“Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me (Jeremiah 9:24).”
It was 1976…Las Vegas. I was a teenager when I saw Alice Cooper for the first time at the Aladdin Casino. The rock legend thundered on stage and Sin-City went berserk!
At the edge of the stage a fan snapped pictures as he sang. Alice leaned over for close ups and she frantically clicked away. Then he grabbed her camera and started taking close ups of her! Alice gave the camera back and went on to give a great performance.
Fabulous memories for her and me. I was not a famous rock star, but Alice and I had one thing in common — we were both prodigal sons from Detroit, stoners running away from our Father in Heaven. Neither one of us knew or understood God one bit. We were lost.
That changed for me in 1980, and for Alice a bit later when we surrendered to Jesus Christ. “I was drinking with Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and trying to keep up with Keith Moon and they all died at 27,” Cooper said. “I was throwing up blood nearly every morning.” I was partying too, but with my less famous pals…Cooper, Jimmy, and Keith.
I nearly died too, but the real story is that we both came home to our Father. Jesus saved us, the famous and the not so famous. Last Friday, we finally met. He signed my book–52 THINKS ABOUT GOD–and we chatted for a bit. I gave him a copy for his teen center in Phoenix (Solid Rock), which helps kids stay off the streets with free lessons to play instruments, sports, etc. He lit up when I told him the gospel content in my book.
When we finished talking, Alice asked me what I wanted him to sign on the title page of 52 THINKS. I suggested one of my life verses, “How about Roman 9:16-17?”
He grinned a big friendly smile and said, “How about Galatians 2:20?”
I winked back. “Works for me.” He didn’t know it, but that’s also a life verse for me.
I shared Galatians 2:20 in 1980 at my baptism in the middle of the Red Cedar River at MSU. Our mutual life verse sums up how you become a Christian (which baptism symbolizes in the death of your old life…buried in the water and then raised up anew).
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.” Did you catch that? Christ…lives…in…me!
Meeting Alice was a big thrill, but understanding and knowing God is the real boast. Alice and I have that in common. Jesus lives in our bodies. You can meet Alice too, in Heaven. Just surrender and ask Jesus to come inside…and join us, the former prodigals.
Here’s the 1976 show (B.C.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqEVYNTdc3c
YHM 