Ray Boltz

Item: No Greater Sacrifice
Author: Stephen Trickey

No Greater Sacrifice

(1996)

Reviewed by Stephen Trickey

Discogs YouTube

Label Word RecordsThe LighthouseFebruary 1997

adult contemporary ccm pop rock

For ten years Ray Boltz has been recording inspirational Christian music, and with each project his songs seem to become more "him." He has recorded some well-known and well-loved songs in the past, including "Thank You" and "I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb." While his latest album, No Greater Sacrifice, is missing some of the upbeat music and radio-friendly tunes of past albums like Allegiance, it effectively lays out what is stirring in his heart.

This ten-song collection is dominated by mid-tempo inspirational tunes that paint a vivid picture of its underlying message. In a nicely-produced booklet of liner notes, Boltz gives a brief introduction to each of the songs (most of which he wrote or co-wrote) and his inspiration for recording it. The album opens with a brief instrumental of soothing orchestra-style strings and percussion, then fades into the first song, "Is There A Heaven For Me," featuring a mellow musical sound with light keyboards and drums layered underneath Boltz's vocals. The lyrics tell the story of the hungry and lost children of the world who accept Jesus and ask, "Is there a heaven for me?" Some brief background vocals by a children's choir give the song genuine emotion.

This style of a light low- to mid-tempo musical foundation made up of keyboards and strings, with inspirational lyrics, sets the pattern for most of the songs. "At The Foot Of The Cross," tells of Mary and John at the foot of the cross staying near the Savior and our need to stay near the cross in our lives. "One Single Flame" seeks the hope of reaching a hurting world with a unity of believers.

In what has to be one of the most touching messages of the album, "What If I Gave It All," is the true story of a three-year-old boy and his contribution to missions. The song talks about the boy who hears a presentation by Mission of Mercy of all the starving children in the world. After being told a dime will provide a meal, he pulls out a dollar and asks his mother how many it would feed. After being told that it would feed ten, he pulls out his other two dollars (all he had) and asks, "What if I gave it all?" Boltz masterfully meshes this heartfelt story into a conversation between Jesus and His Father and the sacrifice made for us:

And long ago a Father and a Son Saw the children lost in sin Can you see the tears in Father's eyes As Jesus says to him What if I give all I have What will the gift do My Son that gift will change the world It will free the multitudes

If you are familiar with Ray Boltz's career you know that there would be at least one song that would become a "Boltz classic"-the kind of song that paints such a vivid image in our minds that we never lose it. No Greater Sacrifice has such a song with "One Drop Of Blood." The musical style of this track differs slightly from the other songs, as it produces a fuller sound with more guitar and drums to go with the strings. The musical arrangement also creates a powerful yet compatible environment for the awe-inspiring lyrics. Boltz tells a story about people who have come to judgment day and stand accused by the enemy. Reminded time and again of their failures, they see the scales of judgment begin to tip against them; but the believers accept the blood of Jesus:

One drop of blood Fell to the scales It covered my transgressions For all the times I failed The enemy was mighty He came in like a flood He was defeated by one drop of blood

Cindy Morgan makes an appearance as she sings a duet with Boltz on "God Gave Me Back Tomorrow." Despite Boltz's much stronger vocals, the arrangement perfectly layers Morgan's voice beneath his to provide a lush sound while he carries the lyrics to a rousing final chorus.

For fans of inspirational songs, this project could be a keeper, as it is filled with stirring lyrics that illuminate Boltz's overwhelming message of No Greater Sacrifice.