"You could have saved us in a second... instead, You sent a child." Why did God send us Jesus as a child? Why couldn't He have shown His awesome power in a crash of thunder and saved us from the sin and pain we experience in the world today? We all know of the three gifts that were brought to Jesus at His birth. But is it possible that Jesus being born as a child, living, walking, and breathing on this Earth, brings us three transforming gifts each Christmas season?

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house... we're waiting... waiting for something special - yes, even the mouse... " For many of us, Christmas is a season of waiting: waiting for family to arrive for the holidays; waiting for morning to come so we can open presents; waiting for the season to end so that painful memories from the past will subside. But waiting for Christmas began long before the presents and the tree - long before Santa Clause himself ever existed. What truths can we learn from those who waited for the true gift of Christmas?

What does it mean to fear God? Is God scary? If so, why is He depicted as being a loving Father? Why does the Bible tell us not to be afraid - and yet to fear God? In Part 2 of "Fearful No More", Pastor Ian shares the truth and freedom found in living a life that fears God.

We were created to do great things. Yet, all too often our propensity for greatness is disqualified by that whispering shadow in our lives - that deceitful voice which tries to make itself bigger than it really is: Fear. Our fear causes us to look around and compare our worth with others rather than owning the promise God has given us; fear tells us to shy back in false humility rather than stepping out as the giant slayer who God created us to be. In "Fearful No More", Pastor Ian challenges the lies that fear tries to drown us in and instead declares the truth that God has spoken over us.

At times, we can be caught living life passively. Maybe we've become disillusioned or discouraged with our current circumstances; maybe we've stepped out in faith and taken a risk before only to fall flat on our face in failure. In these times, it can be very tempting to step back, fold our arms, and live the "passive" life. But is it worth it? Are there dangers to passivity? In "Passive No More", Pastor Ian addresses the many pitfalls of passivity and points us instead towards a life of faith and action.

Have you ever looked around at your life and thought, "Where am I? How did I get here? Is this all there is? What's next for me?" So often we can get caught up in our daily, routine lives and we become so tired or apathetic that we forget about the dreams we once had - the desire to make the most of this life we've been given. What if right now is the time to step up or go to the next level? What if the struggle we've endured has brought us to the half-way point - and it gets better from here? Pastor Val Byrd encourages us that NOW is the time - God has something great in store for all of us.

"Lest we forget..." The timeless phrase that calls us to never forget the sacrifice that was made for our nation - for our freedom. The call to remembrance was certainly trademarked after The Great War, but that's not where remembrance originated. In a society where work and busyness seem to take precedence, how often do we forget why we are here, who we were called to be, what we were saved from, and the purpose of our life journey? On the night where He would be betrayed, Jesus gathered His closest friends for a final meal, and He shared with them an unforgettable truth that would help them persevere through the road ahead of them - a truth that is meant to give our lives meaning today: Living in Remembrance.

For many of us, when we think of church we imagine our Sunday assemblies with heartfelt "Hellos" from the greeter, half-decent coffee, inspiring worship, and good teaching. For many others around the world, the concept of "church" has much more sacrifice and risk to it. November 4th is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church where we lift up our fellow Christians all around the world who are regularly rejected, abused, and even martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. On this day, we pray for their strength and perseverance, but we also take time to reflect on God's call for our lives as the church of Calgary and Canada.

In a world that often feels dark, daunting, and oppressive, what hope do we have? Guest speaker Jeff Pessina and his family have spent their lives ministering in the Philippines where they have experienced every heartbreak and darkness of the world. But even amidst the turmoil, they have experienced Jesus reaching through the darkness to spread His transforming love in the lives of the destitute around them. We are God's church - the light of the world, and Jeff shares how we can truly let our light shine in the world around us.

"I'll never be able to really succeed in this life. My dreams are just that - a dream. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to overcome the habits and pitfalls that are holding me back."

Have any of these thoughts ever run through your mind? What if the problem with our success has to do with our... thinking? This week, Russell Byrd shares a key to success - but ironically, it starts with quitting.