A Prophet for These Times, When Christianity is in Crisis

COVER STORY—The crisis in Christianity is as clear as daily headlines from news media across America. Right now, many Christians are asking: Is there a life-giving pathway forward for Christians who deeply love Jesus and see in Christ a welcoming, inclusive and socially just calling for our world? Please, meet E. Stanley Jones, a prophet for our times. This cover story introduces our newest book, 30 Days with E. Stanley Jones, and provides links to many other related resources you’ll want to check out.

AND HERE’S A TIMELY TIP: Millions of Christians usually mark the season of Lent by adding daily devotions, especially inspirational reading. There’s not a better choice for your Lenten reading than 30 Days with E. Stanley Jones.

Religious Holidays

Are You Ready for Lent 2022?

FROM ‘MEATFARE’ AND ‘CHEESEFARE’ THROUGH MARDI GRAS

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS columnist Stephanie Fenton reports on some of the most colorful and beloved traditions of the Christian year as followers of Western and Eastern churches prepare for the reflective season of Lent.

First, we have her story: Orthodox Christians prepare for Great Lent with Meatfare Sunday and Cheesefare Sunday

Then, Stephanie reports: Christians mark ‘Fat Tuesday’ with tantalizing traditions for Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras)

Ayyam-i-Ha and Nineteen-Day Fast

Baha’is celebrate unity, prepare for New Year

THEN, STEPHANIE BRINGS US a story from the Baha’i tradition. She explains a special adjustment Baha’is make to their calendar to keep observances in the proper seasons of the year—plus she writes about the fast in preparation for the upcoming Baha’i New Year.

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

From Our Authors—

Bill Tammeus

And speaking of ways to unplug extremism …

IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE ISSUES IN OUR COVER STORY THIS WEEK, then you will want to follow the ongoing reporting of Bill Tammeus, one of the nation’s leading journalists who keeps trying—week after week—to help unplug extremism. Bill does this by accurately and fairly covering religion news in his online columns. His ongoing news analysis is a must-read source of balance for those of us who keep shaking our heads wearily over headlines about religious conflict. Of course, we highly recommend Bill’s book about unplugging extremism, Love Loss and Endurance. Then, here are links to three of Bill’s most recent online columns:

Mindy Corporon

Need inspiration?

‘TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER.’ That’s Mindy Corporon’s motto—and you can be assured that a visit with Mindy will lift your spirits. One way to do meet Mindy, of course, is to read her memoir, Healing a Shattered Soul. Another way is to enjoy her podcasts and videos. Recently, Mindy began reorganizing her extensive back-list of podcasts to selectively lift up great episodes that her audience may have missed. This week, she is featuring a Conversation with Wes Hamilton, founder of the nonprofit Disabled But Not Really. Click on this link to visit Mindy’s YouTube page of videos and you’ll find the conversation with Hamilton near the top, this week. While you’re there, click “subscribe” to this YouTube channel she is organizing.

Suzy Farbman

Can we learn from failure?

IN HER GOD SIGNS COLUMN, this week, Suzy Farbman shares several stories about creative men and women facing challenges—sometimes outright failures—yet learning to become more resilient as a result.

Susan Stitt

Tips for writers

WE TRULY DO REPRESENT A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS and, this week, in her Front Edge Publishing column, Marketing Director Susan Stitt shares a two-page check-list of book marketing tips that she goes over with authors.

Click this photo from the movie to read Ed McNulty’s review of My Best Friend Anne Frank.

Faith & Film

Click on this image to learn more about the February issue of Visual Parables Journal. Each issue includes complete study guides of popular films. This issue includes guides to The Last Duel, Munich, A Hero and Binti.

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 free reviews and columns:

SUNDOWN—Mexico’s Michel Franco’s new film challenges viewers to figure out their feelings toward its troubled main characters.
BINTI—Ed McNulty writes, “Tanzanian director and writer Seko Shamte, with fellow writer Angela Ruhinda, decries the plight of four women whose stories are loosely connected by their gender that leaves them almost powerless in a male-dominated society. The title means ‘young woman’ in Swahili.”
CASABLANCA—This is the 80th anniversary of the movie classic, so Ed reached back into his own archives and has posted this thoughtful column about the movie.
THE LAST DUEL—”Director Ridley Scott may have entered his 8th decade, but this film, his best period piece since Gladiator, shows that he has not slowed down artistically. And the screenplay is the result of stars Mat Damon and Ben Affleck (remember Good Will Hunting?) reuniting as writers”
MY BEST FRIEND ANNE FRANK—”Based on the book Memories of Anne Frank: Reflections of a Childhood Friend by Alison Leslie Gold, the film tells the story of the friendship between Anne and Hanneli Goslar from 1942 to 1945.”
A HERO—”Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has given us a very different film from his 2012 film, A Separation, the first Iranian film to win the Academy Award for best foreign language film. This new one centers on the divorced father of a stuttering boy whose life is turned upside down by social media. “
AMEND: THE FIGHT FOR AMERICA—”This is an excellent primer on a US Constitutional amendment that often is overshadowed by debates over the First or the Second Amendment rights. Robe Imbriano, creator and co-writer of this 6-part TV miniseries takes us on a journey into the past that truly illuminates the present.”
AMERICAN UNDERDOG—”Brothers Andrew and John Erwin, adapting football player Kurt Warner’s same-titled memoir, American Underdog, have given us an underdog story to beat all such unlikely stories.”
MUNICH: THE EDGE OF WAR—”In Christian Schwochow’s what-if movie, fact and fiction are mixed together in a compelling way. Based on the bestseller by Robert Harris, the film transports us to the halls of Whitehall and Munich in 1938 when Europe stood on the precipice of war.”
LUCY—”Available on Amazon, This made for TV film will expand the story of Lucille Ball for those who enjoyed the recent Being the Ricardos.”
BEING THE RICARDOS—”Writer-director Aaron Sorkin’s film is a fascinating take on perhaps the most crucial week in the history of the I Love Lucy Show during its second season.”