My Feet Are On The Rock And My Name Is On The Roll

Psalm 150:6

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the Lord!

Taking a trip down memory lane. Records were something you played on a turntable (preferably a belt-driven one). There was no such a thing as Contemporary Christian Music. The genre of music was still so new that it didn't have a name.

Vineyard worship music was just beginning to come into its own.

Maranatha music....
Word Records.....

Solid Rock Records...and many more to numerous to mention.

It was a sound and a music that was reflective of the time and the people who were discovering Jesus. It was a movement. It was happening outside of the mainline church and it was gaining momentum.

The music was fresh...No one had told the musicians that they couldn't write such songs. People were being saved and moving from bar bands to playing for Jesus. They wrote songs the only way they knew how, using the only music they knew how to play.

The lyrics were straight and to the point. No ear candy in this music.

Heaven forbid....they're using drums and EEE-lectric Get-tars.

The music raised up a new generation of evangelists, only we didn't know that what they were called. We just thought they were in love with Jesus and wanted to share their stories. People like Winkie Pratney, Chuck Smith, Keith and Melony Green, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Randy Matthews, Bethlehem, Mark Heard,and Daniel Amos were speaking the gospel truth to those who had never heard it before. It was a great time to be alive.

Hands held high..index finger pointing the way...declared that there was "ONE WAY!" Jesus. A generation that had been lured into a lifestyle of rebellion and dropping out from the status quo, was now empowered by the Holy Spirit and rebelled against the kingdom of darkness and the devil.

So now....61 years of age...many miles and years since those heady days back in the 70's, I cannot let go of the music. It still stirs me and drives me. It still speaks to me with a voice that I should never be satisfied but always chasing God. I know that the music I love isn't for everyone....but I am so appreciative of those singer/songwriters who took up their instruments for Jesus.

The picture above is of an album cover for a man named Ed Ratzloff.

As the story goes, Ed was in contract negotiations with Warner Bro. to sign a record deal. Shortly before the meeting for the contract, Ed had been saved through the efforts of some fellow musicians who were part of the Jesus People movement. Sitting there in the offices of Warner Bro., Ed felt God say, "No...don't sign this." Ed got up and walked out. He then began to write songs from this new life he was experiencing and the result is this album you see above....It Took A Long Time To Get To You. Years have passed since this album was released. Last I heard about Ed, he was still on the road for Jesus, playing where ever he could. I don't know if Ed ever got rich according to the world standards, and there are some who call him foolish for walking out of that record deal. I think maybe Ed has some riches that aren't found in this world. You see, he's not dealing with the system....he dealing with the King.

God On You.....

mb