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It's a title that does more than simply describe the themes of the record it names. Run the Earth … Watch the Sky actually does a startlingly accurate job depicting how its creator, singer/songwriter Chris Rice, approaches his life, his music and his faith.
"The title of my fourth record is actually an unspoken motto I've had throughout my life," says Rice. "The first part, I love life. I love to explore. I love to travel. I love to camp and hike. I just feel like I want to live life zealously and enjoy it. At the same time, the last phrase says 'watch the sky.' Everything we do on this planet we need to do in a bigger context and to realize we are a part of something bigger. There is a God who loves us, who is involved and who one day is coming back for us.
"Writing the songs for this record was once again like taking snapshots of my life. There are snapshots from childhood in 'My Cathedral' and 'Nonny Nonny,' snapshots of my adolescence in '8th Grade,' of my present life as a recording artist in 'Other Side of the Radio,' and a snapshot of the day when we will all 'Circle Up' around the throne to sing our praise … I believe Run the Earth … Watch the Sky continues my journey forward, outward and skyward."
The forward motion is evident in nearly every aspect of Rice's life but perhaps no more so than in his music. His last studio album, Smell the Color 9, stretched his musical boundaries and proved this thoughtful folk-leaning songwriter could pen a dandy pop track, too. In 2001, Rice surprised fans with two piano-only instrumental releases that showcased a different side of his musical and arranging talents, not to mention his fondness for old hymns and Christmas songs. And with his sixth album, Run the EarthWatch the Sky, Chris again teams with the perpetually surprising production talents of longtime friend and collaborator Monroe Jones (Ginny Owens, Third Day). It's a partnership that's garnered more than 1 million unit sales to date.
Musically this time around, there's still the modern folk leanings reminiscent of David Wilcox and James Taylor, but fans will also notice Rice's newfound admiration of earthy but radio-friendly pop in the vein of John Mayer and Travis. The album's first single, "The Other Side of the Radio," sports driving guitar and percussion sure to get listeners "tapping the wheel" to the song's infectious melody while "Me and Becky" recalls classic rock sounds from Chris' own adolescence. "A lot of the record mentions my childhood or my teenage years so it fit to reach back into the earlier sounds from the '70s in some of the background vocals and string arrangements."
But it was Rice's ability as a lyricist that convinced Rocketown to sign him as its first artist in early 1997, and Run the Earth … Watch the Sky shows his continued brilliance as a writer. Tender confessional "My Cathedral" offers another insight into Chris' ever-present love for nature while "Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)" movingly uses a simple theme to communicate a lifetime journey of faith.
Still, his lyrics aren't always warmly received, primarily because Chris writes from a motivation to reach beyond the comfortable confines of the Christian subculture. His heart for outreach began at an early age. A native of Maryland, Rice grew up as the second of four sons born to Christian bookstore owners. He credits his parents and other adult mentors for shaping his purpose in life and providing a backbone to his faith. It's their influence that drives his work with youth today.
"When I was growing up, I know that the most important elements that built my faith were the people who were a part of my life, not just the books I read or the music I listened to. So I've always been committed to spend as much time in people's lives, especially younger people's lives, as possible because I know that made such a huge difference in my faith. I really believe the best use of my life and my time is to spend it with kids and to be in their lives on a life-on-life kind of way."
The young Chris Rice didn't aspire to a career in music or youth work, but he gradually wandered into both and found they were where he was meant to be. After taking piano lessons as an adolescent, Chris began using his musical talents while attending Union University in Jackson, Tenn., to lead college worship services and retreats. What began as a collegiate ministry soon turned into a full-time career. For the past two decades Chris Rice has spent his time as an itinerant youth pastor, playing for high school and college conferences and camps nationwide. Building those mentoring relationships is why, he says, he's alive.
"I've spent so many years working in relational settings," notes Rice. "I get to know these people over years and get to watch them grow up. Because I've experienced that, that's 90 percent of my life, my heart. My truest and most fruitful work in life is to connect with students relationally and to influence them in their understanding of God and their walk with Him."
His investment in kids not only requires the bulk of his time but also a great deal of his energy, which makes his career as an artist a bit of a juggling act. Before the release of his last studio album, Rice realized his need for a change and asked Rocketown to release Smell the Color 9 without his involvement in marketing and promotion. The two years since that release have given him time to rest, recover and recognize his limitations.
"I wanted to take some time to pull myself out of the public Christian world," explains Chris. "I've found that being a 'Christian celebrity' taxed me of a lot of things I need for the day-to-day of dealing with kids. That public work brings fans who adore me much more than I'm worthy of and in greater numbers than I'm used to. There are people who give a lot of weight to what I say and listen to my songs and scrutinize my every word. There's a lot of pressure with that.
"In the past two years I feel like I've learned a lot about what I'm doing, what's important and what isn't, and how much I can personally give to both worlds that I'm working with. I know where my strengths are and what it costs me to communicate in my relational world and what it costs me to communicate in a public world. I've learned where to set up boundaries. I'm more committed and excited now than ever about what I'm doing."
He certainly does run the earth-continuing his balancing act of youth ministry and musical artistry – but Chris Rice can't stop watching the sky, looking toward heaven for answers, direction and hope. And his songs reflect that heavenward longing.
"I just want to be with You / I just want this waiting to be over / I just want to be with You / And it helps to know the Day is getting closer … " (from "Smile")
While "Smile" and "Nonny Nonny" (from which the album title comes) may express that desire directly, other tracks are more subtle in their approach. Explains Chris, "There's one song called 'Everything's OK' that expresses some thoughts about God sending along someone at just the right time when you need it. It points to the idea that we need to look elsewhere for help sometimes and not simply at ourselves. And the song 'Spare an Angel' uses the image of a girl who is really desperate and lost. The image is something we can all relate to. We see someone who needs help, and we want to respond even if the only way we know how is by praying."
When it comes to directing his listeners "skyward" to the reason behind his music, Chris chooses to come alongside and relate rather than drive home an agenda. "I think the power of music isn't to stand above people and tell them how they're supposed to believe and feel about things. Rather, the power of any kind of communication or teaching is to think along with people where they are and to encourage them in a new direction or nudge them along the path towards finding truth."
And it's Chris' dream that Run the Earth … Watch the Sky can be a part of that process, building relationships with people regardless of where they are in the faith journey. "I hope people hear this record and are drawn to it because there is something in it that has intrigued them or that has been put in a way they haven't thought of before. I want my music to have an effect on people that makes them want to think longer about the things that are in the songs. Ultimately, if you put truth in a song, frame it well with good production and good melodies, it's something people hear over and over again and it becomes a part of them. So I want to fill my songs with things that change their perspective. I hope my music gives people a bigger perspective on their life and purpose while also helping them to look forward to a time when we will be with God in a place that we were ultimately created to be."
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