Phil Keaggy teams up with hospital chaplain for “Heaven is Full of Criminals”
As a hospital chaplain in Ohio, Rick Lee James has helped people through some of their lowest moments. “No matter how unique our different circumstances, many people ask common questions: ‘Could God still love me? Have I gone too far?’” he said, according to Religion News Service.
James has turned these questions into a song reflecting on one of Christianity’s oldest themes — that God’s kingdom has always been populated by people whose lives were transformed by grace rather than earned by merit. Acclaimed Christian guitarist Phil Keaggy joined him to record “Heaven is Full of Criminals,” which has been released on streaming services.
“There is a quote attributed to St. Augustine that I often return to: ‘Do not despair — one of the thieves was saved. Do not presume — one of the thieves was damned,’” James said. “The song reflects on the thief beside Jesus and others whose stories remind us that redemption has always been central to the Christian faith.”
Keaggy’s decades-long career has earned him recognition as one of contemporary Christian music’s most respected musicians.
“I’m excited about this new song by Rick Lee James called `Heaven Is Full of Criminals,’” he said. “It really tells the story of mercy and redemption. Whoever you are, whatever you have done against God’s loving commandments, still his mercy endures forever.”
James serves full time as a health-care chaplain at Springfield Regional Medical Center in Springfield, Ohio. Alongside his ministry in health care, he continues to write songs exploring faith, suffering, hope and redemption. He is also the host of Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) and recently contributed electric guitar to “Guitar Tree” from Antonio Vergara’s Grammy-nominated album ”The Fury.”
James wrote the song for the person sitting in a hospital room wondering if they are beyond forgiveness.
“I wrote it for the lifelong church member who secretly doubts their faith and believes everyone else’s testimony is somehow more valid than their own,” he said. I wrote it for anyone who has confused the gospel of grace with working hard enough to earn God’s approval. If there’s one thing I’ve learned through ministry, whether as a hospital chaplain or serving my community, it’s that none of us comes to Christ because we’ve earned the right. We come because he welcomes us. That is the good news of the gospel.”
–Ala Goforth
#RickLeeJames #PhilKeaggy #ChristianMusic #Redemption #Gospel
