How to use this Page

I have heard for some time now how great Family Life's Passport2Purity program is for families.  When I was given the chance to review the program - I jumped at it.  I love the whole concept - time away with your preteen to talk through tough topics like sexuality and purity.  We need that and often don't make the time to do it with our kids.

The kit comes with  a CD Set, a travel journal, and a tour guide.  It is so well laid-out that a parent can really spend very little prep time to make the weekend a success - prep is important, but I wanted to encourage parents that it won't be a huge effort that will bog you down.  You walk through the tour guide page by page and pre-view the videos they feel the parent should view ahead of time to be ready for the weekend.  The weekend is laid out so carefully - I love the time set aside for fun activities and yet, they do give you a great timeline of how to effectively get everything accomplished within the time frame.  All of the parts of the kit are updated and not only look modern, but even the DVD's are well-done and will appeal to our teens.  Having a tool like this is such a blessing.

Our daughter is a bit young for this and we have not used it yet, but I can not wait to spend this time together learning and growing.  I highly recommend this easy-to-follow way for parents to guide their children into sexual purity.

 

I was sent a copy of the kit for review by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Add a Comment

Display Comments Add a Comment

Display Comments Add a Comment

Add a Comment

I think it's an important book and if you haven't read it and are looking for something like this, don't hesitate to pick it up!

Thanks to BookSneeze for the review copy.

Add a Comment

I want to encourage you to read this new book by Margaret McSweeney - Mother of Pearl is a book that is full of collective wisdom from women - women that have been there and know life.  It will encourage you to pull through the busy life of a mom and a woman and come out on the other side -strengthened and full of hope.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am confident you will too!

About the Book:
Like oysters, women often encounter unexpected grit during their everyday lives. In response, God’s love and grace covers this grit and transforms the pain into a precious pearl that leaves a layered, luminous lining within a shell: Mother of Pearl. This brilliant luster is strong, lasting, and purposeful—just like the love, lessons, and legacies left by the special women in our lives. Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. Margaret McSweeney presents a collection of heartfelt vignettes from authors who communicate the importance of the unique relationships between mothers and their children, between granddaughters and grandmothers and between children and the mother-figures in their lives. These stories tell of the power of faith, prayer, and values, exploring coming of age, the joy of becoming a mother, the importance of motherhood, the ways to heal from a bad relationship with a mother and weathering the death of a special loved one. Poignant and thought-provoking, the stories serve to inspire, encourage, instill hope, and strengthen faith. The proceeds from the sale of Mother of Pearl will be donated to organizations helping struggling women and children. The charities include Wings (Women in Need Growing Stronger) to help fund the Safe House in the Chicago suburbs and to Hands of Hope to help build wells for schoolchildren in Zambia.
About the Author:

Margaret McSweeney is a well-published author often writing online articles for Make It Better (the former North Shore Magazine) and freelance articles for the Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. In addition, she has authored and compiled several books including A Mother’s Heart Knows; Go Back and Be Happy; Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, Mother of Pearl and Aftermath. With a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in international business, Margaret became a vice-president in the corporate finance division of a New York City bank and worked there 1986–93. As founder of Pearl Girls, Margaret collaborates with other writers on projects to help fund a safe house for WINGS, an organization that helps women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, and to build wells for schoolchildren in Uganda through Hands of Hope. For the past 10 years she has served on the board of directors and leadership advisory board for WINGS. Margaret lives with her husband and 2 daughters in the Chicago suburbs. www.pearlgirls.info.
To read what others have to say about this book - visit the blog tour - Mother of Pearl.


* I was sent a review copy by the publisher for this blog tour.

Add a Comment

What a fun little book with a new twist on Bible Stories - a Pop-Up version!!  Juliet David has created My Pop-Up Bible Stories.  This is an adorable book with tender illustrations by Daniel Haworth.  The book will need to be used with care as any pop-up would - and it does only include 5 stories - I'd LOVE to see more!!!  But it is still fun and my girls are enjoying it!  The five stories are a combination of Old and New Testament stories so it gives a fun and simple overview that we can share with our little ones.  This is an author that KNOWS her stuff when it comes to Bible Stories - her list of books she's written is long - enjoy another new one by this "seasoned" author!


*I was sent this book to review by the publisher - Kregel Books - as part of a blog tour.

Add a Comment

Are you feeling bored in your spiritual life?  Feel like you've hit a wall and are sliding down?  Brian Hardin tackles this in his book, Passages.  If you feel like your daily Bible readings are not very meaningful - you will love how Hardin tries to challenge you that your daily reading might just change you AND become the highlight of your day.  First he helps you to see that there is a big God that loves you and wants to be part of your life and he shows you how you can find time to spend with God and make a plan to see it happen.  He sets up a reading plan for the next year to get you through the entire Bible chronologically.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book - Hardin makes you think AND laugh - and I value that in a writer!  He is grounded and practical - just what we NEED!  Check out his great book AND his website.

To read what others have to say about Hardin's book - visit this tour schedule.

Add a Comment

I needed this book!  Because I will admit - it is easy to load on the guilt - I am THE MASTER of that!!  Don't get me wrong - I'm not about loading it onto others but I load that guilt right onto myself.  So when I saw this blog tour I felt it was perfect for me.  Turning Guilt Trips Into Joy Rides by Shirley Brosius, Janine Boyer and Kim Messinger is a book that highly encouraged me!  This book is set up into 183 very short devotions - less than a page in length - but packed with thoughts that hit right to home.  And each is followed by scripture or prayers to encourage you to get your focus on God - where it should be.  I would recommend this book - it was easy to swallow and digest and PACKED with wisdom!  We need that, as women, to be reminded that guilt is not necessary - let's live in grace!

Guilt! She pokes you as you write about your quaint, eccentric aunt. She grabs you as you wander from e-mail to Facebook to laundry instead of focusing on your work. She kicks you as you complain about your husband to a friend. Have you noticed? Women seem riddled with guilt. And it’s hard to know if guilt is legitimate or simply a product of our imaginations. After all, should we really feel guilty about things over which we have no control? We are not perfect. We have no control over some things, so it's no use feeling guilty. We can't do it all. To celebrate the release of Turning Guilt Trips into Joy Rides, Shirley, Janine and Kim are giving away some great prizes during the blog tour. Share your own "guilt trip" or "joy tip" and be entered to win a free life coaching consultation and a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate. JUST CLICK THIS LINK and share what trips you up, holds you back or any tips you may have for overcoming guilt and keeping your joy. Fill out the quick form at the link and you'll be entered to win a free life coaching consultation from one of us AND a gift certificate to Amazon.com to use to purchase whatever strikes your fancy! Contest runs 4/23 - 5/12. Winner announced there on 5/14.

See what others have to say about the book on the blog tour - go HERE to see all the stops on the tour.

*I was sent a copy of the book for review purposes.

Display Comments Add a Comment

This is a powerful book - it is one I will refer to often.  Because I ask myself often, "How could God love me?  Why would He love me?  Do I really matter to Him?"  And I know what the answers are supposed to be - but I need reminders.  Babbie Mason seeks to give us answers - reminders of why God does love us - why we matter to Him.  Her words are fresh, vulnerable, and penetrating.  Split up into 21 Day readings, this book, Embraced by God, feeds you daily bite-sized reminders of just how much you mean to God.  I felt like it was one great big hug - From God - through Babbie - to Me!

The publisher says:
Have you ever wondered, "Does God really love me? Do I really matter to him?" HE LOVES YOU. As a matter of fact, God loves you just as much as he loves His own Son. In the pages of this heartwarming, thoughtful and life-affirming 21-day journey, award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, and teacher Babbie Mason reminds you, when you know you are loved by God and that you are in His eternal plan, you’ll never again wonder if your life matters. Click for more information: HERE.
Babbie Mason is a Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated gospel singer, songwriter, author, creator of the Embrace: A Worship Event for Women ministry, professor of songwriting at Atlanta Christian College and Lee University, and a television talk-show host. She was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs. Babbie has been honored perform for Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Colin Powell, Steve Forbes among many others. Babbie performs a holiday special at Carnegie Hall every year. Babbie lives near Atlanta on a farm with her husband Charles.
Read what others have to say about this book:  The Blog Tour

Embraced by God is a 21-day encounter that shares the unconditional love of God. "If you watch what the media says as to where we should find our identity--" says Babbie, "--money, beauty, power and technology--you'll just be confused about who you are and what your purpose is. As a culture we are trying to buy or sell what can only be administered to the soul by Jesus."

Celebrate with Babbie by entering her Nook Tablet Giveaway and coming to her "Embraced Facebook Party {3/6}!

One beloved winner will receive:

• A Brand new Nook Tablet with Wi-Fi
• Embraced by God by Babbie Mason
• Babbie's Embraced by God Music CD
• Babbie's Embraced by God Note cards

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/5/12. Winner will be announced at Babbie's "Embraced" Facebook Party on 3/6. Babbie will be hosting an evening of chat, music, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, Embraced by God music CDs and Note cards, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club.)

So grab your copy of Embraced by God and join Babbie and friends on the evening of March 6th for an evening of fun.
Add a Comment

I was asked to blog about a book for women - it was probably one I would not have picked up on my own.  I have read A LOT of books for women and wives, and I have not always found what I was hoping for.  SO, I was pleasantly surprised at this book.  The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya is a very powerful book - I was shocked over and over when I read parts that I felt were aimed right at me.  I have been inspired and encouraged by this book.  It's simple - one of the main points was so refreshing and simple - "How do you turn to God and receive His wisdom and power for your marriage?"  Take these four steps:  "Be still, Worship, Read the Bible, and Pray."  It isn't rocket science but all throughout the book, Ralya gives practical advice to women - from remembering to take care of yourself to ways of looking at beauty in new and different ways.

I was also privileged to receive the Mentor's Guide - which helps you, as a leader, to teach this in a small group.  What a great tool!  I loved how it even gave you ways to pray before you ever meet as a group.  This is a very handy tool.

The Prayer Journal is another fabulous tool.  I am just so impressed with this whole series for women - it is practical and something that women, even being busy, can tackle and learn from. The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya answers serious questions women have about their roles as wives - discussing everything from romance and money to beauty, communication, and sex.

Celebrate with Sandy by entering her Kindle Touch Giveaway and coming to her "Beautiful Womanhood" Facebook Party {3/8}!

One beautiful winner will receive:

• A Brand new Kindle Touch with Wi-Fi
• The Beautiful Wife By Sandy Ralya
• The Beautiful Wife Prayer Journal and Mentor's Guide

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/7/12. Winner will be announced at Sandy's "Beautiful Womanhood" Facebook Party on 3/8. Sandy will be hosting an evening of chat, laughter and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, prayer journals and a live chat with Sandy for your Bible study or small group!

So grab your copy of The Beautiful Wife and join Sandy and friends on the evening of March 8th for an evening of fun.

Display Comments Add a Comment

A "needed" book?? Yep, this is it!  I have three teenage boys that I am trying to prepare for the big world - and what do we discuss with them the most?? How to stand firm in what we believe and how to share that with others.  So I feel that Bill Giovannetti has hit the nail on the head with his book, Four Letter Words.  We need to know WHAT we believe, WHY we believe it and WHAT to say when it seems there are no ways to put it into words - Giovannetti does just that.  As a pastor and professor - he's been through the trenches and knows how to put our faith into words that others will relate to.  This is relevant for everyone, but especially so with our teens and those heading into college - as this is when we get challenged and asked so many of these tough questions. 
Don't just take my word for it though - here is what others on the book blog tour are saying.  AND if you want even more information - go to Four Letter Words.  I love what the publisher says:

Thou shalt tolerate every opinion... except the Christian's. Today's postmodern "prime directive" leaves many followers of Jesus tongue-tied. In the global village, isn't it unreasonable, and even dangerous, to suggest that the Bible has a monopoly on truth? The church needs a new breed of Christ-follower. We need Christ-followers who are alert to today's touchy ideas, the truths that fire up more heat than light. We need Christ-followers who can make a clear case for the Bible's worldview; who are ready to help our friends think through their beliefs; who can recognize inconsistencies and challenge them; and who can do all of this with humility, confidence, humor, and love.

*I was sent an ecopy for review purposes.

Add a Comment

When I first started reading the prologue for this book, The Grace Effect, I thought, "I am going to give this one to my husband - I think it's too deep for me!" But as I got into Chapter 1, I knew I was going to LOVE this book and I didn't put it down (well almost anyway) until I was DONE! It is an exceptional book - it is, at it's core, a wonderful adoption story - the author, Larry Alex Taunton's, story of travelling to the Ukraine and their roller coaster ride to get their 10 year old daughter, Sasha. But interwoven throughout that story, is the story of Taunton's challenge in life - to get people to see that the world IS a better place with Christianity and Christ - How Grace makes life palatable. Taunton travels the world sharing and debating this truth - how we all need Grace. But woven in Sasha's adoption story, this truth is all the more seen and recognized through the life of this little girl.

Simply defined, the ‘grace effect’ is an observable phenomenon—that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.”

What does Christianity give us beyond televangelists, potlucks, and bad basketball leagues? Not much, according to the secular Left. The world, they say, would be a better place without it.

Historian and Christian apologist Larry Taunton has spent much of his career refuting just this sort of thinking, but when he encounters Sasha, a golden-haired orphan girl whose life has been shaped by atheistic theorists, he discovers an unlikely champion for the transforming power of grace.

Through the narrative of Sasha’s redemption, we see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace. We see, in short, the kind of world the atheists would give us: a world without Christianity—cold, pitiless, and graceless.

And yet, as Sasha shows us, it is a world that is not beyond the healing power of “the grace effect.” Occasionally infuriating, often amusing, but always inspiring, The Grace Effect will have you cheering for the courageous little girl who shamed the academic elitists of our day.

Add a Comment

Elisabeth Gifford's The House of Hope is quite a story - one that I won't soon forget. It is the story of Robin and Joyce Hill, how they give up a wealthy lifestyle to instead, live frugally and minister to "the least of these." They choose to open a home for orphans needing urgent care and terminally ill orphans in China rather than live for themselves. This is one of those books that I just could not stop reading - it tore at my heart - but it made me smile too. The Hills are making a difference - they are pouring into lives that are sometimes looked at as "minor" or "unimportant" - they are LIVING Matthew 25:40, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Add a Comment

I thoroughly enjoyed Scott Davis' If My Body is a Temple, Then I Was a Megachurch!! This is a hilarious read that not only gives you great advice for losing weight safely, but also adds scripture behind it to give us, as Believers, Biblical reasons for losing weight as well. I enjoy Davis' sense of humor and down-to-earth reasoning. There is no magic formula - he admits that - but you can take principles and apply them to help yourself view weight loss in a new light - one that makes sense and is do-able. You will be encouraged and challenged - and we can all use that!!

Add a Comment

I have been looking for a book like this for FOREVER (well, almost!!). John Dyer's From the Garden to the City is a look at "The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology". I have been impressed and hooked from the very first page - this book is well-written and packed with Biblical background and researched information, but it is also humorous and timely. I consider myself a lover of all-things-techy and this book shed new insight into ways that I can think about all of this new technology and the role it plays or could play in my own life. I was highly challenged - TRULY an impacting read. We can be on the "cutting edge" but we also need to be aware and see the impact these things can, and do have on our lives.

From the Garden to the City
The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology
John Dyer
Believers and unbelievers alike are saturated with technology, yet most
give it little if any thought. Consumers buy and upgrade as fast as they
can, largely unaware of technology’s subtle yet powerful influence. In a
world where technology changes almost daily, many are left to wonder:
Should Christians embrace all that is happening? Are there some
technologies that we need to avoid? Does the Bible give us any guidance
on how to use digital tools and social media?

Add a Comment

Rebecca St. James has written What is He Thinking?? What Guys Want Us to Know About Dating, Love, and Marriage. This book is a great "manual" for female teens and those in their 20's and even 30's that are still single and want to know more about men and why they act the way they do in regards to dating and even marriage. I was impressed with this book - St. James has done her research - she has interviewed young men to ask them the tough questions so that girls can read the book and have a clearer understanding of the men they are in relationships (or may soon be in relationships) with. I think her variety of men she interviewed makes this an extremely useful tool - it is honest, wise, and insightful - all while being humorous! This was an enjoyable read and I know our girls out there dating or getting ready to date will enjoy it as well.

Add a Comment

Patsy Clairmont is MARVELOUS!! She makes me laugh when I hear her speak - she makes me laugh when I read her work - but she can, on a dime, make me cry as well. She speaks to my heart and helps me to look inward and make some changes. Her latest book, Stained Glass Hearts is no exception. We are but broken glass - but when we are held up to the light, after being soldered together, we can be something wonderful! Her chapters are engaging - and what I love is after every chapter, Clairmont ties in famous websites, artwork, music, etc so you can go and see the artwork and experience it for yourself. It is a well-rounded experience and I just LOVE this book!

Add a Comment

The Bible is just a BIG BOOK - that is a true statement. And sometimes to learn to grasp what is all in there for us, we need to take it in chunks. And that is exactly what this book, Route 66 by Krish Kandiah, has done. Kandiah has taken the Bible and broken it up so that you could feasibly take 8 weeks and get a group together and conquer the outline of the Bible. No, you wouldn't be reading the entire Bible in 8 weeks, but you are getting an overall feel for how it all fits together and what each book would have as its premise - how it all fits together. The book is extremely "read-able" - I would recommend it to the questioning, new Believer or to the person who has been a Believer for years - all will find new insights and ideas.

About the Author:
Krish Kandiah is the Executive Director: Churches in Mission for the UK Evangelical Alliance. He is also an external examiner for Oak Hill College, an Associate Research Fellow at London School of Theology, and is part of the theme development group for Spring Harvest.Dr. Kandiah previously held the position of Director of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, in addition to being Tutor for the Mission and Evangelism at Wycliffe Hall. He was also an Oxford University Theology faculty member.
Before becoming the pastor of a multi-cultural church in Harrow, Kandiah worked with students in the UK with Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, and in Albania with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. He has wide experience in evangelism and cross cultural mission, and he is in demand around the world as a speaker and lecturer—though he is still a regular speaker at university missions and at Spring Harvest.
Dr. Kandiah and his wife, Miriam, have four elementary aged children and regularly take in foster babies. Kandiah has a keen interest in movies, photography, rock music, and Liverpool FC.

Here is what others have said about Route 66:

"One cannot travel a new way without a map. The map tells us the road to take. Route 66 is a wonderful map into experiencing the God of Scripture." Darrell Bock, Dallas Theological Seminary

"With easy humour and constant insight, Krish Kandiah tells us what we need to do to get excited about the Bible again, and to allow it to change us."
Stephen R. Holmes, University of St Andrews

"Route 66 doesn't make the Bible come alive. It shows that the Bible is alive--with the voice of God. In an age when even believers are bewildered by the Bible, Krish Kandiah shows us how all the parts of this most extraordinary book fit together and how each part makes its own contribution. He does this without either dumbing it down or ignoring some of the hard questions."
Michael Jensen, Moore College, Australia


*I was sent a copy by the publisher for review purposes.

Add a Comment

This was a blog tour that I just hoped I'd be chosen for! I enjoy non-fiction reads that encourage and uplift my soul. Brian Goins' Playing Hurt: A Guy's Strategy for a Winning Marriage wasn't written for women, but I knew I could get my husband to read this one! Well, he has said he WILL read it - that's the good news although his schedule hasn't allowed it yet. So when he does I will post his thoughts! He did say it doesn't look like your normal "marriage book" and he does want to read it before I share it with others. So I think that's a high compliment coming from a husband that has already read MANY marriage books!