Pointes Of View

Stories shape the world. You’ll find stories here of how Christian faith catalyzes values, relationships and purpose.  Check out the popular posts page, for a curated list of top articles.

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The Power of Thankfulness

We have had a really amazing Autumn so far in the Edmonton area. Some would say that the last month or so has been better than our whole summer, especially from the standpoint of weather! I am enjoying the fall colours, and the cool mornings don’t really bother me, especially when it warms up by the afternoon. Seasonal Blues But I do notice that now that the days are shorter, there is a seasonal sadness or weight that can set in. At first it is a bit imperceptible, then it grows, multiplies, and if not treated or dealt with, can slow me down and steal away joy that I would normally have in the little things of life, like a…
Michael Voll
October 11, 2019
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generoUS with our Time

This week we are starting a new series called “generoUS.” We will be talking about a few of the many ways that we can be generous, and I’ll be zeroing in on how we can be generous with our time on Sunday. Time is Precious Time is our most precious commodity, as it is not renewable. If you make a poor investment or buy something you regret, you can always make that money back. However, when you waste time, you will never get it back. It’s gone. Forever. That is probably why people most of us would rather buy the whole box of chocolate almonds that our child has to sell for their sports team than have to sell them…
Michael Voll
October 4, 2019
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There is More Stretching

Have you ever felt like you were being stretched to the limit? I certainly have. There have been times when I wondered if I could bear another moment of grief, shame or pain. I just needed a moment of relief, or I might snap in half. Stretching is Healthy However, stretching is a healthy part of life. Without stretching there is no growth. If a child does not grow, we get very concerned and make doctors and specialist appointments in an effort to determine the problem. The athlete stretches before, during and after a play in order to have the greatest range of motion and to perform at their peak. A hunter pulls the bow its max in order to…
Michael Voll
September 19, 2019
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Building a Legacy

It’s amazing what people can accomplish when they put their heads together. In the Clouds My knees were shaking on the viewing deck Empire State Building in New York. My mind raced as I wondered “Is this old building safe?” This question was quickly followed by, “How could it withstand the punishment of wind, rain, snow and even an airplane crash for over 89 years?” Amazing. Or consider the pyramids of Egypt or the Mayan ruins…the ingenuity of people to create and build is mind-blowing for me, a non-engineer. In the book of Genesis, we are told about a tower that was being constructed out of bricks and mortar (chapter 11). This was quite likely the worlds first skyscraper, a…
Michael Voll
September 12, 2019
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There is More!

In 10, 9, 8, 7… There is something powerful and exciting every time I see a video of a rocket launch and the deep voice that accompanies it, slowly counting down the numbers to lift off. When the engines ignite, and the rocket breaks free of the tower, there is an expectancy of adventure, exploration and hanging on for a great ride! Ready to Launch This weekend at North Pointe we are launching our programs and ministries for the fall. This is also a time of adventure, exploration and hanging on for a great ride, and we want you to to be a part of it! We are hosting the community for our annual Fall Family Carnival on Saturday, September…
Michael Voll
September 5, 2019
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Bringing Hope One Person at a Time

 In the last week, our home has been buzzing with the excitement of labeling new school supplies, resetting sleep schedules and determining what clothing we need to buy for the coming year (kids grow so much!).  Hope in Zimbabwe In Canada, we have a lot of freedoms we take for granted. One of those freedoms is a quality education from kindergarten through grade 12. This is not the case in many countries around the world. But through the generosity of North Pointe, this is slowly changing. In Zimbabwe, a country with political and economic instability, your giving is bringing stability to families and children. As a church, we are a supporter of the Village of Hope. At the Village, kids…
Michael Voll
August 30, 2019
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Baptism by Fire

This Sunday we are going to be celebrating with 19 people who are taking the next step in their faith journey by getting baptized. I love cheering on the people who are ‘taking the plunge.’  This is a very important symbol and step of obedience in the life of a Christian. Submerged Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward reality. The reality for each of these people is that they have believed in Jesus and have chosen to follow Him for the rest of their lives. And now they are living out Jesus’ own example-he was baptized and then he commanded all who follow him to be baptized as well (Matthew 28:18-20). They will be symbolically buried with Christ,…
Michael Voll
August 24, 2019
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Priority Matters

Around the middle of August every year, I get a growing sense of expectation. Summer is awesome (it’s BY FAR my favourite season), but there is something to be said for getting back into some of the regular rhythms and routines that September naturally brings. It is an opportunity to hit the reset button on the year, 2/3 of the way through. What a deal! Never Too Late to Make a Change So if 2019 hasn’t been all that you had hoped, or if you really need to bear down to make some changes in your personal life, now is the time to do it. However, if you are going to make positive changes, makes sure your priority is Jesus.…
Michael Voll
August 18, 2019
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True Wisdom

Experts have charted the progression of knowledge that the world has produced, and the rate that is has grown over the last several thousand years. It's quite startling. Knowledge Growth Up until about 1900, knowledge doubled approximately every hundred years. By 1950, it was doubling every 25 years. In the year 2000, knowledge doubled every year….and now it sees to be doubling EVERY DAY. Wow. Mind Blown! Regression? With all of this knowledge, you would think that the human race would be progressing. It doesn’t seem to be that way. While we may be gaining knowledge, it seems we have not gained wisdom. There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom. The Bible tells us that “Knowledge puffs up”…
Michael Voll
August 10, 2019
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Taming the Tongue

I was five years old when I first saw fire damage. A house in our neighborhood went up in flames and before long it was burned down to the studs. Little was left except for the charred remains of what was furniture, walls, flooring, and memories. My dad walked me through it a few days after the fire and it was an eerie experience. Total Devastation Fire devastates. As Albertans, we have experienced large fires in the last few years. Slave Lake, Fort Mac, and the number of forest fires in the northern parts of our Province that have blanketed our open sky with smoke and threatened to block out all sunlight from our summer. For those far away from…
Michael Voll
July 31, 2019