Lego Winter Village 2017

This year as we are in a larger home we had the ability to build our Winter Village more that twice the size it was last year!

First the crew had to work hard to lay the track.

The crew worked very hard to get it just right.

After the track was laid, the new station began to take shape.

Some finishing touches and the station was looking good.

It even had a nicely equipped coffee shop

Post the schedule

and hand the station off to the station master

Next up, what is this??

Careful with the tile work...

and the masonry.

Up go the walls

and the door

Meanwhile, the crew got going on another building

but the bakery was done first

Then the carousel went in

What is this but a whole trainload of more pieces!

Check out all those tiles!

The village really started to take shape!

Bakery is ready for business!

As is the Post Office (complete with its official Canada Post sign)

the Toy Shop is go to go as well!

An aerial shot with most of the major work done

Of course the big guy needed his place

but if you are on his naughty list, look out because he has a bin of coal!

Of course there are cats ready to pounce

and other critters for your viewing delight.

Be sure to grab some hot coco

and check the presents under the tree

Marshmallows over the fire

and a train load of toys!

The highlight of the village though is Santa's workshop on top of the mountain!

Climb the stairs if you dare...

but watch for what lurks below...

If you're adventurous there is a more challenging route

of course you could also throw snowballs at your sister...

The back of the train station needed a little work on the back.

The wide shot of the finished village

Santa's workshop!

Santa has caught the eye of the officer with the radar gun!

Not sure this is where our little adventurer meant to end up

Fresh pies from the bakery!

A new danger lurks below the mountain.

Our local hunters....

Finally, the tree is getting pretty crowed with all those presents!

Review: The Whole Bible Story Illustrated Edition

One must always be careful when using words like "Whole" and "Everything" when titling or describing any kind of guidebook, especially when it covers something as deep and immense as the Bible. That said, Dr. Marty does a wonderful job at walking us through the whole story of the Bible in this book. I really did enjoy reading through this book to see how he hits on the highlights of the Bible and gives explanation to what's going on throughout the Bible.

One of the things that can be hard to wrap our minds around when reading through the Bible is that things aren't quite in chronological order. The key thing Dr. Marty accomplishes in this book is laying out the story of scripture in a linear fashion. As his main concern is moving through the whole story he does, as noted in the introduction, skip over most of the non-narrative sections of the Bible. This includes much of the wisdom literature and prophets of the Old Testament and the Epistles of the New Testament. Some may think this goes against the assertion that he is telling the whole story of the Bible but it really does fit with how he is trying to give us a big picture 

This is a newly released illustrated edition, and though I believe the text of this book certainly stands on its own, the charts, pictures and maps included with the text give great visuals that add to the text. Each chapter also includes a list of main characters and settings which help one to know the who and the where. Finally each chapter ends with a summery. 

Overall, I think this is a great book to help one get an idea of the big picture. I think the best way I can describe it is as a narrator to the story of the Bible being told in a linear fashion. It would make a great text for an overview of the Bible class or for personal study. As mentioned already, this book does pass over most of the non-narrative material so it would not be appropriate as a Biblical survey text. If you are wanting to know how the events of the Bible unfolded in order, along with what the historical context of the events, this is certainly the book to read.

I did receive a copy of this book from Baker Books in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Immeasurable by Skye Jethani

I have thoroughly enjoyed Skye Jethani's contributions and thoughts on the Phil Vischer Podcast over the last number of years, and due to that have found his writings thoughtful and challenging. When given the opportunity to get my hands on a copy of his latest book "Immeasurable" for the launch week, I jumped at it. Skye has been asking many of the questions many of us who have been deeply involved in the church for a long time are asking. Questions about how the church is run, how much its reflecting the world around us when it should be the other way around. Questions about the way we hold up the pastor who leads thousands when there are thousands of us leading dozens. 

In this collection of 24 essays, each addressing one dimension of the church today in North America, Jethani continues to strike a cord. Hitting on topics such as the dangers of ambition, the idol of effectiveness and ever present Evangelical Industrial Complex. With thoughtfulness and wisdom, each chapter will having you nodding in agreement with things you've felt but not been able to express or having to pause and reflect on your own motives and methods. I found that though this is a relatively short book, just over 200 pages, it packs a real punch and cannot be breezed through quickly. 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is in ministry and needs a refresh and refocus. If you're one a board, read this and consider how you measure your pastor and church's performance. If your a church member, read this and consider the influence the consumer age we live in had shaped your view of ministry and how you view the church and its leadership.

I have to thank Moody Publishing for providing me a copy of this book for an honest review. I must also thank Moody for publishing such a high quality book that will bring much value to the broader church.

Review: The Big Pig Stampede

One of my favorite places is the bargain book table. I love going through the stacks of books that seem to just not be popular enough, or perhaps too popular at some point, and just need to clear the shelf space they are taking up. I've found some real gems at deep discounts. One of my most recent finds was "The Big Pig Stampede" by Bob Hartman.

This book follows the misadventures of 'Goat Boy' the son of a travelling merchant in Judea. Goat Boy, along with Bug and Bug's cousin Lump, travel with their fathers setting up shop to sell their various wares from village to village. Life is pretty routine for them until one day a friend of Bug's who is serving at a big wedding tells them the party has run out of wine. The boys gather up all the wine their father's have to sell and run off to the banquet. Once they get there however, they are told there is plenty of wine because a rabbi named Jesus turned a whole bunch of water into the best wine anyone had ever had.

This is but one adventure their little group has as their fathers decide to follow Jesus where ever he goes because where Jesus go, the crowds go and crowds mean customers.

The book is entertaining to say the least but also gives a very interesting perspective on the ministry of Jesus through the eyes of a young boy who is just going about life. In my opinion, Hartman has done a very good job at weaving a story kids can relate to with the events found in the Gospel clearly seen in the background. One could easily launch from each chapter of this book into the appropriate Gospel account. The book is also easy to read and would be accessible to any child starting to read basic chapter books.

All that to say, this is a book that certainly rises above the bargain table.