Movie Review: The Moment After 2 (The Awakening)

By David Mackey

I had high hopes for The Awakening. Signal Hill Pictures is one of my favorite Christian film companies and has worked on a number of excellent, high-quality films such as Mercy Streets, The Visitation, and Thr3e. My favorite Christian actor, David A.R. White also plays a key lead role and took part in the production of the film, so this also raised my hopes. I was sadly disappointed.

The film starts out well-enough. The opening cinematography is beautiful and the music haunting. In fact, throughout the film the cinematography and music continue to hold out top notch, as everything else falls flat. Significant shots are taken throughout the film that stretch what had been previously done by Christian camera people, but this cannot make up for the film's other deficits.
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BarlowGirl

By Julie Cook Hess

Chicago is known for nurturing and giving birth to great musical talent. Among the many great bands that have sprung up from the Windy City are Chevelle, Smashing Pumpkins, and more recently Ok Go and Fall Out Boy. The three Barlow sisters Alyssa, Becca and Lauren are no exception to Chi-town’s musical magic. In 2005, they were able to reach a wider audience when one of their songs was offered as the iTunes free download of the week.  A lot has happened since then for talented three-some.

In this feature interview with the group, they open up about the struggles of being women in a male-dominated business, the positives of being in family band and their beloved hometown.

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Is This Really Necessary?

By Carolyn Weeks May
 
Have you ever been in the middle of a television program or movie and thought, “Is this really necessary?” I have. On numerous occasions I’ve changed the channel continuously, trying to find a good family-friendly movie or series segment without success. It made me want to write a letter and complain.  But did I? Of course not; although I tell myself I will, when I’m not so busy. In the meantime, I just continue my mental complaining.

I frequently watch the Christian channels, but why can’t we find more shows worth watching on regular stations? So many programs have unnecessary vulgar language or profanity and others include sexual situations that don’t add anything to the show.  That wasn't the case in the good old days.  I watch the old reruns like The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, and a number of others, but I’ve seen these so many times, I almost have the scripts memorized. Once in awhile, I like to see a new show that’s fun and entertaining, or a mystery with lots of suspense and intrigue, but finding something that’s wholesome, family entertainment is far more difficult than it should be.
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Artist Spotlight: Michelle Bonilla

By Andre Mullen

For Brooklyn-bred Michelle Bonilla, her music roots run deep.  Her father, a Latin Jazz guitarist, was instrumental in her exposure to music.  This along with her faith opened her up to working with a variety of urban artists and finally completing her own debut album aptly entitled Phenomenonal.

At the helm of production for the disc is David Hackley Jr. and Michelle’s husband, Lee Jerkins (cousin to über producers Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and Freddie “Uncle Freddie Jerkins).  The husband and wife team truly create beautiful music together as made evident by a wide array of songs that range from urban, to pop, to Latin.  On “Sinti (Without You)”, Michelle teams up with label mate Da’ T.R.U.T.H., letting God know that she is nothing without Him.  Backed with an acoustic guitar and stunning, rich vocals, “Sinti (Without You)” keeps the listener in remembrance of the importance of giving God the glory despite all that is going on in life.
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Seven Come Heaven

By Don Parker

Have there ever been any TV shows that portray the true Christian life?   We’ve had wholesome and moral shows like Leave It To Beaver, The Brady Bunch and My Three Sons but, was Christianity involved in any of those shows?  Highway to Heaven and Touched by An Angel got closer.  They involved God and angels along with the moral lessons, but still no mention of the word Jesus (at least when I watched, which was often).  What about Seventh Heaven?  Was that a show that exposed to the world the way Christians live?   I say nes.  That’s not a typo.  I said nes, and I meant nes.  Perhaps by now you guessed that is combination of no and yes.  How can it be both answers?  Let’s examine the evidence – a wise thing to do when forming opinions.
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