1 Message: Review of a Film by Jefferson Moore

After recently reviewing I am Gabriel, by Echolight Studios, I was excited to have a chance to review another of their movies, 1 Message.

1 Message is the story of Becca, a young breast cancer survivor.  Through flashbacks, we learn that by worldly standards, Becca seemingly had it all: beauty, a great figure, and a successful fiance. After her cancer diagnosis, and treatment, she loses all of those things, and becomes depressed and agoraphobic. But then she meets a friend on-line.

Through his encouraging emails, Becca learns what truth is. "We are all of infinite worth." "Our bodies are just gift wrapping, the real treasure is inside." "Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared." The biggest truth Becca learns is about forgiveness and Jesus.

The movie has a positive Christian story line, and shares the importance of belief in and encouraging others. It also shares the important message to breast cancer survivors (just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October) that the real treasure of us is on the inside. 

However, at over  2.5 hours, the movie was too long.  Because it was a drama similar to a Hallmark or Lifetime for Women movie, it didn't have the action to warrant that much time investment.  And for me, as someone who likes the end of a movie to be wrapped up with a pretty bow, the ending left me wanting more. (I'll leave it at that, so I don't spoil the ending for you.)

I think the movie was a solid 3 out of 5 stars. As Christians, I believe in supporting Christian films, and this movie would be a nice chick flick to watch on a cold, rainy afternoon when you had the extra time. It is inspiring, encouraging, and honors God. That's a pretty good find, and a rare one at that, for a movie today.

Here is a trailer for the movie. If you are reading this post through email, you will have to visit my blog to see it.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

The Rest of the Story

Imagine picking up a book, reading the foreward, loving it, and then stop reading. "I just don't want to leave the foreward, it was so good, I just want to focus on that." Crazy, isn't it? The reason we buy a book is for the story, not for the foreward. The foreward simply gives us a small taste of the delight to come.

Yet, as Christians, that is often how we live our life. We fear the end of it. We want to stay right here in the "foreward," when we know the best part of the story, eternity, is what comes next. God wants us to live out every day of our lives for his glory. But we shouldn't fear death. "Death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corin 15:54)

The story of my life is a good one, but I prefer to think of it as the foreward. Because death is not just an "epilogue" at the end of my life. It is not the end. It is the beginning.And if we love God, we need not fear the end of our days, as they only begin our eternity.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com