Craig A.K.A: Snuffy

Well G’day from the great white north eh! Hahahaha (The eh was added for JJ) Those of you that know me probably know me as Snuffy. I’m going to attempt to tell you a little about me, who I am, and what I’m about. Lastly what P.O.D. means to me, and how they have affected my life. I grew up in a weird situation, my home life was not all that loving. I had two parents that worked A LOT!! My Dad slept all day and drove bus all night, and my Mom was more interested in gambling than being at home with my brother and I. I did feel love though. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents who were Christian. They were quite loving and accepting of me, and who I was.

Fast-forward a few years to when I was 15. I was in high school partying a bit and getting into trouble. I felt lost and without hope. I contemplated many different scenarios that all included me not sticking around to finish living life. I was miserable and depressed all the time. I don’t want to get into details, but you get the picture. I obviously needed more in life, and was being selfish.

A couple years previous to this point a couple of my friends stopped coming around our group parties and such. I was in class one day and one of my old buddies came up and started chatting with me. He was all like dude you should come out to youth group at the Alliance church on Friday. I remember thinking he was nuts. He and another friend kept asking week after week, and I always had an excuse to not go. Finally one week he hit me up when I was feeling alone and wanted to be around people that were real and genuine, and I defiantly had been getting that feeling about him. So I went, and had an amazingly good time. No Alcohol, drugs, bad influences and I was having fun!!! Wow!! So I continued to go, and eventually came to know the youth pastor and the pastor of another church. After a couple months I went to a youth rally at the Lutheran church. It was there that I met an amazing man of God named Wayne. Wayne was the minister at that church and instantly took me under his wing. After many meetings and counseling I was really open to God and to this dude named Jesus. One evening Wayne handed me a video to watch called The Jesus Film. I had no idea what I was getting into, and this visualization of what Wayne had been teaching me suddenly became real!! Suddenly with passion and conviction I knew Christ.

My walk was a bumpy one. Sadly most Christians didn’t accept me. I had long hair, listened to metal and basically looked and acted different. I found myself getting bitter towards Christians and the church. My walk was up and down and on and off for a few years. Here I was again feeling alone! But this time I had one thing I didn’t before and that was God. So here I am feeling rejected and my walk is suffering. I know God but am in need fellowship. This is where P.O.D. comes into the mix and really turned my walk a 180. I ran into an old friend one day on the street and we talked music as always. I’d had known him from my visits to the Bible bookstore his parents owned. He just so happened to be on the P.O.D. street team. He gave me the FEOS demo tape and a sticker; I honestly shelved it for a few days and then finally chucked it in my stereo. WOW!!! This was some gnarly music!! I listened to Rock the Party off the Hook and Southtown a millions times!!! I rushed out and bought the album and was hooked. I started really dissecting the lyrics and watching any TV appearance, and reading any article on them I could find. These guys are real!!! They follow Christ, and they play awesome hard-hitting music! They aren't doing it as a quote unquote “Christian Band” that fits neatly into a little “Image box”. But as people whom happen to be Christians. Man they really inspire me!! Their lyrics, and their bold public statements which never turn face to Christ. They also made me realize that I don’t have to fit into a little box of what people think a “Christian physical image” might look like. I am ME, and I just happen to love Christ, and that is who I am!! On top of this all is the Warrior Family. God has put together a large group of people who P.O.D. affectionately call Warriors. We aren’t groupies, or just fans of P.O.D., we are family. The boys always spread love and family atmosphere wherever they go. So they too are family to me. I am grateful for P.O.D.’s obedience to God and never lying down and dying when the “Christian community” was turning their backs on them. To me they are inspired men of God, and true role models of Christ’s love and conviction! One other thing I am grateful for… Because of my admiration, and love of P.O.D. I met the woman of my dreams. I hope and pray that I can spend my time on earth with her. I think I’ve typed your ears off.. So that’s it from me ;) Thanks for taking the time to know a little more about me.

Craig A.K.A: Snuffy

CJ - Tribal4Jah

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. Because of P.O.D., I feel like I am part of something positive and potentially world-changing, whenever I'm helping to promote P.O.D., I'm not just promoting them, I'm promoting their message, the message of hope and love and salvation that runs so boldly in their music. I also feel that whatever God is leading me to do, whatever it may be, things will work out if I just follow him, even if I can't see it at the time. Because of P.O.D., I have been brought closer to God. Sometimes when I'll be listening to or cranking out one of their songs on my guitar, I'll just be brought into God's presence. Sheer worship, nothing else, no one else. Just God and I. P.O.D.'s music is just so inspired that it would be quite hard not to see that they are writing from their hearts. Because of P.O.D., I have been inspired to be a better person myself. People know that I am a Christian and people know that I am a warrior, so in turn it is my duty to live a better life in order to better represent Christ as well as P.O.D.. Because of P.O.D. and the message boards, I have been able to find some amazing musical artists that have a positive message. Because of P.O.D. and the message boards, I have also been able to expand my musical knowledge and no longer limit myself to just "hard rock and rap". I've been able to discover some amazing punk, rock, metal, and even some Latin and reggae artists that I like.

I am so thankful for P.O.D., what they have done, and how God has used them in my life. My hope is that by helping P.O.D. do well on charts, radio, television, etc. is that someone will hear their music, be turned on to it, and that God will just speak to them through their music and draw them closer to Him. And oh yeah, also that they'll get to hear an OUTSTANDING rock and roll band!! :D CJ- Tribal for Jah

My name is Johnny. I am 14 years old. I was born in Brawley, CA. It is a very small town. I was raised by my mother. My father was outta the picture when I was 2 years old. Once he and my mom divorced, I never had much of a relationship with him. When I was about 8, my dad wanted to take my brothers and sisters for vacation, so he said. I wanted to go and get to know him. So off I went. My dad was remarried, but he had a girlfriend on the side. She went along as well and we were pretty much just his cover. While dad was with his 'girl', he wanted some privacy, so he put us on horses. I had never been on a horse before and it started to gallop. I fell off and somehow in the midst of everything, hurt myself. Dad didn't take me to the docs, but said, "Oh you're a man, men don't cry." That was it. I went back to my mother and a month later I was in pain with a fractured leg. As if that weren't enough, I developed a rare disease in my bones. They still can't figure things out to this day, after many docs, hospitals, and hours of x-rays. I have been in a wheelchair for the last 4 years. I am so tired of doctors and hospitals. I felt as if there wasn't a God, even though my mom is a Christian. I heard about God, but couldn't understand why He let this happen to me. 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). I also began to have a yearning for playing music and worship God with music like them. I took up the electric guitar. I want to have a strong message in my music that may pay back a little of the inspiration that POD gave to me. I have read all of the Psalms. I want to express my love for God and Jesus and to pass the message of salvation to the lost. I want to open up the minds and the hearts of many who don't know Jesus. I know that the Holy Spirit is with POD, He leads them to express God's love to fans like me. I want to do the same so I am in prayer daily for POD and that God uses me as well. I know in my heart that God is going to heal me. I know I will be jamming like POD, but only in His perfect timing. Thanks for hearing me out, keep on looking up!

Josh (keeponlookingup)

I only am here, this day, by the everlasting grace of God. The grace of God extends far beyond our small comprehensions, and exuberates with heart pounding love.As a child I was filled with hate and bitterness, and as the years passed by it only grew stronger. Soon my anger came to be directed toward God, whom at that time I did not want anything to do with. I became indwelt with things that may have the power to kill a man’s spirit, and tarnish the soul. I was dark like cancer inside, and likely so on the outside. I suppose my anger came from being stepped on, and taken advantage of, but I say most of all coming from a broken home. I never had a Dad, I had a biological father, but never a man who took on the responsibilities that a father does for his son. The idea of fatherhood was a foreign concept all my life, which lead to the difficulties of understanding the fatherly love of God. As a teenager I became consumed with drugs and drinking, a way in my own head, killing myself off slowly, because I was to afraid to end my life quickly, but in reality God was extending my life in order to fit his plans.

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

Matthew

Hey everyone, my name is Matthew and I'm 18 this year (2003). My story isn't bad at all compared to what goes on in the world, but maybe it'll explain a bit about who I am and how I got here. I've been a Christian all my life, so I've never been in any kind of serious trouble....I don't know if it's because who I am, or because I've just never had to deal with many of those temptations such as doing drugs and drinking. I guess it goes back to when I was in 6th grade and my brother was in 8th. I was just beginning Junior High School and things were going alright, most of my friends from Elementary school had also come to the same place, so I didn't have to worry about being a loner. About half-way through the school year, one of my brother's teachers was found out to be a pedophile or something (How he became a teacher I have no idea). But this guy had been freaking out my brother and his other classmates, nothing physical at all, but I won't go into details (don't remember any anyways). Needless to say this guy was fired, and my brother was given the option to continue there or switch to home studies. He chose home studies, and since the school didn't want any lawsuits, it was a free ticket for me to go on too. Tell a kid they can just get 7 days worth of homework and go to school once a week to turn it in, and most will probably take it. So I went along with it, and slowly lost contact with all my friends since I only had to go to school for an hour a week. The block I live on also slowly started to change into one filled with people who are in and out of jail, gang bangers, and drunks. No one my age to befriend, So I just stayed inside and did my homework. All the way through into High School, where most people find their life-long friends, but I just continued the home studies program and went to school once a week for no longer than 3 hours at a time...in which there is no room for getting to know someone. So I was a loner, still am in fact, but I'm use to it...It's all I know how to be. It's made me very shy and anti-social, bummer eh? The block hasn't changed much, it's nicer, but still no good influences that I would want to associate with.

Musically, I only listened to one man as I grew up, my great uncle Phil Keaggy. I didn't have cable so I never saw MTV, and I barely listened to the radio. When I did flip it on I would just hear so much mediocrity, It was all so depressing. Then one night in late September 2001, I was going through the channels and caught my first glimpse of Payable On Death. It was the Tonight Show w/Jay Leno as they performed Alive to my ears for the very first time. I only saw the last part of it but I loved what I heard, and I could feel there was something different about these guys, something good. So I picked up 'Satellite' and began reading the inside jacket before I even listened to the cd, and the first thing I saw was "Sonny Thanks: GOD for his blessings upon my life. Christ for his Living example. And the Spirit of GOD that drives me to try and be a better person everyday". I knew from then on that P.O.D was something I wanted to be associated with. So I just started pouring all the talents God gave me into this band...making those custom figures, painting those portraits, making a site dedicated to them, anything to show them how much they're appreciated. For the music and all the great warriors I've meet online through this band, whether is was on the Official boards or TheSouthtown. It makes me feel like I'm part of something now, It makes me wanna get back the life I let go in 6th grade, it'll take some doin', but my Lord and P.O.D's music will help me through it.

Your all such a blessing, thanks a million :)
-Matthew Smith-
http://www.themessenjah.net

Ricky (Warchant Warrior)

I was one of those kids that grew up in the church. Never missed a Sunday and never missed a Wednesday. If the doors were open I was there. I went on every youth trip and went on every choir tour. If there was something to be done at the church I was there. But when I was in 10th grade I just hit rock bottom. At this point in my life I was really starting get into hardcore music/rock music, and I could tell that a lot of the people that use to hang out with me at church were all of a sudden shoving me away because I wasn't into "Christian music". I even went as far as burning some of my cd's just so they would accept me, still didn't work (and I lost a lot of good cds).

Time went on and I started seeing a lot of stuff in the church that really disturbed me. Backstabbing, hypocrisy, hate...you know the usual stuff, and I didn't want to be apart of something that was so negative, so anti everything. I didn't want to be apart of something that would do nothing but bring me down. I saw people in the world that accepted me more as a true friend than some of my so called "Christian friends". So I ditched them and went my own way. Far far away from what God had told me to do. If God said do something I did the opposite. I was hurt and I was lonely, but one friend...my best friend for life, who just this year I was his best man in his wedding, pulled me aside in the band room and instead of chastising me, he did something that no one had done in a long time. Talked with me like a normal human being. 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!"

I nearly broke down in tears! And right then and there I felt God moving in me. I realized that God is not like those Christians who put you down for who you are, and I realized that God loves me for me, and nothing else. He doesn't listen to other...he just listens to your heart. Over the years I've viewed the boys of P.O.D. as part of my family. And in doing so I've met some of the greatest people on this earth, who have been encouragements to me through tough times. It's awesome to look back and see how much God has worked through my life since that night I put that cd in my cd player, but I wouldn't ask for it anyway at all.

And that's what I try and tell kids now-a-days...you're going to get looked down on, but don't let it get to you. Jesus died for you, he didn't die for the version of Bible you read or the denomination you belong to, or even if you've bought the latest pair of GAP pants, but he loves you for who you are...as long as you let God control your path you'll be ok.

Warchant Warrior

http://www.thesouthtown.com

http://www.warchantwarriorsworld.com

Jared Rader

For some reason, I grew up never going to church. For some reason, our family just never went to church, we just stayed home on Sunday. Occasionally, my friend would invite me to come with him or my grandma would invite us, but I just goofed off and didn't listen because it was boring to me.

So, all the way to age 12, I was just completely Godless. I was cussing, talking about inappropriate things, looking up bad stuff on the internet, and just completely hollow and depressed on the inside. I just had no purpose in my life. Our family was terribly dysfunctional, my mom and dad just had fight after fight, my older sister was always depressed, my older brother was just like me, no purpose to his life. All this talent we had, but no purpose.

Around 11 years old to 12 years old, I heard about P.O.D. I was just getting into rock music (because I was mostly listening to classical if you can believe that...) and the first song I heard of them was on the radio. It was "Alive". I thought they were great. That song was very inspiring, but I didn't know it was about God. I heard "Youth of the Nation" at one point, which was a kind of depressing, but very true song. It was the truth of how the youth of our world's future is. And I was just like any of them. Unholy.

One day on the radio, the whole "Satellite" album was played. I loved "Set it Off" which pulled me in to listen to more. I heard all the way up to "Ridiculous" and I loved P.O.D. They were just inspiring. However, I still didn't know God.

Then a miracle happened. My older brother was invited to Eagle Lake Christian Camp in Colorado and though he didn't want to go, he went. He came back an entirely new person. There was just this joy in his eyes, and I didn't know what it was. I wanted to know what it was.

My brother invited me to go to this church called Life Church. I decided to go. Coincidentally enough, the church was starting a talk called "The Sex Files". Wow, it changed me. From then on, I would never be consumed by the tight hold that lust had on my life. Of course, as I'm a teenager I can't ever get rid of it, but it's definitely not as bad. I also gave my life to Christ. Then, our whole family decided to go, and we were never the same again. We all had a purpose to our lives!

Which now brings us back to P.O.D. I was becoming more and more interested in the band. I read the lyrics and loved them. Their power and passion for Jesus was just irresistible. I wanted to be like P.O.D. I wanted to be a fearless warrior for Christ. Now that I knew Him, P.O.D. gave me a whole new way to be in life. A fearless, loving warrior for Jesus. Which I will be.

Thanks for reading and Jah Warriors, ride on!

In Jesus Name, Amen....

Marie

Where do you stand in this battle cry?

There's something different about P.O.D., different that is from their counterparts in a genre of music that overlooks oftentimes the reasons and the methods of positive living that satisfy this life and lead to eternal reward. Upon first glance, the four men who comprise this band might strike one as just another group of rock rebel musicians, peddling their wares and trying to make it in a dog-eat-dog world of corporate enterprise. The "trick" is to look again - and LISTEN, beyond the high-volume melodies and hard-hitting pulse of their tunes, to the messages within. That, my friends, is where you'll find the TRUTH!

P.O.D. are the accepted and respected do-gooders in a society long devoid of morals and proper values! For me their music provides much enjoyment; their words and actions, both on and off stage, continue to teach this veteran Catholic the day-to-day essentials of what it means to be a Christian. They are a breath of fresh air! It is because of this that I support them 100% and promote them every chance I get. Anybody who'll stand still long enough to listen will hear about these guys from me eventually. This group of musicians definitely are different, in the best sense of the word, making them a force with which to be reckoned. In their spiritual fight against all evil, this warrior stands alongside them proudly, proclaiming and praising the blessed name of Jesus and thanking our Father God for the awesome power of His mighty hand in all things! A renewed awareness has been brought into my life because of this band, and my lifelong faith core, challenged by a recent catastrophe, has been made even stronger now than it ever has been before.

Five months ago when my 19-year-old son was seriously injured in a work-related accident I was able, with the gift of grace, to start counting onsite what would turn out to be innumerable blessings through an ordeal that continues to this day. His severely lacerated right arm was trapped for two hours within the auger mechanism of a grain mixer at the feed store where he works. Horrified, I arrived upon the scene and recognized a miracle - my son was alive! I called upon the Lord to sustain me at a time when I wanted to fall apart; I offered thanks and knew comfort and light when my eyes could see only darkness and dread; I upheld a committed faith as I asked my Savior to bestow His mercy and love upon my family in our time of crisis. I trusted, and my prayers were answered. He kept us strong and granted us peace. Skilled surgeons repaired the damage to my son's arm; and now with excellent occupational therapy, his condition continues to improve, as he works toward full recovery of his arm, hand, and fingers. Our God is an awesome God!

The men and the music of P.O.D. are what encouraged me to pray the way I did that night. With unceasing genuine witness to their own faith convictions, they have touched me by their example. I count them among my blessings. I thank you very much, my brothers in Christ, for all the fine work you have done and continue to do. Truly you are anointed by the Almighty! May your ministry continue to grow and be grace-filled in His name, as we keep each other in prayer. Be blessed in the joy of His peace.

Marie (HEs+ALIVE )

Stereotaxic

Even though the guys from P.O.D. may never see this... I still wanna thank them, and give my appreciation for them.

About 5 years ago, my life was in a mess, I didn't have any hope for life. I loved hardcore music, hard rock, rapcore and stuff, but didn't knw of a good band with a "positive message". All these bands I listened to and related to so much, affected the way I would think, and it would bring me down... and I have no blame upon these bands... it was due to my own choices of music.

A friend of mine who is a Christian introduced me to POD's album "Fundamental Elements Of Southtown". I immediately loved the songs, and the album. The first song I heard was "Outcast". I related with the song, because in those days... technically, I was an outcast, I didn't have many friends, was picked on alot in school.

I eventually became a huge fan of the band. Wishing I could go to a concert, I just watched the videos as much as possible, and listen to the album. I was a true P.O.D fan.

Then I was at a youth camp. I remember... God changed my life. I gave my life to him, and things changed from there. I became and even bigger P.O.D. fan then. I listened to the CD not long after... and I knew the importance of this music, and how it was helpin kidz all across the world, givin them hope instead of negativity and hopeless splurging of useless and empty lyrics.

The Satelite Album was a huge one with me. "Alive" was my anthem, I always felt good when the song played. Seeing P.O.D. climb the charts and gaining worldwise success with this album, made me so happy. Youth Of A Nation... REALLY spoke to my heart, and gave me chills. God spoke to me through that. It described me in some ways how i used to be, before I discovered the band, and before I gave my life to God. I decided to make a commitment to help other youth, and to show other young people the same love that God showed me... to show God's love.

Then this new album "Payable On Death". As P.O.D. said they are returning to their roots, backed with a new guitarist named Jason Truby(who was one of my favorite musicians for a while before joining the P.O.D. team, in Living Sacrifice). I saw an even stronger spiritual reasoning in the songs of this album. This album is so brand new, but yet i've listened to it SOOOOOOOO much.

want to thank P.O.D. for being angels. I believe that through their music, God ministered to me and gave me the ope I was looking for. My life is changed today because of P.O.D's dedication to makin it positive.

God bless you P.O.D. You are in my hearts, in my prayers, in my mind. Yer my favorite band... and you have helped change more lives than just mine. You are the ony "Jesus" that some people know... keep up the good work. I hope to see you in concert sometime in the future... maybe even meet you guys... that would be my dream coe true.

Tina (Rockin Zion 09)

My name is Tina, and here is my testimony to date. To fully understand my point of view on things, I'd like to give a little background history on myself. My natural father died when I was very young, and my natural mother passed away when I was nine. I was very fortunate, because my parents were best friends with another couple, and these people took me in, became my legal guardians, and raised my like their own. My "mom" is very spiritual. Her belief in God is unquestionable. God has always been a huge part of our lives, though we never went to church. My "parents" are both different religions, and they allowed us to make up our own minds about God and such. What a blessing that was!! I believe that God had a plan all along, which is how my situation came into play. I don't feel bitter or angry. I thank God for blessing me with two sets of parents to enjoy in my life time.

In my teenage years, I was constantly humiliated because of my weight. You know how people can be, and when you are overweight and don't fit in, it can be tough. I found a lot of my strength through music. It was a sort of salvation for me, and it allowed me to escape a lot of the sadness I felt. I was into music, period. For me, it's never been about labels, only emotions. I looked for intelligence and for talent, music that spoke to my soul, although I must admit that there were a few...um....misguided choices(New Kids On The Block, anyone.....), but I don't think that we will go there. I like some cheese once in awhile, after all I am from Wisconsin. I never had a computer in school. We couldn't afford it, and my mom thought I needed to concentrate on other things(graduating, getting a job, the usual stuff), but we did have MTV and that is where I got my first glimpse of P.O.D. as the video for Rock The Party was everywhere. I was intrigued to say the least, but also kind of blind to decent music. I never had gotten into harder music, up to that point, but they changed that. This is where the connection that led to my life now began.

I was into God, always. He has been the only constant in my life, no matter what, and my love for Him was there from day one. I started to explore my faith further, because I felt that I needed a closer connection to God. I was a Christian, but unsure of how to express it, how to incorporate it in my life. I believe that P.O.D. was only one of the tools God helped supply me with. Over time, I got a job that I've been at for 10 years, some money in my bank account, a good family life, and lots of really wonderful life experiences, along with some nasty bumps and some sad times. I also, about two years ago, got a computer. This was the next step. I explored the official P.O.D. site, and was told about the Southtown, which I'd never heard of. I was interested, and pleasantly surprised as to how kind and helpful the people were. Best of all, they seemed to accept me for who I was, and were always ready to support me, through good and bad. That was something magical for me, as a person, because it helped reaffirm my belief that there were people who genuinely wanted to know about me and who accepted me. Through the Southtown, I have met several really close friends(you know who you are) who have shown me what true compassion and love are. I have been so honored and blessed to have the opportunity to find people who understand and share my Christian beliefs, and who have given me many ways to help others find God. It all, to me, is God's master plan. He made all these things come together, making my life a more fulfilling and meaningful one. I have met new people from all walks of life, from all around the world, and through the universal language of music, have had my life transformed for the best. This could go on forever, so I think to wrap it up, I'll simply say this: I feel that God leads us down certain roads for a reason. I'm grateful that I have my love for music and for humanity. I feel truly blessed, no matter what happens in life. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me next.

Rockin Zion 09

Anyway, so I'm not a religious person, nor am I a very... how to say it... believing person. I'm a very skeptical person; spiritual? Yes. But not religious. I don't like to preach at people and I hate when people preach at me.... How does this have anything to do with P.O.D.? read on and find out. So I've been a fan for a little bit of time. 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!!!~~

Michael Crocker

Hi,
My name is Michael Crocker and I live in Adelaide a small town in south Australia. About 3 years ago I was diagnosed with serious depression, it hurt so bad inside that I tried every thing to get out including attempts at suicide (I was only about 12 the first time I tried it) I ended up in hospital when I was 17 (about 2 years ago). I was listening to alot of negative music like marylin and murder dolls ect. I was at a good school with a very Christian motto all the kids teachers every one was Christian. One day I was listening to my music when a guy named Josh handed me a CD and told me to listen to it, it was P.O.D and I thought it was real good especially the youth of a nation song. It has a very good message behind it. Then one day my cousin came over and we got talking about music and I mentioned P.O.D and he said "yeh their my favorite band" he even had "alive" as the title song for his baptism. Now though I'm ok I'm strong with Jesus and their lowering my medicine. In conclusion I would just like to say no matter how hard life is there is a God who loves you and is so perfect in a way words can't describe and he has sent people like P.O.D to help show the way.

any way God bless

Michael Crocker

Claudia (Freedom)

I remember the first time I saw the band, I was watching TV and all of the sudden I see this video "Rock the Party" those crazy guys, the bus, the vibes and wow! Jesus with dreads.I said to myself "I need to know who they are". Since that day I started looking for their stuff on TV on the net, CD stores, haha.I was like crazy (and still). It was hard to find stuff cuz I'm a latin warrior and I live in Guatemala (next to Mexico) but a friend of mine gave me my first CD..I was so happy. When I first heard them, they touched so much my heart, you have no idea. They opened my eyes about some aspects in my life. I found in POD tolerance and love and that's why I love them to death, God has blessed them so much. I learned that you can always love people around you no matter who they are and I also learned that you always have to be honest to yourself. God has used this band to touch my life and others people's lives and I'm thankful. Through POD I also had the opportunity to meet awesome people, the Southtown crew, the Warrior Klan familia and warriors very down to earth that I appreciate a lot. The list goes on but this is the way I feel about POD.

Thanks so much to Traa, Sonny, Jason and Wuv for making this awesome music, for their message and thank God for this incredible band!

claudia (libertad - freedom)

I always thought my story was unique until I started reading here. My name is Kerri, I am 28 married and have 1 son. I had a horrible upbringing, my mother was an alcoholic and my father abused me really bad. He once lit my arms on fire with lighter fluid for playing with matches, and he always threated me with a gun. God was not known in my house. My father was very much against the Lord and said that it was just a story and the bible was a way for people to make money.

Well I turned 18, graduated high school and I needed to get out of there so I left home one day and never went back. I joined the Air Force and did my thing there. I was a cop, then got a special duty assignment to teach weapons systems to the troops, very cool job by the way. I met my husband and I knew right away he was the one. He introduced me to a whole new word which included God. I got pregnant with my son and I thought the world is finally what I want it to be, I have a family, something I never had but always wanted. Then one day during my pregnancy I went blind. After a few months of testing I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I began to get mad at God, thinking havn't I been through enough in my life, finally when everything seems to be right YOU go and mess it up. My brother in law is a Pastor so I went for a ride with him crying my eyes out saying, "If there is a God why would he allow this to happen to me, I have already paid my dues haven't I?" I mean I was MAD. He answered alot of my questions I had and the most important is that, I will one day find out why this happened to me and everything happens according to God plan. I could go on forever about this conversation I had with him. At the end of that conversation I had it figured out, or at least what God wanted me to figure out. Like I said we were in the car and he said listen to this. Some band named POD, was blarring in my ear sing Alive. I cried so hard while listening to that song. It inspired me so much that evening I got on my knees and prayed so long and I think that was the TRUE moment that took Jesus into my heart. I think that song sums up everything for me. I would love to thank all of them for that song, isn't that what they want, for us to hear the message...well I HEARD IT LOUD AND CLEAR...so thank you POD, and Mason, my brother in law. I still get depressed about my disease but now that I know God he helps me through those bad days and when ever I listen to POD it just reinforces it all!!!!

Jahrulez

it is quite time that i have shared, since i have had the full story for a few years now...

I grew up in the church, even to the point of me attending a private lutheran school for 8th grade and the first two high school years... My knowledge of scripture grew immensely from this education, and i had, by far, the most biblical knowledge of anyone in my home churches confirmation (i was actually confirmed twice in two differant synod lutheran churches) but basically my knowledge was a knowledge without true belief. I knew that i wanted to believe, but i was having serious trouble accepting christ into my heart... of course i wasnt aware of this need at the time, and thought that i was great for having such biblical knowledge.

I have found that God works in very awesomely powerful ways as i was on a bus riding out to the student center for my school (its a building that offers specific specialized areas of training and is open to all schools from the district) this was my junior year, late in the month of august, 2001. While on that bus one day, i overheard a conversation near the back of the bus. Probably the biggest pothead and antichristian in our school was in the back of the bus telling a couple of his friends about POD. he directly mentioned that even though they were christian, he thought they were cool. i took a mental note of this, and a couple days passed and i forgot about it... but then about a week later i was just flipping through stations and mtv flicked on and it was a pre-viewers choice awards interview with none other than sonny sandoval. The interview basically consisted of sonny saying "word of mouth, satellite, 9/11/2001 lets do this" it was at this point i was reminded of the earlier mention of POD and decided to get the cd.

I had planned on picking up the cd the day it came out, but for obvious reasons, was unable to, and that following weekend i was away on a trip, so i asked my mother to pick the cd up for me... well, instead of her finding Satellite, my mom purchased FEOS and also a small promo cd that was next to it (it was a resell type item) the promo cd was the promo only little nicky single... i have yet to see another copy of it, or even hear about it. but that is the story of my first POD cd... i popped it into my cd player that weekend, and enjoyed the style... and then i started reading the lyrics... i was amazed at how openly christian FEOs was... i doubt that satellite would have had the same impact on me (i know its equally religious, but FEOS is a lot more open about it to a person who doesnt understand POD's understoned style... )

later i went on to pick up the rest of the POD collection and was very happy... i then noticed that POD was good friends with a band called blindside, so i picked them up too... this began a chain reaction that opened up my mind to the awesome music of the christian industry, and is the KEY factor in the opening of my heart to true acceptance of Christ... God lead me to find POD and he led my mom to pick up the wrong cd so that it would impact me hard... The thought of this never ceases to amaze me

-jahrulez

Renee Schlueter (findmyway2POD)

My name is Renee. I am 14 years old and live in Fort Lauderdale Florida. I have never been to a P.O.D. concert but praying for the day that I do and hoping that I will also be able to meet them and tell them how much I love them....that is my dream :) . But since I am unable to do that now , then through this I will tell them. Well the first time I have heard and saw P.O.D. was when I saw their music video "Alive". After the music video was over I was just in "awww" with my jaw to the floor. I was just so amazed by this band. Their music sounded awsome and it was really nothing I ever heard before. I was really amazed by the band members. The way Wuv played the drums was so amazing because I have always been into drums. I have a own set of mine at home, but when I saw him playing the drums it was just so amazing, and the way Marcos and Traa played it was awsome and sounded great and I thought that Sonny had a very amazing and beautiful voice. So right then and there I just fell in love with the band P.O.D.

I am just so glad God had guided me to P.O.D. They really made a great impact on my life and showed me new things and I am just so thankful for that. Being a warrior means alot to me. And all the other fellow warriors are just great and amazing people. I am also thankful I know them. Words can not tell how much I love P.O.D. They are just amazing people. They give so much to their fans and I just thanks them dearly for that and wish there was some way I can tell them how much I love them and am greatful for everything they do. To me P.O.D. is just the greatest band there ever will be. No one can top them. Their music is just so wonderful and so uplifting. Everytime I hear or see P.O.D it just brings a smile to my face and gives me a warm feeling inside. It is like no feeling I ever had before. P.O.D. also brought alot of joy in my life. Before I felt sad alot and the music I listened to only brought me more down. But now that I have been listening to P.O.D. and everytime I buy a new cd or anything of P.O.D. I just been so happy and more uplifting and I just thanks P.O.D. so much for that.

Well I do not want to take up alot of your guys time so I am going to try to end it or I can go on forever. I just love P.O.D. and I am just thankful for everything that they have done for me in my life. I am thankful for everything they did for me and other warriors.You guys are just amazing and wonderful people. You guys deserve everything you got plus more. I love you guys so much and thanks for everything. I hope one day I will be able to meet you so I can give you all a great big hug and tell you how much I love you guys, or just at least see you live in concert for the first time. And I know when that day does come around that will be the most wonderful day of my life. Thank you God for guiding me to this great Band. P.O.D. Rules!!!! Thanks P.O.D. for eveything...I love you guys. Please keep on doing what you guys are doing. You guys are just so great at it. You guys are amazing. God Bless you guys :)

Renee :)

Winston "RevFreak" Pennington

Ok this aint about me, really but my little angel I am having to raise on my own, because the mother wanted to live a different life, I am 22 year and a male from Texas, Just north of Dallas. here in the past couple of years POD has been dropping numbers in my book, because of this whole mainstream stuff, but my Daughter who is a year and 7 months, comes up to me and says "POD, POD, POD" because I forgot to put in one of the POD cds when I put her to bed I can't help but still like the band for they are, they are turning her on to the music I want her to listen to when she is a teenager and, and though she don't understand it at this time I know that soon she will, When I was here age I done the same thing with The Oak Ridge Boys, I had it played in my crib since birth, and still this very day That country group is still top on my list, then Project 86, but I played POD for Heather since she was born for some reason, and every time I would turn it of she would start Crying, In Dallas I have Backstage passes to the POD, LP, and SOTY concert, in Feb., and it will just be me and her going though at that time she will be 21 months, and not understanding anything yet, I think that is one thing that will make a lasting impression in her life with the pictures I will be taking from the show and her with and me and her with the band and she looks back and sees the times that I was always there for her. and wo I can't type on this anymore with out breaking out crying, I am just so thankful for POD, and I hope they Continue to rock for Christ

In Him
Winston "RevFreak" Pennington

David Quintero

Dear P.O.D,

I know a little bit about your band, but I know even more about the message that you transcend to the youth through your music. I know the power of music and it's effect on young impressionable minds. I myself was a victim of ignorance during my teens and became addicted to hard drugs It was a concern for those around me but most of all for the direction that my life was taking. After spending one full year in rehab known as Teen Challenge, I found my Saviour and my new life had begun. I became aware of my surroundings and could see clearly what had led me down that miserable path to destruction. Now I have graduated from the Trebas Institute in Toronto, ON,, which is a school of music and music production. My goal is to possess the tools and the passion necessary to instill young minds with powerful messages through music. Your message helped me see the goodness in music without sounding old-school in the making. I am blessed to be a success story but there are many out there who are still in the darkness and I am thankful that there are musicians and Christians out there working hard to make a positive impact on society.

God Bless,

David Quintero

Derrick (Warrior1996)

Hello my name is Derrick (Warrior1996). Im in Houston TX, Im 26 years old... This is my warrior testimony ..

Im an old school warrior , but ive never really posted on the boards .. Im kinda new to the whole internet warrior movement.. Ive been down with POD since 1996.. I was heavy into drugs and alcohol and in 1996 i accepted Christ.. Music has always been a BIG part of my life.. I was desepratley searching for NON Cheezey Chrsitian music .. Shortly after i got saved i discoverd a Chrstian book store called Shiloh by my church .. I went there and was browsing through CD's and found the Brown CD.. They had a demo of it so i was able to listen to it through the store's stereo .. I liked it so much and bought it; I cried and was very touched by the Momma song.. POD has been such a blessing to my life .. Their music has been such an inspiration to me and my walk with Christ .. When i look around and see soooo many of my friends falling and turning away from God; I get very inspired to stay strong when i see POD out there representing GOD and not changing what they are about .. Since 96 i have been promoting POD NON stop making my own mix CD's of POD and giving them to friends, family and people on the street.. I will never stop supporting POD and will always keep then in my prayers .. Other old school warriors hit me up !! GOD BLESS !

Dannie

Back when I was thirteen-years-old, myself -- along with my mother (Dawn), my older sister (Shannon), and my grandparents (Marcella and Brent Schultz) found out that my brother Jesse was sick with a Cancerous brain tumor. It was something that would traumatize me for the rest of my life. It made my entire family sad -- as it should! I was the only person that never had the thought of him possibly dying cross my mind. At thirteen, I was very sure that Jesse would've beat the Cancer, and gone on to live out whatever dreams he had. (And, trust me . . . he had a lot of dreams!) I knew that my mom, sister, and grandparents were afraid of him losing the tough battle. (Cancer actually runs in my family.) But, being a Taurus, I remained as bull-headed as ever . . . I knew that he was going to win! And, as hard as it is for me to say this . . the fact of me knowing that he was going to win wasn't enough. He fought from October 10th, 1996, until his untimely death on May 8th, 1997. At the time of his death (11:17 PM), I had been sleeping. (It was also my fourteenth birthday; his death has been the most memorable birthday present to date thus far in my life!) For the first year-and-a-half after his death, I kept expecting him to come home -- you know, to walk through the front door. The year or two following that, my head was shrouded with thoughts of suicide. I felt that my brother had to die young . . . so I must have to die young, too. (I was even afraid that my mom was going to die on my fifteenth birthday; which would have forced me into moving to MN -- to live with my non-custodial father.) Sometime in mid-2001, I was watching Total Request Live (I think it might have been back when Carson Daly was still the host!) On that particular day, there would be a premiere for this video by the name of Alive. Now, honestly . . . at that point in time, I actually despised P.O.D.! I have no shame in admitting that, because it's a thing of the past now! (I now absolutely love P.O.D.) Well, for some reason, my sister had asked if I wanted her to tape the video. Without even thinking about it, I had found myself saying, "Yes." It was as if my brother had forced me into wanting to see this video. As I watched the video, I found myself totally and completely into it. Before that point, I always had this urge to change the channel whenever they came on. But, at that point, I had every intention of keeping my eyes on the TV, on the video. Needless to say, that video had changed my whole out-look on my brother being gone. To me, it was like . . . Jesse letting me know that he's okay Upstairs in Heaven. He's with God now, and he's no longer in any kind of pain. I had actually been so intrigued by this song and video, that I had gotten a copy of Satellite the Friday following it's September 11th, 2001, release. Now, every time I can't sleep at night, I put Satellite in (and then hit the repeat button). Out of every CD I own, Satellite is the only CD I own that actually calms me down, "de-stresses me," enough to fall asleep. (I usually don't fall asleep until I've heard all the way through at least once.) Through listening to Satellite, I've found myself able to better handle, and deal with, Jesse's death to Cancer. I feel that by listening to P.O.D., my brother's letting me know that he's always been okay. I think that it was Jesse's doing that I've become a P.O.D. fan; I also feel as though it's his doing that I no longer despise them as I once had. I would like to greatly thank the guys of P.O.D. for staying true to themselves . . . and for making my tragic loss this much easier! (I even got a copy of The Fundamental Elements of Southtown!) I hope that they all realize how much of a positive effect they've had on me in the last four years! Their music has saved me from myself, and they've had a great and appreciatiative spot in my life. I'd also like to let them know that my 49-year-old mother is a somewhat fan. (She likes to listen to their music, too.) I remember this once, while the two of us were going somewhere, Youth Of The Nation comes on the radio, and my mom was turning up the volume and singing along. I wa, too, but I was really excited that she was so into at least one of their songs. She actually told me something along the lines of the following (about Youth Of The Nation), "It makes me think of Jesse. I kind of wonder if hes made because I wasn't able to tell him good-bye, and that I love him." I want to give P.O.D. a BIG THANK YOU! You've helped me through the last four years of darkness. RAWK ON! RAWK HARD! RAWK FOREVER!

Love,

-- Dannie --

Brian ~ Kaylor

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.

<~Brian~>

Josh ~ the fire breathes from Virginia

Hey y'all! Whasup? I've been a KoRn fan for a while. I really love the style of their music (If only there was a christian band that played like that) and that they sing about true real life. A lot of things like they sing about have happened to me. What's funny is I was at a Kid Rock concert one night, I was just strung out on drugs and alchohol among other things. I had been in about six or seven fights that night, I had gotten seriously beat up a couple times. THen P.O.D. had come onstage. I was like, WHOAH! I didn't know Rage against the machine was here! And Kid Rock said their name and stuff, and I was thinkin, well huh! New band. If Kid likes them, they're probly pretty good. SO I listened to them and I was thinking "That's pretty cool!" I was feeling kinda weird, like right after you wake up, ya know? I knew what was going on and everything, it was just kinda in slow-mo. But after the concert and junk I saw the lead singer (good ol' sonny) coming down from the stage and talking to some guy (probly from the crowd, knowing him LOL) I shouted as best I could to make myself heard "Y'all were pretty good!" I guess he heard me, cuz he yelled "thanks man! God bless, come to our next concert if ya can. I'll pray for you." I was like, whoah, wait a minute. Pray for me? That's a new one.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! JAH PPL RIDE ON!

Amanda Webster, MA.

I’ve been listening to POD for about a year and a half now. I first heard them last year at the Inside Out Soul Festival. I had never heard them before, but I liked them instantly. I remember Sonny started the concert off with a prayer and I thought that was awesome, because not too many of the bands did that. I noticed something different about those guys- I could tell that they really loved God. it was just so obvious, and I thought that was just so cool. throughout the whole concert Sonny kept pointing to God and giving Him all of the glory. now that is cool. This summer I was blessed with the opportunity to actually meet the guys and talk to them for about an hour while they were at Creation!! it was such an encouragement to talk to those guys!! 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...they have meant a lot to me and they have helped me out a lot in life although they may never realize how much they mean to me seeing they don't know me. like POD says we need to "separate ourselves, leave behind this place, don't ever look back" because this life is all about God. POD has showed me that. we need to let our lights shine in this dark world-we are in the world not OF it- and we need to "set our eyes to Zion," that's what it's all about. God bless and ride on!! In Christ, Amanda Webster, MA.

Emma Limbaugh

I've only known who POD was since Wednesday, August 25th, but they've been in my stereo 24/7 since then. My brother took me to see them play in Birmingham, AL. It was such an amazing show. God has really been dealing with me for a while now. I'm not unfamiliar with his voice and that oh so uncomfortable tugging on my heart when I know I'm in a really bad place. Let me assure you...at the time of the concert, my life was in a really bad place. I'd been working at a place where drugs were an every day fact of life, and I had eagerly taken part in using them. It had gotten so bad that Cocaine was beginning to be involved in our regiment on an almost weekly basis. I saw hundreds and hundreds of dollars go down the drain, and that wasn't easy to explain to my parents (who where pretty much unaware of my activities). I was sick all the time, and the last 8 months are just kind of a blur...which is a very scary and uncomfortable feeling. Of course anyone who uses drugs know that there are particular behaviors and activities that go hand in hand with it...so I won't go into some of the other things I did that I truly regret now. Let me just say that I probably did a lot of what you are imagining. I have good news though! I did take my brother up on his invitation to go to this show he and his friends had been talking about. I'm really into hardcore music and thought...why not? It'll give me a chance to hang with my brother if nothing else. So, I go to the POD show and was amazed. Here were all these kids who looked like me. They dressed real cool, and had body modifications as well...but they were optimistic, and happy. This was a very opposite outlook on life than what my friends and I felt. We talked to Dirt who is a really cool man...he had me laughing, so already my mind was in a place where God could use these guys to speak to me. So, the concert started and I really enjoyed it. The bands were real cool and I liked their sounds. 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. Again, I'm at a loss for words. All I know to say is thank you. I've quit my job, and since that night I've had no drugs...not even alcohol, and I don't crave any of it. Not in the least. It was a burden that was easy to give up...not a sacrifice. And I thank God for that, because I couldn't feel that way without his power and grace. I want to tell the guys from POD myself - "I feel nothing but love and gratitude to you guys. Be confident that you led one more child to Christ." God Bless You, Emma Limbaugh

Chris

For many years before last I was what you would call a shameful Christian. You See I have a friend who is "was" a hardcore Christian but he fell and last year around this time he took his own life You might be wondering where P.O.D. comes into this before this happened the song "full color "was just a nice jam but after that day it became so much more then that it give me healing to my soul because I know that one day I will be reunited with him and I know the song was about Sonny's mom but it has had me get closer to Jesus I'm not scared to be a Christian any more. Listening to your music I can feel the Holy Spirit and I hope that God Bless' you guys more and more you might hear alot of people say I'm the biggest P.O.D. fan I'm not going to say that Jesus is the biggest fan. I feel close to guys because you were the first Christian music group I listen to and you guys were the first to call me a warrior and that made me feel part of the band part of the minstry God Bless you guys forever and ever love in Christ Chris