Unexpected Second Chance Found in Home Run
Have you ever been given a second chance? At life? In love? In any aspect of your day to day where you thought you may never get one? An unexpected second chance can come in so many different areas of our life. We seek forgiveness and beg for redemption. A “do-over” with mistakes or a simple rewind in our circumstances.
Home Run
I was recently given the opportunity to watch Home Run the movie with my pastor and church staff. Home Run comes to theaters April 19, 2013. The movie stars Scott Elrod as Cory Brand, a baseball star trying to desperately overcome his tumultuous childhood. An alcoholic, abusive father left a lasting impression on Cory’s life that has led him down a path of self-destruction.
Baseball all-star Cory Brand knows what it takes to win in the big leagues. But off the field, with memories of his past haunting him, his life is spiraling out of control.
Hoping to save her client’s career and reputation after a DUI and a team suspension, Cory’s agent sends him back to the small town where he grew up. Forced to coach the local youth baseball team and spend eight weeks in the only recovery program in town, Cory can’t wait to return to his old life as quickly as possible.
Cory’s agent, Helene Landy (played by Vivica A. Fox), searches the small town he is staying in and finds the only program available: Celebrate Recovery. Given no other choice, Cory has to attend the meetings. It is through the Christian 12 Steps, life events, and his own determination to change that Cory is finally able to begin to heal.
Watching Home Run the movie with our church staff, I was able to better understand the idea behind Celebrate Recovery. I knew that our church had offered the program was not completely aware of the magnitude to which it could help others. The ministry focuses on the “hurts, hangups, and habits” of its members. As Cory quickly learned, that means much more than alcoholism, drug addiction, or anger management. We learn that past hurts and modern day temptations can bring people into the ministry meetings.
There were 8 of us present at our little viewing party. We sat in our youth room and played the movie on 2 overhead TV screens, as well as the projector on the wall. We sat and intensely watched each scene and had a great discussion afterward. The movie was well-received and we all agreed on how good it was. The acting was superb and the cinematography was spot on. Overall we all agreed that we are excited about seeing it in theaters next month and pray that it does well.
Second Chance
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven.” ~Matthew 18:21-22 (HCSB)
You can find information on the theaters carrying the movie on the Home Run website. If the movie is not currently scheduled to play in your selected city, and you have at least one 8-screen theater near you, there is a possibility of bringing the movie to your city. If you, your church, business, or other organization will guarantee at least 1,000 tickets will be sold for opening weekend (April 19-21), the Batting 1000 Program can bring Home Run to your local theater.