ARE YOU A BELIEVER?

Kutless has been pumping out quality Christian rock for over ten years now, including two worship albums, 2005's STRONG TOWER, and 2009's IT IS WELL.  Kutless is back with their seventh studio album BELIEVER (2012, BEC Recordings).  For this album group members are Jon Micah Sumrall (vocals), James Mead (guitar), Nick De Partee (guitar), Dave Luetkenhoelter (bass), and Jeff Gilbert (drums).  In the liner notes Jon Micah makes it clear he is grateful to still be making music.  He quotes James 1:17 which reads: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

The record begins with a rousing rock number 'If It Ends Today' which anticipates Christ's Second Coming: "Seems like the end is coming/Seems like the signs are lining up/As far as I can see/We're closer now than ever/This pain won't last forever/Love, Love is on His way."  'Carry On' extols the Lord's virtues: "There is love for the lonely/That only comes from You/There is peace and forgiveness/That I have found in You/Where else can I go?/You are the Way/You are the Light/You are the voice calling me through the night."  'All Yours' features strings by Brian Gocher and musically sounds ready for mainstream rock radio.  It is a song of grateful surrender: "With blood You bought my broken heart/So here I am, take everything/It's all Yours anyway/You turned my heart around, I came running back to You/Oh what joy I found surrounded by the Truth/That You love me and now I can see/It's all Yours anyway."

'Even If' is a ballad penned by Scott Krippayne and Tony Wood.  It speaks of trusting God even in those times where life doesn't go as we wish: "Sometimes all we have to hold on to/Is what we know is true of who You are/So when the heartache hits like a hurricane/That could never change who You are/And we trust in who You are/Even if the healing doesn't come/And life falls apart/And dreams are still undone/You are God, You are good/Forever faithful One."  'Hero' is much more mellow than the Skillet song of the same name.  The words to it tell us that the harvest of souls is waiting to be gathered in: "You don't have to look that hard to see/You don't have to reach that far to find someone in need/There is a desperation deep in this generation/Looking for something new, a love they can believe."  'Identity' written by Nick De Partee and Jason Walker, is about opening up to God and His purposes for us: "God I need You to be my identity/It's always easier to hide behind that/Camouflage that keeps our hearts so guarded/But there's no shame when we surrender everything to You/Everything to You."

'Need' is a guitar driven rock number.  It communicates how we oft feel when in a spiritual wilderness or 'dry season'.  Witness these words: "You tore the veil so my eyes could see/Your open arms right in front of me/Lord I feel blind, make this darkness flee/You know exactly what I need/Help me God I do believe/But I feel lost and it's killing me/I need You right now/God please answer me."  'Come Back Home' will appeal to those who appreciate the story found in Luke 15:11-32, that of the Prodigal Son.  Here are some of the words to this song written by Sam Mizell and Jeff Pardo: "I wanna see that face that I've been missing so much/I want to wrap My arms around your neck/I want to welcome you back to the place where you belong/I want to show you love has never left.../I've paid the price so have no fear/There's nothing but mercy here, yeah.../Mercy is waiting/Oh, when you come back home."  'This is Love' is a great modern rock song based on Luke 22:39-46 which recounts the night Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane: "Alone in a garden weeping/Begging His Father pleading/Take this cup from me/But if it's Your will Father let it be/All of the others sleeping/Sweat on His brow was bleeding/He could have run away but He chose to stay/This is Love, this is real." 

'Gravity' paints a picture of the Lord drawing us closer to Himself: "No matter where I go Your mercy follows/And I come running back to You/Your gravity keeps pulling me to You/I must have been destined for You.../You knew this human heart would be lost/So You planned a ransom and You paid the cost."  'I'm With You' has Grant Diggles responsible for strings and Jeff Gilbert on acoustic guitar.  This song will speak to the prodigals among us: "All this time You've been walking here beside me/Waiting for the day I'd call Your Name/So here am I walking through the darkest valley/Shine down Your light so I can see/You know I'm weary/I know You're calling out to me/Fall in My arms and I will carry you, carry you/I know you and I we can make it through, make it through.../All who need rest, all who are lonely/Come to Me now and just let it go."  The title track 'Believer' was written by Jon Micah and Scott Krippayne.  It is on the softer side, but beautiful.  It offers these wonderful words of hope: "No matter what you've done/How far you've run/There is hope for you/For every broken heart/He'll meet you where you are/And He will rescue you/Let Him rescue you."  One of the co-writers of the closing track 'Carry Me to the Cross' is Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline fame.  It ultimately points us to a place of refuge at Jesus' feet: "All these burdens on my shoulder/I'm not alone (2X)/You pull me from this place/Hallelujah! You carry me every day/You carry me all the way/And Hallelujah! You carry me to the/You carry me to the cross."

BELIEVER runs a generous 46 minutes and 27 seconds in length.  It is a project that does a good job of both encouraging Christians and reaching out in love to non-Christians.  On it the band shows a great deal of maturity.  I'm rating BELIEVER 87% and recommending it to fans of rock acts such as Daughtry, Creed, and Nickelback.  For more info visit http://www.kutless.com/ and http://www.becrecordings.com/.

GOING DEEPER

Jennifer Judy Kellner was born on October 19, 1980.  She is best known for her songs 'Your Hands' and 'What Love Really Means'.  JJ began her music career at San Jose Christian College where she began writing songs and playing coffeehouses.  She married Dave Heller from her band.  They moved to Phoenix, and then in 2006 to Nashville.  They now have two daughters.  Of her relationship with her husband she says: "We're definitely two halves of a whole.  I write the bulk of the lyrics and Dave is the editor and arranger, making the songs more effective.  He also does everything on the business side, which is great because it frees me up to be creative.  JJ's latest album DEEPER (2011, Stone Table Records) was produced, engineered, and mixed by Mitch Dane, with additional engineering by Josh V. Smith.  Mitch Dane is quoted as saying: "I found that JJ has an unadulterated approach to songwriting.  Her songs actually spoke to me, where a lot of Christian music is the same messsage with different  words."

'I Get to Be the One' is a soft acoustic number, like much of the record.  The song reflects on the privilege it is to be an expectant mother: "I get to be the one to hold your hand/I get to be the one/Through birthdays and broken bones/I'll be there to watch you grow/I get to be the one.../How does someone so small/Hold my heart so tightly?/I don't even know you/I love you completely."  'The Very Thought of You' is the only song here not written by the Heller's.  It has an old crooner feel to it and was written in 1934 by Ray Noble.  Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and Doris Day have all covered the song which contains these lyrics: "You'll never know how slow/The moments go till I'm near to you/I see your face in every flower/Your eyes in stars above/It's just the thought of you/The very thought of you, my love."  'When I'm with You' speaks of the depth of parental love: "I could never count all the ways/That you change me, Baby/Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue/When I'm with you/When I hear you and you're crying/It resonates, Dear in a place/I didn't know was there/You make me believe in love."

'In the End' warns against greed: "Oh, this silly heart of mine/Looking for new things to buy/Nothing really satisfies/In the end...Have I forgotten how to wait?/Providence won't hesitate/Seldom early, never late/In the end..." 'Control' is a song that could speak to those who injure themselves via cutting.  It starts with these words: "The cut is deep/But never deep enough for me/It doesn't hurt enough to make me forget."  The song goes on to offer these words of hope: "There were scars before my scars/Love written on the hands that hung the stars/Hope living in the blood/That was spilled for me."  Psalm 139:7-8 reads: "Where can I go from Your Spirit?/Where can I flee from Your presence?/If I go up to the heavens, you are there;/If I make my bed in the depths, You are there."  This lyric from 'No Fight Left' draws inspiration from that Scripture passage: "There is no place I can go/Where You don't already know/How to reach right down and pull me out/I need You."  The song is a bit more catchy and commercial sounding than the previous ones. 

'Someday' has a beautiful, hope-filled lyric: "Someday my dearest friend/Someday though I don't know when/Ooh you will live in peace/Your battered heart will soar/Your wounds turn into wings/No one will keep the score/You wouldn't care anyway...May you see redemption/On this side of heaven."  Next up is 'In the End (Reprise)' which is a short instrumental.  'Red Against Your Black' is more upbeat musically and speaks of unconditional love: "When you run away/I will bring you back/Oh my love is the red against your black/I ran a thousand miles for you/Knowing you would break my heart/And I would do it all again/Because I couldn't stand to be apart."

We are all familiar with the adage 'This too shall Pass'.  The song 'Sunshine' backs this saying up: "Cloudy days will blow away/And the sky will not always be gray."  'Boat Song' is pretty and begins with these poetic words: "If you were a boat, my darling/A boat, my darling/I'd be the wind at your back/If you were afraid, my darling/Afraid, my darling/I'd be the courage you lack."  The album ends with one of my favourites 'Kingdom Come'.  It looks forward with anticipation to our glorious life in Heaven:  "Life is but a dream at best/Morning's coming soon/Kingdom come will bring us rest/All will be made new/Hallelujah (3X)/All will be made new." 

JJ Heller says: "Music has a way of speaking to my heart like nothing else can.  It is my hope and prayer that my songs will somehow speak to my listeners and bring them hope, peace and inspiration."  On this album JJ handles lead vocals, Dave Heller is on acoustic guitars and background vocals, Ben Shive is responsible for keys and accordion, Andrew Osenga is on electric guitar, and Mitch Dane and Paul Eckberg are on percussion.  DEEPER has a pleasant, light, artistic sound to it, although a lot of the songs sound alike.  I'm rating it 82% and recommending it to fans of Sarah Macintosh, Patty Griffin, and Leigh Nash.  For more info visit http://www.jjheller.com/.

OPEN YOUR DOORS

Jennifer and Tyler Somers met in 2004 while students at the University of Delaware.  Tyler grew up listening to jazz and classical music, while Jenny was raised on Ricky Skaggs and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.  On the duo's website Jenny writes: "Tyler is the life of a party, while I have to muster up every ounce of courage possible to talk to people I don't know.  I think that our differences are part of what makes us a great team.  Tyler pushes me to try new things and I keep him somewhat grounded.  In 2007 they released their first album, A PRELUDE.  The next year they moved to Nashville.  In 2009 they quit their day jobs, put out a second album, and began touring.  Jenny writes: "We couldn't believe that we were actually able to make a living doing something we loved so much...As writers, songs allow us to communicate experiences and truths when we can't find the words to speak them."

OPEN YOUR DOORS is Jenny and Tyler's fourth full-length release.  This time they opted for an outside producer, Mitch Dane, who has worked with the likes of Shaun Groves, Jars of Clay, and Holly Spears.  In the liner notes one finds these words: "We hope that this record is an honest telling of our struggle to abide in Christ.  It is meant to chronicle our strivings and shortcomings, ultimately ending with the Lord's patience with and grace for us."

'Little Balloon' starts the album off with a mellow vibe, and like most of the songs was written by the married duo.  It is about how the Lord is able to keep those who are His: "Always how my story ends/Feels like I'm slipping from Your hand/Try and try, time and time again/I want to hold on; hope I can.../No one is able to steal what is in Your hands."  'Abide' speaks of the importance of finding one's shelter and identity in the Lord: "You strive, o man, and you strive again, your heart too proud to rest/You labor on, singing those songs, to cover your weakness/Do you fail to recall who you really are and Who caused you to be?/Return o man; return and rest, to a burden light and yoke easy/Abide in Your Savior/Abide in His love/The labor of God is to trust in the Son."  'Skyline Hill' is a beautiful song about finding God in nature and was written in 2010: "Dawn breaks over Skyline Hill/Beauty and grace, all is still/Canvassing this sight, I'm sure/There are no words for this/Your breath is heavy on my skin/I close my eyes, breathe out and in/Spinning 'round a steady rhythm/There are no words for this." 

'When Darkness Falls' lyrically sounds like a Psalm written by David: "O Father rescue me from doubt/Deliver me from grief/Let Your joy in me abound/Remove my unbelief; remove my unbelief/You are stillness, You are quiet/You are comfort and peace."  'Fear Thou Not' is more upbeat than the previous four tracks and has Eddie Spear on accented snare.  The song urges the listener to take refuge in God in times of distress: "Though the enemy approach thee in the ominous, cold night/Though ye hear his dreadful footsteps and the whisper of his lies/Though he threaten and accuse thee, though he shoot arrows of fire/Fear thou not, fear thou not/For I am with thee/For I am thy God/And I will strengthen thee/Fear thou not; fear thou not."  'Lament' is up next and will please lovers of acoustic guitar instrumentals.

'O That the Light' is a ballad that builds in musical intensity.  It is a prayer that one might be freed from their sinful ways by Christ: "So you boarded your windows to shut out the day/Hid in the darkness your sins and your shame/You seized and devoured, you drove away/All the lovely and beautiful, but still there remains/Grace/O that the Light might find you (3X)/And open your eyes, open your eyes."  'You Keep Loving Me' is a short song that finds Jenny on acoustic guitar.  The lyrics admit to a tendency of trying to live life without the Lord: "And I confess sometimes I think I'm better on my own/I can handle this alone/Shows how much I know/And I can't understand why You still woo my tired heart/Try to fill the vacant parts/Guess that's part of who You are/'Cause You keep loving me."  'Psalm 86' is a prayer of David in which he cries out for help from his God: "O Lord my God, incline Your ear/And answer me for I am poor/Preserve my life, rescue this slave/Who trusts in You, O Lord my God/O Lord my God, show me Your grace/To You I cry all the day/Make glad this soul, Your servant save/My soul I lift, to You my God." 

'See the Conqueror' is pleasant and happy sounding.  The lyrics to the verses were written by Christopher Wordsworth in 1862.  The song speaks of Christ's great victory at Calvary: "He who on the cross did suffer!/He who from the grave arose!/He has vanquished sin and Satan!/He by death has spoiled his foes!"  'Kingdom of Heaven' is one of the louder songs.  It offers these wonderful words of advice to us as we travel along on our earthly journey: "Set your mind, your mind, your mind on things above/Set your eyes, your eyes, your eyes on the risen Son."  The song also offers a wonderful invitation to people on their spiritual journey: "O let the thirsty come/O let the one who wants/Drink freely from the water/Of the Kingdom of Heaven."  A nice piano based instrumental written by Grace Hoover, called 'Selah', ends off the album.

On OPEN YOUR DOORS, instruments used include acoustic guitars, mandolin, glockenspiel, whiskey bottles, keys, strings and percussion.  Jenny & Tyler wonderfully share vocal duties.  His voice is similar to Matt Kearney's, while hers has country tones to it.  I recommend this album put out in 2012 by One Eyed Cat Music to fans of Soulbreather and Sixpence None the Richer.  Light pop and folk sounds will delight your ears.  I'm rating it 90%.  For more info visit http://www.jennyandtylermusic.com/

LEARNING TO BREATHE AGAIN

Tammy Trent's autobiography LEARNING TO BREATHE AGAIN-CHOOSING LIFE AND FINDING HOPE AFTER A SHATTERING LOSS was published in 2004 by Thomas Nelson.  Most of the books I read fall into the Christian living or biography categories.  I have to say right up front that this is one of the best books I have ever read.  In it, Tammy is honest, vulnerable, down-to-earth, and displays a sense of humour.  There are many reasons you should read this book.

The book details Tammy's musical influences, and provides an inside look at the hard work it takes to break into the Contemporary Christian Music scene and get radio airplay and become known.  The book examines the effects of divorce on children, as her parents were divorced.  It details the importance of the divorced parents being able to get along and be in the same room together for the children's sake.  Tammy came to greatly appreciate that.

Mostly, this book is a love story. It tells how this Michigan girl fell in love with a Michigan boy, Trent Lenderink whom she met at a church event.  This book is a great tool for those married folks wanting to learn how to treat their spouse better, like they are special, and wanting to help stimulate spiritual growth in their partner.  For single folks, this book could be beneficial as well, as it shows the importance of waiting to have sex until marriage.  I like that in this book, Tammy does not hide her sexual passions she experienced before marriage.  When reading this book, one is reminded that ultimately though married, one should rely on the Lord more than they rely on their spouse.  Tammy also shares a lot about her relationship with her in-laws which some people may also find useful if they are having difficulties with theirs.  Tammy also documents the importance of having good friends, one of her best being singer Pam Thum.  Tammy's husband Trent often struggled with finding out what God's ultimate purpose was for his life. If you are in the same boat, this book will encourage you that God may be using you right now in ways you don't even realize.  Praise the Lord!

Read this book to find out how Tammy's husband Trent died tragically, right around the same time the 9/11 attacks occurred! You will go on a journey with Tammy through the various stages of grief, and see how God ministered to her during this time, and used her to minister to others as well, when she was experiencing grief.  Read to find out Tammy's newfound purpose in life and how she re-entered the Contemporary Christian Music scene when the time was right. 

If you enjoyed Clay and Renee Crosse's book I SURRENDER ALL, you will appreciate the candid nature of Tammy Trent's LEARNING TO BREATHE AGAIN.  What a great book. Thanks Tammy for sharing your story with us! God bless you in the years ahead!  I'm rating this book 95%.  For more info, and to purchase Tammy's book and cd's go to http://www.tammytrent.com/, or your local Christian bookstore!

MUSIC THAT IS CURRENT

Sarah Macintosh was one-third of the sibling trio Chasing Furies, as Sarah Meeker.  Chasing Furies was a Christian alternative band that released one critically acclaimed album, WITH ABANDON, in 1999 on Sparrow Records.  Since then, among other things, Sarah has toured with Michael W. Smith as an acoustic guitarist and background vocalist.  Smitty gives her this endorsement: "In my years as a recording artist I have had the pleasure of working with many, many wonderful people.  There are few, however, that can match the incredible heart for ministry and the great talent of Sarah Macintosh."  David Crowder chips in: "Sarah's voice lures you into thinking bits of heaven might be here already."  Sarah's latest solo album is entitled CURRENT (2012, Integrity Music).  It was produced by her husband Jonathan Macintosh who was in the bands Reality Check and Luna Halo, and JT Daly of Paper Route.

CURRENT begins with the title track, which is a musical masterpiece.  It is one of five songs co-written with Justin Thomas Daly.  The song has Sarah wanting to find her refuge in the shadow of God's wings: "Let's take heed and go far away/Heart of love, tear us away/Cause we are Yours to carry away/We're carried away.../Love, say that it will be so/Love, say that you won't let go/Don't let go/Don't let me go."  'We Should Run' has her longing for God to deliver her from hardship and trials: "I waited till the morning/Looking for every sure sign/Listening for footsteps/For when You will take me outta here/People keep on asking/When will we regain life/With the One who's for us/Rescue won't You come?"  'Take it All' nicely uses keys, guitars, and gang vocals.  It is a song of total surrender to God: "Ohhh, Ohhh/You can take it all (2X)/Just give up/I will give those burdens back/You said I/Am Your safe and rescued child.../I will be found (3X)/In You."

'Hope' was written by Sarah and Jonathan Macintosh, along with Jimmy Robeson.  It's a beautiful song that speaks of the glorious finish to our journey that awaits us who are born again: "We will meet You, skies will hold us/Heaven's glory, draw us near.../We will run, we will laugh/We will dance, we will shout/When You're back for us/You'll come back for us!"  'Laughter Comes Upon Us' is one of five songs Sarah wrote alone.  It is on the softer side and begins with these words of great faith: "I've wept until I made a visible trail/This path has not been kind or ever friendly/But if I thought I'd want it another way/I'd surely find that nothing else is for me/Cause He is closer to me this way/Drawn by the tears and pouring rain/Right here clutched in His embrace/Whispering breath against my ear/Tucked up against His scarred ribcage/Right here is where I want to stay."  'Galaxy Former' is a memorable song sonically.  It is essentially a song of praise: "Powerfully won/Gracefully held/Perfect provision/Of love given out by You/Peacefully kept/Wonderfully made/Sacrificed for me so I could be fathered by You/Jesus my Savior by You."

'The Damaged' is a great song that uses strings, and issues a cry that is all too familiar in our society: "I don't want to be the one who's broken/I don't want to be the one who falls apart/I don't want to be damaged."  'Hiding Place' is a ballad that finds Sarah in intimate communion with God: "Close with Your arms around me/Though it is dark/I know You're near/Your thoughts are of me/Words from my heart have found their way to Your mouth/I know You sing/Your prayers are for me.../There in the dark You see/Hidden from all/You say my name/You know and You'll see."  'You're Coming' has a calypso type beat, and once again anticipates the Second Coming of Christ: "Hey! Like a flash of light/And we will see You coming/Then when the skies retreat/Your glory fills our eyes/Shouts building with the wind/Your people they are calling/Gloria! Gloria!/You're coming."

'Calling, Calling' is quite artistic in nature.  It speaks of how everything improves when we are blessed with God's presence: "Light is brighter/Air more fragrant/Hope is here in my hand/Life will be without end."  'Joy Comes In' brings to mind Psalm 30:5 which reads: "For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."  Some of the words to this closing song are: "We will weep and we will cry/But joy comes in the morning/Though the tears may flood our eyes/Joy comes in the morning/Though we may feel we're on the run/Though life may deal a crushing blow/Hold out for hope/Allelu, Allelu/Raise up your head/Allelu, Allelu/Look to the dawn/Allelu, Allelu/Cause joy comes in, yes it's moving in."

In the liner notes for CURRENT Sarah reveals her heart: "Jesus, You are the filter through which this life is inhaled and exhaled.  Each breath drawn in provides enough strength, love, joy, hope, and life for me to push it back out in this combination of melody and words.  May others find You in these songs."  Sarah's bio on her website rightly says: "She is a woman not making worship music, but music that is worshipful, that is indicative of a worshipful life."  CURRENT is a worship project that is not as commercial sounding or accessible as the work of say, Kari Jobe or Chris Tomlin.  That being said, it is certainly more creative and unique than the work of the aforementioned artists.  Sarah has a unique, likeable voice.  Integrity Music is definitely putting out much more creative music than in past decades.  I'm rating CURRENT 92%.  For more info visit: http://www.sarahmacintosh.com/ and http://www.integritymusic.com/.

WHERE I FIND YOU

Kari Jobe is a worship pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.  She is thirty years old.  Her latest album is WHERE I FIND YOU (2012, Sparrow Records).  The producers she uses are Ed Cash and Matt Bronleewe.  The following words from Kari's website speak of the purpose of the album: "Rather than simply emphasizing the beauty found in God's presence, WHERE I FIND YOU is a clarion call for listeners to experience His presence to the fullest...Ultimately, it's about declaring who He is and enjoying the simplicity of knowing the Lord is near...He's for us, He loves us, and sometimes, we need to stop, enjoy His presence and take that in."  These words from the liner notes go well with the previous quote: "Instead of only your own thoughts, I encourage you to fill your heart, mind, and spirit with HIS word and thoughts for you." 

The CD begins with 'Steady my Heart', a good pop song, co-written with Ben Glover and Matt Bronleewe.  It begins with these words we can all identify with: "Wish it could be easy/Why is life so messy/Why is pain a part of us?/There are days I feel like/Nothing ever goes right/Sometimes it just hurts so much."  This lyric brings to mind the following quote from Kari's website: "I think there are times as believers when we feel entitled and that life shouldn't be hard.  We live in this culture of convenience that says we can do everything ourselves and find all the answers on Google...But if we can learn to fall more in love with the Lord and trust Him in the middle of every storm, we build our endurance to keep running the race."  'We Are' is next up and reminds us of one of our prime callings as Christians: "We are the light of the world/We are a city on a hill/We are the light of the world/And we gotta, we gotta, we gotta/Let the light shine/We are called to spread the news/To tell the world this simple truth/That Jesus came to save/There's freedom in His name/So let His love break through."  The song is happy sounding.  'One Desire', co-written with Jason Ingram, features electric guitar work by Stu G, Jerry McPherson and Adam Shoenfeld.  On this song, Karis is fixated on the Lord: "Here I am/Just for You, only You/Here I stand/Wanting You, only You."

'Find You on my Knees' features Chris Carmichael on strings.  The song has Kari placing her trust fully in God and has a nice bridge: "When my hope is gone/When the fear is strong/When the pain is real/When it's hard to heal/When my faith is shaken/And my heart is broken/And my joy is stolen/God, I know that/You lift me up, You never leave me searching."  'Savior's Here' is a powerful track co-written with aspiring worship artist Cody Carnes.  It contains these words that speak volumes about our Lord's character: "Love that never fails/Arms that never close/Blood that covers sin/Grace that never ends...Our Savior's here (2X)."  'Stars in the Sky' is co-written with Chris August who won New Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year at 2011's Dove Awards.  The song flows smoothly and speaks of surrender: "Here's my life and all my heart/I give it all/Lord, every part/Is under Your control/Lord, You're all I know."

'What Love is This' is a soft ballad written with Mia Fieldes and Lincoln Brewster.  Jeff Roach plays piano on this song that marvels at the Lord's sacrifice at Calvary: "What love is this/That You gave Your life for me/And made a way for me to know You/And I confess You're always enough for me/You're all I need...Jesus in Your suffering/You were reaching/You thought of me (2X)."  'Run to You (I Need You)' was written by Kari and six others!  Paul Mabury plays drums on this tune that finds Kari longing to be on a spiritual plateau where her desires are aligned with God's: "I need You/I can't get enough of You/I come alive when I'm in Your presence/O God, of my salvation."  'Rise' is a joyful song that praises God for who He is and what He has done: "You clothe the poor/You mend the broken/You heal our hearts/You take our shame/It speaks of Your kindness.../We will cry out Your renown/You are the God who has saved us/We will rise to praise You/We lift a glorious sound/You are the One who redeemed us/We will rise to praise You (2X)."

'Love Came Down'  features guest vocals by Ryan Edgar.  The lyrics speak of sometimes having to see through the eyes of faith: "If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear Your voice/I hold on to what is true, though I cannot see/If the storms of life they come, and the road ahead gets steep/I will lift these hands in faith, I will believe/I remind myself of all that You've done/And the life I have because of Your Son."  'We Exalt Your Name' was co-written with, and features guest vocals by, worship artist Matt Maher, who has six albums under his belt.  Tony Lucido plays bass on this reverent song that ascribes great worth to our Sovereign: "Your presence fills and satisfies/Tears down the walls we hide behind/Oh, God of every aching heart/We long for You in light and dark/For Jesus reigns/Over all He reigns."  'Here' was written with Leslie Jordan and David Leonard of the worship duo All Sons and Daughters.  It is an open invitation to all to draw near or nearer to God: "Come and rest here/Come and lay your burdens down/Come and rest here/There is refuge for you now/You'll find His peace/And know you're not alone anymore/He is near/You'll find His healing/Your heart isn't shattered anymore/He is here."

Kari is a supporter of the A21 Campaign (http://www.thea21campaign.org/) whose aim is to abolish human trafficking in the 21st century.  Kari and her sister Kris have designed jewelry and t-shirts, the proceeds of which go to the worthy cause.

The twelve songs on WHERE I FIND YOU combine to create an intimate atmosphere of contemporary worship that could be used for devotional purposes.  I recommend this album to fans of Jessa Anderson and Jeremy Camp. Kari looks cute, almost doll like in the photos for this project.  I'm rating this album 85%.  For more info visit http://www.karijobe.com/ and http://www.sparrowrecords.com/.

FROM HEARTACHE TO HOPE

 Holly Spears grew up in Wana, West Virginia.  According to her website: "After hours of begging her mother and spotting in the classifieds by her mom, Holly got the first love of her life, her first guitar.  Little did she know that the seemingly insignificant purchase of her twenty five dollar garage sale special would set the stage for a whirlwind of new life experiences coming her way."  Holly was discovered by Eliot Sloan, lead singer of Blessid Union of Souls, while she was doing a radio internship.  After high school she began touring with Blessid Union of Souls and opening for the likes of the Spin Doctors and Gin Blossoms.  Her music began appearing on MTV, MTV2, and VH1 among other places.  Holly's latest album HEARTACHE TO HOPE (2012, Girl on a Mission Music, LLC) was produced by Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay, Bebo Norman, Caedmon's Call) and features vocal, bass, keyboard and mastering support from multi-platinum rockers Jars of Clay, according to a press release.  In a youtube interview in 2011 with the AUGEgirl Network, of the album, Holly says: "It's about how we tend to dress up on the outside to make everything look okay when really on the inside we're upset or we're hurting." 

The album begins with a mid-tempo pop number, 'Just Another Love Song', which finds her yearning for everlasting love: "Cause I bend and I break/There's so much I can take/Just for once I would like/To feel that someone's on my side/Thick or thin, through it all/When I stand, when I fall/I wanna know/Are you just another love song?/When I wake up will you be gone?/Or is this something that is lifelong/That won't go wrong?...No."  'A Beautiful Mess' is radio friendly in sound and is about taking off the masks we often wear: "Why do I always try to hide/Everything that I feel inside/Dress it up and make it look all pretty?/Don't ever let 'em see the gritty side/I'm tryin' to hide/No way-I'll be just fine."  'Identity' is a quiet number that talks of how females sometimes go too far to please their guys: "She's on the treadmill every day/She dyes her hair and throws her favorite clothes away/But somehow what she does is never quite enough/And she gets tired of performing for his love/Yeah, she gets tired of performing for his love."

'Hard to Carry' is again quiet and is ultimately about forgiving one who has hurt you: "I wrote your name down today/Then crumpled it up and threw it away/I'm angry for the words you said/And all the hurtful things you did/Lord, help me to forgive her please/She's so hard to carry/This broken heart/Inside of me/Is so hard to carry/Help me bless her soul/Wash us white as snow/Help me let it go."  'A Small Voice' is written from the perspective of a child sex slave: "Loving neighbor/Save me sister/Help me preacher/I need you, I need you/Don't you walk away/From these words I say/Come rescue me/From all I've seen/I'm suffering/I need you, I need you/I need your love/To protect me from/The one's who came/To rob me of/My innocence/My confidence/My self-respect/My voice in this."  'Where'd you Go' is well written and builds in intensity musically.  It is about a person who has not weathered the storms of life very well: "Don't you see yourself in the mirror there?/Who's that girl you see with the dull blank stare?/How I've missed your smile and the way you laugh/Like the way you looked in that photograph/Where'd you go, where'd you go?/When you comin' back?/I've longed for you/'I don't know, I don't know/Where I went' you said/'But I'm passing through'." 

'Fairytale Dreams' is a ballad that is a call to action: "Wake up o' sleeping beauty/Your life is out there waiting for you/It's waiting for you/Your dreams aren't just in your head/Take a leap of faith, use your heart instead/Get out of your bed/It's alright to be who you're made to be/Don't be afraid (2X)."  'Even Flowers' is a gem co-written with Sarah Conant.  It is about turning the abuse one may have suffered into something good and productive: "Don't you see what you've made of me?/I'm not afraid to be who I'm supposed to be/I've been weak, but you make me strong/Go on push me down and watch me get back up/Thank you for the pain, even flowers need the rain/Freedom feels so good/Just like I knew it would."  'Looking for you' has a faster beat and is about looking for and finding one's soulmate: "I've been waiting here/You finally came my dear/Been looking for you/To run away with me/Break your plans and see/What life is/Been looking for you/Oh, oh, oh/Oh, oh, oh/I've been looking for you." 

'Watch Over Me' is a good song to crank on your stereo.  It relates the satisfaction and security one feels when they are in love: "When you're here I know I am loved, it shows/God sent you to watch over me/I am glad tonight that you hold me tight/I need you to watch over me/Can you stay a while/Till I fall asleep?/Come next to me my dear/Calm my racing heart/Beating oh so fast/Come next to me my dear."  'Learning to Love' sounds energetic and uses organ to good effect.  The song encourages one and all to take a risk and open their hearts to love: "From the bottom of my soul, I hope you know/That you're never, never out here on your own/We're all learning to let love in/To let go and/Begin again/We're learning to love/We're leaving it all behind/To free our minds/We'll seek and find/As we're learning to love."  The title track 'Heartache to Hope' is a strong finishing number.  On it Holly rejoices in the fact that God uses our trials and tribulations to develop and perfect our character: "All my life until now/I was only thinking about/The wrong that's happened to me/But now I'm starting to see/From heartache to hope/You brought me through it all/You took all my mess/Made something beautiful."  The Bible passage James 1:2-4 comes to mind: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perserverance/Let perserverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

In the liner notes for HEARTACHE TO HOPE we learn that Holly does not take her music ministry forgranted: "I am extremely thankful for the gift God has given me to share with the world; for His provision and love in my life; and for the exciting adventure it is to be living out my dreams.  I am thankful for those who have built into my career financially; emotionally; and spiritually."  The cover photo of Holly is stunning!  If you enjoy the self-esteem building message of songs such as Johnny Diaz's 'More Beautiful You' and Kevin Max's 'Be', and if you enjoy the lighter pop sounds of Natalie Merchant, The Corrs, and Erin O'Donnell, this is the album for you.  Holly Spears is a supporter of the International Justice Mission.  I'm rating HEARTACHE TO HOPE 80%.  Holly is to be commended for writing eleven of the twelve tracks herself.  For more info visit http://www.hollyspears.com/ and http://www.ijm.org/.