An oasis is a fertile area in a desert surrounded with water. If you are stranded it in a desert, you definitely want to look for one of these. On the spiritual end of things, if you are in a desert right now, Oasis Praise offers you a refreshing break from your problems - no matter how big or small.

This live album opens with an in-your-face intro question: "Are you ready?" From there the ride begins with a full energized groove boasting bold statements like: "Ready to start a revolution... no condemnation... take it to every nation." Next, the gospel group takes you on a journey of who God is, who He wants to be to you and who you are to Him. "So in Love" is another high energized song talking about God's unending and unfailing love. Oasis brings it down a bit with two meditative songs, "Fields of Mercy" and "Focus." Both songs deal with God's Glory, with the song "Focus" ending in a chant of "Holy Holy, Mighty Mighty."

They're back to upbeat rhythms, as Oasis tells it like it is about God's goodness with "So Good to Me." A reggae beat starts off the next song, as the group asks the Spirit to "Rain Down." The gospel group starts to wind down again and give out a testimony in the song "I'll Never be the Same." This is a great song encouraging anyone who struggles with who they once were to help them see themselves new through God's eyes. Using Philippians 4:13 as a backbone, "I Can Do All Things Through Christ explains our victory in Christ's strength and grace. The song leads into the next song, "To Dwell in Your Presence," expressing our need and desire to be where God is. The song also points out that to dwell with God is far better than anything life could ever offer us - Psalm 84:10.

Once more bringing up the beat on "Overcomer," Oasis calls all of us out of our comfort zones and challenges us to walk as overcomers in Jesus' Name. The lyrics refer to Paul's charge that nothing can separate us from the love of God - Romans 8:28-39. It a great challenge, to step into Jesus and out of the things we hold onto from our past. The album ends with three meditative songs leading from one to the other: "I Could Never Live Without You," "My All," and "Jesus is Here." All three songs lead us to cry out our desperate need for Jesus.

At the end of this album, if you are not moved to seek God on a deeper level, then you have missed the refreshing oasis God has brought to you in your desert. Granted its not an every day-car ride album, but it is an album for those times you really just need to be in God's presence. If you're earnestly looking for Him, you'll find Him... even in an oasis.

- Review date: 5/21/03, written by Shawn Harrison