John Stott died today at 3:15 London time (about 9:15 a.m. CST), according to John Stott Ministries President Benjamin Homan. Homan said that Stott’s death came after complications related to old age and that he has been in discomfort for the last several weeks. Family and close friends gathered with Stott today as they listened to Handel’s Messiah. Homan said that John Stott Ministries has been preparing for his death for the past 15 years. “I think he set an impeccable example for leaders of ministries of handing things over to other leaders,” Homan said. “He imparted to many a love for the global church and imparted a passion for biblical fidelity and a love for the Savior.” Billy Graham’s spokesperson released the following statement from the evangelist: “The evangelical world has lost one of its greatest spokesmen, and I have lost one of my close personal friends and advisors. I look forward to seeing him again when I go to Heaven.”

Related posts:
    • 9/11 Proposed Memorial Quadrant
    • 9/11 – Words of Remembrance

Keith Green 28|28|28 (Video length: 3:36)

Video includes live performance clips of “Soften Your Heart” and “My Eyes are Dry.”

Related posts:
    • New Keith Green Live CD/DVD
    • New Keith Green Music Coming

________________

Christian musician, Dana Key, died yesterday (June 6, 2010) from a ruptured blood clot (CT). He was 56 years old. Dana Key was the guitarist and main vocalist for DeGarmo & Key, an early Christian rock band that Dana formed with keyboardist Ed DeGarmo. More recently Dana was senior pastor for TLC Community Church in Memphis, TN where he and Ed grew up.

I first saw Degarmo & Key back in 1979. They were performing in a local Jr. High School. I had never heard of them before, but went with a friend to check them out. What a concert! They had the two albums pictured above for sale, and I purchased them both during intermission. Later albums didn’t grab me as much, but I always loved Dana’s bold guitar playing, his clear witness for Christ, and his gritty, authentic voice.

(Here’s the first track from Degarmo & Key’s first album, This Time Thru.)
“Emmanuel”
[See post to listen to audio]
Click “►” button to play | Length: 3:08

So many of those early Christian musicans have now gone on to be with the Lord: Keith Green, Mark Heard, Larry Norman, Tom Howard, and now Dana Key as well. These musicians all had a positive impact on my growth as a young Christian. I appreciate their ministry, and I still enjoy their music after all these years, too!

Related posts:
    • Tom Howard Passes Away (1950-2010)
    • Larry Norman Passes Away (1947-2008)

Christian musician, Tom Howard, passed away yesterday (January 29, 2010). He was hiking with his wife at Edwin Warner Park in Nashville when he had a heart attack and could not be revived. He was 59 years old. Tom was a great pianist, composer, arranger, singer and songwriter. I first heard his music back in 1977 with his View from the Bridge project released through Larry Norman on Solid Rock Records. Here are two of my favorite songs from View from the Bridge. Enjoy, and please keep Tom’s family and friends in your prayers.

“One More Reason”
[See post to listen to audio]
Click “►” button to play | Length: 5:20

“All Through the Day”
[See post to listen to audio]
Click “►” button to play | Length: 4:16

Update: Obituary notice from The Tennessean on February 1, 2010

Thomas L. “Tom” Howard
HOWARD, Thomas L. “Tom”: Composer, Arranger, Producer, and Musician. Born February 23, 1950. Died January 29, 2010. Survived by his wife, Dori; two children, Katie and Joseph and sister, Susann (John) Anderson. Memorial Service 2 p.m. Wednesday, the 3rd day of February at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 4800 Belmont Park Terrace, Nashville, TN 37215. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Bartholomew’s. MARSHALL DONNELLY COMBS, (615) 327-1111.

Related links:

• Funeral Service: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2:00PM; St. Bartholomew’s Church, 4800 Belmont Park Terrace, Nashville TN 3721
• Facebook Group: In Memory of Tom Howard, Musician, Arranger
• Tom Howard: From Jesus music pioneer to behind-the-scenes virtuoso (great article from November, 2008 by Mike Rimmer of Cross Rhythms)
• Tom Howard Cross Rhythms Artist Profile
• Goodbye, Friend (Franklin Springs Family Media)
• Remembering Tom Howard, by John Duncan (Ligonier Ministries)

You do not evaluate a risk by the probability of success but by the worthiness of the goal. – Dr. Ralph D. Winter

This is an artist’s rendering provided by the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. It shows an aerial view of the proposed memorial quadrant. The museum unveiled the design Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, for the entrance pavilion, top center, and repeated hopes that a new construction schedule at ground zero would allow the memorial to open by the attacks’ 10th anniversary. (AP Photo/National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Squared Design Lab)

Related posts:
    • 9/11/2010
    • 9/11 – Words of Remembrance

The moment you enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and soft. Faith may be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful caution. The life of belief teems with thrills, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs, and epiphanies …

We get repeated chances to learn that life is not about us—that we acquire purpose and satisfaction by sharing in God’s love for others. Sickness gets us partway there. It reminds us of our limitations and dependence. But it also gives us a chance to serve the healthy …

I sat by my best friend’s bedside a few years ago as a wasting cancer took him away … His gift was to remind everyone around him that even though God doesn’t promise us tomorrow, he does promise us eternity …

What is man that Thou art mindful of him? We don’t know much, but we know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us, each and every day, lies in the same safe and impregnable place—in the hollow of God’s hand.

Snow is survived by his wife, Jill Ellen Walker, whom he married in 1987; their son, Robbie; and daughters, Kendall and Kristi.

Here is a news video clip from the funeral service for Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter, Maria, who was killed in an accident last week. Please continue to keep the Chapman family in prayer.

(Video length: 1:59)

HT: Monday Morning Insight

See related posts:

• Steven Curtis Chapman on Good Morning America
• Steven Curtis Chapman’s Daughter Killed

Click the play button to begin. You can find this video plus more in the multimedia section at the Larry Norman website.

Related posts:

• Larry Norman’s Funeral/Memorial Service
• Larry Norman on NPR
• Some Larry Norman Videos
• My Tribute Song to Larry Norman
• Larry Norman Sings Goodbye Farewell
• Larry Norman Passes Away (1947-2008)
• Larry Norman Concert in New York City (1)
• Larry Norman Concert in New York City (2)