Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Carcassonne 2.0

1714Carcassonne 2.0
By Z-Man Games

About the game

The classic award-winning game is back with a whole new look!

In Carcassonne, players build the area surrounding this impressive city, one tile at a time. They then place a follower on fields, cities, roads or monasteries in order to score as many points as possible. These followers will become knights, monks, farmers and thieves, depending on where they are placed. No matter their function, the player who will most cleverly use their followers will win the game.

Entirely redesigned and modernized, this edition includes two expansions:   The River and the Abbot.

My Thoughts

We never played Carcassonne though I have heard great things about this game.  So I was delighted to receive the newest edition of an already popular game.  This game will allow 2 to 5 players to play for approximately 35 minutes.  What I find interesting about this game and that it is set during the Medieval Times which an era of time that we have studied as part of our curriculum this year.  So having a game based on the Middle Ages is not only fun but educative for us.

The box contains two expansions – the river and the abbot.   In it, you will find 72 Land tiles, 12 River tiles, 1 scoreboard, 40 followers in 5 colors, 5 abbots in 5 colors, 1 rulebook, and 1 supplementary rule sheet.  I find the little wooden pieces adorable and sturdy.   The cardboard pieces are made of very strong cardboard and you can’t easily bend them.   The images on these cardboard pieces are very colorful and illustrate either a village, a monastery, a path or the river.  

1714_2581

The game seems easy to play.  You select a start tile and one after the other, players will place tiles one at a time.   As you advance in the game roads, cities, monasteries and fields are created and expanded.  You can place your meeples on the tiles which allow them to become highwaymen, knights, monks, and formers.   Doing so you score points during the game as well as at the end of the game.  There are various rules depending if you deal with a road, a city, or a monastery.   But essentially, you place a tile, then a meeple, then you count your points.   As mentioned, this specific edition of the game of Carcassonne contains two mini expansion – The River and The Abbot.   The River will embellish the landscape and can add variation when starting a game.    With The River, you will have to set the source and the lake on the table and slowly create the river.   But beware, the river cannot turn twice in the same direction because this would create a u-turn…   The Abbot will introduce gardens and abbots.      The goal of Carcassonne is to score the highest score to be proclaimed a winner.

My only disappointment with this pack is that the maximum of players is five.  With a family of six that is somewhat complicated.  But nevertheless I think I could get some fun time in our week-end with this game. Maybe there is a way of getting a few more meeples on ebay as well…   I suspect that I will get quickly hook on this game and that more expansions might find their way to our house as the years go on. 

Price is 34.99$ on the Z-Man Games

Carcassone 2.0 (New Edition) is available at your favourite game store.

I couldn’t find the edition I have received on amazon.ca or amazon.com.  Instead I have found a set that includes two more players, including the expansions The River, Inn & Cathedrals, Traders & Builders, Hills & Sheep as well as the Wheel of Fortune.  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Z-Man Games for sending me the above mentioned 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.

Devotions in 2015 - Blessings All Mine

imageBlessings All Mine with 10,000 Besides!
Written by Frederick L. Kosin
Published at ECS Ministries

About the book

‘Blessings All Mine . . .’ is a collection of daily devotionals that point out specific blessings given to all believers when they trust Christ as Savior. These insightful meditations focus on the person and work of Christ, as well as the inventory of resources He has generously lavished on all believers.

In this book you will discover and understand a multitude of blessing for your enjoyment. You will also be encouraged to employ them for God’s glory and the blessing of others. The life-changing message of the Scriptures brings Christ into proper perspective as your source and center of behavior.

These daily meditations are a must-read for all believers committed to spiritual growth. If you want to challenge and refine your focus on Christ, this book is for you.

Who is Fred Kosin?

Since 1966, Fred and Jenny Kosin have served the Lord in a church-planting ministry. During the past 20 years they have traveled to over 85 countries, “Serving missionaries around the world” and teaching God’s Word to the body of Christ.

Fred is a graduate of Emmaus Bible College and author of the book Letters Missionaries Never Write. Fred and Jenny make their home in Darlington, SC, and have three grown sons and nine grandchildren.

My Thoughts

I started this specific book in mid-September and I have been blessings so many times by the readings I have done during the rest of the year 2014.  Today was not different from the previous days.   I have learned that blessings comes from God (yes I knew this) and that ultimately we need to appropriate them because Christ is in us.    To do so, we need to take the responsibility to get to know Him.  Which in other means that it is a daily activity to do and the only way to do so would be to read the Scripture, memorize it and ponder on it.

My goal for 2015 is definitively to continue to develop my relationship with Christ on a daily basis, reading these devotions and gleaning as much as I can.    I find these devotions to be pack with wisdom and very “meaty” for my soul.   I discovered this past year that seeker friendly sermons were not enough for me.  I need more depth and challenges in my own spiritual life in order to grow and be more like Christ.  So slowly podcasts are entering my life like the Phil Vischer podcast or the ones from Timothy Keller who is a pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NY City (Found under the name of the church).   I am also challenged to grow through this book of devotions.

If there is one devotions book that you are looking for the new year, I would strongly suggest that you check out Blessings All Mine With 10,000 Besides! as I find that it is well written and challenging.  If you are looking for self-help – stay away from this book.  But if you are looking for spiritual grow in your own life, this book will provide the teachings you are searching for.  

The book is also available in Spanish.

Blessings All Mine is available for purchase on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

It is also available for the Kindle and Kindle app

  

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

Friday, December 5, 2014

Taboo Buzzd

FA4A719D50569047F5090F29570E3005Taboo Buzzd
By Hasbro

Are you going to a Christmas party with the fmaily this year?   Or your teenager attend a youth event where they can have fun?   Well have I got the perfect thing to bring along to parties, youth events, camps, travels and more.   The new Taboo Buzzd will allow you to play the game of Taboo in a new innovative way.

This new fast-pass guessing game contain over 1000 TABOO words which you need to guess.   This new version will challenge the players to guess as fact as they can and then pass it on to the next person.   Your team has to guess words while you give clues, but wait…. you can’t say one of the Taboo words on the screen or the other team is going to buzz you.    If your team can’t guess without the Taboo words, you can skip to the next – or act out the clue.   

This electronic game is quick to set up and easy to play because the game unit keeps the score for you. If your team has the most points after 6 rounds, you’re the Taboo Buzz’d winner! And the best part is that this electronic game can be played in English or French which is special for our family because we are bilingual.

This game will bring lots of laughter this Christmas season if you bring it to your parties, family reunion and more.  Challenge family and friends to a good old game of Taboo and make memories at the same time.   Fun time awaits you!   Be quick and make sure to get your own Taboo Buzzd and make numerous memories with your family this Christmas.

Taboo Buzzd is available at your favourite toy store, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Hasbro Canada for sending me the above mentioned 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.

hasbro

Simon Swipe

imageSimon Swipe
From Hasbro

I find it interesting when companies review old games and try to rejuvenate them to a new generation of kids.   This is what happening with the Simon game which was a pop culture item from the 70s and 80s.    This time around the device includes four games including the Classic Simon game.     In all you will have sixteen levels to master whether in solo mode or party mode.    You can tap, swipe or swipe and reverse.  

You can easily conquer the colors by simply swiping the lights.  The game starts out easy and then builds up to 16 levels.   You can easily practice or challenge a friend.    The game comes with demo batteries and you will require 3 AA batteries for the game to last longer.

This is the perfect portable game for youth events, camps, travels and more.   I can see my kids playing with this while camping or my youth bring this for a youth special event at church.    It will challenge your kids and help them in concentration with the colors in the right order.

This game is also perfect for family parties like the ones you might have over the Christmas holidays.   Your kids could challenge their grand-parents, uncles, aunts, cousins in a friendly game of Simon Swipe.  So don’t hesitate a minute and go get yours before Christmas arrive!

Simon Swipe is available at your favourite toy store, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Hasbro Canada for sending me the above mentioned 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.

hasbro

Monday, December 1, 2014

The Patmos Deception

9780764211393The Patmos Deception
Written by Davis Bunn
Published at Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing

About the book

An Ancient Island Holds an Ancient Secret . . .

Nick Hennessy, a young Texas journalist yearning for his big break, finds himself in Europe--his assignment, to investigate the alarming disappearance of invaluable Grecian antiquities. Nick has the credentials--and cover ID--to unearth the truth. And he knows just the researcher to help him...

Carey Mathers, fresh from her studies in forensic archeology, has accepted a job with the prestigious Athens Institute for Antiquities--a dream come true, really, particularly when the Greek isle of Patmos, where the Apostle John received his vision of the Apocalypse, was a particular focus of her research.

Dimitri Rubinos, for whom the Greek islands represent his life, holds on by his fingernails to the family charter boat business. But his country's economic chaos isn't the only thing that has turned his world on its head...

My Thoughts

I think this is my first Davis Bunn book that I am reading.   And I enthusiastically expected that I would enjoy the book.  But I am half-way through it and the three main characters have not met yet.   Yes I know what is going on –valuable antiques are disappearing from Greeze – and I have graps somewhat how it is done i.e. via boats but I find that the novel is lacking on the action side of things.    I discovered that I personally like it when the action happens faster in a book and will hold you in such a way that you want to read more in order to discover what will happen.  I haven’t gotten this while reading The Patmos Deception.

I originally took this book because I am interested in history and older things. I was expecting a fast pace read and learn more about Greece.   Though the story happens during the hard recent years of Greece when people would loose their jobs and the economy was very difficult in that country, the storyline of this book has not grasp my complete attention which would make me want to read without stopping.   

Mind you I think this book would be well loved by the fans of Davis Bunn.   It’s just was not a perfect fit for me.   That doesn’t mean that the book isn’t good.   I suspect that romance will be included in the second half of the book – just by how the things have gone so far – but I am not interested in completing the reading of it.  I am not a huge fan of romance novels and this particular book is classified as a romantic suspense.   For me the suspense isn’t there and the romance made me grow cold with the story.   But then again – I know other women who would enjoy this kind of reading…

The Patmos Deception is available at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

The book is also available for Kindle.

  

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for review purposes from Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 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.

Burning Questions DVD

imageBurning Questions
With Dr. Andy Bannister
Talon Productions

About the DVD

Six-part documentary series from RZIM Canada

Burning Questions was carefully developed by RZIM over 18 months with the intent to create a tool to generate respectful, thoughtful dialogue on key faith questions, engaging both skeptics and seekers. Rather than providing pat answers, in the documentary series, Dr. Bannister interviews credible global experts from a wide range of backgrounds – leading atheists, passionate Muslims and convinced Buddhists – on these questions that transcend culture.

Questions addressed include:

  • Is There a God?
  • If so…. why is there evil and suffering?
  • Has science eliminated religion?
  • There are thousands of different religions: which one is true?
  • Can we take the Bible seriously, or is it just a myth?
  • Who was Jesus of Nazareth and does it matter?

Who is Dr. Andy Bannister?

Dr. Andy Bannister is the Director and Lead Apologist for RZIM Canada. He speaks and teaches regularly throughout Canada, the USA, Europe and the wider world. From churches to universities, business forums to TV and radio, Andy regularly addresses audience of both Christians and those of all faiths and none on issues relating to faith, culture, politics and society.

With a background in youth ministry before studying theology and philosophy (focussing especially on Islam), Andy was previously based in Oxford, from where he worked with churches and organisations across the denominational spectrum.

Andy holds a PhD in Islamic studies, a topic on which he has taught extensively, especially since 9/11 and the huge interest that was sparked in the subject by the events of that day. He has spoken and taught at universities across Canada, the USA, the UK and further afield on both Islam and philosophy and is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at Melbourne School of Theology.

Andy is the author of An Oral-Formulaic Study of the Qur’an, a groundbreaking and innovative study that reveals many of the ways the Qur’an was first composed. His latest book, The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist (or: The Terrible Consequences of Really Bad Arguments) is due to be published in summer 2014.

When not travelling, speaking, or writing, Andy is a keen hiker, mountain climber and photographer. He lives in Toronto and is married to Astrid and they have one daughter, Caitriona.

My Thoughts

Burning Questions was carefully developed by RZIM over 18 months with the intent to create a tool to generate respectful, thoughtful dialogue on key faith questions, engaging both skeptics and seekers. Rather than providing pat answers, in the documentary series, Dr. Bannister interviews credible global experts from a wide range of backgrounds – leading atheists, passionate Muslims and convinced Buddhists – on these questions that transcend culture.  This is a DVD which will hopefully help you answer some of questions that you wonder yourself or someone you know is asking these questions.  The DVD contains six episodes which will highlight a specific question that is asked by many people around the world.  Let’s explore the questions together.

The first episode covers the questions:  Is there a God?   It is perhaps the biggest burning question that is in the mind of many people everywhere.   Are we alone in a meaningless, purposeless universe or is there some kind of creator – some kind of higher power out there?   It is a debated questions that is often covered in books, podcasts, and documentaries.   On one hand, the culture has seen a bigger interest in atheism whose advocates tell us that anyone who even professes belief in a deity is simply insane or irrational.  However, belief in God is alive and well.   Over 90% of people around the world believe in a higher power.  

The second episode will spend on time  on the question: Hasn’t science buried God?  Since the scientific revolution in the 16th and the 17th centuries, we have made huge advances in physics, chemistry, and biology.   People have a tendency to think that science has pushed God out of the picture.    But he is really?

The third episode will take you on an investigation of the problem of evil.   When the Titanic departed from the docks at Southampton nobody would have thoughts that four days later it would sink tragically after hitting an iceberg with over 2500 people loosing their lives on that fateful voyage.  Whatever our worldview whether we are Atheist, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindus, or Christians – whatever it is that you believe, disasters raise the question “Why?”.  Why do bad things happen to good people?

In episode four, you will explore which religion is true.   Toronto is a multi-cultural city in Canada.  It is in fact on of the most multi-cultural city in the world.   In Toronto, you can meet people from every culture, country, religion, and belief system.  This huge diversity of religions that exists makes us wonder which religion is true. How can you choose?

In episode five, you will discover if you can trust the Bible.  Let’s face it.  The Bible is the best selling book of all time.   However, many countries around the world have tried to ban it from their borders.   Christians around the world have been jailed and faced execution for the crime of smuggling Bibles in these countries.  In this episode, you will discover if the Bible is reliable.

Finally, in episode six you will discover who was Jesus.   Was he a man who was simply teaching or a man whose claims could inspire such devotion and commitment from people. 

In an effort to answers these questions, Dr. Andy Bannister interviews numerous people from different beliefs and religions, whether that person is a spiritual leader or a professor, Atheist, Christian, Jews, Muslim and more.   

I think that kind of DVD is always good to watch in order to grasp a better understanding in the belief system of the people around us and discover other worldviews.    I find that these kind of questions and discussions help to affirm our belief in God.   Every Christian who desire to deepen his/her understanding of worldviews and be able to have an intelligent conversation with someone different that yourself.    I would highly encourage parents to watch this with their teenagers in order to equip them in such conversations and help them to see the difference in worldviews that they might encounter at college and university.  

What I particularly like is the fact that this DVD has been supported and promoted by Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). 

A free comprehensive study guide is available for download when you go to burningquestions.ca.

Burning Questions is available for purchase directly from BooksforChrist.com for the price of 39.99$.