Fruitbearers

I read lots of good and great books in 2012 so it's difficult for me to pick my usual top ten reads for the year. I will instead post my top 12 reads (12 is my favorite number, anyway :)). Embracing Obscurity by Anonymous How to Share Christ with Your Friends of Another Faith by Dr. Jeff Brawner What Every Christian Ought to Know by Adrian Rogers Mondays with My Old Pastor by Jose Luis Navajo A Heart Like His by Beth Moore Miracle for Jen by Linda Barrick with John Perry Reasons for Hope by Carl Kerby Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado The Colors of Hope by Richard Dahlstrom Live to Give by Austin Gutwein What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? by Edward T. Welch What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him by Byron Forrest Yawn

                              (releases today, March 13th, rated PG) Christian Cinema:   http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4094 About the Movie:   Matthew Stevenson is a troubled kid from a broken home. When he vandalizes the local church to get back at his parents, Matthew has to repair the damage to the church to avoid criminal charges. While working at the church, he meets Ernest ( John Ratzenberger ), an accomplished wood carver who created the intricate woodwork decoration that Matthew destroyed. Ernest has become something of a hermit, but reluctantly comes out of reclusion to help repair the church. Now Ernest and Matthew must work together to preserve the church's beautiful antiquity, and along the way, they also manage to restore their faith in God and in life. My Thoughts and R...

A Mile in His Shoes is a family-friendly movie (PG) about a young man diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (a form of autism) and how his God-given talent (his amazing throwing ability) helps him and others. It's about overcoming challenges in life. It is based on the book "The Legend of Mickey Tussler" (a true story). It's directed by William Dear, the director of "Angels In the Outfield." It stars Dean Cain who plays Arthur Murphy, a baseball coach and Luke Schroder who plays Mickey, the main character. Excellent performances! My family and I enjoyed this movie. It spoke to my heart deeply because one of my kids has symptoms that are similar to Asperger's Syndrome but the doctors diagnosed him with anxiety disorder, instead. My son is very athletic and great with numbers like Mickey. He is also sensitive to noise and crowds like Mickey. When Coach Murphy sees Mickey (a farmer boy) throw apples at a bucket for his pigs, he knows that he has just fo...

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: Jeremy Jones and the book: Triple Dog Dare Devotional David C. Cook (October 1, 2011) ***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jeremy V. Jones is an award-winning journalist who has served as senior associate editor of Breakaway magazine. He has authored several books, including Toward the Goal: The Kaka Story and The Keeper: The...

SYNOPSIS:   Thomas Kinkade presents  Christmas Lodge : a place where a heart-warming past and loving future meet for one remarkable group of people. During a weekend trip to the mountains, Mary (Erin Karpluk) finds herself at the now- dilapidated lodge where she spent the holidays with her family growing up. She becomes determined to restore the building to its former glory. Inspired by her grandfather and guided by her grandmother in heaven, Mary throws herself into the project, and during the process finds herself drawn to Jack (Michael Shanks), a handsome man who loves the lodge as much as she does. Historically unlucky in love, this chance encounter allows Mary to renew her faith in life and discover her one true love. For an uplifting story about the importance of faith, family and the true holiday spirit, go to the  Christmas Lodge . MY THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: Can you believe that Christmas is just around the corner :)? Christmas Lodge is a clean Christi...

Theo,  an animated student of Godʼs Word, lives in a cozy corner of a quaint English village, in the heart of the Cotswolds, and entertains two mice, Belfry and Luther.   The first DVD in the series,  Theo: God's Love (containing 3 episodes: Saving Faith, Loving Obedience, Forgiveness, plus a bonus episode: Good News and s pecial features: Animation Basics and A Chat with Mike Joens, the Creator of Theo), released on DVD through EMI CMG on 9/13/11.   Website : http://www.theopresents.com Facebook :     http://www.facebook.com/theopresents Amazon :  http://www.amazon.com/Theo-Gods-Love/dp/B005ETZEPI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314304071&sr=8-1 FREE app (available now for iPhone and iPad):  http://www.theopresents.com/ Church Curriculum available now (from LifeWay Christian Stores):  http://www.lifeway.com/Product/theo-church-edition-foundations-of-faith-P005397446 The Buy 1 - Give 1 campaign! For every Theo DVD purchased,...

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Jay Loecken grew up on an eighty-acre hobby farm in Minnesota as the youngest of three boys. His upbringing was solid with loving parents who were always encouraging him to try new things. He grew up in a Christian home, but his faith really began to develop during his sophomore year at Northwestern College while living in Dublin, Ireland for the summer and working with Greater Europe Mission. That’s when the Bible began to come to life for him and he began developing his own convictions. Beth Loecken’s upbringing could not have been any more different. She grew up in Kansas City in a Catholic home as the youngest of six children. Her mother battled depression and eventually committed suicide when Beth was only five. Beth’s father retreated into alcoholism, leaving her in a chaotic and unstable environment where she was often abused. After graduating from high school, she moved to New York where she discovered her first true love—Jesus. He offered her a love and...

About The Church History ABCs Dramatically converted on the stormy seas, a slave-trader-turned-abolitionist penned the best-loved hymn of the Christian faith. A church father was arrested and martyred for teaching the truth about Christ’s incarnation. Captured by pirates and shipped off to Ireland, a priest baptized thousands of pagans, from paupers to princes. Now who ever said church history was boring? The Church History ABCs is a fun way for kids to learn about great figures in Christian history. Twenty-six heroes of the faith march through the alphabet, boldly telling their stories in language children can understand. This wide range of characters—men and women from across the centuries, from all over the globe—reflects the breadth of church history and reminds children that these great figures of the past were living, breathing people who lived and died for the glory of God. About the Author and the Illustrator Stephen J. Nichols is a professor at Lancaster Bible...

We are so grateful for the Lord's blessings, love, grace, mercy, and faithfulness throughout the years.  I like to take a look back each year at what He had done for us, in us, and through us.  We're especially thankful for the Lord's healing on our 12 year old son.  There's a big difference in him between 2009 and 2010. 1. Our daughter, Alyssa (16 then), gave 2 wonderful speeches at our local speech/apologetics club. 2. I was the Grand Prize Winner for Focus on the Family's Celebrating Life Contest in February. I've won a trip for two to Colorado and lunch with Jim Daly, the President of Focus on the Family, but Focus on the Family has not given me the prize yet (Update as of Feb., 2011: FOTF is arranging an all expense paid trip for our whole family of 5 to visit Colorado in July! Praise God!). I also won a Rosetta Stone Giveaway (from Rosetta Stone via a blog).  We picked Mandarin Chinese. 3. I was one of the contributors (by the name...