LOVE IS IN THE AIR AT UP!

UP ORIGINAL MOVIE

LOVE FINDS YOU IN VALENTINE

To Premiere This Valentine’s Day

February 14 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST

STARS DIOGO MORGADO (SON OF GOD, “THE MESSENGERS”),

MICHAELA McMANUS (“AQUARIUS,” “ONE TREE HILL”),

LINDSAY WAGNER (THE PAPER CHASE, “THE BIONIC WOMAN”) AND ED ASNER (UP, “THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW”)

Based on the Popular Book by Irene Brand, Movie is Third Installment in UP’s Highly Rated “Loves Find You” Movie Franchise

Pasadena, CA / Television Critics Association - January 5, 2016  – Building on its successful “Love Finds You” movie franchise, the original UP Premiere movie Love Finds You In Valentine (#LoveFindsYou), a sweeping romantic drama set in scenic Nebraska, will premiere on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST. Based on the popular book by Irene Brand, the movie stars Diogo Morgado (Son Of God, “The Messengers”), Michaela McManus (“Aquarius,” “One Tree Hill”), Lindsay Wagner (The Paper Chase, “The Bionic Woman”) and Ed Asner (Up, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”).

In Love Finds You In Valentine, law student Kennedy Blaine (Michaela McManus) inherits a ranch in the smalltown of Valentine, Nebraska. She travels to Valentine with the intentof selling the ranch, but is drawn to the area’s beauty – and to the ranch foreman, Derek Sterling (Diogo Morgado).  Putting her life in L.A. on hold, she decides to spend some time ather ancestral home and, despite a long-standing feud, to reconnectwith family members, including her grandfather, Gabriel Morgan (Ed Asner). But soon Kennedy is subjected to harassment by someone who clearly wants her to leave Valentine. Depending on Derek and his mother June’s (Lindsay Wagner) assistance, she sets out to discover who is behind the offenses.  But when her search reveals painful details about her family and raises questions about Derek’s own past, will Kennedy still want to know the truth?

“We are excited to bring viewers the third movie in our highly successful ‘Love Finds You’ franchise this Valentine’s Day,” said Barbara Fisher, svp, original programming, UP. “The tremendously talented cast shines in this picturesque movie about finding yourself and finding love.”

The first movie in UP’s “Love Finds You” franchise was the hit Love Finds You In Sugarcreek, a romantic mystery/suspense drama set in Amish country, starring Tom Everett Scott (That Thing You Do!, “Southland”), Sarah Lancaster (“Chuck,” “Everwood”) and Golden Globe^®- and BAFTA-nominated actress Kelly McGillis (Witness, Top Gun). The second movie in the franchise, Love Finds You In Charm, debuted on UP last summer and starred Trevor Donovan (Texas Rising, “90210”), Danielle Chuchran (Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, UP’s Nowhere Safe), Drew Fuller (“Army Wives,” “Charmed”) and Tiffany Dupont (Born to Race: Fast Track, “Greek”).  Leading into the premiere on February 14, UP will be airing Love Finds You in Sugarcreek at 3 p.m. EST and Love Finds You in Charm at 5 p.m. EST.

Author Irene Brand’s goal of being a writer was conceived at an early age in her rural home in West Virginia. In the early 70's, she started publishing in historical, religious, and general magazines.  During that time, she also edited and compiled two church histories. She has written Sunday school curriculum, edited a two-year series of mission curriculum, and her works have appeared in five program-material anthologies.  She has written 43 works of fiction and has had four non-fiction books published.  Her first inspirational romance was published in 1984.

The “Love Finds You™” book series was launched in October 2008 by Guideposts imprint Summerside Press with the goal to give readers a taste of local life across America.  Each of the almost 60 novels to date – by revolving authors -  draws on the compelling history or unique character of a real place. Learn more at www.ShopGuideposts.org/love-finds-you.

UP presents Love Finds You In Valentine, a George Shamieh production.  Starring Diogo Morgado, Michaela McManus, Lindsay Wagner and Ed Asner.  Produced by George Shamieh.  Executive produced by Chevonne O’Shaughnessy and Cindy Bond.  Directed by Curtis Grey.  Casting by Lillian Pyles.  Director of Photography is Adam White.  Editor is Brett Hedlund.  Adapted screenplay by Bryar Freed-Golden, based on the book by Irene Brand.

Follow our cast and author at:    

·         www.UPtv.com  

·         Diogo Morgado on Twitter @D_Morgado

·         Michaela McManus on Twitter @MichaelaMcManus

·         Lindsay Wagner on Twitter @mslindsaywagner and online at www.lindsaywagnerinternational.com 

·         Ed Asner on Twitter @TheOnlyEdAsner

·         Irene Brand online at www.irenebrand.com

About UP

UP is television's trusted entertainment brand dedicated to providing viewers with "feel good TV for you and your family."  UP uplifts viewers every day with premiere movies, original reality, dramatic and comedy series filled with compelling stories and characters with character. In keeping with its brand promise, UP’s pro-social initiative, “Uplift Someone,” inspires people to do simple, everyday acts of kindness.  UP can be seen in 70 million homes on cable systems and satellite providers across the United States. Based in Atlanta, UP is a division of UP Entertainment, LLC.

Follow UP on the Web at www.UPtv.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UPtv, Twitter on @UPtv and Instagram at UP_TV.

Mission Pictures

Mission Pictures is a worldwide sales, finance, and distribution company that specializes in high quality family and faith-based entertainment for mainstream audiences worldwide.  Founded in 2008 by Cindy Bond and Chevonne O’Shaughnessy, MP’s primary focus and commitment is to create and build a trusted and vibrant brand of entertaining and life-affirming feature film and television programming. With our unique vision, passion and expertise we are able to strategically and effectively maximize our brand within the global marketplace.

Q&A with Elizabeth Oates Author of If You Could See as Jesus Sees Part 1

From the outside, she has it all together. She’s committed to her family, her friends, and her church. Her Instagram account is an inspiration. But behind every carefully worded post and perfectly posed picture is a woman tormented by the voice in her head: Am I pretty enough? Smart enough? Thin enough? Good enough? Success­ful enough? Am I ever enough? Author and speaker Elizabeth Oates knows that voice all too well.


Q: If You Could See as Jesus Sees was written to reach women who struggle with self-worth. How common is this problem?

A: I think most women—from ages ten to one hundred—wrestle with feelings of inadequacy, doubt, worthlessness, hopelessness, and even self-loathing at some point in their lives. We scorn our bodies, our faces, or our hair. Maybe we even dislike ourselves at our core: our personalities, our gifts, our talents, and our souls. So we spend days, if not years, comparing ourselves to our friends or media celebrities and daydreaming about a different life. Eventually, we morph into an existence vaguely similar to ourselves, yet not quite us. We alter our behavior to please others. We dress like our friends or emulate what we see in InStyle magazine. We may even change our appearance through plastic surgery. Before we know it, we are just an empty shell of our true selves, mere imposters of the women God created.
The details vary from woman to woman. Yet, for each of us, a common thread weaves through our stories: the grand story of the fall. Think back to Eve in the Garden of Eden. She lived in paradise with her loving husband, Adam, and her devoted God. They enjoyed constant fellowship with their Creator. Then the deceitful serpent entered the stage. Listening to his empty promises and twisted propaganda, Eve succumbed to his lies, and women have been believing those lies ever since. We view ourselves through our own distorted lenses of self-loathing, ugliness, shame, and discontentment instead of Jesus’ lenses of love, beauty, redemption, and generosity.

Q: The topic of social media comes up often in this book. How do Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media sites negatively affect some women?

A: Have you ever mindlessly surfed Facebook, only to shut your lap­top, feeling lonely, useless, and discouraged? It’s tough not to succumb to jealousy, envy, greed—and even despair—when we are inundated with our friends’ vacation photos, dream homes, new cars, job promotions, and all the other exciting things people want to celebrate. We are left feeling as if we are living a less-than-stellar life. For the woman who already struggles with a negative self-image, those posts are a constant reminder of the many ways she doesn’t measure up. Social media has become a driving force in our culture, but it doesn’t reflect reality. It’s the highlight reel. We see people living life seamlessly—the perfect family, the perfect house, the perfect job, the perfect faith—and we wonder, “What am I doing wrong? Why am I not married yet? Why am I not pregnant yet? Why don’t I live in my dream home?”  What we don’t see underneath those beaming Facebook posts is the crumbling marriage, the house in foreclosure, the credit card debt, and the I’ll-show-up-for-church-on-Sunday-morning-but-don’t-you-dare-ask-me-do-to-anything-riskier kind of faith.

About the Author:

Elizabeth Oates is an author and speaker who encourages, inspires, and equips a new generation of women seeking a deeper relationship with Christ. She is a cliché Generation Xer from a broken home who once searched for purpose and significance apart from Jesus Christ. Today she devotes her life to spreading the message that we are not defined by our past; our God is bigger than our broken family trees and stronger than the sins that weigh us down.

Elizabeth lives out her faith and passion not only through her writing but in hands-on ministry as well. She and her husband offer pre-marital education to engaged couples through Legacy Family Ministries and also founded Project Restoration Ministry, which offers affordable Christian counseling and mentoring for married couples in Central Texas.

Elizabeth’s writing includes a Bible study for teens, Dealing with Divorce: Finding Direction When Your Parents Split Up. Since 2008 she has written a monthly faith column for Waco Today Magazine, and she regularly blogs about life and faith. Elizabeth is among the experts featured in the DivorceCare DVD curriculum along with Dave Ramsey, Anne Graham Lotz, and others. She earned a B.A. from Baylor University and received her M.A. in Christian Education with a focus in Marriage and Family Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary.

A.D. 33 by Ted Dekker - REVIEWED

About the Book:

They call her the Queen of the Outcasts. Maviah, a woman whose fate was sealed on her birth by this world-unwanted, illegitimate, female, a slave-subject to the whims of all. But then she met a man named Yeshua who opened her eyes. She found strength in his words, peace from the brutal world around her. Because of what he taught her, she has gathered her own traveling kingdom of outcasts deep in the desert, wielding an authority few have seen. But when her growing power threatens the rulers around her, they set out to crush all she loves, leaving her reeling as a slave once more. She must find Yeshua to save her people, but when she does, she will be horrified to discover that he faces his own death.


Enter a story full of intrigue, heart-wrenching defeat, uncompromising love and staggering victory…one that re-examines everything you thought you knew about the heart of Jesus’s stunning message and the power that follows for those who follow his easily forgotten way.

My Thoughts:

"Oh that everyone would know the Father!  Oh that all would see what I saw and know as I knew such boundless rivers of love for all who were weary and downtrodden in this life!  that they would taste the fruit of Yeshua and see that He is good.  That this taste would forever wash away the bitter taste of the fruit that had opened their eyes to darkness and grievance."  (p. 351)

This is the essence of the journey you will walk with Maviah as she experiences the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Christ.  The events that lead up to the events in Jerusalem are enough to turn most hearts from the truth that Maviah has already experienced in A.D. 30.  Now, as she witnesses the crucifixion, you too will understand the price that was paid for sin and the power of serving a resurrected Savior!

I've underlined. I've wept.  I've rejoiced.  These two books are an answer to prayer in my life, and I will be forever grateful that Ted Dekker wrote these novels and shared them with the world.  God is going to bless his socks off for his obedience!  Lives will be eternally transformed by these novels!  I am rejoicing today after reading this novel!  I cannot begin to recommend this highly enough!!

About the Author:

Ted Dekker (born October 24, 1962) is a New York Times best-selling author of over thirty five novels. He is best known for stories which could be broadly described as suspense thrillers with major twists and unforgettable characters, though he has also made a name for himself among fantasy fans. Ted’s latest work, a historical fiction based on the teachings of Jesus, is a radical departure from previous outings and is receiving critical acclaim.

Ted Dekker - A.D. 33

Occupying my heart and mind!!

FOURTEEN YEAR OLD BLIND AND AUTISTIC YOUTUBE SENSATION CHRISTOPHER DUFFLEY TO BE FEATURED ON ABC TELEVISION SPECIAL TONIGHT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 22, 2015) - YouTube sensation Christopher Duffley, whose August 2015 performance of the National Anthem at Fenway Park has been named one of the most exciting viral videos of the year, will make multiple appearances in the national media this month. The fourteen-year-old singer, who is blind and has autism, will be featured on the ABC television network special, The Year: 2015, which is set to air tonight, and is also featured in this month's issue of Sports Illustrated Kids magazine. Christopher brought fans and players at Boston's historic Fenway Park to their feet when he performed the national anthem prior to the Major League Baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox. His heartfelt rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" not only captured the hearts of fans at the stadium, but a video of his performance blew up on social media outlets and caught the attention of both local and national media. The video was so exciting and inspiring that ABC News has included it in its Most Exciting Viral Videos segment of the news program's year end recap special, The Year: 2015, hosted by Good Morning America News Anchor Robin Roberts, which will air on the ABC television network tonight, Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 8 pm Eastern, and again on Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 3 pm Eastern. Check local listings for details. Sports Illustrated Kids magazine has highlighted Christopher's performance in its year end double issue under its "Moments to Shine" section. Christopher's performance originally went viral once the Associated Press broke the story, gaining coverage in such high profile media outlets as Sports Illustrated, ESPN, MLB.com, The Bleacher Report, Fox News, ABC affiliate station WMUR, The Boston Globe, USA Today and Telemundo New York, among many others. Christopher's August 2015 performance marked the third time Christopher has sung the National Anthem at Fenway, but this one was a bit more special for the young singer, as it capped off the weekend celebration of the release of his second CD, Believer. The follow-up to Christopher's wildly successful and inspirational debut, Eyes of My Heart, Believer focuses on life rooted in faith that transcends physical disabilities. The project is currently available online from Christopher's website, christopherduffley.com, and other online retailers including iTunes via digital download. "God has used Christopher and our family to touch the world in a special and unimaginable way," says Christine Duffley, Christopher's mother. "With over 5 million collective views on Youtube, Christopher's music has taken on new meaning for us and all who hear the voice of a child whose autism and blindness point us to what really matters in life." Christopher, who is currently touring in support of Believer, has previously been featured by media outlets including The Huffington Post and The Blaze. The YouTube video of his performance of "Open the Eyes of My Heart" has garnered more than 7.5 million views worldwide.    For more information about Duffley and Believer, visit christopherduffley.com, like on Facebook (facebook.com/ChristopherDuffley) or follow on Twitter (@ChrisDuffley). About Christopher Duffley:  Christopher Duffley entered this world with only a 50 percent chance of survival. Born prematurely at 26 weeks, Christopher weighed just 1 lb., 12 oz. and tested positive for cocaine. Miraculously, he survived, but an eye condition, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a disease that affects the eyes of many premature babies, rendered him totally blind by the time he was 6 months old. Due to his birth parents' inability to care for him because of their drug dependency, Christopher was discharged from the hospital into foster care. But Christopher's struggles were not the end of the story. When his biological aunt and her husband, Christine and Stephen Duffley, learned that Christopher was in foster care, they sought him out. Once they located the child, they brought him home to New Hampshire to be part of their family.

By the time he reached 5 years old, Duffley had been diagnosed with autism. Although he had rarely conversed until he reached the first grade, Duffley's adopted mother, Christine, had noticed his ability to make rhythmic noises and keep beat, and he had begun to pick out songs on the piano by age 3. Because of this natural affinity, music therapy was a logical choice to help Christopher Duffley learn to communicate, which Christine Duffley says he did more often by singing than talking. And, when he sang, it was in perfect pitch. Duffley's story as a popular entertainer began when a video of the then 10-year-old Duffley singing "Open The Eyes of My Heart" at the Capitol Center for the Performing Arts in New Hampshire went viral, garnering more than 8.7 million views on YouTube. News of his remarkable talent spread like wildfire, culminating in Duffley singing the national anthem for the Boston Red Sox baseball team at Fenway Park. Demand for Duffley to release a CD swelled, propelling the young  singer and his family to travel to Nashville to work with Dove Award-winning producer, songwriter and  arranger Steven V. Taylor (Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, Kirk Franklin). The result was an 11-song compilation of inspirational, patriotic and sacred songs, titled Eyes Of My Heart, that reaches deep into listeners' hearts and encourages them to see with new eyes. Duffley's followup project, Believer, released Saturday, August 15, 2015.  "Although the circumstances have been difficult and we have had challenges, we have found much joy and so many more blessings," says Christine Duffley. "Family life is imperfect and messy, and it has been a journey of love, forgiveness and abandonment. Through it all, however, we are grateful that Christopher's biological parents chose life and, now, God is using this life to touch the world for Christ." For more information about Duffley and Believer, visit christopherduffley.com, like on Facebook (facebook.com/ChristopherDuffley) or follow on Twitter (@ChrisDuffley ).

More Than Conquerors by William Hendriksen - Review

About the Book:

With an uninterrupted printing history since it was first published in 1939, this treasured interpretation of the book of Revelation has served as a solid resource and source of inspiration for generations. Using sound principles of interpretation, William Hendriksen unfolds the mysteries of the apocalypse gradually, always with the purpose of showing that "we are more than conquerors through Christ." 

Both beginning and advanced students of the Scriptures will find here the inspiration to face a restless and confusing world with a joyful, confident spirit, secure in the knowledge that God reigns and is coming again soon. This straightforward interpretation makes a helpful resource for pastors, teachers, students, and anyone who desires a deeper understanding of the Scriptures.

My Thoughts:

That a book would remain published for  75 years after its first private printing is reason enough to explore its contents.  And, frankly, that is all that I’ve had time to do – explore.  What I’ve found is a book rich in knowledge from a mind that is truly seeking to know God’s will and His way of living.

The book of Revelation is a book that has garnered exploration from the finest minds in scholarly history.  More Than Conquerors uses Bible references over and over again as the basis for any conclusions drawn about the meaning of the contents of this particular book of the Bible.  Hendriksen’s bibliography is lengthy, and it is clear his desire was to be as in pursuit of God’s truth as the author of the book of Revelation – John.

This is a very scholarly work, but it is written so clearly that even a layman will benefit from the knowledge it contains.  This is a must have for any Bible scholar!

About the Author:
William Hendriksen (ThD, Princeton Theological Seminary) was professor of New Testament literature at Calvin Theological Seminary.

Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray - REVIEWED

About the book: 

Whispers in the Reading Room (Zondervan, November 2015)

Lydia's job at the library is her world---until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks-the man so many people fear-is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

Buy your copy here. 

My Thoughts:

“Words are only words.  Sometime they are not enough.”  (p. 328)

1894 found Lydia Bancroft in a rather uncomfortable and unexpected position in her life.  There were many uncertainties before her, and, like many if not all women of that era, the only escape from her circumstance was to marry well.  That prospect was as uncertain as every other circumstance she was facing, and the reality of her relational status seemed every bit as fictional as the books she loaned her reading room patrons.

Don’t you just love a library, the quiet peacefulness to enjoy endless adventures between the pages of a good novel?  Lydia loves it too, and she is especially drawn to her patron Sebastian Marks.  He begins as a mere observer in the novel, but he quickly becomes almost too involved in Lydia’s affairs.  In fact, he seems to almost bully his way into her life circumstances, and for the longest time the reader is unable to discover his true intent and purpose.  For you see, he lives a double existence most of the novel, and though he longs for things to be different, he feels as trapped as Lydia for totally different reasons!

This has been the most engaging, intriguing book I’ve read lately, and I’ve been totally transported back in time to enjoy the historic era, and, most importantly, the reading room.  I am very excited to recommend this book to readers everywhere!  You will be completely engaged from beginning to end, and you will come to care a great deal about this very eclectic group of characters. All is not as it seems!!  Enjoy!! 

About the Author:

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.

Connect with Shelley at her website, Twitter, and Facebook.