This work is one of the most unique albums that I have been given the privilege of reviewing at Exit. When I saw the label's description as being "the true story of one man's journey of faith, from rejecting God, to his return and subsequent growth in his faith life," I knew I had to listen to it.

Now, after having read the book and listened to the music, I can testify to how much of a blessing it is to have the chance to hear the inside story of one man's life as he seeks to know Jesus more and more.

This work consists of 24 songs on two disks, accompanied by a 100-page book/liner notes. Each song on the album accompanies one of the chapters in his book. The entire work (music & book) was written by Mike Mergler, the protagonist of the story.

For the most part, the music fits in the 70s classic rock mold, similar to the gritty feel of Wendy Kaiser & Rez Band. Mike provides the lead vocals for the band, but the rest of the music is from his "feast of friends" who rotate in and out of the band on the different tracks.

Disk One - From Eros

From Eros tells the story of the beginning of the author's life. The story is raw and very real. He tells it all without holding back any punches, but doesn't fall into the trap of glorifying the sinfulness of where he was. Many of these songs were written during this period, so the sense of despair and hopelessness expressed is very genuine.

Some of my favorite songs from this disk include--

"Leavin' L.A."--My favorite parts are the groovy 70's rock organ and the Iron Butterfly-ish guitar solos.

"Everyone's Cheatin' Their Lover"--Has a country feel to it and was recorded back in 1978.

"You're the One Who Got Away"--the feel of this one reminds me of the old song country song, "Sixteen Tons."

"Know What You Got When You Got It"--Reminds me of Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty."

There was one song, though, on this disk that I wasn't crazy about, "Gimme Ten." The message (the importance of tithing) was good, but the wannabe rap vibe seemed a little cheesy to me.

Disk Two - To Agape'

To Agape' continues the story of Mike's faith journey. Now he is walking with the Lord, but the walk is still a struggle. This disk is about the hard times of leaving old sin patterns, while embracing new disciplines from the Lord, along with the added concern of dealing with past relationship issues.

The disk begins with a very unusual Caribbean sounding song, "Beatin' the Bible." I like it musically, but it is the lyrics that are jaw-dropping--

Initially, this song shocked me--first by discussing the "forbidden topic" (masturbation), and second, by using a slang term for masturbation to describe daily Bible reading. However, the more I thought on it, the more I liked this song.

As a man who struggles with this issue, it is such a blessing to hear another man tell the story of his fight against sin in his life. This type of frankness is so refreshing and is essential for Christian men if we want to walk in purity.

Satan wants masturbation to be the "forbidden topic" because it keeps men from being open in confession of sin. However, we can thwart his evil plans if we are willing to confess our sins to each other, and to pray for our brothers when the fall (James 5:16). Confession is essential for healing!

OK, enough of my preaching, some of my other favorites from this disk include--

"Forgive Us As We Forgive/Changing the World"--The first part is a heavy 70s-ish song that sounds a lot like REZ band. Then suddenly the band switches gear to this cheery harmonic vibe, until the guitars come back in for the dramatic "rock 'n' roll" ending.

"Famous in the Eyes of the Lord"--Reminds me of the sweet simplicity of one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Randy Thompson (link to review here). There is also a nice flute played by John Deboer that is worth noting.

"One Kind Word"--This song rocks out with the message that Jesus is the "One Kind Word" that can bring reconciliation to any relationship.

"Nothing But Love In My Heart"--A very hopeful song that has a definite island feel. It features marimba, trumpet, and synth horns that don't sound synth.

Overall, this album is a phenomenal work. I highly recommend it to all Christians, but especially to men, because I think it is a tremendous blessing to hear the testimony of one who has walked the walk. For me, listening to this album was an act of worship, as I recalled my own journey of faith and how faithful God has been to me through it all.

Note: One thing I should mention is that the author is Roman Catholic, and at points makes statements that seem to be strange (I.E.--prayer to Mary) or even offensive to a Protestant reader. (For example, in several places he refers to the one Catholic Church in a way that sounds like he is equating the more universal Christian Church with the Roman Catholic Church alone.)

However, I would suggest that even if this bothers you, do not throw out the baby with the bath water. Mike's story of faith reminds me a lot of Thomas Merton's (as told in Merton's book The Seven Storied Mountain), in that both are staunch defenders of the Roman Catholic tradition and at times make statements that seem offensive to a Protestant audience. However, both also tell incredible stories of how God worked in their lives to set them free from sin and free to walk in pursuit of Jesus. I think we can learn a lot from those who are different than ourselves.

Also, please don't take this "warning" as a statement against Roman Catholicism. Theologically, I am a Protestant of charismatic persuasion, but I enjoy drinking from the spiritual stream of Catholic mysticism and attend Catholic mass periodically. I may differ with Catholicism in some points, but I gladly fellowship with my brethren of that faith tradition.