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

1. Iranian actress sentenced to 90 lashes. From The Wrap: An Iranian actress has been sentenced to 90 lashes and a year in jail for starring in an Australian movie with a shaved head — and no head-covering. Marzieh Vafamehr, who appeared in “My Tehran for Sale,” has appealed the sentence.

Comment: Yes, the same regime that has allegedly plotted political assassination on U.S. soil, has (in all likelihood) trumped up rape charges against a Christian pastor who refuses to renounce his faith (and faces possible execution),  has laws allowing for the execution homosexuals  and openly calls for the destruction of Israel proves its intolerance once again.  Next time, we’re fighting in this country over tax policy or whatever, we should remember what real evil looks like. Our domestic disagreements pale in comparison.

2. The Mighty Macs isn’t just another faith-themed film. So say actress Katie Hayek and legendary women’s basketball coach (and former member of the historic 1971 Mighty Macs team) Theresa Shank Grentz. The pair are out promoting the lighthearted film but dramatic film which opens October 21st.  The movie tells the inspiring story of how a little-regarded girl’s basketball team at a struggling Catholic college went on to win it all in the early seventies. They told me that they are very happy with how the film turned out but want everyone to know that, while set at a Catholic college, this is primarily a story not of Catholics but of underdogs rising to their opportunity to defy expectations.

Katie Hayek says: I don’t think there’s an overwhelming religious factor to (the film). I think it’s a sports movie that has religion in it and I think  it humanizes nuns…Its fun like Sister Act and its fun like Hoosiers and it’s a combination of both.

Theresa Shank Grentz says: When I coached the Olymbic team in ’92, I talked about educating the public about woman’s basketball. I think that if you’re a young person, particularly a young girl, and you have a love of sports and want to play, this film gives you an opportunity to see that there were people before you who went out and believed in their dreams when everybody didn’t believe in them.  But they believed in each other. Most films today, sports films, they’re all about men. You have to relate to the spirit of the characters but in this case there’s an actual situation, a visual where young people can (see) the female side of it. I hope everybody and their brother goes to this thing and I hope it has the success of a film like My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

She’s right. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a great feel-good film. And, after previewing The Mighty Macs, I can tell you that I too hope “everybody and their brother goes to this thing.”  It’s a solid story with characters you’ll enjoy cheering for.

Check out the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acZtRoK1FsA

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