PRICELESS: SHE'S WORTH FIGHTING FOR

"Do you want to go see that new christian movie, Priceless?" I would ask.

"Oh no thanks......" almost every one I asked muttered back.

"Why?"

"Well no offense but christian movies tend to be sort of, well.....lame...."

Is this a conversation you and your friend had? Were you the one that said Christian movies were lame? There is nothing to be ashamed of my friend. A lot of Christian movies tend to be stereotypical or the producers try and make it a goody good movie which makes Christians frown upon how Hollywood portrays us and only because we believe in Christ. Over the last couple of years Hollywood has started to acknowledge christian filmmakers and movies, for example; God's Not Dead (2014) Heaven is for Real (2014) Miracles from Heaven (2016) and one in particular religious film was so good they created a sequel bring us God's Not Dead 2 (2016) and now Priceless comes in with such a heavy problem being addressed, sex trafficking.

I wasn't sure even if I wanted to see this movie when I first heard about it but as soon as I found out who the main character was I was most definitely going to see this movie. Joel Smallbone plays James in Priceless, you may recognize him from the film, Like a Country Song where he starred alongside Billy Ray Cyrus or he may seem familiar because of his band, For King & Country which incorporates two very important things in his life; Our Father who is the inspiration for most if not all the songs they write and their hometown Nashville, Tennessee depending on the song you can probably catch  a little bit of twang in between the drums and guitar solos.

(Summary of the movie contains spoilers)

 

James has lost his wife, due to death, his little girl, due to his uncontrollable drinking habits, and his belief in God by nothing ever going his way. He can barley hold down a job so when a job offer comes up he can’t turn down he doesn’t ask any questions; he agrees to drive a storage truck with the faded words ‘Party Time’ painted on the side. Everything is fine until  James begins to grow tired which makes attention span weak.

A big rig, coming right for him forces James to drive his truck right into the embankment of the opposite side of the road. He does not get badly injured but worries that he is hallucinating when he hears soft cries coming from inside the storage unit in the back of his truck he breaks into the locked area and finds two girls (who we learn are sisters) in tattered clothes and tear stained faces in the corner of the truck.When he delivers them to where he was told to go he realizes he has just contributed to an unbearable disgusting crime, sex trafficking. After the buyers leave the Motel parking lot James knows he has to go on a mission to bring the girls back to safety but he knows he could die in the process. As the story goes on he realizes that the eldest sister, Antonia played by Bianca Santos lost her virginity in the most horrendous way possible he now understands he isn’t just saving Antonia and her sister, Maria but many other girls who are being sold to men who are just looking for one night pleasures.

James partners up with the manager of the motel, Dale who is aware from the beginning what is happening and what will happen if James doesn’t take action right away. James is able to safely save Antonia two times but she will not go without her sister, there is no way she can

leave her sister surrounded by the broken women who had given up their worthlessness. James defeats the odds and consequences but loses his friend Dale before he can understand his daughter gave up her virginity because of her brokenness. 

Priceless is one of the most enlightening movies I have ever watched. It has also been one of the biggest Christian films to be rated on Rotten Tomatoes, a movie rating site coming in at a satisfying audience acceptance score of ninety-four percent. This movie has an incredible message. We are incomparable, unmistakable, irreplaceable and no one can define worth because we are Priceless. 

I strongly encourage anyone to see this movie, not only because of the message but of the awareness it brings to something so many of us look past. It is still a problem that is going on and this movie shows that from a christian point of view which is amazing. If you haven't seen the movie, read the book, or even heard the song by Joel Smallbone and his brother Luke Smallbone's band, For King & Country please do so. You won't be disappointed.

Living Fearlessly,
Sammy

 
 

What Central Intelligence Taught Me About Our Generation

Over the weekend I watched Central Intelligence starring Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock and comedian Kevin Hart. If you know anything about these two guys you know that when you put them together in a film it is going to be a great movie but that is probably not all you'll know.

I don't know if you have watched Central Intelligence or not but even if you haven't you will probably guess you shouldn't sit your six year old in front of it.

Why is it that EVERY single movie out now a days that is placed in the genre of Comedy is rated PG for suggestive humor or sexual elements? Is that really the only thing that people in the movie making industry think will make their audiences laugh - when they talk about sex? - which is a private thing between a man and a women, more specifically a MARRIED man and woman to reproduce.

God created man and woman to hold this gift where they can reproduce children to multiply and be fruitful. He did not make it for comedy or to be laughed at. It is so sad that this is what our world has come to that Hollywood feels like they have to put a sexual innuendo in their movies or else it will be empty or there movie ratings will go down in views. When does it become funny where woman and man are justified or looked at just for their body parts? It's wrong and it's sinful. Where does pornography become funny? Where does it become funny about self esteem when it comes to our body image? When does it become funny to make fun of people? I'll tell you. Under ANY circumstances it never makes it funny.

Lots of people struggle with addiction to pornography on a daily basis and here Hollywood is trying to make it a comedic joke. It is not a joke. It's an issue that too many people may look past when we need to help our brothers and sisters in their time of needs, in the darkest times in their lives.

It also bothered me that at least in every line they said there was usage of profanity. I mean in every line they said. I have overheard people discussing this movie and someone brought up that there was so much language and the person replied, "Well it's Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, what do you expect?"

Don't get me wrong. I am not bashing on  The Rock or Kevin Hart but these two guys are being defined as being in raunchy movies and being inappropriate. Oh if it has Kevin Hart in it, that is going to be really dirty! If I were them I would feel so ashamed of myself and the kind of things I was promoting.

These things right now may seem minor to you with all the elections and presidential debates that we can't seem to get away from. Our world is being tested with two presidential candidates that won't do anything healthy for this country but what are we doing about it? Not much......We are discussing it on Facebook and fighting with people over political views but where is that getting us? By doing this, little by little arguing with people and not voting because we are voting for two evils either way is not helping with leading our world out of darkness.

I know movies are such a small portion of things that are getting worse with this world but they have such a HUGE impact on us as the younger generation that is growing up watching them with their parents.

I ask you to please pray four our country's leaders, now, and in the future. I ask you to pay for the darkness our world is in. I ask you to also step up with your talents and gifts the Lord has given you. It seems you can't get away from sexual songs, raunchy movies, or pornographic books. We need writers, singers, actors, filmmakers, and so many other people who make art to make art wonderful again and to step up and make this country better.

Living Fearlessly,
Sammy

Your voice DOES make a difference.