{"id":282,"date":"2007-12-17T01:01:41","date_gmt":"2007-12-17T01:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2007\/12\/sad-news-surprising-news.html"},"modified":"2007-12-17T01:01:41","modified_gmt":"2007-12-17T01:01:41","slug":"sad-news-surprising-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2007\/12\/sad-news-surprising-news.html","title":{"rendered":"Sad News . . . Surprising News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many of my readers will have heard the sad news of Dan Fogelberg’s death on Sunday<\/a>. He died after a three-and-a-half year battle with prostate cancer.
\nIf you’re under 30, you may never have heard of Dan Fogelberg. And, I’m sad to say, you may associate his music only with Muzak tunes. Fogelberg was a folk singer whose popularity grew in the 70s. While I was in college his first album, Home Free<\/em><\/a>, was my favorite album. I probably listened to it 200 times. (Photo: Dan Fogelberg with his wife, Jean, in 2003. Photo from his website by Bernie Boyle<\/a>.)
\nFogelberg wrote soft rock ballads, rather in the mode of James Taylor. I enjoyed his love songs. But by far my favorite of his compositions was “Leader of the Band,” a song Fogelberg wrote in honor of his father (on the Innocent Age<\/em><\/a> album. For a touching interview of Dan’s father Larry concerning “Leader of the Band,” check out this link<\/a>.) I first heard this song when my own father was struggling with cancer. Since his death in 1986, “Leader of the Band” has helped me to get in touch with ways I am like my own father and am, in a sense, his “living legacy.”
\nWhen I heard about Dan Fogelberg’s death, I felt sad over the passing of an artist who touched my life over so many years, mostly through his recordings. My wife and I once attended one of his concerts, driving from Los Angeles to Irvine, California (years before we lived there) during rush hour on a Friday afternoon. It took us more than three hours to make the fifty mile trip. We enjoyed the concert, nevertheless.
\nExamining Fogelberg’s website, I was surprised to learn that he did a Christmas album: The First Christmas Morning<\/a><\/em> (1999). It contains several Christmas favorites (“Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” “What Child is This?”) as well as several original compositions. Ordering the album from iTunes (here’s the iTunes link<\/a>), I was not surprised to hear the first song, “At Christmas Time,” celebrate the Winter solstice (“At Christmas time we raise our hearts and celebrate the solstice”). I have never had any reason to think of Fogelberg as a Christian, though his music had not offended my Christian sensibilities. But I was surprised when “At Christmas Time” ended with: “At Christmas time we praise the Lord and count His blessings so many.”)
\nMy surprise was multiplied by a couple of the original compositions on this album. Check out these lyrics:<\/p>\n

“The First Christmas Morning”
\nAway in the east shines a star in the sky
\nThat leads us to where He is born
\nAnd bearing good tidings and gifts we shall give
\nTo Him on this first Christmas morning
\nTo Him on this first Christmas morning
\nHoly our journey and holy our love
\nThat takes us to find and adore Him
\nAnd blessed the baby that sleeps in his bed
\nAnd wakes on this first Christmas morning
\nAnd wakes on this first Christmas morning
\nAhhh-Ahhh Alleluia
\nAhhh-Ahhh Alleluia
\nAhhh-Ahhh Alle
\nAhhh-Ahhh Alle
\nAhhh-Ahhh Alleluia
\nThe Lord in His wisdom, the Lord in His grace
\nHas given to man a redeemer
\nTo save us from sin and to show us the light
\nThat shines on this first Christmas morning
\nAnd will shine ever each Christmas morning
\n“Christ The King”
\nChrist the King, born in a manger
\nChrist the King is born on this day
\nAll of nature joins the rejoicing
\nBanish misfortune away
\nBanish misfortune away
\nLift your voice, join in the singing
\nLift your voice in a song of goodwill
\nLift your heart to the glorious season
\nBid all your sorrows be still
\nBid all your sorrows be still<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I don’t know anything about Dan Fogelberg’s religious faith. But these two songs certainly get the essence of Christmas, don’t you think?
\nThanks, Dan Fogelberg, for making my life richer, even today, as I listen to your sweet Christmas songs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many of my readers will have heard the sad news of Dan Fogelberg’s death on Sunday. He died after a three-and-a-half year battle with prostate cancer. If you’re under 30, you may never have heard of Dan Fogelberg. And, I’m sad to say, you may associate his music only with Muzak tunes. Fogelberg was a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tributes"],"yoast_head":"\nSad News . . . Surprising News - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=282"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}