Archive for the ‘Review’ Category

John MacArthur is one of my favorite Bible teachers, and the topic of this book is something that Wolf and I feel very strongly about, so I was really looking forward to reading it.

Meek and mild. Politically correct. A great teacher. These are the popular depictions of Jesus. But they aren’t the complete picture. Maybe because it’s uncomfortable, or maybe because it’s inconvenient, Christians and non-Christians alike are overlooking the fierceness of the Savior, His passionate mission to make the Gospel clear and bring people into the Kingdom of God. A mission that required he sometimes raise his voice and sometimes raise a whip.

My favorite point, summing it all up:

Truth doesn’t defeat error (or lies) by waging a public relations campaign.

The reality of the book, though, was somewhat disappointing.

I think part of the explanation may be found in the Acknowledgements – MacArthur thanks all the staff who have recorded, stored, and organized his sermons over the past forty-plus years. He gives special notice to his assistant who, “compiled, combined, adridged, and edited the material in this book, translating it from those hundreds of sermons to about 250 pages of prose.” Sounds like he should have a joint author credit!

My first issue is obviously not unique, as I found it eloquently spelled out over at token lines suggesting rhythm:

However, he explicitly addresses much of his biblical interpretation and personal criticism to a narrow group – those emergents and postmoderns who have hijacked or misinterpreted the Jesus of the gospels or who have selectively emphasized the “nice” side of Jesus. While these are not bad to criticize, and MacArthur does a good job of showing the fuller picture of Jesus’ hard teachings, his frequent jabs and applications to postmoderns grows tiring. More general application would have been beneficial.

I think my bigger problem, though, is that this book seems to lack a “voice” – and again, I think this may have to do with the fact that it is (or at least started life as) a compilation of MacAthur’s sermons edited by someone else.

* For a layperson or casual reader, the book is probably quite dense and boring. If you’re looking for Max Lucado, forget it. But for someone interested in a serious in-depth study, the book also falls short.

* Many areas seem repetitive and/or redundant, while other times he mentions something tantalizing then says “of course we don’t have the space in a book like this for an exhaustive study of that, but let me just point out…”

* The book is very impersonal. The title says that “I” can’t ignore Him; the subhead tells me that the books tells, “What [I] must learn from the bold confrontations of Chirst”; the back cover text carries a message about how our view of Christ colors our whole life… But the book did not speak to me. In part because it was largely slanted against the Emergent and Postmodern Evangelicals (as discussed above), but I think also in part just because of an overall lack of focus and direction.

Is it a good book, with tons of good information? Absolutely.

Is it compelling, life altering, or profound? Sorry, no.

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Are you a fan of Amish fiction or Christian romances? Pick up this pleasant read from Kelly Long!

If not, this book should probably not be high on your summer reading priority list.

Like most in its genre, this book is sweet, predictable, and paints a vivid picture of Amish life.

I was a bit exasperated by the use of a “language guide” at the beginning of the book for the Pennsylvania Dutch phrases, rather than the accepted pattern of translating them as they are used. Long’s portrayal of the Amish sense of community was very compelling, however, and her use of Sarah’s garden as part of the story was a refreshing twist.

You know what you’re getting from the cover. You know if you should read it or not – you don’t need my advice!

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In case you haven’t heard of them, I’d like to introduce you to a great company called Bondi Band.

Bondi Bands are terrific stay-in-place, wicking headbands (and more) – great for your really active type activities, but also for the daily “marathon”!

And they also believe in giving back…

In an effort to make the world a little better, each year BondiBand picks a charity to donate some of our hard earned profits to.

We are a simple company with a dedication and belief in our product. Our philosophy is to make a great product at a great price and to build relationships one at a time. And as much as we believe in making a tidy profit we also believe in giving back. Each year we donate 10% of our pretax profits to charity. For 2008 we have chosen the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

First, let me show you my beautiful girl, wearing an adorable Bondi Band “Pigtail Hat”!

Is that the cutest thing ever, or what?

And also, much to everyone’s amusement, R.T. has also decided that anything Jewel likes that much must be a good thing…

The hat is tough and well made, the color is vibrant… And did I mention adorable? They make a ponytail style, too!

And yes, they sent something for me, as well. Other than suggesting the pigtail hat for Jewel, I didn’t make any requests – typically when you receive samples for review you don’t get to choose…

So, I was beyond delighted when I pulled out a black “original” Bondi Band for me to try, and this was the imprint:

What a caring, thoughtful treat!

I truly enjoyed wearing my Bondi Band, which did an amazing job of staying in place. It was nice not to have to mess with the pair of clips I wear with all the other headcoverings in my current wardrobe.

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Want to get your hands on this? Here’s how!

BUY IT!

Online directly from Bondi Band!

WIN IT!

TWO lucky As For My House readers will win a Bondi Band of their choice!

Make sure to leave your email address with each comment. (Used only to contact the winner. If your email is entered in the form it will be saved for me but not displayed).

1. Head on over to Bondi Band and leave a comment here telling me what you’d like to try!

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each).

Once you have completed #1, you can earn additional entries by doing any or all of the following. For those worth multiple entries, please leave that number of separate comments – each comment is one entry when I draw a number at the end!

2. Become a Fan of Bondi Band on Facebook.

In additon to these, there are MANY more ways to earn extra entries. You know, all the usual stuff like subscribing to the blog, Tweeting, and so on? Just click over to our Giveaway Policy page for all the details! (You can get an extra entry, for instance, just by entering our other current give-away(s)!)

This giveaway ends Saturday, 7/3 at 11:59pm (Eastern).

The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on the blog, as well as contacted by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours, or a new winner will be selected. Your goodies will ship directly from the sponsor!

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Comments are now closed. Look for the winner in a separate post, soon!

I was delighted to receive the latest edition of Franklin Springs Media’s wonderful Homestead Blessings series for review (and a giveaway – keep reading!):

Homestead Blessings: The Art of Quilting

The West Ladies welcome us back with their familiar warmth and charm, this time into a cozy sewing room complete with a lovely old treadle sewing machine.

After a little introduction to the history of quilting, we dive in to a start-to-finish tutorial.

Looking at a lovely Amish quilt may make the entire process seem intmidating, but the West Ladies break it down into simple, managable steps that really made me feel like it was possible that I could make a quilt!

They touch on color selection, fabric, and laying out your quilt, then delve into the mysteries of piecing the blocks together, assembling the quilt, the actual quilting, and binding.

During the course of the video they make a complete (if small) “country” quilt, as well as adorable quilted potholders. They also show and discuss “whole fabric” quilts, including tied quilts.

I was a little disappointed by this DVD, which seemed skimpier than previous installations.

The cover of the box has a lovely quilt image on it, but more complex designs are never more than mentioned in passing. The intro to the DVD shows what looks like a quilted casserole dish cozy, but that is not shown or mentioned in the program.

Although a quilt is, indeed, a large undertaking, it seemed like it either needed a lot more depth, or perhaps needed to include another small project or two (such as the potholders) to fill it out.

Some of the instruction was also frustratingly vague, and the closeups of Jasmine attaching the binding showed only the back of her hand, rather than how to perform the task.

In spite of that, though, it was a great way to inspire confidence in our ability to complete a simple quilting project, and Jewel and I are anxious to get moved, get out our sewing machine, and give it a try! (And I’m putting a treadle machine on my “Wish List”!).

This DVD would be an excellent starting place for someone who had never quilted, and perhaps never even considered it.

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WIN IT!

TWO lucky As For My House readers will win their own copy of the Art of Quilting DVD!

Make sure to leave your email address with each comment. (Used only to contact the winner. If your email is entered in the form it will be saved for me but not displayed).

1. Leave a comment here and share whether you’ve ever quilted, or even considered it!

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each).

Once you have completed #1, you can earn additional entries by doing any or all of the following. For those worth multiple entries, please leave that number of separate comments – each comment is one entry when I draw a number at the end!

2. Become a Facebook Fan of Franklin Springs Family Media.

In additon to these, there are MANY more ways to earn extra entries. You know, all the usual stuff like subscribing to the blog, Tweeting, and so on? Just click over to our Giveaway Policy page for all the details!

This giveaway ends Saturday 6/26 at 11:59pm (Eastern).

The winners will be chosen using random.org and announced on the blog, as well as contacted by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours, or a new winner will be selected. Your goodies will ship directly from the sponsor!

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Comments are now closed! Look for the winners announced soon in a separate post!

The publishers’ description is as follows:

Take a wonder-filled journey with Jesus and His disciples.

Animated straight from the pages of the popular Read and Share® Bible, The Jesus Series introduces children to the life of Christ. Unlike the 3-minute, bite-size story format of the Read and Share® DVD Bible Volumes 1-4, this DVD is an uninterrupted half-hour presentation of Jesus’ ministry along the shores of Lake Galilee and the villages near Nazareth. Children will see Jesus call His disciples, feed 5,000 people, heal the sick, teach about God’s kingdom and introduce the Lord’s Supper.

This DVD completes The Jesus Series by presenting the life of Christ in a way that little ones can understand and build a solid foundation on.

My opinion of this DVD is… well… mixed. And one of its best features is also one of its biggest downfalls.

The Good:

• The story aggregates a number of story segments from the Bible into one continuous storyline that children can easily follow.
• I enjoyed the simple, uncluttered animation, which still had fun details like moving water!

The Bad:

• There is content added that is not in the Bible. It’s well done, it’s consistent with the impression the Bible gives of those involved, and it is important to the story flow (especially for little ones)… but it is not the Bible. This is not horrible, just something to be aware of, and make sure you discuss with your children.
• Maybe it’s just trying to cover too much ground in too little time, but I can’t imagine most children would follow a lot of the jumps, and I found myself explaining “the big picture” of a lot of it to my children as we watched.
• Lack of drama, excitement, something… The music wasn’t lively, the characters weren’t lively. The whole thing was rather monotone – when Jesus’ life and ministry was anything but!
• There was a huge emphasis on Judas. With the brevity of the piece, and the number of more “adult” concepts left out entirely, it was very odd how much of Judas there was – especially as much of it was fabricated (see first point).

This DVD wasn’t BAD, but I would pick something else if I was choosing…

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Naturally, I was as skeptical as you probably are right now, when I first saw the ads for Great Taste, No Pain.

But, like most people who struggle with digestive issues, I’ve gotten a bit desperate, since nothing seems to help, and doctors seem clueless.

The author offers a free “sample” of the program, though, and a Money-Back Guarantee, so I figured I had nothing to lose! But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Allow me to begin at the proper Review Beginning…

With more than 1 out of 3 adults in the US (70 million) taking OTC or prescription pills for digestive disorders and the pain associated with them, as a nation, we have serious health problems.

What most people are frustrated with is that even if they eat how most health professionals consider to be healthy, they STILL experience digestive problems. And so most people resort to drugs, surgery or eating bland foods. Or they just continue to suffer.

That’s why the Great Taste No Pain System was developed.

This simple eating system is designed to dramatically reduce the acid pH measure in a person’s entire body — not just in the stomach. It does so by increasing the ratio of alkaline forming foods eaten and by showing you how to combine foods in a way that radically decreases the amount of acid digestive juices in the stomach and small intestines required to break down foods.

One of the primary components of the Great Taste No Pain System is the science of food combining, which was first introduced into the US in 1911. A basic knowledge of Junior High chemistry is all it takes to see the logic behind this science: Mixing foods that require alkaline digestive enzymes with foods that require acid digestive enzymes slows and can even stop the digestive process. This is incredibly bad for the body.

The Great Taste No Pain system alleviates this problem, speeding food through your body, allowing it to absorb nutrients from foods at a much higher level.

Great Taste No Pain author, Sherry Brescia, was a former Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) sufferer herself. In fact, in 1991, she spent 7 days in the hospital with bacterial colitis.

As a health insurance researcher and Chief Underwriter, she was able to research the benefits of an alkaline- balanced body and over the next 15 years perfected the system she now calls Great Taste No Pain.

What Attracted Me to The Program

• Taste/Variety: Great Taste No Pain cannot actually be called a diet, because it allows you to eat even great volumes of delicious food as long as you combine it according to the guidelines. It truly requires very little willpower, since you don’t have to give anything up. Would you believe that you could eat McDonald’s food and not suffer gassiness and reflux? While meat is not something people with digestive issues usually tolerate well on a daily basis, it turns out the problem isn’t so much the meat as it is what you eat with the meat. And broccoli, lettuce, cucumbers and other veggies that can create havoc suddenly will not!
• Start-up Speed: It’s terrific that you don’t have to read 300+ pages before learning what to do. In the first guide, ‘How To End Stomach Pain Forever, Even If Your MD Says, “No Way,”‘ it provides a brief background on the science and then quickly moves on to the step-by-step ‘how to.’ And even before you get that under your belt, she has a four day menu plan (with options) in the free “Pain Free in One Day” report, so you can start feeling better even before you know how!
• Clarity and Tools: After explaining the theory, GTNP provides a ‘What To Eat With What’ guide that is a massive compilation of how to combine just about anything. There’s even a ‘Pocket Guide For Pain-Free Dining Out’ to help you choose pain-free food at restaraunts, until you get the hang of the system. And with a recipe book full of dishes combined properly, you can shift your way of thinking about meals around without disturbing your routine any more than necessary.

My Results?

I have only had the books for a couple of days, and what I have done so far could best be called “dabbling.”

I have not cooked any of Sherry’s delicious-sounding recipes, due to my limited kitchen facilities, and my family is still dubious about the whole concept.

So I have simply made different choices for my own meals, avoiding the mis-combinations that are a mainstay in the way we tend to do things in America.

This is really just one of two important factors in GTNP (the other being the overall acid/alkaline balance), so truly I have no right to expect to see any huge dramatic results just yet.

But boy, let me tell you what a difference this has made!

I literally cannot remember the last time I ate a meal at a restaurant (and most at home, as well) that did not leave me with pain and problems.

Well, guess what?

My very first GTNP properly combined meal… and every one since? NO PAIN!

No kidding.

What a relief to be able to eat a meal and not have to worry about the digestive consequences! This alone is more than worth the cost of the GTNP system.

I’m excited to get the rest of the program on track, and see if it lives up to the rest of its promises of increased energy, reduced migraines, and so on.

You can be sure I’ll keep you posted! But in the meantime?

You can sign up for Sherry’s free newsletter, as well as downloading the FREE Quick-Start / Trial program, “Pain Free in One Day.”

And if you do decide to jump in and give Great Taste, No Pain a try, there is a Money Back Guarantee if you’re not 100% satisfied. (Although I certainly won’t be asking for my money back!)

What have you got to lose… Except the pain?

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This book was an easy and enjoyable read, but somehow it just left me frustrated and wanting more.

From the publisher’s description:

Former Facts of Life star Lisa Whelchel shares her experiences of growing up without true friends and how she learned to find and develop them as an adult through God’s grace.

Not many people can say they lived their most crucial developmental years on the sound stage of a wildly popular TV show. But that’s exactly what happened in Lisa Whelchel’s life. As a child, she learned to guard her heart so tightly to avoid true hurt that she found herself unable to form lasting friendships as an adult.

Friendship for Grown-Ups details her experiences of learning to come out of her shell, to trust, risk, and become vulnerable by God’s grace and find meaningful friendships. Readers encounter her captivating story and refreshing perspective on life’s most precious gift—and they find practical tips for their own friendships along the way.

As an autobiography, this was terrific. Very personal, very honest, very well-written.

But, although Lisa specifically states that she’s not even trying to write a “How-To Manual”, I kept wishing for a little more in that direction.

In fact, there were enough good quotes from Dr. Henry Cloud’s books on the subject that I began to regret that I wasn’t just reading one of those.

So, choose this book with your eyes open, and it may be right up your alley!

I read a mention of a newer Christian film we hadn’t watched, so I added it to my Blockbuster queue.

Since it doesn’t seem to be well known, I thought I’d point it out in case you missed it, too.

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry is a very cute family film.

Two older known actors star with a cast of cute young men, in a story about spreading the good news.

It’s entertaining to watch, has some very clever lessons for the boys, the kids are good actors… And there’s an emotional twist to round out the experience.

If you need something fresh for family movie night, I recommend it!

(And if the title makes no sense to you, it’s a reference to a wacky New Age book/DVD phenomenon currently making the rounds, called “The Secret.” Unknowing, we actually watched it… Maybe I should write that review!)

What new crisis will the federal government manufacture in order to acquire more power over individuals? What new lies will it tell?

Throughout our history, the federal government has lied to send our children off to war, lied to take our money, lied to steal our property, lied to gain our trust, and lied to enhance its power over us. Not only does the government lie to us, we lie to ourselves. We won’t admit that each time we let the government get away with misleading us, we are allowing it to increase in size and power and decrease our personal liberty.

In acquiescing to the government’s continuous fraudulent behavior, we bear partial responsibility for the erosion of our individual liberties and the ever-expanding federal regulation of private behavior. This book attacks the culture in government that facilitates lying, and it challenges readers to recognize that culture, to confront it, and to be rid of it.

If you have TV, they tell me you may recognize Judge Napolitano from his current gig as the Senior Judicial Analyst on Fox News… But his credentials are much more impressive than that would imply. He was the youngest person ever appointed to a life-tenured bench on the Superior Court of New Jersey (he retired in 1998), and also served for eleven years as an adjunct professor of constitutional law at Steton Hall Law School.

Judge Napolitano is a passionate defender of the Constitution, and of personal freedom. He doesn’t pull any punches, and makes no allowances for circumstances or politics when it comes to violations.

In this frightening, eye-opening book, Napolitano walks us through seventeen lies the government has been telling us for years, under the guises of which they are eroding States’ rights, infringing on our personal freedoms, and shredding the Constitution which should be their blueprint. For instance:

• Lie #4: Every Vote Counts
• Lie #7: Your Body Is Your Temple
• Lie #12: Everyone is Innocent Until Proven Guilty, and
• Lie #16: The Right of People to Be Secure in Their Persons, Houses, Papers, and Effects, Shall Not Be Violated

Judge Napolitano walks through history in each chapter, quoting and explaining the Constitution, citing the judicial and legislative processes that have ensued, and explaining the ramifications.

Many of the things he discusses are things I already saw as troublesome… But he also dissected some issues that I felt differently about, and some issues that I didn’t even realize were issues.

After reading this book, if you support the United States Constitution, there is no option but to agree with his point of view – and be horrified by what the government is perpetrating!

This is a MUST READ book. Everyone with any interest in personal liberty or a “free country,” everyone interested in politics or law, every High School student…

EVERY AMERICAN should read this book.

Now.

Are you still here? Go get a copy!

I mean it!

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Living in an RV has switched a lot of my problems around.

Like a lot of people, I used to have a cupboard with WAY too many plastic storage containers of all shapes and sizes. I had a monumental investment in expensive Tupperware containers, a whole host of the semi-disposable containers (a la Ziploc and GladLock), and even a smattering of recycled favorites (I’m partial to the larger size Boston Market side dish containers).

So when I needed a container, I would open the cupboard, easily select precisely the size and shape needed, and grab its matching lid.

Er, not.

The “overwhelm” factor is gone here in the RV, with such limited cupboard space. I had to pick and choose carefully what to bring.

Now, naturally, it is easier to find a matching lid (although not as easy as you’d think!). The problems here are more related to things like not having the size you need, since the *one* container that size is invariably in the fridge with leftover peas in it.

Naturally, I was very interested to learn about Easy Lunchboxes. Kelly was a mom of three in a similar bind – but instead of just wishing for a better solution, she designed one!

My clever solution to the lunch-packing chore is the simple two piece EasyLunchbox container : The bottom has three compartments to hold an entree or sandwich and two side dishes. The fitted lid (which comes in 4 colors) covers all three compartments in a snap. No more mismatched plastic container pieces to keep track of (matching up all those bottoms and lids was the thing that drove me nuts!) or wasteful baggies. Fits perfectly inside the roomy EasyLunchbox custom carrying bag. And there is still plenty of room to throw in an extra snack or two, whole fruit, perhaps a thermos of soup, drink and ice block. Flexibility is key, and since so many different things can fit, no matter what menu you choose to include, it packs easily and quickly. It’s amazing how much faster, ‘greener’ and easier lunch box packing is with the EasyLunchbox system.

It’s a great idea, and right in line with the trendy “bento box” style lunch packing that I keep reading about. Plus, it’s microwave and dishwasher safe.

And since anyone reading this blog is likely to ask: Plastic safety?

The answer is a resounding YES!

We are very proud of our products’ safety ratings. We have ensured that all the materials used in our containers and bags are food and child safe and even pass strict FDA requirements! Easylunchbox products contain NO Lead, Vinyl, PVC, Phthalates, or Bisphenol A (BPA).

Resuable. Inexpensive. Convenient. Green. Cute.

One feature that I really enjoyed is that the Easy Lunch Box is easy for kids to handle. Have you ever watched a two year old try to open a tightly sealed Tupperware container? (Heck, sometimes I have trouble!)

Jewel is going through a “playing school” phase right now, so she immediately claimed the Easy Lunchbox bag as hers – good thing it was purple! I packed a lunch for her and R.T., and they went outside and had a picnic.

I packed a tray for each of them, with a sandwich, grapes, and a few marshmallows for a treat. Both trays fit nicely into the bag, and there was still enough room that I could have slipped in an ice pack if it had been needed.

I was pleasantly surprised by the whole experience I had with Easy Lunchboxes. Kelly was friendly and helpful in our email exchanges. The products are totally professionally manufactured and packaged (this isn’t a “homemade” experience). The containers were sturdy, fit together well, and opened easily. All in all, I give EasyLunchboxes highest marks for convenience, frugality, quality, ease of use, and appearance.

My only caveat is that “suitable for adults and children” may be a little broad. My teenage son would certainly not be satisfied with what could be packed in one container. You would need to make sure you did fill up the back with an additional Thermos of soup, piece of fruit, etc.

I think I may need another set…

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Want to get your hands on this great system? Here’s how!

BUY IT!

WIN IT! One lucky As For My House reader will win a complete Easy Lunchboxes set – four trays, plus a bag in the color of your choice! Sorry, but you must have a USA mailing address for this giveaway.

Make sure to leave your email address with each comment. (Used only to contact the winner. If your email is entered in the form it will be saved for me but not displayed).

1. Head on over to Easy Lunch Boxes and leave a comment here telling me your favorite feature, or something you learned.

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each).

Once you have completed #1, you can earn additional entries by doing any or all of the following. For those worth multiple entris, please leave that number of separate comments – each comment is one entry when I draw a number at the end!

2. Become a Fan of EasyLunchboxes on Facebook.

3. Follow @EasyLunchboxes on Twitter

4. Until 3/28, you can also earn a bonus entry just for entering our Homestead Blessings DVD Giveaway (and leaving a comment here telling me you did)!

In additon to these, there are MANY more ways to earn extra entries. You know, all the usual stuff like subscribing to the blog, Tweeting, and so on? Just click over to our Giveaway Policy page for all the details!

This giveaway ends 4/3/10 at 11:59pm (Eastern).

The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on the blog, as well as contacted by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours, or a new winner will be selected. Your goodies will ship directly from Easy Lunch Boxes!

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Comments are now closed. Look for a separate post announcing our winner!