25 IN 24: Jon Foreman

For the past 20 years, Jon Foreman has travelled the globe with multi-platinum, Grammy-winning alt-rock group, Switchfoot. In 2007, Foreman felt that there was more music in him than the hours in the day, so he began releasing solo EPs. He began with the Seasons collection, four EPs released over the course of the year and followed by The Wonderlands, a collection of 24 songs each representing an hour of the day. The Wonderlands’ twenty-four tracks feature 24 different producers, each interpreting the meaning of Jon’s vocals through their own instrumental vision.

Foreman shares on his site the vision behind album and how it ties into his film release.

“Through song, I’m trying to explore the physical space of music. I wanted to create a place that would exist only when you press play; a place of light and shadows, tension and release, things that you know and things that you don’t know. It’s incredible that you can create a mood, almost a structure of feeling. All 24 songs will correspond with different moods of the day. At the end I’m going to do 25 concerts in 24 hours.”

This spring, the film 25 IN 24 will be released world-wide March 2018, documenting the improbably journey of playing 25 shows in 24 hours. In February of 2018, Jon and friends will embark on an 18-city tour of the US. Reliving the 24-hour experience through songs, and a screening of the film, 25 IN 24.

“speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20

On October 24 at 10am, Jon Foreman and his friends embarked on a music journey throughout San Diego aiming to play 25 shows in 24 hours. With venues including a children’s hospital, a wedding, and a Mexican restaurant, this 24-hour musical experience explores the polarity of everyday life, taking viewers to places that only music can go. Through his journey, Foreman discovers that the road less traveled is always worth the risk, and sometimes the only way to hold on is to let go.

Foreman reflects on the role music has played in his life and what he hopes the film will do.

“Since childhood, music was this playground where I could actually enunciate the way I felt about life. Music was that escape and entrance into reality that I could find in no other place,” Foreman states in the film. Playing 25 shows in 24 hours is one of the strangest dreams I’ve ever chased down. But underneath the scheduling and logistics, I was hoping that something very simple would be communicated. The honesty of song brings people together in a way that nothing else can. The sheer joy of music finds us as children once again: hoping, dreaming, and vulnerable. I wanted to see my hometown like that: shining through the eyes of a song.”

On March 1, Foreman will embark on the 25 IN 24 Tour, where he will perform live as an acoustic trio and screen the film for attendees. Tickets can be purchased at www.jonforeman.com.

Risen Reflections

Dream big. Playing 25 shows in one day may seem impossible to some. There are times when God lays visions, passions and dreams on our heart that others are not going to understand. Take time this week to pray and reflect. Think about the gifts and passions that God has given you and how you are using them. Pray and ask if there are things that He wants you to be doing. Sometimes it can be helpful to ask a close friend if they see things in abilities in us that we can’t see in ourselves. If God has laid something on your heart, share it with a friend who can pray with you and hold you accountable to seeing it through. It is easy to get discouraged when the resources aren’t there or when the plans don’t make sense, but keep trusting God.

Make time for your passions. It is easy to make the excuse that there isn’t enough time in the day. God wants us to put him first and foremost in our lives. As you spend time with him, pray and ask him to help you prioritize not only your schedule, but also the things that you commit to. It can be so easy to say yes to everything. It is okay to say, “No,” to things. By freeing up our schedules, we can find time to do the things we are passionate about. For some that might mean creating art and for others it could be volunteering or starting a ministry.

Reach out to a friend. Music and film have the ability to transcend different faiths and beliefs. Pray and ask God to show you a friend, co-worker, teammate, classmate or neighbor that he wants you to reach out to. Consider inviting them to a movie or concert that with a redemptive message. It might not be a church service. But often times movies and music are filled with messages that can serve as the foundation for spiritual conversations. After the concert or film, grab coffee and talk about what you saw or heard. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you questions to ask your friend and pray for them to come to know Christ.