Loving God, Loving Each Other

It seems that each day of the year can now be called, something day, like Mother’s, and Father’s Day etc. Many of these may be entertaining, yet they do give us a chance to show others, that we care. As we enter into the month of February, and welcome Valentine’s Day, we should give some serious thought to loving our neighbors. We at Master’s Hand Ministry have invited people to celebrate this month as “Love Thy Neighbor Month”. It is a very easy concept, yet for many a stretch from their comfort zone. In Luke 10:27NCV, we are told, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.” Also, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” You see, God has given us two simple commands, and we can see the full context if we read Luke beginning at 10:25.

      

We are not to do grand things and then tell people what we did. Yet Jesus encourages us show He lives in us by the way we care for each other. It may be as simple as a kind word or a caring ear. It could be buying a coffee for a complete stranger, or a lunch for a friend. Men should love their wives, and wives should love their husbands, and always live the vows you shared. The lesson Jesus wants us to receive from this is that it is easier to love, than to hate. Edify a friend, defend them to others in their absence. Bear their stretcher in some small way. Take a simple lesson of the Samaritan who helped the injured stranger where no one else would. The smallest of favors for someone can and may just be the trigger to change a life.

      

Jesus demonstrated His ultimate love for us, by willingly going to the cross. He knew what was in store, and He also knew that even His reward for this love would be in Heaven. Through all the suffering that day with one of His dying breaths he offered salvation to another on a cross, and promised that they would be together in paradise. He also asked the Father to forgive mankind, for they knew not what they were doing.

   

Reflecting on this, I hope that we will all take time this month, and from now on, to love each other with just a little more sincerity. The small price of a piece of chocolate, is a great way of loving God, and loving each other.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Life Based On Luck

I often wonder about the term “blind luck.” Just last week, I was supposed to be meeting with a group of people but we slept in, I wasn’t going to be ready, I hate showing up late for anything and thus I decided to send my regrets. Not five minutes after my decision, the phone rang and it was a good friend of mine wanting to get together as soon as possible. It sounded urgent so I got out of bed and raced to get ready. Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in front of my friend listening intently as he poured out his frustrations and his thoughts.

To some, this may not seem like a big thing but the significance of the events led to much bigger and more wonderful things and, even now, I am not sure just where this will end up – only God knows. If I were to relate the events in full, it would take more space than is available here but, suffice to say, they all fit together nicely and for a greater purpose. Some may say this is just blind luck but I choose to believe it is God’s guidance. I am not sure I want to rely on blind luck for my circumstances in life but I know I can rely on God’s purpose and guidance.

Think of this for a moment; God laid out the plan for the birth of His son and in order for all the events to happen, the odds come in somewhere around 1 in 10 to the power of 21. Now,  according to Mathematician Peter Stoner, this is like filling the land mass of the earth to the depth of 120 feet in silver dollars, then marking one single dollar and randomly burying it somewhere in this mass and getting someone else to find it while blindfolded. God knows what He is doing and He is not blind luck. When God says He has this, it truly means He has it well in hand, why leave it up to blind luck?

This Sunday, we finish will the series on Fear, The Devil’s Playground. Services start at 10:30 MST and can be seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or viewed afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Sunday Is Coming

My wife and I like the majority of couples, have struggled with debt. We were not fortunate enough to attend university, yet were given as much as our parents could give. We have worked together for over forty years, raising three children, building our own home, driving vehicles that would constantly break down. We are just like you. This is not a tale of woe, rather a message that we’re all in the same sand box. Hopefully as we move along, it’s not quicksand. Even now, at our age, where we still have a mortgage, and other bills of the working class, we push on. Just like others our age, health struggles and energy depletion are just a couple of stones tied to our ankles as we tread water each year. Are we all drowning? Sometimes it may feel like it.

          

Then, we should remember that, we have something many people do not, or will not accept. Christ in our lives. When we wake each day with sore joints and a breath that’s hard to draw, let’s thank Him for waking us just one more time. When there seems to be more month than money, we should thank him for our jobs. When we make it to another weekend, always thank Him for sustaining us. When we get to church and are surrounded by our faith family, remember to praise His name for the fellowship and His presence. When we begin another day, another week, another year, glorify Him by our actions toward others and remain faithful to His promise of goodness and prosperity in our lives. Are we drowning now? Well, now we’re swimming.

           

Has He erased our earthly issues? No, but He has sustained us, carried us, reminded us to focus on Him, and reassured us that He will provide. He has given all of us the words to share with others, to encourage. Only God can and will do these things. Satan would throw you another stone as a life preserver. God will reach down and lift us from our mire. When we all come to a place of defeat, we should in all things, look up and remember where our help comes from. Psalm 121:2 NIV tells us. My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and earth. God, and the people He puts into our lives will, will be the encouragement to not give up.

          

Remember, Sunday is coming.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

I Got You

Years ago, when I was so much younger and not all that wise, there were times when the adrenaline rush ruled over common sense and wisdom. “I bet you can’t clear that gap!” or “What, are you chicken?” were the challenge phrases that generally set our cautions to the wayside and the sense of pride became the force behind our mighty war cry! I know for a fact that we were directly responsible for just about every grey hair on my parent’s heads. As every parent will tell you, what goes around comes around and I am now the owner of the very same silver mop.

When my son was growing up, before he got to the testing teens, there were many occasions that his sense of fear and foreboding had him on the side of the overwhelming gap shaking from fear to the point of tears. I was treading water under the diving board coaxing him to just take one more step. “Don’t worry, I got you” The look in his eyes was indescribable but it reflected the knowledge that dad was right there, ready to catch him and there was nothing to worry about. “Don’t worry son, no matter what, I got you.” Move forward to many years later, father and son standing atop a cliff fifty feet above the crystal clear pool at the bottom of Cascade Falls. I’ve done the jump numerous times but this time there is something different, my son is with me. “Let me go first to make sure it is clear and then you can follow.” My fear is not for me but rather the safety of my son. We both jumped and shared the joy of the rush.

Peter standing on the side of the boat looked out across the lake and the Lord Jesus summoned Peter to join Him.

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matt 14:28-31

Jesus knew the water would hold His weight and He knew that Peter would be safe but Peter trusted the fear rather than the promise. Jesus has made the ultimate promise, the perfect promise – “Come”, follow and trust in Him and you will know the peace of His perfection. Jesus is calling out, “I got you!”

This Sunday, we finish up the series on Fear, The Devil’s Playground. Services start at 10:30 MST and can be seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or viewed afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘Don’t Worry be Happy’

Day 1: Matthew 6:25, 26 – “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”

Day 2: Luke 12:25, 26 – “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?”

Day 3: Philippians 4:6, 7 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Day 4: Psalm 34:6 – “In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.”

Day 5: Psalm 46:3 – “Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”

Day 6: Isaiah 41:10 – “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Day 7: Philippians 4:8 – “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Ticket Is Paid For

When I was very young, at about 13 or 14yrs, living in Ontario, the highlight of summer vacation was to visit the CNE( Canadian National Exhibition) in Toronto. This one day, myself, and my younger sister and brother took the local commuter train from where we lived to the CNE grounds. Now after a hot summer day of rides, attractions, and distractions, we made our way to the train stop only to discover we didn’t have enough money for the fair to get home. By train, we were an hour from home so walking was not an option. We used a phone to call our dad, and with some persuasion, he arranged for us to come home by promising to pay for our tickets upon our arrival. We were never so happy to see our father than that day, all because he paid for us to come home.

     

Not very long after, my younger brother Jim, who would sleep walk a lot, in full sleep walking mode one night, made his way to my parent’s room, and pulling on my mom’s arm, kept crying,”pay the ticket, pay the ticket”. Well even these fifty years later, we still laugh about this. Yet, how powerful the impression had to be that even in his sleep, my brother knew how important that paid in full journey was.

          

You see, we should all be so thankful for this same gift from our Father God. Jesus has paved the way for all of us to go through life, with all of it’s experiences, just like we did that day. He allows us to make our own decisions on how we live, how we love, and yes, sometimes even how we leave. Yet in the back of all our minds is the reality that He wishes for us to always call on Him. He has gifted us with freedom of choice to love, obey, and accept Him or not. He knows that we may spend all of our life resources to the point of not having the fair to make it home. Like my dad that day, God is just waiting for that call of desperation to ask Him to provide a safe way back home. Well, He has. He has invited us to truly believe in His Son Jesus, as in John 3:16.  Simply put, our Father has provided a ticket back to Him, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. My friend’s, take comfort in knowing that no matter how far away from God you think you are, He has paid the ticket back home, you just need to call Him for it.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

What Am I Afraid Of Part Three

I remember growing up in Edmonton. We had just moved off the farm and had moved in with my Grandparents. It was a nervous time as I was going into Grade 7, into a new school and a whole new set of rules. These were city rules and I had spent much of my time on the farm. My first day of school, standing out in front of the doors, a guy I had never met before came up to me and said I looked funny, smelled funny and he didn’t like me. It has been 42 years Curtis and I will never forget the beat down you gave me that first day in the new school. It is not because I hate you for it or hold it against you but rather it was the first day of three years of getting beat up or getting chased home from school.

That was fear but at the other end there was also comfort. When I got home winded, battered and bruised, my Grandma was at the front window watching for me to get home. I later came to find out she would be there, sitting at the table, not only watching but also praying. I can still see her there and I remember her holding on to me as I just cried in her arms. Was it the strength developed over the years of taking a beating that toughened me up or was it the words she said to me every day; “Jesus loves you and will never let you go.”

And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ). Mark 15:34 NIV

Jesus, in His lowest point while on the cross, cried out to the Father just before He gave up His final breath and yet the Father never left Him for a moment. Three days after His brutal death, Jesus came out of the grave to fulfill the prophecy and to show the world there is nothing to fear. Not even death can keep our Saviour in the darkness of Sheol (hell). My God, my God, never leave me. My greatest fear is not You forsaking me but rather me forsaking You, my Saviour. You see, my God’s love is perfect and infinite and He has conquered the grave for each and everyone of us. Our love for God is fickle and finite based on convenience and circumstances. Sound harsh? For so many in this world, they have forsaken the Saviour’s love and cast Him aside as a myth or a fallacy. For so many, hope ends with the last breath.

This Sunday, we continue a series on Fear, The Devil’s Playground. Services start at 10:30 MST and can be seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or viewed afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

God’s On It

A few years ago, a lady who attends our services made this statement. She told us all that God’s on it. It’s amazing how many times I, and many of our friends have used this. The reason is not only because we look for Him, but that we see Him every day in many situations. Just this past couple of weeks, I saw how He provided two people with much needed jobs. A customer of mine opened up about his own cancer in remission, and how he knew that God had some kind of plan and purpose for him. He is holding the hand and heart of a grieving widower. He allowed medical test results to give way to a regime of treatment that will give way to healing. I saw how He looks after families and how He watched over friends who had to travel a great distance.

          

You see, He is on “it”, meaning every individual situation in all of our lives. We don’t see every single one, because He allows us to go on living while He looks after the things we cannot. He works in our lives, many times, unannounced, unseen, unacknowledged, and unappreciated.  When I refer to “our”, I mean the world. Those of us who make a conscious effort to acknowledge His presence will have days filled with images and outcomes that defy explanation. Yet, our God needs no explanation. He only needs us to have accepted Him in all things.

          

He sits now with friends in our lives who are in serious health crisis. As they rest in their sleep time, He is holding the evil one from claiming any victory of ill thoughts, and or doubt of His power. Yes, He may be preparing rooms for someone on a prayer list, and this is only because He has a reward for them as promised. Our Master is busy beyond a door we can only pass through once, so He urges all of us to prepare our hearts to someday sit face to face and say thanks you Father for not giving up on me. While we are here He wants only that we take Him into our homes, lives, community, and country. I even believe that He has His hand on the hold buttons that threaten our planet. Through all of this, and the things we don’t see, we should all be able to sleep better tonight knowing, and believing that yes, God’s on it.

          

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

What Are You Afraid Of Part Two

The obvious fear in this passage from Matthew could be said to be the fear of the weather or the fear of drowning but for me there is a part of this passage that I fear even more. Think about this for a moment. It has been said that the only guarantee in life is death and taxes. To fear death, in this context, is, in my opinion, a fear of the inevitable but my fear stems from the example of what happens when our focus shifts from the Lord to the world.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:25-31 NIV

Jesus said to take courage, it’s me, don’t be afraid. Peter still doubted what he saw and said “if” it is you, call me to you. Christ called him out and Peter took his eyes off His strength and gripped doubt.

“How can this be happening, it’s impossible, it’s never been done before, this can’t really be happening!”

Jesus says, ”follow me, take courage” yet the world says, “how do you really know this to be true?” My fear is giving into the doubt because it is so easy to sink into the murky depths. Jesus has His hand extended and says, “Take my hand!”

This Sunday, we welcome Rev. Sheri Lynne Martin from Rocky Mountain House,AB. Services start at 10:30 MST and can be seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or viewed afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Peter’s Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘NEW BEGINNINGS’

Day 1: Lamentations 3:22-24 – “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’”

Day 2: Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Day 3: Ephesians 4:22-24 – “…  throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Day 4: Philippians 3:13, 14 – “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Day 5: Acts 3:19 – “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”

Day 6: 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 7: 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.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Week At A Glance Jan 8 - 14, 2018

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Monday

Church Office Open        - 9:00 PM – 1:00 PM Tuesday - 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                          - Next Week Wednesday 1:30 PM

Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose   - Next Week Wednesday 2:30 PM

Men’s Leadership Study               - Next Week Thursday 8:00 AM

Church Service                               - Sunday 10:30 AM

Care Home Services - MVSH        - Sunday 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/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) at 11:00 AM MST

Breaking Bread, Not Tradition

On the first weekend of each New Year, my family gathers, as we have for many years, to celebrate “old” or in my case, Ukrainian Christmas. This is a family tradition on my paternal side that was started so many years ago, that it’s beyond my own memory. My grandfather, Dymetro Shindruk, was born in Austria, and as a young man, a teenager perhaps, lived in the Ukraine. As the Russians invaded the other Slavic countries in the early 1900’s, his freedom was paid for by his father by bribing border guards. He made his way to a ship in England than to Canada. After so many years, our family history faded and died with him, and my own father, yet we still celebrate. By this, I mean we enjoy a family supper at my mom’s home, on the Sunday closest to January 7^th each year, sharing traditional Ukrainian food. We will not exchange gifts, or have the twelve meatless dishes that represent the Apostles, but we will prepare peroghies, cabbage rolls, and borshch, 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 father.

          

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 and the sacrifice of our Father.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

What Are You Afraid Of?

So, here is the big question; what are you afraid of? Some people are afraid of spiders, others of dark spaces and others are afraid of heights. There are as many phobias as there are objects in the world. Here are a few you may not have heard of but they are real. Arachibutyrophobia, the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. Ergophobia, an abnormal and persistent fear of work.    Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, the fear of Long words. Philophobia, the abnormal, persistent and unwarranted fear of falling in love or emotional attachment. That one I figured out rather easily because the root, philo, means loving or fond of, so a phobia of love there makes perfect sense.

Here is the one I was looking at that started off this whole process; theophobic, a fear of God or gods. There are numerous times where we are commanded in the scriptures to fear God and, for many, this is taken rather literally. Fire and brimstone preachers used to preach that if you did not fear the power of God you could end up in hell and burn for all eternity. Fear the Lord because He holds the power to make you suffer for an eternity. There is some truth to this matter however as Scriptures does say fear God but, in the majority of cases, the term fear means respect and honour God. Is the reason so many do not believe or attend church is because they see God as a vengeful and unmerciful slave master? Do they fear that if they attend a church service, the preacher is going to order the saints of the church to bind the infidels in the basement where they will be tortured until such a time as they repent? Don’t laugh, the Spanish Inquisition and other agencies of similar tilt have done this in the past. Truly I say there are people who fear the Church because of its questionable past. Eccleiophobia, fear of the church, is an actual phobia and what has been done in the past has done His Kingdom a great disservice.

My God, the God of all creation, is a loving God ready to dole out mercy and grace upon request but there are so many out there who do not trust this message, they fear that if they give over and it is not the truth, they will be hurt or even destroyed. Is that why our society lacks trust in the church? Do we need the proof before we will believe? Are we a society ruled by the fear of the unknown so much that unless we can put our fingers in the holes left by the nails and the spear we will question or even mock that which we cannot explain? This Sunday, we begin a series on Fear, The Devil’s Playground. Services start at 10:30 MST and can be seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or viewed afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Week At A Glance

Week At A Glance Jan 1 - 7, 2018

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                          - Next Week Wednesday 1:30 PM

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

Men’s Leadership Study               - Next Week Thursday 8:00 AM

Church Service                               - Sunday 10:30 AM

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/MainAvenueFellowship/ ) at 11:00 AM MST