Thursday Thought - 10/24/2024 - It Feels Soon

This year has rushed by, hasn’t it?  I mean, it seems like we just came out of the “deep freeze” of winter here in MN, and now we are headed back into it.  In another week, (November 3rd) we will be turning our clocks back an hour just so we aren’t in perpetual darkness for a bit.  But those days of getting up in the morning to darkness, and then driving home in the early evening in darkness are almost here.

I think lately I have been feeling like life is that way too.  As I have headed into later years of my life, I feel like more of my time is in darkness than in light.  This world, this time in our culture, and the things that are occurring in our world right now, remind me that we are on a timeline.  There is only a finite set of seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, and years left.  I don’t say this to cause alarm, or anxiety – especially in families where there are young children involved, but I do say it to remind us that God is coming back.

In taking stock of life, and decisions, and legacy I find myself wondering if I’ve done enough.  And if I am wondering if I have, then its probably a good indicator that I have not.  There are people out there who don’t know that simply by not making a decision, they are making a decision.  Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He came to earth to die for all sin, because He loves us.  Then He rose again and went to be with The Father in heaven.

Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"

1 Peter 2:24: "'He himself bore our sins' in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness"

2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God"

So, when I look and see people walking into eternity with no plan for it, I find myself overcome with sorrow and a renewal of purpose to trust God’s plan for me to tell others about God’s love and His wanting of all humanity to join Him in paradise.

I don’t know when Jesus is coming back, no one does – but the Bible tells us:

Matthew 24:36-44 NIV “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Let’s be diligent.  Let’s be mindful of the people around us.  And let’s be willing to take a chance that someone needs to hear how much Jesus loves them.

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought - 10/10/2024 - Mental Health and the Church

How does one move forward through sadness and grief.

This question has come up quite often lately, and more often than it used to.  These times seem to be breeding this instability that makes people unsure of how to focus, be guided by God, or even reason through some things.  We have become a nation of people completely unfocused on our own beliefs.

There is an answer of course.  It is God.  And I could end the conversation right there.  But of course, as human beings, we need some things explained.  Wouldn’t it be nice just to say it and it be done.  (but again, that’s not the human way)

Jesus said in John 14:6 NIV Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

So, if we were to just go to Him, we would find the way, (a path through our struggles), we would find the truth, (enlightenment and plain facts), and we would find “the life”.  Not a life, not a life we are currently enduring. But the life that only He can give us is in relationship with Him.

It’s not rocket surgery.  I was reading “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers today, and it states,

“…We do not grow into a spiritual relationship step by step— we either have a relationship or we do not. God does not continue to cleanse us more and more from sin— “But if we walk in the light,” we are cleansed “from all sin” (1 John 1:7). It is a matter of obedience, and once we obey, the relationship is instantly perfected. But if we turn away from obedience for even one second, darkness and death are immediately at work again.

All of God’s revealed truths are sealed until they are opened to us through obedience. You will never open them through philosophy or thinking. But once you obey, a flash of light comes immediately. Let God’s truth work into you by immersing yourself in it, not by worrying into it…”

The beauty of this is that it is that simple.  We can achieve a walk with God, relationship with God, a cleansing from sin, and an understanding of our purpose if we obey Him.

And what defeats depression, anxiety, sadness more than knowing what your purpose is?

Nothing.  That is why God makes it so clear what our purpose is:

• Worship God and live your life as an offering to Him. 

• Share the Gospel with those around you. 

• Love others the same way God loves you so they can also have a restored relationship with Him. 

• Do everything for the glory of God.

 To be clear, this is not to minimize or take lightly any struggle that anyone is having with depression, grief, anxiety, or any type of mental health illness.  We recognize that these are illnesses, and need care, counsel, and attention.  The church has far too long looked upon these and placed them into a bin to be sorted later.

 That should not be the reaction of the church.  We need to address these concerns, and help with mercy and grace, just like Jesus did.  To love and understand, and to guide towards the truth of relationship with Christ.

 If you or someone you know is struggling right now with a crisis, a mental health illness, and depression – please reach out.  Call your church, call our church, call a mental health professional and share.  There is no shame in getting help.  In fact, there is hope and a light at the end of the tunnel!  Working together with a relationship with Jesus and talking to a mental health professional is a wonderful way to find balance.

 Isn’t it great to know that God made it so simple for us to find Him?  Jesus said:

 John 14:27 NIV “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

 Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought - 10/3/2024 - I Thank God

I recently had the opportunity to attend a prayer retreat where I had a unique vantage point of the whole proceeding.

See, I am a technician at heart.  I have run audio and video since high school av club with film strips synced to an audio cassette tape.  Yep, I’m “seasoned”.  And I was invited to serve on the team that got to bring the worship for our retreat.

And standing (sometimes sitting) behind the sound board brings a very intimate view of how people are affected by teachings and worship.

I grew up in the church.  My mother made sure that I understood who Jesus was, what He did for me, and where I got to go if I believed that He died for my sins and He rose again.  And I have held onto this promise my whole life.  In fact, as I get older, this promise becomes more and more a lifeline to my whole existence.  But as a kid growing up, you don’t think about things like fasting, or sacrifice.  And this retreat was all about both.

When you watch people who don’t know they are being watched, that is when you see the true character of people sometimes.  As an audio technician, I got to watch people overwhelmed by the Spirit of God, see humbleness in praying for one another, see people at some of their most vulnerable.

And God is there.  I watched as people were asking God for healing, were praying together over sorrows, as people sought forgiveness and repentance.  And sometimes it isn’t pretty and scripted and follows all the correct procedures.  Sometimes God just comes in, and order goes out the window!  He will have His way!!

I thank God for the unique vantage point I had at this event.  I thank God for the really, really good people that I know who make up the MN District of the Assemblies of God.  I thank God for his direction in the lives of so many leaders in all of these spiritual matters.  And I thank God for giving me the presence of that time, to take it in.  To process it and understand that seeing God’s people isn’t always about the pomp and circumstance, but can be, and will be completely about God moving in the exact direction that He wants things to go.

For God moving in lives, for God directing in plans, for God loving us so.

I thank God.

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought - 9/19/2024 - Politics

I have been in several discussions lately, as many of you have because of the upcoming elections, that have become very heated, very “passionate” and very animated, due to views on politics.  It is the hot topic right now, and it does seem to have taken the tenor of “whomever shouts loudest will be the one who is right”.

I was a part of a conversation with some pastors this past week on how we address this from the pulpit.  Or maybe the better question was do we even address it from the pulpit.  And there were obviously different trains of thought.

One thought was to just preach the Bible.  Now, that cannot be wrong, right?!?  I mean, who can argue with just preaching the Bible at a time like this, or any time for that matter.  It is the main teaching tool that we use at Northwood Church, and it is likewise the same for most Pastors that I know.  So, this is a great option but also sort of avoids the subject.

Then there is the strong opinion message that comes with a slanted voting guide, either one way or the other – that may alienate or divide in its message.  Something that as I look at Jesus’ teaching, He actually did on regularity.  (Matthew 23:27-28 NIV “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.)

This is just one example of this.  However, if you look at the message, His concern isn’t about the topic, its about their hearts.  See Jesus was always about the heart.  About how we were doing in relationship to Him.

(Luke 20:46-47 NIV “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”)

I believe that Jesus is more concerned with where our hearts are.  In fact, Jesus did speak about the government – this verse from Mark comes up in most discussions.  (Mark 12:13-17 NIV Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.)

In many discussions it is pointed out that what Jesus says in this passage that there’s a place for the government and for us following it. That it may have a true place and duty. But when God comes into consideration there is a new idea. A soon as we place God next to an earthly ruler, “Caesar’s” worth is immediately put into perspective. “Caesar” is a reflection of all others - earthly policies will crumble and statues will erode, but God remains.

I feel as a disciple of Christ that our goal is to direct others to the Cross.  That is our task, assignment, function, and responsibility as the church – and as His disciples.

Getting into shouting matches over who to vote for, and exclaiming truths, however Biblical and correct, have never persuaded people to “seeing” Christ’s truth.  Jesus’ way was one of love, mercy, and grace.  Did He say hard things?  Always.  But if you search the scriptures, you will see that His ultimate goal in all of His responses were to get to the truth of the heart.  Not of any subject matter, or tenet, or platform.

Jesus’ concern was letting people know that they are loved, and that HE came for them.  And that in order to be with HIM in eternity, you had to accept HIS free gift of HIMSELF.  HE came to die and take on all our sins, so that we might be made clean in the sight of GOD.  JESUS came, and now we must believe in HIM, acknowledge HIM as the KING, and believe that HE sacrificed for us and conquered death, rising from the grave to be seated at the right hand of the FATHER.  Jesus’ concern wasn’t that we all aligned on a policy or a manifesto.  HIS greatest desire for us is to be united with HIM.  To come into a place where we have a relationship with HIM.

JESUS’ platform for this election season is this:

John 14:6-8 NIV Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”

Maybe it seems naive, but my intelligence chooses to place my trust in Jesus. Will I vote? Absolutely! God will direct me; I believe in that. I count on that.

Peace,

PTV