Journalist Sophia Lee: 'Crazy Rich Asians' and Me

Reflections from a Korean-American on the film phenomenon.Over the past few months, many Asian-Americans have been quivering with anticipation for a movie they say they’ve been awaiting for too long: When was the last time we Asian-Americans had a major Hollywood production with an all-Asian cast? One that doesn’t involve karate chops, nerdy inch-thick glasses, and white-faced, oversexualized geishas? Trailers for Crazy Rich Asians ran on my social media feeds for weeks before the premiere, the algorithms theorizing that since I’m Korean-American and like movies, I would probably want to see two Asian lead characters smooch on screen.

BY SOPHIA LEE

WORLD MAGAZINESo after the movie finally hit theaters on Aug. 15, I dutifully went to see it—not because I particularly wanted to watch it (I dislike romantic comedies; the typically sappy dialogue makes me gag), but because of the enormous buzz and hype in my social circles.“GO WATCH THIS MOVIE!” my Asian-American friends exclaimed on Facebook and Instagram. Many Asian-Americans praised the film with sobbing, heart, and dancing emojis: “The movie made me cry happy sad tears!” “Finally, a movie about people who look like me!” “The movie that finally breaks the glass ceiling.” “Historic moment for Asian-Americans.” And the main message everyone proclaimed was, “GO SUPPORT ASIAN-AMERICANS!”The pressure was on: If we hyphenated Americans didn’t swarm to the theaters to boost the film’s box-office ratings, we might lose the one rare chance in which Asian-Americans are the spotlight in Hollywood. Multiple publications reminded us that the last major American studio film to feature a majority-Asian cast in a nonperiod setting was The Joy Luck Club in 1993—that’s 25 years ago. That movie had moderate success, but nothing like the success of Black Panther. If Crazy Rich Asians could prove to business suits that Asian-Americans are indeed a profitable market, maybe we could finally have faces on the big screen that regularly reflected the diversity of Americans today—faces that reflect us.... READ FULL STORY AT WORLD MAGAZINE

Skid Row: Not By Bread Alone

'Shooting Heroin' On Mission To Be Real, Show Redemption, Avoid Sugar-Coating

Spencer T Folmar has a clear mission when making his movies, including “Shooting Heroin,” the one he begins filming on this week — they must be real, show redemption, and not be sugar-coated.BY ALEX MURASHKOThis article is the conclusion of a two-part interview with Folmar, who is a filmmaker and TogetherLA contributing writer. In this part of the interview (below), he shares more about walking the line between Faith Based and General Audiences entertainment.After his film company, Hard Faith, released “Generational Sins” last year, a story that touched on alcoholism, suicide and redemption, Folmar began the early production stages of “The Beast in Me,” but recently shifted schedule to begin “Shooting Heroin.” The need to tackle the opioid problem in the U.S. via his film, sooner rather than later was too great, he explained.In his interview, Folmar shares why it’s important for him to make films that aim for an audience that mirror the “public square.”TOGETHERLA: When did you decide that your movies weren't necessarily going to paint stories of life in a rose garden?SPENCER T FOLMAR: I always had a passion for film. I was a filmmaker in the beginning, had already made a couple feature films, and I had worked on a lot of commercials and corporate work, all before I came to Christ. And then, I had this amazing experience in New Zealand, and I couldn't put this book down — the Bible. I was learning all about God and about all these crazy, complex characters, and these scoundrels that God was using in his story.At that point, I was just trying to imagine what a movie might look like if was going to use my skills and passion to glorify God. I was dreaming while in Bible school what a good movie could look like that was informed by this amazing book and about the character of God. Since I did not grow up in the Christian church I wasn't familiar, at all, with the library of faith based films.So, it was quite an education when I came back to the states and started watching “Faith” films.Whenever I said I wanted to make movies about God, my new family in Christ would point me to these faith based titles. So, I watched a couple of these titles, and then I had to quickly clarify that I was in fact not making these traditional faith-based films at all. It helped me recognize what I didn’t want to do. I'm not trying to create content only for Christian consumption that paints the world with rosy colored glasses.Many of these faith-based films I really still can't get into. Most of them depict such a foreign world and false reality. Most of these faith-based films don't reflect the world in which I live in, or have lived in, or most of my friends and family are still wrestling with.It's just that the stakes aren't that high. I also don't find that most faith-based films reflect the reality of the Bible either. The films are so self-censored that they are unrecognizable to my own life and my own struggles. And if I was going to make films now, with this revelation of God, I want them to be honest with my own struggles and depict the world as it actually is. To be truthful. In fact, in a lot of ways, life can actually become more difficult after you're a Christian.TLA: How long has “Shooting Heroin” been in the works? When did you start writing the script?FOLMAR: I started writing “Shooting Heroin” just a few months ago, but the idea was inspired by many true events and stories.In this movie, theologically speaking, I wanted to deal with the demons of addiction and of judging others too harshly without empathy. But at the same time, I also wanted to explore the call for responsibility, not only for ourselves but for the love of our neighbor.TLA: It doesn’t sound like this movie will be on Pure Flix. Am I right?FOLMAR: Hah! No, it won't be on Pure Flix. My last film, “Generational Sins,” which was about two brothers' return home to reconcile with an alcoholic, abusive father, also is not on Pure Flix. But that's okay because that's not our target audience. We're making films for the main, public square, and general audiences. At the same time, we're talking explicitly about Jesus Christ and his Gospel. And yet not censoring, the R-rated nature of the world.So, my movies will most likely not be on Pure Flix, but we definitely have an evangelistic mindset and mission so we can get these messages of salvation to the people who need them most outside the church.TLA: As a Christian, are there points during the making of a movie where you're thinking, okay, well this is over the line, and this is not, or this is edifying or this is not? How do you navigate the edges?FOLMAR: Yeah, it's tough. It's definitely a difficult balancing act because I don't want to ever glorify sin, or be indulgent.There's enough graphicness and senseless sin in most media. But I don't ever want to take the audience out of the story or out of the reality so that they're less empathetic to real-life figures.You know, sin should be difficult to digest. That's one of the biggest issues with so many faith-based films: The sin is never that vile. There's never truly a beast. You never actually put flesh on the bones of sin or of sin nature because it's so easily digestible. It's been so censored for family audiences.For the sin that I show in my films, I want it to stay with audiences. I don't want them to easily move on from those scenes or onto the next scene without feeling the weight of sin.There should be a long pause because sin is an eternally, weighty matter.TLA: I often ask this question even though sometimes it feels cliché. What do you want viewers to come away with from 'Shooting Heroin?'FOLMAR: I want viewers to come away from “Shooting Heroin” as I hope they came away with from my last film, "Generational Sins," awakening to the fact that despite what may seem like insurmountable despair or darkness that the movie’s characters face and maybe audience members face as well, that there is genuine hope in Jesus Christ. That they can see the light in even the greatest of darkness.

PART ONE: Filmmaker Walks Line Between Faith Based and General Audiences Entertainment

Director Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar’s films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today’s multifaceted culture and audience.

Filmmaker Walks Line Between Faith Based and General Audiences Entertainment

Filmmaker and TogetherLA contributing writer Spencer T Folmar isn’t shy about telling stories that highlight society’s sins and ills — and redemption.BY ALEX MURASHKOAs a Christian man living in Hollywood, navigating the movie industry can sometimes be difficult. Walking the line between Faith Based and General Audiences entertainment can be a vulnerable balancing act.After his film company, Hard Faith, released “Generational Sins” last year, a story that touched on alcoholism, suicide and redemption, Folmar began the early production stages of “The Beast in Me,” but recently shifted schedule to begin the movie, “Shooting Heroin.”He told The Hollywood Reporter that the switch in priorities occurred because “the opioid problem is so apparent and is so sad.”Folmar also told THR that “Shooting Heroin” will be the company’s first movie aimed also at a secular audience, given that the opioid crisis involves every demographic at every socioeconomic level.“We’re taking it into the heartland of America and exploring what this might look like in a fictional story,” he said.Folmar was asked by TLA to talk about his early journey of faith. Below is what he shared with us."I didn't attend church until my 20s.’ So, in my early 20s,’ right after college, I took a gap year and I went to a Bible school overseas in New Zealand called Capernwray. I went to this informal Bible school in New Zealand because I was at this crossroads in my life where I had just graduated college, and I was gonna move to Hollywood, to Los Angeles, from where I was living at that time, which was in Pennsylvania. I wanted to start a career in filmmaking professionally and within the Hollywood industry."I was at this intersection of my life and I wanted to sort of figure things out. I had gone to church a couple of times, liked a couple of people who identified as Christian and was inspired by some of the stories I had heard. But up until this point I had never read the Bible on my own and I wanted to decide once and for all whether or not I'd believed this to be my ultimate truth."During the time I was at Capernwray I was on a solo retreat where you go out into the wilderness, into the bush of New Zealand and you just took your Bible, and a notepad and nothing else. It was a time of contemplation and meditation while reading the Word. And so I went out into the wilderness and was by myself for 40 hours."At first, I would read new sections... for the very first time I was reading the Bible. And I was reading Acts, and I was reading Paul's Epistles, and the Gospels, and then into Old Testament. But the verse that really stuck out to me because of my peace was Galatians 2:20, when the person says that "I've been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives through me.”"The thing that I really wrestled with, and I couldn't quite understand, is that up until that point in my life most of my universe and my actions and everyone around me kinda revolved around me and my ego and pride and what I could get out of this world and what I could accomplish. Whenever I looked at that verse and within the scope of some of these new letters and books I'd been reading in the Bible, it started to become clear to me that my life wasn't about me, but it was actually about this guy named Jesus. And that my purpose of living and all my actions are actually connected to this grand tapestry of God's work and creation, and his plan of redemption for humanity."I was humbled in a good way to realize that the universe didn't revolve around me, and it revolved around Jesus. It was better to be a thread in that tapestry than on the threshing floor. It was a huge 180-degree turn for me. My life flipped upside down and now these words of scripture became illuminated and they mattered in this unique new way. I had a special revelation. I had now found the Bible. Whenever I’ve read the Bible after my conversion experience, the words would be like a personal counseling, therapy session. It would cut me down to the core of my being in a way that years worth of counseling never could."Editor's Note: The above is part one of a two-part interview with Folmar.Director Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar’s films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today’s multifaceted culture and audience.

READ: When Hollywood Christians Come Together

'Won't You Be My Neighbor?' Reminds Us That All Lives Matter

In a world where kindness toward our neighbors is severely lacking, Fred Rogers — Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood — is a reminder that everyone deserves to be loved.BY JON GARCIAWon’t You Be My Neighbor? is a documentary recently released about the life of Rogers. The film chronicles his life and work from humble beginnings to faithful endings.Rogers believed his calling in life was to serve God through the medium of television. At one point during the film, the audience learns that when Rogers sought ordination with the United Presbyterian Church, he told the denomination that his mission field would be serving children — through educational TV.We learn a lot about Rogers through his TV show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. It quickly becomes evident that the show not only benefited a generation of children, but a generation of adults as well — Rogers included.Rogers states that as a child, he was overweight and picked on. To add insult to injury, he didn’t feel the freedom to express emotions in his family (in particular, anger). As a result, he felt that one of the most important things he could do for children was to teach them how to understand their emotions. Rogers believed that if you understood your emotions, you could understand how to love yourself and love others.There were a lot of really interesting themes that Christians could take note of. Perhaps the most profound idea in the movie was Rogers’ commitment to biblical integration. Without fail, his theology was woven deeply into the DNA of his show. The message of every episode was the same — people have intrinsic value, and they are worthy of love because of that. That’s what it means to be made in God’s image. It means you are valuable for no other reason than the fact that you are created in God’s image.In a day and age where people yell at each other, call each other names, and attack each other’s character, Rogers is a breath of fresh air. He reminds us that we should never forget that even the “worst” among us are worthy of our dignity and respect for no other reason than the fact that they are God’s image bearers.As I sit and reflect on Rogers message, I can’t help but think that this is the message the world needs today. We need to remember that above all, people deeply matter.Black lives matter.Immigrant lives matter.Isis lives matter.Republican lives matter.Democrat lives matter.It’s a really simple concept, but if you’re not intentionally seeking to live it out, you’re not going to remember that people matter. You’ll get callous and burned by the world, and you’ll forget that Christians are called to love other people — especially those who disagree with us.Rogers never forgot this because he knew that deep inside each and every one of us, there was a childlike innocence. Rogers knew that the reason Jesus invited little children to come to him was because they were a true picture of faith. So in order to influence a generation of people and remind them that love matters, Rogers centered his life ministry on children.Because there’s something simply beautiful about the childlike faith of an adolescent and the way they love people. They don’t hold grudges against others. They aren’t racist toward others. They don’t judge others. They just love people.It reminds me of my childhood, when my father made us listen to a lot of oldies.By the time I was in high school, I’d heard enough of them to last a lifetime. So at seventeen, I stopped listening to oldies.Although I still have a healthy appreciation for oldies, I just don’t listen to them anymore. But every now and then, I’ll find myself humming one of the classics. And when that happens, it takes me back to my childhood, when I thought much differently about the world.I found myself humming Dionne Warwick the other day. And, as the humming ensued, I found myself singing, “What the world needs now is love sweet love.”Maybe I’ll start listening to oldies again.

UNBROKEN: Path to Redemption Bumps Up Release Date [OFFICIAL TRAILER]

The makers of UNBROKEN: Path To Redemption have bumped up the movie's theatrical release date to Sept. 14 from Oct. 6. The move takes the picture off the same weekend as Sony’s Venom and Warner Bros.’ A Star is Born and moves it to a weekend occupied by Moses and then the wider releases of Lionsgate’s A Simple Favor and Fox’s The Predator, according to Deadline Hollywood.Based on Laura Hillenbrand’s bestselling book, UNBROKEN: Path to Redemption, begins where the hit movie Unbroken concludes, sharing the next amazing chapter of the unbelievable true story of Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini.The film follows the struggles Zamperini faced after the war — including marital problems and alcoholism — and how one night at a Billy Graham Crusade changed his life forever.The movie, directed by God’s Not Dead filmmaker Harold Cronk, includes a depiction of the 1949 Los Angeles Crusade where Zamperini surrendered his life to Christ.Billy Graham is portrayed in the movie by his grandson, Will Graham.Zamperini's connection to the Los Angeles area also includes attending Torrance High School and the University of Southern California. His legacy continues by way of a foundation that oversees Louis Zamperini Youth Ministries. The organization brings "the good news of hope, forgiveness and redemption through the gospel of Jesus Christ and by sharing the Louis Zamperini story to at risk youth."On the Webhttps://www.louiszamperinifoundation.org/

Storytelling and Life: When It's Time To 'Kill Your Darlings'

Good storytelling sometimes requires the author to, as the industry saying goes, kill your darlings.

BY SPENCER T FOLMAR

I love this brutal expression. It is means that we have to get rid of our most precious, and especially self-indulgent, passages in a story for the greater good of the overall work. It is true for all storytellers, who in order to have the very best narrative, must sometimes cut away and prune the indulgences of the author… and characters.This is such an intriguing concept that I have personally experienced in my own career. Each time I make another movie, write a screenplay, or review the final edit of a movie before releasing it to audiences I go through this process. There is one last and final soul-searching hunt for whatever is still remaining that needs to be cut away for the betterment of the story.In writing, I start scenes later and get out of them sooner. On set, I recognize that every frame must somehow help tell the story and main theme. Then, in fishing post production and editing, after taking feedback from trusted industry colleagues and test audiences, I look outside my own experience and do what is best for the overall movie.I believe that much can be learned in our daily lives by the writer’s process of killing your darlings. When looking back on my own life, most of the worst moments in my story are when I should’ve let go of my bad decisions, my sin. So, many intersections in my narrative have been worsened because I was rebellious in trying to resist discipline and letting my darlings get the best of me.This writer’s process is not unlike the passage in which Jesus talks about pruning away the dead branches to make way for new life. “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2)The Puritans often wrote on the practice of “mortification of sin.” These are violent and jarring terms: kill, mortify, or to put to death, but that is because we as creators, and God as the ultimate author care deeply about story. John Owen wrote, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”The Apostle Paul reinforced this terminology and stance on sin in Romans 8:13. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Sin is a serious and weighty reality, because not only can it ruin your story it can destroy your very soul.When an author kills their darlings, they are letting go of whatever doesn’t serve the main idea or goal of the story. In our own lives, we too are called to cut away whatever doesn’t serve our main goal in being Christ followers. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism). Of course, we will fail and continue to be plagued by our own destructive sin nature until our story on this earth ends, but we can have faith that the Lord is full or grace and mercy to those who love Him.God is weaving the great tapestry of life together for his perfect story, and although we may be just a thread in the redemptive narrative, I believe in the end we will all be overwhelmed with a very good story. I leave you with this parting passage on God’s perfect storytelling:

I believe like a child that suffering will be healed and made up for, that all the humiliating absurdity of human contradictions will vanish like a pitiful mirage… that in the world's finale, at the moment of eternal harmony, something so precious will come to pass that it will suffice for all hearts, for the comforting of all resentments, for the atonement of all the crimes of humanity, for all the blood that they've shed; that it will make it not only possible to forgive but to justify all that has happened.”― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

Director Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar’s films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today’s multifaceted culture and audience.

READ: When Hollywood Christians Come Together

When Hollywood Christians Come Together

I attended seminary in the Bible Belt and know first-hand that seminarians love to debate theology. Sometimes these are important conversations we have to further deepen our understanding of our infinite God. Sometimes these conversations are rather tedious and get caught up more on semantics than intention.

BY SPENCER T FOLMAR

Even outside of seminary halls, it is easy to see how divided Christians can become. We need to look no further than our church history filled with denominations, splits, wars, and schisms.As a student of religion and matters of theology, I would certainly argue that a deep understanding of one’s faith and convictions matters, but after living outside the Bible Belt for sometime and growing up outside of the church, I see that our particular convictions should not be so supremely important to the point where the church can no longer work together.Historically, when Christians have a mission, they are typically less divisive and more on-mission together. For example, when the early church was first persecuted, there was not time for theological divisions, as Christians were daily being martyred for their faith and used as torches for royal parties. Christians organized and came together when the Reformation was spreading across Europe and whole countries were purifying the faith.Even in our backyard, after horrific events as recently as 9/11 we witnessed Christians rallying together against hatred and terrorism to unify and rush to churches and to service. These rare times, when Christians from different backgrounds, classes, and creeds unite, is when the body of Christ feels most visible.As a Christian living in Hollywood, unity amongst brothers and sisters is something I get to enjoy (if I choose to) on a daily basis. Overall, I feel that Christ followers living a missional lifestyle in the entertainment industry realize that bringing light to stories and cinemas is sometimes an uphill battle. There are many post-Christendom trends on the coasts of America, but California can sometimes embody most of the skepticism about these weird “Jesus Lovers.”It’s not that we haven’t earned time and time again the suspicion of non-believers with our obsession of trivialities and being known more often for what we hate than what we love, but regardless, there is a lot a lot of work to be done and we know it.Christians I know in Hollywood are on a unified mission. There is much work to be done, and there are few laborers. I was struck by this singular mindset and mission when I attended my first Hollywood Prayer Network event for the Oscars Prayer Walk. I had visited Los Angeles a few times before actually moving here nearly three years ago, and I was familiar with this and other ministries, but finally this past winter I actually attended one of the events. I had no idea what to expect, but love the Academy Awards, love Jesus, and am slowly learning to love others better, so I attended the event.Like most events (especially Christian), there is a lot of awkwardness in meeting new people - especially a mob of Jesus people. I’ve never done a prayer walk before. I had corresponded with the leader, Karen Covell, and I was so relieved to meet her and her husband Jim early on. I made small talk and recognized a few faces in the crowd, but then the time arrived to break up in groups and walk and pray or something like that. I walked around with Jim Covell and Shun Lee (Green House) and these two wise men just started us off. The night was amazing, I made great new friends I see regularly, and I have since become more and more active with this incredible ministry.After reflecting on my first prayer walk in Hollywood with a group of mostly new friends, I came to realize that unlike my days in seminary, the churches I have been members of, or ministry jobs I have applied for, there was no prior discussion of theological convictions before praying with these new brothers. I didn’t know if they agreed or disagreed with me on baptism or spiritual gifts, if they were Predestinarian or Arminian, or really anything else besides simply we were all there for a greater purpose than ourselves in the name of Jesus. That’s really beautiful to me and was such a gift.Honestly, I don’t consider that night to be exceptional, but it made me realize that many on-mission Christians in Hollywood don’t get caught up in the trivialities. In fact, sometimes I know that the person I am working or praying alongside has almost nothing in common with my belief besides repenting and believing in Jesus, but that’s really okay.There is much work to do not only here in Hollywood but worldwide, as God’s creation waits in eager anticipation for Jesus’ return. Until that day, let’s pray together?Director Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar’s films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today’s multifaceted culture and audience.Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization led by entertainment industry Christians, seeking to impact our culture for Christ through prayer. We are committed to asking Christians everywhere to pray for the artists and professionals, projects and productions, and global impact of Hollywood: the world’s most influential mission field. With an attitude of love, it is our passion to mobilize people around the world to engage in culture, pray for the media, and help transform the spiritual climate of Hollywood. Whether you’re an industry professional who wants prayer and support or a Christian with a heart for prayer, we want to build the bridges, light the way, and bring hope and healing to an industry that dramatically shapes our world.

The Bubble That Bursts; Thoughts on Recent Suicides

The Bubble That Bursts

Thoughts on the tragic death of fashion icon Kate Spade

BY GREG LAURIE

A wave of sorrow swept the world last Tuesday, as our news outlets and social media timelines were filled with one gut-punching headline: Kate Spade, beloved fashion designer known for her bright and whimsical designs, committed suicide by hanging on Tuesday morning in her Manhattan home. Like everyone else, I found myself in complete shock.Amidst all of the positive slogans and bright colors her work displayed, Kate apparently found herself despondent, hopeless and ultimately, willing to take her own life—the life that so many others around the globe envied. Kate was only 55 years old, and she leaves behind a 13-year-old daughter, Francis Beatrix Spade, and her husband, Andrew. One fashion reporter, who knew Kate personally, said this: “I will never know the source of her sorrow. But how heartbreaking and unfortunate that the joy, pride, and delight this insightful designer brought millions of women wasn’t enough to invoke a smile that went deeper than brilliant branding strategy.” *Kate’s death follows other well-known designers who have tragically taken their own lives in the same way. L’Wren Scott in March 2014, and British designer Alexander McQueen four years earlier. In just the last year, musician Chester Bennington from Linkin Park, and Soundgarden’s lead singer also committed suicide by hanging. Comedian Robin Williams did the same. It’s all so devastatingly sad.Fashion is all about how you look on the outside, but regardless of how put together one may present themselves, it does not change who they are on the inside.

Know this: everyone, and I mean everyone—rock stars, movie stars, fashion designers and everyday people like you and I, all have a few things in common:

We are all empty.We are all lonely.We are all seeking meaning and purpose in life.

Former teen Heartthrob, David Cassidy, died earlier this year. Throughout his life, he struggled with an addiction to alcohol. He said he had given it up, but unfortunately that just wasn’t the case.

“The fact is that I lied about my drinking,” he said. “I did this to myself to cover up the sadness and the emptiness.”Famous people aren’t exempt from sadness, loneliness and emptiness—they are human, just like us. The only difference is they just happen to have the money, fame and luxurious lifestyles many dream of having—except they get to experience firsthand just how empty it all is.A doctor named Robin Smith wrote a book called “Hungry: The Truth about being Full”, and in it she writes about those who feel an emptiness in their lives after experiencing success. She calls it being “hungry for the high note.” She goes on to write about the early deaths of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. “People say that drugs killed them. Drugs didn’t Kill them. What killed them is they were striving and hungry. They were striving to ‘Hit the high note again.”We have heard the expression, “There is nothing new under the sun.”That phrase was given by King Solomon, who went on a binge to personally experience every pleasure this world had to offer. Solomon lived in a luxurious palace, with servants, a expansive gardens and everything a King of his day could ever desire. He had women at his beck and call, and more wine that a man could drink in a lifetime. He had it all, and yet…he had nothing. Wise old King Solomon summed it up this way: “Everything is meaningless!” (Ecc.1:2)The word for meaningless that Solomon used can be translated to emptiness, futility, meaninglessness, nothingness or simply, a ‘bubble that bursts”.That is where God comes in. King Solomon, who had been raised with faith, abandoned it for a good part of his life. After realizing it the world had nothing good to offer him, he returned to the Lord in the end.My wife likes to put puzzles together. I have no idea why, but she will work meticulously, placing every puzzle piece in it’s proper place until it’s completed. The other day, she had almost finished the puzzle, but one piece suddenly went missing. We both got down on our hands and knees, searching tirelessly for that one missing piece. We finally found it, and completed her puzzle.Life can be that way too.We think we have all the things we want to make us happy, and yet we find ourselves like these celebrities we mentioned earlier: searching, sad, empty, lonely and ultimately, unfulfilled with the lives we are living.God holds the missing piece you are looking for in life. The bible is full of broken, lonely heartbroken people, but it is also full of hope, love and the message of Jesus Christ. I believe that through a relationship with Him, you can find peace, comfort, contentment and an abundant life. If you are feeling despondent enough to take your own life, please reach out for help. And don’t forget to reach up to God.He has the missing piece you are looking for.I will talk about this and much more this Sunday at www.harvestamerica.comAbove video and story originally appeared on Greg Laurie's Facebook page. 

Thoughts on the Tragic Death of Anthony Bourdain

We have once again been hit with the news of yet another tragic celebrity suicide, this time it is famed bad boy chef and media personality, Anthony Bourdain, who took his own life by hanging. A sudden wave of shock has filled America and the rest of the world that Anthony so famously traveled.Bourdain’s death follows all-too closely on the heels of the suicides of other notable people in recent months, including Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington and of course just this week, Kate Spade, all by hanging.These suicides are all in pattern with a national trend of increased suicides in America... FULL STORY - THE DAILY CALLER

Inspiration Struck My Own 'Beast in Me'

Inspiration always comes from the supreme source — God. Although, like most phenomenons in life it is hard to pinpoint why or where specifically an idea comes from. I have written before about the calling of an artist to have omnivorous attentiveness and to always observe life with eager expectations.However, sudden inspiration is something that should be bottled immediately.

BY SPENCER T. FOLMAR

As an example, when I first began writing my next feature film, “The Beast in Me,” the inspiration initially was easy to pinpoint. I was working outside in the rain (typical) in the backyard of my old farmhouse when I was living in Seattle a half a decade ago. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash. Cash on the radio, in car trips, and on the record player. But for all my love and knowledge of Cash’s discography, I was unfamiliar with the song “The Beast in Me” until that rainy day in Seattle.As soon as I heard this new song on my shuffling-streaming playlist I immediately went inside and started to bottle (write) the emerging plot-line and moral premise that I wanted to wrestle with in my next movie. The lyrics are so moving, honest, and self-searching…

“The beast in meIs caged by frail and fragile barsRestless by dayAnd by night rants and rages at the starsGod help the beast in me” (first stanza of song lyrics)

Originally, I was struck by the idea of original sin in relation to many of the lyrics of the song. There is a Spurgeon quote that I often think of, “You cannot slander human nature; it is worse than words can paint it.” Personally, I do not have to look far, watch the news long, or let my mind wander to the dark corners of my own heart to realize just how true this quote is. We all fall short of the glory of God and even our best works are as filthy rags.

“The beast in meHas had to learn to live with painAnd how to shelter from the rainAnd in the twinkling of an eyeMight have to be restrainedGod help the beast in me”

For my film’s setting I almost immediately thought of Sin City, Las Vegas, Nevada. Sin prowls over any city or small town, but the pure blatant indulgence and celebration of sin in the desert seemed like the perfect setting for this movie. But if we all fall short of the glory of God, and it is by Grace and Grace alone that saves a wicked sinner like me… then there is a leveling empathy and humility that should distinguish Christ followers. So I decided to center the story around the outcasts and most looked-down upon members of society — the prostitutes, the drug addicts, the abused, used, and lost children of God.

“Sometimes it tries to kid meThat it's just a teddy bearAnd even somehow manage to vanish in the airAnd that is when I must bewareOf the beast in me”

We all try to cope with our own demons… beasts. But there is a reckoning that takes place. Either in this life or the life to come. There needs to be a sacrifice for the wrongs, there needs to be justice. We can all feel that. But I and my past acts and sins are included in that need for retribution the world in bondage aches for. So there needs to be redemption, and I and my fictional characters in this fictional world all need a savior.Honestly, how could we not?

“That everybody knowsThey've seen him out dressed in my clothesPatently unclearIf it's New York or New YearGod help the beast in me…The beast in me”

Director Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar’s films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today’s multifaceted culture and audience.

An Artist's Call For Omnivorous Attentiveness to the World Around Us

When people ask me how many hours I work a week I find it a difficult question to answer as an artist. There is a calling on the artisan soul to always be awake to the story unfolding all around us second by second, detail by detail.

BY SPENCER T. FOLMAR

It is a necessity to have what I once heard CS Lewis had — an “omnivorous attentiveness” to the world around us.Of course, films are necessary to watch to be a filmmaker. In fact, the summer before I attended NYU for my MFA in film, there was a list of more than 50 films that were required viewing before starting my first semester. I didn’t quite make it through the whole list, but it did really open my eyes to the breadth of film history. In fact, most film classes require watching movies at any film school (much to the chagrin of the engineers in college when my homework looked quite different — no calculator needed!It makes sense that homework for filmmakers would be watching movies, but likely this is applicable to all arts. A painter studies paintings, musician knows music history, and so on. But artists can’t only study and be familiar with their own discipline, as an artist, we are called to see all of the world, even the parts we’re uncomfortable with.CS Lewis was said to have an omnivorous attentiveness where he would walk to work and notice even the uniqueness of the granules of dirt along his path. He appreciated the details of the world, and that is an inspiration and a admonition to all artists.But as I continued to think about this unique outlook on the world, I realize that in the same way artists are always “on the clock,” always observing all hours of the day in order to be ingested into influencing their craft, Christians also have a similar calling to notice the world and its intricacies. God’s creation is full of beautiful, intricate details that may take all eternity to appreciate, but the most prized of all of creation was the Imago Dei… Us. We were the final aspect of creation in the Genesis story and God gave us special designation when we were made in His image.Being in God’s image means that we are all on the clock, called, and on mission to see the world as God sees us. Christians are called to have an omnivorous attentiveness to the world and its details and always have our shoes on and tied. As CS Lewis wrote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”Director Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar’s films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today’s multifaceted culture and audience.

Remembering Motherhood Well (A Letter To Future Me)

Dear Future Me,I wanted to write this letter to you, hopeful that you aren’t as hard on yourself (now that your kids are all grown up) as you were when you were a mom of young children. I hope you give yourself more grace and remember motherhood well. They say hindsight is 20/20, but when I look back on memories from my teens, twenties, and early thirties, it’s hard for me to remember things clearly sometimes — how I responded, how I felt, what my thoughts and actions were in the moments in between the big milestones and memories. And since your children are grown up now as you read this, Future Me, I know you may wonder if you were the best mom you could have been.By ANGIE MERRILLSo Future Me, I want to tell you that being a mom of three young children was difficult, wonderful, unpredictable, unexpected, and absolutely one of the best things you’ve ever experienced. You were not a perfect mom, but you never aimed for perfection.Sometimes you were tired, yes, imperfect (of course), but each morning you got out of bed and strived to tackle the newness (and sometimes the monotony) of each day with love, grace, and creativity. You aimed to be a mom who pleased God and loved her children well… Your burning desire was to teach them, to serve your family, to make things fun, but also to instill in them a love for Jesus and kindness toward others.Future Me, you may remember the season when you struggled to maintain your joy as you constantly battled a strong-willed child/future leader. It caught you off guard, yes. There was indeed a learning curve as you got to know your future leader and devoured everything you could read on how to parent lovingly and consistently through that trial. You made some mistakes. There were times you weren’t sure you had what took to raise someone so strong, intense, and independent. But your foggy memory might try to convince you that this was your experience the entire time your kids were young. And in actuality through lots of prayer, persistence, LOVE, reading, support from an amazing husband and friends, you got through it. There were moments in this tough season that were scary and uncertain. But there was also so much joy…so much laughter…so much hope….so much gratitude.When you looked upon each of your children, you tried to will your brain to remember…to etch into your memory these moments, facial expressions, funny and precious things they’d say, and the sound of their voices at every stage. And you worried you’d forget.You managed the different personalities of your children with a special appreciation and love for each one. They kept you on your toes with their many changes, but you counted yourself blessed to be able to be there for them physically and emotionally as you didn’t quite get to experience in your own childhood.You snuggled, hugged, and kissed their sweet faces often. Oh how you loved to love on them! You soaked them in as if doing so was drinking from the fountain of youth itself.I know you, and I know what you’re thinking: “I should have gotten down on the floor and PLAYED with them more.” Guess what: You did that sometimes. Maybe you could have done it more. But, girl, you tried and you had a lot on your plate.You were the reader of bedtime stories.The helper with homework.The cooker of dinner.The preparer of healthy snacks.The washer and folder of endless loads of laundry.The manager of schedules.The shopper of food.The article reader and saver of anything helpful having to do with parenting, children, crafts, social media apps, movies, and cultural trends to be aware of.The taker and organizer of photos.The journaler of important milestones.The cleaner.The teacher of how to do chores.The doer of hair.The listener of silly stories.The answerer of both deep and funny questions.The constant reminder to be gracious, kind, generous, and forgiving.The comforter of broken hearts.Future Me, as a mom you were a healer of boo-boos with your ouch-less antiseptic spray, Arnica gel, Band-Aids, essential oils, and children’s Tylenol. You were the parent they called upon in the middle of the night due to stomach aches, headaches, growing pains, or bad dreams. You rolled out of bed each and every time, always surprising yourself how you could be so loving and gentle with them at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. when you were SO. VERY. TIRED.You helped them study multiplication, sight words, and super reader books though at times you thought you might fall asleep (or die of boredom) because the day had been so long already…and you had poured out so much of yourself. You helped with homework and school projects — but just the right amount of help because you didn’t want to be a mother who did everything for their kids for fear of them failing. You believed failure was a good thing, a teachable moment, and something you and your children could go through and learn from together. Plus, you found something truly special in a project that was the result of a child’s imagination and ability and not your own.You worried for them…every time they climbed a tree or played too rough, or went to school, or when others were unkind or cruel. You wondered if they would remember everything you taught them when faced with peer pressure or the opportunity to stand up for someone else or to fight for what was right.You prayed for them….before they were even born your prayed for them. You prayed out loud every single drive to school. You prayed before bed. You prayed throughout the day. You prayed that they would be strong and healthy….students of God’s Word….courageous and kind. You prayed that the seeds of faith that were being planted in their hearts would never be snatched away. You prayed that they would be wise to the enemy’s and the world’s schemes. You prayed that they would be set apart for the Lord and choose the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14). You prayed that they would follow God’s plan and purpose for them, and that they would have a relationship with Jesus who would be both their Lord and their friend (John 15:15). You prayed for God’s protection and guidance.Future Me, remember that you sang to your children. You put music on often. You had spontaneous dance parties in the living room. You tried to incorporate biblical lessons and Jesus in your everyday life. You did silly voices. You tried to make things fun. You were amazed by the way they talked. You tried to always speak to them and kind and loving manner — even in discipline. And of course you weren’t perfect at this. Yes, there were times you were grumpy, and tired, and human. Yes, there were times you wondered if you were doing the right thing by working part-time, and not homeschooling, and not changing the family’s diet to vegan and gluten-free.But Future Me, in this moment where I (past you) am feeling patient and gracious with myself, I wanted you to know that you were a great mom.Let me repeat that in case you still haven’t learned to accept compliments:YOU WERE A GREAT MOM. You did your best by the grace of God, and you never gave up. You loved your children well. May God bless you with fond memories of this wonderful, unpredictable, crazy, awesome season of life.Angie Merrill is a mom of three, a wife, a writer, and a follower of Christ based in Los Angeles, Calif. She aims to help parents of strong-willed children stay calm, connected, and creative as they joyfully lead future leaders. You can learn more about Angie on her blog https://grumpyfrumpymommy.com.

God Doesn't Waste Anything, Especially Our Stories

God doesn’t waste anything. Humans waste a lot of things. Just look at our landfills and literal islands of garbage floating in the oceans.

BY SPENCER T. FOLMAR

But God, He doesn’t waste anything, especially our stories.Despite all of the devastating effects of the fall of mankind and the curse of sin on all facets of life and creation, God is still managing, dictating, and perfectly planning our paths. The Puritans had a saying that, “God uses sin sinlessly.” And if God can use sin sinlessly, he must be able to use all things in my life, too.I am a filmmaker and an artist, but most times, I feel like I waste more than I create. I find this reality most especially true when I look back on the many random, sad, and sometimes bizarre twists and turns in my own life’s trajectory.One day, I want to ask God so many “Why?” questions. Why, Lord, did that happen? Why was I in that relationship for years just to see it fall apart? Why did I do that? Lord, why did you let that happen to me? Why did I move to that state… that country?A “Why?” question I ponder a lot is about the path of my education. In fact, my academic career is a complex conversation. I went to an undergraduate school that didn’t have a proper film degree but had a well-rounded liberal arts communication studies program. I attended four film schools in total, including New York University Tisch School of the Arts for my MFA in Film. I worked at a Psychology school filming classes and counseling sessions for a few years, and also attended an informal Bible school overseas. I eventually went on to earn a Masters of Theology at seminary. Why?Some days I look back on my life and think that my life is a giant, pointless mess. But when I have more clarity and take a moment to live in the present, I pray that maybe there is a point to all of this randomness. On my very best days, the Lord gives me great grace in seeing how He may have been organizing my life in an intricate and perfect plan after all. Maybe too, just maybe, my life is only a thread of the great tapestry of life and of God’s plan of redemption.It’s an overwhelming and fearful thing to try and make sense of all the events of a life. There is a lot of failure, brokenness, and utter darkness that is tough to reconcile with the character of God. What do I do with the parts of my life that I’m still waiting to see how God might use for someone else’s good or even my own good? My choice is to face the confusion and doubts with faith.Maybe yet, there is still much more that God is doing through my life than I am even close to understanding. Maybe, all that education is being interwoven into my screenplays, attempting to speak honestly about God and the struggle of faith. Perhaps, all my scars and brokenness will be used to help me be more empathetic to others and have more grace to my brothers and sisters. That is my prayer, Lord.I find the lyrics of Sufjan Steven’s Vito’s Ordination Song comforting for this subject:“There's a designTo what I did and saidRest in my arms,Sleep in my bed,There's a design.”---Director Spencer T. Folmar's theatrical debut, "Generational Sins," has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term "Hard Faith" to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar's films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today's multifaceted culture and audience.

Alley Mills and Orson Bean To Talk at Hollywood Film & Faith Event

Editor's Note: Actors Alley Mills (The Wonder Years, Hill Street Blues, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) and Orson Bean (Being John Malkovich, Inner Space, Anatomy of a Murder) are scheduled to be the guest speakers at a session hosted by the Hollywood Film & Faith group. Bean is well known for being a long-term celebrity panelist of To Tell the Truth and Match Game. Mills is also known for her role as Pamela Douglas on The Bold and the Beautiful. The event is planned for Saturday (May 12) at 11 am at the CBS Studio Center. Hollywood Film & Faith is a group founded by producer and author Mark Joseph and designed for film industry professionals who live in the Southern California area and are interested in exploring issues at the intersection of film and faith. Below is an interview article about Mills' long spiritual journey that led her to be a follower of Jesus. To RSVP for event this Saturday by way of DoAttend go here. 

Interview: 'The Wonder Years' Actress Alley Mills on How Buddhism,Jesus Picture Led Her to Christ

Actress Alley Mills, perhaps best known for her role as Norma Arnold, the mother in the coming-of-age TV series "The Wonder Years," is unashamed to talk about Jesus Christ. However, while she was still a Buddhist working in Hollywood, she was more concerned about what people thought about her than she does now, she told The Christian Post in an exclusive interview (May 28, 2013).BY ALEX MURASHKO"This town is driven by ego," said Mills, who currently plays Pamela Douglas in the soap, "The Bold and the Beautiful." She adds, "The more confidence you have when walking into a room, which is really about ego – that, much more than the depth of your heart, is what gets you a job." The question is always, "Can you hold your own in a room?"Mills said that she had good survival skills as an actress before becoming a follower of Jesus 15 years ago, but that her priorities are much different now. She gives her Christian testimony in church and has talked about it in Bible study, but has never spoken to the press about her journey of faith prior to her interview with CP.The actress grew up in New York, both the city and outside the city, and was mostly raised by a caregiver. Her parents, a father that was a television executive and a mother that was a magazine art editor, were "rabid atheists," she said. They later divorced."From the age of a teenager, I was always seeking something outside what the real world was. I had a yearning for meaning," said Mills, 62. "That's why I became an actress in school. I went away to boarding school when my parents got divorced. My childhood had not been happy."I was always searching. I became a Buddhist in my twenties when I came to Los Angeles. I met a group of people who I really loved," she explained.Being a Buddhist was part of her spiritual journey, she said. "I was a Buddhist for 20 years. At a certain point, in my late 30s I began to get unsettled about Buddhism. and the major thing was I felt like I needed to be grateful for this incredible creation … I've always loved nature. I've always been a hiker. I love the wilderness. I didn't realize it was God then, but I now do."Her uncertainty began to grow as she realized that chanting "to a law in the universe" was beginning to not work for her. She was also concerned that some of the Buddhist leaders were "becoming a little bit egocentric."A shift in her life began, she says, when she went to a Lutheran school's church service because it was recommended that as grandparents (Mills is married to actor and author Orson Bean) who are helping to place their grandchild in the school, they should attend."There on the wall [of the church where service was held] was a very old picture of Jesus and it was the same picture that the woman who raised me, my whole childhood, had by her bed," she said. "It was as if I was hit by a thunderbolt. I saw that picture and I suddenly remembered everything that I had not remembered at all about Mary (her caregiver) raising me pretty much from the age of two. She was a devout Christian. She was an African American. She kind of rescued me from a very crazy caregiver we had at that time, and always took me under her wing."Mills continued, "She would rock me in her rocking chair. She had a huge Bible and would open up her Bible and read to me. And I remembered everything when I saw this picture. I remember when I used to walk to school and that Jesus was with me, that he was my friend, that I wasn't afraid anymore, because I was a very anxious child. Mary would pray with me all the time. I snuck out to Sunday school. I had my own Bible with my name on it because I sang in a school choir. My parents didn't know."She said she completely forgot about this part of her childhood probably because her parents forbade the caregiver from teaching from the Bible at a certain point. "I remembered that happened in front of me when I was about six and she stopped reading me the Bible, which was awful. It must have broken her heart," Mills explained. "Unfortunately, she died before I became a Christian. I am convinced she prayed for me every day."She said the transition from Buddhism to Christianity at the point of remembering her past seemed logical."Nothing went against what I believed as a Buddhist. It was all like a missing link, because I had remembered what Jesus had been to me – just this incredibly humble and kind friend who brought peace to my heart as a very little girl … but I sobbed and I sobbed," she said. "She (caregiver) was the most incredible role model of my whole life. When I saw that picture everything came back to me."Later, Mills asked the pastor of the Lutheran school church if it was okay for her to attend even if she was a Buddhist. He told her it was fine just as long as he could have meetings with her and her husband over coffee."That pastor is still my husband's best friend and he baptized me 3 to 4 years later with my grandson," she said. "That was the beginning of a change in my life. It was a continuation for me… Buddhism was sort of a step. People worry about [Buddhism being the wrong spiritual path]. That's true, people can become complacent and remain stuck… but it wasn't for me, it was a step."Mills said she now prays regularly before coming onto a set and has been shown that by doing so it can help her think less about herself and alleviate any worries. Most of her coworkers and the crew on the set of "The Bold and the Beautiful" know she is a Christian, she said."I like to tell people about the peace of God. When Jesus left, he said, 'My peace I give you,' and that peace is totally palpable and it accumulates," she said. "It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it, but as a [previously] self-centered, anxious actress, and often lonely, broken-hearted, and many other things as an actress at 40, that peace is palpable, it's real. That's exactly what I experienced."Mills has also had discussions about her faith with conservative media mogul Andrew Brietbart, who was her stepson-in-law. She and her husband are in a scene of the documentary, "Hating Breitbart.""In his book, Righteous Indignation: Excuse Me While I Save the World, Andrew wrote, 'Alley, I want you to know that your prayers have not gone unnoticed.' Nobody that knew him doubts that Andrew is up there with Jesus," she said. "He and I talked about faith a lot."The above article first appeared at the Christian Post.

Korn Co-founder Brian 'Head' Welch's Doc 'Loud Krazy Love' Gets Standing O

Korn co-founder Brian "Head" Welch's documentary "Loud Krazy Love" was extremely well received at it's first screening at the Dallas International Film Festival on Saturday, according to a faith-based public relations agency.The agency's president, A. Larry Ross, who attended the film's Texas premier, said "Loud Krazy Love" received "the only standing ovation of the festival so far." The 7-day film festival (May 3-10) ends Thursday."It’s been fun working with this guy (Brian Head Welch of Korn) and helping tell the world about the premieres of LOUD KRAZY LOVE at the Dallas International Film Festival and the Nashville Film Festival. This is only the beginning for this amazing film, which will release in the fall. You need to see his story - it’s beautiful, surprising and inspiring!" VP Kristin Cole, of A. Larry Ross Communications posted on her Facebook page.The film is an unconventional documentary chronicling the chaotic and unexpectedly uplifting life story of Welch, best known as guitarist and co-founder of KoRn, said producers on the film's website.After its Texas premier, the 86-minute film directed by first-time feature filmmakers Trey Hill and Scott Mayo will make its Southeast premier during the Nashville Film Festival May 10-19, with multiple screenings.WATCH PART OF Q&A SESSION WITH BRIAN "HEAD" WELCH AFTER TEXAS PREMIER OF LOUD KRAZY LOVE BELOWProducers said that the film features exclusive access on tour and at home, as well as in-depth interviews with Brian, his family and his Korn bandmates. “Loud Krazy Love subverts the standard sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll narrative to explore Brian's identity as a father and the complicated relationship he shares with his daughter Jennea. The film takes viewers through a tumultuous coming-of-age journey filled with chaos, doubt, and unconventional faith."“In my life I’ve done so many things I regret and wish that I could change,” said Welch. “It can feel haunting. But seeing my entire life with Korn and my family play out before my eyes in this film, and seeing the positive that has come from my most embarrassing and devastating failures – there are no words to express my gratitude. Our team created a very special film here, and I can't wait for the world to see it.”Production of the film covered four years and includes two decades worth of never-before-seen material from Welch, his family and KoRn. The result is a remarkable cinematic experience of amplified emotion, rock ‘n’ roll access and restorative love, producers said.“Loud Krazy Love” is directed by Hill and Mayo, who also wrote and edited the film. It is produced by Samuel Ditore of Ditore Mayo Entertainment and John Humphrey of I Am Second Media.

Evangelizing Brad Pitt and Other Celebrities: A True Story

One of the hardest mission fields on the planet is Hollywood. Unlike say a missionary in some distant jungle, you won't meet a bunch of primitive savages that are out to stone or spear you for your faith. However, you will encounter opposition of another sort in Tinseltown.BY STEVE CHAThis group is often characterized as the wealthy elite who are heavily trapped in a lifestyle of fame, money, and maybe even sex and drugs. These are people who often don't much care for religion, and if they do, it will most likely be the poppy and exotic sort of "spirituality" that is New Age, Zen Buddhism, or Scientology. On top of that, the entertainment industry, as a whole, is as liberal-minded as it gets.These are the people I reached for Christ for a period of three years. From 2008 to 2010, I was a full-time extra who worked on many films, TV shows, and commercials. During this time, I was able to evangelize and give tracts out to many people I worked with on set, some of whom included famous celebrities. This was an adventurous, and often times scary, time of my life.When I went into the entertainment field, it was not initially to do any sort of evangelism. I went in to pursue my high school dream of becoming a film director. I used the acting platform for getting exposure in Hollywood. In an unusual turn of events, it was there that I truly met the Lord and found a newfound passion, which was to advance the kingdom agenda in Hollywood.While working on a TV show at Universal Studios Hollywood I met a Christian who was a fellow background artist. He was really no ordinary guy. He was an on-fire believer who was Great Commission focused. He spoke to half of the people on set about Jesus and gave them gospel tracts so fearlessly. I was impressed and got a chance to hear both his salvation testimony and his outreach efforts in Hollywood during the previous five years.This man, Jonathan, evangelized even famous celebrities. The list includes the likes of Dan Aykroyd, Orlando Bloom, Will Smith, Jackie Chan, Annette Bening, Ed Harris, and Steven Spielberg. He even told me of an encounter he had with Harrison Ford on a movie called Crossing Over, where he gave Harrison a gospel tract (from Living Waters Ministry) and was asked to leave the set later on.I thought, "This was crazy stuff!" But I was curious and wanted to know more. I learned more about the gospel and the importance of evangelism through Living Waters Ministry, via the TV show The Way of the Master. It convicted me so much that I knew that instead of being disobedient I was supposed to be doing what I have been called to do as a Christian. I thought, "Why was I living so much for myself when other people who don't know Christ will spend eternity in hell? Isn't Jesus suppose to come back soon?"That's when I gained a new desire to evangelize the lost. I no longer saw my film career as a priority. The saving of lost sinners was and is more pressing. Over the course of the next two-and-a-half years, I started to verbally preach the gospel to others on set and to give out gospel tracts to them. I started to evangelize celebrities myself. I thought, "Who else was going to reach them if people like me don't? How many of them actually have Christian friends who can tell them this kind of stuff?"It had been two years of joyful moments and challenging times. There were some people who were receptive to my work. Everyone from security guards to singers like Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) and William Friedkin (director) showed interest. But there was also some heat that came on me at times. One time, I got seriously scolded by a Production Assistant for giving a gospel tract to actor James Wood while filming an episode of the now defunct show Shark. Nevertheless, I pressed on, but it wasn't easy.The most memorable story was, of course, the Brad Pitt incident, which I have shared on many media outlets. We were working on the movie Moneyball at the Sony Studios in Culver City. At the end of the shoot, around 12:30 am, I went up to Brad when he was about to head back to his trailer. I gave him a gospel tract with the “million dollar bill” design. Interestingly, it was the Living Waters edition that had his cartoon caricature on it. He took it and said that he was going to look at it later. As I left the set, I was able to also give a gospel DVD to the cinematographer, Wally Pfister.WATCH VIRAL YOUTUBE VIDEO: "ACTOR LOSES CAREER AFTER EVANGELIZING BRAD PITT" BELOWAbout 10 days later, I received a letter from Central Casting, stating that I got terminated. They provided no reason, but I can only guess that it was because of this incident. It just shows that when the gospel is presented, people will either love it or hate it. But that was the price I was willing to pay to see the lost come to saving faith in Jesus, especially when I was in Hollywood. I continue to pray for many of the famous actors in the business.Since my termination from Central Casting, I have moved onto other endeavors, which has led me to where I am today, as teaching pastor of Grace City LA. The Lord was able to open up opportunities to tract celebrities outside of set, the most recent occasion being Wilem DaFoe and Gwen Stefani.This, as well as many more stories, can be found in my book Hollywood Mission: Possible. This autobiography documents my many evangelism stories when I was working in Hollywood, with people like Brad Pitt, Kiefer Sutherland, Freddie Prince Jr, the Jonas Brothers, and some of the stories from the other on-set evangelists as well. You won't find too many scoops like this in any other book or online periodical!My prayer is that Hollywood Mission: Possible inspires you to be bold as a witness for Christ. Lord willing, pray that you will have opportunities with celebrities if you are working in the entertainment industry.Steve Cha is the teaching pastor of Grace City LA.

Godspeed: The Race Across America Trailer (WATCH VIDEO)

In what promises to be a fascinating look at overcoming extreme conditions and circumstances while competing in “the most difficult endurance race in the world,” Godspeed - The Race Across America Documentary is coming to theaters across America for one night only, May 22.WATCH TRAILER BELOWHollywood film and television producer Brian Bird, whose writing and producing credits include The Case for Christ and Captive, is promoting the movie as his next faith and family film. Bird also serves as executive producer and head writer of the wildly successful Hallmark original series, "When Calls the Heart," (2013-present), and was Co-Executive producer and senior writer for five seasons on the hit CBS series, “Touched By An Angel.”Godspeed is the true story of two average guys, Jerry Schemmel and Brad Cooper, fulfilling a dream to compete in the world’s most grueling and demanding bicycle race—The Race Across America—a seven-day, 3,000+ mile trek across 12 states from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans, producers state on the movie’s Facebook site.Race Across America (RAAM) is one of the most respected and longest running ultra-endurance events in the world. RAAM is seen as a pinnacle of athletic achievement not only in cycling circles but the greater sporting community as well.“There is no other race in the world like RAAM,” Godspeed film makers said. “ There is no race that combines the distance, terrain and weather; no other event that tests a team’s spirit from beginning to end. The Race inspires everyone who has been a part of it - racer, crew, staff and fans alike. RAAM is the true test of speed, endurance, strength and camaraderie, the ideal combination of work and play.”

Find theaters and buy tickets of the special screening of Godspeed through Fathom Events on May 22 by clicking here.

Justin Bieber at Coachella Story Includes Leading Worship

Not all fans and media tracking Justin Bieber at the Coachella music festival last weekend were aware that the mega pop star led fans in worship songs as captured on video during a side event hosted by Churchome on Sunday.Although Bieber did not headline at Coachella, his appearance led to several "side note" stories, including him dancing silly like most of us might do at an outdoor music festival and him allegedly punching a man reportedly going agro on an ex-girlfriend at a Coachella related party.Bieber-at-Coachella micro/macro coverage aside, YouTube fan channel "Justin Bieber Videos" published what appears to be an Instagram video compilation (BELOW) of Bieber "singing Christian worship songs at Coachella Churchome event - April 15, 2018." The description under the video states: "JB covers Reckless Love by Cory Asbury & Tremble by Mosaic MSC at Churchome / City church event in Indio, California."Although Christian media sites such as Relevant Magazine and CBN News published stories focused on Bieber publicly proclaiming Jesus more often these days through song, words, and social media as evidenced at Coachella, most media based their stories on the wall-to-wall fan social media coverage that normally accompanies the pop star wherever he goes. Bieber was part of the Coachella media frenzy, making many Instagram posts during the weekend festival.In an Instagram post earlier this year, Bieber's mom, Pattie Mallette, stated she is proud of her son.She included in her post: "None of us are perfect and never will be, (so we will always need patience and grace for each other), but your genuine growing relationship with Jesus is evident in the choices you are making daily and the good 'fruit' you bear. I admire your character and integrity."

I’m so proud of the amazing young man you are, and the young man you are becoming. None of us are perfect and never will be, (so we will always need patience and grace for each other), but your genuine growing relationship with Jesus is evident in the choices you are making daily and the good “fruit” you bear. I admire your character and integrity. You are maturing beautifully and wise beyond your years. You are so funny that I find myself laughing out loud when I’m alone, remembering of something you said or did. And your heart is gold. I love you to the moon and back. #lovemom . Ps. Did I mention I was proud of you? . . . . . . . #love #happyplace #paradise #vacation

A post shared by Pattie Mallette (@pattiemallette) on Jan 18, 2018 at 9:18am PST

Jesus and Politics: The Congressional Race That Could Have Been

LOS ANGELES — Within just days of each other's announcements, two women who are unified in their proclamations of Jesus as their savior but are opposites when it comes to political party affiliation recently dropped out of a congressional race for a southern Los Angeles District.Had the race continued, the ensuing battle between the two could have clearly reflected the current divide that's visible not only in the nation at large but within the Christian community in America.A race between actress and former FOX News political commentator Stacey Dash and Compton Mayor Aja Brown could have been an opportunity to raise the current "liberal Christian" versus "conservative Christian" debate to another level.Could-ah. Should-ah. Would-ah.One week after Dash announced her withdrawal, Brown announced that she is dropping out of the race as well for the 44th Congressional District. Brown's decision was centered on the fact she is pregnant with her first child.“I am excited and blessed to announce that my husband of 14 years and I are expecting our first child,” Brown said in a statement released Thursday evening, April 5. “We are overjoyed at the opportunity to become parents and look forward to starting our family.”Family commitments supersede her ability to run for higher office, Brown said in the statement. She said she will continue to focus on the issues facing Compton.Just a little under a week earlier, Dash had dropped out of the race.Brown, who was featured at the Together LA 2015 conference, announced her run for the district in early March. Nanette Barragán is the current Representative of the district which includes parts of San Pedro, Wilmington, North Long Beach and south Los Angeles.Dash, who appeared on CBN News several years ago, gave her testimony of coming to faith in God during a segment, From Clueless to Conservative: Stacey Dash's Unlikely Hollywood Story, of the Christian-based network’s 700 Club show. Brown has been part of leading a revival of sorts in Compton that includes the revitalization of the city with the help of several Christian organizations and nonprofits.Dash’s statement about her withdrawal, which she made on Twitter and Facebook, is below.

After much prayer, introspection and discussions with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy for California’s 44th Congressional District.I started this run with the intention to address the pressing issues in the district where I live. I hoped, and remain hopeful, that I can assist people living here on the national level. My goal was, and remains, to improve the lives of people who have been forgotten for decades by the Democratic Party.At this point, I believe that the overall bitterness surrounding our political process, participating in the rigors of campaigning, and holding elected office would be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of my family. I would never want to betray the personal and spiritual principles I believe in most: that my God and my family come first.The constituents living in the 44th District deserve a representative who is fully dedicated to improving their lives. I believe we live under a system of “Plantation Politics,” which offers people on the lower end of the economic spectrum little more than symbolic gestures instead of true political empowerment and improvement. The high crime rate, unacceptable high school dropout rate, and decaying infrastructure are all problems that could receive federal attention and funds, but not if we focus on distractions and partisanship instead.My political positions have often been labeled as controversial, but the real controversy is how decades of government corruption and political disempowerment have created a system where skyrocketing home prices, dirty needles in the streets, and long bus trips to other districts for jobs are somehow considered acceptable by the government officials representing the 44th District.The people living here deserve better. I will continue to speak out about these and other problems facing this district, as well as the distractions that take the place of real change.I am grateful for the prayers, love, and support I have received. Deciding to withdraw my candidacy was a difficult choice, but I have to go where I feel God is leading me.My Thanks.My Love.My Gratitude.God Bless You.Stacey Lauretta Dash

PHOTO TOP: Stacey Dash/Facebook Page, PHOTO NEXT: Mayor Aja Brown/Facebook Page

What Culture Needs From The Church Right Now

I grew up in a small town outside of Dodge City, which used to be famous for its corruption and gun battles, as well as a favorite hot spot of Western TV shows. But by the time I lived there, it was a quiet, sleepy small town that had traded in its brothels and bars for meatpacking plants and wheat farming.

BY DAVID A.R. WHITE

My years in Kansas were more defined by the small Mennonite Brethren community of which I was a part. My parents were the pastors of that community and I had a very insulated upbringing. I had only been to the movie theater a single time growing up and was completely unaware of the larger world that the entertainment industry represented and comprised. In fact, I felt incredibly guilty about seeing that movie in the theater because of our church’s stance on entertainment.But, much to my surprise, God gave me a dream to become an actor and make movies while I was growing up in those Kansas wheat fields. My journey started at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, where my parents and most of my relatives had studied, but I left after my first year. I called my dad and told him I was moving to Hollywood to make movies.You can read about my early years in Hollywood in my book Between Heaven and Hollywood, but eventually I founded a faith and family movie company named Pure Flix. In 2014, we created a film called GOD’S NOT DEAD, about a college student confronting his university professor with the truth of the Gospel. What had started as a small budget feature film became a viral phenomenon as tens of millions of people around the world clamored to see the film.It wasn’t long before Hollywood took notice and soon the entertainment world began to shift. There was clearly an audience hungry for more faith and family films and that was just the beginning.GOD’S NOT DEAD: A LIGHT IN DARKNESS opened nationwide (March 30) as the third installment in the series, and it is sharing a message that could not be more relevant and timely to our nation today. [UPDATED]Rather than being a country of unity, we have become a society defined by division, anger and brokenness. But I believe that God is raising up a generation of believers to walk in grace and to shine God’s light into that darkness. My hope is that GOD’S NOT DEAD: A LIGHT IN DARKNESS will spark conversations about how we can show love to our neighbors even through conflict.Three of my favorite lines in the movie brilliantly illustrate what our culture needs from the church today:

1. "THE CHURCH HAS BECOME KNOWN MORE FOR WHAT IT’S AGAINST, THAN WHAT IT’S FOR."

God calls us to be separate and apart from the world, even as we live in it. Rather than reflecting the world’s conflict, we can offer a different narrative – the Gospel.We have to show the world what we as Christians stand for – God’s grace and the redemptive power of faith in Christ.We cannot shy away from shining God’s light through grace, forgiveness and kindness. God has handpicked and placed you where you are for a purpose. He has chosen you to show His love to the people around you.When we extend God’s love even to those that don’t deserve it, (which is all of us) we bring light into the darkness.

2. "IT'S OKAY TO BE BROKEN. IT MEANS GOD IS STILL SHAPING YOU."

Our culture needs us to go first. We need to be willing to say, “I know I am not perfect, this is why I need Jesus.” People need to see us being real.All of us are broken, and God’s Word tells us that truth. God is always at work in us, finishing the good work He started when we accepted Christ into our lives. We bring light into the darkness when we admit our failures and walk out our faith humbly.

3. "IF GRACE ISN’T OUR GOAL, WE ARE JUST FIGHTING."

We have to be careful to not get too caught up in the culture wars; after all, we are called to a different kingdom – the kingdom of God.The people around us and connected to us on social media need to know that our goal is grace. Most of all, the people in our lives need to hear from us how much God loves them, mess and all, and how much he wants to draw them to Himself.God always has a plan. Even when our culture is dark, it is an opportunity for His light to shine brightest through us. When we bring light into the darkness, God is glorified. When God is glorified, others begin to see Him for who He truly is. The world around us needs us to shine God’s light like never before.Sometimes all it takes is a spark.

Catch GOD'S NOT DEAD: A LIGHT IN DARKNESS in theaters nationwide this weekend!

David A.R. White is an actor, producer, and founder of Pure Flix, the leading faith-based movie studio in the world. David has starred in close to 20 feature-length films. He shares his personal story in his book Between Heaven and Hollywood. He and his wife Andrea Logan White, and their three kids live in Southern California. More at DavidARWhite.com.Published with permission from THINK ETERNITY.

God's Not Dead: Bible Gains Major Real Estate in Hollywood... Again

HOLLYWOOD, California — God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness is positioned, as was the case for the first movie in the series when it came out with two other God-centered films in the same year, to make it another season that the Bible gains major real estate in Hollywood.I Can Only Imagine opened last weekend, Paul, Apostle of Christ opens this coming weekend, and God’s Not Dead (3) opens Easter weekend.“We saw this in 2014,” said David A.R. White, God’s Not Dead leading actor and Pure Flix Entertainment founding partner. “There were three faith-based movies that really hit it and that was with God’s Not Dead, Heaven is For Real and Son of God. All of a sudden we had these movies come out and it was ‘The Year of the Bible’ as they called it. There was a trifecta so to speak.”White was at the Los Angeles premier of God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood Tuesday evening, just a couple days after the highly successful opening of I Can Only Imagine. The Roadside Attractions-Lionsgate’s movie “crushed early box office forecasts with a surprisingly strong $17.1 million at 1,629 locations in North America,” Variety reported.“Obviously, we can only be thrilled for ‘I Can Only Imagine,’ the Erwins (co-directors), and Kevin Downes (producer),” White said.When asked about what the current faith-based film trifecta and God’s Not Dead coming so shortly after the box office smash means, White didn’t attempt any red carpet prophecy.“Whether or not it happens again we really don’t know. We don’t control that,” he said.When asked the same question, I Can Only Imagine Producer Kevin Downes said it’s a win-win situation for the faith-based film industry.“I think it’s a jolt of energy. At the end of the day, we all root for each other,” Downes said. “The LA Times came out with an article recently ‘wondering’ if Christian films were in a slump, but guess what, God showed up, and the audience showed up, and the numbers are huge.”He added, “Whether it’s my film or someone else’s film, it’s just energizing. We are alive and well. Jesus is alive and well, and it’s a great time to be making films.”