If you sing about the Cross of Jesus Christ, you will not lack an audience.  God has placed inside of each of us a cross-shaped heart we will never be at rest until we know the Crucified Savior.  Whether or not we may consciously acknowledge such a need, we will spend our lives searching for grace, meaning, purpose, mercy and a Savior until that void is filled.  Thus, if it were not for the Cross, we would be paying dearly with our lives for our guilt, rather than being counted righteous because of the blood of Jesus Christ.  If it were not for the Cross, we would consumed by the hopelessness of suffering, rather than still rejoicing in the midst of our pain.  If it were not for the Cross, we would be vengeful towards those who have crossed our pathways, rather than opting for the high road of forgiveness.  "The Cross" is more than just the titular of Lindley Creek's new album.  Rather, the lyrical thrust of these eleven new cuts is centered upon the Cross, with each song teasing out the portentous implications of how the Gospel functions in our everyday living.  Lindley Creek is made up of the Greer Family.  They are made up of John and Kathie Greer with their two children Jase and Katie. 

Unlike many of their Southern Gospel family peers, Lindley Creek is not restrained in at least two ways.  First, they are no slouch as far as song writing is concerned.  While many are content with just regurgitating the same oldie- but-goodies, four out of the eleven cuts are co-written or written by members of the family quartet.  Second, they are never reticent in experimenting styles of music often stretching beyond the bounds of Southern Gospel .  "My Redeemer" is a fine example of how these two traits converged.  Lifted as the album's lead single "My Redeemer" is an original composition coming from the pens of Phillip Bliss, Katherine R. Greer and Katherine A. Greer.  "My Redeemer" swirls its jaunty acoustic melody around lyrics that echo the hymn "I'll Sing of My Redeemer."  While Lindley Creek steers clear of the traditional route in approaching Ira Louvin's "He Included Me."  Rather, they have evolved this hymn of the Cross' redeeming work into a joyous bluegrass romp.

On an album with the Cross as its cynosure, it drips with poignancy when Lindley Creek chose to cover "Because of He Lives."  Written by Bill and Gloria Gaither at the time when they were expecting a child, the Gaithers were filled with apprehension knowing that their child would be coming in a world full of sin and evilness.  However, instead of sinking into despair, they choose to entrust their baby to our Savior: "How sweet to hold a newborn baby/And feel the pride and joy he gives/But greater still the calm assurance: This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!"  For those who enjoy some bristling fiddling and some tasty mandolin riffs, the traditional hymn "At Calvary" gets a bluegrass treatment.  Written by Elizabeth C. Clephane, Jessie Brown Pounds, Katie Greer "The Cross" has a beautiful sepia-like throwback to the acoustic "Brother Where Art Thou" days though it is tinted a by the occasional slips in their harmonies.

Lindley Creek does not just expound on the glory of the Cross.  On tracks like "Let Go" and "Grateful" provide us with opportunities for us to respond to our Risen Savior.  "The Cross," on the whole, presents the Gospel in its most beauty arrays.  Add to that, it criss-crosses through various genres and styles making the whole listening experience enjoyable.  And when you lift Jesus high up on the Cross, there is a beauty that radiates from these songs that is alluring and satisfying.