Ranking Petra: #21 God Fixation

I want to reiterate that (with the exception of Double Take) I don’t dislike any Petra album. Even those at the bottom of my list have some really good songs. God Fixation actually has a handful that I enjoy, even if the album didn’t excite me when it was released in 1998. That was during […]

Ranking Petra: #22 Revival

I must confess, I haven’t listened to this album very much. I have the DVD that was produced to promote it and have probably watched it more than I have actually listened to the album. It’s not that Revival is a bad album. By 2001 Petra was down to three members (Bob Hartman, John Schlitt, […]

Ranking Petra: #23 Double Take

Not counting compilation albums, Petra have released twenty-one studio albums, three live albums, and two Spanish-language albums since forming in 1972. Based upon a conversation on Twitter (thanks Caleb The Spy) I have taken it upon myself to rank and briefly give my thoughts on Petra’s catalog. I will not be looking at the many […]

Fear Of The Lord

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ To “fear” God means that I have reverence for Him and am in complete awe of who He is and what He has done. If I want to gain true knowledge and apply it to my […]

Conquer Evil With Good

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. Romans 12:21 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ It is so hard to do the right thing when the wrong thing feels more rewarding. When someone says or does something bad to me my first response is lash out. I want to get revenge. I want to hurt […]

Keep In Step

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ One of the benefits of being a Christian is that I have God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within me. The Spirit convicts me when I sin. He shows me the truth when I study the Bible. He […]

Resist The Devil

Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ I sometimes forget that the devil has already lost. Paul clearly describes the spiritual war that we’re engaged in. He tells us who the enemy is and he tells what weapons we have to fight with. I have […]

Avoid Evil

Stay away from every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ Different translations render this phrase in different ways. After consulting several commentaries and looking at the way this has been historically understood I would paraphrase it this way: Don’t mess around with any thing that is wicked. Don’t do it. Don’t even think […]

Living Sacrifice

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is […]

Godpleaser

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:8 (CSB) ______________________________________________ When I deliberately focus on and pursue the things of this world, I can’t truly follow Jesus. Whether it’s my own sinful urges or the treasures of earth; I have taken Jesus off the throne of my heart. No matter how much […]