There is nothing more devastating that watching someone's dignity being robbed as he or she is being bullied.  But for thousands of years, humanity has watched with impotency as the sea claimed the lives of those who have perish under its rancorous claws.  In fact, the sea is such a grotesque piece of unmarked cemetery that many cultures (including the ancient Israelites) have associated the "sea" as a symbol of sin and death.  However, like the school bully with the laser sharp mouth and the burly physique no one has the guts to confront, the sea has triumphant all these years until Jesus Christ.  Throughout the four Gospels we read constantly of how Christ puts the sea in its place by walking over it, rebuking its ferocious waves, preaching from it and he even promises that a day will come when the sea will be no more (Rev. 21:1).  What is most penetrating about Bethel Music's latest studio album is the cover.  Picturing the boisterous tumults of the sea, you will find the worship leaders standing not on an atoll faraway.  Rather, they set comfortably in their lounge chairs amidst the raging waters.  The underlying message of this disc is unmistakable:  if we are in Christ, we are already victors; no body of water (be it death or fears or worries or the devil) can bully us out of the peace we have in Him.     

Bethel Music is the worship ministry of Bethel Church in Redding, California.  Over the last four years, Bethel Music has grown from being a local church ministry into an International worship phenomenon.  Helmed by senior worship pastors Brian and Jenn Johnson, they have nurtured a cadre of song writers and worship leaders such as Jeremy Riddle, Steffany Frizzell Gretzinger, Hunter Thompson, Matt Stinton and William Matthews.  One of their songs "Love Came Down" was even featured on last season's American Idol.  "Tides," to be released on September 3, is their much anticipated debut studio album.  Even before the album drops, the lead single "Chasing You" as well as the album have both reached the pole position of itunes' Inspirational charts.  One listen to the Jenn Johnson-led "Chasing You" and you know why it incurs such download demands.   Crafted as a love song to Jesus quipped with tons of irresistible early 90s bubbly love dazed hooks, it will get you singing: "I'm chasing You/I'm so in love/Captivated, I just can't get enough/I'll spend my days/Running after Your heart/Your heart, Your heart, Whoa."

 What is amazing about the Bethel Music team is that their voices beautifully complement each other giving us a richly textured overall sound.  While Jenn Johnson has a commanding vocal presence, Gretzinger has a voice with tender shades that when she sings about relinquishing control entirely to Jesus on the tender ballad "Letting Go," one can't help but fight back the tears.  "Breaking Through" raises the bar again for the team.  A thumping piece of pop with some dashing guitar riffs Jeremy Riddle has never sounded more engaging.   Wrapping himself in some bluesy pop flourish, senior worship pastor Brian Johnson on "Strong in Us" sings about how the Cross and the Resurrection were not just events in history.  Rather, the Risen Christ still continues to challenge, renew and empower us today.  

This time around the team does take a couple of experimental excurses.  First, instead of cementing in their own brand of pop-worship, Matt Stinton ingeniously writes verses to an old African spiritual "Give Me Jesus."  "Give Me Jesus" is then revamped into an ethereal electrical piece still keeping the old spiritual yearning intact.  Second, continuing on in the footsteps of their predecessor record "Without Words," the title cut "Tides" is also a faith-imbued instrumental piece that bathes in the good news that no tide can now curl us into destruction in Christ Jesus.  "Tides" is an album that is so firmly rooted in Christ's victory over the "sea" that we can help but sing with affirmation as Jenn Johnson leads us: "Though the storm it rages/I won't be moved, I won't be shaken/I am anchored in You/I can feel You, Jesus all around."