Review – LB Games Key Of The Kingdom

Key Of The Kingdom is a logic PC game. You have to Solve puzzles by moving and manipulating blocks in a certain way in order to eventually get a Treasure block and a Key block next to each other to solve the puzzle and move on the the next level. There are a varity of different blocks that help you in different was some explode, by matching colored blocks they will disappear. Some can be moved onto a platform and used as a weight on a pulley system lifting a block to the level that you need it to be to help solve the puzzle.

Tutorials are provided for each puzzle if you get stuck. Each puzzle contains a  Bible verse when you have solved each level.



Screen Shot

The game is fairly straight forward an intuitive and challenging to play. Some may breeze right through but for the most part it is well balanced in starting out fairly easy and getting progressively harder as you go. Graphics are good and if you are not easily frustrated the game will give you many hours of enjoyment.

I personally found the Bible verse at the end of each level a bit much and the repetitive vanishing knight at the end of each level was very annoying. Never the less it is a fun game and can become addicting in a short period of time. For those of you who like the puzzle type genre games I would recommend this game. Adults and kids alike should find this fun, enjoyable and you might just learn a new Bible verse along the way.

Some of the games features are;

• 7 Tutorials are included to help you learn how to play the game.
• 100 brilliant levels will bring you hours of fun and intrigue as you work through solutions to the puzzles.
• Solutions are provided for every puzzle in case you get stuck.
• Low system requirements so the games can be enjoyed on virtually any modern computer running Windows 98 or higher.

You can check out the game at the LB Games website here; http://www.lbgstore.com/keysofkingdom.html

I received a complimentary sample of this game from Buzzplant in exchange for my product review.

John

Review "Start! The Bible For New Believers"

Start! The Bible for new believers

The “Start! The Bible for new believers” By Thomas Nelson Publishers is the “New King James version” and as the title implies it is a Bible for new believers. This Bible’s general editor is Greg Laurie. Greg has also written the introduction which includes the plan of salvation, an area called secrets to spiritual success, and is followed up by his explanation of five distinct features he has included in this Bible.

Greg has done a great job of explaining the plan of salvation using some interesting examples that really engage the reader and ultimately hit home. He gives straightforward view of our need for Christ, his death and shed blood on the cross being the payment for our sins and a sinners prayer to give the reader the opportunity to have their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

He also includes a section called “Secrets To Spiritual Success”. The first one being the importance of “reading, studying and loving God’s word”. Second one having an “Active Prayer Life”. Third “Being Active In A Local Church”. And The fourth “Learning The Joy Of Giving To And Serving Others”. The fifth and final secret being “We Need To Tell Others About Jesus Christ”. In each of these five areas Greg goes into further detail explaining each and giving the reader practical advice on how to integrate and apply these to our personal lives.

The other thing included throughout this Bible are basic “mini commentaries” about important parts of Scripture. Each book of the Bible has a basic introduction giving the reader some basic background and knowledge as to what the book is about, what was written time and some important facts or events that we should pay particular attention to. The other four areas are Live, Grow, Know, and Learn. These show up as gray text boxes and point to some important Scripture that will help us our lives in areas of living our life for Christ, growing in him, getting to know him better, learning all we can about Him.

My overall impression of this bible is good. The new believer gets what they need in information, application and encouragement to live out their new life in Christ. However I was hopeful that in some way it would set itself apart from other bibles of similar structure and content. It’s plain and bland text boxes and basic bland lay out leave a lot to be desired. The use of graphics, color and maybe some different graphical or textual elements would have made an great bible an excellent one.

If you are look for a basic, straight forward bible for the new Believer that gives them the information needed to launch their new life in Christ this in one I would definitely recommend this Bible.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review “Start! The Bible For New Believers”

Start! The Bible for new believers

The “Start! The Bible for new believers” By Thomas Nelson Publishers is the “New King James version” and as the title implies it is a Bible for new believers. This Bible’s general editor is Greg Laurie. Greg has also written the introduction which includes the plan of salvation, an area called secrets to spiritual success, and is followed up by his explanation of five distinct features he has included in this Bible.

Greg has done a great job of explaining the plan of salvation using some interesting examples that really engage the reader and ultimately hit home. He gives straightforward view of our need for Christ, his death and shed blood on the cross being the payment for our sins and a sinners prayer to give the reader the opportunity to have their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

He also includes a section called “Secrets To Spiritual Success”. The first one being the importance of “reading, studying and loving God’s word”. Second one having an “Active Prayer Life”. Third “Being Active In A Local Church”. And The fourth “Learning The Joy Of Giving To And Serving Others”. The fifth and final secret being “We Need To Tell Others About Jesus Christ”. In each of these five areas Greg goes into further detail explaining each and giving the reader practical advice on how to integrate and apply these to our personal lives.

The other thing included throughout this Bible are basic “mini commentaries” about important parts of Scripture. Each book of the Bible has a basic introduction giving the reader some basic background and knowledge as to what the book is about, what was written time and some important facts or events that we should pay particular attention to. The other four areas are Live, Grow, Know, and Learn. These show up as gray text boxes and point to some important Scripture that will help us our lives in areas of living our life for Christ, growing in him, getting to know him better, learning all we can about Him.

My overall impression of this bible is good. The new believer gets what they need in information, application and encouragement to live out their new life in Christ. However I was hopeful that in some way it would set itself apart from other bibles of similar structure and content. It’s plain and bland text boxes and basic bland lay out leave a lot to be desired. The use of graphics, color and maybe some different graphical or textual elements would have made an great bible an excellent one.

If you are look for a basic, straight forward bible for the new Believer that gives them the information needed to launch their new life in Christ this in one I would definitely recommend this Bible.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Does Quality really matter anymore?

Craftsmanship, Artisan, Excellence, Workmanship, Pride, Quality, Personal Service.

When considering the purchase of a product or service do you consider any of the things?
Are you willing to pay extra knowing that these elements are a part of that product or service?

Handling Setbacks

A great friend and retired pastor Lester Hyslip (who has since went on to be with the Lord) once gave me some excellent advice that I have constantly been reminded of recently. He would say…John if your going to take a trip to say Florida, you get every thing packed, get the vehicle all checked out, maps, tripticks, (this has been awhile ago) everything you need and take off on your destination. about 1 or 2 hours into your trip you have a flat tire. So… you pull over get out, get the jack and change the tire. So now what do you do next? he would ask. Are you going to go back to your house and start the trip all over again OR, continue on from where you are at. This speaks to me in almost every area of my life, weather it’s my faith, wanting to be self-employed, or my marriage, the key is when times get tough and things don’t always go as planned, take care of whats going on, fix what needs to be fixed, but don’t be tempted to go back to the beginning and start all over. Most of it if not all of it were things you did right or you wouldn’t have made any progress at all. Pick up where you are and continue on the journey, you’ll spend a lot less time and energy and be much less frustrated on your way to your next destination on the journey. Thanks Lester

In Christ, John

Facebook – Mozilla Firefox http://ow.ly/

Facebook – Mozilla Firefox http://ow.ly/1Wn0d You weren’t created and called to a destiny that you can never reach. You weren’t born for frustration or called to mediocrity. Book, “Shifting Into Higher Gear”

Stepping Out In Faith or Putting The Lord Your God To The Test?

I was thinking about this today. We can see many examples in the Bible where people were asked to step out in faith and do what God asked many times with very few details. Abram is told by God to leave his country, relatives and his father’s house and “go to a land I will tell you.” That’s all Abram got…but he went, he was faithful. Again Abraham’s faith is tested only this time God gives him the whole picture. This time God tells Abraham to take his only son Isaac, and offer him as a sacrifice on a mountain top in Moriah. As we continue to read Abraham is rewarded for his faithfulness and obedience to God. An angel of the Lord tells Abraham to “Put down the knife,” “don’t hurt the boy in any way, for know I know that you truly fear God.

The other side of the coin is clearly shown to us in Satan trying to tempt Christ. In Matthew 4:5-7 Satan tells Christ, “if you are the Son of God, jump off! For the scripture say, He orders angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.” Jesus replied “The scriptures also say “do not test the Lord your God.””

So you might wonder why I have been thinking about this, Great Question. I have found myself in the same place day after day, week after week and yes, even month after month….my job. I absolutely cannot work at my current employer anymore. I get up each day feeling as I am in prison serving a life sentence and I come home feeling my very soul has been stripped from me. I have asked God to help me figure out my calling, to guide me in finding a different transitional job more suited to my personality and strengths, but either He’s not talking or I’m not listening…quiet honestly I am not sure which.

So is God in so many words telling me to quit.

I do not have another job to go to, I do not have any cash reserves built up and I do not have any job leads at all that I am aware of. But I am going to quit my job anyway. So – am I Stepping Out In Faith or Putting God To The Test? I have done my best to figure this out but cannot come to any real conclusions. I will tell you this, God knows my heart. He knows that I want to be obedient to Him. I want to use my gifts, talents, to become the John Snook He has designed me to be, But I cannot continue to come home day after day with my soul ripped to shreds.

In Him
John