Reviewed by Thérèse McGarry

When I first received this book to review I was eager to receive some insight from the talented singer/songwriter as to how to improve my worship particularly in the area of corporate worship. But, two chapters in and I'm struggling, by the third chapter I really don't care about that medieval philosopher guy or all those amazing quotes from Blue Planet! So far, it seems like a lot of head knowledge and feels very religious with a lot of quotes from some very noble people that don't really penetrate with any real revelation on praise or intimate worship. Then comes Chapter 4 and something happens and I think: "Aha, light at the end of the tunnel!" Here, Tim begins to speak out of his own experience (admitting that "actually it's quite hard to keep praising God when things go pear-shaped" - that's paraphrased, of course). The quotes are not only shorter but they seem to be more focussed and more to the point of what he's trying to convey. The next two chapters follow in a similar vein, then it dips again in the second last chapter when Mr Hughes hits out at the world's philosophy of "You're Worth it". He's completely right on one level. However, there seems to be a sense of disdain and contemptuousness for the man who spent "£55,000 on his teeth", which incidentally, seems like an odd case to pick on! Of course the world's philosophy does tend to go to one extreme but does that mean the Body of Christ has to go to the other? In my experience of walking with the Lord, I have learned that I must see and treat myself as the way God intended because Jesus says "I'm worth it!" For he paid a high price to win me back "beauty for ashes" (Isaiah 61), to be seated in the heavenly places with him (Ephesians 1) and also a crown of glory and honour (according to Psalm 8, which incidentally, Mr Hughes decided to leave out when quoting this Psalm in Chapter 7!) Another point Hughes makes in this chapter is that "we're led to believe the world revolves around us", indicating that there's something bigger in the universe than ourselves! Again, this is absolutely true, yet what's even more amazing is the fact that, in a way the world does revolve around us in that it was mankind that God had in mind all along from before he uttered those immortal words in Genesis 1! (It's truths like this that make me want to praise God, not statistics from BBC's Blue Planet) Yet, Mr Hughes I think gets "saved by the bell" when he speaks of 'True Humility' in the final chapter, which together with the testimony of Rick and Dick Hoyt makes the book readable, though only just! If it's practical insights, not to mention a fresh revelation, on praise and worship that you're looking for, then there are other better books out there. In truth, this reviewer found Holding Nothing Back to be rather disappointing and kind of frustrating.

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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