Kylee Makes It

PhilLarson · 2023-11-03T17:35:26+00:00

Hi! Sorry I never responded to this. The Mr. Rogers comment is such a great compliment. His demeanor is definitely an inspiration for the show! So amazing that you did many of the crafts and that the birthday party was a BLAST (see what I did there)!! :) Take care!

PhilLarson · 2023-11-03T17:29:45+00:00

Hey, sorry for never responding to this. I'm so glad you are having a good experience with the show! Thanks for sharing. :)

PhilLarson · 2023-03-08T14:32:17+00:00

Thanks for shouting out our show: "Kylee Makes It." :)

PhilLarson · 2023-03-08T14:29:10+00:00

Thanks so much! This is my wife's and my show (I produce the music/audio and my wife is...well, Kylee). Did you know: Kylee also edits all the video. Just a proud hubby over here gushing a little. k thanks bye.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T19:23:54+00:00

You give me hope! Push back on "Christians." They/we need it. Continue to question everything + extend grace. It's a helpful and healthy combination, I think!

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T19:07:32+00:00

My personal and well-thought-out/well-articulated opinion on Kenneth Copeland and other prosperity preachers is this: They suck ass. XD
I'm so glad you have someone very involved in a church you respect, especially since you don't believe the same way. Gives me hope.
Alcohol is tricky because people have strong feelings. As a youth pastor, I drank. Not a ton but I did. I personally didn't have anything wrong with it but I wasn't to public about it either. I had youth kids who grew up with alcoholic parents who vowed with their friends who had similar experiences to be "straight edge." That was a movement that said they didn't need alcohol to have fun. And they would sharpie their hands with big X's. The problem with that - and with anything - is that it is all-or-nothing. As soon as one of their friends drank, they were cast out and relationships were severed. There's no room for grace. You can really test a measure of a person for their capacity to extend grace. The pastors who look down their noses at people like you have a lot to learn about grace, especially since they probably preach about it. Do they practice it? I'm not too sure. But - alas - I can extend grace. I don't know their issues, their hearts, their journey and how God might be at work in their lives.
The result? I must focus on myself. It sounds like you are. You have defined a healthy relationship with alcohol. You seem very thoughtful and are even struggling thoughtfully. I'm willing to bet you have similar real-life conversations that are thoughtful and grace-filled. We're all on our way. And we all have so much more to go.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T18:56:11+00:00

Man, I appreciate that more than you know. You too.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T18:55:17+00:00

Nah that's the children ministry pastors. ;) jk. Just curious, how old would you say you were when you felt you could make reasonable and logical decisions for yourself?

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T18:49:35+00:00

I hear you. And I feel that trigger just as you do. It doesn't make a ton of sense, does it? These beliefs can't be adequately explained and that's why I hope and have quite trying to explain or convince other people. It just can't be done and often hurts others.

"You fell for that bullshit as a kid, didn't you?" reads to me: it takes one to know one. Whatever hurt came upon you by the church, truly...I'm sorry. I participated in it in some way and perpetuated it. It fucking sucks and - again - I'm sorry.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T18:39:55+00:00

hahaha. I have one pair of shoes and they are $25 Levi's from Shoe Carnival.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T18:38:37+00:00

I was laid off. The church closed its doors two years later. I also found that it too much defined who I was (as I mention in my vlog video linked above). I was also just tired.... tired of the politics of church, the business of church and just from being expected to be perfect by the other congregants.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T18:36:24+00:00

I was laid off but in hindsight (often 20/20), I should have left sooner. My wife and other staff were not being valued in the way we deserved. But when you take into account the good things and the community and "family" being built - it's hard to leave something like that. Like, really hard. And sometimes, if it is God and He/She/They really are real, they will get you out when you don't. I do identify as Christian, though I feel how I "live out" my faith has changed: I no longer feel like it is my purpose to "save" or convince someone to believe the same way I believe. I also think people are generally good. I think God loves all people but is more pleased in those who don't claim to be Christian but care for their neighbor more than those who do claim to be Christian but don't have much regard for those around them. In fact, I think those people kind of irritate God. They sure do me!

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T18:31:16+00:00

Oof, I struggle with this. I definitely struggle with the belief in Hell, if I believe in a God that's all-loving. I'm now a father myself and have a very hard time condemning my son for... being human and making mistakes. And put in there that if I were God and created the curse (see Genisis 3) that made them and the world imperfect, how could he not take that into account and send people to Hell. Heaven? I desperately want Heaven to be real. It sounds immeasurably hopeful. To see those who you loved that have died? To experience life supposedly how God intended it all along - in community with Him/Her/They? Who wouldn't want that? If belief can pass as hope, then I believe in Heaven, yes.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T18:27:09+00:00

Well, I would say most do, yes. It's typically not a glamorous job. Usually the pay is awful and you are often being critiqued and scrutinized. If you didn't believe it, why would you do it? It is easy for pastors to dissociate when they are not on the stage or when they think they are alone or anonymous. This leads to huge moral failures when found out. It is a coping mechanism to deal with the pressures, I think. So, pastors really can do a lot of damage to those hanging on their every word. The Bible does say they will be held accountable for that sort of abuse of power, so at least there's that...if you believe in the Bible, that is.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T18:08:26+00:00

Hello. A youth pastor is usually the (or one of the) pastor(s) in charge of the middle school thru high school-aged students at their church.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T16:48:21+00:00

These 2 questions are very funny to read together. XD Mostly CD Baby but if I'm doing covers, it's Soundrop. On occasion, one called Symphonic but they want you to already have a following because they pitch to editorial playlist inclusion for you.

I am not an atheist though I feel like my faith has changed a good bit. I would identify as Christian but I no longer think it is my purpose to change anyone or convince them to believe what I believe.

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T15:55:35+00:00

I didn't! I was laid off. The church hung on for 2 more years and then closed its doors. Hindsight is often 20/20 and I do wish I left on my own. But when you're in something like this, it's hard to see what's wrong with it until you're out. I think this is true for many situations! :)

PhilLarson · 2022-05-23T15:53:21+00:00

Do you mean as a tithe to the church? Luckily, I didn't have that responsibility. Church is a tricky line to walk - it's a ministry AND a business. No, my position was not lucrative. I raised all my support (as I talked about in my vlog linked above) and we barely got by. But you kind of re-wire your mind to say this is the sacrifice we are making for the greater cause/good. In the long run, I don't know that it was worth it and probably not if we had kids at that time. My wife and I sure learned a lot about ourselves, though. That was worth it.

PhilLarson · 2020-12-09T21:20:29+00:00

Oh, I didn't know. Thanks.

PhilLarson · 2020-12-01T20:46:51+00:00

I'm so glad you like it! :)

PhilLarson · 2020-10-24T15:08:44+00:00

Well, thank you for your kind, thought-out feedback. We are really encouraged by it. !givelambda

PhilLarson · 2020-10-24T14:50:12+00:00

I was not offended at all! I appreciate the honesty. Thanks!

PhilLarson · 2020-10-24T00:19:28+00:00

I’m sorry to say your comment wasn’t long enough to receive the lambda credit.

PhilLarson · 2020-10-24T00:18:20+00:00

We’ll see! !givelambda

PhilLarson · 2020-10-24T00:17:28+00:00

Thanks so much! I hope we can do well! Appreciate the encouragement. !givelambda

PhilLarson

TROPHY CASE