Q&A: How does ‘Christian Ethics’ translate into a ‘guide for daily living’?

COVER STORY—To mark the one-year anniversary of Dr. David Gushee’s timely book, ‘Introducing Christian Ethics,’ he sat down with Read The Spirit magazine Editor David Crumm for a Q&A about the most urgent issues the world is facing. Please, enjoy this thought-provoking Cover Story and take a moment to share it with friends via social media and email.

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From our authors—

Howard Brown

‘Shining Brightly’ podcast launches with a flourish of inspirational ideas

DID  YOU KNOW that most new podcasts fail before the fifth episode? Shining Brightly author Howard Brown wanted to prove that he’s committed to inspiring his audience on a weekly basis by launching his podcast with the first five episodes! Then, he will add a fresh episode each week.

His first five episodes illustrate the breadth of the compelling ideas and personal stories he plans to share. Episodes called “Gratitude Is the Attitude” and “10 Ways to Say Thank You” are full of practical “take aways” that can make your day a little better than it was before you listened. But Howard also is known for sharing real-life stories that illustrate the truths of human resilience. Episode 3 in this new series is about a basketball player who fell victim of sudden cardiac death on the basketball court—while Howard and other friends were playing ball with him—and how that fallen player managed to revive and struggle toward recovery.

These truly are stories you’ll want to share with friends.

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Suzy Farbman

New York City teacher Joyce Greenleaf discovers a second career in LA as an actor.

SUZY FARBMAN RETURNS THIS WEEK WITH A GOD SIGNS COLUMN about a New York City elementary school teacher who has found a remarkable second career on the West Coast as an actor. No, she’s not a big star, but acting fulfills her beloved vocation of creative expression. Please, enjoy Suzy’s column and share it with friends.

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Bob Alper

Tamron Hall: 3 comedians who ‘are very dear to my heart!’

THIS WEEK, TAMRON HALL hosted Bob Alper and his Laugh in Peace comedy colleagues: standup comics Susan Sparks and Gibran Saleem. If you need a little inspiration this week—and maybe a chuckle or two—watch this 9-minute video.

Want to laugh along with Bob anytime? We publish two of his books that collect some of his most popular stories. There’s Thanks. I Needed That. And, we also publish Life Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This.

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Rodney Curtis

‘Greetings from the Edge of the World’

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS PLACE? Of course it’s a challenge! But, if you’re curious, you’ll definitely enjoy author and photographer Rodney Curtis’s stunning photographs—and entertaining travelogue—from … Well, go see!

Want to learn more about this guy and his adventures? Check out Rodney’s Amazon Author Page.

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Holidays & Festivals

With Clean Monday, all Christians are observing Lent

HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS COLUMNIST STEPHANIE FENTON WRITES THIS WEEK: about Clean Monday, when the Eastern Orthodox churches begin their Great Fast of Lent. Since Western Christians began Lent with Ash Wednesday last week, this means that the Christian world is observing Lent together, now. And, yes, Stephanie does include links to recipes for that delicious Greek bread associated with Clean Monday.

Looking for inspirational reading for Lent?

MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS make a point of daily devotional reading during Lent. Our team at the publishing house recommends several books, this year:

FIRST, if you have not already enjoyed Our Lent: Things We Carry by David Crumm, you can find that daily reader in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon.

SECOND, for Lent 2023, we also are recommending Rachel Srubas’ thoughtful new book, The Desert of Compassion, which we featured in a Read the Spirit Cover Story in early February this year.

PLUS, we also are pleased to recommend the latest Kindle edition in the best-selling Lenten series launched by the late Bishop Kenneth Untener back in 2000: The Little Black Book for Lent 2023. David Crumm reviews this new edition and shares the inspiring story of this worldwide outreach from Ken’s team in Michigan.

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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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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:

• IN VIAGGIO: THE TRAVELS OF POPE FRANCIS—(In theaters) “As former President Jimmy Carter leaves the public stage it is good to be reminded that another elderly peacemaker is still going strong, the Pope, who takes seriously his namesake’s mission to the poor.”
• THE MAN IN THE BASEMENT—”Director Philippe Le Guay and writers Gilles Taurand and Marc Weitzman raise important issues of Antisemitism, and of free speech and its limitations, in this complex story of a comfortable French family.”
• THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN—(In theaters and streaming on HBO) Ed writes, “Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are at the top of their form as villagers at loggerheads.“
• DEVOTION—(Streaming on Paramount+) “Director J.D. Dillard along with screenwriters Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart have given us a fact-based film that commemorates a friendship that transcended the racial barriers of the times.”
• RRR—(Streaming on Netflix) “Set in British-ruled India in 1920 S.S. Rajamouli’s spectacular film is a patriotic reworking of history from which Mahatma Gandhi is totally absent.”
• SAINT OMER—(In theaters and streaming) “This film will leave you pensive about motherhood and even more about how culture and prejudiced expectations can poison the life of an outsider.”
• WOMEN TALKING—(In theaters) “Sarah Polley’s newest film, which she wrote as well as directed, was adapted by Polley from Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel of the same name.”

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