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Some people live in the past, wondering about how it might have been, and regretting the choices they've made. Some people run headlong toward the future, setting their clocks by next year, or ten years, beyond today. But some — like Greg Long — understand the importance of living everyday in the present, in the reality of a relationship with Jesus Christ. In running toward God instead of away from Him. And the further Greg goes in that direction, the more he has to say about life — and the more his music takes on a distinctively personal tone.
Such is the case with Greg's fourth solo project, NOW, an album ripe with songs about faith, grace and relationships. Produced by Chris Rodriguez (who has worked with Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jaci Velasquez), Don Koch (who has written or produced for Fred Hammond, Avalon, 4HIM, Larnelle Harris, Donny Osmond), and Todd Collins (who has worked with Ben Folds Five, DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline), NOW raises the bar for Greg Long, both lyrically and musically, revealing an artist of passion, purpose and depth.
When his third album, Jesus Saves, was released in 1998, garnering three #1 radio singles and a "Song of the Year" Dove nomination for "Mercy Said No," Greg Long stood on the precipice of a season of change. Major life decisions — both personal and professional — weighed heavily on his mind. In times like those, when a man is most vulnerable, it is all too easy to harbor resentment and make mistakes. But, for Greg, the most natural thing was to give all his decisions, all his questions and all his gifts over to God, and to rest in the sufficiency of grace. "Some people might think I'm a bit naive because I am always that 'glass is half full' type of guy. I guess I can thank my parents who raised me to believe this way…I rely on the fact that God is good, however simplistic that may sound. God is good. And whatever is going on around me, I just trust that the Lord is in control, and He will work things out."
As God is prone to do at tumultuous times in our lives, not only did He work things out for Greg's good, He used the difficult times — and a big dose of reality — to renew Greg's passion for ministry through music. He used the questions and the answers as a catalyst to strengthen Greg's passion for songwriting. As a result, Greg is a stronger man with a clearer vision about what matters in this life.
And NOW — on which Greg co-wrote 7 of 10 songs — pulls back the curtain on that man.
The high-energy, radio-friendly "Sufficiency Of Grace" encourages believers to hold fast in the knowledge of God's compassionate love for us. "We all struggle with sin, with spiritual pride, with a whole lot of stuff, but what God has done for us is sufficient for it all — prostitutes, drug users, liars, and even me," Greg says. "I think most of us have a pretty good understanding when we come face to face with our own sin that we are not better than anybody else. As soon as we get face to face with that and put out of our churches and out of our lives any self-righteousness, the better off we all are. I am as guilty as everybody else is, so there is no place for pride."
One of the most vulnerable, beautiful ballads on the album — and one of Greg's favorites — is "In The Waiting," a song born out of Greg's family's struggle during his father's brain tumor surgery. The lyrics reveal Greg's desire to feel God's presence and assurance in all his doubts about the future. "This is an honest piece about our need for answers, about the times we beg for God to do something, instead of just learning to wait here and experience His peace."
"We Dream Of A Kingdom," a lush ballad that sings of the day when "love is the law," connected with Greg is a very personal way, due to the recent loss of his grandparents. "We pray all the time that God's kingdom will come, his will be done," Greg explains, "but frankly, down here that is not going to happen. This earth will never be a Utopia. But the difference, for Christians, is that we have hope. Heaven is not some part of a nice fairy tale book. It's a reality. And we need to be reminded of that hope."
"The Sacrifice," co-written by Long, Koch, and Dave Clark, is a song that is dear to Greg's heart because it talks about what sets Christianity apart, what makes our faith unique. "Our salvation, our faith, is based on a relationship, not an icon. It's not like being a Buddhist — it's not just a religion, a cultural lifestyle or a moral philosophy. The crucifixion and the resurrection were real, and now we have a relationship with our Creator — a relationship that we can build on everyday." If we could ever realize the scope of Jesus' sacrifice, Greg says, we'd live every day to show our love and gratitude.
In these songs, and throughout NOW, Greg Long's faith and artistry speak volumes, not out of a scarred, battered life experience, but out of a life of grateful perseverance and simple trust that has brought him to this place. Spiritually, it's a place of confidence and compassion, a place where God is teaching Greg large life lessons about what it means to be a man after God's own heart. Professionally — musically — it's a place of progress, of growing into his full potential as a singer, as a songwriter and as an artist focused on ministering to others.
"Music is such an emotional thing. I see how God uses it to bring about serious changes in people lives, by His Spirit — to give people hope," Greg adds. "I'm excited about these songs because I know how God has used them to move me, to change me; and I hope they'll find a home in other people's hearts."
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