Movie Review: It's a Wonderful Life - Kingdom Story Series Episode 5

Summary

Summary of The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast: Movie Review - It's a Wonderful Life (Kingdom Story Series Episode 5)

Release Date: December 20, 2024

In Episode 5 of The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, titled "Movie Review: It's a Wonderful Life - Kingdom Story Series Episode 5," hosts Candace Cameron Bure (B) and her co-host Andy Irwin (A) delve deep into the timeless classic "It's a Wonderful Life," exploring its historical significance, personal connections, and the profound lessons it offers about failure, perspective, and faith. This episode seamlessly intertwines cinematic analysis with heartfelt personal narratives, providing listeners with both insightful commentary and inspiring life lessons.

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1. The Journey of "It's a Wonderful Life"

The episode opens with a candid discussion about the initial reception of "It's a Wonderful Life." Andy Irwin shares, "[00:00] It was a box office flop." This stark revelation sets the stage for a compelling narrative about how a film initially met with commercial failure can later achieve beloved classic status.

Re-release and Resurgence:
Andy elaborates on the film's resurgence decades after its original release. "[00:24] But years later in re-release that Christmas, people started watching it and it caught on in the early 80s and it became like beloved and get out." Candace echoes this sentiment, expressing her surprise at the movie's enduring popularity, highlighting how timing and tradition play pivotal roles in a film's legacy.

2. Personal Connections to the Classic

Candace shares a touching personal anecdote that underscores the film's significance in her life. She reminisces about the Alabama Theater in Birmingham, Alabama—a historic venue where her grandparents had their first date and where she shared her first date with her partner, Mandy. "[02:34] And watching it with a crowd of 3,000 people and watching them experience something they've seen over and over again, and just the nostalgia in that room, it was palpable. It was powerful." This vivid memory illustrates the communal and generational impact of the movie.

3. Historical Context and Creation

Delving into the origins of "It's a Wonderful Life," Andy provides a rich historical backdrop. He recounts the story's humble beginnings as a short story by an unpublished writer who shared bedtime stories with his daughter. "[03:39] So it was born out of tons of failure." The narrative took a pivotal turn when Frank Capra, a filmmaker known for his optimistic storytelling, decided to adapt the tale into a film starring Jimmy Stewart. Andy notes the initial financial missteps, with the movie "[05:08] Bankrupted his company," emphasizing that the film's early struggles were significant yet transient.

4. Parallels with Personal Failures: The "Woodlawn" Movie

Transitioning from the classic film to their own experiences, Candace and Andy discuss their movie "Woodlawn," which similarly faced box office setbacks. "[07:45] And I remember being done with that and being like, God, this is it. I don't know if maybe I need to find another job." This honest admission highlights the emotional toll of professional failures. However, both hosts draw inspiration from "It's a Wonderful Life," finding solace and direction in their setbacks. "[08:15] [...] failures are part of the journey and can lead to greater purpose and understanding."

5. Lessons Learned: Value Beyond Success

A central theme of the episode revolves around understanding one's worth beyond professional achievements. Andy articulates this beautifully, relating it to George Bailey's realization in "It's a Wonderful Life." "[09:20] [...] am I still valuable to God?" This introspection leads to a profound discussion about faith, surrender, and the importance of recognizing one's intrinsic value. Candace adds her perspective on business failures and personal growth, emphasizing that failures, though painful in the moment, foster significant personal development and deeper faith.

6. Listener Engagement: Sharing George Bailey Moments

Candace and Andy actively engage their audience by introducing the concept of "George Bailey moments"—instances when individuals gain a new perspective on their life's impact and purpose. "[26:02] [...] What is my George Bailey moment? What is the prayer? Where is the place where God really met me?" They encourage listeners to reflect on and share their own transformative experiences, fostering a sense of community and shared understanding.

7. Deep Spiritual Reflections and Personal Testimonies

The episode takes a heartfelt turn as both hosts share their most sincere moments of prayer and connection with God. Candace recounts her first genuine prayer experience, a moment of profound gratitude and commitment to her faith. "[21:30] [...] I prayed that God would keep a fire burning inside of me to continue to love you and tell people who you are." This prayer ignited a lasting passion for her faith and ministry.

Andy relates his own spiritual awakening during a moment of personal crisis. He describes a pivotal experience in Phoenix, Arizona, where he sought God's guidance amidst professional and personal turmoil. "[24:05] [...] God had taken me back to that place of desperation and that place of failure, to where he's like, that's not who you are." This encounter not only rekindled his faith but also paved the way for his future successes, including a fulfilling marriage and family life.

8. The Power of Unseen Impact

Both hosts emphasize the significance of unseen and unrecognized impacts. Candace shares how messages from listeners serve as "little glimpses of heaven," affirming that their work resonates deeply even if it's not always visibly acknowledged. "[29:16] [...] it's a glimpse of heaven to me." Andy adds that true stories have the power to evoke deep emotional connections and memories, further reinforcing the idea that every positive influence, no matter how small, contributes to a larger, divine purpose.

9. Encouragement and Final Thoughts

As the episode concludes, Candace and Andy offer heartfelt encouragement to their listeners. They remind everyone that even seemingly insignificant actions can have eternal significance. "[34:02] Angels are having a party for you." This uplifting message reinforces the episode's central themes of faith, perseverance, and the enduring value of one's contributions to the world and the Kingdom of God.

Moreover, they promote a Family Entertainment Guide available at Candace.com, designed to help families engage more deeply with the media they consume, encouraging reflection and meaningful conversations.

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Notable Quotes:

• Andy Irwin [00:00]: "It was a box office flop."

• Candace Bure [01:18]: "I did love them because to me, Christmas movies are ones that you want to watch over and over again."

• Andy Irwin [04:25]: "Frank Capra's movies were all about hope and optimism."

• Candace Bure [09:20]: "If I've got none of this, am I still valuable to God?"

• Andy Irwin [24:05]: "God had taken me back to that place of desperation and that place of failure, to where he's like, that's not who you are."

• Candace Bure [34:37]: "Remember the celebration."

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Conclusion

In this enriching episode, Candace Cameron Bure and Andy Irwin masterfully blend a classic film analysis with personal and spiritual narratives. They illustrate how "It's a Wonderful Life" serves not just as entertainment but as a profound lesson in resilience, purpose, and faith. Through sharing their own experiences of failure and redemption, they inspire listeners to find strength and meaning in their own life's challenges, reinforcing the podcast's overarching theme of living with kindness, class, and purpose together.

Transcript

[A]

It was a box office flop.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Bankrupted his company. Years later in re release that Christmas, people started watching it and it caught on in the early 80s and it became like beloved and get out.

[B]

Okay. I didn't know that it was really. Because it started in the 80s. The love for this movie.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Life is like a roller coaster, but it's so much better when we go through it together. Welcome to the Candace Cameron Bure podcast. My guest co host for this special series is Andy Irwin from Kingdom Story Company and host of the Storytellers podcast. And we are talking about your favorite movies and the stories behind them. Come join us, Andy. We are like moving into this genre that I've. I've kind of something to say, which is so crazy to me. We're. We're moving into some Christmas movies and. And we're also coming to a close on our series.

[A]

Yeah, I know.

[B]

This week and next week, but we're gonna be talking about some Christmas movies and this one is a Christmas classic.

[A]

I know, it's great. And the Christmas, you know, movies, you kind of have a PhD in that because it's like, it's like what, like, what is it about Christmas movies that you love so much? Like, what is it that. Did you ever. It was Christmas your season growing up, or is it just.

[B]

No, I mean, honestly, the fact that I've done so many Christmas movies, it just. That's the way the cards fell for me. It was like my first Hallmark movie that I had done was a Christmas movie and it just kind of took off. But of course I love Christmas movies. I always have. But I never set out to be like, I want to make a million Christmas movies.

[A]

It's like Groundhog Day.

[B]

That's great. Yeah. But I do love them because to me, Christmas movies are ones that you want to watch over and over again. They, most of them are classics and then you look forward to them that one time of year to re. Watch them.

[A]

Yeah, I think you're right. I mean, I think it's something that you watch as a tradition. And so this one, you know, when we, when we went through our list of films, you know, we each had kind of our favorites that we picked. This one was a gimme for me because this one was like, this is on my top three films that. Of any film that.

[B]

Oh, really?

[A]

So, yeah, this one's really powerful for me. And so you, you gave this one to me and I was like, I want to run with it. So it's. It's a Wonderful Life. Frank Capper's classic with Jimmy Stewart.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I remember there was this old timey theater in Birmingham, Alabama, where I grew up. It's called the Alabama Theater. It was built in the 1930s, I think by Paramount, and houses like 3,000 people, it turned out. It's where my grandparents had their first date. Like a lot of history there.

[B]

So sweet, beautiful.

[A]

And it was by. I was where I took Mandy on our first date. So there's like a lot of history in that.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

But every Christmas we would get together and they would show it to Wonderful Life for like, you know, a sellout crowd. It was hard to get tickets, too.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And watching it with a crowd of 3,000 people and watching them experience something they've seen over and over again, and just the nostalgia in that room, it was palpable. It was powerful.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And, you know, it's a story that you look at it now, and it's listed as one of the best films of all time. It's definitely one of the best holiday films of all time. It's a perennial. The thing people don't know about it is it was born out of tons of failure.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I would love to know some of the history of this movie.

[A]

So. So, yeah. So it was. It was. It was a short story by this failed writer that couldn't get anything published. He used to do it as a. He was a bedtime story he would tell his daughter, and they would sit around and make up stories about George Bailey in this imaginary town of Bedford Falls. And he couldn't get anybody to publish it. And so he. They were sending these little booklets over to the war, and he was a bookbinder that's by trade struggling to feed his family. So he, on a whim, bound it up and send it as a book over to the troops to read in World War II. And there was a filmmaker named Frank Capra, who's. Everything that I do on a DNA level as a filmmaker goes back to Frank Capra.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

He was the Sicilian immigrant, this. But his movies were all about hope and optimism.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And he was ridiculed in his day a lot of times because he was too optimistic. But there's something beautiful and timeless about the stories he told. And he was over documenting World War II, going through a really stressful experience. And then his star of a lot of his films, he'd worked a lot with Jimmy Stewart, and Jimmy Stewart was like the Tom Hanks of his day.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And Jimmy Stewart was fighting for the U.S. his thing. He Was fighting for the Air Force, Army Air Corps. He had a lot of post traumatic stress. So these men came home and he. And this story finds them on the front lines and he reads it and he's like, this is my next movie. I have to make this movie. Comes home to make the movie. And in it they spent way too much money. And it was a box office flop.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Bankrupted his company.

[B]

No way.

[A]

And just was considered like a tragic flop.

[B]

But years later, was it not well received by the audience?

[A]

It just. It just didn't make enough money.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

It wasn't that they hated it. It's just.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

It just didn't work right. Because so much about a film is about timing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But years later in re release that Christmas, people started watching it and it caught on in the early 80s and it became like beloved and get out. And that's okay.

[B]

I didn't know that it was really. Because it started in the 80s, the love for this movie.

[A]

Yep. So. So in the. In watching it and as it began to be re released at Christmas, people started watching as part of their holiday tradition and it became a Christmas beloved classic.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

So it was out of failure. It was. And so like some of the most timeless stories are the ones that don't work when they're released. But time tells what's a great story.

[B]

You kind of mentioned one movie earlier in the season that can I say it was a failure for you?

[A]

It was.

[B]

I mean, do you relate in that way?

[A]

Oh, yeah. I think that's why I love this movie.

[B]

Okay, we'll talk about that and talk about the movie.

[A]

Well, so it was a movie called Woodlawn and we talked about it in earlier episode. But Woodlawn was one that, you know, my brother and I had chased our entire career. It was something we heard as a bedtime story from our father. It was a true story. Happened during the last part of integration in Birmingham, Alabama. Dealt with a lot of racial tension. And then the Jesus movement that we highlighted in Jesus Revolution hit this, this town and the school and led to the emergence of the first black superstar out of that school system. This kid named Tony Nathan. So it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sequel. Jesus Revolution was a prequel to this. We actually end the whole movie with the Jesus Revolution. Time magazine cover.

[B]

Oh, interesting.

[A]

The desire to go back and do Jesus Revolution came out of this movie. So it was the thing that we were like, this is the movie that's going to put us on the map. This is the one most important one for us to do. We. We told the story, and I'm still incredibly proud of the final product. But when it was released, it just. For whatever reason, same as It's a Wonderful Life. Timing, Timing. Like, timing. It wasn't connected to a book or something that people knew. It was this kind of original story that kind of got forgotten. And we had spent way too much money. It almost bankrupted our company. And we had went to. It's the only thing that I've ever done that's still in the red.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And I remember being done with that and being like, God, this is it. I don't. I don't know if maybe I need to find another job. And it was a humbling experience. But in that moment, that's where we found our voice. That's why we tell true stories now. That's why we tell stories of hope and underdog stories. And people said, go once more around the block and find your story. And that's where we found. I Can Only Imagine. And every bit of I Can Only Imagine came out of Woodlawn.

[B]

What was the biggest lesson that you learned from the failure of that movie? Failure in terms of box office?

[A]

Because, yeah, it still had a huge impact. Like, so Woodlawn, we put a 1-800-number at the end for people that wanted to talk about faith. And it got over 400,000 calls around the world. So Eternal Things made its impact. Made its impact. But as far as, like, industry success, it was considered a failure. And so I think, for me, like.

[B]

What was your George Bailey moment at the end?

[A]

The George Bailey moment is make. Good question. I like that. That's good. George Bailey moment. So George Bailey moment at the end of the. Of its wonderful life is all about perspective. He wanted to be a big deal, and he wanted to go see the world. But instead, he found out that he was truly important, and the importance was about the people he had impacted along the way. And so it was about perspective. And I think for me, in Woodlawn, as an artist, in an industry that's very insecure, you wear your heart on your sleeve a lot. And you sometimes are this, like, don't criticize my work because you criticize me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you just, like, my value is in what I do. And I think in that all that got stripped away as, like, if I've got none of this, am I still valuable to God? And I think in that, there's this stillness of surrender, and I'm saying, okay, God, you know, instead of me, Doing this for me anymore. It's too hard. I'm tired. I quit. What do you want to do? And I think that was the question I started asking. I stopped saying, God bless what I'm doing, and I started asking God, what do you want to do? And in that, God began to direct our steps. And I think that was carved out of the humility that came from that. So that was kind of ours. Has there ever been failures in your journey that have kind of fueled your growth, or are you finding your voice in any ways?

[B]

I mean, I've certainly had. There's lots of business failures, ones that nobody would really know about from a. From a public perspective, but yeah. Yeah. And the thing that failure in the moment really stinks. Nobody loves failure, but you learn so much from it.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Because it also, you. You can learn the little things of, like, what actually went wrong, what are new steps I can take the next time. But it also causes you to ask yourself the big questions, just like you said, who. Who am I doing this for? Am I doing it for myself? I'm doing it for God. So failures in that way are really great, but you can't really appreciate them until you're a step ahead. And then you look back in retrospect, and you're kind of like, okay, Lord, thanks. I get it now. I see it. And you appreciate it. So I'm always thankful for my failures in that way because it means real and true growth.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But, yeah, failures stink when you're going through.

[A]

Yeah, they do.

[B]

In the moment, they do.

[A]

And I think. I think a lot of times people have a perspective, too, because we see this, like, little bits into people's life, and we kind of assume that everything that has always worked for them. You know, if I look at your life, I'm like, that's Candace Cameron Bray. Like, she's obviously always had it together, and she has been an uber success, and it's just always been, you know, perfection. But once you kind of get the inside scoop of, like, the hills and the valleys that go with that. Yeah, it's so different. And so with George Bailey's life, this idea of It's a Wonderful Life is heaven's perspective on a man's life. You know, to see these little moments that, as Clarence the angel is watching his life unfold, these are the moments that made the person. And George always had all this ambition, and he wanted to go out and just see the world and be a big deal. And it seemed like every time he kind of tried to step into that his way got blocked until in the moment of his most desperate moment, he feels like, what would the world be like without me and I'm not needed. And then all of a sudden, he sees heaven's perspective that he actually had a truly important life.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I think sometimes, you know, I was talking with a counselor the other day. I very, very much recommend counseling, especially if you're going to be in this business. But. But I was talking to the counselor the other day and she was like. She was like, andy, what about if you never get the recognition that you think you're owed and people don't know what you did, and you people won't know it until they get to heaven? Is that okay? And I wrestled with that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I was like, I want it to be okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But I don't know. And sometimes you won't ever see truly heaven's perspective on that. Like the truly. The amount of people's lives that were changed along the way that you just didn't know. So have you ever had moments like, for you that have kind of brought perspective to what's really important in this job?

[B]

Yeah. I mean, listen, I. I can think about what you just said outside of entertainment, because especially when I was a full time stay at home mom for those 10 years.

[A]

Talk about unseen.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Talk about unseen. Which is very much what unsung hero was a lot about, too. It's all the things that you're doing on a daily basis for your family that go unappreciated or you're just not getting a pat on the back and be like, hey, your dishwashing was awesome today. Thanks for that laundry, mom. I'm glad you changed my diaper. Thanks. You know, obviously we're not, we're not getting that from our family. So those types of things.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Are, you know, can just feel like, what am I, what am I doing with my life? And. And it's hard. What am I doing with my life in the sense that, yeah, you don't feel appreciated. And it's like, is this what my. What my value is all about? Is this what I'm really worth? Am I really. Is this important stuff? And so that for me, was a wrestle at times. And then, you know, it's a hard question what you said. If I never got recognized for anything that I did, would I be okay with that if God is the only one? And I think I'm in the same position in that I'm like, I want to be okay with that. But that kind of Hurts a little bit. I think about even this podcast, because I'll tell you, I really enjoyed this podcast. I didn't intentionally set out like, oh, I'm just dying to do a podcast, but recognized it as a way in which I could do ministry for people and share Jesus with people. So I'm like, okay, let's do a podcast. But it's not, like, the number one thing, like, I can't wait. No, I want to go, like, make a movie. That's what I want to go do. But podcast, I'm like, hey, this is a great avenue for ministry, so let's do it. And the amount of feedback that we get, all of you guys that write your questions into the website, that all of the comments on YouTube at all of the platforms, they mean so much to me. They fuel me and my desire. But if you ask me right now, well, what if you did this podcast, Candace, but you never heard from one person, like, nobody ever commented back, would you still do the podcast? And I don't know what that answer would be right now. Like, that's a hard question to wrestle with, because we all want to feel seen and like, what we're doing in our life is important, and it's making a difference, even if it's for one person.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So that. It's a. It's a. It's a great.

[A]

I wrestle with it, too. And I think that's why this movie impacts me so much, because it does present that wrestling match of the desire of what I want and the desire of what I'm called to. And. And how those. There's a tension in between those two. Those two things. And, you know, and also sometimes just a matter of timing, you know, I. The. The. The. I've gone through a season with my career where I was part of a duo for a long time, and John and I do, you know, a lot of different things now. And so John's got things he's chasing and things I'm chasing, you know, and we afforded the ability to do that. But I think as we kind of, you know, grew and. And tried things, God called me to a season where he's like, with what you guys are feeling, called the Kingdom. Ultimately, we like Kingdom. We wanted to be a platform where we empowered other storytellers. And for a while, that was the John and Andy show where we were doing our movies. But there came a point that the only way for us to grow was for. For us to step out of the way and intentionally recruit and push people in front of the Spotlight.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So for the past three years, I moved over to more producing, and my job was to find people that have believed in their story and push them out in front of it. So we just did that. You and I just were able to do that with Unsung Hero. Our job was to. To really empower a story and push Joel and Richie out in front and allow them to take a bow. But there's the thanklessness to that sometime where you're just like, you're in the background.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it's a new thing. And so I. I've had to, you know, wrestle with. If people don't know what you contributed, is that okay? And it's a constant, growing thing for me to be like, heaven's perspective. God knows what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.

[B]

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[A]

Yep.

[B]

And will I stand before him and say, be okay with, like, you saw me. Because he does see us. He sees every single thing. I mean, he sees that. He knows the thoughts in our mind. And. Yeah, am I. Am I okay with that? And there's a lot of times I am okay with it. But I think if pressed on certain things, I think I would probably be like Peter in the Bible, and I'd be like, there's no way I'm going to deny you.

[A]

God.

[B]

God, I love you. I love you. And then, like, like, oh, my gosh, Candace, you just denied it.

[A]

Yeah, exactly.

[B]

I'm. I. I probably would be like that if I'm gonna be really honest today. And I don't want to be like that.

[A]

Yep. But it's that wrestling match with that human part of you that I'm like you. I'm a recovering people pleaser.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I want people to just. I don't really want praise. I don't crave praise.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I do crave people. Pat me on the back Being like, good job. Thank you. Good job. You did great.

[B]

Yeah. And then all of a sudden, I love language. It's like words of affirmation. Yeah, good job, Candace. Yeah, it's not the praise, but it's the, like.

[A]

Yeah, well, well, good job, Candace. I, I, the.

[B]

Good job, Andy. Thank you.

[A]

Oh, man. I feel seen. You know, the other thing I love about this film is I feel like it's. It's one of my favorite prayers ever on film. There's a, there's a, There's a prayer in the bar by George Bailey when he's at his lowest point. And it's the most honest prayer, I think, that has ever been on film. Jimmy Stewart poured what he had gone through in World War II into that moment. Like, he was struggling a lot with post traumatic stress, and he was on set and when he went to that moment, he just had a real breakdown and was having a hard time with flashbacks and just uttered this really sincere prayer. It was one take and Frank Cap wasn't.

[B]

That wasn't scripted.

[A]

There was scripted that George Bailey says a prayer, but it wasn't scripted to be like that.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And it was one take, and it was so beautiful that Frank Capra couldn't recapture it on a close up. So they actually punch in the shot.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

To be a close. A punched in, close up. So you notice that it's the one shot in that sequence that's grainier than all the rest. It's because they punched in to be able to see all the emotion on his face. It was something so beautiful. But the prayer, the way it read is very simple. It's just. Dear Father in Heaven, I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there and you can hear me, show me the way. Please show me the way. And there's just something about just a prayer at your lowest moment, you know, for help.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, and for you. You know, your moments of sincerity, your connection with God. Where do the most sincere moments of prayer come from in your journey, like, with the Lord, where you feel like you get it down to that child, like. Like, I just need you help. Like, what are those moments that you can remember where that's been the cry of your heart?

[B]

This is where I get teary. Hold on. I feel the tears coming to my heart, but I'm pushing them back. I'm pushing back because it's out of such love. I'm so. I love God so much. I love how kind and faithful he is. I. I remember my first, my very first prayer when I really understood the gospel, and I was about. I was about 22 or 23 years old again, been a Christian since I was 12. But when that moment came, like, the veil was lifted, and I understood God's love for me from not a place of my doing, but God just loves me because he loves me. My. My prayer was out of gratitude. And I asked him, I said, please don't let this fire, like, ever. Like, let me not forget what this feels like. Let me not forget who you are. And I pray that you will keep a fire burning inside of me to continue to love you and tell people who you are and how great you are and how much you love them. And it just. It was the word fire. Fire. And we hear that saying, like, oh, that person's. That Christian's on fire. They're on fire for the Lord. And sometimes it sounds really cheesy, but. But God has lit a flame under me that morning because literally, it was like the lights turned on. It was powered up. And I've prayed that prayer consistently. And so I can look back, and I'm now 48 years old, but I was praying that PR prayer at 22, and I'm like, huh? I'm pretty bold in my faith. I don't think that fire's ever dimmed. You know, there may have been seasons I've been discouraged and been down, but God has been so faithful that I. I surprise myself at sometimes how passionate and bold I am for the Lord, because. And I'm just like, I love him, God. And I prayed this, and you have been faithful to just keep the flame burning in me.

[A]

That's amazing. That may give me chills.

[B]

What about you?

[A]

You know, for me, there's been moments, and I think, you know, somebody said that, you know, a good acronym for God is a gift of desperation. You know, it's like when you really need him, where you don't have anything else to cling to. You don't have anything else to be able to point to and say, this is why I'm qualified for you to pick me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And in that moment, God's like, I pick you. And, you know, there's been several of those moments, you know, I think, where God takes you back to a place where you believed a lie, takes you back to a place where you really. You really need to depend on him. For me, you know, it really came in my early 20s, and there was a. There was a. I had really struggled and walked away from the Lord, and I wasn't married But I really had gone through a dark season of about probably 10 months to a year where I just was really not walking with God. And I worked on the road a good bit at the time, you know, working in television as a cameraman and traveled a lot and just was not walking with the Lord. And I just kind of came to a place where I just had fallen on my face so much that I just was kind of at my wits end. I was like, I can't do this anymore, and I feel like giving up. And the moment where God brought me to the realization I was in a hallway, and it was in Phoenix, Arizona, and I was at the airport. And I was like, God, I know this place. Where am I? And it turned out it was a hallway where this girl that I thought was a girl that I was going to get serious with, that she had broken up with me at that place. And he said, son, this is where, you know, several years ago, you stopped believing that I really cared about you and that I really loved you. He's like, son, it's time to stop believing that lie. And God had taken me back to that place of where I believed a lie in order to reclaim the truth. And I just broke down in tears. I went in the bathroom, I was like, trying to catch my breath because it was. But God took me back to that place of desperation and that place of failure, to where he's like, that's not who you are. And it's in that. Then God gave me a whole new walk with him and ultimately brought my beautiful wife Mandy into my life. That was absolutely the one that he was preparing me for and gave me three beautiful kids. And I've been married for 17 years. But it was that moment of failure where I was ready to throw in the towel. I was like, I quit. And he's like, that's the point. Quit.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so that's. To me, the most sincere prayers come at that dark night of the soul where it's like, I have no choice but to cling to you. I need you. So for me, it all kind of came out of that moment. Phoenix, Earth.

[B]

That's beautiful. Oh, my goodness. If you guys are listening, we want to know what your George Bailey moment is. So would you please. You could write it in the comments. You could. Whether that's on YouTube or in the comments on our social channels, or if it feels very personal, send us an [e-mail] and we don't. We don't have to read it out loud to anybody, but we would Love to know. And I think it is an incredible expression to. For you to think about at home. What is my George Bailey moment? What is the prayer? Where. Where is the place where God really met me? And just speak it out loud. Remind yourself of that moment and remember who God is, especially if you're in a place right now where you're struggling to know if God sees you. He does. And tell us where he's met you before or where he. He has met you right now. So. Wow, this is. This is a good one. I think we're going to go to a listener question right now. Here's our question. Has there been a moment in your life where God has let you take a step back and see heaven's perspective? A moment of impact that you didn't know what happened? Or a moment that has made the struggle worth it? Ooh. Okay, I'm. I can answer this right now. So I feel like I get little glimpses of heaven when you guys write in, Truly. And sometimes that's in my DMs, on my. On Instagram, or on my Socials, because that's the place of impact. Most of you who are watching and listening, I'll probably never meet. I mean, I hope that we have an exchange at some time or another, but we might not meet until we're on. You know, we're in heaven. And I get these incredible messages from people that are such an encouragement to me that will say, you don't realize what this podcast has meant to me. Or your guests that you had on spoke these words, and they were powerful. It's changed my walk with the Lord. Lord, any way that to just know the little glimpses that we are impacting people for the kingdom and for Jesus is such a glimpse of heaven to me.

[A]

I know.

[B]

And I'm just like, whoa. Especially when I don't know you. I can't see you. I may never meet you. And yet I've somehow put a little, like, thumbprint on your life in some special way. That is so cool to me.

[A]

That's amazing. I love that. I think for me, it's very similar. You know, when we did the movie Jesus Revolution, my brother and Brent McCorkle did that movie, the Thing.

[B]

Incredible movie, by the way.

[A]

Old it was. It's really on them. But the thing that never got old was when we would run. Run into somebody in their 70s that was part of that hippie movement, and then to cry and kind of tear up and be like, you know, you took me right back there to that revival that's exactly how it felt. And when we would hear stories like that and you'd see the, the, the old guard feeling young again and remembering the fire, the fire that they had back in the original days.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, that was always an honor and a privilege to just remind him, like, this is what you live.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so that's the power of true stories. And that's what never gets old.

[B]

I love that. All right, we have another question. And this person does want to stay anonymous. They said, what advice do you have for someone who is not, who has not experienced any sort of miracle or aha moment when it comes to God? I very much am a see to believe person and I'm always looking for answers. Am I looking too hard? Will he show up when I'm not looking? I'm a stay at home mom of two with no real career path. I am living very simply, but I very much want big things to happen for my family and I just don't know in what way. I feel like this season of my life is fine and I'm grateful and I'm trying to fulfill it, but will there be more? Well, I know that we talked a lot about this in my season with Bianca Olthoff, and I too. Well, I think I've had a couple of what I would now consider for me some aha moments in my life, but I've never seen a vision. And I've talked to people on this podcast who've seen a vision or heard God speak to them.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And I'm like, I've always wanted those moments in my life and, and, and I haven't had those experiences. And I, for me, I really look for God in the little things in life.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Bianca will tell you, no, go for the big things. The big things. Pray for the big things because God will show up and answer you. I love her spirit, but I think that there's so much power in the small things in life.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And sometimes I think, I don't think it's that we're necessarily Sarah. Looking too hard for them, but we just might not be focused on the right things. We might not be looking in the right direction. So my, my encouragement to you would be to, you know, pray specifically for sure. Because, you know, God answers prayers specifically. And remember that God can answer with a yes, a no, or a wait.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That's an answer.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

But I would also very much encourage you to pray for what God wants you to see in him.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Instead of always like, this is what I need to prove. To me that you are real or doing something my family pray for the openness of, like, God. God, how is it that you want to move in my family? And will you show me what that is?

[A]

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. You know, I think what I would just say is she's, you know, what a beautiful question, a vulnerable question. The desire there is, is a. Is a beautiful thing. And I just encourage her that she is, do, you know, seeing miracles. She's got two little ones in front of her that are miracles.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And sometimes, you know, in that thankless task that we talked about earlier about not feeling seen and doing something so important, God's granted her with two miracles to raise. And there's something so beautiful in that. And, you know, I think just like the George Bailey thing, if you, you won't know how you could have changed the world until you get to heaven's perspective of who knows what God's going to do through her own kids.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So keep, keep being faithful where you're at.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because those are the people that really influence and impact eternity.

[B]

Such a fitting answer and fitting for our movie today. And just remember too, because the Bible tells us that, like when we, when we maybe sway someone to the Lord or when we impact someone for kingdom Kingdom purposes, the angels in heaven rejoice. They're having a party up there. So you might not feel like you're doing much, you're not seeing God, but when you're even with your children, you are making an imprint and an impact for God. The angels are having a party for you.

[A]

That's so good.

[B]

Remember the celebration.

[A]

That's awesome.

[B]

Well, I hope that's an encouragement to you and thank you for stopping by this week. We can't wait. Next week is our, our final episode and it's going to be a good one. Remember that. Andy and I, I have a family entertainment guide for you if you ever find yourself just kind of watching movies or shows mindlessly. These are some questions and ideas to help you go a little bit deeper and understand what's really going on in the stories. You can go to Candice.com to find the link and it's also in our show notes. Until next time, Be grateful all day, every day. Andy Rock Entertainment. All rights reserved.