![]() I remember hearing the haunting words and melody. I have a distinct memory of hearing this song at night while on the road. I was one of those kids that would latch on to new music like it was essential to my continued existence. This might have been around the same time I first heard it, or it could have been a short time later. I also remember a long drive from the interior of Panama, back to our home in Panama City, when I listened to this song. I am not sure how old I was when I first heard this song. The least of these has suffered pain, and Jesus is His name. Petra taught me that prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. It pushes and prods me to reach out more, to care more, and to love more. This song challenges me every time I hear it. We build walls in so many ways to keep out the ugliness and messiness of the world. So many times our churches are insulated things. When the truth behind the song finally broke through for me, it was a lightning bolt type moment. I responded immediately to the opening of the song – with an organ churning out “Showers of Blessing” and then transitioning to the acoustic guitar melody. ![]() This song in particular worked slowly on me. This album came out when I was four years old, so it took me some time to discover it and truly appreciate what I was hearing. You think you have no lack, when you're really destitute When you have so much you think, you have so much to lose Ignore them long enough, maybe they'll go away Key Lyric: Out on the doorstep lay the masses in decay Song: “Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows” Petra taught me to be more outwardly focused. I have included a Spotify playlist with the Five songs at the end of the article. So here are five, of the many, truths in Petra songs that spoke to me in my youth and helped me see God, the church, and spirituality in a much clearer way. Music that was not only cool but that imparted great truth to a young, impressionable mind. A band that sold millions of records, won dozens of Dove and Grammy Awards, and most importantly, gave kids like me some absolutely great music to listen to. 1 Today, I do want to shine a light on a band that paved the way for so many others. However, as I said, that is an article for another day. It is as if any artist, band, or song that did not come out in the past few years does not even exist. ![]() In no other genre of music are the historical roots ignored like Christian music. For any number of reasons, though Petra was one of the most popular and well-loved rock bands in the Christian music scene, there is a level of indifference, or worse, disdain directed towards them and towards that entire era of “Christian rock.” Someday, I hope to further explore the peculiar myopia of the Christian music world. I am sure there are many out there that either do not know who Petra was or many that do know and wish they did not. This is not some sarcastic, ironic, wink-at-the-audience type of article. To be perfectly clear up front – this is not a joke. ![]()
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