Charisma Magazine

"We came to Nashville five years ago expecting to get on the road and share the gospel," Acacia says. "God's timing is so much better than our own, but it was not in our cookie-cutter mentality."

Tal & Acacia (pictured left to right) want their music to bring people closer to Christ, and their songs have specific messages that relate to real life. Acacia explains that "Garbage In Garbage Out" is a call to purity. "We struggle each day. ... There's so much temptation in this world to just watch anything, hear anything, say anything. ... That song convicts me every day."

When you mix thought-provoking lyrics and cool chords with one man's vulnerability, you get Anthony Evans' latest release, Undisguised.

In his new "bare-all" project, Evans challenges listeners to worship God unconditionally—through hardships, brokenness and in good times. Though he praises the Father, he sends a message to listeners.

Above the Golden State's sophomore release, The Golden Rule, is a collection of songs by the pop-rock band that explores the fundamental truths of Christianity.

"The Golden Rule, to love God and your neighbor as yourself, is a commandment we've all been given," frontman Michael Watson says.

Day of Fire engages in a tasty sonic assault led by guitarist Joe Pangallo on its first studio release in three years, Losing All. Pangallo doesn't skimp on the heavy crunch and sustain that drive hard music, but he seasons the aggressive mix with mature riffing that complements his powered sound.

By Craig Detweiler, ed. | WJK Books | softcover | 256 pages | $19.95

Craig Detweiler taps game designers, reviewers and players for a Christian interpretation on video games in Halos & Avatars: Playing Video Games With God. Avoiding the simplistic trap of branding games as evil, the compilation examines the benefits, spiritual and otherwise, that gamers derive from this modern incarnation of leisure activity.