MQ:
The Christian life isn't boring!
It's to the contrary. It's more exciting than life without Christ.
JB: Right. That's right. We need to convey that too, dude. People are scared of that. I know people that are hardcore, they go out and live in a hardcore world, man. God's a hardcore God.
MQ: They're like, "I'm not a conformist!" Like you said, there's a rebellious nature. Well, what's more "rebellious" than not going along with the majority of society? You know, "I'm not going to go do this just because everyone is doing it." We're bucking the trend by following Christ.
JB: That's right.
MQ: We're being "rebellious" by following the narrow path. You know what I mean?
JB: He's the true rebel.
MQ: Shifting gears, let's talk a little about your live show. What kind of set do you do - a 'full on' rock show, maybe some acoustic?
JB: We pretty much do the 'full on' rock thing. We do acoustic sets also, but we really put on a rock show. We really do, but the music is annointed by God. This is the way I feel about it. I think that God has given us the ability to truly just put on an awesome rock concert. And I use that ability to point people to Jesus. So, when we go and perform, we'll perform - but we perform as a worship to God. I share my faith from the stage, in the music and in word. And in different venues, it's different. When we start playing bars and clubs and stuff like that, when I go there, I'm going to go there to build a relationship with that owner, with the people there and I'm going to earn the right to be heard. Do you know what I'm saying?
MQ: Exactly, yeah.
JB: You know - and go out there and rock them enough, that they'll want to hear what I've got to say. It's just creating relationships and making a place where Jesus can be shared. That's the mission. But you can definitely expect a hardcore rock show.
MQ: What do you love most about music in general?
JB: I love the way it moves people. Music is so powerful. It really has the power to change minds, whether it's for God or not. When the right voice is being spoken through it, and when the voice of God can be heard in the music, it can really change your life. I think that's wonderful.
MQ: There are some people that are effected by music more than others...I'm one of them, and I know you are too...
JB: Definitely.
MQ: Just like some of my favorite things in the whole world are certain CDs, because there are certain songs on there that just cut right to the heart. You know, I've got sermons that I've heard through the years that are good sermons and are some of my favorites, but I've also got CDs that are on the same level because they speak to me just as directly as a message from a pulpit.
JB: Yeah.
MQ: When you sit and ponder God, what amazes you most about Him?
JB: Well, you know, His willingness to love me despite of myself. It says in Psalms that He has not rewarded us according to our sins. And on the opposite side of that, He rewards us according to what he's already done. It amazes me just how much, how deep the mercy of God is and how abundant, and willing He is to bless us despite of our faults.
It blows my mind. It's a constant, constant thing, man. I wake up all the time and have blown it - I've blown it in relationships, and blown it in my character. It's like, "Man, God still loves me." It's hard for me to fathom. The only way I can ever fathom it is between my relationship with my wife, and with my children, and my mom and my brothers. There's just a thing there that ... no matter who blew it, the love is there and it's immovable. That's what gets me about God. He set up those relationships so I'd know that His love is even more than that.
MQ: Looking back the last 5 years, seeing where you are now, and where you've been - battling addictions and depression - what have you learned from the last few years...maybe spiritually, you know, going through that valley, to now - coming out and seeing it from a different perspective?
JB: I've learned that there is a place in God, there's a place of closeness - where there is complete and total peace and healing. And I also learned that it's a lot easier to allow distraction in your life than I ever thought. Like 'walking in the blessing of God' and 'walking in the victory of God' you can still be distracted. I've just learned that some of the things that God gives you can distract you from Him, you know, if you don't use them in the right way.
MQ: What are you thankful for these days?
JB: I've got to say number one is that mercy, that constant love that God has for me. I'm thankful for the way that He shows it through my family and through opportunity.
