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December 2001 Table of Contents
Special Feature
Mighty Long Way
By Geron Davis
Many of the songs that we write are triggered by an event or circumstance that happens in our lives. Songs like "We Sing Worthy," "Mercy Saw Me," and even "Holy Ground" were all inspired by special moments. Such was the case when I began to write this song. One of the great things about what we do--making worship recordings - is that we get to do it with our friends. When we started working on "Offer Up This Praise," one of the most exciting aspects was getting to be with Joel and Kathy Allen, their family, and the Riverside gang in Denver. We have been there numerous times and knew we would have a blast! But I also knew that somehow in this recording I would have to address a major issue. You see, right after we met the Allen family, they went through a very dark time. Joel, after having an unexpected seizure during the Thanksgiving holidays, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Brain surgery revealed that it was too intertwined with the brain to remove. They would have to rely on medication and various treatments to try to halt its growth and give Joel a somewhat normal life. While the doctors "experimented" with what would be the best approach, I talked to Joel frequently. Amazingly, I never heard him complain. There were times he could not sleep, times he would have major depression, and a few times, he had seizures. But not once did I sense any sense any self-centeredness or self-pity in him. He just kept on going and going and going. I knew, however, that the pressure of dealing with something like this in your life had to be immense. During J&J Houston last year, Joel and I went to dinner with Buster Pray and Steve White. During the course of the evening, because we are all close friends, the conversation turned to asking Joel how he was doing. Joel, with a breaking voice and tears in his eyes, told us that sometimes it was hard to deal with but that he was trusting God to get him through it. It was an emotional moment for all of us. I knew then that we had to use his struggle to help minister to the needs of others. We were only weeks away from the recording, but the song idea was born.
Walked thru valleys climbed the mountains
Marched across the glorious, golden plains
By still waters thru the desserts
God has brought me from a mighty long way
There were times my spirit prospered
Other times I thought my hope would fray
But in my weakness He'd always strengthen
God has brought me from a mighty long way
Medical setbacks, trying moments, physical weaknesses - none of this could change Joel's joy factor. He was always laughing, sometimes even at himself! And he was always quick, regardless of what his week might have been like, to give God praise for blessing him "way more than I deserve". So I put it in the song.
He has kept me and sustained me
Never left me or let me stray
Every need He has provided
God has brought me from a mighty long way
And I learned something from my friend during his walk thru his valley. I learned what it really means to be thankful at all times. Thankful for family, thankful for church family and choir, thankful for pastor, thankful for friends. Most of these are mentioned at least once in every conversation I have with him. I've also learned to be thankful for trials and times of testing. Because in them, we are drawn closer to one another and closer to the Father.
Thank You thank You thank You
With gratefulness I say
Thank You thank You
You have brought me from a mighty long way
After the lyric was finished, I asked Bradley Knight to help me with the music. I even told the orchestra in the studio and the choir that this one had to be "special." No one knew until the evening of the recording that the song had been created for Joel as a testimony to all he had been through and what his journey had taught us all. It was a powerful and emotional moment for everyone there. Everyone on stage was crying. Pastor Rick and Cathy were crying. Jerry and Jackie Evans, who were with us that night, were crying. Basically, the entire place. Yet the moment was not sad - but celebratory! Because we knew what God had done and how great He has been. Not only to Joel Allen, but also to all of us. We all have our valleys and moments of difficulty. We've all stood in dry places when it felt like we had been abandoned and God was a million miles away. And we've all watched as He gently and faithfully reminded us, in some way, that He would never leave us or forsake us. Yes, He's brought us all a mighty long way!
God has brought me from a mighty long way
Mighty Long Way by Geron Davis/Bradley Knight
©2001 New Spring Publishing Inc./DaviShop Publishing (ASCAP)/Bridge Building Music, Inc. (BMI)
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