"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle; that is what an unbelieving world simply finds un-believable." This inspiring Brennan Manning quote at the start of the classic dcTalk song "What If I Stumble."

Since Kevin Max started as a founding member of dcTalk, and later when he took over as the lead vocalist of Audio Adrenaline for their album Kings & Queens, he has consistently played a part in my testimony as a believer, shaping my thoughts by breathing his voice into some of Christian music's top selling and most beloved songs including "In the Light," "What If I Stumble," "Supernatural," "Kings & Queens" and "Believer."

Kevin announced he was leaving Audio Adrenaline and would be releasing his own solo album, Broken Temples, which features the catchy song "Light Me Up." I had the chance to speak with Kevin about "White Horse."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This album has opened up portal for me to be experimental again, and I've found an artery that I can wander in where I can write music that people can connect with and inspires me. I've written some additional songs to add to a deluxe edition. I feel like I have three albums worth of these types of songs in me waiting to come out. 

For the story of this song, we can go all the way back to me meeting Brent Kutzle from OneRepublic. Around 2004-2005, I lived in Los Angeles, California, and I performed constantly on the Sunset Strip. At the legendary Viper Room I had residencies back to back. During those years I performed with several bands that were up and coming, as well as big names that had already become successful. Katy Perry, then Katy Hudson, shared the stage with me, as well as a band called OneRepublic. I began a friendship with Ryan Tedder, and we wrote a couple of songs together before their hit single "Apologize" blew them into the universal orbit. 

I met Brent Kutzle during those years, and I called on him to help me with a track on this album. "White Horse" is a song that Brent had written, and I only helped him flesh it out to a finished track by writing the bridge. Josh Silverberg co-produced long distance with Brent, and we saw it come into shape over a few weeks of back and forth. It's obviously an apocalyptic subject, but I also feel an undertone of modern worship in the music. "White Horse" was something, much like "Kings and Queens" from the Audio A 2.0 album, that I could have never written by myself.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Revelation 19:11 (VOICE): I looked up and saw that heaven had opened. Suddenly, a white horse appeared. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with righteousness He exercises judgment and wages war.

Revelation 19:11 (MSG): Then I saw Heaven open wide--and oh a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that's known only to himself. He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as "Word of God." The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords.

What is the takeaway message?

This is a great song on the album, and a lot of people connect with it. My manager Bryan says it is his favorite song. I look forward to playing it live. It was an eye-opening experience to get back on the road with Audio A 2.0, and even before that doing a guest vocal on "God's Not Dead" with Michael Tait and Newsboys. I think that was the opening to me coming back to the CCM industry after so many years of self-exile. 

I enjoy creating artistic modes of expression, and being held to a mold never sat well with me. Coming back to Nashville and giving it a chance again and remembering my time in dcTalk, I wanted to see if I have something positive to contribute to the industry. I've opened my heart up to that opportunity, and this album is an answer to my time of touring with AA, doing 200 shows in less than 2 years. I have 4 children now, and my ambition of touring isn't the same as it was. Christian music has its flaws, but it also has its benefits. It inspired me to create songs that represent who I am as an artist and speak to and lift up believers. 

"White Horse" feels like a worship song to me. I'm not normally a worship song singer, and this song turned out really well. I love a poetic take on Scripture, and this song is a poetic take on Revelation and the end and rebirth of humanity, whatever way you believe those events will take place. I've always been drawn to poetic takes on Scripture, from Bob Dylan to Bono, who are my influences along with Leonard Cohen.

Lyrics:
Your ways    
Are so immeasurable 
And Your grace
It covers me to the furthest shore
For the world Your love flows like the oceans
Though I doubt
You lead me still to Your waters 

I saw the heavens open over me
He showed His face so that I could see
Without a doubt you know I still believe
I see Him riding on a white horse, a white horse

Glory as He split the sky
Yeah, there's a place just for you and I 
Oh yeah, we know that He's still alive 
We'll see Him riding on a white horse, a white horse

Fall, fall to my knees again
You pick me up
And through this journey give me faith again
Soon this life will turn to ash like it once began
We will fade but no no no no this is not the end, yet

I saw the heavens open over me
He showed His face so that I could see
Without a doubt you know I still believe
I see Him riding on a white horse, a white horse

Glory as He split the sky
Yeah, there's a place just for you and I 
Oh yeah, we know that He's still alive 
We'll see Him riding on a white horse, a white horse

You have been there from the start
You will be there when it all goes dark 
Like the universe unfolding
With eternal love You show me
You show me 

I saw the heavens open over me
He showed His face so that I could see
Without a doubt you know I still believe
I see Him riding on a white horse, a white horse

Glory as He split the sky
Yeah there's a place just for you and I 
Oh yeah we know that He's still alive 
We'll see Him riding on a white horse, a white horse

We see Him riding, We see Him riding
A white horse, A white horse 

Talking with Kevin again about this song was a great follow-up to our conversation about "Light Me Up," which is the basis of the album title and Kevin's story of how "inside every broken temple is a space for You to fill." That song as well as this song are filled with Scripture and reflect the hope I have in Christ as a believer, and yet they are flavored by Kevin's signature artistic style, expressing these biblical truths in creative and poetic ways. 

The song has an epic feel because it is about a future biblical event of Jesus coming back to earth on His white horse. The urgency of the song matches the excitement and anticipation of the lyrics. Some lyrics from the song that reflect Kevin's faith journey are "Fall, fall to my knees again, You pick me up, And through this journey give me faith again, Soon this life will turn to ash like it once began, We will fade but no no no no this is not the end, yet." He has a new lease on life with a rebirth and renewal of his Christian walk and his faith-based music ministry, including a vibrant home church community at Journey Church in Franklin, Tennessee, which is also home to "gourmet" worship artist All Sons & Daughters.

I am in a similar life stage as Kevin. I have 3 daughters, and I like how this song helps me share a poetic description of the prophetic events of Revelation 19 with my family. My favorite aspects of Scriptural-based songs include biblical overtones just like some of Brent Kutzle's band OneRepublic's songs, "I Lived," "Counting Stars," "If I Lose Myself," "Preacher" and "Life in Color." In fact, if you like those songs, you'll love this song and you'll be singing along, "I saw the heavens open over me, He showed His face so that I could see, Without a doubt you know I still believe, I see Him riding on a white horse, a white horse." Amen to that!

(Listen to the song here.)