it’s the end …

Posted on August 15, 2008
Filed Under Intern Blog | Leave a Comment

It’s the end of my summer. The ending of things always sends me into a place of contemplation and reflection, and on this day, the 15th of August, it’s not any different.

For the last time (at least as an intern), I’m sitting here in the RELEVANT office typing up my thoughts, surrounded by fantastic works of art, literature and music. It’s quite easy to be thoughtful in a place like this. It’s been quite easy to be thoughtful all summer long, partly because of the creativity I’ve been surrounded by and partly because of the amazing things God has revealed to me.

I was sitting on the beach on Wednesday with Meredith (it was our last roadie hurrah), and I was reading over my journal from the summer. I journal all the time – writing down my prayers, thoughts and life experiences. I was floored by the constant state of revelation God put me in this summer. He totally blessed my time down here in the realm of learning new things about Him and myself.

I tried to narrow down the intense load of disclosures into the most potent things I’ve learned, but it was honestly hard. I wanted to memorize every word of my journal from the last two months, but that’s probably humanly impossible (I go on and on and on). As I’m sitting here now, though, I think I could at least try it for you guys out there in blog-land.

It all narrows down to trust and risk for me. First, there’s the trust. I read the story of Abraham and Isaac this summer and realized something for the first time. Abraham wasn’t excited about this test, but he really wasn’t worried. He trusted in God’s ability to fulfill His promises. God had promised Abraham a son, and He would provide that son, no matter what Abraham did. So, Abraham was willing to kill his only son because he knew that even death couldn’t void God’s promise. God could easily bring Isaac back from the dead. Ha! What a twist! What if we lived like that in our day-to-day life, trusting God that much? What would it be like?

Another story that floored me even more was about Jesus (as many of them are). Jesus is an almost-thirty-year-old carpenter. That wasn’t an anomaly in the Jewish culture, but Jesus knows He’s the Son of God. He knew He had the power to rise up and take control over all of the kingdoms of the world, and He wasn’t getting any younger. Satan tried to hand Jesus the world on a silver platter, but, instead of taking His life into His own hands, Jesus trusts God enough to be a poor carpenter for thirty YEARS. God then blessed His preparation time by having Him do ministry for two years – two years that would change history forever.

I’m graduating in December. I’m not going to be a college student anymore. And, I’m not going to lie; I want to change the world. I want to heal the brokenhearted and hold the suffering in my arms. I don’t know what’s coming after school, but I’m not scared anymore. Jesus trusted in God and lived a quiet life for thirty years. He waited thirty years to hear God say, “This is My Son.” I’ve learned over the summer that I can wait, too, if that’s what God wants. I don’t have to jump on a plane the second I graduate (although I totally would). All I have to do is live in His love. It’s easy. It will be fine. Actually, it will be world-changing, no matter what the activity I’m doing is.

So, I learned that God is worthy to trust. If He’s worthy to trust, then He’s also worthy to take risks for, right? How risky have I been this summer? Not as much as I would have liked to have been, but coming to a brand new city much bigger than anywhere I’ve ever lived, moving in with a family I’ve never met before and knowing absolutely no one until my first day at RELEVANT is pretty risky in my book. But, guess what.

This summer has been wonderful. It’s been hard at times, but it’s been wonderful. In the times when I didn’t know anyone super well yet, God was my absolute best friend. In the times when I was taking road trips with great friends to watch Disney fireworks and singing 90s Buzz Ballads with the interns on the way to the beach, God was who I thanked for these wonderful blessings.

Risk is hard, but we we’re not truly living without it. Belief can be tough, but unbelief cheats us. It cheats us of the Will of God – His beautiful, perfect, scary- as-all-get-out Will. Between living in a plastic bubble of safety and complacency and jumping off of a cliff into the realm of God’s Will, after this summer, I’ll take the cliff every time. He is worth it.

I never want to be cheated by unbelief again. I want to be risky. What about you?

Lessons from the Lynx.

Posted on August 15, 2008
Filed Under Intern Blog | 3 Comments

In the eight weeks I have been a resident of Orlando, I have developed many incredible relationships that I plan to maintain long after I have departed the City Beautiful. Perhaps the most unexpected bond I have formed is with that of the public transportation system this city boasts. The Lynx bus, or the ‘Lynxie Cat’ as I affectionately refer to it [Meet the Parents, anyone?], has become a means by which to encounter God. I’ll explain.

Every Monday through Friday I have dutifully waited on the corner of Mills and Orange Avenue to be scooped up the Lynx and head off to work. Most days I wait alone at my stop, though on a few occasions other would-be passengers are present. About three weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised as I paid my dues and took a seat, only to be greeted by the most radiant faces I have ever seen. Sitting across the aisle from me were two glowing girls, sisters surrounded by an array of worn dolls and stuffed animals. They were grinning at me eagerly, and I responded with the same expression.

At the first stoplight, the girls took the opportunity to crawl over to where I was seated and climb into my lap. They introduced me to their toys, told me I was pretty, and asked whether or not I would be coming along on their downtown adventure. I explained that I was on my way to work, but I would have joined in the fun if I could. The little muffins asked their father to take our picture together, and before I knew it the man had out his camera phone and was doing his best to capture the moment. It was a wonderful sentiment, snapping shots with complete strangers.

We soon arrived at where I was to be dropped off, and I told the girls it was a pleasure to have met them. As I stood up to leave, they asked if they could have a hug, and I was all too delighted to oblige. Their father thanked me for being so kind, and I told him what complete treasures his daughters were. With a smile and a wave I departed the bus, realizing I had not asked for their names and would most likely never see that family again.

But for those brief minutes, I experienced love like I haven’t before. Pure, uninhibited love. Accepting, fearless love. It was like God wanted me to know what He meant when Jesus told us to become like the little children. We are called to love visibly, unconditionally. No questions asked. My Abba beckons me to love just as those girls had, to pour out love in tangible ways. We are to live in the redemptive power of the Spirit, to be overwhelmed by a love that is so undeserved. I was challenged by those young ladies to give more of myself away, to move on impulse and to let love reign over every part of my life.

God is love. And love is real. My hope is that you will claim that truth for yourself.

- Meredith

You Make the Edits

Posted on August 14, 2008
Filed Under Jason Boyett | 1 Comment

Hey, Relevant blog readers. I haven’t been posting here very often (sorry!) but if you’ve been reading my personal blog for awhile, you probably know that my last book, Pocket Guide to the Bible — published in 2006 by Relevant — is being repackaged and republished as part of Jossey-Bass’s new Pocket Guide reference series next summer, along with brand-new books Pocket Guide to Sainthood and Pocket Guide to the Afterlife.

The new books have been written and are now in the editing stages.

Of course, Pocket Guide to the Bible is already a published book and doesn’t require much editing at all. However, I do have the chance to change a few small things — mainly in the form of wording, minor edits, etc. — especially stuff that was in the original but that I don’t really like anymore.

(There were a few early critics of the book who didn’t appreciate the book’s flippancy and/or humor in my descriptions of certain biblical events or characters. Some of their critiques I chalked up to the fact that some reviewers are sticks-in-the-mud and just didn’t get it. Other critiques I took very seriously.)

So before version 2.0 of Pocket Guide to the Bible comes out, I’m going to change a few minor things. Here’s one of them.

On page 176, in the “Lists” chapter, I have a list of “Seven Biblical Suicides.” On number 6 in the list, about the suicide of King Saul’s armor-bearer, I use the made-up phrase “Cobained himself” to describe the armor bearer’s act of self-destruction. At the time, I was looking for a creative, culturally astute way to describe suicide without saying, yet again, “killed himself” or “committed suicide.” As I tried to think of famous people who had committed suicide, I settled on Kurt Cobain. His name was well-known, it was still culturally relevant, and it lended itself nicely to being turned into a verb.

At the time, I thought it was clever.

I was wrong. It was insensitive, not really that funny, and too cute by half. It’s still too soon to do that kind of thing. It might always be “too soon” to do that kind of thing, and I regret it.

So I’m taking the verb “Cobained” out of the next edition of Pocket Guide to the Bible.

But that might not be all, and here’s where I need your help. Many of you have read the book. If you’ve read PGTTB, this is your chance to personally contribute to the next edition. I want you to recommend any edits that fit within the following categories:

1) Any phrasing, words, or jokes that you think might have been inappropriate (like “Cobained” above)…

2) Any typos, mispellings, factual errors, or formatting errors…

3) Any jokes that, in your opinion, need to be removed or changed because they fall flat, don’t make sense, or are just stupid…

4) Any cultural references that worked in 2006-2007 but won’t be as funny in 2009.

We won’t be able to make any big changes like, say, adding a chapter or including a left-out biblical character to the “Who’s Who.” But any single-line changes in phrasing are entirely possible.

Disclaimer: There is no guarantee I will accept your edits, but I do want to know what you think and if you catch something good I want to make it worth your while. If you recommend edits to me and they end up making their way into the next edition of the book you will:

1) have the satisfaction of knowing you had a direct hand in the end product;
2) have my everlasting gratitude;
and…
3) be rewarded with a signed, free copy of either Pocket Guide to the Afterlife or Pocket Guide to Sainthood when they are released.

Seriously. I’ll make a list of people who recommended edits and note whether or not those edits make it into the book. The ones that do get a free gift next summer.

So, either email me (jb [at] jasonboyett [dot] com and put PGTTB Edits in the subject line) or leave a comment on this post at jasonboyett.com.

One more rule: This is a limited-time offer. Any edits have to be received by me, in comment or e-mail form, by next Friday, August 22. No exceptions.

Cool?

On Biffs and Letting Go

Posted on August 14, 2008
Filed Under Deeper Walk | 3 Comments

Whatever form it takes, the movement of the soul and God is always finding its way toward freedom. In prayer as in the rest of life, it is a movement toward freedom from willfulness, from the compulsion to be in charge and the fear of loss of control. {Gerald May}

Since moving to Charlottesville, I’ve become a bike commuter. I love it. Last Tuesday, though, I didn’t love it so much. I was coming down Ridge, the main connection to downtown from my house, and I went to jump a curb. It didn’t work out so well. I laid the bike down, right there on the road, out in the open for all the neighbors to see. A couple guys who had a great view of the whole escapade from their front yard asked if I was okay. My pride took a ding, and my knee was thrashed pretty nicely - and I blew a tube on my back tire. Other than that, though, my bike and I were both still in one piece.

Rolling away, I was definitely embarrassed - but there was also a strange joy I found in the encounter. My encounter with the asphalt. And then my encounter with the neighbors who enjoyed the spectacle. Nothing opens the possibility for a human connection quite like looking like a doofus. I had hoped for ways to quickly meet my neighbors, to open up possibilities for friendship - and if you’re interested for tips I’m learning: a face plant on the sidewalk does the trick.

The moment seems like a metaphor for my life right now. In our new life and new city and new work, it is tempting (very tempting) to try to make stuff happen, to hold tight reigns on how we step into this new place. I am tempted to be fearful and anxious. But, truth is, I can’t control any of this. The whole idea of control is mostly an illusion anyway. I have to loosen my grip and watch and listen and wait and hope and work - knowing that God is the one who will open doors and build friendships - or not.

Some things will never come to be so long as we are in charge. Recently, I heard a friend pray this: “God, I feel small.” That sounds so good and alive and true. When we are small, when we are holding things loosely, when our faith is carefree and open and reckless enough to allow space for a little crash, a little chaos, a little mess - I think God has his best room to work.

{I reflect on this a little more and from a different angle on my personal blog}

Winn is a writer and pastor. He is the author of Restless Faith and the recent release, Let God: The Transforming Wisdom of Francois Fenelon. Winn is married to his best friend Miska and has two rabble-rousing sons, Wyatt and Seth. You can find out more about Winn by downloading this interview or by hopping over to winncollier.com.

Vinyl

Posted on August 11, 2008
Filed Under Music | 4 Comments

Josh Havens of The Afters, as well as Tyler Pittman, VP of Sales and Marketing for Columbia Records recently gave me their thoughts on vinyl’s comeback for a piece I wrote for SHORE Magazine (pick up a copy in Chicago, Northwest Indiana, or Michigan). I had to cut their quotes, but they both had some pretty interesting thoughts on the re-emergence of the format…so I thought I’d pass it along to you.

By the way, if you’re out on the west coast, check out Amoeba Records in San Francisco, Hollywood, or Berkley. I picked up records from Bob Dylan, Sugarland (yes, it’s a country album…get over it and check out one of the best projects this year in any genre), Bruce Springsteen, and a rare European import of Cash & Dylan together on fourteen songs.

Alright, here you go.

Josh Havens, concerning vinyl:

We released a vinyl single with a couple of songs on it that was free with the purchase of our CD at certain stores. We did it to gauge our fans response to a vinyl release as well as an incentive to purchase the the CD from those retailers. What surprised me was how enthusiastic of some of our younger fans were about having our music on vinyl. That made me wonder it really is making a comeback.

There has been talk of a Vinyl resurgence for as long as i can remember. I went through a vinyl kick when i was in college. I don’t think that they’re going to replace CDs or IPODs any time soon, but there are definitly a lot of audiophiles that enjoy the overall experience of listening to a record on vinyl. There has long been a debate over analog versus digital sound. My brother and I had this discussion recently. He is obsessed with vinyl right now and is replacing many of his CDs and MP3s with Vinyl. He likes the “truer sound” that vinyls produce and even finds the crackles and pops a beautiful part of the vinyl listening experience. Digital recordings capture sample of sound which can be heard as sterile and crisp. That is changing as digital technology improves. There will always be a market for vinyl though, because there is no way to completely reproduce the vinyl listening experience digitally.

Tyler Pittman from Columbia (a guy who could put more vinyl on shelves):

I think the attraction of vinyl is on several levels. I would be hesitant to say it is making a major comeback but it is definitely seeing a resurgence that has brought it back from extinction in regards to new releases and it is another option for consumers. I think a lot of younger listeners are discovering vinyl either from their parents or other older family members/friends’ collections and realizing how the sound can capture things like low end and that particular “warmth” people like to reference so often. I think it also represents a way to get a piece of art or souvenir from a particularly favorite band and offers a tangible satisfaction that is somewhat lacking with the CD. CD’s, with few exceptions, really don’t have much to offer by way of showcasing the artistic statement that is the visual compliment to the aural experience. Most vinyl records now offer an MP3 download or CD in the package that the consumer can have for portability’s sake. This was a good idea for our culture and the ubiquitous iPod. It makes it appealing to the consumer wanting something a bit more. That and they just look and feel cool.

Finally, Tyler on Columbia’s decision to release P.O.D’s latest on vinyl:

We made the P.O.D. vinyl for the super fan not so much for the casual listener to keep them from buying individual tracks. Also I have to add that I don’t feel all albums should be released on vinyl. As far as the album as a format versus the single, I would hope that eventually we gravitate back toward the album as a whole versus a group of random songs. Consumers feel they have been ripped off for years with substandard releases that have one or two decent songs amongst 12 or more. The CD with its larger storagecapacity was arguably not a great thing for the album format. If artists release music in the form of multiple songs that are meant to be heard in sequence or at least as a whole then I think we will be heading in the right direction to get people to think of the album as an individual work. This industry began around the single or track and has made its way full circle. There will always be those who just prefer individual songs and choose them over an album but now it has become a choice where before you had to buy the whole thing to get one or two songs you really loved. I think the answer is to make music for your fans and make it good enough that they want everything you have to offer. Build the super fan and they will digest all you have to give. The casual fan will always cherry pick what they like. As a musicconsumer it is incredibly exciting right now. As an industry professional it is challenging but good music will prevail in the end I believe.

tower can be heard on 89.7 Shine.FM in Chicago, and 101.7 FUSE FM in Saginaw, Michigan…and can be read in SHORE Magazine. If you live in Chicagoland or Northwest Indiana, he hopes you come to Shine.FM’s free Decemberadio concert Wednesday night. He just finished the Aquabike race in northern California (2.4 mile swim/112 mile bike) on a sprained ankle. He’s on crutches for at least six weeks, and suffered through a two hour root canal this morning. This probably isn’t his week.

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