Homeschool Review: Life With Dog #hsreviews #MovieNight #ChristianMovies #FamilyMovie

There's an old saying about a boy and his dog, but there's definitely something to be said about a man and his dog as well.  The concepts of grief, hope, faith, and redemption are explored through the eyes of widower Joe Bigler (portrayed by Corbin Bernsen) with the help of a stray dog that shows up seemingly out of nowhere in Life With Dog from Mill Creek Entertainment.  "Dog" arrives just in time to help save Joe from himself and proves to be a loyal, if quiet, companion as Joe seeks to find justice in the unexplained death of his wife, Alice (portrayed by Marilu Henner).

The movie opens at the scene of a hit-and-run traffic accident with a broken bicycle laying in the middle of the road where we soon find out that Joe's wife of 43 years, Alice, was killed.  Grief takes many forms.  Joe locks himself inside his home with memories of Alice and tries to shut out the rest of the world -- including his daughter and grandson.  He is sad and bitter and trying to make sense of the GOD whom Alice loved.  As his final act of love, Joe gently tends to Alice's prized roses and spends time in her garden.  This is exactly the place that Dog shows up and makes himself at home with Joe.  Where Joe has spent evenings "chatting" with Alice, he now turns his attention to Dog and a friendship begins.

There are many unanswered questions surrounding the accident that claimed Alice's life and Joe sets out to find what really happened on the day of her death.  He is eaten up with guilt because he talked to her moments before she was killed and asked her to come home and help him find something lost.  He does not know how to offer himself grace because he has never offered it to anyone else.  Because Dog becomes a faithful companion and walks beside Joe no matter what, Joe begins to realize that he can forgive and offer love.

Grief leads Joe to make some very strange decisions and he must face the consequences of those decisions one by one.  In the end, Joe learns to forgive others and himself.  He begins to see the world around him through the faith of his family and experiences that hope personally so that he can claim that faith as his own.  Joe finds redemption and offers it to the man who killed his wife.  He understands LOVE in a new way and grasps the LOVE of the FATHER anew.

Life With Dog is an interesting movie that steps deep into the heart of the many forms of grief.  Dog helps Joe discover the truth of GOD's love and mercy by simply being present.  You can learn more about this movie by checking out the following Social Media sites and you can pick up your very own copy at your local Walmart (they arrived in stores yesterday) or order on Amazon.  The runtime for this DVD is an hour and 45 minutes and the content is suitable for families to watch together.  Check it out here:

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I was given the opportunity to review Life With Dog from Mill Creek Entertainment as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this movie (or just click on the banner below.)

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Homeschool Review: Trust Fund #hsreviews #trustfundmovie #family #movienight #moviereview #familynight #familyfun

We all know that homeschoolers ROCK and that they are super-creative.  With that said, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of the new movie, Trust Fund:  Know Who to Trust by Mapelle Films when I found out that a former homeschooler was the film's cinematographer and one of its producers.  I mean, seriously, how much fun it that?  Isaac Alongi's parents homeschooled him through all 12 grades of school -- and they started way back in 1982.  I consider them some of the homeschooling pioneers, so I was excited to see how this film from a fellow homeschooler would play for a mainstream audience.  Let me just start by saying here that we liked it -- a lot.

Trust Fund offers a modern-day, contemporary twist on the parable of the prodigal son.  The prodigal in this case is a daughter, Reese, who has the opportunity to do great things in the family business, but chooses instead to chase individual fame and fortune while living the life across the world from the support system she's always known and relied upon. Sound familiar?  As we all know, the deal with life is that choices come with consequences   . . .  some good, others bad . . . and we all must decide who we can trust to help us on our journey.

What I found most refreshing is that in this movie, when Reese hits bottom (as we all sometimes do), she is remorseful and she is offered grace.  Owning up to her situation, Reese calls her dad to ask if she can return home.  She realizes that she doesn't deserve special treatment, but she is welcomed home and loved unconditionally.  This is a tale of family, a tale of sisters reunited, and a tale full of the declarations of what true love really is and how to focus on what matters most in life -- relationship.

Although there is a substantial sum of money involved in the plot of the movie, for me it wasn't as much about money as it was about a daughter realizing that she has lost the good that was intended for her.  In making the choices that she did, Reese realizes she has blown the big plans set aside for her life.  But isn't that just like all of us?  How often do we blow GOD's original plan (Plan A) and end up with Plan B instead?

Trust Fund is a full-length feature film and is nicely made and produced.  I consider it to be family-friendly as there was no foul language.  Real world, real life situations were handled with extreme caution and were presented in good taste.  An interesting movie that will get you all up in the feelings, it's enjoyable by all.  My husband even liked it and that's saying something.  He's a bit of a movie snob and was afraid it would be a "chick flick."  Indeed, there was enough action to keep him beside me throughout the entire film.

As an added bonus, the book Love Was Near complements the movie and would be a nice follow-up for your preteen/teen daughters.  Inspired by the Trust Fund movie, Love Was Near is written from the perspective of Reese and includes journaled, "Dear Diary" pages that offer insight into the backstory -- complete with handwritten text and doodles.  Girls will be able to greet Reese as an old friend as they answer questions and dig deeper behind-the-scenes into the relationships that make Reese who she is.  They may just see a bit of themselves as they work to find their place in this world and they will see that all choices and decisions affect the bigger picture.

For more information about the Trust Fund movie, please visit the following Social Media sites:

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As for me and my house, we are looking forward to the next Mapelle Films movie.  How about you?

I was given the opportunity to review Trust Fund:  Know Who to Trust from Mapelle Films as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this fascinating science resource and other curriculum we reviewed (or just click on the banner below.)



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Homeschool Review: Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels” #hsreviews #drivethruhistory #thegospels

You know you've got a winner when middle school students ask if we "can go ahead and watch the next episode right now?" and say "I can't wait to see what happens next week."  I am never quite certain which videos and lessons will grab their attention and keep it, but when I introduced Drive Thru History® and the new Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels” (The Extraordinary Life of JESUS of Nazareth) series to them this semester, they were enthralled.  I KNEW I had a winner.  As we watched each lesson each week, this is what happened:

I'm not sure if you can see the miracle taking place in the photo, but let me tell you, when 25+ 6th - 8th grade students (and adult volunteers) sit perfectly still, eyes riveted on the screen, mouths closed so they can actually hear what's being said onscreen, you've got something HUGE going on in ministry.  HUGE.  And when those same students will open up in discussion and actually have recall of what they've just seen, you know that GOD is smiling.  

Drive Thru History® has long been one of our family favorites.  As a homeschool resource, it's heads and shoulders above the rest.  My kids have always enjoyed sitting down to an episode (or two) of the fast-paced, quick action adventure led by "tour guide" extraordinaire Dave Stotts and I have always loved being able to tie the videos in to our Social Studies, History, and Geography lessons.  As a fun family resource, it simply can't be beat.  We are always up for a family adventure and Drive Thru History® takes us right into the thick of things and allows us to travel across the globe and back in time together.  I love it, my kids love it, their friends love it -- so I was excited to share the new Gospels series with my family, but I was even more excited to introduce my middle schoolers at church to the special edition episodes.  Can you believe that not one kid in the room had ever seen a Drive Thru History® video?  I was shocked.  



The 3-disc series contains 18 episodes on DVD that chronicle the life of JESUS.  From the historical landscape surrounding the announcements that a SAVIOR is coming to HIS birth, life, ministry, and miracles, Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels” is a stunning teaching tool for all things JESUS.  Each episode is 30 minutes long (for a total of NINE fabulous HOURS.  Score!) and take you right into the heart of where JESUS walked, taught, and loved on those around HIM.  Because I received the set during the season of Lent, we were able to use the videos as real life teaching moments at church.  Beginning with JESUS' final trip into Jerusalem with palm branches waving and cries of celebration then moving through the Last Supper with betrayal, trials, death and burial surrounded by cries of anger, hatred, and distress was intense (forewarning here:  it gets real -- very, very real) but it was beautiful to step into the RESURRECTION of JESUS and "see" that JESUS didn't come to stay dead and buried.  What a moment of glory!  What a victory for us all!


The middle schoolers have enjoyed every second of every episode so far and they have asked for us to start over at the very beginning and watch them all together.  What I like here is that they can see the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John come to life in a chronological order that helps the Bible make sense to them.  After watching each episode, we've spent time talking through the pages of the included Study Guide (118-pages).  I have shared the brief summary with them (one for each episode) and then divided them into small groups to discuss the 5 questions listed that help solidify what they've seen on screen.  Within their small groups, they have had the opportunity to read the specific portion of Scripture that coincides with the video watched.  We wrap up each night with a quick little "side road" trip that further explains what we've been hiding in our hearts all night.  Seriously, what more could I ask for?  It's simply perfect.

The pace of each video grabs their attention and keeps it as they travel along to places they've heard about in passing.  I appreciate the weighing-in of Biblical scholars, the fresh look at JESUS as "real" and not just a "character in a book."   I know that it helps me to be able to see the very spots where JESUS lived and walked, and I pray that it helps my students to develop a clearer understanding of the love HE has for us.  Dave Stotts definitely has it going on as he explores and I pray he never lets the dust settle.  We need the real-life adventure that is GOD's Word.  

For more information about Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels” and Cold Water Media, please make sure to check out the following Social Media pages:

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I was given the opportunity to review Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels” from Drive Thru History® as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this resource (or just click on the banner below.)

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Captive {movie review & giveaway} #CaptiveMovie #flyby

On March 11, 2005 Brian Nichols, on trial for a rape he did not acknowledge, made a daring escape from the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, GA.  He killed the judge presiding over his trial, the court reporter, a police officer, and an ICE agent in his attempt to get away.  During a city-wide manhunt, Nichols attempted to see a son he had just found out about and ended up taking Ashley Smith hostage in her own home.  This was not a "made for TV" movie.  Unfortunately, this was real life and I remember listening and watching as the details unfolded 10 years ago.

With family living in Atlanta, I was glued to the news reports as reporters shared the details of the search for Brian Nichols.   And I remember the moment the news broke that he had been captured.  Having recently read and studied The Purpose Driven Life with a ladies' group from church, it was fascinating to hear how GOD moved over Nichols and Smith through the pages of this book.

“A Powerful Story of Faith Over Fear.” - Dick Rolfe, CEO, Dove Foundation

While the series of events in the movie didn't unfold exactly how I had it organized in my head, Captive tells the story of redemption and grace through raw emotion.  Very well written and acted, Captive will make you jump just a bit as you cringe and offer advice to the actors on the screen.  It is a powerful film of crime, drama, and life.

About the movie:  Based on a miraculous story about the power of faith, Captive is an "amazing, inspiring" drama about the spiritual collision of two lost souls, Brian Nichols (Golden Globe Nominee David Oyelowo), on the run from police and desperate to make contact with his newborn son, takes recently widowed mother Ashley Smith (Kata Mara) hostage in her own apartment.  Fearing for her life and desperately hoping to see her daughter again, she turns to Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life for guidance.  Ashley and her captor face a crossroads where they discover hope and light in the midst of despair in the moving film that Dick Rolfe, CEO, Dove Foundation hailed as "powerful." 

DVD Release Date: January 5, 2016

Runtime: 96 minutes

Rating: PG-13 (for mature thematic elements involving violence and substance abuse)  
Additionally, there are over 30 minutes of bonus content on this DVD including Journey Through Darkness: Filming Captive and Faith and The Purpose Driven Life.  Also included with this DVD is a Digital HD copy that can be instantly streamed and downloaded.

My husband and I screened this movie together before watching it with my 14- and 16-year-olds and found it to be perfectly suitable for them.  Mature themes are handled discreetly.  The true story is shared in a way that glorifies GOD and not the sin.  I will be sharing this movie at church with my middle schoolers as well.  Where poor choices are made, GOD offers HOPE.

And the very best part of this movie?  It is all true.  What a refreshing look at second chances through the HOPE that is found in GOD.

EVERY LIFE HAS PURPOSE.  

For more information about Captive, please check out the following Social Media sites:

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And even more fun?  I have one copy to offer as a giveaway to one of you.  Sign up to win using the Rafflecopter form below.

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"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

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Finding Noah {movie review} #findingNoah #flyby

My favorite Bible verse has long been Genesis 9:13 which says "I do set my bow in the cloud and it shall be a token of a covenant between ME and the earth."  It speaks to my heart as it is GOD's promise to us that we will never again feel the total destruction of a flood as experienced by Noah.  I like that Every.Single.Time it rains, we are reminded of GOD's promise.  Without fail, HE shows us how very much we are loved.  As a result, I've cherished the biblical accounting of Noah and the Ark and I've enjoyed studying the literature of the many different cultures that share their own take on the Ark.  Did you realize that Noah is one biblical story that almost every culture shares in storytelling?  Even further evidence (if you needed any) that the Bible is TRUE.

People have been looking for Noah's actual Ark for generations, and are now closer than ever to finding it.  Scientific evidence points to its physical existence and experts are determined to touch it for themselves.  I recently had the distinct privilege of watching the movie, FINDING NOAH, which takes the viewer on an adventure in faith following the evidence (and hanging out with the experts--pastors, missionaries, and scientists) on a quest to find the Ark.  (Check out the trailer here!  FINDING NOAH hits theaters Thursday for a special one-day showing.  You're going to want to check it out.)  

It is fascinating to hear men speak of first-hand knowledge of the Ark and hear the stories of those who are quite positive they've seen evidence of it resting on Mount Ararat.  It is even more fascinating to watch the search and be a part of the actual climb as men stretch their hands forward in the quest to touch that which offers PROMISE to us all.  You'll be in awe of the beauty captured in the cinematography and you'll feel the bitter cold as the winds blow pelting hail all around the Base Camp.  But even more, you'll be invited to listen in as the adventurers take on the treacherous path and find themselves in full-on worship of a living GOD.

About the film:  For over 2,000 years, man has been searching for the final resting place of Noah's Ark.  Though there have been many attempts, few have been able to fully explore the one place specifically noted in the Bible: Mount Ararat.  Located in Eastern Turkey, Agri Dagh or "The Painful Mountain" is the tallest mountain in the region and lies in the very center of a centuries old, geo-politically unstable hot spot.  With constant threats of deadly rock slides, hidden crevasses, and glacial ice falls, the Kurdish Rebel held mountain poses great risk to any explorer, let alone those performing a thorough scientific investigation.

Join director/producer Brent Baum and the FINDING NOAH film crew as they follow an expedition of intrepid explorers on a perilous trek up to Mt. Ararat's desolate summit.  There, using state of the art technology and real-time satellite imagery, this team of archaeologists, scientists, and professional mountaineers will begin a grid work of exploration unlike any before, hoping to finally resolve the age-old question:  did Noah and his Ark actually exist?  

Shot in never-before filmed locations in the harshest of conditions, this unprecedented feature-length documentary shows just how far men are willing to go to discover the truth.  Narrated by Academy Award nominee Gary Sinise, FINDING NOAH is more than a quest for answers, it is a testament of the human spirit, where belief and the need for exploration transcend risk and limitation.  

Genre: Documentary

Rating: NR 

Runtime: 116 minutes 

Release Date (ONE NIGHT ONLY): October 8

Family Friendly

For thousands of years, man has embarked upon the journey of the impossible and in the end finds himself and who he is designed to be.  This journey is no different.  In visiting the mountaintop of Mount Ararat, members of the Ark recovery team realize they are abundantly blessed by GOD and learn to worship in an entirely new way.  They are able to proclaim victory through HIS PROMISE.  What a beautiful telling of faith and hope for such a time as this.

For more information about the film, please visit the following Social Media sites:    

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

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And make sure to PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post."

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