Christmas Ideas!

 

What’s on your children’s Christmas wish list? As excited as they might be about that new toy, as every parent knows, the thrill of the gift will eventually wear off. Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey have created the perfect gift for those who want to give their children or grandchildren a present that will provide year-round fun with eternal impact.

The Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC) offers families 24/7 access to 25 years’ worth of Adventures in Odyssey (AIO) episodes in a safe online environment where children can explore and learn. Christmas really is the perfect time to tap into your children’s imagination while infusing faith and fun into their day . . . and every day of the year.

To celebrate the holidays this year, the OAC is offering free content for everyone, including an Advent calendar, a broadcast download with tips to create a memorable Christmas, AIO cutouts and Christmas stocking stuffer cards. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

In keeping with AIO’s rich heritage of teaching children about biblical principles — such as the importance of giving — a portion of each OAC membership benefits Focus on the Family partner organizations. Here are a couple of examples of what has been accomplished through Odyssey Adventure Club members:

• Carry the Cure received a sound system they needed to provide after-school programs to children in Alaska.
• Mission Aviation Fellowship has been able to provide health vaccines to 65,000 children.

The Odyssey Adventure Club wants to reach beyond fleeting entertainment this Christmas, partnering with parents in helping their kids grow deep in faith and find their place in God’s story.

 

Speaking of the holidays, you can prepare for Christmas with Thriving Family's 2015 Advent Activity Calendar — Tales of Christmas Past: 25 Inspiring true stories of the season. Assemble a beautifully designed Advent poster to help your kids focus on Christ this Christmas. Then read Scripture passages and stories that relate to individual flaps on the poster. You can also create easy-to-fold booklets for each story. Get more information about this year's free Advent calendar at ThrivingFamily.com/Advent, or sign up to download it.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

ESV Men’s Devotional Bible (English Standard Version) Book Review

ESV Men’s Devotional Bible is a brand new devotional and Bible written with men in mind. This Bible contains special introductions to the different chapters. It also includes helpful articles in the back of the Bible on topics such as singleness, marriage, fathering, doubt, leadership, a man’s work, and many more. The Bible has a dictionary of key terms to help readers to comprehend meanings of important words. The Bible also had a huge index list of all of the devotionals where it is easier to discover devotionals on a topic that you are having an interest in.

I would recommend this amazing Bible to every single men. The Bible was very easy to read and this was a new translation of the Bible I haven’t read before. I was impressed as how well the ESV version was easy to understand. I loved how the devotionals were written with men in mind. I truly believe this will assist in getting men interested in reading their Bible’s again and digging deeper into the Living Word of God. One of my favorite devotionals was entitled, “Does God Want to Answer Prayer?” based off of James 5:13-20. Greg Gilbert was retelling a story about how he was with a group of his friends and one of his friend’s young son asked for a cookie. The boy’s father willing told his son that he could have a cookie. Greg shared that he objected and he was reminded how much his father wanted to give his son what he wanted. In the Book of James, one of the main idea is the importance of praying for the suffering, the sick, forgiveness of sins, and anything else we need to pray about. We are reminded that God hears our prayers and He listens to our yearnings. 

About the ESV Men's Devotional Bible:

Our world presents daily distractions that can easily displace Christ as the center of a man's heart and life.  The goal of the ESV Men's Devotional Bible is to strengthen and encourage men through the life-giving Word of God and sound devotional content aimed at nurturing godliness.  With 365 theologically rich and gospel-centered devotions drawn directly from the Bible, this all-new resource was created under the editorial oversight of Dr. Sam Storms with contributions from over fifty Christian leaders.  Introductions orient men to each book of the Bible, exploring its unique contribution to a man's walk with God.  Thoughtful and instructive articles address the importance of sound doctrine, life in the local church, leadership, the heart, calling, and a host of other relevant issues for today.  The Men's Devotional Bible will strengthen men in their walk with Christ, helping them apply the gospel and the truths of God's Word in their homes, churches, and workplaces. 

Features:

- 365 brand-new devotions

- Brand new book introductions

- 14 brand-new articles

- Dictionary of key terms

- Ribbon marker

- Smyth-sewn binding

- Lifetime guarantee on TruTone edition

- Packaging: slipcase (TruTone), L-card (HC), permanent slipcase (Cloth over Board) 

Retail Price: $34.99

About Crossway:

The purpose of Crossway has been, from its founding as a not-for-profit ministry in 1938, to publish gospel-centered, Bible-centered content that will honor our Savior and serve his Church.   They seek to help people understand the massive implications of the gospel and the truth of God's Word, for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God. 

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SOCIAL • CORNER (LINKS TO USE ON YOUR BLOG POST) 

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

AMAZON 

"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.”

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NKJV Prophecy Study Bible: Understanding God’s Message in the Last Days by John Hagee Book Review

NKJV Prophecy Study Bible is an updated version of the 1997 Prophecy Study Bible. In this new Study Bible, John Hagee has incorporated many helpful references to guide readers into understanding the Bible and what the Bible has to say about prophecy being fulfilled. In the first part of the book, John Hagee explored the topics of prophecy and the last days and what we can expect by digging into what the scriptures declare. Throughout the Bible, he has included special sections such as, “Top 20 Questions about Bible Prophecy, Diamonds for Daily Living (the Book of Psalms), God’s Great Promises, God’s Great Salvation, Evidences, Spokesman for God, Bible Insights, and Bible Prophecy Charts and maps”.

I would recommend this amazing Study Bible to anyone who is pondering how different prophecy was fulfilled and they are curious about the end times. I love reading and watching John Hagee on TV. He knows tons of scriptures and he has a way of teaching the messages where people can understand. I loved how this Bible shared content about the rapture, the Great Tribulation, and the Antichrist and the False Prophet and the prophecy still to come. It was very eye opening to read about Sodom in Ezekiel 16:49 and Jude 7 and to see a list of how in the end days the world will once again look like Sodom. Some of this list included, “pride, having enough to eat, sexual immorality, failure to help the poor and needy”, and much more. I loved all of the extra features John Hagee enclosed in this Study Bible. I liked the helpful master index to Bible Prophecy because this index was written on a total of 12 pages and it displayed where the original prophecy was listed in scripture and where it was fulfilled. In reading through this list, I could tell that John Hagee put a lot of effort in writing this expansive list. He also included a list of “Monies, Weight, and Measures” in order to explain the different measurements in today’s terms. This is one of my favorite Bibles and I plan to use this one in my personal study of reading God’s Word. I highly recommend this Bible!

"I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program."  

If you would like to purchase a copy of NKJV Prophecy Study Bible, check it out on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/NKJV-Prophecy-Study-Bible-2015/dp/0718080726/

Miracle Drug by Richard L. Mabry, M.D. Book Review

In Miracle Drug, Dr. Ben Lambert tragically died from an apparent heart attack. His body turns up missing and is later recovered cremated before they could perform an autopsy on him. Dr. Lambert is the personal physician to the former President of the United States, David Madison. Before he died, Lambert recommend Dr. Josh Pearson if something was to happen to him. Dr. Josh Pearson becomes former President Madison new physician. Josh’s girlfriend, Rachel went to South America for a special trip along with the Madison and a small group of people. Rachel and Madison develop a cough and had a raw throat. Dr. Pearson believed they both have diphtheria and they were supposedly given immune shots before their trip. They are in both need of a miracle drug to heal their bodies. Meanwhile someone is trying to kill the former president. Will they succeed? Will they have enough antidote for the both of them? Will Dr. Pearson have to make a difficult choice on who gets it? Who killed Dr. Lambert? Many questions will be answered in this book! 

I would recommend this amazing book to anyone who enjoys medical mystery novels and they love a good adventure. I liked how Dr. Richard L. Mabry, M.D. explains the medical terminology in way a non-medical background can understand what occurs. I also loved how he described the steps and process it takes for the FDC to approve new drugs. I have read a few books by Dr. Mabry and let me tell you, his stories keep getting better and better. His new book is very fast paced and it will grab the reader’s attention until the case is solved. I liked how Dr. Mabry was able to keep me guessing on who was behind the crime and who was attempting to assassinate the former president. I also liked how the book enclosed discussion questions to assist readers into digging deeper into the meaning of the story. I also liked how they included the first chapter of his next book, “Medical Judgement”. I can’t wait to read his next book! If you’re seeking a new mystery book, then read this one!

“I received a review copy of Miracle Drug from Litfuse for this review.”

About the book:

Miracle Drug (Abingdon, September 2015)

Overcoming these odds will take more than a miracle drug---it will take a miracle.

The infection wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. The treatment was supposed to take care of it, but it didn't. Then Dr. Josh Pearson discovers why---his patients, including the former President of the United States, have been dosed with a different strain of the original virus, one that is universally fatal. The only chance for survival is treatment with an experimental drug, but the manufacturer might already have discarded its supply.

As if treating the President of the United States isn't stressful enough, the situation goes from bad to worse when Rachel Moore, a nurse Josh is falling in love with, falls ill. With the nation's eyes on him, Josh must pull off a miracle to save a man who holds a good deal of power and the woman who holds his heart.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1L8pNgx

About the author: 

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes "medical suspense with heart." His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers' debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and Romantic Times' Reader's Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. "Miracle Drug" is his ninth published novel. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas.

Find Richard online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Read what others are saying:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/rmabry