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No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green

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There is no doubt that Keith Green has had a profound ministry. Even more than twenty years after his death, people are still being touched by his music and message. I know that I am a different person because of my exposure to this bold man of God.

"No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green" follows Keith from failed teen idol to the tops of the Christian music carts to a fiery plane crash in Texas. We see his early days as a struggling musician whose life was one of constant seeking but never finding until the day that Jesus put an end to the search. Along the way, Melody Green (with David Hazard) paints a picture of the early Jesus Movement of the late Sixties and early Seventies, showing how she and Keith were in the midst of it. Anyone who has been a Christian for a long time will be fascinated by how God put the Greens into the right places at the right time. There is a look at the nascent days of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship; friendships with classic Christian musicians like Randy Stonehill, Larry Norman, Barry McGuire, and Phil Keaggy; radical days of ministry highlighted by long nights ministering to anyone who would listen; and a sense of destiny shared by a small group of people with a common vision. It is almost a textbook-worthy look at a post-hippie Christianity finding its way.

To say that Keith Green is revered in certain circles is an understatement. One of the nicest features of this book is that it demythologizes the man himself. The "shoot first and ask questions later" perspective of Keith that made so many consider him a prophet is examined more closely, revealing feet of clay that some might find surprising. Often the hard-hitting songs that we have taken for granted were written as much for Keith himself to hear as for anyone else, the stinging messages a form of self-discipline for the author as much as his audience. Yet even in the correction of bad eating habits and too much TV, we are shown a prophet who examined his own life and often found it wanting. Finally, we get to see how Keith's self-defining brashness often backfired and how he came to a more gentle place in his ministry shortly before his death.

All these revelations are helpful in understanding the man behind the myth. Still, there are lapses. Very little is said about the recording sessions that led to the amazing albums. They come and go and we learn little. Certain anecdotes don't seem to lead anywhere, either, leaving the reader to merely surmise how or why Keith came to a certain place in his thoughts, actions, and spiritual development. Short excerpts from his journals are included, but more would still have been better. I know that I wanted to probe further into the subtle changes in the spiritual life of the man that led him into the situations outlined here, especially in the last year of his life--a year that zips by in the book. I suppose a wife can only know so much, and for those of us who want to know exactly how everything fell into place, I can only say that this book serves to drive us closer to God in order to ask Him those unanswered questions for our own ministries.

That said, this is still a very good biography of a man that practically packed a whole lifetime of spiritual growth into twenty-eight all too short years. Anyone who loves biographies of the great saints of God would be remiss to skip over this one. It definitely got me thinking and praying.

No Compromise is the perfect title for this book, because Keith Green did not compromise when it came to the Christian life. He loved Jesus more than anything else in the world, and it comes through in this biography written by his widow Melody Green.

You will read of Keith's early interest in spiritual things, his life in the 70's hippie sub-culture, his shattering conversion to Christ in response to the Spirit-filled preaching of Kenn Gullickson, (and his wife's conversion the following week), and his excitement at coming to know Jesus.

You also read of his zeal in winning people to the Lord, and how over the course of months, he felt the leading of the Lord to make Christian music albums. You read of his love for the writings of the Rev. Charles Finney, and his desire to see people totally broken and spilled out before the Lord in repentance and faith.

You read of his later interest in world missions, and his tragic death in a plane crash (along with his son Josiah and daughter Bethany and others who were on board).

Melody then has a brief appendix illustrating how keiths music stills fans into flame the fire of faith in the lives of so many. I am one of those people, and I highly recommend this stirring biography.

I read this book for the 1st time right after I became a new Christian almost 20 years ago. It changed my life. The title that Melody used for this book perfectly described Keith Green's heart. He made many mistakes and was often over zealous in his faith, but what inspired me the most was his complete trust in God at all costs. He gave up the opportunity to be rich and famous according to the world's standards, and in turn became rich and famous according to God's standards. I recently read this book again and cried so hard I couldn't breathe. Not so much for Keith & his family, but for myself, that I wish that I had even a fraction of the faith and zeal that Keith had.

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading Keith Green's biography, NO COMPROMISE. Looking back over time, I'd realize God had given me a rare moment to actually meet Keith face-to-face. Out of the thousands he ministered to in his short life, I doubt if he would ever remember me. I met him at one of his concerts. I was a die hard 2nd Chapter of Acts fan. I didn't fall in love with Keith's music over night. I'd prefer the gentle wooing of Acts' music. Keith was "all or nothing!" A little too overwhelming for my young Christian mind at the time. Two things I will never forget about meeting him: his eyes and his refusal to sign autographs. I had never seen anyone's eyes so full of the fire of the Holy Spirit. I remember staring into them and thinking, "This is what it means to be totally committed to Christ." Many wanted his autograph, but he politely refused. Simply stating, "No...I want the Lord to get all the glory!"

Until I read NO COMPROMISE, I had no idea the journey Keith had taken from the day he was born until the time we briefly met. I was riveted by the book. I found myself re-reading it over a period of three times! Each time, I captured more and more of God's power in a person who had totally given their life to Christ. Reading about his life gave me a deeper appreciation for his music. Now, I listen with a deeper appreciation, a little sadness (because I miss him)and a maturity I didn't have when I first met him. I miss his fire, his faithfulness, his challenge to the church as a whole. This book is definitely for someone who wants to know, is there anyone totally sold out to Jesus? I can honestly say, "Yes..there was. I met him His name was Keith Green."

I first heard of Keith Green through a pastor friend of mine. He introduced me to Keith's music and after much convincing I began to listen. Keith's music was very 70's and nothing that I was used to, being from an 80's generation. Thankfully, I listened deeper, to the message behind the music. I think Keith could vocalize in words what many Christians feel in their hearts. We have a desperate desire to love God despite the outcome, without compromise to the world and its standards. Keith's struggles and battles are portrayed well in this book. After reading it, I felt as though I knew a brother in Christ intimently. Keith's heart comes out vividly in this book and I think this book will appeal to so many people because, in all actuality, we Christians have the same heart as Keith did. We all have the heart of Christ. If you aren't a Christian, please read this book. You will be bombarded with what true life is and how one man experienced that freedom through the sacrifice of Christ. May God bless the reader.

If you are you looking for answers to life's questions or if you are a Christian dissatisfied with complacent, commercialized, and fake Christianity, this biography of Keith Green's life is for you.

Being a student, I'm not usually interested in reading any more books than I have to for class, but I couldn't put this book down. After reading a few pages, I went out and bought 2 of Keith's CD's. I'm 19 and the style of his music is not exactly what my generation listens to, but his music and this book are full of transparent passion that's so addicting! I want all my friends to read this book, so I'm passing it around. But at the same time, I want to hold on to it so I can be inspired again and again.

This book consists of journal entries written by Keith and song lyrics mixed with his crazy humor. It reveals Keith's searching for something more in life and his finding--Jesus Christ. Never have I read about such an average guy who was transformed into someone with such a burning desire to serve the Lord and a nakedness before God!

This book has challenged me to re-evaluate what is eternally important in my life. Keith is dead, but his testimony lives on and I want to continue his dream of reaching the lost with hope of a Savior.

Thank you Melody, for sharing the life of your husband with those who weren't alive at the time of Keith's ministry. His testimony has changed my life.

NO COMPROMISE is just that; a powerful, straight forward telling of the life of child musical prodigy come 70's-era preacher Keith Green. For as long as I can remember I have heard his music. I was practically raised on it. Yet it took me until 2002 to actually read this book. The experience was well worth it; his wife Melody did a good job considering lyric composition seems to be her forte.

The book is not too short and not so long as to scare away the somewhat-interested. As I think back on the book, it really is quite an amazing summation of Keith's short 28 years. Melody has included many small stories throughout the prose; stories of personal revalations, hilarious experiences, and tragic occurances. We see the human side of this man who was so often held up as God-like figure in Christian music. How fascinating it was for me-a fan of Keith's music for two decades-to read all these little anecdotes, diary clippings, journal entries, and especially information behind the writing of so many powerful songs. The scope of the book is impressive just because of the number of people drawn into Keith and Melody's circle. Many, many well known people are referred to and quoted. I had no idea there was a Bob Dylan connection and friendship for example.

NO COMPROMISE is a powerful book that follows Keith from his infant Christianity thru his maturing process and eventually, his untimely death. The end of the book is difficult if only because it seems so sudden, but that's how it really was. This is the story of how God worked in the lives of two young people and changed millions for the better. Thankfully, the story did not end on that July day in Texas, it went on, and continues today.

Recommended.

This is a review of No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green, by Melody Green and David Hazard, ISBN 0736903194.

I was recently introduced to Keith's music by some friends. I loved it so much that I ended up buying both two-CD sets and the songbooks to go with them. The man was a musical genius, regardless of one's opinion of his message. Both of those two-CD sets (Keith Green: The Ministry Years, Volumes 1 and 2, by Sparrow Records) include the text of this book.

This biography is excellent, though as a previous reviewer mentioned, it does have some gaps. For a book about a man who spent most of his life in the music biz, very little is said about recording sessions, music gear, logistics of organizing concerts all over the country, etc. And the most glaring omission, that occurred to me after I read the book: his band. Nothing was said about his band. I read somewhere else that Keith had some of the era's finest jazz players on his band, but the book says nothing about any of that.

All such quibbles aside, however, this is a great book. It takes the reader from Keith's rising stardom as a child, through his eclipse by Donny Osmond, through his years of searching, to his eventual salvation, and of course through his all-too-short years of ministry. As someone very familiar with most of his songs, I enjoyed reading the stories of how they came to be, and also learning a bit more about the depth of Keith's walk with God.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know more about Keith Green.

If you love the music of Keith Green, you will enjoy this book immensely. If you ever heard or read any of the messages he shared, you will be inspired by reading about his background, partly through thoughts recorded in his private journals. This book is a very personal account, written by Keith's wife, of the short and extraordinary life of this lovely all-out-for-Jesus guy. It is the story of a seeker who looked for spiritual truth with a fervour you don't often see in people nowadays, and who, when he found the truth in Jesus, never stopped and looked back, but just continued on into an ever deeper relationship with Jesus as Lord of his life. It is the story of a man who was humble enough to know that he was not perfect, and that he had to work at becoming a reflection of Jesus. And it is the story of an anointed modern prophet of God who had a true heart for reaching people with the message of the love of God, but no time for hypocrisy and fake religiosity neither in individuals nor in established church groups. His life story is a challenge and encouragement to anyone who 'wants to, needs to - be more like Jesus'.

It is really quite amazing the way God used Keith Green for his 7 years as a Christian. It's an amazing the impact his ministry made in such a short time before the Lord took him home at the ripe old age of 28. This is a pretty powerful biography.

I was a little worried though over John Dawson coming into Keith's life. He seemed to be feeding Keith some bad doctrine, even if very subtly, and seemed to be a flatterer, trying to tell Keith how big he was going to be. His prophecies were proven false though when Keith suddenly died in a plane crash. It's amazing how Keith, Melody, or Keith's mentors never seemed to see this.

Overall though, this book is a powerful testimony of what God will do with a willing vessel. How God can raise a man out of obscurity to be a prophetic voice that, though he be dead still speaks.