Film Review: Lifemark

If you are reading this review on the Sabbath, then I would like to wish you a Sabbath filled the confidence that God hears prayers, when we seek Him with all our heart.

This week’s review is for the film Lifemark, which is based on a short adoption documentary called, I Lived on Parker Avenue.

Description

David's comfortable world is turned upside down when his birthmother unexpectedly reaches out to him, longing to meet the 18-year-old son she's only held once.

This is a well made and beautiful film about the painful decisions of abortion and adoption and their impact on the life of the potential parents and the wider circle of people whom they know and don’t know.

Most importantly though, it’s a film about how God’s hand plays a role in everyone’s lives. No life is untouched by God, since He created life and has a plan for each and every human being He has created.

It’s a film about the power of faith and prayer - it’s moving, inspirational and you naturally want to follow-up by watching the actual documentary it was based on,  I Lived on Parker Avenue - which I did, right after the film.

There are several things that struck me about the testimony of I Lived on Parker Avenue.  It’s important to have an open heart, so that we hear the voice of God, that speaks through the channel of our conscience. Prayer is paramount in a world that is broken by sin.  No matter what we do, nothing can separate us from God’s love, which is in Christ Jesus (that’s a wonderful promise that can be found in Romans 8:39).

Lifemark and the documentary it is based on, made me think about how we can make the choice to be adopted.  We can chose to be part of God’s kingdom, through faith in Jesus Christ, as opposed to choosing the life that a sinful world offers.  So that through faith, we are assured of eternal life when Jesus Christ returns.

Deuteronomy 30:19 says, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.  Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.  

Ephesians 1:3-14:  3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

I watched, Lifemark, on christiancinema.com and, I Lived on Parker Avenue, on ilivedonparkerave.com

Thank you for reading this review.  Until next time - peace be with you.

Thumbnail: www.kendrickbrothers.com

Lifemark film link: christiancinema.com

Documentary: www.ilivedonparkerave.com

David Scotton’s website: www.davidscotton.com