Hope of Heaven...

Today was another of the 'between two worlds' days that has become so common. The worship at Lagniappe was incredible- we had a mandolin, guitar and a jimbay drum. John Henry has really come in to his own as a worship leader. I preached on the 'Just and Justifying' God. It was one of those moments where God spoke very clearly. Oddly enough, even on the heels of that, in this Sabbath afternoon I find myself longing for heaven- for all things to be made right. I guess that actually makes sense- there is only one place where the upside down things will be made right side up. Oh, the glorious thought- one day, some day- all things made right. I am becoming keenly aware of how little I actually believe the Gospel that I have been called to preach. I find it 'easy' to preach the truth, yet believing it is harder and harder. My heart longs for temporal reminders of Gospel truth- shadowy pictures here, but the true longings are for the shadows to disappear and the reality to come. Keep Lagniappe and me in your prayers, y'all are in mine.

The Closed Fist (a bit of Larroux poetry)

Firmly grasping nothing.
Holding hopes and dreams.
Like a python wrapped around a desire, the closed fist constricts a dream.
Demanding.
Deserving.
Determined.
And deceived.
It SHOULD be!
It MUST be!
It WILL be!
Firmly grasping nothing.
Like a gavel of judgment the closed fist pounds.
It echoes a heart's verdict.
I know best!
I know when!
I know how!
Firmly grasping nothing.
White knuckles.
Flushed skin.
Straining to hold.
This is something I SHOULD have, right?
This is something I MUST have, right?
This is something I WILL have, won't I?
Bruised and bloodied a lone finger surrenders.
Exhausted.
Panting.
Weary.
It surrenders.
The metamorphosis begins.
The closed fist becoming.
The closed fist opening.
A lone soldier followed by his men.
The closed fist transforming.
The open hand dawning!
Submitting.
Surrendering.
Becoming.
Like a flower opening it's eyes to the sunlight, the fingers open!
The hand blooms!
Unwilling, NOW willing.
Unwaivering, NOW free.
Unmoved, NOW inviting.
Oh, the cavernous space of the open hand!
There is room for so much more-
Blessings and yes's and dreams too big, now rest in an upturned palm!
Alive and free.
Alive and free!!
Alive and free!!!
Firmly grasping nothing.

-Jean F. Larroux, III

Happy Birthday to me....

Thanks so much to everyone who called, wrote, text messaged, etc...on, what I am certain for most is somewhat of a holiday, my birthday. It was a great day spent in Washington, DC with Hayden and Steve Hoffman (sister and brother in law). We went to their church and then had libations for the afternoon, before coming home to watch old episodes of the Office. As if life couldn't get better my birthday dinner was WINGS! Oh, yes and Hayden made a M&M cake for my birthday too. Yesterday was a beautiful day in DC, cool breeze, warm sun- my only birthday wish was that Christ would draw closer and that my heart would be sustained and rest in Him alone. It is a battle isn't it? Oh, well- 37 years old....I guess I'm officially middle aged cause I KNOW that I'm not gonna live past 74- I live too hard...wings and beer....wings and beer....deep love to all....- J.

Livin' on Sponge(bob)cake...

Tonight at 8 p.m. eastern Mr. James Buffett will step on to the stage at the Phillips arena in Atlanta, Georgia and yours truly will be in attendance to welcome him there. Every once in a while you have to get 'somewhere other than here'- a short trip to 'Margaritaville' is precisely the kind of detour where you move from 'livin and dyin in 3/4 time' to being 'the people that our parents warned us about'. Moving to the Bay seems to be the 'change in latitude' that always results in a 'change of attitude' for us Lagniappers. As Mark Twain said, 'be good and you will be lonely.' We're leaving at 5 o'clock, should be there by 5 o'clock, show starts at 5 o'clock. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it....for more info. stay tuned to the Lagniappe telegraph! To the rest of you- 'the weather is here I wish you were beautiful' and 'if the phone doesn't ring- IT'S ME!!!!' NOTE: The above picture was taken in Bay Saint Louis in June of 2006. It is Jimmy Buffett signing T-Jean's guitar in French- 'Play this guitar with all your heart- Jacque Buffett' p.s. He also offered to teach Jean to curse in French!

Saturday night...

It is the evening prior to my second week preaching in Hattiesburg, Ms. First Presbyterian Church is in the midst of a pastoral search and I was able to begin preaching in Nehemiah last week. Tomorrow I continue in Chapter 2- it is an exciting opportunity to be able to be with a church in the midst of such a great time of growth and dependence. Please keep them in your prayers as they seek the man for God to lead that congregation. It is a blessing to have Curt Moore on staff who will be preaching at Lagniappe and allow me to serve sister churches in our Presbytery. Curt has been in Atlanta at the PCA Mercy ministries conference all weekend. It has been a hard weekend at home, lots of work to do and God seems content to continue His work in me personally. To live is Christ; to die is gain.

Happy Birthday!!!!

Ann Elizabeth turned 11 recently and we celebrated in the backyard yesterday with a slip and slide, lightning, thunder and 10 screaming girls covered in mud and headed inside the house, hmmm. I added some grey hair today for sure. I think she had a great time with her friends in spite of rain! I preached in Hattiesburg this morning and will for the next two weeks, please be in prayer for that church...many of the staff head to Atlanta this week for a mercy ministry conference, keep them in your prayers as they make new contacts for LPC and reconnect with old friends. Blessings and grace to you all! P.S. Check out the new www.prayforthebay.com site- to sign up and pray for Bay Saint Louis and Waveland.

Bad blogger...

I've been a bad blogger of late...kinda busy (not anymore than most, but probably just trying to do too much). It is Holy Saturday and I am reminiscing on a year in the Bay- April 2006 until now... much heartache, much pain and a faithful Father. I was talking to T-Jean the other night about something that he was praying about and as I offered him the comfort of prayer he responded in exasperation, "I HAVE BEEN praying!" I understand T-Jean. I understand. This is a month full of special birthdays- T-Jean turns 14 (I am an old man) and Ann Elizabeth turns 11. We'll do some fun stuff I'm sure---- Keep Lagniappe and me in your prayers- my busyness (spelling?) comes and goes, conferences 'on' and then 'off'- I feel like I've preached everywhere lately- I will be in Hattiesburg for the 3 consecutive weeks following Easter. They are without a pastor and I intended to preach about Nehemiah, but I think I'm just going to preach about grace. What else is there really? Ahhh, that favorite quote of mine from John Sartelle, "Christians do not fall out of grace they fall INTO it!" Preach brother, preach to my soul! I am praying for all of you that love Lagniappe so much- thank you for everything.

They'll Come to Lagniappe

I had a profound realization on Saturday. There was a benevolence walk-in case that we were dealing with and the individual had gone from one relief agency to another. He had been sent from one church to another. He finally was sent on from the Salvation Army and ended up at Lagniappe. He just needed some help getting 'over the hump'- a job was on the horizon. Wires had been crossed. He was short on cash and needed help. There were tears that welled up continually in his eyes. We met and decided to help him over the hump. He wept. He said that we were the 'only ones' who would help him. It was a great moment. I was passionately expressing my frustration to Helen Buckley. "Helen, what is someone supposed to do- they go from one church to another- each place passing the buck....each one too busy....everyone suspicious....no one taking the time to HEAR the story....if everyone rejects them and everyone tells them that they can't help then what are SUPPOSED TO DO????" Helen calmly replied, "Then they'll come to Lagniappe." I can remember precisely where I was standing. It felt like the floor was giving way- I began to weep. She was so right- they WILL come to Lagniappe, that is why we are here. I feel like I want to run from this place and never leave at the very same time. Pray for us and for our friend from Saturday. He started his job today.

The 10,000 foot view

Andy Chapman, a member of our core group, emailed this photo to me earlier tonight. It was from Google earth or something similar and he pointed out that you can actually see our bunkhouse on the lower right hand corner. He noted is still 'not connected' together and that the hole in the roof of the main building is still visible.

It got me thinking (here is where you should get some coffee....) Lagniappe Church has been in existence long enough to have had a Google satellite photo taken of us AND there has also been enough activity since the time that photo was taken to make it VERY outdated. NOTE: the hole is fixed and presently there are 3 more completed bunkhouses on the Lagniappe 'compound'.

Interesting isn't it? The 10,000 foot view- it has a way of making the 'messy', 'unfinished' things look kind of cleaned up and making the progress seem somewhat irrelevant. Six months from now the satellite will pass again and all that will have changed in the photo will be some black and grey pixellated rectangles added for bunkhouses and a silver square noting a closed up roof. There might be some more cars in the Sicily's parking lot across the street but other than that no big deal, image updated.

I am usually not very focused on the 10,000 foot view. I am more prone to find myself in angst about the one foot view- the details in the office, or the kitchen, the nursery (yes, we have a nursery), the copier or whatever. At any given point in my frantic self-reliance the satellite will pass again and 'CLICK' the 10,000 foot photo is snapped with anxious, fretful me not even visible to the lens. My fears and obsessing become somewhat irrelevant don't they? The 10,000 foot 'big picture' puts things in the right perspective.

I like the 10,000 foot view, it's like a providential rear view mirror. It's like a chance to look back by looking down from a higher vantage point. Thing are clearer in the rear view mirror, aren't they? Jesus promised that HE was building His kingdom and that the gates of hell would not stand against it. Roofs DO get closed up. Bunkhouses DO come together. A bit of cold spaghetti at dinner DOES get heated up, right? From the throne of heaven the picture isn't one of a Lagniappe 'facility update' it is one of a Divine KINGDOM moving forward.

Dream for a moment. You are in the war room, the 'oval office of heaven' if you will. (P.S. If you think we shouldn't allegorize images of heaven take two C.S. Lewis' and call me in the morning!) As the angels and archangels strain to see the troop map there are pins and markers and placeholders in and around the Bay. "The troops are holding!" cheers erupt! 'The troops are holding!" Just then, wet from the darkroom and pungent with the aroma of developer, an updated photo arrives- another 10,000 foot view- "roof closed! more room for teams! materials moving out! teams coming in! residents worshipping!" Like rain on a tin roof, shouts and cheers fill the room! "To our God and to the Lamb! From every nation tongue and tribe!" TO OUR GOD AND TO THE LAMB...

And at the one foot view were out of toner. What words are shouted? "Who was supposed to order that?" Ahhh, typical. Right then I have a one man pity party for the martyr-like existence I live. It is difficult being the ONLY ONE WHO EVER refills the toner, right? Where are my notes for orientation? I can't find anything around here! There's dust on everything, on EVERYTHING! As I throw my head back on my chair I need to hear what I CAN'T seem to hear only looking at the one foot view of Lagniappe. I DO need a one foot view, but NOT of Lagniappe- of the war room! I need to look from here to there and see something bigger than me, than houses, than Lagniappe or the Bay. I need to hear sounds louder than my sighs, to hear the peals of heaven, to hear the coronation trumpets of the King!

We had a home dedication today. Another family was restored. The Gospel was proclaimed there. We rejoiced in being able to participate and God was given the glory. The oval office cheered again and for a moment you could hear it, even from the Bay.

It is good to hear it, isn't it? It is. Please keep us in your prayers. Pray that we can, 'see Thee in the heights' though we dwell in the depths*. Thank you Father for the 10,000 foot view. Amen and Amen.

*Reference: The Valley of Vision

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Lagniappe and Life note: it is good to have a place like this blog to be able to share the 10,000 foot and the one foot view concurrently. Life is lived somewhere between the two. As I have learned this past year (who am I kidding.... 'AM LEARNING this year') it is mostly a 'tension' where we are sent to the one from the other and back again to find meaning, purpose and pleasure in Him alone. Love and Grace to all.

Lagniappe and Lexington

This picture is from the end of an amazing weekend in Lexington where John Sartelle and I have enjoyed all of the best that God has to offer- we have seen 10 degree weather, great food, great beverages and the glory of the gospel preached. I'm headed back to the Bay tomorrow! Thanks for everything!

Lexington, Kentucky

I am a the home of a dear friend in Lexinton, Kentucky. I am speaking at Tate's Creek Presbyterian Church this weekend for their mission's conference and staying with John and Janet Sartelle. John and I stayed up til' 1:15 a.m. talking about Lagniappe AND life- He is so merciful and kind...he is also fun...we had some fabulous red wine and then great bourbon (when in Kentucky do as the Kentuckians...) I am studying for tomorrow's message, "Bad people make good missionaries" and then we are going to sightsee the rest of the day. John gave me a prayer by Luther to read before bed. It is an appropriate prayer for my life. They are listed in a book called Luther's Prayers under the heading 'Short and fervent petitions'. This particular prayer is called 'For help in the time of need': "Dear God, in the midst of anguish and need, I am in great trouble. My brother has his trials which the devil increases. This is not the time to ask whether I am godly or worthy. Help me now in this time of need, as you said you would. Amen." - Martin Luther

Late evening from Asheville, N.C.,

I'm in Asheville, N.C. having preached at Arden Presbyterian here for their missions festival. The trip began in Jackson, Mississippi at Pear Orchard Presbyterian's mission's conference which was wonderful- lots of old friends and memories there...I spoke to a Sunday school 'sip and see' (usually reserved for seeing newborns, but that's what it feels like as a missionary when everyone is drinking coffee and just looking at you as you talk). I also had the opportunity to speak to a 5th grade class- more on my level, very fun. I flew to Asheville, spoke that night, studied & rested today and I'm flying to Lexington, KY to speak at Tate's Creek Presbyterian all weekend. John Sartelle is the senior minister there and a fellow pastor from my days at IPC in Memphis- I can't wait to see him and Janet. It's been a long trip already and I'm blogging at 1:15 a.m. so I'd better hit the sack...p.s. if they put the Arden message online I'll post it- it was a great night!

Toni is HOME!

In what can only be described as miraculous Toni is home from the hospital! She was released on Saturday around noon. She even tried to come to our one year anniversary celebration on Sunday, but Hayden dissuaded her (thankfully)! She is doing so well that she and I ate breakfast together at Waffle House this morning- it is really amazing! She is trying to take it easy, start doing some walking, etc., but keep praying- her spirits are good and indeed our Father in Heaven is gracious. Thank you for the calls, text messages and kind words- they were all deeply felt and appreciated.

Toni Larroux update....

Well, I'm still here at the Hospital, but Hayden has been home for a few days and it has been a joy to have my sister to help with the situation. Hayden is a registered nurse and really can speak the lingo. UPDATE: Toni is still on the ventilator. She partially breathes on her own and the machine does part of the work. She has trouble taking deep breaths which she desperately needs to do. On the 'miraculous' front the pneumonia is gone- GONE. So encouraging. They are hoping to take her off the ventillator tomorrow. Please be praying.
Thanks to everyone for the calls and text messages, etc...we've disconnected the room phone- whenever it rings it sends a loud piercing sound through the whole room- we just figured that wasn't, how can we say 'helpful'. Hayden and I are keeping each other's spirits up by competing for the 'child of the year' award. Each time the other takes a break we whisper in mom's ear that the other one has abandoned her and is at home putting colored stickers on her possessions. Toni would appreciate the humor. Seriously though, we cherish your prayers and we KNOW that you are praying and thinking about us even if we can't talk to you directly. God seems to have this passion about leaving us with Himself. He is good. "When you cannot trace His hand, trust His heart"- C. Spurgeon

ToniSitting...

Last night was a long night. My mom really had a rough night. The doctor believes that her stomach is having spasms now. That makes her jump about every 15 to 30 seconds and wince in pain. It's hard to watch your mom in so much pain. They are giving her large amounts of pain medicine, but it makes her QUITE loopy. There are lots of fun halucinations that I can share when this actually becomes 'funny', but right now it is still difficult. They related to me that they did a full abdominal cut to reach the stomach and had to use several liters of fluid and rinse the entire cavity out. I imagine it is something like being punched in the stomach from the inside for an extended period of time. They are giving her something for the spasms, but it doesn't seem to be enough. Hooray- they just came in with Demerol 50 (I think that's what they said) The nurse just raised her eyebrows and said, "This will ease the pain- she'll be asleep soon..." I thought to myself, "Can we make that a double? How 'bout a little somethin' somethin' for the son?" No luck. Thanks for the prayers and the text messages...

Please pray....

This morning at 3:30 a.m. my mom was rushed by ambulance to Hancock General Hospital where they immediated diagnosed a ruptured peptic ulcer at the bottom of her stomach. She underwent surgery and is now resting just past my laptop in ICU at the hospital. I'll be having a slumber party with her tonight in the room. Please pray for her physically and spiritually. Her spirits are good and she has the Larroux sense of humor which won't die. I am tired and emotionally drained, but glad to be here with my mom. Thanks for praying. She should be here for 5 days or so.- JFL

My "Happy Place"

There are a few things on my calendar that are absolutely non-negotiable. One of them is that every year from January 1-5 (ish) I head to Lake Bruin, Louisiana with my friends Trey Biggs, Chad Biggs and Nathan Tircuit for a week of hunting, harrasing each other, hunting, partaking of the fruit of the vine, eating chicken wings and laughing until we hurt. When I was 16 I thought I'd die with 40 or so good friends, at this point I'm hoping for 10% of that. These guys are in that 10%. Here's a few key words for them: Justin- WHY?, I like they way they're talking to you Chip- my boys are winners! the Feeder, brother? I'm laughing even thinking back. The long and short of the trip is that we had no success hunting unless you count Nathan's 'shut up' doe.
It is strange to be back in the Bay. I haven't gone by the church yet, I think that mentally I'm just waiting for tomorrow- I know there's plenty waiting on me. It can wait. I'm enjoying watching a little football trying to see who the Saints will be facing next week. Dallas is playing Seattle. I'm cheering for the Seahawks, until they face New Orleans of course. I think that I possibly have some playoff tickets, but realized this afternoon that I'll be in North Carolina preaching- ahhhhh! Oh, well I'll record the game and try not to hear the score as I fly back in. That should be a challenge around here especially if we win.
I think our NCCC team is heading back to the Bay and all other staff are back 'home' now. We've got 'Homecoming' week from the 15-21st of January ending with my installation service. I think it will be a good conclusion to the week although everyone who has been part of Lagniappe won't be able to be there personally. I had lots of time on the deer stand to think back over all the faces and people who have helped to make Lagniappe what it is- the list is remarkable. You are remarkable. I know that many of you read the blog from time to time- thank you. Words can't express. They just can't. Your empty chair on Sunday the 21st will be noticed and God given the glory for your life and impact on LPC.

It's all about Jean (the 4th that is...)

In what may have been the funniest Christmas present moments I have ever seen, Jean the 4th unwrapped a present marked for Jackson the dog. Seeing only the "J" on the package he tore into it with vigor and passion. As the package opened before his eyes you could clearly see his young southern sensibility begin to face a dramatic catharsis with his knowledge of reality and personal taste. Let me see if I can adequately describe the contents of the package: It was a small bathrobe type object with velcro closures....it looked enough like a terry cloth object you'd wrap a baby in just fresh out of the tub....Jean politely smiled, swung it around his head (at this point his grandmother- seamstress of said 'bathrobe' and I are almost dry heaving we are laughing so loud) the confusion was further perpetuated by the large "J" sewn onto the back of the bathrobe. After closing the velcro around his neck, he closed the closure around his chest and muttered, "T...hankssss" and sat down. I couldn't breathe. Toni, my mom, then told him it was for Jackson OUR DOG. As you can see from the above photo it fit Jackson to a 'T'. Addendum: following this, while our tears were still flowing, Jean opened another package, but this time it was for me. It was a Cabela's gift certificate which no one had the heart to tell him wasn't for him. I assumed he was going to buy himself some decoys to retrieve. it wasn't until yesterday when J4 offered to SELL me my own Cabela's gift certificate that I broke the news to him. After telling him I swatted him with a newspaper and sent him to the yard to bury the gift certificate. What great laughter and fun! Merry Christmas to all of our loved ones- you are deeply missed!
- J. (the daddy)

Keep 'X' in Xmas...

Someone commented to me the other night that they disliked the use of 'Xmas'.... I understand that. At first glance 'Xmas' seems to 'X' Christ out of CHRISTmas doesn't it? X (the Greek symbol Chi) was acutally used to abbreviate the name of Christ. Xmas is actually just an abbeviated rendering of Christmas. I think that Jesus might be more in favor of Xmas come to think of it....Jesus wasn't flashy and in your face. I think He would have preferred to come under the radar. After all didn't He choose Bethlehem? Wasn't He from Galilee? Wasn't He the one who was almost coy when Herod questioned Him about being King?
My personal experience with Christ has been more like that...subtle and profoundly subversive. He always seems to be at work but not in flashy ways, more like the stock guys at Home Depot- working from Midnight to 8 a.m. restocking, moving things around, changing the setup of things and then 'all of the sudden' the electrical department is moved clear across the store.
In reality Jesus likes to restock my heart, move it around and change the setup of things. I dislike it. I like the electrical department where it was. I put it there. In alot of ways that is a good description of my life for 2006- subversive movments of God that change everything. I wonder what 2007 holds. Will the electrical department be moved back again? Will the garden center move to the other side of the building? Who knows. It is a wild ride. I know what I'd like, but I'm beginning to learn that the suggestion box isn't checked too often (if at all). I was praying with Jordan this morning before he left for home and asked God to strenthen us, to make us more like Christ. Presently we are tired- retreating from the crowds, trying to rest, trying to see Jesus again- My prayer was that God would allow us to incarnate in the Bay, to be a picture of the Gospel in this place.
Ironicaly, I think that while we're seeking to do that in the Bay, Jesus himself has been doing that very thing in our lives. He has been 'incarnating', becoming more real to us, taking on flesh in our daily lives. That means less of me, more of Him, less of me, more of Him (lather, rinse, repeat.) Pray for me this year. Please do that. Pray that all I'll want for Christmas is Christ.
I'm frightened how that might be answered- I want it to look like victorious spirituality, exponential growth and a renewed devotional life. If 'X' shows up it will probably look like repentance, faith, tears, struggling and true joy. That frightens me and at the same time excites me. Narnia is thawing. God is at work. His ways are not our ways. His plans are not our plans. Exery day is Xmas- the incarnational reality of Jesus himself. That seems to be the Lagniappe way. I guess not the Lagniappe way, just His way. Merry Xmas.

The Rockies...one last view

Well, this is it. Thanks to Rev. Scott Lowe who was a wonderful tour guide- we saw elk, whitetailed deer (as pictured above), bear lake (which I'm seated in front of) and an expansive view of the Rockies (the front range where Jordan is above). We didn't see everything we wanted to, but there's always another trip- God is so beautifully present here. Blessings. P.S. the hotel was worse than imagined- our first room had beer bottles in it and a 'soiled' baby diaper in the bathroom along with some used bath towels- wow, I can pick 'em!!!!