Chuck Larsen

Some modern statistics on Stress in our society: 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects due to stress. 75-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints or disorders. Stress has been linked to all the leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis, and suicide. An estimated one million workers are absent on an average workday because of stress related complaints. View full article »

Psalms 123 through 126 are Psalms of ascent. They are songs that the pilgrims sang as they made their way “UP” to Jerusalem to worship God. The opening verse of Psalm 123 captures the correct posture whenever we approach God. It says, “I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.” Whenever we attempt to enter into the presence of God we must ascend, or go up! He’s the omnipotent God enthroned in heaven far above us. It’s all about the proper perspective of myself in God’s great world. In Brazil, South America, there stands a famous statue of Christ, the face of which is so turned that the only way to look into His eyes is to get down on your knees and look up. View full article »

Another short Psalm, psalm 122 begins with a fairly well known verse. It’s a song that was sung by the many pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem to bring their sacrifices and to worship the God that made them and redeemed them. It’s called a Psalm of Ascent because the travelers, no matter what direction they came from, would have the hill to climb upon which Jerusalem was built. On the journey up the hill they would sing, “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the LORD.” View full article »

Living life God’s way is always the best way. The world will throw hurdles before us. We all encounter obstacles. In this world we won’t be free of slips and trips. But God has given us a path to follow and if we stay on it we’re pretty safe. The wisest man in the world tell us in Proverbs 4:11 & 12, “I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble.” View full article »

Psalm 120 is only 7 verses. It’s a song about how the writer struggles in a world that’s at war when all he wants is to live in peace. The song ends with “I am tired of living among people who hate peace. I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!” View full article »

Melvin Worthington preached an entire sermon on Psalm 119, verse 11. It says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Let me summarize what he says. View full article »

As Psalm 119 continues to praise God and His revelation to us in His Word, the Psalmist focuses on the creative aspect of God’s spoken Word. It’s through God’s Word the universe was created and is sustained. It’s through God’s Word that He accomplishes His plans and purposes in our lives. It’s rebellion or alienation from God’s Word that suffering and unhappiness have come into the world and remain in the world. It doesn’t change from generation to generation. The Psalmist writes, “Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.” View full article »

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible consisting of 176 verses. It was composed in 22 strophes each consisting of 8 verses. The first strophe of 8 verses all begin with the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, the Aleph. The second strophe of 8 verses all begin with the second letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, the Bet. This goes on through the rest of the Hebrew Alphabet. View full article »