Superstar Runner

9 years, 2 colleges, 3 major changes, 22 additional hours of course work I wasn’t told about for a long time, hundreds of friends, thousands of faces, 2 full-length albums, hundreds of shows, 60,000+ miles, a 2 year journey of music and living by faith, ski trips, ski areas, summer camps, music festivals, mission trips, and finally a college degree (on my birthday of all dates). But the greatest gift of all is simply getting to wake up every morning. Thanks, God. :)

When I was a kid, my dad and I went canoeing. It freaked me out so badly that I didn’t go canoeing again until about 10 years later - when I was 22. I then worked as a lifeguard on a lake. Randomly, I decided to try canoeing again. I got in the boat, and as I paddled I thought, “You know, this is so bad. This is actually kind of fun.” These days, I really enjoying canoeing. So much that I’ve even led trips, myself. <—- This is sort of a parable about a part of my relationship with God.

You have questions about God, that’s fair. I have them myself. But don’t give up on God just because answers aren’t coming when you want them to. Recognize that no one will ever know everything, and just because you can’t figure out a math problem, doesn’t mean the truth to that equation doesn’t exist. 

Hey Y’all, Some I have told about this, most of you I have not. I’ve been meaning to write this note for some time now, but have gone back-and-forth about if I should or not.

In Mid-October, a magazine and radio station offered me a deal that could have (potentially) given me, and my music, a good bit of publicity and exposure. However, after looking at their website, I found a lot of the images on their site very degrading to women. I wrote back saying more-or-less the following,

“I’m sorry, but after looking at your website, I am going to have to decline. I find many of the images portrayed of women on your site to be very offensive and objectifying. I work with a lot of teenagers, and this could give them the wrong impression - telling girls that it’s okay to flaunt themselves, and telling boys that it’s okay to stare. That’s a risk that I just can’t take.”

The very next day, I stumbled on this video, and it made me very glad of my decision. It delivers a very important message. Please watch it.

http://vimeo.com/28066212

All of you have been given a brain, by God, and the power to use it. Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, this is important to keep in mind. You can make a difference, in your schools, churches, athletic fields, your school dances, and elsewhere.

Girls, take it from a guy who’s been around for awhile - you are beautiful as you are. You may do whatever you’d like with your lives - as long as it is what God is calling you to.

Boys, coming from a guy who has been your age, it is our duty to uplift, and care for, our sisters and other people around us - regardless of who they are. Too often we have been taught that men need to act “Macho, and tough, and hard, and emotionless.” That message is wrong. Vulnerability and kindness, is not the same thing as being a weakling. Trust me.

This is your generation, and you have to power to decide how it will be portrayed.

Thoughtfully, Benjamin J

Simply not using curse words, doesn’t always mean that you have a clean mouth.

I thought I was falling off the edge of the earth, but then your hand held me up. And though (I) scared, and restless, and angry, and worried, still steady you carried me along. And still steady you kept me from getting away. And still steady, you heard me even when it seemed like no one could hear.

Someday, you will find me inside your faith. And someday, I will hold you up again. Someday, this will all be more amazing than it seems right now.