A Letter To Alison - From The Heart

[turbo]

If it were possible for me to send a letter directly to Alison, and to know that she would actually receive it herself and read it, and take it to heart, this is what I would say in my letter.

For those of you who are not strong Christians, some of this may not make any sense. But for those of you who are strong in The Word, you will know exactly what I mean throughout this letter.

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Dearest Alison,

For so many years I have followed your music, your career, and as much as possible your life, because long ago you touched my heart, first with your angelic voice and unpretentious genuine smile, and then as I came to know more about you, with the simple beauty and innocence of your life, your mind, your incomparable heart, your quick and silly wit, your musical laughter, and that 50,000-watt smile of yours, and those gorgeous green eyes full of intelligence and love and laughter. Most of all I have been impressed by how wonderfully you have radiated the beauty of God's Holy Spirit within you, and how His creative beauty has filled you and then overflowed copiously from you, outward to bless your fans. Many times in different TV and radio interviews and in newspaper articles you have confessed openly and unashamedly your love for Christ our Lord, and this has been the gleaming capstone to your awesome appeal, at least through these Christian eyes. You have, throughout your career, recorded many beautiful songs of praise to Him, and as far as I can tell from this side of your curtain of privacy, you have in fact lived that song that Ron wrote for you, "A Living Prayer".

Alison, I have long lived under the assumption that, if I am unable to get to know you in this age, that surely we will become friends in Christ's Kingdom when it comes upon this earth, where we shall all live forever. But I know that salvation is not an automatic thing, and I do not believe that it is impossible for a person, once saved and baptized, to stray away from Christ, or to be led unwittingly away from Him and His true Word, thereby risking the greatest Prize of all, eternal life with Him and the rest of His children in His Kingdom. Salvation is a daily walk, as you well know, and each day each of us faces temptations and deceptions by Satan and those who serve him, and if not watchful it is possible "even the elect" might be deceived and led astray.

I trust God with your heart, and I know that directly and through wonderful people of His in your life, such as your Mom and Dad, He has guided you and richly blessed you and turned you into the gleaming "city on a hill" that you are today. (You have brought heavenly blessings upon many more people than you will ever know, through your music and your life! Your crown will have SOOO many stars in it!!!!) But lately I see possible dark clouds lurking in your clear-blue sky, and besides praying daily for you and your son, and the assured salvation of both, I also send to you, out of an overabundance of love, this word of caution. They say a word to the wise is sufficient, so I trust that this message, if it should ever reach you, will be so.

As you know, God and all of His children have an enemy, and he is tireless in his efforts to snare and deceive those who belong to Christ; he is very adept at using our emotions, those of loneliness, those of desire, those of curiosity, to lead us astray from those Biblical principles and into his traps.

Alison, I enjoyed your latest CD with Mr. Plant very much on a musical level, but I must make the observation that in the making of this project you have lent your beautiful voice to some songs which promote certain aspects of the occult. (Fortune Teller comes to mind, also there are some elements of the songs "Sister Rosetta" and "Trampled Rose" that tend to give pause to someone who loves Christ. I know you know which ones.) This is not God's best for you. Please be careful, in your quest for musical experimentation, not to be enticed into areas that are not of Christ's leading. On your last CD, the most beautiful new song you did, "Away Down The River" and also "Jacob's Dream" each express a belief in continued consciousness after death, and while this is a popular romantic concept, it is entirely opposite to Jesus' repeated assertions that the dead know nothing, think nothing and cannot communicate in any way with the living. (Otherwise if it were so, why would we even need a Saviour?) Many have been deceived by our enemy with this concept, which stems from his original lie to Eve, "Thou shalt not surely die."

I fear that you may be letting yourself be influenced by people close to you who do not share the same staunch Scriptural principles in their hearts that you have always displayed. Please be careful. I understand that a woman can get lonely, that at certain times in life she might long for close companionship and love as the older years begin to loom on her horizon, that instinctively she might search for emotional shelter, as it were; but beware as this is one of the avenues through which our enemy can ensnare us.

I always think of you as a very very good person, and this based in large part upon the kind of songs you have always historically chosen to record. I believe that this is true of all artists, that their conscience or lack of same, directs them to record the music that they do. Please look at the history, musically, spiritually, and emotionally of each person who holds any position of influence in your life. While you may be a powerful influence for the good on anyone around you, nevertheless you may be vulnerable to bad influences unless you are very careful. (The featuring of a demonic gargoyle on the back cover of a CD, might not be a great indicator of the spiritual condition of the artist.) I am reminded of the story of a Baptist preacher and a pirate, each had a parrot, and each parrot spoke the things that its master had taught it. One day certain circumstances conspired to cause that the two birds be confined in the same cage for a time. The preacher hoped that his bird might become a good influence on the pirate's profane bird; but alas, it worked the other way around.

I know that you are aware that nothing this world has to offer, not fame or money or acceptance or merely the gratification of experimenting with new things, is worth the cost of losing our eternal life in His Kingdom. I wish that you could hear the heartfelt prayers that I (and many others) offer to Him every single day on your behalf. If someone as wondrously beautiful (in all possible dimensions of the word) as yourself were to be lost to Him, it would be a catastrophe of universal tragedy!!!!

Therefore, please accept this "word to the wise" in the spirit in which it is given, and that is the spirit of deepest love and admiration and brotherhood and concern, and in the desire to one day know you as a close friend and musical partner, in His eternal Kingdom. I don't know how I could possibly state it any better, Alison. I pray that He will always shelter you under His wing, and that His angels will always lift you up lest you dash your foot on a stone, and most of all I pray that He will always protect your heart from bad love. I sure don't want to ever see you hurt, ever again. I wrote a song called "If She Cried", those who have heard it probably know that it is about you.

Please be careful, be well, keep that joy that radiates from you, and always follow our Lord as diligently as you can, and we will see each other there in the eternal Kingdom. Better than that I cannot wish for you. Goodnight, Alison.....

--"turbo"

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Sorry, folks, if I poured out my heart just a little too much there, but if any of you take offense then you just don't understand. Those of you who do understand, please join me daily for the rest of this age, for Alison's and Sam's continued right walk toward the Kingdom, and for divine protection against evil influences, false loves, airplane crashes, bus or automobile crashes, tornadoes, crazy violent people, disease, or any other kind of unforeseen calamity.

Alright, I guess that's enough for tonight.....

[nascarholly]

I wish that she could see this, you couldn't have said it better!!! It all goes for me too!!!

A few other people that I love need a letter like this sent to them.

God bless you and them and Alison always!!!

[tal]

Lovely and well meaning as the sentiment of the letter is, personally, and no offence meant to anybody, I found it somewhat scary too.

[akusjesusgurl]

I understand your sentiment and concern for Alison. but I disagree. Julie Lee wrote both Jacob's Dream and Away Down the River. She was saying in her songs that these are what these dead people would say to her IF they were still alive, not what they are saying from the grave. That's not what she implies at all, and I know for a fact that Julie is a Christian. You know the song "Your Long Journey" from the new RPAK album? that one specifically talks about God and going to heaven. It's not a Gospel tune, but does mention the belief in God. We all know Alison is a Christian. and Alison really didnt have much say in the song selection for this album. She said herself that the songs were chosen by Robert and T Bone.


Alison keeps her life very private, and I think we should all respect that, and especially not judge her for things we dont necessarily know. The only people that know of her relationship between her and the Lord is her and the Lord. That is her business.


I understand how you feel, and your concern, because if she really did something radical to show she was backsliding I'd be concerned too...but....
Remember turbo, we as Christians have no right to judge anyone.

Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

[nascarholly]

Honestly, I don't think that we really have all that much to be worried about. I have faith that Alison is a strong person. Always remember that she has a son to set an example for.

God bless you and her and her little one always!!!

[tal]

As far as the choice of songs, She also said when she got the list she thought the list was perfect! ( talking on Charlie Rose)

[turbo]

Thank you all for your comments, and I hope that those of you who say there is nothing to worry about, are right. Thank you to those of you who understand the feelings from which this letter sprang. No one wants to see someone they love anywhere near danger, and if it were possible each of us would keep those we love completely away from all peril; of course that isn't possible so therefore we must trust our Lord completely; as I said, I trust Him with her heart. Completely. But I can't help feeling the way I do, sorry. Guess I am guilty of being human. BUT ALL OF YOU, PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER FOR HER ALWAYS, AS I REQUESTED IN THE LETTER. THANK YOU.

[akusjesusgurl]

I keep Alison in my prayers everyday, and I'm sure that wont change. ;D

Here's another little quote for ya, just in case if you ever need it.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

;D God has Alison in his hands, always!! ;D

[iblvin]

I've never replied to these comments before because they are all positive, but turbo you have really got to get a life. The music is entertainment and Alison is an entertainer (and a pretty damn good entertainer). It is not your place to judge, you were not given that job.

[nascarholly]

^^^ No, it isn't our job to judge, but we do have the right to share our honest feelings here.

God bless you and Alison always!!!

[princessjillw]

Unlike Cain, we are our brother's (sister's) keeper. To warn Alison about a very dangerous colaboration is not to judge, but to correct our brother/sister in love. If you want to see what Mr. Plant is up to, please go to ebay and search for the book Fallen Angel by Thomas Friend. She needs our prayers. She is in dangerous territory.

[turbo]

Actually, after seeing an RPAK concert in Chattanooga, I am now of a different opinion than when I first posted this. ( A guy has the right to change his mind, don't he??) Of course all the songs from the RS CD and a few others were done at the concert, but in the middle of the show everyone except Alison and Stuart Duncan walked offstage, and Alison did a beautiful set of 3 or 4 gospel songs with only Stuart on guitar for accompaniment, and the last one was "Down to the River to Pray" on which Robert, and T-Bone, and Buddy Miller came back on stage and formed her backup vocal trio. She looked like an angel in white there in the spotlight, and the effect she had on the audience (who only saw her for one evening) was unmistakable, palpable. Imagine what it must be like to be around somebody like that all the time, working and making music with her. She is so strong in the Holy Spirit that, far from being in danger of being dragged over to "the dark side" by anyone around her, on the contrary I feel that anyone around her who may have toyed with "the dark side" is now "in danger" of being dragged over to the side of God and salvation by her bright influence!! (Once many years ago I dabbled with the Tarot cards and spells, etc.; until my mind was opened to the Truth. Was I lost? Maybe, but only until the Good Shepherd came and found me. He found a way.) So my feeling is, God is way way way more powerful than Satan, Alison is firmly "in the palm of His hand" and I for one am no longer going to worry about it. I think I posted this same message somewhere else while I was in Nashville, but now I can't find it so I'll just post it again. I have learned a lot of spiritual truths in the last few weeks, and one of them is that once purchased by God, a person is never let go.

And as far as that evil evil person RP, gimme a break, there are lots worse, lots more evil people than he, down through history, who before their lives were over saw the light and changed their beliefs, their lives, and their loyalties to Christ. The apostle Paul was the most notable one. Charles Darwin was another, though this info is generally suppressed by the media. There have been witches and warlocks and murderers and other undesirables that have been converted.

This entire RS project was probably orchestrated behind the scenes by the Creator to use Alison and her bright Godly appeal to reach otherwise unreachable people such as Robert and his many hardrock and heavy-metal fans, who without this project never would have heard of her or ever heard any Gospel music. Let's give the Man credit for knowing what He's doing.

So let's all smile and be happy for Alison and those around her, God's hand at work is clearly visible here!!! [Sorry Tal, again I'm probably offending you. Nothin' personal!! ]

[tal]

Hey Turbo,
You have a right to your opinion and you have a right to post your opinion! You don't offend me, even your views, though I vehemently disagree with them , don't "offend" me as such. The way you put them sometimes does offend me but that's ok. It happens.
It's just that if your view was the only one posted here that might give people, who do not share your view the idea the other view is not welcome here!

Because of that and being the argumentative type and disagreeing with you, I have taken it upon myself to express my view whenever you express yours in this way.
And I am trying, and will continue to try, to do that in a way that does not degrade you or your views! Because like you say...it's just a difference of opinion and nothing personal!

[nascarholly]

Turbo, what else did she sing other than "Down To the River To Pray"?

God bless you and her always!!!

[turbo]

Tal - cool, keep it interesting!!

Nascarholly - will post that info in a few days!! Stay tuned!!