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!
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.
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.
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!
Disclosure: Many thanks toMomentum Influencersfor 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.
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.comhttps://fb.watch/aFDxm0IrzB/ via @FacebookWatch
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!
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.
Enjoy a summer vacation-movie toDOLPHIN ISLAND. (See March 2021 Review HERE.)
Coming to DVD on August 1
A note from the publishers:
With the Delta variant rampant and travel restrictions back in place, a movie escape for the whole family is just what we need.
Shot entirely in The Bahamas, DOLPHIN ISLAND is a family-focused film about a girl, her dolphin, and the power of family.
The Dove Foundation called DOLPHIN ISLAND "a heartwarming tale of love and accountability."
Directed by Mike Disa (SPACE DOGS, HOODWINKED TOO!). Produced by Shaked Berenson (SPACE DOGS, A TIGER'S TALE), and written by Disa, Berenson, and Rolfe Kanefsky (PUPPY SWAP: LOVE UNLEASHED).
Starring Peter Woodward (NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS), Dionne Lea Williams (NO BAD DAYS), Tyler Jade Nixon (DOLPHIN KICK) and Bob Bledsoe (PARK AND RECREATION).
Approved for all ages by Dove and The Coalition for Quality Children's Media, the DVDincludes a 16 minutes Study Guide featuring Carthage College’s English Associate Professor, and cast member - Annette Lovrien Duncan.
Discounted pre-orders are available on the movie website:
This week I had the privilege to view My Brother's Keeper. This movie is more on the serious side and opens your eyes to what some of our military deal with. The movie centers around Travis Fox (T.C. Stallings), who returns stateside after losing a good friend in war. Here, he must continue to fight the battle of PTSD while also dealing with the trauma of losing his parents.
Overall, I think this movie did a great job of portraying the soldier's struggle with PTSD, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Symptoms and severity may be different for everyone, but Stallings's portrayal sheds an authentic light on this hidden struggle that haunts some of our returning servicemen. I often hear people use the term "PTSD" lightly, as in, "I am really suffering PTSD from all these exams I've had to take." Having known people with real PTSD, this always makes me cringe. First widely recognized after the Vietnam War - although previous war veterans certainly suffered with it just as much, at that time calling it "shell shock" - this mental health condition is crippling to those who have suffered extreme trauma and makes it difficult or nearly impossible for some veterans to adapt back into society upon their return stateside.
T.C. Stallings (Courageous, War Room) is joined in the cast by Joey Lawrence (Blossom, Gimme A Break!) and the lovely Keshia Knight Pulliam (The Cosby Show). All three are gifted actors who delivered a great performance. I loved the movie for showing a realistic view of someone dealing with PTSD rather than trying to tie it all up with a bow at the end and trying to act like one night of prayer healed them. (A little spoiler alert but not too much): The character in the movie sought both spiritual healing and medical help, both of which are needed and should not be left out. Also, while the character had hope, he recognized he was in a long battle that would not be overcome quickly. It was, however, unrealistic (spoiler alert) that Travis Fox would go right back on an Active Duty deployment immediately after being diagnosed with PTSD and starting medical treatment, and I felt a huge red flag when the therapist started dating a member of her therapy group. Other than that, I thought it was a great movie and I highly recommend it. While I've given you a few spoiler alerts dealing with the PTSD issue, there was much more to the plot, and I could not stop for a break once I started the movie!
My Brother's Keeper opens in theaters tomorrow! Check your local theater for listings. Watch the trailer here: https://mbkfilm.com/?vid=YXhoafnfj3
There is also an exciting contest opportunity! There's an open social campaign (linked below) where you can enter to win a warrior Bible! In addition, you can be entered to win a grand prize Zoom call with the lead actors in the film: T.C. Stallings, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Robert Ri'chard!
And of course, I have a giveaway right here on my blog! Comment on this post or on my Facebook page to be entered to win a free digital code to watch the movie! (The code will be available once the film is released on home entertainment.) Drawing will be held Tuesday, March 23!
Disclosure: Many thanks toCollide Distributionfor 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.
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.
Of course, I have a Giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a digital code for this movie from Momentum Influencers. To enter, just comment on this post or on my Facebook page by Wednesday, March 17, 2021.
Disclosure: Many thanks toCollide Distributionfor 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.
The second movie I had the opportunity to review this month was Dolphin Island, and I loved it! It has a slow start, but give it a chance and watch it all the way through! I mean, a feel-good movie about living on a beautiful island with trained dolphins all around? What could be better?!
From the producers:
Fourteen-year-old Annabel lives with her fisherman grandfather on an island paradise. She is surrounded by an extended family of loving but quirky neighbors and her best friend - a dolphin named Mitzy. Everything changes when her maternal grandparents arrive with a shifty lawyer to bring her back to New York. It's up to Annabel and her friends to figure out how to save the day and prove that love conquers all!
The movie stars Tyler Jade Nixon as Annabel Coleridge. I was surprised to find out that Tyler is actually turning 14 this year, the age of her character. At first I thought she may be an older actress playing a younger part. Her performance was excellent, and she had great chemistry with Peter Woodward, who played her grandfather, as well as with the other characters. Of course, the real star of the show is Mitzy!
I was impressed with this film's character development, background music, and plot. There were some unpredictable twists, which I always like. While it is a movie about faith and hope, I felt it definitely came from a Christian worldview without awkwardly trying to proclaim itself as a Christian movie, if that makes sense. It was a movie about real people with real lives who prayed and were blessed by God in a way that seemed natural, not "preachy."
If you wish to use this movie in an educational setting or a small group, there is a free discussion guide to download here: https://dolphinislandmovie.com/discussion-guide/. Ms. Annette Lovrien Duncan, who plays Sheryl Williams in the film, shares video clips and devotions. This movie is fun for entertainment value, however, even without the discussion guide, and will not seem like an educational "school film."
And of course, we have a giveaway! Comment on this blog post or on my Facebook page to win a digital code to see this movie. There may be a little surprise, so trust me, enter to win by Tuesday, March 16!!
Make sure to follow my blog for more movie reviews this month!
Disclosure:Many thanks toEntertainment Squadfor 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.
During this season every year, a number of movies and stories come out reinforcing this one theme: BELIEVE. Everyone is searching for something to believe in. There are phrases such as "Seeing isn't believing; believing is seeing;" "Believe in yourself;" and "Sometimes, you just have to believe." Believe in Santa Claus, believe in aliens, believe that anything can happen.
Why is this such a popular theme? Well, I think that people do want something to believe in, but as much as I truly love almost every movie about Santa Claus ever made, in real life, believing in something that is not true simply for the sake of believing is empty. It is tragic. I need to KNOW that what I believe is TRUE.
So, do you believe in the Rapture? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is coming back to take his bride, the church, to be with him in heaven?
It is a heavy question. Studies are showing that up to 25% of Christians do not even believe this is going to take place, to say nothing of non-Christians.
As this year, 2020, draws to a close, lots of people are asking questions about the End Times. Is this it? Is prophecy being filled before our eyes? Or is prophecy even real?
Why is belief in the Rapture important? Let me take a moment to say that I do not take a stand on whether the Rapture will be pre-tribulation, post-tribulation, mid-tribulation, or anything else. I do not know if it will happen in my lifetime or if it is still a thousand years away. I have no insight as to whether 2020 is ushering in the End Times.
What I do know is this: Jesus Christ is coming back, and we must be ready. This is not a mere opinion to be debated. It's either true or it's not. If it is not true, then I suppose I am wasting my life by believing it. But if it is true, don't you want to be ready? You can't make it less true by not believing it or choosing to just not think about it. If it is True, then don't you want to know?
Before the Wrath is a movie narrated by Kevin Sorbo that highlights the importance and impact of Biblical prophecy. It features the following experts with fascinating insight:
○ Jack Hibbs - Theologist and host of “Real Life” on SiriusXM
○ Amir Tsarfati - Founder and President of Behold Israel
○ Jan Markell - Founder of Olive Tree Ministries
○ JD Farag - Theologist and Eschatologist
○ Scott McConnell - Exec. Director of Lifeway Research
○ Jay McCarl - Ancient Middle Eastern Anthropologist
○ Lizette Dillinger - Qualitative Director of LifeWay Research
Watch the trailer:
This documentary was extraordinarily well-done. The writers do not claim to know when the events will take place, nor do they comment on any specific current event fulfilling or not fulfilling prophecy. They do not claim to have special knowledge or revelation. They do give a factual and enlightening look at Biblical prophecy and why it is important.
The one criticism I would have is that I would like to know where they got their research on Galilean customs in the first century and how they were different from the regions around them. I will be researching this further to see if I can corroborate that data.
Meanwhile, I recommend this movie for everyone. One thing I can say about 2020 is that it is a year that has caused us to take a good, hard look at what is important and make hard decisions about our lives.
I haven't done a giveaway in a while, so it would be a good way to start this Christmas season! Leave a comment on this blogpost or on my Facebook page by Monday, December 7. All who comment will be placed in a random drawing for a free copy of this movie!
As a side-note, this will be my last FlyBy Promotion. The FlyBy Network is under new ownership with Collide Media Group whose mission is “Elevating media that inspires a deeper relationship with Christ.” In the future, reviews will be branded as "Momentum Influencers."
If you would like to purchase Before the Wrath for yourself or as a gift, you may do so here:
Thanks for checking out my review! There will be more goodies to come during the Christmas season, so keep checking back!
Merry Christmas!
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):
Many thanks to Ingenuity Films for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and 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.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, from the same blog, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
I am so excited about The Star opening this weekend, that I wanted to share one more review with you. See this one by Deanna Evans, our coordinator with Flyby Promotions!
THE STAR MOVIE REVIEW: A FILM FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
I was asked recently if I’d like to review THE STAR movie, based off of the very first Christmas, from the animal’s perspective surrounding Christ’s birth. This was something I had never done before but was excited about doing.
Wow and Wow! This film has it all from start to finish you will be mesmerized by its characters, colors and the story surrounding the Nativity. When I finished screening the movie, I was loving it! The story of Bo the Donkey along with Mary and Joseph flooded my heart with all kinds of emotion. I watched the film three times with the same reaction after each viewing! Bring in the amazing music and singing of Mariah Carey’s title track song. . . .
Looking for a fun summer-weekend-movie-for-the-family? We thoroughly enjoyed reviewing PIRATES CODE: THE ADVENTURES OF MICKEY MATSON! My kids, ages 9-16, boys and girls, were all excited about reviewing this movie. I mean, you've got modern-day pirates, a kid in a top-secret spy agency, and lots of cool gadgets like jet-propelled sneakers. How could it not be awesome?
In this follow up to Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure, Mickey Matson is at it again; this time pitted against the evil Admiral Ironsides and his gang of pirates who are intent on destroying civilization. Their new invention, the Tesla Coil, is a weapon of mass destruction that will send an electromagnetic pulse throughout the world, destroying every electronic device in existence. With the help of a secret organization, Mickey and his best friend Sully embark on a mission to stop the pirates from taking over a submarine and stealing the last part needed to complete their devastating weapon. If Admiral Ironsides succeeds in his plan, civilization will be sent back to the Stone Age. It's a race against time, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
I will admit that when we started the movie, we felt a little lost and wished we'd seen the first Mickey Matson movie. In fact, we decided to go get that one, too, and I can highly recommend them both. So I would recommend that if you are interested in these movies, watch the first one, Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure, and then watch Pirates Code: The Adventures of Mickey Matson. That, however, is just a recommendation. It is not necessary to see the first one to understand the second one.
We enjoyed the goofy, inept villains; the interactions between Mickey, his best friend Sully, and their co-spies; and the ever-intense inventor grandfather played by Christopher Lloyd of Back to the Future fame. There are even a few references only those of us who grew up in the 80s would fully appreciate (Great Scott!!) Overall, the movie is similar to the Disney pre-teen/young teen movies in its humor and its plot-line. If your kids like Agent Cody Banks and Spy Kids, they will love this movie. I always wonder where the parents are in these movies and why they are allowing their children to be in such dangerous circumstances, but you take Cody Banks and throw him on a pirate ship, and my kids have the ideal movie!! I like the clean humor, the family values, and the fact that the movie appealed to both boys and girls of various ages. I also like the dynamic of the kid hero and his grandfather working together. There is a cameraderie and respect fostered there that I think is beneficial to kids today.
After the last several movies we've reviewed, my kids are actually starting to look for movies from PureFlix entertainment because they've enjoyed them so much. These are good, family-values movies that are not full of hokey humor and sub-standard acting. Well, no more than any other movie geared toward preteens and teens!
What? Did you just say you sure wished you could WIN a FREE copy of the Pirate's Code DVD? Well, of course you can! Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page telling me your favorite teen adventure movie, and you'll be entered in the drawing to be held next Friday, June 26. :-)
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and 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.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
We recently had the opportunity to review the delightful family movie The Identical, starring Ashley Judd, Ray Liotta, and newcomer Blake Rayne. I may have been interested in this movie for different reasons from many people. It is about identical twins separated at birth. One was adopted. Since I was adopted, this story of the adopted twin unraveling his history was fascinating to me.
The music and the storyline are probably of more interest to most people. Everyone is looking for a place and a purpose in life. The Identical tells the story of one man searching for his own identity and purpose, needing redemption and meaning even though he was raised in a good family. It is a great family movie with an original story.
The only thing that confused me was the similarity to the Elvis Presley story. The singer looked like Elvis, sang like Elvis, and discovered his music similarly to Elvis, but the story is not about Elvis at all. In fact, Elvis Presley and the Beatles are mentioned in the film as being other popular musicians of the time period. Upon further research, we found that Blake Rayne was an Elvis impersonator before doing this, his first movie. We also discovered that Elvis did indeed have an identical twin brother - Jesse Garon Presley - who was stillborn 35 minutes before Elvis's birth. Perhaps that inspired this story.
If you are looking for a family-friendly movie for Friday night, pop some popcorn and pop in The Identical DVD. January, being the birth month of Elvis and many other great people (me!), is a great time for this activity! (Elvis and Jesse Presley would have been 80 on January 8.)
Another tidbit from my research that I found interesting, though entirely unimportant, is that Blake Rayne is 40 years old. He looks very young in the movie and pulls off being a teenager and young adult with the 46-year-old Ashley Judd as his mother very well!!
In honor of Elvis's 80th birthday, what is your favorite Elvis song? Leave a comment here or on Facebook by January 19, and one lucky person will win a copy of The Identical DVD!
About the film:Rated PG / Approx. 107 minutes The Identical, starring Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd, Seth Green, and Blake Rayne is a redemptive movie about a young man, the son of a preacher, who rejects his father’s desire for him to join the ministry and instead embarks on a career as a rock singer. As he struggles to pursue his dream and rise to stardom, he finds love, pain, success, failure and ultimately uncovers a hidden family secret that reveals who he really us. The Identical is a captivating story about a family restored and a life discovered that lifts your soul and warms your heart. The DVD that we’d like to send you contains over 85 minutes of bonus content including “Making The Identical,” Behind the Scenes, and Deleted Scenes!
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and 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.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
So there’s this new movie called Kirk Cameron’s: Saving Christmas that is coming to select theaters November 14 for two weeks only!
GO SEE THIS MOVIE THIS WEEKEND!
We've all gotten tired of people telling us not to say "Merry Christmas" because it is offensive, right? But does all the stuff we do to celebrate have anything to do with Christmas, anyway? You've heard the arguments - the Church turned a pagan holiday into Christmas so they would have an excuse to celebrate it, the symbols are all pagan symbols, yada, yada, yada. When I was a kid, our church building did not have a Christmas tree in it for several years because some of the members objected that it was a pagan symbol.
Now, some of you adamantly believe that we should not let all these symbols and material things get into our Christmas celebration, and that is fine. Each family must do what they feel their faith has led them to do. The fact is, however, that many of our Christmas symbols DID come about for Christian reasons that have everything to do with glorifying Christ.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 says,
"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Holidays were originally given to the people by God as "Holy-Days," for the purpose of slowing down for a time, celebrating, and teaching their children the things about God they might forget over time. Christmas is no different. So visit Kirk Cameron at his sister's Christmas party and explore the origins of some of our favorite traditions.
In the review below this one, we talked about a children's video answering some of the same questions. This one is for all ages, children through adults, and there's a lot of fun and humor along the way. Unlike a straight documentary, this movie kept my interest from start to finish, and I will admit that although I have studied these things quite a bit before, I learned a few new things myself from this one.
I loved everything about this movie, from the characters to the sets. There's a fabulous fireplace-and-Christmas tree scene where Kirk sits at the beginning of the movie. I want to go there for my family Christmas pictures this year!! We don't really believe there's any hot chocolate in that mug he swings around, but hot chocolate is always a nice touch!
I'm not going to lie - part of the reason I wanted to review this movie, and why I liked it, is that Kirk Cameron is in it! I liked him in Growing Pains before I ever knew what his stand was, and with every project he does, I like him and admire him more. I was privileged to participate in a teleconference with him and the other reviewers, and I love his passion for sharing not only Truth but the Joy of the Lord. It was fun seeing his sister, Bridgette, in the movie with him. (Hint, that's not really his brother-in-law, though - "Christian" is Darren Doane, director and co-writer of the movie.)
The only critique I would have for this movie? Lose the winter beard, Kirk! :-)
"Join me, and my family, and together let’s put Christ back into Christmas. We’ll dive head first into all of the joy, the dancing, the celebration, the feasting, the imagination and traditions that glorify the true reason for the season.” - Kirk Cameron
“Saving Christmas is a wonderful defense of Christmas traditions and is quite educational. Candy and I also enjoyed some good laughs. I pray that God will use it to His glory.”
I am sure you've seen the buzz about Dolphin Tale 2, which opens today!
I am so excited about this movie - everyone go see it!!!
Then check out the FREE homeschool curriculum that goes with the movie!
I have reviewed several curriculums that accompany movies. This is a great way to give the kids a fun break from the norm, while still making sure they are learning lots. If you can use a new movie that just came out, the kids are even more excited!
The Dolphin Tale 2 curriculum is fabulous. More than just discussing questions and answers about the movie itself, it delves into a whole unit about dolphins. Each lesson has an accompanying video and is short enough that I don't feel overwhelmed. Experiments and PDF science lessons are included and are packed with information.
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and 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.
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