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11/29/2024

Thanks a Million

It is Thanksgiving 2024, just over three weeks since our 'wonderful' election process ended. Well, ended? I learned they are still counting votes for some of the House races. I guess we keep counting til' we win?

But for most of us, whether our candidates won or lost, we are THANKFUL the election(s) are over, and the TV ads return to being from Big Pharma rather than election ads.

Of course, I have much more to be thankful for besides the elections being over. I have been married to the same wonderful wife for 40+ years, have 3 grown kids, and have 6 grandkids who all live near me and are dear to me. And with the Lord, I can even soar like I have Eagle's wings.

So, with thanks and Thanksgiving in mind, let me share again my collection of Thanksgiving cartoons ---> CLICK HERE FOR TURKEYS & MORE

Happy Belated Thanksgiving & Black Friday wishes - Jeff

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11/26/2024

1 Comment

Listening... for God's Voice

I am not a fan of this whole getting older thing. I am now 67 and wear hearing aids. I don't like to bother with them, but I confess that, much like my bifocal glasses, they 'aid' my aging senses. Hence, the name hearing AIDS.

But my ability to understand others when they spoke was even worse back in 2020, when we all donned COVID 'fashion' masks, eliminating any lip reading, and those mask-filtered voices resembled Charlie Brown's Teacher. Blah, blah, blah, blah.

Sadly, I see parallels between this 2020 lip reading and my listening/hearing God's Voice. When I do not still my mind, shutting off the noise (TV, podcast, radio) while quieting myself, then the voice of God and the promptings of His Spirit sound come figuratively across like Charlie Brown's Teacher. Blah, blah, blah, ... amen?

It's so easy to become distracted by the 24/7 din of this world in any typical year, but this year was an election year. A time when Politicians hijacked my TV, stuffed my mailbox, and sent their minions out to ring my doorbell more times than Halloween Trick or Treaters.

If 2024 was a musical instrument, it was undoubtedly the Clanging Cymbal Marching Band described in Corinthians 13:1.

But there is a better way... More QUIET, less NOISE, please.

God's Word teaches us to seek a quiet place and close the door. Matthew 6:6-14 Set our minds on things above Col 3:1 and pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

This leads us to a state of mind and spirit where we can experience God's peace and perspective that passes all understanding, which is our promise. Phil 4:7 And to a place where we can soar like Eagles; we will run and not faint. Is 40:31

... Even in an election year.

May God bless each of you as you tune out the noise of this world and hear His voice.

Jeff (hearing aides in and on) Larson

PS - Happy Birthday wishes to my mom, Nellie Larson, who now resides in Heaven. Mom would have been 99 years old this year. THANKFUL for a mom who was a Godly woman and loving mother. I am truly blessed and miss her today.

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11/18/2024

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Wanted: Preacher-Man

I am blessed to have attended Gospel preaching churches over my 67+ years. By my count, this included 7 churches served by 12 pastors.

For the first 25ish years of my life in my hometown church in Cable, Wisconsin, I counted 5 pastors over this period. For the next seven years, my wife & I attended her home church in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN, and during this time, we had 2 pastors. For the following 35ish years, my wife and I attended 5 different churches served by 5 pastors. Most church changes had to do with our change of address for various reasons. No church ran us out of town, as far as I recall.

Now, being a lifelong churchgoer, these 12 different pastors had their individual strengths and weaknesses, but the one thing they all had in common was A CALLING FROM GOD to serve God and His people.

But in contrast, if I can turn on the TV, browse the web, and/or social media, I have the clear impression not all preachers have A CALLING FROM GOD. Instead, they appear to be pastors who answered a job ad like the fictitious one below, thinking, "Yup, I could do that."

POSITION: Preacher Man

JOB DESCRIPTION: Must be able to tell jokes and amuse antidotes while sprinkling in a few scriptures over 30-minute sermons. A good candidate must demonstrate the ability to entertain and encourage while avoiding the problem of sin or the fact that we all need a savior. Candidate must exude the 'Jesus loves you just the way you are' and 'Jesus gets us' vibe. Avoid any talk about sin, repentance, guilt, or Hell. You know, the ICKY STUFF. We seek the right individual to complement our lively worship music with self-improvement sermonettes.

INCOME: You can expect to be compensated in a way that allows you to live a much better lifestyle than most congregants in our church.

IF INTERESTED: Forward your resume to us here at Make Me Happy Church.

Maybe too many are responding to the above imaginary job ad saying, "Where can I sign up" and wondering if they only have to work Sundays.

First, I write this to recognize and honor those who take on the challenge to lead God's people. May God bless each of you as you accept your calling.

May being a pastor be a calling where God speaks through each of you even when the words from God are difficult to say and hear. I pray for your boldness and a loving spirit but also more concerned about speaking TRUTH in love than it is even to be... LIKED.

May God bless and use you all, and never answer a PREACHER WANTED posting like the one above, lest you become a preacher with a millstone around your neck.

Blessings

Jeff

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11/14/2024

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I go to MAKE ME HAPPY Church

Q. Where do I go to church?
A. Me? I want to go to MAKE ME HAPPY CHURCH. Where the music is lively, and they share self-improvement sermonettes. - signed average American churchgoer

Q. BUT... where can I go about my SIN? For repentance, Grace, revival, to learn to serve God, and care for others? You know, the not-so-easy stuff. A.

A. Find a Bible Teaching Gospel Church, a true testimony of God's Love & Grace. Ro 3:23-25 & 12:1-2

Belonging to a good church (not perfect; perfect churches do not exist) is one of the best decisions you can make. To share life with other believers who seek God is a big part of living a healthy Christian Life.

<--- note: Many churches in the US are drifting LEFT. Beware of churches with doctrine that is not supported by God's Word. God's Word is the timeless, inerrant recording of God's loving involvement with mankind from the beginning.

I pray God blesses you on your quest for a good church.

Jeff (In the Back Pew) Larson

3 Comments

Thanks a Million

Listening... for God's Voice

Wanted: Preacher-Man

I go to MAKE ME HAPPY Church

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