"The Greater Cause" - John's New CD

[executioner]

When will the singles come out? Not sure yet... but they WILL.

"she tolerates Petra..." too funny! But how cool that she actually LIKES John's new CD! Love it! Can't wait for the convention - it'll be a great time!

Let's get the word out about the singles; Sue let us know ASAP what the first single will be so we can push them at radio. BTW will this be pushed at secular radio also; we have 2 solid rock/hard rock stations and also a good solid Christian rock station here in the Dallas area. 89.7 Power Rock has always been big supporters of Petra.

[sue d.]

Absolutely... once a single is decided on and sent out there - we'll let EVERYONE know what it is.

[Dan]

Correction: My wife loves Petra... she tolerates my obsession with Petra

[executioner]

Correction: My wife loves Petra... she tolerates my obsession with Petra

Same here.

[Tutor_23]

Too funny about the "wife tolerates my obsession..."!
My wife has always liked Petra. She loves John's new album and plays it in the car all the time, too. She said tonight that she thinks his voice sounds "better than it ever did before" on TGC. He really did poor heart and soul into it.
andy

[executioner]

Really digging "End of These Days" right now; the message is so true. When will right be right again?

[pmal]

Really digging "End of These Days" right now; the message is so true. When will right be right again?

Can't stop playing "One of These Days" either ... It's my favorite at the moment.

[executioner]

Really digging "End of These Days" right now; the message is so true. When will right be right again?

Can't stop playing "One of These Days" either ... It's my favorite at the moment.

Old age is showing up again, I can't even get the title correct of my in the moment song.

[sue d.]

Since it's Valentine's Day... what woman wouldn't want to hear "THE GIFT" sung to her by her best beau?!

[alister]

This album sounds really amazing. Lots of rocking! I am happy that the themes on the album are not only political, which was a fear of mine after listening to an interview with John. I don't like the lyrics on "Faith and freedom" because it is just too much stereotype american rhetoric and I think that the oppinion that USA is a "christian country" and the greatest country of mankind etc. is bull. But There are some really good lyrics on the album as well pointing at Jesus!

I agree with my fellow countryman, Andreas. I will probably not put 'Faith and freedom' on my MP3 player. It is, as Andreas says, just too stereotype American rhetoric.

I love the sound of the album. Great rock music. But I am, contrary to Andreas, generally disappointed with the lyrics.
And, from reading the lyrics on the website, 'God' is mentioned twice. 'Jesus' not once.
I miss Bob Hartmann's amazing, biblical lyrics...

Just reading through this thread before I jump in, and have to say this (above) is also my position. Musically it is excellent. Lyrically, it is mostly very disappointing considering the concept that John was selling:

In these days filled with uncertainty and insecurity - both economically and politically - we as Christians need to remind each other who Christ is and who we are in Him. We need to use common sense in this world and awaken to the fact that Jesus is Lord, no matter what those around us may say – or do. This is my goal with “The Greater Cause

I will read the rest of the thread before I comment further. (If I do at all - as I do not want to cause any upset!)

[brent]

In my opinion, some people here are not honest with themselves, and are listening to Petra with Bob colored stained glass eyewear. People tout Bob's biblical lyrics. What does Biblical mean? I guess it means quoting scripture, because I have never heard anything unscriptural from Petra or John's albums. In fact, Bob's writing has become less Christianese. Consider J&H. In fact, I would say that some J&H tunes would play on secular radio without issues.

The key to good writing is to make a song apply to the widest range of people without giving up what you want to say, assuming you are trying to say something lyrically. It is perfectly scriptural to take scripture or biblical concepts, doctrines, etc, and make them applicable to people in ways that they will understand.

Some listeners then flip the fence and say that Bob and John's lyrics are not Christian enough, because they do not say God, Jesus, etc enough. What a crock! You have to take the albums in context. These are Christians, singing to Christians, who buy the records via Christian retailers, or only know of the music from past Christian experiences or current Christian marketing, advertising, reviews, etc. EVERYONE knows who they serve and what they are singing about. Good grief.

You people that live outside of the USA need to get a grip. If you don't like a proud, concerned and exhorting Christian citizen's calling out of his fellow Bible believing citizens, then skip it. Better yet, show me one a Christian artist from your country with the balls to do the same. I don't think there are many Christian artists in other countries that CAN produce a song like that. John is not putting the USA above you or your country. John loves his country and wants to see it stay out of the Obama toilet. Nothing wrong with that. Obama is an evil dude and deserves the hell coming to him.

[executioner]

In my opinion, some people here are not honest with themselves, and are listening to Petra with Bob colored stained glass eyewear. People tout Bob's biblical lyrics. What does Biblical mean? I guess it means quoting scripture, because I have never heard anything unscriptural from Petra or John's albums. In fact, Bob's writing has become less Christianese. Consider J&H. In fact, I would say that some J&H tunes would play on secular radio without issues.

The key to good writing is to make a song apply to the widest range of people without giving up what you want to say, assuming you are trying to say something lyrically. It is perfectly scriptural to take scripture or biblical concepts, doctrines, etc, and make them applicable to people in ways that they will understand.

Some listeners then flip the fence and say that Bob and John's lyrics are not Christian enough, because they do not say God, Jesus, etc enough. What a crock! You have to take the albums in context. These are Christians, singing to Christians, who buy the records via Christian retailers, or only know of the music from past Christian experiences or current Christian marketing, advertising, reviews, etc. EVERYONE knows who they serve and what they are singing about. Good grief.

You people that live outside of the USA need to get a grip. If you don't like a proud, concerned and exhorting Christian citizen's calling out of his fellow Bible believing citizens, then skip it. Better yet, show me one a Christian artist from your country with the balls to do the same. I don't think there are many Christian artists in other countries that CAN produce a song like that. John is not putting the USA about you. John loves his country and wants to see it stay out of the Obama toilet. Nothing wrong with that. Obama is an evil dude and deserves the hell coming to him.

Nicely said.

[Dan]

Beat the System, God Fixation & Jekyll and Hyde were cryptic in the message in some spots. Where Beyond Belief, Not of this World, More Power to Ya and others are more straight forward in your face "this is what we are saying"

[brent]

Bob says that his early writing was kind of corny. I think Bob wrote as Bob wanted to write. We can see him evolve.

If you take a cross section of the music from each decade, starting in the 40s, you will find that the over the top Christianese lyrics were everywhere. Slowly people honed their craft a bit and adapted to reach new people.

Bob and John still give the bible, but it is said in a different way than a word for word quote. They have to do this. If every artist wrote scripture quoting songs, we would have too many songs with the same lyrics, and people would not engage. Musicians do what pastors and teachers do. They use different texts, multimedia and drama to relate to an audience. They have to find a way to reach people in a new way. Our kids learn and recall things differently than we did when we were in school and church. Each generation is different. This is the age old generation gap rearing it's head here.

[p-freak]

John loves his country and wants to see it stay out of the Obama toilet. Nothing wrong with that. Obama is an evil dude and deserves the hell coming to him.

Come on, Brent. Stop selling this kind of rubbish. I love the world and want to see it stay out of the Republican's self-righteous we-are-American-and-we-rule-the-world-and-if-you-don't-listen-we'll-force-you-to-listen-attitude. Obama is not an evil dude, Bush was. He started two wars for no good reason. Obama didn't.

I don't mind John singing these kinds of songs, but I completely disagree with his point of view. I believe it is not biblical (and not because he doesn't quote the Bible or doesn't say God or Jesus) and it focuses on the wrong issues.

So you people who live in the USA need to get a grip and just respect our point of view.