GrowthStarts

Previously @ NorthStar ... Higher Ground

Sunday at NorthStar Marlon Longacre talked to us about the life of Noah in the message "Higher Ground."

Miss Sunday's service? Click here to download audio of Marlon's message or to view or print sermon notes.

Noah was a godly man and had a good name in the community (Genesis 6:9-10). God called Noah out to do something great for Him and upgrade his faith.

Four qualities God looks for to upgrade your faith...

1. God needs people He can call (Genesis 6:5-8). Availability is more important than ability.
2. God needs people who don't comply (Genesis 6:11-12; 2 Corinthians 5:15). Conformity is the enemy of Christianity. We were created to be an original masterpiece of God, but instead we become carbon copies of others. NorthStar didn't start to just plant another church, but to reach a community.
3. God needs people who follow His commands (Genesis 6:22). No excuses. Trust God even when it doesn't make sense.
4. God needs people who are committed (Genesis 6:3). When you're not committed, you're saying, "It's all about me."

Life is preparation for eternity. At the end of your life, God will ask you two questions:

1. What did you do with My Son?
2. What did you do with the talents I gave you?

Apply It

Volunteer to serve our kids in nursery, preschool, or elementary. You can make a difference in the life of a child! Check here to see the possibilities!

Next Steps

Is it time to take one of these next steps in your spiritual journey?

• Newcomers: Find out more about NorthStar in an informal setting. Next gathering on Sunday, August 16. Register or find more info here.
• The Women's League Fall Kickoff: Meet other women and find a Bible study to jump into this fall. Tuesday, August 25. More info here about this free event.

This Week

Coming up this week at NorthStar...

• August "Big Give" at MUST! Wednesday, August 5 will be our last opportunity to provide lunch this summer for 600+ kids! Volunteer online for this or other events in August.
• The True North venue returns this Sunday, August 9! Join us at 9:30 or 11 a.m.!
• United: New series starts this Sunday!
• The Clothesline: Bring your new or gently used clothing this Sunday to the trailer. The big giveaway takes place Saturday, September 12.

More Upcoming

Check out more upcoming events at NorthStar...

• Promotion Sunday: All kids move up a grade to their new class for the year on Sunday, August 16.
• Surviving Divorce: New class begins Sunday, August 16.
• Marriage Tune Up Conference: August 21-22.
• Premarital Seminar: Sunday, August 23.
• Quiet Time Seminar: Sunday, August 30.
• Men of NorthStar Fall Retreat: September 26-27.

Check out Digging Deeper this week! This week we conclude our two-week journey through the Gospel of John. Use these daily devotions on the back of your sermon notes. Or find them posted online each day at www.growthstarts.org!

To receive Previously @ NorthStar weekly  in your inbox, send your email address to randy.elster@northstarchurch.org  and request Previously @ NorthStar!

Simple obedience

Check out this post from our high school pastor, as well as this video that he mentions. Very cool. God is at work!

More of Clarence Jett

Our video guru Chris Boggess is putting the full unedited Clarence Jett interview online in sections. Here's part 1:

Full interview with Rev Jett (part 1) from chris boggess on Vimeo.

And here's part 2:

Rev Jett Part 2 Forgiveness from chris boggess on Vimeo.

Still Standing: Rev. Clarence Jett

We start a new series this Sunday called Still Standing. With all the craziness happening in our day with the economy and politics and such, what are the foundations that we need to have so that we can stand strong? What is the solid rock that Jesus said we need to build our houses on?

For the series we did a video interview with Rev. Clarence Jett. Jett was on staff at Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church in East Point at the time that I was a child growing up in that church. He was also on staff at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville under Ike Reighard's leadership.

Mike Linch and Chris Boggess and I went down to Jett's apartment at the Baptist Manor in Palmetto and got some great footage from an incredibly wise and sharp 94-year-old minister. Below is a preview.

Interview with Reverend Jett from chris boggess on Vimeo.

Yesterday @ NorthStar

We have learned the past two weekends at NorthStar that there is absolutely nothing we can do about the August Rush, but there are some things we can do to protect ourselves. 

The first week of the series we talked about how the rush can rob us of spending time on our priorities. We find ourselves hurrying around and many times spending valuable energy and effort on things that do not really matter. We read James 4:17 which said, "To the man who knows the right thing to do and he does not do it, to him it is a sin."

Yesterday we talked about how the rush can rob us of our relationships. In the hurry we can shut out or hurt the people that mean the most to us. The verse we talked about was James 1:19, where James gave us the great advice: "We should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." If we will learn to live out these incredible words written a long time ago, they will change our lives and our relationships!

I hope that in the August Rush, you do not stop guarding your priorities and relationships. I will be praying for you this week, and I will look forward to seeing you this coming weekend when we talk about "Cruise Control" and some "divine" interruptions!

Have an awesome week!

Mike Linch

Next Steps

• Being quick to listen: As you go through this week, take time to really listen to those around you, especially with those who tend to rub you the wrong way. Try to really understand where they’re coming from.
• Being slow to speak: Try this litmus test this week before you speak: Is what you’re about to say coming from a spirit of love in your heart? Or a spirit of pride? If you do have a hard thing to say to someone, is there a better way to say it that shows the concern and love in your heart for them?
• Being even slower to become angry: Before you say anything else (and live to regret it!) try to determine the source of your anger. Is it “righteous indignation” or (more likely) because your pride is insulted?
• Our most important relationship: The August Rush can also affect our relationship with God. Make sure you build a few minutes into your schedule each day to spend time on your most important relationship. Try taking a GrowthStarts Seminar (such as the one on Prayer this coming Sunday) to get some great ideas about how to make your relationship with God stronger. (Details at www.growthstarts.org.)

August Rush

We start the new three-week sermon series August Rush this Sunday, August 10 at NorthStar. You can read a bit about it HERE from C.A. Phillips.

Nick "Catalyst" Person

A shout-out to my friend and colleague Nick Person (middle school pastor here at NorthStar Church) for getting a mention on the Catalyst Catablog!

And Nick somehow got his tiny little picture on the front of the Catalyst Conference brochure this year (near the bottom center). Does Nick have some secret connection to the organization? Hmmmm...

The Catalyst Conference should be extra good this year!

Special Needs Dance

Take a look at this message from Kelley Maddox and prayerfully consider helping us with the Special Needs Dance coming up soon...

Hello Everyone,

As you may know, the Kennesaw Mountain Special Needs Dance is just around the corner.  This is a huge event for NorthStar, the school, and of course all the kids that get to participate.  Below are the opportunities that we have to come alongside the school and serve for this event.  We have had a great response so far but still need to enlist the help of our people.  If you are a part of a ministry, small group, bible study, etc., please forward this message to your group. It is a great way to get people involved and create a sense of belonging!!! 

• 2/24 - Decorating for Special Needs Dance - 2-5pm at Kennesaw Mountain High School - Volunteers needed to help decorate for the dance.  All skill levels     needed.
• 2/24 - Special Needs Dance - Kennesaw Mountain High School - Volunteers needed to provide cookies needed as refreshments for the dance.  Please bring cookies to the bookstore Sunday Morning. DUE TO ALLERGIES, NO PEANUT BUTTER PLEASE.       
• 2/25- Bus Driver Act of Kindness at Kennesaw Mountain High School - 9:45-11am -  5 volunteers needed to help serve food to bus drivers of special needs kids.

Please go out to our website – www.northstarchurch.org – and sign up to serve at these events.  It only takes a few seconds. When you go out to our website, click on the “NorthStar in the Community” icon and it will take to the community website!!! This helps us make sure that everything is covered for these events.

Thanks!!!

Kelley

SERVICES CANCELED FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2008

NStar Staff, Management Team & Leaders,

This is a note to let you know that we are going to cancel all Sunday AM services for January 20, 2008.  With the freezing weather tonight & ice forming up on streets, steps & parking lots....it is just too much of a risk for our staff, volunteers & attenders.  We will be posting shortly on all of the major news channels and also on the NorthStar web-site. 

Please forward a note to your leaders and let them know as well!  Enjoy the morning tomorrow and stay off the roads!!

Mike Linch

Game Day is coming!

Game Day at NorthStar is coming! On Sunday, October 7, we begin our new service times and also open a new service venue, the True North Auditorium. At 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. we will have services in two locations: the original Compass Center Worship Center and the new True North Auditorium. The True North services will feature live band and then Mike on video piped in live from the Compass Center. It's 2 great times, 2 great locations, 4 great services!

Here are some great Game Day promo videos our video editor Chris Boggess put together. They were all filmed in our new True North building, mostly in the offices. The first one is called "Staff Meeting."

This one's called "Guitar."

This one is "True North" and was filmed in the True North Auditorium.

And this one is my personal favorite, "Coffee."

Don't miss Game Day October 7!