To capture the most authentic sound and emotion possible, Chris August and producer Ed Cash decided to track Chris's third and most recent studio album The Maker live, resulting in a studio recording which channels the energy and worshipful vibe that one experiences seeing Chris in concert. I recently had the opportunity to worship with Chris at Night of Joy in Disney World. If you've never had the chance to see Chris perform a full set of his songs, don't miss him the next time he is in your area.
 
These new songs are a wonderful return from one of my favorite singer-songwriters, as they are all straight from the heart of someone who has experienced what it means to walk in the valley as well as on the mountaintop, after a head injury from a skateboarding accident left Chris addicted to pain killers and dealing with depression as he weaned off of them. His need for Jesus is urgently and sincerely expressed in song after song, and his awe of his Maker is beautifully captured in the title track "The Maker." I had the chance to speak with Chris about "He's Still Here," which was our eighth "behind the song" devotional discussion.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song means the most to me on this album, and I think it was because of where I was at in my life. After my skateboarding accident and the release of my last album in April 2012, I was on pain medications, and after four months had passed and I was trying to get off of those medications, I was getting sick and my body was totally addicted to the pain killers. When I finally weaned myself off the pain killers, I was diagnosed with depression and had to get on more medication, and I had side effects from all of them. I had a pill box like my Grandpa used to have, and it was the size of a laptop.

I was taking all this medication and dealing with depression, and I couldn't sleep, so I took medication for that. I was tired of taking all of these pills, and I believed the Lord could heal me. I decided I was done taking the pills, asked the Lord to heal me, and I was just going to walk in the healing. I was praying, and the next day I didn't take one more pill, and I haven't since. 

That's where the writing process started, right in that moment. This song is about seeing the Lord literally heal me. I just started walking in it. His miracles were not just for 2000 years ago. He's still moving and healing.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Romans 8:11 (VOICE): "If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you."

John 1:12-13 (VOICE): "But for all who did receive and trust in Him, He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God; He bestowed this birthright not by human power or initiative but by God's will."

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV): "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV): "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV): "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

What is the takeaway message?

There is so much Scripture that inspired this song. I co-wrote the song with Ben Glover and David Garcia. I love to play on words, and I wanted this song to be very conversational like it's me talking. The verses of this song are probably the favorite verses of any song I've written. I can remember writing this song, and I had tears in my eyes thinking about what I had gone through. This song almost wasn't on the album, though it is my favorite and most personal song. At the last minute we included the song. 

I hope people can hear the spirit of the moment in this song, and it reminds me of when I wrote "Starry Night." I was in a moment of rededicating my life to Christ when I wrote and recorded that song. This song has a lot of those same moments for me. 

There are so many songs on this album that are so personal, and I don't know what it is about these songs, but the Lord had me in such a sensitive state of mind from recovering from my brain injury to struggling with being addicted to pain killers and then depression, it's like I had no option but to say, "Lord, I need Your help." Sometimes we get so stubborn and forget to thank the Lord directly. We say "Thank the Lord," but we should say, "Thank You Lord." We want everyone to like us so we say we're okay, but we need to ask the Lord for help. 

So many times I choose the world, and I need to choose Him. When you encounter God, you aren't the same when you come out on the other side. I see His miracles in my life, not only His physical healing, but also emotionally and spiritually.

Lyrics:
Two-thousand years ago He walked the earth, just flesh and bone
He used to heal the sick, make broken hearts turn beautiful,
But today we don't believe in miracles
Tell me when did we start thinking God stopped movin' when He does?
And why do we believe that He has somehow lost His touch?
Oh, what's wrong with us?

He's still here
Still movin' after all these years
And He never disappeared
Our God yesterday is our God today
He's still here
He's still here

Let me tell the truth to you, sometimes I doubt what I can't see
But, then I look at this evidence - Your hands, Your breath on everything
And I believe, oh, silly me
Tell me when did I start thinking God stopped movin' when He does?
Why do I believe The Savior stopped showin' up?
'Cause He's just as near as He ever was

He's still here
Still movin' after all these years
And He never disappeared
Our God yesterday is our God today
He's still here
He's still here

He was never gone
He didn't stay in the grave
His love is the one
He's still with us today
So break your chains!

He's still here
Still movin' after all these years
(Still movin' after all these years)
And He never disappeared
Our God yesterday (Our God yesterday) is our God today
He's still here
And He's movin', yeah, He's movin'
He's not in the grave
(He's still here)
He's still movin'
And His love is lovin' us today
Our God yesterday (Our God yesterday) is our God today
He's still here
Two-thousand years ago He walked the earth, just flesh and bone
They laid Him in a grave, but He wasn't there when they moved the stone, no
And He's still here

Chris's story is also my story, and anyone struggling with the balance of life and faith can truly relate to the incredible messages of his songs. They only grow deeper with each listen-- my favorite type of album. "He's Still Here" is just a taste of what I consider to be Chris August's best overall album, and is a thesis statement deeply rooted in the Word of God, which is how Chris was inspired to write these songs and come out of darkness and deep depression into "His marvelous light."

God's resurrection power from The Holy Spirit, that same power that defeated death and raised Jesus from the grave, is available to followers of Jesus. I love the translation of Romans 8:11 (Voice): "If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you." 

Jesus is ever true to His Word. What He spoke on earth, He affirms in heaven. The Word is a message of grace. We can all take comfort in the Truth expressed in this song which comes directly from God's Word: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

We can all make the choice to ask The Holy Spirit to indwell us with His supernatural ability to overcome what the Enemy wants us to think about ourselves. That's what this song is all about. We are aware of many situations involving people dealing with depression. Chris's hope is to pass on the life-giving message of Jesus Christ. As Chris so powerfully urges in this song, "He's still here, still movin' after all these years, and He never disappeared. Our God yesterday is our God today, He's still here." Amen to that!

Listen to the song below: