True North Finances Weekly Finance Numbers and Random Thoughts

Focus of Cardinals first baseman Pujols: Higher power

"I don't do this because I want to hear, 'There goes a good guy,' " Pujols says. "I want to help people. I want to set an example, be obedient to God. I want to be remembered for what I do away from the field rather than on."

This is a great article about Albert Pujols, first baseman for St. Louis. Probably the best player in baseball today.

Read the full USAToday.com article.

Year 2 Celebration!!

We celebrated our second anniversary Sunday. It was great and I really appreciate everyone that shared their story. Thank you Kris, Rip, Jack, Linda, Chatty and Gina. I think that these kind of Sundays are my favorite when someone has the courage to step up front and speak of the life change they have experienced.

I also appreciate the courage Jon and Kris have for following God and starting True North.  Jon was in a growing church of 1000 attenders, they had lots of friends and had their kids firmly established in school and activities in Apex. Would you leave all of that to start a church from scratch? Would you take the risk that they took?

For all of you that call True North home, thank you for coming along on the ride. We appreciate your service, your love and your prayers. We pray that we all will continue to honor God and do His good works.

Happy Birthday True North!!!

This Sunday marks two years since True North held it's first service. Wow! Two years! All thanks and glory go to God! Please plan on staying to join us in a celebration after the service. That is not a coded message for helping us pack up. I'm thinking more along the lines of cake...

Egg Hunt 2009

What? No drop? No helicopter? Long story short, we heard 'no' too many times by 'the man' this year. 'No' was usually preceded by 'you want to do what?' So, what are we going to do with the 10,000 eggs we've already purchased? We're keeping 4,000 for our hunt and donating a few thousand to a church in Clayton and because Jon is a stand up guy, giving the rest to the Town of Garner for their egg hunt.

We are still going to have a great time! Check out all the details over at the egg hunt page and be sure to register your child ASAP. Also, send your friends an evite.

Are you love?

I've been reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. He throws an idea at the reader to substitute your name for the word love in the following scripture.  For example, Love is patient and kind would read Jess is patient and kind.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (English Standard Version)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; love is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; love is not irritable or resentful; love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

How did that go for you?
Was is uncomfortable?
Is your name synonymous with love?

Original Plastic Jesus

I've really been enjoying the OPJ series.  When you clear away all the misguided perceptions, cliches and merchandise and just focus on the message that Jesus had, it was pretty simple. Love God, love your neighbor, follow Him. He doesn't care about our past, He only cares about our heart.

We wrap the series up this Sunday. Don't miss it.

Also, ladies, Sunday night is Bunko. Come enjoy a time to relax and have fun with the gals. Check the calendar for details.

Kings

Did anybody watch the show Kings this week? It is a modern day version of the story of King David from the Old Testament. You know, Goliath, Bathsheba. That David...

There is a pretty good article discussing the show at USAToday. You can read it here.

Anyway, I was wondering if you watched, what you thought.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t

CHICHESTER, N.H. —  A pastor in this quiet, picturesque New England town opened his doors to a convicted child killer who had served his time but had nowhere to go.

But some neighbors of the Rev. David Pinckney vehemently disagree with the pastor's decision — one even threatening to burn his house down after officials could find no one else willing to take 60-year-old Raymond Guay.

Read the full FoxNews.com article.

What would you do?

Mr. and Mrs. Sealy

Mr. and Mrs. Sealy. You don't know them. Actually, neither do I. But they are a local elderly couple in their nineties. Mrs. Sealy has been in an adult care home for 5 years now and has lost her sight and the ability to speak. Every Saturday, the home holds a Bible study. Mr. Sealy sits and holds his wife's hand, telling her how special she. This past week, Mr. Sealy had a stroke and is now living in the same adult care home.

My friend told me about the Sealys yesterday. Why am I writing about them? Because when you hear their story, they are still doing God's work. If they are paying attention, the employees and vistors to that home can see the unselfish love of Jesus through the Sealys. And, when you have a minute, say a prayer for them. Thank God for people like them.

Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13 (New International Version)

¹ A wise son heeds his father's instruction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

² From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,
but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.

³ He who guards his lips guards his life,
but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

⁴ The sluggard craves and gets nothing,
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

⁵ The righteous hate what is false,
but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

⁶ Righteousness guards the man of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

⁷ One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

⁸ A man's riches may ransom his life,
but a poor man hears no threat.

⁹ The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

¹⁰ Pride only breeds quarrels,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

¹¹ Dishonest money dwindles away,
but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

¹³ He who scorns instruction will pay for it,
but he who respects a command is rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good understanding wins favor,
but the way of the unfaithful is hard. ^[a]

¹⁶ Every prudent man acts out of knowledge,
but a fool exposes his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

¹⁸ He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame,
but whoever heeds correction is honored.

¹⁹ A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but fools detest turning from evil.

²⁰ He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.

²¹ Misfortune pursues the sinner,
but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children,
but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

²³ A poor man's field may produce abundant food,
but injustice sweeps it away.

²⁴ He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

²⁵ The righteous eat to their hearts' content,
but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Reference: BibleGateway

Jonah joke

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though they were a very large mammal their throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

The teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was impossible.

The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah"

The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"

The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."

Everyone Against Abortion, Please Raise Your Hand!

I found a video the other day from a web site called Priests for Life. Sometimes when you don't see something, it doesn't impact you very much. Take a look at the video. Warning: It may disturb you.

Where was everybody?

A couple weeks ago I wrote about how there were so many people I did not recognize in attendance. This Sunday, I could probably name 90% of the crowd. So what gives? Is daylight savings time one of the Sundays where attendance is low like Father's Day? Or, could it be that it is 80 degrees outside and less than a week ago we had snow on the ground? You got to love the weather in North Carolina. Whatever the reason, you missed a good one today. In case you missed it, you can check it out at our podcast site.

Eric Cole, a good move?

Here is a little deviation from the normal topics. We watched the Hurricanes last night and the return of Eric Cole to the right wing of Eric Staal. How cool was it when Cole lit the lamp in the first period by banging away in the crease?

Was it just me or did the Hurricanes seem to have the speed that made them so good 3 years ago? I'm not a hockey genius. I'm not even a guy that can speak all that intelligently about the game. I can notice areas about the game though.

What I noticed last night was speed. Speed usually equates to more ice between you and the defender. Did they have seven guys on the ice? At times, it seemed like it.

I noticed hits. Hits usually equate to loose pucks and scoring opportunities. Six goals? Enough said.

I noticed a sell out. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get seats last night but dinner at the Carolina Ale House is a very nice substitute.

A spot in the playoffs will justify trading away a very good player in Justin Williams.

What do you think Hurricanes fans? Is bringing back Eric Cole a good move?

Daylight Savings Time

Sunday March 8 at 2am is Daylight Savings Time. Set your clocks 1 hour ahead. Sorry, we lose an hour of sleep!

New Stem Cell Advance is Both Ethical and Safe But Embryo Drive Continues

Ethicists and pro-life opponents of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research say that the rapidly advancing science has demolished the arguments of those justifying sourcing cells from embryos. The debate, they say, is over.

Read full CNS News article.

Did you know?

My friend Rip sent me a link to a video with some astounding figures and estimates.
Take a look at the embedded video, Did you know? I didn't know.

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

In yesterday's message, Jon gave some background concerning one of Jesus' proclamations. I have never heard this before. It really changed my whole view on something I have read probably 20 to 30 times before. Jesus has a way of doing that. Here is the background confirmed by the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary.

John 7:37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

37-39. the last day, that great day of the feast-the eighth (Le 23:39). It was a sabbath, the last feast day of the year, and distinguished by very remarkable ceremonies. "The generally joyous character of this feast broke out on this day into loud jubilation, particularly at the solemn moment when the priest, as was done on every day of this festival, brought forth, in golden vessels, water from the stream of Siloah, which flowed under the temple-mountain, and solemnly poured it upon the altar. Then the words of Isa 12:3 were sung, With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of Salvation, and thus the symbolical reference of this act, intimated in Joh 7:39, was expressed" [Olshausen]. So ecstatic was the joy with which this ceremony was performed-accompanied with sound of trumpets-that it used to be said, "Whoever had not witnessed it had never seen rejoicing at all" [Lightfoot].

Jesus stood-On this high occasion, then, He who had already drawn all eyes upon Him by His supernatural power and unrivalled teaching-"Jesus stood," probably in some elevated position.

and cried-as if making proclamation in the audience of all the people.

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink!-What an offer! The deepest cravings of the human spirit are here, as in the Old Testament, expressed by the figure of "thirst," and the eternal satisfaction of them by "drinking." To the woman of Samaria He had said almost the same thing, and in the same terms (Joh 4:13, 14). But what to her was simply affirmed to her as a fact, is here turned into a world-wide proclamation; and whereas there, the gift by Him of the living water is the most prominent idea-in contrast with her hesitation to give Him the perishable water of Jacob's well-here, the prominence is given to Himself as the Well spring of all satisfaction. He had in Galilee invited all the WEARY AND HEAVY-LADEN of the human family to come under His wing and they should find REST (Mt 11:28), which is just the same deep want, and the same profound relief of it, under another and equally grateful figure. He had in the synagogue of Capernaum (Joh 6:36) announced Himself, in every variety of form, as "the Bread of Life," and as both able and authorized to appease the "HUNGER," and quench the "THIRST," of all that apply to Him. There is, and there can be, nothing beyond that here. But what was on all those occasions uttered in private, or addressed to a provincial audience, is here sounded forth in the streets of the great religious metropolis, and in language of surpassing majesty, simplicity, and grace. It is just Jehovah's ancient proclamation now sounding forth through human flesh, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no Money!" &c. (Isa 55:1). In this light we have but two alternatives; either to say with Caiaphas of Him that uttered such words, "He is guilty of death," or falling down before Him to exclaim with Thomas, " My Lord AND MY God!"