Since Kevin Max started as a founding member of DC Talk, and later from his solo albums and time with Audio Adrenaline, 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's last solo project, Broken Temples, features the catchy songs "Light Me Up" and "White Horse." He has followed that up with arguably his most ambitious project to date, AWOL which features the standout songs, "Prodigal (Run to You), "Yeshua" and "AWOL." I credit the biblical messages of Christian music crossing over to mainstream music, in particular, the debut Jars of Clay album, for leading me to Christ for which I'm eternally grateful. I was a prodigal son who thought my works and basically being a good person would eventually lead me to Heaven. I had the chance to speak with Kevin about "Prodigal (Run to You)."
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This tune was one of the songs we wrote towards the end of writing for this album. I had written about sixteen songs and we had pared them down to about nine songs and my producer Kieran Kelly wanted more of a pop song with a message behind it. My personal story is one of redemption and I correlate what I've been through to the Prodigal Song passage.
 
The idea of the Prodigal Son parable was in constant focus when I wrote the lyrics. The interesting first verse lyrics about the 'Wizard from 1809' comes from real life conversations that I had with a friend of mine that had some visions of my past and future. It was weird information and I nicknamed her "the prophetess" because of these deep conversations. She did open my mind up to generational sin and the need to pray about things we don't know about from our unknowable past. I know that sounds a bit mysterious because it is. She felt that I needed to pray about my past and get rid of it to be in a better place for my communication with God. I prayed for it and a weight lifted off of me. I talk about that at the beginning of the song. I relate the song to how a lot of people get drawn away from the path they should be on from life experiences. It might be one of my most personal songs on the album. The idea in the song is the realization that I need to run to You because You are the One who can help me get over my vices and troubles.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Luke 15:11-32 (NIV): the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
 
What is the takeaway message?

Sometimes it takes a difficult life obstacle to get you back to a centered relationship with God. I've gone through a turnaround in my own life the past few years and changed from everything being about what I want to do to praying what God wants me to do and have asked Him to show me that path and make things clear to me. It's not a mystery to most people that I walked away from Christian music and in a way, I walked away from the Church when I first went solo in the early 2000's. I went through a marriage divorce and I felt like I was divorced from my band and my label. My perception was that there was judgment centered on me. It was probably my own perception. Moving out to LA and doing general market music and was at the Viper Room. I went on a journey to find myself and who God was and what did I believe about Him after the decision I made to follow Christ as a young man. I went on a journey of the soul unpacking the ideas of what I believed in. I returned to Nashville, got remarried, had children and that has completely changed my outlook on life. AWOL is a full circle moment for me. I know what I believe now and I am a believer and I want to be used by the Lord in whatever way He sees fit. I understand the meaning of community and adventure. Like Solomon, I grabbed what I wanted. At the end of the day, it comes down to personal relationships with people and with God. I've learned the hard way to come full circle. AWOL is a record made by a believer and I want to relate to people. This song turned out to be one of my favorites on this album as it has that effortless energy of driving down a winding road with the top down, sun in your eyes, the doubts and fears disappearing in the rearview mirror.
 
Lyrics:
'Twas a wizard from 1809
He cursed my tree and my family line
'Cause he knew that I've been nothing but trouble

I got my cross he’s got his book of Hex
I got my love and he’s got nothing but vexing tricks,
So said the prophetess. 

Son don't you know he's got his hand on you
Don't you know that his word is true
Then you, you gotta believe it

Son don't you fear, there's still plenty of time
Get your soul and your life realigned
You gotta choose between what's wrong and what's right

Oh yeah, I'm getting ready to run
I gotta feel the sun, you know the day has come
That I will run to you, I'm gonna run straight to you
(There's no doubt about it)

Through my fear and through all of my doubts
I'm gonna shout, gonna let it all out
I'm gonna run to you, I'm gonna run straight to you

So many people taking different sides
To questions of this mortal life
What will you choose, is it win or lose?

I know it's weird but take a look at the trees
Feel the universe in a gentle breeze
I know, you shouldn't be lonely

Son don't you know you're on the precipice
Don't you know that it's all a kiss on the lips
And a scar on your heart

Son don't you wait and don't you hesitate
Pick up the ball before it's too late
Just run, run like the wind

Oh yeah, I'm getting ready to run
I gotta feel the sun, you know the day has come
That I will run to you, I'm gonna run straight to you
(There's no doubt about it)

Through my vices and through all of my doubts
I'm gonna shout, gonna let it all out
I'm gonna run to you, I'm gonna run straight to you

I see you dance across the party line
Born again in another place and time
Red streaks of blue across your fevered eyes

Oh yeah, I'm getting ready to run
I gotta feel the sun, you know the day has come
That I will run to you, I'm gonna run straight to you
(There's no doubt about it)

Through my vices and through all of my doubts
I'm gonna shout, gonna let it all out
I'm gonna run to You, I'm gonna run straight to You

Oh yeah, I'm getting ready to run
I gotta feel the sun, you know the day has come
That I will run to You, I'm gonna run straight to You

Closing Thoughts

My own prodigal story is that it took the conviction of the Holy Spirit grabbing my heart through the biblical messages in Christian music including DC Talk's songs and pointing me to my desperate need for my Savior, Jesus, to bring about repentance, and know the Truth "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9, NKJV). My wife was pregnant with our oldest daughter in 1999 when I was saved. We now have three daughters, and my oldest is now 18 years old. I desperately pray for all of my daughters to not stray away from the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
The story of the Prodigal Son in Luke's Gospel account (Luke 15:11-32), is everyone's story. In one way or another, we all want our inheritance and want to squander everything with prodigal living. The Good News of the Gospel is that we're never too far away from the reach of our loving Father, God. To enter God's Kingdom, we all need to proclaim, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called Your son" (Luke 15:21, NKJV). God's answer to each of us who return to Him will be: "for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Luke 15:24, NKJV). That's cause for celebration!
 
This is one of the best songs of the year for sure and really exemplifies the strong combination of catchy music and moving lyrics and vocals. We sometimes put up a wall between us and God and He just wants us to come home to Him. Many of us feel that we're not worthy of being near God and that He's using a checklist to determine our worthiness. That's not the Gospel. The Good News of the Gospel which this song perfectly portrays it is that God accepts us no matter what we've done.  What a wonderful, encouraging truth. As the song says, "Through my vices and through all of my doubts, I'm gonna shout, gonna let it all out, I'm gonna run to You, I'm gonna run straight to You!" Amen to that!