See, that's the thing. It's NOT a big if; it's what I've been trying to illustrate here - ministry takes place all the time and it can be totally independant of any worship/vertical lyrics about God. Because the band LIVES it.LexingtonPethead wrote:MJanke, that's a very big IF and a very tall order. Are you being hypothetical here?... it doesn't seem logical to me. The bands you are referring to are not outwardly Christian in their music, so why would they be in concert? Kids who go to these concerts aren't going to lead themselves to Christ!
I'll give you examples. These are direct testominies from kids who have had their lives changed by God, through POD. Taken from their offical fan club website (edited because of the long length of some of them):
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So I did come to the next P.O.D. concert that I could find and sonny was talking to the crowd on this one. I tried to get ahold of him, but I wasn't able to. I heard him talking and I was like, wow, how did he get to be so sure about what he thought and beleived about things? I asked around and found a group of people who said they knew why he was like that. I asked, and they said because he's a christian. "Seriously?" I said. They said yeah. I was thinking, WOW, if these guys can be christian and sound that good, ya know, maybe there IS something in this god-thing. And I got saved that night at the P.O.D. concert. Interesting. I slowly and surely got off of drugs and alcohol and am now drug free an 100% sober. I still like KoRn because I do know what they sing about is true, but I'm glad that P.O.D. is touring with them, maybe JD, munky, david, and head and fieldy will find that yes...what they sing is true, but there's also a way out of it. P.O.D.....thank you guys. And you too sonny....God bless. I'll pray for you. Jesus Freak-- I'll be a freak for life, death, and eternity!
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they're just people, no different from you or from me, but they love the Lord and they don't take any of the credit for how far they have gotten. they give it all to God. It was really neat to talk to them and see that they are people, they are human, they are just like me. they are real. but God in them shines through so brightly and that's what makes them special. some people that I�ve talked to in the past have passed judgements on POD because of the style of music that they play- hardcore rap. but when I�ve talked to these people I�ve explained to them how their judgements were falsely accused. by taking a look at the lyrics in their songs it is so obvious who they are living for. God. and there's no way that anyone can deny that. when you talk to them you can actually see God in them and that's why I look up to those guys. they have showed me through their music and their lifestyle what it is to walk the walk with God. they have encouraged me to walk the walk and to daily be in prayer with God. I pray for those guys EVERY day that they won't forget the reason for living, and I know that they won't forget. in a sense- although some may disagree- POD are missionaries. missionaries to the tons of teenagers who listen to hardcore rap. that style of music is becoming more popular each and everyday, and POD knows how to hit home. they have been through a lot and they have experience with life. there songs can really reach out and touch people. I know they have to me. I thank God for those guys
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But then, POD got on stage. I don't know....I'm really at a loss for words. God was in that place. I could feel it. Sonny talked to the crowd, and he was so sincere. POD's songs moved me so much. It was incredible. Sonny kind of did an alter call, and asked those people who were lost to come down and talk to someone. I didn't look to see if anyone went down, but I didn't. I was scared. I wanted to talk to the guys from the bands, or maybe even the guys from POD, but my chance was up....I had to get home. So I left, but the feeling I had throughout that concert didn't go away. When I got home, I just sat in the living room and cried. I cried because I was frustrated at myself and my life. I cried because I wanted what my brother had. I cried because I wanted what those kids had. And I cried because I wanted what those bands had. I cried because I wanted Jesus. So, having gone to church, and being very familiar with how to turn over your life to God (although I don't think there is a "right" or "wrong" way, as long as you are sincere), I got down on my knees to pray. Somehow I just didn't feel low enough to ask God for forgiveness. I mean, knowing what being a Christian is about and having grown up in a church, there had been times in my life when I had looked God in the face and laughed. So I laid down on my stomach...and still not feeling like I was bowing far enough down to face God...I prayed. I prayed with a desperation I'd never felt before. For almost three hours, I wept and confessed my sins to him. I tried not to umbrella the sins I admitted, but I don't know if I could ever confess them all...so I did my best and finally I felt a release. God moved through my soul. I felt him! I still feel him. It's like my heart is beating twice as strong. I've never felt that close to God in my life. I give a lot of credit for what happened that night to POD. Of course, ALL the glory goes to God. But, he couldn't have chosen a better vessel to reveal himself to me than that band. I opened my ears to them, and I opened my heart to Sonny's prayers.
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I have definitely been blessed to have found out about this band called P.O.D.. Them as well as their music has helped and challenged me so much. Whenever I'm feeling down, angry, frustrated, depressed, excited, happy, or whatever else I can just put on a P.O.D. CD and things just seem to be put into perspective. It's strange how I can be feeling a certain way and then listen to a P.O.D. song and they will be talking about the exact same things I'm feeling. They have definitely been given an amazing gift by the Almighty.
God has and is definitely using P.O.D. in my life, if it weren't for them and what God has done through them, I don't know where I would be. Things would be much different, I imagine. Because of P.O.D. I have been inspired to pick my guitar back up and begin playing it again, perhaps more seriously than ever. Because of P.O.D., I have been inspired to be a shining light for the Lord like never before. They have shown me that you don't have to conform to what the world or anyone else thinks you should be and also that you don't have to preach at people, all you have to do is love them. Love them the way God loves them, and they'll see something different in you. They'll see Christ in you're life and begin seeking that for themselves.
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In 1999, I saw POD on MTV talking about their faith and how they loved Jesus. To see POD professing their beliefs on TV was an inspiration to me. I could really see how much love they had for Christ. I thought, "These guys are so down to earth and so real about their faith." I watched the video and I thought their music was cool so I bought their album, listened to the lyrics, and became aware of just how much they loved Jesus. It opened my mind and my curiosity about Christ. So I started asking a lot of questions about God and Jesus. My mom was going to a church, but didn't make me go. She said it was up to me. I asked her if I could go with her because I wanted to know about Jesus. I started attending church and continued to listen to POD. My love and awareness of what Christ did for me grew as I listened to POD more frequently and attended church regularly. I was aware of just how much He loved me, to give His life for me. So I accepted him as my Savior and was baptized.
To this day, POD still have a boldness about them. No matter where they are, or who they are being interviewed by, they are strong about their love and beliefs. I heard about their interview with Howard Stern so I watched it and even there they were bold and strong. They never changed how they felt about Christ. After seeing all this and listening to them, I began to really dig deep into my Bible. I wanted to see Christ the way POD did and have that radiance about my faith and love for Christ. As I began reading the Bible, I saw what POD was talking and singing about. God loved us enough to give us his only Son and through Him we are saved (John 3:16).
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I remember one day watching TV, and a music video called �Alive� by a band I knew a little about called P.O.D. I knew they were singing about God, and I was disgusted by it, their happiness, but in the back of my mind I wondered how God could make them so happy. Time went by, and I went to college, and there I meet the first part of my future. I meet a lovely girl, who became a good friend, and who was a Christian. She told me about God and Jesus, things I have never heard before, the true love of God, peace of the soul, and most importantly forgiveness. She herself was struggling with her faith; due to a certain disease she was experiencing, and unfortunately will always be experiencing to the Lord brings her home. We became boy friend and girl friend, and soon after I got saved, God brought us together for a purpose for me to get saved, and to set her on a straight path once again. To this day we still live for God, like everyone else we fall sometimes and struggle, but the good Lord always lifts us up in dark times.
After becoming a believer in Christ, I looked for music, music filled with a passion for God. What I found on my search was a band called P.O.D. A band I use to loath, but now are my favorite band that I love. It�s incredible to see how God turns around people, to see and witness how much he cares. Sometimes we are impatient but God always delivers at the most perfect of times. I thank God for P.O.D for planting those seeds in me. And their witness, and their music, motivates me daily. My soul finally knows peace, thank you sweet Jesus.
God bless you all
Your brother in Christ
Josh
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He said, "Hey man you like Rage Against the Machine don't you?" I agreed and he said, "then man you got to listen to this new band I found, they're called P.O.D., you'll love them...take this cd home and tell me what you think." I gave the usual smart-elic remark about Christian music, but when I put this cd in my cd player I was changed instantly. The music was just beautiful...I had never heard anything like it in my entire life! But most of all I heard acceptance. I heard, "you know...I don't care what music you listen to, or what you look like...I love you like God loves you!"
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I remember seeing them on TRL when the video for "Rock the Party" came out... didn't think much about them.. liked the song. So time passed and I kind of forgot who they were. Then I heard Alive on the radio in 2001 when the album came out approximately. I really liked the song, but still didn't really care enough to go buy the freakin album. So months later, I heard Youth of the Nation on the radio again... and again heard Alive. This time however, I heard it in a different way. Maybe it's because I learned to play guitar a few months before. So finally, after much debate, I went and picked up the album. Needless to say, I'm surprised I haven't worn it out by now because I've listened to it so much. Anyway, so I really liked everything on it, and soon became a pretty big fan. When the DVD came out last year, I went out and bought it within a week. (Just watched it yesterday haha) And I just really loved Wuv. He's such an awesome drummer that I couldn't help but think "wow I want to be that good someday." So then I kept liking them, and became an even bigger fan as time went by. So I went through a pretty rough time around the time I bought Satellite and let's just say I wasn't a very happy person. Depression is not a fun thing to have, and there wasn't anyone I could talk to who'd understand. so I turned into someone that I wish I could forget... I thought bout killing myself a few times... yet somehow when I listened to P.O.D., I felt a little better.
Now a little known fact (only to friends and some family), I was one of the people who won the contest a few weeks ago to meet P.O.D. at the club in LA. the one that said "wanna hang with p.o.d." or whatnot. So I met them FINALLY after loving them for a while. I couldn't believe that I'd won, and when it came time to actually go up and talk to them, I acted a fool. I was so freakin nervous. But you know what? THEY WERE SO NICE. LIKE UNBELIEVABLY nice. they didn't even know me or anything and yet they wanted to talk to me... jeez, Wuv even gave me a hug! I didn't ask for anything! I just wanted to give them their little presents I made them. (Little paintings about 3x5 in acrylic with Chinese characters for different things.) So I met them. And I did a painting about a year ago of my interpretation artistically of "Bullet the Blue Sky." So I brought it... SONNY SIGNED IT and Wuv signed it.. didn't get to Traa and Truby but nonetheless. and I felt really good. because sonny seemed to really like it. so all I have to say is this: they helped me see the good in life... helped me come back from a place I didn't know I could come back from. And meeting them made it even better. It brought back my faith in humanity.. it brought back my faith into human nature- that people can be nice just because they want to be nice. SO GOD BLESS YOU GUYS! WUV, SONNY, TRAA, TRUBY CHANGED MY LIFE AND I HOPE THEY CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR EACH ONE OF YOU. one love and god bless! -Kate "sushi" Davis ~~LA CALI!!!~~
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Ok I hope some people read this to see what POD did for me. Before I found POD I was atheist. I wasn't happy, and I didn't have too many friends. I felt like an outcast. I was the only skater in a prep school. Everyone made fun of my clothes and my choice of music. I loved KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and all the others. I wasn't christian at all. All the people that tried to convert me really made me mad. They still do. They where adults that said "IF YOU DONT FIND JESUS YER GONNA DIE!" It was horrible. One day on my spring break, i turned on the TV to MTV. My TV doesn't get a clear image for a couple of seconds after turning it on, but you can hear. I thought it was a KoRn video or something. My TV cleared up, and it definately wasnt. The song was awsome! When the video ended, I saw it was "Southtown" by "POD". I immediately went upstairs and started lookin on the internet for the band. They where AWSOME! I found a site, and it talked about them being a christian band. I didn't get it. Later on I decided to by the CD. I loved the cover! It made me think about what it ment. So i listened to the music, and i realized that this was something I could understand. They talked about christianity in something I could understand, music. Good music. Hardcore rock music! I really got interested in christianity. There song "Outkast" made me feel a little bit more special. I realized at school that when I walked alone with hardly any friends, that i was special. No one else was like me. It made me feel better about everything. Now my life is completely different, yet to everyone else, I am still the same. I am that weird kid with the baggy pants, but inside I have changed. Now POD is one of my favorite bands. My favorite band of all time is still KoRn, of course, and I'm really excited about KoRn and POD touring together! Now I am active in the discussion boards at payableondeath.com, and i love to post my poetry. Because of POD, I feel alot better.
