Light of the World

LIGHT OF THE WORLD is a beautiful. 2D-animated story of Jesus as told through the eyes of his young friend, the Apostle John. From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry through his crucifixion and resurrection, this film powerfully illustrates how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever and still changes lives today!

It’s AD 30 and everyone is expectantly awaiting the coming Messiah. While Jesus isn’t exactly what they imagined, there is something special about this man. Soon, John, James, Andrew, Peter, and their new friends begin to follow Jesus on an unexpected adventure.

The movie opens on September 5th, and it is one that your family is sure to enjoy. Part of the success comes with how well it does in theaters on opening weekend. If you have a group or 10 or more, you can get a discount on the tickets! BUY TICKETS NOW!

See the trailer:

My Review: This first-time film by the Salvation Poem Project about the life of Jesus Christ will truly be a wonderful Family Movie Event for your entire family. Going back to 1990's style of 2D-animation will bring a sense of nostalgia for parents, and capture the attention of children. Directed by John Schafer, who produced Superbook, and long-time Disney animator Tom Bancroft, the visuals are excellent. 

With The Greatest Story Ever Told as the subject, this is perfect for those who are teaching their kids about Christianity and our faith in Jesus as our Savior. The disciples are younger in this movie, and the youngest disciple John is portrayed as an older child or young teenager. I love that this is more likely to appeal to the kids in the family (and follows the beliefs of many that the disciples were in their teens and twenties). It's a very good conversation opener to explain more about Jesus. This would also make an excellent outing for a Children's Ministry. I enjoyed the film and hope to see more in the future from those involved. 

Giveaway: $10 Amazon giftcard. Please submit your full name and email address by 9/11/25.

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

Watch this interview with Jean Thomason (Momentum Influencer Network) and Light of the World Producer Brennan McPherson

LINKS

LightOfTheWorld.com

Tickets

Instagram

LOTW Facebook

Salvation Poem Project Facebook 

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Salvation Poem Project TikTok

The King of Kings

The animated film The King of Kings is now streaming on Angel.com and the Angel App and available to all Angel Guild members.

"The King of Kings" brings the life of Jesus Christ to the screen with breathtaking animation, a stirring musical score, and a powerful retelling of the Gospel story that has resonated deeply with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The film was produced by South Korean animation house MOFAC and distributed to global audiences through theaters and Angel’s innovative platform.

"The King of Kings" features a father telling his son the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice. The King of Kings invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through the eyes of a child. Directed by Seong-Ho Jang and featuring an all-star voice cast, "The King of Kings" has captivated audiences worldwide.

Watch The King of Kings now on Angel.com or download the Angel App on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and other major platforms. For more information, please see angel.com/collide.

My Review: Inspired by a book written by Charles Dickens for his children, "The Life of our Lord," "The King of Kings" starts off with a frustrated Dickens and his King Arthur-obsessed son, Walter. Walter's imagination soars as he, his cat Willa, and Dickens are transported back to the birth of Jesus and continue through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The animation, by South Korean company MOFAC, is colorful and pleasing to the eye. It is sure to keep the attention of children and adults. Well-known voice actors, including Kenneth Branagh as Charles Dickens, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Roman Griffin Davis as Walter Dickens, Forest Whitaker as Peter, Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiaphas, and Oscar Isaac as Jesus Christ, bring the level of storytelling up another notch.

The movie may not hold the attention of younger children but is suitable for kids 8 years old and up. The story of Jesus can be hard to watch and hard to understand, but "The King of Kings" brings it down to a level suitable for younger viewers without downplaying the events. This is excellent for parents to share with their kids or for a children's church or Sunday school class. It will definitely open the door to conversations about Jesus. Director Seong-Ho Jang is to be commended for creating such an impressive film. 

Angel Studios is quickly emerging as a values-driven, family-friendly streaming service that is shaping entertainment to amplify light to its audience. An added value for those seeking more faith- and family-friendly content is their Angel Guild. Members of the Guild can see previews of potential movies and shows and VOTE for the ones that they would like to see. Yes, YOU can make a difference in the entertainment being provided for your family. In the meantime, enjoy watching great films like "The King of Kings" with your family and friends, plus other bonuses with Premium Membership! 
Learn more at https://www.angel.com/collide

Giveaway: $10 Amazon gift card. Please submit your full name and email address by 7/31/25. USA ONLY.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Angel for providing a one-month Angel Guild membership for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

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About Angel: Angel is a values-based distribution company for stories that amplify light to mainstream audiences. Through the Angel Guild, over 1,100,000 paying members from more than 170 different countries help decide what film and television projects the studio will market and distribute and support the filmmakers who create films and series that amplify light. Learn more at angel.com

Light of the World trailer

It’s 30 AD and everyone is expectantly awaiting the coming Messiah. While Jesus isn’t exactly what they imagined, there is something special about this man. Soon, John, James, Andrew, Peter, and others begin to follow Jesus on an unexpected adventure. This beautifully animated story of Jesus is told through the eyes of his beloved young friend, the Apostle John. From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry through his crucifixion and resurrection, LIGHT OF THE WORLD powerfully illustrates how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever and still changes lives today!

LIGHT OF THE WORLD is a powerful animated film about Jesus that is scheduled to be released in theaters on September 5, 2025. Watch the trailer below:

A movie for the entire family, LIGHT OF THE WORLD powerfully illustrates how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever … and still changes lives today! The story of Jesus is brought to life in beautiful 2D animation through the eyes of John, his young disciple. 

I am very excited about the film and the entire project. Be sure to find out more of the film and the heart of the Salvation Poem Project. Be sure to follow their socials for more info during the months leading up to the release of LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

lightoftheworld.com 

Facebook 

Instagram 

YouTube 

salvationpoem.com 

God With Us - Jeremy Pierre

 

God With Us: A Journey Home is a beautiful book that encourages children to have hope for our eternal home in Heaven. Author Jeremy Pierre and illustrator Cassandra Clark believe the earlier children understand that this world is not our home, the more they realize that Heaven is our eventual destination. 

This storybook aims to shape their vision of the world as a place in-between, to awaken them to the brave journey they must take toward their true home—their home with God. The stories are shared in more simple terms but without talking down to a child. There's a theme to the stories and I feel each can easily initiate a conversation to fully engage a child about the truth found in Scripture. 

Hear what Jeremy Pierre has to say:

The more I read, the more I enjoyed the book. And I love the illustrations! It is most suitable for elementary school aged kids, but even older kids can gain much from it, too. It's an excellent resource for teaching your child/grandchild that Christ followers need to understand and prepare for our eternal home.

GIVEAWAY: Shepherd Press will provide 1 physical copy of God With Us to one of my readers. Please leave #GodWithUsMIN in a comment to be entered. The DEADLINE to enter is November 28, 2021.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Shepherd Press for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

LINKS:
Buy the Book - Shepherd Press
Buy the Book - Amazon

Dr. Jeremy Pierre 

Jeremy Pierre on Twitter 

Cassandra Clark 

 

A favorite hymn from my childhood: This World Is Not My Home.

2020: A Few Thoughts

Has 2020 seemed turned upside down to you in many ways? It certainly has been different from most years. I have read numerous posts by people who think things will calm down "after the election" or "when 2020 is over." What if they don't? No matter who wins Tuesday (IF we actually have a clear winner), I actually expect the tension to get worse.

Fear & Hate have been the big "4 letter words" of 2020. Politics and a pandemic have created PANDEMONIUM (noun. wild uproar or unrestrained disorder; tumult or chaos. a place or scene of riotous uproar or utter chaos.) People have always taken sides, but I have never seen it to this extent. Everything is politicized. Everything is black and white with few willing to have a civil discussion. Your opinions, especially if they differ from the politically correct, can destroy your life.

I admit that I look at one political party and can't believe anyone would vote for the candidates running under that platform. It honestly saddens me when I think of all of the years when I voted for a person based on experience, education, and character. I believe I registered as an Independent; I know I always deliberately chose people from both major parties (& sometimes a minor party), and my choice was not someone based on race, gender, ethnicity, region, college [football], political affiliation or other factors... unless there was more than one person whom I felt was qualified. We have reached a point in the past 20 years, though, that finding anyone to enthusiastically endorse is difficult.

All that to say that the past 4 years, combined with the increased hatred in recent months, means a lot of people are going to be angrier than ever next week. People can't simply accept the loss, and move forward, seeking a harmonious compromise for what is best for our country. There are those who want to destroy this nation and will stop at nothing to do so. Others, of course, want a different America... not to destroy but because they believe their vision will help America. There are those with a global vision that I can't wrap my mind around. How are we to work together if we won't listen and actually HEAR without the words going through a preconceived filter. We call each other names without even knowing what the words mean and expect a blanket statement to cover an entire group... even when there is evidence that cancels the charges being made.

COVID-19 and masks are another hot topic. Fear vs Faith is how many have categorized it. Some want everyone in masks and keeping their distance from each other. I grieve for all who have lost a loved one due to complications of corona virus, but I am also not seeing logical results concerning those who test positive. I passionately hate wearing a mask, but am willing if I have symptoms, especially coughing or sneezing (even when I know they are due to allergies). But I am not going to wish death or destruction of business on people who disagree.

I don't understand the fear and hatred of people over a virus that has such a high survival rate. We don't treat other causes of death like this. In 2017 (apparently much of the data is collected every 3 years) there were 862,320 abortions in the United States alone. Most were probably avoidable AND it's more than triple the number of COVID-19 deaths in the US in 2020. The survival rate for those who test positive for COVID-19 is extremely high; the survival rate for those aborted is extremely low. I care about the lives of all who are impacted by both.

No matter what the future holds, my hope & faith remain strongly in Jesus Christ. 2020 has certainly not been my personal "WORST YEAR EVER!" I have experienced several years and events that devastated me. The one constant that helped me through the valleys and dark moments was the knowledge my God was with me each moment. I may not always understand & I had moments of anger at God... but He never left me.

A parent doesn't completely reject an angry child, although there normally are consequences. Sometimes God has to let us face the consequences of our actions, but that does not mean He left. This upcoming election is a spiritual battlefield. Remember, neither party nor any candidate is our savior. Not one person or party can destroy us either. I admit that I see hope from one side and destruction from the other, but God will lead us through. Remember, though, you do have an active role and voting for Biblical principles is only one step.

Trust God! Pray for our nation, our citizens, your loved ones... & yourself. Tell Jesus about your fear, your anger, your doubt, and even your struggle to believe there is HOPE.

SPOILER ALERT! I have read the end of the BIBLE... and Jesus gives us the final victory!

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7

Candlemas Day

Candlemas is a word I remember reading many times, but have never researched... until now. This  is a beautiful tradition that I would love to see come back into practice. Groundhog Day doesn't have to go away, but I just don't feel the same connection to that tradition. Perhaps it's due to my utter confusion as a child. I honestly thought I was being told Six More Weeks of Winter or Six Weeks Until Spring. I have always had an active imagination, but tempered with a strong practical streak. No matter how people wanted to say it --- Spring was coming in 6 weeks! Well, actually six and a half weeks, but I was taught it was bad manners to argue with my teacher over technicalities and that it had more to do with temperatures and weather than exact date. Good manners won...but it still annoys me.

Candlemas Day is celebrated on February 2nd... on what is considered the midpoint between the Winter solstice and the Spring equinox. The tradition that gives the holiday its name is that pastors would bless candles and then distribute them to people to provide light for the remander of Winter. The tie-in to what became Groundhog Day was when people began saying if Candlemas Day dawned sunny and clear, Winter weather would last several more weeks. Spring would arrive early if the weather was cloudy.

There's more, though! February 2 is also called the Feast of the Presentation. This has been celebrated since the 4th century in Jerusalem and is based on the presentation of Jesus to the Lord at the Temple at the end of Mary's 40 days of purification. All firstborn sons were to be consecrated to God. Traditionally the birth of Christ is celebrated December 25th, therefore, February 2nd would have been the date of the Presentation. 

Tie-in? At the temple, a devout and righteous man named Simeon had been anticipating the birth of the Messiah because Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the promised Savior. When he held Jesus in his arms, Simeon said, "He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel!” Read the whole story in Luke 2:22-40.

In John 8:12, Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." That promise holds true for everyone today. The world is a dark place, but Jesus is the Light that leads to eternal life. It's not always easy to follow Him, but be assured that it is worth it.

The groundhog is fun and I am curious to see what is predicted and whether he was reliable this year. But I will celebrate the Light of the World whose promises of Hope and Healing, despite current cold and darkness, are assurances I know I can trust. More than fun, this brings JOY! Today, light a candle to remind yourself, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

Go light the world! 🕯

*FUN FACT: February is also a traditional day for some to take down and put away their 🎄 Christmas decorations! If you haven't quite finished, today is the day! 

The Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs

In The Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs, you meet three women named Mary. Each of these women had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Mary of Bethany is the one who prepared the way for the Lord’s burial when she anointed His feet with her precious and costly perfume. Mary of Nazareth, His mother, remained by His side from His first breath to His last, her love and loyalty always steadfast. Mary of Magdala, delivered of seven demons, never wavered in her bravery to support her Teacher when others turned away bravely and then she was the one chosen to proclaim the glorious news of His resurrection to His followers. At a time when women were considered to be second class citizens, the Lord loved, respected, and honored them ---giving Hope to all women that we are worthy, too. 

Higgs has a way of bringing the characters in her stories to life, and even familiar stories are seen in a fresh light. Each Mary she highlights is a person that anyone raised going to church knows all about. Yet, the reader is given more insight to what is happening, and how rare it is for women to be treated with honor during the time Jesus lived on Earth. There were even a couple of "lightbulb moments" when something became much clearer to me. One easily travels to and from the effects of Jesus on the lives of these women to personal stories that Liz shares in comparison. I especially like the Study Guide in the back. This would be a wonderful 8 week devotional for yourself or with a small group. 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook-Multnomah "Blogging For Books" program at no cost to myself. However, I was not required to write a positive review.

Risen

"Risen" is the story of the Resurrection from the experience of Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a member of the Roman Military Tribune. Due to the rumors that Jesus will return to life 3 days after his death, Clavius is assigned the task of overseeing the crucifixion and monitoring the guards responsible for making sure the tomb is left untouched. When the body of Jesus disappears, Clavius and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton) must discover what happened and how. In the weeks that follow, Clavius encounters events and people that challenge everything he holds true. When he finds the man whose crucifixion he had witnessed, Clavius is more determined than ever to find the answers...and his life will never be the same.

My Review: The acting, story line and production values are top-notch, and “Risen” followed the Biblical accounts closely enough that I had no issue with the creative licensing that must take place when telling a story from the point of view of a fictional character. The story brought a fresh look at people we are familiar with and “humanized” a few with both flaws and unexpected humor. Did I agree with every interpretation? No. But there was nothing that was outlandish or too far from actual events.

There are violent moments and graphic scenes as they search for Jesus among the dead, but not as intense as “Passion of the Christ.” Two younger teens were with me, and the movie was suitable for them, but I believe that parents should keep in mind that the film is PG-13. “Risen” is also one you can invite your unbelieving friends to see with you because it is a well told story about a seeker of truth (I love "Christian Pep Rally" films for my own encouragement, but some can be a tad antagonistic). Hopefully, it will open the door to many conversations and people will be more willing to explore the authenticity of Christianity. I confess that I am not a huge fan of several epic Biblical movies that people watch every year, but “Risen” will become a perennial favorite of mine.