Rebecca St. James
“If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something”
Forefront Records
12 tracks @ 50:41

“You are loved beyond imagination.”

That’s what Rebecca St. James would tell us in her first release of all new, largely original material since 2000’s “Transform.”

In an interview that Rebecca taped for my music video program 30-CC, she said that she wants her music to reflect the hope that we have in Jesus and the reality of life. In my opinion, there’s none of this “Christian by faith, not by genre” malarkey from Rebecca (she does, in fact, cite scripture for each song in the linear notes). That’s one reason why she’s my favorite recording artist. Another is SHE ROCKS.

“Alive,” the uplifting first single is a result of her sabbatical of a year ago. In the linear notes, Rebecca says, “I feel over the last few years that God has really refreshed my soul.” As she told 30-CC, that sabbatical at L’Bri in the Swiss Alps brought a renewed energy to her ministry. This track features one of her most impressive and impassioned vocals ever.

I also liked “Forgive Me” with BarlowGirl. There’s a certain amount of vulnerability that comes through in this song, as well as in the magnificent opening track “God Help Me.” Both songs contain feelings all of us can relate to, but don’t necessarily share in such a public forum.

In a similar vein, the surrender-oriented “I Can Trust” has some of the strongest, most painfully honest lyrics on the record as it deals with her being single yet having the dream of being married and starting a family of her own. “God, it hurts to give You what I must lay down, But when I let go, freedom’s found.” After our interview last summer, I respectfully suggested to Rebecca that she might want to read 1 Corinthians, chapter seven, starting with verse 25. It’s in this passage that the apostle Paul offers his opinion on the problems of marriage and the spiritual benefits of remaining a single Christian. Rebecca asked me to repeat the citation and as I did she whipped out a permanent marker and wrote a note on the palm of her hand.

The record closes with “Lest I Forget,” a beautiful communion song inspired by, appropriately enough, an Easter service.

The record’s centerpiece is “You Are Loved.” Not surprisingly, it’s a song that Rebecca says is very close to her. It’s inspired by the story of the Prodigal Son and a childhood friend of Rebecca’s whose life had taken a turn away from God and into drugs. “I went my way, you went yours, where did you go, dear?” Its message of hope is simple and straightforward, “You are loved, more than you could ever know. . .More than you can imagine.” For Rebecca, if she had one chance to tell us something than this is the most important message that she can share, we are loved.

Musically Rebecca stretches herself on the urban “I Need You.” tobyMac provides helpful vocal support. But the guitar open to “Shadowlands” sounds a little too derivative of Switchfoot.

I did get the special edition with a DVD. While she is my favorite recording artist, I must say that the DVD is only for the hardcore fan. It contains several in-concert songs from Creation West. However, outdoor venues don’t provide the greatest acoustics and for some reason the crowd didn’t seem all that pumped up until they knew that the camera was pointed at them. Get the regular CD. It’s going to be one of my faves from this year.

- Rob S.