THE CONTEXT OF THE ALBUM
The church is in a time of transition. We feel we can't go back and yet it's hard to go forward. We can either go forward (prophetic) or go backwards (nostalgic). Much of the music in our churches and bookshops reflects this. Very little is prophetic. Just this week, the head of a Christian record company told me that 99% of worship albums produced by any company only have one quarter which is new material. Look at the song titles of many worship albums. The songs are mostly old or recent favourites. If our music is not prophetic it will be nostalgic. Most Christian record companies, because of financial pressures, work on the basis of, "We only produce something that we know works." That's 'nostalgic'. To be prophetic means to be a mouthpiece for God. So what is God saying right now? He's saying, "Come, soak in me." That's what this album is all about.

God wants to bring revival but revival would happen if every believer was to live as we were supposed to live, full of the presence of God. We can't give away what we haven't got. We have to be full of him. This album enables you to do just that.

God is saying that all ministry must flow out of intimacy. A relationship is as good as its communication. God needs time to communicate to us - not just intellectually but into the 'subterranean' depths of our spirit. This work of Loren's enables the listener to have such an encounter with God.

Your life is like a garden. In God's eyes, the garden is beautiful but like any garden, there are weeds. If you've ever tried removing weeds when the ground is dry, it's hard work. Weeding is a lot easier when the ground is drenched with rain. Often the church has lacked the rain of the Spirit to deal with its problems, both personal and corporate. We have an amazing capacity to live with a limited measure of God's spirit. We find it easier to soak in the work of God than to soak in the God of the work. Most of our churches are like Martha. She did a good thing, but according to Jesus, Mary did a better thing. This album has come out of a number of years of Loren leading his church to the feet of Jesus, remaining there when many a church would have said, "We've ticked that box (soaking), now what else should we do." Loren and his church have had the courage to wait. This series of albums on the theme of soaking, have a high credibility factor in that they have come out of years of Loren leading the church to 'waste time' in God's presence, without an agenda of getting something out of God in the process. There will come a time when God will honour such a commitment.

I recommend you purchase this album and reap the benefits of what they have been sowing.

THE SONGS
'The Father Comes' is used as a bookend (first and last tracks) to frame this portrait of a tender hearted dad coming to his distressed child.

Both 'Father I See' and 'When the Glory Falls' showcase the recording of some terrific vocals and unusual, ear catching reverb.
'Of The Father's Love' again has excellently recorded vocals, this time in a plainchant style.

It sounds like Loren has hired a thousand monks and recorded the piece in a cathedral. This approach of having just vocals is continued on 'First Nation's Cry' whilst 'Living Waters' is purely instrumental. Both 'Shimmers' and 'Find Me in Your Love' have some great guitar work particularly the latter with its enchanting 12-string guitar.

'Jesus Loves Me' is a rendition of the classic hymn. In choosing this, Loren seems to be saying that there is power in simplicity, that we have to uncomplicate our faith.

'Shadow Bright' with its striking guitar patterns and tasteful arrangements of atmospheric strings is so titled to reflect how even God's darkness is brighter than our light.