Top Three in Winnipeg!

I'm praising the Lord that I got to perform in all three films which won the top prizes for independent features at the Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival: Polycarp, Princess Cut and Beyond the Mask.

I play a lead in Providence, a modern silent film that could come to a city near you soon!

Registration is now open for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Risen Is an Answer to Prayer

I went to seminary with students who were there because they watched The Jesus Film in their heart languages. It has now been translated into more than 1000 languages. Our denomination, The Church of the Nazarene, began a partnership with The Jesus Film in the mid '90s that has helped us triple in size.

It has long been a prayer of my heart that there would be a Jesus Film that speaks the heart language of our culture. That prayer has just been answered in the film Risen.

Joseph Fiennes (Luther) plays Clavius, a Roman tribune, who is charged with finding the body of Yeshua (the Jewish name for Jesus). He worships Mars, but during his investigation he encounters followers of Yeshua who seem to truly believe that He is risen from the dead. At one point he goes to the statue of the god Mars and says he's not praying to Mars but to Yahweh. Of course his prayer, at that point, is against the will of Yahweh. Later he goes to the statue of Mars and, in one of the finer moments for the award-winning actor, sees it for the metal that it is.

I think the best acting actually comes from one of the guards, telling the story he's been paid not to tell. I found it much more compelling than a CGI recreation of what could never be captured for a film: The Resurrection.

Peter Greif, who plays Caiphas, played the Danish King Guthrum in The Dragon and the Raven. I got to perform two scenes with him in London. In one I served his character, and in the other he crushed my second character's neck. The protogé of Sir Laurence Olivier is almost as fierce in Risen, as he presses Pilate (played with layers by Peter Firth) for favors to prevent the true story from being released to the "weak." The word is a beautiful counterpoint to strong Clavius, following, by turns, what his eyes and mind cannot reconcile.

I got to see Risen with members of the creative team, including Fiennes. My favorite scene of the film is the same as his. He climbs up on a rock to speak to Yeshua. It was the first scene he'd filmed with Maori actor Cliff Curtis. Fiennes told our audience that they intentionally stayed apart on set before the camera rolled to highlight the encounter.

My prayer was answered for the film to be created. Now I'll keep praying that the Lord uses it to reach our cynical generation.

There's a beautiful moment when Clavius is interviewing a blind woman (played insightfully by Margaret Jackman). He asks her, "Are you a follower of Yeshua or a follower of a follower?"

If you've only followed followers of Yeshua this movie is for you, too. Seek the Son of God and you shall find Him.

Risen is rated PG-13 for war violence (some showing Roman warfare), crucifixion and several dead bodies unearthed at various stages of decay.

Here's what I said about it in this morning's service at Westchester Chapel:



Hear our whole service by clicking here.

I play a lead in Providence, a modern silent film opening in theatres coast to coast starting February 12.

Registration is now open for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Also, we're now taking sign-ups for Rio Ready.

Providence Gets Noticed throughout China!

I've just added a talkback after the final screening of Providence at the AMC Empire Theatre on Times Square, TONIGHT at 7:10PM. I play a lead role in this modern silent film, told only through visuals and an eclectic indie soundtrack.

A couple of weeks ago I got to join Jenn Gotzon for a press junket at The Roosevelt Hotel in NYC. The word has spread throughout China! The articles below represent hundreds of millions of readers, and all but one of them use the above photo and all of them mention Providence and the other films I've performed in with Jenn: Princess Cut, Alone Yet Not Alone and The Screenwriters (which will be shown at the Christian Worldview Film Festival next month).

Though Providence was extended for a week in Atlanta, there are only two screenings left today in NYC. If you're in the area, I hope you can join us tonight at 7:10!

These articles we know about have a combined readership of about 500 million:

Vogue China

MSN (China) Fashion

Chinese Central TV Station Official Website

Xinhua News Agency 

Chinese Top Four Comprehensive News Web Portals: 

Sina OfficialTencent Mobile / Tencent Express (For Tencent Express click the "v" for the full article)  

Sohu Mobile / Sohu 3G (click on the 79% / 88% for the full article)

163.com Mobile 

Other Governmental Websites:

Lifestyle Channel (lohas) of China.com.cn (Run by Information Office of the PRC of the Chinese State Council) 

Wealth Channel of China.com

Leading news, entrepreneurs, fashion websites:

TOM, a leading news and fashion portal 

ifeng.com, the leading news and entertainment, fashion TV and digital medium 

upinquan.jrj.com.cn, a leading finance website 

Today's Headline, the most famous news screening and analysis APP in China, with 350 million subscribers 

Qianlong.com, the comprehensive news website co-run by Beijing TV Station, Beijing Daily, Beijing Broadcasting Station, and Am Beijing, etc. 

Mina, a famous fashion website in China  

SWCJW.com, a leading business and finance website 

News.CNStock.com.cm, a leading finance and security website for business people (Doesn't use the above photo, but does mention Providence and the other films in which I've performed with Jenn) 

Jiang Su Province governmental website

I play a lead in Providence, a modern silent film playing in theatres coast-to-coast now.

Registration is now open for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Lay Down Your Life for the Lord

Pastor Randy Solomon preaches on Romans 12:1-8. Pastor Jim Warren opens our service. Rich Swingle gives a report on Providence showing on Times Square and leads worship. Pastor Linda Warren leads communion, opening with the true story of Valentine's Day.

Pastor Randy is preparing for a short terms missions trip, and team members Angie Atoth and Glenn Romano thank Westchester Chapel for our contributions toward the trip and share some more details about the work they'll be doing to build a home for three orphans. Liz J. prays over their team.

Our pastoral and prayer team prayed
over Pastor Randy and the team
heading for Columbia.

This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

Photo courtesy of NicolettiPhoto.com.

I play a lead in Providence, a modern silent film opening in theatres coast to coast starting February 12.

Registration is now open for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

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IMDb noticed Providence

I was on IMDb, the go-to site for all you want to know about films, and there is Providence on the front page!

Earlier we made their

IMDb Picks: February Indie Releases

We also made the list for Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango's Valentine's Movie Guide.

I play a lead in Providence, a modern silent film opening in theatres coast to coast starting February 12.

Registration is now open for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.