Tuesday, November 1, 2016

"Cold-Case Christianity for Kids" Blog Tour


Cold-Case Christianity for Kids (David C. Cook, October 2016)

Between the ages of 8 and 12, kids often start to wonder if Christianity is true.

In Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, detective J. Warner Wallace draws readers into the thrill of high-stakes investigation by showing them how to think rather than telling them what to think. In this children’s companion to the bestselling Cold-Case Christianity, detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity. Includes author illustrations and links to a website where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit.





Learn more and purchase a copy.


{More About J. Warner and Susie Wallace}

J. Warner and Susie Wallace have been training young people in the church setting for over a decade. J. Warner is a cold-case homicide detective who has been featured on Dateline, FOX News, Court TV and other crime-related television shows. A former atheist, he is the author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, and Forensic Faith. He has a master’s degree in theology and is the founder of ColdCaseChristianity.com. Susie has a master’s degree in speech pathology and co-writes (and edits) all the kids books in this series. J. Warner and Susie have four children and live in southern California.



Find out more about J. Warner and at http://www.coldcasechristianityforkids.com.


My Take:

Logic. Reason. Faith.

Can these three things ever go together?

According to Cold-Case Christianity for Kids - and the original book for adults - the answer is yes.

With an easy tone that is both conversational and compelling, J. warner and Susie Wallace take kids through a fascinating look at the evidence for Christ, His life, His death, and His resurrection.

My daughter is seven (the book is recommended for ages 8-12), but she thoroughly enjoyed this book. She liked how there was a mystery-type tone to the book and that she got to think for herself about something that she has mostly just been told about. We talk about God and Jesus and the Bible every day. We teach our daughter about faith and about how there are some things that we were just never be able to understand here on Earth. But this book allows kids to dig deeper and discover Jesus in a new way that relies very much on logic and reason. It really put everything into perspective - how the logic, reason, and faith very much go together in the Christian life.

There is always a danger with children that they respond to the truths of scripture only because they have been told to by their parents and other adults in their lives. Cold-Case Christianity for Kids challenges kids to explore and embrace the love and salvation from Jesus for their very own.

My husband and I really enjoyed going through this book with our daughter, and I'm sure we will be referencing it in the future. I would love to see other books of this type for kids!


Giveaway:

Encourage your kids to investigate the case for Christianity by entering to win a faith examination kit and a copy of J. Warner and Susie's new book.

cold-case-christianity-400 

One grand prize winner will receive:
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 4. The winner will be announced November 7 on the Litfuse blog.

cold-case-christianity-enterbanner



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Friday, April 29, 2016

"Angels in the Bible Storybook" Review

Where were the angels when God created the world?
Why did an angel force a donkey off a road?
Who did the angels get out of jail twice?

Young readers will find answers to these and other questions in this exciting storybook, written by bestselling author Allia Zobel Nolan with illustrations by Alida Massari.

Angels in the Bible Storybook gives children a fascinating look into how God’s powerful behind-the-scenes helpers interacted with Bible greats from Abraham, Lot, and Gideon to Zechariah, Mary, and Jesus himself, acting as messengers, protectors, warriors, and more.



To purchase a copy of this book, please click here.

About the Author & Illustrator:

Allia Zobel Nolan is an internationally-published author of over 200 children’s titles and adult trade titles. Her books reflect her two main passions, God and cats. Zobel Nolan lives and writes in Connecticut with her husband, Desmond Nolan and their two feline children.

Alida Massari is an Italian artist specializing in illustration for children. She has illustrated many books, collaborating with Italian, English, German, and American publishers. Her books have been translated in numerous countries. Massari was born in Rome where she studied art and illustration. Now she lives in a little Etruscan town, with her husband and daughter, Diana.


Angels in the Bible Storybook
by Allia Zobel Nolan
Illustrated by: Alida Massari
Zonderkidz Publishing
Publication date: January 7, 2016
Age Range: 4-8 years
224 pages


My Take:

The first thing I noticed when opening this Bible story book was the beautiful illustrations. The images are soft and comforting while also giving the reader a greater visual of the stories.

That being said, I did think it was interesting that most of the drawings of the angels included wings when the book makes a point of saying that angels don't necessarily look like we normally picture them (wings, halos, very feminine, etc.). The book also makes a point of saying that angels in the Bible could have taken human form. But still most of the illustrations have the angels with wings.

That's a fairly minor point, however, as this book does a great job of telling the stories of various encounters with angels during biblical times. You don't realize just how many of these encounters occurred until you see them all in one book! The stories are easy to read for/to young children, and for the most part, the doctrine seemed sound. I did think that some of the stories were a little bit too "dressed up" even for children. Picturing God rolling out grass like carpet takes away from the majesty of God creating everything in the world.

I very much appreciated the scripture references in this book. I always like when Bible storybooks include where the story can be found in scripture so that we can immediately read that portion of the Bible if we want to.

Overall, this book was much more than I was expecting. As with all storybook Bibles, reading it straight from the source along with the storybook is always the best way to go.

I will give Angels in the Bible Storybook ... 3.5 BookWorms.









Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."


          

Monday, April 18, 2016

My friend Michelle


 
There are approximately 30,000 Americans living with cystic fibrosis. One of them is my friend Michelle. When I found out that she has Cystic Fibrosis, I couldn't believe it. She is so full of life and is truly a fighter of this disease.

The reason she is alive today is because of the great strides that have been made in Cystic Fibrosis research and treatment. There is still no cure, and that is why I am walking in the 2016 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides Walk in Lafayette.

Will you join me? Support me by making a donation to my Great Strides fundraising campaign today!

Great Strides is a fun, family-friendly event that raises awareness and support for people with CF and their families.

Please support me!
Help me reach my fundraising goal by donating to my Great Strides fundraising campaign. Your gift will help add tomorrows to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis by supporting life-saving research and medical progress. Your gift is 100-percent tax deductible.
 
 

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Z Blog Squad Easter Giveaway!

Can you believe it?!
 
 
 
Easter is only 26 days away!!!
 
To help celebrate, the good folks at Zonderkidz have agreed to have me host an Easter basket giveaway!
 
 
I am so excited about this giveaway!
 
 
Zonderkidz let me choose from among several categories of books that have been grouped together especially for this giveaway. Since my daughter just recently turned 7, my blog will be hosting the giveaway for the group of books in the 4-10 year-old age range.
 
 
And what a fun grouping of books it is!
 
 
Here's what you can win:
 
 
Info

 

Faith Builders Bible
NIrV

Full Text Bible with Features
 

 
 
 
 
Info
 
Angels in the Bible Storybook
by Allia Zobel Nolan
Informational Storybook Bible for Older children
 
 

 

 

Info
 
Think, Act, Be Like Jesus
by Randy Frazee
Devotional for kids ages 6-12; from Believe series





 
 
Info
 
7 Days of Awesome
by Shawn Byous
Picture Book; Story of Creation
 
 
 
 
 
Click on "Info" under each book cover above to get more information about each product.

And be sure to check back over the next month or so to read my reviews of these books!
 
He is Risen!
 
To enter the giveaway (U.S. addresses only), fill out the form below by March 12, 2016.    
Please enter only once.
  All books will be shipped in time for Easter! 
  
 
Congratulations to Ella P. -- you are the winner of the Zonderkidz Easter Basket Giveaway!!!
 
 
 
 
 
"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."  Matthew 28:5-6