DaveLarsonLive.com

Primal

  I received a new book about a week ago titled "Primal."  It's written by Mark Batterson who wrote a couple of my favorite recent reads: "In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" and "Wild Goose Chase."

I haven't had a lot of time to read the last couple of weeks, but this is one book I find myself drawn back to again and again, if only for a few minutes.  Mark is a storyteller, and his emphasis follows personal stories, historical events, and interesting scientific data (where does he GET this stuff), and leads you on a journey to recapture the heart of our faith.

We live in a day and age when it's so easy to complicate and weigh down our faith with so much "stuff", that we forget what's important in the first place.  It reminds me of Jesus' words to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2.  They had done all the "stuff" but they'd lost their first love.  They lost what was MOST important in the process of being religious.

Mark pulls us back to our roots in rediscovering why we're on this journey anyway.  A look at God's incredible love for us and finding our love for Him again.  

Powerful words. Powerful message.  Powerful, changed lives.

Glory to God…

 I arrived at the church for our Men's Bible Study at 6am this morning to find that our "Glory to God in the Highest" lighted sign was up!  This has been a NLCC tradition for decades now.  Every year we put up a big lighted sign that can be seen up and down the freeway.  It's just a small (well…OK it's BIG) way of lighting up the Christmas season with the REAL reason we celebrate.  The picture doesn't do the sign much justice, so some evening make sure you drive down Hwy 99 between Fulkerth & Monte Vista exits and see for yourself.

Glory to God in the Highest!!

Thoughts from Sunday - 11/29/09

• I felt a little wiped out heading into the services after a great Thanksgiving weekend.  But after worshipping and connecting with so many of you I truly felt energized.  I LOVE being a part of the NLCC family!

• Thanks to Eli for his flexibility and "spur of the moment" grace as I just felt God wanted us to do "Amazing Love" again.  It's such a perfect picture of what we've been learning in this "The Real Deal" series.  

• All of our love, and even the ABILITY to love, flows from the fact that He loved us first!

• You can't believe the amount of shoes we've collected for Soles4Souls.  It is absolutely ridiculous!  Thanks NLCC for loving enough to give!

• I met a bunch of new people in the Intersection Cafe' between services.  What a great place to hang out, have some coffee, and make a connection.  Thanks Cafe' team for ALL your work in making such a welcoming place.

• Saw some Pastor friends here yesterday (they had the weekend off at their church).  The body of Christ is SO much bigger, diverse, unique, and special than I can ever wrap my head around.  We've got some great churches in this community and I'm honored to be on the same team with them.

• Thank you, thank you, to all the volunteers who serve and give each week to make ministry here happen.  I know other churches and pastors think they have the best volunteers and staff, but I know better.  The best of the best is right here at NLCC.  Thanks guys for giving 110% every single time!

• You do NOT want to miss this next Sunday as we kick off the Christmas season.  Our creative team is working overtime to really bring Christmas home.  Invite your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to come experience Jesus this season.

Stolen car…AGAIN!

Wednesday evening Hannah calls me and tells me that her car is gone…again!  Didn't we just go through this about a year ago?  Hannah's frustrated because her college textbooks are in the car, which I believe are worth
 more than the value of the entire car!  I'm still trying to figure out the allure of a '93 Saturn 4-door.

I call Turlock P.D. and file a report.  45 MINUTES LATER, they call me and tell me they've recovered the car!  Turlock Police Department are the BEST.  We get the car back, the books back, and they didn't trash anything (whew).  

When we pick up the car, the officer says, "I see you have The Club.  It doesn't do you any good leaving it on the floorboard of the car unless you want to BEAT somebody with it.  Next time…"  Hannah breaks in with a "I know, I know."  Funny how you know those things AFTER the fact.

Thank You Veterans.

Thank you to all who have served and currently serve in our military.  Your sacrifice and service secures the freedoms that we all enjoy.  I honor you and pray for you on this Veteran's Day.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 (NLT)

Thoughts from Sunday

I don't know what it was, but there was such an incredible sense of joy in our services Sunday.  It was powerful, and moving, and fun, and it connected us together.  It's why I love coming together so much.  It's why I love Jesus so much.  It's why I love New Life so much.

• I LOVED the worship bands take on this song, "I need a Savior" by Among the Thirsty.  You can click the link for a "youtube.com" version (not our band).

• We really messed up during the first service.  Somehow we got going and completely missed a time to pray and honor our veterans.  We did it in the other services but completely missed it in the first service.  My apologies to all of you who were there.  We admire and honor all who have served and are serving to secure our freedom.

• We were PACKED OUT during the 2nd service, standing room only in the back.  As exciting as that seems, I know it means a less than optimal experience for those who can't find a place to sit.  Some of our welcome team told me that a few people left because there just was no room.  While our First and Third services have good crowds, they aren't near to capacity yet (but getting there).  If you're a regular 2nd Service attender, I want to challenge you to make the move to First or Third and make room for new people that are coming to NLCC.  

• I loved being a part of seeing 15 families dedicate their children to the Lord.  Those are powerful moments for a family.  Keep praying for them as they love and raise their kids.

• There were 12 people that stepped across the line of faith and committed their lives to Jesus.  That NEVER gets old!

• It was fun to celebrate Pastor Jon's 40th birthday with everyone.  We capped it off with a staff BBQ and dessert for Jon on Tuesday.  We also managed to surprise him by emptying 10 cans of silly string all over him as we finished singing Happy Birthday.  I know he REALLY enjoyed it ;)  You can see the picture on Facebook here.

There all along…

I was reading in Isaiah this morning and came across a statement from God and just had to sit back for a minute and think.  You know how sometimes we're going through something and we wonder, "Hey God, where ARE you?"  I know I've done that time after time, but this passage gave me something to chew on.  Here it is straight from my Bible…

The Lord says, "I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help.  I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me.  I said, 'Here I am, here I am!'  to a nation that did not call on my name."

Amazing to think that God is RIGHT there, all the time.  He's ready, willing, and able -- but am I ready and willing.  Hmmm… I guess THAT'S the question.

6th Grade Camp!

Our youngest left for 6th grade camp this morning. I was hoping for a week, but it's just 3 days ;). Have fun Kari!!

You gotta love it!

I wrote the other day about the NLCC kids decorating the doors and desks of our staff.  It still makes me smile when I walk in and see my door covered in post-it notes and balloons (yep, I haven't taken them down yet!).

Here are some of my favorite notes (I didn't change any spelling)…

• Thank you for helping my family.

• Your sick!

• Thank you Pastor Dave for babtised us.

• Thank you for coming every Sunday.

• I never had a pastor lik you.  Nise hair!

• Pastors Rule!

Legacy

I was reading from Philippians chapter 2 in my personal time this morning.  At the end of this chapter, the Apostle Paul commends a guy named Epaphroditus (I had to look three times just to make sure I spelled that right).  What a name!  I wonder if he was the original "Papi" (a big shout out to all you Boston Red Sox fans!).  

We don't know a whole lot about "Papi", but Paul says this about him…

"He is a true brother, a faithful worker, and a courageous soldier."

What a legacy to leave.  When all is said and done, I hope those same words can be said about me.  Which made me think, "What am I doing today to live that way?"  Hmmmm…

Great Kids

This is my office door that got decorated by NLCC kids yesterday. In fact, our whole staff team got their doors or their desks done up with thank you notes, balloons, and ribbon, just to encourage and bless us. What awesome kids! A HUGE thanks to Kourtney for her hand in blessing us all so much and for leading our kids closer to Jesus!

Sunday Night Thoughts

• There was something special in our communion today.  I don't even know if I can put my finger on it, but God was there in a way that was so powerful.  Just think, communion is our way of remembering that HE RESCUED ME!  

• Steven and Ben and the whole worship band did a great job today.  It was also good seeing Jeff Vercelli back home and playing with the band.

• I read from Matthew 4 today where Jesus tells Peter and Andrew (and James and John) to drop their nets and "come follow me."  I'm still amazed that it says they dropped their nets "at once" and followed -- THAT is faith.  I'd like to think I have the kind of faith that would drop it all and follow, but I'm not sure I do most of the time.    

• If you get the chance, pick up Erwin McManus book, "The Barbarian Way."  This book really challenges each of us to not settle for safe and domesticated faith, but to truly follow after Christ.

• Pastor Jon's story today about working in his dad's almond orchard was really powerful. He said it was incredibly inefficient for him to be raking up a few almonds and plucking a few out of dirt clods and the branches. All that work for just a few nuts, but God works the same way. It's inefficient, but He's willing to take all the time and effort, and love and grace, just to rescue us where we are stuck and hidden.

• I had someone tell me after church today that they invited someone to come to church who is stuck deep in sin and in a lifestyle that wouldn't be very acceptable. They told this person that they should come because they could get to know God and that everyone at NLCC would love them and welcome them regardless. I love it that NLCC people just know that if they invite someone they are going to get loved on - period.

•I don't think I mentioned it before, but a couple of weeks ago we had the CSU Stanislaus Women's soccer team come for a service. Some of them attend regularly and they invited the whole team to come with them. Thanks Briana for bringing the team with you!