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Steven Curtis Chapman's eyes are tired, but his smile is still wide as he sits in his home studio above the garage of his Nashville, Tennessee residence. While telling the stories behind his upcoming CD, All Things New (coming Sept. 21), the sun shines through the surrounding bay windows while his wife and kids bustle about outside on a glorious April afternoon. Chapman talks about how God has orchestrated the most recent season of his life, from opening doors outside of Music City's comfort zone to recording an entire CD in California to news that he and wife Mary Beth would be adopting yet another young child—their third—from China. We caught up with Chapman again recently via phone for an even closer glimpse at the record and what's going on in his family.

Steven Curtis Chapman

Where'd you get the idea for All Things New?

Steven Curtis Chapman Initially it came from my pastor's series of sermons entitled "Renewal of All Things." I go through a season every album, saying "God, give me the message you want me to communicate—either snapshots of life or specific themes." I listened to the pulls, tugs and expectations that come from my management and record company—and they actually seem to be more intense with every album! Then I tried to silence all those voices and prayed more fervently. As I prayed that, I started reading different books, plus taking in my pastor's preaching about renewal, which opened up my understanding that God really is telling a story with all of his creation. The idea of the calendar kept coming up, and I starting thinking of the seasons and how God has sectioned those off throughout the year to be new. I think I found God screaming to us, "I'm the one who makes all things new." That's the essence of God's nature; he's not only the Creator, but he makes things new.

With five kids and another on the way to your family, how were you able to find time to sort through those thoughts?

Chapman That was one of the greatest challenges ever. It's been very, very difficult to be a good dad while making this album. I've done most of my writing when everybody's gone to bed. I actually envision those romantic ideals of going away and retreating to a cabin in the hills to write songs, but that usually never ends up happening. Still, the goodness of God comes even in chaos of life. It's a testimony to God's faithfulness. God allowed me late hours, sleepless nights, seasons of getting away, writing on airplanes while flying to do appearances—it was all formulated and pondered throughout events of day. In some ways, as much as I would have liked escaping, it really represents where I'm at—the fact that God says "I make things new" in the middle of chaos, dirtiness and stuff of life.

You took a month to record in California. Did that add a creative edge to your music?

Chapman It was a huge part of the process. I had really wanted to go to Colorado, but instead I wound up in Hollywood. It's got some things that are unique, but it's not the ideal place if you want to get away from it all. But it was obviously God's plan for the whole process because I got into this whole different creative environment. Guys who played on the record didn't know my music and had no preconceived ideas. It was very scary too. My co-producer Brown [Bannister] used a different engineer—and for a producer, that's like asking him to cut off his right arm. It was all very unsettling for both of us and we were nervous. But it also allowed me to share my faith with those we were working with, to communicate the Word of God in a profound way. And what was so cool is that they didn't get freaked out by that. They said it was unlike any record they'd worked on before, and it turned out to be a really innovative experience. They also said it was some of the best music they'd done—Christian rock, secular pop, whatever! It was a great encouragement to me that they were really excited and refreshed by the process.

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