Reviewed by Matthew Cordle

OK, so I have to admit that when I pulled this out of the review bag my first thought was "Great, a shmaltzy Father's Day marketing team's cashing-in project." Not so at all. . . I hang my head in shame! This CD is a toolbox exploring some of the qualities essential to empowering real manhood, to being a real father. Casting Crown's catchy "Courageous" kicks off, a prayer for us to "man up" by courageously seeking justice and loving mercy - this of course ended up being the theme song of a movie of the same name exploring what it really means to be a father. Third Day's praise anthem "Children Of God" reminds of what empowers us, the only confidence on which we can build our lives and in which we can find our identity is "by the blood of His Son we have been redeemed and we can be called Children of God." Rhett Walker Band's "When Mercy Found Me" recognises that brokenness is real but powerfully declares that so is the Saviour's mercy to wipe that brokenness away. The CD rounds off with Bob Carlisle's massive hit "Butterfly Kisses", of which he said, "It's not so much a song about fatherhood. It's more a song about gratitude and imperfection - 'with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right to deserve her love every morning and butterfly kisses at night.' It's also a song about appreciation of time well spent." The underlying message of this collection is that being a man/father is about being vitalised, determined, just, merciful, honest, humble and courageous as is only truly possible with the grace, love and mercy of Jesus in your life. If one of my children gave me this I might think they were trying to tell me something. . . but an excellent collection of songs.

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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