When life does a 180: Hardflip follows the story of Caleb Jones (Randy Wayne, To Save A Life), a young skater whose ill mother (Rosanna Arquette, The Whole Nine Yards) and absent father (John Schneider, October Baby) leave him reaching for the only hope he has—becoming a sponsored skater. After finding a stack of old love letters, Caleb sets out to find the father he never knew, learning to let go of his anger and pain, while forgiving those who hurt him most. Released this month, the 108-minute film retails for $19.95 and is distributed by Bridgestone Multimedia Group.

According to the Book: In The Player’s Manual, an evangelist named Levi takes viewers on a journey through the lives of familiar characters in today’s urban communities, illustrating with gritty reality the relevance of Scripture to modern-day life in the hood. Released last month by Black Christian Entertainment and GT Media and distributed by EMI CMG Distribution, the 91-minute movie retails for $14.99.

Triumph lies within: New Hope was written and produced in response to the high number of suicides in Ouachita Parish, La., in a 13-month period. The inspirational drama stars Ben Davies (Courageous) as Lucas, a high school basketball star who is fiercely loyal to the memory of his brother Chase, who died at is own hand, shaking his close-knit Southern town. Released this month, the 120-minute film retails for $19.95 and is distributed by Bridgestone Multimedia Group.

Life choices: Following Earth and Wind, Wood is the third film in best-selling author and pastor Erwin Raphael McManus’ “Signs” series. In Genesis 3, man chooses his first act of rebellion at the tree of life. Portraying a hunter sprinting through the jungle, the film shows that while expressing love and living in faith can be difficult, those decisions can be creative and spiritual acts. The 12-minute DVD, which retails for $14.99 and is designed for small groups or individual study, released last month from David C Cook.

An angel in Texas: I Am … Gabriel weaves multiple stories of individuals in Promise, Texas, touched by tragedy, to an unlikely messenger from God. The film stars Dean Cain as Sheriff Brody (Lois & Clark), John Schneider as Doc (The Dukes of Hazzard, Smallville) and Gavin Casalegno as Gabriel. Produced by 2nd Fiddle Entertainment and Heaven’s Promise Productions, and distributed by EchoLight Studios, the 93-minute film, which retails for $22.98, was released in late August.

From slave to missionary: The dramatic events that led an African boy prince to take a new name, then become a missionary to the United States is chronicled in The Samuel Morris Story. The latest 30-minute animated biography in “The Torchlighters: Heroes of the Faith” line for children 8-12 is distributed by Vision Video. Retailing for $14.99, the DVD, released last month, comes with a four-lesson leader’s guide, reproducible study materials, English and Spanish tracks, and subtitles.

Suffering and hope: Inspired by the personal experiences of filmmaker David de Vos, Eyes to See follows Ray (Matthew Marsden, Coronation Street), a news cameraman who was assigned to capture the damage from a 2010 earthquake in Haiti that left more than 300,000 dead. Ray is forced to choose between doing his job and helping the quake victims. Released last month, the 105-minute drama retails for $17.95 and is distributed by Bridgestone Multimedia Group.

A pal for a champ: After his parents die in a car accident, 12-year-old Bobby Graham dreams of becoming a soap-box-derby champion in You've Got A Friend. But his aunt and uncle aren't supportive. Bobby sneaks away to befriend the town recluse (John Schneider), who is also the former derby champ. Together they design and create a victory-worthy car. Released last month by GT Media and distributed by EMI CMG Distribution, the 85-minute, Dove-approved film retails for $14.99.

Nick Vujicic inspires readers with his continuing story of a ‘ridiculously good life’

Author, motivational speaker and director of Life Without Limbs, Nick Vujicic has endured some hard times in life, having been born without arms or legs. Following on from his previous book, Life Without Limits, Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action, continues his inspiring story, teaching others some important lessons he has had to learn himself—that life has value and is a gift, that God is always present and has a good plan.

Born in Australia and now based in Southern California, Vujicic speaks around the globe. With an international ministry that was going gangbusters, he made the mistake of not being careful enough with the finances, despite having a degree in financial planning and accounting. When his staff came to him to explain that they were having trouble making payroll and paying bills that were coming due when big customers were slow to pay or not paying for his DVDs or speaking engagements. The problem was resolved, but not before Vujicic was humbled by it.

“When I realized my company had fallen into debt,” he writes, “I was consumed by the feeling that I’d let down all the people who worked for me and all those who believed in me. Still, the extent of my despair quickly exceeded the magnitude of the problem. I became so overwrought I could barely function and it wasn’t just for a day or two.”

It was a couple of months before the man who usually inspired others made a comeback, but he had to learn to practice the things he taught and once again put his faith into action. In his recovery, he finds that lessons continue to emerge from his trial.

Since writing his first book, Vujicic has—happily—found a wife, sharing the dramatic story of how their love unfolded in a chapter titled “Matters of the Heart.” Thankful for the gift of God through his wife, Kanae, he writes: “Part of putting faith into action in relationships is working to be your best and then believing that it is possible for someone to love you. It’s about believing there is a person out there who could look at you, see beyond all your flaws and shortcomings, and still love you.”

Vujicic shares many such experiences in the book, his own and those of others, showing the power of faith in action. He has learned that surrendering to God is a “joyous and empowering experience.”

“Once I yielded, the Lord took my pain and turned it into something good, which brought me real joy,” he writes. “What was that something good? For me, it was purpose and significance. My life mattered. When I could not find meaning and purpose for my life, I surrendered the need to do that, and God stepped in. He gave my life meaning when no one and nothing else could provide it.”

Readers of Unstoppable will be encouraged by Vujicic in the areas of job challenges, health concerns, self-destructive thoughts and addictions, bullying and more. For more information, visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com, or to order, call Random House at 800-733-3000.

Brandon Heath, the five-time GRAMMY nominee, Emmy winner and two-time Gospel Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year—offers his fourth full-length album, Blue Mountain (6-02341-01712-1, Reunion Records/Provident Distribution), releasing Oct. 9, 2012. Read his comments on the new project here:

In a few words, how would you describe the music on Blue Mountain?

It’s about storytelling. Most of the characters on the record are fictional people who live on Blue Mountain. In terms of the music, I wanted to bring Appalachia to Pop so you’ll hear pop backbeats surrounded by Dobro and steel guitars. The vocals take on the characters they portray, with dialect and accents very much intact.

From his new label home, FairTrade Services, Platinum-selling artist Mark Schultz sees a Sept. 4 release of his first studio project in three years, All Things Possible (7-36211-60449-1). Produced by Pete Kipley (MercyMe, Phil Wickham) and Seth Mosley (Newsboys), the album is available from Provident Distribution.

You and your wife, Kate, spent some time in Italy preparing music for All Things Possible. Why Italy?

Kate is an Italian citizen, but had never met any of her relatives in Sicily or Italy, so we thought that it would be a great opportunity to do that, as well as get to spend some time together as a couple—she had just finished medical residency, and we hadn't seen much of each other. We joked that we have been married for seven years and are still newlyweds. Taking time off from touring let us both experience life together as well as get filled up creatively.

The members of Tenth Avenue North talked with Christian Retailing about the band's third studio project, The Struggle (6-02341-01632-2, $9.99), releasing Aug. 21, 2012, from Reunion Records and Provident Label Group. Band members are: Mike Donehey (lead vocals, acoustic guitar); Jason Jamison (drums); Jeff Owen (background vocals, electric guitar); Brendon Shirley (keys) and Ruben Juarez (bass).

The Struggle is your third studio project. How is it distinct from the music you created earlier as a band?

Mike Donehey: We have new members now. [With] a lot of the songs we did in the past, we did songs first and then tried to build the music around it. This time a lot of them we did the music first. ... We feel like an artist with more colors at his disposal, and I think people find that to be true, that there's more sonic soundscape and more texture and more colors in the music itself in this record than before.

In Children and the Supernatural: True Accounts of Kids Unlocking the Power of God Through Visions, Healing, and Miracles (Charisma House, May 2012), author Jennifer Toledo shows how God is working today through children, not just adults. She demonstrates through supernatural accounts that youngsters have experienced miracles, prophetic evangelism, powerful intercession and more. Toledo and husband Jonatán are founders and directors of the Global Children’s Movement and pastors at Expression58 in Los Angeles.

What drove you to get involved with children and then write this book?

Ten years ago, I had an experience while sitting in the dirt with some street kids in Africa, where I heard the Lord say, “Will you teach the next generation the undiluted gospel?” I could hear such desperation in His voice for a generation to truly know Him—on his terms, without unbelief, without religion, without “church culture.” Just undiluted gospel. That encounter rocked my world and set me on a course of helping to connect children with God. The stories in this book are some of the incredible fruit I’ve witnessed on the way.