When I became a Christian in 1971, I ended up walking away from a lot of my closest friendships.  Members of my band.  People I grew up with.  They didn’t understand and didn’t want to.  There were a lot of new relationships that began to form, but there was a lot of grieving as well. 

I spent a great deal of time diving deep into the Word, and prayer, talking to Jesus constantly, and talking to others about Him.  One of the other things that kept me going was music.  I had always been one of those people who had music playing all the time, and lived with a soundtrack going in my head.  And that was one of my biggest struggles with my new faith.  The music was terrible!  I knew as well as anybody that the message of the stuff I’d been immersed in wasn’t pleasing to God, but it was honest and real and raw.  It came from the heart of people who needed Jesus.  People who wouldn’t listen to the hymns or choruses or bright sweet “Up With People” folk pop I was supposed to like now.  Then I discovered Larry Norman.  Here was a guy who touched my heart.  He was unafraid to speak the truth and do it rockin’.  I loved it.  And the love of God came through to me and sustained me through some very lonely times through his music.  I listened to it over and over. 

I’ve followed Larry’s music and career and life through the years, like keeping track of an old friend I never actually met.  And I’m saddened today to learn that he passed away last Sunday morning.   His heart just quit.  He had had his own struggles, but fought the good fight.  And he gave himself away, in a good way.  I guess there was just no more to give.  I can be happy for him that he’s with Jesus now.  But I feel like I’ve lost an old friend. 

Goodbye Larry.  And thank you.  You’ll be missed by many…more than you knew.  Be we knew.  You told us.  You were “Only Visiting This Planet”.

http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/news/Larry_Norman__19472008/30703/p1/

How do you speak in the midst of the whirlwind?
How can you see in the midst of the fire?
Feeling the tearings away still occuring and
Cherished distractions just turning to dust.
Your moorings are gone.
You’re adrift in His Presence.
A vision in ashes
And yet there is hope
As you’re caught up and held in the Spirit
And passion.
He comes as a Lover and pours Himself out.
It seizes you.
It captures your being.
You may have been called here before and withdrawn.
Afraid of being loved so completely
So fiercely
So intently.
Afraid when faced with the reality of being lost in Him.
Consumed in His love and loving.
But now, again, He says “Come to Me”.
And draws you.
And you press in.
Into the reality.
Into the embrace of Holy Fire.
This time you will not run away.
You will not push away.
You will not turn away.
You cannot leave.
There is nowhere else left.
You stay…
Consumed …
And alive…
In Him.

For those who have been thinking of and praying for John, the latest is that he is now off all mechanical heart support and is progressing quite well.  For journal entries, go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnlparker

The most recent entry is from John himself.  It reads, in part,

For those that did not catch last night’s update, please take a look. John himself posted a note to all of you that have so faithfully followed the events of the last three weeks. I am currently sitting at Logan Airport in Boston waiting for my flight home. Unlike my last trip back to Florida I will probably be able to get some rest during the flight. John was a little groggy after this morning’s test but he was resting well when I departed Brigham & Womens. Here are a couple of updates regarding John’s condition. The physical therapy folks were in yesterday to give John a few exercises to do to help build strength. All of his “numbers” remain good although there are fewer to look at. As his condition improves there is less to monitor. Comments from all of the doctors remain positive and uplifting and are still being modified by “amazing” and “incredible”. There is much work to be done but he is committed to the program. Catherine will remain in Boston for a couple of more days; she will pass the torch to Tom Raynor later this week. John’s cousin Debra will be stopping in, as will his fiends Caldwell and Alice Smith. Once John has his laptop I will be passing the update responsibilities off to him and I can’t wait to do just that. Even though I have found a certain amount of honor in being his spokesman, or as he put it, a stand in JP. JP3

)See Below)

Hi everyone. This is a quick note from the actual JP, not a stand-in. I’ll have a lot more to say in coming days about this long strange journey I’ve been on, but I just wanted to pop on quickly to thank everyone who has commented on this web page or sent good wishes, prayers, or (what we used to call in the 60’s) good vibrations my way. I have read every single comment and many brought actual tears to my eyes. Novelists try very hard to make hard fast connections with their readers and I have been aware over the years from the occasional note, letter or email that I had at least partially succeeded with *Once a Runner* years ago. But the comments and good wishes from readers on this web page and elsewhere have been just plain humbling.Thanks to my brother Jerry, and my wonderful Catherine, for everything. In “everything,” I include–literally–my life.

]]> http://firedancer.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/update-on-john-l-parker-from-john-l-parker/feed/ 0 firedancer http://firedancer.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/link-to-andrew-meyer-and-the-greater-good/ http://firedancer.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/link-to-andrew-meyer-and-the-greater-good/#comments Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:20:19 +0000 firedancer http://firedancer.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/link-to-andrew-meyer-and-the-greater-good/ ]]>

By now, the tazering (or would it be tazing) of a Florida college student  at a John Kerry forum has been seen and discussed in blogs all over the web.  I have jumped into a couple of those discussions, and was not going to post anything about the incident here. But the best laid plans of mice and men… (READ MORE…)

Last week the love of my sister Catherine’s life went into congestive heart failure.  Below is an update on his condition.  His situation is very grave.  It seems like her boyfriend is a believer…They are asking for widespread prayer.  Would you please pray for John L. Parker, Jr.?  His literary works on running have impacted multitudes, and his love has deeply impacted my beautiful sister.  Thanks so much.

Paula  www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnlparker 

A friend of mine is a very successful personal investment counsellor.  He also gives himself away.  In many ways.  His time.  His money.  The passions of his heart to bring healing and wholeness to people whose bodies and lives are broken or sick in some fashion. 

I remember a conversation we had not too long ago.  He was talking about praying for his business.  He has people who have committed to pray for his business.  A novel idea?  We pray for ministries.  But do we in the church pray for the guidance and success of our brothers and sisters in the marketplace?  Why not?  Are business activities somehow dirty or profane? 

A lot of business people are made to feel like second class citizens in the church.  If you can’t give your time to “real ministry”, or aren’t “called to full time service in the church”, then you settle for a life that is somehow spiritually second best.  But you can still give, and support those who are pursuing the higher calling. 

 The practical fact is that most real people live the vast portion of their lives outside the walls of the church.  And, statistically, most will never be actively involved any kind of institutional or programmatic “ministry”.  They don’t have time or energy left for another activity or program.  So is their assigned role to pay their tithe and be weekend spiritual spectators and cheering block while the professional Christians and their small but dedicated cadre of volunteers engage in the real work of ministry?

There is a different way of thinking emerging.  A different way of understanding “church”.  Many have paid lip service for a long time to the notion that the church is the entire body of believers and that all believers have unique and essential gifts and callings. And many have paid lipservice to the notion that Jesus really does desire and intend to exercise lordship over every aspect of life.  And to redeem and transform and demonstrate His grace and power practically and overtly in every sphere of activity. 

Today, these notions are being embraced more and more widely by people who are no longer satisfied with the lipservice.  They want to see it happen.  They want to start “doing the stuff”, as John Wimber used to say, in the streets.  They are embracing a radical notion that most true apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, or people gifted and called to a multitude of other ministries, will never carry out their ministry within the structure of the institutional church.  And even more radical is the idea that they are not intended to.  Their calling by God is to live and move and minister in the context of the marketplace.  Their home, their office, their 9-5.  The doctor, the cop, the stay-at-home-mom, the construction worker, the mail carrier, the janitor. Their ministry is not something other than their job.  Their lives are not that cleanly compartmentalized.  Excellence and service and celebration and ministry and prayer and shepherding and mentoring and just being Christian is an integral part of the daily rhythm of life.  Organizations like The Joseph Company and Harvest Evangelism are providing support and vision for this growing movement.   And teachers like Os Hillman and Lance Wallnau are raising the expectation that Christians can actually be CALLED to the marketplace, and have an obligation to bring good news and transformation and godly excellence to their sphere of activity and influence, wherever that is.  

As I wrote in my bio,  I believe our faith calls us to be in the coffeeshop, in the street, in the marketplace, dilletante, meddling in simply everything.   I’m not a full-time minister.  But I’m a full-time minister.  And I’m called to prayer.  And I’m called to be a businessman.  There can be no disconnect there.  And there shouldn’t be.

Back to my friend.  As we shared time and coffee at downtown joint, he told me that his real moment of peace came when he was re-reading the Sermon on the Mount, and he heard the Spirit of God say to him, “Quit fussing over tomorrow.  When you do that, you’re don’t look any different than the non-believers around you.  How can I bless that? You just be where I’ve called you, do your job, and do it with excellence.  I’ll take care of the rest.  If you take care of MY business, I’ll take care of YOURS!”

Father,

Keep me close today.  Keep me in your Presence.  Let me bask in you.  I want to worship you and celebrate everything you do today.  Every task you give me.  Every conversation. Every encounter.  Lord Jesus, redeem my time.  Show me how you want to excercise your loving Lordship and influence through everything I do.  Holy Spirit, bring blessing, and peace, and healing through the steps I walk today in the world.  Thank you.  I love you.

Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit,

Some mornings it is so difficult to give first pause to time with you.  The events and responsibilities of the day come shouting for attention at wake-up.  I know you understand.  Lord Jesus, I guess this is why you so often withdrew to a solitary place early in the morning.  So I thank you now for the time of worship and pause.  Listening for the day.  And just being before you.  Your mercy and love are overwhelming.  Your sustaining hand is so undeserved.  Your glory and your heart to pour that glory out into human vessels. 
     I see daily how much I need to spend time in your presence.  Being renewed in mind and spirit.  The spirit of the world, the spirits of discouragement and wrath and division and judgment and condemnation are in constant war with your Spirit, your mercy and offer of destiny and resurrection power.  Your Spirit of Truth.  I thank you for your mercy in my life.  teach me and change me and renew my heart to love as you love.  Let me live every moment under your anointing and continue to hold out your Truth and redemptive options.  I love you.   

Father,

I begin this morning worshipping you. I want to give you my time and efforts and submit to your agenda, holding mine loosely to hear your voice and do your will.  I want to plan and build only on Your foundation, that the house I build will be Your House.  You are Jehovah Jireh, my provider and warrior.  Lord Jesus, my friend, my Redeemer King, my Captain, I lift you up. Make my character, mind, and actions yours.  And Most Holy Spirit, I desire with all my heart to be totally controlled in oneness with You, the Father, and the Son.  Saturate me.  Quicken me to your desires and movement, that we truly would move as one.  Let me stay in the Presence, the Holy of Holies, as I move through this day and week, from task to task and person to person.  I offer myself to you as worship.  I love you.

I really hadn’t intended to take a summer hiatus from writing.  It just worked out that way.  Actually, I’ve taken a summer hiatus from a lot of things.  I may well end up hiatus-ing from some of them through the fall as well.  But this blog won’t be one of them.  At least not regularly.  But I’m afraid the posting won’t be regular either.  Life’s just not like that right now.  So if you’re one of the eleven or so folks who’ve been waiting with baited breath for my return, you might want to subscribe to a  feed so you know when I’m writing.
     So why the time off and what’s it got to do with Labor Day?   Well, several years ago, I was in a leadership seminar taught by man named Claire DeGraf.  It wasn’t one of those high energy, high intensity, low content events that are so common.  This was real.  It was about priorities, and integrity…about doing the right thing no matter what.  It was about developing excellence in your field without being consumed or defined by what you do.  And that was probably the key point that I came away with.  We are not what we do. 
     At one point, Claire asked us to look honestly at those people in our lives who were most important to us.  Who are the people who would be most impacted if you were to drop dead tomorrow?  Where would your absence leave the most significant and long-lasting hole?  Those people, those relationships, ought to be your first priority.   Business? Career path?  Hobbies?  Aquaintances?  Even church or civic involvements?   You might be missed or mourned, but the hard truth is that you would probably soon be replaced.  
     Yet those are the things to which most of us give the vast majority of our time.  And they are the benchmarks we fall back on when asked who we are.   When introduced, we’ll give our name, and if the other person seems truly interested in more information, most of us begin defining ourselves by what we do. 
     So we have a national holiday celebrating labor.  Workers.  I guess that’s alright.  It does provide a nice guaranteed long weekend to finish out the summer.  Having only been a member of a union for three days, I’ve never been immersed in that subculture and I’m not sure how many folks actually attend labor rallies or parades in the spirit of the holiday.  I’m just struck by how our culture in general is driven to view people on the basis of work.  He’s an engineer.  She’s an accountant.  How’s so and so doing?  Oh, he’s unemployed?
     Dutch Sheets, a minister from Colorado, has done a lot of writing this past year about America being controlled by “the spirit of Mammon.”  I guess I would concur.  After all,  the health of the nation is defined by market indices, housing starts, unemployment statistics, fuel prices, gross national product, national debt, budget deficits, trade agreements, etc., etc., etc.    Financial issues are the leading cause of divorce in America.
     My own summer has been largely consumed by two things:  family, and a new business start-up.  It hasn’t been easy to keep the two in balance, or in perspective.  And I can’t say that I’ve been entirely successful.  My wife and I struggle with income and budget matters like most of the folks we know.  We have bills.  But we also have a family with needs that are not financial.  And those require our attention too.  A grand-daughter about to turn one and her parents learning to be parents and partners.   A second daughter entering year 2 of college, out on her own for the first time.  And a six year old son beginning first grade.  All of whom need time and love and wisdom and example from their Mom and Dad. 
     I can’t help thinking that in years to come, they will have learned more from how we handled things than from the things we said.  Our faith.  Our priorities.  Our time.  What really, practically, turned out to define us.  Reflection on this process will probably provide fodder for a number of upcoming posts here.  
     Labor Day? Here’s my agenda.  Stop.  Take a breath.  Reflect and refocus.  Pray.  Love. And always look for ways to keep dancing in a darkening world.