SHAMELESS NEPOTISM My sister Val is singing the title role in the opera La Cenerentola (Cinderella) in Keene, NH April 30 & May 1. Sung in Italian with English subtitles at the Raylynmoor Opera, the production will have full orchestra, sets and costumes. Valerie assures me that this is a delightful opera. (I saw it with her in Providence, and, I have to admit, that even I opera-intolerant that I am, enjoyed it. I have copied the press release at... Read more

PAPA GIUSEPPE I Sending this out to all the Cardinal-electors who will be violating the secrecy of the conclave to keep up with what’s going on here at COTM… Here’s one last word of lobbying for the name “Joseph.” I think it’s so weird that there hasn’t been a Pope Joseph. St. Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church, to whom God entrusted the care of His two omst beloveds. It would be fitting in this hour to turn... Read more

EMILY MONDAY 1455 Opinion is a flitting thing,But Truth, outlasts the Sun —If then we cannot own them both —Possess the oldest one — Read more

WEALTH OF GOOD STUFF Weeks too late, I finally got myself into a theater to see Millions yesterday. This is the British family film that has gotten a lot of positive reviews from secular and Christian critics alike. I can see why, and yet, I’m not sure I would ever sit through it again — and that is always my main criteria for giving a movie a “thumbs-up.” Maybe it helps to say that I would definitely see parts of... Read more

WANT TO REALLY CHANGE THE WORLD?… …Then, come be a part of the 11th annual NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR HOLLYWOOD. Hosted by the Hollywood Prayer Network, Hollywood Connect and Inter-Mission. WHEN: Thursday, May 5th WHERE: CBS Studios in Studio City, Sound Stage 2 4024 Radford Ave.TIME: 7:30pm to 10pm. Here we will worship the Lord, pray for industry believers as well as the lost, and ask our Heavenly Father to do the miraculous by bringing revival to this town... Read more

A FOOL’S PARADISE I have a slew of trips coming up in the next six weeks, mostly for speaking engagements. In an effort to do battle with the isolation and wasted time that always bedevils these trips, I want to add some informal meeting times, over dinner, lunch or just coffee with small groups in the places I am going. We can talk about whatever – and know that all the best stuff I have to say about what’s going... Read more

ASSASSINAT MOI MAINTENANT Your Inner European is French! Smart and sophisticated. You have the best of everything – at least, *you* think so. Who’s Your Inner European? Read more

DISNEY: WHERE IT’S ALWAYS CHRISTMAS AND NEVER WINTER? Sorry, couldn’t resist that. Here’s a link to an article that was in the Washington Post recently about whether the fact that Disney is now peddling the Narnia film would mean an end to the Christian/Baptist boycott of Disney. When journalist, Mark Pinsky (one of the best religion journalists in the country, btw), called and asked me that question, I think I answered with a glib, “There’s a boycott?” Here’s a snip... Read more

WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS A THEOLOGY OF ENTERTAINMENT… …but what USA Today wanted to hear about was Revelations, the new show airing on NBC tomorrow night about the end times. The article is on-line here. It’s always so interesting seeing what comes from being interviewed. The journalist on the piece emailed me a list of questions which I answered thusly… “The problem with Revelations, and almost all of Hollywood’s attempts to engage religion, is that they... Read more

SELLING WILBERFORCE Variety reports that Walden Media has brought in DGA President Michael Apted (The World is Not Enough) to direct the long-in-development film Amazing Grace, based on the life of British anti-slavery crusader William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was an 18th Century member of Parliament who is attributed with ending slavery and the slave trade in the British empire. Variety also notes that the film is being styled as a “political thriler.” Can I just say “Oh, good grief”? The story... Read more