|PIC1|Upon receiving Chris Tomlin's Hello Love it was clear this was going to be a successful album given this artist's reputation for making great and inspirational music. The album was introduced on September 2, but his debut single "Jesus Messiah" became an instantaneous hit July 13, even being praised as a song for the ages. But it's not the music itself that makes this another incredible worship album. It's the stories behind the music.

The whole mission for this album is to connect people to God through our love for Him. Tomlin stated in a recent interview, "With each new record, I continue to strive to create songs that will help people voice their worship to God. Worship is a massive word with a very broad scope, but in the end, it is very simple. It is love! It's our response in love to our great God who loved us first."

What is so wonderful about this album, or rather about Chris Tomlin and his music in general, is that his lyrics are so simplistic yet they still manage to create a huge impact on those who listen to them. Each song is like a love letter to God or a Psalm written in the Bible, praising God and reaching out to Him. In fact, the song "You lifted me out" comes from Psalm 40. Just as the title suggests, the song gives praise to God for lifting us out of difficult times.

Although normally I am hesitant to admit to enjoying a song that everyone else already claims to love, I must confess that "Jesus Messiah" is a remarkable song. There is a peace that overwhelms me when I listen to it, especially when I listen to the chorus, which basically calls out to God in His numerous names, "Messiah" being the one word he has felt compelled to include in a song saying, "you are truly saying that He is the name above all names."

Tomlin's music is so fresh and simple and serves no other purpose than to praise and give recognition to God. God of this City, which was originally written and sung by Irish Christian band Bluetree, is another beautiful song on the album. It's a song for the hopeless and lost. Originally sung in a bar brothel, Bluetree sang the song for the city of Padia, in Thailand. The song came to life when they were approached by the bar's owner and later passed down to Chris Tomlin. Hello Love is an album full of rich stories like this one that help make this more than just another worship CD.

In addition to the stories that helped create these songs, Tomlin collaborated with many of his friends to make an album that gives praise to our Creator. When approaching his music Tomlin admits, "I always come to songwriting always thinking about God and people."

What a testament to his character! Not only is he a talented musician, but a true man of God. It is clear that he uses his talent to be a vessel for us to connect to God through his music. Tomlin's humble attitude draws people to his music, encourages them to worship God, and to say, Hello Love.