Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?

Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?
by United Church of God
Kindle Edition, 65 pages
Published March 11th 2012 by United Church of God
ASIN: B007JLNGP4

This free book can be found at:
https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/holidays-or-holy-days-does-it-matter-which-days-we-observe

A short but very well researched book on the history of the traditional Christian holidays. This looks into the pagan holidays and celebrations and how the early Church incorporated pagan traditions and dates to draw in members.

This book concentrates on Easter, Christmas, Halloween, and briefly touches on Valentines Day. It does discuss what days we should observe, but is covered only briefly. Personally, I'm on the wall with the suggested days we should be observing, but only because I have not researched them.

What I really find fascinating, is how we, as Christians, can shake our head and wonder how those in the Old Testament could worship an idol on one day and then turn around and honor the Sabbath on the next. If one looks at the background and history of the days that Christians currently celebrate, you'll see nothing has really changed!

Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe? is a must read for any and all Christians!

**Please note: The Bible references used in this publication are NOT KJV. There are not many that were quoted, but I used my KJV alongside to compare and make sure it was still an accurate reference. There are many scriptural references that you will need a Bible to look up anyhow, since you are given just the Book, Chapter and Verse. Although short, expect to take a bit of time to really look up everything verse that is given.

This book is from my own personal library.

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible Tour

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible: Over 40 Stories of God's Power and Presence
Author: Doris Wynbeek Rikkers
Illustrated by Fernando Juarez
Publisher: Zonderkids
ISBN-13: 978-0310749738
Hardcover: 312 pages


About the book:

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible brings to life more than 40 Bible stories that help readers understand that God’s Spirit has been with us since the beginning of time and continues to be with us today. From the glory of creation through the powerful letters of Paul, God’s Spirit is living in his people. Old and New Testament stories such as Adam and Eve, Abraham, Joseph, the Baptism of Jesus, and Pentecost come alive with dramatic illustrations by Fernando Juarez and moving text by Doris Rikkers. With a cover that sparkles and shines with foil, this is a special storybook Bible that will appeal to both children and parents alike.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

If I settle on the far side of the sea,

Even there your hand will guide me,

Your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139: 7–10

You can view a sample of The Spirit of God here

About the author and illustrator:

Doris Wynbeek Rikkers is a freelance writer and editor who has written many bestselling children’s books and Bibles. Although she loves the ocean, she lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, surrounded by her books, her flower gardens, and her family and friends.

Spanish artist Fernando Juarez illustrates children’s books and also works as an art supervisor at the Madrid studio Ilion Animation. The company produces 3D feature films for children. Fernando has three kids himself, and if he has any time left after work and family, you might catch him playing guitar in a rock band.

My Thoughts:

This book is beautifully illustrated and most definitely will grab your child's attention. I was taken by the artist's style and enjoyed looking at all the artwork throughout the book. Because of the artwork, I was sure I was going to love this Bible story book. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

My concern started with the first story: the creation. The author's first sentence states: "In the beginning, there was nothing but darkness ... and God." The first thing that popped into my head was, "Why would God live in darkness?" Darkness has always had a bad/evil connotation to it. This has a totally different feel to it than how my Bible starts out: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Gen. 1:1 KJV).

As the first chapter progressed on, I got the feeling the author does not believe the creation takes place in six days. " The seasons changed and seeds scattered and grew into plants." Then man was made." From what I take from this, man was made at least a year after to go through the life cycle of a plant.

I have other concerns as well - but won't go into them. It sounds quite picky - since this is only a child's book, but children are like sponges. They absorb so much more than we think they do. We need to feed them the correct information from the beginning. If that information doesn't exactly match what you believe, don't use it. If you do, you will only cause confusion later. Children learn and don't forget easily and so hard to correct later.

Although beautifully illustrated, this book is not something I'd use for my family.

Would you like to win your own copy of

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible?

Win a children's book prize pack from Read with Audra!

The prize pack includes a copy of:

Spirit of God Illustrated Bible

Adventure Bible Book of Daring Deeds and Epic Creations

NIV Kids Visual Study Bible

Explorer's Bible Guide

Words to Love By

Love Letters from God

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.

God's Design for Sexuality in a Changing Culture

God's Design for Sexuality in a Changing Culture
A 15 Video Series - approximately 30 minutes each along complete with a leader's guide and participant outline
From Harvest USA

About the Series:

Everyone outside the church is talking about sexual issues—gender identity, same-sex attraction, same-sex marriage—the world’s perspective on these issues has certainly changed over the last decade. So how do you answer questions about God’s design for sexuality for church members and their families? Is your church equipping your people to understand a biblical perspective on sexuality and form a gospel-based response to questions from both inside and outside the church? 

Harvest USA, an organization that has been thinking biblically and redemptively about these issues for decades, has now made available a video series that will help you wisely, kindly, and truthfully help your church to understand God’s biblical design for sexuality and give direction on how to speak the truth in love to the world around us. 

The seminar consists of fifteen 30-minute videos (suitable for use during Sunday school or in small group), downloadable leader guide, and participant outlines that address questions and topics about God’s design for sexuality including the following:

  - Why do we need to talk about sex?
  - Why do we struggle with our sexuality?
  - Is God’s design for sexuality still relevant today?
  - What does the Bible really say about homosexuality?
  - Can you change if you are gay?
  - How can a single person live out God’s design for their sexuality?
  - Understanding gender and transgender issues
  - Pornography
  - How to help the sexual struggler
  - Key steps for raising sexually healthy kids
  - Keeping your kids safe in an Internet world

Author

Harvest USA is a non-profit that has been ministering to individuals and families affected by sexual struggles since 1983. With over 100 years of combined direct ministry experience, Harvest USA staff also seek to equip the Church with their writing and teaching on biblical sexuality and how to help those who struggle sexually.

My Thoughts:

My first reaction to this series is "WOW!" I wish I had had this available to me years ago. This series has addressed so many questions and concerns I've had throughout my lifetime. How much simpler things would have been to have understood God's Design for us - for me. I was raised with no instruction from the Church except when it came to pre-marital classes given by the Catholic church. It didn't cover much except for natural birth control and that was about all there was to the sexuality part.  When Mr. D and I were engaged, we had our counseling session with a Baptist minister and there was no mention of sex at all, just our salvation. So - my education was a book-set from my mother that explained sex and the views of my peers, romance novels, movies and music  - all world views and not Biblical.

I could never really put God together with sex, although he was the one that designed it! It took this course to really open my eyes and see things in a totally different light. It made things so clear - that we are designed to be made for our spouse and our spouse only. It would have been wonderful being taught this from a young age - how sex/sexuality is a gift from God and not something dirty, secretive or never to be spoke about with your Christian peers.

This series covers areas that Christians struggle with: pornography, same-sex attraction, gender identity, keeping our children safe in a world of technology, how to talk to your children about God's Design of Sex, etc. All of these aspects are important to go over for those that struggle as well as those that do not. No one is condemned for having these struggles, but instead are given guidance and support. For those that do not struggle, this series helps to understand and shows how to possibly give help or just a listening ear for those that may have a need.

This amazing series should be offered by every Church. There are so many struggling with the idea of a healthy sexuality in the Christian Church and this would definitely solve quite a few issues. How wonderful it would be to bring up the next generation of our children with the idea that sex is a God given gift to be treasured and excited about and not something that is associated with shame because God certainly can't fit in with "something like that"!

Don't think you have to be head of a Church or group to get this series. It would be a good addition to any Christian home - especially if you have questions, are struggling with things or have children that you'd like to teach how beautiful sex and sexuality is because it is God's Design for us.

I received a digital access of this course from Harvest USA. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.

Treasures of Healthy Living by Annette Reeder & Dr. Richard Couey

Treasures of Healthy Living
Author: Annette Reeder & Dr. Richard Couey
Publisher: Pleasant Word-A Division of WinePress Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1414115702
Paperback: 368 pages

About the Book:

Did you know you can find the answers to many health problems in the pages of Scripture? Think of God's Word as a treasure map that leads straight to the healthy life you've always dreamed of. It reveals how you can move from a sickly, lackluster life to one that is full of energy and hope. This practical Bible study will reveal the truth about the foods you eat and provide simple tools to begin improving your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. You won't believe how much your life can change when you grab hold of the treasures God has provided for you.

My Thoughts

When I received this book, I did not realize that it was to be used in conjunction with the "Healthy Treasures Cookbook". However, there is so much information packed into "Treasures of Healthy Living" that I wasn't disappointed, but instead, want to get the cookbook now!

This 12 week study takes you on a journey to make your life better through diet, exercise and your spiritual well being. It covers such topics as fruits, vegetables, meats, toxins, and exercise and even discusses how things like GMO's affect your health and well being.

This book is filled with so much information that I really want to go back and linger and do a more intensive study. I will say that I don't totally agree with all subjects/points of view, but it is such a great approach to scripture and food, that it is definitely worth a second look!

About the Authors:

Annette Reeder, a Biblical Nutrition Consultant, is leading people all around the country on an adventure with the power of food to change lives one meal and prayer at a time. Annette is a graduate of Liberty University and Huntington College Health Sciences and the founder of Designed Healthy Living a nutrition consulting ministry.

Dr. Richard "Dick" Couey-Professor Emeritus of Health Sciences at Baylor University. Dr. Couey has spent nearly fifty years studying the physiology of the cell. He has especially studied how nutrition, exercise, and stress affect the cell's biochemistry and physiology. Dr. Couey's students praise how Dr. Couey can make the complexities of the cell seem understandable.



I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher for this tour. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.

Four Letter Words by Dr. Bill Giovannetti

Four Letter Words
Author: Dr. Bill Giovannetti
Publisher: Endurant Press (September 26, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0983681267
Paperback: 208 pages

About Four Letter Words:

Thou shalt tolerate every opinion... except the Christian's. Today's postmodern "prime directive" leaves many followers of Jesus tongue-tied. In the global village, isn't it unreasonable, and even dangerous, to suggest that the Bible has a monopoly on truth?

The church needs a new breed of Christ-follower. We need Christ-followers who are alert to today's touchy ideas, the truths that fire up more heat than light. We need Christ-followers who can make a clear case for the Bible's worldview; who are ready to help our friends think through their beliefs; who can recognize inconsistencies and challenge them; and who can do all of this with humility, confidence, humor, and love. For more information visit http://fourletterwords.org.

You can purchase this book at Amazon

My Thoughts:

Four Letter Words is a powerful book - one that will make you take notice and could ruffle a few feathers. Dr. Bill Giovannetti doesn't mince words and puts things out there for one to look at and think about. He deals with "touchy" subjects that most Christians won't or can't discuss with non-believers. Dr. Giovannetti addresses how to handle these subjects and stand up for what one believes in.

This book is targeted to Christian youth, however, I would suggest that it is more appropriate for high school teens and college students. His conversations and methods of logic are geared for the older teen. There is also a section on sex that may not be deemed appropriate for the younger sect. This book should be read by the parent for content and then read with the teen. There are many, many great discussions that can be had by a parent and teen going through this book together. There are even questions and a great guide in the back that can help both through a fantastic study.

I was very pleased to see the church and post-modernism being discussed. This is one area I've been having some problems with - and now that my daughter is in college, she is attending a church that is caught up in the experiences and not giving the instruction and guidance that is needed. This is just one of the many subjects that Dr. Giovannetti tackles and he certainly has had my head nodding in agreement as I read.

One thing I liked, but at the same time didn't like, was the links to the website in the book. One can go to the website and download and read many great things. This couldn't be done on my e-reader, and I had to sit at the PC and do it all online. That didn't thrill me too much and I find it difficult reading online for any length of time. It would have been much better if we had one of those awesome iPhones as it can be done using them. Unfortunately, we don't have one, so I was tied to my PC to follow the links.

Overall - this is a fantastic book and amazing tool that can be used to really discuss and help solidify your teens' beliefs before they strike out into the world.

About the Author:

Dr. Bill Giovannetti is a professor at A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary and the senior pastor of Neighborhood Church of Redding. An experienced speaker and author, Bill informs the mind in ways that touch the heart. He enjoys life with his wife and two kids in northern California. For more information about Bill and his other books, visit http://maxgrace.wordpress.com and http://fourletterwords.org.

About the Giveaway:

Bill is celebrating the new Kindle edition of Four Letter Words (for only $4.99)! He’ll be traveling coast to coast over the next few weeks on this virtual book tour and he's celebrating by hosting a great giveaway!

Click here to find out how you can win two gift certificates to Amazon (in the amount of $50 and $25) and free downloads of his yet-to-be-released title, Recession-Proof: Living a God-Blessed Life in a Messed Up World.

Get "The whole scoop" here: http://fourletterwords.org/2012/01/contest-giveaway/

Make sure to visit others on the Blog Tour to see what they have to say about Four Letter Words.

I received an e-copy of this book to read and honestly review for this tour.

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect by Bob Thiel, Ph.D.

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect
Author: Bob Thiel,Ph.D.
Publisher: Nazarene Books
Genre: non-fiction

About the Book:

No other book includes so many prophecies from the Mayan records, I Ching, Islam, Talmud, Catholic writings, Byzantine predictions, Hopis, Hindus, Buddhists, New Age Movement, Kenyan predictions, Book of Mormon, Chinese predictions, Tibetan writings, various scientists, and other sources in the light of Bible prophecy.

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect: A Revolutionary Spiritual and Physical Survival Guide for 2012-2020 is a groundbreaking investigative work that goes beyond way beyond the usual doomsday flaming meteor and tidal wave scenarios. Award-winning researcher and end time prophecy expert, Dr. Bob Thiel, disseminates and later compares ancient prophecies of the world's 11 major religions, explains which prophecies are not likely to occur and describes which world changing events are inevitable. Of particular interest to anyone interested in the events leading up to and following 2012 is the book's Sequential Order of Predictions, a comparable table and time line. A masterful and well-researched work unlike any other on the subject, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect will change the way we look at, and prepare for, the most anticipated date in human history.

My Thoughts:

I almost passed up the chance to review this book, as most books on End-Times Prophecy seems to be unsubstantiated and with much opinion from the author(s). I'm not sure what made me agree to review this book, but when it arrived, I was very impressed with the amount of research that went into it.

I found that Dr. Thiel had a great many resources that he drew from, including different religions and history. Seeing this, I wasn't sure how dry the reading was going to be, but was pleased to discover that Dr. Thiel had written a very easy to read and understand book that laid out proof for the reader to draw their own conclusions on. Mind you, he does have is own opinions, and I won't say I agree with everything, but he has some very valid points.

I found that many interesting facts that show that although there are different religions, we really seem to believe much of the same things. This really was an eye-opener for me! I'm looking forward to really spending more time studying this book. I really didn't have the time to dig as deeply as I'd like because of my time frame to read for this tour. There is a wealth of information between the covers of this fascinating book!

I would recommend 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect to anyone that is interested in End-Times Prophecy or just to those interested in a well researched book about the ideas and prophecies of different religions/religious beliefs.

About the Author:

Bob Thiel, Ph.D., is a highly regarded researcher, biblical scholar, and one of the world's foremost authorities on end time prophecies. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of LaVerne, a Master's degree from the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D. from the Union Institute and University. Throughout his academic and professional career, he has studied philosophy, religion, science, and prophecy, while making multiple research trips to ancient sites in Central America, Asia Minor, Rome, and Greece. Dr. Thiel has been a guest on countless radio programs nationwide, and is Examiner.com's Los Angeles religious history and prophecy correspondent. His articles on prophecy, religion and science have appeared in several dozen magazines, newspapers, trade publications, and scientific journals. His videocasts are seen weekly on YouTube and to the hundreds of thousands of visitors to his site, COGwriter.

GIVEWAWAY!!!

Dr. Thiel has been very generous and has offered two copies of his book - one print for US readers and one in e-copy format for International readers of this blog. For a chance to win this amazing book, please fill out the form below:



I received a copy of this book to read and honestly review for this tour.