Calling all “Courageous” men
The CBMC of Oklahoma City, the folks that put on the popular Metro Prayer Breakfast each year, is hosting a four-session discussion series for men, based on the faith-themed film “Courageous.” 
The first session is tonight at 7 p.m. at the Paul Thompson Event Center, 10 E Memorial Road.
“Courageous” premiered in theaters Sept. 30. It tells the story of four law enforcement officers who are challenged to be better fathers. The movie explores the themes of manhood and fatherhood and what it means to be courageous.
For more information, call 749-9418.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Behind the scenes of “Courageous”
“Courageous,” the new feature film from Sherwood Pictures, is set to premiere on Sept. 30.
Lots of Oklahoma churches have indicated they will support the film when it hits the big screen.
A cable channel is offering a behind-the-scenes look of the movie’s filming tonight. “The Making of Courageous” premieres on the Gospel Music Channel, also known as GMC, at 7 p.m. tonight. A bonus showing is set to air at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25.
The faith-inspired movie tells the story of of four law enforcement officers as they are challenged to be better fathers.
“The Making of Courageous” shows how 1,500 volunteers worked with a professional crew to create the movie
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
‘Soul Surfer’ news
I’ve heard a lot of people talk about the faith-themed movie “Soul Surfer” in the last few weeks since the film made it to the big screen. 
The movie tells the true story of young surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack, and her return to surfing afterwards.
Well, in the middle of everything else going on last week, I got a chance to talk with Sarah Hill, the young woman who was Hamilton’s youth ministry leader and friend at North Shore Christian Church in Kauai, Hawaii.
In “Soul Surfer,” Oklahoma’s own Carrie Underwood portrays Hill.
Hill visited Oklahoma City to speak at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma’s women’s conference April 15-16 at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center near Davis. The conference was held the same weekend as the Women of Joy conference at the Jim Norick State Fair Arena.
I covered Sarah Palin’s presentation at the Women of Joy conference and I know there were thousands of women there. I know some of them might not have been able to attend the Baptist conference because of that.
I’m sharing my chat with Hill in Saturday’s Life section of The Oklahoman. I found that she has an interesting story all her own.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Brooks Douglass on ‘The View’
Former Sen. Brooks Douglass and his sister Leslie were recently featured on the daytime talk show “The View.” 
Douglass (pictured at right) co-wrote and produced the film “Heaven’s Rain” about the 1979 night his parents were murdered and he and his sister were shot.
Here’s a story from the Associated Baptist Press about his appearance on “The View” with his sister: “Filmmaker discusses faith, forgiveness on ‘The View.’”
Many Oklahomans already know that Brooks Douglass’ parents Richard and Marilyn Douglass served as Christian missionaries in Brazil. The Rev. Richard Douglass was pastor of Putnam City Baptist Church at the time of his death.
The former state legislator’s movie about that night and its aftermath seems to be reaching a wide audience. I know that was his hope: To reach people with a message about grace and forgiveness triumphing over evil.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Former senator to discuss his movie “Heaven’s Rain” on national TV
Former state Sen. Brooks Douglass (pictured) is scheduled to discuss his movie “Heaven’s Rain” on a special two-hour NBC Dateline episode set to air at 8 p.m. Friday. 
Douglass is scheduled to promote the Dateline episode with an appearance on NBC’s Today show, which on Friday morning. The Today show airs at 7 a.m.
The Dateline episode will focus on the brutal 1979 attack on the Douglass family in their rural Oklahoma home, in which two criminals claimed the lives of Brooks Douglass’ father and mother, the Rev. Richard Douglass and Marilyn Douglass. Brooks Douglass, who was 16 at the time of the attack, and his sister Leslie, who was 12, survived the attack and eventually testified against the men who killed their parents.
Douglass went on to become a state senator, serving in the state Legislature for 12 years. He sponsored numerous peices of victims’ rights legislation during that time.
He co-wrote, produced and starred in the feature film “Heaven’s Rain,” which enjoyed a premiere and and limited run in Oklahoma and Los Angeles, Calif., in September 2010. Douglass told NewsOK’s Angi Bruss that the movie is set to open in more theaters in Oklahoma and Texas at the end of January and nationwide sometime in March.
Much of the movie was filmed in Oklahoma and features some well-known Oklahoma sites such as the state Capitol building, the Governor’s Mansion, the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester and First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City.
Douglass, who now lives in Los Angeles, Calif., has proven in several interviews with The Oklahoman and other media that he is a willing to talk about one of the most horrible times of his life. He has done so with a grace and dignity that many people might not be able to muster in the aftermath of such a tragedy.
“Heaven’s Rain” was directed and co-written by Paul Brown and stars Douglass as his father Richard Douglass, Mike Vogel who portrays teen and young adult Brooks Douglass, Taryn Manning (who now stars in the TV show “Hawaii Five-O”) portrays Leslie Douglass and Kelly Curran portrays Marilyn Douglass, Brooks Douglass’ mother.
For more information on the Dateline episode, visit: Dateline: Brooks Douglass and “Heaven’s Rain.”
For more information about the movie, visit: www.heavensrainmovie.com.
For Brooks Douglass interview with NewsOK’s Angie Bruss, visit: “Brooks Douglass discusses his new movie.”
For my stories on the former senator and “Heaven’s Rain,” visit: “Feeling Heaven’s Rain.”
“Former state senator shares and bares his soul in ‘Heaven’s Rain.’”
“Movie Review: ‘Heaven’s Rain’ tells story of former state senator’s parents’ murders.” 
Photo caption: Brooks Douglass, portrays his father, the Rev. Richard Douglass, and Nicolas Braico portrays young Brooks in the feature film “Heaven’s Rain.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
And one more thing: Carrie Underwood has connection to “Voyage of the Dawn Treader”
How is the upcoming “Chronicles of Narnia” movie linked to Oklahoma native and country music superstar Carrie Underwood? 
Well, a new single by Underwood will be featured on the “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” soundtrack to be released in November. That tidbit of news comes from the Facebook page for the “Voyage” film set for a Dec. 10 premiere. 
According to the movie’s Facebook page, Underwood’s song will be featured on the movie’s end credits. The song is called “There’s A Place for Us” according to David Hodges (He was one of the co-writers with Underwood and Hillary Lindsey), one of the people related to the project, and is to be released as an iTunes exclusive on Nov. 16.
The soundtrack is set for release on Dec. 7, according to Amazon.com.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Focus on the Family offers “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” contest
Last night, my daughter asked me about the “Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” the next feature film in the “Chronicles of Narnia” movie series.
Then I received word today of a new contest related to the upcoming movie. 
So I guess it’s time to see what updates are available about the latest ”Narnia” film and the new contest.
“Voyage of the Dawn Treader” is set to premiere Dec. 10 in theaters nationwide. If you are interested in viewing one of the official movie trailers, click here: “Voyage trailer” and scroll down once you click on the link.
Now about the contest. To participate in Focus on the Family’s “Focus on Christmas” contest, tell in 200 words or less who is your favorite “Narnia” character and why you would like to go to the ”Voyage of the Dawn Treader” London movie premiere.
One winner will receive a trip for two to the London premiere.
For more information about the contest, visit “Focus on Christmas.”
The “Narnia” films are based on the beloved children’s fiction book series by author and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis. Incidentally, there’s still a lot of discussion on the Internet about the merits of Walden Media making all seven of the books in the series into movies. Some folks argue that all of them may not translate well on the big screen while others are saying it will be a dream come true if all the books are made into film so they can have a complete movie set.
Also, here’s something else. The Internet Movie Database has a special link devoted to “Voyage.” Get connected to it here: “Voyage of the Dawn Treader.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
“Eat, Pray, Love” star Julia Roberts discovers Hinduism
Julia Roberts, the star of the new feature film “Eat, Pray, Love” has declared that she is a practicing Hindu.
The movie star made the announcement in the September edition of Elle magazine. Apparently several news outlets in India have already been reporting this since the star discovered her affinity for Hinduism while filming “Eat, Pray, Love,” which premieres today in theaters.
The New York Daily News reported that Roberts was raised as a Christian (Baptist father, Catholic mother).
Her announcement is the subject of several blog postings and news articles.
Here’s a sampling of some of them:
USA Today’s Faith and Reason blog: “Julia Roberts Hindu? Who Knew?!”
New York Daily News: “Julia Roberts Now a Practicing Hindu”
The Washington Post’s On Faith religion blog: “Julia Roberts is Hindu, just like so much in America.”
GetReligion.org: “Julia Roberts’ Hindu practice”
(AP Photo: This Sept. 22, 2009 file photo shows actress Julia Roberts, right, with ashram owner Swami Dharmdev at Hari Mandir Ashram in Pataudi on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, while Roberts was shooting “Eat, Pray, Love”.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
A minister’s perspective of Comic-Con
Christianity Today’s online component featured an interesting article by Tony Kim (pictured), a Irvine, Calif. pastor who is a regular attendee of Comic-Con. 
Kim, pastor of Newchurch, has some interesting comments to share about the pop culture convention that draws thousands each year.
Here’s what he had to say: “A Comic-Con Recap from a ‘Pastor of the Nerds’.
(AP Photo: Photographers take pictures of Comic-Con attendees dressed as their favorite super heroes during the 2010 convention in San Diego, Calif.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
“Pope Joan” movie making waves
A movie about a female pope is causing a stir among some in the faith community.
I wonder if it is causing contention because it brings up questions about things people would rather not talk about, ala “The Da Vinci Code.”
The German film is based on a book that was written about a mysterious legend that holds that a woman disguised herself as a man and rose to the rank of pope of the Roman Catholic Church for as long as two years.
It sounds intriguing and far-fetched — and those stories apparently make for the most-talked about movies.
Read more here: “Pope Joan”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
