DAY1 Radio’s Peter Wallace Introduces Jesus (Again)
Click this book cover to read our interview with Peter Wallace.
RE-DISCOVERING LENT—What does Lent mean to you, these days? An opportunity to try kick a bad habit? Maybe to stop swearing? Or give up chocolate and shed a few pounds? As popular Day 1 radio host Peter Wallace tells it, there’s so much more to the centuries-old observance of Lent than those typical options. Lent is an opportunity to move closer to a “life of learning and giving and sharing and growing,” he says. If you are among the 2 billion Christians starting Lent in this new week, Peter says, then making Jesus your daily companion is the best way to step toward that “life you can’t wait to wake up for in the morning.”
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Ready for Lent? For Valentine’s Day?
Want to see all the holidays? www.InterfaithHolidays.com
Click the image to learn more about Our Lent.
STRANGE CONVERGENCE—As Holidays columnist Stephanie Fenton reports, soon 2 billion Christians around the world will be in the midst of the reflective period that leads to Easter. For Western Christians, the solemn observance coincides with Valentine’s Day! So, in Stephanie’s Ash Wednesday column, she has a news item about how some church leaders are urging followers to schedule their celebrations of love earlier this week. After all, this week brings Fat Tuesday (or Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras)! And, yes, Stephanie has an array of delicious holiday-related recipe links you’ll want to explore.
Eastern Christians, this year begin Great Lent with their traditional Clean Monday on February 19. Stephanie also reports on the February 11 and 18 preparations for Eastern Orthodox Lent in the celebrations of Meatfare and Cheesefare Sundays, when the faithful begin to pare away major elements of their daily diets for the fast that start on Clean Monday.
Click the hearts to read the Valentine’s column.
VALENTINE’S DAY—Of course, in the midst of her Lenten coverage, Stephanie devotes a special column to Valentine’s Day as well. She’s found some great links for DIY crafts, including one for kids from Disney.
READ ALONG WITH THE SEASON—This week, we hope you also will consider ordering ReadTheSpirit Editor David Crumm’s book, Our Lent: Things We Carry. This is a 40-day, 40-chapter invitation to enjoy a combination of faith and self-guided reflection. Each chapter shares a biblical story from Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem, insights from our daily lives today—and then stories from the lives of pop culture stars, including the spiritual writer Thomas Merton, the actress and singer Judy Garland, the country musician Merle Haggard and even the beloved Cat in the Hat.
Click this image to learn more about Jesus Christ Movie Star by Ed McNulty.
And, for movie lovers? Many of our loyal readers visit ReadTheSpirit for our faith-and-film columns, mainly written by film critic Ed McNulty. If you love movies, then you’ll be inspired throughout Lent with Ed’s book, Jesus Christ Movie Star. This is a great choice if you want to invite friends, or your small group, to join you. McNulty provides everything you need to spark spirited discussion from the best film clips to show your group—to dozens of questions you could ask about each featured film. You’ll explore hits like The Passion of the Christ and Jesus Christ Superstar. And some surprises, too! Can you find Gospel themes in Cool Hand Luke and Broadway Danny Rose?
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Black History Month
Click this cover image to read about Briggs and Emerson.
WHAT IS THIS MONTH? Holidays columnist Stephanie Fenton gives us an overview of this observance honoring African American milestones.
MICHAEL EMERSON ON BRIDGING OUR DIVIDES—Religion correspondent David Briggs talks with sociologist Michael Emerson, a leading expert on racial divides in American religious life, about the state of our deep divisions in 2018—and the potential of “humility research” to lead us closer to reconciliation.
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Click the image to read Stephanie’s column.
AND FROM INDIA—Indian families around the world turn their thoughts to Lord Shiva this month in observance of Maha Shivaratri, which means “Great Night of Shiva.” On this holiday, many Hindus believe that Lord Shiva performed the Tandava—the cosmic dance of creation, preservation and destruction. So, some of the faithful observe an all-night vigil. Stephanie Fenton has the story and has even spotted a fascinating news story with photos about a 7th-century temple in India dedicated to Shiva.
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Click the image to read Suzy’s column about Julie Taubman.
Remembering Julie Taubman
GOD SIGNS—Suzy Farbman’s column this week recalls the creative life of Julie Taubman, who used her many talents and advantages to promote a renewed interest in Detroit and the fine arts. Julie loved spending time with Detroit greats like novelist Elmore Leonard—as well as folks she met in many of the city’s neighborhoods.
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Front Edge Publishing
Click this image of Front Edge’s new front page to read this week’s column on publishing.
MARKETING—”How often should you check in on social media?” In workshops and other gatherings of media people, this question always is raised. So, this week in our new Front Edge Publishing website, Marketing Director Susan Stitt shares some valuable data and advice about best practices with social media. Care to learn more about publishing options today? Perhaps you’re an author—or know an author. Please, share this home address with friends: www.FrontEdgePublishing.com
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Coming: Awakening Soul 2018
FRAN McKENDREE—Long-time readers of our magazine will recall singer-songwriter, retreat leader and peace activist Fran McKendree. He occasionally sends us videos and other columns to post. Fran just alerted us that plans are set for the November 2018 Awakening Soul retreat, so we’ve got details for you.
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FAITH & FILM
Click the movie still to read Ed’s review of “Hostiles.”
ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.
Among Ed’s latest free movie reviews are:
- HOSTILES—This is one of the best movies released in 2017, says Ed McNulty, comparing its powerful story to Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven.
- LIVING BIBLICALLY—The new CBS series Living Biblically, which debuts on February 26, shows great promise, says Ed in his review. Combining humorous rifts with the serious theme of taking the ancient Bible seriously in the 21st Century is a bold move, Ed says. Plus, Ed interviewed the series creator Patrick Walsh who describes the goals and creative process behind this unusual new series.
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Click the movie still to read about “12 Strong.”
12 STRONG—It’s an almost too-good-to-be-true adventure story, based on Doug Stanton’s non-fiction book Horse Soldiers, about the CIA paramilitary officers and U.S. Special Forces sent to Afghanistan immediately after the September 11 attacks. (5 out of 5 stars) In addition to this link to Ed’s movie review, you can also read his interview with Spec. Ops. Team Leader Mark Nutsch, a real life hero behind the book and movie.
- DOWNSIZING—Director Alexander Payne and his co-writer Jim Taylor (who gave us the excellent Sideways, About Schmidt, Election, and Citizen Ruth) are in top form in this science fiction parable about overpopulation that turns into a tale of sacrificial commitment to others. (4.5 Stars)
- THE POST—Director Steven Spielberg has gifted us with thrillers in many genres, but none are as timely as this new political thriller. (5 stars)
- MUDBOUND—Ed writes, “This powerful Netflix drama shows why Martin Luther King, Jr. was so necessary for our nation—and why we all, whites and blacks, should join together in celebrating his day.” (5 stars)
- ROMAN J. ISRAEL—Ed writes, “In writer/director Dan Gilroy’s film Denzel Washington steps out of his comfort zone to play a socially awkward lawyer very different from the smooth, confident characters he has often played.” (5 stars)
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