Christian Movies Weekly Newsletter Archive

Thursday, May 8, 2008 100 years ago this Saturday, the first Memorial Day for Mothers was celebrated. Even though it’s very commercialized, the recognition of mothers is important. In the midst of daily life, how many times do moms hear “thank you” for how they serve their families?My brother pastors a church in Texas, and he called today to talk about this weekend’s sermon ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, May 2, 2008 Does anyone besides me have a degree that doesn’t relate to their career? I studied piano in college and graduate school. Other than traveling with a musical missions team for 4 years, my jobs didn't depend on my ability to play the piano.But music is a huge part of my life. I play the piano whenever I get a chance ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, April 25, 2008 I’m having one of “those” days. Do you know what I mean? I didn’t set my alarm so I overslept. I pulled on the outfit I wanted to wear but it’s stained ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, April 17, 2008 "In the beginning, God created heaven and earth." That is probably the simplest and yet most profound statement ever made. With it God's story starts to be revealed to man.It announces there is a Supreme Being: God. It says He is personally involved in creation ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, April 10, 2008 Do you know that the shortest story in the Bible is told in 35 words? It is Jesus' parable of the hidden treasure, found in Matthew 13:44.It has all the elements necessary to a story: setting, conflict, plot, character, point of view, and theme. Everything is there in one tiny package full of meaning.Being brief is a challenge. Every syllable and nuance must be just right ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, April 3, 2008 When was the last time you watched a movie or television show with your family? When my family gets together at holidays or other special times, we do lots of things as a group. We play games, go to movies, and watch TV, anything to be with each other.When The Return of the King, the last of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, came out on DVD, my sister and her husband got it for their family. Guess what we did on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? We watched the entire trilogy together ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, March 27, 2008 Do you remember your dreams when you wake up? Do you try to figure out what they mean? Why was your 4th-grade teacher in the same dream as your husband? And why did you pull your nose off and put it back on? When I remember my dreams, I like to try to figure out what they mean, and where all the weird references came from.As a child, I dreamed about what I would become when I grew up. Sometimes it was a concert pianist, at other times it was being a missionary in Africa or Papua New Guinea.Love’s Unfolding Dream, the latest in the Love Comes Softly series, is the story of a young woman named Belinda who is a natural caretaker. Her dream is to become a doctor, but she faces opposition from her community and the man she’s beginning to love ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, March 20, 2008 Do you remember the stories you read as a child? Maybe your parents tucked you into bed at night with Bible stories or fairy tales or Aesop’s Fables.I loved stories of heroes who had to overcome obstacles to save the princess and the kingdom. Other favorites were ones with a mystery, or a quest for a great treasure. I still love to read sweeping tales of great adventure.Then I pick up my Bible and read Jesus’ parables ... (view entire newsletter)

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 A few years ago I went to Paris for a week with some friends. We did a lot of wandering around, seeing the sights, and eating at little cafes, often playing a game I called “Getting to know you.”Each person asked a question everyone in the group had to answer, including the asker. As the week progressed, the questions got deeper, our conversations more intimate ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, March 7, 2008 Do you have a favorite book you like to read repeatedly? Or maybe a movie you watch over and over again? I just finished reading The Shack for the sixth or seventh time. It's one of the most compelling books I've ever read; each time, I discover a new insight. TThe main character talks with Jesus about his death on the cross ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, February 29, 2008 I live in California, but I am a Texan. Until the day I die, no matter where I live, I will be a Texan. Some of my favorite memories are picnics with my family at the San Jacinto Monument ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, February 22, 2008 I was at a friend’s home the other night and saw an episode of “Mythbusters.” It’s a TV show whose cast investigates popular urban myths. Using the latest technology, science and ingenuity, they show what’s real and what’s fiction. For example, they discovered that shooting a bullet into a car’s gasoline tank (a favorite movie stunt) does not cause the car to explode ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, February 15, 2008 Did you know that this week is “Just Say No to PowerPoint Week?” I didn’t until today. It seems like February is full of holidays.This Monday was Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Next Monday we celebrate President’s Day with another holiday ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, February 8, 2008 Pastel-colored hearts with cute sayings are visible everywhere – we must be close to Valentine’s Day. There’s a lot of pressure associated with Valentine’s Day. You want to give your sweetheart just the right gift to bring a smile to their face ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, February 1, 2008 This weekend I saw a movie with some girlfriends from church. It was a definitive “chick-flick,” and no surprise that out of about 40 people there, only one was a man. When I think about definitive male events, hunting and football come to mind ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, January 25, 2008 When I name the biggest blessings in my life, at the top is my family, especially my nieces and nephews. They range in age from 5 to 25 or so, and are wonderfully unique, fun, and loving. My nephew James is especially entertaining ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, January 19, 2008 When was the last time you felt out of place? Maybe it was a party and everyone knew each other except you. Or perhaps the first time you went to a Sunday School class – by yourself.I spent three months traveling in Southeast Asia. Part of the time our group stayed with host families ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, January 11, 2008 My sister and her husband are celebrating 20 years of marriage this week. That’s a long time. I’m not married, so I wonder what it’s like to live with someone for that many years ... (view entire newsletter)

Wednesday, December 26, 2007 What’s it like when your family gets together for the holidays? Do you have special traditions, or do you do something new each year? Because I have an extended family, what we do for the holidays depends on how many people are together on Christmas Day. One thing that’s certain. No matter where we are, we’ll be playing games, laughing, and stuffing stockings to overflow ... (view entire newsletter)

Monday, December 17, 2007 Christmas is quickly approaching, and things seem to be a little more frantic. Like Santa Claus, I made my list and checked it twice. Brother, sisters, nieces, nephews, friends, co-workers, roommate; sometimes the list seems endless.Since I’m leaving for Texas on Wednesday, I did as much early shopping as possible ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, December 13, 2007 It seems it was just days ago that summer was ending and school beginning. Now, we’re days away from Christmas. I’m going to Texas for the holidays ... (view entire newsletter)

Wednesday, December 5, 2007 This year my friend Jared and his sons built a treehouse in their backyard. They researched plans on the internet, shopped for supplies, then went to work. The result was an engineering marvel and the source of much enjoyment.I think there’s something special about fathers and sons doing a project together ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, November 30, 2007 One of my favorite things to do is get in my car and drive. I love exploring new places. Once I decided to try a new route to the coast ... (view entire newsletter)

Tuesday, November 20, 2007 This Thursday is Thanksgiving. It’s an American feast day commemorating the first complete year of Pilgrim settlers in the New World. Friday is a celebration of America’s favorite pastime – shopping. My favorite “Black Friday” story is from my pastor and his wife’s family ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, November 16, 2007 I come from a very large family; 29 of us altogether. A few years ago we decided to draw names for Christmas gift exchanges. It made the annual holiday rush easier on all of us ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, November 9, 2007 Right after I got out of college, I volunteered with a local lawyer who was running for judge. He was a write-in candidate running against someone with several years experience. He was pro-life; she was pro-choice ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, November 2, 2007 We just finished Halloween and now it’s a headlong rush to Christmas. Every Wednesday night, kids are practicing their Christmas play. Long hours of rehearsal will lead to a terrific program for a church full of eager parents and family.One year my church in Texas asked me to direct the children’s Christmas program ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, October 26, 2007 Did you know that humans are the only species capable of laughter? The average human being laughs an average of 17 times per day. (I think we laugh more around our office) Laughter reduces our stress and improves our health. Scientists estimate that laughing 100 times is equivalent to a 10-minute workout on a rowing machine ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, October 19, 2007 Imagine your response if you read this headline: "Today two million people crossed a ten-mile stretch of the Red Sea on dry ground. As they crossed, walls of water also ten miles long and 1 mile high rose up on either side. Right after the last person crossed, the army following them drowned when the walls of water collapsed." The Bible, especially the Old Testament, is full of dramatic, exciting and TRUE stories like this ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, October 12, 2007 The weather is cooler these days here, so I’m switching out my clothes, summer for fall. The other day I pulled some sweaters out of the top of my closet and guess what I found? A bag of Christmas stocking stuffers! Each year, I determine that Christmas will NOT sneak up on me and that I’ll plan for it all year. I’m glad I found the bag from January, because it’s the only holiday shopping I’ve done so far ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, October 5, 2007 My Bible study group met at my friend Tamelin’s house for a couple of years. She lived on the northwest side of town, near a new housing development. There were open fields on one side of her house and walnut orchards on another ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, September 28, 2007 After college I worked a few years for Continental Airlines. (No, I wasn't a flight attendant!) I made some great friends there. Four or five of us visited Galveston Island a couple of times every year for a lazy weekend, and called ourselves the “Beach Buddies.” We had a lot in common, but were an eclectic group when it came to our faith ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, September 21, 2007 I just celebrated a significant anniversary: it's been one year since I bought my car. Before you scoff at my sentimentality, you should know this is my fourth car, but the first brand-new one. It’s a 2006 Honda Civic 5-speed EX with cruise control, electric windows, moon roof, and adequately sized drink holders ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, September 15, 2007 I went to college out of state and eight hours away from home. I was so glad to get out of the house I grew up in and be “on my own.” I made tons of new friends and experienced lots of adventures with them. I also “grew up” a lot ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, September 7, 2007 Last weekend I went camping with some friends in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was beautiful! At night, the sky was clear and millions of stars shone overhead. In the midst of such splendor it was easy to tune out the world and enjoy God’s creation.Driving home, I remembered that all is not idyllic ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, August 31, 2007 When was the last time you had a good laugh? A really good throw-back-your-head belly laugh that bursts out uncontrollably? Recently I experienced insomnia for a couple of weeks. One morning around 2:00 AM, tired of trying to go to sleep, I watched a DVD of the TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond". At one point, I almost fell on the floor laughing. The next morning I found myself giggling, remembering funny moments from the night before ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, August 24, 2007 When I was a kid, our family took a couple of weeks for vacation every summer. After saving up money and planning our trip, we took off for whatever adventure awaited. Mom sat up front and helped Dad navigate using the Rand McNally Atlas ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, August 18, 2007 Diamonds or a suitcase. Which would you rather receive for Christmas? It all depends on perspective. A few years ago, those were the presents under the tree for my sister and me ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, August 10, 2007 I grew up in Houston, Texas, home of the NASA Space Center. As in, “Houston, we have a problem.” In our backyard, we had a tetherball set, and the base doubled nicely as a spaceship. I blasted into outer space many times, and explored the vast expanses of our galaxy ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, August 3, 2007 When I was growing up, Saturdays were workdays around our home. Vacuuming, dusting and cleaning the bathroom had to be done and inspected before we could go out and play. But between breakfast and chores, something magical happened – cartoons!My dad loved Looney Tunes ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, July 27, 2007 If you’ve been involved in a church very long, you know funny things happen. Your pastor gets up to speak, only to discover his microphone is off. The worship band starts a song, but it’s the wrong one ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, July 20, 2007 I spent last week in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the great cities of the South, where I attended two annual events. The International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) focuses on making products available to your local Christian retailer (gifts, books, music, DVDs). The Catalyst Conference for International Christian Visual Media (ICVM) concentrates on professional development for Christians working in film.During the ICVM conference, I sat on a panel about film distribution ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, July 13, 2007 This week I'm writing from Atlanta, Georgia, where I'm attending the International Christian Retail Show . Tuesday evening, Simon Swart (General Manager of Fox Home Entertainment North America) talked about how Christians are influencing Twentieth Century Fox. (I’ll write more about his discussion in my blog ) In the last year, over $300 million worth of faith and family videos have been sold ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, July 6, 2007 My sisters and I plan to start a business one day, but until that happens, I'm taking notes from Bobby and Kevin Downes, founders of ChristianCinema.com. In 1999, Bobby and Kevin produced their first film, The Moment After, and launched ChristianCinema.com. Since studios weren't interested in the faith-based market, independent producers needed a way to get their films to the people interested in them - people like you! ChristianCinema.com bridged the gap between filmmaker and audience. Since then, Bobby and Kevin, with Signal Hill Pictures, have produced several films (available as a special pack), and ChristianCinema.com has become the world’s largest database of faith and family movies.But that’s not all there is to ChristianCinema.com! As you asked for more options and information about Christian filmmakers, the website grew. You wanted to preview films before buying them, and the DVD Rental Club was born ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, June 29, 2007 A couple of weeks ago I spent the evening with some friends. We ate barbecue, played croquet, and talked about life in general. As I was leaving, their young son Brennen, came out of his room with a book he wanted to read ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, June 22, 2007 I love to travel, and had the privilege of visiting more than 20 foreign countries in the last few years. Most have been nations under the rule of oppressive governments. As I spent time in people's homes, talking with them and learning about their customs, culture and way of life, I realized the incredible freedom that has been mine since the day I was born in these United States ... (view entire newsletter)

Sunday, June 17, 2007 When was the last time you held a hymnal to sing? Can you name more than 10 hymns? If so, you’re most likely over 25 years of age, and have experienced the transition to “modern worship” music. Singing in the church goes back to the New Testament. Paul and Silas sang in their prison cell ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, June 9, 2007 During May and June, millions of students graduate from high school all around the world. It's a major achievement and milestone in their lives. Ironically, the graduation ceremony is called "commencement," which means a beginning, or start, rather than an ending. There's a well-worn saying that goes "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." I think that's especially true of high school graduation ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, June 1, 2007 My dad is a hard worker who loves to work with his hands. He's in his mid-70s, and last fall he re-roofed his home and drove 1700 miles from Nebraska to California to visit me. He's always been that way ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, May 26, 2007 Half of the most popular movies of all time have been stories of heroes overcoming insurmountable odds to win the day. Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, Peter Parker in Spiderman, Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings, all emerged from humble beginnings to triumph victoriously over great odds. In reality, some of the greatest heroes also led ordinary lives until circumstances demanded extraordinary courage ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, May 18, 2007 I spent a few years working with an organization that sent teams of musicians around the world to share the Gospel. One morning after a school concert in South India, I noticed a young Muslim girl sitting by herself against the wall, crying quietly by herself. I sat beside her and asked if she wanted to talk, but she shook her head ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, May 11, 2007 This last Tuesday I joined about 30 people at Hollywood Presbyterian Church for the monthly meeting of the JC Doc Group (Judeo-Christian/Non-Fiction Monthly Networking Group). These men and women are in various stages of careers in the non-fiction segment of the entertainment industry and have a common purpose: to produce films with a Biblical worldview and traditional family values. I was invited because they were discussing film distribution and wanted to talk with someone who had experience in the Christian marketplace.I saw some familiar faces (Clay Banks and Aleida Lam from The Azusa Street Project) and met some whose work I’ve seen but never met (Chris Hooper, editor for Travel the Road TV series) ... (view entire newsletter)

Monday, May 7, 2007 Francine Rivers is a powerful storyteller. I’ve read most of her novels, and am always moved by the way she communicates truth. I read The Last Sin Eater right after it was published, so when I learned a movie adaptation was in the works, I couldn't wait to see it ... (view entire newsletter)

Sunday, April 29, 2007 What gets me out of bed at 4:00 AM on a Saturday morning? Other than trying to catch a flight or a natural disaster (earthquake, hurricane, etc.) it would only be something I'm extremely passionate about. Last weekend I joined a few hundred other people who are passionate about media and our culture at the 12th Annual Biola Media Conference in Los Angeles. The theme of the day was "Mining for Opportunity in the New Hollywood." Filmmakers from all around the country came together with film students from Biola University for the purpose of exploring the impact faith-based marketing is having on the entertainment industry ... (view entire newsletter)

Sunday, April 22, 2007 “It was a dark and stormy night.” Snoopy’s (of Charlie Brown fame) stories always began that way, and I thought he was writing a scary story. Some of today’s best-selling Christian authors are writing horror/thriller stories. Both Ted Dekker (Thr3e) and Frank Peretti (The Visitation, Hangman’s Curse) have had books turned into movies.In the secular market, horror/thriller films are very popular ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, April 13, 2007 I come from a family of readers. Every other week we’d go to the library to dig through the shelves, looking for a favorite book maybe a new favorite. Summers were consumed with reading contests as my sisters and I raced to read the most books.I get excited when I hear that a favorite book is being turned into a movie or television ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, April 6, 2007 In Oberammergau, Germany, the local villagers participate in a 7-hour Passion Play that's been performed every decade since 1634. At Christmas and Easter, most churches will perform a musical or drama written specifically for that season. The largest church in my hometown puts on an extravagant Christmas play every year, including live donkeys and camels strolling down the aisles on their way to the manger! Using stories to illustrate life principles can be traced as far back to the parables of Jesus ... (view entire newsletter)

Monday, April 2, 2007 Most of my favorite stories involve rescue. Someone's life is endangered, either by another person or by circumstances outside their control. Tension builds until finally there is a point at which they acknowledge they are unable to save themselves ... (view entire newsletter)

Sunday, March 25, 2007 I’ve always been fascinated by space travel, airplanes, and almost anything mechanical with wings. Before he retired, my dad was an electronics technician with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), and he maintained air traffic control radar. Growing up, one of my favorite things was visiting him at the radar site ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, March 16, 2007 The Nativity Story, which just received MovieGuide's and The John Templeton Foundation Epiphany Prize for most inspiring movie of 2006 is now available on DVD, whether you just want to watch it for yourself, you're a leader wanting to host a movie event , or you are looking for 8 ways to use The Nativity Story as a teaching guide. For the next two weeks, I'm also going to give away 10 DVDs of The Nativity Story in a random drawing of ChristianCinema.com newsletter subscribers! (So watch your inbox to see if you get selected!)There’s a lot of discussion at conferences, on blogs, and in our churches about Christian filmmakers these days. From the conversations and articles, you’d think this was a new phenomenon, but in truth, Christians have been involved in making movies for years ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, March 9, 2007 This week I sent birthday gifts to my brother and his wife. They were late, but hopefully they'll enjoy them so much that it won't matter. Gift-giving is a tricky thing and often tests the strength of relationships ... (view entire newsletter)

Sunday, March 4, 2007 I recently previewed “The Moment After 2: The Awakening,” this week’s new release from ChristianCinema.com. This sequel to 1999’s “The Moment After” continues the story of 2 FBI agents investigating the mass disappearance of Christians. Made with a bigger budget and 7 years’ experience, this production is stronger and more interesting ... (view entire newsletter)

Sunday, February 25, 2007 I recently spoke with Helen Gibson, writer, producer and director of this week’s featured film, and a 20-year veteran of the entertainment industry. Her first independent feature, Karla Faye Tucker Forevermore, is the story of a woman who finds the love and forgiveness of God as she awaits execution on death row.Based on Karla’s journals and letters, as well as interviews with her husband Dana, the film focuses on Karla’s faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. Some Hollywood filmmakers approached Dana about making a movie, but they wanted to glorify Karla ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, February 16, 2007 Like many of you, I was born in this country and have always enjoyed the benefits of being an American. At times, like this past week, I realize I take it for granted. I heard someone from another country express their gratefulness for the United States ... (view entire newsletter)

Monday, February 12, 2007 Recently I went to Los Angeles to attend a dinner meeting of the Biola Studio Task Force . This group of Christians involved in the entertainment industry partners with Biola University’s Mass Communications department. They offer mentoring and teaching to students and networking opportunities for industry professionals ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, February 2, 2007 According to I Corinthians 13, the answer is “love.” But what kind of love? Some people love their dogs. Others love Taco Bell. My roommate loves her cat ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, January 26, 2007 This Tuesday I listened to President George W. Bush deliver his annual State of the Union address. He spoke with authority and conviction about the challenges we face as a nation and his goals for the coming year ... (view entire newsletter)

Sunday, January 21, 2007 Soon the biggest football game of the year will take place in South Florida. Parties are being planned, fans are buying high definition TVs, and snacks are flying off the shelf! I must confess that even though I lived in the great state of Texas until 1997, I am not a big football fan. I know – it’s a sacrilege ... (view entire newsletter)

Monday, January 15, 2007 Dear Friend, At the beginning of this New Year, I find myself thinking about the year that has gone by and anticipating what’s ahead. 2006 had many changes for me. The biggest and most unexpected was coming to work at ChristianCinema.com ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, January 6, 2007 The recent deaths of former President Gerald Ford and Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein dominated the news in the last few days. As I listened, I couldn’t help noticing the stark contrast between their lives and careers, between good and evil. One story I heard mentioned that in all of the anecdotes shared about Gerald Ford, only positive things were said ... (view entire newsletter)

Tuesday, December 19, 2006 How powerful is the love of a father and his son? What if he had to choose between the life of his son and hundreds of others?One of my favorite short films, MOST (The Bridge), dramatizes this story. Doing more in 30 minutes than some films do in 2 hours, this heart-rending and inspiring story gave me much to think about. Instead of a story on paper, the filmmakers have created a gripping illustration of the power of love and sacrifice ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, December 15, 2006 My mom and dad used to tell me stories about growing up in the prairies in Canada (my favorite being my mom getting stuck in a snowdrift one winter). I think that’s what drew our family to The Little House On The Prairie series, with our family history.Michael Landon, Jr. has been following in his father’s footsteps and has been filming the Love Comes Softly series by bestselling Christian author, Janette Oke ... (view entire newsletter)

Wednesday, December 13, 2006 I’m always amazed at how quickly December goes by. Christmas will be here in just a little over a week. If you haven’t finished your shopping yet, these next few days are all that’s left to make sure your gifts arrive in time for Christmas ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, December 9, 2006 I’ve been a sci-fi buff ever since I saw Star Wars as a kid. The truth behind UFO’s, aliens, life out there…it has fascinated people for decades. But what is the truth? Is it real or a satanic deception?Well-known Christian filmmaker, Rich Christiano (maker of Time Changer), has created an engaging film that explores this phenomenon and brings a much-needed Christian perspective to the debate ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, December 1, 2006 The Christmas season can be one of the best times of the year. For some, however, their family situations cause serious battles with depression during what society says is the happiest time of the year. Midnight Clear (based on a story by Left Behind author Jerry Jenkins) is a powerful film portraying one man’s struggles and the redemption that comes through random acts of kindness ... (view entire newsletter)

Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Do you ever wonder if science could prove the existence of God? Did God allow His creation to point unmistakably to Him if you are honestly seeking?ChristianCinema.com is proud to introduce you to our latest film, The Theory Of Everything, the story of a scientist seeking this very thing. As he endeavors to create the holy grail of physics, the elusive theory of everything, the film explores the relationship between science and faith and the value of family. David De Vos (director/actor/writer) shares more about this unique story in our exclusive interview ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, November 18, 2006 Every year, I pull out my DVD of A Charlie Brown Christmas to relive my favorite Christmas holiday special. Who can’t get misty-eyed when Linus responds to Charlie Brown’s anguished cry, "Isn't there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?" by reading the Christmas story from Luke. It gets me every time ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, November 10, 2006 If you’re anything like me, Christmas is the time of the year you're most on the lookout for bargains and fast, effective shopping. Our new Overstock section is the ticket. You’ll save 50% or more on hundreds of titles.. ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, November 3, 2006 I recently attended our local Right To Life banquet. The speaker drew undeniable parallels between the 60’s civil rights movement and today’s fight for life. It was a powerful and inspiring evening ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, October 27, 2006 Every Christmas, I’m excited to watch old favorites like The Little Drummer Boy, A Charlie Brown Christmas, or It’s A Wonderful Life. These films, and others like them, never fail to remind me of the true meaning of the season. The producers of the Sugar Creek Gang series have just put out a wonderful film called My Christmas Soldier ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, October 20, 2006 One of the fastest growing areas in Christian film has been Christian comedy. More and more Christians reared on the classic comedy of Bob Newhart and Bill Cosby have dedicated themselves to ministering to our hearts as well as our funny-bones. However, it’s been mostly a man’s world out there.Well, ladies, all that has changed in recent years with 2 fabulous comediennes, Anita Renfroe and Chonda Pierce ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, October 12, 2006 As a kid, I used to love watching Saturday morning cartoons. Boy, have things changed. Have you taken a look at what’s on these days? With everything out there, kids don’t often find entertainment that’s both enjoyable yet spiritually uplifting.One of the most popular new series is Angel Wars: Guardian Force ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, October 5, 2006 Have you noticed the amount of news lately about trouble in the Middle East? Everyday brings reason for more concern about where the world is heading. Thankfully, the Bible gives us reason for hope in these troubled times, as we look for the second coming of Jesus.This subject has been extremely popular with Christian filmmakers. In fact, ChristianCinema.com is about to release The Moment After 2: The Awakening in January, a sequel to our award-winning first film, The Moment After ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, September 28, 2006 Studies have found film to be one of the most effective ways to reach today’s generation. A young pastor in Georgia, discovering this truth, got his church mobilized. Together they began a brand new ministry of Christian filmmaking, right out of their church! "Every church has to find out what they're supposed to do," said the Rev ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, September 22, 2006 Have you noticed all the inspirational sports movies that have been appearing on the big-screen lately? Some of the better ones like Remember The Titans and The Rookie detail true stories of athletes whose faith was integral to their stories.A great film has finally been put out on DVD. The Pistol: The Birth Of A Legend details the amazing story of basketball superstar Pete Maravich. This man was one of the NBA's all-time great players ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, September 15, 2006 100 years ago, the world was shaken by events taking place in a little store-front mission on Azusa Street in Los Angeles. Thousands of people over the next few years converged on this little mission and had their lives forever transformed by the power of God, in what became known as the Azusa Street Revival. Now, as we celebrate the centennial of this revival, a new documentary has been produced entitled The Azusa Street Project. This independent production is an excellent and insightful look at this earth-shattering phenomenon that crossed racial and economic barriers in a time where that was unthinkable ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, September 8, 2006 It's hard to believe this Monday is the 5th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our nation. I still remember the emotions reeling through me at work as I saw the unthinkable taking place before my eyes. This year has seen Hollywood taking on the themes with two major releases ("United 93" and "World Trade Center" along with ABC airing "The Path to 9/11", a 5-hour made for TV movie this weekend that is generating some controversy ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, September 2, 2006 Recently, some young filmmakers have embarked on an ambitious project to film modern adaptations of all 36 of Jesus' parables in dramatic short films. They have just completed the second in the series, Purple, and are in post-production on the 3rd. These short films (3 per disc) are extremely well-done and showcase some wonderful new talent in Christian film ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, August 25, 2006 I'm excited to feature another talented Christian filmmaker in our ongoing filmmaker interview series. This is your chance to go beyond what you see on the screen and meet the Christian filmmakers behind the cameras! Ken Klein, a former NFL football player, has been producing high quality documentaries for a number of years. We have put together a 3-pack of some of his titles (with more to come in the future) that explore topics from the Old Testament right up to current affairs and beyond ... (view entire newsletter)

Sunday, August 20, 2006 When I was a kid, we used to have movie nights at church, watching all kinds of films from Martin Luther to Chariots Of Fire in our church as a family. ChristianCinema.com wants to revive that effective and entertaining outreach tool. And there is no better place to begin than with THE MOMENT AFTER 2: The Awakening – the second film in the wildly popular MOMENT AFTER film series.After a dramatic escape from death row, former FBI agent Adam Riley (David A.R ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, August 4, 2006 Each day that goes by brings more news from abroad about various trials and persecutions being experienced by believers and the church. While communism remains in few countries, the rise of Muslim, Hindu, & Buddhist militants have come to new prominence.Since the very beginning, the church has come under fire and flourished under extreme persecution. From biblical Stephen to modern martyrs in the Middle East, the church has been built by the faith of those who are willing to pay the most extreme price, their very lives ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, July 28, 2006 By the time you read this, I will be in Thailand on another missions trip. I'm so excited to be returning to a country I love and to the friends we made on our last trip. It should be an exciting time of ministry.As I've been preparing, I was reminded of how powerful film can be in portraying missionaries and their work ... (view entire newsletter)

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 We just got back from featuring the upcoming release of "The Moment After 2" (Coming to a church screen near you in October!) at the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS ) held in Denver this year. Some big things are taking shape in Christian filmmaking with some large studios making major commitments to the industry. FoxFaith announced a new marketing campaign to regularly bring "movies with an overtly Christian message" to nationwide theatrical distribution. Walden Media, the makers of The Chronicles of Narnia, previewed a few of their new upcoming projects, including "Amazing Grace " based on the life of William Wilberforce and the abolition of the slave trade in England ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, July 22, 2006 As a kid, I loved shows like Marlin Perkin's Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom & Disney's True-Life Adventures and their entertaining looks at animals from around the world. These enjoyable shows were marred at times though by the inclusion of statements and themes that went against Biblical teaching on creation.Recently, a new series has been created with similar, award-winning footage but supporting a Christian worldview with no evolutionary bias. The Explore The Wildlife Kingdom series takes you all around the world on an amazing journey through creation ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, July 6, 2006 Earlier this year, two superstars of Christian music united to make a film about church life that opened in theaters nationwide. Steve Taylor directed Michael W. Smith in his acting debut as he played a young pastor forced into working in an inner-city mission with a rival African-American pastor ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, July 1, 2006 Hard to believe that it's been 230 years since the founding of this great nation. In honor of this milestone, we want to make you aware of some great releases related to the history of this nation.Our Patriotic Film Pack features 5 excellent films packaged together that all relate to the history of our nation as well as current politics. These films take you from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War right up to current times, and excellent package for those looking for materials on America's Christian heritage.The League Of Grateful Sons is also an excellent addition to this set as a documentary about the men involved in the WWII battle at Iwo Jima and their faith.On the youth film front, Stephen Baldwin (star of SIX: The Mark Unleashed) has completed his second film, Livin It LA, a follow-up to his highly successful Livin It ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, June 23, 2006 I have been increasingly impressed with the NOOMA series from Rob Bell, pastor of a 10,000 member church in Michigan. These excellent short films are designed to focus attention on various issues related to our faith and to promote discussion in small groups or as lead-ins for sermons in church.The latest in this 13 DVD series, Rich, deals with the affluence of our society here in the US and also the expression "God Bless America"and our responsibility to the world around us. This thoughtful, moving film continues the high standard of the series to bring thought-provoking messages to us with a high production value that never detracts from the message ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, June 16, 2006 ChristianCinema.com has now made a number of well-received and award winning films, encompassing many different genres and styles. We recently did an inventory in our warehouse and discovered that we are overstocked on a number of our titles on VHS. Because of this, we want to extend to you a once in a lifetime offer.You can purchase 4 of our films together in one set for an incredible savings of over 90% normal retail ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, June 10, 2006 Having trouble shopping for your dad? Here are some great ideas for Father's Day:The League Of Grateful Sons, while documenting the sacrifices of our veterans, is also a celebration of the love of these men for their families and country. This powerful Christian documentary would be the perfect gift for your father or grandfather as it celebrates the faith of our fathers, living still.Dramas: films like Flywheel & MOST (The Bridge) are excellent films with father-related themesComedy: Go to our Comedy section for DVD's by top Christian comedians like Jeff Allen, Brad Stine, & the popular Bananas series Sports Films: Check out excellent family-friendly films like Remember The Titans (football), The Rookie (baseball), & The Greatest Game Ever Played (golf)And for the Dad who loves Professional Wrestling: Sting and Ted DiBiase have excellent films related to their wrestling careers and subsequent conversionsThis is also the season of graduations as well. Those of you looking for gits for your grad, our Youth section has a wide variety of films like drama Lay It Down to extreme sport films like Livin' It and The Moment Of Truth ... (view entire newsletter)

Monday, June 5, 2006 50 years ago, the world was shocked when 5 young missionaries were brutally murdered in Ecuador by the tribe they were trying to minister to. Their story was told most notably in the book Through Gates Of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot, one of the wives of the missionaries. Recently an excellent documentary was made, Beyond The Gates Of Splendor, which expands on the book by adding in the perspectives of the tribe themselves (the Waodani) ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, May 26, 2006 Every Memorial Day I find myself reflecting on the heroism and sacrifices of our veterans, especially during WWII. That conflict deeply affected my family with tremendous loss of life on my father's side overseas. A new documentary, The League Of Grateful Sons, charts the history of the Pacific conflict, specifically Iwo Jima, the lives affected, and those men's legacies to their families ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, May 20, 2006 You may have seen a great film, called The Perfect Stranger, on TV while flipping through the channels. This excellent film, a modern day dinner conversation between an attorney and Jesus, with its simple yet entertaining premise, keeps you engrossed for the entire movie. One viewer shared, "It thoughtfully articulates answers to the most common challenges to faith in Jesus Christ, such as, how can Jesus say He is the only way when there are so many other religions? I am buying it so I can watch it several more times so I have an answer ready if any one should ever raise these questions when I am sharing with then about our Lord ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, May 12, 2006 Josh McDowell recently said "95% of those in the Body of Christ could not give an intelligent answer why the Bible is the Word of God – true, or historically accurate or reliable, why Jesus is the Son of God or how the resurrection happened. So when something like the Da Vinci Code comes along and Christians don't know the "why's" of their faith, it undermines them." He had a woman email him, “My son has been brought up in a Christian home. A year and a half ago he read the book and walked away from his faith saying, ‘Mom, I don’t know who to turn to anymore for truth.’” Scripture tells us to be ready at all times with an answer ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, May 6, 2006 Dan Brown's novel, The Da Vinci Code is set to be released as a brand new movie on May 19. This bestselling novel and the subsequent movie adaption, attack Christianity's central themes of Jesus' divinity, death and resurrection, and the truth of God's Word. In response, Christian authors and scholars have been publishing materials to defend our faith and prepare Christian's for this cultural onslaught ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, April 29, 2006 We are very pleased to announce a brand-new partnership with The Dove Foundation to bring you side-by-side access to the biggest Christian movie database on the planet and the most comprehensive collection of family film reviews. The Dove Foundation is a leading proponent of family values in film through The Dove Seal of Approval, giving you the assurance that the film is safe for your whole family. In addition, Dove reviews, whether approved or not, give you a 5-point detailed analysis of all possible concerns for you and your family.Dick Rolfe, Dove Foundation founder, comments, "Research has shown that there is little discernible difference between the moviegoing habits of Christians and non-Christians, and that is a tragedy ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, April 14, 2006 This is one of my favorite times of the year as we celebrate the greatest moment in history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our redemption. There are some great film projects that come to mind this time of the year.The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton Heston, is one of those mainstays of television viewing in my family every Easter. This amazing production has just been released in a 50th Anniversary edition complete with Cecil B ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, April 7, 2006 Like many of you, I was blown away by The Passion Of The Christ. I had been greatly anticipating the project especially since both Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel are committed Christians and world class actors. The resulting movie was so emotionally moving for me, as indeed for most who viewed it.As in any project, there were many people of various viewpoints, faiths, and opinions involved in the film ... (view entire newsletter)

Sunday, April 2, 2006 One of the biggest movies of last year, The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe, comes out on DVD this Tuesday. As part of the interest in C.S. Lewis this movie has generated, Norman Stone, creator of the excellent drama Shadowlands, has put together a fabulous dramatized documentary about C.S ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, March 23, 2006 Have you ever wanted to take a trip to the Holy Land, walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and gain a better understanding about God's Word?I have dreamed of travelling to Israel since I was a child. I've gotten close in a missions outrach to the Persian Gulf Coast, but never quite made it. This last week, I watched a fabulous 7-DVD series by Focus on the Family called That The World May Know hosted by noted Bible scholar and historian, Ray Vander Laan and it's the next best thing to going there myself ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, March 17, 2006 I've really enjoyed a recent move in Christian films to make short, powerful films with poignant, powerful messages. These films use the visual medium in a powerful way and are great for small groups to use as conversation starters and thought-provoking times together. The NOOMA series is one of my favorites.A group of young filmmakers from Southern California have begun a new series called 36 Parables, an eventual 12 DVD collection that dramatizes all 36 of Jesus' parables ... (view entire newsletter)

Wednesday, March 8, 2006 Last year, we had the opportunity to help produce Frank Peretti's The Visitation, along with 20th Century Fox and Namesake Entertainment, makers of the first film based on a Peretti novel, Hangman's Curse. I have loved Frank Peretti's books for many years so it was especially fun to be involved in a film of one of his books and see friends in the movie and places where I live. That movie is now available on DVD.As with any Frank Peretti book, the subject matter of The Visitation deals with spiritual themes, often demonic in nature ... (view entire newsletter)

Wednesday, March 1, 2006 Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the 12 disciples? To have a one-on-one conversation with Jesus and ask Him all those questions you've always wondered about?That's the premise of a great new movie releasing on DVD this week, The Perfect Stranger. A high-powered attorney gets an invitation to dinner from Jesus of Nazareth and has an evening she'll never forget. This film, based upon David Gregory's bestselling book, "Dinner With A Perfect Stranger" is a captivating and highly entertaining film that draws you in and shows you in a dramatic way who Jesus is ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, February 24, 2006 Parables are an interesting story-telling device. On the surface they are quite simple but as you delve deeper, hidden truths can be discovered and much more depth and meaning than originally thought. I'm sure that's why Jesus loved using them so much. A Christian filmmaker in southern California, Katherine Makinney, has made a series of 3 short films called post-modern parables ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, February 16, 2006 When I was in the 5th grade, I had my first exposure to the Narnia books. From the first chapter, I was hooked and began a life-long love of C.S. Lewis and his books ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, February 9, 2006 Love is in the air! Once again, Valentine's Day is upon us and young people (and young at heart) are getting all twitterpated again. In honor of this tradition based on the martyred saint, Valentinus, I've gone through our database once again and found some films that relate to the theme of love. The latest in the Janette Oke series, Love's Long Journey, is finally arriving to DVD. Michael Landon, Jr ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, February 3, 2006 ... (view entire newsletter)

Saturday, January 28, 2006 I'd like to tell you a personal story...This last summer, I had an opportunity to minister for a few weeks in Thailand with a team of missionaries. This wasn't my first overseas experience, but it was amazing to see how God used us to share the life-changing message of Jesus to people in this Buddhist nation, many having never before heard the name of Jesus. We had the privilege to lead 17 people to Christ and every one of them are now a part of the growing church body the missionaries lead ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, January 20, 2006 I love gospel music. I love the musicianship and artistry involved, the great talents gospel artists dedicate to the Lord.This week there are some great new gospel music releases I want to bring to your attention... starting with one of my favorite artists, Israel Houghton ... (view entire newsletter)

Friday, January 13, 2006 There are two movies coming to theaters nationwide January 20th I want to highly recommend to you. THE END OF THE SPEAR is based on the true story of missionaries Jim Elliot and Nate Saint (documented in Beyond The Gates Of Splendor and Torchlighters: The Jim Elliot Story ). This month is the 50th anniversary of the event this movie chronicles ... (view entire newsletter)

Thursday, December 22, 2005 It's been a great year for Christian movies and 2006 looks to be even better ("End of the Spear " and a drama about the life of the writer of Amazing Grace immediately come to mind). With last years success of the P