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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Good News for the Blues

Monday, January 20 was “Blue Monday,” infamous for being the most depressing day of the year. Whether this is actually based on real scientific evidence, or whether it’s simply a claim that has gained acceptance through repetition, for those of us in northern regions, January can be pretty bleak. Weather Woes In the Edmonton region, we have just come through an extended cold snap. While it shouldn’t catch us by surprise (we experience -30C temperatures 3 days each year on average), when it arrives we never seem prepared. Couple these temperatures with the short amount of daylight and long, dark nights as well as mounting bills from the Christmas season… Is it any wonder we have the blues? I periodically…
Michael Voll
January 24, 2020
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Feasting, Food Banks, and Fasting

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2020, a time when we were supposed to be driving hover-mobiles, living to age 150, and even sending our laundry to be done for us by robots. I guess predictions aren’t always to be trusted! Make a Change Whatever the case may be, a new year is here, and each day is a chance for you to make a positive difference in this world, whether in a big way or in many small ways. Either way, it all starts with one step. Christmas is a time of feasting, with turkey dinners and all sorts of tempting sweets at every turn. However, as we know, for many families, it is difficult to make rent, let alone…
Michael Voll
January 9, 2020
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Our Thanks to You

Merry Christmas! At Christmas, we naturally take time to thank God for the blessings in our lives. It is God who is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), and the greatest gift the world has ever received is Jesus (John 3:16). Impact It is amazing the huge impact a tiny baby has had on our world. And Jesus continues to change lives today. In this last year at North Pointe, we have had 68 people make first-time decisions to follow Jesus. And 43 people have been baptized. This is exciting! In a culture that often says that Christianity is outdated and irrelevant, the Good News continues to make a tangible difference in lives in Edmonton and…
Michael Voll
December 18, 2019
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Jesus Others You

One of the strongest longings that humans have is for joy. In the Christmas season, we do all we can to manufacture a sense of joy. We decorate with bright lights, festive ornamentation and even give and receive presents to bring a smile to a friend or loved one. The Problem of Happiness These are all valid and I wholeheartedly embrace the traditions of Christmas-especially lights on our houses when the days are short and the nights are dark. LED lights, for as insignificant as they may be, can produce fuzzy feelings on the most ardent Scrooge. The problem is that we easily forget the source of joy. Joy is not something that can be manufactured. That is happiness. And…
Michael Voll
December 12, 2019
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Seven Life-Changing Words

Seven simple words can change a life forever: “Will you go to church with me?” Simple, Yet Profound I know it sounds simplistic, but many profound shifts in life start with a simple gesture, word or invitation. “Will you go out with me?” “Will you marry me?” “Will you accept the job?” I could go on, but I think you get the point. In the month of December, there are few important dates I’d like you to keep in mind and prayerfully consider who you might say the “seven simple words” to. Circle Your Calendar On Monday, December 2 at 7pm our Women’s Ministry is hosting the event called “Invited.” Connie Jakab, a long-time friend of mine, will be sharing about…
Michael Voll
November 27, 2019
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No More Waxy Chocolates!

It is almost that time of year to buy an Advent Calendar. Arrival Don’t know what that is? It’s a rectangular cardboard box with 24 perforated windows in it. Each day from Dec 1-24 you open one of these windows and inside is a treat or chocolate of some type. As a kid, I loved these advent calendars, even though the chocolate tastes a lot like a wax candle (don’t ask me how I know what a candle tastes like…). Our kids get an advent calendar each year as a symbol of the arrival of Jesus. That’s what advent means, arrival or coming. We prepare our hearts for the coming of the Saviour, Jesus into the world at Christmas. Reverse…
Michael Voll
November 21, 2019
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#Blessed are the Merciful

I think we have all been on the receiving end of mercy. As a kid, I would have tickle fights with my dad and after five seconds of sheer torture/bliss I would yell out “mercy!” in an effort for a brief reprieve. Of course, he may have been slower to mercy than I would have liked, but he always let off so I could catch my breath long enough for me to cry out “more!” As a young teenager, I was mowing my pastor’s lawn when he was on holiday with his family. I wanted to do the best job possible. I got carried away in my enthusiasm and took the weed eater around their new kiddie pool. Needless to…
Michael Voll
November 16, 2019
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Blessed are the Poor

The modern-day hashtag (#) surfaced in August 2007 on Twitter. Since then it has grown in use and is now a staple on Instagram and Facebook. These hashtags are a way of arranging discussions/posts so they are easily searchable. Some of the most popular hashtags are #love, #photooftheday, and #happy. For the last few years, #blessed has been used and abused to describe a favourite outfit, vacation destination or extravagant meal. I think that is what almost everyone wants. Blessings that fulfill our every dream, desire and longing. #Blessed But is this what it means to be blessed? Not according to Jesus. In Matthew 5 we read some of the most famous, and difficult, teachings of Jesus. In the Beatitudes…
Michael Voll
October 31, 2019
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generoUS in our Reach

So much is out of our reach. As little kids we went on tiptoes in an effort to grab a cookie off the counter and as adolescents, we may have struggled to reach the top of the volleyball or basketball net. As a guy of very average height, there are still things that I can’t reach in my home without the effort of a step stool. Reaching for an object is one thing, reaching an objective is another thing entirely. Big Plans Too often we believe the lie that because we can’t make wholesale political or economic changes or cure world hunger by ourselves, that there really isn’t much of value that IS in our reach. That is simply not…
Michael Voll
October 24, 2019
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generoUS with our Cash

Money. We all need it, and most of us don’t seem to have enough of it. One person said, “I have enough money to retire comfortably…as long as I die by Tuesday.” Another person quipped, “The only exercise I’ve done this month is running out of money.” There is a universal need for money. It’s how we feed, clothe and shelter ourselves. Without it, life can get pretty bleak in a hurry. Who Owns You? Jesus knows that we need money. He had bills, food to buy and taxes to pay (see Matthew 17:24-27). In fact, Jesus mentioned money a lot in his parables and teaching. He talked about things that were important to people. However, Jesus also knew that…
Michael Voll
October 19, 2019