Steven Curtis Chapman - Heaven In The Real World

Reviewed by Chris Tozer

With a huge tour already underway (yep, it's eventually coming to Britain!) SC Chapman could well see a half million sales with this classy item. 'Heaven In The Real World' offers a veritable course of 12 lessons in the Christian faith as the tracks on the album cover most of the major doctrines with imaginative lyrics and gutsy music. There are songs about God's sovereignty and grace, the birth of Jesus, the fruits of the Spirit, the Christian life and the value of prayer. Lessons are also drawn from history in "Burn The Ships" and "Dancing With The Dinosaur" which exhort us to heed our consciences and keep the faith. To cap it all there is the gospel singer's statement of belief superbly summed up in "Facts Are Facts". So you can tell that it is all serious stuff despite the poppy Amy Grant approach to the production. Humbler matters like sunsets, spiders and spaghetti never get a look in here. For that you will have to wait until he gets a crossover contract. Meanwhile, buy this one for your teenage godchild - it will teach him well.