The Jesus Series Read and Share Bible DVD, Life and Miracles

This DVD did not hold my almost five year old son’s attention for very long. He started out very intent on watching it, but I think the stories jumped around way too much and ended up being confusing for him. The 30 minute time frame is too short to try and touch on Jesus’ life and miracles. I felt like too many stories were being told way too quickly. If the whole thirty minutes had focused on one or two miracles or specific topics, it would have been easier to follow. I found myself repeatedly having to explain to my son what was going on and why. The animation is good though, and I could see it being more entertaining for an older child who has more background knowledge of these stories and perhaps wouldn’t get confused by the lack of details presented. Overall a good DVD with a great message that would benefit from a more focused approach. I received this DVD, in exchange for a fair and honest review, from Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program.

God's Promises for Boys by Jack Countryman and Amy Parker

Cute little book full of God’s word for little boys. This is a very attractive, hardcover book . The illustrations are colorful and eye catching, making it easier to keep the attention of little ones. I like that the book is organized by subjects that make it easy to apply scripture to many given topics. Some of the headings are “God’s promises when you need help”, “God wants you to count your blessings”, and “God’s promises about Jesus; He is your friend”. Each topic starts out with a little rhyme and then includes 3-4 bible verses that coincide with that particular promise. The verses are out of the International Children’s Bible, and are very understandable while still being true to the Word of God. The text is age appropriate for about ages four and up as a read aloud, however, I wouldn’t expect a very young child to be able to read this on there own. Because each topic can be read in as little as five minutes, this would make a great bedtime book. Each topic is illustrated, which is a plus for most children. The pages are high quality and glossy, making it a nice gift book as well. Very nice! I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.

Dad's Bible

Dad’s Bible is a great resource for any father. While it is not an in depth study bible, it is full of insights and practical information for dads. The translation ,(NCV),is very user friendly and easy to read. The print is a good size, and the overall quality of this bible is good. Some of the special features include “walking in authority” articles to guide dads in using the authority God has given them, “passing it on” articles about how to continue and help strengthen the faith of future generations, “building your children” articles about strengthening your own children’s walk with God, and “dad’s in the bible” highlighting the stories of biblical fathers. In addition, there is a helpful question and answer section in the back to assist dads in responding to kid’s tough biblical questions. Overall a nice looking and helpful everyday bible that would make a great gift for Dad. I received this copy free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an impartial, honest review.

Mind Your Mortgage by Robert J. Bernabe

This is a must read for anyone in the market for a new mortgage, anyone looking to refinance an existing mortgage, or anyone who thinks they ever will be. I wish I had this to read before I committed to a mortgage because it is honest and insightful. There is so much great information in this book, and it takes you from the very first steps (before you ever walk into a bank), right through to how and why you should pay off your mortgage. With the rampant excessive consumerism that has led our country to financial crisis, it is imperative that we educate ourselves about one of the biggest debts most people will ever take on. I know I personally feel bombarded with messages that communicate that I should buy, buy, buy….even those things I can not afford. It is so easy to get sucked into that mentality, and find yourself drowning in debt. And the really sad part is that the “things” that put us in debt fail to provide any level of joy or comfort that could ever compare to the level of stress that living in debt causes. The author of this book is a voice of wisdom in this culture of excess. He provides both basic information on mortgage loans, as well as up to date details particular to the crisis we are currently in. If you already have a mortgage, this book provides great advise and practical tips on how to pay your mortgage off in the most financially intelligent way possible. If you want to be in control of your mortgage instead of feeling like it has control over you, this book will help. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for a fair and impartial review.

Embracing Your Second Calling by Dale Hanson Bourke

Using Biblical lessons and stories, Dale Hanson Bourke has written a useful and insightful book on purpose and passion. Particularly, this book addresses Christian women who are in the changing years of life when children have grown up and women are left wondering “what’s next”. In our society, this is a time when it’s easy to be made to feel as if the best and most important part of a woman’s life if over. However, the author details why, according to God’s Word, this couldn’t be further from the truth. I love the Biblical references that are used throughout the book. Most especially I find this book practical in that the author has included reflection questions throughout that make it easy to apply the material. My favorite practical application is the “act” boxes scattered about the text that call on the reader to actually do something, such as “let someone go ahead of you in line”, and “if you can afford to, sponsor a child through World Vision”. I think with these kinds of books it can be easy to read the material, but sometimes difficult to figure out ways to actually apply it. However, this author makes that application very easy. A great book full of truly practical ways for women in their “second half of life” to find and embrace God’s purpose for them. I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for a honest and impartial review.

Friendship for Grown-Ups by Lisa Welchel

Friendship for Grown-Ups by Lisa Welchel

Of course I was originally drawn to this book because it is written by an actress from one of my favorite 80’s t.v. shows, The Facts of Life. Lisa Welchel is best known for playing “Blair”, the rich, spoiled, self obsessed one of the girls. However, it quickly becomes clear that Lisa Welchel is not much like the character she played on t.v. In fact, Lisa is obviously extremely self aware and striving to be and do all that God has planned for her. I personally have not seen a book that so specifically addresses the topic of making and strengthening adult female relationships. After reading this book, I am left wondering why this topic is not explored more than it is, especially in the Christian community. Lisa takes a disarmingly raw and honest look at female friendships, what makes them work, and how to strengthen them. She bares the ups and downs of her own struggle with building friendships. The examples she gives of both good and bad relationships in her own life is at times emotional and I applaud her willingness to be so open about them. She analyses her friendships to help the reader be able to do the same. For example, Lisa spends much time on what it means to have a “safe” friend, and what experiences she has had when a friend she thought was safe turns out to be less than. She explains not only why safe friends are important to have, but also how to be one yourself. I think this is a rare gem of a book, especially if you struggle with connecting on a deeper level with the female friends in your life. Best of all, this book is extremely applicable in that Lisa includes both an appendix with a list of “practical steps for developing and growing friendships”, and “conversation prompts” to help take frienships to the next level of intimacy. Disclosure: 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

If I Could Ask God Anything by Kathryn Slattery

This is an easy to use and scripturally sound resource for answering kids questions about God, Jesus, the Bible, and more. So many topics are covered, and the text is broken down in such a way that one can easily locate each subject. There are a couple hundred questions that are addressed, some very simple, some more complex. What I really like about this particular book is that it is a tool that a parent, grandparent, Sunday school teacher, etc could use with a wide range of children. There are many questions included that I could see a very young child asking, such as “what did Jesus look like” and “how did Jesus walk on water?” Maybe even better, though, is the fact that there are many questions that even a much older child or teen might inquire about, such as “what does the word catholic mean in the Apostles’ Creed?”, and “if the gospels are all about Jesus, why are they different?”. There are even answers in this book that I didn’t know, such as the explanation of why the use of X-mas instead of Christmas was not considered at all disrespectful by the early Christians. The one thing I don’t love about this book is the cover. It is great if you are looking for a book to answer the questions of a young child, but as I said, one of my favorite things about this book is it’s usability with older kids and teens. However, if I were to try to show my 13 year old son a passage out of this book that I think would really help answer questions he might have, he would be very turned off by the cover, (looks like a children’s book), and any helpful information would probably be discredited as a result. Maybe the author will eventually take some of the more complex questions/answers from this text and offer them in a book geared toward older kids. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze 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.

Will the World End in 2012? By Raymond C. Hundley

I must say the topic of this book is not one I have been highly interested in and in fact is a subject that I have often rolled my eyes at when brought up in conversation. I have had people ask me recently if I think the world is going to end in 2012, and as I am not especially familiar with the argument behind this reasoning, I thought this book might be worthwhile. It was not at all what I expected, which was a Christians perspective on why the end of the world in 2012 topic is nonsense. That is not at all where the author goes here. While the author is in fact a Christian, he strives to explore the topic mostly on the basis of fact and reasoning. The book is laid out with a chapter devoted to the 10 most “popular” end of the world views, where they come from, and how much actual evidence supports each. An example of two of the topics discussed are the abrupt end of the famed Mayan calendar and what it really means for the end of the world, as well as the possibility of super storms that could cause such destruction life as we know it would end. I must say I don’t know enough about any of these topics to say if the author covers each fairly or in depth. However, it seems that each is well researched and fairly evaluated. The conclusion the author gives on several of the chapter topics left me very surprised. Ultimately, the author concludes that regardless of when the world ends, there are things we can do to ensure that we face the end of our lives with confidence, peace, and joy rather than with fear and dread. If you are interested in this topic as a Christian I think this book would be informative, but I think this could be especially useful as a reading resource for any non-believer you may know who is interested in, or fearful of, the question “will the world end in 2012?”.

Making Money from Home: How to Run a Successful Home-Based Business by Donna Partow

Anyone looking to start a home based business could gain some insight from this book. It is clear from the text that the target audience is Christian women, particularly mothers, who are looking to be self employed, but the information could be equally helpful to anyone looking to work from home. The advise and guidance offered by the author is both practical and insightful. From the smallest details of setting up a home office, to the more complicated aspects of creating a business plan, there is plenty of solid information to help the reader get started. Particularly valuable are the questions at the end of each chapter for self evaluation of what you learned and how well you applied each of the steps the author outlines. I found that the questions enabled me to go from a passive reader of the text to an active participant in my own success. The author also includes access to her web site which provides even more pertinent information and tips for building a thriving home-based business. While not an exhaustive resource for all topics home business related, this book is certainly a smart and time worthy place to start. (Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in return for an impartial review).

The Voice New Testament

I was completely unfamiliar with this Bible translation upon receiving it. I am personally someone who loves to read and compare different translations. While I have favorites that I use more frequently, I think it is truly beneficial to explore new translations. I know that some disagree, and feel certain translations are not equal, and this is not the Bible for those people. However, if you welcome a fresh interpretation, you will most likely enjoy this work. I found the chapter intros as well as the informational boxes throughout particularly helpful. In many Bibles I have used, the study notes and or commentary is either overly simple and therefore unhelpful, or extremely factual but lacking any emotional connection to the text itself. The background information in this particular Bible is used at just the right places to be helpful. For example, when a particular Biblical figure is mentioned in the verses, an informational box is available as a heads up to place who the person is and a little background. It is just enough to nudge the memory, (oh that’s right, Tamar impersonated a prostitute and conceived twins by Judah…) without being too wordy. I think the characteristic that really sets this Bible apart is it’s ability to help the reader connect with the emotional state of the characters. I have experience with many Bible translations, and I have not come across one that takes such pains to really highlight the beauty of the Word. For that reason alone, this Bible is a valuable resource and worth a look.