What I Found While Diving In The Red Sea

Plus the latest on HGS Season 4, a book I loved, and an evening with @TheBibleIsFunny

Hello! So much to catch you up on. Here’s the latest:

Out of Egypt

Well, we made it to (and back from) Egypt. My family and I stopped there on the way back to the US from Cape Town and spent two weeks traveling to different parts of the country so that I could research for the next season of Holy Ghost Stories (10 episodes telling the story of the Exodus!). We did some scuba diving in the Red Sea, spent a few days in a bedouin camp in the wilderness, climbed Mount Sinai, saw the pyramids… Unforgettable.

Being where Moses and the Israelites were, putting my hand on the mountain that trembled with the presence of Yahweh, swimming in the very sea that split—it will forever enchant my reading of Exodus.

I’ll share much more as Season 4 gets underway (there are some fascinatinig things I saw/experienced I can’t wait to include in The Latest as I break down each episode), but here are a few shots for now:

From the Red Sea looking at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula:

This is what the land adjacent to the Red Sea looks like…

…But this is what it looks like under that water:

We began hiking up Mount Sinai with our guide at 1:30am —pitch black, no flashlights. That’s just kind of ‘the way.’ We stumbled our way through the darkness, feeling like Moses must have felt: “The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was” (Ex 20:21). Darkness, though, meant a spectacular starscape. My wife grabbed this with her phone:

And then, there was the summit. And the sunrise. Amazing.

We spent some time in prayer, we sang together, and we did our best to take in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We also got invited by the owner of the bedouin camp to come to his farm and meet his family over tea and apricots. We said yes, of course. My daughters bonding with his daughter in spite of the language barrier is a moment we’ll never forget.

I will say this: Egypt was a difficult place to visit. It was full of chaos and danger and discomfort. For every picture like the ones above, I could have taken 100 of trash littering the road or scores of men leering at my wife and daughters or our gross hotel room in Cairo or camel ride peddlers pestering us for 40 minutes or taxi drivers trying to rip us off or soldiers with AK-47s or the conversation I had to have with my daughters about how, if terrorists pulled our van over and I got shot protecting Jennifer and them, they should use the time to run and not waste time watching me die. I feel like it helps for you to know those are the pictures you’re not seeing. :)

We had incredible moments in Egypt. But our time there was not glamorous.

No regrets, though. What a trip. AND—Season 4 of Holy Ghost Stories is going to be SO much better because I was able to walk in and listen to and smell and taste and touch that world.

Speaking of Season 4…

Season 4 Is Officially In The Works

It’s underway!👏🏼

I started writing the first episode of Season 4 in our bedouin camp in Sinai, and since then I’ve finished writing episodes one through four. Thanks for your patience during this Season 3 hiatus—I want you to know I’ve used the time well!

Season 4 will tell the story of Moses and the Exodus. We’ll echo the scope of the Book of Exodus, beginning with Moses’ birth and ending with the completion of the tabernacle. There’s so much good stuff in there, and I cannot wait share the Holy Ghost Stories take on this incredible story with you.

BIG GUNS

I announced last month that Kendall Ramseur, the über-talented cellist and composer who created a stunning original score for “The Lion, the Witch, and the War Zone” (the HGS episode about Saul’s visit to the Witch of Endor) has agreed to partner up again and score this Exodus season. It’s going to be incredible—I promise you.

This, of course, is a huge commitment from Kendall and real work like this from talented people like him costs real money. To score one episode will cost $7,500. Significant, yes—but for 30 minutes (a TV episode’s) worth of high-level content, that’s great value.

I’m praying that God provides what this project is going to take, and He’s begun answering those prayers in some exciting ways: several of you have reached out wanting to contribute, and I’m so grateful. In fact, one person let me know recently that they’re going to contribute $10,000 toward Season 4’s costs. Absolutely amazing. And to put my money where my mouth is, Jennifer and I are going to contribute $7,500 to cover the cost of an episode. So we’re well on our way to making this season happen!

THIS STORY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

“But Justin,” someone might interject here, “all the expense, the work—why does this matter so much?”

Great question.

Here’s why this matters: we don’t tell these stories enough. We teach them a lot. But stories don’t want to just be taught. Stories want to be told. Those are two different things—and they bring two different kinds of value. For too long, we’ve neglected Biblical storytelling (especially for adults) and missed out on what God’s favorite stories can do in our hearts when they’re told well. (The Chosen is a great example of what can happen when Christians get serious about the power of storytelling and back a creative project that matters.)

If you want to love God, but aren’t sure how, exactly, to make progress on that front, here’s how: Spend time with Him. Notice Him. Look at Him. Listen as He tells you about some of His most cherished (or most haunting) memories. Do that and I’m telling you: you’ll get to know Him (not “know about Him,” but know Him). And in getting to know Him, you’ll find yourself coming to love Him. This season of Holy Ghost Stories will take you inside of the story Yahweh tells more than any other story in Scripture—the one where He introduces Himself to Moses and to Israel and to Pharaoh and to Egypt and to the world. I can say without hesitation: these 10 episodes will change you.

They will change your relationship with God.

So help me make them.

Every amount helps—so if you or your church wants to pitch in, reply to this email and let me know. It’s tax deductible!

If you’re a part of a church that wants to reach people, this is a great way to do that. So share HGS and this opportunity with your church’s leaders. Let them know that people all over the world are encountering God through this show—maybe they’ll be up for joining hands to create this next season.

Also, whether or not you can give, I’d sure be grateful if you would pray. This is a big undertaking and I can’t do it without Him. Thanks.

The Wait Is (Almost) Over

Good news! Season 3 cranks back up with a brand new episode on July 11. That’s a week from Monday, folks, so make sure you’re caught up. This one’s going to be fun: it’s the story of two terrible kings being comedically terrible. One of those Old Testament deep cuts—I think you’ll dig it.

If you’re hankering for a Holy Ghost Stories fix between now and then, I released a bonus episode a few weeks ago for patrons. It’s called “Too Far,” and tells the story of Gideon’s dark final chapter.

Not a patron? Bonus episodes on Vashti, Hezekiah, Gideon, and Jael are waiting for you there, along with a bunch of other great stuff too. Jump in and let’s give the world more moments with Yahweh!

Marry If You Must

My wife and I appeared last week on The Bible Is Funny podcast and had a marvelous time. I know many of you follow Anthony Russo’s Instagram account (as you should)—he’s a hilarious, kind human being and on this episode of his podcast, we had wayyy too much fun discussing Paul’s warnings about marriage in 1 Corinthians 7. I believe you’ll be entertained, but there’s some helpful stuff in there for you too.

Oh—and when we arrived at the Russos’ house, Anthony’s wife Rachel was rocking some HGS merch! Made my night.

Give the episode a listen, and find out what my daughter heard when she asked God on Mount Sinai what His favorite color is:

You Will Love This.

Set an alarm, turn on notifications, make a paper chain—whatever it takes—but don’t miss the next edition of The Latest. I have something to tell you about, and I think you’re going. To. Love it.

4 Cool Things

Wire Sculpture - What if a sketchbook drawing miraculously jumped off the page as metal wire? I know you’ve asked that before (as have I). Now we have an answer—and it’s very cool.

Earth.fm - Tune in to nature sounds from around the world—it’s like Spotify for natural soundscapes. I’m a fan of the Santee Coastal Reserve in South Carolina—sounds like what I grew up with in Florida.

Sealife Is My Jam - Scientists found a new species of jellyfish living in Monterey Bay. Jellyfish are amazing, right? Also, there are millions of jelly species in the ocean—we’ve never seen most of them. Creation, man. Gratuitous.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - I read this novel recently and was just delighted by it. It’s about a man who heads down to the mailbox to send a letter and just keeps walking. Beautifully written and full of hope.

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That’s the latest! Be sure to let me know if you or your church want to make some Season 4 magic together.

Gratefully,
Justin

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