MOVIE & BOOK CORNER

InSaving Sarah Cain, a successful, self-absorbed writer travels to Amish country to attend her sister’s funeral. To the dismay of her as well as the Amish community, she discovers that she is now the legal guardian of her five Amish nieces and nephews. With her career struggling, she decides to exploit the children by writing about the cultural shock they are all experiencing. When the children learn of her actions, they demand to return home where their religious ways will be respected.

Watch and find out if Sarah will do right by the children. This inspiring story was directed by Michael Landon Jr. and stars Lisa Pepper and Elliott Gould.

In a more gentle fable, a carpenter named Joshua brings joy and light to every person he meets when he arrives in a small town. From troubled teens to a smitten TV anchorwoman to a frustrated wife in a stale marriage, Joshua helps them all.

In the movie, Joshua, the title stranger and a carpenter, comes to a small town and sets up shop in a barn and soon develops a reputation for his kind and unselfish nature.

After a bad storm destroys a church in the town’s African-American community, Joshua offers to repair the building and soon persuades the rest of the town, including their Catholic priest to help. Father Pat’s superior, also struck by Joshua’s talent, charm and humble desire to help others, ask him to carve a new statue of Saint Peter for their church. However, while much of the town is following the good example set by Joshua, when peole begin to ascribe supernatural powers to the town’s new carpenter, the Catholic church becomes suspicious and wants to know who Joshua really is and what he intends to do in their town.

Joshua stars Tony Goldwyn and features a wonderful original score by contemporary Christian musician, Michael W. Smith.

Here are two quotes about relaxing. Think about them while you spend time with the family watching a good movie.

Nothing is permanent in this wicked world -
not even our troubles.
Charlie Chaplin
British actor, director, & screenwriter (1889 - 1977)

Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes I just sits.
Satchel Paige
US baseball player (1906 - 1982)

BY HIS WOUNDS

Isaiah 53:5 says: But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Steven Curtis Chapman put those words into a beautiful song called, By His Wounds. I think it’s one of the best contemporary Christian songs ever. On the record, they use acoustic instruments and the music is just there to set the mood because the words are so powerful you barely realize the music exists.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote those words hundreds of years before Jesus was born and here we are, over 2000 years after Christ was born and those dusty old words still move us.

This song is simple and elegant and has few words to remember as it repeats a lot:

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

That’s the bulk of the words. It ends with:

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

I will watch a lot of movies about Jesus as this is the time of year for them. Just like Christmas movies, I have favorites for Easter. To be sure I will watch the Passion and there’s a movie called, Peter and Paul, starring Anthony Hopkins that takes place after His death. The old hippie in me will bring out Jesus Christ Superstar and Trinity Broadcast will run a lot of movies relating to Easter. I’m an Easter movie junkie.

Somehow though, one simple song will cling to your heart and not let go. For me, this is that one. K-Love will play it a lot before Easter and I have it on CD but I can be in the middle of the largest marching band and close my eyes I can still hear those sweet instruments backing a soulful vocal and I have to fight the tears. Once you hear those words, nothing can distract you from them.

Isaiah’s contemporaries must have thought he was losing it, going on about someone not even born yet. I’m thankful that he was right because the alternative is too painful to think about.