Fruitbearers

The Shift is a dystopian drama and sci-fi thriller, inspired by the Book of Job. It's the latest film from Angel Studios (that made The Chosen and Sound of Freedom), releasing in theaters starting tomorrow, December 1st. In an alternate dimension/reality (think "multiverse"), Kevin Garner (Kristoffer Polaha) encounters "The Benefactor" (Neal McDonough). Kevin smells lies and deception from this mysterious, nefarious adversary right away; he refuses to work for/with him and his offer of wealth and power. Faced with infinite worlds and endless possibilities, Kevin fights to find a way out in order to be reunited with the woman he loves, Molly (Elizabeth Tabish). Personally, I am not a fan of sci-fi, multiverse movies, but I enjoyed The Shift . I like the message within the movie that touches on Christ's resurrection, eternal hope, test of faith, God's truths vs. Satan's lies, light vs. darkness, life and death, agape (selfless & self-sacrificial l

Surprised by Oxford is a romance-drama based on a true story. I have never read the book (same title) by Carolyn Weber , which is a memoir of an intellectual unbeliever who became a Christian. I did not know what to expect but I was surprised by Surprised by Oxford in a good way. Caro Drake (played by Rose Reid), a brilliant and driven American student, receives a full-ride scholarship to study for her PhD degree on Romantic Literature at Oxford University in England. Culture shock, a charming & chaste young man (played by Ruairi O'Connor), and Christianity surprise her and intrigue her at the same time. As an agnostic, she grapples with many questions about God and spiritual matters. As a feminist from a broken family, she struggles with being vulnerable and maintaining a relationship with a chivalrous man. Caro is introduced to C.S. Lewis's memoir about his conversion to Christianity, Surprised by Joy , and is greatly impacted by it. She sincerely searches for truth and

I love good musicals so I was excited to review Journey to Bethlehem (rated PG), the new musical about Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and the birth of our promised Savior and King Jesus. The film's script writers take some creative license and fill in the unknowns such as how Mary and Joseph met and how they felt, the names and personalities of the three wise men, etc. They said they tried to remain true to the message of the greatest story ever told. While I enjoyed the movie and appreciated the quality of the film, I need to point out a few things that are definitely not Biblically accurate. First, the wise men came to the house, not the stable and presented gifts to the young Child, not the Baby (according to Matthew 2). Second, Herod the Great's son, Antipater, was not present at Christ's birth. Luke 2:8 says, " Now when Herod (Antipater) saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many thi

Parenting is hard enough, but Biblical parenting is even more challenging because while Christian parents are doing their best to raise their children according to God's Word, the enemy (Satan) is waging war against both Christian parents and their child(ren). The spiritual warfare is real; we Christian parents must be aware of the enemy's schemes & weapons but not anxious or afraid. We cannot afford choosing to be pacifists in this battle; we must be vigilant and fight for our child's soul with God's strength, full armor, and truths & principles. " It is our responsibility as Christ-followers to love, protect, and steward this gift (children) for the glory of God. "  Fighting for the Soul of Your Child (written by Jimmy & Karen Evans with their daughter, Julie Evans Albracht) is a practical guide to Biblical parenting that encourages Christian parents to trust God, seek Him, rely on Him & His Word and arms readers with valuable tools for ra

  One can never own too many Bibles, right? I am pleased to add this CSB (Christian Standard Bible) Life Counsel Bible to my Bible collection. It's like having God's wisdom plus application to counseling at my fingertips. It contains more than 150 articles on various topics related to marriage, parenting, relationships, mental health, and more. The overall theme is the gospel of God's grace. These articles are written by trustworthy Biblical counselors and scholars such as Paul David Tripp, Edward T. Welch, and Joni Eareckson Tada. This unique Bible provides hope, encouragement, and practical wisdom for life's tough issues such as stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addiction, sexuality, abuse, crisis, suicide, finances, adoption, conflict, and parenting struggles.  Each book's introduction includes Circumstances of Writing, Contribution to the Bible, Structure, and Truth for Healing. One of my favorite features in this Bible is: over 100-word studies with the Hebr