Customer Reviews

Michael Card - Joy in the Journey: 10 Years of Greatest Hits

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If you are like me, you find Christian music superficial at best and downright (bad) at worst. A major function of Michael Card's art is to dispel stereotypes about America's most notoriously cheesy subculture-Evangelical Christianity. But the real reason Michael Card exists is to glorify God through song, and the depth, longing and sincerity of his music does so beautifully. Songs like "El Shaddai", " God's own Fool," and "Immanuel" possess a lyrical capacity that is beyond the scope of most music, Christian or otherwise. Card does not rely on rhetoric or sap, but rather surrenders himself and his music to the Holy Spirit and the truth of God's word. The music is that of a man unselfconscious and alive in Christ, serious about his art, but only to the extent that it is made for God's glory.

When I was first getting into Michael Card's music, I listened to this CD (well, actually it was a tape...). I really enjoyed it, though sometimes I was rather skeptical about the selection of the songs that were considered his best. Certainly, "El Shaddai", "God's Own Fool", "To The Mystery", "Why?", and "How Long?" belong to those, but I was disappointed when some of the songs from "The Life", such as "Forgiving Eyes", or from "The Ancient Faith Trilogy", such as "Lama Sabachthani" or "Valley of Dry Bones" were not chosen. Aside from that it is a great summary of his work and thoroughly enjoyable. "Chorus of Faith" is fun to listen to and you may find yourself singing along soon thereafter. If you know someone who never has listened to Michael Card, this is an excellent starting point and a really good gift! Pass on the best Christian lyricist of our time...

Music is powerful. The Bible makes this clear. Within the heart of man is a desire to release their emotions, affections, dreams, concerns, even theological truths in musical form. The Psalms (literally "praises") were written with all forms of human emotions but contained truths focused on God's Word (Psalm 119 is a prime example).

Today, however, it seems Christian music has lost its theological focus. Its now more bent on experience or a "personal relationship with Jesus." Songs taken from the Scriptures and the truth therein is found mainly in some praise & worship artists and Michael Card. Card is a theologian who happens to play guitar. His love and passion for the Scriptures flows in his songs. From El Shaddai to The Final Word, Card takes deep theological truths and put them to music.

There is a silent revolution taking place in Christian music. The likes of Keith Green, Steve Camp, John Fisher, and Michael Card is not lost. God is reviving musicians who desire to glorify God alone! And I'm happy to endorse this album as an example of that revolution.

MICHAEL CARD's Greatest Hits compilation was released in 1994 - one of the best years of my life. I recall hearing the song 'WHY?' for the first time in my (then) girlfriend's car, just as we were entering the eastbound I-10 onramp at Sepulveda Boulevard. Only a couple of months earlier, on April 6, while alone in an apartment in a grungy area of Los Angeles, I was quite unexpectedly driven to my knees, where Jesus Baptized me with The Holy Spirit. I didn't exactly know what had happened to me , or why - only that I was suddenly changed somehow. Obviously, that was a special year for this reviewer, and when I heard Michael Card sing, "WHY DID THEY NAIL HIS FEET AND HANDS WHEN HIS LOVE WOULD HAVE HELD HIM THERE?" it perfectly described the Fire I felt inside me, and the Love that I knew Jesus has for us! I asked my girlfriend to replay that song several times. For me, that remains one of the greatest lines ever written about my Savior King. And although I don't play it often, 'JOY IN THE JOURNEY' always takes me back to that magical year of rebirth.

Michael Card does not have a particularly great voice, but it adequately conveys the obviously heartfelt convictions of his nicely crafted Gospel songs. What makes Card special is his lyrics; he is Christian Rock's premier wordsmith, able to create songs around deep theological concepts. He overreaches at times ("...the universe fell from His Fingertips."; "...He sent His only Son and so became a Holy Embryo."), but that's the cost of creating fresh, unique expressions, and attempting to translate the Mystery into song. There may be an occasional misstep, but there's no doggerel verse here - just first class Christian poetry sung with sincerity, and sometimes backed by surprisingly powerful "electric" passion ('Known By The Scars', 'Scandalon', 'So Many Books', and my favorite track, 'Know You In The Now.') I'm rarely impressed by the lyrics of most songwriters, but consider these lines :

HE CANNOT LOVE MORE, AND WILL NOT LOVE LESS

WE IN OUR WEAKNESS BELIEVED WE WERE STRONG / HE BECAME HELPLESS TO SHOW WE WERE WRONG...
FOR THE POWER OF PARADOX OPENS YOUR EYES / AND BLINDS THOSE WHO SAY THEY CAN SEE

THAT IS THE MYSTERY, MORE THAN YOU CAN SEE / GIVE UP YOUR PONDERING AND FALL DOWN ON YOUR KNEES
NO FICTION AS FANTASTIC AND WILD / A MOTHER MADE BY HER OWN CHILD

TO HEAR WITH MY HEART, TO SEE WITH MY SOUL / TO BE GUIDED BY A HAND I CANNOT HOLD
TO TRUST IN A WAY THAT I CANNOT SEE / THAT'S WHAT FAITH MUST BE

THERE IS A JOY IN THE JOURNEY, THERE'S A LIGHT WE CAN LOVE ON THE WAY
THERE IS A WONDER AND WILDNESS TO LIFE, AND FREEDOM FOR THOSE WHO OBEY

TO BE SO COMPLETELY GUILTY, GIVEN OVER TO DESPAIR
TO LOOK INTO YOUR JUDGE'S FACE AND SEE A SAVIOR THERE

Now THAT'S what I call "writing!" Most of these tracks are enthusiastic and catchy. If they played this stuff on Christian radio I'd tune in once in awhile.

Michael Card's, 'JOY IN THE JOURNEY' puts joy in my journey, and it calls to mind my personal "Summer Of Love." And when this world douses my spirit, 'JOY IN THE JOURNEY' can fan my embers into a Divine Flame again. Brothers and Sisters, I think you'll like it too.

This is a "Greatest Hits" type album. Michael Card's music is different from most "contemporary" Christian musicians; it usually has a much deeper message. Many of Michael's lyrics might not even make full sense to the casual listener who doesn't know the Biblical context from which they are drawn.

This CD is sort of a blend of deep and not-so-deep lyrics. My favorite song on the CD is probably "So Many Books," describing the famine that this world is in right now when it comes to the Word of God.

"El Shaddai" is a praise to the never-changing Lord, reciting several Biblical names that we today aren't often familiar with. This song has become one of Michael's most popular; it was also recorded by Amy Grant several years back.

Oftentimes CDs contain a few songs that you usually fast-forward through. This isn't one of them. Even the few that I didn't at first like a whole lot, began to grow on me.

Michael Card is a pure muscial genius. What's better is he has decided to devote his gift to Christ. I have listened to practically all Christian artists and Michael Card is the King. Without any doubt. If you don't own this man's album, shame on you. Each of his songs are so deep, thoughtful, and annoited. My dad always says he could preach a sermon on each of Card's songs. I agree. His best includes: Scandalon, Starkindler, Known By the Scars, Know You in the Now, How Long, The Dragon, Into the Mystery, Celebrate the Child, The Final Word, God's Own Fool, Why?, Joy In the Journey, Salvation, Jubilee, You are Worthy, Soul Anchor, and many more. I can't say enough about this man and his music. BUY THIS CD!

I usually listen to classical music, but our church had a celebration, with some singer named "Michael Card" as entertainment. I was overwhelmed by the power of his music, and bought this and "Starkindler" at the concert. I listen to the audio tapes so much they're starting to stretch and distort, gotta buy the CDs! This is an especially good introduction to Christian "folk-rock-Celtic," altho Mr. Card doesn't fit a single category. His music (Emmanual, Jubilee, Come to the Table) have changed me and expanded my faith. Thanks, Michael!

My very first Christian Album, and it brought me to tears several times. Have bought and rebought it 3 times now (cassettes don't last very long replayings =)...higly recommend it for anyone who's serious about knowing God more.

When you've been listening to an artist as long as I have been listening to Michael Card (I met Michael at one of his concerts in Oklahoma City when my middle daughter was two. She's now 20 and about to have a child herself. Oops, I'm showing my age), there's a lot of ground to cover when you try to find a CD that encompasses all their best work. "Joy In The Journey" does all that, and more.

Not only does this CD bring back fond memories of when songs like "El Shaddai," and "Known By The Scars" were brand new, it transcends the trap of being just another "Greatest Hits" compilation and does what Michael Card does best -- it makes you stop and consider your place in the Creation, as a child of the Creator. When Michael sings about how "Mother Mary cried as she held Heaven in her arms / For the shadow of the scar she saw was clear," you are practically there in the stable in Bethlehem, feeling a mother's pain as she realizes the purpose for which her son was born.

Michael Card is far more than just another singer-songwriter. He knows the God of whom he writes and sings, and the depth of his lyrics make even the coldest of hearts warm again.

If you haven't heard these songs, you need to. If you've heard them before, you want to hear them again. "Joy In The Journey" is the perfect opportunity for both.

This CD of Michael Card is my favorite! The songs are very deep and spirital. It brings you a sence of peace in mind and the lyrics are really up-lifting. I recommend this CD to anyone wanting a good mixture of soft and upbeat spirital music! You simply can't go wrong with an artist like Micheal Card!