"Sola Fide"

“Sola Fide” Galatians 2:16—yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ…” Another foundational belief of true Christianity is justification by faith alone (sola fide). Justification by faith alone is a very crucial doctrine that we must understand. Concerning this article of faith, Martin Luther said that it is “the article with and by which the church stands, without which it falls”. Before we look at “faith alone” lets look at justification. Justification is the act of God in which he pardons sinners and accepts them as righteous for Christ’s sake. Once this has taken place you are then declared justified. Just-if-I’d never sinned! This is incredibly important to believers because without this justification we will face the wrath of God. So if justification is this important, it is equally important that we know how one becomes justified. This is where faith alone comes in. James 2:24—You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Oh boy! What do we do with this verse? This seems to be an apparent contradiction, doesn’t it? One verse says faith alone, and one says works and faith. So what can we make of this? If “sola scriptura” (scripture alone) is how we discern the truth, what happens when we find these apparent contradictions? Well, this isn’t a contradiction. James 2:24 became the verse that Rome used to refute faith alone. Rome would have been right if that verse stood alone apart from any other idea or point--------but it didn’t. This is where most of us pick up bad theology. We read a verse, remove it from it’s context and then interpret it as literally as possible. Scripture must always be used in the context in which it is presented! Any other way will be spiritually devastating! To understand this verse we must look at James’ original reason for making this statement. James 2:14—What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? First of all, James is automatically implying that the faith that is not accompanied by works is not saving faith. We can only conclude by “can that faith save him?” that James does indeed believe that it is faith that saves. James is talking about a kind of faith that does not produce works. That faith is no faith at all. It is like the seed that fell on the shallow soil (Matthew 13:5,6). It appears to be faith and claims to be faith but is not saving faith. James is making clear that no one is justified by simply professing to have faith, but that justifying faith will always manifest itself in works. John Calvin wrote, “it is faith alone that justifies, but the faith that justifies is never alone.” This belief has been deemed the “storm center of the Reformation”. This doctrine was arguably the beginning of the protestant faith. The Roman Church had believed and still believes that the combination of works and faith save a person. Let there be no mistake. Works necessarily follow saving faith. If you go to McDonalds and order a hamburger you will also get a bun, ketchup, mustard, pickles and onions. No one orders a hamburger and gets a plain patty. It’s the same way with faith. If faith is given it is accompanied by works. Faith saves all by itself, but it is not by itself.

Update

Well, I said that I would keep you all updated on the play auditions, so here I am. I was selected to play the part of Reuban. If you've seen the play, or the movie, this is the brother that sings the French song- "Those Canaan Days". Thats about all of the updating that I have at the moment. Right now I am just waiting for the next JMB practice. The new songs for the new album are coming together very nicely and I hope that you all will enjoy them as much as our current songs (or even more!). I hope that you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I'll see you when I see you...

Chasing Rabbits

Chasing Rabbits Originally today’s devotion was to be about “sola fide” but it’s not. Something that has been weighing heavy on my heart completely crushed it last night. I’ll try not to get too preachy but no promises! Last night I watched Barbara Walters special about heaven on WHAS. In this special Ms. Walters interviewed many different religious leaders about their beliefs of heaven. Islamic, Judaist, Evangelicals, Catholics, and Atheists were among the groups interviewed. Many different people with many different beliefs. My heart was saddened as I listened to some of the interviewees’ responses. This is what I would have said if given the opportunity to share and this is what I am saying to all of you who would read this: Heaven is not just a place where all troubles cease. It is not just the place where I may be reunited with loved ones. It is not just the place where no sickness, disease, or death never take place. It is not just a beautiful paradise with pearly gates, streets of gold, walls of jasper, and a crystal sea. Heaven is a real place. It is not just a state of mind or the hope of R.C.’s and Moon Pies. You can forget all of the beautiful sights and loved ones. You can forget about the extinction of disease. There is something far greater than any of that. HEAVEN IS THE PLACE WHERE WE ENJOY THE FULLNESS OF GOD FOREVER!!!!! It is the place where the glory of Jesus himself is the very light by which we will see everything. And all of those things will only exist to bring more glory to him. That is heaven! There is grave danger in any other view of Heaven. There is a way that seems right to man but in the end leads to death and destruction (Proverbs 14:12). The greatest realization that I believe a person can come to is that everything exists, including us, to glorify God. That is it. That is the secret of Life! If you’ve ever wondered why you’re here, that’s it! We must so preach, so teach, and so share the gospel in order to get people to God, not heaven. Heaven does not save anyone. NOBODY! But God does! If you get to heaven you are going to get to God. Heaven is not the end but it is a means by which we enjoy God. The Westminster Confession of Faith states that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. I like John Piper’s spin on that. The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever. God is the beginning, middle and end of the gospel. John Piper has just recently written a book called, “God is the Gospel”. I will buy that book for any of you who want it. It is imperative that God be the focus of the gospel. We often share the gospel and end it like this; “if you trust Jesus as your savior and lord then you will get to go to heaven.” This makes heaven out to be our God. Heaven becomes the end and God becomes the means. This is simply wrong and possibly suicide. If you could go to heaven and receive all of the blessings of heaven without God, would you still want to go? R.C. Sproul writes in “Grace Unknown”, “This is our error. In our fallen condition we desire the benefits that only God can give us but we do not want him. We want the gifts without the Giver, the benefits without the benefactor.” I have never felt such urgency to share the real gospel in my entire life. Most of the folks in Ms. Walter’s special simply said that they believe in heaven because it brings comfort. One man even said that even if heaven doesn’t exist, believing in heaven so alters our lifestyle that it is well worth the belief even if it turns out to be false. 1 Corinthians 15:19 says that if that is true, we should be the most pitied people of all. I will end with some thoughts that have been running through my head all week thanks to Derek Webb. The cross is both beautiful and offensive. It must be both. The rich young ruler came and found that the true gospel is not seeker sensitive (whatever that means) in nature. It is a call to come and die, but live. Love is not efficient. That is a mouth full. I hope to encourage you to find your peace in trusting a holy God. Not just in his heaven. I also encourage you to search your desires. I hope that God becomes your desire. It will be a fight for us all to desire him more than the things of this life. Evangelical Christians as a whole are not teaching the real gospel. God is the Gospel. Everything else are just simply means in which you get to him or enjoy him. God is the hope of life!

It's Me Again...

Hey guys! It's been awhile since I posted anything on here- life is pretty hectic in high school (I'm sure it all smooths out the day after graduation... right?) Anyway, I don't really have a lot to say, just wanted to share what's going on in my life as we speak (or, i guess as i type and you read). Auditions for the spring musical have been going on for the past two days. Franklin County High School will be presenting "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (yes, just like that cheesy Donny Osmond movie). We have a lot of talented male singers this year so the show should go well. I tried out for the part of Joseph so I'll keep you posted on how that all turns out. I've also been doing some reading for the past few days. I finally finished "Don't Waste Your Life" that I started this summer and never got a chance to finish. It is a truly amazing book by John Piper that will completely turn your life upside down. So once I finished that one, I picked up "Desiring God" (also by Piper) which Josh gave me for Christmas. I am about 1/3 of the way through and it's fantastic. Along side these things, The Josh Martin Band is working hard to get all of the kinks worked out of our new songs before we record them in the upcoming month. Josh has been writing some really phenomenal songs and I think that you will all be pleased with the album. Well, I'll be sure to post more as more developes in life, but until then...

Back to the Studio

In january we will be recording our 3rd album (2nd studio album). I don't know why they call it an album! Can you even get an album anymore? Anyway, the new "cd" will have some of our new songs that you may have heard at some of our concerts. Songs like "Wrap me in Your Cross", "Learning more everyday", "Sweet Embrace" and "I am". Hope to have more details soon. Recording is like no other experience. It is full of mountaintops and valleys with a few screams of aggravation! Probably more screams than mountaintops but oh well!...josh

Sola Gratia

Sola Gratia Romans 11:5,6—So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Almost every believer will say that they are saved by grace but will differ on how much grace was needed to save them. What you believe about grace coincides with what you believe about your spiritual condition. Whether you believe you are born spiritually sick or dead? Some still believe that they are born spiritually well. All of these views determine a person’s beliefs about grace. Pelagianism believes that man is born with no inclinations to sin or goodness. He is like a sheet of white paper. Semi-Pelagianism and Arminianism believe that a man is born spiritually sick. Calvinism believes that a man is born spiritually dead. Regardless of the rest of the luggage that is unpacked with each view, one of them must be right. There are no other options. I believe the grace required for salvation is total. There is no room for me to try and work my way to salvation. The fact of the matter is that we are dead in our sins. Nothing can be done apart from God’s grace to save you. This is why “sola gratia” or “grace alone” is a fundamental truth in the Christian faith. “Grace alone” means that it doesn’t work along side of us. It doesn’t need our assistance even if we were spiritually able to give it. Ephesians 2:8 states that we are saved by “grace through faith” and that it is not by works. Until you come to grips with your sin, you will not understand the grace of the Gospel.

Caedmon's Call Concert

Friday night I had the opportunity to go to see Caedmon's Call and it was awesome! I heard that our Number one fan was going be there but she failed to show so I just sat behind her parents. They finished out the show with "Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus". That was worth the whole night. Great concert!! Just thought I would let you know...Josh

Sola Scriptura

Sola Scriptura The next four weeks devotions are going to be on the basics of the Christian faith: “Sola scriptura”, “sola gratia”, “sola fide” and “soli Christo”. This simply means scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, and Christ alone. These are the very doctrines that define true Christianity. This week we will look at “sola scriptura”. “It is not the word of God because the church says so; but that the word of God might be spoken, therefore the church comes into being. The church does not make the Word, but it is made by the Word.” –Martin Luther 2 Timothy 3:16,17—All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Is the Bible infallible? I hope you say yes; at least in the original manuscripts. This is not a new question. But this topic has been brought to my attention several times in the past few months so I thought I would give my two cents worth of conversation. “Sola Scriptura” simply means scripture alone. This is one of the declarations of the Great Reformation of the 1500’s. Martin Luther was very vocal about his convictions concerning the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture. Martin Luther believed verses like 2 Timothy 3:16,17 were foundational to the growth and well being of the church. Luther stated that “the church does not make the Word, but it is made by the Word.” You may ask how this is true. 2 Timothy states, first of all, that all scripture is God-breathed. The hand of man wrote the Holy Scriptures but only by the guidance and inspiration of God. Each prophecy of the Bible is given by the Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). Many people believe that the translations we have today are not accurate. On the contrary, the English Standard Version is one of the most accurate translations in print today. Many folks hold to the “King James Only” tradition. They believe that this is the only correct translation of the Bible. Many folks don’t realize that the King James Version was a direct translation from the Geneva Bible, which was a translation of the Matthews, Coverdale, and Tyndale versions, which were in turn translations of the Vulgate in 400 A.D. So how can one really look back at all these translations and believe that the bibles that we use today could be infallible? I think that R.C. Sproul put it best in his book “Grace Unknown”. “Suppose the normative yardstick housed at the National Bureau of Standards were to perish in a fire. Would we no longer be able to determine the distance of three feet with accuracy? With the multitude of existing copies, we could reconstruct with almost perfect accuracy the original yardstick.” Luther also believed that the church was made by the word. If you are a Christian, then you are to believe the Bible. That sounds pretty simple but do you conform to God’s word or make it conform to you. It is imperative that you know who the God of the Bible is and not what you can make Him to be. We are made by the teaching, rebuking, correcting and training of the Bible. These are the things that make us who we are. The Bible is the only authority that may bind the conscience of believers. To take the Bible as anything less than the living, active word of God would be spiritual suicide. “Sola Scriptura”! “Semper reformada” (always reforming) should be the battle cry of all believers who will reckon their lives with the Holy Scriptures. Josh Martin

Wednesday Devo

Today’s Devotion is a new song that I have written. This song is my way of saying salvation is possible by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. May God grant you eyes to see and ears to hear. Redemption Hymn A holy God, A righteous son Requires of me, A holy love On my own, no gift to bring Where will I gain, such a thing? Dead in my sin, nowhere to go Broken life, without a hope I have no faith deep inside I fall short, His love provides Tears of sorrow, tears of joy Down on my knees a helpless boy In my life your glory known Only by grace, through faith alone Purchased by God, The great exchange He took my sin, I took his name His blood for sins, such a cost And not one drop is ever lost My spirit wills, my flesh is weak A sinful man, can he keep? But for His church, grace proves the way He draws us near and near we’ll stay No firmer grip than in his hand The will of God, now of man He holds us fast within his Grace In him we find our hiding place Josh Martin

Cowboy Up

We had a great time playing at both Cowboy Churches (Centerfield & Brandenburg). I was surprised with the Glad Tidings Christian Center - it's probably become one of my favorite places I've ever played. The room was nice and sounded great. We were also pleased to have Doug Dearinger come out and play with us again. He last played with us on our live recording. He's a phenominal musician. Here's what I like best about the Josh Martin Band: During soundcheck, Doug started messing around with a jazzy version of "White Christmas." One by one, we all joined in and played along for a few minutes. Josh turns around and says, "Yeah, we'll play that tonight." We pulled it out mid-set and it came off without a hitch. The crowd really seemed to enjoy it, and had no clue that we'd hardly rehearsed it! In other news, we had a "band meeting" tonight. We have some great things in store for 2006, including some new t-shirts, our next studio recording, and more stuff that you'll find out about later! In the mean time, we're taking December off to enjoy the holidays with friends and family. Adios! -Andrew

Wednesday Devo

Sick or Dead? I think it is pretty safe to say that none of us enjoy being sick. That is particularly true for me today. I have had a sore throat the past few days but wasn’t too worried until I started to lose my voice yesterday. We have two concerts this weekend so I thought I better not wait to the last minute to go to the doctor. I went to the doctor Tuesday morning and was diagnosed with a virus. All I can really do is go home, rest, drink plenty of liquids, and take it easy. You know, all $50 dollars worth of advice! I really got to thinking last night about being sick and remembered an example that an evangelist once used for a conference. He showed a picture of a man lying in a hospital bed with a respirator, IV, the whole works. He said that this man is the perfect picture of those who are non-believers. He said we are all spiritually sick and will die if we do not come to Christ. At the time it seemed like a pretty neat illustration. But after becoming more familiar with the Word of God I must say, I disagree. I believe the evangelist had good intentions, but bad theology. Ephesians 2:5-9—even when we were dead in our trespasses (God) made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. According to Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus we are dead in our sin, not sick. Sick people can help themselves to a degree. I can go to the doctor. I can pick up my prescriptions. I can take my medicine. I can seek help. Being sick does not mean I am totally unable to take care of myself. It just means I need some help. The bible is very clear that we are not just sick. We are dead!!! A dead man can’t do any of the things I just described. The evangelist I referred to earlier has also come to this conclusion and has since changed his illustration. He now shows a picture of a man in a coffin. You may ask, “If the point is that we all need Christ to be spiritually well, then why get so hung up on whether some folks believe we are sick instead of dead?” If a man were spiritually sick (not dead) and believed on Christ, then this type of salvation would be grounds for the man to boast. He would have assisted Christ in his redemptive work. The efforts required would be divided between the man and Christ—and the glory too. But if a man was spiritually dead (not sick), and raised to life by Christ, then this type of salvation (which is the only type) would not leave any room for man to boast or glory in himself. This is what makes grace so amazing! The fact that we were totally dead in our sin and only the grace of God brought us to life. We played no part in our spiritual resurrection. I can’t save myself and you can’t either. Only God can do that. It is not a result of any work. Dead people can’t do works. It is imperative that God receive all glory in your salvation. If we could do even the smallest of things concerning our salvation, we would have something to boast about. We could say, “With the help of God I was able to save myself.” The fact is if we are saved, it is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We cannot assist God in saving us. I remember a true story about a guy one time that tried to take glory from God. Now he is commonly referred to as Satan.

Cowboy Church

I am looking forward to next weeks gigs! Cowboy church is always a great place to sing. It's a place where you can just relax and minister. The crowd is used to having good music so we will have to be on our toes. They have some pretty incredible singers and musicians come every month. I hope that the rest of the guys are as excited as I am. This last weekend's concert was very encouraging. Sometimes we have opportunities to sing in some places where people just stare at you and honestly look like no body's home! But that wasn't the case at Ninevah Christian church. Every now and then you will come to a place and feel like you are home. This was exactly the feeling I got from those folks. I asked the pastor, "How long do you want us to play?" He said something like, "Until the lord tells you to quit." Gotta love that! That is a body of believers that the lord is using and will use. Until next time.... Josh

Wednesday Devotion

The Three W’s of Service Ephesians 6:7-8----Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, Because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. There are three words in this passage that I want us to look at this morning. They conveniently all start with “W” so it makes them easy to remember. These verses are very essential to the way you view your day. Let’s take a look at the first one. Wholeheartedly-- “Serve wholeheartedly…” I am a big fan of college basketball. You see things in college basketball that you don’t see in the pros. When was the last time you saw a professional ball player so overcome with fatigue, that at the final buzzer, he collapsed on the floor? When was the last time you saw a pro player exhausted to tears when losing an overtime tournament game? The sad reality is, that few players play the game wholeheartedly. Even worse, we often serve the Lord as pro basketball players play ball. A professional player plays as one who knows that regardless of the outcome, his paycheck is still going to be there. He’s not worried about the small things or anything else for that matter. He is comfortable and at ease. Sound familiar? Whatever—“whatever good he does” A tornado had ripped through a small rural community leaving trees and debris everywhere. Everyone in the community pitched in to clean up and get things back to normal. While cleaning up one day two brothers, one 15 years old and the other 7, had a conversation. The older brother was picking up large pieces of wood while the younger could only carry simple twigs. The older brother said, “Why do you even try if you can only pick up such a small amount?” The younger brother smiled and said, “Every little bit helps!” Does God take pleasure in seeing you glorify Him in small things as well as big things? Of course He does!! God rewards us for “whatever” good we do. There is nothing that we do that is not seen by the eyes of God. Likewise there is nothing we do in His name for His glory that he will ever forget. Little is much when God is in it. Praise God for the small things! Whether—“Whether he is slave or free” When I was in high school, I had a part-time job as a stock boy at a major supermarket. I can remember when the big bosses would come in and do an inspection of the store to see if things were up to snuff. They would walk past us as if we were invisible. They had no time or interest for us even though four days a week, we were there working as hard as anybody. We were simply seen as a lesser being in the grocery world. The whole time I worked there they never talked to us or acknowledged our existence but I would still receive my check just the same. “Whether” you are a big boss or a stock boy, our lord sees us on the same level. He rewards good work “whether free or slave”. You may feel like you are insignificant because of your position in life, but let me remind you, the lord does not show partiality and He will hold true to every one of His promises. Billy Graham once said during a staff devotion time that he believed that some of his office workers would be ahead of him in line for the Lord’s rewards. They chuckled at that thought but he became very serious and reminded them that God rewards faithfulness over fruitfulness. Pray today that in everything you do, that you do it wholeheartedly, whatever it is, whether big or small, young or old.

Josh Martin

Back from Indiana

We had a great time in Indiana last night at Derek's aunt's church. They were a great audience, and we were blessed to be able to spend the evening glorifying God with them. Not to mention, they fed us! Thanks for the food! On the drive up, I decided to ride with Josh & Kelly. Big mistake. I didn't know it would result in my yearly fill of southern gospel music. I also didn't know that I'd only get to hear 45 seconds of each song before Josh would skip to the next one. (disclaimer: sorry, southern gospel just isn't my style, but I DO appreciate and respect it) The gig went well, considering we hadn't played together in a while. Josh surprised us by going into "Here I Am to Worship" off the cuff. Good thing we know it! The jazz musician in me loves the "flying by the seat of our pants" parts of our shows. On the way back, Josh & me put Kelly to sleep by going into deep, theological discussions about churches and more. It was great. The best part was, I didn't have to listen to any southern gospel! We look forward to going back sometime and playing there again. Adios...

A Little Different Today

This week’s devotion is a little different from the norm. This should possibly just go on the message board but this is something that has been on my heart a while and I had a discussion with a friend on this topic just the other night. There is way too much stuff to put into a couple of paragraphs so this is honestly a horrible attempt to address these things. But anyway, here it is. What affects have “tradition” had on the body of Christ? Now, when I say tradition, I’m not talking about singing hymns or not having a praise band. Jesus tells us that we must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). So it is not a matter of style or taste of music. In fact, those who “must have” one or the other in order to engage in worship seemed to have missed the point completely. And may need to take a look at Matthew 5:17-20 to see where their heart rests. When I say “tradition” I mean things that we have always taken for granted; the things that we have never looked into because everybody seems to agree that it is right or it has just always been done this way. I have spent quite a bit of time in the past few weeks studying and learning about church structure and leadership and have come to this conclusion. Biblically structured churches are hard to find. About 5 years ago, I had some pretty stiff issues staring me in the face and in dealing with them I simply relied on what I had been taught or on the beliefs in which I had grown accustomed. I came to find out just how sharp this “double-edged sword” really was. I knew what I had always done and what I always believed, but in my quiet times I was reading some things in the bible that were contradicting my beliefs. So I began to twist these verses and words to conform to my beliefs (this is the reason I referred to the passage in Matthew). But just like the sword that it is, it cut my reason and logic to shreds. My traditions would have me believe things contrary to God’s word. So, I had a choice to make; will the bible be the authority on which I believe or will I trust in my traditions. Hang on, my point is coming. This mindset changes things. I don’t just believe something because my pastor says it, I read it in a book, or a friend feels strongly in a certain direction. We must do as the Bereans did (Acts 17:11). The bible does not always directly address an issue, but never the less; it is to be the only belief system of the church. Back to the original question; what affects have tradition had on the body of Christ? Have we missed something because of our traditions? Here are some questions to think about. I would love to have your thoughts or comments. Please let me know what you think. Nothing will be replied to negatively. First let me just say that Christ is the head of the church and the bible is totally infallible. Now we can view these questions. Should churches be elder led or led by the congregation? Is there a difference between pastors and elders (overseers)? Who should have the final say in spiritual matters of the church? What is the role of the Deacon? Is it a biblical requirement for churches to meet once a week? Are small group meetings biblical? Can a woman pastor a church and be biblical? These are all church structure questions. Here are a few doctrinal questions. Does man have a free-from-god will? Can you lose your salvation? What is the importance of Jesus’ blood? Did Christ descend into hell and what did he do there if he did? Did Christ come to save all or some? Is the future predetermined? What does “election” mean? Does the “gift” in Ephesians 2:8 refer to faith, grace, salvation, or all three or any combination of two? Many of us know what we believe, we just don’t know why? This is the aim of this morning’s devotional. To get you to examine why you believe what you believe. This is a lot to think about at one time and way too much to discuss or answer on this short devotion page. But the awesome thing is that you have all the answers if you will just open up the bible and search for them. Never once, did any of the apostles say believe without a reason. In fact we are to be ready to give an account for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15). May I remind you that the bible was written to ordinary folks just like you and me. Some things may be hard to grasp or may require a lot of study, but who said deep truths are found in shallow water. Be good Bereans. Don’t just take my word for it. Look it up. What you find may surprise you! Put your traditions to the test and see if they pass or fail. Pray for the lord to open your heart to His truth and leave your preconceived notions behind. It is an amazing thing to read scripture with this attitude. It will shake the very foundations of your life. Josh Martin

Everlasting Father

Everlasting Father Our finite minds cannot comprehend the word everlasting. We live in a world where everything comes to an end. Days, minutes, roads, paychecks, mortal life, careers, seasons, chores, and the list could go on for days but even this list would eventually come to an end. Words like everlasting and forever are words that have a simple meaning (never ending) but a complex working out. None of us can fathom forever. There many places in the bible that mention forever and everlasting but they always refer to the work and presence of God. No mortal man will do anything forever. All mortals die. But those who have trusted in Christ for salvation will be able to experience forever. God made an everlasting covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:16). Nebuchadnezzar declared that the kingdom of God is an everlasting kingdom (Dan. 4:3). Isaiah prophesied of the coming of the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). These are all declarations of how great our God is and the fact that He alone can fulfill each of these is a credit to His glory. Even God’s steadfast love will endure forever (Psalm 100:5). His will abides forever (1 John 2:17). His word remains forever (1 Peter 1:25). What I am trying to say is that our God is incredible! God is wholly perfect and completely holy. That will never change because he never changes (Hebrews 13:8). Only God can fulfill his everlasting promises. It is such a comfort to know that our loving Father is an everlasting father. He will never come to an end. He created everything and will see to it that His will is fulfilled in everything. Nothing will ever disrupt or frustrate His everlasting plans. They are as good as done. This is the truth that we must fall on in times of pain and hopelessness. God is everlasting and will always fulfill all that he intends to fulfill. His word is as steadfast as his love. His ultimate will is a sure thing. He alone is the everlasting one. Those who have trusted Christ as savior will endure forever. We have nothing stable without him. Our heart and flesh may fail but God is the strength of our heart and our portion forever (Psalm 73:25,26). Everlasting is an unfathomable truth. Praise the lord of eternal things!

BEHOLD, YOUR GOD!!!

“Behold your God!” Psalm 113:5—Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, Psalm 46:10—Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 73:25,26—Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my hear may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Isaiah 40:9—Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news, lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” “Behold your God!” How awesome is that! The great end to the Christian life is God and we should behold Him in profound ways because he is incredibly profound! For centuries people have been taken aback by His ever-present Glory. Steven Curtis Chapman once wrote: “I am speechless, I’m astonished and amazed I am silenced by your wondrous grace You have saved me, You have raised me from the grave I am speechless in your presence now, I’m astounded as I consider how, You have shown us a love that leaves us Speechless” I love the book of Psalms. There are many reasons but the main reason is because as a songwriter, I tend to get a little more out of songs than most people. But I have found that the prophet Isaiah has spoken some of the strongest words to my heart. “lift it up, fear not:….. ‘Behold you God’”. Isaiah refers to Zion and Jerusalem as “herald of good news”. These words are followed by “behold your God”. The good news is referring to the gospel. Why is the gospel such good news? There is no greater gain in life than Christ. The psalmist asked who is like our God? The answer: no one. Nobody is like our God. That is what puts the “good” in “good news”. There are a lot of benefits of belonging to Christ such as going to heaven, an abundant life, forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, peace that passes understanding, refuge in stormy weather, Godly love, etc… The list goes on and on. But all of these benefits are screaming “BEHOLD YOUR GOD!” There is nothing wrong with finding joy in these things. In fact it is right to find joy in these things. But the key word is “in” these things. In the very center of all things is Christ. (Romans 11:36) That is where you find your joy. I am excited about going to heaven but not because of streets of gold, pearly gates or loved ones that I long to see. Those things will be great but only because God is awesome! Our excitement about heaven should be in being with our father in all of His glory! I love the truth of being forgiven of sin, but not because it rids me of a guilty conscience. I love this truth because it means being restored to God and enjoying Him. It is a very dangerous thing when we begin to love the gifts more than the giver. There was a poor man who once had the invitation to come and fly in a small airplane free of charge. Opportunities like this were not offered everyday so he accepted the invitation with great joy. As he arrived at the airport he was instructed to board the small six-passenger plane. Once inside the pilot fired up the engines and they were off. The poor man was so fascinated by the cockpit that he couldn’t help himself. He read all of the switches and gauges and was quite impressed with all that made this airplane operate. He loved the airplane and began to envision himself never getting out of the plane. But much to his dismay the plane landed and the ride was over. “This is a really nice plane!” he said to the pilot. “Thanks, but how did you like the Grand Canyon?” He responded, “the grand what?” This is a picture of many of us. We get so caught up in the plane that we miss the glorious Grand Canyon. I plead with you to not get caught up in the things that God provides. Get caught up with who He is. Be still and know that he is God. Josh Martin

Who I am Now

Who I am Now 2 Corinthians 5:17----Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. (NIV) What exactly is this new creation inside of me? Where did it come from and how did it happen? Is there more to my salvation experience than a prayer? Of course there is! Something supernatural has happened in the life of each Christian. And what is really sad is that many times we are not even taught who we are in Christ. Galatians 2:20---I have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives within me. (NIV) Romans 6:6---For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin---because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (NIV) When the finished work of the cross is applied to our life we must realize something. Part of the finished work was our own death. We were crucified also. Not our physical bodies obviously, but our old man. The sinful spirit within us did not just die on it’s own, it was crucified! Supernatural movement was made to send the old spirit to the cross and there be crucified. This is where our new creation comes into play. You see, Christ does not change us, he ex-changes us. Paul wrote that he no longer lives but that Christ lives within him. This is the new spirit. It is a spirit of love and it is Jesus Christ himself! Your old spirit (the one that was directing your soul straight to hell) has been crucified and a new spirit has come! Praise the Lord!!! This is part of the Gospel that doesn’t always make the Sunday sermon. Your full Christian potential is already inside of you. You can do nothing more to attain more of it. It is already there and sealed with the blood of Jesus. We must allow that new spirit to come forth in our lives. He is there and he is real! No one can take that from you. You are no longer the same. Study the word. Receive revelations. Pray. Talk to God but listen also. You were given two ears and one mouth. No matter what situations arise or how tough life gets, if the new spirit comes forth, Christ will be glorified. To him be all glory, praise and thanksgiving. Will you be the avenue for the new spirit to come forth?

Hello from St. Thomas!

Well I am posting this blog from the Island of St. Thomas! The weather is perfect here. We just got off the boat a little while ago and of course as soon as we got off, we are bombarded by the taxi drivers wanting to take us around on a tour. No just isn't a good answer for these guys lol. So far everything has been pretty good. New York City was very rainy and COLD!, but still the scenery was overwhelming compared to Lexington. Once we left port and got out into the ocean the wind was pretty strong at a little over 70 mph at times. There were a few glasses rocked off the tables at dinner and my wife and father in law got a little sick. It's quite funny to watch the people trying to walk straight though. When we awoke the next morning everything was calm and hot! We spent two days at sea before arriving at San Juan where we took a tour with taxi driver Frank who was quite a character! We then left port at midnight and headed over here to St. Thomas which brings me to now. As I said in my last post the views are just incredible and it is amazing to think that it was done in only six days, just imagine if he would have taken two weeks!!!!!! Anyhow, I am sitting in this little internet shop where they charge by the minute, so my time is limited. I can't say I am very anxious to get back, but I am looking forward seeing everyone and getting back with the guys and jamming again. We will hit the island of Tortola tomorrow and then two days back at sea to New York and then home. Oh by the way, we did meet one of the musicians on the boat who just happens to be from Belleview, KY which is nothern KY, only about an hour from my house. I found it pretty interesting and nice to talk to someone with the same accent. Ericcia has just informed me that I am running out of time, so until next time. God Bless!! Kelly

Is it time yet?

I'm not sure about the rest of the guys, but my time spent between gigs usually involves anxiously awaiting the next gig. Sure, there's this whole "life" thing I got going on, but nothing beats being on stage, hitting things and making noise, all for God. We had a really busy September, but October & November are a little slower with only a few gigs on the schedule. I think we're taking December off, but we'll be back at it again come 2006. I'm also looking forward to our next studio project. We've started making plans, but I can't tell you too much right now. We gotta keep you guessing. We've tossed around a few ideas for the next album - rock opera? Acapella punk music? Songs of the Romantic era performed with rock band instrumentation and Christian lyrics? We can't make up our minds. Over and out... - Andrew

The Plan

Alright alright- Check this out. I was editing my profile and it propositioned me with this situation: "You're trapped in a well with a goat and a slinky. Describe how you will escape." Well, I got really pumped and started a massive brainstorming session that ended with one of my best plans ever. But, as I wrote it out it seemed that I had a few too many words and it wouldn't allow me to post it. SOOOO.... Here is my plan- unrated, uncut, and unbowdlerized. "Ok... First off I would give the goat a proper name. If he is going to be helping me in my escape it would benefit me to be able to call him by name. I believe that the best possible name for this goat would be Constantine. Our next task would be to stretch out the slinky. I am positive that no well in this universe is deeper than the length of that coil of metal and fun. After that I would train Constantine to throw my body as far as he could and with enough practice he would be able to get me over the top. Next, Constantine would help me tie the stretched out slinky around my waste and then proceed to hurl me over the top. Using my weight as leverage, Constantine could then easily climb up the slinky and meet me on solid ground. Our final task would involve me to mounting my faithful steed and cohort and riding off into the brave new world." Thank you for all of your time and imagination as you read my plan and visualized it in your mind's eye. Now, on a more serious note- I got back just a short while ago from two college visits. I spent a few hours this morning at the University of Louisville and then sped over to Boyce Bible College. I could definitely feel God working through these meetings and I happy to say that God is slowly revealing his will for my life more each day. At this moment I hesitate to make any big statements about my plans for college because decisions such as these deserve much more prayer and thought but I will keep you all updated as time travels on.

The Hatred of Sound Teaching

The Hatred of Sound Teaching 2 Timothy 4:3-4---For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. Who are these people that Paul is talking about? Is he talking about the world or professing Christians? Although there are arguments for both sides, I believe he is talking about professing Christians. J. I. Packer once said that God honors the needle of truth in the haystack of lies. By that, I believe, that he means Christians can have bad theology and still be a Christian. I know this personally. There was a time in my Christian life when I rejected the truths of scripture, believed and taught doctrines with no scriptural base, and was still a Christian. The blood of Jesus set me free and gave me life. But my thinking and reasoning was determined by my pride and not by scripture. Can you think of any myths that you believe that the church has bought into? Can you think of any myths that you have bought into? I cannot stress the importance of bible study and prayer. You will not know what’s in your bible unless you study your bible. If you are a Christian, the bible is what you believe. I have discussed doctrinal issues with many people who disagree with the bible yet believe they do not. They give a defense of their beliefs that are based upon opinion and human reasoning, not biblical reasoning. They have not scripture to back up what they believe, and the scripture they do know, is taken out of context. We do not make God. He makes us. God is God and we are not. Secondly, the Holy Spirit must reveal the meaning of Scripture to you. You can’t get it on your own. No matter how much you study and memorize, revelation must take place for you to gain the knowledge of the truth. (Proverbs 2:1-6,Matthew 16:15-17). Some of the myths are things such as losing your salvation, universalism (everybody goes to heaven), the sovereignty of man (total free from God will), modernism, post-modernism, truth is perception, no truth is absolute, there are exceptions for everything. The list goes on and on. People who love these teachings hate scripture or are totally ignorant of it. When the deep truths that I once opposed where revealed to me, my initial response was to twist scripture to fit my beliefs. There is nothing worse than to make a God out of your beliefs. Guard your heart. Be good Bereans. Study your bible and pray for God to teach you. Do not base your faith on opinions or reasoning that will not match up with scripture. The knowledge of God is unsearchable. (Romans 11:33) You will never understand everything about God or his ways. But that truth is not meant to stop us from seeking or studying. Psalm 119:105 stands true. “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” You will not see any truth about God that is not found in Scripture. I urge you to search your beliefs and reckon them with scripture. Remember, the bible is one book with many truths. Scripture does not contradict itself. It all fits together and says the same thing. Do not hate sound teaching. Instead, repent of your pride and fall on the grace of God. I did not make it No it is making me It is the very truth of God Not the invention of any man—Rich Mullins Josh Martin

Vacation has arrived!!!!!

My wife and I have only hours before we are waking up to head to the airport to fly to New York City and get on the cruise boat. Our plane is leaving Lexington at 7:40am on Wednesday morning, please keep us and my in-laws in your prayers as we embark on our journey. This will be my third cruise in the last six years and I must say that I am amazed each time we set off into the ocean, then I realize that the picturesk sunrise and sunsets over the sea do not even compare to the beauty that is waiting for us in heaven. However, I am reminded of the sermon Josh gave this past Sunday at my church when he spoke of not even noticing the streets of gold and the walls of jasper due to the fact that the presence of our Lord will outshine it all. What a feeling that is going to be! I pray that everyone is doing well and I will miss being at home.......well, maybe not, but I will at least think of you while I'm laid out on the deck and eating all that food!!!! If at all possible, I will try to give an update while I'm gone. Until then, God bless and take care. Kelly

Fall Break

Here I go again on my own... walking down the only road I've ever known... like a drifter, I was born to walk alone... well you know the rest. So I'm back- it took me a little while to figure out how to post another blog (I'm not exactly what you would call "computer savvy") but I will try to remember what I did so next time it won't take so long. Well, I am currently sitting at home because school is out for FALL BREAK which is quite possibly one of the best ideas to ever hit the department of education since recess. I have got a couple different college visits lined up for this week (Georgetown college tomorrow, Boyce and Louisville on Thursday). I am really pumped about getting out of high school and going to college... but I am not excited in the least bit about filling out applications and scholarship papers. I want to stick around pretty close to home (Frankfort) during my college years because I don't want to give up my home church (Buck Run Baptist) or musical groups (such as The Josh Martin Band) so that has narrowed down my search quite a bit. I would love to study church music and then go to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and study to become a music minister- I really feel that God is leading me in that direction (I'm just not sure where He wants me to start!). Oh, since my last post The Josh Martin Band lead worship at the first ever Crossings for Kids at Cedarmore. (Actually I suppose the first ever was the previous weekend at Jonathan Creek but this was the first to take place in my neck of the woods). It was a really awesome experience and it is always amazing to see God working in the hearts of younger children. Well, that's all I have at the moment. Go sign up for the message boards and post stuff!!!

Where your treasure is

Where Your Treasure Is Matthew 6:19-21—Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. 20Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. 21Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. (NLT) I believe that no other verses in the bible will bring a man to examine himself more than these particular verses. This small passage of scripture crashes on our soul like the waves of a hurricane, consuming every aspect of our life and if taken to heart, will allow Christ to cleanse us from our own selfish desires. Where is your treasure? With whom or what do we spend countless hours? If we take a look at the words and actions of Jesus, we find one common denominator and are able to see the treasure of His life. Everything that Jesus did or said portrayed His love for the Father. The Father was Jesus’ treasure and his heart remained with the Father. Jesus was not looking for approval in the eyes of man nor was he looking to astonish them. He simply loved His father and because of His love for Him, He loved us. If you remember, the Sadducees and the Pharisees questioned Jesus about which commandment was the greatest. Jesus replied “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” Jesus was not in love with serving the Father. Jesus was not in love with the attention that followed Him as He served the Father. He simply was in love with the Father. It is not our responsibility to determine the treasures of others but to only decipher our own. Only one thing will last throughout eternity. Will this be your treasure or will your treasure fade and rust away with time? Take a look at your heart and what it stands for. Where are your thoughts? There is your treasure. It’s that simple. No amount of reasoning can change that. This morning as you pray, give God praise for who He is, not just for what He does. Ask the Lord to help you determine what the treasure of your life is right now. By the way, this is an everyday battle. You will fight this the rest of your life. Pray for strength and discernment. Today God wants to be glorified in you and in all you do. If He is your treasure, His glory will flow from you like streams of living water. God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him—John Piper Josh Martin

Wednesday Devos

6 months later…………(finishing strong) As I sit here at my computer and type these words, several people come to mind. The people that I am thinking about are folks that I haven’t seen in a while. They are all folks who I have seen make professions of faith, join the church, and then leave the church. I am ashamed to say that where they are now, I do not know. They may be attending another church, have moved away, or possibly just stopped coming. What can we make of these situations? What can be said of those who were burning for Christ, and then their flame simply seemed to die? Before I go any further we must understand something. I am not being judgmental. I do not presume to know the condition of any one person’s heart but it is my desire to share scripture and thoughts right now so that God may enable you to finish strong. 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24—Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Only those who finish strong are true believers, and only true believers finish strong. This statement is made for us to examine ourselves, not others. Do you notice how everything, in the act of keeping us blameless is done by God? God sanctifies. God keeps us blameless. God calls. God surely does it. Surely. God is the worker of our assurance. Do you remember Fannie J. Crosby’s hymn? Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine O what a foretaste of glory divine Heir of salvation, Purchase of God Born of His spirit, Washed in His blood To be purchased by God means that the cross effected your salvation. Effected, not affected. Effect is the result. Affect means it did something to it. Effect means it did it. Paul says that God will keep us blameless to the day of Christ’s return. He keeps us! Now, obviously, Christians sin. I sin all the time. So what keeps us blameless if we are worthy of the blame? The Answer-the blood of Jesus! If he calls us, he is faithful to keep us. The bible does not speak of a hypothetical bride or church. The assurance of Christ having a bride is in the assurance that God is faithful to keep us. “He will surely do it”. So what does this mean to us? It means this—if you are a true believer, Christ will keep you. He may allow you to wander off and resist him for a while, but you are His and if you are a true believer, your resistance will be overcome by His grace and you will return just as the prodigal son. The story of the prodigal son is as much about you coming home, because you are His, as it is coming home because you are in need. God is Love! He is faithful! He will surely do it! Josh Martin

Feeling left out!

Greetings everyone! From looking at all the blogs posted as well as some of the messages on the board, it seems I missed out this past weekend. I would however like to thank Danny Hughes (Derek's dad) for filling in for me. From the sounds of it, I missed some great fellowship and fun. Your probably not wondering why I wasn't there, but I will tell you anyway. Working as a mail man means that I have to work on Saturdays which puts a damper on a lot of things for me, but Ericcia won't let me quit. :) I had scheduled an evening with the youth leader at my home church Conerstone Christian, Brandon Hadley. We set off on a little road trip and got lost for a little bit in Cincinnati. However, all turned out good and we had some great fellowship over the course of the evening. We had a chance to just kindof talk freely to each other about our faith and situations that occur in life that can test your faith. He turned me on to a pretty cool website and television show that really lays it all out for help in sharing your faith at www.wayofthemaster.com , check it out! I also got involved in a softball tournament with the post office on Sunday afternoon, well lets say I was there for moral support cause I absolutely stink at softball!!! We did have a great time though and raised some money for the MDA and the Postal Employees Relief Fund and our office brought home the trophy for the 2nd year in a row. So anyhow, I definitely look forward to JMB making another trip to VU. God Bless everyone and I only have 16 days until the cruise!!!!! later Kelly

VU Retreat

Hey y'all (I've started saying that for some reason... maybe since we're playing in other states and I need to stay true to my Kentucky roots). I had a great, great time at the retreat this weekend. I didn't want to leave. I enjoyed meeting and hanging out with a great group of students & leaders. Hopefully, we'll get to go back to VU sometime soon. I'm blessed to be a part of this band to have experiences & opportunities like this weekend. VU students - if any of you have pictures you'd like to send, send us an email through the website. We'd love to see them! More blogging to come... including the busiest gas station ever. For now, I'm exhausted! Later... - Andrew

Fall Retreat

Hey- Derek here with my first blog post... ever. Pretty exciting! Well anyway, i got home last night (actually i guess i should say this morning) at 3:30 am from Flora, Illinois. We led worship at Vincennes University's Campus Ministry fall retreat and it was truly an awesome experience. It was so much fun meeting a lot of new people, hanging out, and playing knock-out. I had to come home a day early in order to play at my church this morning but Josh and Andrew stayed and played for one more worship service (they should be on their way home right now). Oh, our new worship CD came in a few days ago and I am so excited to be a part of it. Be sure to check it out next time you see us in concert. It makes me even more pumped about our next studio album- it's going to rock your face off! Until next time...

The Josh Martin Band Alive 2005

I am sooooo excited about our new worship cd that we recorded live in may. I recieved them today and those of you who pre-ordered should get yours in the next 7 days. God is so awesome!! He continues to bless us and bring encouragement just when we need it. Although we have just now recieved our new live cd, we will hit the studio again in the next couple of months for our next studio project. God has really taught me a lot in the past several months and my songwriting is reflecting those things that he has revealed. We thank you guys for checking out our site and supporting us. Be sure to check out the message board and let us know what you guys are thinking. I am starting a topic on songwriting where folks can post any helpful hints and/or suggestions that would help us songwriters to write the truth. I am also going to start posting a weekly devotion right here on the blog. Check for it on Wednesday. Take care and God bless. Josh Martin

trying this out

Just trying out the blog stuff. Hello anyway! Josh

Countdown to Vacation

As summer draws to a close, I am anxiously awaiting October 12th! My wife (Ericcia), my in-laws, and myself are embarking on an eight-day cruise! This will be my third cruise over the past six years and we are going to be celebrating our 2nd anniversary. Those of you that have not been on a cruise, NEED TO TAKE ONE!, two dollars a day can get you a vacation of a lifetime! There is my free plug for Carnival Cruise Lines. All the JMB guys are excited about the upcoming release of our new Live praise and worship CD. Things are starting to pull together on the mixing and mastering and it is sounding great! Keep your eyes open on our website for all the latest details. Until next time......

Great Weekend

We had a great couple of gigs this weekend. Saturday, we had the pleasure of leading worship and giving a concert for the youth from Capital Church of the Nazarene. The group was on a weekend retreat to Camp Covenant in Bald Knob, KY. They were a great group of kids. I'm kind of partial - that's my parents' home church. Howard Wilson is helping lead that church in a great direction, and he knows that building a solid youth program is a fundamental element to a healthy church. (Sorry Howard - God hasn't lead me away from Crestwood yet!) Josh broke a string, shortly after saying he never breaks strings. Ha! Bert wasn't able to join us. Derek & Kelly were on fire, despite not even being able to see their instruments! "Billy Graham" is our closest attempt at being a jam band with the introductions and extended solos. It's becoming a crowd favorite. Sunday, we played at Pleasureville United Methodist. A bit of an older crowd (compared to the youth group from Saturday night), but they seemed to like us. No broken strings for Josh this time. Bert decided to show up for this gig (I'm kidding, Bert!). A couple of new songs, "Learning More Everyday," and "Wrap Me In Your Cross" are starting to develop nicely. "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" is also becoming a favorite of the band. Look for other members of the band to start posting on the blog soon - including devotionals from Josh. Take care and God bless! - Andrew

2005-08-31 Update

We had a good time in Cynthiana this past weekend, playing an event for Cornerstone Christian Church. We played a couple of new tunes, and realized we probably should've rehearsed some of the older songs! We were also shaking off some of the rust from not playing live in a long while. There's several dates scheduled for September, so it shouldn't take too long to get back in the groove. Keep an eye on the blog over the next few weeks. We're going to start posting gig pictures, devotionals and more. Adios...

Welcome to the JMB blog!

Hey everyone, what's up? Welcome to the new blog of the Josh Martin Band. The members of the band will post here from time to time to let everyone know what's going on with the band. Be sure to check out our new website! Adios...