I just got my Farewell DVD

[js3971]

So Mountain Man, was it unfair for you to flippantly dismiss Wayne's criticism of your stand or whatever it was you built, because it wasn't the best or up to his standards?

[executioner]

I'll make two simple points.


1. I guess money does buy you everything.
2. We should be happy with being average or not the best.



I believe both of these statements go against God's Principles, but that is what most is saying we should be doing here or at least agreeing with. I'm tired of hearing about budgets and not about the the ministries that all of these CCM artists should be doing. I believe I'm done with CCM for good.

[axelegend]

I'll make two simple points.


1. I guess money does buy you everything.
2. We should be happy with being average or not the best.



I believe both of these statements go against God's Principles..

Points taken, and agreed with. However, it is difficult to be the "best" at something if you do not have access to all of the best resources. I believe that Inpop did the best it could with its available resources. Since none of us is perfect, it is inevitable that we as individuals (or as a company) will make mistakes. Perhaps Inpop will learn from this experience what works and what does not, which will lead to further improvements in the future. Maybe the future will hold further technological advancements and an increased resource base for Inpop; at this point in time, though, I believe that Inpop did the best it could with what it had. Keep in mind that Inpop is a relatively small company, as opposed to record companies like Universal, Sony-BMG, etc., so its resource base is considerably smaller.

I'm tired of hearing about budgets and not about the the ministries that all of these CCM artists should be doing.

Again, I agree. What matters most is this: for 33 years, Petra gave its best and all of its members poured their hearts into the ministry. If you attended any of their concerts, you could sense the band's excitement to be part of that ministry; you could also FEEL the presence of the Holy Spirit. Much of the band's ministry lay in the actual concerts, but not necessarily as much in the recorded CDs themselves. Granted, the CDs are an integral part of the band's ministry, but more people come to know Christ through a concert than simply listening to a CD - the atmosphere is totally different, going back to the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. I would be curious to see just how many people were saved as the end result of attending a Petra concert.

I believe I'm done with CCM for good

That's a whole other area of discussion, but it does seem as if the Christian music industry has become much more like the mainstream music industry - where much of it is indeed based around the bottom dollar. "Christian" artists write lyrics that make no mention of God's name but instead use generic, watered-down messages that may be slightly "spiritual" in nature, although not very "Christian." I cannot even begin to count the number of "Christian" songs where I cannot differentiate if the lyrics are speaking about our Almighty God or about a girlfried/boyfriend. This is something that was never a problem with Bob Hartman's lyrics - they were bold and obvious, often taken straight from Biblical passages.

"Christian" music stores sell product by artists and bands that are NOT Christian - such as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (although a great band, it is NOT Christian - look at some of the solo releases from the band's key members), Creed, and a number of others.

How about the fact that a lot of "Christian" concerts rarely offer an invitation to know Christ following the concert?

I agree that CCM has changed a lot and lost some sight of the main focus: GOD. Speaking from my own experience, Christian music of today seems to have less of an impact with the people around me, and it's no coincidence, for without God we are nothing. Without God's Word and/or name, Christian lyrics are no different than worldly lyrics.

[js3971]

One of the problems is that many of the "Christian" labels are owned by "non-Christian" labels. Unfortunately this does lead to some groups whose music might be pretty cool getting signed, even though they have no idea who God is or anything about him.

But why does this mean we have to complain and whine about everything. If there's a group you like, and you like their message, or the message says something to you that you feel like God would tell you, then buy it and listen to it. If it doesn't, ignore it.

Blessing and cursing should not come out of the same mouth. Whether it's a musician, fan, politician, pastor, garbage collector, online forum moderator, js3971, whomever. Many times we'd rather curse the darkness, instead of being the light Jesus told us we are.

[Mountain Man]

So Mountain Man, was it unfair for you to flippantly dismiss Wayne's criticism of your stand or whatever it was you built, because it wasn't the best or up to his standards?

You have me confused with someone else.

[Mountain Man]

Simply put, my view is this: I'm happy to have SOMETHING showcasing Petra's Farewell Tour and commemorating its legacy of music and ministry, as opposed to NOTHING.

Some of us wish we didn't have to settle for "better than nothing".

[js3971]

My apologies to you mountain man. Didn't mean to confuse you with someone else.

[charl]

Ya know what my big beef is? Why didn't they make a dual disc?!?!

The fact that they didn't do this made me believe the DVD would at least have extra concert footage. Since it did not, why release these separately? Bah.

It also seems to me this DVD is merely meant to be a souvenier bauble for those who were at the taping. And double Bah.

BTW, no I haven't seen it yet and once I found out the playlist is exactly the same as the CD I didn't really intend to. Not crazy about videos/DVD's (they can never capture the feeling of a true live show), but I would have bought it for the extended show. I may still pick it up anyway, not sure. I feel better for whinging, anyway.

[pethead]

This DVD is awesome!

Seeing John Lawry play the keys with Petra again was incredible!

I am the HUGEST John Schlitt fan, but being able to watch Greg X. Volz perform "Graverobber" just blew me away! I have probably watched that performance over 25 times already in two days!

[Jonathan]

Ya know what my big beef is? Why didn't they make a dual disc?!?!

True. There are so many CDs that are packaged with a DVD for the price of just one CD. Collective Soul, Roots, Keith Green, U2, etc...

Maybe money could have been saved on packaging and all that.

I got the DVD and its a good watch, even if its a souvenir. I haven't watched the fan interviews, as it seems kind of pointless to me. But I know most of these people here anyway.

[Michael]

I got the DVD and its a good watch, even if its a souvenir. I haven't watched the fan interviews, as it seems kind of pointless to me.

Naah... watch 'em! And I'm not saying that just because I'm in one of 'em. We really enjoyed hearing some of the stories the other Petheads told on the DVD.

[PetFCtr]

Overall, I think the complainers on here would be complainers in heaven if given the opportunity. It's a great DVD.

It's unfair to so flippantly dismiss the criticism, because much of it is valid and warranted even if you don't agree with it. Just a thought.

Yeah there are alot of complainers here. I got mine yesterday thanks to a kind pethead, "you know who you are". I liked it. I'm not picky.

We shouldnt be surpised about certain aspects or most aspectsof ccm or record companies. Even thou ccm claims to be about the LORD and even some records companies. Its clear by they're actions its all about mammon. Its not about how many units are sold. I hear all the time hey how much money did it make. When it should be how many people came to the LORD.

The product for LORD could be crap but most of the time is measure by how many of it were sold. If its crap who cares...Even well made products for the LORD dont sell...But even if one person hears it and is moved and gives they're life to the LORD thats what matters...

In Christ

Rich

[Shell]

I finally got mine today, and I really liked it. It was good to see Greg X. and Johnny L., and I loved the Pethead interviews and rehearsal footage.

I do wish there was a booklet or some sort of insert.

[jimmye4563]

I finally got mine today, and I really liked it. It was good to see Greg X. and Johnny L., and I loved the Pethead interviews and rehearsal footage.

I do wish there was a booklet or some sort of insert.

I echo your "sentiments". I got my copy on Monday. I put it in our DVD player and right in the middle of the first song our power goes out! . We had very strong winds that day and it blew a tree limb onto a power line, on our road, and knocked it down. Praise the Lord it wasn't too serious. My wife, after she called 9-1-1, went out into the road and was warning oncoming traffic of the problem until the County Police arrived. I had to go to the hotel where I work nights(11p-7a) so I could take a nap(and have an alarm clock to wake me) and take a shower before going on duty. I finally got to watch the DVD the next afternoon.

[brothertom]

It's probably time for me to give up on waiting for Inpop to provide what they promised while at the taping in Nashvile, and just order the DVD myself. I don't subscribe to the 'blame Inpop' school of thought for everything associated with this project or Petra in general, but they certainly dropped the ball on this. No record of what a now ex-employee recorded, no response to at least my private messages to InPopShara, and, of course, no DVD for participating in the interview session . Maybe others have had better luck on that front than I . I do certainly want to see the DVD, and my patience has reached its limit waiting on Inpop.