Rich Mullins

The picture above is an entry from the Chicago book.  I came across almost the exact same quote about 3 years after I had done the book when I was reading An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, by James Bryan Smith.  It is a devotional biography about one of my absolutely favorite musicians, Rich Mullins.  Chapter 10's title page opens with a quote from Rich Mullins' song called "Live Right."  The quote says, Live like you'll die tomorrow, Die knowing you'll live forever.

I was going to place this link at the end of the post, but I want to put it here instead as an introduction to who Rich Mullins was.  It is interesting how the interviewer, Sheila Walsh, comments at the end of it, "Well, it sounds like we only have about 4 more years of Rich's music...."  She was referring to a joke he had made about himself earlier in the interview.  However, it turned out to be true.  He was gone from this world within 5 years of the interview.  Well, here it is.  It is about 25 minutes long, so please watch it at a time when you can see the full interview.  You won't be disappointed.

RICH MULLINS INTERVIEW

I was first introduced to Rich Mullins as a very young teenager when my Mother took me to a concert of his at Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, Illinois.  I enjoyed the concert, but nothing in particular about the evening stands out too much.  I wish I could go back and attend it again as the person I am today.  My Mom bought me a cassette tape of his at that time, and I would go to sleep almost every night in high school listening to it.  It brought me much peace, and still does.  It is the album, The World as Best as I Remember It vol. 1.  One of my favorite songs (they are all favorites really) is "Calling Out Your Name."  He plays the dulcimer on that one, and it is such an inspirational sound.

I am grateful to my Mom for taking me to that concert, and doing other things to influence me in a direction of faith.  However, after high school I drifted away from faith, hope, things like that, spiritual things.

But I came back!  It is interesting that the first sermon I heard, by Pastor Lutzer at Moody Church in Chicago, was about that very thing; coming back to the Lord.

Now listening to Rich Mullins' songs brings me even more peace.  I understand them better now because I know the Bible better now.  Mullins' poetry is derived directly from specific verses in the Bible.  For instance his song "Who God is Gonna Use" is about Balaam and Esther, two people who God placed in particular places at particular times to ward off evil intents against the Isrealites, God's people.  He's not just singing thoughts, ideas, wishes.  He is singing truth.  At some point I let go of that cassette tape, but I bought the cd as well as volume 2.  I also now own The Jesus Record, which is an album of the last songs Rich Mullins ever wrote before he tragically died in a car accident in 1997.

His influence on people (including me) who had never met him, never could have met him, is astounding.  There is story after story about someone feeling like their life is over, feeling down and out, but come across a Rich Mullins song.  Then they hear his words, and it practically heals them!  Its a balm to their soul, because he is reflecting the message of Christ in song.  He focused on that message.  He wasn't afraid to reveal it in the best way he knew how.  I join everyone else who says THANK YOU Rich Mullins, for your faith, your courage in this life, to live as though you will die tomorrow, and die knowing you'll live forever.

A Prepared Path

A wonderful thing about letting Jesus into your heart is that He comes to stay for the long haul.  He is not superficial.  His motives for wanting a relationship with you are pure and sincere.

I didn't just accept His truth, and then be left to my own devices.  Things, people, were already in place to guide me along my new path.

One of those people is named Jeff.  He was working with Campus Crusade for Christ, and through other students I ended up connecting with him.

By the way, this post might make more sense if you've read the 'Testimony' page I put up. 

The very week after the events that lead me to the crossroads of believing in Christ, I met other students in the computer lab who were talking about a Bible study.  In the year and a half of my time at school I had never heard any discussion like that.  It is interesting how my path crossed theirs in that moment.  I was connected to other people who believed, and would be able to encourage me, confirm for me, this new direction in my life.  Jeff was leading that study with them.  He invited me to a retreat the following month.  It was a refreshing, renewing excursion that I desperately needed at that time.  Taking a cold campground shower on a chilly early morning is nothing compared to what Christ went through on the cross!

The long haul.... otherwise known as, E T E R N I T Y.  He says he has prepared a place for those who believe in Him.  John 14:1-4 says "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going."

A Favorite Hong Kong Entry

Here is an entry from the Hong Kong book.  Before I traveled there this particular time in 2011, I connected with some fellow cycling enthusiasts on the internet.  When I met up with them in person I had to ask them to leave there mark for me, and they graciously obliged.  The friends who drew these images left me a memory of our New Territories ride that day, about 25 miles.  They were (are?) part of the Hong Kong Vintage Cycling Club.  It was a special time.

The Beginning

In February of 2003, I bought a cheap blank journal off of the Merchandise Mart stop in Chicago.  Over the course of the next 3 months, I would ask fellow "L" riders the same question, "Excuse me, would you mind writing or drawing in this book?" That journal became, "Stranger Days: Chicago."

Then in 2011, after being invited back to Hong Kong to adjudicate again for a piano festival, I decided to do it again.  I took a special blank journal with me this time, given to me by a good friend, and asked strangers around me the same question, "Would you mind writing or drawing in this book?"  This one became "Stranger Days: Hong Kong."