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Steven Curtis Chapman's acoustic Christmas concerts are special events. In December 2019, he impressed with a lovely Christmas show filled with songs of the season and charming stories.

Chapman, who will perform Dec. 13 at the Radiant Church in northeast Cedar Rapids, is on a brief acoustic Christmas jaunt. He always has some surprises, and the concert is filled with moving familiar songs rendered in a touching manner by the veteran contemporary Christian recording artist.

The five-time Grammy winner, who also has won 59 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, more than any other artist in history, is unpredictable live. At the end of his sets, the charismatic singer/songwriter usually calls out for requests. Chapman admits that sometimes he doesn't remember how to play some of his own songs, which isn't surprising, since his canon is so deep.

"Yes, sometimes that happens," Chapman said while calling from Nashville. "It doesn't go as you would expect, but that can be a good thing. It's a little dangerous to toss something out like that to the audience."

During a 2018 show, a fan requested "Hearts Cry," and Chapman made it through half the song.

"Sometimes that happens, but it's fun to be up there onstage and you get challenged," he said.

Another time, he completely blanked on a song.

"It was 'I am Found in You,' which was from a greatest hits album," Chapman said. "It was an extra song on the album. I spent a few seconds trying to get started, but it became painfully obvious that I don't know it anymore. I told the fan I was giving her a rain check."

But that's how it can go when an artist records more than 250 songs, then goes out on a limb by being a human jukebox.

Chapman has released 23 studio albums, but perhaps the best gift to give a fan of the humble social activist, is his compelling memoir, "Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story," which hit shelves in 2016.

Chapman shares the experiences that have shaped him, his faith and his music in a life that has included incredible highs and faith-shaking lows, including the tragic death of his 5-year-old daughter, who died from injuries in a driveway accident in 2008. The tragedy is covered in detail in the memoir. After experiencing something so devastating, some people move away from God, but not Chapman.

"The tragedy was devastating, but I didn't lose faith," he said. "I'm closer to God than ever. That tragedy made me think about everything, and it made me closer to God. I had to deal with the unfixable. Sometimes in life you have to deal with something you can't fix. I try to fix whatever is broken. Sometimes we have to look through a dark glass."

Crafting the memoir was a cathartic experience.

"I aired everything out," he said. "It was amazing, but it was also a hard and wonderful process. I had an opportunity to retrace my steps. It was my journey going back."

Chapman paused when asked why he has enjoyed so much success as a Contemporary Christian artist when some of his recording artist peers, who are just as devout, have not experienced similar good fortune.

"When you talk about that, I feel like I'm on some shaky ground," he said. "We're in pretty deep water. It's hard to say why certain people might not have gotten the blessing from God others receive. But life isn't easy, even for devout Christians. No matter who you are, you're going to face some difficult situations in life."

Chapman has survived adversity and has led a wonderful life. He has sold 16 million albums, is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has a lovely family.

"I've been blessed," he said. "I can't thank the Lord enough."