Awakened (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the movie-

Newspaper reporter Jacob Harker (Rob Boltin) loses his job, forcing he and his wife, Haley (Gwendolyn Edwards), to move into a small rental house owned by Webster Cain (Michael Monks). In the process of moving in, Jacob discovers a discarded audio recording of 60’s blues singer Carol James (Hannah Hughes). Captivated by the voice on the recording, Jacob conducts an investigation into Carol James’ life and death.  Through his pursuit, Jacob becomes haunted by an evil spirit. While the spirit seductively persuades Jacob, drawing him deeper and deeper into its own malicious plot, the spirit attacks and terrorizes Haley, creating both fear and distrust in the Harker’s home. Haley sees her husband turning into someone less recognizable each day.

How can a marriage survive such attack, deception, and evil?

Can the faith of one help restore the condition of another?

My thoughts-

This was the first movie I have ever heard of in the Christian movie world that is a suspense movie. I thought it was an interesting story line and thought the movie did a good job of keeping the story moving and interesting. It was fun trying to figure out what exactly the spirit was after through Jacob. I enjoyed the beautiful singing of Hannah Hughes as Carol James and seeing how this obsession of with Carol James does to the Harker's marriage. I hope to see more movies along similar lines as "Awakened". This was a great suspense movie for fans of this genre who are looking for something that will keep you on your toes and guessing, but without the gore and violence of other typical horror movies. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. 

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Watch the "Awakened" trailer below-

Adrenaline (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the movie-

After a crash leaves him paralyzed, drag racer Joseph Jenkins thinks his life is over. But his hospital roommate Elijah slowly gives him new perspective. When he returns home, his Uncle Paul gets him competing again---and winning. But can he face his nemesis Jason Skynard, the man he was challenging when the accident happened?




My thoughts-

I am usually not a fan of  drag racing movies, but I thought the story line to this one sounded interesting. I was right. My favorite parts of Adrenaline were the parts where Joe interacts with Elijah. Elijah is the best part of the movie and brings out the best in Joe. It was great to watch his attitude and thoughts about himself change throughout the movie.  I actually found myself enjoying the parts in the movie about racing as well. Adrenaline would make a great pick for a family movie night- intense and dramatic enough to hold an adults attention, but cool enough for a younger person to want to watch.

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Watch the trailer for Adrenaline below-

Catching Faith (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the movie-

John and Alexa Taylor appear to have the perfect life – they’re the envy of all the parents in town. Their son Beau is the high school football star and their daughter Ravyn is a straight-A student. But when Beau is caught drinking alcohol, his place on the team and his bright future are on the line. With the football season at stake and the judgmental community turning their backs on them, every member of the Taylor family is at a crossroads. Now, they must find the strength from one another, and the spiritual courage from within, to prove that faith and family is the only score that really matters.

My thoughts-

Catching Faith is a great movie to watch with the whole family. It is a movie that both parents and children can find characters to relate to. Alexa and John are just trying their best to be good parents, but even kids with the best parents might make bad decisions based on peer pressure or fear or a variety of other reasons. The movie is about faith and about doing the right thing and to me it was also about the fact that no one is perfect. Even when we do something we shouldn't or realize we are being somebody we shouldn't, we have God to turn to and the opportunity to change things around. I enjoyed watching Catching Faith because it was about real situations that a family could find themselves in and is 100% easy to relate to. I recommend this movie as a great pick for a family movie night.


Watch the Catching Faith Trailer

Uncommon (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the movie-

When the students of Rosewood High lose their drama department due to budget cuts, they decide to create their own! Equipped with unique talents, they bond together to prepare the perfect production with a modern take on the Bible's parables. Fighting overwhelming challenges, the teens defend their privilege to worship, meet and perform. Armed with expert legal counsel and unexpected help from Christian music's finest, these teens realize what it means to be...Uncommon!


My thoughts-

At the beginning of the movie main character Aaron has lost his brother and is switching schools. He becomes a student at Rosewood High with his cousin only to find out that the administration has made budget cuts affecting the arts program at his school. He and his new friends find a way to continue the production of a play they had already started on, but many obstacles get in their way along the way. Still, they want to stand for something, so they persevere. The first thing I thought when watching this movie is how tough it is to lose anyone close to you when you are still young. I couldn't imagine losing a sibling. I had a friend who lost a sibling very young and I know it was tough on him pretty much the rest of our school days. Aaron wants to do something good, so he starts a student led Bible study. An anti-Christianity teacher finds out about it and berates him. I know that this is probably a real occurrence in schools these days and it makes me sad for my children. I know things were already starting to get this way when I was still in school 15+ years ago, but I was blessed to live in a small community that was not this way. My friends and I had a Bible study right at the front doors of our school every week. We were not once told we couldn't hold it in the school, let alone right at the front door. I would like to think if we were we would react the same way as Aaron and his friends, by fighting. Religious freedom for Christians seems to be obsolete these days. I enjoyed the movie and particularly loved Eric Estrada's character. He brought a great father figure and ally to these kids and helped them fight for what was right. I recommend watching this movie if you have ever felt like you wanted to do something important, but were scared. I also recommend watching this with your kids. They could learn a great deal from this group of kids!

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Watch the Uncommon trailer below!

Virtious (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the movie-

When a young woman, Simone Burner (singer/songwriter, Brandy Allison), is accused of murdering the man who assaulted her, she seeks out the help of attorney Jack Evans (Erik Estrada) to prove her innocence. A ruthless and corrupt prosecutor engages her in a trial that brings the past she has longed to escape to the forefront of her defense. Virtuous will inspire and ignite you to live the principles of Proverbs 31 faith, integrity, wisdom and honor.

My thoughts-

Virtuous begins with the assault and subsequent murder that takes place that Simone stands trial for. Throughout the movie, little pieces of her past are revealed and the trial for the man that was murdered takes place. Even though the movie focuses on Simone, we get to know several of the other characters and the things going on in their lives. It was a fast paced movie that focuses on faith and honesty. Fans of Erik Estrada will be thrilled to see him here as Simone's lawyer. The rest of the movie is rounded out with an equally talented cast. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys faced paced movies or stories about redemption.

Virtuous is available now at retailers nationwide.

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Watch the Virtuous movie trailer below-

The Father's Love (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are 100% my own.

About the movie- 

Sarah, an aspiring filmmaker meets the man of her dreams. Charming, handsome, and wealthy, Reece becomes her world. As their story

unfolds, Sarah is taken on a journey of heartbreak and forgiveness, exploring the meaning of her relationships both past and present.



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My thoughts-

The Father's Love was different from any Christian movie I have seen. I guess usually when I want a Christian romance I tend to lean towards historical period pieces. I thought this movie was a nice change of pace. Sarah is a busy career woman but meets Reece who seems like everything a woman could possibly want in a man, but it turns out that may not be true after all. I think many women have been through somewhat similar situations to Sarah and could probably really relate to the things she goes through in her relationships- with Reece, with her father, and with God. This is a movie about love- love between friends, romances, self love and the love of God. I think each person that watches this movie might take something different from it. My heart broke for Sarah several times, I couldn't really understand why she would make some of the choices she did until her full story was revealed. I enjoyed watching her journey. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys love stories.

Watch the trailer-

VeggieTales Supercomics Volumes 1 & 2 Review + Giveaway!

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the comics from Family Christian Stores via their program for bloggers in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 



About VeggieTales Comics-

The VeggieTales characters and stories that we have all come to love are available in a new format- comics! Each comic contains 3 stories focused on a specific lesson. Recommended for ages 4-8

My thoughts-

VeggieTales came out when I was in high school and I remember always being super happy to get to watch them in youth group. Yes, the show was aimed at young children, but they were super cute and always had some great songs to sing along to! Since then the VeggieTales franchise has grown exponentially since then and still are as popular as ever! Their latest endeavor in the entertainment industry is VeggieTales Supercomics! Comic book heroes have always been popular, but it seems in the last few years that superheroes have really been everywhere. These comics are great because they teach important lessons while still being super fun to read! Volume 1 includes Dave and the Giant Pickle, Lyle the Kindly Viking and an all new story Larry Boy and the Prideosaurus and volume 2 offers these- Josh and the Big Wall, The League of Incredible Vegetables, and Larry Boy and the Reckless Ruckus. My kids, specifically my 7 year old daughter, really enjoy looking through these comics. I like that each volume has several stories so that the little ones have something to keep them busy for a while. The vibrant pictures and cute characters are also a big win! These are great for older kids to read independently and wonderful for parents to read out loud to little ones who might need help reading them. We really have been enjoying the great stories in VeggieTales Supercomics and look forward to many more in the future!

Enter below via the Rafflecopter for your chance to win a copy of both volumes 1 and 2 of VeggieTales Supercomics! 

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Rumors of War (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie from Edify Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 


About the movie-

 is a suspenseful, genre-bending film with two converging storylines. An aspiring college journalist finds herself searching for answers when she investigates end-time prophecies for a term paper. Recording her research in a diary, her findings prove to have more of an impact than she could have ever imagined.
​
Her diary is discovered years later, in the rubble of a post-apocalyptic society filled with decay and violence. With the truth of what really happened to the world in its pages, the book finds its way into to the hands of an officer in the New World Army. But what will he do with this new found truth?

My thoughts-

In a time where dystopian movie and books are very popular with the masses, this post-apocalyptic story certainly fits in. What I like about it, is that though it is a work of fiction, it takes it's main idea from Revelations...concerning the rapture and the mark of the beast. It is given a bit of a modern twist with the "chip" that is to be implanted in everyone serving as the mark of the beast and the thing that Christians need to avoid. I thought that the movie was a very interesting concept. It is always interesting to think about how things might go down concerning the mark of the beast and how it could just happen at any time. I enjoyed the movie, the suspenseful and post-apocalyptic aspect of it, but for some reason I felt like it was missing something although I can not quite put my finger on what it was. I thought it was a great effort and an enjoyable movie for the family that could be a great conversation starter. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys movies about the aftermath of the apocalypse or are interested in the points of interest in Revelations.

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Watch the Rumors of War trailer below-

A Long Way Off (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the movie-

Retelling the timeless parable of a father's unconditional love, tempestuous young Jake tries to escape the duties of the family business by leaving his home and taking his dreams to the big city. Far from the wise words of his father, Abraham, Jake is finally free to live the high life that he's always wanted, trading the traditional values of his upbringing to revel in every temptation that money can buy.Just when Jake thinks the world is his playground and every day offers another enticing opportunity, he must come face to face with the consequences of the life he's chosen. Jake must learn that sometimes to realize/appreciate what he left behind, and if his mistakes can every outweigh the grace of a father's forgiveness. 

My thoughts- 

Any Christian is probably familiar with the parable of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15. This is a modern day retelling of that parable that really does a great job of modernizing the parable and making is relevant to today. The characters in this movie were easy to relate to. The main character, Jake, wants to leave behind farm life because he just doesn't think it's for him and feels like there is something else out there better for him. Who has not felt that way before? I enjoyed watching Jake's journey. I cringed for him as he made terrible decisions and I rejoiced when he finally came to his senses. I loved seeing Jake develop a friendship with Summer at the coffee shop. Their friendship develops very organically, but Jake also gets in the way of himself. I could tell right away that there was something off with his new neighbor and I was sad to see him fall for it and get himself in a mess, but a movie wouldn't be a movie without a little conflict! A Long Way Off would make a great movie to watch as a family and discuss afterward. My 3 kids are too young to really understand this story, but they all piled up on the couch with me and watched it anyway. I think anyone who enjoys a heartwarming story will like this movie. 

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Where to buy A Long Way Off-
Family Christian Stores
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Watch the trailer for A Long Way Off below-

The Perfect Summer (Movie Review)

*Disclosure- I received a copy of the movie from Edify Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the movie-
In The Perfect Summer, fatherless teenager Jake (Adam Horner) is happy living in Chicago, until his mother (Sydney Penny) decides to uproot them to a small surfing town where her estranged father (Eric Roberts), Jake's grandfather, lives. The transition isn't easy for anyone and it seems everywhere he goes, Jake manages to make enemies, including the town bully, Tyler (JD Banks), who doesn't like the new interloper or his interest in young surfing prodigy, Kayla (Katie Garfield). Stuck in the beach town with no friends and no knowledge of surfing, Jake has nowhere to turn until Cody (Jason Castro), the local surf shop owner, reveals that Jake's grandfather is a surf legend. Tired of feeling like an outcast, Jake asks Lou to teach him about surfing. Jake learns to face his fears, push through inhibitions and realizes that winning the respect of his new peers - and Katie's heart - might mean facing the biggest challenge of his life.

My thoughts-
The Perfect Summer had me at "beach". I love movies that are set at the beach, it is just a fun environment to be in and I guess i dream of being at the beach a lot of the time myself, so maybe that has something to do with it. I liked that I could watch this movie around my kids, there was a tad bit of violence, but nothing out of control or anything. The movie begins with Jake and his mom moving in with his grandfather. Jake has a tough time with this because he used to living in an entirely different environment and it is just tough for a teenager to transition to an new, unfamiliar place where they don't know anyone. Of course, the thing that turns Jake's attention on becoming more comfortable in town is meeting Katie in the surf shop. He still has a rough time fitting in, but meeting Katie and his grandfather giving him surf lessons help him through some of his trials. I really enjoyed this movie and my 6 year old daughter loved the surfing aspect of the movie. She asked me if she could surf one day too! The surfing lessons were a fun part of the movie. The cast was perfect and I loved seeing American Idol alum Jason Castro as the surf shop owner, he nailed the part! Great acting, a good storyline and a movie that can be watched by the whole family make The Perfect Summer the perfect family movie night pick! 
Purchase The Perfect Summer on Amazon.com or Mardel

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Watch The Perfect Summer trailer below-

The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey Blog Tour & Book Review + Win a Kindle HDX

About the book-For the three people tortured by their secret complicity in a young man's untimely death, redemption is what they most long for . . . and the last thing they expect to receive.

It has been twenty years since Philip McBride's body was found along the riverbank in the dark woods known as Happy Hollow. His death was ruled a suicide. But three people have carried the truth ever since---Philip didn't kill himself that day. He was murdered.

Each of the three have wilted in the shadow of their sins. Jake Barnett is Mattingly's sheriff, where he spends his days polishing the fragile shell of the man he pretends to be. His wife, Kate, has convinced herself the good she does for the poor will someday wash the blood from her hands. And high in the mountains, Taylor Hathcock lives in seclusion and fear, fueled by madness and hatred.

Yet what cannot be laid to rest is bound to rise again. Philip McBride has haunted Jake's dreams for weeks, warning that he is coming back for them all. When Taylor finds mysterious footprints leading from the Hollow, he believes his redemption has come. His actions will plunge the quiet town of Mattingly into darkness. These three will be drawn together for a final confrontation between life and death . . . Between truth and lies.

My thoughts-

 

I am a huge fan of suspense novels. To me, one of the best signs of a good novel is one that has something that keeps me turning the pages to find out what happens next and The Devil Walks in Mattingly did just that.  I wanted to know what happened on that day so long ago that was torturing these people all of their adult lives and what exactly did happen to Philip McBride. It was interesting to meet the characters in the present day not knowing exactly what happened in the past until the end because it gives the reader an opportunity to sympathize with what they are going through and feel the torture that they are feeling and by the time you find out what did happen, you realize that everyone's perception of what happened is a little different than what actually went down. I felt bad for both Kate and Jake, but I felt if they would have both been more honest with each other, maybe the dark secret they both carried might not have been such a burden, but then that wouldn't make for a page turner. I enjoyed that there was a little bit of intensity to this novel with the character of Taylor and the madness he carries, some pretty bad things happen when he comes around. Ultimately, my favorite part of the book was trying to figure out what happened to Philip and how it is resolved at the end of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a page turning suspense novel and who can handle a tiny bit of violence that occurs in the novel. This was the first book I have read by Billy Coffey, but he has written a few more and I definitely plan on reading those as well!

About the author-

Billy Coffey's critically-acclaimed books combine rural Southern charm with a vision far beyond the ordinary. He is a regular contributor to several publications, where he writes about faith and life. Billy lives with his wife and two children in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.

Learn more about Billy at: http://billycoffey.com

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**********Enter to win a Kindle HDX**********

Billy Coffey is celebrating his new book, The Devil Walks in Mattingly, with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway.

 
  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 5th. Winner will be announced April  7th on Billy's blog. Watch Billy give the backstory of the book here.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Billy's blog on April 7th to see if you won.

My Name is Paul (Movie Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the movie-

Caught between The Way and The World, Paul blinded by hate and intent on destruction is determined to find and kill Peter the enemy of his Leader. However, a terrible accident and a miraculous discovery where he learns to live and love the way.

My thoughts-

The story of Paul is easily one of the most interesting and uplifting journeys in the Bible. For someone to go from being a murdering non-believer to one of the most prominent sharers of the word in just a brief amount of time is astounding, but that is our God for ya. "My Name is Paul" is a modern day re-telling of Paul's story, in a post-apocalyptic world. I thought it was interesting to watch a sort of mash up of Paul's story and the end times, especially in this time when so many people are interested in dystopian stories. This movie was full of action and was very intense to watch at times. There was a little bit of comic relief thrown in here and there which I was thankful for, but the tone overall is serious. I thought Andrew Roth did a wonderful job playing both sides of Paul. At the beginning of the movie, he is absolutely believable as a hate filled murderer, but after he is blinded on the road he is equally believable as a servant of God bent on sharing the truth and being useful anyway good sees fit. This movie was a very good representation of how Paul's change of heart took place. I think that it was also a good picture of what a post-apocalyptic world would look like and some of the situations that could likely happen then as well. I think anyone interested in the Bible and Paul's story, would find this to be an interesting in seeing this end times portrayal of his story. I would recommend "My Name is Paul" pretty much to any Christian and anyone interested in end times or Biblical based stories.

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About Word Entertainment-

A leader in the music industry for over 60 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Patrick Ryan Clark, Everfound, for KING & COUNTRY, Group 1 Crew, Love & The Outcome, Dara Maclean, NEEDTOBREATHE, Point Of Grace, Sidewalk Prophets, Skillet, Switchfoot and We As Human and is home to 25 Entertainment, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Music Publications & Church Resources, Word Films, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Word Worship and Fervent Records.

"My Name is Paul" will be available to purchase on DVD at Christian retail stores nationwide on April 8, 2014. You can pre-order the movie at Amazon.com.

Let God (Movie Review)

Disclosure- I received a copy of the dvd for review via Edify Media. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

About the movie (from the back cover of the dvd)-

As rumors of gold in California spread across the United States in 1848, Levi decides it is time to head west with Amelia, his young housewife, ,to stake their claim and build a better life. Against her better judgment, Amelia honors her husband's demands. leaving her home and family. Secretly, they join the last wagon caravan of the season dangerously late, leaving behind a string of bad debts. On the trail, they encounter unimaginable danger that will ultimately change the course of their lives.

After a savage attack takes her husband, Amelia is left alone and without resources. For the first time, Amelia must take her life into her own hands, battling winter, hunger and the unknown. As she grows weaker by the day, she finds strength in a mysterious and unexpected guide.  Survival becomes a race against time and Amelia must find something greater than herself to help survive the frigid winter along the Oregon Trail.

My thoughts:

I just can't seem to get enough of period pieces. Whether it be a movie or a book, there is just something about reading about past eras that intrigues me. Movies about other periods in time are always so interesting because we get a visual of how people lived in that time period- what kind of clothes they were, what they ate, where they lived and what kind of challenges they face. "Let God" is the story of Amelia, who has reluctantly headed out on the Oregon Trail with her husband after hearing rumors of gold in California.  She learns that her hesitance was well warranted as she ends up the sole survivor of an attack in the dead winter, lost and without food. Amelia has to try to find her way to town, but she has no idea how far it is or if she will be able to survive long enough to find it. I really enjoyed the acting skills of Jasmin Jandreau. I can only assume it is really difficult to be in a movie with a very small amount of scenes shared with others. Most of these scenes are Jandreau fighting the elements and her own mind as she tries to reach her final destination. This woman definitely has skills. She portrayed Amelia in a very believable way. I was captivated by the situation in which she found herself and definitely found myself wondering how I would feel if I were in her position, far away from her family and friends, alone and seemingly without hope. Although there were times it seemed like she might give up (and who could blame her when things looked so bleak) Amelia persevered and was as strong as she could be given the situation. Somewhere in the middle of her journey, she runs into an interesting guide. This little one gives her the strength to carry on. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys movies about earlier era's in time, dramas with great acting or movies with a great message.


About Word Entertainment-

 A leader in the music industry for over 60 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Patrick Ryan Clark, Everfound, for KING & COUNTRY, Group 1 Crew, Love & The Outcome, Dara Maclean, NEEDTOBREATHE, Point Of Grace, Sidewalk Prophets, Skillet, Switchfoot and We As Human and is home to 25 Entertainment, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Music Publications & Church Resources, Word Films, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Word Worship and Fervent Records.

The award winning movie "Let God" is now available Christian retail stores nationwide.

Watch the trailer below:

VeggieTales Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas Review

*Disclosure- I received a copy of the movie from Big Idea Entertainment. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

I was so excited when this movie arrived. I have loved VeggieTales since they first began and I have always particulalry enjoyed the Christmas movies. In Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas Larry the Cucumber stars as Head Elf at a mall who is on a quest to help a compassionate little girl who wants to help her neighbor in need for Christmas. Bob the Tomato stars as Phillip Fleagle, who takes some time to reflect on there being more to Christmas than material gifts and light displays. This feature will help little ones understand what the true meaning of Christmas is and what a joy it can be to give to others, especially those in need. Si Robertson of Duck Commander fame stars as the new okra character Silas and Owl City and TobyMac team up for the theme song of the movie "Light of Christmas".

My 3 kids and I have already watched this movie several times. I love that VeggieTales movies always have a great message for kids and the message in this one is particularly important. Sometimes kids can get so wrapped up in the fun of presents and lights that they may not know that there is a more important meaning to Christmas. This movie opens up the discussion that other people might not have money for presents or even for food and that we should always try to help when we can. It is a message I hope to instill in my kids, a conversation I want to continue to be openly discussed in our house, that we should take care of others when we can, even if it is just a small thing, compassion is an important quality to have. Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas is not only a great teaching tool, it has all of the elements we would expect in a great VeggieTales movie. There are catchy songs and vibrant characters. My kids love the song at the beginning of the show, but their absolute favorite was the new silly song "Wrapped Myself Up for Christmas". I can't even tell you the number of times that we have watched the sing along video in the extra features and my boys just giggle the whole way through it! There are also some other nice special features including a behind the scenes peek with Si Robertson which Duck Commander fans will absolutely adore. This is a great movie for any VeggieTales fan to add to their collection and a great Christmas movie to add to any household in general. I know my kids will look forward to watching it for years to come!

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Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas is now available Amazon.com and Mardel, as well as other retailers nationwide.

This Is Our Time Movie Review + Giveaway

From the back of the DVD: 

Ethan, Luke, Ale, Ryder and Catherine are five friends connected by their strong faith. After graduation, they each set out to make a difference in the world for God. Their ambitions are high, their passions are strong but will they have the courage to fullfill their calling regardless of what comes their way? The sacrifice they are asked to pay may be just too high. Through Godly wisdom from an outside source, the group realized that this is not their time after all, it's all His!

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

My thoughts:

Bring a box of tissues with you to the couch for this one ya'll. The movie starts off with 5 close friends that have just freshly graduated from college, with each trying to find their way to the calling they feel God has for them. Newly married couple Luke & Ale find theirs right away as they are invited to be a part of Embarace a Village, an outreach in India devoted to preventing and treating leprosy  as well as sharing the Christian faith with the people they are interacting with. Ryder and Catherine both find jobs right out of college as well. The only one that seems to be struggling is Ale's older brother Ethan, who already took an extra year to finish college and didn't get into any of the graduate schools he applied for. He feels like he is on the sidelines while all of his friends are in the game. He wants to do what God calls him to do, but he just doesn't know what that is. The movie is narrated by Ethan and tells of the five friends' journey after the first year of college. When tragedy strikes, they all re-evaluate what they are doing.

I really enjoyed watching this movie. I thought it had a great subject, because who hasn't struggled to figure out what they are called by God to be on this Earth for? It is interesting to see these five friends take on the world as they try to support each other in the process. They have a great adviser in a professor (portrayed by Eric Roberts) that they clearly grew close to in college. He helps nudge them, especially Ethan, to figure things out and to see that the place that you are, even if it happens to be a waiter at your dad's cafe, is the place you are meant to be at the exact moment you are there. Ethan definitely comes to see that by the end of the movie and figures out exactly why he was there. God has a purpose for everything, sometimes we just don't see it until later. Something else I really enjoyed about this movie was that although it is a fictitious account, the non profit in India that two of the characters join, Embrace a Village, is actually a real charity and they even used some of the people they have helped in the film. It adds a bit of authenticity to the movie and there is also a little special feature to explain more about what Embrace a Village is all about.

This is a great movie to watch no matter what your age or place in life is. It definitely makes you think about what you are called to do. I know that God called me to help people, but like Ethan in the film, I feel a bit sidelined right now while I have 3 preschool aged kids at home. I know I meant to help people on a more personal level, on a bigger scale, but for now, my job is to take care of my kids and teach them the same compassion and to help where I can whether it be a friend who needs an encouraging word, donating food or clothes to those in need or offering my help in whatever way someone may need it that I can do while my kids are little. This movie definitely got me thinking about how I can utilize the gifts God gave me in this season of my life and that it is okay that it isn't as big as my heart aches for it to be just yet. All in His good time.

I absolutely recommend this dvd to anyone who feels a bit lost about their direction or even someone who thinks they have it figured out. Beyond that, it is a tear jerker and if you are like me and enjoy a good movie that will make you think and cry, This Is Our Time is a great pick.

This is our Time will be released on DVD on April 16, 2013. You can pre-order it at ChristianCinema.com




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