FamilyChristianMovies.com

Faith and Powers Pictures presents, “Daniel’s Lot“, a Dove Family Foundation approved DVD! Release date to be determined.

Daniel, played by actor and Pastor Dominic Shaw, is a man with a life of struggles. He and his wife are at odds with each other about their financial problems, their religious beliefs, and what they are to do to resolve their issues before they lose their house!

Daniel’s wife Christy, played by actress Lindsey McCabe, is victim to the enconomy and the struggling housing market as she tries to make the commission to pay the mortgage. Daniel and Christy are almost five months behind on their payments, and the job that Daniel works for pays only enough for the other bills and the food to feed themselves and their two kids. Christy begins to feel like Daniel is placing all of their financial problems on her and cannot stand that he is trying to learn more about God and faith than getting his act together and doing the only thing that she thinks will save their family- sell the lot of land that Daniel’s father left him when he passed.

But selling the lot of land is not an option for Daniel. Sure it would guarantee them the money that they needed, but he wanted to honor what his father had requested before he passed, that he not sell the land until the time was right. His father assured him that he would know when that time was, and not to sell it prematurely.

The financial battle between Daniel and Christy really put their marriage at risk. Christy chooses to reject God and take things into her own hands, even if that meant sinning against and abandoning her husband. Daniel on the other hand pursues his faith whole heartedly and discovers that God has a voice in his life and that if he is obedient, God will honor that.

With the help of a man whom he meets and later learns is a Pastor, Bill Mahoney, played by Gary Burghoff (who starred in M*A*S*H), Daniel learns what it is that God really wants him to do with the lot that his father gave him. Even though the idea does not mean profit, he trusts God and puts his faith in what he asked him to do. As a result, God really steps out in Daniel’s life and reveals blessing after blessing, taking Daniel’s land and his life to a place he would have never thought possible. And it wouldn’t have been had it not been for his obedience in God.

Daniel’s Lot is a perfect example of the situations that many people find themselves in. It shows how God works through our lives to reveal himself and his purposes. All that is required is faith and obedience in Him.

To view a trailer: Daniel’s Lot Trailer

This short video shows the making of our DVD of the Week: The Eastern Bride.  It’s a fun video that shows the heart behind the folks making the film, and allows us to hear a bit about making a film in South Africa.

You can buy The Eastern Bride for $6.97 this week at FamilyChristianMovies.com

Our DVD of the Week for February 28-March 6 is The Eastern Bride

The Eastern Bride takes you a journey around the world with Pete de Jaeger, a young world-traveling businessman from South Africa. In his travels, he finds himself at well-known stops along the trade routes of our global economy, East Asia, Africa and the Arab world. Most significantly and relevantly, the film weaves together Pete’s travels in the Middle East and in China, where during the course of business, he finds himself interacting with Christians who are harassed and persecuted by neighbors, government officials and even terrorists. The film reminds us that our global economy is heavily dependent on trade with countries that oppress and sometimes even kill members of their struggling Christian minority groups. With the Middle East in the news so much these days and the rise of China, these stories couldn’t be more relevant.

The production quality of The Eastern Bride is a bit dated, but this can be forgiven when one recognizes that this film was made by Open Doors ministries to tell the story of the persecuted church, not to win any Oscars, and it does tell those stories well. Check out The Eastern Bride, the latest addition to our Family Bargain Videos category.  You’ll be able to pray more knowledgeably about the persecuted church.

As We Forgive is available on DVD at most Christian bookstores and at www.familychristianmovies.com. The fifty three minute documentary follows two women from Rwanda, Rosaria and Chantal, as they face their toughest test of forgiveness. During the 1994 Genocide their families were murdered, now can they forgive the men that tore their lives apart? Find out what happens when the murderers and the survivors meet and even what you can do to help those so far away. You can find out more about the film and the help efforts by visiting www.asweforgivemovie.com.

As We Forgive is an outstanding testimony to forgiveness and reconciliation. The courts were overwhelmed with 120,000 imprisoned suspects so the Supreme Court of Rwanda implemented the Gacaca Courts Department. The Gacaca was traditionally an informal village court system for handling village disputes. Now these courts would try to handle the complicated task of trials and sentencing for the suspects of the 1994 Genocide. One way the courts tried to reconcile their villages was to have the accused meet and apologize to the survivors. The challenging part was that most of the survivors knew and in some cases had even been friends with the men that killed their family members. Not only were lives taken, but houses were burnt to the ground and fields were set ablaze. With 90% of Rwandans being farmers, their fields are how they make a living. In some of the courts they tried to mend relationships by the accused murderers building new homes for survivors.

Producer, Laura Waters Hinson and her husband hope that this film will bring awareness to the current need in Rwanda. They have founded The Living Bricks Campaign in conjunction with the film to allow viewers the chance to help the victims rebuild their country. For more information about The Living Bricks Campaign please visit www.livingbrickscampaign.org.

Another way viewers can get involved is by supporting the As We Forgive Rwanda Initiative (AWFRI). This is a Rwandan-led movement to help communities work together to rebuild their country. Over 15 years later there is still a lot of work to be done, for example the Genocide left over a million orphans and widows. To find out how you can make a difference right from your community visit www.asweforgive.org.
As We Forgive is an extremely touching film. What can turn friend against friend and make someone kill their neighbor? This documentary shows the devastation that occurred in Rwanda not so long ago. But most of all it shows how with God’s help these people are regaining their hope. Please prayerfully consider helping our brothers and sisters in Rwanda.

Watch the trailer for As We Forgive here

Dove Family Foundation Approved family video shows the complexities and beauty of life in this light-hearted drama

TULSA, OK – Dealing with the complexities of life can difficult for anyone. In “Wheel of Knowing: a Story of Hope” releasing on DVD February 2nd, 2011, Melanie has what she thinks is the perfect life…perfect husband…perfect children…perfect friends…but that all begins to unravel when she becomes the caregiver for her Alzheimer’s inflicted father.
Melanie has life all figured out. She knows she can conquer any challenge as the perfect Christian wife and mother. Against the advice of her family, Melanie brings her Alzheimer’s inflicted father, Sam into her home. Although she’s certain she can help, Sam’s delusions and disruptions start to unravel Melanie’s “perfect” life.
In her attempt to reach Sam, Melanie fails to notice her own family falling apart. Caught between countless obstacles and Sam’s relentless needs, she begins to feel as lost as her father.

Stretched to the brink, Melanie must find a salvation that is beyond her own understanding. Something that might be locked in Sam’s broken mind. Something that must be revealed by God.”

Ministry - A Note From Michael Sewell, the Producer of “Wheel of Knowing”
Hi I’m Micheal Sewell, I wrote, co-produced and acted in” Wheel of Knowing.” This film is born out of life spent ministering to the Church and to seekers through the medium of drama. “Wheel of Knowing-A Story of Hope,” is the latest project requiring a step of faith. It was put together with a shoestring budget and the help of several small churches. Calvary Chapel Laguna Creek, Calvary Chapel Natomas, and Metro Calvary Roseville all came together with some great people from the Sacramento film community to make this project a reality. The story was inspired by my wife Jodi’s personal experience. In caring for an Alzheimer’s patient, she saw God miraculously reach him despite his dementia.

It is our prayer that this film will give hope and a voice to people who understand that the world is very complex, full of suffering and confusion, but that God’s love shines above it all in the salvation He brings through His Son, Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus when He said that “the truth will set you free”, and so I strive to be honest in my writing avoiding a contrived message or propaganda. “The Wheel of Knowing: a Story of Hope” is about perception, suffering, forgiveness, and God’s love. I pray it will be a blessing to the viewer and a message that will draw people to Jesus.

To see more from Michael, please watch this clip where Michael shares more about what drove him to produce this film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV2hm0TyPE8
Wheel of Knowing: a Story of Hope…will be available for the suggested retail price of $21.99.

If you own a dog, or have ever owed a dog in your lifetime, Hachi is the perfect family DVD for you.  Most people who have ever had a dog as a friend know their unconditional love, their companionship, and their loyalty.

In Hachi, you meet a Professor, Professor Wilson played by Richard Gere, a man who is an empty nester with a grown child, and a comfortable life. A life settled down and at an age where life was to be calm an easy. You would say, not a time in life where you get yourself a new puppy.

Well, getting a new puppy was not the intention of Professor Wilson, but when he discovers an abandoned puppy on his daily route home at the train station, he didn’t have the heart to leave it there. So, bringing it home to a wife opposed to the idea all around, Professor Wilson prepared the dog for the one night he thought that he would have the dog, thinking he would find it a home in the morning.

As I am sure you can see where the story is going, this one night didn’t stop there, and Professor Wilson soon became the proud owner of this new puppy. The puppy soon became his companion and after learning of it being Akin, gave him the name Hachiko.

Hachiko and Professor Wilson quickly developed a daily routine and Hachiko, or Hachi, would join the Professor in his walk to the train station where they would say their goodbyes, until the Professor’s return from work where Hachi would be at the train station waiting for him for their walk home together.

Hachi became a part of everyone’s lives. People at the train station counted on him to be at his daily post at the exact time his new owner would return. He became not only a part of their lives, but a joy in their lives.

In their time together the Professor would try to teach Hachi tricks, but Hachi wasn’t like other dogs. Hachi did not like to participate in the average dog tricks. Relentlessly the Professor tried to get Hachi to fetch a ball with him. But, day after day, attempt after attempt, Hachi took no interest. Until one day, when the Professor was on his way out to go to work, Hachi tried to play catch with the Professor. Hachi was insisting that the Professor play with him. Confused by his sudden interest and also restricted by time, as he was on his way to work, the Professor left Hachi there and proceeded for the train station.

I will have to leave the it there, because I do not want to spoil the movie for you. But what I can tell you is that Hachi is a brilliantly written story that shows the unconditional love, companionship and loyalty that a person has with their pet dog. I would even go as far to say that this DVD shows a glimpse of the same unconditional love and loyalty that God has for us, and the companionship that God desires with each of us.

Based on a true story.

I cannot help but fall in love with the cold weather for the sole reason that it means Christmas is not far off! It’s funny how suddenly I have urges to light cinnamon smelling candles, play Christmas music, and start shopping! But putting all that aside, I can’t ignore the warmth within that I feel. The love that begins to overwhelm me once Christmas grows near. All of the memories of past Christmas’ with family where we celebrate the birth of Christ with one another and honor the love and grace that God extended to us through his birth, by showing each other our love and humble gratitude for one another.

Some of my favorite memories are watching the movies “White Christmas”, “Charlie Brown Christmas Tales” and of course, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever“! Those cold nights never seem very cold when you have a room full of people, eating the cookies that you made with your Mom, drinking hot chocolate, all the while snuggled up with blankets, watching Christmas DVDs!

Praise God for the birth of His Son, Jesus! We give thanks for the blessings he abundantly gives!

According to the New Dehli government daily, Kuensel, a forty year old Christian ethnic Nepalese man was sentenced to three years in prison for “attempting to promote civil unrest”, by showing Christian films to a country where Buddhism is the primary religion.

The man, Prem Singh Gurung, would set up a projector and a generator to show Nepali film in two villages without electricity, and in between the films, he would show Christian film. Local residents began to complain and he was then arrested.

He was charged with an “attempt to promote civil unrest” because they could not prove without a doubt that he was actually promoting civil unrest. And if that wasn’t enough, they also charged him with violation of the Bhutan Information, Communication and Media Act of 2006. What this means is that by law he was required to show the films to the authorities before he was to show them to anyone else, which allegedly he did not do.

This event is an example that Christian persecution still exists throughout the world. In Turkey, three men were murdered for their faith in the city of Malatya in 2007, and now just this past summer, Prem Singh Gurung is imprisoned for showing Christian film in Bhutan.

Read the article here to learn about how the Bhutan government is also trying to make proselytizing punishable, saying that it “uses coercion or other forms of inducement.” And how one of the readers of the article says that “These Christians are a cancer to our society…”.

The perfect family DVD for the Holidays or any time of year!

The Ultimate Gift has now become one of my favorite DVDs, and I fear that this blog post won’t do it justice! I was so moved and taught by the lessons and characters within it, I hope that you can watch and enjoy it too!

The story started out a little slow, which surprised me since it had very talented actors such as James Garner and Abigail Breslin, but soon enough the story began to unravel and you couldn’t help but be captivated by not knowing what was going to happen and by being shocked by the life that the character Jason was living.

The Ultimate Gift is about a young man who comes from a family that has everything- that is, if you think money and luxury are everything. But after his Grandfather dies early in the movie, you see that his family really doesn’t have anything at all. They didn’t care that the Grandfather had died, all they cared about was how much he left them in his will!

To their amazement, he left each of them what they deserved- pretty much nothing. All of them except for Jason. For him, the grandson that he was supposed to be more like a father to, had been left with a bit of challenge- a scavenger hunt, that would ultimately lead him to the ultimate gift.

Jason didn’t know what the gift was, but assuming it was money, he agreed to the “scavenger hunt” that his Grandfather had left for him. What he also didn’t know was that unlike everything else in his life, he was going to have to work for the gift and it wasn’t going to come easy.

Once on the journey that his Grandfather, played by James Garner, is taking him on, he ends up with nothing. He is broke, homeless, and totally confused. In this state he meets a young girl, played by Abigail Breslin, and her Mother in a park. Little does he know that it is this encounter that will take him on the journey of the true meaning of life and the true value of money.

Watch and enjoy as Jason learns through the journey that money isn’t everything and it certainly is not something that you should identify yourself with. He also learns how to love someone, reach out to those in need and the gifts in life that we often ignore but have more value than a billion dollars.

FamilyChristianMovie.com Poll Results
Which is your favorite movie genre to watch?

Starting back on August 2nd, and up until now, a poll has been out asking movie viewers which is their favorite genre was to watch? After hearing back from 272 of you, the results are in!

Listed below are the types of genres and the percentage of people who prefer them!

The number one spot goes to Christian Comedy, with 43% of viewers preferring to watch this, with second place going to Family Drama with 19%. Next up comes Romance with 15%, Documentary with 8%, Children Animation obtained 4% and finally, Suspense with 3%.

After the results, the next question is, why do people have these preferences? Did Comedy get the most votes this time because times are tough, people are dealing with an uncertain economy and want to enjoy laughter in their entertainment with a good, funny comedy?

Looking at the top three, comedy, family drama and romance, is this why DVDs like Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel are top sellers, being that they satisfy all three? Let us know what you think! Tell us why you prefer one genre over another!