Old Testament Handbook Review and Giveaway

 

This Handbook makes for the perfect Christmas gift!  

Order your copy today! 

• Immerse yourself in the Old Testament Handbook, an elegant, full-color Bible hand book that includes robust summary content, charts, maps, word studies, illustrations, and more for every Old Testament book of the Bible. Constructed with high quality cloth cover materials and a sewn binding, the Old Testament Handbook is designed to last a lifetime as a valuable companion resource for Bible study, teaching, and ongoing discipleship. 

• Discover your companion for deeper study and display. With a handbook rich in both study and physical materials, navigate the mysteries of Old Testament narratives as you ask questions and grow in your knowledge of God’s faithfulness.   

• The Old Testament Handbook features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible. The CSB captures the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others. 

• Features: 

• High-quality, foil-stamped cloth cover materials and Smyth-sewn binding meant to last a lifetime 

• Elegant full-color interior design, including maps, charts, illustrations, and other visual helps for every book of the Old Testament 

• More than 75 in-depth word studies of key words found in each Old Testament book 

My Review:

This new Bible handbook is in incredible masterpiece featuring the truths found in the Old Testament. This resource contains color pages to capture the audience attention. There are maps, charts, outlines, family trees, word studies, timelines, and much more. Some of these included were the directives to Adam and Noah, differences between Noah and Jesus, the tabernacle and the illustration, job timeline, David’s enemies, Names of God in Isaiah, Kingdom values, seeing Jesus in the Promised Land, and so much more. I liked the one that they did on connecting the Ten commandments throughout the scriptures. It had the commandment, the passage, related to Old and New Testament passages and then back to Jesus’s teachings. I thought this very eye opening and made it easier to put all together. I also liked how they covered how we can see Jesus in Genesis and they compare both. For example, Joseph forgave his brothers and Jesus forgave all sinners. They also did a chart showcasing the women in Jesus’s lineage and a short description of each. I just loved the layout of the book and how they tried to make everything clear and outlined where readers can understand the Bible in easy-to-read sections. I loved how the book was enclosed in a cloth like material to protect it for years to come and there is a ribbon bookmark. It also comes in two colors. This is a wonderful resource to use while you study the Bible to go even deeper. I really enjoyed how this would make studying the Bible super simple and there is even a New Testament Handbook coming out in the Spring. 

^• Purchase your copy of the Old Testament Handbook today! 

Website: https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/holman-handbook-series/ 

Disclosure:  

Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. 

Giveaway: $10 Amazon gift card 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only.)

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The Shift Movie Review and Giveaway

From Angel Studios (The Chosen, Sound of Freedom) comes The Shift! Get your tickets to see this movie in theaters starting 12/1! 

• Featuring Sean Astin (The Goonies, Rudy, The Lord of the Rings, Rudy, Stranger Things), Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers, Arrow, Suits, Left Behind), Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen), and Kristoffer Polaha (Small Town Christmas, We Wish You a Married Christmas, Mystery 101) THE SHIFT is a movie you and your friends won’t want to miss! 

You can help pay for other people's tickets to come to the film at angel.com/pay-it forward/the-shift. 

• Logline: After a tense encounter with a mysterious stranger with otherworldly powers, a man is banished to a tyrannical, parallel Earth where he fights to get back to the woman he loves. 

• Synopsis: In The Shift, a dystopian drama and sci-fi thriller, one man is faced with infinite worlds and impossible choices. When Kevin Garner meets a nefarious adversary known as The Benefactor and refuses his offer of wealth and power, he must escape an alternate totalitarian reality. With survival on the line, Kevin fights to make it back to the world he knows and the woman he loves. 

My Review:

The Shift is a new movie that is mixed with sci-fi feeling and contains some dark elements concerning the evil one satan tempting a modern-day man. It is based on Job and all of the loss and trials he faced. The Benefactor is played by Neal McDonald and he does an excellent job at playing the dark villain type roles. My favorite role he has ever played in was in Arrow. He is just as evil in this film. He promises him power and wealth but Kevin refuses them. He offers Kevin chances to change his present problems but he has to travel through different multiple realities. One of his problems is his struggling marriage and he is afraid of now losing her completely. The Benefactor uses this against him and throw him into different realities and shifts people to different locations. It was very weird and strange at times and it wasn’t your typical Christian film. I liked how they did a new spin on Job and how they were trying to capture a new audience by adding multiverse worlds. I also thought it was interesting to see Kristoffer Polaha in a new style of a role that watchers will get to see. He has appeared in a few Christmas movies and I thought he did great in this new action-packed role. I liked the theme message of this movie and how each of our choices in life can dramatically change the course of our lives. 

^• Buy tickets today to see The Shift in theaters starting December 1st! 

 

 

Website: https://www.angel.com/movies/the-shift

Pay-It-Forward: https://www.angel.com/pay-it-forward/the-shift?utm_campaign=the-shift-theatrical&utm_medium=web&utm_source=tickets-footer-ad#

Buy Tickets: https://www.angel.com/tickets/the-shift?utm_campaign=the-shift&utm_source=hub-hero&utm_medium=web

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fozskMtdwI8

Disclosure: Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review.  Opinions are 100% my own. 

Giveaway: 2 tickets to see the film in theaters 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only)

 

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The Last Hour Study Guide: An Israeli Insider Looks at the End Times by Amir Tsarfati Book Review

 

In The Last Hour Study Guide, Amir Tsarfati has written a helpful resource to go along with his hit book. The book discussed Israel and the end times and what is to come. He shared that Israel would be invaded by the second tiers of nations and Russia would be leading the battle. There will be a rapture taking home God’s people and a second coming. There will be a one world government led by ten kings and the antichrist. Jesus would one day rule and during that 1000-year period satan will be bound and then there will be a new world. The book also all into details about the end times and what we can expect. 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite chapters discussed the deceptions of nations. One of the deceptions is that Israel isn’t God’s chosen people and all of this is trying to weaken them. Satan loves to cause confusion and contradict the truth. Another way is that peace in the Middle East is possible. There has always been fights and wears occurring in Israel and God has always protected them. Peace will only come when Christ returns. I also enjoy the truths found in Ezekiel and prophecies and of these is of the dry bones which is very eye opening. 

 

 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome resource to anyone who is wanting to go deeper into the original book’s message. This Bible study provides a way to study the scriptures behind the chapters. I liked how they included a few empty spaces where you could write out the answer to the questions. There is also fill in the blanks from scripture verses. There are helpful charts enclosed such as, “differences between Israel and the Church” in help readers to grasp the significance. Each chapter include application truths from this session which is like a quick summary. 

 

 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Hour-Study-Guide-Israeli/dp/0800763262/

Christmas Miracles: True Stories of God’s Presence Today by Karen Kingsbury Book Review

 

In Christmas Miracles, Karen Kingsbury has written a brand-new book filled with collections of Christmas stories. She begins the book by sharing how critical it is to remember the true meaning of Christmas and to recall the miracles that Jesus was and how He performed miracles. The first miracle was when Jesus was born of a virgin. In this book, she shared personal stories from others that all are based on Christmastime and we can see firsthand the fingerprints of God. 

 

 

She begins the book by sharing a story of her dad. Her dad was one of her biggest fans and he loved to read her colored pages, poems, and short stories. He would tell her how the world one day would know of her writing. He declared that she would become a best-selling author. When she wrote her first Baxter family book, he told her it would be a huge hit and one day be made into a movie. He could just see it happening. He had type 2 diabetes. He eventually became very sick and was instructed to start dialysis in hope he would make it another year. He discovered a song for their family “Have I Told You Lately… that I Love You” that Rob Stewart had recently redone the classic song. He kept reminding them of this song while he was sick and in 2007, he suffered a heart attack. She shared how over the years they would hear this song randomly on the radio at just the right moment that they needed it. She shared also how Rob Stewart took their picture for them in Manhattan. At first, they didn’t know who he was. She was able to explain to him how much the song meant to them and he thanked them and said they didn’t know how much he needed to hear that. It was also confirmed by the Today show when she told them the story and he even appeared in a video call. 

 

 

Another favorite story was about Jessica’s gift. Jessica Warner was born with cerebral palsy and couldn’t walk. One Christmas, she asked her mother why her legs didn’t work like other children. She explained how she was born early and how she had to fight to live. She shared how God told her that she was special. They stopped taking her to church after her first birthday. She got tired of the comments. Her grandparents were taking her to church with them. Her father purchased her pink ballet slippers because he believed she would be healed and able to one day dance in them. He was in denial and this caused them to become separated and their marriage and love for each other grew apart. He would work more and more to avoid the pain. Jessica at age 4 started noticing how they never hugged or kissed anymore. They finally decided on getting a divorce lawyer. She prayed for God to help and to cause them to love each other again. One Christmas, the pastor was going to be telling the Christmas story and she begged her parents to go. He told the story and also instructed them to lay something down at the Savior’s feet. It needs to be something you love or something you need to let go of. Jessica laid down her favorite doll at the feet of Jesus at the nativity scene. This inspired her dad to lay down a note and the slippers stating how he would accept Jessica. He realized that he had to learn to live with her having cerebral palsy where she could learn to live with it. This in turn led to them not getting divorced and their marriage was saved.

 

 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome Christmas book to anyone who is ready to be inspired and touched this holiday season. I loved how the stories would make you laugh, cry, and just to be encouraged with hope. The stories are all based on true stories and they will provide you with the hopes in Christmas miracles coming true. I also liked how she include a reading discussion guide to make it easier to read in a small group setting or a book club. 

 

 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Miracles-True-Stories-Wonderful/dp/1546005528

 

Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle: The Inspiring, Untold Story of the Making of a Holiday Classic by Michael Keane Book Review

 

In Charlie Brown’s Christmas Miracle, Michael Keane explored how the Christmas special come to be. He is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and an historian. He shared his research and interviews with the key behind the special. Some of these included the producer, Lee Mendelson, The Sponsor, Coca-Cola and J. Paul Austin, The Cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz, The Director, Bill Melendez, The Jazz Musician, Vince Guaraldi, and much more. The book explored the background of each key person and the challenges they faced. 

 

 

It all begin in 1965 around the time Vietnam was occurring and the civic rights of Black Americans was being finally questioned. Peanuts was released as a cartoon strip in newspapers in 1950. It grew to 60 million people and was published in 700 hundred newspapers. Lee was the one who first tried to sell the Christmas special to networks. Charlie Brown Christmas Special suffered a 6-month delivery schedule. Charles made the decision to stand firm and to show cast the true meaning of Christmas. He wanted to have Linus recite content from the Book of Luke, chapter 2, 8-14. Before this there hasn’t been any cartoons that would touch on religion or God. Warner Bros., Disney, and Hanna-Barbera has never done so. He faced some backlash for choosing to do this. He also wanted to include Jazz as the music featured in the short cartoon. He didn’t want to allow Snoopy to ever speak but he would allow him to use noises. He didn’t want a laugh track to be used and even the suggestion of this caused Charles to walk out of the room. 

 

 

He also shared how Charles suffered from agoraphobia, depression, and anxiety. He sometimes didn’t want to leave his home. He won the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year but he didn’t attend. He couldn’t fly due to his attack of agoraphobia. He ended up putting psychiatric help in his storyline by using Lucy to deliverer the message. Mental health become a topic and readers could connect to it due to post war. He lost 20 pounds and suffered from anxiety but would be revealed to be in good health by multiple doctors. He later made comments on how he believed sadness helped him in creating even better cartoon ideas. The author also shared his own personal thoughts on that he most likely suffered from PTSD. Charles passed away in 2000 from colon cancer at age 77. 

 

 

 

The Christmas special ran on CBS until the year 2000. Then it moved to ABC. In 2018, Apple purchased the broadcasting rights and have since moved exclusively to Apple TV+. 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book on the Charlies Brown Christmas Special to anyone who is curious about the history of the special. I liked how he explored the director side, audience, the cartoonist, producer, sponsor, agency, and so much more. He looked at the background on them all and how they all fit together. He looked at the backlash and the critics. I haven’t heard some of the events before reading this book and it made me fall even more in love with the message of this cartoon. It was interesting to read about the jazz content and the religion aspect that Charles refused to change. It was also remarkable to read about the different changes they made in the special that aired every year. It makes you question what has been changed over the years that not many noticed. This is a perfect book to read before you watch the special this year.  

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Browns-Christmas-Miracle-Inspiring/dp/1546004904/  

15 Ways to Live Longer and Healthier: Life-Changing Strategies for Greater Energy, a More Focused Mind, and a Calmer Soul by Joel Osteen Book Review

In 15 Ways to Live Longer and Healthier, Joel Osteen teaches readers the keys to having more energy and being more vitality, and productive. He begins the book by explain how studies are showing that if we are living in a negative state of mind, then we are more prone to becoming sick. We will actually suffer in our immune system. It is estimated that “90% of all visits to a primary care physician are stress-related.” Joel starts the book by sharing how critical it is to pay attention to our inner life. In his 20s, he was experiencing redness between his eyes and around the top of his face. It was very itchy and he tried all sorts of creams and lotions and nothing will fix the issue. He finally found a solution from one doctor who told him it was from stress related. He had to learn to live a more balance life and focus on his inner being. Some of the key ways he shared in the book was, “a healthy soul, choose to be happy, unclutter your mind, dealing with difficult people, nothing to prove, tame the tongue, and much more. 

 

 

One of my favorite chapters was the one on unclutter your mind. Many of us are burden down by negative thoughts and we are living worried and we can’t understand why we are tired all of the time. He shared how scriptures instruct us to guard our minds and this is one of the ways in which we can be in more peace. He watched this documentary on hoarders and this one lady was struggling to get rid of stuff. You couldn’t walk anywhere in her house there was just piles of stuff everywhere. She would keep everything even popsicle wrappers and she kept them because they reminded of her children who were grown now. She was keeping unnecessary trash that she desperately needed to get rid of but couldn’t. Eventually the intervention worked and she was able to clean up her house and get of all the trash. Joel brilliantly compares this example to our minds and how many of us won’t let go of wrong thoughts and beliefs. It’s our choice to make as to whether we will live free. We are wasting precious time and draining all of our emotional energy when we concentration on and hold onto grudges from past hurts. Instead, we need to believe that God will give us beauty for our ashes and we don’t have to try and get vindication. 

 

 

Another favorite chapter was about dealing with difficult people. He looked at the story of Nabal. He was a mean man who was wealthy and had lots of livestock. David was at the time with his army hiding from King Saul and they were watching over Nabal’s sheep. They asked him for food and he told them no and stated how he didn’t ask them to watch them. David was upset and was going to go take him out with his army. When they arrived, he met Abigail and she gave them food and told him that her husband is a fool and that he shouldn’t have insulted David. She told him that he would be King and not to worry about his husband. This wasn’t a battle he would need to be fighting. Eventually, Nabal got sick ten days later and died. David then married her to become one of his wives. Joel used this story to explain to readers that when we encounter Nabals spirits and people who are rude. We need to be like Abigail and ask ourselves, “why are we fighting with a fool.” He shared how we need to put on the oil of joy each day and to let their negative comments and attitudes slide right off our us. We need to become like an eagle and rise above the crows and chickens. 

 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to live a healthier life with more energy. I greatly loved the message in this book and this book is one meant to be studied and reread to let the message get down into your soul. It covered everything from dealing with difficult people, living in the present, to letting go of control. These life strategies will greatly benefit readers and help them to live a more joyful life. I loved how he shared personal stories and examples from others to really explain the message. One of the stories was about how one lady lost her job and then her mom got sick and died. When she lost her job, this provided time for her to spend with her dying mom and soon she did get blessed with another job. This story is about embracing where we currently are and to enjoy the moment. Another story I liked was about his sister, Lisa’s story and how they were unable to have kids and how they had to become open to adoption and how God answered that prayer. This is probably one of the best books I have read from Joel. I just loved the concept of this one and the core message. 

 

 

There is also a 15 day special on his YouTube that is really beneficial and features guests from his church and leadership discussing principles included in this book. 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpxAL20n-42lQyNAs9mV2fHMq6zJnMJZr

 

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Live-Longer-Healthier-Life-Changing/dp/1546005080

 

Surprised by Oxford Movie Review and Giveaway

• You can now watch SURPRISED BY OXFORD from the comfort of your own home! Rent or buy today! 

• SURPRISED BY OXFORD WILL BE AVAILABLE TO RENT OR BUY FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. 

Step inside the beauty of Ox-ford University and discover a timeless story about asking life’s big questions. Mark your calendars for November and do not miss your chance to see this beautiful film! 

• Synopsis: Caro Drake, a brilliant but emotionally guarded American student, arrives at the University of Oxford with the goal of attaining her PhD. Through a turbulent friendship with a charming young man, she begins to open herself up to mystery, vulnerability, and love. 

My Review:

 

Surprised by Oxford is the story of Caro Drake and it is based on a true story. The film shows how she obtained her masters at Oxford University in England. She focused on her degrees in Romantic-Era literature, which is iconic since she tried to avoid love. It was interesting to watch her met Kent and how he tried to pursue her and at first, she wanted no part of him or love. There is a mixture of religion in the film. Kent grew up Protestant and believes in waiting for marriage. Caro has her doubts with religion and Christianity. She believes more in knowledge and she struggling with the fear of the unknown. It was compelling to observe how Kent would recommend C.S. Lewis works to her to read and how this allowed a door to open in her life. I also liked how the film showed the beginning of her life and how her father was arrested and this broke her relationship with her father. It covered the majority of her life and I thought they did a wonderful job at linking everything together. There is some cuss words and references to sex but it is rated PG-13 and it wasn’t anything overly bad. Watchers will enjoy watching this true story come to life. 

Links to Buy:

https://surprisedbyoxford.vhx.tv/products/surprised-by-oxford/?campaign=collide 

Trailer:

Disclosure: Many thanks to Evolve Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Giveaway: A free Vimeo download code to watch the film (Note: This is limited to US winners only. 

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