CHRIS RICE, Interviewed

www.chrisrice.com

by Ryan Richardson

If we live life in love, with each other and with the world, that's what Jesus was talking about...

Modern Disciple: What's new with you since your last CD?

Chris Rice: A new label that I am a partner in, called Ebb+Flo. We are working together with INO Records on the new CD, Amusing. I finished up my last record for Rocketown about three years ago, and at that point was ready to make some decisions about the next step. Am I going to keep doing the same thing, or try some different things this time around?

MD: What can you tell us about Ebb+Flo?

CR: We are a production label, and we have an online music store as well. We offer a real cross-section of genres, if you like great music, both from signed and independent artists. When I meet and hear of other artists, I put them in touch with the label as well.

MD: What is driving you these days?

CR: My biggest passion, what I have been really convicted about and convinced of for the past few years, is knowing that everything I have done as an artist has reached believers, which has been a good thing. Knowing that in any other profession, we encourage people to be out in the real world, to interact with believers and non-believers, but we make an exception for musicians. Like, "musicians should do this for us, and not for them", so I am at a spot where I am not forsaking what I have been doing, I will continue speaking to believers, but it's a great chance to reach out beyond that imaginary line that is there. I will continue to write songs about my faith, but also about the whole of life, as well.

MD: What is God showing you lately?

CR: Reaffirming how important it is to listen and live my life in a way that non-believers will ask questions about my faith.

MD: Sometimes we are the only Christians some people interact with.

CR: I heard a friend of mine say this, and it makes so much sense, that when Jesus was on the planet, sinners came to Him in droves, they were drawn to Him, but modern day Christians repel sinners. That's really sad. We're not living like the Bible says, we've often been obnoxious and superior and close out people rather than living the Gospel, and let God do His work.

MD: Sounds like your first song, Love Like Crazy.

CR: If we live life in love, with each other and with the world, that's what Jesus was talking about, the way we love each other, that's how the world will know He came from the Father. That's our biggest apologetic. If He had played it safe, He never would have lived at the mercy of the world and died for us. He is our example and we have to live that way.

Believers sometimes say, "you're crazy to love someone like that, they're not like us" - we have to love in such a way that people will ask, "what's going on?"

MD: Your new DVD was recorded at your house?

CR: Yeah, we added some lighting and invited some friends over, about a hundred people. We did all the songs from Amusing and six or seven songs from the earlier records.

MD: And it provides a record of what you've got in your house if anything goes missing.

CR: Oh yeah, I guess so!

MD: What prompted you to pursue the path of an artist?

CR: I love communication, I love words. Often, people have a moment when Truth clicks in - music has a way of helping to bring that about.

MD: Do you recommend any independent artists that you are listening to?

CR: Definitely! Check out Matt Wertz, Dave Barnes, and the band Florez.

MD: What do you think of when you hear the words, Modern Disciple?

CR: It is a challenge to figure out, to follow someone is to think how they think and apply their philosophies to how you live. For me, it means not to just be what my current Christian culture requires me to be, but to look at Jesus' life, physically and particularly, and figure out how I live that out.

MD: How can we pray for you?

CR: I am going to be on the road a lot for the next few weeks, that I would have wisdom across the board in how I communicate with people of faith and non-faith. It's exciting for me, I feel like a kid again!

AMUSING, from Chris Rice
Hear Sample or Purchase AMUSING

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