True North Finances Weekly Finance Numbers and Random Thoughts

Stuff Jesus Made Up

Jesus used stories / parables to help him convey a message. A parable is defined as a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson. Join us this Sunday as we launch a new five week series titled Stuff Jesus Made Up.

Proverbs 27:12

I've been reading 'The Principle of the Path' by Andy Stanley. He goes over Proverbs 27:12 for most of a chapter. It is such a short verse but loaded with so much information.

Think about it. Decisions are constantly placed in front of you. Your choice determines the outcome. It is not just talking about big choices like marriage and jobs. It is the small choices as well like 'what should I have for lunch' or 'I really need a cigarette to calm me down.' Over time, we may suffer for our small choices. I weigh 230 or about 20 pounds more than I would like. Now I'm suffering because of those simple choices.

How about you?
Where do you suffer?
Shouldn't you have seen it coming?

With Love From Jesus

Wednesday, May 27th is True North day at With Love From Jesus. A great opportunity to serve and love people from our community through this ministry - food, clothing and household goods.

Any time you can give is appreciated and needed…things begin at 9:30 and conclude at noon.

Address is 421 Chapanoke Road - drive around back of the building for parking.

Back to normal

I was just reading something interesting. One day, you are the president of a country, the next day, you are not. How hard would that be? What would be normal? Read the full FoxNews article.

ARTESIA, N.M. -- It was a humbling moment for the former commander in chief: President George W. Bush was walking former first dog Barney in his new Dallas neighborhood when it stopped in a neighbor's yard for relief.

"And there I was, former president of the United States of America, with a plastic bag on my hand," he told a group of graduating high school students in New Mexico on Thursday. "Life is returning back to normal."

Please no bashing the former president with comments. That is not what this post is about. It's just something to think about.

Call 2 Fall

Call 2 Fall is a call on July 5th to the American people to get on their knees and faces before the Lord in repentant prayer for God to reshape our lives and renew our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Splash Zone

Yesterday was a really good day, even with all the rain. About a dozen of us got soaked while loading the equipment into the truck. The great part about it is I didn't notice anyone complaining. I would give the wettest person award to James and the wettest couple award to Dan and Ali. The BBQ went on as planned thanks to Jon's backup plan. It was encouraging to see so many people come out on such a wet day to celebrate. My compliments to the cake bakers! Lunch was great but the baptisms are always the highlight of any day. Our friends Katie and Chris were baptised. Chris is a big dude so he definitely moved the water and spilled some out. Maybe we should have put up some splash zone signs like they have at Sea World. Wouldn't that be fun?

Are you ready to break free?

The HOSTAGE series wraps up this Sunday. Jon has taken us through being hostage to addictions, bitterness, fear and lies. Now he will ask the question "Are you ready to break free?" Free from the fear of the unknown, the demons, the lies, the critics and naysayers. Instead, full of the the same power that brought Jesus to life.

Ephesians 1:19,20
And you will know that God's power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world.

Are you ready to break free?
Are you ready to do something great for God?
Chew on this one for a while. If you knew you would not fail, what would you do?

According to tradition

I just finished reading a news article from FoxNews. The article is about Pope Bendict's travels through the holy land and the message he is bringing to Israel and Palestine. The very last line of the article caught my eye and reads,

According to tradition, Jesus traveled through the Galilee with his disciples preaching and performing miracles in the final years of his life.

Oh really? Is that the summation of Jesus' life? It almost sounds as though you could throw in a big blue ox and a few appleseeds to spice up the tradition.

The Jesus that created the world is bigger than tradition.
The Jesus that saved the world did more than preach and perform miracles.
The Jesus that changed the world cannot be summed up in one sentence.

BBQ Sunday

This Sunday @ Noon, everyone is invited to attend a BBQ picnic at Centennial Park in Garner (map). It would be great if you can help out with lunch (side dishes, desserts, drinks, etc.) True North will provide Hamburgers and Hotdogs for everyone to enjoy.

The day will be capped off with with the celebration of baptism.

Update from Joburg

Dear Family,
Hows it?  From what I can tell spring has arrived (finally) along with yards to be mowed, houses to be aired out and pollen to paint everything a nice shade of yellow.  Ah, Spring in the states!  I pray that as the earth seems to come alive again after a long winter season that you as well will be revived in the spirit of worship, service and faith in Jesus Christ.  What you back home creep towards summer, we here in Joburg are running hard for winter.  I’ve been forced to buy sweaters and close the windows and even on occasion put on socks!  Winter hasn’t squelched the good times here in the city though, just bundled them up a bit.  April was a great month of learning, planning, reflecting and sharing both academically and spiritually.
It is difficult to believe that it is already May and so much of my time here has passed already.  For me, April was the month of break through.  Many of the students from class and church are finally starting to frequent my room and God has blessed me with the ability (on most occasions) to speak clearly and with wisdom whether it be with someone inside the family or out.  While our college lunches were suspended for a few weeks for vacation purposes the community seemed to remain strong and when we were back together God was faithful to challenge each of us through the discussion of the teaching and individual questions.
April was also a month of planning for the future.  While I have finally learned not to sit in transition but to live and serve and seek God’s glory (see blog for details) this does not mean that some preparations are not to be made for the vision God has placed in my heart.  I was able to set up a meeting with a lecturer of mine who is a political analyst and also works for a very important Peace building organization on the continent.  She was able to supply me with ideas, resources and contacts that will prove very useful in one of the first tasks of my time in Kenya, the creation of a course in Peace and Reconciliation Management.  While it has been difficult to balance such contacts and planning with average school work it has also served to keep me focused on the truth that God has something big in store for the future and has invited me to be a part of it.  (I should say that I have also had time to make a list of items for Laura to bring with her when she meets me in Kenya in June.. very important indeed!) There are other plans that are underway for the future, some of which are sources of anxiety but God has been true to turn them into sources of faith as well.  It was the original plan for me to be able to purchase a vehicle upon arrival to Kenya and to be receiving my full budget by that time.  It now looks as if I will step of the plane with neither of those being reality yet I have great expectations for what God has in mind.  A series of ideas and contacts have come up and I ask that you would be in prayer that God would supply only and all of what he requires for the next step.
Finally I praise God because He continues to move around the world bringing Glory to himself, His kingdom to this earth, and joy to his people.  I am constantly receiving reports from around the world of Gods handy-work and guiding spirit.  Many are being sent out in His name, many are seeing victory in that same name, others are simply living in the blessing of being a member of the family as weddings, births and pregnancies are abundant in this season.  I hope you also find yourself in one if not all of the above categories.  My prayer is that we would together be working for the returning King with all our might, heart and soul by serving his people and his purpose where ever He chooses to have us for the moment!  May you be covered in His mercy, peace and grace.

Your sister,
Chatty

Lie to Me

There is a fairly new show on FOX called Lie to Me. The premise is this team of experts can tell when anyone lies based on their demeanor and facial expressions. The team is hired out to investigate crimes, spouses, corporate CEOs, etc. One thing that is funny is when they explain how they know someone is lying, they sometimes show a picture of Bill Clinton making the same expression. The show is pretty good and you should check it out.

I haven't seen an episode yet when someone believes their own lies. Would they be able to tell when someone is lying then? What about a lie that controls your life? A lie that you've given in to. Could they tell then?

Join us this Sunday as Jon continues the HOSTAGE series. His message this week is “Lies” we believe that tend to control us.

Islam Day

I'm a little confused by this. Hawaii's state Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill Wednesday to celebrate "Islam Day" on Sept. 24, 2009. The bill seeks to recognize "the rich religious, scientific, cultural and artistic contributions" that Islam and the Islamic world have made. Read the Fox News article.

I don't want to get into a debate here about the separation of church and state, but this seems to fly in the face of the current trend in regards to religion and government. As Christmas displays are removed from town squares across the country, Hawaii decides to give a shout out to Islam? Maybe I'm looking at this wrong. Maybe I should be encouraged and cross my fingers for "Be Nice to Christians Day".

What do I fear?

I just finished listening to Sunday's message. One of the greatest fears of every man is being exposed. I just read that last line again and realized how people might interpret it. What I meant is men are afraid of being found out for who they really are. Of the many hats that a man wears (husband, father, son, employee, friend, coach, brother, uncle, leader and more) he fears that he does not / can not live up to the expectations put upon him in those many roles. Let's be honest, it is a lot to live up to when you stop and think about it. So there is the fear of being exposed as a phony.

Satan is all to quick to jump on that fear. He whispers to you:

• "Everything you do just isn't enough."
• "You can't do it."
• "Nobody cares."
• "Why even try?"

That's where God steps in, if you will let Him. He will tell you just the opposite. Just as he did for Gideon, He will call you a Mighty Warrior and prepare you for battle. Then ask yourself this question, "Whom shall I fear?"

Psalm 27 of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

Hostage to Fear

This week's message is about fear. I thought I would throw a few good 'fear' quotes at you today.

"Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake."
---- Edgar Wallace - The Clue of the Twisted Candle (1916)

"Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is."
---- German Proverb

"Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark."
---- Francis Bacon

"What we fear comes to pass more speedily than what we hope."
---- Publilius Syrus - Moral Sayings (1st C B.C.)

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
--- Frank Herbert, Dune - Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear