“Go and find the face of Jesus,” a priest friend told John Fawley. And with a little inspiration from “Christopher Closeup,” he did just that this past January by taking part in a mission trip with the foundation Medical Aid to Northern Uganda (photo, left) – or MANU, for short. In 2014, Fawley was listening to “Christopher Closeup” on Relevant Radio in Wisconsin when he heard my interview with Chicago doctor Kevin Hunt, co-founder of MANU, and Nicole Schreiner, one... Read more
(Photo courtesy ABC/Disney) A lot of ink (and pixels) get spilled when TV shows mock or put down Christianity, but ones that treat it respectfully often fly under the radar. Since The Christophers believe in lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness, let me tell you a little about the recent episode of the Tim Allen sitcom “Last Man Standing” that handled a religion issue nicely (and comedically). “Last Man Standing” is currently in its fifth season, and Tim... Read more
One of the things the TV landscape will be losing when “American Idol” ends its farewell season is a public outlet for faith-inspired singers. Every season has at least some contestants who come from a church background, and who make their faith felt in subtle or overt ways. Several of the former top 10 – Mandisa and Colton Dixon, for instance – have gone on to successful careers in the Christian music industry (and I’ve been happy to interview them... Read more
(The following is the text of the Christopher News Note “How to Discover and Cultivate Your Talents” (which was written by a freelancer). If you’d like a pdf or hard copy, see the end of this post.) “Do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you. Do not be afraid to dream of great things.” —Pope Francis Every person has hidden talents waiting to be discovered. We have unique gifts that God has bestowed upon us with... Read more
“All human life deserves respect, yet I think most of us in this country and our world have forgotten or overlooked a large and often voiceless section of our community: frail, older persons.” Marcy Cottrell Houle learned that lesson first-hand after walking through Alzheimer’s with her father, George – and various other maladies with her mother, Margaret – over a period of 14 years. As she recalls in her book “The Gift of Caring: Saving Our Parents from the Perils... Read more
A seven-months-pregnant Kelly Clarkson served as a guest judge on “American Idol” last night and made it something of a family affair. When contestant Mackenzie Bourg was singing, she said her unborn son started doing flips in her stomach so he must have liked what he heard. That “family” theme fit in with the night as a whole during which most of the contestants talked about how they used to watch “Idol” with their families growing up. It shows what... Read more
Matt Weber admits that he had lived a relatively trouble-free, “Andy Griffith Show/Leave It to Beaver” life until the day his stomach burst open at the age of 30. No, it didn’t happen like a scene in an “Alien” movie. Rather, an extreme level of acid caused his stomach to perforate inside his body, which then caused that acid to spill into his body cavity toward his other organs. Emergency surgery saved his life and also prompted some deep reflection... Read more
Valentine’s Day may be over in the real world, but it won’t reach the Denver, Colorado Dead Letter Office until Sunday February 21st at 9/8c, which is when the next “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” movie, “From the Heart,” airs on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. At the end of the previous installment, “The Impossible Dream,” viewers were left with the feeling that love was in the air for Oliver (Eric Mabius) & Shane (Kristin Booth) – and Norman (Geoff Gustafson) & Rita... Read more
Editors’ Note: This article is part of the Patheos Public Square. This month we’re asking: Has Hollywood Become Our National Conscience? Read other perspectives here. When I watch a movie or TV show, I want to be entertained by a good story, not pummeled by an overbearing message. At the same time, a story that’s well-told can seamlessly integrate a message that draws me in, and leaves me thinking about real-life issues. That’s because stories don’t so much tell us... Read more
UPDATE APRIL 20, 2016: “When Calls the Heart” wins the 2016 Christopher Spirit Award. Read more here. ——————————————— Since she was five-and-a-half years old, Erin Krakow has been on the road to a successful acting career. That road included graduating from Juilliard, working in theater – both plays and musicals – and eventually television, on the Lifetime series “Army Wives.” But it’s her starring role as school teacher Elizabeth Thatcher on the Hallmark Channel’s top-rated series “When Calls the Heart”... Read more
Christopher Closeup
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