Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: LOVE ROLLERCOASTER

Ups and downs. Highs and lows. The excitement of visiting new places and the comfort zone of familiar turf. Making new friends and — saying goodbye to our dearest ones. Life is a rollercoaster ride, indeed.

Was it truly “just last week,” or actually a year ago? For me, the concept of time can become a bit of a blur these days. But, here I am, running a full load of jeans and concert T-shirts at my local Laundromat at 5AM — before the sun comes out and the crowd rolls in. It’s New Year’s Day 2014, and I’m now really regretting the decision to leave my heavy jacket at home. Yes, it does get cold in Florida during January. This is often the place where I do my best thinking — particularly on this morning, as I thaw my throbbing hands on the warm dryers, reflecting on the people, places and experiences that made 2013 one of the most tumultuous years of my life.

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE HONEYMOON SUITE

Over the years, I’ve made more than 1,000 appearances as a wedding DJ. It’s less “rock and roll” than being on tour with platinum-selling bands, and it requires more electronics than ministry work. But the experiences are typically every bit as memorable.

Weddings are a wonderful time of celebration. A time when a man leaves his father and mother and becomes united to his wife — no longer two, but one. That’s some powerful stuff, right there.

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Genesis 2:18 (NLT)

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Yet despite the beauty and the sanctity of the occasion, I’ve seen some pretty crazy things take place throughout my bridal biz career. FYI, only the names have been changed here. I just can’t make up this kinda stuff.

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: JUNGLE LOVE

There we were — 18 missionaries (plus drivers) all piled into a procession of soccer mom-style minivans with an enclosed trailer in tow, packed with personal luggage, supplies and provisions, headed out on what was to be an epic weeklong excursion. We departed on November 30, 2013 — en route to Orlando International Airport. Our final destination, once again, was the jungles of Nicaragua.

Although I recognized all of my teammates, I’d had little personal connection to some of them beyond offering an occasional “Wassup?” as we passed each other in halls at church on Sunday morning. However, by the end of the week, we would become a family.

And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15 (NLT)

Our mission was simple — spread the Gospel. We would endeavor to show Jesus Christ to the people of Nicaragua through kindness, love, and compassion. And in this case, that meant bringing food to the hungry, essentials to the needy, and healing to the sick.

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER TWELVE: SHOW AND (DON’T) TELL

Writers hear it from editors ad nauseam. To paint a vivid portrait with words, it’s imperative to “show,” not “tell.” This advice can also be applied to our daily Christian lives.

Whether we recognize it or not, we all minister to each other every day — believers and non-believers alike. Believers aren’t called to “win” souls, but simply to “minister” to the world. Hence, how we choose to minister — “showing” vs. “telling” can determine our effectiveness.

Let’s say, for instance, you’re driving through the Starbucks parking lot and somebody cuts you off and steals your prime spot. As a conscientious believer, you either can get out of your car and just “tell” the guy, “Hey dude, I’m a Christian” (kinda random and not terribly effective), or you can keep your mouth shut, hold open the door for the guy, and maybe even pay for his coffee. Now that’s “showing!” See the difference?

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE WILDERNESS FILES

An entire week in the wilderness with a busload of teenagers. Good grief, just what had I gotten myself into this time?

In Chapter Two, I confessed my flagrant disregard for the rules during my first youth summer camp leader experience in 2012. I kept my four teenage roommates out too late carousing each night, and I’d sneak off from our group each morning to execute my covert Starbucks excursions. Hence, I was certain that I’d never again be allowed to serve as a camp leader. But sure enough, I was. In fact, the weeklong 2013 UNTAMED youth outing at Gainesville, Florida’s Camp Kulagua would have me overseeing an entire cabin with not four, but nine teenage boys. For my part, this mission had disaster written all over it.

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER TEN: UNUSUAL SUSPECTS

God intentionally puts seemingly random people in our lives. Sometimes, these “unusual suspects” can bless us. Other times, we get to provide the blessing. But all too often, we can miss out completely on golden opportunities to connect.

We’ve all possibly been guilty at one time or another of rushing to judge people — immediately (and inaccurately) sizing up and pushing away “unusual suspects” based on our skewed perception of their spiritual beliefs, financial status, disabilities, fashion sense, political affiliation, favorite sports team; the list goes on. But it’s been my experience that when I get off my high horse and I give people a fair shake, almost always, connections are made, relationships are born, lessons are learned, and blessings abound.

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One night in 2012, I was approached by a woman at a club where I was appearing. Stuttering and slurring her words, I knew instinctively that she was drunk — really drunk. I quickly lost my patience after having to ask the woman over and over to repeat herself, and the blasting rock music, combined with my notorious hearing disability, only added to my frustration. Then, on her third or fourth attempt, I finally could understand what she was trying to say. “I really liked your book,” the woman confessed, as she leaned in close enough for my deaf ears to hear. To quote Homer Simpson, “DOH!” But it gets worse. I soon discovered that this woman wasn’t drunk at all — she actually suffered from a physical disability of her own. Wow, double “DOH!” I was immediately and thoroughly ashamed of myself for having been so swift to judge, especially since all she wanted to do was bless me with words of encouragement. In hindsight, the only disability that was problematic in this scenario was my own — not my deafness, but my “blindness.” Consequently, I missed out on a golden connection opportunity.

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*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER NINE: FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK

I’ve heard it all in my (now) 60+ years — from “Surfin’ Safari” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to “Crazy Bitch” and “Something In Your Mouth.” Thankfully, I’ve discovered some alternatives to today’s popular music fare.

There once was a time when the longevity of an artist’s career was based on creating consistent quality content — heartfelt poetry and timeless sing-alongs that inspired people and captured their hearts and imaginations. But the current “music” world is a different place. Producing quality content has taken a backseat to staging ridiculous shenanigans. Today’s “flavors of the week” try desperately to remain relevant — monopolizing and manipulating 24-hour pseudo news outlets with reports of overdoses, DUIs, drug arrests, acts of domestic violence, and high-profile divorces.

At one multi-band concert event I attended some time ago, I noticed an array of T-shirts being sold at the merch table in the lobby of the theater — fashion-forward apparel boasting eye-catching slogans promoting “Casual Sex” and “Porn Star Dancing.” I even saw a shirt being offered at one particular Orlando concert that depicted Jesus in a manner that I can’t even recount in this book. I remain dumbfounded as I watch fans line up in droves, show after show — eager to shell out top dollar for this stuff — like sheep headed to the slaughterhouse. Make no mistake, current T-shirt messages and lyrics are 100% intentional and as serious as a proverbial heart attack. They’re designed and delivered — straight from the pit of Hell. Just so ya know.

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER EIGHT: UNBROKEN

As a result of religious rhetoric, cultural nonsense, and even our own sketchy testimonies, we can often miss out on God’s best.

I was brought up in denominational churches where religion was beaten into me on a weekly basis. I was constantly reminded that I fully deserved any and all grief, guilt, and anxieties that I was dealing with because I was a wicked sinner who clearly wasn’t doing enough to earn God’s favor. Hence, I was plagued throughout my entire life by a constant sense of brokenness. But that’s how religion rolls — it screams condemnation and actually pushes us away from God.

“Religion is insane and cruel — run from it.” –Ray Goolsby (Executive Pastor | East Coast Christian Center | Merritt Island, FL)

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER SEVEN: CULTURE CLASH

Like a pit bull on a pork chop, society is consumed by culture — obsessed with sexting and texting, twerking, jerking, bumping, grinding, and the latest must-see TikTok clips of cute kitties, dancing dolts, and triggered teens. And the first generation of adorable little tikes that were raised since birth by iGadgets has now grown up and is taking on the world — just don’t expect them to make direct eye contact with other humans, shake hands, or speak in complete sentences. IMO

SPOILER: Every aspect of culture that we’re so eager to embrace today will be nothing more than the punch line to a joke tomorrow. Mood rings, hair bands, and flip phones were once relevant, too.

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER SIX: Welcome to the Jungle

Given my rock and roll past, I never would have expected to get busted for smuggling drugs into a Third World country — while on a missionary trip.

When I first acquired my passport several years ago, I had just been hired to work for a world-renowned rock band with an international touring schedule. I was a different guy in those days. Back then, my sole mission was to travel far and wide in pursuit of the sex, drugs & rock and roll lifestyle. But my life had been changed in the spring of 2010 — and I’ve never once looked back.

For those who associate God, Jesus, or even a church experience in general with notions of religious law, unachievable expectations, guilt, shame, and condemnation, you’ve clearly been buying from the wrong dealer. Faith is about a relationship, NOT religion. And once we establish a relationship with the Father through accepting his Son, Jesus Christ, we become free of religion and receive immediate blessings — forgiveness, mercy, and grace. We can also begin blessing others.

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I kinda knew that something weird was going on when my compadre, “Crazy” Neil, handed me a book regarding missionary work in the summer of 2012. He claimed that it simply “fell out of the sky” and that he had “received a word” that I was destined to go on a missions trip. Oh, that “Crazy” Neil.

But then, I soon heard of a team being assembled to travel from Florida’s Space Coast to Nicaragua to spread the Gospel while blessing the locals with food, clothing, and other life essentials. And after several years, I had to relocate my lost rock and roll tour passport — but this time, I was going on a completely different kind of tour.

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” -Jesus Christ Mark 16:15 (NLT)

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER FIVE: Sticks and Stones

Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.

We probably all remember hearing these words on the playground growing up as kids — at least I do, anyway. FYI, it’s also a lie. Be sure that our words can and do hurt other people as well as ourselves — especially spiritually. But our words can also inspire and encourage. And it was only through my concentrated daily Starbucks Bible study a few years ago that I discovered the true power that’s projected through our words.

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER FOUR: Rock Stars Among Us

I spent much of my life worshiping the rock band KISS. But by 2010, I realized that the “Starchild” was no longer the “Apostle” Paul to whose “Gospel” I was subscribing.

Oh, how the world loves to worship rock stars. Back in the day, owning every record from my menagerie of musical messiahs was paramount, and I memorized every dubious lyric to every one of their iconic anthems — Back in black, I hit the sack…

My home was a shrine — a place of worship where I proudly displayed wall-to-wall posters and memorabilia honoring my heavy metal heroes. However, as I became more of a music biz insider later in life, I was quickly disillusioned by the discovery that, regardless of the musical genre, “rock stars” care a heck of a lot less about us than we do about them.

To say the least, my relationship with Jesus has blossomed in recent years. And as I’ve become more deeply rooted in the Word, I recognize that there are actually “rock stars” in the world who are truly worthy of admiration. But they aren’t found prancing onstage at some enormo-dome — they “rock” offstage — residing among us all, in our personal day-to-day lives.

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER THREE: Call of Doodie

There I was, at 1AM, performing onstage with my band at a Florida nightclub. By 4AM, I was on my hands and knees, chiseling poop from ceramic tiles off my church’s men’s room floor. Careful what you wish for!

As an ear is just as necessary as an eye, in terms of our physical bodies, and a foot is no more important than a thumb, each of us in the church — the body of Christ, also is equally valuable. From the Senior Pastor and members of the Praise and Worship team to the greeters and parking lot attendants, every role is vital to the life and success of any local church.

I was introduced to my church by a longtime friend in 2010. From the moment I first set foot on the property and caught a glimpse of the line of Harleys and the sea of tattooed worshipers, I knew I had finally found my “home.” I was so “on fire” for Jesus and so grateful to have been delivered from my recent darkness that I became filled with a burning desire to serve in any capacity. In fact, despite my “new guy” status, I quickly reached out to the Worship Pastor and confessed that I’d even be willing to scrub the church bathrooms with a toothbrush if necessary. Although I soon began meeting and making new church friends, it would take a while — a year and a half, to be precise — before I had established myself to the point of receiving any ministry-related responsibilities.

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Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

CHAPTER TWO: Blessings, Badgers, and Bieber’s Mom

Three words continue to pop up over and over throughout my faith journey — “wild,” “weird,” and “wonderful.”

By 2012, I’d become a prominent fixture in my church’s youth ministry program. That alone was pretty wild. And as I approached age 50 that year, I found myself heading off to serve as an adult leader for some sort of Christian teen summer camp. I know, it sounded weird to me, too, at the time. And this chapter chronicles a few of my personal experiences — the sights, the sounds, and the (frequently disturbing) smells from a wonderful week — eating, playing, and worshiping with a busload of crazy teens.

As a newbie in the ministry field, I didn’t have the slightest clue what to expect when my church youth pastor encouraged me to attend the camp-type conference in Daytona Beach. Although I couldn’t see his vision in that moment, I had faith in his judgment, and I believed that the experience would be life-changing.

For we live by believing and not by seeing. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)

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If there’s one thing that I’ve learned over the last several years as an avid moviegoer, it’s that when it comes to music-related biopics, I should never expect authentic portrayals of worshipped pop stars or credible reenactments of their real-life stories. That’s not the purpose of these flicks. They’re simply a vehicle to cash in and (further) fuel the fire of fandom. Which is fine, I guess. That said, my expectations for the just-released Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, were realistically low. I merely hoped for an entertaining two-hour theater experience, worthy of my $6 senior discount ticket. Extra butter, please!

Overseen by celebrated director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Southpaw, The Magnificent Seven), Michael met and surpassed my expectations. As a music-crazed kid coming of age during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, I grew up with those magical Jackson 5 records. And I continued consuming Michael Jackson’s solo music throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s, and into the ‘90s. Truth be told, to say that the self-proclaimed “King of Pop” achieved massive global success would be to understate his enduring icon status.

While Michael certainly is entertaining, I’ve been paying attention to pop culture long enough to realize that the film is generally a glossy feel-good. However, I will say that it was extremely well cast. So well cast, in fact, that often, names aren’t even required to identify many of the characters. Those in the know just, know. Ya know?

Jermaine Jackson’s son Jaafar Jackson delivers a dazzling big-screen debut performance as his post-tween uncle, Michael. Equally superb, Colman Domingo and Nia Long both seemingly become Michael’s father, Joseph Jackson, and mother, Katherine Scruse-Jackson.

The film glides through certain parts of Jackson’s story while meandering through others. Clocking in at two hours and change, it could have either been trimmed down to a tidy 90 minutes, or given permission to roam beyond the borders of where it ends somewhat abruptly in 1988 — conveniently before Jackson’s truly bizarre eccentricities became widely known or any scandalous legal allegations came into light. Hmm.

In sum, given my expectations going in, Michael was nostalgic, fun, and the soundtrack had me (nearly) dancing in the aisle — well worth the $6, for sure. However, $8 for the tub of popcorn, now that’s another story.

-Christopher Long (April 2026)

Copyright 2014 | 2026 Christopher Long and Bryan Dumas | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a print or Internet magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

*All Bible references come from the New Living Translation (NLT). Used by permission, courtesy of Tyndale Publishing.

SHOUT IT OUT LOUD

Stories of Fast Times and Faith, From the Show Biz Guru

Christopher Long - w/ Bryan Dumas

Foreword: Brent Jensen

Illustrations: Wendrell Tillett

Editor: Michelle Wilson

Cover design: Carson “Squeegie” Jenkins for Squeegie Studios

Cover photography: Kevin Roberts for Intimate Images

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Dedication

• Foreword

• Introduction

CHAPTERS

ONE: The Return of Chickenman!

TWO: Blessings, Badgers, and Bieber’s Mom

THREE: Call of Doodie

FOUR: Rock Stars Among Us

FIVE: Sticks and Stones

SIX: Welcome to the Jungle

SEVEN: Culture Clash

EIGHT: Unbroken

NINE: For Those About to Rock

TEN: Unusual Suspects

ELEVEN: The Wilderness Files

TWELVE: Show and (Don’t) Tell

THIRTEEN: Jungle Love

FOURTEEN: The Honeymoon Suite

FIFTEEN: Love Rollercoaster

• Acknowledgments

• About the Authors

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DEDICATION

To my friend, Bruce Black — a mighty man of God who encouraged me as we battled the forces of Satan during our 2013 Nicaragua adventure. Thanks for the inspiration, Bruce. This one’s for you, dude!

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FOREWORD

I met Christopher Long in the summer of 2012, shortly after my first book, NO SLEEP ‘TIL SUDBURY: Adventures in 80s Hard Rock and Metal Deconstruction, had launched. I had written this book, a memoir that detailed my adventures growing up in a small northern Canadian town as a hard rock and heavy metal fan in the 1980s, after looking back on the very significant emotional investment I had made in music as a kid. Music was an absent friend to me back then, and I looked to it as a touchstone I would use to navigate the awkwardness of small-town adolescent life. It was a highly personal and cheeky love letter to a musical genre I truly did cherish.

NO SLEEP ‘TIL SUDBURY didn’t just serve as a commemorative emblem of my youth. It also asked the hard questions — why did we love this particular genre of music and its representative bands so much as opposed to say, Bruce Springsteen or INXS? What were the sociological correlations involved in identifying so closely with music that was so aggressive and hyper-anarchistic? And in considering these factors, what does our passion for the music, both back then and today, tell us about who we are as individuals?

I assumed that there were others out there in the world who, while perhaps hadn’t gone to the lengths of writing a book about it, may have asked themselves these same questions. Or at the very least, would enjoy some form of connectivity in the read. And as it turned out, I was right. I heard from a lot of people from all over the world who read NO SLEEP ‘TIL SUDBURY, in fact — many sent their thanks for writing a book that enabled them to relive their youth.

Others remarked at the “eerie” similarities in our childhoods — the time spent in the record stores and at concerts. How we determined which records we would buy. How we spent endless hours scrutinizing the artwork, photos, and liner notes contained in album sleeves and cassette inserts. What we heard, and felt, when we listened to the records of our favorite bands. And how we experienced that same indescribable and immeasurable bliss that our music provided to us.

Chris Long was one of those people. When he reached out via email I was thrilled to hear him describe, as a fellow writer, how deeply he connected with my story. He completely understood what I was trying to do. I was even more thrilled when he proposed a joint promotional author tour of the southeastern U.S. for our books, his being C’MON! along with his previous title, A SHOT OF POISON. The 2013 tour led to the writing of my current non-fiction book, LEFTOVER PEOPLE: A Journey Through Post-Rock and Roll America, in which Mr. Long plays a starring role.

Within the close confines we shared during our tour, I learned a lot about Chris, and consequently, a bit more about myself as well. Initially, I knew Chris, or “The Chief” as I call him, to be an eclectic character. As I got to know him better, he earned my respect for knowing exactly who he was and for believing in himself. He had led a pretty colorful life previous to our meeting, one that could in fact be featured as a VH1 Behind the Music segment — lead singer in an obnoxious metal / rap-type band based in Florida during the early ‘90s as a young and troubled man. His band bordered on success but never made it. His trouble proliferated by drugs, alcohol, and women (honestly!).

Then, our hero joined the touring organization of a very popular ‘80s hair band as the personal assistant to one of the band members for two of their U.S. summer tour extravaganzas. Chris was eventually forced to remove himself from this position for fear of a complete mental and physical collapse. He then wrote a book offering the lurid details of his ordeal, drawing intense ire from the band’s organization and their fans. More anguish ensued at the thought of having to pull the book at the last minute and face litigation from his publisher. Cue rock bottom lows.

But then Chris found what he needed in life. And this gave rise to the book you currently hold in your hands.

A happy ending to a tumultuous story in some respects, but more so, a new beginning for The Chief. It wasn’t surprising to me that Chris was able to forge a career in writing — the guy’s got loads of great stories. When he graciously approached me to write the foreword for this book, I will very honestly admit that I was somewhat reluctant to contribute to a work that would, in Chris’ own words, make me want to “hiss.” I’m not a religious person at all, and have no interest in becoming one. But really, this matters little. The relationship Chris and I developed out on the road was predicated on tolerance, respect, and a sense of humor. All mostly his. As we planned our aforementioned tour, we actually toyed with the idea of playing up our differences in a “Heaven & Hell” aspect — Chris having recently accepted Christ, and me having recently accepted a kilo from Peru. This bit of witticism was vintage Long. He’s got a million of ‘em.

As we move forward down the road, we’re all looking for guidance. Looking for a better way. Chris Long’s new book, SHOUT IT OUT LOUD, documents the fact that he has found his. And I couldn’t be happier for him.

-Brent Jensen

(January 2014)

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CHAPTER ONE: The Return of Chickenman!

My lifelong dream finally came true in the early 2000s. After doing things MY way for decades, chasing that music biz brass ring, I was now working as an assistant to platinum-selling rock stars. At the age of 43, I was living large — traveling on luxury tour buses, staying in five-star hotels, and enjoying an array of other related perks — all while being paid to procure drugs, groupies, and daily Starbucks orders for the rich and famous.

But by 2010, my action-packed “sex, drugs & rock and roll” lifestyle had gone noticeably sideways. Simply put, the realization of my dream fell far short of my expectations. I ultimately landed at my kitchen table, sitting with a knife to my wrist — drowning in a sea of depression — with little more than a shattered soul to show for my lifetime of poor decisions and blind ambition.

I’d grown up in church. I’d been “saved” since I was a little kid. And to me, accepting Christ, attending occasional church services, possessing the ability to regurgitate some religious rhetoric, owning several Stryper records, and having a few years of sobriety under my belt made me a standup Christian. I was wrong. The truth is, I’d been viewing my salvation as merely “fire insurance” for 40 years.

As I recounted in my 2012 book, C’MON!, my cousin Dorothy was the “angel” sent by God to reach out to me in the spring of 2010 — precisely at my darkest moment, while sitting in my kitchen, with my hand trembling, as I pressed the cold steel blade against my wrist. Thanks to Dorothy’s well-timed obedience, at age 47, I quickly came to realize that I’d consumed so much “religion” my whole life that I’d missed what the whole thing is all about — a “relationship” with Jesus.

I had a particular phone conversation one morning with Dorothy shortly following my “awakening.” Basking in my newfound “relationship,” I reported to her how I was now totally “solid” — committed to daily Bible study and plugged in at a swell new church, the kind that welcomes “weirdos” like me. Beaming with joy, she then began alluding to even greater things that were sure to come. “You mean there’s more?” I asked with undeniable naiveté. “Oh, you’ve not even begun the journey,” she replied.

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Copyright 2011 / 2026 Christopher Long. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Anniversary Follow-Up

So, What Happened Next?

It's a question I get asked frequently from readers after finishing C'MON!… “What happened next?” Did I fall back into the darkness of my past? Did I move forward into the light with Christ? Did I ever chill with Mick Fleetwood? Did I ever master the "Macarena?” So many urgent questions left unanswered.

Well, life has continued to be a wonderfully wild roller-coaster ride since C'MON! was written throughout 2011 and then released in January 2012. I chronicled many of those more recent escapades in my next book, Shout It Out Loud. But so much more has played out since that follow-up release arrived in 2014 — experiences that have provided me with many more unique stories and personal perspectives.

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Copyright 2011 / 2026 Christopher Long. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The Final Cut

Smackdown!

With the promotional phase of my first book completed in early 2011, I could focus fully on the drastically different message of this, my second book. But not everyone was exactly supportive of my newfound mission — including (once again) a few of my spiritual teammates.

Eager to share advance excerpts and to receive a professional critique, I reached out to "Joe," an acknowledged insider in the Christian publishing world. But instead of offering me much-needed support and encouragement, Joe conveyed his “disappointment” in an initial draft of C'MON! He further added (more or less) that I was a phony and that I wasn’t qualified to talk to anyone about Jesus. He even suggested that if I really wanted to honor God, I should “shut up.” Joe ended his email response by suggesting that I get deeper into The Word and surround myself with leaders from my church. And then, maybe — just maybe, at some point, I might have a worthy Christ-centered story to tell.

In the past, I would have gotten angry over this latest stinging smackdown dealt by yet another fellow Christian. But I didn’t get angry. In fact, I took Joe’s words as a personal challenge. I stepped up my Bible study efforts and began doing volunteer work at ECCC. Furthermore, I enrolled at East Coast Christian University. That’s right, at 48, I went back to college — Bible college! Although Joe clearly had missed the point of this book, I have to admit that his advice was sound, and I ultimately appreciated his (near) soul-crushing input.

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Copyright 2011 / 2026 Christopher Long. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

CHAPTER TWELVE: Weapon of Choice

Life doesn’t always get easier the closer you get to God. Satan is a crafty dude. He knows our weaknesses and knows exactly how and when to zap us.

I was finally walking in the “light” after the spring of 2010. But I still was vulnerable to one particular temptation from my past. So, what could possibly have been my Achilles’ heel? What was my one area of personal weakness that could trip me up most in my new spiritual journey? Hmm. Any guesses? Anyone? Bingo — that’s the one!

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Copyright 2011 / 2026 Christopher Long. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Adrenaline Rush

I’ve spent pretty much my entire life connected to the music industry. And despite my spiritual awakening, I continued to have a passion for music. I believe that music is a gift from God — yes, even rock and roll. GASP! However, I will say that by the summer of 2010, the music of KISS, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC was no longer speaking to me as loudly as it once did. So I began seeking out fresh sounds from faith-based artists with an edge. And as I made these subsequent discoveries, I promoted them gleefully through my various published feature stories and record reviews.

I was also no longer interested in the typical shock jock-type content of my former favorite radio stations — I had simply lost interest in lowbrow penis jokes and details of upcoming area wet T-shirt events. And except for tuning in to catch headlines on my local Fox News Radio station, I was now listening to my hometown Christian station, 91.5 FM WMIE, almost exclusively.

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