Remembering Rich

16 years ago today was the day my musical hero died. He was a poet, a rebel, and he could play the piano and hammered dulcimer (among other instruments) like nobody's business. He was a barefoot minister to children on Native American reservations. The last years of his life, he kept only enough money to survive basically at the poverty level, choosing instead to invest into the people he loved and to really live like the "ragamuffin" he considered himself. James and I often say, "There just is no one like Rich." Rich GOT grace. To have been in the public eye for over a decade with amazing worldly success, he lived out his faith with humility. He was very willing to admit his failings. He didn't take himself too seriously. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to meet him, to stand and worship in the same room with him, and after the accident, to get to know his band, and worship and share memories with them. It was one of the highlights of my life.

Here they are together, not long before his death, performing one of his crazy inventions, with lyrics that are pretty profound if you can get past the amazing cup rotation. Thank you Lord, for creating Rich Mullins, for giving us the gifts of his wonderful musicianship and lyrics that brought to life the emotions and thoughts many of us could not express.


It's about as useless as
A screen door on a submarine
Faith without works, baby
It just ain't happenin'
One is your left hand
One is your right
It'll take two strong arms
To hold on tight
Some folks cut off their nose
Just to spite their face
I think you need some works to show
For your alleged faith 

Well there's a difference you know
B'tween having faith and playing make believe
One will make you grow
The other one just make you sleep
Talk about it
But I really think you oughtta
Take a leap off of the ship
Before you claim to walk on water
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
 
Faith comes from God
And every word that He breathes
He lets you take it to your heart
So you can give it hands and feet
It's gotta be active if it's gonna be alive
You gotta put it into practice
Otherwise.... 

It's about as useless as a screen door
On a submarine
Faith without works, baby
It just ain't happenin'
One is your right hand, one is your left
It's your light, your guide
Your life and your breath
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door
On a submarine