Mercy Me and Christmas!

There are new Christmas albums coming out all the time - but I want one that has new twists on old carols or new songs altogether!  Mercy Me hit it this time!  This album is full of new Christmas tunes as well as some of the old ones - I think just enough to keep everyone happy!

The opening "Newborn" gives me goosebumps - what a wonderful rendition of old and new!  I also loved "Sleigh Ride" - talk about a new rendition of an old song - I thought it was SUPER!  A fun song with a county twang is "Our Lullaby" - I told you this album has a little something for everyone.  And don't miss "Joy" - another new twist on an old song.  This is really a fabulous album!

And Mercy Me has teamed up with Pizza Ranch on this awesome album!

Mercy Me It’s Christmas​ CD will be available in Pizza Ranch locations beginning November 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.  It has 4 exclusive songs that can only be found on the CD version being sold by Pizza Ranch.  Each CD will be sold for $5 plus tax.  Pizza Ranch will give away the CD with a $25 gift card purchase as well as sell the full album at each of its 200 locations throughout the Midwest and Great Plains states.  "We are so excited to debut our new Christmas album, MercyMe, It’s Christmas, with Pizza Ranch” said Bart Millard with MercyMe. “Pizza Ranch is a fantastic restaurant with a great mission to glorify God. It's the perfect gift to give this Christmas season and the perfect CD to get you in the Christmas spirit."

*I was sent a review copy by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Ishtar's Odyssey

We have a favorite family tradition in our home - we read Christmas books leading up to Christmas.  We've done it for years, and yes, we have our favorites.  One series that always stuck out to me is the advent series made up of:  Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage and Tabitha's Travels.  When I saw there was a new book in this series, I almost begged to be included on this book tour!  Ishtar's Odyssey is another in this series by Arnold Ytreeide, that will continue to delight. 

Ishtar is the 10 year old son of a Persian wise man.  This story  is his journey out of his comfort of the palace to see the world and learn from more than just his tutors.  He comes up again disaster and dangers but he learns to rely on a strength he didn't even know he had.  I love it that he meets up with our favorites Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha as he travels with his father and uncles to find the newborn king, Jesus. 

These books are divided up into chapters and are meant to be devotional readings leading up to advent.  If you do not have a family plan for advent - I highly recommend these books - they are historically accurate and pleasing for the whole family.



*I was sent a copy by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Get Your Story Straight

As a mother of a soon-to-be-teen in the "selfie" culture - I am always on the lookout for resources to encourage her to seek God and not the excitement of our culture.  Kristen Hatton's book, Get Your Story Straight, helps teens to focus on the gospel by getting them into the Word daily.  I love the in-depth study of the Word but also the thought-provoking questions that get teens (and adults) thinking about how they fit into both the culture and God's story.  Hatton speaks honestly and openly and there is no watering down either scripture or the law BUT she also compassionately reminds the reader of God's plan and love for them.  It is a wonderful combination of mercy and grace.  I plan to use this WITH my daughter - something she and I can do together to explore scripture and build our honest relationship as well.  What a great tool for our teens!  I am recommending it without hesitation!



*I was sent a copy for review purposes by the publisher.

War for the Waking World

Wayne Thomas Batson has been a favorite author of mine since he started writing.  He writes books that capture readers and are instant hits!  When I saw he had a new title coming out, War for the Waking World, I couldn't have been more intrigued.  It is the third and final title in his Dreamtreaders series and continues in true Batson tradition!

This is the story of Archer Keaton, a 15 year old, who has the power to enter and explore his own dreams.  Every generation, three people are chosen to be Dreamtreaders, and Archer is one of them.  I love the whole idea that these three Dreamtreaders are trying to protect the waking world from the Nightmare Lord.  Archer's life overlaps when his dreams become dangerous and then, so does his waking life.  This one is action-packed and teens and adults will love it!



*I was sent a review copy by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

NIV Bible for Teen Girls

I signed up for this Bible tour because I have a teen daughter and I wanted her to do this one with me.  We had so much fun - she went and explored the Bible on her own and then came back and showed me all the things she loved.  So I will pass these fun tidbits on to you!

*"Mom, these highlighted verses are really GREAT ones!"  Yep, they have taken the time to highlight verses that really show the gist of some passages.  Great idea!

*"Look at these intros to each book....it's like all there in one spot...and gives you all you need to know."  She is right - the intros are super.  They are filled with info that our teens want to know - all at a quick glance. 

*"The cover is just SO pretty.  I love it!"  Again, Zondervan has captured teen girls and their interests with a fun cover that is beautiful yet subdued.  SUPER design!

"These pink pages are like they are written JUST to me!"  There are blurbs throughout the Bible called "Growing in Faith, Hope and Love" where contributors have shared their thoughts and lessons learned that are so specifically geared to things our teens are feeling that they seem to hit home every time.  They are timely and hit our girls right where they are. 

So we loved this and would highly recommend it!  We could both go on and on about this one but we will let you discover more on your own with your teen!

Here is what the publisher says:
Today's teen girl needs reassurance that no issue is too big for God.  The NIV Bible for Teen Girls, designed specifically for girls ages 13 to 18, will do just that.  This Bible is packed with daily readings, highlighted promises of God, challenging insights, smart advice, and open discussions about the realities of life.  This Bible is designed to help teen girls grow in faith, hope, and love.  It is as sincere about a teen girl's walk with God as they are, helping them discover his will for all areas of their life, including relating to their family, dealing with friends, work, sports, guys, and so much more.

Features:

• DAILY READINGS by popular Christian female authors including Bethany Hamilton (Soul Surfer), Annie Downs, Christine Caine, Nicole Weider, Elsa Kok Colopy, Crystal Kirgiss, Bekah Hamrick Martin, Denise Van Eck, and more
• CHARACTER PROFILES of women in the Bible
• BOOK INTRODUCTIONS for each book of the Bible
• HIGHLIGHTED PROMISES OF GOD are verses worth remembering
• A CONCORDANCE for help in finding verses
• The bestselling NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) of the Bible

Official Website


*I was sent a copy for an honest review by the publisher.
#NIVBibleforTeenGirls  #FLYBY

Strong and Kind

I'm sure you've heard of Duck Dynasty, right?!?!?  :)  Well, the myriad of books that have come out of that tv show has just been fun to watch - from a librarian's perspective.  Korie Robertson's Strong and Kind is no exception. This book is all about determining what you want to see in your child's life character-wise and then parenting to build those traits.  I think, as a parent, that it is key to take time to evaluate what you want to see in your children and I'm not sure we encourage that enough.  Korie Robertson's book encourages you to take that time - time to purposefully plan for your children.  And then she gives creative ways to parent to build children of character.  I thoroughly enjoyed Korie's insight and the tidbits that Willie adds as well.  The combination of the two creates a thought-provoking parenting book.

About the book: 

Hardcover; 240 pages

Publisher: Harper Collins Christian Publishing (October 27, 2015)

In her new book STRONG and KIND: And Other Important Character Traits Your Child Needs to Succeed, Korie Robertson - New York Times bestselling author, wife of Duck Commander® CEO Willie Robertson, star of A&E's Duck Dynasty, and mother of five - argues that developing good character in our children is the single most important thing we can do to help ensure they lead happy, healthy adult lives.  Robertson explores key traits and what they truly look like in action, asks readers to select the two traits that they hope to see most in their children, and shares hands-on ways for nurturing strength of character.  Written with her mother Chrys Howard and featuring stories and wisdom from husband Willie, STRONG and KIND cuts through the contemporary cacophony of parenting manuals to rediscover, unfold, and embrace the enduring wisdom that has guided the best parents for centuries.

*I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher for an honest review.

#strongandkind #flyby

Just Show Up

Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn have written Just Show Up - the dance of walking through suffering together.  This book is POWERFUL.  I am sure you can't think of anyone - maybe even yourself - that you know who has NOT gone through suffering of some sort.  It's everywhere and it's inevitable.  But when we suffer, Christ has a plan to give us His hands and feet here on this earth to help us - to come alongside and encourage us and help us get through.  Through Kara's personal story of disease, we learn what it is to suffer alongside someone - to give the gift of silence, the art of receiving and what it means to just show up.  I highly recommend this - for personal reading or even a study - I think sharing it with others would add much to the reading of this book.  Let's all read it and learn how to come alongside and be the Body - it is a VERY valuable resource.

To see more blog posts on this tour go to http://litfusegroup.com/author/tippettsbuteyn .



What does friendship look like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry—and even cancer? Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn teamed up to write Just Show Up, a story of their close friendship and walk through Kara's battle with terminal cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

Celebrate the gift of friendship with a Tried & True Friendship giveaway—a prize for you and for a friend!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Just Show Up
• Two Ombre Layer Necklaces—one for you and one for a friend

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 23rd. The winner will be announced October 26th on Jill's blog.

Is one of your friends going through a tough time—maybe you need some encouragement? Stop by Kara and Jill's author page, click on the reviews bar, and read through some bloggers' stories of how their friends got them through suffering.

*I was sent a review copy by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Messy Grace

Caleb Kaltenbach is a boy who grew up with a lesbian mom and a gay father and becomes a pastor.  He KNOWS the gay and lesbian community and he knows what he is talking about in his book, Messy Grace.  I found this book to be very eye-opening.  It was a constant challenge to me- to put aside pre-conceived ideas and just learn.  Caleb shares in a direct and honest way - not condescending or preachy, and yet so faithful to what he thinks need to be shared with Christians today in how to deal with the gay and lesbian communities.  I appreciated so many things about this book - my copy is marked up and I plan to refer back to it often.  What I saw over and over is how easy it is for Believer's to turn off the LBGT community and never have an opportunity to share with them.  If we want to be salt and light - we need to be willing to love everyone without compromising truth and Caleb shows us ways we can do just that.  He doesn't promise it will be easy - in fact, he reminds the reader over and over that it will be messy - but it can be done.  I appreciated the honesty and tactfulness with which this topic was handled....I would recommend it even if there may be parts one could disagree with personally, overall it was a wonderful challenge, and one I feel is very needed today.



*I was sent a review copy by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Pass It On

When our children were growing up, I read almost every parenting book I could get my hands on.  I just wanted my kids to be strong children, capable of functioning as strong adults, but also children who loved their childhood and would look back with fond memories on their spiritual upbringing.  This book, Pass It On, by Jim Burns and Jeremy Lee, would have been on my list had it been around back then!

Burns and Lee have crafted a book that gives parents practical ways to teach their children at home and share their faith grade by grade as their children grow.  I love that they have put time into finding appropriate activities for your child as he/she is capable of understanding them.  From a Bible presentation in second grade to a blessing ceremony in seventh grade - there are just a multitude of ways to teach your child and build on a solid biblical foundation. 

This will be a wonderful resource for our young families - to treasure and use as their children grow and mature in Christ.



*I was sent a review copy by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Chronicle Finds....

Chronicle Books sent me a box today! I will share these fun titles.

Peek-a Boo! by Nina Laden is an adorable board book in their series Peek-a.... The simple cut-out pages for little ones as you guess which animal could be hiding behind that small hole.  This title is all focused on Fall and will be a fun addition to our fall board books.


I Can Play and I Can Dance are both by Betsy Snyder and are board books that I can just see our little ones enjoying!  Each title has two small holes for fingers to come through and be the legs on the characters.  They are adorable!


Big Bear Little Chair by Lizi Boyd is such a fun picture book.  It is a "study" of size and shape and being able to figure out which items will go together.  The opposites are shown in such a fun way and the illustrations are AMAZING!  This will be a fun book to share with our little ones!


Ninja Baby by David Zeltser is one that just made me smile.  It's about Nina - the baby that was just born a ninja.  I mean really - if a baby can karate chop the doctor, plan sneak attacks on her parents, and obliterate applesauce - what other kind of baby could she be!?!?  You will LOVE this one and your kids will too!  AND if I knew anyone having a baby - THIS would be their shower gift!  Everyone should have a ninja baby!!


**I was sent review copies by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

I just don't know how you can not LOVE the Pout Pout Fish books.  But just in case you need convincing....Deborah Diesen's latest, The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish, is simply splendid!  Pout Pout Fish was born with a frown on his face - making him appear quite pouty....but he tries very hard to overcome this pout.  In this book, Mr. Fish is trying to find presents for his friends - but he seems to be striking out at every turn and time is running out before Christmas.  He ends up giving the best gifts of all, using his own two fins!!  The rhyming aspect of this book is such a fun, non-forced rollick that kids adore these books.  And who can resist a fish with a Santa hat, anyway!?!?!



*I was sent a copy of the book for an honest review by the publisher.

Terrorist - Graphic Novel

I am not always a history fan - so to sit down and read a non-fiction historical book, often is not my first choice.  But I was sent Terrorist:  Gavrilo Princip, the Assassin who Ignited World War I by Henrik Rehr and it made me WANT to read history!  This is a brilliant novel set in graphic novel format that captures the start of World War I and it's subsequent outcomes.  The story is about Gavrilo Princeip, a young Serbian terrorist, who ultimately sets off World War I by assassinating the archduke Franz Ferdinand.  It is a fictional account and that caught me as well - I was drawn in immediately by the storyline and action - yet another thing to love about graphic novels.  It's just a fabulous and interesting way to learn history.  I think your history buffs and graphic novel history readers will enjoy this one!



*I was sent a copy by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

The Unmaking

Here is an artist who has stood the test of time.  Nichole Nordeman has been singing for quite some time and yet still produces albums that change and resonate with the times.  Her lyrics are powerful and her songs are upbeat and tender.  Her latest album, The Unmaking, is no exception.  This album has only six songs on it - but don't let that fool you - It's worth every song!  The title track, "The Unmaking", is one of my new favorite songs - the lyrics are powerful and you can be encouraged that God might be "unmaking" us to make us into who He wants.  I love "Not to Us" - the melody and tune are catchy and will stick with me - reminding me that it's not about us.  Another that I enjoyed is "Slow Down" - a tender ballad to our kids asking them to slow down their growing up.  I just loved this album  - make sure to listen!

About the new album The Unmaking:

"Before things in our lives can be resurrected and given new life, certain things must die.  Before beauty blooms in spring, roots must do the hard work under the hard frozen soil of winter.  Before you renovate and re-build, you tear down the parts of the structure that are weak or damaged or dangerous.  Before we make, we must unmake."  Nichole Nordeman 

About Nichole Nordeman:

Nichole Nordeman is a recording artist and songwriter for Sparrow/EMI CMG, with numerous number-one and top ten singles to her credit and cumulative CD sales of over one million.  A two-time Gospel Music Association winner for Female Vocalist of the Year, she has won a total of nine Dove Awards, including the best-selling album, Music Inspired by The Story.  Her best-known songs include "Holy", "Legacy", "Brave", "This Mystery", "Why", and "What If".  She lives with her family in Tulsa, OK.  

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"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
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#FLYBY

The Biggest Story

I have been a long-time fan of Kevin DeYoung - his books written on theology and Christian issues are spot-on, thought-provoking and timely.  When I saw he had a children's book - I was so excited!  I am always on the lookout for strong children's Christian titles and especially those that teach theology at a young age.  DeYoung has accomplished more than I had even hoped with his new title, The Biggest Story.  This is a story that is subtitled:  How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden and that is exactly what he does.  He brings us full circle from the garden to the cross all based on Christ (the snake crusher) and what He has done for us.  So not only is the story strong and the words are powerful - the illustrations!  I can't say enough about Don Clark's careful rendering of the gospel story through intricate and interesting illustrations.  I think you could sit and look over his illustrations for days and still not catch all that is there.  They are powerful and contemporary - I love them!

This is a book I will be giving as gifts and highly recommending!  It is fabulous - a treasure for families and a keepsake for all ages - with a powerful message - and that's the best part!  AND another "best part" is that I get to giveaway a copy of this wonderful book!  All you have to do to enter is share this post - Facebook, Twitter, a blog - as many wonderful ways as possible.  Just leave a comment below for each share you do.  I will choose a winner, Friday, Sept. 11!!

About the book:

Hardcover: 132 pages

Publisher: Crossway (August 31, 2015)

In The Biggest Story, Kevin DeYoung - a best-selling author and father of six - leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ's death on the cross to the new heave and new earth.  With powerful illustrations by award-winning artist Don Clark, this imaginative retelling of the Bible's core message-how the Snake Crusher brings us back to the garden-will draw children into the biblical story, teaching them that God's promises are even bigger and better than we think.  

 

 

About Kevin DeYoung:

Kevin DeYoung is senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan.  He blogs at the Gospel Coalition and has authored or coauthored numerous well-known books, including Just Do Something, The Hole in Our Holiness, Crazy Busy, and Taking God At His Word.  He lives with his wife and their 6 children in Central Michigan.

 

 

About Don Clark:

Don Clark is an artist and the cofounder of Invisible Creature, a widely respected and award-winning design studio in Seattle that has worked with clients such as Target, Nike, LEGO, and WIRED magazine.  He lives with his wife and their 3 children, 4 goats, 12 chickens, and 1 crazy dog on a farm just outside the city limits.

 

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

#BIGGESTSTORY  #FLYBY

Arbordale Publishing

Arbordale (previously Sylvan Dell) Publishing always has such great offerings for science and math.  Their books often have full color photography or appealing illustrations, text that is do-able for our elementary kids and yet give them facts and ideas to ponder long after they've finished reading.

Here are the titles I just received:
Amphibians and Reptiles:  A Compare and Contrast Book by Katharine Hall - this should have been written LONG ago.  As a teacher, I always wanted a good book to contrast amphibians and reptiles - this one is perfect!

The Hungriest Mouth in the Sea by Peter Walters - this is a great introduction to the food chain.  I love the illustrations on this one! 

The Lucky Litter:  Wolf Pups Rescued from Wildfire by Jennifer Kats Curtis.  I think kids who enjoy animal books will LOVE this one.  It is the tender story of wolf pups rescued from a wildfire in Alaska and how they are sent to the zoo and how they acclimate there.  Now these pups live at the Minnesota Zoo - which is even more fun to know!  (and maybe go visit!)

Sounds of the Savanna by Terry Catasus Jennings.  This title not only explores the savanna habitat, but it also ties in the importance of animal communication and the sounds with their meanings.  I enjoyed this one!

The Sparrow and the Trees by Sharon Chriscoe.  Here is a bird migration story BUT more so, an interesting story on trees - why some lose their leaves and others do not.  I think our nature-loving kids will thoroughly enjoy this!

They Just Know - Animal Instincts by Robin Yardi.  This one is a delightful tale that we can share with even our youngest.  The text is fun and the illustrations are whimsical for the younger set.  It brings the topic of instincts down to an easy-to-read and understand-level. 

Tortoise and Hare's Amazing Race by Marianne Berkes.  So this is genius!  A retelling of a wonderful classic - but tying in math - and fractions.  How often do we find a picture book that teaches fraction skills!?!?!  I love this one!

So don't miss these latest Arbordale offerings - they are wonderful to support STEM curriculum as well!



*I was sent copies for review by the publisher.

The Time Garden

I'm trying to color a couple times a week just to relieve some stress and unwind.  So when I saw this book to review - I was so excited!  This book is a journey - a little girl's journey into a cuckoo clock.  As she enters, she is taken to other worlds and sees things she's never seen before - all in coloring book fashion.  I loved the adventure - coloring while I was exploring.  And I'm off to purchase the sequel!  What a great way to color, unwind, and have an adventure - for adults and children alike.

The author, DARIA SONG is an author and artist from Seoul, Korea. Winner of the Kyung Hyang Arts Contest, Song has a master’s degree in fiber arts and has exhibited at numerous galleries and museums in Korea, Singapore, Turkey, and Hong Kong. She spent five years of her childhood in San Francisco, California, before returning to Korea, and the sense of wonder and mystery that comes from living in  a far-off place inspired The Time Garden.



*I was sent a copy for review on my blog by the publisher.

It's a Seashell Day

Dianne Ochiltree's It's A Seashell Day is a new picture book that will be a fun read for our little ones - both for those who can make it to the beach and those who have never seen a beach!  It's a clever story of a mom and son who head to the beach for a day.  They see shells, count them, explore with them - all great ways to talk through a day at the beach with your child.  The illustrations by Elliot Kreloff are perfect for this book too.  The textured look and feel give this book such great character.  I would highly recommend this for reading aloud or storytimes alike!


*I was given a book by the publisher for a fair and honest review on my blog.

Radical Together

David Platt has hit another one WAY out of the ballpark.  This book focuses on the problems within the
Church today.  Platt hopes, through his book, to unite the church with a gospel-centered vision.  He has crafted this around six very short chapters -

1.Tyranny of the Good: The worst enemy of Christians is good things in the church
2.The Gospel Misunderstood: The gospel that saves us from work save us to work
3.God is saying something: The Word does the work
4.The Genius of Wrong: Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people
5.Our Unmistakeable Task: We are living -- and longing -- for the end of the world
6.The God who exalts God: We are selfless followers of a self-centered God

Platt uses real life examples he has run into during his years in ministry and in his own life to challenge us to be the difference and make the change in our churches today.  Great book!

**I was sent a copy by the publicist for an honest review on my blog.

Patterns of Evidence: Exodus

This DVD - Patterns of Evidence:  Exodus is a MUST SEE.  I am not normally a documentary fan - but this movie actually had parts where I forgot I was learning.  Not only is it an intriguing subject matter, it is also a splendidly well-done film.  The quality of the filming, the animations and even down to the reenactments - it's solid!   For years, many have set out to prove that the Bible is purely stories - a myth, even.  Filmmaker Timothy Mahoney begins with the question, "Is the Bible just a myth, or did the archaeologists get it wrong?"  And he tackles this from the basis of scientific debate.  It is based on a 12 year journey around the world to answer questions on the validity of the Bible.  What they find is amazing - for those that need that physical proof to believe - you are shown tombs, artifacts, houses, etc. that give proof for the existence of these Biblical places.  The DVD is narrated by Kevin Sorbo and there are interviews with leading archaeologists and even appearances by Benjamin Netanyahu and Shimon Peres.  Do not miss this fascinating look at history!

Releases on DVD August 4, 2015 

Run Time:  119 minutes

Special Features:  Cast Profiles & 17 Extra Interviews

      Behind the Music

      From Film to Book

      Additional Books and Resources

      Host a Patterns of Evidence Movie Event

      Trailers 

Genre:  Documentary 

Rating:  NR

Facebook Page
Official Website

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

#patternsofevidence
#Flyby

This is Not a Test

If you have not heard Tobymac's latest album  - This Is Not a Test - RUN out to listen!  This is a fabulous upbeat album that captures a wide audience.  In our house - it's enjoyed by adults, teens AND preteens.  I'm not personally a rap fan, but this one switched it up just enough that I enjoyed it.  One of my favorites is "Love Broke Thru" - a catchy and one that runs through my mind often since I've listened to it. I also love "Beyond Me" - a fun song that is being played on our radio station often right now.  And don't miss "Undeniable" - a great reminder that God is beyond what we could ever imagine!  Love it!

Visit the official website
It's on iTunes

About TOBYMAC:

Toby McKeehan(known professionally as TobyMac) is a husband, father, performer, songwriter, producer, and businessman.  Growing up in the northern Virginia suburbs adjacent to Washington D.C. helped instill his love for rap music.  While attending Liberty University during the mid 80s, Toby met Michael Tait and Kevin Max Smith and these three friends formed the Grammy winning, platinum selling group dc Talk.  Toby began his solo career in 1999 with his first solo album, Momentum, releasing in 2001.  Momentum has been followed by four additional studio albums, Welcome to Diverse City (2004), Portable Sounds (2007), Tonight(2010), and Eye On It (2012), along with his first live album, Alive and Transported (2008).  This Is Not A Test is his 6th studio album to be released.  Starting with dc Talk, and then going solo when the group disbanded, Toby still clings to such rootsy notions as hard work, persistence, patience, and - perhaps most relevant of all - the power of music, which he insists is still what keeps him going.  "It's the truth," he says.  "I still believe that a song can penetrate a heart.  I believe God can use a song to open someone's mind and heart."   

ALBUM RELEASE DATE:  AUGUST 7th! 

#THISISNOTATEST

#FLYBY

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”