Jon McClarnon

I just finished writing an article for the Garner Citizen…we’ll see if it makes the cut! If you’ve read any of these in the past, you’ll know that I do a version of whatever teaching series we’ve been in at True North. I like to think of it as a way to let everyone else know what we’re doing…without being there. Trevor wonders if we can count readers into our attendance numbers? Haha!

I thought it was a great day yesterday at True North. The music seemed to be really clicking…thanks to Katie and the band for putting in the work and leading us in worship.
With an entire day built around our involvement in Kenya, it was a bit difficult to program so that we didn’t have too many talking heads. I was pleased with how things turned out.
You can catch all the videos we used during the service over at the podcast page.

It was great to have Chatty with us in person. Make sure you check out her blog for updated info on how things are progressing with the work in Kenya.

Had the privilege to meet with our Community Group Leaders over lunch. Had a great time talking about the purpose and vision for our groups and some ideas on how we can connect more people to life in community. Really looking forward to more of these opportunities to build into our leaders. If you’re NOT connected to a group at True North – do so. Let me know you’re interested and we’ll get you hooked up with some great people.

I got home in the afternoon and crashed on the couch…but I’m ready to go again.

This week – don’t forget the Coffee Connection happening on Tuesday PM, from 7-8 @ Aversboro Coffee. This is a great chance to meet some new people OR build on existing friendships. Check this map for location.

Excited to get back into “Questioning Jesus” this weekend by looking at this one from Mark 8:36. Take some time to think it through.

Have a great week!

1. Basic Needs Ministry

Basic Needs (40/42) has offered to let us take items that will help out the people of Haiti. We will be meeting 9:30 am on Saturday Morning at Basic Needs to find and prepare the items for shipping. We need able hands of all ages (kids welcome) to help sort, organize, and box items for shipping. Basic Needs is located at At I-40 Exit 312, take NC Hwy 42 West for 1 block, then use driveway between Bojangles and Peddler’s Village to get to rear warehouses D96-100. Your help at anytime on Saturday would be greatly appreciated. We need lots of people to make this a successful effort.

2. Collections Continue

We will also be collecting donations for Haiti Earthquake Victims on Sunday Morning. Clothing items for newborns up to age 8 and tents. Tents should be 8-10 person to accommodate a family.

Please consider helping out one or both of these great opportunities to serve the people of Haiti.

I’m taking off for SC this evening for tomorrow’s Unleash Conference hosted by Newspring Church.

It kinda came together rather quickly…but I’m looking forward to it. If you’re interested in checking in on one of the 2 main sessions tomorrow – you can WATCH those main sessions live.

It was a good day last year…it’s close and driveable…it’s one day!

I’ll tweet you some good thoughts tomorrow…

Just a quick follow up to yesterday morning at True North.

Trevor did a great job of continuing our series, “Questioning Jesus” with a challenge from John 6:67. This is a difficult question to deal with because alot of times we like Jesus only for what he can do for us – can Jesus meet our needs and make us feel good? The depth to the question makes us wrestle with the fact that Jesus can certainly do all those things in our life…but his desire is to do so much more. The reason that so many people decided to stop following Jesus was because he didn’t seem to come through for them as they wished. Jesus comes through for us as we need! He holds the words of eternal life and offers more than what we currently live out here.

On another note – we had a segment during the service yesterday regarding Haiti. Dr. Ehlert recently spent some time there and gave a first hand report of what is happening and how we can be involved. The big need before us to help supply clothes for newborns to size 8 and tents. Large tents (8-10 person) that can house a family. Any of these items can be brought to True North on Sunday OR let me know you’d like to help and I can connect you to Dr. Ehlert and he will see that the supplies are put into the right hands.

Been a bit of a slow blogging week…probably mostly due to the fact that Twitter is so much easier!!! If you care to follow my micro-blogging via Twitter, you can find me here.

Looking forward to continuing the series “Questioning Jesus” this weekend. The response time this past Sunday was much greater – look forward to seeing the cards displayed this Sunday for you to read over…thank God…and pray for.

If you’ve missed any of the first weeks, catch the podcast here.

Opened the Garner Citizen today and saw TREVOR! Come on, who reads the paper standing on the side of the road?

Check out Trevors blog, especially this entry titled, “Telephone Prophet” – hilarious!

Been hearing a lot of good stories this week of life changes people are making. Love hearing about that!

I’ve had alot of coffee, lunch and conversation about Kenya this week. Telling and re-telling the stories, strategizing with Chatty, and working through details of a possible return trip to the valley for our church. Check out Chatty’s blog to see what she’s been up to.

Have a good weekend – see you Sunday!

Our teaching series “Questioning Jesus” continues Sunday as we keep working through some of the questions that Jesus asked people in his lifetime…and questions that are still crucial today.

This weekend we are looking at the question Jesus asked 2 blind men – Matthew 9:28. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

Now that’s a huge question! When you consider that the men were blind – they can’t go to the optometrist, there’s no laser surgery, no corrective lenses, they’re giving up hope and begging on the side of the road – their answer to that question means everything.

I believe Jesus can heal them too (I know, I do have the advantage of having read the story) and I believe that he did. And I’m pretty sure that A LOT of people today believe Jesus did that too.

BUT, can he do it today? For us, it’s not just believing that Jesus has DONE these things…but can he still DO them?

I love this line from A.W. Tozer and it’s what I’m trying to practically wrap my mind around as we head into Sunday:
“Anything that God has ever done at any other time, He can do now. Anything that God has ever done anywhere else, He can do here. And anything God has ever done for anyone else, He can do for me.”

When you think about the situations in your life that may seem hopeless OR the instances in which you might be out of options OR just the need you have to see the power of Jesus displayed in your life – “do you believe that I am able to do this?”

Yesterday we launched the new series “Questioning Jesus”, in which we’re just taking a look at some of the questions that Jesus asked people in the Gospels.

You can listen here to the first one, “Do you want to get well?”.

I made a statement in the message that “we are all invalids.” It’s just that instead of it being on display for everyone to see (like the paralyzed man in our story) many of us are great at keeping our sickness hidden.

The question before the question may be just as important. Before you deal with the question of “do you wan to get well?”, you have to know the answer to – “what is my sickness?”

I hope you’ve been wrestling that question…leading you to say, “YES”, I want to be well. And then, believe that Jesus has the power to heal, and start walking confidently into the life he has for you.

Beginning this Sunday we are launching a new teaching series titled “Questioning Jesus”.

Every day we ask questions, and everyday we are asked a ton too. Many of those questions are insignificant. But every once in a while, there is a question, that when answered, has the potential to change your life. Jesus asked hundreds of questions of people to challenge their thinking, probe their hearts, and to teach truth. These life changing questions are just as important today as they were when he asked them.

This Sunday we’re starting things off with this question from John 5:6; “Would you like to get well?”

A couple notes on the series:
- Teaching series originate from many places. This one came up back in the fall while Kris and I were traveling to Iowa for her grandmothers’ funeral. I spent a good deal of flight time reading thru the Gospels and writing down every question that Jesus asked of someone. For this series, we chose 6 that seemed to jump out and cry for attention today.
- We will have these questions printed and hanging on the wall of the entrance to the main theater. At the end of each week we’ll be giving everyone an opportunity to answer the question of the day in a very personal way. Then we’ll be posting them on the wall and keeping an ongoing piece of “artwork” over the course of the series.
- Finally, we passed out “invite cards” this past Sunday pertaining to this series. Please use them…to invite someone to come with you. As always, we have more that can be picked up at the Info Table each week.

I’m really looking forward to diving into these questions that Jesus asked…I think the answers can change a life.

My friend and elder at True North, Dr. Kurt Ehlert, is currently in Haiti serving on a 10 day medical mission. He just arrived there yesterday (Tuesday) and is keeping a blog journal of his experiences.

Follow his story over on the True North Blog.

Here are a few things happening regarding Haiti and relief efforts that are going on.

- My friend and elder at True North Church, Dr. Kurt Ehlert, is taking off for Haiti on Tuesday for a 10 day medical mission. Please pray for the efforts of his group as I know there is much to do…long hours…a great deal of needs. Kurt will be keeping us updated via the True North Blog, so check in next week for reports on his travels.

- Met up with Rick Smith this morning to talk about our mutual interest in Kenya. Rick is the director of Joy In Hope based in Cary. They have been heavily involved in work in Haiti and just this morning had a team of people land on the island, ready to help and equipped with supplies.

- This evening the Garner Citizens for Haiti are holding an event at the Historic Auditorium at 7:30 PM. Members of the town council and community organizations are praying and raising funds for the Red Cross.

It’s going to be a long term process to provide aid, relief, funds, and ongoing support. Find a way to make a difference!