BookSneeze Review: DVD "The Least Among You"

I was so excited to review a DVD from BookSneeze (Thomas Nelson) this time around. I love faith based movies, so when I saw that a DVD was available for review I jumped at the chance. The DVD that I reviewed was a movie titled, "The Least Among You". This movie is inspired by a true story about a man named Richard Kelly (Dr. Charles Marks).

Richard was arrested in the 1965 Watts Riots. In order to get out of prison he had to serve his probation at an all white seminary. I won't give you the rest of the story, but the movie deals with the issues of racism, abuse and forgiveness. Ultimately, the movie shows the journey of how Richard comes to really know and accept God's will for his life.

This movie was really good. There are well known actors in this movie, such as Louis Gossett, Jr., Lauren Holly and William Devane. I do not really know the actor that plays the role of Richard Kelly, but he does a wonderful job. Also included on the DVD is a featurette titled, "Rev Dr. Charles Marks-The Real Richard Kelly". I like when movies feature small documentaries of the real life characters.

One of the things that I like most about this movie is that it deals with very sensitive and life situations that are graphic, but the movie deals with it in a way that is appropriate and not at all graphic. As a Christian this is real important to me that I can watch a movie without hearing and seeing all the "stuff" that can be so offensive.

I definitely recommend this movie as one to purchase. It would also be a movie that could be watched with your family (older children). Thank you BookSneeze for making this movie available for review.

I Miss the Altar...

This past week I got to visit another church with some friends of ours... I noticed during the invitation time that people could come up to the front of the church and kneel at the altar to pray...this made me think of the churches I grew up in. During the last part of the service members could come up to the front and pray at the altar... So what kind of praying was going on at the altar???

-First time decisions to receive Christ as Savior

-Prayers for healing

-Prayers of supplication

-Prayers of confession and repentance (and much more)

I remember the times I went to the altar to pray. Normally it was prayers of confession and repentance... The altar call meant business... I remember how nervous I would be getting up in front of all the people to pray at the altar, because I knew that people might be wondering why I was there (because my mind at times would think the same thing about the people that would go to the altar). It also seemed very normal to watch people (and myself) walk away from the altar in tears... Again, there was just something about going up in front of the church and visibly showing your need for Christ that made it feel more serious...The altar seemed like a sort of holy place to me.

So this weekend, I was reminded of how I wished in every church there was a time where people could go to the altar and settle whatever issues they needed to with God...BUT then I thought about the verse in Romans 12 1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

These verses reminded me that I do not need a physical altar, but that my life is to be a sacrifice to God... In some sense I should be laying my life down on an "altar" daily... dying to myself, and dying to my will and desires. If I waited to do this only on days where I could go to a physical altar I would be wasting the precious time that God has given me. I can't afford to do that...

I still love the idea of going up in a church (building) and kneeling at the altar before God, but I am also reminded that I need to be laying my life down daily before God and the Church (body of believers) as that living sacrifice referenced in Romans 12.

I hope that each day I will be placing myself more and more on the altar...

Six Flags Fun

SNAKE WAS SO WIGGED OUT BEFORE RIDING THIS ROLLER COASTER...

WAITING IN LINE...I AM STILL SMILING...THE WEATHER WAS GOOD THIS DAY...

DOESN'T THE JOKER LOOK MENACING HERE??? FREAKS ME OUT A BIT...

DAFFY AND THE BOYS...

I am over at the AMH website today

Here is the link to an article I wrote for the A Martha Heart website...It is titled "The Least of These..."

Let me know if you get a chance to read it, and if you got to listen to the resource I referenced in the article...

Blessings...

I am Turning into my Mother :)

YEP I did it... I finally brought a pair of Reading Glasses... I always smiled when I saw my mother wear reading glasses, and then to watch her move them down on her nose just did me in...Well, as I draw closer to the big 40, I am turning into my mom :) Glasses down on the nose and all...

A Martha Heart Website Link

Click here to visit a new website thats focus is to have its readers "sit at Jesus' feet"... The link is to the article that I wrote today titled, "What's in Your Cup?", but make sure to stay awhile and visit all the rooms at the "A Martha Heart" website...

Blessings