Thursday Thought 1/2/2025 - Not a resolutions blog

Happy 2025!  Yes, the new year is here.  And where is all the cool stuff??  Did you know in most science fiction writings, that the year 2025 has been mentioned over 50 times as the year we would have flying cars all over the world?  Now, to be fair, we do have flying cars, but they are not for public use quite yet.

But isn’t it just like humankind to overachieve on what we think we will be able to deliver, and how far we still need to come to get to that point.

That’s why we need to put our trust in God.

There is a verse in the Bible which gives me such peace when I feel that things are so chaotic and mixed up.  It is Hebrews 13:8 NIV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

It reminds me that whatever is promised, whatever is planned, whatever is trying to be achieved, that my God, my Savior is going to be the same no matter the circumstance, or the period.  HE JUST IS GOD.  And that is such a comfort, don’t you think?

I know many people who start off the year with resolutions.  I do not.  I am not a big believer in New Years Resolutions.  For a couple of reasons.  1.  No one ever actually does it.  Now, I realize that there are exceptions to everything, and I get it.  Some people do actually do these.  But…. seriously, most people don’t.  It’s almost like this yearly ritual where we are required to look at what we need to do to make ourselves better, and in order to accomplish that, we need to set ourselves some rules to do it.  Again, do not get me wrong, I think we as humans do need to push ourselves, and get ourselves right in many ways.

The main reason I am not a fan of the whole resolution thing is that WE think we can do it ourselves.  And again, it is not always a bad idea.  If we are trying to improve things in ourselves and in our community or around us… but…we need help.

As we all know, we are powerless against so many things unless God is in charge, right? 

Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Notice anything in those two verses?  These both only occur with God’s help.  He has to be a part of it, otherwise we fail. He needs to be the leader in our lives. We need to be following Him.

We are not great as humans in keeping ourselves set on the right path.  I know that I am not the only one that struggles with this.  If it were not for the fact that our Lord and Savior forgives me my struggles and gives me freedom from them – and a path to walk a new way out, I’d probably just give up.  And it saddens my heart to see others walk a path without Him leading and guiding them.

So, as we go into the year 2025, it makes you realize one thing – That our God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow….

Hebrews 13:7-8 NIV Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

As we go into 2025, I think we can Pray, Plan, and Pursue what God has for us.

God bless you!

PTV

Thursday Thought 12/12/2024 - Sci-Fi Holiday

Well, they are upon us.  Like we have talked about, the holidays come screaming in on us right after Halloween.  It’s funny, it doesn’t matter how hard I plan and try, this time of year always catches me by surprise.  I guess that’s okay.  It’s the spice of life!  And we all know the spice must flow.

Recently I have been enjoying some of my favorite movies.  Now, for some reason, I am a night owl and an early riser.  So, sleep is not something I do a whole bunch of.  I find that I am good with a full 4-5 hours each night.  I understand that my Dr. would like me to get more, however, it’s not something I am going to take meds for, and it’s not like I can just will myself to do.  Sleep can be very inconvenient that way.  So, I watch movies at night.

I have compared the most recent Blade Runner 2049 to the original 1982 Blade Runner, and I have to say that I am more of a fan of the older version.  It carries more emotion and attachment for me.  In fact, there is a quote in this movie that’s extremely poignant, which is why I am talking about this movie in the first place.

This quote occurs when (spoilers here) the designer / creator, Elden Tyrell of Tyrell Corp, is having a conversation with the leader of a splinter group of AI robots, which Tyrell had created.  In this conversation, he is talking to Roy Batty (played incredibly by Rutger Hauer), a soldier robot who has become self-aware, and has discovered he has mortality.  In this conversation, Roy tells Tyrell of the many exploits he has accomplished, seen, taken a part of – both good and bad decisions, but incredible things, nonetheless. And in his monolog of these events, he is regretting that he is going to lose all these memories because he has an “end” date.

Tyrell responds to Roy with a simple but profound quote.  “The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy.”

When we are born, we have an expiration date.  None of us knows when that is, and unfortunately it can come too early too often for many.  But we still have no idea when it will occur.  And I find it so ironic that in this movie that concept is explored.  More so than in the newer version, or any other movie I have seen in a very long time. 

I find it interesting that when it is all said and done, this question makes me think; How bright has my light shown?

When knowing he was going to die, Roy was sad for the moments he would lose.  As a Christian, I find myself sad for the moments that maybe didn’t occur because my light wasn’t bright enough.  That I was not always a beacon for the Lord, that I didn’t stand up for God when I could have.

I know the Bible tells us that in Matthew 25:21 "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master…", which describes a blessing from a master to a servant who has been faithful in their duties, signifying that they will be welcomed into heaven or a place of great joy.  It's a praise for someone who has lived a righteous life and will be rewarded in heaven.

So, I think, that maybe in a sci-fi kind of way, I want to hear, “…and you have burned so very, very brightly, Tony.”  I think that would be something I’d like to hear and know I had taken every opportunity to be a light for Him.

During this season, the season of JOY, HOPE, PEACE, FAITH, and LOVE, let’s be the light that burns brightly so others can see Him, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought 11/7/2024 - The Holidays: Give Thanks

As we rush towards the busiest time of the year, we start to take stock of many things during this season.  Let’s just start a list….

1.      Thanksgiving meal, family, thankfulness

2.      Tis the season – getting ready for Christmas!  Gifts, family, friends, gatherings, decorations, weather, travel, hurriedness.

3.      End of the year – past goals, business wrap up, taxes.

4.      Beginning of the year – new goals, business plans, annual meetings, taxes.

And in all of these actually quite important and large events that all occur within a 2-month period, we have multiple concerts, school events, church events, family events, community gatherings, work to complete, and things to cross off the list to finish prior to 2025.

Do we even have time for giving thanks?

Psalm 107: NIV “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.”

The Bible has many verses about giving thanks.  And not just giving thanks when it’s the holiday or we are in a happy place.  The Bible guides us extensively in giving thanks even when we are not feeling very thankful…

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)” Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

I mean, come on – the holidays are busy, and hectic, and we must put up with a lot of stuff that many people are just not comfortable with.  Crowds, waiting in lines, traffic, bad weather, thinking about others before ourselves, (yeah, let’s be real, this is a hard one, right?!) We are constantly being fed commercialized stories and banter that is all made to get you into a worldly view of these holidays.  To be in a hurry.  Because when we are in a hurry, we do not listen to anyone, do we.  And we need to be listening to One in particular…

The Bible tells us in Psalm 46:10 NIV “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

When we start to lose our way in this holiday season.  When the jingles and new catch phrases become too much – Be still.  Listen.  God will guide you.  He will allow you to see what you have to be so thankful for!  We have so much in this life.  And even in tragedy and hurt – we can have hope, because Christ is the Hope of the world!

Jesus — the sinless Son of God, died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose from the dead so that we too might have life in eternity.  Paul describes Jesus Christ as “our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1) and “the blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). Jesus not only came to bring hope. He IS our Hope.

We have hope because Jesus forgives us and changes us. Knowing Jesus brings peace and thankfulness regardless of possessions, and joy even through hard things. Nothing can come against this hope, because it’s Him.  He IS the HOPE!

So as this holiday season starts, and you feel those anxious feelings, sadness creeping in, and thoughts of the world take hold, think about this verse…

Philippians 4:6-7 "Don't be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks"

And stop and listen.  You will find Him, because He is waiting for you!  Yep, you.  And He wants to let you know that He loves you and doesn’t care what you’ve done.  He just wants you to know Him.

Make this season a season of giving thanks to the Lord.  For He is good, and He loves you so much!

God bless you and keep you.

PTV

Thursday Thought 10/31/2024 - Halloween

I think it’s funny that people get worked up about a “holiday” that celebrates with dressing up in costumes, and traditionally going out to your neighborhood and asking for candy from neighbors.

It makes me wonder where it all came from.  Hmmmm.

There is a storied past in European countries for the celebration of Halloween, but it was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there.

As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups and Native Americans meshed, a distinct American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included “play parties,” which were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would share stories and tell each other’s futures, dance and sing.

Did you know? More people are buying costumes for their pets. Americans spent some $700 million on costumes for their pets in 2023—more than three times what they spent in 2010. Wow!  now that cracks me up!

Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories.  By the middle of the 19th century, annual autumn festivals were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country. But in the second half of the 19th century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants from European countries helped popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally.

But what about the whole going house to house and getting candy?  I mean, isn’t that the point?

Borrowing from European traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. In the late 1800s, Halloween was turned into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts and pranks. And at the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the common way to celebrate the day.  By the beginning of the 20th century, Halloween had lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones.

Now, people use it as an excuse to go out and party.  If you talk to any nurse, or hospital worker, or EMT, you will find that October 31 is the busiest day for intoxication, disorderly conduct, broken bones, and car accidents.  An interesting way to celebrate, I think.

And I am not saying I never had any fun on Halloween eve.  I remember distinctly on an October 31st in my first year at St. Paul Bible College, (which was not in St. Paul at this time, but in St. Bonifacius) my roommates and I went to a cemetery and played hide and seek with a bunch of people from school.  I suppose that is tame, but also probably not so respectful of the people laid to rest there, or their families.

For myself growing up we just never made a big fuss about the “holiday”, and we never did with our kids either.  I mean we would go in our neighborhood and “trick or treat” or take them in their custom Mom-sewn costumes to see their grandparents, but otherwise, not a big day in our house.

I think as humans, we get way over worried, anxious, concerned about what everyone is doing about a holiday – but then we don’t seem to get as worried, anxious, or concerned about everyone’s eternity.

I mean Halloween is a man-made thing – eternity, however, is the rest of time, the whole of time itself.  And considering where you are going to spend that time, seems much more reason for concern for me.

Let’s consider what’s important before we go off on someone about what they do for a “holiday” and judge them on their actions.

What are our actions when we find out they are not going to heaven?  Are we concerned?

Peace,

PTV

(history info on Halloween provided by: The History Channel)