The DVD Is Finished

The DVD is finished and it's good. It also comes with a copy of the audio cd, a plus. So, for $15 you can get a DVD of the live concert and a cd to play in your car (or home stereo). I thought I'd post on here since there has been very little activity in months- life is busy for everybody. Speaking of busy lives... Kelly and Erricia had their baby, Haylee Niccole, on November 14! Pretty exciting for the whole Josh Martin Band family. You can check out Kelly's blog for some picture and a video. Other than that, not a lot has been going on. If anyone else ever posts anything on here, they may have more news, but I'm out.

DVD is ready.....almost!

We should have our new DVD ready for our Ninevah trip next weekend. It will be the first time we will have had it out for people to get and we are excited about it. We will have it in the store shortly. Just thought you might want to know.

Music: The Handmaiden of Theology

Back during the middle ages there where a couple of sayings that have really struck a chord (musical pun intended) with me. The first is this one: "Theology is the queen of the sciences and music is her handmaiden". The second is "Theology is the queen of the sciences and philosophy is her handmaiden". Music I believe can be a shared handmaiden. Music is a means of expression, not the end of expression. Music expresses how we feel or think. It is nothing apart from the passion that drives it. You may say, "what about jazz music? Some of it doesn't even have words!" Though it may lack words, it does not lack passion. And it is driven by something...some passion. So what drives the music that I write? Who does this "handmaiden" serve? I try to write music that is theologically informed. It is my desire for music to be the handmaiden of theology. I want the words I put together and the music that we play to serve as an avenue for biblical and systematic theologies. The term "theology" comes from two greek words. "Theos" means "God". And "logos" means "word" or "study". Hence, "Theology". So theology means a "word of God" or "studying God". It really bothers me when I hear people, pastors in particular, say that we don't need theology. Do you really believe that we do not need to know more about God? That is what I want my music to do, give you words of God. I want it to give you things to worship him about. Things praise him about. I want my music to stir you to love him. You can't love what you do not know. Philosophy has gotten my attention as of late. It is really interesting to me to see why people think the way they do. Where have the cliches and thoughts that fill our society come from? You may not know it, but most of them have come from philosophers. There are big name philosophers like Kant, Hume, Aristotle, Marx and so forth. But there are other philosophers that have taken music as a handmaiden. Bob Dylan and John Denver are two good examples. Their philosophies about life and how we live it permeated their music. I want this to be true of mine. I don't necessarily agree with all of their assessments but they realized one of the greatest avenues for thought-provoking discussion--Music. With all of this said, my style of writing is changing slightly. The content will be the same, The Gospel. But it will be more finely tuned. I am trying to write about how the Gospel affects how we live, think, and act. From the reality of our sins to how we view education and social issues. The gospel is offensive and beautiful at the same time. It won't let us stay the way we are and it will constantly be reminding us that we don't have everything figured out. So here is the first line of a new song and it speaks my fears and hopes for each concert "I've come to talk about your heart, I've come to talk about our sin, Knowing that if I do, You may not invite me again" God bless you, Josh

Back in the Habit

It has been a long time since we guys have gotten together to practice and play because we have taken most of the summer off. But our fall schedule is beginning to thicken and I have gotten two calls for bookings this week. We will be getting together to practice some new stuff and old stuff (if we can remember how they go). Just a little update. Things are picking back up again for the fall. Later.

Hoodwinked!

Bert has threatened to take away my summer job if I don't give up this battle. Since Bert is the camp director at Cedarmore, where I'll be working this summer, I'd be wise to listen to his friendly warnings before things get too serious. So, here it is Bert: I surrender. I had a pretty good run for a few weeks with just a few minor problems. I'm quite proud of myself! Thanks for keeping up with my escapades for this long and I hope this means that the rest of the band will start to blog again. See ya around.

I've Escaped

I've escaped from Josh's clutches! It wasn't very easy, in fact is was quite difficult. I had to wait until he was asleep, pick a few locks, call in a few favors, learn a second language over the past two days, and change my middle name, but it worked. I'm free! I'm back at the home base now waiting for the rest of JMB to attack- I'm ready for them. If anyone still wants to offer their assistance, I'd be more than happy to take it. We could use man-power, money, ammunition, and a few good cooks. If you're interested just give me a call at 1-800- HELPDPH... Oh yeah, I changed my middle name to Patrick.

Captured!

I've been captured by the enemy! Josh Martin has got me locked up in his Spurgeon room at his house- I've been here for the past few days. I still have some troops back at the base so JMB can't just waltz in... yet. I got away just a few moments to write this post but it's got to be short or else Josh will realize I'm gone. If I can stick around just long enough to gain some key information on their attack, this kidnapping will be worth it. I'll just play the waiting game and soon... Oh man! He's back and coming downstairs- don't forget me!

Day 9

Today has been an invigorating day- I feel like I could take on the world right now. I don't even think I'm going to need those extra troops that I previously blogged about, which is a pretty good thing. You see, my auxiliary troops have umm, how should I say this... left my side. It seems that while the situation was nice and safe, they were willing to lay down their lives but as soon as the real threat of war set in, they ran. Perhaps I should have listened to my good friend Mr. Machiavelli and used only native soldiers. Oh well.

Day 8

I'm surrounded- I'm not sure how much longer I can hold these guys off. Andrew and Kelly have both already infiltrated my seemingly impenetrable barricade and now Josh and Bert are both threatening to strike. I thought I could handle their attack, but now I'm not quite sure. I guess I can rest in the fact that if I go down, I'll go down in a blaze of glory. I haven't given up, I'm just preparing myself for the worst- defeat by the rest of JMB. So, on that note, I'll leave you now with some words of wisdome from The Band: "All good things must end. Like three heroes in a story, let's go out like we came in- in a blaze of glory." Until tomorrow...

Days 6 and 7

Sorry about no update from yesterday's battles. It was a pretty busy day. Josh called to give me some pretty lengthy threats- I expect his initial attack any minute now. Am I worried? Not a bit. To quote the great Stonewall Jackson once said, "Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave." I've been pretty busy trying to balance this war with my finals; but, I just finished my one test for the day and I should be free to gaurd my blog. Keep checking for updates.

Day 5

I can't believe this! I was told that we would have a truce for Sunday's since everyone should be spending time at church and with their families. But, it seems that the drummer has decided to pop in his head and do some posting around here. Things are getting pretty serious- my fortress has already been penetrated by Andrew and Kelly so the only two left are Josh and Bert. I have a feeling that Josh will try to post any day now. I haven't seen or heard from Bert so far throughout the war... maybe he's planning an air attack...? I'm not sure how much longer I can hold 'em back guys. This war may be coming to an end and I may not be victorious. Remember me.

The Drummer Checks In

Well, well, well. I don't post here for a while, and it seems Derek's trying to take over the place. Not so fast! As he mentioned earlier - yes, I have my own blog, and I've been fairly busy with my full-time and part-time jobs lately. So, I'll give my best attempt to update our faithful fans with what I've been doing. For JMB, I've worked on the first mix of our live DVD (and CD?) recording. After gathering some input from the band, I'm now moving into the editing stage and mix #2. Since I operate a recording business on the side, I've yet to be able to do this due to other concerts and projects I've been working on (sorry guys!). I should be able to start mix #2 this week. My job as a graphic artist is keeping me busy, as well. It's our busy time of the year, and I've taken on more responsibility lately. The good thing is, it makes the day go by fast. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to meet the keyboard player from MercyMe, Jim Bryson. I do work for a lady that went to high school with him, and she was able to introduce him to me before their concert at Rupp Arena. Not only did I get to meet him, but he also took my roommate and me on stage to check out his setup. While on stage, I also checked out the drums (of course). Jim's a super nice guy. Hopefully, I'll get the meet the rest of the guys the next time they come close. So... there you go. That's what's been going on with the drummer. How 'bout the rest of the band (besides Kelly, who already posted). Down with the revolution! - Andrew

Day 4

I just got word of an ambush that is supposed to happen some time later tonight. If the rest of JMB thinks they can out-smart me, well... they're wrong. We just received another truckload of ammunition and rations that should last us a few more weeks. Did you hear that guys? Weeks! Do you feel like giving up yet? I'll tell ya, if you can't stand the heat... get out of my kitchen. I got a nice casserole in the oven- a casserole of extreme pain and humiliation. I also got some nice sides simmering on the stove- tasty defeat and some delicious, buttered anguish.

Day 3

Today has gone rather swimmingly. You may have noticed that ol' Josh got in to comment on a previous post but I'm not threatened at all. It's not like he broke my barrier, he merely threw in a comment, almost like making a phone call into the blog, or sending a letter. His comment is not his presence and I will not be defeated. I'm still keeping a close eye on this blog and no one has tried to get by me today... still scared I suppose. However, the moment they do try to enter, I have an entire army to help me. Some fellow bloggers out there have discovered my little situation over here and have promised their support in my time of need. These are some serious bloggers and I'm glad to have them on my side. Viva la revolucion!

Day 2

Today is going better than yesterday, so far no one has broken through the gate. I've decided to leave my post at the gate and instead hide in a nearby trench that I've prepared for the occasion. Hopefully my absense will lure in my opponents and I will be ready with a sneak attack as they approach. On a slightly happier note, this is one comfortable trench. I've got some nice pillows and blankets down here, as well as a generator and a tv. Hey, it's going to be a long day, I need someway to pass the time. If I can just stay alert I should be able to fight off any attacks they may have. My only hope for winning this war is if they attempt to enter one at a time- if they band together, there's no way I can fight them all off. As of right now, it doesn't seem as if they are conspiring against me. I'll keep you updated. Stay the course.

Drats

It seems that Kelly noticed I was away at church and snuck in to do some posting. I'll have to be more careful from now on. I guess his "cruise" was just a decoy to lead me into a false sense of security. Tomorrow, I will be victorious. It's ok a lose a small battle (or in this case a short battle) but when all is said and done, this war (and blog) will be mine.

What yonder lurks?

Well it had actually been a while since I had even looked on here. I happened upon D's challenge to the other band members and since I'm not on a cruise at this moment (as much as I would love to be) I thought I would give a little fight here. As a thirty-one year old married mailman/musician...not much goes on in my day to day life. I had a conversation with Josh the other day about his new blog and he suggested that I should start one of my own. Trust me......there's not much to know. I will admit....I am probably the most boring member of The Josh Martin Band. However if I were to start a blog this is pretty much how it would go: Got out of bed this morning.....Thank you Lord! Went to work at the Post Office today......Thank you Lord? Spent most of the day trying to out run dogs...... Delivered some mail in the process...... Went home from work......Thank you Lord!!!! Kissed the wife.......Thank you Lord!!!!!!! Decided to eat cereal instead of a real meal again..... Spent some time reading the Word.......THANK YOU LORD!!!!!!!!! Hit the couch for Deal or No Deal or whatever reality show is on...... Fell Asleep on the couch not too long after sitting down...Thank you Lord! Hit the bed........Thank you Lord!!!!! and........... .......... .......... REPEAT Wow......as I look at that....it is pretty depressing....maybe I should challenge myself to shake it up a little. But not tonight.....there is a good show coming on and I need to get off of here and find the couch. God Bless!!!!!! Kelly

Day 1

Whew, that was a close call. For a second I thought that my opponents had somehow locked me out of the blog... I was just putting in the wrong username- no biggie. Day 1 has gone rather smoothly, as I suspected. I've set up camp near the gate since that's the most vulnerable section- the high walls and barbed wire make it pretty impossible to get in anywhere else. So far, no one has opposed me but I expected that to change as the word gets out and my opponents realize what I've done with their blog. The way I see it, I only have to worry about a few of them and the rest will fall right into place. Doug is already out of the way since he's not a contributor to this blog so that means I've got Josh, Andrew, Kelly, and Bert still on my radar. Andrew has his own blog, so he may not put up much of a fight at first. He's also been pretty busy with work so that should keep him fairly distracted. Kelly, it seems, is always on a cruise- no big stuggle there. Josh just started a new blog, a new job a few months ago, and he's usually busy with church matters. He's a big guy, but I think I can take him when the time comes. But that still leaves Bert. Bert's the sneaky one (I'm sure you all remember our little KGBme incident last year). If anyone is going to give me problems, it's Bert. I'll have to be on my toes for this one. Over and out.

New World Order

Alright, this is now my blog. If the rest of the band is just going to abandon it then I'm going to take over. What exactly does this mean? Who knows? But, I'm declaring war on the other contributors to this blog. If they want to keep a part of it for themselves then they're going to have to fight me for it. It's a New World Order baby, and I'm not giving up without a fight. Sounds a little excessive? Maybe so, but you gotta fight for what you believe in.

Viva la revolucion!

Still Breathing

Hey guys, it's been a little quiet on here since the DVD and I'm here to reassure you that we're still alive. The DVD process is going well and we're trying to work out all of the audio issues. I think JMB is going to try and get together within the next few weeks to finish it up and take a look at the video and perhaps record some extra footage (maybe some interviews?). On another note- where is everyone? I've had the last 3 posts on this blog, and this isn't even my primary blog. Has the rest of the band abandoned the blog? Come on guys! Blog!

Thanks

I wanted to take this time to say thanks to all of you who came to our concert on Saturday- it was such a fun night. As I type this I'm listening to the first mix of the audio recording and I can already tell that this project is going to turn out great. Keep your eyes on the website for a release date and come see us at our upcoming gigs. I can't wait to see you there!

The Big Day

Well, that time is upon us. We've been anticipating and preparing for this moment since the beginning of the year and it's finally here. Tomorrow is the big day for our DVD recording. (7 PM at Cedarmore). I just wanted to throw out one more invite while I had the chance. Chances are, if you're at this blog, then you got here through our website- but if you haven't seen the website in the past few days, go check it out! (7 PM at Cedarmore). Andrew's got directions on there coming from all directions so no one has any excuse for getting lost. We're all extremely excited about this opportunity... a little freaked out, but still very excited. (7 PM at Cedarmore) We've got one final dress rehearsal tonight where we will work out all of the non-music stuff (lights, words on screens) and try to mesh it together with the music stuff. Sure, it'll be a late, hectic night, but when we're done we will be completely prepared for the real deal on Saturday. (7 PM at Cedarmore) Ok, so probably not completely prepared... but can anyone really be completely prepared for anything? Anyway, it's going to be a great night of worship and hopefully a great night of music. We're still going to give away an iPod (8 gig nano, I'm pretty sure... don't know about color) so come one come all. I can't wait to see you. (7 PM at Cedarmore) Oh, and I almost forgot- the concert is at 7:00 PM at Cedarmore.

Youth Ministry?

A man whom I highly respect has recently spoken out against youth ministry as a ministry within the local church. He is in favor of family ministries as opposed to segregation of those families into different groups. What do you guys think? I am a youth minister so I have some concerns about these comments. But I always want the bible to be my rule for life and especially for ministry. Just so you know, I am not looking to resign anytime soon but I have some questions for you. So here are my questions for you guys. Can a biblical case be made for youth ministry? Should we have seperate ministries for men, women, children, youth, etc..., or should we minister to folks as a whole body without segregation? If this was the mainline thought pattern it would greatly affect the JMB. Obviously, the JMB should not be the focal point of this issue but I would be curious for your thoughts. Answer any of those questions you want. What think ye?

Derek's New Place Of The Bloggings

Hey guys, I've decided to move my blog over to wordpress- check it out. http://derekhughes.wordpress.com

My top 5 JMB songs.....

It's a little weird to rank songs that you have written but here goes.... 5. "One True Healer".......Although we don't do this song much anymore, it is still one of my favorite songs. I very much dislike the way I sound on that song but there is a meaning there that I hope that those who hear it will understand. All of us are looking for something to "heal" us. We're all broken by the affects of sin. Sin has broken everything. There is only one true healing that we will ever experience. And it is only found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 4. "Clumsy Believer"..........This is a relatively new one and has not yet been recorded officially. But it really spells out how I feel sometimes. Plus it has a line from on of my favorite hymns, "Come thou fount of every blessing". 3. "Mexico Breeze"......No, that is not the name of the latest military operation, it is one of my favorites. Mexico will always hold a special place in my heart and that song is very nostalgic for me. 2. "Get up to a high mountain"..........I love this song. This is my favorite song all around. You are probably thinking, "why is it #2 then?" Well, I'm glad you asked because #1 right now is............... 1. "Christ is our Life"..........This is a new song for us. We haven't played it out yet but will hopefully do that this weekend. I normally wouldn't rank a new song at #1 but I think this song has really captured what has been going on in my life in the last few months. I struggle with idolizing things. And you do too, even if you don't think so. Most sins are double doses of problems. Here is what I mean by that; Greed has the power to keep you from knowing that you are greedy. Idols have the power to keep you from knowing you have idols. We struggle with things and we know that we do, but there are sins hidden deep within us that have become so much of our normal day life, that we don't even have a clue to their affect on us. The only way we can see this is to have the gospel break our hearts just like it did when we where first saved. I will be posting more about this song in a full length post but until then, this is my list of songs, be that as it may. Now that I have done my list, I guess we are just waiting for the rest of the guys................

Andrew's Top 5 JMB Songs

Ok...here's mine (in no particular order): 1. Not So Easily Pleased - Personally, it's a fun song to play. Not to take anything away from the lyrics (which are great), but I really enjoy the song once we get to the solos at the end - fun times. 2. Get Up to a High Mountain - I think lyrically and musically, it's one of our more powerful songs. I know Josh is a big fan of Third Day, and this is our one song that I think could pass for a Third Day song. 3. Learning More Everyday - From a listening standpoint, I love it when everything kicks in after the first few vocal lines. Other than that, it's another uptempo song that's fun to play. 4. Wonderful Cross - This is my favorite worship song. I think my favorite version of this done by the David Crowder Band. Next favorite is the JMB version. 5. Sweet Embrace (new version...) - Our new version of this song is pretty cool. Brandenburg has been the only crowd to hear it so far. The rest of you will have to come see us soon to hear it! ;-) honorable mention: Folsom Prison Blues - Josh is right - we'd make one heckuva country band!

My 5 Favorite JMB Songs

Hey guys, since the playlist thing didn't go over too well, we'll try something a little different. I get asked all the time, "Derek, what's your favorite Josh Martin Band songs?"... ok, so I don't really get asked, but I'm sure someone's thinking it... ok, so they probably aren't, but I'm still going to ask for you. So, what are my five favorite JMB songs? 5) Working Out My Day (Josh Martin Band)- I know it's an old one, but that song is fun to play. Wow, we haven't played that in a loooong time. 4) What Part Of Go (Not So Easily Pleased)- This used to be one of my least favorites but as you can see I'm liking it more and more each time we play it. It's provides lots of opportunities to feed off of each other in our concerts. 3) Wonderful Cross (no version released yet)- Although we haven't recorded this yet for an album (it'll hopefully be on the DVD) it's still going to make the list. The Wonderful Cross is one of my favorite worship songs and I think our version could stand against any other version that's out. Also, The Wonderous Cross was my grandpa's favorite hymn, so this song has some special meaning to me. 2) Wrap Me In Your Cross (Not So Easily Pleased)- This is a very close second. I think it contains some of the best lyrics that Josh has ever written. 1) I Am (Not So Easily Pleased)- Hands down, my absolute favorite JMB song. This song conveys a feeling that we all go through- Where is God in the times that I don't feel saved? The intro and end of song are so much fun to play- I love digging-in on the low D and C. Now it's time for the rest of the band to post their top 5... hopefully.

Apologetics Friday (but on sunday)---Thinking about thinking

Thinking about thinking Faith and Reason Ideas and their consequences Logic and emotions Philosophy 1. Faith and Reason What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the assurance of the things we hope for and the conviction of things that we have not seen. What is reason? A basis or cause for some belief or action. Some have said, “Faith is a blind leap into the dark”. What do you think? Do you have to abandon reason to have faith? God has given us both faith and reason. Christ does not call us to “leap into the dark”, but step into the light. 1 John 1:5,6 2. Ideas and their Consequences We need to understand the consequences of our ideas and beliefs. The bible commands it. 1 Peter 3:15 God has given us a mind to think with and tells us to use it for his glory. Romans 12:2 and Matthew 22:37 Our ideas or beliefs always have consequences. Think about this for a second. If you believe that God is holy and just and there will be a day of judgment, that belief has consequences for your life. You will not want to rebel against this holy God. The consequence of your belief is a change in your heart towards God. And that will result in a change in your actions towards God. Ideas can have good or bad consequences. Those who believe they can breathe under water may drown trying to. Those who believe that gravity doesn’t affect them may jump off of the empire state building. Muslims who believe that martyrdom will get them to heaven will fly planes into buildings. This is a bad consequence that stems from bad ideas. On the other hand, believing that getting your shots from the doctor may keep you from getting the measles. Believing that there is a cure for cancer has lead to many major medical breakthroughs. So you see that some ideas have good consequences. But those consequences come from the root of the issue and that is whether or not the belief is true or valid. 3. Logic and Emotions Logic is a gift from God and is to be used for his glory. God has made us as reasonable creatures. And reasonable creatures should strive to think logically. God has also made us emotional creatures. This means that our emotions and logic should not contradict each other but compliment. For example, looking both ways before crossing the street is a logical thing to do. If you cross safely, your emotions are stable and you are pleased. If you look both ways and then proceed to cross and are nearly hit by the moving traffic, you emotions react. Your heart beats rapidly, you tremble, and you are scared. This emotional response is also logical. It makes sense that you would react this way, you were nearly killed! So logic and emotions are not opposed, but they can be unbalanced. Logic and emotions must be complimentary to one another. Emotions are good but they cannot determine what is true. Feeling good about something does not make it good. If smacking your brother makes you happy, it doesn’t mean that it was right. Emotions are the part of the soul that appreciates and responds to life. We cannot trust our emotions to determine truth for us. But when the truth is revealed to us, let us not stifle our emotions. Let them well up with worship to our God. Let them compliment the truth and logic that you found. Emotions cannot be the key factor for reasoning. 4. Philosophy Philosophy has often been described as thinking about thinking. Proverbs 4:5,6 We should aspire to gain this wisdom. The greek words that make up the word philosophy are “philia”, which means love, and “Sophia” which means wisdom. So the word “philosophy” means “loving wisdom”. This is not anti-christian. We should not be scared of philosophy. Although some philosophers and their thoughts are hostile to Christianity, we should not be afraid to examine why we think the way we do. Philosophy has determined much of the way you think right now. Many clichés that you have heard came from the lips of philosophers. Some of the greatest theologians of the church were also philosophers: Augustine, Aquinas, Anselm, and Jonathan Edwards. Philosophy asks questions such as “What is real?” “How do you know it is real?” “What is truly good?” The problem comes when we seek our reasoning above the reasoning of scripture. Scripture must be our final authority. This is even philosophical. We turn to scripture because it is truth. All philosophy and philosophers desire to be true. Truth is the goal of philosophy and the bible is our ultimate source for finding it.

Apologetics Friday----The Existence of God

The Existence of God 1. The Law of Inertia (first cause) 2. The Ordering of Creation 3. Incurably religious Human Beings 4. Moral Laws Objections to the Existence of God 1. Christianity is just a crutch 2. Paradox of the Stone 3. Christianity is exclusive 1. The Law of Inertia The law of inertia states that “An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force”. This is the first of Newton’s Laws. If this law is true, then there must be a first cause. There must be something that starts things off. Why does the earth rotate around the sun while spinning itself? The plates beneath the earth shift and stars fly through the universe. Comets and asteroids fly through our universe….what sends them flying? There has to be a first cause and that first cause is God. 2. The ordering of Creation Every building you see in your town was designed by someone. Buildings do not evolve on their own. They do not just pop out of the ground with 2x4 studs and trusses. Someone designs them and someone builds them. They have an order to them. So does every “natural” thing. Trees function a certain way. They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. It is the same oxygen that we breath. Is that just a fluke? The human eye is so complex that all parts of it are dependant upon the others for their existence. So it is impossible for the eye to evolve. All parts must be present or it cannot exist. 3. Incurably religious human beings Have you ever noticed that almost everyone believes in a god of some form? Don’t confuse this with faith but this is just a simple belief that “a god” exists. Why is that? I think it is because of Romans 1:19,20. Your conscience can’t deny it. During times of disaster such as tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc… you can’t find an atheist! Everyone believes in a god when they are about to die. Not necessarily faith, just belief. Even atheists have beliefs. 4. Moral Law Even those who deny the existence of a God have a sense of right and wrong. What sets that standard for them? If there is no supreme being that sets the standards, how do they know what is right? How can they say that rape and murder are wrong? By what standard are they measuring those things? The staunchest atheist will tell you that murdering innocent children is wrong. When they tell you this, ask them how they come to that conclusion. Objections to the Existence of God 1. Christianity is just a crutch for weak people. When one considers the fact that over 500 people saw the resurrected Christ, I am not so sure that this faith is a crutch. If anyone ever knew how to effectively kill a person, it was the Romans. Jesus died. The Romans would not have messed this up. They were the best at killing people. The “swoon theory” is full of holes. Had Jesus remained dead, Christians should be the most pitied of all people on the earth. But he didn’t remain dead. He is alive! That is not a leap into the dark, it is a step into the light. 2. The paradox of the Stone The paradox of the stone is the question of God’s omnipotence. It goes like this, “Is it possible for God to create a stone so heavy that he could not lift it?” If you answer “no”, then God cannot do everything and if you answer “yes”, then God still cannot do everything. At first glance you may think that this is a valid question but let’s look a little deeper at it. First of all, the atheist (or whoever) is posing a question that they wish for you to answer logically but the question is not logical. The “Law of Non-Contradiction” states that two truths cannot be opposed to each other. God’s omnipotence is defined by Thomas Aquinas as saying that God can do anything that is possible. This would include things that are impossible to you and me. God could take the earth and cast it into another galaxy. You and I could not do that. But for God to contradict himself or oppose himself can never be an option. That option is non-existent. The question cannot be answered without a little understanding of term “omnipotent” and all sides using logic. Some have said that God could indeed do both of these even though it is a contradiction. The problem with that is that it denies the orderly ways that we see God revealed in scripture. This paints a picture of a God who does things arbitrarily. This is not the God of the bible. 3. Christianity is exclusive. Some say our God cannot exist if it denies all other forms of religion. This argument will get nowhere. If a God exists, and he is really God, then he can be as exclusive as he wants. The reality is that God has commanded all men everywhere to repent and believe. He is not excluding you, he is inviting you. If you choose another way, then you have excluded yourself. To be God means to be Sovereign. Something has to be ultimately sovereign. If God is not sovereign, then whatever denies him is sovereign over him. God is real and he is Sovereign.

Prayer

Hey, this is Derek. I just wanted to ask you all to pray for me tomorrow as I share the gospel with the youth group at Master's church. Marc (the youth minister) asked me to speak a few weeks ago and, right away, I knew that God wanted me to preach the gospel to these youth. Many of them are lost and I'm praying that God will move in their hearts tomorrow and claim them as His own. Thanks guys.

Apologetics Friday--Part 1

Dr. Rick Cornish has published a series of books that are great tools for quickly getting a grasp of subjects. The books that I know of are called, "5 Minute Apologist", "5 Minute Theologian", and "5 Minute Church Historian". They give you the barebones facts about events, doctrines, or whatever. "5 Minute Apologist" is the one that I personally own and have used some of his teachings with my youth group. I recommend picking this little book up and reading it and referencing it. Especially if you are pressed for time and have a desire for understanding. These little books are great for bible studies and contributing godly answers in a time when everyone sees truth as relative. Here is the first of a series that I have written that I will be teaching the youth in April. I have adapted much information from his book to do so. Enjoy! Some common worldviews 1. Theism 2. Polytheism 3. Deism 4. Atheism 5. Humanism 6. Pluralism 7. Post-modernism 1. Theism Q. What is theism? A. Theism is the belief in one infinite, personal God. Deuteronomy 6:4 1 Corinthians 8:6 Why I am a theist 1. Theism has undeniable evidence. 2. It is the explanation of good and evil. 3. Logic, science, and reason all support theism. 2.Polytheism Q. What is polytheism? A. Polytheism is the belief in many finite, personal gods who rule distinct realms of the universe. (exp. Greek mythology) Problems with polytheism 1. Nature is eternal, not the gods. Therefore, nature has given birth to the Gods which is opposed to God creating nature. 2. The world is an arena of chaotic competition between the gods. Their interests clash with one another. 3. These gods are finite which means they do not live forever. 4. “Multiple gods” fails by definition. There cannot be more than one God or else he is not really god. 5. These gods have the same weaknesses as humans. What is so godlike about that? 3. Deism Q. What is Deism? A. Deism believes that God created the world, but then turned his back and is uninvolved and unconcerned with it. God set the world to run by natural law. Problems with Deism 1. Deism denies miracles because God does not intervene with humanity. The problem with this is that it contradicts itself. Creation of the world from nothing fits into the miracle category. If there are no miracles, then there cannot be a created universe. 2. No consequences for anything. Nothing really matters because we face no judgment, no eternal life, no salvation. 3. Modern science has demonstrated that the universe is not mechanical. The so called “absolute natural laws” are not absolute after all. 4. Atheism Q. What is Atheism? A. Atheism is the belief that there is no God. Problems with Atheism 1. It cannot be affirmed. No one can prove that there isn’t a God. 2. All atheists believe that some things are right and some things are wrong. Without a moral standard given by a holy God, then right and wrong do not exist. They believe things to be evil but cannot give an explanation of what determines it to be evil. There must be a “good” to define a “bad”. 3. They cannot live out their belief. They get angry when people die but cannot explain their anger. They shouldn’t be mad. For an atheist, death should be completely natural. 5. Humanism Q. What is Humanism? A. Humanism is the belief that humans are the supreme being. It is the belief that we find the solutions to life’s problems within ourselves. Problems with Humanism 1. If humans are supreme, which race, gender, color, social status, or genetic make-up determines the path for the human race? 2. Why do we have undesirable traits such as hatred, envy, and pride? If we are God, then shouldn’t these things be changed by our determination? Why aren’t they? 3. At what point did humans discover their divinity? 6. Pluralism Q. What is pluralism? A. Pluralism is the belief that all religions and worldviews are equally valid. Problems with Pluralism 1. Pluralism claims to be an exclusive truth in itself. It contradicts itself. The very thing it tries to overcome, it produces. 2. It violates logic. Jesus and Muhammad cannot both be the only, final source of God’s truth. 3. It destroys morality. This view will lead to spiritual implosion. It would take good and evil and make them the interchangeable with no distinctions between them. 7. Post-Modernism Q. What is post-modernism? A. Post-modernism is the belief that nothing can be absolutely true and it rejects all other worldviews. Problems with Post-modernism 1. Post-modernism is a contradiction within itself. It denies all worldviews but it is a worldview within itself. 2. Everyone believes something. If you reject that last sentence, you reject it because you believe something else. 3. If nothing is absolute, then nothing can be truly known. If you have any questions or would like further explanation of a point, please leave a comment saying so. This is just basically the outline for the first study. Some of it may not make sense without some explanation.

Derek's Playlist

Alright, since Andrew has thrown down the challenge, I will accept and share my own playlist. 1) This World (Caedmon's Call)- Caedom's Call is my absolute favorite band and this is one of my favorite songs from them, if not my favorite. They have so many great songs that it's near impossible for me to pick just one. Which is why number 2 is... 2) Not The Land (Caedmon's Call)- Hey, it's my list, I can feature as many artists as I want! This is one of the most rocking songs I have ever heard, especially when the chorus kicks in and Derek really adds the growl to his voice. Ahhh, musical bliss. 3) When He Calls (I'll Fly Away) (Gold City)- That looks a little confusing- Gold City is the artist, not I'll Fly Away. I have to have at least one southern gospel song on this list, and chances are it's going to be about heaven. The studio version is pretty good, but it's amazing live. The tenor singer finishes the song with a note that would make a dog's ears bleed. 4) Callin' Baton Rouge (Garth Brooks)- Oh man, oh man. This song pumps me up every single time I hear it. My favorite version is from his Double Live album- when every thing drops out but the drums in the chorus, I can't help but pound my fist in the air and belt out those lyrics at the top of my lungs... "Hurry up won't you put her on the line, I gotta talk to the girl just-a one more time" 5) For The Love Of God (Andrew Peterson)- This happens to be the most played songs in my itunes. Andrew Peterson is one of the greatest songwriters I've ever heard. He uses the lyrics and music to paint masterpieces in the minds of his listeners. This is a great song about his family and love. 6) Washin' & Wonderin' (Stroke 9)- I can't stay away from that catchy, 90's, power-pop rock. (I'm not sure if that's a real genre, or if I just made that up). Sam (ex-JMB drummer) and I used to jam on this song back in 7th grade. Man, those were the days. 7) Dance (Derek Webb)- Although not one of his more deep, theologically challenging songs, Dance is a great tune nonetheless. Derek wrote this song after a conversation with his grandmother as she told him her entire life story. 8) Take It Easy (The Eagles)- I love when the banjo kicks in about half way through. 9) Tiny Dancer (Elton John)- I used to play and sing this song all the time (don't ask me to now, I've already retired it... a few times) so whenever I hear it, it brings back many fond memories. I remember playing this song once at GSP for Mary Beth... it's probably why she digs me so much. 10) Cruel Kindness (Inside Out)- I love a cappella groups and this is the best one I've heard. If I had to pick a favorite song from Inside Out, it would probably be this one for the great background harmonies in the chorus. 11) Friend Like You (Big Daddy Weave)- If I ever get in a good bass playing mood, this is usually the song I want to hear. Each bass line on the album is solid, interesting, and downright fun to play. This song always gets my blood flowing and my fingers itching to groove. 12) God Only Knows (The Beach Boys)- I feel that the Beach Boys are too often unappreciated in the music world and the genius of Brian Wilson was too easily forgotten. I especially love the end of this song when the vocals start layering on top of each other. 13) Piano Man (Billy Joel)- Here's another song I have played many times, but I still never get tired of hearing it. This was the first song that Mary Beth heard me sing and play so it has some special meaning to me. I love the line "And the piano it sounds like a carnival and the microphone smells like a beer." On the word "carnival", he sings it more as a shout and slightly out of tune... I'm not quite sure why I like that part so much, but I do.

Andrew's Playlist

Here's my playlist - a la iTunes Celebrity Playlists.... sans the "Celebrity" part... 1. Ants Marching (Dave Matthews Band) – my all-time favorite song by my all-time favorite band. Not so much for the lyrics, but the energy of the music, especially live. 2. Hold Fast (MercyMe) – the first time I heard this song, I thought it was one of the most powerful songs I’ve ever heard. I still feel like that way, and it’s just as powerful live as the studio cut. 3. Superstition (Stevie Wonder) – the horn lick in this song is one of the catchiest snippets of music ever. Funky. 4. Pictures of You (The Cure) – I’m a child of the 80s, so I figured I needed to have an 80s song or two. 5. Here Am I (MercyMe) – the epitome of living the Christian life. We’re called to “go.” 6. Where the Streets Have No Name (U2) – one of those songs you wish were longer. If U2 wrote five more verses and repeated the chorus several more times, I wouldn’t have complained. 7. Speed of Sound (Coldplay) – my favorite song from 2005. I would love to see Coldplay live, and hear this anthem. 8. Is It Any Wonder (Keane) – another rock anthem. I would love to be a part of writing a song like this. I have a rule to only play this song loud in my car. All talking stops, the volume goes up, and I just listen. 9. Wonderful Cross – I didn’t label an artist for this because it’s been performed by praise bands everywhere. I prefer David Crowder Band’s version, which I’ve heard twice live. Aside from that, I think the Josh Martin Band’s version is second-best. Not to mention it’s a song about the focus of my faith. 10. Every Breath You Take (Sting) – Another great 80s song. 11. To Make You Feel My Love (Garth Brooks) – everyone has their favorite love song, and this is mine. (maybe the rest of the band will post theirs?? hint, hint) Later, Andrew

Apologetics Fridays

Hey for the next few weeks I will be putting up some stuff about apologetics on fridays. I don't think that you can ever reason someone to faith but I do believe that God has used apologetics for many things. It is definately a great tool for evagelism. It will "stop the mouths" of those who would lead others astray. It will also help us to know why we believe what we believe. Most imporantly, we have a biblical mandate given to us in 1 Peter 3:15 to always be ready to give an account for the hope that we have. We are not only commanded to tell people what we believe, but why we believe it. We will start next friday with establishing a biblical worldview. This is becoming more and more crucial in this post-modern age we live in. We will discuss post-modernism as well. until next friday.............