Surprised by a Ragamuffin

Today, I managed to steal away some time to watch a movie on the life of Christian music star Rich Mullins. It was not what I expected. I, of course, have heard and sung many of Mullins' hits over the years. "Our God is an awesome God," is a classic hit that at least three generations of youth group teens have sung. However, I did not know much about the development of Christian music genre and the influence of Mullins.

It turns out, Mullins was both a renegade and a ragamuffin. Music spoke to him at a young age and helped take him away from a troubled relationship with his dad. But it took years for him to find the peace he was looking for. Along the way, he challenged the way Christians lived out their faith and he went against the establishment in Nashville to try to stay true to his faith and music. 

Mullins' faith was inspired by St. Francis. He simply wanted to love as Jesus loved. Yet, he had a hard time receiving love in return. Mullins made millions but only lived on an average persons wages giving the rest to charity. He was a vagabond, troubled with self-worth issues and alcoholism, wondering and searching and still reached millions with a message of love and salvation. He was taken from us by a tragic accident but his music and art live on.

The movie is narrated from the viewpoint of Mullins. His story is a good reminder that God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called. It challenges each of us to continue searching and seeking, in the midst of pain and confusion, to understand and accept the love of God in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Even in our brokenness, God can work through us to help others in profound ways.

The DVD was releases this week at retailers nationwide. I was given a copy of the new DVD  for my review. I was also given a copy to giveaway on my blog. Comment below with your favorite Rich Mullins song to be entered into a drawing for the DVD.

•Where to Buy

Consider buying one DVD for yourself and giving one away to a Ragamuffin in your life at

http://ragamuffinthemovie.com/buy/.

•About the Film:

RAGAMUFFIN is based on the life of Rich Mullins, a musical prodigy who rose to Christian music fame and fortune only to walk away and live on a Navajo reservation. An artistic genius, raised on a tree farm in Indiana by a callous father, Rich wrestled all of his life with the brokenness and crippling insecurity born of his childhood. A lover of Jesus and a rebel in the church, Rich refused to let his struggles with his own darkness tear him away from a God he was determined to love. As he struggled with success in Nashville and depression in Wichita, Rich desired most of all to live a life of honest and reckless faith amidst a culture of religion and conformity.

•About Rich Mullins:

Singer and songwriter Richard Wayne “Rich” Mullins was best known for his worship song “Awesome God” which has been embraced as modern classics by many Christians. His music has been covered by many artists, including Caedmon’s Call, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, Third Day, John Tesh, and Hillsong United. Mullins’ musical career formally began with Zion Ministries in the late 1970s, where he wrote music and performed with a band called Zion.  Mullins first solo hit, “Awesome God,” appeared on his third album and brought his music to a wider audience. Rich Mullins was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) on April 29, 2014.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”