This man is a perfect stranger to me, yet I feel like we are friends. Doesn't he have the kindest eyes?Keith Green was born into a musical family and at 6 was singing/writing his own songs. Decca Records signed him at 11; the same year he was a guest on the TV show "I've Got a Secret". He felt like a failure at 14 because he was not yet a pop star. At 15 he ran away from home in search of truth. He enjoyed California's hippie/drug scene, found his wife Melody when he was 19, and when they were 21... they both found Jesus. Now this "John the Baptist" wrote songs for God.
The Greens had not read the Bible before; they believed what they read. So they brought people who needed help into their home. When the house was full, they bought the house next door. And then they rented five or six others on their street. There was always a Bible study going on.
Keith also had radical thoughts about his music...and he sent shock waves through the music industry when his songs were high on the chart and he decided to sell them for what people could afford...even if it meant giving them away. He gave thousands of CDs to prisons and to the poor. He strongly felt that no one should pay for the gospel.Mike and I were new Christians in 1981 when Keith Green came to Little Rock in concert. Mike made big points by taking me to the concert. We were surprised to find the tickets were free. To pay the venue rent, they took up a love offering.
Keith and Melody did not take any of the offering; they were able to live on their music royalties.Life has curious twists. Keith Green died in a plane crash the next year. He was 28 years old. His Josiah (3) and Bethany (2) were also on the plane. That left Melody pregnant and with Rebekah (1).
Today Melody Green runs a ministry that she and Keith started in 1977 called Last Days Ministries. She's an author and speaker, she writes music, and she's been all over the world ministering with pro-life issues. Her two daughters (one who never knew her Daddy) are married now and serve the Lord along with their husbands.
When Jesus comes into a life, that person's account receives many assurance deposits. One confidence is that they know on "that day" they will meet people who have gone ahead. I'm looking forward to meeting my brother with the holy fever, Keith Green. His life was a blaze of glory. And his story reminds me of another of my heroes, Rich Mullins.
If you'd like to listen to some of Keith Green's songs, I have some links...
On this one, Keith is introducing one of my fav songs "O Lord, You're Beautiful"...and he speaks a profound Keithism: "Lord, I want to have skin like a baby on my heart."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVgPQm06g2c&feature=related
I love watching him bounce on the piano bench when he sings "You Put This Love in My Heart"...
If you ever sang a song in church called "There is a Redeemer", that is one of Melody's. She wrote the music/lyrics and Keith recorded it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEwR9Zvnk9g
BUT...Easter just wouldn't be Easter without Keith's "Easter Song". Want a blessing? Hope you and your family have a great celebration Sunday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OEqavkJGCE&feature=related
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