The War on Christmas, Bodie Hodge, A Review

I’ve been wanting to share The War on Christmas, Battles in Faith, Tradition, and Religious Expression by Bodie Hodge with you – and I finally have minute to share.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. I have so many different ideas about the time period between Thanksgiving and New Years. I’m not that into the whole “Happy Birthday Jesus” part of Christmas, since it isn’t His birthday.  We’ve run all away around the block as we came to terms as a family what our traditions would be. We’ve settled for paying attention to Advent – the Coming of Jesus as a baby, and the anticipated coming of Jesus in the future. We also live in America, and have fun enjoying the traditions of our community, stories and movies.

So I was surprised that I really enjoyed The War on Christmas. I thought it was going to tell me that “Jesus is the reason for the season” or that I needed to teach my kids to give to homeless and the hungry in December.

What it does, is break down several areas regarding Christmas.

In What About Christmas the book talks about Jesus, his name, when he was born, the history surrounding the day and making it relevant to this generation.

Confusion and Misconceptions dig into XMas, the Wise Men and singing Angels.

The 5 Areas presented are What About Christmas, Confusion and Misconceptions, It’s All Baby Jesus, How Christmas Came to Be, and The War on Christmas

Each part of the 5 parts of the book are straightforward and give what we have learned, that most Americans Church Goers really have quite a few bits of the story off.

In the end, it is worth celebrating, which is what we came to terms with as a family. Truth is good. Communication is great. This is a Master Books book from New Leaf Press. It holds the bar with what I’ve come to expect with presenting truth in print.

The 5 Areas presented are What About Christmas, Confusion and Misconceptions, It’s All Baby Jesus, How Christmas Came to Be, and The War on Christmas.

I received a copy of this book which was published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group for free in return for a blog post and a review on a company such as Amazon. My opinion is my own, and I’m allowed to be fair positive or negative. I think this is a great book, worth ordering and discussing with your family.

The Sound of Music Live!

(This is an ad post)

There are quite a few fun opportunities that come my way, being part of a great blog team. I was asked to host a Faith & Family Viewing Party featuring THE SOUND OF MUSIC, live on NBC!  - They sent me monies for snacks and prizes to give out – and I said YES!

So tonight, a few of my friends are going to gather with me to watch The Sound of Music.

You have a chance to join us online:

I will be giving away a prize package of a Poster, TShirt and Soundtrack on CD

Here’s how you can win:

Tweet with the tags #faithandfamily and #SoundofMusic and tag me in it – @pebblekeeper

Join me today – you may post anytime before Friday Morning – A tweet about your excitement? A tweet about how you feel with Carrie being Maria? A tweet about why you will watch it after it posts? Anything at all – with the tags #faithandfamily and #SoundofMusic and @pebblekeeper

Extra Entry – Chat about the movie on Facebook with the tags #SoundofMusic, #faithandfamily and #AngieWright – or tag me.

I will use these entries, assign a number to each, then use random number generator to pick a winner.

Additional prizes to be shared (post-party) are: poster, t-shirt, and soundtrack on CD!

 

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

From executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("Smash," "Hairspray," "Chicago") comes an instant holiday classic: "The Sound of Music," based on the original Broadway musical. Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer star as Maria and Captain von Trapp in this beloved story of the young novice who falls in love with Captain von Trapp and his seven children, set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Austria. The jewel in the Rodgers and Hammerstein crown, "The Sound of Music" contains some of the most famous songs ever written for the stage, including "The Sound of Music," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "Climb Every Mountain" and "Edelweiss."

This new version of "The Sound of Music" will be a faithful adaptation of the original stage musical, to retell the story for a whole new generation. And more than that, it will be broadcast LIVE, adding a whole new level of immediacy and excitement. Get ready to reintroduce your family to the most joyful, most emotional and most musical family adventure of them all. 

Discaimer: I received a $25.00 visa card from FlyBy Promotions Blogger Network to purchase snacks for my party in exchange for a blog post and promoting the movie with hashtags. I will be able to give a prize pack mentioned above through FlyBy Promotions Blogger Network to one winner.

Can’t Wait Willow! Ideals Children’s Books, a Review

Can't-Wait Willow! from Ideals Children's Books from Ideals Books on Vimeo.

  I was excited to be able to review Can’t Wait Willow! from Ideals Children’s Books. The idea is that Willow will be faced with challenges and be unable to wait, and learn a lesson.

My son, even though he is 12, did like the book, and we enjoyed reading it.

However, there are a few weird parts to the book. She is a very young girl leaving her home and walking through town on the way to the circus, alone, with a pocket full of money. She spends all of her money and spends time all over town so she misses the circus and the cotton candy that she desired. 

Then a man gives her a free ticket for the show the next day.

She gets to return to the show the next day with a new pocketful of money, buys two packages of cotton candy, is rewarded with a front row seat and gets to ride the elephant.

My son teased that he thinks the lesson is, spend your money how you want and someone will give you everything if you look sad enough. I sort of wondered where the parents were, and why the parents would let her return again alone the next day to meet the man. He turns out to be the ringmaster, but still, sort of weird.

That aside, the book is fun to read and the illustrator did a great job, I enjoyed the graphics.

If you are struggling in this area, as we are with my youngest son, this might be a great book to get to help facilitate the conversation of missing out because you spent your time and money on the good, instead of what you really wanted.

About Shine Bright Kids:

The Shine Bright Kids series provides children and their families with a relevant framework to help instill solid values and teach the importance of making good choices. The series teaches principles including: using good judgment, taking responsibility, self-control, having a positive attitude, and demonstrating perseverance.  Check out their website at www.ShineBrightKids.com for free reward charts, activities and other parenting resources.

About the Author: 

Christy Ziglar, financial planner, mother of twins and niece of legendary motivator and the world’s original optimist, Zig Ziglar, is bringing the same timeless wisdom and ageless advice to an entirely new, younger audience through her new Shine Bright Kids picture book series. 

Christy is available for Q&A, author interviews, Skype calls, etc.!

The first book in the series:  Can't-Wait Willow!

Willow is so excited that the Over-the-Top Circus has finally come to town! The only problem is, that when left to her own devices, she can’t say “no” to some good things. On the way to the show, she is distracted by enticing treats and fun that she just can’t turn down. Willow arrives late and is sad to find that, not only has she has run out of time, but money, and she won’t be able to enjoy the pink cotton candy she’s been dreaming of. Willow is given valuable advice and a second chance and is ultimately taught the lesson that sometimes in life you have to say “no” to good things to end up with something great!

Moving Forward, A Review

Moving Forward by Everett L Worthington Jr. is a book about forgiveness. How to forgive yourself.  I’ve been reading it, page by page, all summer. I was looking for ways to identify with his story, to help my husband, with a tragic suicide death.  Maybe because I’m a woman, I have a hard time identifying with him at all. Over analyze? Over Clinical? Self Forgiveness of Self – is too much for me. This seems to be a very in depth step by step transparent journey to how he forgave himself after the tragedy in his own life.  Maybe since I don’t battle with personal forgiveness it didn’t strike a cord with me. I’m choosing to post  my review, half way/ 3/4 way through the book and move on.  Ha. Or rather Move Forward.

I received this book for free from Bloggingforbooks.org.

The Secret Keeper, a Review

The Secret Keeper, from Bethany House part of the Home to Hickory Hollow.

I so enjoyed this  - and I rarely do with a series. It felt like I was coming home to Hickory Hollow with familiar characters.

I have started to read Amish fiction less and less, especially romantic Amish fiction.

This book is different.  The main character has been visiting and corresponding with a girl from Hickory Hollow for several years.  In her Englisher life, she has cut down to the most basic simple lifestyle. Her desire is to be Amish, making it through the Proving, and be baptized and join the church.

This story gently pulls you through what the Proving Process looks like. How the community reacts to an outsider, how fear and trust, faith and hard work intertwine.  As she learns that not all of ‘The People’ are perfect and without sin, there is question in her heart if she will ever measure up. Although the book is not centered around a beau, there is a character that gives her attention and you wonder through the book if they will get together. There is no pining over him, and no long drawn out ‘thought’ script of romance.

I believe this book could stand alone, or be the best thing since sliced bread if you’ve read other books in the series.  Beverly Lewis has done it again! Well Done!

I received a free kindle version of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

Grace Unplugged, The Novel–A Review

I enjoyed Grace Unplugged.  I think the audience for Grace Unplugged and Own It is more for the teen crowd, especially young ladies. If you have a young lady in your life that loves to devour books, this would be a great one for her. I have read several like the Own It book, and I think it is critical for teens and new Christians to come to terms with what they believe and why. Owning your own faith a part from your family or mentors.

About Grace Unplugged the Novel

Grace Trey is an 18 year old singer as passionate about her Christian faith as she is her phenomenal, God-given musical talent. Both traits come from her father, one hit wonder Johnny Trey who found Jesus after losing his chart success two decades ago. 

When Grace encounters her own music break of a lifetime, the sudden dive into the "real world" puts her deeper beliefs to the test. Pop superstardom is just within reach but appears to require some spiritual compromise. Will Grace reject her faith, or will she own it? 

Movie Release: October 4, 2013

Grace Unplugged is based on the motion picture of the same name starring AJ Michalka (Super 8) and Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men) with performances by award-winning artists Chris Tomlin and Jamie Grace. 

About Own It, Discover Your Faith in God

The movie Grace Unplugged tells the story of Grace Trey, an ideal Christian teenager who is also a phenomenal singer. But when she is pushed into the “real world” at the tender age of eighteen after getting the music break of a lifetime, her faith is put to the test.

Own It mirrors the film by asking what it means to really “own” your personal faith rather than just automatically following in the footsteps of parents, friends, or other influencers. Best-selling authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco help readers understand what to do when faith meets real world challenges.

Without solid beliefs, poor choices are likely to follow. You must take the time to really know who you are, who you are becoming, and who God made you to be. It's your personal faith . . . own it! 

About the Grace Unplugged Author

Melody Carlson has sold more than five million books. A professional writer for twenty years, she recently received the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Melody has two grown sons and lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest. 

About the Own It Authors

Hayley DiMarco is the best-selling author of more than thirty books including Dateable, Marriable, Mean Girls, and The Woman of Mystery. She has been a featured speaker at Women of Faith, Precept National Women's Conference, and MOPS Intl. among others and has consulted on the creation and enhancement of some of the largest stadium events for teens and young women in North America.

Michael DiMarco is a skillled communicator and teacher who has authored more than a dozen bestselling books including the 2010 Christian Bookof the Year for Youth, B4UD8 (Before You Date). He and his wife, author Hayley DiMarco, have one daughter and live in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Grace Unplugged

• Written by: Melody Carlson
• Publisher: B&H Books
• Paperback: 304 pages 
• Release Date: September 1, 2013
• $15.99

Own It

• Written by: Hayley and Michael DiMarco
• Publisher: B&H Publishing
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Release Date: September 1, 2013
• $14.99

Orkin Home Education Kit, A Giveaway

WIN:  Winner Announced

The Orkin Home Education Kit includes:

• 2 Orkin Factoids 11x17 Posters
     - Poster #1 - The Pollinators
     - Poster #2 - The Recyclers
• 1 Orkin bug-finding flashlight
• 20 Rubber Toy Creepy Crawly Bugs

Be your own Orkin man! Use the flashlight and fun posters to learn about how every creature plays a part in our ecosystem.

To Enter:

Winner is Purple Squirrel

Comment on this blog post – One Entry

Comment on the post on http://www.facebook.com/Petra.School

The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please. I am working with Orkin and Orkin supplied these materials to me for posting the app on my blog. I received no product or compensation – just passing a perk to my readers.