Posted on 03/07/2008 11:48:36 PM PST by unspun
Fond Memories of a 1984 Meeting in Washington, DC
I was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Larry Norman. I could not help but reminisce about several days nearly a quarter century ago when the leader of the modern conservative movement addressed a gathering of Christian media leaders in Washington, DC and an anti-establishment Christian rock activist dropped in. Two events during these few days had an indelible impact on my life.
Larry sang Jesus into my life during the early 1970’s when I was not seeking God. I knew of Larry from the band « People » and their popular hit « I Love You. » In 1972, when I came across Larry’s solo album release « Only Visiting This Planet » on MGM’s Verve Records, it immediately caught my ear.
The music was terrific and the message was just edgy enough that I listened. At the time, I was very impacted by the turbulent 1960’s, and totally swept up by the movement against the Vietnam War. Larry’s antiwar anthem « Six O’clock News » spoke of the tragedy of that war. My anti-establishment sentiments cheered at lyrics of « The Great American Novel. »
Larry Norman sang of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, but regarded by many in His day as an « Outlaw » activist. « He spoke out against corruption and He bowed to no decree, and they feared His strength and power, so they nailed Him to a tree. »
The music got my attention and the lyrics began to get my heart. I am certain God used Larry Norman to soften my heart to the point I was ready for a personal encounter with Jesus Christ in 1978 at a beach-side baptism service in Southern California conducted by Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel.
In 1984, I was on the convention staff of the National Religious Broadcaster’s national convention in Washington, DC. National Religious Broadcasters is the trade association of evangelical Christian broadcasters, and at that time the NRB national convention was a gathering of very conservative Christians.
These were the days when many still thought Christian rock n’ roll was an oxymoron. It was either Christian or rock n’ roll, but it could not be both.
It was at the 1984 NRB convention that I ran into Larry Norman.
Ronald Reagan Our Greatest President ?
When I saw a man with that familiar long blond hair checking in at the hotel registration desk of the Washington Hilton Hotel I was stunned. Was Larry Norman, the anti-establishment Christian rock musician really planning to attend this most conservative Christian gathering ?
When I approached Larry he said he had just arrived from a performance at Eastern Mennonite University, in Virginia and was simply spending the night before flying home in the morning. I was interested in talking with him and asked about having lunch together.
I had a memorable conversation over lunch with this man whose talent and activism I admired. During our conversation I mentioned President Ronald Reagan would be at the hotel that very afternoon to address the convention, and if he were interested I could possibly arrange for him to attend the event. I said I didn’t suppose he would be interested in seeing President Reagan, but that Pat Boone would be singing as well. I had heard Larry and Pat were friends.
To my astonishment, Larry said, « Could I see President Reagan ? »
I was stunned that Larry could be anything but an anti-establishment guy like me, and answered, « Do you like President Reagan ? »
He said, « Oh, I do. I voted for him. I think he is the greatest President we have ever had ! » President Ronald Reagan delivers a stirring address to the 1984 National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Washington, DC.
I was shocked.
He then said, « It was Winston Churchill who said, ’When you are in your twenties, if you are not a liberal you do not have a heart. But when you are in your forties, if you are not a conservative, you don’t have a brain !’ I am nearing forty. »
Larry did attend that gathering and President Reagan delivered a powerful address that challenged us all to take a stand for right, no matter the cost.
I will be honest. I did not immediately embrace Larry’s suggestion about conservatism. I never did vote for Ronald Reagan, but that metamorphosis did eventually occur in my life and today I believe Winston Churchill and Larry Norman were quite correct.
Never waste an opportunity to share Jesus !
I am not sure if it was because President Reagan’s address so stirred him, but Larry changed his plans and stayed for the entire convention.
Two days later I mentioned to Larry that several of us were interested in hearing him sing. I asked if I were to get a room for a small concert, would he bless us with some music. He agreed and about fifty of us assembled in a small room. Larry Norman (left) at 1984 NRB Convention in Washington, DC. Pictured with Danny and Caroline Newbern and little Ashley Ruth Megill. Larry opened this mini concert with a powerful ballad I had never heard, « I Hope I See You in Heaven. » The song spoke of a friendship with a woman that never got around to a discussion about Jesus, and then lamented, « I held back the words ’God Loves You’ and let out the words ’Good-bye’ — and now you’re gone so far away, I hope I see you again someday, but if I don’t, I hope I see you in Heaven. »
The Holy Spirit was practically shouting into my heart. What neither Larry nor anyone else there knew was that just six weeks earlier one of my wife’s dear friends from childhood had died very unexpectedly.
Pam had just recently reconnected with my wife, Linda, and she had wanted us to spend a weekend together with her in Upstate New York. Every date she suggested didn’t quite work within our schedule, so we passed. We later learned she was dying of cancer. Beautiful Pam died very quickly and was buried on a frigid cold Christmas Eve, with a funeral completely devoid of God. How we wished we had spent that weekend together when we had time. What a missed opportunity to share our faith.
While listening to Larry sing, all I could see was Pam’s face and I kept thinking, ’I hope I see you in Heaven.’
I left that mini concert forever changed. The Holy Spirit spoke through Larry and I am certain that experience has pushed me past countless silly moments of indecision whether or not to discuss my faith throughout the following twenty-four years.
It is true Larry Norman was controversial and he continued to make some quite uncomfortable, however, Larry was always an activist for his Lord and there is no doubt that God used this rather audacious troubadour to speak into my life. I am grateful He allowed our paths to cross.
Time Magazine once called Larry “the most significant artist in his field.” Larry has said, “I’m just an artist, reaching toward Heaven."
Till then, Larry, my friend. I know I’ll see you in Heaven.
Pinging: Alex Murphy; Democracy In Iraq; JoanVarga; CharlesWayneCT; Knute; HarleyD; topcat54; Invincibly Ignorant; grey_whiskers; fkabuckeyesrule; betty boop
Thought you may enjoy this.
Do “great minds think alike?” The more we think and feel in accord with the our minds’ maker, the greater they get.
BTW, if this link works, it’s an excerpt of one of my favorite songs done by Larry later in life, along with his brother, Charles. It’s done metal/alternative style, “Jesus is God”: http://www.larrynorman.com/mp3/jesusisgod.mp3%20
OK, for the correction, that link is one of the samples on this page, along with others, some from way back....
http://www.larrynorman.com/media.html
I used to play The Rock that Doesn’t Roll for my 5th grade bilingual class before school.
Spent many happy hours listening to Larry starting in 1973.
He and Randy Stonehill (anyone ever listen to The All Saved Freak Band?...members of the James Gang who were Born-Again...) took ridiculous heat for their music (as do many still, today).
why should the devil have all the good music?
Which is why I listen to www.ChristianHardRock.net (sorry, I forgot how to put this into HTML as a hyperlink...)
Thanks for the (almost) link.
Maybe not sublime, but maybe my favorite Stonehill cut was “Great Big Stupid World.” Classic.
from randystonehill.com...
FEBRUARY 25, 2008: RANDY’S STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF LARRY NORMAN “ I knew Larry Norman perhaps better than anyone, yet to this day I’m not sure that I really understood him completely. For as brilliant and insightful as Larry was, I’m not sure that he understood himself completely. This issue became apparent in the way he consistently seemed to “derail” relationships through out his life. Larry is the man who introduced me to Jesus. He led me to the door of eternal life, and for that singular priceless gift I am eternally in his debt. In my relationship with Larry, I experienced the beauty of brotherhood, the richness of creative collaboration, the mystery of human brokenness, and ultimately the overshadowing wings of God’s all encompassing grace. After 20 years of friction and distance between us that began around 1980, Larry and I realized that what united us in Christ was far greater than what had separated us in our personal frailty and pride. We worked together on the re-issue of the “Welcome to Paradise” recording and talked and laughed together over the phone from our respective homes in Seal Beach California and Salem Oregon. We stood together onstage for what would be the last time at the Cornerstone Festival in July of 2001 and it felt to me like being home. Then he “disappeared” into the mist. I wrote it off to the busy pace of life and his consuming health problems but I still couldn’t help but scratch my chin and wonder. He graciously agreed to sing with me on my song, “We Were All So Young”, for the “Edge of The World” project in 2003. We accomplished that performance process long distance through computer technology. Then he was silent again. I had hoped that in these last years we might continue to build on our recent reconciliation and even get together for some song writing and recording, sharing what we had learned about life and about our craft to offer something better than ever to the world. Death is so final..We are out of time, at least in this life. No more conversations, No more plans, No more songs. It’s a strange sorrow that leaves you feeling hollow, like someone knocked the wind out of you. The light of hope, however, that lifts my spirit is the knowledge that Larry’s profound contribution to the work of God’s Kingdom is eternal and that his struggles with his own demons is over.” Randy Stonehill February 25, 2008 .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BznsjIe5sMk
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