I love listening to this CD, kicked back in my car on the road. And at around 55 minutes, it’s great for that. Just be careful since it’s easy to get caught up in the CD and lose yourself in contemplation (don’t tell my wife). It’s almost meditative at times.

The title of the CD was inspired by Isaiah 43:2. The content is based on Psalm 30:5. Drummer and singer Mark Nicks explains, “The bible doesn’t say that the way will be easy. It says we will have fire and weeping, but we can rest assured that we won’t get burned. We know that joy comes in the morning. There is hope in our trials. That’s what this CD is all about.”

There are many powerful songs on this CD. “Cinematic” compares our faith to a film. “I’m Not Ready” is about laying down our life, our selfishness and picking up our cross. “Skydive” speaks of jumping into Jesus’ arms. “Rats in the Cellar” is an artsy, Radiohead-ish song about exposing the lies inside us. One of my favorite verses is from “Rest for the Weary”, “I wish it didn’t always, Have to be this way, I wish that I could talk to You, Face to face, But nothing compares to the way, You always listen and know just what to say.”

My only complaint about “Fires of Life” is that the album seems to lose its way in places. Cool Hand Luke needs change things up a little here and there. Some of the songs begin to sound the same, there’s not enough variation. It’s not a horrible thing, the lyrics more than make up for it. And it wouldn’t keep me from recommending the CD to anyone.