Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Garth is of course one of the founding fathers of the Christian music scene, his stream of albums and thousands of concerts since the 70s paving the way for today's scene. More controversially he is a spokesperson/commentator for a wide range of theological, local and political issues which would put him outside the central stream of evangelical Christianity. In fact Garth sometimes veers dangerously close to the murky waters of liberal error. This book, subtitled A Journey through Easter To Pentecost, is a follow on from his Lent book on Jerusalem (Pilgrims And Peacemakers) and his Advent book on Bethlehem (Candle Of Hope). Now Garth uses his travels and reading in Nazareth and Galilee to inspire him. The book is divided into daily readings with most days beginning with a Bible passage. But don't go looking for standard exegesis here. Soon we are encountering Rev Hewitt's only too familiar bees-in-the-bonnet as we read about "right-wing churches" who are "supportive of Israel whether it is right or wrong" or his warning against the Book Of Revelation should not be used"to try and read the future or to predict historical events". Hewitt has strengths of course. He writes well and his compassionate championing of the Palestinians and the pain they are suffering must be applauded. But when one reads of the back sleeve blub of "walking out of the darkness of inter-faith competitveness towards a dawn when people have an inclusive, liberating understanding of God" one sees that well-intentioned dialogue with the Christian, Jewish and Muslim community simply doesn't go far enough if it refuses to address the biblical absolute - that a relationship with Christ is the only way to God.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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