Heaven's band

         I'm not sure you have heard, but the singer/songwriter/musician Prince died just a bit of time ago.

         I was sitting and meditating on what all this means in the grand scope of things.

         I couldn’t help but remember all those who have gone before. Who’s up there singing hymns of all kind right now.

         Let’s start with that guy from Tupelo, Miss. Name of Elvis. Perhaps you’ve heard of him. And Jim Croce. And maybe Michael, and maybe George and maybe… You get the picture.

         Remember this:

         If you believe in forever

         Then life is just a one-night stand

         If there's a rock n' roll heaven

         Well you know they've got a hell of a band, band, band

         I tell you this to say that I've listened to more Prince music this week than I've ever listened to. I even have a channel now designated for Prince music on satellite radio.

         In the end, I was struck by many things, all mostly unknown before now. The most surprising element of his story was the part that loved Christ. 

         Read this song, The Cross by Prince, and Love Ran Red by Chris Tomlin (the leading contemporary Christian music songwriter) and you decide.

Black day, stormy night

No love, no hope in sight

Don't cry, he is coming

Don't die without knowing the cross

Ghettos 2 the left of us

Flowers 2 the right

There'll be bread 4 all of us

If we can just bear the cross

Sweet song of salvation

A pregnant mother sings

She lives in starvation

Her children need all that she brings

We all have our problems

Some BIG, some are small

Soon all of our problems

Will be taken by the cross

Black day, stormy night

No love, no hope in sight

Don't cry 4 he is coming

Don't die without knowing the cross

Ghettos 2 the left of us

Flowers 2 the right

There'll be bread 4 all, y'all

If we can just, just bear the cross, yeah

AND TOMLIN’S

There's a place where mercy reigns and never dies

There's a place where streams of grace flow deep and wide

Where all the love I've ever found

Comes like a flood

Comes flowing down

[Chorus:]

At the cross

At the cross

I surrender my life

I'm in awe of You

I'm in awe of You

Where Your love ran red

And my sin washed white

I owe all to You

I owe all to You Jesus

         I don’t know Prince’s faith journey at all. But I know the cross puts us as equals in humility and in burden.

         I would love to hear the conversation going on between Prince and Rich Mullins right now. And who knows who else might be joining in.