NorthStar Church Blog

Did you ever stop to think about how the ministry of Jesus and His disciples continued? How did it happen? How were they able to do it financially full time for 3 years? We remember from the gospel that Judas was the treasurer but where did the resources come from? Did they sell Jesus memorabilia? I mean they did a lot of traveling, teaching, miracles, etc, but I never really thought about it much. I guess maybe I just thought it “appeared” or that maybe Jesus turned water into wine every night. In this passage, Luke gives us a glimpse of how the ministry continued. The ministry continued because of the support of those who had been blessed by the ministry. Not that these women and men were trying to pay back a debt, but instead they wanted to see this good thing continue. They wanted others to be reached with the same message that had changed them.

Today our giving carries on that act of thankfulness and gratitude. Our lives have been changed by the message of Jesus, specifically here at NorthStar, and we want to see the message of Jesus continue at our church so that others may be changed as we have been.

As you give, thank God for the changes He has brought about in you and your family, and pray for those in whom God still wants to work. When you give you are creating a partnership with God to change lives here in our community through our church!

A lot of people ask why our church isn’t named after a saint, like Saint Peter or Saint Joseph, or why aren’t we named after a heavenly virtue like love, fellowship, grace, or faith?

We have found that people are looking for a stable guiding North Star in their lives. We believe that light is Jesus Christ and we want to point people in that direction, and we also hope that our church can that kind of light in the community.

Our logo is made up of three triangles, each one representing a person of the Trinity..the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The swirl in the middle comes from Acts 17:28 which says, “’For in him we live and move and have our being.”

I often don’t wear my helmet. I know what you’re thinking…that’s dangerous! And you’re right. Not wearing my helmet is downright reckless!

Ephesians 6:17 tells us to put on the helmet of salvation every day. And do you know what happens when I forget? My mind turns into a demolition zone by the wrecking ball of my unhealthy thoughts. The ball comes swinging in saying things like, “You really screwed up today!” and “The jig is up! Now everyone’s going to know who you really are!”

If we base our self-worth on what we think about ourselves..or on our achievements, possessions, talents, love relationships, status, or “how we did that day”, we’re as doomed as the dilapidated building inches away from the wrecking ball. Identity based on anything but who we are in Christ is inherently unstable! The minute anything goes wrong we fall apart and we’re filled with thoughts of worthlessness, paranoia, fear, and anguish.

Without the helmet, we’re unprotected. Psalm 119:50 says this: “Your promise revives me;
it comforts me in all my troubles” (NLT)…As believers we have the promise of salvation. Why? Because God loves us so much! We don’t have to DO anything to be loved. Put on your helmet of salvation and put your mind at rest in God’s great love for you!

Do you know your mission?

As you know, NorthStar’s mission is: “To help people exchange ordinary living for extraordinary life through the transforming power of Jesus Christ.”

And NorthStar’s Children’s Ministry mission is: “To make church the best hour of a child’s week”

But what about your own mission? We all need goals or we end up unfocused, doing too much (or too little!), and with no direction. The Bible says we are to become like Christ…that is our goal. But it’s not the kind of goal we can just check off of a “to do” list at the end of 2010! If you (like me!) feel like you have a long way to go to even bear the slightest resemblance to Him, remember you have to start somewhere. Serving in a ministry is a big step. Spend time with God, get to know Christ and you’ll have a much better idea what you’re striving for. Baby steps add up!

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10

I haven’t written it down yet, but I’m mentally working on my Christmas list. This year, it’s not going to be an itemized inventory of all the things I need to buy to make our holiday perfect and meaningful, but instead a list of all the things I don’t need to buy so that I can make this Christmas truly meaningful to others. (Candles come to mind…Our house can smell like a regular Christmas factory after I’ve been candle shopping.)
This season, NorthStar is challenging its members to take the focus of Christmas off of creating warm and fuzzy holiday moments for ourselves, and instead focus on the things that break God’s heart. Things like poverty. Orphans. Disease. When you look at issues like that, things like a new tree topper to replace the one that broke awhile back, Zhu Zhu Pets (if you don’t know what they are, Google them), and even evergreen-scented candles just don’t mean as much. Money saved on things that seemed so necessary for a joyful Christmas can instead be used for things that truly are necessary for the lives of others.
I’ve learned through the years that we don’t need as much as we think we need to have a Merry Christmas. Every now and then (ok, quite frequently) I don’t send cards. I stress about the perfect picture, I end up sending way too many and before you know it a hundred dollars is spent on something that will be thrown away. And you know what? Christmas goes on, I haven’t been disowned, and I still have friends. A few years ago we made another big change in our Christmas traditions. After a morning of feasting on cinnamon rolls and all of the other goodies that practically decorate the house on Christmas morning, we would have a big Christmas dinner…usually turkey, stuffing, pretty much a repeat Thanksgiving but with no parade. A few years ago it dawned on us that we didn’t need that big Christmas dinner. For one, people are usually full before they even sit down. For two, somebody always has to run around like a Luke 10 Martha . And then there are the dishes.
So now, we put a big pot of clam chowder on the stove, a few appetizers strategically located out of the dog’s reach, and we help ourselves when we want it. We spend our time playing games and enjoying the company of family.
In the end, our bellies and our wallets thank us. And this Christmas, although we may never be personally thanked, we know someone else that Christ died for is thanking us too.

When you think of traditional church ministries, running does not usually come to mind. Choir or Worship Band, yes. Children’s Ministry, yes. Outreach and benevolence, yes. Discipleship and Bible Studies, yes. But running? Since when is running a spiritual pursuit?

The answer– since God made runners.

God is pleased with us whenever we are doing the things that He designed us to do. Some of us are gifted musically, some are artistic, and still others are gifted with the ability to speak, cook, counsel, or teach. And judging by the number of people who have become part of NorthStar’s “Blazing Stars,” many of us also enjoy walking or running!

Whatever abilities God has given you, use them for his glory! Of course He’s happy with you when you’re praying, reading the Bible, tithing, etc…But He’s also happy with you when you’re doing what He designed you to do and enjoying his creation. He delights in every detail of our lives (Psalm 37:23), not just the ones we usually associate with being “spiritual.”

When we use our gifts and abilities (whatever they are!) with an attitude of praise, God is pleased. To stifle them would be to reject His workmanship. So whatever it is he has designed YOU to do–Just do it!

This Sunday is what we’re calling “Back to Church Sunday.” With school back in session, we’re settling into our routines and getting back into the groove at church.

Along with school comes busyness! Practices, games, homework and conferences manage to keep us running around the clock, leaving us with little time for relaxation, let alone quality quiet time spent with God.

Today is October 1st. There are 31 days in October, and there are 31 “chapters” in the book of Proverbs. Why not discipline ourselves to spend a few minutes a day reading through a chapter of Proverbs each day this month? We will be sure to find some peace in the midst of busyness if we spend time with God, the One who never rests.

Talking about giving is uncomfortable. No one ever talks about how much they give, just like no one ever talks about how much they make. But I think not talking about giving robs people of knowing about one of the most sincere forms of worship we have.

Before I came to NorthStar I never really knew much about tithing; giving 10% of your income to God. I thought it was one of those Old Testament rituals like slaughtering male goats or offering flour mixed with olive oil on an altar. I didn’t really think ordinary people (i.e. not rich people) gave that much in this day and age…I mean, who does that? So for many years I put my ten dollars in the offering envelope and sent it on its merry way. Even though I had a good job I actually thought that was a lot! But when I look back now I think God must have been thinking, “Are you kidding me? After all I’ve done for you? You pay Time Warner more than that!”

The Bible talks about people honoring God with their lips while their hearts are far away…I think that’s where I was. I could sing all the worship songs telling God how much I loved Him, trusted Him and wanted to give my life to Him, but was I sincere? It’s easy to say we trust God but do we really when our real trust is in the balance of our bank accounts? God wants all of us, not just the parts that are easiest to give.

Along with some of our friends at NorthStar, my husband and I made the decision a few years ago to start tithing. We thought, “Are we really going to put our money where our mouths are? Do we really trust God?” He says, “test me in this…” so we did and we haven’t stopped since.

But over the course of a few years the tithe started to feel like a bill…we pay God just like we pay everybody else and it stopped being an act of worship or a sacrifice. So we decided to up the tithe to 12%. I’m horrible at math and when I figured out how much that was I was kind of nervous. But we did it for a couple months and God was faithful in providing for us. I was happy to do it. For some reason this past month was harder. Between vacations and other large expenses it just seemed like so much. I kept looking at the amount and thinking, “Really? Is that what you really want? This is a real sacrifice…Are you really going to make sure we’re ok?” But I do want Him to know we trust Him, and so I prayed and then clicked “Pay Now” on the electronic payment.

About 15 minutes later I got an answer from God. My husband came home from work and said his company is going to start a kind of reloadable money card program to be used as gift cards or debit cards on all kinds of practical things like groceries and even gas…And the good news was they were going to give them to the employees preloaded at various amounts starting at $25. His was for $500.

Yes Really, God said.

Donald H. Mostoller, 63, Manchester, formerly of Meyersdale, died July
27, 2009 at home. Born Nov. 16, 1945, in Friedens, a son of Harry and
Grace (Zerfoss) Mostoller. Preceded in death by parents; son Timmy; half
brother Eugene Pugh; and step-grandchildren Billy and Mya Maust.
Survived by his wife of 8 years, the former Judith Yoder; children:
Melissa married to Michael Borgel, Clifton Park, N.Y. and Jody married
to the former Teri Friedline; Ballston Spa, N.Y.; stepchildren: Susie
and Joe Ludden; Bill and Brenda Maust; Kim and Kevin Bender; and Brian
and Renee Maust; grandchildren: Libby Mostoller and Mya Borgel;
step-grandchildren: Jason, Jamie, Misty, P.J., D.J., Brian Jr., Ashlee,
and Kody; 18 step-great-grandchildren; brother of: Martha married to
Alan Wackerling, Plantation, Fla.; Emma married to Harold Pile,
Friedens; Ronald married to the former Marge Simpson, Somerset; and
Richard married to the former Dorothy Pletcher, Friedens. Also survived
by mother-in-law Edith Yoder, Meyersdale. Graduate of Somerset High
School and a Vietnam era Air Force veteran. He was an equipment operator
for Coleman/Fleetwood, retiring in 2007. Member of Mountain Valley Bible
Church, Berlin. He was an avid hunter and fisherman; a huge Steeler fan
and a NASCAR fan. Family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday
at the Deaner Funeral Home, Stoystown, where a service will be held at
11 a.m. Friday, Pastor Tim Shivler officiating. Interment Friedens
Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be
given to Judith Mostoller, 300 Highland Ave., Manchester, PA 17345 to
assist with funeral expenses.

We welcome the newest addition to the NorthStar family! Emily Grace Schreiner…beautiful baby daughter of Matt & Jen!