Thursday Thought 3/6/2025 - Are we headed for an awakening or a falling away?

I’ve read some shocking articles lately, that talk about the discontentment of the American Christian, and how many are using the phrase “dechurching” for the rise in people who used to attend a church, but now find they feel they are too busy, or they feel churches are “out of touch” with today’s culture.

In fact, in a recent article in the Winter 2025 issue of Influence magazine, the percentages that are quoted for Americans who attend church have gone from 70% in 1992 to 45% in 2023.

Of course, many will claim that this is all COVIDS’ fault.  And there is no answer for getting people to take the risk of attending a church service where illness can be caught as easily as it can be caught at the grocery store, however, somehow food is always a priority.

Let me remind you that you are reading the writing of a Lead Pastor of a rural church in Southwestern Minnesota.  So not only does this affect the ministry that I feel I am called too, but it also affects the livelihood of several people who count on the church.  So, I might be a bit biased.  But still, it is a sad state.

I do not believe that the loss in percentage of church goers is to be blamed on anything but that fact that humans are selfish and always looking out for numero uno. (themselves)

BTW – I do not claim to be better at this than anyone else.  I fall into the same traps of wanting things to be the way I want them, that I know better than God on how things should be going in my life.  And funny, when I concentrate on following a plan that puts God first in not only my actions buy also in my thoughts, I tend to be less anxious, more merciful, less impatient, and more loving.

Could it be that we just need to place our ambition, our strivings for a better life, into perseverance for trusting on the Lord?  Could it be that simple? The Bible seems to say so…

2 Peter 1:5 NIV For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge

Philippians 4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.

It has long been established in my blog that I am a very eclectic music lover.  I have so many “favorite” bands.  Right now, I am relistening to an album that a very good friend of mine, Mi Hermano, and I would listen to together as we played EverQuest.  We would quote lines from the songs as statements of how we were feeling at the time.  The band Marillion has an album Misplaced Childhood they did in 1985.  There is a song titled ”Childhoods End”, and in the lyrics I find a portion that talks about how we just make it through the day, and how our hearts are so fragile, and how God (my interpretation) is the light we can find to have our heart put back together, because God can do anything.

“Hey you, you've survived.

Now you've arrived,

But that was looking backward.

Now you've found the light.

You, the child that once loved,

The child before they broke his heart.

The heart, the heart that I believed was lost

So, it's me I see, I can do anything.”

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought 2/27/2025 - The "In-Between" Times

It’s Unseasonably Warm

Well, we live in Minnesota.  It was subzero for many days in a row just days ago, and now it is like Spring!  When seasons are like this, we get mixed up a bit with just how to prepare for the day.  Do we wear heavy coats because of a below zero wind chill, or do we wear rubber boots for all the unfrozen puddles we will face as we cross a street?

It is like that in our spiritual lives too, isn’t it.  We are just coming down from Christmas time, yes, it’s only been 2 months since Christmas… but we are at the mountain top then as Christians because it is when our Savior was born.  There is so much relevance during that time because people make accommodations for it – because its Christmas!

After Christmas, we see Easter on the horizon.  It too is a major event in the church because it reminds us of our Saviors sacrifice.  It is the single most attended church day for any church, any denomination – across America and the world.

But what about this “in-between” time?  This period when we might get mixed up a bit about how cold it is, or how warm it might be?

The Bible is very clear on how we are to address a “lull” in our ministerial pursuits.  In fact, we are warned to remain alert and vigilant.

Revelation 3:2 NIV Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.

We are called to pray and stay strong against complacency that may weaken our walk with the Lord.

Then there are periods when we feel we are stagnated or quite discouraged in not only our walk with the Lord, but our daily lives.  The Bible encourages us during these periods as well. 

Galatians 6:9 NIV Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

This reminds us that even when we feel discouraged, we can and should continue to serve faithfully and always trusting God in His work in us. We also need to focus or renew our focus on God’s calling for following Him and staying the course. 

In the gospels, Jesus warns against the distractions that can hinder not only our ministry but our own personal growth.

Luke 8:14 NIV The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

And in Ephesians we are again taught that we must stand firm against spiritual battles, even when we don’t always feel strong, or we are going through a very challenging time.

Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

So, in this time of a “lull” or “in-between” time, we need to remember that He is still asking us to stay the course.  Let us be love to one another, let us be peace to one another, let us be mercy to one another, and let us be joyful to one another, because our Savior wants us too.

I believe we can do it, if we try.

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought 1/30/2025 - At your wits end?

Have you ever felt like it was coming apart?  Like things are all going against you and you have had just about enough?  Or maybe you have even gone past that point of just about enough and you are ready to be done.

Trust me, I get you.  You may say, “…but you’re a pastor, don’t you have the faith in God to not get to that point…” or maybe “…as a religious person, don’t you put your hope in God, and pray to Him, and all things work out?”.  

Guess what?  I’m just as human as the next person, and things drag me down into places where I feel I can’t see any light.  It’s actually very normal.

From a study done in 2021 it states that over 8.3% of people are extremely depressed and over 12% of all people have major depression episodes frequently.

Now I do not want to oversimplify things, but as a Christian, I need to have hope in God.  You see that I did not say as a Pastor, but I said as a Christian.  Because when we are dealing with concerns about our well-being, mental health, and overall outlook on life, there shouldn’t be any delineation over choice of occupation.  It needs to be a personal thing.

And yes, I believe that I need to put my hope in God.  And that requires me to do a few things.

I need to read the Word. The Bible is a source of healing and also promises from God to us regarding this very subject.  Look at these verses and hear the concern and love in them.

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

Both verses tell us that He is with us, that He will help us.  They state that He will strengthen us and even hold us up.  And how?  We just have to come to Him.  And how do we do that?  By reading His Word, and by praying, or talking to Him.

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

He tells us to bring to Him anything, in any and every type of situation through “prayer and petition” talking to Him.  A conversation with the Lord can go a long way to seeing you taking a new approach or a new thought about something that has been bothering you.

I think many times we see the Lord as this High on His Throne God, who can’t take time for His subjects. When in reality it is quite the opposite.  I mean in the book of John; we see that God actually comes down to be with His people.

John 3:16-17 NIV - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

We see in this passage that God, who is Jesus and The Holy Spirit, came down to live on earth as a man.  He experienced pain, hurt, and sorrow.  He knows what it is like to lose something or someone.  He has experienced hunger, thirst, and physical pain.  He knows what it is like, and what we feel.

So, to pray to someone who understands what my hurts are, gives me hope and gives me comfort.  Because He understands. 

Lately I have been finding that God’s Word, The Bible is a salve to the thoughts, heartaches, and pains that accompany this human life.  I have found that actually hearing it out loud makes a difference too.  It fills not only my eyes, but my ears too.  There is actually an ache that I cannot take it in more, to experience it more.  For it to illuminate my every thought as well as my every step.

Maybe that is what is meant then by the verse.

Psalm 119:105 NIV - Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Let’s look to God to give us guidance when we are feeling low, even lower than low.  When those days and weeks stretch out before us, and it’s hard to see around them to the next “thing”, let’s let God do that looking and planning.  And we just rest in Him and His Word.

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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