1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 2: Hey John, thanks for joining me. 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 3: Good I mate. How are you doing well? John? 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 2: James Forer, singer for the Newsboys, who has a new book, 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 2: Newsboy My Story of Hope and Second Chances, also has 6 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 2: a new album as well. You were with the band 7 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 2: the first sixteen years with the Newsboys. Your website is 8 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 2: I Reach USA dot com. For those who want to 9 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 2: check you out, John, your story is so inspirational. I've 10 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 2: enjoyed learning about it. Of course, I'll listen to your 11 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 2: music back in the day and listening to the music again. 12 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 2: I'm enjoying that for readers who may not know your story, 13 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 2: or for listeners who may not know your story. What 14 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 2: inspired you to write this book and why did you 15 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 2: want to tell everybody about your past? 16 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:47,279 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's actually being quite a wall coming. And at 17 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 3: the same time, it wasn't an onmoy radar at all. 18 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 3: Several years ago, some folks were at an event We're 19 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 3: always speaking and one of the individuals was with a 20 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 3: publishing company, broad Street Publishing, and and they heard my 21 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 3: testimony and were really impacted with it, and they felt, man, 22 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 3: this needs to be a book and people need to 23 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 3: hear about this. And several years ago. It started the 24 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 3: journey of the relationship with me with the publisher, and 25 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 3: it's been a while and it's making and then we 26 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 3: just released it June second this year. You know, a 27 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 3: couple of years ago, mate, if you said to me 28 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 3: I'd be writing a book and stuff, I would have 29 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 3: laughed and said krike and never had a million years. Man, 30 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 3: it's just amazing. So's the book was the most therapeutic, 31 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 3: but the most liberating, but the most amazing time of 32 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 3: intimacy and worship with the Lord for me writing it. 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 3: It was a pretty incredible experience. 34 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 4: Bru. 35 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 2: Those who don't know your story, you baud old addiction 36 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: while a member of the band, give us a just 37 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 2: a brief overview of your testimony. 38 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I actually have to correct that because I think 39 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 3: we've been talking before the interview started. How the Internet 40 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 3: has a nature of its own. So was I battling addictions? Well, 41 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 3: addictions come in many form in regards to being a 42 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 3: drug addict. Was I a drug addict during the band 43 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 3: time of the Newsboys and not? I never was. My 44 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: addiction really started in regards to substance when my career 45 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 3: fell apart and the alcohol really exploded. Now was I 46 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,119 Speaker 3: drinking probably way too much when I was with the Newsboys, Absolutely, 47 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 3: But in regards to drug use, and I've been flearing 48 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 3: that up for a while, but you know, sometimes things 49 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 3: can happen and take on the nature on the internet. 50 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:40,359 Speaker 3: But the addiction side really evolved and exploded with the 51 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 3: pain that I was self medicating with when my career 52 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 3: fell apart. But you know it's funny, mate, when you 53 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 3: talk about addiction, people stereotyped to you know, substance abuse. 54 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 3: But as you and I and a mate, addictions can 55 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 3: come in many form. You can you can be an 56 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 3: addict in regards to suicide, you know, the self harm. 57 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 3: You can have an addiction with pawn. You can have 58 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 3: an addiction with unforgiveness and biddenness and resentment. So an 59 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 3: addiction something that consumes you with a dysfunctional outcome and habit, 60 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 3: like I said, made, it comes in many shapes and form. 61 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 3: And so at the heights of success, gaining the band, 62 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 3: gaining the world, go figure, mate, my life and my 63 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 3: marriage and everything came crumbling down. But you know, as 64 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 3: the interview goes on, maybe I could share more. I 65 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 3: didn't wake up one day at the hides of success 66 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 3: and my big, beautiful home in Nashville and at the 67 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 3: heights of success as one of the biggest Christian bands 68 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 3: in the world. I never said, right, what's on the 69 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 3: agenda today? What am I going to do this month? 70 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 3: Find out I'm going to destroy my ministry and my marriage, 71 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 3: my family, everything. It never happens like that. Made it 72 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 3: was this so slow, desensitizing erosion of the real foundations 73 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 3: that I'm meant to keep strong, and I succumb to that, 74 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 3: and in the end made we mean that my house 75 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 3: of cards come crashing down. 76 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 2: For those who don't know which songs you report of, 77 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: because then you boys have so many songs over the decades, 78 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 2: and we kind of forget. 79 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 3: Shane Shane. You Yeah, I was a part of the 80 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 3: era with the songs. The first hit the Newsboys really 81 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 3: ever had was this classic song called not Ashamed. There 82 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 3: were songs like Shine, take Me to Your Leader, Breakfast Reality. 83 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 3: I joke me, humbly, jokingly say I was a part 84 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 3: of the band when we had the cool songs. And 85 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 3: but it's funny, you don't realize you have thirty five 86 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 3: years the band had gone for There were three eras 87 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 3: of different singers you know, there's people who followed the 88 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 3: Newsboys that totally missed my era, didn't even know who 89 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 3: No you were. You weren't ever with the Newsboys. And 90 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 3: then there was Peter Ferler's era, and then after his 91 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 3: era it is Mike Tait. So you've had really free 92 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 3: distinct eras with the band. Stylistically, mission wise was so 93 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:08,239 Speaker 3: dynamically different. 94 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: I was looking at that this morning. I typed en 95 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: Shine Newsboys music video on YouTube and there you are. 96 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 2: There you were in the music video, so people people 97 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 2: can see your face. And a lot of these music 98 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 2: videos that were recorded back at the really creative too 99 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 2: for the time. I mean, yeah, really, I think I 100 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: think that would survive today's creativity shout challenges. 101 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 3: Really, if you listen to a song, one of our 102 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 3: greatest hits was the song take Me to Your Leader, 103 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: and that when you look at the video clip of 104 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 3: take Me to Your Leader, man, it was way ahead 105 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 3: of its time. And really and you know the combination 106 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 3: of the newsboys cheesy quirkiness with the lyrical genius of 107 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 3: Steve Taylor Man, there was a chemistry that happened for 108 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 3: several albums that was just really worked. And you know, 109 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 3: the craziness of the Newsboys, but the quirkiness of Steve 110 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 3: Taylor's genius that really made an incredible marriage with the 111 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 3: songs and the songwriting and the lyrical content. You know, 112 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 3: I look back now, maybe I remember there was one 113 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 3: song where we used to see take Me to Your Leader. 114 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 3: You know, the opening line on that, I'm came up 115 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 3: with this. You know, Isabel Bally dance with a klepto 116 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 3: maniacs restraint, and you know you're trant to seeing that 117 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 3: when you're running around out of breath. But the lyrical 118 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 3: genius of Steve Taylor was just absolutely awesome, with the 119 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 3: band's desire to write lyrics that made people fee, that 120 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 3: were fun, that were crazy, but connected with a generation 121 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 3: that maybe wasn't in that typical I listened to church 122 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 3: music worship because the whole generation out there that doesn't 123 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 3: listen to CCM or even today, doesn't listen to Elevation 124 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: or Bethel or Hillsong worship, that doesn't even know it 125 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 3: exists or listens to it mate. So you know, it's 126 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 3: amazing how music has a bowl of the Christian music industry. 127 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 3: But if you were a part of that thera back then, 128 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 3: it was such a different universe. 129 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,720 Speaker 2: Mate, was it difficult to revisit these dark chapters of 130 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: your life? And what was it like to write about Over. 131 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 3: The months that I wrote, I got to be honest 132 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 3: with the listener of the viewer. It was the most 133 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 3: surreal experience. And there were days in writing where you know, 134 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 3: my wife had come into my office and I'm just underground, 135 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 3: ball of my eyes out. I think it was liberating, 136 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 3: it was healing, and the journey was Lord, you know, 137 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 3: I'm getting a bit older now, I'm sixty two and 138 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 3: authentically with integrity remembering the facts because you know, as 139 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 3: time goes by, the facts can become blurred, or you know, 140 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 3: you have a different perspective of the facts and maybe 141 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 3: what other people do. So my real heart was, Lord, 142 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 3: give me the ability to honestly articulate the journey, articulated 143 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 3: from the experience of what it was like from my perspective. 144 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 3: But also my heart was made Let it not be 145 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 3: a book where I have an axe to grind and 146 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 3: I'm here with a pail of stones ready to throw 147 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 3: stones at everybody. I wanted to truthfully, authentically read the book. 148 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 3: I say to folks, if you want to hear an authentic, 149 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 3: incredible story of success and brokenness and redemption, then it's 150 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 3: a powerful book. If you're looking for a book that's 151 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 3: going to pull the curtain back on the dysfunction on 152 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 3: the Christian music CICM world, and you know that's going 153 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 3: to be a great gossip session, you're buying the wrong 154 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 3: book because it definitely ain't going to be that. But 155 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 3: I did honestly talk about my journey, and maybe that 156 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 3: may make some people a bit uncomfortable, but I really 157 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 3: believe the integrity is solid with the book in regards 158 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 3: to me telling truthfully my story. As I recall, it. 159 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 2: Was alcohol the mean reason though you didn't leave the 160 00:08:57,520 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 2: band I. 161 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 3: Made you got to read the book. You know what, 162 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 3: I got to a placemate emotionally mentally. The alcohol was 163 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 3: a crutch. It wasn't the reason. You know, at the time, 164 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 3: a lot of stuff was said. You know, you've got 165 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 3: to realize back then we never had the animal of 166 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 3: social media where stuff would go viral overnight. Mate, you 167 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 3: could be canceled overnight now, but back then that didn't exist. 168 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 3: So top things took time to permeate through the industry, 169 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 3: you know, through it was a much slower pace. So 170 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 3: I guess it really gave the industry of different people 171 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: at place in the leadership to really try to get 172 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 3: before the horse and cart and get a narrative going. 173 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 3: And there were things that were said to protect people 174 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 3: that honestly, in hindsight looking back now weren't true. And 175 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 3: things were said to protect the brand, to protect the label. 176 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 3: And look, mate, I'm not going to be here today 177 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 3: this interview. If I was in there shoes made to 178 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 3: be honest, right or wrong, I probably would have done 179 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 3: the same thing because in regards to you, And I'm 180 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 3: not going to take the scripture out of context because 181 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 3: sometimes it can be so used as a as an 182 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:19,839 Speaker 3: exploit and distorted. But I'm going to give grace and 183 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 3: maybe there were ones. From a perspective, love covers a 184 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 3: multitude of sins, so I'm going to give. I'm going 185 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 3: to give great blyeway there for the benefit of the 186 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 3: doubt were their right motives? Many yes? Were their wrong motives? 187 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 3: Many yes? When things were said, and hey, but like 188 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 3: I said, we can truthfully talk about this, and I 189 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 3: pray my story will shine a light on an incredible 190 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 3: redemptive story. 191 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 2: Looking back, what was the turning point when you realize 192 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 2: that your story wasn't over, that God had a second 193 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 2: chapter in your life. 194 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 3: I had no idea about that, mate, I honestly when 195 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 3: I left the newsboys and my world fell apart, and 196 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 3: you know then I lost my marriage, my family, lost everything, mate, 197 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,679 Speaker 3: I basically went back to Australia to die, to crawl, 198 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 3: to disappear into obscurity. And really, you know, you know, 199 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 3: when you're so broken, made and lost, you can't even 200 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 3: swallow hope. Hope is so far removed from you that 201 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 3: you can't even emotionally connect with it. And it's not 202 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 3: like I went back to Australia, even though there were 203 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 3: reports that said I went back to Australia to be 204 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 3: with my family and follow ministry ministry, and that did that. 205 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,319 Speaker 3: I was so bro and again it was a great 206 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 3: press release to cover up and I was so broken 207 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 3: and lost, made, and I started. God had me on 208 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 3: a journey of redemption. But it's not like I went 209 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 3: back there. Man, I'm going to fix my life and 210 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 3: turned made. I was broken and it was a journey 211 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 3: of brokenness where you know, I eventually experienced God's grace 212 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 3: that drew me back to a place at the of 213 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 3: the cross in repentance. And it had nothing to do 214 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 3: with how amazing I am. Oh I deserved it. Oh man, 215 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 3: you know I got to come back. Story now. It 216 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 3: was God's incredible mercy and grace that he chose to 217 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 3: draw me back in repentance and I begin to find 218 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 3: my way back to Christ. But I'd had to be 219 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 3: on your interview today to say, hey, life is now 220 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 3: a bit of roses. But I got a lot more scars, man, 221 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 3: I got a lot more regrets. I get a lot 222 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 3: more wounds. Life has beat me up really bad. But 223 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 3: my story now is of this incredible God who sees 224 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 3: us and who was constantly drawing his kids back to 225 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 3: a place of redemption and intimacy. 226 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 4: You know. 227 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 3: And I've taken full responsibility made for my wrong choices. 228 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 3: You know, I've taken full responsibility for the sin in 229 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 3: my life made that tragically took everything from me. And 230 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 3: I can't change the past. You know, I lost my 231 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 3: first marriage, just the brokenness of that, my family, my ministry. 232 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:18,559 Speaker 3: I can't change that. But I've experienced God's grace and 233 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 3: every day now when I wake up my prayers, God, 234 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 3: how many years I have left. I don't know, but 235 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 3: let my life now bring glory to you. Let me 236 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 3: live a life now that brings honor and used my brokenness. 237 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 4: And my redemptive story to bring other people hope. 238 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 2: I was going to ask you that what is your 239 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 2: hope for those who hear your story and believe they're 240 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 2: too far going for Regard's redemption? 241 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 3: Mate, Michael, you hit the nail on the head. If 242 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 3: you know what's my goal with the book. I got 243 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 3: to be honest. Made my ego says hope by so 244 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 3: lot supple, but the reality is made. I don't care. 245 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 3: My prayer is that the book would find its way 246 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 3: to the hands of people who feel so unredeemable, so broken, 247 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 3: so lost. And the message of my book is that 248 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 3: no one is so far lost, so far broken, so 249 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 3: far gone, that can't experience this incredible God's redemption. No 250 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 3: one is so far removed, even though they may feel 251 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 3: like I'm so lost, I'm so messed up, God could 252 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 3: never reach me, or touch me or forgive me. Where 253 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 3: the reality is just like Thessalm says, God is close 254 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 3: to the wounded and the broken hearted. And that's my 255 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 3: prayer that they would experience this incredible God who sees them. 256 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 3: I love what in Genesis said talks about the story 257 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 3: of Hagar when she flee and was went to the 258 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 3: desert to die, and in the desert made Isn't that 259 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 3: the desert speaks of that base dridness, of hopelessness, of 260 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 3: death where people go to die in the desert experience. 261 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 3: But in the desert she met God, the God he 262 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 3: saw her. And that's my prayer, mate, that they would 263 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 3: experience this incredible God that no one has so far 264 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 3: gone that can't be redeemed. And that is the message 265 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 3: of this book. It's not about John James comeback story there. 266 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 3: It's about this incredible redempt of God that is still 267 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 3: in the miracle business of bringing hope, mate, and changing 268 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 3: lives and redeeming lives. And man, I'm the most less 269 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 3: humble men in the world that God never gave up 270 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 3: on me. I would have given up on me years ago, mate, 271 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 3: but God refuse refuses to give up on these kids. Amen. 272 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 2: Let's talk briefly about your new music before I let 273 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 2: you go. 274 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 3: Oh oh, the crazy oh oh, mate. The album is 275 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 3: another miracle, you know, you know, can you believe thirty 276 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 3: almost thirty years ago I left the band. I can't 277 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 3: a lifetime. And when I left the band and God 278 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 3: had be on this journey of healing and I did 279 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 3: get to a place of wonderful healing. But one thing 280 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 3: I said for almost thirty years, mate, that I'll never 281 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 3: sing again. I was just so broken in that area. 282 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 3: And you know, when you listen to the lies for 283 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 3: so long, the lies become more real than the truth. 284 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 3: I listened to the lies. You're useless, You're hopeless. You know, 285 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 3: you're a fool. How arrogant are you? Why would God 286 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 3: ever want to sing through somebody like you that made 287 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 3: a mess of everything? And we listened to the lies, 288 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 3: and those those lies kept me broken and crippled. You know, 289 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 3: I didn't write music, play music, sing music. That area 290 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 3: was dead, mate, And about a year and a half ago, 291 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 3: and God did the impossible and he breathed on that 292 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 3: area of my life. And you know, the books going 293 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 3: on this, and it was a long journey, and eventually 294 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 3: I found myself in a studio. But I wrote eleven songs, 295 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 3: made it in the studio singing man. You know, I 296 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 3: hadn't sung for so long thirty I actually had to 297 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 3: think I had to go and get several months to 298 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 3: singing lessons. I didn't even know if I could sing again. 299 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 3: As stupid as that sound, Mate, I dropped like forty pounds. 300 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 3: I want to get into shape. My wife had me 301 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 3: at five am every morning doing four miles out on 302 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 3: the pavement walking And it's like God wanted to do 303 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 3: a miracle, but he needed my participation in the journey 304 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 3: of healing. And I remember in the studio, Mate, when 305 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 3: it comes time to sing, I didn't know I get 306 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 3: sing it. It was the most surreal journey. But we 307 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 3: have the new album, God of the Second Chance, released 308 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 3: June said just out. We're letting folks know anyone who 309 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 3: purchased the book on Amazon. If they go to our website, 310 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 3: there's a lead to email us and let us know 311 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 3: you purchased the new book. And just to say thank you, mate, 312 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 3: we're sending people a link to download by brand new 313 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 3: album for free, just to say thank you. Stylistically, it 314 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 3: sounds like it should have been the follow up album. 315 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 3: The songs like Shine Breakfast to take Me to Your Leader, 316 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 3: they say brand It sounds like it was a nineties 317 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,640 Speaker 3: Newsboys album. I said, yes, I'm a child with the nineties. 318 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 3: What could I say? I love cheesy nineties music, but stylistically, 319 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 3: if you like Shine, Breakfast, take Me to Your Leader, 320 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 3: those sort of songs. Oh you're gonna love this album. 321 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 3: That is I reach USA dot com. 322 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 2: That's the website that you keep reverage. 323 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 3: You can get the information about the music, the book, 324 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 3: how to get it all on the website. 325 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, I'll be a mess if I didn't ask 326 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 2: you about the controversy about the Newsboys before I let 327 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 2: you go. Of course you got the Newsboys. It's better 328 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 2: than news in the past year for several scandals. What 329 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 2: were your emotions as you watch that, John, and maybe 330 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 2: what changes would you like to see in the industry, 331 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 2: maybe to prevent that type of tragedy from happening. 332 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 3: When I think, like everyone else mate, at a shock 333 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 3: and at heartbreak, because even though I've been out of 334 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 3: the Newsboys for many years, it's still part of my 335 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 3: history and legacy, and it was heartbreaking, made of my 336 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 3: heart goes out to the victims and of how this 337 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 3: tragedy could take place. And people have said to me, 338 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 3: and there'll always be people these throwstones, they said, Oh man, 339 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 3: you're good timing bringing your book out now you're trying 340 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 3: to peeg you back on this whole scandal. There will 341 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 3: always be people, these throwstones. But I let folks lovingly 342 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:45,879 Speaker 3: notice that listened. The book was in the works several 343 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 3: years before the Mike take thee ever dropped. It just 344 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 3: got released now, And actually we would have released it earlier, 345 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 3: but out of respect, we thought it was just integrity 346 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 3: to give give a time. I think, in the light 347 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 3: of what with my Tata, the newsboys, more than ever, 348 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 3: the message of my book needs to get out, Mate, 349 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 3: that no one might Tatum be included Newsport, No one 350 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 3: is so far broken or lost or sinful that can't 351 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 3: experience God's redemption and the message of this incredible God 352 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:23,400 Speaker 3: that's still redeeming broken people. Do I deserve it? 353 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 4: No? 354 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:27,959 Speaker 3: Does my Tate deserve it? No? Do you deserve it? No? 355 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 3: None of us deserve the mercy and the grace of God. 356 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 3: And I pray that we believers who are watching this 357 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 3: from the outside don't come the redemptive police and where 358 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 3: now the judge, jury and execution. Well, you deserve redemption. 359 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 3: You do what you did, mate, forget it. There's no 360 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 3: hope for you. You know what, aren't you glad that 361 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 3: redemption has nothing to do with you and I. It 362 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 3: has to do with the heart of God. And he 363 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 3: chooses who, he recalls back to the foot of the 364 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 3: cross and forgives and redem He chooses the threat of 365 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:06,159 Speaker 3: redemption that he wants to weave into the most broken lives, 366 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,199 Speaker 3: And he doesn't need our permission, and it has nothing 367 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 3: to do with us. I'd pray that one day we'll 368 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 3: look back on this mess and shake our heads with 369 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 3: awe and go God, I don't know how you did it, 370 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 3: but you breath the most incredible redemptive story out of 371 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:29,120 Speaker 3: that mess. But isn't that so like our Lord and Savior. 372 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 3: He loves to step into the middle of the mess 373 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 3: and bring a miracle, redemptive story. You ask me, how 374 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:41,119 Speaker 3: do we change it? Hey, I don't know if we 375 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 3: ever can. Are the safety nets we can put in 376 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:50,879 Speaker 3: place give people greater accountability, greater transparency, absolutely, But I 377 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 3: look at the common denominator in any scandal, especially in Christidom. 378 00:21:55,320 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 3: What's the one common denominator? People? People can have them 379 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 3: all accountability, all the safety nets, all the right things 380 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 3: in place, but unfortunately people can lose their spiritual equilibrium 381 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 3: make wrong, sinful choices, and even the most gifted leaders, 382 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 3: amazing leaders, great leaders in the body of Christ, can 383 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 3: make tragic, sinful choices that the collateral damage is so devastating. 384 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 3: But I'm reminded of scripture, Crank. You look at King David, 385 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 3: the greatest King, the greatest leader, man after God's heart. 386 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 3: Look what a leader, what an anointed vessel? And you 387 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 3: know he was an adulterer, a liar, a murderer, and 388 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 3: you know by all counts he deserved God to turn 389 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 3: his back on him for the rest of his life. 390 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,919 Speaker 3: But God chose to forgive, and God still chose to 391 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 3: use a broken vessel. So I think talking about it, mate, 392 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 3: we can definitely bring things to light. I don't think 393 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 3: we should just blindly wander through the dark and Haykers 394 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 3: case or as a right it is how it is 395 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 3: that we could never change, and that's ridiculous. But we 396 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 3: have to honestly have Helphi conversations and do our best 397 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 3: to give safety nets to people and realize that so 398 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 3: often we fast track people and put them in a 399 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:20,360 Speaker 3: position of influence and not really knowing their their character, 400 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 3: their foundation, their biblical theology. You know where we fast 401 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 3: track people today, especially in the music industry, on gifting 402 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 3: talent charisma. Person can sing, next thing, They've got an 403 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 3: album and huge podcasts and followers. Well, bray, they got 404 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:42,680 Speaker 3: to give talent a look charisma. But what's the found that, 405 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 3: what's their integrity and their character, what's their biblical foundation 406 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 3: built on? That's a different conversation, mate. 407 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: If you enjoy today's interview, please make sure to subscribe 408 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 1: and share the episode with a friend. I beg thanks 409 00:23:57,680 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: to the team that Life Audio for their partnership with 410 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: us on the podcast. If you go to lifeaudio dot com, 411 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: you will find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in 412 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: their network. 413 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 3: See you next time.