Didn't know this about KIETH GREEN....

[joaniemarie]

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[FONT=&quot]And now for something special.[/FONT]
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Today, the 28th of July, is the 28th anniversary of the day Keith Green was killed in a plane crash at the young age of 28. Keith Green was one of those lights that burned bright and fast. In the brief years that he lived as a follower of Jesus, he wrote some of the best worship music of the 1970s, he influenced greats like Bob Dylan and Rich Mullins, and he inspired thousands of people to head out to the mission field. He also played a mean piano.[/FONT]
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If you’re 40 or older, you will probably remember Keith as a zealous recording artist who wore his convictions on his sleeve. If you’re younger than 40 you may at least be aware that Keith wrote some of the songs we sing in church, classics like O Lord, You’re Beautiful and Create in Me a Clean Heart.[/FONT]
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Keith Green was a firebrand for Jesus. People used to compare him to John the Baptist, and not just because of his passion. Keith had little time for hypocrites. Keith was very open and honest about his personal struggles, but if you weren’t on fire for Jesus, he was going to let you know what he thought about that! He was famous for saying things like this:[/FONT]
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“If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing him, sharing his cares and his burdens, weeping and rejoicing with him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in his presence? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!”[/FONT]
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Keith stepped on a few toes when he started holding concerts for free. He then proceeded to jump on those same toes by claiming that Christian musicians who charged for their concerts or Christian bookshops who sold records for profit were sinning. How could you put a price-tag on the gospel? Keith had strong convictions about things and those who didn’t share his convictions were likely to be judged guilty of compromising.[/FONT]
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Of course Christian young people just loved it! Those who were too young to notice – myself included – got fired up about these things later when reading about Keith in the book No Compromise. We wanted to be as sold out and radical as he was.[/FONT]
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But what many people don’t know was that Keith’s zeal often led to crushing disappointment with his own perceived failings. He’d promise God that he was going to pray for an hour or read five chapters of the Bible before breakfast and then, when he’d slept in late, he would be devastated at having let God down. Like many zealous Christians, Keith based his relationship with God on his own performance. If he didn’t “feel” right with God then he believed he wasn’t right. This self-centered view sometimes blinded him to the love of God. He once confided to a friend, “Sometimes I’m not sure if God loves me” (No Compromise, p.355).[/FONT]
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Happily, in the final year of his life, Keith the Firebrand encountered the grace of a loving God who accepted him just the way he was. He met John Dawson, of YWAM fame, and through that relationship began to re-discover the love of Christ. As his wife Melody tells in The Keith Green Story, Keith softened and began to rethink his approach to ministry. He wrote letters apologizing to those he had offended, including those profiteering Christian book-sellers:[/FONT]
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“My desire to not exclude anyone, has not decreased at all… I hope you can understand that I am a man of principle, and yet, like a pendulum, I have a tendency to go too far to make a point. I fear that in the past I have done just that.” (No Compromise, p.352)[/FONT]
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Without compromising his beliefs, Keith became a giver of grace. Relationships were restored and he knew real peace. Having encountered the Father-heart of God, Keith released his final, and most worship-oriented album of all, Songs for the Shepherd. Remember, this was 1982, years before most Christian recording artists started releasing worship albums.[/FONT]
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One of the songs on that album is There is a Redeemer. This song was originally written by Melody Green in the late 1970s. When she and Keith went to record Songs for the Shepherd, she introduced him to her song by singing these now-famous lyrics:[/FONT]
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There is a Redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Oh, Holy One![/FONT]
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Thank you O my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
‘Til the work on earth is done.[/FONT]
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As Melody remembers in No Compromise (p.327), Keith loved the song but wanted to make it longer. Within a few minutes he had come up with the following verse:[/FONT]
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When I stand in Glory,
I will see His face,
And there I’ll serve my King forever,
In that holy place.[/FONT]
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Five short months later Keith was standing in Glory, seeing his Father face-to-face.[/FONT]
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About 10 years ago I watched a film of Keith Green leading a Bible study. I guess it was recorded after his grace-awakening because he just shone with the peace of God. I recall he said something like this:[/FONT]
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“When I was a new believer, people used to call me a prophet, and I liked that label. But after a while I began to realize that being a ‘prophet’ was just an excuse for being moody. I don’t want to be known as a prophet. I just want to be a Christian.”[/FONT]

[FONT=Open Sans, sans-serif]Me too. Whatever your talent or field of expertise, whatever your ministry or platform, to be recognized by others as a follower of Christ is just about the greatest honor there is.[/FONT]





​Wow ., While perusing some of my favorite Christian web sites tonight I found this story about Keith Green on Paul Ellis's web site. I was saved in 1982 and we went to a pretty strict Baptist church at the time so although we heard his music sometimes on the radio., we were not so much aware of Keith Green. It's nice to read a little about his personal faith walk and how the Lord used such a young man.

 

[Locutus]

I liked some of his songs, as for his other works I don't know anything about that.

 

[7seasrekeyed]

But what many people don’t know was that Keith’s zeal often led to crushing disappointment with his own perceived failings. He’d promise God that he was going to pray for an hour or read five chapters of the Bible before breakfast and then, when he’d slept in late, he would be devastated at having let God down. Like many zealous Christians, Keith based his relationship with God on his own performance. If he didn’t “feel” right with God then he believed he wasn’t right. This self-centered view sometimes blinded him to the love of God. He once confided to a friend, “Sometimes I’m not sure if God loves me” (No Compromise, p.355).

right

read the Bible

this is how real men and women of God are

God uses people just like that BECAUSE they know their own fraility and are amazed at how God loves them

the desire to do something 'special' for God comes from a heart that is like the heart of David

David had a heart after God

has absolutely NOTHING to do with misunderstanding God's grace

but only someone the same would know that

the major prophets considered themselves nothing before God

Moses said he could not speak for God because his speech was not good

and Jesus considered Himself cut off from His Father and no man and lower than a worm

READ THE BIBLE AND MAYBE GET A CLUE

 

[7seasrekeyed]

you know, artists are somewhat turbulent by nature...real artists...not wannabes...musicians, painters, poets...the conflict is always internal and pressure to be real, to be true...especially as a Christian...is, I suspect, always greater for these people than for the 'madding crowd' (movie ref)

it is the very fact that the struggle is internal, and the artist understands what they grapple with, that in the end, if in Christ, will be peace and acceptance

see he says when he was a new believer people called him a prophet...he wore that until he understood better...but the sad thing is people calling him what he was not (although really in a very real sense he was) in order to label to gain their own personal understanding

getting too philosophical for many here but that's fine

I just really dislike seeing yet another post, at the expense of a TRUE worshiper of Christ who has left the turmoil of life on earth for better things, being used to make a point that, in the opinion of the op (and we know this because of numerous threads started by her on the very same subject) is the final destination of faith in God according to Ellis who never knew Keith Green and who has used, yes used, a person who would have disagreed with him, as a platform from which to spew more false teaching about grace

oh...it's all true about God's grace. all of it

but the walk described by Ellis is his own and not biblical

 

[joaniemarie]

The drawing of Keith Green on the top is also very nice. He was a very handsome man imo. When our family was first saved we didn't have a Christmas tree anymore because we were convicted it was wrong at the time and our church also instilled some of these teachings in us as a young family. We wore only skirts and no jewelry and we didn't think we were allowed to braid our hair. Each of us have been through some major changes as we grew up in the Lord.

 

[KelbyofGod]

Thanks for posting that, JoanieMarie. I didn't know much of anything about him before this, other than his name.

 

[Angela53510]

Another plagiarized article? You do know this is illegal, right? And how simple it is to take a unique sentence, put it into a google search and come up with the original source.

Here is the link! Joanie did not write thus article, as 7seas has noted, already!

https://escapetoreality.org/2010/07/28/keith-greens-grace-awakening/amp/

I feel like you are trampling on an important part of my early Christain walk. I have every album and sing Keith wrote, and I followed Last Days Ministry from almost the day I was saved. To see Paul Ellis twist Keith's journey with God for his own evil purpose, breaks my heart.

I still listen to many of Keith's songs daily. I don't understand why God took him so young, but I do know God is in control. Oh, Keith and I are the same age, birthdays only 10 days apart. Melody posted that fact in her FB page, which I follow!

 

[stonesoffire]

Another plagiarized article? You do know this is illegal, right? And how simple it is to take a unique sentence, put it into a google search and come up with the original source.

Here is the link! Joanie did not write thus article, as 7seas has noted, already!

https://escapetoreality.org/2010/07/28/keith-greens-grace-awakening/amp/

I feel like you are trampling on an important part of my early Christain walk. I have every album and sing Keith wrote, and I followed Last Days Ministry from almost the day I was saved. To see Paul Ellis twist Keith's journey with God for his own evil purpose, breaks my heart.

I still listen to many of Keith's songs daily. I don't understand why God took him so young, but I do know God is in control. Oh, Keith and I are the same age, birthdays only 10 days apart. Melody posted that fact in her FB page, which I follow!

Joanies last paragraph states it was it was an article.

Why would you feel Joanie is trampling on your early days? It's about his life, not yours.

The John the Baptist, Elijah Spirit ended. That was inferior to having the Spirit within rather than upon, and that is what we have now.

I was as confused in my beginnings as anyone else, and I thank God Keith came into the rest that Jesus gives us all.

I didn't know this Joanie, about Keith, nor did I realize what had occurred in his walk until you posted this. Thank you.

 

[joaniemarie]

Thanks for posting that, JoanieMarie. I didn't know much of anything about him before this, other than his name.

Your welcome Kelby., I think a whole lot of Christians have heard the name but since he was an oldie but a goodie lots of Christians today may not have heard much about him.

 

[joaniemarie]

Joanies last paragraph states it was it was an article.

Why would you feel Joanie is trampling on your early days? It's about his life, not yours.

The John the Baptist, Elijah Spirit ended. That was inferior to having the Spirit within rather than upon, and that is what we have now.

I was as confused in my beginnings as anyone else, and I thank God Keith came into the rest that Jesus gives us all.

I didn't know this Joanie, about Keith, nor did I realize what had occurred in his walk until you posted this. Thank you.

You're welcome and Thanks stonesoffire

 

[hornetguy]

We wore only skirts and no jewelry and we didn't think we were allowed to braid our hair.

You girls went TOPLESS??

JK, JK.... I know what you meant.

I still don't quite understand the whole "no pants for women" concept. I mean, I have heard the explanations for it, but I just disagree with the reasoning.

I remember back in the late 50's, early 60's when women wouldn't wear pants to church, but it wasn't really a "rule"... it was more just an "understanding"...

 

[7seasrekeyed]

Another plagiarized article? You do know this is illegal, right? And how simple it is to take a unique sentence, put it into a google search and come up with the original source.

Here is the link! Joanie did not write thus article, as 7seas has noted, already!

https://escapetoreality.org/2010/07/28/keith-greens-grace-awakening/amp/

I feel like you are trampling on an important part of my early Christain walk. I have every album and sing Keith wrote, and I followed Last Days Ministry from almost the day I was saved. To see Paul Ellis twist Keith's journey with God for his own evil purpose, breaks my heart.

I still listen to many of Keith's songs daily. I don't understand why God took him so young, but I do know God is in control. Oh, Keith and I are the same age, birthdays only 10 days apart. Melody posted that fact in her FB page, which I follow!

well to be fair, the op did make note she read this on Ellis' site...but the useful way to give credit is simply to create a link to the copy/paste, which is what I do and some will note the quote at the beginning of their post

my feelings are the same as yours though. but even worse, is the constant drip dripping of misquoted, twisted and massaged into false teaching copy/pastes from Ellis

 

[Issachar92]

Another thread saying you should think your right with God no matter what and feel good cause Jesus obeyed for you.
Stop the politician talk and say it outright. This forum is a cesspool of not speaking straight. Yall should run for office with the way you speak without saying nothing.

Not of works not of works not of works not of works not of works not of works not of works not of works not of works not of works.

I wonder why Jesus mentions works in John 5:29? And even the new covenant Paul in Romans 2:6-7, 1 Corinthians 6:9, galatians 5:19-21, Romans 6:16, but then again the bible pundits probably can explain these away with ease. Maybe those will be removed in some of the older manuscripts they discover all of a sudden.
Just like Luther who added the word "alone" to Romans 3:28 while claiming Sola Scriptura.

I'll do everyone a favor on here and just compile "Grace bible" here are the verses, everything else is probably just old covenant stuff, because remember its not of works. Dont be tryna save yourself! Ya damned for sure if you do that. LETS GET IT, Grace bible translation:

Ephesians 2:8-9 see its not of works? So just believe and God will clean ya up later (when?)
John 3:16 see God loved the world so now just believe in Him and its a done deal.
Acts 16:31 thats what ya gotta do, just believe.
Romans 8:1 until the comma, see no condemnation to those in Christ. (The sentence after the comma is probably old covenant? Talking about living after the spirit or something, it aint of works thats one thing we know for sure!)

And there ya have it folks, "Grace bible version". The intention of this version is to take out all the passages that are probably under the old covenant, aint nobody got time for that! And as an added bonus, this new bible is easier to memorize than ever before! 59,99$ only! Includes a rap CD by the hip hop group "Reppin' for JC"

 

[7seasrekeyed]

Another thread saying you should think your right with God no matter what and feel good cause Jesus obeyed for you.


And there ya have it folks, "Grace bible version". The intention of this version is to take out all the passages that are probably under the old covenant, aint nobody got time for that! And as an added bonus, this new bible is easier to memorize than ever before! 59,99$ only! Includes a rap CD by the hip hop group "Reppin' for JC"

that's a good line

Jesus obeyed for YOU so you don't have to

I would order the Bible, but I don't like rap

possible to get another 'free' gift instead?

and what about the 'but wait! order now and get two. just pay for the handling and shipping'

 

[joaniemarie]

You girls went TOPLESS??

JK, JK.... I know what you meant.

I still don't quite understand the whole "no pants for women" concept. I mean, I have heard the explanations for it, but I just disagree with the reasoning.

I remember back in the late 50's, early 60's when women wouldn't wear pants to church, but it wasn't really a "rule"... it was more just an "understanding"...

Well., it's kind of like the Dugger family on 19 kids and counting (if you ever saw it on TV) It's about the Christian woman being in subjecting to the man. Long hair and long skirts (and tops of course) modest clothing so as not to tempt a brother in Christ and to be pure in their attire.

I was taught that and lived that way for a few years after getting saved. Our family wanted to be as close to Jesus as we could so we home schooled our kids and separated from the world to show our commitment. We watched Little House on the Prairie and got into the Hollie Hobbie thing emulating both life styles of home and family from that aspect. It was the 80s and 90s.

It's legalistic to put such emphasis on the outward appearance in order to be close to God. Plus our church took it to extremes much like the Amish but sort of Americanized. People actually believe this is Christ honoring so their motives are nice but the outcome is so much un needed work to please God because He pleased when we honor him in our lives and we can do that in pants too and with shorter hair if we want to keep hair short. We can do it with jewelry on or not.

This is man's idea and certainly not Biblical. It's just another way man takes works and tries to get close to God and trying to please Him by a different avenue than through Jesus Christ.

 

[Issachar92]

that's a good line

Jesus obeyed for YOU so you don't have to

I would order the Bible, but I don't like rap

possible to get another 'free' gift instead?

and what about the 'but wait! order now and get two. just pay for the handling and shipping'

Ya dont like rap? What about other worldly music? We got (christian) death metal as well. The band is called "holy screams".

While ordering remember to pay yer tithes. Thats one thing I forgot to add to the bible, we'll do it in the revised version, even though everything Jesus said is clearly old covenant, but tithing is definately part of the new covenant, even though it comes from Malachi and the Levite priesthood! Some might say we're picking and choosing, but we're just interpreting the scriptures in light of the new covenant. Its that simple really!
Sow now for double blessings!

 

[7seasrekeyed]

Ya dont like rap? What about other worldly music? We got (christian) death metal as well. The band is called "holy screams".

While ordering remember to pay yer tithes. Thats one thing I forgot to add to the bible, we'll do it in the revised version, even though everything Jesus said is clearly old covenant, but tithing is definately part of the new covenant, even though it comes from Malachi and the Levite priesthood! Some might say we're picking and choosing, but we're just interpreting the scriptures in light of the new covenant. Its that simple really!
Sow now for double blessings!

haha

I am tired of all the so called worship music on the market these days...notice I said market

it's all starting to sound like a bad blend of 'we cannot worship God without our music'

professional worship bands...who woulda thought it...makes me wanna holy scream sometimes haha

and I love music so go figure sometimes I just switch the channel when driving to ...gasp oh no no...worldly music or talk radio. yeah. I just don't fit in

anywaaaaaaaaaaay......

OOOOOO! the revised version? gee. so let's see now...if I send a 'love gift' of 120.00 $ US, I will receive my revised version of Jesus said but He did not really mean what He said Bible, with tithing instructions updated for believers in the 21stC and if you have a choice of colors, I would like it in pink, turquoise or neon green.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I'm not understanding why every thread you start gets you attacked again and again, by the same people...its like no matter what topic you begin, you are hounded and torn down. It's discouraging to me when I come in here for a few minutes to see what you guys are working on or grappling with currently, and find this going on over and over again. Its very nasty and I don't understand why anyone would want to engage in this behavior day after day. I'm sorry its happening to you JM.

I found that I didn't agree with you the other day with what you shared regarding dying daily, so I gave my thoughts on it and what the phrase means, and that sharing (rather than attacking), led to unity because, though I was countering your op with its thought that we don't die daily, you saw my point, and even hit "like" on my post.

So my conclusion is that there is a way that works, but some care nothing for that way, or for allowing the Spirit to bring unity, and only want bitterness and strife. Its disheartening. Blessed are the peacemakers.

 

[kaylagrl]

haha

I am tired of all the so called worship music on the market these days...notice I said market

it's all starting to sound like a bad blend of 'we cannot worship God without our music'

professional worship bands...who woulda thought it...makes me wanna holy scream sometimes haha

and I love music so go figure sometimes I just switch the channel when driving to ...gasp oh no no...worldly music or talk radio. yeah. I just don't fit in

anywaaaaaaaaaaay......

OOOOOO! the revised version? gee. so let's see now...if I send a 'love gift' of 120.00 $ US, I will receive my revised version of Jesus said but He did not really mean what He said Bible, with tithing instructions updated for believers in the 21stC and if you have a choice of colors, I would like it in pink, turquoise or neon green.

​Consider traveling in churches and every church,literally every church having a worship band. And the vast majority of them unable to play properly or sing on tune. I was in a rather large church in Maine and the entire choir sang flat.How is that even possible?! It was painful.So hard to worship when people are yelling off key into a microphone.But we have to have worship songs.smh Our church plays music over the sound system that we sing along to,and then in service we sing a couple hymns,from the book. The worship craze was too much for me.One church I attended would sing and sing and repeat songs for 45 mins or more and then a half hour of preaching. I'd see older folk trying to remain standing. I refused,after a few minutes I'd sit. I don't go to church to hear a concert every Sunday,I go to hear the preacher preach. And I use to travel and sing.Music has its place but the Word is important and should not be on the back burner IMO

 

[kaylagrl]

Your welcome Kelby., I think a whole lot of Christians have heard the name but since he was an oldie but a goodie lots of Christians today may not have heard much about him.

I found out about Keith after his death.I began to listen to his music and I'd listen for hours a day.If my parents wanted to punish me they'd take away my headphones. I was so convicted by Keiths songs,he had such a way of putting them across. I read his book also.He was sold out for sure,but as was said he was a new Christian. Zeal sometimes can get us in trouble until we grow as Christians.The problem is we go to far the other way.Keith died young and fulfilled his mission before he became complacent. He was the reason I went in to ministry.I still listen to his songs from time to time and fell convicted again.The Lord used this imperfect man in a mighty way.I wish I could have met him.Nothing wrong with being on fire for the Lord.

My eyes are dry
My faith is old
My heart is hard
My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to You and dead to me

But what can be done
For an old heart like mine
Soften it up
With oil and wine
The oil is You, Your Spirit of love
Please wash me anew
With the wine of Your Blood

Keith Green