Azusa Pacific's Music Boot Camp

Today marks exactly a month of being at school. I must say it is all I hoped for it to be and then some.

First of all let me just say it, the Giants are doin' work back home, so that's that.

Everyday is a full day of work for me. Most kids have 4-5 classes total here, I have 12. I'm pretty much busy everyday from 8-5 roughly. But while it is challenging I absolutely love it. I immerse myself in music all day long. And when I'm not doing music, I'm reading the bible for my only non-music class. What more could I ask for?

There are some wonderful musicians and wonderful people here. Divas are not put up with. Everyone will be humbled at some point here, no matter who you are. I sat down for a bass lesson yesterday and realized I didn't know very very basic stuff. I felt rather silly.

But on a more important note, the spirit of God is in this place. The last two chapels have featured Lincoln Brewster and Francis Chen. Everyday I learn something, big or small.

Yesterday Francis talked about the characters in the Bible who did great things. Elijah did great things. But Elijah was a man. Just like us. He is not above us. He is equal to us. Who are we to say God can't do great things through us?

I've been writing music. It's been splendid. Whether it's good or not, I love doing it.

This weekend I'm going home for Breanne and Luke's wedding. I get to see my family, my dogs, my wonderful friends who I miss horribly.

So that's the update.

God be with all of you.

And go to Disneyland when you get the chance. It's wonderful.

-Corey De La Roche Martin

Prince Poppycock?

Sitting here in 111 Smith watching America's Got Talent. I've got to say, Prince Poppycock has officially creeped me out. Been here for a couple weeks in Azusa, CA where I am truly enjoy this place. There is a Chipotle across the street, and that's all that truly matters. I must say though the highlight so far has been Men's Chorale, or "Man Choir". We had a 3 day intensive camp in which we not only sight-read wonderful and beautiful peaces, but we truly experienced the love and message of Jesus Christ. The first night, the Man Choir veterans washed the feet of the incoming freshmen and prayed over us. Every day was filled with worship truly sang by people but not for people. This is truly a group of men that are in it for the right reasons. They are there for the glory of God, and that only. It is a truly special thing to be a part of.

The other night we had barefoot soccer on the Trinity Lawn. Germany prevailed.

This morning our Smithasaurus was killed by those in Adams Hall. We retaliated by marching him around their building while banging pots and pans and led him to the firepit and burned him.

Class starts tomorrow. Life is good. God is good.

Last night in town.

It's been quite a week. Lots of mixed emotions, lots of packing, lost of thinking, "I can probably live without that...". Tonight I had the honor to have one last jam session with Eric and Ryan. We played all Lions and Tygers songs as well as some Ashes Ashes and Michael Jackson, just for old time sake. Well that's it. Everything is packed. I keep thinking of people that I may be "leaving behind", but they are all very strong people and it's egotistical to think it's up to me to hold them together. Pretty sure they can handle it. Moving away from a lot of people that I love very much. My family, my dogs, my amazing friends, my enemies, my piano, and my queen size bed. This will be quite a journey. All I can do is trust in God and always do the best I can for the very best reason.

There is only an audience of one, after all.

Leaving for college a week from tomorrow!

A huge thank you to everyone who has blessed me these past four years. The friendships I've made and people I've had the opportunity to talk to have been nothing short of amazing. I'm currently in the very early stages of packing. By that I mean I haven't started. I haven't been on in a while so let me tell you what I've done this summer. Nicky and I have been going crazy on our summer bucket list. You can follow that on www.vimeo.com/channels/coreyandnicky. I've also been reading a lot lately. I went through the Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die by David Crowder and Mike Hogan, Fame is Infamy by Andrew Schwab, and The Problem of Pain by CS Lewis.

I'm telling you all these are life-changing reads.

Here are some of my thoughts on each book:

The Screwtape Letters: Wow what a concept. Looking at temptation by a demon's point of view with God seen as the enemy. This book takes you through your daily life and exposes so much of it as sinful and exactly what Satan wants. Lewis is a tough read sometimes though and it always takes a little longer to get through his books but it's definitely worthwhile.

Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die: Well Mr. Crowder and Mr. Hogan, you've convinced me to respect bluegrass. This book has two main goals. It takes you through dealing with death as well as seeing music as an outlet for pain. One of my favorite passages in this book is when David goes over the concept of the Jewish Halla. The Halla is a group of Psalms that is sang during the passover celebration. So the point is; If the Bible is truly 100% God breathed, and Jesus was fully man and fully divine, then God essentially wrote a song for himself, knowing how powerful and meaningful music is to mankind. Wow. Even Jesus needed music sometimes.

Fame is Infamy: I flew through this one. Andrew Scwab, singer of hardcore band Project 86, talks about societies constant need for fame. He assures us that fame does not lead to happiness, and a lot of the time it leads to great struggles. He also looks us all in the eye as he talks about the problems pride and egotistical thoughts and behavior. All talent comes as a gift from God. Boasting about this talent is the same as boasting about the new scooter mommy got you. The only thing one can truly boast about is God himself. No one wants to be a spoiled brat.

The Problem of Pain: Lewis take two! This one gets you thinking. He describes the many reasons why pain is necessary in human life. First of all that pain is a result of free will, and God keeping it away from us is ulimately Him taking away that freedom. God can do all things, but not two contradicting things at the same time. Also God's goodness is so far beyond ours that we don't know truly what is best for us. Pain is the result of human behavior. When a kid throws a tamtrum, as I did, you have to eventually punish him somehow to get him to change. He also addresses that God will take simple evil and make complex good out of it. This does not excuse the evil however. Animal pain is another interesting topic addressed in this, basically saying how we have no idea. Lewis also brings us a different perspective on Heaven and Hell. Humans, according to the Bible, are made for Heaven. Hell is not a place where we were meant to be, although far too many end up there.

Today I picked up Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. I've heard good things so here we go.

So that's that. Move in a week. Readin' books. Bucket List. It's been an awesome summer.

Been a while

Wow haven't gone on this in a long time. 

Well this is my last week of high school. Excited and nervous at the same time. Next year I will be attending Azusa Pacific University

Sick day

Big weekend coming up. Starting feeling sick today, so decided it was a good idea to sleep it off. Here's some new stuff I've been working on.

"Young Heart"

I see a man in the mirror, he is pale.

I watch him stare until his look becomes stale.

His love is like a flower, it can be ripped into shreds.

And a stupid, simple accident goes straight to his head.

When a young heart is broken, it flies in the wind.

And into the ocean just to find it again.

To be filled and crushed for nothing,

cause you can't hold on to it.

And a bright light is shining and it's making me thin,

but I'll find it's ultraviolet, diggin' into my skin.

And we cry.

I see a face in the distance, she is crying.

She's fed up with all the torment and all the lying.

She dreams of a day where love is easy.

Where she doesn't have to give up herself to please him.

"Miles"

You used to touch my face as I'd look into your eyes.

You used to call my name until we saw the sunrise.

Though I held you, I still feel the miles between us.

And they sink through my chest into my still heart.

I still see you in all my dreams,

and you're beautiful.

A start

Hello, my name is Corey and I have created this blog for me to write down my thoughts and share my heart with whoever reads this. This will include songs that I wrote as well as others and even just words that come out for no apparent reason. I hope God blesses whoever reads this. This is definitely not the start of my journey. I have been through a lot as a person, some of which you will hear about but a lot that you won't.

God bless,
Corey