Rich

"[Ten] years ago today somebody left. Sort of ducked
out the back while we were all busy singing." -tony

I feel like I can call him by his first name even though I never met him and hardly knew him before he passed away. If I were a celebrity, I think I'd want people to still call me Kristin.

Today is the 10th anniversary of the death of Rich Mullins. If you don't know who he is, you're missing out. Look him up. He was a musician. And more than a musician. Probably foremost, he was a writer. He was a teacher, an evangelist, and a follower of God who did radical things and made statements that upset a lot of people.

At least they upset them before he died. Now a lot of folks like to quote him and glorify his words and put him on a pedestal. I don't know if it's only because he died, or if it's because he needed to die in order for people to take the time to look into what he said. There's something so intriguing about dead musicians.

There's something really intriguing about Rich. Because he was so different than everyone you meet. most people like him don't get put in the spotlight. They live their lives in obedience and faithfulness, doing what God called them to do. He just had so much to say about getting close to God and serving and loving. He wasn't always right, and he certainly wasn't PC. But the more I read and listen to him, the more I wonder if I'm serving God like I should be.

BUt sometimes I'm scared of what God calls me to do. I've been studying the book of Luke, and noticing the theme of how Jesus took time to notice the weak, lonely and broken people. It seems that He had a speical place for them. And I feel that the Church has neglected a responsibility to be ministering to the poor and broken. Rich Mullins talked a lot about that. I think I need to do something more. Not sure what, but I'm going to be thinking on it a lot more often.

Anyway, back to Rich. If you aren't tired of reading yet. I want to share everything he did and said with you, but I guess there is no time. And you might not appreciate it like I do. But if you do, there's a link to his articles on the right side of my blog, and 20 the Countdown magazine did a nice tribute to him last weekend, which you can find by scrolling to the bottom of this page.

Some days when I see his words matching exactly what I feel, I really miss him. I can't wait till heaven to see people I respect and admire made whole by God.

So when my body lies in the ruins
of the lies that nearly ruined me
will you pick up the pieces that were pure and true
and breathe your life into them
and set me free
and when you start this world over again from scratch
will you make me new out of the stuff that lasts
and can I be with you?
Can I be with you?
(Rich Mullins/Be with You)