Larry Norman Flys Home.

Larry Norman, the "Godfather of Jesus-Rock" died Sunday at the age of 60.

Larry was a hugely talented songwriter who had an enormous influence on those of us who were won to Christ during the Jesus Movement of the early 1970s. We bought his records, sang his songs at our ragtag worship assemblies and went to his concerts that were full of laughter and prayer. He got us all pointing our index fingers upward to indicate there is "One Way" to heaven ... through Jesus.

Many of Larry's songs show the longing he had for the Lord's return and his homecoming to God. In "Ha Ha World" he sang: "I been sitting here praying and laying up treasures in heaven." It was Larry's winsome way of communicating what St. Paul wrote to Timothy:

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8)

For Larry Norman, "that day" has come. May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed rest in God's peace and presence forever. Amen.