This is a great book!

"Night of the Living Dead Christian: One Man's Ferociously Funny Quest to Discover What It Means to Be Truly Transformed."

I loved this book! It was entertaining, yet theologically profound from beginning to end! This is not the kind of book I would normally pick up to read. However, I was positively impressed. Matt's writing style is a mix of watching 50's monster movie, with the imagery of C.S. Lewis, and loads of humor throughout. I found myself being pulled into the story line. I also enjoyed sharing humorous excerpts with my husband.

This is a book for both Christians and non-Christians alike. For non-Christians, this is a very entertaining way to learn the simpleness of the Gospel message, and that Jesus is the only one who can help us break the sin-cycle. The various types of monsters represent different facets of our sin nature. Even as Christians, we have different "monsters" that we allow to appear in us from time to time. The redeeming message for everyone is that Jesus is the only one who can help us overcome the "monster" within us...we just have to accept His forgiveness.

All in all, this book is a great example of entertaining storytelling, while folding in the gospel, at it's very best. There is an amazing example of Jesus and the ultimate sacrifice He made for each and every one of us. I would recommend this book to any teenager or adult, whether Christian or non-Christian.

Check out the author's video: http://www.tyndale.com/video/296
Check out these websites:  http://mattmikalatos.com and www.tyndale.com 


Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

What People are Saying About My Husband and His Video Production Skills

My husband is a skilled media producer. Of course, I'm proud of him and would like share what others think too:

I have worked with Don on numerous shoot's, and I would work with him anytime!!! He is always a joy to have on set! He is very knowledgeable about film in every aspect, including preproduction, production, camera, sound, lighting, post production, etc. He is also very creative! He has a great eye for out of the box creative shot's, which I love, and with his ability to tell a story!!! As he gets involved in a project he is always willing to help and share with his amazing ideas, and he's a great leader as well as team player! 

As well as being a great filmmaker, Don is a person of great integrity! He is trustworthy, a great listener and a very hard worker!! In fact as you work with Don, you will gain a dear friend, because you cannot work around him very long without seeing how much he cares for and loves people! You absolutely cannot go wrong when you hire Don!!! I would recommend him anytime!!

Theresa Davidson

3:17 Film Productions

817-201-2954

theresa@317film.com

www.317film.com

Don has honed his creative and technical abilities during two decades of service to Christian ministries. He has directed and produced award-winning television programs, and has led international film expeditions. His compassionate storytelling skills strike the perfect tone for legacy videos.

Richard Carpenter

Don Gordoni is a gifted artist, writer, and producer.  A family treasure is created with each legacy video. He finds the hidden treasures of memories and people through his inquisitive nature, and combines these together beautifully in a keepsake that lasts.  His videos always capture the personalities of the family members, and bring joy to those who watch them. He is a professional who is committed to providing high-quality videos.  I am honored to highly recommend Don Gordoni to create a Legacy Video for your family.

Terri Turner

"I would enthusiastically recommend Don for any video project. He is highly skilled, experienced, personable, responsive, very qualified and professional.  The video production of Jean was so touching, incredibly moving, a masterpiece, a true legacy."

Libby :)

Tribute to Jean Parker

Help the Homeless Walk & 5K

On Saturday, November 12, 3PM, the Help the Homeless Walk & 5K will be held at the Fair Park Band Shell.  Funds raised benefit The Bridge homeless assistance center.  It’s a great event for the entire family.  In addition to getting our daily exercise, there will be lots of fun, food and music. 

·         The North Texas Patriot Guard will lead off both the walk and run.
·         The presentation of colors will be led by the 4^th Air Wing Honor Guard, Texas State Guard
·         Slappy and Monday (from Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse fame) will be on hand…a great opportunity for the kids to say ‘hi’ to the affable clowns. 
·         Dallas’ favorite band, Emerald City, will be bringing us the toe tapping tunes.   
·         Great, free food samples from Tiff’s Treats (yummy cookies), Little Caesar’s, Community Coffee, Pepsi, Powerade, Clif Bars, and Frito Lay.
·         Fun, interactive games, face painting and more!

For the $5 discount, those interested may use the code VETS.  Enter the code at Question #5 during registration.

For more info and to register go to: http://helpthehomelessdallas.org/

We have a Winner

Congrats to Adam G. who won a Family Four Pack to Disney Live!

http://neveradullmama.blogspot.com/2011/10/and-winner-is.html

Listening for a Legacy

The holidays provide a wonderful opportunities to get together with older relatives and hear stories from their lives. Biographies are a treasure house of lessons learned, fields full of wisdom that can be gleaned from the good and bad decisions of someone else.

My parents always encouraged me to ask questions that will help me understand the perspectives of others and I guess that has factored into my pursuing a degree in psychology and my love of acting. I spent three and a half years as a probation counselor to juveniles. As a part of the job, I would interview families and create a social history. This was my favorite and also saddest part of the job because as you might imagine, most of the family sagas were filled with dysfunction. For instance, the most violent offender on my case load took great pride in the fact that a great grandfather had killed another man with a frozen fish! I'm sure we all have a few black sheep in our family trees and I thank the Lord that his grace can deliver us from negative family baggage. Thankfully, most of us have at least a few  family members who set a great example.

Okay, I have a few suggestions for you to consider as you get together with family during the holidays. Consider setting down and recording some stories with some of those who may be approaching the final seasons of their lives. Jot notes, use the voice recorder built into your cellphone, or the video recorder, or a camcorder. Use your cellphone or a scanner to copy some of their important photos. Ask lots of questions and listen, listen, listen.You will probably laugh, cry, and learn many things that you never knew and be reminded of things that you have forgotten.

If you have the means, consider hiring a media professional, like me (unashamed self-promotion) to shoot an interview or edit your clips and photos into a presentation for your family. These make unique and meaningful gifts and can often be used in a powerful way at memorial services when our loved ones pass on.

If you are like me, too often we spend too much time at family get togethers, eating and fussing over the food and clean up, or talking about the weather and watching the game. Resolve now to prayerfully seize the opportunity to listen for your legacy so that you can pass it on.

Return to the Hiding Place

Lori and I had a real treat yesterday when we heard Peter Spencer speak at the Dallas Christian Media Association meeting. Mr. Spencer shared how his friendship with one of the members of Corrie Ten Boom's "young army" of Dutch resistance during WWII lead to the creation of the film Return to the Hiding Place.

Mr. Spencer, the Director/Executive Producer, spoke of a fourteen year process of seeing his vision for the film grow from concept to script to reality. The production is a true family affair with one daughter serving as producer, one daughter acting in the film, the assistance of a son, and Mrs. Spencer spending countless hours assisting with the extensive period wardrobe.

We enjoyed several clips from the film and I'm convinced that Peter Spencer's passion for story telling has resulted in a masterful presentation of people at their best and worst.

It is evident that Mr. Spencer and his team have done a wonderful job completing the painstaking research involved in creating a film that is historically accurate and true to the philosophies and motives of the real people who lived this drama. The dialogue is thought provoking and profound especially the scenes that involve  John Rhys-Davies.

Several years ago, my wife  Lori and I had the pleasure of spending a few hours escorting Jeanette Clift George from Wichita Falls to the DFW airport. Ms. George is the actress who played Corrie Ten Boom in the original film The Hiding Place. She is a delightful person as is Mr. Spencer.

It is sad and almost beyond belief that something as horrific as the holocaust could be forgotten. Especially for me, growing up with a Jewish heritage (my grandparents were Goldstein and Abramson) and seeing the photos of my father's two brothers in their army air corp uniforms, photos that were taken a few months before their bombers were shot down over Germany and the English channel. Films like Return to the Hiding Place play a vital role.

Follow Return to the Hiding Place at http://hidemovie.blogspot.com/ and http://www.hide-movie.com/