Wednesday, August 31, 2011

DK Graphic Readers

DK Graphic Readers
Published at DK Canada

About the books

Combining the excellent content of DK Readers with the excitement of a graphic novel, these thrilling books use rich, historically accurate settings—such as Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome—as the backdrops for tales of murder, betrayal, and revenge!

  • Reference section provides nonfiction context, including timeline, maps, and glossary
  • Each page contains an amazing historical fact
  • Graphic novel style engages kids 7–11 to read

Our Thoughts

When I discovered these books I immediately thought about the fact that these would be great to incorporate in our history lessons.   Each and every one of them is written as though it was a graphic novel.  The stories are set in a time of history and incorporate historical events in them.   

Part graphic novel and part historical fiction, these books will grab the attention of your kids and will transport them to a time in history.    I have enjoyed quite a bit reading through them and I didn’t hesitate one second to ask my oldest son, who is ten years old, to read them as well.    He read through them in a record time – as a matter of fact he actually devoured them while we were on vacation.    Every time he finished one he would ask for another.    He was a bit disappointed when I gave him the last one.  Here’s what he has to say about the books:

I like the books because they are action packed.  Adventure and mystery are both present and I can learn a bit as well.

Each graphic reader we have received cover a part of history – four of them will present Ancient History and the last one is set in a more recent history. The five books I received are:

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The Curse of the Crocodile God will transport you to Ancient Egypt.

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 The Terror Trail is set in Ancient Rome

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The Price of Victory is set in Ancient Greece during the Olympics

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 Instruments of Death happens to cover Ancient China

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Wagon Train Adventure highlights the travel of pioneers while travelling to California.

Each of these books is graded for a level 4 Proficient Reader as it contains rich vocabulary and challenging sentence structure, additional information and alphabetical glossary.   The fact that this is in the form of a comic book encourages reading I find.    Also included at the end of the books are a map, timeline as well as information on the history behind the story.     These books are well written and I would recommend them for homeschoolers to include in their history lessons.    I am a bit disappointed that there isn’t more history graphic readers in the series as I find it bring history to life when reading and seeing these stories.  I sure hope that in the future DK will provide more  titles in this series.

Each DK Graphic Readers is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: I received the products for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Scrabble Alphabet Scoop

6A2917AA5056900B10751DC778DEDCB8Scrabble Alphabet ScoopFrom Hasbro Canada

About the game

Scoop, match, slam and score! Stir up your pot of letters and then take a card. Choose a word and start scooping tiles. If you’re the first to match your letters, slam on the pot’s lid to score. Mix up a fantastic batch of ALPHABET SCOOP fun!

Contents: Plastic Pot and Lid, 4 Plastic Scoops, 72 Word Cards, 104 Letter Tiles, Rules

2 to 4 players.

Our ThoughtsIMG_0779

When I first saw this new game from Hasbro Canada, I immediately thought about how we can use it.  I knew I wanted to use this game for our homeschool.    I also wondered if my kids will think of eating the letters with their scoops…  With two kids in the learning to read period, one still a bit young but wanting to learn with her brothers and one being old enough to read alone, this game would certainly grab their attention.    So after a morning of learning math, reading, and grammar I took our the Scrabble Aphabet Scoop and explained the rules to the kids.

The rules are simple.   Each player get a card which has five words on it.   Players choose the word they want to spell according to their level.   I asked my JK and grade 1 kids to pick words of three letters.   My grade 2 child picked words that were a little more challenging while my grade 5 child pick the word at the bottom of the card (which contained more letters).  

IMG_0787Once the lid is out, players can scoop letters all at the same time.   It’s a free for all kind of deal.   If you scoop one of the two flies, you have to put back ALL the letters you have scooped as well as the letters you already have to complete your word.    There are also four blank tiles which allow you to replace with any letters you want.

A round is quite fast and you can change the cards when you are done.  When a player has completed the word he/she is suppose to  do, he/she has to yell “YUMMY!” and close the lid on the pot.   

The game is quite simple to play and will entertain your kids for a little while.   I suggest that you play a few rounds in a row.   

Scrabble Alphabet Scoop is perfect for developing the spelling abilities of your kids.   I highly recommend it for homeschoolers and for families with young kids at school.   Learning with fun is so much better and this game provide the fun part and the educational part at the same time.

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The kids had fun – if you consider the yelling and laughing that was going on.   Mothers beware – don’t let your kids play this is you have a headache.   

“Ready, Set, Scoop!” and let your kids have fun while learning how to spell at the same time.

And yes the kids did the “I want to eat the letter soup” picture…

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The Scrabble Alphabet Scoop is available at your favourite toy store.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

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365 Project–Day 238

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Monday, August 29, 2011

One Thousand Gifts–Week 12

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121. a mini vacation

122. free zoo and science museum thanks to membership we have purchased in the past

123. touching a stingray

124. see a red panda walking around (usually they are always up in the trees!)

125. safe travelling

126. going to pick peaches and nectarines

127. Picard Chipnuts

128. A great interaction with the hippo at the zoo

129. paper planes

130. being back home

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365 Project–Day 236

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Life-Changing Bible Verses You Should Know

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:
 

and the book:


Life-Changing Bible Verses You Should Know

Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Karri | Marketing Assistant | Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, Senior Pastor of The Moody Church since 1980, is an award-winning author of more than 20 books including Walking with God. He’s a celebrated international conference speaker and the featured speaker on three radio programs that are heard around the world. Rebecca Lutzer has used her gifts of hospitality, mercy, and teaching to minister to many women. She is an RN and enjoyed working as a surgical nurse for several years. They coauthored a book on the women in the life of Jesus and how He changed their worlds titled Jesus, Lover of a Woman’s Soul. They have been married for 35 years, live in the Chicago area, and are the parents of three married children.


SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:




Erwin Lutzer, senior pastor of the Moody Church, and his wife, Rebecca, encourage readers to reap the blessings of memorizing Scripture in this gathering of relevant verses, 35 topics, insightful explanations, and engaging questions. This foundation of wisdom inspires readers to experience God’s Word in powerful ways.



Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736939520
ISBN-13: 978-0736939522

My Thoughts
I am no stranger to Bible Verses Encouragement type of book.   This one is different thought as it will not only uplift your spirit but it will encourage you to memorize the verses attached to the subject in hand.    Each chapter starts with one or two verses from the bible, includes some teaching material for 2 to 3 pages and contains a little section titled “Taking God’s Word to Heart” to help you ponder and reflect on some specific questions.

The book is divided in two parts.  Part one covers the key Bible verses you should know.   The subjects touched by these chapters are: adversity, anxiety, the Armor of God, assurance, character, conscience, courage, the cross, discernment, eternal life, fear of the Lord, forgiveness, the Glory of God, God, grace, grief, Heaven, Hell, the Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, justification, loss, love, peace, prayer, purity, redemption, renewing of the mind, rewards, Satan, the Second Coming of Christ, sensuality, sin, temptation, thanksgiving, the Will of God, witnessing, and the Word of God.  The second part will provide additional Bible memory verses for each topic included in the book.

This book is interesting and could be use in a homeschool setting for older kids.   As my kids go through Awana this year, I am seriously thinking that I would use this book to stretch my mind and learn verses as well.

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


Adversity

Psalm 46:1—God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

1 Peter 1:6-7—In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.


When we think back to the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed nearly 200,000 people, many images come to mind, but one image that stands out well above the others is that of a young mother being interviewed on television as she held a baby in her arms.

“I lost my son…he died in the rubble.”

“Did you get to bury him?”

“No, no chance; his body was crushed in the rubble; I just had to throw him away.”

Just then the camera zeroed in on her backpack as she prepared to board a bus. Stuffed in a side pocket was a Bible. As she boarded the bus she could be heard, speaking to no one in particular, saying, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble…” Her voice trailed off as she disappeared from view.

When the report was over we just kept staring at the television for a while, pushing back tears and letting what we’d just seen sink into our souls. A dead child with no chance to plan a funeral and pay respects to her precious little one, a baby in her arms, and she was boarding a bus that was going she knew not where. Yet she still expressed belief; she still trusted that God is her refuge and strength.

Faith in adversity!

This mother—God bless her—began quoting Psalm 46, which was written as a praise song after God spared the city of Jerusalem from an invasion by Assyrians who were threatening to annihilate the inhabitants. In the midst of a harrowing escape, the Israelites found God to be an unshakable pillar.

God is our refuge. A refuge is a safe place you can run to for shelter when life’s storms are swirling around you. No wonder this dear mother found solace in this psalm, which continues, “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (verses 2-3).

Yes, the mountains did give way and fall into the heart of the sea, but God is unaffected by the fluctuation on events of earth; He is always there, solid, unmoved. When the mountains are shaking and the ground beneath you is quaking, run to God, and He will meet you. Yes, even when our world falls apart in the aftermath of a horrendous natural disaster, God is unchanging and remains with us.

In the midst of the devastation, God is our source of supply. The psalm continues, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells” (verse 4). Most likely that refers to a tunnel that had been built some time earlier to bring water into the city in case it was ever besieged. The people of Jerusalem saw this provision as God giving them specific help at their time of their need.

Then the psalm gives us a command: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (verse 10). Let us cease striving and let God be God. Even in adversity He is there; or perhaps we should say especially in adversity He is there!

Adversity should not drive us away from God; rather, it should drive us into His arms. He is there for the grieving mother, and for the family that has experienced indescribable loss. The psalm ends, “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (verse 11).

God wants to be believed. And our faith is more precious to Him than gold, which perishes. When we continue to trust Him even when there appears to be no reason to do so—and we go on believing God’s bare Word, our faith will “result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7).

Reverend Henry F. Lyte was a pastor in Scotland who battled tuberculosis most of his life. On his final Sunday, September 4, 1847, amid many tears the congregation sang a song he himself had composed, “Abide with Me.” It spoke of the unchanging God in an ever-changing world:

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

The young mother in Haiti—who was clutching an undernourished baby in her arms and had no time to mourn the tragic death of her son—found solace in the God who was still beside her when the earth gave way. “God is our refuge and strength,” she said amid her grief and uncertainty of the future.

In times of adversity, our faith can hold fast. And God is both honored and pleased.


Taking God’s Word to Heart

Reflect on the account of the Haitian mother who tragically lost her son. How has Psalm 46 been a source of strength for you during adversity? What other Scripture passages do you turn to for help in difficult times?
What does it mean to you that God is your refuge? In life’s journey, why is God’s unchangeable nature a source of strength for us?
Recall an instance when God provided timely help for a specific need. What did that experience teach or confirm for you about God’s character?
What are some ways God has used adversity to shape your life?
Why is God honored and pleased when we exercise faith in times of adversity?

Life-Changing Bible Verses You Should Know is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

365 Project–Day 232

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A Young Man’s Guide to Making Tight Choices

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


A Young Man's Guide to Making Right Choices

Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Karri James, Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jim George and his wife, Elizabeth George, are Christian authors and speakers. Jim, author of A Husband After God’s Own Heart (a Gold Medallion finalist) and The Bare Bones Bible Handbook, has MDiv and ThM degrees from Talbot Theological Seminary. He has served in various pastoral roles for 25 years and on The Master’s Seminary staff for ten years. Jim and Elizabeth have two married daughters and are grandparents.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Guiding a young man toward making right choices will equip him to think carefully about his decisions, assuring a more fulfilling and successful life. Help boys to gain the skills they need for facing all life’s challenges.

In this book, Jim George focuses on all the high points of a young man’s life—the things that matter most. Teen guys will learn…

  • why prayer and Bible reading are so essential
  • what makes for the best kinds of friendships
  • how school and social skills contribute to a strong future
  • how to stand strong against temptation and peer pressure
  • what contributes to healthy and biblical perspectives on dating and purity

Young men will enjoy Jim’s balance of biblical insight, personal anecdotes, and candid forthrightness. And they’ll gain the skills they need for making right choices in response to all the challenges that come their way.

Product Details:

List Price: $10.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736930256
ISBN-13: 978-0736930253

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Making the Right Choices

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. — Joshua 24:15
Jason, a typical teen guy, was suddenly jolted out of a deep sleep by the clamor of trash cans being rolled to the street curb. At first he was mad, wondering, Just who do they think they are making all that racket so early in the morning? Don’t they know a busy guy needs his sleep? Then a second wave of adrenalin hit, this time with fear, as Jason rolled over and looked out his window. Oh, no! That’s Dad doing my chores…again! I’m really in for it this time!

What time was it anyway? Jason thought as he looked at his alarm clock. Oh, no, I’m late — way late! Did I forget to set my alarm? He had planned to get up early to finish his English paper, which was due today! Drat and double drat! There were a lot of things he had planned to do last night — finish his English essay, work ahead on his history paper, maybe catch up on his Bible-reading schedule for his church youth group, and finally get around to writing a thank-you note to his aunt for the birthday money she sent several months ago. (That was his mom’s Number One assignment for last night, and he had thought to himself, No worries; it’s waited this long. Maybe tonight, right? On and on…and on…Jason’s “Things I Meant to Do” list went.

But Jason had ended up getting a little sidetracked. And why not? The money his aunt gave him had been well spent…on a new DS game. Well, one challenge level led to another, and before long Jason had battled the “forces of evil” so long on his game (a full hour past the bedtime curfew his parents had sent) that his mom had forcefully interrupted and made him end his simulated life-and-death struggles and turn out his light.


Life Is Full of Choices

Jason had begun his evening with great intentions of making right choices. But something pulled him away from those good intentions. And in the end — actually, the next morning — he began to suffer a landslide of consequences due to those bad choices.

As the section title says above, life is full of choices. And the funny thing about choices is that sometimes the same exact choice might be bad for one guy but okay for another. Take, for example, the simple choice of breakfast food. Jason’s friend Marty is trying to make the basketball team. He’s a great shot, but he has a problem keeping his weight down, so he needs to be more disciplined about what he eats. Eating several bowls of a certain cereal each morning with lots of milk and sugar would be a huge caloric problem for Marty, but it wouldn’t be a problem for Jason because he’s as thin as a rail!

Do you realize your choices for each day begin at the end of the previous day, when you decide what time you need to get up and then set your alarm? And the next big choice is actually getting up when you hear the alarm clock…which then leads to getting dressed, doing your chores, eating breakfast, and getting to school on time. Your choices continue right on through your day and include doing your homework and being a good family member when you get home, until you set the alarm again at the end of the day.

Yes, life is full of choices. Someone said it well:

My life is not made by the dreams I dream but by the choices I make.1


Choices Through the Rearview Mirror

You’ve probably been to a camp or retreat or youth meeting where there was a “guys’ sharing time,” a time when those who were brave enough recounted some of the choices they made in their past. It’s as if they’re looking at their past in a rearview mirror. (If you drive, you know all about looking into the rearview mirror to see what’s going on behind you, and if you don’t drive, you will one day!) Now, the guys who shared were no longer living back in their past, but they could still see, remember, and taste the consequences of their choices — both the good and the bad. Their sharing may have included phrases like…

I wandered off the path…

I became like the prodigal son…

I fell away from the Lord…

I got sidetracked in sin…

I lost my first love…

I strayed from the truth…

I made some wrong decisions…

I went off the deep end…

I got in with the wrong crowd…

I’ve sat in on a few of these sharing sessions myself, and I couldn’t help but wonder, What happened? How does someone wander off the path, lose their first love for Jesus, stray from the truth, fall off the deep end, or get involved with the wrong crowd?

Well, we both know what happened, don’t we? Somehow, at some time, for some reason, a wrong choice was made. Maybe it was just a little lie. Just a little shading of what’s right. Just a little bending of a rule. Eventually, as this happens again and again, there comes a day when making wrong choices became all too easy. And it’s usually not until then that a guy realizes his life has become a mess.

Checking Out God’s Word

It’s one thing to read a book written by an author about a subject, but it’s quite another to read the Book — the Bible — written by the Author of all things, God Himself. In this book, I’ll share a lot of thoughts and tips with you. Most of them are things I’ve learned over the years. I’ll pass them on to you as a young man who’s in the process of making decisions that will shape your future. But the things you should definitely make sure you take to heart and pay the most attention to are the things God Himself tells you in His Word, His Book, the Bible.

When you get to this section in each chapter — entitled “Checking Out God’s Word” — you’ll find a number of Bible verses. I’ve included the text of the verses for you so you can read them without having to grab your Bible. I also invite you to mark up the verses and make notes. You don’t have to do that if you prefer not to. But don’t hesitate to circle certain words and underline things you want to remember. Put a question mark beside anything you wonder about or want to know more about. You can even draw in the margins. I’ve tried to leave enough space for you to write out your thoughts about what God is saying. Do whatever will help you understand the verses and make them your own. (And of course, it would be a good idea at some time to look up the verses in your Bible.) Here we go, from God’s Word to you.

The Israelites made a choice — Joshua, the leader of God’s people, asked them to do exactly what we’ve been talking about — to make a choice. Listen in as Joshua speaks to the people about choosing between serving God and serving false gods. According to the verses below, what choice did Joshua give to the people? And praise God, if you read further in the book of Joshua you will discover that the people made the right choice, choosing to serve God.

Fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:14-15).
Lot made a choice — Lot was the nephew of Abraham. Because of the large number of cattle the two men possessed, Abraham asked Lot to choose between two parts of the land. One part was green and with plenty of water — perfect for grazing cattle. The other part was dry hill country and not so perfect. In fact, it was a desert. According to the verses that follow, what was Lot’s choice?

Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered…So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east (Genesis 13:10-11).

Sadly, Lot did not choose wisely. He chose the grassy green pastures — which just happened to be near the two most wicked cities of his day, Sodom and Gomorrah. His choice was based on what looked good. Unfortunately, the consequences of that choice were devastating for Lot and his family.
Joseph made a choice — Joseph was a teenager when his jealous brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. There, in a strange land, Joseph was all alone without family. In time, his master’s wife flirted with him and wanted him to sin with her. After all, nobody was around, she explained. Who would ever know?

How should Joseph respond? Note his choice and the reason for his choice.

He refused…[and] told her…“How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:8-9).

Joseph chose to live his life God’s way. He honored God. God then honored Joseph’s choice and made him a leader of the land of Egypt and the savior of his family.

Daniel made a choice — Can you imagine being taken prisoner and forcefully moved to a foreign land as a teenager? And once you got there, you were told to turn away from your religious beliefs and to follow instead the ways of those who lived in the pagan land? Well, that’s what happened to Daniel. In the place where he was taken, Daniel was told to eat foods that were forbidden by his Jewish background. What pressure! What did he do?

Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way (Daniel 1:8).

Daniel chose to live life God’s way — not only on this one occasion, but also numerous times during his many years in this foreign land. At every step and every day, God blessed Daniel and promoted him to high positions of leadership.

Things to Remember About Choices

— Attractive choices sometimes lead to sin.

— Good choices have positive long-term results.

— Right choices are sometimes difficult.


Making the Tough Choices


I’m sure you already know your actions are a matter of choice. Sure, some choices are made for you. They are out of your control, and are made by those who are responsible for you…like your parents, your teachers, your coaches, and your youth leaders. But many choices each day — and almost each minute of the day — are yours to make. Do you yet realize that these choices are a matter of your will? You get to decide what you will or won’t do, how you will or won’t act. You make the choices, which means you can’t blame anyone else for what happens next.

As you prepare to make the tough choices, the choices that must be made, can you think of one tough choice you need to make right now? What’s holding you back? Peer pressure? Fear? Pride?

Pray young Solomon’s prayer right now. He asked God, “Give me wisdom and knowledge” and “Give your servant a discerning heart…to distinguish between right and wrong” (2 Chronicles 1:10 and 1 Kings 3:9). Then make that choice — the one that’s keeping you from living your life God’s way. Make the right choice, however tough it is to do so.


Things to Do Today to Make Right Choices


Read again the section “Choices Through the Rearview Mirror.” Do any of the comments mentioned in the guys’ sharing time fit your life today? If so, talk it over with God. Admit to God any wrong choices you’ve made. Then ask Him for the wisdom to make the right choices starting right now.

Read again Joshua 24:14-15 (see “Checking Out God’s Word”). As you look at your life today, do you think you are making the kind of choice Joshua and the people made, the choice to serve God and God alone? Why or why not? What first right choice will you make to begin choosing to serve God, to live for Him? Is there something you should be doing, but aren’t? Something you know God wants you to do, but you’re not? Be honest. The king and warrior David was brutally honest with God. He asked God to…
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).

As you have already read, choices are a matter of your will. You get to decide what you will or won’t do, how you will or won’t act. Think of two or three things you can do daily that will better prepare you to make right choices. Then, of course, begin doing them.
Guy to Guy


Jot down three things Jason failed to do that started his day down the road to chaos.


What could you tell Jason to do differently tomorrow?


Of all the verses shared in this chapter, which one meant the most to you, and why?


In what ways are you like Jason, and what new choices do you need to start making?

Would You Like to Know More?

Check It Out


Read Proverbs 1:10-19. What warning is given to the young man in verse 10?


What is the advice given to this teen guy in verse 15?


What is the end result for those who make the choice to participate in evil deeds (verse 19)?


It’s your turn to read about Lot’s choice. Read Genesis 13:5-11. How is the situation described that made a decision necessary (verses 5-7)?


What did Abraham propose as a solution (verses 8-9)?


What choice did Lot make, and why (verses 10-11)?


Now quickly scan Genesis 19:12-29. What were some of the results of Lot’s choice?


What choice was made by two brothers in Matthew 4:18-20?


What choice was made in Matthew 9:9?


Have you made this choice, or do you need to? Be sure to think about it.


God’s Guidelines for Making Right Choices


Treat each day as being important. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Admit your need for wisdom…and ask for it! “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5)
Work at developing a deep respect for God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).
Make sure you have a vital relationship with Jesus. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17).
Be willing to pay any price for the truth. “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).


God’s Guidelines for
Making Right Choices

Treat each day as being important. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Admit your need for wisdom…and ask for it! “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5)

Work at developing a deep respect for God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

Make sure you have a vital relationship with Jesus. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17).

Be willing to pay any price for the truth. “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).

My Thoughts

The main reasons why I decided to review this book is because I have three boys.  One of them has turned ten years old this summer and I know that the  years ahead of us might be difficult for him and for us.

Each chapter starts with a simulation story where you follow “Jason” through various situations.    Jason unfortunately doesn’t make the proper choices has he faces choices to be made.   The author then proceeds to guide the reader in how to do decision making and follow how he was raised.   He also includes biblical teaching and gives tips and tricks to be able to make wise decisions as the young man grows up. At the end of each chapter, the young man can answer a series of study question to help him deepen his understanding of the subject of the chapter.   He is also guided through the Bible as he will have to dig deeper in finding and pondering of some verses.   At the complete end of each chapter, the young man will discover God’s Guidelines for Making Right Choices.

I like the various subjects included in this little book – the importance of prayer and Bible reading, how to make wise decisions, friendship, taking responsibility of your decisions, how to resist peer pressure and temptation, dating, purity and much more.

If you have a boy that is growing too fast and you want him to make wise choices in life, I would recommend this book.  He could do it with the guidance of dad and discuss together the chapters.

A Young Man’s Guide to making Right Choices is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Perplexus Original

imagePerplexus Original

http://perplexus.net/

About the product

PERPLEXUS is a maze game where players maneuver a small marble around challenging barriers inside a transparent sphere. Unlike traditional flat-surface mazes that are composed of one path, PERPLEXUS houses various challenging tracks with 100 barriers providing a frustrating three-dimensional experience. Players select the track they would like to attempt and must work with gravity to carefully shift, flip, and twist the sphere to guide the marble. Players can race each other or the clock.

PERPLEXUS assists in child development allowing children to exercise their motor and dexterity skills, as well as improve their hand-eye coordination. Its small size makes it easily portable. No batteries required. Ages 6 and up.

Our Thoughts

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I was always curious of the Perplexus.    And I recently got the opportunity of reviewing it.    I knew what it looked like – what I didn’t expect is the “addiction” from playing with it.  

I would define the Perplexus as a round labyrinth through which you have to navigate your little marble.    This original version of the Perplexus has 100 challenging barriers, a difficulty level of 6 and is about 8” of diameter. 

The challenge is simple: start at 1 and bring your marble all through the 100 barriers in the labyrinth while turning the Perplexus around and around…   Seems simple to you?   Well let me tell you that it isn’t as easy as it sounds.    The first few times I played with it my marble at barrier number 18.    Grrrr!   No way… I though  and I started over.    Slowly, even slowly, I move the Perplexus and tried to keep the marble on track.    I reached barrier number 29.   Still there as a matter of fact.   There is a tricky spot at this place that I can’t seem to be able to pass.   I want to conquer it without looking at the videos.   Because there are tips and tricks as well as videos on the site to show you how to travel through the barriers.    I am stubborn.  I don’t want to look at them.  I will pass this barrier…  I promise!

You can easily kill some time while playing with this.   Don’t know what to do while waiting at the doctor?  Bring your Perplexus.    Mind you the ball is quite big but it is feasible and it is a fun way to stay occupied (or keep your kids occupied I should say!).

Now if you excuse me, I have a barrier to conquer….

As a homeschool mom, I think I will leave it in the living room to challenge my older kids to conquer this three-dimensional labyrinth.   I find it is a great way to slow down, stop and think, and use your analytical abilities.   And the best part is that this fall there will be three version of the Perplexus for everyone in your family.   Perplexus will also be available in the ROOKIE version for ages 4 and up and the EPIC version ages 8 and up.  The Perplexus Rookie has a difficulty level of 3 and is 7” of diameter while the Perplexus Epic has a difficulty level of 8 and has a 8.5” of diameter.   The Rookie has  70 challenging barriers while the Epic has 125 challenging barriers.

GREAT NEWS!

I was offered  and Original Perplexus to one of my readers.

Tell me from where did the idea of the Perplexus comes from? (HINT: you have to go read the history page on the website!)

This entry is mandatory. Don’t forget to include your email address in the comment.

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Don’t forget to include your email for each steps. No email means I will have to pick someone else. I need to be able to contact you if you win! Random.org will be use to determine the winner. You will have 24 hours to contact me and give me your mailing address so I can send it to my contact which in turn will ship the prize to you!

Deadline: Sept 5, 2011 (to celebrate Labour Day!)

Contest is open to Canadian citizens.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

One Thousand Gifts–Week 11

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111. starting school slowly with my kids

112. seeing a porcupine in the wild – sleeping on a tree branch

113. God’s creature at work in the morning

114. a beautiful wedding

115. love

116. scrumptious food and a reminder that Jesus is the bread of life for everyone!

117. my daughter being a flower girl in a wedding (I always wished for that… and she did a marvelous job!).

118. our RV – a house in the road!

119. having the opportunity to explore the surroundings of the wedding location and the wedding with my camera.

120. the rain even though the plans had to be changed for the wedding – then nice temperature for the supper and part of the dance before it rained again…

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