All Categories

When we.. CLANG

11/13/2018

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

1 Comment

The Smell of Fear..

11/1/2018

4 Comments

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.

4 Comments

The 'evolution' of EVOLUTION?

9/30/2018

2 Comments

The 'evolution' of EVOLUTION?

While I do not believe in the monkey ancestor kind of evolution I do believe life certainly evolves.

Let me share 'my' scientific findings from my exhaustive study here at the Back Pew Institute for Common Sense.

Exhibit A (Valentines Day)
THEN: On February 14, 1984 I bought my wife an engagement ring, flowers and proposed marriage. Good news for me Mary was very excited about spending the rest of her life with ME! Til death do us part.. thank you very much.
NOW: On February 13th 2016 my wife informed me she was going to pick up some flowers for my 86 year old mom for Valentines Day. I replied "Great, and while you're at it, pick up something nice for yourself from me.. cuz I like ya."

Exhibit B (Romance)
THEN: Mary and I were married in August 1984. The newlywed excitement of starting our lives together, holding hands, the excitement of the kiss, and all the other 'fringe benefits' of being married were truly wonderful.
NOW: Just the few years ago I remember trying to kiss my wife Mary on the lips before I headed out the door to work. But she turned her head at the last moment offering me only to her cheek to kiss. So I said to my bride "I noticed you turned away", and she replied matter of factly.. "yes I did not want you to wreck my lips." Wreck her lips? I was her husband wanting a simple kiss, not a zombie wanting to eat her lips.

Exhibit C (Sports)
THEN: March Madness Year 1 was a simple game where dunking was not possible as the hunched over Neanderthal players had little to no vertical jump compounded by using a ball which technically was a medium sized boulder.
NOW: The game now is fast, the players tall and athletic, the action is high flying and the courts are free of dinosaur droppings.

Exhibit D (Me)
THEN: When I was a kid I could spend hours drawing cartoons.
NOW: Hmmm, never mind that is still what I like to do.

Exhibits E-Z (God)
THEN & NOW: Outside of all the above 'very scientific' examples of evolution and in the spiritual realm let's be clar.. our God does not evolve nor does He need to. God is timeless, and so are his truths.

It appears society has chosen to travel down a progressive road of self-enlightenment at 90mph in a Woodstock like hippy van mind set. Ironically the world judges Christians as.. judgmental, and God's timeless loving truths (The Bible) are questioned or outright dismissed.

This truth of our 'never-needing-to-evolve creator' and His perfect love and grace is the compass and solid rock we can count on. Please share this often with this ever changing/evolving tumultuous doubting world.

Blessings

Jeff

2 Comments

Truth.. Can you handle it?

9/24/2018

0 Comments

Q: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God? <pause> A: Hmmm, maybe. What are we talking about, I mean I need some context here before I swear.

Ok, I do not believe this type of answer would fly well in a court of law. Truth is truth, and I should not be afraid of the truth. Right? Or can't I handle the Truth?

How about outside the court of law where I do not have to swear on a bible? Can I fudge or tweak the truth so it does not look so blessed incriminating? I mean to say.. that check is really in the mail.. almost. :)

What if a wife asks her hubby: "Are these pants too tight?" In this case, be truthful.. BUT choose your words wisely so they are not your LAST.

On the flip side if a husband asks: "How do I look?" There is a better than 75% chance the hubby will receive the whole truth and nothing but the unfiltered truth.

For all of the above and more truth in love is a beautiful thing. Truth is not always convenient, and it may sting a little or A LOT, but avoiding the truth will not make it go away.

Also the church (we are the church) are called to share the good news (THE TRUTH) of Jesus Christ. To not share this gospel message of salvation would be unloving.

Think about it,, If there is ONE WAY to Heaven through Jesus Christ then we must preach Christ always in our words and deeds. Do not apologize for this truth! If you believe in Heaven and Hell then as family, friend, neighbor, and/or citizen we cannot remain silent when the Truth of Jesus is eternally important.

While this subject of deep down nook and crannies of our lives truth feels a bit intrusive it must be a cornerstone to our faith. We should embrace truth in love for ourselves and others, and share the truth the only way to Heaven is Jesus Christ.

My prayer today is for us all to be truthful and loving in word and deed. Remember, 1 Corinthians 13 shares all is meaningless (including Truth) without love. In all things, To God be the glory.

Blessings

Jeff (mostly-honest) Larson

0 Comments

Back (Pew) to School

9/22/2018

0 Comments

School Days, School Days.. Dear old Golden Rule days
' Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick'
hick’ry stick?

So NOT politically correct! and.. I like it!

Back to school begins traditionally the day after Labor day in America. Parents, students, and teachers transition from vacations, picnics, and the beach to a world of chalk dust, text books, report cards, and a possible trip to the principle's office.

CHALK DUST bites the DUST
Of course chalk dust is becoming a part of old school urban legend. I-Pads and smart phones are the tools of today's student. They say.. You are only as smart as your smartphone.

Then the timeless excuse 'My dog ate my homework" has been upgraded for our high speed high tech society with.. "my wi-fi was down", or "a computer virus ate my homework". Also, Notes passed between students has been replaced by texting, browsing the web, and/or social media posts.

My wife Mary is a school teacher who has taught for 10+ in the public schools before moving to a small Christian school these last 3 years. A teacher is truly how God wired by wife as you can tell by the hours she spends prepping or talking teacher talk with her other teacher peeps.

God bless all of you gifted educators in the public school systems, but for my wife she could not be happier where she is now still teaching the 3 Rs, but blending this with a Christian world view, prayer, and worship of the God of our Bibles. Truth be told it has become as much of a ministry as an occupation as evidenced by her paycut moving from public school system.

My Prayer of Blessing for all you dedicated educators (public & private, primary & secondary) that Jesus be first and formost in your lives. May your faith and God's truth guide your words and deeds. Kindness, compassion, and loving discipline are the marks of a Godly educator.

My Prayer of Concern for public schools is for the language and tone not minimize or apologize for our nation's Christian heritage. Public Schools in their determined quest to remain NEUTRAL in matters of faith have instead become NEUTERED in respect to our Christian heritage. While there is no question we are all to respect the differing faiths of others but it's a MISTAKE to become so SECULARIZED that we are void of God.

The Pledge and Patriotism
And while we are at it, I pledge alleagence to the flag and the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation UNDER GOD.. This pledge needs to be in schools. Patriotism and honoring our country (flaws and all) needs to be an integral part of education. AND Christians should not be alarmed the pledge puts God and Country on the same plain. The pledge clearly states one nation UNDER GOD.

Along this same vein, I am serioulsly miffed at a movement in the 'progressive' Christian community that has a problem with God and Nation. Again, read the pledge.. one nation UNDER God.

OBTW, please don't kneel during the Star Spangled Banner .. this is NOT the time or place to protest any patriotic misgivings you may have.

Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord Psalms 33:12,.. and so it goes without saying blessed is the SCHOOL whose God is the Lord.

May God bless all of you educators this coming year. Be faithful and sensitive to God in your lives as He leads you. Good Teachers are a true blessing to the foundation of our country!

Jeff (semi-educated) Larson

0 Comments

Caught between The ROCK and a HARD world

9/8/2018

1 Comment

I have a growing concern for the American Church that we find ourselves caught between THE ROCK and a HARD WORLD.

This world claims Christians are mostly judgmental hypocrites. Weak minded, Insensitive, pious hymn singers who naivly believe in Noah's Ark and other fairy tales. And they LOL believe the Bible is the inherrent word of God.

In response we claim our ROCK is Jesus... and sing 'A Mighty Fortress is our God', but our knees shake as we become instrospective through the world's judging lens instead of God's loving truth.

We apologize and/or hide our views when God's unchanging truths do not fit nicely with our secular humanistic society. We go mostly silent as not to stir the anti-Christian hornet's nest world view. We don't like people to call us names.. who would. So we become like a deer caught in society's pious headlights and honking horns.

This HARD WORLD has a compromised view of life equally cynical of Christians and mocking of our God.

I believe A.W. Tozer once said "The Church is more afraid of offending the world than offending God". I believe that is true.

So the choice is ours. Serve God or appease man. Stand up for God's Truth or attend a Sunday Social club we call church and live our lives as Christians in name only.

Only one life 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last. - Charles Studd

There I go again.. another not funny blog by a cartoonist. Next time I promise to write about the plight of unicorns who did not RSVP to Noah.

Truth is all is not lost... not in the Church, not in the world. God cares deeply both for his church and for a world that does not know him. This is our opportunity to make a difference not just attending church but being involved as best we can where we can.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col 3:17

Oh we will stumble but get back up again where Jesus is our Rock while living in this Hard World.

I pray as always His church (we the people) turn daily to God, seek Him first,.. love HIm with our lives, serve Him in all that we do, and love and care others like Jesus did. May God find us all faithful. May He bless and use us all in ways that are beyond our dreams and for His Glory only.

Blessings

Jeff

ps, another quick Tozer post that was a good barameter for me to pay attention to.

“Rules for Self Discovery:
1. What we want most;
2. What we think about most;
3. How we use our money;
4. What we do with our leisure time;
5. The company we enjoy;
6. Who and what we admire;
7. What we laugh at.”
― A. W. Tozer

1 Comment

The Alcatraz of my Mind

8/18/2018

2 Comments

In the process of Photoshop retouching my past cartoons I came across one featuring this important scripture.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

With this great scripture in mind, I feel sometimes like I am serving 60 years to life in the Alcatraz of my Mind. To often I find instead of holding every thought captive obedient to Christ I have become become captive to my thoughts. I become a walking talking Abbott & Costello comedy skit where I end up on the wrong side of the county jail bars of my mind.

In these times my weary brain becomes lost in the tasks of another anxious day living in this very broken spinning out of control world leaves me frazzled, weary, and downright .. pouty. Now pouty may be cute when it is my 4 year old granddaughter, but when it is 61 year old ME.. just ask my wife Mary, it's not cute.

So what do I do? I read aloud again 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

This will be my life long process of returning to this scripture truth when my anxious, jealous, lazy, angry, compromised etc etc thoughts occupy the podium in my brain. Christ is my answer.. He is my hope. So here ya go Jesus.. THANKS!

May God bless each of you this day where God's perfect Truth & Love is the answer when your thoughts are have you locked in the cell next to mine on the Alcatraz of your Mind.

Jeff

2 Comments

The 'Flashing' of Life

8/13/2018

0 Comments

Life Flashing before my eyes.. Larson Style. In the last 7 short days I have experienced highs and lows, laughter and tears, life and death. I know most of all of us have weeks like this, but last week was my turn.

On Tuesday August 9th my Aunt Marie passed away unexpexectedly at the age of 87. She was loved and will be missed of course by family and friends. We all grieve and are sad for our loss, but celebrate her arrival to Heaven where she is reunited with family, friends, and most importantly JESUS. This is the paradox of the Christian experience where the lines between death and life (the eternal type) are experienced by those who love the Lord.

Then Friday morning August 10th my long awaited (9+ months) expected third granddaughter Reagan Holland Larson arrived.

This of course is the best kind of news, and holding her the following morning was a perfect healing touch for my grieving heart.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.. Over these same 7 days my wife's family was in town for a reunion. There are six siblings in the Laun family.. ages 83, 82, 79, 77, 60, while my wife is the itsy bitsy baby at age 57.

All six siblings were here with their spouses along with a smattering of kids and grandkids. Activities included sight seeing, a picnic, paddle boat ride on the Mississippi, and a (heart attack free )baseball game of sorts with players ranging from age 6 through 77.

This was a great time of celebrating family and heritage. All are doing well and actually still like each other.

Health of all siblings is good, but if some nefarious sort targeting senior citizens robbed us the highlight of their bootie would selling our hearing aides on the black market... or random senior homes. The only negative me spending that many days with Mary's family is that I ate waaay too much. I know, I don't have to eat so much, but.. mind your own business.

So there you have it, what a week. Life Flashing before my eyes? .. or as Mufasa from the Lion King explains.. This is the Circle of Life.

Life is messy, including roller coaster moments wanting you to exit the ride, or 'hurl'. From birth through the family reunions to that day until this ride stops .. this life is a gift from God.

May God bless each of your lives with joy in your journey. Remember always to love God and care for others.

Jeff

0 Comments

Light v Dark Toast

7/30/2018

1 Comment

I am one of those folks who likes my food ever so slightly overcooked. I like the cheese on my pizza to be golden.. maybe even a 'dark' golden. I like my bagel toasted dark contrasted with a spread of cream cheese. I want it to hear a slight CRUNCH when I bite into it. And I like DUSK where the sun has just dropped peacefully below the western horizon but before the black of night,

Of course choosing dark over light in the weighty matters of bagals and pizza is fine, but in matters of the SPIRIT.. always choose the LIGHT.

This Present Darkness is a Christian novel by Frank Paretti published in 1986 for adults showing a contemporary view on angels, demons, prayer, and spiritual warfare as demons and angels interact and struggle for control in our lives and communities. And though this book was fiction, I believe this battle is real.

Of course there is obvious DARKNESS of this world, but I am surprised by many Churches Frog in the Boiling Pot perspective on life where God is fit into societal norms rather than the other way around as God intends.

"In God We Trust" may be the official motto of the United States of America, but in this world's shadows we move closer to a Godless reality found in Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

How else can explain our society where

Crass is considered clever
Profane is considered Profound
Greed and Envy is in the heart of man
Hatred, War, and Genocide exist
Women are degraded and used via Pornography

The gentle word CHOICE masks the ongoing hollocaust of Aborting babies
LGBT is lauded as normal and
Gender is just another 'selection' on the happy meal of life.

Some items from this list of our world's woes are pitch black dark, but all of them lurk in this land of shadows where Wrong is considered a gray area defined by man rather than God.

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. John 3:19-21

So these very words of Jesus make it clear.. It matters what we believe, our choices matter. JESUS WAS NOT TALKIN' TOAST.

So I prayer God finds us IN THE LIGHT, living in obedience to His word, loving and truthful in our words and deeds with others, and never lingering in this world's shadows.

Enjoy this life in the LIGHT.

Blessings

Jeff (dark toast please) Larson

1 Comment

Too Too Much

7/16/2018

2 Comments

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:5-7

I live in America where moderation is not the modus operandi. We like big, and more, and we supersize whenever possible. Too much for us often is not enough.

I am not saying having nice home, car, etc are bad things at all, but modesty and moderation does not come easy to Americans. IMO

But what if we temper our lives with those 3 verses in Philippians. What if we were known for our moderation, prayerful, and thankful to our God? Then the peace of God that does pass all understanding is there for each of us no matter if we are living check to check or encumbered with the trappings of wealth.

Be poor in Spirit (humble) Mt. 5:3 , faithful to our God and caring of others in the moments that make up your day. Then this whole moderation concept should take care of itself.

May God lead, use, and bless your lives in ways that are beyond your dreams.

Jeff

2 Comments