(Photo :Kevin Mills)

Sometimes our view of God is too myopic.  We have often caricatured Christianity as some domesticated sentimentality between just God and us.  Indeed it is true and proper to think that God is immensely interested in us but his desire is far greater.  God wants entire races, societies, nations to bow to His Son's name.  God's heart beats for societal reforms where widows are not overlooked, the aged cared for and children arefairly nurtured.  To put it succinctly, Jesus has come not only to save souls, but also to "establish His kingdom" (Luke 10:9).  But the problem is that while God has telescopic eyes, many of us suffer from dire short-sightedness. This is the controlling discourse of Kevin Mills' "Travelin' Through." "Travelin' Through" is a kingdom-focused record; Mills is not only interested in seeing our individual relationships with God deepen ("Church Bells" and 'Walk on Water").  But his heart also burns for a restoration of God's absolute truth in our post-modern society ("Black and White"), Godly upbringing of children ("Bible and a Belt") and the strengthening of marital bonds ("You're My Best Friend").  And such advancements to God's kingdom can never be possible without prayer, this is why bookending this disc are two gorgeous songs on prayer ("Till the Answer Comes" and "A Living Prayer").

On "Travelin' Through," Mills steps back into the style of 90s country where he delivers these Kingdom-centered songs over accessible well-crafted melodies with that rustic touch of fiddles, banjo and guitars.  Vocally, Mills has a deep baritone not that dissimilar to Josh Turner and Paul Brandt; and when he does get to the lower notes, he could mine the depths for that warm convicting sound.  And if there is any influence over this record, it has to be singer-song writer Paul Overstreet (who co-wrote Don Moen's "God is Good," the Judds' "Love Can Build a Bridge" and Alison Krauss' "When You Say Nothing at All") as two of the songs here are from the pen of Overstreet.  "Till the Answer Comes" is spit-fire country romp that excels with the lots of wonderful turn of phrases:  "till the answer comes you gotta praying/keep praying till the answer comes."  But don't let the fun hooky tune belie the song's reminder of our need to persist in prayer.  The other Overstreet entry is "Dig Another Well."  This is the type of song Overstreet does best; taking a Biblical theme of hope and couching in a rural story of a family trying to survive in a drought. 

It doesn't get more country than "Church Bells," a breezy testimonial ballad where Mills continues to look with nostalgia to his home country church where he first experienced the Holy Spirit.  Not many country gospel songs does address the issue of the lost of absolute truths in our post-modern society.  So kudos is in order to Mills for lamenting over such a loss in "Black and White."  However, Mills' comparison of his dog which can tell the difference between a lick and a bite to today's cultural loss of right or wrong in the second verse is a little dubious.  While on "Bible and a Belt" Mills offers the two essential elements to Godly parenting:  the teaching of the Scriptures to our children and the need for respect.   Amanda Mills, aka Mrs. Kevin Mills, adds her gorgeous vocals to the big balladry "A Living Prayer."

Two other covers need a mention:  the first is Don Williams' signature hit "You're My Best Friend."  Mills has reverently stayed close to the Gentle Giant's version: soft, laidback and warm.  The other cover is Randy Travis' last number one country smash "Three Wooden Cross."  If you are not familiar with the song, you have got to listen to it.  It's a movie rolled up in a song about four different people involved in an automobile accident.  Listen carefully as there is a narrative twist in this song that will make you think of sin, redemption and transformation afresh.  In fact, every song on "Travelin' Through" will keep us glued to the speakers for every word coming from Mills' lips.  This is an album bursting with great transformative themes about the Kingdom of God exploding through our land.  And if you listen long enough to this disc, you  will also get transformed just like Mills to be kingdom minded too.