FFH was originally known as Four
For Harmony, an acappella group.
Eventually they became a CCM group known as Far From Home. They shortened their name to FFH because a
secular duo was using the name Far From Home.
FFH made their major label debut in 1998, after having released several
independent projects. VOICE FROM HOME
was the group’s sixth major label effort (2005, Essential). Group members at the time were husband and
wife Jeromy and Jennifer Deibler, Brian Smith, and Michael Boggs. Jeromy produced the record, with Robert
Beeson and Conor Farley serving as executive producers. The liner notes include these words: “We
believe that the words on this recording are from the heart of God. They are anchored in Scripture, but come in
common language and with present experience of a God who still speaks. Our prayer is that in listening to these
songs you will be able to hear clearly and in a new way the only Voice that matters...The
Voice from Home``.
First up is one of three Jeromy Deibler compositions, ‘The
Only Hand You Need’. It is an adult
contemporary ballad that finds God calling His child back home: “You held my
hand, we were a family/It was the only thing you’d ever known/But you decided
to let go/And walk away/You bought the lie, you said goodbye/But My hand is the
only hand you need/Why do you keep on looking up to find a sign?/It’s been
right here all this time/O, Can’t you see/My hand is the only hand you
need”. ‘Great Big Problem’ is one of
five tracks written by Jeromy and Mark Vogel.
It is a rock song that again finds God speaking to a prodigal: “You
refuse to be/The one I meant for you to be/If you could only see how this is
killing Me/You’d come back to Me and I would set you free.../I call your name,
but it’s always the same/You walk away/It’s always the same”.
‘Well Pleased’ is a happy pop song. In its liner notes you’ll find the following:
“The Father’s love is based on who you are as a person, not your
performance”. The chorus goes like this:
“You are the child that I love/In you I am well pleased (2X)/Nothing high,
nothing low could separate you from me/You are the child that I love/In you I
am well pleased/You’ve got nothing to prove/In you I am well pleased”. Jennifer Deibler sings lead on ‘Can’t Let Go’
which finds God declaring His sufficiency and faithfulness to us: “Can’t you
see I’m all you’ll ever need/It’s not that bad to believe/In something you
can’t see/I can’t let go/I can’t let you down/I don’t even know how/You can
run, you can hide/But you’ll never be alone/Cause I can’t let go”.
‘I Am Love’ has a slow R&B groove to it. God speaks frankly on this cut: “I can see
what you’re trying to do/Fill this space with another lover/You should know
that I have feelings too/And we were made for each other/But one day this new
lover will be gone/Like the rest it will be moving on/But I’ll still be here
holding out my hand/I know it’s hard but try to understand”. ‘Worth It All’ is a real self-esteem booster:
“You are precious to Me, My everything/No matter what they’ve done I will
restore you/You’re a masterpiece to Me/Only I can see that underneath the hurt
and the pain is a picture of Me/You are Mine/You are loved/You have always been
thought of”.
Michael Boggs and Belinda Smith wrote ‘It’s You’, a nice pop
duet between Jeromy and Jennifer that reminds us how God views us: “You don’t have
to wear designer clothes if you don’t want to/I don’t care what kind of car you
drive, it won’t define you/I see past the surface, the glitter, and the gold/To
the place that really matters to your soul/And it’s you, I’m in love with/It’s
you, I want most/When it all comes down/It’s not what you do/It’s you,
yeah”. ‘Through My Eyes’ is a soulful
tune that reminds me of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well:
“You’ve been searching everywhere to find that you’re still thirsty/If you would
only drink of Me/You’d find that/You would be satisfied/If you could see it
through My eyes”.
‘Grand Canyon’ is a lovely song that depicts God as very
caring: “There’s a thorn you’ve been holding and you can’t, you can’t let it
go/I wish that I could stop the bleeding/But you won’t, you won’t let it
show/And I can’t wrestle with your demons/If you never let me see them/So, I’m
reaching across the Grand Canyon/Hoping you will take My hand”. Michael Boggs and Matt Shockley wrote ‘Take a
Chance’. It has a conversational tone:
“I’m waiting on you/To tell Me all the things you’ve wanted to/You stare at the
mirror in the dark/And wonder why you can’t see who you are.../I’m reaching out
to you/I won’t save you unless you want Me to”.
‘Come Away’ is an easy listening ballad that encourages us
to go deeper with God: “You’ve been standing in the stream, the water feeling
nice/But it’s only up to your knees/It’s beginning to rise/Let it carry you
away/Don’t worry, it’ll be okay/Oh, I’ll be right by your side/Come away with
me to the mountain of your dreams/Come away with me, there’s something you’ve
got to see/Come away with me (2X)/I will show you Who I am/And who one day you
will be”. The album closes with a spoken
word piece entitled ‘Listen’ that encourages us to listen to God’s words about
us. It was penned by Jeromy and Rich
Stevenson.
This is one of the best Contemporary Christian Music album’s
I’ve heard in a while! It effectively
clearly makes the point that God’s love for us does not depend on our performance
in life. What a comforting thought that
is! God’s love for us is permanent. Vocally and musically this is a solid and
tight album. I recommend it to fans of
other Christian adult pop groups such as Avalon and Mercy Me. I’m rating VOICE FROM HOME 100%. For more info, connect with the group on
Facebook.