Evan Almighty - I'm going! Are You?

Don't forget about Evan Almighty this Friday, June 22. I really think you will like this show. I got to preview it in Baltimore a few weeks ago. See my review. I also hope you will catch a vision for Acts of Random Kindness.

My "Evan Almighty" Review

"My mom would like this movie." This was my thoughts as I sat through the special screening of Evan Almighty last evening. (Understand, my mother didn't like the movie "Gone With the Wind" because of one line. "They don't need that kind of language", she would exhort.) It was fast-paced and fun. It was clean and, to my surprise, not degrading to the Bible. It was a little predictable at times and yet I laughed a lot more than I thought I might. According to IMBD.com the plot line goes something like this:

The last time we saw Evan Baxter (Steve Carell), he was being tormented by rival Bruce Nolan onscreen, live from their Buffalo TV station. But as time passed and Evan has made up with Bruce, he's gone onto bigger and better things. Newly elected to Washington D.C. as a congressman, Evan has left Buffalo, New York in pursuit of a greater calling. But that calling isn't serving in the illustrious ranks of America's politics, but being summoned by the Almighty himself (Morgan Freeman), who has handed Evan the task of building a new ark, much as Noah did before. With time passing by and his family belittled by Evan's newfound realization, Evan will have to do the work that God has given him in what promises to be an unusual adventure for a man who just wanted to serve his country, might actually be serving humanity.

Not being a professional movie reviewer, I thought the casting was well done and the subtle (and sometimes not to subtle) references to past movies and even the Bible were well done. The only uncomfortable part of the movie for me, being a church staff member, would have been while they were talking about praying. The actors seemed a little out of their element during this part of the movie. However, this in no way distracted from the rest of the experience. Wanda Sykes, "Rita", had a bunch of very laughable lines as did Jonah Hill, "Eugene Tananbaum".

Go to this comedy expecting a light-hearted and yet heartwarming film. If you like comedy, and especially visual comedy, Steve Carrol, "Evan Baxter" and his cohorts have done a great job. And in the end, the producers have made a moving film as well. I would highly recommend that you see Evan Almighty and maybe you will be encouraged.

Guess Who I Met at Evan Almighty

We had a nice time in Baltimore yesterday afternoon/evening for the screening of Evan Almighty. I will post my review later, but I would encourage everyone to see the movie and that's all I will say about that now.

Aaron and I had a good conversation on the 2 and a half hour trip to "Mobtown". We found the Charles Theater and headed toward Inner Harbor. Unfortunately, we were travelling during rush hour, got in the wrong lane and eventually were headed to Washington D.C. After getting turned around, we decided to return to the theater instead of going to our original destination. Next to the theater was "Tapas Teatro" an European Spanish cafe, where we decided to eat. It was perfectness. We sat outside along historic Charles Street. I had Spicy Croquettes de Tapas Teatro, Pan Fried Steak and potatoes. The price was a bit more than I usually pay but it was worth it.

The Charles Theater was really cool. The building has high windows, industrial ceilings, a traditional ticket window and snack counter and boasts 5 theaters. We were some of the first to be seated. About five minutes before the move started a blast from the past entered the theater. Jeremy "Beanie" Heisey, a former youth kid, and three friends walked past me. What a nice surprise. Everyone (even his mom) has called him Beanie since his high school days since he looked a lot like Mr. Bean. (Actually, he now looks a little like "Evan" during his early Noah days in Evan Almighty.) I will post more about this interesting guy at a later time.

We all settled down while the Representative from Universal Pictures announced the movie.

I have a few pics I will post later.

Private Screening

Heading to Baltimore today for the private screening of Evan Almighty today. I will try to blog about it tomorrow.

Ark Almighty Conference Call

I just hung up from a conference call with the Ark Almighty people. They have signed up over 4000 churches so far in this campaign. I really like this idea. Hopefully it will be a "Giant PR Campaign for Christianity." I also received two tickets today to a private screening of Evan Almighty on June 6 in Baltimore, MD.

Evan Almighty and Ark Almighty

Here is the trailer for "Evan Almighty". It will be in theaters June 22. Youth Specialties, Willow, the International Bible Society and others are promoting this movie along their "Ark Almighty" web site. Here is what they say about Evan Almighty:

When audiences met Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) for the first time in the 2003 hit comedy Bruce Almighty, he was a tortured Buffalo news anchor competing against a higher power for the top job at his station. This summer, Carell reprises his role in the follow-up comedy Evan Almighty, which follows Evan as he bids farewell to his old career to pursue an illustrious life as a congressman in suburban Virginia. But things take an unexpected turn when God himself (Morgan Freeman) hands Evan the unusual task of building an ark that will save mankind from a flood of epic proportions.

With no choice but to follow God’s orders, Evan sets out on an adventure of a lifetime that tests his faith, befuddles his family, and serves as the ultimate act of random kindness.

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ArkAlmighty

Our small groups at church have been discussing "Changing Your World Through Kindness" by Steve Sjogren. In this book we have talked about how small things done with great love can be used as spiritual warfare. I have been struggling with putting what we have learned into action. Today I picked up snail mail from Youth Specialties that has been around here for a couple of days. In the envelope was a flyer for ArkAlmighty.com. Youth Specialties, Steve Sjogren, and others have teamed up to produce this website and organization. This is being produced in advance of the movie "Evan Almighty"(opening June 22), the sequel to "Bruce Almighty". In the movie, "Evan sets out on an adventure of a lifetime that tests his faith, befuddles his family, and serves as the ultimate act of random kindness." I was a little leery at first but I have really enjoyed the small group discussion and now I hope to implement it at Richfield. Here is what http://www.arkalmighty.com/ says about the program.

ArkALMIGHTY is a good deeds program that matches up the needs in your
congregation with the talents and skills of the members of your church.
Gathering the needs of your attendees, these requests are compiled on a website
administered by your church. Then, the members of your church can easily search
through the needs and find ways they can help.

The ArkALMIGHTY.com website is designed to enable youth groups and
churches to easily get involved in practical and tangible volunteerism. There
are countless needs out there that, up until now, have had no way to be met. But
now they do, thanks to ArkALMIGHTY. By searching your church's ArkALMIGHTY
webpage, your congregation will soon see just how much need there is in their
midst – and that they can be the catalyst for change.

So head on over to ArkALMIGHTY.com and sign up today. Act fast and
you'll receive a FREE Ark Kit to help launch ArkALMIGHTY in your church.

ArkALMIGHTY - Get on Board!