Finding God in "It's A Wonderful Life"

[Reimagine Curator]

A prayer-related resource from a featured Pray! Network member  . . . Finding God in It's A Wonderful Life It's A Wonderful Life is a wonderful movie, but your book is more than a review of the film ...  Since first viewing the film at a vintage theatre forty years ago, IAWL has been my favorite movie. When I was asked by a Christian publisher to write a book dealing with the spiritual principles of the film, I jumped at the chance. I didn't even balk when the publisher told me they needed the completed manuscript in eight short weeks. How is your book a resource for: Growing in discipleship? In the book I make the claim that there is a George Bailey in each of us. George is an individual who is created in the image of God yet battles self-doubt and temptation. As we see ourselves in his character, we are invited to face the challenges and obstacles in our lives no matter the price tag involved. The book also explores other "growth plates" in our lives illustrated by various scenes in the film.  Seeing the power of prayer? From the very start of the movie, prayer plays a huge part in how George Bailey is protected from self-destruction. Throughout the movie prayer is portrayed as the normative way people call on God for answers to situations beyond their control. The various members of the Bailey family don't just talk about prayer, they are overheard praying. Sharing our faith? I believe that popular culture is a dialect spoken by most non-Christians. Television programs and movies provide a vocabulary by which we can easily talk about life with work colleagues and neighbors. "Did you see last week's Undercover Boss?" "Wasn't that a disturbing episode of Parenthood on Thursday night?" "I really related with the butler on Downton Abbey, didn't you?" In much of what we view on the big screen or flat screen there are issues of ethics, greed, sacrifice and love that can bridge conversations about the Gospel. Finding God in IAWL is written in such a way that themes in the movie that relate to the Good News are easily communicated.    A pastor's Christmas sermon series? For thirty years I served as a parish pastor. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to come at the same Biblical texts and themes with new ideas. I appreciated resources that helped jumpstart my thinking on Christmas themes. I wrote this little book with the hope it would provide pastors with a creative way to approach the Advent season. Any one of the chapters could be the foundation for a sermon. A series of six or eight sermons based on the movie would be a fun (and meaningful) adventure. You could even show clips of scenes from the movie to illustrate the message. I have two pastor friends who did that very thing last December. Share a story of how the book has impacted someone or feedback from a reader. When the book first came out, I gave a copy of the audio version to friends who were dealing with a serious family issue. During the five hour drive to meet with their adult children in a neighboring state, they listened to the whole book in the car. The description of God's power to overcome adversity spoke to their heart. Upon returning home from their "mission of mercy" this couple chose to use the book as the resource for their home fellowship group. Another couple who give gifts to their non-Christian friends every Christmas, chose to package my book with a DVD of the movie and a microwave bag of popcorn as their gift last year. It was their way of sharing their faith without preaching a sermon. Check it out here>>>