Bob's Pearls of Wisdom

[Fobers71]

I use a lot of Petra lyrics as a core for many of my youth lessons. Most of the teens don't care for Petra musically but they respond to the messages I pull out of the lyrics.

By far the most frequent I use is during "alter call" times is Just Reach Out.

"You say you've walked a thousand steps away but don't you know that it's only one step back."

[BForm]

Shawn, I believe those lyrics are reflecting on how the Gospel is foolish in the eyes of men. The New Testament has many references concerning how God uses the foolish to confound the wise. Which leads me to one of my favorite Bob lyrics and something the modern church would do well to consider.

Greco-Roman culture during the time of Jesus and the writing of the New Testament was probably the most pluralistic culture known to man. You could worship anything you wanted and there were plenty of options available. The only problem was, Caesar had to be Lord.

It was in this pluralistic culture that was known to present philosophical messages through drama in the streets that God ordained the "foolishness of preaching". Sacred Trust will always be near the top of my Petra list:

"You never tried to win more secular appeal
And water down your message wtih a slightly different feel
You never tried to be politically correct
Or skirt around the issues attempting to connect"

[shawnpfan2010]

Shawn, I believe those lyrics are reflecting on how the Gospel is foolish in the eyes of men. The New Testament has many references concerning how God uses the foolish to confound the wise. Which leads me to one of my favorite Bob lyrics and something the modern church would do well to consider.

Greco-Roman culture during the time of Jesus and the writing of the New Testament was probably the most pluralistic culture known to man. You could worship anything you wanted and there were plenty of options available. The only problem was, Caesar had to be Lord.

It was in this pluralistic culture that was known to present philosophical messages through drama in the streets that God ordained the "foolishness of preaching". Sacred Trust will always be near the top of my Petra list:

"You never tried to win more secular appeal
And water down your message wtih a slightly different feel
You never tried to be politically correct
Or skirt around the issues attempting to connect"

Yeah, I'm sure that your right, but it is fun to think that maybe just maybe he was making a statement to all of the nay sayers that were out there in the early days.

[prem]

"The waters never part until our feet get wet." -Beyond Belief

This has been my life's theme song for, oh, the past 20 years...and this sentence in particular.

---Prem

[CatNamedManny]

I've always liked "Witch Hunt," which was Petra's only overt smack at the critics the band faced during its early days, but the lyrics have a lot of application for the way we live our lives. Especially this part:

"There's a new way to spend all our energies: We're up in arms instead of down on our knees, walking over dollars trying to find another dime. Never mind the souls because we really haven't got the time."

[blayze5150]

I love this thread! As awesome as Bob's songs are, it could go on forever.

[Drumolator]

I am a high school English teacher, and I am rather picky about words. I really like the lyrics from "Counsel of the Holy" and "Underneath the Blood."

Bob is indeed a good lyric writer. Peace and goodwill.

[zak89]

I love this thread! As awesome as Bob's songs are, it could go on forever.

It probably could, but it appears to have gone stale a bit.

I really have been getting into "The Water is Alive", especially the second verse & bridge:

And now beneath the desert stars tonight
The oasis waits for those who roam
It seems so hard to think there was a time
That I used to call this wasteland home
...

Now and forever it will satisfy your thirsty soul
Now and forever living water makes your spirit whole

You could be drinking living water till you're satisfied
Whosoever will won't ever be denied

What a inspiring message - finding fulfillment in the "living water" that is Christ. I love the last line of that verse: "It seems so hard to think there was a time that I used to call this wasteland home! "

[Enosh]

"Lucas mcGraw what's come over you? Were beginning to think you're touched. We hear you got religion ain't been round to see us much."

"And you take a bath on Monday if you need it or not."

Words to live by. Lol

[Mountain Man]

"Nothing in the Heaven's or Earth can stand against the fervant prayer of a righteous man"

That's from a song penned by John Lawry

Anyway, one of my favorite Bob quotes is:

Some may call me foolish
And some may call me odd
But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of men
Than a fool in the eyes of God.

Also:

Cold chills when the Spirit speaks
That some shall depart from the faith
All ends in calamity, just when they thought it was safe
They followed the lies, the fables men devise


Then there's Judas' Kiss which can be a heart wrenching song if I really examine myself.

[executioner]

"Nothing in the Heaven's or Earth can stand against the fervant prayer of a righteous man"

That's from a song penned by John Lawry

Anyway, one of my favorite Bob quotes is:

Some may call me foolish
And some may call me odd
But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of men
Than a fool in the eyes of God.

Also:

Cold chills when the Spirit speaks
That some shall depart from the faith
All ends in calamity, just when they thought it was safe
They followed the lies, the fables men devise


Then there's Judas' Kiss which can be a heart wrenching song if I really examine myself.

Actually no that phrase that I put up there came from "Stand in The Gap" which was written by Bob Hartman.

Code: Select all

[zak89]

Yep - the one Mountain Man was thinking of was "Praying Man" from Wake Up Call.

John Lawry actually is a great songwriter IMHO - I think it would be great if the third Classic Petra album features a couple songs from him.

Men dream of fortune and fame
Making the rules, naming the game
And men dream of things they can hold
Money and power, silver and gold
Jesus, I'm dreaming of You
Take me and melt me, mold me
Until I am complete

In the likeness of You
Recreated, renewed
Resurrected by Your righteousness
In the likeness of You
So faithful and true
Let me awake forever in the likeness of You

Judas' Kiss is a biting track, to say the least. The same is true of "Think Twice", which though I don't love the music, has an awesome message.

[Mountain Man]

Actually no that phrase that I put up there came from "Stand in The Gap" which was written by Bob Hartman.

Well then, go ahead and take away my Petra fan-club secret decoder ring, because I obviously don't deserve to wear it.

[executioner]

Lol

[SCJ-7]

..." Confirmation you've been born again "...