FamilyChristianMovies.com

I hope you’ve entered our “Cheesy Tagline Contest” to win a free copy of Fireproof.

I’m excited to hear everyone’s ideas, and although these are fun, I thought it’d be good to remind ourselves of why Fireproof is such an important Christian film.  Fireproof wasn’t only a ground-breaking film in terms of it’s widespread penetration in both Christian and secular markets as a solid, bible-based film about the covenant of marriage, most importantly,  God has graciously used Fireproof to help and even save thousands of marriages across the world.  At $5.99, you can purchase Fireproof not only for yourself, but for friends and family who will be encouraged by this film whether their marriage is falling apart or holding strong.

Here are a couple testimonies from Fireproof’s webpage where they say that 5783 Marriages Have Been Ignited By FIREPROOF.

James H.
Posted on December 22, 2009
Thank God for this movie and for The Love Dare book. I am going through a crisis right now where my wife was wanting to leave me. Notice I said was! We, thanks to this gift from God, are working it out and are coming closer than we have been in some time. Words cannot explain the greatness of this movie. This is what God intended for marriage. Remember, it is not only a promise but a covenant to God. Praise God! Thank you all for making this movie. May you surely be blessed for this.

Teresa and Preston
Posted on November 04, 2009
My husband and I saw the movie and cried like we did the day we had our son! I am only 21 and he is 25, so we’re both still young. But the movie totally changed the way we feel and act toward each other. And we’re still working on our marriage.

Erin S.
Posted on September 13, 2009
I had no idea what an impact FIREPROOF would have on our marriage when we first watched it in the theater! It was the catalyst that forced my husband to confront his sin and change. Christ has worked a miracle in our marriage, and it all began with this movie. I am reminded of God’s grace on us and his unusual methods each time we watch it in our home.

As I read those testimonials, I’m reminded that we’re in the business of selling films that God can use to impact lives.  It’s an awesome reminder.  Don’t forget to register to win a free copy of Fireproof here. Contest ends Saturday April 9, 2011.

When we put Fireproof on Sale this week,  I couldn’t help but think of cheesy taglines to advertise our $5.99 for Fireproof sale.  How do these sound?

“Fire Sale on Fireproof !”

“Your marriage may be Fireproof , but these prices will burn up soon!”

“We’re Burin’ Down the House with these Prices on Fireproof !”

“These Prices are HOT! Fireproof - $5.99!”

Pretty fun, pretty cheesy.  I’d love to hear your cheesy taglines.  I”m giving away one copy of Fireproof this week to one lucky (randomly chosen) winner.  All you have to do to be entered is tell us your cheesy tagline idea in the comments.  You can enter up to three times “see Below”.

Entry #1 - Think up a “Cheesy Tagline” to advertise our Fireproof sale. and enter it in the comments.  (You can only enter one. Entry #1 is mandatory for #2, #3)

Entry #2 (Facebook) - Post this to your Facebook Wall

I just entered to win a Fireproof DVD in the “$5.99 for Fireproof Cheesy Tagline” Contest at http://www.familychristianmovies.com Enter Here http://ow.ly/4srAg ”

Let us know that you did this in the comments to be entered in the drawing a second time.

Entry #3 (Twitter) Tweet This

I just entered to win a Fireproof in the @ChristianDVD “Cheesy Tagline Contest” at http://ow.ly/4srAg

Let us know that you did this in the comments to be entered in the drawing a third time.

Contest Rules: You need to comment separately to be entered all three times. Winning DVD can be shipped to US, APO or Canada addresses only. An email address must be entered to leave a comment and join the drawing.  It will not be public, so please use a real address.  We need to contact you if you win. Contest Ends at Midnight on Saturday April 9.  The winner will be announced Monday April 11, 2011.

We just received some great customer feedback today about how a customer in Mississippi who had recently purchased Fireproof and used it for an event. Here’s what he said…

Everybody loved it and we had a good time watching with about 24 other couples. Our College and Career class served us supper and provided baby-sitting. It was a kick off to the Fireproof class that we offered to everyone. The movie was also a fundraiser for the College and career class, it was a great night. Thanks

What a wonderful use of a movie! Look at all the creative ideas here:

1. A fireproof night with couples from church
2. The fireproof launches into a long-term marriage study based on the movie and book.
3. Dinner was served and childcare provided by the young adults.
4. The evening was a fundraiser for the young adults group!

This evening does so many things; fund raising was done in a fun way, people from different life stage groups spent the evening serving one another (and enjoying fellowship I’m sure,) a difficult subject (struggling marriages) was addressed in a way that anyone would warm up to, a class is launched, AND everyone had fun. I love it!

Do you have any creative examples of how you’ve used Christian Movies?

*Please note that showing a DVD in a public setting like a church requires a public showing license, which this customer had obtained.  We can help you find the public showing rights for any of our movies.

The Christian Post reported that the Love Dare has topped the New York Times Bestseller List. It’s such a great story. Here are a couple excerpts.

Originally a plot device in the faith-based independent film “Fireproof,” The Love Dare has reached 2.2 million copies in print and played a major role in the renewal and salvation of marriages far and wide…

…Pre-screenings for “Fireproof” left audiences asking how they could get the book.

In response, brothers and associate pastors Alex and Stephen Kendrick, who together directed and produced “Fireproof,” respectively, made the effort to get it out. “We shut out the world and wrote for several weeks,” recalled Stephen Kendrick. “We weren’t expecting such demand so early.”

Here at Family Christian Movies, we’ve been surprised by the demand too.  We added this to our inventory as an add-on, expecting to sell 50 or so alongside Fireproof.  It’s been more like 10 times that in less than a month, we’ve had a terrible time keeping it in stock.  You can buy your own copy here; the Love Dare.

I’ve been so amazed to see the success of both The Love Dare and The Shack (another book never intended for the mass market.)  It’s amazing what God can do with projects like these when normal people follow the promptings of an awesome God.

I celebrated my son’s first birthday this week and have been reflecting more than normal on my new role in life as a Dad.

A friend who was visiting last Sunday had to discipline his son for disobedience.  I was amazed by his coolness of head and love expressed to his screaming son.  I realized though, as he spanked his four-year-old, that I identified more with the son than with the father here.  I was remembering times I was spanked as a boy.  It dawned on me “Jay, wake up man, you’re the dad now!  You’re gonna have to discipline your boy soon.  You’d better prepare your heart for that.  What kind of dad are you gonna be?”

On the subject of fatherhood I’ve found myself reflecting on the two films I’ve most recently viewed; Fireproof and John Adams (the HBO miniseries).*  Fireproof is not primarily a movie about fatherhood, but as I think back to it, the character who comes mind most often is Caleb’s father.  I keep thinking back to the amazing character and strength of this father who saw his son on the brink of a terrible decision.  How did he respond?  He loved, he encouraged, he challenged his son in a way that showed he still believed in him even on Caleb’s darkest day.

I contrast this with the portrayal of John Adams in this mini-series I’ve been watching. One of sad things we’re reminded of throughout the series is that men of greatness in the world’s eyes often become distant men in the eyes of their children.  In the series you see John Adams spend his most of his children’s childhood and early adult lives traveling around as a founding father, diplomat, vice president, and ultimately president.  He was a hard father.  The interplay between he and his boys is most strongly seen in moments when his adult aged boys come to him for approval or support, instead they get pressure, disappointment, and sometimes even insult.

In these performances we see a busy, powerful, important father who responds to his children often in anger, shame, pressure to perform and disappointment when they let him down and only with happiness when they meet his expectations .  In Fireproof we see a dad who loves his son in the darkest moment, who is patient with imperfection, who loves at all times and who will make great sacrifice for his son.

A ask myself, as my boy turns 1, what kind of dad will I be? I ask as well, What kind of Father do we see God to be?  Both very important questions.

*two notes about John Adams the miniseries.  1.  I have no idea how historicaly accurate the portrayal of Mr Adams and his sons is.  I reflect on this more as a character in a movie than as a historical figure.  Secondly, this miniseries is not suitable for all audiences.  What do you think?  Leave an opinion in the comments.

You can buy fireproof here

Countdown to Fireproof: Two Days

Have you ever been cheated? I have! I feel that living abroad, it happens to me more often than normal. I have to remind myself that it’s not mainly because people in the culture where I live are lying cheats, it’s because foreigners are easy targets.

This week, I’ve lived through the experience of being cheated and lied to by proxy. I’ve had three good friends who worked at the same language school go through the 3-month-long experience of being deceived, lied to, and finally having to quit their jobs because they’ve realized they’ll never be paid in full for the work they’ve done.

In this whole experience, it’s been natural to be focused on justice and fact that my friends have been wronged. It’s right for them to want to collect the money they’ve earned and to be angry after being lied to and used for so long. It’s been easy to talk about their former employers as though they’re unredeemable scum of the earth. It’s also been easy to elevate ourselves as morally superior to them.

As we prayed about our friends’ situation tonight in our home group, the Lord spoke to some of our hearts that we were not seeing these employers as people who need the Lord. We were only seeing them as men who’d cheated our friends and who owed them money. We were even seeing ourselves as better than them. I think the Lord prepared my heart for this revelation last night as I watched Flywheel.

In Flywheel, Jay Austin is a car dealer with very little conviction to stop him from cheating anyone who walks on the lot. He takes advantage of uninformed customers, and trains his workers to do the same. Circumstances however lead him to a crisis of faith where he has to choose between continuing to do what is profitable in the short run and turning to God. His turning to God leads to a chain of events that brings his life to rock bottom in every area except his relationship with God, but as God is busy changing the man, he’s also doing a work in reordering his circumstances.

Watching Flywheel must have hit me on a heart level, because as we prayed tonight, God reminded me that he not only loves these guys, but he also has the power to change them!

As I think this week about these men who’ve cheated some of my closest friends, I want to remember the story of Jay Austin. I want to remember that God has a plan for these guys that involves good things and not evil. I want to remember that if not for His grace, I’d be just like those guys. I want to remember my desire to treat people in a way that’s right doesn’t come from my goodness but from the Spirit’s work in my heart.

In a world where it’s easy to see certain people as beyond repair, Flywheel is a good reminder that anyone can change if God gives them a new heart.