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11/18/2018

Deer Hunting and Deer Pants?

I grew up in 'rural' Wisconsin where deer (but no antelope) played until.. that appointed time each November when the good men and women of the northwoods dress all in orange expressed their 2nd Ammendment rights.

note: If you are a deer reading this blog.. NOW is a good time to choose a good hiding place.

Now let me segue from the above mentioned dangerous Wisconsin venue to Psalms 42:1. As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, my God.

Of course my cartoonist brain pictures deer pants (aka waders) for water so their little hoofies down get pruny. Or.. Bucky Boucher.. along the lines of Bobby Boucher 'aka Waterboy' (or in this case Waterbuck.. who knows quality H2o when he sees it.

Now let me safely but 'awkwardly' segue BACK with dry hoofies to the important truth of Psalms 42:1. As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, my God.

What does it look like to desire the Lord that way? How do I become a Godly man desiring the Lord when I am so tired from my work, responsibilities, and this or that crisis and/or percieved crisis? I could lie, but.. while I pant for water I find myself often pounding down a Mega-Monster energy drink.

It takes a conserted effort to focus in the clutter of this rush hour distracted world.

Truth and reality is blurred while we binge watch our favorite TV shows, consume 24/7 news propaganda, browse the web and monitor our twitter feeds and fantasy football teams only 'armed' with our two thumbs and our smartphones.

So I must slow down and reflect and appreciate our creator. I mean C'MON.. Why is the world fascinated by the Cosmos, but not the creator of the Cosmos? What is wrong with this picture?

So I pray my life would seek out Lord as poetically described in Psalms 42:1. As a deer pants for water so my soul pants for you my God.

There is a popular Christian song now 'Reckless Love'. Please take a moment to reflect on their lyrics below.. Better yet listen to it > HERE
Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
There's no shadow You won't light up
Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after me
There's no shadow You won't light up
Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after me
There's no shadow You won't light up
Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after me
There's no shadow You won't light up
Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

If that does not make us all Psalms 42:1 Thirsty I do not know what will.

May God bless each of you in your pursuit of Him. There is no greater lifelong pursuit than our creator. Come thirsty, and stay.. satisfied.

Jeff (panting not hunting) Larson

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11/13/2018

2 Comments

When we.. CLANG

Another election concludes with the Apostle Paul's summation from 1 Corithians 13:1-3 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. . If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing... and if I vote for the 'correct' party based on the issues of the day but do not have love.. well I CLANG!

There is very little in this life that CLANGS like a 1 Corinthians 13:1 CYMBAL more than an American election. More devisive and farther from love than a bitter Hollywood marriage/divorce/reality TV show.

And when American elections are over.. they are not really over as uncounted votes continue to be found in various and sundry nooks and cranny locations in Florida including the stomach of a large gator, and a box just discovered with the body of Jimmy Hoffa (and Jimmy voted!) in the back seat of Brenda Snipes (Broward County's Election Inspector) Hummer.

Don't get me wrong, elections are important, and so is my vote, AND ...there are many good candidates, but the process often strays far from issues of substance and is reduced to demonizing your opponent. It is not that we disagree (even strongly) but instead our opponent is Hitler, Stalin, Darth Vader, The Joker, and Hanibal Lector all rolled into one... and they tease cats!

So we go to church on Sunday for a repreive from this bad old election vibe with all the good people of God. But if I read the 'Christian press' 'the church is also divided by political, and racial lines. I hear the terms 'white evangelicals' and 'christian 'conservatives' placed on us that are.. white and/or conservative. CLANG, CLANG. Hey.. I resememble those remarks! I'm a White Evangelical Christian that is conservative.

The good news is there is only God's Truth and it goes well beyond race and/or political persuasion. We are all God's children red and yellow, black and white, or politically red or blue are precious in his sight. But .. without love.. our God blessed differences become divisions implied and/or real.

God's two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart soul and mind and others as ourselves. Oh we will see differently on issues on solutions and methods for society to live by but let's pray for God's Truth (his word) to be our guide. I pray I am and we all are sensitive to others who are different than we are and that race and our God blessed unique wirings (differences) all are first and foremost God honoring.

In Christ we are the same.. one body many different parts, and viva la difference.

May God bless and use each of you in the ways we are uniquely wired serve Him and others.

Jeff

2 Comments

11/1/2018

6 Comments

The Smell of Fear..

I have just changed jobs AGAIN. After 5 months working a job as a delivery driver of meals to senior citizens and others in financial, physical, and/or other needs I am now riding a bus to downtown Saint Paul, Mn to an office job providing customer service for life insurance policies.

I was not looking for a new job, and was thankful for the opportunity to serve others as hands and feet of Jesus Christ for those in need. As a driver I met many wonderful people, and was touched by the spirit of many of my clients. Other clients were just existing as you could see on their faces the weight of their situation. Poverty, sickness, mental and/or emotional challenges that were heavy loads.

But.. this new opportunity came along where I would return to an comfy office environment with predictable hours working with clients to answer their insurance policy questions.

This new job pays signifcantly more money, and would not require the physical demands on my body, nor the driving 250 miles in a day delivering meals to 50+ clients this winter where weather in Minnesota is unpredictable and the country roads are snow & ice.

I did pray about my decision of course with my wife, and considered the pros and cons, and decided to take this new job supporting life insurance products. I am actually typing this blog while riding the express bus (limited stops) to my employers downtown St Paul office.

So here comes the FEAR. While I am in good health, I am 61, wear bi-focals and hearing aides, and with zero experience with life insurance.

I am in a 6 week training class with mostly millenials to learn a solid understanding of our insurance services, and I AM MORE THAN SLIGHTLY CHALLENGED. I am learning, but I started this class about a week and a half after the rest of my group, but if I was swimming I would be dog paddling my fastest to keep up with a room full of Olympic Swimmers. I think I have swallowed half the pool.

So my doubts kick in.. I second guess myself (for the millionth time), go home regroup, talk with my wife and pray. I am thankful to God for this opportunity, but in my glaringly flawed humanity .. I have doubts. Feelings of being old, and unable to learn.. so go home regroup, talke with my wife and pray, and then pray some more. I pray for an attitude of trust in God, and for an ability to learn, and listen, and an attitude that is positive even when the going is tough.

It is unfortunate at age 61 I am 'occupationally challenged' where over the last few years I have hopped between a number of jobs. Not blaming anyone except myself and/or circumstances, but it still a reality and a regret. I look forward to retiring, but not sure when that will make sense.. but I know at this moment in time I need to work hard, be Christlike in my attitude and efforts.

I don't live my life now while focused on what is in my rear view mirror.

I share all this because I don't think I am alone. Many if not most of us face challenges that we did not sign up for. Our individual situations and/or challenges may be our own doing, or out of our control. It could be a diagnosis that compromises your life. It could be a lost job that was or was not your fault. Maybe problems in your marriage or with your children or grandchildren that break your heart. Maybe the issue is a vice/addiction. So we become afraid.

Through all this I share because I do trust God to be the answer in my life. I believe He is loving, and NOT indifferent to any of our situations.

From Job to the Prodigal Son God was faithful and caring. Look through the Gospels and read Jesus teachings, and look at his examples where He listened, wept, He healed, and He was truthful love, and even on the cross he promised paradise to the theif on the cross next to him.

What a blessing it is to serve our loving God. The creator of the Universe is intimately interested in each us and our fears.

I pray God's blessings and providence for his church today, and for a lost world that needs to know our loving Savior.

Jeff (bus ridin') Larson

Note: One day after writing this blog was a particularly tough day. The fears and doubts were back, but at the end of the day while feeling discouraged I prayed and extremely simple prayer.. HELP ME! The sky did not open up and God's spirit descend on me like a dove, but after a good night's sleep and a weekend ahead of me.. I am ready to go again. God is with me.. and I can do all things (even a new job) through Christ who strengthens me.

6 Comments

Deer Hunting and Deer Pants?

When we.. CLANG

The Smell of Fear..

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