My Tribute (and a time to mourn but not as those without hope)Friday was a somber day for me. That turned the weekend into somewhat of a memorial time. I found out Friday morning that Larry Norman went home to be with the Lord last Sunday. Larry is known as the father (or grandfather) of Christian rock music. He was part of the Jesus-Movement of the '70s. With his long, blonde hair he went around with his old guitar singing songs about Jesus using modern music. To say that he had a profound impact on Christian culture as we see it today would be an understatement. It could be that we would have no contemporary worship songs or services if it hadn't been for Larry Norman. Contemporary Christian Music in all of it's genres began with him and might not exist today if he had not dared to charge that hill, taking the shots from every direction. My life, in many ways, has been influenced by Larry. So has my discipleship. Music has always had a huge influence in my life and my life was dramatically altered when I put away much of the music I had always listened to and began listening to music that pointed my thought life and attitudes and actions to Christ. Music has just always had that kind of grip on me and so the trail that Larry blazed allowed for greater inroads into my soul and it's spiritual formation. The past several days I have not been able to get so many of his songs out of my head. I find myself humming or singing them as I work or walk along, even when not listening to one of his albums. Songs that we used to sing in youth group when I was a kid like "I Wish We'd All Been Ready," "The Outlaw," "I Am Your Servant." Songs that I've always just enjoyed like: Born to Be Unlucky, I've Got to Learn to Live Without You, Let That Tape Keep Rolling, One Way, Put Your Life In His Hands, Righteous Rocker, Six O'Clock News, The Great American Novel, Sweet Sweet Song of Salvation, The Rock That Doesn't Roll, UFO, and two favorites: Watch What You're Doin', and Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music. And then maybe my all-time favorite. The one that so clearly defines Larry Norman and his passion. Yup, he had plenty of political songs that made statements about our country and it's state back in the 70s. But in my opinion, this song is the one that so clearly defined his life and his passion and why he sang his music: "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" Sipping whiskey from a paper cup, You drown your sorrows till you can't stand up, Take a look at what you've done to yourself, Why don't you put the bottle back on the shelf, Yellow fingers from your cigarettes, Your hands are shaking while your body sweats, Why don't you look into Jesus, He's got the answer.
Gonorrhea on Valentines Day, And you're still looking for the perfect lay, You think rock and roll will set you free, You'll be deaf before your thirty three, Shooting junk till your half insane, Broken needle in your purple vein, Why don't you look into Jesus, He's got the answer.
You work all night, sleep all day, You take your money, throw it all away, You say you're going to be a superstar, But you've never hung around enough to find out who you really are.
Think back to when you were a child, Your soul was free, your heart ran wild, Each day was different, and life was a thrill, You knew tomorrow would be better still, Things have changed you're much older now, If you're unhappy and you don't know how, Why don't you look into Jesus, He's got the answer I'm so thankful that God allowed me to hear Larry Norman's music when I was younger and for the influenece his music had in my life. I'm equally thankful for the influence Larry Norman had on music itself which has allowded for what we have today. Larry Norman will be missed here but I'll bet Jesus is enjoying having him singing at His feet. 
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