Memorial Service Update: Click here for photos and a description of Larry’s funeral/memorial service. The service was held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 1st at The Church on the Hill, 2707 Maranatha Ct., Turner, Oregon, just south of Salem. Here is a mapquest link. For more information, contact Charles Norman at charles@slackertone.com
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Christian musician Larry Norman passed away at 2:45 this morning. Larry was a huge influence on me as a young Christian, and I am grateful for his life and ministry. Please keep his family in your prayers.

Here is the message from Larry’s brother, Charles, at Solid Rock Records:

MESSAGE FROM SOLID ROCK:

Hello everybody.

Our friend and my wonderful brother Larry passed away at 2:45 Sunday morning. Kristin and I were with him, holding his hands and sitting in bed with him when his heart finally slowed to a stop. We spent this past week laughing, singing, and praying with him, and all the while he had us taking notes on new song ideas and instructions on how to continue his ministry and art …

Yesterday afternoon he knew he was going to go home to God very soon and he dictated the following message to you while his friend Allen Fleming typed these words into Larry’s computer:

I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God’s hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.

My brother Charles is right, I won’t be here much longer. I can’t do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help.

My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.

I’d like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.

    Goodbye, farewell, we’ll meet again
    Somewhere beyond the sky.
    I pray that you will stay with God
    Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.

Larry

Thank you to all of you who were so nice to my brother over the years. Kristin and I will post funeral information in the next day or two. Right now we’re not able to function very well, but the whole family is here … our mother Margaret, our sisters Nancy and Kristy, Mike Norman and his new wife Tiffany, and Silver.

We miss him beyond words. Thank you for everything.

Peace to you all in Christ,

Charles Norman

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Feel free to share your memories of Larry in the comments.

Related posts:

• Larry Norman Funeral Video Montage
• 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 Concert in New York City (1)
• Larry Norman Concert in New York City (2)

September 11th Remembrance Ceremony
Town of Agawam, MA
September 11, 2007; 9:45 a.m.

I was honored today to bring the Words of Remembrance for our town’s September 11th Remembrance Ceremony. We met in front of the Memorial Towers at the Agawam Fire Department. There was a light but steady rain. The American Legion Post 185 presented the colors complete with rifle salute. Local pastors led in prayer. Candles were lit, wreaths placed, songs sung. The Fire Department made a presentation while a trumpet played taps. Here is what I shared:

9/11/2007 – Words of Remembrance
Dr. Rev. Raymond E. Fowler

Six years ago today the people of our nation were attacked without warning or provocation. It was a Tuesday morning, just like today. Many of us were just arriving at work. Others were in our homes or at our schools. On the west coast some people were just waking up from a night’s sleep. But through the medium of television, together we watched the horrific events we now know as 9/11 unfold before our very eyes. In the weeks to follow we would continue to watch and mourn and grieve together as a nation.

We all remember the details and events of 9/11. For many of us, just a mention of the day’s name or perhaps an image of one of the planes can still catch us off guard and stir up the same disturbing mixture of anger, shock, fear and outrage we all experienced on that first day. There are those times when we probably wish that we did not remember, and yet we know that we cannot ignore this or somehow put it away on the shelf. We lost too much on 9/11 simply to let go and move on.

And so we have gathered here today in order to remember.

We remember first of all the lives of those innocent people who died. The terrorists who planned and carried out the attacks had no right to take these lives. We remember the passengers and flight crews on the planes. We remember the workers and children in the towers. We remember the people in the Pentagon. We remember wives separated from husbands, children separated from parents, loved ones separated from family and friends.

We also remember those people who willingly sacrificed their own lives in order to save the lives of others. We remember the firefighters, policemen and first responders. We remember the medical workers and emergency personnel. We remember those who bravely entered the devil’s cloud of dust and debris and did not return to their homes and loved ones that night. We are inspired by their courage, stunned by their sacrifice and challenged by their example. They have rightly earned the title of “heroes.”

And then today we also remember those who continue to serve our country, both here and in foreign lands, to protect us from further attacks. We remember those who serve in the various armed forces of our nation. We remember our veterans. We remember those who serve in government. We remember those who serve the public as policemen, firefighters, paramedics and in various other capacities. We are grateful to all of you who risk your lives in order to protect our country and preserve our freedom.

Innocent lives lost, willing lives sacrificed, determined lives continuing to fight on for freedom – these are the reasons we have gathered here today. These are the reasons we choose to remember 9/11.

Related posts:
    • 9/11/2010
    • 9/11 Proposed Memorial Quadrant

Christian writer Madeleine L’Engle died today. A Wrinkle in Time was one of my favorite books as a child, and I read the whole trilogy (which was later expanded to a quintet). I have also enjoyed L’Engle’s poetry and her reflections on faith and art.

Related articles from Christianity Today:

• A walk through her books with a look at her spiritual pilgrimage
• Interview with L’Engle
• Reflections on good and evil

Dr. D. James Kennedy passed away “peacefully, in his sleep, at home” earlier this morning. Dr. Kennedy had just retired as pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church ten days ago. A memorial site has been set up at www.djameskennedy.org. Here is a great quote from Dr. Kennedy featured at the memorial site:

Now, I know that someday I am going to come to what some people will say is the end of this life. They will probably put me in a box and roll me right down here in front of the church, and some people will gather around, and a few people will cry. But I have told them not to do that because I don’t want them to cry. I want them to begin the service with the Doxology and end with the Hallelujah chorus, because I am not going to be there, and I am not going to be dead. I will be more alive than I have ever been in my life, and I will be looking down upon you poor people who are still in the land of dying and have not yet joined me in the land of the living. And I will be alive forevermore, in greater health and vitality and joy than ever, ever, I or anyone has known before.

D. James Kennedy, Ph.D.

Related articles:

• Article at the Christian Post: D. James Kennedy Dies at 76
• Wonderful tribute from Dr. Samuel Lamerson (who has been preaching at Coral Ridge in Dr. Kennedy’s absence)
• Albert Mohler also offers a fine tribute with some personal remembrances.

Related posts on this blog:

• The Power of a Question: “If you died today . . .”
• Dr. D. James Kennedy Retires

I just heard that Ray Ortlund passed away on Sunday night. He was 84 years old. God used Ray’s book, Lord, Make My Life a Miracle, to help disciple me as a young Christian. Here is an excerpt from a letter his family has posted at Renewal Ministries:

Dear Family and Friends of Ray and Anne:

It’s both our deep sorrow and great joy to share with you the news of the home-going of our father and hero, Ray Ortlund. Like Jacob, Dad went off to heaven early Sunday evening having first admonished, loved on, prayed for and given his final benediction over his children.

For Mother and us it’s an inestimable loss—already we miss him beyond words. But for Dad it’s “Glory!” and finally—after a lifetime of daily service—the sheer joy of meeting our Lord Jesus face to face. Sublime …

P.S. Ray’s final words to us are a blessing for you, too:

“The Lord bless you and keep you.
  The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
  The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
  … Amen and amen!” (quoting from Numbers 6.24-26)

Links:

• ASSIST News post about Ray
• John Piper shares a personal story of how Ray instilled in him a love for the church during John’s seminary days at Ray’s church.

Tammy Faye Messner (formerly Tammy Faye Bakker) died Friday after an 11-year struggle with cancer. She was 65 years old. In the 1980′s Tammy Faye appeared with her then husband, Jim Bakker, on the PTL television program, “The Jim and Tammy Show.” Their marriage and ministry fell apart in a well-publicized scandal after Jim was convicted on fraud and conspiracy counts connected with lifetime memberships at the Heritage USA theme park. Jim later wrote a book titled, I Was Wrong, in which he apologized for his misdeeds.

Ruth Graham, the wife of well-known evangelist Billy Graham, passed away today at 5:05 pm at her home at Little Piney Cove, surrounded by her husband and all five of their children. Ruth had been bedridden for a number of months with degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck and underwent treatment for pneumonia two weeks ago. She was 87 years old.

Billy Graham made the following statement about his wife:

Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team. No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support.

I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together. We’ve rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven.

The family plans to hold a private interment ceremony and a public memorial service. Service arrangements have not yet been announced.

UPDATE: Related articles from around the web:

• Official Press Release: Description of the Funeral
• Official Press Release: Ruth Bell Graham, 1920-2007
• The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association memorial site for Ruth
• Anne Graham Lotz on her mother’s death
• Statements from the children of Ruth Bell Graham
• Statement by President George Bush:
  

  Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of Ruth Bell Graham, a remarkable woman of faith whose life was defined by her belief in a personal, loving, and gracious God. She was an encouraging friend, accomplished poet, and devoted mother of five and grandmother of 19.

  Ruth’s marriage to her husband Billy was a true and loving partnership. As the wife of the world’s most beloved evangelist, she inspired people around the world with her humor, intelligence, elegance, and kindness. Laura and I offer our prayers and condolences to Billy and the Graham family.

• PUBLIC INVITED TO ATTEND FUNERAL SERVICE FOR RUTH BELL GRAHAM, LATE WIFE OF BILLY GRAHAM: Mrs. Graham to be Honored by Friends and Family in Montreat, N.C., Followed by a Private Family-Only Interment in Charlotte:
  

  A public funeral service to honor Mrs. Graham, has been scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 16 in Anderson Auditorium at the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, N.C. Mr. Graham and his family have extended an invitation for the public to join them in honoring the life and memory of their wife and mother at this event. Anderson Auditorium’s seating capacity is limited to 2,000, on a first come basis, after which guests will be directed to additional overflow seating.

Related articles on this blog:

• A Quote from Billy and a Quote from Ruth
• Ruth Bell Graham – Poems
• Ruth Graham Near Death
• Billy Graham Museum Opens in Charlotte, NC
• The Day I Met Billy Graham

HT: Christianity Today LiveBlog

Dr. Jerry Falwell, well-known evangelist and founder of Liberty University, died yesterday morning. Falwell was a highly influential figure in American politics and religion. Often misquoted and misunderstood by the media, Falwell was a lightning-rod for controversy. In fact, one group in San Francisco staged an “anti-memorial” protest service against Falwell yesterday within hours of the announcement of his death.

Despite his detractors, Falwell leaves behind an impressive list of both personal and institutional achievements. Albert Mohler has a nice article on the legacy of Jerry Falwell in the Washington Post’s On Faith section.

Todd Rhoades at MMI has been collecting some of the tributes to Falwell that came in following the news of his death. Here are a few of them. You can visit Todd’s site here for more tributes from a wide variety of contributors.

• “One of his lasting contributions was the establishment of Liberty University, where he taught young people to remain true to their convictions and rely upon God’s word throughout each stage of their lives.” —President Bush
• “It was my honor to share the front lines with him in the battle for righteousness in our nation. We will continue that fight, in his honor, until our mutual goals are achieved.” — James Dobson
• “His life is a testament not only to the power of faith to move hearts, but to the strength of the American ethos that stresses the importance of citizenship … He was a great leader, a person totally sustained by his faith but able to work with many people from many different backgrounds without imposing rigidity on anyone else.” – Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
• “He was a man who set a direction. He was someone who was not afraid to speak his mind. We all have great respect for him … he is a person who told you what he thought, and you knew where he stood.” – Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.
• “Jerry Falwell was a close personal friend for many years. We did not always agree on everything, but I knew him to be a man of God. His accomplishments went beyond most clergy of his generation. Some of my grandchildren have attended and currently attend Liberty University. He leaves a gigantic vacuum in the evangelical world.” – Evangelist Billy Graham.
• “Over the years we became friends; sometimes we had polar opposite points of view. … I have many fond memories of him. He leaves a great legacy of service and a great university behind. He’s left his footprints in the sands of time.” – The Rev. Jesse Jackson.
• “Dr. Falwell was a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Falwell’s family at this difficult time.” – Republican presidential candidate and Sen. John McCain.
• “An American who built and led a movement based on strong principles and strong faith has left us. He will be greatly missed, but the legacy of his important work will continue through his many ministries where he put his faith into action.” – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
• “Reverend Falwell and I didn’t agree on anything, but we got along personally. He personally was genuinely a nice guy, and I would find him to be one of the few people in the public light who was genuine. He believed what he said. I used to tell him, ‘What you’re saying is crazy,’ but he really believes it.” Rev. Al Sharpton

Doug Sutphen, better known as “Brother David,” passed away in a hospital near his home in North Bend, Washington yesterday. He was 70 years old. Doug was also known as “God’s Smuggler to China” because of his involvement with smuggling Bibles into China with “Project Pearl” back in the 1980′s. Paul Hattaway from Asia Harvest shares the following about Doug’s life and “Project Pearl.”

Doug Sutphen is best remembered for leading the audacious “Project Pearl” in 1981 – when one million Chinese Bibles, weighing 232 tons, were delivered by barge to thousands of waiting Christians on a beach in southern China. Time magazine described it as “A remarkable mission…the largest operation of its kind in the history of China.” Many Chinese church leaders today say that Project Pearl was a pivotal moment in their history. The Church had only started to re-emerge after decades of brutal oppression, and the desperate need of believers everywhere was for Bibles. A quarter of a century later reports are still being received of the tremendous impact those Bibles had on whole communities. Chinese Christians consider Project Pearl a key event which contributed greatly to the mighty revival presently sweeping the world’s most populous nation …

Operating under a cloak of secrecy because of the highly-sensitive nature of the work, Sutphen and his team worked closely with house church leaders inside China and settled on the bold and risky plan to take one million Bibles into China by boat, all at once. Starting with no money or resources, God supernaturally provided everything needed and the delivery was successfully completed in the evening of 18 June, 1981. More than 10,000 Chinese believers gathered along a beach near the city of Shantou in southern China, and took the one million Bibles away in trucks, cars, donkey carts, on bicycles, and strung across bamboo poles. The army arrived at the beach several hours after the delivery, but the vast majority of Bibles (at least 90%) had been successfully moved by the Chinese Christians. Later, the Three-Self church and others tried to denounce Project Pearl by claiming all the Bibles had been confiscated or swept out to sea, but this was not true. Within weeks, Project Pearl Bibles had made their way to hungry believers in 18 different provinces, and letters of overwhelming gratitude poured in from Christians who had received their first copy of God’s Word.

The whole of Project Pearl, and indeed Doug Sutphen’s life from the time of his conversion, was focused on seeking first the kingdom of God. For decades he received no salary, and mentioned his personal needs only to God, and never to people. God responded to his faith in a marvelous way, and the Sutphens never lacked what they needed. In 1981 the inspirational story of “Brother David” up to that point was told in the best-selling book, “God’s Smuggler to China.”

I thank God for faithful servants like Doug who give their all for the kingdom of God. May we be encouraged to do the same in the places where God has called us to serve.

HT: Phil Gons at PastorBlog

Johnny Hart, the creator of the B.C. comic strip series, died Saturday of a stroke at the age of 76. He was at the drawing table in his home when he died.

I have always enjoyed the B.C. series (as well as the Wizard of Id, the other series Johnny was involved in). Johnny had a keen sense of humor, and his comics almost always made me laugh, and often made me think as well.

Johnny was a Christian, and he sometimes injected his faith into his B.C. strips. Here is his comic from Easter Sunday yesterday.

Thank you Johnny for sharing your life, faith and humor with us over the years. We will miss you, of course, but how magnificent for you to celebrate Easter Sunday 2007 in the presence of your resurrected Lord!

(Continue reading for some articles about Johnny Hart and some more great B.C. comic strips!)

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