As we continue the countdown to Friday’s release of Heaven Is Full of Criminals, I want to introduce you to another person whose work made this song what it is.

Today’s spotlight is Brandon Shattuck of Parafonic Recordings.

Recording a song is only part of the process. At some point, you have to trust someone else with all of those performances and hope they can hear what you’ve been hearing in your head from the beginning. That’s exactly what Brandon does.

Brandon mixed and mastered Heaven Is Full of Criminals, and from the very beginning he understood what I was trying to accomplish. He never tried to make the song into something it wasn’t. Instead, he patiently brought out what was already there, giving each instrument and every vocal the space it needed while preserving the heart of the song.

A great mix engineer doesn’t just balance levels. They help tell the story of a song. Brandon has that rare ability to combine technical excellence with musical sensitivity, and this recording is better because of it.

I’m grateful for his talent, his professionalism, and the care he brought to every step of the process.

Thank you, Brandon, for helping this song sound exactly the way I hoped it would.

Heaven Is Full of Criminals releases this Friday. I can’t wait for you to hear the incredible work Brandon helped bring to life.

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As we count down to Friday’s release of Heaven Is Full of Criminals, I want to introduce you to the people who helped bring this song to life.

Today’s spotlight is on my friend, Craig Adams.

Craig and I go back more than a few decades. He produced my album Hymns, Prayers, and Invitations ten years ago, and I’ve admired both his musicianship and his character ever since.

Today, Craig serves as the executive director of the Center for Commercial Music in the School of Music and Worship Arts at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, but no matter how accomplished he becomes, he’s remained one of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.

On Heaven Is Full of Criminals, Craig contributed the beautiful background vocals, keyboards, and percussion that help give the song so much warmth and depth. His instinct is always to serve the song rather than himself, and that’s one of the things I admire most about him as a musician and producer.

There are people whose talent is obvious the moment you hear them. Craig is one of those people. But what makes him truly special is that his humility is every bit as remarkable as his ability.

Quite honestly, this song would not be what it is without him.

Thank you, Craig, for lending your gifts to this recording and for being such a faithful friend over the years.

Heaven Is Full of Criminals releases this Friday. I can’t wait for you to hear the beautiful work Craig helped create.

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One week from today, my new single Heaven Is Full of Criminals will be released.

As a hospital chaplain, I spend most of my days listening to other people’s stories. For the last several weeks, many of you have kindly listened to me talk about this one. Thanks for indulging me.

I’m also grateful to share that, for the second week in a row, the song is in the Top 20 on PLAY MPE—a music delivery service used by radio programmers, music supervisors, and industry professionals to discover and evaluate new releases. It’s an encouraging sign that the song is already finding an audience before its official release.

At its heart, though, this isn’t a song about chart positions. It’s a song about grace, redemption, and the surprising breadth of Christ’s mercy. I’m also incredibly honored to have my friend and musical hero, Phil Keaggy, playing lead guitar on the recording.

If you haven’t already, I’d be honored if you’d pre-save the song on Spotify. Every pre-save helps independent artists reach more listeners when release day arrives.

Pre-save here: https://show.co/sOrc2zb

Thank you for your encouragement, your prayers, and for walking this journey with me. I can’t wait to share the song with you on July 24.

Blessings,

Rick Lee James

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Phil Keaggy Has a Message About My New Single

Dear friends,

Thank you for taking a few minutes to watch Phil’s message. Having him play guitar on this recording is something I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. His musicianship has inspired me for years, but his encouragement throughout this project has meant even more.

On July 24, I'll be releasing my new single, Heaven Is Full of Criminals, featuring one of my musical heroes, Phil Keaggy.

One of the ideas that has stayed with me over the years is a saying attributed to St. Augustine:

“Do not despair; one of the thieves was saved. Do not presume; one of the thieves was damned.”

I love the tension in those words. They remind us that the gospel leaves no room for despair and no room for presumption. Instead, they invite us to trust in the mercy of Christ.

As a hospital chaplain, I’ve met countless people who wonder if they’ve gone too far, failed too much, or somehow become disqualified from God’s love. If I am honest, I have had those same struggles myself. Heaven Is Full of Criminals is my attempt to sit with Augustine’s words and to imagine, with hope, the breadth of Christ’s welcome. Jesus continues to extend His invitation to all people, calling fallen humanity to Himself with grace, redemption, and love.

If that message resonates with you, I’d be honored if you would pre-save the song on Spotify today. Every pre-save helps independent artists reach more listeners when release day arrives, and every one makes a difference.

Pre-Save Heaven Is Full of Criminals Here

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Thank you for walking alongside me, supporting independent music, and encouraging me to keep writing songs that point people toward Christ.

I can’t wait to share this song with you on July 24.

For more information:

Rick Lee James

www.rickleejames.com

Email: [email protected]

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Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 627: Amber Carroll is “Ready To Talk” about gender and sexuality

This week on Voices in My Head, I sit down with Amber Carroll, Vice President of Equip and author of the upcoming book Ready to Talk: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Gender and Sexuality. Drawing from her experience as a former public school teacher, a single mom, and someone whose own family story has been deeply shaped by these issues, Amber offers practical wisdom for Christian parents who want to approach these conversations with both biblical conviction and deep compassion.

In our conversation, we discuss why these talks often need to begin earlier than parents expect, how to create a safe environment where children can ask honest questions, why sexuality should be viewed as an ongoing discipleship conversation rather than a one-time “talk,” and how our treatment of others can have a profound impact on the way people experience the gospel.

Whether you’re parenting young children, raising teenagers, or simply trying to understand how to engage these topics with greater grace and wisdom, I think you’ll find this conversation both challenging and encouraging.

Learn more about Amber and her work at ambergarrettcarroll.com.

Pre-order or purchase Ready to Talk: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Gender and Sexuality at ambergarrettcarroll.com/shop.

Download Amber’s free Parent Prep Pack at ambergarrettcarroll.com/parent.

“Heaven Is Full of Criminals”

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“Do not despair, one of the thieves was saved. Do not presume, one of the thieves was damned.”

–St. Augustine.

Heaven Is Full of Criminals, my new single featuring Phil Keaggy, releases July 24, 2026.

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Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 626: A Chapel Reflection on John 3:16 and the Invitation of Jesus

This week on Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), I share one of the most unexpected chapel services I’ve ever led.

Our scheduled speaker didn’t arrive. I had no sermon prepared, no notes, and not even a Bible in front of me. As I played the opening worship song, I found myself praying, listening, and trusting that somehow God would provide a message.

Out of that moment came an impromptu reflection on the friends who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus and a fresh hearing of the words of John 3:16-17. What if, instead of hearing, “For God so loved the world,” we imagined the name of someone we love in that verse? And then, what if we put our own name there?

Recorded live in our hospital chapel, this episode is a reminder that God’s love is deeply personal, Jesus’ invitation is still open, and sometimes the messages that touch us most are the ones we never planned to preach at all. Sometimes all we can do is show up, trust the Spirit, and begin with a song.

Connect with Rick Lee James

Website: RickLeeJames.comEmail: [email protected]

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Music & MerchBandcamp (music + merch): RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.comStreaming: Search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform or on Spotify https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa

AudiobookOut of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms (Audible):Audiobook Link

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Hosted byRick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast

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Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 625: Lectio Divina and the Compassion of Christ

This week on Voices in My Head, I'm sharing a chapel service I recently led at Springfield Regional Medical Center. Using the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina and reflecting on Romans 12:9–21, I explore what it means to offer the gift of presence to those who are suffering, drawing inspiration from Henri Nouwen’s A Spirituality of Caregiving. Along with prayer, scripture, and music—including a closing rendition of “Trust in God”—I invite you to join me in considering how God calls us to rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, and walk alongside one another with compassion and grace.

Connect with Rick Lee James

Website: RickLeeJames.comEmail: [email protected]

Listen / SubscribeSubscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts.

Music & MerchBandcamp (music + merch): RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.comStreaming: Search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform or on Spotify https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa

AudiobookOut of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms (Audible):Audiobook Link

Special Offer10% off at Bandcamp: use code 10off at checkoutRickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com

Hosted byRick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast

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Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 624: Brian Zahnd - Unseen Existences

In this episode of Voices in My Head, Rick Lee James welcomes back author, pastor, and theologian Brian Zahnd to discuss his newest book, Unseen Existences: Of Heaven, Earth, and the Divine Mystery in All Things. Together they explore heaven as a present reality rather than merely a future destination, the “serpentine spell” of modern materialism, the lifelong pilgrimage of conversion, and what it means to journey toward our true home in God. Brian also shares insights from his own experiences walking pilgrimage routes such as the Camino de Santiago, reflects on grace, judgment, and the formation of the soul, and discusses The Reverend, a companion piece to the book that was ultimately left out of publication. This conversation is an invitation to recover wonder, embrace mystery, and learn to see the world as charged with the presence of heaven.

Follow Brian Zahnd on Substack:

The Reverend: Narrated by Boyd Barrett

Unseen Existences: Of Heaven, Earth, and the Divine Mystery in All ThingsUnseen Existences (Book)

Brian Zahnd Books

* Unseen Existences

* The Wood Between the Worlds

* Postcards from Babylon

* When Everything’s on Fire

* Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God

* Beauty Will Save the World

Connect with Rick Lee James

Website: RickLeeJames.comEmail: [email protected]

Listen / SubscribeSubscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts.

Music & MerchBandcamp (music + merch): RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.comStreaming: Search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform or on Spotify https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa

AudiobookOut of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms (Audible):Audiobook Link

Special Offer10% off at Bandcamp: use code 10off at checkoutRickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com

Hosted byRick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast

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Vinyl Sale!

Get Thunder on vinyl + digital download for just $10 + shipping.

Songs for quiet nights, thoughtful mornings, and the storms we all walk through.

Order now:

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