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So I think the difference from other albums is this theme of the prodigal coming home and being embraced and being loved by the father, and knowing that I'm a prodigal because we've all fallen short. But we're all welcomed back.

You talked about vulnerability. The song "God Help Me" includes the line, "I'm running out of time to live, running out of love to give, running out of life within." What are saying there?

St. James I think I'm alluding to a few things there. One is the feelings that I've had when I've been nearing burnout, which has happened a few times in 12 years of ministry. In those times, I've really felt like running out of love and running out of life within. God has had to fill me up so I have something to give.

I wrote that song on my birthday last year. Birthdays and New Year's are two times during the year when I get reflective about my life. I was definitely just thinking about the place where I was at. You do feel like you have those moments when you say, "Wow, life is short! I am running out of time to live, and I want to use it well for God." I need him to help me know how to live. It's a good thing when we come to the end of ourselves and we realize we're empty and we need Jesus passionately.

Tell me more about L'Abri. Why did you go there?

St. James One of the things I've realized is that every year I need a form of a sabbatical. Being in ministry is intense, so I need to take a block of time out. Last year I was at L'Abri for a month and a half. That was longer than usual. But I've got to get away every year just to recharge and refuel myself. I don't think I was at any kind of burnout stage; I was just learning the importance of needing that refueling-from God, emotionally, mentally, and physically. It was a real incredible renewing time. I was like a sponge, just being able to receive and fill up.

What exactly did you do at L'Abri?

St. James For half of the day, you actually have to work because you're living in community. So for half the day you're gardening or cooking or cleaning the house, a huge chalet that everybody lives in. And they assign you a tutor, with whom you meet every week or once every two weeks. That tutor helps you be directed to certain books or tapes that are on the subjects that you really want to study while you're there. And then, the other half of the day you're studying. They have a huge library there.

That's part of the reason that it was so great for me. It's really hard for me to fit into a regular semester curriculum, like a Bible school or that kind of thing. But to go to this kind of place is almost like you can design your own curriculum based on what you feel God is wanting you to study. That was perfect for somebody like me.

So what did you study?

St. James Part of what I wanted to study was apologetics, because I haven't really studied that a whole lot-what it means to defend my faith. And then part of it was personal stuff God wanted me to deal with-who I am in him and things like that. Rediscovering my God-worth instead of my self-worth.

You're in your late 20s, yet your target audience still seems to be teenagers. Why is that?

St. James I have a young view toward life in that I've grown up with six siblings, and I'm still very involved with them. A couple of my brothers are part of my team on the road. My younger sister is 13. So I have a passion for reaching young people like my siblings. And I just think a lot has to do with how you look at it. I want to be a kid my entire life, yet I want to be responsible with my life and not be unwise in the decisions I make. As far as attitude towards life, I always want to have a youthful approach.

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