Using the memorable acronym MAPS, radio host and Bible scholar Hank Hanegraaff masterfully reveals four proofs that confirm the divine origin of the Bible:

M represents the strength of the manuscript itself as many actual fragments have been located
A stands for the archaeological proofs that have been uncovered
P is for the prophecy that has accurately predicted events
S represents the scriptural synergy found in the unity, consistency, and harmony of the sixty-six books

These clearly presented proofs provide powerful indicators that confirm the trustworthiness and divine nature of Scripture, that God has indeed spoken, and that the Bible is the reliable repository of His words.

Several months ago, I received the book Has God Spoken? by Hank Hanegraaff for my review. I was very interested in discovering the proofs for the validity of the Bible, for though I have always believed it to be the infallible Word of God and to be Divinely inspired, I didn’t really have any facts to back up that belief. As you can see, this book took me a long time to read, as it is rather lengthy and uses a lot of theological and literary terms and language that doesn’t always make for easy reading. Despite that, though, I did find it to be helpful in many ways to educate myself on why the Bible really is a trustworthy source of both historical information and spiritual guidance.

Hanegraaff has a very obvious love for acronyms, as MAPS is only one of many that he uses throughout the book, which I think he implements to try and help you remember the key points of his book. While these are possibly useful for retaining the information he presents, I think I would still need to make notes and be intentional about trying to memorize those key points if I ever hoped to use this information in an intelligent way in a discussion with somebody. Though I feel better educated on the subject, it would still take some studying to become familiar and confident with these evidences in order to try and present a convincing argument to somebody who doubts the validity and trustworthiness of the Bible.

Having said that, I think Hanegraaff makes an excellent point in his book – in many cases, even presenting the most educated, fact-filled, clear debate on this subject will often not be enough to convince a skeptic – what people really need is revelation from God and for Him to open their eyes. So while I am thankful for this resource and I hope to find it helpful in being able to prove the Bible’s accuracy, I think I am even more convinced of the need for prayer and for divine revelation from the Holy Spirit to convince the unbeliever. There are many lies of the enemy that have been used to shake people’s confidence in the Bible, many of which can be answered in this book, but we also need God to break in with His light and truth to illuminate people’s minds and hearts!

Lastly, while I think I would recommend this book to any believer who wants to have a more solid foundation for their belief in the inerrancy of scripture, I also need to mention that I did not agree with everything Hanegraaff said about his interpretations of certain Biblical passages. In this, I believe it’s also important to recognize that while the Bible is in fact completely accurate, our interpretations of it may not always be. We all need to read and study the Word for ourselves and realize that none of us has the full picture. We need the entire Body of Christ working together to search out His Word and seek the truth of what He is saying to us through it. We need the Holy Spirit to teach us, to show us our errors, and to lead us to Jesus through it.

This book was provided to me by Booksneeze.com for my honest and unbiased review.

While I don’t know exactly how much Justice and Rayah comprehend of the lessons we are teaching them, I believe that these seeds we are sowing will produce much good fruit. I eagerly look forward to the day when my kids will make their own personal decision to accept Jesus’ sacrifice for them and make him their Lord, but until then, I am simply enjoying the journey of telling them, and hopefully showing them, who Jesus is and how much He loves them.

I love seeing these seeds of truth being planting in their hearts.

I love hearing them sing songs of worship to Jesus in the wee hours of the morning.

I love watching them pour over the Bible and becoming familiar with its stories.

I love hearing Justice drum to worship music and watching Rayah dance or lift her hands.

I love listening to these early, innocent, creative and sincere prayers that they offer up to God.

I love seeing and experiencing the story of Jesus’ birth through their eyes.

This Christmas, I am just so thankful for how much we have been given and for the opportunity to share with my kids what God has so graciously and abundantly given to me. My prayer is that this Christmas, my kids will receive revelation of who Jesus is and how He feels about them and that His love will go deep into their hearts in a way that will root them and ground them in Him for the rest of their lives. My heart is full.

Well, my kids and I have been LOVING it!! After doing it for these first 12 days of December, it has been a FANTASTIC way to teach them the story of Jesus’ birth and they are really getting it! I am amazed at all the details Justice is able to remember from the story and that he is learning valuable lessons along the way as well. And of course they love the crafts and making ornaments for the Christmas tree each day.

But for those of you who missed getting the book earlier, I wanted to let you know that Amanda is putting on a one day sale today for 20% off Truth in the Tinsel by using the promo code 12DAYS - ending at midnight ET tonight!! When you go to download your copy of the eBook, it will also provide you with an alternative 12-day schedule that will allow you to participate in this “advent-ure” for the next 12 days leading up to Christmas! Here you can see some pictures of how much fun we’ve been having…

I would so highly recommend that you take advantage of this deal, as it will be so worth it! We are having a ton of fun with it and Jesus is being glorified and celebrated in a way that is impacting and impressing the Word upon the hearts of my kids!

**Note: Because I think Truth in the Tinsel is so great, I decided to become an affiliate, so if you buy the eBook after clicking one of the links in this post or by clicking the button in my sidebar, I will receive a percentage from the sale. If you buy it and love it as much as I do, consider becoming an affiliate too!**

• The most significant names and titles of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are written in a colored bold text in their original Hebrew or Aramaic so that they can be easily found within the text.
• There are references in the columns to the next occurrence of that name of God for an easy-to-follow path throughout the Bible. There is also a reference table that shows where the chain begins for each name of God.
• Name pages include an explanation of the name of God, key Scripture passages in which it’s meaning is revealed, a devotional reading to help you use this name in your prayer time, and specific Bible promises connected to that name.
• Book introductions highlight main themes and provide a list of the specific names of God that appear in that book.
• Sidebars highlight people in the Bible and the names they used when calling on God. Key scriptures that you may want to reflect on or memorize are also highlighted.
• A topical prayer guide that highlights certain subjects that you may want to pray about and some recommended scripture passages to use.
• A table of the names of God and how many times they are used in the Bible.
• A name index that shows all the references for each name of God.
• A list of the key chapters to read for each name of God.
• Bible reading plans

As you can see, this Bible is full of many tools to help you in studying the names of God and seeing how they are used in the Scripture. The goal of this Bible is to help clarify the unique names of God that were used by the original authors where they have become somewhat generalized in our current English translations into vague references to God, Lord, or LORD. I personally love being able to know the original name in Hebrew or Aramaic so that I have a better understanding of what aspect of His character is being highlighted in each passage.

In this Bible, the editors chose to limit their list to the most significant names and titles of God. Personally, I found this a little disappointing, since I’ve always been intrigued by all the names and titles used for God and I noticed that many of these are not included. Though I realize it would be impossible to have an exhaustive study with all of the tools and resources for every single title used for God, I think it would have been nice if they were still highlighted and indexed for a fuller picture of the various titles used for God and Jesus while you are reading. This is especially true of the many titles given to Jesus in the New Testament - while the Bible does actually have the Name Pages that explain several titles of Jesus, none of these titles are in the colored bold text or have the chain references or are included in the Name Index – the only name highlighted is his Hebrew name’s equivalent of Yeshua. 

As for the Bible translation, I must admit it is not my favorite. I tend to prefer word-for-word translation as opposed to idea-for-idea and I enjoy the translations that seek accuracy over paraphrasing into a more modern English. This is just a personal preference, so there may be many people who like this translation, which might be more comparable to The Message version. It does accomplish it’s goal of being easy to read, but I think I’ve become too attached to my favorite translations.

However, having said all that, I have actually turned to this Bible several times since receiving it when I’ve wanted to know the specific name of God used in a verse. It has helped me discover the meaning behind a name and what it reveals about who God is and what He’s saying about Himself through these names, as well as showing me new names of God that I never knew existed! I think this is a great study tool to supplement your Bible reading, though I might not choose to use it as my every-day Bible. Lastly, even if it couldn’t highlight every title used for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I would have loved at least an index with an exhaustive list of all the titles He has been given.

Overall, I would recommend this Bible as a great resource and addition to your library that will whet your appetite with a taste of the names and titles of God that will cause you to want to dig deeper and search Him out further.

Bible has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

This book is designed for preschool to early elementary school kids with a scripture passage, a Christmas tree decoration craft, and a simple guide for discussing it with them for each day. There’s also some resources for creating a simple Advent Calendar with clues that go with the story you’re reading. Amanda even blogged recently about some great advent calendar ideas, if you don’t have one already, but the advent calendar is totally optional.

Now, I’ll be the first to say that I’m not a super-crafty mom and only recently have I begun to stock up on some crafty supplies. My 3 1/2 year old son just began attending the children’s program at our church a few months ago, since we’re small and only just started having a children’s program. Well, usually each class has a craft for the kids and he got bit with the craft bug and now all he wants to do is color and cut and glue things ALL THE TIME, so I know he’s going to LOVE these activities! The book has a master list of all the supplies you’ll need & I found I had the majority of them at home and will only need to buy a few things (most of which I could find at the dollar store or the local thrift store) and I was even able to borrow or get many of the items by scavenging from my mom. There are also many ways to improvise and make these crafts your own if you don’t have all the supplies at hand.

Of course, the real goal is not to make perfect Christmas tree decorations, but to engage your kids in the Christmas story in a way that causes them to love Jesus more! I really enjoyed the simple explanations that Amanda wrote in the “Talk about it together” section, as well as the ideas she provided for ways to go deeper into the story, other scriptures to read, or other fun activities to do to help your child apply the story to their own life.

Now, if the idea of doing 24 crafts in 24 days overwhelms you, don’t worry! There are also alternate schedules for ways you can incorporate certain themes or days into the month that will touch on the key ideas, characters, etc. Regardless of how you choose to use the book, it is a fantastic tool for helping you to teach your child about how Jesus came to the earth for them, about His love, and the gift of eternal life.

So, not only do I want to highly recommend this eBook to you, but I want to let you know that for TODAY ONLY (November 25th – Black Friday in the States – just a regular day for us here in Canada), Amanda is selling Truth in the Tinsel for only $2.99 (regular price $4.99)!! Let me tell you it is more than worth the price and you and your kids will love it!

I am so excited to get started on this and if you get the eBook now, you’ll still have 6 days to get your craft supplies together in time for December 1st! However, I don’t just want you to buy it – I want to invite you moms and dads out there to join the Truth in the Tinsel Challenge! If you go and “Like” Truth in the Tinsel on Facebook, we want to come together to encourage each other to give our kids these first 24 days in December by posting pictures of the crafts we’ve made, sharing tips and ideas, sharing stories of funny or touching things our kids have said, etc.

I really want my kids to understand the true meaning of Christmas and that it isn’t all about Santa Claus or getting presents. I want them to know Jesus and to have the Word of God impressed upon their hearts and I think this is a great tool to accomplish that!

I’m joining the challenge – will you come along with me??

**Note: Because I think Truth in the Tinsel is so great, I decided to become an affiliate, so if you buy the eBook after clicking one of the links in this post or by clicking the button in my sidebar, I will receive a percentage from the sale. If you buy it and love it as much as I do, consider becoming an affiliate too!**

With only prayer and a faith that always seemed too small, Audra Grace Shelby departed with her husband and children on a one-way flight to Yemen…deep into the heart of conservative Islam.

With honesty and passion, she shares her harrowing journey as a Christian woman thrust into a culture dangerously different from her own. From the friendships she forged, to her gnawing doubt and fear, to her offers of hope when her new friends’ religion failed them, she gives us glimpses of a world most have never seen: behind the veils of real Muslim women–and how the grace of God touches lives in the midst of an Islamic stronghold.

I was definitely intrigued by the opportunity to read Behind the Veils of Yemen by Audra Grace Shelby, as I have heard very little about the lives of Muslim women, especially of those living in the Middle East. This book really opened by eyes to the struggles that these women face as a result of their culture, their religion, their environment and the economic situation. It was difficult to read about their trials, their pain, and their acceptance of the oppression they suffer as normative. I felt my emotions pulled at over and over again at the stories shared.

Shelby’s writing style was easy and enjoyable to read, feeling more like a beautiful descriptive tale than a factual autobiography, though the realness of the stories make it obvious that it’s no fiction creation. I’m not sure what Shelby’s goal was in writing this book, but if she desired to awaken awareness and a burden to pray for these women, then she definitely succeeded. The fact that she also only tells of the first three years out of nine that her family spent in missionary service in the Middle East, leaves you wanting to know more and to find out about the fate of these women she ministered to. Yet she may not even have that answer to share, as many times she had to trust the Lord to water and bring to maturity the simple seeds she sowed in their hearts.

I would absolutely recommend this book as an excellent read, for the person who already has a burden for the mission field, yet perhaps more for the person who is still searching for God’s heart for the lost people of the world. I found that my own heart cried out along with Shelby’s and I was challenged and inspired by the revelations that God gave to her in her own journey.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

J.R.R. Tolkien famously penned The Hobbit and the 3-volume novel The Lord of the Rings. Known as “the father of modern fantasy literature,” his writings have inspired many other works of fantasy and have had a lasting effect on the entire genre. In this Christian Encounters biography, learn how Tolkien’s faith was an intrinsic element of his creative imagination, one that played out in the pages of his writings and his life.

I’ve always been intrigued by J.R.R. Tolkien and fascinated with his ability to create another world and languages and story lines that have drawn in millions of readers. As a fan of C.S. Lewis, I was also curious about their friendship and the influence they had on each other in their writing careers. So when I read this short biography on J.R.R. Tolkien, it was definitely eye-opening and very interesting to read about his life story and some of the things that shaped him as a person and as an author.

I felt this book did an excellent job of giving us a glimpse into who J.R.R. Tolkien was, revealing both his strengths and weaknesses and the passion and conviction he felt about art and storytelling and morality. Yet, while his Christian faith undoubtedly influenced his writing, I found that this book did not give me great insight into Tolkien’s spiritual life and left me wanting to know more about his thoughts and feelings on Christianity. Though he obviously felt strongly about it enough to have been a major player in C.S. Lewis’ own conversion, I didn’t get a strong sense of who he was as a believer in Jesus from this book, which was something I was hoping to learn more about. Yet, perhaps there is not enough evidence out there to draw from to give us this deeper insight into his faith.

After reading the book, I find myself greatly inspired by Tolkien and his passion and creativity. Though his writing was not allegorical like that of C.S. Lewis in the Chronicles of Narnia, and didn’t contain the same obvious spiritual messages, it still declares truth and good and messages of morality for the reader to discover between the lines. I’m left with several burning questions about art and writing and how Christians can use media to declare Jesus to the world. For anyone who is a fan of Tolkien and his work, this would be an enjoyable read.

This book was provided to me by Booksneeze.com for my honest and unbiased review.

It is 1844 and Lacey Bishop’s life is a tangled mess. When circumstances move Lacey to a nearby Shaker village, she is not prepared for the new life that awaits her. In the midst of her deep loneliness, Lacey works to fit in with this odd group. But everything shifts when she finds herself drawn to a Shaker man in a village where such relationships are forbidden.

Can Lacey ever find true happiness in this mysterious place?

I recently reviewed Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so I think I had high expectations for The Blessed, which were unfortunately not met. While still a compelling and well-told story, I was completely ignorant about the beliefs of the Shaker faith and was really just expecting something different.

While I was proud of Lacey’s spiritual journey and how she battled through the challenging of her beliefs, it was somewhat disheartening for the setting to be in a village where the people were part of what I would consider a cult. While Gabhart seeks to portray some of the Shaker members as sincere, kind, genuine people who love God, it is hard to find truth in their message when they ultimately believed that their leader, a woman, was the second incarnation of Jesus Christ.

This one is a difficult one for me to give my opinion on, because in the end, it was still well-written and you still cared about the characters and how their stories ended and you felt their pain and struggle and search for truth. I think I was just a little thrown off by the Shaker religion, as it was not what I was expecting, and which made it a little less enjoyable for me to read. Others may find it interesting to read about this group and to get a glimpse into what their faith was about and in some ways, I think that reading about the things they believed that I disagreed with, served to strengthen what I do believe in.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

This funny, insightful, and relatable book poses the wildly original concept that should be a “duh” for most dads—but isn’t: In order to raise a confident woman-to-be, show your daughter what it feels like to be treated with love, respect, and true interest by a man who loves her.

Daddy Dates shows the average father how to actually do that. It is written in an original voice and will appeal to both men and women. It is the kind of action-oriented “how to” material that guys enjoy, and so many others will recommend to other dads.

Daddy Dates by Greg Wright was exactly what it claimed to be – funny, insightful and original. It was a very easy read, with short and simple chapters from the perspective of a dad trying his best to raise up four godly daughters who would be well equipped to make good choices in life and in choosing their future spouse, after experiecing how a man should treat her.

I loved the book and I hope my husband will read it as our daughter grows up, because it has many fantastic ideas and insights into the minds and hearts of little girls and women in general. Truly, I think even if you weren’t a father or husband yet, this book could give men a lot of insight into the hearts of their wives or that special girl they hope to win over. While a humorous book, it actually also moved me to tears a couple times as it tugged on my heart strings and those desires of every girl to feel special and adored and loved by her father. I have a fantastic dad who loved me very much, but I think it touches on something even deeper where we all long to feel that we are treasured by our Heavenly Father.

While you may catch hints of Greg’s faith in this book, it is written to be very accessible to anybody, which you might see as a pro or a con. I personally would have loved for the book to contain more content that connected this to the heart of our Father God and what the Bible has to say about parenthood, but perhaps those are some things you can then search out on your own. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book – especially to fathers, but even to mothers or husbands or a young man who wants to know how to treat his date with “love, respect and true interest”. I think that there are even things in this book that I may try to implement and have mommy dates with my kids – sons and daughters alike, though there is definitely something special and unique about that father-daughter relationship.

This book was provided to me by Booksneeze.com  for my honest and unbiased review.

This is where it all began! The first three DVDs from the best-loved Max Lucado’s Hermie & Friends® series!!
Hermie, a Common Caterpillar—its all about being special.
Flo, the Lyin’ Fly—its all about telling the truth.
Webster, the Scaredy Spider—its all about being brave.

We own another DVD from the Hermie & Friends series, so I knew that Justice and I would likely enjoy the A Bug Collection DVD set with three more stories, and I was right! While my son Justice is just 3 years old, he is beginning to understand emotional and spiritual things in a greater way and these DVDs were a great way to introduce some important subjects.

He has dabbled with lying to us and we are trying to teach him about the difference between telling a lie and telling the truth, so the video about Flo, the Lyin’ Fly was a great story to help us with this important lesson!

And while my son sometimes seems fearless to the point that it scares me, the video about Webster, the Scaredy Spider is a great story about conquering our fears and trusting in God.

But I have to say that our favorite one was Hermie, a Common Caterpillar which teaches us about how God creates all of us unique and special in our own way. It seemed that this one impacted Justice the most as well, since afterwards he kept telling me that “God made me special”.

I would definitely recommend any of these videos from the Hermie & Friends series – they are well made with fun characters that the kids like and they teach valuable Biblical lessons.

This DVD set was provided to me by Booksneeze.com at no cost for my honest and unbiased review.