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As a Christian (a disciple of Jesus) and as an Artist (someone who was designed to make and/or do something creative), one is presented with some very unique challenges. Jesus called us to be in the world, but we are not of the world. It is a fine line to walk and can only be done through temperance (which is balance). Reed Arvin should know a lot about temperance because for several years he was a musician and producer of Contemporary Christian Music. Arvin eventually left the CCM arena and became a writer. THE WIND IN THE WHEAT is, I believe, his first novel.

THE WIND IN THE WHEAT revolves around an extremely talented and gifted musician named Andrew Miracle. Miracle is a young Kansas farmer who works in the fields once owned by his father. His father is deceased and Andrew is attempting to save the farm for his mother. Andrew enjoys working in the fields and often hears the God speaking to him through the wind in the wheat. But, Andrew isn't like other people his age. Andrew doesn't have many close friends because most of the people Andrew's age are more concerned with drinking, cussing, etc. Andrew tries to hang around them, but he almost always ends up "preaching" to them. He doesn't do out of arrogance, but out of love. His peers don't understand this.

One night Andrew hears God. The voice is still and quiet and all it says is, "Andrew, you are love." Andrew doesn't know what to make of the message and wrestles with it for several days. Not long after a touring ministry group enters the town, the manager of the group meets with Andrew and offers him an opportunity to fly to Nashville to join the group. Andrew believes this might be why God was speaking to him and agrees. What starts out as the possibility of Andrew joining a touring musical ministry group turns into Andrew becoming the latest Christian and pop music sensation. Andrew skyrockets through both the CCM and pop charts and becomes an overnight superstar. Yet, Andrew senses something is missing. Andrew has to discover for himself how to reach the largest and best possible audience but without losing sight of his ministry.

THE WIND IN THE WHEAT does an excellent job of presenting some of the struggles that Christian artists, particularly Christian musicians, have to go through. It gives a behind the scenes look at some of the workings of the industry which many probably aren't familiar with at all. The novel is also a love story between Andrew and Carolyn, the woman he first meets in Nashville and whom he falls in love with. In short, this is a great novel about faith and the struggle to find temperance in the creative life.

I must admit that I am conflicted about this book. On one hand, Reed Arvin is a gifted writer whose background and experience in CCM qualifies him to write this book and provide the "insight" noted by Rich Mullins on the cover. On the other, it also follows a fairly predictable path which can be painfully slow at times, and somewhat forced at other times. Reed needed to make Andrew Miracle really struggle with his fame and the chaos caused by it, to be sure, but much of the transition from humble, lovable country boy to the prima donna who was rude to the crew and thoughtless of his girlfriend was done "off camera," so to speak. We were given an overview of some passage of time, and all of a sudden his relationship with Carolyn was diminishing along with his Christian testimony. Again, Andrew Miracle needed to go through this transition for the story's overall plot, but too much of it was simply told rather than shown. The novel would have been both more interesting and more authentic with a greater focus on this vital characterization.

The ending was disappointing. Generally speaking, despite its overall positive message told through Andrew's journey, which has been detailed well in prior reviews, it shows how absolutely nothing in CCM or mainstream culture was even touched by Andrew Miracle's actions and grande finale on the Rosenberg Show. I wasn't expecting Andrew Miracle to be the Martin Luther of CCM, but clearly *nothing* changed. Now I've been around CCM long enough to know that they're not all ministers, nor are they all that talented. For every Phil Keaggy, who is a world class guitar virtuoso, you have hundreds of CCM artists who are only capable at best. I've also met CCM artists who I wish I never met. I've even gotten to know siblings and children of some CCM stars, and those experiences have tarnished my view of CCM as well. It's not that I am expecting the CCM artist (or his family) to be a "Super Christian," per se, but they failed to live up to the basic expectations that anyone would have of *any* Christian. Naturally, I will not name any names.

Lastly, the Rosenberg Show appearance failed to live up to its hype and, in a sense, reality. Rosenberg was portrayed to be a combination of Johnny Carson and David Letterman, both of whom are master interviewers who have encountered numerous awkward situations that they were able to play out for a laugh or to capture a rare moment of sincerity on television. Andrew Miracle's decision to mention Jesus was described like someone dropping the "F-Bomb" on TV. Really? Bono mentions Jesus quite often in TV interviews, National Prayer Breakfasts, on stage, and at meetings with world leaders to discuss his ministry in Africa (AIDS and Third World Debt Relief). Carrie Underwood had a HUGE hit with "Jesus" in her song title and mentioned throughout the song. Bono and Carrie Underwood have not been banished from popular culture because of it, but embraced!

If anything, Reed may have served the story better by having him return to the farm as described, but then find out that his interview, although not well received or appreciated by Rosenberg, was very well received by many in Rosenberg's nationwide audience. Christians have a way of embracing and supporting public figures who are very upfront about their faith. Look at how Tim Tebow is revered and adored by so many people in an otherwise divided/partisan sport. Typically, unless you're a fan of a school's program, you don't follow or cheer for another school's star. Yet, college football fans around the nation, both serious and casual, have supported and rooted for Tim Tebow. His Super Bowl ad was endorsed and support by millions of Christians, even those who never watched him play! It's extremely realistic to think that there would be a groundswell of support for Andrew Miracle following his appearance on the Rosenberg show. Consequently, the book's ending came off as cynical and jaded, rather than inspirational. Naturally, and unfortunately, the record labels and agents in CCM are out for the buck often times more than the Gospel, and there's no reason to suggest that this still wouldn't be the case following Andrew's appearance on Rosenberg's show; but to suggest that all 17 million people who watched the show wouldn't be effected by Andrew's testimony is a bit much. Andrew could have easily followed in Rich Mullins's footsteps by being true to his music ministry in CCM while also leaving Nashville to live in Kansas. Rich Mullins is proof that Andrew Miracle could have stayed in Kansas and still had his music ministry.

If you're familiar/interested in Christian music, you'd likely very much enjoy this fictional book, though a couple of the characters brought real people to mind right away.

This book is helping me understand why I couldn't get Lincoln Brewster to come for a Rally for $2000.00 after he became a recording success. He use to come into town every year to visit my brother now he was told to delete him from face book (his prduct only.) The book is a must read.

this was a good book.....put forth morals and being truthful... and that MONEY is NOT the best thing to be looking for!!!