Signs & Wonders Blog

Since the United States is celebrating its 250th birthday this year, more movies are coming out about America’s founding era. A historical drama film called “Young Washington” is scheduled for release on July 3rd. Last Thursday night, a pastor and his wife invited me to go see “A Great Awakening.” I had seen a trailer for this a few months ago, but I wasn’t aware it was released for Easter weekend. “A Great Awakening” delves into the unlikely friendship between American founding father Benjamin Franklin and English preacher George Whitefield (pronounced “whit field”). Franklin resists his father’s wish for him to pursue a career in preaching. Instead, he embarks on a successful venture in establishing a renowned print shop. Years later, Franklin’s grandson stumbles upon old journals belonging to George Whitefield. This discovery triggers a flashback that takes the audience on a journey through the preacher’s life. Whitefield, initially aspiring to be an actor, pursued his dream at ...

I make it a point to attend Christian movies that are released in theaters on a national level. This past Tuesday, I saw “David.” I had high expectations since it was the second highest grossing movie in America on its opening weekend. One thing I noticed was better animation than the previous Bible-based movie I attended (“ Light of the World ”).   Based on 1 and 2 Samuel, “David” begins with the title character overseeing his father’s flock of sheep. While one of them gave birth to a lamb, David fought off a lion. He soon returns home and is surprised to be anointed by the prophet Samuel as the next king of Israel. Meanwhile, the reigning King Saul faces personal issues as well as external threats to his kingdom.  The well-known story of David fighting Goliath has two noticeable omissions. It doesn’t show King Saul offering his daughter as a wife, plus tax exemption as rewards for killing the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:25). It also doesn’t show David cutting off Goliath’s h...

When Christian movies hit the silver screen nationwide, I make it a priority to go see them as soon as possible (but usually opt for matinees when ticket prices are lower). “Light of the World” premiered in theaters on September 5th. At the time, I was staying with a pastor and his family in the Buffalo area. Unfortunately, the movie wasn’t showing at the nearest theater there. Earlier this week, I took a train to Northern Virginia to spend a few days with my friend Jim . Since he’s a movie buff, we both went to see “Light of the World” this past Thursday. This animated story of Jesus is told through the apostle John. At the beginning of the movie, John, a young boy, is eager to assist his family’s fishing business. However, his father, Zebedee, faces the threat of being enslaved due to unpaid taxes. In his quest to bring the fish to market and raise the required funds, John inadvertently encounters the Messiah, whom his mother had spoken of. Eventually, John and his brother James dec...

Believers shouldn’t tire of watching films about the life of Jesus, often referred to as the greatest story ever told. An animated version titled “ The King of Kings ” premiered in theaters on Friday, April 11th, and became the second highest-grossing film of the weekend, surpassed only by “A Minecraft Movie.” I had the pleasure of watching it this past Monday.  “The King of Kings” features a cartoon rendition of Charles Dickens. The English author narrates the story of Jesus to his son Walter, who is enamored with King Arthur. Charles points out that the King of Kings is more captivating than King Arthur because “He doesn’t require a sword.” The boy, his father, and the family cat are featured prominently in numerous illustrated Bible stories. This reminded me of the Christian cartoon series “Superbook.” A couple of scenes deviated from biblical accuracy. One showed the Magi appearing before Jesus as a baby. Matthew 2 points out He was a young Child. The movie also displayed Pe...

Angel Studios has produced “The Chosen” TV series plus a variety of faith-based films including last year’s highly successful “ Sound of Freedom .” I saw their latest release “Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.” when it came out two days ago. This biopic is about a German theologian who stood up against the Nazis before and during World War II.  Previously I watched a 2000 made-for-TV movie about Bonhoeffer and expected similarities between that and the new flick. The latter film doesn’t follow his life in chronological order. Dietrich is shown in captivity with frequent flashbacks beginning with his childhood. After his older brother Walter died during World War I, Dietrich became a minister and eventually traveled to America. There he developed an appreciation for black gospel music and desired to share that with the churches back in Germany.  Unfortunately, the Nazis came into power and began dictating what German churches could say and do. Dietrich openly spoke out aga...

Alex and Stephen Kendrick are the producers of popular Christian movies such as “Fireproof”, “Overcomer” , and “War Room” (which reached number one at the box office in 2015). This past Thursday, I saw their latest release “The Forge.” Webster’s Dictionary defines a forge as “a furnace or a shop with its furnace where metal is heated and wrought” and “a workshop where wrought iron is produced or where iron is made malleable.” The main character in “The Forge” is Isaiah Wright, a 19-year-old African-American (played by Aspen Kennedy). His mother Cynthia (Priscilla Shirer) is tired of him doing nothing except play basketball and video games. She instructs her son to find a job and come up with rent money within one month or move out. Isaiah eventually lands a position with a manufacturer of fitness products. Owner Joshua Moore (Cameron Arnett) helps his new employee find direction and witnesses to him. In a private moment in his bedroom, Isaiah reads a “Romans Road” tract and asks Jesu...

A scene from "War Room" During February I usually return to Virginia to spend a few days attending Calvary Campground ’s Winter Campmeeting in Ashland and at a friend’s place in Fairfax. Jim is a retired government worker who owns a large collection of DVDs. Over the years, I’ve watched a few with him and by myself. During a recent stay at his house, Jim asked me for a list of Christian flicks to show at George Mason University where he also teaches a class. That inspired another article for my blog. This list is in order of when I first saw these movies (some of which I’ve previously written reviews). I tried to select productions from a variety of filmmakers. “A Thief in the Night” - Months after committing my life to the Lord in 1991, I developed an interest in bible prophecy. The following year, I rented a videotape of this 1972 classic plus its three sequels: “A Distant Thunder”, “Image of the Beast”, and “The Prodigal Planet.” This series produced by Mark IV Pictures...

Often we take simple things for granted, such as the liberty to walk to the store. What if you couldn’t do that anymore? Imagine someone controlling your life all hours of the day and forcing you to do horrific things. Millions of children are trapped in a modern-day holocaust that’s now being exposed on the silver screen. The movie “Sound of Freedom” is based on a true story. Jim Caviezel (who played Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ”) stars as Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security agent who later quit his job to devote his life to rescuing children caught in sex trafficking . Early in the movie, Tim and his associates arrest a man for downloading child pornography. Information obtained through this pedophile enabled Tim to track down another one attempting to smuggle a Honduran boy across the border. Tim soon learns the boy’s sister is held captive by traffickers. He then embarks on a dangerous mission in Colombia to save her. “Sound of Freedom” encountered opposition from Hol...

During the late 1990s, I worked for Billy Graham 's film ministry World Wide Pictures. My job was calling pastors to schedule evangelistic movie showings to reach people who might not go to a church otherwise. Many salvations and recommitments resulted. Some of Billy's movies were also shown in theaters. It’s been two decades since World Wide Pictures released a new movie. Fortunately, other Christian filmmakers have filled the gap with quality productions. Some have done well financially. One that debuted last weekend was “Jesus Revolution,” which grossed over $15 million and placed third at the box office. I saw it this past Wednesday. The movie is about the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It focuses on three California men who went on to have nationally known ministries. Chuck Smith is the pastor of Calvary Church, which hadn’t seen much growth until his daughter brought home a hippie named Lonnie Frisbee. Initially, Chuck is uncomfortable with him and o...

Alex and Stephen Kendricks are former pastors from Georgia who have gone on to become successful filmmakers. The two brothers have put together six powerful faith-based movies over the past sixteen years. Their 2015 release “War Room” reached number one at the box office. Hopefully, their latest production “ Overcomer ” does likewise. I saw it two days ago. Alex plays John Harrison, a high school basketball coach who loses players due to a local manufacturing plant shutting down and families moving away. Meanwhile, the principal (played by Priscilla Shirer who starred in “War Room”) asks John to oversee the school’s cross-country program. The coach is reluctant but agrees to do so. Only one student shows up for the tryout: a fifteen-year-old girl with asthma. Despite Hannah’s handicap, she gradually improves her running skills.  During a hospital visit with his pastor, John inadvertently meets another patient who had lost his sight and legs due to diabetes. As they get t...

A recent poll in my hometown newspaper determined 58% of their readers “almost never” go to the movies. One woman wrote a letter exhorting us to go to more of them. She recommended seeing one in particular called “Eighth Grade.” I wrote a letter in response pointing out that movie is rated R due to its sexual themes and use of four-letter words. Ironically, that prevents actual eighth graders from seeing it unless an adult accompanies them. I was saddened to learn “Eighth Grade” was released internationally by Walt Disney Studios. Disney used to be synonymous with family-friendly entertainment. While I was growing up, Mom and Dad took my sister and me to many Disney movies.  I also remember wanting to see “Saturday Night Fever” as an eighth grader in 1978. My parents wouldn’t take me after seeing it for themselves and heard lots of foul language (we later watched an edited version on TV). Now as a God-fearing adult, I refuse to spend my money on movies filled with swea...