The Wonder of Creation - Louie Giglio

The Wonder of Creation by Louie Giglio with Tama Fortner is a fascinating book of devotions about God and science that is sure to delight elementary-aged children. The engaging illustrations by Nicola Anderson and striking photography in this fun and informative book highlight each of the 100 devotions. The book features a scientific fact or an easy activity for exploring faith, a short Bible verse, and a closing prayer.

Readers of the book will explore
• Animals--from honeyguide birds to flying snakes to white rhinos
• Space--from black holes to volcanic moons to gamma-ray bursts
• People--from optical illusions to brain freezes to our immune systems
• Earth--from rainbow rivers to blue lava to flowing
glaciers
• And much, much more!

I enjoyed reading through The Wonder of Creation. It was informative, and focused on the incredible world that God created for us to enjoy. The devotions fit with the scientific facts perfectly, and the short prayer is an extra connection to God to tie it all together. Younger readers will need more help, but the parental involvement actually makes Devotion Time even more special and memorable. I highly recommend it for a child, but even moreso as a book for a family to read together. Get a copy now: BUY the BOOK

GIVEAWAY: Enter to win 1 copy of The Wonder of Creation when you post #WonderOfCreationMIN in a comment. The deadline is Dec 5, 2021.

Disclosure: Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own. I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

LINKS
Indescribable Kids

Amazon 

Download the free Parent Discussion Guide HERE

No Longer a Slumdog by K.P. Yohannan

No Longer A Slumdog: Bringing Hope to Children in Crisis, is written by Gospel For Asia founder K.P. Yohannan. While many people are aware of the poverty that is widespread throughout India, it is hard to even imagine just how full of despair many of the citizens are. Despite being officially illegal, the caste system is alive and thriving. Your socio-economic level is determined and birth and there is no changing it. Within the pages of this book, Yohannan gives a voice to the voiceless with both tales of unmitigated horror, but also with the hope than can be found.

Hopelessness seems predominant through many of the stories shared, yet the stories of hope through lives transformed through the Bridge of Hope Centers sponsored by Gospel For Asia. The stories of abject poverty, human trafficking, illiteracy, and early deaths are heartbreaking and seem insurmountable, yet Yohannnan also presents happy endings that are triumphant and show you ways that can make a profound difference. Ignoring the problems will not make them go away and it is true that the numbers of those trapped in this vicious cycle are overwhelming, but he presents solutions that you may contribute to help alleviate. You may not be able to save all, but perhaps you may help save one child.

** Get your FREE copy of "No Longer A Slumdog"

Gospel For Asia website

Gospel For Asia FB

@GospelforAsia on Twitter

 K. P. Yohannan on FB

Dr. K.P. Yohannan, founder and international director for Gospel of Asia, has authored more than 200 books. He is on the board of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), and his Road to Reality radio program airs on more than 900 stations worldwide.


I received a copy of this book from Gospel For Asia in conjunction with FlyBy Promotions. All opinions are my own.

Tis The Season...

Hunting, Gathering, Preparing

Which season? Depends who you are talking to, I guess. Last weekend was the opening of Hunting Season here, but we are now readying ourselves for Holiday Shopping Season!! Just think about it: avid fans are preparing to hunt, gather, and provide for their loved ones. And, of course, bragging about who bagged the biggest. I just see it as another weekend hearing all about racks, bags, early morning hunts, bucks, and doe/dough. Whether you are hunting for deer, a bargain, a parking space...or a leftover piece of pecan or pumpkin pie, this weekend will seem like the beginning of a rushed season. More and more store ads are popping up about shopping; Some even plan on starting as early as 8pm on Thanksgiving! One of the things I am most thankful for is that I will not be among them!! Due to the traumatic experience when my cousin, Debbie, convinced me to go along with her to check out the early specials at Walmart nearly 30 years ago...my shopping ends before Thanksgiving and I avoid stores until several days into the New Year...unless it involves necessary food or cleaning supplies. Truthfully, I pretty much avoid shopping anytime of the year. So many of my relatives could spend hours just browsing that I sometimes would ask if I was adopted! Apparently it was merely that my brother got both of our shares of the "shopping gene".

Thanks to the internet, online shopping has created "Cyber Monday" to go along with "Black Friday" (by the way, does anyone know if Saturday and Sunday have special names?), and that is more my style...if I MUST shop!! There are 3 things I like to take into consideration:

1. Avoid Crowds! The internet may be busy too, but I can shop in an old pair of sweats ( or my sleepwear), and a pot of coffee nearby. Win/win!
2. Save Money! Sales and coupons are a great way to cut the cost of items, and especially if it is for something you planned to buy anyway. There are coupons available to download.
3.  Helping Others! This time of year, many in this country are preparing for a huge feast with family or friends, and we make it a point to remember our blessings. This often proves to be a time when charitable giving to others less fortunate rises tremendously. I feel that we are blessed so we can bless others.

Recently I was made aware of a group that combines all 3 of the above. Save1.com provides the opportunity to shop from home, save money, and help save lives!! Shoppers simply need to visit the Save1 website, type the name of any store in the search box, find the most relevant coupon or offer, and click "Use this Offer." Even if you love the thrill of the chase in stores, there are some things that are easier to track online!



Watch the video of Todd Smith of Save1.com explaining more about the company:

Family owned and operated, Save1 provides coupons and special offers from thousands of top online retailers on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and throughout the year---enabling shoppers to feed a hungry child with every offer redeemed. Incorporating the Save Money, Save Lives principle, Save1 donates the cost of a meal to one of its nonprofit partner organizations every time a shopper uses a coupon or special offer from the site. For more information, please visit http://save1.com.

LIKE Save1.com on Facebook and you will see that they are serious!! Explore their page and I believe you will be impressed! So, by all means, count your blessings and enjoy your shopping. God blesses us and we should enjoy His provision. However,  to also be able to share our blessing with others is a gift above no other. So happy hunting/shopping...and enjoy this special season in your life!!

And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased ~ Hebrews 13:16

Mended by Angie Smith

"The image of my life as a broken pitcher was beautiful to me, but at the same time, it was hard to look at all of the cracks. I ran my fingers along them and told Him I wish it had been different. How I wished I had always loved Him, always obeyed Him, always sought Him the way I should. I was mad at the imperfections, years wasted, gaping holes where it should be smooth. But God, my ever-gracious God, was gentle and yet convicting as He explained.

'My dearest Angie. How do you think the world has seen me? If it wasn’t for the cracks, I couldn’t seep out the way I do. I chose the pitcher. I chose you, just as you are.'" (from the back cover)

Mended: Pieces Of a Life Made Whole is the 3rd book written by Angie Smith. Many are familiar with her through the blog she writes, Bring The Rain. This book is a series of 31 devotions that share a portion of Scripture, along with a former blog post that has been redone in book format. Each chapter gives a feel of a good friend sharing what is going on in her life. There were times I laughed, cried, or was reminded of similar things in my own life. She definitely has a gift of tying it all together into a word picture that brings hope, healing, and help as the reader sees how to use her own cracks and imperfections to allow the light of Jesus to pour out. This is a book I will read again, but I was most impressed by a story called The Canvas in a section at the end called "Foundational Pieces". Make sure you don't just stop after the 31 devotions, but read on through the end of the book. (You know, in a film there are sometimes hidden gems in the closing credits! Same principle here!)

Angie Smith is the wife of Todd Smith (lead singer of Dove Award winning group Selah), author of I Will Carry You and What Women Fear, and one of the most popular speakers and blog writers in the country. She holds a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University and lives with her husband and daughters in Nashville, TN.

I Couldn't Love You More by Matt Hammitt & Jason Ingram

I Couldn't Love You More, by Matt Hammitt and Jason Ingram is a book written not only as an expression of a parent's love for their child, but also to share with younger children about Christ's unconditional love for His children. Matt wrote the song, "I Couldn't Love You More" (Every Falling Tear) soon after his son, Bowen, was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a rare congenital defect. This book, beautifully illustrated by Polona Lovsin, is based on that song.

This over-sized book is filled with bright colorful illustrations of animals that are sure to delight any child. Simple sentences that are great not only for those shorter attention spans also make this book ideal for reading to a young child, or for a new reader to practice their skills on. Most important, though, is the message that assures the child not only of a parent's love, but that Jesus loves them! Another fantastic reason for wanting to purchase this book is that a portion of the proceeds are donated to Whole Hearts Foundation!! The opportunity to share the love of Jesus with a child you love, plus contribute to an organization that provides help for children suffering from congenital heart disease and their families. See the Whole Hearts video to learn more.

 IMPORTANT LINKS:

Video of Matt talking about the book
ABC News story about Bowen
Bowen's heart website
Whole Hearts Foundation on Facebook

I have one certificate available for a free copy of this book from any Christian bookstore. To enter to win, simply leave a comment no later than Sun., May 20, 2012 at 2:00pm (CDT).

In accordance with FTC guidelines: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a copy of this book. I was not required to give a positive review.

The 5 Love Languages Of Children

All children have the need to feel loved in able to do their best. Sometimes, though, there is such a disconnect between your interaction with one another that you feel like you are not even speaking the same language. That is the concept of Dr. Gary Chapman’s groundbreaking Five Love Languages series which has helped millions of couples communicate love more clearly, and Dr. Ross Campbell M.D. has applied the innovative system to children as well. The 5 Love Languages of Children gives practical suggestions for learning how your children interpret love and creating a sense of security in which they can thrive.

There may be several ways of expressing love to another, but you need to recognize whether your child best relates to Physical Touch, Words Of Affirmation, Quality Time, Acts Of Service, or Gifts. Not only can it clear up a few misunderstandings, but  goes a long way toward helping your child develop healthy positive relationships with you and with others. Anyone with children knows that they are seldom alike, so it only makes sense that they have their own idea of what love means to them.


This book also contains helpful ideas on using a child's main love language to help with discipline, anger, and interacting with others. There are also chapters on marriage and specifically for single parents. There are many helpful ideas to help you to strengthen your bond and create a healthier relationship with each individual child, including a fun Love Language Mystery Game to play. Also, check out more from the following:

5 Love Languages of Children: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/resource/the-five-love-languages-of-children/ 
The 5 Love Languages: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/ 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/5LoveLanguages 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/drgarychapman

GIVEAWAY: I have a copy of this book available for a giveaway. Just respond with a comment no later than Monday, April 16, 2012 by 5pm CDT. Thanks!!

 “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it 

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally 

and believe will be good for my readers. 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 Perfect Pet For Peyton

This wonderfully imaginative children’s hardcover book by bestselling authors Gary Chapman and Rick Osborne, featuring four-color illustrations (with hidden details!) by Wilson Williams, Jr., will help children learn the importance of love. Based on Gary’s highly successful The 5 Love Languages®, A Perfect Pet for Peyton tells an entertaining and playful story of five children who each, with the help of Mr. Chapman and the unique pets at his special emporium, discover their own personal love language. Children and parents alike will experience firsthand the power of the love languages as they cuddle up and spend precious time together reading this book over and over again.

Younger kids will love this day spent with twins, Peyton and Penny, as they celebrate their birthday with 3 friends at Mr. Chapman's Perfect Pet Pal Emporium!! The bright colors and invitations to search for the various animals on the picture make this book one that younger kids will eagerly want to become engaged in and is sure to provide a lot of fun. Plus, as they play, and the story unfolds it gives the adult a chance to gain a better understanding of the child they are sharing with, and for the child to become more aware of the various ways of receiving and expressing love and appreciation. Based on the popular 5 Love Languages, this creative story is a great teaching tool, enjoyable read, and bonding experience that is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

To learn more about this product and others, go to
 

A Perfect Pet for Peyton: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/resource/a-perfect-pet-for-peyton/

5 Love Languages of Children: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/resource/the-five-love-languages-of-children/ 

The 5 Love Languages: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/5LoveLanguages

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/drgarychapman

GIVEAWAY: There is also a copy of this book available for me to offer to a reader. Please leave a comment below, or on my page if you wish to be entered. Contest ends 11pm (CDT) April 1, 2012.
  

 “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it 

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally 

and believe will be good for my readers. 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.”

 

Heaven Is For Real DVD Curriculum

The best-selling book about a 4 year old boy's visit to heaven is now a DVD-based conversation kit for churches and small groups. Each of the 5 video session features Todd, Sonja, and Colton Burpo , answering questions asked by Natalie Tysdal, the Denver FOX/CW News reporter.

Features include:
--5 (10- to 18-minute) video sessions featuring Todd, Sonja, and Colton answering frequently asked questions about heaven and their experiences
--A special message of hope from Sonja to women who have experienced miscarriages
--Conversation Guide written for both believers and non-believers in accessible language to help group members discover what the Bible teaches about heaven

I really wanted to like this, but frankly, I got a bit bored with the same predictable questions and answers. I had read the book, and I have to say that I have read others on the same subject that held my interest better. However, I had hopes the dvd would be a great tool for a small discussion group. I enjoyed a radio interview Todd Burpo had with Rick and Bubba (a nationally syndicated radio program headquartered in Birmingham, AL), so  I knew the potential was there for an interesting discussion. I am a Christian and have no doubt that Heaven is for real....and better than anything I can imagine. I do not doubt the veracity of this child in his telling of his experience, but this dvd curriculum appeared to be a hastily cobbled together production. Re-enactments, a bit more enthusiasm with the onscreen participants, indepth research, and better editing would have greatly improved this study. It was good points and it is a conversation starter, so I would rank this 3 out of 5 stars.

 Disclosure: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this material through BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.

THEO

Theo, an animated student of Godʼs Word, lives in a cozy corner of a quaint English village, in the heart of the Cotswolds, and entertains two mice, Belfry and Luther.  I just had the privilege of viewing two stories from this new curriculum and I whole-heartedly endorse this cartoon. Both of the stories told were colorful, entertaining, and simple to understand. The stories are  short enough to hold the attention of a pre-schooler while imparting messages of faith that are vital to the Christian faith. 

These will appeal to elementary age kids, and will open the door to relevant conversation on matters of faith.  They are simply told, but that is necessary when explaining tenets of faith and Biblical history to children. For example, there were aspects in the story of Abraham and Sarah that were omitted (& for good reason), but I loved the emphasis on the type of faith that pleases God.

Web: http://www.theopresents.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theopresents?ref=ts

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Theo-Gods-Love/dp/B005ETZEPI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314304071&sr=8-1

FREE app (available now for iPhone and iPad): http://www.theopresents.com/

Church Curriculum available now (from LifeWay Christian Stores): http://www.lifeway.com/Product/theo-church-edition-foundations-of-faith-P005397446

What set's THEO apart?

The Buy 1 - Give 1 campaign!

For every Theo DVD purchased, Whitestone Media and Child Evangelism Fellowship® will send a child in need their very own copy of Theo.

You can log onto TheoPresents.com after making your own purchase, and select the region of the world you'd like another copy of Theo to be sent.

The first DVD in the series, Theo: God's Love, releases on DVD through EMI CMG on 9/13/11.

CONTEST NEWS!! This time I am able to offer a copy of the THEO dvd to 2 (TWO) Winners!!!!! We will make this a short contest. Just leave a comment by 10:00 pm (CDT) Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011 & 2 people will be randomly chosen to receive a copy of their own!!

Also, due to the importance of this message, here is GOOD NEWS!!

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

Hermie & Friends: A Bug Collection (Volume 3)

Volume 3 of the Max Lucado's Hermie & Friends: A Bug Collection is absolutely delightful. A common theme among the 3 dvds is interaction with others. There are great lessons to be learned in each video, but presented in a fun and colorful manner.

Disc 1 is "Milo, The Mantis Who Wouldn't Pray" (it's about prayer) and features a praying mantis who does not know how to talk to God. Since he is unsure of the language and posture he should use, Milo just assumes that God is not listening to him. In the aftermath of a storm, he learns that God is always listening to him. This a a great lesson that even many adults need to learn, so I was thrilled to see it spelled out for very young viewers.

Disc 2 is "Buzby And The Grumble Bees" (it's about bee-having) which deals with the visiting niece and nephew of Buzby. Their rude behavior to all of the residents of the garden causes Buzby to come up with a plan! Everyone comes together to demonstrate how it feels to be treated poorly. This a the perfect video to illustrate The Golden Rule: treat others as you want to be treated.

Disc 3 is "Hailey & Bailey's Silly Fight" (it's about getting along) and reinforces the idea of compromise. While these twin ladybugs are usually the best of friends, their differences cause much fighting in this episode. Not only are they arguing with each other, but their disagreements have caused their friends to be at odds at one another.


I am a huge fan of Max Lucado, so I jumped at the chance to review these dvds. Of course I love the books he writes for adults, but I am just as easily moved and taught by his products for children. Featuring the voice talent of Tim Conway, [the late] Don Knotts, Melissa Disney, Richard Kind, Victoria Jackson, & Sam Mercurio...along with a short segment with Hermie and Max Lucado, these dvds are sure to be a huge hit with young children. There are bonus features that are always enjoyable, and the dvds have the all important feature of being self-starting (and even automatic replay). I highly and enthusiastically endorse this box set!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this dvd 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.”

Adventures In Booga Booga Land (#2)

"Adventures In Booga Booga Land" are based on Richard Milner's allegories and published by Tommy Nelson (Thomas Nelson). The 3 titles and the parables upon which they are based are:

1. Squid Sushi Loses His Marbles (The Lost Pearl) Matthew 13:45-46
2. Wally The Waiter (The Soil and the Seeds) Matthew 13:24-30
3. The Flaming Monkey (The Wedding Banquet) Matthew 22:2-14

We are invited to "join Marty the monkey and Gerard the giraffe as they bungle their way through the paradise of Booga Booga Land inadvertently learning lessons that Jesus taught many years ago." I taught preschoolers for many years, and have had to use my imagination to make a point to tie together a story, but I simply had difficulty seeing the correlation between some of these stories and the parable they were meant to teach. Had I not been told on the DVD cover that these are parables of Jesus, I don't know that I would have made the connection.

Despite my age, I still love cartoons, and I got bored watching these. The humor did not even get a smile out of me and I found the characters to be cliched (an Irish cop, for example). There were bright colors and the stories were short (each lasts about 15 minutes), but I would not purchase these. I'm not even sure what age group would be interested. However, my biggest complaint is that if you are using a medium to promote the teachings of Christ, it would have been nice to have mentioned Him.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”