Movie Review- To Joey With Love: A Story of Life, Love & Hope

1 Corinthians 13:13 (MSG)
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. 


Before I begin...let me just say that I am having a drawing for a free DVD copy of this amazing film. Look to the right side of my blog. See the Rafflecopter? It starts at midnight tonight and will end December 20, 2016. I will email the winner! 
Be sure to stop back by my blog or my Facebook Page @OnlyALittleWhile and sign up!

The movie, To Joey, With Love: A Story of Life, Love & Hope That Never Dies  (click on the preceding title for the official trailer) is presented by Provident Films a Hickory Films production. The film will be released in DVD format & ON-Demand December 20th, 2016. (Order by clicking here.) It is classified as a PG film in the documentary genre. It was written, filmed and directed by Rory Feek. Production is by Aaron Carnahan. 

Movie Critic Reviews 

A beautiful film that captures the true
meaning of the message to
"trust steadily in God", as described in
1 Corinthians 13:13.

"I walked away with a greater appreciation for the brevity of life and with a goal of loving those around me even more."
Christian Examiner

"The movie leaves viewers with an urgency to live every day as if it is a gift, thank God for what He has given, and enjoy the simple moments of life."
Movieguide®

"The film will inspire you to love deeper, and to grab every opportunity in every moment."
Christianity Today

My Personal Review

To Joey, With Love is a touching documentary narrated by Rory Feek. The film chronicles the story of the past two years with his wife Joey Feek. Their journey through the birth of their first and only daughter, Indiana is highlighted, as well as Joey's diagnosis with cervical cancer. The emphasis is placed on the path of learning to trust God's plan for their lives, rather than relying on their own direction. It is a compilation of live footage filmed mostly from their home which is about an hour from Nashville, Tennessee. 


Here's my take-away from this movie. First, I found myself wishing from the very beginning that I had been a part of the Joey+Rory Fan Club. The brief shots of some of their concerts made my heart warm, not only due to the beautiful music, but also because of their interactions with one another. 


Secondly, I found the movie to be extremely transparent and pure. Much of the time, I had the feeling that I was viewing something sacred. Let me explain. Because the filming is live and this family is simply living their "story", there really isn't any "acting" going on. The impromptu footage shows clips from the actual birth of their daughter (albeit discrete footage), daily chores on their homestead, phone calls, physician consults, morning routines, meals, prayer circles and lots of spontaneous family interactions. Watching such natural and unposed scenes will illicit a broad spectrum of feelings. 

The range of emotions experienced by the viewer runs the full continuum from happiness and laughter to fear and sadness. As you participate in Rory, Joey and Indiana's lives, you realize that this is not a film for my "entertainment" per se, but rather it generates a reflective experience creating a pause and recognition of the sanctity of life. This is a movie with the potential to assist in bridging the gap between this temporal world and the next. The sincere way that Joey and Rory applied the promises that God has given us in His Word is somewhat mind boggling. 


Finally, I think the target audience for this movie is very broad, but somewhat unique. It is most certainly for anyone who has been blessed by "Joey+Rory" music. If I had known this couple prior to this film review, I would be very encouraged to see how God gave them, as Rory says, "A great story." Watching the movie would give me a peace about Joey's ultimate healing. It would ease a sadness that most certainly must be present for those who knew her as a public figure. In my opinion, any believer in Christ who watches this movie will be inspired and challenged as they walk through a day with this couple. I also feel anyone dealing with cancer, either personally or through a family member/friend, will find hope and comfort through the viewing of this film. Hearing Rory's faith filled statement that he gave when the news that the medical treatments were no longer deemed curative for Joey, uncovered a bold and empowering way to accept the will of God. He said, "We came home. Not to die. But to live." A final potential audience is anyone searching for truth, as this couple's faith is tangible and will intensify the urgency to discover a loving Savior in Christ.
  

In conclusion, To Joey, With Love is a very moving work. It has much to say about the preciousness of life and the choices we make with regard to how we live each day. It teaches us to confront the fact that we "only have a little while" to walk in a steady trust in God and live a life filled with hope and an extravagant love for one another!

1 Corinthians 13:13 

This CD was released in 2016. Christmas shopping anyone?

Joey+Rory released a new CD in 2016, titled: Hymns That Are Important To Us. 

It is on my Christmas wish list! (Hint..hint to my family who are reading this.) 

Thank you to Icon Media Group for allowing me to view this review copy of  To Joey, With Love. I was not required to write a positive review, but only to watch the film and give my honest opinion. 

Book Review: The Girl From The Train by Irma Joubert

I Corinthians 13:4-8(NIV)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Book Description:

As World War II draws to a close, Jakób fights with the Polish resistance against the crushing forces of Germany and Russia. They intend to destroy a German troop transport, but Gretl’s unscheduled train reaches the bomb first.

Gretl is the only survivor. Though spared from the concentration camp, the orphaned German Jew finds herself lost in a country hostile to her people. When Jakób discovers her, guilt and fatherly compassion prompt him to take her in. For three years, the young man and little girl form a bond over the secrets they must hide from his Catholic family.

But she can’t stay with him forever. Jakób sends Gretl to South Africa, where German war orphans are promised bright futures with adoptive Protestant families—so long as Gretl’s Jewish roots, Catholic education, and connections to communist Poland are never discovered.

Separated by continents, politics, religion, language, and years, Jakób and Gretl will likely never see each other again. But the events they have both survived and their belief that the human spirit can triumph over the ravages of war have formed a bond of love that no circumstances can overcome.

About the author:
International bestselling author Irma Joubert was a history teacher for 35 years before she began writing. Her stories are known for their deep insight into personal relationships and rich historical detail. She's the author of eight novels and a regular fixture on bestseller lists in The Netherlands and in her native South Africa.

My Personal Review:

The Girl From The Train by Irma Joubert is a fabulous historical fiction book! I was drawn into the drama and suspense from the first few pages. 

The Girl From The Train by Irma Joubert is unique in that it focuses on the time period just after World War II and the turmoil felt by entire countries, especially Poland. The story is built around the main character, a young Jewish German girl named Gretl Schmidt, who becomes orphaned as a direct result of the war. Circumstances leave the child stranded in Poland, homeless and starving. 

The details of her rescue by a Polish resistance fighter and the behind the scenes look at life in a post war torn country serve as the foundation for the story. The young child's eventual move to South Africa and placement in a new home continue the thread of determination, commitment, survival, conflict and love that form the structure of the novel. Of course, discovering that the author, Irma Joubert is a native of South Africa where she taught history for 35 years, gives credibility to this book and helps to make it feel even more authentic, despite it's fictional genre.

This book enlightened and informed me as it relates to Poland and the country's internal struggle to maintain their own identity in the years following WWII. I am not a historian and actually was not too attentive during my history classes in school, but this narrative spurred a desire to learn more about the period after WWII and the ripple effect it had on the people in various countries. 

The consistent attention to detail and the element of mystery right down to the final chapters of The Girl From The Train  by Irma Joubert is what sets this work apart from your average read. The author is able to take the reader into the scenes with her descriptive writing. The Biblical factor in this book was unmistakable. The need to rely on God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ was communicated softly without seeming too overbearing. The collision of different cultures, past experiences (both good and bad), age, environment, professional choices and religion each seem to come out unscathed when love is applied. This is not your average "love story"...in fact it is a tale of what real love...the love of I Corinthians 13... put into action should look like. Enjoy!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc for this review copy of The Girl From The Train by Irma Joubert through the BookLook Bloggers program. I was not required to write a favorable review, but only to read this book in it's entirety in exchange for my honest opinion.