By Alyssa Bjornstad Hello Love (sixstepsrecords) affirms yet again that Chris Tomlin is more than a songwriter and musician; he is a worshiper. This album emerges in a different way than Tomlin’s previous solo albums (The Noise We Make, Not to Us, Arriving, Live from Austin Music Hall, See the Morning).
At first listen, many of the songs seem like a departure from what fans have come to expect—masterfully crafted #1 singles. Instead, the lyrics and music of Hello Love reflect the songwriter’s heart for God and passion to lead His people in worshiping the Creator.
Tomlin wants perspectives to be refocused. “People need to be reminded that what we’re here to do is to love God and to love people. Worship is a relationship of love. It’s our love of God and our love of people.”
Love, an often overused verb in our culture, takes on new meaning as Tomlin weaves the cause, purpose, fulfillment, and joy it brings into every song. The title track, “Love,” sung with the Watoto Children’s Choir, serves as a rallying cry: “Love is the answer. Love will find a way. When we love one another, it’s a brighter day.”
Many of the album’s songs are reminiscent of Gothic cathedrals—no, not hewn of stone and marble, but an expression of something greater than the mind or heart can comprehend. As a songwriter, Tomlin brings more to pen and paper than simply a desire to worship. He shares his internal questions about suffering, sin, and love with candor and honesty.
As a leader within the Passion movement, Tomlin’s desire for the college population is evidenced in “God of This City,” written by Bluetree. This song is igniting university students around the world to live for the name and renown of Jesus! “For greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city. For greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done here.”
Chris Tomlin has once again captured the essence of worship in “Praise the Father, Praise the Son.”
“You Lifted Me Out” declares the joy of being “rescued” by the Savior, and granted the freedom to live knowing that He will never fail. Christ-following is hardly void of suffering, pain, grief, or loss, and Tomlin has written a song that echoes far beyond church walls. “I Will Rise” is an anthem. “Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed. The victory is won. He is risen from the dead. I will rise when He calls my name. No more sorrow, no more pain. I will rise on eagles’ wings, before my God, fall on my knees. And rise. I will rise.”
Hello Love is a challenge for people from all walks of life to reacquaint themselves with love. After all, in the end, there’s nothing greater (I Corinthians 13:13).
Alyssa Bjornstad Alyssa’s greatest accomplishment to date was picking one major in graduate school. Her undergraduate career was filled with indecisiveness—namely, English, Communication, Journalism, and Psychology. When not reading textbooks, doing research, or writing papers, she can be found drinking coffee, painting, philosophizing, blogging, listening to music, drawing, or playing an immovable stringed instrument. After graduation, Alyssa hopes her dream of working for Passion Conferences comes true! Until then, she stays busy editing and contributing to the field of sanity. You can contact her by e-mail plansforhopeATgmailDOTcom.
She is Beloved 
0 thoughts on “Review :: Hello Love – Chris Tomlin”