DaveLarsonLive.com

Right where you are

I had a Memorial service yesterday for a guy who attended NLCC named Alan Everson.  Alan was 49 years old and died suddenly of a heart attack earlier this week.  He and his sister Vikki, lived in Riverbank.  She is the General Manager of Galaxy Theaters and Alan worker there for her.

We had the service in one of the theaters there, and it was incredible to hear so many young people stand up and say how much Alan had taught them about life and work and all kinds of other stuff.  Yet Alan lived with this sense that he never could really find what God wanted him to do.  I think a lot of people live with that same sense, that somehow we're not measuring up, not finding out purpose.

Here's what one of the students said,

"Alan was always trying to find his life's "work",  but I think he was too close to see that he was actually doing it."

What a profound statement.  I think if someone had told Alan, "You need to go mentor and teach this young people what life, and work, and faith is all about"    he would have laughed out loud.  He would have thought there was NO WAY he could do that, NO WAY he could have that kind of impact and influence.  Yet that's what he was doing everyday.

Sometimes I'm looking for the BIG thing that's "out there somewhere" that I'm going to do.  But it's in my home, and in my neighborhood, and in my church, and in my job, that God often uses us in the most profound ways. 

Maybe you're right where you need to be for God to use you to impact and influence others for the Kingdom.

Our new fav…

We've been doing our best at home to eat healthier with portions that aren't out of control.  It's been a challenge, but it's rewarding.  For me though, it's the desserts that kill me.  What do you do in the evening when you just want that little something something to eat?

Gena discovered the fat free instant Jello Pudding in WHITE CHOCOLATE!   A little bit of this, a little lite whip cream, and some sprinkled almonds!  It's good crazy!

The 2008 that MIGHT have been…

I came across this article written 40 years ago about what life in 2008 would be like.  Most of it is a futuristic joke like 250 MPH air cars,  bubble-domed cities, and automatic cleaners and pre-packaged meals.  Kind of like the Jetsons.  Though a 4 hour work day and an Undersea Hotel with personal submarines would be really COOL!

But some of it is incredibly accurate.  The author pretty much nails Debit cards, Internet shopping, flat screen TV's, and laptop computers. 

Makes you wonder what life will be like in 2048.

Two Quotes

I read two quotes today that made me really stop and think.  Maybe it will make you think too.

"Does anyone have the foggiest idea of what sort of power we so casually invoke?  Churches are like children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning.  It's madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church;  we should all be wearing crash helmets!"  Annie Dillard in "Travelers Unaware."

"An energy that breaks the status quo should be expected when the spirit of the One who overturned tables pulses through the veins of men who serve Him."  Rick Bundschuh in "Passed through Fire."

We're Back…

Jon and I are back home after a crazy 3 day trip to Unleash in South Carolina.  Truthfully, I'm fried. But it was totally worth the flights, driving, jet lag, time changes, and everything else even just to be there for ONE DAY! It was one of the most incredible conferences I've ever attended. 

I'll be blogging from my notes and thoughts over the next week.  There is so much rattling around in my brain and stirring my spirit, I want to be able to share it well.  I have about ten pages of notes that I took during the sessions, and I haven't even started to jot down my own thoughts and responses to everything I heard.  But I will tell you this…buckle up, because God is about to take us on a ride!

Remember…

I was reading yesterday in Deuteronomy 8 and it's amazing this picture that Moses paints.  He tells the people of God's blessing and he spells it out in vivid images: flowing streams, springs that gush forth, land overflowing with crops and fruit. 

He says that they will lack nothing.  Wow!  What an awesome God that He provides for us in ways we can't even imagine.  But then he says, "When you have eaten your fill, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you." 

Over and over in this chapter he says, "remember, remember, remember", and "don't forget."  Remember where all of this comes from.  Remember your God who loves you and provides for you. 

Nothing much has changed in all these years.  God still provides, and we enjoy His blessing.  Then we turn around and forget who it came from.  We forget His goodness and His provision, and we start thinking that WE are the ones who provide and create.

If I can get just ONE THING RIGHT, it's going to be to remember it all comes from Him.

Sore throat

My throat has been bad the last couple of days and I feel completely drained.  I don't know if it's allergies or a cold, but my throat is raw and my voice is messed up.  I kind of sound like a Trace Adkins / Barry White / Lurch combo.  Even though I think it sounds kind of cool (and I love doing my favorite Trace and Barry songs), I need for my voice and my strength to be better for tomorrow.  Pray for me.

Coming soon…

I've got about 4 blog posts backed up that I haven't finished yet, but you'll be reading them soon.  These last several days have been so great with a trip to the Bay Area, church in Livermore yesterday, and skiing with Ken Van Vliet today.  I'll post some pictures and thoughts later today or tomorrow.

Ken's here, and I'm off for the slopes!

Think about this…

I was listening to a podcast by Andy Stanley and he said something that made me stop.  I had to rewind it several times and listen again.  Wow! Think about this…

"God does not give us direction for consideration and contemplation… He gives us direction for participation."

What I learned today.

I was able to attend the Economic Trends luncheon today, put on by the Turlock Chamber of Commerce.  It was a pretty nice affair, nice lunch, and I got to rub elbows with the movers and shakers in Turlock.  Mayor John Lazar gave an "update" on Turlock, and a few brief statistics of progress (additional police, development zones, etc).  Then a Econ professor from CSUS (I didn't get his name) talked for a bit about national and state economic trends.  Here are a few things I noted:

• On a national level, consumer spending and debt is OUT OF CONTROL.  Rising unemployment and the housing market have only added to the financial mess most people are in.  Hmmmm…spiritual connotations?  I think we're trying to solve our problems by buying more, having more, and we want it NOW! 

• The speaker said, "We have to stop using our homes as ATM machines."

• The Stanislaus County population grew at about a 25% rate over the last 10 years;  from 419,000 people to 515,000 people.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Now, more than ever, we have to reach our city and county for Christ.  More people give us more opportunities to share Christ's love and grace.

All through this luncheon, I kept thinking, "How does this impact the church?  How does this give us new opportunities to reach out?  How can we creatively share the gospel?"  I just keep praying, thinking, and dreaming.

Thoughts on Tuesday

Our Tuesday A.M. Men's Bible study has been going through the book of 1Thessalonians.  Over this past week there have been a couple of verses that have stood out to me.  I keep coming back to them and am challenged every time.

Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, even though we were surrounded by many who opposed us.  1Thessalonians 2:2 (NLT)

I told the guys this morning that this is my new motto.  I keep praying for God to give me boldness and courage, especially when I think of the call that God has given for us to reach our city for Him, I'm going to need all I can get. Sometimes courage and boldness have a way of fading into the regular blur of life.  I stop stepping out, stop trusting, stop believing the call and the vision, and it just becomes "getting by."  I don't want to live in the gray areas of "getting by" anymore.

Here's the second passage…

Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.  1Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

I don't know what else needs to be said about that one.  I just need to ask myself in whatever I do, am I doing it for God or people?  It won't be easy, but I'll be free!

Something old, something new…

Welcome to my new blog format.  If you're coming over from my old blog on Blogger, Welcome!  Make sure you bookmark this new location, and if you use an RSS reader, that you update the new feed URL (if you have NO idea what that means, don't worry about it).

I've brought all of my previous posts and comments to this new site, so you can look up anything I've written in the past. 

I'm still making tweaks, changes, and (hopefully) improvements, to this work in progress.  Let me know what you think, if something isn't working right, or if there's something I could add that would be helpful.