Kenny and Mike review the Prime Video documentary The Merchants of Joy and speak with the director Celia Aniskovich. The Merchants of Joy offers a look into the people and work behind the Christmas tree stands that seem to magically popup the day after Thanksgiving. Ankisovich presents the stories of the families, the competition that begins in the Summer as they bid on stand locations, their work the with tree farms, the financial risks, the month of 18 hour days managing and selling the trees that play an important part in their customers celebrating the joy of the season, and the community they have developed.

Faith Reflected:

The nature of calling, as represented by the five families as they not only to profit by the stands but help spread the joy of the season. Additionally, Kenny and Mike discuss with Celia her calling to likewise work long, hard and take financial risk to tell the story of the merchants.

The fullness and complexity of joy. Joy is more than happiness, it is also resistance and this aspect reflects the joy of the nativity, God's resisting the brokeness of the world through the inauguration of the Kingdom through the birth of Jesus.

Faithspotting co-hosts Mike and Kenny are joined by writer / director Max Walker-Silverman to discuss his newest film Rebuilding, which stars Josh O'connor, Lily LaTorre, Meghann Fahy, Kali Reis, and Amy Madigan. Set in Max's home state of Colorado, Rebuilding is a moving story of a family and community coming together in the aftermath of a wildfire that destroyed their homes and scorched their land and lives. Max drew upon his experience of losing a family home and acerage to a fire when he was growing up. Rebuilding is distributed by Bleeker Street.

Following Kenny and MIke's discussion of the film and faith they spotted, there is an interview with Max Walker-Silverman. In addition, Mike's co-teacher Michael Logan and one of their students, Trip Breslin join in the interview.

Faith Topics:

Hope in Rebuilding: Hope is grounded in faith in the possibility of new life and community plays an important role in rebuilding. Community can be family, friends, neighbors as well as strangers.

Rebuilding New Not Same Lives. Though the temptation is to seek to rebuild life just as it was before, new life will be different, and even if it seems less, it can often be a more fulfilling life.

Faith is change, and the Paradox of Home. Individuals, families, and communities often seek out "home"because it is known, comfortable, and predictable, yet home is typically changing or under threat of change. Part of faith is growth and accepting and embracing change. Seeking to avoid change and growth is based in fear and the opposite of faith.

Non-Anxious lives. Faith fosters a life that is non-anxious in the midst of change and even struggle. While everyone experiences anxiety in life and seasons of struggle and loss, faith, including the support of community, is an instrument in releasing anxiety.

Resurrection follows Good Friday. As witnessed in the Gospels, Jesus had to experience the suffering of Good Friday and the tomb before the resurrection. Most people will also experience suffering prior to the new life of resurrection. People of the Christian faith are Easter people prior to their death and passage from life unto life.

Faithspotting hosts Kenny Dickson and Mike Hatch review and spot faith elements in the film The Carpenter's Son by director Lotfy Nathan. Included in the episode is Mike and Kenny's interview with Lotfy Nathan.

The Carpenter's Son is based on the apocryphal text, The Infancy Gospel of Thomas. The text is a collection of non-canonical stories of Jesus during the years He and Mary and Joseph were in exile in Egypt. The stories depict the struggle of the Holy Family as Jesus becomes aware of his differences and as he grows into his divinity. Collected in the 2nd or 3rd centuries, the stories are not considered part of the Biblical canon but reflect tradition and perhaps curisosity of followers about the childhood of Jesus.

The film has been called a "Jesus horror film" by many, and while aknowledging it's darkness, Nathan considers it more of a spiritual and perhaps theological thriller. The film stars Nicolas Cage as the Carpenter, (Joseph) Noah Jupe as the boy (Jesus), FKA Twigs as the Mother (Mary) and Isla Johnston as the stranger (Satan) and Souheila Yacoub as Lilith.

Faith Spotted:

Discussion about the Infancy Gospel of Thomas within the Christian tradition.

How imagining the full meaning of Jesus's full humanity and divinity, and the struggles beyond his ministry and crucifixion can strengthen one's relationship with Christ and one's faith.

Imagining what is was like to be Jesus's parents, especially for Joseph to be his earthly, stepfather.

Through the interview there is an opportunity to hear about director Lotfy Nathan and his Biblical and theological awareness growing up in the Coptic Orthodox tradition, and how he seeks to use those lessons in sharing this story.

The film speaks to people of fith who have doubts ander when God seems to be silent and absent in the midst of struggles in life.