Who is Roger Williams? I knew the name and knew something of the man largely because of my reading of and about the Puritans. But I had little idea of his importance to America. This short video, produced by Freedom Research Productions, attempts to set the record straight on a man who was courageous, compassionate and filled with love for God.

Roger Williams was founder of the state of Rhode Island and the Baptism movement in America. While many early settlers of the New World regarded the Natives with disdain, Williams treated them with respect and sought to evangelize them not with the sword, but with the gospel. He created the first English-language native dictionaries, mastering several of their languages. But perhaps his greatest contribution to America was his recognition of the necessity of separation of church and state. Williams believed that the church and the civil authorities must remain seperate. He denounced the Church of England as an apostate body and preached against taking oaths such as those required by courts of law.

Williams’ strong beliefs led to his banishment from Massachusetts. For fourteen weeks, in the dead of winter, he wandered the land and lodged with his Indian friends. In June he arrived at the future location of Providence and purchased the land from the Natives. He then founded Rhode Island upon the foundations of tolerance and the seperation of church and state.

This video tells Williams’ story. At only 45 minutes it can, naturally, only scrape the very surface of his life, but it does quite a good job of touching on the major incidents that defined him. Furthermore, it goes on to discuss his importance in American history, showing that many other states, and ultimately the nation, came to be founded on the principles he held dear.

The presentation is quite well-produced, with the notable exception of a few dramatic vignettes that are almost painful to watch and add little to the presentation. The viewer will also get to hear what must surely be the worst impression of a Scottish accent ever recorded. But beyond those brief complaints, this is a good presentation that is both interesting and educational, and I am happy to recommend it.

As Christians living in lands where we enjoy religious freedom we are apt to forget the price that so many have paid for their faith. As Christians with a great wealth of theology at our disposal, we also forget that the faith as we know and love it has been bought with the price of much blood. The history of the church is filled with stories of men and women who advanced our understanding of the Scriptures only at great cost to themselves. Even those who did not sacrifice their lives often paid a terrible price as they were despised and rejected by their peers. We owe a great debt of gratitude to those whom God chose to use in this way.

Reformation Overview provides brief, half-hour overviews of some of the men who were used by God to carry-on the faith. Based on the Gateway Films/Vision Video church history video series, this DVD combines narration from Dr. Ken Curtis, President of the Christian History Institute, with clips from the film series. Divided into six equal segments, the series examines several of the most prominent Reformers: John Wycliffe, John Hus, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin, The Anabaptists and William Tyndale. Dr. Curtis brings narration directly from many of the scenes that are so important to church history - the pulpit where John Wycliffe preached his final sermon; the monument that marks the spot where Jon Hus’ was burned; the door of the Wittenburg Cathedral; the room where William Tyndale translated the Scriptures into English. History comes to life not only through a glimpse of these locations, but through the films.

The lessons the viewer will learn from this series are clearly beneficial. He will learn of the conflict that has always followed God’s people as they sought to understand the Scriptures and spread the gospel message. He will learn of the price that so many Christians have been privileged to pay for their beliefs. He will learn of the great faith displayed by so many faithful servants of the Lord. Ultimately he will have his faith strengthed and hopefully understand how important it is that we remain students of history. The old adage that “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it” seems especially significant in the church, which so often seems set on erasing its collective memory of the past. There is church history past 1972 and it is critical to our faith that we maintain a link with the great Christians of days past.

Included on the DVD are two PDF files, one of which is a 24-page student workbook, and the other a 48-page leader’s guide and optional Bible study. This adds great value to the presentation and makes it useful for Bible studies or part of a home schooling curriculum. This series is a perfect addition to a church or school library. If your local public library allows donations, consider adding this to their collection.

Reformation Overview is a wonderful little series and one that was beneficial to my faith. I watched much of it with my son, who, although only five years of age, enjoyed it as much as I did. It provided us many opportunities to discuss how deeply Christians ought to love God and how deeply Satan despises this faith. It was an opportunity to grow for both child and adult.

Evaluation		Support
	Theology/Accuracy Quite strong throughout. A few times there seemed to be a slightly soft attitude towards Catholicism.
	Special Features Nothing flashy, but the DVD includes a complete study curriculum and leader’s guide.
	Uniqueness Quite a unique format.
	Importance We can’t underestimate the importance of studying the Reformation and the history of the church.
	Overall A solid, interesting presentation that I highly recommend.
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Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, there has been an increased interest among Christians in understanding Muslims. As Christians it seems inconceivable that a religion could condone and even celebrate such acts of terrorism. What seems barbaric to us is considered admirable by others. It is in this context that Faith Defenders produced Jihad According to the Quran and the Hadith.

The DVD features Dr. Robert Morey, a Christian apologist who specializes in defending the faith against cults and Islam. Dr. Morey is a well-known and highly-trained apologist who studied under such men as Walter Martin, Francis Schaeffer, Gordon Clark, Van Til and John Murray. It also features brief interviews with Muslims and Islamic converts to Christianity.

The primary purpose of the video is to show that Jihad is not, as some have suggested, an isolated belief held by a few Muslims, but part of the very fabric of Islam. It is not merely encouraged by radicals, but commanded by the Quran and the Hadith, the Muslim Scriptures. A fact I found particularly compelling is that the translations of the Quran into English are not entirely honest, but have been “toned-down” in order to make Islam more palatable to Westerners. For example, the original document allows a man to beat his wife. The word used is the same used to control a camel or punish a thief - a strong word that denotes a sound beating. Yet in Western translations this word is often interpreted as being similar to a “light slap” that is more ceremonial than painful. Another sobering moment is when an Quranic scholar provides a list of violent words and the number of times each is used in the Islamic Scriptures. The video also shows that Islam is a religion where lying and deception are considered permissible and even admirable.

It is important that Christians understand Islam and do not succumb to the lies that it is a primarily a religion of peace. This is simply and obviously not the truth. This is doubly important in our age when it seems many supposed Christians are working to bridge the gaps between Christianity and other religions. This is a good presentation and one that achieves its purpose. I am happy to recommend it.

Jihad According to the Quran and the Hadith can be purchased from Faith Defenders.

Last month I posted a review of Pure Gold, a wonderful biography of Eric Liddell. Liddell is best known for being the subject of the biographical film Chariots of Fire which traced his rise to prominence in Scotland. Liddell refused to participate in the Olympic race he was favored to win because to do so he would have had to violate his beliefs about the Sabbath. He became a hero to the Scottish nation for winning another event, and a hero to Christians for standing firm in his faith.

The Story of Eric Liddell is a thee-part Day of Discovery television production that examines Liddell’s life. It is hosted by David McCasland who authored Pure Gold, is available in both DVD and VHS and clocks in at about ninety minutes in length. It is a chronological biography of Liddell, and like the book, focuses primarily on his life after he left the spotlight and began his mission work in China. Liddell is portrayed as a reluctant hero who much preferred solitude over celebration and who had little desire to be the center of attention.

The production features significant amounts of photographs of Liddell as well as the few surviving videos of his races. Most importantly, it features interviews with members of his family, including two of his daughters, and many of the men and women who knew him and who were taught by him. The viewer will even meet some women who were led to faith by Liddell’s loving witness to them.

This short series is professional and well-produced. It is a wonderful complement to McCasland’s book and stands as a thoughtful biography of a man who has inspired so many. I highly recommend this DVD and am confident it would make a strong addition to church, school, public or personal video library. It is available from Discovery House Publications.

Evaluation
	Theology/Accuracy It is more biography than theology, but the doctrine in the product is strong.
N/A	Special Features There are no special features.
	Uniqueness The best video biography of Liddell I’ve seen.
	Importance Liddell is a man who continues to inspire even today.
	Overall A wonderful, highly-recommended production.
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David, whom the Bible tells us is a man after God’s own heart, seems to have had a special awe of the cosmos. In Psalm 19 he writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). He goes on to speak of the rising of the sun and its circuit above the earth. It seems from the Scriptures that God somehow reveals himself in a special way through the heavens. The vastness of space reveals the vastness of His power.

We are blessed to live at a time when we can see further into space and with greater clarity than at any other time in history. We have been able to send cameras to the outermost parts of the galaxy, sending back photographs of planets, stars and galaxies that had forever been hidden from our view. Some of the sights we now take for granted should continue to stir our hearts with awe for the Creator who is so powerful that He created all of this and now holds it all in place with His almighty hand.

Journeys to the Edge of Creation is a presentation of Moody Video that attempts to display just a brief glimpse of the greatness of God. This 2 DVD set, contains two presentations: “Our Solar System” and “The Milky Way & Beyond.” “Our Solar System” deals specifically with the planets that are in the neighbhorhood as the earth. “The Milky Way & Beyond” takes the viewer to the very edges of Creation - to the edges of the areas we can see and into speculation about what lies beyond.

It is a sobering fact that the very facts which stir the heart of the believer with affection for the Creator, serve to drive many unbelievers further from the God who made this all. As a Christian I see the vastness of space as a testimony to the special place given to human-beings who are unique in bearing the image of God. Many unbelievers see the vastness of space as a testimony to our insiginficance, as insignificant beings living on an insignificant piece of dust floating in the cosmos. These videos drive people to see not just planets and stars, but to see the One who set them all in motion.

Featuring stunning photography and convincing graphics and simulations, this series is professionally-made and well worth watching. Through it all, Journeys to the Edge of Creation leads people from the creation to the Creator. I am happy to recommend it.

Evaluation
	Theology/Accuracy Consistently points the way to the Creator.
	Special Features There are no special features.
	Uniqueness Much has been said, but seldom with such visual evidence.
	Importance A great addition to a church, school or public library.
	Overall Quite a good presentation, both in content and quality.
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It takes a brave man to attempt to encapsulate 2000 years of church history in six 30-minute segments. Three hours is barely enough time to adequately explain the background information necessary to understand the rise of Christianity, to say nothing of its long and storied history. Anyone attempting to create a survey of Christian history must be able to choose and concentrate on only the most critical events and only the most important historical figures. History of Christianity, written and hosted by Dr. Timothy George, attempts to do just this. The results are mixed at times, but generally quite positive.

It has long been an observation of mine that to study Christian history in a way that is fulfilling and accurate, we must draw distinctions. We must differentiate between the many groups that lay claim to the name “Christian.” When we equate Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox, the history of the church becomes murky - difficult to understand. But when we make appropriate distinctions, the light shines and we are able to distinguish between the history of those who considered themselves Christians, and those who actually were. For example, if we understand the papacy to be at odds with Scripture, it becomes obvious why the office became so corrupt. If we understand that Roman doctrine denies the true Gospel, we can see why the church needed to be reformed.

Thus before the viewer begins this series, it is helpful for him to understand the distinctions within Christianity and to draw his own conclusions about them. For sake of brevity I will not review each of the episodes individually. Instead I present this summary of their content:

1. THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY: THE EARLY CHURCH
   From AD 65 - Executions of Peter and Paul at Rome
   To AD 430 - Death of St. Augustine in North Africa
2. THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES: THE QUEST FOR ORDER IN MEDIEVAL CHRISTENDOM
   
   From 410 - Fall of Rome
   
   To 1483 - Birth of Martin Luther
3. THE REFORMATION: DIVISION AND RENEWAL BETWEEN MEDIEVAL AND MODERN TIMES
   
   From 1483 - Birth of Luther
   
   TO 1564 - Death of Calvin
4. THE AGE OF REASON AND PIETY: THE CHURCH IN EARLY MODERN TIMES
   
   From 1543 - Copernican Revolution
   
   To 1738 - Conversation of John Wesley
5. CITY SET ON A HILL: CHRISTIANITY IN THE NEW WORLD
   
   From 1492 - Columbus Discovers the New World
   
   To 1770 - Death of George Whitehead
6. INTO ALL THE WORLD: CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT IN AN AGE OF UNCERTAINTY
   
   From 1789 - Fall of the Bastille
   
   TO 1989 - Fall of the Berlin Wall

As we might expect, some segments of the series are stronger than others. I was somewhat disappointed with the second and sixth segments, but found the remaining four quite strong. The episodes dealing with the Reformation and the New World were particularly informative. The second segment, which was to take the viewer from the death of Augustine to the birth of Luther, dealt predominantly with St. Francis of Assisi. He is clearly an important figure in one particular branch of the Christian tradition, but the attention given to him led other important figures, such as Tyndale and Hus to be overlooked. In fact, these two men received only one shared sentence in the narration. Surely the men who were the forerunners of the Reformation merit more attention than that. There was no mention of the Crusades or Inquisitions in this episode or any other. The final episode continued to blur the importance of the distinctions between Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox. Dr. George speaks of the important of ecumenical efforts in Christianity, but does little to define the terms on which Christians are to unite. He uses the oft-quoted phrase, “In the essentials, unity. In the non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity,” but makes no attempt to define the essentials.

This leads us to return to my concern with the lack of helpful distinctions. Because of this oversight I am sure that a Roman Catholic viewer would feel as uncertain at times as a Protestant or Orthodox viewer. Despite my concern about this matter, the series offers a lot of good information and will surely fulfill its purpose, which is to provide points of interest that will lead the viewer to engage in future study of the history of the church.

The disc contains several helpful extras which add to the value of the series: a leader’s guide that contains background information and study questions; a student workbook; and the complete script for each episode.

In the final assessment, then, I feel it may have been more beneficial had Dr. George written this series to appeal predominantly to one of the Christian traditions. However, this remains a helpful series and one I can recommend. It would make a solid basis for a study on the history of the church provided the leader is willing to deal with the distinctions the author overlooks.

This DVD is available from Vision Video, 1-800-523-0226.

Evaluation		Support
	Theology/Accuracy A bit of a mixed bag. See the text of the review for an explanation.
	Special Features They aren’t flashy, but they’re very helpful.
	Uniqueness There are plenty of survey courses on Christianity available.
	Importance We can’t underestimate the importance of studying the history of the church.
	Overall Not entirely consistent, but generally a good presentation.
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The cover of this DVD proclaims, “This isn’t your typical tour of ruins and dusty artifacts. It’s history as exciting today as it was 2,000 years ago.” This is history for the modern American: fast-paced, funny and quietly educational. Did I mention that it’s also a lot of fun?

The DVD contains three episodes of what promises to be a great series:

1. Episode 1: Lost in Rome, the Forum & Palatine Hill, the Emperors during the time of Christ, the Arch of Titus and the destruction of Jerusalem.
2. Episode 2: The Circus Maximus, chariot racing, the great fire of Rome, Nero’s persecution of Christians and the Roman Pantheon.
3. Episode 3: Hannibal invades Rome, the Colosseum, the Gladiators and the early Christian influence.

The host of Drive Thru History is Dave Stotts. He’s cool enough to be interesting, and just geeky enough to be able to discuss history and archaelogy without seeming too far out of his element. His enthusiasm is not only visible, but is also contagious. While his attempts at humor occasionally fall flat, you’ll find yourself laughing with him more than you’ll be rolling your eyes at him. Driving a Smart Car (one of those impossibly-small cars Europeans so love) he takes the viewer on a tour of Rome, showing some of the greatest testaments to Rome’s glorious past: the Colosseum, the Forum, Palatine Hill, and of course, the Pantheon. He even manages to pick a fight with a Centurion outside the Colosseum (one who barely speaks English as you’ll see in the out-takes).

But this is not history simply for the sake of learning history. Woven throughout the artifacts and ruins is the story of the early church and even proof of Jesus’ Divinity. For example, Stotts spends a great deal of time providing the historical backdrop to the building of the Arch of Titus. At the end of the segment he shows some of the carvings on the Arch and we see that they depict the looting of the temple at Jerusalem by Roman soldiers. Stotts then calls us back to Jesus’ words which prophecied this very event many years before it happened. Similarly when discussing the early persecution of the church he shows that they prove Jesus resurrection since not many people would be crazy enough for something they knew to be a lie. The willingness of the early church to suffer and die for their faith proves that Jesus did die, for as Paul says, if He did not, the Christian faith is in vain.

The DVD offers plenty of worthwhile extras. There are out-takes at the end of each episode and a full audio commentary is available as well. If you have a DVD drive on your computer you’ll be able to access a helpful discussion guide.

This is a full-throttle, joyride through history, and one I highly recommend for the whole family. I noticed that the DVD is categorized as “General” and “Tween.” I am far from a tween, but enjoyed every moment of the presentation. And for future reference, I believe there are two DVDs still to come in this series: Drive Thru History: Greece and Drive Thru History: Turkey. I look forward to seeing them.

The video is available for sale at ColdWaterMedia and Focus on the Family.

Evaluation		Support
	Theology/Accuracy There isn’t a whole lot, but what is there is good.	Not available at Amazon
	Special Features Full-featured, with out-takes, audio commentary and a study guide.
	Uniqueness A unique spin on history.
	Importance It won’t kill you to miss it, but the kids will miss out on some good “edutainment.”
	Overall The first installment in what promises to be a great series. I recommend it.
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Three weeks ago I reviewed the first DVD in a series produced by Reel Productions. I very much enjoyed Incredible Creatures That Defy Evolution I and was eager to see the sequel. I was glad to see that volume II is every bit the quality production of its predecessor. In fact, it is probably just a little bit better.

My only complaint about the first volume is that there was perhaps a little too much still photography and not enough video. This was resolved in volume 2. This episode is packed full of amazingly detailed video showing some of God’s most amazing creatures.

The Incredible Creatures That Defy Evolution series is hosted by David Hames and features commentary and narration by Dr. Jobe Martin, a former evolutionist who is now a convinced creationist. The format is much the same as in the first video. David Hames introduces a segment (with humor that will probably appeal more to children than adults) and Dr. Martin then provides the story of an incredible creature. At times it seemed to me that in his enthusiasm he may have lost track of the purpose of the production, which was not merely to discuss God’s amazing creatures, but to show how they defy evolution. This was more clear in the previous volume. Of course there is still much to learn here about whales, fireflies, glowworms, hippos, sparrows and many other animals.

As with the previous video I highly recommend this one and feel this is a great addition to any library - public, school, church or personal. It is enjoyable for just about any age group, from small children (my five-year old enjoyed it) to adults.

Click here to read the review of Incredible Creatures That Defy Evolution I.

Evaluation		Support
	Theology/Accuracy The theology is strong throughout, consistently pointing to God’s sovereignty in Creation.
	Special Features The extra features are sparse - just a page-by-page recap of the incredible creatures.
	Uniqueness There are plenty of DVDs promoting creationism, but Dr. Martin sets this one apart.
	Importance Ideal for the whole family. Let the children watch, learn and believe!
	Overall The second installment in a great series. I highly recommend it.
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In 2002, Jonathan Wells published a book entitled Icons of Evolution. This book was subtitled, Science or Myth? Why Much of What We Teach About Evolution is Wrong. Wells, formerly a firm believer in evolution, had come to realize that much of what is taught about evolution is just plain wrong. Many “icons of evolution,” such as Darwin’s “Tree of Life,” Haeckel’s drawings of embryoes that look remarkably similar to each other, and the ever-famous Galapagos Finch had long since been proven to be mere myth. That these are myths is widely accepted in the scientific community, even by advocates of evolution. And yet these icons live on, taught as fact in science texts used in grade schools and in colleges. Wells’ book ignited a firestorm of controversy that continues to this day. It was responsible for convicting many to abandon or seriously question their faith in Darwin’s theories of evolution.

Icons of Evolution (the DVD) is an hour-long video presentation of Wells’ findings. While certainly nowhere near as thorough as the book, the facts are still as compelling and every bit as devastating to Darwinism, and perhaps more importantly, to Neo-Darwinism.

Produced by ColdWater Media, this DVD is well-made and well-produced - this is no amateur presentation. From the menus to the extras and to both the video and audio work, the production is solid throughout. The disc includes several bonus features, such as “10 Questions to ask your Biology Teacher,” answers from experts to frequently asked questions about evolution (highly recommended!), along with a list of suggested printed and online resources.

Icons of Evolution is appropriate for any audience, but would be most valuable to middle school, high school and college students who will surely encounter most or all of these icons as part of their education. Parents of these students would no-doubt benefit from it as well. The video concludes with several high school level students voicing their concern that they are not considered sufficiently intelligent and discerning to be taught various theories as to the origins of the world. Do they not gain more by following the foundations of the scientific theory even as they attempt to understand the origins of life? Why is it that Darwinism is considered fact - the only valid and responsible explanation?

This presentation focuses far more on disproving the icons of evolution than on teaching Creationism. In fact, Creationism is rarely mentioned. Many of the scientists interviewed are not Creationists, but are believers in evolution who are sufficiently honest to admit to the growing number of problems inherent within this explanation for the origins of life. Perhaps that increases its value. Of course by disproving many of the foundations of evolution, I am confident that viewers will be led the only plausible alternative, which is Intelligent Design. Surely the origins of life can only be adequately explained by admitted that where there is Creation, there must be a Creator.

This video is compelling and convicting and is a must-have for any library - church, school or public. Buy one for yourself and lend it to your family and friends. Icons of Evolution is a devastating examination of myth that is being taught as fact. I unreservedly recommend it.

This DVD is available from Amazon (see link below) or from ColdWater Media (1-800-889-8670).

Evaluation		Support
	Theology/Accuracy There is no real theology, but the science clearly differentiates between fact and myth.
	Special Features The extra features are helpful and add to the value of the presentation.
	Uniqueness Many videos are defenses of Creationism by Creationists. This is an examination of Darwinism current (and sometimes former) Darwinists.
	Importance Ideal for the whole family, but especially students. Watch it and learn!
	Overall A powerful and compelling DVD that you won’t want to miss.
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They don’t make ‘em like this anymore! City of the Bees is a Moody Science Classic that was first released in 1962, quite a long while before my time. A half-hour presentation on - you guessed it - bees, it includes everything we’d expect to find in a Moody video produced in the 60’s - cutting-edge video work (that is still impressive even by today’s standards), a significant explanation of how the video applies to the life of the viewer, and a cheap-shot at the Commies.

Through this short presentation you’ll learn how bees live and work. You’ll learn about their division of labor, their methods of communication (I’m now fluent in “bee”) and how they police and even air condition themselves. Just the other day I was talking to a nurse while she was collecting some of my blood and she wondered aloud who had invented air conditioning. I was able to tell her, like the geek I am, that what we consider a wonderful human invention it instinctual to bees. I explained how they bring moisture into their hives and then fan it with their wings, condensing it and causing cooling. Meanwhile other bees fan cool air from outside into the hives while a third group stands at the opposite direction, venting the warm air to the outside. She nodded and smiled and pretended to be interested. Then she changed the subject.

As the cover for the video promises, you will also “find out why God’s design for human relationships is vastly different from His system for bees.” This is a lesson the Reds learned the hard way, as their system of government, modelled more on the laws of nature than the laws of God, cannot be sustained among humans. The harsh law of the hive, which requires members to work themselves to death and leaves no place for the old, sick and unproductive, may work for animals, but is far from God’s directive for those made in His image.

A great little video that will awe and inspire even today, City of the Bees is well worth the half-hour investment in time. I enjoyed it and look forward to watching other presentations from deep inside the archives of Moody Science.

Evaluation		Support
	Theology/Accuracy Plenty of biblical application to our lives.
	Special Features None.
	Uniqueness Can’t say I’ve seen anything quite like it.
	Importance Ideal for the whole family and a throwback to a bygone era.
	Overall It’s short but fun and educational. I recommend it.
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