Beauty and the Beast - Movie Review

I have heard the controversy, from Christians all around the nation, about how the new Beauty and the Beast movie should be boycotted.  The argument is that the movie promotes homosexuality to young children.

I had to see for myself.  Disney has pushed a lot of Christian boundaries over the years, but Beauty and the Beast is a favorite of mine.  I tend to make my own choices.  I hadn't seen the controversial part of the movie shown on television.  I had only heard that there was an openly gay character.

Well, there are openly gay characters all over television.  There are openly gay characters in many movies.  There are openly gay people in the doctor's waiting room and in the local Walmart and living in my apartment complex.

I just came from the movie.  The imagery, the music, even the acting was very true to the Disney cartoon in most ways, and was quite beautiful.

So, let's discuss the homosexual agenda that is pushed in the movie.  Does anyone watch television?  Do you let your children watch television?  Cause I have seen a lot of stuff on television that is more controversial.  My children have seen more controversial images on television.  In fact, I missed the most controversial part, where two men danced at the end during a ballroom scene, because I looked away for that moment.

I hate to admit that, most of the time, I am pretty legalistic.  That isn't intentional, as in I think I can win salvation by adhering to a bunch of rules and regulations. I have standards that are pretty high.  I am careful about what I let in my heart and mind.  I don't even read Harry Potter (another controversy for another day), and I hear from arguments from both sides.  I am careful about the books I choose to read, and what books I allow my children to read.  I get aggravated by all the cartoons with magic this and magic that, and have had my youngest turn off the shows that I don't like. 

But my belief in fantasy books and movies changed somewhat when I studied the life of C.S. Lewis.  Reading about a conversation C.S. Lewis held with J.R.R. Tolkien and another professor at Oxford, Hugo Dyson, about imagination and belief in God changed my view.  Tolkien tells C.S. Lewis that myths are powerful vehicles for revealing the world's deepest truths. When Lewis had trouble grasping the concept, Tolkien stated that Lewis lacked imagination.

Imagine, telling the man that would one day create the land of Narnia that he lacked imagination!

Tolkien pointed out the Lewis had no problem grasping meaning from ancient myths of the Norse, but wanted to rationalize God sending His Son as a Sacrifice for salvation.

So, my acceptance of fantasy led to me reading the entire Narnia series to my nine year old.  I am careful, but I want my daughter to understand truths in some fantasy can reveal truths of God.  When she reads the Bible, I want her to be able to see it in her mind.  If she can't imagine the flood waters covering the earth with Noah and his sons safe in the Ark, she won't be able to trust God to be her protection.  If she can't put herself in Saul's place on the Road to Damascus, she won't understand how transforming the power of Jesus can truly be.

But, the argument about Beauty and the Beast is not about fantasy.  It is about an agenda that Christians feel is being pushed on them, and that to disagree causes massive outrage and venom sent their way.  And, I understand.

I understand that the scenes in the Beauty and the Beast movie might be Disney pushing the line, seeing what they can get away with.  It might be Disney using the outrage they knew would happen from Christians as free advertising.  But, as a Christian, I know that I need to protect my children at times, and at other times I need to educate them.

The homosexual agenda is a reality, and being angry Christians won't change it.  In fact, the angrier we are, the more we are dismissed as full of hate.  Should we just accept it?  No.  But we need to choose our battles wisely.  We need to pray before we open our mouths.  We need to not overreact to every little thing that goes on.  Taking my daughter to the doctor one day, a homosexual couple kissed multiple times in the waiting room.  That was a day that I had to explain to my daughter what I wasn't ready to explain to a young girl.  I also realized that I couldn't protect my daughter from all she will see in this world.  My daughter is going to see gay couples.  How I react will determine how she reacts.

Hate the sin but love the sinner?  I don't want to be this angry Christian.  The joy of the Lord is my strength.  When joy is gone, and I am angry about everything in the world that runs counter to my faith, what strength do I have?   I have been around people that are angry and hateful, and Christ doesn't exude from them.  Are you loving your enemies?  Are you praying for those that persecute you?

I need to educate my daughter.  She needs to understand what is going on, because like that day in the doctor's waiting room, she will see it.  And, unless you plan to turn off your television, never go to movies, and never go in public, your children will see homosexual behavior also.  You have to be able to explain to them what you believe, show them where it is in the Bible, but also show them how to react as Jesus would.

It is tough, when, as Christians, we feel our rights are slowly being taken away and society is eroding into a moral quagmire.  We see Christians standing for their faith being sued and losing everything they spent a lifetime working to achieve.  And, our reaction, is fear.  But is fear the correct reaction?  Should we live in fear?  I am pretty sure that the Bible states multiple times to not fear.

You don't have to go see the Beauty and the Beast.  That is your decision.  I choose not to read Harry Potter.  That is my choice.  I won't go see The Shack because I didn't like the book.  I am careful about what stores I patronize because many have blatant anti-Christian policies instead of staying neutral.  That also is my choice.  It's my dollar to spend.  It's my choice to make.  If Disney becomes more blatant in their portrayal of homosexuals, I might skip that movie.  I skip a lot of movies because they contain things I don't want to see.   I have no plans to see a Fifty Shades movie ever... or read the books.  Nope, not for me.  Christ has changed what I want to watch.

It isn't fear.  I am not afraid of Harry Potter, twisted theology, anti-Christian store policies, homosexuality, or soft porn movies.  It isn't fear, it is a decision.  It is a decision about what I will spend my money on, and what I will allow in my heart and mind.  I am careful, at times, but I am not living in fear.  I spend time with Jesus daily, and talk to Him often.  I let Him guide me.  When the invite came to see the movie today, I prayed really fast.  I don't go to many movies, and so I wasn't making big plans to go see this one. But, I really like Beauty and the Beast.

So... I saw Beauty and the Beast.  And I enjoyed the movie.

Who could every learn to love a beast?  Well, Christ loves me and I was pretty beastly in my sin.  I may not have horns, but I sure was messed up for a long time.  The selfish prince that ends up cursed is totally me some days. In fact, I can think of some sins right now that probably make me look pretty beastly in God's eyes, were it not for the redeeming love of Jesus.

And guess what, Belle had to love the beast in return.  Jesus loves us, and that brought salvation.  Loving Him in return brings transformation.  While we probably won't have lightening shooting from our fingers as the Beast did, the transforming power of God is more than physical.

The Curse, whether in the movie or at the fall of Adam and Eve, condemned everyone.  In the movie, guess what, even the child was cursed and turned into a teacup.  The curse on mankind condemns us all.  Who lifts the curse?  Not an enchantress, but the sacrifice of Jesus.  And still, in this fallen world, we live.

Our community theater performed Beauty and the Beast last year.  I heard the songs and words over and over in rehearsals as my sister played Belle and my little girl was a salt shaker.  One song that is my favorite is Be Our Guest.  In it, there is a line that goes, "Life is so unnerving for a servant that's not serving.  He's not whole without a soul to wait upon."  Guess what, we are servants.  Who are we serving?  Ourselves?  Or are we looking at a hurting, broken world and seeing those that we could serve. We can't serve the broken if we live in fear, if we live in hate.

I am sure many will disagree with me.  That is okay. 

Miracles From Heaven

I went with my mom, mother-in-law, and 16 year old daughter tonight to see the movie, Miracles From Heaven. 

The movie is the story of the Beam family.  When middle daughter, Anna Beam, gets sick, the family believes it is just a virus.  But as Anna doesn't get better, and doctor after doctor diagnose Anna incorrectly, Anna's mother, Christy, knows it is something more.  Finally a diagnosis of a rare intestinal motility disorder is diagnosed, and the prognosis is not good. There is no cure, but the Beam family sacrifices so that Anna can receive treatment from a specialist in Boston, far from their Texas home. 

Eventually Anna goes home, with little chance of surviving long. She climbs up a tree with her sister, as she used to do often.  When a branch gives way, Anna jumps into a hole for safety and ends up falling thirty feet inside the tree, and landing in her head.  In what could only be termed a miracle, Anna not only suffered no major injuries from the fall, but her intestinal disorder was cured. 

Having two daughters with type one diabetes, watching this movie was difficult.  Seeing my daughters struggle with their health, having spent endless hours in ICU rooms and waiting rooms, dealing with doctors and nurses, this movie showed me many flashbacks of those times.  

As a Christian, I know miracles exist.  I don't know why some miracles are huge, such as Anna Beam getting healed, and why some miracles are that my daughters survived things that should have killed them, but they are still diabetic.  They still struggle with their health. 

Like the Beam family learned, everyday is a miracle.  I treasure my children, each and every one, and cherish the time we get to be together.  I have learned that tomorrow isn't promised and we must live life loving the gifts God places in our lives.  For me, that is the people I love.  My husband, my children, even the grandchild that will be here before the year is done; these are my gifts. 

Miracles From Heaven is a sweet movie.  It is a tear-jerker.  I understood the discouragement and despair that Mrs. Beam had during some of the most difficult moments when her daughter was sick.  It is not easy to keep faith during those times.  I have argued with God in several waiting rooms at those moments.  And yet, the peace of God is the only thing that got me through not knowing if my child would survive.  It was prayer that sustained me when doctors told me that they didn't know if my child would make it or as I watched my daughter fly away in a life-line helicopter, unsure if she would make the flight. 

Only parents that have been there can understand that fear.  Only parents that have turned to God can understand when there is nothing in you that can make sense of chaos and overwhelming fear, God somehow centers you and brings a little more strength and a bit of peace. 

I recommend Miracles From Heaven.  I am certain that there will be some that complain about how it isn't Biblical enough. Others will complain that it is too religious.  I don't see the point in putting God in a box and saying whether we think He could or couldn't have done this.  I know, as the Beams know, that He did.  Many others will know and believe also. That is all that matters.

A Book and a Movie - The Little Princess

For Christmas, Megan received the book The Little Princess from her oldest sister. It was a family favorite.  Megan and I have delighted in reading the story over the last few weeks!  We have delighted in the imagination and spirit of Sara Crewe. She taught us the power of pretending and that being a princess is about so much more than fine clothes and fancy things.

Tonight, we read our final chapter.  It is always sad to end a book and say goodbye to characters we love.  Of course, Megan says we will read the book nine more times, so it isn't really goodbye. 

As a treat, I rented the 1995 movie, A Little Princess.  This movie holds as many or more memories than the book.  The movie came out when my oldest, the one that bought the book for Megan, was four years old.  We must have watched the video a hundred times over the years!  Kim even had a plastic locket for years that came with the movie and was a replica of the one worn in the movie. 

Megan loved the book, but the movie may be a new favorite.  Most of the time the book far surpasses the movie.  However, I think the different ending where the father is alive makes all the difference.  The movie has humor and is so touching that it is difficult not to love it.  

I plan to purchase the movie for Megan for her birthday in a few months.  

Some stories just stay with you a lifetime.  

War Room

For Christians that loved the Kendrick Brothers other films (Fireproof, Facing the Giants, Flywheel, & Courageous), we have been eagerly anticipating the release of their new movie, War Room.

I first heard a few months ago that the new Kendrick Brothers movie would tackle the topic of prayer.  I knew, based on the way Fireproof tackled marriage and Courageous tackled being a father, that this had the potential to be a powerful movie for the Lord.  Prayer is something we hear a lot about in Christianity, but I wonder if people are really praying as they should.  

This movie may help be the spark that ignites Christians to seek the Lord as they should.  War Room is the story of Tony and Elizabeth Jordon and their daughter.  Successful on the outside with what most consider the American Dream, the family is actually falling apart.  Tony and Elizabeth are constantly fighting.  Their marriage is looking like it might crumble. Then Elizabeth, a real estate agent, meets her new client, Miss Clara, an elderly woman looking to sell her home and move in with her son. 

Miss Clara is a fireball.  A strong Christian woman, she befriends Elizabeth and begins to show the young, bitter wife how to fight the battle for her marriage and her family through prayer instead of arguing and harshness. 

This movie is the story of several relationships.  As I watched the relationship between Clara and Elizabeth develop, I realized how much I long for that same mentoring relationship.  Watching an older, wiser, more experienced Christian woman reach out with love and friendship touched a core piece of me.  I wondered if we are really reaching out to the younger generation of women as Titus 2 discusses.  I also wonder how many you get women don't accept the wisdom of the older women out of pride or disrespect. 

The next relationship is the relationship between Elizabeth and her daughter.  At one point Elizabeth realizes just how little she has focused on her daughter, how little she even knows about her daughter. It's a touching moment that most parents will relate to if they have ever let busyness or daily struggles take more of their attention than their children.  We also see how Elizabeth influences her daughter with the example of faith she begins to set and the love and attention shown.  

The next relationship is Tony and Elizabeth.  Their marriage is in serious trouble, but as you watch the movie, you realize the issues for Tony go very deep. As Elizabeth is mentored by Clara, and she responds by reaching out to the Lord, the issues with Tony grow much darker.

The final relationships are the ones between Elizabeth and God and Tony and God.  Elizabeth, as she learns to fight her battles in prayer, transforms in front of your eyes.  It is a beautiful love story that I never tire of seeing, the Lord awakening one of His daughters to rise up and become the jewel He made her to be. 

The transformation of Tony seems too good to be true, unless you have seen God work like that in real life.  God amazes me often with His transforming power. Tony was not a nice man.  He was not an ethical man. Like many of us, he resisted turning to God until the world caved in around him, until his unethical behaviors began to catch up to him. Seeing his actions, only those that acknowledge that they too were once similar before Christ found them would even think he deserved any goodness from God.  Most think he deserves whatever tough consequences he gets. 

Unless you've been in a similar place, prideful and egotistical and filled with anger, the beauty of God touching such a man might be lost. After all, he doesn't deserve God's forgiveness and mercy.  But... None of us do.  As someone that understands both Elizabeth and Tony, I know how the forgiveness and grace of Jesus can humble a person and completely turn them upside down inside. It's amazing. 

I like that Tony didn't find God and suddenly everything was all better.  I like that War Room showed consequences for sin, and consequences for God's grace. 

I hope this movie spurs Christians around the globe to pray and seek the Lord like never before. I can't think of anything more powerful up that can be done in this world than to be praying for Jesus to pour out His Spirit on and in all of us.  I hope thousands of people clear out a room or a closet or even a small corner and sets up a spot where they faithfully pray every day.  

I pray this movie touches lives all over the world for Jesus. 

Faith of our Fathers

Yesterday I had the privilege to see Faith of our Fathers at the theater.  I wanted to write a review because the movies being filmed today for the glory of the Lord Jesus bring such a great message.  We fill our heads and hearts, day after day, with the stuff on television and in our culture that is damaging to our souls.  Jesus is not glorified in most of what is available.  So when movies and books and TV shows do come out that seek to give glory to the Lord, as Christians, we should put our support behind the projects.

Faith of our Fathers introduced us to two sons of men that were drafted and served in the Vietnam War.  One son is searching for information about his father, and is led to the other son.  The fathers had served together in the war.  

As we watch this odd pair take a journey to the Vietnam War Memorial, on an adventure filled with mishap after mishap, we get a glimpse into the lives of the fathers through one man's letters to his son, and through flashbacks dramatizing what the letters contained.  We see a bond form in Vietnam between another odd pair, with different beliefs, fighting for their lives. One soldier is a Christian, one is not.  One son is a Christian, one is not.  

As these sons learn about their fathers, we see this journey is about more than traveling to a monument, but a journey of faith passed down, of learning about the men these sons never got to know, and of learning how God can work even years after men have left this earth. 

I enjoyed this movie.  I admit to being a bit of a sap, but Christian movies remind me of Jesus' parables.  Jesus told parables or stories to illustrate lessons.  I think we should follow that example and tell amazing stories of how God works in our lives. 

Captivated - More than a Review

I watched the movie, Captivated, a couple days ago.  I wanted a TV-lite summer, but things tend to not go as planned.  I assumed, incorrectly, that not having cable or satellite service would deter nonstop, insatiable tv viewing consumption. I was wrong.

Every morning the battle begins.
  

"Megan, turn off that TV.  It's time for breakfast."  

Often my seven year old wakes before me.  She will go sit on the couch and turn on Netflix.  By the time I stumble to the coffee pot, she's halfway through a cartoon.  

My older two at home both have Ipod Touches.  It's a continual feast of passive entertainment.  They are on them so much that I can get a faster response from them, if they have Wifi, by Facebook messaging them than by texting or calling their basic cell phones!

My husband and are aren't much better.  Bored?  Watch a movie.  Play another episode of a TV show we've seen a thousand times.  Turn on Hulu to catch the new episodes.  Amazon Prime has tons of free choices for our viewing entertainment. Since we moved to a larger town, the library has a HUGE selection of videos.  If there is nothing there, we have a Blockbuster and multiple Redbox machines in which our entertainment needs can be met. 

Captivated is one of those documentaries that has intrigued me for a couple years.  I think I saw a preview while watching the movie, Indoctrination. But... It's also one of those movies that I never got around to purchasing... Until last week.  I decided to splurge because I knew that all this screen time wasn't healthy. (Yes, I see the irony of watching a movie that urges watching less television.  I'm also typing a blog post about spending less time on Social Media.) 

I have read the articles about how too much screen time is horrible for children. Captivated added a Christian perspective that simply changes everything... And not just for children. 

Why are we spending our lives allowing so much garbage into our heads and hearts?  While there are a few redeeming programs on television, spending five hours a day (national average) watching television seems like a large waste of time.  Can you imagine all the things we could do with that time?

Anyone need more time in the Bible or in prayer? Anyone want to have more time with your children?  Anyone want to go back to college?  At five hours a day, you could be an expert on any field of your choice! 

We tell ourselves and everyone else that we are too busy, but are we really? Oh, some of us are. We are overscheduled and stressed.  But many of us just spend too much time watching tv, playing hours of video games, or catching all the latest and greatest on Facebook or Twitter.

David Wilkerson, as I've read, decided to spend his time, years and years ago, praying instead of watching TV.  Soon after he began doing this, he felt called by God to minister to the gangs in New York City.  He was so successful at reaching those that no one had previously tried to reach with the Gospel that he opened Times Square Church.  His life was made famous in the book and movie, The Cross and the Switchblade.  What if he had simply decided that he needed the TV time to unwind after a long day? 

I'm not against TV or Facebook.  I dont like many video games, but I have nothing against them in general. I love a good movie.  But here is the catch:  Spending hours a day with my face in a screen leaves one with a feeling of accomplishment FOR DOING NOTHING!! 

Let's think of this practically.  I have recently become a bit obsessed with the game Bejeweled Blitz.  I can play for hours on end on my phone...while watching TV.  But what am I really achieving by having enough points to be on the top of the leaderboard?  Have I spent that time with The Lord?  Have I spent any of that time pouring myself into my husband or children?  Did I learn anything in that time from my efforts?  I wasted that time, sitting on my bottom.  But because I've acquired coins and set high scores, my mind thinks it has accomplished something.  But have I really?  No. 

The same goes for many of the passive viewing experiences.  Yes, I can hear the arguments being thrown my way already. "But it relaxes me."  "I watch good shows."  "It's how I keep up with my friends and family." 

Please hear my heart on this.  There is a balance that is missing.  Are we really living our lives vicariously through actors, dramatic plot lines, and status updates?  There is nothing wrong with catching a favorite show or posting that cute pic of your child that you know your loved ones will enjoy. But... FIVE HOURS IS THE AVERAGE, and that's just television viewing! That is over 76 days of watching TV per year. That is over two years of our lives out of every ten watching television.  That isn't including watching movies, playing video games, spending time on Social Media, or texting our buddies. That is only television viewing. 

Think it doesn't impact your thinking?  Your heart? As Christians, how often is our thinking warped by the culture around us and the television we see versus the Word of God?  Why do non-Christians not see anything different in Christians that they would want?  Why do Christians often have the same views as non-Christians on controversial topics like abortion, gay marriage, or divorce?  Could it be because their minds and hearts are filled with secular opinions and worldly reasoning, and many times they can't even defend the Biblical worldview because they don't know what the Bible truly says.  They'll be led astray by someone twisting Scripture and quoting it out of context because they haven't taken the time to find out for themselves what is really there.  They haven't read it.  They've been too busy listening to ungodly views. Or... they take the word of a pastor or church leader instead of finding out for themselves.

And why do Christians have a reputation as hatemongers?  It is easy to trash other people's lifestyles and actions while living a passive life ourselves.  I wonder how much time Christians would have to reach out to others if they turned off the televisions, shut down their Facebook site for awhile, and actually went out and became the hands and feet of Jesus.  Could we show Christ in this world?  

I'll be generous.  If every Christian spent just two hours of that average five per day being the hands and feet of Jesus, I'll bet the Kingdom would explode.  I'll bet we could put an end to the sex trade.  I'll bet those two hours spent in prayer would lead lost loved ones to salvation in incredible numbers.  I'll bet that two hours of prayer time and Bible study per day would lead to the revivals and explosive Awakenings our Country needs.  I'll bet that two hours a day, focused on discipling young people, including our own children, would lead to lives forever altered as those children follow Christ and lead their peers to The Lord.  

I type this as much to myself as to my fellow Christians. 

I once heard a pastor state that Christians aren't hungry for The Lord because they are too full of everything else.  I agree. 

I don't want to be too full of the world that I have no room for Jesus.  So... I'm going to prayerfully make some changes.  

Anyone want to join me?

God's Not Dead in My Life!

I went to see the movie nearly two weeks ago.  This weekend I am taking my mother and a close friend.  I want them to see this movie, to be encouraged as I was.

I wonder what I'll notice that I missed the first time.

As a Christian, I have not been blind to the rising tide of animosity and vile attacks on my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  Around the world Christians are being persecuted and martyred at increasing rates.  In the U.S. the persecution has mostly been a slow eroding of liberties mixed with rising targeting by those that want Christianity abolished.  Atheist groups, pro-homosexual groups, and anyone else ticked off enough have delighted in waging all out war against Christians in the courts and in the media. There has been a lot of flopping opinions by those that want votes or public approval. 

God's Not Dead helped.  Most Christians hold no hatred toward the groups that hate us.  We know Jesus said we would be hated, but we are to pray for our enemies and those that persecute us.  We may not like being targeted.  But the early church was persecuted to a much greater degree, as are many Christians around the world. Some of us may falter, but many will draw closer to God and reach out more.  The fact proven again and again is that persecution brings growth in the spreading of the gospel.

There are many potent scenes in God's Not Dead.  One of the most riveting for me was what happened to a Muslim girl who was following Christ in secret when her secret was discovered by her father.  In some countries, she would have been killed.  In America, in the movie, while her life wasn't taken, the life she had known was.  It got to me.

Has being a follower of Christ cost you anything?

It has me.  I lost some friends, but losing a family member was devastating.  Oh, she's still there.  We occasionally talk where we once were close. I know I am different.  She sees a person that represents a faith that has been outspoken against the lifestyles of some of her friends.  She looks at me with a veiled tolerance that says she wishes I wasn't a Christian. We love each other, but the closeness we once shared is not there.  She seems to have little use for me.  She smiles and is polite, but distant.  She isn't silent about her veiled disgust of Christianity, but she tries to not be blatant.   

It hurts.  I have cried. I pray often for her. I purposely stand for what I believe, but I try not to provoke.  I pray and cry out, because I know God can work here.  Christianity cost me one of the closest relationships in my life.  But to know Jesus...

Is there anything better? 

In God's Not Dead, the pastor talked about feeling unchallenged in His work for The Lord.  He later learned he is in the trenches.  

We are ALL in the trenches of battle.  There are physical battles we must fight.  There are, more importantly, spiritual battles that can't be left to chance.  These battles are fought through prayer and through the Bible.  

If you haven't seen God's Not Dead, I encourage you to do so.  

Christian Cinema.com - A Review

I recently came across a Facebook status where a fellow homeschooling mom had rented a movie through something called ChristianCinema.com.  I linked to it and discovered a wonderful surprise.  Here was a place to rent Christian movies.  Many of the ones that I found, I couldn't find on Netflix.

Even though the company has been around since 1999, I had never heard of it.  However, I have enjoyed some of the movies they helped produce, such as Time Changer.  They have a wonderful page describing their purpose and who they are.

While it doesn't have streaming like Netflix, ChristianCinema.com has tons of movies offered by DVD.  Working like Netflix, you pay a set rate per month and DVDs are mailed to your house.  You watch them and send them back.  There are no late fees and postage is included.

I began browsing the movies.  While Netflix does have some of the options, what I discovered is that the selection was amazing.  I found things such as the Moody Science Classics (for supplementing science), and more independent films such as IndoctriNation.  There is even a special category for Homeschool Resources.  My daughters and I have found a TV show called Sue Thomas FBEye.  It originally aired on PAX TV from 2002-2005, but none of us had ever seen it.  It's wonderful, and has sparked an interest in sign language in my 15 year old.

ChristianCinema.com also has something called Quick Return.  What that means is that, once you watch a movie, you go into your account and hit a "Quick Return" button.  This tells ChristianCinema that you have mailed the movie back to them.  They will immediately send out the next movie without waiting to for the one you mailed to arrive back.  That means less waiting time between movies.

The first two weeks with ChristianCinema.com are a free trial.  I decided too keep the service and pay for the DVD rentals.  First, I cut back on my Netflix DVD rentals because they are limited in their Christian selections.  Secondly, we don't have cable or satellite, so this makes an excellent way to have Christian entertainment in our home.  Third, I just couldn't pass up the chance to use the videos they have as supplementary materials in our homeschool.  I've already found quite a few to go with science and history topics we are going to be covering this year!

The only downside so far is that I never know what disc I will actually receive next.  I have a queue, like with Netflix, where I can put which videos I want first, second, etc.  However, the number of available rentals per movie must still be limited because I often don't receive my top choices if they are newer releases or popular.  Some of my number 1 or 2 choices have been on there a few weeks, and I am usually sent movies farther down the list.   This may be something that, as this site becomes more popular with Christians, could be easily rectified.  However, this happens with big sites like Netflix too, so it's really hard to be negative.

In encourage you to try ChristianCinema.com for DVD Rentals.   Even if you only ever rent one video at a time, it is a great way to support a Christian company that is trying to provide wholesome entertainment and educational resources.

Courageous

It seemed a no-brainer that Christians would flock to this movie on opening weekend.  I've been looking forward to this opening for months.  With the trilogy of Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof, the makers of Courageous had a lot to live up to. 

They succeeded.


I went today with some of the ladies of my church to see this movie.  I plan to go again later this week with my husband and children. 

Courageous takes on the subject of Fatherlessness.  A couple of years ago my daughter, Tasha, researched the topic of fatherlessness for school.  The statistics she found were shocking.  Fatherlessness in our society is an epidemic with horrible repercussions, but we don't even recognize the fallout as being as severe as it truly is.  I also researched fatherlessness for a sermon I gave to our local youth group.  I was saddened when, out of the twenty youth in the service, only two or three had their biological father in the home.

Courageous does a good job of dealing with fatherlessness.  This movie doesn't cast blame for the problems.  It deals solely with what the Bible says about fathers, and what Christian fathers should do in their roles as husbands and fathers.  In typical Sherwood Film fashion, one second I was laughing, the next crying.  The movie draws the viewer into the lives of five men, four of whom are police officers.  When a tragedy happens in the life of one of them, the men face what is truly important and what kind of fathers they have been.

The men make a movie before God and their families... a Resolution.  Just reading it, without even seeing the movie, is inspiring.  My prayer for this movie is that it will touch the lives of Fathers all over our country and worldwide.   Go see this movie. 

THE RESOLUTION

I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15

Courageous Music Video from Casting Crowns

I am very excited for this movie to open in September.  There is such a need for fathers to stand up and be strong in America and around the world.  The world has said that fathers are unnecessary.  They have been made to feel unwanted.  Yet, the fallout is tragic.  So many of our children are growing up not knowing the love of a father.  Without that, the love of our Father God is more challenging to understand and accept.  Courageous is a movie about fathers, and I am so praying for this movie to impact our nation... Christians and non-Christians.

Narnia - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - Movie Review

My family went to see the opening of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader this evening.  All I can say is, it is definitely amazing.

It seemed strange at first to not have Peter and Susan in the adventure.  However, they were there... sort of.  This movie begins once again in England.  We learn that Peter and Susan are in America.  Edmund and Lucy are staying with their cousin.  In a very brief amount of time the children are back in Narnia.  I like that.  Nothing long and drawn out, just Narnia and the adventure from the start.

This movie definitely is worth the money to go and enjoy with your family.  Little children might be scared.  However, my ten year old LOVED it!  Of course, we have watched the other Narnia movies.  My oldest is a Narnia nut that has to be at the opening of the movies as they come out.  She just loves C.S. Lewis.

Go. Join Edmund and Lucy as they head back to Narnia for an inspiring, edge of your seat adventure.  Be reunited with Caspian and other favorites in a place that is not real, but feels like it could be.  Journey to where lessons are learned and honor is important.  Meet new characters such as Eustace, the cousin to Edmund and Lucy. 

In every movie there are scenes and lines from the movie that seem to be from God himself.  I realize that there are those that don't feel The Chronicles of Narnia movies are good for Christians.  I won't dispute that at this time.  I feel that these movies are a wonder. In each movie there are scenes or lines that stick with me.  Whether it be the scene of Aslan's resurrection in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; the line in Prince Caspian about proving ourselves to Him; or the line in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader about knowing Him by a different name here in our world... I never fail to be in awe of these movies and the lessons they contain.

I read once that life as a Christian is an adventure.  Much of the time it doesn't feel like an adventure.  In fact, it often feels just plain hard.  However, I am reminded that this life is a gift and a journey.  Sometimes the journey is exciting, and sometimes it is a time of growing and learning instead.  Sometimes, as I was shown tonight in this movie, we focus on what we've lost or what was taken from us or even what others have.  Instead, we should focus on what we've been given.  I have felt a lot of loss recently.  I was reminded about what I've been given.  Thank You Jesus.

The Wonderful World of Anne

Laura has spent the entire evening (and part of the afternoon) watching the original Anne of Green Gables.  I am totally delighted at this.  Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorites.  Who wouldn't fall in love with the little orphan girl?  With her large imagination and vocabulary, love of books, and heart of gold, Anne is a character that lives in a girl's heart for a very long time. 

The other characters touch a heart too, from Gilbert to Diana, from Matthew to Marilla.  The movie, like the book, is full of humor and rich in characters that will feel like family before the movie is over.

I read the books many years ago.  The movie touched me so dearly when I was younger.  I am thrilled that Laura is enjoying the movies now.  She does have enough of me in her that she has a soft spot for old-fashioned things.  This has become apparent with Laura's love for Little House on the Prairie.  Now, with Anne of Green Gables, another wonderful girl character has been introduced in my daughter's life and heart.

One of the benefits of homeschooling is that Laura can watch Little House on the Prairie or Anne of Green Gables over and over.  She can live with the characters for a bit.  She can read the books.  She doesn't have to feel pressured to keep up with the other girls her age that are obsessed with the current pop stars.  She can just relax and be a little girl, with little girl dreams. 

Education and the Founding Fathers - A Review

I picked up this old VHS at the library yesterday.  The title intrigued me.  Made in 1991, which was the year my oldest daughter was born, I was expecting a rather cheesy video.  Instead, I was impressed by the content. 

Made by David Barton, this video is full of excerpts from literature written by the founding fathers.  Those excerpts are full the thoughts, opinions, and actual words of the beliefs of many of the founding fathers' beliefs about Christianity and Education.  The education that the founding fathers is also examined.

One of the undeniable truths presented in the video is the fact that the Bible was the foundation of early education in America.  In fact, most of the few other textbooks schools used at the time were based on the Bible. 

The founding fathers and many early Americans were given an education that today would blow the young people out of the water.  I've seen examples of this before when I've come across a sample of a test given a hundred years ago.  A lot of the questions I didn't even understand... let alone the answers.  The children of that day were challenged, and it was expected that they would excel.  Many of the children weren't expected to use that education to attend college.  Most families couldn't afford college.  These were children from simple homes, children of farmers, and they received a top quality education. 

The reasoning behind children receiving a top quality education was simple.  Literacy was important.  It wasn't important for the same reasons as today.  It was important because the Founding Fathers knew that, for our country to be great and avoid the problems they had left behind in England and other places, everyone should be able to read the Bible for themselves.

I am saddened that our educational system has gone so far downhill.  It's easy to see why, since the Bible is no longer allowed to be the foundation for our education.  Instead, our foundation in public schools is humanism.  The quality has gone down, or has been "dumbed down". 

I am glad that I can do things differently with my daughter.  We read the Bible every single day.  What is amazing is that, despite the spiritual reasons we read the Bible, the other effects are apparent.  Laura is learning her Bible like none of my other children had the chance to.  Her vocabulary is greater.  Her attention span is longer.  Her grasp of the truths and how they apply to her own life is growing.  She doesn't have to wait for a pastor to tell her what a verse means.  She is learning how to do this, slowly, for herself.

This video was quite informative.  I am making Tasha watch it right now.  The history lesson alone is impactful and amazing.

Treasure of the Snow - A Review

I rented this movie off of Netflix.  Later this year Laura is to read Star of Light for school.  In a review of this book was a review of the movie Treasures of the Snow.  Taken from a book by the same name, both Star of Light and Treasures of the Snow were written by the same author, Patricia St. John. 

I rented this movie a bit afraid it would not be that good.  I was encouraged by the reviews on Netflix that said it was a very good movie even though it is a bit older.  We weren't disappointed.  The movie was excellent.  My children sat and watched the whole thing.  The lessons in the movie about forgiveness and trying to make things right and depending on God are absolutely wonderful.

The story centers around a boy names Lucien.  After his bullying led to an accident for a young boy, Lucien lives with not only guilt but the anger of the young boy's sister, the coldness of his own family, and the ostracizing of his schoolmates.  He becomes a friend with an old man that lives near him.  This old man discovers a hidden talent for woodworking in Lucien and nurtures it.  The story slowly shows that forgiveness is possible.  He must also forgive himself, which proves to be quite a journey.

I recommend this movie to anyone.  It is a simple, beautifully told story that my children will remember.  We have all made mistakes, and had to move on from them.  What was interesting was the lessons on forgiving others for their mistakes.  It's easy to hold grudges and be angry and shut out God.  It's easier to make life for someone else miserable after they have hurt us or someone we love than to forgive or let God handle that person.  I know this personally.  The truth is that God will always deal with the other person, whether the law does or not.  Having things eat up our own lives only leads to destruction.  I've personally experienced this, and had to deal with repercussions that would hurt others.  I couldn't blame anyone but me.  I'm the one that held on to the anger and refused to trust God to handle things.  This movie was a good illustration of this very point.

Planet 51 - A Quick Review

Free summer movies have been offered at our local movie theater for a couple weeks now.  This week was the first week we went.  As usual, it was crowded and loud.  However, this year I decided to give it a go with Megan. Last year she was too young to sit still and pay attention long enough to watch an entire movie.  Since she can now do that at home, I decided to try the free movie.  Megan did wonderfully.

The free movie this week was planet 51.  I didn't read any reviews first, and I probably should have.  Some of the humor was not appropriate for my children.  Oh, the teenagers were fine, but it wasn't good for the ten year old.  For Megan, the three year old, it went right over her head.

Except for some of the crude humor, the movie wasn't bad.  The story centers on what would happen to aliens on their planet if humans came.  It was reverse of alien invasion of earth.  It takes the fears that Hollywood has banked on for years, hostile aliens versus E.T.-like friendly aliens, and has the aliens on their planet deal with these fears from a human landing. 

I think some of the humor could have been changed to better suit a family friendly movie.  Other than that, the movie was okay.  It was funny in parts, and a good premise.  It wasn't what I had hoped, but that's to be expected, I guess. 

Next weeks movie is Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  I don't know if we'll go since we have already seen that movie.  The free movie Wednesday goes for a few more weeks, though.  Hopefully there will be a gem in there somewhere.

Billy - The Movie - A Review

I watched this movie yesterday with my nearly 80 year old grandmother.  We both enjoyed it quite a bit. 

The movie chronicles the story of a young Billy Graham from his life just before he accepted Christ during the Great Depression until 1949.  It shows how his faith developed and grew, how his ministry started, and how he met and fell in love with his wife, Ruth.

I thought the movie intriguing.  I was once told that the mark of a good pastor is that he will not draw people to himself but to Jesus.  That is how I felt after watching this movie.  I wanted to get closer to Jesus.

There is a scene, near the end of the movie, when Billy is wrestling with questions and doubts about his faith.  That scene, powerful and moving, made me question whether I could state the same thing.  "By FAITH, I accept the Bible as the infallible word of God."   A pastor friend of mine worded it a different way.  "God said it... That settles it."  How many times have I questioned the Bible?  Oh, maybe not directly, but definitely in my life I have questioned God when things have gone wrong or gotten very hard. 

To trust God that completely is my goal.  Billy Graham is an inspiration.  He draws hearts to Jesus.  Now, through a movie, his impact of his early years and some of his struggles can influence and touch a new generation.

I.O.U.S.A. - A Review (and a rant about our priorities)

I.O.U.S.A. was actually released in 2008.  I don't think it attracted the attention it deserved.  If it had, maybe what was then a near 9 trillion dollar budget deficit wouldn't now be 13 trillion.  Of course, by 2008, the downward spiral was already well underway.

We don't save as Americans.  We spend.  And we will pay a heavy cost.  Our children, our grandchildren, and probably further down the line will pay a heavy cost.

I.O.U.S.A. was made to bring to the attention of Americans the seriousness of our unstable economy.  It highlights four areas of interest: Our budget deficit, Our saving deficit, Our trade deficit, and our leadership deficit.  With each area playing off the others, our economy is quickly falling into a situation that we won't be able to easily recover... if we can recover at all.

Being financially responsible is not something that Americans seem to understand or know how to do anymore.  I speak for myself too, as I have made mistakes in the past.  However, the hope is that once you make a mistake you learn from it and do your best to rectify it.  For the U.S. Government, it keeps making mistake after mistake.  The result is that we owe a lot of money and don't even have the production means to be competitive in the world.

I remember back when the housing market started to collapse, there were a lot of talk about how Americans bought more house than they could afford.  Right now, there is a lot of talk about people that are walking away from homes even if they can afford it because they don't want to pay for them.

I don't understand this sentiment.  I admit it.  My husband and I have struggled through the last couple years with some pretty tough financial times.  We have fought to keep our home through cut hours and unemployment.  It was scary more than once when we got behind.  My home is nothing to brag about either.  It is an very old home with, shall we say, a LOT of character.  We were gung-ho when we bought it about fixing it up and making it ours.  Now, we just want nothing else major to break or go wrong.  It's kind of a money pit.  It's located in a small town where there isn't anywhere to buy much.  We have one very overpriced gas station.  Yet, I feel like God has placed me here.  Every time I thought we might lose the house, we were able to keep it.  We bought it at a bad time, cause we got one of those adjustable rate mortgages, and were too naive to know better.  Every time we go to refinance, my husband loses hours or gets laid off from work.  Now, we are just hoping to build our credit up a bit so we can refinance.

Why am I fighting so hard for a house?  I've never had a home.  As a child I moved around a lot.  In my twenties I was a military wife, so I moved around.  It wasn't until a little over five years ago that I had something that I wasn't paying rent on, or rather, paying the mortgage for a landlord.  I may wish for lots of improvements on this place, but this place is the one place I have lived the longest since I was eleven years old.  I have raised my children here.  I've been through so much here, both good and bad.  If God moves me out, then it is in His hands.  If he wants me to stay, He'll help us stay.

I read that many people aren't fighting for their homes like they did before in previous economic hard times.  It is sad that our homes have no meaning beyond financial.  Yes, it is just wood and brick and materials.  However, it also stands for our spirit.  Have we lost our fight?  If things get tough, do we just bail?  Well, maybe we do in this day and age.  That would explain the divorce rate, the lack of fathers in their children's lives, the obesity rate, and the fact that most Americans have no savings whatsoever.  If something is difficult, give up or take the easy route. 

I don't think the easy route will be available for us much longer.  I think America has a severe wake up call coming fast.  A few have woken up with the economic struggles, but so many are still asleep.  It's like two different realities; the ones that have woken up to where we are and where we are headed, and the ones who are still living like tomorrow will be prosperous. I know I'm awake.  I trust God, but I know he won't bless greed and unwise stewardship.  He wants us to be smart about things.

Our whole way of life needs to change in many ways.  We need to be a country of savers again.  We need to take pride in our work.  We need to demand that our government make it difficult for our jobs to be shipped to other countries.  We need to stop thinking we have to buy a bunch of stuff to fill the whole in our lives and souls that used to be filled with God, family, and communities.  Families need to pull together to get out of debt.  We need to buy American products, even if the cost is higher, knowing that Americans will be employed because of that purchase.  (A challenge I know, since everything seems to be made in China.)

Grow a garden.  Have a store of food in a cellar or basement.  Make things from scratch.  Save money however you can.  Turn off lights you aren't using.  Don't live off of credit.  Try going to a cash basis for as much as you can.  No, it isn't always convenient to go into the gas station, ignore the impulse pop or chips, and pay cash for our gas.  It's much easier to swipe the debit or credit card.   However, cash is a bit more difficult to spend.  Giving cash is more concrete.  It becomes more than just numbers in a check book or on a statement when you hand over cash.

Our government won't change until we make them.  We won't make them until we have had enough of living in debt, in our own lives and in our country.  My fear is that we won't realize that we need to change even our own lives until our own lives hit a wall.  Recession is not a pretty word, but it is not taken very seriously.  The Great Depression, on the other hand, was more than a rough time for some people.  It was devastating.  When I hear we are well on our way to a repeat of that time in America and the world, I think most refuse to believe things are that bad.  Well, from what I've read, things are that bad.  A 13 trillion dollar deficit will need to be repaid eventually.  One day, we may have to change our name to the United States of China.

Food, Inc. - A Review

I watched this movie tonight with a mixture of awe, surprise, disgust, and sadness.  Is it really so hard for the American Government to keep our food safe?  Are Americans really so shallow that they won't demand safe food?

I think the biggest shock was the outright greed involved in our nation's food supply.  From our meat to our corn and soybeans, big corporations have taken over with their own regulations and rules to make sure small farmers don't succeed.  Profits stay high for large corporations as they control the nation's food supply.

Yes, I am growing a small garden.  I made that decision based on the prices of food in the supermarket.  I didn't plan a garden so that I could take away money from big companies.  However, if that is a byproduct, then I am not really sad.

I recommend this movie, but with a warning.  Watching this movie may change some of your opinions.  I live in the middle of corn country.  I know that corn has a lot of uses.  I didn't realize how much of our corn, and meat, is grown just for the fast food industry.  I don't think I'll look at a cheap fast food meal the same way again.  There is always a cost.  For Americans, a meal from the dollar menu is costing us our health and a lot more than we realize.

Our economy is in a precarious position.  Creating cheap food would seem to make sense.  However, does it really make sense to live with health issues because we can't be responsible for our diets?  When it is cheaper to buy chips or cheeseburgers from the local fast food joint than to buy carrots or broccoli, then our priorities in this country are definitely mixed up. 

Food, Inc was a movie that opened my eyes.  I am definitely going to research this topic more.

Mysterious Way, It's How God Works - A Review

I rented the movie Mysterious Ways, It's How God Works from Netflix.  At first, I was afraid the movie wasn't going to be very good.  What I got was a movie that, though lower budget, was one of the best movies I've seen in awhile.

The movie is about the Harper family, a Christian family that is dealing with some tough issues.  Their oldest son, Buddy, is a boy trying to live out his faith in a public middle school.  After he gets into a disagreement with his teacher over religion, and gets caught posting the ten commandments on a bulletin board amidst abortion fliers, he is suspended for ten days.  This all happens on the same day that the dad, Jim, has his job cut due to restructuring or downsizing.  The parents meet with the school, but the meeting does not go well.  Brenda, the mom, wants to quit her job and homeschool her sons.  At first Jim is reluctant.  There is a scene with the two having a serious and even a bit heated argument about homeschooling that is just wonderful.  So many of the arguments I hear today are brought up in this scene.  Jim agrees to the homeschooling, but things get very twisted when a power hungry social worker who is against homeschooling makes trouble for the family.  The social worker trumps up charges, lies, has the father arrested, and even files papers to have the children taken from their parents.  Needless to say, that is where the adventure begins.  The parents must decide if they believe in what they are doing, and how much they are willing to sacrifice to homeschool their children.     The change in lifestyle is not always easy, but the surprises and blessings are funny and wonderful to watch.

I watched this movie with my children.  We loved it.  My ten year old was a little disturbed by the eating of rabbit, but it was a learning experience for her.  She never knew that some homeschool families could have things so rough.  Homeschooling families are often portrayed in a negative light in our culture, if they are portrayed at all.  This movie was refreshing.  I definitely recommend it to all that homeschool and even some that are considering homeschooling as an option.  I even recommend it to those that have never thought much about homeschooling and those that aren't sure they agree with people homeschooling their own children.  This movie might answer some of your questions.

Sarah's Choice

We watched Sarah's Choice this evening.  It was a movie that both my sister and I have been anticipating for awhile. 

The movie centers around a young woman named Sarah.  Sarah is a hard working young lady with the chance at a big promotion in her career.  She was raised in church, but has grown angry at God for the loss of her father 10 years before. She has plans for her life and a boyfriend she loves.  However, when she finds out she is pregnant she has some tough choices to make.

This movie faced the topic of abortion very responsibly.  The character Sarah faces the very real controversies that exist today.  She dealt with the push and pull in her mind and heart as well as the pressure from outside influences.  Her family, a Christian family, wanted her to keep the baby.  Her best friend wanted her to have an abortion.  Work made it clear that she would lose the promotion if she decided to have the child.  The only character in the story as unsure of what to do as she is the boyfriend, Matt.

We watch both Sarah's journey and Matt's journey as they come to terms with what they truly believe and what they truly want out of life.   The twist and probably the most fascinating part of the movie was not the "Is abortion right or wrong" message, but the reality that is shown in the life of a character that had an abortion.  The simple fact is that abortion impacts the lives of the women that had abortions.  There are emotional consequences that often aren't discussed.  These consequences can be quite traumatizing later in life.This is a Christian movie, but not in a preachy or over the top sort of way.  I was impressed with the way the movie handled women that had already had an abortion.  There wasn't judgment, but love and healing and redemption. 

I personally had a connection.  I remember being a young woman, in college, not living my life for Christ, and discovering one freezing January morning that my boyfriend and I were going to have a baby.  I never really truly considered abortion, but I do remember the fear.  That baby is now 18 years old and getting ready to graduate high school.  She wants to join ministry... despite all my mistakes and taking so long to get things right with Jesus.  She was a young teenager before I gave my life back to the God I had known as a child.  Yet her life is precious.  She is precious.   I never considered abortion because she was always a person to me, even before I even knew her name or sex or felt her move in my body.

My family and I enjoyed this movie.  It was sweet and nice.  It wasn't one that would ignite a ton of controversy.  It showed the choice Sarah made and why.  It showed a faith in God restored.  It showed consequences, not only with the pregnancy in an unmarried young woman, but the emotional toll years later in the life of a woman that had an abortion as a teenager.  Most movies don't show that side.  It was nice to show my teenage daughters that there are consequences for abortion, some of which are still there years later.  It was also nice to have a movie reaffirm our beliefs without portraying the Christians as narrow-minded and full of hate.