He’s the Reason to Go On

30 Responses to He’s the Reason to Go On

  1. Tom's avatar Tom says:

    Wow! Great tune! Thanks for posting, Chris! I love the early-1970s country-rock style. I googled “The Way” and I see guitarist Al Perkins produced and played on the band’s second album. Perkins was a member of one of my all-time favorite country-rock bands, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and he accepted Jesus as his Savior during the “Jesus Movement” in Southern California. Perkins then went with Chris Hillman to the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and he led Richie Furay to the Lord. Reading Furay’s autobiography, “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” was one of the things the Lord used to prod me to return to Him in 2014 after an extremely long prodigal “season” (twenty-three years), so I have a special fondness for Perkins and Furay.
    Anyway, thanks again for the song. I will definitely be digging into “The Way” some more.

    • Chris's avatar Chris says:

      I’m glad you liked this, Tom. Every so often a tune from that era will get stuck in my head. This is one of those recurring songs. It was back in my head again yesterday so I figured I would post it. One of the reasons I like this song is because the words are so clear. I know very little about this group compared to other early Christian groups like this. Of the names you mention here, the only one I recognize is Richie Furay. As I know you are aware, some of these early Christian groups had a huge impact on starting young Christians on their spiritual journey. At the time, this type of thing was all I would listen to. I’d get excited over some early song by a group like this and everyone else at my church would hear it wonder what I saw in it. I remember helping organize an event at my Junior College where Mustard Seed Faith came and did a concert during the lunch hour. They arrived in two vans and pulled all of their equipment out and started setting up. Unfortunately, Oden Fong was sick that day but the group did a very good job and the gospel message was clearly presented. We could only afford to pay them $80 for their efforts. I think there were four of them and one more to help with set-up/take down. They were not in it for the money, that’s for sure. Groups like that were willing to go just about anywhere having no idea what they would be paid. They were true disciples of the time. It doesn’t surprise me at all that someone as talented as Al Perkins is associated with this group. There was a good amount of talent in some of those early groups.

      • Tom's avatar Tom says:

        Thanks for the background, Chris. After I wrote my previous comment, I checked my Amazon Music app, and after some digging was able to find both of The Way’s albums and add them to an individual playlist I created. I was actually able to listen to the entire first album while doing my morning routine (a big blessing) and I’ll listen to the second album later today.

        • Chris's avatar Chris says:

          You’re welcome, Tom, and I think that is so cool. I consider this group and groups like these pioneer pilgrims because of the huge impact they had on the faith of young people at that time. So much of today’s CCM is so commercialized that I can’t really get into it and it has been that way for awhile for me. Still, anyone willing to use their musical gift to glorify God will be blessed.
          Thanks for the comment, Tom, and for letting me know. I’m always blessed when something I post blesses someone else.

          • mitchteemley's avatar mitchteemley says:

            I was blessed to hang out with a lot of these guys during the Jesus Movement, including Al and Richie. They were as real and as earnest in their faith as their lyrics.

            • Chris's avatar Chris says:

              That’s cool, Mitch. I had the impression that you had something to do with Isaac Air Freight. Am I right on that or just imagining things?

              • mitchteemley's avatar mitchteemley says:

                No, you’re not “imagining things,” Chris. ;>) I was a member of Isaac Air Freight, and later Mitch & Allen. We did a lot of festivals and double bills, and got to know most of the nationally-travelling Christian artists of the 70s and 80s. I also taught at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, which was the home base for many Christian artists, including The Way.

                • Chris's avatar Chris says:

                  That’s great, Mitch. My wife and I worked with a youth group and we did several of your skits with them. We even had the cassette with the sound effects.

                  “Wanna be funky and free, wanna be free and funky…”

                  “Can I drive the Galactica tonight?”

                  And who can forget Jerusalem Dragnet?

                  You guys did some great work. I’ve never heard of Mitch and Allen but I was going to Calvary Chapel, almost every week for their concerts for a year or two in the mid to late 70s. It was very worth it to drive all the way from West Covina to have that experience.

                  I have never found the same atmosphere that I experienced at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa at that time. In my home church we had a small youth group. Everyone was around my age at Costa Mesa. I remember those days fondly.

                  Thank you for sharing!

  2. I’ve never heard this, Chris. Thank you. Love it.

    • Chris's avatar Chris says:

      I’m glad you like it, Sue. The Way was one of the earliest “Contemporary Christian Music” groups. I think they may have even been a group before it was called CCM. In any case, they were one of many groups of young people who just wanted to sing about their love for Jesus because of what He had done for them. They were not into the fame and fortune that followed in the next several decades of CCM.

      • Yes. I also loved many Jesus Movement bands. Too bad I missed this one!

        • Chris's avatar Chris says:

          That’s great. Some of those musicians are still singing and playing but not many. I know that Oden Fong sings and preaches at his church and Randy Stonehill still does “concerts.” Randy Stonehill was one of my favorites.

          • I loved 2nd chapter of acts. And saw them in concert. Most of them live around CO springs now. But rarely perform together

            • Chris's avatar Chris says:

              They were great. I never got to see them live but I still have one of their albums. What talent they had! They all had (have) awesome voices and they blended so well. Thanks for sharing, Sue.

  3. mitchteemley's avatar mitchteemley says:

    Ah, love this sweet, heartfelt classic from my early “Jesus people” days.

  4. This is sweet, Chris! Thank you for sharing.

  5. Cathy's avatar Cathy says:

    I like it! Thank you for the blessing, Chris!

  6. safia begum's avatar safia begum says:

    A simple yet powerful title that carries deep emotional weight, suggesting hope, purpose, and the strength found in love or faith during difficult times. 🌿✨

  7. SLIMJIM's avatar SLIMJIM says:

    Loved this as I listen to this late night studying…thank you for this song

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