#Author Christy Berghoef shows us the importance of welcoming supportive, creative community for a book-launch event that includes lots of conversation and that helps to spread #goodnewsstories in our troubled world. readthespirit.com/explore/chri...

My friend journalist Joe Grimm and I both love "small" stories like this that tell far bigger stories about American life. Thanks so much Joe for all the work you do through MSU's Bias Busters and with feature stories like this one: readthespirit.com/explore/once...

Our publishing house in partnership with MSU School of Journalism's Bias Busters project is #publishing what may be the first book about #Catholics including #Pope Leo XIV. It's certainly timely and affordable: readthespirit.com/explore/new-...

#Caregiving is the daily work of more than 50 million unpaid Americans who do this out of love for family and friends. We want to help with valuable media resources, including the debut of a new #PBS documentary and helpful books designed with #caregivers in mind: readthespirit.com/explore/pbs-...

In my life in #journalism, I'm always amazed at a great story's power to touch people's hearts and that's what's happening with the new #novel by Dave Larsen, a gripping story based on real events in #Chicago. We're all hoping it becomes a #Netflix drama someday. readthespirit.com/explore/dave...

Our #publishing house community is mourning the death of #Francis—and we are pleased to share news of a book, drawn from National Catholic Reporter archives packed with fascinating information on #papal transitions from John Paul I to today. readthespirit.com/explore/afte...

As a #journalist I am honored to help in #publishing timely works by a range of #religious #authors who are prophetic voices still reminding us of our timeless need to protect the world's most vulnerable. The latest is the prophetic Rabbi Roy Furman: frontedgepublishing.com/rabbi-roy-fu...

As a community of #authors, our #publishing house has for years contributed to "unplugging extremism" and this week we are recommending the ongoing work of "Dean" of #journalism Bill Tammeus, so timely in light of tragic news this #Passover week. frontedgepublishing.com/want-to-help...

Our #publishing house is eager to see Dave Larsen's novel Green Street in Black and White coming out this month, based on true story of a #Chicago neighborhood grappling with #diversity in the #1960s and this story explains how Dave is prepping for group sales frontedgepublishing.com/dave-larsen-...

Most Americans already are thinking about summer #travel plans and we're pleased to see so many people discovering, and talking about, Douglas J. Brouwer's new book The Traveler's Path. Doug asks us to rethink the #spiritual #values and challenges of travel. frontedgepublishing.com/douglas-j-br...

We're thankful for Stephanie Fenton our #Holidays expert at ReadTheSpirit #magazine who continues to cover a wide range of observances related to #religion #ethnicity and #culture. Here's her fascinating look, today, at #Nowruz and #Ostara. Please enjoy: readthespirit.com/religious-ho...

Inspiring ReadTheSpirit story: After his family's life was devastated by #wildfires, #author Jonathan Grimm is renewing his messages of #hope for our communities. He's relaunching his Grimm News feed, wise tips about what to watch for your #financial well-being. readthespirit.com/home/cover-s...

So how many of us actually fast during this season of fasting in four different faiths? And did you know #AshWednesday fasting is far different than in #Orthodox churches or in #Ramadan? Stephanie Fenton's got this fascinating story: readthespirit.com/religious-ho...

Millions of us are thinking about spring and summer #travel either #vacations or trips with our #churches so we're pleased to see Doug Brower's A Traveler's Path pop up for Amazon pre-order. Please share this good news with friends. readthespirit.com/explore/a-fi...

Curious about the coming #Catholic #Conclave ? I'm referring both to the excellent feature #Film that's up for 8 #Oscars AND I'm also referring to a more accurate book that includes lots of fascinating Conclave details. frontedgepublishing.com/curious-abou...

Remember "e pluribus unum"? Does that core of #AmericanValues value still stir your heart? Take a look at this column about the lives and faces of real #refugees. readthespirit.com/explore/as-w...

Americans don't follow #religion in #India but we should because #KumbhMela is the world's largest religious gathering. This story explains why it's a challenge for Western #journalism. readthespirit.com/religious-ho...

This week's Read the Spirit cover story and Front Edge Publishing blog post is by @davidcrumm.bsky.social, "Award-winning MSU Bias Busters project expands to explore lives of Americans often marginalized because of PANS/PANDAS" #BiasBusters https://buff.ly/40QsNN6

I like how Holidays columnist Stephanie Fenton writes about #MLKDay today, including a link to an article with a #playlist for today. I'm actually using that list today. readthespirit.com/religious-ho...

I'm so pleased that my friend Howard Brown, despite battling life-and-death cancer again, has blown past 300,000 downloads for his 'Shining Brightly' #podcast. He has dedicated 112 episodes to bringing more hope and resilience into the world. frontedgepublishing.com/celebrating-...

Proud to publish #journalist Stephanie Fenton's 2025 #Calendar of Religious and Cultural #Holidays, #Festivals, and Observances. Over the years, this calendar has become a trusted mainstay for professionals who use it for their own communities. Remember the URL: www.InterfaithHolidays.com

Honored to republish my own last interview with #JimmyCarter, focused on how biblical values shaped his life on a daily basis. readthespirit.com/explore/reme...

Happy (early) #Epiphany, which is Monday but many churches celebrate today. We’re at #Clarkston United #Methodist today with family to hear my daughter the Rev Megan Walther preach.

Biggest #Gourmet holiday disappointment was from the #NYTimes esteemed #Wirecutter, which we do respect. This time, they did us wrong by pushing these chips. At a family #dinner, we opened the can. Folks shook their heads, saying " #Lays or #BetterMade are better!" www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...

Second nominee for Best New #BoardGame we got at Christmas: Cues and Hues. We love games everyone can play and rely on unusual skills. This game involves distilling down to 1 word a particular color tile in a huge array. And, no, you can't use any common color names! www.amazon.com/USAOPOLY-Vib...

And on a lighter note, my wife and I love #family #boardgames and we always look for games preschoolers can play with the whole family. This one is rated "ages 5 and up" and it's got many wonderful touches like a light-up "ghost." We also like that it's #cooperative. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...

Thanks to my long-time #FreeP colleague Bill Laytner for alerting us to the needs at Baldwin Center in Pontiac, Michigan. Our family has a long history of supporting this #nonprofit and we're hoping allies will help in 2025. www.freep.com/story/news/l...

I am so proud of our writer friends for making 2024 a memorable year for Read the Spirit online magazine. For our 906th weekly issue (since summer 2007), we're sharing: readthespirit.com/explore/high...

While enjoying a rare week with family—adult "kids" and, now, three grandkids—I just enjoyed using a little family downtime to wrap up my 2024 #Goodreads goal of 104 #reviews . Don't know how many of you are "on" Goodreads, but feel free to connect with me there if you feel so moved.

Looking for a delightfully different #Christmas or #Hanukkah gift for a little loved one in your family? Discover the amazing creativity of the great Scandinavian #artist and storyteller Tove Jansson. Just reviewed 2 great gifts in Goodreads. www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I just re-read Rabbi Bob Alper's classic "Mrs. Steinberg's Christmas Tree" and, although I can't count how many times I've read it, this true #Hanukkah story about #interfaith misunderstandings is just such a great example of wise parenting. readthespirit.com/explore/a-ha...

This is a great piece in today's @ncronline.bsky.social. It nails how it feels to me, and many of my fellow liberal Catholic women. "After Trump win, many Catholic women are rethinking their relationship to the church" www.ncronline.org/news/after-t... #Catholic #CatholicWomen

My wife Amy and I are so pleased to be Grandparents of our newest grandchild: Leo, which was the name of Amy's late father, the dairy farmer up in Genesee County. This brings a whole new meaning to #Advent this year. I personally see a budding journalist in Leo's piercing gaze at his new world.

Major milestone in efforts to reconcile with trauma of #Indian "boarding schools" is this new Interior project with Library of Congress and Smithsonian. www.doi.gov/pressrelease... To learn more about #NativeAmerican lives shaped by this trauma, read Warren Potoskey: www.amazon.com/Dancing-My-D...

A\ friend asked me if my wife and I still bring out our #Christmas display of Bedford Falls miniatures from "It's a Wonderful Life." And, indeed, we do. It's so "long" that I decided to just share a detail of 2 buildings and Ernie's taxi. (You'll recall "Bert and Ernie" names came from this film.)

I was moved on Sunday to hear my daughter, the Rev. Megan Walther, read the late Ann Weems' "The World Still Knows." Since then, I've discovered that Weems' prophetic #poetry (particularly this one) is equipping people in many places for 2025. I'm thankful for ministries of Megan and Ann.

On behalf of our community of #authors I have to share this marvelously eclectic #Holiday #Gifts list compiled by my friend Susan Stitt that features #BestBooks that are perfect for #Hanukkah and #Christmas (and actually any time you need inspiration). frontedgepublishing.com/best-christm...

This week's new issue of our online #magazine explores the #DecemberDilemma and the rare convergence of #Hanukkah and #Christmas in 2024. readthespirit.com/home/cover-s...

I just posted about an Advent #JigsawPuzzle and realize that I should explain that my wife and I are life-long fans of 500-1000-piece puzzles. In fact, we're so serious about this that, last year, we finally invested in this marvelous board to make our hobby easier. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...

I've been sharing posts on some of our favorite #Advent calendars this year. This photo shows what eventually will be the #holiday mosaic laid out on our #JigsawPuzzle table by Christmas when all 24 of our little daily boxes of pieces are assembled. We enjoy different puzzles every year.

As Editor of the weekly magazine ReadTheSpirit.com, I'm working on Dec 9, 16 and 23 issues, which need something thoughtful, inspiring about #Christmas and #Hanukkah this year. I pleased to rediscover a moving Hanukkah story that I'll share on Dec 16 in this book: www.amazon.com/Friendship-F...

Thanks to friends who sent me encouraging notes about my #Goodreads book review of B.J. Novak's The Book with No Pictures. If you're a parent or grandparent who has not discovered Novak's wildly anarchic idea of a #children'sbook then you must go find a copy. www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I've been featuring our #Advent calendars and, now, I'm showing one that has #healthy snacks rather than chocolates or other sweet treats—a nice option. One door, which we opened this morning, revealed was a packet of pepitas in a style that reminded me of some I enjoyed years ago at Ghost Ranch.

Our #Advent calendars include reminders of scripture and of daily prayers, but we love tastes of the season, too, including #Christmas food calendars. This is one of our favorites, the annual #BonneMaman set of 24 little jams, jellies and foods. Today's was a blend of yuzu and grapefruit. Delicious!

It's rare when a book reminds me of family in this way going all the way back to #WWII era and classic #comics, too, but as I just wrote in #Goodreads, this well-worn old copy of Lowell Thomas's 1951 bestseller has provided that kind of emotional window for me. www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Want some fun family #reading this #holiday season and a great #ChristmasGift for a favorite child in your family? I just posted this review to Goodreads about a hilariously creative kids' book with NO pictures, which is the whole point of this strange little book. www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

During #Advent, we enrich our daily #spiritual reflection with Gospel readings and extra prayers for this season. But we also love "fun" calendars and a favorite is this "popcorn" calendar. This is only a 12-day #food experience, so you could still order one via Amazon under "Amish Country Popcorn."

On this Giving Tuesday, consider supporting the book project "100 Questions and Answers About PANS/PANDAS," which aims to shed light on this emerging neuroimmune #givingTuesday givingtuesday2024 #PansPandas #booksky graycoloredglasses.com/pans-pandas-...

Millions of #Christians, especially in Europe, celebrate #StNicholas each December 6. Our #Holidays expert Stephanie Fenton always posts a column about this with lots of fascinating links to everything from #crafts and #DIY decorations to background on the saint. readthespirit.com/religious-ho...

#Advent begins for Western #Christians — a couple billion of us waiting for #Christmas. We began today with 2 Sunday worship services, but we also have lots of secular fun with Advent, including: We're huge Wizard of Oz fans so naturally we are opening the new #Wicked Advent calendar this month!