I Still Believe - A Review

With the coronavirus lockdown in effect, many of us remained at home this past Easter weekend. The night before Resurrection Sunday, a friend I was staying with recommended seeing a new movie he had downloaded. I watched it the next morning.

“I Still Believe” is about Christian rock musician Jeremy Camp. The movie begins with Jeremy leaving his hometown in Indiana to attend college in California. There he meets a woman named Melissa. Not long after the two get engaged, Melissa discovered she has cancer. Jeremy temporarily moved in with her parents to care for his fiancé who he later married. Melissa has successful surgery but the cancer came back. During another hospital stay, it appeared she was supernaturally healed since her pain went away. Sadly while Jeremy went to inform the doctors, Melissa suddenly died. After a time of mourning, Jeremy was inspired by a note written by his late wife to continue making music. He would go on to a successful career.

While it’s God’s best for His people to live a long life of divine health, the reality is that doesn’t always happen. We live in a fallen world where Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). “I Still Believe” reminded me of having a significant other that died at a young age. During the late 1990s, I became close friends with a woman who ended up spending time in a psychiatric hospital. Despite my praying for her, Jolene died of hardening of the arteries. She was only 38 years old.

“I Still Believe” demonstrates that true love involves sacrifices and sometimes suffering. Even when our prayers appear to go unanswered, God is still on the throne and has a good plan for our lives. Because movie theaters are currently closed, “I Still Believe” is available online from various sources. I recommended seeing this movie.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11

Another Sleeper Hit? A Review of “Overcomer”

Alex and Stephen Kendricks are former pastors from Georgia who have gone on to become successful filmmakers. The two brothers have put together six powerful faith-based movies over the past sixteen years. Their 2015 release “War Room” reached number one at the box office. Hopefully, their latest production “Overcomer” does likewise. I saw it two days ago.

Alex plays John Harrison, a high school basketball coach who loses players due to a local manufacturing plant shutting down and families moving away. Meanwhile, the principal (played by Priscilla Shirer who starred in “War Room”) asks John to oversee the school’s cross-country program. The coach is reluctant but agrees to do so. Only one student shows up for the tryout: a fifteen-year-old girl with asthma. Despite Hannah’s handicap, she gradually improves her running skills. 

During a hospital visit with his pastor, John inadvertently meets another patient who had lost his sight and legs due to diabetes. As they get to know each other, John realizes Thomas is a former cross-country runner who happens to be Hannah’s biological father. They hadn’t been in contact since her birth. A reunion causes a rift with Hannah’s grandmother who raised her. Nevertheless, Thomas plays a significant role in Hannah’s next race.

The main message of “Overcomer” is that circumstances shouldn’t define us. Our identity as believers must be who we are in Christ. Even ministers need to be reminded that God’s love is not dependent on what they do for Him.

Admittedly, my expectations weren’t too high when first hearing about the subject matter of “Overcomer.” Just like with John Harrison, cross country is a sport I’m not excited about (although I took part in that during ninth grade). However, the storyline has many surprises that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this movie.

“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” - 1 John 5:5

God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness - A Review

On Good Friday I saw the third installment of the “God’s Not Dead” movie series. As expected, “A Light in Darkness” begins where “God’s Not Dead 2” left off: A pastor had been arrested for not turning in copies of his sermons as mandated by a city prosecutor’s subpoena. The pastor is soon released but then faces more difficult challenges. His church is destroyed in a fire that takes the life of an associate minister. Then a local college tries to block the rebuilding of the church through eminent domain. The pastor prepares for a legal battle.

Mixed emotions are experienced both by the pastor and a young man who caused the church fire. The movie also addresses a dilemma Christians often face: when to continue fighting for our rights. It appeared this movie would feature a court hearing like its predecessor but takes an unexpected turn at the end. The overall message is that whatever we do for the Lord, love must always be the motive. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NLT) reminds us, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”

“God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness” features returning characters from the two previous movies. Among the actors playing new characters include John Corbett, Ted McGinley and Academy Award-winning actress Tatum O’Neal. There’s also an appearance by gospel singer Cissy Houston (mother of the late Whitney Houston).

The original “God’s Not Dead” is still my favorite of the trilogy. The third one hasn’t done well at the box office compared to other new faith-based movies like “Paul: Apostle of Christ” (which I saw the week before) and “I Can Only Imagine.” Nevertheless, it’s encouraging to see the name of Jesus lifted up in theaters instead of being used as a cuss word.

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” - John 12:32