Kirk Cameron Presents: The Homeschool Awakening | June 13 & 14

There is so much going on in our country and our world right now.  Are our kids safe?  Do they have the resources they need to make it in today's competitive environment?  What about character development?  Will our children grow up to be people who care about others?  People who take responsibility?  People who are productive members of society?  People of faith?  What about our special needs children?  Are they getting the attention they need?

If you have found yourself asking these questions, you might have considered homeschooling.  I did, and then I decided it was not for me.  I was definitely not interested.  Forget it.

Then I changed my mind.

Almost 20 years later, I'm here with two successful college graduates, one successful college student, and one about to graduate from high school, all homeschooled from kindergarten through twelfth grade.  And I'm writing and working for a homeschool publishing company.  Never thought that would happen!

There is an Awakening happening in our country.  See what it's all about!

•  https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Kirk-Cameron-Presents-The-Homeschool-Awakening
• #HomeschoolAwakeningMIN

Church People DVD - Momentum Review and Giveaway

 

We could all use a good laugh right now, and Church People is a movie your whole family can LOL to from the comfort of your own home!  I shared a review of this movie last March when it was in theaters.  Did you get a chance to see it?  If not, this is your chance, because it is now on DVD!

It is recurring theme in American churches.  Many of us grew up in small churches, sang hymns, sat on wooden pews, read the King James Version, and stood as the ushers brought the plates forward, singing the Doxology.  So our reaction - especially those of us who grew up in the 80s, during the coming-of-age of the Christian pop music genre - is to put on a big concert.  What can we do to overcome the old traditional ways and bring people in?  We have to bring them in and then just give them a morsel of truth while they are here.  Bigger is better.  More music.  More lights.  More flashy.  Bring in the smoke machines.  More, more, more!  When does it stop?  Forty years later, we are looking at church services becoming rock concerts, and we are wondering, Isn't the Gospel enough?

That's the question youth pastor Guy Sides is asking as PR people rain down beach balls on him on stage and bring a Superman costume for him to try on in the middle of his massive book tour.  (The writer in me is wondering how anyone ever got so popular on a book tour!)  He is "America's Youth Pastor."  And he's ready to give up.

Enter Pastor Skip with his tie-dye t-shirt; Tino with his worship and love songs; Carla, the preacher's missionary daughter, returned home with a heartbreak; Blaise, the overly passionate new convert; the mysterious Mabel; and two Baldwin brothers; and you have a full cast of highly exaggerated church stereotypes who represent real people with real issues who are just trying to share the Good News. 

Is the Gospel enough?

Church People is making the list of one of my favorites of the movies I've gotten to review, right up there with Mom's Night Out.  If you love good Christian comedy, you will love this movie!  It is a great lead-in to the Easter season.

Watch the trailer here:   https://youtu.be/QhROt7kmoLU

Purchase your copy of CHURCH PEOPLE now!

https://churchpeoplefilm.com/#buy

Of course, I have a Giveaway!  One lucky winner will receive a DVD of Church People from Momentum Influencers.  (Note: This giveaway is limited to US winners only.) To enter, just comment on this post or on my Facebook page by Wednesday, February 16, 2022. 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing a sample of the product for this re- view. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

#ChurchPeopleDVDMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

The Tiger Rising - Momentum Review And A Giveaway!

 I was privileged to review the new movie The Tiger Rising this past week.  Starring Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid, this cute coming-of-age story has all the marks of a feel-good pre-teen movie.  

[The movie is] based on the New York Times best-selling book by [Newbery Medalist] Kate DiCamillo. When 12-year-old Rob Horton (Christian Convery) discovers a caged tiger in the woods near his home, his imagination runs wild and life begins to change in the most unexpected ways. With the help of a wise and mysterious maid, Willie May (Queen Latifah) and the stubborn new girl in school (Madalen Mills), he navigates through childhood memories, heartache, and wondrous adventures in this heartwarming adaptation.

Christian Convery and Madalen Mills are very talented young actors, holding their own next to the well-known Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid.  I hope we will see more of them.  Having moved my own kids around quite a lot, being a military family, I felt I could relate to their difficulties adapting to a new area.  Of course, a boy finding a tiger in the woods near his home is the stuff adventure tales are made of!

While characters of faith are portrayed positively in the film, the film itself is not necessarily faith-based, and I was disappointed by some uses of the Lord's name in vain, and by some of the speech Dennis Quaid's character used with the young girl.  It was somewhat for character development, but I feel that in today's world, our "inspirational" movies should not portray to young girls that men just talk to girls that way and we ignore it.  On the plus side, Willie May (Queen Latifah's character) and the boy's mother in the movie are positive role models.  In addition, however, without offering any specific spoilers, I have to say I was disappointed with the ending of the movie.

You can see the movie for yourself, available today on DVD, and available to rent on VUDU, ROW8, or Prime Video.  I would love to hear your thoughts!  See Film Website below for viewing information.

Of course, I'd also love to give away a digital code to one lucky reader to watch the movie for free.  Comment here or on my Facebook page by Sunday, February 13, for a chance to win!

Film Website:

https://theavenue.film/movies/the-tiger-rising

Trailer:

https://youtu.be/AHxMGndzvEI

Faith & Family Discussion Guide:

https://theavenue.film/movies/the-tiger-rising#resources

#TigerRisingFilmMIN #TigerRisingFilm #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Momentum Influencers for providing this product/product information for review. 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. 

 

Preview THE TIGER RISING, in theaters January 21!

 TheAvenue.Film's Tiger Rising Film #worldwide #premiere of its trailer is OUT NOW for you to watch and share with your friends. We are so excited to share it with you now!

THE TIGER RISING is about overcoming life's challenges and rising above with the help of your imagination. Starring Christian Convery, Madalen Mills, Sam Trammell, Katharine McPhee, Dennis Quaid, and Queen Latifah.

THE TIGER RISING in theaters January 21st. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FILM: www.tigerrisingfilm.com https://fb.watch/aFDxm0IrzB/ via @FacebookWatch

#TigerRisingFilmMIN

Momentum Review: Vindication Season 2 And A GIVEAWAY!

 

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you a new police drama series on Pure Flix called Vindication.  Season 2 is now airing, with a new episode released each Wednesday.  I am enjoying Season 2 even more than Season 1, as the plot between the episodes is more contiguous, and there is a cliffhanger at the end of each episode that keeps my interest piqued.

A few days ago, I finally got a chance to watch Episode 5, "Game of Life," which first aired last Wednesday.  The transition from last week's cliff-hanger, where Becky first met Anthony, to where he was at the beginning of this episode, was a little abrupt.  It feels like a major plot point that should have been developed a little more.  That said, I enjoyed getting to know the new character, Anthony, in this episode, as well as seeing Precinct 2 and Precinct 1 share in a little healthy community competition!

The characters in this drama feel true-to-life and the plot stays interesting.  If you haven't been keeping up with Vindication as it comes out each week, take some time to binge-watch it this weekend!  Speaking of which, I need to go catch Episode 6, which aired tonight!

Have you been watching the show?  Need a subscription to Pure Flix to do so?  A low monthly fee will get you quality, clean programming for the whole family.  OR you can comment below or on my Facebook page to win a FREE 6-month subscription to Pure Flix!  Drawing will be held Wednesday, October 6.

Already have Pure Flix?  Watch the show here:  https://hubs.li/H0X32r90

#VindicationMIN

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a 3-month subscription in exchange for this review and post.

Momentum Review: Vindication Season 1

 

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to vindicate is "to free from allegation or blame." 

Pureflix has just released the second season of their popular crime drama, Vindication, and my son and I binged the first season to get ready!  The ten episodes of the first season did not disappoint.  At the beginning, it looked like each episode was going to be a separate case, and while that was true, later in the season, you started to see background story that was weaving through them all with Detective Travis and his family.  The plot was integrated well and the characters and their issues were believable.

While the show is produced with a Christian worldview and is marketed as teen-friendly, I would interject that it is more for older teens.  The subject matter is dealt with appropriately, but the show does deal with adult themes such as affairs, drugs, human trafficking, and prostitution.  It also deals with teenage relationships and sexting, and if your teen is ready to discuss these topics, it is a good breaking ground for discussion.  I watched Season 1 with my 15-year-old son, and while the plot kept him somewhat interested in watching all the episodes to see what would happen, the show was a bit intense for him; he prefers lighter subjects and a bit of humor.  He hasn't really watched other police dramas.

As crime dramas go, this one is top-notch, and the actors are stellar.  I am excited to see T.C. Stallings join the cast in Season 2!

Next week I will be reviewing an episode of Season 2, and of course there will be a giveaway, so stay tuned!

#VindicationMIN

Momentum Review: Gary Levox One on One!

 

I was so excited to stream songs from Gary Levox's debut album, One on One!  The former lead singer of Rascal Flatts released the EP on May 21st from Big Machine Records, fusing two of his biggest passions - music and faith!  The album features artists including MercyMe, BRELAND, and more!

I received this statement with my review materials:  

When asked about the role God has played in his musical journey, LeVox said, “I feel like God graced us with a platform where we can not only touch people’s lives through music, but by being men of God offstage too,” explained LeVox. “At those times when we are with fans that are going through something like cancer, it is so wonderful to not only sing for them but to hold their hand and pray with them. I want them to know that they have a friend in me. I’m not just some guy on the stage. I feel like Christ has put me in this position because He knew I could handle the obligation, which often means taking the time to lift someone up in prayer.”

This is the kind of faith and attitude I really love to see in a performer.  The music business is difficult, strokes a lot of egos, and leads people to believe they must continually look out for themselves.  It is refreshing to see someone who is so talented, yet so approachable.

Even more importantly, $1 of every purchase goes to fight human trafficking through the Tim Tebow Foundation!!!

My favorite song on the EP is "While I Wait," a duet sung with Levox's daughter, Brittany, who is also a singer/songwriter.

Check out Gary's website here:  https://garylevox.com/.

Stream the album here: https://garylevox.lnk.to/OneOnOneMI

Of course we have a giveaway!  After you stream the album, comment here or on my Facebook page with the title of your favorite song from the EP!  One lucky winner in my drawing on Saturday, June 5, will receive a signed 8x10 poster!

#GaryLeVoxMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Capitol Christian Music Group for providing this product/product information for review.  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.

Happy Listening!

March Movie Madness - "My Brother's Keeper" and a Giveaway

This week I had the privilege to view My Brother's Keeper.  This movie is more on the serious side and opens your eyes to what some of our military deal with.  The movie centers around Travis Fox (T.C. Stallings), who returns stateside after losing a good friend in war.  Here, he must continue to fight the battle of PTSD while also dealing with the trauma of losing his parents.

Overall, I think this movie did a great job of portraying the soldier's struggle with PTSD, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.  Symptoms and severity may be different for everyone, but Stallings's portrayal sheds an authentic light on this hidden struggle that haunts some of our returning servicemen.  I often hear people use the term "PTSD" lightly, as in, "I am really suffering PTSD from all these exams I've had to take."  Having known people with real PTSD, this always makes me cringe.  First widely recognized after the Vietnam War - although previous war veterans certainly suffered with it just as much, at that time calling it "shell shock" - this mental health condition is crippling to those who have suffered extreme trauma and makes it difficult or nearly impossible for some veterans to adapt back into society upon their return stateside.

T.C. Stallings (Courageous, War Room) is joined in the cast by Joey Lawrence (Blossom, Gimme A Break!) and the lovely Keshia Knight Pulliam (The Cosby Show).  All three are gifted actors who delivered a great performance.  I loved the movie for showing a realistic view of someone dealing with PTSD rather than trying to tie it all up with a bow at the end and trying to act like one night of prayer healed them.  (A little spoiler alert but not too much):  The character in the movie sought both spiritual healing and medical help, both of which are needed and should not be left out.  Also, while the character had hope, he recognized he was in a long battle that would not be overcome quickly.  It was, however, unrealistic (spoiler alert) that Travis Fox would go right back on an Active Duty deployment immediately after being diagnosed with PTSD and starting medical treatment, and I felt a huge red flag when the therapist started dating a member of her therapy group.  Other than that, I thought it was a great movie and I highly recommend it.  While I've given you a few spoiler alerts dealing with the PTSD issue, there was much more to the plot, and I could not stop for a break once I started the movie!

My Brother's Keeper opens in theaters tomorrow!  Check your local theater for listings.  Watch the trailer here:  https://mbkfilm.com/?vid=YXhoafnfj3

There is also an exciting contest opportunity!  There's an open social campaign (linked below) where you can enter to win a warrior Bible! In addition, you can be entered to win a grand prize Zoom call with the lead actors in the film: T.C. Stallings, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Robert Ri'chard! 

Contest Link: https://my brother's mybrotherskeeper.iconic-promo.com/?trcd=6C6b7C21F9

And of course, I have a giveaway right here on my blog!  Comment on this post or on my Facebook page to be entered to win a free digital code to watch the movie!  (The code will be available once the film is released on home entertainment.)  Drawing will be held Tuesday, March 23!

Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing this product/product information for review. 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.

#MyBrothersKeeperMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Flyby Review: Other Bodies by Joel Ohman

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.

Here is some more information about the book:
Author Notes:   https://www.joelohman.com/other-bodies-authors-note/

Tell a story:  https://www.joelohman.com/how-do-you-change-someones-mind-about-abortion-tell-them-a-story/ 

Author Bio:   https://www.joelohman.com/about/

Purchase Other Bodies here:

Book Link:   https://amzn.to/2Lmnwbc

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.

Flyby Review - Prison Fellowship, Restoration Series: Jonathan's Walk

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:

https://www.prisonfellowship.org/restorationseries?utm_source=flyby&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=MW_TRS

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.

Flyby Review: Beloved Teen Devotional and GIVEAWAY

by guest writer Abigail Haagen

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-depth scriptural 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: 

http://www.zondervan.com/p/beloved-devotional/   

 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.

Flyby Review: Ellie Claire Art Journals

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:

FAITH & LETTERING

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FtbL04
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/FaithAndLettering-BN 

THE ILLUSTRATED WORD
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QVQJs9
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Illustrated-BN

ILLUMINATE YOUR STORY
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DOJ9g5
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Illuminate-BN

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.

Happy Journaling!

Flyby Review: Holy Roar from Chris Tomlin!

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.

Come together and praise Him.

Find the album here:

https://christomlin.lnk.to/HolyRoarQW

#HolyRoar #FlyBy