This past Sunday afternoon as God was blessing us with a couple inches of rain my family took the opportunity to view a movie on the big screen.  For a family that does not usually go to movie theaters, it seems that we have splurged more in this department lately.  It is not that the ticket prices have decreased or that they are now offering food that we can eat.  We have gone twice within a few weeks of each other because there was something worth seeing.

First, we watched Dolphin Tale, which was a wonderful and inspiring story based on real events.  If you have not seen Winter, the dolphin, and her true story, we all recommend it.  My three year old and four year old at the time sat through the whole movie completely engrossed in the storyline.

When I was helping to promote Dolphin Tale, several of you sent me names of movies that you and your families enjoy.  Many were names of movies that we love in our home as well.  Movies like Fireproof, Facing the Giants, and The Blindside.  The first two movies listed were made by Sherwood Pictures, which is a ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church.  They have made another movie, Courageous, which we had the pleasure of seeing yesterday.

The demand for family-friendly movies is great as evidenced by the packed theater yesterday afternoon.  Families were having to sit apart in whatever seats they could find.  Fortunately, we were able to sit together.  I should have known better by the previous movies Sherwood Pictures has made that I needed to bring some tissues, but I did not.  Courageous is an action-packed emotional roller coaster.  I laughed and then cried and then laughed again.  Most importantly, the message on fatherhood was incredible.

Everyone wants to be a great mother/father, but not everyone knows what that is supposed to look like.  We all wonder if we are doing a good job.  Parenting is the most important job in the whole world as it shapes future generations.  Fathers and mothers play a huge role in the lives of their children.  Courageous focuses on the responsibilities of fathers.  The stories of five men from different backgrounds and circumstances are intertwined to show the importance of being a great dad.

If you are a father or plan on being one in the future, this movie will inspire you to step up and fulfill your responsibilities.  It will make you seriously consider changing the way you interact with your family.  You will find yourself seeking ways to improve your relationships and/or tweak what you are already doing right.

You will not be the same person after viewing this powerful movie.  For that reason, you have to be courageous just to watch it.  Watch the trailer and see what you can expect in the movie theater.

This movie is rated PG-13, which is slightly ironic.  The story is based on the lives of four sheriff deputies, which face gang violence, drugs, and other criminal activity.  For this reason only is the movie rated for older children.  I had no idea what it was rated when I took my family and I don’t regret taking them, but I thought I would warn you.

Tags: Christian movie, Courageous, family-friendly movie, fatherhood, importance of fathers, Sherwood Pictures

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