Billed as bringing together "an unparalleled collection of contemporary Christian music's best loved artists to create a truly unique collection of praise, worship, and adoration music," My Utmost For His Highest is the first in what will be a series of projects featuring individual artists recording songs inspired by Oswald Chambers' classic daily devotional. On this premiere Utmost offering, it is a pleasure to see artists of various musical styles and a variety of record companies sharing a desire to deliver the timeless messages and wisdom of Oswald Chambers to a new generation. Those participating on the project are: 4Him, Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Cindy Morgan, Steven Curtis Chapman, Sandi Patty, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, Bryan Duncan, Twila Paris, and Phillips, Craig & Dean.
Masterfully produced by Brown Bannister, Utmost showcases songs that are contemplative and subdued in nature, falling squarely in the adult-contemporary format. All performers had input on the direction and content of their contributions, giving the album an intimate feeling.
Michael W. Smith is the most prolific contributor, lending his acute instincts for musical composition and arrangement to five scores. His own cut, "Move In Me," is one of several that utilize lush and lissome orchestration. Other tracks that employ the talent of the London Session Orchestra are Gary Chapman's "Man After Your Own Heart" and Twila Paris' "Where He Leads Me."
One of Bannister's most impressive feats on Utmost is the vocal production. There is not one weak performance on the project and Bannister is able to make even the more wispy voiced vocalists sound exceptional. Among the shining moments are Amy Grant's sweet "Lover of My Soul," Bryan Duncan's sultry "A Heart Like Mine," and Sandi Patty's confessional "God Of All Of Me." Indeed, Utmost succeeds at delighting the ears and stirring the heart to worship.
With such a rich and treasure-filled source, Utmost's lyrics are expressions of deep spiritual truths and insights. With different perspectives on the same theme, both Steven Curtis Chapman and Cindy Morgan remind us of the comfort we can find in God's omnipotence and omnipresence. Chapman's "Sometimes He Comes In The Clouds" recognizes that even though God's face cannot always be seen and His proximity cannot always be felt, God is always there.
Sometimes He comes in the rain And we question the pain And wonder why God can seem so far away But time will show us He was right there with us.
Morgan's "You'll Be There" is an exuberant affirmation of the certainty we have that God is always with us.
In the darkness You were there And in the good times You were there So let me say With a prayer Sweetest Savior who cares Angels dance in the air And tell us You'll be there.
Features which help to weave in the devotional inspiration are the reference dates for the derivative Chambers' pieces and the quotes from each artist that accompany each cut's lyrics. 4Him's song, "You Are Holy," takes a more straight-forward praise and adoration approach. As 4 Him urges us in their quote: "Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship." Utmost's lyrics and companion booklet complement the contemplative music in providing serious food for thought and reflection.
Initially, the message from which My Utmost For His Highest were intended to exhort the Body in daily living out the faith and to enlighten the reader by fleshing-out Scriptural truth. Often times tribute projects lack the power and passion which made their inspirations so endearing and enduring; My Utmost For His Highest is an exception. In its music and message, this project serves to both explore and further God's truth and to expose a new generation to the abiding insights of one of the great illuminators of the faith, Oswald Chambers.
