Monday, November 24, 2014

Paper Angels and changing children's lives at Christmas

Christmas is a painful time of year for so many underprivileged kids. Thanks to the Angel Tree and to people's generous hearts, some kids will find some hope and joy. (Orphans First also provides Christmas gifts for underprivileged children -- those overseas in our programs and children's homes and in impoverished neighborhoods in Mexico, India, Russia... )

With holidays and Christmas now in full swing, who doesn’t love a feel-good, cozy movie with an inspiring message? Thanks to UPtv there are plenty of those in store. Original movie, Paper Angels, which aired on November 16th, is an example of awesome with a true-to-life powerful message.

Inspired by country singer Jimmy Wayne’s Christmas hit, Paper Angels, as well as by the book of the same title co-written by Jimmy Wayne and Travis Thrasher, the movie tells a compelling story that highlights the value of programs such as the Angel Tree which enable underprivileged children to receive at least one Christmas gift.

Paper Angel weaves together two stories of broken families—broken for different reasons and in different ways. Two children find themselves in a situation where even a Christmas tree seems like a hard-to-reach luxury. After leaving their alcoholic, abusive father, the mother of two children struggles to provide for them. Christmas is looking pretty bleak – until she hears about the Angel Tree program.

Meanwhile, a young couple preparing to greet their first offspring into the world – twins – also find themselves in a less than solid financial situation. Yet, the Angel Tree calls to them.

Highschool basketball and the Angel Tree draw together two unlikely friends, Thomas and Kevin. As they seek to do good to others in spite of their own sorrows, their lives are changed.

From personal experience and vicariously from the kids Jimmy Wayne has worked with, Wayne shows how The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program can make all the difference in a kids’ life. Paper Angel paints a compelling picture and highlights a beacon of hope all the while drawing us into a world where children and adults alike find themselves changed as they look beyond their own needs.

Starring Matthew Settle and Josie Bissett, .Paper Angels also features two new songs written and performed by Jimmy Wayne.

Check out UPtv’s schedule for upcoming movies. 

This story will also appear in Assist News Service. 

Janey DeMeo M.A.

Copyright © November 2014


Thursday, November 20, 2014

The Jerusalem Call, historical San Diego event

Maranatha Chapel in San Diego, under the leadership of Pastor Ray Bentley, is known to be a church that stands behind Israel—even when few others do. Just this week Maranatha Chapel hosted an unprecedented keystone event: the first West Coast conference for The Jerusalem Call.


The Jerusalem Call, launched by the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF), is an initiative to unite Jews and Christians together in the common cause of blessing Israel because this is what the Bible—the same Old Testament Scriptures that Jews and Christians share—mandates (Genesis 12:3).

Read my full review of this awesome event in The Examiner here. And in Assist News Service

Janey DeMeo M.A.

Copyright © November 2014

Saturday, November 15, 2014

The Song Album

Here is an inspiring stocking stuffer for music lovers and romantics alike, The Song album with an eclectic range of songs sung by several artists.

The Song Album is Music a compilation of eleven songs inspired by the original motion picture of the same name (already in theaters). Based on the story of Solomon in the Bible and placed into a modern context, the quest for love and meaning is explored through lyrics adapted from concepts from scripture.

As well as featuring various artists, the music itself is a smorgasbord of styles that range from ballads, bluegrass (Kentucky Voice by Ricky Skaggs), indie, echoes of celtic, and rock (Ooh’s and Aah’s by NEEDTOBREATHE)—and even the revamp of a classic folk rock oldie (Turn! Turn! Turn! by Roger McGuinn from The Byrds).

The Song Movie, from which The Song Album was borne, tells the story of an aspiring singer-songwriter who finds himself catapulted into stardom by a song he writes for his wife—a love song which soon becomes the ultimate test of his love—a song which is catalyst in the near collapse of his marriage.

Whether or not you have seen the movie, The Song Album is a stand-alone winner as a stocking stuffer or as a special treat for yourself. Find out more about it here.

This story also appears in Assist News Service

Janey DeMeo M.A.

Copyright © November 2014


Monday, November 10, 2014

The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible

Duck Dynasty stars Phil and Al Robertson are known for their strong faith and family values—and now, in partnership with Thomas Nelson publishers, they share their values with us in The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible.

Containing the complete New King James Version (NKJV) Bible text, The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible also features 125 “Set Your Sights” articles to complement the Scriptures and underscore the five core values the Robertson family live by: Faith, Family, Fellowship, Forgiveness, and Freedom. Each article emphasizes one of those core value, shows how it plays out in real life situations, and highlights a relevant topic such as prayer, repentance, gossip, suffering, fear, integrity...

Each featured article ends with a list of related Bible Scriptures for further meditation under the section entitled “On The Hunt.”


This Bible also contains 30 “LifeChangers”—stories from Al and Phil Robertson on God’s life-transforming power highlighting how He moves His plan forward in our midst.

Read my full review of this excellent Bible in Assist News Service and in The Examiner

Janey DeMeo M.A.

Copyright © November 2014