Movie Review: The Mighty Macs

Coming to theaters October 21st!

I was given an opportunity to view an online screening of The Mighty Macs. This movie is based on a true story. It's rated G.

It's a story about Cathy Rush who in 1971 became a basketball coach at Immaculata College, a small all-women's Catholic college in Philadelphia run by nuns. She was ambitious and determined to give her team the best chance at competition, even though the team/the school had little prospects. She encouraged the girls (players in her team) to be teamplayers and to pursue their dreams. She coached them in somewhat unconventional ways but it worked. Cathy Rush led the team to win the Women's College Basketball National Championship 3 years in a row (1972, 1973, and 1974).

She had been married for about 3 years when she decided by herself (against her husband's approval) that she wanted to become a basketball coach. Her husband, Ed Rush, who was an NBA referee, wanted to start a family, instead. Obviously, this caused friction in their marriage. I understand that she had unfulfilled dreams but she should have discussed them with her husband before they got married. It seems to me that she insisted on putting her career/goals above her husband's wishes...not being a submissive wife according to the Bible (she claimed to be a Baptist in the movie). In the movie, Ed did come around to be supportive of her.

The Mighty Macs is a clean, feel-good, entertaining family movie. If you like basketball and love to cheer for underdogs, you will enjoy this movie. Team spirit. Perseverance. Dreams come true. Nuns as cheerleaders. One woman who impacted the lives of many women. Too bad...the overtones of feminism had to be there, too. Oh..and a few other negative elements included a lie and deception.

The Mighty Macs stars Carla Gugino as Cathy Rush; David Boreanaz as her husband, NBA referee Ed Rush; Marley Shelton as assistant coach Sister Sunday; and award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn as Mother St. John.

By the way, the real Cathy Rush was in the movie playing as a bank teller :). 
 
Website: http://www.themightymacs.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/themightymacs
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MightyMacsMovie
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/MightyMacs1

Review and Giveaway: Ginny Owens' CD, "Get In, I'm Driving"

(9/13/2011 release date)

About Ginny Owens:
A three-time Dove Award winner, including the Gospel Music Association’s 2000 New Artist of the Year recipient, and multiple ASCAP Award winner, Ginny Owens has sold nearly one million albums. A top performer on the Christian radio charts with hits like “If You Want Me To,” “Free” and “I Wanna Be Moved,” among others, Owens’ music has impacted mainstream audiences at Lilith Fair, the Sundance Film Festival and the White House. Her music has received widespread film and television placement, including songs on the popular WB series’ “Roswell” and “Felicity.” Owens was featured on national television, including NBC’s “Today” and CNN, for her contribution to help rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Born and raised in Jackson, Miss., Owens was discovering melodies on the piano almost before she could complete a sentence. Songs began to emerge from her fingers as the vision began to leave her eyes and by the age of three, a degenerative eye condition left Owens completely blind. Despite her physical challenge, Owens pursued a music career. Songs provide a window into a world Owens can’t see and an outlet for her to express her thoughts and dreams. Owens’ unique musical style and inspirational lyrics continue to appeal to Christian and mainstream audiences alike.

In 2005 Owens launched The Fingerprint Initiative, a hands-on, non-profit organization designed to “bring hope to the world, one project and one touch at a time.” The organization has partnered with and raised money for groups such as Compassion International, International Justice Mission, and Habitat for Humanity.

Website: http://ginnyowensmusic.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GinnyOwensMusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/GinnyOwens
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/before-you-fly-single/id442050145

MY THOUGHTS AND REVIEW:
To be honest, I had never heard of Ginny Owens until I was offered an opportunity to review her newest CD, "Get In, I'm Driving." Wow...what a gifted musician she is! Her voice is so beautiful and pleasant. She writes most of the songs (words and music). It took her 5 years to finish this album. It contains 11 songs:-

1. Get In, I'm Driving
2. Mystery of Grace
3. Before You Fly
4. Rain
5. Joined at the Heart
6. Better Off
7. Lay It Down
8. Higher Ground (words and music by Stevie Wonder)
9. Daughter of Destiny
10. Better That Way
11. The Song

I enjoyed listening to this CD. Her music style is a blend of folk and R&B. Some songs made me want to dance :). Ginny's songs are songs of encouragement. Great lyrics. Her faith in God shines through and through. Some of my favorites in this album include Rain, Joined at the Heart, and Lay It Down. The Song (the last song) has really beautiful, soulful guitar playing. This CD would make a great gift for any girl/woman. Daughter of Destiny declares confidence in whom God made us to be. Mystery of Grace reminds listeners that they are loved, precious, and special in so many ways. Before You Fly encourages us not to give up but to take one step at a time. Ginny Owens is our modern day Fanny Crosby. She is blind but she sees the world through her Heavenly Father's eyes.

"As I make my way along this journey,
Wisdom and truth will walk beside me,
I’ve been given purpose and direction,
Oh I am master-minded by the Author of perfection"
(from the song, Daughter of Destiny)

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video. If you like her voice, check out the giveaway below.

GIVEAWAY: You can win a copy of this CD!

To Enter: "Like" Ginny Owens' Facebook page and then leave a comment here including your Facebook name. Make sure you leave your email address, too. Deadline: Sept. 30th at midnight (Pacific time)

For extra entries (please leave a separate comment for each one you do):
- Follow this blog via GFC or NetworkedBlogs
- "Like" my page "Christ Alone" on Facebook
- Follow me on Twitter: @treasuredbyGod
- Share the link to this giveaway post on Facebook
- Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter
- Enter my Jeremy Riddle's CD giveaway
- Enter The Shunning DVD giveaway

 
~"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Review: Selah's Album, "Hope of the Broken World"

I love Selah, especially when they sing hymns :)! They have very beautiful voices. I was so excited to have an opportunity to review their newest album, "Hope of the Broken World" which is released today!

This album includes 12 songs:

1. On the Mountain
2. Hope of the Broken World (see a music video below)
3. Shelter Me
4. Coat of Many Colors (written by Dolly Parton)
5. He'll Hold You
6. Be Still
7. Moments Like These
8. I Turn to You
9. Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (a hymn written by Louisa M.R. Stead, c.1850-1917)
10. Threshold of Glory
11. I Look to You
12. When Love Was Slain

My husband and I enjoyed listening to this album. It consists of various styles of music. Shelter Me (based on Psalm 91) is a fun song with country music feel. Coat of Many Colors is a folk song/story-telling song. Selah did a cool rendition of an old hymn, Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, with a bonus of singing in African language (Did you know that Todd Smith, one of the singers, grew up in Africa?). Moments Like These is such a tender song about children and parents; it made me cry. On the Mountain is an upbeat, catchy song. Hope of the Broken World is a soothing song about Jesus who is the Light and Hope of the World. Some of my favorites are #2, #7, #9, and #12. All songs have great lyrics/encouraging messages. Selah is truly a talented group. I can listen to this CD over and over again :).

Check out Selah's videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSelahVideos .
Connect with Selah on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/selahmusic .

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.

You can buy the album at http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Broken-World-Selah/dp/B004Y1QQ4A .


~ I received a copy of this album for free via Buzzplant in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

CD Review: I'm All In by Robert Pierre

About the Album:
For Robert, I’m All In is more than the name of his third studio album, due July 26th (today) from thinkaboutit records. It has become Robert’s life motto as he responds to God’s calling to live fully committed to Him. In addition to writing and recording I’m All In and playing on a summer tour, Robert also leads regular Sunday morning worship at his 800-member Orlando, FL church. And he’s done it all as a high school senior.

“All of the songs have something to do with things I was going through my senior year,” Robert said of I’m All In, “preparing to say goodbye to friends and not really knowing what would come next, but finding comfort and peace in the Lord’s plan for my life. The Bible talks about how the eyes of the Lord are searching to and fro throughout the earth, searching for someone whose heart is wholly His, someone He can strongly support. This CD is me saying, ‘I’m all in.’”

Creating I’m All In was a powerfully personal experience for Robert, who teamed with veteran songwriter Jason Ingram (Tenth Avenue North, Sanctus Real, Bebo Norman) and legendary producer Matt Bronleewe (Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman) on the album. The result is a collection of songs that enthusiastically and energetically worship God while wrestling with what it means to be a Christian in a world full of difficulty and joy, anxiety and excitement.

My Thoughts and Review:
My 18 year old daughter and I enjoyed listening to this CD. Robert Pierre has a pleasant voice and the music is upbeat. I especially love the lyrics. They are insightful and Biblically sound; they focus on God, embrace an eternal perspective, and call us to live for Him. Some of my favorites from this album include I'm All In, Light the Way, Stranger In This Land, and Be Lifted Up. Silent Cry is another great song with a pro-life message. Robert Pierre wrote or helped write all the songs except one. I am quite impressed with this young man's passion for God and his desire to use his gifts for God's glory. He is a recent high school graduate who is heading off to college. I hope he continues standing firm in the faith and being light and salt for Christ. It's always encouraging and refreshing to see young people living purposefully for God. My daughter and Robert Pierre are two great examples :).  Check out this wonderful album!

There are 11 songs in the album:-
1. I'm All In
2. Who R U
3. Light The Way
4. Maker Of The Stars
5. Be Lifted Up
6. Stranger In This Land
7. Silent Cry
8. Sing For Joy
9. Greater Is He
10. Dead To Sin
11. Trust In You

Website: http://robertpierre.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RobertPierreMusic
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0059388YI/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1310674129&sr=8-1

GIVEAWAY: One of my blog readers will win a copy of this CD. Open to U.S. residents only.
To Enter: "Like" Robert Pierre's Facebook Page. Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you're selected (randomly) as the winner. Deadline: August 9th at midnight (Pacific time).

Extra Entries: 1. Follow this blog via GFC or NetworkedBlogs
                     2. Follow me on Twitter.
                     3. Like my Facebook page, "Christ Alone".

~I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

CD Review: Abide With Me--Piano and Praise

I've always enjoyed piano music and praise songs. My husband often plays piano while I sing praise and worship songs along. I was thankful to be given an opportunity to review Abide with Me--Piano and Praise featuring Phillip Keveren. The songs in this CD include:

•A New Hallelujah
•Here I Am to Worship
•Abide with Me
•Be Thou My Vision
•I Love to Tell the Story
•The Lord's My Shepherd
•We Gather Together
•Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
•God of Wonders
•Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
•O Worship the King
•Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
•O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go
•Holy, Holy, Holy
•For the Beauty of the Earth

I enjoyed listening to this CD, a collection of 15 instrumental praise music/hymns. Mr. Phillip Keveren, a 50-year-old Christian musician, recorded this album on the Yamaha C7 grand piano. His arrangements are unique and encompass both classical style and jazz style. My favorites include Abide with Me, Be Thou My Vision, I Love to Tell the Story, The Lord's My Shepherd, O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go, and For the Beauty of the Earth. This CD is relaxing and worshipful; it will help you meditate upon God's love, power, and promises. It's great for a lullaby or background music, too.

Visit Discovery House Music's website at http://www.dhp.org/music/ .

~ I received a free copy of this CD from Discovery House for an exchange of my honest review. The opinions are my own.

CD Review: Amazing Grace--Celtic Hymns & Blessings

I love hymns and I love Celtic music; therefore, I was so excited to be given the opportunity to review Amazing Grace: Celtic Hymns & Blessings CD, produced by David Huntsinger for Discovery House Music.  The songs in this CD include:

• Amazing Grace
• Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (instrumental only)
• Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (instrumental only)
• Circle Me, O Lord
• Joy in the Kingdom (instrumental only)
• Londonderry Prayer
• The Sheltering/O God, Our Help in Ages Past (instrumental only)
• What a Blessed Gift/The Gathering of the Saints
• Showers of Blessing (instrumental only)
• Dwell in the Shadow (Selah)
• What a Blessed Gift/Simple Gifts (instrumental only)
• We're Marching to Zion
• Lord of All Mercy/Be Thou My Vision (acappella)
• Amazing Grace (instrumental only)

My husband and I enjoyed listening to this CD. He'd prefer them all to be instrumental only, while I like both instrumental and songs with lyrics. As you can see from the list above, half are instrumental and the other half are songs with lyrics. Good balance, I think :). Some of these songs have been my favorite hymns: Be Thou My Vision, Amazing Grace, and Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. The fun, fast-tempo tunes of Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah and Joy in the Kingdom just made me want to dance (actually, I did dance :)). The voices are pleasantly beautiful and soothing. The music is fantastic; I especially love the sounds of mountain dulcimer, Irish whistles, and highland bagpipes. The lyrics are all wonderful (I only wish the lyrics were included in the leaflet). I was surprisingly pleased with the added verses to Be Thou My Vision by Janet McMahan and David Huntsinger. Each song has a tidbit or a Bible verse that goes with it in the leaflet. This CD will help you relax and ponder God's amazing grace, abundant blessings, and awesome power/ protection. This is the kind of CD I can listen to over and over again.

Visit Discovery House Music's website at http://www.dhp.org/music/ .

~ I received a free copy of the Amazing Grace--Celtic Hymns and Blessings CD from Discovery House for an exchange of my honest review. The opinions are my own.

Review: Sunsweet's D'Lightful, D'Licious, D'Noir Prunes

I received a package of Sunsweet D'Noir Prunes to review. I've had prunes before but these outdid them all. They tasted so yummy. Just the right amount of sweetness and juiciness. Moist and fresh. I just kept eating. These prunes not only taste good but also are so good for you. They are perservative free, fat free, and packed with antioxidants and fiber. They also provide potassium, calcium, iron, and vitamin A. Perfect snack for me! Even those in my family who don't like prunes enjoyed these D'Noir prunes and all gave them thumbs up. I highly recommend Sunsweet's D'Noir prunes and we'll certainly be looking for them at the grocery store. Shall I say..I dare you to try them :)?

Contest: In celebration of D’Noir, Sunsweet recently launched the “Dare to D’Noir Challenge,” a Facebook-based video contest challenging prune lovers and prune skeptics alike to Dare to D’Noir and upload videos sharing what they think about the new product from now through June 17. Five finalists will be selected and put to a public vote for a chance to win the grand prize of $5,000.
For more information about the Dare to D’Noir Challenge, visit http://www.sunsweetdnoir.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/SunsweetGrowers .

~ I received a free sample of Sunsweet’s D’Noir Prunes for review plus a reusable Dare to D'Noir grocery bag from Sunsweet Growers via the Family Review Network. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by the items received.

Robert Pierre Music

My family and I love listening to Christian music. I was given an opportunity to review 4 songs performed by an 18 year old pop Christian musician, Robert Pierre. I had never heard of him before but I like to see young people using their gifts for the Lord. I liked what I read in his bio.

Robert Pierre's Bio:
Robert Pierre is an 18-year-old with a big voice and an even bigger heart; a talented musician and a singer-songwriter who has managed to juggle a music career with his high school honors course work. Robert grew up in a Christian home and knew about Christ all his life, but it wasn't until he was confronted by a teacher in seventh grade that he gave his life to Christ. "He looked at me and asked me one simple question," Robert explained, "He asked, 'If you were to die right now, and were standing at the gates of heaven, and God asked you why He should let you in... what would you say?' And all I could think to answer honestly was that He shouldn't..." The Spirit used that moment to bring Robert to a point of repentance and salvation that changed his life forever. It was at that time that Robert committed his talents to the glory of God alone. Soon,
the Lord began to open doors of opportunity for Robert to minister to people through music. Robert has already released two nationally distributed records, with three singles hitting the Billboard Christian AC Top 50 hit list. In addition to performing at summer festivals, Christian fund raisers, teen camps, youth groups and schools, Robert has toured nationally with the junior high "Believe" Tour, the inaugural "iShine" Tour and the nation’s largest Christian tour "Winter Jam 2010." This last year, he has spent his time writing and recording his third record, titled “I’m All In,” which is representative of Robert’s passion for not only talking about his Christian faith, but living sold out for Christ. The project has been co-written and produced by award winning songwriters and producers Matt Bronleewe and Jason Ingram. Robert not only sings on this aIbum, but wrote on 10 out of 11 songs, played guitar for the recording, and sang back up vocals.

Below are the titles of the four songs I listened online:-
1. JESUS
2. YOU HOLD ME NOW
3. BREAKING MY HEART
4. IDENTITY

Both my 17 year old daughter and I enjoyed listening to all four songs; we especially love You Hold Me Now and Identity. Robert Pierre has a nice, pleasant voice. His voice reminds me of Down Here's lead singer. All four songs have great lyrics. All of them were written by others, except Identity which has Robert as one of the writers. I'd like to share with you a YouTube video I found of You Hold Me Now sung by Robert Pierre. Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.

I am quite pleased with Robert's music and am looking forward to reviewing his full-length CD that will be released later this summer. By the way, Robert is graduating from high school this coming Friday, May 20th. Congratulations, Robert! It's encouraging to see young people reaching out to other young people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Talking about his CD album, Identity, Robert said, “For generations, my family has been involved with missionaries to build and run Christian orphanages. But it wasn’t until I met thousands of kids right here in America who were truly hurting that I felt a calling for ministry. I want kids to understand that it doesn’t matter who the world tells them to be, it only matters who God says they are. That’s our identity and it’s the motivation behind the CD.” (taken from his Facebook info. page)

You may also preview his four songs & download for free here.
Connect with Robert on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RobertPierreMusic (he manages his own facebook page).
Visit his website at http://www.robertpierre.com/ .

One of Robert's favorite activities is playing basketball. My boys also love to play basketball so I showed my kids this fun video of Robert and his friends doing some water basketball trick shots: http://www.youtube.com/robertpierre#p/u/0/Q-MH_2YVbLE . Very impressive :)!

Review and Giveaway: Rebecca St. James's CD, "I WILL PRAISE YOU"

About "I WILL PRAISE YOU" (Release Date: April 5th):

Rebecca St. James charts yet another new course with I Will Praise You, a new collection of worship songs she terms “ her most personal recording to date.” From the opening notes of track one, listeners are offered a welcoming connection with Rebecca’s recognizably authentic vocal warmth and delivery. More than anything, I Will Praise You represents the latest steps in Rebecca’s life long journey towards the presence of God.

MY THOUGHTS AND REVIEW:
I enjoyed listening to this worship CD. The theme that runs through the CD is praising the Lord and trusting Him even when things seem to go wrong...through trials/storms and being comforted by the presence of Almighty God and the hope of heaven. Beautiful lyrics to ponder. Most songs have upbeat tempos. It's fun to sing along with "You Never Let Go." My favorite songs are The Kindness of Our God and You Hold Me Now. I got teary-eyed when I was listening to them. "You Still Amaze Me" is great, too! I'm glad that Rebecca St. James included the Scripture reference for each song and her comment about each song on the lyrics leaflet. I also appreciate A Word From Rebecca regarding her ministry's mission statement: "Our mission statement as a ministry team is to serve the Church and point people to Jesus. We remind each other of this at our band devotions before our shows and as often as we can. We pray that this album will encourage you in your journey with God and that it will draw you to worship Him!"

This CD has 10 songs:-
1. I Will Praise You (Hebrews 13:15)
2. You Never Let Go (Psalm 23:4)
3. Shine Your Glory Down (Isaiah 60:1)
4. You Still Amaze Me (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
5. In A Moment (Revelation 19:1)
6. The Kindness of Our God (Titus 3:4, 5)
7. When The Stars Burn Down (Blessing and Honor) (Isaiah 34:4)
8. Almighty God (Psalm 46:7)
9. You Hold Me Now (Revelation 21:4)
10. You Make Everything Beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

If you're a Rebecca St. James fan or someone who likes to collect worship albums like me :), check out this CD, "I Will Praise You".

Rebecca’s LISTENING PARTY: http://rsjames.com/listeningparty where you may share a preview of the CD with your family & friends too! You can enter your email address and get to listen to the first three songs.
Website: http://www.rsjames.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rsjames
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rebeccastjames
YouTube: http://rsjames.com/updates/2011/3/22/video-rebecca-explains-her-song-shine-your-glory-down.html
Amazon: http://amzn.to/gqOroA

GIVEAWAY: You can win a copy of this CD. This giveaway is open only to U.S. residents. Ends 4/22.

To Enter: Leave a comment here letting me know which of Rebecca St. James's songs (from any album) is your favorite or who your favorite Christian musician/band is.

For Extra Entries:
1. Please go here to vote for my photo by clicking "Vote Now".
2. Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect or NetworkedBlogs.
3. Post about this giveaway and link to this post on your blog.
4. Post the link to this giveaway on your Facebook page or tweet it. Please also leave your Facebook link or twitter link in your comment.
5. Rate my book reviews here, then come back to let me know which title(s) you've rated (you don't need to tell me what rating you give me :)). Each book you rate earns you an entry.
6. Rate my daughter's book reviews here, then come back to let me know which title(s) you've rated (you don't need to tell me what rating you give her). Each book you rate earns you an entry.


“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review: T-Shirt

I received a grey Cheeky Monkey T-shirt from TShirtPrinting.net for review. I really like wearing it. It's cute, comfortable, and modest. It goes great with so many skirts and pants in all sorts of colors (like denim, black, blue, etc.)  The colors of the college I attended in Thailand were grey and pink so I was glad to see those two colors together :). I also like monkeys because they are fun-loving, curious, active, and smart. I think this shirt is fun to wear and is comfortable for a person wearing it to stay active.

If you ever have a need for personalized T-shirts, hooded tops, sweatshirts, or workwear, check out TShirtPrinting.net.

~ This post was written for Family Review Network and TShirtPrinting.net who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Review: LillyMae Bag

I often use a fanny pack but it does not look feminine like a purse. Well, now I can have a feminine-looking fanny pack, thanks to LillyMae Bags. I picked the green/brown flower strip design. Isn't it so pretty? I know I'm not a teenager but I still like this style :).

When I first got it, I was a little concerned about the size because I like to have necessary things with me when I leave the house. Wow...guess what I was able to pack in this little fanny pack. My coin purse, camera, key chain flashlight, business cards, a pack of tissue, and mp3 player! I really like the adjustability of LillyMae bag. You can wear it as a fanny pack, a purse, or a cross-body bag.  It's also practical and convenient; there is a side eyelet through which you can connect your headphone cord to your mp3 player.

LillyMae Bag is great for shopping, exercising, working, traveling, etc. You can be active and stylish at the same time :). There are several styles to pick from. Black fanny packs are available for men. You can also adjust the strap size to fit children. Check all the cool & fun styles out at http://lillymaebags.com/cart/products_all.html .

*Special offer for my readers: Use coupon code 15001 to get 15% off at Lillymaebags.com.

~ I received a Lillymae bag for free from Lillymaebags.com via Family Review Network in exchange for my honest opinions.

DVD Review and Giveaway: Most--The Deluxe Edition

MOST: The Deluxe Edition DVD

33-minute Academy Award nominated short film directed by Bobby Garabedian

MOST, the Czech word for "The Bridge," is a modern-day parable about a loving father, his young son, and a life-changing decision. What would you do if you were forced to choose between saving one life who is dear to you and saving hundreds of lives you hardly know? The train. The drawbridge. His one and only son. Death. New life. A single act in a split second makes all the difference. This short film is profoundly touching and heart wrenching. It's a beautifully crafted allegory of God's amazing love and sacrifice. It certainly moved me and made me so thankful for what Christ did on the cross for me. Jesus is also "the Bridge" between God the Father and us sinners.

The cast members did an outstanding job. Their facial expressions communicate so effectively even when words are absent. They speak Czech in the film with subtitles (in 18 languages). I was totally absorbed in the whole movie even though I had seen part of it before on YouTube. This deluxe edition includes the behind-the-scenes making of MOST, bonus scenes, an extended ending, introduction and commentary by Luis Palau, and Bible study guides. This movie was filmed in Czech Republic and Poland over a three-year period. I really enjoyed learning about the making of the movie and how it got started. I highly recommend this DVD to everyone. It will be available at Christian stores and online retailers on March 1st.

WEBSITE: http://www.providentfilms.org/most/
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/mostthemovie
You can also purchase it on Amazon.

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.

GIVEAWAY: I'm so excited that Mr. Bowen at Propeller offers an extra copy of this awesome DVD as a giveaway to one of my readers.

To Enter: Please leave a comment here sharing a Bible verse or a quote about God's love, sacrifice, hope, or forgiveness. Please also make sure to leave your email address or your blog address so that I will be able to contact you if you're chosen as a winner (randomly). This giveaway is open only to US residents.
Deadline: Feb. 28, 2011 at midnight (Pacific time)

For Extra Entries: 1. View my daughter's video here (only 3 min. 15 sec. long) and come back to leave a comment letting me know.
                               2. Rate my book reviews here (click on each title to read and rate each review). Come back to leave a comment letting me know the title(s) of the book(s) you've rated. Each book review rating counts as one extra entry.
                               3. Rate my daughter's review of Radical here and leave a comment letting me know.
                               4. "Like" Most the Movie Facebook page.
                               5. Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect or NetworkedBlogs.

"For God so loVed the world,
        That He gAve
              His onLy
              begottEn
                   SoN
                       That whosoever believeth
                       In Him
            should Not perish,
         but have Everlasting life."

                                          ~John 3:16 KJV

"This is how we know what LOVE is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" 1 John 3:16
"But God demonstrates His own LOVE for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Happy VALENTINE's Day, everyone! May we all take time to ponder John 3:16 this Valentine's Day! Yes, God LOVES you that MUCH!

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Game Review: Praise Champion

Our whole family have had a blast with Praise Champion (Karaoke World Tour) CD-rom. We had never done karaoke before and Praise Champion blew us away. Well, not at first since we couldn’t score above a few hundred points due to a defective microphone that was included. Hopefully, this wouldn’t happen to you and if it did, I’m sure you could contact them for a replacement. Through a better microphone that we already owned and through practice, we were able to score well over 100,000 points at times. Not only is it fun to sing and rack up points, but you can also unlock new venues (places to sing) and clothing and accessory options for your character by performing well enough to earn silver, gold, and platinum. You won’t receive a new venue/clothing option every time you reach silver or gold on a song but on certain songs you will. *whispers* If you manage to get gold on a certain song and it unlocks something, you can get gold again and again (at least a couple other times) and unlock two more with the medal level on the same song. That’s a free hint from my 17 yo daughter who has really enjoyed this game. In fact, this singing game has been a big hit with my two sons (12 and 9) as well. After performing a song, we can replay our recording and add effects such as reverb and chorus. There are also mini games such as “Pitch-N-Pass” and “Tune-a-Tuna” that aim to help you improve different vocal skills like pitch detection, pitch sustaining, pitch change and lung capacity. While we haven’t personally unlocked anything through them (and don’t find them as fun as the performances), the instructions say you can unlock new stuff if you do really well. The High Scores list shows the high score for each song that has been sung. For those of you who are competitive, you’ll have fun trying to beat others’ scores :).

Praise Champion features 40 wonderful praise and worship songs such as “Revelation Song”, “I Am Free”, “My Savior Lives”, hymns such as “Amazing Grace”, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”, “Blessed Assurance” plus 20 bonus Christmas songs such as “Silent Night”, “O Holy Night”, “Joy to the World”, and many more. When we sing, we get real-time performance feedback. A glowing pitch bar moves up and down the scale to display the singer’s pitch. A performance meter indicates whether the singer belongs in the shower, in the choir, or on tour :). We all have had a great time singing. It’s so good for me as a parent to know that my kids are singing clean Christian songs (with great lyrics). It’s okay if you don’t know some of them, this is a fun way to learn new songs! Awesome CD-rom for all ages and one of the most enjoyable PC games we’ve ever owned!

~I received this CD-rom for free from LB Games in an exchange of my honest review. LB Games produces quality PC-based Christian interactive games for children, teens and adults. Their games are supported by Focus on the Family, the Billy Graham Center and many preachers who appreciate that their games provide a healthy alternative to other violent games. I share their approval.

Game Review: LEFT BEHIND: Rise of the Antichrist

Left Behind: Rise Of The AntiChrist is a really fun adventure game. We’ve actually never seen the Left Behind movies or read the Left Behind book series. But that didn’t keep us from enjoying the game! It must have taken a lot of work to design all the buildings and people in the setting of futuristic New York City. The graphics are excellent. A word of warning: Don’t start out without going through at least part of the tutorials. It will leave you frustrated and confused. Once we figured it out, we spent literally hours recruiting people to our cause, building everything from an international bank to a mission training center to a cathedral to a coffee shop and more! It was fun to create helicopters, Abrams tanks, and Humvees with our weapons depot. You can train new friends/recruits to be builders, worship leaders, spies, missionaries, snipers, prayer warriors, and more! They all serve a specific purpose and have different cool things that you can make them. You’ll have to play the game to find out exactly what ;). There are different levels that a person can go through to become a more advanced version of their trade. For example, you put a "friend" inside the clinic and make him/her into a medic. Then, you put him/her inside the mission training center (where the advanced training happens) and you can make that person into a nurse and then a doctor. By the way, the medical profession is important for healing those who are injured by the enemy. Speaking of the enemy, that’s where things really get exciting! Battling the forces of evil (demons and minions of the AntiChrist) through prayer and weapons shows our need to fight both physical and spiritual warfare. You can take command of 3 forces: Tribulation, Peacekeepers, and the American Militia. Over 45 missions and over 40 unit types!

Our computer (where we installed this game) is not hooked up to the internet so we didn’t get to try the multi-player games but I’m sure they’d be a blast, too. The box says that you can choose to play with up to 7 friends online for free. This game is appropriate for teens and up because of violence (fighting/shooting).

~I received this CD-rom for free from LB Games in an exchange of my honest review. LB Games produces quality PC-based Christian interactive games for children, teens and adults. Their games are supported by Focus on the Family, the Billy Graham Center and many preachers who appreciate that their games provide a healthy alternative to other violent games. I share their approval.

Game Review: Charlie Church Mouse Super Pak

Charlie Church Mouse Super Pak includes a 3-game set: Preschool (for ages 2-4), Kindergarten (for ages 4-6), and Early Elementary (for ages 6-8). Kids learn age appropriate skills through 18 exciting Bible stories such as Jonah and the Whale, Noah’s Ark, Three Wise Men, Birth of a Savior, The Prodigal Son, Queen Esther, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, David and Goliath, Ruth, and more. Lessons cover colors, shapes, numbers, letters, measurements, addition/subtraction, spelling, synonyms/antonyms, time, etc.

Each story has fun games. In the story of Ruth, there is a game where Ruth tries to gather grain while avoiding the birds and the mole. It is similar to Packman. This was one of my son’s favorite games. Another game from the story of Daniel and the Lions Den teaches kids how to tell time. The animations are colorful and lively but aren’t realistic. For example, in Zacchaeus & The Big Tree, they had a car and in David and Goliath, David’s dad called him on a cell phone telling him to go bring his brothers food and the food he brought was pizza. I recommend Charlie Church Mouse Super Pak because it is educational and entertaining while instilling kids the Biblical accounts that will stay with them throughout their lives. Great value!

~I received this CD-rom for free from LB Games in an exchange of my honest review. LB Games produces quality PC-based Christian interactive games for children, teens and adults. Their games are supported by Focus on the Family, the Billy Graham Center and many preachers who appreciate that their games provide a healthy alternative to other violent games. I share their approval.

Purex Complete Crystals Softener

Most of you are probably familiar with liquid fabric softener.  I personally do not like the hassle of liquid fabric softener. I'm excited to let you know about an entirely new kind of fabric softener: Purex® Complete Crystals SoftenerTM.  It's a purer and easier way to get laundry that smells fresh and clean and stays soft.

Did you know that most liquid fabric softeners are oil based, reducing the lifespan of your fabrics, the absorbency of fabrics like towels, the effectiveness of your sportswear's wicking fabrics, and even compromising the safety of your children's sleepwear (by impairing the flame resistant treatment)?  Purex Complete Crystals Softeners are 92% natural and are safe for all laundry and all fabrics, including baby clothes, athletic wear, towels, and whites. Unlike other softeners, Purex Complete Crystals Softeners will:

• Preserve the flame retardant benefits of your children’s clothes

• Retain your athletic wear’s wicking ability which draws sweat away from your body
• Maintain your towels’ built-in ability to absorb water
• Keep your white clothing from yellowing and graying.

As one of the Purex Insiders, I received a sample-size bottle of Purex Complete Crystals Softener (Fresh Spring Waters fragrance) to try out.  I'm so pleased with this product.  It's easy to use and it smells lovely.

Just add the crystals directly with clothes in washing machine at the beginning of the wash. The crystals will dissolve completely when the wash is done. Since you add it directly with your laundry, this means no more waiting for the rinse cycle, no messy residual gunk in your washing machine, and no more stains from spilling liquid fabric softener.

I'm glad that the scent is not too strong but pleasant and long-lasting.  Purex Complete Crystals Softener is available in three fragrances: Fresh Spring Waters, Lavender Blossom, and Tropical Splash. 

 
Purex Complete Crystals Softeners treat our laundry right!

MiniMonos

MiniMonos is a fun virtual world for kids, focused on sustainability and generosity. Founded by a mom and entrepreneur Melissa Clark-Reynolds in New Zealand, MiniMonos welcomes children from around the world to create monkeys and play on MiniMonos (which means Little Monkeys in Spanish)!
This is not an ordinary virtual world.  It helps kids to be aware of how to take care of our earth while each new membership provides clean drinking water for children in India.  What a wonderful concept this is!  In addition, when they hit their first 50 Gold members, they adopted an orangutan baby for a year.

I was given a free 6-month Gold membership in exchange for my honest review.  I signed my 9 year old son up.  He has had fun exploring and playing MiniMonos during our holiday break.  First, your monkey (your child's avatar) gets to select a universe: Star Tiger, Bounty, or Cyclops.  Then there are so many cool places to explore: Treehouse, Einsteins Lab, Traderz, Carlos, Time Square, Mutts Gallery, Hana Cove, El Rio River, Compost Zone, Bea's Place, Butterfly Meadow, Long Beach, Avanga Cave, Recycle Center, Castle Beach, Bimini Rocks, Kittyhawk Bluff, and Leatherback Lagoon.  When your child plays games, he/she will earn banana chips which can be used to buy clothes, toys, things to decorate his/her house and yard, etc.  For example, in the Holiday Catalog, you will find Christmas trees, wreaths, toys, costumes, and more.  You can also design your own holiday cards.  Games (Monkey Flight, Monkey Fist, GoGoGreen, TicTacPoo, Monkey Swim, R.A.T.S.) are fun, clean/safe, and help kids think.  My son's favorite game is Monkey Fist; mine is GoGoGreen :).  The whole virtual world of MiniMonos (including all the games) meets my approval.

Go green, have fun, and help others...great combination, don't you think ?

Product Review: LifeDiscipler

I absolutely love my new toy :). The LifeDiscipler is an innovative hand-held electronic device for Christians to stay connected to God's Word throughout the day.  Often we get so busy during the day that we don't think about God or what He wants us to do.  This cool gadget keeps us focused on His Word, instead of our circumstances or troubles. It provides life answers from the Bible (44 different life subjects with more than 1,500 verses from 5 different modern translations). You can leave it on default setting or customize the subject (topic) and time interval for sending verses (every 15, 30, or 60 min.).  An audible alarm goes off (at the interval you set) letting you know that a new verse is on the screen. I always welcome "this interruption" :).  Examples of the subjects included are worry/stress/anxiety, temptation, suffering, hope, purpose, anger, children, marriage, etc.  You can fit LifeDiscipler in your pocket or you can clip it to your purse, backpack, keychain, etc.  It is very easy to operate.  I delight in God's Word and love memorizing Bible verses; therefore, I am quite pleased with LifeDiscipler.  It gives you options to add verses to memorize and/or to favorites.  You can also select a subject that you may need guidance about or when you're looking for the right verse(s) to help encourage others.  If you would like to find a unique, meaningful, uplifting Christmas gift for a brother or sister in Christ, I recommend LifeDiscipler.  You can never go wrong with feeding him/her God's Word!

As a bonus to my readers, Tony Guard, the developer of LifeDiscipler, offers a 20% off coupon code "GROW20" that will be good until Dec. 30, 2010.

~ I was provided with a LifeDiscipler by Team Buzzplant for an exchange of my honest review.  I'm not obligated to write a positive review.

Review and Giveaway: The Mend Mark (The Mark of Love) Bracelet

The Mark of Love
The Mend Mark tells a powerful story in two words: "Remember" and "Love".

Have you been “Marked?” The Mend Mark is a mission, a movement, an entire revolution. It is a bracelet meant to remind its wearers of Christ’s love and sacrifice, and its message is the passion of its creator, Hunter Harrison.

The Mend Mark is an innovative and distinctive bracelet that is designed to reflect the scars and nail holes of Jesus. When worn, the band resembles the deep holes of the nail driven into the wrists of Jesus during his crucifixion. By bringing the story of Jesus’ life and death to constant awareness by wearing a bracelet, Mend Mark is meant to powerfully remind wearers of the ultimate act of love Jesus made for all of humankind.

Harrison’s mission is to remind all to remember Christ’s love in both his life and death. But more than only a poignant recollection, the Mend Mark is meant to inspire and motivate wearers to live a life of service. Harrison strives to bring people together around the simplicity and power of love as lived by Jesus. But this is no example of passive love. The Mend Mark calls individuals in all walks of life to love with a profound sincerity and commitment great enough to change a neighborhood, a community, a world.

Harrison leads this call to love and sacrifice by example and joins hands with each Mend Mark bracelet purchaser to take the first step in global change. A portion of each bracelet sold goes to support Living Water International, an organization combating the clean water crisis victimizing over one billion people worldwide. Each $5,000 given will result in one well drilled, providing a community with clean water.

But wearers should be prepared to be seen. Unique in its design, the Mend Mark is sure to be noticed and gives wearers an opportunity to share the story of the profound love of Jesus for each and every person. “It was important to me that the design was simple and generic enough that the observer had to ask about it to know what it meant. But I also wanted it to appear distinctive enough that it sparked curiosity,” reveals creator Hunter Harrison. “I wanted it to require the wearer of the product to engage in conversation about the love of Christ (and hopefully show that love to others) instead of just letting the product talk for them.”

Launched in late 2009 after a year and a half of packaging, material, and design development by Harrison, the bracelet has been sold across the United States, Canada, and the UK and has been featured in retail stores as well. The Mend Mark bracelet movement has grown to further fame after being worn during performances by American Idol winner Lee Dewyze, Idol runner up Siobhan Magnus, Decifer Down, Israel Houghton & New Breed, Pillar, and Finding Favour, to name a few. Says Harrison, “I want it to be more than just another bracelet; I want it to represent a movement.” Based on the way things are going, a movement is exactly what it is becoming.

Order online for $9.99 at http://www.mendmark.com/.

~The press release above and the interview below were provided by Audra Jennings (Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group)

MY THOUGHTS AND REVIEW:
Unique, cool, and meaningful!  I've been wearing this bracelet for over a month now.  I love it because it is a beautiful reminder of my loving Savior who died for me and who loves me no matter what.  I'm still waiting for someone to ask me about the bracelet so that I can share about Christ's love and sacrifice.  Unfortunately, it has been cold here and I have been wearing shirts and/or jackets with long sleeves which cover the bracelet most of the time.

The bracelet/wristband is elastic and does not irritate my skin at all.  It comes in a classy box (a little tricky to open...you need to pull the orange tab on top and both top and bottom sections will pop out). One circle (resembling nail hole) reads, "Remember" and the other circle reads, "Love."  I will forever remember my Lord and Savior's amazing love and share His love with all.  Let us never forget!  There is no greater love: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us (sinners)!  His love mends (repairs, sets right, restores, makes amends).  This Mend Mark bracelet is a great witnessing tool and a reminder for us to live a life of love and live for Christ.

Q&A With Hunter Harrison, Creator of the Mend Mark

Q: How did you arrive at the idea for the Mend Mark? Why a bracelet?
A: I always thought about getting a tattoo. I still haven’t, but tattoo designs frequently cross my mind, and if I ever got one I would want it to be meaningful. On one particular day, I had the idea of getting two circles tattooed on my wrist to resemble a hole. But not just any hole—the hole that killed a king. The more and more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that nowadays EVERYONE has a tattoo and it would almost be rebellious NOT to get one. (I guess you could consider me a reverse rebel.) So I decided to do something a little different, something that would reach many more people than just some ink on my wrist. I took the idea and designed a bracelet instead, and consequently, the Mend Mark idea was born.

Q: At first glance Mend Mark seems like a nebulous name. What does it mean?
A: I’ve always liked the word “mend” and I feel like it’s underused. So it was an easy decision to incorporate that into the name. It fit the product purpose, and since it was representing one of the marks of Jesus, Mend Mark was an obvious choice. Plus it had a nice ring to it and with tattoo roots it seemed natural to call it that. I wanted it to be more than just another bracelet or wristband. I wanted it to represent a movement. So the “Mend Mark” it became.

Q: What are you hoping will be accomplished through the wearing of the Mend Mark bracelet and through the Mend Mark movement?
A: There are three main things I want to be accomplished. First is that I wanted people to remember the sacrifice. I wanted to unite people—Christians (no matter the denomination) and even people of other worldviews—on one common message: LOVE. The love that Christ preached in particular. With so many books out there and theological debates on who’s right and who’s wrong, sometimes we forget the simplicity of Christ’s main message: LOVE. I figured that no matter what one believes, they can’t deny that selfless love can change the world… and sometimes we need a reminder of that. So I coined the phrase “Remember Love” to be printed on the bracelet. The second thing is that I wanted people to emulate the emotion. I wanted it to require the wearer of the product to engage in conversation about the love of Christ (and hopefully show that love to others) instead of just letting the product talk for them. I felt that if this was done properly it could force people into intentional situations where they were able to demonstrate their faith. If I was a non-believer and I saw someone wearing an obvious Christian product, I doubt I would ask that person about it because I would already know what they were going to say. But, if I saw this, I would want to know what it was. It sparks curiosity… and in turn that curiosity may open some doors for people to share the love of Christ with others. Finally, I wanted it to inspire people to change the world around them. I decided to find a cause to support through the sales of the bracelet. There was no reason for me to keep all the profits for myself. I wanted to be able to give back and share the proceeds somehow. I researched and prayed and petitioned God on what ministry to support and God led me to Living Water International. I knew I wanted to help fight malnourishment in one way or another and providing “Living Water” seemed to fit the purpose of the product—using “love” to mend. That’s what it’s all about and this product allows that to happen on a global scale.

Q: Where did the inspiration to create the Mend Mark come from?
A: My mother was the most influential person in my life. She raised me on her own, even homeschooled me in high school, and I think that extra time with her really impacted me. She passed away from cancer in 2007, but she always told me I would do great things. My wife, Morgan, has been extremely instrumental in encouraging me to take those words from my mom to heart and make them a reality. Morgan motivates me like no one else can and has been a tremendous source of love and support throughout the entire process.

Then my work in banking inspired me. All day long I am helping people achieve their dreams getting businesses and ideas started. I wanted to get out there and start doing something myself. But I wanted it to be meaningful. Since my son was born two years ago, he’s given me an added motivation to do something bigger than myself, something that will somehow leave a legacy behind.

Q: The Mend Mark is certainly growing as a movement. It’s even been worn by celebrities. What’s next for the Mend Mark?
A: The Mend Mark isn’t the first idea I’ve tried to get off the ground. It definitely won’t be the last either. By far, it’s been the most fun and the most successful, and the one I’ve been most passionate about. I’m currently working on additional product designs as well as T-shirts that will go along with the original Mend Mark purpose. The future is bright and I can’t wait to see where God takes it.

GIVEAWAY: I was given a second bracelet to give away to one of my readers. It makes a great Christmas gift :).
To enter (required) : Visit Mend Mark website and leave a comment telling me why you would like to win this or whom you would give it to.
This giveaway is open to US Residents 18 yrs or older. Please leave your email address in the required entry. The giveaway ends 11/30 midnight PDT. Winner has 48 hours to respond.

For extra entries (leave a comment for each extra entry):
- Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect (see my sidebar) (1 entry)
- Follow this blog via NetworkedBlogs (see my sidebar) (1 entry)
- Follow me ("treasuredbyGod") on Twitter (1 entry)
- Follow Mend Mark on Twitter (1 entry)
- Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry daily)
- "Like" Mend Mark on Facebook (1 entry)
- "Like" Living for God on Facebook (1 entry)
- Share one or more of your family's Thanksgiving traditions or Christmas traditions (1 entry)

~ I was given one bracelet for an exchange of my honest review and another bracelet for a giveaway by the B&B Media Group.

What's In the Bible Blog Tour and Giveaway

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.



Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales, introduces a new DVD series called, What's In the Bible?  My kids and I had a great time watching the first two episodes in the series.  The first episode, In the Beginning,  talks about what the world's most amazing Book is, who wrote the Bible, and Genesis.  The second episode, Let My People Go, covers who chose which books to be included in the Bible, what salvation is, and Exodus.  Each DVD is filled with funny & interesting puppet characters, animation, catchy songs, Phil Vischer's talk, lessons from each book of the Bible, church history timeline, explanation/definition of "big" words, flannelgraph fun from the Sunday School lady, and more.  Comparing this to VeggieTales, some may find it not as entertaining or engaging; however, I think it's a wonderful series that helps teach kids to appreciate and understand God's Word and get them excited to read/explore the Bible themselves.  What I don't like are: the bickering between the characters and the boy character in the van who seems rude to his mom and quite demanding. Each DVD is approximately an hour long.

Giveaway: I have 2 certificates from Tyndale House Publishers to give away.  One winner will be randomly selected to receive both certificates which can be redeemed for a copy of What's In the Bible? DVD 1 and DVD 2.

To Enter: Please leave a comment here sharing what some of your favorite materials (besides the Bible) you've used to teach your kids about God and His Word are, or how you get your kids excited about reading/studying the Bible.  Make sure you leave your email address or blog address.

For extra entries: 1. Read any of my posts (besides this one) and come back to comment about it here.
                                     2. Follow me on Twitter (treasuredbyGod) and tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here letting me know.

Deadline: March 31st at midnight (Pacific time)

     

~The DVD and certificates are provided by Tyndale.