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FINDING GOOD FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE

TWO DARING HEROES: This week, we are thrilled to share two good-news stories about authors who dared to cross seemingly insurmountable boundaries—and found lifelong friends on the other side.

RETIRED COL. CLIFFORD WORTHY was among the very first African-American cadets sent to West Point after President Harry Truman ordered the U.S. Army desegregated in 1948. His dramatic and inspiring memoir, The Black Knight, was celebrated at Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on Saturday. Our first Cover Story, then, takes you inside that historic event and explains how this historic occasion was organized. If you are weary from all the hateful voices we hear echoing across media these days, this story is an antidote: a heaping helping of inspirational news. Please, read this story and share it with friends.

MUSLIM PEACE ACTIVIST VICTOR BEGG is crossing another kind of boundary—one that often marginalizes American Muslims. With the release of his memoir, Our Muslim Neighbors, Victor dared to reach out to long-time Jewish friends. They have enthusiastically responded. Please, read this remarkable story about men and women reaching out across religious lines—and share this story with friends.

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HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS

LENT & HOLY WEEK

LENT for 2-billion-plus Christians: Stephanie Fenton’s column on Lent also has a recommendation of our popular book for the season, Our Lent: Things We Carry. 

PALM SUNDAY is coming for Western Christians on April 14—and a week later for Eastern Christians.

PASSOVER

FAMILIES ALREADY ARE PLANNING for the seder gatherings that mark the first two nights of Passover on April 19 and 20 this year. Stephanie Fenton’s column is packed with fascinating stories (and recipes as well) for our Jewish—and especially for our non-Jewish—readers. Want to greet Jewish friends, neighbors or co-workers? Stephanie explains what is appropriate. Might someone invite you to a seder? You can learn about what’s in store and look forward to the occasion.

AND FROM ASIA

VAISAKI WORLDWIDE—Stephanie Fenton’s Vaisaki (sometimes spelled Baisahki) column circles the globe. From Salt Lake City and Dublin to the heart of India, families with roots in India. As Stephanie explains, in India, Vaisakhi holds varying meanings in different regions.

JAINS CELEBRATE APRIL 17—Jains greet one of the most significant days of their calendar year: Mahavir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the final and most important Tirthankar, Mahavira.

Want to see all the upcoming Holidays & Festivals? Visit www.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.

Among Ed’s free reviews and columns are:

Click this Captive State movie still to read Ed’s review.

• CAPTIVE STATE—This suspenseful science fiction tale of aliens taking over with a base in a futuristic Chicago is designed to raise questions about the dangers of authoritarian regimes, writes Ed. (4 out of 5 stars)
• RUBEN BRANDT—Ed writes, “Director /writer Milorad Krstic’s story is goofy, and in the last part a bit thin, but this is not the primary reason for anyone to see this animated comedy. It is the exquisite detail of the mixture of hand-drawn and computer-generated animation that mimics so well the styles of dozens of artists.” (4.5 stars)
• HOTEL MUMBAI—This film about a 2008 terrorist attach in Mumbai is definitely harrowing, but also fascinating, says Ed. (4.5 stars)
• DUMBO—It’s “pretty good family entertainment,” Ed writes, giving the remake 4 stars.
• US—Jordan Peele’s eerie new blockbuster soared to No. 1 at the box-office on its opening weekend and Ed McNulty says that’s for good reason, giving it 5 stars.
• CAPTAIN MARVEL—Ed writes, “Brie Larson shows that she has the Right Stuff to suit up and rocket off into the universe to save it.” (4 stars)
• THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING—Ed writes, “The Arthurian legend is transferred to modern England in this tale of a group of children called on to thwart the plans of an evil enchantress. It is the kind of tale that appeals to every kid who has ever turned a towel or drape into a cape.” (4 out of 5 stars)
• THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND—If you’ve got access to Netflix, then you can watch this terrific film today. Ed gives it 5 out of 5 stars and urges us not to miss it.

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