C. H. Spurgeon

Charles Haddon Spurgeon is renown as the "Prince of Preachers." In his lifetime it is estimated that he preached to 10,000,000 souls.   The documentary gives a good overview of who this man was and how God used him to preach the gospel to the English speaking world during his lifetime.   Click here the to see works by Spurgeon.

Dr. Dallimore, has written Spurgeon: A New Biography and has produced a concise narrative of Spurgeon's life. He sets out 'to understand and present something of the inner man- Spurgeon in his praying, his sufferings and depressions, his weaknesses and strengths; in his triumphs, humour, joys, and incredible accomplishments'. It is no easy task to depict 'so tremendous a personality' as that of Spurgeon in a brief volume, but in 250 pages it is here accomplished, and with a large measure of success. Click on  Spurgeon: A New Biography to review the title by Dallimore.

"War Horse" Opening December 25th

DreamWorks Pictures' "War Horse," director Steven Spielberg's epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War.
Planning to see this new film on Christmas Day with my family.

Francis Schaeffer

Recently I have been reading a book by Colin Duriez titled "Francis Schaeffer an Authentic Life" which has been a excellent read. It has caused me to think back to my college days and when we were expected to read a new book at the time called "Escape From Reason." The professor who made this required reading did a great service to the students under his charge. Soon I was reading "True Spirituality" and other works by Schaeffer. I was shaped in part by his writing.

Years latter I would hear him speak at Bethel College during his fight with cancer.

Over the years I have had the privilege to meet Edith and Franky Schaeffer on book tours when I managed a Christian Bookstore. Oh the memories that flood in from these wonderful by-gone days. Oh how God used Francis Schaeffer to shape a vast number of young people to see God more clearly.

Crossway publishing has done it again with this great biography.

Schaeffer video:
The Idol of Personal Peace and Affluence part 1

John Adams the video

My wife bought me the John Adams mini series on video that was put out by Tom Hanks on HBO. Wow is all I can say. It brings to life the the book by David McCullough. This DVD is a must rent when it is available.

We have watched the first DVD in the set and it is wonderful. We had taken a trip earlier this year to Colonial Willamsburg were a lot of the program was filmed. History really comes to life in this DVD. McCullough is one of my favorite writers of history and very accurate in delivering the information on the characters.

Modern Parable

Hidden Treasure is a new video curriculum from Modern Parable. Watch the video and see the leaders and student workbooks.

Prince Caspian - Movie due 2008

The second movie in the Narnia series is Prince Caspian. You can go to the official website and see how the movie is coming along. If it is anything like the first movie it will be great for the whole family.

Screwtape Letters - Movie 2008

Walden Media plans to produce a movie adaptation of the C.S. Lewis novel The Screwtape Letters with Ralph Winter Productions.
The film, the company's second Lewis effort, following The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, grossed $744 million worldwide, Variety.com reported. The sequel to that movie, Prince Caspian, is due out next year. Winter is the producer of The X-Men and The Fantastic Four.
"The Screwtape Letters will be a live-action movie, embodying Christian themes, Variety.com reported. First published in 1942, The Screwtape Letters features correspondence between senior demon Screwtape and his wannabe diabolical nephew Wormwood. As a mentor, Screwtape advises his protégé on how to undermine the faith and promote sin to an earthly man known only as “the Patient.”"
The Screwtape Letters will be produced via Walden's Bristol Bay Productions, which produced Amazing Grace, due to open in theaters nationwide this weekend.

Rocky – True Believer?

A Focus on the Family article regarding the new Rocky film might suggest a Christian connection. You be the judge.

On the Big Screen - The Nativity Story

The Nativity Story chronicles the saga of Mary and Joseph up to the time of Christ's birth and their flight into Egypt. Screenwriter Mike Rich faced a daunting task in bringing Joseph and Mary—and Christ's birth—to cinematic life, but he felt led to do it anyway. The result, The Nativity Story, hits theaters in December. Read more from Christianity Today Movies. Com on how a this epic movie is being put together in 10 months.

One Night with the King

A new movie due to release October 13th based on the biblical character Esther entitled "One Night with the King". "One Night With The King" chronicles the life of the young Jewish girl, Hadassah, who goes on to become the Biblical Esther, the Queen of Persia (400-322 B.C.), who saves the Jewish nation from annihilation at the hands of its arch enemy while winning the heart of the fiercely handsome King Xerxes

Hero For Humanity - William Wilberforce

Hero For Humanity by Kevin Belmonte has had a significant influence on my life. "This book invites you on a journey through the life and times of William Wilberforce. Explore his childhood, his troubled youth, and his departure from Christianity. Learn about his early political ambitions and the process of his reunion with evangelical faith - an inner transformation that prepared Wilberforce to embrace his destiny. Experience his triumphant emergence from a forty-six year battle to abolish the slave trade and, ultimately, slavery itself in Britain. And discover how, in forsaking his own success and living for something greater than himself, Wilberforce bolstered the cause of human dignity amidst the turmoil of war and impacted the lives of millions across the globe."

An interview with Kevin Belmonte titled A Faithful Steward is worth checking out.
William Wilberforce is the model of Christian perseverance in abolishing a social evil.

Belmonte recently published through Day One Publishers, Travel with William Wilberforce 'The Friend of humanity', I have personally read others in this series of travel books on Bunyan, Spurgeon, and Knox finding them all very insightful even if you are not traveling to the UK.

Regarding the new movie Amazing Grace which ischeduleded to release in 2007 some interestinconnectionsns in the enterainment industry. Through their production company, FourBoys Films, Heaton and her husband, David Hunt, co-produced Amazing Grace. Along with Walden Media, Heaton and Hunt are producing the feature film detailing the life of William Wilberforce, which is being directed by Michael Apted. Many may know Patricia Heaton in her role as Debr on Everybody Loves Raymond. She has been honored with two consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal as Debra Barone on CBS' top rated series, "Everybody Loves Raymond."

The Mission Statement of "FourBoys Films seeks to provoke and entertain audiences with stories that illuminate the human condition in all its terrifying glory. The evidence of Man's eternal struggle between his desire to do good and his capacity for evil is all around us. It is within this conflict that one finds tales of the majesty in the mundane, the honor in failure, and nobility in victory. FourBoys Films is committed to writers who can find both the humor and the drama in these subjects without resorting to either sentimentalism or nihilism."

For further information on William Wilberforce check out this web site which has great indepth insite into a Hero for Humanity.

Amazing Grace - William Wilberforce coming February 2007

Walden Media to release movie about William Wilberforce titled Amazing Grace in 2007.

About the movie as described by Walden Media:
"Walden Media is passionate about bringing William Wilberforce's inspiring story to theaters and chronicling a crucial, but little-known, legislative battle in which justice and morality prevailed in the battle against slavery.
Filming of Amazing Grace will begin on October 29, 2005 on location across England. In our commitment to faithfully recreating Wilberforce's life, we will shoot at locations across England, including the Gloucester docks, Trafalgar Park, Hampton Court, and Parliament Square. The locations are not only historically accurate, they are also visually stunning. Near the beginning of production, we will film inside Parliament, and we will wrap the production at Westminster Abbey in January.
Amazing Grace will be in theaters in 2007."

United 93

The most important and talkedabout film of the year...
If you have not seen United 93 - the unflinching drama that tells the story the fourth hijacked plane on the day of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil: September 11, 2001 – it is time you do.

While some attempted to condemn the movie as “too soon,” overwhelming response to the opening of United 93 shows that America is a nation not only ready to revisit that day, but to confront the issues of world terrorism and discuss the imperative search for real answers and solutions…

“FOUR STARS. … about the most consequential day in US history.”- Michael Medved

“This harrowing yet restrained film that honors the men and women of United Flight 93 and the honor they bestowed on their country, must be seen.”- The Today Show

“An extraordinary film. …the movie left me shaken, moved, and filled with respect. This is a great act of filmmaking.”- Roger Ebert

Visit Motive Entertainment’s http://www.u93.org/, where you can view the Movie Trailer, Video Commentaries from Religious, Political and Educational Leaders -- and download free teaching and preaching resources to engage in key issues like, “Why do Islamic terrorists hate America? How should we respond as Americans? As Christians? As Jews? As Muslims?”