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Reading Journal 2024: Everybody Come Alive: A Memoir in EssaysAuthor: Marcie Alvis Walker Walker writes with a careful hand of someone with experience. Someone for whom these experiences shaped a perspectives on what, as she says, it means for her to be a woman, to be black, and to be holy in this world AContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Everybody Come Alive: A Memoir in Essays”

Film Journal 2024: Argylle Directed by Matthew Vaughn Where to watch: now playing in theaters Seems to find this strangely and somewhat ambiguous soft spot between being even more over the top than it actually is, which would have been one option the filmmakers could have taken, and trying to play this thing pared backContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: Argylle”

Reading Journal 2024: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unaologetic WorldAuthor: Danya Ruttenberg Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, a celebrated and award winning author, scholar, activist, and thinker, tackles the tough subject of repentance and reconciliation in her book, On Repentance and Repair, using the philosophy of Maimonides as her guide. She moves seamlessly betweenContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unaologetic World”

Film Journal 2024: Four DaughtersDirected by Kaouther Ben Hania Where to watch: now playing at cinematheque Four Daughters is a unique docu-drama that blends the documentary elements in an unconventional way. It’s a bit isolating at first as I tried to gain my bearings, but once I found the rhythm I was able to understandContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: Four Daughters”

Reading Journal 2024: Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case For Good ApologiesAuthors: Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy A quick overview of my experience with this exhaustive guide to and study of the art of good (and bad) apologies:There are portions that are incredibly insightful There are a few sections that will be necessary to have accessible,Continue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case For Good Apologies”

Film Journal 2024: All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt Directed by Raven Jackson Where to watch: available on VOD “An ode to connection — with loved ones and with place.” This descriptive from the official synopsis perfectly captures the spirit of this film. It’s a series of moments, captured as memories, strung together in theContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt”

Reading Journal 2024: The Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee Author: Marja Mills Nothing sullies a reading experience like being made aware of controversies after you finish the book. In this case, the controversy stems from a statement, issued in Lee’s name, saying that she was not made aware of this book before itsContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: The Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee”

Reading Journal 2024: Before Your Memory FadesAuthor: Toshikazu Kawaguchi The third in Kawaguchi’s outstanding series, Before the Coffee Gets Cold, which transports us as readers to a different cafe with familiar and new faces but with the same opportunity to travel back in time. Rules for time travel stay the same, including the necessary cupContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Before Your Memory Fades”

In today’s interconnected world it’s never hard to find the present trends in christianity when it comes to the things scholarship, theologians, churches are interested in. The book of Revelation is a current trend.The Beatitudes are another current trend, having a moment. I’ve long been fascinated by the Beatitudes. There is good reason to seeContinue reading “The Beatitudes and the characteristics of the Kingdom of God”

“The word blessed, which is used in each of the beatitudes is a very special word. It is the Greek word makarios. Makarios is the word which specially describes the gods. In Christianity, there is a godlike joy. Makarios describes that joy which has its secret within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable,Continue reading “Blessed: Finding True Joy in the Beatitudes”