It’s time again for the 43rd Annual Dove Awards, and man was I surprised with some of the 2012 winners! Through the year, I enjoy collecting new singles from various Christian artists that I’ve heard on the Sky Angel radio channels or the various music video shows. So I guess I was hoping to see a bunch of my favorite artists win big at the GMAs, but Lecrae and Jamie Grace are pretty much the only two artists, I enjoy listening to, who won an award.    Jason Crabb was a big winner, but I don’t recall hearing any of his new music anywhere!

There was a performance that caught my attention by the Newsboys front man Michael Tait and two other artists; they sang a power ballad called, “Bring us Home.” This song was inspired by a Max Lucado book called, “The Story,” I really enjoyed this piece, and I’m now looking at buying the book to read to my family! Over all for me, The Dove Awards was a bit of a disappointment, but if you are of fan of gospel music, you would probably enjoy the show a lot more than me… *sigh*… Maybe next year!

The Trinity Broadcasting Network leads the way on bringing inspirational programming to prisons across the country, providing men, women, and juveniles with promise and hope.

The program, TBN Second Chance, brings inmates 24-hour programing providing prisoners with a source of entertainment that emphasizes faith and morals. Prisons hope to continue to use this as a rehabilitation resource for prisoners. TBN covers the upfront costs due to state penitentiary budgets, which are becoming thinner every year.

TBN Second Chance offers four networks: TBN’s flagship channel, JCTV, The Church Channel, and TBN Enlace USA, a network exclusively in Spanish.

Chaplain Lois Woodward praises TBN, explaining that the programs provide a “positive influence to inmates that help them overcome destructive attitudes and behaviors.” Woodward emphasized the importance of Christian based TV. “It is a tool in taking them to the next level emotionally, spiritually, and ultimately a successful reentry into society.”

http://www.charismanews.com/us/33193-new-tbn-program-takes-gospel-to-prisoners

Do you think that Christian television can have a positive impact on the rehabilitation of prisoners?

I was excited to see that INSP had aired the movie Amazing Grace! This movie is a favorite around here, and we even saw it in the theater. Amazing Grace tells the amazing life story of William Wilberforce and his quest to end slavery in England. William Willberforce was a young politician in the late 1700’s when he went through a dramatic conversion to Christianity. As a result of that conversion, he was inspired to take on the burden of ending the immoral practice of slavery. This true story is compelling and very inspiring; the movie captures Wilberforce’s heart very well. Everything about this film is top rate, the acting, the filming, and the even music. There is even a connection to John Newton the writer of the hymn Amazing Grace. William and John apparently had somewhat of a friendship in real life. I highly recommend Amazing Grace as a must see movie for Christians and History buffs alike!

This is a short film. It is kind of a dual documentary. Based on a true story we see the story of two fathers.

The first father is the journalist covering the story of the refugees escaping communist Hungary into Austria in 1956. This father is struggling with his marriage and is not willing to sacrifice his love for getting the big story for his wife and family.

The second father is one the journalist sees willing to lay down his life for his own wife and family in their escape from Hungary. This sacrificial attitude deeply convicts him of his wrong priorities.

An award winning short film well worth a watch. God bless!

I just enjoyed The Last Confederate, the story of Captain Robert Adams.  You can find this movie in the Video on Demand section, under Action / Thriller.

This is the story of a man who lived in South Carolina at the time of the Civil War.  He joined the army and fought on the side of the South.

What I liked about this movie was that Captain Adams was loyal to his people, he was a fierce fighter, and he had southern hospitality!  You often heard him say “Yes Ma’am”, “Thank you”, and other such things.  And he was not mean, but rather courteous, toward his slaves (he had some).  (I am not endorsing slavery when I say that; it is merely an observation of his attitude.)

His wife was from the North, and so she was conflicted about the war.

He survived the war, rebuilt his life, and he and his wife started a school.

The movie was produced by his descendants.

There is some violence (it’s hard to avoid it in a war movie), but it isn’t gratuitous.

For all but the youngest, I recommend this movie.

I was saddened to hear about the passing of “The Painter Of Light” Thomas Kinkade. What an inspiration his art is to this world! I remember checking out a Thomas Kinkade Gallery, and being in awe and wonderment over all the beautiful paintings! He was definitely a talented and gifted man!

I noticed on the NRB network a program called, “God Is The Master Artist” and just had to check it out. A Christian artist, Jerry Yarnell, (of “Yarnell School of Fine Art”) was the host, and he was instructing how to paint a sunset. I like how he started with an already painted brownish-red canvas to get rid of the “whiteness” of the canvas. I marveled over how he could fuse together a mess of colors on his brush and get just the right consistency! He definitely made it look way too easy. My combination of colors tend to turn out looking like mud! Check out his web site at http://josephyarnell.com/

We have been waiting for the exciting new platform and it will be here before you know it! I received the following great news in my email box:

“The anticipated launch of Sky Angel 2.0 is coming soon and Sky Angel will initiate the new platform, providing you with the ultimate viewing experience.
After Sky Angel 2.0 is launched, for those who have a second generation NXP set top box, a message will appear on your television that will read: STB Upgrade. Please wait. This process can take several minutes. Do not power down. During this message, please refrain from powering down the box. Please be patient, as this process can take several minutes.
The next message that will appear asks you to confirm a firmware upgrade. At this time, using your Sky Angel remote, select “confirm” and press OK. Once again, please refrain from powering off your box in the middle of the upgrade. Powering down during the upgrade may cause your box to become locked. If this happens, it may not be possible to continue using your box. When the upgrade is complete, your receiver will automatically reboot itself by shutting down and turning itself back on.
After the system has rebooted, the Sky Angel 2.0 upgrade will be complete! The next picture you’ll see is the new Sky Angel homepage.
We hope that you enjoy everything that the new platform has to offer and we thank you for your patience. You’ll be watching the best in family- friendly entertainment on Sky Angel 2.0!”

On a personal note I am sorry I haven’t posted for awhile our move was harder then expected for me physically.  I have carpal tunnel in both hands and the move aggravated the CT.  I am finally beginning to feel better daily but I have to pace myself so I heal.

God Bless!

Monica

Jeff Foxworthy, Stand-up comedian and member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, teams up with the Game Show Network to bring viewers a game show of biblical proportions. GSN presents “The American Bible Challenge,” an hour-long game show, will test your knowledge of the Bible, which is what Foxworthy calls “the best-selling book of all time.”  The GSN network wanted to bring in the Blue Collar Comedy Tour star and former host of the popular program Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? to create excitement and buzz about the new game show.

“The one-hour game show is still in development, but its format will be straight-forward and recognizable to most viewers - contestants will be asked questions designed to acknowledge and celebrate the Bible’s continuing importance in contemporary life and culture. “

To read more visit:   http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-american-bible-challenge-new-christian-game-show-68380/

Can Jeff Foxworthy’s folky character bring more attention to the Bible and attract a younger audience?

“The center of salvation is the Cross of Jesus, and the reason it is so easy to obtain salvation is because it cost God so much. The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened—but the crash is on the heart of God.” - Oswald Chambers

I am so thankful to the Lord that He set His face like flint, put His foot on a path of suffering, and endured the cross for the joy set before Him!! IT IS FINISHED!—my favorite words in the entire Bible!

Happy Easter, everyone!

I am watching Cinderella on Ice from China as I write. It is beautiful. I intend to take advantage of the 48 hour review for this one. The music is beautiful–traditional Cinderella. The ice ballet is superb, and the costumes beautiful.

If you get a chance to see this performance, I believe you will not be disappointed.  Meanwhile I am waiting for the Sky Angel 2.0 to arrive in my set-top box.  After this happens my blogging will return more frequently. I just miss the Tivo program guide.  I believe the new Sky Angel program guide will be great!

As I watch, prince has found his princess and is dancing with her in her peasant clothes. I paused in my writing, and now she is dancing in her exquisite gown.  And now they are taking their bows.  What a wonderful show!  This was copyrighted in 2002.