Thursday Thought - 4/30/2026 - You've Got SPAM

If you are like me, and I know I am – then you get many emails that are considered “spam” (which is a food product, and why it is associated with calls and contacts that you don’t want, I am unsure.  But that is another blog for another time) that clutters your inbox and your texts, and voice mail.  These unwanted intrusions are from social media marketing being utilized by most companies, especially if you show an interest in their product or service.  For example, I was looking for a new hair product to make my hair something that I’m sure it couldn’t be – and now I am flooded with a stream of hair product ads for men.  I didn’t even know there were that many men who had hair enough to use all these products!  But there they are, in my inbox and my random texts…

It started making me think of how often I waste time during the day by scrolling through my phone or looking up things.  And I don’t feel I am really into social media that much.  In fact, I’ve been told that I should step up my game, so that our church can get noticed and people can hear about us.

You know what I want?  I want people to notice Northwood Church because it loves people genuinely, and that it shares the gospel of Jesus Christ and it’s saving power!  Now that is the type of marketing I want!

But we do this – as humans don’t we.  We seek affirmation from outside sources to make ourselves feel better about who we are, our decisions, and our lives.  We may rationalize it, we may say that it is for the greater good, but overall, we just need affirmation because as humans we crave it.

Jesus consistently pushed against the idea that we need affirmation, approval, or validation from the world. Instead, He taught that our identity and worth come from God alone.  And you may know this, but it’s hard to be in this space because it goes against the nature of what the world says.

In Matthew 6:1, Jesus warns: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.”  Here He is talking about our motivation for living a righteous life.  Why are we doing it?  Is it to win souls, or is it to be patted on the back?

In John 5:44, Jesus says: “How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”  Seeking approval from the world separates us from a relationship with Him.

And it’s all about feeling valued.  Right?  We want to be seen, heard, and approved of.  These worldly traits are not how Jesus set this whole thing up.  Because our worth should be anchored in God, not people.

Luke 12:6–7 tells us, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Jesus is saying: You are not overlooked. You are not random. You are not valued based on what others think or say. God knows you in detail and cares for you deeply—so you can live without fear.

Jesus didn’t just say we don’t need worldly affirmation—He taught that seeking it can pull us away from God. Instead, He calls us to live knowing we are seen and valued by God.

So, the next time you get a “spam” email, instead of it infuriating you, and then you have to delete it, take that time as you do, to remember how loved, seen, and affirmed you are by the Creator of the Universe!  

This time sapper can become a picker upper!

Peace –

PTV

Thursday Thought - 4/2/2026 - Maundy Thursday

In the next few days, many of you will be going to church.  It is Easter time, and that is the one of the two most attended Sundays in the calendar year.  The other being…?  Christmas!  Yes, you guess it.

These two dates are etched in many childhoods, and many traditions have going to church as a part of the event of the season. 

These days it gets to the point where it is a bit hilarious the lengths people will go to claim their rights, their self-rights. The rights to a religious freedom or not.  And I keep telling people, yeah, we have rights.  The right to worship the only one is worthy of praise, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

But Easter.  That brings everyone out to church.  In fact, most pastors report that there is a 75% to 95% increase in attendance during this Sunday.

Why do you think that is?  Easter is just another Sunday, another gathering at church where we focus on our relationship with Christ.  Why do so many think that attending this Sunday will absolve them of a year’s worth of sin? 

When in fact, Christ is not looking for us to check in with Him once or twice a year, but He really wants to have a relationship with us that in a day-to-day type of thing!

The Bible says:

James 4:8 (NIV): "Come near to God and he will come near to you."

Revelation 3:20 (ESV): "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

Luke 9:23 (NIV): "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"

Psalm 63:1 (NIV): "...earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you..."

These are reminders that this is not just a couple of Sunday’s a years’ worth of checking in, this is a lifelong relationship where we are accountable to Him who guides us, blesses us, directs us, and gives us what we need.

I attended a Maundy Thursday service in my community this year, at the Evangelical Free Church of Redwood Falls, MN where my good friend Pastor Miguel Marti pastors.  The service was clean and elegant.  It focused on the reason why we need to be a community in love and service.  And how do we do that with denomination, title, church names, and congregations in the way.

We do it by having a relationship with the one who is worthy.  The Lamb of God.  He makes it all occur.  And we just need to accept Him, follow Him, trust Him, and abide within Him.

Yeah, you can do all of that and only attend church twice a year.  Easter and Christmas.  But if you are doing that, abiding in Him, and all these other things, why wouldn’t you want to be as near to Him as you could, as much as possible, and be with those who also have accepted Him?  Together, like a team?

It’s a question you may need to answer.

I’m closing with blessing that I gave at the service Thursday.  It speaks to why and how we can do this all together, and the blessings we receive because of it.

Go now in the quiet grace of this holy night.

As Christ has loved you, love one another—

with humble hearts, willing hands, and faithful lives.

May the One who knelt to wash the feet of friends

teach you the way of servant love.

May the Bread of Life strengthen you,

and the Cup of the new covenant fill you with hope.

Walk gently into the shadow of the cross,

trusting that even in the darkness, God is at work.

And may the peace of Christ guard your hearts,

the love of God surround you,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit remain with you,

now and always.

Jesus said, in John 13:34 NIV

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Go in that love, to serve as Christ has served.

Amen.

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought 3/19/20206 - Tithing vs. Giving

There has always been an uncomfortable place in the church, at least for most churches, the tithing / giving scenario.  It sounds sort of like a secret mission given to a super spy in which they need to figure out how this works.  And I think we sometimes look at it that way too.  What is it, and why is it, and what is the difference.

As a pastor, most people think that the tithe, the weekly giving is for the pastor’s salary, or to keep the doors open, pay the utilities of the church.  That is part of it.  But only a portion.

There are great verses in the Bible that pertain to this all, and I bet you have heard them all if you have attended a church service…

Malachi 3:10 (ESV): "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need".

Proverbs 3:9 (NIV): "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops".

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV): "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver".

Deuteronomy 14:22 (NIV): "Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year".

Luke 6:38 (NKJV): "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom...".

These are excellent verses, and they give us such a great base line for tithing – They instruct us, they give us direction and wisdom into why God asks us to give Him our treasures.  Because there lie our hearts!

And so you go to church, or you hear it online and they talk about tithing / giving.  And what you hear is “…the church is talking about money again…” and I tell you, that is what you are hearing because that is where your heart is.

It is not in a place where you hear God saying “…trust me…” you are hearing, “I have to give away my hard-earned money”.  Guess what?  It’s not yours.  If you are a Christ follower, that money – is God’s.  Your house, your car, your children and grandchildren.  Your spouse, your family and friends, even who you are, or your time – they are all God’s.

Tithe isn’t just about money.  It’s about your treasure.  What or who is your treasure?  That is what you need to give to God.

So, when we tithe, we are just giving to God what is already God’s.  He gave it to us to steward and shape to help His kingdom grow on earth.  But it’s His.

I have been asked the question lately what the difference between tithe and giving is.  And there are huge sweeping philosophical answers that take large reams of paper and background materials to explain – and if you are looking for that, you can find it on Dave Ramsey’s website, or just google it… But I have a simpler take on it.

Tithe is what God instructs us to do.  He gives us this rule to ensure that we keep entering into relationship with Him.  He wants to give us steps so that we can keep an ongoing discussion with Him.  Tithe is a law; Tithe is my honor to my King.

Giving is what I want to give from my heart because I want to honor Him even more!  It is freely given from my heart to show purpose to what I feel God is doing either at my church, in a mission field, or by someone in particular.  Giving is my freewill.  Giving is my choice.  Giving is above and beyond.  Giving is a blessing because I’ve been blessed.  Giving is one of my forms of worship to my Savior.

Don’t look at it as you are losing your hard-earned money.  Look at it as, you earned this for God, and you GET to GIVE it to HIM!!  You GET to HONOR HIM.  You GET to RELATE with HIM!  It’s a blessing to tithe and to give.  Look at it as such.  You will be blessed!

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought 3/5/2026 - Things we go through that others do not see

I feel like there is a theme that my blogs have taken in the last few weeks.  They seem to go towards the more somber, or melancholy.  I do not feel depressed, but I think a clinical psychologist would say that I may have some repressed feelings towards a downward spiral.  Let’s just say that I am thinking about many things, and there are things on my mind that we all think about.

Unfortunately for many, when things are anxious or stressful their health suffers too.  It can be quite serious, and I do pray that those who struggle with this find peace and health through those occasions.

I got a text from someone that brought up 1 Timothy 6:12 NIV.  It states, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

The reminder here is simple.  When Paul wrote this to Timothy, he was not in a place of comfort or peace.  Most scholars place it A.D. 66, or shortly after Paul's release from prison in Rome.  Paul probably wasn’t in the best of health, or in the best place mentally either.

And Paul’s “the good fight” is to remain faithful, to remain faithful even when it would be easier to walk away.  And Paul was very familiar with this type of action.  Remember, Paul was a Roman who used to persecute Christians, hunt them down and have them arrested.  Now he is preaching to them, instructing them, even rebuking them.  You must wonder if Paul suffered from the resentment that was pointed his way.  You must wonder how the constant pressure of opposition against a message that called him to deliver was pushed back not only by unbelievers, whom you would think would take opposed views.  But also, the Christians who knew Paul’s background and thought, “what does this guy know?”

This message reminded me that our fights might look similar.  Maybe your good fight is simply the decision to show up again tomorrow.  To face the day in and day out pressure of being who Christ calls you to be.  Maybe it is just praying, so that you can trust Him with things that are completely out of your control.

The reminder is this; The good fight is rarely loud.  It is usually the daily, steady, and often unseen perseverance of the faithful to the Lord. 

So, keep fighting.  Keep persevering.  Not for the recognition.  Not for the accolades.  But because faithfulness matters.  Because faithfulness defines us, and faithfulness creates in us a renewed heart.

Peace,

PTV