Dr. Gushee saw this coming—

A rec0rd-breaking embrace of LGBTQ candidates nationwide.

THE NEWS FLASH THIS WEEK was striking: “This election made history for the diversity of candidates running. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people ran for office in all 50 states for the first time.” At our Front Edge publishing house, we are encouraged by this news because we publish the most influential book helping Christian families to welcome their LGBTQ relatives, friends, coworkers and neighbors: Changing Our Mind. Please read our Cover Story this week and share it with friends and family who want to encourage more welcoming communities.

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What’s the importance of a memorable book cover?

It leaps into your mind’s eye?

WANT SOME FUN READING and VIEWING? Here’s a celebration of the brilliant kinds of book covers artist Rick Nease has been designing for our publishing house.

 

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Holidays & Festivals

 

Christmas is coming, especially from the East

EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS around the world begin looking toward Christmas, the Nativity of Jesus, this week as the annual Fast of the Nativity begins. Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton has the story, including links to a couple of convenient apps that provide daily readings from the Orthodox tradition.

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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Why are teens ignorant of the Bible?

 

Consider asking a teen you know …

AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST and AUTHOR Bill Tammeus writes some of the most thought-provoking columns about religion in America—as demonstrated by how many people wind up widely sharing his articles. Recently, he shared some intriguing data about teen-agers and their experiences with the Bible, including their attitudes toward these scriptures. This is a column well worth reading and sharing with friends.

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Faith & Film

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.

Here are some of Ed’s most recent free reviews and columns:

• ARMAGEDDON TIME—(in theaters) Ed writes: “Eleven-year-old aspiring artist Paul Graff (Banks Repeta) is the protagonist in this semi-autobiographical coming-of-age memoir movie set in Flushing, Queens, New York, in 1980s, co-starring Anthony Hopkins as Paul’s grandfather.”
• HOMEBODY—(in theaters) “This is not so much a body-swap film, like Freaky Friday, as it is a gender-swap one, as well as a film of gender exploration in which a boy arrives at some degree of self discovery.”
• CAUSEWAY—(Streaming on Apple+) “Broadway director Lila Neugebauer, in her feature directing debut, brings us the story of a wounded warrior on the road to recovery, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who still is struggling when she returns to her native New Orleans.”
• TICKET TO PARADISE—(Streaming on Peacock in December) “The main reason for seeing it is to watch two pros, Julia Roberts and George Clooney, go through their paces in a story about as believable as anything from the Brothers Grimm.”
• THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL—(Streaming on Netflix) “Director Paul Feig’s long film is based on a young adult fantasy partially set in an 18th century village called Gavaldon.“
• THE PIANO LESSON—(Streaming on Amazon) “August Wilson’s wonderful play is currently in a Broadway revival, but there also is the excellent Hallmark TV version broadcast in 1995.”
• STARS AT NOON—(Streaming on Hulu and Amazon) “Director Claire Denis’ murky film, set in Nicaragua early in the Covid pandemic, might remind one of a Graham Greene novel.”
• THE STORIED LIFE OF AJ FIKRY—(Streaming on Amazon) “Based on a New York Times best seller, the book’s author Gabrielle Zevin also wrote the screenplay.”
• TÁR—(in theaters) Director Todd Field’s latest film, acclaimed by many as “a masterpiece,” filled with a vast knowledge of classical music and those who compose and conduct it!
• BROS—(Streaming on Amazon) “Bros is the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio featuring an entirely LGBTQ principal cast to be released widely.”

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