This is a test post…

This is a test post calling from my cellphone to Jott.com to post automatically on my blog. Test, test. 1, 2, 3. listen

Powered by Jott

foto Friday

Here are a couple of more shots from our baptisms…

Also, our small group went to a LA Dodgers game here last week. First time ever for us, to go to Dodger stadium:

Lastly, the best tacos in Hollywood — Yuca’s, a little stand in a parking lot…

praying the Psalms

Psalm 54:1-2

1 Save me, O God, by your name;
vindicate me by your might.

2 Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.

” ‘Save me’ is the most elemental prayer. It is at the heart of biblical religion. It joins human need with God’s action in Jesus, whose name means, literally, ‘The Lord Saves.’

Prayer: Lord, I want this prayer at the center of my life. Everything flows from this one petition as I look to you to deliver me from both my own sins and the sins of others. Make a whole person of me in Jesus Christ. Amen” -Eugene Peterson

Crackdown on Russian Protestants

Michelle and I have a friend who went to Russia as a missionary right after communism fell in the early 1990’s. She would tell us stories of how open the people and the government were to people coming in to talk about Jesus. Sadly, now the Russian government is cracking down on faiths that are non-Orthodox (especially protestant, but also Catholic).

Here is the video on it…

It says in the video that “The Russian Orthodox Church has endorsed President Vladimir V. Putin, and the government has in turn suppressed Protestants.”

Does this remind anyone else of when in Germany, during the Nazi era — when church leaders supported Hitler? Not to compare Putin to Hitler, but it does seem like the Russian Orthodox leaders have sold their soul to have power!!??

around the neighborhood

Walking to lunch to meet someone the other day, and walked by the big blue ‘Church of Scientology’ building in our neighborhood.

Don’t know if you have been following the craziness of this organization lately, but there are a couple of videos floating around that are crazy, and sad, and funny — all at the same time.

This is the wildest one — of Tom Cruise:

This one is falling on the floor hilarious, but you have to watch it after the first one:

Here is an interesting article about the actor Jason Beghe, who put in 100’s of thousands of dollars into Scientology, chasing the elusive ‘clear’ state.

In the article, I guess, when he finally explained Scientology to pal David Duchovny, they fell down laughing because of the ridiculousness of it all.

Here is the interview with him (Warning: not for the faint of heart) : Scientology: Jason Beghe Interview Pt.1 from Mark Bunker on Vimeo.

Beach baptisms by LAX

Recently, we had a morning baptismal service (if that is what you call those things).

I am sending out an e-Newsletter regarding this, but I thought I would add a quick picture here of the time.

It was an incredible time. This is what I am going to write on my e-News: “One thing that I love about those times is that we have whomever who will be getting baptized simply share part of ‘their story’. We give people a few minutes to express what has led them to decide to get baptized, or simply how they have come to be a follower of Jesus. It always is so incredibly stirring to hear how God has worked in their lives… – all I can say is that God really, really changes lives. I don’t want that to sound cliché, but it is so true!”

Thai festival

Went to the Thai festival here on Hollywood Blvd recently…

It never ceases to amaze me, how many diverse cultures are within walking distance of where Kairos is here in Hollywood.

Here is a shot of Elisabeth with Daichi, one of our worship leaders…

and another one…

They also did this amazing fruit carving out of watermelons, cantaloupes, etc….

Hello world !

okay, well I transferred all of my old blog files over to this new blog.

the old www.greglarson.voxtroplis.com had run its course, and so now I am blogging here. I really wanted to stay with that blog host — but it was killing me.

Welcome to my new world.

LA weather

I got so tired of the blog updates, and losing posts — that I gave up blogging for a couple of weeks. However (crossing my fingers) — voxtropolis, my blogging host has resolved their issues.

A friend of ours (Dan) — sent this email yesterday:

From: Dan ….
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 3:12 PM
To: Greg Larson
Subject: dude, the temperature difference!

Currently in zip code 55417: 32 degrees.

Currently in zip code 90029: 94 degrees.

However, as you can see — it will be cooling down to a blustery high of 65 in a couple of days…

83°F – Clear
Wind: W at 1 mph
Humidity: 17%

Today

94° | 58°

Mon

83° | 54°

Tue

65° | 47°

Wed

70° | 49°