I just saw the very inspiring story of Tony Melendez.

Tony was born with no arms.  That might have stopped some people, but not Tony.  Tony learned how to play the guitar WITH HIS FEET!  And let me tell you, he is really good.  I have played the guitar for about 43 years, and I can tell you that it takes a long time to get really good WITH YOUR FINGERS.  But Tony uses his toes!  I’m not sure exactly how he does it, but he plays a wide variety of chords, which means that he needs to use his individual toes to press individual strings.

He sings very well, too.  Not only does he have a great voice, but he stays right on pitch and right on time.

He is a very gifted guitar player AND singer.

And God has given him a beautiful, loving, and very devoted wife, as well as two adopted daughters.

Reminds me a lot of Joni Earekson Tada — she became paralyzed from the neck down, and so she taught herself to draw by holding the brush or pencil with her teeth.  And she has a loving and devoted husband.

Not only am I really happy that Tony is doing really well in life, but also, I am encouraged: if he can be successful, so can I!

After all, God is the one who is providing him with his success.

You can find The Gift of Hope in the Video on Demand section, under Sky Angel Music.

Beyond the Gates of Splendor is a documentary which fills in the details left out of the movie End of the Spear.  It is based on the book Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot.

This is the story of the efforts of a group of missionaries to Ecuador to reach the Auca people in the Amazon basin.  The Auca people were a very violent people and had resisted all efforts to reach them with the Gospel.  Jim Elliot and others came up with a method of breaking the ice — they would fly over in an airplane, lowering gifts to the Aucas in a bucket on a rope.  They finally landed their plane and met the Aucas face to face.  However, after some time, the Aucas decided to kill the missionaries.

One by one, the widows of the missionaries decided to go live with the tribe.  Through the efforts of the women, and the men before them, the Aucas committed their lives to Christ!  Strong evidence of their conversion is that the Aucas, who formerly continually killed each other with spears, renounced violence!

If you saw the movie End of the Spear, you will definitely want to watch Beyond the Gates of Splendor.  If you haven’t yet seen End of the Spear, I would recommend that you first watch it, and then Beyond the Gates of Splendor.  Both movies are available on Sky Angel Video on Demand.

This just under an hour cartoon was a surprisingly excellent film. The cartoon is low budget but the Christianized story of Victor Hugos classic is much better than the original!

This cartoon has some fun well done songs and good humor. The bad guys are the Sheriff, his lackey, and some greedy gypsies. The hereos are Pierre the uninspired poet, Esmeralda the beautiful Gypsy, The Archdeacon of Notre Dame and his faithful monk, and of course Quasimodo the hunchback!

Greed and deceit is rebuked in this film. Love, sacrifice, and compassion is praised. The beauty of the film is that Quasimodo while ugly on the outside is beautiful on the inside. This is part of the big surprise in the movie that really caught me unaware! Especially as they tie it to scripture. It is a stretch for the scriture used but it was appropriate for the film.

Now don’t get me wrong, this is not a theological film but a film of the heart. I think kids and parents will enjoy it. I found the singing, comedy, and storyline to be better than Disney’s version if not as graphically polished. I highly reccommednthe Hunchback for all families! God bless and Enjoy!

View Trailer Here –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_VbnrHoeWQ

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I’ve read some articles in the past about Einstein that made me wonder, “What did this extremely talented and gifted man actually believe?”  I have heard people say that he was an atheist , but I have heard stories that he humiliated an atheist teacher as well! I was not sure where he stood until I found some Einstein quotes from “Way of the Master”! Here are examples:

“In the View of such harmony in the cosmos which I with my limited human mind, am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what makes me really angry is that they quote me for support of such views.”

“As a Child I received instruction in both the Bible and the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.”

“Unquestionably! No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.”

“I’m not an atheist. I don’t think I can call my self a pantheist. The problem involved is too vast for our limited minds. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. the child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the Languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but but doesn’t know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God. We see the universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws but only dimly understand these laws.”

This episode of “Way of the Master” was aired on Cornerstone on Feb 13, and I watched it using the 48 hour play back feature so you still have time to check it out!

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The Super Bowl is the most watched football game of the entire year. During Super Bowl XLVI, the half time show was the cause of much debate, again. Who can forget the Super bowl in 2004 when Janet Jackson’s performance caused a stir in the news? This year, British singer M.I.A. raised her middle finger while center stage, singing the phrase attached to the gesture.

Naturally, the blame game has started. The NFL blames NBC for producing the performance, and NBC blames the NFL for hiring the talent.

In both parties defense, the young singer did numerous dress rehearsals and did not even come close to practicing the stunt seen by everyone watching. It leaves the door open to speculation. “Maybe she felt a little silly for being up there in a mock cheerleader costume cheering for Madonna and she just wanted to make her mark somehow.” For whatever the reason may be who really deserves to share the blame with the singer?

Read the entire article here:

http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2012/0210worst.asp#.TzVCcie5FfM.email

Who should be blamed? The NFL? The NBC Network? Are both parties at fault equally? Let us know by commenting on our blog or on our Facebook page.

I’ve been having a great time for the past few days watching highlight programs of past Superbowl teams.  These highlight programs can be found in the Video on Demand section under Sports / NFL Network / NFL Films.

For example, it was of great interest to see the one about the New Orleans Saints, winners of Superbowl 44 (New Orleans is my hometown).  I’ve seen it all before, but it brought back so many memories to see it all again, especially the information about the devastation of New Orleans wrought by Hurricane Katrina, the success of the Saints lifting New Orleans out of her despair, and the icing on the cake, Tracy Porter’s 4th quarter interception of Payton Manning, sealing the victory for New Orleans!

Other videos of interest:

The 1970 Colts — The Baltimore Colts used to be in the NFL, and they were the NFL team in Superbowl 3.  Then, when the leagues merged, they moved to the AFC and were the AFC team in Superbowl 5.  This program explained all of those details.

The 1967 Packers — Here’s your chance to learn about Vince Lombardi.

The 1968 Jets — when Joe Namath guaranteed victory for the AFL.

The 1969 Chiefs — when Hank Stram’s Chiefs totally dominated the Minnesota Vikings.

The 1972 Dolphins — the only undefeated NFL team in the Superbowl era.

The 1981 49ers — the beginning of the 1980s 49er dynasty.

The 1985 Bears — When the Bears were totally destroying everyone.  The Dolphins were the only team to beat them that year, preserving the Dolphins status as the only undefeated team in the Superbowl era.

The 1987 Redskins — When Washington quarterback Doug Williams had the spectacular 3rd quarter.

And so on.

Watch these videos while you can.  They are available till February 15, 2012.

Found this movie cruising through the channels. Decided to give it a look and ended up watching the whole thing. If you can’t tell by the picture the trailer will make it very clear that this is a teen surfer movie. However, it is a Christian surfer movie. The plot is not terribly intricate or original but it is not bad either. Teenage surfer boy with his nerdy friend hang out on the beach, surf, go to school, etc. New guy in town is now rival surfer. Girl of interest is a Christian. Main character Luke, lives in a home where mom is Christian and Dad is basically one in name only. Luke is not a Christian.

Probably needless to say that there is tragedy and death in the movie. There are salvations and life change throughout as well as some revealing secrets.

Let me get to the Gospel message presented. Maybe the best part of it is the title of the film: Cutback. The youth pastor uses it to explain what one needs to do to be a Christian. A cutback is a surfer term for making an instant direction change. In other words, repentance. Luke asks whether the pastor thinks he’s a bad person and the answer is good if not followed up well. The pastor says he doesn’t think Luke is a bad guy but that the Bible says we all sin and fall short of the glory of God(Rom. 3:23). The problem is that most people if you throw out that verse either don’t see it as a big deal or get downright offended.

We need to let people know not just that we are all sinners but what that means. God has given us a mirror so that people can look into it and see their sin for what it is. That mirror is God’s law, or the Ten commandments. No one goes to human court with a simple charge of “law breaking”. You receive a detailed list of charges. God is the ultimate just judge and wants us to know what we are being charged with. Every lie makes us liars. Every thing taken that doesn’t belong to us makes us thiefs. Every lustful or hateful thought makes us adulterers and murderes respectively. The list goes on and each of us has a big list! 

When you know your sin you recognize the justness of God punishment in Hell. This is where again the film falls short. There is no mention of Hell and consequences of sin. There is the typical modern message of, ‘God has a wonderful plan for your life, but you have to make a choice.’ This film like many try to tie Romans 8:28 to every person on the planet which of course isn’t biblical. All things only work together for good for those who love God, those called according to His purpose. If you aren’t called of and loving God, the plan for you is eternal torment in Hell. Jesus Himself commanded us to fear the one who can destroy body and soul in Hell(Mat.10:28).

Without showing the reality of our sinfulness according to God’s word, followed by the just penalty of that specific sinful life, the message of God’s forgiveness of sins carries little or no weight. Sadly much of modern evangelism has become offerring a cure for a disease we’re afraid to tell the patient they have.

There is also a good point where a surfer reveals he’s a Christian late in the film and Luke tells him he never knew he was. The surfer then appears kind of bummed and says he better work on his witness. Sadly Luke tells him no. Friends, we all blow it in our witness and God’s grace covers it. However, as film makers, let’s not do anything that people who feel convicted over their need to do as Christ commanded be told “no” as a balm for their conscience. The right line from Luke should have been something like: “I guess so bro!”, or “Yeah man, you should!”  

They do give a hat tip to God’s sovereignty saying He’s in control depsite bad things happenning. This of course is where some of the surprises are revealed. What makes this movie theologically problematic is that it paints a picture that is unrealistic or at least uncommon.

In most of our life circles not everybody we know are Christians or end up as one. Also unlike this film, they are not going to come to Christ unless they are witnessed to and given a biblically based Law/Gospel picture of God’s holiness, our sinfulness, and His amazing grace to save us. There are three main Christian characters in Luke’s life outside of church. Not one of them presents the Gospel to him. Everyone seems to be banking on the church and the youth pastor.

One of the Pastor’s main jobs is for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry(Eph. 4:12). We as Christians should be preaching the word to all creatures as we are ALL commaded to by Christ(Mrk.16:15). Most people are not going to come to church or youth group and get saved. This is for movies. The stats show that most people are saved through the witness of close friends and family members. Sadly the stats also say that roughly only 2% of professing Christans share their faith. That of course is probably a big reason for the statistic that American church growth is also only 2% new converts. This movie goes further to promote church/youth group invitation rather than people obeying Christ and personally witnessing to friends and family and calling them to repenmt and believe in the Gospel(Mrk.1:15)as Christ commanded.

Overall Cutback was a well made(Production value)youth group oriented film. It is totally safe for family viewing and has some good surfing footage if you like that. There’s no language or sex. There is some drinking and threats as well as a tragic accident. The importance of family unity and healing is promoted as well. Despite the misguided Gospel presentation and wrong emphasis on Pastor led evangelism rather than individual evangelism it was an OK film that may bless some. I shed some tears and even found the production value and acting pretty good. Could have been better, but better than many out there. Catch it today of you wanna see it!

See Trailer here –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQEErWqATfE

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I came across a movie on INSP called The Lamp! This movie is fairly new and came out in 2011. The Lamp is a family film that deals with loss, grief, forgiveness, healing, and believing. The movie begins with the Singletons loosing there only child to a accidental death. Mr. Singleton falls into a deep depression as his life spirals down. Finally after 2 years a kind neighbor lady who runs a foster home gives Mrs. Singleton the gift of an antique lamp. Written on the lamp are the words Just Believe. After this the movie turns into sort of a modern day Genie tale, except in the end they learn that they don’t need their three wishes because everything they need has been in front of them all along. The Lamp is a heartwarming and touching story that would make a good family night movie. It does deal with some heavy topics but it is done in a light way. Although it is not a Christian film it has some good life lessons to share. I tried to find the rating but it is not rated so perhaps it was a made for TV movie. I would say that it would most likely be PG. One of the actors in this movie is the same little girl that was in A Christmas Snow and once again she does a great job! You can find The Lamp through your 48 hr playback feature on INSP.

Catch brand-new movies on PIXL (Cupid, Inc.) and the Hallmark Channel (A Smile as Big as the Moon) tonight (2/4/12)!

It’s truly amazing how a song can literally change one’s life! On GMC TV, there was a world premiere of a new reality series called, “The Song That Changed My Life” and the first episode focused on Steven Curtis Chapman’s heart warming song, “When Love Takes You In“. This song influenced the Pace family’s decision to adopt from China. A very passionate account… you can see the emotion from Chuck and Shelley Pace as they give their own accounts on how this special song brought about the adoption of their beautiful little girl named Sophie.

I am looking forward to future episodes of this reality series. I know how Christian music affects me on a daily basis, and it will be interesting hearing others’ life changing stories!