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The road homeEmotion and devotionTHE ROAD HOME The Road Home is a beautifully produced book, well-designed, in an attractive format. It combines art and music in an unusual way and these two elements, plus the prayers, complement each other very well. Christian art is a broad category today and the strength of the artist's faith says little about the quality of his/her work. It's difficult to judge these paintings as I haven't seen the originals, and only details are shown in the book. Without the titles and further illumination of the songs, they could be of any people in any landscape. So I feel they fall more into the realm of illustration. The paintings are of tough subjects, but handled rather gently in my opinion, and overlaid with emotion and an unreal sense of heroism. The songs are simple and pleasant with fairly predictable harmonies as they're set in a narrow musical range. There is a tendency, to my ears, for them to sound very similar, but the rhythms, texts and interpretations be-come more gutsy in the last four songs. I do worry that some of the words and intentions of the book are rather vague theologically, even a bit suspect at times, e.g. in Garth's introduction he can see the paintings being used 'as a focus for thoughts and prayers in the way icons are sometimes used'. The prayers have, perhaps the most strength and depth. This book makes no pretence to be a doctrinal thesis and the heartfelt sentiments expressed and the strength of faith of both contributors are obvious. It's clear their sincere aim is to encourage Christians to engage their emotions in greater devotion to the Lord. This would make a good present for those who appreciate the lighter approach to praise. Ann Gall © Evangelicals Now - March 2004 |