About Our Name: Why "True North"?

If you walk North holding a compass in your hand and follow its direction, you might end up lost! 

Why?? 

Because the direction your compass tells you is North... is only somewhat North! 

You probably know that a compass points toward Magnetic North. 

 

What you may not know, however, is that the earth’s magnetic field is kind of like a big underground pool of magnetized molten rock, floating around in the earth’s outer core. 

In all the tumult of the earth’s constantly shifting core, this magnetic field (magnetized iron) also shifts. In fact, in the last 150 years, the Magnetic North Pole has moved a total of about 685 miles!

 

True: this magnetic field makes a needle move in a general “northerly” direction, but it is not very stable, and not ultimately reliable.

Navigators know better than to place their trust in a compass needle alone. 

Now True North, on the other hand, is much more reliable.

“True North” refers to the geographical location of the North Pole, as it is mapped using the lines of longitude.  The point at which those lines intersect (read: cross) is known as “True North.” 

 True North is the exact representation of the North Pole, and remains constant, no matter what’s going on at the earth’s core.

 

 

Magnetic North can get you more or less lost, depending on your starting point on the globe.  (For instance, from our location in North Idaho, True North is actually 15—20 degrees WEST of Magnetic North!)

But you could use True North to navigate with precision from any point on the earth.

Navigators know they can trust this geographical “ideal” no matter where they are.  It is a trustworthy navigational tool.

Proverbs 14:12 says,  "There is a way that seems right 

to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

We at True North Church are a gathering of individuals with diverse backgrounds, personalities, politics, and experiences.  You could say that we all have different “starting points”. 

At the same time, we all want to end up at the same destination:  a life that’s worth living, and the invaluable peace of mind that our final destination is ensured as well.

Isn’t that what everybody wants?

At some point, each of us has discovered that we can’t depend on ourselves to find our own way.  In various “degrees” have each experienced the desperation of being “lost”. 

The Good News (at least for us) is that we have found our way in Jesus Christ.  At some point, our lives have intersected with His at the Cross.

Jesus is our TRUE NORTH.

 

In Him we have experienced True Living and True Peace.

Each of us has come to discover the Truth of Jesus’ words when He said,

"I am the Way the Truth and the Life.

No one comes to the Father except through me."

We acknowledge that this is a bold and provocative statement.  So let us be clear:  We have placed our trust in Jesus, because we have found Him to be constant; rock solid; ultimately reliable. 

We think you would find Him to be the same.  Come explore His words and His claims with us, and weigh their merits for yourself. 

 

Comments

[L Bittner]

There is a word left out of your opening sentence - I believe you mean to say "...end up lost".

[Leslie]

Kristina - thank you SO much for posting this note. It's more encouraging to us than you can know. Leslie

[Kristina Gewecke]

started coming to this church with Jonathan Gewecke... i was scared at first because i dont do change very well, but i have grown to love this church and will not go to any other church. I love the warm welcome i get whenever i walk through the doors, and love the amazed looks on the guests that i bring with me when people give them a nice big warm welcome and treat hem as if they have been friends for a long time. our family appreciate everything that true north has done for our family.

~Sincerely, Kristina Gewecke