Movie Review: The Hopeful

My Review of The Hopeful (movie)

Today, I have another movie review for you and a giveaway contest at the end of this post! Momentum Influencers Network asked me to watch an early screening of a new movie they are promoting: The Hopeful.

Here’s the synopsis of The Hopeful with words from Momentum:

William Miller’s faith is in ruins. After miraculously surviving a fierce battle in the War of 1812, Miller questions why God spared him. His search for wisdom leads to an astonishing prophesy: The world is going to end!

The Hopeful unfolds as a story of a man burdened with the knowledge of Christ’s return. Miller’s message resonates with some—even as it is scorned by others. When a young woman named Ellen Harmon listens to one of his sermons she is transformed. And through her witness the message begins to take flight. The preaching grows beyond prophecy and develops into a more holistic vision for how Christians should live and worship.

We see blossoming the seeds of a new global movement of faith—the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Hopeful is the true story of a community whose lives were transformed as they learn what it means to truly wait for Jesus. This sweeping drama, set in 19th century New England, invites audiences of all ages to imagine how hope can change the world.

~*~

Now for my review:

The Hopeful is a movie that was inspired by real-life events.

Bill Lake plays the role of William Miller who survives an attack on the battlefield that should have resulted in his death. He’s astonished and curious to know why he’s still alive. So he turned to studying God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and this begins his journey of faith as the Holy Spirit leads him to all truth according to Scripture. However, he misunderstood some of his readings that convinced him Jesus Christ was going to return in 1844 to take His faithful followers home to Heaven. Passionate about his discovery but conflicted, Miller was reluctant to share this idea as well as other teachings that were more accurate. It took his wife to convince him to share it. But once he starts sharing it, the news spreads like wildfire as he travels to preach about it.

A young lady named Ellen Harmon (later married to James White and known as Ellen G. White) listened to one of Miller’s sermons and her life changes forever when she realizes that God is not only a Judge, He is Love. And it is His Love that inspires Ellen to tell the world about Him through her own writing and speaking inspired by God who gives her visions that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is known by such as the health message (practicing a plant-based diet, daily exercise and lifestyle choices that promote optimal health for the human body) and the keeping of Saturday as Sabbath (based on Exodus 20:8-11).

Tommie-Amber Pirie played the role of Ellen G. White who was an American author and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Pirie’s acting skills are superb! She stayed in character throughout the entire film and portrayed Ellen with grit, grace and elegance.

Stephen MacDonald played the role of James White who was Ellen’s husband. I like how the producers told their love story. I also appreciated seeing how applying the health message saved his life after he suffered a stroke and enabled him to live many more years in good vitality.

Even though Miller was wrong about the date of Christ’s return (Note: The Bible says in Matthew 24:36 that only God knows when He’s sending Jesus Christ back to Earth to take His faithful followers home to Heaven), I thought it was inspiring to see how that great disappointment led to a movement that birthed the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Overall, I think this film deserves five stars! Everything about it was well-done, engaging, inspirational and educational. I hope you will see it in theaters on April 17 or April 18.

~*~

More words from Momentum:

Buy tickets to see The Hopeful in theaters only on April 17-18, 2024.

Watch the trailer for The Hopeful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QkLDug4d7s

Buy tickets to see The Hopeful in theaters:
https://www.fathomevents.com/events/the-hopeful/

Follow The Hopeful on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realhopestudios/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realhopestudios

Watch Jean’s interview with Kyle Portbury (director of The Hopeful):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsI6LH7EsSQ

Visit the official movie page for The Hopeful:
https://thehopefulmovie.com

~*~

Final Notes:

Momentum Influencers Network would like to give a $10 Amazon gift card to the winner of this giveaway contest! Please note: This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only.

Here is the Giveaway Contest link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c495/?

Disclosure: Many thanks to Hope Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review.
Opinions are 100% my own. 

#TheHopefulMIN #thehopefulmovie #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Devotionals for the Heart: Hope for when your faith is on life support

Hope For When Your Faith is on Life Support
A devotional by Sarah Cole 

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” –Mark 11:22-24 (NIV)

Skyrocketing gas prices, empty shelves in stores, a border in chaos. These are just a few examples of what the media tells us is occurring in the United States each day.

We're certainly a nation desperate for good news.

Like many Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, I live from paycheck to paycheck, and the pain at the pump—and everywhere else—makes me wonder if there's hope on the horizon. Maybe you've had your doubts, too.

Sometimes, the cares of this world consume us, and when the Good News (The Gospel of Jesus Christ) takes a backseat to bad news, we often allow fear to hijack our faith. This results in spiritual amnesia, because we forget about God’s sovereignty, His promises, and His power. 

In times like these, we need reminders of who God is and what He’s done. In other words, we need a faith reset. In Romans 10:17 (NKJV), Paul writes that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” This verse tells us that when life throws us one curveball after another, God's promises are the anchor that keeps our faith strong. Strong faith is worth the time and effort it takes to build it.

For the past several months I've been working out with my personal trainer, and thanks to my partnership with Carrie, I’m stronger than ever. But it took a lot of patience, discipline, and hard work to get there. Faith, like a muscle, won’t grow without resistance, so unless adversity tests our belief system, we will remain spiritual infants, at the mercy of one crisis after another.

I am grateful that God is never taken by surprise, and that He—not the government, or the economy—is my “ever-present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1 in the Berean Study Bible). He is an immovable anchor during the storm, and He is the same “yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 ESV). If God can raise Jesus from the grave, supply manna to the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4), and part the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), He will do the miraculous in your life, too—even when the bottom falls out and your faith is on life support.

Friend, whatever bad news is keeping you up at night, Jesus knows all about it, He is in control, and He cares deeply for you. I encourage you to take a deep breath, lay your burdens at his feet, and consider taking these steps:

Step #1: Take an inventory of all the ways God provided for you this year, especially when you least expected it. I think you will see His fingerprints all over your life.

Step #2: Make a faith declaration. Tell yourself in your own words that whatever crisis is threatening to take you under, God keeps His promises, and He will take care of you, regardless of what you hear on the news.

Step #3: Find promises in the Bible that address your challenges and start committing them to memory. Develop a library of truth in your mind, so the next time fear rears its ugly head, your faith will be in the driver’s seat.

Someone once said that fear appears instantly in the dark, but faith, like a photo, takes time to develop. As you step out in faith today, remember that Jesus walks with you, He sees the twists and turns ahead, and He will take you safely to your next destination.

That’s good news you can count on.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for taking such wonderful care of me in every season, both lean and plentiful. When the news goes from bad to worse, help me remember the good news that You are in control, and You will equip me to handle whatever comes my way. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “In Times Like These” by the Cadet Sisters. Listen here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sarah Cole’s interest in writing began in grade school when her poem was published in the local paper. As she got older, her mother’s chronic illness inspired her to design a line of greeting cards. 

Since then, she has written for her college newspaper and two community newspapers where she wrote restaurant reviews and articles for their “Best of” spread.

Her experience as an administrator in the marketing field gave her the opportunity to write ads for a local business journal.

After a 20-year detour and a three-year season of adversity, God reignited her passion to write. Two divine appointments later, the short story she wrote about her father appeared in the St. Paul Almanac, and a short story about her cocker spaniel Gigi was published in Guideposts (magazine) Mysterious Ways. She believes her adversity was worth the lessons God taught her.

During this year (2022) and the next (2023), Sarah’s devotionals will be published in The Secret Place by Judson Press, as well as David C. Cook’s Devotions and The Quiet Hour. To this day, she smiles, pinches herself and gives God all the glory.

When she’s not writing, Sarah enjoys watching cooking shows, designing cards and mugs, and taking day trips.

~*~
Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smittyc65
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SarahCo45835279
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.cole.52

Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ

He’s here!
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.” 

– Luke 2:9-14 (NCV)

It was a quiet night, just like any other. There were a lot of people in town for the census, but folks who already lived in Bethlehem were going about their usual business, while those just arriving were trying to hustle a place to stay. Joseph and Mary couldn’t even get a room. 

Everyone had traveled a long way, and no one was going to give up their nice warm bed to a couple of late-arriving strangers. The fact that Mary was hugely pregnant was probably the only reason they even got the stable.

Biggest shock of all, when that brand-new baby started yowling, no one even noticed. Israel had plenty of Pharisees, Sadducees, temple leaders, rabbis and students poring over the prophesies who should have known the Messiah was due any day. Surely Mary had a light about her that was beyond the average bun-in-the-oven glow. But the arrival of the Son of God was missed by the entire world.

Well, the angels just couldn’t stand by and let that happen. The entrance of the King couldn’t be ignored. In fact, they couldn’t be quiet about it.

Have you ever seen a period movie where they have a big ball and there’s a servant standing at the door shouting everyone’s name as they walk in? A long time ago, important people wanted to be sure everyone knew when they made their grand entrance. Well, God and the angels felt the same way about the baby Jesus.

First God sent the herald angel (the shouter at the door) to give the good word to the shepherds. Then the band came in. Angels filled the sky, singing, dancing — it was quite a hootenanny.

When something really important happens, like the savior of the world arriving to save mankind, people need to know about it. Similarly, when something really important happens, like Jesus cleaning our hearts and giving us new life, people need to know about that too.

Now let's bring this back to the present day with some questions for you: Has Jesus cleaned your heart? Have you told anyone about it recently? 

Ask Jesus for the courage to tell others about His birth, His death, His resurrection, and the new life you’ve found in Him.

If you haven’t found that new life yet, ask Him for it. After all, Jesus Christ came to Earth just to deliver a free gift to you: the free gift of salvation! What a reason to rejoice!

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications.

Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, Wash., with her hilarious family who keep her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: The Way

The Narrow Gate
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” — Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

As Christians we’re called to live a life that the world doesn’t understand.

In fact, it’s pretty radical when you think about it. While ‘normal’ humans keep count of someone’s sins, Christians are called to forgive seventy times seven. Jesus instructs us to love those that hate us and to endure persecution in His name. We’re to love justice and mercy and walk humbly with our God.

Fame and fortune are the world’s goals, but God tells us to seek Him and be content with what we’re given. Marriage is seen as something that you can abandon when it doesn’t work for you. God teaches us that it’s sacred, and to be broken only in extreme circumstances. Our culture promotes youth and beauty but we know from the Bible that they are fleeting and nothing to worship. Movies, books, and television tell us it’s good to be a billionaire; God tells us that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. The Christian walk is drastically different than the ways of the world.

In the verse above, Matthew warns us that the road to true faith in Jesus Christ is a narrow one. The path we walk is not for the many; it’s for the few. That’s hard to hear. I know I don’t want anyone to perish, or even to walk in this world without Jesus. Sadly, in a culture that still has its Christian roots, the message gets muddied. You or people who you know my argue, “But my neighbor is a great guy, he celebrates Christmas, he’s a conservative…” And to that argument, I would say, “Well, that’s nice, but that has nothing to do with a saving faith in Jesus Christ! If being a nice, Christmas-honoring conservative was the criteria, the way would be wide.”

This reminds me of what Matthew (a book in the Bible) says later in Chapter 7, verses 22 and 23: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”

How could people be evildoers if they were promoting Jesus? Because they were promoting a weak, watered-down, bereft-of-Spirit version of Jesus.

Maybe it’s the ‘genie’ view of God, where they’ve reduced Him to a granter of wishes, or maybe the “Jesus-bro” idea where Jesus is your friend, winking at your sins, ever-ready to forgive, but never requiring repentance. All of these creations are evil because they lead souls on a comfortable, wide path to damnation. When we see this pseudo-gospel being preached, we need to call it out for what it is — evil — and not dismiss it as harmless fluff.

We’re coming up on the Christmas season, one of my most favorite times of year. I love the decorations, the baking, the music and light. It’s also a perfect time to share the true gospel (of Jesus Christ)!

Don’t let yourself get caught up in the Christmas culture wars defending the trappings of Christmas (most of which have pagan origins anyway), but instead use this season to share the gift of God’s Grace and His Good News.

Help those on the wide road find their way off of it. Help them separate the truth from the tinsel.

A great way to do this is with a simple conversation starter, such as: “Say, did you know that the Christmas story is actually true?”

Now is the time for God’s light to shine brightly and lead souls to the narrow gate.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Litfuse blog tour: Chasing Famous

Book: Chasing Famous: Living the Life You’ve Always Auditioned for
Author: Lisa Lloyd
Review written by Alexis A. Goring

Actress Lisa Lloyd wrote this book. As an author, she shines.

Throughout this book, she bares her soul. She’s not afraid to be transparent because she knows from experience that God can use your true story to help someone. So she bravely puts her heart on the line from the start of this book to the end, with bold determination to tell her story in the most honest, raw and real way. As a reader, I think that her bravery is admirable and her story was impactful. Her words gave me hope and reminded me of God’s power to redeem.

Lisa’s storytelling style is engaging. I thought it was quite clever and fitting that as a seasoned actress, she chose to use terms from her industry as the titles for each chapter such as: “The Cast List,” “Method Acting”, “Projection”, “Encore”, “Find Your Light,” “The Go-See,” and “Wait for Your Cue.” Each chapter peels back another layer of Lisa’s experience and gives the reader insight into the world of Entertainment.

There are three sections in this book. Section One covers using your story to bring God glory. Section Two shows the reader how they can use their gifts for God’s purposes and Section Three teaches the reader how to live a life that makes God famous worldwide.

Lisa’s concept of looking at your life as an audition is catchy. She backs it up page by page as she reminds the reader that regardless of their station in life, they are a key witness for God. She taps into every reader’s inner self and touches on their need to feel accepted, affirmed and loved. She reminds the reader that God accepts you. He affirms you and adores you better than any human can.

In writing this book, Chasing Famous, Lisa achieves her goal of encouraging the reader to take the focus off of themselves, and refocus it onto the glory of God. She effectively teaches the reader how to turn the spotlight on God and make him famous to the world.

This book deserves a five-star rating and the author deserves an encore!

*Alexis A. Goring received a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group, in exchange for an honest review.

~*~

About the book: Have you ever considered your life as an audition?

Regardless of who or where we are, we are constantly, often unconsciously, auditioning for a part. Loving wife. Amazing employee. Crafting queen. Socialite. All we really want is to be loved, affirmed, and accepted. What if we could learn to live the life we have always been auditioning for without all the stress?

Chasing Famous is a redemptive book that teaches us how to take the focus off ourselves and shift it back on to the glory of God. Written by a professional actress who readily admits that she is the most self-centered person she knows, Chasing Famous provides practical and sometimes humorous examples of scriptural truth that will help you master the natural self-centered tendencies of life. 

Once you've mastered these issues, and you can, your story will turn the spotlight on God where, you'll soon discover, what it means to truly live.

Learn more and purchase a copy here.

~*~
About the author:

Lisa is a speaker, emcee, actor, and writer. 

Since receiving her bachelor of fine arts in theater from Southern Methodist University, Lisa has been featured in many major performance mediums. 

Her television credits include What Would You Do?, Prison Break, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful. You may see her on television commercials, highway billboards, or TV screens at the local airport. She has performed with many theaters, including the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Montana Shakespeare, the Dallas Theater Center, and Casa Mañana Theater. 

She is a highly sought-after speaker at women's retreats, conferences, and events across the country. She and her husband Markus live in McKinney, Texas, and have two boys.

~*~
Here's the link to the Landing Page for this tour, http://litfusegroup.com/author/llloyd
~*~
A Special Message from Litfuse Publicity Group:

Did you know you're constantly, often unconsciously, auditioning for a part? Learn how to master these issues and turn the spotlight on God with the help of Lisa Lloyd's new book, Chasing Famous. Chasing Famous is a redemptive book that teaches us how to take the focus off ourselves and shift it back on to the glory of God. Written by a professional actress who readily admits that she is the most self-centered person she knows, Chasing Famous provides practical and sometimes humorous examples of scriptural truth that will help you master the natural self-centered tendencies of life.

Discover what life really means when the focus is on God and enter to win Lisa's Spotlight on God Prize Pack!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Chasing Famous
• A $50 Fandango gift card to see a current or upcoming movie that puts God in the spotlight
• A print to remind you of God's renown

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on April 28. The winner will be announced May 1 on the Litfuse blog.

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WGTS 91.9 FM Words of Hope: News

My reflections on the movie God's Not Dead

Dearest of hearts,

Today, I watched a movie that renewed my outlook on life. A movie that encouraged me, inspired me and made me smile. It's a movie with several deep subplots connected to the main story which is about college philosophy Professor Radisson's curriculum which starts with the professor keeping his tradition of bullying his students on the first day of class into believing his primary profession which is"God is dead." But this time, Professor Radisson's proclamation against God is challenged by his new student Josh Wheaton who is a Christian and believes God exists. The writers of this movie dig deep and I found it interesting to know that this movie was based on a true story! 

So without much further ado, here are my reflections shared through three major highlights in the movie, God's Not Dead ...

Pivotal scene #1: Marc Shelley, a self-absorbed yet very successful business man visits his mom in the hospital
Marc says to his Mom: I don't even know what I'm doing here. I mean it's not like you even know who I am. You prayed and believed your whole life, never done anything wrong, and here you are you're the nicest person I know; I'm the meanest; you have dementia; my life is perfect. Explain that to me.

Mom: Sometimes the devil allows people to live a life free of trouble because he doesn't want them turning to God. Sin is like a jail cell except it's all nice and comfy and there doesn't seem to be any need to leave and the door is wide open until one day, time runs out. The cell door slams shut and suddenly it's too late.

--
Pivotal scene #2: Reporter Amy Ryan storms past security with her media pass, into backstage area of Newsboys concert for an unscripted interview

Amy: So in a few minutes you guys are going to go out there and you're going to sing about God and Jesus as if they're as real as you and me. How can you do that?

Newsboys (taking turns): Well to us, they are as real. As a matter of fact, even more so. I mean, we exist in the here and now; they've existed forever, think about that. Yeah, you know in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God.

Amy laughs abruptly and says: So I see! So when you're pressed, you quote a bunch of ancient scribblings and say, "Don't worry, it's all in there."

Newsboys (taking turns): Well they may be ancient but they're not scribblings. I mean, we believe God gave us an instruction manual and it's where we draw our strength and it's where we find our hope. So where do you find your hope?

Amy: I'm dying.

Newsboys drummer: Hey Amy, you're not here to trash us, are you? I think that's what you might have done but I think you're here kind of wondering, kind of hoping that this stuff is for real, aren't you?

Amy: How do you know that?

Newsboys drummer: Well I just felt that's what God was saying and just wanted you to know.

--

SPOILER ALERT! The following dialogue from this scene may or may not give away part of the movie's ending...

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...

...

...

...

Pivotal Scene #3: Professor Radisson hit by a car while walking to the Newsboys concert at night, in the rain. Reverend Jude and Reverend Dave see the accident happen and leave their car, rushing to help Prof. Radisson

Reverend Jude takes a look at Prof. Radisson and tells Reverend Dave: His ribs are crushed. His lungs are filling with blood.

Reverend Dave asks Reverend Jude: Are you sure?

Reverend Jude: Yeah

Professor Radisson: I can't die. I'm not ready.

Reverend Dave: Do you know Jesus?

Professor Radisson: I'm an atheist.

Reverend Dave: I believe it's God's mercy that brought me here right now.

Professor Radisson: I'm dying! How could you call that mercy?

Reverend Dave: because that car could have killed you instantly and I'm sure right now you probably wish it did but I'm here to tell you that it's a gift. The God you don't believe in has given you another chance, another chance to change your final answer.

~*~

There's really not much more I can say without spoiling the entire movie. So if you have not seen it yet, please go check it out! It's a new release (2014) and it's available on Amazon.com and perhaps your television service provider carries it in the movie rental section. 

It is a truly beautiful, well done movie with a message that's hard-hitting yet incredibly uplifting! I believe this movie reaches out to everyone--atheists, Christians, Muslims and other people of faith--and touches their heart in a way that makes them think about what they believe (or do not believe). God's Not Dead is a movie that I can see impacting generations of today and tomorrow.

So if you're looking for a movie that will hit the spot, watch God's Not Dead and be inspired! :)

God bless you!

Love,

Alexis

P.S._ Here's the theme song/official music video for the movie: