Dear friends:

In my message the other day titled, "I wish we'd all been ready," I mentioned the composer/musician/singer Larry Norman, whose music blessed me so in the 1970s.

The below are his final words, from his Web site at http://www.larrynorman.com.  He wrote the words on Saturday, February 23, 2008, the day before he passed away.  I thought they would be a blessing to you.

"I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home. I won't be here much longer. I can't do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help. My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be funeral information posted on my website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.”

“Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again

Somewhere beyond the sky.

I pray that you will stay with God

Goodbye, my friends, goodbye."

Goodbye, Larry.  Thanks for the blessings.  Yes, we will meet again.

Jim