A Day at the Beach

Bella- a Movie to Inspire

Eduardo Verastegui , a 28 yr. old Spanish-speaking native Mexican and rising-young star in Hollywood encountered God through his English tutor. Up to that point, the actor had accomplished all his dreams only to find emptiness and pain. Eduardo compared his quest for fame to a greyhound race-dog chasing after a plastic rabbit or carrot. Fame equalling satisfaction was nothing but a lie.


Through his English teacher, whose lessons went far beyond grammar, Eduardo realized he needed God. From that point on, he made a commitment to God to only make films that elevate, heal, and point people to God.


Script after script poured in while Eduardo turned each one down. He never seemed to find a moral story that didn't include compromising his faith. Day after day he went to church to pray and seek God. He was out of money and ready to leave acting for good when one divine appointment after another came his way. Eduardo found 2 partners--a producer and a director--, a powerful script, three million dollars from investors, and Bella was made.


I saw the movie Friday night and was inspired, elevated, and encouraged when I left. Sometimes you think we've already lost the battle in Hollywood, but then a movie like Bella comes along and your faith is restored.


Eduardo talked about how Plato once said a nation can be ruled by politics or art. Plato believed art was best because it captures people's hearts and minds. Bella sways the viewer toward a pro-life view without even having to mention politics.


I'm inspired by Eduardo Verastegui for his steadfast commitment to promoting moral films that are redemptive and relevant. I'm inspired because he kept his commitment to God. Now go see Bella!

I have to comment on this picture! Eduardo Verastegui spoke to the Regent Communications students on Wednesday, Nov. 21. After he spoke, I ran (and I mean grab-the-camera-and-run in my stiletto boots!) to get a picture with him. His gruff-looking manager-lady was pulling him out the door and he turned and saw me with my sad, genuinely disappointed face and he said, "One picture." I got the only picture with Eduardo that day! Hooray!

This picture was taken by my wonderful Professor Markus Pfeiffer at the exact same time! Way to be there Dr. Pfeiffer!!!!!!!!

Tim Conway + lunch = happy Lori

To my surprise last Wednesday, I met one of my childhood icons- Mr. Tim Conway. You see, I don't think you could begin to understand how special meeting Mr. Conway was. I'll do my best to explain. I grew up in a pastor's home and my mom only watched 3 TV shows- Lawrence Welk, HeeHaw, and The Carol Burnett Show. Out of those choices, I bet you can't guess which TV show I enjoyed watching with my dear mother. You're right- And not only did we watch it, but we watched it, and watched it, etc. We excitedly watched every possible rerun of the show that our 5 channels had to offer. We even reenacted the more popular skits around the dinner table, especially the ones with Tim Conway.

Students and faculty in the Com school, about 50 or so, ate lunch in a classroom as we listened to the comedic genius relate the key stages of his life-- growing up in Ohio, serving in the military, working at small local TV stations, writing for sitcoms, writing and acting on The Carol Burnett Show, being friends with Harvey Korman-- and EVERY THING HE SAID WAS FUNNY! How can a person be that funny! But he was.

Laughter doeth good like a medicine. There's nothing I like more than laughing. I laugh loud and hard- I always have. When I went in the room that day I was carrying stress, but when I left it was gone. People who make me laugh help me keep my joy- that inspires me.

So, to meet the man was like being 12 years old again. And the only thing I could say when I shook his hand was, "My mom worships you." A bit of an overstatement maybe, but you can believe when I got in my car the first thing I did was hit speed dial #6 on my phone and say, "Mom, you're never gonna believe who I met today!"

Squire Rushnell comes to my JRN 611 class

Squire Rushnell - America's storyteller!

http://www.whengodwinks.com/

Talking w/ students at break

Dean Patrick enjoys Squire's joke

me and Squire

Christians in the Middle East make me proud

I would like to think that I would be able to boldly serve Christ if I lived in the Middle East. But I may never know. Christians in the Palestinian territories know. They serve Jesus in the midst of danger and even possible death.

For 16 years Isa Bajalia, a U.S. born pastor in Ramallah (located in the West Bank), preaches the gospel in spite of constant death threats. He notes that threats have increased in the last two months as a resurgence in radical Islam has increased.

"Their anger from those who are more adamant about their Islamic faith, that for some reason it's just a growing tension that Christian missionaries are just unacceptable," he said.

The Ramallah men making recent specific threats on Bajalia were attempting to extort money and land from him. The men told Bajalia, who is already legally blind, they would cripple him for life or kill him. When Bajalia told Palestinian police, they offered protection only if the pastor paid them money.

Pastor Bajalia is taking the threats seriously. Three weeks ago, Rami Aayad of Gaza was martyred for his faith in Christ.

"So it's made us take threats more seriously. And maybe that's one of the reasons I'm here today," Bajalia said. "I'm not taking this as a joke. This is a serious matter for me and at the same time, I believe that God has put in me the heart of a lion. That we will not back down from the sovereign mandate that Christ has given us in Mark chapter 16.

"That this Gospel of this Kingdom has to be preached and we're in Ramallah because we care about the people of Ramallah. We pray for those who are in leadership. We pray for the people in Ramallah that God would bless them and supernaturally visit them."

http://cbn.com