Before He Was on the Dollar Bill, He Was Just a 22-Year-Old Who Messed Up

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I’ve spent years working with film and faith communities, and I have to be honest with you, I don’t get excited about every movie that comes across my desk. But Young Washington, releasing July 3 from Angel Studios and directed by Jon Erwin, is the kind of film I’ve been waiting for.

Not because it’s a patriotic story. Not just because the timing with America’s 250th birthday is perfect. But because it tells the truth about something we don’t talk about enough in our churches and our homes:

Failure is part of the story. Even for great men of faith.

He Wasn’t a Legend Yet

Here’s what most of us never learned in history class. George Washington was 22 years old when he made a decision that helped ignite an international war. A young man, not yet tested, not yet the face on the dollar bill, just a soldier who got it badly wrong at Fort Necessity.

And then he had to decide what to do next.

That question — what do you do after you’ve failed? — is the beating heart of Young Washington. And it’s one of the most relevant questions any family can ask around the kitchen table right now.

Even as a young man, Washington carried a gravity of character that put responsibility in his hands before most guys his age had figured out their direction. But gravity of character didn’t mean he was perfect. It meant he had the weight to keep going after he wasn’t.

A Man Who Talked to God — Long Before He Was Famous

This is the part of Washington’s story I wish more people knew.

Before he was a general. Before the Constitutional Convention. Before he ever set foot in a presidential residence. George Washington kept a prayer journal.

He wrote things like this:

“O eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit… daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ.”

That’s not the language of a man performing faith for public consumption. That’s someone who actually believed he needed God to shape him, daily, personally, from the inside out. He wasn’t asking for victory or fame. He was asking to be made more like Christ.

And here’s what’s remarkable: he was writing prayers like that while he was still young, still being formed, still carrying the weight of his failures at Fort Necessity.

The spiritual life wasn’t something Washington added later, after he’d arrived. It was the ground he was standing on while he was still figuring out who he was.

Providence Doesn’t Wait for Perfect People

One of the most stunning moments in Washington’s actual history happened during the Battle of the Monongahela. He rode into a battlefield disaster alongside General Braddock, and by all accounts he should have died. Bullets passed through his coat. Two horses were shot out from under him. Every man around him was falling.

And he walked away without a scratch.

Washington didn’t chalk it up to luck. He wrote afterward that he had been “protected beyond all human probability or expectation” by the hand of God. He saw Providence not as a distant theological concept but as something actively at work in the specific circumstances of his life, including the painful ones.

Years later, a Native American chief who had been on the opposing side that day sought Washington out to deliver a message. His marksmen had tried to bring Washington down and couldn’t. They concluded, in his words, that Washington was “under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit” and that he “can never die in battle.”

Now, I’m not making a theological claim about that chief’s words. But I am saying that Washington’s sense of being watched over, protected, and directed by Providence was not something he invented after his victories. It was something forged in near-death, in failure, in the confusion of a 22-year-old trying to figure out what God was doing in a situation that had gone badly wrong.

In the film, we see Washington ask his mother about exactly that, how God could possibly be at work in something so broken. If you’ve ever asked that question yourself, you’re going to feel this movie.

His mother, Mary Ball Washington, gives him the answer that becomes the theme of the whole story:

“You can learn from failure. But if you don’t — you’ve failed twice.”

That line stopped me cold. Because it’s not just wisdom for a young soldier. It’s wisdom for every dad, every mom, every kid who’s watching their parents right now to see how we handle our own Fort Necessity moments.

When He Could Have Taken Power — He Walked Away

Here’s a moment that deserves more attention than it gets.

After the Revolutionary War ended, Washington commanded the most respected fighting force on the continent. His men were loyal. The country was in chaos. And there were serious voices urging him to step in, take control, and impose order. In the way Cromwell had done in England. In the way that powerful men have always been tempted to do when they believe they’re the right person for the moment.

Washington refused.

On December 23, 1783, he stood before Congress in Annapolis and resigned his commission. He said, “I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God.”

He gave the power back. And then he went home to Mount Vernon.

The man who could have been king chose to be a servant. That’s not a personality trait. That’s a theological conviction. He genuinely believed that authority belonged to God and was held in trust — not seized and kept.

That kind of character doesn’t come from nowhere. It comes from years of prayer journals and Fort Necessity moments and asking God to frame him more and more into the likeness of Christ.

What This Film Is Really About

It’s about character formation. And character formation is almost never pretty in the middle of it.

As someone who spent nearly two decades in kids and family ministry before moving into faith-based film work, I’ve watched a generation of families struggle to find stories worth telling their kids. Stories that are honest about failure without being hopeless. Stories that show faith working in real life, not just as a feel-good tag at the end.

Young Washington is that story.

The film highlights traits we used to call virtues — humility, courage, accountability, perseverance, faith, stewardship. And it shows them being forged in difficulty, not handed out as rewards for good behavior.

A Few Questions Worth Bringing Home

I’ve had the chance to work through the Family Discussion Guide built around this film, and I want to share a few questions that struck me as genuinely conversation-starting, not the kind with easy answers.

What would you have done at 22, with everyone watching?

At Fort Necessity, Washington had four real options: openly admit the mistake and take full responsibility, blame the French and argue he was justified, walk away from military life entirely, or stay quiet and try to prove himself through future service. As a family, rank those from wisest to least wise, then talk about why you ranked them the way you did. You might be surprised where the disagreement lands.

Where do you see Providence in your own hard seasons?

Washington asked his mother how God could be at work in something that went so badly. Have you ever asked that? What did your family decide?

Who in your family is still being “formed”?

At 22, Washington wasn’t the man on the dollar bill yet. He was still being shaped. Who in your home is in that process right now, and what does it look like to support them in it?

That last question wrecked me a little, personally. I think about my own kids. I think about the teenagers in my community. We’re quick to celebrate the finished product. We’re less patient with the becoming.

Bring Your Whole Church — and Save 33%

Young Washington opens July 3, 2026, right in time for Independence Day weekend and America’s 250th birthday. There’s no better occasion to sit with your family, your small group, or your entire congregation and watch the story of the man who, by God’s grace and his own hard-won character, helped make that celebration possible.

Groups of 15 or more save 33% on tickets.

Get your group tickets now at angel.com/cherrytree — and make it an event your community will be talking about long after the credits roll.

If you’re a pastor who wants to preview the film before recommending it to your congregation, visit faithandfamilyflicks.com/young-washington-pastors for a private screening link.

This is the kind of story we need right now. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s honest. And in a culture that tends to either whitewash its heroes or tear them down entirely, a film willing to say he was 22, he failed, and God wasn’t done with him yet feels like exactly the right message for the right moment.

I hope your family — and your church — is there for it.

Dave Almgren is the founder of The Advance Team, a faith-based film marketing consultancy, and runs outreach campaigns through FaithAndFamilyFlicks.com. He’s also the host of the podcast “Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie.”

Start, Finish, Repeat

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What if winning at life isn’t about one big moment—but about showing up, finishing, and doing it all over again?

In NASCAR, championships aren’t won in a single race. Every driver knows that crossing the finish line consistently, race after race, week after week, is what separates champions from also-rans, (a racing term for competitors who finish the race but don’t place in the top spots). You might not win every race. You might not even come in second. But if you start, if you finish, and if you show up to do it again next week, the points accumulate. The momentum builds. And at the end of the season, the driver who finished the most races, not just the fastest ones, often holds the trophy.

The Apostle Paul understood this principle long before NASCAR existed.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24

Paul wasn’t talking about sprinting to a single finish line. He was describing a life of sustained, faithful effort—race after race, season after season—running with intention toward something worth running for.

You’re Already at the Starting Line

Here’s the thing about a starting line: it doesn’t care who you were yesterday. It only asks one question, are you ready to run today?

Maybe you’ve had seasons where you felt like you were spinning your wheels. Going fast but getting nowhere. Or maybe life’s circumstances have felt like a wrong-way sign on the road, pointing you in a direction you never intended to go. The enemy of a great race isn’t always failure. Sometimes it’s simply running in the wrong direction with tremendous effort.

The good news is that God’s grace is the great reset. No matter how many wrong turns are behind you, the starting line is always available. Every single day is a new race. Every new season is a fresh opportunity to line up, rev the engine, and go.

Hebrews 12:1 puts it this way: “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

The race is marked out. The course is set. The question is whether we’ll shed what’s slowing us down and step into it with intention, again and again and again.

Every Race Matters

Here’s where a lot of Christians get tripped up: they’re waiting for the big race. The defining moment. The dramatic turning point that will finally make their faith feel significant.

But championship seasons aren’t built on dramatic moments. They’re built on ordinary faithfulness. Showing up on a Tuesday when nobody’s watching. Finishing the hard conversation you started. Following through on the commitment you made when you felt inspired, even when the inspiration has long since faded.

Paul understood this intimately. “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.” — 1 Corinthians 9:26

Every lap counts. Every race in your series matters. The marriage you’re faithfully investing in right now—that’s a race. The integrity you’re maintaining at work when it would be easier to cut corners, that’s a race. The forgiveness you’re choosing to extend when every emotion tells you not to, that’s a race. Finish it. Then line up and do it again.

Finishing Well Is the Goal

There is perhaps no more moving picture of a life well-raced than the Apostle Paul near the end of his life, writing from a prison cell with full confidence in how his story was ending.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” — 2 Timothy 4:7-8

He didn’t say he ran perfectly. He didn’t say he never crashed or never doubted. He said he finished. He kept the faith. And at the end of a long series of races, many of them brutal, many of them costly, he crossed the final line still holding on to the One who called him into the race in the first place.

That’s the goal. Not perfection. Completion. Faithful, consistent, never-quit completion.

The Prize That Doesn’t Rust

Here’s what separates this race from every other competition the world offers: the prize isn’t a trophy that tarnishes. It isn’t a title that fades. It isn’t applause from a crowd that will forget your name by next season.

“They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” — 1 Corinthians 9:25

Everything this world calls victory is temporary. Career success, financial achievement, public recognition, none of it goes with you. But every race you run in faith? That investment compounds into eternity. Every act of love. Every moment of faithfulness when no one was watching. Every time you chose God’s way over the easy way. It all counts. Every lap. Every finish line. Every time you lined up and did it again.

You are running toward something real.

Start, Finish, Repeat: Five Steps to Racing Well

So here’s the invitation: run. Not someday. Not when life calms down or when you feel more ready. Today. And then tomorrow. And then the day after that.

But what does that actually look like? Here are five practical ways to run your next race with intention:

One: Strip the weight. Look honestly at what you’re carrying that’s slowing you down. Is it unforgiveness? Fear? Shame about your past? Name it, set it aside, and run lighter. You can’t finish races carrying baggage that doesn’t belong to you.

Two: Know your lane. Stop comparing your race to someone else’s. God didn’t call you to run someone else’s course. Your lane is unique, and trying to run in someone else’s will only trip you up. Run your race. Finish your race.

Three: Find your pit crew. You were not meant to race alone. Surround yourself with people who believe in the prize you’re running toward—people who will speak truth when you’re tempted to quit and remind you of the finish line when the race gets long. That’s your church, your small group, your closest friends in faith.

Four: Fix your eyes forward. Not on the obstacles behind you. Not on the runners around you. Eyes on Jesus. Eyes on the prize. Every time your gaze drifts—and it will—redirect it back to what you’re running toward, not what you’re running from.

Five: Line up again tomorrow. This is the one that separates champions from quitters. When the race is done—whether you finished strong or barely limped across the line—show up again. Start again. The series isn’t over. The points are still accumulating. The season isn’t finished until God says it’s finished.

The crowd of witnesses is cheering. The course is marked. The prize is waiting.

And the God who called you into this race? He’s not watching from the grandstand. He’s running with you.

Start. Finish. Repeat.

David Almgren – Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie Podcast

The Discipline of Excellence: What Pistol Pete Maravich Teaches Us About Life

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What does it take to reach the pinnacle of success?

That’s the question that haunts many of us. We look at the people who seem to have it all, the accolades, the money, the recognition, the standing ovations, and we wonder – is that enough? Does reaching the top of your field finally answer the deep questions we carry about meaning and purpose?

Pistol Pete Maravich spent his entire life answering that question. And his answer might surprise you.

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The Foundation: A Father’s Vision

Before Pete Maravich became a legend, before the arenas filled with fans eager to watch him play, there was a father named Press Maravich who had a vision. He believed his son could be great, not eventually, not someday, but through relentless, daily discipline.

So Press did something unconventional. He made Pete practice everywhere. Not just on the court, but in the car. As they drove down the street, Pete would dribble a basketball out the window while his father drove. The ball would bounce off the pavement, the railroad tracks, the curb — anywhere and everywhere. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t Instagram-worthy. It was just a father and son, committed to the small, daily practices that separate the good from the great.

This wasn’t punishment. This was love expressed through discipline. This was a father saying: “I believe in you so much that I’m going to push you to be better than you thought possible.”

The Long Road to Mastery

That childhood discipline carried Pete through his college years at Louisiana State University. By the time he finished his NCAA career, he had set a scoring record that would stand for decades — 3,667 points before the three-pointer was even introduced to the game. Let that sink in. In an era when the three-pointer didn’t exist, Pete Maravich was scoring at a rate that seemed almost impossible.

How? The same way his father had taught him. Through discipline. Through showing up. Through the railroad tracks and the car windows and the relentless commitment to getting one percent better every single day.

His peers knew it. Larry Bird, one of the greatest shooters ever to play the game, said that Pistol Pete was “one of the truly great players that could fill an arena.” Pat Riley, the legendary coach, said Pete was “the original. He was the best ball handler I ever saw. Ever.” These weren’t casual compliments. These were tributes from people who understood excellence because they pursued it themselves.

The Peak: Success, But at What Cost?

Pete Maravich made it to the NBA. He became an All-Star. He won scoring titles. He was one of the highest-paid rookies in the history of professional basketball. By every worldly measure, he had succeeded. He had climbed the mountain and planted his flag at the summit.

But here’s where Pete’s story takes a turn that most success stories don’t.

Because despite all of that, despite the money, the fame, the accolades, the respect of his peers, something was still missing. There was still an emptiness that no championship could fill, no scoring record could satisfy, no standing ovation could quiet.

Jesus said it this way: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Pete Maravich had gained the world. And he was beginning to realize that the world, in all its glory and recognition, was not enough.

The Real Turning Point

It wasn’t until later in his life that Pete Maravich found what he was actually looking for. He became a Christian. And when he did, everything came into focus. The discipline he had learned from his father, the relentless pursuit of excellence, the commitment to daily practice, the willingness to show up even when no one was watching, suddenly had a new direction. It had a new purpose. It had a soul.

Pete spent his later years speaking about his faith, about the emptiness of worldly success, about the fulfillment that only comes from a relationship with God. He went from playing to packed arenas to speaking in churches. He went from chasing scoring records to chasing something infinitely more valuable: meaning, purpose, and peace.

The Bridge: From Basketball to the Spiritual Life

Here’s what Pete Maravich’s life teaches us: Excellence is not bad. Discipline is not wrong. The pursuit of mastery in your field, whether that’s basketball or business or art or ministry, is noble and good.

But excellence in one area of life, without excellence in the spiritual life, leaves you empty.

Think about the discipline Pete learned from his father. Dribbling out the car window. Practicing when no one was watching. Showing up day after day after day. Getting marginally better. That’s not a basketball principle. That’s a life principle.

The same discipline that made Pete Maravich the greatest scorer in NCAA history can make you spiritually mature. The same commitment to daily practice that filled arenas can fill your soul. The same willingness to show up when it’s hard, when it’s not glamorous, when no one is watching, that’s what builds a life of genuine faith and purpose.

The Question Answered

So back to the question we started with: What does it take to reach the pinnacle of success?

Pete Maravich would tell you that reaching the pinnacle of your field is wonderful. Go for it. Practice like your life depends on it. Be disciplined. Be excellent. Be great.

But don’t stop there.

Because the real pinnacle, the real success that actually satisfies is found not in what the world can give you, but in what God offers. It’s found in discipline applied not just to your craft, but to your spiritual life. It’s found in showing up, day after day, to pursue excellence in knowing God, in growing in faith, in becoming the person He created you to be.

Pete Maravich learned to dribble a basketball out a car window. But the greater lesson his life teaches us is this: discipline the soul the way you discipline the body. Practice faith the way you practice your craft. Show up for your spiritual life the way you show up for the things the world celebrates.

Because in the end, that’s the only success that lasts.

David Almgren – Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie Podcast

Aloha: What Happened to the Word?

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You hear it all the time. Hotel signs. Tourist brochures. People saying it as they leave. Aloha. Sounds nice, does it not? Feels Hawaiian. Feels warm.

But here is what I am wondering: do we actually know what we are saying when we say it?

Most people think Aloha is just hello and goodbye. It is a nice Hawaiian greeting. Pleasant. Breezy. And yeah, it is that. But that is like saying the ocean is just water. There is so much more beneath the surface that we have stopped looking at.

Let me ask you something. What if I told you that when Hawaiians greeted each other, they did not just exchange words? They came close. They pressed their foreheads together. And in that moment, they shared breath. They shared spirit. They acknowledged something sacred passing between them.

That’s Aloha.

Aloha means the spirit of life. It’s God’s breath. It’s manna, that vital spiritual force that connects us all. When two people said Aloha to each other, they weren’t just being polite. They were saying, I see the divine in you. I honor your essence. I’m sharing this sacred moment with you.

Think about that for a second. How different is that from what we do today?

Now, the Hawaiian Islands didn’t stay frozen in time. The world came. And with it came transformation. Early eighteen hundreds, a young Hawaiian named Henry Opukahaia—you might know him as Obookiah—he got taken from these islands. But eventually, he found his way to America, and something profound happened. He converted to Christianity. More than that, he started translating the Bible into Hawaiian. He was building a dictionary, a grammar, preserving the language in written form.

He died young. Only twenty-six. Never finished the work.

But here’s the thing, his death didn’t end it. It started something. The missionaries came. Faith spread across the islands. And over time, Christianity became woven so deeply into Hawaiian culture that it’s part of who Hawaiians are today. That’s Opukahaia’s legacy. That spiritual awakening he started, it’s still there, two hundred years later.

So we’ve got this interesting moment in Hawaiian history. Sacred spiritual practices meeting Christian faith. The written word preserving the language. Culture being transformed by spiritual revival.

And then what happened?

The islands opened up. Tourism arrived. And somewhere along the way, Aloha became a product.

You can see it everywhere now. Aloha shirts. Aloha candles. Resorts blasting ukulele music while people sip Mai Tais and say “Aloha” to each other like they’re ordering room service. It became a brand. A vibe. A aesthetic you can purchase.

And I think we lost something in that translation.

The word got so commercialized, so stripped down, that it became almost meaningless. People say it without thinking. They think they’re being warm, being Hawaiian, being spiritual. But the depth is gone. The sacred part. The breath-sharing, spirit-acknowledging part. It’s become just another word.

That’s the pattern, isn’t it? Sacred things become commodified. Deep spiritual meaning becomes a marketing slogan. Words that once meant something profound get flattened into something shallow.

But here’s what I want to suggest: knowing this doesn’t have to depress you. It can actually change how you live.

Because now, when you say Aloha, when you really mean it, you can choose to bring that depth back. You can remember what the word actually carries. You can acknowledge the spirit in someone else. You can honor that connection.

Henry Opukahaia gave the Hawaiian people the tools to preserve their language. To keep their words alive. That means we can still reach back and reclaim what Aloha really means. We don’t have to accept the diluted version.

So next time you say Aloha, maybe pause for a moment. Think about what you’re actually saying. You’re not just exchanging pleasantries. You’re invoking something sacred. The spirit of life. The breath of connection. The acknowledgment that we’re bound to each other by something way bigger than ourselves.

That’s always been what the word means.

Maybe it’s time we started remembering.

David Almgren – Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie Podcast

Are You a Thermometer or a Thermostat?

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We live in a world that is constantly trying to shape us. Pressures come from every direction, culture, circumstances, relationships, uncertainty—all of it working to pull us away from who we are meant to be. The question is not whether we will face these pressures. The question is, will we simply reflect them, or will we actively resist them?

Think about a thermometer and a thermostat. A thermometer is passive. It reads the temperature around it and displays what already exists. A thermostat, on the other hand, is active. It measures the environment, yes, but then it works to change it. It sets a standard and refuses to settle for anything less. In life, we’re constantly choosing between these two modes.

Most of us drift between them without even realizing it. Some days we’re thermometers, passively absorbing whatever our surroundings throw at us. We react to stress, negativity, doubt. We let circumstances dictate our mood, our choices, our direction. But other days—the better days—we become thermostats. We make deliberate choices that shape not just ourselves but the people and spaces around us.

The ancient proverb warns us about this drifting: “All we like sheep have gone astray.” There’s something in our nature that pulls us off course. We’re not naturally inclined to stay true. And there’s a spiritual principle here that’s worth understanding. There’s a phrase about sin that captures this perfectly: it will take you further than you want to go, make you pay more than you want to pay, and make you stay longer than you want to stay. Environment shapes behavior. What we take in influences what we give out. And if we’re not vigilant, we end up somewhere we never intended to be.

For those of us who follow Christ, there’s a framework for understanding this. Romans reminds us that we’ve all sinned and fallen short. But it also tells us about God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus. The key is recognizing that staying true isn’t something we do alone. It’s something we do in constant connection with our faith, our community, our spiritual practices.

Think of a carpenter’s plumb line. It’s a simple tool, a weight on a string—but it ensures that what’s being built is perfectly vertical, perfectly true. If you’re off by just a fraction at the beginning, by the time you’ve built several stories, you’re completely crooked. The same principle applies to our lives. Small deviations compound. A slight tilt to the right or left, ignored long enough, and you’re no longer heading toward your destination.

NASA understands this principle too. When a rocket launches toward the moon, if its trajectory is even slightly off in those first moments, it will miss the mark entirely. Space is vast and unforgiving. Precision matters from the very beginning.

During the pandemic, I experienced this firsthand. Anxiety and overwhelming uncertainty crept into my mind each day. The future felt unknowable. Fear wanted to be my constant companion. But I discovered something that became my anchor: Scripture. Promises from God’s Word. When I quoted those promises—when I reminded myself of my identity in Christ, of the certainty I have as a believer, I could take my eyes off the uncertain and fix them on something immovable. That practice of recalibration, of constantly returning to truth, saved me.

And here’s the thing: it wasn’t just a daily practice. Some days it was hourly. Some moments it was minute by minute. Staying true requires vigilance. It’s like flying an airplane. You can’t fall asleep at the controls. You can’t look away from your instruments. You have to be constantly aware of where you are, who you’re with, and whether you’re still on course.

Which brings me to the maps application on your phone. You punch in a destination, and the app guides you turn by turn. But the moment you deviate, the moment you turn left when it says turn right, the app doesn’t give up on you. It simply recalculates. “Recalibrating, recalibrating, recalibrating.” It keeps adjusting until you’re back on course. Sometimes the recalibrated route takes longer. Sometimes you wonder if you’ll ever arrive. But the alternative to following those recalibrations is getting completely lost.

That’s the spiritual reality too. Daily recalibration keeps us on point toward our destination. And what is our destination? To finish the race well. To serve the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. To refuse to become a casualty to a culture that wants to destroy us spiritually. To keep our eyes fixed on heaven.

The films “The Forge,” “Soul on Fire,” and “Woodlawn” each illustrate this truth in different ways. “The Forge” shows us the power of mentorship and discipleship, being shaped by someone further along the journey. “Soul on Fire,” based on Jon O’Leary’s remarkable true story, shows us something even more profound. O’Leary survived burns covering ninety-five percent of his body as a young boy. He could have been defined by tragedy. He could have let his circumstances be his thermostat, setting the temperature of his life at despair. Instead, he chose to be a thermostat himself. He rose above the pain, transformed his suffering into purpose, and now influences countless others through his resilience and faith. And “Woodlawn” shows us what it looks like to hold true north even when the world pressures you to compromise, to abandon your convictions for comfort or acceptance.

These aren’t just inspiring stories. They’re blueprints. They show us that recalibration is possible. That staying true is possible. That becoming a thermostat instead of a thermometer is a choice we can make, again and again, as many times as we need to.

Your spiritual practices matter: prayer, scripture reading, community, confession, accountability. These aren’t optional extras. They’re your instruments. They’re how you read your bearings and stay on course. And when you feel yourself drifting, and you will, these are how you recalibrate.

The choice is yours. Will you be shaped by your surroundings, or will you shape them? Will you drift with the current, or will you stay plumb? Will you ignore the re-calibration alerts, or will you trust them and adjust course? Every single day, and sometimes every single hour, you get to answer that question anew. and that’s the thermostat life: active, intentional, and fixed on true north.

David Almgren – Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie Podcast

A Story of Faith, Love, and Purpose: The Hudson Taylor Movie Moves Toward Theatrical Release

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For over a decade, a remarkable film project has been quietly taking shape, a cinematic telling of the life of missionary pioneer James Hudson Taylor. Now, after years of prayer, development, and creative collaboration, this inspiring true story is moving closer to production with plans for a theatrical release that will bring Taylor’s legacy to a new generation.

Who Was Hudson Taylor?

Hudson Taylor was a British Protestant missionary born in Yorkshire in 1832 whose influence on global mission work is unmatched. Driven by a compelling call to share the Gospel with those who had never heard it, he set sail for China in 1853 and dedicated more than 50 years of his life to missionary service there. At the heart of his ministry was a radical commitment to meaningful cultural connection, Taylor adopted Chinese clothing and customs, lived among the people he served, and sought to remove every barrier that might hinder the gospel.

In 1865, he founded the China Inland Mission (CIM), now known as OMF International, which would grow to send hundreds of missionaries across China, establishing churches, schools, and medical facilities. Taylor’s work not only reshaped missions in his era but inspired generations of evangelists and Christian workers globally.

From Vision to Film: A Long Journey

The idea of a film about Hudson Taylor began as a vision to bring his extraordinary life of faith, sacrifice, and cultural love to the screen. Half Crown Media, a non‑profit film initiative commissioned by OMF International, was created in 2012 with the explicit mission of telling “inspirational, true stories of God’s faithfulness,” beginning with Taylor’s life story.

After years of development, the project has now reached critical milestones. A compelling screenplay that captures not just Taylor’s historic achievements but the depth of his relationship with God, his wife Maria, and the Chinese people has been completed with the help of seasoned collaborators. As Half Crown Media reports, Christian producer Aaron Burns brought his filmmaking expertise to the team, helping guide the development phase and refine the story’s structure. Writer Matt Mikalatos, noted for his gifts in storytelling, crafted the engaging feature‑length script that brings life to Hudson and Maria’s journey and their deep connections with the people of China.

What’s Next for the Movie?

According to Half Crown Media’s most recent updates, the project has secured significant funding and cleared major logistical and legal groundwork for production. The script has undergone careful refinement, and the team is now finalizing production details such as the director, lead cast, and shooting locations, with a particular emphasis on authenticity, cultural respect, and historical accuracy.

The Goal is Clear . . .

the Hudson Taylor movie will not only tell a powerful historical story but also serve as an inspirational catalyst for today’s audiences, encouraging viewers, especially younger generations, to reflect on their own faith, purpose, and impact in the world.

Why This Story Matters Today

More than a biographical drama, this film seeks to bridge cultural gaps and illuminate timeless truths about love, sacrifice, and devotion to a purpose greater than oneself. Taylor’s life was marked by resilience in the face of adversity, from political unrest and dangerous travel to profound personal losses — yet his faith never wavered. His belief that “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply” reflects not just a personal motto but a guiding principle for the film team as well.

As Half Crown Media puts it, this project is as much about inspiring mission and discipleship as it is about historical storytelling. The narrative is designed to resonate with believers and seekers alike, highlighting how ordinary people, yielded to God, can accomplish extraordinary things.

Join the Journey

The Hudson Taylor movie is now in the final stages of preparation for production, with filming expected to begin soon and plans underway for a global theatrical release. Whether you are passionate about history, global missions, or inspirational storytelling, this film promises to be a moving tribute to a life lived with purpose and faith.

Stay tuned as we continue to share updates, including casting announcements, production milestones, and release information. This is not just a film … it’s a story with the potential to shape hearts and inspire generations.

David Almgren – Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie Podcast

Teaching Kids Where God Lives: Lessons from the Ark

| Faith and Family Flicks News and Notes

Kids learn when the story feels big. Few stories in Scripture are bigger or more captivating than the Ark of the Covenant. To a child’s imagination, it feels like something out of an epic adventure: sacred, mysterious, powerful. But for ministry leaders, the Ark gives us something even more important, it helps us teach kids where God is and how close He really is.

The Ark of the Covenant was built at God’s direction during the Exodus. Made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, it carried the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s staff, and manna, physical reminders of God’s law, authority, and provision. More than what it held, the Ark represented who was present. Scripture tells us God met with Moses from above the mercy. seat, between the cherubim. For Israel, the Ark was a visible reminder that God was with them.

Where the Ark went, God’s people followed. When the priests stepped into the Jordan River, the waters parted. When the Ark was carried around Jericho, the walls fell. Even children can grasp this truth, when God goes before you, the way opens. At the same time, the Ark taught something else, God is holy. Access to His presence was limited. Only the high priest could approach, and only once a year. That separation reminded God’s people of both His holiness and humanity’s need for restoration. From the beginning, the Ark was never the end of the story, it was preparation for something greater.

Then, at some point, the Ark disappears. Scripture grows silent. Traditions and scholars suggest it was hidden, destroyed, or preserved in secret. This mystery has fascinated believers for generations and is explored in the upcoming docudrama Legends of the Lost Ark, coming to theaters nationwide on April 12, 14 and 15, 2026. The film invites families to explore not just where the Ark may have gone, but why its story still matters (https://www.legendsofthelostark.com/ ).

For children’s ministry leaders, that “why” is the key. The greatest lesson isn’t about uncovering a lost artifact. It’s about understanding what the Ark pointed to all along. The Ark foreshadowed Jesus, God’s presence no longer dwelling in a sacred box, but walking among us in flesh and blood.

When Jesus died, the curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. God’s presence was no longer restricted. Scripture now tells us believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t dwell behind a veil. He dwells within His people.

That truth is transformational for kids. When we teach children about the Ark, we’re not just teaching Bible history, we’re shaping faith and identity. God is near. God listens. God goes with them into every part of their lives.

As families rediscover the story of the Ark through Scripture and soon through Legends of the Lost Ark, we have a unique opportunity to connect ancient truth with everyday faith, the same God who dwelled among His people then still dwells with us today.

Dave Almgren – Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie Podcast

FaithandFamilyFlicks.com

Run Toward the Storm – What Cows and Bison Teach Us About Facing Trials

| Faith and Family Flicks News and Notes

What Cows and Bison Teach Us About Facing Trials. When a storm rolls across the plains of the Midwest, something fascinating happens. Cows and bison respond very differently.

It’s often observed that cattle, sensing the storm, turn and try to outrun it. But because storms typically move east, and cows run in the same direction, they can unintentionally prolong their exposure. They keep running… and the storm keeps chasing.

Bison, however, do the opposite. When they sense a storm coming, they turn and charge directly into it. By moving straight through the storm, they actually minimize the time spent in it. They face it head on.

Whether every meteorological detail is perfect or not, the picture is powerful — and spiritually revealing.

Because storms are inevitable.

Storms Are Not Optional in the Christian Life

Jesus never promised a storm-free life.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33

Whether you are faced with Health diagnoses. Family tension. Financial strain. Temptation that won’t seem to loosen its grip. Spiritual dryness. Cultural opposition. Storms come.

The question isn’t if. The question is how we respond.

The Cow Response: Avoidance

Our natural instinct is often to run.

We avoid hard conversations.
We ignore sin patterns hoping they disappear.
We distract ourselves from grief instead of processing it.
We postpone obedience because it feels uncomfortable.

But here’s the reality: What we avoid, we extend.

James writes:

“Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” — James 1:2–3

Notice it doesn’t say if you face trials. It says when.

When we try to outrun the storm, we often stay in it longer. Unaddressed sin deepens. Unresolved conflict festers. Avoided grief hardens the heart.

Running doesn’t remove the storm. It just exhausts us.

The Bison Response: Move Through It

Spiritually mature believers learn something counterintuitive:

Sometimes the fastest way through a storm… is straight into it.

That doesn’t mean recklessness. It means courage rooted in trust.

When conviction comes, we repent quickly.
When conflict arises, we pursue reconciliation.
When fear grips us, we lean into prayer.
When temptation hits, we confront it with truth.

David wrote:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” — Psalm 23:4

Notice the word: through. Not around. Not away from. Through. The valley is unavoidable — but it is not permanent.

Facing Temptation Head-On

When dealing with temptation, avoidance alone is rarely enough. We must replace lies with truth.

Paul tells us:

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” — Ephesians 6:11

Standing implies engagement.

Jesus Himself, when tempted in the wilderness, didn’t run. He confronted each temptation with Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11). Truth met the storm directly.

Running from temptation without renewing the mind leaves us vulnerable. But charging it with truth shortens its power over us.

Health and Family Storms

Some storms cannot be fixed — only endured.

A diagnosis. A prodigal child. A strained marriage. A ministry setback.

Charging into those storms doesn’t mean pretending they don’t hurt. It means refusing to let fear dictate our direction.

Peter reminds us:

“After you have suffered a little while, [God] will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” — 1 Peter 5:10

Storms are not punishment. Often, they are preparation.

Why We Can Face the Storm

The bison can charge the storm because they are built for it.

The Christian can face the storm because Christ has already faced the ultimate one.

At the cross, Jesus did not run from suffering. He walked straight into it — for us.

Isaiah writes:

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth.” — Isaiah 53:7

He absorbed the storm of sin so we would never face it alone.

That changes everything. We don’t face storms with self-confidence. We face them with Christ-confidence.

A Pastoral Challenge

When the next storm forms on your horizon, ask yourself:

Am I running from this… or moving faithfully through it?

It may be a hard conversation you need to initiate.
A sin you need to confess.
A habit you need to surrender.
A counseling appointment you need to schedule.
A prayer life you need to deepen.

The storm may still be fierce. The wind may still howl.

But when we face it with God at our side, we shorten its hold over our hearts.

Because storms shape us.

And sometimes, the fastest way to peace… is straight through the wind.

Dave Almgren – Two Pastors Popcorn and a Movie Podcast

Standing Against the World: A Film for Faith, Family, and the Fight for Truth

| Faith and Family Flicks News and Notes

Faith isn’t just something we whisper about in quiet moments, it’s something worth standing up for in a culture that often questions everything we hold dear. That’s exactly the journey Standing Against the World invites us to take.

Beginning February 11, 2026, Standing Against the World will be streaming on FaithAndFamilyFlicks.com, bringing a powerful message to families, churches, ministries, and anyone wrestling with the big questions of faith and truth.

🎬 More Than a Film — It’s a Call to Courage

At its core, Standing Against the World isn’t just a documentary, it’s a faith mission on screen. Hosted by acclaimed actor and producer Kevin Sorbo and scholar Professor John Lennox, the film travels to universities and even to Israel to explore one of the biggest challenges facing believers today: how do we defend the Christian faith with both heart and reason?

The film tackles a sobering reality: many young adults today are turning away from biblical truth, citing evolution and skepticism as reasons to doubt the reliability of Scripture. This film doesn’t shy away from that conversation, it confronts it head-on.

In exploring the evidence for faith, from science to history, Kevin and Professor Lennox dig into real questions people are asking, inviting viewers into a journey of discovery, not just belief.

🎤 Insights from My Interview with Kevin Sorbo

When we sat down with Kevin for Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie Podcast, what stood out most wasn’t just his Hollywood background, it was his heart for people, especially younger generations.

Kevin shared how important it is not just to know what you believe, but to understand why you believe and to be equipped to share that with others. He spoke passionately about courage, conviction, and the need for Christians to engage thoughtfully with culture rather than retreat from it.

He talked about how meaningful it has been to work on projects that change lives, not just entertain. For Kevin, films like Standing Against the World are a way of carrying hope into spaces where people are wrestling with doubt, confusion, or simply curiosity.

🌍 Why This Film Matters Today

In an era where faith is often marginalized or misunderstood, Standing Against the World stands as a reminder that belief is neither blind nor outdated, it’s thoughtful, rooted in evidence, and deeply relevant.

This isn’t a film only for theologians or scholars. It’s a resource for:

  • Parents wanting to talk with their kids about faith
  • Church groups exploring apologetics
  • Friends curious about the relationship between science and Scripture
  • Anyone searching for meaning in a complex world

And because it’s now available on FaithAndFamilyFlicks.com starting February 11, you can watch it wherever your family gathers, whether that’s the living room, small group night, or youth group discussion.

📌 Stream It With Purpose

Films have the power to open hearts and spark conversation, but Standing Against the World goes beyond entertainment. It’s a tool, a conversation starter, and an invitation to explore faith with confidence.

We hope you’ll watch it, discuss it, and use it to help equip your family and community with the courage to stand firm, even when the world pushes back.

📅 Starts Streaming on https://faithandfamilyflicks.com/ — February 11, 2026

Dave Almgren – Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie Podcast