code: function validate(args, required) {
      var result = {
        error: false,
        message: 'No errors'
      }
  
      // ensure required properties were passed in the arguments hash
      if (required) {
        var keys = _.keys(args);
        required.forEach(function(field) {
          if(!_.contains(keys, field)) {
            result.error = true;
            result.message = 'The following values must be passed: ' + required.join(', ');
          }
        })
      }
  
      return result;
  
    }
docs: utility method to validate inputs