Babson College highlights this dedicated community activist with a profile
COVER STORY—The cozy mystery author whose pen name is Laura Elizabeth cares about far more than entertaining readers with an island-based whodunnit. Laura would like her readers to fall in love with this island and even visit the real Daufuskie Island, which can help in the overall effort to keep the island community alive and well. Don’t take our word for it. This month, Laura’s story is the featured profile in the Babson College website’s section on leading entrepreneurs. Please, read our story about this remarkable woman—and follow the links to read the entire Babson profile as well as to contact Laura if you are interested in a book-related event yourself. Then, please, if you enjoy this story, please share it with friends via social media and email!
.
And Speaking of Remarkable Families—
Suzy Farbman celebrates a life well lived
THOUSANDS of our readers follow columnist and author Suzy Farbman’s God Signs. Over the years, Suzy has introduced us to remarkable men and women from across the U.S. and around the world. But, central among the “main characters” in her writing, over the years, has been her husband, the noted Detroit developer Burton Farbman. Readers of Suzy’s memoir God Signs, have told us that this memoir of how she successfully battled cancer with Burton always at her side was a godsend of inspiration and fresh ideas. More recently, readers of our online magazine have followed Suzy’s occasional columns about Burton’s own struggles with cancer. Recently, Burton died and Suzy wrote this celebration of his life—and their lives together. The column also includes a photo gallery, at the end, that you will enjoy as much as the eulogy.
.
.
Duncan Newcomer & Abraham Lincoln
Braver Angels launching ‘Rise for America’
IN OUR SPECIAL July 2, 2023, issue about Abraham Lincoln’s legacy, Lincoln scholar Duncan Newcomer explained the timely nature of that special issue. Braver Angels, a national nonprofit dedicated to defusing the anger in American political and cultural dialogue, was holding a major conference at Gettysburg especially to remember some of Abraham Lincoln’s central principles. As a result of that conference, Braver Angels now is launching a program called Rise for America. Please check out that new program at the Braver Angels website.
.
.
David Gushee & Kelsey Morrison
Learning from ‘evangelical academia’s latest homophobia victim’
FOR BAPTIST NEWS GLOBAL, David Gushee writes about the tragic treatment of former Geneva College soccer coach Kelsey Morrison. In June, she was ousted by the school for two posts on Instagram. Gushee interviewed Kelsey and shares her story with us.
.
.
George Mason & Mitch and Missy
Hosts of Good Faith Weekly feature Mason and his new book
THE POPULAR PODCAST hosted by Mitch and Missy Randall recently featured George Mason talking about his new book, The Word Made Fresh: Preaching God’s Love for Every Body. Good Faith Weekly is available on all streaming platforms and can be accessed here.
.
.
Howard Brown & Mitch Stoller
AACR spreads Howard’s message: ‘Fighting cancer is a team sport.’
The AACR, which is the world’s oldest and largest professional association related to cancer research, welcomed author and patient advocate Howard Brown into its new podcast with the AACR’s chief philanthropic officer Mitch Stoller. This column explains the new podcast, which will be welcomed by many families looking for signs of hope in their struggles with cancer—plus you can watch the complete video conversation shared by Mitch and Howard. This is news you’ll likely want to share with friends, this week, since cancer is a challenge in millions of families nationwide.
.
.
And Finally Rodney Curtis and … Visitors …
This photograph of a flying saucer hovering at night over an American City was generated this week by the powerful OpenAI tools that millions are using, now—so it has to be accurate, doesn’t it?
RODNEY CURTIS, aka The Spiritual Wanderer, is thrilled that Congress may actually take up serious consideration of visitors from other realms. Click on this link to jump to Rodney’s website—or is it really Rodney’s website? You decide—if you dare!
.
.
Holidays & Milestones
Birthday of Haile Selassie
ON JULY 23 EACH YEAR, hundreds of thousands of people who revere the Ethiopian leader honor his birthday, as Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton explains in her column.
.
.
Near Utah this Summer? Check out Pioneer Day
THIS YEAR, if you hope to catch some of the most popular Pioneer Day themed events, you will need to act now! There’s a long tradition in Utah of spreading public events throughout the weeks leading up to Pioneer Day, as Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton explains.
.
Cue the lights and dancers—Obon is coming
STEPHANIE FENTON reports on the colorful Obon festivals that will unfold this summer in many parts of the world.
.
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
.
.
Click on this image to learn more about the July 2023 issue of Visual Parables Journal, packed with movie reviews and discussion guides.
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:
- BLACKBERRY—Ed writes, “Canadian director Matt Johnson and co-writer Matthew Miller have gifted us with a comic take on the development of the BlackBerry.”
- MONICA—“Andrea Pallaoro’s film centering on a transgender daughter returning to help her family care for the dying mother who cast her out a couple of decades ago is a slow burn drama that is difficult to watch. “
- SILO—“This ten-part series created by Graham Yost is based on a series of books by Hugh Howey. It is so bingeworthy that I can hardly wait for Season Two to begin.”
- THE BLACKENING—”Fans of horror films know that in most such films it is the rare Black character who dies, if not first, then early on.”
- INDIANA JONES—”Our favorite archaeologist is back for his fifth and last over the top adventure.“
- ELEMENTAL—Ed writes, “Although far short of Wall-E and such, Elemental is still enjoyable as a Romero & Juliett love story and an immigrants-make-good tale.”
- ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET—”The film, directed and written by Kelly Fremon Craig, follows the novel very faithfully, with every member of the excellent cast contributing to the humor and insights.”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
