What’s in the Bible: Battle for the Promised Land (Giveaway)

Episode #4 of the new “What’s in the Bible” series takes the viewer through the books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. This highly entertaining DVD series was created by Phil Vischer (the creator of the Veggie Tales series). The songs, puppets, and humor make these videos both fun and educational for the whole family. We reviewed Episode 3 a few months ago and were delighted to have the opportunity to view the next episode as well.

What’s in the Bible: Battle for the Holy Land begins with Joshua and the Israelites entering the Holy Land and follows them through hardships, battles, and rebellion against God. The viewer will learn why God ordered the Israelites to wipe out the other nations in the Promised Land, what the role of the judges was, and why the story of Ruth is in the Bible.

I think the “What’s in the Bible” series is  great family entertainment that is enjoyable for all ages. I appreciate that it does more than simply tells the stories of the Bible. It does a very good job of introducing theology to children, including difficult subjects like sin and redemption, God’s covenant, and the cycle of apostasy (and yes, it does use and define difficult words like “apostasy.”)

Emily says, “I think that it’s really entertaining and makes you want to come back for more and read more of the Bible. I like the jungle guys and the pirate. I think they are hilarious.” 

Even I chuckled at the antics of the church ladies,  the pirate, and other characters and at the silly but memorable songs. I’m looking forward to viewing more of this series.

 

Phil Vischer

 

 

 

I received a free review copy of What’s in the Bible, Battle for the Promised Land from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Giveaway!

Would you like to win your own copy of What’s in the Bible, Battle for the Promised Land? I have a coupon for a free DVD to send to one of my readers. To enter, just leave a comment telling me why you think your family would enjoy this series. The winner will be chosen on Nov. 14 by random.org.

Additional entries:

1. Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

2. Visit Super Star Speech and tell me something you learned or sign up for the email list.

Halloween

We were visiting some good friends in Florida over Halloween weekend, so Emily enjoyed some holiday fun with her friend, Trey.

Assessing the candy stash!

Navigator’s Topical Memory System (Review)

I have put effort into memorizing scripture off and on throughout the years. I have a hard time memorizing, though, and I now know bits, pieces, and paraphrases of many verses. I’m glad that I do, and it has been beneficial to me to have God’s word in my heart, but I have always wished for a more consistent method to commit verses to memory.

When I saw the Topical Memory System, I was eager to try it. Although the Topical Memory System has been around for a number of years, it was new to me.

The core of the system is a set of 60 memory verses printed on cards. I especially like that each of these 60 verses is printed in six different Bible translations, enabling the user to choose his or her preferred translation. I like the NIV, so that is what I am using. There is also a book that explains the system and meditation guides for each of the 60 verses and a vinyl holder for the cards being studied.

The verses are ordered and arranged by topic. For example, the first two verses are under the topic, “Christ the Center.”  The next topic is “Obedience to Christ.” It is suggested that two verses be memorized each week, with four days devoted to memorizing the topic, reference, and verses and three days devoted to meditation on the verses and studying them in context.

So far, I am enjoying using the Topical Memory system and am finding it effective. I’ve learned six verses so far and am moving onward. It actually has seemed rather effortless! I’m looking forward to continuing the system and am hopeful that I will eventually make it through all 60 verses.

I received this item free from NavPress in exchange for my honest review.

Solitaire Chess (Review)

Do you like logic games? Would you like your child to learn to play chess? Solitaire Chess is a unique mix of both.

 

The Timberdoodle Company sent us the Solitaire Chess game to try out. The board is a grid of 16 squares.  The game includes 60 puzzles and 10 chess pieces. The chess pieces move according to the usual chess rules, but every move must involve a capture. To play, the pieces are placed as indicated by the game card. The object is to remove all but one piece. The recommended age range is 8 to adult.

Our Thoughts:

1. Our first challenge was simply to remove the game from the box! It took 20 minutes to conquer this task. The cards are conveniently stored in a compartment under the chess board. However, they fit tightly and while they were still wrapped in plastic, were almost impossible to  remove. I wish I’d taken a picture, because it was rather amusing to see us attacking the game with scissors, knife, and screwdriver!

2. Emily (10) really enjoyed the game itself. First, I had to teach her the chess moves for each piece.  Once she had them mastered, she started working through the puzzles. The first few puzzles were very easy. I appreciated that, because it gave her confidence and experience in how to attack each challenge. The intermediate challenges start becoming trickier and can require considerable logic and trial and error to solve. I’m enjoying figuring out the puzzles too!

3. Emily says Solitaire Chess is “fun, challenging, and helps the mind.”  She thinks she’s ready to start playing “real chess.” It will be interesting to see how well the logic challenge of Solitaire Chess prepares her for the thinking challenge of traditional chess.

Timberdoodle  Co. sells a large variety of family and educational games. We own quite a few of them ourselves!

Timberdoodle Co. is currently running a giveaway every day on their facebook page through next Tuesday.

I received Solitaire Chess from Timberdoodle Co. as part of their . Blogger Review Team. All opinions are my own.

Gulf Coast Exploreum

Emily and I visited the Gulf Coast Exploreum in Mobile a few days ago. They have a special Reptile exhibit going on which was fun to see.

Google Alerts

Did you know that you can set up Google Alerts to send you an email when your name or business is mentioned anywhere on the internet? I’ve been doing that for a while and it is useful to see when someone blogs about Super Star Speech or mentions it on a message board. It is also interesting to see where else my name is mentioned….

From 3-5 pm enjoy a "From Grits to Phyllo Cooking Class" as gourmet cook Debbie Lott teaches hands-on techniques and shares special recipes at the Hampton .

No, not me! Although I would like to be known as a “gourmet cook!”

Deborah Lott Make Up Artist

 

SUPER STAR's speech in KAMAL 50. Rating Views: 8987. RAJNI KAANTH,,the one and only super star..who got the largest salary for his film in Asia

And I’m a cowgirl…This was the first time that the Games were held in the US The Cowgirls included Captain Sara Curtis, Linda Benhase, Debbie Lott, Mary Mendoz

Pillsbury Grands Giveaway Winner!

Wow, this may have been my most popular giveaway yet! The winner is:

Comment #102

Linda said...    I follow you on GFC.

 

I enjoyed reading all the recipe ideas in the comments!

My Mom, by Emily

This is a fun quiz that I read at Pillars in Her Father’s House. Copy this note, ask your child the questions and write them down exactly how they respond. Tag me back if you haven't done this, I'd love to hear the answers.

1. What is something mom always says to you?  "Clean your room!”

2. What makes mom happy?  "When I clean my room.”

3. What makes mom sad?  "When I’m mean to her.”

4. How does your mom make you laugh?  "Tickles me and is funny.

5. What was your mom like as a child?  "good, a good kid.”

6. How old is your mom?  "How old are you, again, 47?”

7. How tall is your mom?  " 44 feet”

8. What is her favorite thing to do?  "cook”

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?  "shout for joy”

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?  "writing books.”

11. What is your mom good at?  "everything”

13. What does your mom do for her job?  "writes speech therapist books”

14. What is your mom's favorite food?  "lasagna”

15. What makes you proud of your mom?  "when she gets a lot of money”

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?  "Oh my goodness, that’s funny! Wanda, from Magic School bus.”

17. What do you and your mom do together?  "schoolwork, play soccer and stuff”

18. How are you and your mom the same?  "We hate too many phone calls.”

19. How are you and your mom different?  "She has different colored hair.”

20. How do you know your mom loves you?  " ‘Cause she tells me.”

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?  "Ryan’s”

22. Where is your favorite place to go? “Ryan’s”

Passport to India

Is your family ready for
the adventure of a lifetime?

Join Mission India and Sonlight Curriculum for My Passport to India, beginning October 5, 2010!

During this 5-week program, you will:

• See and experience the real India - without ever leaving your neighborhood!
• Explore India's incredible, diverse culture, people and places
• Enhance your homeschooling with unique educational resources
• Meet the people God is using to bring the Gospel to India's 400+ million unreached
• Discover how you can reach boys and girls in India with the love of Jesus by supporting Children's Bible Clubs!

We watched the first video this morning and I am so excited about this program! The videos and extra materials are very well done. We are studying world cultures this year, so this is PERFECT for us. I rearranged our schedule somewhat so that we will officially begin studying India in mid-October to coincide with the Mission India program.

When we signed up for the program, we were sent a “passport” with questions to answer and stickers for each daily “trip” and a coin collection box. Emily is already doing extra chores to earn money so that Indian children can learn about Jesus. I love that this will not only fit in with our home school studies, but will help to give her a heart for children who don’t have the advantages of American wealth and a Christian family that she does.

Even though the program has already started,  it is not too late to sign up. You’ll be glad you did!

Mission India

Elmer’s CraftBond/ X-Acto Review

Thanks to BzzAgent.com, Elmers, and X-Acto, I was recently able to try out an assortment of crafting supplies. I’ve used several Elmer’s products for years—white glue, glue sticks, and wood glue, but I didn’t realize until now that they also produced scrapbooking supplies. I received a tape runner, glue spots, glue pen, glue stick, a corner rounder punch and decorative edging scissors.

I headed to the Elmer’s website for some craft ideas and decided to make some note cards.  Note: this site has LOTS of great idea for crafts and gifts---Be sure to check it out!

Emily and I cut and snipped and glued. Here are our finished cards:

 

I was happy with the quality of the Elmer’s and X-Acto products. One of the pairs of decorative scissors seemed to be jammed closed at first, but after opening and closing them several times, they loosened up and worked fine. I’ve never used glue spots before—I found them easy to use and I liked the 3-dimensional effect they gave to my cards. Emily thought the glue pen was “really cool.” She found it perfect for gluing narrow strips of paper and tiny cut-outs.

Elmer’s CraftBond and X-Acto craft supplies are available in the memory keeping aisle at Walmart. Visit elmers.com/crafters or facebook.com/Elmers for more information.

I received these products from BzzAgent and was encouraged to share my opinion about them. I was not required to write a positive review.

Pillsbury Grands! Mini Biscuits Giveaway

 

I love fresh, hot biscuits for breakfast. Yum! My Blog Spark sent me a prize pack consisting of a coupon for Frozen Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits, a biscuit basket, butter dish and spreader and a $15 gift card to buy additional ingredients. I first bought a package of the Butter Flavored Biscuits, then realized that I was asked to try out the MINI biscuits, so I went back to the store to get them as well. First, I cooked the regular biscuits and made bacon and egg breakfast sandwiches. Yum! I loved how quick and easy it was to just take 2 ready-to-cook biscuits from the freezer and cook them up. We thought they were delicious. Here are some of our “biscuit creations.”

Regular size Grand’s Biscuit Bacon and Egg Sandwich

Mini Grand’s Sandwiches with ham, cheese, egg, lettuce and guacamole

Apple Cobbler made with Mini Grand’s Biscuits

You can get a $1 off coupon  for Frozen Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits here.  Since a package sells for about $2.50, this is a good savings!

Giveaway:

My BlogSpark is giving away the same package I received to one of my readers. This Pillsbury® Grands!® Mini Biscuits prize pack  includes a VIP coupon good for a free package of biscuits, a $15 gift card to purchase your recipe creation/experimentation needs, a biscuit basket, a butter dish and spreader!

To enter, tell me how you would use the mini biscuits. (I’m looking for more recipe ideas!) If you are a Google Friend Connect Follower, leave a comment telling me so for a second entry. For a third entry, either leave a comment on my Super Star Speech blog or sign up for the email list at Super Star Speech.

Winner will be chosen by random.org on Oct. 20.

I received this prize pack free from My Blog Spark and Pillsbury. I was not required to blog about it. All opinions are my own.