I recently joined Father Gerard on CFN Live from the Catholic Faith Network for a conversation about my song “Heaven Is Full of Criminals,” my work as a healthcare chaplain, and how chaplaincy has influenced my songwriting and life as an independent artist. Here’s the full conversation from August 11, 2026.

It’s Bandcamp Friday

Today is Bandcamp Friday, which means Bandcamp is waiving its share of sales, allowing more of your purchase to go directly to the artists you support.

Since its release, Heaven Is Full of Criminals has been viewed more than 7,000 times on YouTube, streamed nearly 5,000 times on Spotify (and added to 44 playlists), and continues to find listeners on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other streaming platforms.

I feel so blessed that this song seems to be connecting with so many people, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has listened, shared it with a friend, added it to a playlist, or taken the time to send an encouraging message. As an independent artist, that kind of support means more than you know.

If you’ve been enjoying the song and would like to help support the creation of more independent music, today is one of the very best days to do it. Every purchase on Bandcamp helps make future recordings possible and allows me to continue writing and recording songs that explore grace, hope, and redemption.

You can find Heaven Is Full of Criminals, along with my other music, here:

https://rickleejames.bandcamp.com

Thank you for listening. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for supporting independent music.

Blessings,

Rick Lee James

Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 628: Truth, Justice, and the Way - Episode 11: Supergirl - Redemption or Revenge?

This week on Voices in My Head, i'm sharing an episode of my other podcast that I host with David Dault, Truth, Justice and the Way.

What happens when a superhero story trades redemption for revenge?

In this episode of Truth, Justice, and the Way: Superman & Spirituality, Rick Lee James and David Dault explore one of the most surprising changes in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and ask what it reveals about heroism, justice, mercy, and the moral imagination. Comparing the film to Tom King’s original graphic novel, they wrestle with questions of violence, forgiveness, redemption, and whether we still believe people can truly change. Along the way, they reflect on Superman’s enduring example of hope, the power of storytelling to shape our moral lives, and why the best heroes call us not simply to defeat evil—but to become better people.

In This Episode

* Rick shares the story behind his new single, “Heaven Is Full of Criminals,” featuring Phil Keaggy, and the surprising conversations it has sparked about grace, worthiness, and hope.

* The theological inspiration behind the song includes the Good Thief, the possibility of redemption, and the question of whether God’s welcome extends farther than we imagine.

* A spoiler-filled discussion of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrowand how its ending differs dramatically from Tom King’s acclaimed graphic novel.

* Why the graphic novel’s ending offers a vision of redemption, while the film chooses an act of lethal justice.

* The idea of redemptive violenceand why so many modern stories assume evil can only be defeated through killing.

* Superman’s refusal to kill and why restraint—not power—has always been one of his defining virtues.

* Whether James Gunn may be setting up a larger redemption arc for Supergirl as his new DC Universe unfolds.

* Why stories shape our moral imagination, influencing what we believe is possible for heroes, villains, and ourselves.

* Mark Waid’s famous criticism of Superman killing General Zod in Man of Steel, and why he insists, “That’s not Superman.”

* Comparisons to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Odyssey, Avengers: Infinity War, and the Gospels as examples of stories that wrestle with hope, loss, and redemption.

* Reflections on Pope Francis, Karl Barth, and the Christian hope that no one is beyond the reach of grace.

* Why Superman continues to matter—not because he is the strongest hero, but because he refuses to let violence have the final word.

* A closing reflection inviting listeners to consider how the stories we tell shape the people we become—and whether hope may be the bravest choice of all.

“Heaven Is Full of Criminals”

Hear Now

Connect with Rick Lee James

Website: RickLeeJames.comEmail: [email protected]

Listen / SubscribeSubscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts.

Music & MerchBandcamp (music + merch): RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.comStreaming: Search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform or on Spotify https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa

AudiobookOut of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms (Audible):Audiobook Link

Special Offer10% off at Bandcamp: use code 10off at checkoutRickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com

Hosted byRick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast

Today, Heaven Is Full of Criminals is finally here.

This song has been living in my heart for a long time, and over the past several weeks I’ve been grateful to share a little of the journey that brought it to life. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of introducing you to some of the remarkable people who made this recording possible: Craig Adams, Brandon Shattuck, Phil Keaggy, and Rick Stull. Their gifts made this song far better than anything I could have created on my own.

I’m also thankful to the radio programmers and music directors who believed in this song before it was ever released, helping it chart internationally on PLAY MPE. That kind of encouragement is something I’ll never take for granted.

As a hospital chaplain, I spend most of my days listening to other people’s stories. This song grew out of those experiences and from the conviction that grace has always been God’s answer to our brokenness. None of us earns it. That’s what makes it grace.

My hope is that Heaven Is Full of Criminals points beyond itself—to the hope, mercy, and love of Christ.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for supporting independent music and for allowing me to keep making it.

The song is now streaming everywhere music is found.

If it resonates with you, I’d be grateful if you’d share it with someone who needs the reminder that grace is still amazing.

Listen now: rickleejames.hearnow.com/heaven-is-full-of-criminals

Blessings,

Rick Lee James

As we arrive at the eve of tomorrow’s release, I want to recognize one more person whose work helped bring Heaven Is Full of Criminals to life: my friend Rick Stull of Media Explosion.

I’ve had the privilege of working with Rick on a number of projects over the years, and every time I’m reminded what an exceptional artist he is. His creativity is remarkable, but what I appreciate most is his commitment to making sure the message is what people hear. His work never overshadows the song. It helps the story shine through.

I’m deeply grateful for the care, creativity, and artistry Rick poured into this lyric video.

The complete song in its entirety, paired with these beautiful visuals of the lyric video, will be unveiled tomorrow on YouTube with the release of the song at www.YouTube.com/RickLeeJames. Make sure to subscribe.

Thank you, Rick, for helping tell this story so well.

Tomorrow, Heaven Is Full of Criminals will be available everywhere music is streamed. If you’d like it to be waiting for you the moment it releases, you can pre-save it on Spotify here:

Spotify Pre-Save: https://show.co/sOrc2zb

Thank you for walking this journey with me. I can’t wait to share this song with all of you tomorrow.

The People Behind Heaven Is Full of Criminals: Phil Keaggy

If you’ve spent any time around guitar players, you’ve probably heard the old story. Someone asks, “Who’s the greatest guitarist in the world?” and the answer is, “You’ll have to ask Phil Keaggy.”

It’s a great story. It’s also almost certainly not true. Even Phil has graciously debunked it over the years.

But here’s the thing: legends don’t spring up out of nowhere.

Phil Keaggy really is one of the most extraordinary musicians I’ve ever known. His guitar playing is unmistakable, his voice is every bit as beautiful as his playing, and his humility is even more remarkable than his talent. He’s one of the kindest, most generous, and most Christlike people I’ve had the privilege to know.

It’s an incredible honor to have him on Heaven Is Full of Criminals.

Thank you, Phil.

Heaven Is Full of Criminals releases this Friday.

Pre-save it here: https://show.co/sOrc2zb

As we continue the countdown to Friday’s release of Heaven Is Full of Criminals, I want to introduce you to another person whose work made this song what it is.

Today’s spotlight is Brandon Shattuck of Parafonic Recordings.

Recording a song is only part of the process. At some point, you have to trust someone else with all of those performances and hope they can hear what you’ve been hearing in your head from the beginning. That’s exactly what Brandon does.

Brandon mixed and mastered Heaven Is Full of Criminals, and from the very beginning he understood what I was trying to accomplish. He never tried to make the song into something it wasn’t. Instead, he patiently brought out what was already there, giving each instrument and every vocal the space it needed while preserving the heart of the song.

A great mix engineer doesn’t just balance levels. They help tell the story of a song. Brandon has that rare ability to combine technical excellence with musical sensitivity, and this recording is better because of it.

I’m grateful for his talent, his professionalism, and the care he brought to every step of the process.

Thank you, Brandon, for helping this song sound exactly the way I hoped it would.

Heaven Is Full of Criminals releases this Friday. I can’t wait for you to hear the incredible work Brandon helped bring to life.

Spotify Pre-Save · https://show.co/sOrc2zb

As we count down to Friday’s release of Heaven Is Full of Criminals, I want to introduce you to the people who helped bring this song to life.

Today’s spotlight is on my friend, Craig Adams.

Craig and I go back more than a few decades. He produced my album Hymns, Prayers, and Invitations ten years ago, and I’ve admired both his musicianship and his character ever since.

Today, Craig serves as the executive director of the Center for Commercial Music in the School of Music and Worship Arts at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, but no matter how accomplished he becomes, he’s remained one of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.

On Heaven Is Full of Criminals, Craig contributed the beautiful background vocals, keyboards, and percussion that help give the song so much warmth and depth. His instinct is always to serve the song rather than himself, and that’s one of the things I admire most about him as a musician and producer.

There are people whose talent is obvious the moment you hear them. Craig is one of those people. But what makes him truly special is that his humility is every bit as remarkable as his ability.

Quite honestly, this song would not be what it is without him.

Thank you, Craig, for lending your gifts to this recording and for being such a faithful friend over the years.

Heaven Is Full of Criminals releases this Friday. I can’t wait for you to hear the beautiful work Craig helped create.

Spotify Pre-Save · https://show.co/sOrc2zb

One week from today, my new single Heaven Is Full of Criminals will be released.

As a hospital chaplain, I spend most of my days listening to other people’s stories. For the last several weeks, many of you have kindly listened to me talk about this one. Thanks for indulging me.

I’m also grateful to share that, for the second week in a row, the song is in the Top 20 on PLAY MPE—a music delivery service used by radio programmers, music supervisors, and industry professionals to discover and evaluate new releases. It’s an encouraging sign that the song is already finding an audience before its official release.

At its heart, though, this isn’t a song about chart positions. It’s a song about grace, redemption, and the surprising breadth of Christ’s mercy. I’m also incredibly honored to have my friend and musical hero, Phil Keaggy, playing lead guitar on the recording.

If you haven’t already, I’d be honored if you’d pre-save the song on Spotify. Every pre-save helps independent artists reach more listeners when release day arrives.

Pre-save here: https://show.co/sOrc2zb

Thank you for your encouragement, your prayers, and for walking this journey with me. I can’t wait to share the song with you on July 24.

Blessings,

Rick Lee James

Phil Keaggy Has a Message About My New Single

Dear friends,

Thank you for taking a few minutes to watch Phil’s message. Having him play guitar on this recording is something I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. His musicianship has inspired me for years, but his encouragement throughout this project has meant even more.

On July 24, I'll be releasing my new single, Heaven Is Full of Criminals, featuring one of my musical heroes, Phil Keaggy.

One of the ideas that has stayed with me over the years is a saying attributed to St. Augustine:

“Do not despair; one of the thieves was saved. Do not presume; one of the thieves was damned.”

I love the tension in those words. They remind us that the gospel leaves no room for despair and no room for presumption. Instead, they invite us to trust in the mercy of Christ.

As a hospital chaplain, I’ve met countless people who wonder if they’ve gone too far, failed too much, or somehow become disqualified from God’s love. If I am honest, I have had those same struggles myself. Heaven Is Full of Criminals is my attempt to sit with Augustine’s words and to imagine, with hope, the breadth of Christ’s welcome. Jesus continues to extend His invitation to all people, calling fallen humanity to Himself with grace, redemption, and love.

If that message resonates with you, I’d be honored if you would pre-save the song on Spotify today. Every pre-save helps independent artists reach more listeners when release day arrives, and every one makes a difference.

Pre-Save Heaven Is Full of Criminals Here

Spotify Pre-Save · https://show.co/sOrc2zb

Heaven is Full of Criminals Preview

Thank you for walking alongside me, supporting independent music, and encouraging me to keep writing songs that point people toward Christ.

I can’t wait to share this song with you on July 24.

For more information:

Rick Lee James

www.rickleejames.com

Email: [email protected]

Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 627: Amber Carroll is “Ready To Talk” about gender and sexuality

This week on Voices in My Head, I sit down with Amber Carroll, Vice President of Equip and author of the upcoming book Ready to Talk: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Gender and Sexuality. Drawing from her experience as a former public school teacher, a single mom, and someone whose own family story has been deeply shaped by these issues, Amber offers practical wisdom for Christian parents who want to approach these conversations with both biblical conviction and deep compassion.

In our conversation, we discuss why these talks often need to begin earlier than parents expect, how to create a safe environment where children can ask honest questions, why sexuality should be viewed as an ongoing discipleship conversation rather than a one-time “talk,” and how our treatment of others can have a profound impact on the way people experience the gospel.

Whether you’re parenting young children, raising teenagers, or simply trying to understand how to engage these topics with greater grace and wisdom, I think you’ll find this conversation both challenging and encouraging.

Learn more about Amber and her work at ambergarrettcarroll.com.

Pre-order or purchase Ready to Talk: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Gender and Sexuality at ambergarrettcarroll.com/shop.

Download Amber’s free Parent Prep Pack at ambergarrettcarroll.com/parent.

“Heaven Is Full of Criminals”

Spotify Pre-Save · https://show.co/sOrc2zb

Connect with Rick Lee James

Website: RickLeeJames.comEmail: [email protected]

Listen / SubscribeSubscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts.

Music & MerchBandcamp (music + merch): RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.comStreaming: Search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform or on Spotify https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa

AudiobookOut of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms (Audible):Audiobook Link

Special Offer10% off at Bandcamp: use code 10off at checkoutRickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com

Hosted byRick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast