Family films rake more than R-rated

The summer blockbusters are over and the box office results are in – family friendly films are killing R-rated movies in the pocketbook as reported by OregonFaithReport. Only one R-rated film, “The Hangover,” made the Top 10 box office list. The next highest grossing R-rated film, “The Watchmen,” came in at a distant No. 18 on the list. The money gap comes at a time when Hollywood is undergoing historic changes which may alter the movies we see in the future. The Top 10 movie profits of 2009 so far:No. 1“Transformers 2” ($399 million)No. 2 “Harry Potter 6” ($294 million)No. […]

-Read More


‘Lord, Save Us From Your Followers,’

Faith and culture collide with humorous and illuminating results in the even-handed and startlingly redemptive film asking, ‘Why is the Gospel of love dividing America?’  In the wake of civil discourse on the hot button social issues devolving to bumper sticker slogans like “Choose Life – Your Mom Did” or “Democrat and Christian” or “God Made Adam and Eve, Not Adam and Steve,” filmmaker Dan Merchant faces the American religious culture dilemma head on with the upcoming theatrical release of his film, “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers: Why is the Gospel of love dividing America?” which released nationwide on […]

-Read More


‘The Mysterious Islands’

New Galapagos film challenges evolution on ‘Ground Zero’ of Darwinism As the world prepares to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s landmark book, “On the Origin of Species,” Vision Forum has unveiled details on a new documentary, filmed in the Galapagos Islands, that debunks the conclusions Darwin reached during his storied trip to this island chain during the voyage of the HMS Beagle. Shot and directed by the award-winning Jon and Andy Erwin of Erwin Brothers Motion Pictures, the 90-minute film, entitled “The Mysterious Islands,” is set for release in early November, just weeks prior to […]

-Read More


Iron Men

Local Christian leaders meet to sharpen one another The men’s Life of Iron Sharpens Iron started out in David and Karen Woods’ kitchen in 1995. David and his long-time friend Kevin Bowser wanted to bring some muchneeded organization to their church board in Washington, D.C. But there was no local support to do this. Pastors of large churches are able to participate in seminars and workshops on the national scene, they noted, but what about the leaders of smaller churches? That is where Iron Sharpens Iron comes in. The Iron Sharpens Iron Conference Network they started now travels across the […]

-Read More


”O’ God’ reveals about Oprah’s spirituality

Best-selling author and apologist Josh McDowell, author of “More Than a Carpenter,” and fellow apologist Dave Sterrett of Probe Ministries believe that as many people leave churches and give up on organized religion, they’re turning to Oprah as their spiritual leader. Their new novel “‘O’ God: A dialogue on truth and Oprah’s spirituality” will release nationally on Oct. 6. Whether voiced aloud, only thought about or hidden down deep as a nagging suspicion, the truth about Oprah’s splintered beliefs and the advice of the colorful teachers she promotes is among today’s most relevant issues. “The danger is that while appearing […]

-Read More


What has washing someone’s car got to do with the gospel?

Committed to bringing the Christian message to young people to his hometown of Manchester, England, Andy Hawthorne was shocked when a missions partner told him he shouldn’t just preach the gospel but also engage in community projects. It worked. The Message Trust has been recognized internationally as bringing hope and change to the roughest, poorest neighborhoods of Manchester. And it got him thinking: What, exactly, should the priority of the church be? Should it be the lamp on a stand–bold, unashamed gospel proclamation to as many as possible? Or should it be more salt and yeast–serving and blessing the vulnerable […]

-Read More


YouTube bans video showing abuse at Planned Parenthood

In a censorship that appears politically motivated, the popular video-sharing Web site YouTube has blocked a video critical of Planned Parenthood made by the student-led nonprofit Live Action. The video shows a Planned Parenthood clinic in Birmingham offering to “bend the rules” of Alabama’s parental consent and mandatory reporting laws in order to cover up statutory rape with a secret abortion, and has opened an investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office into the nation’s largest abortion provider. YouTube offered no prior warning or specific explanation for removing the video, which contains no apparent violations of YouTube’s “community guidelines.” After […]

-Read More


Christians reportedly beheaded in Somalia

Four more Christians have been beheaded in Somalia, according to the Washington-based human rights organization International Christian Concern (ICC). The four Christians had been working for a non-governmental organization that aids orphans in southern Somalia. The Islamic extremist group al Shabaab, which has ties to al-Qaida, “kidnapped and eventually beheaded the Christians after they refused to renounce their faith,” ICC reported Aug. 11. According to the ICC report: “On Aug. 4, a junior [al Shabaab] militant notified all the families of the victims that the four Christians had been beheaded for apostasy. He described the Christians as promoters of ‘fitna,’ […]

-Read More


Families petition MPAA for ratings

The Family Guide to Movies and Culture has asked the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to drop its “failed” ratings system and return to “standards-based” guidelines, announced Dr. Ted Baehr, Movieguide’s founder and publisher. Movieguide is also asking Americans to sign a petition urging the MPAA to end the ratings system and adopt a Code of Decency. “The MPAA’s ratings system never worked really well, but it has gotten much worse since it added the ambiguous PG-13 rating,” Baehr said. “Parents, especially mothers, can no longer trust the ratings for movies, especially in light of the PG-13 ratings for […]

-Read More