And The Winner Is...

EVERY BOY NEEDS A HERO

The best part of any giveaway is that moment when you have the opportunity to announce its winner!
So here it is!!

The WINNER of HERO's DVD is...

MadonnaSeptember 12, 2014 at 2:42 PM

I would like to share this movie with my grandson. He doesn't have any real hero figures in his life and he needs a good idea of what to look for in a hero.

CONGRATULATIONS MADONNA!!

I will contact you shortly to confirm your win!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to EDIFY MEDIA as always for the opportunity to offer this DVD to my readers!
This sponsor has brought to my attention many Christian films I would not otherwise have
heard of and I am always glad to pass along DOVE approved entertainment for the whole family!

And He Shall Turn The Heart Of The Fathers To The Children, And The Heart Of The Children To Their Fathers.
~Malachi 4:6 KJV~

Sunday Dreams...

~John W. Waterhouse~

When you find a Dream inside your heart

Don't ever let it go

For Dreams are the tiny seeds from

Which beautiful tomorrows grow...

(Author unknown)

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Every Boy Needs A HERO, DVD review and GIVEAWAY

“A TERRIFIC MUST SEE MOVIE!  WATCH IT AND BE INSPIRED!”

-DOVE FOUNDATION

HERO

DADS ARE A SUPERPOWER

COMING TO DVD SEPTEMBER 16^TH

^{Running time 94 minutes}

From producers of Alone Yet Not Alone, comes a heartfelt movie about legendary small town baseball coach, Joe Finn (Burgess Jenkins, Remember the Titans, Nashville, The Shunning), who after taking his shot as a scout for the big leagues returns home to discover the damage he's done by leaving his family behind.   Now on a quest to rebuild his relationship with his son David, Joe forms a new baseball league to reinvigorate the underdog little league team his son had been coaching.  Together, as father and son, they try to put away their differences and help bring their ragtag team of ball players, “The Gappers”, to victory.

Burgess, who has a child of his own, was excited about the film.   “This movie really reinforces the importance of fathers in a child’s life.  Sports can be that vehicle to solidify the bond.”  George Escobar, a producer of Hero, wanted to make a movie that highlighted the real value in playing a sport and trying to win.   “I grew up playing sports, and this idea of playing without winners and losers just seems like a missed opportunity to teach the kids how to train themselves to win.  As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.  A rival will push you harder than the desire to do your best.”  

In a movie sure to inspire fathers and sons alike, Hero presents an all-star cast including Gregory Alan Williams (In the Line of Fire, The Preacher's Kid), R. Keith Harris (Big Fish), and Mark Joy (The Ultimate Gift).    The film also includes a musical score by Grammy winner, Michael Omartian. 

My thoughts:


Gather the whole family together and watch this bittersweet story of one man seeking to amend for leaving his family!

Joe Finn followed his dream leaving behind a wife and a boy who worshiped the ground his father walked on. Life did not stand still however and his return is done under less than joyful circumstances.
He wants to make amends but is it too late to regain his son's love and respect?

If you like small town wholesome atmosphere, baseball little leagues and care about good solid family values, this movie is for you! It is a movie about filial love and caring for what really matters in life, something we parents sometime forget in our busy lives. Most important, EVERY BOY NEEDS A HERO reminds us of the influence we have on our children's lives, an important factor if we care about their future.

I give it 5 stars for its honest portrayal of a true Christian father who cares to admit he was wrong and does something about it.


And He Shall Turn The Heart Of The Fathers To The Children, And The Heart Of The Children To Their Fathers.
~Malachi 4:6 KJV~

Would you like to have your own copy of this DOVE Approved DVD?
EDIFY MEDIA graciously offered a reader a copy of Every Boy Needs a HERO!
Here is what to do:

Place a comment on this post before Midnight 16 September 2014, that's easy, right?!
Giveaway opened to Continental US only.
Winner's name will be announced on 17 September on this blog and contacted via email for confirmation.

You will want to see this one Folks!
Best of luck,


Disclaimer: I received a copy of each DVD courtesy of EDIFY MEDIA Inc. as part of the movie's 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. 

What Your Heart Needs For The Hard Days by Holley Gerth, Book review

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Revell (September 2, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0800722883

Also available in KINDLE format

SYNOPSIS:

In this uplifting book, Holley Gerth invites readers to sit down with her to be filled with the strength, peace, and joy that come from God's promises to us. Each of the 52 devotions based on the Psalms will help weary women remember that God is good and we're all in this together. Whether it's a bad hair day or a broken heart, Holley offers hope and encouragement to get us through whatever life brings.

Women need that kind of encouragement because we all have hard days--days that make us want to give up, retreat inside ourselves, and drown our sorrows in a pint of ice cream. And while we may crave all sorts of things to ease the pain we feel in our hearts, what we really need is truth. We need to be confident in God's character and his promises. We need to remember--and celebrate--who he made us to be. And we need exactly the kind of encouragement Holley Gerth loves to offer.


My thoughts:


I'll admit her winning smile and the illustration " Dream God Sized Dreams" (see photo below) helped me to decide on this potential review of Holley Gerth's called appropriately What Your Heart Needs For The Hard Days or 52 encouraging truths to hold on to!

There are of course countless devotionals on the market these days so what makes this one a little bit more special?
Let's first agree we all have good and bad days, the latter the kind where you would rather hide 
somewhere preferably where no one can find you (including the dog, the cat or/and the kids!).

In this perfectly formatted (purse size) little gem, you will find 52 devotions (I like to think of these as home truths) each one interactive to reconnect with the Lord and find a measure of peace in this (too) busy life of ours. If you are anything like me, it is the little things (piling up) which gets me. Once they start, it has a snowball effect and disaster strikes inadvertently. 

With chapters such as "God wants to lift you up when life lets you down" and "God wants to know how are you, really?" Holley reminds us of what a treasure we are in His eyes and that we are not alone. Using Psalms as references she introduces us to restful thoughts about what truly matters to us and to Him. I like to hear that we are not alone when our heart is heavy!

Of course like praying, devotions are a personal experience but this one never felt like preaching 
(one of my pet peeves) and I enjoyed reading it at leisure.

Give it a try Folks and let me know what you think!

5 Stars!



Meet the Author:

Holley Gerth is a bestselling writer, certified life coach, and speaker. She loves connecting with the hearts of women through her popular blog and books like You're Already Amazing, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream, Opening the Door to Your God-Sized Dream, and You're Going to Be Okay. She's also cofounder of (in)courage and a partner with DaySpring. Holley lives with her husband, Mark, in the South. 

Visit her at http://holleygerth.com/.

Note to Readers: This book is the perfect companion to Holley's book You're Going to Be Okay.

(Photo source Holley's website - Love this one!)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from BAKER PUBLISHING. as part of the it's 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. 

A Light In The Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick, Book review

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Revell (September 2, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0800722319
• Also available in KINDLE format

SYNOPSIS:


Letitia holds nothing more dear than the papers that prove she is no longer a slave. They may not cause white folks to treat her like a human being, but at least they show she is free. She trusts in those words she cannot read--as she is beginning to trust in Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant cattleman who wants her to come west with him.

Nancy Hawkins is loathe to leave her settled life for the treacherous journey by wagon train, but she is so deeply in love with her husband that she knows she will follow him anywhere--even when the trek exacts a terrible cost.

Betsy is a Kalapuya Indian, the last remnant of a once proud tribe in the Willamette Valley in Oregon territory. She spends her time trying to impart the wisdom and ways of her people to her grandson. But she will soon have another person to care for.

As season turns to season, suspicion turns to friendship, and fear turns to courage, three spirited women will discover what it means to be truly free in a land that makes promises it cannot fulfill. This multilayered story from bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick will grip readers' hearts and minds as they travel with Letitia on the dusty and dangerous Oregon trail into the boundless American West.


My thoughts:


Based on a true story, Jane Kirkpatrick's novel A Light In The Wilderness follows three very different women, each on a journey filled with hope but riddled with pitfalls. As the story unravels we are quickly reminded what a hard life pioneer women lived in the 19th Century as this country developed into the nation we know it to be today.

Jane Kirkpatrick's prose brings all the little details any history buff look for into a good novel but what I found most enticing was the different emotions she endowed each of the three women who make up this story. African American Letitia is a freed slave and the survivor, Nancy is the kindred spirit who does not care if her friend is dark and Native American Betsy is the constant in this new state of Oregon, a land of dreams for so many in that time.

With in depth suggested readings, book discussion questions and an interview with the author, you will find this a surprisingly entertaining novel as you follow these three women in their quest to secure their place in this new West. 

4 Stars!

Meet the Author:

Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the coveted Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. 

Her works have been finalists for the Christy Award, Spur Award, Oregon Book Award, and Reader's Choice awards, and have won the WILLA Literary Award and Carol Award for Historical Fiction. Many of her titles have been Book of the Month and Literary Guild selections. You can also read her work in more than fifty publications, including Decision, Private Pilot, and Daily Guideposts.

Visit her website (HERE)


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from BAKER PUBLISHING. as part of the it's 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. 

A Long Way Off (The Modern Day Story Of The Prodigal Son), DVD review

• Studio: Word Films
• DVD Release Date: November 11, 2014
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Rated PG
• ASIN: B00JPO97MO

SYNOPSIS:

Jake is tired of living on the family farm, submitting to the rules of his Father, Mr. Abraham.

One day, Jake demands an early inheritance from his father.  Much to the surprise of Jake – and Jake’s older brother, Seth, his Father agrees to Jake’s request and Jake is off to the big city.

Jake charges into the city, intent on proving that his modern ways are better than his dad’s traditional ways. He arrives in the city and embarks on his new life.  For a while, he does well-surprisingly well all while taking huge business risks.  His fast lifestyle finds him making “easy” money – even winning a bet with an interested and attractive local coffee house barista named Summer.

Jake’s flamboyance quickly attracts the wrong women including the seductive Laura, whose rich mobster boyfriend Frank is often dangerously nearby.  

Jake seemingly has got the it all: money, ladies, prestige – but then suddenly, he loses it all and finds himself on the wrong end of the deal he made with mobster Frank and running for his life.  And then, it gets worse.

Just when Jake thinks he’s hit bottom, the bottom really drops out – and he is now eating out of dumpsters and literally eventually ends up in the hog pen.  He’s burned all his bridge and now, out of options, Jake is forced to confront himself and, if he is to survive, he must discover who he really is.

Note: For additional information about the movie including the trailer and church material visit (HERE)


My thoughts:


Christ's parabola about love, the Prodigal Son, is perhaps one of the best known in the Bible and has been adapted many times. This newer version reminds us once again how much we have to learn about God's love for His children. A Long Way Off is the modern day version of the prodigal son.

Jake is the youngest of the two Abraham's sons. A bright albeit superficial young man, Jake is his father's favourite whilst his hardworking brother is his father's right hand. 
As expected the story unfolds with Jake wishing to leave the farm for greener pastures and his father's acquiescing to his son's demands for his inheritance. Just there, I felt like grinding my teeth! Is this young man for real?

But there would be no story for us to unravel if it did not follows what the Bible tells us. Jake gets to have a taste of the good life until he loses it all and returns home to beg his father's love and forgiveness. 
As much as I do not like Jake's character (I much prefer the steadfastness of the older brother) I must differ to the lesson it carries: God's everlasting love for us!

Running 105 minutes, the concept of the script is pleasant enough, the acting a little stale and not very realistic.

3 Stars!



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 and is home to 25 Entertainment, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Print/Church Resources, Word Films, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Word Worship and Fervent Records.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of each DVD courtesy of EDIFY MEDIA Inc. as part of the movie's 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. 

75 Years Ago

Has it been already 75 years?


On the 1st of September 1939 the German army under the command of Chancellor Adolf Hitler launched the invasion of Poland, thus triggering the beginning of World War II.

The battle for Poland lasted about one month before a Nazi victory but that invasion plunged the world into a war which lasted 6 years for many and claimed millions of lives.

The armed forces in Britain and France were immediately mobilized in response. Many Polish towns were bombed and Danzig (Gdansk) fell under German control.

(Photo source HERE)


It is interesting to note that excerpts from Hitler's proclamation to Germans citizens were read aloud on that first day of September's BBC program, revealing his objectives whilst in London preparations for war were under way: Queen Elizabeth visited the Women's Voluntary Service and the evacuation of the children started. Additionally the BBC bulletin called for all emergency services personnel to report for duty immediately.

Although many of these evacuees returned home within a few months, some never would as there were no home to return to.

Google Sources HERE, HERE, HERE)

Two days later at At 1115 BST the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, announced the British deadline for the withdrawal of German troops from Poland had expired.

Mr Chamberlain continued: "I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and consequently this country is at war with Germany."


According to the Guinness Book of Records,  "the most costly war in terms of human life was World War II (1939–45), in which the total number of fatalities, including battle deaths and civilians of all countries, is estimated to have been 56.4 million, assuming 26.6 million Soviet fatalities and 7.8 million Chinese civilians were killed.
The country which suffered most in proportion to its population was Poland, with 6,028,000 or 17.2 per cent of its population of 35,100,000 killed."
Today experts believe 50-70 million people were killed in as a direct result of World War 2.

Something to think of as we listen to broadcast news and hear of wars in so many places on this little planet!

Finally, I wonder how many recognize this young WATS?

(Photo source HERE)

In the meantime, today is LABOUR DAY in the USA and many families get together to celebrate the last few days of Summer!

So to friends and neighbours, HAPPY LABOUR DAYS FOLKS!