Here are today’s dispatches from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

1. Will Snowmen melt your heart? There’s lots of positive buzz building for the family comedy Snowmen set to roll into theaters on October 21st. The film follows an attempt by a group of small town kids to set a Guinesss World Record for the most snowmen built in a single day. In pursuing their dream, the kids face schoolyard bullies while uniting their community and discovering that, while fame is fleeting, true friendship endures. The movie stars a bunch of cute-than-snowmen child actors, plus the always-reliable Ray Liotta (who also executive produced) and Christopher Lloyd.

The film, which “hails” from ARC Entertainment and Mpower Distribution, has already picked up plaudits — winning the Audience Award at 2011 Dallas International Film Festival and the Heartland Film Festival’s Truly Moving Picture Award.  It was also named Best Feature Film at the 2011 SPROCKETS Toronto International Film Festival for Children and Youth and has received seals of approval from The Dove Foundation and the Parents Television Council.

2. Riverdale’s gay wedding. From Fox News: After a pair of straight weddings — both strangely involving Archie, though in his dreams — drew national attention, the publisher behind the popular stories has confirmed that it’s making room for someone else to walk down the aisle: Kevin Keller, the series’ first openly-gay character…It’s the first time the Archie universe, which depicts the lives of teenagers in the fictional town of Riverdale, has touched upon the topic of gay marriage. But the plot is drawing mixed reactions from critics over whether or not it has a place in series read by those of all ages.
Comment: If you think this is controversial, just wait till Kevin is invited to compete on Dancing with the Stars.

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11