A car accident seemed to end Joan Bauer’s career before it even began. After spending several years studying to be a screenwriter, Joan signed with a big talent agency in New York City, ready to take on a new phase of her life. Two days later, she endured a debilitating car accident that left her in a great deal of pain and requiring neurosurgery. Angry and scared, she remembers lying in bed one day during the long recovery process and... Read more
(All photos property of Fox and American Idol) One of the noveltys on “American Idol” this season is that two of the female contestants have blue hair. Thankfully, that’s not the only reason they stand out. They’ve also got talent to match. First, there’s Joey Cook, whose voice and musical artistry paradoxically reflect singers from a bygone era while still sounding completely modern. When Joey sings, she puts her heart into the lyrics, be they goofy silliness or earnest heartbreak.... Read more
(All photos property of ABC/Disney) ABC is home to several family-oriented sitcoms, and sometimes they integrate a little Christianity into their stories. The Heck family on “The Middle” are churchgoers (albeit dysfunctional ones) who sometimes interact with members of the clergy, like the singing youth minister Rev. Tim Tom. In recent weeks, ABC’s Friday night comedies – “Last Man Standing” and “Cristela” – also added a little ‘God talk’ to the mix – and they did it in a way... Read more
Over the past few years, five-time Grammy nominee Matt Maher underwent some changes in his life that made him reflect on his own future as well as the future of the Church he loves. Looking at the social issues prevalent in modern culture, he noted that “politics has poisoned, in some ways, people’s day-to-day life, especially on the Internet.” Maher wondered how to navigate these troubled waters as a citizen and a Catholic. Ultimately, he realized there was a proven... Read more
Many Christians identify themselves by whatever denomination they belong to, but one of the key factors in any person’s faith journey is their willingness to build a relationship with God. In this week’s video, Father Jonathan Morris admits our Protestant brothers and sisters often have a better handle on this aspect of faith than Catholics do. Yet each of us is called to nurture this relationship, so Father Jonathan offers three simple tips on how you can do so. Read more
When I got to work this morning, I saw an ambulance, cop cars, and several police officers standing on the corner. No, there was no emergency. It was a shoot for the CBS series “Person of Interest.” I stood there for a while to see if I could get some pictures of anyone on my phone. Sure enough, Kevin Chapman (Detective Lionel Fusco) was a major presence in the scene and got close enough for me to snap a few... Read more
The following is the text of the Christopher News Note “Simplifying Your Life” (which was written by a freelancer). If you’d like a pdf or hard copy, see the end of this post: “Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what You want me to be and becoming that person.” —St. Thérèse of Lisieux These words by the beloved saint may be over 100 years old, yet they challenge those of us in the modern world to take... Read more
The following column was written by The Christophers’ Jerry Costello: You’d think that Howard Schultz had more than enough to do, running a big company the size of Starbucks. After all, satisfying the cravings of millions of coffee drinkers across America can’t be the easiest thing going. But with it all, Schultz, CEO of the Starbucks empire, has written a book—a good book, one that’s making its presence felt on the best-seller charts. It’s called “For Love of Country,” and... Read more
A few quick observations on topics in the news today: 1. Since winning “American Idol” in 2002, Kelly Clarkson has built an amazing career for herself in the music industry. Unlike many pop stars, she found success without going down the road of sexually explicit lyrics and imagery. While she promotes messages of female empowerment and comes across as a bit of a rebel at times, she also gives off an “America’s Sweetheart” vibe that suggests she’s pretty down-to-earth. Becoming... Read more
(Photo property of NBC News) Last night, NBC News’s Erica Hill reported on a group of Benedictine nuns in Colorado who combine their prayer lives with raising cattle on a 250 acre ranch. Their home, the Abbey of St. Walburga, is a self-sustaining working farm – and now an increasingly-thriving natural beef business. Sister Maria-Walburga Schortemeyer says the farm work complements their spirituality, and observes, “Having an agrarian part of our life keeps us rooted to the earth.” Sister Maria-Michael... Read more
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