Paul Good

A Love thing

I’m gonna stay in love with you, I’m going to walk by faith… “Love Thing”

Paul Good can be described as many things; singer, songwriter, pastor, and family man, but upon closer look it seems that he’d most like to be known as a communicator.

His passion for music with a message is obvious upon first listen to his new album Love Thing Good, who was formally trained in both piano and guitar as a child, embraced music at the age of nineteen seeing it as a way to stand up for the ways of the Lord. His artistry continued to develop as he went on to front a band and eventually pursue a solo direction.

However, to say it’s been a carefree path for Good to reach this place in his musical career and life in general would be an overstatement. He’s been met with obstacles from the get-go, including many years’ worth of tug-of-war between his head and his heart. Raised in a highly conservative Christian home with his grandfather and father both being pastors, Good was confronted with the debate as to whether or not contemporary pop music and Christianity could actually mesh. Inevitably it led him to leave music totally behind and instead carry on the family legacy by attending Hatfield, Pennsylvania’s Biblical Theological Seminary.

Good then dove head first into a church pastorate position, which turned sour after only 18 months when he tried to bring a contemporary relevance to the congregation and appeal to the unchurched. He was asked to step down from leadership. Despite the heaviness of discouragement from this seeming setback, Paul believed that God had something more.

“I was angry and hurt, and had no idea what to do next,” confesses Good. “I thought this was the plan and yet I had absolutely no control over my own life. It took some time, but I came to realize that God was the one in charge and knew what was best for me.”

Soon after in 2002 Good was at his son’s little league game when a friend asked him what he wanted to now do with his life. It was at that moment that his passion came full circle. “I started dreaming again believing God was that good to let me do this and said goodbye to all of the things I thought I was supposed to do and what I had thought others expected me to do. As I began to open myself up to music again, God affirmed it everywhere through preachers, songs, and books I was reading. I kept hearing this message that I needed to move in faith and get on track towards what God had called me for, not what was perceived as right by everyone else.”

For the next few years, Good refocused and surrounded himself with the writing, recording, and performing of music, this time infused with a more heartfelt purpose than ever before. Radio stations in the Northeast began to take notice of the local singer/songwriter’s 2005 musical offering titled Enter In, with the title track becoming one of the top requested songs and two other singles breaking into the Top 40 airplay as well. Once playing coffeehouses and mom-and-pop venues, Good was being invited to perform at bigger churches, county fairs, and even an arena. And the seminary studies only further enhanced Good’s range of communication, complimenting his public ministry and adding a devotional element to his website. During this time he traveled back and forth from his Pennsylvania home to Nashville in effort to write and record music, but eventually realized that if he was going to follow his God-given dream, he’d need to relocate his family. So in 2006, Good made the move with his wife and three kids to Tennessee.

It was the next year that Good hooked up with country star singer/songwriter Bryan White and Ian Eskelin of All-Star United to write the song “Everything I Am 4 You” which garnered national exposure on American Family Radio and elsewhere . His skills were further recognized when he won Salem radio network’s “International Christian Songwriter Contest” with “Journey to Love” in 2008. A follow up single “BreakThru” rounded out a string of strong radio play and helped pave the way for the newest 2009 album release.

Good’s sophomore effort, Love Thing, is anchored by industry veterans and hails a solid collection of producers and arrangers including Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli ), Bernie Hermes (Natalie Grant), and Tommy Collier (CircleSlide). The album also showcases the musicianship of guitarist Mike Payne(Matthew West, Rush of Fools) as well as Rob Graves (Red), and Scott Williamson (Point of Grace).

Love Thing, a perfect balance of worship, pop, and rock, captures the essence of vulnerability and perseverance that Paul Good has lived and breathed. At the core of the album is the standout single and title track “Love Thing,” which is currently at both INSPO and AC radio formats. It focuses on the greatest commandment of loving the Lord God. “God’s desire is true love from us, not manipulation, but sincerity,” comments Good. “Someone once quipped ‘God is only weak in one way, that He wants true love’. This song encourages people to be in a genuine love relationship with the Lord out of our response to his love found in Jesus, not because of a law with rules and regulations that you keep in order to get something you want from Him”

The catchy pop single, “Walk with Me” also encapsulates this love relationship focus as the heart and soul of Paul’s ministry. “This song talks about being continually distracted by the world’s lure and yet everything you could ever want, beyond your wildest dreams is right there waiting, if you walk with God.”

In an industry where most times youth, fads, and money are the factors of success, Paul Good has managed to go against the grain and carve out a solid place for himself. Good says, “God doesn't discard you when you’re 30 years old like the world does, in fact Jesus himself started his public ministry then! No, from a spiritual perspective we have much more to offer the body of Christ than our younger counterparts complete with life experience and education.”

Good identifies with the life of Moses, a guy who believed he was called to do something and went out to do it. In the Biblical story Moses goes on to mess it all up doing it his way, was sent out into the backside of the wilderness for years, and only then came back to do it the Lord’s way.

“I’ve had many roadblocks along the way trying to pursue this music ministry endeavor. It wasn’t until I totally surrendered to God as his servant that I experienced how He does things in a much more powerful way than I could have ever dreamed up myself!”

And so, with life lessons learned, Good continues to pursue the working of out the gospel in his life, and communicating it through his music so others may be encouraged who also have not had life go quite as planned! . Good will launch out on his 2009-2010 nationwide tour later this year to share the songs and message of “Love thing”

“The Lord is up to something good in all of us and we have to believe that, even through the hard times and disappointments will come,” says Good. “In order to get to His goals for us, we have to stay in love with Him by continually being renewed by His love for us, then believe life happens around us in order to reach His ultimate purpose, to help us realize and live out our oneness with Christ. This brings him glory…and us great joy!”