Wrapping Up Before Departure (Don't Forget To Scroll Down For an Important Message)...

As some of you already know I will be home for Christmas (and unlike the song, not in my dreams only!).
Both ex-RAF flyboy and I were born and raised on different sides of the North Sea, he in Blighty and myself in the capital of the E.U. 
We might never have met if not for the B.S.A. but that's a story for another day!

I scheduled some posts so that this little blog survives as I am not sure internet access will be anything but sporadic. Meanwhile I will be taking lots of photos and will be sure to share some of these with readers in the New Year.

Thanks to my brand new Kindle Fire I will be able to check now and then what is happening around the world and will even attempt to keep in touch. 

Remember I mentioned to scroll down for an important message?

From TIME FOR REFLECTIONS, 

here is a beautiful way to spread a bit of goodwill!!

Here is Victor's message:

It's this time of year again folks; and I'd be happy if you join in this year's fund raising event which will not cost you a penny.

It's simple and easy to do.

Here's how it works.

For every comment you leave below I will donate £1 (that's $1.56)

to 

THE SALVATION ARMY

up to a maximum of £100 ($156).

So Folks, don't forget to go to Victor's blog and let him know how you feel about his thoughtfulness!

Thanks to all who visit and post a comment!

In the meantime I wish each and everyone of you a warm holiday Season and a Happy Christmas!

Jesus Boat, Witness to Prophecy, DVD review

• Studio: Word Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: June 4, 2013
• Run Time: 50 minutes

SYNOPSIS:


The astounding prophetic rebirth of Israel is told through the discovery of an ancient and unlikely artifact found under the shores of the Sea of Galilee. A first century fishing boat, identical to the boat Jesus sailed upon with his disciples, was destroyed in the years Israel was destroyed by the Romans, but found 2000 years later in a series of astonishing events that even scientists called a miracle. 

Mirroring Israel's own story of devastation and survival, the boat from the time of Jesus, would rise against all odds and float upon the Sea of Galilee once more as the oldest surviving freshwater boat in the world. Featuring commentary from some of the great theologians of our day including Franklin Graham, Joel Rosenberg, Jay Sekulow, Skip Heitzig, Chuck Smith and more.





My thoughts:

Drawn against a strong historical background of Israel's destruction and reemergence in the last few decades for the first 22 minutes or so, this archaeological documentary shows the boat in question was first discovered in 1986 by two fishermen who stumbled upon it in the mud of the Sea of Galilee. 
Archaeologists confirmed the vessel dated from the first century and eventually moved it to a nearby museum. What is considered almost a miracle is that the wooden ship survived decomposition in fresh water for almost twenty centuries!

Drawing a parallel around this discovery and the life of Jesus as we have learned from the Bible, the movie JESUS BOAT does not claim the boat was used by Christ but was in fact of the type built and used by fishermen of the region, such as Jesus and his disciples used to cross the sea of Galilee. 

I found  it fascinating that when most boats used 2 or perhaps 3 different types of wood this one used 12 different woods, another parallel with the 12 known disciples perhaps? Then you have the fact that this boat was lost about the same time as Jesus walked on the very same shore...

Coincidence or not, it is none the less a valuable artifact and the scholars featured in the movie agree this almost forgotten find should not go unchecked!

Well worth seeing and thus earning 4 stars.

(Photo source Here)

About Word Entertainment

A leader in the music industry for over 60 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, BarlowGirl, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Patrick Ryan Clark, Everfound, for KING & COUNTRY, Group 1 Crew, Dara Maclean, Point Of Grace and Sidewalk Prophets and is home to 25 Entertainment, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Print, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records and Fervent Records.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the DVD courtesy of EDIFY MEDIA Inc. as part of the series promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Watch For The Light: Readings For Advent And Christmas, Book review

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Plough Publishing House (September 22, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0874869170

SYNOPSIS:

Though Christians the world over make yearly preparations for Lent, there’s a conspicuous lack of good books for that other great spiritual season: Advent. All the same, this four-week period leading up to Christmas is making a comeback as growing numbers reject shopping-mall frenzy and examine the deeper meaning of the season. 

Ecumenical in scope, these fifty devotions invite the reader to contemplate the great themes of Christmas and the significance that the coming of Jesus has for each of us – not only during Advent, but every day. Whether dipped into at leisure or used on a daily basis, Watch for the Light gives the phrase “holiday preparations” new depth and meaning. 

Includes writings by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, Sylvia Plath, J. B. Phillips, Friedrich Wilhelm Foerster, Henri Nouwen, Bernard of Clairvaux, Kathleen Norris, Meister Eckhart, St. Thomas Aquinas, Karl Rahner, Isaac Penington, Madeleine L’Engle, Alfred Delp, Loretta Ross-Gotta, William Stringfellow, J. Heinrich Arnold, Edith Stein, Philip Britts, Jane Kenyon, John Howard Yoder, Emmy Arnold, Karl Barth, Oscar Romero, William Willimon, Johann Christoph Arnold, Gail Godwin, Leonardo Boff, G. M. Hopkins, Evelyn Underhill, Dorothy Day, Brennan Manning, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Romano Guardini, Annie Dillard, Martin Luther, St. John Chrysostom, Giovanni Papini, Dorothee Soelle, C. S. Lewis, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Philip Yancey, J. T. Clement, Thomas Merton, Eberhard Arnold, Ernesto Cardenal, T. S. Eliot, John Donne, Gian Carlo Menotti and Jürgen Moltmann.

My thoughts:


An in depth and heartwarming compilation of readings for that most sacred Season, the Advent, to prepare the whole family for a joyful Christmas celebration!
As we know Advent begins on a different date each year but the publishers took special care to provide readings beginning 24 November, ending with 7 January, right after Epiphany, the traditional closing of the Holiday Season.

Each of Watch For The Light's readings reflects the Peace and the Joy we seek as Christians in preparation for the coming of Christ and will become a wonderful addition to your home or Church's library. The richness of the individual messages is certain to reach hearts everywhere and will provide inspiration for daily devotions. 

Finally, let me say that each of us might well find our favourite in this collection of readings, mine being 'The Coming Of Jesus In Our Midst' by Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me."

(Revelation 3:20)

Note: Excellent sources and acknowledgements are included in this hardback and should not be missed!

5 Stars and the perfect gift for any believer!

Meet some of the Authors:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (in the forefront - 1932)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in Breslau in 1906. The son of a famous German psychiatrist, he studied in Berlin and New York City. He left the safety of America to return to Germany and continue his public repudiation of the Naz*s, which led to his arrest in 1943. Linked to the group of conspirators whose attempted assassination of Hitlerr failed, he was hanged in April 1945.
(Source Amazon)

Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement.

Lewis wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. 
(Source HERE)

The internationally renowned priest and author, respected professor and beloved pastor Henri Nouwen wrote over 40 books on the spiritual life. 
He corresponded regularly in English, Dutch, German, French and Spanish with hundreds of friends and reached out to thousands through his Eucharistic celebrations, lectures and retreats. 

Since his death in 1996, ever-increasing numbers of readers, writers, teachers and seekers have been guided by his literary legacy. Nouwen’s books have sold over 2 million copies and been published in over 22 languages.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book courtesy of HANDLEBAR CENTRAL as part of its promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Living And Longing For The Lord by Michael Whitworth, Book review

• 
  
• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Start2Finish Books; 1 edition (January 28, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0615722924
• Also available in KINDLE format

SYNOPSIS:


The Christian life can have as many heartbreaks as Hallelujahs. Circumstances confuse us. Sin frustrates us. Satan likes to inflict pain on God's children. Wouldn't it be great if we could go to heaven as soon as we become Christians and skip the confusion, frustration, and pain? 
Sadly, it doesn't work like that; we have to learn to overcome this world while awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus. In 1-2 Thessalonians, we are equipped to do just that. 

Living and Longing for the Lord will guide you through Paul's letters to Thessalonica in hopes of helping you become more like Jesus until he returns.

My thoughts:


Easy to read and as always well researched, Living and Longing For The Lord offers practical daily living lessons,  something this author excels at. 

Beginning with a Q and A session on Thessalonians Michael Whitworth leads readers into a better understanding of Paul's relationship with the early Church. You will find it helpful and truly inspirational even if you do not always agree with his interpretations of certain events.

Reflecting what I personally consider the best example of Paul's thoughts on what is perceived as his Antisemitism statement in 1 Thess 2:14 helped to clear up any misunderstanding on my part, thus projecting a more realistic view of Paul's reasoning and his relationship with Jewish and Roman attitudes towards the early Church.

Definitively well worth checking out as it will help any struggling Christian and whom amongst us, is not?

5 Stars for style and content!



Meet the Author:

From Amazon:

Michael Whitworth is the owner of Start2Finish and preaches in Bowie, Texas. He is the author of several works, including two award-winning books, "The Epic of God" and "The Derision of Heaven," the first two of an entire series of trusted, engaging Guides to all the books of Bible that seek to deepen the reader's faith in God and celebrate the joy of the Christian life.

He is an avid landscape photographer and blogs regularly at start2finish.org, a reflection of his daily struggle to become more like Jesus. He considers M&Ms his brain food is fond of large Mason jars. He's a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Alabama Crimson Tide.

In his spare time, Michael loves Bible study, reading, drinking coffee, watching sports, and spending time with his family and furry golden retriever.

Visit his website (HERE)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book courtesy of BOOKCRASH as part of its promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.