Linda @ Linda’s Lunacy

Tony Evans Study Bible Review & Giveaway

November 14, 2019 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I own several Bibles. Different sizes, different translations. If you are a Christian, you may as well. I was very interested when I heard about the new The Tony Evans Study Bible. Here’s why.

Tony Evans is one of the most influential church leaders of our time and has been studying and preaching the Gospel for over 50 years. He serves as senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, TX and founder of The Urban Alternative, a ministry which promotes a kingdom agenda philosophy designed to enable people to live all of life underneath the comprehensive rule of God.

The Tony Evans Study Bible includes extensive study notes and other ancillary resources carefully crafted and curated by Dr. Tony Evans as General Editor and adapted from his sermons, teachings, and writings. These features are strategically placed alongside the biblical text to explain God’s Word in a fresh way. Applying these truths will empower readers to have transformed lives that then transfer the values of the kingdom of God to others.

The Tony Evans Study Bible Review & Giveaway

The features of The Tony Evans Study Bible are many:

Beautiful design with a hard cardboard slip cover perfect for gift giving – see picture above
Study notes crafted from Tony Evans sermons and writings
40 inspirational articles
50 “Lessons on Kingdom Living,”
A plethora of “Questions & Answers”
Numerous “Hope Words”
Over 150 videos of sermons – I know, I asked it myself. Videos in a Bible? This Bible has QR codes throughout, just hover your smart phone’s camera over the QR code and the video pops up. Very cool, and convenient. See picture below
Devotionals
Teaching from Dr. Evans
Page-edge cross-reference system
Black-letter text
Presentation page
Introductory front matter – The How to Use This Study Bible & the How to Study the Bible Sections are awesome.The Introduction to the Christian Standard Bible tells all about this translation, how it came about, how they did it, and the abbreviations they use in this translation, among other sections.
Special back matter section with key definitions – the first time I’ve seen a Definitions of Key Terms and Doctrines of the Christian Faith section. Love it!
Theological and doctrinal charts
Other study helps
Concordance
Bible reading plan – There is a 3 year plan and a 1 year plan
Full-color maps

The Tony Evans Study Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible. The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-changing message and to share it with others. I have found this translation to be very easy to read.

The Tony Evans Study Bible is a great addition to my Bible collection. Not only that, but I believe it will be a great addition, and help, with my Bible reading and study time. Perfect for adults, and kids old enough to read a regular Bible.

The Tony Evans Study Bible retails for $69.99, visit the website for more information about purchasing.

The Tony Evans Study Bible Giveaway

Simply fill out the from below to enter the giveaway to win a copy of The Tony Evans Study Bible. Be sure to read the terms and conditions on the form!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” My opinions are my own.
Linda’s Lunacy is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Christmas Jars – Movie Review & DVD Giveaway

October 26, 2019 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

*This post contains an affiliate link

Christmas Jars is a new movie being released in time to watch with your family this Christmas. Based on the novel Christmas Jars by Jason Wright. This movie tells the story of a young women who was left in a diner as an infant.

Christmas Jars – Movie Review & DVD Giveaway

The waitress that found Hope adopted her, and they had a great life together. Hope’s mother dies, and right after the funeral her house is broken in to. While the police are there taking her report, she finds a jar full of money by her front door that says Christmas Jar.

This gift prompts Hope to search for the meaning of the Christmas Jar. She finds many other people that have also received a Christmas Jar. Hope is working for an online magazine, and she convinces her boss to let her write an article about the Christmas Jars. During her research, Hope meets the family that gave away the first Christmas Jar. Such a heartwarming story, and the family says that was the best Christmas they ever had, even though they gave away all their Christmas money.

Hope gets very close to the family, especially one of the sons, while learning more about the Christmas Jar. Due to her getting close to the family, and finding out they don’t want anyone to know that they are responsible for the Christmas Jars, Hope tells her boss she no longer wants to publish her article. He tells her he is publishing it anyway. In front of members of the family that just found out she works for a magazine. The family is hurt, and doesn’t want to see her anymore.

Hope and her mother had a tradition of eating Christmas Eve dinner at the same diner where her mother found her. This Christmas Eve, Hope got what she had been hoping and dreaming for for a long time. Only because of the Christmas Jar.

I’m not going to give away the ending! You’ll have to watch the movie for yourself to find out! lol

Christmas Jars is unrated, but I would say it would be a G. I saw nothing in this movie that I wouldn’t have let my kids, of any age, watch. The themes of this movie are giving, kindness, and miracles. With a little romance, too, but only rated G romance.

I loved that Christmas Jars shows that being kind and giving to others can bring great joy to you. Especially if you give sacrificially. This is a great movie to reinforce that to our families. And show us all that miracles do happen.

Christmas Jars is in theaters for one night only! November 4th, 2019.

Buy tickets to see Christmas Jars.

Pre-order the Christmas Jars DVD. Releasing on DVD November 29, 2019.

For more information, visit the Christmas Jars website.

Christmas Jars DVD Giveaway

How would you like your own Christmas Jars DVD? Enter below to win one! Open to US only. Be sure to read the terms & conditions on the entry form!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” My opinions are my own.
Linda’s Lunacy is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

*This post contains an affiliate link. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

In the Kitchen with Linda

October 7, 2019 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

*This post contains an affiliate link

I hadn’t done any freezer cooking in a long time. I decided I was tired of cooking every night. lol So the last couple of weeks, I did 3 freezer cooking sessions, chicken, beef, & pork. I split it up into sessions instead of doing all in one day. Too tiring. lol And this way, I can buy whats on sale each week, do a session, and keep my freezer meals stocked. Here’s what I did….

For the beef session, I made taco meat, Cincinnati style chili, meatloaf, and just plain cooked hamburger to use for pasta. Everything is already cooked, and ready to thaw & heat. Sometimes, I freeze the meatloaf raw, but cooked it this time. I used 3 pounds of hamburger and 2 pounds of ground venison from the freezer. I had to defrost the venison, so had to cook it before refreezing.

For the pork session, I used recipes from My FreezEasy. I made Mediterranean Pork Chops, Garlic Parmesan Pork Chops, 2 – Skillet Ranch Porch Chops, and a slow cooker Maple Pork Roast. We’ve eaten some of these. I still have the pan of Garlic Parm pork chops, and a ranch pork chop in the freezer. I also have 3 meals worth of kielbasa in the freezer waiting for some of our favorite meals. On the menu this week I will be serving it with peppers & onions, and we have some in a skillet dinner over the weekend. Almost time to catch another pork sale!

Here’s a pick of the Mediterranean Pork Chops. Very quick and easy to make, both for the freezer, and when it’s time to cook for dinner. Check out the link above to My FreezEasy for these recipes!

I also did a chicken session recently. I can’t find a picture, though, so I guess I didn’t take one. I make Italian Chicken, and BBQ Chicken with a mix of raw breast and thighs in each bag. I left a couple of breast uncooked plain in another bag, to use for whatever I decide. I cooked several breasts, and they are waiting in the freezer for Chicken Alfredo, or to put on salads.

Doing meat specific freezer sessions are an easy way to get your freezer stocked without have to buy a whole months food at once. Or spend all day in the kitchen!

In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu

Now…. to answer the question that I get asked about a hundred times a day……….What’s For Dinner?

Saturday – quick & easy- Sausage Pasta Skillet Dinner, green beans, corn

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – dinner out

Monday – chicken or turkey – Baked bbq chicken, baked potatoes, zucchini

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – Cincinnati style Chili, green beans

Wednesday – Taco Night- tacos with all the fixings, homemade taco sauce

Thursday – pork or venison – Kielbasa with peppers and onions, mac & cheese, salad

Friday – venison – venison meat in gravy over rice, beets

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

*Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

Homemaking Link Up

July 16, 2019 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Welcome to this weeks………

Making a Home – Homemaking Link Up!

This weeks featured post is…… Unintentional Neglect from A New Lens.

This weeks featured post if a change from what we usually have. I think it’s safe to say that we all have good intentions that we are unable to follow through with, whatever the reason. I needed to read this, for sure. If you didn’t get to read it last week, click on over now and read it! This is definitely a good read, and well worth your time.

Making a Home – Homemaking Link Up

Now it’s your turn! Share your posts about homemaking ideas, recipes, crafts, decorating, cleaning tips, basically anything that has to do with caring for a home and family. The Link Up is open all week.

Don’t forget to visit a few other links while your here!

Your click is a vote for next weeks featured post! Having your post featured means I will share the picture you add in the link up, as well as the link to your post, in next weeks post!

All featured posts will be pinned to a special

Making a Home – Homemaking Link Up Pinterest board!!

So link up your posts, tell everyone to visit the link up, and maybe your post will be the featured post next week!

NEW! I post all featured posts on Mix!

Mix Making a Home – Homemaking Link Up Featured Posts Collection

Click to tweet! Help spread the word! The more people that know about the Making a Home Homemaking Link Up are more people that will see your link!

[Tweet “I just shared my post at the Making a Home #Homemaking #LinkUp @LindasLunacy #recipe #craft #DIY #homeschool posts & more!”]

No giveaways, please. Giveaway links will be deleted.You can link your giveaways on my Thursday’s Giveaways link up. Thanks!

Please provide a link back to me. A text link is fine. Of course, family friendly posts only.

Belong to Us – Movie Review

July 15, 2019 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

*This post contains affiliate links

The new movie Belong to Us follows family that consists of Starring Ryan O’Nan (Fargo, Legion) as Travis, (Ryan O’Nan) a single father struggling to connect with his baseball star son, Decklin (Matthew J. Lindblom), and spirited young daughter, Paige (Brooklyn Funk). Nana also lives with the family to help them.

The daughter finds a dog, and hides it from her father so she can keep it. With Nana’s help, Dad finally consents to keeping the dog, Duke. The dog brings the family together, but what they don’t know is that Duke escaped a dog fighting ring. And they want him back.

Nana tries hard to get Dad to see that he is favoring his son over his daughter. It takes his son getting bit by the dog and losing his pitching arm for the father to realize the mistakes he has made. And rectify them.

The brother – sister relationship in this movie is pretty cool. The actors do a great job of portraying a brother and sister that fight, yet are always there for each other no matter what.

In the end, the family has to fight to keep the dog. By going to a dog fight to rescue him after he has been taken. The police tell the dad and daughter that they saved all the dogs. Then the daughter tells the police about her friend that was home alone (his father was one of the dog fighters) and they went to get him. So she saved her friend, too, from being home along when his father was arrested.

Belong To Us (Trailer) from Jeff Green on Vimeo.

Belong to Us is rated PG-13 and is suitable for ages 12 and above. Belong to Us is Dove Approved, having received the “Family Favorite” Award for ages 12+.

Here are a few things to be aware of so you can decide if this movie is a good fit for your family:

Opening scene shows a dog fight for money, but no dogs fighting are actually shown. After the dog fight, you see a man passed out/asleep with bottles around him.

Another scene shows Nana doing a finger gesture with both hands. When the granddaughter asks her what the man in the car wanted, the grandmother said he was just admiring my birds. (Not very grandmotherly. lol And a totally unnecessary scene.)

In another scene a man is beaten in shadows, although they do show his face in between getting hit, but there are no marks or blood on his face. The next scene does show him with blood on his face.

The dad uses a gun is self defense, shooting a guy about to hit him with a tire iron in the arm. The guy runs away. After the police come, the dad hands his gun over to the police.

Overall, Belong to Us is a great movie about family, love and second chances.

Belong to Us is available on Amazon. Pre-order now for an August 6th release date.

Enter to win a Belong to Us DVD!

Enter below to win your own Belong to Us DVD!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): I was able to watch this movie online for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” My opinions are my own.
Linda’s Lunacy is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

The Logic of God by Ravi Zacharias – Book Review

June 12, 2019 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

*This post contains an affiliate link.

I recently received a copy of the book The Logic of God to read. I was looking forward to reading this new book. And I wasn’t disappointed.

The Logic of God Book Description

Jesus Christ alone answers our deepest questions.

We all have doubts that challenge our faith. We wonder whether the Bible still matters, or whether God is truly as loving and personal as we hope. In his first ever devotional, The Logic of God, apologist Ravi Zacharias offers 52 readings that explain how and why Christianity, the Bible, and God are still relevant, vital, and life-changing for us today. To all our dilemmas Ravi says, “I am convinced that Jesus Christ alone uniquely answers the deepest questions of our hearts and minds.”

With a remarkable grasp of biblical facts and a deep understanding of the questions that trouble our hearts, Ravi tackles the most difficult topics with ease and understanding. But The Logic of God is more than intellectual; it is also personal, offering thoughtful wisdom on:

when Jesus draws especially near you.
the deep ray of hope found in God’s Word.
how God transforms disappointments.
why prayer matters.
how genuine peace is possible.
making sense of suffering.

Ravi makes profound biblical truth easy to understand. And if your life is busy, this book is designed for you! It addresses 52 topics that you can read over the course of one year or slowly digest at your own pace. Each entry includes a Scripture, questions for reflection, and some practical application steps.

When you’re struggling with questions and doubts, confused, curious, or just want a clearer way to express your faith The Logic of God has answers from that satisfy the heart and the mind.

The Logic of God Book Review

The Logic of God is a devotional book with 52 entries. Each day’s reading follows the same pattern.

A scripture verse

2-4 pages of reading

2 Reflection Questions

2 Personal Application questions &/or things to do

This is not a fluff devotional. The readings are full of information, references, stories, and more. The questions are challenging to the reader, as in challenging you to think about the lesson and reach deep to answer it. But not so hard that you can’t answer them. There are no right or wrong answers!

You can choose how you want to read this book. You read one a day, and finish in under 2 months, one a day Monday-Friday and finish in about 2 1/2 months, or read one a week for a year.

I am really liking this devotional. I have found many of the readings to be much more than what the typical devotion is like in make books. Many of these are more like a teaching session. They are easy to read, but challenging at the same time. I like that there is a note section in the back that tells you where the references came from. As well as several pages of lined pages for you to write your own notes. There is a built in ribbon bookmark so you can easily find your place.

If you are looking for a devotional to challenge you to find out what you believe and why, The Logic of God is the devotional for you.

The Logic of God is available on Amazon.

Enter to win a signed copy of The Logic of God!

This post contains an affiliate link. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

Healing the Healers

May 31, 2019 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Who do we turn to when tragedy strikes? Faith leaders are the ones that we usually call upon when a tragedy or mass trauma strikes. They guide us, and our communities, toward healing and restoration.

But who heals the healers?

Healing the Healers is a new media resource where clergy, laity, social workers, first responders and other spiritual care providers facing community-level trauma can go for support. The five-part film series features a church pastor leading an important conversation with other faith leaders. All have ministered to their communities after a mass trauma or during ongoing community problems. The pastors who have been working in the trenches provide help and support for others going through similar things.

Check out the Healing the Healers trailer:

You can view trailers for each episode on the website.

The 5 part series is available for purchase on the website as a dvd set that includes license rights to screen the series in a group setting with pastors, and other leaders. The set also includes a discussion guide that includes written reflections by scholars, clergy and other experts.

I love that the website has emergency phone numbers that congregation leaders can use for immediate support.

If you, as a leader of your congregation, are experiencing a personal emergency or mental health crisis, call —, the disaster distress helpline(——–), or the national suicide prevention lifeline (———) for immediate assistance. If you are experiencing vocational distress, contact representatives at ——, by emailing ——, or by calling ——-, to receive personal care or coaching.

*Telephone numbers and email addresses removed by me for posting here. They are visible on the Healing the Healers website.

Our pastors, and other leaders, go above and beyond on a daily basis for all of us. It’s about time they had someplace to turn for help. I have viewed some of these and this series looks to me like it will really help our leaders to heal so they can continue to be there to help their churches, and communities with our many needs. The pastors who have been working in the trenches provide help and support for others going through similar things.

To learn more about this amazing resource for Pastors other leaders, visit Healing the Healers.

Please share with those in your life that who can use it!

To celebrate the release of Healing the Healers, they have a $50 Fandango Gift Card Giveaway! Click on over to enter!

*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): I was able to view this series for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I didn’t receive any product or compensation for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” My opinions are my own.

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