True North Finances Weekly Finance Numbers and Random Thoughts

The LORD Speaks

This is one of those days when I'll just let God speak to you.

Job 38

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?

3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.

5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone-

7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 "Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,

9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,

10 when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,

11 when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt'?

12 "Have you ever given orders to the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,

13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked out of it?

14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its features stand out like those of a garment.

15 The wicked are denied their light,
and their upraised arm is broken.

16 "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?

17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this.

19 "What is the way to the abode of light?
And where does darkness reside?

20 Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths to their dwellings?

21 Surely you know, for you were already born!
You have lived so many years!

22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of the hail,

23 which I reserve for times of trouble,
for days of war and battle?

24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?

25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,

26 to water a land where no man lives,
a desert with no one in it,

27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
and make it sprout with grass?

28 Does the rain have a father?
Who fathers the drops of dew?

29 From whose womb comes the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens

30 when the waters become hard as stone,
when the surface of the deep is frozen?

31 "Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades?
Can you loose the cords of Orion?

32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons
or lead out the Bear with its cubs?

33 Do you know the laws of the heavens?
Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?

34 "Can you raise your voice to the clouds
and cover yourself with a flood of water?

35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?

36 Who endowed the heart with wisdom
or gave understanding to the mind?

37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens

38 when the dust becomes hard
and the clods of earth stick together?

39 "Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
and satisfy the hunger of the lions

40 when they crouch in their dens
or lie in wait in a thicket?

41 Who provides food for the raven
when its young cry out to God
and wander about for lack of food?

What marks my life?

Everybody has a profile on their Facebook page. Mine can be summed up this way: 41 year old married father. College graduate originally from Ohio now living in Cary, NC. Conservative Christian. Works for Dept. of Health and Human Services. Considers himself government waste. Listens to AC/DC and his favorite TV show is The Office. Loves to coach baseball and serve True North Church.

Could there be something deeper? What potential marks in my family history would have shaped my Facebook profile without the transitions of good men?

Member gives True North church $3m lottery ticket

No, not us. But I am really happy for True North Community Church in Port Jefferson, New York.

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The state Lottery announced Wednesday that the independent Christian church will get at least $102,225 a year through the year 2028. The amount could be higher if withheld taxes are refunded because of the church's non-profit status.

You better believe that I would fill out the paperwork to get the tax refund.

You can never have enough butter at a church potluck

An Ocala Florida man pulled a knife on members of a church congregation who would not give him butter from their morning buffet.

The story behind the tattoo

I found a couple web sites where people write about the story behind their tattoo.
http://www.tattooconfidential.com/
http://www.tattales.com/

It got me thinking about if I had a tattoo, what would I get and what would be the story behind it? I've come up with 4.

Random Thoughts

It was another great Sunday. I just finished listening to the first of the Tattoo messages. Jon hit it out of the park with the message of how God sees us when we suffer pain in our lives. And that part of our healing process is seeing that God was with us all along. A big thank you goes to Allyssa Busch for sharing her story of the marks in her life.

Tattoo Teaser

This Sunday kicks off the message series Tattoo. Check it out.

Romans 6

Romans chapter 6 is often read at a baptism. I definitely have a baptism theme going on this week but I did slip in a post about SmackDown.  Read the beginning of Romans and the imagery that Paul uses to describe baptism.

Romans 6
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Baptism Video

Does God care about SmackDown?

My youngest son occassionally gets migraines. It is something he inherited from me. They are very painful and I wouldn't wish them onto anyone. When a migraine happens, all the sufferer cares about is getting rid of it. That usually involves medicine and sleep. What does this have to do with SmackDown?

The honor of baptizing your child

It was a great night last night. We baptized 1 young lady (Chelsea) and 5 young men (Alex, Andrew, Brett, Gabe and Nick). Baptisms at True North are always special. It was extra special for me because I got to baptize my son Nick. I'm really proud of the young men and women at True North. Weekly, they serve as student helpers in our kiDZ ministry. Without them, True North would not be able to provide child care during the Sunday service. Last night, six of them stepped forward in front of friends and family and gave God the glory that He deserves.

Facebook

I signed up for Facebook the other day for no other reason than a friend asked me too. So I'm still a rookie or nube in this new world of social networking. Let me tell you what I believe are some of the benefits of joining Facebook and using it regularly, although, I'll probably leave a lot of things off the list due to my nube status.

Could you give up your family for God?

Mosab Hassan Yousef was born the son of one of the most influential leaders of the militant Islamic group Hamas, but has now renounced his faith, left his family behind in Ramallah and is seeking asylum in the United States.

I left everything behind me, not only family. When you decide to convert to Christianity or any other religion from Islam, it's not (enough) to just say goodbye and leave, you know? It's not like that. You're saying goodbye to culture, civilization, traditions, society, family, religion, God — what you thought was God for so many years! So it's not easy. It's very complicated. People think it's that easy, like it doesn't matter. Now I'm here in the U.S. and I got my freedom and it's great, but at the same time, nothing is like family, you know. To lose your family —

Steve Harvey introduces Jesus Christ

When we started the Fanatic series, we asked the question "When was the last time you were overwhelmed in the presence of God?" I found this video of comedian Steve Harvey a while back. If you have a couple minutes, watch several thousand people become overwhelmed.

A prize better than Olympic Gold

I stayed up late Sunday night to watch the men swim the 4X100 relay. In case you missed it, Jason Lezak, who was swimming the anchor for the US made one of the most amazing comebacks I have ever seen and placed first by .08 seconds. What I enjoyed even more was the post race.

Are you a fanatic?

I am really enjoying the Fanatic series. Today, I went to the bottom of my Tshirt drawer and dug out a KISS concert shirt from 1996 which I never thought there would be an occassion to wear to church.  It was nice to sit in the audience and participate in the music and just sit and listen to the message. Jon mentioned in his message (listen to podcast) that the average Christian gives God 10 minutes a day and the TV 4 hours.

Free Byrd – The Power of a Liberated Life

I just finished reading Free Byrd - The Power of a Liberated Life by Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd. My brother Jason sent it to me last week and at first I wasn't exactly sure why. But half way through the first chapter it became very evident that I would thoroughly enjoy this book. Byrd writes a very raw and honest account of his life and struggles as a man, father, son, husband, professional baseball player and Christian. Hats that I and many men can relate with. (I wish I played pro ball!)

Mission – Service

Service - True North will be a place that unashamedly challenges people to live lives of complete service - in our relationships, our community, and our world.

At True North Church we think that the way a person lives is just as important as the message that we speak. That's why we stress and encourage people to live lives that are on mission in the world. We believe that when the living Jesus is "put into action" that our relationships, our community, and our world are stronger and healthier.

Mission – Community

Community - True North will be a place that stresses connecting with a smaller group of friends to journey through life together.

Nobody should go through life alone. God designed each of us for relationship. Small Groups are an essential part of who we are as a church community. We believe that experiencing life together is just as important as participating on Sunday mornings.

Small groups provide friendships, help, encouragement and many intangibles to your everyday life. Isn't that something we could all use?

71-Year-Old Ohio Preacher Convicted in Road Rage Case

CINCINNATI — A 71-year-old Cincinnati preacher has been convicted of aggravated menacing, after another motorist said he waved a gun and cursed at her.

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