Larry Norman Message Board

It's hard to even describe what Larry did for us all in making great, honest music, in a life dedicated to Christ.  He has inspired me to be real, and live where the 'rubber meets the road' on many occasions through many songs.  All our love to you and to your family.  May God's presence be deeply felt during this time.

Larry was a prophetic type musician.  I last saw him in Pleasant City, Oregon with Phil Keaggy in concert.  I first saw him in Melodyland, Anaheim Ca or maybe it was Costa Mesa at Maranatha.  I thank God for his life and talent.

I was introduced to Larry Norman's music back in college in 1979 and his music has been part of my life and that of my family ever since. My children, now in their twenties, also listen. His ministry is far reaching! He will be missed...but he left so much of himself in his music he will be with us always.

I just wanted to voice my thanks to Larry's family for demonstrating God's care and love these past few years; all of you never lost sight of the ministry. I have always enjoyed Larry's music, starting back in the mid-70s and attending a few of his concerts. As I followed his career, it struck me how deep his passion ran. It sounded like he had a full understanding that Christ could return at any time, and he desperately wanted to share the gospel with as many people as possible; our own understanding of Christ's immanent should run deeply through all of us.

God bless you folks in these tough days following his passing.

Many moons ago back in the ancient time known as the '80's, I was traveling around doing my soundman gig with a few Christian artists. I had the rare privelege  on a couple of locations  to have met up with Larry along the way. Like alot of guys around my age, I had been listening to and buying Larry's albums for years at that point, so it was a real treat the first time we met. I can't even remember which festival it was, but I'll never forget Larry having everyone in stitches backstage as he kept cracking one dry joke after another. ALL of our sides were hurting!
When I heard about his passing this morning, I've had my stack of vinyl (yep, I STILL have those) and cds going constantly. It's great to know that even though he's gone for a while, we'll all be able to meet up again soon for more music and jokes. After all we're ALL only visiting this planet.
My love and condolences to you and the entire family.
God Bless.

Thank you for the inspiration, Larry. 

Dear people,
I want to wish you as close family and friends Gods comfort en peace in this time. Saying goodbye has come, but as Larry wrote, till we meet again.
Through my brother I knew the name of Larry Norman, he met him a few times and his music has been an inspiration to his faith in God.
In my teenages I was touched by the song about being a woman of God and the lyrics that brought my closer to Jesus.
Thank God for his talent en music!!

Many blessing and as Job wrote in the Bible:
You give and take away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
May His rest give you the rest you need!
Manon
Holland

Through his music Larry Norman inspired me, eoncouraged me, rebuked me, exhorted me, and taught me. 

We had the blessing of seeing Larry in person several times over the years and have much of his early work on vinyl.

His music and walk with the Lord influenced me to go on with my music and am sorry to hear he's left us but am glad he can now dance on those golden streets "In Another Land".

Our prayers are with his family and son. May God bless and comfort you and we all need to remember we're "just passin thru".

You have my sincere sympathy.  

And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.
-- J.R.R.Tolkien, Return of the King

We thank you for your support/care/gentleness towards Larry, we are
pleased we were able to assist in a small way and we shall be eternally
grateful to our Father God for sharing Larry with us. Peace to You.
~debbie & ken
Pittsboro NC

How sad for us. How absolutely wonderful for Larry. To finally arrive where he always wanted to be. Thank you, Mr. Larry Norman, for the gigantic role you played in my salvation and discipleship. Your obedience has had a huge impact on me and, obviously, the whole world. Thanx for taking a break after the soundcheck and before the show to talk with your fans. I was, and always will be one. Enjoy the view, Larry, and tell Jesus I said "hello"!

What a fantastic difference God has made in Larry's life. May God bless you for encouraging him to share with the rest of us.

I fell in love with Jesus when I heard Larry Norman's words on an album some friends at our church youth group played. These friends said it was rare, and their parents had 'the word out' that they wanted any albums Larry Norman made. This was in the late 70's, and anything that was so secretive and enticing had to be worth finding out about!
I came to understand Larry Norman didn't want to be the main focus-the main focus was always to be a relationship with a living Jesus. I remember going to Whitworth University (then college) for my birthday and the best present I had requested was to be at the Larry Norman concert! I got my wish, and I will always remember the quiet humor, peaceful demeanor, and the comfort and joy I received that night.
I am sad for all of the family who will miss having Larry in their midst right now, even as I know you all are rejoicing that Larry is in God's midst at this very moment, rejoicing and praying for us who are left behind.
Larry truly one was of the rock pioneers in the beginnings of the Christian movement, and his legacy is one of standing firm for Christ.
THANK YOU for being there for me - and helping me to find a Jesus that met me where I was, and stayed.
Carrie Arnold
Spokane, WA

I have genuinely loved Larry's music and his life has been such an inspiration to others. I also am about the same age and have heard his music since I was a baby Christian. I hope that his family and friends will cherish his memory and all the wonderful things God has done throughout his life. I know how hard it is to lose someone you love. I lost my husband five years ago to cancer but I will someday see him with Jesus. May you all experience God's presence and love through this time of sorrow. I pray the Lord will truly bless you all.

In Christ,
Kathryn

My deepest condolences to all of Larry's Family. Thank You all for keeping Larry's vision alive even though his desparate illness. He will be sorely missed and yet we have the hope in Jesus of being reunited one day.
God Bless you all.

Like many others, my life has been altered forever, by God touching me through the music of Larry Norman. Most of my life I was very depressed and suicidal. I accepted the Lord in 1978. Soon after I heard a song of Larry's on the radio. I was greatly touched. I bought a couple of albums and this was when I noticed my life changing. I was getting explainations from God about why I had seen and experienced so many horrible things in my life. It was sin and sinful people who caused this. It was never God's intention for me or anyone else to ever go through all this mess. He had a plan for all of our lives. The most important thing I heard was that God had a plan for my life! I went to several of Larry's concerts and saw that he was as genuine as the message I heard on his records. Over the years I find myself going back to these songs again and again when I feel I just can't take any more of what the world dishes out to me. One of the greatest trials I've experienced was when my christian husband commited suicide. Rick couldn't take anymore of what the world was offering him either. We were married for 20 years. That's been almost 10 years ago now. He enjoyed Larry's music too. It's nice to know they are both with the Lord. My daughter, Janelle, is up there too. I just moved to Oklahoma 6 months ago, after living my whole life in Los Angeles, Ca. I don't know what God has in mind for me here, but he was very spefic about wanting me to move. I've learned that when he says "go" I go and it works out so much better for me than the times I choose to do what I want to do. Like so much of my life, when there is a big change and I feel insecure, I pull out the albums (actually I have them on CD's now) crank the volume all the way up and allow God to minister to me the basic truths of himself I learned 30 years ago. I'm sorry for the loss you are feeling and my prayer is that God would wrap each of you up in His loving arms and give you comfort that only the Holy Spirit can give! God bless you all. With much affection, Michelle

Emotionally, I couldn't write much at this moment if I wanted to. I want to say how much I loved Larry and appreiciated what his life acomplished. I met and talked to Larry a few times in the late '60s/early 70s. I even went to his apartment once when he wasn't home and was surprised when Pam showed me he had one of my albums in his small record collection. Sadly, few ever followed his example and I'll leave it to those with eyes to see and ears to hear to undersatnd what I mean.

I, myself, probably don't even know how much he affected me and my own musical direction. I had been thinking for months of sending Larry a copy of our latest album just so he could see where we had gone musically but never seemed to have the time to get around to it. I look forward to eternity when time will be endless and surely, if I can't see him today there will always be tomorrow.

So, to Larry's family, I would just say that even though he seemed to always be misunderstood, some of us loved him and stood up for him. Who knows, maybe we were the ones who misunderstood him; but I don't think so.

See you soon, Larry,

Jim Patton (Jim 'n' Dee)
Lindale, Texas

I was introduced to Larry and his music in the early 70´s, and he has been a companion ever since. Finally there was a guy, who was a Christian and could rock with the best of them, But most important: Larry encouraged us to look into Jesus, no matter what, and as such he will be remembered: a servant, who pointed the way. May God grant you his perfect peace, as you as a family mourn Larry´s departure from this to another land. He will be greatly missed.

I had the honor of being able to go out with Larry three times after concerts. My husband and I would take him out to eat then back to his hotel. At one of the times we took our 5 month old daughter Emily Rose. She had a congenital heart defect. Larry held her and sang to her as we ate. She died a week later. I called Larry and told him the news. He said "well she was only visiting this planet too" then he reminded me that she is waiting for me in heaven. That was 17 years ago and now Larry waits with my girl. Thank you Larry we will see you again.

Amy Estes(Cartledge)Sumler

Only Visiting This Planet debuted the year that I graduated from high school, shortly after I committed my life to Christ. It was such a powerful album, and had a profound influence on me as a musician and as a Christian.

I met Larry years ago when I picked him up from the airport to bring him to the Lamb's Club in New York where he was scheduled to perform. As we were waiting for his luggage, he struck up a conversation with a young woman who had arrived on his flight. She did not know who he was, and did not know Jesus. We offered her a ride into the city from the airport. During the trip, and in his own unique way, he shared the Gospel with her and invited her to come to the concert. He had the heart of an evangelist.

I send my deep condolences to the family, and I am grateful to God for the gift of his life to the world of Christian music and to the many lives that he influenced for Christ. He had his struggles as all of us do, but I am happy that he is now safe in the arms of Jesus.

Back in 1972 while attending Northwest Christian College, I was greatly influenced by Larry's song "I Wish We'd All Been Ready." I was in a small singing group called "New Song." We went to small churces in Oregon and sang, and this song of Larrys was, and always will be one of my favorite and most meaningful songs in my lifetime.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those loved ones who at this point have been "left behind." May you aspire to meet him on the other side.

Charley and family Norman,

I want to give you my condolenses, in my younger years, it must be 1992/1993 i was 15. i had a real bad time an through that time Larrys music moved me. moved me back to God and his love!

I still listen to his music from time to time and still it moves me. I found grace through the songs of Larry and the love of God.

I hope you all get streght from God.


Good bye Larry we'll meet again!

Hans de Ridder.
the Netherlands