What shaped such a great soul?
COVER STORY—For many years, we have been publishing columns by Lincoln scholar Duncan Newcomer, recalling Lincoln’s prophetic wisdom for our nation. In our Cover Story, we recall a few of those memorable columns to spark your reflections this week. Please, if you find this helpful, share this column with friends via social media and email.
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More Holidays & Festivals
Celebrating Col. Clifford Worthy’s courage in Black History Month
IN FEBRUARY 2023, our publishing house is not alone in celebrating retired Col. Clifford Worthy’s courage in facing both the rigors of service in the U.S. Army and the caregiving challenges of his family life with a disabled son. His memoir, The Black Knight, tells the story of his remarkable life of service and faith to both country and family. Now that Col. Worthy is the oldest living Black graduate of West Point, the entire nation is asking him to share his memories. This year is the 75th anniversary of the order by President Harry Truman integrating U.S. armed forces—and CBS News plans to broadcast a story about Worthy and other Black pioneers in the armed forces this month. Please, celebrate with us by ordering your own copy of The Black Knight.
Are you ready for Valentine’s Day?
Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton reports, this week on the many expressions of love circling the globe. This holiday is about far more than candy, Stephanie reminds us. Please enjoy her entire column and share it with friends.
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Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
Stephanie Fenton also writes about the continuing inspiration millions around the world draw from a site where a young French girl first reported an apparition of the Virgin Mary on February 11, 1858.
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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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Need a Truly Inspiring Story?
A new short film about a friendship formed while winning a war with cancer
THE FRIENDSHIP OF DR. ERIC RUBIN and HOWARD BROWN spans more than three decades and two successful battles with stage IV cancer. This 6-minute short-film, just released this week, tells that inspiring story of good medicine, the power of hope and the potential of resilience in such a life-and-death struggle.
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Need a Good Laugh?
Sign Up to ‘Laugh in Peace’
‘LAUGH IN PEACE’ is what Rabbi Bob Alper calls the Christian-Muslim-Jewish comedy shows that he has been staging for many years. Now, Bob and standup comics Susan Sparks and Gibran Saleem are presenting three shows in New York City: February 6, 20 and 27. Of course, many of our magazine readers won’t be in New York City this month—so Bob and his friends also have arranged to sell tickets to a streamed version of the event. So, wherever you live, you can enjoy this breath of fresh air—Christians, Muslims and Jews enjoying a night of good humor, a show that even those skeptical critics at The New York Times consider a must-see event. CLICK ON the image, above, or on this text link to visit the website for streaming sales.
If you happen to be in the New York area, here’s the web page for in-person tickets to the event.
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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Click on this image to learn more about the February 2023 issue of Visual Parables Journal, packed with complete faith-and-film discussion guides to movies, including Women Talking, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, All Quiet on the Western Front and A Man Called Otto.
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:
- WOMEN TALKING—”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.”
- ON SACRED GROUND—(Streaming) “Co-writers/directors Josh and Rebecca Harrell Tickell (along with co-writer William Mapother) have given us a social justice visual parable dealing with the environment as well as the mistreatment of indigenous Americans.”
- ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT—(Streaming on Netflix) Ed’s review says this gripping new version of the classic anti-war novel should not be compared to past versions, because it adds so much new material to the original story.
- A MAN CALLED OTTO—(In theaters) Ed says the original version of this film is delightful, as well, although Americans prefer not to read subtitles—and, of course, Tom Hanks is great in this English-language remake.
- BROKER—(In theaters) Ed also recommends this unusual Korean film about orphan children.
- ARGENTINA 1985—(Streaming on Amazon) “The arc of history may bend toward justice, but according to Santiago Mitre’s Oscar-nominated film it takes a hell of a lot of risk, courage, and effort to achieve this.”
- PINOCCHIO—(Streaming on Netflix) Ed urges viewers to see what he calls a masterpiece of animation as well as a provocative lesson about the dangers of Fascism.
- AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER—(In theaters) “James Cameron’s sequel to Avatar is violent but so beautiful that it is well worth the long wait.”
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