cRaShDoG
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Larry's ex-wife, son, and Plane Incident | |
This is in no disrespect, I was just surprised that there is no information about Norman's ex-wife, son Michael, or info about the extent ofhis head injury from the plane incident on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Norman I am not looking for info on 'why' she was an ex-wife...that's not my business. I was just curious if she was still around, if she attended his memorial service, etc. I was also curious if Michael sings or plays any instruments. I've seen him on stage with Larry before, but it always appeared to be morefor support than as a musician. Lastly, what was the whole plane incident and head injury that went on with Larry? |
Anonymous
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I have the same question. When the did the plane incident happen? To what extent did it interfere with his artistic and career growth at the time? I read somewhere that he claimed healing from it. |
David
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I'm no expert, but I believe the plane incident happened in 1978. During a landing, a ceiling panel came loose and struck Larry on the head. As I recall his story, it wasn't obvious then that real damage had occurred, but throughout the 1980's Larry had difficulty with his memory, and he had great trouble completing projects; he started and abandoned many works, and had trouble remembering lyrics, particularly newer songs he had written.Eventually I believe he was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. He discussed it in the liner notes for Home at Last, I think. A newsletter, perhaps a year or more ago, mentioned that Michael had put his college plans on hold in order to help take care of his dad, and drive him places. The letter mentioned that Michael was gifted in counseling prisoners. |
Mike Brown
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Larry was twice married. The first time, to a woman named Pamela. They divorced in the late 70's. I believe Larry wrote that his first marriage was extemely hard on him because his wife had multiple affairs and was using drugs behind his back, though he tried to persevere. I believe Larry's second marriage began in the mid-80's, prior to his Home At Last album. Larry had his son Michael from that wife. |
Terry Roland
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In reading a post from Janie, Larry's second wife's namewas Sarah. That would be Michael's mother. Janie has a great story to tell about her experience with Pam and Larry. More important is the traumatic head injury. This is a very serious disorder. I work as a counselor and have worked with many people with this problem. Its a very frustrating life for the person and the family. This would explain a lot of the obstacles Larry faced. But the spirit perseveres and Larry's certainly did. The fact that he continued and led a full and productive life after this is a testament to his faith in God. Thanks for passing on the information. |
Mike Brown
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That post is here: http://larrynorman.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=119764&p=3&topicID=15853504 |
Terry Roland
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I just bumped it up by writing a reply..... |
Terry Roland
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It's titled Unforgetable |
tom
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Terry, Larry's 2nd wife Sarah (mother of Micheal) was Randy Stonehill's first wife. Does anyone else know what she's doing now days? |
Terry Roland
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Thanks for the info. Maybe Janie will? Or if anyone who reads this post, that's a good question. Pam too. |
Anonymous
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tom wrote: it makes me wonder what both she and larry's first wife are doing as well as their thoughts on his music, his ministry, and now his death. did either ex-wife attend his funeral? it seems like maybe Sarah would have even if it was for no other reason thanLarry being her son's father. |
Anonymous
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As with the Stonehill thread, discussion of Larry's marriage difficulties has the potential to open a big can of worms that could be painful for those still living, and I'd like to request that we end this thread. To most readers of this forum, Larry was a hero and a rockstar, but to some he was just a friend or family member and we need to respect their feelings. |
cRaShDoG
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Anonymous wrote: |
Anonymous
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Terry Roland wrote: |
Anonymous
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Anonymous wrote:Terry Roland wrote: |
Anonymous
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Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Terry Roland wrote: |
Terry Roland
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Yes. It's good to be careful about all of this. You're right. An option to close the thread would be great! I think I mainly wondered about the plane accident. Ironically, folksinger John Stewart, who just died, had a huge, heavy suitcase fall on his head in an airplane resulting in the same traumatic head injury problem. Like Larry, he persevered. I agree.All of what has been discussed here has been in good taste without intention of harm or gossip...but the anonymous poster is probably right that we should error on the side of caution. |
Brenda Caley, Morgantown, PA
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I Discussed the Plane Incident with Larry in Person | |
I treasure the two hours I spent talking with Larry in the late 90's in Pennsylvania after a concert. He was injured in 1980, and it split the two halves of his brain completely in half. During the following 10 years, he couldn't function well on an intellectual level, so he got deeply in tune with his emotional self. In 1990, a man who didn't even know his brain was injured laid his hand on his forehead and prayed for his healing. Instantly, he felt warmth and an inner crackling sound in his brain, and it was healed! After that, he had the benefit of both a sharp mind and acute emotions! He said God used it as a blessing in the long term! Brenda Caley |
Phloide
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RE: Larry's ex-wife, son, and Plane Incident | |
Amen. Life is full of foolish and poor decisions on all parts. If we meditate, gossip, and glorify the failings of others, we build up no one. Let the good deeds of our brothers and sisters shine like a light on a hill, and let the faltering within our own humanity awaken our need to not ponder on the errors of others |
Brenda Caley, Morgantown, PA
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Take the Meat and Leave the Bones | |
So true! Well said, P. No one is perfect except Jesus. Larry Norman was one of the most Christ-like people I've ever known. |
Rev. Philip Wren. UK
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RE: Larry's ex-wife, son, and Plane Incident | |
while not wishing to prolong this discussion, the track, "Let the rain fall down", on Stranded in Babylon,has some element of the divorce. I believe it to be the most powerful song about trusting in God and Christian hope that I have ever heard. On the same album is "Under the Eye" which speaks of what the plane accident did to his life. |
cRaShDoG
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Rev. Philip Wren. UK wrote: <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nITG9DCRgGA&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nITG9DCRgGA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> |
a different anonymous
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Anonymous wrote: I'm sorry. Maybe I missed something here. What is it on this thread that has prompted Anonymous to request it be ended? I don't see potentially "painful" gossip being spread here. We also must remember some get easily offended, even when no offense has been intended. Everyone's honoring a man who says "I told it like I felt it," but they should not tell it like they feel it, too? |
Terry Roland
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I see nothing wrong with this thread either. I believe the intention of others to ask to close it out of respect is good too. After thinking about it though, to be honest...in my own grief experience, I had no problem with truthful issues as they came up. When my brother died of an accidental overdose in '96, I heard it all and none of it really hurt. Just the fact that he was gone was what hurt. I don't know how the Norman family and friends are doing; but I hope this is not something that has been at all hurtful to them. Perhaps so many years have passed that there's an acceptance of incidence of the past. Very well told about Larry's head injury. |
cRaShDoG
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most of the questions have been answered, so i really don't care if this topic continues or not. however, some people seem to betoo sensitive and worry about offending larry's family, but looking over this thread again i see nothing offensive at all by any of the posters. i guess i'd rather see people beover sensitive than not sensitive enough, but still, what are we afraid of? larry got divorced.....twice, but so what?!talking aboutit is in no disrespect, it's just the truth. it was his life, and it was real....and it shouldn't be hidden.no one here has been disrespectful or judgmental to larry or his family (and even if they were, i'm sure the norman family is used to it by now anyway).larry was obviously a great man of god with a true servant's heart, and as scripture says, "you will know them by their fruit"....and larry displayed a lot of good fruit in his lifetime. but he was human andhad struggles and made mistakes just like the rest of us, and to avoid mentioning these things can be harmful too. sometimes seeing someone whodealt withthe same problems that we do,yet overcame them and persevered, can be an encouragement. |
Anonymous
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Amen Crashdog and Terry Larry's life and journey encourages us, he persisted through all of his setbacks and tradgedies, all we are doing is celebrating this not trying to upset anyone....that is the difficulty I often have with church folk they like to pretend that all is well sometimes, when in fact we live in a broken, fallen and sad world. It's when you get to this realisation that you really feel God's providential power... |
Terry Roland
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Amen..well put. |
Ryan McReynolds
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Well, you know what, I don't know the whole story as to what did cause Larry's 1st marriage to end although I understand that Larry tried his hardest to avoid divorce. Divorce is a sensitive topic and some people do frown upon it due to the fact that ok yes God does not want you to break apart what he has yoked together. Of course we do find in the book ofMatthew: What God has joined together, let man not separate . . . I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery Notice that marital unfaithfulness is indeed adultery and scripture does say that when adultery has occured, then the innocent spouse does have the right to get a divorce. It really does take guts for the innocent spouse to have a wish to stay with the person who has cheated on him/her, and sadly situations have occured where a divorce really has become an inevitability, even if 1 of the parties in the marriage really is trying as hard as they can to prevent a divorce from happening (especially for instance the fact that the person at risk of going through the divorce is a Christian and the Christian person is actively trying to prevent a divorce from happening). It is my understanding that Larry really did try his hardest to prevent the divorce from happening but in addition to the fact he did have the right to do so in the eyes of God, it did indeed become an inevitable thing. I do hope his 1st wife is a Christian these days and I also hope that Larry and his Ex did at least wind up on good terms with each other, I am also hoping his Ex did come to the Funeral as well. |
cRaShDoG
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the whole thing is that people are too over sensitive and worried about offending others. did God leave the bad parts and failures of his people out of theBible because he was worried that it would be considered 'gossip' or could offend people? NO! he included it all, the good and the bad, for our benifit. seeing that paul was a murder and was forgiven and then used by God is powerful! also, what about david and bathsheeba.....should that have been left out? NO WAY! how many Christians have realized from this story that God forgives and can still use someone who has committed adultry in the past? there is nothing wrong with mentioning peoples failures and mistakesas long as we're doing it with the right motives and showing God's love and forgiveness through it. |
Brenda Caley, Morgantown, PA
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Crashdog, you made a really good point. I hadn't thought of it that way before. I think the reason we are hesitant is because there's SO much defamation of character. And, Larry has been knocked down, kicked around, some people slanderized his name, but there he was, talking bout Jesus just the same! But you're right...it is the purpose behind it that matters. We are not trying to gossip or slander. I sense a beautiful spirit in these messages posted. One church overseer said if someone comes to him with straight out gossip, he'll say, "Really?? Well I'll go tell so-and-so what you said about him, and that you'll be along to clear it up!" He said you better believe that person never gossips to HIM again! LOL! Anyway, I will share the few tidbits that Larry himself spoke of openly in concerts and songs. This way, there's no way it can be construed as gossip. About Pam, all you have to do is listen to, "I Got You Out of my System". About Sarah, you can learn some by listening to Randy Stonehill's song, "Sarah". Beyond that, once in concert, Larry said about his second divorce that Sarah had deep depression. He had tried and tried to help lift her out of it, but he just couldn't reach her. At least that is my memory of his words years ago. As a sidenote, I just don't understand why God allows so many of the things that happen. Why couldn't such a wonderful minister as Larry have a wonderful wife to aid him in his ministry? Why did he have to suffer gross medical neglect and die young? Why would such powerful ministers as Keith Green and Mark Heard have to die young?The only answer I have come up with sofar is that we live on a fallen planet. Sin and pain happen to all of us, like the sun shines on both the righteous and the unrighteous. But I still think God could have and should have spared their lives, because they had so much to offer. These are honest questions in my spirit, so please, if you have any deep answers to these, I welcome your feedback. I mourn the loss of Larry. His music totallySHAPED my spirit, mind, and emotions from age 9. He is and always will by my all-time favorite music artist, by far. Brenda Caley |
teatime
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I have a different take on the two divorces that Larry worked through in his lifetime. My whole story will be posted on the message board to Larry's family. But briefly, I met Larry several times after concerts in Iowa in the mid to late 70's. In 1978, I met and married my husband (a Texan). We met up with Larry again in Houston in 1980. Struggling with our own marriage, we went to talk to him after the concert. He invited us up to his hotel room, and we spent the next two hours discussing the "ins and outs" of marriage. The bottom linewas Larry believed that while we were living together as husband and wife, the reality was that we were first and foremost brother and sister in Christ. Because ofthat relationship, we were to preferone another above ourselves.We talked for a long time about how this translated into everyday living, andhe shared stories of his own marriage to Pam...of how he tried to make this happen in their life together. This understanding that Larry had of the marriage covenant became a foundational stone in our marriage. And even though we have split up three times over the years, the words of truth that Larry shared with us that night, and then the hearfelt prayer of blessing he prayed over us at the end, have resounded through our hearts and spirits over and over. That this year we will celebrate 30 yrs together is a testimony to the truth that Larry held onto. Larry's two divorces are not something to be ashamed of....only a tragedy that he suffered twice from. And from his tragedies, from those ashes of pain in his life, he gave life to our marriage. The man was not a failure.....for he remained stedfast until the end. Talking about the tragedies of his life can, if we let God do it, become the foundation stones of anothers' victories. in Him |
Anonymous
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cRaShDoG wrote: And, myself, being someone who's had divorce comitted against him, no one should assume that being divorced is a reflection of that person's failures or mistakes. They may have been the victim of someone breaking his or her marriage vow with them. It is quite common for people to abandon their spouses with the justification that they are no longer "happy." It takes two to make a marriage, but only one to make a divorce. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous wrote: Of course, I meant, "spuouse," not "spouses." That would a different situation etirely! = ) |
Anonymous
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Brenda Caley, Morgantown, PA wrote: |
cRaShDoG
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Oops. I just thought i'd let you know that I made the post above, but forgot and accidently left it 'anymous'. |
Ton Klapwijk
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Brenda Caley, Morgantown, PA wrote: Brenda, But well, this were just my personal thoughts... I hope it helps you a little bit. |
cRaShDoG
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Ton Klapwijk wrote: |
different anonymous (again)
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Boy, I tell you I'm sure glad this thread did not get closed down (near the beginning it was requested). So many of these things being said now are just so wonderful to read. I think we've gotten on to something here about how God loves and even uses all His children, though we all are sinners. After all, ONLY Jesus always pleased the Father! And, it made me realize all the more that that's one of the reasons I loved Larry so much over these 35 years--he was so much like the rest of us and he never pretended to be anything else (even though the way God worked through him was much greater than most of us). That's why he still resonates with us decade after decade and into eternity. |
Jay
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There is a two hour interview that you can listen to on line. It's the Drew Marshall show, and he interviewd Larry a couple years ago. In the interview he mentioned that he gets along fine with both of his ex wives, that they have changed and are doing fine. I've also heard that Pam was a worship leader at her church for years. I read this on one of the tribute blurbs on this site. |
Pastor Jerry E. McKeehan
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I attended in the 60s and 70s First Congregationial Church of Los Angeles were Sarah Finichand myself attended church. Sarah Finch was dating Larry Norman when she was in High School. I met Larry Norman at our church camp "Cedar Lake" in Big Bear. He was a bright Bible student of God's Word. One of our pastoral staff members credits Larry Norman for leading him to the Lord. Thank you Larry Norman for your ministry. Dr. Jerry E. McKeehan |
Sevenbelt
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Beeing a true christian does not imply that our lives will be perfect too. Sevenbelt |
cRaShDoG
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Sevenbelt wrote: there's over 40 comments posted in this thread and not a single one appears to be judgmental. |
Anonymous
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Look people, Larry was a human, he wasn't perfect, but he did do his best to follow Jesus and help others. Leave his mistakes alone! Let his family have peace and joy in knowing Larry is finally home at last. Larry was a good man and like any of us, he made mistakes, but he always asked for forgiveness and tried as we all do to not repeat the mistakes. That's why Jesus died for us. Larry was on a mission for Jesus, Larry accomplished more than most. Please, stop asking about his past mistakes, take what Larry gave so that you might live. Talk about the good things. Larry loved everyone, he wanted to help everyone. His music reflected that so you might live! |
Dennis Thompson
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I liked Larry Norman. I got saved in 1972. I was 15. We used to sing his songs in a mixed denomenational fellowship group I didnt know much about him, and wondered sometimes where he had gone. I happened to read the door yesterday(4-10) and saw where he had went to be with Jesus. Sad, yet happy for him. I have been spending time reading about him last night and today. I am reading about his divorces. I also read where he shared with a couple and they took to heart what he said(in this thread). I think people lose fact of why it is that God hates divorce. He hates it because of what it does to the people that he so dearly loves. I think Larry understood that. He knew it wasnt a rule to keep or a law thats damning. Let me leave you with Larry's own inspired Lyric...."Why Don't You look into Jesus, He has the Answer. God Bless |