One of my first
encounters with someone famous turned out to be none other than . . . me. Let me tell you
the humorous story before you think I am being self-absorbed or egotistical. My dad had
worked for Delta Airlines for many years so our family could fly in first class for free
if there were seats available. My youngest brother, Terry, and I were flying home for
Christmas. We got the last 2 seats left in 1st class. Unfortunately they were
not next to each other. I was on the left side and Terry was a row or 2 back on the right
side. The man sitting next to Terry was quite chatty and excited to be in 1st
class. He told Terry that he loved to sit in 1st class because you get to see a
lot of famous people. Terry asked him who he had seen that was famous. The man lowered his
voice and said, “Don’t make it look obvious, but that guy right over there is famous.” Then he
pointed at . . . me! Now Terry, having been a star in our High School play, demonstrated
his acting skills by containing his laughter and asked the man who I was. He replied,
“His name is on the tip of my tongue, I can’t quite remember it but he is a very
famous soccer star!”
He
had 3 #1 hits … played for crowds of 100,000 … sold over 40,000,000 albums
Later in life, as
I began traveling full-time in this ministry, I was in Georgia leading a retreat for a
group from North Carolina. Some of them took me to the airport to see me off. While
waiting, a few lined up to have me sign a few tapes that they had purchased. Another group
of teenagers, who had no clue who I was (this was before my hit MTV video had reached the
East coast, which come to think of it only narrows it down to pre-2005) was walking
through the airport and saw me signing albums. They actually got in line to get my
autograph. When the first one reached me, I smiled and said, “You don’t have any
idea who I am, do you?” He tried to be convincing, telling me I was famous and my
name was on the tip of his tongue. So I signed the autograph . . . ‘Pele’
surrounded by a soccer ball. (Just kidding – they were too young and too American to
know who that was – I signed it ‘Beckham.’) I actually wrote each of them a
Bible verse, thanked them for their support over the years and signed “Larry
Bubb” which means in 20 years those autographs will be worth like 13 cents (if I was
clever I would have just written 50 cent . . . or figured
out that with these new fangled computers, I could have actually gone back and changed it
without even using white-out!)
But
to put it all in perspective, my favorite autograph story was after a mom bought one of my
CDs for her very young daughter. She asked her daughter if she would like me to sign it
for her. The daughter, very timidly said, “No thanks, I can do it myself.”
Now I want you to think of your favorite all-time musician. I know what you’re
thinking . . . because I just told you what to think and none of you has even one single
rebellious brain cell in your head, right? Maybe your favorite is Paul McCartney or Mariah Carey or the
Yin Yang Twins or Green Day (or someone who
now does a new parody of Green Day about the One who can replace your “Broken
Dreams” co-written with Radio DJ Dr. Demento, er . . . I mean, David Manzi.) What if
you could actually meet or even better, become friends with them. For some it would be
like a dream come true. Well, I have had that euphoria.
My favorite all-time group was the British band Uriah Heep (similar to Kansas, and Led Zeppelin.) The main
songwriter/keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist was Ken Hensley. He has had three #1 hits
worldwide, played for crowds as large as 100,000 and recorded 43 albums that have sold
over 40 million copies. Over the years I prayed a couple times for him to become a
Christian. In the mid 90’s I was elated
to hear that Ken had recently become a Christian. I came across a guy who was the
President of the Ken Hensley fan club (kind of like Courtney Baugh is for Larry Bubb
Ministries, except that Ken actually has fans.) I asked him about Ken and after awhile he
actually gave me Ken Hensley’s very own email address.
Well, that was 1997 and over 100 emails later Ken and I still regularly
communicate, which is even more amazing to me since he now lives in Spain. I had always thought how neat it would be to have
such a talented musician writing songs about God! Just thinking about it gives me joy and
brings a tear to my eye. And to think that I could even have a very small part in
encouraging him in his faith and writing for the Lord is almost too much for me to fathom.
(Imagine giving Michael
Jordan tips on playing
basketball.)
When I led a seminar on songwriting and recording for a CA state music conference,
Ken shared some insight, which I passed on to those attending and I will include below. He
also said it was OK for me to include part of a letter he recently wrote which was very
inspiring to me. I hope it will be to you as well.
"This year I ‘celebrate’ 40 years in the music
business and 10 years as a child of God....I know which one is more important to me!! The
music comes from God and it belongs to Him. My job is to be His pen and His mouthpiece and
to share this gift with as many people as He chooses to put across my path for the SOLE
purpose of His Glory. Not for money, not for fame and not for what Madison Avenue defines
as success! The short-term reward is a closer relationship with Him which guarantees,
among other things, provision. The long-term rewards await us in Heaven. Best not to
wonder but rejoice! " - Ken Hensley
Hi
Larry.... It´s always good to hear from you...and I thought I
was busy!! Your ¨Stephen¨ article was really stimulating, mainly because I,
myself, have often drawn a strong parallel between the obedience and trust of an
animal and its ¨master¨ and how we should be in submission to our Heavenly Father!!
There are no coincidences in The Kingdom are there??!!
(I had just
emailed Ken about how God had healed my 102 degree fever and laryngitis in the midst of a
busy stretch.)
Speaking of which, I recently returned from a festival in Mexicali, Mexico. A week
before we left I had a terrible head cold . . . The show went spectacularly well. When we
got home I had to go immediately to bed with a 102 degree fever and a bad dose
of the flu!! I don´t seem to need to give a testimony to the faithfulness of God...I seem
to be becoming
one!! I have lost count now of the prayers He has heard and answered...I am just trying to
keep pace with my thanks and praise!!
And looking back is a great way to see clearly how He has worked and where He has led us .
. . And it all comes down (rather, goes up) to The Cross!! Now His Spirit has joined in the battle
as I cross the thresholds of total abandonment. It feels so strange at times to be
fighting myself but it´s what has to happen if I am (and I am) to finally and fully
abandon my old life and self and it certainly gives new meaning to the term ¨being your
own worst enemy¨!! The music is coming in a flood and I am planning a full-scale
¨truth¨ record. Whether it actually happens or not is up to Him (Proverbs 16:9) but I
have a sneaky feeling He wants this as He keeps me
awake at all odd hours and in all odd places scribbling down little notes that are to
become songs.
And I´ve a
mind to do a compilation of existing ¨faith¨ songs too....some obscure (like the chorus
of Easy Living) and some not so obscure like ¨The Joy of Knowing Jesus¨ and ¨Believe in
Me¨ from (Ken’s
recent album)
A Glimpse of Glory. The ¨flock¨ are, by now, fully aware of my stated faith and
they´ve had their say about that, it´s just come to the point where, in the same way
that He is all (and becoming more) and that His way is the only worthwhile way, the music
has to be wholly His....received, inscribed and given back so that HIS purpose is
fulfilled and not mine or (that of someone)
in
the music business. The Anthology I recorded in Moscow is on the market now . . .
The
darknesses of the past few years are lifting slowly. It appears as if, where I am
concerned, all this has to happen slowly (only He knows what I am ready for!) and that´s
okay too. I don´t have to go too far back too see the wonders He has worked but when I do
go further back, knowing full well I can´t have the time back, I am reminded of who and
what I was and that´s a staggering mix of scary and exciting!!
I can
only hope our paths will cross here before they surely do in Heaven!
HIS!
- Ken <><
PS (That’s
what part of the alphabet would look like if “Q” and “R” were
eliminated) In the midst of writing this, I took off in my car & the 1st
song I heard (on one of San Diego’s big rock
stations) was one of Ken’s songs!
“Easy
Livin’, and I’ve been forgiven,
Since you’ve
taken your place in my heart.”