Fall - November 2009

Dear Friends in Christ,
It's that time again for another newsletter. It is fall already and I put up my moving leaf in the upper corner. Hit the refresh button on your browser to see it. Well there is a lot to report. I have to put in a correction here from last summer's newsletter and that is I am still here at SOS Ministries for the time being. I would ask for your prayers regarding this. I still believe I will be departing within a few months. Below are the items on the agenda; 5 year milestone, my new video project, fruit of the month, saw my boys again!!! and my brief trip to Seattle. I apologize in advance if I did not see you while I was in the Seattle area. It was a last-minute trip and I was not there very long. I did see a few folks that I hadn't seen in a long time. As you can see I changed the website again. My mom use to move the furniture around the living room a lot growing up - I got it from her. I won't publish again until after Christmas so for those of you who want to download my provocative Santa poster here is the link: Santa Claus Wanted

5 Year Milestone

This Thanksgiving (actually the day after) marks the fifth year I have been walking in the light of Jesus Christ consistently. More specifically, I have not used heroin, pain pills, or any other drugs since I was arrested the day after Thanksgiving 2004. From the time I was 17 I have used one thing or another. Since then there have been times, several years in fact, that I went clean and was following the Lord, however; I had struggles with relapses and backslidings or whatever you deem to call it. This five-year mark in time is the longest consecutive streak I have had. Although worthy to mention and perhaps a cause to gratefully celebrate, I hesitate to focus on it because five years is not the goal. The rest of my life here on earth is the goal and to finish strong is the end, or should I say the beginning.

I have some strong memories of that Thanksgiving. I was shown the grace of God in ways that are unimaginable. I was strung out on heroin and should have died in the hospital about 6 months previous to that day. I was living the usual roller coaster ride of being an addict and on Thanksgiving Day I wandered into Life Changes Ministry as they were putting on dinner that day. They knew me there and I turned down an offer of help only to find myself turning to my sin and drugs. God should have killed me right there and sent me to hell. But the next day I was arrested. This of course was for my own good and I found out later that people were praying in that way for me, that I would be arrested. I was put in jail for several months. Going cold turkey again in jail was no picnic, but it was effective. God used this time to heal my body, soul, and spirit. By the time I got out of Jail in January 2005 I did not have a single thing left. The clothes that were in my property I left jail with were not even mine. I was given a set of clothes the day I got arrested. Mine were destroyed through the way I was living. If you care to read a more detailed account of that experience you can click here: Read More

New Video Project

Something I wanted to do a few years ago was to make a video on heroin that was shorter and focused on the medical conditions only. This project was put on hold for several years while I came down here to evangelism ministry. I now have found the time and the lead by God to put together this DVD. How is it different than the other I made? It is shorter, 20 minutes. If focuses on the medical aspects only and does not have anything about the Lord so I am selling this one for $39.99. I have found so far that this is what will open the door to get into the schools and hopefully will finance my way around the United States to preach in the major metropolitan areas. The video is entitled; Heroin & Health Consequences and you can get more info on it at: Other Extreme Productions

Fruit of the Month

Recently on an outreach downtown San Francisco I had a young man come up to me and mention that he was Jewish, Gay, and something else I forgot. At first he seemed pompous and I thought he was there to give us a hard time or to put me on. He had another girl and guy with him. I said to him, if you want to know the truth I will tell you otherwise go ahead and go if you want". The girl with him was trying to get him to leave. Just when I thought he was going to take off, he spoke up and said, No, I want to hear him". (Meaning me) I started to share the Gospel with him and he seemed to change his demeanor and listen and ask questions. I told him how to call out to God and He would answer. I gave him a Gospel of John and told him we would pray for him. I was going to pray for him right there but his friends came back and kinda quenched that. He introduced himself as "Jimmy". Pray for him. Going on my experience down here for over three years, there is not many homosexuals that are open as he was.

California Dreamin' Reality

I was able to meet up with my two sons a little south of here in a town on the coast called Pismo Beach. My youngest son Chad is down in Southern California going back to college to be a math teacher. My older son, Matt who lives in Juneau came down with a friend. I was able to meet Chad's girlfriend Sarah as well. I have only been to Pismo Beach one time before passing through on a greyhound bus a long time ago. It is a great place and I imagine it is very crowded in the summer. There were surfers out and they have a long pier there to fish from or just walk out on. We ate very good clam chowder and we were able to visit for the day. A few years ago I could only dream of spending time with both of them together. Praise the Lord!!!

Calvary Chapel Northwest Pastor's Conference

I attended the Calvary Northwest Pastor's Conference and saw many friends from long ago. I stayed off campus at some friends about 5 miles away which made it very convenient and inexpensive. I saw the man who taught a new believer's class I attended many moons ago and we were so excited to see each other, however; the highlight was when the Pastor of Juneau, Alaska brought with him a young man who went to high school with my youngest son Chad. We really hit it off and he is going to pray for my sons and I am going to pray for his unsaved parents.

I preached in Seattle downtown during the lunch rush and it was fabulous, also went out during the evening on another night into what would be the equivalent of the tenderloin district in San Francisco. I was invited to teach a lesson at a home fellowship group as well. I went to the Woodland Park zoo. I can see why people think we came from apes. The highlight of the day there was we saw an orangutang and he eyed my peanut butter sandwich I had in my hand. I think he came down because he thought he could get it. As he approached I noticed a slight resemblance to myself, although I think I have more hair on my back than he did, not sure if it was a he.

I visited another church in south Seattle in which I know many people. Prior to coming down here 3 years ago I was asked to do a Bible study with a group of veterans who were on methadone. At the time none of them would come to Church and not sure if they were all saved, but now most of them are doing great, coming to Church and doing ministry, free from their past. It was awesome to see the growth there.

On a personal note; I had many food items that are better up there than here, like apples, homemade apple cider and clam chowder, some salmon too! I had coupons to enjoy much free coffee at Starbucks. Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas!

See you all, if not before, in the promised land- God bless! — Larry

Printer-Friendly Version

Fall in the State of Connecticut