Awesome Science: Explore Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest w/ Noah Justice

                                                

  

This is the 3rd episode in the Awesome Science DVD series with Noah Justice. This episode explores Meteor Crater and the Petrified Forest. You are taken directly to these locations by Noah. Noah compares what evolutionist think compared to what Creationist think. He uses the Bible to back up the facts and disclaim what evolutionist think, this information is given in simple terms so that children can understand. He explains in detail about how the Petrified Forest was caused by the flood and uses a well known landmark to prove how this happened. He talks a little about sedimentary layers. The only part that might be of some concern for some parents is at the end of the video he uses a gun to shot a bullet into the ground to show the effects of a meteor (please note, his grandfather was there to supervise and it was noted that you shouldn't do this ever). I would say about the first 20 minutes or so focuses on the Petrified Forest, the rest of the video talks about meteors and craters. We love these videos and can't wait to enjoy more of them and add them to our homeschool library. As with the other videos in this series there are study guides that you can purchase to go along with the video. I highly recommend them, it helps to solidify what your child is learning in this series of videos and gives you so much more information.

http://www.amazon.com/Awesome-Science-Explore-Petrified-Justice/dp/B007HQGUBS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1355700564&sr=8-4&keywords=awesome+science

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Leaf Publishing Group's blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Great for God (Missionaries Who Changed the World) by David Shibley

                                                        

                                                      

Oh my goodness! I LOVED this book. I read it to my 9 1/2 yr old son as apart of our homeschool curriculum for the 1st quarter. I loved that it covered so many missionaries (23 all together), some we know and some new to us. There is 1 chapter per missionary, each chapter is no longer than 6 or 7 pages. At the beginning of each chapter the date of birth and death are given, as is what legacy they left and a quote from that missionary. This book is great introduction to each of these missionaries, alot of the chapters made us want to learn more about these missionaries. The chapters were basically a summary of each missionaries life from birth to death (or current works). I highly recommend this book for children 7 and up, it's an easy read for them either to listen to or to read themselves.

http://www.christianbook.com/great-missionaries-who-changed-the-world/david-shibley/9780892217090/pd/217092?product_redirect=1&Ntt=217092&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Leaf Publishing Group's blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

How Do We Know the Bible is True? Vol 1

How Do We Know the Bible is True? General Editors Ken Ham & Bodie Hodge along with 15 other writers (Master Books) is an Apologetic style book that contains essays on over 20 relevant topics on questions that are often asked.  I must admit that I had a hard time getting into the first couple of chapters, at times it was way over my head, however I was able to get the gist of what was being said. I was only able to read this book a few pages at a time due to trying to absorb all the information and input from the various authors. Also once you get use to one writers style, you are on to another writer and getting use to their style of writing. Some were engaging while others leaned toward the dry side. Personally, I feel that this book would be good for a High School or College student interested in Biblical Theology. I did find certain parts interesting like How to Properly View Evidence by Ken Ham, What is Wrong with Atheism by Jason Lisle, Evolution - The Anti-Science? also by Jason Lisle, Is the Perpetual Virginity of Mary a Biblical View? by Bodie Hodge, and Polygamy in the Light of Scripture by Roger Patterson (this topic was especially interesting to me given all the recent TV programs covering this topic). I plan to put this book in our home library and have it available to my son when he is older as a reference type book. I do like that the Bible is referred to through out the book, to back up what the author is saying.

http://www.christianbook.com/know-the-bible-true-volume-1/9780890516331/pd/516331?product_redirect=1&Ntt=516331&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Leaf Publishing Group's blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Awesome Science Explore the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone DVDs

Awesome Science Explore the Grand Canyon (episode 1) with Noah Justice. I sat down with my 9 yr old son and watched this video. He loved it, love it so much that we watched the 2nd DVD in the series (review for 2nd DVD also in this entry). The young man who hosts the DVD is very knowledgeable about Creation Science and the location that he is exploring. He gives information from a Creation point of view while helping children to understand the evolutionist point of view and then debunking it by Biblically backing up the Creation point of view. There are lots of wonderful scenic views of the area, maps, facts, and a combination of History and Science provided. I have noticed that not all sites provide the Study Guide we received with these DVDs and those that do require that you  order them separately for an additional cost. In my opinion this it's well worth it to by the Study Guide to accompany the DVD. The Study Guides are put out by Master Books. The Study Guide breaks down to the various points of interest of the location and scientific, including vocabulary, discussion questions and bonus activities to do.  Christian Book Distributors seems to have the best price on the DVD's and Study Guide (Amazon has it for immediate download though) Video: http://www.christianbook.com/explore-justice-episode-awesome-science-series/pd/117458?product_redirect=1&Ntt=117458&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Study Guide: http://www.christianbook.com/explore-justice-episode-awesome-science-series/9780890516546/pd/516546?event=CF

Awesome Science Explore Yellowstone (episode 2) with Noah Justice.   This was the 2nd video that we watched of this series (so far there are 6 all together), immediately after watching the 1st episode. The information given continued to hold my 9 yr old son's interest through out the whole video. We will be purchasing the rest of the series and will be looking forward to more being added in the future. It'll well be worth the investment to add them to our homeschool library. Note: you don't have to be a homeschooler to enjoy these videos, all can benefit greatly from them. The DVD's are also put out by Master Books.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Leaf Publishing Group's blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The World of Animals (My Father's World)

This book is filled with wonderful photos, a large variety of them per specie group. I only found one issue with the book, two of the photos have dark edges and some of the text runs into this edge, causing it to be a little harder to read. This book would be a wonderful addition (as an encyclopedia) to an already existing animal science curriculum or to use as an additional resource for a research paper. The information is easy enough for a 3rd grader to understand but in depth enough for an 8th grader to use as an additional resource. I know that this book will be helpful in our homeschool for years to come. I look forward to sharing the many wonders of God's world that are pictured in this book.

You can find a copy of this book on Christian Book Distrubitors (http://www.christianbook.com/world-of-animals-martin-walters/9780890516171/pd/516171?product_redirect=1&Ntt=516171&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP#curr). I feel that the price being asked for this hardcover book on this site, is reasonable for the amount of information you are getting with in it's pages (247 pages to be exact). It covers everything from Simple Animals (examples: Protists, Sponges, and Coral Reefs), to Insects & Other Arthropods (examples: Beetles and Weevils, Dragonflies and Damselflies, and Spiders), to Mammals (examples: Insect Eaters, Large Rodents, Dogs, Foxes and Hyenas, and Gibbons).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Leaf Publishing Group's blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Unveiling the Kings of Israel by David Down

This book was very intriguing. I found it hard to put down, and I am not a person who enjoys reading history books. I generally find the information on history dry, boring and contradicting my Biblical beliefs. However, the information in this book is so helpful in helping to connect the missing dots so to speak to the Biblical time line. How with the correct time line, every event in the Bible lines up perfectly. I must admit I learned things I didn't even know, and things I had never thought of before. I feel like I know each of the kings in the Bible on a more real level, before they were just ancient people of the Bible. It looks at history from a Biblical point of view. This would be a great book to add a study of the kings of the Bible. This book is not your typical boring history style book. I look forward to having my son use this book in the future to learn more about the kings of the Bible and how to back up the Biblical time line. However I feel that this book is mainly for High School and College Students, Adults. This book should also not be used as a stand alone book, but as book for more information or a way to intrigue students to delve deeper into the facts present in this book.

You are able to find this 168 page book through Christian Book Distributors (http://www.christianbook.com/unveiling-israel-revealing-bibles-archaeological-history/david-down/9780890516096/pd/516096?product_redirect=1&Ntt=516096&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP#curr). This book starts you out with Mankinds Ancestors and walks you through Biblical history to the King of Kings. There are also 4 sets of Appendixes and 3 pages of Endnotes (which give you even more references (which were used for this book)).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Leaf Publishing Group's blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Johnny Termain by Esther Forbes (1944)

We loved this book about a boy (Johnny), who wanted nothing more than to be a silversmith. His story is just before the Revolutionary War, in Boston. I personally (as an adult), found the book spell binding and very well written. It was hard to put down, I wanted find out what was going to happen to Johnny next. You are drawn into the main characters life, you feel like you are in the middle of the Revolutionary War. Johnny is injured and must give up his dream of being a silversmith (which he showed great promise of being among the best). He finds himself in the middle of helping with Whigs with things like the Boston Tea Party.

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh (1991)

This was a great book for both boys and girls. My 8 1/2 yr old enjoyed reading about the journey that Sarah took with her father, into the woods where Indians (savages) lived to build the family a new house. She was took cook and take care of her fathers household needs while he built the house. Sarah gets to know and even love the Indians, especially Big John and his family. They become like 2nd parents to her for a while. She's a little girl trying so hard to be a big brave girl. This was a very heart warming story and I would say it's a good read for children 2nd to 4th grade.

Untangling Christmas (a chance to win a free Kindle Fire)

 

Untangling Christmas — Your Go-To Guide for a Hassle Free Holiday

http://www.untanglingchristmas.org/

Your Go-To Guide for a Hassle Free Holiday

I haven't read this book but wanted to pass along a chance for you to check out this book and to have a chance to win a free Kindle Fire too! I can tell you that this is a Christ based book, that is to help you simplify Christmas.

Redeeming Love by Franscine Rivers

Redeeming Love is another great read from Franscine Rivers. She does such a wonderful job retelling the story of Gomer and Hosea. She uses the mid 1800's to tell her story. Angel is a young lady whose childhood was less than ideal and it ended up being the beginning of what leads her down a road of prositution just to survive. That is until one day when a very unlikely rescuer comes to her aid, Michael Hosea. He can't get her out of his mind, he goes back and saves her. However, Angel is not a willing rescuee, she keeps lapsing back into her old ways even though Michael's love for her is never ending. She must find out though for herself that his love for her is never changing, no matter how much she hurts him. This story leaves you on the edge of your seat, hoping she'll see it before it's to late and he gives up completely on her. I must say while this story isn't graphic, it does touch on some exteremly sensetive subjects: child sexual abuse, child abuse, rape, prostitution, physical abuse and sexual abuse. Some of the story takes place in brothels and bars. I would recommend this story for mature readers 18+.

Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

Atonement Child was another great book, which I found hard to put down. This is a story of a young woman who finds out that she is pregnant after she was raped.  She finds she has a life changing decision to make, one that will not only change her life but her personal relastionships and life goals. She leans on her strong beliefs and her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through this stressful time in her life. She makes hard chooses that she'll have to life with for the rest of her life. She turns to the Lord and His word often through out her entire experience. She knows He has a purpose for what has happened and she must see it through, no matter the personal cost to her personally. Yes this book does deal with rape, however it is not a graphic novel. I would recommend this book for ages 16 and up.

Divine by Karen Kingsbury

I read Divine about 3 yrs ago, and I just could not put it down. It's story is live changing for the reader, what I mean by this is that 3 yrs later and I am still effected by this modern day retelling of Mary Magdalene. Karen Kingsbury's telling of the story helps to bring to light what Mary Magdalene's life might have been like. In the book Mary Madison must retell her life story in order to save other young ladies finding themselves in dangerous situations very similar to the ones that she herself went through as a young lady. Mary runs a shelter for woman who are abused. Mary retells her story to a woman who has just left her abusive husband, so this woman will know she can stand up against the abuse and put a final stop to it before it's to late for her.
I don't recommend this, however for young readers (those under 17), as this story goes into abuse, addictions, suicide, and prostutition. Please don't let this turn you off though, as a mature reader you have to remember that this book is a modern retelling of Mary Magdalene who was a prositute in the Bible.This book is worth the read and will touch you in a way that will stay with you for a lifetime.