Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Larry Norman Dead at 60... Wow...

The World is just a little darker place today...

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gj4mgUcw46lfZXbioOJCJMBA8Nag

Christian rock pioneer Larry Norman dead at 60

1 day ago

SALEM, Ore. - Larry Norman, a pioneer of Christian rock, has died at age 60.

Norman died of heart failure Sunday at his home in Salem, said his brother, Charles Norman. Norman earned his biggest commercial hit as the lead singer of the folk-rock band People! The band's cover version of The Zombies song "I Love You" was an international hit and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard chart in June 1968.

Norman left the band on the day its debut album was released, when some members began experimenting with Scientology.

Though Norman never again hit the Billboard Top 10, his solo career proved durable and influential.

Norman's first solo record - the 1969 release "Upon This Rock" - is considered the first Christian rock album. He later started his own independent label, recording additional solo albums while discovering other Christian artists. It all led to him being dubbed the "father of Christian rock."

Larry Norman was born April 8, 1947, in Corpus Christi, Texas. His family moved to San Francisco when Norman was young and he developed an interest in the music of Elvis Presley.

He accompanied his father on Christian missions to prisons and hospitals and was inspired to write rock songs that included spiritual messages, Charles Norman said.

Charles Norman said his brother practised what he preached, even stopping taxi rides while on tour to help homeless people.

Norman was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and cover versions of his songs have been recorded by artists ranging from Petula Clark and Sammy Davis Jr. to DC Talk and Rebecca St. James.

At the time of his death, Norman was working on an album with Modest Mouse singer Isaac Brock and former Pixies singer Frank Black, who cites Norman as a major influence.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Struggles... in Life...

Well... have been job shadowing at Sask Hospital now for a few days... have now got a couple Continuing Care Aide courses under my belt (there are 16) and the job prospect is looking good for a job at Sask Hospital in North Battleford when I get done.

Financially seems we are still struggling since the move, marriage etc. but am hoping things will get cleared up when I start working again hopefully.

Biggest thing I am struggling with is the existing family baggage that came with the beautiful woman I am madly in love with.

In some sense I do love her boys, some more than others, but I find I have personality conficts with one of them and I do not know how to deal with it. I recognize the conflicts as just that, personality conflicts, but there are power struggle issues as well that frustrate and anger me. Somedays I just do not know what to do. The kid is just like his father, Type A, world revolves around me, irresponsible, and an opinion on everything even if they know nothing about the subject. Drives me crazy.

I have to deal with these people and yet, Jesus says I am supposed to love them. This is very difficult for me. I try, Lord I try... but it seems I more swing around to the end of anger and frustration than love and forgiveness. Praying for them is like praying for a wall to become sand... and every time I am around or have to deal with one of these two individuals I feel like I have to bite my tongue. It does not bring peace to me, nor my beautiful wife, or the other people in my family, but on the other hand, if I bottle it up thats not good either. Being a stepdad I feel like I have no opinion in the matters of the existing family and if I do say something it just seems to offend people because even though what I say is the truth, people do not want to hear it or do not want me to rock the boat.

I know coming into a family as an outsider is a difficult thing, I saw my stepdad Dennis deal with us when he married my mom, but I do not remember the power struggles and blatent lack of respect and irresponsibility that seems to crop up with these people I deal with. It truly is frustrating and I try to love and care through it, but find it truly hard to do. I pray for forgiveness in my heart and theirs, I pray for change, but it seems it does not come. In my heart I want peace, and I know that the unrest in our family causes my wife a great deal of unrest and sadness. I just do not know what to do anymore. God knows I try.

Oh well... this is just me ranting and raving... sorry, no wonderfully spiritual truths or postulating... just me typing and blurting out what is on my mind. Gotta be real. Moose.