Music Reviews (by Kim Gentes)
Back in the mid-90's Kim began writing impromptu reviews of church music CDs (worship music) so that people who were looking for CDs would have an opinion from someone who is also a worship leader and is garnering music for local church use. Up to this point, this was rarely something that was done, because church music was revered as sacred and it was thought that any offering of that sacred worship shouldn't be criticised or evaluated. In fact, Kim wasn't as much a critic as he was an evaluator, helping people find what fit their church. He began posting his reviews on line in a email discussion forum, called the Worship List (website). After a while, when he helped launch Worshipmusic.com, he continued that same concept of trying to help other local church worship leaders and musicians find music that might be applicable to their situations. The reviews continued to be a part of that. Worshipmusic.com went on to grow a staff of writers that would add many more reviews to the collection they have, but Kim continued to participate as a key reviewer. This journal logs all the reviews Kim has written on worship music CDs and projects.
Kim's reviews of CD projects of worship music includes independents, label and main stream recordings, but all having to do with worship music.
Entries in The Mystery of Faith (1)
The Mystery of Faith - Glenn Packiam (2013)
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 4:23AM 
Glenn Packiam's new solo album "The Mystery of Faith" is the newest project from this songwriter/pastor from New Life Church in Colorado Springs. In a surprising and encouraging departure from past recordings, this album ventures at speaking the central truths of the Christian faith, usable by all Christian churches whether modern or liturgical. In fact, this album presents a modern worship liturgy that can be used as a guide for an entire service or applied in portions, using songs that fit for the kind of themes and services you may planning for.
This is a studio worship album featuring several new songs based, created and presented as a fresh expression of the historic liturgical service! In addition to 8 songs, there are two readings (the Nicene Creed and Prayer of Confession) with musical backdrops for easily adoption into your services. This concept project has value both as a collection of great songs and as a complete service that brings the message of our faith through the progression of these songs. Glenn co-writes with Ian Eskelin, Ian Morgan Cron, Jennie Lee Riddle, and others to craft these beautiful and usable songs.
Walking through each track song by song does not convey the mode of use of these songs. One must experience these songs as a collection and participate as a worshiper, being shaped by the songs as they provide the movement of the central components of worship that have been used in churches for hundreds of years. The proclamation of faith, the creed, the prayer of confession, the blessings to one another, declaration of the risen Christ, the Alleluia - each of these elements are poignant and engaging.
Something must be said about the significance of this project as a gift to the broader church. Many worship writers, leaders and artists claim that they are writing new songs for "the church", but few have gone to the trouble of writing songs for usable application in the framework used by over 50% of the global church- the liturgy. Glenn has sculpted these songs as useful tools to the whole body of Christ. This is a blessing and a joy. And even if your church does not use a liturgical format, there are some excellent songs here for use in modern worship sets.
Again, while this album is meant as a liturgically guided worship service, I found some single songs that I would like to highlight for any worshiping church. First is the song "Our Messiah Reigns". This is the last track on the album, but it is an excellent song for both weekly celebration of the Risen Christ and for the upcoming Easter season. Another strong song is "Grace Flows Freely Down", a joyous song about the power of God's grace. Finally, the song "The Lord Be With You" is an inviting song in which the Body can give thanks together while speaking God's blessing to one another.
For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album are already available and pre-loaded for you in the WorshipTeam.com system song database.
If you are not part of WorshipTeam.com and want to listen to audio samples or purchase the album directly yourself, see the Amazon link below.