You've got to check the movie out. It's awesome! Below is an article; listen to what is being said:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)
--Audiences turned out in force Sept. 26-28 for the opening week of "Fireproof," the latest film from the makers of the 2006 surprise hit "Facing the Giants."Fireproof generated the second-highest average revenue in theaters this past weekend, beaten only by "Eagle Eye," a thriller that showed in four times as many theaters and cost 160 times as much to make.
Across the country, people hungry for family friendly films packed the 839 theaters where Fireproof was showing. Attendance was boosted by churches that promoted the film to their members and in some cases bought out theaters as an outreach to their communities.
In Starke, Fla., almost 20 percent of the entire population of the city saw the movie, said Joe Fennell, executive pastor of First Baptist Church. The congregation contracted with the local theater to show Fireproof free to all comers and in three days 1,121 people attended a screening in the north Florida city.Moviegoers came from "across the spectrum," Fennell said. Church members brought co-workers and neighbors, and non-believers came because it was free. He said he was especially pleased to see several engaged couples in the audience."I think the movie will provide a good foundation for them and increase their communication. It is an encouragement for healthy marriages, too," Fennell said.
A church staff member or volunteer was on-site for each showing and packets of evangelistic material were distributed at the end of the movie, Fennell said. One piece in the packet promoted a six-week sermon series on marriage that senior pastor Rodney Coe will begin preaching Oct. 5."As in many churches, we have marriages that are struggling, and this is what prompted our pastor to preach the series after the movie," Fennell said. "We hope people will find in the movie enough truth of the Gospel and truth about typical marriage that they will think that their own marriage is worth saving."
Ashley Nelson of Arlington, Texas, who saw the movie on opening weekend, agreed."This movie addresses the needs that many couples struggle with in marriage -- the need to be respected, the need for communication, but ultimately, the need for Christ as the center of the marriage," said Nelson, who is engaged to be married. "Just as [lead Fireproof characters] Caleb and Catherine realize, married couples need to understand God's true and pure love before they can truly love their spouse."
'IT CAN GIVE HOPE'
Kathy Steele, an assistant professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, believes Fireproof will be a great encouragement to couples in difficult marriages."I believe this movie can have a huge impact on marriages. It is extremely realistic and deals with problems that are real in marriages today," Steele said. "I think one of the greatest ways this movie could strengthen marriages is that it can give hope to one partner who really wants to change the marriage, that if they change, the marriage can change."I think Fireproof could spark a new wave of Christians seeking to love their marital partners unconditionally, and to realize it has to be practical, everyday ways they treat each other," Steele added. "My hope is that the neutral story of another couple, seen from the 'inside,' will motivate Christian couples in our churches to start seeking to be more obedient to Christ in how they respond to each other."
Marcus W. Allen, a counselor with First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., said Fireproof sends a message "to keep working on the marriage even if your partner has given up." "This is the message all marriages need to hear," Allen said. "We all need the encouragement to not give up when it seems hopeless -- encouragement to just do what God says and keep loving and acting in a loving manner no matter what the response is from the other side."
Members of Rapid Valley Baptist Church in Rapid City, S.D., attended the movie in lieu of their Sept. 27 worship service, according to pastor John Little."One of our area Christian businessmen became so excited about the film [during a preview for community leaders] that he worked with a local doctor to provide tickets for all active military, firemen, policemen and first responders in the area," Little said. "Our church gave away tickets to folks we identified through our block parties and survey work."
'DATE NIGHT'
When Pam Weitzel of New Hope Community Church in Baltimore, Md., heard Fireproof was coming out, she and her husband Mark helped spearhead a "Date Night" in their church. They were pleased to see many of their church friends in the theater on opening night. Many couples take their marriages for granted, Mark Weitzel said, and Fireproof prodded him to think differently about his wife."I thought it was an awesome movie. It was good for marriages," Weitzel said. "We need to act as 'first date' sweethearts. I want to continually treat my wife as if we are courting again ... even if we are 75."
Bart Walker, pastor of Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball, La., believes the film can help congregations reach people who don't attend church."The chief thing Fireproof is doing for us is giving a talking point for marriage and families," Walker said. "It shows how hard marriage really is. It shows the struggle for marriages to be mended. It takes supernatural intervention. And it shows no marriage is beyond repair.Fireproof speaks volumes about Christ's power to change lives, Walker added."The world's view of the veracity of the Gospel is tied to the world's view of God's transforming power in His followers," he said. "And since marriage is a living illustration of Christ and the church, then healthy marriages present a healthy picture of Christ and the church.
"The movie's focus on marriage also speaks to a hot-button topic on the national scene, said Jerry Pounds Sr., professor of discipleship at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. "While our society has been attempting to redefine gender, roles, marriage and family, we are grateful for ... a national venue for a discussion of divorce and the biblical message of covenant marriage," Pounds said. "The movie is excellent, well worth seeing, and is a great discussion starter for a marriage retreat or a Bible study on marriage or a small discipleship group."
--30--Mark Kelly is an assistant editor for Baptist Press. With reporting from Shannon Baker, Joni Hannigan, Sharon Mager, Gary Myers, Michelle Myers, Carolyn Nichols and Karen Willoughby.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Home from vacation
We hate it's over, but we're glad to be home. We had a great time at the beach. We saw two of my three sisters and there families, and we also got to eat supper with a cousin of mine from Cocoa Beach that I haven't seen but one time in fifteen years. We took Morgan to SeaWorld on Monday and she had a blast. She loved the shows, especially the Pirate Ship Show. The rest of the time we spent swimming in the pool, my little girl is a "water rat." She loves to swim. She is swimming without "floaties" and thinks she is a big girl, but she still likes to wear them so she can go wherever she wants in the pool. She's growing up so fast it hurts.
It's back to the normal grind now. We had a great day at HGBC yesterday, it was Homecoming. To those who don't know, that means a special service followed by a delicious meal. Great job ladies! The food was delicious. Former staff member Doug Hemanes was the guest speaker, he did a good job and I know the church was full of people who had been impacted by Doug's ministry at HGBC. We have set new SS attendance records the last two weeks (since I've been here anyway). We had 150 last Sunday in SS and we had 154 yesterday. That's amazing and God is awesome!! I am so encouraged and blessed by God's working in the hearts and lives of His people. I pray God continues to extend His favor toward us as we seek to honor Him by reaching this whole wide world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has also been growing our worship services; in the past four weeks we have had 250, 272, 287 in attendance. Praise the Lord! We would love to have you come join us.
Serving Him,
Pastor Mike
It's back to the normal grind now. We had a great day at HGBC yesterday, it was Homecoming. To those who don't know, that means a special service followed by a delicious meal. Great job ladies! The food was delicious. Former staff member Doug Hemanes was the guest speaker, he did a good job and I know the church was full of people who had been impacted by Doug's ministry at HGBC. We have set new SS attendance records the last two weeks (since I've been here anyway). We had 150 last Sunday in SS and we had 154 yesterday. That's amazing and God is awesome!! I am so encouraged and blessed by God's working in the hearts and lives of His people. I pray God continues to extend His favor toward us as we seek to honor Him by reaching this whole wide world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has also been growing our worship services; in the past four weeks we have had 250, 272, 287 in attendance. Praise the Lord! We would love to have you come join us.
Serving Him,
Pastor Mike
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
An Email from my Brother-in-Law
I receive this forwarded email from one of my sisters husbands. I thought it was interesting. Read it and tell me what you think. (I didn't "snope" it to see if all of this is true, but I don't have a hard time believing it considering all BHO has written in his two autobiographies.)
Rich Carroll articulates the thoughts that have been on many people's minds. There's too much question surrounding Obama and Michelle's real ideology. Too many sinister associations make me suspicious. Also his past is still a blank. Have you ever thought about where Obama gets all his campaign money---more than Hillary or McCain put together in such a short span of time? Do think about it..............
The Jihad Candidate
by Rich Carroll
Conspiracy theories make for interesting novels when the storyline is not so absurd that it can grasp our attention. 'The Manchurian Candidate' and 'Seven Days in May' are examples of plausible chains of events that captures the reader's imagination at best-seller level. 'What if' has always been the solid grist of fiction.Get yourself something cool to drink, find a relaxing position, but before you continue, visualize the television photos of two jet airliners smashing into the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan and remind yourself this cowardly act of Muslim terror was planned for eight years.
How long did it take Islam and their oil money to find a candidate for President of the United States ? As long as it took them to place a Senator from Illinois and Minnesota ? The same amount of time to create a large Muslim enclave in Detroit ? The time it took them to build over 2,000 mosques in America ? The same amount of time required to place radical wahabbist clerics in our military and prisons as 'chaplains'?
Find a candidate who can get away with lying about their father being a 'freedom fighter' when he was actually part of the most corrupt and violent government in Kenya 's history. Find a candidate with close ties to The Nation of Islam and the violent Muslim overthrow in Africa , a candidate who is educated among white infidel Americans but hides his bitterness and anger behind a superficial toothy smile. Find a candidate who changes his American name of Barry to the Muslim name of Barak Hussein Obama, and dares anyone to question his true ties under the banner of 'racism'. Nurture this candidate in an atmosphere of anti-white American teaching and surround him with Islamic teachers. Provide him with a bitter, racist, anti-white, anti-American wife, and supply him with Muslim middle east connections and Islamic monies. Allow him to be clever enough to get away with his anti-white rhetoric and proclaim he will give $834 billion taxpayer dollars to the Muslim controlled United Nations for use in Africa .
Install your candidate in an atmosphere of deception because questioning him on any issue involving Africa or Islam would be seen as 'bigoted racism'; two words too powerful to allow the citizenry to be informed of facts. Allow your candidate to employ several black racist Nation of Islam Louis Farrakhan followers as members of his Illinois Senatorial and campaign staffs.
Where is the bloodhound American 'free press' who doggedly overturned every stone in the Watergate case? Where are our nation's reporters that have placed every Presidential candidate under the microscope of detailed scrutiny; the same press who pursue Bush's 'Skull and Bones' club or ran other candidates off with persistent detective and research work? Why haven't 'newsmen' pursued the 65 blatant lies told by this candidate during the Presidential primaries?
Where are the stories about this candidate's cousin and the Muslim butchery in Africa ? Since when did our national press corps become weak, timid, and silent? Why haven't they regaled us with the long list of socialists and communists who have surrounded this 'out of nowhere' Democrat candidate or that his church re-printed the Hamas Manifesto in their bulletin, and that his 'close pastor friend and mentor' met with Middle East terrorist Moammar Gaddafi, (Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)? Why isn't the American press telling us this candidate is supported by every Muslim organization in the world?
As an ultimate slap in the face, be blatant in the fact your candidate has ZERO interest in traditional American values and has the most liberal voting record in U.S. Senate history. Why has the American main stream media clammed-up on any negative reporting on Barak Hussein Obama? Why will they print Hillary Rodham Clinton's name but never write his middle name? Is it not his name? Why, suddenly, is ANY information about this candidate not coming from main stream media, but from the blogosphere by citizens seeking facts and the truth? Why isn't our media connecting the dots with Islam? Why do they focus on 'those bad American soldiers' while Islam slaughters non Muslims daily in 44 countries around the globe? Why does our media refer to Darfur as 'ethnic cleansing' instead of what it really is; Muslims killing non Muslims! There is enough strange, anti- American activity surrounding Barak Hussein Obama to peek the curiosity of any reporter. WHERE IS OUR INVESTIGATIVE MEDIA!?
A formal plan for targeting America was devised three years after the Iranian revolution in 1982. The plan was summarized in a 1991 memorandum by Mohamed Akram, an operative of the global Muslim Brotherhood. 'The process of settlement' of Muslims in America , Akram explained, 'is a civilization jihad process.' This means that members of the Brotherhood must understand that their work in 'America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and sabotaging its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions.'
There is terrorism we can see, smell and fear, but there is a new kind of terror invading The United States in the form of Sharia law and finance. Condoning it is civilization suicide. Middle East Muslims are coming to America in record numbers and building hate infidel mosques, buying our corporations, suing us for our traditions, but they and the whole subject of Islam is white noise leaving uninformed Americans about who and what is really peaceful. Where is our investigative press? Any criticism of Islam or their intentions, even though Islamic leaders state their intentions daily around the globe, brings-forth a volley of 'racist' from the left-wing Democrat crowd.
Lies and deception behind a master plan - the ingredients for 'The Manchurian Candidate' or the placement of an anti-American President in our nation's White House? Is it mere coincidence that an anti-capitalist run for President at the same time Islamic sharia finance and law is trying to make advancing strides into the United States ? Is it mere coincidence this same candidate wants to dis-arm our nuclear capability at a time when terrorist Muslim nations are expanding their nuclear weapons capability? Is it mere coincidence this candidate wants to reduce our military at a time of global jihad from Muslim nations?
Change for America ? What change? To an Islamic Nation?
Rich Carroll articulates the thoughts that have been on many people's minds. There's too much question surrounding Obama and Michelle's real ideology. Too many sinister associations make me suspicious. Also his past is still a blank. Have you ever thought about where Obama gets all his campaign money---more than Hillary or McCain put together in such a short span of time? Do think about it..............
The Jihad Candidate
by Rich Carroll
Conspiracy theories make for interesting novels when the storyline is not so absurd that it can grasp our attention. 'The Manchurian Candidate' and 'Seven Days in May' are examples of plausible chains of events that captures the reader's imagination at best-seller level. 'What if' has always been the solid grist of fiction.Get yourself something cool to drink, find a relaxing position, but before you continue, visualize the television photos of two jet airliners smashing into the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan and remind yourself this cowardly act of Muslim terror was planned for eight years.
How long did it take Islam and their oil money to find a candidate for President of the United States ? As long as it took them to place a Senator from Illinois and Minnesota ? The same amount of time to create a large Muslim enclave in Detroit ? The time it took them to build over 2,000 mosques in America ? The same amount of time required to place radical wahabbist clerics in our military and prisons as 'chaplains'?
Find a candidate who can get away with lying about their father being a 'freedom fighter' when he was actually part of the most corrupt and violent government in Kenya 's history. Find a candidate with close ties to The Nation of Islam and the violent Muslim overthrow in Africa , a candidate who is educated among white infidel Americans but hides his bitterness and anger behind a superficial toothy smile. Find a candidate who changes his American name of Barry to the Muslim name of Barak Hussein Obama, and dares anyone to question his true ties under the banner of 'racism'. Nurture this candidate in an atmosphere of anti-white American teaching and surround him with Islamic teachers. Provide him with a bitter, racist, anti-white, anti-American wife, and supply him with Muslim middle east connections and Islamic monies. Allow him to be clever enough to get away with his anti-white rhetoric and proclaim he will give $834 billion taxpayer dollars to the Muslim controlled United Nations for use in Africa .
Install your candidate in an atmosphere of deception because questioning him on any issue involving Africa or Islam would be seen as 'bigoted racism'; two words too powerful to allow the citizenry to be informed of facts. Allow your candidate to employ several black racist Nation of Islam Louis Farrakhan followers as members of his Illinois Senatorial and campaign staffs.
Where is the bloodhound American 'free press' who doggedly overturned every stone in the Watergate case? Where are our nation's reporters that have placed every Presidential candidate under the microscope of detailed scrutiny; the same press who pursue Bush's 'Skull and Bones' club or ran other candidates off with persistent detective and research work? Why haven't 'newsmen' pursued the 65 blatant lies told by this candidate during the Presidential primaries?
Where are the stories about this candidate's cousin and the Muslim butchery in Africa ? Since when did our national press corps become weak, timid, and silent? Why haven't they regaled us with the long list of socialists and communists who have surrounded this 'out of nowhere' Democrat candidate or that his church re-printed the Hamas Manifesto in their bulletin, and that his 'close pastor friend and mentor' met with Middle East terrorist Moammar Gaddafi, (Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)? Why isn't the American press telling us this candidate is supported by every Muslim organization in the world?
As an ultimate slap in the face, be blatant in the fact your candidate has ZERO interest in traditional American values and has the most liberal voting record in U.S. Senate history. Why has the American main stream media clammed-up on any negative reporting on Barak Hussein Obama? Why will they print Hillary Rodham Clinton's name but never write his middle name? Is it not his name? Why, suddenly, is ANY information about this candidate not coming from main stream media, but from the blogosphere by citizens seeking facts and the truth? Why isn't our media connecting the dots with Islam? Why do they focus on 'those bad American soldiers' while Islam slaughters non Muslims daily in 44 countries around the globe? Why does our media refer to Darfur as 'ethnic cleansing' instead of what it really is; Muslims killing non Muslims! There is enough strange, anti- American activity surrounding Barak Hussein Obama to peek the curiosity of any reporter. WHERE IS OUR INVESTIGATIVE MEDIA!?
A formal plan for targeting America was devised three years after the Iranian revolution in 1982. The plan was summarized in a 1991 memorandum by Mohamed Akram, an operative of the global Muslim Brotherhood. 'The process of settlement' of Muslims in America , Akram explained, 'is a civilization jihad process.' This means that members of the Brotherhood must understand that their work in 'America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and sabotaging its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions.'
There is terrorism we can see, smell and fear, but there is a new kind of terror invading The United States in the form of Sharia law and finance. Condoning it is civilization suicide. Middle East Muslims are coming to America in record numbers and building hate infidel mosques, buying our corporations, suing us for our traditions, but they and the whole subject of Islam is white noise leaving uninformed Americans about who and what is really peaceful. Where is our investigative press? Any criticism of Islam or their intentions, even though Islamic leaders state their intentions daily around the globe, brings-forth a volley of 'racist' from the left-wing Democrat crowd.
Lies and deception behind a master plan - the ingredients for 'The Manchurian Candidate' or the placement of an anti-American President in our nation's White House? Is it mere coincidence that an anti-capitalist run for President at the same time Islamic sharia finance and law is trying to make advancing strides into the United States ? Is it mere coincidence this same candidate wants to dis-arm our nuclear capability at a time when terrorist Muslim nations are expanding their nuclear weapons capability? Is it mere coincidence this candidate wants to reduce our military at a time of global jihad from Muslim nations?
Change for America ? What change? To an Islamic Nation?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Random Thoughts
I enjoy Friday's. It's my day off and I ususally spend the day with Morgan, and Melissa if she is not working.
Melissa went to the Dr today. She is 20 weeks and everything is just like it should be. Thank you Lord.
Morgan is excited about the baby in Mommy's tummy but I don't think she quite understands how her life is about to change.
A good friend of ours from Fayetteville, NC called this morning to tell me that he and his wife just had a baby; just over 10lb little boy. God bless you Carey and family.
I'm looking forward to Sunday. See ya then.
Melissa went to the Dr today. She is 20 weeks and everything is just like it should be. Thank you Lord.
Morgan is excited about the baby in Mommy's tummy but I don't think she quite understands how her life is about to change.
A good friend of ours from Fayetteville, NC called this morning to tell me that he and his wife just had a baby; just over 10lb little boy. God bless you Carey and family.
I'm looking forward to Sunday. See ya then.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Please Pray
I am dealing with some difficult things right now. I am simply asking for those of you who see this to pray for me over the next few days. Thanks.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Curiousity Killed the Cat
That's kind of how I feel today. I read an interesting article this week about Facebook and the potential for exceptional ministry through this networking tool. Facebook is a place where people can connect or reconnect with people and network or build relationships.
Relationship building is crucial in obeying and fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ. It is the only marching orders of the Christian, so I'm giving facebook a try. We'll see how it goes, and I hope no "cats" get killed around here.
Pastor Mike
Relationship building is crucial in obeying and fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ. It is the only marching orders of the Christian, so I'm giving facebook a try. We'll see how it goes, and I hope no "cats" get killed around here.
Pastor Mike
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Getting Excited
As I go through life these days there are several things I am excited about.
1) I'm excited about the new baby girl that is on her way into our lives; around February 5th. I think Melissa and Morgan named her last night, but I will wait a little while longer before sharing.
2) I'm excited about what God is doing at HGBC. As we follow his path and serve others, he will do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could dream, hope for, or expect.
3) I'm now excited about the political race for president of these United States. I believe John McCain has helped his cause greatly in choosing Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. She is pro-life, obviously, by giving birth to a son with down syndrome. And the way she is sticking by her daughter during this very difficult and public scrutiny. I also applaud McCain for standing with Palin. I almost have to assume that he knew about this before his choosing her, and they knew it before accepting the nomination. I can't wait to see what she says at RNC tonight. She is pr0-marriage: heterosexual marriage that is. She is pro-second amendment: a citizens right to own and bare arms. (I'm getting more excited as I write.) These are just a few of things I am pleased with concerning Palin. I believe November will be much more interesting now. Have fun.
Pastor Mike
1) I'm excited about the new baby girl that is on her way into our lives; around February 5th. I think Melissa and Morgan named her last night, but I will wait a little while longer before sharing.
2) I'm excited about what God is doing at HGBC. As we follow his path and serve others, he will do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could dream, hope for, or expect.
3) I'm now excited about the political race for president of these United States. I believe John McCain has helped his cause greatly in choosing Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. She is pro-life, obviously, by giving birth to a son with down syndrome. And the way she is sticking by her daughter during this very difficult and public scrutiny. I also applaud McCain for standing with Palin. I almost have to assume that he knew about this before his choosing her, and they knew it before accepting the nomination. I can't wait to see what she says at RNC tonight. She is pr0-marriage: heterosexual marriage that is. She is pro-second amendment: a citizens right to own and bare arms. (I'm getting more excited as I write.) These are just a few of things I am pleased with concerning Palin. I believe November will be much more interesting now. Have fun.
Pastor Mike
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