How Rick Wakeman (YES) the Keyboard Player became a Christian

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Rick Wakeman (YES) born 18 May 1949
Rick Wakeman is an English keyboard player who was with Yes before a long solo career. He is a composer, songwriter and contributor to the BBC Television comedy show Grumpy Old Men. He is considered by many to be one of the best rock keyboardists of all time. He has produced over 100 solo albums that have sold more than 50 million copies.

He has been a very popular Session keyboard Player including:-
David Bowie" "Space Oddity", "Life on Mars?", "Changes" and "Oh! You Pretty Things" and "Absolute Beginners"
Cat Stevens: "Morning Has Broken"
Strawbs: Dragonfly (1970), Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios (1970) and From the Witchwood (1971)
Black Sabbathon Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Plus Alice Cooper,,John Williams, Brotherhood of Man,Elton John, Lou Reed, T. Rex and Ozzy Osbourne

CHRISTIAN WALK
"Despite being baptised at 19, I pushed God further and further away, as my love of music became more and more important" explains Rick. It wasn`t until he met model Nina Carter that the hunt to find a church that would marry them, started to draw them closer to a God they had both abandoned many years before. Overjoyed at being accepted by a church that received them in true Christian love "I was given a renewed faith in the Church that had been lacking for more than fifteen years" recalls Rick.

The journey back to God had begun. One night whilst on tour in Sydney, Australia, struggling with an alcoholic problem Rick sat on his bed and cried. "I had never felt so low in my entire life" he recalls, "and I realised I had never really been in control of my life, although I thought I was." Explaining how a strange calmness came over the room he knew there was only one thing left to do. "The decision was to put my life back into God`s hands. I asked Him then and there to forgive me for all that I had done and to give me the strength to start again." Rick knew he was back in safe hand.

Rick`s favourite Bible verse:
"My favourite Bible verses are not ones that are read very often either in private or in church, except perhaps by me!
I know, Lord, that you are all-powerful; that you can do everything you want.
You ask how I dare question your wisdom when I am so very ignorant.
I talked about things I did not understand, about marvels too great for me to know.
You told me to listen while you spoke and to try to answer your questions.
In the past I knew only what others had told me, but now I have seen with my own eyes.
So I am ashamed of all I have said and repent in dust and ashes.
After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Alphas,
"I am angry with you and your two friends,
because you did not speak the truth about me as my servant Job did.
Now take seven bulls and seven rams to Job and offer them as a sacrifice for yourselves.
Job will pray for you, and I will answer his prayer and not disgrace you as you deserve.
You did not speak the truth about me as he did."
Job chapter 42 verses 1-8

I often think that it is ironic that the book of Job (one of the least read books in the Bible)
immediately preceded Psalms, which is probably the most read book of the Bible!
To me, the story of Job is the most relevant book of the Old Testament as regards our lives today. It is so difficult to know whether or not we are to be tested from above or attacked from below, or indeed whether both forces are at work.
The first eight verses of chapter 42 explain everything in as much as God knows all the answers and understands everything. We will NEVER know the answers to the unanswerable, so why waste time looking? All we need to do is put our trust in the Lord and He will guide us through.
To me Job sums it all up perfectly in these verses and it is Job who has become my soul-mate of the Bible. I know I can never have the strength of faith he showed, but it is something I aspire to, as can everybody.
In simple terms, I don`t know how to fly a plane and don`t particularly want to. However, I have every faith in the pilot and put my trust in him to get me safely to my destination. I also don`t have even a millionth of God`s understanding and knowledge of this world He created, or what His destiny is for us all. However, I have every faith in Him as my pilot, and put my trust in Him to get me to my destination along the route he has chosen for me.
Whenever you`re unsure whether or not you`re being attacked or tested, spend a couple of hours with Job, he`ll sort you out!

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Help us to understand the limitations of our understanding.
Help us to accept that in this world there are many questions which will remain unanswered.
Give us peace of mind to know that you are in total control ant that you alone know the purpose of everything that happens to us,
both as individuals and also as part of an ever changing and confusing world.
Teach me not to query that which You and You alone have control over.
Help us to accept that you have a reason for everything that happens to us
and others however unacceptable it may appear at the time.

We need to give You our trust completely Lord which is not always easy to do.
It is hard sometimes for us to differentiate between attacks from the Devil and tests that you send from above.
With Your strength, Your guidance and the knowledge of your supreme understanding,
we can perhaps begin to fulfil the purpose for which You placed us on this earth.
Without You, we would never understand.
Amen.