Objects of Wrath

“Jesus commands us to go.
It’s the exception if we stay.
It’s no wonder we’re moving so slow.
When His children refuse to obey,
feeling so called to stay.”
   —Keith Green

I can still remember the passion that was shared from the late Christian artist Keith Green. One of the first albums released after his tragic death was “Jesus Commands Us to Go!” His ministry was all about serving Christ and being involved. Jeff Peterson has put together a wonderful tool that reminds us what ministry is all about. “Objects of Wrath” is a well written and an excellent application of scripture.

Let me share some background on Mr. Peterson first. Jeff talked about making a film and writing Christian screenplays for about eight years. During that time he embarked on the patient process of purchasing equipment and learning the ropes. Prior to making this feature, Peterson had made two short films and written four screenplays. His day job was working in the computer industry, but his hobby and passion was becoming a film producer.

Two years ago, Jeff lost his job and spent 7 months trying to find employment in the field of computers or sales. He took this time as a gift and rewrote one of his scripts and upgraded his gear to accommodate a more professional look. Once everything was in place technologically, Peterson began to look for actors and locations to make a professional shoot.

He then began to experience some extreme ups and downs in trying to bring this vision to life. His lead actor quit and other obstacles stood in his way. The Lord led him to a man whose experiences were similar to the character Steve in the script. Dan Arthur (Steve) had been sent by a church in Oregon to start a church in Las Vegas. I found his performance very believable. There is just something very compelling about this movie and the sacrificial contribution from everyone involved.

You will be surprised at the quality of a film made on a measly $20,000 budget. Many of the actors either deferred their salaries or donated their time. Mr. Peterson is a true inspiration to anyone who aspires to make a serious positive contribution to the community of faith.

The DVD includes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Objects of Wrath”. There are some outtakes, an alternate ending and some music videos.

The story is built upon the Scripture Ephesians 2:1-3. Without Jesus we are “dead in our transgressions” and “objects of (His) wrath”. Steve (Dan Arthur) has always felt there was more to life than his dead end and boring life. But he doesn’t know how to go about changing it. He also feels trapped by an addiction that is only too common in our world today. The sudden loss of his job forces him to revaluate his priorities. His new life is difficult and unfamiliar.

This experience drives Steve into a place of prayer and renewed dedication. This film is the perfect illustration of the principle found in the popular book, “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. Jeff’s film has a lot of polish, and I hope it will inspire its viewers to make their lives count for Christ. I review hundreds of films each year. We have all seen some Christian films that are extremely amateurish. Not this one! I highly recommend this film, and I hope to see more from Mr. Peterson.

Violence: Minor / Profanity: None / Sex/Nudity: None