Reviewed by Tony Cummings

I'm having a bad day. I'm behind schedule with this issue of the mag, I have a headache and I still have a ludicrously large pile of albums to review. This album is playing and despite its promise on the publicity sheet - Canadian producer, pastor and prolific worship songwriter David Ruis teaming up with two young singer/songwriters Rick Leaf and Kim McMechan to explore the paradox of a Kingdom that is both now and yet to come - my self absorption ensure the songs don't connect. Then my wife calls and my irritation at the pressure enveloping me pinpoints the sorry state of my soul. I return to the CD which is still playing. Rick Leaf is singing: "I am tempted in every way/To ask you to turn the light from me/The more I undress my soul/Before you I fear I'll be rejected." Words of reality, words that express how I feel. I begin to pray. Later I return to this review. This album grew out of a youth event sponsored by Winnipeg Centre Vineyard. It features a dazzlingly eclectic range of styles, native American music fused to techno beats, avant guarde rock underpinning solemly read Scripture passages, punchy indie rock and raw rap, while the second CD offers stripped down acoustic versions of the songs. It's also an enhanced CD which includes a video collage and an interview with the toweringly talented David Ruis. But most important of all, it's an anointed album able to minister to hearts overcome by the hassles and banalities of life to lead us back to the Kingdom.

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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