In week 3 of the summer blockbuster series, Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney tackle their first animated film, Shrek.  We look at how we often feel like Shrek, expecting people to run away if they really knew our true self.  Or maybe we relate to the Princess, getting frustrated because things don't look like we think they should.  In reality, our goal should be to emulate the hero of the movie, Donkey, by showing love, acceptance, and forgiveness to those around us. Join us as we discover our stories in this movie.

Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

In week 2 of our summer blockbuster series, Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney celebrate the 40th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Like Indy, we are all treasure hunters.  But what is the treasure we are chasing?  Will it kill us if we get it?  How do we find the treasure that will last?  We discuss these questions and more.

Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney celebrate the arrival of Top Gun 2 with our summer blockbuster series, starting with Top Gun. Like Pete Mitchell, we struggle with an orphan spirit-we don’t know who we are, and we work really hard to make life work. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work when what we fear the most actually happens. We must hear our identity and choose to walk in that to become who we were meant to be-the adopted sons of God.

Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Paul McDonald and Jay Heck conclude the series on the Lord of the Rings with The Return of the King (2003) starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, and Orlando Bloom (among many others!).  The story of The Lord of the Rings sets a vision for who we could be as men.  We see that through testing and pain, our growth is possible and our true selves are revealed.  For all the armies, politics, strength, and wisdom, the fate of the world depends on the small battle for our hearts.

Join us as we discover our stories in this movie!

Jay Heck is married to Heather, with son Baer (18 and off to college in a few weeks) and daughter Bozlie (17). He is the Director/Founder of Being Sons, an "Outfitter" of the masculine soul. God changed Jay when He invited him to follow the rabbit hole of identity as His son, and that changed everything. Now he creates content and adventures to help men discover their identities as sons.

Check out the Being Sons Podcast

Subscribe to the Being Sons YouTube channel - short videos to illuminate sonship

Adventures include:

Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Paul McDonald and Jay Heck continue their discussion of the Lord of the Rings as they dive into The Two Towers (2002) starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, and Orlando Bloom (among many others!).  They ask some hard questions: How do you maintain hope in the face of growing darkness?  Are you listening to the voice of accusation or invitation?  What mark do you want to leave on the world?

Join us as we discover our stories in this movie!

Jay Heck is married to Heather, with son Baer (18 and off to college in a few weeks) and daughter Bozlie (17). He is the Director/Founder of Being Sons, an "Outfitter" of the masculine soul. God changed Jay when He invited him to follow the rabbit hole of identity as His son, and that changed everything. Now he creates content and adventures to help men discover their identities as sons.

Check out the Being Sons Podcast

Subscribe to the Being Sons YouTube channel - short videos to illuminate sonship

Adventures include:

Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Paul McDonald and Jay Heck begin their series on the Lord of the Rings, beginning with The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, and Orlando Bloom (among many others).  They discuss how we, like Aragorn, must go through our initiation to develop the character capable of carrying the kingdom.  Beauty invites us into our strength and heals us when we fall.  Friendship and being childlike will prove to be more important than strength in arms and great wisdom.

Join us as we discover our stories in this movie!

Questions

What character resonates most with you? Who do you most want to be?

What battles are you fighting?

What role would you like to play in your life?  Where do you face fear in stepping into that role?

Where do you say, “I can’t do this.”? Where do you feel paralyzed?

How do you think God sees you?  What would His words be to you?

How would you define true masculinity?

What does success or failure look like? How do you define it?

Where you are being asked to do something, although you do not know the way?

Where are you in the process of initiation?  Do you need to lay something down, or pick up the crown?

About Jay

Jay Heck is married to Heather, with son Baer (18 and off to college in a few weeks) and daughter Bozlie (17). He is the Director/Founder of Being Sons, an "Outfitter" of the masculine soul. God changed Jay when He invited him to follow the rabbit hole of identity as His son, and that changed everything. Now he creates content and adventures to help men discover their identities as sons.

Check out the Being Sons Podcast

Subscribe to the Being Sons YouTube channel - short videos to illuminate sonship

Adventures include:

Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Paul McDonald and Daniel Schwabauer discuss Braveheart (1995) starring Mel Gibson, and the questions that arise.  What does it mean to be a man? How do we live uncompromising lives and avoid losing heart? How can we die happy men?

Join us as we discuss God’s truth in this movie!

Questions

Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney celebrate the 20th anniversary of the movie A Knight’s Tale starring Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, and Andy Tudyk.  No matter how hard we believe or as much as we try, we are unable to change our stars, our nature, or our destiny on our own.  God will often ask us to lay something down, to kill it, in order to redeem it.  And we can only receive our true name which is beyond contestation through Christ.

Join us as we discuss God’s truth in this movie!

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney discuss the 1987 movie The Princess Bride starting Carey Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, and Robin Wright.  Invitation and opportunity often show up looking like pain, inconvenience, and interruption. We can accept the quirks of our story, or get frustrated and fight it.  When life isn’t fair, when we are mostly dead, doctrine and theology isn’t enough to get us through—we need story to show us the way.

Join us as we discuss God’s truth in this movie.

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Paul McDonald and Will Branner discuss how they met, how Will got into acting and filmmaking, and what stories Will loves to make (and watch).

About Will Branner

Will Branner is an award winning director/filmmaker based out of LA. As a former Broadway performer (Mean Girls, Bat Out of Hell), his work emphasizes collaboration with the artist and has been seen at numerous festivals across the globe. Films: SCHMIK (HollyShorts Film Festival, Amazon), Night Terror (Award for Best Thriller Indie Shorts, Best Horror Film Apex Film Festival, Paris International Shorts), Moment’s Silence (Experimental Music and Dance Festival). Commercial/Promotional: John Barrett Salon, Todd Sanfield, Bandstand Broadway, Frank Wildhorn’s 54 Below Series, Broadway at the W. Theatre: Gruesome Playground Injuries (University of Michigan), Rock of Ages (Pioneer Theatre Guild). Branner holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!).

Instagram: @lordbranner

Recommended watching

Will Branner’s work:

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).