You’ll be inspired—and might wind up inspiring others

THIS WEEK, Editor David Crumm appeared on Mark Turnbull’s popular podcast Aging Today, which brings fresh news to listeners about the gifts and challenges of aging. Every one of us is aging all the time, host Mark Turnbull reminds listeners. That’s why his podcasts are intended to be both inspiring and helpful to listeners who are choosing to age on their own terms, as Mark puts it. Please, enjoy the podcast. We suggest pouring a cup of your favorite beverage and relaxing as you listen. Plus, you may find a section of this podcast that you’ll want to share with friends later, perhaps in a class or small group you attend. After you’ve listened, it’s easy to reopen this audio at whatever section you prefer.

How Can We Summon Resilience?

A NEW FRONT EDGE PUBLISHING VIDEO—Our publishing house is a community—and community fosters personal resilience, authors Howard Brown and Mindy Corporon say in a new video hosted by goal-setting expert Debra Eckerling. We’ve got a link to their inspiring conversation for you to enjoy and share with others. After all, sharing is a building block of community.

Holidays & Festivals

Assumption, Dormition of Mary

MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS is trending these days across a surprisingly broad group of cultural influencers, writes Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton, citing an intriguing new story in the Canadian magazine Broadview. In mid-August, millions of Western and Eastern Christians will mark unique traditions about Mary’s death and her transition to Heaven.

Raksha Bandhan

Festival of Sibling Love Now Is Bigger than Bracelets

DESPITE COVID RESTRICTIONS, popular culture in India already is focused on the colorful festival of Raksha Bandhan, when brothers and sisters traditionally renew their bonds with bracelets. The celebration falls on August 22 this year and now is commonly marked in Indian communities around the world. Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton has the story.

WANT TO SEE ALL THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just visit InterfaithHolidays.com

From Suzy Farbman—

Simon Wiesenthal Poses a Moral Question

ARE THERE LIMITS TO OUR FORGIVENESS? In this week’s column by Suzy Farbman, she recalls the famous moral dilemma described by Simon Wiesenthal in the book Sunflower.

Click here to read Ed McNulty’s review of the movie Joe Bell.

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:

LUPIN—”The French writer George Kay has created a truly thrilling escapist adventure series with more than a touch of social commentary. He has taken a classic series of French novels revolving around Arsène Lupin as a “Gentleman Thief” and transferred them to a modern day outsider.”
EROICA—Ed McNulty reaches back to 2003 for a wonderful film about the arts, Eroica. In short, it’s a carefully reconstructed drama about Beethoven debuting the piece that people at the time considered a milestone in music history—a unique delight in moviemaking.
AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY—“Written and directed by Eva Gardos, this film is based on the filmmaker’s own experience as a young immigrant Hungary.”
STREET FLOW—”Writer/co-director/star Kery James’ film is set in France, the story of three brothers of African descent who live in one of the huge projects just outside of Paris.”
A RAINY DAY IN NEW YORK—Based on its on-screen merits, Ed recommends this Woody Allen story set in New York City.
AWAKE—Another Apocalyptic thriller with some unusual twists.
NINE DAYS—“Director/writer Edson Oda’s film at first seems to be about a busy man conducting interviews over a nine day period. But as it unfolds we realize this is a metaphysical tale about birth and the appreciation of and celebration of life in all its details.”
MR. PIG—”Mexican director/writer Diego Luna tackles both animal rights and father-daughter issues in this 2016 film that NetFlix has picked up.”
FATHERHOOD—“Appropriately this new Kevin Hart film opened during this year’s Father’s Day weekend. Were it not for a brief bedroom shot it would make for ideal family viewing, with its tender depictions of a father-daughter relationship.”
JOE BELL—Ed recommends this film, “based on a true story,” written by the same team that contributed to the 2005 film, Brokeback Mountain, a writing partnership that included the late novelist Larry McMurtry.
ONE NATION, ONE KING—”French writer/director Pierre Schoeller’s epic will enlarge our truncated view of the French Revolution. Schoeller attempts to give us a view of events from the perspective of those at the bottom of society.”