fish out of water Archives - Site-wide Index

Ted Lasso & the Beatitudes (2020)

November 27, 2021 by Ed McNulty

Running time per episode: 24-49 min. Note, the following will contain a few spoilers, necessary for this exploration of Scripture and art. It might seem strange to suggest using the Beatitudes of Christ in exploring this much lauded cable TV series about an American college football coach taking charge of an English soccer club in the Premier League. However, as I watched this fish out of water story unfold, snatches of the Beatitudes kept rising up in my mind. The more I saw of the … [Read more...]

A Hologram for the King (2016)

April 27, 2016 by Ed McNulty

Rated R. Running time: 1 hours 37 min. Our content ratings (1-10): Violence 1; Language 2; Sex/Nudity 4. Our star rating (1-5): 4 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14 A word search reveals that the theme of waiting runs throughout both the books of Psalms and Isaiah. It is also at the heart of director Tom Tykwer’s new film adapted from Dave Eggers’ 2012 novel, though our Willy Loman-like salesman Alan Clay is waiting for … [Read more...]

Friendship & Faith, Second Edition

This is a book about making friends, which may be the most important thing you can do to make the world a better place, and transform your own life in the process. Making a new friend often is tricky, as you’ll discover in these dozens of real-life stories by women from a wide variety of […]
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Struck by Hope

The day after a diagnosis of breast cancer, Jeanine Patten-Coble was struck with a calling that turned her world upside down. In this book, she weaves her tale of running away from that calling—to finding her purpose. Her vision led her to found Little Pink Houses of Hope and a way for cancer patients to […]
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Changing Our Mind, Definitive Edition

Now available: Scholarly response to critics and Reformation Project speech! HEADLINE NEWS! This historic book is touching lives nationwide. You’ll find the most important news stories right here. In Changing Our Mind, David P. Gushee invites readers along his journey as he changes his mind about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender inclusion in the Church. In the third, […]
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100 Questions & Answers about Immigrants to the U.S

100 Questions and Answers About Immigrants to the U.S. is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series on cultural competence. This guide has sections on identity, language, religion, culture, customs, social norms, economics, politics, education, work, families and food. The guide is written for those who want quick answers to basic, introductory […]
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God Incidents

God-Incidents: Real Life Stories to Strengthen and Restore Your Faith by Rev. Dr. Glenn M. Wagner invites persons who are struggling with belief to reconsider God. Wagner offers honesty, empathy, and inspiration from four decades of global pastoral experience. He shares many different ways that God is made known so that persons who doubt God […]
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To My Professor

“To My Professor: Student Voices for Great College Teaching” begins with remarks by students about their professors. They tend not to be the kind of remarks that professors usually hear, and some are harsh. Others are full of gratitude for teachers who inspire and motivate. The “To My Professor” statements are really just starting points […]
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ACCESS to School

The Bib to Backpack Learning Series is a collection of books about innovative nonprofit programs for early childhood education that face cross-cultural challenges, including immigrant families learning English for the first time. This book invites readers into ACCESS to School, a program developed in recent years using principles of parent and child interactive learning to […]
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Solutions for Success

Education Begins at Home We are a nation of immigrants. For hundreds of years, our families have contributed to American culture. In these pages, you will read about an innovative program sponsored by Southwest Solutions in Detroit, Michigan, that teaches Hispanic-immigrant parents English while these parents also are ensuring their children’s success at school. Over […]
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100 Questions and Answers about American Jews

“100 Questions and Answers About American Jews with a Guide to Jewish Holidays” is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series on cultural competence. This guide has sections culture, language, religions, social norms, politics, history, politics, families and food. The guide is written for those who want quick answers to very basic, […]
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100 Questions and Answers About African Americans

100 Questions and Answers About African Americans” is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series on cultural competence. This guide has sections on identity, language, religion, culture, customs, social norms, economics, politics, education, work, families and food. The guide is written for those who want quick answers to basic, introductory questions abut […]
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Jesus Christ, Movie Star

What did Jesus look like? Sacred images of Jesus grace churches worldwide, but millions of moviegoers picture Jesus from classic films. Now, one of America’s most beloved faith-and-film writers invites readers on an inspiring journey, meeting Jesus again through a dozen big-screen stories of Christianity’s founder. Because nearly everyone enjoys talking about movies, this […]
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Hope for the City

This is the story of Father Bill Cunningham, Eleanor Josaitis and others who were drawn to the mission of Focus Hope. It is a captivating retelling of an English teacher who wore a Roman collar, rode a Harley-Davidson and marched with Dr. King across the Edmund Pettus bridge, a suburban mother of five who organized […]
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Harnessing the Power of Tension

Harnessing the Power of Tension by Brenda Rosenberg and Samia Bahsoun introduces the paradoxical and evolutionary leadership approach to conflict transformation—Tectonic Leadership. By harnessing tension, the authors bridge their commitment as Jew an Arab to directly address the tension that separates them and use it to build alliances at home, in the boardroom, on […]
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Every Living Thing

The world’s 2 billion Christians are hearing loud and clear teachings from their leaders about the welfare of animals who share our planet with us. Pope Francis’s new encyclical on creation care includes compassion for animals. Now, American evangelical leaders are collectively voicing a concern for animals that runs deep in their Protestant branch of […]
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We Are The Socks

Every day, we hear news from around the world about war and violence. But who could hope to make a difference in these tragic conflicts? The idea of peacemaking seems impossible—unless you’re Daniel L. Buttry. An ordained minister and seasoned peacemaker, Dan has traveled to some of the most dangerous places in the world to […]
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100 Questions and Answers About Veterans

Basic facts about U.S. military veterans demographics, contributions, training, culture, employment, politics and benefits Description One Hundred Questions and Answers About Veterans: A Guide for Civilians was created to help civilians better understand the millions of veterans who fought to protect and uphold U.S. interests around the world. Differences in experience, age and background mean […]
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Do Not Be Afraid

Bishops and Young Clergy Share Signs of Resurrection and Words of Hope Do Not Be Afraid is a collection of essays by bishops and clergy representing several generations and world regions. This book doesn’t gloss over reality; the essays describe the forty plus year membership decline of the United Methodist Church in the United States. […]
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Life Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This

The Holiness of Little Daily Dramas Sure. But this might take a while, is how Bob Alper responds when the passenger flying next to him asks what he does. He’s a rabbi who earned a doctorate at Princeton Theological Seminary, has performed stand-up comedy hundreds of times with Arab and Muslim comedians, and is heard […]
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Changing Our Mind

Second edition, with 2014 Reformation Project speech now available! HEADLINE NEWS! This historic book is touching lives nationwide. You’ll find the most important news stories right here. In Changing Our Mind, David P. Gushee invites readers along his journey as he changes his mind about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender inclusion in the Church. As […]
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Short Stuff from a Tall Guy

Wisdom Gleaned From Life’s Daily Journey Popular author and counselor Benjamin Pratt helps men and women rediscover hope and purpose in their lives through his writing, teaching and public appearances. Now for the first time in book form, Benjamin Pratt collects dozens of columns that readers keep talking about as he travels and meets with […]
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A Letter to my Congregation

Read more about how A Letter and Ken Wilson’s “Third Way” are part of a nationwide movement! “This is a breakthrough work coming from the heart of evangelical Christianity and offered into the heart of evangelical Christianity,” writes David P. Gushee, the prolific Christian author and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life […]
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Recess: Rediscovering Play and Purpose

Twenty years into a successful career as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, Laurie Haller was burned out. In Laurie’s words, she was discouraged, bored, hopeless, depressed, beyond exhaustion, cynical, despairing, and numb. She had lost all sense of balance between her career, her family, and herself. Then, she was awarded a Lilly Endowment […]
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This Far By Faith

‘We’ve never seen a book launch like this!’ That’s the headline news from the launch of This Far by Faith, an inspiring book of true stories by Faith Fowler, the Detroit pastor you may have read about in The Wall Street Journal and other national newspapers. In her book, Faith shares dozens of inspiring true […]
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United America

It’s no secret that Americans live in an age of perceived polarization. We hear updates on the news about the latest political clash, we take stances on issues and might even consume media based on those stances. To an outside observer, it might seem that Americans are always at odds with each other, barely able […]
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Thanks. I Needed That.

There’s no storyteller like Rabbi Bob Alper, the world’s only full-time stand-up comic and practicing rabbi, whose hilarious routines are heard daily on the Sirius/XM clean comedy channel. His new book features 32 true stories from settings as far flung as The Tonight Show studio, the hills of Vermont, and a tiny Polish village. Readers […]
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The Flavors of Faith: Holy Breads

Sharing food is a cornerstone of virtually every faith on the planet. Now, author and veteran food writer Lynne Meredith Golodner invites you to circle the globe, then step into your kitchen to make breads from sacred Native American, Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions. Millions of small groups meet in congregations, libraries, coffee shops and […]
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Blessed are the Peacemakers

In the pages of Blessed are the Peacemakers, you will meet more than 100 heroes, but most of them are not the kind of heroes our culture celebrates for muscle, beauty and wealth. These are peacemakers—and the world needs to hear their stories now more than ever. In his book, the Rev. Dr. Daniel Buttry […]
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Interfaith Heroes

Interfaith Heroes is an inspiring 31-day reader, showcasing short biographies of men and women throughout history who have crossed traditional boundaries of religious groups to build stronger communities. The dramatic story of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is included as well as biographical sketches of Mahatma Gandhi and St. Francis, among the more […]
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Interfaith Heroes 2

We need heroes like these now more than ever! Volume 1 in this Interfaith Heroes series shared 31 heroic stories. This Volume 2 tells more than 40 additional stories of men and women who crossed religious boundaries to strengthen their communities, help the needy and make peace. Together, the two volumes span many centuries and […]
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This Jewish Life

Stories of Discovery, Connection and Joy In This Jewish Life, many voices join as one to portray the many facets of contemporary Judaism. Their stories will carry readers, Jew and non-Jew alike, through twelve months of Jewish living. This book features over fifty voices which enable readers to experience a calendar’s worth of Judaism’s strengths […]
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Godsigns

Suzy Farbman was a successful author whom Oprah introduced to the world as an expert on the tough challenge of saving a marriage. But, behind the scenes, Suzy’s world would soon fall apart. An ominous diagnosis threatened more than the career of this savvy writer for magazines including Better Homes and Gardens. Back from Betrayal, […]
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Guide for Caregivers

In one out of three American households, someone is a caregiver: women and men who give of body, mind and soul to care for the well being of others. These millions need help, more than financial and medical assistance. They need daily, practical help in reviving their spirits and avoiding burnout. Who are these caregivers? […]
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Bullying is No Laughing Matter

Millions of Americans follow the adventures of Beetle Bailey, Blondie, Luann, Dick Tracy, Gil Thorp and other top comic-strip characters. We love to laugh at their adventures—and their misadventures. But, as the title of this powerful new comic book declares: Bullying Is No Laughing Matter. This full-color paperback represents a historic “team up” of America’s […]
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The New Bullying

The New Bullying: How social media, social exclusion, laws and suicide have changed our definition of bullying–and what to do about it is primarily concerned with the issue of how bullying has changed from about 1997 to 2012. The authors’ thesis was that bullying has changed considerably, but that some adults are not aware of […]
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100 Questions and Answers About Hispanics and Latinos

One Hundred Questions and Answers About Hispanics and Latinos is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide is organized to answer common questions people need to answer as they encounter Hispanics and Latinos in communities coast to coast — as co-workers, neighbors and friends. The book includes sections on […]
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100 Questions and Answers About East Asian Cultures

One Hundred Questions and Answers About East Asian Cultures is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide is organized to answer common questions people need to answer as they encounter East Asians in communities coast to coast—as co-workers, neighbors and friends. The book includes sections on East Asia’s […]
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100 Questions and Answers About Arab Americans

One Hundred Questions and Answers About Arab Americans is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide has evolved from one that was created for journalists and published in 2000. That guide was underwritten by Knight Ridder, a newspaper company. This new guide has been updated throughout with some new […]
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100 Questions and Answers about Muslim Americans

One Hundred Questions and Answers About Muslim Americans is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide has sections on culture, language, religions, social norms, history, politics, families and food. The guide is intended for people in business, schools, places of worship, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources […]
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100 Questions and Answers About Americans

“One Hundred Questions and Answers About Americans” is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide to understanding Americans and American culture has sections on social behavior, education, race, religion, money, culture, health, food, family, relationships and language. It also includes a glossary of American slang […]
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100 Questions, 500 Nations: A Guide to Native America

One Hundred Questions, 500 Nations: A Guide to Native America is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide is organized to answer common questions people need to answer as they encounter Native Americans in communities coast to coast—as co-workers, neighbors and friends. The book includes sections on Native […]
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100 Questions and Answers About Indian Americans

One Hundred Questions and Answers About Indian Americans is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide is organized to answer common questions people need to answer as they encounter Indian Americans in communities coast to coast—as co-workers, neighbors and friends. The book includes sections on India’s history, […]
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Spiritual Wanderer

Who is the Spiritual Wanderer? He’s an ordinary person like you and me. When he crawls out of bed each morning, he needs to find a cup of frozen coffee before he can contemplate searching for spiritual answers in the cosmos. As his day unfolds, Rodney Curtis looks everywhere for meaning and hope–and always for […]
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A ‘Cute’ Leukemia

The shocking L-words struck like hammers: “Laid off,” then, “Leukemia.” Like millions of Americans, Rodney Curtis feared for his life and his family. But what that deadly acute leukemia didn’t know was: It was dealing with the Spiritual Wanderer, the columnist who is famous for finding humor and wisdom in daily life. Rodney started by […]
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Getting Laid (Off)

Nothing stops The Spiritual Wanderer, as Rodney Curtis is known to readers far and wide from the title of his first humorous book about the many quirky challenges of life in America. Then, suddenly his life went from quirky to terrifying as he was hit with a double whammy: a layoff notice and a diagnosis […]
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Friendship and Faith

Friendship and Faith is a book about making friends, which may be the most important thing you can do to make the world a better place–and transform your own life in the process. Making a new friend often is tricky, as you’ll discover in these dozens of real-life stories by women from a wide variety […]
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Guide for Grief

Don’t Face Grief Alone Let an experienced and compassionate expert help you or your loved one through the difficult times Everyone dies. Every family grieves. People are terrified of admitting that we are aging, let alone dying. Many families get stuck in unhealthy patterns of grief. In his new Guide for Grief, Dr. Rodger Murchison […]
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Ian Fleming’s Seven Deadlier Sins

James Bond, Bible Study and Seven Deadlier Sins Ian Fleming’s Seven Deadlier Sins & 007’s Moral Compass is a book that will open your eyes and fascinate you with the many guises of evil in our times. Author Ben Pratt shares his discovery of the major spiritual themes woven into Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels. This book that […]
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Dancing My Dream

“In my 75 years, I have read countless autobiographies and spiritual works. Warren Petoskey’s uplifting memoir ranks among the best. Dancing My Dream is written simply, flowingly and lovingly by a man of immense dignity and hard-won spirituality. It meshes the Native American with the Christian. It is for believers and nonbelievers, for those of […]
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Our Lent

The annual observance of Lent, the season of spiritual reflection leading to Easter, is growing across the U.S. Around the world, 2 billion men and women mark Lent as a part of the Christian calendar, but most do not pause on a daily basis to enjoy Lent’s rich opportunity to reflect on the life of […]
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Glitter in the Sun

A Bible Study Searching for Truth in the Twilight Saga God anticipates at some point in your life you will realize there is something missing—and will realize it is Him. To that end He plants clues and hints and pictures of Himself everywhere: a glorious sunset, a perfect “coincidence,” a novel (or the entire Twilight […]
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