Everything Is Possible

Jen Bricker is a spitfire. If she has anything else left on her bucket list it is not from a lack of effort! This young lady is up for any challenge and according to her book, Everything Is Possible, the word can't is a bad word!

I first came across Jen's story in an issue of the Salvation Army's magazine Faith & Friends. I was intrigued by her story and so when I came across her book at our local library, I picked it up to give it a read.

Well this is by far one of the most encouraging books I have read in a long, long time. Jen was left in the hospital at birth, adopted by a loving family after a time with foster parents, and raised to believe that everything was possible. She never let the fact that she has no legs stand in her way.

Her story has been aired around the world, more so after she found out she was the sister of Olympic Gymnast Dominique Moceanu. Jen is an athlete in her own right and is a professional aerialist. It is her story of faith though, woven throughout the book, that shows Jen Bricker's true strength.

Her's is a story of faith, resilience, passion and possibilities. Vulnerable, open and honest, this is a book that begs to be read and shared with others. I could not put this book down. I also found myself praying for the strength to overcome my own adversities in the same way Jen Bricker has faced hers, in the strength of the Lord.

Do yourself a favor and give Everything Is Possible a read.

Stop by next week and I will have an interview with Jen Bricker in a renewal of my 5 Questions interview series.

I Can Only Imagine

Let me start this off by saying I do not typically enjoy Christian movies. Sad, but true. I find that most Christian films that I have seen are of poor quality, really bad acting and seem to only exist to get a specific message across. Now that may not be true for all films in this genre but I have yet to find one personally that has much in the way of quality when compared to typical Hollywood fare. In my opinion, Christian based media should be just as good as the alternatives.

OK, rant over.

I say all of the above because when Graf-Martin Communications offered me free tickets to see I Can Only Imagine, I was interested, based on the trailer, but not expecting much.

I Can Only Imagine is based on the true story of Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe. This is the story behind the hit song and title of the film.

My expectations were low but this film went way above anything I expected. This is how a Christian based move should be done. T|he acting was superb, led by Broadway star J. Michael Finley. With well known cast members including Trace Adkins, Dennis Quaid and Cloris Leachman. Every actor added depth, humor and passion to their roles.

I probably laughed more during this film than  any movie I can recall. The humor was well-timed and most of the theatre was laughing out loud at all the right places. Yet interspersed with that humor was a heart-wrenching story of abuse, romance, abandonment and redemption that also had me wiping my eyes on more than one occasion.  Not many films have ever brought me to this much of a visceral response.

I Can Only Imagine did well at the Box Office in its first week and deserves a wide screening. If you get the chance to see this movie you need to do so. You will not be dissapointed.

You can check out the movie's website here: I Can Only Imagine