A Reflection of This and That

The Book of Man

2011-10-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

The Book of Man is a beautiful book with 546 pages of stories, letters, and poems of heroes. This story is filled with accounts from historical figures that have made an impact in the world. As a person who enjoys history, I enjoyed the vast amount of historical information and figures found throughout the book. Each account is written in its original context. I appreciate this since the historical figures have not been paraphrased or quoted. This book focuses on the character and morality of men. This book will be beneficial to me as a mother raising three sons. I want to raise my boys to become honorable men of God. I plan to incorporate this book into our home school curriculum. I think my children will really enjoy hearing all these stories and will gain so much. This book will be a part of our family library for many years to come. Highly recommend!
The book is divided into six categories
Man in War
Man at Work
Man in Play, Sports and Leisure
Man in the Polis
Man with Woman and Children
Man in Prayer and Reflection
**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."**

Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible

2011-09-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of reviewing the “Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible”. Max Lucado has done an amazing job with the devotionals presented in this book. Although, I would not consider this bible a study bible, the devotionals are inspiring and helpful to my daily life. The translation of this bible is easy to read and understand. The Life Lessons given throughout the bible were helpful, and gave me some things to consider in my life. The reading plan presented would give a reader a goal to accomplish reading the entire bible. The bible is durable, and the text is just the right size. This bible would make a wonderful addition to any household.

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."**

American Patriot's Almanac

2010-12-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

The American Patriot’s Almanac is one of the best historical resources I have read in years. It is comprised of 365 daily reading starting with January. However, you could begin reading it at any point reading one entry a day. We homeschool our children and we read one entry every day. They are learning about history, while spending time with family. We often reinforce the reading by googling a video or further researching if they are really interested in a particular topic. This book will give them an introduction to historical events and important people. The book is also comprised of important American documents (Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Gettysburg Address, etc..) These documents alone make the book worth purchasing. This book would also make a wonderful gift for anyone who is interested in history. Buy this book, you will not regret it.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Heavens Proclaim His Glory

2010-10-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Heavens Proclaim His Glory, is a stunning book demonstrating the majesty of God's creation. This book is filled with photos from our solar system that are breath taking. It's amazing what God created in our universe. Our family has enjoyed looking at all the photos and reading all the text accompanying the photos. This also opened up a discussion in my home about space, and how NASA has placed telescopes and other things into outer space. This is pretty amazing too. I think God wants us to see his majesty, and understand that he can do that in our lives too. This book would be an amazing gift for anyone who wants to appreciate the beauty of our universe. Thomas Nelson, has published a true work of art. I just wish the book had been bigger.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Boy who Changed the World

2010-10-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

The Boy Who Changed the World, was a wonderful book to show children the impact they can make on others. The book talks about how different people have impacted the lives of others. The book would be better to read to children in 2nd grade and up. Any younger and I don’t think it would hold the child’s interest. My 4th grader really enjoyed the book, and it opened up a discussion on how he could impact others around him. The illustrations in the book were amazing, and my kindergarten enjoyed looking at the pictures. My older child was able to make the connection between the illustrations and the story. I think this book should be read in schools everywhere. Let’s teach children that they are important, and that they can make a difference in the world one day. Andy Andrews ends the book by saying “That means You can be the kid who changes the world”. What an awesome thing to teach kids.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

A Time To Dance

2010-08-03T22:36:00.001-07:00

I received a complimentary copy of Karen Kingsbury’s book, “A time to dance”. Kingsbury has done a fabulous job of depicting the ups and down’s a married couple may experience in a marriage. I appreciated that she dealt with many issues that affect married couples across America. The characters in the book are struggling with their decisions, and how those choices have placed them in the position they are in. Through the book they learn that only with God can they overcome the obstacles in their marriage. Marriage should be a fundamental aspect of our society. Unfortunately, divorce rates continue to rise and families are destroyed. I think we lose sight of what it means to stay with our spouse through the good and bad times. It seems that too many people bail on their marriage, as soon as it gets too hard. Kingsbury shows how valuable marriage is, and why God wants us to work to save it. This book will not solved America’s divorce problems, but maybe the reader may come to evaluate their own relationship and why it is worth saving. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am currently reading the sequel to this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Storm Warning

2010-06-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

I have had the extreme pleasure of reading Storm Warning by Billy Graham. While I have not finished the book entirely, it is definitely one I can’t put down. In today’s world, it is easy to get caught up in anxiety and fear. From economic collapses, to wars around the world, or natural disasters, these all give us the urge to cry out “Why God?” But after reading this book, it is easy to see that this is all planned by the One who we ask why. Jesus served as our own “meteorologist”, showing how the great storm of this world would play out. It was revealed to John in Revelation. Jesus describes a storm that grows in strength and intensity. It is a storm that affects every aspect of our lives. Yet, Jesus revealed these things so that we would know that He is with us through the storms of this world, and while the world around us falls apart He is the one we can truly fall on. Billy Graham has been a wonderful evangelist for many decades, and he writes that the storm clouds are darker in this age than have ever been in his lifetime. Graham goes through current events and ties them to biblical truths through prophecy to show that these are “Storm Warnings”. Graham wants us to understand that the calamities of this world can do two things. It can draw us to anxiety and fear, or it can draw us closer to God.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be

2010-04-19T11:38:00.001-07:00

I received “You can be everything God wants you to be” through Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Program. This book is a quick and enjoyable read. Max Lucado has filled it with inspirational selections. These selections are taken from his book, “Cure for the Common Life”. After reading this book, I plan on picking up his other book. Max Lucado uses a range of topics to show us that God wants to be a part of every aspect of our life. He wants us to allow him to direct our paths, and for us to trust that he knows what he is doing. Lucado wants readers to realize that only through God can we achieve our goals and dreams in life. This book would make a great gift for a graduate, teenager, or anyone else needing some inspiration in their life. Although this book does not take long to read, it definitely is filled with wisdom on finding purpose in life.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub

2010-04-06T10:13:00.001-07:00

I received a complimentary copy of “Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub” from Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Program. I had never heard of radio hosts Rick and Bubba prior to reading the book. I found this book rather funny. This book does not consist of the typical diet book topics. It is actually the opposite, the authors focus on why they love food and their diet plan is funny. They are not authors writing a serious diet book about how to lose weight in a practical way. This book should not be seen as a help tool for those wishing to lose weight. However, if you are tired of all the diet talk this book can definitely lighten the dreaded topic. The author’s included some recipes in the book. The recipes are not necessarily the healthiest, but they are comfort foods. I personally enjoyed the humor in this book. I knew when I picked it up this book was meant to be funny. I had fun reading some of the excerpts to my husband, and he thought they were very true on some of their points. The lists the author’s included on various topics were hilarious. I would recommend this book to anyone just wanting to relax and laugh. The premise of this book is basically why food is an art and should be enjoyed.

Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts

2010-03-09T15:24:00.001-08:00

The Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts has been an excellent addition to our family’s bookshelf. It serves as a great supplement to reading the Bible at home with our children, but could also be used in a church or Bible study also. Our kids like it because when we read out of a book, say Matthew, they can look at maps of the areas mentioned in Matthew. In addition, it gives outlines and charts the major events of the book. These are all reproducible and are also located on the Thomas Nelson website. This definitely serves as a complementary tool to those who really want to do some deep reading into the Bible.

The Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts takes a closer look at each book of the Bible. It starts with a brief introduction of the book. It then talks about the author of the book. From there it goes into the time period in which it was written. Afterwards, it breaks down the themes of the book as well as the structure of how it is written. From that they give an outline of the book, have charts of events from the book, and maps in relation to the places mentioned in the book. It does a very thorough job at showing the greater picture of the each book of the Bible.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to know a little more about the books of the Bible. While reading from the Bible is insightful, seeing it outlined with charts and maps makes it easier to interpret.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Antonio Meets His Match

2010-01-16T15:50:00.000-08:00

Our family just finished watching “Antonio Meets His Match”, the newest DVD in Max Lucado’s Hermie and Friends series. This dvd was about loving your neighbors. Antonio is at odds with a few red ants that move into the garden. He must go through the process of learning to love his neighbors, even if it’s a struggle. This DVD has a great message about learning to accept people who may be different then you are. My children enjoyed the part where the Scottish ants learned to be nice to Antonio. They liked the music and dancing towards the end of the movie. I appreciate the opening and ending of the movie in which Lucado discusses the storyline. I think it really helps to clarify the message in the movie. I enjoy the positive messages in each movie released in this series. It allows me to then spend time talking to my children about how they can apply the message in their own life. We own all the dvd’s in this series, and “Antonio Meets His Match” will be a great addition to our collection. For more information visit, http://booksneeze.com/blogger/resources/9781400313082

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Take Your Best Shot

2010-01-05T22:38:00.000-08:00

“Take your Best Shot” was an inspiring and motivating book to read. Austin at age 9, founded Hoops of Hope. This foundation raised money more for kids orphaned due to Aids. He reached out to these kids, and gave them hope through basketball. Austin was selfless in his quest to help these kids. Austin writes about his journey to Africa, and how the Aids epidemic has affected people and children in Africa. The book is easy to read, and would be simple to incorporate into a group book. Austin shows that with a little drive anyone can reach out and help those less fortunate. I plan on reading this book with my own 8 year old. This book will be an excellent teaching tool about children who live very different lives from himself. I hope this book will open his eyes and teach him how he can help others too. I especially appreciated the spiritual aspects found throughout the book. Austin believed God wanted him to pursue this charity, and he strived to fulfill God’s will. This book was truly amazing.


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The Sweet Bye and Bye

2010-01-05T22:11:00.000-08:00

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review for Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program. I don’t know too much about Sara Evans as an entertainer. However, the back cover seemed interesting, and it had some positive reviews of the book. I quickly read the book in less than a day. I thought the book was entertaining enough. The main character Jade was rather frustrating to me. It just seemed like her character was all over the place. The parent/child scenes in the book were rather interesting, and I found I was able to relate to the father/daughter relationship all too well. I did not like the events that occurred after Jade’s 1st marriage, and found some of the storyline offensive. I wish there had been more character development of Jade’s brother Aiden. Jade’s relationship with her mother reminded me of so many mother/daughter relationships. I was happy to see them working through their problems towards the end of the book. I thought the book could have gone more in depth with Jesus and Christianity. It seemed to stay very lukewarm with Christianity. Jade and Max’s relationship was fun to read, and I thought the two characters worked well together. Overall, the author’s did a great job with this book.

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1595544895&title=The_Sweet_By_and_By

Fearless

2009-08-31T22:58:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of reviewing Max Lucados’ new book “Fearless”. Lucado tackles the various fears we struggle with in life. Each chapter was focused on specific topics of fear, and backed up with biblical references. I have many fears that were covered in this book. Lucado gave me a different perspective on how I was choosing to react to these fears. Lucado uses scripture to remind us of the miraculous things God can do for us. He uses accounts from the bible to make comparisons between our troubles and the troubles of the people in the bible. God is always near us, just waiting for us to reach out to him. Lucado reminds us that God can take away all of our fears. Lucado has sprinkled in plenty of humor and personal stories, which make the book more personable. I especially enjoyed the various bible verses and poems found in this book. The discussion questions at the end of the book really helped me to evaluate my own fears on a deeper level. I will definitely refer to this book when my fears and anxieties begin to take hold of me again. This book would be a wonderful gift for a friend who may be struggling with their fears. Buy this book, it is worth the money. We all need to rid ourselves of the fear that hurts us.

For more information, view this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih_L7w0-_p4&feature=related


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Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl

2009-08-17T10:54:00.001-07:00

I reviewed “Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl”, for Thomas Nelson’s book review blogger program. I had a hard time finishing this book. The writing style was hard to follow. N.D. Wilson seemed to be a deep thinker who wanted to examine the world God created. He writes about simple and complex topics. Wilson uses humor throughout the book. However, it just seemed out of place throughout the book. I did not appreciate the way his thoughts are jumbled throughout the book. Wilson’s paragraphs do not always relate to each other. I would finish a page, and question what I had just read. I don’t know if his intention was to write a book similar to a journal. In which all thoughts are written without intention. I usually read books very quickly. I actually had to force myself to finish this book, so I could post my review. I’m sure this book may appeal to people who don’t mind re-reading a page or paragraph multiple times to figure out the point the author is trying to make. I simply do not have the time to try and unravel the author’s mind. I would recommend a person read other reviews, to determine whether or not this book would appeal to their reading preferences.

Jungle Jack's Wackiest, Wildest, and Weirdest Animals in the World

2009-06-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

I reviewed Jack Hanna’s “Jungle Jack's Wackiest, Wildest, and Weirdest Animals in the World” with my 7 and 3 year old sons. They are both animal lovers, and are constantly looking for a new book about animals. We really enjoyed all the various animals included in this book. There is a great variety of animals, and the pictures included are enjoyable to look at. The descriptions of the animals were the perfect length for my children. The descriptions included basic information about the animal. There were also random animal facts, my 7 year old enjoyed reading these. I appreciated the references to God throughout the book. Our family believes that God created animals, so it was nice to see this supported in a book about animals. My book had a problem with the binding. A few of the pages were a bit loose. This could be frustrating to a child, because they will have to be careful not to pull the pages out. I also wished the book had included a table of contents. This would have made it easier for my children to find animals names and page numbers. There is a glossary at the back of the book, that explains terms that may be unfamiliar to children. The DVD was a collection of funny bloopers. My children said they wish it had been about the animals in the book. My 7 year old, has already started looking up some of the animals online. Overall, this was a great book for animal lovers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ7NimcIYUE

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

2009-05-01T14:42:00.001-07:00

“Jesus Calling”, is one of the best devotional books I have ever read. Sarah Young, spent time with God daily, and recorded what he was saying to her. She then turned these moments into a devotional and shared them with all of us. I really appreciated that it is God’s voice in all the daily entries. God is written in the first person, with the reader in the second person. The author has included bible verses that came to her during her time with God. These verses fit really well the daily reading. The daily entries are only a couple paragraphs. However, they are really inspirational. God’s words are reassuring, comforting in times of trouble, loving, and give us hope. Each month includes a different picture at the top of the each page. All these pictures relate to God, and the gifts he has given us. The thing I value most about this book, is it inspires me. This book has made me realize the importance of my own alone time with God every day. I need to listen to what God is telling me, and record his words in my own journal. Just imagine how comforting and life changing these journals would be in your life. I believe God has a message for each of us every day, and we need to reach out to him to receive it.

In the Footsteps of Paul

2009-04-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

I own Ken Duncan’s previous book “Where Jesus Walked”. I found his first book to be an amazing journey through the life of Jesus. His second book, “In the footsteps of Paul” was just as enjoyable for me to read. The photographs are amazing, and gave me a better understanding of the places Paul encountered in his life. Some of the locations photographed include Damascus, Caesarea, and Cyprus. The author even includes a map, which really helped me visualize where Paul journeyed. I appreciated the scriptures that accompany the photographs, which helps put the photo in context with scripture. I do think more scripture could have been included to accompany the author’s personal views. I found the writing style to be easy to read. They are similar to devotionals, and are quick to read. However, they are well written and inspirational to the reader. The book also contains commentary from notable Christian authors such as Max Lucado, Rick Warren, and Beth Moore. The book is divided into three sections, each focusing on the various stages in Paul’s Life. The book certainly is not a bible study for individual or group study. However, it does give a starting point if a person wanted to study the life of Paul in depth. I think this book would be perfect as a gift for a friend who enjoys art and learning more about a man who devoted his life to serving God. I plan to keep my book on book shelf in my living room. It is too beautiful to put away, and I want to share it with all who visit my home. Ken Duncan’s books are amazing conversation starters for people who want to learn more about the lives of Jesus and Paul.

His Name Is Jesus

2009-03-26T23:47:00.000-07:00

Max Lucado has produced a beautiful compilation on the life of Jesus. Max Lucado has written some amazing poetry that touched me deeply when reading the book. He has incorporated scripture to tell retell the amazing life of Jesus. It is easy to focus on Jesus’ Resurrection while forgetting about the sacrifice he made for us. Jesus died by the hands of our sins. Max Lucado has included amazing stories that focus on this sacrifice. Max Lucado also details Jesus’ life from start to finish. He gives us an idea of what Jesus may have been like as a child and then as a man. We are reminded of the blessings we have been given because of Jesus. Jesus’ struggles are written about in the book. This reminds us that Jesus can relate to the pain and trials we all face in our lives. The illustrations are amazing. Although they do not necessarily relate to all the stories in the book, they were eloquently designed. Max Lucado has a way of writing that draws a reader into the story. This book would be an special gift for a person who has just formed a relationship with Jesus. It would also be a wonderful addition to a personal library, to remind us of Jesus’ time spent on earth, and why he loves and saves us. This book is hardbound, and comes in a beautiful box. I was surprised by how sturdy the book is. This book will remain in wonderful conditions for years to come. In my opinion, Max Lucado is one of the most amazing Christian writers. He continues to glorify God in all his books. God has blessed him with a talent, and he has shared it with all of his readers.

Skeeter and the Mystery of the Lost Mosquito Treasure

2009-03-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

Skeeter and the Mystery of the Lost Mosquito Treasure is the latest in the Hermie and Wormie Series. Skeeter is a mosquito who is not happy with himself. He always questions himself and the choices he makes. Skeeter has the perfect brother. Skeeter feels inadequate when he compares himself to his brother. Skeeter’s friends all admire his brother, and think he is so cool. This DVD will teach children that they are unique and special. God created everyone for a specific purpose. They will learn that just because someone seems better than them, we still all have our imperfections. My children loved the music, and were singing the songs after watching the DVD a few times. The animation was colorful, and certainly held my children’s attention. The actors did an excellent job of bringing the story to life. I was impressed by the bonus material included with this DVD. Parents and children will enjoy he extra games, coloring pages, and sing-along. I teach Awana’s, and I plan on printing some of the coloring sheets for my class to color. The Hermie and Wormie series just keeps getting better. The stories deal with relevant issues that children struggle with. Max Lucado has found a fun, but educational way to help children resolve these issues. I really appreciate that the focus is on teaching children to turn to God for help with their problems. We own all the DVD’s in this series, and look forward to the next one.

Read and Share DVD Bible - Volume 1

2009-03-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

My children and I, had the pleasure of viewing the “Read and Share DVD Bible – Volume 1”. This dvd contains 13 stories from the Old and New Testament. It begins with the Six days of Creation and ends with One lost sheep. Each segment is about 3 minutes long. Although the story is quick, the pertinent facts from the bible are presented in each segment. The animation is colorful and sticks to the original illustrations from the Read and Share Bible. However, it draws a kid’s attention to the stories on screen. This dvd was viewed by my 7year old and 3 year old, and both enjoyed the dvd. The stories are presented in a fun kid friendly manner. My children were excited to be learning about the bible in a unique way. Rather than me just reading the stories to them, they were watching them brought to life on the dvd. I would not recommend using the dvd as a child’s only source of bible teaching. However, combining the bible with the stories will help reinforce the concepts for a child. My oldest son, wanted to learn more about the people he watched on the dvd. This provides me a direction for our nightly bible reading. I can focus on stories that appealed to him, and he will want to listen. I look forward to more Read and Share DVD’s. These would also be great for Vacation Bible School or Sunday School lessons.

Christianity In Crisis: The 21st Century

2009-02-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

My husband and I were excited to read Christianity in Crisis by Hank Hanegraaff. This book certainly exceeded our expectations. I have noticed that many ministers that are televised seem to focus on gaining more popularity and writing books. They market themselves to the public, which makes them lots of money. Which they claim is to further the Kingdom of God. I question how much of that money really does go to benefit the ministries they claim to support or align with. They preach that if you just follow God, then you can also receive all his blessings. Of course, they may not outright say it, but imply that these blessings are financial. Hanegraaff goes on to list a Cast of Characters in which he discusses celebrity ministers and what they preach. I appreciated that he did not simply state his opinions. He actually provided evidence about how these ministers were preaching contrary to the bible. Hanegraaf does not set out to destroy the popular leaders; he simply wants to bring awareness of them. We need to investigate the truth, and not accept everything they say. They are human and have their own objectives and opinions too. Hanegraaff lists examples of their sermons, and discusses how they misrepresent scripture to benefit themselves. He uses scripture to support his thoughts on what these popular ministers are preaching. The book also focuses on how to teach biblical doctrine that aligns with the bible. He writes about how we can look for false doctrine, so that we don’t fall into a world of lies and deceit by those who seem trustworthy. He does admit that there are Christians who truly are good and committed to leading others to God. Hanegraaff uses three steps to support his arguments. Ask, Believe, and Receive. He does a thorough job of presenting these steps and explaining how they will strengthen a person’s faith. Hanegraff has included an extensive list of endnotes to support his book. It is obvious that his research was thorough and detailed. This book does an excellent job of reminding us of the importance of bible reading. The bible is the ultimate source of God’s word. We need to educate ourselves about God’s word. This will help prevent us from becoming victims to the Celebrity Ministers who may be deceptive. This book does an amazing job of bringing God and the bible back into the 21st century.

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=0849900069

Rex

2009-01-12T16:53:00.001-08:00

Cathleen Lewis took her families struggles and turned it into miracle. I was instantly drawn into their lives when I picked up the book. She lays all of her emotions, thoughts, fears, and hopes for the reader to see. I cannot even imagine living a life with a child who is both blind and autistic. However, as a mother she has blessed her child in remarkable ways. She took the cards life dealt her, and played them successfully. I am touched by her faith in God, and how she used it to guide her parenting. She trusted God to guide her. Cathleen knew that they only way to find comfort was to lean on God. She is a remarkable example for all those struggling with unimaginable situations. I grew to truly care about her son Rex. I doubt I will ever meet him, but his perseverance and spirit has certainly touched my life. Rex seems like such a remarkable child. God has truly gifted him with the gift of music. Cathleen should be very proud of the son she has raised. I only hope that I am able to impact my children’s lives the way she has impacted her son’s life. This was an amazing testimony of faith, hope, and love.


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The American Patriot's Almanac

2008-12-20T09:42:00.001-08:00

I had the pleasure of reviewing this book, and it exceeded my expectations. The book design is beautiful, and it instantly drew me into the book. The book is divided by months and themes. The first thing we did was look up the dates of our family. We all wanted to see what events took place on our birthdates. It is a great history lesson for us all, and it makes learning history fun. The book contains various documents that have shaped American history. Such as the Constitution, The Bill of Rights, The Gettysburg Address, The Declaration of Independence, and many more. My favorite was the Code of Conduct for the military. I have many family members serving our country, but I had never read the pledge that is required of our armed forces. This makes me honor and appreciate our troops even more. The book contains a list of the top 50 American films of all time. My family plans to watch all of these films. My children enjoyed learning about all the symbols on American money. They also wanted to learn some of the American Patriotism songs in the book. Our family plans to read the daily entry at night. This is a wonderful introduction to history for your family. It is done in a simple but engaging way. Every family should have this book in their home library. I plan on purchasing a few for relatives. This book would be wonderful for a classroom, homeschooling family, and public library. This book is worth every penny.


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Next Generation - New Testament

2008-12-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

Word of Promise Next Generation is a 20 cd audio version of the New Testament of the Bible. There is a bonus dvd with behind the scenes footage. There are over 100 actors on the cd. The actors did an amazing job bringing the scripture to life. The cd contains sound effects that really add to the telling of the scriptures. My son and I plan on utilizing the 40 day listening guide to work our way through the New Testament. I really appreciated that the books and chapters are listed on each cd. This will make it easy for us locate chapters of the bible quickly. My family and I will be using these cd’s in combination with the bible. I think it is wonderful to listen to the cd’s, however I don’t want it to take the place of reading the bible. Instead, we will use it in conjunction with the bible. The dvd was a great bonus to a wonderful cd compilation. The dvd had interviews with the actors in which they talk about their faith in God, and why this project was important to them. My son, who is 7, enjoyed listening to the book of Matthew. It is often hard to motivate children to read the bible. They tend to become overwhelmed trying to understand it. These cd’s make the words in the bible fun for kids to listen to. They are learning the scriptures, and gradually memorizing them. And through memorization, they become part of the child’s life. As a mother, I am excited to see my son becoming excited about God’s word. I plan on purchasing the Word of Promise New Testament for adults. The creators of the cd have certainly found a creative way to bring God into the lives of youth.

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1400313309

The Moon Shines Down

2008-11-25T14:43:00.000-08:00

Today, I read my children “The moon shines down”. My boys are 7 and 2. They were fascinated by it. The illustrations are colorful and fit the story perfectly. They had fun looking for the Koala on every page. There are a variety of animals for kids to look at. Some they had never heard of, and so we went online to look them up. As a mother, I appreciated the diversity of the children, and the different countries that are portrayed in the story. This of course led to a discussion about how God created the entire world. And I was able to show them where the countries are located on the globe. My favorite page was the Nativity Scene. The rhyme is repetitious, allowing children to read along. The book is very durable, allowing it to last for years to come. I believe Margaret Wise Brown, would be proud of the way her unfinished story has been completed. I plan on buying this book for my niece. It was beautiful.

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=140031299X

My Little Girl by Tim McGraw

2008-11-16T08:09:00.001-08:00

Tim McGraw wrote a fun but simple story of a father and daughter spending the day with one another. They do nothing in particular, but the entire day is special to them. They look at animals, dance, swing, and look at the clouds. This book shows the great bond that a father and daughter have. Julia Denos has done a beautiful job with the illustrations. They are colorful and fun to look at. The end of the book has a page where a dad and daughter can write about their own special day. This book will be a favorite for little girls.

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/custom/top20/My_Little_Girl_Tim_McGraw_Tom_Douglas.asp

Welcome to my blog

2008-11-11T22:55:00.000-08:00

I am a mom of 2 boys, and have been married for 9 years. During my spare time, I scrapbook, make videos, and read. My family enjoys sports, board games, and traveling.

Please check back often, as I will be reviewing books and movies. I am always looking for a new book to read. I prefer Christian fiction. I also enjoy reading books that help me grow and challenge me to think differently about things. My 2 sons love books, and so I will review many children's books.

When it comes to movies, I like a many genres. I like comedies, drama, chick flicks, and family films.