How do you get someone to change their mind about a controversial subject like abortion? Argue your case on social media? Recite a list of facts? How about, maybe… tell them a story.
--Joel Ohman
I have been enthralled with the power of stories since I studied writing and theology in college. The stories of our culture, of our heritage, of the society around us, and of individuals. They change us. They shape us. They give us choices.
Often, we use stories that are highly emotionally-charged to share our ideas about controversial topics, such as abortion. I have, personally, shared my story on this blog before of being saved from such a fate and adopted at a young age. While powerful, sometimes the emotional, personal stories miss their mark because the listener has such a different experience that contradicts that of the story-teller.
Joel Ohman's story-telling is unique. Already having made a name for himself with the dystopian YA fiction, #1 bestselling Meritropolis series, in Other Bodies he delves into the dystopian genre to tell the story of a young girl faced with problems that are all too familiar to young people in any genre. Pain, hope, regret, accountability, confusion. How will she deal with these problems, very relevant in our time period, in a future of virtual reality becoming reality?
Ohman's writing style, appealing to readers who love Hunger Games and Divergent, is a convincing vessel to carry his message. It is appealing to young adults who may not enjoy listening to testimonial-style true-life accounts. And even if they do not agree with him, I pray it will make them think about their position on the issue of abortion.
How far would you go to undo your greatest regret?
Other Bodies is a powerful story. It is well worth the time reading it and sharing it with young adults in your life. It does, of course, deal with very mature subject matter, and I would not recommend it for anyone too young to understand the implications. Parents would be wise to read the book before recommending it to their teen children.
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. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
My husband was a Navy Chaplain, deployed many months when my children were little. He missed birthdays, concerts, plays, and emergency room visits. He felt the pain of missing these milestones and worried about not being involved in our children's lives. I felt the pain of having to do all those things alone. We both counted down the days to each homecoming, but what a lot of people do not realize is that the homecoming can also be difficult. It is hard to get used to living together again. Disagreements come up over schedules and child-rearing. To be honest, I did not want to be questioned or second-guessed after doing this by myself for so long; but my not wanting to be questioned could make him feel like he had no place in the family. These are common problems among military service-members. You feel guilt because you should be so happy to be together again, to be home and to have your spouse home, but sometimes new problems begin to surface.
For these reasons, I can relate to Jonathan, the subject of the documentary series I am reviewing for Prison Fellowship, and his wife. And yet, there are also differences. When my husband came home from deployments, he was honored and thanked for his service. When he retired, he had a good resume and good training to use while looking for a job. Jonathan does not have these advantages. You see, his resume is a 15-year prison record.
When Jonathan was 18 years old, he made a life-changing mistake. He went to prison with a 25-year sentence. Should he have walked away on that fateful night? Yes. Was he guilty and deserving of prison? Probably. Those years in prison, however, give you a lot of time to think over your life choices. Some people will continue down the wrong path. Others will decide to make changes.
Jonathan got involved in Prison Fellowship's Academy program, and he decided to make changes. Recognizing that his wife and daughter love him in spite of his bad decisions and not because of anything he has done, he wants to be a good husband and father. He wants to beat the odds of recidivism, or the likelihood of returning to prison. He wants to turn his life and the life of his family around.
After serving 15 years, Jonathan is about to be released on parole. He has missed milestones in his daughter's life while his wife has been a single parent, for all practical purposes. He has missed experiences with his wife. He is now 33 years old, and he has not managed a household or held down a job. He and his wife will have to learn to live together again. He will have to face the challenges of being a husband and father. He will have to find a job with a prison record behind him. And he will do all of this with much of society expecting him to fail and to return to prison.
Prison Fellowship has produced The Restoration Series: Jonathan’s Walk, a 5-part documentary film series following Jonathan and his family as he tries to re-enter society. For this review, I watched the first episode, and I am hooked. The characters are transparent, and I instantly feel like I know them. The videography is well-done. Most of all, I feel invested in Jonathan's story. I want to see him succeed and to interact with his family and society again.
America needs to see communities restored. We need to see stories like Jonathan's have happy endings. Prison Fellowship's Academy program is working towards those goals.
Join me in watching this documentary series.
You can sign up and watch the rest of the series from this link:
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.
I don't know about you, but I have a hard time finding a good devotional. Should I choose one with only scriptures or with a devotional too? If with a devotional, do I want long devotionals or short devotionals? Do I want a lot of scripture reading or just one verse? And let’s not even start talking about topics. There are so many topics to cover! They could range from in-depthscriptural study, to characters from the Bible, to a subject like forgiveness.How am I supposed to know if the topic will be relevant to me?
When I got the chance to review Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women, I was elated. The 365 devotionals focus on what young women can take away from the stories of various figures in the Bible, especially prominent women like Eve, Sarah, Ruth, and Mary. From their lives, the book discusses topics like forgiveness, true beauty in Christ, and living our lives for Christ. When I read each devo before bed, I am able to take away a nugget of truth to dwell on and act out in my everyday life.
The only thing about the devotional I do not care for is how it sometimes alludes to being the perfect housewife. There is nothing wrong with a devotion about this, but, since this is a young women’s devotional, it feels a bit out of place. For me, at seventeen years of age, being a perfect housewife does not concern me. This may not be true for some young women, but if they are looking for advice on how to please their husband, perhaps they should read a devotional about being the perfect wife instead of one for young women. Nevertheless, many of the other lessons are incredibly insightful and useful for me, and I am positive they shall resonate with other young women as well.
Another feature I enjoy about this book is that, below each devotion, there is space for writing. This is useful to write down any thoughts, prayers, or insights I may have while reading. Also, the book is completely pink! It can’t get much better than that, can it?
Actually, it can! If you comment on this post, you will be entered in a drawing to win this wonderful devotional for FREE! You can either use it yourself or give it to a young woman in your life who needs encouragement. Drawing will be held December 10. You also have the option to buy the devotional from this link:
Thanks for reading this review! I hope you are able to find the perfect devotional to help you grow in your spiritual life!
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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
Over the last few weeks we've had the privilege of reviewing these beautiful art journals from Ellie Claire! My daughters and I fell in love with them - in fact, I may have lost at least one of them to my daughter!
It is a great understatement to say that God is creative. Sometimes we read the Scriptures in black words printed on a white page, and we see the practicality of the words and hear the stories, but we don't comprehend the richness of the creativity of the God who built the mountains, poured the seas, painted the sunsets, and wove these stories together. I believe God created us to be creative as well, and that when we use our creativity as a part of our worship to Him, we understand Him just a little bit better.
In the Middle Ages, before the printing press, monks took on the copious work of writing copies of the Scriptures to read and to preserve. They decorated the edges of the pages with beautiful drawings to supplement the text. The creation of these beautiful illustrations was a serious and important task. (See http://www.medieval-life.net/monks.htm.)
Painters, artists, and musicians in history such as Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Bach dedicated their work and their talents to the Lord. Many talented people do the same today. Rich Mullins once said that he wrote music about God because there was nothing else worth writing about.
I believe that exploring our creativity can help us to understand more about God today. It is certainly not a replacement for studying His Word; but as in the Middle Ages, it is a supplement to the text. Rather than just reading a chapter from the Bible and putting the Bible back on the shelf, take some time to listen to it out loud, to ponder it, to doodle some pictures or re-write a verse. Use all the senses and different methods of learning in your Bible study.
You are not creative, you say? That is where these beautiful Bible study journals fit in. Everyone can use these notebooks along with their Bibles to add some creativity and contemplation to their Bible study and quiet time.
The first journal is the Illuminate Your Story Journal. The introduction explains the history of illuminated manuscripts. The book then teaches you and gives you workbook space to practice your own illuminated letters. The pages are peppered with quotes from the Bible as well as other inspirational quotes.
I'm not very good at this yet, but I look forward to using the techniques in scrapbooks, cards, and gifts as well!
The next book is the Faith & Lettering Journal. It is a similar format in giving you instruction and then workbook space, but presents a less formal, doodling-type style.
This is so much fun!
The last one is The Illustrated Word: An Illustrated Bible Coloring Journal. This one has actual copies of pages from old illustrated Scriptures. It shows you a small example of the actual page, tells where it is from, and provides you with a full-page coloring page of the illustration, plus lines on which to make notes during your Bible Study. My daughter has been enjoying this one.
I highly recommend any of these journals, separately or (preferably) used together for enhancing your study, encouraging your creativity, and just for fun! They all have lay-flat binding, thick paper, and quality binding. They would make great Christmas presents for any teen girl or adult.
You can find these beautiful journals at the following retailers:
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of each of these journals for purposes of review. The reviews reflect my own honest opinions of the products. Clicking on the retail links may generate a small commission for this blog but will not increase your purchase price.
You may have already seen the release of Chris Tomlin's new album, Holy Roar. I was supposed to receive a copy of it and post my review prior to the October 26 release; however, I did not receive the album until the evening of the 25th, so I'm running a bit late with my review. Still, I'm sure there are readers who are considering purchasing the album, so I am posting my review late!
I have been thinking and researching a lot lately about worship. What is "worship," exactly? Is it just the music we sing on Sunday morning? Do we need to raise our hands up? Does it make a difference in our lives? I will share more of my own thoughts and research in the near future. As a result of all this, I was excited to see Chris Tomlin's new album, Holy Roar, produced in conjunction with the book by the same name that was co-authored by Tomlin and Darren Whitehead and published in October of 2017.
The idea of the book was that there are 7 Hebrew words in the Old Testament for "praise" - "7 words that will change the way you worship," the book claims. It is not a new idea, as sermons have been preached on the concept for several years now, but it is one that Tomlin and Whitehead thought should be expanded into a book. I cannot as yet recommend the book itself. The authors' claims of what the Hebrew words mean and what they mean for our lives are something I need to research a little more.
Tomlin wrote the music on this CD to complement the book. It is his hope that it will communicate "the freedom, the experience, the wonder of worship. It is seeing the church come together, hands lifted to God, pouring out our praise with an eternal song in our hearts. It’s every voice together, changing the way we worship."
What I like most about this CD is that it is 100% praise to God. The songs are God-centered, not me-centered. Their focus is on God and what He has done, and they are sung in the context of being part of corporate worship. We come together for the purpose of bowing ourselves and our wills to God. We do not sing to Him because it makes us feel good or helps us forget the problems we had during the week. We worship Him because He is God and He is worthy! As the song "Satisfied" claims, we are content with the blessings He has given us. He is enough. "Goodness, Love, and Mercy" is a re-arrangement of the old 23rd Psalm, and you simply cannot find better lyrics than that. Scriptural words paired with the praise music that we've come to love from Chris Tomlin make this album one you'll want to have in your collection. When you become too focused on your own problems and the things going on in this life, listen to these songs and turn your focus to praising God. When you see a brilliant sunrise or sunset or the mountains dazzling with fall colors and you cannot contain your gratitude to the Creator of it all, bow your knee in worship with these songs.
God is worthy. God is holy. God is the all-powerful author of love.
For this time just before Christmas, we got the opportunity to review a fun family activity. This is the Family Honor Plate. The plate comes in solid white with the words on it that you see above. It includes paint and a palette so that your family can decorate it all together. You then bake it, following the directions, to make the paint permanent. After the design has set, the plate can be used and washed like normal dinnerware.
The idea included with the plate is for parents to talk about and model the virtues that are written on the plate, and then to encourage the children to emulate the virtues. The virtues listed are actually the fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The parents should then watch the children and choose a child who is acting out these virtues to be rewarded by getting to eat a meal on the Family Honor Plate. A different child can use the plate each night at dinner.
Sometimes, it just works out to use things we are sent for review in a different way that works better for us. I can see this plate becoming a source of contention among my children, and I didn't really want to make the fruits of the Spirit into a competition. I decided to use the plate for decoration or to serve something for everyone from the middle of the table.
I love having family crafts that make something that is truly quality and also useful. This was an excellent family craft that I can see us using for years. I also think that having this reminder on the table is a great way to spark conversation about such virtues. Gathering around the table as a family for dinner is a wonderful time to talk each night about things that are important in our family.
That brings us to the second item we received for review, the Table Thyme Discussion Cards.
This is a great activity for just our own family or for when we have friends over. Questions are asked like, would you rather receive $500 cash or a dream vacation getaway? Every question is followed up with the question "why" to spark more conversation and to get kids to think about their answers. I love activities like this for getting everyone to talk and discuss their thoughts and ideas. The kids love to be the ones asking the questions, too!
If you are looking for some ideas for Christmas presents that veer away from the traditional cheap toys that fill up your house and that encourage family together time, these two items are a great option!
I have been familiar with the rock/worship band Kutless for several years through their songs on the radio and their representations on the WOW Worship CDs that we bought every year. This, however, is the first Kutless album I have actually owned. I don't know why I haven't bought any before. The band has a great modern sound that is worshipful and singable but also contemporary and performance-worthy.
Released on November 10, 2017, Alpha/Omega has a great blend of new and not-so-new songs, both originals and covers. The band has sought to find songs that will minister to the current generation. My favorite, though not a brand new song, is "Cornerstone," the updated version of the hymn "My Hope Is Built." Some of the old hymns have so much meaning, and I have always loved well-done contemporary updates that keep a new generation singing the old favorites. "Gave It All" and "No Wonder" are two other refreshing pieces that take ideas directly from old favorite hymns without really using any part of the hymn itself in the new songs. "Your Great Name" and "Great Are You Lord" are beautiful, worshipful expressions of praise to God without the "me" focus that is so prevalent in many Christian Contemporary songs.
Alpha/Omega is now a permanent part of my listening playlist. The band has pursued excellence and kept the focus of their music on Christ - the two things I look for in excellent worship music.
Of course, I have a giveaway for you! Because I received the CD late and therefore got my review done late, there will be a short window on this one. Please just comment below or on my Facebook page "I want this CD!" by Wednesday, November 29. One winner will be chosen in a random drawing.
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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
I am so excited about The Star opening this weekend, that I wanted to share one more review with you. See this one by Deanna Evans, our coordinator with Flyby Promotions!
THE STAR MOVIE REVIEW: A FILM FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
I was asked recently if I’d like to review THE STAR movie, based off of the very first Christmas, from the animal’s perspective surrounding Christ’s birth. This was something I had never done before but was excited about doing.
Wow and Wow! This film has it all from start to finish you will be mesmerized by its characters, colors and the story surrounding the Nativity. When I finished screening the movie, I was loving it! The story of Bo the Donkey along with Mary and Joseph flooded my heart with all kinds of emotion. I watched the film three times with the same reaction after each viewing! Bring in the amazing music and singing of Mariah Carey’s title track song. . . .
If you have been reading my blog for any time at all, you know I LOVE Christmas! My husband won't let me decorate until after Thanksgiving, but the kids and I are starting the Christmas movies this weekend!
Not only do I love Christmas, but I also love anything that tells Bible stories in ways that will interest children and make us think about things from a different perspective. That's why I'm very excited about the new Christmas movie for 2017, The Star, from the producers of Heaven is for Real and Miracles from Heaven, releasing nationwide today from Sony Affirm!
The Star is the Nativity Story told from the point of view of the animals. It's amazing how much attention the animals have gotten over the years. There have been countless stories and songs about the cattle lowing around the manger and the humble donkey feeling so honored to carry the mother of Jesus. In truth, we don't know what animals, if any, were present. The animals have made their way into the Nativity Scenes and the story because, of course, Jesus was laid in a manger, which was a feeding trough for animals. This leads us to believe he was born in a stable or a cave where animals were kept in Bethlehem. I wonder, however, whether there were any animals living in the stable at the time of Jesus' birth, or if they were all out in the fields with shepherds at that time of year. It does not seem likely that Mary would have laid any newborn baby, least of all the Son of God, in a manger that was actively feeding animals. I certainly would not have allowed any animals to nibble straw from around the head of my baby the night he was born! Joseph and Mary were unlikely to have had enough money to buy a donkey, since when Jesus was born they sacrificed "a pair of doves or two young pigeons" for him at the temple, which was the lesser offering made by poor people who could not afford the sacrifice of lambs. The wise men may well have used camels to cross the desert, but they are not mentioned in the New Testament, and they did not arrive on the night Jesus was born. Including animals in the story, however, appeals to children and adds an element of whimsy to the story. If there were animals traveling with Joseph and Mary, the wise men and shepherds, or already in the stable itself, what would they have thought of the Savior of the World coming to earth in infant form? Would they have recognized their Creator? Would they have known something out of the ordinary was going on?
I am enthralled with this movie based on the trailer and behind-the-scenes clips, and I cannot wait to see it! I love movies about Bible stories that stay true to what actually happened, while speculating about different perspectives. I hope this movie will do so. I hope it treats the Nativity Story with the respect it deserves. I love the fact that the races of the animated characters appear to be true to the story. I hope this will become one of those beloved movies in our Christmas repertoire that we will enjoy together over and over again every year.
In addition to Oprah Winfrey as the camel Deborah (this is an awesome name for a camel, by the way!) and Mariah Carey as Rebecca, the all-star cast of this movie includes Kristin Chenoweth, Patricia Heaton, Kelly Clarkson, Christopher Plummer, Kris Kristofferson, and Zachary Levi (Flynn Rider from Tangled) as Joseph! Some of these are people I would expect to find in this kind of movie and some are not - I like the diversity and I am looking forward to seeing what they each bring to the movie!
I will post another review after I see the movie. If you go see it, let me know your thoughts!
As a Featured Contributor of Flyby Promotions and now of the The Star Influencer Program, I received these trailers to view before the official release of the movie. I also received free Fandango tickets so that I can see the movie when it is released!
Enjoy this movie, send me your thoughts on it, and have a
Hi, friends! Two years ago I watched and reviewed this fabulous DVD for the first time, and I have recommended it to people so many times since then! So I'm very excited to have the opportunity to review it and give away a DVD again!
*Review first posted August 7, 2017
It is good that there are documentaries about archaeological finds, because I would be far too lazy to ever become one of those archaeologists and painstakingly dig and sift through all that dirt myself, but I am positively fascinated by what they find.
Now, of course, we are getting closer to the beginning of school, and being an educational documentary, this DVD did not get quite the reception from my kids as the TobyMac CD did. Sorry, Patterns of Evidence, TobyMac is tough competition!
Don't let their faces fool you, though, this is a well-done documentary that held our attention while it revealed amazing and fascinating information. The only problem is that it was just, well, you know, educational. Sorry, kids, it's getting to be that time of year again!
Patterns of Evidence Exodus deals with one of the most controversial and fundamental questions of recent decades: Does my faith hold up in the face of mounting scientific evidence, and if not, do I still believe? You and I have both heard the same explanations since we were children: "Well, the Bible is not meant to be a document containing cold, hard facts. What is important is the teachings." I reject that whole-heartedly. It's either true or it's not. If the writers of the Bible made up a bunch of fairy tales and based a religion on them, I wouldn't be following them.
The other explanation that I totally reject is that God did not leave evidence because He wants us to believe based on blind faith. "If you had too much evidence, where would your faith come in?" Right? There is nothing blind about faith. Faith is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." For it to be real faith, there must be substance to it.
Think of it this way. I have faith in my husband, that he will not cheat on me. Why? Because he's my husband? Because if I believe he won't cheat, then he won't cheat? If my husband was openly cheating, my refusing to believe that fact would not make it any less true. In fact, I'd probably be regarded as foolish. The fact is, I believe - no, I know - that my husband is faithful to me for a myriad of reasons that have built the trust over time. He has always been faithful, I know that what he believes requires him to be faithful, I know his character, he has made promises to be faithful and he has never broken his promises to me, and I have no reason to believe he is not being faithful. If any one of those things changed, I would have to re-evaluate and determine whether or not he was still worthy of my trust. But as long as he has my trust, I do not suspect him of being unfaithful when he is not with me, even though I do not see what he is doing every minute of every day. He has my trust. I have faith in him.
Now, should God have to prove Himself to us, being that He is, after all, God? Of course not. Having faith, theoretically, should be enough. God knows, however, that we are human and fallible, and without having evidence of Him, we could have faith in Him but just as easily have faith in other religions, in other gods, and in leprechauns at the ends of rainbows. He gives us scientific and historical evidence not because He has anything to prove, but so that we know Who to believe.
In addition, if God does exist and the stories in the Bible did happen, then by the laws of cause-and-effect, physical evidence should exist. That's just the way He created the world.
The Apostles and members of the early church did not follow Christ by blind faith. In fact, Paul and the other Apostles spent much of their time proving that Jesus was the Messiah that had been prophesied, and that He was physically raised from the dead, in order to defend their faith. Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians: "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. . . . If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." (I Cor 15: 17, 19 NIV)
In Acts 2:22, Peter said, "Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know."
In John 15:24, speaking of people who refused to follow Him, Jesus said, "If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin."
I have been raised in the Church and have been a Christian for a long time. I do not plan to let any scientific evidence shake my faith in God. I do, however, believe that God and the Bible will certainly stand up to any amount of questioning, and I think it is important to look at scientific evidence for the benefit of those to whom we witness and for our children. Children hear Bible stories when they are little, and as they grow older, they hear all kinds of "scientific evidence" refuting those stories. No wonder so many leave their faith behind when they go off to college. Want to hear something surprising? The more I study "scientific evidence," the more I find that it supports the Bible rather than refuting it.
As Tim Mahoney says in Patterns of Evidence Exodus, the goal of both science and faith should be to find The Truth. When they both find The Truth, they will be in complete agreement.
In the past I have studied and written about the scientific evidence surrounding the story of Creation and the Flood. Patterns of Evidence Exodus, as the name implies, delves into the archaeological evidence surrounding the Israelites' arrival in Egypt, their rapid multiplication, their slavery by the Egyptians, the Plagues, and ultimately, their Exodus from Egypt and the collapse of Egyptian civilization that ensued, along with their conquests in Canaan. Many scholars say there is no archaeological evidence to support these stories. What is even more shocking to me is that there are so many Christians and Jews who believe that these events did not happen, yet they say it does not matter and that they still have "faith." How can it not matter? What would you say if I told you I was waiting for Prince Charming to come carry me off to his castle in the clouds, even though I believed that the story of Snow White was a fairy tale that never really happened? How can you base a faith on something that you do not believe is true?
Tim Mahoney describes his own journey through his crisis in faith. He was raised as a Christian and believed the Bible to be true, but wondered how he could continue to believe if it was proven not to be true. Would "faith" be enough? Rather than turn a blind eye to the facts, he decided to go to great lengths to investigate to their conclusion. Based on advice he had been given, he decided to present the facts he discovered on both sides of the debate in this documentary, so that the audience could make an educated decision. What he found was astonishing.
Whether you are homeschooling or not, if you want your children to learn how to strengthen their faith by thinking for themselves and evaluating the evidence, or if you want to do so yourself, you need to include Patterns of Evidence Exodus in your curriculum for the upcoming school year. If you do not believe the Bible is true and literal or if you are not sure, this would also be an excellent DVD for you. I highly recommend it.
To get you started, we are having a giveaway for a copy of Patterns of Evidence Exodus! Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page. Do you believe the Bible is literally true or that it is just a collection of stories? I will draw for a winner on Thursday, August 31.
About Patterns of Evidence Exodus:For more than 50 years, the vast majority of the world's most prominent archaeologists and historians have proclaimed that there is no hard evidence to support the Exodus story found in the Bible. In fact, they say that the archaeological record is completely opposed to the Bible's account. This view of extreme skepticism has spread from academia to the world. The case against the Exodus appears to be so strong that even some religious leaders are labeling this ancient account as historical fiction. Filmmaker Timothy Mahoney begins with the questions, "Is the Bible just a myth, or did the archaeologists get it wrong?" He decides to tackle this issue with a deliberate scientific approach. After examining the details in the biblical text, he journeys across the globe to search for patterns of evidence firsthand. The result is the most in-depth archaeological investigation into the Exodus from Egypt ever captured on film. This scientific documentary's goal is to communicate the TRUTH of the Bible and help equip believers with defending their faith and the Bible.
The DVD features stunning animations and a cast including narrator, Kevin Sorbo (God's Not Dead, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys), interviews with leading archaeologists including Israel Finkelstein, Kent Weeks, and David Rohl, and guest appearances by Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and Shimon Peres. Releases on DVD August 4, 2015 Run Time: 119 minutes Special Features: Cast Profiles & 17 Extra InterviewsDocumentary Rating: NR
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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
