Faith/Spirituality

Tell her you love her.  Recently, when my wife, Meg Korpi, was dying of cancer, a longtime friend offered some advice I’m really glad I heeded: I should write and read to her a tribute, expressing what she’s meant to me and how much I love her.  (Short op-ed)

Women Talking movie: sex, religion, #MeToo. In the Oscar-winning film Women Talking, mysterious sexual assaults are plaguing a secluded religious community.  Women and girls awaken drowsy, bruised, bleeding – some pregnant – as men drug them with cow tranquilizer and rape them at night.  While the men are gone, the women debate whether to do nothing, stay and fight, or leave.  (Short op-ed)

I’m Not Ashamed movie: Columbine victim’s inspiring story. The 1999 Columbine High School massacre became etched in a nation’s collective consciousness.  Shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered twelve fellow students and one teacher.  Rachel Joy Scott was their first victim.  This new film tells her inspiring story.  (Short op-ed)

Ben-Hur remake: Revenge, redemption, inspiring backstory.  Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have remade the classic MGM film for a new generation … complete with a chariot race for the ages, plus plenty of action, romance and inspiration.  What’s behind this story, and why has it endured so long?  (Short op-ed)

The Real MVP movie: Kevin Durant’s inspiring mom struggles and shines.  When NBA superstar Kevin Durant received the league’s Most Valuable Player award, he named his mother “the real MVP.”  The standing ovation and subsequent media groundswell confirmed that something significant had just happened, something transcending the game.  Now, Lifetime Television brings the inspirational backstory to a wide audience.  (Short op-ed)

Batman v Superman movie: Superhero rumble.  Both stand for good, fight crime, and help the needy.  So, why are these two guys fighting each other?  Is it turf wars – Gotham vs. Metropolis?  Do they each have Lois Lane crushes?  Welcome to the backstory of how these two met.  (Short op-ed)

Miracles from Heaven movie: Astonishing outcomes.  A nine-year-old girl falls thirty feet, lands headfirst, sustains only minor scrapes and bruises, and leaves the hospital the next day.  She says she visited heaven and sat in Jesus’ lap.  Eventually, her chronic, life-threatening illness is gone.  What happened?  (Short op-ed)

Young Messiah movie: Jesus’ childhood imagined.  Seven-year-old Jesus is accused of killing a bully … then raises him from the dead.  He restores life to a dead bird, sight to a blind man.  Sound familiar?  Maybe not.  Filmmakers and novelist Anne Rice – a former atheist who became a Jesus follower – portray a touching fictional story about how the child Jesus learned who he really was.  (Short op-ed)

Risen movie: Resurrection hoax?  Did Jesus Christ really rise from the dead, or was his “resurrection” an elaborate hoax?  A Roman tribune searches for Jesus’ missing corpse.  This novel, detective-story approach to centuries-old questions uses dramatic historical fiction to let viewers consider the evidence – and its implications – for themselves.  (Short op-ed)

The 33 movie: Chilean miners’ despair, faith, miracle rescue.  In this dramatic true story that captivated the world in 2010, a huge explosion traps 33 miners deep underground.  Up top, an international team works frantically to save them.  With miniscule rations and little human hope – but with deep determination and fervent prayer, both above and below ground – the miners last 69 days until liberation.  (Short op-ed)

Captive movie: gripping Atlanta hostage drama.  Her story captured a nation’s heart.  Hostage Ashley Smith reads to courtroom killer Brian Nichols from Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life.  Two broken, wounded souls navigate a risky journey about purpose, survival, faith and redemption.  (Short op-ed)

WW II movie drama: Christian students hiding Jews from Nazis.  As the world commemorates the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Return to the Hiding Place dramatically portrays a forgotten story of dedicated Dutch students’ vital role in rescuing hundreds of Jews from Nazi persecution.  Driven by faith, love and conviction, they endured great hardship and risked their lives to protect the oppressed from Hitler’s terror.  (Short op-ed)

Cleveland Abduction: Courage, faith, riveting TV drama.  No one should have to suffer what Michelle Knight and her fellow captives did in Ariel Castro’s house of horrors.  With gripping realism and tender reflection, Lifetime’s movie tells this absorbing story from abduction to liberation and beyond.  (Short op-ed)

A.D. TV series: The Bible continues … in prime time.  Mark Burnett and Roma Downey – Hollywood’s Bible Power Couple – are back with a flourish, this time on prime-time network television.  Their dramatic series about Jesus’ first followers, premiering Easter Sunday evening on NBC, captures the personal angst and adventure of those tumultuous early years.  (Short op-ed)

Exodus movie: brother-enemies, slavery, liberation.  If you were an epic-adventure filmmaker and wanted a protagonist who could connect with over half the world’s population, Moses would be a prime candidate.  He’s revered by Christians, Muslims and Jews.  Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings stimulates interest in this timeless story.  (Short op-ed)

Heaven is for Real, movie claims.  Colton Burpo says that at age 3, he went to heaven, saw Jesus, heard angels sing, and met both his deceased great grandfather and his miscarried sister.  The best-selling book about him is now a major motion picture.  Is heaven for real?  (Short op-ed by Rusty Wright)

Noah movie: courage, faith, hope.  With breathtaking cinematography – and not without controversy – Paramount Pictures releases an intense portrayal of a classic story.  That story brings important lessons for 21st–Century living.  (Short op-ed)

Son of God movie: Jesus for the third millennium.  By Meg Korpi.  Politics and religion; an enigmatic attraction. Television producer Mark Burnett and actress/producer Roma Downey have created an accurate and accessible portrait of Jesus of Nazareth for the big screen. See how this intriguing story continues today.  (Review/Analysis)

Mark Burnett’s Son of God movie: Action Epic.  The Survivor producer and his wife, actress Roma Downey, wanted to communicate “the story of Jesus for a whole new generation.”  Their new film presents adventure, drama and passion; a Jesus that is tough and tender; and enough gripping stories to allow skeptics, searchers, and the faith-filled alike to consider whether he really was the Son of God.  (Short op-ed by Rusty Wright)

Does God’s Love Make You Want to Give?  Some current social scientific research suggests it might.  Intriguing survey results, and an inspiring story of Auntie Anne, the pretzel lady.  (Short op-ed)

Human Trafficking Movie Grabs Hearts.  Annika, a delicate young girl, has been unwittingly handed into virtual slavery by her homeless father.  Sweatshop labor and sex-for-sale portend a bleak future, unless someone intervenes.  Caden, a spoiled, rich, 20-year-old Southern California student, determines to be that someone.  Their inspiring saga in the feature film Not Today might grab your heart, too.  (Short op-ed)

Mark Burnett’s Bible TV Series: Epic Adventure.  The Survivor producer and his wife, actress Roma Downey, have produced an exhilarating take on classic stories about the epic struggle of the centuries between good and evil.  Powerful depictions; gripping scenes.  Well worth seeing by skeptics, searchers, and the faith-filled alike.  (Short op-ed)

Sexual Abuse Victor Offers Hope for Sandusky Victims, Others.  He knows how Jerry Sandusky’s victims must feel.  Their stories reawakened agonizing memories of childhood sexual abuse in Josh.  He’d hated his assailant, hated his father, and damned God.  He felt ashamed, and terribly alone.  Then a college student’s challenge started him on a quest that changed everything.  (Short op-ed by Rusty Wright and Meg Korpi)

Who Said That?  “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”  “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  “Money is the root of all evil.”  “God helps those who help themselves.”  Who made these statements?  Learning who actually said them – and, in some cases, what they really said and meant – might surprise you.  (Short op-ed)

Tiananmen Leader’s Divine Cause.  Chinese student Chai Ling helped lead the massive 1989 demonstrations in Tiananmen Square that drew the world’s praise and her government’s wrath.  Twice nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, today this Harvard MBA is a successful businesswoman who still risks persecution to bring reform to China.  Her current activities might surprise you.  (Short op-ed)

Jesus is Coming May 21?  We read it in the Washington Post.  “Save the date!” say the billboards.  That’s also our wedding anniversary.  Maybe we should invite him.  (Short op-ed; by Rusty Wright and Meg Korpi)

Americans Flunk Religion 101.  Think you know a lot about religion?  Pew Research Center says many atheists and agnostics know more about world faiths than do believers.  I once flunked an important faith question and learned that what you don’t know might hurt you.  (Short op-ed)

Atlanta Volunteers Change Lives.  Want a dose of inspiration and motivation?  Take a look at these fine folks who are getting “out of their seats and into the streets” to help meet Atlanta’s physical, psychological and spiritual needs.  (Short op-ed)

Tony Blair’s God Thing.  By Rusty Wright and Meg Korpi.  When Blair was British Prime Minister, his press secretary once explained to reporters, “We don’t do God.”  Today, Blair promotes God and faith freely.  What’s he up to?  (Short op-ed)

Atheist Recommends God.  By Rusty Wright and Meg Korpi.  A prominent British political observer and journalist says, “As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God.”  What did he encounter that “confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God”?  (Short op-ed)

How to Surprise your Mayor.  When you’re the mayor, people who talk to you very often want something from you.  Luis Palau asked Portland’s mayor how churches could help the city.  The result: massive – and inspiring – mobilization to tackle homelessness, poverty, hunger, healthcare, and more.  (Short op-ed)

Faith-Based Initiatives Worth Considering.  Do faith-based social programs really work?  A look at a model prison initiative in Texas that is making headlines with encouraging results.  (Short op-ed)

Christians to Muslims and Jews: “Crusades were wrong.”  The dramatic story of what happened when believers retraced the eleventh-century Crusaders’ steps, apologizing to Muslims and Jews for the sins of their forebears.  (Short, op-ed)

Christians Retrace Crusaders’ Steps.  The dramatic story of what happened when believers retraced the eleventh-century Crusaders’ steps, apologizing to Muslims and Jews for the sins of their forebears.  (Magazine article)

Moderate Muslim leaders build bridges to Christians.  Do all Muslims threaten Western life?  138 prominent Muslim leaders of diverse stripes and nationalities extend the hand of friendship to Christians, stressing common ground as a basis for peace. (Short op-ed)

Why Radical Muslims Hate You.  Many Muslims love peace.  But if you are a Westerner, an American, a non-Muslim, or a Muslim of a different stripe than they, then some radical Muslims hate you.  Would you believe that dancing in American churches helped fuel some of today’s radical Muslim anger?  (Short op-ed)

Why Radical Muslims Hate You.  Many Muslims love peace.  But if you are a Westerner, an American, a non-Muslim, or a Muslim of a different stripe than they, then some radical Muslims hate you.  Would you believe that dancing in American churches helped fuel some of today’s radical Muslim anger?  (Probe radio series transcript.)  German

War Room movie: got prayer?  Got marital problems?  Job-related stress?  Ethical conundrums?  Try prayer.  This Kendrick Brothers / Sony TriStar release weaves prayer insights into a lively drama about a troubled middle-class family.  (Short op-ed)

Deepwater Horizon movie: horror, heroism, fear and faith.  The 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil rig explosion, oil spill, cleanup, and lawsuits against British Petroleum dominated the news back then.  But the saga of what happened on the rig that night – and the valor that saved many lives – is a lesser-known story.  (Short op-ed)

New Life movie: Real love, real life.  As I watched this film, I often felt like the screenwriters had placed a hidden microphone in my home.  True love.  Romance.  Exciting, intimate, emotional connection.  Fulfilling, committed partnership.  Joys and sorrows.  Drama … tragedy … recovery … triumph.  This one’s got real love and real life, folks.  (Short op-ed)

The Shack movie: God and your tragedy.  When your personal tragedy strikes – and it will – is God good?  Millions wrestle with that question.  The Shack, a bestselling novel and now a movie, uses fanciful fiction to help people process age-old intellectual and emotional struggles about evil, suffering, and divine character.  (Short op-ed)

CNN’s Finding Jesus series: What do you believe?  What’s your take on New Testament stories about Jesus’ life and death and their aftermath?  Did the events described really happen, or are they merely inspirational fables about a great man?  For many years, I was skeptical.  CNN’s second season of Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery appears to be designed with questioners like me in mind. (Short op-ed)

CNN’s Finding Jesus series wrap: denial, doubt, dedication.  Have you ever lied about a relationship to protect yourself?  Or told close friends you didn’t believe them … about something really important?  Maybe you can identify with Peter or Thomas, subjects of the two remaining episodes in CNN’s second season of Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery.  Curious about these guys?  Here’s a primer that may facilitate your understanding of the programs.  (Short op-ed)

The Case for Christ movie: An atheist wrestles with the evidence.  If you’re a committed atheist and your spouse becomes a follower of Jesus, it might just rock your world.  That’s what happened to hardnosed Chicago Tribune legal affairs editor Lee Strobel, who marshalled his skills in journalism and law to find out what had happened to his wife.  (Short op-ed)

Jonah movie: Whom would you like God to punish?  So, if there is a God, and he punishes evildoers, whom would you especially like him to judge?  And if he gave that person(s) a second chance – to follow him – would you be pleased or disappointed?  Maybe you can identify with Jonah, the biblical prophet.  A new movie musical tells his dramatic and entertaining story.  (Short op-ed)

Wonder Woman movie: Want her on your side?  She deflects speeding bullets with her bracelets, swan dives off a tall cliff to rescue an Army officer who’s crash landed in the ocean, and dazzles with spectacular sword-and-shield combat moves.  She does it all with power, grace, wisdom, and…wonder.  If you were choosing teammates to defeat the bad guys, would you pick Wonder Woman?  (Short op-ed)

Same Kind of Different movie: An inspiring odd couple.  Not always in sync with your spouse or partner?  Try befriending a homeless ex-con who shuns you.  Maybe some miracles will happen.  Homeless drifter Denver Moore became a catalyst that transformed Ron and Deborah Hall’s lives and jumpstarted a major community service movement.  Paramount and PureFlix bring the bestselling book Same Kind of Different as Me to the big screen.  (Short op-ed)

The Star movie: First-Christmas animal adventure.  This fun and funny animated film tracks a slew of animals following an unusual Star to a manger in Bethlehem, where they sense something wonderful is about to happen involving a pregnant woman named Mary and her husband Joseph.  Celebrity voices include Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Kris Kristofferson, Patricia Heaton, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi and Christopher Plummer.  (Short op-ed)

Justice League movie: Hope lost; hope restored.  When Superman’s dead – and the bad guys are closing in fast, and all hope seems lost – who you gonna call?  How about the Justice League!  Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg team up to fight evil and seek justice for all.  Warner Bros. brings their story to theaters on 6 continents.  (Short op-ed)

Samson movie: Passion, betrayal, redemption.  Beware of seductive women who want to know the secret of your superpowers.  And who keep scissors in their boudoir.  The epic biblical tale shows that good can triumph over evil, and that flawed leaders can turn second chances into positive outcomes.  (Short op-ed)

I Can Only Imagine movie: Abuse, anger, redemption.  Could you forgive a dad whose rage drove your mother away, and who abused you physically, verbally and emotionally?  The film saga behind this popular song depicts with grace, tenderness, and beauty what became of a prodigal father and his unforgiving son.  (Short op-ed)

Paul, Apostle of Christ movie: From vengeance to love.  OK, Batman.  Riddle me this:  Who attacked his opponents with a vengeance, then switched sides, lost his head, but came out a winner?  Nick Saban?  Babe Ruth?  Ronald Reagan?  Donald Trump?  Good guesses, but… nope.  Easter is a good time to remember this guy.  (Short op-ed)

Interview with God movie: What would you ask?  Suppose you could interview God and ask any questions you wanted.  This is journalist Paul Asher’s opportunity as he returns from covering the war in Afghanistan with more questions than answers about life’s troubling complexities.  He gets three sit-downs with an intriguing man claiming to be God.  Their interaction – and Paul’s reactions – may resonate with your own life and curiosity.  (Short op-ed)

Indivisible movie: Would your romance survive this?  U.S. Army chaplain Darren Turner wants to encourage soldiers through difficult battle circumstances.  An ambush, live combat, and assorted conflicts make him question his own teaching and faith.  He returns home callous and closed, angry and mean, casting his marriage on the rocks. A compelling and uplifting true story for everyone tempted to fight with their spouse or partner rather than fighting for their relationship.  (Short op-ed)

History Channel’s Jesus TV series: Who was he, really?  He’s one of history’s most controversial personalities.  Was he a good man spreading love and peace?  A rabble-rouser stirring rebellion?  A charlatan deceiving the masses – then and now?  Something else?  History Channel’s series examines Jesus through the eyes of eight contemporary friends and enemies.  (Short op-ed)

Palau movie: Big dreams, remembering roots.  When you see a famous and popular person on television, in the movies, or in person, the glow of success can sometimes eclipse their more modest roots.  But the genuinely successful do well to remember their origins.  Global Christian communicator Luis Palau remembers his, and he’s grateful to those who helped him along the way.  This biopic, in theaters April 4 and 6, could inspire you to dream big, as he did.  (Short op-ed)

Best of Enemies movie: Klan leader, black activist; race, religion, reconciliation.  What happens when you assign a Ku Klux Klan president and a Black civil rights activist – in the racially charged 1971 U.S. South – to collaborate on school desegregation?  Shouting?  Threats?  Violence?  Murder?  Fasten your seatbelts for a wild ride that few back then could have predicted.  (Short op-ed)  Chinese

Amazing Grace movie: recording Aretha Franklin’s best-selling album.  After the Queen of Soul’s 2018 death, her family released the long-mothballed 1972 documentary about recording her bestselling album at a Los Angeles church.  Mick Jagger was in Aretha’s church audience.  Critics are raving.  What’s it all about?  (Short op-ed)

CNN’s Redemption Project: Could you forgive your loved-one’s killer?  When someone offends you, do you get even?  Ignore?  Seek to reconcile?  Suppose their offense were killing your loved one or maiming them – or you – for life.  Would you meet with the perpetrator and talk it out?  Van Jones presents compelling, moving, true stories of offenders encountering the offended.  (Short op-ed)

Emanuel: Steph Curry movie documents Charleston church shooting forgiveness.  Some members of Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shocked observers by appearing in court two days after Dylann Roof massacred their family members at a 2015 Bible study session, and telling him they forgave him.  Would I do that?  Would you?  (Short op-ed)

HBO’s Alternate Endings doc:  How do you want to die?  Got your burial plot picked out yet?  How ’bout your casket?  Planning on cremation?  So where will your ashes go?  A coral reef?  Outer space?  HBO’s insightful new documentary Alternate Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America looks at novel approaches to life’s end.  Is there anything after death?  (Short op-ed)

Overcomer movie:  What defines you?  What defines who you are?  Your job?  Your spouse, your partner, your accomplishments?  Does your sense of well-being and satisfaction come from dependence on your position or friends or appearance or skills?  What would you do if all that were taken away?  Overcomer tells an entertaining, sensitive story of finding a stable source of personal identity in the midst of life’s shifts in relationships, family, work, and sports.  (Short op-ed)

Harriet movie: Courage, freedom, faith.  Antebellum abolitionist Harriet Tubman had convictions and courage that helped free herself and many others from slavery’s scourge.  She’s inspired modern activists and academics, schoolchildren and senators.  What drove her risk-taking and sustained her struggles?  A new film dramatically portrays this heroine’s exploits.  (Short op-ed)

Mr. Rogers movie: Want him as your neighbor?  Ever feel lonely?  Underappreciated?  Frightened?  Need a friend who’s kind?  Respectful?  Wise?  You might like Mr. Rogers.  Sony/Tristar’s new film, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, depicts Fred Rogers’ friendship transforming a cynical journalist’s life.  (Short op-ed)

1917 movie: Risking all to save a life.  What risks would you take to save a life?  What risks would you want someone else to take to save your life?  This highly acclaimed, Oscar®-winning World War 1 drama vividly portrays the emotions, commitment and struggles facing one who chooses to value another’s life as greater than his/her own.  (Short op-ed)

Is there a God?  How can we know? Does it matter? Is it just wish fulfillment, simply believing because I want it to be true?  A look at this important question, plus related issues and facts for your consideration.  Includes transparent, personal stories.  (Online video and audio; 26:25)

I Still Believe movie: True love, rough roads.  In the mood for a touching love story?  One with romance, challenges, and hope abounding?  Popular singer Jeremy Camp’s story could be just what you’re looking for.  You may laugh…and cry, too.  (Short op-ed)

Managing Your Coronavirus Fears.  Coronavirus has spawned fears galore.  Infection and death numbers soar.  People wonder:  Will I catch it?  Will my loved ones?  Will it kill us?  Will I survive economically?  Layoffs and roller-coaster financial markets escalate apprehension.  What’s your fear?  Tips for managing it.  (Short op-ed)

Hoops Cancellation Withdrawal Disorder.  In these tumultuous times, do you have difficulty focusing on work or household responsibilities?  Does life seem empty?  Do you often daydream about excitement?  Are you a basketball fan?  If so, you may be suffering from a recently designated serious malady, Hoops Cancellation Withdrawal Disorder (HCWD-20).  (Short op-ed)

Humor while hunkering down: COVID-era chuckles.  The coronavirus tragedy is, of course, not at all funny.  But coping with daily life during it has bred some lighthearted fun as we all adjust to new ways of living and working…and seek comic relief to ease the tension.  Some rib ticklers to help lighten your load.  (Short op-ed)

God and coronavirus: Gone missing?  How could a loving, just, powerful God allow a tragedy like the coronavirus pandemic?  Doesn’t he care that innocent people are suffering and dying?  It seems unjust.  If God exists, isn’t he strong enough to stop this madness?  (Short op-ed)

Changing Racist Hearts: Can it be done?  George Floyd’s horrifying death while pinned down by a white policeman has sparked global rage and anti-racism protests.  Racial disparity is widespread and ominous.  Can a racist’s heart be changed?  Consider these powerful examples.  (Short op-ed)

Changing Racist Hearts: Police brutality.  George Floyd’s hideous death under a white policeman’s knee ignited worldwide protests against racism and police brutality.  The ongoing conflict prompted me to reflect on South Africa’s once-state-enforced racial oppression.  That apartheid regime’s top cop participated in the racist brutality, including bombings and attempted murder.   Yet his contrition and reconciliation efforts have been remarkable.  Lessons for today’s turmoil?  (Short op-ed)

Changing Racist Hearts: My own.  Anti-racism has become a global obsession, and rightfully so.  Racism and racial oppression are repulsive.  And, BTW, I don’t have a racist bone in my body.  Or so I thought.  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

Changing Racist Hearts: ‘Amazing Grace’ hymnwriter’s racist past.  You’ve likely heard the famous hymn, Amazing Grace.  Were you aware of its writer’s racist past?  I thought I knew his real story, but I didn’t.  It holds valuable lessons for today’s racial turmoil.  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

NFL coach John Harbaugh on COVID sports coping.  The coronavirus pandemic has brought global lifestyle changes, and athletes are not immune.  Personal identity, control, and security can all become scrambled in chaotic times.  Super-Bowl-winning coach John Harbaugh explains how he’s coped amid the loss of sport.  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

Christian leaders behaving badly: Why should anyone embrace their faith?  Ravi Zacharias, the popular Christian faith defender, was exposed posthumously as a sexual predator. This sex scandal has created international turmoil.  If Christian leaders are hypocrites, why should anyone give their beliefs a serious look?  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

‘A Week Away’ movie:  Facing fears, feelings, fun, faith and friendships.  As a teen, did you struggle to find your place in a complicated world?  Could you ever be “good enough” or express your true feelings to one whose smile you desired?  Has a personal tragedy made you question divine existence or goodness or power?  Do those feelings still linger?  If so, A Week Away could help you sort them out.  (Short op-ed)

Mark Burnett’s ‘Resurrection‘ movie: compelling drama; inspiring story.  Mark Burnett and Roma Downey – Hollywood’s Bible Power Couple – are back with a flourish.  Their dramatic film about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, debuting March 27 on Discovery+, captures the personal angst and adventure of those tumultuous days.  (Short op-ed)

Racism and Religion:  Sanctified bigotry, or unity and diversity solutions?  Derek Chauvin’s conviction for killing George Floyd has returned race issues to public discourse’s center stage.  In a world rocked by racial turmoil and demands for justice and equality, some view the Christian church as part of the problem – white supremacy, discrimination, apathy.  Consider one faith movement’s efforts to become part of the solution.  (Short op-ed)

‘A Father’s Legacy’ movie: What was your dad like?  Did you ever want to feel valued by someone special?  Or mourn losing a loved one?  Ever wish you could undo past decisions or take back hurtful words?  Maybe you know the right thing to do, but lack courage to do it.  The complex characters in A Father’s Legacy may resonate with you.  (Short op-ed)

‘The Streets Were My Father’ movie: Who’s your daddy?  Could you forgive someone who murdered your family member?  Or was an MIA parent?  Absent, neglectful or abusive fathers can leave lifetime scars. The Streets Were My Father depicts three sons who experienced it all, and have turned their corners in dramatic, inspiring ways.  (Short op-ed)

‘Respect’ movie: Aretha’s success, struggles, secrets, soul.  Entertainment superstar Aretha Franklin was an industry icon and international treasure.  Beloved by millions, honored by presidents, she also struggled with personal and family turmoil.  The Queen of Soul handpicked Oscar® winner Jennifer Hudson to play her in this long-awaited MGM biopic.  All Aretha was askin’ for was a little respect.  Does this movie bring it?  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

‘Show Me the Father’ movie: You and your father.  How do you think of your father?  With love, happiness and respect?  With fear, misery and anger?  Your relationship with your dad can influence your self-image and success.  Show Me the Father uses gripping stories of good parenting and bad to motivate viewers to promote healthy fatherhood.  (Short op-ed)

‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ movie: Televangelist sex, drugs, and holy rollin’.  The 1980s PTL televangelist scandal became a global soap opera, complete with corporate intrigue, Jesus-praisin’ power struggles, big bucks, betrayal, sex, tears, and mascara…plenty of mascara.  The Eyes of Tammy Faye interprets Jim and Tammy Bakker’s saga for new generations, providing valuable life-lesson reminders.  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

‘American Underdog’ movie: From supermarket stocker to Super Bowl MVP.  Do life’s challenges ever get you discouraged?  NFL Hall-of-Famer Kurt Warner’s wild journey from castoff to superstar could inspire you to keep pursuing your dreams.  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

‘The Chosen’ Jesus TV series: Why so popular?  So, why would an online television series about Jesus be breaking popularity records?  It has no big-name stars or producers.  The stories are ancient.  Are viewers looking for hope amid pandemic uncertainty?  Are they bored with working from home and turning to diversions their bosses cannot monitor?  What did TMZ think?  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

‘The Mulligan’ movie: Need a second chance?  Ever wish life granted second chances?  What would you do with them?  The Mulligan movie uses the game of golf to get you to ponder possibilities.  (Short op-ed)

‘Elvis’ movie: All Shook Up meets Heartbreak Hotel.  Elvis lives.  At least in the hearts of his fans, and they are everywhere.  Warner Bros.’ new Elvis movie extends the legacy.  Why does the raven-haired, swivel-hipped crooner still fascinate millions nearly 45 years after his death?  (Short op-ed)

‘Till’ movie: Racial murder helped spark civil rights movement.  White racists brutally murdered young Emmett Till in 1955 Mississippi.  His death, and his mother Mamie’s reaction to it, helped spark the civil rights movement.  MGM’s Till tells their compelling story.  What gave this grieving mother strength to pursue social change?  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

Johnny Cash movie: His life, loves, challenges and successes.  International superstar; honored by presidents; a jailbird and addict.  Singer Johnny Cash knew great highs and great lows.  What was The Man in Black’s legacy?  (Short op-ed)

Jesus Revolution movie: ’60s turmoil, radical responses.  “Is God Dead?” a 1966 Time magazine cover asked.  A 1971 Time cover heralded “The Jesus Revolution.”  What caused this cultural shift in the radical 1960s that still impacts us today?  Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) stars in a new film that tells part of the story: how a hippie, a drugged-out teenager and a straight-laced California pastor linked up to bring hope to millions.  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version

On a Wing and a Prayer movie: deadly danger; divine drama?  Ever faced mortal danger?  Imagine that you, your family, and a pilot have boarded a small private plane for a flight home from Florida to Louisiana.  Ten minutes after takeoff, the pilot dies, leaving you – a passenger – to fly the plane.  How would you feel?  What would you do?  MGM’s On a Wing and a Prayer depicts the dramatic dilemmas that Doug White and his family faced on Easter Sunday, 2009.  (Short op-ed)

‘Big George Foreman’ movie: Fame, tragedy, triumph, second chances.  George Foreman’s storied career has many facets: Olympic gold medalist, twice World Heavyweight Boxing champion, TV grill pitchman, philanthropist.  But a near-death experience forever altered his life’s trajectory.  Sony’s new biopic conveys his tragedies and triumphs, with inspiration for anyone who ever needed a second chance.  (Short op-ed)

Surprised by Oxford movie: Remedying broken relationships.  Ever feel awkward opening yourself emotionally in a relationship?  Got any family issues that make trusting others difficult?  Does that affect your social life, job, or home life?  Do you ever use work, studies, or accomplishments to bolster your self-image when, inside, you’re hiding from others?  Perhaps you’ll resonate with this film’s protagonist.  (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version.

Cultivating Civility: Can philosophical opposites get along?  Tired of polarizing rancor, food-fight media, and constant “gotcha” bickering?  Try befriending someone from the “other side” whose views differ greatly from your own.  You might learn lots.  We did.  (Short op-ed by Rusty Wright and Mark I. Pinsky)  Washington Examiner version.  MSN.com version.

Cultivating Civility: Braver Angels aims at depolarization. It’s no secret that we live in a polarized world. Even if you ignore politics (good luck trying that), you’d also have to ignore entertainment news (exes or coworkers squabbling), sports news (rivals or teammates bickering), and social media (dislikes, trolls, goofs gone viral) to escape polarization. But one impressive group is trying to ratchet down fiery rhetoric by helping people have conversations. (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version.  MSN.com version

Freud’s Last Session movie: Freud and C.S. Lewis square off. Harvard psychiatrist Armand Nicholi taught a popular course on “The Question of God,” examining Sigmund Freud’s atheism and C.S. Lewis’ faith. Now a related Sony theatrical film imagines that the two met in London shortly before Freud’s death. The result is a fascinating historical drama probing their intellectual, emotional, psychological, and spiritual development. Anthony Hopkins is masterful as Freud. Matthew Goode plays Lewis. (Short op-ed)  Washington Examiner version.

Baxters TV series: deeply touching emotional dilemmas. Ever fear rejection in romance? Concerned about family members you love experiencing troubled relationships? Been tempted to stray? Wondering whether or how faith and God fit into life’s complicated messes? If so, you’ll probably connect right away with Prime Video’s new deeply moving TV series, The Baxters. (Short op-ed)

Sony’s The Forge movie: absent father, resentment, respect. Ever experience family conflict? Wish your dad had been more involved in your life? Longing for love and respect for yourself, or for your children? Is resentment churning in your gut? You’ll likely connect with key characters in Sony’s The Forge movie.  (Short op-ed) 

Average Joe movie: Supreme Court, praying football coach backstory. When Coach Joe Kennedy knelt to pray at the 50-yard line after a high school football game, he had no idea of the seismic legal transformation he was triggering. A new film explores his backstory and the U.S. Supreme Court decision his actions prompted. He’s an unlikely protagonist for such a momentous development. (Short op-ed;  published by Washington Examiner)

Best Christmas Pageant Ever movie: Humor with meaning. “The Herdmans were the worst kids in the history of the world,” declares Barbara Robinson’s classic seasonal novel, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Now, a new movie brings the Herdman children’s mischievous shenanigans to the big screen … and along the way, glimpses of touching warmth. (Short op-ed; published by Washington Examiner)