9 Thumbs (Episode 51)
In Episode 51, we discuss the floorplans of non-existent TV show homes, the film Mud and how it may be the apex of Matthew McConaughey’s career, the Bachelor-parody web series Burning Love, the short film “It’s Not About the Nail,” and whether Ashley Judd had a personal sweat spritzer on the set of A Time to Kill.
All the links here. Subscribe to the podcast here.
My latest pop-culture column at A Deeper Story posted on Monday, about the TV series Longmire, a Lumineers concert, and something the singer/songwriter Josh Ritter does at his shows. In it, I admit that, sometimes, I just need to back away and shut up.
Excerpt:
There have been times when I relished this back-and-forth exchange of ideas. I got involved. I spouted my opinion. I took sides and linked up and stepped into the sound and fury.
But more than ever, when it feels like too many things are happening, I find myself just wanting to step away, to do myself a favor.
9 Thumbs (Episode 50)
Hey, look! Our 50th episode! In this one, bewildered by the fact that we’ve actually made it this far in a regular podcast, we decided to revisit past “likes” and report on them in a double-like scenario. So we discuss the final season of The Office, engage in a spoilery discussion of Gone Girl, and talk The Amazing Race, Scrivener writing software, music, and lots more.
All the links here. Subscribe to the podcast here.
9 Thumbs (Episode 49)
Episode 49 includes a discussion about the new fully digital generation, our online selves, behind-the-scenes pics of Empire Strikes Back, Princess Leia in a gold bikini, the novel Warm Bodies, a new documentary about the magician Ricky Jay, and the webcast “So Totally Relidge!” A fun episode.
All the links here. Subscribe to the podcast here.
My latest pop-culture column at A Deeper Story landed yesterday, about my passion for music and how (thankfully) it’s slowly being absorbed my kids. Also some stuff about my parents’ musical tastes, the Rocky soundtrack, feeding expensive cheeses to preschoolers, and why Wil Wheaton thinks it’s awesome to be a nerd.
Excerpt:
Ours is a world that often seems cynical, detached, and passionless. Ours is a world that needs more nerds. And we need more parents to pass along their nerdery to their kids. I can think of few things more life-giving than saying, “this is something I love and I want you to love it, too.”
Pocket Guide to the Bible Online Garage Sale
Back in May of 2008, a truck bearing four pallets and a couple thousand pounds of freight rolled into Amarillo. On that truck were all the not-yet-sold copies of Pocket Guide to the Bible that still existed in the world. Nine-thousand and fifty-three of them, to be exact.
I owned them all. The reason why had to do with publishing rights, my original publisher, a new publisher, and a series relaunch. In short, I had to buy a warehouse full of books in order to move Pocket Guide to the Bible from Relevant to Jossey-Bass.
As of May 2013, I’m down to my last 1,000 books. I’ve sold a lot of individual books at speaking engagements, conferences, and other events. I’ve sold boxes upon boxes to churches who use them for giveaways, as gifts for graduates, or as gifts for new members and guests. I’m currently using about 32 of them stacked up into makeshift monitor stands for my work and home computers, respectively.
Last week I lost the free storage space where I’d been keeping these remaining boxes, so a bunch of friends schemed with my wife to kick off an online garage sale yesterday to help me move these last few boxes of books.
I’d love to get this storage burden and/or fire hazard off my shoulders, so I think this is an amazing idea. (And I think my friends are awesome.)
So I’ve got an online store. Head to jasonboyett.bigcartel.com to buy an individual copy of Pocket Guide to the Bible for $4 (plus shipping) or a box of 48 copies for $48 (plus shipping)—that’s a stack of 48 books in the photo up top.
Yes, I’m selling these for $1 a book, all signed personally by me. Or you can get them at Amazon for $10.21, unsigned. Your call.
Tell your friends. We’ve sold 500 since yesterday so they’re going fast…
Big thanks to Zack, Joy, Ed, Tamara, Sharideth, Preston, Mike, and so many others who are spreading the word and making this happen. (And especially to my superhero wife, Aimee, who’s doing much of the behind-the-scenes administrative work…including hauls of 33-lb. boxes to the post office.)
9 Thumbs (Episode 48)
I don’t appear in our latest episode, but that’s probably why it’s one of our most epic ones yet. Rob Stennett and Joy Bennett are joined by special guest Elizabeth Esther for a discussion of nine controversial topics, from Huck Finn to Rob Bell to “smokin’ hot wives.” It earned an “explicit” rating and is already a classic. Enjoy.
All the links here. Subscribe to the podcast here.
Doubt is a thing which many Christians see as opposing their faith. Many have fought it and its prevalence in the modern minds of man….Many people react negatively towards any feelings of doubt that they may have, fearing that this doubt means that they aren’t fully committed to God.
However, this fear of doubt is dreadfully dangerous. Not every man who doubts his faith loses it. And if they look at most human lives, they’ll find that if one doesn’t doubt, then one isn’t human. It is a necessary idea for any believer, for it acts as the catalyst and tool for a man or woman to grow.
9 Thumbs (Episode 47)
Our latest episode, featuring me, Rob Stennett, and Joy Bennett. We discuss the Dove “Sketch Artist” campaign, Patton Oswalt’s epic Parks & Rec filibuster, the Man of Steel trailer, Catching Fire, the Neti Pot, and more. (That’s right: I said the Neti Pot.)
All the links here. Subscribe to the podcast here.
