Above, well-known actor Joseph Fiennes plays Clavius in Risen, which opened in theaters nationwide in February.

March 2016 – Risen takes creative approach to account of resurrection
The latest movie from Affirm Films proves that Christians can make a great film not only with a strong faith-based message, but also with the same high production values as a big-budget Hollywood film.

Risen begins where most films about Jesus end, the resurrection. The film’s protagonist, Clavius, is a powerful Roman army tribune who has just completed a brutal campaign fighting and executing people who actively rebelled against Rome. Shortly after returning home, he is tasked with finding the missing body of a crucified Israelite.

Clavius does not understand why finding this one body is so important, but he has his orders and he will fulfill his mission. He must work quickly and find the body before it is unrecognizable due to decomposition.

Clavius, played by Joseph Fiennes, infiltrates, investigates, and interrogates Jesus’s remaining 11 disciples, assisted by his aide, Lucius.

While Jesus is not the central on-screen character, He is the heart of the story. The crucified man begins to woo the unsympathetic, unbelieving Clavius through the stories and lives of those who profess to believe Jesus has risen from the dead.

“We wanted to do something different from what had come before,” said script cowriter Kevin Reynolds. “So I came up with the idea that Risen would be told as a detective story.”

“I loved Kevin’s idea that our audience would be able to experience something ancient and sacred as if it were brand new,” said Mickey Liddell, founder of LD Entertainment. “Kevin’s approach gives you the opportunity to put yourself in the shoes of Clavius, this skeptical Roman soldier who is really confused about all these crazy things that are going on in Judea. He’s not searching for Christ’s body to further his political or religious agenda; he’s just following orders.”

This creative story line not only makes for a redemptive story, it also makes for an exciting and engrossing movie.

There are a few cautions to note for parents. Because Clavius is searching for a dead body, one of the first places he examines is a pit where Rome throws all the victims of execution. The scene is handled with great modesty, not showing any gore, although the descriptions and reactions of characters make it clear what is before them.

Several scenes depict Clavius and others praying to and making offerings to pagan gods. At the beginning of the film, there is also a battle scene that is handled with restraint. The film is rated PG-13.

While Risen is not, strictly speaking, a biblically accurate movie, it is a film filled with biblical integrity and respect. It aims to tell the story of Jesus’s resurrection from a new perspective. To that end, it creates a fictional narrative to tell true events. While it aims to entertain, it also inspires and helps believers and nonbelievers see the story of Jesus’s resurrection through a brand new set of eyes.

Risen was scheduled to release in theaters on February 19. Find theater locations and more at risen-movie.com.
Teddy James

Resurrection
Max Lucado’s renowned short story is brought to life in Resurrection, a 2011 dramatic film that established a parallel story line to that in Risen, a current release. (See review above.) In the movie based on Lucado’s story, Claudius, a Roman guard finds himself in the middle of a cover-up of the tumultuous events following Christ’s crucifixion.

He discovers that religious leaders, Roman government officials, and even close friends are involved in the cover-up. His life is at risk as he relentlessly pursues answers to questions that keep plaguing his mind: Was Jesus the Son of God? Did He come back to life out of the grave?

Minor concerns for parents are a sword fight and other mild violence, but all action is handled without gratuitous scenes. Available at afastore.net or 877-927-4917.
Randall Murphree

Mixed reviews for these films
Many faith-based and family-focused films produce gripping stories in masterful productions, but are marred by a few language or content issues. Among such movies are these three, which have been marketed to Christian and/or family audiences.
Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors
The entertainment megastar’s made-for-TV biopic is gripping and inspiring in its rags-to-riches narrative, but several profanities, including the name of God in vain, mar its appeal to families.
The Pastor
A creative narrative focuses on a Hispanic ex-con who returns to the ghetto to pastor a church. Several obscenities and gang violence take it out of the family-friendly category.
The Young Messiah
Based on Anne Rice’s novel Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, this imaginative film focuses on Jesus as a boy, suggesting how He discovers his power, wonders why others alienate Him, and asks Joseph if He is dangerous to others. Unfortunately, one scene includes a sensuous dancer and lots of cleavage. One obscenity occurs.
Randall Murphree

Short film teaches powerful lesson
Produced by Catholic Witnesses, Inc. and Kingdom Works Studios, Sing A Little Louder is an 11-minute film based on a true story. Pro-life activist Penny Lea had just finished giving a speech when an elderly gentleman approached her, and he wept as he told her his story.

When he was a boy, he lived in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. The church his family attended was located right beside the railroad track that ran through their village, carrying Jewish victims to concentration camps. At the same time each Sunday morning, worshippers could hear the whistle blow as the train passed the church. They could even feel the vibration of cattle cars rattling down the track.

One Sunday the train broke down right in front of the church. The preacher was in the middle of his lesson about loving and praying for your enemies. Suddenly, faint cries began to come from the stalled cattle cars. The preacher raised his voice as he continued to teach, but the cries grew louder and louder. Turning to pick up a hymnal, the preacher began singing loudly, instructing the choir and congregation to join in. Slowly their hymns grew loud enough to drown out the tragic cries.

But the little boy could not ignore his curiosity. He quietly slipped out of the church and walked toward the cattle cars. There in front of him was a young woman with pleading eyes, staring out from one of the cattle cars. She asked his name, but he could only stare in wonder. Then, his mother came and gently urged him back into the church.

This scene plagued the gentleman all of his life. He could see the train and hear the cries for help. His grief and sense of guilt were always with him. His prayer? God, please forgive all of us who called ourselves Christians but did nothing to intervene.

Sing A Little Louder is dedicated in remembrance of Christian heroes like Corrie ten Boom, St. Maximillian Kolbe, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who helped save many Jewish people. Producers hope this film will be seen in every church across America.

Watch the film at singloudermovie.com.
Debbie Fischer

Resources for parents and children
Developing Rules & Consequences by Mark Gregston
Today’s world is full of conflict, confusion, and turmoil, and teens often find themselves overwhelmed with a desire to fit in with their peers, leading them to make poor decisions and pull away from their family moorings.

Mark Gregston of Heartlight Ministries has worked with teens and their parents for 30 years. (See AFA Journal 7-8/2014.) His new workbook, Developing Rules & Consequences, is designed to encourage parents to establish boundaries and consequences to help teens develop respect and discipline, and move toward mature, godly adulthood.

An application exercise concludes each section, and a template for the reader’s belief system is provided inside the back cover.

It can be purchased in eBook form or hard copy at heartlightministries.org.
Debbie Fischer

A to Z With the One True King by Suzanne Stamboulieh
This little read-aloud book for parents and children will be a favorite of kids because of its creative illustrations, and a favorite of parents because their children will love learning the Word of God.

A to Z is simple and to the point in its intent: It gives families a Bible verse to match every letter of the alphabet. There is no other text – only the Bible verses.

“This is a way for parents to teach their children the alphabet with a focus on God’s Word,” said Suzanne Stamboulieh, who spent long hours reading and praying to select just the right verse for each page.

Each page features one verse, accompanied by an appropriate illustration. Katrina Clark’s illustrations are appealing to the eye and challenging to the heart. They will certainly lead to discussions about the principle taught in the verse. A to Z is available at amazon.com.
Randall Murphree

Bible for Kids from Zondervan publishing
There are very few Bibles written in a style approachable and understandable for young children.

Zondervan has set out to fill this gap with the new NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible for Kids. This Bible is filled with notes that draw lessons and instructions from different prayers in the Bible. The notes analyze what people in Scripture say to God. It also discusses God speaking to people and their reactions to Him.

Important passages of Scripture are highlighted to direct the young reader’s attention to them. Sometimes these highlights point to short prayers. Other times they are verses of encouragement.

Colorful illustrations help children understand big concepts. One instance is the use of an outstretched hand, each finger representing one aspect of prayer. The Bible is available at online and retail bookstores.
Teddy James