RELEVANT - Issue 101 - September/October 2019

101 LOGAN BROWNING | HONNE | DAVID PLAT T JOSEPH | REBEK AH LYONS | SCOT T HARRISON CHRISTIANS AND WEED | THE CRISIS IN YEMEN F A I T H , C U LT U R E & I N T E N T I O N A L L I V I N G

Malcolm Gladwell The acclaimed intellectual has a theory that could change the world—and it stems from the message of Jesus.

Andy Mineo The rapper opens up about the double-edged sword of emotional honesty.

Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan The life and death faith of comedy’s funniest couple

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CONTENTS SEPT/OCT 2019 // ISSUE 101

60

Features 8 0 // SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Malcolm Gladwell

Want to break out of your spiritual funk?

Here are four things to do.

p.60 The writer and podcaster has made a career out of finding the deeper meaning in obscure ideas. Now, he’s discovered a method for engaging the world that dates back to Jesus Himself. Can it actually solve society’s biggest problems?

8 4 // LOGAN BROWNING The Dear White People star explains how faith informs her activism.

8 8 // CAREER ADVICE Seven leaders tell us what they wish they knew when they were first starting out.

4 4 // TELEVANGELISM 101

66

HBO’s hit prosperity gospel comedy The Righteous Gemstones has nothing on reality.

4 8 // THE GAFFIGANS

Joseph

Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan open up about the difficult year that changed their lives.

p .40

5 4 // A HIGHER PURPOSE What should Christians think about marijuana now that it’s being legalized?

The sisters behind the band Joseph almost called it quits. But sometimes, in life and in music, being vulnerable and honest has a way of changing everything.

6 6 // HONNE

7 0 // Y EMEN

The indie duo has mastered the sad love song. Now, they take on marriage.

1 6 // FIRS T WORD

Andy Mineo p . 76 The rapper reflects on the loss of his mom, what it’s like being an artist in the digital era and the double-edged sword of emotional honesty.

76

It’s the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth.

Here’s how you can help end it.

3 6 // DEEPER David Platt and Rebekah Lyons break down the

1 8 // CURRENT

eternal truths that can shape your daily life.

We find the best cities for your fall outdoor adventures, look at Lauren Daigle’s breakout year, find out how a church paid

9 0 // RELE VANT SELECT S Our curated list of the best new albums,

off a community’s medical debt and hear how

books and movies that you should know about

celibacy changed Chance the Rapper.

including Jordan Peele’s Us, Noël Wells’ It’s So Nice!, Bon Iver’s i,i and more.

3 0 // THE DROP

SEPT-OCT

We introduce you to our favorite emerging

9 6 // L AS T WORD

artists including indie rocker Titus

Pastor Levi Lusko explains the power of

Andronicus, Dreamers and the incredible LÉON.

preparing for the Kingdom that is to come.

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T H E M A G A Z I N E O N FA I T H , C U LT U R E & INTENTIONAL LIVING

September/October 2019, Issue 101 All’s well that gladswell.

Publisher & CEO | CAMERON STRANG Content Director | JESSE CAREY Senior Editor | TYLER HUCKABEE Copy Editor | KATHY PIERRE Contributing Writers: Sarah James, Rachel Givens, Lisa Daniels-Reed, Rachel Jennings, Joseph Riggs, Janet Evans Creative Director | JOHN DAVID HARRIS Designer | CRISTIAN DONOSO Video Editor | CLARKE FLIPPO Audio Editor | CHANDLER STRANG Web Developer | NATE TRAVIS Contributing Photographers: Stevie Nelson, Diana Ragland, Ray Concepcion, Louis Browne, Sami Jassar, Dan Burn-Forti, Robby Klein, Sandra Thorsson, Kelsey Cherry, Fred Norris/HBO, Atlantic Records Advertising Director | AME LYNN FUHLBRUCK Account Executive | FELICHIA WRIGHT Account Executive | RACHEL DOUGLASS Traffic Manager | CAROLINE COLE Operations Manager | JESSICA COLLINS Finance Director | MICHAEL BOWLES Operations Coordinator | GABRIELLE HICKEY

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: www.RELEVANTmagazine.com/advertise

RELEVANT MEDIA GROUP 55 W. Church St., Suite 211, Orlando, FL 32801 RELEVANTmediagroup.com TO SUBSCRIBE RELEVANTmagazine.com/subscribe Rates: 1 year (6 issues) U.S. $26.99, Canada $36.99, International $45.99 SUBSCRIBER SERVICES RELEVANTmagazine.com/subservices Phone: 866-402-4746 EMAIL: support@relevantmagazine.com TO BUY PAST ISSUES AND MERCHANDISE: RELEVANTmagazine.com/store BULK DISCOUNTS: 866-402-4746 RETAIL DISTRIBUTION Michael Vitetta, Curtis Circulation Company mvitetta@curtiscirc.com

Issue #101 September/October 2019 (ISSN: 1543-317X). RELEVANT is published 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November for $26.99 per year by RELEVANT Media Group, Inc., 55 W. Church St., Suite 211, Orlando, FL 32801. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RELEVANT Magazine, P.O. Box 531147, Orlando, FL 32853.

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FIRST WORD a letter from the publisher

Empathy Over Echo Chambers

R

ELEVANT is an unusual

that isn’t just entertaining, but creates

magazine, I get that.

deeper understanding and dialogue.

In this issue we have some bands we love,

Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan talk about how understanding and embracing a

one of the preeminent thinkers of our

life-changing health scare caused them

time, faith leaders, actors, comedians,

to see their faith and careers differently.

a humanitarian crisis and a look at Christians and weed.

We’re not a culture magazine or a faith magazine or a lifestyle magazine or a justice magazine. We’re all of the

Andy Mineo talks about how seeing artists as real people with real struggles, fears and anxiety can change how we engage their art.

Even our piece on what’s happening

above. And when you’re working with

in Yemen, easily the biggest and most

that broad of a content spectrum, it

underreported humanitarian crisis in

would be easy for an issue to come off

the world right now, seeks to get past

as unfocused.

the stats of the situation and look in the

The goal any time we put together a

eyes of the people impacted. Seeing the

new magazine is to find that perfect spot

humanity, not just the headlines, makes

where all of those seemingly disparate

it impossible to look away.

ideas intersect and connect. When a

us, not just the ways we’re different, is

unexpected places throughout an issue,

at the core of how we should aspire to

we know we’re onto something. God’s

engage the world. That’s my favorite

saying something. And that happens in

thing about what we get to do with

the issue you’re about to read.

each issue of RELEVANT. By giving our

NOT JUST THE HEADLINES, MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK AWAY.

pages to people and ideas you may

Gladwell explores how we can address

already know and like, and others you

the divisiveness of our current state. It’s

may not know, and some you may even

a challenging look at engaging people

disagree with, our hope is to always

who see things differently than we do.

get past the surface level. We want

By looking past issues and trying to

to encourage deeper understanding,

understand people instead, it changes

greater awareness and, hopefully, a

how we see and engage the world.

more empathetic way to engage the

It’s that theme of seeking to

HUMANITY,

Looking for the things that connect

theme seems to organically appear in

Our cover story with Malcolm

SEEING THE

world. That comes from listening to the

understand others that keeps popping

people behind the labels. In our divisive,

up in unexpected ways. Logan

echo chamber-obsessed, social media-

Browning, the star of Dear White People,

driven world, that would be a refreshing

shares her passion for creating a show

change of pace.

C A MER ON S T R A NG Founder & Publisher

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CURRENT A B I M O N T H LY L O O K A T F A I T H , L I F E A N D C U LT U R E

The feat made “You Say” the only song ever to top both the Adult Contemporary and the Christian charts. But that’s not Daigle’s only achievement—or even the song’s.

Look Up, Child has, as of this writing, been the top-selling Christian album for more than 43 weeks. It beat the previous record for the longest time atop the Christian album charts all the way back in June, when it surpassed Switchfoot’s The Beautiful Letdown’s 38-week record. That makes Daigle’s release the highest-charting release by a Christian woman in over two decades.

When “You Say” was released in July 2018, it quickly went to the top of the Billboard charts where it’s stayed, beating the former record for longest time a song by a solo female artist has been No. 1 set by Carrie Underwood’s “Something in the Water” in January 2019.

And as of this writing, “You Say” is just a few weeks shy of unseating Hillsong United’s “Oceans” as the all-time champion of Billboard’s Christian song charts.

A R ECO R D - S E TT I N G R ECO R D

Lauren Daigle Makes Music History

LOOK UP, CHILD HAS BEEN ATOP THE CHRISTIAN CHARTS LONGER THAN ANY ALBUM EVER

“YOU SAY” IS THE 1ST SONG

She’s on top of both mainstream and Christian charts and seemingly breaks a new record every week. Is 2019 the year of Lauren Daigle?

I

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t’s been just over a year since

Up, Child’s unstoppable single “You Say”

Lauren Daigle’s Look Up, Child

hit the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Adult

was released, and it’s been

Contemporary charts, knocking Maroon

breaking records pretty much

5’s “Girls Like You” out of the top spot

ever since. This August, Look

after 33 weeks.

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TO TOP BOTH THE ADULT CONTEMPORARY AND CHRISTIAN AIRPLAY CHARTS

“YOU SAY” SET THE RECORD FOR LONGEST TIME AT NO. 1 BY A SOLO FEMALE ARTIST

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THE HOT LIST Bimonthly Culture Power Rankings

OLIVIA WILDE [Hottest]

Although she’s a huge star, Wilde has found a new groove in the director’s chair.

T I K TO K [Hotter]

Chance the Rapper: Celibacy Before Marriage ‘Changed My Life’

When God closes a Vine, He opens a Tik Tok. Serendipity in action.

CHANCE THE RAPPER’S NEW ALBUM The

literally saved my life by becoming celibate

Big Day is a celebration of marriage, finding

and going and getting baptized,” he said. “It

[Hot]

true love and the joy of romance, but his

changed my life for real, and now I know

All hail Lil Nas X, the new

wife Kirsten Corley did more than just

exactly where my strength comes from. And this

Billboard champion.

inspire his music. According to Chance, she

is all after I proclaimed I love Jesus and stuff.”

Yee-haw!

“literally saved my life.” The Chicago rapper

O L D TOW N ROA D

Along with choosing to remain celibate

was recently a guest on Nicki Minaj’s Apple

prior to their wedding, leading up the

Music show Queen Radio, and the two began

actual big day, Chance went on an extended

discussing faith and the role Kirsten has

sabbatical to study Scripture and better

played in his spiritual growth. “My wife

understand the Bible.

SPIDER-MAN L EAV I N G T H E M C U [Cold]

“Mr. Disney, I don’t feel so goo...”

CG I R E M A K E S [Colder]

The US Is Accepting Fewer Christian Refugees Than Ever AS RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

Disney’s updates of their

CONTINUES TO spread around

animated classics just

the world, Christians remain the most targeted group. Even though global persecution of the Church has never been worse, the number of Christians allowed in the United States who are fleeing persecution

can’t meet expectations.

TA R D I G R A D E S [Coldest]

Astronauts accidentally left the little guys on the freezing cold moon.

is plummeting. Thanks to the Trump administration’s recent crackdown on immigration, there has been a 70% decline in the number of persecuted Christians welcomed into the U.S. compared to the average number allowed each year over the last decade.

70 PERCENT DECREASE IN NUMBER OF

REFUGEES ADMITTED INTO THE U.S.

SINCE THE 1990S

Don’t worry, they’re fine!

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CURRENT

Warby Parker led the way in finding the digitalphysical sweet spot.

Young Adults Are Bringing Back Brick and Mortar E

VERYONE KNOWS THAT

as possible. Stores like Warby Parker have

MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z

led the way with their now famous “try-on”

prefer digital shopping to

method that has led to a number of chic,

brick-and-mortar stores.

boutique locations across the country.

And believe it or not, everyone is wrong.

Recent research shows younger

But the real innovator in the quest to meet millennial and Gen Z’s shopping habits actually has been the beauty

generations aren’t as devoted to digital

industry. Cosmetics is big business, and

shopping as was previously believed,

according to Poshly, 72% of millennials

and are interested in helping usher in

would prefer to buy it in a store, meaning

a new era of integrated online-personal

hip makeup brands like Kylie Jenner’s Kylie

experiences. According to mega-consulting

Cosmetics and Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty

firm Accenture, 68% of millennials prefer a

are having to think in both the digital and

hybrid experience, in which the transition

physical realms.

from exploring new products online to the physical store is as seamless and organic

The shift is changing the face of retail all over again.

Katy Perry Has to Pay Christian Rapper Flame $2.78 Million A JURY HAS DETERMINED that

Katy Perry, her producers and her label must pay Christian rapper Flame (and his two co-writers) $2.78 million in damages. Flame accused Perry of copying the riff in his 2008 song “Joyful Noise” for her 2013 mega-hit, “Dark Horse,” and after years in the court system and testimonies from numerous music experts, the courts agreed. Perry herself will reportedly only have to pay $550,000, with most of the money being paid by her record label.

Perry and her team claimed they had never heard the song before the lawsuit, despite his album being nominated for a Grammy.

MISC.

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Christian rapper NF topped the

Feeling generous? Flowing Streams

New laws in Japan allow scientists

Billboard 200 chart for the second

Church Pastor Rick Wiles is trying

to start experimenting with human-

time. His recent release The

to raise $100 million for a media

animal hybrids, which they hope

Search even beat out the debut

empire that will “get us through to

will lead to medical breakthroughs.

album from Chance the Rapper.

the end until Christ comes back.”

What could go wrong?

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CURRENT

Jay-Z Helps the NFL With Social Justice, But Not Everyone’s Happy AT FIRST GLANCE,

“partnership is

looks like your goal

the new partnership

an opportunity to

was to make millions

between Roc Nation

strengthen the fabric

and millions of

and the NFL seemed

of communities

dollars by assisting

like a positive move.

across

The entertainment

America.”

company is owned

However, not

by Jay-Z, the hip-hop

everyone is

legend who famously

optimistic.

wore a Colin

Carolina

Kaepernick jersey on

Panthers player

Saturday Night Live as

Eric Reid—who

a show of support for

sued the league

the demonstrations

with Kaepernick

against racial

after they both

injustice the former

had trouble landing

the NFL in burying

quarterback started.

contracts following

Colin’s career.”

Jay-Z said in a

their protests—

Kaepernick has

statement that the

tweeted to Jay-Z, “It

remained unsigned.

Florida Church Cancels Millions in Medical Debt STETSON BAPTIST CHURCH HAD AN INTERESTING problem

in the 2018-2019 fiscal year: Because of quirks in the calendar, they had 53 weeks instead of the usual 52 to collect tithes and offerings from its members.

So, pastor Dan Glenn decided his Deland, Florida, church

should use the extra week to raise money for community causes: notably, the charity group RIP Medical Debt, which sells medical debt to people who are willing to cancel it. With the extra tithe money, the church was able to help cancel more than $7 million in medical debt for about 6,500 families.

MISC.

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Archaeologists believe they may have

A YouGov survey determined that

It’s getting hot in here. Greenland saw

found the Church of the Apostles—an

millennials may be the loneliest

12 billion tons of glacial ice melt in a

ancient house of worship built on

generation. About one in five

single day this August; a warming rate

top of the home shared by Peter and

millennials say they have “no friends,”

climate scientists didn’t expect until the

Andrew near the Sea of Galilee.

more than boomers or Gen Xers.

end of this century.

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CURRENT

MISC.

A lunar lander accidentally Marty Sampson wrote for Hillsong Worship, United, Delirious and Young & Free.

crash-landed on the moon, spilling thousands of microscopic animals called tardigrades on its surface. Scientists think the famously tough creatures

What’s With Christian Celebrities Leaving the Faith on Instagram?

Two prominent Christians took to the platform in the span of just weeks.

Instagram post that shocked fans. He wrote: “I’m genuinely losing my faith, and it doesn’t bother me.

Like, what bothers me now is nothing. I am so happy

HIS SUMMER, former

clarified that he hasn’t “renounced” his faith, but added

pastor and author of the

“it’s on incredibly shaky ground.”

controversial 1997 book I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua

in space.

worship leader Marty Sampson made his own

now, so at peace with the world. It’s crazy.” He later

T

may well survive

The posts prompted other Christian leaders, like

The mother of all political scandals is headed to TV. Beanie Feldstein will play Monica

Skillet frontman John Cooper, to take to social media

Lewinsky in

Harris, wrote a lengthy Instagram post

to call out the trend. Kevin Rogers, the interim senior

2020’s American

saying, “By all the measurements that I

pastor of Harris’ former church, Covenant Life Church

have for defining a Christian, I am not a

in Maryland said, “Several times Paul mentions former

Christian.” He also apologized to the LGBTQ

Christian leaders ‘swerving from,’ ‘wandering from,’ or

community and others he hurt.

‘making shipwreck’ of their faith. So while this is sad

A few weeks later, former Hillsong

and confusing, it isn’t new.”

Crime Story: Impeachment.

Believe it or not, Lewinsky herself is a producer on the project.

Meet the App That Brings Sight to the Blind ALTHOUGH THE IPHONE

(hopefully) inspire the

someone needs help

HAS CHANGED the way

future of development.

seeing something—say,

we live, it’s hard to

It’s called Be My Eyes,

shopping at the store

ignore the sense that

and its premise is

or finding their house

we’ve only scraped

simple: People can

key—they log in, and

the surface of its true

volunteer to help blind

you’ll get a video call so

potential to connect us.

and low-vision people.

you can help them find

You sign up, and when

what they’re looking for.

A new app can

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A new Pew study found Americans’ faith in big tech is plummeting. Just 50% of Americans believe tech companies are an overall good thing for society, down from 71% in 2015.

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[ R E L E V A N T R E C O M M E N D S]

Get Out: THE FOR

7 BEST CITIES OUTD OOR FALL FUN

Science says spending time in nature is good for you, so here are the U.S. cities that make the outdoors most appealing.

S

PENDING TIME OUTSIDE is

good for you. That sounds like conventional wisdom, but there’s actually something

to it. A recent study from Scientific Reports found evidence that spending just two hours a week in nature can improve your emotional

SEPT-OCT

and physical health. This held true even for

SAN FRANCISCO

BOULDER, COLORADO

people suffering from long-term illnesses,

[T H E B A E A R E A]

[G R A N O L A H AV E N]

who reported better health and well-being

We’ll start with the obvious one. The

Colorado is jampacked with plenty of

than people who were out in nature for less

City by the Bay might just be the most

opportunities for nature lovers, but maybe

than two hours.

walkable spot in America, with the sort of

no city in the state is quite as centrally

So, yes, spending time outside is good. But

gorgeous weather and ocean views that

located as Boulder. The Flatirons

the question of where to spend your time

will make you want to give up the indoors

are some of the most

outside is an important one. Not every city

for good (just as well, given the rent). And

staggering mountains in

comes with easy access to nature’s more

then there’s the Golden Gate Park, which

the state, and the city

winsome elements, and for a few of us, the

has over 1,000 acres containing a zoo, a

itself has six state parks

closest thing we’ve got to nature is a putt-

botanical garden, a golf course and even

in striking distance. If

putt golf course. But if you’re serious about

smaller parks. When it comes to California,

you’re in Boulder and

spending times outdoors here are the best

people may leave their eyes in L.A., but

you’re not outside, what

U.S. cities to do it in.

their hearts will always be in San Francisco.

are you even doing there?

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CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSET TS [S M A R T V I E W S]

Though better known for being home to two of the world’s most prestigious universities, Cambridge also boasts some of the country’s prettiest views.

MIT and Harvard have acres of common space that the students share with locals, and that’ll give you all the opportunity you need

TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA

to wander the grounds, reading and journaling to your

[E N D L E S S S U M M E R]

heart’s content. Just make sure to leave the students

Not as famous as Burbank or as cool as San Francisco, Torrance is

be. They’ve got exams coming up.

nevertheless California’s best bet for people who love being outside. It shares a coastline with Redondo, Manhattan and Hermosa beaches

SALT LAKE CIT Y, UTAH

and, all told, is nearby 53, count ‘em, fifty-three other

[H I K E S O C I E T Y ]

beaches. And we haven’t even gotten into The

It’s time to reevaluate Salt Lake City, long known

Strand—California’s famous 22-mile coastal bike

mostly for being the home of some unappetizing

path. That path starts in Torrance, so what are you

sounding lakes and Mitt Romney. But in truth, Salt Lake

waiting for?

City has tons to recommend, including a dizzying array of options for hiking, biking, skiing and river rafting.

KENT, WASHINGTON

Toss in a couple dozen hiking trails and some of the

[K E N T Y O U D I G I T ?]

most winsome weather patterns in the country, and

With Seattle to the north and Tacoma to the south, Kent is

who wouldn’t want to move to Salt Lake City?

sandwiched between two real contenders for this list and shares their views and proximity to Mount Rainier. But what sets it ahead of the pack are its famed collection of walking trails, over 26 miles of which sprawl in and throughout the city and its many parks.

PORTLAND, OREGON [P U T A B I R D O N I T]

Getting into nature in Portland couldn’t be easier thanks to Forest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the United States. The park covers an astounding 5,100 acres, removing any excuse Portlanders might have for staying indoors. But don’t forget Portland’s equally rich Mount Hood, which is a considered an enviable spot for winter getaways. It’s only 90 miles outside of the city, and well worth every second of the trip—which is pretty gorgeous too.

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THE DROP NEW RELEASES YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

LÉON S W E D E N’S ‘N E X T B I G T H I N G’ D E B U T S W I T H A L O T O F C O N F I D E N C E did that one

artful tracks like “Falling” and

LÉON might feel a little

“You and I” that soar with a

24-year-old

sensitive about wading into

boldness many artists take

Swedish

the comment section, but

years to cultivate. But LÉON is

singer-

there’s no reason for her to

trying to keep her eyes on the

songwriter Lotta Lindgren,

feel insecure about her self-

bigger picture.

known as LÉON. “I read some

titled release, which is stuffed

comments, and then there was

full of sixties soul and lush

into the debut album, but I’m

one that—it wasn’t even bad,

pop melodies reminiscent

trying to think of it as just a

I don’t even remember what

of her musical inspirations

record,” she says. “I think I’m

exactly it said—but I was like

Norah Jones and Adele.

going to get more nervous if I

“I

‘Oh gosh, this is stupid.’”

SEPT-OCT

It’s understandable that

time,” says

It’s an excellent debut, with

030

“People put a lot of weight

LÉON [LÉON]

A debut album that rings with the confidence of a woman who knows she’s here to stay.

think about as the record.”

2019

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THE DROP

Titus Andronicus M E E T T H E M A N B E N T O N S AV I N G R O C K ‘N’ R O L L

I

s rock ‘n’ roll

sort of rock music people

neurodiversity in an honest

dead? Well,

are always saying nobody

way instead of the usual, as he

maybe, if you

makes anymore. It’s thrilling

terms it, “platitude greeting

ask Patrick

listening, and all the more so

card stuff.”

Stickles,

when you delve into the lyrics, in which Stickles grapples

myself on the head or say

Andronicus. But it won’t go

with the modern realities

that I’m great at it,” he says.

AN OBELISK

gently into that good night

of neurodiversity (Stickles

“Everybody is capable of

[TITUS ANDRONICUS]

if he has anything to say

prefers “neurodiversity” over

doing it. It’s just that they

about it. Titus Andronicus’

“mental health”), drawing

don’t always get the support

latest release, An Obelisk, is

from his own experience.

to do it or they don’t have the

full of the grand, operatic

SEPT-OCT

“I’m not going to pat

the frontman behind Titus

He’s trying to write about

032

It’s a rock ‘n’ roll journey through a young punk’s ideological coming of age.

platform to do it effectively.”

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THE DROP

Dreamers T H E I N D I E R O C K E R S F I N D H O P E, E V E N I N D A R K T I M E S anhattan’s got

but we wanted to be there.”

of upbeat, catchy tunes for

In this way, the band’s name

of up-and-

their latest release, LAUNCH

is pretty descriptive. Dreamers

coming indie-

FLY LAND. And to hear the

makes music for people who

rock bands,

band tell it, these songs can be

are looking to actualize a

so it’s saying something that

pretty optimistic in spite of the

better, more positive future

Dreamers still manages to

places they came from.

for themselves.

M

stand out from the pack. They

SEPT-OCT

That’s resulted in a batch

no shortage

“It’s trying to create what

It may not be your reality

do so the old-fashioned way,

you want it to be,” the band

yet, but now you’ve got a

writing music, releasing it and

says. “Songs like ‘Celebrate’

soundtrack for the effort to

then taking the lessons of that

weren’t written when we were

start working toward it. That’s

process to heart.

in the best place in our lives,

better than nothing.

034

LAUNCH FLY LAND [DREAMERS]

An exuberant, danceable tribute to the world as it could be.

2019

035

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DEEPER A DIVE INTO FAITH

Something Needs to Change Our movement can change the world if we are willing to change ourselves.

LIVE IN A WORLD

physical needs, and to bring good

of urgent spiritual

news from God that could meet

and physical need.

people’s deepest need—the need to

questions from the comforts of

Half of the world’s

be reconciled to God through Jesus.

our homes or churches. But it’s

population lives

Two thousand years later, God has

entirely different to ask these

on less than $2 a day, and over a

designed every one of our lives in

questions when you’re standing on

billion people dwell in desperate

the same way.

a mountainside with a man whose

WE

poverty. Billions of people are engrossed in the worship of false

hearing about Jesus?

It’s one thing to ask these

I recently wrote a book called

wife and kids died in a matter of

Something Needs to Change. In it, I

hours from a preventable disease

gods, approximately

because no medicine

2 billion of whom are

was available.

still unreached with the Gospel. So what can we do? We can do what those who have gone before us did.

Two thousand years ago, a small group of

These questions

Might we be a part of a movement of God in the 21st century like we read about in the first century? I believe it’s possible.

beckon us to ask whether or not we’re going to make our lives count for what matters most. And when we do that, who knows

ordinary followers of

what might happen?

Jesus turned the world

Might we be a part of a

upside down in an

movement of God in the

extraordinary way. In the first 300

invite people to join me on a journey

21st century like we read about in

years, that movement grew to over

through remote Himalayan villages.

the first century?

30,000,000 people.

There I open up my journals as

I believe it’s possible. But in order

Staggering numbers like this beg

I wrestle through questions like:

for it to be a reality, something needs

the question, “How in the world did

Where is God’s provision for the

to change. And I guess that’s the

that happen?” And the answer is

impoverished? If the Gospel really

ultimate question for you and me.

simple: They decided to make their

is true and God really is good, then

What something needs to change in

lives count.

why are some people born into

us to affect change with the hope of

earthly suffering, only to move on to

Jesus in a world of urgent spiritual

eternal suffering without ever even

and physical need?

This small group of followers of Jesus decided to care for people’s

DAV ID PL AT T serves as pastor at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C. He is the founder and president of Radical. His latest book is called Something Needs to Change.

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2019

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DEEPER A DIVE INTO FAITH

The Power of a Social Media Fast

over to the side of that country road. I stared across the amber sky and started to ponder, Why do I feel so compelled to share everything?

Whose validation am I seeking?

Somewhere along the way, I’d

Rebekah Lyons on what happened when

decided that anything I did just

she decided to put the phone away

for me felt indulgent, and I didn’t believe I was worthy of indulgence.

What began as a break from the

W

hen I jumped

it, I read more books, and listened

constant churn of social media

off social media,

to more podcasts and talks. Years of

became a fundamental lesson in

things changed.

consuming the media, opinions and

worthiness. I came to see that my

First, I started

experiences of others had created a

worth is not found in approval “out

dreaming again.

deficit. Now, without all those inputs,

there.” It is found in the loving gifts

my brain was hungry for growth.

God gives to me, in the intimate

On the back porch, journal in hand, new ideas and thoughts flooded my

A month into this experiment, this

mind. I wasn’t copying, comparing

rest from social media,

or envying the lives of others.

I was driving home

Something shifted deep in my spirit.

at sunset through the

Unconcerned about what others

rolling hills of Franklin,

invitation of a sunset.

Far too many of us race through life full throttle from photo to photo, achievement to achievement. No wonder we are stressed!

might think, I logged reflections,

Tennessee, where we

took note of new dreams that began

had moved from New

to emerge. Second, I was sleeping

York. My eyes welled up

better than ever. My full night’s

at the beauty. Normally,

sleep routine kicked back in almost

I would have pulled over

immediately. I stopped scrolling

to the side of the road and

through my social media apps

angled for the perfect shot

before bed, so my body and brain

to share on Instagram.

were better prepared for sleep. If I

Even before I reached for my phone,

Far too many of us race through

woke for a moment in the middle of

I realized I didn’t have it with me—

life full throttle from photo to photo,

the night, I refrained from checking

and I didn’t care.

achievement to achievement. No

my phone, knowing it might keep me awake.

I drove on, reflecting on this

wonder we are anxious and stressed!

change of heart, mind and soul for a

Resting from technology slows

few more minutes. That’s when God

us down, makes space for us to

Every choice to peruse social media

reminded me of the truth I needed

examine our blind spots and gives us

was a choice not to do something

to hear: You are worthy to receive

greater capacity to be present to the

productive with my time, and in that

something beautiful, and you don’t

moment right in front of

extra time garnered by fasting from

have to share it. That’s when I pulled

us. At least, it did for me.

Third, I pursued learning again.

R EBEK A H LYONS is the author of Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose from which this was adapted.

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2019

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joseph the new road for

SEPT-OCT

040

2019

BY T Y L E R H U C K A B E E

“DO YOU LIKE TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF?”

happen. In fact, there

Natalie Closner Schep-

seph might have to call it

man asks. “Because I

quits altogether.

was a moment there where it seemed like Jo-

love it.”

You’d probably like

“We just got really tired

too, if you had Joseph’s

after our last record cy-

stories.

all-sister

cle,” says Meegan Schep-

indie-folk trio talk with

man. “Relationally, we

the familial ease of sis-

just weren’t doing so

ters, finishing sentenc-

hot. There was a lot of

es, picking up missed

personal stuff happen-

details,

little

ing that was getting in

interjections of “oh, you

the way of us being able

tell this part” or speak-

to be relationally very

ing the exact same thing

successful

on top of each other like

other, to put it kindly,”

Shakespeare’s Furies.

she says.

It’s

The

offering

illuminating

with

each

to

At first, Joseph was

hear people talk about

just Natalie, who was

themselves

making a go of it as a

Most

bands

this

way.

have

to

player in their native

put on a bit of a perfor-

Portland

mance in interviews—

writer scene. She re-

there’s a reputation to

cruited Meegan and Al-

keep up—but you can’t

lison to join as backup

perform in front of fam-

singers, and the three

ily. They won’t let you

decided

get away with anything,

better as a cohesive unit.

especially how their new

They called themselves

album Good Luck, Kid

Joseph—an homage to

came about.

their

“You make something

041

END OF THE ROAD

talking about yourself

singer-song-

they

worked

grandfather

Jo

and his hometown of

that you love and then

Joseph,

people are curious about

quickly

Oregon—and

it, and I think curiosity is

with a sharp debut and

the best gift anyone can

an

give another person, so I

of late-night TV show

love it,” Natalie says. “It’s

performances that con-

awesome.”

verted the curious into

made

impressive

waves round

It’s good to hear the

die-hard fans with ease.

band say this now be-

But “ease” is not a word

cause there was a time

Joseph would use to de-

when the album seemed

scribe how things were

like it wasn’t going to

going behind the scenes.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

“We almost called it quits,”

and I was driving our touring

hard to explain. It’s that invis-

Meegan says. “Because we

van,” Allison says. “And I was

ible stuff that just kind of is

were like, if it’s going to be

like, ‘Everyone needs to calm

in the air, but it was a really

like this, we just can’t do it. It’s

down!’ and trying to help the

amazing night.”

just not worth it for anybody.”

situation.” And then their tour

This is the trouble with

van smashed into a parked

NEW ROADS

car’s side view mirror.

The three speak of their fa-

sibling acts. There are a lot of perks to making a band

They left a note in the rain

ther with obvious affection,

with your sisters. You’ve got

and ran off to their venue.

and credit him with helping to

a lifetime of communication

“And basically,” Allison says.

mediate some of the trickier

to work with, and the implicit

“That was the night we were

parts of their reconciliation,

understanding of how you all

like ‘OK.’”

as he had done throughout

tick. There are a lot of cheat

The

following

day,

the

three sat down and had what

“Both he and our mom, if

issues that cause other bands

they describe as “a mega

there was ever a conflict be-

to implode.

confrontation.”

tween any of us kids they ba-

But it’s trickier, too.

huge

sically said, ‘You gotta talk to

“You all want the end goal,

step toward me that day,”

each other. You have to work

but the way that you want to

Natalie says. “It was real-

that out,’” Natalie says.

have the end goal might dif-

ly amazing. [She] was like

fer,” says Meegan. “It’s always

‘Hey, let’s do this.’”

“Meegan

took

a

Meegan remembers how quick her dad would be to

such a coordination to be on

“None of us are very dra-

the same page about how to

matic people when we fight,”

get to where you’re going.”

says Allison. “But that mo-

would get home from work

ment was kind of like ‘OK,

and have had a hard day and

we’ve obviously hit a new

say something that would

G OOD LU CK , KID

point, and we need to figure

make me go running to my

Joseph’s latest album finds

this out because I can’t have

room crying,” Meegan says.

the band branching out in

any more driving things on

“And I remember I’d be in

new ways with a bolder,

my record like that.’ I’ve seen

my room crying and then I’d

both my sisters at different

hear this knock on the door,

times lay down their weap-

and it’s my dad and he comes

ons just to be like, ‘Well I’m

in and he’d sit on the floor

wrong.’ And it’s a pretty pow-

and he’d be like, ‘Hey, I’m

erful thing, and I respect both

sorry, that wasn’t cool.’”

more aggressive sound to match a new punch in the band’s lyrics.

of them a lot.”

TURNING POINT

Joseph peppers a lot of their

SEPT-OCT

most of their lives.

codes to deal with the sort of

own his mistakes.

“I

remember

my

dad

These are the sorts of tools

And then, something special happened.

Joseph has been equipped with to deal with the stress

speech with phrases like “get

“We ended up playing one

and tension of life on the

where you’re going” (driving

of the most special shows

road. It’s made them a bet-

is a recurring theme on the

ever,” says Natalie. “It was a

ter

new album) so maybe it’s ap-

hometown show. We played

on that point, none of them

propriate that the relational

in Portland. After we had

think a little more parental

tension came to a point on a

gone through that conflict, it

angst would make them bet-

rainy drive to a Seattle show.

was like the songs had this en-

ter songwriters—but it’s also

“Meegan and Natalie got

ergy and this magic to them.

made them more committed

into this really huge fight,

It was just very palpable. It’s

to working through issues in

042

band—they’re

agreed

2019

L-R Meegan Closner, Allison Closner, Natalie Closner Schepman

“You all want the end goal, but the way that you want to have the end goal might differ.”

their personal lives.

Joseph

wrote

catalyst to be able to talk “Fight-

about it.”

er,” the first single off

So this is the spirit Jo-

their new album, before

seph is taking into the new

the

tension

album. Older and wiser,

reached its pinnacle, but

band/family

yes, but also refreshed.

they still say that the song

As Natalie has it, “It feels

had “a bit of foreshadow-

so exciting to get another

ing” for them.

chance,”

she

says.

“Be-

“I think that we were

cause having been through

writing about something

a full record cycle start to

else,” Allison says. “But I

finish really, it’s like any-

think it was one of those

thing. You just learn.”

things where because we

“You learn so much.”

weren’t able to say at the time kind of what was going on or what we needed from each other, we used this other scenario as a

043

T YLER HUCK A BEE is the senior editor at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @tylerhuckabee.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

(clockwise from top left) Adam DeVine, Danny McBride, Edi Patterson and John Goodman

HBO’s new prosperity gospel send-up ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ is insanely over-the-top, but actual things televangelists have done make it look like a documentary.

BY S A R A H J A M E S

THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES has a premise that’s probably familiar to a lot of Christians of a certain

age: A wealth-flaunting family of televangelist megachurch pastors struggles to balance family dynamics, generational tension, greed and fame while leading a “ministry” fueled by donations from devoted parishioners. And because the “Gemstone” family is comprised of characters played

by Danny McBride, Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson and John Goodman, profanity-laced, wildly inappropriate antics ensue. But as over-the-top as the HBO series is, it’s got nothing on the real-life misadventures of America’s actual televangelists.

Here are nine things real televangelists did that are too over-the-top for satire. This is all true:

1

ORAL ROBERTS LOCKED HIMSELF IN A ‘PRAYER TOWER’ TO RAISE $8 MILLION

In 1987, televangelist Oral

large donation by a Florida dog track owner concerned Oral was going to starve.

2

PAT ROBERTSON CLAIMED HE HAD SUPER-HUMAN THIGH STRENGTH

Roberts locked himself

3

JIM AND TAMMY FAYE BAKKER OPENED AN ILLFATED CHRISTIAN AMUSEMENT PARK

In the late ’70s, husband and wife televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker were full-

in the space needle-like

In 2006, CBN founder and The

fledged celebrities and decided

Prayer Tower on the campus

700 Club host Pat Robertson

to leverage their fame in the

of Oral Roberts University to

told viewers that when he

amusement park business.

hold a prolonged prayer and

was 73 years old, he leg-

Heritage USA opened in 1978,

fasting vigil to raise money

pressed 2,000 lbs. thanks to

and before it closed in 1989

for scholarships for medical

three years of training and his

in the wake of financial and

students. He told his followers

“Age-Defying Shakes” (which

sexual misconduct scandals,

that if he didn’t raise $8 million

are conveniently sold by The

boasted a water park, an

by the end of March, God

700 Club). He claimed he leg-

amphitheater,

would “call [him] home.”

pressed a literal ton “one time,

television

one rep,” which would put him

studios and

10 days the stunt brought in a

in the running for the strongest

other loosely

cool $9.1 million—thanks to a

thighs on Earth.

Bible-themed

Thankfully for Roberts, after

045

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

attractions. In 1986, the

Among

2,300-acre attraction was

a certain

the third most visited theme

demographic

park in America, boasting 6

of Christians,

million visitors and following

Robert Tilton is

only Walt Disney World and

best known for

Disneyland in attendance.

those YouTube videos edited

4

JERRY FALWELL SR. LAUNCHED A WAR ON TELETUBBIES

to make it look like he can’t stop farting (which are, objectively, still

In the 1980s, televangelist

hilarious—for

that God rewards generosity

and Liberty University

research purposes, we went

to his ministry with wealth.

founder Jerry Falwell Sr. led

ahead and watched them all

But mainly, he’s on this list

the politically conservative

over again).

because his last name is

religious organization the

But at one time, Tilton’s TV

Dollar, and you just can’t make

Moral Majority, whose

ministry was bringing in tens

origins can be traced back

of millions of dollars a year

to 1976 when Falwell hosted

along with a lot of written

a series of “I Love America”

prayer requests. After a

rallies. Then, in 1999, Falwell

news investigation found

decided to turn his attention

thousands of unopened

from politics to taking on the

letters in dumpsters near

Teletubbies. He was under the

his office, Tilton claimed

belief that one of the trippy-

he prayed for them all by

looking children’s television

lying on top of large piles

characters was a “gay role

of the prayer requests. He

Kenneth Copeland is another

model” that was “damaging”

then claimed ink got into his

televangelist who is a big fan

children. A spokesperson

bloodstream, which is why he

of private jets, and doesn’t

for the Teletubbies called

needed plastic surgery on his

mind asking viewers to buy

Falwell’s suggestion “absurd

eyelids—you know, to repair

him a $65 million Gulfstream.

and kind of offensive.”

the damage his capillaries

But don’t worry, he has a

sustained from absorbing so

perfectly good reason for

5

ROBERT TILTON’S PRAYER HABITS LED TO PLASTIC SURGERY ON HIS EYELID

much ink.

that up.

7

KENNETH COPELAND BOUGHT TYLER PERRY’S PRIVATE JET BECAUSE HE’S AFRAID TO FLY WITH DEMONS

wanting God’s people to give him cash instead of helping

6

CREFLO DOLLAR IS NAMED CREFLO DOLLAR

the poor or something. In Copeland’s words, he can’t just go boarding a “long tube with a bunch of demons,”

Creflo Dollar has owned

adding, “It’s deadly!” That said,

multiple Rolls-Royces,

it’s possible Copeland was

multimillion dollar mansions,

referring to American Airlines,

and of course, private jets.

which is obviously unfit for

He openly preaches the

anyone of moral character.

prosperity gospel, promising

SEPT-OCT

046

2019

Danny McBride does a lot of naming and claiming as Jesse Gemstone.

8

JIM BAKKER SELLS VATS OF END TIMES GRUEL RATIONS

“prophecies” and giant buckets of “emergency food.” For just $100, you can order a “Fiesta Pail” with 30 days worth of

For his second appearance on

basement-ready Tex-Mex slop,

the list, Jim Bakker reemerged

just in case you happen to find

from his first scandal and

yourself left behind and in

audiences for her glamorous

prison stint with a new

need of freeze-dried burritos.

lifestyle and teachings like,

televised preaching show.

This one mainly focuses on helping the viewer prepare for the end times.

“I don’t want pie in the sky

9

PAULA WHITE BECAME A FAKE DOCTOR

There are apocalyptic

by and by. I want some ham where I am.” Powerful stuff.

Though she does not hold a college degree, for some

Paula White

reason, she is frequently

rocketed into the

introduced as “Dr. Paula

national spotlight

White” with no explanation.

as a spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump, but she’s also well-known among Christian television

047

SAR AH JA MES is a freelance writer living in Boston.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

SEPT-OCT

048

2019

no laughing matter inside jim and jeannie gaffigan’s life-changing year

BY J E S S E C A R E Y

IF

I M A G E S BY K E L S E Y C H E R R Y

you’ve ever heard the

everyone from comedy snobs to their

material, produce shows and keep the

stand-up comedy of Jim

impressionable kids.

pipeline of punchlines flowing to meet

Gaffigan—which, if you have Netflix or even

For years, Forbes has consistently

the ever-increasing demand for Gaffigan

listed Gaffigan among the world’s

humor. It’s been a remarkable rise to the

an internet connection, you probably

highest-earning comics, raking in tens

top for the powerhouse couple.

have—then you’ve also heard the

of millions of dollars thanks to sold-out

comedy of Jeannie Gaffigan. Even

tours, streaming specials and (now)

before they were married back in

feature films.

2003, the two wrote together and have

Then, 2017 happened. Tragedy struck, and everything changed.

“I lived in this very likely reality

And while it’s Jim who is on stage

that I was going to be a single father of

since taken over the world of stand-up.

delivering his self-deprecating

From their humble beginnings writing

one-liners about junk food (Hotttt

sketch comedy and material for

Pockettts), gym avoidance and the

MORE THAN THEY CAN HANDLE

Jim’s club gigs, the duo built a brand

challenges of raising five kids, it’s been

In the spring of 2017, Jeannie went to

of clean, relatable jokes enjoyed by

Jeannie behind the scenes helping craft

see a doctor after months of headaches

049

five children,” Jim says, looking back.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

and flu-like symptoms. As

Jim is a Christian as well,

Jeannie went in for an MRI.

seem funny at first blush,

a busy mother, writer and

but it was Jeannie’s posture

For this particular MRI, the

the things that “we may not

producer, she assumed it

that he leaned on in the

results were literally life

think of as funny, such as a

was related to stress. But

early days of the diagnosis.

or death.

bottle of body wash or a Hot

after an MRI, doctors told

Faced with the prospect of

“She was still on the

her she had developed a

losing his writing partner,

gurney, and she looked at

brain tumor the size of pear.

the mother of his children

me and she said, ‘Write

and the love of his life, Jim

this down. These are

Needless to say, the prognosis was not good.

Jeannie is a devout as much from the Bible

overcame me,” Jim

jokes in Jim’s sets—but

says, looking back.

in the days following the

“There was something

diagnosis, the prospects

about Jeannie’s deep

of a risky brain surgery

faith, and the comfort

and likely complications

and the peace that she

overwhelmed the couple.

encountered, coupled

“There was something a Jeannie’s deep faith and and the peace that she e that reassured me.” —Ji

with her overall bravery, that reassured me.”

turn immediately to God,”

Just like he’d

Jeannie remembers. “But

done throughout

at a certain point, pretty

his career—and

quickly, when everything

throughout his

was kind of swirling around,

marriage—he leaned

it became clear to me that I

on her faith when his

was not going to be able to

own wouldn’t carry him

observations on the MRI,’”

brain tumor made its

handle this.”

alone. In fact, Jim says his

Jim says. She was ready to

way into their stand-up

wife is the one who taught

start working on material.

routine. But even off stage,

Jeannie says she thought of the old adage about how “God doesn’t give you

him how to have faith.

Even in one of the

“You know, I lived across

Jim, Jeannie and their

darkest moments of their

friends found jokes in an

anything you can’t handle,”

from a Catholic church

lives, Jeannie dealt with

experience that probably

and then she decided to pray.

for fifteen years,” he says,

it like she’d dealt with

doesn’t seem all that funny

“I just said, ‘Listen God, if

referencing the time before

everything—she wrote jokes

to the outside observer.

you don’t give people things

he and Jeannie got married

about it.

they can’t handle, I’m just

in New York. “[I] never

“One of the things that

going to say I can’t handle

went in it, and then got

got us through is that fact

thing the friend said was

this, so please handle this,’”

married in it and now all my

that we’re used to viewing

‘Oh, you’re not even bald,’”

she says.

children were baptized and

our lives through the lens of

Jim remembers. “The thing

confirmed in it. So I kind of

comedy,” she says. Jeannie

about humor is that it’s

conversation with God

followed the leader that I’m

says that her husband’s

unifying in that it might be

saying, ‘I’m just going to turn

with, you know what

comedy has always been

gallows humor, but it’s also

over this situation to You, and

I mean?”

observational, and without

an opportunity to alleviate

knowing it, the couple was

the tension.”

“I had this very frank

I’ll work as hard as I can in

SEPT-OCT

Soon, the battle with the aftermath of Jeannie’s

“There’s almost a calmness that

information for me to

this case, cancer.

turned to faith as well.

Catholic—you might gather

“It was just too much

Pocket, or whatever.” Or, in

“Jeannie had a friend come and visit and the first

whatever way You can guide

FOLLOWING THE LEADER

coaching themselves on

me, but there’s no one else I

Jim remembers during one

how to find the humor in

very rare type of brain

can turn to in this situation.’”

of the health screenings,

things that don’t necessarily

lesion called a papilloma

050

Jeannie’s tumor was a

2019

of the choroid plexus.

And though doctors were miraculously able to remove it, she faced months of setbacks: surgeries, being bedridden for weeks at a time, eating through a feeding tube, a near-fatal

about d the comfort encountered ... im Gaffigan bout of pneumonia and losing her ability to speak for three straight weeks. The fact that the couple is able to joke about this doesn’t mean that any of it was easy.

However, Jim and Jeannie are on the other side now.

And though their lives have returned to normal, in many ways, nothing is how it used to be. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

A NEW LIFE

“I’m grateful for having this brain tumor happen to me,” Jeannie now says.

Considering all of the setbacks, physical pain and emotional devastation

051

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

caused by her tumor,

fast food, has found a

that may seem like an

new outlook.

odd statement. But since

that experience without

Gaffigans have a new

being in touch with

way of seeing the world.

some gratitude,” he

“I think now my faith

says. “And particularly,

is much more centered

being in touch with

in gratitude than it is

the notion of how

about asking for things,”

little control we have

Jeannie says. “So even

and how humble this

though I wouldn’t have

existence is.”

defined my faith before

Fans don’t need

as asking for things,

to worry too much

ironically me turning

though. Jim Gaffigan

to God when I needed

is still the same old

Him the most and asking

funny, melanin-

Him to help me through

challenged grump

it, I kind of felt my faith,

you know and love.

through that whole

This has not changed

process, blossomed into

him in a terribly

this gratitude.”

fundamental sense.

The tumor made

“I would say that

Jeannie realize just

three months after it,

how much she truly

I was still angry about

had to thank God for.

a cab driver taking the

“I was kind of losing touch in my life,

wrong turn,” he says.

But while the

even though looking

situation didn’t change

back at my life prior,

the couple’s outlook

the things that were

on life; it did lead

happening in my life

to a change in Jim’s

were so amazing,

approach to his career.

whether it was career-

In the midst of

wise or my kids or

Jeannie’s treatment,

my extended family,

Jim considered

but it took me going

retirement from

through this crisis

comedy. But when

to experience true

he decided to start

gratitude,” she says.

working again,

Even Jim, a

something happened.

comedian who’s

Suddenly, producers

made a career out of

were eager to offer him

being grumpy about

dramatic roles.

everything from

SEPT-OCT

“You can’t go through

Jeannie’s tumor, the

“I waited 30 years

physical exercise to

to get seven movies

the composition of

that they decided to

052

2019

give me all in one year,” he

what their faith, this is what

everything for the Gaffigans.

says. “But it’s one of these

their peace is grounded in.”

They’re ready to make their

things where you don’t have

In American Dreamer,

new outlook public.

control over the timing, and

which hits theaters this

you don’t have control over

fall, he plays a down-and-

Life Gives You Pears: The

when opportunities come.”

out father who goes from

Healing Power of Family,

being a ride-share driver to

Faith and Funny People,

starred in the indie-thriller

hatching a kidnapping-and-

comes out this fall. In it, she

Them That Follow, about

ransom plot in order to get

talks about what it means to

the children of a family of

money and not lose contact

truly trust God even when

serpent-handling, Pentecostal

with his own son.

you don’t know what the

This summer, Jim

churchgoers in a remote part

“I think that in both Them

Jeannie’s first book, When

outcome will be.

of West Virginia that begin to

That Follow and American

question their faith.

Dreamer, there was

made me realize that that’s

something really appealing

the ultimate faith,” Jeannie

“One of the things that

“I think in retrospect, it

“That’s the ultimate faith ... That I was able to just say I knew that God was going to work this out in His will.” —Jeannie Gaffigan I was impressed with in

about playing someone

says. “That I was able to just

the script is that the script

flawed, who has flawed

say I knew that God was

wasn’t a judgment on these

reasoning, but something

going to work this out in

people. It wasn’t like ‘These

where I could empathize or

His will, whatever way it

idiots!’” he says.

understand,” he says.

was, but I couldn’t control

In fact, it was the faith

For Jim and Jeannie, the

element that drew him to

move to more dramatic

the story.

roles is a risk, especially for

“Being someone of faith

the outcome.”

a generation of fans used

...it didn’t feel that foreign;

to their brand of clean,

it didn’t feel that insane.

goofy jokes. But this isn’t

People might think that’s

the same couple who wrote

really silly on the surface,

the Hot Pocket bit. A tumor

but these people, this is

the size of a pear changed

053

JESSE CAREY is the content director at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @jessecarey.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

A Higher Purpose?

POT, FAITH AND THE DEBATE ABOUT MARIJUANA IN THE CHURCH

SEPT-OCT

054

2019

BY

2013 WAS A ROUGH YEAR FOR CRAIG GROSS.

R ACH E L G IVE N S

For a decade, he’d battled excruciating head-

pensaries

aches and suffered seizure-like episodes, and the

with staffs trained on wellness and the medical

health problems were making his life unmanage-

specificities of different strains of cannabis. He

able. Gross is the founder and face of a ministry

remembers a scary looking guy with a gun stand-

called “XXXChurch,” which focuses on outreach

ing at the door and the cashier suggesting he go

to people in the adult film industry and help-

somewhere else unless he’s looking for some-

ing people struggling with porn addiction. But

thing that “will f****** get you high.”

in 2013, everything came to a halt. The physical pain he was experiencing was just too much.

The experience wasn’t great. Back then, disweren’t

sophisticated

operations

Gross passed, saying the experience was just too overwhelming—especially for a guy like him.

He remembers telling himself, “I’m going to fix

“I had smoked maybe eight cigarettes in my life,

this; I’m going to see every specialist.” However,

been drunk on my 21st birthday and one other

things just kept getting worse.

time,” he says.

He spent 10 days in the hospital over the pe-

So, he looked elsewhere for relief, though

riod of a year. “It just got ugly—ERs, panic at-

what he found didn’t really help him. For the

tacks—and at every turn everybody told me I

next several years, Gross struggled with debili-

was perfectly fine,” he says looking back.

tating headaches. But in places like California

Finally, it came to a head, and his life began

and Las Vegas, laws were changing. The mari-

to unravel. “I had to stop every speaking engage-

juana industry was undergoing a rapid evolution

ment, stop traveling, stop working,” he says.

with new decriminalization measures. Soon,

One Sunday morning, as he was getting

the pot business was moving away from weird,

ready for church, his wife saw the agony he

storefront “doctors” and scary head shops to a

was in, and suggested that he try something

highly regulated industry that allows consumers

non-traditional. As a resident of California,

to purchase products for recreational purposes.

he could semi-legally visit a doctor who could

While attending a conference in Las Vegas

give him a medical marijuana card that would

with his ministry, Gross decided to visit one of

allow him to purchase cannabis. He skipped

the city’s larger, more polished dispensaries.

church, went to see a doctor—who he admits

With the help of staff members, he purchased a

was “shady”—who, over a Skype call from an

small box of edible, cannabis-infused mints. He

office park, gave him a prescription.

took one, went to the hotel spa, and for the first

055

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

The Rise of Pot Products

CANN AB IS

VA PE CA RTR I D G E S

M A R I J UA NA WA X

Though very low in tox-

Filled with oil extracts

Made with a solvent-like

icity, two of the plant’s

from

plants

butane, wax is an ex-

compounds (CBD and

(with or without THC), the

tremely potent form of

THC) cause a variety of

cartridges can be used

extract that can contain

physical and psychoac-

with vape pens for a

eight times more THC

tive effects in humans.

smoke-free experience.

than typical marijuana.

cannabis

time in years, his mind started

drug), marijuana is largely con-

vor of their own, it may only

to slow down.

sidered pretty safe. Though be-

be a matter of time before pot

“Man, I took this thing, it

cause of its Schedule 1 classifi-

becomes a highly regulated,

lasts a couple of hours, and I

cation, unlike Schedule 2 drugs

accepted, legal and extremely

got myself in a different space,”

like methamphetamine, it can’t

profitable part of the Ameri-

he remembers.

be officially medically tested

can economy like alcohol and

for safety in the United States.

cigarettes.

Today, Gross regularly goes

means

it’s

You read that correctly: The

an issue that more and more

sometimes with the help of his

federal government gives pot a

churches are going to need to

“Relax-a-Mints”—gets

more dangerous classification

be equipped to deal with.

himself

back to that place.

“I can kind of stop and things

than drugs like meth, cocaine and

fentanyl.

Unlike

“Fred,” a pastor from Geor-

those

gia [not his real name], has

can just kind of connect more

drugs, you can’t overdose on

seen that the topic is still too

in the heart space and shut my

marijuana. It’s also considered

taboo for many churches to

body down,” he says.

non-physically

deal with. He is a regular user

Now, Gross is on a mission.

addictive

by

most experts.

of cannabis, but many peo-

As states across the coun-

SEPT-OCT

That

to a spa near his house—and

ple in his congregation don’t

A GRAY AREA

try change their own laws—in

Marijuana remains in a strange

conflict

law—

“We have to be an under-

state of legal flux in the United

high-level drug enforcement

ground church, so to speak, in

States. Though it is technically

officials have essentially decid-

this area,” he says.

“legal” in some states, official-

ed to look the other way. This

Fred has been a Christian for

ly it is still very much illegal.

means that dispensaries and

more than a decade, and says

On the federal level, it is still

weed stores can be legal in

that if God asked him to stop

a “Schedule 1” controlled sub-

places like California, but ille-

regularly smoking weed, he

stance, the category reserved

gal in the United States. It’s con-

would. But, to Fred, pot is a gift

for drugs so dangerous that

fusing, and that’s the problem.

and a part of creation.

they can’t even be used for

And that’s why things might

medical reasons.

soon be changing.

with

federal

know that.

“I believe Genesis 1,” he says referring to the story of

However, unlike drugs like

With more and more states

God creating all life on Earth.

heroin (another Schedule 1

ignoring federal laws in fa-

“He called it ‘good’ and ‘very

056

2019

good.’” Like Gross, Fred uses it

something that should be la-

ically and biblically orthodox

to slow down, especially when

beled sinful or flatly off limits.

Christianity.”

the busyness of life and minis-

Lacine doesn’t want churches

try becomes overwhelming.

to repeat mistakes of the past.

“It’s

like

somebody

But, instead of simply issuing a blanket prohibition of

just

“I think that evangelicals

pot, Lacine believes that Chris-

called a time out,” he says. “I

have largely recognized mis-

tians need to look at the larger

can take a breath, and I can ac-

takes that the Church has

narrative of Scripture and un-

tually gather my thoughts.”

made in reference to alco-

derstand where a substance

In fact, for Fred, it’s become

hol in the early 20th century

like pot fits into it.

an important part of his spiri-

and even into the mid- and

According to Lacine, this ap-

tual life.

late-20th century, as far as

proach means asking, “What

“Over 90% of the use is for

attitudes toward alcohol that

is the biblical, theological un-

spirituality,” he says. “I’m ei-

were unbiblical and mainly,

derstanding, as we understand

ther going to read the Bible.

unbiblically restrictive,” he

God’s redemptive plan through

I’m going to listen to worship.

says. “Unbiblical restrictions

the whole Bible, and not just

I’m going to play my guitar and

have actually reduced our

proof-texting the verses for or

sing to the Lord.”

credibility and our witness.”

against?” he explains. Though,

Fred has heard all of the

However, Lacine says that

he says that after counseling

concerns: The shaky legal sta-

as pastors, there is still an ob-

many churchgoers who use

tus, the scary messages you

ligation to “protect the flock”

recreational cannabis, “there

hear about pot from anti-drug

and offer leadership and in-

is not a single case that I have

activists. However, he seems unmoved by them.

“I always laugh at the negative connotations,” he says.

Marijuana remains in a strange state of legal flux in the United States.

“They always say, ‘Cannabis or marijuana is a gateway drug.’

And I am always like, ‘Yeah, it’s a gateway to Jesus Christ.’”

PROCEEDING WITH CAUTION

You can walk across the street from Pastor Jeff Lacine’s church in Portland, Oregon, and buy a pre-rolled joint for just a couple of dollars. As a teen, Lacine was a daily marijuana smoker,

sight when it comes to an is-

come across where I have

but believes “God rescued me

sue that could potentially lead

found it beneficial in an indi-

from the distorting clutches of

to destructive attitudes and

vidual’s discipleship to Christ.”

marijuana abuse.”

behaviors.

For Lacine, it starts with un-

He has some clear concerns

“We need to be especially on

derstanding God’s desire for

and reservations about the

guard against any claim that

people to overcome the haze of

Christian consumption of rec-

chemical-induced

the fallen world, and to actual-

reational marijuana, but he

experiences draw us closer to

also sees the danger in being

Jesus,” Lacine says. “That prac-

“The promise of the Chris-

too quick to dismiss pot, espe-

tice is more akin to witchcraft

tian—the goal of redemption—

cially in its medicinal use, as

than it is to any form of histor-

is to see things as they really

057

spiritual

ly see God as He really is.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

are,” he explains. “To see with clarity.

bred and sold. There are two prima-

derstand what exactly they are being

That is ultimately seeing God as He

ry components that make marijuana,

asked about when they are asked

really is.” With that understanding,

marijuana: THC and CBD.

about their thoughts on pot.

does marijuana lead us to God’s design for redemption?

SEPT-OCT

CBD (cannabidiol) is the part of

Ultimately, he sees a need for

the cannabis plant that is typically

pastors and churches to understand

“I think the God-given place of

sold in oil form or edible candies that

the nuances of the issue and the in-

substances in this world is to help us

can be used for everything from pain

dividual circumstances of members

along that journey with our broken

management to treating insomnia.

of their congregation. Because of

bodies,” Lacine explains. He points

According to the World Health Orga-

the complexities of the topic—rec-

to coffee, which can help us wake up

nization, “CBD exhibits no effects in-

reational vs. medicinal uses, un-

and think clearly. Similarly, he sees

dicative of any abuse or dependence

clear legal statuses, differing effects

a scriptural place for proper alcohol

potential.” CBD also doesn’t affect

on

use, which the Bible uses to help us

mental clarity.

more effectively handled on a re-

different

people—things

are

understand ideas like celebration

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the

lational level, when Christians can

and abundance. That’s why he thinks

psychoactive ingredient. In other

know the specifics of people’s needs

pot needs to be discussed with such

words, THC is what gets you high. Dif-

and the kind of pot they are think-

nuance and understanding.

ferent strains are bred with different

ing of using. But that’s also why he

“My hope is to push the Church,

amounts of both components. Oils

believes pastors using marijuana in

particularly the local church ... to ask

like Charlotte’s Web has the benefits

secret is concerning.

these questions with this redemp-

of CBD without any kind of intoxicat-

“Nine times out of 10, the people

tive, historical framework,” he says.

ing effect of THC. But many dispen-

in their community hear that, just

“The question we need to ask with

saries sell weed specifically bred to

like I’m hearing it: This brother is

marijuana is, ‘Is it being used in a

contain more THC. The effects that

self-deceived,” Lacine says. “He’s

way where it’s clarifying or where

different types of pot have on peo-

using chemicals, in a way, to find an

it’s distorting?’ And that’s not a ques-

ple—from a cancer patient using pot

escape from real issues that are to

tion that I can answer across the

to alleviate the pain of chemotherapy

be battled by God’s grace, not by si-

board. That’s the place where the lo-

and a parent using Charlotte’s Web to

lencing out reality, but by welcoming

cal church is needed.”

treat a child’s seizures—vary wildly.

accountability, the means of grace

Part of answering that question

That’s why Lacine believes that

is understanding how pot is used,

it’s important for local pastors to un-

through Scripture, through prayers with brothers and sisters.”

EDIB LE S

CBD OIL

CA P S U L E S

Edibles are snacks (like

Short for “cannabidiol,”

Like cartridges, the cap-

brownies or gummies)

CBD oil doesn’t contain

sules contain oil. They are

infused with THC, caus-

the psychoactive com-

taken orally, and though

ing slow-acting, but fre-

pound THC. It’s used as

they are slower acting,

quently strong, psycho-

holistic treatment for a

the dosage can be more

active effects.

variety of ailments.

accurately controlled.

058

2019

Because, as Lacine explains, tri-

think that just means we do every-

als should be expected. “While the

thing B-rate or C-rate,” Gross said.)

have freedom to do it?’”

Gross says he wants to dispel mis-

Gospel imparts to us great comfort

Instead, he sees it as a place where

information. “I think it’s dangerous for

Christians

with

microphones or pulpits or even Facebook channels to talk about things they have no

“It’s like somebody just called a time out ... I can take a breath, and I can actually gather my thoughts.”

experience

with

or

knowledge of.”

Gross

says

pot

changed his quality of life, positively affecting his spiritual life and relationship with God. Not because pot changed what he thought about God; because it’s changed

in this life, it is not a comfort absent

Christians can discuss the issue, get

of trials,” he says. “Our goal as Chris-

resources about pot and, soon, buy

tians in this world is not to escape ev-

actual cannabis products.

how he thinks.

“As people ask me, ‘Hey, how has this changed you? I would say,

ery painful trial, but to glorify God in

Gross says the idea came after

‘The spirit lives in my heart and our

the midst of difficulties. God employs

talking to so many people who find

hearts as believers, but I’ve been in

trials and difficulties to work what

themselves in a spot where they just

my head.’” Now, he’s found a way

is pleasing to Him in his children ...

don’t know what to think about the

out of it. Pot helps him quiet his

How many Psalms would have not

issue, and many don’t have a safe

mind, but as more churches deal

been written if David would have si-

place to discuss it at all.

with cannabis in their own commu-

lenced all that was going on inside of his heart with substance abuse?”

Time after time, he heard the

nities, they’ll need to decide if that’s

same response when he asked a

the kind of high God wants them to

pastor what he thought about pot.

start chasing.

THE FUTURE IS NOW

“And every answer from everybody

Recently, Craig Gross launched a new

I’ve talked to for the last year was,

venture: ChristianCannabis.com. The

‘I don’t know,’” he says. “Not just,

name is meant to be somewhat iron-

‘What would Jesus say? What would

ic. (“I don’t like the labels, because I

my boss say? Am I allowed to? Do I

059

R ACHEL GIVENS is a writer and editor living in Portland.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

M A L C O L M G L A D W E L L WA N T S H YOU

SEE

TO

CHANGE

O

W

THE

WORLD

BY JESSE CAREY

SEPT-OCT

060

2019

How the bestselling author found a new paradigm

Y

ears ago, a young medical

was not the questions about

one from the medical ethi-

resident was asked to talk to

treatment,”

says.

cist because he’s looking for

a patient suffering from ter-

“It was that she could not die

a solution to it. And he might

minal breast cancer. He had

without mending the relation-

have found one in an unex-

a difficult, but necessary, job

ship with her son.”

pected place.

Gladwell

to do. He needed to ask the

His new perspective changed

end-of-life questions required

his course of action. Gladwell

LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

in these kinds of tragic situa-

points out that this story illumi-

Gladwell, the author of the

tions, like does she want a “do

nates a profound lesson.

bestselling books including

not resuscitate order” and if

We live a culture that likes

The Tipping Point, Outliers

to ask questions, but rarely

and his latest, Talking to

“Then he asks the question,

listens to answers that aren’t

Strangers, as well as the host

‘Who knows that you’re ill?’”

always obvious. We seldom

of the mega-hit podcast Revi-

says Malcolm Gladwell, recall-

look more deeply at a person

sionist History, is one of pop

ing his conversation with a

or situation than just sur-

culture’s most popular curi-

medical ethicist who first told

face-level answers.

ous minds. His books focus on

she had written her will.

him the story. “And she said,

In our current social media

forgotten stories or obscure

age, where someone stands

ideas that can change the way

Gladwell says, at this point

on an issue is rarely seen in

we see the world. Recently,

the woman turned her head

the context of why they be-

he’s discovered one that dates

and began to weep.

lieve what they believe. The

all the way back to Jesus.

‘My son.’”

“Then he asked her, ‘When

dynamic has led to families,

Gladwell says he’s always

was the last time you saw

communities and churches

been interested in “how reli-

your son?’”

polarized by division.

gious teaching helps us make

The woman’s answer was

Like a doctor focused on

sense of our contemporary

heartbreaking. It had been

a physical situation when a

world.” And while looking at

seven years since her and her

patient is actually in need of

those types of religious teach-

son had last spoken. Suddenly,

more than that, many of us

ings, he came across an idea

the medical team’s role tran-

see the world only through

that has helped great reli-

scended medicine.

our own perspectives, relegat-

gious minds of the past deal

They still had a job to do,

ing ourselves to societal echo

with complicated issues in

of course, but it wasn’t just

chambers that only reinforce

complicated times. The idea

about

end-of-life

our views while essentially

is called casuistry.

care. They needed to under-

dismissing seeing things an-

stand and adapt to the wom-

other way.

standard

an’s unique circumstances.

“I

just

started

reading

about it and became fasci-

It’s a problem Gladwell has

nated with it—its history and

“He realized the issue he

been observing get worse, and

potential as a way of helping

had to deal with as an ethicist

he’s sought out stories like the

us answer difficult questions,”

061

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

he explains.

in that way.

Now, Gladwell has become a sort

For a contemporary

of casuistry evangelist, though he’s

example, take an issue

just scratching the surface of how

like bioethics. Though

world-changing the idea really is—es-

the Bible is clear on the

pecially in a time when so many people

big principle of valuing

live in echo chambers of confirmation

human life, how should

bias. It’s a simple idea that might hold

we think about an issue

the key to uniting polarized communities

like stem cell research,

and bringing people together. The idea

which, though contro-

takes a bit of explaining, but fortunately

versial, has the ability

that’s something Gladwell’s good at.

to save countless lives?

The Bible never ad-

SEPT-OCT

AN ANCIENT TRUTH

dresses it directly, and

To put it simply—the way Gladwell

trying to apply large

does with big ideas—“Casuistry is a

principles isn’t all that

method of moral reasonings.”

helpful and can lead to

Though casuistry dates all the way

a lot of disagreements.

back to the time of Aristotle (and sub-

What method can be

sequently, in a more informal way, Je-

employed to solve this

sus), the concept began to make a major

“novel problem”?

cultural imprint during medieval times

The Jesuits decided

when Jesuit theologians determined

that instead of simply

that simply applying broad, dogmatic

relying on broad de-

principles to then-modern problems

crees from church lead-

was often an insufficient solution. The

ers, a better approach

world around them was changing, and

was to take every prob-

life in the Middle Ages was much more

lem on a case-by-case

complicated than it was during the time

basis. When faced with

of Christ.

a new problem or con-

Up until then, church leaders would

flict, the Jesuits devel-

guide culture by simply pointing to the

oped a method that ex-

teachings of the Gospels. But the Jesuits

amined all sides of an

encountered people whose problems

issue, searched for how

frankly needed better leadership than

similar cases were ef-

the Church of the day could offer.

fectively dealt with and

“What’s interesting about casuistry is

matched their ultimate

simply that it is the idea that this form of

conclusions up to Scrip-

moral reasoning is most useful and im-

ture. Instead of relying

portant when we are encountering novel

on

problems,” Gladwell explains.

they embraced nuance.

broad

principles,

And as technology, new discoveries

“One of the beautiful

and emerging philosophies changed

things about casuistry

the way people interacted with the

is there is nothing new

communities around them, they sud-

about it,” he says. “That

denly began to encounter a lot of these

it is profoundly scrip-

“novel problems.” They were sort of us

tural; that it’s possible

062

2019

to find in the exam-

minute. You’re not Jewish. You’re not

lives and to scrutinize our behavior in

ple of Jesus a clear

circumcised. I don’t even know if you’re

that way,” he explains.

analog for how to be-

a believer.’ He didn’t start with broad,

This is where things can get difficult.

have this way in our

general questions about the appropri-

There are no shortcuts. The Jesuits be-

modern world.”

ateness of the request. Rather, what He

lieved that you have to listen—really

did was, He started with the individual

listen to the details of complicated

LISTEN UP

and He ‘descended into the particu-

problems—to understand your own

If you want to see

lars’—that lovely Jesuitical phrase.”

perspective and also listen to under-

what casuistry can

But in order to “descend into the par-

look like when ap-

ticulars” of a given situation, Gladwell

stand God. “There’s a reason why reflection is

plied to real-world

says you first have to listen very intent-

built into religious practice because

situations, Gladwell

ly to all of the details.

that’s the only way we discover things

suggests going back

“[Jesus] listened to that person as a

like that—[it’s] the only way that we

to the time of Christ.

person,” Gladwell says. “He listened

uncover our biases and weaknesses

While doing ministry

carefully, figured out what was on his

and failings,” Gladwell says. “There’s

in Capernaum, Jesus

mind and what it would take to allevi-

no simple way to do it except to say

was approached by

ate this man’s suffering.”

you have to take the task of uncover-

a Roman centurion, a person who was

“Jesus’ focus was entirely on the particulars of this guy’s situation.”

ing your disordered attachments seriously and set aside the time and effort

literally the hands

This is the same example that Ignati-

and feet of Jewish

us of Loyola, the co-founder of the So-

In taking this time to reflect on

oppression

an-

ciety of Jesus (which would become the

how our own backgrounds can distort

cient Rome. Desper-

Jesuits) used when demonstrating casu-

our objectivity, we realize that Jesus’

ate, he told Jesus,

istry in the 14th century.

teachings aren’t just for “religious”

in

“My servant lies at

to reflect.”

The lesson, Gladwell says, is simple:

problems. They can provide a guide for

paralyzed,

“Don’t get caught up in all these broad

tackling issues of all kinds, for all kinds

terribly,”

or general questions.” He explains,

of people.

adding, “Lord, I do

“Your first obligation is to listen to the

“We shouldn’t let our religious be-

not deserve to have

person you are attempting to serve.

liefs restrict the range of our atten-

you come under my

Carefully listen.”

tion,” Gladwell says. “On the contrary,

home suffering

roof. But just say the

He adds, “That is what Jesus was fun-

word, and my ser-

damentally: He was a fantastic listener.”

it ought to free us up to minister to whomever is in need of help.”

vant will be healed.”

THE ‘PARTICULARS’

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

praised the centuri-

Once you fully understand the human

It’s not hard to find examples of soci-

on’s faith and healed

side of real-world problems, Gladwell

ety moving away from a concept like

his servant.

says the next step is doing what the

casuistry. Just go on Twitter or turn on

Jesuits call freeing yourself of “disor-

cable news. Society has become divid-

way Jesus respond-

dered attachments.”

ed. People often prefer the comfort of

ed to the centurion,”

Essentially, before you can solve a

like-minded individuals who reinforce

Gladwell says. “He

problem, you first have to identify and

their own ideas instead of engaging

listened very close-

rid yourself of personal biases that

with diverse opinions that challenge

ly to his story, and

would

them. Listening is becoming a casualty

He focused on the

ability. That, Gladwell says, is a “func-

centurion as a man.

tion of discernment.”

In response, Jesus

“I think about the

cloud

your

decision-making

of the modern age.

Casuistry is based on listening to the

He didn’t start by

“That is why we take the time to in-

heart of problems, reflecting on our own

saying, ‘Well, wait a

trospect, to pray, to attend to our inner

biases, embracing the possibility that we

063

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

may be wrong and ultimately making de-

the approach of casuistry, it won’t just

The angry person in your Facebook

cisions inspired by the heart of the Gos-

make us better neighbors. It can make

comments might be mad about your

pel instead of the letter of the law. But to

us better citizens of the Kingdom.

political stance, but that’s probably not

do that, Gladwell says, keeping faith as the backbone of our lives is essential.

“It’s not like this is a big leap for any contemporary

Christian,”

why they are so angry in life. The fel-

Gladwell

low churchgoer might be upset about

“I always wonder whether what

says. “It’s just about being attentive and

your stance in a theological dispute,

we’re seeing is the consequence of a re-

faithful to some of the bedrock teach-

but that’s probably not why they’re

treat from religiosity and spirituality in

ings of the Church, but I don’t think it

hurt by the Church. The friend making

our society,” he says, reflecting on our polarized culture. “If in a space of two generations you remove the centrality of that set of ideas, you’re going to pay a price.

There’s going to be a consequence.”

This requires us to keep faith and the

“WE SHOULDN’T LET OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS RESTRICT THE RANGE OF OUR ATTENTION.”

Gospel central, and to

keep

religious

practices a part of our lives.

requires some kind of radical trans-

lifestyle choices you don’t agree with

“If you don’t have the reinforcement

formation. I think it’s fundamentally a

might get defensive when you confront

of religious practice saying that you

very, very simple and traditional mes-

them, but that might not be why they’re

have a moral obligation to take care of

sage that should be at the heart of all

so distant. Sometimes to truly under-

the poor and the suffering, or to remind

kinds of church teaching.

stand someone else’s perspective, you

you that you need to be humble in the A MORAL PRACTICE

ter. You have to actually listen to what

lot less respectful of others, or people

Looking back at the story of the medical

they have to say—and even listen to the

become a lot less cautious and humble

resident and the woman with breast can-

things they might not be able to.

about putting forth their own opin-

cer, Gladwell reflects on the lesson the

“And that’s what we’re talking about

ions,” he says.

man learned that day. Yes, his intentions

here with Jesus as well,” Gladwell says.

This also means being part of a diverse

were correct when he entered the room

“Paying such close attention to some-

community and going to church with

and began asking about the woman’s

one that you know exactly the right

people who think differently from you.

will, but his actions were misguided.

kind of question to ask, and you know

“If you remove the Sunday ritual

“He was running through a check-

how to locate the pain, the true source

where you are reminded of how much

list and healing that woman’s pain,”

of their suffering. I just find that ...,”

you had in common, and all you’re left

he says. “[But] the pain wasn’t in her

Gladwell, a man known for capturing

with is Monday through Friday where

breast; it was in her heart.”

big ideas with simple words, pauses.

you don’t have much in common, it’s a

It wasn’t until the man actually lis-

problem, right?” he says. “There’s some-

tened to the woman’s story and tried

thing incredibly, powerfully, socially im-

to understand her as a fellow human

portant about bringing people together

being that he realized, even though he

on a regular basis and reminding them

might not be able to cure her cancer, he

that they are all part of a community.”

could mend a relationship that would

If we do these things and embrace

SEPT-OCT

can’t just hear their opinion on a mat-

eyes of God, maybe people become a

heal her broken heart.

064

“As a whole kind of moral practice, it’s incredibly beautiful.”

JESSE CAREY is the content director at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @jessecarey.

2019

065

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

HONNE The U.K. duo has mastered the indie slow jam. Now they’re turning their attention to celebrating lasting love.

SEPT-OCT

066

2019

BY LI SA DAN I ELS- R EED

A

ndy

to

voice—and it’s all

wants to change

Clutterbuck

start writing songs

about celebrating

the way that he

about marriage.

the power of true

writes songs.

Clutterbuck and his

bandmate

Honne

wants

“I’ve been with my girl for 12

love and the joy of finding the one.

years, and we’re

James Hatcher are

getting

both great musi-

this year,” Clut-

cians, songwriters

terbuck says, un-

Both Clutterbuck

and

producers,

able to suppress

and Hatcher are

and have built a

the grin creeping

musical

large

following

across his face.

gies in their own

with their smooth,

“From a lyrical

rights: Not only

signature

point

can

sound,

married

of

view,

***

prodi-

they

both

but recently Clut-

the music [we’re

write

and

pro-

terbuck has found

writing now] is

duce

their

own

new inspiration.

very romantic.”

songs,

on

stage

You see, Honne—

With songs ti-

they’re both con-

the band the duo

tled “Crying Over

stantly switching

formed in 2014 in

You,” “Treat You

instruments,

London—is known

Right,”

“Feel

So

fortlessly lacing in

for writing very ro-

Good”

and

“It

solos and soulful,

mantic songs that

Ain’t Wrong Lov-

deal with the com-

ing You,” they’ve

plexities of modern

always

had

a

ef-

improvised riffs.

Their first single, “Warm on a

“The music [we’re writing now] is very romantic.”

067

relationships. Some

penchant for the

Cold Night,” re-

are about falling

sultry

ceived

in love. Some are

sionate, but now,

debut and an en-

about the difficul-

five

dorsement

ties of long-distance

they first started

music

relationships. Some

making music to-

king-maker Zane

are about heart-

gether, Honne is

Lowe. Its steamy

break. And now,

finding

sound created a

and years

its

pasafter

new

a

radio from

industry

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

buzz on the London

in the studio were over.

the bouncy “Day 1” and

music scene, and af-

Now, they could actually

the

ter a series of sold-out

make music in the light

& You” are jazzy, win-

shows, the duo inked a

of day.

dows-down,

major record deal and

And suddenly, their

got to work on their

sound—which

debut album.

had literally described

Named after the single, the album Warm on

as

critics

“nocturnal”—began

to change.

foot-tapping

“Me

head-bob-

bers—not just a sultry nighttime listen.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that “Day 1” is their biggest hit to date,

a Cold Night opens with

“I think our latest

garnering more than 41

the smooth voice of a

album is a bit more

million Spotify streams:

radio DJ named Tommy

upbeat and summery

Clutterbuck says it was

Inglethorpe explaining

because we wrote a lot

inspired by his fiancée.

to listeners, “OK, it’s

of it in the daytime,”

“It’s basically about her

3:17 a.m. … this next

Clutterbuck

and all the time that

explains.

song’s gonna keep you warm on a cold, cold night.” The record lives

“Our latest album is a bit

up to the comically sensational opening, with songs that sound like

more upbeat and summery

they should be played at smoky late-night loung-

because we wrote a lot

es or could provide the background music for a candle-lit dinner date.

of it in the daytime.”

The album garnered critical praise and cemented Honne’s growing reputation for making their own brand of

“Whereas the first al-

we spent together,” he

indie pop fused with

bum was a bit more

says, again with a grin.

neo-soul. But when it

‘nighttime’

“So that’s it, as simple

came time for a fol-

when we were writing

low-up, something hap-

it, we had other jobs as

And now that Clutter-

pened to Honne: They

well, so we were writ-

buck is getting ready to

saw the light.

ing it in the evenings. I

get married to his long-

think it naturally seeps

time love, their sound

into what you’re doing.”

is continuing to evolve.

Now, you can hear the

The early days of Honne

*** After the success of their

SEPT-OCT

because

daylight in their music.

as that.”

were spent in dark re-

debut, Clutterbuck and

Their latest album,

cording studios while

Hatcher were able to

Love Me / Love Me Not,

the guys were trying to

quit their day jobs and

still

soulful

balance the difficulties

commit to making mu-

undertones fans have

of young love and the

sic full-time. That meant

come to love, but this

challenges of pursuing

all of those cold nights

time around, songs like

a career in music. But

has

the

068

2019

LOV E M E / LOV E M E N OT Honne’s album mixes their signature soulful sound with sunny lyrics about finding love and celebrating happiness.

now, the prospect of marriage—and bracing

the

em-

light

day—have

of

changed

how they approach music entirely.

This spring, they released remixes of some of Love Me / Love Me Not’s songs that infuse even more pop sensibilities into singles from the album. And as they work on their next project, they’ve pivoted from just writing about the romance of young love and the difficulties of heartbreak, to the joy of being in a lasting relationship.

“I feel like we’ve been writing a lot more just like in celebration of what’s coming,” Hatcher says, looking at Clutterbuck. “That’s it, isn’t it?

The new stuff ’s all quite full of joy, and yeah, the celebration of life and love and having a lovely time.”

Honne

has

finally

made it through the night,

and

now,

it’s

time for them to enjoy a new day.

LISA DA NIELS-REED is a writer and photographer who lives in Seattle with her husband.

069

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

yemen: on the brink

How the country became home to the world’s worst humanitarian disaster—and how we all can help

R

ight now, more than 15 million people in Yemen are on the brink of starvation. More than one million have cholera. At least three million have been forced to flee their homes, and almost 400,000 children are suffering from severe malnutrition.

The U.N. numbers of the situation in Yemen are almost unimaginable. And things there are getting worse—much worse.

The

number

of

people

in

“acute need” in Yemen rose by nearly 30% from 2018 to 2019, the U.N. says.

“The situation in Yemen is the largest humanitarian crisis of our generation, with 24 million people in need of aid,” Mark C. Smith, World Vision’s senior director for humanitarian emergencies, says. “To put that in perspective, that’s 80% of their population. Imagine over 260 million Americans needing humanitarian aid, that’s what’s going on in Yemen.”

However, even though the U.N.

BY

has called the crisis in Yemen the

R ACH E L J E N N I N GS

“worst in the world” with a nearly unprecedented need, many Americans remain unaware of the situation, the dire need for aid and what can be done to prevent millions from starving to death, being victims of violence or succumbing to one of the worst cholera outbreaks in

Yemeni children sit outside of their house made of wood and pieces of threadbare cloth as their single mother prepares lunch of bread and tea inside.

071

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

recorded history.

This summer, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore tweeted a jar-

ment, as Yemenis once again took to the

continues to be under attack by all par-

streets to protest how the government

ties of the conflict.”

was being run.

The blockade has led to a severe

ring stat about just how far-reaching

Since then, forces loyal to the Hadi

food shortage in a country where mil-

the devastating crisis has grown: “Ev-

administration and the Houthis have

lions have already been displaced by

ery two hours, one mother and six new-

been waging a civil war against each

the violence. But because Yemen is sur-

borns die in Yemen because of compli-

other, with other factions and tribal

rounded by countries fighting a proxy

cations during pregnancy or birth,” she

groups jockeying for regional power in

war within its borders, no one is able

wrote. “More than four years of brutal

the vacuum created by mass instability.

to leave.

conflict have left essential public ser-

Because of Yemen’s location in the

The little food that is available is

heart of the Middle East and the polit-

often impossible to get as warring fac-

vices on the brink of total collapse.”

And even though the conflict is

ical implications of a Houthi-led coun-

tions within the country restrict who

threatening tens of millions, the situa-

try, many of its neighbors—and their

can access grain silos and food storage

tion has largely gone underreported, as

neighbors’ allies—have gotten involved

areas. It’s estimated that 85,000 chil-

Yemen remains one of the most danger-

in the conflict. Specifically, a coalition

dren have starved to death since the

ous places on Earth for journalists.

of nations including the United States

conflict began.

“I think a lot of people are surprised

and Canada have assisted Saudi-led

“When millions of people arrived in

when you tell them that Yemen is the

bombing campaigns in an effort to stop

Europe, we suddenly started hearing

largest humanitarian crisis in the

a government takeover by the Houthis,

more about the Syrian crisis,” Scribner

world,” says Shannon Scribner, Humanitarian Policy Manager at Oxfam America, one of the few organizations that have found ways to operate in the country. “People often think it’s Syria or other countries, but it actually is Yemen. More than two-thirds of the country needs humanitarian assistance right now.”

But before you can fully understand

15+ million people in Yemen are on the brink of starvation. —The U.N.

the extent of the crisis, you have to understand how it began. who are supported by Iran.

THE FORGOTTEN WAR

In the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011,

dis have come up with another strategy

the government of Yemen, like many

to hurt Houthi forces: a blockade of the

countries across the Middle East, expe-

country’s primary port of Hodeidah.

says, referencing that civil war. “But in Yemen, people are landlocked. They’re not able to leave.”

The violence, mass displacement and food shortages have plagued the

rienced a social upheaval. Revolution-

Their efforts have prevented some

population for years, but recently, the

ary movements spread across the re-

weapons from entering the country

situation has gotten even worse: Yemen

gion and in 2012, the “Yemeni Uprising”

and further arming the Houthis, but it’s

is now experiencing the worst cholera

forced the ouster of Ali Abdullah Saleh,

effectively ceased the flow of food and

outbreak in recorded history.

a controversial leader who served as

medicine into the country as well. Now,

“This is because the water and san-

the country’s president since 1990.

the area has become ground zero for

itation systems have been disrupted

the civil war.

by on-the-ground conflicts but also the

His vice president, Abdrabbuh Mans-

SEPT-OCT

But, in addition to airstrikes, the Sau-

ur Hadi, took over the office, but in 2015

“Ninety percent of the food that

airstrikes,” Scribner explains. “So you

he fled the country as the Houthis—an

Yemenis eat to survive is imported,”

have a lack of sanitation, a lack of clean

Islamic military group—sought a force-

Scribner explains. “And 70% comes

water, which has really contributed to

ful takeover of the capital and govern-

through the port of Hodeidah, which

this cholera epidemic.”

072

2019

In this village, most of the houses are made of rocks and mud as many families struggle to buy shelter or other basics like food and medicine.

073

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

Now, a population of millions is un-

Just

months

before,

the

Saudis

der the constant threat of violence,

dropped a bomb on a school bus car-

cholera and famine.

rying 40 boys under the age of 15, on

“I think that both sides realize they

a school field trip. The war plane used

are not going to win this militarily, so

in the bombing was reportedly sold to

they’re in something of a stalemate

the Saudis by the U.S., and the bomb

right now, but of course the people suf-

that killed the children was reported-

fering are the civilians in Yemen,” says

ly made by Lockheed Martin—a U.S.-

Matt Duss, foreign policy advisor for

based company.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and an expert in the conflict.

Duss has been able to do something relatively extraordinary in modern

But even though the conflict has

Washington: He’s helped get bipartisan

grown more dire as the outbreak

support for a resolution—cosponsored

spreads and food continues to run out,

by Sanders, a Democrat, Mike Lee, a Re-

there might be reason to have hope for

publican, and Chris Murphy, a Demo-

the future of the country.

crat—that would prevent the U.S. from further arming the Saudis. Even though

HOW WE CAN HELP

three measures to block the arm sales

When Sen. Sanders testified before

passed their initial votes, President

lawmakers in December 2018 about the

Donald Trump has vetoed each of them.

However,

Duss

is optimistic that

8 million children don’t have access to water and sanitation services.

—UNICEF

need for the United States to help end

Democrats

and

Republicans

can work together to end the violence in the country. “I would

encourage

anyone who wants to help Yemen to contact their member

of

Congress,

their senator, the White House and make

clear

that

they want the Unit-

proactive role in supporting a U.N.

ed States to stop

ceasefire. He says it’s important to

supporting

make clear to allies that “the United

this

war,” he says.

States’ patience is wearing thin” with

the violence in Yemen, Duss was seated

Duss notes that organizations like

next to him. Sanders’ plea was simple:

Oxfam are working to help the people

He wants the U.S. to end its support

in the country that need financial sup-

“[The U.S.] can offer its own diplo-

of Saudi-led bombing campaigns that

port, but political pressure to stop the

matic support to what the U.N. is trying

are often frighteningly indiscriminate.

bombing is also essential. “The Saudis

to do, to make clear that this is not just

As Sanders explained to Congress, “In

are continuing to do this,” he says.

a challenge of the United States, not just

too many cases, our weapons are being used to kill civilians.”

SEPT-OCT

both

the violence. It’s essential that finding a peaceful solution be made a priority.

He believes in addition to blocking

for the people of the region, but for the

arms sales, the U.S. can take a more

international community and that the

074

2019

Ibrahim, 43, sits with his four children inside their house after fleeing the frontlines of war in Hajjah governorate, Yemen.

United

Nations

“We need a ceasefire across the coun-

need aid and the support of the people

has a real role to

try,” Scribner says. “And we will need a

in the United States. The end to one of

play here in try-

political solution that includes not just

the worst humanitarian crises in our

the warring parties, but the people in

generation could be on the horizon,

But in order for that to happen,

Yemen—which includes women and

and it’s American voters and aid or-

lawmakers must know this is an issue

youth—people who have not been in-

ganization-supporters who could help

that voters care about—especially as

volved in these discussions to date.”

hold the key to peace.

ing to bring it to an end.”

elections approach. If Americans want

The tide may already be starting to

peace in Yemen, voters will need to con-

turn in Yemen, as rumors of a possi-

tact their representatives and tell them

ble U.N.-led truce being struck this fall

that ending the worst humanitarian

have been circulating in diplomatic

crisis on Earth must be a priority.

circles. But in the meantime, Yemenis

075

R ACHEL JENNINGS is a freelance writer who writes about global politics and the Middle East.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

a n dy mineo’s

U nfinish e d B u s i ness The gold-selling hip-hop artist is learning that being yourself isn’t as easy as it sounds.

BY TYLER HUCKABEE

It’s

the middle of the af-

“[Chance] put his life into his music

left Mineo open to criticism, but he’s

ternoon and Andy

for three years, and you can whittle it

determined to keep fighting to keep

Mineo is packing

down and go viral for your two min-

his music as true to himself as possi-

his bags in a hotel

utes,” he says. “And I’m like, ‘What

ble, regardless of the liability.

room, getting ready for the next stop

have you ever done with that much

“It takes so much bravery to be

on tour. He’s fuming.

energy and time the way Chance has?

sincere, to be yourself,” he says.

Nobody even knows who you are.’”

“That’s why it hurts me so bad to see

“A friend sent me a meme about

SEPT-OCT

Chance’s new album,” he says. “And

Mineo says he has a friend who

it’s this guy—it pisses me off so much.”

sent him the meme, thinking it was

it mocked.”

Here’s what he’s referring to. In the

funny. “My friend was like, ‘It’s inter-

immediate aftermath of Chance the

net culture! We’re all laughing,’” he

Rapper’s major label debut The Big

says. “And I was like, ‘If I was Chance,

Andy Mineo is a bit of an anomaly.

Day, a clip hit the internet in which

I wouldn’t be laughing.’ Sincerity of-

Tracks like the hit “You Can’t Stop

someone

fers itself up to be mocked.”

Me” put him on the map as a rap-

impersonating

Chance

***

rattled off a satirical laundry list of

Sincerity is a big deal to Mineo. As

per to watch, with his chameleon

Chance’s favorite topics like family

a rapper, he says he is “always fight-

flows and fierce lyricism. But in the

and faith, mocking his trademark

ing for authenticity,” and it shows.

albums since his career-makers like

wholesome exuberance. It went vi-

While some of his songs brim with

Never Land and Heroes for Sale, he’s

ral and set the tone for the decidedly

braggadocio and chest-puffing, others

stubbornly refused to repeat himself,

mixed response to The Big Day.

are disarmingly real about things like

leaning into a more introspective

Mineo’s got some choice words

mental health and insecurity. Just like

aesthetic. Instead of leaning on tried-

for the meme and the man behind it.

with Chance, that vulnerability has

and-true equations for success, he’s

076

2019

077

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

determined to blaze new paths.

in tension, a word he brings up a

are judging you way more than they

“The temptation is to sacrifice do-

lot. “I find a lot of beauty in sadness

probably really are. That’s what

ing something that’s honest to you

and in pain,” he says. “Some people

makes us all self-conscious.”

just to do something that works—a

try to make happy music to drown

quick fix,” he explains. He uses his

out the sadness. Some people make

gold-selling “You Can’t Stop Me” as

exclusively sad music to drown in

an example. “I didn’t make that song

their feels. I try to find the tension

About a year ago, Mineo’s mom died.

trying to make that song,” he says.

between having all of those feelings

The grieving process left him in a dif-

“I just made that song about having

and still finding hope. But holding

ficult spot, in more ways than one.

a good time and being creative. But

those things in tension isn’t the eas-

On the one hand, he’s a musician.

once you have success, sometimes

iest thing to market.”

If he’s not recording new music, he

you can spend more time manag-

He compares it to politics. “If a

radical

left-winger

***

can’t pay the bills. On the other, he

ing your success than the thing that

you’re

or

didn’t really feel like writing and re-

made you successful in the first place.

right-winger, you find a home pretty

cording music while mourning his

“The sweet spot is when you’re be-

quick,” he says. “If you have a more

mother’s death (“I know some people

ing truly yourself and it works,” he

nuanced perspective, it’s not sexy. It

who are like ‘music is my therapy,’”

says. “That’s nice. But it’s not the case

takes time to listen. You can’t under-

he says. “And I’m like ‘therapy is my therapy.’”) That’s where the idea for Work in Progress came from.

“It takes so much bravery to be sincere, to be yourself.”

Work in Progress is the title of Mineo’s next project, which is sort of a podcast/b-sides hybrid. Mineo will release old tracks he’s been sitting on that didn’t make the album cut for one reason or another, but he’ll also release commentary about where the songs came from and why he didn’t feel like releasing them at the time.

“Here’s my unfinished work,” he

most of the time.

A more cynical artist wouldn’t worry about the tensions of regulating

stand it in 3 seconds, and that’s what

says, as if speaking to his fans. “I

people don’t like. They’re moving

hope it makes me a little more hu-

too quick.”

man to you guys. This is just some-

your own laziness. Finding a winning

This is especially true on social

thing I made. Even if it’s not the

formula is the holy grail in the music

media, where Mineo fights to find

most amazing thing, it’s all right.

industry. Why not use it? But Mineo

some sort of equivocation between

You still get to share that connection

is less interested in winning than he

who he presents himself as online

with someone.”

is tapping into his best, most real self.

and who he actually is. “Brand is re-

Mineo’s vision for Work in Prog-

“I do feel like I don’t do a great job at

ally just a dirty word for story,” he

ress transcends his own career. He’d

that all the time,” he admits.

says. “Everyone’s telling some sort of

like to eventually bring other artists

“Some days I feel like I’ve got a

story, whether it’s passively or inten-

clear vision of who I am,” he says.

tionally. I think that’s something that

“And some days I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh,

I’ve gotta think about the big picture,

am I way off brand at this point? Am

and I don’t do that well.

I just blowing it?’ I have these backand-forth moments with all that.”

For Mineo, the trick is to remain

“But then, the other side of that coin is, nobody cares anyway,” Mineo laughs. “You just think people

WORK IN PR O G R E S S Andy Mineo’s next project is more than a collection of b-sides.

It’s an exploration of his own creative spirit.

SEPT-OCT

078

2019

on to talk about their own b-sides and

“When people say, ‘Be yourself’

what it was about the cutting room

that’s the easiest thing to say but the

floor scraps that just didn’t feel right.

hardest thing to do,” Mineo says. “Our

And, in this way, Mineo’s hoping some

public persona and who we are as a

of the veneer of the artist can slip away

person are always at war.”

a little and the real person can emerge.

It’s a war he’s determined to win.

079

T YLER HUCK A BEE is the senior editor at RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter @tylerhuckabee.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

H O W T O B E C O M E T H E N E W S P I R I T U A L Y O U DOES YOUR FAITH LIFE FEEL A LITTLE STALE?

BY J O S E P H R I G G S

CHANGING THAT MIGHT BE EASIER THAN YOU THINK.

SEPT-OCT

getting in shape was easy,

up

then

that getting into

everyone

would

to

the

mentally

fact and

IF

tance

work

important not to shame

when it comes to

of

anyone here. But if you’re

spiritual

health.

finding your spiritual life

do it. That’s the thing

a

about health. No matter

emotionally healthy place

There is a popular idea in

is in a rut and can’t quite

what type you’re talking

means finding a counsel-

the American mindset that

figure out why your con-

about—mental, emotional,

or who has the resources

being spiritually healthy

nection

physical or, yes, spiritual—

to help you sort through

just means doing whatever

where you want it to be,

it takes effort.

with

God

isn’t

your personal issues. Even

comes naturally, along with

it’s worth asking: What are

For the most part, we

solid financial health takes

some vaguely good inten-

you doing to improve it?

know this. Nobody expects

some real work: getting a

tions sprinkled on top, as

The Bible and several

to be in six-pack summer

budget,

through

if the key to lowering your

millennia of church his-

shape without a healthy

your expenses and making

cholesterol was just eating

tory have plenty of sug-

diet and rigorous workout

some changes.

whatever you want.

gestions for how to get

sorting

routine. And more and

But for some reason,

Now, just like with men-

into spiritual shape. Un-

more people are waking

people forget the impor-

tal or physical health, it’s

fortunately, a lot of these

080

2019

081

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

practices have fallen out of fashion.

into your daily routine here.

Sometimes because they’re weird.

This prayer will take a chunk of

Sometimes because they’re hard. Of-

time out of your day. It’ll involve in-

ten because they’re both.

tentionally setting aside at least a few

“I do feel like a lot of this is tell-

minutes to really meditate on what’s

ing people stuff they already know,”

on your heart, and listen to what God

says Tish Harrison Warren, author of

is speaking to you. It’s more than just

Liturgy of the Ordinary. “If you want

a laundry list of today’s worries and

to know Jesus, then you have to read

wants. It’s a conversation in which

the Bible, go to church and pray. You

you’re opening yourself up to God

knew that as a 3-year-old.”

speaking to you.

Warren thinks it’s time for a re-

Set a timer. Start with something

turn to older “unsexy” spiritual prac-

manageable, like 10 minutes. If you

tices precisely because they’ve been

find yourself getting easily distract-

around for so long. They’re tested.

ed, get a notebook and write your

“The Christian life is thousands of

prayers down. After a while, try up-

years old,” she says. “We’re not going

ping the time in small increments.

to discover a new product that’s go-

Like any good discipline, it’ll be diffi-

ing to take it to a new level.”

cult at first, but as you keep doing it, you’ll find it coming easier.

P R AY E R Let’s start with an easier one: daily

B I B L E R EA D I N G

prayer. Based on research, it’s fairly likely you’re already praying with

Chances are, you’ve done this be-

some regularity. According to Pew

fore—or at least tried to. Maybe you

Research, about 39% of millennials

committed yourself to reading the

say they pray daily, and that num-

entire Bible all the way through. You

ber jumps up to about 61% if you’re

got through Genesis and Exodus,

talking about black millennials. So if

which are pretty good. Leviticus gets

you’re among them, congratulations,

a little dry, but at least it’s interest-

you’re already taking good care of

ing. And then Numbers and Deuter-

your spiritual health. And if you’re

onomy just seem to slam the brakes

not, don’t worry: It’s not too hard to

on the entire plot, so you give up and

implement it into your daily routine.

turn on Stranger Things.

Praying daily looks different for

SEPT-OCT

That’s

understandable.

People

different people, but one thing it

dedicate their entire lives and aca-

probably doesn’t look like if you

demic careers to making sense of the

want to be serious is “praying on

Bible. It’s an old collection of books

the go.” Yes, God is always there

written in a variety of genres and

and ready to listen, and you should

languages over the course of thou-

pray anytime you’ve got the inclina-

sands of years. Nobody should be

tion, but that’s not really the kind of

surprised if it’s not exactly easy read-

prayer we’re talking about building

ing. People have to take classes to

082

2019

learn to read Shakespeare

incredibly common teach-

while seeking forgiveness

“been there, done that.”

and Sun Tzu. You can be

ing in the Bible. Every-

from God. In other words,

After all, can’t just hanging

gentle with yourself when

one from David to Esther

fasting often has a specific

out with friends at a coffee

it comes to reading the Bi-

to Paul to Jesus Himself

goal in mind.

shop be church?

ble, too.

spent

periods

If you decide to fast,

Maybe so, but a solid

Fortunately, there are

of time without food. But

make sure to set some

church can provide all

thousands of easily ac-

in today’s culture, fasting

reasonable goals. Consid-

kinds of opportunities for

cessible resources to help

is very rarely taught as a

er a simple 24-hour fast,

spiritual growth you can’t

you navigate the Bible.

spiritual discipline.

to start. Try not to make

get on your own: resources

ironically,

a big deal about it. Drink

to serve others in the com-

taries, studies and guide-

fasting has become some-

plenty of water. And most

munity. People who are

books abound, and you’ll

what in vogue among ho-

importantly, spend what-

different from you who

be amazed at how many of

listic health nuts. “People

ever time you would have

can mentor or even be

them illuminate the Bible

are

hungry,”

spent eating praying, read-

mentored by you. Connec-

in ways you never thought

says Warren. “People are

ing the Bible and seeking

tions to communities in

possible. Even those dusty

questioning some old or-

God’s face.

other parts of the city that

old passages in Leviticus

thodoxies about the best

need your money, time

and Numbers can come to

way to live and what does

and prayer. The Church is

life if you’re willing to put

it mean to be holistic. “

a lot more than just a Sun-

Concordances,

commen-

extended

Somewhat

spiritually

in a little extra work to un-

“The problem with a lot

derstand some of the cul-

of this is that spirituality is

tural context around them.

so vague that it can’t ask

The value this will bring

anything of us. It can be-

to your spiritual life is im-

come another consumer

This one sounds a little

have valid reasons for

mense. The Bible spells

project of something we

“no duh,” but it’s worth

being skeptical of going

out the character of God

use to make our life the

bringing up here for a

to church. You may have

and the divine arc of the

way we want it.”

few reasons. The first one

been hurt by a church

C H U RC H ATT E N DA N C E

day morning service. At its best, it’s a transformational community.

Now,

many

people

Gospel. And it’s a big and

So, first, a few details

being, there are few spir-

or church leader in the

dense enough book that

about biblical fasting. It’s

itual practices more crit-

past. You may have very

even if you feel like you’ve

never just fasting. It’s a

ically taught in the Bible

real stories of wounds

spent your whole life read-

supplemental

spiritual

than being an active part

you’ve received from the

ing it, any reread can still

practice. The idea is that

of the Church. The second

Church,

offer new insights.

you abstain from food as

one being, it’s not a par-

about going back is completely understandable.

Find a good book about

a way of clearing space in

ticularly

your life to invest in oth-

tice, even among Amer-

20 minutes each day with

er spiritual practices, like

ican

About

churches out there who

it as supplemental reading

some of the other ones de-

58% of white evangelical

will welcome you, take

to your actual Bible study.

scribed in this article.

millennials say they at-

care of you and champion

Second, fasting is often

tend church once a week,

you. When you’re ready to

associated with specifical-

according to Pew. That

give it another shot, they’ll

ly seeking God’s guidance.

number drops to about

be waiting for you.

In Acts, the early Church

half among black Prot-

fasts as a way of seeking

estants and 32% among

God’s

mainline Protestants.

much you learn.

FAST I N G Here we go. Fasting is an

will

for

electing

Christians.

prac-

hesitation

the Bible and spend about

You’ll be shocked at how

popular

and

their very first leaders. In

You might be a little

the book of Jonah, the en-

over church. You might

tire city of Nineveh fasts

feel like it’s all a little

083

Just know that there are

JOSEPH RIGGS is a writer from Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his dog Jude.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

Dear White People (a nd E ve ryone E ls e ) For Logan Browning, justice isn’t just a passion.

It’s a part of her faith.

N

etflix’s Dear

a chord with real-life college

compassionate love is—that

White People

students who want to make

it protects, that it serves,

and white,” Browning says.

is one of pop

their own campuses more

that it’s not self-seeking …

“The world is so much

culture’s most

just and welcoming to

I always go back to, ‘Is it

more colorful than that.

provocative

people of color.

love? Is it rooted in love?’”

And we have to make an

shows. Based on a breakout

“What I hear from

In fact, it’s Browning’s

“The world isn’t black

effort to understand that so

2014 indie movie, the

[college students] is they

faith that’s made playing

many people in the world

Netflix series follows a

feel comforted watching

Samantha so fulfilling

are still marginalized, are

group of young, black

Sam going through the

because whether she

still oppressed, don’t feel

college students navigating

same things they’re doing,”

was portraying the

comfortable, are just …

the world of activism,

says Logan Browning,

character or not, justice is

existing. So, we have to

“wokeness,” appropriation,

who plays Samantha on

inseparable from her faith.

make an effort to ask and

political correctness and

the show. “Because there

And that’s what makes

find out why and make it

social issues on a mostly

aren’t a lot of shows where

Logan passionate about

better for everyone.”

white campus.

you’re seeing a character

challenging stereotypes.

The premise might

go through the ups and

“I think Christians get a

Each season of Dear White People introduces

sound heavy, but the show

downs of trying to be a part

bad rap sometimes,” she

viewers to different

is really, really funny. At

of a movement that’s bigger

says. “There are hateful

characters from different backgrounds, shaped by different cultural

“ I ’ v e a lway s j u s t wa n t e d t o m o d e l my approach to activism with how Christianity approaches love.”

experiences and different values.

Sometimes, when those values intersect, things can get complicated, but understanding our differences is what Dear White People is all about. And

the center of the story is Samantha White, a

than them.”

people in the world who

for Browning, that’s why

For Browning, her work

are Christians who make

the show is so important,

passionate racial justice

on the show isn’t just rooted

other people feel left out

especially during such

advocate, who hosts a

in her passion for racial

and unloved, and I just find

divided times.

campus radio show that

equality and justice; it’s an

it’s my job to make sure that

seeks to wake her fellow

important part of her faith.

I’m not one of those people.”

classmates up to the issues

Raised in a Baptist church,

dividing the student body.

Browning says that her

People has connected so

you to want to protect more

own approach to activism

deeply with Browning

people,” she says. “And not

widespread critical acclaim

mirrors Samantha’s passion

and its legions of fans:

just yourself or the people

(it debuted to a 94% on

but is informed by her

The show is challenging

who look like you.”

Rotten Tomatoes) for

Christian roots.

preconceived ideas,

The show has received

its bold—and at times,

“I’ve always just wanted

That’s why Dear White

“I think when you can empathize with more people, it just encourages

introducing audiences to

irreverent—approach to

to model my approach

fresh perspectives and

cultural commentary, and

to activism with how

showing the importance

Netflix recently debuted its

Christianity approaches

of truly understanding the

third season. It’s also struck

love,” she explains. “How

power of diversity.

085

JA NET EVA NS is a writer and coffee lover who lives in Chicago with her husband.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

l i f e l e s s o n s f o r m a k i n g a n i m p a c t

SEPT-OCT

086

2019

THEY’D KNOWN WHEN THEY WERE

OUR

FIRST STARTING OUT.

EXPERTS

7 LEADERS REVEAL WHAT THEY WISH

BIANCA JUAREZ OLTHOFF AUTHOR, NONPROFIT FOUNDER, PASTOR

T

here’s a verse in Proverbs that says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”

Sure, the passage is referring to Old Testament-era government leaders, but trying to pursue your calling

ANGELA DAVIS

while balancing all of the responsibilities and challenges

ATHLETE, SOULCYCLE

of life can feel like you’re facing down a Philistine army.

MASTER INSTRUCTOR

That’s why we took a page out of Solomon’s playbook and asked some successful entrepreneurs, artists and leaders what they wish they knew when they were first starting to chase their dreams. Because there’s another piece of ancient(ish) wisdom that says hindsight is 20/20.

From the practical to the philosophical, here’s what

they had to say: BOBBY GRUENEWALD PASTOR, TECH INNOVATOR, BIANCA JUAREZ OLTHOFF:

software allowed me to

As a creative (writer,

be more creative and

producer and ideator), I

productive because I had

wish I would’ve known

a direction and deadlines

the value of organization.

to get to my creative

In my 20s, deadlines and

destination. As counter-

boundaries felt like rules

intuitive as it may feel,

and water on my creative

creating rules gave me

fire. However, Google

more freedom.

BEN WASHER

Calendar, deadlines and completion management

FOUNDER OF YOUVERSION

CEO & CO-OWNER OF ANGELA DAVIS:I

087

wish

REACH RECORDS

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

I would have known

processed everything.

irreversible, and God

BEN WASHER:

that every lesson,

Looking back, I realize I

can use even our wrong

someone would’ve have

every heartache, every

could have saved a lot of

decisions to create an

told me that the work stays

heartbreak, every letdown,

mental energy if, instead of

incredible path forward.

hard. Surprisingly, 10

every setback, wasn’t

fixating on 20 years down

happening to me, but for

the road, I’d been more

insight, experience and

like it’s gotten any easier.

me—that every bit of it was

focused on listening to

relationships as tools to

Which doesn’t mean it’s not

preparing me for who He

God’s voice in the moment.

help us make decisions.

ever fun, but as a whole,

If we’re praying about

a career in entertainment

that one misstep will

it, seeking wise counsel

always includes difficult

have an eternal trajectory

and feeling a sense of

elements.

spent too much time in

that can never be fixed

supernatural peace about

my 20s being afraid that

and we let it paralyze us.

it, we should be able to

I thought would eventually

I would make the wrong

The reality is that most

step into our decisions

become nothing but a

career decisions. I over-

of our decisions aren’t

with confidence.

source of intense joy can

called me to be.

BOBBY GRUENEWALD:

SEPT-OCT

So often, we can think I

God gives each of us

088

I wish

years later it doesn’t feel

Honestly, this thing that

2019

sleep in.

That’s fine and all,

stick with them.” ⁣ For the first five or so

matter what your job

but what you don’t

years, I always bought

is, God didn’t design

realize is that the other

the cheapest fare, and

the universe so that

half involves pricing,

wound up with hundreds

your job would be

invoicing, billing,

of thousands of expiring

the ultimate source of

organization, money

sky miles spread across

satisfaction in your life.

management, doing

dozens of airlines. ⁣

And that’s OK. I find

your taxes—things

more peace and have

that creatives aren’t

cheapest ticket would

more fun embracing

necessarily the best at.

only save charity: water

that my career can’t

The advice I wish I

Sometimes the

$13, but price was the

deliver everything my

knew in my 20s was

only criteria that

heart is seeking.

that the other half

really mattered. ⁣

of living this life will Read,

always raised our staff

read, read! I wish I

so begin to learn and

salaries and overhead

would have taken time

get more comfortable

funding separately, we

to read more, from

with the business side

take stewardship of

novels to Harvard

of things now and it will

those funds seriously.

Business Review to

benefit you.

business books. Looking

OF MIIR

ANDY BARRON PHOTOGRAPHER

But as someone who

SCOTT HARRISON:

flights a year for over a

time that could have

I sometimes get

decade, I can tell you that

been spent learning.

asked for startup

status matters and the

advice from social

free upgrades are

entrepreneurs—many

always priceless.

Living

FOUNDER & CEO

has taken 75 to 100

back, I had so much

ANDY BARRON:

BRYAN PAPÉ

⁣Even though we’ve

always be challenging,

BRYAN PAPÉ:

EXPERTS

away from you. No

OUR

actually take energy

[CONTINUED]

“I wish I would have known that every lesson ... every setback wasn’t happening to me, but for me— that every bit of it was preparing me for who God called me to be.”

the life of a freelance

in the very early stages

So IMHO, pick an

creative person sounds

of starting charities

airline and alliance that

pretty dreamy: Use

to solve important

works for you and your

the gifts God has given

problems. One of the

team members, and feel

you, do what you love

most practical pieces of

comfortable paying the

to do, make your own

advice I give is simply,

minimal extra amount

schedule, stay up late,

“Pick an airline and

to build status. ⁣ ⁣

089

SCOTT HARRISON FOUNDER & CEO OF CHARITY: WATER

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

R E L E VA N T S E L E C T S NEW ALBUMS YOU NEED TO KNOW

NOËL WELLS P

op culture has been both good and cruel to Noël Wells. She’s been a

staple on both SNL and Master of None, but ended up getting the short shrift on both. Now she’s turned her attention to a new creative field, and seems bound and determined to be in complete control of her time in the music industry. On her solo debut, Wells showcases a gift for delicate tunes that excavate the heartbreak, loneliness and occasional fury that comes with being a woman in 2019. We’d love to see her on-screen again soon, but this will more than suffice.

NOËL WELLS IT’S SO NICE! [NOËL WELLS]

JUDAH & THE

BON IVER

BAT FOR

KINGS

WHITNEY

LION

I,I

LASHES

KALEIDOSCOPE

FOREVER TURNED

PEP TALKS

[JAGJAGUWAR]

LOST GIRLS

ZEAL

[AWAL]

[RAINBOW]

[CLETUS THE VAN]

No artist better

Though they began

weathered the

as an inauspicious worship group, Judah & the Lion

AROUND [SECRETLY CANADIAN]

ANDERSON .PAAK VENTURA [AFTERMATH]

Not many artists

Another

This is a worship

collapse of the

otherworldly

band for people

Acoustic jams

‘00s new-folk

experience from

who don’t like

to suit all moods

a jam like

boom than Justin

Natasha Kahn,

worship music,

are a rarity, but

Anderson .Paak,

is now a regular

Vernon, who is still

who has spent her

with cerebral

Whitney’s music is

who doesn’t

fixture of the

making essential, if

career crafting a

songs that still

truly a soundtrack

seem to have a

album charts.

experimental, pop.

catalog of them.

pack a punch.

for all seasons.

bad song in him.

SEPT-OCT

090

can put together

2019

091

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

T H E WAT C H L I S T E L E VAT E Y O U R M O V I E N I G H T

The Irishman MARTIN SCORSESE

M

artin Scorsese might be the last director

experience. One of the best directors in the

you’d expect to take the Netflix bait,

game works with some of his trustiest actors

given how famously fastidious the iconic

on delivering a true story that he seems born

filmmaker is about the viewing experience.

to tell: one that finds complicated men reeling

Which is why The Irishman is such an enticing

from the consequences of bad decisions.

US

ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE

AMAZING GRACE

CAPTAIN MARVEL

THE LAST BLACK MAN

JORDAN PEELE

NAHNATCHKA KHAN

SYDNEY POLLACK

ANNA BODEN, RYAN FLECK

IN SAN FRANCISCO

[MONKEYPAW]

[NETFLIX]

[40 ACRES & A MULE]

[MARVEL STUDIOS]

JOE TALBOT

Peele’s wild creepfest is a

Rom-coms may not be

A long, looong-delayed

Marvel’s first

lot of fun but like the very

back per se, but movies

Diana Ross documentary

female-starring superhero

A gorgeous, funny and

best horror films, it has a

like this make a good case

lives up to every inch of

movie is also a sharp

deeply sad meditation on

lot on its mind.

for them to do so.

the hype.

critique of imperialism.

male friendship.

SEPT-OCT

092

[A24]

2019

093

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

BOOK CLUB Y O U R F R I E N D S W I L L T H I N K Y O U’R E C U LT U R E D

A Modern Marriage Under the Microscope [RANDOM HOUSE]

O

ne might think that marriage was all out of gas as a subject for contemporary fiction, but Fleishman Is

in Trouble gleefully proves you wrong. Here is a story about the dissolution of a union that actually has something to say about the union itself and the ways our contemporary ideas about marriage can be informed by unrealistic thinking that has very little in common with the world around us. By watching the Fleishman family try to figure out what they expected of their marriage, we learn a lot about what we expect as well.

TA FF Y BRODE S SER -A K NER As a writer for The New York Times, BrodesserAkner proved she was a whiz at nonfiction, but her book shows she’s a great novelist as well.

GODLAND

TRICK MIRROR

REAPPEARING

I SEE YOU

NICKEL BOYS

LYZ LENZ

JIA TOLENTINO

CHURCH

TERENCE LESTER

COLSON WHITEHEAD

[INDIANA

[RANDOM HOUSE]

MARK SAYERS

[INTERVARSIT Y PRESS]

[DOUBLEDAY]

Jia Tolentino got famous

[MOODY PUBLISHERS]

UNIVERSIT Y PRESS]

When Lyz Lenz found

as a cultural critic of

herself questioning her

unique wit and insight,

evangelical upbringing,

but with Trick Mirror,

she decided to explore

the full weight of her

the culture she was raised

observational muscle is on

in. What emerges is a

display, as she brilliantly

searing, tender portrait of

reckons with a culture on

Middle America.

the brink.

SEPT-OCT

What if the Church is

Nobody wants to be

Colson Whitehead’s

challenged to open their

follow-up to his Pulitzer

actually doing better than

eyes and actually take in

Prize-winning The

it seems? It’s an appealing

the humanity and dignity

Underground Railroad is

question Mark Sayers

of the people society

a piercing tale of the Jim

posits, but he answers it

has cast aside, which is

Crow-era South and the

in the affirmative through

just what makes Terence

reform school that two

keen insights into an

Lester’s vital new book so

boys must survive with

emerging renewal.

key to learning to love.

their humanity intact.

094

2019

095

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

LAST WORD A Thought Before We Go

The World That Is to Come Levi Lusko explains how comparison culture can lead us away from our ultimate calling.

D

ead Poet’s So-

pressure on these experienc-

serve next door to the Col-

ciety haunted

es that they can’t help but

osseum.” In fact, he said we

Frank Sinatra’s well-abused line is actually true: The best

me. The im-

disappoint you even if you

should live this way only if

is yet to come.

age of Robin

do experience them.

the resurrection didn’t ac-

We should have the re-

Williams urg-

But there is a bigger prob-

tually happen: “If the dead

laxed confidence of those

ing the boys

lem than just the inevitable

do not rise, ‘Let us eat and

who know God is in charge

in his class to acknowledge

disillusionment we are des-

drink,

and forever is ours.

their inevitable destination

tined for while trying to suck

die!’” (1 Corinthians 15:32)

as worm food and begging

all the marrow. At

them to heed Thoreau’s ad-

its heart, the kind

vice and suck the marrow

of thinking advo-

out of life made my heart

cated in this mov-

race. It made me feel a great

ie and in our need

sense of time ticking away.

to live awesome

for

tomorrow

we

The less you need from

“Focusing our attention purely on this life is what Jesus died to save us from.

The resurrection opens us up to a completely different way to be human.”

I need to Carpe the heck

lives is Epicurean

out of this Diem. There are

to the max: Eat,

places I want to see, mem-

drink and be mer-

ories I want to collect, pic-

ry, for tomorrow

tures I want to take.

we die. It only focuses on this

Here’s the truth that I

this world, the more you can

life and completely ignores

think we need to let sink into

do for it, withstand pain in it

what is to come.

the marrow of our bones:

and the more you can actual-

attention

The more you look forward

ly enjoy it.

to them, can doom us to fail

purely on this life is what

to the next world, the less

or to be an even more miser-

Jesus died to save us from.

you’ll need from this one.

able success.

If we aren’t careful these can be markers of a life welllived that if we aren’t called

Focusing

our

“That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your

The resurrection opens us

The prophet Isaiah speaks

own business, and to work

Much of this madness is

up to a completely different

of a day when the “moun-

with your own hands, as we

driven by our compulsive

way to be human. Paul didn’t

tains and the hills shall break

commanded you, that you

fear of missing out and the

comfort himself in trial by

forth into singing before

may walk properly toward

need to live a life as dramat-

saying, “I am going through

you” in the new heavens and

those who are outside, and

ic as those you follow on so-

suffering now, but eventu-

the new earth. The pressure

that you may lack nothing”

cial media. This bucket-list

ally I will get out of this jail

is removed when it dawns

(1 Thessalonians 4:10–12).

approach to life puts such

cell and taste the pasta they

on you that because of Jesus, L E V I L U SKO is the lead pastor of Fresh Life Church, a multi-site church in Montana and the author of the book I Declare War: Four Keys to Winning the Battle with Yourself.

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2019