yet back then, on foot, through terrain and dangers would seem such a daunting journey. All of this while being guided by God, and obeyed by a couple who would live forever in the history books.

Over this next week, I encourage everyone to think, and reflect on how all odds were overcome. Herod gave orders to find this King that was foretold. God ensured that he would never succeed. A king, The King, would arrive, right under the nose of the enemy, hidden in plain sight. Please take a few minutes to read Luke 2:1-20. As we close in on what we call Christmas day, let’s share this with everyone. Wish all you have contact with, a Merry Christmas. Please do not take offence when someone posts, or wishes you a happy holiday, or season’s greetings. Instead, thank them and wish them peace. Let the groups who find it necessary to expel energy on choosing to not believe, to muddle through as we celebrate. For those who scoff at the Bible, let them then pray for them. Yet, show them by your actions, that Jesus, this little baby, can make a difference in your life, if you only let Him.

You see, we who believe will walk through this hectic season with anticipation of a miracle. The pressure of the gift race will have no effect on us, for we will celebrate in a week that God thought so much of mankind that He sent His son to be born among us. Who but God, could have planned that one baby would be born, and change the world forever? This gift, unmatched in history was, and is, to be given to all mankind, so please share Him with everyone you meet. Prepare your home, your heart, and your spirit to receive Him. I can only imagine how this unfolded so many years ago.  I can only imagine.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.com

The Joy That Is So Hard To Explain

I once was asked what it was like to come to faith in the Lord. The only way I could explain it was to say it is the smile that never ends. But even saying that did not do justice to the feeling in my heart. How do you explain a joy that is so great that to describe it would place boundaries around it and confine it? The love that surrounds us is so overwhelming and vast that to explore the outermost reaches would only make one realize there is even more beyond our perception.

1 Peter 1:8-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Truly a message that opens our eyes and hearts to the vastness of His calling on our lives and how much He truly loves and cares for us. God wants us to live life fully, not just for a time but rather for all eternity. With that said, have you ever considered how much joy the Father has for you? As He thinks of you, His joy overflows.

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

That is a thought that not many will consider when they look to God. They forget that Jesus sings our praise to the Father and lives to love on us all. We need to remember this love extends to all and the relationship is accomplished when we reciprocate with our entirety. So consider how much joy He finds in us and not only pay it back but also pay it forward.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 "And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit."

This Sunday we will explore God’s joy. We invite you to join us if you can at 10:30 MST on Sunday or watch live online on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘Jesus’ Coming Foretold’

Day 1: Isaiah 7:14 – “All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”

Day 2: Isaiah 9:6 – “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Day 3: Isaiah 61:1 – “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”

Day 4: Isaiah 9:2 – “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.”

Day 5: Isaiah 42:1 – “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.”

Day 6: Psalm 9:9, 10 – “The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.”

Day 7: Daniel 7:13, 14 – “As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal – it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Upcoming Event

The Seasons Of Life

Last Sunday, I was chatting with our Church Board Secretary and came up with a statement that I felt compelled to not only write down but also to share.

The fullness of life is not entirely realized until after death.

This is one of those thoughts that can mess with the minds of those who do not understand it in the context of Christian faith. Let’s break this down in a few different ways. Does this mean the fullness of my life is not entirely realized until after the death of another? That would be a rather odd thought but consider this, if the testimony of that person’s life and faith spoke into the life of another, would that not mean that there would be an awakening and a realization of a greater future in Glory? For those who are not aware of the infinite presence of the Holy Creator, the fullness of life ends when the last breath is drawn and there is still something left behind.

Let’s look at this another way. As we live our lives out daily and do so with the thought in mind that when our last breath is drawn there is still an entirely new chapter of life that awaits us. The thief on the cross knew, through the education he had throughout his early years, his time on earth was coming to an end and what lay before him was an eternity in Sheol. He understood that sinners like him were not worthy of entrance into the kingdom yet he looked to Christ and asked:

“Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

It was at that moment the poor thief came to realize the fullness of life. His existence would not end forever on that cross but would continue anew in Glory with the Father!

Try one more. The fullness of life is not entirely realized until after ones death to self. This world tries so hard to measure life in what has been attained and how it is defined. Gold is a precious metal, diamonds are a girl’s best friend, money can’t buy everything but it can make life so much easier. But in Glory, gold is a paving block, diamonds are merely a stone and money does not exist. The fullness of life is in the relationships. In Heaven, we will sing with choirs of angels, sit at the foot of the Creator and we will know only happiness and peace. This is the fullness we do not have here at the moment but we can realize it if we die to self, build the relationships here on earth and seek after the goodness around us.

This Sunday we will explore God’s greatness in all the Universe. We invite you to join us if you can at 10:30 MST on Sunday or watch live online on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘His Church Should…’

Day 1: Proverbs 31:8, 9 – “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 to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”

Day 3: Proverbs 14:21 – “It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help the poor.”

Day 4: 1 John 3:17 – “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion – how can God’s love be in that person?”

Day 5: Proverbs 11:25 – “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

Day 6: 1 Corinthians 10:23, 24 – “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’ - but not everything is good for you. You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’ - but not everything is beneficial.”

Day 7: Proverbs 14:31 – “Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Making Room For Jesus

During our church service this past Sunday, a video and song was presented to us that asked the question. Have you made room for Jesus, and is there room for him?  The song writer, toward the end of the song, states that yes, they have indeed made room for Him. This simple request set my mind in motion, and my heart in gear. I’m sure those in attendance left that evening answering that. It is a simple, yet challenging question. It is not made to make us feel bad, yet it is intended to have us take honest stock of ourselves. The message in the song, I’m sure is to try and reach those who have yet to have Jesus in their life.  As well it boldly challenges those of us who profess our faithfulness to Him.

Regardless of the season, whether it is Christmas, Easter or even a time when we’re in a valley, there should always be a chair at our table for Christ. To ask Him into our lives and world, only when we’re in crisis is worse than the time of His birth when Mary and Joseph were told there was no room at the inn. At least during that time, with all the mayhem of the census in Bethlehem, no one knew he was to be born among them. We, in our modern age have the advantage of the history of truth that He was born our Savior. The very Bible we read tells us that fact in Luke chapter 2. Simply put, we know better.

We need to make room in our lives for Jesus. It’s easy to do. Plan to attend a Christmas concert, a church service. Give a little of yourself to someone who needs a pick me up. Talk Him up to anyone. Remember that Christmas means Christ for the masses, everyone. Yes we all have lives, some busier than others, yet there can always be a place of honor in there for the very one who was sent to us as a perfect gift. I remember watching The Walton’s in the nineteen seventies, and regardless of their circumstance, or numbers, there was always room for one more at their table. There was never a meal taken where a prayer of thanks wasn’t offered up to God. Some of the best life lessons were shared during that series, and good lessons never become outdated.

I encourage everyone to examine themselves this Christmas season. Set aside the activities that keep us busy as we celebrate the very one who we may not have readied a space for. Make room at your life table for the same Jesus that we honor on our Christmas morning.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.com

Bring On The Peace

As I chatted with a friend this week at work, we were commenting on this thing called Black Friday and how it seems like people are already conditioned to spend money on gifts for no apparent reason. I recounted to her about purchasing a couple of large containers of water from a local big box store. As my wife and I entered, we were immediately bombarded with the static din of aggressive shoppers, all armed with shopping carts. As we waited patiently in line for what seemed to be an eternity, not really, we felt the stress of everyone around us as they clamoured and jockeyed for position so as not to miss something. We were finally able to breathe once we retreated to the quiet and sanctuary of our vehicle.

My co-worker, a great spiritual ally and teacher preacher, reminded me that it was like that in Bethlehem when the census was ruled to happen, in order for the Romans to flush out the messiah. She described that the confusion of people from everywhere were trying their best to make it back to their birthplace, Bethlehem in order to comply, out of fear. Can you just imagine the noise, confusion, stress, and worry that would be taking place? Instead of shopping carts and short fuses, there would have been donkey carts and Roman soldiers.

Yet in the midst of all the chaos, Mary and Joseph and their meager possessions were able to find peace and quiet, once they removed themselves from the mayhem. Now just imagine, there they were, alone. Only they knew who she was to give birth to, Jesus, Emmanuel, our King, The Prince of peace. It was all to happen in perfect peace. That, is the peace we need to carry everywhere with us. In this time of misguided values of gift purchases because the world says so, we need that peace. I encourage everyone to extract themselves from the stress of expectation that going into financial debt to show love for someone, is what Christmas is. Resist the deception that Christmas is a time for gift giving.

Let us all realize that the true gift is the peace we have already been given by the miracle of Jesus’ birth. Bring that peace to your workplace, your dinner table, your family and friends, and to your church body. Love your neighbors, family, and spouse, as yourself, knowing that true peace, His peace will surround you if you let it. Count those blessings, instead of your leftover pocket change. In other words, bring on the peace.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.com

You Can't Please Everyone

When I was a teen, my family bought our brand new house and my brother and I were allowed to choose the colour of our carpet and the wall paint. We both chose a shade of blue but mine was just slightly different than his. It would have been easier and less expensive of we both could agree on the same colour scheme but there was no pleasing. In the end, we were thankful for our own touch on our surroundings but what was truly important was we were under one roof, safe and sound. I'm not sure if a day goes by when we fail to please someone 100%. In counseling they talk about a win/win situation but there are many times when that is not always the case. Let's be honest, there are times when we put on the mask the big smile but behind the mask there is still a bit of pain and hurt. I have seen this destroy relationships, businesses, tear down Nations and split churches. The idea of my way or the highway or we can compromise but it has to be a good deal for me seems to be the norm in society today.

So here is the question, has God pleased you? I've seen people jump from job to job, relationship to relationship and even church to church because they were not completely satisfied. Now before anyone calls me hypocrite, I am not claiming perfection because I'm a work in progress. This is the question for us all to self-examine. Is God living up to your expectations? Has He jumped through the hoops we have set for Him? Does He answer the questions the way you want Him to? Has He provided exactly what you wanted? If God hasn’t granted your every wish, are you annoyed enough to give up on Him? Time to blow your mind; none of us are perfect and yet God is there for us, ready to take us just as we are. There is a win/win solution in this message; declare Jesus as Saviour, ask forgiveness and you will be forever pleased. You can't please everyone but God can, trust in the King!


This Sunday we will explore God’s love for us all. We invite you to join us if you can at 10:30 MST on Sunday or watch live online on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks
‘What God Says About You’
Day 1: Psalm 139:14 – “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.”
Day 2: Deuteronomy 7:6 – “For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.”
Day 3: 1 John 3:1 – “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”
Day 4: Romans 8:16, 17 – “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”
Day 5: Romans 8:39 – “No power in the sky above or in the earth below – Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Day 6: 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 7: 1 Peter 2:9 – “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.”
** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Hardest Words To Say

What are some of the hardest words to say? Here are a few to get you started. For some people (insert your own joke here) the hardest words to say are “I’m sorry, that was my fault”. How many conflicts could be avoided if the person responsible for an error stood up and took responsibility for their mistake rather than look around for someone else to blame? “If I can deflect this, I should be able to slide under the radar and avoid taking responsibility.

Another phrase that is difficult for some is “I need you”. For some, asking for help is a sign of weakness. I will confess that this is a difficult one for me because I feel I am interfering in others plans when I ask for help. There are times I feel like I am being a burden on someone if I tell them I need them so I do it myself rather than disturb them. This is counterproductive on two levels because there are times I really should ask for help but there are also times when they would ask for help but they do not want to interrupt my day.

Last one for today. “I love you”. I have heard this bandied about to the point where it may seem rather overused but I have also seen people struggle with this in so many ways. I mean think about it. When was the last time you chatted with your siblings, parents, children or your spouse and declared your love for them? I know that if I called my brother up right now for no other reason than to say “I love you bro” he would ask if I was feeling okay. Truth be told, it is the ones closest to us that we really should be letting know of how we feel.

Here is another one that, if we declared it and lived it, the entirety of the world would be significantly improved:

“Lord God, I am truly sorry for my errors, forgive me. I need you in my life because without you I am completely lost. Help me please! I love You with all my heart, show me how to love You and those around me more deeply”.

This Sunday we will explore God’s love for us all. We invite you to join us if you can at 10:30 MST on Sunday or watch live online on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

The Sum Of Many Parts

As I write this, I am cooling down from a concert that our Gospel group presented at Salvation Army Corps, Westville. We have sung there many times over the years and have a special bond of fellowship and friendship with this body. We have been honored to have presented the Gospel in song at many other churches throughout the county. I mention this, only to demonstrate how we are the sum of many parts. We are all a reflection and a piece of the people we have contact, fellowship, and live with. We may meet in different buildings, yet we belong to one church, God’s. As we go through life we are all massaged into the person and people that Jesus wants us to be. He does that by His messages from the pulpits, through the music of every worship team, and by the face to face interaction between us all.

Just as in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 where the scripture talks about the body of Christ working together, each of us are made up of the parts of others in our make-up. The traits we acquire are a result of who we hang with. My dear mother taught us a saying from a very young age. She said “show me your friends, and I show you your future”. This is so true, even today. When we connect through Christ if one gets a cut, another bleeds. When we pray, someone is lifted, and when agree that Christ is our only Savior, than we are all a part of the body of Christ.

Some of us will be pastors, some will be singers. Some will lead Bible studies, and some will be prayer warriors. Some will greet at the door, and others will be content to work behind the scenes. When this is assembled, regardless of where we fellowship, then church happens. Church is not a building, rather a gathering of like- minded believers. When all of us allow our hearts and heads to get beyond man made religion, and into God made faith, then all of the parts of the body of Christ come into alignment.

We are the sum of those parts. I am part of you, just as you are a part of me. We are all separate and unique, yet woven together like a fine tapestry. So, when we attend a concert, or church service, look around. Look closely and you will see how God has put you together, one part, one person at a time.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.com

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘Just Trust’

Day 1: John 6:35 – “Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”

Day 2: 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

Day 3: Galatians 3:13 – “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’”

Day 4: Hebrews 4:16 – “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Day 5: Psalm 32:8 – “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”

Day 6: Psalm 37:23 – “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”

Day 7: Hebrews 11:6 – “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Quick To Respond

I have been watching as the world quickly turns on each other in a bizarre attempt to promote its own agenda. In days gone by, the family was the key. Families stuck together, supported each other in good times and bad and the clan was the hub of the village. There are still places in this world where the foundation of the community is still the family but they are eroding quickly. Individualism is replacing community. Now before anyone decides to get up in arms and start claiming I am wrong and feeling offended, sociologists have noted that many modern interpersonal relationships are played out on social media. People tend to wear a mask that will ensure they get the “likes” they need and steer away from controversy unless they know they can garner the support by riding a tide of popular opinion. Once the surge is done, they find a new wave and ride it once again reveling in the power of the tsunami. Quick to jump on, quick to jump off yet rarely cognizant of the destruction left in their wake.

Consider this, the relationships made by this method are as temporary as the first quarrel and unfriending. One comment that offends can end a relationship like a door with only a handle on the inside being slammed shut. Why can we not go back in time and read carefully the wisdom found in Proverbs?

Loners who care only for themselves spit on the common good. Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth. When wickedness arrives, shame’s not far behind; contempt for life is contemptible. Many words rush along like rivers in flood, but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs. Proverbs 18:1-4 Msg

The wise stay silent while those bent on being right at all cost leave a wake of turmoil and destruction. The foolish will shout louder and louder until those around either jump on board or turn from the turmoil and stay silent on the sidelines until the fury has passed. The wise will interject in the spirit of love while the foolish will drive forward with blinders on. We yearn for the days where respectful debates allowed for not only wonderful banter but also growth of a community. Today, debates are a rarity, clashes are the norm and the only thing that comes out of it are divisions and broken relationships. What will it take to shift the paradigm from individualism to relationships based on relationship? Love God, love each other. Read the Bible folks, it has all the answers.

We invite you to join us if you can at 10:30 MST on Sunday or watch live online on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Incomplete, Ineffective, Or Inconspicuous

If you feel that you’re incomplete, ineffective, or inconspicuous, you’re in good company. If we were all brutally honest, we are but that’s okay. We are all incomplete because God is working on molding and shaping us into what He sees us to be. Each of us, are in a uniquely personal place in Christ. Although we follow Him, we are separate in our walk and understanding of His purpose for us. I liken it to a masterful jigsaw puzzle where the box doesn’t tell us how many pieces there are, or show what the finished image should look like. Regardless of age, when we think of our journey with God, having a feeling of being incomplete should bring us some degree of comfort. It tells us that He is never finished with us.

As far as being ineffective, I’m sure that feeling comes and goes like the tides. When we wonder if our own efforts and contributions really matter, we are both tempted, and rewarded. Satan would have you think that believing in a God that we can’t see is pointless, let alone serving Him. Yet, God rewards us with the peace of knowing that Satan has to fight every day for any victory of our failing. That my friends’, is where we are most effective. Whenever we come along side someone and lift them up, God wins. When you are lifted up by someone’s prayers, you win, and when we do what we can to feed our “spirit-man”, we all win. I believe that those who signed up to serve our country to fight for our freedom, went knowing that even one person’s effort would make a difference. So you see, regardless of how or what we do in service for the Lord, we are never ineffective.

Feeling inconspicuous may not be so bad. God allowed Jesus to arrive that way in order to evade Herod. He lived as a human, relatively inconspicuous, until God’s chosen time for Him to begin His ministry. God’s plan was to have Jesus be one of us, among us. His ministry was never self-serving, it was God-serving. In this age of social acceptance and self-admiration, it is easy to be offended when we are not noticed by the world, so be inconspicuous is uncomfortable to most people. We’re not the Pharisee, so anonymity in serving our King should feel like a warm blanket. So now I hope you have a better understanding of how the thoughts of being incomplete, ineffective, or inconspicuous may in them-self be a blessing in disguise.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.com

Friday Nov 15th

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘Just Ask’

Day 1: John 14:16 – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.”

Day 2: John 20:31 – “But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.”

Day 3: Isaiah 40:29 – “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.”

Day 4: 1 John 5:14 – “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.”

Day 5: Romans 8:32 – “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”

Day 6: 1 John 1:9 – “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

Day 7: John 14:23 – “Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Lest We Forget

My Great Uncle Howard spent years in Italy during the war, my Grandfather served with the Corps of Company Clerks as a Sergeant Major, my Great Uncle Malcom was with the infantry. I have pictures to remind me of them, both are on my computer and in my office. They volunteered to serve not only our nation but also those who could not defend themselves against the tyranny of the world. They gave so that others would have hope. There were many more who left but did not return. Some paid the ultimate price with their lives while others came back forever changed and their families paid a price. While I have never gone overseas or fought in any conflicts, I have lost Canadian Forces brothers and sisters who volunteered to serve our nation. They put the needs of others ahead of their own.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-13

Our soldiers put it all on the line to protect, protect those who do not have hope. They chose to go and, in many cases, they gave up their lives for people they did not know, a friend unknown.

Jesus Christ came to earth with full knowledge that He was going to lay down His own life for all mankind. He came to earth, lived the life on earth’s terms, walked the walk and, in the end, was killed by those He had come to save. While He was on the cross, He begged the Father in Heaven to forgive us because we have no clue what we were doing. Some blame the Jews while other blame the Romans but truth be told, Christ allowed this to play out, He stayed on the cross and He died. Why is this significant? Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s own life for one’s friends. Christ loved us so much He died for us and then He beat death and three days later returned to prove that death has no power over Him. He gave it all so we could know eternity in Glory with Him.

This Sunday, we will remember them. We will remember their sacrifices for those they did not know and we will also remember our Lord, Jesus Christ, His sacrifice for all humanity past, present and future. We invite you to join us if you can at 10:30 MST on Sunday or watch live online on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘BUT GOD’

Day 1: Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Day 2: Ephesians 2:4, 5 – “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)”

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: Matthew 19:26 – “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’”

Day 5: Psalm 86:15 – “But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”

Day 6: Psalm 73:26 – “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”

Day 7: Romans 12:2 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation