FamilyChristianMovies.com

“Lost Boy: The Next Chapter” has been Awarded the Redemptive Storyteller Award!

Lost Boy: The Next Chapter is a DVD that gives narrative to the challenging, unpredictable life story of Harvest Christian Fellowship’s senior Pastor, Greg Laurie.

The Redemptive Storyteller Award was given because Pastor Greg Laurie’s life story has the ability to resonate with people from all walks of life. God has taken him through so many different journeys, he can truly empathize. Beginning with not having a father and living his life with an alcoholic mother, to finding Christ and living to serve Him, and then through losing his son unexpectedly in 2008- Greg Laurie has seen God through it all, and gives example to the hope that others can also find in God and the love of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Greg Laurie’s ministry and partnerships are other aspects of his qualifications for winning this award. Pastor Greg Laurie has also founded The Harvest Crusades, which are evangelistic conferences throughout the United States and parts of the world. These Crusades have reached over 4 million people since 1990, and are currently reaching thousands more. Recently Pastor Greg Laurie spoke at the Harvest Crusade in Chicago, where 4,758 people came forward and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Next he will be in Seattle early November, and will continue to work through these crusades as wells as working through sitting on the board for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse to reach the lost.

All this being said, it is no surprise that “Lost Boy: The Next Chapter”, has also won:

• Best American Documentary 2009
• Audience Favorite Best Documentary Award 2009
• Best Documentary Award 2009
  

Purchase and/or view a trailer of “Lost Boy” here. Share the life story of Pastor Greg Laurie to help others see God and His purpose in their lives.

by Philip Pfanstiel

I didn’t want to watch this movie. Knowing that “The Heart of Texas” is about tragedy and forgiveness and that it involves the death of a young child; these were all things that kept me from watching the movie. It hits too close to home. With five young children, thoughts of losing any of them to tragedy is a thought I want to avoid.

Surprisingly, when I did watch the DVD it was one of the most heartwarming, redemptive and thoughtful films I’ve seen in years. I would highly recommend it.

The premise of “The Heart of Texas” is simple; a young child is killed in a tragic accident and the film follows how the family and community responds. What is not so simple is how the family, especially the father responds.

The recommendation of Jesus to go the extra mile does not even begin to describe how the father reacts to this tragedy. I would go into more detail but the video does an extremely powerful and poignant job, so I won’t mar it.

However; I do think the practical examination of forgiveness and how forgiveness looks in real life was very powerful. I’ve shared with my students the basic premise of the movie and they are amazed that the father didn’t just “get even.”

I explained that no one ever gets even. You hurt me, I hurt you, you hurt me back … and the gift goes on and on. The teeter totter of hurt will only stop when one person decides to stop pushing back. As Gandhi wrote “an eye for an eye and the world will go blind.”

No one wins in the cycle of hurt and retribution that is glamorized by movies, TV and video games. While revenge satisfies a primal need, it in the end leaves everyone worse off. There is a power in forgiveness that the mainstream media doesn’t understand, but this film reveals beautifully.

As a recent immigrant to the Empire of Texas, I’ve often heard that things are always bigger in Texas, this film definitely proves that there is an immensity to “The Heart of Texas.”

Hi, my name is Philip Pfanstiel.

I’m the new writer for FamilyChristianMovies.com and I’m going to be reviewing movies. My qualifications for reviewing films are simple.

I love my family.

I love my savior (ie. I’m a Christian).

And I love movies.

When I saw this website it was nearly a perfect match. The only things missing were chocolate, pizza and Pepsi. The three other things I love, but not mixed together like the first trio.

Movies are a powerful medium. They can inspire, motivate, encourage and challenge us in our faith and in our family. But like chocolate, pizza and soda, too much can make one sick. The problem that I see in my own family and with my students is that all too often movies (TV, music and the internet as well) can supplant the family and decrease ones faith.

The films on this site were chosen because they are good for both your faith and your family.

My “phil”osophy when reviewing movies is to be brief but give you enough to make an informed decision when buying from our site.

I’ll also try to suggest the audience that would probably benefit the most by watching the movie. A favorite film of mine on this site is the classis 1953 film, Martin Luther. This film has one of my favorite scenes where Luther makes his impassioned plea at the Diet of Worms. This film is ideal for youth and older Christians. It wouldn’t work for younger children who would only start to question why Martin ate worms. My children would then get lost in some fantasy world where Martians are eating worms because “here they stand, they can do no other, so help them God.”

Needless to say, having a good idea of who might like the film and who it is appropriate for are both necessary. Another example, The Passion of the Christ, is a great film but not one I’ll be showing to my children until they are old enough (maybe 12 or 13). And even then, only with me present so we can process and discuss it together.

This site has a tremendous treasure trove of classic films that you’ll love, and newer films that may one day become classics. We also have a variety of films by smaller production companies that have wowed our socks off (Pendragon), challenged us emotionally and spiritually (Malatya, The Heart of Texas) and mentally (On a Level Playing Field). I can’t wait to review them and I hope that you enjoy the films you purchase, watch and share with your family and friends.

Celebrating Ruth Bell Graham; A life Marked by the Faithfulness of God

I’m not big on new years resolutions, but the turning of a new year is often a time of reflection for me. I often take time to reflect on what kind of person I want to be and how I want my life to be characterized. This morning as I watched “Celebrating Ruth Bell Graham, A Life Marked by the Faithfulness of God” I was reminded of what kind of person I long to be.

The DVD, based on the 2007 TV special, is a retelling of Ruth Bell Graham’s life using photos, interviews and video footage. I noted that throughout the DVD there were clear presentations of the gospel and invitations to receive Christ along with music videos of worshipful hymns (featuring Avalon, Fernando Ortega and the Gaithers). Hymns and a virtual alter call would probably feel forced or out of place in most biographical documentaries. Strangely in this program, worshiping God and inviting others to follow him seemed like the most natural of responses to observing Ruth Bell Graham’s life. http://www.billygraham.org/glossyIncludes/RBG/CoverPhoto_Bio.jpg

As I enter 2009 and reflect on who I want to be and what traits I want to mark my life; this DVD really speaks to me. I want to live a life that elicits worship and I want a life that when looked back upon, serves as an invitation to meet Jesus.

Check out “Celebrating Ruth Bell Graham; A life Marked by the Faithfulness of God“