No one can a closet Christian.In fact the adjective closet when applied to a child of God is an oxymoron.Like the massive wildfires that swept through Yosemite National Park earlier this year, all it takes is just a spark.And within a matter of minutes over 200,000 acres of land would be ablaze with burning flames so encompassing that it required 3,700 firefighters to subside.Likewise when Jesus lights a wick in the chambers of our hearts with His love, no closet would be able to bear His flames. Vicariously the people around us will be conflagrated by Jesus. Thus, the best way to let the world know about Christ and His love is to torch a soul.A soul on fire is the best evangelist for Christ.Casey Darnell is such a man.When you listen to the 11 cuts on his brand new eponymous release you cant help but feel that surging incendiary passion he has for Jesus Christ.And that passion becomes so besetting that even when he sings about his relationship with his wife or when he address issues on a more horizontal plane, the love of Christ burns through everything he puts his vocal cords to.

Casey Darnell is a worship leader at North Point Community Church.Not only does he regularly lead worship across the 5 campuses of this Atlanta mega church, he also leads worship on major student camps and events, ministering to more than 50,000 people annually.Teaming up with Dove Award winning Producer of the Year Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli, Sidewalk Prophets), Casey Darnell comprises 11 songs all written or co-written by the worship leader.Other contributing writers include Jon Steingard (Hawk Nelson's "Words"), Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli's "This Is The Stuff," Chris August's "Restore"), and Dove Award nominated Songwriter of the Year Tony Wood, with 25 No. 1 hits (Francesca Battistelli's "This is the Stuff," Royal Tailor "Make a Move"). Darnell is most in his element when he sings a congregational worship number like the album opener Marvelous. Though it tethers on the expected with the loud blasts of guitars and booming chorus, Darnell sings with a holy abandon that is infectious.

Out of the welter of songs that seek to encourage our walk with God is Over and Over.Chartered to be the lead single that ought to light up radio lines Over and Over has an acoustic underpinning that testify to Gods unrelenting faithfulness.The same theme is magnified to a stadium rock level with the thumping Strong Enough.Yet, Gods unwavering grasp on our lives often incarnates through the actions of His children.Taking a cue from Galatians chapter 6, I Will Stand By You speaks of our need to bear each others burdens.Never Be the Same through some militant beat and a rousing crescendo, gets to the nerve center of this record as Darnell sings of how Christs love is never static.Rather, when it is birthed in us by faith, it radically changes how we treat each other.In the care of the recent resurgence in the interest in hymns, Darnell does a superb job with the Getty-hymn like Let My Soul Sing.

Blasting off with its catchy guitar riffs, When You Smile rivals the best of what we hear on country radio.On this romantic homage to his wife, When You Smile finds Darnell grooving along his rustic trail in what is perhaps the catchiest song on this record.Hearts are sure to churn as What Will You Do? revisits last years Connecticut shootings as Darnell with pastoral sensitivity leads us to the Cross where true healing takes place.This is perhaps Darnells most ambitious record to date.Here he tackles some of the most diverse and yet challenging issues on disc.Nevertheless, regardless of whether he is glowing in the warmth of romantic love or charging out in spiritual warfare through his worship anthems or ministering with those who are broken through tragedies, you can always hear the love of Christ burning in his soul. And when such a man who has had his heart torched by Christ sings, we listen.