The members of Big Big Train were inspired by seeing woodcuts on a visit to the Munch museum while on tour in Oslo. They developed a story of an artist who struggled with his life’s work only to find freedom in creativity. The resulting album, Woodcut, the band’s 18th, is among their best work. In t
Young Andrew loves flowers and growing things, but when he looks at the gardens in his neighborhood, he’s astounded at how big they are. At first, he’s overwhelmed, but then he makes a decision. He will make a garden in his own way.With a small shovel, Andrew digs up a tiny rectangle in his front la
In Feasting on Hope, author Hannah Miller King, a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, shares her story of childhood trauma within the framework of her experience of finding God’s gift of hope while participating in the Lord’s Supper, first as a young adult congregant receiving Communion,
What was the life story of the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well, the first person to whom he declared that he was the Messiah? Jesus knew her story, but Scripture offers only sparse details.In this historical fiction novel based on the biblical narrative, author Jill Eileen Smith gives readers
This spring, I had the opportunity to visit Spain for two weeks. Even though I didn't go to Barcelona or even the region of Catalunya, more than one conversation during my trip was about the long-awaited opening of the city's La Sagrada Familia cathedral, the building of which has been over 100 year
Before reading Shelby Van Pelt’s glorious 2022 book, Remarkably Bright Creatures, I had zero interest in the octopus. It just goes to show how reading can awaken curiosity about any topic, because I was just a little bit in the book—my number one book for 2022—when I began googling the eight-tentacl
With rhyming text and vivid artwork, author Dominique Okonkwo and illustrator Sarah Ugolotti bring to life God’s truth as revealed in Romans 1:20—“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his e
Veteran fiction writer Melody Carlson offers a delightful story readers will love. First of all, protagonist Rita Owen is an older woman, which is nice to see when it comes to life and romance. Second, there are so many books!Rita, who doesn’t want to give up her home and, more importantly, her libr
In New York City, young Faith and her mother return home on the train from Grandma’s house. Faith passes the time munching on a delicious sandwich, gooey with honey from Grandma’s beehive.Suddenly, Isaiah, her former neighbor, calls out, “Good evening! My son and I have fallen on hard times. Could a
It has been 13 years since Amy Grant has released new music. These have been eventful years for the singer and songwriter who became a household name when her fourth album, Age to Age, was released 44 years ago and became one of the biggest sellers in the still-young Christian music industry. Grant
Sarang loves her Korean seaside village's elementary school. She’s not bothered by the small class size and unoccupied desks. With fewer students in the classroom, she’s able to ask more questions and receive additional attention from the teacher.But when Sarang hears the village gossip that the sch
For more than 15 years, author Joshua Becker has been promoting “God-motivated minimalism” in his books, websites, blog, and public speaking. Uncluttered Faith is a synopsis of what he learned through his wife’s and his choices to embrace minimalism and the experiences of countless others who, throu
Unbreakable is the somber account of author Minoru Tonai’s (1929-2023) experience as a Japanese American boy imprisoned with his family in an American incarceration camp after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941.In a coauthor note, Jolene Gutierrez writes, “My friend Minor
George Clooney’s latest movie, Jay Kelly, brings two potent words to mind: “Richard Cory.” The latter was a 20th-century poem—and later a Simon &Garfunkel song—that helped poet E.A. Robinson secure a Pulitzer Prize.“Richard Cory” rocked notions of what celebrity power gave celebrities. Richard Cory
Colossians 3:23 might just be the most well-known Bible verse about a Christian view of work. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” the NIV translation says. Elaine Howard Ecklund, a sociology professor at Rice University, and Denise Danie
It’s three characters that have made Martin Short my all-time favorite comic actor: SNL’s Ed Grimley, the zany, triangle-playing man-child with gelled hair and pants pulled up to his thorax; Franck Eggelhoffer, the fussy, weirdly accented wedding planner in the Father of the Bride series of movies;
In 40 devotions, author Donna Barber vulnerably and honestly relates anecdotes about her walk with God and describes some of the wilderness happenings she and her family navigated with the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance. Recalling the biblical wilderness experiences of the Israelites, Jesus, and o
In this poignant, wistful children’s picture book based on her childhood experiences, author Julie Leung relates the story of a young girl and her dad who deliver take-out meals prepared in their Chinese restaurant. As the dad drives, the girl navigates, a foldout map and a notebook of addresses to
A few weeks ago, I attended a writer’s conference in which the stakes were high. Or at least, that was my focus as I thought about what I hoped to accomplish while I was there. On several levels, I was pitching myself and my work in the hopes of getting a new book published and hopefully finding a n
Author Barbara Schultze’s debut novel is remarkably authentic, peppered with surprises, and interspersed with subtle biblical signposts.It gently portrays how personal adversity, often initially negatively perceived and received, might just be an individual’s pathway to spiritual and emotional growt