Unique jazz and eclectic stylings set artists apart
From Sea to Sky may not be the CD I’ve been anticipating from Laila Biali, but it might even be better. This is not “The Radiance Project” I first heard about when my wife and I heard Laila performing solo at an Imago event in 2006 or when we saw her with her trio at Humber College. Apparently that CD is slated to be released later this year.
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Potter invokes Christian themes
You expect many things when you read a new Harry Potter novel: magic, humour, a set of mysteries, a looming battle between good and evil, even some clunky exposition. But you don't necessarily expect to see quotations from Christian scripture."
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Music hints at deep answers
Like a Jackson Browne for a new generation, Joel Kroeker centres his songs on carefully crafted lyrics. Like Browne, he also performs within the singer-songwriter vein that plays along the edges of folk, rock and pop.
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“Safe” film reflects on wonder of God’s creation
Tom Shadyac made his name as the director and producer of such lowbrow comedies as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Nutty Professor. Then he took the bathroom humour in a more spiritual, if occasionally schmaltzy, direction with Liar Liar, Patch Adams and the phenomenally successful Bruce Almighty.
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Fill the leadership growth reservoir
For 23 years, the Leadership Network has tried to "identify, connect and help high-capacity Christian leaders multiply their impact."
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Rock’n’roll far from dead
I would like to go on record as saying that rock’n’roll is not dead. If you need proof—and I know how hard signs of life can be to find of late—check out Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC). Their 2005 album Howl, although more laid back than a rock recording normally should be, wonderfully evokes feelings of circa 1964 Animals or Rolling Stones, without sounding in any way dated.
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Vengeful motives drive new superhero flick
Give the Spider-Man series points for good intentions. Ever since director Sam Raimi first brought the web-slinging super-hero to the big screen five years ago, he has made a point of emphasizing the character’s humanity—indeed his fallibility—and in doing so, he has shown how we, too, can learn from our mistakes and live more virtuously.
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Journals keep you savvy
The famed 19th century Baptist preacher, C.H. Spurgeon is reputed to have warned his students against spending too much time with books and journals. Neglecting prayerful study of the Scriptures for the thoughts of men could lead them to become mere "warehouses of other men's thoughts." Wise counsel indeed, though we cannot forget that Spurgeon had a multi-thousand volume library of his own.
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Guitar evangelist Blind Willie Johnson: preach’em good
Although today’s recording technology is so much better than that of the past, there are some artists whose music comes down to us through the years with something that still needs to be heard. Before World War II, some of the best blues music being performed was actually gospel. Some of the performers—such as Mississippi John Hurt, Charley Patton and Blind Willie McTell—were also known for their secular blues; it’s hard to be certain with some of these figures whether gospel was a passion, or just another way to butter their bread. For others, known as the guitar evangelists, their recordings were exclusively gospel.
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Amazing Grace: Human rights hero worship?
The song "'Amazing Grace" is a beloved gospel classic, but once in a while, someone complains that it isn't Christian enough—at least not in that first, famous verse. Words like "grace" are too vague, and phrases like "I once was blind, but now I see" could refer to just about any spiritual experience, or so the argument goes.
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Bridge to Terabithia masks spiritual overtones
There are fantasies, and there are stories about children who fantasize. The film, Bridge to Terabithia—about a boy and girl who create an imaginary kingdom for themselves, as a sort of refuge from the travails of home and school—is most definitely the latter. But the Disney studio has gone out of its way to promote the film as if it were an actual fairy tale.
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Soderholm takes step into the past
On Glen Soderholm’s 2003 album Rest, he gives us authentic songs of praise that acknowledge our need of rest in our hectic lives using a gentle folk style dominated by his acoustic guitar.
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World Trade Center stands tall
Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Lt. Col. Doolittle and his bomber pilots struck back at Japan in April 1942. A movie about their mission, called Thirty Seconds over Tokyo, was released in November 1944. By then, the U.S. had been at war for less than three years, and the conflict was still raging.
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Sizing up Christian Zionism
There is money to be made in prophecy—especially the dispensational premillennial variety. An entire industry has been spawned by the wildly successful LaHaye-Jenkins Left Behind prophecy-thriller series.
And now, with Hezbollah locked in battle with Israel, we can expect a fresh round of sermons, articles, DVDs and books showing how these events—foreseen by the biblical writers 2000-plus years ago—are inexorably driving us toward Armageddon.
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T Bone in his prime
Finally, T Bone Burnett has a new album. Actually, on May 16, Columbia released two Burnett collections: his new CD, plus an extensive two-CD set for those who’ve missed his 30-plus years as a recording artist.
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Much ado about movie ratings
Facing the Giants, a low-budget movie about a high-school football team, was recently rated PG for parental guidance in the U.S. The film’s Christian producers and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which hands out movie ratings south of the border, agree the film should be rated PG. But they don’t agree on why the film was rated PG—thus launching one of the latest and silliest skirmishes in the culture wars.
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Now that’s what I call an apology
The Toronto Star, with the largest circulation of Canada’s daily newspapers, chose Easter weekend to run a front-page article about the “discovery” of an ancient text, “The Gospel of Judas.” Promotion of this text, an ancient Gnostic work purporting to correct long-held misconceptions about Judas betraying Jesus, is just the latest act in the ongoing drive to discredit Christianity. Here are four titles to help you understand and defend your Christian faith. read the article>

Scathing satire explores mix of truth and spin doctoring
"And so Nick campaigns against anti-tobacco activists, not only to defend his employers, but to save the public from those meddling, do-gooder government types who try to save people from themselves."

Foreign films offer real substance on Oscar night
Forget Best Picture. The real treasures to be found at this year’s Oscars were tucked away in the Best Foreign Language Film category. For publicity reasons, many foreign nominees are not released in North American theatres until after the Academy hands out its trophies, so most of these movies are only now arriving at a theatre near you. read the article>