BUECHNER & WIZARD of OZ
COVER STORY—We’re inviting you, our readers, to tell us about stories that have shaped your life. Today, our cover story features Frederick Buechner, whose life was shaped by The Wizard of Oz, a story he calls “America’s greatest fairy tale.” We also want to hear from you about stories that have shaped your life.
SPIRITUAL EXILES
MANY ARE WANDERING—If you enjoy our cover story, then you’ll also want to read this review of a new book about Christian culture wars, The Exiled Generations. This new book is a cautionary tale about Americans who are displaced by religious conflict.
STORIES TO INSPIRE
“STORIES that shape your life” is a core theme at ReadTheSpirit. Among our recent author interviews: Rachel Held Evans on Searching for Sunday, Bob Alper on Life Doesn’t Get Any Better, Adam Hamilton on Revival of John Wesley and Ragan Sutterfield on This Is My Body.
GOD-SIGNS—Every week, author and veteran journalist Suzy Farbman ranks among our most popular writers with her real-life GodSigns stories. This week, you’ll meet a woman who heard God’s message, “Reject nothing,” and it made all the difference in her life.
THE IDEA OF AMERICA
OUR-VALUES—Sociologist Dr. Wayne Baker continues our theme, this week, exploring the many ways stories shape our lives.
- PART 1—Is America a perennial story of values tensions?
- PART 2—What happens when Law and Ethics collide?
- PART 3—Taxes versus freedom on Tax Day?
- PART 4—“You didn’t build that!”
- PART 5—Do you have a “democratic mind”?
INTERFAITH PEACEMAKERS
THE HEROES—Discover more than 100 inspiring men and women who risked making peace at www.InterfaithPeacemakers.com
- CONNECTOR—The architect and sculptor Adolfo Perez Esquivel risked traveling through Latin America connecting nonviolent, peacemaking groups.
- VISIONARY—Mayerly Sanchez proved that age is no barrier to courage and creative efforts to help save lives.
- NEGOITIATOR—In dangerous times of conflict in Central America, Oscar Arias Sanchez never lost faith in his mission.
HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS
DON’T MISS ONE—Bookmark (and tell friends about) www.InterfaithHolidays.com
- HAPPY NEW YEAR! In essence, that’s the message of the holiday known as Vaisakhi or Baisakhi.
- YOM HASHOAH—Around the world, millions remember the Holocaust and also those who resisted the Nazis and helped to preserve Jewish life.
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LINCOLN SCHOLAR DUNCAN NEWCOMER published a nationwide call to organize discussions for the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s death. This week our columnist Stephanie Fenton publishes a fascinating column about the assassination—and lots of other events taking place nationwide. You may also want to read her column on the earlier 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.
FILM, FAITH
AND POPULAR CULTURE
1,200 MOVIES—Visit www.VisualParables.org for a treasure trove of faith-and-film reviews by Edward McNulty.
- THE JOURNAL—Ed gives away 1,200-plus faith-and-film reviews on his website, and then supports his work through sales of his larger Visual Parables Journal, packed with complete study guides. To mark YomHashoah in April, Ed added a special section to this Journal, covering recommended Holocaust films.
- FILM CAPSULES—Ed provides these free mini-reviews for readers to enjoy, share and even reprint in your own newsletter, if you wish.
- NEW—And this week, he recommends the New Zealand film What We Do in the Shadows.
FAITH GOES POP—Religion scholar and journalist Ken Chitwood reviews the new NBC series, A.D. The Bible Continues. More importantly, Ken asks this provocative question: “I am wondering why is Jesus such a money maker right now? Or, broader yet, why is the Bible such a hot movie ticket and television cash cow?”
DOING GOOD
IN THE WORLD
Good media builds healthy communities …
FEED THE SPIRIT—Each week, food columnist Bobbie Lewis brings us something to chew on—quite literally—as well as a story about how the foods we eat define our lives and our communities. This week, she tells the story of bagels and how they moved out of Jewish neighborhoods to become a common-place American treat. (Oh, and if you love exotic new bagels, watch out! Bobbie’s a bagel purist. Enjoy her story—and recipe!)
BULLYING IS NO LAUGHING MATTER—A great resource for classes and small groups is www.BullyingIsNoLaughingMatter.com where we display an ever-changing array of comics (with activity guides) that adults can use with kids to talk about the tough challenge of putting a stop to bullying. This week, we reach waaay back into comic history for a tale known as Daredevil. Last week, we published Part 1 of Daredevil. This week, we add Part 2.
THIRD-WAY NEWSLETTER
KEEP IN TOUCH—The www.ThirdWayNewsletter.com is part of the changing Christian landscape that is welcoming diverse men and women. You can easily sign up for free email updates.
