Kenny and Mike are joined by friend and regular guest Rev. Eric Folkerth to discuss the biopic film of Bob Dylan, A Complete Unkown. Directed by James Mangold, the film stars Timothee Chalamet as Dylan, Ed Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, and Monica Babaro as Joan Baez.

Based on the book Dylan Goes Electric by Elijah Wood, A Complete Unknown opens as Bob Dylan arrives in New York City and begins his rise in the world of folk music, and the reaction after he became a folk music star when he decides to expand into folk rock music by "going electric." This new direction was introduced and decidedly rejected by the audience at the 1965 Newport Folk Music Festival, and is the climax of the film.

As the film moves toward the Newport clash, it documents Dylan's struggle againstbeing labeled, boxed in, and controlled by the music industry as well as his initial fans. The film also shows Dylan's relationships with Sylvie Russo and folk legends Joan Baez, as well as with Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.

Episode Guest Eric Folkerth is Sr. Pastor of Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas and is a singer/songwriter and blogger. Eric's website is ericfolkerth.com

Faith Reflected:

Expansive vs. restricted worship, experiences, and understanding of God.

Worship Wars happen when individuals and groups get comfortable and set in their ways of worship and deny the validity of other expressions and languages of worship that may speak better to others.

The benefit of a variety of ways of worship that lead to enriched understanding and experiences of God.

Declaring and accepting purity of worship is a means to control the experience, theological understanding, and faith development of others.

Luke 4 and the resistance to Jesus demonstrating God's love of and working for other people and nations.

The early Church in the Book of Acts also faced this struggle of expansive experiences of worship and understanding of God.

Kenny and Mike review and discuss faith reflected in the Academy Award nominated film starring Adrien Brody. Written, produced and directed by Brady Corbet, the film shows the story of a Hungarian-Jewish holocaust survior, Laszlo Toth (Brody) who imigrates to the United States following World War 2. A renowned architect in Europe, Toth comes to Philadelphia with only a suitcase and an invitation to stay with a cousin who imigrated earlier. After a fallout with his cousin, Toth, living in a shelter, is sought out by industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce) for whom he and his cousin had done work, and was the catalyst for their fallout. Van Buren offers Toth a commission to design a very large civic center and chapel for his hometown outside of Philadelphia.

Following an intermission, the second part of the 3 hour 20 minute film begins with the arrival of Laszlo's wife Erzsebeth (Felicity Jones) and Laszlo's niece Zsofia (Raffey Cassidy) who does not speak and cares for Erzsebeth who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of her time in a concentration camp. The film depicts the struggles the Toth's face rebuilding their lives and relationship after a long separation and in the midst of Van Buren's and societal disdain for them.

Faith Spotted:

Gifts for service to the Church as well as talents in life are given by God. People should be humble in their use and any recognition that comes with the talents and gifts. Gifts to God and communities should be to glorify God and serve the community rather than glorify the individual or family giving it. We are called to be stewards of the gifts and talents God has given us.

We are to be truly welcoming and accepting persons of other faiths and cultures including imigrants and refugees who are fleeing danger and or seeking to start a new life. Welcoming includes offering hospitiality and love to others as we do our neighbors.

Hosts Mike and Kenny discuss the blockbusting film adaptation of Act 1 of the musical Wicked which stars Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande. Directed by Jon M. Chu. Wicked Pt. 1offers the back story of The Wizard of Oz's Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West as well as the Wizard. Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba, a child conceived via an affair with green skin and rejected by her father. Ariana Grande stars as Galinda, born into wealth and influence and seemingly perfect. Galinda and Elphaba become roommates and rivals at Shiz University where both quickly become the center of attention, and eventually friends.

The film features outstanding vocal performances by Erivo and Grande as well as very strong visuals and production design. Jeff Goldbloom co-stars as the Wizard with Michelle Yeoh co-starring as Madame Morrible, the professor of magic. Jonathan Bailey co-stars as the romantic Prince Fiyero.

Faith Spotted:

The question of God in L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Where does evil / wickedness come from? The ability for narratives to cast wickedness on those undeserving of it as well as hide the wickedness and evil of others.

Though our faith teaches we are all born into sin, what roll does environtmental elements and circumstances play in becoming evil/wicked?

All persons are created by and are beloved children of God, therefore as persons of faith we are called to respect and preserve the agency of "others" regardless of their faith or place.

As Christians we can celebrate the defeat of evil and the removal of the threat of evil and wickedness but we are not to celebrate the suffering or death of those who commit evil or wicked acts as this violates Christ's command to love all persons, even our enemies, as well as the command to forgive even one's enemies. While it can seem impossible, we are called to do so and can be empowered by God to do so.

Persons of the Christian faith are not to blame persons or punish them for the sins of others.

Article with novelist Gregory Maguire regarding faith present in Wicked.

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2024/11/20/q-and-wicked-author-gregory-maguire-souls-saints-religion-oz-249323

Co-hosts Kenny and MIke review and faithspot the Palme d' Or winning musical drama starring Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon, Selena Gomez and directed by Jacques Audiard. Emilie Perez tells the story of two women seeking the freedom to live their lives as they desire without societal biases, expectations, and limitations. Saldana, Gascon, and Gomes jointly won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival and all were nominated for Golden Globe Supporting and Best Actress award. The film was nominated for Best Musical or Comedy film. The actresses are also strong contenders for SAG and nominations and the film is expected to be nominated for Best Film.

Faith Spotted:

In the midst of brokeness, societal limitations and judgemental expectations, the resurrection offers the hope and promise of redemption, liberation and new life. With this new life is a call to seek and stand up for righeousness even in the midst of risk and sacrifice.

Mike and Kenny discuss the psychological, political, and spiritual thrilling film starring Ralph Fiennes and directed by Edward Berger. The film is a drama showing all the personal and ecclesiatical drama as the College of Cardinals Conclave to select a new pope. Reflecting society, the College is divided into conservative and liberal factions who are seeking to keep or retake control of the Papacy.

The Dean of the College, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) is charged with the administration of the Conclave. In addition to managing the nuts and bolts of the gathering, Dean Thomas must handle a mysterious and unknown new Cardinal, gossips of malfeasance and personal indiscretion within the College, political intrigue with the voting as well as conflict outside the walls of the Conclave. In addition Lawrence faces doubts about the church and his calling.

Co-starring with Fiennes are Stanley Tucci (Bellini,) John Lithgow ( Tremblay,) and Isabella Rossellini (Sister Agnes.)

Faith Spotted:

The place of humility, specifically to protect against the temptation of pride and power. See Philippians 2, Colossians 3, 1 Peter 5. Certainty in issues of theology is an indication of a lack of humility.

The place of doubt within living faithfully.

Servant Leadership vs. Being Served as Leader.

Kenny and Mike discuss The Substance and spot faith issues reflected in the body horror genre film starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat who won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, The Substance challenges agism and society's unrealistic, double standards of beauty and capability for women as presented through Academy Award winning actress Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) who is fired from her successful workout program on her 50th birthday.

Following her firing , Sparkle takes The Substance, a black market drug that offers an opportunity to experience life via a better and younger version of yourself with whom you must share life, 7 days on and 7 days off in a Substance induced coma. For Sparkle, her better self is Sue (Margaret Qualley.) While Elizabeth and Sue "are one" they are anything but on the same page of the life arrangement required by The Substance. The Substance is Rated R for nudity, language, and strong violence.

Faith Issues:

Accepting and even embracing the reality of differing seaons of life as taught in Ecclesiastes 3.

Resisting the temptation to live for and by earthly standards and treasures. Matthew 6

Living faithfully in and for the future rather than fearfully in and for the past. Jeremiah 29,

Hebrews 11 discusses the substance or confidence of faith in the life and promises of a fuller and better life God desires for and offers us.

Psalm 130, a Song of Ascents offers opportunity to express fear and grief when one goes through seasons of loss and change while maintaining faith in God's redemption.

Psalm 42 and 43 speak of longing for better days from the past and lifting up laments to God yet also putting faith and trust in God's righteousness and vendication.

Quoted by Christ on the cross, Psalm 22 voices the lament of one enduring great suffering and almost losing hope, but ends in faith in God's faithfullness.

Faithspotting Hosts Mike Hatch and Kenny Dickson discuss and spot faith reflected in the AppleTV+ series starring Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. Disclaimer is the first television series directed by four time Oscar winning director Alphonso Cuaron and is based on the psychlogical thrilling novel by Renee Knight.

Faith Notes:

Disclaimer depicts the impact impact of unresolved grief and anger that grows into hate, as well as the destructive power of hate fueled revenge. Disclaimer demonstrates the impact of not effectively working through grief and anger. While people process grief in different ways and pace, intervention may be necessary when one gets stuck in the mourning and grief process. In a similar way, holding on to anger is destructive and can damage one's health and relationships.

For Christians, faith in the promise of new life, both now and eternally, through the resurrection assists when one is in the midst of loss and grief. Also, the destructive power of unresolved and unforgiven anger often leads to thoughts or acts of revenge which impacts not only the people directly involved, but also family, friends, and others who suffer collateral wounds. Forgiveness is commanded by Christ. Forgiveness helps protect and preserve the physicial, psychological, and spiritual health and well-being of individuals directively involved in the situation as well as others. Even when one believes they cannot forgive, God seeks to work within one to bring them to a state of forgiveness and peace.

Disclaimer is rated M for mature audiece due to Language, Sexual Content and Assualt, Language, Violence, Drug Use.

Mike and Kenny discuss the wonderful film and spot faith elements reflected in Titus Kaphar's feature length directorial and screenwriting debut. Included in the episode is an indepth conversation with Titus Kaphar. Based on Kaphar's life, Exhibing Forgiveness examines the need and difficulty many face in offering forgiveness. Titus Kaphar is a well known artist whose paintings and sculptures are highly sought after by private collectors and galleries. The forgiving process mirrors Kaphars understanding of art as a way to disrupt past narratives which breaks the power of past events in the present and future.

Faith Issues:

The true nature, difficulty, and process of offering forgiveness.

When one withholds forgiveness, one allows the other to keep power over oneself.

The healing that can come through replacing anger and resentfullness with forgiveness changes the narrative and arc of one's emotions, spirit, and life.