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The King Is Still The King: When Words Fail, Worship Speaks with Chris Tomlin, Ep. 262
October 16, 2025 · 40 min
In this special backstage episode of the Built Different Podcast, Dr. Zach and his dad, Dr. Tim, sit down with renowned worship leader and songwriter Chris Tomlin at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA leading up to the sold-out EWomen Mercy & Grace Tour stop, where over 8,000 women gathered to worship God together in a powerful night of praise. TIME Magazine has called Chris “the most often sung artist in the world,” and for good reason. With songs like “How Great Is Our God,” “Good Good Father,” and “Holy Forever,” Chris’s music has been the soundtrack of worship for believers around the globe. But beyond the music, Chris shares a timely reminder that “The King is still the King” no matter what we face. In this conversation, Chris opens up about his journey and calling, the heart behind his new album, and what it means to worship in a fractured culture. He talks about the spiritual hunger he’s seeing across the Church, how worship can be used as a weapon against fear and discouragement, and how God has personally met him in seasons of uncertainty. You’ll hear about his passion for Scripture-infused songs like “How Good It Is,” his role in The Last Supper film, and his hope for those who will join him on his upcoming Fall Tour, that launched September 17th and spans across 20 U.S. cities. This episode is a reminder that worship isn’t just a song…it’s a declaration of truth. The King is still good. The King is still faithful. The King is still on the throne. Mentioned in this episode: Visit Chris’s Website: https://christomlin.com/ Listen to Chris’s New Album, The King is Still the King: https://christomlin.com/pages/music Check Out Chris’s Fall Tour Dates: https://christomlin.com/pages/tour Join us at EWomen: https://ewomen.net/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Series The Built Different Podcast with Zach Clinton October 16, 2025 · 40 min · The Built Different Podcast with Zach Clinton
In this special backstage episode of the Built Different Podcast, Dr. Zach and his dad, Dr. Tim, sit down with renowned worship leader and songwriter Chris Tomlin at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA leading up to the sold-out EWomen Mercy & Grace Tour stop, where over 8,000 women gathered to worship God together in a powerful night of praise. TIME Magazine has called Chris “the most often sung artist in the world,” and for good reason. With songs like “How Great Is Our God,” “Good Good Father,” and “Holy Forever,” Chris’s music has been the soundtrack of worship for believers around the globe. But beyond the music, Chris shares a timely reminder that “The King is still the King” no matter what we face. In this conversation, Chris opens up about his journey and calling, the heart behind his new album, and what it means to worship in a fractured culture. He talks about the spiritual hunger he’s seeing across the Church, how worship can be used as a weapon against fear and discouragement, and how God has personally met him in seasons of uncertainty. You’ll hear about his passion for Scripture-infused songs like “How Good It Is,” his role in The Last Supper film, and his hope for those who will join him on his upcoming Fall Tour, that launched September 17th and spans across 20 U.S. cities. This episode is a reminder that worship isn’t just a song…it’s a declaration of truth. The King is still good. The King is still faithful. The King is still on the throne. Mentioned in this episode: Visit Chris’s Website: https://christomlin.com/ Listen to Chris’s New Album, The King is Still the King: https://christomlin.com/pages/music Check Out Chris’s Fall Tour Dates: https://christomlin.com/pages/tour Join us at EWomen: https://ewomen.net/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us. ...more Show the full description Show less In this special backstage episode of the Built Different Podcast, Dr. Zach and his dad, Dr. Tim, sit down with renowned worship leader and songwriter Chris Tomlin at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA leading up to the sold-out EWomen Mercy & Grace Tour stop, where over 8,000 women gathered to worship God together in a powerful night of praise. TIME Magazine has called Chris “the most often sung artist in the world,” and for good reason. With songs like “How Great Is Our God,” “Good Good Father,” and “Holy Forever,” Chris’s music has been the soundtrack of worship for believers around the globe. But beyond the music, Chris shares a timely reminder that “The King is still the King” no matter what we face. In this conversation, Chris opens up about his journey and calling, the heart behind his new album, and what it means to worship in a fractured culture. He talks about the spiritual hunger he’s seeing across the Church, how worship can be used as a weapon against fear and discouragement, and how God has personally met him in seasons of uncertainty. You’ll hear about his passion for Scripture-infused songs like “How Good It Is,” his role in The Last Supper film, and his hope for those who will join him on his upcoming Fall Tour, that launched September 17th and spans across 20 U.S. cities. This episode is a reminder that worship isn’t just a song…it’s a declaration of truth. The King is still good. The King is still faithful. The King is still on the throne. Mentioned in this episode: Visit Chris’s Website: https://christomlin.com/ Listen to Chris’s New Album, The King is Still the King: https://christomlin.com/pages/music Check Out Chris’s Fall Tour Dates: https://christomlin.com/pages/tour Join us at EWomen: https://ewomen.net/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Series The Built Different Podcast with Zach Clinton
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M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, doctoral student in Clinical Psychology. Host of ‘The Built Different Podcast’ with guests like Kirk Cousins, Albert
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0:02 Life audio.0:03 Built Different is a production of the American Association of Christian Counselors. To support this podcast and learn how you can help us to promote all our biblical content, spread the gospel, and provide mental health0:13 resources and training to people everywhere, just go to a a c c foundation dot o r g. Again, that's a a c c foundation dot org.0:22 Most marriages aren't falling apart. They're being refined. Tried and True is a scripture based marriage guide for couples who want a resilient, faith filled marriage, especially in seasons that feel0:34 ordinary, difficult, or stretched. Through 12 imperfect biblical marriages, this book shows how God uses trials to strengthen connection, not destroy it. Learn more at0:46 tried and true marriage book dot com or find tried and true everywhere books are sold.0:54 Welcome to Built Different. I'm Zach Clinton, your host, and each week, I come to you exclusively on the Life Audio Podcast Network. I'm proud to partner with Life Audio and bring you entertaining, life changing, family1:05 friendly podcasts for a new generation. At Build Different, our mission is to provide encouragement, hope, and challenge to help push you past your limits and reach goals you never thought possible. Colossians 2 verse 61:15 says, so then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him. Amen? Now let's roll.1:30 What's going on everybody? And welcome back in to the built different podcast where we have real conversations with leaders, influencers, and difference makers who are pursuing purpose and walking boldly in their God
1:41 given calling. I'm doctor Zach Clinton joined by my dad today, doctor Tim Clinton. And we are so blessed to be backstage at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where over 8000 women have gathered
1:53 for the sold out eWomen Mercy and Grace Tour. The atmosphere here, let me tell you, is electric. Hearts are united, voices are lifted, and lives are being changed as people from all walks of life come together to worship
2:05 God in the midst of some unprecedented times. And today we have the incredible privilege of welcoming someone whose music has not only filled stadiums, but has filled hearts with the hope and presence of God.
2:17 Time magazine has called him the most often sung artist in the world, and it's easy to see why. With 21 number 1 singles, billions of streams and songs sung in churches across the globe every Sunday, Chris
2:29 Tomlin has been used by God to give the church its voice of worship for decades. But beyond the accolades, beyond the tours, and beyond the awards, Chris carries a deep humble passion for
2:40 leading people into the presence of the king. In today's conversation, we'll talk about the heart behind worship, what it means to lift our voices in a fractured and weary world, the message behind his brand new
2:52 album, The King is Still the King, and how worship can become a weapon in the midst of pain, doubt, and discouragement. Chris, my friend, let me say this. My dad and I, we're honored to have you here
3:04 with us. Welcome to the Build Different podcast.
3:06 What an honor, man. Thank you.
3:08 I'm really looking forward to this time. Seriously, I know we're here. Hershey, Pennsylvania, the Giant Center. It's gonna be a packed out, sold out crowd, 8000 women, who in a moment as this, they're coming hungry, and
3:18 there's a hungry for holiness. I know that there's a lot of devastation, but I believe that there's also a holy determination in God's church that even when we don't know what to do, we can know where to turn. Chris, as
3:30 we open up in this conversation, I'm just thinking, having heard that you are the most often sung musician, singer in the world, thinking all the way back, what are just a couple of words, a couple of
3:42 emotions that stir within you just to see the goodness of God and what he's been able to do through you throughout your career?
3:48 Just, I mean, the word, the instant word that comes is gratitude, thankfulness. I say it know, almost almost every night at my concerts, but worship comes from a grateful heart. That's where it comes
3:59 from, and we it it and we have a lot to be grateful for in our life. And I when I look back at the impact of these songs, I would've never dreamed would've never dreamed that these songs would have that kind of impact in
4:10 people's lives. What a what a what a privilege. I count it such a privilege to to be able to stand before people and help them worship God. It's kind of been the mission since I was a kid to give people
4:22 a voice to worship God. That's kind of been my mission in music. And it even started out that way as a young kid. I did not like getting up and singing. I was singing in my little church,
4:34 coming from a very small little church in Texas, and I would get up and play songs. I didn't like it when people would just listen just listen to me. I liked when people would sing. I didn't even know what that that God
4:44 was putting that in me, that wiring me of this worship leader. I never heard that term. I just wanted people to sing when I played. And so I started trying to write songs that way in the simplest form I could. And
4:56 wow. Going from these little places in Texas to now all around the world over all these years, it's been over 30 years of touring for me now, and just so grateful, man. So
5:08 grateful.
5:08 Chris, as a counselor, and by the way, thank you again for joining us. I love backstory. I wanna stay there for a moment. When did things start kind of just snowballing for you? When did it start clicking? You know
5:20 what, I feel this unction in my spirit, I feel like God's called me, but it's becoming evident. And where did that start coming to? Was Were a couple of individuals? Was there a moment or 2 where it just
5:32 like, boom.
5:33 There's so many, you know, it's there's these marking moments along my life, and it's it's all people who come in to your life at the right moment who believe in you, who see something you don't see. I would have never
5:43 dreamed it. I was in a was right out of high school. I was just graduating high school, and I got a chance to play at this youth conference. This well, it was conference. Well, this little youth week at this little
5:54 church in East Texas. And this guy speaking, his name was James, I was I was asked to be the worship leader for this. I'd never done this before in my life. I'd only knew, like, 3 or 4 songs,
6:05 and I'd asked to be playing for the whole week. I'd never done this outside of my own church. And I was like, okay. I get a call from this guy named James. He has this really deep voice. And he's like he's like, hello.
6:14 My name is James. Like I was like, hey, James. I'm Chris. He's like, yes. I'm speaking at this youth event. And I hear you're doing the music. And the reason I'm calling you is I've never heard of you before, and I'm
6:25 just wondering what kind of music you do. And I'll just never forget this conversation. I was like, well, James, the reason you never heard of me is I've never done this before, and you're calling me at my parents'
6:33 house. I live in my parents'. I'm in high school. And he's just like he gives me the long pause, you know, because this is a professional. Right? And he's like, oh gosh. And he's like, well, what kind of songs do you
6:43 play? I was like, well, I don't. I was like, I know 3 songs. And he said, okay. He said, well, you're gonna learn some music. You're gonna learn some songs. I was like, okay. So he sends me these tapes and CDs. This is
6:54 the craziest thing. And I'll never forget. It's these tapes and these worship songs, it's these early I'll tell you when it was. It was tapes. And it said produced by Louie Giglio. It's like
7:06 the it was these early, like, worship things that were coming out of this ministry at Baylor University at the time. I didn't know any of that. I just started learning these songs. Well, I get to this event. Again,
7:17 I'm 18, 17, 18 years old. I start leading. I don't know what I'm doing at all. I don't know what I'm doing at all. At the end of the week, James comes to me and goes, hey, I want to tell you 2 things. I've been praying
7:29 for you this week, and 1 is you have no idea what you're doing. And I was like, wow. You for Yeah. I mean, it was that straight. You have no idea what you're doing. He goes, and
7:41 secondly, you have no idea how God's gonna use your songs all over the world. Wow. Wow. I'll never forget this, man. And I'm looking at him like, I don't I don't have any songs. I don't I do I'm I'm just playing other
7:53 people's songs. And he said, as you've been pleading this week, I feel like God's showing me, speaking to me that you're gonna write songs, and the world's gonna sing those songs. And he just put his hand on my head, he
8:03 said, God, would you make Chris a psalm writer for his generation?
8:08 No kidding.
8:10 And I'm just looking at him, like it would felt like lightning went through me, man. Wow. And I was like, what is going on? Fast forward a couple years, I get in I'm gonna get in college, and I started this little bible
8:21 study at Texas a and m called Breakaway. I started leading this little thing with my friend Greg, and it starts exploding. And then I go to this youth camp, and this guy named Louie
8:33 Giglio is speaking. I'm like, you're the guy on the tapes, man. That's how I learned these songs. And I started playing these songs, and he's like, where are these songs coming from? And I was like, oh, I'm just writing
8:44 them. And he's like, I speak everywhere, and I've never heard songs like this. And so he started taking me where he would speak, and we started traveling together. And then he said, I have this vision for
8:55 this, and it wasn't called passion then, but it's like this college gathering. And then would you help me start it? And I was like, sure, let's do it. And all of these steps along the way were just these things where God
9:06 was just orchestrating this, looking back going, I would never dream. Wow. I would never dream. Here's the crazy thing. Fast forward 25 years, I get a call from that James guy. And
9:18 he says, hey, man. We had kept in touch. He'd done ministry. He was in ministry in Oklahoma. He said, I really feel like I'm supposed to be in politics now, and I don't I feel like I'm supposed to run for
9:30 congress. And you're now who you are, and could you come with me around Oklahoma and get crowds? And, like, we set up and do Walmarts and stuff, and I can campaign. And I was
9:42 like, okay. Just kinda pay it back. You know? He's the 1 who really believed me. So I started doing this, and he wins congress, and then I'm in for the for Oklahoma at the
9:53 federal level. And then I look at I'm look I'm looking on the news 1 day, and there is senator James Lankford.
10:01 No way.
10:02 And that's the James.
10:04 That's the James. Wow. You are kidding me.
10:07 That's the senator James Lankford who is he's with he's talking to Wolf Blitzer about ISIS, and I'm just like, what is going on? I was called I texted, like, James, how in the how are you a senator, bro? We just you just
10:18 got in the car. He goes, yeah. The senate seat came open. I ran for that. I'm the senator now. And that's the guy when I was 17 years old who said, you're you're gonna write songs 1 day, the whole world's gonna send you
10:28 songs. And and now, I mean, God's using him in incredible ways in our in our nation. And it's just amazing. You look at this. And then and then he led the national prayer
10:40 breakfast not too long ago. James did. And he asked me to come and lead worship. And all I could do was sit him there, I'm sitting there with is me and the president and vice
10:51 president and and the senator and then James was down at the end. And I was just up on this table, and then all the world leaders were out there. And I just kept thinking,
11:04 if anybody knew this story none of these people know this story but me and the other guy at the end of this table that here at he said, 1 day, you're gonna sing songs, the world's gonna sing them. And then here we are
11:16 leading literally the leaders of the world, you know, some 30 years later, for our nation together. I was just like, wow, god.
11:25 I'm gonna stop this right there and jump in to say, you're listening to Built Different. I'm Zach Clinton. We need to break for a brief message from our sponsors. I'll be back with our guests to keep the conversation
11:34 flowing right after this. You're listening to Life Audio.
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13:22 You know, love the story Chris because it's an it's an encouragement I think to everyone listening. Yes. A willing heart and you never know how our God works. Works in mysterious
13:34 ways.
13:35 That's it.
13:35 And the scripture says he'll he'll use the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Yes. You never know how God's gonna work.
13:43 Yes. I heard, my 1 of my favorite things is I heard John Maxwell say 1 day, he said, the greatest your greatest ability is availability. That's right. And I was I felt like that is the
13:55 story of my life. I've oh, when I was a kid, I prayed. I can take I can take you to the tree in this field where I knelt and prayed to God, whatever you want for the rest of my life. I know you're speaking to me. I don't
14:05 know what you're saying. I have no idea. I remember telling God, I'm an eighth grader. You're the creator of the world. I don't know what to say to you, but I know you're speaking to me. And all I wanna say is whatever
14:14 you want, I'm here. I will follow you. Mhmm. And that's what God's looking for. Right? I didn't say I wanna be a songwriter. I wanna be a I didn't even know that was coming. I just always wanna be available to wherever
14:24 God was leading.
14:25 Yes. Chris, you know, I'm thinking about what keeps a guy like Chris Tomlin centered. Right? When you've been able to minister and you've led worship countless times, countless arenas, countless
14:37 lives that God has used you to minister to in a time of need. Our culture's in a time of need right I wanna ask this upfront. What keeps you centered and grounded and anchored in such a time as this?
14:48 Well, 1 is I have an incredible wife, incredible family. You know, you gotta have people around you. You you can't be an island. You can't you can't just be isolated. You know, in this world, man, it'll eat you up.
15:00 And so I have an incredible family, and my wife's on grounding. I mean, yesterday yesterday, all that we're going through in our nation, she's like, Chris, I know you're I know you're I know people are looking for
15:10 something. They're looking for something right now. She goes, you need to put on the full armor of God. I want you to pray that right now. You need to pray the blood of Jesus over everything you're doing. And, you know,
15:18 that's that's, like, coming from my wife. You know? And, like, that's coming from and so that's what I've we're in this together. You know? So that's that's powerful. I got a power amazing team around me, and that's what
15:27 keeps me centered and keeps me my feet on the ground in the church and my my people that are with me. Yes. You know, knowing that I've got people praying for me right now that have every date on my on the calendar that
15:39 are praying God's mercy and his and that he would people would have an encounter with him. So those are those are things that really keep me grounded.
15:48 Chris, you know, as we are in fractured, divided again, seasons of devastation right now across the country Yes. God is using you on the front lines
15:59 Mhmm.
15:59 To continue to go out and to share the good news of the gospel. Mhmm. And I'm interested, just as you are going out, as you're about to embark in front of 8000 women this evening,
16:09 God is And
16:09 this is a moment. This is a moment. He's uniquely positioned you, and I'm interested. What have you observed within the big c church in terms of their response in the midst of this cultural moment?
16:20 It feels like a shift, man. It feels like a shift, and, like, people are just hungry for God. And I've been ending my
16:32 nights this new album, and the last song on this record sequenced songs for a reason on my records. And the last song on this record, would have never dreamed how timely it
16:44 was. I took the hymn, This is My Father's World, and I added this little refrain to it. And we've been singing at the end of the night on this tour. My goodness. And that
16:55 that last verse, this is my father's world, so let me not forget that though the wrong seems often strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my father's world.
17:08 So let, so why is my heart so sad? He is the king. Let heaven sing and let the earth be glad. And I, and, and so I let this, and we just sing this refrain. He reigns, he
17:20 reigns forever on the throne. He reigns, he reigns. This is my
17:23 favorite I had chills, man. I'm serious.
17:25 And just when we sing that, when I say the place erupts and just declaring he reigns, he reigns forever on the throne. He
17:37 reigns. He reigns. This is my father's world. And just to declare that over this time and see people just really feel that that faith again. Yes. That faith in, like, that there is something.
17:49 This has lifted our eyes. What I love about worship, it does this, but this moment in our culture really lifts our eyes off of ourself and reminds us that we're part of a greater kingdom. We're part of something that is
17:59 so much bigger and everlasting. That's what I've been trying to remind people, that kingdoms rise, kingdoms fall. Governments come, governments go. People rise, people fall. Everything on this earth has a beginning and
18:10 an end except this kingdom that we belong to. It has an everlasting king. Mhmm. And that's what I've trying to point people to. And if people didn't ever feel it, they know it right now. They
18:21 sense that, that, oh, there is something everlasting. There is something eternal. There is a king that is above all these earthly things. And our hope in these earthly things is such a small
18:33 kingdom, you know, and just pointing people to the greater kingdom.
18:38 People are crying out that God would see them in the midst of this insanity, and faith that there's a dynamic that's happening in culture, you're right, as we began, you talked about a
18:49 shift. And we don't need God less, we need God more. And the people know it in the midst of it, know, an interesting thought. You guys, you say that worship's a weapon.
19:01 You know, and people are frantic right now. What are we going to do? What's going to happen? What are we going to do? What's going to happen? Take us back into that mindset for a moment about what worship can really do
19:13 to the human soul.
19:15 Yeah. There's nothing I always say it. There's what we do when we come and sing and worship together, it ought to be different than any other music of the world because your soul is singing to a living God.
19:26 Yeah.
19:27 You're you're connecting with the eternal. You're connect this isn't just I'm just singing along with the radio. I'm just I love this tune. I love this melody. It makes me feel good. Those are all great. I love all
19:35 music. There's something about worship because it connects you to that eternal song Mhmm. That never ends. It connects you to the saints before us. Mhmm. It connects you to what will come after us. It connects
19:47 us all together, and we're in a and we remember. Mhmm. We remember that, wow, we are a part of this great this great story and this great kingdom. And there's something
19:59 about I love that God gave us that music. You know? Something about this is how it stirs the soul and speaks. And it and it is a weapon. It goes out into Yes. It it it pierces the darkness.
20:11 It is a it is an assault on the darkness that's coming at it because, I mean, when you're when you're bringing worship to God Yes. Isn't it amazing that things just flee? I mean Light
20:22 dispels darkness.
20:23 Yes. It does. It does. And that's and there's you know, we we know it, but maybe some of your listeners may be reminded in the Old Testament and the wars, they would send singers out first.
20:35 How great what what? Send the god was gonna put the singers out first and and praise me. It's like, wow. You know? They were in in a spiritual sense, what a what a picture of,
20:47 like, going out and and and saying, praise the Lord, you know, and then let everything else start crumbling around after that.
20:54 You brought up the word remembrance. That's really what is at the heart of worship, like you said, gratitude, but then remembering that our God is a God with a perfect track record. He's done it before, and He's the same
21:05 God that will do it again because He's the same yesterday, today, and forevermore, right? He is truly holy forever. You're releasing your brand new album. Yes. You're a week from today, actually, September 20 sixth,
21:17 20 25, whenever you're listening to this, but the king is still the king. I I would love for you what a timely title that is for an album, but I would love for you to remind us just what was your prayer? What was
21:28 your heart as you're writing these songs, as you're working on this entire album? And it's just amazing how God has specifically orchestrated and ordained you guys to release this right here in this particular moment.
21:40 What's at the heart of it all?
21:41 The king is still the king. Yeah. This is there's so much intention in this album. Has been a 3 year process, the longest I've ever gone in making a record. Wow. Holy Forever was the
21:53 last kind of song, and it was 3 years ago. Crazy. And I haven't released music since then. And so this record is kind of the new season. It's my eighteenth album to make, which is just what a blessing
22:05 that is and a gift to do. But the king is still the king. It's not just a nice title. It's a statement of faith. It is a declaration of faith. This is a statement to the world and
22:17 a statement to all of us that, again, like I said, that we are part of an everlasting kingdom, to remind ourselves. And so when I think about this,
22:29 there's a song on this album, this kind of anchor song called Still the King, where we got the where we got the song the title from. There's a line in that song, and it says, for the blood
22:41 is still the blood, and the king is still the king. That's why you see every my hat. That's why you see
22:49 Shit. Yes.
22:49 Everything you see of mine, anything you see of me recently in the media has this symbol. And it's this crown of thorns wrapped around the crown of the king of
23:01 kings. And I've never really seen that before, and I just had this artist create it for me. And I said, I want the crown of thorns wrapped around the crown of king of kings. I said, because that tells the whole story.
23:12 The blood is still the blood, and the king is still the king. And that's what this record really portrays. And when Jesus was on this earth, he wore a crown. It was a crown of thorns, which is the mark of our
23:24 forgiveness, which is he he was shamed. He was mocked with his crown. He took on our shame, his blood for our forgiveness. And yet today he wears the crown of king of kings and Lord of lords.
23:35 Revelation 19, this epic passage speaks to this.
23:40 I
23:40 mean, go with me for a second. This passage, I put it on the album cover, if you look really close in the back of the crown, it says Revelation 19, and this is the reason I put on there. It talks
23:53 about Jesus coming back, and it says he will he will will a white horse, and he'd be followed by the saints. And it says and he'll be wearing a robe that's dipped in blood.
24:05 Blood is still the blood. King is still the cling. And it says, and on that robe be written the name, the king of kings, Lord of Lords. And he's like setting all things right. Right? There's the
24:16 second coming. And I was like, wow. And so the heart of this record, it goes from the start of this record to from How Good It Is, just like this call to praise, to the ending of This is My Father's World.
24:28 He reigns. He reigns forever on the throne. He reigns. This is my Father's world. Everything is very intentional in that just helping me and helping all of us remember that we're
24:40 part of a greater kingdom, and we have an everlasting king. So that's really the heart of it. 16 songs with music pieces all through the
24:52 record, which is really, really fun, that are titled with emojis, crown emojis.
24:57 I love that.
24:58 And such a a little different idea on there, but that that just connects the whole thing all the way through. And so it's filled filled with songs that I think are going to be helpful
25:10 people. And maybe I could speak to 1 song on there that is, probably the surprise song of my career maybe as a title, and it's right in the middle of the record for a reason,
25:22 because I think it's where people are and maybe where people are right now. The title of the song is called Help My Unbelief. And when you think of my music, that's not a title you see coming. Yeah. As you know, when
25:33 you think of how great is our God, holy forever, holy is the Lord, good, good father, all these songs of just, like, helping people is I hope they encounter God in the throne room of God. Help my
25:45 unbelief. Yeah. Thomas. Yes. And and he was like, in this gospel, I took this idea because I think people were out there, and they're just, I'm gonna set up the story of Mark in the gospel of
25:57 Mark. This dad is bringing his son, finds out Jesus is coming to town and is bringing his son to Jesus to be healed. And
26:09 he encounters Jesus and he says and I mean, we read these stories, right, and we just forget this is real stuff. Imagine Jesus coming to your town, and your boy needs
26:21 healing. You're gonna do whatever you can. He gets in front of Jesus and says, have mercy on us, and if you can, would you heal my son? And Jesus says in Mark 9, what do you mean if I can?
26:33 All things are possible for those who believe, which is that's the bumper sticker. Right? That's that's what we peel in the back of our car. All all things are possible for those who believe, But it was the dad's
26:43 response. He said, I do believe, but help my unbelief. Who hasn't felt that? I love that that's in the gospels. Yeah. Because if you haven't felt that, you haven't lived long enough.
26:55 That's what I say because that is a real human experience. This struggle of life. And I love that this dad looks at Jesus as I do believe, but right now I'm struggling. Help
27:07 my unbelief. And you know what? Jesus didn't say, well, you don't 100 percent believe, so I'm moving on. He healed that child. And this is what I wanna remind people that when we are at our the scripture
27:19 says, when you're you're weakest, his strength is perfect. He's at his strongest. And so right now, if you're like, man, I just feel, I don't know. I don't know what's going on. I just feel I have struggle in my faith.
27:30 Just know that that is right in the middle of the gospels. I believe, but help my unbelief. And that's why I put this song in there. It's not a song of despair. It's a song of hope in the midst of struggle. And I think
27:39 when people hear this song, it'll bring great hope to them. It's like, man, I'm right there. You know, I've already played it for a few people. No one's heard it yet because I haven't put it out, but I played
27:50 it.
27:50 I got 1 chance to play it on a radio station, and I played it, and we played every song on the record. Let me play every song on the record, and then we played this 1. And when I say the difference in the people calling
28:02 in Wow. And texting the program directors and, like, tears down my face, I needed to hear this, because that's where people are in our country. It's where people feel. They feel that deeply. People have a
28:14 they have a faith, but they're struggling. And that's why this song sits in there. So I'm excited for people to hear hear that, and hopefully it brings some, real encouragement to them.
28:24 It's the idea that what we've been talking about this whole time, you know what, being real and being authentic with God. Like, God, you know what? Don't genuinely, I don't know what to do, but what I'm gonna do is I'm
28:36 gonna keep turning to you. It might be look like doubt. It may look like wrestling, but I'm gonna show up because I need more of your presence every single day. I believe, but help me with my unbelief. Mhmm. That's a
28:48 beautiful thing. Mhmm. And clearly, it has been marked deeply on you, and what I love about this album, you released that new song, that single from the album, How Good It Is Yeah. Right, earlier this year Yeah. Yeah.
28:58 Just to give us a taste of what this album's all about.
29:01 Yeah.
29:01 And what I love about your music, Chris, is that it really goes back to the word of God. Yes. That's what that whole song is. Right? It comes back and I love that that was that was kind of anointed on you and that touch
29:11 of of your head was you're gonna be the psalmist of this generation. Right? It goes right back to the Psalms. Mhmm. Speak to again just how powerful it can be just to rely back on the word because it is
29:23 sharper than any 2 edged sword.
29:25 I think of the songs that I've had any kind of staying power in mind that I've gotten to be a part of in my life that have gone past me, as like I say. That aren't really attached to me anymore. How great is our God?
29:34 Yes. Psalm 1 0 4. That's I was reading Psalm 1 0 4, and that's what that's what came out. Holy is the Lord. I was reading Isaiah 6, and and and that and that came out. We we
29:46 fall down. I was reading Revelation 4. That song came out. That's how good it is is this is Psalm 92 says how good it is to sing praise to the most high. Psalm 1
29:58 13, from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sand, the name of the Lord shall be praised. The opening of the verse, the opening song, opening verse of the song, enters gates with thanks, enters courts with
30:06 praise. Guess where I got that? Psalm 100. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, enters courts with praise, For the Lord is good, and his love endures forever. Second verse of the song. If we don't praise him, guess what?
30:17 Psalm 98. Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains lift their songs. Even the rocks cry out in worship. This whole thing of creation praising God. And so when we finished that song, when I wrote that song
30:29 with a couple friends of mine, it was after I recorded that I realized I don't think a single word in this song is not the Psalms, and I wasn't even trying to do that. Right? You know? That's awesome. And, it's just and
30:41 but I love that that the Psalms call us to praise God. And I've said it like this and this, I mean this, especially when there's a worship leader. No 1 needs to hear my opinion on what I think about God. That's gonna
30:51 last about a weekend. Right? But when you can help put God's word in people and they're singing it, and they don't even know they're singing it. When they sing, I believe God, help my unbelief, they probably have no idea
31:02 that that's the very words of scripture. But when they're singing these Psalms, man, it puts that word in you, and that is what is I think that's what strengthens people and
31:14 encourages people beyond anything that I could write or say.
31:19 Chris, in the journey of life, the old Puritans would call it the valley of vision. That in the
31:32 darkness, pain and suffering, and you're no stranger to that either Chris, people don't really probably recognize that in you, but you've been on your own journey, and in the midst of it,
31:43 he's been faithful. I know when you're a little older, I'm up in years, and you see differently, and things become so muchShow more
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