The Great Life Deception

There comes a time in some peoples' lives (women and men) where they feel a decision has to be made about their preborn baby's life ~ to allow him or her to continue living or end their child's life.  While there are many reasons why the mother and/or father might think abortion is a viable solution, I encourage you to watch the 180 Movie before considering abortion to be an option.  

Your baby is growing rapidly and when their heart starts beating at 3 weeks, most women aren't even aware they are pregnant yet.  It's a commonly held lie that the millions upon millions of babies being aborted are nothing but a mass of cells.  Far from it; they are tiny human beings.  From the moment of conception, time and nutrition are supporting their lives as they grow within their mother's uterus.  Preborn babies are fully alive, fully human, and fully children.

Preborn baby at 9 weeks:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I sanctified you."  Jeremiah 1:5

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."  Psalm 139:13-16 

Vision Forum ~ Home of Jonathan Park

If you're already fans of audio stories like Adventures in Odyssey (Focus on the Family), you'll want to check out Vision Forum's Jonathan Park CDs.  Our children love them!  They're just what we are looking for -- stories that teach Godly character traits, thrilling adventures that reflect on Biblical creation, worship of the Creator over creation, and honoring God through life choices.  We purchased a multi-pack of CDs to save on the cost but regardless of price, our children continue to listen to the stories over and over again.

Offering a multitude of other resources, I highly recommend Vision Forum when you are considering Christmas gifts this year.  We've purchased some of their DVD documentaries for family members in previous years and have yet to decide if we will go with Christian books or another DVD this year.  You have a tremendous witnessing opportunity in your choice of gifts for loved ones this Christmas.

Dreaming of a Blue Christmas

Why not have a tree in your favourite colour?  The boys picked out a blue tree for their bedroom a couple years ago.  At the time, someone else preferred the pink tree, but votes for blue won out.  The little blue tree made its grand appearance a few days ago.  The only casualty so far has been a glass bulb with Daddy's workplace inscribed on it; baby likes to throw things. We think the rest of the decorations are indestructible...

Makes a pretty nightlight!

The bulb-thrower himself...

Incredible Time Lapse Video of Earth From Space

What a beautiful video!   Our children love anything to do with space -- what a special way to view Earth.  I just love the rippling, shimmering Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis.  We were excited to pick out the Great Lakes and quickly locate where we (and Grandparents) live.

I tried to add the video here but I'm not sure how to get it to appear in HD.  I suggest going here to watch it so you get the BIG picture!  

These time lapse pictures were taken by the crew onboard the International Space Station during two expeditions between August and October, 2011.  Wonderfully edited by Michael Konig and special thanks to NASA for sharing with all of us earth-bound people! :)


Shooting locations in order of appearance:

1. Aurora Borealis Pass over the United States at Night
2. Aurora Borealis and eastern United States at Night
3. Aurora Australis from Madagascar to southwest of Australia
4. Aurora Australis south of Australia
5. Northwest coast of United States to Central South America at Night
6. Aurora Australis from the Southern to the Northern Pacific Ocean
7. Halfway around the World
8. Night Pass over Central Africa and the Middle East
9. Evening Pass over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East
10. Pass over Canada and Central United States at Night
11. Pass over Southern California to Hudson Bay
12. Islands in the Philippine Sea at Night
13. Pass over Eastern Asia to Philippine Sea and Guam
14. Views of the Mideast at Night
15. Night Pass over Mediterranean Sea
16. Aurora Borealis and the United States at Night
17. Aurora Australis over Indian Ocean
18. Eastern Europe to Southeastern Asia at Night

Book Review: Begin ~ (compiled/edited by:) Ken Ham & Bodie Hodge

An excellent start for exactly who it is intended for: "seekers and new believers".  I have thoroughly enjoyed the layout of this book and feel it will help answer some of the questions people have about the Bible, who God is, and why in the world they need to be saved -- saved from what?!

Growing up, the CSSM (Canadian Sunday School Mission) was warmly welcomed into the Canadian public school system.  I remember those flannel graph stories, the songs, the love of those teachers,.....and the conviction of the law (the weight of sin) in my life.  The law is a mirror of the sin in our lives and it shows us why we need a Saviour.

Today, more and more people know less and less of the foundations of God's Word.  You can't just assume that everyone has heard what the Bible says.  Not everyone has grown up in a Bible-preaching church, evolution is taught as fact in schools (books, tv, etc.), and the name of God in some circles is often heard more as a cuss word than the name of our Almighty Creator.

Begin is just that: it gives readers a foundation:  a beginning.  It is completely Scripture based and brings Creation through Redemption into focus.  Most of the book is the Bible, with commentary like a study Bible would offer.  It is giving readers a Biblical worldview, allowing you to see God's hand on and love for us right from His Creation of us.

From a personal perspective, I purchased a copy of this book before my "free preview" even arrived.  After reading it, I know that this is the book I will be giving to a dear person in my life who is a new believer.  It gives Biblical answers for the questions evolution has attempted to distort. 

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."  Isaiah 40:8

Book Review: Heaven Is For Real, ~ Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent

Heaven Is For Real:   A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, Deluxe Edition

I have been wanting to read Heaven Is For Real for some time and wasn't disappointed at all, even with having heard others' opinions of the book. 

A couple years ago, I read 90 Minutes in Heaven (by Don Piper), a book along similar lines.  More recently, I was reading Heaven (by Randy Alcorn); more theologically based as it is rooted in Scripture vs personal experience.  I believe that the spiritual nature God has given us is reflected in our desire to know more about the place God has prepared for us after we die and leave the only physical place we know. 

While there isn't 100% surety on the accuracy of what Colton related to his parents about his time spent in Heaven, I have a few thoughts on the subject.

1. God doesn't "spill the beans" and tell us every detail of Heaven in the Bible so as long as the book is accurate as far as what the Bible does say, whose to say that the extra details Colton gives aren't just his imagination.  Arguably, they could be just imagination.  However, if he talks about Jesus having a horse with rainbow colors, is it possible that's the only way Colton would know to describe such a horse?  I've read reviewers who have referred to it as "Rainbow Brite's" horse, but is that a fair comparison?  How does one describe a crystal refracting light and iridescent light giving the appearance of shimmering rainbows to a person who has never seen it before?

2. We're talking about comparing Heaven with earthly terms.  It's like God giving John a glimpse of future events in Revelation when all he knew was what existed in the first century AD. How can we even imagine what Heaven truly holds for those who truly love God and have been saved through His Son?

3. I can't bring myself to discount Colton's experience because of his age.  When one of our children was 3, I saw him standing in our kitchen doorway with his hand slightly out to the side.  He was so quiet that I asked him what he was doing and he simply told me that he was holding an angel's hand like it was an every day experience.

Jesus told his own disciples to let the little children come to Him.  I lean towards believing that Colton did go to Heaven and meet Jesus and more than that -- I can't wait to meet my Saviour some day too!

Book Review: Thank You, God, For Blessing Me ~ Max Lucado

I recently downloaded Max Lucado's book, Thank You, God, For Blessing Me to our iPod.  A Read-to-Me "Little Hermie" book, this was designed for the youngest Hermie-lovers and I expect it comes in a board book format for those little listeners/book handlers. 

Our children all love Hermie books and DVDs.  Our 4-year-old enjoys and asks for this book to be read to her at bedtime.  Our older boys think its more of a novelty to read books on the iPod so will page through it...but not request it again.  However, it isn't in the same age-range of books they typically read.  Going by the age it was meant for, this is a cute story with simple illustrations.

Hermie is thanking God for all the ways He blesses his wee caterpillar life.  Our one-year-old is just getting into wanting to sit and read books with the family.  This is the type of book I will enjoy sharing with him - a book that encourages us to give thanks in everything.