Reviewed by Jessica Mesman Griffith The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are among the many lists and prayers I memorized as a child. I still remember the St. Joseph’s picture book with the children carrying the groceries of an elderly man, Jesus hovering above them approvingly. The hymn we sang in Catholic school, “Whatsoever You Do To the Least of My People,” conjures up the feeling of a scratchy polyester pleated skirt and the smell of paste and mimeographed... Read more
Question of the day: how does a 63-year-old white guy in Detroit who doesn’t care for hip-hop (although when hip-hop and “disco” appeared about the same time, I was glad hip-hop won out) review a book by an inner-city pastor from Dallas describing himself as a voice to the hip-hop generation? Answer: we major on commonalities. We’re both pastors and writers. His father and my surrogate father were both black pastors. We both live in metropolitan areas bristling with problems... Read more
“Lent isn’t just a self-help season; we’re called to do these things as a part of a community. We’re called to become better people and to love God more, not simply for ourselves, but so that we can begin to love others more, as well.” — Kerry Weber, author, Mercy in the City Several years ago as she was considering what to practice for Lent, Kerry Weber, a young Catholic woman living in New York City, decided to tackle the... Read more
In a world where the only sacrifices that seems justifiable are those made in our own self-interest, there comes the annual observance of Lent for large tracts of Christianity. For forty days, observers give up habits and swear off desires as a spiritual discipline sharpening their focus on God and culminating in Easter. In my own Baptist corner of the Kingdom, that means giving up the idea of giving anything up. Keeping Lent can be shallow or serious depending on... Read more
Edward Gilbreath’s phenomenal new book Birmingham Revolution: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Epic Challenge to the Church is proof that we will likely never cease to uncover new levels of appreciation for or new revelations in regards to the incredible life and ministry of Dr. King. Taking a focused look at King’s campaign for civil rights in Birmingham, Gilbreath uses this moment to both discuss the role King’s faith played in his campaign for racial equality and to challenge today’s church... Read more
“The work of engaging human suffering is hard and messy work. There are no drive-by responses or solutions to human suffering. This work requires intentionality. It requires consistency. It requires commitment. It requires all of you.” — Michael Waters, author, Freestyle This month at the Book Club, we’re featuring Freestyle: Reflections on Faith, Family, Justice, and Pop Culture, by the the Rev. Michael W. Waters. A preacher, speaker, author and founding pastor of Joy Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas, Waters... Read more
By Lyn and Tom Davis Genelli Authors, Death At The Movies Alfonso Cuaron’s 3-D space opera Gravity, a leading Oscar contender, met with universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Nominations include Best Picture, Director, Actress and Original Score. Alongside such enduring favorites as Groundhog Day and The Wizard of Oz, the film explores perennial themes of death, rebirth and the transition between the two — a film destined to join the list of classic transit movies. As the Venerable Chogyam... Read more
Tom and Lyn David Genelli met each other pursuing their own mystical paths, and soon discovered they also shared a love for the movies. Tom, a former film producer and director, and Lyn, a licensed marriage and family therapist, began to look at movies through their shared lens of spirituality, and particularly what they reflect back to us about how our culture sees life, death and the transit state in between. In their new book, Death at the Movies: Hollywood’s... Read more
By Anna Quinn Today my to-do list includes: Driving the kids to two different schools Getting the upstairs heat fixed Cleaning the kitchen Chipping away at Mt. Laundry Working on a local charity race Writing this post My day has a lot of busyness and maybe not a lot of deliberate purpose. Most of these things are good and necessary, but do they really satisfy? Am I made for more? Many times my life feels defined by the immediate—by spilled... Read more
Jennie Allen’s Restless: Because You Were Made For More (2013, W Publishing Group, $15.99) begins with the assumption that there is within all humans an inherent desire to live a fulfilling and purposeful life. However, Allen has recognized as well that for many Christians, the activities and goals they thought would complete them have only satisfied for a season, leaving an uncomfortable restlessness behind—a dull sense that surely there is more to life than this, but no clear awareness of... Read more
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