Airfield 4-H Center

I had the MOST amazing day today; attending camp training at the Airfield 4-H Center in Wakefield, Virginia. Enjoy some of the photos I took....

What's in the Bible (WITB) with Buck Denver - #5

In What’s in the Bible? volume 5, Buck Denver and cast take us through 1 and 2 Samuel. The two episodes focus on three of the most influential kings of Israel (Saul, David, and Solomon). And the Tricky Bits section explains the Trinity (after we learn that the Spirit of the Lord fell upon David). The DVD highlights God’s promise to David and how the promise impacts the salvation story. We also see what happens when David (and the other kings) sin against God. Kids learn that there are consequences for sin!
From the man who made vegetables talk (and sing, dance, and tell Bible stories) comes an engaging new series that walks kids through the entire Bible! Each DVD is filled with an entertaining cast of characters that bring the most powerful Bible stories to life using humor, animation, creative storytelling, and fun songs. Join VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer on a wild and zany journey and see the world’s most amazing book come to life for a new generation.



YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF THIS DVD FOR YOURSELF!
Comment on this post with your favorite scene - including your mailing address (which will not be shared with anyone). A winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 10th.


Check out these fabulous WITB links:
http://whatsinthebible.com/

http://whatsinthebible.com/2011/05/04/dvd-5-solomon-asks-for-wisdom/

You'll want to follow WITB on Facebook too:
https://www.facebook.com/WhatsintheBible

And don't forget to follow WITB on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/whatsinthebible

Thanks to What’s in the Bible Street Team (Tyndale Publishing) for providing two copies of WITB #5 DVDs!

Email I sent to our VA Elected Officials

Dear Senator/Congressman,

You may (or may not) remember me from a note I sent a couple of weeks ago regarding the funding of Planned Parenthood. I am the woman that was adopted in 1962, thanks to the brave woman who had the courage to give me life (and not choose to abort my existence).

As God would have it, I was given the opportunity to review a DVD (I host a blog and am given the amazing opportunity to state my opinion in exchange for free books/DVDs) that made a life-changing impact on me. Honestly, I couldn't believe what I was seeing as the program began. A woman by the name of Abby Johnson was the director of a Planned Parenthood site, which she supported fully. UNTIL she realized they lied to her.

I was given a copy of this DVD and I would be more than happy to give it to YOU-if you would be willing to watch it. I couldn't believe it, as I watched in horror, as her story was told.

Please feel free to review my blog post here: http://passionatechildrensservant.blogspot.com/2011/05/unplanned-dvd-blog-review.html

I will be awaiting your response. I honestly appreciate your time.

I will keep you posted on any responses.

Unplanned DVD Blog Review

Let me begin this review by being perfectly honest - I had no idea what this DVD was about until I hit "play" on my DVD player. I believe God works THROUGH us - whether we pay attention or not (at least I believe He works through those who LOVE and ADORE Him-and I DO!).

Those that know me well, know I was adopted as an infant. I ALWAYS knew I was adopted because my mother rocked me as an infanat and explained how special I was (BECAUSE I was adopted!); so I believed her! For a very long time I have had strong feelings against abortion (for obvious reasons!). As a matter of fact, I decided recently to start communicating those feelings to those in Washington, DC (I wrote to President Obama on the anniversary of Rowe vs. Wade and more recently to our State Senators regarding my disappointment in their votes to continue financial support for Planned Parenthood).

Having this DVD "drop" into my lap was, to me, a sign straight from God that I MUST do MORE to help protect the lives of the unborn! I MUST become more involved - as demonstrated on this amazing DVD. I will PRAY MORE (on this, the National Day of Prayer), I will participate locally in my support of CareNet, I will do whatever it takes-I WILL BE HIS HANDS AND FEET! And I am BEGGING YOU to join me!



Abby Johnson holds a B.S. in psychology from Texas A&M University and an M.A. in counseling from Sam Houston State University. She was hired by Planned Parenthood in 2005 and progressed to the position of community services director and health educator, where she served as liaison between the community and Planned Parenthood as media correspondent. Later promoted to health center director, Johnson ran both the family planning and abortion programs. In 2009 she left Planned Parenthood and joined the local Coalition for Life as a volunteer. Johnson now serves as Chief Research Strategist for Live Action and works on projects with the national 40 Days for Life campaign. She and her husband, Doug, have a young daughter and live in Texas.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TyndaleHP#p/u/17/ZC6thU987CY
DVD Trailer

http://uniteforlifewebcast.org/
Life is full of decisions, and every decision we make has an echo that affects our future.

PLEASE ALSO JOIN ME On May 17th at 8:00 PM, and be a part of the UNITE for LIFE webcast with Abby Johnson, a former abortion clinic director for Planned Parenthood. Join us for heartfelt discussions as Abby shares her long-held desire to help women in crisis, and the moment of pure awakening that led her to re-evaluate her life’s work.

During this webcast, hosted by Kelly Rosati, Vice President of Community Outreach for Focus on the Family, you’ll discover why Abby is now an advocate for the pro-life pregnancy centers and clinics around the nation that truly serve women and save lives. Special guests, representing over 2500 pregnancy care centers and clinics, include:

Dr. Peggy Hartshorn, President of Heartbeat International, heartbeatinternational.org

Tom Glessner, Founder and President of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) www.nifla.org and

Melinda Delahoyde, President of Care Net, www.care-net.org, and

Lola French, CEO of the Canadian Association of Pregnancy Support Services, www.capss.com

Meet women who discovered that abortion was not their only choice and learn how they received the caring, confidential support they needed to choose life for their babies.

Plus, we’ll hear from Shawn Carney, co-founder of 40 Days for Life and former Executive Director of Coalition for Life, who befriended Abby when she worked at Planned Parenthood, tell how prayer and kindness are having a huge impact on those working at abortion clinics and speaking to the hearts of abortion-minded women.

If you’ve ever felt God’s calling to stand up for children who cannot speak for themselves; to raise your voice in defense of the preborn; if you want to help women who are face-to-face with the most difficult and important decision of their lives — and possibly change the future of abortion in our culture — join us at UniteForLifeWebcast.org on May 17 at 8pm.

The proceeds from the webcast will benefit the featured pro-life pregnancy care organizations (as well as Signal Hill in Canada), so we invite people from across the U.S. and Canada to join hands to help serve women and save lives.

Sign up today get a free download of an interview with Abby Johnson and Focus on the Family USA President, Jim Daly.

AS AN ADDED BONUS: I have a certificate for ONE FREE COPY of this amazing DVD to share! (I will be offering my copy to either of our Virginia State Senators or our House of Representative members. It's time they hear the truth about Planned Parenthood - from a previous inside source!) Submit a Comment on this blog post by Monday, May 9th, to enter! Be sure to include your mailing address (information will NOT be posted and held in strict confidence). The winner will be announced RIGHT HERE on Tuesday, May 10th! GOOD LUCK - you DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS LIFE-CHANGING DVD!

People of the Book by Kathi Macias

You do not have to like something to accept it - and that is the feeling I experienced while reading this book. I do enjoy learning, therefore, was extremely appreciative to have the opportunity to read this fabulous book.

The following information was provided by the author:

People of the Book is the fourth and final book in your Extreme Devotion series. Each book is set in a different country, with the theme of first devotion and commitment to Christ above all else running through all four. How is People of the Book different, and who/what inspired you to write this book?

People of the Book was the most difficult of the four Extreme Devotion series books to write, but it is also the strongest when it comes to a call to personal commitment to Christ and to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. With each of the books, I began drafting the manuscripts through Internet research, since I had never lived in any of the four countries and had only visited one of them. After the original draft, I worked with someone who either currently lived in the country or who had recently spent many years there. People of the Book was the toughest because the Saudi women I connected with via the Internet were understandably apprehensive about associating with me. Most, in fact, were terrified to do so. I was therefore quite pleased to meet a young woman named Dolly Dahdal here in the States who, until just a few years ago, had spent the majority of her life in Saudi Arabia and understood perfectly why I had chosen to write this book. We shared a passion to help expose the fallacy of “honor killings,” a horrific crime perpetrated primarily against women and girls who in some way bring “dishonor” on their Muslim families, and Dolly was a major contributor to the authenticity of this book.

Can you give us a brief synopsis of this story?

Eighteen-year-old Farah, who lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with her family, wants nothing more than to develop a deeper, more meaningful devotion to her Muslim faith. She sees the month of Ramadan as her chance to draw nearer to Allah, and she pursues that goal throughout the holiday. All goes well until the prophet Isa—Jesus—appears to her in a dream and calls her to Himself. At the same time, her only brother, Kareem, who has never liked Farah, actively seeks an opportunity to expose her for the sham he believes she is.

Meanwhile, Farah’s seventeen-year-old cousin, Nura, has begun to frequent an online chat room where former Muslims gather to discuss their new faith, based on their belief that Isa is much more than a Muslim prophet—He is actually the Son of God. While there, Nura becomes acquainted with an American girl of Muslim ancestry—now a devout Christian named Sara—and a friendship quickly develops. However, Sara has problems of her own due to her fifteen-year-old brother Emir’s involvement with a gang.

The lives of Farah, Nura, and Sara ultimately dovetail until each finds herself at a place where her faith is put to the test. Will they remain faithful to the end? Will God protect and keep them safe in the midst of persecution and treachery? Or will they be required to pay the ultimate price for their faith?

Kathi, how did you get into writing? Has it always been your passion, or is it something you came to later in life?

I’ve always wanted to write, for as long as I can remember. I was an avid reader even before I started kindergarten. I wrote a short story in third grade that the teacher liked so much she showed it to the principal, and they decided to turn it into a play for the entire PTA. I was hooked! One day when I was about 13, I was walking home from school with my then boyfriend (now husband), Al, and I told him I’d be a writer some day. He often reminds me how blessed I am to have been able to do what I dreamed of all my life.

I understand you’re running a special contest that has to do with this book. Can you tell us about it?

Not only are there several opportunities to win a copy of the book on various blog sites included in this tour, but I’m giving away the entire four-book series at the end of the tour to someone who leaves a comment on one of the blogs, so be sure to check them all out and leave comments on each one!

In addition to writing, you are a popular speaker at women’s event, writers’ conferences, and various venues around the country. How can people find out more about you, your writing and speaking, sign up for your weekly devotional newsletter (in English or Spanish), and/or just view your many book videos, etc.?

They can find me at one of my websites (http://www.kathimacias.com; http://www.theTitus2Women.com) or on my Easy Writer blog at http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com. There is a “contact” button on my Kathi Macias website if they’d like to send me a message. I always respond to all my emails!




PLEASE NOTE: Anyone who posts a comment on my blog will be entered into a contest for the EXTREME DEVOTION complete set giveaway. I can promise your life will be changed by reading her books!!!!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speaker Services (www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com).