GOT A BOOK LOVER ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST?
‘DAILY DOORWAYS’—That’s how popular Christian author Greg Garrett talks about his new day-by-day book, The Courage to See. Greg has two fascinating new books that could make ideal holiday gifts for book lovers on your shopping list. Editor David Crumm talks with Greg about the many ways reading can inspire new connections in our world—and among friends. Please, read our Cover Story this week and share it with friends.
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Want to help the world? Vote for our Heroic Author!
COMPASSIONATELY ENGAGING THE WORLD. In 4 words, that’s what our authors do. This week’s Front Edge column by Editor David Crumm is especially urgent, because you’ve got an opportunity—through December 3—to vote for one of our heroic authors via the CNN network. Learn about several inspiring examples of our authors engaged in urgent national conversations—and cast your vote to help Najah Bazzy, author and founder of a global charity helping women and children in need.
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‘OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS’ IN TACOMA
READERS IN THE NORTHWEST will enjoy an evening with author Victor Begg, talking about his popular memoir Our Muslim Neighbors. Victor continues to crisscross the country promoting both his book and his message of peace and understanding between religious communities.
On November 25, Victor will appear at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, Washington.
You can learn more about his schedule, his book, his ongoing work as a peacemaker—and how to contact him—through his website, OurMuslimNeighbors.com.
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Holidays & Festivals
CHRISTMAS (NATIVITY) IS COMING!
ORTHODOX NATIVITY FAST BEGINS. We all hear complaints that Christmas celebrations should not start before Thanksgiving—even though it’s obvious that American retailers already have been promoting holiday shopping for weeks. In Stephanie Fenton’s Holidays & Festivals column this week, we look at a major branch of Christianity that always begins preparations for Christmas before American Thanksgiving—Orthodox churches that are starting the Nativity Fast this week. Of course, some parts of the Orthodox world start later. American Orthodox are pulled in many cultural and religious directions, as one of the writers in this column explains.
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Care to see all the holidays? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances—just remember the address InterfaithHolidays.com
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Ed McNulty gives Motherless Brooklyn 5 out of 5 stars. Click the image to read his review.
Faith & Film
Click on this image to learn about the November issue of Visual Parables Journal.
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 are:
- MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN—Ed writes, “Edward Norton is a triple threat in his new movie. He is director, writer, and star in this adaptation of Jonathan Lethem’s acclaimed 1999 novel. However, he made a lot of changes, beginning by moving the action back 40 years—from the 1990s to 1957, and thus into film noir territory.” Then, Ed gives the film 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommends it.
THE REPORT—Ed also highly recommends this political thriller, writing: “This is an important film that every American should see, and especially because its sub-theme of the executive branch of government trying to override the legislative branch is as relevant as today’s Washington headlines.”- THE CURRENT WAR—Ed is more critical of this historical fiction about the all-out struggle between Edison and Westinghouse to determine the nation’s approach to providing utilities nationwide. The segmented plot gets a bit confusing and the muddy soundtrack also may be a challenge for many viewers.
- MALEFICENT—Ed writes, “All in all, there is plenty to admire and enjoy about this re-invention of the old fairytale, but also plenty to be wary of. I would urge parents to see it first before exposing their younger children to its violence and dark perspective.” (4 stars)
- HARRIET—An important film every bit as exciting as any superhero blockbuster from Hollywood. Ed urges readers to go see this movie, giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
- LUCY IN THE SKY—The based-on-real-life story of an astronaut who gets caught up in a tragic earth-bound relationship is not as bad as some critics have claimed, Ed argues, giving it 3.5 stars.
- RAISING HELL—Ed writes: “Director Janice Engel’s documentary elicits lots of laughter, but this is not the story of a comedian, but rather that of a journalist who was sort of a combination of Mark Twain, Bernstein and Woodward, and an Old Testament prophet.” (5 stars)
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