True North Finances Weekly Finance Numbers and Random Thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving

With the holiday upon us, I'm taking a few days off from posting. Here are a few things for you to consider today.

thanksgiving –noun
1.     the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, esp. to God.
2.     an expression of thanks, esp. to God.
3.     a public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness.
4.     a day set apart for giving thanks to God.

Psalm 42:4
These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.

Psalm 69:30
I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:2
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 147:7
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.

‘Bailout’ Is Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year

Fox News —  Everyone seems to want one, but apparently a lot of Americans aren't sure exactly what a "bailout" is.

People looked it up so often on Merriam-Webster's online dictionary that the Springfield-based publisher says "bailout" was an easy choice for its annual Word of the Year honor.

Thanksgiving history

I poked around a little bit in search of Thanksgiving history. The Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, MA provides information of the original Thanksgiving and history of what we celebrate today.

The outsider

We've been reading a book where one of the chapters discussed church outsiders. One thing they offered for consideration is to view your church through the eyes of an outsider or as if you had a friend visiting. I actually got to sit in the service yesterday with my wife. So, I thought I would try and view things as an outsider. Here is what I observed.

Christmas confessions

My family thinks that I am a Scrooge that doesn't like Christmas. That doesn't sound very good, does it? An elder of a church that doesn't like Christmas.

Is it true?

Do I really not like Christmas?

Focusing on the plank in my eye

Have you ever heard this saying? "When you point a finger, four fingers are pointing back at you." I have to admit that I am really good at identifying the four fingers pointing back at me. Whenever something causes me to be upset with someone, I can usually find the same fault in myself.

Untitled

I have nothing to write. I couldn't even come up with a title.

-but-

I just read a great post from Perry Noble. Check it out. Do I Want Jesus…OR What I Think He Can Give Me?.

Happy Birthday Jon

Jon's birthday is today. Be sure to let him know how old he looks.

Pastor issuing 7-day sex challenge

Not True North's pastor, unfortunately. I found this headline under the strange news section of WRAL.com. Read full article.

Create in me a clean heart

The My Own Worst Enemy series got me thinking today.

Time has a way of slowly making things dirty. We probably don't even notice it at first. Take my car for example. It looked great when I bought it. I drive it daily and do not notice the small blemishes that occur. After months or years, I look at the car and realize one day how bad it looks. Scratches, dings, bugs, tar and dirt cover my once beautiful car. So it is with my heart.

This is the gift of God

I had one of those moments last night while standing on my back deck grilling dinner. The sun was setting, I could hear my kids playing in the driveway and I could see my beautiful wife in the kitchen.

Forward this email or someone will die

I get a lot of well intentioned emails forwarded to me. Sometimes they are sappy or corny. Sometimes they are just plain weird. Sometimes they have a really good message. Most all of the time, they have the thing that makes me delete them 100% of the time.

God’s favorite location for a church

I just read the Holding Church in Odd Locations post at Stuff Christians Like. Since we are mobile and in a theater, do we get some sort of combined score?

My own worst enemy

This one is for the guy's. If you have gone into a men's room in the Garner area this week, you may see a flyer attached to the mirror promoting the start of this week's series at TNC. One of our newest regular attenders has come up with what I think is a very clever and cool idea. The flyer asks the question, "Is the person in the mirror your worst enemy?" It also has the series logo seen here and the church logo with service information. Very cool. If a men's room flyer helped you arrive on this site, I hope to see you Sunday at 10am.

TNC Halloween History

Handing out candy last Friday reminded me of something that happened in the beginning of True North Church. My Halloween tradition is to get a lawn chair, sit on the sidewalk with my laptop and favorite beverage and hand out candy. The McClarnon clan was staying with us in 2006 so Jon joined me outside.

Is Jesus offensive and distracting?

Apparently, Jesus is offensive and distracting to some students and administration at West Brook Middle School in Paramus New Jersey. A student was sent home on Halloween for refusing to alter the costume of Jesus Christ he was wearing. Read the full CBS News article.

A jerk who desperately needs Jesus

My son Nick played in his end of season soccer tournament Saturday. They won the tournament and Nick played great with 3 assists on the 4 goals scored. The tournament is not what this post is about. Instead, it is about a strange interaction I had with an opposing assistant coach.