Monday, July 25, 2011

Mugabe and the White African on PBS

One family’s stand for Justice – catch the story on PBS 7/26!

I'll be blogging about the book Mugabe and the White African later this month, but I wanted to let you know that Point of View will air the documentary Mugabe and the White African on Tuesday, July 26th.

The film tells the story of Mike Campbell and his family of three generations of Zimbabwean farmers as they attempt to keep their farm under Mugabe's "land reform." Watch the trailer for the documentary below and visit the PBS Point of View website for your local listing. http://www.pbs.org/pov/tvschedule/



The book Mugabe and the White African (Lion Books, distributed by Kregel Publications, July 15, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-7459-5546-9, $14.95) written by Mike Campbell's son-in-law Ben Freeth provides more detail regarding the family's struggles and court battles.The book chronicles the deeply moving and life-threatening struggle of a Christian family from Zimbabwe to protect their legally owned farmland, to protect the lives and livelihoods of all those working on the farm, and to live to see justice.

Freeth lays bare a beautiful but lawless land fouled by fear. A 'Clockwork Orange' state where racism, greed, and violence are ultimately humbled by almost unimaginable courage. Richly described, bravely chronicled, and utterly compelling. 
-Mike Thomson, Radio Foreign Affairs Correspondent, BBC


Ben Freeth has an extraordinary story to tell. Like that of many white farmers, his family's land was "reclaimed" for redistribution by Mugabe's government. But Ben's family fought back. Appealing to international law, they instigated a suit against Mugabe's government in the SADC, the Southern African equivalent of NATO. The case was deferred time and again while Mugabe's men pulled strings. But after Freeth and his parents-in-law were abducted and beaten within inches of death in 2008, the SADC deemed any further delay to be an obstruction of justice. The case was heard, and was successful on all counts.

But the story doesn't end there. In 2009 the family farm was burned to the ground. The fight for justice in Zimbabwe is far from over--this book is for anyone who wants to see into the heart of one of today's hardest places and how human dignity flourishes even in the most adverse circumstances.

Read an Excerpt (PDF)

Read the Press Release

Friday, July 22, 2011

$5 Frenzy Unit Studies Specials~ Soccer, Seashells, Trains, & Dogs!

Four $5 Frenzy Specials today!  Get them while they last!


Download N Go Simply Soccer $5 Regularly $7.95
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Download N Go Sunny Seashells $5 Regularly $7.95
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Unit Study Adventures Trains $5 Regularly $10.95
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Unit Study Adventures Dogs $5 Regularly $10.95
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Thursday, July 21, 2011

$5 Frenzy Unit Studies Specials~ Winter and Christmas

Think snow with today's $5 Frenzy Specials~



Download N Go Winter Wonders $5 Regularly $7.95
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And



Unit Study Adventures Christmas $5 Regularly $10.95
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Pressing Into Thin Places

Pressing into Thin Places
Encouraging the Heart toward God
by Margaret Harrell Wills, EdD

Pressing into Thin Places is a lovely little book.  It is filled with short stories that contain poems and Bible scripture that uplift your soul.  Thin Places are described as places where the veil between heaven and earth is a thinner, where you can feel the things of God in a more real way than in day to day living.  I really enjoyed the stories and encouragement from Pressing into Thin Places.  This is a great book for any friend, particularly one who is struggling with depression or a place in their life that is really tough.  I think it is encouraging to any believer to read through these at a slow pace and ponder the love of God, snuggled up with a nice cup of tea (or coffee if you prefer).


 I was provided a free copy of this book for the purposes of review, the opinions expressed are my own. 

$5 Frenzy Unit Studies

Today's $5 Frenzy Specials~


Download N Go Independence Day $5 Regularly $7.95 Click here to view more details








AND


Unit Study Adventures Gardens $5 Regularly $10.95
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Amazing Unit Study Giveaway :)

The first 400 customers to use coupon code AutumnFREE to purchase the Autumn Treasures unit study (1 week, K - 4) will receive it complete FREE!
This is the same study I told you about this morning being on sale for $5, well Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett is now offering it free, it was a facebook party goodie bag item. 
And she is offering the Space Unit Study Adventure too!
The first 400 customers to use coupon code SpaceFREE to purchase the Space unit study (4 weeks, K - 12) will receive it complete FREE!
 So Click here to view more details for the Autumn Adventures and then search her site for Space to get the other one.
Yeah for my 100th post!

$5 Frenzy Unit Studies

Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett is also having a $5 Frenzy Sale, everyday there will be a unit study on sale for $5 and today there were two!


Today only~

Download N Go Autumn Treasures $5 Regularly $7.95 Click here to view more details





AND

 
Unit Study Adventures Baseball $5 Regularly $10.95 Click here to view more details






Download N Go Unit studies are a complete one week unit study and Unit Study Adventures are a four week complete unit study.

One Year of Download and Go Sale!


Starting today One Year of Download and Go is on sale for $145!  The regular price is $250!

This value-packed set includes:
  • 36 one-week Download N Go studies
  • the exclusive Birthday Bonanza unit study 
  • the all-new, 55-page, DNG Teacher's Guide
  • Unit Studies 101
  • a coupon which will allow your to purchase the upcoming Passport United Kingdom unit study for only $5
Click here to view more details, sale ends 7/31/11


Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett is also doing a Build Your Own Semester Sale with tiered discounts.  
Now until 7/31/11 you can:
  • Buy ANY 36 Products, Automatically Get 45% Off
  • Buy ANY 18 Products, Automatically Get 35% Off
  • Buy ANY 6 Products, Automatically Get 25% Off
The discounts will automatically be applied in your shopping cart.  You can build your whole year, a semester or a quarter at great discounted rates.  Just some of the great Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett include:



And many, many more.

I am an affiliate with Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett and receive a small compensation for referrals.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Pressing Into Thin Places Q&A

My full review will be coming soon, but for now here is a Question and Answer session with Pressing into Thin Places author Margaret Harrell Wills.

Q&A With Margaret Harrell Wills, Ed.D
Author of Pressing into Thin Places

Q: Your book is titled Pressing into Thin Places. What is a “thin place”?

In the Celtic tradition, a “thin place” is the place where the veil that separates heaven and earth is nearly transparent. It is a place where we experience a deep sense of God’s presence in our everyday world. A thin place is where, for a moment, the spiritual world and natural world intersect. It can be a sudden momentary awareness or profound unexplainable experience.

Q: Pressing into Thin Places is a collection of stories, experiences, and learned truths expressed through poetry and prose. How are you hoping that readers connect with the experiences shared and those “thin places”?

Through the book I wanted to share a few “thin place moments” and encourage readers to have eyes to see the gifts of thin places through their own experiences. There are moments when we do feel the divine breaking through into our world. We feel unified and connected with God. It is not an intellectual knowing; it is felt in the spirit. Every once in a while, God draws the curtain and lets us see. He gives us reminders that, though we are tethered to this earth, there is another realm of reality just as real. Every once in a while, He lifts the veil. He thins the space between heaven and earth. He lets us experience the “thin place.” Ultimately, He helps our faith.

Q: Pressing into Thin Places gives readers permission to be authentic and to acknowledge doubt, questions, even depression. Often we experience guilt over these sometimes realities, fearing they show a weak faith. But how can facing these circumstances or emotions actually strengthen faith and reveal the presence of God in our lives?

We all have ups and downs. We are emotional beings. This is part of life. But can we dial up different thoughts? Can we change our feelings? Many times, I believe we can. Not too long ago I came across a verse in 1 Samuel 30. The chapter talked about a time when David was defeated by his enemies, rejected by all those around him and discouraged to the core. In verse 6, it says, “And David strengthened himself in the Lord.” How do we strengthen ourselves in the Lord? I believe we do what a verse in Psalms suggests: “And then one day I went into your sanctuary and thought” (Ps. 73:17). We strengthen ourselves in the Lord by going into His presence and letting Him guide our thinking. Many of the Psalms tell us that David worshipped and meditated on the scriptures. This was no exception. He received new purpose, vision, and authority. He waited patiently to become king.

Q: Why do you think we fear admitting doubt or struggles with faith?

Fear wants to rise and speak to the bottom corners of our mind. It will remind us not to be vulnerable. We will remember what happens when we risk psychological safety or abandon feelings of superiority. We will remember our nakedness. We will feel the wash of old fears and the pull of old attitudes and the temptations of old behaviors. But our heart, where our choice and our spirit live, desires our Father and His Kingdom. And our Teacher taught us to pray.

Q: It seems that more and more we all encounter people who profess to believe that God exists, but the crisis of faith arises in God’s goodness. What do you say to the reader who struggles to believe that God is good and loving?

Jesus says we can trust our Heavenly Father. We are safe, we are protected, and we are guided when we cooperate with God’s purpose and God’s way of doing things. We become participants in the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of God’s grace on earth. Jesus reminds us over and over again that we must have faith. We must believe in the fact that we are safe and that “good” will result as we submit our will to His Way. This submission is powerful. It defragments our life and gives us spiritual significance and wholeness of soul. This submission results in the process of spiritual transformation. Along the way, we are rewarded by “faith surprises” as resources of the Kingdom of Heaven are available to make changes in us, in others, and in the way things are.

Q: What do you hope that readers will take away from Pressing into Thin Places?

At the crux of this message of greater connection with God is the gospel message. Jesus encourages us to see our short space of time on this earth in the light of eternity. He instructs us to remember that there are two realities: a physical reality and a spiritual reality. We are first and foremost spiritual beings called to follow Christ’s teachings.


Pressing into Thin Places: Encouraging the Heart toward God
by Dr. Margaret Harrell Wills, Ed.D
Brown Christian Press – May 2011
ISBN 978-1-934812-99-0/208 pages/hardcover/$16.95
www.pressingintothinplaces.com





 

Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Spirt in Baseball


The Spirit in Baseball
by Kathryn Nixon & Ava Boudreau

The Spirit in Baseball is a children's book about the Fruit of the Spirit and examples of how it is shown to others in baseball.  Each trait has a two-page spread with colorful illustrations and the example of how to demonstrate a Christ-like attitude in the game of baseball.

This book would be a great gift to a child who enjoys playing on their local baseball or t-ball team.  A really fun little addition to the book is the hidden fruit picture in each of the traits.  There is a page near the end of the book by Trot Nixon, a professional baseball player and 2004 Boston Red Sox World Series Champion.  Mr. Nixon is married to Kathryn.  There is also a Baseball Prayer and a page for autographs that would be fun for the child to have their team sign.

I was provided a free copy of this book for the purposes of review, the opinions expressed are my own.

The Spirit in Football

The Spirit in Football
by Kathryn Nixon & Ana Boudreau

The Spirit in Football is much like The Spirit in Baseball.  It shows how to apply the fruit of the spirit when you are on a sports team.  The Spirit of Football includes a forward by Matt Hasselbeck.  It would also make a great gift to a child with a love for football. 




I was provided a free copy of this book for the purposes of review, the opinions expressed are my own.