I read recently that Amy Grants latest album "Unguarded" cost 200,000 dollars to make. It features material by the worlds best known Christian songwriters and musicians and was recorded in the top studios. On the A & M label it has sold almost 5OO,OOO copies through secular outlets. Through 'WORD' Christian bookshop distribution another 500,000 have been sold. It is predicted that sales may well top the2 million mark.

By way of contrast my own album was made on a shoestring budget ,so tight the company have since gone into liquidation. It features no big-name people, It was recorded in a small 8-track studio,behind a semi-detached house, the control-room of which was a draughty caravan. Although on a secular label, I don't think it's sold any copies through secular outlets, but has sold 2 copies in a Christian bookshop in Colwyn Bay. So far personal and concert sales have just about tipped the three figure mark.

In terms of material success, Amy Grants album is a far 'superior' product.  Yet for the Christian 'success' is tricky to evaluate.

Financial prosperity and public popularity can hardly be taken into account. If they are; it appears that "Wham" show more evidence of God's blessing than Amy Grant. Reception by the public is not, in a Christian sense, a basis for declaring 'success'. The prophets of Old Testament Israel often saw a rejection of their message as it would be considered out of tune with the times. Jeremiahs latest album would have been a flop!

Many people will not listen to Christian records simply because they are Christian records. They suggest Christian proclamation and rock and roll media are incompatible bedfellows, No matter how polished (or disguised) the message may be, the world is not keen to hear about Jesus. After all,the same forces which nailed Christ to the cross are still at work in the world.

I suppose it is here that "Unguarded" and my own album share common ground. Both are about and inspired by the same God who has revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ. Both come from the conviction that under the touch of the Holy Spirit, music can be a channel of God's blessing. Both are creations which have attempted to use the resources available, in each case, for the glory of God.

In the eyes of the world the two products are miles apart. In terms of sound and production "Unguarded" is way ahead of anything I've been able to produce. Amy Grant appears to be onto a winner whilst I'm a non-runner. Yet it's how God sees things that matters. It is encouraging to know that He has no favourites but rejoices over all who attempt to live in accordance with His Will.

The temptation is to consider our own efforts as insignificant or worry more about what our fellow-men think, than our heavenly Fathers view of things.

Support Amy Grant, and other Christian artists in the mainstream, with your prayers. The pressures that success brings to bear upon their lives is immense. They are placed upon a pedastal and the whole world tries to knock them down.

At the same time remember that in God's eyes every Christian is a 'superstar'.  God counts your contribution to Him as being of eternal value, however insignificant you feel yourself to be.