HOME| MUSIC REVIEWS | CONCERT CONNECTION |
ANNOUNCEMENTS |
SUBSCRIBE | DEVOTIONAL| JMA CONSULTING
Jen G: Closure is always a good thing.
Out of all the concerts you’ve been to which one has stood out the most?
Stu Larsen: Been to as a spectator?
Jen G: Well, played at and yeah sure as a spectator!
What have you seen and learned from both views?
Stu Larsen: The coolest show I’ve played at was an impromptu performance in the lounge room of some friends in New Zealand in January this year. There were about 20 people from a college Christian group having a meeting and they found out I could sing and play guitar, so they demanded a few songs! Haha. It was the most intimate and appreciative audience I have ever played for. I loved it.
I’ve had the privilege to see lots of cool bands and artists over the last few years. From Coldplay and U2 Ben Harper, to John Mayer and Ben Harper, but my favorite concert that I’ve been to would definitely be seeing a band called ‘Skinny Jean’ play in Brisbane recently, I was totally captivated for the whole show, they have some very cool songs.It was an intimate gig of sorts too. Maybe I just like intimate settings for concerts....
Jen G: Well, it’s nice to be up close and personal. That’s how we like it with God, that knowing he’s one on one with us...yet speaking to all of us. Can I assume you will eventually tour the states?
Stu Larsen: That is the plan. Hopefully for 2009. Next year is looking pretty crazy already. In January I’m playing weddings in Australia, then I’m heading to new Zealand for 6 weeks, then home early march to sing at a couple more weddings, then to play at Easter fest, then I’m off to Japan in April/may for a month or so, then I plan to tour Australia for 3-4 months coming home in September to sing at more weddings and another festival, then I want to go to Africa for a month and work over there without my guitar, then home to maybe record my next album or just to chill out.
Jen G: Work over there? Missions? Or?
Stu Larsen: Yeah. I have a sponsor child in Tanzania who I would love to visit, and then I want to help out where I can for a month or so I might look at a quick trip to the states in November December 2008? Maybe...
Jen G: Are you sponsoring a child through any particular organization?
Stu Larsen: Yes, I got one through Compassion, so I’ll be talking to them about how we can work together. I would love to become a ‘Compassion Artist’.
Jen G: Oh, that would be cool. Why is it important for you to help the children there? So far away from home?
Stu Larsen: I want to help people everywhere. I’ve done a bit of work in communities around Australia, and will do more next year. I also have a desire to help out in Africa where my sponsor child lives. I live in a small flat, and don’t have a lot of things, but compared to kids in some places, I live like a king and have everything I could ever need. I have a car, a TV, a bed, a computer. Comparatively I am very rich.
I want to visit them to just show them love. To let them see love. To let them know love. Some of them go through the worst things, and are forced into situations where they have no one and have to grow up way quicker than normal. Sometimes I want to just give all my possessions away and go over there forever and live there and work there, maybe I will.
Jen G: That is so true. It’s great that you not only help those away from home, but those right there where you live. How have you felt the presence of God where you are? Is there a real desire to know more?
Stu Larsen: That’s a very good question to ask, without God, who knows where I would be, I honestly hate to wonder where that place may be. I’m not a perfect follower of Christ by any means. I’m constantly feeling the subtle pull that drags us to places we dare not contemplate. Which reinforces the importance to me of constantly spending time with God. Daily. How can we feel God’s presence if we don’t spend time with him? We can’t. It’s that simple. That’s why things fell apart for me; I stopped spending time with God. I left his presence. My desire to know Christ is perhaps stronger than ever. It’s now a case of being disciplined to make that happen.
Jen G: Do you have a devotional time and like prayer where it’s just you with him?
Stu Larsen: That’s where the discipline thing comes in to play. Sometimes it’s a daily thing. But then I’ll go away and things get busy, and it goes out the window. My life is not one of routine at the moment. But yes, I try to set aside time each day to read, and pray and sit and think and listen.
Jen G: What’s your favorite scripture? The one you cling to?
Stu Larsen: John 15:1-8 about being nothing without Christ. About remaining in him and having his word remain in us.
‘Apart from me you can do nothing’ it’s helped me through a lot.
“I often think of all
the artists in the world,
many find ‘success’
but don’t have God.
So it’s definitely possible
to achieve things without
God, but is there any
meaning in it?”
Jen G: Would you say that’s true not only in your personal life, but in your gift of music also?
Stu Larsen: It’s something I’ve often thought about. When I walked away from God I took myself away from playing music in public. I just couldn’t do it. That’s mainly because I was a figure in the church scene, so to sing about God when I was not following him felt wrong. I often think of all the artists in the world, many find ‘success’ but don’t have God. So it’s definitely possible to achieve things without God, but is there any meaning in it? Is there any true reward in it? I don’t know. I haven’t been there. But I don’t think there is a true reward in it, other fame/money etc. the time’s I feel the most amazing is when I know I have done what God requires of me, whether it be something big or something small. So without God, what is my music achieving? It’s because of Him that I write these songs and it’s through him that these songs have meaning. Does that make sense?
Jen G: I agree. I think we can be successful by world’s standards, but we’re looking for that approval. When people don’t approve and we’re not that big hit we lose a little of ourselves. But when it’s really unto Christ there’s that fulfillment.
I like what you said about not singing in the church too. It takes character to say, if I’m not doing this for Jesus I shouldn’t be doing this. It shows it wasn’t all about you, even when you were walking the wrong way you cared. Too awesome.
What do you hope others discover about Christ through you?
Stu Larsen: That he will accept us no matter the circumstances. If a man who gets married to his childhood sweetheart, then has an affair with one of her closest friends, lies about it, goes behind everyone’s back, pushes friends and family away with his lies and causes so much pain to the people who cared most, if God can accept this man after all he has done, then surely there’s hope for all of us.
LIES WILL KEEP YOU OUT is available on iTunes.
Visit:www.stularsen.com
|
