Sunday, August 31, 2014

Flyby Review: Holy Ghost DVD



I believe this is the first product sent to me by Flyby Promotions to not receive a positive review, and I have been trying to decide how to go about it.  I could probably speak for the length of the documentary myself about why I agree and disagree with various parts of the film, but since this is a blogpost and not a novel, I think it best to give you a quick synopsis of what the producers say about the film and of my own thoughts and leave it at that.

Here is what Wanderlust Productions says about Holy Ghost:

Can the Holy Spirit Direct a Movie?
In this fast-paced documentary from the director of the popular films Finger of God, Furious Love, and Father of Lights, Darren Wilson sets out to make a movie that is completely led by the Holy Spirit. No plan, no script, no safety net — just go wherever he feels the Spirit leading him to try and discover the adventure God has for him. Whether it’s the riches of Monte Carlo, a heavy metal concert, or the oldest city in world, the result is a film that not only challenges and excites, but also reveals a God who is far more alive and active than you ever imagined.
So, how do I put what I believe about the Holy Spirit in a nutshell?  Here are a few truths I know:

1)  The Holy Spirit is alive and well and is active in the lives of Christians all over the world.  God can and does use any power and any Spiritual Gift that He chooses at any time to accomplish His purposes, to reach people for Him, and to bring Him glory.

2)  Many people who profess to have and use "special" Spiritual Gifts, unfortunately, simply do not.  Much harm can be done by people who try to manipulate the Spirit of God or to manipulate the emotions of people in His name.  Some of these people, I'm sure, have good intentions.  Some are misled, some are outright lying, and some are blinded by emotion.

So, if someone claims to be able to speak in tongues, heal, or have some other Spiritual Gift, how can we know if they are legitimate?  Sometimes it is difficult.  The Bible says we will know people by their fruits, or the results they produce.  Matthew 7:15-20 says:
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
If anyone claims to have special Spiritual Gifts but uses them to glorify themselves or to "wow" an audience, I am very skeptical.  If someone has a very winning personality but seems to be led mainly by emotion ("Do you feel the Spirit moving?  How does that feel?") and does not teach using Scripture, I am also very skeptical.  Yes, we often do feel very good when the Holy Spirit is working, but feelings are short-lived.  There must be meat to the teaching in order to make real changes in lives.  The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all one God, and God will not change or contradict Himself.  He has left us His Word, the Bible, and if any teaching contradicts what is in the Bible, it is false teaching and certainly not from the Holy Spirit.

Which brings me to another point, one which was refuted in the film, and the producers of the film would call me a Cessationist.  I do not consider myself a Cessationist.  Let me explain what that means.

I Corinthians 13:8-10 says:
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 
The Greek words used here indicate that prophecies and tongues and special knowledge of God's Will would die out like the embers of a fire when they were no longer needed.  Many Christians believe that "when completeness comes" refers to the canonization of the Scriptures.  In other words, the early Christians needed to know whom they could believe.  So God gave the Apostles and some other Christians special, miraculous gifts to let people know that they were speaking for God, much like He gave the Prophets in the Old Testament.  Once the New Testament was made available, everyone could read the Word of God, so these gifts were no longer necessary and they died out or faded away.

Historically, people on the extreme ends of the discussion have believed that either the gifts completely died when the Apostles died (cessationism), or that everyone should have the special gifts, to the point that they do not believe you are a Christian if you cannot prophesy or speak in tongues.  As with any discussion, these are the extremes, and the correct answer lies somewhere in between.

For the most part, I do believe that the special gifts of the Spirit (specifically prophecy, speaking in tongues, and special knowledge of the things of God - those specified in I Corinthians 13) have died out.  There are many other Spiritual Gifts which people have now as well as they did in the early Church:  teaching, preaching, encouragement, music, etc., etc.  There are innumerable Spiritual Gifts, and the Holy Spirit is very active in the lives of Christians today, bestowing these gifts and counseling and advising us as Jesus promised.  Does this mean those three "special" Spiritual Gifts are completely gone from the world today?  Of course not.  God has limitless power and can use any gift any time He wants to.  The most credible instances I have heard in which these gifts seemed to be legitimately used happened in places where there were no written Scriptures yet, and/or where people such as shamans and witch doctors held a great deal of power.  As in Bible times, God may still use these Gifts to show people who is speaking for Him.

In areas where we do have written Scriptures, I simply have not seen anyone who has convinced me that they actually have one of these three Spiritual Gifts.  Someone I knew once went to a church where people were claiming to speak in tongues, and he quoted the Lord's Prayer in Greek.  Someone said they had received a translation from the Spirit, and proceeded to give an explanation that had nothing to do with the Lord's Prayer.  I'm pretty sure the Holy Spirit recognized the Lord's Prayer in Greek, as it was written in the New Testament.  In another church, we were told that the church's "prophets" only had to be correct 40% of the time to be considered to have the gift of prophecy.  Well, I'd have a 50/50 chance of being right with no help at all, so I don't think 40% accuracy shows a gift of the Holy Spirit.  My God is right 100% of the time!

I could go on and on, but this blog post is already getting pretty long.  If you are interested in studying the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, I highly recommend The Power of the Holy Spirit by Don DeWelt.  You may download all four volumes free at http://www.collegepress.com/storefront/node/242.

I was partially interested in the movie Holy Ghost because it boasted many popular names, including Michael W Smith and Phil Vischer, two people I like and respect a great deal.  Both had very small parts in which they basically said they wanted to be used by the Holy Spirit to accomplish His purposes on earth.  I agree whole-heartedly!

The film Holy Ghost, in my opinion, did look like a lot of parlor tricks, and I would have appreciated more Gospel teaching that directly quoted the Scriptures.  Mark 9:38-40 tells us:

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.
I appreciate the fact that Darren Wilson and Wanderlust Productions tried to produce a movie directed by the Holy Spirit.  Whatever good they do for God, I appreciate.  I cannot, however, recommend this film, and I will not be giving away a free copy on the blog.


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



Friday, August 29, 2014

Another Share the Memories Freebie! Available only till August 31!


A "Snow White" freebie!  My favorite fairy tale!
Grab this freebie quickly!  It's only available till August 31!

Clicking on image will take you to the My Memories site to download.

Happy Scrapping!


Share the Memories Freebie - Only Available till August 31!


Grab this freebie quickly!  It's only available till August 31!

Clicking on image will take you to the My Memories site to download.

Happy Scrapping!

"Back 2 School" by Dandelion Dust Designs



I'm afraid neither my kids nor I are ready to go back to school yet this year.  The summer was far too short!  Alas, it must be done, so we pulled out the books this week and got started.  I love the "Back 2 School" kit by Dandelion Dust Designs for scrapping those first-day-back pics!  No, the pics above are not from this year.  They are from the first day of kindergarten for each of my kids.  Here's our first day of school this week:


Scrap all your back-to-school pics with "Back 2 School" by Dandelion Dust Designs, available exclusively at ScrapTakeout.


Happy Schooling!  :-)

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for layouts.





Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Back to School Sales at Knowledge Box Central!


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In this issue:

*New Lapbook ~ "Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet Lapbook"
*$1.00 Labor Day Lapbook
*SALE - 25% Off Everything (including PRINTED, CD, and ASSEMBLED) - Code is in this newsletter!
*Free Kindle Ebooks
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The Israelites were God's chosen people.  They were special.  They were His inheritance.  So when God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital city of Israel's enemy, Assyria - well, you know the rest of the story!  Or do you?  God used a reluctant prophet, a large fish, and a plant, all to drive some important lessons home.  Read the book of Jonah and learn more about the real end of the story with our accompanying lapbook and study guide.
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During the chaotic period of the Judges who governed Israel, when "there was no king, and everyone did as he saw fit," there emerged a beautiful love story between two unlikely people.  Ruth was a pagan foreigner who needed redemption; her mother-in-law, Naomi, was a bitter shell of a woman who needed healing; and Boaz was the son of a prostitute who had migrated to Israel years ago.  Who would suspect that this union would beget the great King David of Israel, and generations later, the Messiah?  See the love story of Ruth in a whole new light with our accompanying lapbook and study guide.
Labor Day is COMING!
$1.00 for a LIMITED TIME!!!!
Labor Day Lapbook
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Did you know that we have MANY lapbooks on the WARS of the world?
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25% Off EVERYTHING on the website
in EVERY format

(EXCEPT Henty Audio CDs)

This includes ALL formats - Ebook, CD, Printed, and Assembled!
Valid through 09/02/2014


Use this code at checkout:  Everything25
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FREE Kindle E-Books
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Knowledge Box Central, 155 Clements Road, Plain Dealing, La 71064, USA 

Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet Now Available!



Jonah:  The Reluctant Prophet Lapbook and Study Guide is now available at Knowledge Box Central!
The Israelites were God's chosen people. They were special. They were His inheritance. So when God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital city of Israel's enemy, Assyria - well, you know the rest of the story! Or do you? God used a reluctant prophet, a large fish, and a plant, all to drive some important lessons home. Read the book of Jonah and learn more about the real end of the story with our accompanying lapbook and study guide.
Download a FREE sample at Knowledge Box Central!

Friday, August 22, 2014

Another Share the Memories Freebie!


Check out this great freebie!

Click image to go to download.

Created by Autumn Owl Designs
 
Available free until August 24th.

USE THIS CODE: STMMMS79285

Use This Code: STMMMS79285 
to get $10 off My Memories Suite Software! (in the US and Canada)

Happy Scrapping!  :-)


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Ruth: The Bride of the Kinsman Redeemer Lapbook and Unit Study



Ruth: The Bride of the Kinsman Redeemer Lapbook and Unit Study is now available at Knowledge Box Central!

During the chaotic period of the Judges who governed Israel, when "there was no king, and everyone did as he saw fit," there emerged a beautiful love story between two unlikely people. Ruth was a pagan foreigner who needed redemption; her mother-in-law, Naomi, was a bitter shell of a woman who needed healing; and Boaz was the son of a prostitute who had migrated to Israel years ago. Who would suspect that this union would beget the great King David of Israel, and generations later, the Messiah? See the love story of Ruth in a whole new light with our accompanying lapbook and study guide!

Homeschool Deals: 15% Off Coupon Code for ANY one Compass Classroom Product!


Are you ready to start Back to School?  Have you already started?  If you are like me, you still have a few curriculum items you need to purchase.  You've been held back by a busy schedule, tight budget, or just plain procrastination!  Well, procrastinators (myself included), it's time to get moving.  I can't clear your schedule, but I can offer you a coupon to help with the tight budget!

I have reviewed items from Compass Classroom on my blog in the past:

I am now an affiliate with Compass Classroom and would love to share some savings with you!

Compass Classroom


Use coupon code CHAPLAIN15 to take 15% off ANY one Compass Classroom homeschooling product!  COUPON IS ONLY GOOD TODAY AND TOMORROW!! (August 20 & 21)


Compass Classroom offers specialized homeschooling curriculum in History, Latin, Film-making, Economics, Poetry, Philosophy, and Bible.

Capture
Find more homeschool deals at The Compass Classroom!



New Share the Memories Freebie!


Check out this great freebie!

Click image to go to download.
Available free until August 24th.



USE THIS CODE: STMMMS79285

to get $10 off My Memories Suite Software! (in the US and Canada)

Happy Scrapping!  :-)

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Flyby Review: The Boxcar Children DVD

I remember my second-grade teacher reading The Boxcar Children to our class, and the book series is now one of my children's favorites.  The delightful story tells of four siblings who have been orphaned, and their only living relative is their grandfather.  The problem is, they believe their grandfather is a mean man who does not like them and who never came to visit them.  Not wanting to be split apart from each other and sent to homes, they strive to make it on their own.  They find a deserted railroad boxcar and set about making it their home.  But what will they do when their sister Violet gets sick?

We were delighted to receive The Boxcar Children on DVD from Flyby Promotions!  The Collector's Edition did a good job of relaying the old favorite in video form.  I would recommend the DVD for children up through age 9.  My youngest son (age 8) absolutely loved the retelling, the animation, and everything about the DVD.  My older daughters liked the story but felt the animation was a bit childish and would have preferred a live-action version of the story.

If you have young children, I highly recommend The Boxcar Children on DVD.  If this is not already one of your favorite stories, use the DVD to introduce the series, then continue reading the adventures of the Boxcar Children!

Flyby Promotions is also letting me give away a copy of The Boxcar Children DVD to one of my lucky readers!  If you would like to win, leave a comment here or on my Facebook page!  Drawing will be held Tuesday, August 26.

Happy Watching!


About the Film
Four orphaned and homeless siblings happen upon an abandoned boxcar, which with a little creativity and hard work, they gradually furnish with all the comforts of home. Fearful that they will be sent to live with the reputedly cruel grandfather they have never met, the children keep their new home a secret - until a serious illness forces them to reveal themselves in order to save young Violet.

About the Cast
Featuring an all-star cast of voice actors, including Academy Award Nominee Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now), J.K. Simmons (Spiderman), Zach Gordon (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Joey King (Fargo), Mackenzie Foy (Twilight series), and Jadon Sand (LEGO: The Movie), this is the very first full-length, animated feature adaptation of Gertrude Chandler Warner's best-selling classic!

Preorder at Walmart:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/38107477  

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

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






Thursday, August 14, 2014

Back to School with Classical Composers Monthly

Seriously?  Is it time to go back to school already?  Are the people in your house screaming "No, no, no!" or "Yes, yes, yes!"???

I just posted a nice end-of-summer scrapbooking kit from Dandelion Dust Designs, and now it is time to start back with the school posts.  The good news is, we have some very nice freebies coming up!  Have you checked out Classical Composers Monthly?  I just found the resource, and I liked it so much I became an affiliate!

Did you know that September 13, 2014, marks the 200th year since "The Star Spangled Banner" was written by Francis Scott Key?  Wow!  If your children do not know the history and story behind the beautiful U.S. national anthem, you will love having this resource put together for you.  Click on the banner below to see this free unit!

U.S.National Anthem Freebie--large

Happy lesson-planning!  :-)

"Lemonade Stand" by Dandelion Dust Designs


WHERE has the summer gone?????  I had all these plans.  Now it is almost time to start school again, and we have not gone camping once, and I think we went to the pool a grand total of twice!  The summer has been full of other fun activities, though.  Scrap your summer fun before the weather turns cold with "Lemonade Stand" by Dandelion Dust Designs, available now at ScrapTakeout.


Happy Summer!

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for a layout.


Tuesday, August 5, 2014

"Up, Up and Away" FREEBIE


Would you like another FREEBIE?  "Up, Up and Away" has just been released on Dandelion Dust Designs' Facebook page!  Click preview below to go to download.


Happy Scrapping!  :-)



Friday, August 1, 2014

"Under the Sea" by Dandelion Dust Designs



We LOVE the North Carolina Aquarium, and Dandelion Dust Designs' new kit, "Under the Sea," is the perfect kit to showcase our field trips!  I love the fresh colors and the wavy lines!

"Under the Sea" is available exclusively at ScrapTakeout!


Happy Scrapping!  :-)

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for layouts.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.


Flyby Review: Enough by Kate Conner


Now that I am 41 and have been married for 19 years, there are some things I would like to tell teenage girls who are just starting out.  One thing I would like to ask them is if they want advice about relationships, why are they talking to their teenage friends who have had crushes on three different boys they barely knew in the last month?  If you want advice about something that you want to last, ask someone who has been there and done that.  My parents, who are happily celebrating their 50th anniversary next year, would be an excellent resource.  If you want to know something about boys, ask your grandma!

This past month I have been blessed to review the book Enough: 10 Things We Should Be Telling Teenage Girls by Kate Conner.  Mrs. Conner's insight, humor, and sincerity are engaging.  As a minister's wife, she has worked with many teenage girls and families, and she speaks from her heart the truths she wants to convey to them.  The book is not a list of truths for your teenage daughter to read and get wise overnight; it is a handbook for parents to teach and set an example of these truths throughout the teenage years.

I used to print a pamphlet for my female college-age Bible-study attenders that was entitled "Lies Satan Tells."  The world is feeding our daughters a packs of lies.  Satan is out to get them.  They are being led to believe that their worth lies in their outward appearance and sex appeal; that they need to spend $60 on a t-shirt or a pair of shorts to be accepted; and that virginity until marriage is an antiquated notion.  As parents, we do not think they are listening to us or that they care what we have to say.  We are wrong.  We can make a world of difference in their lives.  It is time for us to stand up for our girls, and to fight the lies with TRUTH.

I highly recommend Enough: 10 Things We Should Be Telling Teenage Girls, by Kate Conner, for anyone who has, loves, knows, or occasionally sees teenage girls.  Learn more about the 10 things we need to tell them and how to do so.

If you would like to WIN a copy of this delightful book, leave a comment here or on my Facebook page.  I will randomly choose a winner one week from today, on August 8, 2014.

Happy reading!

Enough: 10 Things You Should Be Telling Teenage Girls

Here is the official website for the book:  http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/products/enough/
 
Check out all of Kate’s social media sites here: 

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.