Kirk Cameron Presents: The Homeschool Awakening | June 13 & 14

There is so much going on in our country and our world right now.  Are our kids safe?  Do they have the resources they need to make it in today's competitive environment?  What about character development?  Will our children grow up to be people who care about others?  People who take responsibility?  People who are productive members of society?  People of faith?  What about our special needs children?  Are they getting the attention they need?

If you have found yourself asking these questions, you might have considered homeschooling.  I did, and then I decided it was not for me.  I was definitely not interested.  Forget it.

Then I changed my mind.

Almost 20 years later, I'm here with two successful college graduates, one successful college student, and one about to graduate from high school, all homeschooled from kindergarten through twelfth grade.  And I'm writing and working for a homeschool publishing company.  Never thought that would happen!

There is an Awakening happening in our country.  See what it's all about!

•  https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Kirk-Cameron-Presents-The-Homeschool-Awakening
• #HomeschoolAwakeningMIN

Family Camp - (Official Trailer) In Theaters May 13

Momentum Review: Pureflix Resurrection Day Movies (and a Giveaway)

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:5-6 NIV

These are truly some of the most beautiful words ever spoken.

Imagine the women, confused by the events of the last few days.  They had believed in Jesus, and he had been killed brutally before their eyes.  According to the traditions of the Passover and the Sabbath, they had not even been able to give him a decent burial (though in the Gospel of John we find out that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had wrapped his body with myrrh and spices before laying him in the tomb).  Early Sunday morning, as soon as the Sabbath ended, they hurried to make preparations.  They knew the tomb was guarded by Roman guards, but they went anyway, hoping to be allowed to. . . what?  See the body?  Give it a better preparation?  Just be there to weep and perhaps find a bit of closure?

Closure was not what they found.

The tomb itself was not even closed.  The guards were gone.  The body was not there.  

Jesus was gone!

Fear set in.  Anxiety.   What had happened here?  Were the Romans so cruel that they would take the body of Jesus and hide it from them?  Would Jesus' followers be arrested, and perhaps killed?

And then they saw two men they did not know.  Men more terrifying than the Roman soldiers.  Men dressed in dazzling white clothing that was not of this world.

"Do not be afraid."

These men gave the women the news that has spread and that has given us hope for the past 2,000 years.  The news that we will never have to be afraid again.

 “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said!"

My grandfather and my dad always called Easter "Resurrection Day," the Day that Jesus rose as the firstborn of all Creation, and the Day that gives us the promise that we will one day rise to eternal life as well.

Resurrection Day is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love the stories, I love the music, and I love Easter movies.  I love historical period movies that are well done, that make the Greatest Story Ever Told come to life while we watch.  Normally, I like feel-good movies.  Movies that are appropriate for children.  Movies with a little bit of comedy that I can relax and enjoy watching and not have to think too hard about.

The Passion of the Christ, however, is an exception.

I would love to dwell in the glory of the Resurrection, listening to triumphant music, donning my new Easter dress or bonnet and thinking only of the happy ending to this story.  That is all important, and indeed we should spend most of our lives realizing and being thankful for the Resurrection.  But sometimes, we need to really meditate on the road it took to get there.  Our sin was a great.  Our punishment would be unbearable for us. To truly appreciate the Resurrection, we need to know what Jesus really did for us.  As uncomfortable as it is, we need to see the size and the roughness of the cross.  The length of the spikes that went through Jesus's hands and feet.  The cruelty of the Romans.  The hatred of the Jews.  The desperation of Mary's screams as she watched her innocent son be put to death in one of the most brutal forms of execution ever invented.

I was not comfortable watching The Passion of the Christ.  I would prefer to not think too much about the Via Dolorosa - the Way of Suffering that Jesus had to bear for me.  But it was powerful.  It was well-researched, done in the original languages with subtitles.  It left me changed.

How can I not serve the God who would come down from heaven and suffer this for me?

The Passion of the Christ is rated R because of the graphic depiction of the real events, and it is not appropriate for younger children.  I would very much recommend it, however, for older teens and adults.  As we prepare our hearts for Resurrection Day, this movie is an excellent way to meditate on what came in the days before.

The Passion of the Christ will only be available from 20 March to 19 April 2022 on Pure Flix.  See the trailer here:

https://app.pureflix.com/videos/482147878914/the-passion-of-the-christ-trailer

You can find a wide array of Easter movies on Pure Flix, which has a 7-day free trial for new customers.  Some serious, some lighter, I think selecting a few of these movies is an excellent way to prepare ourselves for the season. 

Sign up for Pureflix here and see all the selection of Easter movies available.

In addition to the 7-day free trial Pure Flix, I will have a drawing for a giveaway of one 3-month Pure Flix subscription.  Comment here or on my Facebook page with your favorite Easter song or movie to enter. Drawing will be held on April 7.

#PureFlixEasterMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

 

Note: Giveaway is limited to US winners only. 

Disclosure: 

Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Church People DVD - Momentum Review and Giveaway

 

We could all use a good laugh right now, and Church People is a movie your whole family can LOL to from the comfort of your own home!  I shared a review of this movie last March when it was in theaters.  Did you get a chance to see it?  If not, this is your chance, because it is now on DVD!

It is recurring theme in American churches.  Many of us grew up in small churches, sang hymns, sat on wooden pews, read the King James Version, and stood as the ushers brought the plates forward, singing the Doxology.  So our reaction - especially those of us who grew up in the 80s, during the coming-of-age of the Christian pop music genre - is to put on a big concert.  What can we do to overcome the old traditional ways and bring people in?  We have to bring them in and then just give them a morsel of truth while they are here.  Bigger is better.  More music.  More lights.  More flashy.  Bring in the smoke machines.  More, more, more!  When does it stop?  Forty years later, we are looking at church services becoming rock concerts, and we are wondering, Isn't the Gospel enough?

That's the question youth pastor Guy Sides is asking as PR people rain down beach balls on him on stage and bring a Superman costume for him to try on in the middle of his massive book tour.  (The writer in me is wondering how anyone ever got so popular on a book tour!)  He is "America's Youth Pastor."  And he's ready to give up.

Enter Pastor Skip with his tie-dye t-shirt; Tino with his worship and love songs; Carla, the preacher's missionary daughter, returned home with a heartbreak; Blaise, the overly passionate new convert; the mysterious Mabel; and two Baldwin brothers; and you have a full cast of highly exaggerated church stereotypes who represent real people with real issues who are just trying to share the Good News. 

Is the Gospel enough?

Church People is making the list of one of my favorites of the movies I've gotten to review, right up there with Mom's Night Out.  If you love good Christian comedy, you will love this movie!  It is a great lead-in to the Easter season.

Watch the trailer here:   https://youtu.be/QhROt7kmoLU

Purchase your copy of CHURCH PEOPLE now!

https://churchpeoplefilm.com/#buy

Of course, I have a Giveaway!  One lucky winner will receive a DVD of Church People from Momentum Influencers.  (Note: This giveaway is limited to US winners only.) To enter, just comment on this post or on my Facebook page by Wednesday, February 16, 2022. 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing a sample of the product for this re- view. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

#ChurchPeopleDVDMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

The Tiger Rising - Momentum Review And A Giveaway!

 I was privileged to review the new movie The Tiger Rising this past week.  Starring Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid, this cute coming-of-age story has all the marks of a feel-good pre-teen movie.  

[The movie is] based on the New York Times best-selling book by [Newbery Medalist] Kate DiCamillo. When 12-year-old Rob Horton (Christian Convery) discovers a caged tiger in the woods near his home, his imagination runs wild and life begins to change in the most unexpected ways. With the help of a wise and mysterious maid, Willie May (Queen Latifah) and the stubborn new girl in school (Madalen Mills), he navigates through childhood memories, heartache, and wondrous adventures in this heartwarming adaptation.

Christian Convery and Madalen Mills are very talented young actors, holding their own next to the well-known Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid.  I hope we will see more of them.  Having moved my own kids around quite a lot, being a military family, I felt I could relate to their difficulties adapting to a new area.  Of course, a boy finding a tiger in the woods near his home is the stuff adventure tales are made of!

While characters of faith are portrayed positively in the film, the film itself is not necessarily faith-based, and I was disappointed by some uses of the Lord's name in vain, and by some of the speech Dennis Quaid's character used with the young girl.  It was somewhat for character development, but I feel that in today's world, our "inspirational" movies should not portray to young girls that men just talk to girls that way and we ignore it.  On the plus side, Willie May (Queen Latifah's character) and the boy's mother in the movie are positive role models.  In addition, however, without offering any specific spoilers, I have to say I was disappointed with the ending of the movie.

You can see the movie for yourself, available today on DVD, and available to rent on VUDU, ROW8, or Prime Video.  I would love to hear your thoughts!  See Film Website below for viewing information.

Of course, I'd also love to give away a digital code to one lucky reader to watch the movie for free.  Comment here or on my Facebook page by Sunday, February 13, for a chance to win!

Film Website:

https://theavenue.film/movies/the-tiger-rising

Trailer:

https://youtu.be/AHxMGndzvEI

Faith & Family Discussion Guide:

https://theavenue.film/movies/the-tiger-rising#resources

#TigerRisingFilmMIN #TigerRisingFilm #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Momentum Influencers for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. 

 

Preview THE TIGER RISING, in theaters January 21!

 TheAvenue.Film's Tiger Rising Film #worldwide #premiere of its trailer is OUT NOW for you to watch and share with your friends. We are so excited to share it with you now!

THE TIGER RISING is about overcoming life's challenges and rising above with the help of your imagination. Starring Christian Convery, Madalen Mills, Sam Trammell, Katharine McPhee, Dennis Quaid, and Queen Latifah.

THE TIGER RISING in theaters January 21st. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FILM: www.tigerrisingfilm.com https://fb.watch/aFDxm0IrzB/ via @FacebookWatch

#TigerRisingFilmMIN

Momentum Review: Vindication Season 2 And A GIVEAWAY!

 

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you a new police drama series on Pure Flix called Vindication.  Season 2 is now airing, with a new episode released each Wednesday.  I am enjoying Season 2 even more than Season 1, as the plot between the episodes is more contiguous, and there is a cliffhanger at the end of each episode that keeps my interest piqued.

A few days ago, I finally got a chance to watch Episode 5, "Game of Life," which first aired last Wednesday.  The transition from last week's cliff-hanger, where Becky first met Anthony, to where he was at the beginning of this episode, was a little abrupt.  It feels like a major plot point that should have been developed a little more.  That said, I enjoyed getting to know the new character, Anthony, in this episode, as well as seeing Precinct 2 and Precinct 1 share in a little healthy community competition!

The characters in this drama feel true-to-life and the plot stays interesting.  If you haven't been keeping up with Vindication as it comes out each week, take some time to binge-watch it this weekend!  Speaking of which, I need to go catch Episode 6, which aired tonight!

Have you been watching the show?  Need a subscription to Pure Flix to do so?  A low monthly fee will get you quality, clean programming for the whole family.  OR you can comment below or on my Facebook page to win a FREE 6-month subscription to Pure Flix!  Drawing will be held Wednesday, October 6.

Already have Pure Flix?  Watch the show here:  https://hubs.li/H0X32r90

#VindicationMIN

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a 3-month subscription in exchange for this review and post.

Momentum Review: Courageous Legacy and a Drawing!

THE MOVIE YOU LOVE, AT A WHOLE NEW LEVEL

Ten years ago this fall, COURAGEOUS opened in theaters across the world. Filled with heart-pounding action, laugh-out-loud humor, and powerful inspiration, COURAGEOUS has entertained and impacted families across the globe for the past decade.

Now, from the Kendrick Brothers, creators of the No. 1 box-office movie WAR ROOM and OVERCOMER, comes COURAGEOUS LEGACY, the remastered, special-edition release for a new generation. This updated version of the film includes an enhanced look and sound along with impact stories, new scenes, and a new bonus ending you don’t want to miss! Mark your calendars, gather your friends, and spread the word. It’s time to head back to the theaters!

I had a chance to watch this old favorite with a new ending this week, and it was as excellent as I remembered!  For those of you who have been fans for the past 10 years, this is a great chance to see the movie all over again on the big screen in the theater and to find out what has happened with some of your favorite characters.  For those of you who have never seen this movie (or like my children, saw it when you were young but don't remember it), go see it now!

While pastoring a church in Georgia, Alex Kendrick, who also had a background in communications, read a survey indicating that films were more influential than churches in changing public opinion.  He and his brother Stephen then began to write and produce movies that would impact the world for Christ.  In addition to Courageous, they have produced Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, The War Room, and Overcomer. 

While I believe that people and the church must be instrumental in introducing individuals to Christ and really changing people's lives, I also believe that film and media are a powerful tool that Christians should continue to use to spread the Gospel message and impact the world.  Courageous was done well and has become a part of our home library.

Courageous Legacy opened in theaters across the country today!  Go see it!

IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE SEPTEMBER 24, 2021


Watch the Trailer HERE


View the Heart Of Courageous Legacy video HERE

Download the Resolution HERE for free! This is a great way for fathers to take the next step and make a commitment to their wives and children.

Watch another fun video from the Kendrick Brothers HERE

BuyTicketsHere:https://tickets.courageousthemovie.com/ 

OfficialWebsite:https://www.courageousthemovie.com/ 

I have TWO FREE TICKETS (Fandango codes) to see this movie in theaters, but there is a quick turnaround on this drawing.  Leave me a comment here or on my Facebook page by SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26 to be entered into the drawing! 

Note: This giveaway is limited to the US only.

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Sony Pictures for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

#CourageousLegacyMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

 

Momentum Review: Vindication Season 1

 

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to vindicate is "to free from allegation or blame." 

Pureflix has just released the second season of their popular crime drama, Vindication, and my son and I binged the first season to get ready!  The ten episodes of the first season did not disappoint.  At the beginning, it looked like each episode was going to be a separate case, and while that was true, later in the season, you started to see background story that was weaving through them all with Detective Travis and his family.  The plot was integrated well and the characters and their issues were believable.

While the show is produced with a Christian worldview and is marketed as teen-friendly, I would interject that it is more for older teens.  The subject matter is dealt with appropriately, but the show does deal with adult themes such as affairs, drugs, human trafficking, and prostitution.  It also deals with teenage relationships and sexting, and if your teen is ready to discuss these topics, it is a good breaking ground for discussion.  I watched Season 1 with my 15-year-old son, and while the plot kept him somewhat interested in watching all the episodes to see what would happen, the show was a bit intense for him; he prefers lighter subjects and a bit of humor.  He hasn't really watched other police dramas.

As crime dramas go, this one is top-notch, and the actors are stellar.  I am excited to see T.C. Stallings join the cast in Season 2!

Next week I will be reviewing an episode of Season 2, and of course there will be a giveaway, so stay tuned!

#VindicationMIN

Momentum Review: When We Last Spoke And A Giveaway!

 

I was very excited for the chance to review the film When We Last Spoke with two of my favorites, Melissa Gilbert from Little House on the Prairie and Corbin Bernsen from Psych!

Families are wonderful and complicated things.  They all have their secrets, their heroes, their sorrows, and their joys.  When two little girls lost their father in Vietnam and were abandoned by their mother in 1967, they were taken in by loving grandparents.  Even in the most loving families, however, everything is not always perfect.  Misunderstandings and mistakes tear the fabric of relationships.  The road to forgiveness may be long and difficult, but it is worth it in the end!

Follow one family's saga in the delightfully warm movie, When We Last Spoke, based on the book by Marci Henna.  The movie is currently available on Amazon Prime, or visit the website to find all the ways to view this powerful movie with the whole family.  When We Last Spoke recently won Best Picture, Best Narrative, Best Supporting Actor, and more at the Crown Awards at the National Religious Broadcasters 2021 Christian Media Convention!

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/When-Last-Spoke-Cloris-

  Leachman/dp/B08NBC2L2P/ref=sr_1_1

• All Viewing Options: https://www.whenwelastspokemovie.com

Would you like to win your own digital code for this lovely movie?  Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page with your favorite memory from the Little House TV or book series!

#WhenWeLastSpokeMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Last Spoke Partners for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.   Note: This giveaway is limited to US bloggers only.

Momentum Review: Gary Levox One on One!

 

I was so excited to stream songs from Gary Levox's debut album, One on One!  The former lead singer of Rascal Flatts released the EP on May 21st from Big Machine Records, fusing two of his biggest passions - music and faith!  The album features artists including MercyMe, BRELAND, and more!

I received this statement with my review materials:  

When asked about the role God has played in his musical journey, LeVox said, “I feel like God graced us with a platform where we can not only touch people’s lives through music, but by being men of God offstage too,” explained LeVox. “At those times when we are with fans that are going through something like cancer, it is so wonderful to not only sing for them but to hold their hand and pray with them. I want them to know that they have a friend in me. I’m not just some guy on the stage. I feel like Christ has put me in this position because He knew I could handle the obligation, which often means taking the time to lift someone up in prayer.”

This is the kind of faith and attitude I really love to see in a performer.  The music business is difficult, strokes a lot of egos, and leads people to believe they must continually look out for themselves.  It is refreshing to see someone who is so talented, yet so approachable.

Even more importantly, $1 of every purchase goes to fight human trafficking through the Tim Tebow Foundation!!!

My favorite song on the EP is "While I Wait," a duet sung with Levox's daughter, Brittany, who is also a singer/songwriter.

Check out Gary's website here:  https://garylevox.com/.

Stream the album here: https://garylevox.lnk.to/OneOnOneMI

Of course we have a giveaway!  After you stream the album, comment here or on my Facebook page with the title of your favorite song from the EP!  One lucky winner in my drawing on Saturday, June 5, will receive a signed 8x10 poster!

#GaryLeVoxMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Capitol Christian Music Group for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Happy Listening!