Rebecca St. James was born Rebecca Jean Smallbone on July
26, 1977 in Sydney, Australia. In 1994
she put out her self-titled major label debut. aLive IN FLORIDA (2007, ForeFront Records) is
her second live album. This CD/DVD combo
hit No 43 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart. It was recorded at First Assembly of God in
Fort Myers, Florida on March 31, 2006.
Rebecca’s backing band is: Kevin Holvig (drums), David Childress (bass),
Gregory Everett and Scott Murray (guitars), Frederick Williams (piano/keys),
and three of her siblings, Joel, Luke, and Libby Smallbone (backing vocals).
The live concert CD begins with ‘God Help Me’. This heavy rocker speaks of total life transformation:
“I don’t care who stares/Never want to be what I have been again/Grace has
taken over and drawn me in and I am embracing it/’Cause now I see Your light
drawing me close/Overwhelming love I don’t deserve/But I’ll take the hope You
bring/You hold it out to me”. ‘Lamb of
God’ is another great Christian rock song.
This one makes me think of what eternity will be like in Heaven: “I hear
a voice of many people/I hear a voice like mighty thunder/Singing Alleluia for
the Lord He reigns (2X)/Lamb of God/Holy/Lord You are/Holy/Lamb of God/Holy/You
are/Holy”.
‘Wait for Me’ is Rebecca’s signature song. She encourages her future husband, whom she
has not yet met, to stay sexually pure: “Darling did you know that I dream
about you/Waiting for the look in your eyes/When we meet for the first
time/Darling did you know that I pray about you/Praying that you will hold
on/Keep your loving eyes only for me/I am waiting for/Praying for you
darling/Wait for me too/Wait for me as I wait for you”. Next up is a stripped down acoustic version
of ‘You are Loved’. It encourages us to
extend grace and mercy to others rather than judging them: “This is what I want
to say to you/If I had one chance to speak to your heart/You are loved/More
than you could ever know/This is what I want to say to you/If I had one chance
to tell you something/You are loved/More than you can imagine/Imagine”.
‘Beautiful Stranger’ is a great melodic pop song. It reminds us to look for Jesus in everyone
we meet: “Won’t you tell me now when did I see You in need of water?/Oh, and
tell me now, when did I see You hungry on the street?/God, I hear You calling
out to me/In the voices of the least of these/Calling me to reach beyond my
world/To the beautiful stranger/Beautiful stranger”. ‘Reborn’ is one of Rebecca’s best songs
ever! Matt Bronleewe co-wrote it with
her. Musically, it is a Madonna style
dance number. The lyrics are ones of joyful
testimony: “If you see a change in me don’t wonder/There’s Someone in my
life/And peace I can’t describe/For I’ve been reborn/If you see a change in me
don’t wonder/I’ve found a whole new life/And hope that I can’t hide/For I’ve
been reborn”.
Rebecca describes ‘Thank You’ as having a funky feel to
it. It is catchy. Her brother Joel performs the rap break that
Toby Mac delivered on the studio recording.
This is a song of genuine gratitude towards God: “I’ve got so much to
thank You for/You opened the door/Turned my sorrow to joy/In this world that I
am in/Your wonders never end/You define hope/Thinking of all that You have in
store for me/I am in awe/I have got to stop/And thank You for the love I have
found in You”. Next, Rebecca’s brothers
Joel and Luke, who would later form for King&Country, perform one of their
originals. ‘Without Love’ has a brooding
feel to it musically. Here are some of
the words to this decent rock song: “We’re falling into a darker grey/We’re
walking through the rain/Don’t act like everything is okay/Can’t you see and
feel the pain?/When the future becomes the past/You will see that it is never
gonna last/I’ve got some things to tell you/Cause I can’t stay the same/Without
love, we’ve got nothing at all/Now it’s time to change/Without love, we’ve got
nothing at all”.
‘Lion’ is a pleasant rock ballad penned by Rebecca, Cary
Barlowe, Jamie Moore, and Shaun Shankel.
It is from The Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack and finds one reflecting
candidly on their relationship with the Lord: “Mysterious/That’s what I call
You/I’m curious about You/I’m scared and I’m not sure that You are safe/But Your
eyes seem to say that You are good.../Wise eyes, You see the core of me/Your
gentleness melts me/And now I know that words cannot describe/The power that I
feel when I’m with You”. ‘Take all of
Me’ testifies to God’s goodness: “You stand on mountain tops with me/With You I
walk through the valleys/You gave Your only Son for me/Your grace is all I rely
on/Love that’s stronger/Love that covers sin/And takes the weight of the
world”.
Matt and Beth Redman’s popular ‘Blessed Be Your Name’
follows. It reminds us that we should
praise the Lord regardless of our circumstances: “Blessed be Your Name/In the
land that is plentiful/Where Your streams of abundance flow/Blessed be Your
Name/And blessed be Your Name/When I’m found in the desert place/Though I walk
through the wilderness/Blessed be Your Name”.
‘Forgive Me’ is a quiet, confessional, worshipful track. It starts with these words we should really
pray daily truth be told: “For all the times I’ve failed You Lord/Forgive
me/For all the ways I’ve fallen short/Lord, forgive me now/God, I’m so in need
of grace/I fall upon my face/Forgive me/Take my fear, Lord take my shame/Lord,
forgive me now/Purify me, make me new/Like only You can do/Forgive me now”.
‘Alive’ is an energetic pop/rock song that contains the following
words of wisdom: “You make me come alive/You make me come alive/I found the
secret/It’s only when I let go of what I want in this life/You make me come
alive/I used to think that me, myself, and I/Were all that mattered/But You’ve
shown me all this world can give/Cannot compare to the joy that comes
from/Giving away”. As a bonus track on
the CD fans are treated to ‘You are Loved (hisboytroy’s funk house mix)’. It is ready for a Christian dance floor.
The accompanying DVD of the concert is awesome! Rebecca is dressed stylishly and makes good
use of the stage. There is good crowd
participation and applause. The DVD is
shot well, making good use of lighting and camera angles. During the concert Rebecca shares about a
spiritual makeover she got in the Swiss Alps, and about Compassion
International, and the child she sponsors.
The concert includes an altar call.
She encourages new believers to read their Bibles, engage in prayer,
stay close to Christian friends, get rid of the junk in their lives, and to get
involved in a church and grow. The DVD
also includes a couple of concept music videos.
Rebecca St. James is truly passionate about her Lord Jesus
Christ! She is a good role model for
young Christian ladies. She does not
compromise her beliefs. She is also an
ambassador for God’s love for all people.
I’m rating the CD 87% and the DVD 95%.
For more info visit: www.rsjames.com
and www.forefrontrecords.com.