A message we need now more than ever:

Howard Brown shows how paying it forward strengthens generations

IT’S A MESSAGE WE ALL NEED TO HEAR: “We’re not given life to see how much we can get—we’re given life to see how much we can give.” That’s one of the central messages that runs throughout Howard Brown’s new book, Shining Brightly, and it’s a message he delivers in TV and radio broadcasts, podcasts and public appearances nationwide. His book won’t be officially released until the Jewish High Holiday of Rosh Hashanah under the theme: New Year; New Hopes! But already Howard is crisscrossing the nation with his inspiring message and you can preorder his book from Amazon right now.

We’re devoting three weeks of ReadTheSpirit magazine to the three central themes of Shining Brightly: resiliency in the face of cancer was last week, interfaith peacemaking will come next week. This week, we’re focusing on Howard’s lifelong passion for mentorship, which he sometimes performs in a style he calls “whispering” and is a key to the entrepreneurial successes in his own life.

What do we mean by “successes”? Consider Howard’s brother Ian. These days, Ian is virtually Howard’s real brother, but their relationship began when Howard was a budding Silicon Valley entrepreneur who devoted spare time to helping a kid from a troubled family find a hopeful pathway in life. That’s little Ian, in the photo above, when Howard first became his Jewish Big Brother.

Please, read our Cover Story this week and share it with friends. Word of Warning: If you buy a copy of Shining Brightly and enjoy Howard’s stories—you’ll likely find yourself wanting to become a mentor, too (if you’re not already doing that). This is a potent book that you should consider giving as a gift to a friend or loved one who could use such a dose of resiliency, hope and strength! If you care to help in spreading this good news into the world, please start right now by visiting Amazon and pre-ordering your copy of Shining Brightly.

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And Speaking of Inspiration—

Bill Tammeus celebrates the songs of Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

AWARD-WINNING RELIGION JOURNALIST BILL TAMMEUS, author of Love Loss and Endurance, has asked his nationwide audience to help celebrate a major milestone for Christian songwriter Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. In his column, Bill writes: “One of the important sources of new Christian hymns these days is the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a Presbyterian pastor who, with her husband, helps lead a small church in upstate New York. She has just published a new collection of her hymns in a book called I Sing to My Savior: New Hymns from the Stories in the Gospel of Luke.” For anyone who has ever sung a hymn by Gillette, this is terrific news you’ll want to share. Plus—Bill’s column includes links to Gillette’s personal website, where she has posted many of her hymns that are free for congregations to use right away.

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And we all celebrate Dr. Gushee’s milestone with Changing Our Mind

SUSAN STITT writes about the 300-review threshold on Amazon that Dr. David Gushee is likely crossing this week with his inspiring and helpful book, Changing Our Mind. Why is this so important? More than numbers and stars, it’s the ever-growing number of lives that have been changed by this message.

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Holidays & Festivals

Rosh Hashanah is coming!

THIS YEAR, WE’VE GOT TWO WONDERFUL COLUMNS: First, Rabbi Lenore Bohm, author of Torah Tutor, shares a series of inspiring thoughts that you’ll want to enjoy—whatever your faith may be. Her column is a perfect preparation for the Jewish New Year but it also ends with reflective questions that all of us can benefit from asking.

Then, regular Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton fills in more details about the holiday, especially geared to our non-Jewish readers. And regular readers know that the gems in Stephanie’s columns are her links to other resources—in this case to some delicious recipes.

 

And, the Equinox is coming

STEPHANIE ALSO WRITES, this week, about the change-of-season milestone coming later in September.

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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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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:

• TREES OF PEACE—“Director-writer Alanna Brown’s harrowing film centers on four women who hide from the rampaging Hutus during the Rwandan genocide.”
• MEDIEVAL—“Czech director-writer Petr Jákl’s film focuses upon the early career of his nation’s hero Jan Žižka, regarded by many to be as great a military genius as any of the more famous generals.”
• EXTRAORDINARY ATTORNEY WOO—”27-year-old attorney Woo Young Woo is indeed extraordinary in that she is Korea’s first lawyer with autism spectrum disorder.”
• A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN—Ed asks, “How do you dare remake a film like A League of Their Own that is considered a classic by millions of fans?” In his review, he points out a list of enjoyments this series provides.
• BREAKING—”Director Abi Damaris Corbin’s tragic, heart-rending film is based upon a true story about a tragedy in Marietta, Georgia that unfolded on July 7, 2017.”
• HALLELUJAH—LEONARD COHEN, A JOURNEY, A SONG—”Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine’s documentary approaches the life of the Canadian poet/songwriter through one song, a mystical one that has captured the hearts of millions of people, some of whom believe in some form of God, as well as many who do not.”
• MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS—”The story of a lowly British cleaning woman fulfilling her dream of owning a Christian Dior dress is a wonderful Cinderella story that will leave you feeling very good about the world and (most) of its inhabitants, even if a cynic might write it off as PR for the House of Dior.”.

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