European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 15, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                July 2007 stars and stripes Page 23 religion reaching a higher to by David Crumm Detroit free press this int entirely a laughing when the Simpsons movie opens in the states this at least some of the folks flocking to Heaters will be looking for spiritual messages among the hilarious exploits of americas most famous Canar hued among them will be rabbi Daniel Wolpe of congregation Beth shalom in Oak he has used clips from the to series to raise moral issues for teenagers in religious classes Over the the Simpsons occasionally make fun of hypocrisy in re but not the ideals of Wolpe some of the episodes that i like Best might be Homer learns a usually in those Homer winds up with new respect for religious Wolpe is nationally known for encouraging the use of car Toon clips in religious he moved to Oak Park last year from a congregation in where his Orlando Sentinel religion writer Mark wrote the pop ular the gospel according to the because Pinsky and Wolpe discussed these ideas Over the Wolpe appears in a chapter of Pinsky describing How the rabbis first use of the Simpsons in hebrew school classes in the 1990s prompted some puzzled phone Calls from reached in Orlando last said that kind of sceptical reaction from parents int As Likely these the idea of finding spiritual lessons in unexpected places is so popular now that Pinsky has published a expanded Edi Tion of his 2001 the Success of the Simpsons to which debuted in fuelled today Boom in animated but that expansion Hast been entirely Pinsky the new 70page Section of his called unintended consequences through an open explores How animators seized this new Freedom to crack religious jokes and ran in some disturbing directions with some of these shows Are very but shows like family Guy or this lat night series moral Orel can get quite i Pinsky there Are lots of cheap shots at religion in some of these theres no one in a show like family Guy who is like the Simpsons goodhearted Evangeli Cal neighbor Ned the humor in these newer is really More cruel about any subject they including neither Wolpe nor Pinsky advocate but they do advise parents whose children have con Vinced them of the value of watching shows like the Simpsons or South Park to set some household limits on Wolpe has used some material from South Park with his especially a musical number from the series in which a jewish character its hard to be a jew on Christmas my friends wont let me join in any Wolpe i like that song because it really does capture this feeling jews have at Christmas very but Wolpe said like he  recommend searching for spiritual lessons in family Guy or other cruel and even the i  use that show in talking with kids younger than seventh younger kids would laugh at the but they  get the lets get Pinsky there Are limits to How much religious Wisdom you can expect from to shows although the series which is in the Simpsons does pre dict that in the third millennium one of the big Reli Gions will be Hows that for spiritual Wisdom from the Mouths of animated characters can we get an at least a Homer Simpson races to Avert a catastrophe in the alaskan wilderness in a scene from the Simpsons Matt Zoth Century guitarist offers thanks musically to the troops by Brian Bowers stars and stripes with a career As a guitarist in a grammy winning band that sold millions of Brad Avery has plenty to be grateful his recent Effort focuses his gratitude in one direction toward service members and their of the Rock band third helped his music buddy Scott Thomas write the song thank the stirring Ballad pays tribute to the sacrifice made by troops and their with such lyrics i want to thank youre Miles away from fighting for i want to thank you because in free and i know that youre fighting for the desire to express thanks took Root when Thomas was in an Airport and met a Soldier who was returning to Iraq after two weeks leave in the today Praise we want people who Are sacrificing like that to know that there cared there there a said whose brother has served in the i know that a song cant do i know that in no Way going to repay somebody for their but that our heart behind were just very expressing their own gratitude was Only part of the goal for thank we also were hoping that it would Spur people to show other Avery people Arent Short of people Are thankful to our troops and our that desire meshed perfectly with the idea behind a million the Campaign started by teenager Shauna Fleming that resulted million letters one for each service member being written by As a re thank you was recently selected As the official song of a Mil lion proceeds from downloads of the song will go to Flemings pro Gram and its new wounded warriors wish neat Opportunity for soldiers whole been injured in Battle to request whatever they Avery thank you has not been averys Only project in recent third Day is marking its 10th anniversary with a pair of the covering 1996 to was released in the second which Cov on the web and the members of third from left Mac Mark Tai David Carr and Brad averys brother is a military ers the next five will be re leased the first set has been one of the years biggest Sellers in the Chris Tian Market and it seems Likely that the second will join chronology volume two features 18 tracks from the Era that saw the band win three the songs include show me your sing a nothing come god of won i see love and cry out to selecting the songs want Avery with nine records and 150 re corded its hard is Down to thirty some songs for both chronology he those Are the i that weve played the been impacted by the the Impact can also be Felt in the companion video a major portion of the did consists of an intriguing and enter Taining behind Hestenes View of the band starting with its Days As nuclear hoedown in the Early we kind of did a behind the behind Hestenes look at the last 10 Avery i mean theres a lot of old footage on and embarrassing the did also includes fan Vid eos and Bootleg its not surprising that the did also offers plenty of concert foot because the band knows How to put on a great Avery wishes third Day could share that with troops stationed weve wanted to do Uso Tours and things like he our Hope and our desire is that Well get a Chance to go Over there and play for the its been in our hearts for a Long today Praise is a Roundup of news and reviews from the contemporary Chris Tian music