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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It’s Time to Renew!

Summertime in Alberta is very special. After months of cold weather and staying indoors, everything and everyone comes alive. Days are long and the nights are warm (especially if you are able to sit around a fire with friends!). Pause? Many things are put on pause during the months of July and August so we can squeeze the most fun out of the season. Sometimes it seems that we even put our relationship with God on pause. We don’t do this on purpose, it just happens. We slide into a rhythm of camping, vacationing or staycationing. Then we forget to keep up disciplines that we put in place throughout the year. Bible reading, prayer and being encouraged by other believers…
Michael Voll
June 20, 2019
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My Dad is Stronger than Your Dad!

As a young child, I idolized my dad. I wanted to be just like him in every way. To be able to fix cars like him and to know the things he did about history.  Mostly, I just wanted to be tough like him. My dad was the toughest guy around. I knew he could beat anyone in a fight. In fact, I was so convinced of this that I got into a fight with three of my best friends about who had the toughest dad. I won. LOL. I don’t think my experience is all that unique. Young children often look up to their parents, and young boys, in particular, seem to look up to the strength they find…
Michael Voll
June 13, 2019
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Celebrating Unity in Diversity

This Sunday is our International Sunday. When you arrive at the church you will notice a few things that you don’t normally see at North Pointe. Compassion Experience First, In the North Parking Lot, you will see a tent and semi-trailer set up known as the Compassion Experience. From Friday morning through to Monday night people will tour through a makeshift home from the Philippines to see how some people live, work and play around the world. It will be both educational and motivational, providing a better understanding of the complexities of life. If you are interested in participating in this free tour, sign up by clicking here. Keewani's Story Next, as you enter the doors, you will see flags…
Michael Voll
June 6, 2019
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You Can’t Judge Me!

Judgy (is that even a word?) people are not fun to be around. They rarely seem happy and regularly look for faults in other people. They police others by a standard of their own making. It’s hard to satisfy a judgmental person. You will never be good enough to earn their respect. Twisted Motives However, I think it reveals a deeper issue. When we judge or look down on someone else, we are, in a twisted way, elevating ourselves. If you get 60% on an exam you may feel bad until you meet the person who got 53%. Then you might even feel a bit superior and smug about your own lackluster performance. Note: If you have to put another person…
Michael Voll
May 30, 2019
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Just a Little Bit More

One of the most elusive pursuits in the world is contentment. It always seems to be just beyond our reach. When we get the car of our dreams, we realize that the leather seats are a bit too hot in the summer. "I guess we should have got the cooling option…" Finally, the house we have been waiting for becomes a reality after years of saving. Once we move in we realize that it just doesn’t look right with our old furniture. "Time to go shopping…" After raising kids and planning what to do with the extra time we will have as empty nesters we realize that life isn’t nearly as fun without a bit of the buzz. "If only…
Michael Voll
May 23, 2019
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The Long Weekend!

This weekend marks the “un” official start of the summer season for most Albertans. The May Long weekend brings with it the anticipation of warm days and long evenings outside. Summer is such an exciting time as people wake from their hibernation and venture outside to walk their dogs, go for a bike ride or play that frustrating game known as golf. As a family, we enjoy being in the water at the lake and campfires in the evening. Smores galore! However, there is a dark underbelly of summer that we as pastors face. We don’t see certain people for a few months. Weekend getaways, time spent on vacation, and family reunions land on Sundays. I understand. We juggle the…
Michael Voll
May 17, 2019
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Walk, Run, Ride for Hope!

Several years ago I decided that it was time to take my physical health more seriously. Late night snacking and carb-laden treats around the office had my waistline expanding outward at an unprecedented pace. It was time to take action! Right around that time North Pointe hosted its first Walk, Run, Ride for Hope, in support of the Village of Hope in Zimbabwe. I trained for a few months and eventually completed my first ever 10k run without stopping. Goal achieved! Making a Difference But the greatest goal wasn’t running a 10k. It was raising awareness and financial support for the children, staff, and community of the Village of Hope. Since that first year, our family has walked, biked and…
Michael Voll
May 3, 2019
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Fake News!

In the last several years there has been a spread of “Fake News” on social media platforms, and it has even seeped into traditional print and television media. This Fake News is a way to spread false information or propaganda…and it has been a part of life in one way or another for thousands of years. I would spread “fake news” about my sister to my parents all the time when I was a kid. It's Everywhere! Unfortunately, deliberate disinformation doesn’t just come out of Facebook, Fox News, and CNN. It also happens in churches. There are some people that quote verses and concepts that are not in the Bible or are terrible interpretations of what the Bible says. In…
Michael Voll
April 26, 2019
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He is Risen!

There is nothing quite like finishing a task that you have had on your to-do list for a long time. Until you complete it, there is always a weight on your shoulders. No matter what you do there is a nagging feeling that there are other things that must be accomplished. I take great pleasure in putting a checkmark beside that task. Done. It’s off my plate. Now on to other important things. Last Words: It is Finished In the last four weeks, we have been talking about the last words of Jesus from the cross. This Friday we'll dig deeper into Jesus final words from the cross. These aren't words of defeat. Instead, they were a cry of victory.…
Michael Voll
April 16, 2019
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Never Alone

One of the greatest fears that people of all ages face is being alone. Autophobia or monophobia is the technical name for it (for those of you who like to be in the know!).Don’t get me wrong, there are times you want your own space. A few hours to break free from the chit chat, small talk, pushy crowds and demands from kids, employers and even your significant other can be a dream come true.Made for RelationshipFor the most part though, as humans we are relational. Even Batman has Robin!We were made to be in relationship with one another. And this is because we were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and God is relational to the very…
Michael Voll
April 11, 2019