Larry Norman

Hello, Hello!

It's been a few days since my last post; I know I've slacked off. This one will be short.

In the last few days I've been thinking about various things. I read a quite lengthy article on the life of Larry Norman. Being a musician and singer, I was very interested in this article. I've always been deep into music, and very interested in our musical predecessors. Most people that have known me just "don't get it", when it comes to my passion for music. So, I just leave it alone sometimes! HaHa!

Anyway, I was very, very struck by this article. For those who don't know, Larry Norman was a Contemporary Christian singer, one of the very first in the genre. I, personally, as a musician, probably fall more in the category of Southern Gospel than anything else, but have been richly blessed by many CCM artists, especially the older ones.

Larry Norman, to seriously paraphrase, was always controversial within the industry and the Church. This was definitely not anything new for the era; most of the founders of CCM or "Jesus Music" as it was known, caused much controversy within the Church.

But something did set Larry Norman apart from all of the other stories I've heard. He seemed to have a real passion for PLEASING THE LORD as well as reaching the lost. It's a question I've always had in the on-going controversy of Christian Music. What is too far? What is too worldly? We must reach down and meet dear souls where they are, but we CAN NOT loose our seperation unto the LORD.

I began to see myself in a different light. I've never been one to try to appeal to the world in my music. Southern Gospel is traditionally sung to a Christian audience. Before I came into the Southern Gospel world, I was in the Praise & Worship world as a worship leader, still singing to mostly Christian people. I began to see that it's easy to criticize people who we think are too worldly as they're trying to reach the lost. It's not so easy to realize that I've not had a burden to reach the lost! Which is worse?

I understand there is a ministry of exortation to the brethern. I also unserstand a lot of folks have gotten saved in "Christian-only" concerts. But what about a burden for the lost?

None of us are perfect- we all make mistakes. Perhaps in our modern, commercial Christian Music industry, we ARE too worldly. But perhaps we've also failed to see our own short comings.

I believe that if we lift up the LORD Jesus, just as He promised, HE will draw all men unto Him. We won't have to salt and pepper the Gospel. But the burden must be there to LIFT HIM UP!

Thank God for Larry Norman. A faithful servant of God. Thank God for all of our "Jesus Music" pioneers. Thank God for Jesus!

LORD, please help me to walk in balance, in Love, and in humility!

Please comment, and please keep praying for me! I'll pray for anyone out there if you wish!

And Jesus is ALWAYS praying, as well as the Spirit. So, WE CAN'T LOOSE!!!!!!