Patterns Evidence: Exodus with a giveaway

The Bible’s Exodus account is under attack from many of the world’s leading experts who say there is no evidence for this foundational story – they claim it’s just a myth. Faced with the skepticism, filmmaker Timothy Mahoney experienced a crisis of faith. Mahoney had been investigating the Bible’s Exodus account, and this controversy forced him to refocus on one question – is there any evidence that this foundational story really happened?

The result of the 12-year investigation was the feature-length documentary film, Patterns of Evidence: the Exodus. It reveals a powerful and faith-affirming pattern of evidence matching the major events of the Bible’s Exodus and Conquest accounts in the archaeology of Egypt and Israel. This evidence has been largely unrecognized because it exists in an earlier period of history than where most scholars are looking. Yet the historical information in the Bible itself points to the Exodus happening in a historical period that is centuries earlier than the standard view today.

Mahoney combines a vivid retelling of the biblical story with interviews of top authorities from both sides of the debate in an investigation spanning the ancient and modern worlds. His bold new approach identifies six primary steps of the Exodus account before looking for evidence matching these steps wherever it exists in Egypt‘s history. The results are startling and could fundamentally transform the way the world views history and the Bible.

My review:

  I don't watch many documentaries, but decided to review this one since it sounded interesting. The producers and narrator did a great job on it. There are a lot of interviews with experts, some of whom say there is no evidence of the Exodus and some who do. The producers are honest about their doubt throughout the DVD, of course coming to the conclusion that there is indeed evidence of  The Exodus.

 There are a lot of video shots of the Holy Land, especially in the area of the Exodus. This documentary is well done, interesting, and they do a great job of showing there is evidence of the Exodus.

 A bonus feature DVD is also included that has features such as meeting the cast, behind the music, and more.

About the author/filmmaker/producer :

Tim Mahoney founded Mahoney Media Group, Inc. (MMG) in 1989. MMG focused its business on television and video production for regional and national companies. In 2014 Tim founded Thinking Man Films & Media as an international documentary & publishing company with a focus on education and the Bible. Tim produced numerous productions for Christian organizations including the Billy Graham Association, World Wide Pictures, and Compassion International. Tim also served as the President of the board for the International Christian Visual Media Association (ICVM). Tim’s first full feature documentary film, “PATTERNS OF EVIDENCE: THE EXODUS”, released in January 2015. The film took 12 years to develop and takes a scientific approach to investigate the events of the biblical Exodus. The overall vision for his film company is to explore “patterns of evidence” that support the biblical narrative and engages the world in a conversation. The film takes a balanced approach and leaves the audience to decide for themselves if the Bible is real history or myth.


About the film

Won 13 awards on the film festival circuit in 2014, including a Gold Remi Award winner for Best Director at the Worldfest Houston Intl. Film Festival, the Gold Crown Award for Best Picture and Best Documentary at ICVM 2014, and Official Selection at the Soho International Film Festival in New York.

Supplemental resources associated with the film include a nearly 400-page hardcover book, small group Bible study, Movie Event kit, youth version (called Young Explorers), homeschool curriculum and others.

It includes powerful interviews with some of the top experts in the fields of archaeology and Egyptology as well as people of influence in the Middle East.

The film has an objective, fair-minded and balanced approach. It allows viewpoints from all sides to be heard in a respectful way while asking honest questions of the Bible and scholars’ views. It does not preach and lets the evidence speak for itself. This allows the film to be very shareable with those of different viewpoints.

Social Corner

*Buy Link is...   https://store.patternsofevidence.com/collections/movies
*Main website for people to watch movie trailers and see more info is www.patternsofevidence.com
**If you want to offer a discount code for your readers to put in when purchasing the DVD at our store, they can use MK1 for $3 off the DVD price which retails for $19.95.

Thanks to FlyBy Promotions for the review copy.

Giveaway:

Comment on this post to be entered to win a copy. I will pick one winner using random.org 10 days from today on September 6.

Captive, a DVD review and giveaway

Based on a miraculous story about the power of faith, Captive is an "amazing, inspiring" drama about the spiritual collision of two lost souls, Brian Nichols (Golden Globe Nominee David Oyelowo), on the run from police and desperate to make contact with his newborn son, takes recently widowed mother Ashley Smith (Kata Mara) hostage in her own apartment.  Fearing for her life and desperately hoping to see her daughter again, she turns to Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life for guidance.  Ashley and her captor face a crossroads where they discover hope and light in the midst of despair in the moving film that Dick Rolfe, CEO, Dove Foundation hailed as "powerful." 


My review:
   I am not a huge fan of the Rick Warren book mentioned in the movie, so I really had no plans to watch it until I received a review opportunity for it and read about the movie.... so I figured I might as well do it.

  The movie doesn't sugarcoat anything. The main character is a drug addict who has had her little girl taken from her, and she is still doing drugs. There is also gun violence in the movie as it shows the bad guy shooting and killing a few people. Other than those two issues, the movie is clean and curse-free.

  Captive does a great job of showing a young woman down on her luck whose life is suddenly turned more upside down as she becomes the captive of a man on the run for murder. The acting is top notch, and the movie producers did a great job of making a movie length story about these true events.

  The book plays a rather small part in the movie, but it does seem to help soften the criminal to bring about the ending that happens instead of one that could have ended in tragedy. The movie shows that good can come out of even an event such as this young woman went through.

 I enjoyed the movie and it held my attention well. Great plot and characters.

DVD Release Date: January 5, 2016
Runtime: 96 minutes
Rating: PG-13 (for mature thematic elements involving violence and substance abuse) 

There are over 30 minutes of bonus content on this DVD including Journey Through Darkness: Filming Captive and Faith and The Purpose Driven Life.  Also included with this DVD is a Digital HD copy that can be instantly streamed and downloaded.  

"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.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”


Giveaway:

Courtesy of FlyBy Promotions, I have one copy of the Captive DVD to give away.

To enter, simply watch the movie trailer below, and comment saying you did with any additional comments you want to make.

I will pick a winner 10 days from now on February 1 using Random.org.



 

Finding Noah, a movie review

For over 2,000 years, man has been searching for the final resting place of Noah's Ark.  Though there have been many attempts, few have been able to fully explore the one place specifically noted in the Bible: Mount Ararat.  Located in Eastern Turkey, Agri Dagh or "The Painful Mountain" is the tallest mountain in the region and lies in the very center of a centuries old, geo-politically unstable hot spot.  With constant threats of deadly rock slides, hidden crevasses, and glacial ice falls, the Kurdish Rebel held mountain poses great risk to any explorer, let alone those performing a thorough scientific investigation.

Join director/producer Brent Baum and the FINDING NOAH film crew as they follow an expedition of intrepid explorers on a perilous trek up to Mt. Ararat's desolate summit.  There, using state of the art technology and real-time satellite imagery, this team of archeologists, scientists and professional mountaineers will begin a grid work of exploration unlike any before, hoping to finally resolve the age-old question:  did Noah and his Ark actually exist?

Shot in never-before filmed locations in the harshest of conditions, this unprecedented feature-length documentary shows just how far men are willing to go to discover the truth.  Narrated by Academy Award nominee Gary Sinise, FINDING NOAH is more than a quest for answers, it is a testament of the human spirit, where belief and the need for exploration transcend risk and limitation.

My review:
  I have always found the idea of Noah's Ark being found a fascinating idea. Part of me doubts it will ever be found, part of me wonders if God would let it be found, and yet another part of me hopes it will be found,

  I was happy to get this opportunity to review this movie/documentary before it even hits theaters. Via a link and password, I was able to view it on my computer.

  The documentary is two fold. They go over a lot of supposed sightings of the ark going back a couple of hundred years, and have photos that people took of what appears to be a large boat-like object in the ice. There are interviews with experts and people who have searched for the ark before. What I would call the main part of the documentary is the modern day search for the ark with interviews, commentary, and a lot of video shots from the guys on the expedition. They show a lot of area that most people haven't seen.

  I found the documentary fascinating, and from what people have said and shown by photos, it left me believing that the ark has been sighted before.

  I won't give away any spoilers, or say what the group found or didn't find, but I do recommend seeing Finding Noah.

Official website here.

Facebook page.

Twitter

YouTube channel

Purchase tickets here.

Movie trailer below:

Israel's Mission by Ray Vander Laan

 Focus on the Family brings you Volume 13, Israel's Mission: Becoming a Kingdom of Priests in a Prodigal World, the latest release in Ray Vander Laan's popular That the World May Know® video series. That the World May Know features Vander Laan's unique method of Bible teaching and takes viewers on location to give context to the original writings.

Vander Laan has always believed that to more greatly understand and appreciate the Bible, one had to have a sense of the land and the culture from which it sprang. Biblical analogies and examples, while meaningful and helpful even to this day, were first meant to convey God's truth to particular people in a particular time and place. So the more fully we can appreciate those times and places, the more fully we can respond to the power of the Word.


WHAT'S YOUR MISSION?

God gave the assignment to His people thousands of years ago: to bring "lost sheep" back into the love and safety of His kingdom. He said to become a "Kingdom of Priests," and put God on display to show the world what He is like. It's still our task today. In this thirteenth volume of the That the World May Know ® film series, you'll glimpse the urgency and rewards of welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace. Discover the mission that can give your life --- and the lives of those around you --- greater meaning than you ever imagined.

Join renowned teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan as he guides you through the lands of the Bible. In each lesson, Vander Laan illuminates the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the sacred Scriptures. Filmed on location in the Middle East and elsewhere, the That the World May Know® film series will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus.

My review:
  I have long been interested in this series, but have never had the chance to check any of the DVDs out until I got the opportunity to review this one. I recently did a review of a DVD that was similar to this one that I thought was too brief and didn't have much depth, but this is completely the opposite. There are 5 different lessons on the DVD, all of them averaging 31-32 minutes. The DVD has fascinating footage of Israel and Jordan. Ray Vander Laan has a small group of people he addresses as they travel with him throughout the Middle East, which makes it more interesting than if he were just addressing the camera.

 There is a book for the DVD that I believe comes separately, but was also given to me with the DVD. Coming in at 252 pages, there is a lot covered in the book. Each session:
Focuses on passages of Scripture explored in the film.
Includes sidebars, maps, photos, and other study tools.
Features questions that facilitate discussion and inspire personal reflection.

  The lessons cover Abraham and Sarah, Israel at Sinai, Jesus renewing the Mission, the prodigal son, and the seeking father. Vander Laan ties it all together in the plan of redemption in a way that is fascinating and easy to follow and understand. Each lesson is covered by approximately 40 pages in the book.

  I found the DVD and book very well done, and something that would benefit any Christian. It could be done by an individual, a family, or a Bible study group.

About the author:

Since receiving his Master's of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1976, Ray Vander Laan has been actively involved in studying and teaching Jewish culture using the methods of Jewish education. He has continued graduate studies in Jewish Studies in the United States, Israel, Turkey and Egypt. He has been a teacher for 35 years and is an ordained minister with the Christian Reformed Church. He has also authored a book entitled Echoes of His Presence, published by Focus on the Family. Vander Laan founded That the World May Know Ministries in 1998. Ray has taken over 10,000 people with him on his study tours of Israel, Turkey and Egypt.

Ray's preaching and teaching ministry is focused on understanding the Bible in light of the historical and cultural context in which God placed it. This perspective on the Bible highlights God's call for His people to be a transforming influence on their culture. He uses research of the top scholars in the fields of archaeology, history, and Biblical study as tools to explore the Biblical text ever more deeply. His gifts, expertise, and calling are to link that cultural information and the Bible so that its message applies to our lives today in very practical ways.


Isreal's Mission is available from Focus on The Family

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copies.

Intersect DVD by Rob Peabody and Cris Rogers

Welcome to Intersect; a resource designed to help you start spiritual conversations with your small group, your friends, or people who don't yet know Jesus. 

Intersect uses the creative medium of video storytelling to start and  facilitate discussions about where your story and God's story converge. We can all relate to stories, as we all have our own stories. Some of them are joyous and easy to share with the world. Others are difficult and remind us of times that we sometimes wish we could simply forget. But nonetheless, we all have beautiful lives that are marked by events, situations, and circumstances that have shaped us uniquely into who we are today.

The stories you will watch chronicle choices that are made when individuals find themselves in the middle of hard times. All human beings have the propensity to go through situations that are trying, and the Bible even teaches that finding ourselves in these times will be a part of all our journeys. It is how we respond to these times that helps define our lives and develop our characters.

Each story and its related discussion questions takes a look at an issue that we are all likely to experience at some point. Together you and your group can explore your responses to: expectations, rest, disappointment, trust and control. We hope that each person will identify with each story and theme, will connect with the choices that were made in the video story, and explore how that specific situation intersects with their own life.

Intersect also aims for you to find inspiration in how, in each story, the opportunity is there to turn to God for help. We believe that the Bible is a guide, telling the story of how we were created to live. We hope you and your group will connect with the Bible passages and realize their truth and usefulness for application in your life. This is where your stories will intersect with God's story.

Intersect is a useful tool for those in the church to use as they seek to engage those outside of it with the love and message of Jesus. Starting spiritual conversations in this context can feel intimidating, but this resource can be easily shared with friends, neighbors, colleagues and family members. The video stories give platform to meaningful conversation, and the questions lead the way through the topic.

Intersect is for followers of Jesus too. Our hope is that through these stories your faith and understanding will grow, and you will discover where your story and God's story converge.

My review:
   I was excited to review this, as I think it is the first review of this kind I have done. The DVD is done well, having 5 different individuals tell their stories from one man dealing with his wife abruptly leaving and divorcing him to a singer having a hard time making it. After each person tells their story, one of the DVD producers talks.

  Inside the DVD case is a booklet with questions to answer. They follow a specific pattern:
1) Topical questions about the theme of the video.
2) Deeper question looking at the root of that theme.
3) Question about the story told in the video.
4) Introduction of a Bible passage with questions about what the Bible says about the theme.
5) Challenge to seek God's truth with respect to the video theme.

   This DVD would be great for newer Christians, but maybe not so much for more mature Christians. I feel the questions and videos are too brief and don't have enough depth, but that doesn't mean it cannot be a good tool for newer Christians.

About the authors:

ROB PEABODY @AwakenRob

Rob is the Co-Founder and International Director of Awaken, a non-profit charity that exists to resource the church for action. Awaken creates resources that inspire, educate, and equip local churches to live as Kingdom-bringers in their communities. In 2011, Rob and his wife, Medea, along with their two boys left his position as a lead campus pastor at a mega-church in Texas to pioneer and lead fresh expressions of church seeking to engage unreached 20-30's in northeast London. His latest book, Citizen, was released in Autumn 2014.

CRIS ROGERS @RabbiRogers

Cris is a writer, pastor, speaker and church visionary. In 2010, Cris planted a church in the poorest area of London with a dream for it to be an explosion of joy within the tower block estate in which he works.





Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.

Patterns of Evidence Exodus DVD review and giveaway

For more than 50 years, the vast majority of the world's most prominent archaeologists and historians have proclaimed that there is no hard evidence to support the Exodus story found in the Bible.  In fact, they say that the archaeological record is completely opposed to the Bible's account.  This view of extreme skepticism has spread from academia to the world.  The case against the Exodus appears to be so strong that even some religious leaders are labeling this ancient account as historical fiction.  Filmmaker Timothy Mahoney begins with the questions, "Is the Bible just a myth, or did the archaeologists get it wrong?"  He decides to tackle this issue wit a deliberate scientific approach.   After examining the details in the biblical text, he journeys across the globe to search for patterns of evidence firsthand.  The result is the most in-depth archaeological investigation into the Exodus from Egypt ever captured on film.   This scientific documentary's goal is to communicate the TRUTH of the Bible and help equip believers with defending their faith and the Bible.  

The DVD features stunning animations and a cast including narrator, Kevin Sorbo (God's Not Dead, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys), interviews with leading archaeologists including Israel Finkelstein, Kent Weeks, and David Rohl, and guest appearances by Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and Shimon Peres. 

My review:
   I am not big on documentary type DVDs, but this sounded interesting. It took a little while to get my attention, but then I found myself getting into it after the first 10-15 minutes. The DVD is not one man talking the whole time. It is narrated some and the man who did the DVD talks with several different people throughout the DVD. There are scenes from Bible movies, photographs, views of different scenes, and other graphs and documents pictured throughout the DVD.

  I never realized how much disagreement and doubt there is about the Exodus story. Many archaeologists claim that there is no proof found in archaeology for the Exodus. I don't want to give too much away, but Mahoney shows that there is a lot of proof for the Exodus if the commonly accepted date for it is moved back a certain amount of years. I found the information and proof he presented fascinating, and was amazed at the things they have found that do prove the Bible is right about the Exodus, Jericho, and other events in and around Egypt and the Exodus. Granted, this isn't like watching a fast-paced movie, but I enjoyed the DVD and found my faith in the Bible rejuvenated and it made me more convinced than ever that God's Word is true.

Releases on DVD August 4, 2015 

Run Time:  119 minutes

Special Features:  Cast Profiles & 17 Extra Interviews

      Behind the Music

      From Film to Book

      Additional Books and Resources

      Host a Patterns of Evidence Movie Event

      Trailers 

Genre:  Documentary 

Rating:  NR 

SOCIAL • C O R N E R  

Twitter:  @PattofEvidence

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PatternsofEvidence?fref=ts

Official Website:  http://patternsofevidence.com

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2assFIyLInE

Official Website to Purchase:  http://shop.patternsofevidence.com

Blog featuring interviews with director Tim Mahoney and an article by Anne Graham Lotz:  http://patternsofevidence.tumblr.com

Giveaway:

Courtesy of FlyBy Promotions, I have one copy of the DVD to give away. 

To enter, do one of the following:
Follow Patterns of Evidence on Twitter

"Like" the page on Facebook

Visit the website

Watch the trailer.

Comment with which you did, and 10 days from today on August 11, I will pick a winner using Random.org.

"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.”

Pirate's Code DVD, with a giveaway

In this follow up to Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure, Mickey Matson is at it again; this time pitted against the evil Admiral Ironside's and his gang of pirates who are intent on destroying civilization.  They're 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 Ironside's 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.  

My review:
   I watched the first Mickey Matson movie, Micky Matson and the Copperhead Treasure when it came out three years ago. Although it is more of a kid's movie, I liked it and was happy to see a second movie coming out.

 Just like the first movie, this one is completely family and kid-friendly. I thought the acting and the plot was better on this DVD, and it had a lot more special effects in it also. Derek Brandon, who plays Mickey Matson, has matured and gotten better with his acting, and he had a great performance on the movie, along with the rest of the cast.

  There is violence, but nothing too extreme: people fighting and getting hit with wrenches and other objects, and being shot with some kind of laser gun that just stuns and does not kill. There are no death scenes or anyone getting seriously injured in the movie.

  This is not a Christian movie, but it is 100% clean and free of bad language. There are good morals in the movie along with a patriotism that is missing in too many movies Hollywood produces. This is a movie to watch with your kids without fearing they will see or hear something you'd rather they not.

  I enjoyed the movie a lot. Maybe I am just immature, but it kept me on the edge of my seat and I found myself cheering the hero on, and I loved the ending. I highly recommend it. And although it is a sequel, I would say someone could watch it and not feel like they are in the dark about what is going on.

Official website for the Mickey Matson movies: MickeyMatson.com

  Pirate's Code is a Pureflix movie.

  Thanks to FlyBy Promotions for the review and giveaway copies.

Giveaway details:

Courtesy of FlyBy Promotions, I have one copy of Pirate's Code to give away.

To enter, do one of the following, and comment and say which you did:

1) "Like" The Facebook page for Mickey Matson

2) "Like" the Facebook page for Pureflix

3) Watch the official movie trailer on YouTube (it is on the website and also in this blog post)

4) "Like" the Facebook page for Derek Brandon.

 Using Random.org, I will pick a winner 10 days from today on June 21.

gMovies review, free trial, and giveaway

Why gMovies?

Join over 2 million people who are already enjoying gMovies on a monthly basis!

·  Instant access to over 300 hundreds Christian movies and TV shows with new titles added monthly

·  The whole family can enjoy a variety of entertainment including Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Documentaries, Thrillers and more

·  Stream from iPad, Android, or your PC

·  Only $4.99/month 

·  No contract; cancel anytime

·  Powered by UP, American’s favorite TV network for uplifting entertainment.

My Review:
  This is a review for a website, a Christian movies website. I like to watch Christian movies when I can find a good one.... not all are worth watching, but the list of Christian movies that are worth watching is growing. And gMovies has a lot that are worth watching.

  The website is easy to navigate. It has three main categories: drama, comedy, and documentary, with drama having the most movies. There are 12 sub-categories. You can view them alphabetically or by the most views. They do stream, and I had no trouble streaming the ones I have viewed so far.

  Selection-wise, this is no Netflix, as this site has just over 300 movies, but that is still a lot of movies with more being added in the future. The variety of movies is very wide and there are older and newer movies. And the price is decent: $4.99 a month, and you can cancel any time.

  A few I recommend that I have watched on the site or DVD:
Amazing Grace
What If...
Christmas Child
Hardflip
Meant to Be
 and more

  You can download an app for gMovies for the iPhone or Android.

Free trial:
For anyone reading this blog, there is a free two-week trial. Check out the site for two weeks, and if you like it..... keep it. If you're not sure about it, you can cancel.

For the free trial, go to this link. For the promotional code, enter: FREETRIAL68.

Giveaway:
There is also a giveaway for a free 6-month subscription to the gMovies site.
To enter to win the free 6-month subscription, comment with the last Christian movie you watched, or just a comment about the site or review.

10 days from today, April 26, I will pick a winner using random.org


This chance to review the website and offer the trial membership and giveaway were courtesy of FlyBy Promotions. Thanks to FlyBy Promotions for the opportunity and the giveaway.

"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.”

Grace of God DVD with a giveaway

Having lost his faith many years ago, Detective Bill Broadly is called to investigate the disappearance of the local church’s collection plate. As he questions its various church members, rumors swirl as more congregants learn about the theft. When one unexpected church-goer confesses to stealing the funds, the confession resurrects Broadly’s views on God, and helps him see that through faith and belief there really is rebirth and redemption.

My review:

It used to be rare to come upon a Christian movie that wasn't cheesy and/or had bad acting. In the last few years however, there have been several that have come out that are worth watching and have good acting and are not cheesy. This movie is one such movie.

  The plot is a bit different than other Christian movies: the theft of $30,000 from the church raises the need to call in a private investigator who happens to be very anti-Christian. A lot of the movie consists of his investigating and conducting interviews with anyone who could possibly have had access to the church safe. Along the way he realizes that churches may have hypocrites, but they also have genuine Christians who God has truly saved and changed.

  I loved the plot, and the actors. I felt they all did a professional job of acting and don't feel there was any cheesy or amateur moments in the movie. There was a great message that even the most mature Christian may fall and do something wrong, but there is still forgiveness and restoration. The movie is definitely worth watching as it is entertaining and also carries a great message.

  The DVD cover says it is a "story of Easter traditions." That is the only thing about the movie I didn't get..... it has nothing to do with Easter, but is still a great movie.


The Grace of God is available from Walmart and other retailers.

Thanks to FlyBy Promotions for the review and giveaway DVDs.

Giveaway:
Courtesy of FlyBy Promotions, I have one copy of the Grace of God DVD to give away.

Rules:
To enter, just comment. I will pick a winner 10 days from from today on April 10.

"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.”

The Giver

Occasionally I will get an offer to review a DVD, but rarely do I watch a movie and feel impressed to post a review of it. This is one of those rare times.

  I never read the book, but I have heard a lot about the movie, and several have hailed it as a great pro-life movie. I decided to watch it this evening and hoped it was worth the rental cost. And it was.

 The plot revolves around a young man named Jonas. He lives in a large community that is black and white, no color. There are no emotions, no animals, no love, no memories of life as we know it. No one is different, and everyone takes daily injections that hold emotions and memories at bay. At graduation, all graduates are given a job. Jonas is given the rare job of "receiver" of memories, and his trainer starts showing him memories of what life was like before their community was made and everyone basically became robots.

  I will try not to give away spoilers, but the more Jonas sees what it used to be like, the more he wants what used to be. He feels love for a baby and discovers what happens to babies who are not up to par and considered worthy to live in the community. They are "released". One of the great lines in the movie is stated by Jonas after he witnesses a baby being "released" and it has been explained to him that the people don't know what they are doing, that they are killing . "“They hadn't eliminated murder. They brought it home. They just called it by a different name.” 

  The movie had a slow start, but I quickly got into it and loved it. It is completely clean, no nudity or language, and comes as close to being a Christian movie as a movie could come and not be classified as such. And it is amazing for Hollywood to come up with a movie that is so pro-life, even if they didn't intend that to be the message. Completely family-friendly, and worth watching.

Saving Christmas, a movie review, and a giveaway

This Christmas, have your family join with Kirk Cameron’s family and dive headfirst into all the joy, dancing, celebration, feasting, imagination, and traditions that glorify the true “reason for the season.” KIRK CAMERON’S SAVING CHRISTMAS is an engaging story that provides a biblical basis for our time-honored traditions and celebrations, and the inspiration to stand strongly against a culture that wants to trivialize and eliminate the faith elements of this holy season. So take in the splendor; take in the majesty; take in the story. Take it all in… and let’s put Christ back in Christmas! KIRK CAMERON’S SAVING CHRISTMAS is in theaters for a limited engagement beginning November 14 for two weeks only!

My review:
   I like Kirk Cameron. The media and liberals hate him, so to me that says he must be doing something right. They don't hate the pseudo-Christians that abound in Hollywood, but they hate Kirk. I am interested in anything he does, so I was excited to get the opportunity to review this new film he is coming out with for Christmas. I signed up, and was sent the link by email to view it. Last night, I pulled it up on my computer, and sat back to enjoy it.

  It starts out with Kirk Cameron talking about the war on Christmas, as he sits in front of a Christmas tree and fireplace, then it launches into the film.

  I'll be honest. It wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a fun-filled movie about Christmas. It was interesting, and I enjoyed it, but it just wasn't what I expected. Not that it was bad.

  The movie starts out with a Christmas party at the sister of the character played by Kirk Cameron. His brother-in-law has become very anti-Christmas because of the commercialization and materialism and feels no one truly keeps Christmas the way it should be kept. Kirk's character hunts him down and gives him a lesson on the symbols of Christmas and how they relate to the real Christmas story.

 I'll admit, at first I thought it was stretching it a bit, but then the ideas grew on me, and I ended up thinking of Christmas in a new way, and the symbols of Christmas. There is also history given on St. Nicholas, and I learned some new things about him that I had never heard.

 The movie bounces back and forth between a couple of characters at the party, and the Christmas lesson. I kind of missed the point on the one conversation, but it did make it entertaining.

  I thought the movie was going to be about the war on Christmas by atheists and liberals, and that was mentioned, but it is mostly about seeing the symbols of Christmas in a new way and truly celebrating Christmas as Christians should - better than anyone else.

 I enjoyed watching Saving Christmas and would recommend it to anyone who wants to revive their Christmas spirit and get a different look at Christmas.

Thanks to FlyBy Promotions for the movie review and giveaway items.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOSiZIgZ2JQ

Check out the official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SavingChristmasMovie

Official website: http://www.savingchristmas.com

Giveaway:
Up for grabs to one winner:
1) A signed movie poster for Saving Christmas
2) The soundtrack to the film
3) A car air freshener, Christmas tree-scented.

To enter, comment and tell your favorite part of Christmas.
To get an extra entry, watch the movie trailer or "like" the Facebook page, and comment a second time saying which you did.

I will pick a winner using random.org on November 16.

Unstoppable DVD by Kirk Cameron, with a giveaway

Inspired by the death of Cameron’s close friend who succumbed to cancer at the age of 15, Kirk Cameron takes viewers on an inspiring and hope-filled visual journey to better understand the biggest doubt-raising question in faith: “Where is God in the midst of tragedy and suffering?”

Going back to the beginning—literally—Kirk investigates the origins of good and evil and how they impact our lives … and our eternities. UNSTOPPABLE will prompt audiences to consider the role that pain and suffering has in our lives, as they affirm their personal views on faith, and encourage conversation starters about God, suffering, and hope.  

In theaters for only two weeknights (Sept 24th and Oct 3th, 2013), UNSTOPPABLE: A Live Event with Kirk Cameron sold a staggering 260,000 tickets and reached a theatrical gross of over $3.2 million dollars. In just two nights this independent project sent a loud message – audiences want thought-provoking and meaningful entertainment. 

My review:
   This DVD starts out with Cameron telling about a teenage boy he knew dying from cancer, and of his struggle to understand why God didn't heal him, but let him die. He then goes back and talks about God creating the world, Adam and Eve, and their fall. As he talks, there is scenery shown and actors playing out the parts of the Biblical characters he is talking about.

  To be honest, I wondered where he was going for a while. Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel seemed to be far from talking about his young friend dying. It was interesting, but what did they have to do with God not stopping suffering?

  Cameron did bring it together and using the story of the first sin and the first murder, used that as a basis to show why suffering exists in the first place.

  Also shown at different times during his talking, are scenes from the funeral for his young friend, which helped underscore the question he was addressing.

 Cameron offers no simple or easy answers, but does present a good Biblical response to why God allows suffering. This isn't a fast paced DVD that will have you on the edge of your seat, but it is interesting, well done, informative, and addresses an issue we all face at some point.

About the author:

Kirk Cameron is best known for his memorable role as “Mike Seaver,” a cultural icon of the 80's, with his mullet hairstyle, cool glasses, and wisecracking comebacks. More recently he enjoyed much success with the No. 1 grossing inspirational film of 2008, Fireproof, and his recent documentary, Monumental. Kirk and his wife, Chelsea, were on-screen sweethearts during their Growing Pains years and are the founders of Camp Firefly, where terminally and seriously ill children and their families are provided an all-expense paid retreat (www.CampFirefly.com). Together, Kirk and Chelsea live in California with their six children.

Visit the official website: http://unstoppablethemovie.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unstoppablethemovie

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/UnstoppableDVD

About Provident Films: 

Provident Films, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, produces, markets, and distributes faith-based films. The company is part of Nashville-based Provident Music Group, which has been one of the world’s leading Christian entertainment companies for more than three decades.  Films from the company have included Courageous, October Baby, Fireproof, and Facing the Giants. More info is available at ProvidentFilms.org.

The review copy and giveaway copy were provided by FlyBy Promotions Blogger Network.

Giveaway:
FlyBy Promotions will mail one winner a copy of Unstoppable.

To enter, watch the DVD trailer, which is at the end of this blog post, and comment saying you watched it, or say something about it.

Ten days from today, on February 10, I will pick a winner using Random.org


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.

King's Faith DVD with a giveaway

About the film:

Eighteen foster homes. Nine arrests. One life-changing moment.

After Brendan King’s life spiraled to rock bottom, the teen found hope in a new relationship with Christ while serving time in a juvenile penitentiary. Recently released from prison, Brendan finds solace in the foster home of a couple struggling with suppressed grief.

 

As the city-bred teen enrolls at a suburban high school, he finds support from a group of believers. Yet the bonds of his old way of life—and the gang that wants to know where he hid their stash on a long-ago night—are strong. In his darkest moment, Brendan found faith. Now he must decide if it’s worth the price to hold on to it.

 

KING’S FAITH is produced by DiBella and Faith Street Film Partners LLC, a Rochester, NY-based collective of filmmakers, churches, investors, and supporters.   

“KING’S FAITH is a compelling story 

which features solid acting and a good storyline.”  

The Dove Foundation

“KING’S FAITH is a very redemptive, uplifting movie

extolling the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” 

MOVIEGUIDE®

KING’S FAITH stars Emmy Award winning actress Lynn Whitfield (The Women of Brewster Place, Madea’s Family Reunion), Crawford Wilson (Judging Amy, Zoey 101), Kayla Compton (Entourage), and James McDaniel (Malcolm X, NYPD Blue).

 

KING’S FAITH features the themes of courage, forgiveness and overcoming your past highlighted with the important message of youth in foster care. The film prompts audiences to consider many of the questions they struggle with today: How can I stand firm in my faith when life’s challenges put me to the test?   Where do I turn when I feel paralyzed by loss and grief?  Can I find true forgiveness from my wrong choices?

Release Date: October 22, 2013

Run Time: 108 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13           

Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

Special Features: A 10-minute behind-the-scenes feature, commentary, discussion guide, Bible study clips affiliated with the LIVE IT OUT Bible Study

 

My review:

   Sadly, there aren't a lot of really good Christian movies out there. There are a lot that are cheesy and/or have bad acting, but not a lot of them that are worth watching. Thankfully, in recent years there have been some that are the exception to the rule. This movie falls in to that category.

 

   I thought the movie sounded good when I received the email offering it for review, and it far exceeded my expectations. It has a terrific cast of actors. Crawford Wilson plays the main character, Brendan King, and does a great job of portraying a teenager that has been in and out of foster care.

 

  There is some violence and gang action, but it is not overdone at all. I caught no bad language at all, nor anything else that I found offensive..... and I'm picky about things like that in a movie.

 

  The movie had a great plot, though it was a sad one also. Though the movie is fictional, it did bring home to me the reality that there are countless teenagers in the going through a lot of what the teenager in the movie went through. Countless foster homes, drugs, gangs, and more. The movie is also a great testimony to how God can save a young person like that and completely turn their life around.

 

  I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I started watching it with the intent to stop halfway through and go to bed, but I got so caught up in it that I stayed up late and finished it. As I popped the DVD out of my player, I found myself wishing I could somehow help kids in those kind of situations. So be forewarned, the movie may stir you.

 

     I would highly recommend this movie to any Christian. It is definitely up to the quality of Fireproof and Courageous. Teens especially will enjoy the movie, but adults would also.

 

Watch the trailer/Visit the official website www.kingsfaith.com. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingsFaith

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kingsfaith

 

Thanks to FlyBy Promotions Blogger Network for the review and giveaway copies.

 

Giveaway: courtesy of FlyBy Promotions Blogger Network, I am offering one person the chance to win a copy of the King's Faith DVD.

Ways to enter: (any one)

1) watch the movie trailer at www.kingsfaith.com, and comment on this blog post by saying you watched the trailer.

2) comment about the review

3) tell what your favorite Christian movie is

The giveaway will run for 10 days, and I will pick a winner using random.org on November 16.