In Philippians 4:8 the Apostle Paul writes, “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Here are a few of the things that members of the Grace community have been reading, watching, and listening to that have helped them follow Paul’s exhortation.
Books
Nigel Slater, GreenFeast: Autumn, Winter, and Nigel Slater, GreenFeast: Spring, Summer: Each month, a bevy of fruits and vegetables arrive in season. Our state’s celebrated corn and tomatoes arrive with fanfare, but some vegetables are comparatively unsung, such as rutabaga or mushrooms. These two cookbooks, by prolific British writer Nigel Slater, offer delicious, mainly vegetarian recipes that use produce in a timely fashion. Cooking along with the seasons can help us feel more in touch with the natural rhythms of the earth. Some recipes that were particularly enjoyed: “Tomato, Basil, Breadcrumbs” from GreenFeast: Spring, Summer and “Brussels Sprouts, Brown Rice, Miso” from GreenFeast: Autumn, Winter. Emily Rishel
Keith O’Brien, Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History: We all know Amelia Earhart, but few know of Ruth Nichols, Louise Thaden, or any of the other great women who challenged male pilots and took to the skies. For many years, women have had to fight against the norms of the day to be able to seize the opportunities that men take for granted, often surpassing everyone’s expectations! Jody Walsh
Eyal Press, Beautiful Souls: Saying No, Breaking Ranks, and Heeding the Voice of Conscience in Dark Times: This is a short but thought-provoking read. The author retells the stories of individuals who chose to stand up in the face of evil or wrongdoing. The individuals range from WWII dissenters to current-day whistleblowers. Readers are challenged to consider their own actions if ever placed in similar situations. Jody Walsh
Marilynne Robinson, Jack: Jack is the fourth and last book in Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead series. Gilead, Home, and Lila are the first three books. John Ames (Jack) Boughton, the title character, is a prodigal son. Readers first meet Jack earlier in the series, but this last book gives him his full say. Marilynne Robinson’s writing earned her a Pulitzer Prize and a National Humanities Medal. In her wonderful prose she asks us to consider timely themes: racism, faith, love, loyalty, and forgiveness, to name a few. Pat Walsh
The Grace upon Grace team encourages you to patronize local independent bookstores when you buy books. Watchung Booksellers in Watchung Plaza and Montclair Book Center on Glenridge Avenue are Montclair’s local independent booksellers. You can find other local independent bookstores at indiebound.org.
Periodical and Online Articles
David Sedaris, “Happy-Go-Lucky” (New Yorker essay): We all have aging parents — some living with us, some living in their own house, some in assisted living and nursing homes. While we may grieve and be saddened as they approach the end of their life, David Sedaris poignantly and humorously describes a visit with his 98-year old father in an assisted living facility in North Carolina, not knowing it would be his last. Werner Heck
Yay Weh, “Occam’s Razor” (medium.com essay): This article caught my attention recently. It deals with the basic belief in God — is there or isn’t there a God. I liked its simplicity, also that it isn’t written from a Christian point of view, which I think is important when sharing with agnostics. The mindset of, “Oh my, more Christian reasoning,” often doesn’t let us complete a dialogue that addresses the basic question, “Is there a God?” Tony Argibay
Charity
Willy’s Wabbits, Hillside, NJ (Website / Facebook): The pandemic has dramatically affected animal adoption and welfare across the country. Locally, Tammie Wilson, of Willy’s Wabbits, said that the number of rabbits in shelters and rescues is one of the highest she’s seen. Willy’s Wabbits is “a small all-volunteer rabbit rescue that helps to rescue unwanted, abused, abandoned and surrendered bunnies and find them their perfect forever home.” Wilson let us know that as the pandemic continues, the numbers of people wanting to surrender or dump their pets escalates. Fostering or adopting an animal, or donating to a shelter, is a wonderful way to care for our less fortunate animal friends. Emily Rishel
Podcasts
10x the Terror: Pastor Emeritus Paul Leggett and Rev. Ralph Acerno discuss classic and contemporary sci-fi, suspense, and horror movies with a spiritual perspective. Many episodes feature guests including Joyce Randolph, Kelly Stewart (daughter of Jimmy Stewart), Bert Metcalf, Shuler Hensley, Alister McGrath, Ed Asner (giving what may have been his last interview), Gwen Blackman Leggett, and James Leggett.
Presented by Lia Leendertz, Ffern’s As the Season Turns: On the first day of every month, an issue of this short, UK-based podcast is released. Narrated and written by nature writer, Lia Leendertz, the episodes are, as written in the description, “a guide to what to look out for in the month ahead – from the sky above to the land below.” While mentioning what will take place in the plant and animal kingdoms, Leendertz also ties in mythology and traditions from around the world. Emily Rishel
Movie
Soul Surfer: This movie is the most inspiring Christian movie I have ever seen. Betty Heck [Editor’s note: Available on Amazon Prime; may be available on DVD or Blu-Ray from your local library.]
Website
Ad Fontes Media: In a recent sermon, I mentioned a website and bipartisan organization that rates news sources for their truth-telling and their bias. May I recommend checking out adfontesmedia.com. According to their website: “Ad Fontes Media helps businesses, consumers, educators, and platforms navigate today’s complex and dynamic news landscape. We provide data, tools, and educational resources for all stakeholders in quality news media.” Pastor Robin